PANAMA: Copa Airlines Restarts Flights To St. Maarten

Copa Airlines will resumed its twice-weekly operations June 2, 2018 to and from St. Maarten, which were suspended following Hurricane Irma back in 2017. Tthe company it’s compromised to add more frequencies during peak travel season.

Likewise, flight CM134 between Panama’s Tocumen International Airport (PTY) and St. Maarten’s Princess Juliana International Airport (SXM) will take off at 7:24 a.m., to land at 11:30 a.m. on Mondays and Saturdays.

Meanwhile, return flight CM133 will leave SXM at 12:29 p.m. to arrive in PTY at 2:46 p.m. local time.

With Copa Airlines resuming operations we will promote the island’s economic, commercial and touristic growth, shared Christophe Didier, Copa Airline’s Sales Vice President.

Since the airline started flying to St. Maarten eight years ago, it has become one of our passengers all time favorite Caribbean destinations, according to Didier.

According to Copa Airlines, St. Maarten’s resume of operations restates its commitment with the Caribbean’s economic, commercial and touristic growth, which is a region that received support from the carrier after Hurricane Irma’s impact with resources such as food, equipment, medicines, among others.

Therefore, the Panama flag carrier, along with tourism authorities from St. Maarten, Saint Martin, and Anguilla, will increase the number of travelers offering flights to these islands which are also connected to over 60 destinations in South America, Central America, and North America.

Rolando Brison, St. Maarten’s Director of Tourism Office, established, For many years, Copa Airlines has been literally a bridge connecting us to Central and South America.

We expect that Copa Airlines will carry thousands of passengers to St. Maarten, one of the most beautiful and unique destinations in the Caribbean.

Copa Airlines has agreements and codeshares with other international carriers, such as Lufthansa, Air France, and KLM, allowing its customers to reach over 1,300 airports in 191 countries, with more than 18,400 daily flights.

Currently, the airline offers service to more than 70 destinations in 31 countries, in North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean with 89 aircraft: 77 Boeing 737 Next-Generation and 12 Embraer-190.


Tourism Observer

VENEZUELA: Maduro Kicks Out Copa Airlines From Venezuela

The Venezuelan government has unilaterally suspended all Copa Airlines operations to and from the country for at least 90 days, starting today, to protect the Venezuelan financial system from organized crime and terrorism, an official communicate says.

The release notes that the sanction could be extended.

The unilateral measures come as a retaliation taken by the government of Nicolas Maduro over a series of sanctions the Government of Panama imposed last week on several Venezuelan politicians.

The Panamanian Government stated that Maduro, along with 55 individuals and 16 Venezuelan companies, are considered a high risk for laundering money, terrorism financing, and trafficking weapons of mass destruction.

In return, the Venezuelan regime issued these sanctions against Copa Airlines claiming that several top-ranking authorities from Panama, including its President, Juan Carlos Varela, had been involved in money laundering.

They present an imminent risk to the Venezuelan financial system, the stability of commerce in the country, and the sovereignty and economic independence of the Venezuelan people, Maduro said.

The retaliation from the Venezuelan government has taken Copa Airlines by surprise.

These penalties were released by 4:00 p.m. local time on Thursday, April 5, and the Venezuelan National Civil Aviation Institute (INAC) released it at 9:00 p.m. via a Twitter post.

INAC claims the sanctions imposed on Copa were to prevent organized crime and terrorism finance

As a consequence, commercial ties with various companies and Panamanian officials were halted by the Venezuelan executive.

Following Venezuela’s measures, Panama has decided to recall its ambassador and asked the Venezuelan ambassador in Panama City to leave the country.

Copa Airlines said in a release that all affected passengers may ask for a refund of any outstanding tickets without penalties.

As of today, Copa Airlines was the last Latin American carrier operating in Venezuela with daily services to/from its hub in Panama City.

Just recently, the airline celebrated its 70th anniversary and held an event at the Venezuelan Capital reaffirming their intentions to continue serving the country despite the massive exodus of Venezuelans and the cancellation of other airlines serving Caracas.

Copa has operated daily flights to Caracas for the last 20 years.

Venezuela has suffered a massive exodus of airlines, with ten global carriers axing their daily services to the country in the last six years.

International organizations have also fled away because of the prohibitive, unsafe, and tense political climate in the country.

Since 1997, Copa Airlines has flown millions of Venezuelan passengers, connecting them from Caracas (CCS), Maracaibo (MAR), and Valencia (VLN) across its 75 destinations in 31 countries in the American continent.

With this suspension, the connectivity to Latin American cities from Venezuela will see a drop of over 85% in seat availability.

Currently, Wingo remains as the only Latin American carrier flying to Venezuela, five times per week, from its hub in Bogota. Wingo is a subsidiary of Copa Airlines and, so far, hasn’t been added to the sanction.

Copa Airlines (CM) and Lufthansa (LH), as members of the Star Alliance, reached an agreement that increases their commercial relations.

Copa will now be able to commercialize the Panama (PTY) – Frankfurt (FRA) – Panama route, operated by the German carrier.

Austrian Airlines will also be incorporated to the group of airlines with commercial relations with the Panamanian carrier.

Passengers will have the option to make connections in different cities from Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia through Frankfurt’s hub.

With this alliance between Copa Airlines and the Lufthansa Group, passengers will have better options to connect to and from all Latin America through Copa Airlines’ Hub of the Americas in Panama, said Christophe Didier, Commercial Vice President of Copa Airlines.

Similarly, it will now be easier and more comfortable for passengers anywhere in Latin America to directly reach their destination in Europe, he said.

Additionally, Lufthansa’s passengers could use Copa’s services to and from its hub in Panama.

In turn, Copa’s customers can benefit from the services of the Lufthansa Group’s airlines and their hubs in Frankfurt, Munich, Zurich, Vienna, and Brussels.

Felipe Bonifatti, General Manager of the Lufthansa Group in Panama, said that the excellent relationship that has united us with Copa Airlines for many years now has now expanded and consolidated through this new and more complete commercial agreement.

This brings countless benefits for everyone, particularly for mutual customers.

At Lufthansa, we are delighted that our flight from Panama to Frankfurt and vice versa also carries a Copa Airlines flight number, with codeshare, he said.

Back in November 2015, Lufthansa signed its first agreement with Copa for the flights to Latin American destinations.

Copa flights in the current winter schedule from Miami, Florida, to Panama, were operated under an additional Lufthansa flight number for passengers to travel from Frankfurt via Miami to Panama City.

Also, additional codeshare flights on Copa from Panama City to the cities of David in Panama, Guayaquil, and Quito in Ecuador, and San Jose in Costa Rica starting with Lufthansa’s inaugural flight from Frankfurt to Panama on March 2, 2016.

Copa Airlines also has agreements and codeshares with other international carriers, allowing its customers to reach over 1,300 airports in 191 countries, with more than 18,400 daily flights.

The airline currently offers service to more than 70 destinations in 31 countries, in North, Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean with 101 aircraft: 80 Boeing 737 Next-Generation and 21 Embraer-190.



Tourism Observer

PANAMA: Portones del Mar Yacht Club & Resort To Cost $275 million

The plan is to build a tourist resort that includes residences, a hotel, and a marina with capacity for 400 boats, in an area of ​​55 hectares in Chame, province of Panama.

The project consists of the construction of a marina with capacity for 403 boats in the Bay of Chame, a 16 storey hotel with approximately 300 rooms, which will have an area for commercial use and facilities to support the marina.

The EIA indicates that the Marina will be built in two phases. The first phase will have capacity for approximately 304 boats and the second for approximately 99 boats, making a total of approximately 403 boats.

The dimensions of the boats vary between: a maximum length of 100 meters and a width of 22 meters; And a minimum of 12 meters length and 4.50 meters width. Construction of the marina will take about 18 months.

The area of influence of the project will be Chame Bay, where the marina, Marina Village and Beach Village will be developed. A navigation channel will be made for the approach of the boats to the main and secondary docks.

The Hotel will have a lobby, reservation area, administrative and maintenance office, banquet and conference area, restaurant, recreation center with gym and so on. In addition there will be a swimming pool area, beach cabins and parking lots as per the rules established for this type of zoning.

Residential condominiums will also be built, totaling approximately 728 units between the different stages. In addition, two beaches will be established and restored.

The project is called "Portones del Mar Yacht Club & Resort" and according to the document, it will require an investment of $275,000,000.

A bill has been approved in a first debate, which seeks to create a Special Free Trade Area within the perimeter of Puerto Armuelles and Paso Canoa, whose sole purpose is to promote the sale of tax free goods to tourists.

This bill amends article 27 of Law 19 of 2001, which creates a special and Free Trade Zone and customs regime and Multimodal Logistic Support in Barú and was approved in a first debate on Monday afternoon by the Trade and Economic Affairs Commission in the Blue Room at the National Assembly.

Discovery Communications Inc. is licensing its name for a $1 billion eco-tourism park in Costa Rica as the media company seeks new revenue from fans of its cable networks, which include Discovery Channel and Animal Planet.

Discovery Costa Rica, scheduled to open in late 2020, will be near Liberia, according to a statement from the company. The town is a regional hub in the northwest part of the country that tourists pass through on their way to the country’s Pacific coast beaches.

Activities will include rock climbing, hiking, scuba diving and other pursuits across four locations at the country’s beaches, parks and volcanoes, with a focus on biodiversity and conservation.

Discovery Costa Rica will have a water park, along with Discovery-branded hotels and restaurants, said Richard Wirthlin, chairman of investor relations at Sun Latin America, the developer leading the project.

While media giants like Walt Disney Co. and Comcast Corp.’s NBCUniversal build and run theme parks tied to movies and shows, Discovery is taking a more low-key approach. Sun Latin America is assuming the risks associating with developing and owning the project. The companies declined to disclose the financial terms of their deal.

The media company, based in Silver Spring, Maryland, wants viewers to “live out the lifestyle of Discovery beyond the experience of a TV screen,” said Leigh Anne Brodsky, executive vice president of Discovery Global Enterprises, the company’s licensing unit.

“Millennials are interested in more than lying in a beach chair,” Brodsky said. “They want to have an experience.”

Licensing gives Discovery an opportunity to increase ancillary income at a time when its main revenue sources -- TV advertising and cable subscriber fees aren’t growing as fast as they once were.

The company has also licensed its name to an adventure park in Moganshan, China, that opened last year, and has a partnership with Princess Cruises for snorkeling and other activities tied to TV shows like “Deadliest Catch” and “Shark Week.”

Such arrangements contributed less than 5 percent of Discovery’s 2016 revenue of $6.5 billion, and the company is exploring more licensing deals, a spokeswoman said.

Animal Planet, one of several Discovery cable networks, aired “Wild Costa Rica,” a show celebrating biodiversity, in August.

VENEZUELA: About Venezuela

Christopher Columbus was the first European to arrive in the region of Venezuela. He discovered the region during his third expedition of the New World in 1498. Upon his arrival, he found that several groups of tribes like Arawak, the Carib, and Chibcha Indians were inhabiting the land.

Spanish explorers came in 1521 and colonized the northeastern coast. By 1522, Nueva Toledo became the first Spanish settlement in South America. It was the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda who named the region Venezuela, which means "Little Venice," after seeing houses built on stilts at Lake Maracaibo.

In 1567, Caracas, the capital city, was founded.

During the late 1700s, movements for independence against the Spanish rule started to begin. Venezuela was a neglected colony with much of its natural resources exploited by Spain. In 1810, Venezuelan independence leaders took advantage of Napoleon Bonaparte's invasion of Spain and declared independence on July 5, 1811. On that precise day, the Congress of Venezuelan provinces signed the Venezuelan Declaration of Independence. However, the Act met with resistance from the Spanish leaders, leading to the Venezuelan War of Independence.

Liberation came in 1821 when Simon Bolivar won the Battle of Caraboro, freeing several Spanish colonies (Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia, and Peru) in South America. Bolivar formed the republic of Gran Colombia, which included Venezuela, Colombia, northern Peru, Ecuador, Panama, northwest Brazil, and western Guyana. The republic was short-lived and Venezuela became a separate independent nation in 1830.

Geography
Venezuela lies on the northern coast of South America. It has a total of 2,800 km of coastline in the north and its territory includes a number of islands in the Caribbean as well as in its northeast border facing the Atlantic Ocean. The land is divided into four regions: the wide Orinoco plains in central Venezuela, the northern mountains, the Maracaibo lowlands in the northwest, and the Guiana highlands in the southeast.

Venezuela is bordered by Colombia to the West, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south. From peaks to savanna grasslands and Caribbean coastline to flat-topped mountains, Venezuela is known for its geographical diversity. The country also has the highest waterfall in the world. This tropical country also has a vast range of flora and fauna.

While Pico Bolivar is the highest point at 16,427 ft. (5,007 m), the Caribbean Sea (0 ft) is the lowest point.

Politics
Venezuela is a federal presidential republic governed by a Constitution. The President is the chief executive, head of state, head of government, and head of a dominant-party system. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela is the dominant party.

While the President exercises the executive power, the legislative power lies with the 165-member National Assembly.

Economy
Venezuelan economy remains overtly dependent on revenue earned from oil exports, which account for about 96% of total export earnings. In 2014, the country witnessed a 4% contraction in its GDP. According to the IMF, the GDP is likely to shrink by another 7% in 2015 and inflation may reach 80%. President Nicolas Maduro has increased state control over the economy. However, rigid labor regulations and price controls have forced multinational firms to shut down or scale down their Venezuelan operations.

Travel
Venezuela is rich in natural resources but its economic dependence on oil exportation has led to the neglect of tourism industry. Because of this, the tourist infrastructure in Venezuela is not at par with the international standard. However, the tourism sector is taking action towards achieving the goal of attracting at least one million foreign travelers each year.

Venezuela is endowed with historic cities. Caracas,the capital city, is a progressive and multi-ethnic city that is known for a thriving nightlife, premier restaurants, museums, and historic areas. Among the must-visit destinations are Plaza Bolivar, The Cathedral, Government Palace, and the City Hall.

Canaima National Park is Venezuela's most popular tourist destination, mainly due to the Angel Falls - the highest waterfall in the world. At 1002 meters, it is 19 times higher than the Niagara Falls. The park itself totals 30,000 square kilometers, where tourists can spot rare and interesting flora and fauna.

Margarita Island, a favorite among international tourists, is located on the east of Caracas. It has a vast coastline packed with lagoons and beaches. It's a perfect destination for surfers and sunbathers. The eastern and the most developed part of Margarita Island has an array of clubs, hotels, duty-free shopping hubs, and colonial architecture. On its west lies the arid mountains.

Education
Venezuela sets a high standard of education. Its literacy rate is 96.3%, which is higher than most South American countries. However, poverty in the rural areas forces children to skip school and contribute as a breadwinner for the family.

Students in primary school attend classes in shifts: either from early morning to 1:30 in the afternoon, or early afternoon till 6 in the evening.

Education in Venezuela starts in preschool and the first nine years of formal education is compulsory. Higher education in public universities is free and there are over 90 institutions in the entire country.

Famous Venezuelans
Hugo Chavez- A "21st century socialist" and an erstwhile President of Venezuela.
Patricia Velasquez - Venezuelan-born Hollywood actress with movies like Beowulf, The Mummy, and Almighty Thor to her credit.

Trivia
- Venezuela was the biggest oil exporter in the world in the early 1900s. In fact, it is one of the founding members of the OPEC.
- Unlike most other South American countries, Venezuela's most popular sport is baseball.
- Most of the Miss Universe and Miss World winners are from Venezuela.
- Venezuela owes its nickname, 'Land of Grace', to Christopher Columbus.
- Venezuela is home to Capybara, the largest rodent of the world.

Lufthansa Flies Frankfurt-Panama

Lufthansa will be operating a five-times-weekly service on the new route all year round.

Lufthansa has launched a non-stop service between Frankfurt, Germany, and Panama City.

Flight LH 484 departed from Frankfurt at 10:15 today, and is scheduled to arrive at the Aeropuerto Internacional de Tocumen in Panama City at 16:40 local time this afternoon.

Eastbound flight LH 485 will leave Panama City at 18:45 local time this evening, and is due to land in Frankfurt at 11:35 local time tomorrow.

“It’s an exciting time at Lufthansa as Panama is one of several new leisure destinations that we are adding to our growing network,” said Juergen Siebenrock, vice president Lufthansa German Airlines, The Americas.

“Passengers traveling from this new gateway will now be able to experience the quality service and premium products that Lufthansa has always been known to offer, including our brand new Premium Economy Class that offers extra space for comfort and relaxation, as well as an elevated experience.”

The Airbus A340-300, which is used on this route, is equipped with FlyNet, Lufthansa’s broadband internet access product, and offers a three-class configuration that includes 18 Business Class seats, 19 Premium Economy seats and 261 Economy Class seats, for a total of 298 seats.

Frankfurt – Germany’s most international city – offers a rich culture and history.

With a population of about 5.6 million, the Frankfurt Rhine-Main metropolitan region is one of Europe’s leading economic centres and a popular travel destination, offering a wide range of tourist attractions and sights, including world-class ballet, opera, theatres and art exhibitions.

Although only fifth in size among German cities, Frankfurt is Germany’s financial powerhouse.

The German Central Bank is there, as is the European Central Bank, which manages the Euro.

Under the new codeshare agreement, Lufthansa travellers can fly with Star Alliance partner Copa Airlines from Panama City, Panama to 73 further destinations in Ecuador, Venezuela, Peru and Costa Rica – many of them bookable under Lufthansa flight numbers.

In return, Copa Airlines customers gain access to the global network of the Lufthansa Group, which currently extends to 261 destinations in 101 countries.

Zika News: Pregnant Passengers Get Refunds From Airlines

Travellers worried about the implications of flying to Latin America amid growing concerns about the Zika virus should be able to amend their travel plans without expense – as airlines and holiday firms acknowledge the threat from the mosquito-borne infection.

The World Health Organization (WHO) this week declared a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern” regarding the virus, and warned that it could affect up to four million people in the Americas. Its epicentres are Brazil and Ecuador, but cases have also been reported in Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde.

While the WHO has also stated that there “should be no restrictions on travel or trade with countries, areas and/or territories with Zika virus transmission”, tourists who are pregnant and who wish to alter their travel arrangements should be able to do so for free if they act quickly.

The Zika virus is mainly an issue for pregnant travellers, as, while it causes flu-like symptoms of fever and headaches in adults and children, it can be devastating for the human foetus – leading to babies born with defects that include abnormally small heads.

The majority of the big airlines have been united in their response to this threat – with British Airways allowing passengers a month-long window to reorder their travel plans.

A spokesperson for British Airways says: “If a pregnant customer is due to travel up to and including February 29, but they no longer wish to travel, they can change their booking free of charge, and delay their journey or amend to an alternative destination.”

“This applies to flights to Brazil, Mexico, Barbados and the Dominican Republic.”

This advice includes flights booked with affiliate airline Iberia.

Virgin Atlantic is taking a similar line, stating that “we are closely monitoring reports of cases of Zika virus in Barbados, Mexico and other destinations in the Caribbean and South America.” The airline is offering refunds to pregnant passengers due to fly to all affected destinations – including countries which it does not fly to directly, but offers connections to, such as Colombia, Panama and the United States territory of Puerto Rico.

Lufthansa has said that pregnant passengers and - unusually - their travelling companion, can alter an existing booking to any of the affected countries for free, stating that “this policy applies to all flights from or to Latin and Central America, and Caribbean countries, from January 28 until March 21 2016. Tickets must be issued on or before January 28 2016.”

This concession also applies to affiliated carriers Austrian Airlines and Swiss.

Airlines on the other side of the Atlantic have also reacted to the threat from the virus.

United Airlines has stated that “we are offering customers who are travelling to the affected regions the opportunity to rebook at a later date or receive a full refund.”

American Airlines is offering a full refund to pregnant passengers if they are flying to El Salvador, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala.

Delta says that pregnant customers can alter their flights to alternative destinations, change their dates or receive a refund – but “changes need to be made by February 29.”

Holiday companies are also responding to customers’ fears about the health scare – with Thomas Cook saying it will accept changes to existing bookings until the start of May.

“Thomas Cook is currently allowing amendments to an alternative destination for anyone who is pregnant and due to travel on a Thomas Cook charter holiday to the affected areas, up to and including April 30 2016,” a spokesperson says.

“We are contacting all customers due to travel to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica and Cape Verde, up to and including April 30, to advise them of the situation, and offer assistance – prioritising those departing over the next few days.”

Thomson has outlined a similar strategy, stating that “customers due to travel with us to Mexico, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Panama, Colombia and Martinique, who would like to amend to an alternative destination, and have a doctor’s note confirming their pregnancy, can do so without incurring an amendment fee.”

Travel insurance policies should also shield holidaymakers from any costs of having to alter their plans due to the Zika situation – with policies purchased prior to the outbreak likely to offer cover. However, tourists also should check the small print on their policies.

“If one of our customers is currently pregnant and has booked a holiday to Barbados, Bolivia, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guadeloupe, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Martinique, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Puerto Rico, St Martin, Suriname or Venezuela, they would be eligible to make a cancellation claim – as long as they purchased the policy before January 20,” advises Rob Clarkson of Post Office Money Insurance.

However, non-pregnant travellers may find that they are less protected in this scenario.

“If one of our customers is not pregnant then, as the Foreign Office has not advised against travel to this area, there would be no cover for cancellation,” Mr Clarkson adds.

“It is important that any customers planning on holidaying in countries with ongoing Zika virus outbreaks do their research before they travel, and take all necessary precautions.”

Byron Shirto, chairman of the Latin America Travel Association, says: “In line with the current recommendations of the Foreign Office and National Health Network and Centre (NHNC), we would advise pregnant travellers to areas where Zika virus outbreaks are currently reported available via the Pan European Health Organisation to consult a health professional prior to travel."

USA: U.S. Airlines Refund Tickets For Pregnant Passengers Travelling Zika Regions.

Two major U.S. airlines are offering refunds to passengers worried about the Zika virus outbreak in many tropical countries.

United Airlines says customers booked to fly to areas affected by the virus can reschedule or get refunds. American Airlines says it will give refunds to pregnant women who were planning to travel to parts of Central America.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have warned pregnant women to take precautions against mosquito bites when traveling to areas in Latin America and the Caribbean where there have been Zika outbreaks. The CDC says the mosquito-borne illness could be linked to a birth defect of the brain.

The United Airlines offer began Tuesday and includes any country covered by a CDC travel notice, an airline spokesman said. American Airlines began refunds Monday for pregnant passengers holding tickets to El Salvador, Honduras, Panama or Guatemala, according to a spokesman.

A spokesman for Delta Air Lines said the carrier was monitoring the situation but not yet offering waivers. JetBlue Airways and Spirit Airlines were not immediately able to say whether they were offering refunds. Southwest Airlines said it was sticking to its normal policy, which lets customers who cancel ahead of time reuse the value of their tickets. All of those airlines fly to at least some affected locations.

On Tuesday, the CDC expanded its travel alert for pregnant women to add the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Dominican Republic to the list of areas with Zika outbreaks. The CDC has already recommended that pregnant women consider postponing trips to 22 other destinations.

— In Central and South America: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, El Salvador, French Guiana, Guatemala, Guyana, Honduras, Mexico, Panama, Paraguay, Suriname and Venezuela.

— In the Caribbean: Barbados, Guadeloupe, Haiti, Martinique, St. Martin and Puerto Rico.

— And Cape Verde, off the coast of western Africa, and Samoa in the South Pacific.

ECUADOR: Ecuador Imposes New Visa Requirements In Attempt To Stop Floods Of Cuban Migrants

Panamanian border guard reads from list of Cubans whose passports have been processed in Puerto Obaldia

In what appears to be another example of Cuban backchanneling, Ecuador on Thursday announced it will start requiring visas for all Cubans who have been using the South American country as a springboard to emigrate to the United States. The new visa requirements are expected to take effect by the end of next week.

Ecuador’s announcement comes on the heels of Nicaragua’s decision to close its border to northbound Cubans. The move has created a humanitarian and political crisis on Costa Rica’s northern border, where more than 3,000 Cubans are stuck in migratory limbo. And thousands more are on their way.

Since Havana and Washington announced a thawing of diplomatic relations last December, a flood tide of Cubans has left the island in an desperate attempt to make it to U.S. soil before improving ties bring an end to the Cuban Adjustment Act. Most of the Cubans emigrating to the U.S. come by land via Ecuador, whose visa-free immigration policy made it one of the only countries in the hemisphere that allowed Cubans to enter with no questions asked.

As a result, tens of thousands of Cubans saved their remittances and sold their homes to buy a roundtrip ticket to Ecuador to start the long journey to “La Yuma,” as Cubans call the United States.

“I used to fly to Ecuador several times a year to buy clothes to sell in Cuba. The flights from Havana to Quito were always full, but on the return flights I could sit anywhere on the plane I wanted; I could even take a whole row to myself,” a Cuban man I met in the Panamanian jungle told me, as he made his way north after taking his last flight to Ecuador.

Cuba was aware of the embarrassing situation and has apparently tried to backchannel a solution with its leftist allies. First it got Nicaragua to twist the garden hose at the border, and now it’s getting Ecuador to close the spigot at its source. Ironically, Cuba, which has long complained that the U.S. treats Cubans differently than other foreigners, is apparently now asking Ecuador to do the same thing by making an exception to its visa-free policy for Cubans.

Ecuador’s deputy foreign minister Xavier Lasso insists his country is not closing its doors to Cubans. But the new visa requirements will make it harder for them to enter the country in ways that are still not clear.

The move also leaves unknown thousands of Cubans stuck in transit between Ecuador and Nicaragua. There are some 3,600 Cubans currently stuck in Costa Rica, and potentially thousands more still making their way through Panama, Colombia and Ecuador.

For the time being, the Costa Rica border crisis will remain an ever-worsening situation as more Cubans continue to pile up against Nicaraguan soldiers. And with the Sandinista government refusing to negotiate a solution with its neighbors, it remains anyone’s guess what will happen next.

First Airline To Fly An Airbus A380 To Latin America

This winter, Air France is offering six weekly frequencies between Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Mexico. Starting on 12 January 2016, three weekly flights are operated by Airbus A380, the Company’s largest super jumbo (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday). The three other flights are operated by Boeing 777-300. From 27 March 2016, the A380 will fly between the two cities daily.

On board, customers have the option of travelling in four flight cabins ensuring optimum comfort – La Première, Business, Premium Economy and Economy.

“We are proud to be the first airline in the world to operate an Airbus A380 to Latin America. This is a strong sign reflecting the Air France-KLM Group’s commitment to promoting exchange between Mexico and the rest of the world. We are thus strengthening the Group’s presence in Mexico, which we have been serving for over 60 years, by increasing our capacity by 20% on the Paris-Mexico route. The A380 will also allow us to offer two new flight cabins on this route, La Première and Premium Economy, in an aim to offer our customers even greater choice”, stated Patrick Alexandre, Executive Vice President Commercial, Sales and Alliances Air France-KLM.

AIRBUS A380 FLIGHT SCHEDULE (IN LOCAL TIME) THROUGHOUT THE WINTER 2016 SEASON

AF438: leaves Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 13:30; arrives in Mexico at 18:40
AF439: leaves Mexico at 21:10, arrives at Paris-Charles de Gaulle at 14:25.

Flights operated by A380 on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays from 12 January to 26 March 2016. Daily flights from 27 March 2016.

This Air France flight offer complements that of KLM Royal Dutch Airlines operating up to 9 weekly frequencies by Boeing 747 between the Amsterdam-Schiphol hub and Mexico.

THE COMFORT OF AN A380
Boarding an Air France Airbus A380 always guarantees an exceptional trip. On board, the 516 passengers travel in perfect comfort in exceptionally spacious cabins. Two hundred and twenty windows fill the aircraft with natural light, and changing background lighting allows passengers to cross time zones fatigue-free. In addition, six bars are located throughout the aircraft, giving passengers the chance to meet up during the flight.

With cabin noise levels five decibels lower than industry standards, the A380 is a particularly quiet aircraft and features the latest entertainment and comfort technology. External images are retransmitted live throughout the flight from three cameras located on the front, underside and rear of the aircraft. Finally, the largest jet in Air France’s fleet is the first to include a dedicated space for art and culture.

For the winter 2015-2016 season, Air France’s ten Airbus A380s are flying to 8 destinations – Abidjan, Hong Kong, Johannesburg, Los Angeles, Mexico, Miami, New York-JFK and Shanghai.

AIR FRANCE-KLM, EUROPEAN LEADER IN MEXICO AND IN THE REGION OF CENTRAL AND SOUTHERN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

This winter, the Air France-KLM Group is offering up to 21 weekly flights to Mexico from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol, including seven frequencies operated by Aeroméxico from Paris to the Mexican capital that share codes with Air France.

Moreover, all Air France flights to Mexico also share codes with Aeroméxico, thereby providing passengers with a wide variety of connecting flight options throughout the domestic network of the Mexican airline within the country.

Air France also offers 4 weekly frequencies to Cancùn.

The leading airline in Central and South America and the Caribbean in terms of seats, Air France-KLM serves twenty-seven destinations* in the region, and offers over 200 flights a week from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol.

* Aruba, Bogota, Bonaire, Brasilia, Buenos Aires, Cancún, Cali, Caracas, Cayenne, Curaçao, Fort-de-France, Guayaquil, Havana, Lima, Mexico, Montevideo, Panama, Paramaribo, Pointe à Pitre, Port-au- Prince, Punta Cana, Quito, Santo Domingo, Saint-Martin, Santiago de Chili, Sao Paulo, Rio de Janeiro.

A MAJOR TRANSATLANTIC JOINT VENTURE WHICH ALSO COVERS FLIGHTS TO MEXICO
Air France-KLM is involved in a major transatlantic joint venture alongside Delta Air Lines and Alitalia. The partners share operation of over 250 transatlantic flights operated daily by the four airlines, which also covers flights to Mexico. With a fleet of 129 aircraft, this partnership represents 25% of global transatlantic capacity and will generate an expected 13 billion in annual revenue. It allows customers to benefit from the advantages of a huge network offering more frequent flights, competitive tariffs and standardised services across the Atlantic.

The Air France-KLM Group and Delta serve eighteen destinations in the United States from Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Cincinnati, Dallas, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Minneapolis, New York-JFK, New York-Newark, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, Salt Lake City, Seattle, San Francisco and Washington. In addition to these destinations, Delta offers a vast network of connecting flights to 300 North American destinations, including Mexico.

TWO EUROPEAN HUBS CONNECTED TO THE WORLD
The European hubs at Paris-Charles de Gaulle and Amsterdam-Schiphol are connected daily thanks to 12 flight frequencies. The Air France and KLM network has been fully optimized to offer customers a choice of 316 destinations in 103 countries worldwide.

MEXICO: Aeromexico Announces New Route For 2016, Amsterdam

Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, announced three weekly nonstop flights between Mexico City and Amsterdam starting on May 29, 2016, making the city its fourth destination in Europe.

This new route will be operated using Boeing 787 aircraft with 243 seat capacity, including 32 seats in Clase Premier, Aeromexico's Business Class Cabin. The Dreamliner is considered one of the most advanced commercial aircraft in the skies, offering benefits that include extra legroom, more storage space for carry-on bags, bigger windows that can be dimmed at the touch of a button, personal entertainment system, Sky Interiors LED lighting, and new in-flight menu services.

Anko van der Werff, Aeromexico's Chief Revenue Officer, said, "Aeromexico is extremely proud to add Amsterdam to its European route network. The Netherlands is the fourth largest Mexico's trading partner in the European Union, and nowadays, an average of 200,000 annual passengers travel between both capital cities".

"With this flight, Aeromexico will be able to offer a quality service to all of its customers traveling from the Netherlands on board our Boeing 787 aircraft with greater connectivity options to the main cities in Mexico, such as Guadalajara, Monterrey, and Puerto Vallarta, and in Central and South America, including San Jose, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama.", he added.

One of the key factors in establishing this new route is Amsterdam's status as a major SkyTeam hub where KLM offers a significant number of flights within Europe. Aeromexico is a founding member of the SkyTeam airline alliance.

Aeromexico is proud to crown the year 2015 by announcing the addition of a new route, just as it did at the beginning of this year, thus allowing the airline to increase the economic, commercial and tourist exchange between the two nations, as well as the number of passengers carried between Mexico and Europe.

About Grupo Aeromexico

Grupo Aeromexico, S.A.B. de C.V. is a holding company whose subsidiaries are engaged in commercial aviation in Mexico and the promotion of passenger loyalty programs. Aeromexico, Mexico's global airline, operates more than 600 daily flights and its main hub is in Terminal 2 at the Mexico City International Airport. Its destinations network features more than 80 cities on three continents, including 46 destinations in Mexico, 16 in the United States, 16 in Latin America, three in Canada, three in Europe and two in Asia.

The Group's fleet of about 130 aircraft is comprised of Boeing 787, 777 and 737 jet airliners and next generation Embraer 145, 170, 175 and 190 models. In 2012, the airline announced the most significant investment strategy in aviation history in Mexico, to purchase 100 Boeing aircraft including 90 MAX B737 jet airliners and 10 B787-9 Dreamliners.

As a founding member of SkyTeam, the airline alliance which this year celebrates its 15th anniversary, Aeromexico offers customers more than 1,000 destinations in 179 countries served by the 20 SkyTeam airline partners rewarding passengers with benefits including access to 636 premium airport lounges around the world. Aeromexico also offers travel on its codeshare partner flights with Delta Air Lines, Alaska Airlines, Avianca, Copa Airlines and Westjet with extensive connectivity in countries like the United States, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia and Peru

PANAMA: Copa Airlines Starts New Route To Belize

Based on the airline's expansion plan and effort ,Panama's leading carrier ,Copa Airlines,will now offer their first flight on December 8th for passengers who want to explore the abudance of natural attractions and hotels in Belize.

Copa airlines now serves the entire part of Central America,with good connectivity and strength for commercial development.

The direct flight to Belize,will have a duration of 2 hours and 20 minutes and it will served by the modern Embraer 190 aircraft with capacity for 94 passengers.

The frequency of the new route will be 2 times per week and passengers can be served through Copa Airline's Hub airports in Panama and Belize.

Undoubtedly Copa airlines will not only boost the tourism but will also increase traffic and chances for new opportunities.

HONDURAS: Floods Damage Homes And Schools After 7 Days Of Rain

Heavy rain has caused flooding in several departments of Honduras over the last few days, according to the country’s civil defence agency, Copeco. Heavy rain has also affected several other countries in Central America, including Panama and Guatemala.
Honduras

Damage to homes, schools and roads has been reported around the capital, Tegucigalpa, and in the surrounding department of Francisco Morazán. The wall of a supermarket collapsed as result of the heavy rain. No injuries were reported. The heavy rain has also caused several landslides, and caused damage to the storm water drainage system in La Cabaña areas of Tegucigalpa.

River levels are also high, in particular the San José, Guacerique and Sabacuante, according to Copeco.

The authorities have issued three flood warnings over the last 7 days. Yesterday Copeco issued a green (low) level weather warning for the next 48 hours for the nine departments of Copan, Ocotepeque, Lempira, Santa Barbara, Comayagua, La Paz, Francisco Morazan, Valle and Choluteca.

Rainfall

Copeco say that further heavy rain is expected due to the interaction between two low pressure systems, one in the Gulf of Fonseca and the other in the Gulf of Honduras..

Rainfall figures according to WMO for a 24 hour period between 27 and 28 September 2015:

Amapala – 53.6 mm
Santa Rosa De Copan – 64.4 mm
Nueva Ocotepeque – 51.7 mm

PANAMA: Man Dies In Panama City Beach Drowning

A Lynn Haven man has died in what authorities reported as a drowning in the Gulf of Mexico, according to Panama City Beach Police Department reports.

Jared R. Werth, 31, was found face down Monday afternoon in the water near the PCB City Pier. Bystanders and lifeguards pulled Werth from the water and attempted to revive him, but Werth was pronounced dead at a local hospital shortly afterward, PCBPD reported.

PCBPD responded to the scene at about 4:15 p.m. and found Werth unconscious on the sand while lifeguards performed CPR. Fire crews took the lead in performing CPR, but Werth remained unresponsive mad unconscious, police reported.

Werth was moved to an ambulance and transported to the hospital, where he later died, police said.

One lifeguard said he noticed Werth on the beach since about 8 a.m. He was last seen standing by the water speaking on a cell phone five minutes before being spotted face down in the water 20 yards offshore. When lifeguards spotted the figure, they traveled out to him in the surf, which was still only about waist-deep, the lifeguards told police.

Neither had seen Werth enter the water, police reported.

Another eye witness told police Werth worked at Buffalo Wild Wings in Pier Park, and he said the victim was frequently seen hanging out at the pier, PCBPD reported.

Police found a backpack containing some of Werth’s belongings, including a cell phone and a Buffalo Wild Wings apron, near the scene.

Sin Cities Of The World

The seven deadly sins of the world are what we haves been told to stay away. But the forbidden fruit was the doom of mankind. We tend to follow our history and magnify the acts which fall in grey area. This ‘area ‘are most visited most loved and most frowned upon by all. The stress level has risen and so has the need of stress busters. As the saying goes, once we have broken the egg best thing to do is get a mighty good omelet out of it. We dance at the edge knowing we can fall off but the joy of this dance is inexplicable. One place we think of in this scenario is Vegas but the world has changed and we have many more dance floors today. Man has built beauty entwined in vice and these places have made life lot more bearable. The break taken to this land takes you out of the mundane routines. The never-land for grown-ups is cropping up all over the world. The let’s hop into the best sin-lands of the world.

10 Berlin, Germany
With the first Institute for sexual studies in the world established in in mid-1900s, the legalization of prostitutes and sheer possibility of all sleazy dreams of the world this city makes it to our list easy-peasy. With the open attitude towards sex, the cabaret and burlesque shows have come up everywhere. The easy availability of cocaine vials, the KitKat clubs have made this a true blue sin city. The frowned upon movies are available in a volume which will put any hidden stash of teenager to shame. This is one place where your dark dreams are welcomed and put to reality if you are ready to loosen the strings of your wallet. It’s called ‘the most Fetish-free city of the World’ for a reason. So while planning a trip with buddies, keep Berlin in mind.

Bring out das gimp! Latex pants, tops, chains, whips and S&M are all the rage in Berlin, one of the world's most fetish-friendly sin cities. Need to be punished? Turn yourself in to any of the city's sex dungeons for rehabilitation. Want to dance at a club you can also have sex at? The KitKat Club will oblige. Between the First and Second World Wars, Berlin established the world's first institute for sexual science, which, among other things, had a porn collection that puts every teenager's hidden stash to shame. This openness inspired cabaret and burlesque shows. Plus, at a popular nightclub of the time, patrons could even send cocaine vials by pneumatic tube to other patrons.

In modern-day Berlin, prostitution is legal everywhere. So, if handcuffs and zipper masks don't do it for you, working women will be happy to oblige.

9 Amsterdam, the Netherlands
The international destination for weed/Harold and Kumar fans everywhere, Amsterdam has tonnes of cannabis cafes where you can buy hash and marijuana, smoke it and then order food to curb your munchies. Once you've peaked, walk over to the city's red light district where you can look at prostitutes who are on display for anyone who's interested. Finish up your day by checking out a live sex show where various acts are performed on stage, including couples doing the real thing. The greatest part: It's all legal. Not only can you sin, but you can do it paranoia-free.

One reason that makes the Netherlands famous is this tailor made sin city. Let’s take a look at it. How about a morning cup of tea with a generous hash? Marijuana Cakes and brownies to go with it? Well you can enjoy this all legally euphoria inducing breakfast in the cafes of the city. When you have reached your high, step out for some window shopping. This is no carry the bags get bored shopping; it’s literally prostitutes on sale. The choice is window shopping or take away with bargaining and haggling. This Sin city also offers all kinds of shows for you to enjoy. The other famed attraction is the red-light districts where the lights are literally put to red to show that the show is all set to begin. What a wonderful way to say that it’s all legal isn’t it?

8 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
For a moment,Think about Gisele Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima The grace of Brazil is vouched by these exotic beauties. The Brazilian women are known to have magical effect which makes man swoon. Add to the list the topless beaches of Copacabana and Panama and you have the perfect destinations that define sin. Think this is pretty good but not enough to make it to this list then add the legal brothels with just as exotic menu as the ladies. This place has been the infamous for its nights and days. The weeklong feast is the culminating point of the life here for the masks and parades and costumes brings the wildness to its pinnacle. The perfect week for perfect fun. If you do it right, you won’t remember the half of it.

Brazil’s women have a mythical beauty that consistently puts them at the top of the world's supermodel list. Think: Gisele Bundchen, Alessandra Ambrosio and Adriana Lima. Rio is one of their biggest playgrounds. Pick a beach - Copacabana to Ipanema - and stare at topless women all day. Of course, this is all a prelude to when the fun begins at night. Slip into any of the city's nightclubs to grind with Brazil’s best over-powering bass lines and bossa nova. Rio also makes our sin cities list because it has legal brothels with a menu of services. To truly experience Rio, however, visit during its annual Carnaval, a weeklong festival of parades, music and masquerades that brings Rio’s flesh and fantasy culture to a boiling point. Bring plenty of sun and fun protection.

7. Moscow, Russia.
Tochkas! The one word that puts Moscow into this list. The open market for prostitutes. The clinch here is that this is illegal here but the Rubles go a long way. The coveted land Russian Vodka ensures enough fuel for the party. The clubs and pubs are extravagant and give a feel of recently unchained wildness. This sin land has proposition to get tie you in holy matrimony as well. Visit one of the many places to find your better half. It carters to women’s needs as well and is a perfect sin land.

What happens when a culture that has been bottled for decades finally gets uncorked? Insanity. You’ll find every kind of nightclub - from hardcore techno to rock to trance - jammed with people from across Europe. Do you want to find a longterm thing? No need to mailorder when you can meet a wife at the clubs and strip clubs near Red Square. Prostitution is illegal, but punishments are often paid off with rubles. You'll see prostitutes out in the open at tochkas (outdoor markets for prostitutes) or at the city's clubs.

Also check out The Hungry Duck. A bar that runs ladies' night three times a week with male strippers for two hours, and then lets men into the club once the strippers are offstage. It has been shut down repeatedly for lewdness and public sexual acts. And your party fuel? Only one of the best vodkas in the world. Comrade, your revolution starts here.

6 New Orleans, Louisiana
If dancing, feasting on one best French cuisine, drinking is on your list this is the place. It has been so for over 100 years today. The famous city is the North Americans go to land for the Mardi gras. The history vouches for its sins. The past and present mix today for the experience which is the USP of this land. The prostitution is illegal here but the history begs to differ. With many shows to gratify the visitors this city is worthy of the 6th rank of this list.

5. Macau, China
Have you been to the Venetian, Wynn and MGM hotel casinos in Las Vegas? Now try the ones in China. Located in South China, Macau's legalised gambling laws have made big money for the country and gotten it ranked as one of our top 10 sin cities. It has already surpassed Las Vegas twice for total gambling revenue and boasts the world's largest casino, the Venetian Macau. In all, it packs 33 casinos into 11 square miles with plans for plenty more to come. Like Las Vegas, Macau also advertises tons of women for extracurricular entertainment. While the prostitution laws contradict themselves in the books (it is legal, but procuring it is not), it’s practiced more and more out in the open.

The Las Vegas attractions of The Venetian, Wynn and MGM with twice the gambling! This puts Macau in our top 5. The Chinese and Portuguese cultures mix here to give the feeling of being out of the world. The unique festivals and events and free laws has made life at Macau picture perfect for the title of sin city. Women are available for various extracurricular activities with law forbidding the trade and legalizing the action. The revenue in gambling had out Vegas behind in the race, twice. The south Chinese destination has the largest casino of the world, The Venetian Macau. This is one rising Sin-city to keep a tab on, the offers are irresistible.

4. Tijuana, Mexico.
Cross one international Border from USA to Mexico and watch the wildness quotient multiple times infinity. The dollar is much more popular here for it can get you more for less. The lowering of drinking age to 18, legalizing of prostitution and free flowing cheaper than water alcohol makes it an easy on pockets larger than life holiday destination. Similar to the Amsterdam’s Modius-operendi, the Mexican version is ‘la Cauhuil’. This is one hot spot for the earl 20s for it has all the ingredients of sin.

Cross one of the busiest international border stations in the world and you may think you've crossed into the Wild West. The 21-year-old US drinking age drops to 18, illegal prostitution is now legal and zoned in its own red light district called "La Coahuila", people on the street solicit prescription drugs and illegal drugs for sale, strip clubs encourage a "hands on" policy with its strippers and tequila is dirt cheap. These reasons alone make Tijuana No. 2 on our list of sin cities and a huge party spot for American college kids at the city's various nightclubs on Revolucion Avenue. Take note, however, that Mexican police hold no quarter with gringos. Make sure to keep your head about you while you sin to avoid paying bribes or serving jail time for bad behaviour. Sinning the rest of the time is easy; just say, "Dos cervezas, dos disparos de tequila y dos mujeres por favor".

3. Las Vegas, Nevada.
If this were a list for the top 10 Sin cities of United States, Vegas would defiantly win it hands down. The city is built on sins and for sins. The fun begins right from the airports where you can start gambling right away. The shows, the massages, the alcohol on streets and ‘Escort Services’ are all the vices of Vegas. The best part is the 24/7 gambling. Enjoy the night life in day and win or lose your dime, you will have the time of your life. The city prides itself on being a reputable destination for tourists. No raised eye brows on this particular land. It is the true Never-land.

Las Vegas is every sinner's paradise. You can gamble all day and night (even in the airport) and prostitution, while not technically legal, disguises itself in the form of "escort services". You'll see plenty advertised on magazine stands and guys will snap escort service cards at you as you walk The Strip. Other available vices in this sin city include taking your drinks outside and finding lurid sex shows at strip clubs or tamer ones at well-known casinos.

Have you ever wanted to shoot an Uzi or a handgun? No problem. Just walk into a local gun shop with a driver’s license. You can even indulge your taste for sinful wine and food at many of the city's celebrity restaurants, like Thomas Keller’s Bouchon. The greatest part of this sin city, however, is that no matter how dubious the culture, people respect Vegas as a legitimate destination. Go on and sin. It’s an industry here.

2. Manama, Bahrain
Welcome to the party oasis of the Middle East. Connected by a causeway to nearby Saudi Arabia, Manama is a popular spot for Saudis to kick back from their country's restrictive laws. Here they can get hammered, go clubbing, mingle with the opposite sex, and if they're really daring, they can pick up prostitutes - a practice that's illegal but widely available. While Manama is still largely a Muslim city, a third of its residents are foreigners, so it has led to a much more liberal culture that gave women the vote in 2001, and let them drive cars. For many Saudi males this proximity to an open culture is irresistible and many jam the causeway and fill flights to the city every weekend.

Do you want to see what happens when Saudis cut loose and leave the rules behind?

The 33% of European population mixed in the Middle-Eastern region this is the only one country in the world which allows alcohol openly. The European influence on the region has led to relaxed atmosphere here. The kick back from the stern Saudi laws is this wonderland where one can drink, gamble and easily mix with fairer sex. The weekend here is jammed with the Saudi Males looking to blow of some steam. The sin city has brought some relief to the strict region as due to the European presence women experience freedom more than the surrounding areas. The sin has led to a virtue in Manama, Bahrain.

1. Pattaya, Thailand.
The winner of this list is Pattaya, whereas the above cities give you one or two of this list this is the whole package. Here sin is equivalent breathing and this land is apt if you want to take in a sinful gulp of air. Here Sex is dubbed entertainment and is available as easily as water. The massages, the hourly hotels, the clubs the beach are all part of this entertainment legend. If you get bored of the women, the men can watch men beat each other to pulp in Thai boxing matches that are held at the outdoor bars. This land is paradise for the Guy community. This land boasts of easy access to all the sins and easily wins this list. Here we conclude the tour of the most sinful lands of the world. The amusement at humans going to lengths to satisfy the devil inside is valid. We fight for the virtues and gratify the struggles in these sin cities. The lights are mirage away from life and everyone who experiences this world wishes to go back just one more time.

From "happy ending" massage parlors, brothels, go-go bars and cabarets with transsexuals to ping-pong dancing theatrics, everything is on display at this beachside resort city. Sex is the No. 1 activity (it's called "entertainment" in Thai), and if you can imagine any variation, you'll probably find it on Walking Street, a hub in South Pattaya. While you’re walking, prostitutes will call out to you and some will likely try to pull you into their brothel for services. If you're tired of sex shows, however, you can always sit down to watch guys beat each other to a pulp in a Thai boxing match hosted at the outdoor bars. Since the city is right on the beach, you can sleep off your hangover and sin from the night before and get a tan - just in time for the next evening’s "entertainment".