WestJet & Air Transat airlines make it easier for Canadians
 to visit Manzanillo


WestJet began service to Manzanillo (ZLO) Nov. 2 from Vancouver (YVR) and Calgary (YYC), and will continue the flights thorough April 26, 2013. The WestJet fleet, consisting of Boeing 737s, goes to 7 destinations in Mexico, allowing Canadian sunbirds a choice of coastal cities at a reasonable price.

Full schedule details and affordable fares to Manzanillo are available by visiting www.westjet.com, or by calling WestJet's Sales Super Centre at 1-888-WESTJET (937-8538) or through your preferred travel agent.

The flight originates in Vancouver, and after a brief stop in Calgary to pick up more passengers, goes on to Manzanillo.

WestJet Airlines Ltd. has been given clearance by Ottawa to provide scheduled service to Mexico.

Federal Transport Minister Lawrence Canon said Friday that WestJet, along with Skyservice Airlines Inc. and Sunwing Airlines Inc., are now designated to operate scheduled international air services between Canada and Mexico.

WestJet called the new destination a "tremendous opportunity for the airline," which had been seeking scheduled routes to Mexico and the Caribbean.

"This news ensures that our strategic plan of continued international expansion is on course," Sean Durfy, WestJet president, said in a release.

WestJet said its scheduled service will include flights to San Jose del Cabo, Mazatlan, Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo and Manzanillo from Calgary and Edmonton.

Connect with WestJet on Facebook at www.facebook.com/westjet.  Follow WestJet on Twitter at www.twitter.com/westjet.  Subscribe to WestJet on YouTube at www.youtube.com/westjet.

Read more here  West Jet info on zlo

 
Air Transat, a holiday travel airline owned by Montreal-based tour operator Transat A.T. Inc., was also given the go-ahead to operate additional scheduled services.

Air Transat, recently voted "the world's best leisure airline"  by Skytrax annual World Airline Awards, will have charter flights every Monday through April, will bring visitors to Manzanillo by a subsidiary company, CanJet, in a 737. Transat Holidays offers vacation packages to several all-inclusive hotels, including:

  • Gran Festivall (formerly Club Maeva): All-inclusive hotel, across the street from Miramar beach, accessed by a pedestrian walkway across the main blvd. Features of the hotel include large pool, tennis courts, water slide, disco, poolside activities for adults, teens and young children.
  • Playa de Oro: All-inclusive hotel, close to the Gran Festival, and also across the street from the beach. You must cross the highway to get to the beach and walk down some stairs, but at most times there is a crossing guard.
  • Las Hadas: The hotel that put Manzanillo on the map, where they filmed the movie "10" with Bo Derek and Dudley Moore back in the 70s. Fantastic view from most rooms, beautiful pool area, great staff, nice beach (though man-made), cabaña with padded lounge chairs for comfortable sunning or shade, next to marina and several restaurants off premises.
  • Hotel Tesoro: Large 18-story hotel on a very nice beach with usually calm waters. Large pool with activities for kids and adults. Cabañas on the beach. Nice buffet-style breakfasts and lunches or burgers off the grill.
  • Barceló Karmina Palace: Manzanillo's newest hotel with friendly staff, nice pool area, small beach, and near Las Hadas golf course. Above average food according to guests.
  • Hotel Grand Bay: Not on the beach, on the lagoon side Isla Navidad, but elegant with excellent staff and amenities. About 50 minutes from Manzanillo, but a water taxi will take guests to Barra de Navidad.
  • Blue Bay (formerly Los Angeles Locos): This hotel is about 2 hours north of Manzanillo and very isolated. It is actually in the state of Jalisco, not Colima. If peace and privacy is your idea of a vacation, of if you'd like to rent a car and explore, this is a nice all-inclusive hotel.

Booking and pricing information, click here. For information call 1-866-322-6649 weekdays 9 a.m.-11 p.m., weekends 9 a.m.-9 p.m.

Air Transat's Manzanillo booking page.

For more information on Manzanillo and the state of Colima, be sure and read Susan Dearing guidebook.