Mass tourism began in Victorian age (the Industrial Age) when Thomas Cook packaged rail tickets along with guest house stays fpr Londoners who traveled to breath clean air in Scottish Highlands. There were few luxurious hotels or resorts at end of rail lines or scenic stopovers. Thomas Cook, still in operation today, and a leading travel supplier, made a fortune. It was era of adventure and discovery, and railroad companies took notice of Cook’s success by building huge limestone and granite monumental hotels along their rail routes.

One such hotel was regal Railway Hotel built in Galway, Ireland, opening its doors in 1852. Queen Victoria of England had been in power for about 15 years and travel was in full swing. Ireland at time was part of British Empire and hotel, today called Great Southern Hotel, still stands, beckoning adventurers through its revolving doorway.

The hotel was completed at a cost of £30,000 for Midland and Great Western Railway Company. The architect, John Skipton Mulvany, also designed Galway railway station. Just over entrance on façade of hotel is Mulvany’s favorite motif, wreaths. The hotel is built of limestone ashlar, just like many of ancient Celtic castles in region, and there is a cornice over heavily rusticated ground floor. The ground floor also has recessed architrave windows and a heavy string-course, making morning breakfast light natural in Oyster Room Restaurant. Prepare to be spoiled on a grand scale, enjoy good things in life in Oyster Room Restaurant, and sample delights of afternoon tea to sound of resident pianist. The original facade was topped by a shelf-like Doric cornice. Among surviving internal features in present majestic hotel is a beautiful marble fireplace incorporating a pair of bronze discs, emblazoned with Midland and Great Western Railway coat of arms, and it is dated to 1845, about same time Thomas Cook began his tours in England.

While waiting for my new found Irish friends, fireplace was most popular spot on cool autumn evenings, and with Oyster Room Restaurant and Bar not far off, it often means sitting warmly with a stiff drink in hand to ember interior regions as well.

It must have been a magnificent era for those that traveled to Galway a hundred and fifty years ago. The Galway Subscription Ball was held in 1855 by Lady Clanmorris and Lady Redington, a notable early historical event when Galway Militia paraded in Eyre Square, a square block of city park green, but not so green when I visited. It was all torn up for a complete renovation, but due for quick completion. President John F. Kennedy,of Irish descent, spoke in Square in 1963, and park within Square is now called Kennedy Park. I stopped to talk to archaeologists who were digging in an ancient Irish housing unit, complete with bars, on top end of park. The most evident relics they found were whiskey bottles and beer casks.

The local Galway residents got a real shocker one day in July 1857, when Prince Louis Napoleon of France sailed up Galway Bay on his steam yacht La Reine Hortense, and had lunch at hotel. The bureaucrats in Dublin and England were fearful of yet more French Imperial expansionism, but I think Louie was here just for superb lunch and high tea that are still served!

At end of World War I, in 1918, hotel was requisitioned by British Army and then later handed over to Irish National Army after signing of Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1922, year of Ireland ’s independence. But during Irish Civil War of same year, Renmore Military Barracks was taken over by Republican forces and set ablaze, along with Officers Mess and accommodations blocks. So they occupied hotel, but later Republicans retreated and hotel fell into hands of Free State troops. Sandbags were erected on front entrance and troops guarded hotel until calm prevailed.

You’ve worked your fingers to nubby bone and have finally arrived at long awaited moment—the Annual Family Vacation! Oh, but don’t forget with that comes Annual Family Vacation Showdown. Visions of tropical drinks melting in Mom’s hand and great reads dance in her head. Dad wants to shave strokes and to dive with locals. Of course, kids crave enough endless noise-making, head-throbbing fun to make their parents down a Sam’s Wholesale Club sized container of headache medicine in just two weeks. Where to go? What to do?

With pen in hand, Dad hastily scribbles each idea as it is screamed out—scuba! snorkel! dining! museums! surfing! nightly shows! kayaking! lazing! shopping… The cash register rings in his head as prices rise with each wish.

Even so-called experts don’t agree. “Make it a kids’ trip. Keep in mind that kids aren’t adults.”

“If Momma ain’t happy, ain’t no one happy.”

“The man is king of his castle.”

But I think there is one thing that all agree on and that is everyone has a personal desire on how they want to savor their holiday.

And so glossy dog-eared travel guides pile up on packed coffee table. Enchanted children’s theme parks, couples exotic hideaways, and sleep amongst King of Beasts extreme adventure trips. Choices and packages but which one is best for your clan of many interests?

Well, after many years of vacationing with my own motley crew, I have found THE resort at THE location. In fact, I’ve frequented this spot so many times that I’m registered somewhere between an elated local and a clued-in visitor. So you and yours grab an aquas frescas and come with me to place that will satisfy both desires of those wanting an endless schedule of activities, and those dreaming of a private retreat on edge of paradise.

Wearing a sombrero of endless blue sky and a poncho of shimmering crystal clear water, island of Cozumel, which nestles along Caribbean coast of Yucatan Peninsula , offers contrast of old world Mexico with a Caribbean flamboyance. The isle teems with amazing contrasts from gentle lapping waters as clear as glass for superb diving and snorkeling on one side, to extreme waves on other side for some wild surfing and gazing out at rock formations that are sprayed with sea.

This isle has all fixin's: three distinctive types of beaches—white confectionary sugar sand with gentle lapping waves; "iron shore" rocky beaches for oh-wow! snorkeling; and assisted-by-man strand where sand was dumped over natural limestone rock shoreline for breathtaking glances of underwater life and a great beach to play and lie on.

Jacques Cousteau introduced us to mind-blowing diving along 32 km long reef system and combined with this main ingredient, add à la carte dishes of fishing shallow lagoons for barracuda, gray snapper, tarpon, and bonies; sailing into one incredible sunset, soaking up sun, and many other activities; and you'll have a island buffet that will please anyone's flavor.

Once a fishing village on perpetual siesta, now a mecca for many of finest cruise lines, San Miguel, isle’s only town, presents off-the-beaten-path charms with vendors still pushing wares on wheeled carts alongside a bustling on-the-beaten-path metropolis with shopping malls. Hard-working locals and hard-playing tourists hang together all over this little town.

You may go as "touristy" as you'd like with Hard Rock Cafe, Fat Tuesdays, and new American-style malls along most concentrated visitor's path. Or you can live like Cozumeleños and trudge a few blocks in from "cruise ship strip" to shops with no names and get locals' prices and full Mexican culture, such as folkloric dances and parties on Sunday nights in town square where entire Mayan and Mexican families come out to play. During this time, there is always some free happening going on and local food is not only so inexpensive, it is so delicious! No matter how you slice it or perhaps want to mix it, you'll find perfect blending which will thrill everyone's tastes.

In heart of it all, one mile from downtown and three miles from airport, nestles Hotel Cozumel and Resort at Carretera Costera Sur Km 1.7, Cozumel , Mexico 77600. This means that you are near everything and will save mucho dinero on transportation costs. It’s Cozumel ’s favorite hotel for divers and a great have-it-all resort for families.

Resembling Beverly Hillbillies clan with our hodgepodge luggage,Wal-Mart bags (those blue plastic bags can be used for anything!), and at least three guitars, boogie boards, and whatever else kids seem to think that they need, we pour out of shuttle and immediately children scatter everywhere. You can never be discreet with three kids!

It is a flawless check-in as bilingual reception staff patiently puts up with our elated kids and welcomes us to resort. The open-air lobby with its three-story ceiling, glass doors wide open, and enormous tropical plants all around blends outdoor with indoor, a trademark of Caribbean.