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Jaime Camil is a bonafide jet-setter. But when you're on the road as often as he is, it's no wonder that he's pretty particular about where he stays when traveling. “I want to feel immersed in the destination and, to me, the quality of the service and amenities can really make or break your trip,” the actor and director tells Rolling Stone. Still, that doesn't mean he's seen it all — we recently caught up with him in Oaxaca for his first time experiencing Día de Muertos festivities in Mexico.
Though the Jane the Virgin and Lopez vs. Lopez actor makes it well known that he was an early Expedia adapter, and even recently launched his own Travel Shop, a your-next-vacation-bookable storefront to share his personal favorite hotels with his fans, across Mexico and the world. One of the country's biggest stars, Camil himself currently divides his time between Los Angeles and Mexico City (where he hosts talent show The Academy on Azteca Uno) with his wife, model Heidi Balvanera, and their two children.
Expedia
It's safe to say he's had to become in expert in everything from what to pack (“you know what's very messed up? Now, most hotels only give you this ridiculous liquid soap, that's why I always pack bar soap now), to the best hotels to lay your head down (“the Grand Fiesta Americana Oaxaca is a fantastic home base for first-time visitors, as it's located right in the heart of the city”).
Now he hopes to inspire others to plan trips of their own, especially to Oaxaca — rich in Zapotec and Mixtec traditions, the city has become a prime location for viewing Día de Muertos celebrations in recent years. Celebrated predominantly on Nov. 1 and 2 each year (although sometimes from Oct. 31 to Nov. 6 depending on the region), Día de Muertos sees families gather to honor their departed in cemeteries and through festive parades.
“Oaxaca and Morelia celebrate it as authentic as they get. It's incredible.” Camil admits he was raised in a more “Americanized” family where trick-or-treating for Halloween was more the norm than joining a festive procession, but that's just what made this trip all the more special. “Although my family erected an altar each year, this is the first time I'm delving into the profound beauty and meaning that it has in my country, to truly immerse myself in this tradition,” he shared with Expedia Magazine.
Expedia
From viewing the intricate ofrendas families created at home and in cemeteries, gathering to sing, eat, and remember loved ones, to parades and special food that you can only get during this holiday, Camil's now gotten to experience it all. But it takes on extra meaning for him, as he starred in the Spanish-language version of Pixar's Coco (a film that arguably helped Día de Muertos become more globally recognized).
“Like in Cocowhen you go to a loved one's grave, you're not going to insult them. You're not going to rile them up. For Mexicans, especially, it's the complete opposite — you make sure they're not forgotten. You make sure you celebrate around them, and show how much you miss them.”
We sat down with Camil to talk everything from hotel hospitality, to the way we honor the dead, and tips on planning your next trip to Mexico.
So you travel a lot for work, and have talked about some of your favorite hotel stays in Mexico, but what are some of your travel essentials?
Camil: I travel a lot with my family a lot, yeah? So it is impossible not to break, not to bring big bags. It's just impossible not to. But I am becoming more and more efficient when I travel for work to just bring a carry-on. And for the love of love of baby Jesus, when you avoid waiting for luggage, and you have Global Entry and all the little tools to get in and out of the airport fast, it just makes your life so much easier.
But for essentials? A travel toothbrush. I don't know why but face soap is essential. for me. I used to travel with all of my shampoo and — do you know what's messed up? Now, most hotels only give you this ridiculous liquid soap, that's why I always pack bar soap lately.
What are some tips or advice you would give to someone who is traveling to Mexico for the first time?
Camil: I'm partnering with Expedia right now, but I've been a member for 30 years — practically since I was in diapers [Laughs]. These Travel Shops they have are incredible. I can recommend to people what they should do, where to travel. 90% of my recommendations are hotels that I have stayed in, and the other 10% are hotels that I really want to visit. But right now, if you want to go celebrate Día de Muertos in Mexico, or spend Carnival in Brazil, you will get a bunch of options on Travel Shops. They vet the hotels too, so I trust the platform.
What makes or breaks a hotel stay for you?
Camil: Service, 100%. How they greet you, how they say “hi” to you. I'm zero high maintenance, as low maintenance as they get. But sometimes you really want to feel that if there's something that could be improved, or if there's an inconvenience in the property, that the staff will immediately jump and try their very best to accommodate you. Understanding that you can be at a Holiday Inn, or you could be at the Mandarin Oriental in Paris, and yes, resolving issues there will be different, but at the same time, the quality of service should stay the same. If the freaking waffle machine at the Holiday Inn is out of batter, like, it's not my fault they finished the batter, but you should try to get some more [Laughs].
A Día de Muertos “appearance” in Oaxaca, a short parade where locals dress in dress up as characters that allude to death
Expedia
This city has some of your top recommendations for celebrating Día de Muertos in Mexico. What do you think is so special about Oaxaca?
Camil: Oaxaca and Morelia celebrate it as authentic as they get. It's incredible. Because I grew up in a pretty “Americanized” family, I'm not as well versed when it comes to the celebrations here, but it's a safe bet that there will always be something exciting going on no matter where you go.
Right? It's got such a long and rich history in Mexico, but now has more global recognition due, in some part, to films like Coco. But on the other side, there are some locals who are not as thrilled about the tourist-ification of these celebrations. How do you feel about that?
Camil: I mean, to each their own, right? Some say it's disrespectful, you know, to be stepping near the graves. But like you see in Cocowhen you go to a loved one's grave, you're not going to insult them. You're not going to rile them up. For Mexicans, especially, it's the complete opposite — you make sure they're not forgotten. You make sure you celebrate around them, and show how much you miss them.
Even if it's for your own benefit, for your own heart — you feel your own heart, right? I do believe there's something after life. That there are energies, or whatever you want to call them. I believe that they are around us, and in some way, they protect us. But again, I think it depends on each region, it depends on each culture, it depends on many things. So what do I think? Well, I think that everybody's entitled to celebrate however they want to. But we do have to respect the tradition [tradition].
It's like they say, funerals are for the living, not the dead.
Camil: I hate funerals. I'd much rather celebrate like this. It's so positive, so uplifting and so connected.
