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Articles for ‘Spa Vacation’ Category

Top domestic beach vacations: Hilton Head and Amelia Island

Saturday, October 24th, 2009

By Lena Katz

With summer in the rearview mirror and Thanksgiving around the next curve, the landscape may look a little dreary to you these days. Maybe it’s time for a quick change of scenery. Quickie beach vacations, golf getaways or spa weekends are an easy way to perk up a blah autumn. Last installment was all about the Florida Keys—considered by many to be the ultimate Florida beach vacation spot. This time, we focus other domestic destinations: Hilton Head and Amelia Island on the western Florida coast.

Hilton Head

Hilton Head

Hilton Head

While Hilton Head Island has a storied history dating from Colonial times, it wasn’t until the 1950s when builders developed Sea Pines Resort that really transformed the island into a tourist destination. From the start, the intention was to maintain the simplicity and serenity of island life, while bringing in a range of high-end experiences and accommodations that could satisfy wealthy clientele. Today, the island has 24 golf courses, including Harbour Town Golf Links which hosts an annual PGA tournament. Apart from this it remains fairly pristine: Bike trails wind around groves of 100-year-old trees, while inlets and slow-moving creeks offer kayak fishing. People walk out to meet the incoming fishing boats in the harbor daily, selecting fresh catch to bring home and grill up, or eating at one of the waterfront restaurants.

Located in the Low Country coastal area, this is part of the Sea Islands system. It’s a quick drive from Savannah/Hilton Head airport, though it’s actually across the state line in South Carolina. At four hours’ driving distance from Charlotte and Atlanta, it’s a popular weekend getaway for residents of those cities as well as people flying in from the Midwest. Many of the big hotel chains have a presence here. Marriott Hilton Head Island Resort & Spa recently completed a revamp and opened a new spa with 15 treatment rooms. The Westin is a frontrunner as far as spa goes: the chain’s Heavenly Spa program, which draws upon indigenous ingredients from whichever region the spas are located, has a variety of inspirations to work with on this Low Country island. Signatures are the indigo massage and sweet grass wrap and—for people coming in with stiff shoulders after a day on the greens—a heated golf ball massage. For anyone who prefers to experience all the island’s dining and shopping, the Holiday Inn is right across from Coligny Plaza, which boasts more than 60 shops and restaurants. (more…)

Posted in Beach Vacation, Family Travel, Florida Vacation, Spa Vacation, Sports Travel | No Comments »

Charleston hotels offer affordable luxury

Monday, October 12th, 2009

As part of my job as Orbitz market manager for the Southeast region of the U.S., I travel throughout the area to scope out cities and research great hotels. And while this sounds like a perfect job, it does have some setbacks: For one, I need to leave my toddlers behind (but now that I think about it, leaving the tantrums and potty-training accidents for a few days isn’t all that bad). And another thing, with so many fantastic hotels to visit and neighborhoods to explore, having to slice up my time becomes a task. At the end of the day, I can’t really complain since I get to head to beautiful cities, like Charleston, S.C.

Vendue Inn Restaurant

Vendue Inn Restaurant

This historic city in the Deep South is at times both elegant and exciting—and when visiting Charleston, you have many hotel options, depending on your budget and personal interests.

Historic Charleston hotels offer upscale options nearby great shopping, dining and nightlife, where you can find great deals on luxury hotel rooms and suites. The French Quarter Inn opens up more doors in an exciting setting. Or you can stay across the Cooper River in Mount Pleasant, where you can find less expensive hotels, like the Charleston Harbor Resort and Marina, which often runs specials. A beach and golf vacation is not out of the question either, as Charleston hotels on Kiawah or Seabrook islands create a beautiful setting to relax.

The following five Charleston hotels offer a great value for fall travel, and yes I have toured, stayed at and even eaten at most of these hotels as part of my, um, stressful duties at Orbitz. (more…)

Posted in Family Travel, Food & Wine, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

The inside scoop on Florida Keys vacations

Tuesday, October 6th, 2009

By Lena Katz

It’s sunset in Key West, and as usual, at least three people in Mallory Square are playing with fire. One’s juggling it, one’s dancing with it, and the third seems to be ready to eat it. A few yards away, a man in a straitjacket and chains hangs upside down above an excited crowd.

Mallory Square, Sunset Celebration. Photo by Gary Sibley

Mallory Square, Sunset Celebration. Photo by Gary Sibley

Oblivious to the street theater, German tourists push forward to the seawall, straining to snap photos of the sunset over the ocean. A cruise ship looms large on the horizon, with a few sailboats floating serenely in the mist. Even though autumn’s officially started, this town is eternally on a beach holiday—as are all of the Florida Keys. It’s one of several island clusters that offer Midwest and East Coast residents an easy golf getaway, fishing trip, spa weekend…not quite a full vacation, but enough to tide you over till the holidays.

The Florida Keys are just a half-hour jaunt from Miami, but many of its return guests are from Indianapolis and Ohio, Chicago and Boston…chilly cities that excel at business, but have forgotten how to relax. With mile after mile of peaceful, barely trafficked islands connected by narrow bridges and populated mostly by birds, the Keys literally offers a journey into to serenity.

The uppermost island, Key Largo, is the busiest except for Key West. Dozens of fishing expeditions and dive boats go in and out daily, the fishing boats in search of tarpon and bonefish (catch-and-release only), and the dive boats cruising to the offshore coral reef.  It’s hard to choose between the many boat operators, but locals recommend Florida Keys Outfitters for fishing. Atlantis Dive Center is a hugely popular snorkel/dive boat operator—founder Spencer Slate’s shtick involves feeding moray eels chunks of fish from his mouth (he used to do barracuda till one of the fish chomped his mask off). (more…)

Posted in Beach Vacation, Florida Vacation, Holidays & Events, Miami Vacation, Spa Vacation, Travel Tips | No Comments »

Hula lessons, cheap eats and other ways to enjoy a Hawaii vacation

Thursday, August 20th, 2009

Hawaii vacation

(Courtesy: Hawaii Tourism Authority (HTA) / Tor Johnson)

By Lena Katz

Six months ago a certain guy from Hawaii introduced the “Yes, we can!” mantra to the American public, and now we’re reprising it right in time for the end of summer. After too many months of denying yourself all things fun and sunshiney, the question as August rolls around is, “Can I somehow manage a Hawaii vacation after all, even on a shoestring budget?” And my answer is …YES YOU CAN…

…get a cheap meal in the islands
In Oahu, Haili’s Backyard Luau, the new lunch wagon at Ward Centers, serves the same great Hawaiian plate lunches that were popular at former neighborhood fave Haili’s Hawaiian Foods for more than 50 years.  The Makai Market food court at Ala Moana Center offers everything from Japanese noodles and Korean BBQ to Hawaiian plate lunch and deli sandwiches. Diamond Head Market & Grill is especially well known for bakery items like the signature blueberry cream cheese scones, but later in the day it offers gourmet plate lunches, sandwiches, wraps, and desserts.

(more…)

Posted in Beach Vacation, Family Travel, Hawaii Vacation, Romance, Spa Vacation, Travel Tips | No Comments »

Special extras make all-inclusive vacations even better

Wednesday, August 12th, 2009

By Lena Katz

“That chicken club sandwich cost $25 dollars? But it didn’t even have cheese on it!!” *Cue sputtering outrage.

All inclusive vacation

Paradisus Palma Real

As anyone who’s ever had this reaction to a poolside lunch tab knows, a boatload of extra charges for beverage, food and activities can nearly sink the vacation vibe, particularly if you’re traveling with kids during a cash-strapped spell. That’s why so many people have turned to all-inclusive vacations these days…you pay upfront, and you know there won’t be a second reckoning at the end. Lately you may get even more than you expected, as so many of these beachside paradises are introducing new and innovative extras to improve the vacation experience.
The greatest example of this that I’ve seen is the Paradisus chain, an all-inclusive brand within the Melia family. For all the different room categories, one round of golf and one SCUBA dive per day are included in the package price. Paradisus properties tend to be on the large side, so for a slight price hop, Family Concierge and Royal Service programs give  family or adult groups the extra personalized attention and perks they desire. For families, it’s kiddie amenities and snacks; for Royal adults, dry-cleaning and laundry service, private butlers and a business lounge with wireless access and other business amenities.

(more…)

Posted in All Inclusive Resorts, Beach Vacation, Caribbean Vacation, Family Travel, International Vacations, Mexico Vacation, Romance, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

Explore some of Hawaii’s best beaches

Wednesday, July 15th, 2009

Sunset Beach on Oahu

Sunset Beach on Oahu

By Lena Katz

Whether the Hawaii headline of the minute is a fancy food festival, a football game or a visit from The Bachelor,  the real story is always the same: Beaches, beaches and more beaches. Hidden coves where you can cuddle in private with your sweetheart; epic scenescapes with 10-foot waves and world-class surfers; calm sunny hangouts where families picnic and splash around in lapping 2-footers… If you’re planning a beach vacation, here’s a few of Hawaii’s best, from legendary to the little-known.

When you’re on Oahu and you’ve got wheels, it’s practically a rule you’ve got to get out of Honolulu at least one day. A lot of people head to the North Shore to gawk at the surfers on Sunset Beach and Waimea. Impossibly buffed and bold in the face of walls of water twice a man’s height, the North Shore pros are quite a sight. And if you want to spend a few days of your Hawaii vacation exploring that side of the island, note that its most famous hotel, Turtle Bay Resort in Kahuku, just added eco-friendly kayak tours to its daily schedule. Eco-tourism outfit Shaka Kayaks will run the tours, which feature plexiglass-bottomed PeekabooTM kayaks.

(more…)

Posted in Beach Vacation, Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, Hawaii Vacation, Romance, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

In Florence, slow down and enjoy the gelato

Monday, July 13th, 2009

Hotel Savoy (Courtesy: Anthony Grant)

Hotel Savoy (Courtesy: Anthony Grant)

By Anthony Grant

Few destinations evoke images of slowness and beauty the way Florence does. There’s something about the way this Italian city is cradled in the lush Tuscan hillsides and about the richness of its Renaissance past that’s still such a force here you can practically taste it. And art, art everywhere, beginning (or ending) with  Michelangelo’s gleefully in the buff David: we’re talking hardcore gorgeousness here.

Florence doesn’t have, and probably never will, a particularly hopping restaurant or nightlife scene, preferring to beat to its own, resolutely Renaissance, drum. In fact, for gay nightlife, aside from a few standbys like YAG B@R and Piccolo Caffe, it’s a non-scene, and Florentines looking for one take the one-hour train ride north to Bologna. You can too, but between the Uffizi Gallery, Pitti Palace and frescoed cathedrals, or just lingering in the lap of luxury at a well-located hotel like the Savoy, there’s plenty to keep you anchored in Florence for a few days or more.

(more…)

Posted in Europe Vacation, Food & Wine, Gay Travel, International Vacations, Nightlife, Romance, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

Adventure is in the air — and the water — in Costa Rica

Monday, July 6th, 2009

Amber Brinson on the zip line.

Amber Brinson on the zip line.

By Lena Katz

I never would claim to be an adventure addict. In fact, it’s no exaggeration to say that a scrappy seven-year-old girl (for example, pint-sized Amber Brinson, pictured here) is braver than me. Amber zipped along all 15 of the cables in the Arenal Ecoglide Park canopy tour in La Fortuna, Costa Rica, without a peep. I, on the other hand, kicked and squealed and tried to stop one zip line halfway through. Nonetheless, I find so many things to delight in a Costa Rica vacation — hot springs, secluded beaches, volcano vistas, inquisitive howler monkeys — that I can never go home without looking back nostalgically, fantasizing what it would be like to live in this patch of Central American paradise year-round.

To say that Costa Rica specializes in eco tourism is a major understatement. Locals are absolutely devoted to their beautiful beaches and indigenous wildlife and grumbling volcanoes. Various environmental certification programs like Bandera Azul and the Chamber of Eco-Tourism impose strict standards upon developers. As a result, none of the beachfront buildings attain the horizon-blocking heights you see in Honolulu or Miami, all beaches are public, and hotels are usually surrounded by acres of protected land.

(more…)

Posted in All Inclusive Resorts, Beach Vacation, Eco-Tourism, Family Travel, International Vacations, Romance, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

A day in the life of your Vegas blogger

Monday, June 29th, 2009

By E.C. Gladstone

vegas-blogger1Doing a blog like this isn’t all fun and games, you know.  Okay, it is mostly fun and games.  But sometimes I can find myself clocking an awful lot of miles trying to look like I’m “relaxing.” Okay, no whining.  The point is, I thought it would be fun just to share one typically hectic day in my life with you all.  Let’s take the Friday before last…

I woke up in a spacious junior suite on one of the Palazzo’s upgraded Concierge levels. While Palazzo & Venetian have always been one of
my favorite Las Vegas hotels on the Strip for many reasons, the Concierge level adds so much to the already high amenity level here (premium betting, motorized curtains, body jets in the shower, DVD player on one of two big flatscreens, multifunction Brother fax/scanner). Grabbing breakfast in the sprawling concierge lounge (a modest rate upgrade for 3 meals and evening cocktails, free DVD library and more), I caught up with news and e-mails using the free business
center computers before heading downstairs to the new Azure club pool.

(more…)

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Posted in Business Travel, Family Travel, Food & Wine, Gambling Vacation, Las Vegas Vacation, Nightlife, Orbitz Travel Insider, Romance, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

Hot new Fort Lauderdale hotel has cool vibe

Thursday, June 18th, 2009

Fort lauderdale hotel By Jessica Taylor

With a tighter travel budget this year, saving money is a priority for my annual beach pilgrimage. So which seaside spot am I going to visit? I’m staying home to explore my own backyard, Fort Lauderdale beach. Yes, I'm doing the "staycation" thing.

I have lived in the Lauderdale area for 15 years, and for those that have not recently visited, Fort Lauderdale beach has transformed into a chic hot spot with new luxe hotels and restaurants. I hardly recognize the beachfront with the Ritz-Carlton and the Atlantic Hotel. Same great beaches though. So I decided to use this vacation to try a new Fort Lauderdale hotel, the W Fort Lauderdale, which just opened. The rates are at their lowest right now and I can enjoy the “good life” at a great price.

(more…)

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Posted in Beach Vacation, Florida Vacation, Food & Wine, Nightlife, Spa Vacation | No Comments »

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