Enjoy a Rejuvinating Swedish Massage
With cruising remaining as one of best vacation values for your dollar, you’ll save more than enough to indulge in a few pampering spa treatments for yourself. Let’s take a look at what some cruise ships offer!
Based in Paris, the chic Carita Spa is featured on Regent Seven Seas Cruises. Specializing in skin care, they offer a pro-lift treatment that can revitalize your skin for that romantic dinner for two in your cabin.
The Greenhouse Spa is offered on Holland America Line featuring effervescent sea water thalassotherapy which relaxes the body and eases aches and pains – perfect after a lively day in port.
For adults only, Princess Cruises is offering a romantic side-by-side couples massage at the Lotus Spa. Continue the relaxation you felt while lounging beside the pool by treating yourself to a spa ocean wrap to detoxify your body.
Pamper yourself when you stay in an AquaClass cabin while sailing onboard a Celebrity Cruise ship. Here you can have complimentary access to the thermal relaxation room plus the added bonus of being able to experience spa treatments in the privacy of your own cabin.
Famous for acupuncture and massage, the prestigious Canyon Ranch spa is ready to make a fuss over you onboard the Cunard ship, Queen Mary 2, which also features a co-ed therapy pool.
August 18th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Promotions, Uncategorized | Comments (0)
The Quaint & Charming San Dune Inn
Located on the northern coastline of Oregon and with only 800 residents, lies the sleepy town of Manzanita, Oregon. But don’t let that fool you, as this is actually what makes Manzanita a little piece of paradise.
Manzanita, Spanish for ‘little apple,’ is located about 2 hours west of Portland and lies to the north of Tillamook. With seven miles of spectacular sandy beaches, it’s no wonder Manzanita has “the third most photographed scenery in Oregon,” according to VisittheOregonCoast.com.
One of the great places to stay while visiting Manzanita is the charming San Dune Inn owned by the ever-so-friendly and knowledgable, Brian & Billie Hines. Only a few blocks away from those gorgeous beaches, and with only a handful of rooms, this unassuming motel offers a ton of fun for guests, with their compliments, of course.
There are beach chairs, board games, videos, and bicycles, which are great for exploring the town at your leisure. The San Dune Inn is extremely dog-friendly as well and so the Hines happily provide dog treats, pooper scooper bags, and even doggie beach towels.
As an added bonus, each room offers free broadband wireless, and for added luxury, all of the bed linens are individually hand ironed. In addition, this smoke-free motel features full kitchens with a microwave, in-room coffee, a VCR, hairdryer, and a BBQ area for guests.
For more information, visit the San Dune Inn or VisittheOregonCoast.
August 11th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (1)
Burj Al Arab
One of the most intriguing destinations in the world, Dubai, United Arab Emirates, offers some of the best, biggest, and most lavish of almost everything.
According to archaeological finds, Dubai’s history can be traced back as far as the third millennium B.C. In more recent times, as an important fishing port on the Persian Gulf, Dubai has grown from a population in 1975 of only 180,000 people, to a high-tech city of 1.5 million residents in 2008.
Let’s take a look at what makes exotic Dubai so extraordinary:
- Burj Al Arab Hotel – the billowing sail of the tallest tower in the world reaches 1,053 feet (see Nakheel Tower below)
- The World – the largest man-made islands, the first 7-star hotel ever, where you can even own your own piece of the world
- Palm Island – to solve the shortage of beaches, the city of Dubai built three residential communities of man-made islands each forming the shape of palm tree (only one of three Palms has been completed to date)
- Bur Dubai-Deira Bridge – world’s largest arch bridge spans 672 ft tall & 5,249 long in total
- Dubai Mall - the world’s largest mall with 440,000 square feet of shopping
- Dubai Marina – a city within a city and the largest man-made marina in the world
- Nakheel Tower – which now soars over the Burj al Arab Hotel at 3,280 feet
- Ski Dubai – the Middle East’s first ski resort plus tobogganing, boarding & an ice bar
- Dubai Festival City – a self-contained vibrant waterfront lifestyle community with homes, schools, offices, hotels, entertainment, dining and of course, more shopping
And to think this is only a partial list! Dubai’s hospitality, ambition, and shear wealth alone, continues to astound and amaze people in all countries of the world.
To learn more, visit Dubai Tourism.
August 7th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Imagine. Experience. Share.
Travel planning is easy when you use the trip planning tool available from TravelMuse.
This cool informational travel website gets you to your destination in four easy steps. First, pick your destination. Second, decide what you’d like to do at your destination whether it is sightseeing, water sports or simple relaxation.
Next, you can share your trip ideas with others who may be going on the trip to get their input and suggestions. And finally, you can print a guide that is customized to your trip as you’ve planned it.
Another highlight of the TravelMuse website is the Tripfolio feature that gives you the ability to save trip planning content to your folio from anywhere on the web. This is great when you’re researching a destination and collecting information but don’t really have just one place to put it all – and now you do.
TravelMuse also has the added ability to let you search the web directly from the TravelMuse website using their embedded web search. This is also great so you don’t have to open multiple web pages looking for information, you can simply do it all from TravelMuse.
TravelMuse also offers a community forum where users can add reviews, ask questions about specific destinations, and generally communicate with other travelers.
For more information, visit TravelMuse, or read my articles that appear on TravelMuse here.
August 4th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
But Wait, There's More!
JetBlue Airways has just announced a fall seat sale with prices as low as $29 each way!
Sample one-way fares include Fort Lauderdale, FL, to Nassau, Bahamas for $29; New York, NY, to Boston, MA, for $29; New York to Montego Bay, Jamaica, for $119; Houston, TX, to New York for $129; and Chicago, IL, to Long Beach, CA, for $109.
Tickets must be purchased by August 5, 2009, and require a 14-day advance purchase. Fares are valid for travel between September 8, 2009, and December 16, 2009; all travel must be completed by December 16, 2009.
All prices shown are one-way based on a round trip purchase and are subject to availability and change. Day of the week restrictions apply; surcharges, taxes, and/or fees are not included.
JetBlue Airways was recently ranked as the number one low cost airline with the highest overall customer satisfaction according to JD Power & Associates.
JetBlue gives customers more by offering a number of free services including no charge for the first checked bag, 36 channels of DIRECTV, 100 channels of XM Radio, complimentary unlimited brand name snacks, and more leg room than the average airline.
But Wait, There’s More! If you book a hotel for 3 or more nights, you will get $30 off your stay using the promotion code provided on the JetBlue Airways website.
Take advantage of the ‘But Wait, There’s More’ sale by visiting JetBlue Airways.
July 30th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Bali is only one of the 17,500 islands that make up the archipelago known as Indonesia. This gorgeous island offers white sand beaches, tourist shopping, and amazing secluded destinations.
What makes the of Bali island so special is its people as they are friendly, welcoming, and very down to earth. The predominantly Hindu population has woven their faith into everyday activities by leaving offerings on the streets, in what they eat, through their prayers & religious ceremonies, and in their general lust and love of life.
The Balinese are known for their artistic abilities in producing fabric, jewelry, and interpreting their unique culture through dance and gamelan music. This mysterious island is home to stunning temples, lakes, volcanoes, and row upon row of lush rice patty fields set amongst tropical foliage.
Accommodations and meals are very inexpensive in comparison to North America and travelers are welcome to sit back, relax, and truly enjoy the slower paced Bali experience. Eco-tourism is very popular on the island as well as water sports including scuba diving and surfing.
Flights are available from Los Angeles, San Francisco, and New York, with direct flights to Bali only available from Singapore, Hong Kong, Perth and Sydney, Australia.
For more information, visit the Bali Tourism Board.
July 28th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Emirates Palace
That’s right, a cool $1 Million USD. What does that buy you? Just about everything except the kitchen sink – but if you really wanted a sink, I’m sure they’d throw that in, too.
Designed mainly for high-finance business men, sports figures and celebrities, this all-inclusive vacation includes return airfare from any international airport serviced by Etihad Airlines to Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
Here you’ll spend 7 luxurious nights in the Palace Suite at the Emirates Palace, which, of course, includes the services of a 24-hour butler and bed turn down service. Not to forget the chauffer driven limousine for your use anytime during the day.
Or the day trip in your own private jet to Iran to create your own Persian carpet, or the other day trip in your own private jet to the Dead Sea to experience an Anantara spa treatment. Or the other other day trip in your own private jet to Bahrain to dive for pearls of which your own jewelry will be created. Wow.
As if that wasn’t enough, other amenities include a Royal Golf Experience at the Abu Dhabi Golf Club, making your own perfume, and going on a deep sea fishing trip.
If you act now, you’ll also receive gifts from the Emirates Palace that include rare Robert Wang Pearls, a selection of your choice from Holland & Holland Sporting Guns (yes, a gun), oh, and a champagne sunset and island tour.
Ready to sign up? Visit Emirates Palace for more information.
July 24th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (1)
Located on the stunning shores of Lake Coeur d’Alene sits the vibrant resort community of Coeur d’Alene (pronounced core-da-lane), Idaho, known to be one of the best playgrounds in the Pacific Northwest.
Coeur d’Alene, meaning ‘heart of the awl,’ was named for its rich French trading history dating back to the 1800’s. Getting back to its roots also means getting back to the basics of transportation with the paved bike path known as the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes that crosses the breathtaking northern Panhandle of Idaho.
Spanning 72 miles in total, this amazingly scenic trail starts in Plummer, at the southern tip of Lake Coeur d’Alene, and follows the historic Union Pacific Railway beds to Mullan. Along the way, the trail follows the lake shore, crosses over a rail bridge, travels through notable towns like Cataldo and Kellogg, and then onto Mullan near the Montana border.
The Inland Northwest Chapter of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society invites everyone to ‘join the movement’ and attend the Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes biking fundraiser September 12-13, 2009. Starting in Mullan, this 2-day fundraising event will offer food and rest stops every 12-18 miles, along with catered meals, plus medical and bike mechanics on hand.
For more information, visit Coeur d’Alene, Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes, and BikeMS.
July 22nd, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
With less than one year away until the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, you can pre-plan and order your souvenirs now in order to avoid the rush of the crowds during the events.
The mascots will surely prove to be one the best selling items throughout the Vancouver 2010 games due to the fact they’re lovable and oh-so Canadian. Quatchi is an elusive Sasquatch who lives deep in the forests of Southern British Columbia (B.C.); Miga is a Sea Bear (part killer whale, part bear) who lives with her family off Vancouver Island; while Sumi is a native Animal Spirit who lives in the mountains of B.C.
The Vancouver 2010 mascots are available as plush animals, collectible pins, on a variety of clothing, Royal Canadian Mint coins, and a variety of accessories such as key chains, backpacks, wallets, mouse pads, bookmarks, wallets, necklaces, and luggage tags.
Speaking of clothing, Olympic clothing will no doubt be in second running for hot Vancouver 2010 souvenirs with everything from children’s wear to hats, traditional Canadian toques, t-shirts, jackets, hoodies, and sweaters to ties and colorfully printed aboriginal items, all making for the perfect 2010 souvenir.
Collectible souvenir items include hot selling items like coins, books & guides, jewellery by Birks, and the newly announced collection of striking 2010 posters.
For more information, visit the Official Vancouver 2010 Olympic Store or learn more about the games at Vancouver 2010.
July 17th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
As we all know, the USA has an endless abundance of great vacation destinations and this year may just be the time to experience a ‘staycation’ instead of traveling abroad.
To help you choose that perfect trip, here is the list of the Top 10 Travelers Favorite cities in the USA according to Trip Advisor, along with must see attractions:
1. New York City, New York
Be sure not to miss the Statue of Liberty & Ellis Island, Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and the Empire State Building.
2. Orlando, Florida
Be sure not to miss Sea World, Walt Disney World, Universal Studios, Busch Gardens and the Kennedy Space Center.
3. Los Angeles, California
Not to be missed attractions include Disneyland, Six Flags Magic Mountain, and Universal Studios Hollywood; Queen Mary, Venice Beach, Rodeo Drive, Sunset Boulevard and Santa Monica Pier.
4. Las Vegas, Nevada
Some of the things not to be missed in Vegas include the Bellagio Fountains, Hoover Dam, the Freemont Street Experience, Treasure Island Battleship show, riding a gondola at the Venetian, the view from the Stratosphere hotel, and the erupting volcano at the Mirage.
5. San Francisco, California
Must sees in San Francisco include Chinatown, Fisherman’s Wharf, Alcatraz, Golden Gate Park & the Golden Gate Bridge, Coit Tower, Lombard Street, Union Square and riding a Cable Car. And if you’re into exploring further - the Hearst Castle in San Simeon and Napa Valley.
6. Washington, DC
Not to be missed include the National Monuments and Memorials, walking through Alexandria and Georgetown, visiting the Smithsonian, seeing a show at the Kennedy Center, and touring the White House, Capitol Building, and the US Supreme Court.
7. Chicago, Illinois
Must sees in Chicago include the Lincoln Park Zoo, Sears Tower Skydeck, Millenium Park, Navy Pier, Hancock Observatory, Chicago Cultural Center, and the Garfield Park Conservatory.
8. San Diego, California
Not to be missed include visiting the San Diego Zoo, Old Town, Sea World, watching surfing at the beach, Balboa Park and La Jolla.
9. Boston, Massachusetts
Things not to be missed include exploring the Freedom Trail, visiting JFK Library, Boston Common, Fenway Park, Museum of Science, Boston Public Garden and the New England Aquarium.
10. Miami Beach, Florida
Don’t miss visiting South Beach, shopping at Bayside, the Everglades, Parrot Jungle Island, Monkey Jungle, Miami Metrozoo, Seaquarium, and of course, Miami Beach.
July 15th, 2009 by Connie Motz | Posted in Uncategorized | Comments (0)
Loading ...
