Luxury Getaways

There has been a lot of talk recently about boycotting travel to Arizona as a nearby choice for travel vacation packages. I recently got a call from a client who actually wanted to travel to Arizona to show his support of the state’s new immigration law. This got me thinking that there are probably others who feel the same way and I thought this would be the appropriate time to share my experience on a recent trip to the valley of the sun.

Living in Sacramento, US Airways was a natural choice for my one hour and fourty five minute flight to Phoenix. Honestly, I was a bit leery about the “US Airways experience.” As you may know, America West Airlines purchased US Airways a couple of years back and neither airline have been known for excellent customer service. Let me tell you, this is not the US Airways of five years ago and this is definitely not Bill Frankie’s America West. The current CEO, Doug Parker, has done a phenomenal job of creating an atmosphere that represents the historic culture of the former US Airways and the innovation of America West. With new destinations such as Birmingham, UK, Rio de Janeiro & Tel Aviv, US Airways is a viable option when traveling domestically and across the Atlantic.

Upon arrival at the Phoenix Sky Harbor airport, I made my way to the Intercontinental Montelucia Hotel & Resort at the base of Camelback Mountain. Just over four years old, the Montelucia Resort is one of InterContinental’s newest properties though you wouldn’t know it based on the knowledge and professionalism of the staff. This hotel is an oasis in the Sonoran Desert. The buildings are modeled in an Andalusian style with long corridors, spacious courtyard and world class restaurants; this resort gives you the feeling that one should be in North Africa. This resort is not just a replica attempting to duplicate another part of the globe, this is the real deal. Example: there are artifacts from the region including the antique 18-foot doors of the Castillo Lucena chapel which were hand crafted in the 16th century in Spain, or the multiple olive oil barrels dating back to 1800’s.

My room faced the Oasis pool and Camelback Mountain. With over 500 square feet of space, the room was luxuriously furnished with a 42’ flat screen television, private balcony soaking sub and complementary Wi-Fi. I was especially impressed with the bed that you just melted into. I once thought that if you combined the mattress of the W Hotels with the linens of the Ritz Carlton, then you would have a bed that you would never want to leave. Well the folks at Intercontinental must have taken my suggestion to heart as this bed was the most comfortable I have ever slept in.

Each evening at the Kassbah pool live music is offered by local jazz artists or the Phoenix Opera. I was completely moved when I heard Bizet’s Carmen under the Phoenician sunset.

If you ever feel the need to leave the resort, the Camelback Mountain trailhead is about one mile from the resort. I would recommend walking as the parking lot has limited space and this is a very popular hike. Given my limited time and lack of proper shoes, I decided to take the “easy” hike to the top of Bobby’s Peak (the head of the camel). I reached the summit just after sunrise which provided a view of the Sonoran desert and Phoenix in glorious light. In my opinion, the best time to see the colors of any desert is at sunrise or sunset-- and I was not disappointed.

The view and accomplishment of hiking the Echo Park trail is rewarding. The trail is made of loose rock and an abundance of crevices where desert animals find shelter from the scorching sun. Be on the lookout for hare, desert torus, rattlesnakes, coyotes and a variety of birds.

I was delighted to spend a couple of days in Scottsdale. Whether you are a snowbird looking to spend the winter in the desert heat or a simple weekend getaway, Scottsdale has my vote for travel vacation packages not far from home. Check out our preferred Arizona resorts at which we offer you exclusive amenities. 

For the sake of disclosure, the author was an employee of America West Airlines from 2000 – 2001 in Anchorage, AK and Sacramento, CA.

At our luxury travel agency we get a lot of requests from our clients for resort getaways. But with so much online noise about hotel deals, some have started to question the value of booking resort accommodations with a travel agency, or even where to find a travel agent to do so and deliver good value.

We have arrangements with nearly 800 hotels and resorts worldwide at which by booking with us, breakfast and additional amenities ARE INCLUDED! As for short getaways, we can also offer some great value. You can seach for those here.

Take for example the popular Ventana Inn & Spa.  Book two nights of luxury with our travel agency, and receive a $100 resort credit in a Ventana Guest Room, Ventana Fireplace Room, or Superior Fireplace Room, or a $200 resort credit in a Big Sur Suite, Superior Hot Tub Room, Big Sur Spa Suite, Pacific House, Big Sur Villa, Big Sur Cottage, Vista Hot Tub Suite, or Sur House.

 
you can travel anytime through the end of the year. However, while many online deals are good for one day -- we'll give you till July 18th to book and take advantage of this one.

Summer is here, and families that haven't planned ahead want to know where to go.  And of course, key on the mind of many is where they can get great value for price paid. One of our best family vacation destinations is... Club Med Ixtapa. Yes, some travelers have concerns about the destination, but Mexico is a big country and, after all, there are places in the US that one wouldn't take their family to.

I still have fond memories of our family vacation at Club Med in Ixtapa - -and that was before their fabulous recent renovation.  It was simply a great getaway for our kids and for us, because everybody had a good time, the flight wasn't too long, there was plenty to do, our kids met other kids they got along with and the food was great and everybody got to eat whatever they wanted. Activity wise we enjoyed swimming and sailing, archery, tennis, soccer, volleyball, bocce ball and trampoline.  Perhaps you've enjoyed a family vacation here, too? If so, let us know your take on this resort, and if you felt safe there.

So I was surprised to read about the incredible family vacation deal available at this all-inclusive resort: from $199 per room in a Family Club that accommodates 2 adults, 3 children and an infant.  A family of 6 can enjoy a 3-day vacationat Club Med Ixtapa for $597, or a 7-day vacation for $1,393.  The deal at $199 per room is only valid through June 30 and again from August  21 through December 17.  The price goes up to $299 for travel from July through August 20, which is still a great deal when you consider all that's included -- making this one of the best all inclusive family vacation destinations. The catch is families have to book by June 28th to get this vacation deal. You can read more about Club Med and as we have a preferred relationship with Club Med, our luxury travel agency can make it happen.

The Grand Hyatt, in the upscale business and residential district of Los Condes and about 20 minutes from old downtown, is a 19-floor circular tower with an open inner atrium that extends to the top floor, (reminiscent of the Grand Hyatt Shanghai on a much smaller scale). There are 310 rooms, including standard rooms that are more like junior suites, with a bedroom area and step down sitting area and desk, and wall-length windows providing a view of the Andes surrounding the city; Executive Suites, which include large one-bedroom units with balcony; and Diplomatic suites, also one-bedroom suites that include a kitchen and dining room and, in addition to a balcony area, include a small grassy garden area as well. The Presidential Suite is a large one-bedroom with living room, large office, dining room and kitchen. Views from the hotel are spectacular, with the surrounding Andes in full view.

The Club Lounge, on the 16^th floor, offers a comfortable sitting area, pool table, and complimentary breakfast and coffee service, evening cocktails with charcuterie and sushi from the hotel’s dining venues, as well as laptops and WiFi.

The large attractive lagoon-style pool area, with waterfalls would be welcome at any resort. The stand-alone Ako spa offers a spacious fitness area, with equipment facing the lovely gardens. Classes are offered in the exercise room, and there's a full range of spa treatments, some inspired by the healing plants used by the Mapuche. There are some tennis courts on property, though there’s discussion to use the land for a new building in future.

There are several dining venues on property including Anakena, a casual Thai-inspired restaurant, locally popular, the Italian restaurant, Senso, and Matsuri, for Japanese cuisine (a new chef from the Grand Hyatt Tokyo has just arrived here). Our dinner at Anakena included an appetizer of king crab with garlic alioli, lemon-marinated avocado and pumpking confit, followed by a tasty Camembert wild mushroom risotto, and then a delicious Carmenere braised lamb, with potato and blood sausage mille-feuille. The apparent Asian theme carries through to some of the décor in the hotel as well. In addition, there’s Duke’s, which features live entertainment, and where we enjoyed a Las Vegas-based singer (who was getting homesick and eager to chat with us between sets).

With Paul McCartney performing in the city stadium the next day, the hotel was abuzz with fans, well wishers and security awaiting his arrival here. For shopping there’s a mall just ten minutes walk from the hotel. Golfers can enjoy the links at the Los Leones Golf Club a few minutes away.

On the scale of 5-star luxury resorts, however, the Grand Hyatt falls considerably short when it comes to the best luxury getaways as the bathrooms, with a tired combined shower-tub and single sink area need renovation and at best deliver a 4-star experience. Towels were getting coarse for wear and could use replacing as well. There were too many chips in the marble that had been filled in. While the Grand Hyatt is very comfortable and adequate, it's hard to include it as among Grand Hyatt's very best properties.

Depending on one's tastes, alternative luxury getaways in Santiago would be the Ritz Carlton or the new and very contemporary W. The Aubrey is a small cozy boutique hotel of some renown, but it's located near the university and close to nightclubs that get loud at night.

Flying premium business class on LAN from Los Angeles to/from South America was a comfortable and enjoyable experience. Flight attendants introduced themselves to each guest. The nearly fully reclining flat seats were very comfortable, and the white comforters supplied (in lieu of those dark woolen blankets) made sleep all the more enjoyable. You just wanted to cuddle up in those comforters. (After all, luxury getaways should include the flight as part of the experience.) 

Video screens, attached to the seat backs, were large (though sometimes one had to lean forward to read the information printed in white type when scrolling through the library of available features).

LAN also publishes In Wine, a gold medal award-winning magazine about Chilean wine. This focus on wine isn’t surprising, considering Chilean Sauvignon Blanc's came in second overall at last year’s Concours Mondial du Sauvignon Blanc, held in Bordeaux. While the wines were quite enjoyable to read about and try onboard, the food wasn't the best I've had at 30,000 feet.  More than adequate, it wasn't quite on par with the otherwise exquisite service and comfort.

As for personnel, the staff onboard couldn't have been more polite and considerate. What's more, upon landing each guest in the cabin was personally thanked for flying LAN.

We toured Foguangshan Monastery.  This is the largest Buddhist complex in Southern Taiwan, with a large temple, a meeting center and a university. They even have a newspaper and a TV station.  The highlight (?) is a very large diorama of the highlights of Buddhist theology. Think of “It’s a Small World” meets Buddha.  Very, very strange place.  We had a vegetarian buffet lunch here.

In the afternoon we drove up to the city of Tainan.  We toured the Confucius Temple and a temple dedicated to the Goddess of the Sea.  This was cool, there was a celebration going on at the temple and there several large tables of offerings laid out, including four life size replicas of pigs made of sausage.  The monk leading the celebration was tossing candy and coins into the crowd. It was all very entertaining. We also had coffee at a coffee shop called the Narrow Door, aptly named as the entrance was about 18 inches wide.  Cool place, on the second floor of an old building overlooking the Confucius Temple, the kind of place artists and poets would hang out at.  We also visited the ruins of the original Dutch fort from the 1640s.

For dinner we ate in a noodle shop that is quite well known called Du Hsiao Yueh.  This place has been in business over 100 years and has been featured on several of the food/travel shows about Asia. This was one of the most authentic Taiwanese meals we had on the trip; it was really very tasty.  We also visited the night market in town.  Most Taiwanese cities have night markets that have a mix of food booths, carnival games and booths selling cheap clothing and the like.  I love these kinds of places, you can really mingle. We had just had dinner, so I did not dive in, but for those who have a strong stomach and really want to experience the local cuisine, this is the place to be.

Accommodations for the night were at the almost new Shangri La, which is a beautiful hotel.  The rooms were very large.  It is essentially a brand new hotel, so everything is pretty much state of the art. Most of the clientele are there in business; Tainan has a major semi conductor plant in town.  Per our host at the hotel, they have many long stay guests who are there for as much as a three months.  For a hotel as nice as it is, the cost is very inexpensive, our very luxurious rooms were listed at $120 US per night. Buffet breakfast in the hotel was one of the best of the trip.

Next day we drove on to Sun Moon Lake.  This is a medium size lake up in the mountains of central Taiwan.  It is a favorite getaway for the people of Taipei, and the altitude makes it a bit cooler here.  As with the rest of Taiwan, a pretty nice place if you happen to be in the area, but Tahoe it is not.  We took a boat across the lake and had one on the better meals of the trip.  The entire menu featured the fruits of Taiwan.  Creative and imaginative cuisine and very tasty.  We did not see it, but there is also a member of the Small Luxury Hotels here overlooking the lake.  Here also was a large amusement park called the Aboriginal Village. Aboriginal roller coasters?  Why not? 

We stayed in an almost new hotel called the Fleur De Chine.  This was easily the nicest hotel of the trip. Rooms were large and well equipped, and had the big Japanese style soaking tubs with water from hot springs.  We were greeted at the door with cold glasses of apple cider.  The lobby is beautiful and overlooks the lake.  They had live music in the evening.  The lowest floor had a very well equipped recreation area, a pool and a spa.  They even had Wiis.  Breakfast was fantastic with more variety than any of the others.  For dinner tonight we went out for an (awful) aboriginal meal.  There is a nice walking trail along the lake, the hotel offers escorted walks, but I left early and hiked for a couple of miles along the lake.  Other than being pretty hot and humid, this was wonderful.  We did a site of the hotel; they also have a very nice rooftop bar. Not a cheap place, the mountain view rooms are something over $300 a night.  So my take on Sun Moon Lake is that, even more than Taroko Gorge, this is the place for the over stressed business traveller in Taipei to go to for a long weekend. 

Stan Godwyn
stan.g@travelstoreusa.cm

A quick 2 hour flight up to Seattle for a girlfriend getaway weekend and a change of scenery. We took the lightrail public transit into the city for $2.50 each, a 30 minute ride. Works perfectly if you have carry-on luggage! The lightrail station was one block from our hotel, the Fairmont Olympic.

The Fairmont Olympic is Seattle’s “grand dame” hotel: European style, elegant and formal. We each had our own executive suite accommodations with the sitting room separated from the bedroom with French doors. The beds were so comfortable we wished we could take them home. The beautiful Georgian Room Restaurant, with it’s high ceilings and comfortable seating, reminded me of elegant dining in the classic tradition. I loved the spa and fitness – the indoor pool on the second floor has a glass roof so you look out at the other tall buildings as you swim. The jacuzzi can probably accmmodate 12 people!

We walked across the street to have lunch at the W Seattle. Fun, whimsical, contemporary. Young atmosphere, typical W hotel, which does not take itself too seriously but still delivers the goods.

The Seattle Public Library is on the next block over from the W. It is worth a visit just to see the architecture and design.

We walked a few blocks to Pike’s Market and had a tour given by a company called Savor Seattle. It was a tasting tour through the Market – so much fun and very tasty indeed! While listening to our guide tell us about the history of Seattle and the Market, we sampled fresh baked doughnuts, several kinds of fish jerky, apples, clam chowder, wonderful cheeses, and the best mac and cheese ever. One of our group was selected to go into the fish booth and catch fish thrown by the fishmongers. It made her day! We bumped into the chef from the Four Seasons Hotel as he was shopping for fresh produce to include in his creations that night for our dinner, as we had booked a table for that night.

Four Seasons Seattle is a new hotel built on the site of what was originally a parking garage. The hotel is sleek and contemporary, with natural wood and slate throughout. They have a fabulous art collection with paintings by Seattle’s own local art community. The hotel is a block from the water with views over Puget Sound. The infinity pool and spa are open to hotel guests and the Four Seasons residential towers. The chef is truly gifted – he works with mostly locally grown ingredients and his work fits the name of the hotel’s restaurant, ART.

The rooms at the Four Seasons are bright, with floor to ceiling windows, chic decor, inviting and restful. Light woods, well planned work space, rainshowers, soaking tubs, comfortable and elegant. The Presidential Suite has a built in fireplace and endless views of Elliott Bay and Puget Sound. Asian influence in the design, but using local Northwest craft.

We were up and out early to cross the bay for sea kayaking. We went with Alki Kayak – great bunch of folks who outfitted us and showed us what to do. We paddled out in double kayaks and enjoyed a perfectly spectacular morning with view of Seattle’s skyline.

We headed to the Edgewater Hotel for lunch which was out of this world! We all just loved the Edgewater, where the description which fits is: “Restoration Hardware meets Northern Exposure.” This is the hotel where the Beatles stayed in 1964 and fished out of their window! We ducked into the Beatles Suite which is filled with pictures of the Fab Four from those days.

The hotel sits on a pier and is truly at water’s edge. The nose of a docked NCL cruise ship came right up to the window of the hotel. Tree branches are used throughout the hotel as part of the decor, the fabrics are mostly red and green plaids, the footstools are fuzzy bears — I wanted to take one home. Whimsy, fun, creative, and a great atmosphere. River rock fireplaces, knotty pine wood, urban wilderness. Wonderfully friendly staff. If your room doesn’t have a view out to the water, it will have views of the Seattle skyline, so you can’t go wrong.The Victoria Clipper hydrofoil dock is right next to the hotel transporting people between Seattle and Victoria, B.C.

Seattle is easy to get around and is a very “green” city. We rode the monorail to the Space Needle. We hada VIP pass to bypass the line and take a special elevator so we made it up on top for a beautiful sunset.

We had dinner at the Hotel Andra, a Small Luxury Hotel with a great restaurant called Lola. Lola Restaurant served Greek food in a warm and relaxed atmosphere. Great spot.The Andra is right in the heart of the shopping area in midtown Seattle. It has a Scandinavian theme, and uses all the natural Northwest elements of stone, wood and glass. The lobby is set up as a living room, with comfortable sitting areas, fireplace, bookcases, a changing collection of art, Swedish products.

Sunday we took the 30 minute ferry over to Bainbridge Island. Suddenly we were miles away from the busy, urban lively city of Seattle, as we enjoyed the slow pace of a small village with bakeries and bookstores. Seattle is a young city with lots of energy, definitely fun for a getaway or a pre-cruise stay.

Katie Cadar
katie.c@travelstoreusa.com

Our boat took us to Amalfi, another gem on the edge of the coast. Streets are busier with traffic than Positano, which has more walking streets. The port was crowded with boats, beach is smaller with lounge chairs filled. The imposing 13th Century Cathedral of Sant’ Andrea is worth exploring.

Hotel Santa Caterina is a 15 minute walk or a 5-minute hotel shuttle from town. (5-star luxury property). Convento di Amalfi is a newly refurbished hotel built in a 12th Century monastery, a 10-minute walk to town but taxi back as it’s built into the hillside. Contemporary interiors. I saw both of these hotels from the boat – was unable to visit them for a first hand look inside.

I went by taxi to Ravello, about 20 minutes drive from Amalfi. The streets are incredibly winding with one lane each way along the edges of the cliffs. Gorgeous views around every curve. Much too difficult to attempt to drive it if you are not a local. I visited Hotel Palazzo Sasso in Ravello, an award winning 5-star hotel originally a 12th century villa. The hotel is perched up on top of a hill with stunning views. Rooms and suites are beautiful, traditional Italian with contemporary touches. Fabulous views from the pool and terraces. Handmade tiles, antique carpets, personal service, excellent spa.

Right next door is Hotel Caruso, one of the Orient Express Hotels. I was not able to have a look inside but the views are the same as at Palazzo Sasso.

Ravello is not as busy as the other towns along the coast – perfect for clients who want the beauty of the Amalfi Coast but also want a quieter location. Palazzo Sasso has a 2 star Michelin restaurant, a beach club a few minutes away with a sundeck and access to the sea.

I visited a new hotel in the town of Maiori, further along the coast. The hotel was new and very pretty, but it was on top of the cliff with no elevator or road, so guests have to walk up a long set of steps to reach the hotel. Staff will handle luggage and there are plans to eventually install an elevator from the streets below but until this is done, it’s not a hotel for most Americans. The town is larger than the other more charming coastal villages and is more of a “working town,” which also detracts from choosing this location.

Further down the coast is the little port town of Palinuro. This is not a typical tourist town but is a seaside getaway for Italian families. The town is quite charming, but there are no luxury hotels close by. There is a resort hotel called King David within walking distance of town. This is not the place most travelers want to see if they have in mind a trip to the Amalfi Coast, but for those looking for authenticity in a coastal town in southern Italy, it’s a nice spot.

The return flight was Naples/Rome/LAX. Unfortunately this time I was flying economy. The Alitalia flight from Rome to LAX (13 1/2 hours) was not easy as it was a daytime flight all the way, window seat 3 across, my individual entertainment system did not work so I could not watch movies, and my seat did not recline! I look forward to seeing the new seats once all the aircraft are reconfigured.

I always love returning for Italy vacations no matter how I get there. The food is fabulous, the people are engaging, the history, art, architecture are fascinating, the rhythm of life is warm and rich.

Katie Cadar
katie.c@travelstoreusa.com

Travel shouldn’t be about chasing the latest “hot” destination, but about finding personally enriching travel experiences that meet your needs.  Sometimes traveling away from “what’s hot” makes as much, if not more sense.  Be that as it may, we’re often asked what we see as the hot destinations for the new year.  So I’ll put on my Karnak hat and venture  some thoughts on the topic.

Going back several years, there’s no question there were often one or two hot-spots on the planet attracting huge tourism interest.  In the last couple of years, it seems travelers are venturing out everywhere, such that it’s harder to pick any one or two destinations as being overly compelling. Certainly given the recession, there’s a greater focus on where travelers can find the best value. In that category here are a couple of options:

Iceland
Iceland was hit hard by an economic crises and still hasn’t recovered. (It’s only a couple of years ago a friend of mine returned complaining about the $85 simple, bare bones dinner he had.) With its devalued currency, and being a small, remote and off-the-beaten path destination, it seems it would fit the bill. With 10,000 waterfalls, its geo-thermal pools , and  a fascinating music scene (any Sigur Ros fans?), it has much to offer. Also,  low-cost carrier,Iceland Express debuts seasonal service this year between New York, Reykjavik, and about two dozen European cities in June.

Russia
It wasn’t but a year or so ago Moscow was rated the most expensive city in the world. Upscale hotels have opened in Moscow and St. Petersburg , including Ritz Carlton and Kempinski, with a Four Seasons in the works. But since then, Russia has been hit hard by the recession, and it’s now offering much better value.  In terms of cultural riches, it’s hard  to beat musuem like the Hermitage or Russia’s cathedrals. Having led tours in Russia in the early ’70′s, and recalling the lack of food selection, when I was back last year I was amazed by all the sushi bars and top-notch cuisine available. For younger folk who want to tap into the hip subsculture, it’ll take some work to find it, but it’s there. Either way, traveling with a personal guide will cost a bit more but pay off in spades.

Turkey
Turkey also continues to be a “hot” destination, and probably the ever increasing cruise traffic to Istanbul and Kusadasi/Ephesus helps whet people’s appetites to explore further. And there’s much worth exploring.  In 2009 we saw a growing interest in travel to Turkey, and our hand-picked guides do a phenomenal job for us there. In 2010 Istanbul kicks off the year as a European Capital of Culture, with a years worth of planned events. Some restaurants in the Beyoglu district will even have special permits that allow extended hours for alcohol sales, and the likes of Eric Clapton, U2 and Pina Bausch will be performing. (Speaking of hand-picked guides, certainly we encourage travelers to consider having us set up privately guided excursions through our on-site contacts during their travels for more enriching and personalized experiences.)

Egypt
Egypt was “hot” in 2009, and my guess is it will continue to be. With estimates that maybe half of its archeological treasures have been uncovered, and with new discoveries made each year, Egypt’s past continues to be a draw for good reason: the more you learn about its past, the more ‘mind-blowing’ it is.  A new Egyptian Musuem is being built near the Pyramids, and is bound to provide a far more compelling experience than the current location does. (If you go, I highly recommend you invest in The Teaching Company’s DVD lectures on ancient Egypt to better appreciate what you’re in for, or take a college class somewhere.) Uniworld introduces its brand new river boat which offers a compelling and comfortable way to tackle the desert heat. I recently returned and was very impressed with their operations all around. (For those that love bargaining, you’ll hardly find a more worthy place for it.)

Africa
Further south on the African continent, Southern Africa and Eastern Africa are pretty much on every traveler’s dream list, and with recessionary times, the last couple of years has seen a bit of a drought. There’s pent-up demand, and we’re seeing an increased interest in Africa again. While it’s a hefty investment, there’s no question Africa delivers incredibly enriching and unique experiences, and as such,  always delivers fine value.

Vietnam & Cambodia
Several years ago travel to Vietnam was all the rage, and then it subsided. Interest is back at a high point, especially combined with visiting neighbor Cambodia. While cruise ships visiting souteast Asia often call on ports in Vietnam, one new “hot” product is the Mekong River Cruise.  There are now several companies offering river cruises on the Mekong River between the two countries, including new, more luxury boats. With the imense popularity of European river cruises, we’re expecting to see those travelers exploring other waterways.

Peru
South America offers travelers incredible experiences. Argentina, and Buenos Aires in particular, has been and remains a popular getaway, with the dollar stretching a long way. Chile, Brazil and Patagonia have also been drawing an increase in visitors.  Travel to the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador have been very robust. Certainly visiting the Galapagos should be on the list of top-5 destinations on any world traveler’s list. But Peru seems to be the strongest destination standing on its own, and worthy of a two-week trip. We’re seeing growing interest and predict it will be a “hot” spot. We encourage those that haven’t been to consider 10- to 14-days here.

Canada
At least for those of us in California, and while it’s perhaps far less exotic, I’m always intrigued we haven’t seen far more interest in Canada than we do. This year’s Winter Olympics will focus more attention on this desirable destination, and no doubt, travelers will follow. Canada seems to offer everything a Californian wants: nature and gorgeous scenery, lots of green space, fresh air, outdoor adventuring, good food and wine, and friendly people.  Vancouver and Toronto remain highly invigorating cities with great restaurants, museums and nightlife.

As I close, I know as soon as I publish this post, I’ll think of other exciting destinations I may have mentioned. Whatever your travel dreams, our travel experts are able to make them come true.  Happy traveling in 2010, and welcome your feedback on what you think will be hot this year.

Dan Ilves
dan.i@travelstoreusa.com

I used to think Manzanillo was the poor step sister to Puerto Vallarta and Zihuatanejo – that was before I visited.   It is much smaller than the aforementioned resort towns, not having as many resorts and hotels.  And much smaller beaches being made up of a lot of crescent bays.  The two major hotels in Manzanillo are the Barcelo Karmina Palace, a nice 4-star property where we stayed.    The other is the infamous Las Hadas, made famous and putting Manzanillo on the map when the movie “10” was filmed there. (Suite 420 at Las Hadas is the “Bolero” suite, costing approximately $1,100.00 per night. )

Karmina Palace is a lush, well kept, u-shaped resort with every accommodation a large suite.  Most of the suites have some kind of water view and all suites have terraces. There were 2 flat screen televisons; one in the bedroom and one in the sitting area. The housekeeping service was impeccable.  

A Premium Club option gives you WIFI in the room (at a cost), upgraded amenities by Bulgari, a stocked mini bar, private check-in and check-out area, and unlimited dining in the alternative restaurants.  Even though the WIFI has a cost, if you don’t use it in your room you can only get it in the lobby area.  Only Premium Club suites offer the option of in-room WIFI.   

DINING: This is an all-inclusive property, offering the usual buffet (great breakfast choices), a beautiful Mexican palapa restaurant built over a rocky bluff at one end of the property and an Italian restaurant.   Before Christmas they will open their Japanese restaurant. We experienced the Mexican restaurant and the lobster crepes were awesome. They offer a lot of fresh seafood. 

SPA: They have a small spa offering a range of services. I opted for a one-hour deep tissue/sports massage.  My therapist, Lucy, did a wonderful treatment. Since it’s a small area, they have no relaxation area nor comfy waiting area.  They offer wall benches in the locker room and come and get you there. They have a nice steam room. 

BEACH AND POOLS: This resort caters to families, providing Club Barcy for the little ones. There is a wonderful waterslide that has a Mayan temple built around the stairway to the top of the slide. There are two pools that are adults only catering to couples. There are waterfalls and an area under the falls with lounges.  The grounds around the pools are terraced and if you’re at an adult pool you can’t hear the sounds from the family pool as the adult pools are the farthest away and closest to the lobby.

ENTERTAINMENT:  At 11PM, the Mexican restaurant becomes a night club open until 2AM.  Problem with that is from any room you hear the music. They also perform stage shows and while I was there, they had a ballet company that performed songs and dances from Disney movies – in Spanish ;0)  They also had a bizarre short children’s show with strange Disney characters, Donald Duck being the scariest. 

Las Hadas, in my opinion, is still living on it’s laurels from “10”. Having been finished in 1974 after ten years of building, Las Hadas (the faeries) was opened to 300 guests, friends of the owners. Since it’s opening, it has had refurbishments, but not in the way of larger bathrooms or bigger rooms. Some of the rooms we inspected were very small and the bathrooms tiny.  The entire Moorish-style resort is made up of cobblestone streets, paths, lots of bougainvilla, birds of paradise, palms and other beautiful vegetation. They have a central “street” that offers a travel agency, a couple of shops, car rental.  There are many towers and turrets and the place itself seems magical. Their beach is better than Karmina Palace’s, but still is not a big beach. They also offer a marina for visiting yachts, tennis courts and a golf course.   The 18th hole of the golf course is in front of Karmina Palace, right at the ocean. (Guests of Karmina Palace get reduced rates at the Las Hadas course.)  Karmina Palace and Las Hadas are neighbors.  Las Hadas is European plan, but they offer an optional meal plan.  

The only other two resorts in this area is Club Maeva, which caters to Mexican clientele and a Tesoro property that is a high rise building – a rare sight in this area.   I really can’t recommend either of these places to discerning travelers. 

CITY OF MANZANILLO – There is not much here, a few shopping streets and it’s not as picturesque as P.V. or Zihuatanejo. Their city symbol is a huge sail fish, about 125-feet high in the main square.  There is some of the best big game fishing on the Pacific in this area.  Manzanillo is the largest Mexican seaport on the Pacific, receiving cargo daily from Asia and Australia. Its power plant also supplies power not only to the state of Colima, but also two or three of the surrounding states.   With this industry in Manzanillo, they have a thriving economy.  The seaport employs 12,000 workers just by itself.  They are also building a new cruise port right in the town of old Manzanillo to be separate from where the cargo ships dock.

THINGS TO DO HERE: Sea kayaking, snorkeling/diving, big game fishing, ATV off road jungle/beach excursions, ruins and tombs of Tampumacchay.

COLIMA CITY - This is a beautiful colonial city with a verdant and large central square and the Church of the Ave Maria.  We visited the Governor’s Palace and the city hall. Both equally charming. The city of Colima is one hour’s drive from Manzanillo on good roads and definitely worth the trip.  Colima sits near an active volcano with a twin that’s not active. 

ISLA NAVIDAD -  This beautiful location is also about an hour from Manzanillo.  All of Isla Navidad is owned by a wealthy family from Guadalajara.  (Guadalajara is only a 3-hour drive and makes a nice combo with this beach area).  Isla Navidad sits both on the ocean as well as a large lagoon.   The area is fabulously beautiful. Located in this bucolic setting is:

WYNDHAM GRAND BAY RESORT -  Though Wyndham runs the management, it’s still owned by the family from Guadalajara.  This is a 5-star property – no doubt.   It’s immaculate, grand – as it’s name implies – and a destination in itself.  It has a meandering, lush 27-hole championship golf course.   We had a delicious lunch and a tour of the property.  Their Presidential Suite is one of the most beautiful I’ve ever seen anywhere.  There is no bad view from the rooms, even those with little or no water view looked out at the jungled hillsides or the gardens.  They offer a beach that isn’t on the ocean but on a lagoon.  It’s palm lined with Bali beds, lounges and umbrellas and extremely beautiful.  The property is built up a hillside. I would go back to the Grand Bay to stay in a heartbeat. The nearby small peninsula, Barra Navidad, is approached only by launch from Grand Bay and offers restaurants, shops and bars.  Grand Bay also has a very impressive marina and we saw luxury yachts there from Juneau, the BVI’s and Bahamas.  They also has a lovely spa, offering a large spa menu and they famous Four Hand massage.  This is a place of beauty, peace, tranquility and a true getaway feeling. More on Mexico vacations.

Linda Lewis
linda.le@travelstoreusa.com

If you are looking for an alternative to Europe with its high prices and long flights, Colonial Mexico fits the bill. After a 3 1/2 nonstop flight from LA on Mexicana Airlines you are in Guadalajara, the second largest city in Mexico. Other cities I visited were Lagos de Moreno, San Miguel de Allende and Patzcuaro. My focus was select private hacienda’s now converted to boutique hotels. All provided personalized services, deluxe accommodations and gourmet food. And all had BEGINNING PRICES OF UNDER $300.00 P/NIGHT. Because these properties are represented by one of our key associates, guests receive value-added amenities when reservations are made with TravelStore.

I found the Mexican people to be gracious and polite; they could not do enough for us. I highly recommend traveling this area of Mexico.  Here one can experience another culture, enjoy gourmet food, and shop where the dollar still has value. Any of these cities can also be paired with a few days at the beach in Puerto Vallarta, Cabo or Cancun.

Hotel Villa Ganz, GUADALAJARA   
This is a sophisticated city with a culture part European, part historical Mexican and enhanced by contemporary influences.  There are excellent restaurants, fabulous shopping, traditional and contemporary art and a historical city center.  We also took a day trip to the city of Tequila where you learn all you want to know about Tequila and enjoy a tasting.

The Hotel Villa Ganz is located in an upscale neighborhood where it is safe to walk to dinner at night. Or to the Fitness center a block away to take advantage of the complimentary fitness program. The hotel is a delight with a sea of antiques in every room.  The rooms are large with deluxe amenities and the beds comfortable. Private dinner is available on request. The food is delicious and beautifully presented.  I especially enjoyed breakfast.  The hotel cooks breakfast to order to go along with their beautiful fruits and pastries. The owner is a vivacious woman with a fashion background.  She can put together a spa or shopping experience, or a combination of both. This can be a romantic getaway for two, or a great girl’s getaway trip.

Hacienda Sepulveda, LAGOS de MORENO               
This is a working hacienda in the countryside.  The hotel has a lovely pool, a spa and offers horseback riding.  Fishing and soft adventures are nearby. The food was good and beautifully presented.  Breakfast was lovely, served in the garden.  The rooms are exceptionally large.

This is a nice alternative to staying in the city.  Here animals and animal sounds replace the noises of the city.  You hear the rooster and donkey. Peacocks are found wandering the property.  I had good massage in the spa, but the spa facilities, while adequate, are not on a par with deluxe American Spas.

Dos Casas, SAN MIGUEL de ALLENDE 
A wonderful small town which lives up to it’s reputation.  It is the classic small Mexican town with the town square centered by the Cathedral. The square is pulsing with activity day and night.  The surrounding cobblestone streets are full of shopping, restaurants and galleries.  You could stroll for hours enjoying the sights and the people. The ambience of the town attracts all the arts; dance, music, fine art, film and of course you have the fiestas.

Dos Casa is three short blocks from the central square.  Their restaurant is one of the best in town.  We were treated to a cooking demonstration and the food was delicious.  Rooms #5 and #6 have their own private rooftops with Jacuzzis.  Very romantic to sit in the tub and enjoy the evening looking at the cityscape with the lighted cathedral and the night sky.  All the rooms were a good size and comfortable. I would highly recommend a daytrip to Guanajuato, a couple of hours away.  It is a colorful, vibrant town full of history, music and architecture.

La Siranda Casa-Hotel, PATZCUARO   
Patzcuaro goes back to pre-Hispanic times and is known for it’s indigenous people. The town square is surrounded by merchants and food vendors.  After absorbing the town flavor, all the colors and aromas, you can visit the surrounding Mission villages. Each village has it’s own unique craft industry that has been ongoing for many, many years. You can find ceramic, copper, weavings and more in these areas. The town has been described as an “undiscovered Oaxaca” or Santa Fe in the 1940’s.

After entering an unmarked wooden door, no address to identify the hotel, you find yourself at the Siranda Casa-Hotel.  Surrounding a lovely landscaped courtyard are six very elegant rooms, filled with antiques and a sumptuous bed outfitted with Frette linens. You put on one of the CD’s provided, relax and you will not want to leave.  Again a sophisticated meal was provided.  It is almost a little surreal to be surrounded by such luxury in a town that dates back to pre-Columbian times.

Morelia is 1 ½ hours away.  We did not have time to visit this city but I understand it does have history and sights worth seeing.  The nonstop flight from Morelia to Los Angeles is a short 3 hours. Read more about Colonial Mexico or about driving in Colonial Mexico.

Marsha Coron
Marsha.c@travelstoreusa.com

Cabo Del Sol is pure relaxation, very quiet, almost feels like a private beach colony. The property offers 69 Luxury Ocean View Condominiums (1-, 2-, 3-bedroom) located in three five-story buildings and 14 two-story villas (3-and 4-bedroom), all fully equiped in different contemporary decor, overall very clean, spacious and impressive accommodations. The resort is about 10 minutes from Cabo.

Each condo building has its own infinity pool, jacuzzi and parking. Each villa has own plunge pool and parking (some have BBQ’s). The two-bedroom condos can be sold as a one-bedroom for two adults. All accommodations include hotel services, including daily housekeeping. The property has a fitness center, saunas and steam room. Wired internet available. There’s private beach access (but it’s a little walk/drive), and the beach is not swimmable. Spa services available upon request (provided by outside company), and chef & catering can also be arranged upon request.

Preferred golf rates are offered at Cabo Del Sol Ocean Course and Cabo Del Sol Desert Course. One restaurant on property, guests are allowed to use restaurants at the neighboring Sheraton & Fiesta Americana properties. Guests can use the pools at Sheraton as well.

Cabo Del Sol is perfect for a quiet and relaxing family or couples getaway.

Kyra Heede
kyra.h@travelstoreusa.com