Four Twitter deals for Valentine’s Day getaways

by Tom Johansmeyer on

You may not be able to say how you feel in 140 characters or less, but you sure can get leads on the best Valentine’s Day experience that way. So, instead of tweeting a feeling, use the white-hot social media platform to grab the top travel specials for the most romantic day of the year. Several resorts are running Twitter-only Valentine’s Day specials this year, so follow the right people, and you’ll be able to wow your better half this year.

1. @BalHarbourFL

ONE Bal Harbour, a five-star luxury property in Florida, is offering a savings of up to $800 a night through its “Tweeterhearts” package. Follow @BalHarbourFL and look for the package that has a room rate of only $1,335 a night for three nights, champagne in your room upon arrival, a couples spa treatment in a private beachside cabana and a romantic dinner for two at 1 Bleu.

2. @FairmontNewport
Look for a room rate of $199 a night at the Fairmont Newport with its “Twitter-patter” package. You’ll stay in a junior suite, enjoy breakfast on your private balcony and receive plush robes adorned with the names of you and your guest (perfect for Twitter nerds like @tjohansmeyer and his wife, mommy-blogger, @ljpimberton — I’m seriously kicking this around, just for the robes). Other amenities, from high-speed internet access to valet parking and champagne are covered, as well. And, the window is wide: you can stay from the beginning of February through the end of March. Get the booking code from @FairmontNewport or @FairmontHotels.3. @LandingsStLucia
Who thought you could get a great wedding deal on Twitter? This RockResort is putting its best foot forward with the “Twitter Bells” package, which you can find by following @LandingsStLucia. You can save up to 25 percent with rates starting at $564 a night for a six-night stay as part of your wedding getaway. Enjoy a ceremony on the beach with a decorated wedding arch, floral arrangements and a bouquet and boutonniere. Your wedding dinner will be prepared for by Executive Chef Richard Tonks, and you’ll eat it on your luxurious “Tweet Suite” terrace. You’ll also pick up breakfast and lunch daily and evening champagne turndown service. You’ll need to tie the knot by May 11, 2010.

4. @ArrabelleVail
Do you crave powder? The Arrabelle at Vail Square‘s “Sweet Tweet for Two” package will get you a two-night stay at a discount of up to 30 percent, if you follow @ArrabelleVail. You’ll be greeted with champagne, roses and chocolate covered strawberries, and during your stay, you’ll enjoy an 80-minute couples massage, a Tweethearts tubing session and breakfast every day. The package is available through the end of ski season (April 17, 2010), with rates starting at $465 a night.

Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort offers ‘friends fly free’ promotion to the Bahamas

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s a cold front blowing through most of the U.S. and while most people are staying warm under wool scarves and flannel sheets, the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is heating up the Bahamas with a stellar hotel deal.

The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort is hosting a “Companion Flies Free Package” for those guests who book by March 3, 2010 and travel through June 23, 2010. Here’s the breakdown of the beach deal:

  • You must stay a minimum of four nights, but you’ll get up to 40 percent off the room rates. (Florida residents must book a minimum three-night stay)
  • A free round-trip companion flight will be awarded when you book your hotel stay.

You could stare out the snow on the ground, or you can hang poolside on the 1,000 foot stretch of Nassau’s white-sand beach. Your room rate comes with complimentary kayaking, snorkeling, and wind surfing. Those looking for a little nightlife will find it at the resort’s Telegraph Bar and the nearby Crystal Palace Casino and Cable Beach Golf Club.

The resort promotion extends through school breaks, making it an ideal situation for families. The Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort offers a “Love Your Family” program, which offers various complimentary, family-focused activities each day, including fireside storytelling, stargazing, ‘dive-in’ movies, and festivals featuring authentic foods, dance and music.

You’ll get your companion flight through one of the airline partners with the resort. To book the Companion Flies Free Package, travelers should call 1-866-789-5485. For more information or other reservations, call the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort at (877) 782-0149 or visit www.SheratonNassau.com or www.nassauparadiseisland.com.

Update: Ritz-Carlton will open new luxury resort in Aruba in 2012

by Melanie Nayer on

Earlier this morning we posted an announcement that luxury hotel group Ritz-Carlton is expanding to its line of resorts and opening a 320-room resort on the Caribbean island of Aruba’s famed Palm Beach. Seems the news is a little premature…

We received a note from Ritz-Carlton letting us know that while there have been discussions, there has been no official announcement. As such, we’ve removed the post.

So, take the news with a grain of salt, folks… or a grain of sand, whatever you fancy, and we’ll be back soon with an update on the story.

Discount hotel coming to Haiti

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Choice Hotels is headed to Haiti! The discount lodging company will be the first to hit the country in close to a decade. Its first hotel, a Comfort Inn, is expected to open in May. It’ll be located in the city of Jacmel, which is on the Caribbean coast. A 32-room motel is planned, but this is only the start for Choice Hotels’ plans for the unlikely destination. It is also looking at building an upscale 120-room property at the Belle Rive tourism development which is nearby — it’s expected for the fall.

Choice left Haiti a few years ago, and plans for a new Hilton were scrapped because of political instability and an unreliable infrastructure. But, the United Nations is trying to bring tourists back to Haiti, and Choice apparently sees some potential.

Is a trip to Haiti a bit too adventurous for you? Before writing off the possibility, keep in mind that it isn’t as bad as you think. Haiti is probably safer than you have been led to believe.

[Photo by Choice]

5 things to do in Aruba other than working on your tan

by Aaron Hotfelder on

Aruba’s white sand beaches and acquamarine waters are well-known throughout the world and for good reason. But there’s more to do on this small Dutch Caribbean island than working on your tan. From an elegant restaurant set up on the beach to a very quirky dive bar to a gorgeous national park filled with desert landscapes, Aruba has much more to offer than first meets the eye.

Here are five of the most worthwhile things to do:

5. Dine on the beach at Simply Fish. You’d be hard-pressed to find a more gorgeous setting for a dinner than at Simply Fish. Located directly on Palm Beach– you’ll feel the sand between your toes while biting into your heavenly seafood risotto– this restaurant offers a meal you’ll always remember.

Yes, the food is a little pricey (entrees are in the $30-$40 range), but you’re paying primarily for the excellent location, one that has inspired more marriage proposals than unexpected pregnancies probably have.

4. Windsurfing on Palm Beach

Hailed as one of the world’s top 12 beaches by Conde Nast, Palm Beach is a great place to practice your sit, stare, and swim routine for days on end. But for the more active among us, Palm Beach’s constant breezes and shallow water also make it the perfect place to take your first windsurfing lesson. The folks at Vela Windsurf provide excellent, affordable instruction and they allow you as much time as your body can handle to practice what you’ve learned.

3. Stellaris Casino Aruba is an idyllic Caribbean paradise, but paradise, alas, does not come cheap. Why not try to make some of that money back (or lose even more!) by visiting the Stellaris Casino, located inside the Aruba Marriott Resort.

With all the table games you’re accustomed to, like craps, roulette, and blackjack, as well as a sportsbook and hundreds of slot machines, Stellaris has enough to keep even the most compulsive gambling addict entertained. Be sure to pick up your VIP card if you’re interested in earning comps and cash back.

2. Charlie’s Bar Started in the 1940s by a Dutch immigrant named Charlie Brouns and now operated by the founder’s grandson, Charlie’s Bar is an absolute institution in San Nicolas, Aruba’s second city.

The decor is eccentric to put it mildly: the bar is chock-full of thousands of vintage signs, photographs, and bizarre garage sale finds. The seafood is excellent and reasonably priced (well, for Aruba). Bring a camera and have your picture taken behind the bar.

1. Stack rocks at Arikok National Park. How did a vast arid desert come to occupy one-fifth of the tropical island of Aruba? We don’t know either, but we’re glad it does. Arikok National Park is rocky, filled with cacti, and the last thing you’d expect when visiting a Caribbean island. But its dramatic location on Aruba’s northeastern coast makes it stunningly beautiful.

The bumpy roads through most of Arikok mean it’s best explored by Jeep, and DePalm Tours offers excellent guided Jeep tours where you (yes, you!) are behind the wheel. A standard compact car will allow you to see much of the park as well. Don’t miss walking on top of one of the natural bridges, exploring the ruins of a gold mine called Miralamar, and locking lips with your significant other in the heart-shaped Tunnel of Love.

You’ll also find thousands of rock stacks (like the ones above) throughout the park. Go ahead and build a little tower yourself– it’s supposed to bring good luck.

For more about Aruba, check out my quick ‘n dirty guide to the island from earlier today.

This trip was sponsored by Marriott Hotels. All opinions expressed above are my own.