RockResort deal ignites romance at The Landings St. Lucia

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Now with direct flights from JFK, St. Lucia is even more accessible than ever before. With winter coming, the Caribbean becomes all the more attractive, and RockResort has is amping it up with a new deal. Couples are invited to celebrate their relationships at St. Lucia — from eloping to honeymooning to renewing — at a savings of up to 25 percent. Three new deals are designed to get you onto the beach soon.

The “Romance and Elope” package does more than knock the price of a room at The Landings down to $564 a night; it also spares you the months of agony involved in wedding planning. Dash off to St. Lucia for the wedding of your dreams (one that doesn’t involve angry family members, seating charts or bunny hops). Your wedding ceremony will be held under a decorated arch on the beach, after which Executive Chef Richard Tonks will set you up with dinner for two on the couples’ villa suite terrace. The six-night package also includes choice of breakfast or lunch daily and evening champagne turndown.

If you just tied the knot and need a honeymoon, check out the “Romance and Escape” package. You’ll enjoy a Caribbean honeymoon for six nights and benefit from “his” and “hers” amenities, in addition to dinner for two in The Beach Club and a selection of excursions such as SCUBA diving, rainforest zip-lining, golf and lavish spa treatments (rates start at $431 a night).

For couples who are already married, the “Romance and Renew” package taps into the fun of renewing wedding vows, with a sunset beachside ceremony, a private romantic in-suite dinner and couples massages at the spa. The $525 nightly rate includes a framed picture of the ceremony.

Golf, spa and 15th century charm in Brittany

by Tom Johansmeyer on

A round of golf and a trip to the spa can make any vacation even better. Now, put both those activities – and you – in Brittany, on the northwest coast of France. It’s even better, right? If this sounds good to you, check out the Hotel Domaine de la Bretesche‘s new “Golf and Spa” package. It runs through the end of the year and can save you more than 35 percent.

For €537 a night, you’ll get a room at Hotel Domaine de la Bretesche, breakfast every day and dinner at the hotel’s le Montaigu restaurant – run by Michelin-starred chef Gilles Charpy. You and your traveling companion will each get a treatment at Spa de la Cour Carree and 18 holes on the hotel’s golf course. Essentially, pay for the spa, meals and golf, and your room is free.

The hotel has only 32 rooms, all in a fortified 15th century estate. Enjoy this old world elegance … and don’t forget to bring your clubs!

Kapalua, Hawaii – 23,000 acres of Maui Heaven

by Annie Scott on

Kapalua, Hawaii is an exclusive resort destination which is something of a best-kept-secret on the island of Maui. I hadn’t heard of it a few months ago, and now I can’t wait to go back.

Before we get into the delicious details, allow me to briefly make my case for why vacationing in Hawaii is like, the best idea ever:
1. All the comforts of home. As I mentioned in my article about the rainforest, Maui has Office Max, Barnes & Noble, Baskin Robbins; everything you secretly didn’t want to go without on your vacation.
2. In addition to the comforts of home, there are also active volcanoes, rainforests, and all your tropical adventure activities like zip-lining, parasailing and more — and don’t you feel a little safer doing that stuff in America, where you know insurance must be bananas?
3. Your money is good here. No changing of currency not only means you don’t have to do math, but you are also less likely to be ripped off by locals whose dollars are worth something else.
4. No customs, no passports, no weird, unexpected laws.
5. The time change works in your favor. Wanna sleep late? You can get away with it, because if you’re coming from the continental US or Canada, Hawaii is a few hours behind. I came from New York, so I would get up at 6 AM feeling like I slept till noon.
6. It’s freaking Hawaii. And yes, it is that gorgeous.

Onto Kapalua and the three places you can stay. Here’s one:
%Gallery-73767%So. Unless you’re into boats, Kapalua is typically reached by flying into Maui’s OGG international airport, then driving about 50 minutes around the perimeter of the island. Yes, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line, but there’s a volcano in your way (pesky) and it’s a beautiful drive.

There are three places you can stay in Kapalua, making it far more exclusive than Lahaina (which you pass on the way), where everyone and their mother has a hotel. The first and most beautiful digs in this blogger’s opinion is the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, nestled stylishly on Kapalua Bay, just steps from some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world. The Residences consists of 84 private ownership properties which start at $4 million. If that’s laughably steep to you, consider the Club — 62 fully-furnished, deeded one-twelfth ownership properties (basically timeshares) which start at $350,000. The Club and Residences are elegantly appointed and fabulously designed — the architecture is stunning and distinctly Hawaiian — and extremely convenient to golf, the brand new Kapalua Spa, and more. Ownership also includes exclusive access to the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences’ dining and pool, which are not to be missed. Click here for more on all that.

Now, let’s talk about accommodations for those of us who aren’t into buying (or don’t have 350 grand to spare); there’s the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua and the Kapalua Villas.The Kapalua Villas are a great choice for families, as they’re condo-style rentals complete with parking spaces and a large pineapple in every fridge. The Villas are divided into The Bay Villas and The Ridge Villas — and though staying at The Ridge means a bit of a hike to get down to the beach, the views are spectacular, and there are swimming pools on-site up there. Guests of the Kapalua Villas also have access to the pool areas at the Ritz-Carlton hotel, as well as free shuttles to get you all over Kapalua, including to golf, free tennis, and fabulous restaurants like The Plantation House and Sansei Seafood Restaurant & Sushi Bar. The Kapalua Villas run from just $169 per night to around $599, depending on size (up to three bedrooms) and season. And though they may provide the comforts of home like your own kitchen, free phone calls, and a daily newspaper, there is still maid service. Because you’re on vacation.

I know I said that the Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences was the most beautiful option, but the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua hotel is no slouch. The gorgeous, 54 acre property recently underwent a $180 million renovation, and includes a luscious spa and six dining options from the lobby bar with live music to fresh fish by the beach, as well as the extravagant and magical AAA Four Diamond restaurant The Banyan Tree, which sources 100 percent of its herbs from organic gardens located (and strollable) on the grounds. The Banyan Tree alone is worth your trip to Kapalua.

The Ritz-Carlton hotel is also equipped with residential-style rooms, so families who are looking for the hotel atmosphere but want to be able to cook are well provided for. Another amenity for both families, couples, and lone travelers is the Jean-Michel Cousteau Ambassadors of the Environment center on the property, which leads expeditions up to the Maunalei Arboretum Rainforest and takes guests snorkeling with underwater cameras in Kapalua Bay. You can ask about their monthly Give Back Getaway programs, or just arrange a trip to either destination privately with the center. Prices start at $299 and go up to around $6,500 for the lavish Royal Pacific Suite on the top floor.

Check out the gallery for photos of the Ritz-Carlton hotel, and visit Kapalua.com to learn more about this top-notch, cook-pine-peppered, fabulously luxe destination.

This trip was paid for by Kapalua Resort & The Ritz-Carlton, but the views expressed within the post are 100% my own.

Destination spas hard up for guests, slashing prices

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Upscale spas may not be accustomed to offering deep discounts, but the current economic situation has left them little choice. As a result, you’ll be able to take advantage of some fantastic deals and go to spas that might be out of reach otherwise. Live like the wealthy (used to) for a few days.

For the top shops in the spa business, the International Spa Association (ISPA) says that visits are down and shorter, and the people who are coming are spending less. Day spa trips are becoming more common than destination alternatives, which has kicked the industry into “survival mode.”

To bring more spa-regulars – and first-timers – in the door, several spas around the country are going to extraordinary lengths. The Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas is offering a third and fourth night free for guests booking two nights (arriving on Sunday). Reservations must be made before October 15, 2009 for trips to be taken by the end of the year. Miraval Resort, outside Tucson, Arizona, has a $275 daily special (per person) through October 14 that includes almost everything (except spa treatments and taxes). And, Canyon Ranch, also near Tucson, is offering 15 percent off an all-inclusive package for first-time guests visiting by December 23. Visit between November 29 and December 23, and you could pick up a 30 percent discount.

Looking to make your first destination spa trip? Now is clearly the time to do it.

Go to Antigua with Curtain Bluff’s “Power of 10” package

by Tom Johansmeyer on

I know we’re still sweating the summer, and January seems like a lifetime away. But, think back seven or eight months. Remember how cold it was. It’s hard to make the connection, but it really was that cold out, and you lived it. It’s going to happen again before you know it. So, now is probably the time to book a retreat from the crushing cold. Curtain Bluff‘s new package, “The Power of 10,” is designed to make your start to 2010 memorable … as if relief from frigid temperatures with the warmth of Antigua weren’t enough.

From January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010, you’re stay at the all-inclusive Curtain Bluff resort will be enhanced with a sunset sail on Curtain Bluff’s yacht, cooking classes with Chef Christophe Blatz and a series of “seconds”: a second spa treatment, a second tennis lesson and a second personal training session. And, this comes in addition to all the usuals: fishing, snorkeling, SCUBA diving and just relaxing by the beach.

“2009 was a tough year for many in different ways,” says Rob Sherman, managing director of Curtain Bluff. “We at Curtain Bluff want to offer something extra special and fun to start 2010 off right,” he continues; “now in addition to experiencing some of our top activities already included with their stay, guests can also splurge on spa treatments and private lessons and classes at minimal cost.”

Curtain Bluff really does redefine relaxation: the place actually got me to chill for a while. This package is definitely worth a look.

Interested in Curtain Bluff? Read the recent series on this resort >>