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.

Valentine’s Day in St. Maarten – you’re worth it

by Annie Scott on

Valentine’s Day is coming, folks. Don’t screw it up.

Even if you’ve spoiled your honey all year round, Valentine’s Day is a time to surprise your loved one with some wonderful gift that will make them feel all loved up. If the thought of forced gift-giving aggravates you, consider getting him or her something that is a gift for you, too. It may be a selfish tack, but everyone wins. A vacation gift is a great the best way to do this.

That brings us to the topic of St. Maarten. St. Maarten, which tends to be an absolutely perfect 75-86°F all year round, is home to two Sonesta 3-star beachfront resorts with “Seduction in St. Maarten” deals. Here they are:

Sonesta Maho Beach Resort & Casino (pictured)’s Seduction in St. Maarten:

  • Round trip Transfers from Airport
  • Sparkling wine and chocolates in the room
  • In room dinner for two from a special menu (one per stay)
  • In room breakfast for two from a special menu (one per stay)
  • Nightly turndown service
  • 20% off Treatments at Good Life Spa.

Sonesta Great Bay Beach Resort & Casino‘s Seduction in St. Maarten:

  • Ocean view accommodations
  • A bottle of champagne and Belgian chocolates upon arrival.
  • Romantic dinner for two in one of the resort’s restaurants (one glass of house wine per person included)
  • Free US$ 20.00 casino match bet per person
  • Daily Turn Down Service

The three-night packages are priced at $329 per room, per night for stays through April 3, 2010 and $229 per room, per night for stays April 4 to December 18, 2010. So, if you want the exceptionally good deal, book one for after April 4 and just tell your love-muffin (or whatever you call them) about the vacay on Valentine’s Day.

You should probably take them to dinner, too, though. Just sayin’.

Internet search results show soldiers are thinking of home

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Life in Iraq isn’t necessarily what you think. While there are tough conditions for those outside the gates, life on the large camps that shares some startling similarities with major U.S. military installations at home. On Camp Anaconda, for example, you can visit a library, shove some fast food fare into your mouth and burn your quads at the gym. Of course, the occasional mortar does get through the defense systems … these communities do sit right in the middle of a war, after all.

Among the amenities now available at major camps in Iraq is internet access, and Google Insights shows the interesting search objectives of the 140,000 military personnel and civilian contractors serving over there.

Most searches are linked with special occasions, such as holidays and personal celebrations (e.g., birthdays and anniversaries). “Christmas gifts,” “gift shop,” and “Valentine’s gifts” are among the top search terms for Americans serving in Iraq, according to a recent study. A “regional interest” index calculated by Google Insights pegs these search terms at 100 (based on a maximum value of 100) or English speakers in Iraq, compared to 80 for the United States and 58 for Great Britain.

It’s pretty clear that the internet helps our troops act on concerns they have about what is happening at home (no surprises there). Thanks to fairly plentiful online access, they have an easier time of participating in the normal activities that we take for granted, such as buying birthday presents.

For people stationed on the larger posts (such as Camp Anaconda), it’s possible to gain satellite internet access in the barracks, though this option can be expensive. Free internet access is offered through Military Welfare and Recreation (MWR) centers on these installations.

%Gallery-40193%

%Gallery-40170%

Hearts from around the world: Ten heart images for Valentine’s Day

by Jamie Rhein on

With February being the month for celebrating Valentine’s Day and American Heart Month, here are 10 images of hearts from around the world. I chose these photos because they caught a photographer’s eye and I could find information about where each heart might be located.

These images also occured without human coaxing–meaning, they weren’t manipulated to look this way.

Also, heart-shaped leaves or heart-shaped flowers were not included. Because they are normally heart-shaped, they aren’t a surprise. The subjects in these photos just happened to be heart-shaped and someone noticed them at just the right time.

This first shot by naama was taken in Israel. I assume this based on one of the photo’s tags. She said she didn’t notice the heart until after she saw the picture.

This pair of swans were canoodling in The Lough, Cork, Ireland when mozzercork snapped their picture.

On the leaf to the left of the flower, you’ll see a perfect water heart. Angela7dreams took this picture in Maui, Hawaii.

If you look to the right bottom section of the asphalt, you’ll see the heart that allyrose18 saw in this street in Florida.

In Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (Ayers Rock) in Australia is this heart-shaped cave. Wind and water carved the image that pixie_bebe captured here.

Although the location of this heart is not listed among the tags, I’m assuming Mzelle Biscotte took this picture of the tree’s bark in France where she lives.

According to dawnzy58, who took this shot, the vine was shaped this way when she came upon it in Quabbin Resevoir in New England.

This Northern (yellow-shafted) flicker was hanging around New Jersey when Sister72 took her picture.

I’m assuming that this photo was taken in Japan. Tanakawho, who took this version of nature’s hearts, lives in Tokyo.

The text that spratmackrel used to to accompany his photo of this stone in his garden in England says:

“Where does the heart of the Buddha lie?” asked the student. The Master did not answer, just pointed to the rock warming in the sun.”

The sentiment feels fitting for Valentine’s Day and a month dedicated to the heart. Wherever you are, I hope you’ve found an image that has warmed your heart.

Photo of the Day (2/14/09)

by Jamie Rhein on


I’ve dreaded every Valentine’s Day for the past five years, but I guess that’s because I’ve long been unattached on this day, and usually spend my time moping around the house and giving my pug Iris hugs every hour or so to make up for the love I’m not getting.

Also every Valentine’s Day I find time to rummage through all of the cheesy card in the neighborhood drugstore’s Hallmark aisle and gag at the ridiculously romantic lines within. Sometimes I even buy a card for myself — often one that says something like “Loving you is the easiest thing to do” or something completely self-indulgent like that.

Despite my disappointments come this Day of Love, I must say pick-up lines are some of my favorite things. This year, a friend sent along some of the craziest pick-up lines I’ve ever read. So, to you single people out there, wherever you are in the world, you might want to give these lines a try. Go ahead and sidle up to one of the pretty ladies / handsome men at a bar around the corner and have at it!

  • If you were a booger, I’d pick you first.
  • You’re like my dandruff, I cannot get you out of my head!
  • My love for you is like diarrhea, I can’t hold it in!
  • You remind me of a library book, because I always want to check you out.
  • Is your father a terrorist? Because you’re “da bomb!”
  • Excuse me, are you a dictionary? Because you give meaning to my life.

Kidding aside, this photo of red locks in a heart shape comes to us from Styggiti. Couples in South Korea climb Namsan, fasten a lock at the top of the mountain, and then throw away the key as a symbolic gesture of their love for each other. I know couples do this in some parts of China as well.

Happy Love Day, everyone.

If you have some great travel shots you’d like to share, be sure to upload them to the Gadling pool on Flickr. We might just pick one as our Photo of the Day!