February 2, 2006 - Sandals Resort in Dunn's River is Reno'd And Ready For Romance
After a US$25-million restoration and redesign, Sandals Dunn's River in Jamaica has been renamed the Sandals Dunn's River Villaggio Golf Resort and Spa.To celebrate its new Mediterranean style, the 250-room property is offering a 55 per cent savings for all new bookings made for travel between April and December.
Guests staying at the property will step into the Italian Renaissance upon arrival, entering the property through its new porte-cochere and columned lobby and being greeted by hotel staff and offered a Bellini cocktail.
At the heart of the resort is the Piazza del Campo which overlooks the sea and freshwater pool that includes a cascading waterfall as a reminder of Jamaica's landmark, Dunn's River Falls.
The Piazza is also home to the resort's new Pizzeria del Campo, as well as Bar del Campo, Gelateria Luigi and Mondorle e Zucchero Filato.
The Il Capitano restaurant offers fine wines and classic Italian cuisine with a choice of dining indoors by candlelight or al fresco by the ocean under the stars, while Ristorante Colombo offers gourmet Caribbean cuisine.
The property also features Asian cuisine at teppanyaki-style Kimonos, International dishes at Ristorante Marco Polo and casual gourmet fare at Caffé Arno.
In the evening, the resort offers nightly entertainment inspired by Il Carnivale dating back to the 1200s. Guests can enjoy a cinema night featuring Italian classics and Hollywood hits, dancing on the beach, a weekly masquerade ball, as well as true Italian customs like wine and cheese parties, caricature artists, jugglers and mimes.
Rooms have been enhanced and feature four-poster mahogany beds, marble-topped mini-bars, rich furnishings and Persian rugs. The redesigned suites include dedicated sitting areas, marble baths, the services of a personal butler and views of the Caribbean Sea. Couples also have the option of enjoying Red Lane Spa treatments in their room
or in the new spa facility.
February 8, 2006 - Celebrate Your Romance and Relax In Tulum, Mexico
Looking for something especially romantic for Valentine's day or another special occasion? There is a resort in the Maya Riviera in Mexico that just might be what you are looking for.
Take a break from the rat race and set the sensual mood this Valentine's day with romance-oriented holistic spa
packages at EcoTulum's renowned wellness center along the white sand shores of the Maya Riviera. EcoTulum Resorts & Spa, a collection of three rustic beachfront properties along Mexico's breezy Caribbean coastline, invites couples to indulge in sweet surrender the entire month of February. Slip away into total relaxation with a choice of two distinct packages are designed to elevate intimacy using traditional Mayan-inspired therapies that evoke inward growth and vanquish stress
The Couples' Valentine's Package includes Maya Spa's most beloved treatments, including time in the floatation chamber (2 hrs), which evokes inner healing and meditation, a traditional shaman-led Mayan energy cleansings for two (1 hr), Reiki with aromatherapy (2 hrs), participation the indigenous temazcal sweat lodge ceremony (3 hrs.) and a three hour long "touch for two" session (3 hrs) that involves learning and observing massage techniques that can be used on your partner.
One of Maya Spa's newest chocolate therapies - the cacao bean exfoliation for two (2 hrs) - rounds out the deluxe couples package, valued at nearly $800 US for more than 13 hours of heavenly personalized spa services but available for $665 US the entire month of February.
A Valentine's spa sampler package is also available for $365 USD, with a total value of $428 USD, and includes the "touch for two" massage (3 hrs.), chocolate massage for two (2 hrs.) and two tickets to the group Temazcal (3 hrs.)
Registered guests or non-EcoTulum patrons staying at other properties in Tulum may book either package and other spa services directly via email at mayaspa@ecotulum.com. Additional information and detailed descriptions on all Maya Spa indigenous healing treatments can be found online at Maya Spa.
ABOUT ECOTULUM RESORTS & SPA
Zahra offers 22 remodeled rooms and cabañas nestled between two private beaches in Mexico's Mayan Riviera. Electricity is provided from sunset until 11 pm.
Azulik a 15-villa retreat next door carries rustic luxury to the max with lounge beds and hand carved wooden soaking tubs.
Cabañas Copal features 47 candle lit cabañas hidden in the jungle with total wellness, and a clothing-optional dress code.
Maya Spa offers holistic spa services and traditional Maya therapies to all properties.
Amilik in Patagonia's lake region is EcoTulum's first South American wellness center and luxury eco-spa.
February 21, 2006 - Romance Thrives in Sarasota
Whether celebrating one or 61 years of marriage, couples escape to Sarasota and Her Islands -- captivating travelers' imaginations along southwest Florida's Gulf Coast -- to reignite love for one another during a special beachside vow renewal ceremony. With romantic hotel packages starting at $209 per night, Sarasota tempts lovers to renew vows beachside at sunset on "heart day" and experience intimate diversions featuring the unique culture, eccentric cuisine and creative abundance of the destination. As the sun kisses the crystal waters Siesta Key, duos sink toes into sugary-white shores and reaffirm promises given on wedding days. More than 400 husbands and wives gather at the Pavilion on Siesta Key's public beach for the annual service -- vow renewal veterans and newcomers alike -- to reiterate love for one another. The ceremony begins at 6:00 p.m. on Valentine's evening and is free of charge for all devotees. After nuptials are exchanged, sweethearts join in on a Valentine Stroll through Siesta Key Village where shops stay open late for treasure hunting and live music awes listeners in love.
For a dreamy overnight stay, Sarasota and Her Islands presents an array of romantic packages including:
ROMANCE PACKAGE at Tropical Breeze Resort and Spa ($726 per couple*)
* Three-night accommodations * Continental breakfast
* Dinner at Maximo Restaurant * Couple massage at the Key Spa
US TIME: WHITE SANDS AND SUNSETS at Captiva Beach Resort ($765 per couple*)
* Three-night accommodations * Bottle of wine at check-in
* Candlelight dinner * Breakfast at The Broken Egg
* "Breakfast in Bed" delivery basket * In-room massages
* Three-day beach equipment rental
ISLAND AFFAIR at The Colony Beach and Tennis Resort ($365 per couple per night*)
* Wine, gourmet and roses welcome gift
* $100 resort credit
* Breakfast
* 10 percent off at Spa, Salon and Le Tennique Designer boutique
ROMANCE PACKAGE at AmericInn Hotel & Suites ($279 per couple per night*)
* Romantic whirlpool suite
* Dozen roses and champagne upon check-in
* Bubble bath
ROMANCE PACKAGE at Holiday Inn Express Siesta Key ($209 per couple per night*)
* Complementary bottle of wine and picnic at sunset
From wining and dining at one of the Zagat-rated, locally-owned restaurants and peeking at extensive art collections to strolling hand-in-hand along shell-strewn shores and kayaking for two at Myakka State Park, Sarasota and Her Islands features pursuits for those seeking a private, romantic escape. Home of the famed John and Mable Ringling Museum (and whispers of circus history), endless miles of sugar white shores and captivating culture, Sarasota and Her Islands are diversely comprised of Sarasota, Longboat Key, Lido Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key, Venice, Manasota Key, Englewood and North Port.
To say "I do" again and revive love on Sarasota and Her Islands, call (800) 522-9799 or visit www.sarasotafl.org.
February 27, 2006 - Chill out in Tulum at the boutique hotel Mezzanine
Looking for the quieter side of Cancun and area? Check out this resort in Tulum: Mezzanine is an intimate boutique hotel which brings a Euro-chic vibe to quiet Tulum offering cool beats and hot fiestas on the beach with local and guest DJs, a retro lounge serving crisp cocktails, and four minimalist suites on a sweeping stone terrace overlooking the Caribbean Sea along Mexico's Mayan Riviera.
You can flee the crowds of Cancun and escape reality in Mezzanine's chilled out beachfront vibe along the white sand shores of Tulum. Mezzanine's new walk up lounge deck takes the term "beach access" to whole new heights.
The four room boutique hotel, DJ lounge and Thai restaurant burst on the scene more than a year ago with a fresh, contemporary concept and energetic attitude that broke the tradition of rustic options along the Rivera Maya. Now there's no better place to people watch or take in Tulum's stunning natural surroundings than Mezzanine's inviting stone terrace and newly completed wood deck, which is furnished with lounge chairs and low tables.
"We've got a very cool 'beach club atmosphere' and a prime location on the most beautiful stretch of sand in Tulum," explains manager Kattrina Taylor. "People literally walk right up off the beach, order lunch or a snack, and stay all day chilling to music and drinking margaritas."
Another plus? The white sand beach and aquamarine waters are just steps away from Mezzanine's walk up stone terrace and deck, where a cool Caribbean breeze flows every afternoon amid the down tempo house music. The resulting hip atmosphere has attracted some high profile celebrities including Jude Law with Sienna Miller and Jade Jagger, and is described by guests as "better than St. Tropez and Ibiza."
An expansive menu of café-style beach fare and tantalizing dishes inspired by the chef's native Thailand fill hungry appetites, while the beach bar and lounge serves up loads of fun, tropical drink creations and favorite classics such as the cosmopolitan martini, premium champagne and fruity concoctions without alcohol (including delicious Indian-style yoghurt lassies).
Mezzanine features plenty of lounge-worthy outdoor space: a wide stone terrace outside the restaurant is covered by billowing sail shades; an indoor upstairs mezzanine has a pool table and red leather couches for kicking back out of the sun; a wood deck overlooks the wide talcum powder beach and crystalline Caribbean Sea; and a cenote-inspired swimming pool lies in the middle of the action with low tree trunk tables and retro-style bean bag chairs.
Mezzine's Package for lovers includes three nights accommodation for two people, breakfast daily, a massage each, a three course dinner for two including a bottle of Concha y Torro Sauvignon Blanc and bottle of Moet & Chandon champagne on arrival.
For more on Mezzanine's hip scene, visit www.mezzanine.com.mx
