Friday, July 30, 2010

Tamarind Beach Hotel & Yacht Club

We have just returned home from Canuoan on a 14 day vacation. This was our second time staying at the Tamarind Beach Hotel. We we returned there because we love the quiet and friendly qualities of the Tamarind. The hotel staff was super attentive and gracious.

We came back for a second time specifically because of the beautiful rooms right on the beach, the cleanliness of the hotel and we most enjoyed Floyd, our beach attendant and Peter, our beach bartender. We never, ever had to ask for anything, they were helpful every minute. They seemed to truly care about our needs and went out of their way to make sure we had a great time.

We are already planning our next trip back! We recommend this place if you want great service and people who care about you.


Click here for booking information about Tamarind Beach Hotel & Yacht Club

Tuesday, July 20, 2010

A Destination Wedding to Die For


Have you ever dreamt of saying your "I do's" with the vibrant setting sun and the cool ocean breeze flowing through your hair? The Tamarind Cove Barbados has an amazing Wedding Package that will blow your mind. This package is free with new bookings on select dates. That's right, you heard me, it's FREE.

Your FREE wedding package includes:

- The services of a wedding coordinator
- Marriage license and registration per couple
- Services of Magistrate/ Priest/ Minister
- Local transport to/ from Registration Office
- Bride’s Bouquet & Groom’s Boutonniere
- Best Man, Maid of Honor and/ or Witnesses if required
- One bottle of Champagne for the wedding ceremony
- Single Tier wedding cake
- All taxes and Gratuities on these services

And as an extra perk with this amazing wedding package, The Tamarind Cove is offering a 3-night stay to celebrate your first anniversary.


If you're looking into a destination wedding for your special day, definitely look into this amazing deal and this beautiful resort.

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Our Perfect Honeymoon at La Casa Que Canta



From the name right down to the cuisine, everything about La Casa Que Canta was absolutely exquisite. When we started planning our honeymoon we didn't really know where we wanted to go; all I knew was that I wanted a quiet, relaxing retreat and I wanted to feel pristine ivory sand between my toes and feel the cool ocean breeze everyday. Located in beautiful Zihuatanejo/Ixtapa, Mexico, La Casa Que Canta was exactly what we were looking for- peaceful and romantic. What's more is that it's an architectural marvel! It was like nothing we'd ever seen before. Ingeniously sculpted on a promontory with an extraordinary tiered architecture, La Casa Que Canta was even more breathtaking person.


We knew the moment we walked into the lobby that we'd picked the right resort for our honeymoon. The gracious staff welcomed us with open arms and really worked to make sure that our stay was perfect. The staff was so attentive and their service was unparalleled to any other resort we've stayed at. They showed us to our room, the junior Senorita Sonrisa suite in the private residence El Murmullo. Our view from the room was gorgeous. We watched the sun go down over the Zihuatanejo Bay everynight as we enjoyed a nice glass of champagne.


During the day we lounged by one of the plunge pools, took a walk along the bay and enjoyed yoga there at the resort but our favorite activity there was the cooking lessons with chef Antonio! We love Mexican food and discovering the secrets of Mexican cuisine from Chef Antonio was so much fun! We've already tried some of his tips at home.

At night we dined at the resort's restaurant. They had a variety of traditional Mexican dishes for us to choose from and I'll admit that it took me a while to decide what delectable dish I wanted to satisfy my palette each and every time we ate there; we tried breakfast, lunch and dinner and all our meals were divine and mouthwatering. We especially loved the classic ceviche with perfectly crispy tortilla chips, their fish tacos and their margaritas of course!


Our honeymoon at La Casa Que Canta really was the romantic retreat we were looking for. The service, the suite, the food, the amenities were all amazing and we're so glad we decided to go with La Casa Que Canta for our special vacation.

Wednesday, July 14, 2010

L'Auberge del Mar


Near the shores of the Pacific Ocean, in the picturesque village of Del Mar, the timeless L'Auberge Del Mar has been reborn, redefining the California coastal resort experience and celebrating the special connection we all have with the tranquility, comfort and relaxation of the sea. Ranked among the best luxury resorts in the country by Condé Nast, L'Auberge Del Mar brings together panoramic coastal views, casual elegance and personalized service to create an outstanding venue for a romantic weekend getaway, social occasion or corporate meeting. Prepare to be enchanted by this seaside estate-style retreat you can truly call your own.

L'Auberge is a scenic 20-minute drive from San Diego International Airport and just one block from one of Southern California's most inviting beaches. An array of recreational activities including championship golf, boutique shopping and galleries, thrilling balloon rides, and a world-famous horse racetrack are all at your fingertips at the L'Auberge del Mar. Enjoy fun recreation and activities both on and off the resort. Splash down in our whirlpool spa or one of two pools. Enjoy tennis on two-lighted courts for individual or mini tournament play. Take advantage of priority tee times and greens fees at San Diego's most exclusive golf courses. Discover the world-famous Del Mar Race Track, the Rancho Santa Fe Polo Fields and a variety of San Diego attractions just a short drive away. Explore a historical park and nature reserve with plenty of hiking trails at Torrey Pines State Beach, located just three miles south of the L'Auberge Del Mar.

Or if you'd rather get some much needed R&R you can indulge in our luxury spa by the sea. The Spa at L'Auberge naturally combines the healing wonders of the ocean with advanced spa treatments from around the world. It is a place where you can take a moment to pamper yourself with a treatment, a steam and a cup of tea. It is also a place to celebrate special moments with friends, family and loved ones - together, relaxed and at ease. It is a home by the sea just for you - where you can stop and breathe in the sea air. Where you can smile and simply enjoy. Where you can linger.

Whether you're looking for a quiet relaxing retreat or for an fun and active weekend, the L'Auberge Del Mar has something for you so go ahead and immerse yourself in this beautiful seaside resort.

Rancho Las Palmas

The early California charm of this relaxing Spanish hacienda makes Rancho Las Palmas one of the least pretentious luxury resorts in the desert.


The resort's 444 guest rooms and suites are housed in charming, tile-roofed casitas reminiscent of Old World haciendas with spectacular views of pools, golf courses or lakes. Private patios and balconies overlook lushly landscaped grounds. Beds are draped in luxurious down comforters, custom duvets and cotton-rich linens. All are appointed with 42" plasma televisions, two-line telephones with voicemail, high-speed Internet access, cable/satellite TV with premium channels and Internet browsers.



The renowned Rancho Las Palmas Country Club is home to a championship Ted Robinson-designed, 27-hole golf course.




Resort guests enjoy a tempting array of dining options that includes a signature restaurant offering culinary classics with a contemporary spin featuring seasonal fresh produce, seafood, regional specialties and an abundance of delightful desserts. Palms Café offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and features brewed Starbucks ® coffee, house-made breakfast breads and pastries, fresh salads, sandwiches, and brick-oven pizzas. Our spectacular swimming and recreation complex, overlooking the 5th fairway, is ideal for reconnecting with family and friends while diving into juicy burgers and cool tropical drinks.



The award-winning Spa Las Palmas offers a European-style 20,000 sq. ft. health spa where guests can unwind with a tempting selection of massages, body therapies and facials. It features 25 treatment rooms, a private pool, fitness center, Yamaguchi Salon, Spa Boutique and Spa Café.



Play to your heart’s content at Rancho Las Palmas – a classic, charming resort-style luxury hotel in the Palm Springs area. Boasting the best location in sun-drenched Rancho Mirage, offering you thoughtful amenities and services, comfortable accommodations with sumptuous bedding, and numerous resort activities.

Tuesday, July 13, 2010

Terranea Resort


We went to Terranea Resort in Los Angeles in September 2009 with our two young kids; we stayed there for 7 nights. Our stay was magnificent, the service was excellent and all the staff was really friendly and helpful.

Dinner was absolutely delicious and gave a good end to the day. Our Favorite restaurant was Mar’sel. The menu features the finest, freshest, locally-produced organic ingredients available - including a few from Mar'sel's herb garden. It is simple, modern, yet innovative interpretation of California cuisine

The swimming pool was nice and quiet with an amazing view of the Pacific Coast.


We did most of the family activities the resort offers, from competing in a friendly game of bocce ball, exploring tide pools, playing golf, kayaking along the beach cove, zooming down the Resort pool's waterslide to stargazing at night by the outdoor fire pits. Terranea provides "fun, fun, fun" for families.

My husband and I went to the Spa and it was amazing. The concierge walked us to the spa, where Mike and I were brought into a wonderful smelling private room. We were on side by side massage tables and each had our own masseuse. All I can say is that I've had a lot of massages here in the US (most much more expensive), and this was the best I've ever had.

The room service menu was really good for whenever you felt like having a snack. Room cleaners were friendly and helpful in all aspects.

Overall, the stay was awesome. It was relaxing, beautiful and just perfect. We would watch the sunrise every morning and enjoy the sunset in the evenings. It far exceeded our expectations.

A Perfect Weekend Getaway at The Good Medicine Lodge


This little bed and breakfast is perfect for a weekend getaway from the city. Immerse yourselves in the beautiful and tranquil nature surrounding the lodge and enjoy a full breakfast of eggs, toast, fruit coffee and juice in your room every morning. The lodge is situated in the authentic northwestern Montana town of Whitefish and in the heart of America's greatest outdoor recreational region and only a few turns from Whitefish Mountain Resort, a short hike from Glacier Park, a paddle away from Whitefish River and Whitefish Lake, and a nine iron from the Flathead Valley's numerous golf courses.

The beautiful mountain view from the rooms is breathtaking and the rooms are just as captivating. The lodge is built of cedar timbers and has a perfect balance of elegance and warmth. Tastefully decorated in a western motif that is exquisite and welcoming without reflecting pretense, the roomy interiors are punctuated by crackling fireplaces and solid wood furnishings with fabrics influenced by Native American textiles. For travelers' convenience, there is a guest laundry and ski room with booth and glove dryers.

With a variety of rooms and suites to choose from and mountains, ski resorts and golf courses, The Good Medicine Lodge is a perfect escape to the tranquility of nature.

A romantic getaway at Turtle Bay Resort, Oahu

When we were planning our honeymoon we couldn't decide where to go. We both wanted a romantic, luxury resort, but John is more of a thrill seeker wanting action and adventure, whereas I love relaxing on the beach. Turtle Bay Resort was just what we were looking for and gave us both the perfect honeymoon escape. Located on five miles of white sand beaches with three bays, the views were breathtaking.

The resort offers beach cottages, villas, and guestrooms all with spectacular ocean views. We chose the romantic beach cottage and from the moment we walked into our cottage we escaped into a haven of Hawaiian luxury. The beach cottages are beautiful, with yellow and copper accents against a backdrop of azure seas. Just as beautiful inside we found walnut floors, 15-foot ceilings, king poster beds, and my personal favorite, the luxurious deep-soak tub. Arriving late afternoon we enjoyed our first sunset while sipping cocktails from our private balcony.

A luxury beach resort, Turtle Bay Resort features two pools, championship golf courses, tennis courts, horseback riding, hiking and mountain bike trails, a surfing school, world-class dining and shopping. Only 45 minutes away from the energetic cities of Honolulu and Waikiki, and just minutes away from The Polynesian Cultural Center the location was perfect. The resort was always willing to help us coordinate our day and give us insider tips on where to go.

As an avid surfer, John couldn't wait to visit the legendary surf spots such as Sunset Beach, the Banzai Pipeline and Waimea Bay, of the North Shore. I'm just glad the waves were a little to intimidating for him to test them out. We had an amazing time exploring The North Shore, from exhilarating helicopter rides, kayaking, swimming in the warm waters, and lounging on the beach. At the end of each day we found the perfect way to unwind, relaxing poolside with cocktails, enjoying massages at the Spa Luana, and strolling along the beach.

The resort made sure that every part of our honeymoon was filled with romance. Sparkling seas, soft breezes and rustling palms set the mood for romance during a private beach dinner. We had the perfect escape with the resort's North Shore Romance Package that came with sparkling wine and a convertible.

Oahu's North Shore is a great destination for all travelers, with sightseeing, adventure, exploration, rest and relaxation. The Turtle Bay Resort is the perfect setting, with breathtaking ocean views, miles of pristine beaches and the lush green scenery. It was our perfect escape.


Experience LA at the gorgeous Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood

Step into the lap of luxury at the Sunset Marquis Hotel, Restaurant and Spa in West Hollywood, California. Just minutes away from the Sunset Strip, The Sunset Marquis gives you the best of tranquility and relaxation without losing the Rock n Roll charm left by its visitors such as the Kings of Leon, Daughtry, Sting, The Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones and many more. And now, fresh from a $25 million renovation and expansion, including the introduction of forty amazing private Mediterranean style villas and a stylish makeover of the legendary suites, the Sunset Marquis is continuing to write a new chapter in Hollywood history.


-V I L L A S-
The Villas at the Sunset Marquis set new standards for hotels everywhere. With their elegant and tranquil design, the Villas will captivate you the moment you walk in. Clustered in free-standing two-story Mediterranean-style Casitas with modern, elegant interiors and set in verdant peaceful gardens with over 4,000 full grown plants and trees, a sojourn in a Marquis Villa is more akin to a visit to a private, subtropical estate. The Villas are available in two bedrooms, one bedroom and junior villas which you can think of as rather large studio apartments with luxe designed interiors and the Marquis' lush, tranquil gardens just outside your door. The experience gets even better with 24-hour butler service and for those with the wherewithal to bed down in the Presidential Villa, a Bentley is at your beck-and-call. The details big and small are what set the Sunset Marquis apart from the rest with most Villas including a private balcony or patio and some with a fireplace, baby grand piano, and vaulted ceilings.


- S U I T E S-
Recently updated with even more stylish modern furnishings and amenities such as marble counters, custom seating and Noguchi lamps, the Sunset Marquis suites have never looked or felt better! Perfect for the traveling business men and women of today, each suite includes a separate work/dining area so you no longer have to hold business meetings on the edge of the bed. Like the Villas, the suites include lavish amenities for the sole purpose of making your stay more comfortable and relaxing. Enjoy these luxurious amenities during your stay at a Sunset Marquis suite:
-400 threadcount Frette bed linens
-Luxury pillowtop featherbeds
-Cable television
-High-speed internet access
-Minibar & refrigerator
-Marble bathrooms, many with separate vanity area
-Cascade rain forest shower
-Hair dryer, scale and signature bathrobes
-Exclusive Erbe bath amenities imported from Italy
-Twice daily maid, including turndown service
-24-hour full-menu room service
-Two heated outdoor pools, six private cabanas
-Balconies



-R E S T A U R A N T-
Get the star treatment Hollywood A-listers enjoy at the Sunset Marquis RESTAURANT. The vibe is California casual, the cuisine is market fresh, the service second to none. If you're looking for four-star ambiance in a stylish restaurant setting, dine indoors. But if you'd rather enjoy your meal al fresco under the sun or stars, you can't beat the garden view from the patio of RESTAURANT at the Sunset Marquis.




- B A R 1 2 0 0 -
BAR 1200 is where Hollywood legends come to unwind and let their hair down. Voted LA Citysearch's Top Hotel Bar for 2008, BAR 1200 at the Sunset Marquis has been the in-spot for the in-crowd, serving up premium cocktails and protection from prying paparazzi for many, many years.

The lounge and outdoor patio provide an ultra-private, laid-back environment, where, on any given night, musicians recording in NightBird Recording Studio downstairs have been known to sample their latest tracks for BAR 1200 patrons. You never know who you might meet, so you never know what might happen.

BAR 1200 is the perfect place for meeting, on purpose or by chance. It's how Hollywood does networking. The Bar is open to Hotel guests and non-residents 7 days a week from 8pm-2am.


-S P A-
Pulling back the heavy frosted glass door and stepping into the European-style SPA at the Sunset Marquis shuts out the cars of the world outside and transports you to a world of relaxation. Iridescent tiled walls shimmer like sunlight on water, the friendliest of staff greet you, and serene music soothes away the static of the workaday. Whether you pop in for a quick polish change on your pedicure or opt for a full day of luxury in your own spacious treatment room with massage beds by Porsche, private shower and separate toilet room, there's no need to worry about making small talk with strangers in the waiting room or wondering where to go for your next appointment: the therapists come to you. Exclusive products by Erbe, herbalists to the Vatican and other people in high places, make the entire menu of services special.



Well, it goes without saying that the Sunset Marquis in West Hollywood is the best of the best. Escape the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles in this luxuriously tranquil escape or dive right into the nightlife LA is known for just minutes from the Hotel. If you've already had the experience of staying at the Sunset Marquis before then you know what we're talking about and now it has even more to offer with 40 new Mediterranean Villas and newly renovated Suites. Whether you decide to stay here or not, The Sunset Marquis is a must-see the next time you're in LA- grab a drink at the bar, spot a celebrity or just dip in for a quick mani-pedi. Whatever you choose, The Sunset Marquis will not disappoint.

Spoil your senses at the luxurious Estancia Resort and Spa

A Southern California oasis, the Estancia Hotel and Spa exudes elegance, luxury, and serenity. Located in the beautiful city of La Jolla the resort is moments away from San Diego's world class attractions, beaches, and shopping.

The hotel features exquisite guestrooms, sophisticated conference facilities, multiple award-winning restaurants and lounges, a beautiful pool, and wedding receptions. Surrounded by beauty and the sounds of the ocean every moment spent at the resort will be sure to stimulate all of your senses.

Unwind at the full service spa after a day of exploring San Diego. Be sure to visit the world famous San Diego Zoo, or go on a safari adventure at the Wild Animal Park. Bask in the warm California sun and find out why the locals love the beaches. Or enjoy a round of golf at the renowned Torrey Pines Golf Course. Spend a romantic evening watching the sunset over the Pacific Ocean from the cliffs at Torrey Pines.

The day isn't over at sunset. Enjoy a delicious culinary escape to any destination at one of the many restaurants in San Diego. If you're looking for fun and excitement after the sunsets, San Diego has plenty of options. Try Salsa dancing in Old Town, experience the laid back attitude of Pacific Beach, or explore the exciting nightlife of downtown San Diego.

Conveniently located between the two quaint seaside villages of La Jolla and Del Mar, Estancia La Jolla Hotel & Spa is the ideal San Diego getaway. Whether you desire a relaxing and luxurious escape, a seaside retreat, or an action filled vacation you'll find it here.