Valentine's Day Getaways

Whether you are looking for some R&R, special spa time or gal pal time, here are some fabulous retreats for this Valentine's Day!

San Diego, CA
This Valentine’s Day, romance seekers do not have to travel far to experience one of Venice’s most magical spa treatments. Loews Coronado Bay Resort in San Diego proudly presents the Voga Voyage, a unique spa experience that is enjoyed while cruising in an authentic Venetian gondola.
Designed for couples, the Voga Voyage takes place on a 33-foot gondola equipped with two professional massage beds. After departing from the resort’s private marina, couples enjoy a soothing sunscreen application and a relaxing 40-minute massage. Cool sea breezes and the gentle rocking of the gondola as it cruises the canals and waterways of the Coronado Cays add an unforgettable element to the already unique experience. Complimentary champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries are enjoyed during the final 10 minutes of the scenic cruise.
The Voga Voyage starts at $400 per couple; prices vary depending on the season. For reservations or more information, please contact Sea Spa at Loews Coronado Bay Resort at 619-628-8770 or www.seaspaatloews.com.

Ft. Lauderdale, FL
This year at the W Fort Lauderdale, ladies and ‘gents can show that special someone in their lives a little grooming love with a head-to-toe makeover that will help them both put their best foot (and face) forward. Just in time for Valentine’s Day this blissful package titled Crazy Love, with W Style, includes a couple’s style consultation with a W Store stylist, his/her spa treatments (including a lip facial to tone up the kisser!) and a credit toward date night.

What else could one expect from the only W Hotel in the country that crowns its very own “Bliss Guy” each year? Known for putting the “man" in manicure and the “G” in grooming, Bliss Guy Fort Lauderdale hand-selected a sensual spa package to ensure these couples are loving in style this Valentine’s Day. This package is based upon the hit movie Crazy, Stupid, Love – which proves that guys need grooming love too, and includes:
-Suite Love – settle into a room to call home while the makeover takes place; and a romantic retreat to rendezvous once the transformation is complete
-Say Spahhh – indulge in a series of His/Her spa treatments at bliss® spa:
*For Him – ‘Homme’ Improvement, an absolutely masculine version of bliss’s famous triple oxygen facial; The Manly-cure, a manicure for men that makes guy-grooming groovy; and a He-Wax Basic Brief to take a little off the top and sides
*For Her – a Fabulips Treatment, think of it as a facial for the kisser; a Head Over ‘Peels’ Pedicure, a sole-stimulating, citrus-scented pedi that will leave feet looking seriously a-‘peel’-ing; a Hot Cream Manicure, a signature finger fixer-upper; and a Poetic Waxing® Basic Bikini
-Dress to Impress – a His/Her Style Consultation a W The Store Stylist to learn just what suits their body type and hand-select the perfect look.
-A Night Out (or in) – guests can test their all new style (and flirting skills) during a night out. Enjoy a $50 resort credit to be used at any of the Hotel’s partners (Steak 954, WET, or Gerber Bar’s Whiskey Blue and Living Room) or spend the night in and order a scrumptious spread for in-room dining
-Inspiration and Entertainment – take in the flick that inspired this style makeover. Enjoy Crazy, Stupid Love and take a copy of the movie home for style-must refreshers.

The Crazy Love, with W Style package starts at $899 and is now available for booking. All packages must be consumed by February 29, 2012. Package is based on availability and regulations may apply. Visit www.WFortLauderdaleHotel.com/offers to learn more or to make a reservation.

Los Angeles, CA
This candy-coated, heart-shaped holiday comes around every year, laughing in the face of singles, but at The Orlando Hotel-- in Los Angeles’ vibrant dining, shopping and nightlife district on West Third Street – single gals have something to celebrate too! So, grab your best girlfriends and make your own holiday escape with the relationships you know will stand the test of time. Hand stirred cocktails, adorable p.j.’s, in-room mani-pedi’s and a chance to learn a new skill – The Orlando’s new Girlfriends Getaway package gives single ladies a great excuse to fall in love with their lives this Valentine’s Day.

Since we all know that girls just want to have fun, The Orlando on Third is offering a Girlfriends’ PJ Party Valentine’s Getaway for up to four friends from February 1-28. Who needs champagne & chocolate? Start off your stay with hand-crafted cocktails at uber-hip eatery, The Churchill. To help create the perfect slumber party, the package includes in-suite manicures & pedicures and even 15% off at famous Los Angeles sleepwear designer Bed Head (named “Best Overall” by The Wall Street Journal) on any of their cozy p.j. creations! And nothing helps you forget the one that got away like expanding your mind and your skill set. You and your gal pals can try your hand at skills ranging from jewelry making to silk screening, from mosaics to “fascinator” hat creation at the chic little neighborhood craft studio just across the street called Hands on Third.

Specifics of this new kind of Valentine’s Day Package include:
o One night’s accommodation for up to four friends in a two-bedroom suite.
o Four hand-crafted cocktails at The Churchill
o Four in-suite mani-pedi’s
o 15% discount at Bed Head Pajamas
o Four, $50 gift certificates for classes at Hands on Third craft center.

The Orlando’s Girlfriend’s PJ Party Valentine’s Getaway for four is priced at $1450 – a savings of $230 or $362.50 each. Additional nights are $850. The Girlfriends’ Getaway can be booked online or by calling 1-800.62.HOTEL.

Top 4 Travel Hot Spots of 2012

Each year, there are several destinations that become the "must visit." And 2012 is no different. Here are our picks for the Top 4 Travel Hot Spots of 2012.

Wales
With 641 castles, three national parks, 750 miles of coastline and one very happy royal couple, Wales (size of Massachusetts) is must see this year. Lonely Planet put Wales as the #1 place to visit this year, and it also made the New York Times list of place to visit in 2012? So, what makes 2012 so special for Wales?

* In May, the Welsh Government will open the Wales Coastal Path. This will make Wales the only country in the world you can walk all of the coast.
Wales will host the first 2012 Olympic event, a ladies soccer game at the Millennium Stadium. 

* Great place for families w/excellent food, great farm shops, great festivals (mud festival, beer festival, Snorkeling Championships, Man Vs Horse Race) = great way to meet the Welsh people. 
* Wales is one of the greenest countries in the World.
What to do there? Kayak, mountain climbing, visit copper mine, fishing, cliff diving, mountain biking, opera, rugby, dolphin watching, drive a steam train or ride the “best wooden rollercoaster in the world” with an 80 ft drop.


Cuba
With the travel ban, Cuba was never a travel option for most Americans. However, with the loosened travel ban, religious organizations and institutions of higher learning can now sponsor trips to Cuba. And as more travel companies get licenses to run guided trips, we should see opportunities to travel to Cuba grow immensely in 2012.

Cuba enjoys a unique cultural history, nice climate, beaches, colonial architecture and attracts over 2 million people a year as tourism is one of the main sources of revenue. In the past two years, the number of Americans visiting Cuba has doubled, and we can expect even more as major airlines increase flights.

For this year, travel to Cuba will most likely remain restricted to guided groups, which means basically it will stay relatively expensive. But for travelers who want a “new” destination that's close by, put Cuba on your list.

South Korea
Now is a great time to visit Korea as two major events geared toward international travelers occur in 2012. The World Expo, which will be held May-August, will host more than 50 countries. Featured attractions will include a giant pipe organ that visitors can play using their smartphones and the Extreme Climate Experience, which has a simulated Antarctic blizzard.

And their in value in traveling to Korea now as well. The country is in the last of its three-year-long Visit Korea Year campaign, a promotion that brings greater access and better prices to foreign visitors with special rates on trains, free bus service to popular cities and attractions, and special "international taxis," whose drivers speak English. There are also dozens of fourth-night-free promotions, as well as the massive Korea Grand Sale 2012, which features discounted shopping until the end of February.

The Netherlands
Three huge events make The Netherlands a “must visit” in 2012. The country blooms its way through the duration of Floriade, the once-a-decade horticultural expo running from April to October 2012. Visitors can explore more than 160 acres of carefully crafted nature divided into five themed zones where they can witness the splendor of more than a million tulips, bid on flowers at a simulated flower auction, or arrange a floral masterpiece. Plants won't be the only cultivated offering: there are also 900 dance, music, theater, and other performances staged during the six-month expo.

Winter heats up starting in January with the Holland Dance Festival, a three-week series of more than 70 performances, 100 interactive workshops, and a massive dance parade. March 16 marks the opening of the 25th TEFAF art and antique fair. The event draws serious art buyers, but it's also a great way for noncollectors to get a glimpse at exceptional artworks not on the museum circuit.

Many thanks to SmarterTravel for contributing information.

Heartbeat Radio for Women - All Women Radio, All The Time

Gender media is nothing new and in the past three years there has been a proliferation of internet sites that focus on women and also stream women's talk shows.

Heartbeat Radio believes in creating positive strides and fulfilling the heart and soul needs of listeners...to connect with women as we share many of the same emotions and challenges. Women are society's caregivers.

Why radio for women? Well why not? Women are instrumental in shaping the world and play a significant role as we are responsible for making the mold from which our leaders and all others rise. There is something special too about the 'sisterhood' and how many of us see life in the larger scheme of things.

The format comprises Adult Contemporary, with a flavor of Pop and R&B music and throughout the day informative segments and talk shows deal primarily with issues that affect the lifestyles of women. Produced segments and talk shows include topics such as parenting, gender issues, relationship building, motivation, health, beauty, fashion, career advice, financial wisdom, culinary skills, etiquette, romance, biographies, book reviews, as well as travel with Casey Wohl, Heartbeat's Travel Correspondent.

Tune in every Thursday at 9:30 AM (EST) and Sundays at noon (EST) for the latest travel information with Casey Wohl, The Getaway Girl®. You can listen online at www.HeartbeatRadioUSA.com. You can also download the latest episode at http://getawaygirlradio.podbean.com

Adios: Girls Bachelorette Party Getaway to Cancun

“Cancun is a great get away, especially with a group of friends,” Vandy said. “There are plenty of things to do wether it is enjoying the night life or relaxing at the spa.”

All in all, we had a wonderful time and created some unforgettable Girlfriend Getaway memories in Cancun. Many thanks to the Cancun CVB, Villa del Palmar Cancun, Le Blanc Spa Resort & Selvatica...adios amigos!

Night Out: Girls Bachelorette Party Getaway to Cancun

Upon requesting a dinner restaurant in town (there are 350 to choose from), the resort concierge recommended we try Harry’s Prime Steakhouse and Raw Bar. We started with a round of cocktails....Coconut Martini, Mango Martinis and a Margarita on the Rocks. The drinks were delicioso, sp we knew we were in for a treat. This was an amazing dining experience....everything from the Crab Wontons to the New York Strip to the Mahi to the Macaroni & Cheese was amazing! And just when we thought we couldn’t eat one more bite, they brought a huge, blue cotton candy display for the center of our table. After taking ridiculous photos with the Marge Simpson hair look-a-like, Heather distributed our stick-on mustaches for even more giggles (and a few stares from the other patrons).

After dinner, we made our way to Mandala where we lounged on outdoor sofa seating and were completely entertained by watching the people on the street. In fact, Diablo (an older gentleman) was the most entertaining. Our waiter told us that Diablo comes to the Hotel Zone every night as he has done for the past 10 years and dances in front of various bars and night clubs. Very entertaining and a fabulous dancer! After we had enough of Mandala, we walked around the zone, got the scoop on Coco Bongo and were finally coerced into Congo Bar (they offered us a round of free drinks). Next thing I knew, Vandy and I are on the dance platform with Cancun’s version of Pitbull in a zebra robe. We danced for a while, then wanted down to our drinks, but Pitbull chained off the entrance so we were stuck there in short skirts dancing for the entire bar. Welcome to Cancun!

With the morning approaching and an early flight in the back of our minds, we decided to call it a night and head back to the resort. As we were waiting in our taxi, we caught a glimpse of a drunk guy urinating towards us about 15 feet away. I explained (jokingly) to Vandy that this was the male stripper we hired for her. However, when they guy started running towards our car while still urinating, we yelled at the driver to step on the gas and the out of there.

Ziplining: Girls Bachelorette Party Getaway to Cancun

Ziplining was on Vandy’s bucket list, so she was very excited as we arrived a Selvatica. We were greeted by their super friendly and welcoming staff who helped get us geared up for the adventure of zipping across lines to 12 different stations located in the jungle canopy.

Carly was looking forward to tackling a fear. “I have a fear of heights, so zip lining will be a great opportunity to challenge those apprehensions while getting a unique and amazing view of the jungles of Mexico,” she said.

We all zipped, flipped upside down, posed for action shots and had some of the most fun you can have with unattractive helmets and construction gloves on. After the zipping, we stopped at the Plunge where Heather and Vandy bungeed off a 30-foot high platform for a little more adrenaline.

“The ziplining was awesome, but the jump from the platform was even better,” Vandy said. “The staff was so energetic; there was never a dull moment!”

We then climbed into an army truck and were transported to Selvatica’s Cenote, which is a freshwater sink hole where everyone was able to zip, dive or walk into the water for a refreshing swim. Since we had no towels and are all from Florida, we decided the water was too cold. We perched on a deck facing the action and decided that watching the action was even better than being a part of it as we watched European men in very small swimsuits bellyflop into the water. After, we made our way back into the army trucks (thanks Selvatica staff for hiding in the bushes and scaring me to death) and returned to Selvatica’s headquarters for lunch, which was fantastic!

“Selvatica was my favorite experience of the entire trip. I was hesitant to zip line because of my fear of heights, but the staff was very experienced and reassuring. The jungle was beautiful and the trip to the Cenore was an unexpected surprise,” Carly said. “And the lunch was some of the best food I had in Mexico! Overall, it was a terrific experience that I would recommend to anyone traveling to Cancun.”

After checking out the Selvatica ‘merchandise,’ we were sad to leave. Many thanks to the amazing team at Selvatica....Alejandro, Carlos, Jhony, Raul (our James Franco look-a-like), Panther (and anyone else I am leaving out) for an unforgettable Cancun memory. With our adventure over for the day, we headed back to the resort for some more R&R, which would be much needed before the crazy evening ahead.

Girls Bachelorette Party Getaway to Cancun - Spa Time

While Heather and Carly spent the afternoon lounging and sampling cocktails, Vandy and I went to Le Blanc Spa Resort, which is nestled in a secluded enclave between Nichupte Lagoon and the glistening Caribbean Sea and ranked #3 in the Top 10 All-Inclusive Resorts in the World. We were escorted to the spa where we were surrounded by bamboo gardens, sensuous wood and marble floors. The spa features a unique fusion of Asian and European traditions that provides refreshment and rejuvenation for mind, body and spirit.

Vandy and I arrived early to enjoy the spa amenities, and then eagerly went to our separate treatment rooms for our massages. We both agreed they were some of the best massages we’ve ever had. I felt like a bowl of Jell-O as we sipped Jamaican water in total relaxation afterwards.

“The staff was so attentive,” Vandy said. “They paid attention to all the minor details that make the spa experience so unique and wonderful.”

We joined the other ladies at Villa del Palmar’s Zama restaurant that is located near the beach. As we dined in the open air, we recapped the day and chatted about tomorrow’s adventure: ziplining.