Resort in Palm Springs

It’s a New Year, whether you are American, Chinese or living under a rock. Celebrate in style and warmth with these winter travel packages and exotic tours.

Warm Palm Springs New Year Package at La Quinta

La Quinta Resort & Club, a Waldorf Astoria Resort rolls out the red lanterns for Chinese New Year 4712 – the Year of the Horse. Celebrations are set for Saturday, February 1, 2014 and a new “Package of Good Fortune,” may be the perfect lucky launch to this new year.

The  “Package of Good Fortune” includes guestroom accommodations, breakfast for two and a Citrus-inspired welcome amenity. Guests will also receive a crisp red envelope upon check-in stocked with lucky casino dollars.

The Package of Good Fortune also includes a variety of retail perks including a VIP Coupon Book at Desert Hills Premium Outlets (a fabulous desert shopping experience with 130 retail outlets including Gucci, Versace and Jimmy Choo). Coupons also include discounts at onsite shops and bicycle rental specials as well as complimentary shuttle service to nearby Fantasy Springs Casino (Friday-Sunday only). The package runs January 27 through February 10, 2014, and rates start at $308 double occupancy, excluding taxes and resort fee ($27.00).

Contact:
(760) 564-4111
www.laquintaresort.com/resort/special_offers/

 

Hotel in downtown San Diego

Valentine’s Day Packages at the Andaz, San Diego

The Andaz, a chic urban retreat in downtown San Diego, has romance on the mind with two Valentine’s Day packages with lasting effects.

“Crush For the Night” runs through February 14 as a one-stop package that thinks of everything but the card! Couples will be greeted with a glass of champagne as they are escorted to their room, where they will find a dozen long-stemmed red roses and a seductive couple’s intimacy kit. The “Crush for the Night” package includes the following:

  • Two glasses of champagne upon arrival
  • One dozen red roses and vase provided by top San Diego florist
  • Couple’s Intimacy kit
  • Complimentary Cadillac Escalade service within the Gaslamp Quarter

Price: Starting at $419

The “All You Need is Love” package runs through 12/31/2014 with an in-room bottle of bubbly and chocolate covered strawberries.  Guests can dine in the Gaslamp Quarter then hang the [Do Not Disturb] sign when upon return to their ultra-modern guestroom for the night (with a 2 p.m. late check-out the next morning). The “All You Need is Love” package includes the following:

  • In-room bottle of champagne
  • Chocolate covered strawberries
  • 2 pm late check-out
  • Welcome beverage upon arrival
  • Complimentary Cadillac Escalade service within the Gaslamp Quarter

Cost: Starting at $369

The Andaz has 159 rooms and 17 suites, each with custom fixtures and amenities, and stylish glass-enclosed bathrooms. The property offers guests the Andaz Wine Bar and RoofTop600 at Andaz, a sultry rooftop bar and lounge with stunning skyline views, pool and private cabanas. Additional amenities include 10,000 square feet of flexible meeting and function space.

Contact:
619-849-1234
www.andazsandiego.com

 

Fitness resort in California

Healthy Start at Oaks at Ojai

The Oaks at Ojai destination spa just an hour north of Los Angeles has long been considered a place to kick start a healthy lifestyle that guests can take home. Following are discount and value added theme weeks taking place over the next few months, providing many reasons to visit and revisit for a healthy lifestyle boost.

Mother-Daughter (or Son) Discount Weeks: May 9-16

Receive a 40% discount off the program rates for each daughter (or son) sharing a room with Mom. Each daughter gets a healthy holiday starting as low as $144.00 per night. (More about rates)

Father’s Day Discount: June 13-20. Dad gets a 40% discount from his rate when he shares a room with mom or daughter. Extended hikes and free day passes to Ojai Valley Athletic Club for the guys plus the Healthy Relationship Weekend is included too.

Bring A Friend Week: February 1-9. Share a room with a best friend and each will receive 25% off their stay.

The Oaks at Ojai is an affordable fitness destination spa that includes overnight accommodations, and three healthy, calorie-conscious meals a day designed plus a choice of 15 fitness classes per day and evening entertainment and seminars. The Oaks has 46 guest rooms, including private rooms and courtyard suites, double lodge rooms and double cottage rooms in a charming 1920s hotel-turned-spa inside the mountain hamlet of Ojai. Activities range from hiking, art tours, and in-line skating to rock climbing, guided kayaking tours, belly dancing, yoga ropes, and qi gong, in addition to other fitness classes, plus a full menu of spa treatments.

Rates: starting at $240 per night, per person including room, all meals, all fitness classes, seminars, parking, Wi-Fi, taxes and services.

Contact:
(805) 646-5573
www.oaksspa.com

 Resort in Cancun

Picture Perfect Packages with Wildlife Photo Master class at Banyan Tree Mayakoba

Banyan Tree Mayakoba on the Caribbean in Quintana Roo, Mexico, offers guests the opportunity to discover the immensely diverse species of the resort’s stunning mangroves with wildlife photographer, Steve Winter. The long-time member of the National Geographic team will take guests through his top tips for capturing the perfect photograph of Mayakoba’s stunning flora and fauna during the Wildlife Photo Master class at Banyan Tree Mayakoba running January 24-27, 2014.

The package includes:

  • Boat tours through the exotic mangroves of Mayakoba guided by National Geographic and local photographers
  • Opportunity to photograph wildlife on Mayakoba’s Nature Trail and waterways
  • Lectures by a National Geographic photographer and a conference with local wildlife photographers
  • Accommodations in an exclusive Sanctuary Pool Villa and daily breakfast for two at Oriente
  • One complimentary lunch at Sands for two
  • One complimentary dinner at Saffron

Price: Starting at $1,599 per night (exclusive of government taxes and service charges)

Contact:
(+52 984) 877 3688
Banyan Tree Mayakoba

 

Tours of Papua New Guinea

Papua New Guinea on a Platter

Adventure tour operator, Steppes Travel, has an 11-day journey to Papua New Guinea (PNG) planned for only two departure dates: May 30and June 13.

The “Land of the Unexpected” tours take in some of the wildest frontiers on Earth on the eastern half of New Guinea (the western half belongs to Indonesia). On the remote periphery of both Asia and Australia, PNG lies on a vast tropical island of torturous topography, tree-dwelling kangaroos, 850 separate languages, 1000 different cultures and people addicted to the art of adornment.

Occupying the eastern half of New Guinea (the western half belongs to Indonesia) on the remote periphery of both Asia and Australia, PNG lies on a vast tropical island of torturous topography, tree-dwelling kangaroos, 850 separate languages, 1000 different cultures and people addicted to the art of adornment. The expert-led tours are designed to give a few adventurous travelers access to pristine rainforest, roaring rivers, coral reefs, beaches and crystalline waters teeming with marine life, all making up what is deemed the most culturally diverse country on earth.

Rates for the 11-day trip start at $9,752 per person (add $1432 for a single supplement), excluding flights. Alternatively, Steppes offers a tailor-made PNG adventure, which will be handcrafted by the Steppes team.

Contact:
(855) 352-7606
www.steppestravel.com