There are only a handful of five-star hotels in St. Lucias Island and the newest arrival set to debut in December 2008 could be the best of the best. Calabash Cove will be ready just in time for the holidays and is accepting reservations right now.

Private pools are steps away from Balinese-style Waters Edge Cottages and lavish Manor House Suites look out towards beautiful oceanic sunsets with accompanied private patios. If that is not enough there is a unique, practical, and private option of a Swim Up suite that comes with a luxurious Jacuzzi. From the patio of your private room you can swim unrestricted to the infamous water bars to pick up a signature cocktail or wait until the sunset turns dark blue and have a romantic midnight dip.

In the Water Edge Cottages hides their charm. There are secluded plunge pools, outdoor rain showers and hammocks. Each one is equipped with a honeymoon size Jacuzzi and if a honeymoon is what you are on Calabash Cove offers an all-inclusive customized honeymoon experiences for the newlyweds.

Calabash Cove is home to seven luxury Sunset Suites overlooking the Mosaic Beach, which sits on the waters of the Caribbean. Additionally, there are six Ocean View Junior Suites with Jacuzzis that sit next to the Manor House and Sweetwaters.

A full service beauty salon, Far Eastern-influenced Spa, and a Fitness Temple are some of the perks of the resort along with the highly anticipated Windsong Restaurant. Book Calabash Cove and get the island breakfast buffet. All-inclusive rates will include meals and beverages.

From late November until late December can be a time filled with nativity scenes, enormously decorated Christmas trees, and carolers bundled up singing songs as old as Christmas itself. Windows can be crowded, stacked, and painted to show off local crafts, ceramics, wooden toys and pottery. All of these things can be displayed during Christmas but not all of these things can be displayed with as much unique holiday touches, mystique and history as they do year in and year out in the historic cities of Germany.
 Through this beautiful four-week time span aromas of wine, German sausage, gingerbread and roasting chestnuts fill the markets as musicians play beautiful Christmas songs night and day. Hundreds of booths await with holiday cheer as tourists and locals flock to see the new materials decorations.

New to the German scene in 2008 is Augsburgs fairy tale street, which will display within ten shop windows an original depiction of the Nutcracker. Knights will be ready for an intense 14th century joust on Wurzburgs medieval Christmas Market. Not to mention fun for the family with unique toboggan runs, nostalgic carriage rides and a beautifully decorated and working merry-go-round. Neat by in neighboring towns there are easy to find amusement park rides, ice-skating and various other games for children.
 Lifelong memories can easily made when you set your eyes upon what the guided tours have to offer. The guides are no other than Father or Mother Christmas, St. Nicholas or a Christmas angel. During the tour you can see a 19-foot nutcracker and a music box that is known only as the largest in the world. It plays twenty-five Christmas songs. Arts, crafts, train rides and culinary treats are within walking distance. Two markets are set in royal courtyards where you can see an appearance by Her Highness Gloria of Thurund Taxis, and listen to her read a Christmas Tale.

All of the cities have their beautiful twists on the Christmas experience, which makes this a beautiful, unique, and memorable trip for any family or couple who love the Christmas holiday.

Sting Rays, turtles, and sharks are only a arm length away during these magnificent dives along the Grand Turk Wall, which is the third largest barrier reef in the world. Guests rave over the quality of the dive and resort. From the very experience divers to the first timers this resort goes above and beyond expectations. The vast amount of fish life and coral displays are breathtaking and the dive sites are easily reached within ten minutes with quick, calm, intervals of boats. The outer cay, like Gibbs Cay, is a great place to snorkel through. You and the stingrays will swim together next to this beautiful uninhabited island.

 
The Bohio Dive Resort is set on Pillory Beach and boasts 16 rooms with ocean views and terraces facing west to enjoy the Caribbean sunset. Before you head out into the water there is plenty of opportunity for instruction. Bohio has its own dive center with experienced PADI instructors waiting to help all level divers. Also on the resort is Bohios Guanahani restaurant and bar which is open seven days a week and offers everything from Italian coffee, Cuban cigars, and cocktails to local and international cuisines.
The welcoming and intimate feel of the resort is one of its main attractions. You almost feel as though you are becoming part of the Bohio family. It does not take long to figure out that Bohio is an ancient Taino term for, Home.

The first and only resort spa in Vero Beach makes its debut in the Costa DEste Beach Resort. Gloria Estafan, the internationally acclaimed singer owns this resort spa along with her producer/husband Emilio.

The spa offers state of the art tropical treatments for visitors stopping in from around the area, residents of Vero Beach and resort guests alike. Since it opened in June the bi-level spa has shown the unique design and culture of the Estafans Cuban heritage. It has a contemporary design, which boasts four treatment rooms and a relaxation area. As you settle into a spa treatment and your eyes slowly close the Zen-like décor fades away and you are left with the serene sound of rippling water cascading around you.

Many treatments are offered including the unique Orange Mojito & Honey Facial, Mojo Manicure, Moji-Toe-ssage, Oriente Zen-ssage and more. The restaurant, Oriente, shares its name, and its menu with a region in northwest Cuba. This added bonus gives you an authentic look into the food culture. After the meal, spa treatment, and relaxation burn off that newly stored energy at the fitness center. The fitness center located opposite the spa is equipped with state-of-the-art cardio, strength training equipment, and free weights. After the work out it is time to relax again so head back to the spa and do it all over again!

Cancuns fine dinning experience is quickly becoming known as the upscale restaurants are making a name for themselves. There are arrays of four and Five-Diamond restaurants located in Cancun. Incidentally, what was once a secret stop for great meals and dinning experiences is becoming a must stop for vacationers everywhere.

With superstar chefs holding down kitchens up and down Cancun it is hard to go wrong when out for the fine dinning experience. Open kitchens showing industrial type designs are matched with exquisite menus that boast delicacies cooked by the worlds greatest chefs. Minimalist decors in other restaurants are complemented by sleek artistic choices like, rice-encrusted sushi or Mediterranean food under a hand-painted ceiling at a, jazz supper club.

If you like to create food as much as consume there are cooking classes being given by executive chefs at the Ritz-Carltons Culinary Center. A typical two-hour class will show you: margarita preparation with a quick tasting. After that is off to slicing, dicing, and grilling. Finally, grilling meat, creating authentic guacamole and pico de gallo and getting your own recipes to take home.

To round out the culinary experience in Cancun is the wine. Mexican wines run abundant throughout the region and there are also 300 different brands from around the world ready to be tasted before, during, and after a great meal at one of these fantastic restaurants.

It is hard to find a more diverse and pleasing getaway than the Riviera Maya. It is a tenured vacation hot spot that has all the amenities to please the needs of the most diverse line of travelers.

The white-sand beaches and the stunningly blue sea create the perfect backdrop for this oasis. The ancient Mayan culture can be seen as far down as a snorkel dive at the largest barrier coral reef in the northern hemisphere or as plainly as through a one of a kind Mayan massage at one of the many spas. The PGA tour course is open to the public and a great way to spend a day in the sand like the Pros!

If you are at the Riviera Maya for romance, family vacationing, or just traveling with friends you will not be disappointed. Archeological ruins and ancient Mayan temples are beautiful day hikes. Zip-lines are a great way to wiz past the jungle. All day jungle tours are safe and exciting as well. There are many aquariums and eco-adventure spots at the Riviera Maya where one of a kind under ground rivers flow for a swimmers delight.

The Mexico Night Show is something that is full of entertainment for all types of vacationers. During the day Mexican culture is booming with the Tequila Expo, mariachis, music, crafts, and the infamous competition to build the, Worlds largest margarita. October 15-19 is when the Riviera Maya Underground Film Festival is held, which showcases filmmakers from all over the world. October 30 to November 2 is the celebration of, Day of the Dead and All Saints Day. At these events you will see authentic Mexican culture and customs on display. And in November is a premiere jazz festival that will not disappoint.

Since the 1930s Acapulco has been known for its seaside tourism. It has been traditional and simple until now. Acapulco is redefining its vacation experience with the birth of a collection of new luxury high-rise hotels, restaurants, discos, nightclubs, and spas.

Mundo Imperial, a gigantic creation that rivals a city in size and excess is being built right now with a neighboring expo center, theater, concert hall, and a mall called, La Isla. The High Tec look of the new architecture will be matched by the feng shui and technology inside of the hotels. The first hotel open in November boasting 334 guestrooms, a holistic spa featuring Chinese medicine, iPod docs and voice-over Internet phone systems. Along side these hotels will be top of the line restaurants with choices like North African-Mediterranean cuisine or a seafood stop that allows the customer to choose his or her own meal from an aquarium.

With the new hotels being built old regulars of the ocean-side city are making multimillion-dollar renovations which will also add a new flair to the now high-end feel of Acapulco. Las Brisas, Camino Real, Quinta Real, Hyatt, and Fairmont Hotels and Resorts are beginning renovations to match the new wave of competition.

It is estimated that over 3,000 new hotel rooms will be up and running within a year. This number will go on top of an already impressive 18,000 in business right now. Acapulco is sure to get back its business that was lost in the last ten years to vacation hot spots like Los Cabos, Huatulco, and Cancun. Acapulco also adds the flair of tradition. The city sprung up in the 1500s as a trading port and still holds its old town charm and mystique. The museums and old architecture are reason enough to visit. The nightlife is also beginning to flourish with 3,000 person capacity clubs that give off that ever-enchanting Vegas feel. Within this next year Acapulco will be a redefined resort.

The Hippodrome Hotel is the invention of Tom Shortt, who boasts that Hip is his favorite word. He wanted to take the vibe of the SoHo neighborhood right out of New York City and drop it into Mexico City what he got was something unique and yes, even Hip.

The Hippodrome is a hotel converted out of a 1930s apartment building that showcases Shortts dream and five years of hard work. The rooms are luxurious and to the point. They are minimalist in design but beautiful in selection. The guests can instantly feel at ease in Shortts creation as they relax with their own iPod station, wireless Internet, a 27inch flat screen LCD TV, and for the vacationers without cell phone reception, a cordless phone for convenience. If exercise is a must guests are free to venture only a couple blocks away where there is a full gym waiting for them. The gym includes spinning and Pilates classes, cardio machines, weight rooms, and a climbing wall.

The 16 rooms are equipped not only with Art Deco Flair but the option of penthouse sweets. This amenity adds its additional, unique, and unforgettable flair. In the penthouse you will find a Jacuzzi bathtub, which opens up into the terrace, a sun lounge, and a table for all dinning experiences. The trendy feel of the New York lifestyle is on full display as guests ride up in a vintage cage elevator and halls are lined with Pop art.

The nightlife is the perfect clash of Mexico City and New York. The restaurants turn into party bars and guests into the perfect party crowd. The Hip Kitchen Bistro loved by the locals and the vacationers is the place to be after dark. Live music, authentic Mexican cuisine, and a great vibe make it hard to get into and even harder to leave.

Mexico City is known as a city on the go. After walking the city streets you can find solace in the Hippodromes rock gardens filled with palm tries and quiet. Although the Hippodrome is up, running, and making a name for itself Shortt has not relaxed. He just bought a mansion next door to the property as is planning on refurbishing it into a private club. The best definition of this Hotel can be explained through Shortts favorite Frank Lloyd Wright quote, Give me the luxuries of life and I will gladly do without the necessities.

The Barcelo La Jolla De Mismaloya Hotel is a AAA four-diamond award winning resort that allows guests a romantic getaway, a honeymoon experience of a lifetime, and a gateway into Vallarta art and culture. The 316-suite property is bent around the stunning curves of the Mismaloya Bay. As if beauty has no bounds the recreational area of the hotel looks out to sea amidst peacefully docked boats. The four pools sit atop the bay and overlook the limitless watered horizon. Everything is at your fingertips here at the Barcelo La Jolla De Mismaloya Hotel. Water sports and family oriented activates run throughout the day in the close-knit setting of waterfalls, restaurants, and romance. The size of the resort is not overwhelming. Guests can navigate with ease through the comfortable interior of the Hotel and find peaceful solace or extravagant pleasure with the Premium Club Service, which includes: chilled wine at arrival, a complementary fruit basket and access of the hotels VIP Lounge.

A brand new spa is just nearing completion at the resort. It will include an array of treatments for the guests and a new look indoor/outdoor experience with many new water features and gardens. This resort is indeed a couples paradise. Barcelo La Jollas wedding package is hard to resist for the couples looking to say -I Do-. It is all exclusive with an ocean view, an expert wedding coordinator, a 3-hour private dinner, which includes a cake for up to 10 people and an open bar option for another 3 hours. There is a his-and-hers half-hour massage and the wedding night is spent in the presidential suite, ending beautifully with a relaxing champagne breakfast in bed. This Under the Stars option goes for only $1,400 and makes the Barcelo La Jolla one of the most romantic wedding resorts in the world.

The authentic Spanish restaurants leave nothing off limits, including the delicacy of Mexican hot chocolate in the morning next to endless buffets. For lunch you can spice it up with dishes from the Old country or Modern Italian choices. There are also excellent outdoor steakhouses and seafood grills that face the Pacific Ocean. After Dinner the night continues in the beautiful outdoor cantina where nightly entertainment will never let you down.

Outside of the resort can be just as pleasing, romantic, and comfortable as inside. The international Airport is a breeze for vacationers, as it boasts a new hassle free luggage retrieval system with a recently modernized customs area. In the city computerized interactive modules can be found on the sides of extravagant bronze sculptures creating an interesting clash of technology and tradition allowing the viewer to find out information about the city in several languages. Walking along the boardwalk you will notice the importance of art and romance to the city. Puerto Vallartas seaside has over 30 art galleries that have been around since the 1950s. Make sure to catch Art Walk a one day a week celebration of Vallarta Art when you book your romantic getaway to Barcelo La Volla de Mismaloya.

The Sunscape Punta Cana is not just getting a new name but a $25 million dollar new look when it becomes the Dreams Palm Beach Punta Cana this year.  Located in the Dominican Republic, this new look resort boasts state of the art amenities and enhancements that will assure the satisfacation of both past and new vacationers.  The Dreams brand is showcasing 500 lush guest rooms with 40 suites, and a 24-hour room service, bars in and outside of the room, and many gourmet dinner options.  The rooms will be equipped with new beds, new furniture, MP3 hook ups, flat screen TVs renovated bathroom and a new look interior design.

The preferred Lounge inside the resort is gone but only to make way for a new more extravagant Lounge and pool area.  In addition to various Jacuzzis and gazebos there will be wireless Internet throughout the hotel for the guests to roam unplugged at all times.  The Palm Beach Punta Cana has also revived and recharged their dinning experience.  There are now four new gourmet resaurants with a menu boasting over 30 invigorating changes.

For even more entertainment the old convention center will be turned into a Desires Nightclub and Music Lounge and Casino and a new Convention Center consisting of over 2,200 square feet will be added.