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!

Magic Kingdom

After parking, get the trolley to the gate (write down your parking spot), take either the ferry or monorail to the park. If you have children and can get to the front of the line, ask if you can ride up front with the driver.

 
(Best activities/shows ***)
(Okay **)
(rollercoaster *)
 
Three choices:
  Walk up Main Street towards the castle
  Ride a horse and cart
  Take the Railroad which stops at Frontierland and Mickey’s Toontown Fair
 
Adventureland:
Swiss Family Treehouse
The Magic Carpets of Aladdin **
The Enchanted Tiki Room **
Jungle Cruise ***
Pirates of the Caribbean ***
 
Frontierland:
Splash Mountain *
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad *
Tom Sawyer Island
 
Liberty Square:
The Hall of Presidents ***
Liberty Square Riverboat **
The Haunted Mansion **
 
Fantasyland:
It’s a Small World ***
Peter Pan’s Flight ** (fast pass)
Mickey’s PhilharMagic 3D ***
Cinderella’s Golden Carousel **
The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh **
Dumbo **
Mad Tea Party **
 
Mickey’s Toontown: (good area for young children)
Mickey’s house
Minnie’s house
 
Tomorrowland:
Indy Speedway **
Space Mountains *
Transit Authority **
Astro Orbiter **
Stitch’s Great Escape (avoid)
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin **
Monsters, Inc. Laugh Floor ***
 
Great afternoon parade, also mini shows in front of the castle throughout the day and lighted parade at night with fireworks
 
At Cosmic Ray’s in Tomorrowland you can get half a chicken with potatoes and veg for about $10. Two plates are enough for two adults and two children.
 
Ice cream bars cost $2.50 each
 
Water in the parks tastes terrible. Carry your own or add lemonade crystals. Water is free at any counter.
 

Epcot

Spaceship Earth
Universe of Energy
Mission: SPACE
Test Track
Innoventions
The Seas with Nemo - ride in a ‘clam’
The Land - Sail through greenhouses etc.
Soarin’ - really good
Imagination - Honey I Shrunk the Audience (a little scary for young children)
IllumiNations:
 
Villages round the lake:
Mexico (boat ride)
Norway
China (360 degree film) and acrobats outside
Germany
Italy
USA
Japan
Morocco
France
United Kingdom
Canada (360 degree film)
 
Terrific fireworks show at night round the lake. Get a viewing spot an hour before it starts.

Animal Kingdom

Camp Minnie-Mickey :
Festival of the Lion King - musical - don’t miss it
Pocahontas and Her Forest Friends - cute musical
 
Africa:
Kilimanjaro safaris - see live African animals in the open
(go early then get a fast pass for later)
Pangani Forest Trail - see gorillas and hippos etc.
Rafiki’s Planet Watch:
Wildlife Express Train
Petting yard
 
Asia:
Flights of Wonder - great bird show
Kali River Rapids (get very wet)
Maharajah Jungle Trek - see tigers, komodo dragon
Expedition Everest - roller coaster
Dinoland
Finding Nemo - musical - don’t miss it
The Boneyard
Primeval Whirl
TriceraTop Spin
Dinosaur
Parade in the afternoon

-Margot White

Four Seasons Resort Haulalai at Historic Ka’Upulehu (Big Island of Hawaii)
Located on the Kona-Kahala Coast, this oasis offers great service, snorkeling in a private lava lagoon and outdoor showers in some of the guest rooms.  They try to build this hotel within the environment.  with 243 bungalow-style guestrooms and suites, your are sure to find something you like, with some offering private lanais, ocean views, and some with their own gardens.

Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort and Spa (Kauai)
This Resort features acres of rivers and pools and a man-made waterfall and saltwater lagoon ideal for snorkeling, kayaking and swimming.  They also boast one of the best spas on the island with their Anara Spa, which offers treatments using local botanicals, private lava rock showers, steam grottoes, and open-air fitness and relaxation areas.

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel and Spa (Maui)
This 780-room resort is perfect for weddings, offering a seaside chapel among the gardens with a bell and clock tower, 17th-century chandeliers and stained-glass windows.  And it is perfect for the honey moon after, offering great dining and the resort’s Wailea Canyon Activity Pool, which consists of nine separate pools with waterslides, waterfalls, caves, white-water rapids, grottoes, a whirlpool, a sauna and the world’s first water elevator, with their Hibiscus Pool being for adults only.

Halekulani (Oahu)
This 455-room historic property hotel is the quiet peaceful place you can rely on for relaxation in the middle of bustling Waikiki.  Located on five oceanfront acres, this hotel is perfect for romance, featuring its Vera Wand Suite, which was designed by its fashion designer namesake.  Couples in this suite will receive special treatment such as private limo airport transfers, private butler service and breakfast in bed.

Hilton Waikoloa Village (Big Island of Hawaii)
This Resort offers 1,240 rooms and suites, and canal boats and trams that allow couples to get around the property.  Many guest are attracted to the resorts saltwater lagoon, their “Dolphin Quest” program, which allows guest to swim with dolphins, and three pools with waterfalls, water slides, caves and a swinging bridge.

Hotel Hana Maui and Honua Spa (Maui)
Located on the windward side of Maui, this hotel gives each guest their own private cottage facing the ocean and your own Jacuzzi when staying in the honeymoon cottages.  And every August the Hotel Hana Maui becomes an adults-only hotel.

Kahala Hotel and Resort (Oahu)
This hotel’s 343 suites overlook the lagoon or ocean and come with a private beach cabana for each, and they offer their practically private, but public beach, and are known for their 26,000-square-foot natural lagoon, their Dolphin Quest program and incredible garden spa.

Kona Village Resort (Big Island of Hawaii)
This resort is set on 82 acres on a protected bay and boasts “barefoot luxury” and an “unplugged experience,” with no televisions or radios, and though there is no air conditioning, the place stays cool by the trade winds and ceiling fans.  This is the only all-inclusive resort in Hawaii with meals, and activities such as snorkeling, surfing and tennis, including in every stay.  And in May and September it becomes a couple-only resort.

Maui Prince Hotel (Maui)
This 310-room hotel is built around an Asian meditation garden and has a more private beach.  And if the one beach isn’t enough for you, within a 10-minute drive you can find the Black Beach, Big Beach, Little Beach and Secret Beach.

Princeville Resort (Kauai)
With 252 rooms and suites you will get a taste of Hawaii, as the rooms are all decorated in bright Hawaiian colors and with all rooms providing views of the ocean, mountains or gardens.  They also offer a 5,000-square-foot infinity pool and three Jacuzzis.

 Carnival Cruise Lines has a fleet of over 22 Fun Ships and carries more children than any other cruise line (carrying nearly 600,000 per year), so it is no wonder they are adding and upgrading to become even better for those who travel with them.

 The Carnival Cruise Lines has put into action their $250 million Evolutions of Fun initiative, which will makeover and enhance their eight fantasy-class ships.  Such enhancements will include children’s water parks, a new design style, upgrades to pool areas, and the addition of the Serenity adults-only deck areas.  The guest spaces have been renovated as well; featuring fully remodeled staterooms and suites, new bathrooms, flat-screen televisions in rooms, updated sound and lighting systems, and additions of new clubs, coffee bars, a nine-hole miniature golf course, new art and photo galleries, and new conference facilities.

 And due to their popularity with children and families, they are placing a large amount of their efforts into upgrading their family friendly amenities, including new and expanded play areas, their Camp Carnival program, and new areas for their Club O2 teen program.  Also more than 50 interconnecting staterooms are being added, which will be ideal for large families.

 And Carnival Cruise Lines is not only upgrading their existing ships, but adding more, with three new ships on the way.  First of which is the 112,000-ton, 3,006-passanger, Carnival Splendor, which is scheduled to open in July 2008.  This ship will be host to many of Carnival’s firsts, including the line’s first Northern Europe cruise program, and their largest spa of all their ships.  The 21,00-square-foot Cloud 9 Spa will offer health and fitness areas for guests, along with the line’s first thalassotherapy pool covered by a glass dome and a thermal suite, and 68 exclusive spa staterooms.

 This time of year- in the Christmas-New Year season – is the second busiest travel period of the year after thanksgiving.  Here are a few tips that will help you ease through it and come out on the other side happy and more importantly, with everything you went in with.

 First, check you flight arrival and departure times before going to the airport, you can do this online.  Next, be prepared for flight delays, especially in the Midwest and East Coast with the bad weather this time of year.  If traveling with children its wise to pack some snacks for when you are caught in a delay.  Also try keeping the airline’s phone number with you, as it is usually easier to rebook a flight by phone than in person at the airline ticket counters.  Also during this time there is a lost of lost luggage, so try traveling with a carry-on bag only.  This will cause you to pack more lightly, but you will be rewarded by avoiding losing your luggage at luggage check and avoiding the long wait for your bags when you land.  If you must check your bags, be sure to pack all your medications and valuables, documents, jewelry or gifts in your carry on, and be sure to lock any checked luggage with a TSA-approved lock.  Also, be sure to abide by the Transportation Security Administration’s air-travel regulations, such as the 3-1-1 rule for liquids.  If your luggage does end up lost, be sure to report your bag missing before you leave the airport, if you report it after your missing-luggage claim may not be accepted.  Most airlines will allow you to receive compensation after 10 days from the time you maid your claim.

 Effective January 23 of this year, U.S citizens must carry passports to enter back into the United States from Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.  Due to these regulations, the board predicted a 2.2 percent decrease in tourism revenues, but the opposite happened.  Tourism in Mexico increased 20.2 percent in the first half of this year, compared to 2006.  As of January 31, 2008, travelers will need to present a government-issued I.D (e.g. driver’s license) and a proof of citizenship (e.g. birth certificate) or a green card, in order to re-enter the Country after travel.  Even though they had this increase, the new regulations still caused a stir.

 First, the US citizens flooded the congressional offices with calls complaining because the Department of State couldn’t keep up with the passport applications.  With over 1,200 inquiries within a four-month period between March and June, the turnaround time went from an average four to six weeks to a considerably longer 12 weeks or longer.  18.4 million Passports were issued for 2006, ending September 30.

 But the complications have been resolved, and in September the State Department announced that the processing times were back to normal, after bringing in 400 new people and continuing to hire more.  But the complaints will not end, as in no later than 2009, they may pass a requirement for travelers by land and sea to also carry passports.  There may be light at the end of the tunnel though, as the DHS has proposed a plan for the REAL ID; an enhanced driver’s license/identification card that will include the security features needed into the application process and the card itself.

Last season, Steamboat Springs, Colorado had a record number of 1,071,755 skier visits. As you may know, the $239.1 million acquisition of the Steamboat Ski & Resort Corp in March of this year by ski-giant, Intrawest, has brought upon a major development boom in the town commonly referred to as “Ski Town USA.” With Intrawest pumping as estimated $16 million into mountain improvements, the area is rife for investment opportunities. Now is the ideal time for people to consider buying in this great ski hamlet or simply make reservations to visit for the upcoming ski season.

The Porches, a premier second home community with a variety of ownership opportunities in its Private Residence Club offers potential buyers a unique experience with its large residences and neighborhood feel that is not commonly found in an area dominated by condos. The Porches is located at the base of Steamboat Ski Resort and features luxurious five bedroom/five bath residences with flat screen TV’s, pool/hot tub, game rooms and the finest amenities.

Additional draws to the area include the Urban Renewal Authority overseeing $23 million in public improvements as well as airport improvements with a recent $18 million upgrade and more direct flights from large cities. This year, Steamboat Springs has direct flights from 10 major hubs including New York, Chicago and Dallas…providing convenient access from any area of the country.

By:  Jill Neumann

            The laid back Westin Hotels & Resorts is developing its latest extension – Heavenly Spa by Westin.  This will be their first Heavenly Spa in the continental United States .  This resort has over 400 rooms and suites, along with another 100 villas, is on 24-acres, featuring white sand beaches and dunes.

            The spa is more than one could hope for.  This 8,000-square-foot spa offers nine treatment rooms and three relaxation areas.  These three areas are a women’s lounge (which includes a sauna, steam room and whirlpool), men’s lounge (which also features sauna and steam room), and a unique couples’ lounge.  Recommended are the Indigo treatments, which include the wrap, the facial, and the massage.  The Indigo wrap starts with essential oils applied to lymphatic points, followed by an exfoliation blue body mask, and ending with the application of antioxidant body lotion.  The Indigo facial is a deep-cleansing treatment that includes the same elements of the wrap.  And the Indigo massage combines several massage techniques.  The 3-hour Indigo package includes all three treatments and is $330 all together.

Also provided at the resort is a full-service health club, which offers trainers and the WestinWORKOUT by Reebok Gym, yoga classes and an indoor swimming pool.  They also feature the Westin Kids Club that provides children of all ages supervised activities.  And your pets (if they weigh 30 lbs. or less) are welcome and have their own outdoor exercise area.

            Lately, Atlantic City has been trying to boost revenue and attract more upscale visitors.  With the city’s 11 casinos having invested billions of dollars in attracting visitors who are drawn by entertainment, dining and shopping options, they plan to regain their former popularity.  The city’s gambling revenue fell 4 percent from the start of the year through August, which marks this as the first annual revenue decline in the city’s 29-year gambling history.  They think this decrease may be due to the new slots parlors in Pennsylvania , Delaware and New York .

            Now, MGM Mirage Inc. plans to build a mega-casino resort in Atlantic City that will outshine all previous hotels there.  The new project, called MGM Grand Atlantic City, will cost between $4.5 billion and $5 billion and will be built on a 72-acre site at Renaissance Pointe.  The final outcome will consist of three hotel towers with more that 3,000 rooms and suites, and will feature the largest casino floor in Atlantic City .  This floor will offer 5,000 slot machines, 200 table games, a large poker room, a 1,500-seat theater, along with restaurants, nightclubs, a spa and 500,000 square feet of retail space.  The anticipated opening date is 2012.

            Beautiful Places Vacation Homes of Distinction is a service-oriented villa rental company with homes to choose from California ’s Sonoma County and Napa Valley Wine Country.  The company offers nine properties in Sonoma and Napa .  These homes consist of two to five bedrooms and sometimes pools, tennis courts and outdoor hot tubs. The owners create for you a customized itinerary to suit your needs, which may include spa services, gold, cooking lessons, private lunches at vineyards and hot air balloon rides.

            Greystone in Somona Valley is a great home with three big bedrooms and two baths in the main house, and two bedrooms and one bath in the guesthouse.  The estate offers a large pool, tennis courts, a hot tub set in a private nook.  Also, another property in Somona Valley is the Sullivan-Birney Ranch, which is a 5-bedroom vineyard estate.  Rates from November to March at Greystone are $1,550 per night, and at Sullivan-Birney start at $1,250 per night.

            In Napa Valley you will find the Domaine Bleau Soleil; a 5-bedroom, Tuscan style house found on a steep hillside with its own vineyard, 500 fruit trees, infinity pool and guest house.

            For more information on Beautiful Places Vacation Homes of Distinction call 800-495-9961 or visit www.countrysojourns.com or www.beautiful –places.com.