The World’s #1 Ski Resort Gets Even Better!

If you’ve never been to Whistler-Blackcomb in British Columbia, you’ve been missing a a lot!  In fact, it’s one of my favorite places in the world for heart stopping scenery, friendly folks, top restaurants and bars, great shopping and non-stop fun.  It’s no mistake that Whistler-Blackcomb has been voted the world’s #1 favorite ski resort for 12 years running.  But winter fun is only half the story, this resort rocks all year round, and is about to get even better!

On December 12th, Whistler-Blackcomb will christen its new ‘Peak 2 Peak’ gondola that traverses the 4 1/2 kilometer distance between the two mountain peaks in just 11 minutes.  This will be a record breaking ride, climbing 1,427 feet and floating over the worlds’ longest free span on the world’s longest continuous lift.  (With a price tag of only $52 million dollars.) Two gondola cars will feature glass bottomed floors for those brave enough to look down.  Let me tell you, these mountains are GIGANTIC.  Standing in the village below, you can’t possibly see their peaks climbing ever upward into the clouds.  I can recall hopping on a lift at the bottom of Blackcomb wearing shorts in 70 degree weather, and riding from lift to lift to gondola, to bus, to gondola, before reaching the top overlooking glacier fields with temps in the 30′s.  Definitely a ‘top of the world’ experience.  Now adventurous spirits (with and without skis) will be able to board the gondola at the base of one mountain, climb to the top, cross over to the adjacent  peak, and glide back on down to the village below – quite a ride! an> Read more

Rent The Thatched Roofed Cottage of Your Dreams

If you are a devoted reader of historical novels, where heroins reside in charming stone cottages with thick thatched roofs looking out on valleys of wildflowers…. you’re going to smile from ear to ear when you take a look at this wonderful website.

UnderTheThatch.com is an online resource offering unusual self-catering holiday accommodations in Wales.  I love this quote by a past guest that appears on their homepage, “Looking at this website is a bit like opening a prized box of the finest chocolates and not knowing which ones to pick!”  Gumpology aside, roaming through the descriptions of the available cottages, caravans and YURTS is a sensory delight.  I’m putting one of those ‘Romany bow top gypsy caravans, parked in a secluded riverside meadow’, right on my ‘someday’ list.

So give yourself a mini-escapade through picturesque lanes bordered by ancient stone homesteads lovingly restored and start planning your next trip to Wales with the assistance of UnderTheThatch.com

Fantastic New Rewards Program From Hotels.com – Sign Up Today!

Hurray for Hotels.com.   They’ve created an easy to understand, valuable, frequent use rewards program for their loyal customers called Welcome Rewards.  If you’re not already a loyal user of Hotels.com, you just might want to change your booking habits  to take advantage of their discounted hotel prices and the new no-nonsense ‘free night’ earning program.  At a time when most loyalty programs are stripping value and loading on the restrictions, it’s refreshing to see a company giving substantial value to their loyal customers and keeping the rules streamlined and understandable.

Here’s how it works – nice and simple.  Get a free hotel night for every 10 nights you book (and stay) – anywhere, anytime.  You’ll need to sign up for a rewards account, either by logging in to your current online account or by calling 1-800-246-8357.  Then each time you book a hotel room (either online or by phone that prices over $40 per night), identify your Welcome Rewards number, and you’ll begin earning credits at the completion of your stay.  After you have accumulated 10 credits, you will automatically be awarded a free one night hotel stay up to $400 in value at any of Hotel.com’s partner properties with no blackout dates.  Wow – I love it already!  Anyone booking hotel stays for business trips will be able to rack up enough free nights for a vacation anywhere in the world in no time.  So, check out all the details for yourself at Welcome Rewards and start earning those free hotel stays!!

PS – We’ve placed a link for Hotels.com on our Links Page so you’ll be able to find it whenever you need it.

Tut Tut Tut, Don’t Miss This Chance to see King Tut in the USA

If you’ve always yearned to visit King Tut’s tomb, but are hesitant to trek to the Middle East, you’re in luck – King Tut’s treasures will be touring the United States this year.    History buffs and art enthusiasts will have three chances to view the precious golden relics from King Tut’s tomb as the “Golden Age of the Egyptian Pharaohs” exhibit, makes stops in Atlanta, Dallas and Indianapolis.

The exhibit focuses on a 100 year span in ancient history (3,000 years ago!) when Egyptian Pharaohs ruled a land at it’s peak of power and artistry.  Over 130 artifacts are on loan from Cairo’s Egyptian Museum and include many golden items retrieved from King Tut’s tomb as well as artifacts from other ancient rulers.  Want to get excited in advance? Walk through a virtual preview of the Tut Gallery.

The US exhibit begins in Texas at the Dallas Museum of Art, running from October 3, 2008 until May 17, 2009.  Georgia will turn the Atlanta Civic Center into ‘Tutlanda’ from November 15, 2008 until May, 2009.  And finally the Indianapolis Children’s Museum will host the exhibit from June 29, 2009 until October, 2009.

Don’t miss your opportunity to be one of the 5 million enthusiasts world wide who have already viewed the exhibit.  You can find full information and advance ticket sales at KingTut.org, and you’ll be pleased to know all proceeds from the shows will be used to construct a new museum of antiquities in Cairo.

Organize and Digitize Your Old Vacation and Family Photos The Easy Way

We all have them… shoe boxes filled with prized snapshots from past adventures and family trips – smiling faces bursting with the enthusiasm of being on vacation. The more industrious of us have patiently affixed piles of precious photos into now dusty albums.  Well the digital age is here and it’s time to convert all those fading photos (taken long before digital cameras become the rage) into a digitized photo library.

Check out the services of ScanMyPhotos.com.  For just $49.95 they will scan up to 1,000 photos (of various sizes and shapes) into a digital photo album!!  (That’s about one large shoe box packed full of photos).  They also offer scanning services for slides and negatives, and do video format transfers as well.  Once scanned, the original photos are mailed back to you the same day along with a DVD filled with all your images.  For an additional $95 you can order a printed book of all your photo images.  Read all the details and instructions for sending your photos at ScanMyPhotos.  So get your photos digitized and get those smiling faces out of the drawers and onto calendars, mugs, photo books and onto your computer wallpaper!

Shop Till You Drop, Then Get Pampered at Boston’s Newest Luxury Hotel

Shoppers on your mark…. it’s getting dangerously close to holiday shopping frenzy season.  Boston’s newest luxury hotel, the Renaissance Waterfront,  has just the enticement to make a shopping weekend in Boston an event to remember.  Dubbed the ‘Shopaholic Soothe and Savings’ package, guests receive top shopping tools at check-in; a Boston Entertainment Book ($30 value) containing discounts at shops, restaurants and attractions all across the city, a Faneuil Hall Passport of Savings booklet (with over $200 in saving coupons) and a Wrentham Village Outlet Savings Guide.  After spending the day shopping furiously around the city, it’s time for the ‘soothe’.  Guests are treated to a 50 minute massage for two.  ‘Oh yes…. get those throbbing toes!’  After spending a peaceful evening in a deluxe room, you’ll find breakfast included at the trendy 606 Congress restaurant the next morning.  The package prices at $499 per night and is available from now until December 30th (subject to availability and taxes of course).

For those not yet familiar with the Renaissance Waterfront Hotel, let me fill in the frame for you.  The Renaissance is located in the Seaport District, just across the street from the World Trade Center and the Fish Pier, enjoying impressive views of the harbor.  The hotel has a contemporary design with a nod to all things aquatic.  And if you bring the kids along, you’ll be glad to know the hotel is within walking distance of both the Children’s Museum and Boston Aquarium.  For those without kids along, walk on over to the Harpoon Brewery, Contemporary Museum of Art and Boston Design Center.  A great location for fun in the city!

Alert! – Luxury Spa Treatments Are Half Price During Spa Week

Pick up the phone TODAY and make an appointment at your favorite luxury spa during Spa Week, October 13-19, 2008.  That’s right – next week, so hurry!  Treat yourself to an indulgent aroma therapy message, classic European facial, Turkish body scrub, or my favorite, a “Suddenly Slim Wrap” – just what I need for this suddenly pudgy body!!!

For one week, elite spas all across the country will slash the cost of their full service treatments to just $50.  This represents a 50% reduction in price, and in many cases much more.  Crafted after the now extremely popular Restaurant Weeks, the spa industry has noticed how many new customers venture out during the reduced rate promotional weeks, and hope this marketing event will bring lots of new spa novices in their doors.

Check out all the details at SpaWeek.org and find all the participating spas near you.  Just like Restaurant Week, I imagine this will become a yearly event, so from now on you can consider October your ‘pamper me silly month’!

It’s Time To Plan Your Dazzling Pre-Holiday Weekend in New York City

No one puts on a party dress like New York getting ready for the holidays.  Every shop window glistens with elaborate displays, and the theater scene pops with magical productions.  Ever since the Miracle on 34th Street enchanted a nation in 1947, families have been streaming to New York City to revel in the nations most captivating holiday displays.  The excitement builds from mid-October right through to New Year’s Eve.  You’ll want to book your tickets early so you don’t miss a single event.
Here’s a glimpse at some of the upcoming highlights of the season: Read more