Rates through spring at this 5 diamond resort start at just $139.99 per night .  The resort which is located within the World Golf  Village and within walking distance of the World Golf Hall of Fame, offers play on two championship golf courses and an 18 hole putting course.  The resort also offers guests a complimentary shuttle to the Serenata Beach Club at Ponte Verda Beach where guests can enjoy it’s magnificent coastal setting.  For a bit of shopping there is also a complimentary guest shuttle to downtown St. Augustine.

Sounds like a great chance to get it all on your next Florida vacation!

Namale Resort & Spa, Fiji
The sensual Namale Resort in Fiji that was recently featured on The Bachelorette TV series, has announced a promotion that offers 2 free nights when you book a 5 night stay (7 nights for the price of 5).

This resort is known for tropical  seclusion and a  dramatic setting on a volcanic cliff overlooking the Koko Sea.  The 5-star Namale Resort was recently voted the “Best Hotel for Romance in the Pacific” by Trip Advisor readers.  It has just unique 19 bures and villas – each one designed with romance in mind.  The Holiday Romance Package includes two free nights in the accommodation category of your choice, all meals and beverages, round trip airport transfers, fully stocked min-bar, daily laundry service, access to the Namale Spa Hydrotherapy Room, and complimentary activities including horseback riding, golf, snorkeling, kayaking and waterfall hikes.  The promotion is in effect from now until February 28, 2012 – so it’s a perfect choice for Valentine’s Day!  Rates at the resort start at approximately $975 per night.

The backpackers you choose to stay at in Australia will have a big effect on the amount of partying and surfing you manage to fit in.

The surfer’s choice hostel in Brisbane is Sleeping Inn Surfers Paradise. There’s always something happening at Sleeping Inn Surfers Paradise, with a range of seasonal activities catering to all tastes and skill sets. The hostel is located just minutes walk from the Surfers Paradise famous beaches, and offers free boogie board hire for aspiring surfers looking to hit those summer waves. Make the most of free activities including dive-in movies, BBQ and limousine pick-up. Private and dorm rooms from €19.50pppn.

Backpackers in Sydney should head down to the Cronulla Beach YHA. Home to famous reef breaks such as Cronulla Point and Shark Island, Cronulla Beach is the perennial surfing locale south of Sydney city. Cronulla Beach YHA is a modern budget backpackers’ accommodation located only a few minutes’ walk from the sandy shore. Grab one of the hostels free bodyboards and attempt to catch a wave! Surfing lessons are available from local companies and can be booked through the hotel reception. Shared rooms are available from €24.20pppn.

Far from your typical Byron Bay backpackers hostel, Evans Head Surf Shack is the perfect mix of budget accommodation and adventure experience. A hidden treasure, the hostel offers 3-day package deals consisting of transport to Byron, meals, surf equipment, daily surf lessons, surfboard factory tours, sea kayaking, dolphin watching, yoga sessions and more. Package prices are from €72.74pppn.

Finally, San Simeon Beachfront Apartments is the ideal place for backpackers in the Gold Coast to those looking to ride some waves. Right on the surf beach at Tugun you’ll find the San Simeon Beachfront Apartments with superb 1 and 2 bedroom accommodation. Every apartment has a balcony with Pacific views as well as a full kitchen and laundry facilities. There’s also a swimming pool on site and a rooftop spa and steamy sauna, for adults only. You can also enjoy Wi-Fi, tennis courts and a games room with video games and a pool table. Prices start from €9.53pppn

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About The Author:  Shing Mon Chung | Online Marketing Executive | HostelBookers.com Ltd  e: ShingMon.Chung@Hostelbookers.com | t:+44 (0)20 7406 1800 | f:+44 (0)20 7406 1801
a: 52-54 High Holborn, London, WC1V 6RL
Registered Number: 2841908 England
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Aulani Resort, Oahu, Hawaii
Disney Does Hawaii – The much anticipated Aulani Resort on the island of Oahu opened this past fall.  The expansive resort executed in subtle earth tones (not the usual Disney primary colors) takes center stage along a calm half-moon bay in Ko Olina, a quiet community approximately 1/2 hour from Waikiki. Highrise towers offering impressive views and comfortable accommodations sit on either side of Waikolohe Valley, the heart of the resort.

Waikolohe Valley has a rambling water park with pools, shallows, and water slides. Float through the resort in the Waikolohe Stream, and snorkel in Rainbow Reef a mini aquarium filled with tropical fish.  Keep a keen eye open for Aunty and Uncle, Disney characters that have been developed exclusively for this resort.  Aunty’s Beach House is where kids gather to learn Hawaiian culture, hear stories of the islands and learn local crafts.  This is a five-star resort designed for adults with children in mind.

Inn At The Presidio, San Francisco, California
It’s not often that a US National Park gets a new hotel, but 2012 will see Inn At The Presidio in San Francisco become the first and only hotel within the Presidio, an urban National Park at the base of the Golden Gate Bridge.  The 1,492 acres that make up the Presidio were established in 1776 by Spain as their furthest outpost in North America.  The Presidio is the site of the oldest military post in the United States.   Pershing Hall, the former officer’s quarters, are being converted to a grand inn set to open on April 1, 2012.

The 22 room inn will feature historic memorabilia and amenities appropriate for “top brass”.  The grounds within the national park will serve as a hidden getaway for guests with miles of walking trails and magnificent views of San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge.  Sit for a bit in a front porch rocking chair, enjoy a blazing fire by the fire pit, or play a round of golf.  Inn At The Presidio is within walking distance of the San Francisco marina district and other popular downtown attractions.

The Fishing Lodge, Cap Cana, Dominican Republic
While most Dominican Republic resorts vie for plane-loads of mid-market vacationers,  The Fishing Lodge, at Cap Cana attracts guests seeking a more secluded and pampered vacation experience.  The recently opened ultra-luxe 5 star resort features 298 Mediterranean-styled villas circling the largest inland marina in the Caribbean.  Low-rise docks and private infinity swimming pools are unique highlights to many of the villas, as well as beautifully crafted Dominican inspired furnishings.

Villas at The Fishing Lodge can be reserved on an a la carte or all-inclusive basis and vary in size from executive to 3 bedroom.  The resort which enjoys a dramatic waterfront setting, has amenities including a rustic Dominican stone chapel, secluded beach reached by water craft, boutique shopping along Maine Street and nearby famed Jack Nichlaus Punta Espada Golf Club.   Spring and summer brings a number of celebrated sports fishing tournaments attracted by the local world renowned Billfishing waters.  This is a resort where bathing beauties and sportsmen will feel right at home.

Magdalena Grand Beach Resort, Tobago
The island of Tobago located deep in the Caribbean is emerging as a destination to be discovered by adventurous tropical vacationers.  Recently the island saw the opening its first new hotel project in a decade.  The colonial style Magdalena Grand Beach Resort boasting 178 all ocean-front rooms and suites, is set on a sprawling former sugar plantation. Large terraces and balconies overlook a secluded  beach 2 1/2 mile beach.  The resort features 3 pools, 5 dining options, an English pub and piano bar, dive center and acres of nature trails.  Tobago itself has the oldest forest preserve in the Hemisphere, and is lush with virgin rain forests, waterfalls, pristine beaches, picturesque boating grounds and offers many opportunities for eco-adventuring.

Emakoko Lodge, Nairobi
Africa luxury camps and lodge specialists, Bush and Beyond, are introducing a new Safari Lodge that sits at the border of Nairobi National Park in Kenya.  The Emakoko Lodge sits on the banks of the picturesque Mbagathi River amidst 15 acres at the edge of Nairobi National park.  It has long been a problem for vacationers arriving by plane in Kenya to access prime safari territory without enduring harrowing transfers through Nairobi.  Emakoko Lodge solves the problem with it’s location just 20 minutes from the Nairobi airport, with the river creating a natural divide between city and park. Visitors to the Nairobi National Park can expect to see lions, zebra, hippos, rhinos, and giraffe, as the region has become home to a huge number of wildlife species.

Photo Credits: #1-TheDisneyBlog.com, #2- Artwork by Art Zendarski, #3 – Grand Resorts at Cap Cana, #4 – Magdalena Grand Beach Resort, #5 – Emakoko Lodge

January
1/09- 1/15   Washington DC Restaurant Week
1/12 – 1/22   South Carolina Restaurant Week
1/15 – 1/22   Virginia Beach Restaurant Week
1/15 – 1/31    San Francisco Restaurant Week
1/15 – 1/22    San Diego Restaurant Week
1/15 – 1/20    Ann Arbor Restaurant Week
1/15 – 1/28   Providence Restaurant Week
1/16 – 2/10     New York Restaurant Week
1/20 – 2/5     Vancouver Restaurant Week
1/20 – 1/29   Baltimore Restaurant Week
1/20 – 1/29   Newport Beach Restaurant Week
1/22 – 1/29  Amelia Island Restaurant Week
1/22 – 1/27 & 1/29 – 2/3  Los Angeles Restaurant Week
1/22 – 1/27   & 1/20 – 2/3  Philadelphia Restaurant Week
1/27- 2/5   Savannah Restaurant Week
1/28 – 2/10   Toronto Restaurant Week

February
2/12 – 2/15    Newark Restaurant Week
2/15 – 2/21    Annapolis Restaurant Week
2/17 - 2/28   Chicago Restaurant Week
2/25 – 3/9    Denver Restaurant Week
2/27 – 3/4   Sonoma County Restaurant Week

March
3/1 – 3/10     Maine Restaurant Week
3/4-3/11      Santa Fe Restaurant Week
3/6 – 3/13     Santa Fe Restaurant Week
3/18 – 3/23 & 3/25 – 3/30     Boston Restaurant Week
3/18-3/25    Albuquerque Restaurant Week
3/25 – 4/1     Taos Restaurant Week

Beginning on December 21st, Skype is providing travelers with one hour of free WiFi connectivity  through hotspots in 50 airports across the country.  The free WiFi promotion will continue through December 27th.  Airports included in the promotion include JFK, Newark, San Francisco, Chicago O’Hare, Boston and many more.  Here’s a map of participating airports:

To access the free WiFi, be sure that you have downloaded the latest version of Skype onto your PC, Mac or iOS device.  Sign in and check for the availability of a supported Hot Spot.  If you don’t see an airport you’ll be traveling through on the map – all is not lost.  There’s a possibility that the airport already offers free WiFi to travelers.

Check out all the details of the free WiFi offer.

I’m never excited about our overnight stops on our Rt 95 migration from MA to FL, because the food is often uninspired and the hotels marginal at best.  BUT, on this stop we lucked out.  We stayed at a nice Doubletree Hotel in Rocky Mount and had dinner at the adjacent restaurant – Texas Steakhouse Saloon.  Our expectations were low.

I ordered on crab cake as an appetizer and WOW it was sensational.  The cake was all crab meat and very little else – and it was delicious.  After much cajoling, we persuaded the Chef to share his technique – here it is:

Carolina Crab Cakes

1 lb lump crab meat
1 egg white
2-3 Tbsp mayonnaise to taste
Finely diced scallions
1/4 tsp Old Bay Seasoning- to taste
Bread Crumbs

In a large bowl, mix all ingredients with your hands, using egg white and mayonnaise to bind the crab meat, scallions and seasoning.  Shape into cakes of desired size and roll in break crumbs to coat.

Saute cakes in hot oil or butter until crispy on the outside.  Serve with a spicy ‘Russian Dressing’ style sauce and a lemon wedge.

These cakes are deceptively simple but totally delicious.

I’ve just ordered an update of my British Airways Visa card issued by Chase Bank that will come equipped with Chip and Pin technology.   In additional to Chase, Wells Fargo and U.S. Bank have introductory programs for Chip and Pin cards as well.  I particularly like the British Airways card because it has no foreign exchange fee, earns mileage points on British Airways, and now will be accepted by merchants and automatic machines all over the world.

If you’re not familiar with the Chip and Pin dilemma for US travelers, let me explain.   Several years ago much of the world adopted Chip and Pin technology where a microchip is embedded into the credit card.  Rather than swipe and sign like US credit cards, the Chip and Pin cards require users to insert their card and then enter a four digit pin number of approve the sale.  No more forged signatures, no more cloned magnetic strips, no more letting your credit card out of your sight!  According to reports in Wikipedia, France has reported an 80% drop in fraudulent credit card activity thanks to the microchip technology.

With the adoption of Chip and Pin technology across the globe, US travelers found themselves at a disadvantage while traveling abroad.  The older style magnetic strip cards where not accepted by all merchants and did not work at all in automatic machines at toll booths, at train ticket kiosks, or at petrol stations.  This has been a frustrating experience for quite some time now and has resulted in a ground swell of American travelers asking, “Why can’t we have Chip and Pin cards?”

Thank goodness we now have the opportunity to secure a Chip and Pin card for international travel.  As the new cards roll out, I can only expect that more large banks will jump on the band wagon and offer microchip cards of their own.

There’s a new hotel booking site that’s worth your attention.   The next time you’re looking for a good hotel rate, give GetARoom.com a try. 

GetARoom.com delivers room rates with a three pronged approach.
#1  Each day flash sales are displayed on the homepage offering deeply discounted room rates in major cities.  These sales are available for a limited time booking window.  Today for instance, the luxury Henry VIII hotel in London can be booked for as low as $64.28 per night!

#2  Search for hotel rooms by specific city and dates.  The rates you will see displayed are extremely competitive and on average are discounted 10-20% off standard room rates.

#3 This is the real winner!  Find the hotel you wish to stay at and then phone GetARoom to book your reservation (800-468-3578 <800-hotels-8>).  The reservation agent will make your reservation and will then query the hotel for an even better (unpublished) rate.  These ‘phone only’ rates often reflect a further discount of 10-20% off published room rates – and at times can reach discounts up to 50% off.  So unlike Priceline and Hotwire where you don’t know the name or exact location of the hotel,  with GetARoom you select the exact hotel you wish to stay in and then get the deeply discounted unpublished room rate!  Pretty great stuff.

I also appreciate being able to speak with a human being (refreshing change) and having someone to pose my questions to.  Also refreshing is the fact that you don’t have to sign up for anything or register to receive rate quotes.

Reservations can be cancelled or changed with no penalty fee for published room rates.  For unpublished rates there is a $25 administrative cancellation fee, unless the rate has otherwise been identified as a non-refundable rate.  Generally speaking, the best room rates can be obtained by calling 14 to 21 days in advance of your stay.  In most cases hotel points programs are honored for your stay.  And GetARoom employes a number of unique accommodations including condos, managed apartment buildings and luxury suites in addition to standard hotels.

All in all, this is a great leap forward in the hotel reservation game.  Give them a try the next time you’re in the market for a great room rate.

I just got an email from our friends over at Zozi.com that was packed with fun ‘out of the box’ things to do this winter.

In case you’re not familiar with Zozi.com, they’re a site dedicated to affordable, fun, one-day experiences.  They offer activities in over 24 cities and 2 countries, so they are a great resource for finding unusual things to do while traveling to a new city – or in your own vicinity.

Here’s a glimpse of some of the great activities they are offering in New England:

Holiday Lights Digital Photography Workshop – how to take great shots during the holidays.  Workshop tour takes place in Newburyport on four dates during December

Holiday Ornament Pottery Painting

Two-Day Dog Sledding Adventure

Full Day Ice Fishing Trip

Spice It Up With Salsa Dance Lessons

Don’t sit home and mope – get out and have some fun!

Photo Credit:  1 Creative Commons, 2 Zozi.com