World’s Best Chocolate Vacations!

For everyone who loves chocolate as much as I do, it’s time to plan a vacation swirling with chocolate tours and adventures.  Nothing matches the euphoric lift after  munching on a creamy chocolate delight.  Here are eight destinations for immersing yourself in chocolate ecstasy on your next vacation.

Belgium reigns supreme as masters of the cocoa bean.  Since the days of colonization in The Belgian Congo in the late 1800′s, cocoa has been shipped to Belgium to be crafted into dark creamy delights.  Today Belgium has over a dozen major chocolate factories producing  172,000 TONS of chocolate per year.  You’ll find chocolate shops to tempt you around most every corner, as the country now sports over 2,000 confectionery shops!  Visit the Musee due Cocao et du Chocolate in Brussels or The Chocolate Story in Bruges.  And for a full chocolate immersion, don’t miss the Chocolate Festival that takes place each year in early May in Bruges. Read more

Heads Up Boston – Virgin America Has Arrived!

The long anticipated arrival of spunky new low cost carrier Virgin America is finally on the way.  Nonstop flights between Boston and LAX and SFO will begin operations on February 12, 2009.  Tickets are on sale now for just $149 each way (see site for full details).  Virgin America also flies between New York, Washington DC, Las Vegas, San Diego and Seattle.  But it’s not all about the low fares!  Virgin is securing it’s reputation as the airline of choice with out-of-the-box amenities such as mood lighting, leather seats, 9 inch back of seat TVs, power outlets and in seat ordering of tasty food!

We read a great tip from the good folks over at Travelzoo, “Wear an article of red clothing on board and the airline will treat you to 1 free alcoholic beverage!”  Hope that’s true, I’ll be wearing a red jacket for sure.  For more information about Virgin America and to book tickets, visit them at VirginAmerica.com

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!

Best City Walking Tours – Our Favorite Walkable Cities

Our favorite walking cities can all be explored in a day, tracing history through varying ethnic neighborhoods, offering top notch museums, inviting parks, exciting cuisine and of course local artisan shops. Leave all the stress of public transportation and driving in busy cities behind, visit pedestrian friendly cities around the world and take off on your own two feet to discover, explore and rub elbows with the locals. With escalating fuel prices effecting auto touring and tour buses alike, it’s a great time to travel to a city where you can tour by walking.  Here are our favorite cities for touring on foot and most popular walking tour companies:

Domestic – USA
#1 – Boston Boston by Foot, Walking Boston, Photo Walks, Boston Heritage Tours
#2 – San Francisco I Left My Heart Tours, SFO City Guides, Victorian Walks
#3 – Philadelphia Constitutional Walk, Feeladelphia Tours, Go Phila
#4 – Seattle See Seattle, Seattle Walking Tours, Architecture Tours
#5 – Savannah Saunter in Savannah, Ghost Savannah, Savannah Walks
#6 – Washington DC Tour DC, Arnow Tours, Cultural Tourism

International
#1 – Paris Paris Walks, Paris Muse, Paris Digest
#2 – London Original London Walks, Secret London Walks, Mikro Tours
#3 – Rome Rome Tour, Enjoy Rome, Angel Tours
#4 – Florence Florentia, Tours-Italy, Art Viva
#5 – Lisbon Lisbon Walker, Lisboa Tours, Lisbon Walks
#6 – Vancouver Street Hike, City of Vancouver, City Talks

And don’t forget to look for free iPod city guides for all of the above locations.