Finding a Valentine’s getaway just got easier. Travelers can now explore a selection of romance packages and specials available at North America inns by visiting Select Registry’s new website, http://www.selectregistry.com/valentines. Browse by inn location, package type, or amenities - such as a spa or culinary experience.
Select Registry B&Bs offer luxurious drive-to escapes in scenic locales across the United States and Canada. Rendezvous without the costs or romance-busters of air travel, rental cars and hasty breakfasts. Romantic ambiance, one-of-a-kind amenities and delicious breakfasts are all part of the package.
For couples seeking a one-of-a-kind retreat this Valentine’s Day and beyond, here are a few of the romance packages available:
Honor Mansion - Healdsburg, California
Escape to a romantic three-night retreat in the heart of California’s renowned Sonoma Wine Country. Honor Mansion’s Valentine’s Day Package pampers with candle-lit rose petal turndown upon arrival (or at another time upon request); handcrafted chocolates; local sparkling wine with keepsake flutes; and a romantic movie to enjoy in-room with popcorn and as a take-home gift. Guests choose from thirteen spacious guestrooms, private cottages and luxurious suites, all spread over four landscaped acres. Amenities include romantic sleigh and canopy beds, hand-carved fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, iPod radios, and private terraces with outdoor spa tub for two. This package is offered complimentary with any three-night stay, starting any time, Feb. 10 – 15, 2011.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
With plenty of energy still left after a day of skiing, Kim Han Fuller plays in the snow with Clay Brook Hotel & Residences in the background.There’s no sugar coating it. Sugarbush is one sweet ski resort for the whole family.
Our family ski experience there started with “May I help you carry your skis?” and ended with “have a great day!” I later learned the young men and women in the blue jackets are referred to as “Sugar Sherpas,” and it’s clear their role is to ensure you start and finish the day with a friendly greeting. This is just one of the many details that go into making Sugarbush Resort one incredible skiing experience for everyone from families to couples, skiers to boarders and first-timers to old-timers.
We visited Sugarbush on Martin Luther King’s birthday weekend after a blizzard dumped two feet of snow two days earlier. We anticipated crowds, and indeed we joined the exodus of skiers and boarders making “the big schlep” from the parking lot to the lodge. Yet with its campus of base lodges, ski school buildings and ticket sales locations, once to the base we were easily able to find a place to sit, stow gear and suit up, even with six of us.
To read more, visit EasternSlopes.com
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Whether your resolutions are about reducing stress, shaving strokes off your golf game, enhancing knowledge of history, improving your ski skills, or rekindling romance, Marriott Hotels & Resorts offer a variety of packages to keep you motivated.
New Year’s Resolution #1: Stress-reduction therapy
Escape the everyday and experience a world of serenity at The Spa at Doral and Pritikin Longevity Center at The Doral Golf Resort & Spa, A Marriott Resort in Miami, FL (Promotion code SPA).
Now through October 28, 2011, get away from it all with a package that includes the choice of a Doral Massage, Citrus Mango Body Scrub, Shirodhara, Doral Custom Facial, Express Manicure & Express Pedicure or Personal Training; a full breakfast buffet per person per night; complimentary access to spa facility; and unlimited use of spa fitness center and classes. Rates start at $149 per person, per night;$199 per person, single occupancy. For details, call (305) 592-2000 or visit www.doralmarriott.com.
New Year’s Resolution #2: Grand golf and commemoration of the Civil War
The venerable Dogwood and Azalea courses at Lakewood Golf Club have hosted President Gerald Ford, Dr. Billy Graham and Bob Hope and remain showcases for great golf in the South. Golf enthusiasts can discover the Robert Trent Jones Golf Trail with The Grand Hotel Marriott Resort, Golf Club and Spa’s Escape! Package (promotional code SPO), which runs through October 28, 2011. Enjoy a deluxe room that includes one round of golf for two. Both the Dogwood and Azalea courses offer golf instruction to help hone your skills. Rates start at $239 per room, per night. For details, call (251) 928-9201 or visit www.marriottgrandspa.com.
What better place to learn about America’s past while playing outstanding golf than at The Grand on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, with commemorations scheduled from 2011 through 2015. The property first opened in 1847 as a Southern resort, but later became a Confederate hospital guarded by the Alabama Infantry and fired upon by Union troops. A Confederate cemetery is adjacent to the grounds near the Lakewood Golf Club. To honor the Grand’s military history, a patriotic procession travels through the resort each afternoon, culminating with the firing of an 1840’s-era cannon. The military salute is followed by afternoon tea in the hotel’s lobby.
New Year’s Resolution #3: Skiers’ paradise
Practice makes perfect. Now through April 23, 2011, ski buffs looking to improve their skills can take advantage of a special package at the Vail Marriott Mountain Resort in Colorado (for 14 of the past 20 years, Vail has dominated as SKI Magazine’s No. 1 U.S. ski resort). The Stay More, Pay Less! package (promotional code SKI) includes daily lift tickets and resort accommodations. Vail’s Ski and Snowboard School offers private and group lessons and schools for adults, teens and children. Call 1-970-ski-vail or visit www.vail.com. After a day on the slopes, relax in one of the resort’s heated pools or whirlpools. Rates range from $185 per room, per night, for a seven-night stay to $257 per room, per night, for a three-night stay. The offer is blacked out April 17-18. For details, call (970) 476-4444 or visit www.vailmarriott.com.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Top 10 Ski Rental Home Destinations:
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
Every once in a while a travel hunch pays off. Such was the case during a recent stay at the Santa Fe Sage Inn. I’ve had the Inn on my travel steals and deals radar for awhile. To keep abreast of their latest news on special savings and vacation packages, I subscribed to their newsletter and followed them on facebook and twitter, but up until now, I hadn’t had a reason to book a visit.
I love a good deal as much any traveler on a budget. And finding one in trendy Santa Fe, especially in the heart of the summer high season, can take some sleuthing.
The Sage Inn promised affordable downtown lodging with a slew of tempting freebies - complimentary continental breakfast, free wireless high speed Internet, comfortable renovated rooms, free parking, and free Plaza shuttle. So when my husband’s college-aged granddaughter came to visit and wanted to spend a few days in Santa Fe before heading back to our place in the southern mountains of New Mexico, the Sage Inn sounded like just the ticket.
And it was. It was also clean, convenient, and super friendly. Imagine that.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".
INNKEEPERS KISS CUPID GOODBYE AND OFFER SPECIAL PACKAGES FOR THE 89 MILLION SINGLES ON VALENTINE’S DAY
BedandBreakfast.com members have romance covered. Stay at a B&B or inn for Valentine’s Day and immediately the beautiful beds, romantic breakfasts, and plenty of pampering amenities makes the heart grow fonder. Fortunately, singles need no longer fear this dreaded “couples” holiday. With 89 million singles in America, it’s no wonder that inns and B&Bs are kissing cupid goodbye and welcoming singles for Valentine’s Day adventures.
BedandBreakfast.com, the largest online B&B directory and reservation network worldwide is the best resource for Valentine’s Day getaways for both singles and couples. Visit www.BedandBreakfast.com and click on the roses and champagne photo on the home page for an extensive list of romantic Valentine’s Day packages. Read on for five fabulous packages that come to the rescue of singles on Valentine’s Day. Listed alphabetically in order by state, all rates are per room, including breakfast, and do not include tax or gratuities (unless otherwise specified.
- Celebrate “Me-dom” at Montgomery Inn, Versailles, KY: Singles, celebrate freedom and “me-dom” by pampering yourself with movies, wine, chocolates and dinner. Select a DVD, magazines, music or books from the inn’s extensive library, then go soak in an oversized whirlpool tub. Enjoy dinner for one and complimentary snacks and beverages too. Offered February 11-17, this package includes a complimentary glass of wine or sparkling cider, a red rose, the inn’s signature chocolate bourbon truffles, and dinner for one for $139 in the Colonial or Maple Suites; add a second night for just $75 (no dinner).
- Find the ski bum of your dreams at Chairlift Speed Dating and Whitney’s Inn, Jackson, NH: They say Valentines Day is just for lovers… but that doesn’t mean they’ve met yet! Those looking for the skier of their dreams may just find him or her on a five-minute chairlift ride at Black Mountain during the third annual Chairlift Speed Dating Event, and then at Whitney’s Inn afterward. Singles, enjoy three-nights lodging, a singles welcome reception on Friday night, entry into the speed dating event on Saturday, a bottle of wine and goodies upon your return (to enjoy with new friends), and dinner for two in the Shovel Handle Pub for Saturday night and breakfast each morning. If you introduce the innkeepers to your new mate, you’ll be treated to a free sleigh ride for two on Sunday. The three-night package, offered February 12-15, including all extras, starts at $459 per person in a queen-bedded room.
- Get over him with help from voodoo dolls, ice cream, and a Southern Comfort tour at the Avenue Inn, New Orleans: Looking for a cure to get “over” him or her? Broken heart recovery takes about one long weekend at the Avenue Inn! Grab a friend and enjoy three nights in a room with two double beds and a private bath.
Ellen Barone is an American writer and wanderer. She co-founded and publishes the group travel blog YourLifeIsATrip.com and is currently at work on her first book "I Could Live Here".