Santa in the Desert
Imagine a Christmas Eve fantasy come to life, complete with holiday dinner served in-person by Santa’s merry elves, plus $2,000 in shopping mad money, a private movie screening just for friends and family, bedtime stories with cookies and milk presented by the elves, a private breakfast with Santa, a keepsake family photo (ugly sweaters encouraged), and of course, a towering, brilliantly-decorated in-suite Christmas tree.
Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa, located in the heart of greater Palm Springs, has the ultimate Christmas Package that happens on December 24, and features accommodations for six in the opulent Governor’s Suite and a connecting room, plus limousine transportation between the resort and any airport or home address located within a two-hour drive of Indian Wells.
This Over The Top Very Merry Holiday Getaway is priced at $15,000 and is available for a single booking, to include Christmas Eve night, with the option to add further nights. Highlights of the one-time dream package include:
- December 24 overnight stay in the 1,852-square-foot Governor’s Suite, with added connecting room
- Limousine transfers to/from an airport or other address located within a two-hour drive of Renaissance Indian Wells Resort & Spa
- $2,000 USD shopping credit, allowing Santa to purchase, wrap and deliver a treasure trove of gifts
- In-suite decorated holiday tree
- In-suite Christmas Eve Dinner for six served by impeccably attentive elves
- In-suite live musical entertainment during dinner
- Exclusive after-dinner film screening (with treats) in the R Movie Theater
- Bedtime stories, milk and cookies provided by the elves
- Private breakfast with Santa on Christmas morning
- Holiday family photo (ugly sweaters encouraged)
Access to resort holiday activities, featuring options such as carriage rides, chestnut roasting, tree trimming, gingerbread house decorating, ugly sweater contests and Camp Oasis for kids
Dates: Christmas Eve 2017
Rates: from $15,000, request promotional code ES7.
(Too pricey? The alternative Holiday Vacation at RenIW package is priced from $224 per night and features a $50 resort credit per night valid towards spa services, dining or the popular Camp Oasis for children. Valid through January 4, 2018 and may be requested using code HO9).
Contact:
(760) 773-4444
www.renaissanceindianwells.com
http://www.marriott.com/hotels/hotel-deals/pspsr-renaissance-indian-wells-resort-and-spa
Watching the Northern Lights from Bed
Optimize your chances for seeing the Northern Lights through a new travel opportunity by Off the Map Travel. The adventure travel company will work to predict the area for best Aurora viewing and locate the two sleeping huts at the new Aurora Wilderness Camp based on the winter forecast. From the warm interior of these mobile accommodations — with their see-through ceilings — guests can lie back and enjoy a distinctive Arctic holiday.
The wilderness surrounding the Finnish village Kilpisjärvi is known for its remote, silent and uninterrupted tundra. Away from manmade light pollution, the Aurora Wilderness Camp takes advantage of the darkness and utilizes its mobility to optimize viewing of the Northern Lights. Guests enjoy the comfort of a sleeping hut while looking upward through the transparent roof to watch the Aurora Borealis beyond. Each hut sleeps two and includes a gas stove, double bed, table, heater, toilet, snowshoes and kick sleds.
The overnight program begins with a guided transport by snowmobile to the mobile campsite, now positioned in a location based on current Aurora predictions. Guests learn to make a campfire and grill sausages for dinner. Then it’s time to kick back, soak up the silence, and await the appearance of the Northern Lights. Finnish snacks and hot drinks are provided for the evening’s watch with a hot breakfast the following day.
Statistically, the Kilpisjärvi area has more clear night skies and records more Northern Lights activity than any other place in Finland. Experts have estimated that if the sky is clear visitors have more than a 70 percent chance of seeing the Northern Lights.
Rates: All itineraries from Off the Map Travel are tailor-made to meet guests’ interests and adventure desires. As an example, a 3-night, 4-day itinerary including the overnight experience at the Aurora Wilderness Camp is priced from $2076 per person, based on double occupancy, including breakfast, lunch and dinner. Also included are private transfers to and from the airport in Tromso with three nights’ accommodation in a log chalet and a one-night stay at the Aurora Wilderness Camp in a glass-roofed mobile hut. Other activities are available on request. International flights are not included.
Contact:
+44 (0) 800 566 8901
info@offthemap.travel
www.offthemap.travel
Sale to Mexico
Pleasant Holidays is running the biggest Mexico Vacation Sale in the company’s history. Vacation travel experts since 1959, Pleasant Holidays has reduced prices on every Mexico hotel and resort it sells in every destination for 2017 and 2018 travel on bookings made through Jan. 31, 2018.
Every air-inclusive Mexico vacation package is on sale, including:
- All-inclusive resorts that include all meals, drinks, snacks, activities and more
- Family-friendly resorts with engaging kids programs
- Romantic adults-only resorts for honeymoons and weekend getaways
- Rejuvenating spa and wellness resorts
- Golf resorts offering top-rated championship courses
Pleasant Holidays’ Mexico Vacation Sale is ideal for:
- Last-minute fall travel
- Festive season vacations
- Winter beach vacations
- Pop-the-Question getaways during peak engagement season
All-inclusive resorts offer travelers the best value for their vacation dollar, and include accommodations; meals, drinks and snacks; non-motorized watersports like snorkeling and stand-up paddle boarding; select activities and more included in one price, budget to luxury.
Destinations: Cancun, Riviera Maya, Los Cabos, Puerto Vallarta, Riviera Nayarit, Cozumel, Mexico City and Guadalajara.
Dates: Available for a limited time only, Sale is valid on new vacation packages for travel through Jan. 31, 2018. The sale requires roundtrip airfare, but no minimum night stay and features many exclusive offers that cannot be booked anywhere else. Blackout dates apply Dec. 23 – 31, 2017.
Contact:
(877) 744-1622
PleasantHolidays.com
PleasantHolidays.com/Mexico-Sale
Historic Stays at Historic Hotels on Sale
Starting Friday, November 24 through Friday, December 1, save up to 50% with Historic Hotels of America and Historic Hotels Worldwide. Choose from more than 50 historic hotels providing special discounts during this 2017 cyber sale.
In addition to great savings during our cyber sale, when you book on HistoricHotels.org or HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com you will receive a complimentary one-year family membership (a $30 value) to the National Trust for Historic Preservation (membership includes further savings at these properties through 2018).
NH Collection Grand Hotel Convento di Amalfi (13th Century) Amalfi, Italy
Offer valid for stays through April 1, 2018. Rates from $206 per night
NH Collection Florence Porta Rossa (13th Century) Florence, Italy
Offer valid for stays through April 1, 2018. Rates from $161 per night
Hacienda el Carmen Hotel & Spa (1722) Jalisco, Mexico
Offer valid for stays through December 31, 2017. Rates from $79 per night
Quinta Real Zacatacas (1866) Zacatacas, Mexico
Offer valid for stays through January 31, 2018. Rates from $150 per night
The Sagamore (1883) Bolton Landing, New York
Offer valid for stays through June 21, 2018. Rates from $174 per night
NH Collection Venice Palazzo Barocci (1890) Venice, Italy
Offer valid for stays through April 1, 2018. Rates from $173 per night
The Pfister Hotel (1893) Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Offer valid for stays through April 5, 2018. Rates from $124 per night
West Baden Springs Hotel (1902)
Offer valid for stays through April 30, 2018. Rates from $186 per night
The Broadmoor (1918) Colorado Springs, Colorado
Offer valid for stays through April 30, 2018. Rates from $200 per night
La Fonda (1922) Santa Fe, New Mexico
Offer valid for stays through April 30, 2018. Rates from $129 per night
The Jefferson, Washington DC (1923) Washington, DC
Offer valid for stays through January 31, 2018. Rates from $215 per night
Fairfax at Embassy Row (1927) Washington, DC
Offer valid for stays through March 31, 2018. Rates from $99 per night
NOPSI New Orleans, a Salamander Hotel (1927) New Orleans, Louisiana
Offer valid for stays through November 20, 2018, Rates from $229 per night
The Don CeSar (1928) St. Pete Beach, Florida
Offer valid for stays through December 31, 2018. Rates from $190 per night
Williamsburg Inn (1937) Williamsburg, Virginia
Offer valid for stays through March 15, 2018. Rates from $265 per night
Hotel Valley Ho (1956) Scottsdale, Arizona
Offer valid for stays through December 30, 2017. Rates from $109 per night
A full list of exclusive savings found at HistoricHotels.org and HistoricHotelsWorldwide.com.
Renew, Review through Thailand Wellness Retreats
Kamalaya Wellness Sanctuary & Holistic Spa, set within a lush, tropical landscape of Southern Koh Samui, Thailand, welcomes guests to embrace the spirit of healing through personal and collective transformation. While the resort’s primary focus continues to be on personalized individual wellness programs, Kamalaya’s Life Enhancement Group Retreats provide a setting for guests to explore specific areas of interest in greater depth and benefit from the support network of like-minded individuals.
Upcoming Life Enhancement Retreats include two self-discovery retreats with Kamalaya co-founder Karina Stewart, Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine and a expert in the field of health and wellbeing. Further retreats will be hosted by Kamalaya’s Life Enhancement Mentors and by renowned ‘Yin & Yang Yoga’ teacher Simon Low.
Life Enhancement Group Retreats:
“Yin & Yang Yoga Immersion” with Simon Low
Enrich and expand yoga practice through a four-night yoga immersion with Simon Low, one of the world’s foremost specialists of ‘Yin & Yang Yoga’. Principal of ‘The Yoga Academy’ and co-founder of Triyoga in London, Low has been teaching yoga internationally for more than 20 years with ongoing studies in Traditional Chinese Medicine, applied anatomy, Pranayama, Oriental and contemporary energy practices, psychology and philosophy. Suitable for all levels of experience, the retreats will include dynamic Yang Yoga practice with flowing Vinyasa and a broad asana spectrum building energy, flexibility and strength, followed by slower paced Yin Yoga, using long passive holds to work on the connective tissues and energy systems to achieving a sense of inner strength, calmness and presence.
Dates: March 29- April 2, May 31- June 4, October 18-22, December 6-10
Rates: Prices for the 4-night retreat start 2,539 USD per person sharing a double room, including all meals, daily classes and treatments.
“Awakening Your Essential Self” with Kamalaya Co-founder Karina Stewart
In this special nine-night retreat, guests are invited to participate in a unique opportunity to work closely with Kamalaya co-founder and Master of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Karina Stewart, who will facilitate a series of intimate group retreats to support participants through a subtle process of awakening to their essential self. The retreat will combine individual and group consultations, a dedicated nutrition concept and a range of therapies for cleansing the body. Through experiential practices and processes designed to discover, clear and release habits and patterns that no longer serve a healthy and fulfilling lifestyle, guests will learn to let go and eliminate what is extraneous and non-essential to their health and wellbeing, while reconnecting to an inner source of health and happiness.
Dates: February 24- March 4, September 22-30
Rates: Prices for the nine-night retreat start at 4,955 USD per person sharing a double room, including all meals, daily classes and treatments.
“Finding Emotional Balance & Freedom” with Kamalaya’s Life Enhancement Mentors
In this six-night intimate group setting participants will explore their own emotional habits and practice practical and effective responses to life’s challenges. The retreat is led by Kamalaya’s Life Enhancement Mentors, Rajesh Ramani, Smitha Jayakumar and Sujay Seshadri, who are all experienced teachers with strong background in ancient Asian philosophies, having been immersed in monastic lifestyles in India for more than a decade. This unique opportunity will be beneficial for anyone looking for greater connection and happiness with oneself and others. The retreat will include daily group talks, one-to-one mentoring sessions, guided experiential coaching, meditation practices and healing treatments.
Dates: May 9-15, August 30- September 5, November 22-28
Rates: Prices for the six-night retreat start at 3,426 USD per person sharing a double room, including all meals, daily classes and treatments.
The facilities and accommodations encircle a centuries-old cave, once used by Buddhist monks as a place for meditation and spiritual retreat. Customized wellness programs merge the ancient healing traditions of Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda with contemporary Western philosophies. Holistic fitness practices, group retreats and individual programs such as Stress & Burnout, Detoxification & Rejuvenation, Sleep Enhancement and more are integrated with a healing diet for optimal wellbeing.
Contact: www.kamalaya.com/retreats-thailand.htm
Author: Lark Gould
Lark Gould has been a travel industry journalist for more than 30 years. She shares her insight on cruise travel, air travel, hotels, resorts, popular activities, attractions and destinations to assist travel advisors and travelers with the current news and information they need to travel well.
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