Cabo, Mexico: Full Moon Party @ The Marquis Los Cabos

A full moon over my Mexi. Finally, there's an interesting (and chic) nightlife option in Cabo! The Marquis Los Cabos Resort, a 237-suite beachfront property located on the southernmost tip of the Baja California península, has introduced Astronomy Nights, where every full moon after dusk local naturalists will introduce guests to the wonders of the Los Cabos night skies, including planets, constellations, a nebula and more. For a full hour, the hotel will turn out all the lights, adorning public places with candles to conserve energy and for a better view of the stars. Our favorite part? The Astronomy Night will include a lounge party with live Latin jazz and fire pit on the beach, Mayan astronomy lessons with two local naturalists Maria Elena Muriel and Julio Cesar Mendez and Mexican canapés, such as smoked marlin tostadas, ceviche, kabobs (tuna, shrimp, red snapper, beef, chicken, vegetarian), and desserts. Astronomy Nights, also open to the public, will take place on the beach at Marquis Los Cabos Resort in the Cabo Real section of Los Cabos during every full moon from 7pm-9pm on: May 9th, June 7th, July 7th, August 6th, September 4th, October 4th, November 2nd, and December 2nd.

In case you're unfamiliar, the resort features a 15,000 square foot holistic spa and fitness center, an exclusive gourmet restaurant where one of the only Michelin-pedigreed chefs in Cabo, and has earned "World's Best" (Travel + Leisure); "Gold List Award" (Conde Nast Traveler); and the Five Star Diamond Award for its Canto del Mar restaurant. They're also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and the only member of Leading Spas of the World in Los Cabos.

For $40 per adult and $30 for children (age 4 - 12), drinks are additional.

For more information, call 1-877-238-9399.
www.marquisloscabos.com

Riviera Maya: Mandarin Oriental's Wellness Yoga Retreat

Face it. You need a quick escape. Recharge that battered spirit. Elevate that funky mood. Take the OM out of ominous. We can feel it. We're there too. These days, everywhere we turn and everything we see is doom and gloom. Aside from trekking in the Andes and eating hot noodles in Saigon (which takes a bit more than four days), the Yoga Wellness Retreat at the Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya is a surefire way to relax and feel good about spending your hard-earned cash. When you give to your spirit, the Universe gives back. Did we mention that the honorable Rishi Bharadwaj of India is teaching? Well, he is... and he's 15 years of yogic magic.
Alas...

Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya presents its 2009 Wellness Yoga Retreat, a four-day holistic program featuring guided meditations, yoga classes, yogic diet and nutrition sessions from:

March 26 to 29
May 28 to 31
June 25 to 28

A relaxing weekend break at an award-winning spa and resort located on Mexico’s Yucatan peninsula? Si senorita. Eso es la vida perfecta.
Leading the Yoga Retreat is Yoga Instructor Rishi Bharadwaj, a native of India who comes from a family of yoga experts. Rishi will guide guests to determine the best possible programs to continue on their path towards health and wellness. The retreat begins on Thursday evening with a welcome group dinner and opportunity to meet with Rishi and fellow guests. Throughout the weekend, guests will experience Asana and Pranayama yoga sessions, diet and nutrition classes, quiet time for meditations, group discussions and bask in the luxurious accommodation at Mexico’s most sophisticated resort.



A naturalist’s paradise, Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya is nestled in mangrove reserves and tranquil lagoons highlighted by a spectacular cenote, a deep, freshwater reservoir sacred to the ancient Mayan.





The resort is only 10 minutes north of the always happening Playa del Carmen with dining, entertainment, and boutiques, just a 30-minute drive from Cancun International Airport.

The “Wellness Yoga Retreat” includes:

· Three-night stay at the luxurious Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya
· Yogic breakfast daily and one group dinner
· Choice of one spa treatment
· Morning and evening yoga sessions
· Daily meditations
· Diet and nutrition classes
· Participation in daily fitness activities
· Complimentary use of Heat and Water Therapies
· Round-trip airport transfers

Now how's that for OM-nificent?

Rates from $2465 (single occupancy) and $3340 (double occupancy)

www.mandarinoriental.com

Cabo San Lucas, Mexico: The Holistic Yoga Wellness Retreat

This just in from The Marquis Los Cabos, one of our favorite Cabo properties, located right off 'The Corridor' on the southernmost tip of the Baja península where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific. To celebrate it's ability to soothe you, they're now offering the first of its transformational travel events. The Guru Getaway Series with renowned mind/body wellness instructor Kent Burden will take place from May 17-21, 2009. The 230 + room resort, just minutes from the Old World village of San Jose del Cabo and the town of Cabo San Lucas, has one of the best spas and fitness centers in the area (a 15,000 square foot retreat to be precise).
In addition, their exclusive gourmet restaurant, Canto del Mar, has one of the only Michelin-pedigreed chefs in Cabo. Our EIC stayed here about two years ago and was blown away by the fresh bread and fruit basket delivered each morning, the fantastic dinner service, and the excellent views. Since its 2003 opening, Marquis Los Cabos has earned the travel industry's most coveted awards including "World's Best" (Travel + Leisure); "Gold List Award" (Conde Nast Traveler); and the Five Star Diamond Award for its Canto del Mar restaurant. Marquis Los Cabos is also a member of the prestigious Leading Hotels of the World and the only member of Leading Spas of the World in Los Cabos.
The Holistic Wellness Getaway incorporates yoga, Qi Gong and Pilates instruction; a visit to an organic farm with cooking lesson; an art walk and progressive dinner in San Jose del Cabo; a waterfall hike and tai chi instruction; Real Food, Aztec Calendar and Modern Day Hunter/Gatherer lectures, and a horseback meditation ride into three days of mind/body activities that promise to encourage "personal growth" and "self-actualization." Who couldn't use some of that in these trying times?

With more than 25 years of fitness experience, Kent Burden has worked one-on-one with Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy winners and NFL and NBA champions alike. His mind/body program created at California's Ojai Valley Inn & Spa was voted by Spa Finder Magazine's Reader's Choice Awards as one of North America's top mind/body fitness programs. A certified personal trainer, Pilates instructor, Yoga instructor, Spinning instructor, water fitness instructor, Systematic Touch Trainer and Massage Therapist, you're, you guessed it... in really good hands. For more information on Kent, check out his website:

www.mylifefitness.com

The 5 day/4 night Holistic Wellness Getaway is $2,550 per person, based on single occupancy, and includes all lectures and mind/body activities, suite accommodations, a signature welcome drink made of natural local fruits, breakfast daily, gifts upon arrival and departure, box lunches for all activities, VIP roundtrip airport/hotel transportation, and all service charges and taxes.

www.marquisloscabos.com

Loreto Bay, Mexico - Spa and Yoga Retreat

Step out from the protective shade of a thickly thatched palapa, greet the day with a sun salutation, and feel the warm rays carry over majestic mountains as they dance upon the glistening waves.

Say Namaste to Loreto Bay in Baja Sur, Mexico, the UNESCO World Heritage Site located on the western shore of the Sea of Cortez and home to The Mission of Our Lady of Loreto, the first of the California missions and the 300-year-old jewel of Loreto.

Imagine if Cabo was still the blush on the peach. This is Loreto Bay. No group of fanny-pack wearing tourists slamming shots, no waiting an hour in line for Customs. Here, you can do yoga, take in serenity, do a little whale watching, kayaking, snorkeling, scuba diving, and even explore some local cave paintings.

Accommodations are available in a variety of full-service hotels, charming inns, and privately-owned one- and two-bedroom condominium residences.

Conveniently positioned between the Sierra de la Giganta mountains, The Loreto Bay Resort, a 8,000-acre community, neighbors the quiet fishing town of Loreto and offers its newest escape: a three-night spa and yoga package introducing guests to the quieter side of Baja.
So check out three nights of luxurious guest room accommodations at the Inn at Loreto Bay; a full meal of healthy offerings, multiple yoga sessions with a certified instructor; one facial and reflexology treatment; a full one-hour massage; a choice of one manicure or pedicure with foot or hand therapy; one back and neck massage; and other relaxation services. And did we also mention... the resort is eco-friendly?
Alaska Airlines also announced an increase in scheduled service from Los Angeles to Loreto. The new scheduled service will double the number of seats flown into the destination on a weekly basis beginning November 9, 2008 via two flights (Sundays and Thursdays) with 144-passenger, 737-400 equipment, and two additional 70-passenger flights on Tuesdays and Fridays operated by Horizon Air.

$880/per person
Based on double occupancy and valid for travel now through December 20, 2008

Vaya con Gurus.

www.discoverloretobay.com
www.gotoloreto.com
Tel: 1-877-522-9466

Aromatic Journeys: Awaken Your Senses

AQUA CANCUN
Stroll past two sparkling white Rolls Royce Phantoms through the sliding glass doors into paradise. Inlakesh. That’s how the staff of this ultra-chic Cancun resort greets you. In Mayan it means, “We are different faces of each other.” And this is what it means to ‘Feel AQUA.’ At peace and one with the environment. From the custom aromatic oils pumped throughout the hotel to Watsu treatments, Ashtanga Yoga, Regional Cooking Classes and your choice of two superb restaurants, Siete and MB, home to James Beard Winner, Michelle Bernstein’s stellar boite...

This certainly ain’t your parents run-of-the-mill Cancun resort. Think the W’s modish elegance meets Ritz-Carlton’s flawless service. Fans include the likes of Paris Hilton, Kim Cattrall, and… me. When they say awaken your senses, they truly mean it. Right down to a nightly choice, delivered straight to your room, of six aromatic oils blended specifically for the hotel.

www.feel-aqua.com

FOUR SEASONS RESORT MAUI at WAILEA
Intoxicating, sensual, and unique. Just like you. Sure, anyone who’s anyone knows about the Four Seasons Resort Maui, but do they also know about their brand-spankin’ new demi-blending scent analysis? Through a discussion with your mélanger, along with an in-depth computerized test, personalized perfume sessions target elements of your personality and aspects of your health that directly affect the scents - and senses - you’re drawn to. Ajne Rare & Precious, the expert all-natural and organic essential oil perfumerie out of Carmel, California, is run by husband and wife duo, Jane Hendler and Rex Rombach, and Handler personally trains each mélanger at the Four Seasons Resort Maui to guide you during your prêt-à-porter fragrance consultation.
Hendler is one of the few accredited Certified Master Essential Oil Therapists in the nation and has been called the 'Star Perfumer' by US Weekly. Some of her clients have included Jessica Biel, Reese Witherspoon, Alanis Morrisette and Rob Lowe. In addition to owning their own lavender farm in Carmel Valley, Jane and Rex work with small growers from around the world to obtain the organic and sustainably-harvested fruit, flower, leaf, grass, wood, lichen, fungi and spice oils that Jane transforms into parfum, lotions and skin care preparations in her Carmel laboratory boutique. Hand-blending each formula to a customer’s specific needs, Handler also developed a signature scent for Four Seasons Resort Maui, Palena`ole, available at the Spa’s retail.

Custom blend and consultation from $250

www.fourseasons.com/maui/

So bring the sweet smell of vacation home with you.
OJAI VALLEY INN
Feel like a guided aromatic meditation? Might we recommend a personal aromatherapy session with Renate, the on-site Artist-in-Residence, at the Ojai Valley Inn's Artist Cottage and Apothecary? This German beauty will guide your senses through a holistic journey of self-discovery in a variety of media, whether it’s pottery, painting, drawing, wreath-making, or, my personal favorite, scent. Allow for time alone or share the experience with your family and friends. I had the pleasure of being guided through an afternoon of aromatic self-discovery with my husband - who just happened to develop my current favorite anointment he lovingly called ‘Orchard Floor.' It was the perfect experience to end a perfect birthday weekend. Each scent is composed of essential therapeutic oils which you can also introduce into lotions, gels and creams that will carry your own name. Also worth mentioning... The Personal Mandala class, another Signature Ojai Experience, recommended at times of transition or when seeking clarity. Quiet and introspective, with insightful feedback from your instructor, these sessions reveal a deeper meaning to what lies on the paper.

From $150

www.ojairesort.com

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico: Casa de Sierra Nevada

Maybe it's because I love cochinita pibil. I'm not really sure what it is about Mexico that keeps me coming back for more. One such location - a veritable carrot in front of my hungry horsey mouth - is the protective colonial town of San Miguel de Allende, recently declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO (The World Heritage Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization). The fortified town, first established in the 16th century to protect the Royal Route inland, reached its apogee in the 18th century when many of its outstanding religious and civic buildings were built in the style of the Mexican Baroque. Some of these buildings, masterpieces of the style that evolved in the transition from Baroque to neoclassical, acted as a melting pot where Spaniards, Creoles and Amerindians exchanged their cultural and artisanal influences. Founded in 1542, the town of San Miguel de Allende sits at 6,400 feet above sea level and the streets of this colonial town are lined with palacios that today are a mixture of residences, galleries, restaurants and boutiques.
One and a half blocks from the main city square of San Miguel de Allende, my pick for hotel properties is the boutique Casa de Sierra Nevada, a mixture of 16th to 18th century Spanish colonial buildings. With 31 rooms and suites spread among five colonial mansions, including a 17th century fort, and the former residence of San Miguel de Allende's Archbishop in the 16th century, all we can say is... talk about living la vida purista. The hotel's buildings, situated around the town rather than one location, creates an experience akin to living in a beautiful, historic apartment with new amenities and genuine Mexican hospitality.
Known for countless years as a center of art and literature, famous mexican artists and ex-pats flock to the cobble-stone streets and historic enclave to perfect their art and find peace and inspiration. With sculpture, glass-blowing, silversmithing, and photography workshops all within local reach, check out the link below for some spectacular art programs that will be sure to lift your creative spirits and make you say...

"Hay que dejar tiempo para el esparcimiento!"

Which basically means something like: 'All work and no play sure makes Juan (or Juanta) a real snoooooze.'

http://www.casadesierranevada.com/web/omig/omig_courses_art.jsp

Mexico: The Tides Zihuatanejo Yoga Retreat

We just like saying: 'Zihuatanejo,' don't you? Makes us feel authentic. So here's a little yoga gem we uncovered from the boys and girls at Kor Hotel Group. In October, The Tides Zihuatanejo hosts its first Yoga Retreat where guests can get their very own custom-created wellness weekend. Fostering spiritual re-awakening and social companionship, celebrity instructor Tom Morley (of Exercise TV) will lead inspired asanas and sun salutations in one of the Mexico’s most seductive resorts.

The first in a series of 5-Day Yoga Retreats at The Tides Zihuatanejo, takes place: October 3 – 7, 2008.

"Yoga brings people together and I'm thrilled to be a part of Kor's first yoga retreat at The Tides,” says Tom Morley, the highly-respected instructor whose sessions draw the likes of Reese Witherspoon and Helen Hunt. For over 10 years, Morley has redefined the traditional approach to yoga by adapting the practice to individual preferences, drawing from styles like vinyasa and yin, breathing, meditation, partner yoga and dance to bring a vibrant sense of joy, humor and ease to his sessions.

Hugging the white sands of Zihuatanejo Bay's Playa la Ropa, The Tides Zihuatanejo is filled with tropical gardens, waterfalls and an expansive beachfront, the perfect serene locale for deepening personal practice and self-searching. Two-story, terracotta-tiled casitas and thatched palapa cabanas merge with the gardens and waterfalls that enfold them. Pst... suites include their own outdoor infinity pools. Two gourmet dining venues and three bars make The Tides’ elegance complete. In addition to an immersion in yoga, you can also opt for culinary classes with Executive Chef Paco Isordia, sailing, surfing, Scuba diving, ATV tours, jungle canopy rides, or cultural tours.


The Tides’ Yoga Retreat includes:

Four nights of accommodations include:

Two beachside yoga classes, am/pm daily (Private sessions available upon request)
Healthy gourmet meal plan (yoga breakfast bar and group choice of lunch or dinner)
One daily 60-minute restorative massage of choice at The Tides Spa
Closing night “Sense of the Night: Yoga Meets Dance” beach celebration, with DJ-spins including trance/dance, live percussionists, food and libations
Transfers to and from Zihuatanejo airport
lululemon gift bag

Superior Room, The Tides Zihuatanejo

Rates range from:
Superior Room - $2,100 single occupancy/$3,100 - double occupancy

Beach Suite - $3,500 single occupancy/$4,4000- double occupancy.
Rates exclude tax and service; package subject to availability.

So go get your OM on.
And grab a margarita for me while you're at it.

Reservations:
(866) 905-9560
www.thetidesresorts.com

Boot Camp Series: Amansala's Bikini Boot Camp

Amansala's Bikini Bootcamp: Tulum, Mexico

The second in Jaunt Magazine's 'so nice it's naughty' Boot Camp Series, this one is bound to give you the vacation you desperately need. Add a stunning setting, eco-chic digs, chemical-free fresh food, and a Bikini-tastic agenda that will get you in gear for that balanced body right in time for summer. The best part? It won't break the bank and you can do it alone, with friends, or a lover.

Imagine staying in Pablo Escobar’s old beachfront pad on the Mayan Riviera’s Caribbean with Melissa and Erica, two ex-New Yorkers with a flair for substance and style. Now, imagine an ocean brighter than Jude Law’s baby blues, a creative relaxing vibe, a bit of indulgence, and a naturally-fulfilling yoga bikini boot camp.

Did you imagine it?

Good.

As the site says, “Amansala was the name of Melissa’s small import company selling interesting items collected on her world travels. Taken from the two Sanskrit words ‘Peace’ and ‘Water.’ It was while Melissa toyed with the idea of starting a traveling spa, that she finally decided to create a fixed location in one of her favorite places in the world... Tulum, Mexico. After years of traveling throughout Southeast Asia and experiencing the best and the worst hotels, she wanted to create a place where people could come solo - or with their partners or friends - and have an adventure where they would meet other like-minded people, eat good healthy food, be on one of the most beautiful beaches in the world, and it would feel more like staying at a friends beach house than a hotel.”

I’m here to say this… my good friend at OK! Magazine swears by the place so... I’m next.

Erica, who had been working in Public Relations & Marketing in NYC, was ready for a change so when Melissa suggested she join her in her latest adventure, the two girls packed up and left the city behind. They set out for Mexico, and together, they created Amansala and Bikini Boot Camp on the beaches of Tulum, Mexico.


With beautiful white flowing fabrics, mosaics, eco-bohemian style and the comforts of staying at a plush friend’s pad in the Caribbean, Amansala is all about getting back-to-basics… in paradise.

2 hrs south of Cancun, Tulum is famous for the Mayan ruins and a relatively undiscovered paradise with pristine beaches and clear turquoise waters that will remind you to give thanks and BREATHE.

Says a recent visitor, “One of my greatest memories with Amansala was eating grilled shrimp and sipping fresh pineapple juice, barefoot on a sandy beach, surrounded by candles, a starlit sky and a small group of good company.”

Days start with a beach or jungle powerwalk followed by a combination of body sculpting, power ab sessions or pilates, and end with yoga and meditation. In between there are excursions to the nearby jungle for swimming and snorkeling in fresh water swimming holes (cenotes), visits to Mayan ruins, pampering with beach side massages, salsa lessons, Mayan Clay Treatments, plenty of agua di limon and sunshine.

Sample Itinerary
8:00-9:00 Silent Beach Walk

9:15-10:45 Exercise In Motion

10:45-11:30 Beach Body Sculpt

11:30-12:30 Free Time & Spa Services
 (yipppeee!)
12:30-1:30 Low fat, low calorie Lunch

2:00-5:00 Hike to the freshwater swimming holes (cenotes)

5:00-6:00 Gentle Yoga
 (Ommmmm....)
6:00-7:00 Meditation
7:30-8:30 Candlelight dinner

8:30-9:30 Salsa Lessons (Aye Dios Mio!)

The low fat diet consists of all local fresh food like just caught grilled fish, mangos, jicima salads and other yummy low cal selections that leave you satisfied, yet feeling lighter and cleaner.

The price for all of this back-to-basics Caribbean coast meets Mexican retreat fabulousness?
A reasonable 
$1675 plus tax and service for a grand total of $1954

($700 extra for a private room: with tax and service $818)

Price Includes:

Accommodations
All meals

2 massages

A Mayan clay treatment

All classes, activities, excursions

Designed to help people feel good about themselves and their bodies, this is the part we like best: “There is no pressure to participate in any of the activities and there is no competition. Guests are encouraged to set their intentions, become more aware of how they feel and pay attention.”

Ditto. And sign me up!

I detest pressure, but could totally use a Bikini Boot Camp escape... in paradise.
Couldn't you?

Running weekly starting NOW!

www.amansala.com

Mexico: Yo Quiero Conchinita y El Caribe

Playa del Carmen, Mayan Riviera

When most people think of Mexico they might think of loud Americans with fanny packs heading to Cabo for a cold Corona, but the real Mexico... she's somethin' else entirely. Yes, I am enamored with Mexico. Aside from the fact that I've fallen in love there on more than one occasion, she's still, in so many wonderful ways, undiscovered country. Sure, she can dangerous, untrustworthy, and macho, but she's full of riches. Sometimes I wonder why she suffers so... this wild country of margaritas, ruins, rugged hills, tumbling waves, crystal waters, and more chiles than you can handle. Then I remember... she can't really be trusted, and if a people can't really trust themselves, then who can they trust? Ah, yes... other countries may capture my soul, but Mexico, she has mi corazon (y mi Chichen Itza).

This Jaunt will take you to Mexico's caribe, but stay tuned as we break down Mexico into the breathtaking regions that give the country her rich history and her renegade spirit.

Locals have been known to ask the secret aid of Mayan curanderos (healers) to mend a broken heart or cure a pesky ailment, but visitors flock to the Riviera Maya for the healing properties found in the sweet Caribbean lobster, electric blue waters, ancient ruins, and nightlife teeming with sleek European and South American tourists seeking out the relaxed bohemian vibe.

Situated on the east coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, it's a land of ancient tradition stretching from Punta Brava to Tulum. Tropical mangroves, exotic chiles, and achiote lend wild flavor to an already lively region of locals and ex-pats. In addition to the cozy port town of Playa del Carmen where Ula Gula (5th Avenue and Calle 10) traps guests with their fresh fish entrees, there are countless Caribbean gems that offer travelers a chance to find seclusion and sophistication away from the throngs of Cancun party-goers.

When to Go:
The best time to visit is during the winter, spring and summer months. Hurricane season is typically summer into fall.

What to Do:
Take in the ruins of Tulum and Chichen Itza, relax with unique spa offerings, snorkel/scuba in the second largest coral reef in the world, and visit hidden cenotes (sinkholes) or the caves of Aktun Ha with a local guide. Don’t miss dinner at John Gray’s Kitchen in Puerto Morelos (Av Niños Heroes, Lote 6 Puerto Morelos Tel: 998-871-0449) and cocktails in Playa at Fly (5th Avenue), Hotel Deseo, and Om. For brunch, I'm a fan of 100% Natural.

Where to Stay:
Paraiso de la Bonita $$$$$
One word. Gorgeous. One more... DELUXE. Translated from Spanish, “Paradise of a Beautiful Woman” is the ultimate sexy retreat for the hotel connoisseur. The definition of privacy and sophistication, it's located in Puerto Morelos twelve miles south of the Cancun Airport. From airport pickup in Lincoln Navigators to piano concerts and culinary afternoons with the chef, there are ninety ocean view suites on fourteen acres of beach, mangrove, and gardens. Open courtyards lead to private plunge pools, Bulgari amenities, and fountain filled paths. Reflecting pools make it designed to feel like a five-star private residence rather than a hotel. Mediterranean, Indian, and Balinese artifacts create a decidedly island chic getaway.

www.paraisodelabonita.com

Maroma Resort
Located ten minutes from Playa del Carmen, Maroma is a favorite among my Hollywood friends. A sophisticated, yet rustic hideaway located on a beach front portion of a coconut plantation, it's among the finest resorts in Mexico. Built in the tradition of a Mexican hacienda, this sixty-four room resort boasts a powder soft white-sand beach named “Top Beach of the World’s 10 Best Beaches” by the Travel Channel and Forbes. Beautiful unspoiled beaches and over a hundred cenotes offer an eco-adventure or exotic escape. Don’t leave without trying the Goddess/God Ritual, two hours of relaxation which begins with the burning of copal, the sacred resin of the Burrsera tree, and ends with chamomile tea poured over your body and a two person Lomi-Lomi massage.

www.maromahotel.com

For those who want to get their groove on with the likes of old Italian movie projections set to the beat of local house DJ’s, head to Playa del Carmen and try:

Hotel Deseo (www.hoteldeseo.com) and fellow Habita property, Hotel Basico (www.hotelbasico.com).

I'm a fan of Deseo for drinks, but it could get a bit loud if you're staying there as well. The bar is right outside the rooms. I stayed at the Blue Mosquito in Playa as well, but wasn't that impressed. For a fraction of the price, you can stay at any number of spots on Fifth Avenue.

PS. For the true diehard Jauntophile who would rather be in the quaint town of Playa, but doesn't want to break the bank, I have a list of what I lovingly refer to as 'secret' hotels... we're talking $45-$75/night gems that I have personally scouted out and stayed, but guess what... you'll have to send an email expressing your genuine interest, otherwise, they'll become entirely too popular and you know what'll happen next, don't you? That's right... they'll raise the prices. We simply can't have that now, can we?

Now Vaya Con Dios!

Trump: He Towers

After you volunteer your time to a family in Nepal, consider saving up for a few nights at The Donald's new digs. Sure, you'll have to wait a year or two, but you gotta love Trump. Aside from Dubai's crane-loving Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who else is going to keep impeccable service and high-rise luxury alive and well?


The Donald tells like it is and, let's face it,
He towers.

Ten years after he unveiled his luxury condominium hotel at Manhattan’s Columbus Circle, the renowned developer and three children – Donald Jr., Ivanka and Eric (um... how come we've never seen Eric?) – are taking the Trump concept worldwide. Trump Hotel Collection is said to be the next generation of luxury hospitality – one that promises to raise the bar on the top-end travel experience with a style of customized service. 'Trump Attache', a brand-wide personalization program dedicates an entire department to delivering individualized service to every hotel guest upon request. Going beyond concierge/butler service, the Attaché meticulously records individual preferences and maintains a detailed guest history to ensure that no stay feels like the first and no request needs repeating. Arranging everything for an in-room chef or personal trainer to stocking kitchens with favorite groceries, printing personalized business cards and stationery, shopping for gifts, arranging special in-suite appointments for children, and meeting transportation needs from limousines to private jets, Trump Attache sounds like the fanciest service around.

Soon to be slated:

Trump Chicago (December 2007)
Trump Vegas (Early 2008)
Trump SoHo (Spring 2009)
New Orleans (2010)
Dubai, UAE
Baja, Mexico
Cap Cana Dominican Republic
Waikiki, Hawaii
Panama
Scotland

First and foremost, Jaunt Magazine says, 'Way to invest in the Big Easy!' Meanwhile, Donald says, “Each hotel will be distinguished by outstanding architecture created by some of the finest architects in the world and complemented by the highest level of personalized service. These are great hotels in established and emerging destinations, and we are very proud to launch them around the world."



And you know what? By the looks of these CGI drawings, we don't doubt that Round Two of The Great Trump Lineage just might live up to Round One.

If anything, at least his snappy offspring will have a free place to stay.