I enjoyed Yoga on the beach here! The Aruba Marriott Resort is a lovely location for any activity!
Did the holidays leave you a little bit overwhelmed like me? If so, don’t worry – it is not too late for you to make some goal-friendly resolutions. If you know me, my resolutions will most likely involve an activity in an amazing travel destination. These are all amazing resolutions and I am adding them ALL to my resolution list!
Now that the holidays are over it’s time to go from feasting to fitness! Head to the ocean at Aruba Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, one of the first resorts to promote and offer stand-up paddleboard yoga classes. Partnering with local instructor Rachel Brathen, aka Yoga Girl, classes are offered right off the resort’s beach at her new biz called Island SUP. She is said to be as good at yoga as a personal trainer in Singapore which was deemed the best in the world. There’s no better workout than when you’re laying on a paddleboard with the beautiful Caribbean sea swaying beneath you.
It’s hard to be stressed when 900 acres of lush rainforest are your playground at Tabacon Thermal Resort & Spa — a natural thermal springs escape steps away from Costa Rica’s Arenal volcano. At this luxurious, tropical hideaway, guests can relax with spa treatments performed in open-air bungalows to the sounds of local wildlife, soak in 100% natural thermal springs heated by the volcano’s magma, and channel their zen at the adults-only Shangri-La garden, which features cocoon-shaped private cabanas and a full bar. If that’s not enough to help travelers unwind, they can opt for nearby adrenaline-pumping adventure activities such as zip-lining, horseback riding and whitewater rafting.
Looking to be more bold in 2016? Make that New Year’s Resolution a Nude Year’s Resolution and dare to get bare at Hedonism II! Found on the edge of the white sand beach and turquoise waters of Negril, Jamaica, this adults-only, clothing-optional, all-inclusive resort acts as a haven where guests can feel comfortable letting go and stepping outside their comfort zone. Hedonism’s mild or wild attitude allows guests to create their own experience at their own speed and level of comfortability which is the perfect way to test how bold you’re willing to go this year.
Go ahead, indulge a little… or a lot. Treat yourself to some R&R, some fun, and top it all off with the flavorful cuisine of Puerto Rico. As San Juan doesn’t require passports for U.S. travelers, it’s a quick getaway for snowbirds seeking a warm Caribbean destination. San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino is the perfect place to treat yourself. Relax beachside with tropical cocktails (with a view) from La Isla, try out the seasonal flavors of the resort’s Gelato & Co. Italian sweet shop, have an authentic mouthwatering mofongo at La Vista Latin Grill, and end the night by salsa dancing with the locals at Red Coral Lounge. From a beachside escape and a delicious food scene, to live music, local art, and its on-property casino, San Juan Marriott invites you to treat yourself at every turn.
New year, new skills, and new confidence in the kitchen is what 2016 has in store for you at the Renaissance Tuscany Il Ciocco Resort & Spa. Perched on a hill overlooking the Serchio Valley, one of the most undiscovered areas of Italy and about an hour outside of Florence and Pisa, guests can take advantage of the resort’s Tuscan Wine & Culinary Experience to fulfill their 2016 resolution to learn to cook. This exclusive experience offers an opportunity for guests the chance to cook side by side with one of the resorts’ chefs for an authentic taste of Italy. Travelers will begin their culinary experience with a trip to a local food market and hand pick their favorite ingredients, followed by an unforgettable cooking experience, complete with local wine in the kitchen. Once the hard work is done, not only will guests enjoy their three-course meal outdoors on a private veranda overlooking the mountainous region, but they will also take home some excellent cooking skills. Can you say Buon appetito?
A drool-worthy resolution at the J.W. Marriott Cusco Peru!
Cusco, Peru is a culinary mecca with plenty of opportunities to indulge and experiment.The JW Marriott El Convento Cusco invites guests to savor local delicacies like Cuy (guinea pig) and Filet of Alpaca, at their signature restaurant, Pirqa. Those wanting to roll up their sleeves can sign up for interactive cooking classes focusing on local ingredients — from Peru’s more than 3,000 varieties of potatoes, to the infamous and very spicy yellow chili pepper (ají) and Andean trout from the surrounding Sacred Valley. Upon request, guests can learn how to make infused Pisco Sours to wash down the meal.
Put family first in 2016 at the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort, located in the heart of the Hotel Zone. For kiddos ages 4-12, the CasaMagna Marriott Cancun Resort’s Kids’ Club offers a special kids clubroom and activities like pinata crafting, Guacamole Making and Spanish lessons. And for little divas who need a vacation from their vacation, the Spa at the JW Marriott Cancun offers kiddie treatments like Ice Cream Pedicures and the ‘Mayan Princess For A Day’ package (livin’ in Mexican luxury ain’t easy!). From snorkeling with whale sharks to beach sunsets, families can capture every moment of their Cancun vacay by checking out a GoPro HER04 for the day from the Cancun Marriott concierge team. All that adventure and activity works up an appetite, and kids will love that they can find all their American favorites at the resort’s Champions Sports Bar, where every member of the family can be the star of the show during the restaurant’s nightly Karaoke.
Located along the largest stretch of secluded beachfront in Palm Beach County, the scenic seaside town of Jupiter Beach feels much farther away from the hustle and bustle that characterizes much of South Florida. Let the stress of the holidays melt away by vacationing at the elegant, yet laid back Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa by pampering yourself inside The Spa with a restorative spa experience designed to rejuvenate the mind, body and spirit. Guests will also find their inner peace by taking a stroll along the natural sand dunes and limestone shoreline that surround the resort, or by simply soaking up the Florida sun in one of the many poolside hammocks with a craft cocktail in hand.
I LOVE kale salad – check out the Signature Kale Salad at The Palms!
To Reconnect With Nature – The Palms Hotel & Spa
If you’re looking for a truly lush and laid-back escape while remaining at a stone’s throw from the bright lights and beats of South Beach, this one is for you. Everything at The Palms Hotel & Spa is “Inspired by Nature,” and you don’t just see it…you taste it, hear it, feel it. From the towering, swaying bamboo trees that surround the pool, to the AVEDA lifestyle spa, to Essensia Restaurant’s organic “conscious cocktails” and seasonal, locally-sourced menu (you don’t want to leave without trying the Signature Kale Salad), a stay at The Palms means you’ll leave your beach vacay feeling fully rested and recharged. To maximize your time in the great outdoors, book the Sanctuary Yoga Retreat Package to treat yourself to a mindful day of nourishing yoga sessions and guided earth meditations among The Palms’ tropical garden oasis.
The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort is also on my list of a place to cross one off my list!
Located on 27 acres of rare natural preserve, this premier luxury resort provides the perfect island-within-an-island escape on the lesser-known “C” of the ABC islands – Curacao. Boasting 250 guest rooms and 16 suites all with waterfront views of the Caribbean Sea, the resort is also home to four intimate villa-like suites that feature exclusive amenities like access to a private enclave swimming pool, private patio, and on-call butler service. From paddle-boarding and kayaking to hiking up Mt. Tafelberg or picking up a game of tennis, the resort offers plenty of choices for fun in the sun without having to leave the 1,500 acre property. Whether it’s indulging at the resort’s luxurious spa, teeing off at the Pete Dye designed championship golf course, or delighting in sophisticated dining options, Santa Barbara is the perfect place to escape and take in the island’s unique Dutch Caribbean charm.
Check off another UNESCO World Heritage site (if a spa is nearby that is a plus)!
Home to more than 35 captivating beaches, a diverse heritage spanning 55 different cultures, including Dutch, Spanish and Portuguese, a ‘live and let live’ attitude and unrivaled European architecture; Curaçao remains an unrivaled tropical escape in the Southern Caribbean. Curaçao’s ethnic diversity is evident not only through its people, but also its cuisine. Due to arid conditions and rocky soil, the island remains heavily dependent on imports resulting in its international cuisine, prepared with local flair. Its capital city, Willemstad – a UNESCO World Heritage site – features an iconic colorful Handelskade backdrop, an eclectic roster of museums, monuments, flavorful restaurants and shopping; just a few of the many reasons why Curaçao continues to flourish as one of the most exceptional islands in the region.
Let the blue hues of Casa Palopo refresh your year!
Get in Touch with Your Spiritual Side – Casa Palopo
On the shores of Guatemala’s mystical Lake Atitlan sits Casa Palopo, a former home turned luxury boutique hotel that invites guests to indulge in complete relaxation and one of Latin American’s most colorful cultures. Here, guests have a chance to unwind in one of seven colorful suites, each decorated with handcrafted antique furniture and Latin American artwork. Experience highlights include personalized blessing rituals by a Mayan shaman, lakefront yoga, massages in your own guest room terrace, interactive tours around the lake’s indigenous towns, and plenty of opportunity to meditate to the gentle sounds of the lake and sweeping views of the three volcanoes across the shore.
A trip to the Galapagos Islands has been on my Goblet List (aka Luxury Bucket List that can be completed over and over again), since I was a young child! One Day!!!!
The Galapagos Islands are home to some of the most unique species in the world, and 2016 is the year to finally go. This February, Ecoventura launches the brand new luxury vessel, MV Origin, a 20-passenger mega yacht that will offer locally inspired gourmet cuisine, daily, personalized excursions led by two onboard, certified naturalists, and optional snorkel and kayak tours. Ecoventura’s fleet of eco-friendly cruises bring travelers face-to-face with exotic wildlife via daily excursions through the archipelago’s diverse islands. From learning about (and swimming with) sea lions to observing the Blue Footed Boobies as they shake their feet in a mating dance, a cruise with Ecoventura is the ultimate trip. The land excursions offer a touch of history too, as naturalist guides take travelers back in time to the age of the Buccaneers. Discerning travelers can explore one of the world’s most unique, scientifically important destinations while enjoying the new yacht’s comforts and amenities.
To Start a Journey to a Lifetime of Health & Wellness – The Resort at Longboat Key Club
For travelers seeking a mind, body, and soul retreat for their New Year resolution, The Resort at Longboat Key Club is the perfect starting point for a lifetime of health and happiness. Finally indulge in some “me” time and choose from unlimited fitness classes (like sunrise yoga on the beach), expert massages including the Aroma Therapy De-Stress Massage (details below), personal training sessions, consultations with on-site nutritionists, and a variety of fun activities from golf and tennis, to kayaking and paddle boarding. When it’s time to unwind, grab a seat at the bar or at one of the marina-view tables at Portofino for made-from-scratch pastas, live music and handcrafted cocktails. Book at www.longboatkeyclub.com.
The House can make you want to ride! – (Photo Credit: Apes Hills Polo)
2016 is YOUR year – the year to splurge on a once-in-a-lifetime experience in a stunning Caribbean destination. Situated on Barbados’ sparkling west coast, The House is a chic, 34-room boutique hotel mixing minimalist design and effort luxury, mimicking the feel of the ultimate beach house. With the newly launched LX by The House package, spoil yourself to private polo lessons at the championship Apes Hills Golf & Polo Club and a Mount Gay Rum tasting/tour. Let us not forget the VIP shopping experience (complete with a personal shopper, of course), luxury airport transfers, a private three-hour sunset catamaran sail and the option to island hop! Fly to the neighboring islands of Mustique or the Grenadines and jet back in time for dinner.
Most self-proclaimed beach lovers don’t spend nearly as much time at the beach as they’d like. For staycationers and vacationers alike, Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, invites beach bums to relax, stay a while, and enjoy all the beach dining and activities they can get enough of, without ever having to leave the resort. Kick off the morning with beach yoga or boot camp, treat yourself to a cocktail and grouper sandwich at Tate Island Grill, soak up the sun on the hotel’s beach loungers, play lifesize chess or volleyball beachside, indulge in seasonal specialties at Caretta on the Gulf for dinner, and end the night roasting s’mores on the beach watching the sunset over the Gulf of Mexico. For night owls yearning for more beach time, Pier 60 features nightly entertainment of musicians, performers, and arts and crafts, a short stroll away from Sandpearl Resort.
Galapagos Wildlife
