Credit: Darcy McCarty.

By Steve Jermanok

Take a Caribbean vacation for the sun, sand, warm breezes, but most of all, romance. A few things on my checklist for worthy romantic getaways are picturesque surroundings, a feeling of sanctuary from the rest of the world, and impeccable hotel amenities and service — after all, I have a lady to impress. These three Caribbean islands and respective hotels have my stamp of approval.

St. Martin
My wife and I didn’t want to leave our room at La Samanna Resort and Spa, located on the French side of St. Martin. It was only a short walk out of our two-story whitewashed villa onto Baie Longue, home to some of the finest pearly white sands in the Caribbean. But we could sunbathe on the roof of our villa, then cool off in our private plunge pool. It was like being at a resort built for two. The finest romantic resorts in the Caribbean offer this unparalleled type of privacy, a chance to get away and really get to know your loved one with few, if any, distractions.

La Samanna Resort & Spa, St. Martin.

St. John
At Caneel Bay on the island of St. John, the upscale rooms blend harmoniously into the palm-studded landscape, nestled alongside seven private beaches. Simply sift your toes into the sand, listen to the leaves sway in the breeze and sink into a good thick novel.

Harbour Island
One of the Bahama’s best-kept secrets, Harbour Island is a three-mile-long, half-mile-wide dot off the coast of Eleuthera. Cars are all but forbidden (replaced by golf carts), and the beach is as pink as a flamingo. Stay at the Valentines Resort Harbour Island and enjoy a full kitchen, spacious patio and detailed decor that’s inspired by the island’s rich history.

Related resources

• St. Martin hotels
• St. John hotels
• Harbour Island hotels

Steve Jermanok has explored more than 75 countries and written over 1,000 articles on subjects ranging from art to adventure. He has worked as a columnist for National Geographic Adventure, contributing editor for Budget Travel, guest editor for The Boston Globe Sunday Magazine and writes regularly for Away.com, Health, Men’s Journal, Outside, and Yankee.

Source: ajaime

A Bahamian gazebo. Credit: bryce_edwards.

By Whit Honea
It’s hard to think of a better way to spend beach vacations than with a trip to the Bahamas, where sun, sand, luxury and the outstanding service of world-class resorts await. In fact, you might might just catch me at one of these four Bahamas hotels this year:

Source: nhahn

Naples Bay Resort, which overlooks Naples Bay, Florida.

By Joanna Citarella

I’ve lived in Naples, Florida for the past nine years. It’s become an annual tradition for us to take a short vacation in our own backyard every summer. Why? Quite simply, some of the best values are found during the summertime in southwest Florida. Traveling off-peak, I can experience all the wonderful things that my home has to offer with amazing savings at luxury hotels.

Below are my top 5 picks for a luxurious southwest Florida summer getaway:

Naples Grande Beach Resor

1. Naples Grande Beach Resort
This resort is chic, edgy and entirely different from anywhere else in Southwest Florida. I particularly like the sleek décor in the lobby a great substitute for expensive Miami hotels. The Golden Door Spa offers the best in relaxation — possibly one of the most restful afternoons of my life was spent here. After a 60 minute massage I had the opportunity to relax poolside at the Spa before taking a walk down the mangrove lined boardwalk down to Clam Pass Beach. I found rates as low as $97 over select August and September dates and rates from $109 over several other dates June – September.

2. Naples Beach Hotel and Golf Club
Offering every 4th night free this summer, the Naples Beach Hotel is a great choice for a slightly longer stay with rates averaging as low as $104 per night for a 4 night stay. Golf and Spa services are available on property and take a tip from a local – every Sunday night the hotel hosts a poolside sunset celebration with live music and dancing, this is well worth a visit and is my favorite place in Naples to take in the Sunset.

Ritz Carlton Golf Resort

3. The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort
This property is situated directly on Tiburon Golf Course and is the epitome of luxury. Not being much of a Golfer myself, I appreciated the complimentary shuttle over to the Ritz Carlton Beach Resort where we spent the afternoon relaxing on the beach and strolling the impressive grounds after eating lunch at Gumbo Limbo . Rates at the The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort are as low as $129 over several dates through the summer (an incredible value when you consider wintertime rates are upwards of $300!)

4. Naples Bay Resort
This property is off the beach and enjoys a great location overlooking Naples Bay. We found that the hotel is easy walking distance to Downtown Naples and the shops and restaurants of Fifth Avenue and Third Street South. The Naples Bay Resort offers guestrooms, one and two bedroom suites and this summer has rates starting from under $115 for a guestroom and under $130 for a two bedroom suite!

Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort and Spa

5. Hilton Marco Island Beach Resort
One of the best beachfront values on Marco Island, I found summer rates here as starting at $119. One of my favorite things about Marco Island is its close proximity to the Florida Everglades, after a day trip spent taking in the Florida wildlife, we were back at the Hilton in plenty of time to take a stroll along the beach at Sunset. I also enjoyed touring the 10,000 islands on a wave runner – this is just one of the many options available at the hotel – tours leave from right from the hotel beach, other activities include parasailing, shelling excursions and jet ski rentals.

I generally find that having some flexibility is key in finding the most competitive rates. Sunday – Thursday is when some of the best values are available and if you are able to travel after the summer break is over, some of the best rates are available for travel late August and during the month of September.

Related resources

• Naples vacations
• Naples hotels
• Marco Island hotels

Joanna Citarella is a market manager for Orbitz Worldwide. She grew up in England and moved to Naples, Florida 9 years ago, favoring perpetual sunshine over unpredictable British weather.

Source: ajaime

By Joe Brancatelli

Credit: contraption.

Since United Airlines has had some limited success selling travelers “bonus” Mileage Plus credit on a per-flight basis, American AAdvantage has decided to do the same. The airline’s so-called Mileage Multiplier Option will appear when you check in for your flight at airport kiosks. For the outrageously inflated price of about 3 cents a mile (plus tax), you can buy double or triple flight miles.

Delta Air Lines has eliminated the annoying redemption fees for SkyMiles awards claimed within 21 days of departure. The fees ranged as high as $150 for tickets booked within three days. Why roll back the fees? Delta insiders say the strange new world of frequent flyer accounting actually makes it beneficial to the airline when travelers claim awards.

Moreover, customers who successfully claim awards are more likely to continue to book Delta, thus creating more revenue than the fees generated. But nothing is totally free of bad news, of course. While it drops redemption fees, Delta has hiked the charge it imposes if you redeposit miles to $150.

Stash Hotel Rewards is the name of a new frequent-guest program that claims to be a loyalty plan for “fiercely independent hoteliers,” about 65 of whom are currently participating. But “independent” is in the eye of the beholder. Among the properties in Stash Rewards are the Hotel Sierra chain, run by LodgeWorks, and a handful of lodgings operated by Greystone Hotels of San Francisco.

Related resources

• Business travel
• Flights

Joe Brancatelli is editor and publisher of JoeSentMe.com, a non-commercial Web site for business travelers. Copyright 2009 by Joe Brancatelli. Licensed by contract for Orbitz use.

Source: ajaime

Credit: Spigoo.

By Carmen Madrid

Sushi bars, electric cars, theme parks… and now, from the trend-setting West Coast: dog-friendly wineries. As a transplanted Californian who loves cabs and labs, this is one trend I hope will make its way across the country to New England. If you’re planning a California vacation with your own pups, you’ll definitely get four paws up if you add these dog-friendly Sonoma wineries to your must-see list.

Wine from Sonoma's Mutt Lynch Winery.

Start your tour at Mutt Lynch Winery. Celebrating their 15th year in business, owners Christopher and Brenda Lynch (and rescue greyhound Patch) have received national recognition for their wines, which carry such clever names as Merlot Over and Play Dead or Unleashed Chardonnay. Wine writer Dan Berger says the Lynches’ 2007 Canis Major Petite Sirah is worth hunting for on the shelves of your favorite wine shop, since he predicts it will be “superb in a few years.” Visiting this dog-friendly winery is by appointment only, so call ahead. Or, schedule your California vacation to coincide with the monthly Yappy Hour or the annual Dog Days of Summer Open House in August, benefitting the San Francisco SPCA.

Another fido-friendly winery, Gloria Ferrer Caves & Vineyards is a personal favorite, with its Spanish arches, red tile rooftops, antiques, and glorious views of the Carneros hills. It was there I ventured from my usual red-wine path to enjoy a Carneros sparkling wine that was as good as any I’ve tasted since (and which makes a great base for a traditional sangria!).

Also on Sonoma’s dog-friendly winery list is Buena Vista Carneros, a historic landmark. Walking under its mature trees to a picnic table was like strolling through a lovely park. If you stay right in the city of Sonoma, head out with your pooch for an early morning walk, and marvel as the vines play hide and seek in the famous San Francisco fog.

Related resources

• Napa Valley and Sonoma vacations
• Food and Wine vacations
• Pet-friendly Seattle hotels

A native of Southern California, Carmen Madrid now writes from the woods of New Hampshire. An avid road-tripper around the U.S., she has chewed off a few fingernails driving abroad, in spots as varied as narrow mountain paths in Tobago and icy roads up to Spain’s walled city of Avila.

Source: nhahn