Family Vacation in Canada’s Banff National Park with Fairmont Hotels

It's not too late to plan the ultimate summer/autumn family vacation in the heart of Canada's Rocky Mountains. Discover the alpine majesty of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can go hiking, mountain bike The Great Divide, take a Bow River float trip, and let the kids embark on a photo expedition. After a fun-filled day, unwind at a Fairmont spa and reconnect with your family over dinner. Fairmont makes it easy with a special themed package at its two Banff hotels: the Fairmont Banff Springs, styled after a Scottish Baronial Castle, and the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise, a resort recognized globally for progressive environmental stewardship and responsible tourism. The Mountain Adventure package gives you the freedom to enjoy activities with a $100 CAD resort credit, plus kids eat for free. Available until December 20, 2010, the package starts from $339 CAD per night at the Fairmont Banff Springs and $299 CAD per night at the Fairmont Chateau Lake Louise.

“See Dubai Before You Die”: Check into the Palm Tree Court and Spa

A recent article in The Telegraph (UK) "chronicles the endless possibilities for fun days and hot nights in the expat hotspot of the UAE, Dubai." The author's conclusion? "See Dubai Before You Die." Of all the places to stay in this over-the-top tourism destination in the desert, you can't go wrong with the 128-acre Jeleb Ali Golf Resort and Spa which recently finished a five-month refurbishment:

She truly is a classy, sassy oasis in this part of the desert, just a rapid free transfer to downtown Dubai. Close enough to be near. Far enough away to be relaxed and refreshed among the peacocks (a gift from the Maktoums) and other exotic flora, fauna and wildlife. The warm and welcoming staff are ultimately friendly, yet unerringly discreet (damn it). Tiger Woods came alone a while ago (probably not for long though) as he visited his "TigerWorld" development of palaces (really!) and signature golf course not far away. And the world-class sporting facilities, including a nine-hole golf course, marina, dive centre, horse-riding complex and spa have attracted sporting clubs, including English premiership sides, to the resort for warm-weather training. It's split into two. The Jebel Ali Hotel and the Palm Tree Court and Spa. Both are faultlessly five star and rightly lay claim to the title of "Dubai's Only True Resort." The food here is fantastic, from any of the dozen or so restaurants, including the award-winning French-inspired Signatures and La Fontana where a sumptuous breakfast buffet sets the day alight. And no matter in which part you stay, you are never more than a minute or two's walk from a private beach of bleached sand and the gently lapping Gulf.

Note: The all-inclusive package at the Palm Tree Court and Spa includes meals at any of the resort's 15 restaurants-- a deal The Telegraph's journalist would not doubt heartily endorse.

Hot Deal: Outdoor Adventure with a Resort Credit at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler has one of the most dramatic settings imaginable-- nestled at the base of Blackcomb Mountain, a four-season playground with breathtaking scenery. From skiing at North America's no. 1 ski resort with true ski-in/ski-out convenience to championship golf on the Robert Trent Jones Jr.-designed course, the resort has it all. You can enjoy all this, while discovering the Fairmont's high standard of luxury, and get a great deal with the "Mountain Adventure Package" which balances outdoor excursions in Whistler with indoor pampering. Priced from just $249 CAD, the package includes a $100 CAD resort credit (per day/room) for use at the restaurants and/or your choice of popular mountain activities (activities vary by season). Think tours via ATV, horseback, canoe or Hummer in the summer, or snowshoeing, sleigh rides, snowmobile and dog sled tours in the winter. You can also apply your daily credit to items signed to your guest room from:

o The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club

o Mountain Adventure Centre (bike and ski rentals)

o Vida Wellness Spa

o The Wine Room for perfectly paired food & wine

o The Wildflower for casual dining

o Portobello's fresh market and bakery

o The Mallard Lounge & Terrace with slope-side outdoor fire pits

o The Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Clubhouse

This offer is valid year-round, subject to availability.

The World’s Best Up and Coming Hotels

In its August 2010 issue, Travel + Leisure highlights "20 to Watch: 2010's Best Up-and-Coming Hotels," many of which can be found in the Five Star Alliance collection. Predicting "the next hottest hotels around the globe," Travel + Leisure scoured the globe "to pick out this year's new and refurbished, expanding, or otherwise evolving hotels." What the magazine's editors found: domestic hotels are raising the bar, with fantastic luxury hotels in the United States and Canada. So without further ado, here's the list:

Algodon Mansion, Buenos Aires

Amangiri, Utah

Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas

Four Seasons Beirut

The James Chicago

Jumby Bay, A Rosewood Resort, Antigua

Mandarin Oriental Barcelona

The Peninsula Chicago

The Pierre New York, A Taj Hotel

Radisson Blu Le Metropolitan, Paris

Ritz-Carlton Reserve Phulay Bay, Krabi, Thailand

Town Hall Hotel & Apartments, London

Trident, Bandra Kurla, Mumbai, India

Veranda Resort, Turks & Caicos

Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily

W Retreat & Spa, Vieques Island

Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia

Destination Spa: The Ranch at Live Oak Malibu , Malibu, California

“Eat, Pray, Love” Fever: Packages at Bali Hotels like Ubud Hanging Gardens

First it was the book. A fixture on the New York Times Best Seller List, selling over seven million copies worldwide, Elizabeth Gilbert's "Eat, Pray, Love" was a smash hit, inspiring countless individuals to consider copying the author's soul-seeking voyage around the world- from Italy to India to Indonesia. Now there's a film adaptation starring Julia Roberts, and "Eat, Pray, Love" mania has infected the population. Balinese hotels are getting in on the action, catering to folks seeking to recreate Gilbert's trip. Case in point: the "Eat, Pray, Love" package at Ubud Hanging Gardens, the luxurious Orient-Express property that's not far from Bali's cultural capital of Ubud, perched above the rice terraces overlooking the Ayung River gorge. Subject to availability and with a two-night minimum required, the package includes:

  * One way airport transfer

* Balinese welcome drink

* Daily breakfast buffet for two

* One Balinese dinner at a Hindu temple followed by a blessing ceremony at the Holly Water Temple

* Love candle gift

* Use of mountain bikes

* Shuttle to Ubud centre (on schedule)

* Complimentary daily afternoon tea, bottled water and daily fresh tropical fruit in room

* Free Internet access

Snow Deal in New Zealand: Special at the Luxurious Azur Lodge, Queenstown

Head to Queenstown for the Southern Hemisphere's best alpine and cross-country skiing. New Zealand's extreme sports capital isn't just the place to go for bungy jumping, skydiving, and jet boating; it's a thrilling four-season destination of impressive alpine beauty. So adrenaline hounds looking to get their winter fix should head south of the equator pronto for some prime skiing. The place to stay to appreciate the scenery and get royally pampered? Azur Lodge, one of the world's finest luxury lodges, comprising nine villas perched on a hilltop outside Queenstown, featuring uninterrupted vistas of Lake Wakatipu, the Remarkables range, and Cecil Peak. Designed in silver beechwood and stone, the expansive private villas have lounge areas with fireplaces, outside decks, plasma screen TVs with a DVD/CD stereo system by Denon, 300-thread-count Egyptian cotton sheets, and in-room aromatherapy oil burners with a selection of essential oils. Included in your rates: daily breakfast, small delights during the day, and canapés in the evening. Get a great value with the "Snow Deal," available until October 30, 2010 at Azur Lodge. Stay for a minimum of 5 nights in your own luxurious villa (accommodation for two people), experience Queenstown in all its winter glory, and pay only NZ$4000 (plus the Goods & Services Tax). The regular rate for 5 nights is $5000 + GST. You'll also enjoy airport transfers and transfers to/from Queenstown.

Geocaching Treasure Hunt at Four Seasons Jackson Hole (Get Tips from the Outdoor Adventure Concierge)

Of course the country's top ski-in/ski-out resorts have ski valets to warm up your boots and provide hot drinks after a day on the slopes. But the Four Seasons Resort Jackson Hole goes one step further with a full-service outdoor adventure concierge at its Base Camp, located on the ground floor of the Resort. Here guests can get hooked up with a Jackson Hole ski package, of course, along with itineraries for four-season recreational activities around the resort: from white water rafting and hot air balloon rides to llama treks and hiking. This special concierge can provide all sorts of ideas and equipment so you can discover the extraordinary natural beauty surrounding the Four Seasons Jackson Hole. Here's an idea: why not try a high-tech treasure hunt around the resort? Geocaching is a worldwide adventure game using a GPS device to find caches, or hidden nooks, that contain fun prizes — and directions to your next location. Embark on a scavenger hunt to discover 10 caches hidden around the resort, set against the backdrop of the Teton Mountains, winding rivers, and fields full of wildflowers.

New in the Maldives: Anantara Kihavah Villas with Underwater Restaurant

Anantara Resorts is prepping the opening of another swoonworthy property in the Maldives: the Anantara Kihavah Villas, which will debut in October. Joining the Anantara Resort Dhigu, Anantara Naladhu, and the Anantara Veli Resort, the Anantara Kihavah will feature 78 expansive overwater and beach suites, designed in timber and marble, with private pools, sundecks, outdoor showers, and oversized bathtubs for two. To add to your bliss: a setting that's positively dreamy-- crystal-clear turquoise lagoons, soft white beaches, an island of swaying palm trees. For those seeking a more active vacation, the Anantara Kihavah has oodles of water sports. Go windsurfing, sailing, explore undiscovered islands, snorkel or scuba dive to discover the Maldives' renowned marine life. Take off from Anantara's Dive Centre and discover a magnificent underwater world. The Maldives are the only habitat where whale sharks, the largest fish in the world, appear all year round. Besides the "jungle spa," one of the most exciting features of this new resort is the underwater restaurant and wine cellar, billed as unique among the world's resorts. Check out the colorful underwater world-- angel fish and more!- while dining on scrumptious fare. Buzz: Take advantage of special promotional rates through January 2011 when you book by September 30, 2010. Rates start at $860 for a beach pool villa with breakfast included.

Ski Chile’s Snow-Capped Slopes with the San Cristobal Tower, Santiago

It may be hot and humid in the Northern Hemisphere, but cold weather-addicts can still get their winter fix by high-tailing it down south of the equator. Winter is in full swing in the Southern Hemisphere, and the snow-capped peaks of the Andes, just 30 miles from Chile's capital city of Santiago, beckon adrenaline hounds hoping to get some action on the powder. Lucky you- San Cristobal Tower-- a sumptuous urban resort and member of Starwood's Luxury Collection-- has organized a package so that you can discover Chile's world-class ski centers. Considered the most easily accessible skiing in all of South America because of their proximity to Santiago International Airport, the triumvirate of ski resorts (La Parva, Valle Nevado and El Colorado) offer some stunning terrain with some 40 lifts between them. With the San Cristobal Tower's ski experience, you'll enjoy accommodations in a Grand Deluxe Double Room and a day of skiing for two at one of the three above-mentioned resorts including round-trip transfers, equipment rentals, and lift tickets. You'll also get 500 Bonus Starpoints, buffet breakfast, admission to the health club, a bottle of Chilean wine in-room, and late check-out at 4 pm. Starting from $439, available until September 30, 2010.

July 4 Celebration at San Diego’s New Park Hyatt Aviara Resort (Formerly Four Seasons)

Come June 21, 2010, Park Hyatt Aviara will open its doors on California's sun-splashed Pacific coast, just north of San Diego in Carlsbad. Formerly a Four Seasons property, this Spanish Colonial style resort sits atop a ridge overlooking the ocean and Batiquitos Lagoon, a protected wildlife sanctuary considered one of California's most precious wetlands. Hyatt took over resort management after a scandalous clash between the hotel owners and Four Seasons, accused of mismanaging the 329-room property. Surrounded by 200 acres of rolling hills and valleys, the Park Hyatt Aviara has expansive facilities: a full-service spa, sparkling pools, a fitness center, and an Arnold Palmer designed 18-hole championship golf course. Each of the guest rooms has a private balcony or terraced balcony to take in the views. Book a stay for July 4th and you'll be treated to a grand Independence Day celebration with fireworks galore.