Last Minute Easter Getaway at Wickaninnish Inn (Chocolate is Involved)

Calling all Vancouver and BC residents. No plans for Easter weekend? How about a jaunt to pristine Clayoquot Sound? The Wickaninnish Inn is running a special offer that's all about indulgence. Get some fresh air at the gateway to Pacific Rim National Park Reserve, taking in the panoramic views of the open Pacific and the nearby islands. While recharging your batteries at this picture-perfect hideaway, bliss out on all things chocolate-- from a chocolate Easter basket to chocolate-based treatments at the award-winning Ancient Cedars Spa. Here's what's included in the "It's All About Chocolate - The Easter Package"-- priced from $1,162 and only available on Easter weekend:

* Two nights accommodation for two in your preferred room type,

* Brunch for two each morning of your stay, including a special Easter-themed brunch available on Sunday, April 4th,

* Your choice of one chocolate basket for two delivered to your room at turndown on the first night of your stay or a personalized in-room Easter Egg Hunt,

* Two, one hour chocolate based treatments at the spa, your choice between either a Chocolate Body wrap or a Chocolate one hour Aromatic Massage,

* Complimentary valet parking

Luxury Travel Trends: Six Senses Maldives Gives Free Nights for Voluntourism

From Hong Kong to Miami, volunteer tourism-- or "voluntourism"-- is on the rise, a growing trend among travelers looking to volunteer some time during their vacations. The latest to jump on the bandwagon? Two Six Senses resorts in the Maldives. The New York Times In Transit blog is reporting that the Soneva Gili and Soneva Fushi will encourage travelers to engage in voluntourism by giving out free nights for the hours donated.

From June 1 to Oct. 12, guests who stay for five nights, and who spend five hours a day working on community projects, will be given an additional five nights for free, adding up to an 11-day stay. Guests can teach children, plant trees, help in marine conservation or do other work.

Picnic Under the Night Sky with the Four Seasons Scottsdale

High in the Sonoran Desert, the Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North offers myriad activities that take advantage of the beautiful surroundings. You can take off into the desert on a jeep tour, get a birds-eye view of the region's gorgeous scenery on a hot air balloon ride, or hit the trails on mountain bikes. In the evenings, you can go stargazing with a specialist who will point out lunar secrets and teach planetary geology as you gape through a professional telescope. Some activities-- like guided hikes to Pinnacle Peak Park and salsa and margarita demonstrations at Saguaro Blossom restaurant-- are even included in your room rates. We've just learned of another offering to add to the list: Celestial Picnics under the stars. Enjoy a gourmet picnic under the night sky, complete with a telescope and sky chart. To quote the Dallas Morning News:

The McDowell option ($80 per couple) includes cheeses, cold cuts, dried fruit, crostini, chocolates and bottled water. The Pinnacle Peak basket ($100 for two) is packed with a tomato and mozzarella appetizer, lobster salad sandwiches, chocolate chip cookies and bottled water. An astronomer will bring a telescope to the picnic for an additional $100. Other extras include wine along with a musician, butler or photographer.

Exclusive Offer with Viceroy Bali: Get Free Extras the Longer You Stay

Cut into the hillsides of a ravine in the Lembah Valley, the Viceroy Bali is a small family-run resort offering only 11 luxury villas for the ultimate in luxury and pampering. Think private pools, marble floors, and loads of in-room technology. What's more- it's the only resort in the entire Ubud region that has a helicopter landing pad, meaning guests can take off in whirly bird to see aerial views of the nearby volcano. Despite its small size, the resort features the holistic Lembah Spa, an award-winning restaurant, and a business center. Book with Five Star Alliance-- and simply choose the "Five Star Alliance" rate-- and you'll get free breakfast for two included with your room. For additional nights, take advantage of "Exclusive Long Stay Benefits" where you get freebies thrown in. With 3 nights: return airport transfers with VIP immigration service. With 4 nights: a bottle of Champagne in room upon arrival. With 5 nights: a two-hour couples massage at the spa. With 6 nights: a romantic candlelit dinner at Cascades Restaurant. Valid until September 30, 2010.

Destination Jordan: Insider Tips for the Lost City of Petra

Ever dreamed of playing Indiana Jones and galloping off to the rose-red city of Petra? Is a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage Site on your bucket list? A year-round destination and a safe haven in the Middle East, Jordan offers a diversity of landscapes and historic sites, including the archeological wonders of Petra. When making your vacation plans, don't limit yourself to a few days exploring the "Lost City." What else should be on your Jordan agenda? A float in the Dead Sea (nominated as one of the New 7 Natural Wonders of the World) combined with spa pampering at Movenpick's sprawling Zara Spa, camping with bedouins under the stars in the Wadi Rum desert, snorkeling in the Red Sea, and exploring religious sites like Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus was baptized, and Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out over the Promised Land.

But Petra is certainly the crown jewel in the country's archeological riches. Carved from sandstone canyons hidden deep within the mountains, Petra was "lost" to the western world for centuries. Mysterious and inspiring, this ancient city was built by the Nabateans in the 4th century BC, and flourished from profits made by controlling the region's caravan routes. Archeologically, the incredible ruins show the architectural influences of Assyria, Egypt, Greece and Rome.

Some tips:

--Many visitors falsely assume that Petra's highlight is the Treasury (pictured), the setting for Indiana Jones' discovery of the Holy Grail in the film. Not so. Petra sprawls over miles and miles of trails to follow through the sites. Don't miss a hike up to the Monastery. After climbing up hundreds of stone steps carved into the mountainside, you'll be rewarded with spectacular views across to Israel.

--Plan your trip to include "Petra by Night", an experience offered by the tourism office which leads visitors along a candle-lit path to the Treasury, lit by hundreds of flickering candles. You'll be served hot tea while listening to bedouin music.

--New maps are available at the visitor center, as are interpretative signs marking sites along the trails.

--Not far from Petra, enjoy another less touristed site called "Little Petra."

Machu Picchu Will Reopen on April 1

Since powerful floods washed away the access routes leading to the isolated ruins at Machu Picchu, the UNESCO World Heritage site has been closed to visitors. But we've just learned today that the Peruvian Minister of Tourism announced a reopening date of April 1, 2010 for tourists to once again visit the Inca ruins.

Sailing in the Caribbean at the Bitter End Yacht Club, Virgin Gorda

As far as Caribbean hideaways go, the Bitter End Yacht Club delivers. Just ask the writers at Men's Journal who featured the resort in an article on the "Unknown Caribbean." If you're "tired of cookie-cutter tropical vacations among all the other tourists," why not escape to Virgin Gorda, where you can rig up a boat and join an "impromptu regatta" at Bitter End? After tearing it up on the open sea, head back for a rum punch on the beach. Avid scuba divers won't want to miss the pristine reef and wreck diving, easily accessible via the onsite dive outfitters. Bitter End has a number of value-added accommodations packages available- from romantic escapes to family fun weeks...

Pssst. Adrenaline junkies will also get a kick out of night kiting. (Note: Kite-surfing in the pitch black is not for the faint of heart.)

Take the Kids to India: Oberoi Hotels Gives You the 2nd Room Free

An incredible adventure awaits in India this summer. Marvel at the Taj Mahal from your room at The Oberoi Amarvilas in Agra. Hike in alpine India from Wildflower Hall, a fairytale resort perched 8,350 feet in the Himalayas in the town of Shimla, the famous summer capital of the British Raj. Explore the culture and history of Rajasthan while staying at The Oberoi Udaivilas in Udaipur– consistently ranked one of the top hotels in the world– or The Oberoi Rajvilas in Jaipur. We've just learned that Oberoi Hotels & Resorts, one of the most opulent hotel brands in the world, is inviting families to India with a special family package. Stay a minimum of 6 nights in any of the Oberoi properties (mix and match if you like), and they'll give you a second room free for your kids, plus daily breakfast, complimentary roundtrip transfers, a daily yoga session, and 25% off spa treatments.

Trips of a Lifetime: Bike Cross Country with Trek Travel

Run a marathon? Climbed Mount Kilmanjaro? Raised some serious funds for cancer research? Challenge yourself to complete another lifetime goal (and check off an item from your bucket list) by biking from sea to shining sea across the United States of America. Sign up with Trek Travel  for their September Cross Country bike tour and reach your goal with experienced guides who'll support you every pedal of the way (with lots of good food and fun). 3307 miles, 175,753 feet of climbing, 11 states, and 39 days of unforgettable adventure-- from your departure on Pacific sands to the final moment when you splash into the Atlantic. For more info, check out Trek Travel. (By the way, Lance Armstrong sings Trek's praises for offering "the world's best cycling vacations.")

Check Out Manuel Antonio National Park, Costa Rica with the Eco-Friendly Gaia Hotel

Eager to check out the howler monkeys, endangered squirrel monkeys, and sloths in Costa Rica's Manual Antonio National Park? Set on the Pacific coast, this park is world-famous for its natural beauty and great biodiversity- with over 346 species having been discovered here. The smallest of Costa Rica's national parks boasts two pristine sand beaches edged by tropical rainforest. You can even go snorkeling offshore. The place to stay is the Gaia Hotel and Reserve, the only 5-star boutique hotel in the vicinity, with an eco-friendly focus, to boot. Terraced suites and villas offer unrivaled views over the lush wild surroundings. And a spa, gym, and pool means blissful comfort onsite. But there's a slew of activities and tours available here-- from mangrove kayaking to surfing lessons to guided tours of the national park-- so you'll definitely want to get out and explore this incredible corner of the world.