Since the opening of the first phase two years ago, the beachfront resort located on Florida’s well known Singer Island at 3200 North Ocean Drive in Riviera Beach has maintained ninety percent plus average annual occupancy levels presenting significant demand for the second and final tower. Marriott’s Oceana Palms represents the brand’s 50th resort and was designed by San Francisco and Miami-based SB Architects and has also received strong support from Mayor Thomas Masters and officials from the city of Riviera Beach.

“Our Oceana Palms resort is truly spectacular and offers a very appealing and unique high-rise, beachfront resort experience for our Owners and guests to enjoy,” said Lee Cunningham, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer-North America and Caribbean, Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation. “We’re very pleased with the progress on the second phase and upon completion look forward to welcoming more of our Owners to vacation at this beautiful resort and destination,” said Cunningham.

The second phase will offer sweeping views of the ocean from spacious 1,100 square foot villa interiors that are vibrant and contemporary, complementing the traditional Palm Beach lifestyle. Villas feature a fully-equipped gourmet kitchen with GE stainless steel appliances; generous living and dining areas; multiple LG flat-panel televisions with DVD players; an oversized shower with multiple shower heads in the master suite; and washer/dryer. Each villa accommodates up to 8 guests.

Both 19-story towers have a contemporary architectural style with subtle references to the Art Deco motif that is very prevalent in the architectural history of South Florida. Complementing the existing pools, The MarketPlaceSM convenience store and “Reflections” pool bar and grill, the second phase will also accommodate a 3,200 square foot fitness center, “the Den” teen lounge, and back-of-house office space on the first floor in addition to six more floors for parking. The landscape will feature a prominent cascading water feature and a “great lawn” and fire pit for games and gatherings.

Located about an hour from Orlando and the beaches of Tampa the 150-acre park delivers fifty “pink knuckle” rides and attractions, a captivating pirate water ski show, sophisticated 4D LEGO movies and, of course, an opportunity to build for oneself. But the engineering marvel that took 300 people three years to build is Miniland USA, featuring New York City, the Kennedy Space Center, Miami South Beach, Washington DC monuments and more — all created in staggering LEGO detail.

Coolest of all? LEGOLAND Florida was built specifically for our world’s sweet set: kids ages 2 to 12. Sadly not everyone agrees. LEGOLAND Florida endures jeers for offering only family-friendly rides and no “scream machines.” If you’re hoping to find corkscrew loops and 300 foot drops — sorry, wrong park. To all you naysayers, I say: why can’t the kids have one park to themselves? It’s like popping in a Wizard of Oz DVD or watching the kids build a sandcastle on the shore. Good, clean fun. A perfect description of LEGOLAND Florida.

Besides no truly terrifying rides to be found, the park also takes criticism for its height requirements. Anyone under 34 inches tall can’t ride most of the rides in the park — leaving plenty of kids 4-years-old and under on the sidelines. A few of the rides smaller kids can try include the Grand Carousel, Island and the Sky & Junior driving school for ages 3 to 5.

But all ages and heights who visited LEGOLAND Florida in the first few months will be thrilled to find — in the summer of 2012 — an elaborate water park has joined the “dry” rides. Having visited LEGOLAND California I can attest that the LEGO folk know how to mix water and kids for the most exciting outcome.

When planning your visit to LEGOLAND, it’s important to think about where you really want to stay and understand your options for hotel accommodations. If you’re committed to staying in the area immediately surrounding the park called Winter Haven I have two great hotel recommendations for you. That said, it’s likely a wiser choice to stay in Orlando or Tampa and drive the easy hour to LEGOLAND Florida. If you’re expecting to find the fancy hotels that Orlando is world famous for anywhere near LEGOLAND Florida you’ll have a quick look.

Winter Haven, a quiet bedroom community slash industrial area, is not vacation-ready. And of course the Orlando resorts are. In spades. You see, the powers-that-be overbuilt gorgeous resorts with sprawling pool systems in Orlando leaving you many options. Depending on the season, you can find a two-bedroom, two-bath villa with full kitchen and laundry for a song. Also, check out LEGOLAND Florida’s Bed & Brick program that will direct you to hotels that give one park ticket as part of your stay and may include a free toy.

Written by Wendy Irvine

Travel sites like Priceline and Hotwire offer affordable travel deals, but there’s a lot less transparency than with other booking options, so you don’t always know what you’re getting. In anticipation of the holiday travel season, U.S. News talked to Antonioli and Anne Banas, executive editor at SmarterTravel, for tips on smart travel bidding.

Do your homework. Banas points out that you won’t automatically get a better deal on Hotwire or Priceline. Check regular booking engines like Hotels.com, Travelocity or Orbitz before you place a bid to see how much hotels in your destination are charging. Then bid 15 to 30 percent below that. To get a ballpark of what others are bidding, you could also consult forums like BetterBidding, where users share information on their successful bids.

With Hotwire (which is what Banas calls an “opaque site” rather than a bidding site), you can see the hotel’s geographic area, icons for some of its amenities, and the price — but not the name — of the hotel. However, as Banas points out, that’s sometimes enough detail to figure out which hotel it is using Google Maps. Then you can determine if you’d want to stay there at that price before entering your credit card information.

Set your geographic parameters carefully. These kinds of sites are most useful for bigger cities that have lots of major chain hotels. When traveling to a more rural or suburban area with mainly independent hotels or bed and breakfasts, your hotel options might be more limited. And if you want to be near the beach, bidding sites may not make sense for you either, because you can’t limit your geographic criteria to the coastlines.

Aside from that, Antonioli says she sticks to 3.5-star hotels in safe, centrally located areas. If it’s a city she’s not familiar with, she’ll scope out the neighborhood on Google Maps or set her filter to 4-star hotels instead of 3.5. Based on her experience, “they don’t put nice hotels in bad areas,” so aiming for higher stars has meant not only a nice hotel but a nice neighborhood, often with attractions nearby.

Priceline and Hotwire also offer car rentals, which Banas says can offer savings compared to other sites. Geography is important when booking a car rental, because taking a taxi to some out-of-the-way rental location that offers a great deal can cancel out the potential savings. For convenience’s sake, “a lot of people want it to be on the airport premises,” adds Banas. Using the airport code can help locate car rental options in the vicinity.

Adjust your expectations. Although Antonioli says she’s stayed at well-known hotels like the Marriott through Priceline, she notes that you don’t get to filter based on amenities or other factors. If you’re expecting a hotel with a gym or a cocktail lounge, you might be disappointed. “The last time we went to New York, we wound up in a place where people stay during the week for business,” she says. “There was no lobby, no coffee station, and you checked in at a kiosk, which was a very different hotel experience.”

On a trip to Washington, D.C., she stayed at a Renaissance Inn that was under construction. In hindsight, she adds, “that might be why they were offering rates really low.” Antonioli tolerated the jackhammer noise in the lobby (or the lack of a lobby, in the other case) because it meant getting a good deal.

Time your search appropriately. With Priceline, you must wait 24 hours before rebidding higher on the same quality of hotel in the same neighborhood. Antonioli says she’ll sometimes rebid the next day or adjust her geographic parameters so she can rebid on the spot. However, she says, “you have to be willing to let it go.” There’s a certain emotional attachment that can occur with bidding, so Antonioli tries not to get too invested. With spur-of-the-moment road trips, she says, “I have bid for things, not gotten the price I wanted, and just not gone.”

While these sites can offer some very attractive deals to last-minute travelers (for instance, Antonioli says she’s booked a room in Philadelphia for $55 a night bidding two days in advance), Banas says it’s a bad idea to wait if you know you need to be at a wedding or a conference on a certain date, especially during peak travel periods. If inventory sells out, you could be out of luck with Priceline or Hotwire. However, for day-of hotel bookings, she suggests trying the HotelTonight app (available on iPhone or Android) or Tonight-Only, Priceline’s new iPhone app.

This story comes from U.S. News & World Report.

Going without a phone isn’t an option for international business travel, and this is where big carriers can make big money. Roaming calls are often charged at several dollars per minute, text messages can cost up to 50 cents each and data plans are similarly pricey. If you aren’t careful, what initially seems like a few phone calls, text messages and basic Web searches can end up costing more than your airfare.

There are ways to mitigate these expenses. But it requires careful planning well in advance of traveling as well as managing communications throughout your trip.

Here’s what you need to do before taking your mobile device abroad:

Know the basics.
Mobile use is different everywhere you go. The acronyms to know are CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) and GSM (Global System for Mobile communications) — the most widely-used wireless networking standards around the world.

When traveling abroad, your cell phone needs to be compatible with the wireless technology in the country you are visiting. Verizon and Sprint Nextel use CDMA technology, while AT&T and T-Mobile tend to use GSM. CDMA-enabled phones will work in Mexico, Canada and many non-European nations such as Japan and India. GSM is generally available worldwide, but different frequencies are used in the eastern and western hemispheres.

Nothing will replace researching the basic international calling plans with carriers. Make sure you understand how voice, text and data are billed depending on your destination country. Verizon, AT&T, Sprint and T-Mobile have detailed international travel pages that show country-specific international roaming, text and data rates, wireless standards used and compatible devices.

Work with your carrier, know your options.
There are numerous factors that make up international mobile charges — some of which you may not have thought of. The smart way through this maze is to contact a support representative who can confirm that your phone is enabled for global usage, and ask your carrier about options for activating global roaming before your trip. If it can’t be enabled, you don’t necessarily have to buy a new phone. Rental phones are often available through the major carriers as well as third-party sites including Playa del Rey, Calif.-based CellularAbroad and Boston-based Telestial. Both also rent SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) cards that can work in unlocked phones and give your phone a local number for affordable in-country calls.

Confirm voice, text and data coverage and rates for your destination. Not every country offers the same services, such as 3G data access. Understand what you will be charged for, including the cost for calling in-country versus abroad. For example, AT&T doesn’t charge additional long-distance on top of its international roaming rates, but it does charge international roaming minutes for calls that go to voicemail, unless the phone is off.

Ask about international business packages. Especially with data, look into buying a “capped” plan, meaning you can use only so much data. For example, Verizon offers international data plans starting at $30 per month for 50 MB.

Also, talk through the specifics of using global roaming on your device. Find out how to enable service, turn on and off data roaming and sync the data on your phone.

Be a frugal user.
Whatever you do, talk less, surf less and do as much as you can with low-cost Wi-Fi connections.

The easiest way to stay on top of your overseas mobile usage is to set guidelines. Keep conversations simple and, for example, tell clients you will send a detailed follow-up over email. To keep smartphone data usage to a minimum, know which of your apps connect to the wireless network. Data tracking apps such as Mobidia’s My Data Manager show what you’ve used and when. Know how to disable global data roaming and make sure it’s off.

Consider using Web-enabled communications tools that route international calls over the Internet using a technology called voice over Internet protocol (VoIP). VoIP apps such as Microsoft-owned Skype make it possible to place international calls for pennies on the dollar compared to using the wireless network. These calls can even be free if the person you are dialing is also using a VoIP client. [Related: How to Skype]

Be aware though these services can require a separate mobile data plan or Wi-Fi connection, and require you use a different number than your normal business phone, which can be confusing.

Bottom line: Affordable overseas calling is possible if you spend the time making it work for you before you travel. Anticipate the issues, and traveling abroad won’t result in unexpectedly high mobile bills.

This article originally appeared on Entrepreneur.com.

By Scott McCartney, The Wall Street Journal

Leslie Keely and her family have gone from Des Moines to Fort Lauderdale in December for several years on standard 25,000-mile, airline-award tickets.

She starts shopping for flights 11 months in advance, is flexible on travel dates, checks airline inventory several times a day and is willing to split up her family of three on different flights if necessary to get tickets.

This year, she’s coming up dry.

More from Bing Travel: Airlines Forces to Reveal the Full Cost of Airfare

Neither American Airlines, nor United Airlines, nor Delta Air Lines have seats available at the lowest mileage level on that route. There are plenty of seats at double the price in miles, however.

“This is the first year it’s been this bad,” said Ms. Keely, a West Des Moines, Iowa, financial adviser. Frustrated, she’s written airlines and received boilerplate explanations of availability limits on awards.

“Maybe I just have to come to terms that it’s just no longer available,” said Mrs. Keely.

T he standard 25,000-mile domestic frequent-flier ticket, an emblem of airline-loyalty programs for nearly two decades and still a selling point airlines advertise heavily, seems to be going the way of the in-flight meal.

High oil prices have pushed up airline ticket costs sharply. Overseas, airlines tack on hefty fuel surcharges and special fees to award tickets, but in the U.S., airlines can cover higher costs by making fewer seats available at the lowest mileage-redemption levels. Tight airline capacity also has left flights with few unsold seats.

Standard or “saver” awards, as some airlines call them, have long been tough to come by during summer months or holiday seasons. But mileage tickets used to be more plentiful on off-peak days, travelers say.

A check of basic-award availability on various routes for every day March through December shows just how hard it can be to score a ticket with miles—unless you are willing to pay 50 percent to 100 percent more in miles. And lack of availability is clearly no longer limited to peak travel days.

From New York to Portland, Ore., for example, Delta’s website had no round trips available for 25,000 miles in June, July and August. That might be expected, but there were only two days in September when you could depart on a 25,000-mile ticket, three in October and one in each of November and December—a total of only seven days in the second half of the year.

Likewise, American’s website offered no round trips at the 25,000-mile level in July and August for a trip from Seattle to Orlando. Those are both popular vacation destinations, so summer would typically be a tough time for cheap long-distance tickets.

But there were also no round trips available in September or November — unless you paid either 37,500 or 50,000 miles — and only one day in each of October and December to leave Seattle for Orlando at American’s once-standard price.

US Airways, which has a hub in Philadelphia with lots of flights to Las Vegas, has only three days available in April for a 25,000-mile round-trip ticket on that route. Fall is no better: There were only three days available in October to fly to Las Vegas on a standard mileage award.

It isn’t just vacation destinations that are affected. For a trip from Omaha, Neb., to Atlanta between now and August, United offered only 14 days when someone could depart on a saver award ticket.

Even on one of the nation’s busiest routes, Los Angeles-New York, which has lots of low fares, seats at the basic mileage level were available only about half of the days through the rest of this year in a check of four major airlines in six different markets. Airline inventory, which can fluctuate, was checked Feb. 24-27 using the airline’s availability calendars.

When low-price awards were available, they often were for Tuesday or Wednesday flights, when travel is lighter, and often for very early morning departures or trips with inconvenient connections.

Airlines set the price for mileage tickets much as they do in cash tickets: As seats sell, or strong demand is predicted, the price generally goes up. So, when the cash price of a ticket was the lowest fare-class set for a trip, perhaps $300, you had better odds of getting a seat for 25,000 miles, the lowest class of award. With the cash price moving to higher fare classes, say $500, awards also may move to higher levels.

In January, cash ticket prices were up about 9 percent over a year earlier, according to Airlines for America, the industry’s Washington-based lobby group. Mid-February saw another $10, across-the-board price hike for round trips. Fuel is the biggest single expense for airlines, accounting for about 30 percent of operating costs. After dipping below $80 a barrel in September, the price of crude oil topped $109 a barrel in February.

Airlines say they try to balance customer demand for award tickets with the need to generate revenue.

Frequent-flier miles themselves generate billions of dollars in revenue for airlines, which sell them to credit card companies and others which then offer miles to consumers as rewards. To keep the awards valued by consumers, airlines have to make seats available for miles.

Higher ticket prices have increased demand for award seats, which is one reason they may be harder to find, a spokesman for Delta said.

A United spokesman said, “there has been no measurable reduction in standard and saver award availability this year compared to last year.”

American’s 25,000-mile domestic award is still the most popular award claimed, “by a wide margin,” a spokesman said. While higher oil prices haven’t changed American’s allocation of award seats, they are tied to revenue, so higher ticket prices can have an impact.

Mrs. Keely said United told her to consider booking an undesirable flight, if she could find one, at the lower mileage price. Then she could get on a waiting list for a more desirable flight, or pay 50,000 miles for an unrestricted domestic round-trip.

That’s what she’s ended up doing. After noticing that the cash prices for tickets, about $450 round-trip in past years, were at least $510 this year, she found a ticket for herself at 40,000 miles. Then she bought one for her husband, a teacher, with 50,000 miles and this week gave up the hunt and paid 50,000 miles for a ticket for her daughter.

With no clear end to tensions with Iran and Syria and rising demand from countries like China, gas prices are already at record highs for the winter months — averaging $4.32 in California and $3.73 a gallon nationally on Wednesday, according to AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report. As summer approaches, demand for gasoline rises, typically pushing prices up around 20 cents a gallon.

And gas prices could rise another 50 cents a gallon or more, analysts say, if the diplomatic and economic standoff over Iran’s nuclear ambitions escalates into military conflict or there is some other major supply disruption.

“If we get some kind of explosion — like an Israeli attack or some local Iranian revolutionary guard decides to take matters in his own hands and attacks a tanker — than we’d see oil prices push up 20 to 25 percent higher and another 50 cents a gallon at the pump,” said Michael C. Lynch, president of Strategic Energy and Economic Research.

For the typical driver who pumps 60 gallons a month of regular unleaded gasoline, a 50-cent increase in price means an extra expense of $30 a month.

The prospect of such a price increase underscores the political and economic risks that Western political leaders must contend with as they decide how to address the Iran situation. A sharp rise in the prices of oil and gas would crimp the nation’s budding economic recovery. It would also cause big political problems at home for President Barack Obama, who is already being attacked by Republican presidential candidates over gas prices and his overall energy policies, and for European nations struggling to deal with the Continent’s debt crisis.

The Federal Reserve chairman, Ben S. Bernanke, told a House committee on Wednesday that rising global oil prices were “likely to push up inflation temporarily while reducing consumers’ purchasing power.” He maintained the Fed’s forecast that the nation’s economy would grow 2.2 to 2.7 percent this year.

The Iran situation has already raised the price of crude oil as much as 20 percent, according to oil experts. On Wednesday, the price of the benchmark American crude settled at $107.07 a barrel. That is about four dollars higher than on the same day in 2008. Later that year, oil and gasoline prices surged to new records, including a record nominal high of $145.29 a barrel for oil and $4.11 a gallon for gasoline in July. (In today’s dollars, that would be $150.87 for oil and $4.27 for gasoline.)

Although prices plunged late in 2008 as the financial crisis took its toll and the recession deepened, that kind of sharp increase could happen again as summer approaches.

“That’s what frightens people,” said Tom Kloza, chief oil analyst at the Oil Price Information Service.

That fear is tempered by optimism — if tensions ease in the Middle East, experts predict that energy prices will fall, with gasoline at the pump potentially dropping 50 cents a gallon or more because supplies are relatively strong in many parts of the country. Some analysts say the world price of oil could fall to $80 a barrel if tensions eased.

And there have been signs in recent days that Iran is feeling the pain of sanctions on its critical oil exports, perhaps increasing its willingness to negotiate with the West.

On Wednesday, Tehran offered Pakistan, which has been suffering power shortages, 80,000 barrels of oil a day on an easy payment plan. It also offered to accept gold rather than dollars for payment from any dealers hoping to get around the Western restrictions on the usual financial channels for buying oil.

And this week, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton told a Congressional committee that the administration was working hard to persuade India, China and Turkey, which represent more than a third of Iran’s oil export market, to reduce their purchases.

While all three countries have said publicly that they will continue to buy from Iran, Mrs. Clinton said, “in a number of cases, both on their government side and on their business side, they are taking actions that go further and deeper than perhaps their public statements might lead you to believe.”

Neal Soss, chief economist of Credit Suisse, said sustained high gasoline prices would definitely have an impact on the American economy. “As a rule of thumb, a penny a gallon is worth a bit over $1 billion in consumer purchasing power if it is maintained a whole year. A dollar more would be something in excess of $100 billion, which is about the size of the Social Security tax cut.”

Despite a fall in gasoline demand in the United States and Europe, global oil markets are tightening because demand for energy from Asian countries, particularly China and India, is rising at surprisingly strong rates even as output is declining from several important producing countries.

Gasoline futures are surging, spurred in part by recent refinery closings that may produce a shortage of motor fuel in the Northeast states by summer.

Oil prices have surged about 8 percent since Iran threatened to cut off oil imports to France, Spain, Italy and other European countries three weeks ago as a pre-emptive move against Western moves to tighten sanctions. The European Union has decided to place an embargo on Iranian oil and ban shipping and insurance on its cargoes. Washington has decided on banking sanctions to curtail Iran’s ability to earn money from its oil exports.

Middle East experts express doubts that Iran will follow through on its threats to stop supplying European customers or close the vital oil sea lanes of the Strait of Hormuz. But the saber-rattling from both sides is encouraging investors to buy oil futures contracts at higher and higher prices. Rising conjecture that Israel could launch a pre-emptive strike against Iranian nuclear facilities has heightened market jitters.

“The bankers are speculating, protecting themselves from higher prices by committing obligations to buy now, and that starts the ball rolling toward higher prices,” said Sadad Ibrahim al-Husseini, former head of exploration and production at Saudi Aramco, the state oil company.

He added that the escalating civil turmoil in Syria, a crucial ally of Iran, “is bound to increase price volatility and that will drive future speculation.”

The Japanese Foreign Ministry signaled on Wednesday that it was close to an agreement with Washington to further reduce shipments of oil from Iran, which have already declined about 20 percent since the beginning of the year.

But any success in tightening sanctions on Iran could squeeze global oil supplies, pushing up prices and causing serious economic repercussions at home and abroad.

“It’s a bind for Obama,” said Mr. Kloza at the Oil Price Information Service. “How do you get tough on Iran without getting tough on American wallets?”

This story, “Tensions raise specter of gas at $5 a gallon,” first appeared in the New York Times.

Romantic Couple’s Massage
50 minutes, $250 plus gratuity Share an intimate experience with a personalized massage for two in one of Miami’s most beautiful and tranquil urban spa retreats known for its personalized service and myriad body and facial therapies. Relax in the couple’s suite as therapists tailor a beautiful massage to individual pressure preferences to increase circulation and reduce muscle tension and stress. Extend the tranquility with a complimentary glass of Champagne on the spa terrace or on the elevated pool deck as you settle into luxurious lounge chairs for a completely relaxing afternoon together. Every spa treatment includes complimentary valet parking and access to the private pool and fitness center. Valid through: 6/30/2011 

Standard Miami Winter Glow
Rates start at $325 single occupancy and $375 double occupancy includes: Daily Continental Breakfast, Health, Yoga + Fitness Class Daily and Do-It-Yourself Mud Lounge Pass Valid January 1 – April 30, 2012. Prices inclusive of taxes and resort fee. Based on availability, Blackout dates apply. Valid through: 4/30/2012

Beacon Hotel
Pre & Post Cruise Package
Pre or Post Cruise Package includes: Room accommodations 15% discount of stay Continental breakfast for two Transportation from the hotel to the Port of Miami for two Promotional code SHIP Valid through: 12/31/2012

Shore Club
Experience Shore Club
1 category complimentary upgrade 2 complimentary cocktails daily $75 hotel credit 2 night minimum stay. Upgrade based upon availability at time of check in. Not valid over special events. Not combinable with any other offers. Not applicable to groups. Hotel credit must be used during stay. Not redeemable for cash. Valid through: 4/30/2012

Sole On the Ocean
Complimentary upgrade to next category
Book your room now and receive 15% OFF on all rooms plus a complimentary upgrade to the next category based on availability at time of check in.

Shore Club
Experience Shore Club
1 category complimentary upgrade 2 complimentary cocktails daily $75 hotel credit 2 night minimum stay. Upgrade based upon availability at time of check in. Not valid over special events. Not combinable with any other offers. Not applicable to groups. Hotel credit must be used during stay. Not redeemable for cash. Valid through: 4/30/2012 

Courtyard by Marriott Miami Beach Oceanfront

Powerpoints, Recaps & Most Importantly, a Great Tan!
Courtyard by Marriott Miami Beach Oceanfront steps closer to luxury with the completion of a $1 million lobby and public area renovation. The sleek, modern design features expanded food & beverage offerings, cutting edge technology and a social lobby area. NEW! Meeting Room,Fitness Center, Starbucks Coffee Bar, “Go Board” and much more! Break away from the regular business travel routine. With the right mix of services around you, you’ll find everything you need to relax, re-energize and achieve the goals of your meetings. Group rates starting from: $159 USD October-December, 2011 $189 USD January-March, 2012 $149 USD April-June, 2012 Value dates: December 14-17, 20-25, 2011; January 22-25, 2012; February 1-6, 2012; March 28-30, 2012; April 1-5, 19-25, 2012. Rates available for groups of ten (10) or more rooms. Rates change per room type and depend on availability. Special events may incur additional charges. Valid through: 6/30/2012 

Fontainebleau Miami Beach

24 | 7 DELIGHT
ON SELECT DATES NOW THROUGH APRIL, RESERVE 24 | 7 DELIGHT AND SAVE UP TO 20%, PLUS A BREAKFAST BUFFET FOR TWO EACH MORNING AT VIDA.
Delight in a winter playground where you are free to play, shop, dine, spa, or simply relax – however you define a perfect day. Soak up the Miami Beach weather and surrender to the warmth of the sun with a poolscape featuring ten unique pools and the Atlantic Ocean’s gently crashing waves.

Offer valid for two night stays or longer, now through April 30, 2012, on Oceanview room categories and above. Subject to availability, blackout dates may apply. Only select dates available at 20% discount, lower discount may apply on other dates. Subject to change or cancellation without advance notice. A Hotel Fee of $17.95 per day, per room (inclusive of tax) will apply to your booking. This fee includes: unlimited wired and wireless internet access in guestrooms and at the pools; Gym access and beach chairs for all registered guests in party; local dialing and toll-free calls; and newspaper daily.

Valid through: 4/30/2011

Fontainebleau Miami Beach
24 | 7 GLAMOUR
ENJOY THE FIFTH NIGHT ON US + $100 HOTEL CREDIT
Delight in a winter playground where you are free to play, shop, dine, spa, or simply relax – however you define a perfect day. Soak up the Miami Beach weather and surrender to the warmth of the sun with a poolscape featuring ten unique pools and the Atlantic Ocean’s gently crashing waves.

PACKAGE INCLUDES:

5th night compliments of Fontainebleau
$100 hotel credit to be used towards onsite amenities including dining, spa treatments, shopping or anything Fontainebleau
Available for travel January 7 – April 30,2012
TERMS & CONDITIONS: Blackout dates apply. Offer based on availability. Offer subject to availability and subject to change or cancellation without advanced notice. Offer cannot be combined with any other discount, and is not applicable to groups. Hotel credit has no cash value and is only applicable at Fontainebleau point of sale locations. A Hotel Fee of $17.95 per day, per room (inclusive of tax) will apply to your booking. This fee includes: unlimited internet access; Gym access and beach chairs for all registered guests in party; local dialing and toll-free calls; and newspaper daily. The fifth night free does not include resort fee.

Valid through: 4/30/2012

Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach

Just Us Girls at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach Enjoy a dinner menu created by celebrity Chef Paula DaSilva, just for you and your friends at the exclusive 1500 degrees and more! Come and discover the glamour of the past illuminated through modern-day luxury. Located on world-renowned Miami Beach. The Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach’s Just Us Girls package includes: • Welcome mojito • ELLE Spa mani and pedi with a glass of champagne • Dinner in the exclusive 1500 Degrees restaurant, with personal menu created by celebrity Chef Paula DaSilva Gather your girlfriends and prepare to be pampered. We provide the place. You provide the adventure. Valid through: 5/2/2012

Miami Marriott Biscayne Bay
In the Biz 20% Discount for Hospitality Professionals in Miami
In the Biz 20% Discount for Hospitality Professionals in Miami Are you in the biz? If so, we have a special 20% discounted rate just for you at participating Marriott & Renaissance Hotels & Resorts in Miami, Florida! Offering a 20% discount for hotel, rental car, airline or cruise company professionals at several Miami Marriott & Renaissance Hotels & Resorts with our “In the Biz” special offer. Reserve your next getaway at a participating Miami Marriott & Renaissance Hotels & Resorts! Valid through: 3/31/2012 Print
Send Newport Beachside Hotel & Resort
Romance Package
Our Romance Package is the perfect option for couples celebrating a honeymoon, anniversary, birthday or simply desiring a special romantic escape. The Romance Package features:
A 2 night – 3 day stay in accommodations of your choice
Champagne and strawberries delivered to your guest room
Breakfast for two daily in your guest room or Ocean Reef Restaurant
Dinner for two with a glass of wine at Kitchen 305
All taxes, gratuities and Resort Fee
Rates for the Romance Package are dependent upon your choice of accommodations and dates you wish to celebrate.

Blackout dates apply, check when making reservations.

Must be redeemed or booked in the month of June. Valid through: 12/31/2012

Betsy South Beach
LGBT Honeymooner’s Retreat
Reserve a two night / three day getaway in a luxury suite to celebrate your new commitment! Created especially as part of the Pink Flamingo Hospitality Program, this gay-friendly travel package includes a bottle of bubbly on arrival, a Couple’s Moonlight Massage on the Deck, two passes to The Bass Museum of Art and a collection of love poems with a special bookmark that, when planted, will produce a garden of wildflowers – designed to provide memories of your honeymoon that will last a lifetime. Valid through: 12/28/2012

Betsy South Beach
Early Booking Advantage
Plan ahead for luxury and receive a special rate for booking your trip ahead of time! Get the best hotel rates on Classic Rooms and Suites with discounts of 10% off for 30+ days advance booking; 15% off for 60+ days and up to 20% off for stays 90+ days in advance. Not all dates are available, so contact our Reservations team for assistance in reserving your Early Booking hotel visit, or you can reserve online at www.thebetsyhotel.com Valid through: 5/30/2012

Delano

Experience Delano
1 category complimentary upgrade 2 complimentary cocktails daily $75 hotel credit 2 night minimum stay. Upgrade based upon availability at time of check in. Not valid over special events. Not combinable with any other offers. Not applicable to groups. Hotel credit must be used during stay. Not redeemable for cash. Valid through: 4/30/2012

He’s clogging up your Twitter feed
Join the conversation, people. This guy is generating tons of Linternet buzz, and you don’t want to be the last to understand it. Maintain relevance across social media platforms by Lincreasing your pop culture literacy, or risk being annoyed by reading thousands of status updates about a superstar that you don’t know from Adam.

You’re a fan of Spike Lee
It’s no secret: Spike Lee loves the New York Knicks. And, as such, he loves Jeremy Lin. The accomplished director has been a vocal advocate of Lin from his first start as a Knickerbocker — jokingly thanking past coaches for passing him up, ragging on Lin’s early haters, and generally being a laudatory voice for the talented Mr. Jeremy, who Lee gave the Knick-name “Point God.”

He’s a record-breaking, awe-Linspiring athlete
No small feats for the 6’3″ Knickerbocker, all he does is Lin, er, win. Waiting for the perfect opportunity to showcase his talents, he launched himself to the front and center of the sports world stage as a result of his mega debut. And there’s good reason: after just five starts for the Knicks, the point guard has become the first hoopster in NBA history to score more than 20 points and have seven assists per game (in terms of career starts). While sleeping on teammates’ and family’s couches, Lin has scored 136 points in his first five career starts — more than any player since the NBA-ABA merger of 1976.

Additionally, after starting six games — all wins for the Knicks — the Harvard graduate averaged 26.8 points and 8.5 assists per game. Not only does he have innate talent, but years of discipLin, focus, and hard, hard work speak volumes of the young athlete.

He’s a true American
With his meteoric rise, Lin has awarded America another opportunity to celebrate its status as the true melting pot of the world — the young point guard is the first American-born NBA player in history to be of Taiwanese or Chinese descent. Also a devout Christian and a Harvard graduate (and the first Harvard grad in the NBA in six decades), Lin ranks among precious few Ivy Leaguers in the league, and is one of only four Asian-Americans in the NBA, ever. He’s breaking records, barriers, and stereotypes. He’s also reportedly the reason that several major Asian television networks are now going to broadcast Knicks games for the world to see. How can you not be Linterested?

He’s actually worth all the hype
Crass boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. recently tweeted that, “Jeremy Lin is a good player but all the hype is because he’s Asian. Black players do what he does every night and don’t get the same praise.” Sorry, Floyd. You are decidedly Lincorrect. He was undrafted. He’s a Harvard graduate. He’s leading a seemingly unstoppable winning streak for a huge sports city on a team that was riddled with injuries and largely written off for the year. He’s shattering records. No one of any race has done what he’s done, ever. He was an afterthought that became a superstar, and he’s a more-than-decent role model. Ever humble and clearly a team player, look forward to lots more Linsanity. And he just scored his first Sports Illustrated cover.

He ruined your Valentine’s Day
If you’re one of the unlucky ones, you were sitting at a candlelit dining room table, dressed to the nines. While the wax melted and you let that wine breathe a little too long, you heard jubilant screams coming from the other room. Instead of feeling neglected and rejected, please realize that you were hanging out in front of some boring lobster bisque or whatever while sports history was being made. And what a game it was! In the VaLINtine’s Day Massacre, the 23-year-old baller tied an intense Knicks-Raptors game in Toronto with just 1:05 left on the clock. And, with five 100ths of a second left on the clock, Lin sunk a huge three, won the game, and set a freakishly high early standard for 2012′s Play of the Year. Truly the stuff of sports legend.

He makes you feel good
In a sports culture filled with flashy egomaniacs wearing jewelry and driving $200,000 sports cars, this humble kid who crashes on friends’ couches (until recently), studied hard in school, and gives it up for God should serve as a positive reminder of the magic of athletics. His sweet smile and impressive story are a breath of fresh air — especially after the rocky start of the NBA’s season due to player strikes over money. Everyone should be happy that this kid is in the spotlight.

You’re also a Harvard alum/devout Christian/Asian-American/nice guy/under-appreciated talent
Nice guys don’t always finish last — especially if they’re immensely relatable to the American public on almost every level. At the rate that he’s going, he’s likely to have higher approval ratings than things like “clean water” and “public parks” any day now. And with his untarnished image, maybe the point guard should run for office instead of to the basket. Whatever niche you occupy, Lin remains relevant and likeable.

You love New York
Sports Illustrated editor Terry McDonell says of the phenom, “Jeremy Lin has done more in these past five games to captivate a fan base than any player in NBA history — and not just with his historic statistics. Look at what’s going on in this city.” Whether it’s the Knicks, the Yankees, the Mets, Fashion Week, the Statue of Liberty, or simply the fact that it’s an alluring and gigantic world city, if you just can’t get out of that Empire State of mind, you’ve got to love Jeremy Lin. His clean-cut popularity is good for the Big Apple, as are his skills and finesse, and it’s genuinely pleasing to see a good kid get a big break in one of the largest media markets in the country.
Puns

The possibilities are Lindless — and it goes something like this: If you’re Linclined to believe that Linsanity is Linsatiable, the Linternet buzz about the new basketball star with a Linderella story and an easily punned name Lindubitably Lincreases the likelihood that you’ve heard Lincessant jokes about Jeremy Lin. The Linherently taLinted point guard Linhabited his friends’ couches before his Linfamous record-breaking run of starts. The focus of many a Lintense moment, Lin doesn’t disappoint when Linjected into gameplay. Linspiring Linterest into basketball when the sport was at a low point, he’s sure to get pLinty of Linquiries about Lindorsements.

If you’re a Lin Linsider, Linvoke your Linsanity — because this NBA season is only going to get more Linteresting.

http://www.zencollegelife.com

Nice, France

You may not know it, but Nice, France, is the birthplace of the original Carnaval celebration. Nice hosts a huge 10-day festival that includes daily parades, concerts, theatrical performances, and firework shows along the French Riviera. It’s estimated that nearly 1.2 million people attend the Carnaval celebration each year.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro takes their version of Carnival to a whole other level of fun. The Rio Carnival celebration is famous for its big parties and even bigger and more extravagant parades. Droves of people line the streets and surrounding buildings to watch the famous and internationally-telecasted Samba Parade, which rides through the Sambadrome with the most colorful and whimsical revelers aboard.

Quebec City, Canada

It might be freezing this time of year, but Quebec doesn’t let the cold stop them from hosting the annual Quebec Winter Carnival. This French festival embraces the chilly temps by hosting a winter amusement park complete with skiing, snow rafting, snow sledding, and other winter sports and activities. Crowds also gather to watch the big parades and traditional dancing troupes as they ride through the streets and keep everyone entertained and warm.

Mazatlan, Mexico

The city of Mazatlan in Sinaloa, Mexico puts on a spectacular Mardi Gras celebration that is definitely worth traveling to see. Mazatlan’s seven-day Carnaval celebration puts on huge parades, live concerts, dances, and entertaining street performances that depict important native Mexican traditions and rituals.

Binche, Belgium

Binche, Belgium has one of the biggest and best Mardi Gras celebrations in the world. The Carnival of Binche is a UNESCO World Heritage event that draws thousands of people each year. The three-day event includes many exciting parades and performances, such as Shrove Sunday, where the participants of the Carnival, also known as Gilles, dress in Harlequin and Pierrot costumes and dance through the street to music.

Barranquilla, Colombia

Barranquilla has one of the most colorful and exciting Carnival celebrations in the world. The festivities begin four days before Ash Wednesday and come to an end on the following Saturday during the Batalla de las Flores. The Carnival of Barranquilla has some of the biggest performances and the most ornate parade floats of all time.

Trinidad and Tobago, Caribbean

The Caribbean country Trinidad and Tobago knows how to have a good time and one of the best times to visit here is during its annual Carnival celebration. Carnival in Trinidad and Tobago is an exciting event that’s rich in Caribbean culture and history. Parades, dances, and live performances make up much of the celebration, in addition to quirky events like stick fighting and limbo competitions.

http://www.zencollegelife.com/the-7-best-places-to-celebrate-mardi-gras-besides-new-orleans/

With this milestone, Starwood continues to lengthen its lead in luxury hospitality, with nearly 150 luxury hotels under its St. Regis, Luxury Collection and W Hotel brands, offering guests and residents exceptional levels of service and luxury experiences in a wide range of destinations around the world. St. Regis will continue its dynamic global growth with the upcoming openings of The St. Regis Doha, The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort in Abu Dhabi and The St. Regis Mauritius Resort, in addition to the debut of the newly renovated St. Regis Aspen Resort this year.

Celebrated for its dedication to refined elegance at the world’s best addresses, the debut of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort in the affluent Bal Harbour enclave heightens the appeal of this coveted international destination: at once a secluded escape with unrivaled amenities as well as a destination at the intersection of art, design and fashion all within reach of the vibrant energy of Miami Beach.

“With its incredible array of rich amenities and proximity to Miami Beach, Bal Harbour has long called for a world-class resort and the arrival of The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort now offers an ideal destination for affluent global travelers,” says Paul James, Global Brand Leader for St. Regis and The Luxury Collection. “With refined elegance infused throughout, this resort offers a return to glamour and we believe it is a befitting debut for St. Regis in this important international gateway city.”

The St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort offers guests a new dimension of bespoke luxury with 243 guest rooms and suites and 245 private residences, all offering expansive private balconies with ocean views, in three glass towers rising 27 stories above a sprawling stretch of beach. With exquisite design by world renowned interiors firm Yabu Pushelberg, the resort features intricate details including one-of-a-kind West African Movinque wood and Chinese God Flower Stone marble commissioned exclusively for the resort from a private quarry. The resort and residences also offer signature St. Regis Butler Service, a Remède Spa and a world class dining experience inspired by Jean-Georges at J&G Grill®.