A whole new Vegas experience

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I have to admit, I’m not a big fan of Las Vegas. I don’t gamble, I hate the smell of smoke, and having to walk through a busy, loud casino to get anywhere is a bit overwhelming to me.

On the flip side, I do like the warm weather, the restaurants, the shows, and I enjoy an afternoon of strolling around the strip to check out the hotels and people-watch. So let’s just say I’m conflicted.

Well, I’m here in Vegas this week for a conference, and I discovered a whole new world that is much more appealing to me — Lake Las Vegas. It’s about 25-30 miutes away from the hustle and bustle of the strip, but it feels much more removed than that. You can stay at a luxury resort (Loews, Ritz-Carlton) on a lovely man-made lake, and enjoy swimming, golf, and even fishing (in the desert!) There’s a nice little village with shops, restaurants and a small casino, and you can even take a gondola ride on the lake.

The General Manager at the Loews Lake Las Vegas was telling me that they get a lot of families, who enjoy the beach, the water slide, and the kids camp — and that the parents will often leave the children with the camp for an evening to go and have a date night on the strip. Dinner, a show, etc. and then back to a beautiful lakefront resort…sounds just about perfect to me!

For once, procrastination is a good thing

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In any other year, if a client called me now, in mid-June, talking about going to Europe this summer (meaning, within the next six weeks or so), I would laugh. But this is a crazy year and I’ve been working on LOTS of last-minute trips for clients headed to Paris, London, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

The economy, the swine flu scare, the recent glut of new hotels, resorts and cruise ships, and the airlines’ pricing strategies have combined to create a “perfect storm” for summer travel deals. And procrastinators are reaping the benefits!

This article on cnn.com sums it up nicely — and includes some excellent advice on how to best take advantage of this buyer’s market: 

Navigating the deals and best steals can be overwhelming, which is why turning to a travel agent for help can make a difference. A travel agent, for example, can sift through all the options, often secure different packages and can help prospective travelers figure out what destination is best for them.

“If you go to a professional, they can tell you what the traditional prices are … and give you some good old-fashioned advice,” said Ruthanne Terrero, a vice president in charge of content at The Travel Group.

Are you a “tomgirl”?

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I never thought of myself as a “tomgirl”, though I certainly played sports in high school and I do enjoy the outdoors. Granted, my vacations usually include some kind of soft adventure (kayaking, hiking, and such) but they are just as likely to include a “girly-girl” afternoon at a spa or a winery.

So I was not sure what I would think of the event I went to last night — the launch of a new tour company called “Tomgirl Tours“. Would they be promoting hard-core adventures for the very fit? Sleeping in tents? Doing without showers? The last could be a deal-breaker — as my husband will attest,  my hard and fast rule is that I won’t stay anywhere I can’t plug in my hairdryer.

I should never have worried!  These Tomgirl tours are right up my alley.

In 2009, for their launch year, they are offering week-long trips to Sedona and the island of St. John (USVI), as well as weekend getaways to Providence and the White Mountains of New Hampshire. Each itinerary includes a well-balanced mix of soft adventure (hot-air balloon rides, snorkeling, ziplines, and even indoor skydiving) and interesting educational experiences (cooking classes, visits to artists’ galleries, an historic walking tour), BUT they also include time for outlet shopping, sun bathing, and some fabulous dining.

Best of all, it’s women-only. And it’s all-inclusive.  So instead of having to be on duty worrying about all the details for a family trip, we women can sit back, relax and enjoy ourselves with our girlfriends!

Their “Savory City Tour” will take place right in my own backyard, here in Providence and Newport, on July 31 – August 2, August 28 – 30, and September 18-20. In addition to spending two nights in a beautiful boutique hotel (the four-star Hotel Providence), it includes some absolutely priceless experiences, like a trolley tour of the city with former Mayor Vincent “Buddy” Cianci, an al fresco cooking class, and an historic walking tour with local restaurateur Bob Burke. If you’re interested in a girls’ getaway in the Renaissance City, give me a call!

Girls’ Getaway

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This past weekend was my annual “Girls’ Weekend” getaway with my mother and my two sisters, and we had a great time in Montauk (in The Hamptons, at the tip of Long Island).

Montauk #2

For me, getting there was half the fun, as it included three ferry rides and a scenic drive along some country roads. Total travel time was five hours each way, but a good portion of that was spent on a car ferry across Long Island Sound — so relaxing! I was able to sit on deck and read instead of fighting traffic.

We stayed at the Montauk Manor — a grand tudor mansion (turned condo resort) on a hilltop overlooking the water, but we also walked through another resort that I absolutely loved. The Montauk Yacht Club is a recently-renovated full-service resort with a marina, a small beach, indoor and outdoor pools, tennis courts, a spa, and more. This is where I want to stay next time! Preferably in one of their beachfront bungalows with private deck, built-in sunbed, and canvas curtains billowing in the breeze.

As you would expect, we spent most of our time window shopping, sitting by the pool, and eating some good meals. The highlight was our Saturday night dinner at Harvest on Fort Pond.  A chilled glass (or two) of Pinot Grigio…family-style dishes of seafood to share….lots of girl talk…and a picture-perfect sunset over the water.  We even watched some deer swim across the pond while the fish splashed right in front of our window. Ahhh!

Montauk sunset

The only question is, where should we go next year?

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You provided excellent guidance for us. I appreciated that you really had us think about what was most important to us when we were selecting the right cruise – and not to totally focus on what other people had to say. THANK YOU for helping to make this a memorable trip for our family! It really was a trip of a lifetime!

– Clare and Mark (family cruise to Alaska)

The level of service we experienced was out of this world (and we did NOT make it easy on Ann). We weren’t quite sure where we wanted to go, when we would be able to go, or what “vibe” we were going for. After asking us some key questions (what we liked, didn’t like, why, etc.) Ann helped us narrow down our trip details and planned the honeymoon of our dreams. She helped book some of our excursions, answered some emergency questions while abroad and was always available/willing to help. I think it’s safe to say we won’t be using anyone else for future travel planning – Ann is a rockstar!

– Carli (Italy and Spain)