Montage Resort

Whistler, British Columbia, is world-renowned as the chosen venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. As one of the top ski and all-season resorts in North America, Whistler beckons travelers from around the world with ski, snow and vacation experiences of a lifetime. This season, snow conditions were truly the best that they have ever been: more than 4.6 m (15 ft) fell in January 2006, making it the snowiest month in the resort’s recorded history.

Whistler offers world-class skiing in the largest ski area in North America and features 37 lifts, over 200 marked runs, three glaciers and 13 alpine bowls. Riders can try out tricks at the award-winning terrain parks. Adults and kids of all ages can take ski or snowboarding lessons from the pros. You can also enjoy heli-skiing, cross-country skiing, sledding, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, sleigh rides, ice climbing and winter fishing. Also new this year, experience the Coca-Cola Family Tube Park, a six to eight-lane adventure accessed via a new tube-friendly, carpet-style lift. You’ll probably run out of energy before you run out of things to do!

The pedestrian-friendly Whistler Village bustles with excitement year-round: restaurants, spas, shopping and entertainment ranging from five-star luxurious to comfortably economical. The resort has 115 hotels, condos and bed & breakfasts, as well as many apartments, self-cater lodges and motels. Some accommodations offer ski- in/ski-out access. A free shuttle service operates between Village North, Whistler Village and the Upper Village.

There’s even a nanny service which means everyone can share in the excitement. Caring for families is a Whistler specialty. Whistler Kids offers ski and snowboard lessons for the little ones. The Nanny Network offers reliable childcare and even dog walking and doggie babysitting services. Teens can enjoy the Ride Tribe program and learn free-ride, park skiing and snowboarding. The LUNA program for teenagers offers alcohol-free evening events from pool parties to movie nights.

You can drive the Sea to Sky Highway, Highway 99, from Vancouver, BC to Whistler in two hours. Flights to Vancouver are available from almost any major city. Scheduled bus services from Vancouver and connecting communities arrive in Whistler daily. The Whistler and Valley Express (WAVE) provides year-round public bus service throughout Whistler and between Whistler and Pemberton.

You might also choose to discover the dramatic beauty of the Sea-to-Sky corridor of British Columbia from a unique perspective while relaxing in comfort and style onboard the new Whistler Mountaineer train. This is a premier three hour train trip from Vancouver to Whistler, BC. As the train hugs the oceanfront, winds through canyons and climbs the steep grades of the BC Coast Mountains, you’ll have front row seats to the endless array of breathtaking views riding in one of their modern dome cars. An exciting addition to your holiday in Whistler.

Some pertinent facts about the Whistler-Blackcomb Ski Resort:

Vertical: Whistler - 1,530 m (5,020 ft); Blackcomb - 1,609 m (5,280 ft) Terrain: Whistler & Blackcomb combined - 3,307 ha (8,171 ac) Runs: Whistler & Blackcomb combined - 200 runs Whistler: 100 runs- 20% beginner; 55 % intermediate; 25% expert Blackcomb: 100 runs - 15% beginner; 55 % intermediate; 30% expert Lifts: Whistler & Blackcomb combined - 37 lifts Whistler: 20 lifts - 2 high-speed gondolas; 6 high-speed quads; 2 triple chairs; 1 double chair; 9 surface lifts. Blackcomb: 17 lifts - 1 high-speed gondola; 6 high-speed quads; 3 triple chairs; 7 surface lifts. Operating Season: Whistler - late November to early June; Blackcomb - late November to late April

Renowned for panoramic views and apr

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Are you considering a visit to Cancun or the Riviera Maya, but are concerned with the damage caused by Hurricane Wilma this past October? You are not alone. I will share information from unbiased travel agents and travel industry experts that have seen the repair progress first hand. Hopefully, this will ease some of your concerns and get you back to the beach with a Margarita in hand!

The downtown Cancun region was the hardest hit of the resort areas in the Yucatan Peninsula and vacationers would be wise to avoid Cancun until late summer 2006. If you are a bargain hunter, you might be hard pressed to find discounts. Many of the overflow visitors scheduled to stay in Cancun have filled the resorts in the Riviera Maya.

As you might expect, the work to rebuild the tourist areas of Cancun and the Riviera Maya started immediately after Wilma had passed. The Mexican Government and the people of Mexico are working day and night to restore their beautiful resort destinations. They look forward to welcoming you back to relax on their white sand beaches. When you do return, you will find that many of the beaches in the Riviera Maya have been expanded. Some have decreased; it varies from resort to resort. Some of the properties are listed below. Cancun will begin a $20 million beach restoration project in December 2005.

The airport is fine, and undergoing minor repairs. Here is a breakdown of some of the individual resorts in the Riviera Maya that are accepting vacationers. You can find additional details and photos at GoAwayTravel.com.

Iberostar Paraiso Maya - looks great, beach is fine
Iberostar Paraiso Lindo - one restaurant is being repaired near the beach, property and beach are fine
Iberostar Paraiso del Mar - freshly painted on the outside, property and beach fine
Secrets Capris - looks great, gained more beach
Bahia Principe Tulum - at 100%, gained beach
Bahia Principe Akumal - at 100%, gained beach
Bahia Principe Coba - new hotel complete and ready to open
Sunscape Tulum (Dreams as of 12/15) - gained beach. New pool and some oceanview rooms will be ready 12/15.
Grand Palladium Colonial and Kantenah - looks great
Grand Palladium White Sand - new hotel, rooms are complete. Construction still going on with pool and restaurants but still scheduled to open on time
Barcelo Maya Tropical and Colonial Beach - new hotel, looks great, beach is great
Barcelo Maya Beach - everything was fine, freshly painted outside, beach is great
Adventura Spa Palace - repairing one restaurant, everything else is great. All spa facilities are fully functional.
Iberostar Tucan - hotel and beach are great. The jungle area is sparse but the animals are still there
Riu Yucatan - fully operational, still a great beach
Riu Playacar - fully operational, still a great beach
Riu Palace Mexico - fully operational, still a great beach

Jack Reidelberger is co-creator of the online travel website GoAwayTravel.com, a website that specializes in treating your vacation like it’s their own.

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The Gulf Coast is relaxation defined with outdoor activities aplenty. Gulf Coast retreats provide the opportunity to catch your breath and let the stress of life melt away.

Gulf Coast Retreats

Finding retreats that are located on the Gulf Coast of the United States is easy, if you know where to look. This area of the country is full of relaxing and beautiful resorts and getaway spots. You can pick from Gulf Coast retreats located in Florida, Alabama or other states in the South, all guaranteed to create a memorable and enjoyable vacation.

One of the retreats available on the Gulf Coast of Florida is the retreat at the Marriott Bay Point Resort. The Marriott Bay Point is located in Panama City Beach, Florida, and has just recently been renovated, allowing for a new, updated experience for your rejuvenation vacation. This resort has named itself the newest of the health retreat resorts available in Florida, and with 356 guest rooms, 78 golf villas, 36 holes of golf and other recreational activities, this resort is definitely a tourist destination. It offers massages, facials, manicures, pedicures and hair services, as well as rejuvenation packages. All of these wonderful delights take place in a beautiful Panama City Beach setting, overlooking St. Andrew’s Bay.

Another of the Gulf Coast’s great retreats is located in Alabama. The Spa of Eden, located on Pleasure Island off of Gulf Shores, Alabama, has three locations available for your rejuvenation treatments. Spa of Eden offers many different facials, from the standard European-type facial to different specialty facials depending on your needs. Also available are different types of massage, body treatments such as mud and other wraps, and salon services. Spa of Eden offers packages too, for travelers looking for a full day of beauty and relaxation. The retreat even offers some other services, such as yoga classes on the bayou and hydrobiking classes, for people who’d like a little fitness with their pampering.

When you’re looking for a vacation destination that also includes a great environment, choosing one of the Gulf Coast retreats that are available is a great idea. The Gulf Coast of both Florida and Alabama offers many different activities and family vacation standards, but it also offers something more: a great place to relax and feel rejuvenated.

Richard Rspad is with ResortSpaDestinations.com - reviews and articles on resorts. Visit us to read spa articles as well.

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