Hotels & Resorts
Seventh night is free
The Mauian, a popular beachfront property featuring boutique studio accommodations on Maui's Napili Bay, is offering a seventh night free for selected dates in August. It marks the first time the laid-back little property, a favorite with travellers for decades, has offered a seventh night free. "With only 44 units and an idyllic location right on the beach, our hotel runs pretty full all year round," observed the Mauian's general manager, Nane Aluli. "But we have some openings this year in late August. It's a great opportunity for travellers to experience the Mauian this summer at an extra...
The ultimate club
The Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort has added another family-friendly activity for its guests -- the Waikiki Ocean Club. Billed as 'Waikiki's ultimate ocean playground,' the Waikiki Ocean Club is the third ocean activity offered to guests at the resort. Moored about 300 yards offshore, the Waikiki Ocean Club offers a wide variety of ocean-related activities such as trampolines, diving platforms, jet skiing, snorkeling, and helmet diving. The cost for a full day on board is US$89 for adults (16 and older); US$69 for youth (4 to 15 years). Kama'ina rates are US$79 for adults and...
Universal Orlando, Loews team up
Universal Parks & Resorts and Loews Hotels & Resorts are teaming up to build a new hotel development at Universal Orlando that will add high-quality, high-value options for families wanting an affordable on-site experience. Universal's Cabana Bay Beach Resort will offer two distinct experiences within the development's multiple buildings: 900 family suites, capable of sleeping six, that include kitchen areas and 900 standard guest rooms, offering both moderate- and value-priced accommodations. It will be operated by Loews Hotels & Resorts and is scheduled to open in 2014. The hotel will be...
Blue Diamond acquires paradise
Blue Diamond Hotels & Resorts, a division of Sunwing Travel Group, has bought the Grand Paradise Bavaro Beach Resort, Casino and Spa. The resort is situated on Bavaro Beach, a s half hour drive from Punta Cana International Airport. The property has 1,029 guest rooms and suites, with all guests accommodated on an all-inclusive basis. The resort offers a choice of six a la carte restaurants, two buffet restaurants and ten bars. With immediate effect, the Blue Diamond team will take over the management of the resort, which will continue to operate as Grand Paradise Bavaro Beach Resort through...
AMResorts has incentives for new resort bookings
AMResorts is offering special incentives to travelers in celebration of the Aug. 1 grand opening of the newly built, adults-only Secrets The Vine Cancun. Between July 2 and Aug. 31, travel agents have a chance to solve the Secret Decoder Game at AMRAgents.com. All participants will be automatically entered to win a seven-night stay in a luxury suite for two plus air and a private dinner at the Secrets The Vine Cancun wine cellar - a signature feature of the resort. One weekly winner will be selected for a period of eight weeks. Available mid-July, consumers also will have a chance to solve...
Wild retreats at Nimmo Bay
Well known for its heli-fishing and heli-hiking adventures, Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort has now added wilderness and wildlife retreats for the 2012 and 2013 seasons. The new retreats offer guests a chance to experience the amazing wildlife and wilderness that surrounds the property without using the resort's helicopters, which can be expensive, explained Becky Eert, marketing director for Nimmo Bay Wilderness Resort. Eert observed: "The resort is truly remote, providing us with access to untamed wilderness and abundant wildlife. From bear watching on stand-up paddle boards to kayaking with...
Palace property will add wave simulator
Mexico's Palace Resorts - which has five-star, all-inclusive resorts - will add the wave simulator FlowRider Double at Moon Palace Golf & Spa Resort on Nov. 15. Moon Palace will be the first property in Mexico to offer the popular attraction. FlowRider Double creates two lanes of perfect endless waves, pumping thousands of gallons of water over a riding surface, and offering hours of surfing excitement for all ages. Participants can drop in on their own unbroken "wave,"feel the power and acceleration, carve a turn, do maneuvers and cut back. While kids can bodyboard on the new FlowRider, more...
Expedia’s insiders select their picks
Expedia.ca has released its 2012 Insiders' Select, a list of the top 650 hotels from around the world. The Insiders' Select rankings are largely determined by the more than 500,000 Expedia customer reviews received during the course of 2011. In 2012, LHotel Montreal was the top-ranked Canadian destination listed in the 59th spot. Marrol's Boutique Hotel (Bratislava, Slovakia) earned the top-spot, followed by Hotel Al Codega (Venice, Italy) and Hotel Royal Corin (Costa Rica). This year, 650 hotels from among the more than 150,000 properties available on Expedia.ca have been designated as...