Posts Tagged ‘Destination Honeymoons’

Get barreled, get zen, get your priorities straight in West Oz.

Lonely Planet has chosen Southwest Western Australia as one of the world’s Top 10 Regions for next year in LONELY PLANET’S BEST IN TRAVEL 2010, published this week. Western Australia is home to the only region in Australia to make this year’s list.

BEST IN TRAVEL 2010 is Lonely Planet’s fifth annual collection of the best places to go and the best things to do around the world for the year ahead.

As one of the Top 10 Regions to visit in 2010, Southwest Western Australia “offers variety in spades,” Lonely Planet’s book says. “Well-heeled Perth weekenders make the three-hour trek from the big city to the gourmet paradise of Margaret River; families hit the Busselton beaches; walkers make for the tracks and trails that join Cape Naturaliste and Cape Leeuwin.”

“While word is out about the southwest,” the book says, “distance still dissuades many Aussie east-coasters – take the opportunity to make it here before they do.”  However, Lonely Planet does acknowledge that “old-timers mutter darkly about ongoing development. Many locals have been priced out of the housing market and fear for a sustainable future for the region.”

Other regions to make Lonely Planet’s Top 10 Regions 2010 list are Alsace, Bali, Fernando de Noronha, Goa, Koh Kong Conservation Corridor, Lake Baikal, Oaxaca, Southern Africa and The Lake District.

Travelers can experience the best of Southwest Western Australia with the following packages, valid from November 2, 2009 through February 28, 2010:

Bayview Geographe Resort
3 Night Packages at 50% off from $110 per night, per couple.
Exciting beach resort and gateway to Western Australia’s Margaret River Wine Region.
T: (08) 97554166
reservations@bayviewresort.com.au

Forte Cape View Apartments
Hot deal: 2 bedroom, 2 nights from $165 per night.
Located in Western Australia’s Margaret River wine region on the shores of Geographe Bay.
T: (08) 9755 4388
bookings@capeviewapartments.com.au

The Beach House at Bayside
Stay awhile: Stay 5 Nights, Pay 4 from $238 per night, per couple featuring gourmet breakfast & afternoon tea.
Award winning, 5 star, hosted accommodation by the sea.
T: (08) 9844 8844
stay@thebeachouseatbayside.com.au

Karri Valley Resort
Kids Stay Play and Eat Free, from $201 per night, per couple.
On the edge of the lake in the heart of the forest 22 km’s from Pemberton.
T: (08) 9776 2020
info@karrivalleyresort.com.au

Quest Margaret River
A complimentary bottle of premium Margaret River Wine, from $210 per night, per couple.
Luxury studio and apartment style accommodation in the heart of Margaret River
T: (08) 97572033
relax@questmargaretriver.com.au

Seashells Resort Yallingup
Stay 5 nights – only pay for 4! from $208 per night, per couple.
Located in Margaret River wine region and set in beautiful gardens.
T: (08) 9750 1500
yallingup@seashells.com.au

Drawing on the knowledge and passion of Lonely Planet’s staff, authors, and community, BEST IN TRAVEL 2010 showcases a year’s worth of inspiration to take travelers out of the ordinary and into some unforgettable experiences. Other highlights include:

• The Top 10 Countries to visit in 2010: El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Malaysia, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Portugal, Suriname and the USA.

• 2010’s Top 10 Cities: Abu Dhabi, Charleston, Cork, Cuenca, Istanbul, Kyoto, Lecce, Sarajevo, Singapore, and Vancouver.

• “Top Travel Lists” of the best experiences for the year ahead, from wildlife-watching in South Africa to catching a space flight launched from the Mojave Desert.  Interested in rubbing shoulders with thousands of locals running a marathon?  Explore the options in the “Magical Marathons” list.  Or it might be something more pragmatic – such as an eye operation in India, which features on the “Medical Adventures” list.

• 2010 Travel Planner, with over 30 adventures mapped out month-by-month – from January’s Lowcountry Oyster Festival in Charleston, USA to New Year’s Eve in Paramaribo, Suriname.

About Western Australia
Western Australia, the largest state in Australia located in the western half of the country, is divided into five distinct regions: Australia’s North West, Australia’s Coral Coast, The Golden Outback, Experience Perth, and Australia’s South West. Unspoiled, unpretentious, and full of adventure, the travel experiences in Western Australia are as diverse and spectacular as the landscape itself. The North West region is a vast wilderness area home to spectacular natural attractions including the Bungle Bungle Range in World Heritage Listed Purnululu National Park, the world-famous white sands and turquoise water at Broome’s Cable Beach, and the million acre El Questro Wilderness Park. Travelers to the Coral Coast can dive with the world’s largest fish – the whale shark, snorkel with manta rays, and see wild dolphins at play. Western Australia’s Golden Outback, the Gold Rush country of the 1890’s, offers the ideal blend of history and heritage. Travelers can explore mines and museums, pan for gold, or visit one of Kalgoorlie’s historic pubs. In spring, travelers to The Golden Outback can see brilliantly colored wildflowers in full bloom. Western Australia’s capital city, Perth, and the surrounding region is a microcosm of the whole state boasting vineyards, fantastic restaurants, a lively and original music and arts scene, and stylish accommodation. Perth is also home to Kings Park, the world’s largest inner city park. Featuring beautiful beaches, tall tree forests, and award winning wineries, the South West is also home to the Margaret River region, which produces almost 20% of Australia’s premium wine. With over 220 wine producers in the region, travelers can explore more than 100 cellar doors which are open to the public.  For more information on Western Australia, please visit
www.westernaustralia.com
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT
WAGSTAFF WORLDWIDE AT 323.871.1151

Chamberlain Hotel – West Hollywood

Retro regency meets mod in the ultimate urban retreat

Whether your goal is business or romance travel, take a step off the beaten track and sink into the Chamberlain West Hollywood. A self-described metropolitan boutique hotel and residential pied-a-terre, designed by the hipster hotel interiors maven Kelly Wearstler (of Santa Monica’s Viceroy fame), the Chamberlain is about discreet luxuries and hidden pleasures. What’s its got: privacy and peace in the center of the bustling West Hollywood Sunset Strip district, (located a mere two blocks away), spectacular interiors rendered in icy blues, greens and teal, and eclectic mash up where regency meets mod. You can’t put your finger on why it all works, but it’s the hipster crib you wish you had with the coolest most covetable light fixtures. What its not: see and be seen, loud house music and a big agent/model/celeb scene replete with the 5’ heels and bikinis, poolside. By the way, there are probably celebrities here, but they are just hiding!

My favorite part: the quiet and blessedly scene-free rooftop pool, with enclosed cabanas for a tete-a- tete, a glass of wine under the stars, a view of the cityscape of Hollywood, or a chaise-bound afternoon with a stack of movie magazines and iced tea.

The rooms are the definition of comfort, again, I will stress the quietness of the place, with 400-thread count sheets, an entertaining lounge area, and muted tones that are easy on the eye. The price is right too, with a Chamberlain Fall Special designed especially for you: there is no reason not to enjoy luxe for less than at the Chamberlain!

35% off standard room rates – along with a complimentary bottle of Prosecco on arrival to toast the Fall with your sweetie by one of Chamberlain’s in-room fireplaces. Guests must enter the promo code “DESTIN” to receive this special deal.

Right off the lobby in a green house type setting that reminds me of an enclosed garden in New Orleans or Paris, where the noise of the City of Angels fades to a distant memory, and banana fronds wave gently in the early evening breeze, we begin our culinary adventure with Chef Mark Pierce and his charming Chamberlain’s American bar and bistro. His point of view is French-influenced and farm to fork, with a dash of Americana, taking classics and reinterpreting them with zesty new point of view. “It’s all about quality and flavor,” says Pierce on his use of sustainable cooking. “I love color and vibrant fresh herbs, fruits and vegetables make a dish modern and flavorful.”

To travel is to unearth rare gems, hidden treasures and true luxury (for less). For a honeymoon, an intimate “pop the question” or rehearsal dinner, or a hot date, if sublime is what you seek, all roads lead to the Chamberlain.

Chamberlain Fall Special

Book by 10/31

Valid 11/01 – 1/31

Black out date 12/31

Promo Code: DESTIN