Guests will arrive to their rooms to find an ice cold bottle of bubble, a plate of chocolate covered strawberries, and a dozen red roses. This is a time-tested Valentine’s Day trio that never fails. The luxury suite has a cozy wood-burning fireplace, perfect for snuggling up to stave off the cold. The weekend also includes brunch for two prepared by the hotel’s chef de cuisine, Michael Fred, in the Pembroke Room. The hotel itself has a lot to offer, as well, including a fabulous location, twice-daily maid service, a twenty-four hour concierge, and generally luxurious surroundings. If you haven’t thought of a fabulous V-Day gift, you might want to consider booking a flight and a room.

The Wanderlust Festival is a four-day wellness festival being held at the beautiful Standard Hotel and Spa in Miami Beach, Florida. It’s taking place March 17-20, and it might prove to be the most holistic festival out there. First of all, The Standard is a fabulous bayside hotel with luxury accommodations and a world-class spa. Also, the festival lineup doesn’t include traditional festival fare. The hotel’s Lido Restaurant and Bayside Grill are known for their healthy, gourmet Mediterranean menus. The spa has gorgeous hamam baths and an aromatherapy steam room, and a gorgeous pool.

Activities include several times daily yoga classes with prominent instructors from around the country, meditation workshops, and lectures by experts in natural health and wellness. Satsangs (chanting sessions) will be held poolside, and guests will be accompanied by electronic and world music musicians. Of course, if you want to get down, there will be nightly parties at the posh Lido lounge. There’s also the lush Miami landscape to take into consideration. All-in-all, Wanderlust sounds like a beautiful way to spend a few days by the seaside, and a far cry from the down and dirty style of many of today’s festivals.

The “Lovesick” package is being offered at The W Hotel chain’s New York and Hoboken locations. It’s not just a couple nights at the hotel, either. Included in the package is a Max Brenner chocolate syringe, Max Brenner massage oil, an in-room movie, breakfast in bed, a bottle of bubbly, and late check out so you don’t have to worry about getting up early from your love nest. If you’re at the hotel’s downtown location, you can even include private couples ice skating at the hotel’s extraordinary outdoor rink.

The package is available the whole month of February, so take some time to make it up north for this delicious little rendezvous.

Try on the Walk on the Wildside Family Adventure:

Walk on the Wildside Family Adventure invites kids under 18 to “eat free, sleep free, and play hard.”
Families stay in air-conditioned 2-bedroom, 2-bath suites on the beach and includes 7 nights, all meals, airport transfers & a 3 full-day adventure tours. Price starts at $3595 for 7 days, 2 adults & 1 child.

Choose from:  mountain bikes, beach cruisers, sea kayaks, fishing, Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve Tour, Sittee River and Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour or River of Caves Expedition at Caves Branch. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out beautiful Belize.

Put your name beside these greats and book yourself a polar cruise with PolarCruises.com.  Grab a flight into Helsinki, Finland, take a charter flight to the extreme northwest city of Murmansk, Russia and board the most powerful Russian atomic icebreaker around, the Yamal.  On your way toward the North Pole, enjoy helicopter rides which will show off the incredible polar vista scenery.  You will experience the raw, extreme beauty of nature and fall in love with the vast expanse that is the Arctic. 

A cruise to the North Pole is a you-will-never-forget-it, validate-your-life adventure.  Don’t wait another minute, reservations for this year’s tours are going like hot cakes.  Just ask for Chuck.  Book your tour and be the first to tell your friends, “Yes, I’ve been to the North Pole, my friend and I have seen not only the wonders of the world, but also the wonders of my soul.”

Cost for your North Pole journey, not including flight into Helsinki:  $19,000-$25,000.

My wallet’s telling me I have to stick with the National Geographic TV version.

In the sheltering arms of palm trees and massage therapists, you will be treated royally at the Bora Bora Nui resport & Spa.  Are you ready to be satisfied, relaxed, released from the drudgery of commonplace work politics?  Step into the light of elegance that French Polynesia has to offer.

Drawing inspiration from a rich island bounty and the abundance of the sea, the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa is pleased to offer a range of dining options created by Chef Michel Seyve that celebrate the unique flavors of the area. From unique breakfast service by canoe to gourmet cuisine by torchlight, every meal is a feast for your senses.

Relax and indulge yourself in your choice of the Beach Bar, casual & relaxed, or the Hopuna Bar, nestled between thatched-roof bungalows and offers a panoramic view of the lagoon.

Choose from a multitude of activities such as shopping in the gift boutique; pampering yourself from your pick of spa and salon treatments; take a swim in the 10,000 square meter “infinity” swimming pool; enjoy the white sand beach on this private island; take a chance with sport fishing, or shark and ray feeding, or scuba diving and snorkeling, or kite surfing and even windsurfing.  Whew!  Or just take it easy with your new book on a lounge chair by the ocean.

With so much to do and see, you need to get packing!  Room rates range from $700-$3000 per night.
 

Valentine’s Day Getaway Destination: Darby, Montana; Triple Creek Ranch

• Three nights’ lodging in a cabin with wood-burning fireplace and private hot tub
• All meals and beverages at the ranch
• Two special dinners paired with wines selected by the visiting vintner and Triple Creek Ranch’s wine director
• Afternoon wine seminar conducted by the vintner (You may opt to skip if you’re having trouble getting out of bed)
• Farewell reception
• Champagne served beneath a starry Montana sky, in guests’ hot tub (My Favorite!)
• On-ranch activities including horseback riding, snowshoeing and fitness center

Rate:$1,530 to $2,985 per couple.
Valid: February 9-12, February 16-19, February 23-26, 2006.

Wow! What more could you ask for? Don’t think, just click and start packing!

Valentine’s Day Getaway Destination: San Diego, CA; Rancho Bernardo Inn

Rate: Starts at $899.
Valid: January 1 – March 31, 2006.
Now that I’ve got you thinking, what are you waiting for? Have a great time and Happy Valentine’s Day!