Napa Valley, CA: Eco-Friendly Wines

A Green Wine? Well, not exactly 'green', but you catch our drift. Otherwise, you wouldn't be here. The greening in wine country continues! HALL Wines in Napa is doing something most vintners should have been doing a long time ago. The premier 21st century vineyard and winery has just received the prestigious Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Gold Certification for its Napa Valley St. Helena winery, becoming the first winery in California to be distinguished as a Gold certified facility by the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED® Green Building Rating System™. The HALL St. Helena LEED® certified winery is one of most advanced wineries in California, with state-of-the-art facilities designed for ultra-premium wine production using a system that carefully measures their building's performance across all environmental metrics including energy savings, water efficiency, CO2 emissions reduction, improved indoor environmental quality and stewardship of resources and sensitivity to their impacts.

So we say... let's drink to that!

Skol!

www.hallwines.com

Win a Trip to Africa!

We're KEEN-ly aware you're in need of a heart healthy vacay. As such, KEEN Inc., a leader in hybrid outdoor performance products, including footwear, socks and bags — is running an exciting contest with the chance to win a week-long volunteer vacation at an animal rescue society near Cape Town, South Africa.

The trip is being organized by i-to-i, a U.K.-based volunteer travel company who has sent more than 20,000 people to volunteer in Africa, Asia, Australasia and Latin America since 1996. The winner will volunteer at TEARS, an animal shelter that provides pet food parcels, veterinary treatment and animal care education for community members with animals that could not otherwise afford these goods and services. The society also works with children who have had extremely hard lives and teaches them to care and be responsible for animals. Learning these nurturing skills helps to break the cycle of abuse in these children’s lives.

“KEEN values the work that TEARS is doing - teaching a child how to care for an animal can make a life-altering impact on both the animal and the child," says Bobbie Parisi, Vice President of Marketing of KEEN. “In a struggling economy, the first charities to feel the pinch are those working with animals, so volunteers’ efforts are much needed.”

After returning from South Africa, KEEN invites the winner to share stories from the trip on its HybridLife Community page at www.keenfootwear.com/community. The community connects people who are creating possibilities, engaging with the outdoors, and caring for the world around them.

Valued at about $4000, the trip include: roundtrip coach class air transportation, provided by South African Airways, for one between a major U.S. gateway city and Cape Town South Africa to volunteer with animals in Cape Town, South Africa; and a shared dormitory room in volunteer house for a minimum of one week and up to two weeks. The travel must be completed by September 30, 2010. Beyond the volunteer opportunities, the winner can explore an amazing range of other activities - from surfing to hiking to shopping in and around Cape Town.

In addition to KEEN, additional contest sponsors include National Geographic Society, and i-to-i Volunteer Vacations.

Entries are being accepted until August 21, 2009, at www.keenfootwear.com/southafrica.

Vietnam: Topas Eco-Lodge

Located near the Chinese border in Northern Vietnam's Sapa Valley is an eco-retreat so discrete... it's 250 miles northwest of Hanoi in the 10,000 foot tall Hoang Lien Mountains, also known as the Tonkinese Alps by the Colonial French. Topas Eco-Lodge is like this:
Exotic, quaint, lush, and peaceful. It might even change your life (Vietnamese mountain regions have a way of doing that). The 25-room bungalow retreat tickled our fancy because it's also in a particularly diverse area, home to five ethnic tribes, each with their own language and culture. A joint venture between the Danes and the Vietnamese, therefore sticking closely to Denmark's strict environmental regulations, the property provides the perfect opportunity to experience nature and culture in ways that lead to a greater appreciation and understanding of our environment. Actively implementing practices that optimize energy and encouraging suppliers to take part in environmental protection initiatives, Topas is a living breathing example of how to do luxury, style, and ecology. By treating its own wastewater, running off solar power, and being made from limestone from a local quarry and palm-thatched roofs straight from the Vietnamese jungle, they try to think of impact with every decision they make.
Not too shabby. So how do you spend days in this peaceful lust mountainous retreat? By meditating, trekking, or biking through the friendly villages with a guide, lunching at a local's, or taking a dip in a river. It's really all up to you. There's no pressure. After all, this is Vietnam. Definitely a spot to put on the Bucket List of 'Places to See Before I Die.'
The restaurant serves everything from pork ribs with sweet brown sauce to curried chicken. But, as Concierge.com notes, "The biggest luxury is that magnificent view of the green peaks from your private balcony."

HOW TO GET THERE

Numerous carriers fly from NY and LA to Hanoi through other gateway cities. You can get to Hanoi over-land from elsewhere in the country via train or car, but most people chose to come by plane. Hanoi's small international airport (code: HAN) is not as served by international airlines as Ho Chi Minh City so visitors coming from Europe may fly into Bangkok and then on to Hanoi via Thai or Vietnam Airlines.

From the Americas, there are flights via Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Here are some airlines to look for deals:

*Singapore Airlines
The Singaporean national airline flies daily between Singapore and Hanoi.
*Thai Airways
The Thai national carrier flies daily to Hanoi from Bangkok.
*Vietnam Airlines
The Viet national carrier flies to Hanoi from major cities around the world.
*Pacific Airlines
The only other domestic airline in Vietnam. It is a little cheaper than Vietnam Airlines, but isn't really a budget carrier. Also serves Taiwan.

From Hanoi, trains run day and night to the mountainous town of Lao Cai. From there, it takes an hour to drive to Sapa, the town nearest to Topas Ecolodge. These trains run day and night and night trains provide good standards of soft sleeper berths. By train, you can depart from Hanoi around 9:00pm and arrive in Lao Cai the next morning at 5am. There are many other departures and arrival options and, the best part... all transport can be arranged by Topas Ecolodge! They'll provide daily transportation from Sapa to the Ecolodge (45 min drive). Said to be a dirt road and an interesting journey, along the way, you'll see daily life in the rice fields and the picturesque Muong Hoa valley where beautiful locals make their way to Sapa to sell handcrafts and vegetables.


Topas Ecolodge
Tel: 84 20 872 404
Doubles from $125, including meals and transfers from Sapa

www.topasecolodge.com

Napa Valley, CA: Eco-Travel, Organic Farming, & Wine Tasting

This just in from my cronies in Northern Cali! An itinerary from Napa and Yountville to the Carmel Valley for a new LEED-certified hotel and several eco-travel ideas, complete with haute cuisine, antiques, wine tasting, and a visit to an all-organic farm.
The Bardessono (debuted February, 2009). Every element of this LEED-Platinum aspiring hotel, restaurant and spa is wrapped in an earth-friendly blanket of luxury. Secluded on five acres of gardens and vineyards, the 62-room hotel boasts a “green spa,” heated and cooled by an underground geothermal system, smart guestrooms in buildings crafted from hand-milled, reclaimed wood and steel and 93-seat restaurant headed by Executive Chef Sean O’Toole, former group operations chef for Michael Mina. If approved, Bardessono would be the second U.S. hospitality entity to receive platinum certification and the first in California.

www.bardessono.com

Bottega – December, 2008 marked the return of Food Network’s Michael Chiarello to the kitchen with the debut of Bottega. Chef de Cuisine Nick Ritchie will drive the culinary team in what Chiarello calls the “craftsman’s workshop” – or “bottega” set against a palette of rustic yet refined warm textures in olive greens, chocolate and deep red. The 184-seat Italian restaurant is located in the historic Groezinger Winery (1870), a two-story brick structure that crowns V Marketplace.

www.botteganapavalley.com

Ma(i)sonry - Set in the former Burgundy House, a 1904 stone masonry stunner listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this new venture was opened by visionary, Michael Polenske, in October, 2008. The setting is reminiscent of a home or a private club, framing a highly edited collection of furnishings and artwork. The furnishings, ranging from 16th century to mid-twentieth century, are paired with contemporary works crafted by today's top designers. This "living gallery" atmosphere serves as a stylized backdrop for the appreciation of limited production boutique wines including Blackbird Vineyards’ portfolio of Pomerol-inspired blends crafted by Sarah Gott.

www.ma(i)sonry.com

Vita – Laura Cunningham steps up with a new Italian eatery in the heart of Yountville called Vita, after her grandmother, Vita Morrell. The concept is a Sicilian southern Italian restaurant with the Thomas Keller Restaurant Group managing its day to day operations. The 130-seat restaurant set in the former PJ Steak restaurant is due to debut in Fall, 2009.

Hotel Luca – The minds behind L’Auberge Carmel have broken ground on a 20-room luxury hotel fronting Washington Street on the north end of Yountville. The modern-style property perched on over an acre of prime real estate will include a 90-seat restaurant modeled after the successful Cantinetta Luca in Carmel, California. Expect rustic, informal Italian dining with authentic European-style hospitality – the perfect meritage of Italy and Napa Valley. Fall/2009 opening.

www.hotellucanapa.com

Girard Winery - The 1800 sq. ft. tasting room opened May/2008 featuring super Cabs backed with an elegant décor of antique reclaimed barn wood ceilings, cedar floors and grand mosaic glass tile wall and floor treatments. Hand-crafted polished concrete tasting bar, custom lighting, state-of-the-art walk-in glass-enclosed wine cellar and top-flight private food and wine pairing in the Club Room ($40) round out the experience. Crafted by Marco DiGiulio, (“one of Napa’s top wine consultants,” Wine Spectator 2007) these wines have placed Girard firmly in the “Top 100 Wineries of the World” (Wine and Spirits magazine, 2006).
www.Girardwinery.com

Villagio Inn & Spa - Debuted a new 13,000 sq. ft. spa in April, 2008. Set in true Mediterranean style on the resort’s 23 acres, the spa is one of Napa Valley’s largest featuring 16 treatment rooms including five sumptuous spa suites, outdoor terraces, fireplaces and a tight mix of high tech+indigenous wellness treatments.

www.villagio.com

Earthbound Farms - Get downright dirty with all things squirmy via a Bug Walk or mix it up with a local chef or florist at Earthbound Farm, the nation’s largest producer of organic greens. When Drew and Myra Goodman came to California’s Carmel Valley in 1984, they were determined young transplants from Manhattan, drawn to the natural beauty and richness of the land. Even before they turned over their first shovels full of soil, they believed strongly in doing the right thing.


They settled on a 2.5-acre raspberry farm and decided that doing the right thing meant committing to farming this land organically, producing food they would want to eat themselves and would feel good about serving their families, friends, and neighbors. Undaunted by those who said it couldn’t be done, in 1986 they became the first company to successfully launch prewashed, packaged salad for retail sale. When they introduced their mixed baby greens or “spring mix” to restaurants and supermarket produce aisles, they started a salad revolution. Today, gourmet salad greens and packaged salads have become staples of grocery baskets everywhere. Flowers, herbs and vegetables steal the show on 30 sun-drenched acres in Carmel Valley. Saturdays are a true beehive of activity; morning tours start at 11:00 a.m. (May – September). $5.00/child.

www.ebfarm.com

Bali: Eco-Travel, Luxury, & Farming!

It begins in an exotic and remote location among rice fields along the sacred Ayung River in Bali. There are a series of tasks to complete and if done successfully, there will be a great reward. As you consider what you've gotten yourself into, the questions begin to swirl in your mind: When will I meet the other "players"? What kind of challenges will I have to overcome? And, am I going to get a makeover?!"

Not to worry; this is one reality program that doesn't involve contests, eliminations or scripted outbursts. The Balinese farming experience provides guests of Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan with a chance to spend a day in the life of a local – without the camera crews.

It begins with a trek along jungle paths and terraces for a glimpse at Sayan's farmers at work. After learning about the complex irrigation system used in the rice paddy fields, you'll have the opportunity to pitch in and plant rice seeds - a crop vital to the lives of rural Balinese. A traditional breakfast and refreshments will be served along the way. And as a reward from a hard day's work, you'll partake in a river stone bathing ritual called batukali. Bathing in the river is both an old-age ritual and a social event for the Balinese as villagers gather to share songs, laughter, gossip and stories. The day's adventure ends with a lunch of nasi campur (mixed rice) – typical of an everyday Balinese meal.

Want a glimpse into the real world of a Balinese farmer?
Then we say, "Visit the Four Seasons Resort Bali at Sayan." Thatched-roof villas with private plunge pools are nestled among 35 acres of landscaped tropical gardens, providing 147 unique panoramas of the idyllic sandy crescent below - Four Seasons Resort Bali at Jimbaran Bay. Lotus ponds float above the treetops along Bali's sacred Ayung River, as expansive enclaves rise from the mountain mist.

www.fourseasons.com/sayan/

Boston, Mass: The Bike Program & Market Fresh Food

Located along Boston’s Charles River, we spotted one earth-friendly activity that reminded us of a summertime spent lingering in the heart of Harvard Square. Members of Harvard's elite played chess as my father regaled me with stories of secret societies and ambitious scholarly pursuits.

The Charles Hotel, nestled in the heart of this fine area, celebrates it's own love of such summers, with a simple, yet earth-friendly activity we always enjoy. A complimentary bike program and annual Kids Summer Music Series! These family-friendly programs, along with the hotel’s proximity to Harvard Yard, history museums and Fenway Park, make the Charles an ideal spot for summer fun. Six Electra Amsterdam Classic Bicycles are equipped with shopping baskets available complimentary to hotel guests. Additionally, the Hotel has partnered with The Liberty Hotel in Beacon Hill, encouraging guests of both hotels to take the eight mile scenic ride along the river to and from the hotels, while touring the historic streets of Beacon Hill and Harvard Square. The option to ride one-way and return by taxi or public transportation is also available.
The Executive Suite

Summer is also the season for the freshest foods. While staying at the Charles, guests can enjoy its weekly Farmers’ Markets to try some of the area’s very best seasonal ingredients. The Down to Earth Package includes:

• Overnight accommodations in a deluxe guestroom, featuring custom signature quilts and sumptuous down duvets, Séura® in-mirror televisions, and Bose Wave® radios.

• A signed copy of Chef Peter Davis’ cookbook, Fresh & Honest. Chef Peter Davis of Henrietta’s Table at The Charles Hotel released Fresh & Honest this past fall. His restaurant was recognized by Gourmet magazine as one of America’s “Best Farm-to-Table” restaurants in 2007.

• Use of the Electra Amsterdam Classic Bicycle, along with helmet, map of the city and U-style lock and key.

• Picnic lunch for two from Henrietta’s Table to take on your bike ride.

Down to Earth Package starts at $235/night, based on double occupancy, not including taxes and gratuity. The package is based on availability... so get cycling and brush up on your chess while you're at it, will ya?

Regular room rates start @ $199/night

www.charleshotel.com

Charitable Travel: Discounts & Deals

Shopping should feel good in more ways than one, don't you think? We spotted this interesting website for those who want to shop and do a little good while they're at it. Good Shop is a growing coupon service that allows consumers to plan family vacations and save money at more than 1,000 online stores (including Expedia, cheaptickets, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Budget Rent-A-Car and others) while supporting their favorite charity. It lists hundreds of great coupons and deals and a percentage of every sale at these stores goes back to the charity of the users’ choice. This allows people to save money and help a good cause at the same time.

Here’s how it works:

1. Go to www.GoodShop.com
2. Designate your favorite cause (you only do this the first time)
3. Click to your favorite store – check out the travel category, book a vacation with the coupons listed, and a percentage of your purchase will go to your cause

Here are some examples of coupons listed on GoodShop:

1. Southwest Airlines Vacations Coupon - Save up to $80 when you book a flight + hotel of 3 nights or more to any Las Vegas property
2. STA Travel - $25 off any flight Coupon
3. Travelocity Coupon - Book a 5-Night Vacation and Save $100

www.goodshop.com

Maui, Hawaii: Eco-Travel with the Fairmont Kea Lani

Feel like staying closer to home, but need a tropical 'feel good' getaway? We love the Fairmont Kea Lani in Wailea, Maui. Huge comfortable rooms, an exotic all-white mediterranean design, not too many kids (but just enough for families), and delicious restaurants right onsite. There's a reason why they named it "Kea Lani" since it means "Heavenly Whiteness." Their new organic restaurant, Ko, where 100% of its fish are from sustainable fisheries and their island classic, Nick's Fish Market, make it a solid go-to getaway for in-the-know Maui eco (yet chic-o) vacationers.

We like them because they're giving back in an interesting way. Through their Recycling Cents program, they donate their HI-5 recyclables to local non-profit charities, raising, to date, over $20,000. One school group used the funds to build an electric car and, in addition to that mad giving, the hotel donates bath amenities to the women's shelter on Maui and hosts a Mother’s Day and Christmas dinner. If that's not enough... the hotel's Director of Engineering goes to the shelter once a month to fix things like door locks and plumbing. With nearly 50 environmental programs going on at the hotel (and others in the Fairmont portfolio), their latest initiative, converting to the just-on-the-market Eco-Mode Thermostat, is connected to the hotel’s database and automatically turns on when a guest checks in and shuts off when a guest checks out. The motion detectors scan the room for movement and, if there is no motion detected, the thermostat automatically adjusts the temperature 5 degrees higher than either the default setting, or the temperature the guest set. The thermostat also shuts off when doors to the lanai are opened, monitors humidity, and allows the hotel to ensure all air conditioning units are in good working order. Installing the eco-MODE thermostat is yet another progressive initiative emphasizing The Fairmont Kea Lani’s dedication to waste reduction, energy management, and water conservation.

So we say... heavenly whiteness, in more way than one, in the house.

Rates from $340/night.

www.fairmont.com/kealani

Locali Yours, An All-Organic Convenience Store!

An environmentally conscious convenience store? That's right. It's time to... vegan-ize! We found this new little gem in the heart of Franklin Village in Los Angeles, started by husband and wife duo, Greg Horos and Melissa Rosen. Everything about Locali, from the design to the way the business is operated and all of the products sold, is environmentally conscious, including their solar-powered website!
A neighborhood market that combines the idea of environmentally conscious living with the element of convenience, Locali offers in-the-know customers a healthy destination for all of their food and lifestyle needs. By making locally and sustainably sourced, organic, vegan, vegetarian, gluten-free, and other eco-friendly products accessible to people in their everyday lives, the community-minded concept is launching a movement to change the way the world thinks about, and eats, grab-and-go food.

Locali also has a deli where they make fresh sandwiches to order every day showcasing the finest meats, cheeses, and produce from organic growers and local suppliers as well as the nearby Farmers Markets. Any sandwich can be "vegan-ized" and many are available gluten-free.
What's more, Locali goes mobile at the end of May with its own frozen dessert delivery tricycle dubbed “THE ICYCLE,” making its selection of Sno-Cones, Ice Cream, Popsicles, and other frozen desserts, more accessible to Angelenos. How cute is that? With the launch of THE ICYCLE, Locali brings its in-store summer sweets directly to its customers. Dressed in an old fashioned soda jerk outfit, a Locali employee will tour the streets of Los Angeles visiting different neighboring communities each day. Locali’s Twitter page, @Locali, will unveil the day’s selected destinations with specific cross streets where people can meet for a cool summer treat in neighborhoods like Hollywood, East Hollywood, Sunset Junction, Los Feliz, Griffith Park, Silver Lake, and Larchmont Village. Locali will also offer delivery for specific locations upon request for large orders. Sno-Cones are made with ultra pure Reverse Osmosis Water and Organic Syrup sweetened with all natural Brown Rice Syrup or diabetic-friendly Xylitol, available in flavors like Banana, Mango, Cherry Cola, Grape, Pumpkin, Coconut, Cinnamon, and Key Lime Pie (2 flavors for $2.75 each). Customers can also visit Locali for a full selection from up to 30 different Sno-Cone flavors. Other options from THE ICYCLE include a variety of sweets from local artisans like Carmela’s Ice Cream and Popshop Popsicles as well as Cookies, Handmade Vegan Ice Cream Sandwiches, Raw Vegan Cheesecake, Gluten-Free Ice Cream, and Frozen Organic Wheatgrass Shots.

How's that for Locali Conscious Convenience?
Greening the hood, one Locali at a time...

5825 Franklin Ave
Los Angeles, CA 90028
(323) 466-1360

www.localiyours.com

The Lost City of Z by David Grann

Red hairy chiggers that consume human flesh, cyanide-squirting millipedes, and the candiru, a translucent toothpick-like creature that burrows into the gills of a fish or human orifices like the vagina or penis, latches it's spines and sucks out the blood of the victim until they perish...

This is the Amazon of the 1920's and the Amazon you'll find in David Grann's new book, The Lost City of Z, chronicling the infamous tough-as-nails British explorer, Percy Fawcett, as he ventures with his son, Jack, and Jack's best friend, Raleigh, to discover the famous (gold laden and lost) city of El Dorado. Grann's well-documented tale takes you deep inside the jungle for a peek into the mind of this sometimes ruthless, always brave, explorer. The trio, in so many respects, takes you back to a bygone era when well-heeled gents at supper clubs thirsted for the high stakes of an Amazonian adventure. Not only do the characters look straight out of the movies, but the cinematic story reads like one as well (likely why Brad Pitt and Paramount have optioned the film rights). Just as his piercing blue eyes make their way into your own, so will Fawcett's adventurous tale. It is one man's ultimate quest to find, with tragic consequences... a fantasy.

Grann deftly tells a real-life story from both a historical context and a personal one. The author himself ventured to the very place where many believe this fantastic civilization once existed. As I read his story, I found myself being bitten by vicious gnats and fearing the wrath of parasitic worms as the three men journeyed into the heart of one of the world's most inhospitable regions.

Grann writes, "The cramped, dirty hold of the SS Panama was filled with 'toughs, would be toughs, and leather faced old scoundrels,' as Fawcett put it." Flesh and carrion eating bees, an area so hot that fish were cooked alive in the waters... the countless explorers that died along the way. Whether Percy, Jack, and Raleigh became victims of the elements or the native Indians, one thing is certain: they never made it out alive.

I was so enamored with this impossible, painstaking journey that, instead of reading it quickly as I do with most tales, I found myself intentionally re-reading passages and flipping through the photos. Like my own travels to South America, El Dorado, as well as this tale, is like the love you can never have. It will keep you constantly wanting more.

Kudos to Grann for all of his own painstaking research and bravery. After reading about the candiru, I'm not sure I'd be heading into that part of the jungle anytime soon. I will, however, recommend, for those who love a good jungle jaunt, ordering a copy of his obsessive and mysterious story.

David Grann is a staff writer at The New Yorker and has covered everything from an Aryan Brotherhood prison gang to the hunt for giant squid. His work has been featured in the New York Times Magazine, The Atlantic, The Washington Post, and The Wall Street Journal. His collected writings will be published by Doubleday in 2010.

www.amazon.com

Phuket, Thailand: Volunteer with Anantara

Ah, thailand.... we can never get enough. Great food, beautiful people... nature. In the spirit of volunteerism, guests of the newly opened Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa can take part in a day-long excursion to the coastal village of Baan Talay Nok located in the Ranong province north of Phuket, this area was one of the most devastated in the region during the 2004 Tsunami, and is still being rebuilt four years later. Anantara’s community days enable guests to work side-by-side with Tsunami survivors in a handicraft cooperative, where they assist villagers in soap making, batik painting, and palm weaving. Proceeds from the sale of these articles provide a supplemental income for the widows of the cooperative. In addition to volunteering, guests can also join in a soccer match with the children, partake in a jungle hike, or simply practice speaking Thai with the elders. More than a day of volunteerism; guests can take away experiences greater than those that money can buy. Opened in October 2008, Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa features 83 private pool villa suites, five new spa treatment rooms with Ayurvedic therapies along Mai Khao Beach just fifteen minutes from Phuket International Airport, removed from the bustling strip. PS. Their property in the Golden Triangle also offers yoga teacher training!

www.phuket.anantara.com

Barbados: The Crane's New Eco-Techniques

It may be the oldest, most historic hotel in Barbados, but it certainly isn't stuck in the past when it comes to earth-saving tips. Sure, 'Being Green' is all the rage, but taking a landmark from the 1700's and turning it green is another - more ambitious - story. Set on forty acres of oceanfront land on the Southeast Coast of Barbados, The Crane, located six minutes from the airport on a spectacular cliff overlooking Crane Beach, is comprised of the original historic hotel building, built in the late 1700s and expanded in 1887, with an new all-suite development underway. On completion, this world-class resort will feature a Barbadian village of retail shops, a jazz bar, art gallery/museum, a full-service spa set in a coconut grove on the beach, a choice of gourmet and casual restaurants, and flood-lit tennis courts.
The Crane, Living Room Suite

Known for its modern "vertically integrated" approach, this approach also increases environmental sustainability, examples of which include:

Landscaping - The Crane has a thirty-six person full service landscape team dedicated to beautifying Crane’s extensive grounds. A new on-site covered nursery will be used to propagate plants so that the grounds will continue to be beautifully and economically maintained. Rather than using metered town water for its irrigation needs, The Crane relies on a 350,000 gallon water tank that collects rainwater for irrigation.
Laundry - The Crane does all of its laundry in-house and has recently constructed a facility that utilizes state-of-the-art, high volume, commercial equipment and rain water collected in underground collection tanks.

Pool Service - A system of salt-water chlorination in which salt from sea water is converted into natural chlorine through electrolysis without the extra cost of replenishing chlorine.
Central Air - The Crane’s central air-conditioning system is not only far more energy efficient than individual “split system” units for every room, but it also produces hot water, requires less ongoing maintenance and has a life expectancy of over twenty-five years.

So make like Rhianna and "Shut Up and Drive" to the airport. You won't need an "Umbrella" in Barbados.

(Sorry, we couldn't resist)

Kenya & Tanzania: Climb Kilimanjaro!

Crowned by eternal snow, Mount Kilimanjaro is called the "Home of God" because to climb Kilimanjaro is to stand on the roof of Africa. Leave it to Mountain Travel Sobek to offer the most comprehensive, one-of-a-kind Kilimanjaro adventure around. Eco-Adventurer says, "What better way to appreciate the environment than to get right up in it?" Operating Kilimanjaro climbs since 1974, Mountain Sobek was the first company to lead commercial treks up the mountain. Today, over 90% reach Kilimanjaro's 19,340-foot high summit. We think those are pretty good odds, don't you?
Climbing Kilimanjaro is a Mountain Travel Sobek (MTS) classic, enough so that anchorwoman Ann Curry used MTS to make her own ascent to Africa's highest peak. In Amboseli National Park, you'll slip into "safari mode" by viewing elephants before taking off on a six-day climb of Kilimanjaro via the rarely-traveled Rongai Route, a trail skirting spectacular Mawenzi peak. You'll track game along the Tsavo National Park on the banks of the Galana River where MTS has the only permit to camp and hike along this stunning waterway. Your savvy naturalist guides include Alex Fiksman, one of East Africa’s leading mountaineers and rock-climbing aces, and Julius Odhiambo, one of Kenya’s top ornithologists and naturalists. As a grand finale, the trip ends with some "R&R" at the Indian Ocean coast (you'll need it) where you’ll bask in shameless luxury at a deluxe resort — a perfect spot to unwind at the conclusion of an unforgettable safari.

Not up for the climb? While your spouse, partner, or friend goes for the summit, you can enjoy traditional safari activities in five-star comfort like game viewing, horseback riding, and "sundowners," at two permanent camps: Ol Donyo Wuas, at the foot of the Chyulu Hills; and Finch Hatton’s, a luxurious legacy of the former big game hunter in Tsavo. Both offer views of Kilimanjaro. On Day 10 (see itinerary below) you’ll meet the group in Tsavo after the climb.

Itinerary: Kilimanjaro & Beyond - Rongai Route

Day 1 - Meet in Nairobi, Kenya. Overnight at the Karen Blixen Cottages, just outside Nairobi.

Days 2-3 - Game viewing in Amboseli, noted for having the most magnificent elephant herds in Africa and dramatic views of Kilimanjaro. Noted researchers Cynthia Moss and Joyce Poole have conducted groundbreaking elephant studies here for almost 30 years.

Days 4-7 - From the lower slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro on the Kenya side, you'll be climbing through unspoiled forests, moorlands, and alpine zone, arriving at a high camp at 15,500'. You'll take an extra day for acclimatization below the craggy north face of Mawenzi, Kilimanjaro's forgotten peak (it's the second-highest point at 16,893 feet).

Day 8 - Pre-dawn hike (the classic alpine start) to Kilimanjaro's glacier-clad summit to watch the sun rise over the African plains, an indescribable thrill and feeling of accomplishment! Descend to camp at 12,000'.
Day 9 - Hike down through the lush equatorial rain forest, home to colobus and Syke's monkeys. Meet waiting vehicles for a drive to the hotel in Marangu, Tanzania.

Day 10 - Drive to camp along the Galana River in Tsavo East National Park where Mountain Travel Sobek has an exclusive permit.

Days 11-12 - Tsavo is Africa at its most intense and dramatic, a raw sunburned land through which the Galana, the only source of water for the wildlife, cuts a bright green swath. Accompanied by trackers and an armed escort, you'll carefully search for prides of lions, including the rare maneless males, stalk elephant herds, view hippos and crocs in quiet pools, and enjoy some of the best birding in Kenya.

Day 13 - Drive to palm-fringed Watamu Beach at Malindi on the Indian Ocean coast, where you can swim, snorkel, bird-watch, or go deep-sea fishing (optional).

Day 14 - Morning on the beach; fly to Nairobi in the afternoon and depart, or join one of our extensions in East Africa.
Dates & Prices

2009
Jun 01 - Jun 14
Jul 09 - Jul 22
Jul 31 - Aug 13
Aug 29 - Sep 11
Sep 28 - Oct 11

2010
Jan 24 - Feb 06
Feb 22 - Mar 07
Jun 20 - Jul 03
Jul 20 - Aug 02
Sep 17 - Sep 30
Oct 17 - Oct 30

2009 Prices
$6,295 (11–15 members)
$6,595 (7–10 members)
$6,995 (3–6 members)
$1,250 park fees
$300 internal air
$1,200 single supplement

Toll Free 1-888-831-7526 (USA & Canada)

So what are you waiting for? The ice caps to melt?

Eco-Conscious Travel Style: Organic Rain Tees

In the Winter of 2007, Beth Doane changed her life forever. "I was running my clothing distribution company, Andira, for about two years when I started to feel this odd sense of emptiness and lack of respect for the fashion industry," Doane admits.

"I was learning so much about import and distribution of international brands through my travel internationally, trade shows, and fashion weeks, but none of what I was learned was fulfilling. I started to see the toxicity of mass production and began asking questions about price points and color-ways, when I also asked who was making this handbag or that line of dresses, where they lived, how much they were paid and what kinds of fabrics are used and how they are developed... questions the industry seemed to conveniently avoid. It seemed no amount of yoga or red wine could make my real questions or concerns about fashion go away. The more I had all this running through my head, the more miserable I became so I decided to do something about it."
Alas... Rain Tee was born.

Rain Tees, her 100% organic apparel line for women and children is designed by youth living in endangered rain forests across Central and South America, each featuring their own thoughts and illustrations regarding their tropical homeland. For every Rain Tee sold, a child involved in Kids Saving the Rain Forest, Costa Rica will receive a tree they can plant to replace one that has been destroyed.

Why tees for the rain forest?

"I knew that rain forests act like a delicate balancing mechanism for our entire planet. By keeping them intact we can control weather patterns globally. I knew this was an area in desperate need of global attention, so I started with combining nature (which affects everyone in the world)- with apparel - something that can reach everyone in the world," Doane explains. She traveled to the Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, areas of La Selva Maya in Mexico, worked with teams of volunteers in Ecuador and Bolivia, researchers in Brazil, and NGO's in Peru that traveled deep into the Amazon Jungle to do art sessions with the children.

Manufactured in Peru, the tees give new employment opportunities to people who are often forced out of their homes to work for oil companies, cut trees, or poach animals illegally to feed their families because the waterways have become polluted due to industrialization. Using family-owned, vertically-integrated factories that pay their workers 25% above average wages, Doane tries to keep the manufacturing process as eco-conscious as possible, from the way the fabric is selected to the way the tees are packaged to ship. With each Rain Tee purchase, you're not only supporting fair trade and fair labor practices, but you're promoting reforestation, creating environmental education for youth living in both endangered tropical forests and in our local communities, and creating green jobs for workers in rain forest communities so they do not feel forced to work in deforestation, animal trafficking, or oil industries.

And really... if you're going to wear something cute, you might as well make the most of it.

www.raintees.com

Maui, Green Travel: Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment

Take one of the most beautiful hotels in the Hawaiian islands, the always impeccable Ritz-Carlton service, a $180 million transformation, and a partnership with renowned diplomat for the environment, Jean-Michel Cousteau, and you have... the Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua’s Ambassadors of the Environment program! We can't ever say enough about the Ritz. They just know how to do it right, down to the five food and beverage presentations of their Club Level, unmatched service with a smile, and now a program benefiting our most beloved resource... the ocean. Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ambassadors of the Environment program at the Ritz-Carlton Kapalua, Maui (and other select Ritz destinations worldwide) offers everything from underwater photography sessions at Kapalua Bay to seasonal whale-watching excursions paired with Trilogy, as well as hikes in the Kapalua Arboretum. The best part? All activities are led by trained naturalists with degrees in the sciences. I visited in February and had an amazing time playing tennis with my husband, enjoying their stunning spa (complete with a private co-ed hot tub), nibbling delectable cuisine on the Club Level (not to be missed if you're staying at the Ritz), and alas... taking part in the Ambassadors of the Environment program.
Before our guide, Iokepa Naeole, took us on a memorable hike throughout the Kapalua Arboretum, he sang a moving Hawaiian prayer, thanking the environment for allowing us to appreciate her beauty and enter her honorable rainforest. When he sang, it seemed as if everything suddenly went still. The wind, the birds, and the trees. Once inside, Naole informed us about the culture, native endemic species and invasive species, but my favorite part of the hike was swinging from a branch like Tarzan while Naeole picked fruits for us to eat along the way.
The program certainly lived up to it's goal: inspiring Ritz guests to live a more sustainable life with a greater understanding of the relationships between land to sea, humans to nature, people to people, and present to future. To that end, the center's furniture is made with completely recycled materials like Marmeloum and tables made of reclaimed shredded U.S. currency and sunflower hull and straw. Using only CFL and LED lights, they also have dual-flush toilets and coreless toilet paper, 100% Recycled and biodegradable non-bleached paper towels, sustainable bamboo floors, reusable containers for beverages, and all single use products (cups, utensils, etc.) are made from non-GMO corn, potato or sugar cane that are biodegradable and compostable.

If that's not impressive enough, they get their drinking water from one of the most space-age devices I've ever come across - an atmospheric water generator (AWG) which converts ambient atmospheric water vapor into potable water. It extracts, filters, treats and purifies water all from the air we breathe! I was so impressed with their eco-friendly earth-conscious tips that as soon as I'm in one place long enough, I'm saving up for that handy water vapor machine.

So we say, get on that first flight to Maui and be sure to follow up your visit by joining Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society (OFS), a non-profit that explores our global ocean, inspiring and educating people to act responsibly for its protection, documenting the critical connection between humanity and nature, and celebrating the ocean’s vital importance to the survival of life on our planet.

The ocean can't wait!

www.ritzcarlton.com
www.oceanfutures.org

Honeymooning in the Maldives: Luxury Over Water Villas

The first "Floating Resort" in the Indian Ocean... does it get any better than this? The perfect exotic escape for honeymooners and discerning families alike, check out The Banyan Tree's 'Angsana Velavaru' located in the pristine South Nilandhe Atoll in the Maldives, known as ‘Turtle Island’ in the local Dhivehi language. We're excited to be one of the first to announce that they're launching their first standalone collection of water villas in July 2009! Feted for its turquoise lagoon, spacious pool villas, and one of the few resorts in the secluded southern reaches of the Maldives, it's a scenic 40-minute seaplane (yes, seaplane!) journey from Malé island. The 34 uber-luxurious InOcean Villas are located just a half a mile from the island of Velavaru where the resort’s original 79 villas are located and range from 1,885 square feet to 3,122 square feet. We love that the sliding glass doors along the living, sleeping, and bathing areas offer an absolutely unobstructed panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. Each swanky two-story villa is also reminiscent of a stylish loft with contemporary design accents. We think you ought to relax on an airy outdoor deck with a hammock suspended over the sparkling azure waters and swim in a 200 square-foot infinity pool. Like this...
The Premier InOcean Villas and two-bedroom Sanctuary InOcean Villas each have extended decks into the ocean, complete with a cozy pavilion for lounging or yoga practice (since we know how much you all love your yoga). Modern amenities include a flat screen TV, stereo system with iPod docking station, and wireless internet. Hell, it's hard enough to find a reliable wireless connection on the mainland!

In addition, Azzurro, the resort’s new gourmet Italian restaurant and bar, has been added toward one end of the InOcean Villa cluster and guests can enjoy complete access to the facilities at the main resort on Velavaru Island like dining at Funa and Kaani restaurants, cocktails at Kuredhi Bar, culinary classes, Angsana Spa treatments, diving, guided snorkeling safari, wakeboarding, and, our favorite eco-resort feature... a dedicated Marine Lab which organizes hands-on activities for environmentally-minded travelers like coral planting, reef cleaning and marine biology classes.

Angsana, managed by The Banyan Tree, truly caters to the modern traveler seeking style, luxury, and eco-awareness. Comprising of contemporary chic retreats, each property is designed to deliver vibrant experiences which also exude the spirit and conscience of its environment. A stylish eco-resort in the Maldives with one of the only Marine Research Labs in the world onsite... along with a hammock suspended in the ocean? Does honeymooning (or canoodling) get any more high-end and feel-good than this?

$750 per night, per villa.

www.angsana.com
1(800) 591-0439
Email: reservations-velavaru@angsana.com.

Jet Blue's Discounted Airfare Sale

This just in from the folks at TravelZoo! Fares from Long Beach, Burbank and San Diego have been reduced to $29-$99 each way in a 1-day sale announced by JetBlue today. Flights to the East Coast are as low as $79. The sale is for travel April 30 - June 10, but only on Tuesdays and Wednesdays and tickets must be booked by 11:59PM MST tonight.

Sample fares from Long Beach (each way):
- Las Vegas ... $29
- Oakland ... $29
- San Francisco ... $29
- Sacramento ... $39
- Seattle ... $39
- Portland ... $49
- Boston ... $79
- Fort Lauderdale ... $99
- Washington, D.C. ... $99

Sample fares from Burbank (each way):
- Las Vegas ... $29
- New York City ... $99

Sample fares from San Diego (each way):
- Salt Lake City ... $49
- Seattle ... $59
- New York City ... $99

To book directly through JetBlue Airways, click here:

http://www.travelzoo.com/Newsflash.ashx?574246-22860667

Cabo, Mexico: Full Moon Party @ The Marquis Los Cabos

A full moon over my Mexi. Finally, there's an interesting (and chic) nightlife option in Cabo! The Marquis Los Cabos Resort, a 237-suite beachfront property located on the southernmost tip of the Baja California península, has introduced Astronomy Nights, where every full moon after dusk local naturalists will introduce guests to the wonders of the Los Cabos night skies, including planets, constellations, a nebula and more. For a full hour, the hotel will turn out all the lights, adorning public places with candles to conserve energy and for a better view of the stars. Our favorite part? The Astronomy Night will include a lounge party with live Latin jazz and fire pit on the beach, Mayan astronomy lessons with two local naturalists Maria Elena Muriel and Julio Cesar Mendez and Mexican canapés, such as smoked marlin tostadas, ceviche, kabobs (tuna, shrimp, red snapper, beef, chicken, vegetarian), and desserts. Astronomy Nights, also open to the public, will take place on the beach at Marquis Los Cabos Resort in the Cabo Real section of Los Cabos during every full moon from 7pm-9pm on: May 9th, June 7th, July 7th, August 6th, September 4th, October 4th, November 2nd, and December 2nd.

In case you're unfamiliar, the resort features a 15,000 square foot holistic spa and fitness center, an exclusive gourmet restaurant where one of the only Michelin-pedigreed chefs in Cabo, and has earned "World's Best" (Travel + Leisure); "Gold List Award" (Conde Nast Traveler); and the Five Star Diamond Award for its Canto del Mar restaurant. They're also a member of the Leading Hotels of the World and the only member of Leading Spas of the World in Los Cabos.

For $40 per adult and $30 for children (age 4 - 12), drinks are additional.

For more information, call 1-877-238-9399.
www.marquisloscabos.com

Juicy Couture's "Pink Passport" Sale

Everyone secretly knows… if you want to truly be comfortable traveling on a plane, you wear your Juicy lounge pants. With classic loungewear, fragrances, accessories, and haute couture, after ten + years in the biz, Juicy is still the go-to favorite among slinky celebs and soccer moms.

As a tribute to their love of the jaunt, they’ve lovingly announced the launch of their "Pink Passport" travel-inspired shopping initiative. As part of the "Pink Passport" journey, customers will be presented with a two-fold opportunity; an exclusive 20% off in-store discount and a ticket to pick up the Juicy Couture Pink Passport. Each time a customer spends $200 or more on full price items at any Juicy Couture store, they'll receive a stamp in their passport and will automatically be entered to win the ultimate travel sweepstakes. The grand prize winner will be awarded with a dream trip to a Juicy Couture destination of choice. For two runner ups, prizes will include a Juicy travel tote bag filled with sunglasses, fragrance and other travel themed goodies from Juicy. The unique travel-inspired discount commenced April 1st, 2009 and is valid in all Juicy Couture locations, focusing on specific North America cities: New York City (NY), Las Vegas (NV), Aventura (FL), Boca Raton (FL), Merrick Park (FL), San Antonio (TX), Honolulu (HI), Waikiki (HI) as well as support for Asia, Dubai, Milan and soon Bruton Street - ultimately enticing shoppers to build Juicy Couture into a seamless shopping experience whether on Fifth Avenue or Hong Kong.

So Jaunt says, “Be Juicy (since every real man wants some meat on those bones) and buy Juicy (since theirs look the best on that booty).” You’d be hard pressed to find another brand that has both practical, comfortable travel wear and high-end looks ready for that wine tasting tour in Tuscany.

*Grand prize winner's package value is up to a maximum of $3,000
**Note the sweepstakes is only open to residents of the United States

Cape Town, South Africa: 'The Nelly' aka. The Mount Nelson Hotel

Is that really? No... it couldn't be. I think I've found... The Gates of Heaven?
Or close. It's... The Nelly! Can a hotel's nickname get any better than that? Bono, Alicia Keys, Kate Moss... if they're gonna fly off on a jaunt to Cape Town, they say, 'Might as walk through the pearly white gates' (or rather, the fancy white columns). This is where they rest their weary heads: The Orient-Express' iconic Mount Nelson Hotel (also known as 'The Nelly'). Just check out that prime location with sweeping views of South Africa's famous Table Mountain.
South Africa... what can we say? It brought us Nelson Mandela and the hope for freedom, now realized. So we say, begin the day with a stroll through their gardens and you'll no longer need to imagine yourself 'Out of Africa' because, yes, you've arrived. Next, head to the renowned Librisa Spa for The African Wellbeing Experience beginning with a lavender soak and concluding with a vanilla and wild ginger massage. That should work up your appetite. We also recommend, for those who can (and can't) afford to stay the night, tea time with five different kinds of teas, tiny finger sandwiches, savory quiches, scones, cakes of every shape and size, and big bowls of strawberries, fruit salad and blueberries.
Prepare for a night of stars at the Mount Nelson’s Planet Champagne Bar where you can mingle with stylish Capetonians and other guests from across the globe while sipping exotic cocktails under a twinkling fiber optic Milky Way.

It won't come cheap, but we can tell you this much... you'll be hard pressed to find a better spot overlooking Table Mountain on the tip of this promising continent.

Room rates begin at $650/per night.

www.mountnelson.co.za or call 800-237-1236

San Francisco: InterContinental Hotel's Hot Deal "The First Anniversary Package"

InterContinental San Francisco Guest Room

Since we love luxury, particuarly when it's on a budget, we had to fill you in on this sweet deal good until... the end of the year! As a tribute to the InterContinental San Francisco's First Anniversary, InterContinental San Francisco is offering their First Anniversary Package, an amazingly low nightly rate of just $88.80 per person, 2 person minimum.

The package includes a lavish Buffet Breakfast for 2; cocktails in Bar 888 for 2; overnight valet parking (a $50 value); an I-Spa gift bag and a $50.00 gift card for use in the I-Spa.

For Reservations: Call 415.616.6500 and make sure you mention 'The First Anniversary Package.'