CASA COLONIAL BEACH & SPA

Package Description and Rate Details:
* 2 Nights in Junior Suite Ocean Front* Transportation from Puerto Plata International Airport to the hotel* bottle of Sparkling wine in Suite upon arrival* Breakfast for two each morning, served on the terrace of your Junior Suite* 1 Togetherness Massage (80 min)An intimate experience, Bagua's massage rituals for couples provide therapy for both body and soul. Relax in our private couple's suite and enjoy 25-minute serenity or sensuality soak and 50-minute couples massage.* 1 Deep Tissue Massage for Him (50 min)Most popular massage for those who prefer deeper body work and targeted pressure. Relieves muscular aches and pain.* 1 Aromatic Journey for Her (50 min)Essential oil and light aromatics produce profound relaxation while the body responds to gentle massag. Soulful.* Transportation from hotel to Puerto Plata International Airport us$999.0016% taxes and 10% service charge not included.

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Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Merge

After years of conflicting ?will they? Won?t they?? rumors, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, two of California?s biggest resorts, announced this morning that they are merging. It?s always been a dream, it?s age old,? says Squaw?s Amelia Richmond. ?But it's only really been in the works since last winter.? KSL Capital Partners, which owns Squaw, will operate the two resorts under the name of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings LLC. According to a Squaw Valley press release, ?As part of the transaction, an investment affiliate of JMA Ventures (JMA), will convert its ownership of Alpine Meadows into partial ownership of the combined company. KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL), the owner of Squaw Valley, will be the majority owner of the combined company.? JMA, which also owns Homewood, will still be affiliated. This comes less than a year after KSL bought Squaw in November of 2010. Richmond says the deal won?t close until November, and that operationally nothing will change until then, but that everything should be in place before the resorts open and that Squaw and Alpine skiers will definitely have access to both resorts. ?The pass is a done deal, she says. All tickets and passes will work at both Squaw and Alpine. Anyone who has already bought passes to either resort will have access to both mountains. New pass products, including the $439 Tahoe Super Pass, will also be available. When asked if the merger was a play to compete with Vail Resorts, which now owns two Tahoe area resorts, Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley told the local newspaper it wasn?t and that it was ?simply about the implementation of a vision, a vision of something greater, and pursuing a tremendous opportunity on behalf of our guests.? Skiers will still access the two areas separately although the resort will run shuttle services between them. The terrain between the two areas is held by a third party, and Richmond says they?re not ready to discuss the logistics of interconnecting the resorts and what that would entail, just yet. ?At this time we?re trying to make sure things are streamlined,? she says. ?Those talks are just a little bit down the road." Get full details here.

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Five fantastic (and mostly budget-friendly) Chilean wines available in the U.S.

Filed under: Arts and Culture, History, Learning, Business, Food and Drink, South America, Chile, Ecotourism, Budget Travel, Luxury TravelChilean wine--if given any thought at all--has historically been considered cheap plonk; the Gallo of the Southern Hemisphere.

Those days are over, baby. In recent years, Chile has become a contender with the wines of the more well-known Mendoza Valley in Argentina, just a very high-altitude hop over the Andes.

The central Chilean wine regions of Maipo, Colchagua, Casablanca, San Antonio, and Aconcagua Valleys (and their various sub-regions) are blessed with a Mediterranean climate; rolling hills; a lack of crowds and attitude; amazing diversity of varietals; affordable wines, and refreshing coastal breezes or stunning views of the nearby Andes. You're not going to find all of that in Napa.

While in Chile last month, I visited a number of wineries in the above regions, and I was impressed by the quality of the wines. Modern Chilean winemakers are young, progressive, and well-trained, often in Europe or the U.S..

Below are five of my favorites, all of which are available here in the States. If you can't find them at your local wine shop, they can be ordered online through your favorite retailer or via New York-based Puro Wines--the world's first dedicated Chilean wine store.

All of the following wineries have tasting rooms open to the public; quoted prices are in U.S. dollars and may vary depending upon retailer.

1. Emiliana Organic Vineyards Eco-Balance Sauvignon Blanc 2011, Bio Bio Valley
This forward-thinking family vineyard practices organic and biodynamic farming, relying upon their resident sheep, alpacas, and poultry to do the weeding and fertilizing, but more modern sustainable business practices and employee-incentive programs are also at work. The Sauvignon Blanc is loaded with nectarine, white peach, and tropical fruit without being cloying or heavy. The 2010 is a steal at $8.99-$10.95; look for the '11 coming soon.Continue reading Five fantastic (and mostly budget-friendly) Chilean wines available in the U.S.Five fantastic (and mostly budget-friendly) Chilean wines available in the U.S. originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Permalink | Email this | Comments

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Why cat skiing BC Canada is so popular

Although it is a sport that has emerged almost a quarter of a century ago, cat skiing has gained quickly popularity and today it is one of the most famous winter sports gathering together skiers and adrenaline junkies from all over the world

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Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows Merge

After years of conflicting ?will they? Won?t they?? rumors, Squaw Valley and Alpine Meadows, two of California?s biggest resorts, announced this morning that they are merging. It?s always been a dream, it?s age old,? says Squaw?s Amelia Richmond. ?But it's only really been in the works since last winter.? KSL Capital Partners, which owns Squaw, will operate the two resorts under the name of Squaw Valley Ski Holdings LLC. According to a Squaw Valley press release, ?As part of the transaction, an investment affiliate of JMA Ventures (JMA), will convert its ownership of Alpine Meadows into partial ownership of the combined company. KSL Capital Partners, LLC (KSL), the owner of Squaw Valley, will be the majority owner of the combined company.? JMA, which also owns Homewood, will still be affiliated. This comes less than a year after KSL bought Squaw in November of 2010. Richmond says the deal won?t close until November, and that operationally nothing will change until then, but that everything should be in place before the resorts open and that Squaw and Alpine skiers will definitely have access to both resorts. ?The pass is a done deal, she says. All tickets and passes will work at both Squaw and Alpine. Anyone who has already bought passes to either resort will have access to both mountains. New pass products, including the $439 Tahoe Super Pass, will also be available. When asked if the merger was a play to compete with Vail Resorts, which now owns two Tahoe area resorts, Andy Wirth, president and CEO of Squaw Valley told the local newspaper it wasn?t and that it was ?simply about the implementation of a vision, a vision of something greater, and pursuing a tremendous opportunity on behalf of our guests.? Skiers will still access the two areas separately although the resort will run shuttle services between them. The terrain between the two areas is held by a third party, and Richmond says they?re not ready to discuss the logistics of interconnecting the resorts and what that would entail, just yet. ?At this time we?re trying to make sure things are streamlined,? she says. ?Those talks are just a little bit down the road." Get full details here.

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Istanbul city guide

Plan the perfect trip with The Guardian's definitive new insiders' guide

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Longest zip-line in the world at Palau's new eco theme park

Filed under: Oceania, Palau, Ecotourism, News, Theme ParksPalau is no longer just a destination for underwater adventure. This destination in Micronesia, which is ranked as one of the top scuba diving destinations in the world, has recently opened the Palau Eco Theme Park, home to one of the longest zip line courses on Earth.

The three-course zip-line that allows participants to get really high about the trees, flying over the Taki Waterfall Park in the State of Ngardmau. Because story-telling is also a major focus of the theme park, these waterfalls were selected to provide the backdrop (or underdrop) for the experience not only because of their beauty, but also because of the legend that is associated with them. Apparently, an eel with magic powers once changed into the river itself, with its head being the waterfall.

With the length of each section running between 300 and 340 meters (about 985 to 1,115 feet), this course is no joke, and is said to be one of the longest zip line courses in the world.

For more information on Palau Eco Theme Park you can call (680) 747-1004.Longest zip-line in the world at Palau's new eco theme park originally appeared on Gadling on Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

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