New Package Includes a Wine Cellar Tasting With a Sommelier and 30% Off Any Bottle of Wine

NEW YORK (July 26, 2010) – Lake Placid Lodge, the only hotel located on magical Lake Placid, is pleased to invite wine lovers for a two-night stay between Sunday and Thursday in a Lakeside Suite or a Mountain View Cabin. Available for the remainder of 2010, the new Wine Lovers Package offers guests’ exceptional amenities, including a wine tasting with a sommelier in the lodge’s artisan crafted wine cellar and 30% off any bottle of wine from the Lodge’s extensive wine list during meals enjoyed at Maggie’s Pub or Artisans Restaurant during an entire stay.  With a wine list of more than 8,000 bottles and vintages dating back to 1917, the Lodge has a wine selection to suit any palate.

Balanced on the edge of village and forest and an original “Great Camp” for the new century, Lake Placid Lodge is a realm of infinite welcome and great beauty, where wide porches, high windows, grand outdoor fireplaces, and paths wandering off into the woods magnify the magnificence of nature. The Lodge is a celebration of all that was – and remains – best in the Adirondacks. Its beams are hewn by hand, its rooms filled with art and antiques, its beds carved by local artisans, and its fifty stone fireplaces laid piece-by-piece by Adirondack masons. It is a traditional, personal retreat; both rustic and splendid, as the Great Camps have always been.

Pricing for the Wine Lovers Package begins at $1,900*and includes:

* 30% **off any bottle of wine from the Lodge’s extensive wine list during meals at Maggie’s Pub or Artisans Restaurant for an entire stay
* Automatic upgrade to a Lakeside Cabin, if available ($100 Value)
* A split of Wolffer Estate Cabernet Franc and a local artisanal cheddar upon delivered in-room
* One half dozen hand-dipped chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of Lucien Albrecht Brut Rose delivered in-room during turn down service on the first night at the Lodge ($90 Value)
* Daily breakfast prepared-to-order for two, which may be enjoyed either in the guests’ cabin or in the Lodge’s restaurant overlooking Lake Placid
* A  Wine Cellar tasting with Christian, the Lodge’s Sommelier, complete with a selection of local, regional and global cheeses  (tastings held on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5PM until 6PM; $105 Value)
* A beautifully crafted French Laguiole corkscrew to celebrate the guests’ last evening at the Lodge ($60 Value)
* A late departure of 1:00 PM rather than 11:00 AM (confirmed at check-in)

For reservations and additional information, please call (877) 523-2700 and request the “Wine Lovers Package.” For additional information on Lake Placid Lodge visit www.lakeplacidlodge.com

*Base rate does not include standard room taxes and service fees.

**30% wine discount for whole bottle purchases only (including 1/2 bottles).  All wine must be purchased in either Artisans or Maggie’s Pub for consumption at the time of purchase.

New York, NY (July 15, 2010) – Looking for a great deal on autumn travel? Fall to Barbados is the perfect reason to escape to this lush Caribbean island – offering travelers a destination rich in history, culture, food, music, and a passion for living life to its fullest.  Now through August 15, 2010, book an experiential Barbados vacation for travel between September 1 and December 18, 2010.  The Fall to Barbados package is guaranteed to leave memories that last a lifetime, without breaking the bank.  For more information and to book visit, www.visitbarbados.org.

This special package invites visitors to customize vacations directly with their travel agent, selecting options from a full range of the very best hotels, attractions and activities available on island.  Fall to Barbados offers a truly unforgettable Caribbean experience at an exceptionally low rate, proving there has never been a better time to visit Barbados.

Visitors on the Fall to Barbados program can take advantage of the following:

• Booking credit of up to US $300* per booking
• Complimentary breakfast daily at participating EP Hotels
• Buy one and get 2nd at 25% or more off at participating ground activities
• One free day car rental on minimal 3-day rental
• One Barbados Gourmet Card – 20% off at participating restaurants – per booking

*Per Booking Credit – $150, $200 or $300 (depending on hotel).

Further information on the 2010 Fall to Barbados package and a list of participating hotels, restaurants and attractions can be found at www.visitbarbados.org or by calling the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1(800) 221-9831.  For reservations, consumers should contact their preferred travel agent.

Getting there:

JetBlue Airways flies daily nonstop between Grantley Adams International Airport in Bridgetown, Barbados and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. Flights are on sale at www.jetblue.com.

American Airlines has service to Barbados with non-stop routes from New York, Miami and San Juan.  AAVacations continuously puts together excellent packages with unbeatable prices for an unforgettable stay. www.aa.com.

About Barbados

The island of Barbados offers the most authentic Caribbean experience with its exceptionally rich culture and history rooted in remarkable landscapes, including The Crane beach, St. Philips, voted one of the world’s sexiest beaches for 2008 by Concierge.com.  Barbados is the first and only Zagat-rated Caribbean island with numerous internationally renowned chefs who masterfully put signature spins on local delicacies and traditions. Barbados is also an ideal stage for world-class events and has hosted numerous athletic championships, including the ICC Cricket World Cup Final 2007 and the 2006 PGA World Golf Championship-The Barbados World Cup. Accommodations range from picturesque plantation houses and villas to quaint bed and breakfasts to award-winning five-star resorts. The newly renovated Grantley Adams International Airport offers even more non-stop and direct service from a growing number of U.S. cities via newly-launched Jet Blue, American Airlines, Delta and US Airways, making Barbados the true gateway to the Eastern Caribbean.  Barbados was voted #8 in the World by Trip Advisor’s ‘2008 Travelers Choice Destination Awards’ in its Top 100 Destinations category.  Follow the Barbados beat and catch up on the latest news via the Barbados Facebook page at www.tinyurl.com/barbadosbeat and Twitter at www.twitter.com/barbadostourism.  For more information on travel to Barbados, visit www.visitbarbados.org, or contact the Barbados Tourism Authority at 1.800.221.9831.

Photo Credit: Courtesy Barbados Tourism Authority

Due to increasing interest and demand from members for family-friendly European travel, the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is adding 22 European villas across Tuscany, Provence and Cote d’Azur to its Travel Credit Program. These extraordinary properties, in the most-requested destinations in Italy and France, are particularly well suited to multi-generational families traveling together.

Members of the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club enjoy access to a portfolio of magnificent private homes in the most sought-after destinations around the globe and can also trade nights for credit towards inspiring A&K travel—now including 22 new European villas.

A dedicated Global Experience Manager works with the member to make all the arrangements, including preparing the home with groceries and preferred amenities. They recommend insider access experiences that include VIP tours of one of the oldest Tuscan pasta makers, an introduction to how pecorino and ricotta cheese are made, winery tours and barrel tastings, even underground tours of medieval Siena. Global Experience Managers can also arrange cooking, painting or language lessons with local experts in the privacy of the villa.

The Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is currently offering a two-year trial membership with no up-front capital payment for those who want an extended opportunity to experience Club life before making a full commitment. Two-year trial members pay normal Club dues plus a 10% premium that will be credited to their capital contribution if they later join as a permanent equity member.

Until June 30, the Club is offering the opportunity to save thousands on equity membership, with a price increase scheduled July 1. Visit www.akresidenceclub.com/offers to learn more or read full press release here.

There is so much to love about Napa Valley’s Swanson Vineyards – the experience of their Wine Tasting Salon, the quality of their Merlot, Cab, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio & sweet wines, their attention to detail, the pedigree of their Oakville estates vineyards and Chateau Petrus-, Dominus-, Caymus-educated winemaker, Chris Phelps.

But what I love most about Swanson Vineyards this year is that they have taken care of my Valentine’s Day shopping already. This gift box comes with a beautiful bottle of Alexis Cabernet Sauvignon and a hatbox of dark chocolate bon-bons, which I will order now to have delivered before its too late!