The Bacara Resort and Spa is located on the coast just a little north of Santa Barbara. Relaxed appeal of a true classic California resort. Much of what makes Bacara such a magical place is its unique location between the Pacfic Ocean and the Santa Ynez Mountains. Activities include golf, tennis, hiking, and a full-service spa.

The resort offers 360 guest rooms and suites with Spanish tile floors, balconies, some with fireplaces. They included all the amenities that one would expect from a high-end luxury resort.

The spa offers a variety of treatments to help you relax and feel refreshed. Thai massage, Reiki, and reflexology, guests to Bacara will find it easy to reunite their bodies, minds and spirits. There  fitness center which offers personal trainers and fitness instructors, as well as classes in yoga, Pilates, group meditation and Tai Chi.

Bacara has 3 pools one is dedicated to the Spa, the other larger public pools are situated at the base of the resort near the ocean.

The Bistro Restaurant has ocean view patio dining serving everything from breakfast to a late night snack.

Located high in the spectacular coastal mountains of Vancouver Island, next to the farms and vineyards of the Cowichan Valley and close to Victoria rests The Aerie Resort. Surrounded by 85 acres of meticulously kept grounds and gardens, the breath-taking view from The Aerie is worth the trip alone.

There are 3 different buildings for your stay, each with its own special charm and incredible views.Villa Cielo is on the highest point and offers unsurpassed privacy and elegance. The Residence Building offers seven rooms and suites, while the Main Building is the original Aerie construction, and now offers 22 elegant rooms and suites.

The rooms have all the amenities, fireplace, couch, huge tub – in the sitting room – large bed and great view off the balcony.

Amenities: Massage, Meeting Facilities, Broadband Access, Restaurant in Hotel, Fireplace, Hot Tub, Air Conditioning, Television, more..

The Aerie Spa and Wellness Centre will leave you rejuvenated and inspired!

Activities: Swimming Pool, Golf, Tennis, Fitness, Mud bath, mountain biking, hiking, horseback riding, fishing, sailing, water-skiing, diving, kayaking, rafting, culinary tours, float plane tours, yoga.

Aerie Resort and Spa is a haven for those who enjoy fine wines and gourmet cuisine.

Chefs create food that is fresh and delicious, using classic French techniques but much inspired by Pacific Northwest flavours and style.

La Lancha is sets in one of the wilder spots in the world – secluded in rainforest on the shores of Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala. Owned by movie director Francis Ford Coppola, the lodge is located a 30 minute drive away from the famous Mayan ruins at Tikal. Weather Nov to Jun is the best time to visit.

There are ten naturally built brightly decorated “casitas” that are inspired by antique Balinese and Guatemalan furniture but well equipped with modern amenities. The lodge featuring two rooms with queen-size beds, decks with hammocks and private large marble bathrooms. 

Activities: Canoeing, hiking, bird-watching, fishing, kayaking at the lake, horse riding, walking trails. The hotel offers spectacular views of the glassy lake’s waters and the greenery of Guatemala. There is also a restaurant specializing in regional dishes, open-air bar, swimming pool and gift shop.

Mafia is a sleepy untouched retreat from the real world, and a slice of the old Swahili Coast, where people go about their lives simply and traditionally. It is part of Spice Islands, but is governed from the mainland. It is a cluster of one main island – 48 km long and numerous tiny ones, and is now the site of the largest marine park in the Indian Ocean, with fine corals. Photo by: booniekathrin

For a small island like this one, the sea rules. Every imagine form of boat is crafted locally – from large ocean going dhows to smaller masha or fishing boats or canoes. The main way of life is fishing and the waters are rich for both fishermen and divers. Coconuts and cashews are key cash crops, but the price of coconuts on the world markets has fallen in recent years and fishing has become more commercially viable. Photo by: booniekathrin

Mafia is also emerged as the striking raffia mats that the women of the island weave, often plaiting as they stroll along. This is an under-developed place, and the infrastructure is very poor – there is only electricity around the main tourist areas and very few houses have running water. Most locals get around on foot or bicycle. Photo by: DirectorUzi

Mafia has seen Portuguese, German and British occupation and this history has resulted in shifting mixed population. Photo by: booniekathrin

When to go: July to October and December to March. Population: 40,801. How to get there: Small aircraft from Dar es Salaam or by road from Dar es Salaam to Kisiju and then boat to Mafia. Photo by: wayne bremser

Chiva-Som, meaning Haven of Life, is located in the south of Hua Hin, Thailand,  is a three-hour drive from Bangkok. The resort  is surrounded by tropical gardens and next to an idyllic beach on the Gulf of Thailand. Chiva-Som provides a comprehensive range of spa, medical and fitness programs that combine the very best of Thai hospitality and Western-style treatments.

The resort offers privacy and seclusion with only 57 elegant Thai-style pavilions, Ocean View rooms and suites.They offer private balconies or terraces for drinking in the fresh air and relaxing atmosphere, and listening to the softly lapping sea.

There are many fitness activities including t’ai chi, pilates, health and beauty workshops and holistic programmes that incorporate forms of traditional Chinese medicine.

Specialty Activities: Xi Gong, Thai Boxing; yoga, aqua aerobic and water fitness classes; physiotherapy services; naturopathic consultation, iridology-diagnosis through the eyes.

Restaurants at the resort include the Emerald Room- an international spa cuisine restaurant and the Taste of Siam – a restaurant by the beach serving Thai spa cuisine. Spa Cuisine- Detoxifying, fat and salt-free cuisine incorporates local herbs and spices.

Outdoor Options: Outdoor pool, Biking, Tennis, Sea Kayaking, outdoor training, golf, sightseeing and guided tours.

Tucked into the native maritime forest, you will find the sanctuary of Bahia Beach Resort  and Golf Club. Bahia Beach Resort and Golf Club, Puerto Rico located on Puerto Rico’s northeastern coast where the Atlantic Ocean blends with the azure waters of the Caribbean Sea. The community will boast a magnificent two-mile crescent of Sandy Beach.

139 magnificent rooms, where private terraces lead to spectacular ocean views.

The pool is beautiful.
 

It’s unique location in the salt flats of Cabo Rojo, also offers tourists the opportunity to bike, go scuba diving, boating, kayaking, deep sea fishing, jogging, trekking, even golfing.
18-hole championship golf course – with spectacular holes along the ocean, scenic lakes, undulating fairways and gentle ocean breezes.

The resort is home to a variety of animal inhabitants including snook and tarpon, frigate birds, pelicans, palm trees, golden leather ferns, whistling ducks, iguanas and many species of songbirds.

El Nido Resorts began 20 years ago as a 15-cottage dive camp built in an isolated island in El Nido, Palawan, Philippines. Miniloc Island, with a total land area of 224 hectares, is one of the largest islands in the El Nido Protected Area. The resort is encircled by limestone cliffs and crystal clear waters.  It’s a great place to relax. The island is a part of the still unspoiled chain of 45 limestone island jewels that make up El Nido, Palawan.

Miniloc Island Resort composed of 50 rooms with a variety of accommodation styles. Standard Rooms are 21 sqm, with garden and partial bay views. They are fitted with a queen size bed or 2 single beds. 25 air conditioned seaview room with separate shower and toilet facilities, Hot and cold water, Mini bar, Reception area.

There are water cottages built on stilts over the water. There are also seaview rooms with an adjoining verandah, directly overlooking the sea.

Amenities: Business Center, High-speed Internet, Restaurant and more.

The waters fronting the resort are rich in marine life.

It also has a Marine Sports Center, complete with water sports equipment such as diving and snorkeling, kayak, windsurfer, and hobie cat.

In one of the most attractive spots on Turkey‘s Turquoise Coast is the lovely Mediterranean island of Kekova, As just 4.5 sq km, the island is uninhabited but lies in a bay close to the mainland. On the north shore of the island are ruins of ancient Apollonia, dating back to the 5th century BC. The reason these ruins attract so many tourists is that they lie partially beneath the waves, an amazing sunken city in the clear blue waters of the bay. Photo by: JMcD&SW

The city was submerged by a series of earthquakes over the centuries. Today marble columns and arches rise into the water, and stone steeps lead down into the ocean floor. You can explore the sunken ruins by kayak, or take a ferry trip to view them, as swimming is no longer allowed there. But west on the shore of the Bay of Tersane, swimming is permitted and this is an evocative and lovely place for a picnic. Photo by: Hendo101

Apollonia was part of Lycia, an important kingdom in this region. The Lycains traded with Ancient greeks and as trade increased, so did piracy. For that reason, many harbours and port, featuring Kekova, were fortified. While you glide over the blue water, you can spot remains of buildings and wall beneath you boat, a rather unsettling experience.! Photo by: mebooyou

On the mainland, near Kekova are some more fascinating ruins, those of ancient Simena, dating back to the 4th century BC. Today the fishing village of Kale stands on the site. A medieval castle sits atop the little hill and from there you can get a good view of the ruins. The ruined fortress, Simena Castle, features the pointed arches of the Lycian. Photo by: Infinitaintringulis

When to go: April to November. Population: Uninhabited. How to get there: By boat from Kas or Kaikan. You should know: Due to visitors taking home souvenirs from the ruins, it is no longer permitted to swim among the ruins of Apollonia. However, there are other ruins close by which can be explored from the water. Photo by: Lvovsky

Just one kilometre long and 500 metres wide, Daydream is always popular with its easy access from Hamilton Island. The resort is located in the heart of the Great Barrier Reef. The low rise resort buildings, pools, restaurants and sporting facilities blend seamlessly with the natural beauty of the island’s waterfalls, secluded beaches, lagoons, rainforest and  gardens.

Of its three beaches one is fringed by outcrops of coral and colorful fishlife.

It has a unique outdoor aquarium, with exotic sea life from the barrier reef. The aquarium has about 80 different types of sea life.

You’ll be able to snorkel directly off the beach to the fringing reef or go sea kayaking, water skiing or even windsurfing. Budding golfer’s can practise their putting skills on the 19-hole themed mini golf course.

You can fly direct to nearby Hamilton Island from most Australian cities and transfer to Daydream by launch. Or, fly to Proserpine on the coast, travel by coach to Shute Harbour, and then by launch. Helijet or seaplane also available.

The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii

Located within Mauna Lani Resort, the hotel offers really luxurious accommodations. Hotel Description: 540 rooms, 6 floors, 4 restaurants, 10 tennis courts, 5 bars, a fully equipped fitness center, swim pool, and spa center. The guest rooms at The Fairmont Orchid feature minibars, high-speed Internet access, cable TV, air-conditioning, safes, video games, hairdryers, irons and marble bathrooms with bath amenities. The resort is consistently lauded as one of the world’s top golf resorts by readers of “Conde Nast Traveler Magazine”.

The Fairmont Orchid’s most extravagant feature is the spa with no walls – a series of open-air massage houses nestled among natural beauty of Hawaii, surrounded by streams, waterfalls and lily ponds. The spa center offers fitness and relaxation classes such as daily seaside yoga, meditation, vision fitness, pool aerobics, and spa facility with 2 lava-rock spa tubs.

The resort also offers a variety of activities including: golf, tennis, biking, billiards and board games, hiking, fishing, kayaking, sailing, snorkeling, squash, horseback riding, and diving. Other amenities include: a business center, cell phone rentals, babysitting services, gift shops, laundry services, hairdresser and parking.

Labriz Silhouette is an Indian Ocean resort nestles between a 5 km soft beach and a lush tropical forest with imposing mountain peaks. It is the latest addition to the luxury hotels of the Seychelles. Labriz is a Creole word derived from the French phrase “la brise” (“the breeze”). The resort offers spacious 93 villas and 17 pavilions which are hidden amongst the tropical greenery and all include modern amenities such as 32” LCD TVs, Wi-Fi and their own 7 x 3 m pool.

Labriz Silhouette combines the optimum in “fly and flop” relaxation including a first class spa and body treatments, fine dining and beautiful beaches with exciting activities. Resort’ Facilities: Swimming pool, scuba dive centre, tennis court, fitness center, helipad, Aquum Spa, gym, beauty salon, 4 restaurants, and bar.

Apart from the usual water sports, Labriz also offers the opportunity to be at one with nature. Adventurous trekking tours take guests through the tropical jungle to expeditions with resident naturalist and marine biologist. Points of Interest: excursions to Mah?, deep-sea fishing, snorkeling excursions, kayaks, pedal boat hire, the Silhouette Giant Tortoise Sanctuary. Stay 7 nights Low Season from £3050 per person & High Season from £3960 per person.

The largest of the 74 islands in the Whitsundays, located off the coast of Queensland, Australia. Located on Whitsunday Island is the magnificent Whitehaven Beach – 7 kilometres of dazzling, pure white silica sand. 99% pure silica sand, You can melt it down and get pure glass.

At the northern end of Whitehaven Beach is Hill Inlet, a stunning inlet where the tide shifts the sand and water to create a beautiful fusion of colours. Access is only by boat with most vessels choosing to anchor in Tongue bay and enjoying the pretty bush walk up the northern face of Whitsunday Island.

Cruise Whitsundays have created several different cruises, all featuring Whitehaven, island visits and the corals and fish life of the ‘inner reef.

Part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area, the reefs contain an outstanding variety of corals. If you are lucky you may spot turtles, baby sharks, sea eagles and spotted stingrays..

Enjoy swimming, snorkelling, beautiful beaches and bays.

The Tamarijn Aruba All Inclusive Resort are located just steps from the Tamarijn Aruba at Dutch Village. The Tamarijn Aruba family vacation getaway is perfect for families.

Hotel offer 97 suites, all with fully-equipped kitchenettes, jetted bathtubs, and furnished balconies with pool or garden views.

Rooms with 1 king or 2 queens include balcony, Mini Refridgerator, Color Satellite TV, In Room Video on demand with Internet Acess, Ironing board/Iron and Hairdryers.

The resorts new optional amenity, the Indulgence by the Sea Spa, features pampering treatments from massages to facials to body .

A 65-foot freshwater swimming pool and fitness center are also on site.

Water sports including kayaks, floats, sunfish sailing, beginner’s windsurfing, volleyball, tennis courts, snorkeling equipment and snorkel clinic and tour.

There are nine great dining choices, seven bars to choose from, live entertainment every night and the nearby Alhambra Casino.

Negril, on the west side of Jamaica, is about a 1.5-hour drive from Montego Bay. The Grand Lido is situated on a 2.5-mile crescent of private beach north of town. The resort was built in 1989. Grand Lido Negril is a Super All Inclusive Resort suitable for couples and adult families 16 years and older.

210 suites, all the rooms are all suites or junior suites, complete with king beds, sitting areas, large baths, and satellite TVs.

The suites include balconies or patios and refrigerators stocked with soft drinks, beer, and water.

The resort pampers with Super-Inclusive amenities including complimentary manicures and pedicures, 24-hour room service, dry cleaning, land and water sports, and a choice of four gourmet dinner restaurants.

Water Sports include windsurfing, sunfish sailing, water-skiing, kayaking, snorkeling, underwater-vision boat rides, scuba diving with daily dives for beginners.

In the day, there are a myriad of new discoveries: the state-of-the-art fitness center, a spirit-and-body soothing spa and the centuries old cotton tree in the gardens.

The Casa Marina Resort in Key West, Florida opened its doors on New Years Eve in 1920 to great acclaim.A great hotel with high ceilings, beautiful hardwood floors and an overall elegant atmosphere.

Nestled along the southern edge of the island – spanning more than 1,100 feet of private beach. Casa Marina is a flawless merging of old Key West ambiance and contemporary luxury.

311 Rooms, 4 Floors, Meeting Facilities, Room Service and other.

Room amenities include air conditioning, coffee maker, ironing board, hairdryer, in-room safe, mini-bar, cable television, toiletries, multiple closets, high speed Internet, alarm clock and radio, and direct dial telephone.

Full-service massage studio, offering an array of treatments. Jacuzzi and spa.

Pools are very warm and completely over chlorinated, and the beach area is too rocky with very slimy ladders for entry and exits.

Water activities – jet ski rentals, scuba diving, snorkeling, boat charters, deep sea fishing.

The hotel amenities five restaurants, six bars, and disco.