Whistler Ski and Golf- Incredible deal

Whistler Blackcomb. This is one mountain resort that has been bold since it's inception. A mountain town that dared to imagine that it would be a venue for the Winter Olympic games even before the first lift was installed. It's newest endeavour is the stuff of legend. Whistler mountain and Blackcomb mountain have stood side by side, staring longingly at each other with a valley in between. The challenge of the vast distance between them was too much to bridge until the dream became just too big to ignore. Until Now..... The two are about to become one unforgettable phenomena. It is unlike anything else in the world. The Peak 2 Peak project now open, forever changing the way people experience Whistler Blackcomb. Connecting these giants, will be a one of a kind mountain to mountain journey that is worthy of the world's list of technological wonders. Spanning 4.4Km a width three and a half times that of the Golden Gate Bridge and at a height that is higher then four and a half times that of the statue of liberty or three times higher then the world largest tallest pyramid. Experience the high drama of this wonderland's unparallel scenery. This year for the holidays, book your clients an experience to cherish for a lifetime as one of the first people in the world to experience Canada's newest attraction.

On that note, Just picture the perfect Holiday Season. The halls are glowingly decked, the smell of gingerbread is in the air, and the snow is falling on the world's most perfect slopes. Whatever memories the Yuletide season evokes, celebrate at The Fairmont Chateau Whistler. Elevate your next holiday....Whistler Blackcomb has been voted the number one ski resort in North America by Conde Nast, Skiing Magazine and Travel & Leisure. A perfect match - The Fairmont Chateau Whistler - Defining Mountain Luxury.

To celebrate its 20th year, The Fairmont Chateau Whistler is offering 20 rooms every day for the remainder of 2009 at just $99 CDN, based on availability. You’re not seeing things, your vision is perfectly fine – 20/20, in fact.

The week-long “20/20 Celebration Sale” kicks off this Wednesday, February 25. A minimum of 20 guestrooms are available per day until December 31, 2009. If you’re looking to whisk that special someone to Whistler, stick around for a stay-cation, get into the swing of things with a golf getaway or experience the ho-ho-holiday season in Whistler – yes, Christmas is included – The Fairmont Chateau Whistler has a room for you!CALL YOUR VIRTUOSO TRAVEL ADVISOR

Awesome Belize Experience-Blancaneaux

Blancaneaux Lodge is outside of San Ignacio, Belize in the Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, a 300-square-mile national wildlife reserve in the Maya Mountains. The Sofia, our private Islander aircraft, can transport you from Belize City in less than an hour. The adventurous may choose to travel by road; the Lodge can be reached from Belize City and Belmopan via the Western Highway. Belize is less than two hours by air from Houston, New Orleans and Miami.

Here amid the pines and tropical foliage Francis Ford Coppola and his wife Eleanor first found this modest forest hunting lodge while hiking in 1981 and for years it was a private hide-away for his family and friends. In 1993 it opened its doors to a discerning public who were looking for comfort and style in a remote and adventurous location. Blancaneaux Lodge is designed to provide rustic comfort in harmony with its surroundings, and it definitely succeeds.

The Lodge's accommodations mirror the rainforest's vibrant hues. Each bungalow features a soaring hand-woven thatched roof, artisan-crafted and antique colonial furnishings and a luxurious Japanese bath with views of the jungle sky.

Food is prepared from fruits and vegetables grown in our own Organic Garden. The Lodge is a guest in this fertile natural forest. To complement this, our chef has established a three-acre, self-sustaining organic garden that produces all of the fruits and vegetables used to make traditional Coppola family recipes. Dine on fresh seafood, smoked meats and authentic Neapolitan pizzas cooked in a wood-burning Italian oven. Local rum punches await at the Jaguar Bar.

The Privassion River courses through the Lodge's grounds. Above the river, a kaleidoscope of forest birdlife plays against the palmettos. All of the electricity used at the Lodge is generated by a hydroelectric plant that harnesses the power of the river. Blancaneaux Lodge is surrounded by many cave complexes that vary from the tiny to the vast. On the vast side is the Rio Frio Cave, an enormous two-ended cave carved out of a mountain by the Rio Frio River. Many other caves surround the Lodge. Some, such as the popular Barton Creek Cave and the newly opened complex at Actun Tunichil Muknal, contain pottery and bones left by the Mayans.

The hidden Big Rock Falls are a short trip away by car, horse or mountainbike. Hike down to the misty base of the falls, and swim in the warm pools. Or take a trip to the Rio On Pools, where small waterfalls spill between pools carved by the river out of the mountain granite. Some of the pools are connected by natural waterslides. The Lodge houses a number of handsome horses in its private stable. Our friendly guides will lead you on horseback to local falls and caves or will take you deep into the jungle where you can spot unusual birds and other wildlife.

Secluded and luxurious the Enchanted Cottage is without doubt Blancaneaux Lodge's ultimate hideaway. Set on a forested bluff overlooking magnificent waterfalls the cottage was designed to be a writing retreat for owner Francis Ford Coppola. The cottage boasts a private pool, expansive hardwood decking, airy screened porch, stunning master bedroom, full kitchen, a luxurious bathroom with underfloor heating, Japanese tub, open fire and steam room.

An attendant is on call 24 hours a day and a gas powered golf cart is provided to get you around the property when desired.

Between the 01 March and the 30 April 2009 the Enchanted Cottage is available for $900 US per night + tax/service, based on availability. This is a saving of $500 US a night. Contact your Virtuoso Travel Advisor Today

Fantastic Mexico Hotels

If you have a small group that is going to Mexico offer them a step outside the ordinary. There are so many wonderful locations in Mexico that still offer a sense of what Mexico was meant to be before the mega all-inclusive resort boom took place. Mexico Boutique Hotels offers an extraordinary selection of hotels with character, unique experiences, outstanding design, original cuisine, and personalized service that will provide you with an experience you will not soon forget. Selections are offered in many of the common resort areas as well as off the beaten path along the coastline and inland in many of the historical cities. You can select to stay at one location such as Verana in Puerta Vallarta, Casa Sandra in Isla Hobox just outside Cancun, or Casa Yal'ma Ka'an in Acapulco, these are just a few of the many great options. In addition you can select a multi stop loop experience that provides a taste of a few different areas all with extraordinary culture and flavor. A great example is a Central Pacific circuit tour which would take you through the exclusive Costalegre region including Puerta Vallarta, La Cruz De Loreto, Careyes and Tamarindo. This coastline trip offers wonderful small towns, beaches, and incredible golf all complimented by wonderful small boutique hotels. For an inland experience sample some fantastic history by starting in Mexico City and visiting the small towns of Cholula and Puebla. Two fascinating hotel experiences in this area are La Purificadora in Puebla and La Quinta Luna in Cholula. If you have an interest in getting back to the heart of Mexico and having a travel experience which encompasses the passion of this culture and provides extraordinary service and exclusive experiences, then this is the way to go. ASK YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR ABOUT THESE LOCATIONS TODAY.

Join Me On A Trek- Sept 21-30 2009 Machu Picchu Lodge to Lodge

Dream Outdoors and Mountain Lodges of Peru offer “Adventure at its finest”: the opportunity to experience the essence of adventure within the realm of creature comforts. At Dream Outdoors we believe a life-changing experience has to be an adventure on many levels. This is why our experience goes far beyond comfortable lodges and great treks… it is a unique opportunity to experience ancient history in the Land of the Incas, contemporary manifestations of deep-founded culture, gastronomic surprises, the determination of local people to progress, new friends and like-minded souls.

This 9-day adventure includes a 6 day “Inca Trail” trek on an ancient path called the “Salkantay Route”. The enchanting valley of Soraypampa is the starting point, one that is much less traveled but, by many accounts, more scenic and exclusive than the famous “Inca Trail” itself. Roundtrip from Lima we travel to Cusco, one of the most historic and picturesque villages in the western hemisphere. From there we set out on foot, lodge-lodge along four mountain retreats in the Cordillera Vilcabamba, a spectacular Andean mountain range hidden in cloud forests. Our journey climaxes at the famed Sanctuary of Machu Picchu.

Includes;
•Fully guided by Dream Outdoors team
•All transportation and hotel services throughout
•Meals and non-alcoholic beverages from lunch on Day 3 to lunch on Day 9.
*Alcoholic beverages are charged extra
•Transportation of personal belongings on the trek by packhorse/mules and/or porters
•Panoramic Train ride and guided Machu Picchu sightseeing trip

San Juan Islands Washington- What a great idea!!

NHB Has a great new experience that they just released for 2009;

Discover the San Juan Islands. A close up nature safari through Washington's colorful San Juan Islands!

Trip Overview-Watch for orca whales in their natural environment as we cruise among the islands Hike through old-growth forest and survey the North Cascades from atop Mt. Constitution Kayak the sheltered waters of Orcas Island, paddling among seals, otters and bald eagles

The San Juan Islands lie like a scattering of deep green emeralds against the sapphire waters of an inland sea. In the rain shadow of the Olympic Mountains, the archipelago is protected from heavy Pacific weather, enjoying 250 sunny days a year. One of the earth’s most aesthetic marine environments, the islands teem with wildlife. Orca whales and Stellar sea lions cavort in the saltwater reaches, myriad sea birds nest on rockbound shores, and black-tailed deer browse pastures of tall grass and wildflowers. Our immersion into island life happens at a peaceful rhythm, as we encounter nature up close on foot and at sea.

ASK YOUR TRAVEL ADVISOR ABOUT IT TODAY!!

Dominica-A Hidden Gem

There's still some islands in the Caribbean that offer great adventure and exotic destinations. One of the great ones is Dominica. Challenging to reach from the U.S. via air, Dominica is accessed through Puerto Rico, St. Lucia, or Antigua. It offers some great Eco-resorts and adventure experiences from island hiking, coastal kayaking, and great snorkeling outings.

One of the best Eco-resort locations is Jungle Bay Resort & Spa. With 35 cottages built right into the coastline without any clear-cutting, Jungle Bay takes on a true exotic island rain forest feel that can't be matched in many places currently in the Caribbean. The spa is extraordinary, the restaurant is great, and the open areas provide perfect settings for everything from board meetings to Yoga. Trips to Boiling Lake, Glasse Pool, and Victoria Falls are not to be missed. This experience will bring you back to be grounded with nature. It's an extraordinary place.

Peru-Inca Trail Trek-Machu Picchu

South America has become the hot spot for US travelers looking for their next exotic adventure experience. There are so many incredible places and landscapes, all surrounded with some of the most unique cultures in the world. As local tour operators scramble to compete over destinations such as the Atacama Desert, Lake Titicaca, The Amazon River and rainforest, and Machu Picchu, the market becomes flooded with many options. As an adventure enthusiast it's so hard to recognize the quality options from the nightmares in disguise.

One trip I would recommend hands down over the competition is the Lodge to Lodge Machu Picchu Experience offered by Mountain Lodges of Peru. Our team at Dream Outdoors has worked closely with MLP and I feel very strongly about the lodges, the guides, and most of all the unmatched experience of the trek itself.

This moderate to strenuous 7 day 6 night trek takes you through multiple eco-systems and landscapes offering an extraordinary view of untouched Peruvian Backcountry. The guides are wonderful as they know everything about your surroundings and the people who inhabit this area. It's all inclusive so you don't have to worry about anything. The trekking pays off as you have earned your right to set foot on Machu Picchu, one of the most fascinating places on Earth.

Along the way your accommodations include 4 of the most spectacular backcountry lodges to be found anywhere. They are small, luxuriously simple, and offer the most breathtaking views and surroundings imaginable.

I am not hesitating when I tell you that the experience, if done correctly, matches any adventure experience found in any destination. This is the way to view Southern Peru and the ruins at Machu Picchu. Interested? Join our team for a September private trip.