Recommend August 2013 - (Page 20)

northamerica las vegas the ultimate playground for a girls and guys getaway deserae del campo ISAAC BREKKEN The new Michael Jackson ONE by Cirque du Soleil at Mandalay Bay. If your clients are asking for the ultimate bachelor and bachelorette party, a mancation, a spa getaway, and the like, complemented by a few sinful delights, it’s a no brainer—recommend Las Vegas. This city, with its pool parties, restaurant hotspots, sleek malls, over-thetop suites, casinos, extravagant shows, and indulgent spa treatments, creates the perfect framework for a girls and guys getaway. The options are endless, but Babs Daitch, a certiﬁed Las Vegas tour guide and president of Thanks Babs The Day Tripper, says, “When it comes to booking Las Vegas, pay attention to that one person in the group who is conﬁdent about Vegas and has done their homework and knows what they want to do. As a travel agent, it’s important to listen to what the group is looking for and go from there.” Or you can take it from here with these options: his & hers accommodations Ladies: Rising 57 stories above the Las Vegas skyline is the chic Vdara Hotel & Spa. This eco-friendly resort with 1,495 suites is designed for those who prefer to soak up the excitement of Vegas in a non-gaming, non-smoking and sustainable environment. What makes this resort ideal for a girls’ getaway is its spa and close proximity to some of Vegas’ high-end shopping spots and a few other trendy properties: Vdara is adjacent to ARIA Resort & Casino and connected to the Bellagio via a pedestrian walkway. The Spa & Salon Vdara is an 18,000-sq.-ft., 2-level spa with 11 treatment rooms, three relaxation lounges and a coed meditation room. Treatments like the Naturopathica French Lavender Soothing Massage ($150, 50 min.; $270, 110 min.) are holistic-focused with organic ingredients, while the more racy Snakeskin Pedicure is a fun option for girls who like to “run a little wild.” When it comes to accommodations, Vdara offers deluxe suites, 20 august 2013 20-23 NA LasVegas.indd 20 1- and 2-bedroom penthouses with 2-story options, and 250 corner-end suites with panoramic views of the cityscape. Suites range from 500 to 1,650 sq. ft. and also include spa-style bathrooms. Look into the Vdara VIP Nightlife package, which includes two nights in a Deluxe Suite and two, 2-for-1 cocktail certiﬁcates for The Deuce Lounge, Gold Boutique Nightclub and Lounge, and Bar Vdara. Rates start at $338. Gents: At the Palms Casino Resort guys have access to a 95,000-sq.-ft. casino, a lively pool scene, lounges, bars, nightclubs, and stylish accommodations. The Palms features three towers with distinct guestrooms and suites: Palms Place, Palms Ivory and Palms Fantasy with its Hardwood Suite—the ultimate bachelor pad (for bachelors with loads of disposable income who want to live like LeBron James). Covering 10,000 sq. ft. over two ﬂoors, it features an indoor basketball court, a locker room, scoreboard, and NBA-sized Murphy beds all price tagged at $25,000 a night. Room rates vary depending on category, but each tower can accommodate a large group, such as the Two Bedroom Suite for up to eight guests in Palms Place with two queen- and king-size beds, a living room, and full kitchen; the Fantasy Penthouse sleeps four in the Palms Fantasy tower and the 1,500-sq.-ft. poolside Bungalow suites sleep up to six in the Palms Ivory tower, where rates begin at $79 for the newly renovated guestrooms. Recommend the All-Access Nightlife Pass package, which allows them to enjoy a night out for a fraction of the price. For only $40 pp, the guys can experience all three of the Palms’ nightlife venues—Moon, The View and the newly renovated ghostbar on the 55th ﬂoor of the Palms Ivory. excursions & pool parties Ladies: If the gals want to escape the non-stop party scene and experience Vegas’ natural side, Pink Jeep Tours offers customdesigned, air-conditioned Tour Trekkers, carrying up to 10 passengers, that are equipped for off-road voyages. “Any of our tours are going to be an excellent option for a ladies getaway, and we have many, ranging from Red Rock Canyon and Las Vegas half-day tours, to full-day Grand Canyon excursions in our luxurious custom Tour Trekker,” says John Beeler with Pink Jeep Tours. The 9-hour Grand Canyon West Rim Classic jeep trek ($245 pp) travels through the Mojave Desert to the West Rim viewpoint in the Canyon. It includes a light breakfast and lunch. Pink Jeep Tours offers 15 percent travel agent commission. After a day of sightseeing it’s time for some guy-scoping at ARIA’s LIQUID dayclub. Your clients can dance under the desert sun or lounge in one of eight private cabanas by the 1,200-sq.-ft. main pool. This adults-only poolside club venue also includes a restaurant and poolside waiter service. recommend.com 7/24/13 9:23 AM http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend August 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Dan Hotels, Israel
Tour Talk: Jacada Travel
Avalon Expression
Cruising the Rivers of Southeast Asia
Girls & Guys Getaways in Las Vegas
Kimpton Takes Center Stage in San Francisco
South Africa: Bicycles, Horses & Wonderful Experiences
A French Twosome with SLH
Bogota, Colombia
Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta
Villa del Palmar at the Islands of Loreto
Westin Grand Cayman
Grand Case Beach Club, St. Martin
Aruba Marriott Resort

Recommend August 2013