Dive at Plate Reef in Freeport, Bahamas.
HOT DEALS!
From cruises to hotels, book Freeport (Bahamas) now and get up to 50% off. Book Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line through Mar. 31 and get $200 OFF per cabin ($100 off per person), plus five free drinks, free cabin upgrade, and $25 onboard credit. The Cruise Line also has four- and six-night getaway packages that combine a fun 2-night cruise with a luxurious resort stay in Grand Bahama. Four beachside resorts have special promotional discounts through Dec. 23 (so book now!) The resorts are Viva Wyndham Fortuna Beach, Pelican Bay Hotel at Lucaya, Lighthouse Pointe at Grand Lucayan and Flamingo Bay Hotel & Marina.
https://www.bahamas.com/freeport-winter-sale?
Promotional packages are still available for Luminary Hotel & Co.’s Winter White Full Moon Cocktail Party on Thursday, Jan. 20, to be held on the outdoor pool deck and lounge overlooking the Caloosahatchee River (Fort Myers, FL). Guests and locals are encouraged to dress in all white for the elegant evening. of the season. Packages include overnight stays in a classic king guest room with partial river view and complimentary valet parking, as well as two tickets for the party. The Winter Wonderland ticket includes a complimentary “Winter Wonderland” cocktail; appetizer stations and passed hors d’oeuvres, including a charcuterie display, New England-style lobster rolls, rustic goat cheese tart, chicken satay, mini beef sliders, and wild mushroom arancini; DJ, dancing and entertainment by Curate Entertainment.
Book Paris Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) by February 1 for travel through December 2022 and receive up to 25% off the booking. Offer subject to change.
www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas
NEWLY OPENED
Global lifestyle icon Martha Stewart opens her first-ever restaurant at Paris Las Vegas (Las Vegas, NV) sometime this Spring. The Bedford by Martha Stewart, a fully immersive restaurant concept modeled after Stewart’s famed country farmhouse in Bedford, NY, will focus on a seasonal menu with ingredients from some of her favorite purveyors, including the Las Vegas Farmers Market, Dartagnan Inc., Urbani Truffles, Roe Caviar, Frog Hollow Farm, Jasper Hill Farm, Vermont Creamery, among others. The 194-seat restaurant reflects a glimpse of how she lives and entertains in her own home.
www.caesars.com/paris-las-vegas
The four-story, 128-room Residence Inn Tampa Wesley Chapel has opened at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County. The Wesley Chapel property overlooks the 98,000-sf AdventHealth Sports Arena. Amenities include suites with fully furnished kitchens, separate living and sleeping areas, high-speed WiFi, hot breakfasts, grocery delivery service, and Zybra bicycle rentals. There is flexible indoor meeting and event space, an outdoor terrace shared social space, and the Skybox Rooftop Bar, open to both guests and locals. The property is locally owned and operated by Tampa, FL-based Mainsail Lodging & Development and is located 10 minutes west of I-75 and half an hour from Tampa International Airport.
www.ResidenceInnWiregrass.com.
One of New York’s top-rated steak houses is opening at Caesars Palace (Las Vegas) by the end of 2022. “Peter Luger Steak House is one of the great New York dining destinations, providing world-class food and service for over a century,” said Caesars Entertainment Regional President Sean McBurney. “Just like Caesars Palace, Peter Luger is timeless and inimitable.” The Michelin-starred restaurant, first opened in 1887 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NY has an iconic German beerhall setting. The chain has been on the James Beard Foundation’s list of “America’s Classics” since 2002 and has been the Zagat-rated top steak house in New York since the survey began.
TRAVEL UPDATES AND NEW RULES
Moab Arches National Park
Visitors to the Arches National Park in Moab, UT will need to plan further ahead to be assured entry on the time and day of choice. One option is to make a reservation through www.Recreation.gov. Under a timed system, each registered visitor (listed under one booking for multiples of people) planning to visit from April 3 to October 3, 2022, will be assigned a one-hour time slot between 6 a.m and 5 p.m local time. Reservation slots will open three months in advance of dates. Another option will be to arrange a professional group tour. Moab Adventure Center is not limited by the new restrictions. “With the new system, the aim is to reduce the lines to get into the park, further enhancing the experience for everyone. The timed-entry system should keep the crowds at a manageable level at each point of interest, as well as parking lots and trailheads, making parking and access much more available and predictable,” said Cort Wright, Moab Adventure Center Manager. Moab Adventure Center is a division of Western River Expeditions, an adventure travel company headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT and with operations and offices in Moab and Fredonia, AZ.
https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/arches-national-park-tours; https://www.moabadventurecenter.com/arches-national-park; (435) 259-7019; (866) 904-1163.
Updated protocols for travel to The Bahamas. Vaccinated persons, as well as children ages 2-11, may continue to present either a negative Rapid Antigen Test or negative RT-PCR Test. A new policy, effective January 4, is that all persons remaining in The Bahamas for longer than 48 hours will be required to undergo a Rapid Antigen Test, regardless of vaccination status. All those travelling to The Bahamas from other countries, whether fully vaccinated or unvaccinated, will be required to obtain a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than three days (72 hours) prior to the date of arrival in The Bahamas. Children under two are exempt. An island-by-island list of approved testing sites is available at Bahamas.com/travelupdates.
FREE FOR THE 2022 WEDDING SEASON
One of Pixilated’s free wedding templates when you rent a photo booth.
Pixilated has gifts for you. Rent a photo booth from the Baltimore, MD company and they’ll help you decorate it. With any rental, you can choose for free, any of the wedding theme templates. You select your camera type (standard or upgraded) and then choose standard for your design. Upon checkout, name the theme. Possible themes include backyard, beach, bowtie, country wedding, elegant, flower wall, garden lights, glitter and champagne, gold with flowers, rustic, sparkler lights, team bride/team groom, wedding props, wedding toast, and winter wedding.
HOLIDAY FAMILY FUN
Swim with the Manatees at the Plantation on Crystal River, FL
Hundreds of manatees are slowly cruising from the cooler waters of the Gulf of Mexico to the warmer pristine 72-degree springs of the Plantation at Crystal River, FL. Take advantage of the new one-night package to interact with these mammals. The package includes overnight accommodations in a garden view room, a snorkeling tour for two with equipment provided, breakfast for two at West 82⁰ Bar & Grill, and a welcome bag filled with a plush manatee toy, fun facts, and manatee interaction guidelines. All manatee tour boats, which are enclosed, provide hot chocolate and coffee, warming boat coats and towel service. All tour captains are licensed, insured and USCG certified, and each boat is equipped with power poles to limit environmental impact. Upon return from their tour, guests are treated to a hot shower facility and changing rooms for those who already checked out or snorkelers not staying at the resort. High-quality photos and videos are available for purchase after the tour. Prime manatee viewing season usually runs through Mar. 31.
https://www.plantationoncrystalriver.com/; (800) 632-6262.
Feb. 15 & 26: Pensacola, FL kicks off Mardi Gras celebrations with two parades. The 25th is the Krewe of Lafitte Illuminated Parade and the 26th is the Grand Parade. Free events on Palafox Street. https://pensacolamardigras.com/event/pensacola-mardi-gras-grand-parade/
Karen Kuzsel is a writer-editor based in the Orlando area who specializes in the hospitality, entertainment, meetings & events industries. She is an active member of International Live Events Association, Meeting Professionals International and the Society of Professional Journalists. She is now serving on the 20121-2022 MPI Independent and Small Business Owners Advisory Board. Karen writes about food & wine, spas, destinations, venues, meetings & events. A career journalist, she has owned magazines, written for newspapers, trade publications, radio and TV. As her alter-ego, Natasha, The Psychic Lady, she is a featured entertainer for corporate and social events. Karen@KarenKuzsel.com; www.karenkuzsel.com; www.ThePsychicLady.com; @karenkuzsel; @thepsychiclady.