Travel plan idea blog

New Year travel deals in Switzerland, Wyoming, Utah, & Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia

Cap Maison is offering festive Christmas and New Year's Eve prix fixe menus at Cliff at Cap, the resort's signature restaurant featuring breathtaking panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea. Both available at $135, the Christmas and New Year's Eve menus feature an elegant 8-course French West-Indian meal with classic staple dishes including braised short rib of beef and slow-roasted turkey with herb and onion stuffing, while giving a St. Lucian twist with its rich pudding dessert topped with island rum anglaise. Holiday rates (from December 20, 2009 to January 2, 2010) start at $565 in a Gardenview Room. Rates are based on double occupancy, per room per night and include full breakfast. www.capmaison.com

East Winds Inn is offering guests who stay a minimum of seven nights, a free stay on Christmas Day on an all-inclusive basis (7 nights for the price of 6). This is valid for all new bookings and for arrivals at the hotel between December 19 and 24, 2009. Nestled between Castries and Rodney Bay on the northwest side of Saint Lucia, East Winds is an all-inclusive resort located on the waterfront of LaBrelotte Bay, one of the most pristine, golden sand beaches on the island. The resort recently debuted a new Open-Air 3,000 square foot Yoga and Fitness Pavilion this winter. All-inclusive rates are based per room, per night and start at $950 in a Superior Double (from December 21, 2009 to January 3, 2010), and include all meals, wine, bottomless flutes of champagne and beach activities. www.eastwinds.com

Ladera is offering a Christmas and New Year's Eve Program this year, complete with a classic Christmas Dinner at the acclaimed Dasheene Restaurant, evening entertainment performances including local carolers and live bands, the option to attend Christmas Day Mass at Fond St. Jacques Catholic Church, a cocktail reception with General Manager Waddy Francis, and festive libations and meals at one of the Caribbean's best restaurants. There's also a New Year's Eve Gala Dinner available at $135 per person where revelers can enjoy a live band, dancers, party favors and celebratory midnight countdown to ring in the New Year. Reservations are required in advance for the New Years Eve Gala. Dress code is smart casual. Holiday winter rates begin at $680 in a Petit Piton Suite with a plunge pool (from December 21, 2009 to January 4, 2010). Rates include breakfast, afternoon tea, and full use of resort facilities including warm volcanic mineral water bath, gym, beach shuttles, snorkeling equipment and WiFi access throughout the resort. www.ladera.com

Virgin Gorda

Aquamare offers the setting for the perfect family beach holiday vacation. Now is the time to think about the holidays in 2010, since the 2009 holiday season is already booked due to high demand. From the clear, calm, shallow waters that are made for young swimmers to its safe and sandy beach just steps that's perfect for sand castles, the three villas that overlook the Sir Francis Drake Channel offer comfort, adventure and luxury. With 8,000 square feet of private living space, five guest rooms, including three Master Suites each with its own expansive marble bath area, the villas are purposely built for large, multi-generational gatherings and comfortably sleep up to 12 guests. www.villaaquamare.com

Switzerland

Lake Geneva Region of Switzerland, located on the shore of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva) in the French-speaking part of Western Switzerland, will feature their annual Christmas Markets in Montreux and Lausanne from November 25 to December 24, 2009. Both cities will be transformed into an enchanting holiday fair with over 100 richly decorated stands resembling small chalets. In addition to the wide selection of holiday crafts and gifts, the Markets feature classic Swiss cuisine, including roasted chestnuts and light white wines from the Lavaux vineyards, a UNESCO World Heritage site. www.montreux-vevey.com

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Hotel Terra, Jackson Hole's AAA Four-Diamond LEED Certified hotel, is offering a Ski & Stay Free Special for the holiday season. Available at only $99 per person, per night, the offer provides a complimentary lift ticket and a stay at Hotel Terra. There is a four night minimum stay. Full, non-refundable pre-payment is required. Hotel Terra opened in February 2008, landing a spot on Condé Nast Traveler's "Hot List" and Travel + Leisure's "It List" shortly thereafter. The hotel was also named one of the Top Ten Eco-Hotels by TripAdvisor's customer reviews. Located slope side to the Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, just a mile from Grand Teton National Park and just an hour from Yellowstone, Hotel Terra is ideally situated to bring something new to the luxury mountain lodge category. Holiday winter rates start at $289 at double occupancy, depending on dates. www.hotelterrajacksonhole.com

Teton Mountain Lodge, Jackson Hole's AAA Four-Diamond hotel located at the entrance to Grand Teton National Park, is offering a Ski & Stay Free Special for the holiday season. Available at only $99 per person, per night, the offer provides a complimentary lift ticket and a stay at Teton Mountain Lodge. Couples or families can capture the true spirit of the festive holidays with the luxury lodge, located only steps from legendary Jackson Hole skiing. There is a four night minimum stay. Full, non-refundable pre-payment is required. Holiday winter rates start at $289 at double occupancy, depending on dates. www.tetonlodge.com

Salt Lake City

Salt Lake City will host the 16th Annual New Year's EVE celebration from December 29 to 31, 2009. Presented by the Downtown Alliance and hosted in venues throughout downtown Salt Lake City, tens of thousands of visitors and locals will gather for EVE, an indoor/outdoor urban extravaganza, complete with live entertainment and performing arts, winter sports, activities for kids and families and a festive midnight fireworks show. Over half of Utah's out-of-state visitors opt for staying in Salt Lake, and with good reason. Located just 30 minutes from SLC International Airport with over 750 daily flights from most major domestic gateways, the downtown area provides guests with the best of all worlds. Using Salt Lake as their "base camp," visitors are less than an hour drive from 11 of Utah's 14 world-class ski resorts. www.eveslc.com

Posted by James Trotta at November 17, 2009 9:34 PM