For Immediate Release:

ST. LUCIA’S TOP-NOTCH ROMANCE VACATION RESORT

ANNOUNCES LUCKY 10.10.10 DESTINATION WEDDING PACKAGE

VALID THROUGH ENTIRE MONTH OF OCTOBER 2010

CASTRIES, ST. LUCIA (AUGUST 10, 2010) — The award-winning Green Globe Certified Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort, St. Lucia, not only offers true paradise to destination wedding couples, but also allows them to enjoy the luck and good fortune of being married on 10.10.10 through the entire month of October 2010. Now when a romantic Caribbean destination wedding is booked at the luxury St. Lucia resort, couples will receive 10 romantic wedding gifts as part of their honeymoon stay. Destination wedding couples at this Caribbean paradise can also enjoy a complimentary wedding package ($1,099 value) when they book a honeymoon stay of seven nights or longer.

Windjammer Landing’s 10.10.10 destination wedding promotion throughout October 2010 includes the following 10 gifts to bring extra romance and good luck to the newlyweds who wed on St. Lucia:

• Fresh bouquet of tropical flowers in villa
• Champagne breakfast
• Romantic In Villa Dinner for bridal couple prepared by resort chef
• Fun-filled sunset cruise
• Serenity Spa couple’s massage
• Shopping trip to Pointe Seraphine
• Romantic gourmet picnic lunch
• Professional wedding photograph
• Windjammer Secret Love Potion cocktail for two
• Windjammer Landing souvenir

Couples book Windjammer Landing because it is renowned for its dramatic Caribbean location on St. Lucia, impeccable personalized service and stunning private villas, and for its capability to accommodate an intimate wedding for two to a larger destination wedding with up to 100 guests.

A personalized romantic Caribbean destination wedding can be performed on the powdery beach, on a stunning hilltop terrace, under a fragrant flower-bedecked gazebo, or on a romantic sunset cruise. Customized entertainment and reception menus, including simple fare to Windjammer Landing’s signature gourmet cuisine, can be arranged to suit each bridal couple’s desires, as well as personalized welcome gifts for their guests. Villa accommodations, featuring one bedroom Villas to four bedroom Estate Villas, offer five-star luxury and are the perfect setting to gather friends and family together on St. Lucia.

“Windjammer Landing Beach Villa Resort loves to cater to bridal couples planning the ultimate destination wedding that is truly one-of-a-kind. We know many brides want to be married during the ‘luck of 10’ so we anticipate our romantic 10.10.10 destination wedding promotion to be highly popular. Our romantic destination weddings on St. Lucia are highly customized and romantic so couples are always made to feel special at our upscale St. Lucia property versus many Caribbean resorts that do multiple daily weddings,” states Anthony Bowen, Windjammer Landing managing director.

Patterned after the picturesque hillside villages of the Mediterranean its stunning villas–many with private plunge pools and multiple terraces–are spread among 60 exotic and flowering acres. Estate Villas offer the ultimate in romance and come complete with full sized infinity pools and private chefs. Windjammer Landing features the blissful Serenity Spa, where the bridal party can enjoy a romantic pre-wedding pampering experience or a bride can have a special wedding hairstyle fashioned. The St. Lucia resort features a multitude of tropical excursions and beachfront activities, as well as the Jacquot Fun Club for kids, important for couples planning larger wedding events with guests of all ages.

Windjammer Landing also features an all inclusive Caribbean vacation escape like none other. The comprehensive all inclusive package features welcome cocktails; breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea, and dinner – available at five restaurants; all beverages including wines by the glass and premium and local brands of cocktails; room service items*; wide variety of complimentary motorized and non-motorized water sports like water skiing, wake boarding, knee boarding, Hobie cat sailing, snorkeling, banana boat and tubing rides; daily fitness activities; tennis; complimentary fitness center; complimentary shopping shuttle; nightly entertainment; welcome package of bottle water, tea and coffee; tax and gratuity.

For reservations, contact (800) 958-7376; (877) 522-0722 (Canada) or visit www.windjammer-landing.com.

*Nominal room service delivery fee exclusive.

I happened across a TV show one night about small businesses looking for investors in their companies. They had to stand in front of several “sharks”/investors and pitch their products.

One company caught my attention, and the woman who believes in all good things come from Positive Energy Transfer (PET). With that- I jumped to the website to find some pretty cool trinkets.

Soul’s Calling was founded by President Gina Cotroneo in Dallas in 2004. The company creates and markets a “fashion-with-a-purpose” accessory and gift line.

I simply love the recycled flip flops. Cute, Stylish and a “PET” message worth wearing. The soles boast indentations, which when walking on a soft sand surface share the words, “Love” and “Earth”… try a pair on for size and let the positive energy trail behind you…

You can find them at Soul’s Calling: http://bit.ly/aEvEqo

Available in Women and Men sizes

$22.00 US

www.soulscalling.com

LONG BAY BEACH RESORT HOSTS TORTOLA’S “DOW LIVE EARTH RUN FOR WATER”

Global Environmental Campaign to Raise Awareness About Water Conservation

Plus Resort Features 20 Percent “Instant Savings” on Caribbean Vacations

TORTOLA, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS (MARCH 19, 2010) – Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas proudly announces its participation in Tortola’s first ever “Dow Live Earth Run For Water” – the largest solutions-based initiative aimed at solving the global water crisis in history. The global event takes place in multiple countries on April 18, 2010, which consists of a series of 6km runs/walks. The famed full service resort on Tortola, Long Bay Beach Resort, will kick off the race at 10am, where it travels around the pristine Smugglers Cove with the race ending at Long Bay. The race entry fee is $10 per adult and $5 per child. Entrants will receive a T-shirt for participation, discounted Sunday Brunch at the resort, DJ to kick the race off plus live entertainment, pre and post race fruits, plus water provided by the BVI Environmental Council, whom is co-sponsoring the event. Prizes will be awarded for complimentary spa treatments at Long Bay’s Spa Tranquility and dinner on property. Visit http://liveearth.org/en/run for more information about the “Dow Live Earth Run for Water.”

Long Bay recently won TRAVEL WEEKLY’s prestigious 2009 Silver Magellan Award for “Best Beach Resort.” In addition, the British Virgin Islands won first place in 2009 by SCUBA DIVING’s readers for “Top Wreck Diving,” Top Ten for “Top Snorkeling” and “Top Beginner Diving.” Plus, Concierge.com recently rated Tortola as one of the “World’s Sexiest Beaches” rating it “among the 15 of the steamiest stretches of sand.”

To enjoy the race and discover the magic of Tortola and the BVIs, Long Bay is now offering “Instant Savings,” reflecting 30 percent savings with nightly double occupancy EP rates starting now at $183 for Caribbean vacation travel April 14 through August 30, 2010.

“Long Bay is delighted to host Tortola’s first ‘Dow Live Earth Run for Water’ race and hopes the day provides a fun opportunity for our resort guests and island participants plus raises awareness for water conservation,” said Steven E. Heydt, Elite Island Resorts’ president. “Now is also the perfect time to escape to Tortola and enjoy a great value on a Caribbean.”

Long Bay Beach Resort & Villas, a casually elegant plantation-style resort ideal for diving, sailing and spa indulgences, nestled among verdant hills overlooking its mile-long white sand beach. Its 157 beautiful guest rooms and villas are hidden away on a 52-acre estate, giving guests a feeling of exclusivity and privacy. Long Bay offers caring, personal service.  For reservations, call (866) 237-3491 or visit www.longbay.com.

–NO OSCAR REQUIRED: ULTIMATE “RED CARPET” TAHITI EXPERIENCE FEATURES FIRST CLASS AIR, PRIVATE ISLAND ESCAPE, YACHT CHARTER, BORA BORA ROYAL ESTATE, HELICOPTER TRAVEL & MORE

13 Nights From $170,000 Per Couple; Travel June 14, 2010 – May 31, 2011

LOS ANGELES, CA, March 1, 2010 – This year’s Academy Awards takes place Sunday, March 7, and promises its usual bevy of sensational movie icons, glittering gowns and glamour-filled bashes. But A-list celebrities aren’t the only ones who can enjoy star treatment. Jet-setting travelers can sashay in ultimate VIP style onto their own red carpet in Tahiti and Her Islands with Tahiti Legends and Air Tahiti Nui’s “Ultimate Tahiti Experience.”

Starting at $170,000 per couple and valid for travel June 14, 2010 – May 31, 2011, this unique travel-like-a-celebrity experience kicks off with VIP airport handling and first class (Poerava) roundtrip flights from Los Angeles to Papeete on Air Tahiti Nui.  The first five nights of the 13-night package are spent in wonderful solitude in a luxury villa on Motu Tetaraire, a completely private nine-acre Rangiroa island with no other inhabitants except the tropical fauna and attentive wait staff who cater to every whim.  Next it’s time to hit the water with three nights sailing the magnificent crystal clear French Polynesia lagoons on a customized course aboard the Roa, a privately chartered 77-ft motor yacht.  Then it’s off to the luxurious St. Regis Bora Bora, where the 2009 blockbuster movie Couples Retreat was shot, for five nights in the resort’s famous 15,000 sq. ft “Royal Estate” where Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban honeymooned.

No Tahitian experience is complete without sightseeing, and VIP options are included in this ultimate package.  Travelers will enjoy “Taha’a Heli Vanilla,” a scenic helicopter ride from beautiful Bora Bora to fragrant Taha’a, the “Vanilla Island” for a private tour of Vanilla Valley to pick their own vanilla beans before returning to the St. Regis Bora Bora for a three-course gastronomic vanilla tasting menu created by Executive Chef Phillippe Egalon at Lagoon, a Jean-Georges Vongerichten restaurant.

On the “Private Lagoon Cruise” guests enjoy an unforgettable day circling Bora Bora aboard a private 23-ft Cap Camarat with a Polynesian guide, stopping to snorkel in beautiful coral gardens alongside graceful manta rays and to discover their own black pearl under the sea.  The day is topped off with a motu barbeque picnic lunch with Champagne.

Finally, the “Luna Sea Tour” is a half-day deep sea fishing excursion in the legendary waters of French Polynesia aboard the Luna Sea, a 34-foot Black Watch.  Deep warm-water canyons just offshore provide the opportunity to catch blue and black marlin, wahoo, mahi mahi and other game fish.  Guests then enjoy their catch during a private sunset dinner on the beach.

Rounding out this uber-luxurious package is a relaxing couples massage and Illuminating Black Pearl Facial at St. Regis Bora Bora’s Miri Miri Spa, plus a memorable dinner for two at Bora Bora’s A-list restaurant Villa Mahana.

Travelers on the “Ultimate Tahiti Experience” will receive private transfers and meet and greets as part of the VIP handling throughout. All meals and most hotel activities are included, in addition to the noted excursions above.

For more information on Tahiti Legends and to book “Ultimate Tahiti Experience”
visit www.tahitilegends.com or call 1-800-200-1213.  For VIP requests, please e-mail sales@tahitilegends.com.
For more information on Air Tahiti Nui, visit www.airtahitinui-usa.com or call 1-877-824-4846.

About AIR TAHITI NUI
Air Tahiti Nui, with a route network linking the South Pacific to four continents, is the leading carrier to French Polynesia featuring daily nonstop service from Los Angeles. Air Tahiti Nui was named the “Best Airline – Pacific Region” and recognized as having the “Best Cabin Staff – Pacific Region” in the 2009 Skytrax World Airline Survey® for the seventh consecutive year; it was also named one of the “World’s Best” international airlines by Travel +Leisure in 2008. The airline has headquarters in Papeete and operates from Faa’a International Airport on the island of Tahiti. The company was founded in 1996 and commenced flight operations in 1998.

The web site www.airtahitinui-usa.com helps travelers plan and book flights and vacation packages to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea, Taha’a, Rangiroa, the Marquesas, and Tuamotu.  In addition to featuring special honeymoon, cruise and diving packages, flights to Paris, Auckland, Sydney and Tokyo are bookable online or by calling Air Tahiti Nui toll-free at 1-877-824-4846.

This came across my desk this morning. They are offering pretty amazing fares from the East Coast and Seattle.

Boston to

Reykjavik from $449*
Copenhagen from $489*
Glasgow from $539*
Helsinki from $689*
London from $499*
Manchester from $539*
Stockholm from $489*

New York to
Reykjavik from $449*
Amsterdam from $539*
Copenhagen from $549*
Oslo from $459*
Glasgow from $509*
Helsinki from: $609*
London from: $469*
Manchester from: $469*

Minneapolis to
Minneapolis Service Resumes May 11th
Reykjavik from $539*
Amsterdam from $669*
Frankfurt from $629*
Paris from $649*
Bergen from $499*
Copenhagen from $499*
Oslo from $499*
Glasgow from $549*
London from: $509*
Manchester from: $549*
Stavanger from $499*
Stockholm from $499*

Seattle to
Reykjavik from $479*
Amsterdam from $799*
Copenhagen from $679*
Glasgow from $599*
Helsinki from: $799*
London from: $599*
Manchester from: $599*
Stockholm from $679*

Travel Periods:
Boston Apr 10 – May 10
Minneapolis May 11 – May 30
New York & Seattle Apr 10 – May 10
Book By: Feb 25, 2010

Ciao Laura is now offering exclusive luxury weekly tours of Sorrento and the Amalfi Coast!

Villa in Sorrento

From 2-night and 7-night Sorrento packages

Included is the Ciao Laura  famed Pizza al Forno™ COOKING class!

Escape Packages:

2-Night Escape

7-Night Escape

Market Tours in Italy

Roman artichokes

Are you a FOODIE?
Do you get thrills at the thought of exploring your local produce markets in hopes
of finding new or unusual fruits & vegetables?
If you answered yes, then you MUST try one of our fabulous Market Tours & Cooking
Lessons in Italy!
We offer Market tours in the Following Locations:

*Bologna*Certaldo*Florence*Rome*Venice

More cooking lessons

Villa Rentals in Italy!

Summer in Italy

Sorrento

Cooking with Mama Agatta! Do you have your signed copy of Mamma Agata’s Cook Book yet?

Available on Mamma Agata’s Website or visit our web page for the link.

CiaoLaura Cooking Vacations in Italy! info@ciaolaura.com

Ciao Laura, LLC | P.O. Box 158953 | Nashville | TN | 37215

Arianna Huffington was also speaking on a panel. The Democratization of Information panel- a discussion about whether we are transitioning from an Age of Information into and Age of Misinformation along with Joe Klein- President of CNN, and Peter Hirshberg from The Conversation Group.

Of course Ms. Huffington, also my boss- I am a travel/green writer for the Huffington Post, was flawless in her interpretation of the press and what it means to be in the state of NOW media, complete with eloquent comments on citizen journalism and how we cope with loosing key pieces of our traditional media. She stole the show.

I vowed that I would one day meet her, as I had met another of my favorite media icons, Ann Curry, at the last 140 conference in New York.

I exited the theater into the lobby to prepare for my own panel, when and heard that unmistakable Greek accent. I followed the voice around the corner, and there she was.

Ms. Huffington.

Nervously, I stuck my hand out to shake hers. I nearly got my whole name out before she exclaimed, “I know who you are!” A little taken it back, I tried again to explain that I worked for her and my name was… “I know who you are,” she explained again with a soothing smile on her face.

I just stopped, stunned. This media empress with more than 9,000 journalists under her helm, knew me? I thought it crazy initially, until I learned from my editor that she actually knows every one of her writers, and what they pen about. (She has more than 30 editors who report to her on what is being written or blogged about).

More impressed with Ms. Huffington than ever before, I somehow managed (I am hardly ever tongue tied) to blurt out words of thanks, and how much I appreciated her efforts in giving journalists, who are not political, the opportunity to write for her outlet.

Graciously, she thanked ME for all my efforts, for sharing my time and information with readers. Two photos were snapped quickly of the two of us. She bid farewll to those around us, exclaiming she was late to catch her plane.

I turned to an onlooker who had marveled at what took place in those seconds, and asked her what she thought of the brief exchange.

“Magical,” she said.

I thought so, too.