“Aruba already offers some of the best designer retail offerings in the Caribbean, and we feel strongly that this new partnership with IMG and the launch of the Aruba in Style event will help to elevate the island’s reputation as a mecca for fashion and style,” said Mr. Otmar Oduber, Aruba’s Minister of Tourism, Transportation and Labor Affairs. “One of our top goals in increasing tourism to Aruba is to bring more high-profile events to the island, such as Aruba in Style, which will generate increased awareness of Aruba as a chic and sophisticated vacation destination.”

Aruba in Style will be a mix of fashion shows, parties, presentations and shopping at one of the Caribbean’s most exciting destinations. Taking place in various locations around the island, the event will bring together designers, celebrities, models, fashionable consumers and the media to experience in-season resort, ready to wear and bridal collections in distinct, intimate parties as well as over the top extravaganzas. Activities will include unique in store shopping experiences, open to the public events and exclusive invitation-only soirees.

Aruba hosts one of the region’s best retail mixes along with unique destination hotels and resorts and, of course, some of the best beaches in the Caribbean. Its unique topography, fantastic restaurants and friendly, diverse population add to its charm and sophistication.

 ”On behalf of Aruba Fashion Group we are excited to be working together with IMG and our principal sponsor, the Government of Aruba and the Aruba Tourism Authority,” said Damilice Mansur, Principal of the Aruba Fashion Group along with Ronchi de Cuba and Evelin Weaver. “We are sure we will build, with these partners, what will become the most fashionable event in the region highlighting Aruba as the leading fashion and entertainment destination in the Caribbean.” IMG, a leader in the management, production and creation of global fashion platforms, will bring its expertise in establishing an events global presence as well as industry and designer contacts to the event.

 “This is a tremendous opportunity for us,” said Peter Levy, SVP and Managing Director, IMG Fashion Worldwide. “We have often looked towards this region as a place where a strong, global fashion event could take place and were lucky enough to find creative thinkers in the Aruba Tourism Authority and Aruba Fashion Group who shared our vision for something both sophisticated, cool, and distinctly Aruban.”

Details on the event, including participating designers, models and celebrities, will be announced in the coming year.

decadent way to travel!

The genre of culinary travel includes trips that focus on learning to create local dishes, those that emphasize tasting and wine pairing, andeverything in between. As you can see, there are many options available. Let this TRO report assist in your planning, as it will provide you with the basic recipe for culinary travel. With it, you and your travel consultant are sure to cook up the perfect culinary adventure!

The most important consideration in planning your culinary vacation is whether you want to learn traditional recipes and cooking techniques, or if you’re more interested in enjoying the end result. Those wanting a strictly educational experience might enjoy cooking alongside famous chefs in renowned cooking schools. If dining inspires you, perhaps you would prefer the company of a learned chef as your guide. Or maybe you would like just a taste of culinary arts in your trip, as you explore other cultural aspects of your destination. The more consideration given to these issues before contacting a tour operator, the more efficient the planning process will

be and the quicker you’ll be on your way.

If cooking is your passion, think about attending a cooking school, many of which boast award-winning chefs as instructors. If you go, you will have to consider your level of expertise to ensure pairing with courses that suit your abilities. The less experienced might learn more through hands-on instruction, while advanced students may feel confident in attending cooking demonstrations. You can even choose to learn a particular specialty such as pastry making. Wine schools are also a popular choice, offering classes on wine making, history, appreciation and pairing with foods.

For those interested in learning to cook according a country’s customs but want to spend a little less time in the kitchen, a cooking tour may be the best bet. Along with culinary classes, these tours are peppered with visits to wineries, vineyards, superior restaurants, and local markets and food producers. With some tours, you will travel to different cooking schools to take classes. Others offer the more intimate experience of attending the kitchens of various celebrated chefs.

Culinary tour guides, many of whom have backgrounds in history and/or cultural anthropology, will tell you the history of indigenous dishes, offer guidance while dining with you, and even provide cooking instruction. Your tour may be guided by an actual chef, or may enlist the services of two guides: one culinary and one cultural. Your guide should be bilingual, even if those providing the cooking demonstrations are not. And of course, if you would like to design your own culinary dream vacation, chef and cultural guides can be hired on an individual basis, the possibilities are endless!

Most cooking tours will accommodate travelers with every level of experience. However, general kitchen knowledge is expected. Before you go, ask your travel consultant if class participation is mandatory, or if you may merely observe. You will also want to inquire about attire. Cooking classes are generally casual, but more sophisticated dress may be necessary when dining out. You may also want to find out whether recipes will be provided after the demonstration.

Your tour operator should be able to accommodate any dietary needs regarding meals. However, the meals prepared during cooking classes, unless the class is designed and taken on an individual basis, are usually determined by the instructor and cannot be changed upon request. There are tours designed for vegetarians, which usually take place in Asian countries. Thailand, for example, boasts an annual vegetarian festival.

If you are more of a gastronome, you will want to take or design a tour that focuses on the pleasures of dining. Many culinary travelers maintain that there is no better way to learn about a culture than by sampling its traditional dishes. Such tours often include the excursions mentioned above, as well as more standard tourist attractions such as museums and art galleries. Certain tours allow more time for exploring the towns in which you stay. There are also more active tours, which incorporate such activities as hiking, painting and language instruction. These tours also provide a good option for those wanting to dine independently.

Not surprisingly, the most popular destinations for gourmet vacationing are Italy and France. Tasting tapas in Spain is also en vogue. When visiting these popular regions, the earlier you make your reservation, the better. But Europe isn’t your only option. You may enjoy a culinary cruise to the Caribbean, or take a chef-guided tour of Mexico. For the more adventurous, culinary tours are offered in such exotic locales as Morocco, India and Vietnam. For those looking for an experience closer to home, consider becoming a barbecue connoisseur in West Virginia or cook up some Creole in Louisiana.

Travelers may also take a culinary vacation by means of a food festival. The Netherlands boasts an international food-tasting festival every August, and Georgia is home to the annual Vidalia Festival. If you appreciate good beer as much as good food, Oktoberfest is certain to leave you hoppy.

The cost of a culinary vacation varies widely. The biggest factor in determining the price of your trip is whether you opt for a package tour, which generally means sharing your travel experience with other culinary enthusiasts. Most culinary tours are packaged at a fixed price that includes daily classes, meals, excursions, accommodations and ground transportation. You will be responsible for making your own travel arrangements to the school or destination, a task with which your travel consultant can greatly assist. The cost of your trip is further determined by the country visited, the extent of teaching provided, the quality of restaurants enjoyed, and the number and nature of excursions taken.

Accommodation is also a factor. Luxury and high-end hotels are a more expensive option. Staying in a countryside villa may not be as posh anexperience, but the relaxation granted by fresh air and lush landscapes could prove to be priceless. Work through the options with your travel consultant. The more clearly you state your own preferences, the better your travel consultant can work with the tour operator to properly accommodate you and your traveling companions.

When pricing your stay, remember to take into consideration any Value Added Tax (VAT) levied by many countries in Europe and elsewhere. Because VAT is often as high as 20% of the cost of an accommodation or good purchased, the amount is often not insignificant! Many travelers assume that VAT is refundable. However, this is typically not the case for services such as transportation, accommodation, food, gas or any other goods or services consumed within the country itself. Ensure that the price you are quoted includes all taxes and other fees.

Sound too good to be true? It’s all for real and with a little planning a culinary vacation can be an absolutely wonderful way to garnish your next trip away from home.

Taken from Travel Research Online 2010 (http://www.travelresearchonline.com)

Considered one of the top pinot noir producers in the United States, Vision Cellars is dedicated to developing wine connoisseurs as well as wines. Owner Mac Donald educates customers and encourages them to learn wine production firsthand-club can literally get their hands dirty making vino.

“After individuals have the experience of pruning and caring for the grapevines, they gain a lot of respect for how the wine if actually made and how the grapes grow,” McDonald says. “It certainly makes you appreciate every bottle of wine you open.” Diners at California restaurants, including Spago Beverly Hills and Addison at the Grand Hotel Del Mar in San Diego, also get to savor the product-without getting their hands messy.

Immediately before the annual harvest, Vision Cellars sponsors the popular foodie event Man and Lils’ Green Cook-off. Wine club may request access to this invite-only part, which sells out annually. McDonald also sponsors an annual wine tasting in Harlem in February.

Windsor, California 707.887.1619 visioncellars.com contact Vision Cellars in advance to join the wine club to participate in events. www.uptownlife.net Uptown writer Marla Climini

Relax

EL SALVADOR

Travellers tend to skip El Salvador, wooed by marquee destinations such as Guatemala and Costa Rica, and unnerved by stories of civil war and gang violence. But the war ended almost 20 years ago, and crime, while serious, is almost exclusively played out between rival gangs; tourists are virtually never involved. And though El Salvador has fewer protected areas than its neighbours, you get them practically to yourself. The only place you might find a crowd is on Punta Roca, El Salvador’s most famous surfing spot. And when it comes to cities, none in Central America is smarter or cooler than San Salvador, with first-rate universities, museums and galleries.

GERMANY

Some countries are simply allowed to be, but Germany has had to reinvent itself more times than Madonna. And it has done so again since 1990, when reunification brought an end to nearly three decades of division. In year 20 after its latest rebirth, Germany is still a country where you can witness history in the making. Head to Hamburg, where an entire new quarter is being wrested from the detritus of a 19th-century harbour. Or to Dresden, where the domed Frauenkirche church is once again the diamond in the city’s famous skyline. And to Berlin whose climate of openness spawns more creative experimentation than a Petri dish on Viagra.

GREECE

Seldom does a travel destination satisfy the blurbs that shout ‘has something for everyone’ but Greece truly does. Whether you’re there to poke around ancient ruins, soak in the sun on idyllic beaches, or party till you drop, Greece will leave you clambering for more. It’s guilt-free travel – a slice of history served alongside a healthy slice of hedonism – and everyone seems happy. You get to marvel at the dazzling clarity of the light and the waters, the floral aromas that permeate the air, the pervading sense of spirit – and then sit down to contemplate it all while consuming that great Greek combination of ouzo and octopus!

MALAYSIA

Diversity is what Malaysia is all about. From chaotic and modern Kuala Lumpur to the near mystical wilds of Borneo, there are mountains to tackle, beaches to bake on, coral reefs to dive and malls to shop. And wait till you meet the people. Malays live in rhythm to the mosque’s call to prayer, while just around the corner garlands of marigolds are sold in front of towering Hindu temples and the sweet smells of incense emanate from ornate Chinese Buddhist clan houses. Top off a multicultural day with an Indian curry, Chinese noodles, Malay rice dishes with spicy sambal or the region’s most famous fusion dish, coconut-curry noodle laksa.

MOROCCO

Life-changing experiences:

- Feel the pure joy of freestyle Gnawa rhythms and backflips expressing the exhilaration of freedom from slavery in the Djemaa el-Fna.

- Enjoy hot mint tea in a remote village in the Ait Bou Gomez ‘Happy Valley’, where the warm welcome makes the trip on foot or donkey worthwhile.

- Bask in the glow of ancient auspicious Berber symbols given new life at gallery openings and streetside art stalls in Assilah and Essaouira.

- Get lost and find new friends – and carpets – in the souk mazes of Fez and Marrakesh.

NEPAL

2008 was a watershed year for Nepal – the rebels became the government, the kingdom became a republic and the king became a civilian. With the end of the Maoist uprising, trekkers are once again pitting might and muscle against some of the most challenging trails on the planet. Trekking in Nepal is one of those travel benchmarks, like seeing the Taj Mahal, or diving the Great Barrier Reef, or the first time you eat fried locusts. By the end of your trek, you may vow never to climb anything higher than the stairs around your home town, but the experience of the Himalaya will stay with you for a lifetime.

NEW ZEALAND

New Zealand’s checklist of essential experiences remains as strong as ever. Spectacular landscapes abound, from sea-level rainforests to plunging glaciers, geothermal springs and barren volcanic plains. Add a hearty pinch of lens-friendly wildlife, proud Maori culture, and fine food and drink, and it’s easy to see why the natives are so chilled.

NZ is spearheading the ecotravel revolution, winning international accolades for its ethos towards responsible travel, from minimising visitor impact to involving locals in sustainable tourism practices. When you’re gawping at the spine-tingling vistas it’s good to know they’ll still be there for future generations.

PORTUGAL

Skirting along the southwestern edge of the Iberian Peninsula, the once-great seafaring nation of Portugal today straddles two very different worlds. For purists, this is a land of great tradition, of saints-day festivals where ox-drawn carts still lumber through flower-strewn streets, and ancient vineyards bring sleepy medieval villages to life during the annual harvest. Meanwhile, in other parts of the country, something decidedly more modern is transpiring. Old city centres are slowly being revitalised. A new wave of boutiques, art galleries and cafes are finding new homes in once crumbling old buildings, and locals are beginning to rediscover the allure of vibrant downtown areas.

SURINAME

South America’s smallest country, both in area and population, is easily one of its most diverse; and is known for its peacefully coexisting cultures. Suriname’s natural riches range from Africa-like savannahs to beaches raided by endangered sea turtles, to some of the world’s largest protected stands of tropical rainforest. Quickly emerging as a prime ecotourism and sport-fishing destination, Suriname has everything you could hope for in a wildlife adventure, including the biggest fish in the world, more than 700 bird species and such fascinating mammals as puma, manatee, tapir and primates.

USA

Suddenly the US is cool again! Be it from Barack Obama, Abraham Lincoln’s 200th birthday, or just tightened budgets during the recession, but more Americans are looking backwards – and foreigners too – and taking in traditional American historical sites, beginning with Washington, DC’s freebie zone of museums and heroic monuments.

Trains are a great way to see the country. Unlike the highways, trains don’t pass constant billboards and fast-food chains, and – while a point-to-point ticket is often cheaper on a plane – good-value passes let travellers make looping trips to five or more stops and curb their carbon imprint at the same time.

Lonley Planet smh.com.au

Bora Bora

Bora Bora has often been called the world’s most beautiful island.
It comprises one main island of 29sq-km, roughly the shape of a seahorse, with white-sand beaches and surrounded by a coral reef and strings of “motus” (islets); resident population is about 6,000.
In between lies a lagoon of breathtakingly-brilliant colours, from turquoise to deep blue.
In the jungled hills of the interior, volcanic mountains named Otemanu (727m high) and Pahia (661m) dominate the skyline.
At Bora Bora’s airport, located on Motu Mote, a fleet of boats waits to transport incoming tourists to their resort hotels, many of which offer “over the-water” bungalows with glass panels in the floors providing mesmerizing views of the fish swimming below.
The five-star resorts on tropical Bora Bora are exclusive and expensive, popular with celebrities – Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban honeymooned at the St Regis where they occupied the palatial 1,208sq-m “royal estate” for four nights priced at $US15,000 ($A16,374) a night.
But the island also has “pensions” (French for guest-houses), and other cheaper accommodation.
Among activities for tourists are sailing in the lagoon where Polynesian guides introduce them to feeding (small, reef, friendly) sharks and playing with stingrays, also diving, snorkeling and boating of all kinds.
On land there are 4WD safaris into the interior for some splendid ocean views and to visit some of the 50 ancient “maraes,” holy places where Polynesians once prayed and made sacrifices to their gods.
Or try helicopter flights around the mountains, reefs and beaches.
The airport and tourism in French Polynesia generally, owe much to the events of World War II.
On many inland tours on this peaceful and laid-back tropical island, you come across a reminder of war: Two deactivated seven-inch (17.8cm) cannons, still aimed at possible invaders by sea, remain on a hillside where eight of them were installed after Bora Bora became an American base early in 1942, just weeks after the US was propelled into World War II by the Japanese bombing Pearl Harbor in Honolulu.
Having sustained grave losses to its Pacific fleet, Washington needed a South Pacific military and refueling base – and the French agreed with their new war ally that it should be Bora Bora.
One significant reason was that there is only one opening in the reef allowing ships through to the main island, making it easy to detect any Japanese submarine raiders (who never came).
A US armada arrived on February 17 1942 with 4,450 men and 178 officers in two troop carriers plus two cruisers, two destroyers, two cargo boats and one tanker – greeted enthusiastically by the Polynesian population in outrigger canoes, who suddenly found themselves outnumbered by five-to-one.
The Americans found a lovely but primitive island with no roads, no airstrip and an inadequate water supply.
They installed a water system, built a sealed road around the island and constructed and filled 30 fuel tanks.
As well, they completed French Polynesia’s first airstrip, with a 2km-long runway, in April 1943.
(Papeete’s Faa’a international airport did not open until 1962.)
The two most visible remaining cannons, their barrels nearly 7m long, are a favorite target for tourists’ cameras along with Mount Otemanu, which seems to appear as background in almost every snapshot taken on Bora Bora, be they on or away from the beaches.
Something else the GIs reportedly left behind when they left early in 1946: at least 68 children babies born to local girls.
The recently-released Hollywood movie Couples Retreat, mostly filmed on Bora Bora, has been given a mixed reception by critics in Australia and America, but many of them agreed on one point: that the real star is the island of Bora Bora.
The island, called Earth’s most beautiful by the late author James Michener and scores of others, was never identified during the film, and was only given a mention at the foot of the final list of credits.
Universal Studios booked the entire St Regis Resort for four weeks during the shoot, renaming it the Eden Resort for the occasion, then took 50 American journalists to Bora Bora shortly before the premiere.
(St Regis says it offers package holidays but none for people with marital problems like the four holidaying couples in the movie – and there’s no special hedonistic island for singles there, either.)
A number of other movies have been shot in and around Bora Bora over the past 80 years, notably the three versions of the Mutiny on The Bounty story.
The star of the 1962 film, the late Marlon Brando, fell in love with Tahiti and her islands while here on location, married a Polynesian woman, bought his own small island and was a frequent visitor to Bora Bora.
The Sofitel Resort’s bar is named after, and is decorated with photographs of, the 1969 film Hurricane starring Jason Robards and Mia Farrow.
Bora Bora’s tourism people are grateful for the publicity generated by Couples Retreat, having suffered along with the other holiday islands of the South Pacific due to the world economic meltdown which saw overseas visitor arrivals in French Polynesia slump by 22.7 per cent to 87,929 for the first seven months of this year; two resorts are closed.
Australian figures were down 39.8 per cent to 2,337 while New Zealanders were 28.2 per cent fewer at 1,074.
The Australian figures may also have been affected by Air Tahiti Nui’s decision last April to suspend its direct Sydney-Papeete flights; Australians can now go to Auckland on a Qantas flight code-shared with Air Tahiti Nui, then change to the Tahiti airline’s New Zealand-Papeete service.
But there’s hope that the direct Sydney-Papeete flights will be resumed soon – Tourism Minister Jacqui Drollet made this one of the priorities in a recent statement outlining plans for 2010, along with promotions in countries such as Australia, the US and Brazil. The Sidney Morning Herald writer James Shrimpton smh.com.au

Carnival in Rio de Janeiro

Source Magazine writer Kristin Renee.

July 3rd, I boarded a plan knowing no one. July 7th when I returned I knew everyone and thing there could be to know about Puerto Vallarta. I embarked upon one of my most memorable trips of my life and made a lot of friends while doing it. Traveling to a place like PV is great because it’s one of those destinations that tend to get looked over for being a HOT Spot. But I can contest that PV was the place to be. The Great Food, beautiful women on the beach and crazy nightlife on the Melacon. PV offers it all to you and it’s no possible way you can’t have fun.

The Hot Spots in Town for Food are the “BLUE SHRIMP” you well find every variation of shrimp you can think of. The food is fresh and takes your taste buds on a roll coaster. From the hand prepared Guacamole made right in from of you to the Colorful Margaritas mixed with that famous BLUE AGAVE (tequila). You will enjoy everything they have to offer.

The second hot spot is “Si Senor” which is also has the same owners as the Blue Shrimp. But Si Senor focuses more on the traditional Mexican cuisine with a magnificent hip kick with the beautiful presentation. There deserts and Margaritas are the best thing in the World. If you just want to make a late night stop and grab a drink and dessert. This is the spot to be at and the ambiance is perfect.

NIGHTLIFE at the Malecon. The Malecon is the downtown area in PV. @ Night the streets are filled with locals and tourist. Bars and clubs are stacked next to each other one after another.  The popular clubs are the ZOO, Hilo and the Mandala (which was my Favorite) Make sure you flash those pesos so you don’t have to wait in line. All the clubs will be packed. High energy, great dancing, and strong drinks. Turns into a great evening.

Where to Stay in PV? Puerto Vallarta has some of the most beautiful hotels. From Puerto Vallarta’s 3 star hotels like Canto Del Sol, to the high end luxurious hotels like the Villa Premiere & Buenaventura or JW Marriott. These hotels are all very affordable prices for any traveler. The Villa Premiere was the best hotel personal. 5mins walking distant from downtown, your bathroom overlooks your living room area, balcony with Hot Tub. You name it the Villa had it. From the Smallest room to the Grand old’ Suite. It was amazing.

So its been a little over a year now since I began working at my marketing internship @ Carlson Wagonlit Travel Almeda, Located in Meyerland Plaza Shop Center in Houston, Texas. CWT Almeda is a black owned Travel Agency that has been operating for over 30years. But as time moves on the approach to Travel and the industry has began to change. Technology allows people to access information about travel faster than ever and there is so much information about destinations. You would think who really needs a travel Agent or agency help. Well, at my internship my Boss had the greatest idea on how to push travel in an exciting new way to a consumer demographic that is untapped in the market of Houston. His idea was the Travel Guide magazine, Urban Navigator.

We began on a journey to create this great Marketing tool and vessel to sale travel and never looked back. We went through many hurdles and adversities but still kept on pushing. After working hard on the Magazine gather ad sponsors and content, then finally laying out the magazine and printing it. It had took about 6months and we were 2 months over schedule. We finally dropped the magazine and got a pretty decent response. While working on the magazine at the same time I was working hard on build a social network presents for Urban Navigator Creating a Facebook account, twitter, Linkedin, Myspace, Blog site and etc. Fully launching Urban Navigator into the for front.

Our journey finally saw the light when we had recieved a Gold and Silver award from one of the largest travel magazines called “TRAVEL WEEKLY”.. We were award GOLD AWARD for Best Printing Advertisement by an Individual Agent and a Silver Award in Best Overall Client Newsletter by an Individual Agent. These Awards were acknwledged in the September 28th Issue of Travel Weekly’s special edition to all award winners. We are very Proud of our hard finally being honored, but its not over. Be sure to look for us coming to local stores near your area in Houston. And CELEBRATION PARTY DECEMBER 26th @ THE HOUSE OF BLUES with Special MC guest and DJ… So make sure to stay tuned and Check Out URBAN NAVIGATOR @

TWITTER: http://twitter.com/urbannavigator

FACEBOOK: http://www.facebook.com/urbannavigator?ref=ts&v=wall

BLOG: http://urbannavigator.wordpress.com/

The Running of the Bulls (in Spanish encierro, from the verb encerrar, to lock/shut up, to pen)^[1] is a practice that involves running in front of bulls that have been let loose on a course of a sectioned-off subset of a town’s streets. The most famous running of the bulls is that of the nine-day festival of San Fermín in Pamplona,^[2] although they are held in towns and villages across Spain, Portugal, and in some cities in Mexico^[3] and southern France, during the summer. Unlike bullfights, which are performed by professionals, anyone may participate in an encierro.

The purpose of this event is the transport of the bulls from the off-site corrals where they had spent the night, to the bullring where they would be killed in the evening. Youngsters would jump among them to show off their bravado.