The Westin Maui Resort and Spa offers four romantic ways to celebrate Valentine’s Day or any special occasion in your life. Which will you chose for your romantic trip?

View of the beach from the Westin Maui Resort & Spa

1. Romantic Spa

Throughout the month of February, the resort’s Heavenly Spa is presenting a 50-minute Chocolate Massage using a specialty chocolate oil with a choice of essences – chocolate mint, chocolate cake or chocolate cherry. Yet another delectable spa choice includes the Chocolate Covered Strawberry Pedicure with a chocolate foot soak, followed by a sweet strawberry scrub, a marshmallow mask for the feet and calves, then moisturizing with vanilla foot and calf massage and finishing with perfect polish.

Raise your hand if you think your husband/partner-of-the-male-persuasion would go for a marshmallow mask on his feet and calves. Snicker. But I would definitely be happy, and dear husband knows that rule #1 is to make me happy.

You can also treat your beloved with the Romance Me Package which includes 50-minute couples chocolate massage and 50-minute heavenly couples facial for two for only $470 (regularly price $530). The full-service spa also offers year-round couple’s spa services such as a 50-minute Heavenly Massage for two within the pampering comforts of its couple’s spa room, followed by a private whirlpool bath for two.

Weddings at the Westin Maui Resort & Spa

2. Romantic I Do’s

Now that we have been married for a while, my husband and I talk about what we would have done differently with our wedding. Oh sure, we had a great time planning and experiencing our wedding day, but I think we both agree that if we were to get married now, we would do it on the beach in Hawaii.

Fortunately, Westin Maui Resort and Spa offers a package for just this kind of romantic voyage. The Celebrations of Aloha Center can help any couple plan the Hawaiian wedding of their dreams, from coordinating the location and photographer, to handling the reception details. I think the only thing they probably cannot do is guarantee an award winning sunset. But I bet you they would try!

Preset wedding packages start at $1675, with beautiful extras to make your day even more special. The Westin also offers a bridal registry and can plan an extravagant wedding reception to boot.

3. Romantic adventure

Some couples thrive on romantic dinners and massages; others need to feel the thrill of excitement to get their heart racing. The Westin Maui Resort and Spa has a special thoroughly enjoy the “Rip It & Relax It” package which includes a surf lesson packed with water action along with a 50-minute massage for the perfect Hawaiian experience.

In addition to surf lessons, Island Style Adventures also offers stand-up paddle lessons and kayaking off the famed Ka’anapali Beach and mere steps away from the resort. We tried stand-up paddle on our last trip to Hawaii, and around Black Rock, you can usually spot turtles!

Other fun activities offered for couples include Aqua Poker at the Adults-Only Pool situated at the uppermost level of the resort’s 87,000 square-foot aquatic playground. Relax amidst pampering comfort in cabana chairs designed for two along Ka’anapali Beach or head out for a spectacular sunset cruise on a catamaran sail that docks right up the beach facing the resort. Oh, and did I mention that the Westin has an awesome water slide. So awesome.

4. Romantic honeymoon

If the wedding is behind you, and you are embarking on your honeymoon, the Westin Maui Resort and Spa is a wonderful destination to relax and unwind after the excitement surrounding your special day. Located right on the strand in Ka’anapali, the Westin is ideally situated to enjoy all that West Maui has to offer.

An idyllic renewal awaits couples with the Honeymoon Package offering Westin-inspired accommodations for five nights, champagne and strawberries upon arrival, Hawaiian lei greeting, daily breakfast for two at ‘Ono Bar & Grill and $250 spa or resort credit. It is the perfect dream paradise for couples to begin their new lives together!

Related post: Top Ten Best Food and Drink in Maui

Photos courtesy of Westin Maui Resort and Spa. Visit westinmaui.com for more details on all these romantic offers including pricing.

Four Seasons Chicago

My two favorite hotels in the world are The Ritz Carlton in Orlando and The Four Seasons in Chicago.

Of course, I’ve never once spent the night at either of those places.

My experience with hotels is usually focused on “let’s see how little I can spend without getting bug bites.”  It’s rare, to put it mildly, for me to even consider forking over $400 or more to sleep in a bed – even if it’s a great bed with high thread count sheets.

But oh, how I love a little taste of luxury.

So I cheat.

It’s not actually cheating, per say, but I have found that luxury hotels offer more in the way of luxury than just an overnight stay.  Specifically, I like to indulge in the spas and restaurants of these fine hotels.

The best meal I’ve ever had was at Seasons Restaurant, the restaurant located on the seventh floor of the Four Seasons Chicago Hotel.  Your typical bread basket came in the form of a bread display, and my perfect white table cloth was removed of all crumbs by a small golden contraption resembling a straight edge razor.  The food was beyond divine, and the service was extraordinary.

One of my dining partners asked what beverages were available and our waiter responded with “what would you like?  If we don’t have it, we’ll get it.”

I am not a hard core foodie, but I could become one after eating at Seasons Restaurant.  And I would use words like “caramelized” with reverence and love.

The bill came up to about $125 per person.  That bought us a four hour dining experience, four gourmet courses and a dessert coated with actual gold flecks.

We left the Four Seasons and retired to our $69 per night hotel room with full bellies and angelic smiles.

I’ve never dined (or spent the night) at The Ritz Carlton in Orlando, but I have spent more than one day there soaking in the lap of luxury.  I go to The Ritz for their spa.

Spa NAPS at The Ritz Orlando

The Ritz offers a full spa menu – everything from pedicures to massages – including the massages that involve someone walking on your back.  Of course, there are dozens of places to get pedicures and massages for less money in the Orlando area.

What makes The Ritz unique is that one spa treatment (even if it’s just a pedicure), gives you access to their entire spa and facilities for the day.  I lounge on a comfy couch in one of their relaxation rooms before my “treatments”, and then enjoy a leisurely sit in the steam room afterward.  I might also take a dip in the pool or relax in the sauna before heading off to the showers – which are private and well stocked with amenities.

I might pay just over $100 for an hour long massage, but I typically spend several hours unwinding in an environment of luxury and opulence.

When I’m done, I head home to my own bed where I sleep for free – and boy, do I sleep well.

The great thing about luxury hotels is that they excel at service.  That means that you will never be treated like an interloper while enjoying their non-guestroom amenities.  For a few hours, you’ll be treated like a star, without having to pay a star quality room rate.

Photos courtesy of Four Seasons Hotel and Ritz Carlton Orlando Resort Grande Lakes

Aerial view of the Guanahani Hotel and Spa

Gisele Bundchen

Last time we covered St. Tropez’ Byblos Hotel. And we have another French hotel and celeb hotspot for this week’s Celebrity Hotel of the Week. Smack dab in the middle of the French West Indies is the Hotel Guanahani and Spa in Saint Barthelemy. A fave amongst celebrities such as Naomi Watts, Alessandra Ambrosio, and Jon Bon Jovi, the Guanahani is the finest of luxury hotel resorts.

Located on a private 16-acre peninsula, you’ll find amazing beaches, dining, Creole-styled rooms and suites that’ll blow you away, shopping…it’s all there at the Guanahani, just waiting for your arrival. And talk about some incredible free activities and services!

The luxurious Guanahani

Included with your room stay: free Continental breakfast either in your room or at the Indigo restaurant, canoes and pedal boats, snorkeling, windsurfing, tennis courts, a fitness center, and daytime Kindergarten for children 2-6 years of age. By the way? Kids six and under stay for free. And for a little extra, there’s jet-skis, boat rentals, scuba diving, bars on the beach, and instructors for tennis and windsurfing.

Guanahani Room, Feel like a celeb!

Guanahani Room

The Guanahani has 68 rooms, all in private bungalows with private terraces. There are 34 suites (some with private pools), 24-hour room service, satellite TV with LCD flatscreens, DVD players (DVD library available at the front desk), and free Internet.

Bed with a view, Guanahani Hotel & Spa

Gastronomically speaking, there are lots of good eats around, including Indigo (a wonderful poolside restaurant on the beach) and Bartolomeo (gourmet dining and lounge bar). Scrumptious Mediterranean/Italian dishes at Bartolomeo are faves of Marisa Miller and Gisele Bundchen alike, and you can’t beat a romantic meal at night with the stars overhead.

Guanahani Restaurant

The spa at Guanahani rocks, too. Get a look at some of these views. Steam room, massages, rejuvenation packages. There’s even a salon on the premises.

Guanahani Spa

Rates. Right. Well,depending on the room and the time of year, prices start at 360 Euros (currency converter here) and work their way up from there. A Superior Gardenview Room, for example, is 360 Euros a night during the summer and 915 Euros a night during the Christmas holiday. An Ocean 1-Bedroom Poolside Suite, with private pool overlooking the sea starts at 1,095 Euros in the summer and goes up to 1,655 Euros over Christmas and New Year’s.

Guanahani Hotel, Private Suite Pool

Jon Bon Jovi

But if you’re really going for the celebrity treatment, you can get a suite with butler service! Yeah, baby! The most expensive one – La Villa – starts at 2,800 Euros a day and tops out at 5,700 Euros a day. Think I’ll stay for a month. Or maybe just for 15 minutes, because that’ll only cost me 60 Euros. How much can a butler do in 15 minutes, anyway?

Fine beaches, luxurious rooms, poolside bars, the warm sunny climate…yeah. I can’t wait to get there. Who wants to be my Sugar Mama?

HOTEL SITE

CELEBS SPOTTED: Marisa Miller, Selita Ebanks, Alessandra Ambrosio, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, Naomi Watts, Laetitia Casta, Stephanie Seymour, Karen Mulder, Yasmeen Ghuri, Jon Bon Jovi.

And if anyone has any tips for hot celebrity hotels, feel free to let me know.

Photo credits: Daylife.com, Celebutopia.net, Guanahani Hotel

Related posts: The Standard, Los Angeles; The Byblos in St. Tropez.

Helpful Sean

My husband and I needed a night away and a serious spa treatment. Having spent the past week moving our house we were worn out and our backs were in dire need of a massage. Knowing that Calistoga is just over an hours drive from San Francisco, this cozy hot springs town was our immediate destination.

We called on Wednesday morning The Lodge at Calistoga and Sean their front desk manager surprised us with a great deal – for $107 plus tax he gave us a king room upstairs with its own balcony. It paid to call directly.

Hearing our tale of sore muscles, Sean immediately told us about their relationship with the Lavender Hill Spa at the other end of Lincoln Avenue and offered to transfer me directly over.

The Clarion Collection Lodge at Calistoga has worked out some great deals with nearby spas and vineyards – ask when you call to book your room or when you arrive, all of their staff was very friendly and helpful.

Lavender Hill Spa Baths

As a hotel guest, you receive a 20% discount on any spa treatment at Lavender Hill but we chose one of the spa’s own specials. We both received an hour bath treatment (with foot massage) and an hour massage for less than $235 total – yes that’s is less than $120 each…

Driving north from San Francisco we took the scenic route up 101 North then over Highway 12 and down into Calistoga via the Petrified Forest. It can be more relaxing than other routes depending on where you are starting from, the time of day or day of the week.

The hotel offers free wi-fi, free parking and we were given a nice room away from the street – Room 202 – facing our own little patch of green. We didn’t use it this trip but they have a mineral pool to swim in.

Patio area for warm days

In the morning we had a simple and free continental breakfast with hot Belgian waffles made to order. They offer cereal and bagels too, all of which were very tasty.

View From Room 202

After our stress and sore muscles were disposed of, we grabbed a last minute dinner reservation at the Calistoga Inn Restaurant and Brewery. There are travel bargains to be had and you can definitely find them in Calistoga.

Here is another great website where you can find tales of rejuvenating Getaways.

All photos from my iPhone.