Mauna Lani Bay is a luxury resort located on the Big Island in Hawaii.

The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows are a mecca for golfers, a treat for the gourmets and wonderful hideaway to relax and a nature preserve for rare green sea turtles.  The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel and Bungalows is an oceanfront paradise on the Big Island’s sunny Kohala Coast that has a list of accolades as long as its white-sand shoreline. 

This AAA Five Diamond-rated property on the Big Island of Hawaii, is an award-winning combination of sophisticated luxury and Hawaiian style hospitality.  Guestrooms are spacious and tastefully furnished all feature private lanais.  Ninety percent of the rooms have magnificent ocean views, the other overlook lush tropical garden’s.  The resort’s five restaurants include the widely hailed Canoe House.  Its Pacific Rim fare has received recognition in such prestigious publications as Gourmet, GQ, Esquire, Bon Appetite and Departures. 

Seafood specialties include Nor9-Wrapped Tempura Ahi with tomato-Ginger Relish and Fresh Seared Mahi Mahi with Chinese Black Bean Sauce.  The resort is renowned for its cuisine.  The Mauna Lani tradition of fine food began centuries ago when Hawaiian Ali’i (royalty) first settled on the Kohala Coast, creating the fishponds that are now the heart of this luxury destination. 

If you’re seeking up to the minute, non-stop activity, you will find that the Mauna Lani features the award winning Tennis Garden and Racquet Club, a comprehensive sports center, a wide range of watersports and a picture-perfect 36 hole championship golf course.  In 1991, golf course architects Nelson and Haworth reconfigured the 18-hole Francis H. I’I Brown Golf Course, doubling the number of holes and creating Mauna Lani’s now-famous North and South.  The recipients of six “Golf Medal Awards” from Golf Magazine.

The North Course is built on an older and smoother pahoehoe lava bed.  It features rolling terrain and kiawe tree forests.  A 230-acre protected archaeological district lies on the northern boundary; consequently, herds of feral goats frequent the entire North Course, providing a unique neutral hazard.  James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com has the expertise to help you plan your next vacation to the Hawaiian islands. Give us a call, we look forward to helping you create the custom vacation to fit your needs.

Lake Tahoe, Nevada is 193 square miles of pure, blue water surrounded by 10,00 foot peaks.  It sits magically 6,225 feet above sea level.   James TravelPOINTS can help you plan the perfect weekend getaway or meeting and incentive groups 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com 

Here you can play at 28 world-class alpine and Nordic ski resorts.  Hike and mountain bike on endless trails throughout the Sierra Nevada.  Golf on some of the most incredible courses in the country.  Take advantage of 24-hour casino action, top comedians and musicians.  And enjoy it all amidst some of the most spectacular scenery in the world.

As you ponder great vacations consider these golf destination that offer beautiful scenery, activities you and your spouse can enjoy together and an atmosphere that is “Par Excellence”.  James TravelPOINTS has some ideas for destinations that offer unique features to explore new frontiers. 

Los Cabos, Mexico
Las Ventanas Al Paraiso is on the “Hot List of the World’s Top New Hotels and Resort” reported by Conde’ Nast Traveler’s 1998.  Las Ventanas is located minutes away to one of Cabo’s four championship golf courses along with a beautiful beach and colorful surroundings.  Las Ventanas offers luxurious accommodations, roof-top terraces, a private spa and more.  A perfect way to spend a long weekend or week.

Jasper, Canada
Come stay and play at Jasper Park Lodge, the grande dame of Canadian lodges, and you’ll enjoy this spectacular golf vacation.  The 18-hole, championship, Stanley Thompson-designed course is nestled in the majestic Canadian Rockies, along picturesque Lac Beauvert, an unforgettable environment in which to perfect your game.  Packages include two nights in a mountainview suite, with fireplace, two rounds of golf, breakfast and dinner daily and much more. 

Cruise and Golf
Golf and Cruising is not a new idea but an idea that has changed for the better.  Today, many cruise lines and specialty travel companies offer a wide range of cruises with golf options.  Whether you want to play or just watch, it’s now easy to cruise to some great golf destinations anywhere in the world.  Passengers have the opportunity play some of the world’s most beautiful golf courses and enjoy all the amenities cruising offers, from outstanding cuisine to great entertainment.  Other advantages offered by a golf-cruise combination include unpacking just once, visiting multiple destinations and golf courses in one trip.  If you want a vacation on a ship and on the links, cruise offers both with their new shoreside golf program.  With guaranteed tee times at top golf resorts, cruise guest is offered an excellent combination of golf and cruising. Most of the new golf program includes green fees for scheduled rounds of golf, roundtrip transfers between the ship and course, carts, pull carts and or caddies. A perfect selection of golf blended with a relaxing cruise.  Give James TravelPOINTS a call for designing your perfect golf or fun destination gets away, 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com.

Club Med Vacations offer All-inclusive packages for singles, families, adults, honeymooners world wide. 

If everyone in the family has a different interest, or maybe you’re travelling by yourself, or possibly planing a family reunion.  We’ve got the prefect vacation, one that will satisfy everyone’s needs…. CLUB MED.  Did you know that Club Med invented the “all inclusive” vacation back in 1950?  They are still offering the same great value that they did when it all started.  A single price covers your room, 3 meals a day with wine or beer at lunch and dinner, most sport, entertainment, activities for the kids, they even include the fun!

Each village at Club Med is set in the most idyllic location and each has its own personality, a few are only for adults, many include children’s programs (from babies to teenagers), some are more sports intensive than others are.  This is a world unto itself; everything is readily available and with easy reach: restaurants, bars theatres, nightclubs, sports and excursions. The clubs international flair allows you the opportunity to mingle with people from all over the world.  The villages most frequented by American’s are throughout Mexico, the Caribbean and the South Pacific, if that’s too close to home, don’t worry, there are villages throughout the world.    Here, is the freedom of choice and the chance to re-connect with your fun-loving, relaxed spontaneous self.

Club Med is the world’s largest sports school with facilities for all of the most exciting sports.  Trained instructors will help you learn something new or develop your skills.  Whether you’re an experienced athlete or an amateur - Club Med gives you everything you need to play and progress at your own pace: instruction at your level of ability, with plenty of the latest equipment, from tennis to diving to rock climbing to biking to kayaking.   Oh and did we mention; at many sites you will actually have the chance to run away and join the circus, flying on the trapeze, juggling and more.  (Many clients plan their Club Med vacation only at villages that offer a circus, it’s that much fun!).

Several villages offer intensive sports programs such as dedicated dive centers,  SCUBA Program, golf academies, tennis Academies and intensive tennis clinics. 

For those of you travelling with children, you’ll enjoy your vacation that much more, knowing your young ones are have the time of their lives, with other children from all over the world! You have the opportunity to spend as much or as little time together as your child prefers.  Your child will be delighted with the sports, arts, learning experiences, and even kid-size meals, all under the safe guidance of qualified leaders.

No matter what your age or vacation inclination it’s at Club Med that you will have the time of your life.  Call the travel professionals at James TravelPOINTS, together; we can pick a village that is just right for you 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com.

There are golf courses and then there are those golf course resorts that have the drawn, appeal and reputation of providing the finest vacation experinces for the golfer and non-golfer.

The Arizona Biltmore & Resort & Spa

Since it opened in 1929, practically every celebrity on the continent has passed through the doors of this Frank Lloyd Wright-designed hotel.  The ever-popular Arizona Biltmore entertains with 730 guest rooms and villas, seven heated swimming pools, a lavish new spa, a 92-foot water slide, seven lighted tennis courts, and a championship putting course.  Two PGA 18-hole golf courses await nearby.  The older of the two courses, the Abode proudly points outs that its elegance hails from an era when “graphite was for pencil lead and golf balls came in only one color”.

The Gleneagles Hotel- Scotland

To duffers the world over, the name Gleneagles means golf.  It is here, in the wildly beautiful Scottish Highlands, that James Braid designed the King and Queen’s 18-hole courses nearly a century ago.  They are well matched by the 18-hole Monarch’s course, designed by Jack Nicklaus, who deemed it no less than “the finest natural parcel of land in the world I have been given to work with.”  The 229-room property, established in 1924, was the honeymoon haven of King Hussein and Queen Noor.

Grand Bay Hotel - Isla Navidad, Mexico

Hole by hole, shot by shot, the setting never repeats itself on Isla Navidad’s three nine-hole courses: Ocean, Mountains and Lagoon.  Located in Manzanillo on Mexico’s Pacific coast, between Acapulco and Puerto Vallarta, the 27- hole course has been likened to a work of art; niches housing handmade folk art surprise golfers at every turn.  The golf course and palm-studded 192-room hotel are part of the exclusive 1,200-acre peninsula community of Isla Navidad.  Guestrooms have bay views and balconies.

The Greenbrier - West Virginia

Presidents and members of Congress have vacationed here for as long as anyone can remember.  Located on 6,500 acres in the Allegheny Mountains, the 650-room Greenbrier, a National Historic Landmark offers three championship golf courses designed by Charles Blair Macdonald, Jack Nicklaus, and Bob Cupp respectively.  The property set new standards for resort golf with the opening of it’s Sam Snead golf Academy.  It has a 65,000 square-foot tee area, a 165-foot long practice bunker, a practice fairway bunker, and four different putting, chipping, and pitching greens.  If you would like to inquire more about these and other resort golf properties, please contact James TravelPOINTS at 1-800-538-7461,  www.travelpoints.com.

Scotland’s spectacular landscape has made if popular over the years with its beauty and impressive mountain scenery.  Travelers will experience the warm hospitality of the Scot’s and marvel at the panorama of the undeveloped coastline and countryside.  Add to this a superb range of accommodations and exciting year-round events and festivals and you will have vacations of a lifetime.
 
Scotland’s main cities of Edinburgh, Glasgow and Aberdeen are packed with things to do at any time of the year. If you are flying into Scotland, your journey may begin by visiting the Capital City of Edinburgh.  Edinburgh’s attractions include the National Gallery of Scotland, one of Europe’s most distinguished galleries, the Royal Botanic Garden, the Royal Museum of Scotland and the famous Edinburgh Castle.  The Castle with it dramatic backdrop to Edinburgh’s skyline offers visitors a sense of the Medieval times.  Within the Castle is the Crown Room where the Crown Jewels are on display. Other destination to visit might include the Palace of Holyroodhouse, the Queen’s official residence in Scotland at the foot of the Royal Mile.
Accommodations vary from 5 star hotels to guesthouses. Restaurants and shopping are abundant within the city and easy to access.  Edinburgh is a wonderful city to walk around, taste and experience. 

From Edinburgh you may journey north along the coastline to St. Andrews which winds through countryside of quaint towns and small villages.  St. Andrews is situated on the East Coast of Scotland, 50 miles north of Edinburgh and is the home to golf.  Golf was first played in St. Andrews around 1400 and is famous for the British Open and the appeal to play one the world’s landmark golf courses.  The Old Course at St. Andrews is open to the public and tee times are accessible through a daily lottery or advance reservation.  The town of St. Andrews is a quaint university town with many discerning and attractive shops and restaurants.  Travelers can easily spend 3 to 4 nights.

If you want to play golf, there are over 470 golf courses around Scotland offering the challenge of the links courses by the sea to the lush fairways of the parkland courses. Green fees vary but municipal courses are the least expensive as compared to the private courses.  Handicap certificates may be required at some courses and walking is usually the standard.  Most of the hotels in the area will help travelers arrange tee times at the local courses.  The top renowned courses may require an advance tee time set up ahead of time prior to arrival.

If you want to tour castles, there are many within a 100-mile radius of St. Andrews.  Castles in Scotland means everything from ruined fortresses to stately homes.  They range from the boarders of England to the Highlands.  Within a days drive you may visit many fascinating famous castles and stately homes.  Many of the properties owned by Historic Scotland stay open year round, including the Stirling Castle and Urquhart Castle on the banks of the Loch Ness.

No matter what season you choose or activity, you are sure to experience the allure Scotland has to offer. James TravelPOINTS has experience travel agents to help you plan your vacation into Scotland.  Give us a call at James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com to help set a vacation of a lifetime.      

Between the Tropic of Cancer and the Equator, about 1,600 miles southeast of Miami lies a little group of 30 plus islands called St. Vincent and the Grenadines.  The Carenage Ba, Beach and Golf Resort nestles up to the ocean, flirting with it by placing what is perhaps the largest pool in the Caribbean right on the water’s edge. 

Along that sea front you’ll find some 60 acres dedicated to the Carenage Golf course (18 holes, par 72, 6300 yards) facing a magnificent coral reef.  Every shot is different than the last, and despite uphill challenges and twisting fairways, the real hazard is the distracting view.

Canouan, where the resort is located, is also an ideal spot for windsurfing, sailing, SCUBA diving in the sea, tennis, volleyball or simply walking.  Once you’ve tried all of those, why not take to the water in one of the resort’s boats or the air in one of their small planes. 

Gleneagles Scotland

The highlands between Edinburgh and Glasgow contain a Scottish national treasure, the venerable Gleneagles.  Golf enthusiasts worship here on three of the world’s fines courses laid out on an 850-acre estate in Perthshire. Gleneagles is a world-class resort offering its famous golf courses plus the Golf Academy, the club and Spa, the Equestrian Center, the Gleneagles Jackie Stewart Shooting and Fishing School, the British School of Falconry, off-road driving and the list is endless.  Your stay includes a variety of complimentary sporting and recreational activities, plus access to the resort’s golf practice range and putting greens. 

Lanai, “The Experience” at Koele, Hawaii

In the highland of the forgotten Hawaiian island of Lanai, you’ll long remember a splendid course designed by Greg Norman, “the Shark,” and renowned fairway architect Ted Robinson.  The Experience, at Koele’s par-72 championship course measures 7,014 yards from tournament tees.  The first seven holes sit atop a forested plateau 2,000 feet above sea level, where morning mists rise to provide panoramic views of the islands of Maui and Molokai across the deep blue channel.  They say the 8th hole is the “most spectacular hole in all of Hawaii,” a 396-yard par-4 with a 250-foot drop through ravines wooded with pine, koa and eucalyptus.  The back nine at The Experience at Koele feature undulating, links-style play.  Water features are in full evidence, from flowing streams and cascading waterfalls, to the lake, which completely surrounds the number 17 green.   The course culminates in the par-five 18th, where the green is rimmed by waterfalls. 

The Lodge at Koele is one of Hawaii’s most luxurious inland hotels.  The 102-room Lodge, reminiscent of a fine country estate, features an upcountry Hawaiian setting with an extensive collection of pacific art. 

If you are considering a golf getaway or vacation this winter, give James TravelPOINTS a call at 1-800-538-7461/303-442-2340.  We can help you arrange your unique vacation.

Cabo San Lucas once a calm fishing village has revolved now into a vibrant town with world class deep sea fishing, championship golf courses and plenty of other out -of –the- water activities.  Recently I had the chance to visit Cabo San Lucas and re-experience the many wonderful activities, hotels and restaurants activities and charm of Cabo San Lucas.

With an average of 350 sunny days a year, temperatures in the low eighties and water sports everywhere, Cabo is an excellent vacation destination for the entire family.  Visitors arriving into Cabo San Lucas will find that the “corridor” from the airport in San Jose Del Cabo to Cabo San Lucas (approximately 30 kilometers) offers some of the finest resort hotels in Mexico. The resorts along this area are peaceful charming self-contained destinations where you can experience the serene way of life in the area.  The golf courses are world class with five championship courses all within easy driving distance of each other. All have ocean views and three of the courses, Cabo del Sol, Cabo Real and El Dorado, boast spectacular ocean side holes that rival any in the world for their beauty and challenging nature. Cabo San Lucas Country Club looks out over Land’s End and Cabo’s beautiful bay.   A rental car is needed to get around to the different courses along the corridor.

For families I prefer to stay closer to town to Cabo San Lucas. Not only are you closer to most of the popular activities, everything is mostly within walking distance and you will save on cab fares to from town. The main beach in Cabo, El Medano is about 5 to 10 minutes walk to town and is one of the safest swimming beaches in the immediate area. Many of Cabo San Lucas finest hotels are located along this beach, the Melia San Lucas, Pueblo Bonito, the Hacienda and the Villa Del Palmar.  The beach is approximately 3 miles long and there are plenty of activities going on.

One of the highlights that is the trademark of Cabo San Lucas is the “The Arch”.  Water taxis are available to take you to Lover Beach where the Arch is located across the bay.  The Arch was formed by the waves that crash upon the Southern tip of Baja California.
 It is the only place in the world where one beach is situated on two different bodies of water. The dark blue of the Pacific Ocean is directly across from the emerald green of The Sea of Cortez.   Along the bay side snorkeling and dive boat gather to view some of the finest marine life in the area.
The area offers some other great activities for the family.   ATV Tours and Rentals are one of the most popular non-water activities available.  The desert and nearby mountains offer great rides within a short distance of town.  Daily organized caravans of ATV riders head west through the back roads of Cabo San Lucas to the “El Faro Vie”, the old lighthouse on the Pacific.   Here the great sand dunes loom below and the ATV riders are free to explore the sand dunes and trails along the vast horizon. 
If you’re into deep-sea sport fishing there is no better place to visit.  The sport fishing is unparalleled in the world with Marline, Sailfish, Dorado, tuna, wahoo, roosterfish and endless varieties of surf fishing. Cabo is the host city every year to the world’s richest series of marlin tournaments in October.
Restaurants and dining are some of the finest experiences and memories of visiting a destination.  Quality restaurants of all types and sizes are located in Cabo San Lucas and choices are endless.  Fresh seafood is a specialty of the area and we can pass along a few suggestions of restaurants of the area.  La Dolce and Pazzo’s provides good Italian food, service at reasonable prices.  Mi Casa and Panchos affords good authentic Mexican food and service at reasonable prices.    Edith’s and the Finnestara are good for a change of scenery. 

You’ll enjoy your trip to Cabo if it’s only for a short weekend or a longer length of stay during any season of the year. The locals are friendly and helpful and welcome visitors to experience there paradise.  If you would like to know more about Cabo or any other destination in Mexico please call James TravelPOINTS at 1-800-538-7461/303-442-2340, we can help you arrange the vacation that fits your travel style.