Destinations

It seems that everyone is getting in the mood for wine, there are new and exciting ways for wine lovers to expand his or her palate. From the Ritz to Disney this spring is a great time to take advantage of these venues wonderful offers, the beautiful weather and of course the wine selection.

• The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island Florida has announced its Wine Program 2008 – Salt Signature Wine Dinners. Held in the AAA Five Diamond restaurant Salt, Chef de Cuisine, Richard Gras is offering four signature dinners that will be accompanied by both Old World and New World wines. Each dinner features a seven course tasting menu that complements the vintage served. Wine specialists will share their expertise all through the dinner giving the diner a enlightening and interesting dining experience. The four dinners will be held: April 30 which will serve wines from Oregon and Washington, June 27 which will serve wines from Silver Oak and Foley, October 23 which will serve wines from Chile and Argentina, and December 12 for the Holiday Champagne Dinner which will serve Veuve Clicquot.

• All Walt Disney World Resorts are offering some unforgettable rates this spring and packages that are guaranteed to satisfy the adults in the family. Epcot Center is having its annual Flower and Garden Festival with more the 70 million blooms now through June 1. To add to your “Fun in the Sun” experience you can add Wine & Dine Plan to your Magic Your Way Package. Every night you will have your pick of one bottle from the wine list that includes a broad collection from the globe enhancing the dining experience Disney has to offer.

• The Bellagio in Las Vegas has become the home of the most Sommeliers in the world. They have just announced a new Court Master Sommelier Joseph Phillips of Sensi. With Phillips joining the team he helps the Bellagio set the record for most Master Sommelier at a single property in the world. The Bellagio caters to a variety of palates, occasions and budgets. They have to offer more the 50,000 bottles, 5,000 selections and 250 wines by the glass. Diners can request a wine for any of the Bellagio’s restaurants and the team of Sommeliers will locate the wine and deliver it within eight minutes. The Bellagio looks to make every dining experience educational and enjoyable and with some of the best-trained specialist one is sure to have an exceptional experience.

The Kahala is located on the other side of Diamond Head on a secluded beach. I love the location, because you feel like you are on an outer island, yet are minutes away from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki. The Kahala Resort is still under renovation and the room I stayed in had been renovated, however, the bathroom had not been. The room was absolutely beautiful! When we walked in I believe we audibly gasped. The colors are a very soft light yellow and light blue and the room is very large. We had an ocean view room, which you could also view the dolphins from.

As beautiful as the guest rooms are, my favorite thing about this hotel is the service, which was impeccable! The employees at the Kahala make their guests feel very welcome, with genuine Hawaiian greetings and the Aloha spirit at every turn.

For those travelers who like to avoid the hotels with lots of children, this may be a good choice for you. Although children are certainly welcome, we saw very few during our stay. The pool is relaxing and quiet with wonderful pool side service. We enjoyed sitting in the lounge in the evenings, sitting on comfy sofas and listening to the piano player. The spa at the Kahala is outstanding and if you ever stay there please do not miss a swim with the dolphins!

Two people in the travel industry with very high standards have told me this is their favorite hotel in all of Hawaii, so my expectations were very high ~ but I was certainly not disappointed!