Breakaway - The World's Your Oyster - Slurp it up!

It’s holiday season! Where to go? What to do? Throw a dart at the world map and see where it lands. Here’s some snappy updates and news on deals for a grand expedition.

Hawaii. From now until Christmas Eve, the Waikoloa Beach Marriott Resort & Spa is offering the “Celebration of the Land” package, with rooms starting at US$199 per night. Stay five consecutive nights from April 15 to August 15, 2009 and you’ll get one complimentary Kohala Wai PinzTrek land adventure aboard an off-road six wheel drive vehicle, and vehicle admission to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.

Log onto http://www.waikoloamarriott.com/ and specify promotion code ADV.

Paris. A stone’s throw from the Arc de Triomphe is the ultra-modern, ultra-chic 118-room Renaissance Paris Arc de Triomphe, which recently opened on Avenue Wagram. From now until 10 January 2010, the hotel is offering its Family Escape package for €435 per room, for four people staying in one double-double room, including daily breakfast, pizza and soft drinks and free daily in-room movies. Such a win-win situation – kids get to chill and Mom gets to shop! Dad? Well, did he bring all his credit cards? So he’s set, no? Plus, we hear that the view of Paris from the higher floors are superb! Quick, quick. Go.

Log onto www.renaissancearcdetriomphe.com or call 800 228-9290.

Koh Samui. If you want, just for awhile, your own slice of heaven, feast your eyes on Suralai, a private six-bedroom holiday home that accommodates families or groups of up to six! With only one rental at a time, you get the entire mini-resort to your lucky selves. It includes an expansive sun-terrace, 20-metre infinity swimming pool, private gym and lush landscaped gardens. Services include a resident manager, housekeepers, a private chef skilled at both Thai and western cuisine, and an optional driver for exploring the island. Your stay there comes with continental or full international-style breakfast, too.

For techie mod-cons, there’s wireless high-speed Internet available throughout, an Imac set up for guests’ use, a Bose surround-sound system that can be piped to all the main public areas, thousands of pre-programmed songs and separate surround-sound systems, flat-screen TV and ipod docking stations in each room. Suralai is just 15 minutes from the main shopping and entertainment area of Koh Samui.

Log onto http://www.suralai.com/

Siem Reap, Cambodia. Feeling like Lara Croft? Swing over to Angkor Wat and stay at the Angkor Palace Resort & Spa. Its Summer Sale Package, based on a minimum stay of two nights for two persons, starts at US$120nett per Deluxe room per night and US$140 nett per Premier Deluxe Room per night inclusive of daily breakfast, free Internet access, and a choice of one dinner or a 55-minute Khmer traditional massage, two-way airport transfer and taxes. It also includes complimentary entry to the spa featuring the outdoor jacuzzi, steam room, sauna, gymnasium and tennis courts and late check-out at 3pm, subject to availability.

What to do there? Wander around old markets for local silver, silk, wood and stone carvings or check out the floating villages and fauna on Tonle Sap Lake.

FYI, the ‘Palace’ features 259 rooms and suites including eight private villas and five food & beverage outlets. Package available until 31 August.

Log onto:

http://www.angkorpalaceresort.com/promotion/show/summer_sale_promotion.aspx or e-mail: reservation@angkorpalaceresort.com

-Ee Waun