The soft opening of the 240-suite resort The Blue attracts both leisure and business travelers. Located within the city of Doral only minutes from Miami International Airport, the resort is surrounded by South Florida nature and world-class golf. Until Dec. 20, 2008, guests can enjoy the “Sneak-A-Peek” rate of $189* per night.

“We are delighted to open the city of Doral’s first luxury resort offering,” said General Manager Stephen van Hemert. “The Blue is designed to provide a high-end experience of service and product to business travelers that frequent Doral and leisure travelers visiting for golf and other Miami offerings.

Each suite offers large private verandas, fully-equipped kitchens, bathrooms with rain shower and Jacuzzi bathtub accompanied with a flat screen television, 42″ flat panel high-definition LCD televisions, wireless internet access, sound systems with DVD players and iPOD docking stations.

For more information about The Blue, visit www.theblue.com.

Another option for Miami visitors is the luxurious hotel Townhouse on South Beach’s Collins Avenue.

TEXT: Valerie Mellema

Botswana is an amazing destination for travel. The Kalahari is a stunning sight, while the warm, welcoming people will help you feel right at home. No matter what you intend to do in the country, you will need to find the best accommodations for your needs. Botswana boasts numerous hotel and some of the best resorts in the world. Visiting HotelsCombined.com can help you find the best price for your stay.

Deception Valley Lodge

Located just outside of the Okavango Delta, this luxury resort offers you a unique way to experience an adventurous safari on the Kalahari. Bushmen guides, luxury accommodations and the best service in the area, you’ll find that this hotel is an incredible experience. Cultural walks to meet the Bushmen, hunting and training classes with native hunters, Victorian style suites and all the best amenities await you here.

Kubu Lodge

Located on the banks of the Chobe River, the Kubu Lodge offers you several chalets with thatched roofs and raised platforms. You’ll enjoy incredible vies of the river, as well as ceiling fans, mosquito nets, coffeemakers and a host of other amenities. The on-property restaurant serves the best local and international cuisine, for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  There is also a bar located on property, as well as a small gift shop.

Muchenje Safari Lodge

If you are planning a safari in Botswana, you’ll find few better options than staying with the Muchenje Safari Lodge. This beautiful resort offers you lounges, bars and panoramic views of the area. Communal dining is done in a railway sleeper car, retrofitted to be an informal restaurant. You will enjoy walking safaris through the area, river cruises on the Chobe River and a wide diversity of African wildlife, including crocodiles, hippos, lions and a wide diversity of birds.

Walmont at the Grand Palm

This luxury resort has nothing to do with safaris, though you can find them easily from the hotel. Located in Gaborone, the hotel offers modern amenities to visitors, as well as numerous ways to enjoy your stay. Buffet dining is the rule in the hotel, while you can enjoy an outdoor pool. Watch out for the wildlife; monkeys enjoy visiting the pool for a frolic with unsuspecting travelers. Internet access is available in all rooms, as well as in-room safes, comfortable bedding and a location in the heart of the city.

Thanks to a private adventure guide, guests of the exclusive residential resort Wailea Beach Villas on Maui, Hawaii, can explore the best of the island’s environments and outdoor activities. Besides a free half-day excursion with the resort’s private adventure guide Charlie Fleck, the Maui Adventure Guide Experience package includes five nights accommodation in a two bedroom penthouse.

Having arranged tours since Wailea Beach Villas opened two years ago, Charlie Fleck can ensure guests enjoyable and memorable experiences beyond more commercial trips available on Maui. He uses his great love for nature and knowledge of the island to customize each excursion so guests can learn something new on their vacation. Apart from outrigger canoe trips with snorkelling at Turtle Town, he offers surfing, hiking in a bamboo forest, and much more.

The special Maui Adventure Guide Experience package begins at $1,225 per person based on four people in a two bedroom penthouse and is available through Dec. 19, 2008. For more information or to book a private guide experience, visit www.waileabeachvillas.com

About Wailea Beach Villas

Managed by Destination Hotels & Resorts, Wailea Beach Villas is one of more than 30 independent, upscale hotels, resorts and golf clubs in the United States. Desirably located along Maui’s famed Wailea Beach, the resort offers 1,900 to 3,100-square-foot villas on 12 acres of lush gardens and outdoor pools.

For more information on the properties in the Destination Hotels & Resorts collection, visit www.destinationhotels.com.