Suggestions for a long weekend

[funtimes]

Hi Syrene these are wonderful puzzles to solve and dream about. I agree that the Southwest US is a beautiful fall destination. The small inn you may be thinking of between Toas and Santa Fe could be Rancho De Chimaya - Fabulous food a ranch atmosphere and a reknown gift shopWe think Pheonix is too busy - Tanque Verde ranch that Bonneyjoy mentioned is a very special place located in the Suguraro(?SP) National Park. Trail rides from Tanque Verde are memorable. The US Coasts are also nice - fall color tours in the Northeast or Northwest I agree Seattle is incredible - suggest Eagles nest B&B on Whidbey Island - close to Chateau San Michelle Winery YUM! We are planning to risk hurricane weather and try the Southeast - Carolinas this fall Rhett Inn in Beaufort SC (LL)or the many LL properties in Charleston or Myrtle Beach would be fun. Can't wait to hear what you decide upon LL also has great 4 or 5 day packages to Paris for example ...how romantic. Where are you located Syrene? That would help a great deal in determining a weekend getaway Take Care...Funtimes

[bonniejoy03]

Hi Syrene. We visited Livingston on the Temptress boat through Guatemala and Belize. We are visiting Guatemala again in January. You can incorporate a trip to Belize and Guatemala such as we are planning. There are LL packages to Belize. From my research (before we get there), Antigua is a beautiful colonial city. Reminds me on a different scale of European cities. This is what intrigues me. Europe is getting so expensive yet I love the architecture, etc. I think I might get this in Antigua. We will also be visiting Tikal. Rave reviews on these ruins. The rest of the trip will be in the Mountain Pine Ridge where we will stay at Ka'ana (LL property.) Can't wait. Check it out. I think it might offer a little different trip for you. Research Antigua, Guatemala. Also, another area that we will visit on another trip will be Lake Atitilan. Good luck.

[Syrene-1]

Thanks for the info, Funtimes. I do think that the place I'm thinking of outside SF is Ranch de Chimaya. We had a great lunch there too now that I think of it.



I just tried to get a pkg to a beautiful chateau in France. It was a spur of the moment idea but ended up in a bidding war and gave up. Not sure I want to go to Europe with the dollar at such a bad exchange rate anyway.



Maybe Seattle - just not sure. It justhas to hit me. I know it when I see it I think. But please keep coming with the suggestions, maybe something will smack me in the head.

[CMDAVILACLI]

Syrene 1

Having just returned from a trip, I just noticed this post. I live in Seattle... the best, most fun, beautiful and most affordable city in the USA!.... so if you want any recommendations for restaurants, what to do, hotels etc... just send an email! Also, I go to Santa Fe at least twice a year... absolutely love the place. Many truly fine restaurants, wonderful hotels, great hikes, fantastic museums, and of course, art galleries. You can go hot air ballooning, fly fishing on the Pecos or Chamas rivers... go onto theIndian reservations and watch the wonderful dances... a ton of stuff in an area that is truly different from any place else. The whole city oozes atmosphere!

Cathy

[omegaet]

kyshel....LL still offers the Riad we enjoyed in Marrakech...inside the old walls of the city and can become very exotic the more you are willing to explore on foot on your own.....we offered some observation in our blog:

http://community.luxurylink.com/luxurylink/blog/article?message.uid=5762#M5762



We were in Paris and took an AF flight non-stop into Marrakech.



If you hire a private guide and car, you can quickly get into the less developed country side and become immersed into the local life styles.....head toward the High Atlas Mountain and spend some time with the Berbers.

[kyshel]

Hi Omegaet--RE: Marrakech Blog--read it, liked it, will refer back when we go--thanks for reminding/telling other members again.
Looking forward to 2 trips this fall (hubby has great days off one month and a good vacation
6 weeks later! First will be Asia, and then perhaps Marrakech (or Turkey or Mexico or....??).
The world is a candy store!!

[Syrene-1]

One more update. We decided on where to go for our "long weekend" drum roll... we took the LL Inkaterra package to Peru. - staying at 3 properties:



Machu Picchu

Sacred Valley of the Incas and the Amazon Rainforest.



So, has anyone been to any of these places? Any advise? I'm very excited.

[claassenam]

Wow Syrene that's quite a "long weekend"! Have so much fun, it is an incredible country.

[bonniejoy03]

Syrene. YEAH for you. We bid on the property a few months ago. I had called Inkaterra to help coordinate the trip. They were WONDERFUL! What month are you going? Are you flying from the East coast? I had done a lot of research so was pretty knowledgable on flights (we found a direct flight from Dulles that wasn't an overnight. Pretty good connections.) I can't wait to hear all about it. Please share when you return. Inkaterra told me they will coordinate all of the logistics (they actually start you out in the rain forest vs starting out in Macchu Pichu.) Can't wait for details!

[Syrene-1]

I'm glad to hear that the people at Inkaterra were helpful as I will need a lot of help with the logistics of getting from one place to another. Unlike you, Bonnie, I am not very good at doing "my homework" and tend to let the chips fall (sometimes works, sometimes doesn't) so anyinformation that you would like to share would be appreciated.



We are going to try to go in earlyOct., once I get the contact info. etc from LL I will start calling and coordinating availability, flights etc.