Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #5-- Sea Island, Ga.

If Vegas sounds overwhelming and you're looking for a more relaxing vacay for Memorial Day weekend, consider Sea Island, Ga. It's easy to get to, especially from the East Coast by flying into Jacksonville and renting a car for the quick hour or so drive to Georgia. The wide avenues and Spanish moss hanging from the banyan trees will put you in that laid back Southern mood right away.

We'd recommend a stay at the Cloister where guests are encouraged to "do everything or nothing at all." Perfect! If you can gather a larger group of girlfriends, consider renting one of the two or three bedroom villas which have spacious living rooms and kitchens.

When you're there don't miss the Cloister Spa, which is in our top-five most lux spas we've ever visited and we're not alone: Forbes, Mobil and SpaFinder have all ranked very high. It has a curving stream which winds through the huge 65,000 square foot facility.

There are five restaurants on the property and shopping nearby. We'd be lounging by the pool or walking on the beach; but there are also golf courses everywhere, if you're ready to hit some balls. You can expect great weather in Georgia this time of year, so enjoy!

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #4-- Las Vegas

We just had a debate over where to spend our next girls' getaway and Vegas ruled the conversation. We all agreed that regardless of when we go or what else we do, we're staying at the Cosmopolitan Hotel (pictured above). We'd request one of their terrace suites with a balcony-- just imagine fresh air in Vegas! We'd also spend some time in their desert-theme Sahra Spa and otherwise enjoy hanging out in the latest, chicest resort on the strip. The Cosmopolitan has a handful of impressive offers including the Book 3, Stay 4 package where your fourth night is free and the Stay Until Sundown package where checkout isn't until 6:00 p.m.- perfect if you like to stay out til morning or have a late day flight home. Both would suit a party filled Memorial Day weekend perfectly.

Another good choice would be the City Center with its three impressive resorts: the Mandarin, Aria (its adults only pool, Liquid, is pictured above) and Vdara, a non-gaming eco-swank hotel. With so many resorts interconnected you don't have to take a taxi or hoof-it-in-your-stilettos all weekend. 

Wherever you stay in Vegas over Memorial Day weekend, you can expect the pool scenes to be lively during the day, many hosted by celebrity dj's, like at the Encore Beach Club (known as XS at night). Before the Cosmopolitan and the City Center were hotspots, the Wynn and its partner, Encore, were the most glam hotels in town. While the Wynn may have a more mature rep, its opening of Surrender, another inside/outside pool party scene amps up its coolness factor. Look for a full line up of entertainment across all of the Wynn and Encore pools and lounges over Memorial Day weekend. 

Memorial Day Getaways Idea #3 -- New York

Courtesy of FreeThingstoDoinNewYork.com

With all the sailors in town for Fleet Week, New York is a natural choice for a girls' getaway over Memorial Day Weekend. Seriously, who can resist a man in uniform? Plus with many locals out of town you can hit popular museum exhibits like the Metropolitan Museum of Art's upcoming tribute to designer Alexander McQueen without having to deal with the same mass of crowds.

If you're looking for a beach experience, you can head to Governor's Island on the free ferry (though it's more of a grass lawn than a true beach). Come night time, it's over taken by Water Taxi Beach for the 21+ crowd.

For an affordable place to stay--check out the Grace Hotel in Times Square. Formerly the Hotel QT, it features what we're pretty sure is the only swim up pool bar in the city!

We're sorry the Yankees will be on the road; but you can catch a Mets game. When you're there, hit the Shake Shack for a juicy burger or Blue Smoke BBQ for some tasty concessions.

Memorial Day Getaway Ideas #2--Portland, Oregon

In the past three months, we've heard of more friends traveling to Portland than in the past decade. And why not? Though it has been a few years since we've been, we remember Portland as an accessible and friendly city. Add to it the burgeoning wine, dining and art scene and you've got a winner for Memorial Day.

Food carts reign supreme with options ranging from grilled cheese to Korean to empanadas.  That's the double decker bus that's home to the Grilled Cheese Grill below. Check out FoodCartsPortland.com for more options and a map.

We've begged all our friends who have visited us to bring us back a sweet treat from Voodoo Doughnuts. If you go, please try the bacon maple bar and let us know how it is!

Courtesy of Voodoo Doughnuts

To walk off some of those calories peruse the art galleries along Old Town, the Pearl District and Alberta Street. Or head to the International Rose Test Garden, which is home to more than 7,000 rose bushes. Weather-depending, you may hit it while they're all in bloom. This year, the annual Rose Festival takes place from May 27-June 19.

Portland has a large number of boutique hotels. Two to consider are hipster-fave Ace Hotel in downtown Portland (below) and the Hotel Lucia, which is home to Typhoon Restaurant that has won raves for its Thai cuisine. 

Memorial Day Getaways Idea #1: Kennebunkport, Maine

Anyone who loves lobster, bike rides and beaches should consider Preppie enclave Kennebunkport, Maine for a Memorial Day getaway. Though it will be too cold to swim (and pretty much always is unless you're Candian), the new Tides Beach Club and its sister property Hidden Pond are enough to entice. The Tides Beach Club, situated on Goose Rocks Beach, underwent a renovation this winter. The rooms are decorated in soft neutrals and are as relaxing as they are comfortable (below). While you're lounging beachside, beach tenders are there to bring towels, treats and more. At night, enjoy the on site restaurant and beach bonfires.

If you're traveling with a bigger group, you may want to consider the well-reviewed Hidden Pond. It offers cabins that sleep up to four people, plus fun activities like a watercolor painting class, morning yoga and free loans of beach cruiser bicycles. We're dying to go just to try out the new Tree Spa!

On Our Radar: Vintange on Loan at London Hotel

On one of our annual girl's nights, our friend Heidi brought—and subsequently left hanging in the closet—so many clothes, we thought the hotel had provided us with them as potential loaners. So the new Berkeley Hotel in London partnership with vintage e-boutique Atelier-Mayer.com makes perfect sense to us. Travel and Leisure reports that the boutique is offering guests with a steamer trunk filled with jewelry and bags for loan during the duration of their stay. So that means the Charles Jourdan baby (above) can be yours for the night. Guests are able to purchase any items they can't bear to part with. Think of all the room you'll save in your suitcase!

Rainforest Travel Sweepstakes from Biolage

We love Biolage's Hydrathérapie line and now there's even more reason to pick up a travel set before your next girls' trip:

From now through May 31st, enter to win a trip for two to Costa Rica from Biolage.  Purchase a Rainforest Travel Kit for $9 and you'll receive a unique code for an on-line entry. The travel kit includes two travel-sized Hydrating shampoos and two travel-sized Conditioning balms.

The trip includes accommodations at the 4-star Paradisus Playa Conchal Resort in Guanacaste, Costa Rica for five days and four nights plus roundtrip airfare. It's valued at $5,000! Learn more at www.biolage.com/getaway.

Review The Parker Meridien New York

I chose the Parker Meridien for a weekend trip to NYC in March. Its location on West 56th between 6th and 7th Ave. made it ideal for shopping, dining, and theater going. The lobby is stylish; and the surprising burger smell wafting through the lobby was a hit for meat eaters like us. The "hidden" Burger Joint serves up burgers and fries for those-in-the-know all day long.   Norma's has a delicious breakfast with french press coffee I'm still trying to recreate and applewood smoked bacon that's so thick and tasty it rivals my favorite served at the Kimpton hotels. Our bill for breakfast each morning topped the $100 mark, so keep that in mind when you're budgeting.

Our room was spacious and way beyond New York standards. The two oversized twin beds and pull out sofa worked well for our party of four. It was a challenge to find a reasonably priced room with much space at all for four. The Parker Meridian's junior suite had two televisions, an eating area and a reasonably sized bathroom.

The rooftop pool had amazing views of Central Park and is open most of the day giving you a chance to take a dip after a long day of wondering around the city.

The shot glasses in the bathrooms were a nice touch, as were the Peter Thomas Roth products:

I'd recommend a stay at the Parker Meridien mostly for its location and style. My only reservation would be the extra charges like $10 for the toothbrush I forgot (hint: there's a Duane Reade across the street); $6 for each of the wine glasses I asked to be sent to the room (I've always tipped on the service; but haven't been charged for using wine glasses before); and the WiFi charges of $12/hour in the lobby or $16/day in your room is always a pet peeve of ours.

If you're curious to check it out yourself, they're offering specials starting in the $300 range. Happy travels!

On Our Radar: W London

If all this talk about the royal wedding has you thinking about making a trip across the pond, here's another reason: The newly opened W London - Leicester Square Hotel. The hotel is centrally located near the West End theaters (The upcoming Batman is another reason to head to London this summer) and the shopping on Regents and Oxford Streets.

In the Wonderful rooms the sinks are in the middle, a take on the American trend of putting tubs in the center of the room. (The shower is behind closed doors.) The rooms feature Bliss spa products and iPod docs.

When it's time to party, you can hit the Wyld Club or the Lounge Bar. There's a branch of NYC's Spice Market in the hotel for meals that are both delicious, fun and sexy.

Ready to go? When you book two nights, the third is free. Get ready to call in sick that Monday!

Kentucky Derby Tickets on RueLaLa

Annie at the Kentucky Derby with her friend Clint.

Attending the Kentucky Derby is one of the items we've already crossed off our Bucket List--so we can tell you this Hats and Horses package from RueLaLa is definitely worth it! It includes:

• Two First Floor Clubhouse tickets to the horse races at Churchill Downs on May 6 for Oaks Day (3-year old fillies race. Race aficionados often think say it's even more exciting than the Derby.) and May 7 for the Derby.  
• Three nights in a Deluxe Room at the Hyatt Regency, Louisville. 
• Access to an exclusive on-site concierge to assist you with any needs that may arise.
• And more.

The boutique closes on Friday, so act fast!

Viceroy Miami Review

We're just back from our girls' getaway to Miami, where we stayed at the Viceroy in the downtown area.  The best thing about the hotel was the decor--the rooms, lobby and public spaces are light and airy, as befitting the climate, but don't cross the line into austere. The bed was super comfy and the bathroom was enormous.

The pool at the Viceroy is on the 15th floor and while the hotel isn't on the beach, there's plenty of water all around. It's within walking distance from the Epic Hotel and the delicious Zuma, a Japanese restaurant. (We not only saw Lebron James there--turns out our group kept him waiting for his table!) You can see the Mandarin Oriental from the pool.

Our main complaints about the hotel revolve around the pool. While there was plenty of seating, including comfy beds that easily fit our group of three, there are NO umbrellas. While there is plenty of shade, it moves around. So if you want to be in the shade all day, you're going to have to chase it around. Plus, it made hard for all three of us to sit together when one wanted sun and the others didn't.

The other—and—bigger complaint about the Viceroy is that the food, both at the pool and from room service, is really bad. At the pool, it's served to you in a brown paper grocery bag and the food itself comes in flimsy plastic containers. It doesn't taste good either. Sandwiches were dry and salad dressings were bland. On our last day, we went off property to nearby Rosa Mexicana because we all agreed we didn't want to eat our last meal of the trip in Miami at the Viceroy.

The spa, however, was one of the most beautiful we've ever seen. Those are the plunge pools and hot tubs below. The gigantic yellow chandelier is the center piece of the room. Entrance to the spa is free for guests. We didn't have time to experience a spa treatment on this trip.

What else? The crowd at the hotel was a mix--lots of Europeans and South Americans (who made for good eye candy), a handful of families and at least one bachelorette party. The scene at the hotel's Club 50 was a bit too young for our tastes--we're guessing 25 and younger. But the views from the 50th floor are certainly worth seeing.

Let us know if you have any questions about our stay!

On Our Radar: The Viceroy Miami

We're headed south this morning, destination: the Viceroy Miami. We couldn't be more excited to spend a couple of nights in such a chic hotel and this time Mother Nature cooperated by dishing us some mighty fine weather. You'll find us poolside in the afternoon and at Club 50 late night. We may never leave the hotel!

Are you in need of some Vitamin D? The Viceroy Miami is currently offering a free night when you stay two nights (it averages to about $265 per night).

On Our Radar: Kimpton Celebrates Its Big 3-0

Happy 30th to one of our very favorite hotel chains: Kimpton Hotels. We hesitate to call Kimpton a chain, since each property has its own style and character, from the original Hotel Monaco in San Francisco with its strips to the Sky Hotel in Aspen with its chic lobby and apres ski-scene to the built from the group up Ink 48 on the edges of Manhattan with a stunning rooftop bar (shown above).

Kimpton won us over years ago with their innovative ideas like hotel wide pet-friendliness, commitment to environmentalism, their humor, the wine hour, the goldfish and much more. They're celebrating their thirtieth birthday since the first hotel opened in San Francisco and sharing the celebration with guests in a number of ways:

Birthday Cheers! On April 1st, Kimpton hotels are extending their daily wine hour and serving cupcakes and special wine selections.

Write Here, Right Now Starting today, Kimpton fans can win a free night by telling the favorite birthday story through a poem, haiku, sonnet or funny rhyme. Voting will be on Facebook and 30 submissions will receive free nights.

Birthday Spa Bonus Kimpton is giving an additional 30 minutes free to a 50 minute in-room massage throughout April (use the code "30th Birthday when you book).

Kimpton Style Savings Wishing you'd brought home one of Kimpton's big puffy animal print robes? From April 1st to the 14th, all purchases on KimptonStyle.com will reflect an automatic 30 percent discount.

On Our Radar: New Orleans Jazz Fest

Jazz Fest kicks off in a month on April 29th, so plan your trip now. We'd love to stay at the new Hotel Le Marais on Conti Street less than a block from Bourbon Street where rooms start at a remarkably low $109! They give you a cocktail at checkin; but if you go, try their purple cocktail at the bar and let us know what you think.

The guestrooms are a cool mix of neutrals and eggplant. Since the hotel opened in November, there's a good chance everything is still fresh. We're digging the free WiFi, complimentary breakfast, granite bathrooms, free bottles of water, and iPod docking stations.

Need more reason to check out Hotel Le Marais? It has the biggest outdoor hot tub in the French Quarter. Happy travels!

On Our Radar: Le Parker Meridien NY

A weekend trip to NYC with my girls will be especially fun with a suite at Le Parker Meridien on West 56th St. We chose it for the Midtown location near Central Park, Times Square, shopping and much more. The enclosed rooftop pool with views of the park is unbeatable, as is breakfast at Norma's, the coffee in the Knave and the TDF burgers at the Burger Joint. If only I didn't give up red meat for lent!

They have a 20% off special when you stay two or more nights (Thursdays to Saturdays) and a Bed and Breakfast package which includes a decadent breakfast at Norma's. Both available on line.

On Our Radar: Mr. and Mrs. Smith

Mr. and Mrs. Smith have arrived in New York. The boutique hotel experts with both on-line and 24 hour in-house advisors, lend their advice on over 700 fabulous hotels worldwide. All of their hotspots have been visited and reviewed at least twice- once by a team member and once by a tastemaker (think Stella McCartney, Dita von Teese and Cate Blanchett). Check their site for these in depth and quirky reviews.

You don't have to be a member to book on-line; but members get special perks like money-back and exclusive travel deals. James Lohan and his wife, Tamara, started the company in London in 2003 after an unfortunate travel experience. "We go to extraordinary lengths to select the world’s best boutique hotels, and then we anonymously review all of them so we’re certain it’s the most passionately discerning collection on the planet," said Lohan.

We checked MrandMrsSmith.com for NYC just see to if they're on target with their choices. Sure enough they recommended and insightfully reviewed some of our favorite boutique hotels like the Soho House (pictured above), the Standard NY, the Ace Hotel, the Greenwich Hotel and more.

Spring Skiiing at Beaver Creek's Westin Riverfront

We had a memorable trip to the Westin Riverfront last winter and have dreamed of going back ever since. The Westin sits at the base of Beaver Creek with its own gondola that shuttles you up the mountain. The rooms were over-the-top posh with modern furnishings and gorgeous views of the mountain. The Westin also boasts a happening apres-ski scene, good restaurant and decadent spa.

The Westin Riverfront is offering the I Just Want to Ski Package which includes:
 
Lodging in a spacious studio suite
Two three-day passes to Beaver Creek or Vail (with daily lift tickets at $94, that's worth over $560!)
Two three-day Performance Ski Rentals from Beaver Creek Sports
Complimentary valet parking
A Westin Riverfront Fleece Blanket

The package starts at $599 (a 30% discount). Visit http://www.westinriverfrontbeavercreek.com/. Available until April 17, 2011. A four night minimum stay is required; lodging tax, resort fees and gratuity are not included.

Ritz-Carlton New Orleans Lundi Gras Ride of a Lifetime

No doubt this package is meant for those with the deepest of pockets; but we can always dream.

The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans is offering the Lundi Gras Ride of a Lifetime which includes a ride for two couples on Harry Connick, Jr.'s float in the Krewe of Orpheus parade the night before Mardi Gras (March 7th), a two night stay in the Ritz-Carlton penthouse, breakfast in bed, limo service, tuxes from Rubenstein's and gowns from Harold Clarke Couture for the Bacchus Ball (tickets also included). Finally you get a videographer for 48 hours who'll follow you around and record the revelry. Price... $59,500 and you have to book one week in advance.

On Our Radar: Hotel Theodore in Scottsdale

We stayed at the Mondrian in Scottsdale for our first trip after creating The Jet Set Girls, so we were sad to hear it closed. Opened in its place is the Hotel Theodore and by the looks of it, not a lot changed. The public spaces were open, chic and modern; but the guestrooms were on the small side and the bathrooms were definitely not big enough for our group of four. Your best bet is to come here for TR's Lounge and Teddy's Nightclub; but stay at one of Scottsdale's posh resorts.

W Hotels' Global Glam Style

Created with Admarket's flickrSLiDR.

We love shopping their gift stores, so it follows that seeing W Global Glam come to life was one of our highlights of fashion week. The W presented looks inspired by three of its hotels—Mexico City, Taipei and Austin, with fashions from Eugenia Kim, Mara Hoffman, Twinkle by Wenlan, Clare Vvier, Deepa Gurnani, Noir, Paola Hernandez, I-Luck, Myne, Posse, Shaesby, Sibilia, Catherine Nicole, Yarnz, and Contego Eyewear. Watch the slideshow, above, and tell us your favorite look in the comments.