Table for One, Please

Ahhh, Valentine's Day. Fun for couples...not always so fun for singles. But recent statistics show Valentine's Day has become one of the most popular times for solo travel. According to the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA), there are many fantastic travel options for those traveling alone on Valentine's Day. Even more encouraging, ASTA says solo travel "makes you a stronger, more self-reliant individual, as you solve problems, translate bus schedules and find hidden restaurants all on your own." So where should you venture on your journey of independence? Popular options include a luxury resort on the Yucatan Peninsula, a Caribbean cruise, or an Irish pub crawl -- my personal favorite! Starting in Dublin, the Clontarf Castle Hotel offers historical charm and 4-star amenities, along with three pubs of its own: The Knight's Bar, The Drawbridge, and Templars Bistro. You can continue on to Kilkenny, where the Kilkenny Ormonde Hotel puts you in the midst of the best shops, boutiques and historical sites the town has to offer. These hotels, along with others perfect for the solo traveler this Valentine's Day, can all be found on hotelbook.com.

Vegas, Baby!

Elvis, Wayne, Celine -- here I come! Next month, I'm headed to Las Vegas for my cousin's wedding, and I can hardly wait. When I first pictured Vegas nuptials, I thought Britney Spears...Nicky Hilton...Carmen Electra...not exactly the recipe for a successful marriage. But it turns out, I couldn't have been more wrong. The wedding will take place at Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa, a gorgeous, elegant, luxury resort less than ten miles from the Strip, but worlds away from the drive-thru chapels I'd envisioned. We booked our rooms on hotelbook.com and have planned a fantastic long weekend full of activities. Since gambling isn't really my thing, we are going to spend one afternoon on the golf course, and another horseback riding. Friday and Saturday nights, we'll be busy with wedding activities, but on Sunday you can find me at The Colosseum at Caesar's Palace, belting out "My Heart Will Go On." Embarrassing, but true!

26 Days until D-Day --- or V-Day

I always get anxious around this time of year as it is not only my birthday (yikes, another year older already!?) but also Valentine's Day which happens to be the beau's birthday as well. For the couple of weeks prior to Valentine's, you can find me scouring the internet for "perfect gifts for him" on various websites. Needless to say, Valentine's Day always puts a dent in my wallet as I always try to get a birthday gift as well as a V-day goodie (after years of tiresome and fruitless debate that he was getting jipped -- isn't it suppose to be my day?)

This year, I've bought tickets to Cirque for a night of fun entertainment, but am considering making reservations at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas for a romantic in town getaway. And what's even better? Borat the movie was filmed there and the boyfriend is a huge fan! I think it would be perfect!

2007 Travel Resolutions

Is it really 2007 already? Every year (or at least the first month of the year, anyway) I struggle with keeping up the obligatory New Year's resolutions I've set for myself. Whatever that may be, whether it is to work out or save more money (yeah, right) I pretty much find myself breaking those resolutions relatively quickly. So, this year, instead of setting myself up for failure by designating such broad concepts such as "lose weight" as a resolution to keep to, I've decided to more appropriately call them my "2007 goals" which, in my opinion, is much more motivational and something to work and strive towards. Only a girl would understand, I guess!

One of my goals this year is to travel more and I'm starting the year off right by planning a trip westbound for March. I've never been to California, unless you consider sitting at LAX during a layover a visit. I'm excited to see what the hustle and bustle that is Los Angeles is all about. Hotelbook has the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel that would be the ideal place to stay as it's been a Hollywood landmark since 1927 and is a local hotspot.

Bienvenido a Miami

Between New Year's Eve and the Super Bowl coming up in February, Miami has become this winter's ultimate vacation destination. It's easy to see why with its 80 degree weather, beautiful beaches and celebrities abound. Plus, I'm always a fan of getting a great tan in the dead of winter. Although I've never been to Miami, people tell me it's an absolute blast! The city is very easy to navigate, so you are never more than a few minutes from anything you may want to see or do. Take the Mutiny Hotel, for example, which I found on hotelbook.com. This vibrant, 4-star hotel is located on Sailboat Bay in Miami's trendy Coconut Grove area of bars, boutiques and restaurants, but is just 15 minutes away from South Beach, so you don't have to choose between one area or the other. And if you end up wanting to get out of town altogether, a day trip to the Everglades National Park is well within reach. It's just a 40-minute drive from Miami!