Looking for Great Golf Near Your Jacksonville, Florida Condo?

If you’ve been looking for a great game of golf that’s challenging but not too challenging - and you want to be able to stick close to your Jacksonville, Florida condo - why not look to the Cimarrone Golf Club?

(source)Cimarrone is about 10 minutes from World Golf Village, roughly halfway between Jacksonville and St. Augustine off Interstate-95. This is prime real estate in St. Johns County, where the wealthy dwell and most every square inch of the golf course perimeter seems to be occupado.
Still, this is a very picturesque course. Why? How? Well, to start with, the architect, David Postlethwait, put together a well-designed course with balanced flourishes, a well-manicured layout with beautiful, though subtle, landscaping that will hold your interest from start to finish.
In other words, you may be having so much fun, you won’t notice the development.
“It’s a fun course,” said Head Professional Mike Rich. “There’s water on 16 holes but not to carry.”

When you’re able to travel just a few minutes from your Jacksonville condo - or even from your home in St. Augustine - and take advantage of a challenging but fun day out on the fairways and greens, you’ll remember exactly why it is that you wanted to live in Florida to begin with.
With year round great weather and a variety of courses that you can take advantage of without straying far from your First Coast home, you’ll know that you made the right choice.
Resource: www.seasideviews.com

LAS CASITAS VILLAGE AND GOLDEN DOOR SPA

Las Casitas is an enclave of private villas that enjoy sweeping ocean vistas and 24-hour butler service. Among many pleasures, guests can ride horseback, scuba dive, fish, or choose from a menu of soothing treatments at the Golden Door Spa.

A Brilliant, Enchanting Choice Among Fajardo Puerto Rico Resorts

Escape to your own private Caribbean hideaway at Las Casitas Village & Golden Door Spa. We deliver an unrivaled guest experience among Fajardo Puerto Rico hotels and resorts. Enjoy the comforts of home in one of our 155 spacious casitas ("cottages" in Spanish), complete with personal 24-hour butler service. Get your adrenaline pumping with phenomenal wave running, horseback riding, wind surfing, diving, and fishing. Test your swing on our majestic Arthur Hills Caribbean golf course. As part of the elegant El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa , this Fajardo Puerto Rico resort offers incredible accommodations in a dazzling setting:

• Located on the northeastern tip of Puerto Rico, near El Yunque Rain Forest
• Four miles from the stores and attractions of downtown Fajardo
• Easy access to world-class golf, wind surfing, scuba diving, and fishing
• Minutes from Las Cabezas Lighthouse

31 miles from San Juan and Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU)

Resource: www.luxuryresorts.com

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

he Ponte Vedra Inn & Club boasts 250 beautiful rooms and suites, most of which directly face the ocean. Recreational amenities include 36 holes of golf, 15 tennis courts, a world class Spa, and a state of the art oceanfront fitness center. Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is a AAA Five Diamond Property. In addition to the night room rate, a gratuity of $13.00 (single occupancy) or $16.00 (double occupancy) is added which covers the services of housekeepers, bellmen, and doormen.

The Ponte Vedra Inn & Club’s award-winning Spa is the perfect haven for relaxation and reflection. A sophisticated oasis designed to appeal to both men and women, young and old, who want to look and feel great. The prestigious Mobil Travel Guide has also honored the facility as one of America's Best Hotel & Resort Spas.

Nestled in the charming seaside community of Ponte Vedra Beach, the Ponte Vedra Inn & Club features more than 300 oceanfront acres of recreational and social amenities.

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Features and Amenities

* AM / FM Alarm Clock
* Bar / Lounge
* Business Center
* Concierge
* Handicapped Rooms / Facilities
* Free Parking
* 36 holes of Golf
* Mini Bar
* Meeting/Banquet Facilities
* Free Newspaper
* Parking
* Room Service
* 10 Boutiques and Shops / Commercial Services
* 15 hydro tennis courts
* Laundry/Valet Services

* Babysitting / Child Services
* Multi-lingual staff
* Coffee Maker in Room
* 24 Hour Front Desk
* Bicycling, Boating, Fishing
* Free Local Telephone Calls
* Luxury, full service Spa
* Hairdryers Available
* High speed internet access available
* No Smoking Rooms / Facilities
* Four heated swimming Pools
* Four restaurants and three lounges
* Safe Deposit Box
* Oceanfront Fitness Center
* Television with Cable


Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Room Information

Presidential Suite - Beach living at its finest! guests are treated to an elegant living room and separate bedroom. All Presidential Suites enjoy premier locations as well as direct ocean views. Two televisions, king sized bedding, sleeper sofas and classic decor all combine to make this feel quite 'Presidential'

Executive Suite - These luxurious ocean front suites featured separate parlor and bedroom quarters. Bedroom offers a king sized bed. Parlor offers spacious seating and a sleeper sofa.

Preferred Oceanfront - These smartly decorated oceanfront rooms recently received the 'Excel Award' for imaginative interior design. Luxuries include lighted crow molding, custom furniture, designer artwork, wet bar, microwave oven, refrigerator. These rooms are available in 2 queen sized beds or 1 king sized bed

Deluxe Oceanfront - One our most popular room types. Featured are direct ocean views, stylish designer furniture, two queen sized beds and a wet bar

Oceanside - These rooms are generally larger in size than the Deluxe Oceanfront. Side views are featured along with luxurious furnishings. Choice of king size or queen sized bedding. Wet bar furnished.

Historic Inn - Luxurious rooms feature views of either ocean or lagoon. Inn guests will enjoy the added benefit of convenient access to dining and shopping.

Complete Room Descriptions and Rate Information
Directions to Ponte Vedra Inn & Club

Area Airports: Jacksonville International Airport

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club is located southeast of Jacksonville, Florida. We are approximately 45 minutes of driving from the Jacksonville International Airport.

From Jacksonville International Airport travel south on on I-95 Exit east on J. Turner Butler Boulevard Exit 344. Travel 13 miles to state road A1A and take A1A North to Ponte Vedra Boulevard. Turn Right on Ponte Vedra Boulevard and proceed to the Ponte Vedra Inn and Club.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Restaurant Information

* Seafoam Room - On Premise Restaurant - Fine Continental- 11:30 a.m. to 10:00 P.M.
* Golf Club Dining - On Premise Restaurant - Continental
* Inn Dining Room - On Premise Restaurant - All American

Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Meeting Facility

Meeting Facilities - Hotel offers meeting facilities. Please contact hotel for more information.
Ponte Vedra Inn & Club Recreation Information

* Ponte Vedra Beach Golf Courses


Recreational Activities - Boating, Cardio Equipment, Activities for children, Full Health Club, Fishing, Golf, Jacuzzi, Outdoor Pool, Play Ground, Sauna, Spa Tennis Courts, Weight Lifting & Whirlpool

Rate Disclaimer
Rates are subject to change.

Guarantee Policy
All reservations require 1 night room plus tax as deposit at time of confirmation by a valid credit card. Gratuity charge for single is $12/day and double is $15/day. There are no charges for additional people.

Cancellation Policy
Reservations must be canceled 3 days prior to arrival to avoid penalty charges.

Source : http://florida-vacation-travel.com/

Schrager/Marriott Launch “Edition” Brand

The names behind two of the most well known luxury brands, Ian Schrager and J.W. Marriott Jr. have officially launched their joint project of hotels under a new brand called “Edition.”

The two global names have been in talks for a while now, and publicly launched their new joint venture with the overwhelming support of partners and investors. This new brand may be centered around a lifestyle boutique hotel theme, but will definitely be a massive global brand with the strong support that has allowed the Edition team to double the original amount of planned properties.

The first destinations on the list for the unique hotel brand include two in Los Angeles, Paris, Madrid, Costa Rica, Miami, Washington, Chicago and Scottsdale. Edition aims to reach an widely untapped luxury hotel population that expects top luxury and amenities as well as a unique hotel experience. The hotels will each have imaginative architecture, interior design, and ambiance that caters to the growing population of hotel goers who see hotels as not just places to sleep, but as luxury destinations.

Edition will be innovative in every sense of the word, from design and conception to service and operations, including strong environmentally conscious programs.

There is sure to be much talk about the properties as they emerge (the first is not set to open until 2010) as the world eagerly waits to see the next generation of luxury hotels take their place among the world’s best.

Source : http://www.perfectescapes.com/

Luxury Hotels: Prices and Demand Soar

A recent New York Times article exposed two of the toughest challenges facing luxury travelers in the coming year: rising prices and rising demand.

There have been significant price increases for almost every popular destination around the world, most noticeably in the luxury hotel sector. Business travelers and leisure travelers are competing for the limited luxury rooms which now come at an even higher premium rate. Popular business and travel destinations such as India, China (extra increases due to the Olympics), London, Paris and New York City are all seeing prices rise in double digit percentages, somewhere between 15 and 40 percent.

These extreme numbers are mainly due to the supply not being able to meet the demand. Luxury travelers are exploring their world in greater frequency, and doing so in the most luxurious of conditions, which all too often leaves not enough 4- and 5-star hotels to go around. While the major hotel chains all seem to have multiple international projects planned in these new luxury hot-spots, the supply is already so far behind the demand that the luxury hotels currently in these cities are able to charge hugely inflated rates, and maintain very high occupancy levels.

Help, however, is on the way. Many of the planned luxury hotels around the world should be completed within the year. This is especially important in China, where the Olympics are rapidly approaching, and places such as New York City where luxury travelers are expanding past Manhattan to the outlying burroughs for hotel space. But until the extra supply can supplement the growing demand, luxury business travelers and leisure travelers alike will continue to compete for the best hotels at premium prices. But you can’t put a price on happiness, especially when finding it thousands of miles away from home, right?

Source : http://www.perfectescapes.com/

THE FAIRMONT TURNBERRY ISLE RESORT & CLUB

A soothing retreat atmosphere draws guests from all over the world to The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club, situated in the heart of South Florida. Secluded on 300 tropical acres is a stunning Mediterranean-style hotel with 392 newly renovated ultra-luxurious oversized rooms and suites featuring spectacular views, upscale amenities and personalized service from our international staff.

The Fabulous Final Touches Are Complete!

We’re excited to announce that we recently put the finishing touches on our amazing $100 million resort transformation. Now, as a guest, you’ll experience South Florida’s premier luxury resort like never before. Here’s what’s waiting for you!

* Extraordinary new renovated guest rooms and suites that offer a rare blend of classic Mediterranean elegance with a sophisticated, modern flair.

* Two brand-new golf courses and driving range are now open for play. Completely redesigned by World Golf Hall of Fame recipient Raymond Floyd, these striking 36 holes exemplify the best of Florida golf, featuring lush, tropical grounds accentuated with a variety of elevation changes, contoured fairways and sharp changes within holes. Brilliant hues of colorful flora and trees indigenous to Florida's tropical climate create an oasis-like feel throughout the courses with more than $100,000 in landscaping spent on each hole of play. A spectacular 64-foot waterfall, one of several waterfalls throughout both courses, greets guests at the finishing hole on the Soffer course’s Island Green. It’s already being heralded as a new landmark in South Florida golf. These brand new courses are hosts to the 2007 ADT Golf Skills Challenge airing on NBC December 29-30 and the 2008 Stanford International Pro Am, an official LPGA tour event, on April 24-27.

* A new Golf Pro Shop featuring the finest in apparel and equipment and newly redesigned men's and ladies’ locker rooms.

* A newly renovated Willow Stream Spa with an exciting and varied menu featuring the finest in techno-Gym equipment, a Pilates Studio and a variety of fitness classes.

* BOURBON Steak, a Michael Mina restaurant, is now accepting reservations. The legendary restaurateur and winner of two distinct James Beard awards brings his contemporary American steakhouse to South Florida for the first time.

* A refurbished conference center featuring 40,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor meeting and function space featuring an expanded Magnolia Courtyard, overlooking the golf course and spectacular waterfall.

* A remodeled resort pool.

* A redesigned resort entrance featuring a spectacular koi pond.

* Cascata Grille Restaurant & Bar features authentically local cuisine and Southeast regional fare under the direction of Executive Chef Hubert Des Marais, named one of America's Ten Best New Chefs by Food & Wine Magazine.

This resort is conveniently located between the two major international airports and seaports of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. It also features elite shopping venues, exciting nightlife and a multitude of both cultural and sporting events.

The Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club is a member of 'Leading Hotels of the World'.

Source : http://www.fairmont.com/turnberryisle/

Niceville to get third chain hotel

NICEVILLE — Construction of a new hotel on John Sims Parkway is entering its final phases.

Niceville building official Don Baccadutre said the three-story building will be a Comfort Inn and Suites, and feature 75 rooms, a pool and a lounge.

“It’s going to be pretty nice,” he said.

Wright and Associates, a Niceville business, is listed with the city as the owner. No one at the business would comment or give any information about the hotel until it is complete.

Baccadutre could not say when it will be finished, but said most of the wiring and mechanical work is finished and workers are putting up Sheetrock.

The hotel is being built on the site of a former auto and tire store just east of Hardee’s.

The new establishment will be the third major chain hotel in Niceville. It joins a Holiday Inn Express and a Comfort Inn.

The Comfort Inn and the Comfort Inn and Suites are in the same chain.
Calls to Comfort Inn’s general manager were not returned Friday.

Baccadutre said the owners obviously felt there is a need for the new hotel, possibly because of predicted growth at Eglin Air Force Base.

“I was kind of surprised that this came in at this time when everything seems to be down,” he said.

Source : http://www.nwfdailynews.com/