(click the image to view our Facebook page for the party albums)

Now that we spent the night together, don’t forget to call us and check out party pics of you on Facebook page (@HouseofTravelofMiami) (might as well “Like” us while you’re there).

Tag yourself, upload your own pics and tag us, tell us your favorite part of the night – whatever you do, enjoy the photos.

My anxiety grew higher as we approached this trip. Everybody constantly reminded me for months that this trip was not just any regular one; it was something comparable to a boxing match. I had my mouth protector on, and was ready to fight Las Vegas to the last round, both professionally and personally.

After years of hard work I finally get sent to a convention, and I was sure I would squeeze all the juice out of it. I know that even though we were leaving to Las Vegas, we needed to be professional, organized, and above all pay attention in the lectures. These last ones will help the Marketing Department and the company overall.

Las Vegas comes out of its corner with a powerful hotel hook: The Cosmopolitan made my head spin and my jaw drop. It numbed my senses, and then made them explode. The visual input of the hotel is incredible, and mostly everything has a sensuality few times seen. It hurt my heart and my head so good; I was psyched out for more. Las Vegas throws a second punch to my body: The Bank nightclub at The Bellagio hits with all the power of alcohol mixed with sounds and lights. I come back groggy to the blue corner of my room, to repair my body, mind and soul for the second round against Las Vegas.

I wake up ready to fight another round. Even though my team wasn’t entirely there, and after running around for a few hours, I strike: Canyon Ranch Spa straight to Las Vegas’ head. The heat of the Finnish sauna, the Turkish bath and the cold of their Rainforest showers, were an oasis of relaxation and peace in such a convoluted city. The experience was outstanding and the spa repaired the damage that the first night made to my body. I was fully recovered and ready for the next round.

The fight was tied and I knew I would endure the next rounds: we rocked the lectures. David Schloss and I were on the point taking notes and paying attention to the inspiring ways of using the technology we already have, for the betterment of the company. We also made new liaisons with important people in the industry and had interesting conversations with experts from Sabre to better analyze our situation, and see if our plans for the company were possible. Las Vegas comes back to its corner losing by a few points.

In the last round, Las Vegas jumped from its corner with violence, applying a tough jab: a long day of work, plus the fact that I almost get “HomeAloned” at the immensity of McCarran’s International Airport. I was still alive, and when we arrived to Miami, I thought that the fight ended up in a tie, but I was wrong: I won, because knowledge and wisdom can win any fight. I will, however, need a long recovery time from this brutal battle.

I accept a rematch, Las Vegas, whenever you want.

• November 2-4: $435.00 per night
• November 9-11: $435.00 per night
• November 16-18: $435.00 per night
• November 23-25: $435.00 per night
• November 30 – December 2: $435.00 per night
• December 7-9: $755.00 per night (Art Basel Festival)
• December 14-16: $435.00 per night
• December 21-23: $805.00 per night (5-night minimum, holiday)
• December 28-30: Sold-out

Date patterns are Friday – Sunday.

The first of its kind, this spectacular Miami Beach boutique hotel combines the flexibility of à la carte hotel services with many of the limitless healthy choices of acclaimed Canyon Ranch health resorts. A feast for your senses, Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach offers inspiring healthy living opportunities in a stunning luxury hotel setting – plus easy access to everything Miami Beach has to offer.

From innovative ingredients & flavors to artistic presentation, dining at Canyon Ranch is a sensory experience. Whether you want to savor a gourmet dinner or grab a snack at the pool, Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach serves delicious favorites & local, seasonal specialties in all of its restaurants & dining spaces.

Body meets soul in the 70,000-square-foot Wellness Spa, the largest in Florida. As a hotel guest, you’ll have full, complimentary access to this sparkling, state-of-the-art facility, including a two-story, rock climbing wall & access to world-class health experts.

House of Travel’s HOT Deal Includes:

• Full breakfast for two daily
• $100.00 Spa credit per stay (not per person)
• Welcome Amenity upon arrival
• Upgrade at time of arrival (based on availability)
• Early check-in/check-out (based on availability)
• 10% off on Spa treatments and one complimentary welcome cocktail per guest.

Call House of Travel today at 305.931.3002 & ask for Lauren or email her at lauren@houseoftravel.net to take advantage of this HOT Deal at Canyon Ranch Hotel & Spa in Miami Beach. Yoga & a cleanse are calling your name.

**FINE PRINT: Offer only valid on weekends until the end of 2012. This special may not be combined or used in conjunction with any other promotions, or with group, homeowner or membership stays. Subject to change without notice & based on space availability. Hotel credit is per stay per suite (not per person) & must be used during that stay; may not be applied toward suite rate.  If hotel credit is based on your suite choice, that credit will equal the base rate for the third paid night, not including additional charges or extra person fee(s).  Minimum stay & other restrictions may apply.

On day two, we woke up in the late afternoon, around 2pm, with hangovers…I mean we made it home at the crack of dawn so it’s not surprising how we felt. The fact that we finished 3 bottles of alcohol between six people the night before didn’t help at all! We stumbled out of bed with blurry eyes and messy hair not knowing what to do for the day. We put on our bathing suits and headed out, with very big sunglasses of course, for the afternoon on the beach.

We had lunch by the hotel before heading down to the beach on El Puerto. Italian cuisine was prominent there and our meal was delicious (a great hangover cure)! The beach visited was called San Antonio, and the first thing we noticed was that the beach was a nude beach. As Americans we are not accustomed to seeing it often, but after a couple seconds you get used to it. We spread our towels on the beautiful sand by the boardwalk and started working on our tan. The blazing sun was hitting our bodies as we laid there looking at the beautiful scenery before us; the beach surrounded by little shops and restaurants.

Apparently, this part of Ibiza is called the “English side” as it’s full of young British men and women that are there to work for the summer during their high party season. We left the buzzing atmosphere on the beach (and the hot English men) to walk around the city, stopped by a local shop for gelato. It was the perfect treat for the weather. After a couple of hours in the city, we headed back to our hotel completely exhausted and a nap awaiting us before our wild night out.

After our nap, we woke up completely refreshed and ready to head out to Space for Carl Cox that night. Before we could head out to party, we had to get some kind of food in our stomachs. We walked a couple of blocks with our bodyguard who directed us to the Spanish corner where there were various selections of Taparias. It was a beautiful little square made up of adorable restaurants and shops. We sat down for a nice dinner of sangria and Spanish tapas before heading out for our second night.

We were dressed in high waist shorts and toppling over in high heels, we made our way in through the side entrance of the VIP area and were escorted to an amazing table in the front room. We were placed perfectly, right next to the bathroom (in case we really needed to go). As soon as we got there and the waitress came over to us it took no time before the bottles starting showing up at our table. Champagne was flowing in our glasses as we just looked around the room, amazed by the extravagance. This club had 6 rooms and held 10,000 people, it was insanely packed on the dance floor and it was incredible to watch all the swaying bodies.

The DJ was amazing so far, it was already 2am and Carl Cox still hadn’t come on yet, we continued walking around the club checking out the different rooms before getting back in time for his set! We wandered the outside area talking to other club goers from all around Europe. When we walked into the main room where Carl Cox was performing we were taken aback by the craziness in his room. There were lasers pointing out lights everywhere, the music were pumping so hard through the bass that you could literally feel it through your body; it was an adrenaline rush in itself.

Being in Ibiza surrounded by the thousands of people was a mind blowing experience, the sweat started pouring instantly and we were drunk and raging hard. We headed back to our table, had a couple more drinks before going back out on the dance floor, dancing and sweating bodies were in full swing and you could feel the electricity running through your body. That night we headed home around 7:00am. They say “You haven’t lived until you see the sun coming up on your way home from Space, Ibiza.” So I guess I can say I’ve lived.

Lufthansa is working around the clock to accommodate their passengers and assure them that the potential strike will not affect their travel.  House of Travel will be providing the following additional option for customers who feel unsettled by the uncertainty of the situation.

• If you have an original travel date of August 30 – Sept 1, 2012 House of Travel may re-ticket your flight on a Lufthansa Group carrier.  Please call your House of Travel representative at 305.931.3002 to discuss your re-ticketing options. Restrictions may apply. 
  

Our first day in Ibiza, after getting refreshed (and a little bit drunk), we were off to our first venue of the trip, Ushuaia, to attend the famed F*** Me I’m Famous Party. When I walked in I was completely mesmerized.  The first thing that came into view was a gigantic pool which was mostly empty, surrounded by people in designer clad clothing, rather than in their bathing suits. The atmosphere was crazy and you could just feel the excitement in the air. The music was pumping loudly with the sound of DJ Nervo playing their set on stage. The bass was hard and the crowd couldn’t help but to move their bodies to the beat. The crowd was packed and as the night went on the dance floor only filled up more. The DJ was set up on a huge stage that looked straight out into the pool area. As soon as Nicky Romero got on stage we knew it was only a short time until David Guetta would be performing in front of us live! With the anticipation came more and more people on the dance floor. I had never heard of Nicky Romero until I saw him here and I was completely impressed.  He was amazing and  knew how to hype the crowd up perfectly. His music was more of a mix of today’s music with his own techno twist on them. Finally, David Guetta appeared on the stage at the end of Nicky Romero’s set to begin his 2 and a half hour set on this stage. He had half naked girls dancing on stage behind him. If that wasn’t extravagant enough, he also had a huge light show set up on the stage which was absolutely amazing with fire shooting up every once in a while to really emphasize his point! This was one of the most impressive shows I have ever been too, especially considering that it is much smaller than the average venue that I’ve seen DJ’s like this play at. In the middle of the set David’s wife Cathy came on stage to hype the crowd a little more. Who doesn’t like to see their favorite DJs be family oriented and sweet?! I certainly loved seeing it!  Then she started tossing glow sticks into the crowd which caused all of the bartenders and dancers to then start throwing them into the crowd as well. From there everything broke loose, the people drank harder, danced faster, and somehow the floor managed to get even more packed. By the last hour of the show, I could not feel my feet at all. I was off to the side sitting, when I turned around and looked behind me I noticed that on the balcony there was a couple up there completely getting it on. I guess the saying goes ‘What happens in Ibiza, stays in Ibiza.” This was one of the craziest places that I had ever been too and this was just the first venue on our first day.

Fast Forward to Day Three in Ibiza…

On our third day in Ibiza we woke up and headed to the beach and to hang out at the Gran Hotel Ibiza . It was absolutely beautiful to eat lunch by the pool with the sun coming down on us. The hotel itself had an amazing view and only 5 minutes walking distance from all of the major clubs in Ibiza! After hanging out and relaxing there for the day we were headed back to Ushuaia for Swedish House Mafia (Steve Angello). This time was a little bit different; we had the complete VIP experience for this one. We walked in and were immediately escorted to one of the best tables in the huge pool area. The table was the perfect location, right off of the dance floor but elevated enough to be able to see what was going on in the crowd and on the stage. We were seated there and immediately a huge bottle of Grey Goose was brought over to the table with all of the mixers that accompany it. We had two waiters  and our own  security guard, they kept on pouring the drinks and by the time we knew it we had lost track of how many we had had at that point. We were raging hard to his famed song ‘Name’ swaying our bodies to the beat of the bass. While Steve Angello was playing the lights around him were flashing in our face. Watching the thousands of people in the crowd was an incredible thing to experience. Everyone putting their hands up in the air when told to, dancing at all the right beats, people being lifted onto each other shoulders to get a better view of the show, it was perfection!

I know what you’re all thinking…this is only one venue and two parties, what happened to our other days of hardcore raging? Well some things are meant for me to know and you to never find out about! The only way to know what happens is for you to check out the luxurious an wild city of  Ibiza on your own. You will not be disappointed if you love music because that coupled with the people and the atmosphere is worth the trip!

Just a few minutes from South Beach and the Port of Miami, Conrad Miami is located in the center of all the action!  Featuring thirty-six stories of concave glass and steel, Conrad Miami offers an experience customized for you.  All accommodations feature Illy espresso machines, spacious marble bathrooms, and a special pillow menu.  Indulge in one of  over sixty treatment options at the 24th floor spa overlooking Biscayne Bay, work out in the 24 hour Fitness Center or relax in a rooftop poolside cabana.

Hotel guests can often be found sipping a cocktail at The Bar at Level 25  overlooking the sweeping Miami skylines or enjoying dinner at Atrio which showcases locally sourced sustainable produce and fish.

Conrad Miami has the atmosphere, the location & the decor – all for the right price & so much more when you book through House of Travel.

House of Travel’s HOT DEAL Includes:

Reserve your room at the Conrad Miami with House of Travel and receive these EXCLUSIVE rates today!

Call House of Travel at 305.931.3002 or email Stefanie Brown to book your stay at the Conrad Miami!

**FINE PRINT: You must book through House of Travel.  Offer subject to availability. Applicable for new bookings only. Offer valid for stay from July 19- September 30, 2012 and October 1-December 31, 2012. Cannot be combined with other offers or promotions; restrictions may apply. Regular check-in is at 3:00 p.m. & check-out is at 12 noon.

With its soaring and unforgettably beautiful Lobby, legendary white Guestrooms, lushly landscaped Orchard, breathtaking Pool, renowned Agua Bathhouse and stunning Private Beach, Delano epitomizes Simple Chic for a modern world.

House of Travel’s HOT Deal Includes:

Reserve your room at Delano by June 23rd for travel by June 30th and receive:

• A $100 Spa or Resort Credit per room, per stay.
• Complimentary Room Upgrade upon arrival.
• Complimentary Welcome Amenity upon arrival.
• Complimentary Daily Continental Breakfast for Two People at Bianca (per room).
• Early Check-In & Late Check-Out (based on availability).

Call House of Travel at 305.931.3002 or email Stefanie Brown to book your stay at The Delano today!

**FINE PRINT: You must book through House of Travel. Offer valid for reservations made by June 23, 2012 for travel through June 30, 2012. Offer subject to availability. Applicable for new bookings only. Cannot be combined with other offers or promotions; restrictions may apply.

Did you know the monarch is believed to have worn more than 5,000 hats since she was crowned in 1952? Yea, we didn’t either…who would know that? Did you know that The Berkeley has London’s only rooftop pool & spa with panoramic views of Hyde Park? We did! On sunny days, the roof retracts with just the push of a button (by hotel personnel, don’t get too excited).

Prêt-à-Portea – The Royal Collection will be served in the iconic hotel’s Caramel Room from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. during its special run. Tea starts at £39.00per person. After June 9th, you can enjoy a Prêt-à-Portea showcasing summer fashions.

The Royal Collection Menu:

• Profiterole with praline filling inspired by the unforgettable fascinator designed by Irish milliner Philip Treacy as worn by Princess Beatrice at The Royal Wedding.
• Vanilla pannacotta & strawberry jelly topped with red macaroon influenced by Angela Kelly’s patriotic Canadian maple leaf hat as worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge in Canada.
• Blueberry cake with sugar roses & green leaves inspired by Rachel Trevor-Morgan’s hat as worn by Queen Elizabeth.
• Dark chocolate mousse with crunchy pearls topped with a thin wafer biscuit & fresh flower resembling Gina Foster’s memorable fascinator as worn by Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge at Zara Philip’s wedding.
• Vanilla biscuit with intricate icing & sugar diamonds resembling Queen Elizabeth’s legendary diamond crown as worn for her coronation.
• Pink lady apple fruit cake covered in rose icing inspired by a light pink floral hat worn by Queen Elizabeth in Canada.
• White peach Victoria sponge Launer London handbag cake with peach coloured icing as worn by Queen Elizabeth at the Royal Wedding.

Have you ever felt so uncreative? For more information call House of Travel at 305.931.3002 – it’s not too late to book a stay in London for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.

1. Koh Samui Airport is Awesome.

When you land in Koh Samui, you immediately feel like you’re in the movie Couples Retreat. The airport is comprised of a series of open-air, thatched huts with the smallest baggage carousels that can exist & still be called “carousels.” After you get your luggage, you’re immediately ready to strip down to your knickers & hit the beach. Rewinding a little, when you’re on the plane – let’s say from Chiang Mai to Koh Samui – you’ll get amazing views of the island & the surrounding waters. Get your camera ready. Just beautiful!

Here’s the view as you land at Koh Samui airport.

2. You NEED to Stay at Six Senses Samui.

You may have heard us rave about Six Senses Samui before, but seriously folks, stay there. It’s for your own good. Six Senses Samui has a car service that will pick you up from the hotel & take you to the secluded hideaway (SSS sits on the northeastern tip of the island). The car comes equipped with bottled water, cold towels, a full menu of services at the hotel & a knowledgeable representative from Six Senses…& a driver, obviously. During your 20-minute ride to the resort, you’ll learn all about the island & see the sites pointed out to you along the way – all while listening to your favorite type of music. How do they know your favorite type of music? Six Senses Samui asks you or you travel agent to complete a client information form before your stay. This form includes your musical preferences, pillow preferences, scent preferences (both for the room & for your bed), mini-bar preferences & the list goes on.

Once you arrive at Six Senses Samui, you will be greeted by your private butler who will get you checked in & take you to your villa. On the way to your villa you’ll see where breakfast (best breakfast EVER!) is served, where the main pool & spa are, where you will sit & watch the sunset…you get the idea. In your villa, your butler will explain to you all of the features of the villa, right down to the wooden owl on the outside of your villa’s entrance gate. You flip the owls eyes one way to let the butler & housekeeping know that you’re in your room & wish to be left alone & the other way to let them know it’s ok to knock/come in. Your butler will provide you with a telephone number for you to reach her at at all times…literally ALL times.

Said owl.

Of the different villa options, we recommend staying in at least an Oceanview Pool Villa, where you’ll be able to see the ocean from your private plunge pool. Since the villas are set into the side of a mountain, Six Senses Samui has a walking path down to the hotel’s beach or you can call for golf cart service to take you around the property. The best part of the Oceanview Pool Villa, besides being able to swim in the nude without anyone seeing you (or shower in your outdoor shower – again, nude), is that around 6:00 a.m. you can see the sunrise over the ocean through big glass windows from your canopy bed. In fact, your elevated bungalow has glass all the way around, &, while rustic & eco-friendly, Six Senses Samui allows you to get back in touch with your simpler self. You’ll start finding yourself taking a moment here & there to just appreciate your surroundings & let your mind clear. But, this isn’t done at expense of luxury.

Here’s your view from an Oceanview Pool Villa at Six Senses Samui.

The service at Six Senses Samui is impeccable. For instance, if they see you’re sunburned, you’ll likely find fresh aloe in your refrigerator in the evening. If they see you like your coffee at the end of your breakfast & juice at the beginning, you can expect the restaurant staff to anticipate your request & have that juice ready for you (go for the fresh mango juice) when you sit down.

While children do stay at Six Senses Samui, we recommend this as more of a couples’ destination, & it’s especially great for a honeymoon in Thailand. As a couple, you can rent a scooter from the hotel to explore the island ($10.00 for 24 hours, including gas; on par with pricing off premises) or you can take the  hotel shuttle into town. Island-by-scooter is something really fun & likely different from your normal vacations. Don’t be a worry wart – the drivers aren’t crazy in Koh Samui (but they do drive on the other side of the road).

If you have trouble sitting still by the pool, you can also try a complimentary Tai Chi class at the Spa, which is held waterfront, or go to one of the sunset cocktail parties infinity-poolside where you can meet the staff of Six Senses Samui. Definitely get a cocktail at Chill on the Hill & have dinner at least once at Dining on the Rocks.

Unbelievable sunsets reflecting off the main pool at Six Senses Samui.

We can go on & on about Six Senses Samui, but just go there. It’s much more fun than reading about it.

3. You Will Be Hot in Koh Samui (Temperature, Not Sexy).

Koh Samui is warm. If you live in Florida, you understand that “warm” means humid/bad hair day/sun beating on you/constantly sweating/always want to jump in the water/wear shorts. We repeat, Koh Samui is warm. But your body adapts in 24 hours & most places you’ll visit on the island are near the water…because it’s an island.

4. Chaweng Beach Nightlife Will Suck You In.

During the day Chaweng Beach is full of young travelers & “beach clubs” (a guy that will let you sit in a lounge chair if you buy a drink from his bar). There are plenty of locals to buy a tapestry/sarong from to sit on at the beach. At night, Chaweng Beach area is transformed from a lazy, beach town to a vibrant nightlife scene. Have a banana colada for two at Bar Solo & watch the street performers while dancing to the sounds of the DJ (& guy that comes out & plays the bongos with the spinning music every 20 minutes). Deeper into Chaweng Beach, you’ll find an entire street full of nightclubs, one being the famous Green Mango. This street is where Cancun meets Ibiza. If you spend too much time at Chaweng, you’ll find yourself wanting to trade in your Louis Vuitton luggage for a sweet backpack.

Ask for a table outside at Bar Solo in Chaweng Beach.

5. Get Custom Shirts Made for Your Man/Yourself.

If you’ve done any research on Thailand, you’ve probably heard/read somewhere that it’s the land of custom shirt shops. It’s true. Since you’ll probably spend at least four days in Koh Samui, this will leave you time to go to a tailor, pick out your materials, negotiate prices, go back for a fitting & pick up your shirts. Some shops will deliver your shirts to your hotel. There’s no magic formula to which store you should go to. Go in a few. If you like the tailor/salesman & the materials they have to offer, go with it. Every shirt shop has a guy that stands out front trying to convince you his store is the way to go. One of them will be right.

Miscellaneous items that didn’t fit into our list:

• Consider making some time to take a private snorkeling & kayaking trip to Koh Tao (skip Koh Wao).
• Have a drink at the W Koh Samui.
• Check out a Muay Thai match (boxing).

Last stop is Krabi, Thailand. For more photos & information on Koh Samui (or anywhere in Thailand), email us (after you check out Facebook album of our photos from Koh Samui).