I don’ think this falls in line with my normal eco-friendly travel news but it sounded so great I had to post it.

Banyan Tree Phuket introduces the ultimate “Diet of Pleasure” spa getaway, designed to take the weight off guests’ minds. The new package emphasizes pure pleasure and indulgence with a series of signature spa, fitness and dining experiences. The new tempting package is designed to invigorate even the most jaded travelers with treatments like the Thai Classic, blending subtle stretching with rhythmic massaging and compressions to balance energetic bodies and stimulate energy flow, and the Balinese treatment, where specialized Banyan Tree-trained therapists use thumb and palm pressure to apply a unique blend of essential oils with warming qualities.

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Gap-year travelers—students taking a year off between high school and college or college and “real life”—are more and more likely to choose Latin America as a destination to spend their money and their time.According to the Telegraph, Rio de Janeiro, Buenos Aires, San José, and Lima are now all on the top ten destinations for gap-year travelers.The reason for this change is the decreased air-fare to Latin American as more and more carriers service the continent, as well as the favorable exchange rate.Particularly true for visitors from Europe and the United Kingdom, Latin American is a cheap option that is as culturally exciting as anywhere else in the world.

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The Argentine government began their first step towards protecting the rights of gays in Argentina when they announced the first nation-wide gay rights measure yesterday.From now on, couples who can prove that they have been living together for more than five years can claim their deceased partners’ pensions.According to the Associated Press, this measure is being celebrated as a victory by gay rights activists in Argentina, who have been petitioning the government to give gay long-term relationships the same status as married heterosexual relationships.Gay civil unions are legal in five cities in Argentina, including Buenos Aires, which legalized them in 2002.

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Diego Maradona, one of the most beloved Argentines, whose name is mentioned with that of Evita Peron and General San Martin, arrived on August 16th in China to be at the Beijing Olympic Games.  According to China View, Maradona said that he wanted to be there to support the basketball and the soccer team, both of which are contenders for medals.He went to the soccer team’s game on Saturday night, which Argentina won, and planned after that to go see Argentine basketball and field hockey. Having such a famous Argentine there to watch the games must give all the teams, and fans, a little bit of faith and inspiration.

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While recent controversy between Argentina and Uruguay has stemmed from more political factors, such as the recent paper mill conflict, an ongoing conflict exists between the two nations over the origins of tango singer Carlos Gardel.An icon in Argentina, Gardel was an international star.His singing and acting made him beloved to the world, and he is claimed by Argentina as their son—Uruguay thinks differently. According to the BBC, Uruguayans claim that he was born in Tacuarembo in northern Uruguay. They take pride in him as a great Uruguayan tango singer, which is a claim that might draw a few Argentines into a late night bar fight. As the BBC says, it would be like claiming Frank Sinatra wasn’t from the United States.

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Argentina’s women field hockey team, Las Leonas, defeated New Zealand 3-2 and now moves on to play in the semi-finals of the Olympic Games.Currently unbeaten, the team has caught fire since their disappointing ties with the United States and Great Britain.They beat Germany 4-0, who they played previously in the finals of the Champions Trophy, which Argentina won.According to 7th Space, the other teams in the semi-finals are China, Germany and the Netherlands.Argentina will face the Netherlands to determine whether or not they will get a chance to go to the finals and play for the gold medal.

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August 18th, 2008 by A World Vacationer

From our Win a Trip Contest
A travel story by - Michael Helms

My wife and I planned to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary with another couple by traveling to London, England. She had never been out of the country before so she was very excited.  But I had more in store than she ever imagined.

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