Holiday Shopping Destinations

The holidays are a time to spend time with family and friends, partake in fun winter festivities, and - of course - shop till you drop. Retailers are gearing up for the holiday season and travelers, though more budget-conscious than in years past due to the weak economy, are ready to dole out green on everything from clothing to electronics. Stores such as Macy's are expected to see an uptick in consumer spending for Black Friday and Cyber Monday compared with 2008, thanks largely to a slowly rebounding economy and major discounts shoppers look to avail themselves of. Read on for a roundup of holiday shopping hot spots in major cities.

Winter Deals in the Windy City

In National Geographic's 2006 edition of "The 10 Best of Everything - An Ultimate Guide for Travelers," the Magnificent Mile, which boasts more than 460 stores, was named one of the Ten Best Shopping Avenues in the world. (Granted, it was in good company, as Fifth Avenue and Rodeo Drive - both highlighted in this entry - made the cut.) From fine boutiques such as Cartier and Lacoste to department stores including Saks Fifth Avenue, the Mile continues to draw millions of avid shoppers annually. Travelers can stay at Inn of Chicago or the Millennium Knickerbocker Hotel, both of which lie directly on the Magnificent Mile. The Ambassador East Hotel, a National Historic Landmark, is just a short walk away from the shopping hot spot, as is eco-friendly Hotel Felix.

Gift Buying in Beantown

They call Boston's Newbury Street in Back Bay the "Rodeo Drive of the East" for a reason. It encompasses eight blocks chock full of salons, restaurants and shops specializing in everything from men's fashion to sports apparel. Want to shop till you drop at the mall? You can pick from popular locales including Copley Place, Atrium Mall and Emerald Square Mall. Travelers can call it a night at the newly renovated Copley Square Hotel, size up The Colonnade Hotel's sleek design, or soak up The Lenox Hotel's old warm charm. No matter your age, Boston has something for the shopaholic in all of us.

Holiday Fever in Hollywood

The city of Los Angeles is heralded as nothing short of a shopping capital. Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills features scores of popular shops and boutiques including Chanel, Christian Dior, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino and BVLGARI. Nearby properties include Hotel Beverly Terrace, the Mosaic Hotel, Luxe Hotel Rodeo Drive and The Tower Beverly Hills. Travelers making their way down Santa Monica's Third Street Promenade will find stores like Apple and Armani Exchange, as well as a farmers' market and movie theater complex. Of course, there's Hollywood's world-famous Sunset Strip, lined with a host of restaurants and boutiques. The Le Montrose Suite Hotel and four-story, European-style Le Petit are just minutes away on foot.

Best Beaches in Florida

Nestled north of Miami on the Atlantic Ocean in beautiful South Florida, West Palm Beach has some of the most enjoyable beaches. Beaches that will have you coming back because we found them to be well groomed and cared for. And there is such a choice - from small, secluded to mile long beaches for the community. West Palm Beach is a vacation destination cherished by not only Americans, but thousands of people from Europe and beyond.

A favorite Clearwater Beach hotel is the Sandpearl Resort. There are plenty of affordable Clearwater Beach motels, inns and condos to choose from as well. The southern end of Clearwater Bch is chock full of hotels, restaurants and resorts. There's nightlife, shopping and plenty to do. Pier 60 is an event in and of itself! Every night at Sunset join the party (modeled after Key West's sunset event) with entertainers, artists and craftspeople.

Clearwater Beach is located in Pinellas County which is home to Clearwater, the county seat, St. Petersburg & Tarpon Springs. The county is located on a narrow 280 square mile peninsula with the Gulf on one side and Tampa Bay on the other. It is one of three counties that make up "Greater Tampa Bay."

Pinellas County offers 35 miles of white-sand bchs on 20 barrier islands. 1 or 2 of them frequently wind up on noteworthy Best Beach Lists!

Want to check out the area but tired of walking? Just hop on the trolley and it will take you there! From north to south and all the stops in between, from Clearwater Bch to Pass-A-Grille in St. Pete Bch, the trolley stops at every beach and town in between.

Exotic Island Vacation Ideas

It is the most popular island and well talked about, there is a enormous tourism market where you can meet a And then there is Maui, also in Hawaii, it has been assessed as the best island situated on the Pacific Ocean. The tropical setting capture the legacy of the island and it becomes a dream destination for honeymooners offering luxurious hotels. To launch into adventuresome mode and has a lot to offer. Activities range, there is jet skiing, scuba diving, snorkeling and surfing within the amazing waters of the Pacific Ocean.

We have Kauai located in Hawaii. This heavenly exploration will not drain your finances either because lodging and clothing are greatly affordable. Sparkling blue waters and white sand launches you into the unique mesmerizing Indonesian culture. The island of Bali located in the South East of Asia in Indonesia. Islands offer dream destinations to partake in engaging with local culture and local sites, sharing in the wonders of beaches, delving into the best accommodation in lodges, exploring restaurants and scenery viewing ventures.

There are leading island guides for the search for island venturesome to explore the best scenes and views, exploring mystic island worlds. Nature makes islands disappear, and others appear. Islands are either swallowed by the sea or born from earthquakes and volcanoes! Because they appear and disappear.

Why? However it is an impossible mission to calculate the vast number of islands as there is no answer. Launching into the exoticism of island vacation ideas it will firstly be on an analysis of islands in the world.