SeaDream Yacht Club – Caviar, Champagne and barbecue

All SeaDream Yacht Club voyages in the Caribbean include a signature Champagne & Caviar Splash beach party. Executive chef Elton Tabaj and his galley team transport the five-star kitchen from the yacht to the beach. Passengers are served a lavish beach barbecue, cooked to perfection. All guests don bathing suits and the captain joins in for an informal day playing Robinson Crusoe. In fact, be prepared to get soaking wet. You will arrive on the island via a Zodiac boat that shuttles passengers from the yacht directly to the white, sandy beach. I attended the beach party in White Bay on Jost Van Dyke in the British Virgin Islands during a recent cruise. What a great way to spend a winter afternoon! And the best part? Skip the high resort rates and book the intimate cruise with only 150 passengers.

Paris is always a good idea

The Olympics may be over, but we still can’t get enough of the French. A recent report from GlobalData announced that France is on track to become the most visited country by 2025, when 93.7 million international travelers are expected to visit there.

Delta Air Lines offers several options while traveling from Tampa to Paris. I usually stop in Atlanta to connect with Air France for a seamless experience. I recently discovered a “secret” and luxurious way to get to Europe. Friends rave about the 10-year-old French boutique airline called La Compagnie. The flights only depart from Newark Liberty International Airport, but it’s totally worth the trip to New Jersey. Once on board, the plane offers 76 seats that all turn into flatbeds. It’s a business-class airline experience to Paris, Milan or Nice. And the food is marvelous.

For the ultimate Parisian culinary experience, secure a table at Le Jules Verne. Located at the top of the Eiffel Tower, the views are spectacular from this world-famous restaurant. Watch the calendar and make sure to book 90 days in advance and be prepared to pay ahead as well (a $500 deposit is the norm for a table for two). When you factor in the advantage of skipping the long entry line and the overall once-in-a-lifetime opportunity of dining in the Eiffel Tower, the experience is well worth the cost. Perched at a height of 410 feet, you will even have your own private elevator to the restaurant. The dress code, an elegant outfit and no shorts or sportswear, is strictly enforced. Suit jackets are mandatory for men.

Closer to home, Travel + Leisure magazine recently named St. Petersburg the Best Food City in the U.S. We found a tiny slice of Paris in St. Petersburg. When you check in to the newly renovated Vinoy Resort, you’ll be invited on Friday and Saturday from 3-5 p.m. to meet the new executive pastry chef Armand Berger and sample complimentary Champagne and nibbles from Lottie, the new patisserie located in the hotel’s lobby.

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Tropic Ocean Airways salutes Jimmy Buffett Day

Tropic Ocean Airways is the largest commercial amphibious airline and is ready to entertain all Parrotheads. To celebrate Jimmy Buffett Day on Aug. 30, they are launching an epic package with Baker’s Cay Resort, a nature-inspired luxury resort on the Overseas Highway in Key Largo. Inspired by the legendary singer-songwriter, this unique trip offers a fun-filled adventure over Labor Day weekend and includes a one-way Tropic Ocean Airways seaplane adventure for two departing from Sheltair Terminal at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport and landing at Baker’s Cay Resort. The three-night waterfront king guest room package is valid only from Aug. 30 through Sept. 2. It includes complimentary return shuttle service to Miami International Airport or Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

The Resort at Longboat Key Club

Having more space is a priority for families. Nearly three in five guests say being able to fit all their family members in one place is a major deciding factor when booking a vacation. Some of the top trending destinations near the water for families this summer are Melbourne, Australia and Nassau, Bahamas.

We already live in paradise with a variety of resort options just a short drive away, no passport required. We talked to Diane Lopez, the director of resort operations at The Resort at Longboat Key Club near Sarasota, where the Gulf waters are beautiful, the beach cabanas are huge and the suites are grand. The two-bedroom suites overlook the pool and the Gulf of Mexico with a living room that includes a queen-sized sleeper sofa, a full kitchen, a washer and dryer and a private balcony. Don’t miss Latitudes restaurant for delicious menu options in the resort, offering both “land” (a 16-ounce rib-eye steak) and “sea” (spiny lobster curry) options with Ed Geyfman as executive chef. Great to find out a kids dinner menu is available. Grown-ups will love checking out the resort’s Tavern & Whiskey Bar with over 100 different types of whiskey.

Sports are key here on the Key. Briana François is the director of racquet sports, tennis and pickleball and reports that there are eight new pickleball courts at the resort. They have lessons almost daily. The resort store supports local women-owned vendors. Peaceful tip: Check out the many treatment rooms and new sound therapy beds in the spa. Naps encouraged!