Resorts

Their day begins at 6 a.m. and ends with lights-out at 9 p.m. They cannot drive cars or watch television in their rooms. Instead, they spend hours pacing the white beaches here, their world limited by the edge of the aquamarine water and the yellow lines on the paved parking lot outside their hotel. They are captives in paradise, this group of obese men and women who dwell in this small resort town.

Here's one of those deals that sound too good to be true: $395 for an eight-day vacation in the U.S., Canada, Mexico , Australia , Europe and other destinations. The deal from Zozi, online discounter of travel trips and outdoor adventures, offers lots of options near and far at that price. The deal: I like this Worldwide Eight-Day Luxury Vacation because of the wide variety of resorts and destinations to choose from. The properties are part of Luxury Resorts Worldwide . Here's how it works: You pay $395, receive a voucher and then book the property you want on the dates you want to go. The deal includes one- to three-bedroom suites that can accommodate two to eight people, and most units come with kitchenettes.

The North Sea island of Sylt has plenty of things going for it: a splendid mix of sea, beach, dune and sky, a reputation for nude sunning and swimming, and a chic clientele that has made it West Germany's most fashionable summer resort. But Sylt has one thing going against it. The breakers are washing away the sand, eroding the beaches and dunes. And the erosion is aggravated by winter storms. The island is literally returning to the sea.

Phoenix heats up in summer, but maybe air-conditioning and pool fun can offset triple-digit heat. That and an inexpensive room. For $149 a night in summer at JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa , you can do a lot (or a little) at the resort and cash in on a $50 daily credit too. The deal: The wow factor for the Family Fling & Swing package is all the extras, not the least of which is a $50 resort credit each day and no resort fee (usually $25 a day). Rooms start at $149 a night plus tax and include free Wi-Fi or Internet access and free parking; free golf (after noon)

Here's one of those deals that sound too good to be true: $395 for an eight-day vacation in the U.S., Canada, Mexico , Australia , Europe and other destinations. The deal from Zozi, online discounter of travel trips and outdoor adventures, offers lots of options near and far at that price. The deal: I like this Worldwide Eight-Day Luxury Vacation because of the wide variety of resorts and destinations to choose from. The properties are part of Luxury Resorts Worldwide . Here's how it works: You pay $395, receive a voucher and then book the property you want on the dates you want to go. The deal includes one- to three-bedroom suites that can accommodate two to eight people, and most units come with kitchenettes.

More than 20 years after tourist destination Marineland of the Pacific shipped off its whales and closed its gates, a noticeably more refined attraction is about to open atop the same ocean bluffs in Rancho Palos Verdes. The first official overnight guests at Terranea Resort, a 582-room luxury hotel and spa meant to compete with California's most upscale coastal inns, will check in today.

Aston Hotels & Resorts have kicked off a sale at some of their Hawaii hotels, with room rates ranging from $79 to $159 a night on four islands. This deal, especially if paired with an affordable flight, works for a summer or winter vacation. [ For the Record at 1:50 p.m. July 18 : An earlier version of this post erroneously said the Aston Waikiki Beachside Hotel on Oahu charges a $10 resort fee; the hotel does not charge a resort fee. However, selected Aston Hotels & Resorts in this promotion do charge a resort fee.]

Splash down in the ocean or the pool at nine Marriott beach resorts in Mexico and the Caribbean this summer. Room rates are being trimmed up to 40% for stays through the end of September at sites that include Cancun and Puerto Vallarta in Mexico and Aruba, Grand Cayman and St. Kitts in the Caribbean. The deal: The SPF 40% Off   sale varies by the hotel. In a check of rate rules for the selected resorts, I found that discounts run from 25% to 40% off the leisure rate.

When the owners of a $480-million seaside luxury resort said they needed more money to ensure it would open, they turned to Rancho Palos Verdes. The City Council last week unanimously agreed to give Terranea Resort what amounted to an $8-million loan by allowing Lowe Enterprises to defer payment of its hotel tax for several years. The vote came despite concerns from city staff members who said the loan was "not fiscally prudent."

Running a ski area is like owning a suburban tract home. There never seems to be a shortage of improvements to be made. So it has been with winter resorts this year. Despite the lingering recession, developers and slope owners have been writing checks for a plethora of enhancements. Most fall into one of three broad categories: developing real estate, enticing visitors with real bargains and augmenting real snow. West Western ski areas have invested in snowmaking, grooming trails and pricing deals, but the big money in the big mountains has been spent developing bigger base areas.

If you know anything at all about Del Mar, it's that the seaside town north of San Diego is the place to play the ponies. The horses aren't the only thoroughbreds in the track's history; you'll hear it connected to such names as Bing Crosby, W.C. Fields, Red Skelton, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, jockey Willie Shoemaker and, my favorite, Seabiscuit. But I'd encourage a Del Mar visit any time except the July 18-Sept. 5 racing season, just for the peace and quiet. The bed. I was here for a family wedding at L'Auberge del Mar Resort & Spa (1540 Camino del Mar; [800]

Ask a hard-pressed mom what she wants forMother's Dayand she's apt to say she'd like a break from chores. No cleaning, shopping, cooking, volunteering, driving or organizing. Herewith, a few luxurious getaways where moms will never be asked to do any of the above. (Moms, we suggest you leave this article in a strategic location.) Carmel Valley Ranch Carmel Valley Ranch takes great pains to cater to families and adults - separately. Although it is an ideal retreat for families, it is also one of the most serene places to go with friends or partners.

Flash sales are fun, but the barrage of email alerts is not. Introducing a one-stop shop for all those timed sales. Name: EveryLodge.com What it does: Aggregates the growing number of flash sale and private member sites into one search tool. View all the current sales on one world map and sort by the sale provider, destination or how much you want to spend a night. What's hot : Besides being an incredible time-saver and pointing out deals of as much as 80% off hotel and resort rack rates around the world, it pulls from 14 flash sale sites and places those you might be familiar with, such as Jetsetter, SniqueAway and Groupon Getaways, side by side with those you might not have heard about, such as TripAlertz, Yuupon or Voyage Privé.

The Swiss Health Resort in Desert Hot Springs is a wonderful place to relax with indoor and outdoor pools, a beautiful desert garden with views of the mountains and daily morning hikes with the owner. Swiss Health Resort, 66729 8th St.; (800) 794-7743, http://www.swisshealthresort.com . Midweek rates from $100 a night, weekends from $130. Judith Samuel Santa Monica

Free nights with minimum stays have become common hotel come-ons, but here's one I like for the luxe factor and the price. Pay for three nights and get two more nights free at the tony CordeValle resort in Northern California, making this a vacation-length getaway with real savings. The deal: CordeValle is part of the Rosewood Hotels & Resorts brand and has just 45 rooms with a spa, vineyard and golf course, in San Martin, Calif. Where's that? In the foothills of the Santa Cruz Mountains south of San Jose and north of the Monterey Peninsula.

Here's a great spring deal that would work for Memorial Day too: Kick back in a two-bedroom villa at Bishop's Lodge Ranch Resort & Spa in Santa Fe. The resort in the foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains offers spring sale prices on villas starting at $339 a night -- more than half off the usual rates. Split the room with three friends and stay in style without breaking the bank. The deal: There's a lot to do -- mountain biking, yoga, hiking, tours -- at this series of lodges and villas that date to the early 20th century.

Blackstone Group, the buyout firm that owns Hilton Hotels Corp., sold a golf resort near Carmel to an investment firm led by John Pritzker for $20 million. Pritzker, the founding partner of San Francisco-based Geolo Capital and son of the late billionaire Hyatt Hotels founder Jay Pritzker, said his company would spend about $25 million to upgrade Carmel Valley Ranch during the next 18 to 24 months. The resort is spread over 400 acres, and Pritzker's plans include room renovations and a spa.

HANA, Hawaii - I came to play in a jungle, dance under a waterfall and swim with giant turtles in a tranquil sea. But at the end of the long, winding road to Hana, the thing that pleased me most was staring at the star-filled sky. Not to imply that Maui's road to Hana (pronounced HAH-na) isn't impressive. The treacherous 52-mile highway, which Sunset magazine calls "the most beautiful road in the world," wins accolades from many who make the journey. Verdant rain forests hug the sides of the mountainous road, waterfalls tumble into crystal-clear pools, beaches of black onyx meet a cobalt-blue sea. And for those searching for thrills, Hana Highway (Hawaii 360)

About 30 miles from Udaipur, India, the secluded Jhadol Safari Resort is situated on a reservoir. Every room is spacious and modern and has a view, and the staff is very attentive and friendly. All-included two-night, three-day packages start at about $300. Jhadol Safari Resort, Ravla Bagh, Tehsil Jhadol, Udaipur; http://www.jhadol.com Hemang Desai Diamond Bar