Virgin Atlantic is changing it's look

Virgin Atlantic's fleet is getting a new look.  The carrier on Thursday unveiled "a new aircraft livery and brand identity for the airline."  Virgin Atlantic says  the new design will be applied to all of the company's 38 aircraft, and to the company's signage and external communications.  It will be the carrier's first change to the look of its aircraft since 2005.

In a press release  announcing the change, Virgin Atlantic says "the new livery uses an entirely new paint system which is unique to Virgin Atlantic – a first on commercial aircraft.  It has been specially developed to achieve a highly reflective depth of metallic color.  The painting process has been simplified, using fewer maskings and applications for a drastic reduction in materials used.  Over 120 gallons of paint was used and took over 3,000 – 3,500 man hours to paint.  The new paint is more durable so aircraft will only require re-painting once a decade."

Vegas hotels offering condoms as part of room packages!

Lots of Vegas hotels have long offered condoms as part of their room packages but not Palms in Vegas is taking it one step further!   Palms has long been known as a party hotel for the sexy and good looking and now it's  announcing an innovative partnership with the Trojan condom company to offer "Trojan Fire & Ice" travel packages that include pleasure kits.

The kits include champagne, chocolates and "Intimacy Kits."  Trojan Fire & Ice Pure Pleasure Getaways cost $265 a night (with a minimum two-night stay).  You stay in a Fantasy Tower Superior Room, get a couple's massage, VIP nightlife pass and $30 dining credit - sweet!  But why pay when you can enter below and win for free?

BONUS LINK - Trojan is offering a special content and chance to win free stuff including airfare to Vegas, rooms, dinners, massages and VIP access to hot clubs, click the link to enter:  Trojan Vegas Contest, and don't say we never gave you the hot tips. 

Book at Hooters Hotel in Vegas and save 40%!

Book a room marked with the 40% Off Your Stay offer at Hooters for 2 nights between June 18 and August 31, 2010 for stay dates between June 18 and Sept. 30, 2010 and get 40% off your room.  To book with the resort, click on the Hooters babe below!

This former Howard Johnson Hotel was built in 1973 and changed to the Hooters brand in 2004.  The hotel got updated and now features 711 rooms, a 35,000 sq. ft. casino where you can blow you money and of course a super huge Hooters restaurant where you can regain your energy with hot wings and babes in orange.  

BONUS VIDEO

Just for fun...

... :-)

Sorry if it takes a few seconds to load!

Usher and Chris Brown get dance lessons in MoBay!

With Reggae artist Elephant Man stepping in as choreographer, Usher and Chris Brown  had a mini dance-off this past weekend while performing at this year's Sumfest in Montego Bay, Jamaica.

Sounds like we all missed a cool show in Jamaica!

Fossil brand revels a new category of travel items

Fossil Inc has added a new range of travel accessories and leather goods to its travel retail assortment.  The new category offered to travel retailers will include toilet bags, travel document holders, contact lens containers, key fobs, luggage tags and pocket mirrors.

 Designed to cater for the needs of today’s traveler or as gifts for friends and family, the products present the concept of "accessible cool" and are anchored in Fossil’s modern vintage authentic style mixed with a creative spirit and a sense of humor, the company said.

Fossil Sutter Crossbody Espresso

Those fun loving Brit's have NO problem with nudity!

 Do you feel getting topless on a beach is ok?  Is it bad?   Well, 93% of Brit's surveyed voted in favor of topless sunbathing by beaches or pools.

Despite Britain’s traditionally prudish reputation, 93 per cent of Britons surveyed voted in favor of topless sunbathing by beaches or pools.  This compared to 91 per cent of Italian and French respondents and 82 per cent of Swedes.  

Britain was beaten only by the German respondents, 99 per cent of whom were in favor of stripping off when sunbathing.

Continental to test out "self boarding" at one airport!

Terrorists of the world celebrate the news coming out of...

Wait, just kidding.

Boarding a plane without an agent to inspect or take your pass has arrived in the USA.  Continental Airlines has confirmed it's testing the procedure at a gate at its hub in Houston Intercontinental.  It's the first experiment at what's called "self-boarding" in the U.S.

In self-boarding, passengers — much like customers of the New York City subway— swipe their boarding passes at a kiosk reader at the gate. That opens a turnstile or door to the jet-bridge. Although an agent isn't there to take the pass, one is typically present to handle problems and other customer service tasks.

So talk about it, is this just a new efficient way for moving people along or a potential danger?   All I know is Gay Focker from Meet the Fockers might like it.  :-D

Princess Cruises was w/o power off Florida for 4 hours!

Last night, July 25th, was apparently a rough one for passengers on Princess Cruises' Emerald Princess, which lost power shortly after pulling out of Fort Lauderdale.  For 4 hours it sat off the coast looking like a giant paperweight due to some computer glitch.  The ships only 3 years old, geez.

(The Emerald Princess in better times)

"An hour out of (Fort Lauderdale) our engines quit, (and) we were a floating paperweight for four hours as they tried to repair generator and computer problems," writes one passenger today on a message board at cruise fan site CruiseCritic.com. "Meanwhile ... no (air conditioning), limited lights and cancellation of shows, entertainment, etc. The dinner menu was limited to a few items, and the poor waiters were melting in their uniforms."

And now passengers are going to miss their first stop, Princess Cays, the line's private beach destination in the Bahamas, due the delay.  I hope the passengers at least get some free drinks from this all!

3 places you might want to visit while in Negril!

Some of you might remember our other post about things to do in Jamaica, 3 spots you may not know about in Jamaica, and we figured it's time to run a new one.  This time we're going to focus on attractions you may not know about near Negril.  So many of us hit the resorts and never leave for the week we're there.  And that's no problem!  But if you want to explore a little...

1.  Floyd's Pelican Bar - Parottee Bay, Jamaica 
*note - this place is kinda far from Negril - Google Map

Situated a mile from shore there's nothing like a cold one at the Pelican Bar.  Workers for the bar pick you up on shore and boat you (for about 20 mins) to this old rustic bar that's as famous as the owner himself.  While at the bar you can wade on the sandbars that the bar is built upon.  They have a cook who'll whip you up lunch along with a cold Red Stripe, yeah mon!  

Prices to arrive cost around $15 from Floyd's crew to $80 bucks if you hire you own and once there a lunch (seafoods and chicken) and drinks cost around $15 to $25 US depending on what you order.  You want a Floyd's web site?  Forrrget about it.  Ain't no such thing.  I do have a few more pics however:  Floyd the owner with a customer, Heading to Floyds, and Chilling on the inside.

NEW BONUS VIDEO:  Pelican Bar Video 12.18.2010

2.  Negril Lighthouse - Negril, Jamaica

Built in 1894 this lighthouse has been helping sailors navigate their way around Negril Point safely.  The Lighthouse, located a ways out on the West End Road, past Rick's Cafe, is a 100 foot tall structure and powered by solar energy.  The power source was converted back in 1985, just a decade before it's 100th anniversary.  The Negril landmark still guides ships safely around Jamaica's western edge.  The light can be seen from the far end of the 7 mile beach.

 The lighthouse keeper, Mr. Johnson, will take you for an informal guide around the grounds for a tip of your choosing (I would suggest $20 per person minimum).  Vistors have noted the original log book back to 1899, the original oil lamps and early 1900s phone.

For a few more cool shots check out these:   A far away look at the Lighthouse, An aeiral view, and Negril Lighthouse at dusk.

3.  Rick's Cafe - Negril, Jamaica

 The magic of Rick's!  It's a WELL known spot in Negril for excellent live music, great food and drink, cliff jumping and wrapping up the day with legendary sunsets.  Prepare to pay however, dinner for two plus drinks have been reported to be around $75.  This being said, Rick's cafe is beautiful. The scenery and the color of the water are breathtaking.  Late afternoons Ricks' gets packed as people come to watch the divers jumping and the sunsets. 

A note on the diving, proceed with caution.  People have been hurt jumping from the 50 foot cliffs as they smack the water wrongly.  Who wants to spend the last 4 days of your vacation with a frosty Red Stripe bottle on your tailbone?   More pics:  A jumper prepares for the leap, Bombs away, Looking down on the cliffs, Logo, A sunset at Rick's and One last look at Rick's.

Jesikah Maximus does Jamaica right!

This shoot from 2009 features Jesikah Maximus in Jamaica.  Check out her official site at, Official Page, where this Mexican-American will try to sell you a membership for more photos and videos.  :-D

* as always, click a pic to enlarge

BONUS VIDEO

Wanna swim with the whale sharks in Mexico?

Well, now you can!  Isla Mujeres, Mexico Google Map is home to the largest concentration of whale sharks - the largest fish in the world.  And now you can take a swim with the 50-foot long creatures should you dare.

What are whale sharks?  Well, if you REALLY wanna study up on them check out this site, Whale Sharks on Wiki, or just know that they're big "fish" that are mostly safe to swim with and that they tend to hang out in the warmer waters of the world.  

From mid-May to mid-September, the waters around Isla Mujeres play host to hundreds of migrating whale sharks.  About 100 licensed shark tour companies will be happy to help you jump in the warm waters with one of these big beasts for around $140 per person.  

(Isla Mujeres)

If you do plan on going where to stay?  Isla Mujeres is a calm alternative to the high-rise hustle of Cancun. There's lots of local life (as opposed to tourist compounds) and it sports some wide white beaches and mostly small, one-of-a-kind hotels. Casa Sirena Hotel, Hotel Website, is a delightful six-room boutique hotel with an affable on-site owner and a social atmosphere (the price includes a full breakfast and evening happy hour on the rooftop terrace). Rates range from $105-$125, June through October and get higher November through May which tend to be around $135-$155.

Is Ipanema Beach in Rio De Janeiro the world's sexiest beach?

That's what a lot of people think, let's take a closer look.  Located at the foothills of bonafide beautiful Rio De Janerio, Ipanema for sure is one poplar spot for both locals and tourists alike.  Google Map.  Ipanema means "bad water" in Portuguese and this steams from the big waves that sometimes wash up.

(Ipanema on a slow day)

Where else on the planet do you have mountains cascading down to the sea, interspersed with golden white sand beaches and tropical flora showcasing every vista? Come to Ipanema Beach to grab a bit of samba, a bit of the Brazilian flavor, and to relax among the sweeping Atlantic ocean views.

Back in the 60′s Tom Jobim and Viní­cius de Morais penned the famous lyrics and music to “The Girl from Ipanema” about a girl they saw on this very beach. Though both have passed, the girl and beach still live on.

In the winter the surf can reach 9 feet. The water quality varies with days of light-blue water to a more murky green after heavy rains. Constant swells keep the water clean. The often treacherous beach break regularly forms barrels. 

Well, it seems this beach is sexy enough for 99% of people so why not book a trip to Brazil and find out about the excitement for yourself.

A 25 min show about Jamaica!

 Grab a Red Stripe and enjoy this little documentary about our favorite island, Jamaica!

Nanette Lepore Teams Up With Thompson Hotels For Sexy Staff Uniforms

Your stay at the very stylish Thompson Hotels just got a little more fashionable with Nanette Lepore, a favorite of Blair Waldorf, lending her über-feminine design expertise to new uniforms for Thompson staffers.

(A model for the new Nanette Lepore uniform)

Girly fashion designer Nanette Lepore has designed sexy, body-hugging uniforms for cocktail waitresses at three outdoor lounges and bars of Thompson Hotel properties. Starting last week, the LBDs are being worn by waitresses on the rooftops of New York's Thompson LES and Washington's Donovan House, as well as the Tropicana Pool at L.A.'s Hollywood Roosevelt. 

Got an extra 40k laying around? Book Hef's pad in Vegas!

Here at Vacation Barefoot we tend to blog about sexy places to go as a couple, Jamaica and all things tropical.  Well, today we're going to talk about Vegas (another popular topic) and the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa @ the Palms Casino Resort.

 This "hotel room" (if you can call it that) is 10,000 square feet of ultimate indulgence.  Located one-mile off the Las Vegas strip and designed by Hugh Hefner himself, the two-story, three-bedroom suite includes a number of amenities that one would expect to see in the Playboy mansion.  

 Guests can lounge in the media room, work out in the fully-equipped gym, steam off in the sauna, get a message in the spa treatment room, eskew stairs for a personal glass elevator, around-the-clock butler service, massage and spa rooms, work-out room and poker table, fireplace, three bedrooms,  pop-up plasma TVs, sip on a couple of cocktails in one of the suites' multiple bars and end the night on an 8-foot rotating bed (with ceiling mirrors of course). Plasma TVs are also included in every room.  But the most unique amenity is the jacuzzi pool, which extends outside of the suite and gives a clear view of Sin City's main drag.

The suite cost roughly $10 million to build but the high-rollers can rent it for a small $40,000 a night.  Hey, if you wanna party like the man, you have to spend it like the man.  2009's Playboy Playmate of the year, Ida Ljungqvist, had a photo shoot in the suite, and it's sweet!  

BONUS PIC

(Click on this pic of Ida for the uncensored photo!)

Interactive post: What's the cheapest and most costly you've traveled?

So I was talking to some friends and the topic of air costs came up.  What's the most you've ever paid to fly and what's the cheapest?   Personally, mine ranges from $200 to around $600.   How about you?

This is open for discussion in the comments and I'll put a poll up on the right hand column for a month.

Waterslide runs at Hedo II and Hedo III

File this one under, it's fun sliding into a wet dark tunnel!

Hedo II's slide

Hedo III's slide

AT&T is taking over the WORLD!!!

Well, at least a lot of places.  Starbucks, McDonald's, all those I-Phones...

And now?  AT&T is taking over Hilton Brand Hotel's internet systems!   Looking to improve their solid reputiation for providing quality services (errrhhhmm) Hilton hired AT&T to run the high-speed Internet in its 3,200 hotels in the USA, Canada and Puerto Rico.  The arrangement will put AT&T in charge of Internet services for all of Hilton's brands including Hilton, Waldorf Astoria, Doubletree, Embassy Suites and Homewood Suites.

 A quick Q&A with Hilton's chief technology officer, Rob Webb.  

Q. Will Wi-Fi be free to all Hilton guests? Free to AT&T subscribers? 

A. While it's too early for us to discuss the specifics of the guest/customer access at this time, this relationship with AT&T will enable us to deliver unique benefits to our guests and owners and positions us to be able to meet the evolving needs of guests needs when it comes to Wi-Fi and internet service. We're excited to be working with AT&T and to announce this deal, this will help us deliver a superior internet experience at our hotels.

Q. Can a guest call AT&T at 3 a.m. for support?
A. Yes, through the relationship with AT&T our guests will receive exceptional customer service that will be available 24 hours a day, seven days a week via a dedicated customer service line only for Hilton's guests. This is particularly great for our most frequent-guests because they will have a consistent customer service experience almost anywhere they stay with us.

Here's a fun way to use your I-pod!

Here's a fun way to "listen" to music on your overpriced I-Pod, introducing the "OhMiBod" vibrator!   The vibrator plugs directly into your I-pod and vibrates according to the music playing.  Rhythm and intensity are based on the songs you choose which means a whole lot of planning into your playlist has to take place!

 Priced from $40 for a smaller "wired" version to a $130 bigger "wireless/Bluetooth" version this is surly one I-Pod invention Steve Jobs didn't think of in his creations.

>

Need an I=Pod?  No problem...

 

Apple iPod classic 160 GB Black (7th Generation) NEWEST MODEL.

More summer reggae music for your pleasure...

Summer is in FULL swing!

Wanna jam at home?  Check out this new CD below at Amazon...

Reggae Gold 2010

Monte Carlo from $38 a night!

Get your splash on this summer at Monte Carlo!  They got rooms from $38 a night a pretty cool pool too.  Just remember your SPF 1000 in that hot desert sun.   Offer seems to expire August 31st, 2010.

BONUS LINK:  Monte Carlo Pool Scene

Sexy Sasha at Hedo II! Smooth Girl Magazine rocks...

Ok, so these photos are NOT the best but it's something at least.  :-D  Sasha was at Hedo II in 2009 for Smooth Girl Magazine and the following are the results...

* And as always, remember if you click the pic, it expands!!!

BONUS VIDEO - Video of her shoot!

Are you willing to spend 15 days on a boat for 4 days of Hawaii?

Carnival Cruise line announced two new itineraries recently sailing from Los Angeles to Hawaii.  You spend 15 days on the ship for 4 days of Hawaiian day stops.  Is it worth it?

(Carnival Cruise ship "Imagination" ports off of Key West)

Carnival is betting that the lower prices to get to Hawaii will lure tourists into this special cruise.  You'll be spending 4 days out on the open Pacicic each way to and from the Islands.  Once there you get 4 days of big stops including Hilo, Kahului (Maui), Honolulu, Nāwiliwili (Kaua'i) and Kailua-Kona in that order from the Los Angeles port.

Costs start from around $1,200 per person for the "cheap" rooms and go up to around $2,000 for better rooms with views.   This puts you on 2,124-passenger Carnival's Spirit ship with the first cruise in 2011 from December 2nd to the 17th and in 2012 April 13th to the 28th.   With round trip tickets from LA to Hawaii being around $400 to $500 on average for the extra $700 or so of 15 days of food, room and entertainment that's not bad!

The cruises include obligatory stops in Ensenada, Mexico -- just three hours on the last evening -- to meet federal rules requiring an international stop by non-U.S. flagged (and staffed) ships) cruising American ports.  So check out the deals here:  Carnival.com/Hawaii and you could be hanging 10 before you know it.


Surf One Robert August II Complete Longboard (8.875 x 43.75)

Proposed topless beach in NJ gets the ax!

For those of you who read our first post about another possible topless beach in New Jersey, Asbury Park to go topless?, might be interested to know that the idea was shot down BIG time by local officials.   "There is no intention to change those ordinances," Mayor Ed Johnson said.

(Seaside Park, NJ - nothing to do with anything but it's a pretty NJ beach)

 

It was a good try NJ, better luck next time.  In the mean time there's always Sandy Hook, Sandy Hook review.