Group Travel Scoop - Groople.com

GroopVine 2.0 Above and Beyond

It’s here!

GroopVine part duex. GroopVine platinum edition. Or just, GroopVine 2.0. What we are talking about is simply a new and improved GroopVine.

The GroopVine design team has responded to your feedback and its new design is a direct result of listening to what you want. The new GroopVine does more. The new GroopVine is sleeker. The new GroopVine is more intuitive and easy to use. The new GroopVine is what you’ve been looking for.

GroopVine Old and New

Before we say more on how the GroopVine has evolved, I’ll remind you what it’s always done. GroopVine is the only place to plan, share, and book group travel online. GroopVine is the group travel planning site with a social networking twist. GroopVine has a community of groups planning trips who allow their trips to be public so other groups can view their page for ideas.

GroopVine is a place where you can come together with your guests be they friends or colleagues to compressively book and plan group trips. Book with Groople’s web-standard group booking engine that directly integrates with GroopVine.

Plan with GroopVine tools like the discussion forum or wiki sections that can be edited by anyone in the group. Get details about your destinations with GroopVine tools like weather, destination specific RSS feeds, google searches, and pictures / video uploads. Plan in style with trip pages that have customizable colors, personal picture banners, trip icons, and sections where you can paste in HTML gadgets like a YouTube video or a web gadget.

And now introducing the highlights of GroopVine 2.0

The Wizard – The wizard helps a new user create their trip page with ease. The wizard walks you through each aspect of setting up your trip page, step-by-step. The coolest gizmo is the preview image that shows the look of your page as you build it. The last page of the wizard allows the creator of the trip to set a series of “permissions” that will allow or won’t allow access by other users to certain portions of the trip page. In its most liberal permission form, GroopVine allows all guests of the trip page to edit almost any of the content- watch out Wikipedia. After completing the wizard your new trip page is loaded exactly as you specified in the wizard.

The Demo – The demo is not actually one demo of GroopVine, its several mini-demos that demonstrate how to use it. The demo page is set up like a FAQ with common “how-to” topics and answers. When you click on a topic, up pops a video demonstration explaining that feature of GroopVine.

The bottom line is GroopVine is now undoubtedly the most powerful user-friendly group travel planning site on the net. If you hear a faint murmur, that’s us telling our friends to go check out GroopVine…

Relax and Shout - Spa Vacation Advice and Recommendations

Life is hectic out there. It’s a busy crazy world. We’re always going, going, going...gone. Take a break! How does a spa vacation sound?

Just like anything in life you’re going to spend your money on...be sure to do your homework before you take your spa vacation. We can give you a head start here. We have some advice and recommendations regarding the spa you pick for your next spa vacation.

Spa Vacation Advice and Tips

• Be sure to know what kind of spa you’re getting into. A spa is not a spa is not a spa. Some spas are basic two-room facilities that offer minimal services while others offer enormous palace like conditions and an array of services. Some spas offer services over and beyond what you might think is pampering. Services like lectures, yoga, or structured workouts.

• Be sure to know what kind of day you’re getting into. Spa days come in as many colors as the rainbow so to speak. Different spas offer different packages. Drill into the specific amenities of the spa you’re thinking of going to. Many spas encourage you to stay longer than your scheduled appointment by letting you do such things as a nice relaxing swim or trip to the sauna before or after your treatment.

• Find a spa with something extra. Look for extras like exercise equipment or aromatherapy rooms. This includes asking about extras with the service. Asking something like, “does the pedicure include a foot massage?” At some spas a facial may include a head massage at others it won’t.

Spa Vacation Destination Recommendations

Tall Grass Spa
They say: "So close to Denver, so far away from everyday cares, TallGrass is the perfect retreat. Relax and unwind in our beautiful Great Room as you anticipate our full service menu of luxurious spa treatments, complemented by a hair salon, boutique and the private Sage Room for parties and meetings"

We say: In beautiful mountain surroundings, you will find inner beauty at this spa.  A day spa close to Denver, yet so far away from daily cares.  We recommend this spa for birthdays or other special occasion celebrations.

10000 waves    
They say: "Ten Thousand Waves is a unique mountain spa resort near Santa Fe, New Mexico that feels like a Japanese onsen. We're primarily a large, beautiful day spa, but for those who plan ahead, we're the best destination spa they've ever experienced. Just a short walk through the trees from the baths and treatment areas are thirteen hotel suites." 

We say: Ten Thousand Waves is great for an hour or for an entire week.  A Japanese influence is found throughout from the flowing waters, rock gardens, outdoor spas and steam rooms to the architecture.  We recommend this spa for a destination spa vacation a little different from the ordinary.

Ritz Carlton at Lake Las Vegas 
They Say: “Imagine a world where personal well-being is the only thing that matters. The Ritz-Carlton Spa®, Lake Las Vegas is a sanctuary of serenity, peace and tranquility where a guest’s well-being is the highest priority. Desert and Tuscan-inspired treatments address the effects of the high desert sun, while refreshing Healing Waters, including whirlpools, cool plunge pools, saunas and steam rooms, pamper and rejuvenate”

We say: An unexpected desert oasis. A sparkling lake with a gleaming white beach just 17 miles from the Las Vegas Strip. The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Las Vegas surprises travelers by combining the best of the desert with lush grounds and a romantic, Tuscan-inspired, setting. How about spending exciting nights experience full tilt Las Vegas and your days relaxing in elite style.  So close together yet worlds apart.  We recommend this spa for small groups of friends or couples who yearn for exciting nights and relaxing days.

A Ho! Ho! Ho! Po Po Poll! When to start with Holiday Decorations?

Every year it seems begins the hot debate about when is the proper time for retailers to put up holiday decorations and start playing holiday music? Many of our regular reader-travelers already know that from city to city it isn't different...the holiday season seems to begin earlier each year.

So we'd like to know what you think? Do you like your holiday cheer earlier and earlier? When is the proper time to start the fun?

Take a second and click an answer on our fun little poll and we can see what the world of group travel thinks of holiday decoration timing!

Opinion Polls & Market Research

Group Travel Spotlight: Florida Beaches

Florida Dreamin’ on such a winter day.

The need around my house for the extra heat provided by a space heater recently convinced me of the fact that winter is here. The increase of turtle necks and hot chocolate also make the point. We still need to get you thinking about group travel destinations even though it’s cold. So what’s better than suggesting a place that is warm!

Moreover, what’s a better distraction at a cold time like this than thinking of the beach. And when it comes to beaches and America, on one does it better than Florida. In the continental US, Florida is the place to go to enjoy the beach.

An interesting travel culture icon is the annual "Dr. Beach" top ten American beach list. The exact "science" behind the list is a trademarked secret but it must be very technical, he is "Dr. Beach" after all. The Tampa Tribune-Times said of Dr. Beach, " Leatherman's list of America's Best Beaches has become to seashore what the Oscar is to actors and movies." Florida’s beaches perennially dominate the list. In his 2007 list Florida has three of the top ten beaches in the United States.

In honor of Dr Stephen Leatherman’s (Dr. Beach) top ten list we dedicate this portion of the group travel spotlight to the Florida beaches that made the list: Caladesi Island State Park in Dunedin, Lighthouse Point Park in Daytona Beach, and Siesta Beach in Sarasota.

Florida’s Top Group Travel Beaches

Caladesi Island State Park, Dunedin, FL- this place is one of the few completely natural islands along Florida’s Gulf Coast. You can only get to it by private boat or ferry from Honeymoon Island State Park. The beach is unique because of its combination of calm crystal clear waters and pristine setting. The park surrounding the beach is teaming with over 300 species of birds and the water itself is home to the spectacular site of jumping dolphins.

Lighthouse Point Park, Daytona Beach, FL- located on the north side of Ponce Inlet this gorgeous place offers spectacular views of the beach and surrounding areas from an old lighthouse. The lighthouse point beach is an oasis amid a very loud Daytona urban clamor. A short drive to west is scenic Lake Ashby Park, which offers primitive camping

Siesta Beach, Sarasota, FL- Siesta beach could be home to the whitest, plushest sand in the world. It is called Siesta because that’s what people do there! Siesta. It is all so peaceful you’ll be lulled into a most enjoyable afternoon nap / relaxation. In Siesta Village there is the interesting Sunday tradition, the Siesta Key Drum Circle. Where visitors become family and the rhythm of drums, bongos, and maracas fill the air