08.24.11
Psst?here?s travel tidbit: Francis Ford Coppola?s newest hotel, Palazzo Margherita, an 19th-century palace on a hilltop in Bascilicata, Italy, won't open until late September, but his original trio of properties in Central America are ready to welcome vacationists in early fall, all for almost 50 percent off standard rates. Our idea? Make a trip of it, with stays at all three (La Lancha, in Guatemala, is only a one-hour flight from Turtle Inn, which is a scenic drive along the Southern Highway en route to Blancaneaux). If you?re planning two trips this year, there?ll be Margherita, of course, paired with any of Vacationist?s 17 Italy Week properties, also on sale now.
Blancaneaux Lodge - up to 41% off
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize
It was film director Francis Ford Coppola who put Belize on the jet-setter's map almost two decades ago, when he transformed his 70-acre family retreat in the country's western mountains into Blancaneaux Lodge. And although the family has opened a handful of hotels since then, this property?a collection of 12 cabanas, seven villas, and a cottage set in the jungle of the Maya Mountains?remains the ne plus ultra of Belizean hospitality. Deep in the jungle, it's the setting and the service that draw travelers from around the globe. The staff will prepare picnic lunches for day hikes to the waterfalls, and an at-the-ready crew of Thailand-trained spa staffers awaits back at the hotel... (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Turtle Inn - up to 41% off
Placencia Village, Belize
What makes Turtle Inn, a collection of 17 cottages, eight villas, and three restaurants and two bars stand out? Its location right on the Caribbean Sea, which means that after travelers unpack in one of the hotel's thatched cottages, they'll have plenty of time to explore some of the world's best diving and fishing spots. For even more wildlife spotting, a half-hour boat ride away is the Monkey River, in a primeval jungle that's home to more than 50 species of birds and colonies of howler monkeys, while nearby Placencia gives a taste of the Caribbean circa 1968, with its hippie caf?s and funky guesthouses. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
La Lancha - up to 40% off
Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala
This jungle hotel certainly has pedigree: it's one of Francis Ford Coppola's luxurious Latin American retreats. La Lancha is said to be his favorite?and for good reason. Tucked away in a rainforest filled with howler monkeys and toucans, 10 thatched-roof casitas are decorated with antique Guatemalan furniture and colorful, locally made handicrafts. Thanks to the open-air Guatemalan restaurant and the split-level pool, travelers might imagine that they've come to settle in. But calm Lake Pet?n Itz? is perfect for canoe and kayak excursions, and the bustling island town of Flores is a short lancha trip away. Plus there's historic Tikal?the ideal day trip. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
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