Your travel inspiration for this week:

• The Bachelor Romantic Escape at Taj Cape Town
• Oh So Chic Package at nine Preferred Hotel Group hotels in Paris
• Most Romantic Package Ever at Seven Stars Resort in Turks and Caicos
• Wedding Package at The Whiteface Lodge
• Upscale Tuscany-Venice Vacation Package at Hotel Bolognese in Venice and La Fattoria degli Usignoli in Tuscany
• Grand Opening Deal at Hotel Caesar Augustus in Capri, Italy

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^{Image courtesy Preferred Hotel Group}

Take the edge off the final throes of winter with some fun in the sun. American Express recently released a list of the top 10 Caribbean locales for spring travel, according to information compiled from consumer data. Reading it, I could practically smell the coconut oil and taste the boat drinks. Among the idyllic destinations are Turks and Caicos, Grand Cayman, Aruba and Montego Bay, Jamaica. Other Caribbean hotspots to make the cut are:

• Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
• Nassau, Bahamas
• St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands
• St. Maarten
• San Juan, Puerto Rico
• Bridgetown, Barbados

And now that you know where to go, here are some tips on where to stay in these popular pieces of paradise:

• For luxury with an eco-friendly slant, Puntacana Resort and Club
• The British Colonial Hilton Nassau in the Bahamian capital is close to shopping and the cruise port. If you're touring à deux, try the romantic Sandals Royal Bahamian.
• The San Juan Marriott Resort & Stellaris Casino, on Condado Beach in Puerto Rico has lighted tennis courts and a tastefully decorated casino on site.
• Half Moon, in Rose Hall Jamaica, near Montego Bay, is a collection of white washed buildings fronting a perfect crescent beach.
• In Barbados, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion's architecture was inspired by a typical Barbadian plantation house.

Don't forget to send a postcard to your winter weary friends!

^{Image courtesy San Juan Marriott Resort and Stellaris Casino}

A trip to Norway let me tick another life experience off the bucket list when I got to spend the night inside a hotel made entirely of snow in the Arctic Circle! The Snow Hotel Kirkenes, about two-hours flying time from Oslo or accessed by Hurtigruten Cruise Lines on the Bergen to Kirkenes route, will stay open till April 20 this year (then it will start to slowly melt away, only to be rebuilt next winter).

Made entirely of snow and ice from the nearby fjord, private guest rooms have carvings of animals on the snowy walls, beds with backboards made of carved ice blocks, and ambient lighting in reds, blues and pinks that makes your snowy boudoir absolutely glow. Romantic, to be sure--although not necessarily conducive to getting too cozy since you'll be ensconced in a mummy-like sleeping bag while you sleep.

Before hitting the sack, guests are given a tutorial on how to stay as warm as possible in the sleeping bags provided by the hotel (they are certified to withstand temperatures as cold as negative 20 degrees celsius below). You're even given access to a range of warm clothing that includes everything from wool socks, hats and gloves to full-face masks--I employed the latter to keep my entire face covered throughout the night, save for my eyes and mouth. So was I cold? Not really. Of course, it could have been warmer--after all, I was surrounded by snow. But reindeer skins under the soft bedding and a sauna just outside the hotel's frozen door allowed for plenty of ways to stay warm.

More Icy Lodgings:

• Ice Hotel in Quebec
• Ice Hotel in Sweden

^{Image courtesy Sergio Ortiz}

What a race! Tens of thousands of votes in the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards have been tallied after readers voted for their favorite hotels and resorts among finalists in four categories. Competition was fierce, and many great properties were represented. During the voting process, some irregularities were discovered. About.com's technical team worked hard to address them, and I am confident the final, squeaky-clean results accurately reflect reader sentiment. So, without further ado, here are the winners of the 2011 Readers' Choice Awards for Hotels and Resorts.

Most Romantic Hotel or Resort: Seven Stars Resort, on Grace Bay in Turks & Caicos, is this year's winner of Most Romantic Resort. Readers rave about this resort's location, on a beautiful white sandy Caribbean beach next to the Princess Alexandra National Park marine sanctuary, with shopping and dining a short walk away. See the final tally.

Best All-Inclusive Resort (North America / Caribbean): What's it like to stay in the Poconos at the all-inclusive Woodloch Pines Resort? It's been described as a "Dirty Dancing meets Disney" family camp, a "cruise on land." Owned and operated by the Kiesendahl Family since 1958, guests rave about the impeccable hospitality and the seemingly unending list of activities scheduled year-round. See the final tally.

Best Hotel or Resort Kids' Program: Azulitos, the Kids' program at Azul Sensatori in Mexico's Riviera Maya, took top honors in this category of Best Hotel or Resort Kids' Program. Kids as young as six months up to 12 years have rooms designed for their entertainment. Guests cite the Fisher Price-themed program, which lets kids check out a wide selection of toys (even beach toys) to play with every day during their stay. See the final tally.

Best Hotel Loyalty Program: Guests showed the Marriott Rewards program plenty of loyalty this year. Perks like free Internet access, guaranteed room types, and room upgrades are available at the second level of membership, and even new members enjoy late check out times. Adding in redemption opportunities at Ritz-Carlton Hotels resonated with members. See the final tally.

^{Image courtesy Seven Stars Resort}