Leave Your Baggage at Home
In This Issue
Upcoming Events
Visit The Getaway Girl Online
Purchase the Books
12 Days 'til Christmas Winners
The Getaway Girl on National TV
Join Getaway Girl Connect
Leave Your Baggage at Home Tees
Leave Your Baggage at Home Trademarked
Submit Your Girls Getaway

Upcoming Events

January 15-18
Girls Getaway to Austin
With its informal slogan "Keep Austin Weird," we are so excited about our trip to the Live Music Capital of the World.  Our first stop will be the Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort & Spa (www.LostPines.Hyatt.com) for some rest and relaxation before the weekend, and then we head back to the city where The Driskill Hotel (www.DriskillHotel.com) will be our headquarters.
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January 29
Par and Poker Celebrity Challenge for Charity's Greenside Gathering, Tampa

Just days before the Super Bowl XLIII, join The Getaway Girl™ at the complimentary Greenside Gathering Networking Tent during the golf portion of the Par and Poker Celebrity Challenge for Charity at TPC Tampa Bay from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The gathering will bring executives and business professionals from all over the Central Florida area together. Networkers will be able to watch celebrities play the 18th green while mingling and making great business contacts. Everyone is encouraged to visit the Par and Poker Taste of Tampa, which features delicious delicacies from 10 Tampa Bay restaurants!  You MUST RSVP at
www.parandpoker.com.
par and poker 
 
February 7
Gasparilla Pirate Fest, Tampa
Ask any Tampa resident and they will tell you that Gasparilla means boats, pirates, parades, concerts, merriment and more.  The name and foundation of Tampa's traditional Gasparilla Pirate Fest come from legendary pirate Jose Gaspar, "last of the Buccaneers," who terrorized the coastal waters of West Florida during the late 18th and early 19th century. For more information, visit www.gasparillapiratefest.com.
 
February 13-16
Girls Getaway to Nashville
One more research trip to go and the Girls Getaway Guide to Nashville will be on its way to the printer.  Nicknamed Nashvegas for all of its "bling," Nashville is one of my favorite cities and I cannot wait to go back.
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March 12-15
Girls Getaway to Key West
After all of our Getaway Girl fun at Fantasy Fest, it is time to head back down to America's only Caribbean island for some fun in the Florida sun.
 
March 20-22
Girls Getaway to Jackson, MS
Since 1982, the Sweet Potato Queen herself, author Jill Conner Browne, has led a group of Sweet Potato Queen-ites in the Jackson St. Paddy's Day Parade.  Their one-of-a-kind outfits come with enhanced chests and butts and wouldn't be complete without their big red wigs.  Sounds like too much fun!  
 
March 27-April 5
Florida Film Festival, Orlando

Cannot make it to Sundance or Cannes?  Join us in Orlando as independent and international films are paired with fine cuisine and wine at the 19th annual Florida Film Festival.  Accredited by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, the festival welcomes more than 25,000 guests each year, playing host to more than 100 visiting directors, producers, and award-winning talent. 
 
May 15-17
Girls Ranch Getaway for Old Friends/New Friends Week
For some of us, a Girls Getaway isn't just about shopping and spas.  To celebrate Old Friends/New Friends week, I am planning a Girls Ranch Getaway to a 5,000-acre working cattle ranch in Central Florida.  Get your boots on and saddle up for this unforgettable weekend.

June 5-7
MEGA Book Marketing Conference, Orlando
Chicken Soup for the Soul co-creator Mark Victor Hansen is hosting another wonderful event in Orlando.  For more information, visit https://mvhansen.infusionsoft.com/go/MBook/a746/.
 
July 1-5
Girls Getaway to Montana, Livingston, MT
Overlooking the magnificent Absaroka Mountains of Southwest Montana, the Flatpenny Inn will play host to a fabulous girls getaway weekend on 20 private acres.  Just 23 miles from the Bozeman Airport and close to Yellowstone, this Inn is perfect for a summer getaway.  All transportation, meals and a daily four-mile hike are included.  This weekend will host the Livingston Roundup Rodeo and hundreds of professional cowboys will inundate this charming town.  Limited to six girls. 
 
Email us at
[email protected] if you are interested in joining us at any of the above-mentioned events! 
Join Our Mailing List
Visit The Getaway GirlOnline:
www.Twitter.com/GetawayGirl
 
 
Where To Purchase Books
www.GirlsGetawayGuide.net
www.Amazon.com
Barnes & Noble (select stores)
Cat's On Main, Wauchula 
Gift Basket Boutique, Lakeland
Highlands Art League, Sebring
Key West Art Bar, Key West
Peppers of Key West, Key West
Red Geranium, Winter Haven
Redhead Lounge Boutique, Orlando
Shou'Ture, Winter Park
Urban Think! Bookstore, Orlando
 

12 Days 'til Christmas Winners

The Girls Getaway Guide is pleased to announce the winners from The Getaway Girl's™ second annual "12 Days 'til Christmas" holiday promotion.  In an effort to help all girls beat the holiday madness and Leave Your Baggage at Home�, the Girls Getaway Guide hosted a countdown to the big day.  Nearly 600 people visited the Girls Getaway Guide website and signed up to win almost $7,000 in fabulous prizes.  The winners were selected on each of the 12 business days leading up to Christmas starting Dec. 8-23, with the Grand Prize selected on Dec. 24.  Winners include:
 
Dec. 8: Gaylord Palms Resort
4 tickets to ICE!, Value: $100
www.GaylordHotels.com/gaylord-palms/
Winner: Kate Bruce of Jacksonville, FL
 
Dec. 9: 
Zou Zou Boutique
Shopping Gift Card, Value: $100
www.ZouZouBoutique.com
Winner: Silvia Rodriguez of Miami, FL
 
Dec. 10: 
Emeril's Tchoup Chop
Tasting Dinner & Wine for 2, Value: $200
www.emerils.com
Winner: Jennifer Nelis of Orlando, FL
 
Dec. 11: 
The Ritz-Carlton, Grande Lakes
On Property, Guided Eco-Tour for Two on Shingle Creek, Value: $200
www.RitzCarlton.com
Winner: Laura Nelson of Brighton, MA
 
Dec. 12: Hampton Inn & Suites Lake Buena Vista
Three day/two night stay, Value: $250
www.OrlandoSLBVSuites.hamptoninn.com
Winner: Lisa Ballesteros of Temple Terrace, FL
 
Dec. 15: 
Blue Tree Resort
Three day/two night stay in 2-bedroom villa, Value: $350 www.BlueTreeOrlando.com
Winner: Careen Krapf of Oviedo, FL
 
Dec. 16: 
Orlando Premium Outlets & Marriott Village
Two night stay at Marriott Village, $50 shopping spree and VIP gift bag, Value: $500
www.PremiumOutlets.com/Orlando
Winner: Elisha Ellis of Brooklyn, NY
 
Dec. 17: 
Regal Sun Resort
Three day/two night stay for 2 with breakfast & MurderWatch Mystery Dinner Show tickets,
Value: $600
www.RegalSunResort.com
Winner: Ivonne Cobo of Sebring, FL
 
Dec. 18: 
Baccarat/Lalique at Prime Outlets International Orlando
Frivole Butterfly Necklace made of lead crystal on a silver chain, topaz in color, Value: $625
www.PrimeOutlets.com
Winner: Angela Lamson of Savannah, GA
 
Dec. 19: 
Omni Orlando Resort at Championsgate
Deluxe Resort Accommodations for 2 & breakfast each morning, Value: $658
www.OmniOrlandoResort.com
Winner: Anissa Bradley of Riverview, FL
 
Dec. 22: 
Crowne Plaza Key West - La Concha
Girls Just Want to Have Fun Vacation Package. Two nights stay, a two-hour Wind & Wine Sunset Sail, breakfast for two, two drinks tickets, Value: $795
www.LaConchaKeyWest.com
Winner: Allison Sferrazza of Melbourne, FL
 
Dec. 23: 
Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort
Three day/two night stay, Value: $900
www.SwanDolphin.com
Winner: Stephanie Grinmanis of Melbourne, FL

Bonus Day and Grand Prize
 
Dec. 24: Ocean Key Resort & Spa
Three day/two night stay in Oceanview Boutique Suite, 2 spa treatments, breakfast for 2 each day, Value: $1,500
www.OceanKey.com
Winner: Shanna Elsberry of Windermere, FL

Thank you to all of the participating businesses for making helping make the 12 Days 'til Christmas a fabulous success!

News From The Getaway Girl™
Greetings!
 
Happy New Year!  I hope you had a wonderful holiday season.  We are busy planning some fantastic getaways and promotions for 2009.  Speaking of getaways, travel experts say 2009 is the year of the travel deal.  So where is the best travel deal for this year?  I'll give you a hint...the capital is Reykjavik.  For the answer, visit my blog (http://GirlsGetawayGuide.BlogSpot.com).   

Please email your 2009 travel ideas and questions to [email protected]

The Getaway Girl on National TV
Daytime - I was thrilled appear on the nationally-syndicated morning show, Daytime, on Dec. 4 show.  Daytime is taped in Tampa and is syndicated in 20 markets nationwide.  To 
watch the interview, click on the image below.
daytime photo
 
Daily Buzz -
On Dec. 29, I appeared on the Daily Buzz TV show.  The Daily Buzz is a nationally syndicated morning news program and is one of the fastest growing syndicated shows in America.  It is currently carried in 148 markets, encompasses 39% of American TV audiences and is broadcast every weekday morning.  Stay tuned for the clip in next month's issue.

daily buzzcropped

Join Getaway Girl Connect  
 GetawayGirlConnect.com is a new social networking site for female travelers.  It provides "girls on the go" an opportunity to connect and network with other women travelers and exchange travel ideas, experiences, information, photos, videos, trip information, and destination feedback.
 
Why Was Getaway Girl Connect Formed?
To provide a forum for both leisure and business women travelers to post profiles, share their stories, profiles and videos and make the world of female travel more open and connected. 
 
What Is the Benefit of Joining Getaway Girl Connect?
Women travelers everywhere will be able to keep up with friends, upload travel photos, share travel-related links and videos, and learn more about other women travelers they meet.  Getaway Girl Connect members are also able to contact and network with women in their destination city for information about the destination and advice on things to do, where to stay, where to eat, where to shop, and what to see during their trip.
 
How Do I Join the Network?
Joining the network is very simple.  Just go to www.GetawayGirlConnect.com and sign up to create your very own profile.  It takes just a few minutes and is not difficult at all.  Once you have created your profile, you can invite your friends to join as well.
 
Is There a Fee To Join Getaway Girl Connect?
There is no fee to join.  It is a free service available to all "girls on the go."
 
What Else Can I Do at Getaway Girl Connect?
Once you have created your profile, you can upload music, photos, videos, as well as start a discussion and add a blog post.

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Leave Your Baggage at Home� Crystallized Fashion Tee
Grab Your Girlfriends and Go (in style)!  Announcing The Getaway Girl's™ newest, "must-have" custom shirt, which combines the brilliance of Swarovski crystals, rhinestones and studs and captures the popular phrase "Leave Your Baggage at Home�".  Wear it on your next girls' getaway, to make a fashion statement or simply as a reminder to leave it all behind! 
 
The shirt comes in black, pink or white and is available in S, M, L, XL.  Retail price = $38.  Call or email for bulk discounts and wholesale prices.  Click on the image below to order.
 

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Leave Your Baggage at Home� Trademarked
 
It is confirmed!  The tag line Leave Your Baggage at Home� is now a registered trademark and property of The Getaway Girl™.  Stay tuned for more Leave Your Baggage at Home� merchandise.
Submit Your Girl Getaway Photos
 
Thank you to Nadene Grossman of Key West for submitting this photo of her (pictured in middle) with Janine and Kathy at Austin City Limits Music Festival in Austin, TX.  Nadene reports: "I have been to Austin a few times for Austin City Limits.  We actually end up spending most our time in the Park for the fest, but we did get to explore a bit this past September.  Sixth Street is lined with bars and night life, but it was the places 'off' the strip that were most fun!   We enjoyed Stubb's BBQ and went to a really cool place called MoMo's, which is a great late night music venue."

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Please send us some of your favorite Girls Getaway photos by emailing them to [email protected] with names, location and a description of your getaway. 
Thanks for reading. I hope you have a fabulous 2009!
 
Sincerely,

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Casey Wohl, Author/The Getaway Girl
Girls Getaway Guide series