By Fred Wright, Jr.

Holiday Luxury — Miami Style
The Marco Island Marriott Resort, Golf Club & Spa near Naples, Florida, marks a US$ 175 million renovation. An over-the-top package for a one-of-a-kind getaway includes a two-bedroom lanai suite, unlimited food and beverage, Cristal champagne, a private chartered jet into Marco Island Executive Airport, a Mercedes convertible rental, personal butler service, and private helicopter and air-boat rides. There’s even a US$ 5,000 gift shop credit, a US$ 10,000 gift certificate to spend at Naples’ upscale shopping district, and lifetime memberships to The Rookery at Marco golf club and the resort’s Balinese-style spa. Price for the seven-night package is US$ 175,000, valid through December 31, 2007. For more information, call Jada Shigley, Marriott vacation planning specialist, at 239-389-6041. For a reservation, go to www.MarcoIslandMarriott.com.

Light Up the Tree
The self-proclaimed tallest living — and that’s the operative word here — Christmas tree of the world is on display in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. The tree reaches 161 feet (49 m) tall, and is decorated with more than 30,000 lights. The grand fir overlooks Lake Coeur d’Alene from the shoreline home of Duane Hagadone, owner of the Coeur d’Alene Golf & Spa Resort. (To put this living tree in perspective, the annual cut tree at Rockefeller Center in New York City averages 75 feet, or 22 meters.) For information about holiday packages at the resort, go to www.cdaresort.com.

Hello, Buenos Aires
Visitors to Buenos Aires, Argentina, now have a new service to call upon to learn about the city from an insider’s perspective. Cicerones de Buenos Aires is a nonprofit organization that helps visitors discover Buenos Aires by pairing them with a trained volunteer tour guide who is native to the city. The guide will show not only the traditional sights, but will also reveal some of the city’s hidden treasures. For more information, go to www.cicerones.org.ar.

Every Dog Has His Day
The folks behind Madame Tussauds New York wax museum are creative, to say the least. In addition to Lassie, the first-ever animal to be immortalized in wax, is the new Bullseye, the recognizable logo dog for Target department stores. The bull terrier that has Target Corporation’s bullseye logo painted around its left eye is on view in a prominent lobby display. In January, Bullseye will move to another spot in the museum. The museum, located on Times Square , is open 365 days a year, and features a number of life-size humans, as well. Recent additions include Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Senator Hillary Clinton. For hours and directions, go to www.nycwax.com.

Pure Air
If traveling leaves you feeling breathless, the Pan Pacific Vancouver hotel now offers a bit of assistance: oxygen dispensers. The oxygen canisters, about the size of a small water bottle, provide approximately six gallons (22.7 l) of oxygen-enriched air. That’s enough for two to three minutes of continuous air flow or 12-15 uses of 20-second bursts of 90-percent oxygen. Studies have shown pure oxygen can be an antidote to a mid-afternoon slump or jet lag. Personal dispensers are available to Pan Pacific guests for US$ 15.95. Refillable canisters are also for sale. For more information about these portable oxygen boosters, go to www.oxia.com. For reservations at the Pan Pacific, check out www.vancouver.panpacific.com.

Hoofin’ it in Belize
What better way to enjoy Belize than from horseback? Banana Bank Lodge (just outside the capital city of Belmopan) is one of Belize’s first equestrian centers, with more than 100 mixed-breed horses. Banana Bank offers an 8-day Trail Blazer package that includes rides through rainforests and along riverside trails. The package includes visits to a butterfly farm and “birding towers” where guests can watch more than 200 species of birds. The cost is US$ 1,280 to US$ 1,780. For more information, go to www.bananabank.com.