Wherever you go, the race is on. In politics, we are being entertained by the election and the political debates. Here is Colorado, locals are placing bets on who will be the ski area to open; Loveland or Arapahoe Basin. However, the new season pass wars are by far the best competition.

It started with the Vail Resorts Epic Pass. $579 gets you unlimited, unrestricted access to Vail, Beaver Creek, Breckenridge, Keystone and Heavenly. Not bad.

But the folks at Intrawest refuse to be outdone. The Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus costs $479. It gives you unrestricted access to Winter Park / Mary Jane and Copper, 6 unrestricted days at Steamboat, and free Friday afternoon skiing at Steamboat. Recently, they decided to up the ante. The Rocky Mountain Super Pass Plus includes two days at Whistler! If you want to know how these and other Colorado areas stack up in the ratings, check out the Best of Skiing Articles on Examiner.com

Just in time for the holidays, Paypal and Northwest Airlines have joined forces to offer you a sweet deal on holiday travel.

"Use PayPal to purchase your Northwest Airlines ticket on nwa.com by October 13, 2008 and get $50 cash back on each eligible ticket purchase over $250.* Plus, with each ticket you purchase, you'll receive an entry for a chance to win a $10,000 shopping spree**.

You can get cash back on up to five eligible tickets, so buy tickets for the whole family and save up to $250*! Hurry, offer ends October 13, 2008!"

Personally, I'd rather win 10,000 in cash, but that's just me. Go for it!

So who knows where the economy will be in March? If your outlook is positive, you might want to consider this Pilates Retreat in Costa Rica. It's lead by Alycea Ungaro, New York's Pilates Diva.

Package includes:
8 Nights at Encanta la Vida
(One night in San Jose)
Three Meals Per Day
Shared Accommodations
Pilates Classes Twice Per Day
One Full Body Massage
Costa Rican Airfare
(transportation and transfer
within Costa Rica)

3 Tours of Your Choice:
Horseback Riding
Tree Climbing
Waterfall Rappelling
Animal Sanctuary

Pilates Retreat in Costa Rica with Alycea!
March 13-March 21, 2009
$2200

Space is limited.
Please contact Real Pilates at 212 625-0777
Email: info@realpilatesnyc.com

To quote Jimmy Henrix: After three days in Vegas, "my soul has been psychodelicized." We saw the Beatles Love on Sunday night. Once again, if you want to see this show, I would suggest going for the cheap seats. The actors descend upon the stage through stage hooks, which begin up at the balcony. If you're up there, you get to watch their entire descent.

The Beatles Love, now playing at the Mirage, is a Cirque du Soleil production. As such, it is filled with acrobatic acts that will have you biting your nails. Especially impressive; The half pipe, where they jump over each other before going down the pipe. Gotta' luv the furry boots. Basically, watching Cirque Du Soleil is like reading a romance novel. The stunts are similar, but they have different themes. Fortunately, for Beatles Love, you can enjoy the great music.

Well, the economy is in a serious mess, but you promised your kids that this would be the year that you go to Disney. If you don't want to turn the war in the Middle East into the war at home, here's an idea for budget Disney travel.

The new Mona Lisa Suite Hotel has announced its Grand Opening Introductory Rate of just $99 per night for a one-bedroom suite. The offer includes a deluxe one-bedroom apartment with king-sized bed, living room with sofa bed, fully equipped kitchen and private balcony overlooking the property's spectacular infinity pool and lush Florida landscape. This special offer is available through the end of October. Group bookings of 10 or more one-bedroom suites can reserve room blocks at this rate through the end of the year.

The luxurious 240-room property is conveniently located in the award-winning town of Celebration, Fla., at the intersection of Interstate 4 and U.S. Highway 192. The hotel is minutes from Walt Disney World and within easy driving distance of Universal Studios Florida, Universal Studios City Walk, Universal Studios Islands of Adventure, Sea World of Florida and Orlando Premium Outlets.

The special $99 rate and dynamic packaging can be booked online at www.monalisasuitehotel.com. Room reservations can also be made by calling 407-964-7000.

The special offer is good during several exciting events in the Orlando area, including:

• Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party: Sept. 5-Oct. 31, Disney's Magic Kingdom. Guests are invited to dress in costumes and trick-or-treat through the Magic Kingdom after regular park closing. The boo-free bash includes a parade and fireworks spectacular.

• Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios: Sept. 26-Nov. 1, Universal Studios Orlando. One of the world's largest, most elaborate Halloween celebrations.

• Epcot International Food & Wine Festival: Sept. 26-Nov. 9, Walt Disney World's Epcot. Sip, sample and savor treasures from some of the world's most famous wineries and celebrated chefs.

About the Mona Lisa Suite Hotel

Special on-site amenities include complimentary shuttle service to Walt Disney World theme parks; a 360-degree vanishing-edge pool; high-speed Internet access throughout the hotel; as well as valet parking. Hotel guests also have access to the nearby Celebration Day Spa and Celebration Golf Club.

Guests also enjoy the hotel's art gallery feel created by oversized interpretations of well-known masters' artwork that are showcased on each floor. The paintings have been meticulously recreated by professional artists in China and provide an abundance of color and beauty throughout the hotel. Each room features a hand-painted artist interpretation of the master work, including the property's namesake, Leonardo Da Vinci's Mona Lisa, which sits in dramatic fashion in the hotel lobby.

For guests seeking to minimize their environmental footprint while on vacation, the luxury hotel was constructed to operate in an eco-friendly manner. Environmentally friendly aspects include lighting fixtures equipped with automatic photosensitive controls, as well as dual-flush toilets and low-flow showerheads designed to reduce overall water usage while ensuring adequate water pressure. Guest suites are equipped with energy-saving kitchen appliances and in-suite recycling containers as part of a hotel-wide recycling program.

The hotel uses neighborhood electric vehicles (NEVs) to provide guests complimentary local transportation, and offers preferred parking spaces available for those driving hybrid or electric vehicles. The hotel's 12 tropically landscaped acres use reclaimed water for irrigation.

About Celebration, Florida
Named America's 2007 Dream Town, Celebration, Florida is a planned community created by a real estate division of The Walt Disney Company. The Walt Disney Company commissioned famous architects to create the master plan and to design the buildings. Founded in 1994, Celebration has the flavor of southern American village from the 1930s. About 2,500 homes are clustered around a small, pedestrian-friendly shopping area. Celebration, Florida is often cited as an example of New Urbanism, or neo-traditional town design.

A few thoughts about the Vegas production of Phantom of the Opera. If you're a big fan of the music, as I am, you will probably want to see it. And I think that you should. However, under no circumstances should you pay $160 for your tickets. The $76 seats are just as good, and $76 is what the show is worth.

But don't get me wrong. The three lead characters are spectacular. Anthony Crivello gives a relatively less frightening, but emotionally sympathetic portrayal of the Phantom. Using his impressive vocal range, he takes the audience through a roller coaster of emotions. We are ignited by his passion. We feel his anger. We cry with him when he's sad. As Christine and Raoul, Kristi Holden and Andrew Ragone have a chemistry that can be felt in the balcony. The problem is not with the performers. It's what the Vegas producers decided to do to the script.

Phantom runs 90 minutes, without an intermission. As such, important characterizations have been minimized. The Madame Giry role has been cut to a few lines, and we never realize that Meg Giry, Christine's friend, is her daughter. The explanation of who the Phantom actually is has been reduced to one line. As for the special effects: What can I say? It's Vegas. No real complaints, except for the fact that the occasional bright flashing lights can be blinding.

Phantom is a story of inspiration, passion and unrequited love. It's a story that will break your heart, over and over again. If you see it in Vegas, don't break the piggy bank. Go for the cheap seats.