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<\/a>(L-R) Karen Salkin and Laura Saul starting their paintings, which is explained in the Lo Art section below. Photo by Lilly O’Brien.<\/p><\/div>\n
It was hosted by Peta Phipps, the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Caribbean Living <\/em>and Swanky Retreats<\/em>, and is someone I had known a few years ago, so it was a nice surprise to see her again.<\/p>\n The Travel Lounge was held in the Juniper Garden of the 1 Hotel in West Hollywood. I hadn\u2019t been there since the opening soiree, so it was fun to pay a return visit to the venue.<\/p>\n The entire event was just what my contributing writer, Laura, and I needed at that moment. It was all so relaxing, with nice and upbeat people at every turn. Laura said, \u201cI was really impressed by the venue and<\/em> the event! The lounge felt like a peaceful oasis in the heart of chaotic Sunset Blvd.\u201d<\/p>\n She was especially happy that \u201cthe moment we stepped into the garden, we were greeted by a shelf filled with delicious, refreshing young coconuts, (filled with their water, of course,) each one thoughtfully branded with the event\u2019s name on the shell.\u201d<\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n As always-down-to-snack gals, we were thrilled to see a very colorful charcuterie-and-specialty-crackers spread right away. Laura said it was all \u201celegant, and featured some exotic and unusual items I had never encountered before!\u201d I feel the same\u2014I wish had asked a member of the lovely hotel personnel what some of the veggies were. We sat right down and enjoyed a snack while chatting with one of the sponsors. It was the perfect way to start-off our Travel Lounge journey.<\/p>\n Here are the highlights of what we learned about there:<\/p>\n Casa de Campo. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Casa de Campo<\/strong>\u2014This luxurious Dominican Republic resort was gifting certificates for complimentary three-night stays with them. We talked to their reps for quite awhile, and, as Laura tells us, \u201clearned that the Dominican Republic is a sought-after location for film and television productions, thanks to its diverse landscapes\u2014from mountains and beaches to lush jungles. Popular filming spots include Santo Domingo, Puerto Plata, and Casa de Campo, all offering breathtaking scenery and production-friendly infrastructure. The country also provides tax incentives, making it an appealing choice for filmmakers. With my new knowledge, I feel that, with a skilled local workforce and modern production facilities, the Dominican Republic ensures a smooth and professional filming experience.\u201d Hmm\u2014maybe I can shoot my YouTube Channel videos there! (An interesting addendum for us is that the very next day, we met a woman who\u2019s from<\/em> there, and when we told her about the certs, she actually gasped when we said they\u2019re for Casa de Campo! She told us that it\u2019s \u201cso gorgeous\u201d there! We felt like stars!)\u00a0www.casadecampo.com.do<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul, as is the one at the top of this article.<\/p><\/div>\n My Flight Advisor<\/strong>\u2014I love traveling, but absolutely detest making my flight reservations. So I understand some people\u2019s need for a private jet travel advisor. The only time I\u2019ve ever been on private flights was when I was doing my TV show, and was occasionally flown to destinations to appear in sports tournaments. (Trust me\u2014I was the worst one, but they needed a few funny girls back then to balance out the very serious and competitive guys!) so, just talking<\/em> to the guys from this advisory company made me long for those days. The celebs at this lounge received a super-generous gift card for their private services! Lucky them. www.myflightadvisor.com<\/a><\/p>\n The mini paintings of Karen Salkin, on the left, and Laura Saul, on the right. Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Lo Art<\/strong>\u2014This was the most unique thing we have ever run into at a gifting suite, and we adored it. Artist Lilly O\u2019Brien, (whose paintings are all varied and beautiful,) had set-up tables with supplies for us to paint our own art on what Laura dubbed \u201cthe most adorable little canvases!\u201d Lilly had thought of absolutely everything<\/em>\u2014in addition to the canvases, there were mini easels, paints, (of course,) new brushes, jars of water to rinse them in, palettes on which to mix our colors, and even artists\u2019 smocks!!!\u00a0Doing the work made me be the relaxed I\u2019ve ever been at an event, so this was perhaps the greatest gift ever\u2014the gift of peace<\/em>! Laura said, \u201cLilly was a wonderful instructor\u2014warm, encouraging, and able to make everyone feel that their unique painting style was exactly right.\u201d Uh, excuse me, pal\u2014my<\/em> signature house scene is<\/em> exactly right! www.loartla.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Ekouaer<\/strong>\u2014This loungewear company was gifting all the guests a bag with a set of their silk teddy bear PJs, a couple of\u00a0 adorable dog onesies, and one of their famous \u201cTeddy\u201d friends in a sealed box, so you didn\u2019t know which one of the half dozen pals you get. Such an adorbs concept. The Ekouaer reps for this lounge were a trio of adorable young ladies from Hong Kong. I was thrilled to meet them because I was recently confused when the US Open mentioned a guy from there who called it his \u201ccountry,\u201d which has surprised me, thinking he was incorrect. The girls explained that I am<\/em> correct\u2014as they said, Hong Kong is a \u201cregion of China!,\u201d not its own country. Where better to learn something like that than The Travel Lounge?! www.ekouaer.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Karen Salkin.<\/p><\/div>\n Nanlite<\/strong>\u2014This lighting company was gifting their Lumo light which, as techie Laura explains,\u00a0is \u201ca portable, foldable ring light designed for smartphone users. It attaches easily to phones and provides soft even lighting for selfies, video calls, vlogging, and other mobile content. The light offers adjustable brightness and color temperature to suit different environments. It also functions as a phone grip or stand, making it convenient for shooting on the go. Compact and stylish, it’s built for people who want professional-looking lighting in a small, easy-to-carry package.\u201d I may just start using one when I use my phone camera as a mirror<\/em>!\u00a0www.nanlite.com<\/a><\/p>\n Photo by Laura Saul.<\/p><\/div>\n The Admiral\u2019s Golf Club by Palmer Advantage<\/strong>\u2014In addition to the guests getting to do a little putting on a practice strip right on-site, the company was gifting a year membership\u00a0to what Laura tells us is \u201can exclusive network of private golf\u00a0clubs, as well as public and resort courses. And they all have special member-only benefits while\u00a0also\u00a0providing privileges at almost two hundred private golf, city, and social clubs across North America for both leisure and business.\u201d www.palmeradvantage.com<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a><\/a>