Mandarin Oriental Hotels Launch Learning Vacations

Published: March 10, 2009 / LuxuryTravelMagazine.com

Mandarin Oriental properties are scheduling learning vacations. The Mandarin Oriental, San Francisco, introduces the new "Science Comes Alive" package with the newly opened California Academy of Sciences. The academy in Golden Gate Park is a museum with a research and educational center, an aquarium, a planetarium, a natural history museum and a four-story rain forest. The package, which includes two tickets to the academy, is valid until Dec. 31 with rates beginning at $370.

The Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya in Mexico is offering a "2009 Wellness Yoga Retreat," a four-day holistic program featuring guided meditations, yoga classes and yogic diet and nutrition sessions. The program is scheduled for March 26 to 29, May 28 to 31 and June 25 to 28. Leading the retreat is Yoga Instructor Rishi Bharadwaj, a native of India who has been teaching yoga for more than 15 years. The retreat begins on Thursday evening with a welcome dinner and opportunity to meet with Bharadwaj and fellow guests. Throughout the weekend, guests will participate in Asana and Pranayama yoga sessions, diet and nutrition classes, quiet time for meditations, group discussions and bask in the luxurious accommodation at Mexico's most sophisticated resort. The "Wellness Yoga Retreat" includes a three-night stay, Yogic breakfast daily and one group dinner, choice of one spa treatment, morning and evening yoga sessions, daily meditations, diet and nutrition classes, daily fitness activities, roundtrip airport transfers and complimentary use the steam, sauna and Vitality Pool. Rates are $2,465 single occupancy and $3,340 double occupancy.

The Mandarin Oriental, Miami, is launching a "voluntourism" program at Everglades National Park in which guests can help preserve the UNESCO World Heritage site. The "Miami Everglades" package includes a day trip to Everglades National Park where guests can participate in tree planting, recycling projects and exotic plant removal programs. The "Miami Everglades" package includes two nights accommodations, American breakfast daily, the day Trip to Everglades National Park and hybrid rental car for a day. The Everglades visit includes a volunteer mission from 9:30 a.m. to noon, a box lunch from the hotel at noon, and a tour of the park from 1 to 3 p.m. Rates are from $978 from through April 11. From April 12 through May 23, and Oct. 1, through Dec. 15, the rate starts at $798. From May 24 through Sept. 30, rates are from $698. For more information, call 800-526 6566 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com.