It had been so long since I had visited San Francisco that, when Gail and I decided to go there last fall, it felt almost like planning for a visit to a new place. The occasion for our getaway--beyond reacquainting ourselves with the Bay Area, which my younger son, Andrew, and his family had been calling home for about six months--was a Thanksgiving get-together that also included my son, Michael, and his girlfriend, who joined us from Montana.

Maybe you know that the ABC Islands of the Netherlands Antilles--a self-governed entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands--are so named for the alphabetical order of the three main islands: Aruba, Bonaire, and Curaçao (pronounced "CURE-a-sow"). But did you know that each island has its own distinct personality, cultural feel, and topography? As I discovered on a recent visit, Aruba is a beach-bum's paradise, Bonaire is a world-renowned dive destination, and Curaçao is colorful, quirky, and culturally rich. And though Dutch is the official language of all three, most locals also speak Spanish, English, and a local dialect called Papiamento, a combination of Dutch, Spanish, Portuguese, and Afrikaans.

Some travel the globe for history and culture, others in pursuit of the perfect beach, and still others for the joy of food and wine. Then there are those of us who know the sublime pleasure of sinking into an aromatherapy bath, succumbing to a massage with an ocean view, or having an "aahhh" moment with a body scrub made from sensuous local ingredients.

These vacation options were brought to our attention by inside sources and reliable friends in the travel business. Hideaways has not inspected them, but we've heard good things and believe they might be of interest. Call Hideaways Travel Services (800-843-4433) to arrange your stay at any of these getaways.

Come along with us as we showcase a few brief staff and ambassador reports from hideaway-style places we've experienced recently. Some we loved and might invite to become members of The Hideaways Collection^®, while others we might have found less than impressive--in either case, we think you'll enjoy the insight.