Virgin America Airfare Sale- Fly now until 3/10/10

Virgin America just kicked off a big airfare sale yesterday. Buy tickets by midnight 11/17.

There are some great rates. Round trip Boston to LAX only $210 plus tax. Virgin flies into LAX, San Diego, Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Orange County (Santa Ana, California).

You get the sale prices with only a 3 day advance purchare, so you could come here as early as Tuesday all the way to 3/10.

From Virgin America's site:
Fare Rules & Restrictions
* All Main Cabin fares are one-way and require a 3-day advance purchase. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Tickets must be purchased by 11:59pm 11.17.09.

Travel must occur between 10.13.09 and 03.10.10. Blackout dates are 11.25.09, 11.28.09 to 11.30.09, 12.17.09, 12.18.09, 12.23.09, 12.24.09, 12.26.09, 12.30.09, 01.03.10, 02.12.10 and 02.15.10. Seats are limited, subject to availability, and may not be available on all flights..."

For Virgin America's site: Click HEre

So if you have always wanted to vacation at a clothing optional resort now is the perfect time. Give us, The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa a call at 800-786-6938.

In December and January excluding the holidays, we have our best rates of the year.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

Be our friend on Facebook at http://facebook.com/terracottainn

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Tripadvisor's Holiday Hotel Hideouts to shake the season's stress

Tripadvisor just reported their 10 holiday hotel hideouts for shaking the season's stress. They picked independent properties and smaller hotels, which was nice. Too bad they didn't get really brave and pick a clothing optional or nudist resort like ours.

As everyone who has ever been to a clothing optional or nudist resort knows, the best nude hotels really help you de-stress fast. As guests all say, 2 days at Terra Cotta Inn is like a week anywhere else for de-stessing. And a week here feels like a month 2 weeks away anywhere else. You truly are in a different, happy world at Terra Cotta Inn.

Here's the Tripadvisor's story:


"TRIPADVISOR TOUTS TEN HOLIDAY HOTEL HIDEOUTS TO SHAKE THE SEASON'S STRESS
"Go/No Go Index" Helps Travelers Escape the Holiday Rush by Digging Up Off-the-Beaten-Path Alternatives to Larger, Overrun Hotels

..."With the craziness of the holiday season nigh, travelers seeking a quiet retreat from the madness need look no further: TripAdvisor site data has revealed undiscovered hotel havens for the holiday season. These hidden-gem properties are among the most popular on TripAdvisor.com, larger and busier — counterparts. Travelers may want to ... head straight for the "Go" hotels for more obscure but still highly-rated hotel escapes — (hopefully with nary a nagging mother-in-law in sight)."

For the full press release click here

Tripadvisor.com has the right idea. I don't really like Conde Nast Traveler Magazine that much as it profiles the same boring big chain hotels in different parts of the world all the time. True, sometimes they profile independents, but not that often.

Whereas, tripadvisor knows in the travel industry that bigger does not mean better.

Last year, tripadvisor.com profiled the 10 best clothing optional resorts in the world, and they picked Terra Cotta Inn as one of them.

But, for example, when they profile the best value hotels in Palm Springs, they completely ignored our resort, whereas everyone else in town knows we are one of the best values in Palm Springs. Even Chris Elliott the National Geographic Traveler and MSNBC travel reporter reported we are a bargain.

It's still hard in the travel industry for the "mainstream" travel industry to include nudist and clothing optional resorts. Even here in Palm Springs, Terra Cotta has one of the highest occupancy rates of ALL hotels in town, yet our tourism board never mentions us to the press as one of the most popular of ALL hotels in town because they consider us a specialty niche hotel. They don't consider us as regular boutique resort where people go nude sunbathing which is what we are.

Our tourism board only tells the press about us if they ask for information about nudist resorts. Instead, we should be mentioned with textile hotels whenever the press comes to town.

But that is another battle for me to fight. And it will be an uphill battle. I am a past president of the Palm Springs Chamber of Commerce and I still have not changed their ways.

And I want tripadvisor.com to know, our clothing optional resort, The Terra Cotta Inn competes very well with mainstream hotels. Remember, we used to be ranked #3 of ALL hotels in Palm Springs on the tripadvisor Palm Springs hotel ranking page until you pulled us out of that category and put us in with bed and breakfasts which we are not one.

So if you want the perfect hotel hideout to de-stress this season, think clothing optional. Think Terra Cotta Inn.

Now is the time to try something different and fun. Give us a call at 800-786-6938.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Only a few rooms available at Terra Cotta Inn this weekend November 13 & 14

This has been a pretty good year for us here at The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa located in Palm Springs, California the sunniest city in the US. We have had guests from around the world staying with us.

Sadly, we have also received more cancellations this year than ever before. We got a few cancellations for this weekend Nov 13 & 14..

You are more than welcome to book both the Friday and Sat November 13 & 14 or just the Sat Nov 14th.

The weather is absolutely perfect. We have the best weather in the whole US. We will be in the low 80's all weekend long and nice and sunny!

And the weather is supposed to be great all next week too.

So if you have always wanted to vacation at a clothing optional resort now is the perfect time. Give us a call at 800-786-6938.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Alaska Airlines has a December pre Holiday airfare sale

Come to Palm Springs this December and beat the holiday rush. Alaska Airlines has a pre-holidays sale. You must buy tickets by midnight Friday, November 13th.

Palm Springs is the perfect place to do your Christmas shopping. Desert Hills discount outlet mall is only 20 minutes away from our resort. Their site is http://www.premiumoutlets.com/outlets/outlet.asp?id=6 They have over 300 stores in thatoutlet mall. Our guests love it. You will too.

Here's the information from Alaska Airlines:

"Pre Holiday Sale Wind Down Before the Whirlwind Begins

We put some of our best destinations on sale in the first part of December so you can treat yourself to a pre-holiday escape.

Now is the time to wind down before the holidays sneak up on you.

Seats are limited and may not be available on all flights on all days so book now for the best selection of flights. Additional restrictions apply, see below for details....

Fare Rules: Purchase tickets by November 13, 2009. Travel is valid through December 17, 2009.

Click Here for Alaska Airlines site

In December and January, we have our best room rates of the year. On Monday through Thursday, stay 1 night, the 2nd is half priced. Or if you are staying 1 week take an additional $100 off our already discounted weekly rates.

So this December, you can come to Palm Springs, nude sunbathe all day long and shop in the evenings. You get an airfare sale, deals at the outlet mall, and room sale at Terra Cotta Inn. It doesn't get much better than this.

Palm Springs, California is the sunniest city in the US. Now is the ideal time to take a fun vacation before the holidays.

Never been to a clothing optional resort before? No problem!

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

So if you want a fun vacation, now is the perfect time to vacation at a clothing optional resort. Give us, The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa a call at 800-786-6938 (toll free US and Canada).

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

Friend us on facebook at http://facebook.com/terracottainn

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Nudism is starting to embrace social media

I just got back from the AANR West Board of directors meeting. I am the pr chair. AANR West started a twitter account in August. We are now going to start a Facebook account. The boards aim it to embrace social media as much as possible so that members and potential guests of nudist resorts can contact us as easily as possible.

The NY Times just had an article on businesses using Facebook. Here it is:

"Business owner, you might want to friend Facebook.

Identify a short list of goals before you begin.

Show some personality in your page.

Don't shill. Use your page to engage-and trust that sales will follow.

Use Facebook data to analyze your customer demographics.

A growing number of businesses are making Facebook an indispensable part of hanging out their shingles. Small businesses are using it to find new customers, build online communities of fans and dig into gold mines of demographic information.

“You need to be where your customers are and your prospective customers are,” said Clara Shih, author of “The Facebook Era” (Pearson Education, 2009). “And with 300 million people on Facebook, and still growing, that’s increasingly where your audience is for a lot of products and services.”

...Facebook offers an array of tools and networks, and it’s easy to wander down too many paths. Ms. Shih recommends that newcomers start by asking themselves a simple question: What is your basic objective? Is it getting more customers in the door? Building brand awareness? Creating a venue for customer support? Once you have set your goal, you can strategize accordingly.


...You can enliven your page with photos, comments and useful information. As you grow more comfortable, you can add videos or business applications. Flaunt your personality. The page of an ice cream parlor should feel different than that of a funeral parlor. “The pages that are most successful,” said Tim Kendall, the director of monetization at Facebook, “are the ones that really replicate the personality of the business.”

Aim at Potential Customers Only

...“I’d be out of business if I didn’t have Facebook,” Mr. Meyer said. “Especially with this economy, I need to stretch each marketing dollar as much as I possibly can.”

Facebook enables small businesses to engage in targeted marketing that they only could have dreamed about a few years ago. Facebook users fill out profiles with information like hometown, employer, religious beliefs, interests, education and favorite books, movies and TV shows — all of which can help advertisers deliver messages to specific demographic slices.

...“Be patient with it,” Mr. Nelson advised. “People are not going to flock to your social media site overnight. Technology is about the network effect. It takes time for those connections to build.”

For the full article Click here

And if you have suggestions on how AANR West can better reach out to people, feel free calling me at 800-786-6938 or e-mailing me at tom@sunnyfun.com

Tom Mulhall
Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort,
Palm Springs, CA
http://sunnyfun.com

Follow Terra Cotta Inn on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

Follow AANR WEST on twitter at http://twitter.com/aanrwest

US government must be more welcoming to foreign tourists

Probably close to 25% of our business comes from guests who do not live in the US. They are mainly Canadians, Brits, and Australians. Although we do get other Europeans, Africans, Asians, etc.

Canadians say US immigration is pretty good especially since they clear it in Canada. However, all other guests always complain about US immigration, and how they are the most unwelcoming people and how hard it is to travel to the US.

Europeans always say if it wasn't for vacationing at our resort, The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa, they would never come back for a vacation in the US again.

This is really sad and it translates into keeping away overseas visitors.

Tourism is one of the biggest industries in the US. It helps the US balance of trade as tourists spend money in the US. Yet, the federal government makes it so hard for tourists to vacation in America.

A new survey shows interest is up in the US, but travel is not. Here it is:
|
"New Survey: Interest in America Grows, Fails to Translate into More Visitors

Concerns about ‘Fortress America’ Keeping Overseas Arrivals Down

Travel Industry Calls for Public-Private Solutions to Spur Inbound Travel
New Survey: Interest in America Grows, Fails to Translate into More Visitors

Washington, DC – November 2009 – Roger Dow, president and CEO of the U.S. Travel Association, issued the following statement Friday (November 6) on the Country Brand Index (CBI) released by FutureBrand, in conjunction with Weber Shandwick’s Global Travel & Lifestyle Practice. The index revealed that the United States is the world’s top country brand for the first time in the fifth annual CBI, rising from the third spot in 2008.

“Perceptions of the United States are on the rise - a tribute to President Obama and the people of this great country. But if interest in the United States is growing, then policymakers should ask themselves why it is not resulting in greater overseas travel to our country. According to the Department of Commerce, August was the 10th straight month in which international travel spending in the United States declined. And 2009 will be the eighth straight year in which overseas arrivals fell short of pre-9/11 visitors to our country.

“According to the Country Brand Index report, the United States ranks #1 in brand image but remains in the bottom half of countries for ‘ease of travel’ to and within the country.

... It’s time for an entry process that is the envy of the world in its use of technology and efficient screening. And it’s time to welcome people to our shores by passing the Travel Promotion Act and promoting America as a premier travel destination.

“Our industry can create jobs and strengthen America’s image in the world. The onus is on policymakers to work with this industry, tap into the global demand and welcome millions of new visitors to our great country.”

For the full survey Click here

It is sad, but foreign EVERY guest except for Canadians complain about how hard it is to vacation in the US. And our guests love our resort.

Our government has to wake up and stop destroying the foreign tourism market.

So no matter where in the world you are, you deserve a fun vacation.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

For more information about our resort, the Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa, visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Or give us a call at 800-786-6938.

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Chris Elliott on MSNBC mentions a vacation at Terra Cotta Inn, Palm Springs is a bargain

"5 reasons to bare it all on your next vacation

...why would you still want to consider baring everything on your next vacation?

First a warning: A clothing-optional vacation isn’t for everyone. For example, when I posted Schuttauf’s interview on my blog, I illustrated it with what I thought was an appropriate photo of four unclothed women running into the Baltic. The picture only showed their uncovered derrieres, but the outcry from some of my readers was loud. They demanded I remove the “not-safe-for-work” image, and because I love my readers, I did. (Even if they’re prudes.)

And by way of full disclosure, no, I haven’t taken a nakation. But I’m open to it.

Here are a few reasons you might consider vacationing in the buff.

It’s not what you think
There are so many misconceptions about vacationing sans clothing, it would take an entire article to address them. But let me clear up just a few. Nudists are not perverts, and their resorts — at least the ones represented by AANR — are not seedy...

It’ll open your mind
Take it from someone whose neighbors were nudists: Going clothes-free can be an enlightening experience. I only mention this because many of us are looking for a different perspective when we’re on vacation, and removing our clothes can certainly offer that.

It’s a good time
“Nude recreation is fun,” says AANR’s Schuttauf. “Anyone who has ever gone skinny-dipping or as a kid romped through the back yard sprinkler in their birthday suit knows.” Fact is, most of the mainstream media coverage of nude recreation skips over this important point. Instead, we’re fed a lot of titillating nonsense — lists like the “Top 5 naked events” and “Top 5 nude beaches” that leave many of us firmly convinced that all nudists are hedonists...

It’s a deal
The entire travel industry is on sale, and nude resorts are no exception. For example, the Terra Cotta Inn in Palm Springs, Calif., was offering a two-day nude sunbathing special for as little as $149 a night per couple, as I wrote this. That’s $20 a night off the normal price.

...Put differently, you might pay less for your nakation than your vacation.

It’s easy to pack
You can blame Air New Zealand for this idea, since it came up with the clever ad campaigns featuring flight attendants in body paint. But packing for a clothing-optional vacation is so easy and you won’t ever have to worry about additional luggage fees. That’s a compelling argument when your carrier wants to charge $15 per bag — and more on some flights..."

Ready to strip down on your next vacation? While it’s true that you could save a couple of bucks on baggage fees and hotel rates, and that it definitely will broaden your horizons, allow me to add just one piece of advice: Try it before you book a whole week. Visit a clothing-optional club — many offer affordable day passes — and see how it feels.

If you like it, have a nakation.

If you don’t, you can join the rest of us prudes — yeah, I guess I’m probably one of them — and keep your clothes on."

For the full article click here

Chris Elliott is a travel reporter for MSNBC and the ombudman for National Geographic Traveler.

I have always been telling readers that our resort, The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa is the best value resort in Palm Springs. And now Chris Elliott agrees by mentioning us. Yes, we are a fantastic value which is one of the reasons why we are so popular.

For more information about our resort, the Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa, visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Or give us a call at 800-786-6938.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

PS I invited Chris to take a nakation with us. Are you coming Chris? Drop me an e-mail or call me at 800-786-6938. We answer the phones from 8am-10pm PST.

Come To The Terra Cotta Inn, Palm Springs this week in sunny Palm Springs

Last week, stupid weather.com said Palm Springs, CA was going to be in the mid 70's this week. And what was out temperature today? 86F!!! What is it predicted to be tomorrow? 86F!!!

When I was the president of the Palm Springs chamber of commerce, we used to joke that the Florida chamber of commerce must pay off Weather.com so that they would ALWAYS predict worse weather for Palm Springs. They are NEVER right. Either they say it is going to rain and their isn't a cloud in the sky or they say we are 1o degrees colder than we are in the spring summer or fall.

You see Palm Springs is the sunniest city in the US. It is a nudists dream vacation destination. Whereas Florida is the rainiest state in the US. People on vacation crave sunshine, not rain, thus Palm Springs is real popular. And so is our resort. As the ONLY nudist vacation destination in Palm Springs, we have couples from around the world stay here. We are not just a weekend destination like most places. Our repeat guests love their vacation with us.

This week we are about 75% booked all week long. We have a few rooms left this week and weekend. Come join us in the sunshine.

Give us a call at 800-786-6938 for more information or to make a reservation. We answer the phones from 8am-10 pm PST.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

Two rooms available at Terra Cotta Inn this weekend November 6 & 7

This has been a pretty good year for us here at The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa located in Palm Springs, California the sunniest city in the US. We have had guests from around the world staying with us.

Sadly, we have also received more cancellations this year than ever before. We got two cancellations for this weekend.

You are more than welcome to book both the Friday and Sat November 6 & 7th or just the Sat Nov 7th. We also just have 4 rooms left on Sunday and are about 75% booked the rest of the week.

The weather is absolutely perfect. We have the best weather in the whole US. We will be in the low to mid 80's all weekend long and nice and sunny!

And the weather is supposed to be great all next week too.

So if you have always wanted to vacation at a clothing optional resort now is the perfect time. Give us a call at 800-786-6938.

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!

American Airlines sale to Palm Springs ends soon - Good for flying in Nov, Dec, and Jan

American Airlines is having a big airfare sale for November, December, and January. Including Holidays!!!

CLICK HERE FOR AMERICAN AIRLINES SALE PAGE

The page says sale ends soon, so book SOON!

Never been to a clothing optional resort before? No problem!

We are the most mainstream nudist resort in the US and perfect for couples trying topless or nude sunbathing for the first time.

So if you want a fun vacation, now is the perfect time to vacation at a clothing optional resort. Give us, The Terra Cotta Inn clothing optional resort and spa a call at 800-786-6938 (toll free US and Canada).

Visit our site at http://sunnyfun.com

Follow us on twitter at http://twitter.com/nudist_resorts

Friend us on facebook at http://facebook.com/terracottainn

We hope to see you soon in sunny Palm Springs!