They really don't need to stimulate interest in Vancouver this winter, but we're just not going to ask any questions. Tourism Vancouver is giving away "airfare for two to Vancouver from any major North American airport, 3 nights at a four-star downtown Vancouver hotel including breakfast, and tickets to a Vancouver Victory Ceremony, the Men’s Qualifying and Final Alpine Skiing event, the Men’s Bronze Medal Ice Hockey Event, and the Closing Ceremony." They say it's all worth almost 10 grand. And that's just the Gold Prize; there's more!

You'll find all the details here: tourismvancouver.com/visitors/olympicsweepstakes.

(Photo: Cypress Mountain, courtesy of Tourism Vancouver)

Located on Brickell Key, an exclusive enclave separated from the city by a short causeway, the Mandarin Oriental Miami is full of contradictions: the decor is resolutely Asian contemporary in a city where anything but Miami modern is a radical departure. And the private (pseudo-)beach is pure zen, but both the downtown core and the port of Miami are just around the corner. Here's another one: their latest offer combines the indulgent luxury of the hotel itself with a voluntourism expedition to Everglades National Park. Help clean up the park by day, relax at the hotel by night, and you're rewarded with a discounted rate. $350US buys you two nights and a hybrid rental car for one day. The offer is valid through February 28, 2010.

305-913-8288; www.mandarinoriental.com/miami

We’ve always found Toronto’s Drake Hotel to be a bit of a charming enigma. It’s now the focal point of it’s own little QWW food and nightlife enclave (we’ve heard the phrase “hitting the Drake district” more than once), so one might fairly assume that any expansion the brand pursues in the area will be eating and drinking-related, right? Well, that’s what we thought last year before they opened the General Store. This quirky (and appropriately enigmatic) little gift boutique had us scratching our heads at first, but we figured it was all for fun and covered it in our List. Turns out maybe it wasn’t just all for fun; they just opened a second one, this time on the Posh Yonge strip through Rosedale famous for the “five thieves” high-end food shops. So we’re back to scratching our heads (hipsters don’t shop in Rosedale, do they?), but we’re mostly just glad the Drake folks keep finding new ways to surprise us.

1011 Yonge Street, drakegeneralstore.ca

We’ve been working on our upcoming Chicago city guide — look for it in the Destinations section in January — and in our search for the best Second City hotels and restos and activities, we came across a couple of interesting announcements. First, there’s a new 264,000-square-foot wing at the Art Institute designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Renzo Piano that’s now housing an impressive collection of modern European painting and sculpture. Second: The Elysian, a new high-end residential-style hotel offering big rooms with terraces and fireplaces, is about to open its doors. We’ll have to make time for both on our next fact-finding mission to the Windy City.

After spending $60 million dollars and 14 months on a major renovation, Manhattan’s classic Surrey Hotel just reopened its doors in Upper East Side. Located on 76^th Street, right between Madison and Fifth Avenues, The Surrey is situated at the nexus of culture and fashion. If you’re not too busy checking out masterpieces of American art at the Whitney Museum — the Biennial, which features young American talent, starts in March 2010 — you can always admire the property’s collection of works made by Jenny Holzer, William Kentridge, Richard Serra and many more. The Surrey also boasts two impressive restaurants: Daniel Boulud’s now-famous Café Boulud, and the new Bar Pleiades, inspired by Coco Chanel and Art Deco design from the 1930s. They’re kicking things off with a grand opening offer, which includes a third night free with every two nights booked from now until March 31, 2010.

We can’t wait to try out the new Hoshinoya Kyoto, a beautiful ryokan overlooking the Ooigawa River. The ryokan is a traditional Japanese inn, and this one is filled with tatami-matted rooms, a library lounge and two gardens sitting next to the Arashiyama Mountain. It also offers easy access to the famous temples of the former imperial capital of Japan. Clearly, accommodations are a no-brainer, but what about dining? Solved: from December 1st to March 31st, 2010, visitors will have a special opportunity to experience the city’s incomparable food scene with a select list of restaurants offering special rates for lunch and dinner. Of course, the traditional evening tea ceremony is a must. And adding to the list of winter attractions, Kyoto is also bringing the city’s lights inside its famous temples with lanterns exhibited in December and March. For more info, the Kyoto Tourism Council has a selection of luxury accommodations, restaurants and local attractions on its website.

Music festivals are a summer thing, right? Well, mostly. We’ve heard that Whitehorse’s annual Frostbite Festival makes up for what it's lacking in enticing branding with smokin’ hot performances. Of course, that’s still second hand information; we’ve yet to muster the courage to visit the Yukon in February. But the concept has a certain logic. The denizens of the frozen white north likely get a little stir crazy in the winter, suggesting they might also get a little, well, crazy crazy when they get the chance. It is, after all, dark a lot.  If, like us, you’re not quite ready to commit to truly extreme latitudes, try Prince George’s Coldsnap festival. It’s only an hour-long Jazz flight from Vancouver and this year’s lineup includes Joel Plaskett and the Great Lake Swimmers. Pack your Canada Goose and your dancin’ shoes! The 2010 festival runs from January 22 to January 30. coldsnapfestival.com

We’re pretty excited about the whole Airworld concept here, but it’s not much fun if we’re all sleeping in the departures lounge. That’s why the latest crop of airport hotels is so encouraging. YUL-based as we are, we’re not likely check in any time soon, but we still think the recently unveiled Marriott at Trudeau, the chain’s first full-service property in Quebec, deserves a mention for its proximity (a few minutes) to the US departures terminal. The 279-room hotel has room-to-gate access to the airport, so you don’t have to worry about missing your flight. And just to be on the safe side, choose from 5-10-20 minute restaurant menu offered in the Great Room. Whether you want to spend a few hours at the bar, relax in the lobby with an espresso from espressamente illy – the brand’s first coffee bar in Canada – or have a quick swim in the hotel’s indoor pool, it will convince you Airworld might just be habitable. marriott.com

UNESCO World Heritage sites are chosen for historical and cultural significance, not convenience or budget friendliness. That’s why some of them are best experienced with the help of World Heritage Tours, who’ve just announced their 2010 slate of trips. This Vancouver-based travel agency specializes in organizing small groups to visit landmarks in Asia, the Middle East, Africa and South America. Whether you’re intent on discovering Balkans, wandering the Silk Road or traversing the whole of the subcontinent from north to south, consider enlisting the services of their experienced guides, many of whom are natives of the areas where you’ll be travelling. Check out World Heritage Tours’ website for more info about their upcoming group trips. worldheritagetours.com

We were a little slow on the uptake with this one, but our excuse is the almost universal ignorance on our side of the pond about this beautiful resort. Capella opened Castlemartyr two years ago (perfect timing, right?), but had to shutter it after only a year. Then Carlyle re-opened it this past May to wholly inadequate fanfare. The standout feature of this lush property swaddled in formal gardens is the 18th century manor house. Well, that and the 24,400-square-foot spa with floor-to-ceiling windows. And don't miss the nearby 800-year-old castle. castlemartyrresort.ie