Caribbean resort pitches for gay honeymoons with 'queen' freebie

A resort on the tiny island of Saba, whose tourist board dubs it the "Unspoiled Queen" of the Caribbean, is hoping to cash in on the gay honeymoon business when New York legalizes gay marriage. And the way it's doing it is by offering a wedding present in the form of a free night.

Lots of destinations and hotels have pitched themselves as perfect honeymoon spots for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender couples. But Saba's Queen's Gardens Resort is pulling out all the stops.

RELATED:  NYC hopes for tourism boost from gay marriage law

Its "Queen of New York Hearts" honeymoon special offers a free night and a free breakfast in bed at the luxury resort to any newlyweds with a New York marriage certificate. The offer is valid through Dec. 15, and certificates must be dated on or after July 24, when the new marriage law is scheduled to take effect. And a couple must stay at least four nights.

No discrimination here: Hetero newlyweds are welcome, too.

Meanwhile, the Las Vegas Sun and Associated Press recently reported that Sin City's Convention and Visitors Authority is looking into whether it will market itself as a gay honeymoon destination.

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Popular Atlantis resort launches fall super sale

It's pretty unusual when an upscale resort offers $99 rooms, especially when it's popular Atlantis, which put Paradise Island in the Bahamas on the map for a lot of vacationers. Its marine habitats with sharks, waterpark, casino and multiple other amusements draw Hollywood celebs and star athletes.

Today, Atlantis is announcing a $99-a-night room sale. From Aug. 21-Oct. 31, rooms can be booked for about $150 when taxes, fees and mandatory gratuities are factored in. Booking deadline is July 24, according to the resort. It is not high season, and there is always the chance of a hurricane or tropical storm that time of year. Usual rates for similar rooms start at $280, a spokeswoman says. Other room categories are on sale, too.

Yes, there is fine print. Stays must be Sunday– Wednesday nights (slow times), and only certain rooms are included. Reservations: 800-Atlantis or online at atlantis.com. There's also a summer sale on, with fourth night free, kids' meals free and complimentary breakfast for adults.

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Aria resort in Las Vegas linked to 6 Legionnaire's cases

Six cases of Legionnaire's disease that appear to be linked to stays at Las Vegas' Aria Resort & Casino have been reported, a spokeswoman for the Southern Nevada Health District said Thursday.

Jennifer Sizemore said sampling was conducted at the 4,000-room CityCenter resort after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notified her office of cases found in travelers who all had stayed at Aria. The pneumonia-like disease, which was identified and reached epidemic proportions in 1976 after an American Legion convention in Philadelphia (221 cases resulting in 34 deaths, according to The NewYork Times), is spread by inhaling airborne particles that contain the Legionella bacteria. Contaiminated air conditioning and water sources such as showers can spread the disease.

The Aria press office said Thursday that the resort has sent letters and e-mails to guests who stayed between June 21 to July 4, when tests found elevated levels of Legionella bacteria in several guestrooms. As of Thursday afternoon, no guest nor any of the resort's 7,700 employees had come forward in response to the alert, the Aria press office said. No deaths have been reported, Sizemore said.

Aria has set up a website called ariafacts.com, which contains the letter and details about Legionnaire's, including that it is not spread by person-to-person contact and can be cured with antibiotics.

"Aria has in place a water treatment program and, once the initial tests were received, we immediately implemented a comprehensive abatement effort," Aria says in a statement. "All subsequent tests have come back with no detectable levels of active Legionella. If anyone has further questions, we have representatives standing by at 1-877-326-ARIA (2742)."

Sizemore says the Southern Nevada Health District, which also has an info line at 866-767-5038, "is working with (Aria) on ongoing monitoring. It looks like the situation has been remediated." Sizemore told the Las Vegas Review-Journal that the CDC cases dated only to April of this year; that means so far, no one has come forward saying he or she contracted Legionnaire's during the time the samples showing elevated levels of bacteria were taken.

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This has been a bad week for CityCenter. A study found that the unfinished Harmon hotel tower might collapse during an earthquake, leaving its fate uncertain. MGM has not said whether it will make repairs.

And Desperate Housewives actress Eva Longoria's Eve nightclub in CityCenter's Crystals retail and dining complex just closed temporarily to the public due to financial problems. However, her adjoining Beso restaurant is still open. Here's what the club/restaurant's PR firm just e-mailed me: "Beso Restaurant continues to thrive, and at this time Eve Nightclub will remain open for special occasions and private events during a slight remodel."

Readers, thoughts on multibillion-dollar CityCenter's misfortunes?

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