Part of the reason is vanity, part of the reason is money and we’re not entirely sure what the other reasons are, but lots of places want to attract Hollywood to their backyard.

Panama certainly wants to get in on the action — and announced this week  it will become the host of an international film festival in 2013. (It also plans on being much more involved in the Toronto Film Festival next year.)

Really, it makes sense for Panama to become a film destination. The weather is always nice and you get almost 12 hours of sunlight every day. The rainy season might put a damper on things during the summer, but then again, it’s nice to have a tropical paradise available for filming in the winter.

Also, it’s relatively cheap. Add to it that you might see George Clooney and you’ve got a vacation. So good luck with the new venture Panama. And while you’re searching for a film school to locate there, you may also have to consider offering big time incentives to Hollywood — money seems to be the one thing that always gets its attention.

Panama has now opened a Facebook page for Brazilians to learn about Panama. Yeah, kids are so moving to Tumblr — as the only thing worse than your parents trying to friend you is your parent’s elected officials trying to friend you.

“Our main goal is to promote the beautiful destinations that Panama offers, reinforcing our already strong presence on social networks with specific actions for the Brazilian market and to help expand our audience, making travelers aware of the diversity in tourism that lies within the country,” said Salomon Shamah, Minister of Tourism in Panama.

Americans should be wary, the page is in Portuguese, making it a little more difficult to understand.

None of this, however, changes the fact, we really really really want to go to Panama.

SANDPEARL RESORT www.sandpearl.com*www.facebook.com/ClearwaterFlorida

Facebook users who “like” Sandpearl and post a photo of themselves on property (tagging Sandpearl Resort in their photo), receive 25% off an Ice Cream pedicure at the Spa. (Must be booked on Social Media Day, but can be redeemed on a future date.)

SAN JUAN MARRIOTT www.marriottsanjuan.com* www.facebook.com/sanjuanmarriott @sanjuanmarriott

Keep an eye on the San Juan Marriott’s Facebook page and Twitter feeds for offers throughout the day. The resort will be posting and sharing special “Social Media Day Only” offers such as free upgrades, complimentary drinks and value-added amenities.

ARUBA MARRIOTT RESORT & STELLARIS CASINO www.arubamarriott.com @arubamarriott

Follow @ArubaMarriott on Twitter and on June 30th, tweet the message: “Tweet me with a trip to @ArubaMarriott #SMDay” for an entry in to a drawing for a 3 night/4 day stay for two.

MARRIOTT COSTA RICA COLLECTION www.marriott.com/costarica* www.facebook.com/marriottcostarica

Post a photo of something you find beautiful in Costa Rica (for example, a sunset, a scarlet macaw, zip lining, etc.) Then get your friends to “like” your photo and the photo with the most likes at the end of the day (midnight, EST) will win a free night at your choice of any of the four Costa Rica Resorts.

ST. KITTS MARRIOTT RESORT

www.stkittsmarriott.com * www.facebook.com/stkittsmarriott

On June 30th, visit St. Kitts Marriott’s Facebook page where you can answer the question posted in their status: “Which one of your friends is the most glued to his/her social networks?”  Submit your answer on the resort’s Facebook wall and tag your socially addicted friend to receive a voucher for a 40% discount off a spa treatment at the Emerald Mist Spa.

JW MARRIOTT CANCUN RESORT & SPA  www.jwmarriottcancun.com*www.facebook.com/JWMarriottCancun

and CASA MAGNA MARRIOTT CANCUN RESORT www.casamagnacancun.com * www.facebook.com/casamagnacancun

Facebook users who tag themselves in a specified property photo (which will be announced on the resorts’ Facebook pages) on Social Media Day will be entered to win a three night stay at the resort. Winners will be drawn at random.

The Westin Playa Bonita

Let’s face it: Costa Rica is so, like, yesterday. Sure, Costa Rica is beautiful, exotic and a paradise for avid zip liners, but just like scrunchies and Members Only jackets, all good things must come to an end. Call us prescient, but we’re hedging our bets and going all-in for the Republic of Panama—or just Panama, if you’re tweeting— as the next big destination location.

Why? Because our Magic 8 Ball told us. Also, it has everything you want in a tropical destination: great weather, white sand beaches, sparkling blue waters, and awesome waves for surfing. It’s safe (read: not Mexico), clean, and close, and an affordable getaway if you’re working within a set budget. Plus, it beats a Staycation and you finally get to use your rusty high school Spanish in real-life scenarios. ¡Qué bueno!

When you go, plan a trip around the grand opening of the much anticipated Westin Playa Bonita, the first of its kind to open in Panama. The hotel, touted as a contemporary luxury oasis, is situated on the Pacific Ocean along a pristine, mile-long stretch of golden sand on Playa Bonita (or “pretty beach,” for our non-native speakers) surrounded by a lush tropical rainforest.

Slated for a grand opening this October, The Westin Playa Bonita will feature four bars, three infinity-edge pools, seven restaurants with cuisine ranging from Asian fusion to Latin steak house, and the largest meeting and banquet space—65,000 square feet— in Panama. Accommodations include 611 guest rooms, featuring 64 spacious suites and three deluxe Royale suites, all with ocean or tropical rainforest views.

Take in the views of the Pacific Ocean in the lobby’s floor-to-ceiling windows, or slip away to the chic, open-air VIP lounge on the 19^th floor for a panoramic view of the city skyline. While the hotel is only a 20-minute drive from downtown Panama City, it’s worlds away from the urban noise and nuisance.

If you’re more of a masochist and need more action than the beach can provide, sign up for this year’s Ironman. Scheduled for Sunday, February 12, 2012 in Panama City, the 2012 Ironman 70.3 Panama is expected to draw a large, pain-enduring crowd with athletes from all over the world. Athletes will swim 1.2 miles in the Pacific Ocean within the banks of the Panama Canal, then bike 56 miles across the Bridge of the Americas that connects Central and South America. Adding insult to injury, the Ironmen will then finish the day by running 13.1 miles through the Amador Causeway, a popular and scenic tourist area surrounded by the Pacific Ocean.

Vacation, anyone?

And we love the idea — getting away and then, while you’re there, finding a new way to really, really get away.

That why we love this particular package — and no, we’re not getting payola for saying this, though we welcome anyone to buy a few ads on HTG. The Yoga and Holistic Mayan Healing Retreat, hosted by Ka’ana Boutique Resort in Belize.

First of all, it’s Belize, and the tours alone sound great — crawling through Mayan ruins with an archeologist would be a blast — add to it tranquil mornings and evenings centering yourself while popping your hamstrings makes it that much more of a challenge.

This retreat, which takes place from May 25 to May 30 includes daily sunrise and sunset yoga and healing sessions, pilgrimages to sacred Mayan sites and consult with the last Shaman.

Rosario Panti, the last Mayan Shaman in the region, helped create this program along with Jennifer Findlay, the global vinyasa yoga instructor.

“Ka’ana – Mayan for ‘heavenly place’, will serve as the ideal home for this unique wellness immersion, and we are extremely excited to present such an exclusive and transformational opportunity,” said Findlay, of Core Essence Development.

According to organizers, the program includes:

• Tour of the Mayan City of Xunantunich with a focus on the natural remedies and ancient rituals and spiritual energy of generations past
• Holistic Mayan healing massage and energy work, plus consultation with the last Mayan Shaman in the region
• Pilgrimage to the Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave with prominent archaeologist, Dr. Jaime Awe. Includes hiking through the jungle, swimming into the cave, and crawling through the tunnels of one of the most reserved and protected Mayan sites in the world
• Local culinary tour with Ka’ana’s culinary team
• Customized, outdoor fire-deck dinner and story-telling with an 83-yr old Mayan Chiclero
• Daily breakfast, lunch and dinner utilizing locally sourced ingredients, many from the resort’s own organic garden
• Accommodations in Ka’ana’s main hacienda Balam rooms overlooking the infinity pool, or in the Casita villas tucked under the palms.
• Transfers to and from the International Airport

The program’s costs start at $2850 per person, based on double occupancy.For more information on Ka’ana or to make a reservation, please call 1-877-KAANA21 or visit www.kaanabelize.com.

Think we’re wrong? Check out these photos sent to us on the big weekend.

Next year, I think we should be there — not here (no offense to New Orleans).

Special thanks to the Visit Panama folks who forwarded us these photos.

That’s why Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort and Costa Rica Marriott Hotel are offering discounts on Christmas/New Year’s stays when you book before Dec. 17.

Now these are not the Motel 6 or Red Roof Inn — but when you’re staying at a posh hotel, the experience is like no other.

So here are the details:

Costa Rica Marriott Hotel:

December 8 – 31, 2010: Rates start at $175/night

Los Suenos Marriott Ocean & Golf Resort:

December 8 – 19, 2010: Rates start at $159/night

December 20 – 25, 2010: Rates start at $219/night

Use promotional code ER5

Must book before December 17, 2010

So you could have a white Christmas or a sunny one. The choice is yours.

That creates the dilemma for long haired beach bums around the world: How do you surf in exotic locales without any money?

Well, that’s impossible, but there are some cheaper alternatives. Recently, we got a note from Off The Map Surf, a new travel company in Panama created for surfers with limited budgets. Let’s face it, that’s pretty much most surfers — though there may be a group of corporate executives who surf all the time, but we haven’t run across that group.

Nino Polastre and Francis Debbane of OfftheMapSurf.com

While we haven’t gone to Panama and tried out Off the Map Surf’s packages, we certainly like the idea of putting together a travel package that’s not about touring churches and walking through rain forests (though if you want to do some of those things, this small travel company would arrange it). But really, these trips are about the waves — which are biggest during the rainy season of March through October.

For  $1,000, Off the Map Surf will provide you with a professional multi-lingual guide who will know the area and know the waves — at both popular surfing locations and a few places few people know about. The packages can be customized anyway a person wants.

The basic week-long package provides two days on the beach in Santa Catalina. The next stop is the remote Cambutal, though you’ll stay for the rest of the week in Tonosi, which is about 30 minutes away from the breakers. The package includes accommodations, transportation and three meals a day are included, as well as having a guide on hand. Additional costs such as nightlife, alcohol and requested tours. Airfare to Panama varies but will typically run you around $500.

Francis Debbane, one of the owners of the tour company, told me, “Surfers can be of any skill level.  There is enough variety of waves and spots in Panama to cater to all levels.”

Additionally, if someone wants something added to the trip, Francis is happy to help.

“We offer a very personal tailored service to any type of traveler depending on budget and activity preference,” he said. “Accommodations range from modest residences/hotels to 5 star beach resorts.  The options are endless and I will take into account each traveler’s individual situation and create a custom itinerary catered to them.”

While Panama is the new Costa Rica of Central America, it remains a paradise in the rough. This is one way to see parts of the country you’d never know about any other way. There are the typical tourist traps that Off the Map Surf could take you too — the Panama Canal and other spots, but why go there when you can be on your board, giant waves crashing around you.

Travel, that’s what.

Anna Kramer, a Masters student at the University of Washington, was awarded the Bonderman Travel Fellowship. What does this mean for Anna? Well, she was awarded $20K to travel alone to at least six different countries in two regions of the world over a minimum of eight months. A few requirements, but hey, they’re giving her money and momentum to get going.

While traveling, fellowship recipients can work or loaf, they just need to immerse themselves in the local culture. Apparently, most tend to work and use resources available for inexpensive travel as the airline budget eats a lot of the $20k. But really, being away in a foreign land and working your way through it only enlightens your experience.

Anna is focusing her travels along the Pacific Ocean, with stops along various Asian islands, New Zealand and then up the Central American coast. Kind of a ’round the Pacific tour. Her only hesitation is traveling alone, but a young woman as resourceful as Anna should be fine. Now, we just need her to submit stories to Hipster Travel Guide.

Fellowships and scholarships for travel abroad are out there. It’s up to you to find out how you can apply to pack your bags. If you’re currently in college, check out what is available through your college and any of the organizations of which you’re a member. For those of you not currently enrolled, this is another reason for continuing that education. There’s plenty of on line resources that will tell you what is out there and how to apply.

It’s up to you – either buy the crystal world globe pictured above and let it collect dust or use it to plan your next trip.

First, there was a volcano Pacaya erupting a mere 20 miles outside of the capital of Guatemala City. (Easy Destination Blog noted that no one was hurt during the eruption, though a number of facilities, including the country’s main airport were shut down briefly.)

Then over the weekend, a deadly tropical storm swept across the country dumping tons of water on it, killing more than 100 people, according to the Associated Press.

This, of course calmed all of the remaining ash still floating but helped create sink holes around the nation, giving it more more pockmarks than Edward James Olmos.

Now, there’s even a 330-foot deep one in Guatemala City that looks almost fake.

No one seems too sure what to do. There is a possibility the country could round up GC’s virgins and toss them into the growing sink hole — a method used years ago by the Mayan Indians.

While we wish everyone well, and hope the giant hole gets filled and everything returns to normal — we kind of doubt that’s going to happen. Now, if only Guatemala could find a Silicon Valley or a movie industry — then everything might turn out even better for this little nation.

Photos by horslips5 @ flickr via Creative Commons