Well, if CNN is reporting about it then it MUST be true!  We all try to find out own little way of beating the heat during the summertime.  Some of us try to stay in the shade, we drink cold beverages and some of us even walk around with those battery operated fans.  But some people find that shedding their clothes is the best way to survive the dog days of summer.

Places like The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa in gay Wilton Manors are the perfect venue for just letting it all hang out.  This all male, clothing optional gay resort offers a long list of amenities to its guests including the use of kayaks and bicycles, a 10-man jacuzzi, secure parking, high-speed internet, cable television and the list goes on.

For more information on The Cabanas or their full service European style spa click here or call 866-564-7764.

On Sunday February 27^th, in conjunction with the nationally televised Oscars, The Manors Entertainment Complex hosted the 2^nd Annual Besties Awards, a ceremony recognizing the best of the best local businesses that cater to the gay consumer.

The awards, which are broken down into categories (like The Oscars), offer not only bragging rights for the winners, but a genuine claim to the exceptionally high standards of service that are provided by their businesses.

Over the past five years alone, the continual investments into The Cabanas amenities and services have generated quite a following within the global gay community, resulting in over 70% of their bookings coming from return guests, year after year.  Even through the harsh and extensive economic downfall, The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa has maintained their growth by providing a truly remarkable experience coupled with unprecedented customer service.

Other nominees within the “Best Guesthouse” category included Aragon Inn, Ed Lugo Resort, Orton Terrace, Pineapple Point, The Royal Palms, and The Worthington.

Hosted by Joe Posa (in drag as Joan Rivers) and his equally interesting sidekick, Mikey Verdugo, the ceremony drew in a packed house. The Oscars were displayed live on numerous oversized screens for those in attendance, while The Besties Awards were presented during each commercial break. The classy, red carpet atmosphere, along with the issuance of awards made for a genuinely exciting and equally entertaining evening.

Upon acceptance of their award, John Dorry and Bill Barnish (owners of The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa) thanked the community, their loyal and ever-expanding customer base, and Lary Arnett of Times Ten Creative Marketing Solutions for his outstanding work which has helped them achieve the status of “The Best Guesthouse in Fort Lauderdale.”

“On behalf of Bill, myself and the entire staff at The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa are very grateful and thankful for all of the support we have received over the past 10 years and happily look forward to many more years of offering our guests a joyful and memorable experience at our Guesthouse & Spa”.

For more information, a virtual tour, or to book reservations at the multiple-award-winning Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa, visit them online at www.TheCabanasGuesthouse.com today.  To book by phone or to inquire about special requests, contact The Cabanas by phone at 954.564.7764 or 866.564.7764 (toll-free).  As the Besties Award implies, there isn’t a finer place to stay during your next visit to Gay Fort Lauderdale.

The dog days of summer have come to an end in Gay Fort Lauderdale.  Waiting just around the corner is the winter season, better known as “the real tropical summer” of South Florida.

As the temperatures slowly begin to cool to a comfortable daily average of 78 degrees with a tropical breeze, the excitement at The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa and all of Gay Fort Lauderdale is just beginning to heat up. While we prepare for another season of super-hot guests, rampant relaxation and extreme fun in the sun, it’s our duty to invite you for an unbelievable getaway at Fort Lauderdale’s Premier Gay Guesthouse, Resort and Spa.

The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa is the ONLY all-male guesthouse and spa that offers you luxury amenities, tranquil and relaxing water views, and most importantly, a convenient location to shopping, extensive variety of fine dining and incredible nightlife entertainment.  Located in Wilton Manors, (dubbed as “Gay Mayberry”), The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa is in the heart of Gay Fort Lauderdale and is one of the top gay destinations in the country.  Only The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa allows you access to all the excitement while providing the best in gay resort vacationing in the center of it all.

Fall and Winter are the busiest times of the year, and rooms at The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa tend to fill up quickly, so make your reservation in advance and indulge yourself at South Florida’s premier all male gay resort. The unique privacy offered only at The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa allows for clothing optional, yet it’s still a comfortable environment for those who are less inhibited but still enjoy some eye candy. As our regular guests will tell you, there’s no place quite like The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa.

Besides swimming in The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa’s luxurious saltwater pool, mingling with new friends while sunbathing or sweating it out with the boys in the steam room, make sure to plan an evening out to party in the Gay Mecca of Wilton Manors.  There’s absolutely no telling what fun the night will bring, where you may end up or whom you’ll bring home! Wilton Manors has everything you could ask for including an abundance of hot men, delicious food, packed bars, sexy clubs, non-stop shopping and more.

In addition to the never-ending fun at our resort, there are plenty of spectacular events lined up this season, and there’s surely something to suit everyone’s taste. From the annual Wicked Manors Halloween bash where the half-naked hunks strut through the streets, to the ever popular FLIFF Festival (Fort Lauderdale International Film Festival), you’ll definitely be amazed at just how hot Fort Lauderdale’s gay scene can get.

If you haven’t made plans for Wicked Manors, Wilton Manors’ Halloween Street Party, The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa is the perfect place to trick and treat.  Visitors from all over the country, as well as locals, flock to what can only be described as “The Mardi Gras of South Florida”. Over 10,000 people dress up in extravagant outfits from the extremely creative to those leaving little to the imagination.  It’s one party you don’t want to miss and with a full Halloween moon, you never know what the night can bring…

So whether you come dressed as an angel or a devil, we’ll make sure your room is a little piece of heaven.  If you’re looking for a REAL gay vacation experience that will completely satisfy your senses, then it’s time to check in at The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa. Trust us, you’ll never want to check out!

Don’t wait any longer, make reservations now and enjoy the stay of a lifetime! For more information on our award-winning resort & spa or to book reservations online, visit our website at www.thecabanasguesthouse.com or call us at 954.564.7764 and we’ll be glad to assist you. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Spa Cabanas Special – Heaven on Earth?

Spa Cabanas is The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa exclusive on-site private Day Spa, providing our guests with some of the finest, most unique European style spa treatments available in Fort Lauderdale. Take some time to relax with an exceptional session from one of our highly trained professional Spa Therapists, as you step away from your thoughts at our modern and luxurious refuge.

At Cabanas Spa, relaxation is the name of the game and we offer everything you’ll need to totally pamper yourself!  Drop in after lunch for an hour massage to relieve tension from sore/achy muscles, or spend the afternoon and allow us to completely rejuvenate your mind and body with one of our customized spa packages.  Whether you choose a therapeutic massage that you’ll wish never ended, to body treatments, facials, waxing and nail care that simply can’t be compared to, our designer spa is nothing less than an absolute addiction to our guests.

You owe it to yourself to indulge every once in a while, and Spa Cabanas is surely the ultimate indulgence! In addition to offering the areas finest spa services, our Spa Therapists use only imported Babor© products to achieve the absolute best in quality and results. A few of the exotic services we can spoil you with at Spa Cabanas are:

• Swedish, Deep Tissue, Swe-Thai, Reflexology and Hot Stone Massages
• Anti-Aging and Deep Cleansing Facials
• Scen Tao Organic Exfoliation and Body Wraps
• Gentlemen’s Manicure & Pedicure
• Waxing, Shaving and Body Hair Trimming

SPECIAL OFFER! For a limited time, you can receive a 60 minute massage and a 60 minute facial treatment for only $144.00 ($80 savings from the regular price of $224). Please note that this special offer is only valid if you schedule spa services at the same time reservations are made for a stay at The Cabanas Guesthouse and Spa! Visit the spa section of our website HERE or call us direct at 954.565.2307 for more information.

As the year comes to an end and the tourist season begins in South Florida, The Cabanas Guesthouse & Spa is prepared as ever to host another great year. With that being said, we would like to say “thank you” to all of our wonderful guests. It is you, the customer, who helps make The Cabanas such a great place to stay. We appreciate our customer loyalty and strive to constantly improve their experience. Whether it’s your first or your fifth time staying with us, you can rest assured that we will go above and beyond to provide you with the most comfortable and relaxing stay imaginable. To all of our return guests, we look forward to seeing you all again soon. To our new guests, or those who’ve never stayed with us, take a look at what the others have to say….

“Nice big rooms, friendly staff. Great pools and 24 hour jacuzzi. Good atmosphere.”

“We have stayed at other resorts in Fort Lauderdale but none come close the experience you get at the Cabanas.”

“This was the third time I have stayed at The Cabanas. In between, I’ve stayed at a lot of guest houses in FL. I like to try everywhere, but I always seem to end up back here.”

“I have already booked another trip and a few friends have done so as well. I can’t say enough about this place!!! STAY HERE for sure!!!!”

“Definately will be coming back and definately highly recommed this place, and believe me we are not easily impressed!”

“I love Fort Lauderdale. I love this staff. I love The Cabanas. John, Bill, David – I feel like they have, over the years, evolved from owners/staff to friends. A great feeling that is, too.”

“I’ve stayed in a few other guesthouses since my first time here, but ended up back here again…I think this one is my favorite.”

“The service, standards and whole experience was completely superb!”

“Every time we go we meet interesting people from all over the country and end up spending hours by the pool with new friends. Trust me and stay here – you’ll thank yourself. We’ll be back next year!”

“They made my partner and me feel at home. Any requests were taken care of gladly. It was our first trip to South Florida. It won’t be our last. We have been to other guest houses. This was by far the best experience we have had. The people were friendly and NO ATTITUDE. It seemed like everyone was having fun.
Thank you to John and David Our Hosts. We will definately be back.”

“When we think of planning a vacation to FTL, our first thought is The Cabanas.”

“Once you stay at the Cabanas in Wilton Manors, I guarantee you will never want to stay anywhere else in Fort Lauderdale!”

“The Cabanas is to be highly recommended to the discerning gay traveller. John and his staff run a great ship and take wonderful care of their guests and their comfort.”

“There will be no question as to where I stay on my next visit to Fort Lauderdale — I can’t wait!”

by DAN RENZI

With the end of 2008, I felt a life tune-up was in order. So to celebrate the New Year, I made an appointment at one of South Florida’s newest spas, the Spa at the Cabanas Guesthouse. A collection of little cabanas, as the name implies, The Cabanas Guesthouse is hidden behind a high fence along NE 26th St., but inside the property opens to a lovely view of the Intracoastal Waterway.

The Spa is located in one of the cabanas, tucked into a little corner near the water; owners Norman Lachance and Flash Thunder-Fire (such a combustible name for an expert at achieving peace and serenity!) have remodeled the place from top to bottom, turning it into a refreshing oasis with a breezy allwhite interior. I was expecting it to be nice, but not as nice as this. My treatment had three parts: first I began with a full-body scrub, using Babor’s Aromatic Body & Bath Oils and pure Sea Salt ($85). Norman’s hands are big, and strong; the scrub itself felt like a massage, without ever being too harsh from the salt.

Then he wrapped me in a foil sheet to let the oils soak in, which had me worried when I made the appointment, as I though I would be too twitchy to hold still while I was wrapped up like that. But lying there, listening to the music, the experience was very relaxing. After Norman removed the scrub with a warm towel, he popped on his glasses and swung around a light, to take a look at my face. “Hmmm,” he said, as he looked at my pores.

Yes, there was a lot of work to be done. So he treated me to the Anti-Aging Facial ($129), including a collagen mask and exfoliating treatment. It was, without question, the best facial I have ever had—I wouldn’t let anyone come near my face for the rest of the day, in fear they would touch it and spoil the shimmery softness achieved by Lachance’s magic touch.

Lachance then returned to my back, and applied a Hot Stone Massage ($145), a luxurious massage aided by the placement of warmed, smooth rocks along my back. Again, those hands—those amazing hands!—found each knot, yet he never used too much force. He combined this with a Chakra Balancing Massage, to balance my “energy centers and relax the central nervous system.” Shirley Maclaine would approve.

It was definitely a day of indulgence; but any one of these treatments on their own would have been fantastic. I feel so spoiled now! I can’t wait to go back.

South Florida will host the NFL’s Pro Bowl in 2010 and may also become home of the Gay Games. Somehow, inexplicably, these two stories haven’t been linked by other media outlets. But it’s clear to see that the Pro Bowl could stand as the championship game in a week of Gay Games activities, where the, I don’t know, gayest football players get to go on to play in the Pro Bowl. While I’m dreaming here, I’ll even add a sponsor to help this happen: The gayest players get to play in the Gay Games Pro Bowl brought to you by The Cabanas Gay Guesthouse and Spa.