By Camilo Alfaro

Every once in a while, we all feel the need to get away. Wonderful sunny destinations such as Jamaica, Cabo, the Virgin Islands, Fiji or Bocas del Toro, Panama instantly come to mind. These days, booking an airline ticket is easier than ever, but flying takes the fun out of a spontaneous weekend getaway. Long lines, security measures and flight delays can turn a happy 48-hour getaway into a nightmare.

Instead, jump into the luxury of the 2008 Jaguar XJ Super V8 that will surely enlighten your weekend escape. Forget about the airport limo and cut loose in the most beautiful city in the world: sweet home Chicago. You will find the best restaurants, bars, shopping and lodging in our great metropolis without the headache of baggage claim drama.

Be carefree knowing Jaguar has earned the top position in the 2007 J.D. Powers and Associates customer service index study which measures customers’ satisfaction with dealer service. Let your mind relax while sitting in the comfortable Connolly heated, leather seats. The redesigned seats and the extended wheelbase of the Super V8 allows for increased rear passenger legroom. Back seat passengers feel like royalty with 6.5-inch rear DVD displays and fold-down picnic tables that accommodate anything from a laptop to a snack. The center dash has an easy to use 7-inch touch screen LCD navigation system. I quickly enter our Chicago weekend destination: the award-winning Peninsula Hotel at 108 East Superior St .

Warm feelings spark turning the ignition, and the Jaguar’s almighty 400 horsepower supercharged 4.2-liter AJ-V8 engine comes to life with a fierce growl escaping the dual exhaust pipes. Driving, the engine is smooth and flexes its muscles at a moments notice with 413 pound-feet of neck-snapping torque. Accelerate to 60 mph from a dead stop in just 5.0 seconds, mostly due to the increased power to weight ratio. The complete body structure is made of aluminum, making it 180 pounds lighter than the previous model. Lighter also means improved fuel economy, braking, comfort and handling.

Exiting at Michigan Avenue, cheerful holiday lights reflect off the shapely body of the car. New for 2008 are redesigned new front bumper, grill, side vents, rear aero spoiler and rear bumper. The impressive full-width signature side blade adds an assertive and bold styling, immediately catching the eye of the five-star Peninsula Hotel valet team.

Step into a world of extravagance of the 339-luxury room Peninsula Hotel, named the Number One Hotel in North America by Conde Nast Traveler. Just like the Jaguar, the Peninsula is all business when it comes to luxury. Check-in is as smooth as the ride down from Evanston. Elegantly decorated rooms with fine traditional furniture and features a spacious, marble bathroom. Large windows showcase breathtaking views of the magnificent mile. Addressing every detail, from cotton swabs to your own personalized fax machine. I called the front desk for some extra ice (even though the room is already stocked with a small bucket of ice), and they brought it up in less than two minutes; that is five-star service!

Vacation is a license to eat and drink whatever you want. Start the evening with drinks at the Peninsula’s swank bar. Anytime visitors come into town, I always recommend this spot. Black leather walls and walnut wood floors create the perfect ambience as smooth house music plays in the background.

What is the point of being in Chicago if your not going to eat a great steak? A small distance away is Gibsons Bar and Steakhouse, serving the best steak in the city. I get goose bumps just thinking of the juicy, red and tender porterhouse. All-star server, Mohammed Sekhani takes immediate care of us. Sekhani has worked for Gibsons for the last 19 years and served the last three presidents. Sekhani explains we will be eating the finest prime-aged steak (aged for three to four weeks) and fresh seafood as if Lake Michigan was the Atlantic Ocean. Forget about ordering any fu-fu food while Sekhani shows a massive 22-ounce bone-in rib eye from the meat and lobster tray. I start with fresh sashimi tuna. Just the way I like my horsepower: raw. No fu-fu food here. Then, I order fresh Alaskan crab claws and plump prawn shrimp followed by a medium-rare, mouth-watering, 48-ounce porterhouse. Compliment this unbelievable dinner with a bottle of a full-bodied Decoy cabernet and a side of creamy spinach and crispy fries makes it a trip to heaven and back.

After a great night’s sleep, I spend the morning at the Peninsula’s gym and the half Olympic-size indoor pool. After a couple laps, the hunger sets in and the Peninsula’s Sunday Brunch is the best place to satisfy my insatiable appetite. This is the best brunch buffet in the city. Live light jazz plays while stepping into a 50-item buffet featuring mango panna cotta lobster salad, smoked salmon eggs benedict and applewood smoked sausage, just to name a few. Once you are done with breakfast, dive into assorted sushi, spicy kung-poa chicken with jasmine rice and the best dim sum outside Hong Kong.

Skip airport lines, flight delays and enjoy the perfect weekend getaway in our own backyard, in the best city in the world: Chicago. On the way home, I felt refreshed, without the frustrations of air travel or tired from the jet lag. It was the perfect weekend: driving the 2008 Jaguar XJ Super V8, staying at the prestigious Peninsula Hotel, eating at the world-renowned Gibson’s Steakhouse and a relaxing day at the pool followed by the best brunch in town. Life is good!