Cue the steel drums and pour yourself a frothy fruity concoction—the time has come to escape the quotidian and explore settings that take us worlds away. Tropical in feeling without the typical tacky trappings, rooms full of fresh air and clean design encourage us to lighten up and adopt the spirit of island living.

We've helped a photographer put his shot on the cover of a Norwegian magazine and a multimedia artist find work a half-a-continent away. We were instrumental in placing several North American photographers on the roster of one of Europe's leading stock agencies. And we helped an entire contingent of illustrator representatives find online exposure in one fell swoop. Portfolios.com has been written about in every major arts publication in the world -- including Communication Arts, Applied Arts, I.D. Magazine, Photo District News and a host of others.

When we went to press in late July we were assured that the Platinum Winners on our list were widely available. Unfortunately, soon after the book was printed Fisher-Price notified us that they were not continuing their Crawl-Along Wobbler or their Tap & Twirl Top . We have been hearing from readers who are frustrated by not being able to locate these products. Fisher-Price has told us that the products are still in limited supply at some Target stores.

Portfolio Catalogue - The catalogue of contemporary photography in Britain. Secure on-line ordering of subscriptions and back-issues.

The Portfolio Collection benchmarks the best quality accommodation in South and Southern Africa, ranging from private game reserves, fine country houses, boutique city hotels, self-contained villas and apartments and charming guest houses, to select bed and breakfasts in private homes. Established in 1982, the Portfolio Collection today represents over 850 establishments chosen for their ambience, atmosphere and warm hospitality. Each is personally visited and assessed regularly by a team of travelling consultants to ensure that standards are maintained, and are an assurance that these establishments are benchmarked. We welcome your feedback.