Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day in Ireland at The Merrion Hotel, Dublin

Sure, you could check out the St. Patrick's Day parade in your neck of the woods, perhaps while drinking green beer and watching the Chicago River turn an eerie shade of Irish green. But nothing quite compares to the festivities in the homeland. Get thee to Dublin for St. Patrick's Day and revel in the occasion. While you're at it. Make it a five-star St. Patty's Day and stay at Dublin's Merrion Hotel, the beautiful luxury hotel that's housed in four restored Georgian townhouses. The Merrion features a beautiful art collection and Ireland's only Michelin two-starred restaurant. And with the Tethra Spa and in-house pool, you'll be able to decompress in style after all that carousing. The Merrion has two special packages for St. Patrick's Day:

Semi Shamrock - 1 night (between March 14-17, 2011), priced from €117.50 (approximately US$162) per person, based on double occupancy:

* One night accommodation in a Standard Garden Wing room

* Full Irish breakfast

* Black Velvet cocktail per person

Full Shamrock - 2 nights (March 16 & 17), priced from €295 (approximately US$407) per person, based on double occupancy:

* Two nights accommodation in a Standard Garden Wing room

* Full Irish breakfast

* Black Velvet cocktail

* One Grandstand ticket per person for St. Patrick's Day festival

* Small picnic box to bring to parade

G’day Governor: W London — Leicester Square Opens

W Hotels Worldwide has opened its newest flagship hotel, W London — Leicester Square, the impossibly chic and slightly futuristic property set in the epicenter of London’s entertainment scene.

The hotel features 192 guest rooms, including 17 suites, three WOW suites and one Extreme WOW suite headed up by Dutchman Rob Wagemans of Amsterdam-based Concrete Architectural Associates, while the exterior, structural work was helmed by McAleer & Rushe Group and renown London architects at Jestico + Whiles.

Drawing influence from the surrounding streets, Jestico + Whiles – winners of this year’s European Hotel Design Award – have created the hotel in a muted palette of white Portland Stone, stucco and filigree lit up by an extensive system of jewel-bright LED lights, flickering and pulsing as night begins to fall.

Rumor has it the intensity of the lights, their hues, opacity and pattern all depend on the season, the pedestrian traffic and the time of night.

Be sure to check out celebrity chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's new restaurant, Spice Market, inspired by the "vibrant street life of South East Asia," offering not-for-the-faint-of-heart cuisine, highlighting spicy exotic curries echoing Vietnamese street markets and Thai food stalls.

An Oktoberfest Hotel in Munich: Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski

“In München steht ein Hofbräuhaus: Eins, zwei, g'suffa…” Every now and again, I can’t get this song out of my head. I can’t predict when the words come flooding in, usually when I take a drink of a fine German lager. My taste buds trigger an emotion that is pure happiness. Oktoberfest! Oh how I miss thee!

This year, I’m going back, and I hope you’ll join me. Munich, the beautiful Bavarian city in southern Germany, has more than just the annual beer drinking festival, but there isn’t honestly a better time to visit. The season is just changing, with the weather pleasant and calm, and the warmth of the German people never more evident. This is what makes Oktoberfest so enchanting!

I’ve stayed at many places in Germany, from home stays to hostels to ski chalets, but nothing compares to the Hotel Vier Jahreszeiten Kempinski. Can’t pronounce it? Don’t worry, I can’t either. But you won’t need to, because the world class staff at the Hotel Vier will do everything for you, including the speaking!

I do recommend doing one thing on your own though, and that’s drinking a liter of Hofbräu, and singing that famous old song… Prost!

An Inside Look at The Savoy in London (and the Glam Beaufort Bar!)

On a recent trip to London, we stopped by The Savoy to scope out the massive £220 million restoration project that's had tongues wagging on both sides of the pond. We weren't the only ones gaping. There was an actual traffic jam in the lobby (chic patrons and curious passer-bys) gawking at the interiors by designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. We also noticed the queue for the American Bar, the watering hole made famous by legendary bartenders Ada “Coley” Coleman and Harry Craddock, author of The Savoy Cocktail Book. The bar team today is no less impressive; Manager Daniel Baernreuther is joined by a top team of bartenders including Head Bartender, Erik Lorincz (Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender of the Year 2010) and Stefano Cossio (winner of the UKBG Akvinta National Cocktail Competition).

So how do would-be imbibers bide their time before snagging a coveted seat inside? They visit the adjacent Savoy Museum, where memorabilia from the storied hotel's history is showcased. After all, The Savoy has hosted a slew of famous guests-- like Katharine Hepburn, Coco Chanel, Claude Monet, and Winston Churchill. (Marilyn Monroe and Queen Elizabeth II danced on the ballroom’s parquet floor.) Indeed, the nine new "personality suites" have been styled after some of these high-profile guests.

We checked out a one-bedroom River View Deluxe Suite, decorated in the traditional Edwardian style, and reveled in the views. A wall of windows framed the city skyline above the river Thames. These views are really what distinguish The Savoy; the setting between Mayfair and the city of London along the river is enviable. In the marble bathroom, we ogled the claw foot bath, separate walk-in shower with rain showerhead, and bath products by Miller Harris.

Pictured at top: The new Beaufort Bar, a glamorous destination for sipping cocktails surrounded by gilded Art Deco opulence (think alcoves adorned in gold-leaf and lots of black-- from black velvet curtains to the custom-designed black chairs). There are 28 Champagnes available by the glass, and a slew of specialty libations.

We didn't try The Winston (Time Out London describes the £50 drink like this: "Inspired by Winston Churchill's habit of wetting his cigar in his Cognac, it has Hennessy XO, blood orange purée and quince liqueur muddled with a Romeo y Julieta cigar (seriously) and served straight up.") But we did relish the Savoy Stutter and The Pink Rooster, served with gourmet bites: olives, caramelized almonds, salmon sushi, and curried chicken wraps.

Harry Potter-esque Hotels

I might be the only one in the world who hasn’t read the Harry Potter books. Does that make me a criminal? Perhaps, but I’m the kind of guy who doesn’t want an excellent book to ruin a good movie, so I’m biding my time. But let me tell you, I love those Harry Potter movies. Love ‘em! And while they may not immerse me in the world of Potter quite as much as reading Lady J.K. Rowling’s words, it will have to do for now.

Yet just as the last book was written, the last movie is nigh on the horizon. In June, the adventures of Harry, Ron, and Hermione will grace the silver screen for the last time. So I started thinking (always dangerous), where can I continue the adventure in real life? Which of the world’s most luxurious hotels are the most Harry Potter-esque, and perhaps can give me a nice place to read those books once and for all?

The first one to come to mind was the easiest. The Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, a Loews Hotel. While the romantic setting of an Italian fishing village might not bring to mind Hogsmeade in all its glory, it will allow you front of the line access to Universal Studio’s Islands of Adventure amusement park, home to the Wizarding World of Harry Potter. This themed land is torn directly from the pages of the Harry Potter opus, and in fact was personally approved to the last detail by Rowling herself. And with the Loews brand giving world class luxury and service, the Portofino Bay Hotel is worth its weight in Fizzing Whizbees.

The next stop on the tour of all things Potter might lead to downtown London, a place teeming with wizards and muggles alike. Therefore staying at 41 might be in order, a place that has the market cornered on quiet charm. You can have your own chamber of secrets at 41, and if you must eat a pumpkin pasty, please use a napkin!

Finally, use a little floo powder and head for the north of England towards Newcastle. While enjoying a Geordies footie match, you can slip out to the beautiful Alnwick Castle. On that very ground is where Harry Potter first learned to fly his broomstick, the filming location for Hogwarts Castle. Here you’ll stay at the delightful White Swan — Bondgate Within Alnwick, just outside of Newcastle. You will be transported, literally, to a place that you’ve imagined a million times.

So while the film adventure might be coming to an end, your Harry Potter adventure is just beginning!

Love on the Banks of the Seine

There are two things I value above all else: Luxury and Romance. Finding each individually is hard enough, but finding them together is nearly impossible. So I did what most people do when they are looking for something. I googled it. I entered simply, “Romantic Luxury Getaways”, and let the computer do the work for me. And I implore you to do the same. Go ahead, I’ll wait right here until you return. Don’t worry, it won’t spoil the ending…

Back yet? Okay, what did we both find? First, it was some of the great hotels of the world. And amongst them, of course, the city that appeared again and again: Paris, France. Not Paris, Texas, nor Paris, Arkansas, both of which I’ve visited and can say are truly unromantic. Paris, France, on the other hand, is, cliché or not, simply the most romantic city in the world. Luckily for us, it also offers some of the most luxurious hotels in the world.

Before I get into that, and therefore before I list which of Paris’ finest are my favorites, I want to tell you why Paris is romantic. You may now be grumbling about your last visit, or maybe your last 5 visits, and how you know very well what is and is not true about la belle ville. I’ve been several times myself in the last few years, and in fact lived two years in Paris on the Left Bank in my marauding early-20s. And yes, while I have the advantage of ordering a Domaine Romanée-Conti in heavily accented French, I’ve learned that in Paris anyone can find romance.

Where? I found it on the terrace of a café in an alley at a hole-in-the-wall Moroccan restaurant that no longer exists. The place was run down, the couscous overcooked, and yet when I raised a glass of Burgundy and toasted with the sweet, brown-eyed girl underneath a canopy of stars illuminating the French summer night, I didn’t want to be anywhere else in the world. Months later, a ring tucked deep in my pocket, I strolled down to the banks of the Seine, heard the muted stir of the river below, and found myself on one knee asking her to be with me forever. We returned for our honeymoon, and several trips thereafter, and Paris never let us down. The gray hair on my temples has never kept the romance at bay, and I still raise a toast with the brown-eyed girl on the other side of the table.

Now, though, when I go to the world’s most romantic city, I stay at the world’s most luxurious hotels. And why not? Luxury and romance go hand in hand, just as my hand goes with hers each and every morning when I wake up, and just as our lips come together each evening to say goodnight.

So make romance yours at L’Hotel de Crillon. This hotel is not for the overnight traveler. In fact, the pre-revolutionary construction is in classic Louis XV style, and will tantalize patrons with a stunning location only steps from Les Champs-Elysees, and make a stay of any length too short.

If you’re looking for a taste of the Belle Époque, seek out the Ritz Paris. Erected in 1898, the Ritz underwent a stunning renovation in 2010, and is known for its famous guests, more recently (Elton John) and a few years ago (Marcel Proust).

Finally, if you prefer views of the Eiffel tower from your flower-filled balcony, charm your loved one with a stay at the Hotel Plaza Athenee. Luxury is a given, romance an absolute, and with four restaurants on site overseen by the eminent Alain Ducasse, you’ll have the best of Parisian dining just steps away.

One final note: If you’re thinking of buying her that ring, or perhaps telling him that you love him all the more after all these years, don’t wait! Seize the moment! Paris may endure and always be waiting, but perhaps he or she won’t. Bon voyage!

Where to Stay in Istanbul: Special Rates at A’jia Hotel (with Bosphorus Views!)

The A'jia Hotel commands a prime piece of real estate in Istanbul, the city that famously straddles two continents. In a glorious setting on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, a former pasha's mansion has been converted into a sexy boutique hotel. Behind the Ottoman facade, sleek interiors showcase contemporary furnishings and all the latest technology. The 16 guest rooms-- some with private balconies-- have gorgeous water views and spacious marble bathrooms. (Note: There's one room that doesn't overlook the Bosphorus.) No surprise to see a queue of celebrities lining up to stay here. We love their complimentary boat shuttle for cruising between the continents and bypassing Istanbul's notorious traffic on the way to the Old Town for sightseeing.

Hot rates: Book the A'jia Hotel with Five Star Alliance and you'll get breakfast and tax included in your room rate. Simply select the "Five Star Alliance" rate when booking.

Fete the Royal Wedding in London at The Milestone Hotel

Come April, royal watchers will be descending on London in droves. Declared a national holiday, Prince William and Kate Middleton's wedding day promises to fuel royal fever in a big way. Luxury hotels are pulling out all the stops to pamper guests like royalty over the big weekend. Case in point: The Milestone Hotel and Apartments, overlooking Kensington Palace, is offering the "Royal Occasion" package for the royal wedding weekend, which could be the next best thing to holding a wedding invitation in hand. Here's what you get with the four-night package:

• English Breakfast each morning

• A Royal Champagne Afternoon Tea

• A lavish seven-course Royal Banquet Dinner prepared by the hotel's Executive Chef, Ryan Flynn

• Tickets to Kensington Palace

• Two way luxury car transfer from London Heathrow for foreign visitors

• Each couple will also receive a crafted commemorative plate or two mugs by Royal Worcester, made of the finest English bone china.

A range of optional extras will be available including midnight Royal Feasts, champagne sabrage with canapés, picnics in Hyde Park, access to the Royal Gallery and Royal Mews, and a deluxe luncheon hamper on the day of the royal wedding. Rates for the Royal Occasion package are priced from £2,418 for a Superior Queen room to £5,218 for a Master Suite excluding VAT, starting April 24, 2011.

Related Article: The Milestone Nabs Title of “Top Hotel in the British Isles”

Open Today: The Chuan Spa at The Langham, London

We're happy to report that there's a dazzling new spa in London town. Just opened today, the Chuan Spa at The Langham, London is a sight for sore eyes. Trust us-- we went to gape at it over the weekend before the official unveiling today. One look at the mosaic-lined swimming pool, located in the former bank vault, will make you want to strip down. Soaring black slate walls rise above the turquoise water, and a large painting sparkles at one end. Even non-swimmers (or those who are well aware that a few months remain before non-toned bodies need to be bikini ready) will be jonesin' for a swim.

The first location for the brand in Europe, the Langham's new spa incorporates the ancient principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine into its treatments. This is a unique concept in London. There's even a fully-licensed Chinese Medicine doctor on site for private consultations and specialist TCM therapies, like acupuncture, Ho Guan (cupping), and moxibustion. Treatment rooms are appropriately zen-like; the Chuan Tri-bathing Ritual which starts off each treatment showcases the gorgeous wet facilities. There's also a glowing salt sauna and well-equipped fitness room.

Wine Tasting Nights in Paris at Bar 228 in Hotel Le Meurice

Looking for a decadent wine tasting experience while visiting the City of Light? Le Meurice-- the glamorous palace hotel that's part of the Dorchester Collection-- has just launched Les Nocturnes du 228, a series of monthly wine tasting events at Bar 228 with selections from Chef Sommelier Estelle Touzet, awarded Best Chef Sommelier of the Year 2011 by the Pudlowski Guide. Named for the hotel's address at 228 rue de Rivoli, the bar is a cozy and intimate space, designed by Philippe Starck to be reminiscent of a British gentlemen's club, complete with deep leather armchairs, wooden bar stools, rare crystal decanters, and dark wood paneling. The new tasting event will uncork superb vintages paired with gourmet delights by Michelin Three-Starred Chef Yannick Alléno. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Chef Sommelier Touzet and learn about her experience traveling through the world's top wine regions. Les Nocturnes du 228 events are priced at €90 per person, including a tasting of four wines with canapés. The program runs from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on the first Thursday of select months through 2011. Reservations are strongly recommended:

* April 7 – Wines of Germany, Touzet’s adoptive country

* May 5 – Experience California, Touzet’s first great journey

* June 2 – The Languedoc region, Touzet’s winter escape

* September 8 – Syrah

* November 3 – Riesling

* December 8 – An all-inclusive exploration of Cabernet Sauvignon, at €140 per person