Move Over Four Seasons; Rosewood Comes to Menlo Park

The new Four Seasons Silicon Valley may have staked its claim to the luxury market in Palo Alto, but now Rosewood's moving in:

Stanford University and Rosewood Hotels and Resorts announced that they are working on plans to develop a 120-room luxury hotel on a 21-acre site directly southeast of the Sand Hill Road/I-280 intersection in Menlo Park. The site, about one mile west of the Stanford campus, is adjacent to land where some of the nation's foremost venture capital firms and other prestigious businesses are situated.

Celebrate the Reopening of Paraiso de la Bonita, Riviera Maya, Mexico

On the pristine white sand lapped by the sparkling turquoise sea of Mexico's Yucatan, here is an offer you just can't refuse. After Hurricane Wilma's widespread destruction, the five-diamond Paraiso de la Bonita will reopen in all its glory—with lavish improvements that make the resort better than ever. Starting March 31, the brand-new Paraiso will feature a new oceanside terrace bar, design upgrades to each of the suites, vastly improved beachside grill, and new "made-for-two" treatment room in its Thallaso Center. In celebration, the resort is offering one free night with a minimum five-night stay. The special offer includes luxury oceanview accommodations, a sunset cruise on the resort's catamaran, complimentary airport transfers, complimentary continental breakfast and afternoon tea, complimentary use of the tennis courts and Thallaso facilities, including steam room, Jacuzzi, and fitness center. Valid March 31- April 30.

Via Washington Post Travel "What's the Deal"

Paraiso de la Bonita, Official Site

Paraiso de la Bonita, Five Star Alliance

Special Offers: Easter at the Beau-Rivage Palace, Lausanne, Switzerland

Easter egg hunt, cookie baking, flower-arranging classes, treasure hunt…activities galore! Enjoy the best kind of spring family vacation at Switzerland's stunning Beau-Rivage Palace. Easily one of the most beautiful palace hotels in the world, overlooking Lake Geneva, the historic Beau-Rivage is consistently ranked as one of the world's best (Conde Nast Gold List, Travel and Leisure World's Best.) This spring, take advantage of the "Easter Break" Package with savings of 20 percent for parents, and 50 percent for the kids. Available from April 13-18, the Package features special Easter rates of CHF 375 per night for a double room and CHF 235 for the children's room. The package includes daily breakfast, taxes, an Easter Egg Hunt for the children, and complimentary access to use the Cinq Mondes Spa and the tennis courts. The children's treasure hunt challenge leads eager kids throughout different parts of the hotel, where they may run into the hotel's mascot, Bori the fox. Additional special amenities include children's bathrobes and slippers.

Beau-Rivage Palace, Official Site

Beau-Rivage Palace, Five Star Alliance

Early Spring Special Rates at Wynn Las Vegas

Celebrate spring in style with some superb rates at Wynn's Las Vegas masterpiece. The only spot on the Las Vegas Strip with its own 18-hole championship golf course. Everything about this place is over-the-top opulent: grandiose casino (of course), a whopping 19 fine dining restaurants boasting celebrity chefs, loads of retail and convention space. And the rooms. The Tower Suites wing have their own VIP check-in, concierge, and hotel entry, but the resort's other rooms hardly skimp on the luxury: posh entertaining and living areas with staggering views over the Strip, wet bars, marble bathrooms with soaking tubs, and chic, comfortable bedrooms. For a limited time this spring, take advantage of the Early Spring Special Rates. Resort room from $179 a night, Parlor Suite from $459 a night, Salon Suite from $659 a night. Offer available March 19, 20, and 26-28 and April 2, 3, and 9, 10, 12, 13, 16 and 17. Rate available Sunday-Thursday only.

Wynn Las Vegas, Official Site

Wynn Las Vegas, Five Star Alliance

Luxury Family Resorts 2006

Thank you, Forbes. Their list includes Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas—with its dazzling 14-acre water park; the most elegant Badrutt's Palace in St. Moritz, Switzerland, with excellent supervised actitivies for the kiddies; and the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess with the impressive Fairmont Kids Club. But ClubMed in the DR? Come on, guys.

Arizona Spring Training: Scottsdale’s Hip Hotel Valley Ho

Heading to Scottsdale for the best kind of Spring entertainment? Take yourself out to the ballgame! Arizona Spring Training is a favorite tradition not to be missed, and with a perfect location near the ballpark, the Hotel Valley Ho is the place to stay. The original hide-away for Bogart, Bing and Marilyn has been made-over into a hip urban resort, and reopened to much fanfare in December 2005. The chic rooms feature all-glass walls opening onto private patios, flat-screen TVs, WiFi, terrazzo tile bathrooms, and feather-top beds with 300-thread-count linens. As pictured, the cabana rooms are full of whimsy and flair—overlooking the pool. Post-game, head poolside to Cafe ZuZu for some classic American comfort food. Or pamper yourself with a massage at the VH Spa, then indulge in a little personal training of your own at the fitness center overlooking the perfect circle pool.

Announcing the Tides Playa Del Carmen, Mayan Riviera, Mexico

From the same chic LA hotelier that brought you the Viceroy Santa Monica, comes a new luxury residential property in the marvelous Mayan Riviera. The sister property to the new Viceroy Riviera Maya Resort—one of five exquisite luxury hotels built within the eco-sensitive Mayakoba Resort on the beautiful beaches south of Cancun— the Tides Playa del Carmen is a luxurious residential resort. The stretch of Yucatan coastline near Playa del Carmen has long been the hideaway for an international, travel-savvy crowd of cultured travelers. Now Kor brings "one-of-a-kind chic by the shore" with its new eight-acre retreat, reminiscent of the sophisticated Tides in South Beach. Construction is scheduled to begin this year and be completed in early 2008. The resort will include 190 luxury ocean-front residences with all the upscale amenities of the most exclusive resort: pool with destination bar-lounge, private Beach Club, fine dining, 10,000 square foot spa and fitness center.

Go Green at Fairmont Hotels and Resorts

Welcome to Fairmont, where new check-in desk computers are powered by the wind. For its hotels across North America, Fairmont has recently purchased Eco-Logo certified wind power for 249 computers. This translates to greenhouse gas reduction of almost 100 tonnes for the year! We applaud Fairmont for leading the pack with environmental initiatives and sustainable energy technology launched by its Green Partnership program.

Hotel Majestic Barcelona’s Penthouse - Paseo de Gracia

From Marcel Horande, Assistant Director of Sales & Marketing, Majestic Hotel Group

As Intelliguide says about Barcelona, "Since the city hosted the Summer Olympics in 1992, has been on the hot list of European destinations. Such popularity may make it harder to land a hotel room, but it has only added to the sense that Barcelona is a place to be, as much for its energetic, cosmopolitan character as for its unusual attractions." And now is the best time to visit too, since Barcelona is coming out of its coldest period of the year which runs from November to February (although even during that period locals will swim and sunbathe). Average March and April temperatures? 15C and 59F.

The best reason to go? The 75 square meter (800 sqft) private terrace and Convertible Smart Roadster with GPS in 10 languages availble complimentary for your full stay at The Hotel Majestic in Barcelona when you stay in the Penthouse - Paseo de Gracia.

Read the details below ...

This is the ultimate and most exclusive Penthouse in the center of Barcelona. Inaugurated in 2004, it offers 300 m2 (3230 sqft) of luxury accomodation and exclusive comfort as well as the most impressive panoramic views of the city.

The Penthouse "Paseo de Gracia"

Details and features:

- Suite with King Size bed

- Living room with sofas

- Dining room

- Kitchen (Vitro-ceramic, blender, dishwasher, refrigerator/freezer, oven, chinery)

- Courtesy marble bathroom

- 8 m2 (86 sqft) dressing room

- Bathroom: Round hydro-massage bathtub, separate "Powershower", Philip Starck designed bathroom fittings, hairdryer, magnifying mirror, flat TV, ETRO amenities, etc.

- 75 m2 (800 sqft) private terrace with spectacular views of the Passeig de Gracia, the cradle of Modernism in Barcelona, with 4 remote-controlled awnings and 3 different ambiances (dining room, living room, solarium with deck chairs). Teak, aluminum, and synthetic-fiber furniture.

- 3 Plasma-Screen TVs (Living Room 42" + Bedroom 32" + Bathroom 15"’)

- Bang & Olufssen High-Tech, HI-FI Music System and cordless telephone

It also includes:

- Private check-in and personalized VIP treatment.

- FREE courtesy car for the entire stay: Convertible Smart Roadster with GPS in 10 languages.

- Free high-speed Internet connection in the apartment (with cable)

- Free access to the Business Center.

- 24-hour butler service

- Complimentary Open bar

- Daily champagne and canapes

- Daily turn-down service

- Prioritary and restricted lift access

The pictures speak for themselves, this is the best possible place to experience Barcelona.

Hotel Majestic Barcelona, Official Page

Hotel Majestic Barcelona, Five Star Alliance

W Hotels Reopens New Orleans Hotels

You may have missed Mardi Gras, but Jazz Fest is on the horizon. And both W hotels—which had sustained serious wind and water damage from Hurricane Katrina—have recently reopened in time for the best of spring festivals. W French Quarter is contemporary and full of sleek technology—as all W Hotels are—yet plenty romantic and old-world European at the same time. Plus, as its name suggests, it's in the heart of it all in the French Quarter. Its restaurant Bacco is considered one of the best in the city. Hot and hip, the other W New Orleans is equally well-located, a trendy and fashionable hotel that is the home of Rande Gerber's happening bar Whiskey Blue.

W New Orleans, Official Site

W New Orleans, Five Star Alliance

W French Quarter, Official Site

W French Quarter, Five Star Alliance