Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel in Kouklia, Cyprus is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for leisure facilities. This luxury hotel is set on a hillside overlooking the Mediterranean, just 15 minutes from the Paphos Airport. The birthplace of Aphrodite, the mosaics at Paphos, and the Troodos Mountains are just a few of the attractions located within reach of the Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel. This luxury hotel has received recognition for its leisure facilities and the list of activities to partake in seems to be never-ending! Enjoy the Retreat Spa, an 18-hole golf course, a tennis academy, 3 kids clubs, a teen’s club, a horseback riding club, and indoor and outdoor pools. The beauty of this luxury hotel would leave any goddess speechless, making the Intercontinental Aphrodite Hills Resort Hotel a truly exceptional hotel option worth exploring on your next visit to Cyprus!

The Big 7-5: Golden Gate Bridge Celebration at Cavallo Point

It's a hallmark occasion coming up in about a month for the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. May 27th marks the 75th anniversary of the bridge's construction, and times will be hopping in the Bay Area. The Cavallo Point Lodge is making a point to celebrate in style over the weekend with a Terrace Party and Gala Dinner.  If you're looking to be in San Francisco, the hotel is the perfect place to celebrate. A breathtaking view of the bridge from the terrace is a wonderful place for a party to commemorate one of the crowning engineering achievements in the United States.

Cavallo Point has some great rooms and suites available for the weekend, and some are even original officer's residences from historic Fort Baker and have wonderful skyline views. You can also, of course, stay in any of our other fantastic San Francisco hotels. Just be sure to make it out to the bridge while you're there. 

New Luxury Hotels Opening in 2012: Palace Hotel Tokyo

We at Five Star Alliance are all about the best and most luxurious hotels. We certainly keep up with the happenings in the luxury travel world and take pride in bringing our clients the latest luxury travel news. Keep up with our blog series where we’ll be featuring luxury hotels opening in 2012 to stay on top of the trends and make your reservations at the newest hotspots.

The Palace Hotel Tokyo is set to have its grand opening next month on May 17th, 2012! This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Tokyo and it aims to provide the absolute best of Japan. Its history dates back to the 1947 opening of Hotel Teito, which then became the Palace Hotel in 1961. The Palace Hotel ceased operations in 2009 in preparation for its restoration as the contemporary Palace Hotel Tokyo, and it is now a beautifully renovated luxury hotel equipped with the most modern facilities and amenities. There are 290 guest rooms and suites, each at least 45 square meters in size and all beautifully decorated with comfort and luxury in mind. Guests staying in the Club rooms or suites have access to the private club lounge, and the hotel has a new renowned spa facility, fine dining options on site, and a phenomenal event space that can accommodate up to 1,500 people. Be one of the first to experience this newly redesigned luxury hotel in Tokyo and make your reservations for any time after May 17th, 2012!

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: The Peninsula Hong Kong

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Peninsula Hong Kong in Kowloon, Hong Kong is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for location. This luxury hotel has been regarded as one of the finest hotels in the world. Built during the 1920s, the Peninsula Hong Kong continues to set the standard worldwide and combines the best of Eastern and Western hospitality in an atmosphere of timeless elegance. It’s perfectly situated on the central tip of Kowloon Peninsula, in the heart of Kowloon’s business, shopping, and entertainment areas. The Peninsula Hong Kong enables guests to travel to the central district on Hong Kong Island is less than 10 minutes, and certain rooms offer breathtaking, panoramic views of the city skyline and the Harbour.

A must-try experience: The spa package at the Peninsula Hong Kong #travel #luxury - ht.ly/acNY6

— Penne Cole (@pennecole) April 11, 2012

New Look of the W New York Union Square

The W New York Union Square’s landmark 1911 beaux arts Guardian Life building was reinvented by d-ash, and this luxury hotel puts the city at your fingertips. Located in the heart of Silicon Alley where the finest and most exciting aspects of New York City are a short stroll away. Enjoy boutique shopping on Fifth and Sixth Avenues known as “Ladies Mile,” dine in some of the city’s best restaurants, experience the best bars, and taste freshness at the farmer’s market. According to HotelChatter, this hotel has also recently revealed a new look for all of its 270 rooms. Its design is simpler and a bit brighter, with red and white headboards and beautiful silver curtains in its guest rooms. The W New York Union Square is currently the only hotel overlooking Union Square, so it’s certainly worth checking out for your next visit to the Big Apple!

Hotels with a History: Keswick Hall at Monticello

Certain hotels have a story behind them, a culture that seeps through the walls and a personality that emanates from every room. Every city has an appreciated and valued history worth exploring, and certain hotels have become a part of that rich and interesting past. For this reason, we’d like to introduce you to our blog series, Hotels with a History where we’ll be featuring unique hotels that have a little more to them than a comfortable bed and superb amenities.

This landmark estate is framed by the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers 600 acres in the heart of Keswick, Virginia. No other place combines the equestrian lifestyle, wine making, and American history together quite like this luxury hotel. Keswick Hall is a beautiful mansion surrounded by the most beautiful scenery and home to horse races, hunts, and vineyards. It has its very own Arnold Palmer Signature 18-hole golf course and a lavish spa. Enjoy the plethora of activities available on site or nearby including swimming, fly fishing, hiking, horseback riding, winery tours, with the list going on and on! Located a short drive from Washington DC, make your reservations for a weekend escape from the hustle and bustle and learn the true meaning of rest and relaxation at the Keswick Hall at Monticello!

Experience the Festival of Flowers at the Grand Bohemian Hotel

The Grand Bohemian Hotel brings boutique comfort to the beautiful town of Asheville, North Carolina. This welcoming, Tudor-style hotel is located in the famous Biltmore Village and it’s set among the lovely Blue Ridge Mountains. Be sure to stay at the Grand Bohemian Hotel between April 7th and May 20th to take part in the Festival of Flowers. The gardens of the Biltmore Estate come alive with thousands of azaleas, tulips, and other flowers reaching full bloom! The Festival of Flowers is an annual event featuring live music and complimentary garden seminars. Experience the best of spring from the luxurious and art-filled setting of the Grand Bohemian Hotel where exceptional service and gourmet cuisine come together.

Packages and Specials at the Carlyle in New York City

The Carlyle, a Rosewood Hotel has quickly become one of our favorite luxury hotels in the Big Apple. It was built in 1930 and has 187 elegant rooms and 64 timeless suites. It is brilliantly positioned on Madison Avenue, and it is a true New York landmark. The Carlyle is a family friendly hotel and it goes above and beyond to ensure that even the smallest travelers feel like royalty. Each room description includes a floor number range and most rooms have a description of the view, so book with confidence knowing that there will be no surprises and you will get exactly what you wanted! Be sure to check out the following packages and specials and choose the one that fits your needs best!

Special Promotional Rate

The Rosewood Spa is now open, and the Carlyle has a few special promotional rates to celebrate. Room types include a quiet courtyard location on floors 4 through 18, a Manhattan cityscape view on floors 23 through 33, and a 2 bedroom suite with 1 king and 2 twin beds featuring skyline views.

Suite Special

Traveling with kids or with your entourage of a few friends? Then this special promotion is certainly for you. Enjoy 15% off the Tower 2 Bedroom Suite which is 1800 square feet with 1 king and 2 twin beds and features a skyline view towards the East River.

Rosewood Escapes Bed Breakfast Package

This package features a variety of room types including a quiet courtyard location on floors 4 through 18 and a Manhattan cityscape view on floors 23 through 33. This package includes buffet breakfast daily for 2 in the restaurant.

Welcome Amenity Package

This is for the ladies and gentleman hoping to get a relaxing treatment at the now open spa at the Carlyle. This package includes a $50 spa credit which can be applied to a facial, massage, or the many other treatment options available. This spa credit excludes Blissful Basics, Yves Durif Services, and all retain merchandise.

Want to stay at the Carlyle for free? Then be sure to sign up for our newsletter by April 15th, 2012 to automatically be entered to win 2 free nights at this phenomenal hotel!

Capital Braggadocio: Cappadocia Cave Resort and Spa

Unless you're a professional spelunker, a cave probably isn't something you see every day, although sometimes I do think my cubicle feels like one. But if you're the kind of guy who's got a nice corner office and a fulltime assistant just to get coffee for you, then yours probably feels a bit more like the Cappadocia Cave Resort and Spa. Nestled into the jagged landscape of the Cappadocia region of Anatolia, known for its extensive system of caves, this resort is the perfect offbeat destination.  

Combining the Turkish spa tradition with modern techniques, you'll bathe in the natural healing powers of an area that dates back to 4,000 BC, when people first began to hew their monasteries directly from the rock formations.  With only 79 rooms, it's the perfect intimate getaway, an escape from the banal normality to a place exotic and alive, so natural as to be formed from the very earth itself.  I love the Cappadocia Cave Resort for its innovative adaptation of one of the most historic regions on Earth to the modern luxuries we all hold so dear. Check out the Cappadocia Cave Resort and Spa. It's a luxury you shouldn't take for granite.

The Best Romantic Getaway Hotels: Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie in Rome, Italy

Certain hotels have a beautiful romance to them, an elegant charm that sweeps you off your feet and leaves you feeling like you’re floating on a cloud. Whether you’re planning an anniversary, a birthday, or simply hoping to have a romantic weekend with your significant other, we certainly have the perfect hotel in your city of choice. Check in with us often as we will be featuring our favorite hotels for a romantic getaway all over the world!

Our first feature is the Rocco Forte Hotel de Russie. This luxury hotel is located in the heart of Rome on the fashionable Via del Babuino, next to the Piazza del Popolo and near the Spanish Steps. This 122 bedroom property is a favorite amongst the Hollywood A list and it has gained fame for its beautiful terrace gardens. These so called “Secret Gardens” are hidden behind the building and offer guests the perfect place to enjoy each other’s company in tranquility, away from the bustle of Rome. Enjoy al fresco dining at ‘Le Jardin de Russie’ restaurant and take advantage of the hotel’s health club and spa with a hydro pool, Jacuzzi, sauna, Turkish steam bath, and much more. Make your reservations at this romantic gem in Rome and get ready for a phenomenal time with your loved one!