SEARCH & BOOK THE WORLD'S BEST HOTELS
Search form
NEED ASSISTANCE?    1-(888)-5STAR-11
SEARCH EXCLUSIVE LUXURY HOTELS OFFERS
Region
Country
City
Check in
Check out
 

LUXURY HOTEL INSIDER

IntroIcon

The Luxury Hotel Insider: Exclusive luxury hotel deals, features and special rates from the luxury hotel experts at Five Star Alliance.
Named one of Tripbase's Best Luxury Travel Blogs for 2011, below are Five Star Alliance's newest articles featuring exclusive information on luxury hotels worldwide including special offers and deals at the world's best hotels.

| By: Rachael Weir
Nestled mid-mountain amongst the pines, The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, offers ski-in/ski-out access to Northstar California. The family-friendly retreat features a variety of snow activities, après ski experiences, and signature offerings, including the Marshmology program that happens nightly at the firepits with winter-themed s'mores and details about the history of marshmallows (photo below). In addition, the mountain resort announced new winter offerings and introduced Executive Chef Mark Jeffers and Pastry Chef Shawna Peterson to its culinary program. Read more below the photo. 
Marshmalogy at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Après-Ski Programs
Offered daily by the resort fire pits from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Après-Ski Champagne Experience* features a raw bar with chef-prepared favorites including ceviche and oysters on the half shell, and Moët & Chandon Ice Impérial. The Après Yoga & Strech combines gentle movements to rejuvenate tired muscles for a day on the slopes, and the Après-Ski Recovery spa treatment is a tension relief-focused treatment for aching muscles that includes the Arnica Turmeric Joint formulas a take home gift. Continue reading below. 
Apres-Ski Spa at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Winter Activities
The Winter Stargazing Snowshoe Tour* is led by local star guide and poet, Tony Berendsen. Offered December 21, December 28, January 14, and February 11, guests are taken on a winter starry night snowshoe tour that includes a laser tour of constellations, telescopic viewing, educational presentation, space quiz for prizes, and a poetry reading. For families, the Winter Scavenger Hunt encourages young travelers to use a map to find hidden objects and win prizes. There's also the Where is the Bear? hide-and-seek program held daily in the living room, as well as special Ritz Kidz winter offerings. Read more below. 
Skiing at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Culinary Offerings
The Winter Vintner Dinner Series includes a four-course meal highlighting Northern California wineries, and will be held on January 12, February 9, and March 9. The resort's signature restaurant, Manzanita will also offer Sunday Brunch, plus a Skier's Lunch Buffet will be offered daily from December 19 to January 7, and on Saturdays throughout the winter season. Continue below. 
Manzanita at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe
Check rates and availability at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe >>
*Please note dates and offers were provided by The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe and are subject to change at any time. 

 Fire pit at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

| By: Five Star Alliance

The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe is offering its guests a new luxury golf experience. The ultra-plush mountainside resort has a 17,000-square-foot slope-side spa, multiple fine dining options, outdoor adventures led by the Tahoe Adventure Company, and evening "Art of the S'more" fire pit experiences. Read more below about the High Sierra Golf Experience from our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, written by Bob Curley

The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe is bringing back a luxury golf experience for clients who think a weekend on the links should be about more than a caddy and a cart.

High Sierra Golf Experience at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

The High Sierra Golf Experience includes accommodations, two rounds of golf at the resort’s Gray’s Crossing or Old Greenwood courses, and the services of the resort’s Mountain Concierge, which include golf-club storage and booking tee times. The concierge can even steer golfers to other links in the area once they’ve played through the two featured courses.

Old Greenwood is an 18-hole, par-72 course designed by Jack Nicklaus, while Gray’s Crossing is a par-72 Audubon International Gold Signature Sanctuary course, designed by Peter Jacobsen and Jim Hardy to blend in harmoniously with the local environment. Both are set amid mountain pine forests in North Lake Tahoe; in fact, the two courses are right across the street from each other, while the Ritz-Carlton is located at the Northstar ski area, about 15 minutes away.

Package choices at the 170-room resort include deluxe king and deluxe two-queen rooms, mountain-view kings, mountain-view two queen rooms, and one-bedroom suites. Rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows to let in the summer sun, and gas fireplaces to take the chill off the mountain evenings. The resort features a 17,000-square-foot spa and five dining venues, from the Manzanita restaurant to the laid-back Backyard Bar & BBQ. In addition to golf, optional summer activities include mountain biking, private guided hikes, kayaking and stand-up paddle boarding on Lake Tahoe, yoga, and a winemaker dinner series. Read more below.

Suite at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe

The package is good through Sept. 30 and starts at $599 per night.

Check rates at The Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe >>

SaveSave


| By: Five Star Alliance

Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe
The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe
is a 17,000 square foot spa and fitness center with treatments and therapies themed around water and the woods. The luxury spa has introduced a selection of new seasonal treatments that complement signature favorites and are specifically designed for the winter season and the region's active mountain lifestyle.  

Seasonal Treatments Include:

- Coffee Cake Break  
Start with a deep exfoliating sweet caramel body scrub infused with caffeine designed to stimulate and revive dry skin, followed by a simmering bath soak to hydrate and lock in moisture. A massage with caramel scented body lotion is the icing on the cake. (90 minutes, $300)

- Organic Picture Perfect Pumpkin Facial
This facial is a yam and pumpkin enzyme peel that will leave skin glowing. This sweet yellow clover masque enriches the skin, revealing a refreshed and hydrated complexion. (80 minutes, $300)

- Buttered Rum Rejuvenation Manicure, and Pedicure
This is the winter treatment perfect for soothing tired hands and feet. It consists of an intoxicating sweet exfoliation using a special blend of brown sugar and premium aged rum, finished with caramel body milk will leave the skin soft and hydrated. (80 minutes, $150) Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe

- Wnter Signature Apres Ski Massage
This specialized massage incorporates specific elongating stretches, pressure point techniques, and therapeutic massage. (80 minutes, $265) 

- Cozy Cabin Couple's Massage
This massage is tailored to the needs of both individuals. A romantically illuminated spa suite featuring its own fireplace is where couples can relax as though they have escaped into the woods. (50 minutes, $185.00 per person, 80 minutes, $265 per person)

All prices are exclusive of tax and gratuity, and are subject to change.

View rates, details, and more images of Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe >>

Share this article:

 

| By: Betsy LeTourneau

Resort at Squaw Creek
We at Five Star Alliance work tirelessly to ensure we bring you the best luxury hotels selection and information regarding amenities, location, and highlights so you are confident that the hotel you choose will exceed your expectations and serve your needs. Sometimes, however, you are left with a few questions that go unanswered, and that’s why we’re here. Be sure to explore our new blog series Your Questions Answered to find answers to real questions submitted to us by our clients regarding traveling with kids, pets, the best beach hotels, and much more.

QUESTION: What is a family friendly resort in the Lake Tahoe area for a family of 4, with children ages 8 and 11?


ANSWER: Resort at Squaw Creek

Nestled at the base of Squaw Valley USA, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics and minutes from world renowned Lake Tahoe, the Resort at Squaw Creek is the premier all season mountain resort in California. Its 405 resort rooms, and suites which are complete with residential style kitchens, fireplaces and LCD flat screen TVs, offer guests a mountain home experience with four diamond luxury and full service amenities. With services to accommodate most any visitor, this resort offers its own shopping promenade, four restaurants, extensive meeting and special event facilities, a full-service spa, a complete health and fitness center, and Mountain Buddies, a comprehensive children's program.

Resort at Rock CreekRecreation enthusiasts will love the resort's ski-in/ski-out access to Squaw Valley USA, on-site Cross-Country Ski Center, 18-hole championship golf course, ice-skating rink, heated swimming pools, waterslide, and scenic hiking and biking trails.
Whether you're looking for a world-class destination for a corporate conference or for an exciting family vacation - any season of the year - the Resort at Squaw Creek provides everything you need for a visit

We Recommend:
-A Deluxe King or 2 Queen room to connect to a Suite. (rollaway beds not permitted in the Deluxe rooms or Fireplace Suite).

Deluxe King features a love seat and 1 king bed with a "deep powder" pillow-top bed. Deluxe 2 Queen room also features the "deep powder" pillow top bed.
Fireplace Suites offer bedroom with a King sized "deep powder" pillow top bed, desk, dining table and 3 chairs, full bath featuring deep soaking tub and a free-standing shower with dual heads. These rooms are a generous 646 sq feet and are available as a 1 or 2 bedroom.

View rates, details, and more images of Resort at Squaw Creek >>

All rates are based on double occupancy and extra person charges may apply. Please be advised that the rates, availability, as well as any extra person charges are subject to change depending on the hotel’s policies.

 

Share this article:

 
Posted in: Lake Tahoe, NV

| By: Christopher Roney

Traveling with a family can be quite difficult, and I’m not just talking about restless babies or the endless games of “Are We There Yet?” It can also be an effort in itself to find a hotel that is kid-friendly in its room design. Most luxury hotels have adopted the two-adults-per-room model, so it’s refreshing to find a property that keeps families in mind when laying out its rooms. The Resort at Squaw Creek features Queen Rooms as a standard, and they include not one but two queen beds, so your kid(s) can cozy up together, and you won’t have to split up the family while enjoying the premiere mountain resort in California. This site of the 1960 Winter Olympics has everything you need to enjoy some skicapades with or without kids in tow. The Resort at Squaw Creek is one to keep in mind for the winter season.


| By: Oksana Balytsky

We’re pretty excited about ski season, and apparently so are our luxury travelers! A number of hotels are solidly booked for the end of December, but there are still incredible hotels with availability. Be sure to make your arrangements pronto, and you’ll be swishing down the mountain before you know it!

The St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah is located in a private, gated community, and it stands upon the beautifully covered slopes of the Wasatch Mountains. The Snake River Lodge and Spa in Teton Village, Wyoming is located slope-side at Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. The Hyatt Escala Lodge in Park City, Utah is located within the mountainside village of the Canyons, and this all-suite property offers room options for families with easy slope access. The Four Seasons Resort Vail in Vail, Colorado is located high in the Colorado Rockies, and it is consistently ranked among the world’s top ski destinations. The Sky Hotel in Aspen, Colorado offers a unique experience at the base of Aspen Mountain. Last but certainly not least, the Resort at Squaw Creek in Olympic Valley, California, is nestled at the base of Squaw Valley, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics.

Looking to go outside the United States and ski new terrain? Then check out our list of the top ski resorts all over the world!

Please be advised that rates and availability are subject to change prior to making a reservation.


| By: Oksana Balytsky

Celebrate 31 years of family fun at this year’s SnowFest, which will take place March 2 – 11, 2012 in North Lake Tahoe. Every spring, North Lake Tahoe tourists and locals come together and take part in various activities and events perfect for folks of all ages. This year, SnowFest will be bringing back the annual favorites along with exciting, new events. The majority of events are free to spectators, and SnowFest draws in thousands of visitors every year. A few events that are brand new this year include a snow art building competition, an ice sculpting competition, and a pub crawl starting in Incline Village and ending in Crystal Bay.

The Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe Resort, Spa and Casino is located in Incline Village, and it’s the perfect place to stay to be surrounded by the excitement of SnowFest. Aside from the festivities, this resort is the ideal setting for year-round pampering. Reconnect with family members, friends, and yourself while enjoying the natural wonders of Lake Tahoe. Be sure to make your travel plans early, start practicing your snowman building, and get ready for an incredible getaway.


| By: Oksana Balytsky

The winter months are rolling in, and that means it’s time to put away the shorts and start waxing your skis and snowboards. Squaw Valley, an incredible world class resort offers 4,000 acres of terrain for skiers and snowboarders of various ages and skill levels. My family is a group of avid skiers, and I have had the opportunity to ski at most of the resorts surrounding Lake Tahoe, so I can confidently say that Squaw Valley is one of the best resorts with some of the toughest runs, but it’s also a resort that offers a lot more than just incredible slopes.

Come spring and summer, Squaw Valley offers access to its Umbrella Bar, the only mountain top bar in the United States with a pool and hot tub. This favorite drinking spot offers a relaxed environment to spend time with friends while making new ones. The Umbrella Bar is surrounded by breath-taking mountain views, making it the perfect place to relax after a day of outdoor adventures.

Hop on to the Cable Car and ride 2,000 vertical feet to High Camp. Check out the Olympic Museum and learn about the 1960 Olympics which took place at Squaw Valley. High Camp also serves as the gateway to beginner terrain, allowing visitors to enjoy access to plenty of wide, gentle slopes perfect for beginners developing their skills.

For luxurious accommodations located steps from the slopes, consider the Resort at Squaw Creek. This hotel provides ski-in/ski-out access, on-site cross country ski center, 18-hole championship golf course, heating swimming pools, waterslide, and beautiful hiking and biking trails.