New Luxury Hotels Opening in 2012: Nobilis Hotel in Lviv, Ukraine

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 newest 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 Nobilis Hotel in Lviv is the first and only world class luxury hotel located in the heart of Lviv, and the classical building façade decorated with hand-paintings beautifully compliments the architectural design of the city. Lviv, which means the City of Lions, is a historic and beautiful city which has successfully meshed the architectural and traditional culture of Eastern Europe with those of Italy, Germany, and France. Referred to as the ‘Little Paris of Ukraine,’ Lviv’s cobblestone streets and cultural institutions make it a romantic and beautiful city certainly worth exploring. The Nobilis Hotel has 49 spacious rooms and 9 luxurious suites equipped with the latest technology and decorated with elegant and tasteful style. Its exquisite restaurant, piano-lounge bar, 24-hour lobby bar with fireplace, and its spa and fitness center all add to the hotel’s lavish comforts and charm. Be sure to make your reservations at this beautiful property soon to make it in time for the EuroCup 2012, and get ready to visit what in my very biased opinion is the best city in the world!

Romantic Getaway Ideas: The Regent Palms

Whether you’re planning a wedding, honeymoon, or simply a lovely weekend with your loved one, we certainly have a few romantic getaway ideas for you to consider. With over 3,000 luxury hotels on our site, we have something for everyone. So whether you’re searching for an all-inclusive resort, an exciting hotel with outdoor activities, or a snowy paradise, we have you covered. Check in with our blog series for ideas and inspiration on where to ignite your passion next!

Today’s feature is The Regent Palms. This beautiful luxury resort is located less than 600 miles southeast of Miami on the stunning islands of Turks and Caicos. The Regent Palms lies amidst 12 acres of gardens and on the edge of the 12 mile Grace Bay Beach and has 164 rooms and 72 one, two, and three bedroom suites available. Its 26,000 square foot spa has been updated and now offers a new treatment menu, newly introduced product lines, and a soft renovation of the treatment rooms. This phenomenal property was voted #1 Best Beach in the World by TripAdvisor, and it has received the ‘Hotel of the Year’ award from the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association for the second year. The fine dining restaurant, Parallel23 tied for the ‘Restaurant of the Year.’ With all of these impressive awards, recognitions, and upgrades, the Regent Palms is certainly a phenomenal option for a romantic retreat!

Check in with us often to explore other luxury hotel recommendations perfect for a romantic escape!

Special Packages and Rates at the Four Seasons Chicago

The Four Seasons Chicago is offering a few packages for folks hoping to get a bit more out of their stay with options perfect for those looking for a romantic weekend, a family vacation, or a business trip. The Four Seasons Chicago offers eagle eye views of the city or Lake Michigan and it’s conveniently located on the Magnificent Mile near the shopping, dining, theater, and financial districts.

Bed and Breakfast Package

This package is available for a variety of room types including City View King bed rooms, Lake View King bed rooms, and One bedroom Suites. This package includes Midwest breakfast for two daily through in-room dining or in the Seasons Lounge.

Kids in the City Package

Ideal for a family vacation, this package is available for Executive Suites, One Bedroom Suites, and Accessible Rooms. This package includes complimentary meals for kids 12 and under from the in-room dining children’s menu, a visit from the ice cream man between 3:00 and 6:00pm, and luxurious accommodations.

Just the Two of Us Package

This is the perfect package for a couple looking for a romantic retreat. It is available for a variety of room types and it includes breakfast in bed for two served through in-room dining, an in-room visit from the Martini Man or the Hot Chocolate Doc, $30.00 off a couple’s massage in the spa, and luxurious accommodations.

Be sure to make your reservations at the Four Seasons Chicago! These packages are available for a limited time!

New Luxury Hotels Opening in 2012: Four Seasons Hotel Baku, Azerbaijan

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 newest 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 Four Seasons Hotel Baku is opening mid-2012, and they are currently accepting reservations for arrivals from June 15th, 2012! Located in Azerbaijan’s capital on the Caspian Sea, the Four Seasons presents a beautiful luxury hotel on the waterfront promenade, just steps from the Old City. Its 142 classic yet modern guest rooms and 29 luxurious suites almost all open to a balcony with stunning views of the city or of the Caspian Sea. Explore the city of Baku, swim in the glass-roofed atrium, or relax in the penthouse spa. Be sure to visit this up-and-coming area and be one of the first to experience everything the Four Seasons Hotel Baku has to offer!

Rainbow Bright: Sedona Rouge's Refraction is Second to None

I think a lovely photo is excuse enough to write a blog one of my favorite properties, and it's time we follow in nature's footsteps and shed some light on the Sedona Rouge Hotel & Spa anyway.  A small, modern boutique hotel and spa, Sedona Rouge combines a mediterranean flair with gorgeous Southewestern scenery and Andalusian luxury. The aptly named Sedona Spa is the perfect place to slough the trail dust off after an outdoor adventure by making use of one of their personalized treatment plans. Once you've got a nice spring in your step, head on over to REDS restaurant for the finest cuisine this side of the Pacific Ocean that's served in an outdoor bamboo garden. The mountain landscape is the perfect backdrop for a weekend (or longer!) away from the helter skelter stress of daily life.  And this weekend, nature gave her seal of approval with a lovely rainbow. 

Photo courtesy of the Sedona Rouge Facebook Page.

New Spa Cabana at the Sunset Key Guest Cottages a Westin Resort

The Sunset Key Guest Cottages is a Westin Resort located on Sunset Key, a beautiful, secluded 27 acre Florida Island. The cottages comprise 7 acres of the island, and they are designed for the sophisticated traveler who demands the best of the best. The perfectly appointed cottages are nestled between the swaying palm trees alongside the white, sandy Florida beach. Breathtaking Ocean and garden views are offered, and each cottage is fully equipped with a kitchen, living and dining area, bathroom(s), and a beverage and pantry bar.

The Sunset Key Guest Cottages just recently opened its new Spa Cabana where guests can enjoy a variety of massages all while indulging the senses in the island surroundings. The Spa Cabana is on the waterfront on a quiet corner of Sunset Key Beach with a thatched roof and open wall design, providing guests with the opportunity to take in the warmth of the sun, scent of the sea, and the sound of the waves. Enjoy the most relaxing massage and experience the best of the Sunset Key by making your reservation for the Sunset Key Guest Cottages today!

Conde Nast Platinum Circle 2012: Chewton Glen

We've been spotlighting a list of Conde Nast's award-winning Gold List Hotels for 2012, and each one is amazing in its own right. In a clear case of never enough of a good thing, Conde Nast has yet an additional level to their awards, the meta-prestigious Platinum Circle Hotels, distinguished for being consistent Gold List winners for the last five years. Perhaps it could have been more aptly named the Conde Nast Award for Continued Excellence in the Having of Conde Nast Awards, but that's probably just my jealousy talking. It takes a certain level of cachet to be able to recognize someone for being recognized by you, and the Conde Nast Awards carry that weight. Regardless, the Platinum Circle hotels are undoubtedly some of the best of the best and have the mark of consistency that other hotels can only aspire to.

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 less-than-appetizingly named Chewton Glen is today's entry in our continuing exploration of the Conde Nast Platinum Circle.  Just 20 minutes from the English Channel, Chewton Glen is the epitome of classic English style. And the pinnacle of this epitome is the expansive croquet lawn that fronts the beautiful 18th century manor house. With only 59 rooms, the service at Chewton Glen is exceptionally personal and comes with the British flair for understatement that, like a nice crumpet, no afternoon tea is complete without. The 100,000 acre national forest on the edge of which the hotel sits offers miles of hiking trails and a 9-hole par three golf course and indoor/outdoor tennis courts mean you can also stay on the grounds to break a sweat. Its spa has been named the best in England, and its hydrotherapy pool is perfect for a refreshing soak. If you want all the gentlemanly sensibilities of a five-star London hotel but want to stay out of the city, Chewton Glen is the hotel for you. 

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!

Phenomenal Rates and Amenities Available at the Peninsula Chicago!

The Peninsula Chicago is the Windy City’s most luxurious and sophisticated hotel. Located in the heart of the ‘Magnificent Mile,’ on the doorstep of Chicago’s business and shopping district, The Peninsula Chicago offers guests the absolute best amenities and services. Its 339 guestrooms and suites are among the largest in the city and are beautifully furnished with a state-of-the-art electronic system that allows guests to control all room features with the touch of a button. This luxury hotel is extremely accommodating of families with both Junior Suites and Deluxe Suites having a sofa bed as well as the option to interconnect the Grand Deluxe Room with a king size bed to a Grand Deluxe room with 2 double beds, a Deluxe Suite with a Deluxe Room, and an Executive Suite with a Deluxe Room. All of these amenities and characteristics of the hotel make it an excellent option when traveling to Chicago, but the following features and details set The Peninsula Chicago apart from other properties, making it one of the absolute best and most exceptional hotels in the area!

- A 14,000 square foot, two level spa and fitness center located on the top two floors of the hotel offering incredible skyline views of the city.

- Complimentary yoga and Pilates classes offered three times a day.

- A chocolate bar every Friday and Saturday night serving chocolate martinis and delectable treats while a soft jazz trio band plays in the background.

- A half Olympic-sized indoor pool.

- A business center that’s open 24 hours a day.

These are just a few of the ways The Peninsula Chicago goes above and beyond to offer its guests an exceptional stay, and you’ll simply have to make your reservations at this hotel to experience the true meaning of luxury for yourself!

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!