The Luxury Hotel Insider: Exclusive luxury hotel deals, features and special rates from the luxury hotel experts at Five Star Alliance. St. Ermin's Hotel London Joins the Autograph Collection
May 7, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
The St. Ermin’s Hotel, nestled in the heart of London, is in the center of the city's vibrant business, leisure and government landmarks. Just a minute's walk from St James’s Park, this distinctive deluxe hotel is a relaxed and elegant haven from London's bustling streets. The Autograph Collection, Marriott International’s portfolio of upscale, independent hotels, recently announced that St. Ermin’s Hotel will be the third Autograph Collection hotel in the United Kingdom. Earlier this month, Autograph Collection announced its entree into the U.K. with the inauguration of Threadneedles in the heart of London’s financial district and The Glasshouse in central Edinburgh, Scotland. The 331-room iconic St. Ermin’s Hotel will expand the collection of independent lifestyle hotels to include more than 40 exceptional travel experiences in the United States, Europe, Caribbean, and South America.
According to Autograph Collection, they are looking for an evolving group of passionately independent hotels that fall under distinct categories of travel experience including Culinary Delight, Artistic Getaway, Historic Exploration, or Sporting Adventure. Each hotel is thoughtfully chosen for its quality, originality, bold character and capacity to offer guests a range of unique and unexpected experiences suited to their individual sense of style and adventure.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Did You Know? Lebua Resort Jaipur
May 7, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Guests at lebua Resort Jaipur can enjoy the traditional Indian sport of kite flying from their terrace.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Dine at The Dining Room And Terrace at El Encanto
May 6, 2013
By: Elaine Lee
With breath-taking ocean views of the Riviera, El Encanto captures the beauty glamour and charm of Santa Barbara. Santa Barbara is a city rich in local culinary fare, and has all the comforts of fresh and locally grown produce, freshly caught seafood, locally raised beef and poultry, complete with a robust wine industry. An ideal place for foodies, El Encanto's The Dining Room And Terrace restaurant extends the same "locavore" sentiment with everything they serve. El Encanto not only roasts its own coffee, they brew their own unpasteurized beer, have an on-site garden to get fresh produce complete with an aeroponic tower to grow Japanese herbs, and even has its own dairy cow named Ellie who provides the dairy for the kitchen's homemade cheese program! The amazing view of the Santa Barbara Riviera from The Dining Room and Terrace, is just an added bonus. The artisanal innovative menu offerings of coastal Californian cuisine with Japanese and Parisian flairs at The Dining Room And Terrace at El Encanto is an all around treat and what gastronomic dreams are made of.
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By: Elaine Lee
The Value of an All-Inclusive Resort
May 6, 2013
By: Five Star Alliance
Wes Moss recently asked the question "Is the all-inclusive vacation a good deal?" in the personal finance section of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Five Star Alliance features a number of luxury all-inclusive resorts (you can view our favorite's here) and we get asked that question a lot.
Spring break is over. Mercifully. When there’s no school for the kids, but mom and dad still have to work, it’s no vacation for anyone. All of a sudden, it’s a circus at the house. It’s enough to make you think it will be worth the money to go somewhere.
I’ve always wondered about the financial wisdom of the all-inclusive trip. Is it really a good deal? So this year I talked to several families that went to an all-inclusive resort with their children for spring break. I found out the real numbers behind (at least one) popular family destination.
I looked specifically at Beaches, a company that offers all-inclusive packages in Turks & Caicos, which is just a quick – and direct! – two-and-a-half-hour flight from Atlanta. A passport is required, and I’m not factoring the cost of a passport into my calculations. You’d need it for this destination whether you were going all-inclusive or pay-as-you-go.
Here’s the math. Minus airfare, here’s what a day in an all-inclusive paradise will cost you, based on a family of four. I’m assuming there are two adults and two kids.
Five nights (Sunday through Thursday) will run you about $3,750. Spring for a sixth night, and you’re looking at about $4,500. Either way, the average cost, including lodging, food and all the incidentals at the all-inclusive resort cost is $750 per day.
Now, let’s break down what a typical day, per family, costs at a place where you’re paying a la carte. These costs may even be on the low side. Kids have a way of turning parents into human ATMs:
Breakfast buffet: $15 x 4 = $60
Snacks and desserts: $30
In-room waters/soda: $15
Kayaks and windsurfing: $15
Kids' camp in the morning: $60
Kids' camp in the afternoon: $60
Lunch $ 17.50 x 4 = $70
Dinner for the two grown-ups, with drinks: $100
Afternoon drinks, 5 x $10 = $50 (One for each family member, plus an extra)
Other (there's always something else!) and after-dinner drinks: $50
Nightly entertainment/shows for the whole family (fire twirlers, comedy): FREE
Gym workout (For your sanity – not for the kids) FREE
Hotel: $250 (at least) per night
Without the hotel, we're looking at approximately $510 a day in food, drinks and fun. And that doesn’t even count gratuity. That could be another 20 percent on top of $515 per day. If you pay $102 a day in tips, your per day total is $612.
If you add in a hotel room for $250 per night, we're at $862 – certainly higher than the $750 per night at the all-inclusive resort.
And at the all-inclusive place, you've also saved yourself the hassle of paying for every meal, drink, dessert, show and bottled water.
Throw in Xbox games, water slides, a lazy river, ice cream three times a day, another umbrella drink for mom and dad at the pool, souvenirs, sunscreen, aloe for the sunburn and all the other extras, and it looks like all-inclusive is the better deal.
Next spring break, go all in(clusive).
The original article by Wes Moss is posted at The Atlanta Journal Constitution.
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Mandarin Oriental Geneva Unveils Its Mandarin Floor
May 6, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Mandarin Oriental Geneva recently complete a two-year refurbishment of its guestrooms, and has recently revealed its new "Mandarin Floor." Located on the hotel's sixth floor and boasting superb views over the city, rivers, and mountains. Interiors have been designed by renowned French Designer Sybille de Margerie of SM Design. Margerie was also responsible for the guestrooms, public areas, and spas at the Mandarin Oriental Paris. The new interiors are designed to provide guests with the ultimate in comfort, modernity and style, whilst enjoying magnificent views over the river Rhône, city and mountains. The "Mandarin Floor" offers modern and spacious rooms and suites bursting with a sophisticated palette of reds, invigorating exotic fuchsia, and delicate tones of silver or gold.
The "Mandarin Floor" offers guests a variety of luxurious rooms and suites; from the elegant Mandarin Rooms, stylish Junior River Suites, the classy Deluxe Suites, to the most exclusive Royal Mandarin Suite with its private elevator access and the possibility of a configuration as a magnificent three-bedroom suite. All rooms and suites are equipped with the latest in sophisticated technology and entertainment systems and complimentary Nespresso coffee machines. With the addition of the "Mandarin Floor," the Mandarin Oriental Geneava now offers a total of 170 stylish and spacious guestrooms and 27 suites. With the launch of the “Mandarin Floor”, Mandarin Oriental, Geneva now offers a total of 170 stylish and spacious guestrooms and 27 top suites.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Did You Know? Banyan Tree Club and Spa
May 6, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
When winter arrives in Seoul, the expansive outdoor swimming pool at Banyan Tree Club and Spa transforms into a fairy-tale ice rink and snow-sled field.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Image of the Day: Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort
May 5, 2013
By: Five Star Alliance
Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort overlooks the island’s famed Kuta Beach and the Bali Strait along Jalan Pantai Kuta. The Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort is part of Beachwalk: A Sahid Kuta Lifestyle Resort, a lifestyle center complete with shopping, restaurants, bars, nightlife, and an XXI Cineplex. Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport (DPS), is only a 15-minute drive away.
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Paradisus Palma Real Introduces a Royal Redesign
May 5, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Paradisus Palma Real, the luxury all-inclusive Punta Cana resort, has completed its comprehensive redesign, adding 110 Royal Service Suites, as well a new Royal Service Lounge with its own private Italian restaurant, new juice bar, pool, ECO spa, and fitness areas. The resort’s service has also been upgraded, from pre-arrival to Punta Cana and resort arrival, as well as personalized and intuitive butler service throughout.
As part of the improvements to service, once guest books their stay at Paradisus Palma Resort, a staff member will contact them to discuss preferences, dietary restrictions, and their vacation desires. The resort will then make recommendations, pre-book reservations, and help create the perfect vacation.
Paradisus signature Royal Service Suites offer unparalleled all-inclusive luxury in an adults-only atmosphere. Each of the 220 Royal Service Suites comes complete with an in-suite Jacuzzi. Modern touches include 32-inch flat screen televisions, iPod docking stations, Expresso coffee machines and now customized mini-bars, bathrooms are stocked with Thierry Mugler bath amenities. The resort has also taken their service standards up a notch, now providing one modern certificated butler per every six Royal Service Suites.
The additional Royal Service ECO Spa is exclusively for Royal Service guests, featuring five massage treatment eco palapas. A water ritual area – comprised of two hot tubs, pool with hydrotherapy, cold plunge, pediluvio foot bath, showers, steam room and sauna – will be located adjacent to the new Royal Service pool.
The new Italian restaurant, Il Palazzo, will be exclusive for Royal Service Guests, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner. This modern Italian experience is located within the new Royal Service lounge and offers unobstructed views of the Caribbean. The Royal Service white sand beach area will now boast a new Juice Bar. Guests will be able to order smoothies and freshly squeezed juices, including the signature passion fruit drink. The new Juice Bar is open daily, from morning to early evening. The resort’s main lagoon-style pool will now feature a designated and dedicated Royal Service area, which connects to the Royal Service Lounge. Paradisus Palma Real’s new Fitness area, YHI Moves, will be over 2,000 sq. ft, boasting new Life Fitness equipment and a large cardio and weights area, attended by professional personal trainers, offering assistance and complimentary yoga, pilates and stretching classes. The resort’s new Red Lounge is an all-day lobby bar and after-dinner lounge, which changes ambiance to suit the mood and tempo of day and night-time entertainment.
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Spotlight on La Tremoille
May 4, 2013
By: Elaine Lee
Paris is synonymous with refinement and elegance, it is a place where everything is so beautiful it can be considered an art form. From the food to the clothes, everything seems seamlessly dripping with Parisian luxury. Travelers and tourists who have been to the fabulous Golden Triangle in Paris located in the 8th district, have seen and shopped at the finest haute couture fashion houses, experienced gastronomic delicacies, and if they are lucky know about Paris's best kept secret: La Tremoille.
La Tremoille has received rave reviews since its grand re-opening, ten years ago and is what Parisian dreams are made of. La Tremoille is surrounded by the haute couture fashion houses, restaurants and museums. From check-in to check-out guests experience this refined Parisian elegance every step of the way. Guests are greeted with Ladurée macaroons on their pillows every night, sleep peacefully in sound-proof rooms, bathe in luxurious Molton Brown bath products, and well-dressed rooms to relax in after a day of sight seeing designed in the same sentiment of its surroundings of contemporary elegance.
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By: Elaine Lee
Image of the Day: Fairmont Yangcheng Lake
May 4, 2013
By: Five Star Alliance
Nestled along the shores of the legendary Yangcheng Lake, home to the sought-after hairy crab, Fairmont Yangcheng Lake is a luxury five star Kunshan resort unlike any other.
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