The Luxury Hotel Insider
The Luxury Hotel Insider: Exclusive luxury hotel deals, features and special rates from the luxury hotel experts at Five Star Alliance. Movie Star Suites at Leading Hotels
May 20, 2013
By: Five Star Alliance
Nobody can make you a star, but you can check in to a hotel that will make you feel like you are one. Our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, has the rundown on sleeping in star spots. Here's an excerpt:
Did you miss out on Cannes this year? We hear The Leading Hotels of the World is offering travelers a chance to live the celeb life at some movie-star themed suites around the world. Here are the top picks:
An ardent fan of the town of Portofino, actress Ava Gardner often chose to spend her holidays there. In 1952, she stayed at Hotel Splendido, during the filming of The Barefoot Contessa, co-starring Humphrey Bogart and Edmond O’Brien. In homage to Ms. Gardner, sister hotel Splendido Mare dedicated a suite to her. Stretching across the entire top floor of the hotel, the Ava Gardner Suite offers a magnificent terrace with incomparable views of the harbor, promontory and Castello Brown, which are also fully visible from the bed and the sitting room. The 603-square-foot terrace is adorned with a huge, potted lemon tree and flowering Mediterranean plants. The expansive bedroom is incredibly well lit thanks to two generous windows that highlight the soft pastel tones of the walls, fabrics and furniture. A large door connects to the sun-filled sitting room, which boasts an almost wall-to-wall window. When open, this joins the sitting room and terrace, creating one magnificent space— half indoors and half outdoors. No doubt Ms. Gardner would feel blissfully at home here!
View rates, details, and more photos of Hotel Splendido and Splendido Mare >>
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Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa Maldives Lands a Private Runway
May 19, 2013
By: Meagan Drillinger
Have a private jet? Now you have somewhere to land it the next time you visit the Maldives. Our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, has the scoop on a new private jet airport terminal at Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa.
Globetrotters now have a new reason to touch down in the Maldives. We hear Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is gearing up to have its own private jet airport terminal.
Located at Gan International Airport in Addu Atoll, the terminal is for the exclusive arrival and departure of the resort’s guests, including those on commercial flights to and from Male International Airport. The terminal is five minutes by speedboat from the resort and has two lounges and a VIP room. Extra Touch: A private lounge is reserved for guests arriving by private jet and offers one-stop immigration, custom and baggage screening services.
Those looking to leap on this opportunity can take part in the Private Jet Experience, which features stays in a presidential villa and other benefits. The Private Jet Experience benefits include welcome champagne; a dedicated villa butler; dolphin cruise; daily massage at CHI, The Spa; personal mobile phone and the bespoke “Dine by Design” experience.
View rates, details, and more photos of Shangri-La's Villingili Resort and Spa >>
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New to Five Star Alliance: The Moorings Village and Spa
May 18, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
The Moorings Village is a picturesque South Seas-Style Resort on 18-acres, consisting of 18 cottages and homes on what was once acoconut plantation.The resort's location on Islamorada, known as "The Sportfishing Capital of the World," means two distinctly different types of fishing are readily available. Diving and snorkeling in the Keys are also popular activities.
View rates, details, and more photos of The Moorings Village and Spa >>
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Did You Know? Wailea Beach Villas
May 17, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
These ultra-luxurious Penthouse suites and villas at Wailea Beach Villas are generously sized up to 3,100 square feet and feature a great room with an open floor plan comprising a living room, dining area and gourmet kitchen, complete with an embellished coffee bar. A private lanai with Viking barbecue grill is perfect for entertaining.
View rates, details, and more photos of Wailea Beach Villas >>
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Happy 100th Birthday Grande Colonial Hotel La Jolla!
May 17, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Happy 100th Birthday Grande Colonial Hotel La Jolla! The oldest hotel is La Jolla is celebrating its centennial this year. As part of the year-long Centennial celebration, the hotel will offer:
• A Time Capsule Contest
• Specials and packages for overnight guests
• Centennial merchandise for sale
• Throw-back cocktail menus at NINE-TEN Restaurant
• Weekly social media contests on Facebook
• A historic video montage, which can be seen on the hotel's YouTube Channel.
History buffs will enjoy a special booklet prepared by the hotel. The booklet highlights five chapters of the hotel's history:
•La Jolla: A Jewel from the Start
•A Landmark for La Jolla
•Putnam’s Legacy
•Hollywood and the Hotel
•Guests or Ghosts?
The Grand Colonial may be 100, but it doesn't look its age. The hotel features a five-story main building and three adjacent private buildings, all encompassing guest rooms and suites updated with every contemporary comfort. Also offered are 5,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor event space - most with ocean views - for weddings, meetings and special events. The award-winning ZAGAT-rated NINE-TEN Restaurant is a La Jolla dining landmark - boasting nationally acclaimed chefs, "Evolving California Cuisine" and a Wine Spectator-recognized wine list.
View rates, details, and more photos of Grand Colonial Hotel La Jolla >>
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Sneak Peek: Andaz Maui at Wailea
May 9, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
Andaz Maui at Wailea is the newest luxury hotel on the block. The LEED certified resort is accepting reservations starting September 15, 2013. The 15-acre resort will have 297 guest rooms and suites, including seven luxury 2-4 bedroom residential villas.
Guest of Andaz Maui at Wailea will appreciate a host of services, from upscale spa services to a diverse array of experiential tours that celebrate Maui’s equally diverse culture. Andaz Maui at Wailea's LEED-certified status means that the resort has been enhanced with eco-friendly, green-minded amenities.
Exclusive Maui Resort Services include:
-Private access to Mokapu Beach
-4 outdoor infinity pools and separate adult pool
-2 poolside bars and lounges
-2 acclaimed full-service restaurants
-Full-service, eco-friendly spa with apothecary retail store
-Exclusive Wailea golf privileges
-Complimentary high-speed wireless Internet access
-15,000 square feet of residential-style meeting and event facilities
-Experiential tours and activity desk
-Fitness center
Just minutes from Wailea’s most acclaimed golf courses, restaurants and shops, resort guests will experience their own slice of island life.
View more details and photos of Andaz Maui at Wailea >>
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By: K. Clare Johnson
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.
Find, research, and book your luxury all-inclusive resort now >>
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.
View rates, details, and more photos of Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort >>
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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.
View rates, details, and more photos of Paradisus Palma Real >>
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By: K. Clare Johnson
Image of the Day: Amanzoe
May 2, 2013
By: Five Star Alliance
Comprising a 38-suite resort and an Aman Spa, Amanzo'e is Amanresorts’ third Mediterranean retreat – the Greek complement to Montenegro’s Aman Sveti Stefan and Turkey’s Amanruya. Drawing its name from the Sanskrit-derived word for "peace" and zoe (pronounced zoi), the Greek word for "life," Amanzo'e is situated on a hilltop close to the quaint town of Porto Heli on the east coast of the Peloponnese. The luxury Porto Heli resort offers almost 360º panoramic sea views as well as a private Beach Club in a picturesque bay.
View rates, details, and more photos of Amanzoe >>
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