Five Star Allinace

Romantic Getaway Ideas for Valentine’s Day

Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, and it can certainly put a little bit of stress on those lucky gentlemen out there with special someone’s. Instead of the traditional dinner and flowers, consider whisking your significant other away for a luxurious romantic getaway!

L’Ermitage Beverly Hills has an Ultimate Romance package which includes two nights in a suite, private car service from LAX, and breakfast for two. The $7,000 package also includes a four-course dinner at Livello, a 50 minute helicopter tour of Los Angeles, and some alone time on a Santa Monica mountaintop overlooking Malibu!

Explore photos, availability, and rates at L’Ermitage Beverly Hills here >>

Happy Birthday From the Arizona Biltmore!

The Arizona Biltmore values its guests’ birthdays, and it’s going above and beyond singing to you in the hotel restaurant to make you feel special on your special day! Enjoy a free night during your birthday month (minimum 2 night stay required) as well as a cupcake and balloons delivered straight to your room! Be sure to grab the gals or that special someone for your birthday this year, and make your reservation at the Arizona Biltmore!

Share this article:

The First Legoland Hotel to Open in the U.S. This April!

Legos, original barbie dolls, and beanie babies send us all back to our childhoods, so we certainly squeeled like little kids when we heard about Legoland Hotels. Set to open on April 5th 2013 in Carlsbad California, this will be the first Legoland Hotel in the United States and the third in the world with the two already up and running in the United Kingdom and Denmark.

We’re looking forward to having life-sized, lego built employees including bell hops and dragons dispersed throughout the property. All of the 250 rooms are decorated in accordance with one of Lego’s three most popular product styles (Kingdom, Adventure, or Pirate), and feature perks like mini-fridges and in-room treasure hunts. Rooms also feature free Wi-Fi, flatscreen televions, and all of the lego bricks you could ever want in a lifetime!

If a visit to Legoland Park is all you need, be sure to explore the 2 luxury hotels in Carlsbad for a vacation full of kid-friendly fun and luxury!

Newly Renovated El Encanto Opening Soon!

We’re holding our breath for the opening of the new and improved El Encanto in Santa Barbara, California! This Orient Express property has been undergoing a major renovation for the last few months, and we’re absolutely thrilled to see all of the upgrades and modifications! Opening day is currently set for March 18th, 2013, and this luxury hotel will stand out from the rest in more ways than one! A few additions to look forward to include:

- El Encanto will have its very own cow, Ellie whose milk will be used to make a special cheese only to be found at this hotel. (cool, huh?)

- This hotel will be serving unpasteurized beer brewed nearby to go with the special cheese.

- The coffee served for breakfast will be El Encanto’s own brand, and their on-site herb and vegetable garden will ensure only the very best greens make it to your table.

- For the eco-friendly travelers, El Encanto has added various energy saving and preservation techniques to reduce overall consumption. Guests are encouraged to leave their cars behind and hop on one of the complimentary electric bikes and mosey their way to the beach or into town.

- Accommodations will include 92 intimate bungalows that are scattered throughout seven acres of grounds.

Explore details and photos of El Encanto here, and be sure to make your reservation for this stunning property in March!

The Top 30 Hotels in 2012: #4 Auberge Du Soleil

In the last month of 2012, Five Star Alliance is counting down the Top 30 Luxury Hotels and Resorts worldwide, as decided by you, our luxury travelers! Be sure to check in with us daily to keep up with our countdown and explore a few of the absolute best and most luxurious hotels in the world for your future travels!

Coming in the #4 spot is the Auberge Du Soleil which is located just off the Silverado Trail, outside of Rutherford, overlooking Napa Valley. Here are a few fun facts about this luxury hotel:

- All accommodations at Auberge du Soleil feature Mediterranean-inspired decor with original contemporary art

- Auberge du Soleil began as a restaurant created by visionary restaurateur Claude Rouas

- Maintained its legacy as a culinary destination, where innovative menus inspired by the bounty of Napa Valley are paired with wine in ways that delight and inspire longtime devotees

- Auberge Spa occupies a 7,000 square feet stucco building, overlooking the Napa Valley

- Napa winery tours can be arranged in advance

Explore photos, availability, and rates at Auberge Du Soleil here >>

Share this article:

Special Five Star Alliance Rates at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix

We at Five Star Alliance know that you, our loyal travelers, are in search of luxurious accommodations at the best prices available, so we go above and beyond to find the best promotional packages and specials to ensure you get the most from your hotel experience. We’re thrilled to introduce our newest blog series where we’ll be featuring luxury hotels that offer you more than just room-only rates. Whether you’re traveling on business or pleasure, we certainly have something for you, so be sure to check in with us often to get the inside scoop on the best deals and packages available at luxury hotels all over the world!

The Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa in Phoenix, Arizona is known throughout the world as the ‘Jewel of the Desert,’ and it has a few Five Star Alliance rates too good to pass up! Check out what’s included and make your reservation at the Arizona Biltmore Resort and Spa here!

The Five Star Alliance rate is available for a variety of room types ranging from Classic King rooms to Villa 2 Bedroom Suites. The rate includes:

- Continental Breakfast For 2 Daily

- $100.00 Food & Beverage Credit to Frank & Albert's

- Upgrade If Available At Check-in

- Early Check-in If Available

- 4pm Late Check-out

Ice Skating in LA Made Possible Thanks to the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel

We love southern California (or SoCal as the locals call it), but we certainly miss partaking in winter holiday festivities when December rolls around. The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza seems to have understood our pain and has recently opened a 3,000 square foot ice rink! The rink is a hybrid version that utilizes non-refrigerated synthetic ice made from recyclable polymers on which regular ice skates work very well. Hopefully that means when we attempt to do an axel jump, the fall won’t be as cold or hard as on real ice. The Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel has had a few other upgrades including installing an infinity pool and upgrading all of its cabanas.  We love how this hotel is setting itself apart from its neighboring properties, and we can't wait to see what other upgrades and installations it has up its sleeve. 

Make reservations at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel and cross off ‘ice skate in shorts’ from your bucket list!

Share this article:

Your Questions Answered: Interconnecting Room Options at Miramonte Resort and Spa

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: We’d like to stay at the Miramonte Resort and Spa, but we’re traveling with a large group of 4 adults and 2 seven year old kids. We’d like to get 2 interconnecting rooms. What room types should we book?

Answer: The Estate room with 2 queen beds or the Luxury room with 2 queen beds can accommodate a family of 2 adults and 2 kids age 7 at no extra charge. The difference between the Estate and Luxury room type is that the Luxury room type has access to a patio or balcony while the Estate room does not. The Estate king can interconnect to a Luxury Queen or to an Estate Queen. Although these interconnecting room types are currently available, interconnecting rooms would not be guaranteed and based on availability which fluctuates frequently. To view rates, availability, and to make your reservations, simply visit this website and enter your dates of travel. 

Rates and availability are subject to change depending on the hotel’s policies.

Private Homes Perfect for a Group Get-Together at Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain!

Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain in Arizona is a luxury hideaway overlooking the beautiful views of Paradise Valley. Voted on Conde Nast Traveler’s ‘World’s Best Places to Stay,’ this luxury resort is perfect for trips of all kinds and for folks of all ages. A few key amenities include an indoor infinity edge pool, an outdoor infinity pool, 5 tennis courts, a luxurious spa, and opportunities to partake in horseback riding, hot air ballooning, and much more.

The Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain offers seven Private Homes that are perfect for a get together with friends or a family vacation. Today’s feature is the Casa Montana which is a warm private home embellished with Spanish-inspired décor. This 3,500 square foot home offers four large bedrooms, six full bathrooms, three wood-burning fire places, and a billiard room with a spacious bar and pool table. The Casa Montana also features a private pool, whirlpool spa, and a gorgeous patio. The room types include a Master Bedroom with an adjacent private study, a king size bedroom, and 2 bedrooms with double beds, each featuring its own private bathroom and walk-in closet.

Check availability and rates at the Sanctuary on Camelback Mountain here >>

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: Four Seasons Resort Vail

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 Four Seasons Resort in Vail, Colorado is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for leisure facilities. This luxury hotel is situated high in the Colorado Rockies at the gateway to Vail Village, perfectly located within walking distance to shops, restaurants, and most importantly, the slopes! Guests are allocated a ski concierge upon arrival and are served delicious treats including hot chocolate and muffins at the bottom of the runs. There’s something truly magical to swimming in a heated pool while it snows, and guests get to experience this fantastic contradiction and much more at the stunning Four Seasons Resort Vail!