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. 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
W New York Union Square Renovations Revealed
May 8, 2013
By: Guest Writer
Jena Tesse Fox recently wrote for our sister publication, Luxury Travel Advisor, about the renovations at The W New York - Union Square:
Heads up, New Yorkers! The W New York - Union Square has unveiled the results of a major renovation project. The transformation is part of the W brand's plan to renovate more than 11 of its properties across North America, and includes a full re-design of the hotel's 270 guestrooms and top suites, W Living Room, Todd English's Olives New York, and destination bar Lilium by Gerber Group (previously Underbar). The renovation also preserves original design details of the landmark 1911 Beaux Arts building, including its turn-of-the century Great Room with 23-foot high gilded ceilings and grand windows, which was restored late last year.
The W Living Room: The new design of the W Union Square Living Room, by New York based design firm Krause + Sawyer, is good for for conducting business by day and unwinding by night. A black steel communal table, equipped with inlay plugs for chargers, encourages guests to mix and mingle while staying connected.
The Guest Rooms + Suites: Each of the hotel's 270 remodeled guest rooms and suites are anchored by a sculptural headboard representing an abstract view of Union Square. Silver window coverings are brightly stitched together with silk fabric mimicking a man's tie, while wall coverings in a soft, sophisticated "Park Avenue" white are contrasted with a bohemian metallic blue. Cool touch: The Extreme WOW Suite (the W brand's take on the Presidential Suite) is equipped with state-of-the-art audio and video capabilities including wall units that can easily interchange from dining room table to space for a DJ booth.
Lilium and Olives New York: The hotel's renovation also includes the re-design of its destination bar Lilium, as well as a complete renovation of Todd English's Olives New York restaurant. Lilium, the hotel's subterranean nightspot, sits beneath the hotel's façade. Key features of the 1,600 square foot interior include a twisted metal ceiling that cascades down the walls and complements the sculptural black steel lilies, created by metal artist Scot Brown. At Olives, the expanded bar, now located in the center of the space, creates a vibrant hub in the heart of the restaurant while new seating choices include u-shaped banquettes, an elevated chef's table or a nine-seat raw bar along the signature open kitchen. For more information, visit www.whotels.com/unionsquare.
Read more at Luxury Travel Advisor >>
By: Guest Writer
Did You Know? The Langham Chicago
May 8, 2013
By: K. Clare Johnson
The Langham, Chicago, which is brand new, will be housed within the 52-story structure that was the last to be designed by Mies van der Rohe and is affectionately known by Chicago's citizens as the IBM Building. The building's cultural value was recognized when it was declared a Chicago Landmark in 2008 and entered into the National Register of Historic Places in March 2010.
Learn more about The Langham Chicago >>
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By: K. Clare Johnson
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.
View rates, details, and more photos of St. Ermin's Hotel London >>
See other properties in the Autograph Collection >>
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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.
View rates, details, and more photos of lebua Resort Jaipur >>
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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.
Find, research, and book your luxury all-inclusive resort now >>
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.
View rates, details, and more photos of Mandarin Oriental Geneva >>
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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.
View rates, details, and more photos of Banyan Tree Club and Spa >>
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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.
View rates, details, and more photos of Sheraton Bali Kuta Resort >>
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