Happy New Year!

Wishing you a happy new year from all of us at The Informed Traveler and Five Star Alliance. And tonight, we'll be enjoying one extra second because-- as the New York Times points out-- "the international authorities charged with keeping precise time will add a single second to our lives," the 24th "leap second" since 1972:

If that doesn’t sound like a big deal, consider that in one second a cheetah can dash 34 yards, a telephone signal can travel 100,000 miles, a hummingbird can beat its wings 70 times, and eight million of your blood cells can die. As the saying goes, every second counts. In the case of leap seconds, that is especially true. Leap seconds are needed to reconcile two very different ways of measuring time.

PS. Missed the fabulous celebrations in Rio (pictured at right)? You can still hit up Carnival at the Copacabana Palace, an "extraordinary visual and audio extravaganza."

Seasons Greetings from Five Star Alliance

Wishing you a warm and happy holiday from all of us at The Informed Traveler and Five Star Alliance. We'll be back soon with specials and news from the best luxury hotels worldwide.

Pictured at right: The Peninsula Hotel Hong Kong, looking merry and bright.

Happy Thanksgiving from Five Star Alliance

Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Five Star Alliance and The Informed Traveler. Feast well, dear reader. We'll be back soon with some hot deals (and news) from the best luxury hotels worldwide.

Jamaican Me Golf at Half Moon in Montego Bay

Montego Bay luxury resort Half Moon is offering a golf deal that will delight both duffers and pros. Now through Dec.14, 2008, golfers who book a minimum three-night stay can take advantage of the Total Golf Experience package. Golfers will get their own cart and caddy to golf daily on the "Best Walking Course in the Caribbean." They'll also get unlimited golf green fees (18-holes daily), welcome gift of champagne, sleeve of Half Moon Logo Balls and Logo Hat, luxurious accommodations, 5 star dining, and airport transfers. Rates begin at $395 per person per night.

Half Moon is a luxury resort situated on crescent-shaped white sand beaches, with 398 rooms including suites, cottages and villas. In addition to luxurious accommodations, Half Moon also features a recently renovated Robert Trent Jones Sr.-designed 18-hole golf course, and the Half Moon Golf Academy.

Best Wishes for a Fun Labor Day Weekend

Whether you jet to the Caribbean, book a fabulous last-minute package at a nearby city hotel, or stay close to home over the long weekend, we wish you happy and safe travels-- and a fantastic Labor Day. We'll be back soon with more news and deals from the world's best luxury hotels!

--all of us at Five Star Alliance

Summon Autumn with Deals from The Lodge at Woodloch

Just because summer ends doesn't mean you have to abandon summer delights. The Lodge at Woodloch is celebrating the return of cool weather, and the fantastic foliage that surrounds the resort with autumn getaway discounts. During September guests who book stays of three consecutive nights or longer receive 30% off their stay, or 20% off a two night stay. If you book in October, you receive 25% off a midweek stay of three nights or more, or 15% off two midweek nights. These discounts are available under the Complete Spa Plan for guests looking to take advantage of the hotel's extensive spa facility. Starting at $575 per night, per person, guests receive three gourmet meals per day along with a spa treatment for each night of the stay, and access to the full spa facilities including hydromassage waterfalls in the Aqua Garden, 27 treatment rooms, indoor pool, and cardio and weight studios. Kick up the fun this fall with The Lodge at Woodloch.

Special Offer from Five Star Alliance: Five Star Alliance guests visiting The Lodge at Woodloch will receive a complimentary upgrade upon arrival based on availability and one complimentary personal training session per guest valued at $115.

Happy July 4th!

From all of us at Five Star Alliance, Happy July 4th! Wishing you a happy, fun, and safe Independence Day. We'll be back soon with more travel tips and hot deals from the world's best luxury hotels.

Bon Voyage- Happy Memorial Day Weekend from Five Star Alliance

Wishing you a safe and fun Memorial Day weekend from all of us at Five Star Alliance. We'll be back soon with all the latest news and hottest deals on luxury hotels worldwide...

What’s Hot: Wolfgang Puck’s The Source at the Newseum, Washington D.C.

There's been a lot of talk about Washington D.C.'s new Newseum, and some media folks suggest that the "decided Page Six-type buzz" has more to do with the museum's on-site restaurant, The Source, the first fine-dining D.C. establishment from original celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck. Tinseltown adores Puck (A-listers flock to his L.A. steakhouse, The Cut, and he's been the official chef of the Academy Awards for 14 years). Plus, he is the only cook never to have lost on Iron Chef (even beating out Masaharu Morimoto on a Battle of the Masters show). It looks like Pennsylvania Avenue is the latest "it" spot in the nation's capital, where diners can sample modern Asian dishes and gaze out the floor-to-ceiling windows from the three-level restaurant.

Image Via Washingtonian's "Best Bites Blog"

Exclusive Amenity at the Hotel de Crillon in Paris - The Five Star Alliance Cocktail

Only a few steps away from the Champs-Elysees, the Faubourg Saint Honore shopping area and all major museums, the Hôtel de Crillon is the place to stay in Paris. Five Star Alliance clients making a reservation at the Hôtel de Crillon will receive a brand new, exclusive amenity. The Hotel de Crillon is now serving the "Five Star Cocktail" - and Five Star Alliance guests will get the opportunity to enjoy one per person, per stay, in the Crillon Bar. The voucher will be provided at the time of check-in.

Five Star Alliance Cocktail

In a cocktail shaker mix:

1 cl of Jasmin syrup

2 cl of Mirabelle spirit

3 cl of Peach juice

Shake

As a final touch, add Champagne rosé

Garnish with 1 redcurrant strand, 1 blackberry

Make your reservation, and enjoy a cocktail, at the Hotel de Crillon now >>