As close as you can be to the British Museum and around the corner from Covent Garden, the Radisson Edwardian Bloomsbury Street opens this month. The hotel has six high-tech meeting rooms and The Bloomsbury Street Bar & Restaurant with Michelin-starred chef Redmond Hayward. 174 guest rooms have flat screen TVs and complimentary Wi-Fi. Rates start at $139 per night.

More: New Hotels for 2009
Reviews: London Hotel Reviews

^{Image courtesy Radisson Hotels}

I'm going to quiz you, Jeopardy!-style. The answer: Reading a book by the pool, going to the spa, windsurfing, having a nice quiet dinner. The question: What did I do on vacation before I had kids?

That being said, the newly-renovated Club Med Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic made it easy and relaxing to take the kids along. The all-inclusive resort has programs for babies through teens, so we could spend as much or as little time together as we wished. We ate well at the resort's two restaurants, swam in a variety of pools from the fun family pool to the quiet infinity-edge spa pool, and learned to swing on the trapeze (even our six-year-old!) I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this resort for a family vacation -- our family is already talking about when we can return.

Pictures: Take a Photo Tour of Club Med Punta Cana
Reviews: Dominican Republic Hotel Reviews

^{Image copyright Charlyn Keating Chisholm, licensed to About.com}

Rkstinger reviews the Luxor Las Vegas:

"Check In, on Sunday afternoon, was a MESS! I waited in a zig-zag line for WELL over an hour and when I got to the desk, even though I was told (over the phone when planning my trip) a cashier's check was acceptable payment, it was NOT! They sent me (lugging my HEAVY suitcases across the casino) to the cashier's cage, to get cash for payment (I didn't PLAN to use a credit card for payment, I wish I had)...I chose the Luxor because I am very interested by the Egyptian theme, BUT I hear that they are getting RID of that, in the VERY near future! Glad I got to see it..." Read Rkstinger's review

^{Image courtesy Luxor}

Drama is the word of the day at VIE Hotel, built in a former cinema. Thai silks, hardwood floors and furniture, and floor-to-ceiling windows provide eye candy indoors and out. VIE Wine and VIE Cigar cater to connoisseurs, VIE Dining provides 11th-floor views and a rooftop swimming pool and relaxing VIE spa feed the soul. The hotel is the first Asian location of an MGallery hotel, a boutique brand by Accor. Opening rates translate to about $120 per night.

More: New Hotels for 2009

^{Image courtesy Accor}