Ritz-Carlton gives kids the chance to live like the First Family
What did you want to be when you grow up? If you were like most kids, doctor, actor, astronaut and President of the United States were on your list. Ask your kids what they want to be when they grow up and the answers might be the same, but the opportunities will be slightly different, thanks to the Ritz-Carlton Hotels of Washington, D.C. The two D.C. hotels are offering a limited-time, legendary and luxury-based package that gives kids a glimpse of what life would be a like as the First Family.
For 24 hours, your kids will experience what the First Family and heads of state experience when they roll through Washington, D.C. If you pair this package with an explanation of how debates and elections work, it could be a very educational experience. (Request a copy of Schoolhouse Rock's "I'm Just a Bill" to show your kids what learning was like before computers were part of our everyday lives.)
Here are the details:
FULL ENTRYFour Seasons Toronto puts hotel contents up for auction
If you've oogled at hotel decor and wondered how good it might look in your house, now's your chance to turn wonder into reality. The contents from the original Four Season Hotel Toronto are going up for auction to make room for the new Four Seasons Hotel that's scheduled to open this September.
Everything from window dressings to table accents and custom furnishings from the luxury hotel will be auctioned off from May 31-June 2 to private collectors and members of the public. Auction house IAAS Worldwide is managing the luxury hotel's auction.
Guestroom at the now closed Four Seasons Hotel Toronto. The items in the room, including the bedding and artwork, are just some of the items up for auction.
FULL ENTRYDramatic Designs: Mandarin Oriental New York's elliptical lobby
What you see when you first walk into a hotel will set the tone for your stay, so it's only fitting that hotels will dress up their lobby space to make a grand impression. Case in point: The Mandarin Oriental, New York.
The lobby of the hotel is located on the 35th floor of the Columbus Square building. As you step off the elevators, the first thing you notice isn't the check-in desk or stunning views of Central Park, but the elliptical-shaped lobby and Dale Chihuly sculpture.
The specially commissioned Dale Chihuly clear blown glass crane sculpture rises out of an oriental moss garden from the middle of the lobby. The sculpture is set into a custom-carved wood and silver vessel that flows in line with the lobby’s elliptical-shaped marble and granite floor. The ellipse shapes in the hotel’s lobby were designed in with the feng shui principles that they represent harmony, unity and a constant flow of energy.
Readers: Your thoughts? Have a hotel you think has a 'dramatic design'? Let us know!
Past Dramatic Designs:
B2Hotel's Lobby Lounge and Wine Bar
Gramercy Park Hotel's Drawing Room
The luxe life: Best celeb-spotting hotels
Wondering where the rich and famous go when they want to get away? Or, just want to vacation like a A-list celebrity?
This week, Hollywood types and their entourages are touching down in the French Riviera for the Cannes Film Festival. The festival brings out the best in glitz and glamour, and focuses as much on the red carpet looks as it does on the silver screen. But traditionally after Cannes, all the celebs are known to spend a few days hiding away in their favorite luxury retreats.
Want to go, too? Of course you do. While you might not have the funds to fly your private jet to Cannes, Hotels.com® assembled the top city hotspots and secluded retreats for travelers to take in the Hollywood lifestyle, and likely catch a glimpse of their favorite stars.
The entrance to the Chateau Marmont, one of the most famous celeb-spotting hotels.
FULL ENTRYParamount Pictures plans movie-themed hotels and resorts
The production company that brought you the "Mission Impossible" series, "Shrek" trilogy and "Titanic" is getting into the hotel business.
Movie firm Paramount Pictures announced plans to launch a chain of luxury hotels with ‘elements of the California lifestyle’, Paramount Hotels & Resorts boss Thomas Van Vliet told Bloomberg.
Initial talks have up to 50 hotels located in Brazil, the UK, the Caribbean, Russia, Qatar, Oman, South Africa and Indonesia, reports Bloomberg.
FULL ENTRYAmerican Airlines, Marriott, Delta among best travel rewards programs
Even in a down economy there's plenty of spending to be done. But it's just about finding a good deal anymore. It's about finding a good deal and then getting something back in return. That's where reward cards come in, but with so many to choose from how do you know what's best?
A good friend of mine recently had a big life change that has her flying coast-to-coast. She asked my opinions of reward cards, and I went on a research hunt to find the best for her needs. And that's just it - her needs. Every reward card is different and what might work well for some travelers won't generate any type of rewards for others. So how do you decide?
At the Freddie Awards last month, nods were given to a airline and hotel companies for their reward efforts from frequent traveler. The Freddie Awards, also known as the Oscars of the travel industry, allow frequent travelers to vote on the best rewards and loyalty programs. Among the best this year: American Airlines AAdvantage, Marriott Rewards and Delta Skymiles.
Dramatic Designs: Gramercy Park Hotel's Drawing Room
The Gramercy Park Hotel is widely known as one of the most majestic art hotels in the world, but it's artistic impression on the ceiling of the hotel's Drawing Room that takes the Dramatic Designs spot this week.
Located directly across from Gramercy Park, the only private park in New York City, the Gramercy Park Hotel is walking distance to Union Square, the Chelsea Art Galleries, the MeatPacking District, Soho, and the East and West Villages. Guests staying here will have access to Gramercy Park, and enjoy a guestrooms designed with one-of-a-kind furniture and artwork.
At the top of the Gramercy Park Hotel is the rooftop garden and Gramercy Terrace, which leads to the outdoor dining and entertainment space, and the dramatic Drawing Room at the hotel:
There are approximately 4,000 light bulbs in the Drawing Room's ceiling art, which was conceived by Julian Schnabel. If you're worried about energy efficiency, only 2 percent of those light bulbs actually light up.
More Dramatic Designs: B2Hotel's Library Lounge and Wine Bar
Readers: Your thoughts?
James Beard award-winning restaurants worth traveling to
Looking for a fabulous new place to indulge in your culinary cravings? Last week, the James Beard Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary and awarded honors to top chefs, restaurants and food writers around the country at the James Beard Foundation Awards dinner.
While the esteemed group gathered to nosh and nibble, the editors at Startle.com - the website for Forbes Travel Guide - rounded up their favorite eateries from the list of James Beard winners, including a Boston favorite!
Next time you're planning a trip for your taste buds, take note of Startle's favorite places and make a reservation at this Four- and Five-Star restaurants:
FULL ENTRYDubai plans to build underwater hotel
The race to see who can build the most outrageous hotel concept is on. Last month I told you about the underground hotel being built in China, now comes word about an underwater hotel being planned in Dubai.
Building company Drydocks World and Swiss firm BIG InvestConsult are working together to develop underwater hotels, including the "Water Discus Hotel" in Dubai, reports news.au.com.
The plans for the Water Discus Hotels include various components, ensuring all guests can explore underwater in luxury. There are two spherical buildings (they look like giant spaceships) - an underwater and above-water one - connected by three legs providing stabilization and a long, vertical shaft that contains a elevator and stairway.
FULL ENTRYDramatic Designs: B2Hotel's Library Lounge and Wine Bar
What makes a hotel "cool"? What are the designs and details that stop you in your tracks when you walk into a hotel, and just stare in awe thinking, "where did they come up with that?!" Every week I'll showcase a hotel with just that material thinking in mind.
Dramatic Designs will run every Monday and will show you some of the most amazing amenities and ambiances that sit within hotels around the world, making them the 'hot-spots' inside the hotel, adding that extra bit of character to the hotel's public space.
I'm kicking off the Dramatic Designs series with a boutique hotel in Zurich, the B2Hotel. This hotel was formerly the Hürlimann brewery, founded in 1836. The brewery soon became the largest brewery in Switzerland before the 1900s. Today, the brewery building is now a boutique hotel that just opened in March, has a total of 60 rooms and suites and direct access to the Thermal Bath & Spa Zurich. But it's the hotel's library that garnered today's spotlight.
The Lobby lounge and wine bar has 30,000 books and three chandeliers made entirely from hundreds of empty wine bottles.
Readers: Your thoughts?
Give Mom the day off with these Mother's Day hotel deals
What better way to show Mom you care than by sending her away... to a luxury hotel. This Mother's Day, hotels are offering some creative ways to give Mom the day off.
From unique dinners to spa indulgence weekends and adventure activities, hotels around New England and across the country are offering Mom's a great escape. The below are just a sampling of the offers available, but they're sure to spark some unique ideas for Mom this year.
FULL ENTRYRitz-Carlton debuts mobile app packed with personalized info, hotel insights
Solidifying the notion that luxury knows no limits, luxury hotel group Ritz-Carlton debuted its long-awaited mobile app, giving luxury travelers easier access to the company's portfolio of hotels around the world.
The app isn't just a booking engine, though. Ritz-Carlton made it personal.
In addition to the reservations system and hotel room look-up, the Ritz-Carlton app includes personal tips from President & COO Herve Humler that identify the "hidden gems" guests shouldn't miss when they check in (think: a Viennese crystal chandelier in Doha and a secret garden in Sanya). Additionally, the app will offer personalized suggestions to guests based on location and duration of stay.
FULL ENTRYDining in: Top hotel room service
It's one of life's simple pleasures... sitting in a fluffy robe, tucked into a cashmere throw and overlooking a picturesque view from your guest room window at a luxury hotel while you dine on room service.
Gone are the days when room service is limited to soupy oatmeal and cold pizza. Today's luxury hotels have mastered the art of fine dining in your guest room, and have taken room service to a science, instead of simply a requirement. Today, you don't need to sacrifice good food for comfort. In-room dining has taken on a five-star service of its own, and it's worth staying in for.
On a recent trip to New York City, I arrived the Mandarin Oriental New York after a bumpy flight from Punta Cana to JFK. The weather in New York was rain, rain, and more rain, and the cab line at the airport was filled with travelers crammed together in the open air trying to shelter themselves from the storm while waiting for a cab. After 30 minutes in line and a 45-minute ride into the city, I arrived the hotel soaked to the bone, starving and in need of some serious down time. I ordered room service and anxiously awaited for my bowl of wonton soup and side of steamed vegetables to arrive. Less than 30 minutes later there was a knock at my door, and within minutes a white-tableclothed tray had been set up perfectly in front of the TV, decorated with silver utensils and a pink orchid in a crystal vase. The display was beautiful, the food was divine.
Departures Magazine recently pulled together some of their favorite hotels that do room service to perfection. Next time you're holed up in a hotel, consider dining in instead of dressing up to go out.
FULL ENTRYDrunk passengers, playboy pilots and life in the sky: Flight attendant reveals secrets of the industry in new book
What does a flight attendant really do? (Answer: more than you think.) What's it really like to deal with drunk passengers, suave pilots and potential terrorists? (Answer: it's tougher than you think.) What really happens when a flight is delayed, cancelled or worse, redirected to another location? (Answer: everyone's mad, not just the passengers.) Is it really a glamourous life at 35,000-feet? Flight attendant Heather Poole is dishing about it all - and sometimes more - in her new book "Cruising Attitude: Tales of Crashpads, Crew Drama, and Crazy Passengers at 35,000 Feet".
I've known Poole for some time and have worked with her on a few different travel projects over the years, so I was eager to get my hands on this book, which broke into Amazon's top 100 best selling books on its very first day on the market. The book is a hilarious look at what really happens in flight, how flight attendants identify "problem" passengers (they're looking at you, guy with his fly open who smells like whiskey trying to board with first class while holding a coach ticket), and the real reactions and emotions that happen when there's an emergency. The book also details the life of a flight attendant on the ground, from sharing flats to scary cab rides and blind dates.
Poole is already working on her next book, but before she got too involved in that I sat down to chat with her about this book, and gain some insight on the most common questions asked from fliers today:
FULL ENTRYWould you stay in 'pod' hotel?
Hotels in New York vary in just about everything: size, function, price, location, design, food and beverage, and even guests. You can find a bed and breakfast in Chelsea, a hostel in Spanish Harlem, a budget-friendly family-focused midtown hotel with grand buffets, or stay in lap of the luxury on the East Side. Right in the heart of Hell's Kitchen, you can find one of New York's newer hotels - YOTEL New York. The hotel just opened last year and is already drawing in guests who want nothing more than a clean room and a cool vibe at a reasonable price. The one caveat: a majority of the rooms are under 200 square feet.
YOTEL gained popularity when it first opened at London's Heathrow and Gatwick airports. The concept was simple: give travelers a place to freshen up, grab a quick nap or even do some work in between flights or transfers. YOTEL was more than a "pod" room (most popular in Japan), better than an airport bathroom, and significantly less expensive than a city hotel. It took its design concept from the Japanese "capsule hotels", and added a bit more a space and a lot of technology. With only 12 hours to spare in New York City before catching a flight to Punta Cana (more on that soon), I opted to check out the YOTEL New York and see what all the fuss it about.
The first thing you should know about YOTEL New York is that looks are deceiving. The hotel takes almost an entire city block, but its the trendy, compact rooms that make an impact. The purpose here is function into form: take a small space and make it workable for travelers without making them feel claustrophobic or concerned about bumping into things in the middle of the night.
FULL ENTRYCondé Nast Traveler picks world's hottest new hotels, spas, restaurants for 2012
Still haven't chosen a hotel for your 2012 travel plans? Now that you've waited this long, you can check out one of the hottest new hotels for 2012, as chosen by the editorial staff of Condé Nast Traveler.
The annual list takes a look at 121 newly-opened properties in the North America, South America, Asia, and Europe, and identifies the new hotels that are worthy of your consideration, based on service, food, atmosphere and amenities.
Hotel Chocolat in St. Lucia features 14 cottages on a 140-acre plantation that’s been harvesting cocoa since the 1700s. Photo credit: Condé Nast Traveler
FULL ENTRYWhere does your hotel soap go?
Ever wonder what happens to your hotel soap and bathroom amenities after you've checked out of the room? You probably thought the products go straight in the trash, but in fact, they're one of the easiest things to recycle.
Aligning with Earth Day initiatives this year, InterContinental Hotels Group announced a partnership with Clean the World to recycle hotel soap and amenities from hotels in the United States and Canada, and distribute them in communities with limited access to hygiene products.
According to Clean the World, 9,000 children around the world die from acute respiratory illness and diarrheal diseases that can be prevented by washing with bar soap. As part of IHG’s Green Engage program (the hotel's sustainability system), Clean the World will have access to all the unopened and unused hotel amenities, which IHG hopes will reduce solid waste by 50 percent for each participating hotel.
FULL ENTRYAre you ready for a 'digital detox' vacation?
It was only a matter of time before detox hit the digital world. Between the iPhones, iPads, Blackberry's, bbm-ing, checking-in, Instagram-ing, liking, tweeting and pinning, it's clear: we are living in a digital world, and we're addicted to it. Admitting it is the first step. The second step is taking a vacation away from your technology (at least that what the hotels listed below hope you do).
Screen Free Week, the nationwide initiative by the Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood, is challenging you and your kids to turn off your electronics and explore the world without being connected from April 30 - May 6. Are you up for the challenge?
For travelers who want to indulge in a week without screens, the following hotels are offering guests some unique outdoor activities for a discount, in order to help you kick the digital habit.
FULL ENTRYHemingway Hotels will celebrate author's love for travel
Key West and Cuba are rumored to be two locations where you might find the soon-to-be-open Hemingway hotels.
He was an intriguing - some would say complicated - person, for sure, but would his image make for a good hotel concept? According to the owners of his estate it would.
After all, Ernest Hemingway did love to travel...
A new brand of hotels, Hemingway Hotels & Resorts, will center around the lifestyle of Ernest Hemingway, according to hotel trade publication Hotel News Now (HNN). The Hemingway hotel idea has been in the works for some time now, and the concept is to celebrate the "unique travel experiences" of the famous author.
Hemingway Hotels & Resorts President Tuckey Devlin told HNN that plans are in place to open two to hotels a year with a goal of having a minimum of 30 hotels worldwide.
“We should have 10 years of gangbuster business in this industry now,” Devlin said. “I’d bet anything on five to seven years, at least.”
FULL ENTRYPHOTOS: China to open luxury underground hotel
File this hotel news story under: "They're going to do what?!"
While China has been leading the trend in skyscrapers for the past decade, architects and designers apparently decided to turn things upside-down for a change. According to CNN, China recently broke ground on the first luxury underground hotel near Shanghai.
Located at the foot of a 100-meter (approximately 328 feet) abandoned quarry at Shanghai’s Tianmashan, the 380-room resort will have three levels above ground and 16 underground, and will also offer spa services, a sports facility and an underwater restaurant.
Photo rendering courtesy of SHANGHAI SHIMAO PROPERTY GROUP/ ATKINS
FULL ENTRYWorkouts around the world: Top 10 scenic spots for exercising
With summer just around the corner, it's time to start thinking about breaking in your beach-worthy bod. The good news is that you can combine travel and exercise for an ultimate experience.
Pass up your hour gym date for a weeklong excursion at one of these stunning scenic spots around the world, perfect for burning calories while you xxxx.
To help you find some travel destinations that not only offer excellent views and spacious scenery, but also stimulate the want to workout, the members of travel website VirtualTourist.com (www.virtualtourist.com) put together a list of the "Top 10 Most Scenic Workouts", and some essential reasons why you should consider an exercise escape:
FULL ENTRY13 new retailers arrive Logan's Terminal C
If you've traveled through Boston Logan International Airport's Terminal C over the past six months, you've undoubtedly noticed some changes. Last July, Massport completed a $62 million renovation that consolidated the two smaller Terminal C checkpoints into one larger area, not only improving the look of the terminal but providing a more streamlined security process.
Today the terminal turns trendy, and is giving new reason for travelers to arrive a little earlier for their flights.
As part of the renovations,12,000 square feet was alloted to new retail and food space from pre- to post-security. From a dedicated spa to an iStore retailer, jewelry stores and a kid-approved games and toys zone, travelers with time to spare in the Boston airport will easily find a few new ways to fill space between flights.
The shops, which are managed by Westfield Concession Management (WCM), have been slowly opening one-by-one over the past few weeks, but I popped into Terminal C yesterday to see what's officially open for travelers.
FULL ENTRYRadisson survey reveals nearly half of Americans skip vacation
A new survey released by Radisson reveals that 48 percent of Americans opted not to take a vacation in 2011. Are you one of them?
Radisson announced the results of the national survey with Kelton Research that reveals the travel habits, or lack thereof of working Americans. Among them, the survey showed that 48 percent of Americans in 2011 passed on taking a portion of their vacation days, citing mounting work pressures as the reason for not taking time off. The survey of 1,000 adults, ages 18 and over, identified that workload and a reluctance to play catch-up were among the top reasons for not using all their vacation time.
But, despite the above reveal, what's more interesting is what American workers said they would forgo in order to gain an additional five vacation days in 2012:
FULL ENTRYHotels offering Tax Day filings, savings
You've heard of people using their tax refund for travel, but what about traveling to have your taxes done? That's the premise behind Andaz Wall Street's new "Accountant in Residence" program.
Guest checking into the New York hotel will be offered a free consultation with the hotel's accountant, certified public accountant Marc Albaum, who will file taxes for guests free of charge. You have to admit... doing your taxes in a 1,465-square-foot loft-style suite with 9-foot high windows overlooking New York's East River provides a much calmer atmosphere for doing the dreading annual deed.
The Buttonwood Suite at the Andaz Wall Street is where you'll meet with CPA Marc Albaum to file your taxes.
FULL ENTRYFamily travel: Ranking the top family-friendly hotels in the U.S.
Time to start thinking about summer vacations, but where to go? Family travel is the hot topic right now - I just posted about LXR Hotels' summer escapes for families, and now TripAdvisor has announced its 2012 Travelers' Choice Hotels for Families winners giving parents a plethora of options to consider for school break and summer vacation.
Exterior of the Trapp Family Lodge, one of my picks for the top family-friendly hotels
Before we get to their list, though, here are my top 10 hotel favorites for ultimate family fun, based on my own travel experience and recommendations from travelers:
- Trapp Family Lodge, Stowe, Vermont
- Sanctuary at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, South Carolina
- Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch, Beaver Creek, Colorado
- The Harbor View Hotel & Resort, Martha's Vineyard, Mass.
- Grand Wailea, Maui, Hawaii
- Four Seasons Hotel Boston, Boston, Mass.
- Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa, Jackson Hole, Wyoming
- Hammock Beach Resort, Palm Coast, Florida
- The Sagamore Resort, Adirondacks, New York
- Marco Island Marriott Beach Resort, Marco Island, Florida