I recently borrowed the new T-Mobile HTC HD2 smartphone and, after about two weeks of playing around with it, I have to say: I have a big fat crush. The screen—an astounding 4.3"—is insanely sharp. In fact, I happened to receive the phone the day before hopping on a bus for 4 1/2 hours. For 2 1/2 of those hours, I entertained myself by watching Transformers...on the phone. Not only did the crystal clear image blow me away, let me point this out: the china tours phone's battery was still half full by the end of the movie. Crazy!
Aside from the on-the-go entertainment value with the phone—all of the movies are available for renting or purchase through the phone's Blockbuster app—the phone itself is sleek, easy-to-use, and the touch screen über responsive. (Once I turned off that annoying guess-what-word-I'm-trying-to-spell feature that is becoming a staple in many new phones, it rarely, if ever, missed a key stroke.)
I did, however, have one major beef with the phone: an incessant beeping that kept blaring in my ear as I sat at my desk testing its different features. I noticed the Voice Command icon appear, and every 10 or so beeps it would ask me to repeat what I said. (I said nothing.) For me, Voice Command is a useless feature, so once I figured out how to turn the feature off entirely, it was smooth sailing.
But of course, what matters most to us here are travel apps! Sure, there aren't nearly as many apps available as the iPhone (will anyone ever surpass that number?), but the online games apps available are useful. Three of the free apps that I tested:
LangLearnerLessons A flashcard app that teaches you helpful phrases in nine languages, and in various categories (such as "Staying at a Hotel" and "Eating Out"). An image related to the phrase appears in the middle; on top is the phrase in your native tongue, and below is the translated phrase. In both cases you can press a tiny icon to hear the phrase spoken aloud. To quickly find a phrase, switch from the Flash Card view to the word list view.
Next2Me This type of app is essential to any traveler. Using GPS, the program gives you a listing of attractions in your area, based on what you're looking for. Pizzeria? Done. Museum? Got it. Need a place to crash? No prob. Pick a venue, take a look at its description, and plot it on a map. The app also pinpoints your current position for easy navigation.
TripCase This app is basically a smart itinerary tracker. You have the option to manually enter information (like your flight number, where you're staying, etc.), or you can sync to your Travelocity account to import a saved itinerary. The community feature lets you share your experiences with your contacts via the app's TripLog. I was excited about this feature because you can associate these notes with a photo, and who doesn't like to show off an impressive travel find? However, when I tried it out, the photos wouldn't show up on the posts. Sad face.
While the above travel apps are useful, I think the real value in this phone is the spectacular media presentation—the movie experience supercedes that of the iPhone. Plus, it's just a really cool phone.
2012年1月19日星期四
Charmed By a Locale? CHART It!
I recently returned from a ten-day sailing trip around the Secret Island of Culebra, off the coast of Puerto Rico. Living aboard a sailboat reminded me of my love for nautical charts—the fluid lines, soft, sea-foamy color palette, and wiry, spare typeface lend an on-trend heritage feel to china tours the handsome utilitarian scrolls. How smart was it, then, that Portland, Maine–based jeweler Charlotte Leavitt dreamed up the idea of custom-crafting various pieces (pendants, earrings, cufflinks, even belt buckles) making use of nautical charts? Childhood summers spent aboard her family’s daysailer in coastal Castine instilled in the formerly desk-bound jewelry hobbyist a similar appreciation for the art of the chart.
When a friend requested she craft a commemorative charm for her wedding, Charlotte had her “aha!” moment: to make pieces that glorify your place, not hers. And so CHART metalworks was born. You pick the spot, be it Culebra’s south shore or, say, the Vatican (her most far-out request, from a woman whose daughter is a docent at one of the holy sites’ museums) and Charlotte sources a specific chart or map of your desired locale then sets it in resin and your online games choice of sterling silver or bronze.
For the frequent traveler, Charlotte suggests the charm bracelet. Start with one pendant of a special location, then—quite literally—add as you go.
201004-b-chartmetalworksjpg
I'm not much of a souvenir girl, but I am truly charmed by the concept of memorializing a great visit with an artfully displayed cartographic image. And it's not just for the frequent traveler, but also a wonderful way to honor the place you call home.
Charlotte even gets clients asking for pieces of the spot they hope to retire, or long to visit, to serve as a daily reminder of their migratory ambition. For me, it was the perfect way to commemorate my trip to Culebra, after which I commissioned Charlotte to make a pair of cufflinks for my boyfriend, a serious sailor and my travel companion—only the beginning, I hope, of a growing collection of CHART metalworks mini-map mementos.
When a friend requested she craft a commemorative charm for her wedding, Charlotte had her “aha!” moment: to make pieces that glorify your place, not hers. And so CHART metalworks was born. You pick the spot, be it Culebra’s south shore or, say, the Vatican (her most far-out request, from a woman whose daughter is a docent at one of the holy sites’ museums) and Charlotte sources a specific chart or map of your desired locale then sets it in resin and your online games choice of sterling silver or bronze.
For the frequent traveler, Charlotte suggests the charm bracelet. Start with one pendant of a special location, then—quite literally—add as you go.
201004-b-chartmetalworksjpg
I'm not much of a souvenir girl, but I am truly charmed by the concept of memorializing a great visit with an artfully displayed cartographic image. And it's not just for the frequent traveler, but also a wonderful way to honor the place you call home.
Charlotte even gets clients asking for pieces of the spot they hope to retire, or long to visit, to serve as a daily reminder of their migratory ambition. For me, it was the perfect way to commemorate my trip to Culebra, after which I commissioned Charlotte to make a pair of cufflinks for my boyfriend, a serious sailor and my travel companion—only the beginning, I hope, of a growing collection of CHART metalworks mini-map mementos.
Time To Reapply Your Sunscreen?
Growing up in Southern California in the 1960s, my friends and I would start off each summer’s quest for a tan by heading to the beach to lay down a good “base coat”—or what doctors like to call a second-degree burn. I had so many sunburns by the time I graduated high school I can’t even count them. We didn’t use high-factor SPF sun protectants; we china tours used cocoa butter and tanning oil to really soak up those UV rays. Then someone went and discovered that, according to the Skin Cancer Foundation, having even one severe sunburn as a child doubles your risk of developing melanoma as an adult.
Now you tell me.
I travel frequently and like to explore the outdoors wherever I go—swimming in Phuket, scuba in the Great Barrier Reef, early morning walks beside the Huangpu River on the Bund in Shanghai. At home in the States I dig biking and body surfing. I love doing the morning crossword puzzle sitting by my backyard pond. I even enjoy weeding my lawn. The point is, I’m outside a lot, online games and I can’t afford to get sunburned again. That’s why I was especially glad about a recent unplanned meeting with an acquaintance in the green room at CNN.
I was there to tape a travel segment on hotel discounts, she was there promoting a new product introduced this spring called UVSunSense—ultraviolet warning wristbands—and she gave me some samples. Now, as we enter the hottest and sunniest months of summer, they’re worth looking into.
Here’s how they work: You place one of the bands on your wrist, then apply sunscreen to your skin and to the band. When the band is exposed to sunlight it immediately turns purple. As the strength of your sunscreen wanes, so does the purple coloring. When it is a light pink, it’s time to reapply your sunscreen. Later, when the band turns a pale yellow, it’s bye-bye Mr. Sun, hello Mrs. A.C., time to go inside. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when to reapply sunscreen, which I always forget to do, and when to call it a day.
You can find out more at the company’s website, including where to buy the bands. But whatever else you do, follow some commonsense rules whenever you’ll be out in the sun this summer: use a sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher), wear a wide-brim hat (baseball caps don’t protect your ears or neck), and don’t overdo it.
Now you tell me.
I travel frequently and like to explore the outdoors wherever I go—swimming in Phuket, scuba in the Great Barrier Reef, early morning walks beside the Huangpu River on the Bund in Shanghai. At home in the States I dig biking and body surfing. I love doing the morning crossword puzzle sitting by my backyard pond. I even enjoy weeding my lawn. The point is, I’m outside a lot, online games and I can’t afford to get sunburned again. That’s why I was especially glad about a recent unplanned meeting with an acquaintance in the green room at CNN.
I was there to tape a travel segment on hotel discounts, she was there promoting a new product introduced this spring called UVSunSense—ultraviolet warning wristbands—and she gave me some samples. Now, as we enter the hottest and sunniest months of summer, they’re worth looking into.
Here’s how they work: You place one of the bands on your wrist, then apply sunscreen to your skin and to the band. When the band is exposed to sunlight it immediately turns purple. As the strength of your sunscreen wanes, so does the purple coloring. When it is a light pink, it’s time to reapply your sunscreen. Later, when the band turns a pale yellow, it’s bye-bye Mr. Sun, hello Mrs. A.C., time to go inside. It takes the guesswork out of knowing when to reapply sunscreen, which I always forget to do, and when to call it a day.
You can find out more at the company’s website, including where to buy the bands. But whatever else you do, follow some commonsense rules whenever you’ll be out in the sun this summer: use a sunscreen (SPF 15 or higher), wear a wide-brim hat (baseball caps don’t protect your ears or neck), and don’t overdo it.
Suitcase.com Luggage Sale
If you were eyeing the BRITTO Collection by Heys four-piece luggage set that went to the winner of our "Views" photo contest last December, you can snap it up for half price now on Suitcase.com. The colorful set, which includes a 12" beauty case and a carry-on bag for china tours shorter trips, as well as medium and large suitcases for longer trips, normally retails for $2,120. Through Suitcase.com's Winter Sale you can get it for only $1,059.95 (plus free shipping!)
You can also buy the pieces individually: The 22-inch spinner case—the perfect carry-on size— is now 50 percent off at $249.95.
Though it's still pricey, these hard-shell suitcases are a good investment. Made of a lightweight, but sturdy polycarbonate composite, these suitcases come with a seven-year warranty and a TSA accepted combination lock to protect your stuff. And who would accidentally take your online games belongings when they're in such a colorful and unique case?
You can also buy the pieces individually: The 22-inch spinner case—the perfect carry-on size— is now 50 percent off at $249.95.
Though it's still pricey, these hard-shell suitcases are a good investment. Made of a lightweight, but sturdy polycarbonate composite, these suitcases come with a seven-year warranty and a TSA accepted combination lock to protect your stuff. And who would accidentally take your online games belongings when they're in such a colorful and unique case?
When Words Get In The Way…Of a Google Search
Ever wished you could hold up a photo to a search engine and say, “Hey computer! Find me this, and make it snappy!”?
With Google Search (free; iPhone, iPod, iPad), a picture is worth a thousand china tours keywords. The newly upgraded app makes it even easier to scour the Web with images straight from your smartphone camera.
The marquee feature, a point-click-and-search ability called Google Goggles—say that ten times fast—not only recognizes landmark buildings, artwork, and storefronts, but now translates words from five languages (English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish). Google Search online games even identifies New York City’s lesser-known architectural gems, such as the Grace Building and Bryant Park. The practical uses of such a travel tool are endless, especially for exploring cities abroad without fear of being linguistically up a creek.
With Google Search (free; iPhone, iPod, iPad), a picture is worth a thousand china tours keywords. The newly upgraded app makes it even easier to scour the Web with images straight from your smartphone camera.
The marquee feature, a point-click-and-search ability called Google Goggles—say that ten times fast—not only recognizes landmark buildings, artwork, and storefronts, but now translates words from five languages (English, French, Italian, German, and Spanish). Google Search online games even identifies New York City’s lesser-known architectural gems, such as the Grace Building and Bryant Park. The practical uses of such a travel tool are endless, especially for exploring cities abroad without fear of being linguistically up a creek.
Test Drive: Orbitz's New iPad App
I'm sure we've all had the same experience at one time or the other: a spur-of-the-moment road trip cooked up with the intention of letting loose and seeing a bit of the gorgeous country we call home, the thrill of it largely contained in the fact that none of it was planned. And then the inevitable happens. Your eyes start to droop, signs start to blur in and out of focus, and your car starts weaving in its lane slightly. You need to find a place to stay for the china tours night. Problem is, you don't know of any around.
Well, now there's an app for that.
Orbitz launched its iPad app on July 6, allowing travelers to scope out and compare deals on hotels from their mobile devices. Using its GPS capabilities, you can easily search for a cheap hotel to grab a little shut eye in just a few taps, knowing that you'll not only get the best deal but also that you won't be stuck in a Bates Motel-esque situation. You can even read reviews from other Orbitz users and check out photos of the hotel before you decide to book it.
Just like with their Android and iPhone apps, Orbitz gives users the same perks as if they went through their website, like the automatic Hotel Price Assurance refund (if another Orbitz customer gets the same prepaid room for less, they'll refund you the difference automatically) and their Enhanced Low Price Guarantee (any Orbitz customer who finds the same prepaid hotel room for a lower price online will be not only get a refund on the difference, but also get a discount on future bookings). And because it offers users the entire selection of Orbitz properties to online games choose from, you'll be able to scope out deals both domestically and internationally.
And the best part? It's absolutely free.
Well, now there's an app for that.
Orbitz launched its iPad app on July 6, allowing travelers to scope out and compare deals on hotels from their mobile devices. Using its GPS capabilities, you can easily search for a cheap hotel to grab a little shut eye in just a few taps, knowing that you'll not only get the best deal but also that you won't be stuck in a Bates Motel-esque situation. You can even read reviews from other Orbitz users and check out photos of the hotel before you decide to book it.
Just like with their Android and iPhone apps, Orbitz gives users the same perks as if they went through their website, like the automatic Hotel Price Assurance refund (if another Orbitz customer gets the same prepaid room for less, they'll refund you the difference automatically) and their Enhanced Low Price Guarantee (any Orbitz customer who finds the same prepaid hotel room for a lower price online will be not only get a refund on the difference, but also get a discount on future bookings). And because it offers users the entire selection of Orbitz properties to online games choose from, you'll be able to scope out deals both domestically and internationally.
And the best part? It's absolutely free.
Editor’s Pick: Globe-Trotter’s New Leather Luggage Collection
If you like Globe-Trotter luggage as much as some of us, you’ll love this: for the first time in its 114-year history, the British brand, known for creating vulcanized fiberboard cases (Sirs Winston Churchill and Edmund Hilary would attest to their durability), has launched a china tours collection of discreetly stylish carry-ons, totes, and accessories all handcrafted using—wait for it!—super-soft leather.
No big deal, you say? Well, considering that the company has never before strayed from its traditional hard-sided design, we beg to differ.
Each bag comes in black, navy, olive, or tan, with rivets to reinforce the natural-grain hides, plus removable shoulder straps. The travel wallets, luggage tags, and (for the London-bound) oyster card holders are equally timeless.
Bags from $690, accessories from online games $80.
Available at globetrotter1897.com
Christine Ajudua is an Assistant Editor at Travel + Leisure.
No big deal, you say? Well, considering that the company has never before strayed from its traditional hard-sided design, we beg to differ.
Each bag comes in black, navy, olive, or tan, with rivets to reinforce the natural-grain hides, plus removable shoulder straps. The travel wallets, luggage tags, and (for the London-bound) oyster card holders are equally timeless.
Bags from $690, accessories from online games $80.
Available at globetrotter1897.com
Christine Ajudua is an Assistant Editor at Travel + Leisure.
2012年1月18日星期三
Hilton Wants to Cure Your Layover Blues
Ever stayed at an airport hotel? I have. Talk about bleak. Think Lubyanka prison without the charm. Vending machines instead of restaurants. Guest rooms with all the warmth of a doctor's office. But Hilton Hotels & Resorts thinks it's time to
online games change all that, to give airport hotel guests the comforts they would expect in a full-service property. Here's how:
201010-b-hilton-chicagojpgLast July Hilton unveiled the Hilton Rosemont at Chicago/O'Hare (shown at right). It has more than 300 rooms and suites, swimming pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant "modeled after the great American grills of the 1920s," which sure beats the heck out of walking through the hotel parking lot in quest of a burger and brew at the closest Bennigan's or Fuddruckers.
That same month, Hilton opened the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport (shown at top), described as "China's first luxury airport hotel." The property features floor-to-ceiling soundproofed windows, a spa, retail outlets, pool, health club, wine and cigar bars, and a piano bar. A piano bar, I say!
Hilton Frankfurt AirportNext on tap in Hilton's quest to upgrade the airport hotel scene is the Hilton Frankfurt Airport (at left), scheduled to open in either February 2011 (according to the publicist) or March 2011 (according to the website). This one china tours will have most of the same amenities as the other two, plus landscaped atriums and a medical center.
While other forward-looking hotel companies are also bringing modern conveniences and extras to their airport lodgings, Hilton has the jump on them: The company introduced the very first airport hotel, in San Francisco, in 1959.
online games change all that, to give airport hotel guests the comforts they would expect in a full-service property. Here's how:
201010-b-hilton-chicagojpgLast July Hilton unveiled the Hilton Rosemont at Chicago/O'Hare (shown at right). It has more than 300 rooms and suites, swimming pool, a fitness center, and a restaurant "modeled after the great American grills of the 1920s," which sure beats the heck out of walking through the hotel parking lot in quest of a burger and brew at the closest Bennigan's or Fuddruckers.
That same month, Hilton opened the Hilton Beijing Capital Airport (shown at top), described as "China's first luxury airport hotel." The property features floor-to-ceiling soundproofed windows, a spa, retail outlets, pool, health club, wine and cigar bars, and a piano bar. A piano bar, I say!
Hilton Frankfurt AirportNext on tap in Hilton's quest to upgrade the airport hotel scene is the Hilton Frankfurt Airport (at left), scheduled to open in either February 2011 (according to the publicist) or March 2011 (according to the website). This one china tours will have most of the same amenities as the other two, plus landscaped atriums and a medical center.
While other forward-looking hotel companies are also bringing modern conveniences and extras to their airport lodgings, Hilton has the jump on them: The company introduced the very first airport hotel, in San Francisco, in 1959.
Fantastic Four tilts the table in mid-May
When Marvel Pinball was announced last November, Zen Studios put up a poll on its website asking visitors what comic-inspired table they wanted for the online games first postlaunch downloadable content. Today the developer revealed the winner and next table to be released for the game will be based on the Fantastic Four.
In North America, the Fantastic Four table will be downloadable for Marvel Pinball on the PlayStation 3 starting May 17, with Pinball FX 2 Xbox 360 players able to purchase it beginning May 18. In Europe, players on both platforms will need to wait until May 18 to get their hands on the new content. When it launches, the game will feature new trophies and achievements, as well as full support for Zen Studios' various social features.
The playfield is loaded with references for fans to pick out.
The playfield is loaded with references for fans to pick out.
The table itself sees the Fantastic Four doing battle against a cosmic rogues' gallery featuring such heavyweights as Dr. Doom, the Super Skrull, Galactus, and the Mole Man. The playfield is littered with references to other parts of the comic foursome's mythology, with the Silver Surfer, H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot, the Fantasticar, and the Baxter Building all making appearances. The game will even provide examples of superpowered teamwork, with the Invisible Woman putting a force field on an outlane as a ball save, and Mr. Fantastic stretching his arm across the table to pick the ball up and move it to safety.
Those who don't fancy the Fantastic Four can hold out hope for china tours more heroic pinball action on the way. Among the other Marvel properties considered for pinball conversion in the original Zen Studios poll were Captain America, Ghost Rider, and the Hulk.
For more on Marvel Pinball, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
In North America, the Fantastic Four table will be downloadable for Marvel Pinball on the PlayStation 3 starting May 17, with Pinball FX 2 Xbox 360 players able to purchase it beginning May 18. In Europe, players on both platforms will need to wait until May 18 to get their hands on the new content. When it launches, the game will feature new trophies and achievements, as well as full support for Zen Studios' various social features.
The playfield is loaded with references for fans to pick out.
The playfield is loaded with references for fans to pick out.
The table itself sees the Fantastic Four doing battle against a cosmic rogues' gallery featuring such heavyweights as Dr. Doom, the Super Skrull, Galactus, and the Mole Man. The playfield is littered with references to other parts of the comic foursome's mythology, with the Silver Surfer, H.E.R.B.I.E. the robot, the Fantasticar, and the Baxter Building all making appearances. The game will even provide examples of superpowered teamwork, with the Invisible Woman putting a force field on an outlane as a ball save, and Mr. Fantastic stretching his arm across the table to pick the ball up and move it to safety.
Those who don't fancy the Fantastic Four can hold out hope for china tours more heroic pinball action on the way. Among the other Marvel properties considered for pinball conversion in the original Zen Studios poll were Captain America, Ghost Rider, and the Hulk.
For more on Marvel Pinball, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.
Nintendo Store Update: Rival Turf slams Virtual Console
The house that Mario built today updated its virtual storefronts with a range of new digital offerings, including a Super NES beat'-em-up on the Virtual Console and a hairdressing game for DSiWare.
Leading the pack this week is the Super NES online games Rival Turf (800 Wii points, or $8) on the Virtual Console. The one- to two-player beat-'em-up has gamers taking to the streets and laying the smack down. Gamers have a range of attacks at their disposal, like jabs, hooks, body slams, leg sweeps, and uppercuts. Additionally, gamers can fight solo, alongside a partner, or against a human in the game's Versus mode.
Gamers can relive past fights today via the Virtual Console.
Gamers can relive past fights today via the Virtual Console.
Switching to WiiWare, Nintendo added one new game and a fresh demo to that download spot today. The new game out now is Bingo Party Deluxe (500 Wii points, or $5). The game lets up to four players take part in 75-ball, 90-ball, or other bingo party games. Players earn more bingo points the more they play, and these points can be spent on a range of items, including new game modes and patterns.
The new demo out now on WiiWare is for Bit.Trip Runner, the fourth entry in Gaijin's side-scrolling series. The title again casts players as Commander Video and sports more than 50 levels.
On-the-go gamers also have new options this week, as Nintendo added three new titles to the DSiWare today, the first of which is Ikibago (500 DSi points, or $5). The china tours puzzle action game has 121 levels and tasks gamers with aligning barrels of the same color in the same column to advance.
Also out now on DSiWare is Picture Perfect Pocket Stylist (500 DSi points, or $5). With the game, players can design hairstyles and try them out on in-game characters as well as on themselves. Using the DSi's camera, gamers can snap a shot of themselves and see how they look in their hairstyle creation. According to the game's publisher, 505 Games, there are thousands of possibilities for hairstyles.
The last new game out this week for DSiWare is Anonymous Notes Chapter 2: From the Abyss (200 DSi points, or $2). Set within an "infinitely extending dungeon," the role-playing game has players sweeping away monsters and taking on the top bosses before the dungeon re-creates itself.
Leading the pack this week is the Super NES online games Rival Turf (800 Wii points, or $8) on the Virtual Console. The one- to two-player beat-'em-up has gamers taking to the streets and laying the smack down. Gamers have a range of attacks at their disposal, like jabs, hooks, body slams, leg sweeps, and uppercuts. Additionally, gamers can fight solo, alongside a partner, or against a human in the game's Versus mode.
Gamers can relive past fights today via the Virtual Console.
Gamers can relive past fights today via the Virtual Console.
Switching to WiiWare, Nintendo added one new game and a fresh demo to that download spot today. The new game out now is Bingo Party Deluxe (500 Wii points, or $5). The game lets up to four players take part in 75-ball, 90-ball, or other bingo party games. Players earn more bingo points the more they play, and these points can be spent on a range of items, including new game modes and patterns.
The new demo out now on WiiWare is for Bit.Trip Runner, the fourth entry in Gaijin's side-scrolling series. The title again casts players as Commander Video and sports more than 50 levels.
On-the-go gamers also have new options this week, as Nintendo added three new titles to the DSiWare today, the first of which is Ikibago (500 DSi points, or $5). The china tours puzzle action game has 121 levels and tasks gamers with aligning barrels of the same color in the same column to advance.
Also out now on DSiWare is Picture Perfect Pocket Stylist (500 DSi points, or $5). With the game, players can design hairstyles and try them out on in-game characters as well as on themselves. Using the DSi's camera, gamers can snap a shot of themselves and see how they look in their hairstyle creation. According to the game's publisher, 505 Games, there are thousands of possibilities for hairstyles.
The last new game out this week for DSiWare is Anonymous Notes Chapter 2: From the Abyss (200 DSi points, or $2). Set within an "infinitely extending dungeon," the role-playing game has players sweeping away monsters and taking on the top bosses before the dungeon re-creates itself.
Want to Be a Trendsetter? Start Here
Think eco-friendliness can’t be fun? Then you’ve never heard of Club Watt, in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. It featured a very unique dance floor: the energy absorbed from all that dancing powered the club’s electricity.
Finding unique answers to trends was just one of the topics discussed at last week’s MarketWatch, an event organized by Travel + Leisure at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. The theme, “Influencing the Global Influencer: What Works was discussed by speakers and an expert panel of those who live on the cutting edge of trends.
After sales and marketing strategist Peter J. Bates kicked things off, one of those speakers took the podium: global trends expert Daniel Levine, executive director of the Avant-Guide Institute. Showiness, he said, has given way to online games education, friends and family, self-improvement, and social responsibility. It’s a trend best seen in advertising, where luxury brands aren’t featuring celebrities or fast living anymore. Instead, Mercedes is promoting its safety, TAG Heuer its quality, and Gucci its history.
What's important now, he said, are meaningful experiences. One place to find them: Finland's Kakslauttanen Hotel, where rooms have glass domes to watch the Northern Lights. Another example: Dinner in the Sky, where groups can dine high in the air, suspended by a crane, within view of iconic landmarks.
Eco-awareness is also important, but it’s essential to make anything “green” so interesting that people want to associate with it, like Club Watt. Closer to home, the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, NC, is making eco-news by raising bees on its roof and using the honey in its restaurant.
So how do you find the influencers and target messages to them? Social media, of course. That was the topic discussed by Mario Jobbe, social media and web product management expert, and co-founder of Circos Brand Karma. Social media, he said, helps in finding what matters to microsegments of the marketplace and reaching them with targeted messages. His tips: benchmark your brand against the competition; measure it in all languages; and china tours engage in a way that’s authentic to your brand. Ultimately, he said, remember that “social media is storytelling.”
Following Jobbe was a panel discussion, moderated by T+L publisher JP Kyrillos, with those who follow and set trends: Kate Betts, contributing editor at Time magazine; Simon Doonan, creative director at Barney’s; designer Thakoon Panichgul; and Nancy Novogrod, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure.
The panel talked about global trends, which, said Betts, are often interpreted locally. Panichgul agreed, saying that it’s essential to pay attention to whether things work on a local level. A popular fashion in, say, Japan, might never take off in Korea. “It’s ironic, isn’t it,” said Novogrod, “that while we’re supposed to have a global awareness, there’s an increase in local consciousness.”
This trend will expand in 2011, the panel predicted, but with the economy slowly improving, they think we also need to add back some of the fun that’s been lost the past couple years. Said Doonan: “It’s time to get back some of our dolce vita.”
Finding unique answers to trends was just one of the topics discussed at last week’s MarketWatch, an event organized by Travel + Leisure at the Museum of Arts and Design in New York. The theme, “Influencing the Global Influencer: What Works was discussed by speakers and an expert panel of those who live on the cutting edge of trends.
After sales and marketing strategist Peter J. Bates kicked things off, one of those speakers took the podium: global trends expert Daniel Levine, executive director of the Avant-Guide Institute. Showiness, he said, has given way to online games education, friends and family, self-improvement, and social responsibility. It’s a trend best seen in advertising, where luxury brands aren’t featuring celebrities or fast living anymore. Instead, Mercedes is promoting its safety, TAG Heuer its quality, and Gucci its history.
What's important now, he said, are meaningful experiences. One place to find them: Finland's Kakslauttanen Hotel, where rooms have glass domes to watch the Northern Lights. Another example: Dinner in the Sky, where groups can dine high in the air, suspended by a crane, within view of iconic landmarks.
Eco-awareness is also important, but it’s essential to make anything “green” so interesting that people want to associate with it, like Club Watt. Closer to home, the Ritz-Carlton in Charlotte, NC, is making eco-news by raising bees on its roof and using the honey in its restaurant.
So how do you find the influencers and target messages to them? Social media, of course. That was the topic discussed by Mario Jobbe, social media and web product management expert, and co-founder of Circos Brand Karma. Social media, he said, helps in finding what matters to microsegments of the marketplace and reaching them with targeted messages. His tips: benchmark your brand against the competition; measure it in all languages; and china tours engage in a way that’s authentic to your brand. Ultimately, he said, remember that “social media is storytelling.”
Following Jobbe was a panel discussion, moderated by T+L publisher JP Kyrillos, with those who follow and set trends: Kate Betts, contributing editor at Time magazine; Simon Doonan, creative director at Barney’s; designer Thakoon Panichgul; and Nancy Novogrod, editor in chief of Travel + Leisure.
The panel talked about global trends, which, said Betts, are often interpreted locally. Panichgul agreed, saying that it’s essential to pay attention to whether things work on a local level. A popular fashion in, say, Japan, might never take off in Korea. “It’s ironic, isn’t it,” said Novogrod, “that while we’re supposed to have a global awareness, there’s an increase in local consciousness.”
This trend will expand in 2011, the panel predicted, but with the economy slowly improving, they think we also need to add back some of the fun that’s been lost the past couple years. Said Doonan: “It’s time to get back some of our dolce vita.”
Everything Changes, for the Better, at Beverly Hills' Test Kitchen
Q: What’s the first rule of Test Kitchen?
A: The chefs make—and break—the rules of Test Kitchen.
At the experimental eatery on the southern edge of Beverly Hills, online games where a rotating cast of L.A.’s finest previews new menus and tries out specialty dishes, nothing stays the same except the location.
The brainchild of foodies Bill Chait and Brian Saltsburg, Test Kitchen takes the concept of mark-your-calendar dining clubs and pop-up restaurants one step further—by booking star chefs like Grace’s Neal Fraser and Bastide chef Alain Giraud for one-night stands and four-night residencies. The bar also shakes it up with a changing crew of young mixologists who favor fresh-squeezed clementines and pomelos, exotic syrups and the South American brandy pisco (a nod to Test Kitchen co-founder and frequent guest chef Ricardo Zarate of the contemporary Peruvian hotspot Mo-Chica).
Test Kitchen InteriorOffering Mexican, South American, Mediterranean, Russian, Haitian, vegetarian, and raw food evenings, the cozy 60-seat basement space has china tours become an underground sensation among cuisine geeks. It’s not only novel, it’s also simple: Patrons don’t peruse a list of entrees and sides or suffer the recitation of daily specials. The menu is all prix fixe flights, priced from $40 to $70 per person. Although they have to memorize a new menu at least twice a week, the servers are brisk and enthusiastic, clearly stoked to be a guide to the culinary adventure.
There’s just one problem: It’s hard to get a booking—there’s a phone, but no one there to pick it up until dinner is in full swing. (Hint: Try Open Table) And it’s only going to get harder. Test Kitchen recently announced that it is going on hiatus in mid-December. A new restaurant will take over its current location and, on the floor above it, Zarate will debut dishes first served at Test Kitchen at his latest eatery Picca. According to Saltsburg, Test Kitchen 2.0 may reopen in a new location in spring. Stay tuned for details.
A: The chefs make—and break—the rules of Test Kitchen.
At the experimental eatery on the southern edge of Beverly Hills, online games where a rotating cast of L.A.’s finest previews new menus and tries out specialty dishes, nothing stays the same except the location.
The brainchild of foodies Bill Chait and Brian Saltsburg, Test Kitchen takes the concept of mark-your-calendar dining clubs and pop-up restaurants one step further—by booking star chefs like Grace’s Neal Fraser and Bastide chef Alain Giraud for one-night stands and four-night residencies. The bar also shakes it up with a changing crew of young mixologists who favor fresh-squeezed clementines and pomelos, exotic syrups and the South American brandy pisco (a nod to Test Kitchen co-founder and frequent guest chef Ricardo Zarate of the contemporary Peruvian hotspot Mo-Chica).
Test Kitchen InteriorOffering Mexican, South American, Mediterranean, Russian, Haitian, vegetarian, and raw food evenings, the cozy 60-seat basement space has china tours become an underground sensation among cuisine geeks. It’s not only novel, it’s also simple: Patrons don’t peruse a list of entrees and sides or suffer the recitation of daily specials. The menu is all prix fixe flights, priced from $40 to $70 per person. Although they have to memorize a new menu at least twice a week, the servers are brisk and enthusiastic, clearly stoked to be a guide to the culinary adventure.
There’s just one problem: It’s hard to get a booking—there’s a phone, but no one there to pick it up until dinner is in full swing. (Hint: Try Open Table) And it’s only going to get harder. Test Kitchen recently announced that it is going on hiatus in mid-December. A new restaurant will take over its current location and, on the floor above it, Zarate will debut dishes first served at Test Kitchen at his latest eatery Picca. According to Saltsburg, Test Kitchen 2.0 may reopen in a new location in spring. Stay tuned for details.
Trend Alert: Restaurants Using iPads as Virtual Sommeliers
With the release of the iPad nearly one year ago, the device is changing the way we do business. And while it might seem an unlikely combination, even restaurants have hopped on the bandwagon. Yes, a handful are loading their menus onto iPads for customers to peruse—a costly and wasteful business online games practice, all in the name of flashiness, as far as I'm concerned. But that’s not exactly what I’m talking about; there are more and more turning iPads into useful (and yes, flashy) tools that actually improve the dining experience.
What I've been seeing are restaurants digitizing their extensive wine offerings specifically for the iPad. Why am I inclined to value this more than a simple digital food menu? Because besides just listing out the wines, these apps, like the one implemented at Hotel Casa del Mar’s Catch Restaurant in Santa Monica, also offer a wealth of information to help you decide on the perfect wine…that is, without the assistance of an on-site sommelier. (Which, let’s be honest, you’re hard-pressed to find at most restaurants.) Catch’s iPad wine list lets diners browse wines by year, price, tasting notes, high-res images, where it was made, and even dish selection. And with more than 200 wines in their cellar, a little help is more than welcome!
But Catch isn’t the first, nor will it be the last, to put this technological twist on the age-old drink. In Atlanta, Bone’s has a similar app for its 1,300 plus wines, with extensive details, year, region and price. Here in NYC, South Gate has a similar app for its 600 plus china tours bottle collection; Naples Tomato, in—you guessed it—Naples, FL has one for its 500 plus bottles; and Chicago Cut Steakhouse recently debuted its digital 800 plus bottle list.
Oh, and did I mention? In case you’re wondering just how useful this is, most of the restaurants with digital wine lists have reported a significant increase in profits from wine sales.
And here you thought mobile technology had nothing to do with drinking wine. Just wait until we start getting our meals from (warning: nerd reference) replicators...
What I've been seeing are restaurants digitizing their extensive wine offerings specifically for the iPad. Why am I inclined to value this more than a simple digital food menu? Because besides just listing out the wines, these apps, like the one implemented at Hotel Casa del Mar’s Catch Restaurant in Santa Monica, also offer a wealth of information to help you decide on the perfect wine…that is, without the assistance of an on-site sommelier. (Which, let’s be honest, you’re hard-pressed to find at most restaurants.) Catch’s iPad wine list lets diners browse wines by year, price, tasting notes, high-res images, where it was made, and even dish selection. And with more than 200 wines in their cellar, a little help is more than welcome!
But Catch isn’t the first, nor will it be the last, to put this technological twist on the age-old drink. In Atlanta, Bone’s has a similar app for its 1,300 plus wines, with extensive details, year, region and price. Here in NYC, South Gate has a similar app for its 600 plus china tours bottle collection; Naples Tomato, in—you guessed it—Naples, FL has one for its 500 plus bottles; and Chicago Cut Steakhouse recently debuted its digital 800 plus bottle list.
Oh, and did I mention? In case you’re wondering just how useful this is, most of the restaurants with digital wine lists have reported a significant increase in profits from wine sales.
And here you thought mobile technology had nothing to do with drinking wine. Just wait until we start getting our meals from (warning: nerd reference) replicators...
2012年1月17日星期二
To Address Its Housing Shortage, Paris Cracks Down on Pied-à-Terre Rentals
PARIS — Many people buy a pied-à-terre in Paris to use for a few weeks a year and to rent the rest of the time. Most of them don’t realize, however, that they are breaking the law. Now, the city government is trying to address the problem with a more direct approach to enforcement.
Related
Times Topic: France
Mayor Bertrand Delanoë ordered an agency last year to warn china tours property owners that renting out residential apartments for less than a year at a time violated French law. The move was intended to address the lack of affordable housing in the city center. Those who ignored the warning, he said, would be prosecuted.
Only about 25 letters have been sent since enforcement began last autumn — most of them in response to complaints made by neighbors. And only a handful of those cases have gone to court.
But the rental industry in this most-visited city in the world is concerned and, as more owners slowly become aware of the issue, confusion is growing. A few have pulled their properties off the market, others have deleted addresses or other identifying details from Internet listings. And dozens of rental agencies have banded together to try to save their lucrative business.
“No one seems to know what this crackdown means, but I feel my business will have to change,” said Susie Hollands of Vingt Paris, a property advisory and management company.
There is no precise tally of how many of the 1.3 million residences in Paris are being used for short-term rentals. Industry professionals estimate there may be tens of thousands, with a significant proportion owned by foreigners who bought them as vacation homes or investment properties. (Those buyers are predominantly Americans, Italians and Britons, according to brokers.)
Those in the industry also say they believe that the numbers have risen sharply in the last 10 years as the Internet has made it easier to find potential renters.
To legally offer short-term rentals, owners would need to have their residential properties reclassified as commercial sites, a complicated process that involves finding a online games commercial property in the same neighborhood that can be transformed into residential use.
“It isn’t difficult; it is impossible,” said Fabrice Luzu, a notary who has helped many international clients invest in city real estate. “The owner must apply for a special permit and there is very little chance he would obtain it.”
Without such a permit, any apartment classified as residential in a French city of more than 200,000 must be offered with a minimum one-year lease. The law, passed in 2005, has some exceptions for student housing.
For landlords in Paris, the difference in income can be substantial. Depending on how it is renovated, a 650-square-foot apartment in the chic Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, for example, could be rented furnished for 2,500 euros ($3,100) a week, Ms. Hollands said.
She estimates that the yearly income, based on the flat being rented about 70 percent of the time, would bring triple the amount of a long-term lease.
She added, “Unfurnished, on a long lease, it would rent between 2,200 euros and 2,500 euros a month” or at most, 30,000 euros a year.
The police are charged with enforcing the law, but rarely do. So last year, after several attempts, Paris succeeded in transferring enforcement within the city to the mayor’s housing agency, the Bureau de la Protection des Locaux d’Habitation, or the office for the protection of residential property.
“We decided to apply the law in a strict manner,” said Franck Affortit, the agency’s assistant director. “Letters have been sent to owners, who include many Italians, some Americans and British and French.”
Most of those owners have taken their properties off the rental market, while “several” others who have not are being prosecuted, Mr. Affortit said.
One case has resulted in a preliminary judgment in favor of the city; court dates for the other cases have not yet been set, Mr. Affortit said.
Conviction could result in a fine of as much as 25,000 euros. Continued violation could result in additional fines of as much as 1,000 euros a square meter a day. Still, he admits that given his small staff of five, tracking down violators “is a problem.”
Therefore, he said, “we are going to apply this in an intelligent manner.”
The main target, he said, are owners who are “making these rentals into a permanent activity, diverting residential property from its essential function as housing for Parisians,” Mr. Affortit said. “Someone who rents once a year” will not be prosecuted.
Still, the uncertainty has unnerved many in the industry.
Ms. Hollands of Vingt Paris wrote about the crackdown in a November 2009 newsletter to her clients. “I was lambasted by other agents for writing about it,” she said. “But I felt a moral obligation to inform my owners and investors who were about to spend a million euros without knowing about this.”
Her company has served mainly North American and British clientele for the last seven years.
In May, one of her customers “who had done an exquisite restoration received a letter because the neighbors complained,” she said. “They had been renting out the apartment by the week since March and had bookings through the summer. And they were paying a lot of attention not to cause a disturbance.”
The client now rents the furnished property on a one-year lease.
About 35 rental agencies recently formed the Association des Professionnels de la Location Meublée, a group of professionals in the furnished rental industry, with the goal of finding a way to operate within the city’s regulations.
The association questions the city’s interpretation of the law and its premise that properties forced off the short-term rental market will become long-term prospects for Paris residents.
Its first step was to commission “a serious study of the market to show what it represents, and to demonstrate that furnished rentals for periods less than 12 months correspond to a social and economic need for a city like Paris,” said the group’s president, Jean-Marc Agnes. “Clearly, it is not just about three-day stays by tourists, but includes professors, research scholars and exchanges of businessmen in international companies who may come for several months.”
The group expects to have the results in September.
In the meantime, the effort does not seem to have hurt property sales in Paris, whose market has been one of the most robust in Europe throughout the recent global real estate downturn.
“I don’t see prices going down to fulfill Mr. Delanoë’s wish to have cheaper apartments for Parisians,” said Mr. Luzu, the notary. Whether it be wealthy Americans, Brazilians, Indians or Chinese, “they all want a pied-à-terre in Paris,” he said.
The American designer and developer Alon Kasha has been alerting his clients to the potential problem, although many of them do not rent their properties.
“If they are doing this for a rental income, it’s too fraught with problems,” he said. “I tell them, ‘Rather, buy a warehouse somewhere and rent it out,’ ” he said.
“But if they’re buying because they have a passion for a Paris apartment, that’s different. I say, ‘If you can rent it and it works out, that’s fine, but don’t count on it.’ ”
Related
Times Topic: France
Mayor Bertrand Delanoë ordered an agency last year to warn china tours property owners that renting out residential apartments for less than a year at a time violated French law. The move was intended to address the lack of affordable housing in the city center. Those who ignored the warning, he said, would be prosecuted.
Only about 25 letters have been sent since enforcement began last autumn — most of them in response to complaints made by neighbors. And only a handful of those cases have gone to court.
But the rental industry in this most-visited city in the world is concerned and, as more owners slowly become aware of the issue, confusion is growing. A few have pulled their properties off the market, others have deleted addresses or other identifying details from Internet listings. And dozens of rental agencies have banded together to try to save their lucrative business.
“No one seems to know what this crackdown means, but I feel my business will have to change,” said Susie Hollands of Vingt Paris, a property advisory and management company.
There is no precise tally of how many of the 1.3 million residences in Paris are being used for short-term rentals. Industry professionals estimate there may be tens of thousands, with a significant proportion owned by foreigners who bought them as vacation homes or investment properties. (Those buyers are predominantly Americans, Italians and Britons, according to brokers.)
Those in the industry also say they believe that the numbers have risen sharply in the last 10 years as the Internet has made it easier to find potential renters.
To legally offer short-term rentals, owners would need to have their residential properties reclassified as commercial sites, a complicated process that involves finding a online games commercial property in the same neighborhood that can be transformed into residential use.
“It isn’t difficult; it is impossible,” said Fabrice Luzu, a notary who has helped many international clients invest in city real estate. “The owner must apply for a special permit and there is very little chance he would obtain it.”
Without such a permit, any apartment classified as residential in a French city of more than 200,000 must be offered with a minimum one-year lease. The law, passed in 2005, has some exceptions for student housing.
For landlords in Paris, the difference in income can be substantial. Depending on how it is renovated, a 650-square-foot apartment in the chic Saint-Germain-des-Prés area, for example, could be rented furnished for 2,500 euros ($3,100) a week, Ms. Hollands said.
She estimates that the yearly income, based on the flat being rented about 70 percent of the time, would bring triple the amount of a long-term lease.
She added, “Unfurnished, on a long lease, it would rent between 2,200 euros and 2,500 euros a month” or at most, 30,000 euros a year.
The police are charged with enforcing the law, but rarely do. So last year, after several attempts, Paris succeeded in transferring enforcement within the city to the mayor’s housing agency, the Bureau de la Protection des Locaux d’Habitation, or the office for the protection of residential property.
“We decided to apply the law in a strict manner,” said Franck Affortit, the agency’s assistant director. “Letters have been sent to owners, who include many Italians, some Americans and British and French.”
Most of those owners have taken their properties off the rental market, while “several” others who have not are being prosecuted, Mr. Affortit said.
One case has resulted in a preliminary judgment in favor of the city; court dates for the other cases have not yet been set, Mr. Affortit said.
Conviction could result in a fine of as much as 25,000 euros. Continued violation could result in additional fines of as much as 1,000 euros a square meter a day. Still, he admits that given his small staff of five, tracking down violators “is a problem.”
Therefore, he said, “we are going to apply this in an intelligent manner.”
The main target, he said, are owners who are “making these rentals into a permanent activity, diverting residential property from its essential function as housing for Parisians,” Mr. Affortit said. “Someone who rents once a year” will not be prosecuted.
Still, the uncertainty has unnerved many in the industry.
Ms. Hollands of Vingt Paris wrote about the crackdown in a November 2009 newsletter to her clients. “I was lambasted by other agents for writing about it,” she said. “But I felt a moral obligation to inform my owners and investors who were about to spend a million euros without knowing about this.”
Her company has served mainly North American and British clientele for the last seven years.
In May, one of her customers “who had done an exquisite restoration received a letter because the neighbors complained,” she said. “They had been renting out the apartment by the week since March and had bookings through the summer. And they were paying a lot of attention not to cause a disturbance.”
The client now rents the furnished property on a one-year lease.
About 35 rental agencies recently formed the Association des Professionnels de la Location Meublée, a group of professionals in the furnished rental industry, with the goal of finding a way to operate within the city’s regulations.
The association questions the city’s interpretation of the law and its premise that properties forced off the short-term rental market will become long-term prospects for Paris residents.
Its first step was to commission “a serious study of the market to show what it represents, and to demonstrate that furnished rentals for periods less than 12 months correspond to a social and economic need for a city like Paris,” said the group’s president, Jean-Marc Agnes. “Clearly, it is not just about three-day stays by tourists, but includes professors, research scholars and exchanges of businessmen in international companies who may come for several months.”
The group expects to have the results in September.
In the meantime, the effort does not seem to have hurt property sales in Paris, whose market has been one of the most robust in Europe throughout the recent global real estate downturn.
“I don’t see prices going down to fulfill Mr. Delanoë’s wish to have cheaper apartments for Parisians,” said Mr. Luzu, the notary. Whether it be wealthy Americans, Brazilians, Indians or Chinese, “they all want a pied-à-terre in Paris,” he said.
The American designer and developer Alon Kasha has been alerting his clients to the potential problem, although many of them do not rent their properties.
“If they are doing this for a rental income, it’s too fraught with problems,” he said. “I tell them, ‘Rather, buy a warehouse somewhere and rent it out,’ ” he said.
“But if they’re buying because they have a passion for a Paris apartment, that’s different. I say, ‘If you can rent it and it works out, that’s fine, but don’t count on it.’ ”
Rent an Entire Country?
When it comes to vacation rentals, we’re all familiar with hotels, resorts, villas, yurts, and boats. But what if you had the chance (and budget) to take it to the next level, and china tours rent an entire country? (No, there’s no typo there. And yes, you read that right.)
Airbnb.com, a vacation rental site that lets people rent out their own properties to travelers looking to stray from the typical hotel stay, is really stepping up its game with this offer, which (literally) puts the key to the small country of Liechtenstein (which rests on Austria’s western border) in your hands. But you’ll need to be a high-roller (or at least have a ton of friends willing to pool resources) if you want take advantage; the cost is $70,000 per night.
So what do you get with your rental?
- A ceremonial key to the state. (I said literally, didn’t I?)
- Welcome ceremony hosted by the country’s parliament.
- The right to rename streets and town squares.
- Parties thrown in your newly renamed village square.
- Access to entire stadiums to take over for whatever you online games want. (Movie screening, anyone?)
And that’s just the beginning. There are vineyards, skiing and hiking trails, museums, castles, beautiful countryside…all at your disposal. (Oh, and plenty of good eats!)
I should also mention: it’s recommended that, to really take advantage of this offer, you should be arriving with an entourage of some 150 people.
For more information, take a look at the seller’s page on Airbnb. There are also some (slightly) more affordable options to rent out villages, rather than an entire country.
Airbnb.com, a vacation rental site that lets people rent out their own properties to travelers looking to stray from the typical hotel stay, is really stepping up its game with this offer, which (literally) puts the key to the small country of Liechtenstein (which rests on Austria’s western border) in your hands. But you’ll need to be a high-roller (or at least have a ton of friends willing to pool resources) if you want take advantage; the cost is $70,000 per night.
So what do you get with your rental?
- A ceremonial key to the state. (I said literally, didn’t I?)
- Welcome ceremony hosted by the country’s parliament.
- The right to rename streets and town squares.
- Parties thrown in your newly renamed village square.
- Access to entire stadiums to take over for whatever you online games want. (Movie screening, anyone?)
And that’s just the beginning. There are vineyards, skiing and hiking trails, museums, castles, beautiful countryside…all at your disposal. (Oh, and plenty of good eats!)
I should also mention: it’s recommended that, to really take advantage of this offer, you should be arriving with an entourage of some 150 people.
For more information, take a look at the seller’s page on Airbnb. There are also some (slightly) more affordable options to rent out villages, rather than an entire country.
The New World of Home Rental Websites
Thanks to a recent explosion of online booking sites, the $24 billion short-term rental market is now about one-fifth of all U.S. hotel-room revenue, according to Alexis de Belloy, a vice president at HomeAway and VRBO. De Belloy’s sites, which are among the first generation of online rental agencies, cater mainly to families looking to book entire houses—a great way to save china tours money on the road. The success of HomeAway and VRBO has helped to launch a slew of home-rental sites, many of which serve travelers with ever more particular tastes and interests. With listings in 10,000 cities and counting, AirBnB is like eBay for rentals: each host has a profile with user reviews and images. Plus, everyone is encouraged to submit ratings after a visit, which maintains quality control. Roomorama and iStopOver provide similar offerings, with additional features such as the ability to post requests for specific types of accommodations, in case you want, say, organic food in the fridge or a toddler-friendly apartment. And finally, taking the house-swapping trend to a whole new online games level is Luxe Home Swap, which lets you trade stays at your chic place with one of thousands of comparably stylish options across the globe for an annual fee of $159. At press time, a high-design house in Tucson, Arizona, and a relaxed beach retreat on Isla Fuerte, in Colombia, were just two of the properties available.
Are You a Vacationist?
Unless you live in a box (or worse, don’t have an Internet connection), you already know that private sale websites are the hottest thing du jour.
In case you hadn’t heard, Travel + Leisure has joined the party and teamed up china tours with Luxury Link to form vacationist, a new by-invitation site offering great values on stays at some of the world’s most stylish and luxurious hotels.
Since its official launch last month, flash sales have included such fabulous properties as The Mark in New York City and Mauna Kua Beach Hotel in Hawaii.
vacationist-logo_medgifHere’s just a sampling of what’s available right online games now:
Hotel Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica: From $254/night (25% off)
Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad Resort in Mazanillo, Mexico: $107/night (40% off)
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast: $230/night (23% off)
Ka’ana Boutique Resort in San Ignacio, Belize: $175/night (30% off)
What are you waiting for? Request an invitation—and become a vacationist—today!
Adrien Glover is the online deputy editor at Travel + Leisure.
In case you hadn’t heard, Travel + Leisure has joined the party and teamed up china tours with Luxury Link to form vacationist, a new by-invitation site offering great values on stays at some of the world’s most stylish and luxurious hotels.
Since its official launch last month, flash sales have included such fabulous properties as The Mark in New York City and Mauna Kua Beach Hotel in Hawaii.
vacationist-logo_medgifHere’s just a sampling of what’s available right online games now:
Hotel Miramar Hotel and Bungalows in Santa Monica: From $254/night (25% off)
Grand Bay Hotel Isla Navidad Resort in Mazanillo, Mexico: $107/night (40% off)
Hapuna Beach Prince Hotel on Hawaii’s Kohala Coast: $230/night (23% off)
Ka’ana Boutique Resort in San Ignacio, Belize: $175/night (30% off)
What are you waiting for? Request an invitation—and become a vacationist—today!
Adrien Glover is the online deputy editor at Travel + Leisure.
Vacationist: London, Amalfi Coast, and Lake Tahoe
Do you start to panic about summer vacation days not taken when July 4 rolls around? Join Vacationist.com, and calm those waves of anxiety by perusing our china tours currently featured offerings:
Resort at Squaw Creek, Tahoe, California
Fly-fishing? Skiing? Dog-sledding? Careening down the 120-foot waterslide? A stay at this timber lodge in the Sierra Nevadas offers as much seasonal adventure as you can handle, or as much time lounging in front of a fireplace or a expansive view of the Alpine lake as you’d like.
The Landmark, London
A stay in this aptly named grande dame in Marylebone will transport you to a romantic era of travel, where the journey ends in a hushed, cool lobby of marble columns and stately palms. Stroll over to the High Street to find boutiques featuring next year’s online games designers, tony wine shops, local cheesemongers, and restaurants that have the city buzzing.
Relais Paradiso, Vietri sul Mare, Italy
Looking for la dolce vita? You'll find the real thing on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. When you're driving winding cliffside roads, you'll glimpse villas and pools on sun-bathed terraces down below. Who are those lucky people enjoying the Mediterranean like film stars? It could be you. Reserve one of the 22 whitewashed guestrooms at the Relais Paradiso, opened last year, and take up residency beside its terrace pool.
You can pick up these deals for the next four days (for travel now or months from now), but don’t stress out! When these offers end, Vacationist.com will unveil four new possibilities for those summer vacation days you’ve got waiting. Spend them wisely, vacationist!
Resort at Squaw Creek, Tahoe, California
Fly-fishing? Skiing? Dog-sledding? Careening down the 120-foot waterslide? A stay at this timber lodge in the Sierra Nevadas offers as much seasonal adventure as you can handle, or as much time lounging in front of a fireplace or a expansive view of the Alpine lake as you’d like.
The Landmark, London
A stay in this aptly named grande dame in Marylebone will transport you to a romantic era of travel, where the journey ends in a hushed, cool lobby of marble columns and stately palms. Stroll over to the High Street to find boutiques featuring next year’s online games designers, tony wine shops, local cheesemongers, and restaurants that have the city buzzing.
Relais Paradiso, Vietri sul Mare, Italy
Looking for la dolce vita? You'll find the real thing on the Amalfi Coast of Italy. When you're driving winding cliffside roads, you'll glimpse villas and pools on sun-bathed terraces down below. Who are those lucky people enjoying the Mediterranean like film stars? It could be you. Reserve one of the 22 whitewashed guestrooms at the Relais Paradiso, opened last year, and take up residency beside its terrace pool.
You can pick up these deals for the next four days (for travel now or months from now), but don’t stress out! When these offers end, Vacationist.com will unveil four new possibilities for those summer vacation days you’ve got waiting. Spend them wisely, vacationist!
Vacationist: Dominican Republic, NYC, Vermont, Mexico
Fourth of July weekend is just about here! If you waited too long to make plans—or just didn't want to deal with the high volume of travelers trekking to and fro—then head on over to Vacationist.com and book a relaxing post-holiday vaca. The four china tours newest properties on sale are:
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
All your needs will be tended to at this all-inclusive Oceanfront beach resort, where check-in and -out times are non-existent. Spend your time taking up one of the many hotel activities—snorkeling, anyone?—or grab a beach towel and cocktail and lounge by the pool.
Topnotch Resort and Spa, Stowe, VT
Vermont is not just a winter destination, and Topnotch will help you take advantage of all the area has to offer. Get a tour of the lush maple and pine trees on horseback or head into town to sample tasty Vermont cheeses.
The Carlton Hotel, NYC
This recently renovated Murray Hill boutique—tastefully decorated with a subdued modern twist to the opulence of the Beaux-Arts era—is situated in such close proximity to online games multiple forms of public transportation, getting to the many city sights will be a breeze.
Hotel Hacienda Sepulveda & Spa, Lagos de Moreno, Mexico
If sprawling metropolises aren't your thing, this rural hotel is perfect for you. With just 23 rooms, a stay here means relaxation, whether it's strolling the gardens or indulging one of the on-property's spa treatments.
See something you like? Act fast! These special offers will only be available for the next six days.
Zoetry Agua Punta Cana, Dominican Republic
All your needs will be tended to at this all-inclusive Oceanfront beach resort, where check-in and -out times are non-existent. Spend your time taking up one of the many hotel activities—snorkeling, anyone?—or grab a beach towel and cocktail and lounge by the pool.
Topnotch Resort and Spa, Stowe, VT
Vermont is not just a winter destination, and Topnotch will help you take advantage of all the area has to offer. Get a tour of the lush maple and pine trees on horseback or head into town to sample tasty Vermont cheeses.
The Carlton Hotel, NYC
This recently renovated Murray Hill boutique—tastefully decorated with a subdued modern twist to the opulence of the Beaux-Arts era—is situated in such close proximity to online games multiple forms of public transportation, getting to the many city sights will be a breeze.
Hotel Hacienda Sepulveda & Spa, Lagos de Moreno, Mexico
If sprawling metropolises aren't your thing, this rural hotel is perfect for you. With just 23 rooms, a stay here means relaxation, whether it's strolling the gardens or indulging one of the on-property's spa treatments.
See something you like? Act fast! These special offers will only be available for the next six days.
2012年1月16日星期一
Vacationist: Italy, Mexico, Mauritius, and Hawaii
Are you an Amalfi veteran? Or will Vacationist take you to Italy's picturesque coast for the first time? Either way, don't miss this week's irresistible discount at the Furore Inn (shown above). Looking for something even more secluded? Vacationist has great deals on an exclusive villa in Puerto Vallarta, spectacular sunsets on the west coast of online games Mauritius, and a luxury hideaway on Hawaii's Kohala Coast. All are available for up to 37% off -- only from Vacationist.
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here for access to these and other great deals.
Furore Inn Resort – up to 37% off
Furore, Italy
This tranquil property is actually a collection of terraces, flowering gardens, and pools clinging to cliffs 600 feet above the Tyrrhenian Sea. The 22-room boutique hotel is classically Italian, from the upholstered headboards and glazed Vietri tile floors to the waistcoated servers in the formal restaurant. (6 days)
Casa Valerie Puerto Vallarta, MexicoCasa Valerie – up to 30% off
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Each of the six bedrooms in this 10,000-square-foot villa (shown, at right) has its own personality. Poised above Puerto Vallarta's Pacific Ocean, with AC, wireless Internet, and satellite TV, the Master Bedroom has a private Jacuzzi and opens onto the pool deck, while the Rock Bedroom is built into natural granite. Bathrooms are fitted with bronze fixtures by San Miguel de Allende artisans. (5 days)
Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa – up to 31% off
Flic en Flac, Mauritius
Maradiva occupies a serene site overlooking Tamarin Bay on the west coast of Mauritius, the side of the island that claims the most spectacular sunsets and a consistently warm and dry climate. The resort includes 65 villas, two restaurants and bars, an infinity pool, a boathouse, china tours and a spa offering ayurvedic applications—and, of course, long stretches of sandy beach. (11 days)
Hapuna Beach Prince HotelHapuna Beach Prince Hotel – up to 23% off
Kohala Coast, Island of Hawaii
Hapuna Beach provides the backdrop for this 350-room resort (shown, at left). The property enjoys more seclusion than its famous sister/neighbor, the Mauna Kea, but this property includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. The slight price bump to an ocean-view room is well worth it. (4 days)
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here for access to these and other great deals.
Furore Inn Resort – up to 37% off
Furore, Italy
This tranquil property is actually a collection of terraces, flowering gardens, and pools clinging to cliffs 600 feet above the Tyrrhenian Sea. The 22-room boutique hotel is classically Italian, from the upholstered headboards and glazed Vietri tile floors to the waistcoated servers in the formal restaurant. (6 days)
Casa Valerie Puerto Vallarta, MexicoCasa Valerie – up to 30% off
Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Each of the six bedrooms in this 10,000-square-foot villa (shown, at right) has its own personality. Poised above Puerto Vallarta's Pacific Ocean, with AC, wireless Internet, and satellite TV, the Master Bedroom has a private Jacuzzi and opens onto the pool deck, while the Rock Bedroom is built into natural granite. Bathrooms are fitted with bronze fixtures by San Miguel de Allende artisans. (5 days)
Maradiva Villas Resort & Spa – up to 31% off
Flic en Flac, Mauritius
Maradiva occupies a serene site overlooking Tamarin Bay on the west coast of Mauritius, the side of the island that claims the most spectacular sunsets and a consistently warm and dry climate. The resort includes 65 villas, two restaurants and bars, an infinity pool, a boathouse, china tours and a spa offering ayurvedic applications—and, of course, long stretches of sandy beach. (11 days)
Hapuna Beach Prince HotelHapuna Beach Prince Hotel – up to 23% off
Kohala Coast, Island of Hawaii
Hapuna Beach provides the backdrop for this 350-room resort (shown, at left). The property enjoys more seclusion than its famous sister/neighbor, the Mauna Kea, but this property includes an 18-hole golf course designed by Arnold Palmer and Ed Seay. The slight price bump to an ocean-view room is well worth it. (4 days)
Vacationist: Las Vegas, Bangkok, Costa Rica
City slickers, take note: This week’s Vacationist deals include hotel stays in two of our favorite cities—Las Vegas and Bangkok—for less than $100 a night. If that doesn’t lure you in, we have other tricks (and treats!) up our sleeve: In both cities, current temperatures hover in the 70s and 80s, and, in Las Vegas, this weekend brings the inaugural Halloween parade. Dare we online games mention again that Bangkok ranked as the no. 1 city in this year’s World’s Best Awards survey?
Not to worry, however, if you’d prefer to leave the crowds behind. For a quiet beachfront getaway there’s 44% off at Hotel Punta Islita, on Costa Rica’s Playa Samara. Read on for more details, and of course, become a Vacationist member now.
Hotel Punta Islita – up to 44% off
Playa Samara, Costa Rica
This honeymooner favorite (shown above)—complete with an on-site mango orchard—is set on a sprawling 80-acre hillside that overlooks a remote Pacific beach is. The graceful—and very private—earth-tone rooms have rustic accents (think: hammocks and thatch roofs) but don't skimp on amenities (sumptuous villas come with private plunge pools)… (5 days)
The Signature at MGM Grand Las VegasThe Signature at MGM Grand – up to 35% off
Las Vegas, NV
This all-suite, non-gaming, and non-smoking property is a serene oasis in the midst of the bright lights and bustling activity of Sin City. Located in three towers, the 1,276 spacious suites (ranging from 550 to 1,500 square feet) have kitchens, deluxe king beds with Egyptian china tours cotton sheets, and oversize marble bathrooms with Jacuzzi whirlpool tubs and flat-screen TVs… (4 days)
Lebua At State Tower, Bangkok
Lebua At State Tower - up to 30% off
Bangkok, Thailand
Overlooking the Chao Praya river and the skyscrapers of Bangkok, the 63 stories of the Lebua are a respite from the vibrant Bangkok street life below. Don't let the businesslike exterior fool you, as it's stuffed to the gills with goodies inside: made up of all-suites, the modern, Western-style rooms have balconies and feather beds… (4 days)
Not to worry, however, if you’d prefer to leave the crowds behind. For a quiet beachfront getaway there’s 44% off at Hotel Punta Islita, on Costa Rica’s Playa Samara. Read on for more details, and of course, become a Vacationist member now.
Hotel Punta Islita – up to 44% off
Playa Samara, Costa Rica
This honeymooner favorite (shown above)—complete with an on-site mango orchard—is set on a sprawling 80-acre hillside that overlooks a remote Pacific beach is. The graceful—and very private—earth-tone rooms have rustic accents (think: hammocks and thatch roofs) but don't skimp on amenities (sumptuous villas come with private plunge pools)… (5 days)
The Signature at MGM Grand Las VegasThe Signature at MGM Grand – up to 35% off
Las Vegas, NV
This all-suite, non-gaming, and non-smoking property is a serene oasis in the midst of the bright lights and bustling activity of Sin City. Located in three towers, the 1,276 spacious suites (ranging from 550 to 1,500 square feet) have kitchens, deluxe king beds with Egyptian china tours cotton sheets, and oversize marble bathrooms with Jacuzzi whirlpool tubs and flat-screen TVs… (4 days)
Lebua At State Tower, Bangkok
Lebua At State Tower - up to 30% off
Bangkok, Thailand
Overlooking the Chao Praya river and the skyscrapers of Bangkok, the 63 stories of the Lebua are a respite from the vibrant Bangkok street life below. Don't let the businesslike exterior fool you, as it's stuffed to the gills with goodies inside: made up of all-suites, the modern, Western-style rooms have balconies and feather beds… (4 days)
Vacationist: Your ideal getaway to New Zealand, Florida, and Costa Rica
Pristine, remote location? Check. Top-notch dining? Check. Stellar service? Absolutely! If you’re looking for your next escape—and really, who isn’t?—Vacationist has upped the ante this week, with deals of more than 40% off at relaxation-inducing hotels around the globe. And if that isn’t enough to lead you straight to the website, we have more great news, too. online games Vacationist sale sites now include more details than ever on hotels, plus insider tips, mini destination guides, and upcoming events calendars. Your next idyllic vacation is just a click away.
Still not a member? Click here to join.
Lake Okareka Lodge by Lebua – up to 30% off
Lake Okareka, New Zealand
This schist-stone-and-timber New Zealand resort provides travelers with a tranquil, cozy retreat on the edge of the North Island's Lake Okareka, but with easy access to the highlights of historic Rotorua. It would be tough to identify that one knockout detail that makes this lodge stand out, but when push comes to shove, our money would be on the staff, whose razor-sharp service is delivered with that relaxed cheery warmth for which Kiwis are known around the globe... (5 days)
Little Palm Island Resort & SpaLittle Palm Island Resort & Spa – up to 44% off
Little Torch Key, Florida
Feeling overworked and seeking a secluded easy getaway? You don't need a passport to reach Florida's most private island, a two-hour drive from Miami and accessible only by boat. With no telephones, televisions, or guests under 16, Little Palm Island's exclusive 5 1/2 acres of mangroves and sandy white beaches offer the perfect place to disconnect. Thirty single and two-story suites—all with canopy king-size beds, slate bathroom floors, and jetted tubs—also have private verandas with ocean views and bamboo showers. Off-island, take a day trip scuba diving the barrier reef with the resort's certified instructors, or head south to Key West, a 30-minute drive on U.S. Highway 1... (6 days)
The SUU Manuel Antonio
The SUU Manuel Antonio - up to 25% off
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
A small luxury property in the heart of a Costa Rican rainforest, the SUU has both china tours ocean and mountain views and is a quiet base from which to explore Manuel Antonio's white sand beaches and national park. Opened in August 2010, this romantic hotel combines Costa Rica's natural beauty with sleek design and personalized service, including beach and poolside butlers. At the hotel's restaurant, Gusto, the Peruvian chef uses locally sourced organic ingredients to create dishes including pisco salmon with beet carpaccio and purple basil ice cream... (4 days)
Still not a member? Click here to join.
Lake Okareka Lodge by Lebua – up to 30% off
Lake Okareka, New Zealand
This schist-stone-and-timber New Zealand resort provides travelers with a tranquil, cozy retreat on the edge of the North Island's Lake Okareka, but with easy access to the highlights of historic Rotorua. It would be tough to identify that one knockout detail that makes this lodge stand out, but when push comes to shove, our money would be on the staff, whose razor-sharp service is delivered with that relaxed cheery warmth for which Kiwis are known around the globe... (5 days)
Little Palm Island Resort & SpaLittle Palm Island Resort & Spa – up to 44% off
Little Torch Key, Florida
Feeling overworked and seeking a secluded easy getaway? You don't need a passport to reach Florida's most private island, a two-hour drive from Miami and accessible only by boat. With no telephones, televisions, or guests under 16, Little Palm Island's exclusive 5 1/2 acres of mangroves and sandy white beaches offer the perfect place to disconnect. Thirty single and two-story suites—all with canopy king-size beds, slate bathroom floors, and jetted tubs—also have private verandas with ocean views and bamboo showers. Off-island, take a day trip scuba diving the barrier reef with the resort's certified instructors, or head south to Key West, a 30-minute drive on U.S. Highway 1... (6 days)
The SUU Manuel Antonio
The SUU Manuel Antonio - up to 25% off
Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica
A small luxury property in the heart of a Costa Rican rainforest, the SUU has both china tours ocean and mountain views and is a quiet base from which to explore Manuel Antonio's white sand beaches and national park. Opened in August 2010, this romantic hotel combines Costa Rica's natural beauty with sleek design and personalized service, including beach and poolside butlers. At the hotel's restaurant, Gusto, the Peruvian chef uses locally sourced organic ingredients to create dishes including pisco salmon with beet carpaccio and purple basil ice cream... (4 days)
Vacationist: Stays in the Southwest, plus the Caribbean, California, and Morocco
For many of us, daylight savings means shorter days and colder weather (brrr!). But you don't have to worry about frigid temperatures in Arizona, California, and the Caribbean, where pools and beaches beckon thanks to Vacationist—all for up to 40% off. At California's Miramonte Resort and Spa in Coachella Valley, red-tiled roofs and Moorish details will transport you to the Mediterranean. Or take it up a notch, and live like a King at L Mansion, Marrakesh. For these trips and more, read on or click here. Shouldn't you be planning your next online games getaway?
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here to join.
Little Good Harbour – up to 41% off
St. Peter, Barbados
This hotel has been giving lessons in unpretentious luxury since it opened in 2000. Set near a private beach, the one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites in gabled gingerbread cottages are just a minute's walk through a garden of lush vegetation (and by the occasional green monkey in a banana tree). Suites are done in muted island colors, and all have four-poster beds, large living rooms, and fully equipped kitchens. Ask for rooms in Fort Rupert, a 17th-century fort on the property and the only guest accommodations with full-on sea views… (5 days)
L Mansion Marrakech, MoroccoL Mansion – up to 25% off
Marrakesh, Morocco
It took more than a quarter of a century for general manager Lamya El Manjra's father to build the Marrakesh palace that is L Mansion, a seven-room hotel that was originally conceived as a private desert retreat for Manjra's family. Located on several acres of cypress and citrus and roses, the place is styled after the fabled Alhambra in southern Spain. But whereas that monument has been stripped bare by the ages, L Mansion's opulence is striking without being china toursgaudy… (4 days)
The Hermosa Inn – up to 33% off
Paradise Valley, AZ
Cowboy artist Lon Megargee built the Hermosa Inn as his primary residence and studio in the 1930s and later converted the property into a small guest ranch. Today, the boutique resort's 34 rooms and casitas feature wood-beamed ceilings, authentic period furnishings, and Megargee's original artwork. A recent $2 million renovation has transformed the once modest bathrooms into lavish retreats with sunken tubs and walk-in showers… (4 days)
Miramonte Resort & Spa Indian Wells, CA
Miramonte Resort & Spa - up to 40% off
Indian Wells, CA
With red-tiled roofs, Moorish archways, and buildings named Villa Capri, Villa Naples, and The Portofino, the Miramonte Resort and Spa will make you think you are in the Mediterranean. But the arid desert breezes, insistent sunshine, and looming rocky outcrops in the distance remind you that you're in southern California's Coachella Valley. The hotel fronts the main thoroughfare of Highway 111 and is surrounded by malls and businesses, but you can hear a pin drop here, and that's just the way the travelers who frequent the place love it… (6 days)
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here to join.
Little Good Harbour – up to 41% off
St. Peter, Barbados
This hotel has been giving lessons in unpretentious luxury since it opened in 2000. Set near a private beach, the one-, two-, or three-bedroom suites in gabled gingerbread cottages are just a minute's walk through a garden of lush vegetation (and by the occasional green monkey in a banana tree). Suites are done in muted island colors, and all have four-poster beds, large living rooms, and fully equipped kitchens. Ask for rooms in Fort Rupert, a 17th-century fort on the property and the only guest accommodations with full-on sea views… (5 days)
L Mansion Marrakech, MoroccoL Mansion – up to 25% off
Marrakesh, Morocco
It took more than a quarter of a century for general manager Lamya El Manjra's father to build the Marrakesh palace that is L Mansion, a seven-room hotel that was originally conceived as a private desert retreat for Manjra's family. Located on several acres of cypress and citrus and roses, the place is styled after the fabled Alhambra in southern Spain. But whereas that monument has been stripped bare by the ages, L Mansion's opulence is striking without being china toursgaudy… (4 days)
The Hermosa Inn – up to 33% off
Paradise Valley, AZ
Cowboy artist Lon Megargee built the Hermosa Inn as his primary residence and studio in the 1930s and later converted the property into a small guest ranch. Today, the boutique resort's 34 rooms and casitas feature wood-beamed ceilings, authentic period furnishings, and Megargee's original artwork. A recent $2 million renovation has transformed the once modest bathrooms into lavish retreats with sunken tubs and walk-in showers… (4 days)
Miramonte Resort & Spa Indian Wells, CA
Miramonte Resort & Spa - up to 40% off
Indian Wells, CA
With red-tiled roofs, Moorish archways, and buildings named Villa Capri, Villa Naples, and The Portofino, the Miramonte Resort and Spa will make you think you are in the Mediterranean. But the arid desert breezes, insistent sunshine, and looming rocky outcrops in the distance remind you that you're in southern California's Coachella Valley. The hotel fronts the main thoroughfare of Highway 111 and is surrounded by malls and businesses, but you can hear a pin drop here, and that's just the way the travelers who frequent the place love it… (6 days)
Vacationist: St. John, New York City, Charleston, Palm Springs and more
St. John's Galley Bay has its trump cards (private plunge pools; a brand-new spa; meandering lagoons) but our hearts are set on the big city—the sights, the sounds, the hustle and bustle. Thankfully, Vacationist gets it right this week, with impressive hotel deals in the Caribbean and New York, Charleston, and sunny Palm Springs. The city sales go live tomorrow, so shine your shoes and back your bags, and sit tight until logging on at noon EST. Then the all of these getaways are yours to enjoy, for less!
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here to join.
Galley Bay Resort & Spa – up to 61% off
St. John, Antigua and Barbuda
When guests arrive, they are greeted by a blue lagoon that's home to numerous tropical plants, flowers, and birds. The rest of this secluded resort awaits over the lagoon's bridge—a quick golf-cart ride away. The rooms and suites are just steps from the beach and decorated in tasteful seaside décor,while cottages are equipped with private plunge pools and feature Tahitian accents. To round out the experience, Galley Bay also has three restaurants and bars and online games a recently built spa with a well-curated menu of treatments...(4 days)
The James New YorkThe James New York
New York, NY
Just two months after the hotel's September 2010 opening, The James in New York City is already a welcome addition to downtown Manhattan's skyline. The building itself has a striking steel-and-glass exterior, while interior spaces are calming—a world away from the hustle and bustle of the energetic city. Guests can relax with a cocktail in the third-floor lobby and lounge, admiring the earth-toned furniture, birch-tree accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on a nearby sculpture garden.... (sale starts tomorrow)
The Restoration on King
Charleston, SC
After a complete overhaul of a red brick building on one of Charleston's main streets, the aptly named Restoration on King opened this past April. The china tours property's 16 suites are beautifully designed with modern furnishings, spacious terraces, and exposed-brick walls that give the property an urban edge among downtown's historic buildings. Guest rooms are also highly functional: full kitchens have state-of-the-art, stainless-steel appliances, and bathrooms are stocked with Gilchrist & Soames amenities... (sale starts tomorrow)
The Parker Palm Springs
The Parker Palm Springs
Palm Springs, CA
When designer Jonathan Adler debuted his retro redesign in 2004, the Parker became the grand dame of desert getaways. Thirteen acres of lush palms and willows, two outdoor pools, four red-clay tennis courts, and a massive nautical-themed spa, all against the backdrop of California's San Jaciento mountains. Adler's ambitious design is no more apparent then within the 144 rooms and villas, outfitted with Peruvian weavings, minimalist canopy beds atop Australian sheepskin rugs, and pieces of Adler's pottery that made him a household brand...(sale starts tomorrow)
Still not a Vacationist member? Click here to join.
Galley Bay Resort & Spa – up to 61% off
St. John, Antigua and Barbuda
When guests arrive, they are greeted by a blue lagoon that's home to numerous tropical plants, flowers, and birds. The rest of this secluded resort awaits over the lagoon's bridge—a quick golf-cart ride away. The rooms and suites are just steps from the beach and decorated in tasteful seaside décor,while cottages are equipped with private plunge pools and feature Tahitian accents. To round out the experience, Galley Bay also has three restaurants and bars and online games a recently built spa with a well-curated menu of treatments...(4 days)
The James New YorkThe James New York
New York, NY
Just two months after the hotel's September 2010 opening, The James in New York City is already a welcome addition to downtown Manhattan's skyline. The building itself has a striking steel-and-glass exterior, while interior spaces are calming—a world away from the hustle and bustle of the energetic city. Guests can relax with a cocktail in the third-floor lobby and lounge, admiring the earth-toned furniture, birch-tree accents, and floor-to-ceiling windows that look out on a nearby sculpture garden.... (sale starts tomorrow)
The Restoration on King
Charleston, SC
After a complete overhaul of a red brick building on one of Charleston's main streets, the aptly named Restoration on King opened this past April. The china tours property's 16 suites are beautifully designed with modern furnishings, spacious terraces, and exposed-brick walls that give the property an urban edge among downtown's historic buildings. Guest rooms are also highly functional: full kitchens have state-of-the-art, stainless-steel appliances, and bathrooms are stocked with Gilchrist & Soames amenities... (sale starts tomorrow)
The Parker Palm Springs
The Parker Palm Springs
Palm Springs, CA
When designer Jonathan Adler debuted his retro redesign in 2004, the Parker became the grand dame of desert getaways. Thirteen acres of lush palms and willows, two outdoor pools, four red-clay tennis courts, and a massive nautical-themed spa, all against the backdrop of California's San Jaciento mountains. Adler's ambitious design is no more apparent then within the 144 rooms and villas, outfitted with Peruvian weavings, minimalist canopy beds atop Australian sheepskin rugs, and pieces of Adler's pottery that made him a household brand...(sale starts tomorrow)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Rustic California, Vermont, and New York
Cedar-and-glass bungalows, restored farmhouses, a roaring fireplace in an expansive main lodge: there are so many ways to do a rustic retreat. Vacationist is spotlighting three of our favorites today, from a premier lakeside spot in California wine country to a mountain escape in Stowe, Vermont—even a celebrity hideaway on 14 wooded acres an hour north of Manhattan. You’ll china tours stay there for less when you book with Vacationist.
Not what you’re looking for? Click here for Italy, Dominican Republic, Acapulco, Mexico and more.
Calistoga Ranch (above) — up to 15% off
Calistoga, California
Northern California has its share of upscale hotels, but this exclusive property—well situated among 157 acres of oak trees and burbling springs in northern Napa Valley—is the epitome of luxury for West Coast nature lovers. Forty-eight freestanding guest lodges—all polished cedar and floor-to-ceiling glass—offer uninterrupted views of the trees and sky, both from their opulent, plush interiors and from their fire-warmed "outdoor living rooms" with private showers. The spa, situated among moss-covered boulders and mature trees, offers private mineral-soaking pools and outdoor mud baths, and yoga classes are held daily on a deck set high above the forest floor. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Stowe Mountain Lodge — up to 42% off
Stowe, Vermont
A luxurious addition to one of New England's oldest ski towns, online games the six-story ski-in/ski-out Stowe Mountain Lodge has transformed the local hotel scene. Guests can borrow from its Mercedes fleet, and each of the 312 rooms comes with a gas fireplace and a private balcony. There's no log-cabin chic here: progressive design elements include floor-to-ceiling windows, stainless-steel kitchen appliances, and bamboo sheets and robes. The spacious restaurant, Solstice, makes use of locally sourced meats and produce (and offers a tasty flight of Vermont microbrews). Après-ski means a visit to the 21,000-square-foot spa. (Sale ends in 7 days.)
201105-b-bedford-1jpgBedford Post Inn — up to 36% off
Bedford, New York
When Richard Gere and his wife, Carey Lowell, decided to try their hand at the hotel business, some might have expected a flashy, over-the-top scene fit for the Hollywood Hills. Instead, the longtime Westchester residents opened an elegant eight-room inn that pays homage to its rural surroundings. The 14-acre retreat has interiors built from reclaimed wood and a farm-to-table restaurant that serves seasonal fare such as cappelletti en brodo, a pea-filled pasta with porcini mushrooms, ramps, and Parmigiano. Rooms have working fireplaces and antique claw-foot tubs, but there's plenty to lure guests to public spaces: in addition to freshly baked pastries served in the restaurant each morning, weekend guests enjoy a complimentary wine and cheese hour, with bottles selected by the property's sommelier. (Sale ends in 8 days.)
Not what you’re looking for? Click here for Italy, Dominican Republic, Acapulco, Mexico and more.
Calistoga Ranch (above) — up to 15% off
Calistoga, California
Northern California has its share of upscale hotels, but this exclusive property—well situated among 157 acres of oak trees and burbling springs in northern Napa Valley—is the epitome of luxury for West Coast nature lovers. Forty-eight freestanding guest lodges—all polished cedar and floor-to-ceiling glass—offer uninterrupted views of the trees and sky, both from their opulent, plush interiors and from their fire-warmed "outdoor living rooms" with private showers. The spa, situated among moss-covered boulders and mature trees, offers private mineral-soaking pools and outdoor mud baths, and yoga classes are held daily on a deck set high above the forest floor. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Stowe Mountain Lodge — up to 42% off
Stowe, Vermont
A luxurious addition to one of New England's oldest ski towns, online games the six-story ski-in/ski-out Stowe Mountain Lodge has transformed the local hotel scene. Guests can borrow from its Mercedes fleet, and each of the 312 rooms comes with a gas fireplace and a private balcony. There's no log-cabin chic here: progressive design elements include floor-to-ceiling windows, stainless-steel kitchen appliances, and bamboo sheets and robes. The spacious restaurant, Solstice, makes use of locally sourced meats and produce (and offers a tasty flight of Vermont microbrews). Après-ski means a visit to the 21,000-square-foot spa. (Sale ends in 7 days.)
201105-b-bedford-1jpgBedford Post Inn — up to 36% off
Bedford, New York
When Richard Gere and his wife, Carey Lowell, decided to try their hand at the hotel business, some might have expected a flashy, over-the-top scene fit for the Hollywood Hills. Instead, the longtime Westchester residents opened an elegant eight-room inn that pays homage to its rural surroundings. The 14-acre retreat has interiors built from reclaimed wood and a farm-to-table restaurant that serves seasonal fare such as cappelletti en brodo, a pea-filled pasta with porcini mushrooms, ramps, and Parmigiano. Rooms have working fireplaces and antique claw-foot tubs, but there's plenty to lure guests to public spaces: in addition to freshly baked pastries served in the restaurant each morning, weekend guests enjoy a complimentary wine and cheese hour, with bottles selected by the property's sommelier. (Sale ends in 8 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Manhattan, California, and the British Virgin Islands
We’ve got a mixed bag today: a stay at the Gramercy Park Hotel in New York City gives you coveted access to the blossoming gardens of the city’s most exclusive private park, while a couple nights at Bernardus Lodge means you’ll unwind among grape vines just north of California’s Big Sur. Throw in a British Virgin Islands beach getaway deal, and this summer, you’ll be china tours living easy.
Not what you’re looking for? Click here for Italy, Moorea, and more.
201106-b-gramercyjpgGramercy Park Hotel - up to 36% off
New York, New York
When design partners Ian Schrager and Julian Schnabel unveiled their reimagined, ultraswanky Gramercy Park Hotel in winter 2006, it brought modern glamour back to this 1925-era property. The 185 rooms—done up in Raphaelite tones of jade, claret, and sapphire blue—are furnished with chairs and ottomans upholstered in thick velvet, studded leather hope chests, and heavy drapes. Many have views across the park, and all are enlivened by funky metal light fixtures and bold wall art (much of it black-and-white photography from the Magnum agency archives). Art looms large in the common areas too; the checkerboard-tiled lobby, where rough-hewn wooden columns support a 20-foot ceiling, and the adjacent Rose and Jade bars double as galleries for paintings by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Cy Twombly. And all guests are allowed entry to the exclusive, quiet, private Gramercy Park, just outside. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
201106-b-bernardusjpgBernardus Lodge - up to 36% off
Carmel Valley, California
A stay at Bernardus Lodge proves that Napa hotels don't have a monopoly on California's premier wine country. The romantic 57-suite Bernardus is ideally situated in a lush mountain valley between the Monterey peninsula and the Big Sur coast (about 160 miles south of Napa Valley) and close to the region's well-regarded wineries and celebrated golf links. The all-suite accommodations blend antiques and wood-beam ceilings with the requisite high-tech touches, plus plush beds, soaking tubs, and wood-burning fireplaces. The lodge's Marinus restaurant, with chef Cal Stamenov at the helm, has evolved into one of northern California's premier dining spots, serving California natural cuisine: dishes include Sonoma duck and grilled quail served with risotto, chanterelle, and foie gras sauce, and Carmel Bay prawns and shellfish bisque flavored with cilantro and jalapeño, paired with prize-winning Marinus Estate Bordeaux-style wine from the lodge's own vineyard. There's plenty to keep you occupied in the immediate surroundings, from hikes and horseback riding in the nearby Santa Lucia mountains to tennis, croquet, or bocce on the lodge lawns, but who wants to leave your perch overlooking vineyards, rolling hills, and lavender blossoms? (Sale ends in 3 days.)
Bitter End Yacht Club (above) - up to 30% off
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Christopher Columbus once thought Virgin Gorda resembled a supine lady from afar, online games but the similarities end there: this spot in the British Virgin Islands isn't the place for spending all day flat on a beach towel. At the family-owned Bitter End Yacht Club (one of the first hotels on the island), Boston Whaler motorboats are at the ready for island explorers—a 40-minute ride will bring you to several lush, sparsely inhabited islands, including Salt Island, which is home to a 19th-century shipwreck. Back at the hotel, which dates to the 1970s, trade winds cool the 85 West Indian-style rooms (most with unobstructed views of the water) and keep the accredited sailing school filled with adventure types practicing for keelboat certification. Three years ago, the resort underwent a multimillion dollar renovation, and this summer, it will unveil a brand-new marina large enough to accommodate 18 yachts for travelers arriving by sea. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Not what you’re looking for? Click here for Italy, Moorea, and more.
201106-b-gramercyjpgGramercy Park Hotel - up to 36% off
New York, New York
When design partners Ian Schrager and Julian Schnabel unveiled their reimagined, ultraswanky Gramercy Park Hotel in winter 2006, it brought modern glamour back to this 1925-era property. The 185 rooms—done up in Raphaelite tones of jade, claret, and sapphire blue—are furnished with chairs and ottomans upholstered in thick velvet, studded leather hope chests, and heavy drapes. Many have views across the park, and all are enlivened by funky metal light fixtures and bold wall art (much of it black-and-white photography from the Magnum agency archives). Art looms large in the common areas too; the checkerboard-tiled lobby, where rough-hewn wooden columns support a 20-foot ceiling, and the adjacent Rose and Jade bars double as galleries for paintings by Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Cy Twombly. And all guests are allowed entry to the exclusive, quiet, private Gramercy Park, just outside. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
201106-b-bernardusjpgBernardus Lodge - up to 36% off
Carmel Valley, California
A stay at Bernardus Lodge proves that Napa hotels don't have a monopoly on California's premier wine country. The romantic 57-suite Bernardus is ideally situated in a lush mountain valley between the Monterey peninsula and the Big Sur coast (about 160 miles south of Napa Valley) and close to the region's well-regarded wineries and celebrated golf links. The all-suite accommodations blend antiques and wood-beam ceilings with the requisite high-tech touches, plus plush beds, soaking tubs, and wood-burning fireplaces. The lodge's Marinus restaurant, with chef Cal Stamenov at the helm, has evolved into one of northern California's premier dining spots, serving California natural cuisine: dishes include Sonoma duck and grilled quail served with risotto, chanterelle, and foie gras sauce, and Carmel Bay prawns and shellfish bisque flavored with cilantro and jalapeño, paired with prize-winning Marinus Estate Bordeaux-style wine from the lodge's own vineyard. There's plenty to keep you occupied in the immediate surroundings, from hikes and horseback riding in the nearby Santa Lucia mountains to tennis, croquet, or bocce on the lodge lawns, but who wants to leave your perch overlooking vineyards, rolling hills, and lavender blossoms? (Sale ends in 3 days.)
Bitter End Yacht Club (above) - up to 30% off
Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands
Christopher Columbus once thought Virgin Gorda resembled a supine lady from afar, online games but the similarities end there: this spot in the British Virgin Islands isn't the place for spending all day flat on a beach towel. At the family-owned Bitter End Yacht Club (one of the first hotels on the island), Boston Whaler motorboats are at the ready for island explorers—a 40-minute ride will bring you to several lush, sparsely inhabited islands, including Salt Island, which is home to a 19th-century shipwreck. Back at the hotel, which dates to the 1970s, trade winds cool the 85 West Indian-style rooms (most with unobstructed views of the water) and keep the accredited sailing school filled with adventure types practicing for keelboat certification. Three years ago, the resort underwent a multimillion dollar renovation, and this summer, it will unveil a brand-new marina large enough to accommodate 18 yachts for travelers arriving by sea. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Vacationist + Preferred Hotels: Deals Benefit Japan
Great news from Vacationist! Starting today, 21 new Preferred Hotels will launch 48-hour Check-In For Japan sales on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday through June 30th at Vacationist.com—and 100 percent of the proceeds will be donated to American Red Cross disaster relief for china tours those affected by the earthquake in Japan.
Room rates are as low as $50 a night at properties both close to home (Laguna Beach, California and Vail, Colorado) as well as more exotic destinations, from Maui to Madagascar. Act fast, do good, and stay for less through 2011! See offers online games below.
2011-v-cordillerajpg
A few of the highlights, on sale now:
Surf & Sand Resort
Laguna Beach, California
The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera
Vail Valley, Colorado
Makena Beach & Golf Resort
Makena, Maui
Santé Hotel, Resort & Spa
Cape Town, South Africa
Excelsior Palace Hotel
Portofino Coast, Italy
Hotel Carlton
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Vacationist.com is brought to you by Travel + Leisure and LuxuryLink.com. For more on Check-In for Japan, click here.
Photos courtesy of Preferred Hotels; Makena Beach & Golf Resort, Maui (top); The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Vail (bottom)
Room rates are as low as $50 a night at properties both close to home (Laguna Beach, California and Vail, Colorado) as well as more exotic destinations, from Maui to Madagascar. Act fast, do good, and stay for less through 2011! See offers online games below.
2011-v-cordillerajpg
A few of the highlights, on sale now:
Surf & Sand Resort
Laguna Beach, California
The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera
Vail Valley, Colorado
Makena Beach & Golf Resort
Makena, Maui
Santé Hotel, Resort & Spa
Cape Town, South Africa
Excelsior Palace Hotel
Portofino Coast, Italy
Hotel Carlton
Antananarivo, Madagascar
Vacationist.com is brought to you by Travel + Leisure and LuxuryLink.com. For more on Check-In for Japan, click here.
Photos courtesy of Preferred Hotels; Makena Beach & Golf Resort, Maui (top); The Lodge & Spa at Cordillera, Vail (bottom)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Beach Escapes in Jamaica, Oahu, and the Florida Keys
Steamy scenes across the U.S. have us yearning for cool beach breezes. Enter Vacationist, with hotel deals at oceanfront properties from the Caribbean to the Florida Keys. PLUS Don’t forget: This month we’ve teamed up with Preferred Hotels to present Check-In for Japan. Book one of china tours the 21 Preferred Hotels on sale now, and 100% of the proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross disaster relief fund.
Still not a member? Click here to join.
The Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa - up to 56% off
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
In the fall of 2010, the former Sandals property outside Ocho Rios was reborn as an all-inclusive adults-only, 250-room Jewel Resort with a posh, gentry-in-the-tropics vibe (mahogany four-poster beds; tiled floors). Nearly everything is included in the basic rate, from 90-minute airport transfers to the water sports on the beach to the premium liquor served at the hotel's five bars. (Another option: ask to have a pool concierge swim out and deliver drinks and fresh fruit to your float.) In between snacks and meals at the six on-site restaurants, there are tennis courts, a 9-hole pitch and putt golf course, and movies screened at the pool. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
201106-b-editionwaikikijpgThe Waikiki EDITION - up to 20% off
Waikiki, Oahu
Hospitality heavyweight Ian Schrager's latest project, a collaboration with Marriott Hotels dubbed Edition, is breathing new life into the 84-year-old hotel chain. The 353-room Waikiki Edition, designed by New York-based Yabu Pushelberg, is the first of a series (Istanbul, Barcelona, Mexico City, Miami Beach, and London are in the works). Interiors are an exercise in restraint, with a color palette that stretches from white to vanilla, beige to sand, and accents ranging from natural leather bands on the desk chairs to the dark-stained-wood rolling shutters that abate the Hawaiian sun. Guests who chose to explore the property will also find a holistic spa, state-of-the-art gym, and, in addition to a swimming pool, a lagoon lined with sapphire-blue mosaic tiles, surrounded by a sand-and-pebble beach. For the property's restaurant, the hotel tapped Masaharu Morimoto, known not only for his appearances on Iron Chef but also for his establishments in Manhattan, Philadelphia, and Napa. After dinner, don't miss the outdoor movie theater (complete with popcorn and candy service), showing movies, videos, online games and art installations. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201106-b-hawksjpgHawks Cay Resort – Preferred Hotel Deal
Florida Keys/Duck Key, Florida
Hawks Cay Resort was overhauled in late 2007 to the tune of $40 million. Expect an entirely new look, with West Indian furniture and private cabanas. This 60-acre playground is geared largely toward families, sportsmen, and conventioneers. Besides the 177 guest rooms, there are 269 villa units and an 85-slip marina. The resort's dolphin center is popular—book your encounter prior to arrival. (Sale ends in 2 days.)
Still not a member? Click here to join.
The Jewel Dunn's River Beach Resort & Spa - up to 56% off
Ocho Rios, Jamaica
In the fall of 2010, the former Sandals property outside Ocho Rios was reborn as an all-inclusive adults-only, 250-room Jewel Resort with a posh, gentry-in-the-tropics vibe (mahogany four-poster beds; tiled floors). Nearly everything is included in the basic rate, from 90-minute airport transfers to the water sports on the beach to the premium liquor served at the hotel's five bars. (Another option: ask to have a pool concierge swim out and deliver drinks and fresh fruit to your float.) In between snacks and meals at the six on-site restaurants, there are tennis courts, a 9-hole pitch and putt golf course, and movies screened at the pool. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
201106-b-editionwaikikijpgThe Waikiki EDITION - up to 20% off
Waikiki, Oahu
Hospitality heavyweight Ian Schrager's latest project, a collaboration with Marriott Hotels dubbed Edition, is breathing new life into the 84-year-old hotel chain. The 353-room Waikiki Edition, designed by New York-based Yabu Pushelberg, is the first of a series (Istanbul, Barcelona, Mexico City, Miami Beach, and London are in the works). Interiors are an exercise in restraint, with a color palette that stretches from white to vanilla, beige to sand, and accents ranging from natural leather bands on the desk chairs to the dark-stained-wood rolling shutters that abate the Hawaiian sun. Guests who chose to explore the property will also find a holistic spa, state-of-the-art gym, and, in addition to a swimming pool, a lagoon lined with sapphire-blue mosaic tiles, surrounded by a sand-and-pebble beach. For the property's restaurant, the hotel tapped Masaharu Morimoto, known not only for his appearances on Iron Chef but also for his establishments in Manhattan, Philadelphia, and Napa. After dinner, don't miss the outdoor movie theater (complete with popcorn and candy service), showing movies, videos, online games and art installations. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201106-b-hawksjpgHawks Cay Resort – Preferred Hotel Deal
Florida Keys/Duck Key, Florida
Hawks Cay Resort was overhauled in late 2007 to the tune of $40 million. Expect an entirely new look, with West Indian furniture and private cabanas. This 60-acre playground is geared largely toward families, sportsmen, and conventioneers. Besides the 177 guest rooms, there are 269 villa units and an 85-slip marina. The resort's dolphin center is popular—book your encounter prior to arrival. (Sale ends in 2 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Urban Escapes in New York, Rome, and Venice
Whether you prefer the fast-paced streets of Manhattan, the ancient ruins of Rome, or the romantic gondolas of Venice, we’ve got your next vacation covered—all for more than 30 percent off standard rates. And don’t forget that all Vacationist reviews include tips, a room to book, and destination information from T+L insiders, so you can explore the world’s china tours most exciting cities like a true insider.
PLUS This month we’re also offering special two-day sales at over 100 Preferred Hotels thanks to the Check-in For Japan program, and all proceeds will be donated Japan relief. So no matter what you’re looking for, we have an experience for you.
Still not a member? Click here to join.
201106-b-plazaatheneejpgHôtel Plaza Athénée – up to 36% off
New York, New York
One of the few independent hotels left in Manhattan, this 142-room bijou is cherished by Europeans (and savvy celebrities) for its intimacy and attentive staff. Set on a quiet, tree-lined street off Madison Avenue, the hotel entry has a hushed, secret-garden ambience; travelers check in while seated at an antique French desk, then pass huge granite urns of cascading flowers on their way to the elevators. Guest rooms are decorated with fanciful elegance—marble bathrooms, fine Italian linens, gold Paul Garnier wall clocks—while architectural drawings add online games a touch of civility to public spaces. In the afternoons, join well-heeled locals for cocktails or afternoon tea in the dusky, leather-floored Bar Seine. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
201106-b-parcodeiprincipijpgParco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa – up to 58% off
Rome, Italy
It may be a 20-minute walk to the Spanish Steps, but the Parco dei Principi setting, tucked away beside Rome's biggest park, Villa Borghese, means fewer tourists and less traffic for arriving visitors. Here, baroque interiors feature gilded stucco, inlaid woodwork, and antique furnishings. But why stay inside when the views are stellar? Each of the hotel's 179 rooms and suites look onto the park, where in the summer months, rhododendron flowers bloom and smartly dressed locals out for their evening passeggiata meander among the sculptures, fountains, and temples. The most recent news? In October 2010, a 21,000-square-foot spa opened for weary travelers tired after a day of sightseeing; unexpected amenities include an indoor lap pool complete with the illuminated ceiling of Rome's night sky. For guests, the wellness focus is just another trump card that sets this lovely property apart. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Bauers L'Hotel – up to 42% off
Venice, Italy
For travelers in search of classic Venetian elegance in San Marco, the city's epicenter of dining and shopping, Bauers L'Hotel has been the top choice since 1890. This historic 109-room hotel received several renovations over the decades, including the restoration of the Gothic-Byzantine exteriors on the property's canal side and the hotel's Art Deco interiors. For lunch or dinner, reserve a table at De Pesis Restaurant for chef Ciresa's fusion menu (be sure to order the amberjack tartare with seared eggplant) served with views of the recently restored 17th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute basilica. This elegant escape is also just a two-minute walk to luxury shopping boutiques, top restaurants, and the great open expanse of historic St. Mark's Square. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
PLUS This month we’re also offering special two-day sales at over 100 Preferred Hotels thanks to the Check-in For Japan program, and all proceeds will be donated Japan relief. So no matter what you’re looking for, we have an experience for you.
Still not a member? Click here to join.
201106-b-plazaatheneejpgHôtel Plaza Athénée – up to 36% off
New York, New York
One of the few independent hotels left in Manhattan, this 142-room bijou is cherished by Europeans (and savvy celebrities) for its intimacy and attentive staff. Set on a quiet, tree-lined street off Madison Avenue, the hotel entry has a hushed, secret-garden ambience; travelers check in while seated at an antique French desk, then pass huge granite urns of cascading flowers on their way to the elevators. Guest rooms are decorated with fanciful elegance—marble bathrooms, fine Italian linens, gold Paul Garnier wall clocks—while architectural drawings add online games a touch of civility to public spaces. In the afternoons, join well-heeled locals for cocktails or afternoon tea in the dusky, leather-floored Bar Seine. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
201106-b-parcodeiprincipijpgParco dei Principi Grand Hotel & Spa – up to 58% off
Rome, Italy
It may be a 20-minute walk to the Spanish Steps, but the Parco dei Principi setting, tucked away beside Rome's biggest park, Villa Borghese, means fewer tourists and less traffic for arriving visitors. Here, baroque interiors feature gilded stucco, inlaid woodwork, and antique furnishings. But why stay inside when the views are stellar? Each of the hotel's 179 rooms and suites look onto the park, where in the summer months, rhododendron flowers bloom and smartly dressed locals out for their evening passeggiata meander among the sculptures, fountains, and temples. The most recent news? In October 2010, a 21,000-square-foot spa opened for weary travelers tired after a day of sightseeing; unexpected amenities include an indoor lap pool complete with the illuminated ceiling of Rome's night sky. For guests, the wellness focus is just another trump card that sets this lovely property apart. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Bauers L'Hotel – up to 42% off
Venice, Italy
For travelers in search of classic Venetian elegance in San Marco, the city's epicenter of dining and shopping, Bauers L'Hotel has been the top choice since 1890. This historic 109-room hotel received several renovations over the decades, including the restoration of the Gothic-Byzantine exteriors on the property's canal side and the hotel's Art Deco interiors. For lunch or dinner, reserve a table at De Pesis Restaurant for chef Ciresa's fusion menu (be sure to order the amberjack tartare with seared eggplant) served with views of the recently restored 17th-century Chiesa di Santa Maria della Salute basilica. This elegant escape is also just a two-minute walk to luxury shopping boutiques, top restaurants, and the great open expanse of historic St. Mark's Square. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: T+L 500 Hotels for Less!
There’s nothing better than a guaranteed stellar hotel stay, which is why, every year, we spotlight the top 500 hotels as voted by our savvy readers—so that you can rest assured that your next trip will be top-notch. And this week, you can stay at three of these winning hotels china tours for less, thanks to deals on Vacationist.
In search of a mountain retreat in Vail? Try Sonnenalp Resort, a Bavarian style lodge with a unique sensibility. Looking for a sexy beach getaway? There’s Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, in Los Cabos, with views that overlook a private cove. Or toast your deal-finding luck in Dublin, where you’ll stay at the historic Shelbourne for 30 percent less.
Still not a member? Click here to join.
201106-b-sonnenalpjpgSonnenalp Resort of Vail - up to 35% off
Vail, Colorado
When you meant to book St. Anton's Hotel Post in Austria but couldn't find the time to head across the pond, the Sonnenalp in Vail is a close second. With its hatched wood beams, cutout shutters, and wooden flower boxes at almost every windowsill, this 127-room lodge is a model in Bavarian style that actually feels authentic. Most of the rooms and suites have fireplaces and heated floors in the marble bathrooms, and many have views of the mountain and Gore Creek. The Euro-style spa—with a kiva fireplace lounge at its center—attracts the occasional Euro-style spa-goer, to whom towels are a mere accessory rather than a necessity. But then, that—and the lederhosen-wearing staff—is what lends the place its Old World china tours
online games feel. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Esperanza Resort - up to 25% off (see above)
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Set at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a few miles northeast from Cabo San Lucas, Esperanza Resort overlooks both the Sea of Cortés and Punta Ballena ("Whale Point," past which gray whales migrate in winter). The 57 casita rooms and suites—and 60 privately owned villas—are spacious and airy at 925 square feet, decorated in muted seashell colors and natural fibers (rattan chairs, carved-wood tables and headboards, locally woven rugs). Each has a single wall that slides open dramatically to a private veranda with an infinity-edge hot tub and sweeping ocean views. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
201106-b-shelbournejpgThe Shelbourne Dublin - up to 30% off
Dublin, Ireland
The Shelbourne, Dublin's most famous historic hotel, is where Ireland's founding fathers first drafted the country's constitution, in 1922. These days, the 1827 Georgian building—located across the street from the verdant gardens and meandering walking paths of St. Stephen's Green—still has the refined elegance befitting such a grande dame, even after it underwent a $100 million renovation in 2007. The 265 rooms range from cozy (194-square-foot standard queens) to cavernous (a 1,500-square-foot suite), and all are decked out in plush period style, with brocade and silk fabrics, dark-wood antique furnishings, and spacious marble baths. Among the swanky common areas: a formal tearoom; two wood-paneled bars (both popular with Irish Parliament members); and the gold-upholstered Saddle Room restaurant and oyster bar. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
In search of a mountain retreat in Vail? Try Sonnenalp Resort, a Bavarian style lodge with a unique sensibility. Looking for a sexy beach getaway? There’s Esperanza, an Auberge Resort, in Los Cabos, with views that overlook a private cove. Or toast your deal-finding luck in Dublin, where you’ll stay at the historic Shelbourne for 30 percent less.
Still not a member? Click here to join.
201106-b-sonnenalpjpgSonnenalp Resort of Vail - up to 35% off
Vail, Colorado
When you meant to book St. Anton's Hotel Post in Austria but couldn't find the time to head across the pond, the Sonnenalp in Vail is a close second. With its hatched wood beams, cutout shutters, and wooden flower boxes at almost every windowsill, this 127-room lodge is a model in Bavarian style that actually feels authentic. Most of the rooms and suites have fireplaces and heated floors in the marble bathrooms, and many have views of the mountain and Gore Creek. The Euro-style spa—with a kiva fireplace lounge at its center—attracts the occasional Euro-style spa-goer, to whom towels are a mere accessory rather than a necessity. But then, that—and the lederhosen-wearing staff—is what lends the place its Old World china tours
online games feel. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Esperanza Resort - up to 25% off (see above)
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Set at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula, just a few miles northeast from Cabo San Lucas, Esperanza Resort overlooks both the Sea of Cortés and Punta Ballena ("Whale Point," past which gray whales migrate in winter). The 57 casita rooms and suites—and 60 privately owned villas—are spacious and airy at 925 square feet, decorated in muted seashell colors and natural fibers (rattan chairs, carved-wood tables and headboards, locally woven rugs). Each has a single wall that slides open dramatically to a private veranda with an infinity-edge hot tub and sweeping ocean views. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
201106-b-shelbournejpgThe Shelbourne Dublin - up to 30% off
Dublin, Ireland
The Shelbourne, Dublin's most famous historic hotel, is where Ireland's founding fathers first drafted the country's constitution, in 1922. These days, the 1827 Georgian building—located across the street from the verdant gardens and meandering walking paths of St. Stephen's Green—still has the refined elegance befitting such a grande dame, even after it underwent a $100 million renovation in 2007. The 265 rooms range from cozy (194-square-foot standard queens) to cavernous (a 1,500-square-foot suite), and all are decked out in plush period style, with brocade and silk fabrics, dark-wood antique furnishings, and spacious marble baths. Among the swanky common areas: a formal tearoom; two wood-paneled bars (both popular with Irish Parliament members); and the gold-upholstered Saddle Room restaurant and oyster bar. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
2012年1月14日星期六
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Spotlight on Florida
Summer may be off-season in Florida, but that means that airfare from major cities is discounted (we just spotted Newark to Miami International for $188), free outdoor activities abound—including movie screenings at Miami’s Frank Gehry-designed New World Center—and hotel pool scenes are buzzing. Looking to join in on the fun? This week, Vacationist is featuring deals on two Florida hotspots, both for up to 30 percent off. First up, Grove Isle Hotel & Spa, a 50-room property on a 20-acre island in Biscayne Bay that boasts a popular bay-front pool, or head an hour north to Delray Beach, where the Seagate Hotel in Palm Beach County will shuttle you from its pool scene to the private beach club in no time. Just grab the sunscreen and online games go.
Not a member? Click here to join.
Grove Isle Hotel & Spa - up to 30% off
Coconut Grove, Florida
A four-acre complex on the northern tip of Grove Isle, this hotel is a true refuge, the polar opposite of hectic South Beach—though it's only a 15-minute drive away. It's also a thoughtful property, attuned to the soothing waters of Biscayne Bay: some of the 50 spacious rooms, done up in shades of cocoa brown and plantation green, have raised platforms for beds allowing for optimum views. And this is a dog-friendly hotel, winner of the CESAR Five Dog Bone Award: dogs love to scamper around the walking path and the beach area. Naturally, The Spa at Grove Isle is china tours also blessed with relaxing water views, including a yoga deck on the water. The energetic can take a Pilates class, swim laps in the bay-front pool, or play tennis at the Patrick McEnroe Tennis Center on one of 11 Har-Tru soft courts or the U.S. Open hard court. And at night, Gibraltar—with a fire pit, torches, and a soft breeze—is a truly romantic setting. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
201107-b-seagate-1jpg
The Seagate Hotel & Spa - up to 30% off (above)
Delray Beach, Florida
The new Seagate Hotel & Spa feels like the type of grand hideaway you'd expect to find in the South of France...except it's set on happening Delray Beach, Florida, a lively resort neighborhood where families stroll the streets barefoot, and khaki-clad visitors—from wintering East Coast snowbirds to sun-kissed Floridians in the summer months—split their time between the beach and the locally run stores on Atlantic Avenue. Beach-chic abounds at the property; the two pools are often filled with jet-setters and stylish weekenders (all of whom stop into the hotel's Aqua Resortwear boutique for its well-edited selection of brands like Tory Burch and Burberry), and the private beach club serves up gazpacho and irresistible sweet potato fries to couples and families with ocean-loving kids. Come evening, the club offers a formal, jackets-only dinner service complete with an ocean view in its upstairs dining room, known for its veal chop. And, after a day in the sun, you can cool down with an evening aloe vera treatment at the property's 8,000-square-foot spa. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
Not a member? Click here to join.
Grove Isle Hotel & Spa - up to 30% off
Coconut Grove, Florida
A four-acre complex on the northern tip of Grove Isle, this hotel is a true refuge, the polar opposite of hectic South Beach—though it's only a 15-minute drive away. It's also a thoughtful property, attuned to the soothing waters of Biscayne Bay: some of the 50 spacious rooms, done up in shades of cocoa brown and plantation green, have raised platforms for beds allowing for optimum views. And this is a dog-friendly hotel, winner of the CESAR Five Dog Bone Award: dogs love to scamper around the walking path and the beach area. Naturally, The Spa at Grove Isle is china tours also blessed with relaxing water views, including a yoga deck on the water. The energetic can take a Pilates class, swim laps in the bay-front pool, or play tennis at the Patrick McEnroe Tennis Center on one of 11 Har-Tru soft courts or the U.S. Open hard court. And at night, Gibraltar—with a fire pit, torches, and a soft breeze—is a truly romantic setting. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
201107-b-seagate-1jpg
The Seagate Hotel & Spa - up to 30% off (above)
Delray Beach, Florida
The new Seagate Hotel & Spa feels like the type of grand hideaway you'd expect to find in the South of France...except it's set on happening Delray Beach, Florida, a lively resort neighborhood where families stroll the streets barefoot, and khaki-clad visitors—from wintering East Coast snowbirds to sun-kissed Floridians in the summer months—split their time between the beach and the locally run stores on Atlantic Avenue. Beach-chic abounds at the property; the two pools are often filled with jet-setters and stylish weekenders (all of whom stop into the hotel's Aqua Resortwear boutique for its well-edited selection of brands like Tory Burch and Burberry), and the private beach club serves up gazpacho and irresistible sweet potato fries to couples and families with ocean-loving kids. Come evening, the club offers a formal, jackets-only dinner service complete with an ocean view in its upstairs dining room, known for its veal chop. And, after a day in the sun, you can cool down with an evening aloe vera treatment at the property's 8,000-square-foot spa. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: America’s Great Outdoors
The final weeks are summer are best spent outside—particularly in the backyards of some of T+L favorite hotels, from the Wyoming’s Rusty Parrot Lodge, in Jackson Hole, to Hotel Madeline Telluride, a resort we love for its high-altitude massages and it’s easy access to hiking, biking, and horseback riding trails—all more than 8,000 feet above sea level. Is preppy New England more your style? Consider a stay at Boston’s XV Beacon, ranked No. 3 Small City Hotel in this year’s World’s Best Awards, where you can unwind before exploring the rugged landscape of Boston’s North Shore. [Click here for a new late summer cyling china tours !]
Head to Vacationist now, for these hotel deals, plus Belize, Madrid, London and more.
201108-b-rustyparrotjpgRusty Parrot Lodge - up to 35% off
Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson's ski resorts hog the spotlight, but you don't have to sleep slope-side. If you love the après-ski experience, or if you're traveling in any season beside winter, the plush, western-style Rusty Parrot is your best choice. An easy stroll from Jackson's restaurants, shops, and galleries, the family-run, 31-room hotel delivers top service without an ounce of pretension. Rooms are short on cowboy kitsch and long on creature comforts (L'Occitane bath products, incredibly comfortable mattresses), plus there are the requisite high-tech touches (flat-screen TV, free online games Wi-Fi). The small Body Sage spa offers a wide range of treatments, from a four-hands massage to a lemon coffee blossom scrub. The staff is friendly, informal, and very knowledgeable about the area's wealth of activities—horseback riding, fly-fishing, and more. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
201108-b-madelinetelluridejpgHotel Madeline Telluride - up to 34% off
Telluride, Colorado
This chic property in the heart of Telluride's Mountain Village upped the luxury factor in Colorado when it opened in 2009. Though its 100 rooms and suites—set just steps from the Number 4 ski lift and the gondola into town—were built with local stone and timber, they're hardly rustic; each has a giant marble bath with separate soaking tub and shower, plush beds swaddled in Pratesi linens, and furnishings in burnished wood and tobacco-colored leather. Every guest is assigned a personal assistant, who can arrange everything from ski rentals to dinner reservations and childcare services. Even furry friends get special attention, such as doggie beds and summer pupcicles at check-in. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
XV Beacon - up to 35% off
Boston, Massachusetts
One of Boston's first modern design hotels when it opened in Beacon Hill in 1999, the surprisingly homey 60-room XV (call it "Fifteen") has stylish, bold interiors that contrast nicely with the 1903 Beaux-Arts building. A svelte scheme of dark wood, brushed steel, and cream-colored fabrics prevails, but it's punctuated by bold abstract paintings and vintage touches like a cage elevator, marble busts, and canopy beds in every guest room. The rooms are spacious—some as large as 900 square feet—and all have gas fireplaces and mini-bars that might tempt you to snuggle in on a cold night. Venturing out? Take the complimentary car service around town. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Head to Vacationist now, for these hotel deals, plus Belize, Madrid, London and more.
201108-b-rustyparrotjpgRusty Parrot Lodge - up to 35% off
Jackson, Wyoming
Jackson's ski resorts hog the spotlight, but you don't have to sleep slope-side. If you love the après-ski experience, or if you're traveling in any season beside winter, the plush, western-style Rusty Parrot is your best choice. An easy stroll from Jackson's restaurants, shops, and galleries, the family-run, 31-room hotel delivers top service without an ounce of pretension. Rooms are short on cowboy kitsch and long on creature comforts (L'Occitane bath products, incredibly comfortable mattresses), plus there are the requisite high-tech touches (flat-screen TV, free online games Wi-Fi). The small Body Sage spa offers a wide range of treatments, from a four-hands massage to a lemon coffee blossom scrub. The staff is friendly, informal, and very knowledgeable about the area's wealth of activities—horseback riding, fly-fishing, and more. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
201108-b-madelinetelluridejpgHotel Madeline Telluride - up to 34% off
Telluride, Colorado
This chic property in the heart of Telluride's Mountain Village upped the luxury factor in Colorado when it opened in 2009. Though its 100 rooms and suites—set just steps from the Number 4 ski lift and the gondola into town—were built with local stone and timber, they're hardly rustic; each has a giant marble bath with separate soaking tub and shower, plush beds swaddled in Pratesi linens, and furnishings in burnished wood and tobacco-colored leather. Every guest is assigned a personal assistant, who can arrange everything from ski rentals to dinner reservations and childcare services. Even furry friends get special attention, such as doggie beds and summer pupcicles at check-in. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
XV Beacon - up to 35% off
Boston, Massachusetts
One of Boston's first modern design hotels when it opened in Beacon Hill in 1999, the surprisingly homey 60-room XV (call it "Fifteen") has stylish, bold interiors that contrast nicely with the 1903 Beaux-Arts building. A svelte scheme of dark wood, brushed steel, and cream-colored fabrics prevails, but it's punctuated by bold abstract paintings and vintage touches like a cage elevator, marble busts, and canopy beds in every guest room. The rooms are spacious—some as large as 900 square feet—and all have gas fireplaces and mini-bars that might tempt you to snuggle in on a cold night. Venturing out? Take the complimentary car service around town. (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Ode to Italy
On the heels of T+L’s love letter to Florence, out now in the annual September Style and Culture issue, Vacationist brings you 18 deals across Italy, from Venice to Sicily, and (almost) everywhere in between. Stay near the art exhibitions of the Palazzo Strozzi, in Florence, steps from the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, or even on quiet Giudecca in Venice, all for up to 70 percent off standard rack rates. Looking for tips on how to plan your trip? Become a fan of Vacationist on Facebook, and visit on Friday at 1 p.m. EST for a live chat with an Italian-born expert, online games before the deals expire on August 28th.
201108-b-helvetiabristol-1jpgHotel Helvetia & Bristol - up to 25% off
Florence, Italy
The views are the trump card at Florence's Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, where all 67 rooms and suites look onto the Renaissance city. It's also a convenient home base for exploring, as its location, in front of Palazzo Strozzi, provides easy access to the historic core, luxury boutiques, and Michelangelo's masterpieces in the Accademia Gallery. After sightseeing, there's nothing better than a hotel lovingly adorned with the riches of Florentine aesthetic tradition: 17th- and 18th-century inlaid desks and bedside tables, fine laces, silks, and brocades, and travertine and Carrara marble touches in the bathrooms. End the day at the hotel's Hostaria Bibendum bar, which looks onto the city, and even the wariest of travelers will go to sleep feeling like Renaissance royalty. (Sale ends in 12 days.)
The Duke Hotel - up to 29% off
Rome, Italy
In its previous life as the Residence Palace, this hotel was the gathering spot for china tours the art set, who frequented the Via Veneto when it was the epicenter of the dolce vita. Though plenty has changed, the posh neighborhood, just one stop from the Piazza del Popolo, is still the place for bold-faced names, most notably Sting, Ricky Martin, and the Buena Vista Social Club, who have been known to unpack in the classic hotel after performing at the city's nearby Auditorium. Perhaps they're drawn to the residential sensibility: the 78 rooms and suites are furnished with small tables, desks, and comfortable chaise lounges, while the spacious Polo Lounge features plush tapestries, a roaring fireplace, and an honor bar stocked with the makings of more than 60 different cocktails. (Sale ends in 12 days.)
201108-b-venice-2jpgBauer Palladio Hotel & Spa - up to 69% off
Venice, Italy
Quiet Giudecca—the only "downtown" Venetian island not connected to the others by bridge—has lately become the center of the exclusive Venice scene. The Bauer opened here in 2006 in a former convent designed by famed Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, and was converted with respect for the space: Venetian terrazzo floors, original open-brickwork walls, and antique furnishings now grace the impeccable interiors. Trelliswork stencils and Murano-glass lanterns add intimacy to the 58 rooms and 21 suites. The best rooms have Canaletto-worthy views of Venice and St. Mark's across the water. (Sale ends in 12 days.)
201108-b-helvetiabristol-1jpgHotel Helvetia & Bristol - up to 25% off
Florence, Italy
The views are the trump card at Florence's Hotel Helvetia & Bristol, where all 67 rooms and suites look onto the Renaissance city. It's also a convenient home base for exploring, as its location, in front of Palazzo Strozzi, provides easy access to the historic core, luxury boutiques, and Michelangelo's masterpieces in the Accademia Gallery. After sightseeing, there's nothing better than a hotel lovingly adorned with the riches of Florentine aesthetic tradition: 17th- and 18th-century inlaid desks and bedside tables, fine laces, silks, and brocades, and travertine and Carrara marble touches in the bathrooms. End the day at the hotel's Hostaria Bibendum bar, which looks onto the city, and even the wariest of travelers will go to sleep feeling like Renaissance royalty. (Sale ends in 12 days.)
The Duke Hotel - up to 29% off
Rome, Italy
In its previous life as the Residence Palace, this hotel was the gathering spot for china tours the art set, who frequented the Via Veneto when it was the epicenter of the dolce vita. Though plenty has changed, the posh neighborhood, just one stop from the Piazza del Popolo, is still the place for bold-faced names, most notably Sting, Ricky Martin, and the Buena Vista Social Club, who have been known to unpack in the classic hotel after performing at the city's nearby Auditorium. Perhaps they're drawn to the residential sensibility: the 78 rooms and suites are furnished with small tables, desks, and comfortable chaise lounges, while the spacious Polo Lounge features plush tapestries, a roaring fireplace, and an honor bar stocked with the makings of more than 60 different cocktails. (Sale ends in 12 days.)
201108-b-venice-2jpgBauer Palladio Hotel & Spa - up to 69% off
Venice, Italy
Quiet Giudecca—the only "downtown" Venetian island not connected to the others by bridge—has lately become the center of the exclusive Venice scene. The Bauer opened here in 2006 in a former convent designed by famed Renaissance architect Andrea Palladio, and was converted with respect for the space: Venetian terrazzo floors, original open-brickwork walls, and antique furnishings now grace the impeccable interiors. Trelliswork stencils and Murano-glass lanterns add intimacy to the 58 rooms and 21 suites. The best rooms have Canaletto-worthy views of Venice and St. Mark's across the water. (Sale ends in 12 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Coppola’s Belize and Guatemala Retreats
Psst—here’s travel tidbit: Francis Ford Coppola’s newest hotel, Palazzo Margherita, an 19th-century palace on a hilltop in Bascilicata, Italy, won't open until late September, but his original trio of properties in Central America are ready to welcome vacationists in early fall, all for almost 50 percent off standard rates. Our idea? Make a trip of it, with stays at all three (La Lancha, in Guatemala, is only a one-hour flight from Turtle Inn, which is a scenic drive along the Southern Highway en route to Blancaneaux). If you’re planning two trips this year, there’ll be Margherita, of course, paired with any of Vacationist’s 17 Italy Week properties, also on sale now.
201108-b-blancaneaux-1jpgBlancaneaux Lodge - up to 41% off
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize
It was film director Francis Ford Coppola who put Belize on the jet-setter's map almost two decades ago, when he transformed his 70-acre family retreat in the country's western mountains into Blancaneaux Lodge. And although the family has opened a handful of hotels since then, this property—a collection of 12 cabanas, seven villas, and a cottage set in the jungle of the Maya Mountains—remains the ne plus ultra of Belizean hospitality. Deep in the jungle, it's the setting and the service that draw travelers from around the globe. The staff will prepare picnic lunches for day hikes to the waterfalls, and an at-the-ready crew of Thailand-trained spa staffers awaits back at the hotel. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201108-b-turtleinn-1jpgTurtle Inn - up to 41% off
Placencia Village, Belize
What makes Turtle Inn, a collection of 17 cottages, eight villas, and three restaurants and two bars stand out? Its location right on the Caribbean Sea, which means that after travelers unpack in one of the hotel's thatched cottages, they'll have plenty of time to explore some of the world's best diving and fishing spots. For even more wildlife spotting, a half-hour boat ride away is the Monkey River, in a primeval jungle that's home to more than 50 species of birds and colonies of howler monkeys, while nearby Placencia gives a taste of the Caribbean circa 1968, with its hippie cafés and funky guesthouses. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201108-b-lalancha-2jpgLa Lancha - up to 40% off
Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala
This jungle hotel certainly has pedigree: it's one of Francis Ford Coppola's luxurious china tours Latin American retreats. La Lancha is said to be his favorite—and for good reason. Tucked away in a rainforest filled with howler monkeys and toucans, 10 thatched-roof casitas are decorated with antique Guatemalan furniture and colorful, locally made handicrafts. Thanks to the open-air Guatemalan restaurant and the split-level pool, travelers might imagine that they've come to settle in. But calm Lake Petén Itzá is perfect for canoe and kayak excursions, and the bustling island town of Flores is a short online games lancha trip away. Plus there's historic Tikal—the ideal day trip. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201108-b-blancaneaux-1jpgBlancaneaux Lodge - up to 41% off
Mountain Pine Ridge Forest Reserve, Belize
It was film director Francis Ford Coppola who put Belize on the jet-setter's map almost two decades ago, when he transformed his 70-acre family retreat in the country's western mountains into Blancaneaux Lodge. And although the family has opened a handful of hotels since then, this property—a collection of 12 cabanas, seven villas, and a cottage set in the jungle of the Maya Mountains—remains the ne plus ultra of Belizean hospitality. Deep in the jungle, it's the setting and the service that draw travelers from around the globe. The staff will prepare picnic lunches for day hikes to the waterfalls, and an at-the-ready crew of Thailand-trained spa staffers awaits back at the hotel. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201108-b-turtleinn-1jpgTurtle Inn - up to 41% off
Placencia Village, Belize
What makes Turtle Inn, a collection of 17 cottages, eight villas, and three restaurants and two bars stand out? Its location right on the Caribbean Sea, which means that after travelers unpack in one of the hotel's thatched cottages, they'll have plenty of time to explore some of the world's best diving and fishing spots. For even more wildlife spotting, a half-hour boat ride away is the Monkey River, in a primeval jungle that's home to more than 50 species of birds and colonies of howler monkeys, while nearby Placencia gives a taste of the Caribbean circa 1968, with its hippie cafés and funky guesthouses. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201108-b-lalancha-2jpgLa Lancha - up to 40% off
Lake Peten Itza, Guatemala
This jungle hotel certainly has pedigree: it's one of Francis Ford Coppola's luxurious china tours Latin American retreats. La Lancha is said to be his favorite—and for good reason. Tucked away in a rainforest filled with howler monkeys and toucans, 10 thatched-roof casitas are decorated with antique Guatemalan furniture and colorful, locally made handicrafts. Thanks to the open-air Guatemalan restaurant and the split-level pool, travelers might imagine that they've come to settle in. But calm Lake Petén Itzá is perfect for canoe and kayak excursions, and the bustling island town of Flores is a short online games lancha trip away. Plus there's historic Tikal—the ideal day trip. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Places to Wear White All Year
Trying to wear your linen pants and white jeans as much as possible before Labor Day? There’s no need to cram it all in before Monday: this week, Vacationist is offering a handful of deals to destinations where white jeans—not to mention flip-flops, sun hats, and wispy tunics—are de rigueur all year long. So forget fall fashion. Book your endless online games summer now.
201108-b-fairmountjpgMiramonte Resort & Spa - up to 56% off
Indian Wells, California
With red-tiled roofs, Moorish archways, and buildings named Villa Capri, Villa Naples, and The Portofino, the Miramonte Resort and Spa will make you think you are in the Mediterranean. But the arid desert breezes, insistent sunshine, and looming rocky outcrops in the distance remind you that you're in southern California's Coachella Valley. The 215 rooms and suites are scattered among two-story villa buildings, with rich brown, gold, and rust interiors and touches like citrus and lavender Italian bath amenities, marble-topped vanities and baths, and overstuffed comforters and pillows. Sun beds, fire pits, and cabanas line the two large pools. The centerpiece of the resort is the $3.5 million, 12,000-square-foot Well Spa with its oil paintings, candles, saltwater pool, and signature treatments like bagno vino (wine baths). (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Marquis Boutique Hotel & Spa - up to 40% off
Anse Marcel, St. Martin
The island of St. Martin/St. Maarten is known for its 36 white-sand beaches and some of the Caribbean's best shopping and restaurants scenes. Those looking for a secluded home base are well served at the Marquis Boutique Hotel and Spa, a hideaway on Pigeon Pea Hill just a five-minute walk to the cove beach of Anse Marcel, one of the island's prettiest stretches of white sand. Here, 17 colorful, Caribbean-style rooms, all with terracotta-tile floors, are furnished with comfortable woven-cane armchairs and pastel throw pillows that complement the abstract paintings by local artist Francis Eck. For cocktails at sunset, every room has a private terrace with a table, café chairs, and a hammock with views of the sparkling Caribbean Sea. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
Fairmont Royal Pavilion - up to 53% off
St. James, Barbados
This Caribbean icon, inspired by nearby plantation houses, reopened on the western china tours shore of Barbados in late 2010 after a two-month renovation that added 24 junior suites, each with a private terrace, Caribbean views, and butler service. All 72 rooms, a mere eight miles from Bridgetown, the island's capital, fuse colonial style with Caribbean cool, with cream-colored walls, rich walnut-wood furnishings, and original commissioned artwork. For half the year the resort is adults and teens only; couples unwind at the spa, dine on fresh-caught seafood at two top-notch restaurants (the blackened seared red snapper with cucumber lemon aioli is a must-try), and snorkel, windsurf, and kayak without the squeals of little ones. From the middle of March through October, however, the Royal Pavilion welcomes families, offering complimentary kid-friendly daily activities such as storytelling and arts and crafts. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201108-b-fairmountjpgMiramonte Resort & Spa - up to 56% off
Indian Wells, California
With red-tiled roofs, Moorish archways, and buildings named Villa Capri, Villa Naples, and The Portofino, the Miramonte Resort and Spa will make you think you are in the Mediterranean. But the arid desert breezes, insistent sunshine, and looming rocky outcrops in the distance remind you that you're in southern California's Coachella Valley. The 215 rooms and suites are scattered among two-story villa buildings, with rich brown, gold, and rust interiors and touches like citrus and lavender Italian bath amenities, marble-topped vanities and baths, and overstuffed comforters and pillows. Sun beds, fire pits, and cabanas line the two large pools. The centerpiece of the resort is the $3.5 million, 12,000-square-foot Well Spa with its oil paintings, candles, saltwater pool, and signature treatments like bagno vino (wine baths). (Sale ends in 4 days.)
Marquis Boutique Hotel & Spa - up to 40% off
Anse Marcel, St. Martin
The island of St. Martin/St. Maarten is known for its 36 white-sand beaches and some of the Caribbean's best shopping and restaurants scenes. Those looking for a secluded home base are well served at the Marquis Boutique Hotel and Spa, a hideaway on Pigeon Pea Hill just a five-minute walk to the cove beach of Anse Marcel, one of the island's prettiest stretches of white sand. Here, 17 colorful, Caribbean-style rooms, all with terracotta-tile floors, are furnished with comfortable woven-cane armchairs and pastel throw pillows that complement the abstract paintings by local artist Francis Eck. For cocktails at sunset, every room has a private terrace with a table, café chairs, and a hammock with views of the sparkling Caribbean Sea. (Sale ends in 5 days.)
Fairmont Royal Pavilion - up to 53% off
St. James, Barbados
This Caribbean icon, inspired by nearby plantation houses, reopened on the western china tours shore of Barbados in late 2010 after a two-month renovation that added 24 junior suites, each with a private terrace, Caribbean views, and butler service. All 72 rooms, a mere eight miles from Bridgetown, the island's capital, fuse colonial style with Caribbean cool, with cream-colored walls, rich walnut-wood furnishings, and original commissioned artwork. For half the year the resort is adults and teens only; couples unwind at the spa, dine on fresh-caught seafood at two top-notch restaurants (the blackened seared red snapper with cucumber lemon aioli is a must-try), and snorkel, windsurf, and kayak without the squeals of little ones. From the middle of March through October, however, the Royal Pavilion welcomes families, offering complimentary kid-friendly daily activities such as storytelling and arts and crafts. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: Little Bit Country
Planning your fall escape? Get out of the city with these two stellar Vacationist deals at hotels in the rolling countryside. A stay at the 120-room Essex hotel on 18 acres in Vermont’s Green Mountains promises stand-out cooking, thanks to the on-site New England Culinary Institute’s learning kitchen. For West Coast sybarites, Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, on 220-acres north of L.A., prides itself on its spa services and the locally-sourced ingredients served in china tours six restaurants, plus the pink moment, when the sunset blankets the hills in blushing shade of coral. It may not be Nashville or Tennessee, but you’ll surely feel that peaceful, easy feeling.
For these deals, plus Palm Springs, Phuket, and Grenada, click here.
The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa - up to 41% off
Essex, Vermont
Rambling over 18 acres where suburban Burlington meets the Green Mountains, The Essex is a laid-back resort with a welcoming staff. The 120 rooms feature four-poster beds, fireplaces, and fanciful rugs and pillows. A new full-service spa plus golf, tennis, hiking trails, and a huge pool offer plenty of distractions. But the cuisine is the standout. Partnering with the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, the resort runs a learning kitchen and offers classes in knife skills, backyard grilling, and more. Visit The Tavern for a BLT with smoked Vermont bacon or a Vermont goat cheese soufflé. (Sale ends in 3 days.)
201109-b-ojai-1jpgOjai Valley Inn & Spa - up to 41% off
Ojai, California
The 220-acre Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, online games situated in a mountain valley that aptly portrayed Shangri-la in the 1937 film Lost Horizon, has long been known for its classic 18-hole golf course and its Native American culture-inspired spa. In 2006 it upped the ante with a $70 million renovation, creating a new lobby, adding an additional 100 guest rooms, and refurbishing the existing 205 rooms with four-poster beds and decorative Mexican terracotta tiles. In the spa, signature treatments incorporate locally grown organic ingredients (citrus, lavender), and a dedicated men's menu lures golfers with treatments such as the Gentleman's Luxury Facial and Golfer's Post-Round Massage, which can be administered, upon request, in a room outfitted with a roaring fireplace. (Sale ends in 3 days.)
For these deals, plus Palm Springs, Phuket, and Grenada, click here.
The Essex, Vermont's Culinary Resort & Spa - up to 41% off
Essex, Vermont
Rambling over 18 acres where suburban Burlington meets the Green Mountains, The Essex is a laid-back resort with a welcoming staff. The 120 rooms feature four-poster beds, fireplaces, and fanciful rugs and pillows. A new full-service spa plus golf, tennis, hiking trails, and a huge pool offer plenty of distractions. But the cuisine is the standout. Partnering with the New England Culinary Institute in Montpelier, the resort runs a learning kitchen and offers classes in knife skills, backyard grilling, and more. Visit The Tavern for a BLT with smoked Vermont bacon or a Vermont goat cheese soufflé. (Sale ends in 3 days.)
201109-b-ojai-1jpgOjai Valley Inn & Spa - up to 41% off
Ojai, California
The 220-acre Ojai Valley Inn & Spa, online games situated in a mountain valley that aptly portrayed Shangri-la in the 1937 film Lost Horizon, has long been known for its classic 18-hole golf course and its Native American culture-inspired spa. In 2006 it upped the ante with a $70 million renovation, creating a new lobby, adding an additional 100 guest rooms, and refurbishing the existing 205 rooms with four-poster beds and decorative Mexican terracotta tiles. In the spa, signature treatments incorporate locally grown organic ingredients (citrus, lavender), and a dedicated men's menu lures golfers with treatments such as the Gentleman's Luxury Facial and Golfer's Post-Round Massage, which can be administered, upon request, in a room outfitted with a roaring fireplace. (Sale ends in 3 days.)
2012年1月13日星期五
Vacationist Hotel Deals: All-Inclusive Resorts in the South Pacific and Caribbean
Forget what you think you know about all-inclusive resorts. The newest batch of hotels have evolved to attract discerning travelers with top-notch food choices, state-of-the-art amenities, and stellar off-site excursions—for no extra cost, of course. A couple choices for Vacationists to consider now: the romantic Veranda, an adults-only escape in St. Philips, Antigua, or Beqa Lagoon Resort, on 10 tropical acres in far-flung Fiji. In case you’re wondering, there won’t be a wristband in sight.
For more hotel deals, including up to 60 percent off in Costa Rica, Nevis, and Italy, click here.
201110-b-beqa-1jpgBeqa Lagoon Resort - up to 41% off
Beqa Island, Fiji
Nestled in greenery on the shores of Fiji's Beqa Island (40 minutes by boat from Viti Levu), this all-villa property caters to honeymooners as well as families looking to unwind in the South Pacific. Tiki torches and fragrant flowers line the perimeter of the nearly 10-acre resort, while a new spa and newly renovated bures (or villas) lure travelers who prefer modern amenities (Wi-Fi; air-conditioning) to complement their remote island escape. During the day, vacationing urbanites unwind in private plunge pools or surf the infamous Fiji Pipeline on the island's southwestern barrier reef, but the property's location, just a few feet from one of the most distinctive and robust underwater barrier reefs in the South Pacific, means that just as often, swimsuit-clad visitors are below the aquamarine surface, exploring underwater shipwrecks and ribbons of coral lagoon. Don't just look to the water, however—you'll also have the opportunity to spot golden and orange doves, collared lories, and bright scarlet blue parrots on birding tours and kayak trips. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Verandah Resort & Spa - up to 35% off
St. Philip, Antigua and Barbuda
At the all-inclusive Verandah Resort & Spa, two tiers of island-style cottages fan out over a rocky point overlooking a quiet bay. It's here, on 30 white-sand beachfront acres and adjacent to the Devil's Bridge National Park on Antigua's northeast coast, that kids and teenagers can keep busy with their own activity centers, Mom can lose herself in the on-site spa, and Dad can hit the isle's greens with complimentary golf club rentals. A bonus? The bucolic setting is far from the maddening crowds. Ceiling fans dangle beneath wood beams, antique-style street lamps glow around the main pool at night, and old-fashioned pastel-colored porch chairs encourage horizon viewing and day dreaming. If this is the next generation of Caribbean all-inclusives, count us in. (Sale ends in 7 days.)
For more hotel deals, including up to 60 percent off in Costa Rica, Nevis, and Italy, click here.
201110-b-beqa-1jpgBeqa Lagoon Resort - up to 41% off
Beqa Island, Fiji
Nestled in greenery on the shores of Fiji's Beqa Island (40 minutes by boat from Viti Levu), this all-villa property caters to honeymooners as well as families looking to unwind in the South Pacific. Tiki torches and fragrant flowers line the perimeter of the nearly 10-acre resort, while a new spa and newly renovated bures (or villas) lure travelers who prefer modern amenities (Wi-Fi; air-conditioning) to complement their remote island escape. During the day, vacationing urbanites unwind in private plunge pools or surf the infamous Fiji Pipeline on the island's southwestern barrier reef, but the property's location, just a few feet from one of the most distinctive and robust underwater barrier reefs in the South Pacific, means that just as often, swimsuit-clad visitors are below the aquamarine surface, exploring underwater shipwrecks and ribbons of coral lagoon. Don't just look to the water, however—you'll also have the opportunity to spot golden and orange doves, collared lories, and bright scarlet blue parrots on birding tours and kayak trips. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
Verandah Resort & Spa - up to 35% off
St. Philip, Antigua and Barbuda
At the all-inclusive Verandah Resort & Spa, two tiers of island-style cottages fan out over a rocky point overlooking a quiet bay. It's here, on 30 white-sand beachfront acres and adjacent to the Devil's Bridge National Park on Antigua's northeast coast, that kids and teenagers can keep busy with their own activity centers, Mom can lose herself in the on-site spa, and Dad can hit the isle's greens with complimentary golf club rentals. A bonus? The bucolic setting is far from the maddening crowds. Ceiling fans dangle beneath wood beams, antique-style street lamps glow around the main pool at night, and old-fashioned pastel-colored porch chairs encourage horizon viewing and day dreaming. If this is the next generation of Caribbean all-inclusives, count us in. (Sale ends in 7 days.)
Vacationist Hotel Deals: South America + Facebook Chat Today
There’s nothing like shorter days and chilly nights to get you planning your next great escape, and thanks to Vacationist, a South American Grand Tour (in springtime!) is within reach. Spend a few days shopping your way through Buenos Aires from your base at the iconic Alvear Palace, then head to Punta del Este, to stay at Fasano’s new rustic-chic outpost, Fasano Las Piedras, in the Uruguayan countryside. Have questions on how to do it right? Log on to Vacationist's Facebook page at 2 p.m. EST for a chat with travel expert Paul Irvine, who will offer tips, strategies, and more.
For more travel deals, including New York, Boston, and Los Cabos, click here.
201110-b-alvearjpgAlvear Palace - up to 22% off
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The posh Alvear Palace, which will celebrate its 80th birthday in 2012, recalls Buenos Aires's European roots: the design is pure Louis XIV; afternoon tea in the L'Orangerie restaurant mixes English traditions with Argentinean sweets (try the Alvear Cake, smothered in dulce de leche); Chef Darío Giorgieff's La Bourgogne serves the city's best French cuisine (using Argentine ingredients, of course); and even the bathroom amenities are French (custom-made for the hotel by Parisian designer Hermès). New this year? A top-to-bottom renovation decreased the room count from 210 to 197, added a new Grand Suite, and installed Jacuzzis and LCD TVs in the bathrooms. Thankfully, the stellar service remains top-notch: a bilingual butler assists guests with everything from unpacking and ironing to drawing a bath. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201110-b-fasano-2jpgFasano Las Piedras – up to 35% off
Punta del Este, Uruguay
When the cult-favorite Fasano Hotel brand opened its new spa retreat in Punta del Este, in-the-know jet-setters started packing their bags. Like the company's urban properties in Rio and São Paulo, Las Piedras is a serious design destination thanks to Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, who opted for cowhide walls and sheepskin rugs in 32 guest casas that dot 1,800 acres of grassland. Though set away from the beach, the resort, which faces a bird-filled estuary and pine forest, is poised between three worlds—bustling Punta del Este, stylish Jose Ignacio, and the quiet countryside. It also shines in every season: in summer (November through February), the white-sand beaches of Punta del Este are a short shuttle-ride away; in spring and fall, guests spend the days on horseback rides and bike tours and evenings in hotel-hosted tango lessons; and in winter, the two restaurants are cozy gathering spots for travelers who prefer to enjoy the rustic estancia without the well-heeled crowds. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
For more travel deals, including New York, Boston, and Los Cabos, click here.
201110-b-alvearjpgAlvear Palace - up to 22% off
Buenos Aires, Argentina
The posh Alvear Palace, which will celebrate its 80th birthday in 2012, recalls Buenos Aires's European roots: the design is pure Louis XIV; afternoon tea in the L'Orangerie restaurant mixes English traditions with Argentinean sweets (try the Alvear Cake, smothered in dulce de leche); Chef Darío Giorgieff's La Bourgogne serves the city's best French cuisine (using Argentine ingredients, of course); and even the bathroom amenities are French (custom-made for the hotel by Parisian designer Hermès). New this year? A top-to-bottom renovation decreased the room count from 210 to 197, added a new Grand Suite, and installed Jacuzzis and LCD TVs in the bathrooms. Thankfully, the stellar service remains top-notch: a bilingual butler assists guests with everything from unpacking and ironing to drawing a bath. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
201110-b-fasano-2jpgFasano Las Piedras – up to 35% off
Punta del Este, Uruguay
When the cult-favorite Fasano Hotel brand opened its new spa retreat in Punta del Este, in-the-know jet-setters started packing their bags. Like the company's urban properties in Rio and São Paulo, Las Piedras is a serious design destination thanks to Brazilian architect Isay Weinfeld, who opted for cowhide walls and sheepskin rugs in 32 guest casas that dot 1,800 acres of grassland. Though set away from the beach, the resort, which faces a bird-filled estuary and pine forest, is poised between three worlds—bustling Punta del Este, stylish Jose Ignacio, and the quiet countryside. It also shines in every season: in summer (November through February), the white-sand beaches of Punta del Este are a short shuttle-ride away; in spring and fall, guests spend the days on horseback rides and bike tours and evenings in hotel-hosted tango lessons; and in winter, the two restaurants are cozy gathering spots for travelers who prefer to enjoy the rustic estancia without the well-heeled crowds. (Sale ends in 6 days.)
订阅：
博文 (Atom)