Mar 4, 2010 by Becca Bergman - comment
We scope out the wine baths, pet psychics, caviar facials, gourmet cooking classes, revolving rooms, and other extravagant extras that will push your vacation over the top.
You have traveled far, mighty traveler. You are tired. You have checked into your hotel room, dropped your bags, and feel refreshed after a shower. All thats required now is the perfect cocktail to make the world right again.
But the hotel lobby bar is, well, in the lobby. And you are not.
Luckily, you’ve checked into the newly renovated Surrey Hotel in New York City. Thanks to their new in-room cocktail program, a well-shaken anything is merely a phone call away. Read the rest of this post »
With the excitement of a new destinations come the realities of the trip. Namely packing, unpacking, and packing again. We have stopped counting the number of socks or t-shirts gone missing, or the number of times we’ve had to dine in wrinkled sport coats.
But what is a busy traveler to do? You can’t just not bring a suitcase, right? Right?!
Like a hand-tailored suite, a superbly customized shopping trip can make a person feel like royalty. At the Dorchester in London, such a trip (and possibly a suit!) can be made with their new Bespoke Shopping Experience hotel package, available until April 2010.
In the heart of London’s chic shopping district, The Dorchester is located next to some of the finest boutiques in London.
Weekend getaways are always a coveted luxury; an opportunity to get away from the daily grind. Throw in a hotel with an extensive on-site spa and you’re practically in heaven.
Does it get any better?
It just did. Read the rest of this post »
France-based Sofitel hotels are generally known for their, naturally, French flair, but the luxurious brand’s Philadelphia property is adding a dash of English charm with its new London taxi service. For hire by hotel guests only, the iconic London taxi, imported directly from England, offers free rides around town and to/from the Philadelphia International Airport (a 20-minute drive) Mondays through Fridays between 7 and 9 A.M (reservations recommended). Booking the service any other time of day will cost you, depending on the duration of your ride, upwards of $25 for lifts within the city center and $45 to the airport. Not cheap for most chaps, but the five-seat, mini-bar laden cab makes for a bloody fun alternative to typical transportation, wouldn’t you say?
Visiting and getting around a new city is never easy–but biking is fun, great exercise, and offers fantastic views of any new place. We’ve previously covered the trend of hotels offering loaner bikes for guests, and it looks like the amenity is continuing to spread like wildfire. As of this spring, Fairmont Hotels across Canada have introduced state-of-the-art BMW Cruise Bikes as the newest benefit for guests. At the Fairmont Château Whistler, guests can explore mountainside bike paths, while guests at the Fairmont Queen Elizabeth can expore the avenues of Montreal before stopping for a coffe at a cafe. The BMW bikes are great for both busy urban streets and scenic wooded trails, and the sleek frames will have you looking hip. Other original features include an integrated brake routing system that enables you to stop on a dime—a nice comfort factor for infrequent riders! The 24-speed bikes come in red and pearl white, and they retail for $1,190, so taking one for a spin is definitely a steal. Bonus: In addition to offering a selection of BMW Cruise Bikes, each hotel will have a variety of child-size BMW bikes on hand, allowing families to take in the sights together.
We’re crazy about our pets–and the White House is too. But just because Bo is getting all the special attention doesn’t mean that your pooch can’t be treated the same as “First Dog.” We’ve found some unique hotels and packages that cater to man’s best friend—with some interesting amenities to boot (or would that be to paw?)
Each guestroom at The Resort at the Mountain, in Mt. Hood, Oregon comes stocked with freshly baked homemade dog treats, dog dish, bottled water, and a dog-friendly hiking trail map, making your pet feel like White House royalty. Pampering your pooch doesn’t end there—the “First Dog” package includes a $30 credit towards a Canine Cuisine entrée from the in-room dining menu.
The hotel staff may be the ultimate amenity. They are the welcoming faces, the helpful hands to your room, an insider who knows how to get a reservation—basically, they make or break your stay in a new destination. Lately I’ve been reading up on some of these behind-the-scene staffers who have earned more than their share of gold stars in service. Here, some of the notables:
Ali Kasikci, Managing Director, Montage Beverly Hills
Known for his attention to deal, Kasikci keeps tabs on all his guests—literally. Well-known and repeat guests are assigned a note card that specifies preferences, even habits of guests. It’s these extra details that makes for a personalized stay, and ensures the property gets it right each time. What guests may not realize is that Kasikci has a hand in everything, from the closet’s hangers (designed to specifically help fill out men’s suits) to the bathroom’s amenities (they were pop top and prone to spill…now they screw on and off).