Tailored service and personal butlers ensure everything is exactly how you like it at Hôtel Fouquet’s Barrière, located on the corner of the Champs Elysees in Paris – and we’re talking every single detail. Before I even arrived in Paris, I filled out the hotel’s “Favorites” form via email which allowed me to hand-pick my bedding, the firmness or softness of my mattress, the preferred temperature of my room, the brand of water and types of soft drinks in my (complimentary) minibar, and the kind of flowers I’d like to welcome me upon arrival – all things I’d never really been asked before checking into a hotel. My room itself was actually a suite (see above) that looked out over the courtyard and Le Lucien bar terrace, and was swathed in decadent chocolaty colors, gold accents, and colorful artwork. (All units are designed by Jacques Garcia.) A flat-screen TV rose out of a sharkskin dresser with the touch of a remote button, and another sat above the large deep-soaking bath in the washroom. Fouquet’s has a sexy, curvaceous lobby; the knockout “U” Spa with an indoor pool, aqua-slimming trail, and hammam, Le Fouquet’s brasserie; Restaurant Le Diane; and the swank Lucien Bar (but be prepared for cocktails priced at a whopping €24! Ouch). Room rates start around €600/night.

Lake Placid, the site of the 1980 Winter Olympics, is just as much a summer town as it is a beloved ski destination. In summer, the sparkling waters of Mirror Lake and Lake Placid are irresistible (swimming, boating, and kayaking are big draws here) and outdoor enthusiasts can hike the mountain trails of the Adirondacks’ 46 peaks, including Mt. Marcy, the highest peak in New York State. The town is quaint – its main drag lined with shops, restaurants, and a few wine shops stocked with vintages from local Hudson Valley wineries. There’s also the Olympic Center which pays homage to sport sensations (this is where the US hockey team beat the Soviet Union and figure-skater Sonja Henie received one of her three gold medals) and houses four ice rinks. And you can’t miss the Olympic Jumping Complex where 90- and 120-meter ski jumps tower above the aspen trees; you can see professional skiers jumping even in summer.

I stayed at two great hotels there last weekend: The Whiteface Lodge and the High Peaks Resort. Read on for my reviews and to watch two video previews. Read the rest of this post »

One of the coolest things about Marrakech is the juxtaposition between the chaotic and dusty, ancient streets of the Medina and the tranquil, sumptuous riads (traditional Moroccan homes turned hotels/guesthouses) that lie hidden within the Medina’s walls. And I’m not exaggerating when I say hidden. When we arrived in Marrakech we were instructed to go to the small parking lot at the Bab Doukkala Mosque so that someone from our riad could come meet us (with donkey and wagon in tow for our luggage) to lead us through the maze, impossible to navigate on your own if not first guided. We walked past food and crafts stalls, narrowly escaped death by moped more than once, and arrived at an intricately carved door – not so different from the dozen or so doors we passed on the way. Inside, we found a surprisingly chic, and quiet, sanctuary.  The Riad Noir D’Ivoire, one of my favorite riads, is beautifully decorated, with two courtyards, a bar, cigar room and wine cellar, a slender pool backed by a wall with a 21-foot-high waterfall, hammam, and several nooks that extend off the courtyards for lounging, sipping wine, and planning out the day’s adventure. Read the rest of this post »

The Plaza reopened last year after a three-year, $400-million restoration. Since then, the iconic Manhattan hotel has received some very mixed reviews. Some critics are less than pleased with the new interiors, describing them as “stiff” and “uninspired”, and are even more down on the high rates, averaging about $1000 per night (Note: I checked rates in May and found the lowest to be $645 per night). On the other hand, there are those that think the enhancements have indeed restored the grande dame to her former glory, saying she’s “even better than before” and “the experience is worth the price”. I recently checked out the rooms myself and took a quick, albeit shaky, video.

What do you think of the new digs? Are they worth the high price tag? Or, is the harsh criticism a little too harsh? After all, The Plaza is one of the world’s most famous hotels . . .