Fort Lauderdale is home to some of the most fabulous displays of private real-estate wealth in the country, but its reputation has been primarily defined, until recently, by tides of spring breakers – a playground for the riff raff, rather than the rich. That’s all changed over the last few years, as millions of dollars in development projects have poured in, quickly washing away the popular port city’s party past and elevating it to tony status as the Gold Coast’s newest “it” town. Luxury hotels bearing prestigious names like Ritz, Hilton, and Trump are sprouting up all over – with dozens of newbies opening (such as the first beachfront W in late April) and old favorites, like the landmark Yankee Clipper (known for its live mermaid shows), getting extensive facelifts. Last weekend, I checked into the Westin Beach Resort to check out the hotel’s recent multi-million dollar rebirth. 

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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 »

The final post in a three-part series on “glamping” (glamorous camping).

It’s 11pm on the Sunshine Coast of British Columbia, Canada. As I soak in a hydrotherapy tub facing a glass-surface front overlooking the water, the light is slowly disappearing on the horizon beyond the Straight of Georgia. I’ve just had a superb dinner of locally sourced Pacific Northwest fare. After my luxurious soak, I’ll take a rainforest shower and then proceed to my king-size bed for a night of sweet sleep. Can life get any better, I wonder? I’m staying in one of the luxurious tenthouse suites at Rockwater Secret Cove Resort, located on a scenic stretch of the Pacific Coast. Read the rest of this post »

Part two in a three-part series on “glamping” (glamorous camping).

After two unforgettable nights of “glamping” at Tent City, one of two glamorous campsites at Paws Up Resort in Montana, I was going back to civilization. Or that’s what I thought. My home turned out to be just as remote, in an isolated forest on the resort’s 37,000 acres. In fact, when I arrived to William Clark, one of the ten new Wilderness Estates at Paws Up, I felt as far removed from the rest of the world as in my glam tent at Tent City. But the differences were huge – inside my stately residence for the night, I had WiFi, a surround-sound entertainment system, and five 42″ flat-screen TVs. There was even Nintendo Wii in the loft game room upstairs! Granted, I was still so far and remote that my cell phone wasn’t getting any reception. Not that it mattered much . . . Read the rest of this post »

Tented Suites at Kasbah Tamadot

After a few days moseying around the Medina, ducking donkeys and evading mopeds on the crowded, narrow streets, I started hankering for some open space, fresh air, and downtime. So, I headed to Sir Richard Branson’s Kasbah Tamadot, a spectacular hotel, formerly a Berber palace, set in the foothills of the Atlas Mountains, about an hour’s drive south of Marrakech. Branson renovated the castle and opened it as a hotel in 2005, making sure that the entire place optimized views in every direction: To the north, a river valley backed by limestone and forested mountains, to the south, the snow-capped peaks of the high Atlas Mountains, and, to the east, the mountainside Berber village of Tansghar. But the views are only part of what makes this place so magical. It’s an exotic fort full of Asian antiques and Moroccan furnishings. 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 »

When I spent the weekend in Atlantic City last summer, I arrived with a few fairly depressing expectations. I was prepared to hold my breath on the casino floors while overweight seniors in their motorized chairs whizzed by, engulfed in a cloud of smoke. I expected cheesy dance clubs with the usual bachelorette party, Jersey meathead mobs. But, I did not expect the slick scene and cool crowd that I found at The Chelsea Hotel (a chic, beachfront boutique, the first non-gaming hotel in AC since the 60s, which opened last summer). A mix of hipsters, models, and musicians occupied the modern, glitzy spaces, and rooms were retro-glam, many with ocean views (for less expensive digs, the hotel’s motel-style Annex wing also offers simple rooms with balconies). I was so surprised by the seemingly New York crowd, that I asked the front desk if there was some kind of event being held at the hotel. As it turns out, the same minds behind New York’s trendy Beatrice and Smith & Mills formulated the tasty drink menu at the Fifth Floor venues (read on for more on that), and the same peeps that frequent those Manhattan joints are migrating south to this bona fide Jersey hotspot.   Read the rest of this post »

Visions of a South Carolina sojourn might go a lil’ something like this: Long balmy days spent sipping sweet tea or mint julep on the porch, listening to birds singing in the tall oak trees, and feasting on darn-good (albeit artery-clogging) country favorites like fried chicken, biscuits, and pie.  You’ll find an upscale version of this kind of South Kakalaki (local slang for South Carolina) living at the Inn at Palmetto Bluff, set on the banks of the May River right between Savannah and Hilton Head. The five-year-old Auberge Resort – made up of spacious cottages, elegant country homes, and a championship golf course – has an old-time, lemonade-served-in-crystal feel that’s appealed to the likes of Food Network star Tyler Florence, John Travolta, and even Madonna. The place isn’t cheap (rates start at $475 in June) but they include fishing, kayaking, and beach-cruiser biking around some of Palmetto’s 20,000 acres. Oh yeah, you can also borrow a new Mercedes (I was sweet on the GL450 SUV) if you want to leave the property for a bit. One of the best freebies? Nightly s’mores around the firepits – sure to evoke bittersweet summer camp memories.

For more trip ideas in South Carolina, check out our Myrtle Beach and Hilton Head travel guides.

Sometimes, too much hype can lead to a major letdown. A letdown is what I expected when I finally visited the much lauded Cap Juluca after years of reading glowing reviews and seeing it top award lists the world over. But, while on the boat ride over to Anguilla from St. Maarten (on Cap Juluca’s private speed boat), sipping champagne and chatting with another couple who gushed about their decade-long love affair with the place, I started to get the feeling that my skepticism may be proved wrong – and, wrong I was. The Cap Juluca didn’t disappoint. The 21-year-old resort is currently in the midst of 80-million-dollar renovations which have already transformed the main house and lobby, and, by year’s end, will overhaul all 18 villas (which, currently, aren’t shabby but lack the sophisticated Moroccan elegance seen in the renovated main house). All enhancements, including a new oceanfront infinity pool and spa, will stay true to the timeless architecture – white-washed Moorish domes, turrets, and all – that has made the resort so famous; original architect, Oscar Farmer has even come out of retirement to help with the project. Read the rest of this post »