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The Luxury Opened in May, the surfer-chic Shorebreak Hotel capitalizes on the recent rebranding of Huntington Beach, California, as Surf City U.S.A. It offers a hip and sophisticated take on Orange County culture with plush oceanview rooms, courtyard fire pits around which s’mores and cocktails are served, and beach butlers who can provide surfboards, wet suits, and beach volleyball courts. The pan-Mediterranean Zimzala restaurant offers a seafood-heavy menu by James Beard award–winning chef Joyce Goldstein. Read the rest of this post »

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The Luxury Perched on a hillside near the historic heart of Provence’s enchanting capital, the opulent La Villa Gallici welcomes guests to a quiet street, decked each fall with orange- and yellow-hued cypress and plane trees. During this season the wine harvests begin in nearby vineyards like Châteauneuf-du-Pape. The villa’s rooms bear sumptuous furnishings and fabrics; many include claw-foot bathtubs and private balconies. Read the rest of this post »

The Luxury Beachgoers hoping to avoid over crowded shores can experience this under-the-radar resort just 30 minutes’ drive away by car from Cape Town. As the buzz over chic designer hotels in Cape Town continues to surge, the award-winning Long Beach Resort offers a quieter retreat on nearly 5 miles of white-sand beach in the sleepy fishing village of Kommetjie, South Africa. Guests of the resort can catch their own crayfish (in season) and request that the chef prepare it for their dinner, take a stroll to a lighthouse, or whale-watch from a private deck in one of six luxury sea-view rooms. Read the rest of this post »

Located off the northwestern coast of Africa, the Canary Islands have been attracting visitors for years, with its near-perfect climate and alluring beaches. Luxury cruise line Fred Olsen specializes in voyages to this Spanish-owned island chain and right now the company is drastically reducing rates on a number of its cruises. This 12-night voyage aboard the Boudicca is our top pick with rates starting from just $95/night.

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The Luxury One of Quebec City’s main attractions, the 116-year-old Le Château Frontenac is a joy to visit and a dream to stay in. Located on a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River, the landmark 618-room Fairmont property radiates a magical air, with its patinated copper turrets overlooking the heart of Old Quebec. Its amenities include restaurants specializing in regional gastronomy, traditional high tea service, and an indoor pool. Read the rest of this post »

The Luxury Rising high above the city’s bustling Marunouchi district, the 36-floor Peninsula Tokyo hotel combines an ultramodern decor with impeccable service. Spacious guest rooms and suites offer views of the gardens and downtown Tokyo, along with plasma flat-screen TVs, marble bathrooms with rain showers, and fingertip controls for curtains and mood lighting. Traditional tea is served in the hotel lobby, and upstairs the Peter restaurant offers top-rated international cuisine. The nearby Ginza shopping area has high-end boutiques. A fleet of BMWs and Rolls-Royces is on hand for complimentary lifts to local spots. Read the rest of this post »

The Luxury The 93-room Kempinski Hotel Dukes’ Palace occupies a former 15th-century castle in the heart of one of Europe’s most beautifully preserved medieval cities, Bruges (pictured). The rooms are spacious by Bruges standards and include complimentary Wi-Fi, pillow-top mattresses, and under-floor heating in the bathrooms. Some rooms even have fireplaces. The hotel includes an indoor pool, a spa, and a Flemish restaurant. Guests have access to the nearby Golf and Country Club Oostburg, just across the border in the Netherlands. Read the rest of this post »

Envious of the luxurious lives led by the characters on AMC’s hit television series, Mad Men? Well, instead of spending another Sunday night on your couch watching the slick suits strut down Madison Avenue, you can live out your retro-glam fantasy at New York’s dreamy hotel, The Pierre. The hotel is currently offering a new Mad Men-inspired package, A Mad Affair at The Pierre, which is based on two characters Peggy and Duck who have a romantic fling at the very same hotel in the 60s. The special includes a stay in one of the hotel’s 49 swank suites (the hotel just underwent $100 million dollars worth of renovations), a bottle of champagne upon arrival, and Mad Men Seasons 1 and 2 DVD boxed sets. Watch them in your best Kennedy-inspired ensembles and enjoy a nostalgic high. The deal also covers light plates and cocktails for two at The Pierre’s new lounge and bar Two E ($150 value). The price tag, from $1,150, may be a little hard to swallow but the iconic hotel’s glamorous digs and prime Fifth Avenue address overlooking Central Park are hard to top. Plus, this old-school New York experience will leave you with your own Mad memories that trounce any TV show. To reserve, please call 1-800-743-7734 and request A Mad Affair at The Pierre or visit www.tajhotels.com. Offer is valid through December 31.

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The Luxury Situated on the western section of Grace Bay Beach on the island of Providenciales (known to locals as Provo), the Gansevoort Turks + Caicos has sea views from all 91 rooms, including 32 suites and 4 penthouses. Expect free Wi-Fi, Frette linens, a 7,000-square-foot infinity edge pool (pictured), and gourmet dining at Bagatelle Bistrot, the Turks and Caicos outpost of the New York standby. Read the rest of this post »

The Luxury On this 10-day cruise-tour, animal lovers and adventure seekers can explore the exotic wildlife of Ecuador’s mystical Galápagos Islands. Adventure Life is offering fall cruises aboard the Millennium (pictured), a luxury yacht with six spacious cabins featuring private balconies and picture windows. On off-ship excursions, naturalist guides will lead the way through tropical forests, across red-sand beaches, and to the Charles Darwin Center, where visitors can view 11 subspecies of tortoises. Read the rest of this post »