Daily Pampering: Chauffeured rides ensure royal treatment at Napa’s Milliken Creek Inn & Spa

by Melanie Nayer on

Why worry about getting from point A to point B when your luxury hotel can do that for you? Milliken Creek Inn & Spa, an intimate luxury boutique hotel in Napa Valley, is offering “Your Carriage Awaits” package – a romantic, two-night travel package that allows guests to tour the region without having to lift a finger.

Upon arrival, guests will be taken to one of the Inn’s 12 individually designed, spacious suites where oversized hydrotherapy bathtubs await. After a quick soak and change, roundtrip chauffeured transportation to dinner in downtown Napa will be provided. Upon return, indulge in the chocolate-covered strawberries, candles and rose petals that complete your turn-down service.

Spend the next morning at the spa before hopping into the chauffeured four-hour wine tour to visit three Napa wineries before heading off to dinner.

The cost of this pretty pampering? A mere $930 per couple per stay. For full details, visit Milliken Creek Inn’s website or call 800.822.8418 and request offer code “CARRIAGE.”

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Mandarin Oriental signs celebrities for hotel ads

by Melanie Nayer on

Would you stay at a hotel because Harry Connick Jr. told you to? Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group thinks you might, and is launching a series of new global print ads featuring Connick, as well as Hélène Grimaud and Sa Ding Ding, two internationally known musicians.

The ads will star the three celebs as part of the ongoing campaign dubbed “He’s a Fan/She’s a Fan.” The premise? Each celebrity dishes on their favorite Mandarin property.

Connick, for example, is a fan of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, where he performed in 2009 in one of his most intimate affairs. The concert took place in the hotel’s MO Bar. French pianist Grimaud enjoys staying at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, as she often performs in the city’s famous music venues. Rising star Ding Ding, a product of modern China, was also photographed at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, London, for the ad.

The new ad campaign is said to combine Mandarin Oriental’s recognized symbol with fans and celebrities who stay at the hotel. Previous celebrity endorsers include Jane Seymour, Jerry Hall, Vivienne Tam, Liam Neeson, and Helen Mirren, among many others. In appreciation of the celebrities’ support, the Mandarin Oriental makes donation to each individual’s charity of choice.

We want to know what you think about this campaign. Are you more likely to consider a hotel because of its celebrity endorsement?

Daily Pampering: Autumn nights at Hotel Caesar Augustus on Capri

by Melanie Nayer on


Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words…

What could be more luxurious than spending a night in one of Italy’s most coveted towns? Spending two nights.

Hotel Caesar Augustus on Capri is giving guests a reason to visit Italy this fall. The Relais & Chateaux hotel intrigues guests with stunning scenery, a heated cliff-side infinity pool, locally sourced cuisine at La Terrazza di Lucullo and a Turkish Bath and outdoor Spa. From 860 Euro for two nights (approximately $1,091 USD), the package includes:

  • 2 nights’ accommodations
  • Breakfast daily for two
  • 1 Candlelight dinner for two
  • 30 minute massage per person
  • Land transfers from and to the port of Capri and the hotel

The deal is valid from Sept. 20 – Oct. 30th, 2010.

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Ritz-Carlton launches hotel loyalty program

by Melanie Nayer on

Luxury travelers rejoice: The Ritz-Carlton will finally start giving customers loyalty points in exchange for stays at Ritz hotels around the world. Ritz-Carlton officials will unveil the “Ritz-Carlton Rewards” program this morning at a press conference in New York City.

Why the excitement? Until now, Ritz-Carlton has remained Marriott’s only brand that doesn’t offer customers points for frequent stays. Starting Sept. 15, both Marriott and Ritz-Carlton guests who sign up for the new loyalty program will be able to earn and accumulate points for reward stays at Ritz-Carlton hotels, or use points toward experiences offered through specific partnerships. Some of the partnerships with the Ritz-Carlton rewards program include Vera Wang, National Geographic Expeditions photography workshops, and Neiman Marcus.

So how will Ritz-Carlton Rewards work? According to Barbara De Lollis over at USA Today’s Hotel Check-in column:

  • There will be silver, gold, and platinum status for the Ritz-Carlton Rewards program and each level will have the same requirements as Marriott Rewards.
  • Customers can be a member of either Ritz-Carlton Rewards or Marriott Rewards; not both.
  • Marriott Rewards platinum members who stay at a Ritz-Carlton will receive a complimentary room upgrade.
  • Ritz-Carlton Rewards members who earn platinum status will receive upgrades at Marriott hotels.

I’ll report on more details from this morning’s press conference, but until then… now’s a great time to start looking at Ritz-Carlton for your upcoming trip.

London’s Cumberland Hotel unveils Jimi Hendrix-themed suite

by Melanie Nayer on

Paying homage to one of the greatest musicians of all time, London’s Cumberland Hotel is unveiling its new Jimi Hendrix-themed suite, complete with swinging mirrors and a purple haze.

The hotel, where Hendrix is said to have given his last ever interview, created a suite worthy of a rock legend, complete with a giant bed adorned with velvet cushions and zebra throws. The suite is being unveiled on Sept. 18, the day Hendrix died 40 years ago. An hour-long recording session of Hendrix talking to his music writer friend Keith Altham can be played on the iPod docked in the suite. “Everybody should have a room where they get rid of all their releases. My room was a stage,” Hendrix said in the interview.

Among the typical amenities and decor, guests can marvel at the Hendrix-inspired Flying V guitar that hangs on the wall alongside framed copies of NME articles. For a truly memorable trip, you’ll notice a rainbow that swirls across the ceiling past a cascading light in the form of a human figure. A mirror swings towards the bed, showcasing the crimson carpet, orange curtains and, of course, a haze of purple.

The Hendrix Suite at London’s Cumberland hotel costs 399 pounds a night (approximately $612 USD) for two people, which includes a bottle of Hendrix’s favourite Smokehead scotch and breakfast.