Luxury hotel to open at Palace at Versailles

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s no better place to sleep like a king than at the Palace of Versailles, and now travelers might just get their chance.

NPR reports that a building at the cherished cultural landmark, home to the French monarchy since Louis XIV, will soon be turned into a five-star luxury hotel. The luxury hotel will stand about one hundred yards from the main palace.

“Known as the Hotel du Grand Controle, the mansion was built in the 1680s to serve as the offices and home of the king’s treasurer, where he lived with his family and servants. The Hotel du Grand Control was evacuated, along with the rest of Versailles, during the French Revolution. In the 19th and 20th centuries it fell into further disrepair,” Mikael Hautchamp, deputy administrator for the Palace of Versailles, told NPR. The story goes on to say that Versailles turned toBelgian hotel company Ivy International to fund and renovate the mansion into a 23-bedroom luxury hotel.

While there’s certainly some concern about turning a treasured monument into a hotel, opening a luxury hotel in Versailles would give travelers with a passion for history a chance to ‘live’ at Versailles, if only briefly.

The hotel, which will be called Hotel de l’Orangerie, is slated to open in January 2012. Rumor has it when the hotel officially opens, guests will be given champagne and access to stroll the famous gardens of Versailles, which haven’t been strolled in some 300 years.

[For the full story, read the NPR article]

Ritz-Carlton ready to open first new hotel of 2011: Dubai International Financial Centre

by Melanie Nayer on

The Ritz-Carlton hotel group is gearing up for an exciting 2011. Amid the flurry of anticipation for the opening of the tallest hotel in the world in Hong Kong, the hotel group is also preparing for its first opening of the year, The Ritz -Carlton, Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), slated to welcome guests on Jan. 12, 2011.

The 341-room hotel, with 124 executive residences, will be the second Ritz-Carlton in Dubai and the sixth property in the region.

Located in Dubai’s bustling financial district, The Ritz-Carlton, DIFC graces the skyline wrapped in a French limestone façade and shades of art deco elements. Standing 14 storeys high, the hotel will be a grand fixture among the city’s towering skyscrapers.Unique designs include:

  • A 10-storey outdoor waterfall cascading down the building directly into the courtyard facing the lobby.
  • A total of eight striking water features are situated throughout the hotel playing on the feng shui belief that the constant flow of water signifies wealth and prosperity.
  • A three-storey high lobby ceiling with a glamourous centerpiece – 44 crystal stems designed to resemble frosted branches in the moonlight.
  • A dramatic 30 meter (100 feet) wine wall that is home to 3000 bottles of the finest varietals in the world.

Dining options include Blue Rain, the signature Thai fine-dining restaurant; Can Can, a French all-day dining brasserie and the Center Cut steakhouse. The Lobby Lounge & Terrace will host Dubai’s only chocolate and champagne experience.

The top two floors of the hotel are dedicated to guests of The Ritz-Carlton Club. The hotel will also offer two Royal Suites, each at 220 square meters (or 2,370 square feet) in size and luxury furnished residences that range in size from one- to four-bedroom. Residents will have access to an exclusive rooftop health club and outdoor pool, plus can utilize all services offered by the hotel including housekeeping, catering, concierge, and in- room dining.

Guests staying the hotel will enjoy a fully-equipped health club, indoor pool and The Ritz-Carlton Spa, featuring 13 treatment rooms.

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Bellagio hotel cancels $25,000 casino chip

by Melanie Nayer on

In a move that might even make Danny Ocean rethink his plans, the Bellagio hotel in Las Vegas just announced it would cancel its $25,000 casino chips in an effort to thwart thieves who hit the casino a few weeks ago.

Associated Press reports the luxury Las Vegas casino and hotel is canceling the high-roller chip to send a message to thieves: the chips are worthless if they aren’t redeemed by April 22. Apparently, a man in a jumpsuit stole $1.5 million in chips from the casino and made off on his motorcycle two weeks ago. AP reports the majority of the stolen money was in the form of $25,000 chips.

The hotel also advises guests who might have $25,000 chips lying around to cash them in now, before the chips are out of commission.

We’re just wondering: If you had a $25,000 chip from the Bellagio, would you have it just lying around in your coin jar?

Daily Pampering: Last-minute holiday escapes with Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach

by Melanie Nayer on

You could spend your holidays shivering in the cold wondering when your Jimmy Choo hunter wellies will dry off so you can debut them again, or you can grab your bikini and your best friend and head to the beach.

The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach is channeling Mother Nature this holiday season to give travelers a reason to leave the cold behind and head to warm and sunny weather for the holidays through 2011. The holiday spirit is in full swing in South Florida and is calling to you from Palm Beach. Take a vacation from the cold, wintry weather of early December, leave your jacket and gloves behind and spend the night pampering yourself surfside at the Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach with this “Escape the Chill” package:

  • Overnight accommodations starting at $619, based on double occupancy
  • Warm welcome amenity upon arrival; hot chocolate, hot toddy, tea or coffee
  • (2) 60-minute Eau Spa by Cornelia treatments in a Couple’s Villa. Select from: Self-Centered Massage or Signature Essence Facial per night stay
  • All day garden access to swings, dipping pools, Eau Zone and Bath Lounge

Soak in the sun, hang out for the holidays and leave your winter worries behind. This daily pampering starts at $619 USD based on double occupancy. The deal is good through March 2011, so you have plenty of time to escape the winter blues.

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

Emirates Palace Hotel unveils $11 million Christmas tree

by Melanie Nayer on

Talk about a sparkling tree. The Christmas tree at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi puts anything Clark Griswold produced to shame.

Earlier this week, the hotel unveiled what might be the most expensive Christmas tree in history.

The 13-meter (a little more than 42-feet) faux evergreen sparkles in the hotel’s gold-leafed rotunda and is decorated with silver and gold bows, ball-shaped ornaments and small white lights. The tree alone is valued at $10,000 but it’s what’s dangling from the branches that makes this beauty so pricey.

The hotel spared no expense to dress its festive friend for guests. The tree is draped with

a total of 181 diamonds, pearls, emeralds, sapphires and other precious stones, said Khalifa Khouri, owner of Style Gallery which provided the jewelry. Combined with its bejeweled accessories – including necklaces, earrings and other jewelry created from the gems – the tree prices out at a whopping $11 million.

We wonder what kind of presents one might find hidden under this Christmas tree…

[via ABC News, Australia]