Luxury hotel to open near Tower of London

by Melanie Nayer on

London is certainly the talk of the industry. With the 2012 Olympic Games approaching and the wedding of the century around the corner, London hotels will be one of the most sought after commodity.

News from Luxury Society is that a new luxury hotel near the Tower of London is being planned, certain to add some competition to the luxury hotel market for the big events. The hotel is said to be ready in time for the London 2012 Olympic Games, and managed by Franklyn Hotels & Resorts, which already operates luxury London hotels The Cadogan and Durley House.

The hotel, which currently is unnamed, will occupy a 1922 building that played host to the inaugural meeting of the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1946.

We want to know: Would you choose to stay at a hotel simply for its historical significance?

Literary-themed Paris hotel Le Pavillon des Lettres opens

by Melanie Nayer on

What do Shakespeare, Baudelaire and Rousseau have in common? Aside from being some of the most revered authors and playwrights, these famous literary types now grace the walls of the newest Paris hotel, Le Pavillon des Lettres.

A classic Haussman townhouse in the 8th arrondissement, the boutique hotel, Le Pavillon des Lettres, features 26 rooms – each devoted to a letter of the alphabet and an international writer corresponding to that letter. Shakespeare, Baudelaire and Rousseau are among the authors whose quotes are elegantly scrawled on the walls en Français.

For English translations, boot up the room’s dedicated iPad, which is stocked with international bestsellers and daily newspapers, as well as jazz and classical music. The hotel’s library is stocked with the works of all 26 featured authors, and more.

Just in time for the holiday season, the hotel’s opening rates start at €300 (approximately $397 USD) through February 28, 2011 and include breakfast, complimentary Champagne from 6 -8pm, and a special gift of a caddy of the “2000 ans d’écriture” tea from the exclusive French tea house, Le Thé des Écrivains.

And if Paris‘ quintessential charm isn’t enough, here are some reasons to visit the City of Light:

  • The Marché du No el is set up along Champs Elysée from November 19-December 28
  • Swan Lake is playing at the Opéra-Bastille from November 29- January 5
  • Antiquity Rediscovered is the new exhibit at the Louvre from December 3-February 14
  • The state-regulated winter “soldes” are from January 12-February 15
  • Madame Butterfly is playing at the Opéra-Bastille from January 16-February 14

Daily Pampering: Woodstock Inn & Resort $888 spa packages

by Melanie Nayer on

You can call it a case of crazy 8s, or you can just accept that sometimes Vermont does things a little out of the ordinary, but always well received.

Now through April 28, 2011, The Spa at The Woodstock Inn & Resort will spoil guests with its “Pampered & Great Spa Escape,” offering accommodations for two nights and $888 in spa credit, all for $888. The Vermont luxury spa, which opened in September, is offering this indulgent package for Sunday-Wednesday arrivals in a standard guestroom and $888 of spa credit per room, per stay, based on double occupancy

Housed in a 10,000 square-foot LEED-designed structure, the $10 million new Woodstock Inn spa provides a nature-inspired ambiance and is a celebration of the seasons, which carries through to the full spa menu. Each season, a different signature treatment will take center stage among the extensive selection of year-round spa offerings. For the winter, guests will experience the 100-minute Signature Deep Forest treatment which begins with an exfoliating body scrub and hydrating wrap and ends with a full-body massage. The outdoor meditation courtyard has a sauna, hot soaking pool and a Japanese Lilac meditation tree that marks the passing of seasons. Even on the chilliest days, feet will stay toasty with radiant heating and the warmth from the outdoor fire pit.

What better way to spend the holidays? This daily pampering can be yours for $888 for two nights.

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

Daily Pampering: MINI Coopers for the holidays at Peninsula Hotels

by Melanie Nayer on

The Peninsula Hotels of New York and Chicago are adding a little gift to their holiday bookings. Book an executive level suite in the Chicago or New York hotel and the hotel will hand over the keys to a MINI Cooper Clubman.

Forget hailing cabs and trekking through the snow in the city, now you can hop in your MINI (via chauffeur) and whip through the city streets. New York City guests taking a spin in the MINI will have three itineraries to choose from encompassing the hidden hot spots of Uptown, Midtown and Downtown. MINI passengers in the Windy City will be able to choose from itineraries created for romance, families and foodies and each experience can be paired with directions and customized tips available on the MINI’s iPhone and iPad, which guests may use during the duration of their trip.

Continuing The Peninsula Hotels legacy of offering the finest fleet of customized vehicles for their guests, the new MINIs join Peninsula’s renowned fleet of 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms available at Peninsula Hong Kong.

Want to take these little guys for a spin? Suites start at $1,375 in New York and $895 in Chicago.

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

Daily Pampering: Exclusive Resorts offers $10,000 gift card to new members

by Melanie Nayer on



Want to spend the holidays at your private home in Vail? Feel like escaping the cold weather for your four-bedroom home in Esperanza? Always dreamed of rivaling P. Diddy’s famous yacht parties? This won’t be a problem with a membership to the exclusive luxury destination club with Exclusive Resorts.

With membership starting at $160,000, you can enjoy 400 luxury residences around the world, personalized service from your travel concierge and five-star luxury amenities.

The “destination club” allows you to pick your residences – many with access to luxury resorts, like the four-bedroom residences with private pools in Esperanza (recently rated the number one resort spot in Mexico by Travel + Leisure).

Here’s how it works:

  • Sign up to become a member with a minimum membership fee $160,000 (75% refundable).
  • Choose from various properties around the world including a 4-bedroom residence with private pools in an exclusive enclave in Peninsula Papagayo; 3-bedroom residences at the base of the gondola at The Arrabelle in Vail; or one of 28 residences in the heart of it all, New York City.
  • Select your membership plan, which ranges from 10 to 60 days of vacation per year.
  • Pack and go.

The best part? Think round-the-clock concierge service, VIP access to top golf courses, and orchestra seats for hard-to-get Broadway shows. But there’s more…

To help celebrate the holiday season, Exclusive Resorts is helping to pamper your stocking with a little promotion for those who are considering this life of luxury:

If you buy a membership by Dec. 15, 2010, Exclusive Resorts will give you a $10,000 gift card good toward customized excursions, private chefs, privileged tee times, luxury spa services, and other incredible experiences you can dream up. You can share your $10,000 gift card with the ones you love, or you can save it for yourself. After all, it’s your luxury experience.

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