The continuing rise of Gulf state carriers

The rise of Gulf state carriers continues to impress. These airlines, which have defined themselves in part as hub-and-spoke carriers linking Europe (and the eastern coast of North America) to Asia, have developed exciting route maps over the last several years with a particularly strong reach into the Arabian Peninsula and India.

While other airlines have recently attempted to develop their hub airports for intercontinental hub-and-spoke connections as well – Finnair‘s recasting of Helsinki as a northern Europe-Asia hub is one example – the Gulf carriers really stand out in global terms.

Yet, awareness of their services remains far lower than it should be among Americans, despite the presence of Emirates, Etihad, and Qatar Airways at a handful of major US airports.

The Gulf state carriers’ key consumer product is a luxury flight with premium class service and a truly over-the-top experience on all three airlines. On Emirates, first class passengers are treated to private suites. Etihad’s Diamond First Class features flatbeds, personal mini-bars, and anytime dining, while Qatar Airways’ First Class offers turndown service with an amenity kit including products by Prada. With perks like these, it is clear that these carriers are establishing new standards for premium class service.

Even in coach, however, these airlines are delivering a decent product. I experienced the Qatar Airways economy treatment on a recent mid-haul journey from London, via Doha, and back. There was more legroom than in standard coach and the ongoing parade of meals and snacks was, if not exactly delicious, then without question, a cut above average airplane food.

Route maps, however, provide the most interesting dimension of the rise of the Gulf state carriers. While there is quite a bit of overlap between airlines, each airline covers some original territory. Let’s look at where these airlines fly.Etihad flies from Chicago, New York, and (as of March 31) Washington, D.C., to Abu Dhabi. Etihad also flies direct routes between most major European hubs and Abu Dhabi, in addition to a few surprising ports of call (Minsk, anyone?). In addition to eight destinations in India, Etihad’s more popular Asian destinations from Abu Dhabi include Bangkok, Colombo, the Maldives, and Seychelles.

Qatar Airways links Houston, New York, and Washington, D.C., to Doha. The airline flies to 31 destinations in Europe (including 2012 launches), 12 destinations in India, four in Pakistan, and four in China. Other destinations of note include Zanzibar, Ho Chi Minh City, and Denpasar.

Emirates boasts the best links to the US of all with direct connections from Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Dallas, Houston, and New York to Dubai. Of these, Seattle and Dallas are new routes. The former begins on March 1 and the latter route kicked off on February 2. Emirates’ reach is particularly remarkable. The airline flies to 28 destinations in Europe, 15 destinations in sub-Saharan Africa, 10 destinations in India, and four in Australia; all but a handful of these routes are direct.

With beefed up links to major US airports, premium services to lure business and moneyed travelers, and route maps that show no sign of contracting, the Gulf state carriers look set to be important long-haul standbys for some time to come.

[Image: Flickr | jmmcdgll]

Luxury Travel: the All Caviar package at The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is going over the top with its new All Caviar Package. Guests who love luxury travel can live large with this one night experience.

After being met on arrival with a caviar martini (a martini accented with an exclusive Petrossian “caviar cube”), guests will be whisked to their rooms overlooking Central Park.

That afternoon, guests will enjoy a gourmet caviar tasting at Petrossian, led by one of the French caviar legend’s knowledgeable teams.

The next morning, the package includes a full American breakfast, in-room or in the hotel’s Star Lounge, plus a 60-minute Caviar Skin Crème Massage at La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. The package ends with a three-course caviar-paired meal at Petrossian.


The package includes a late checkout and starts at $1,985. Park View rooms are standard with the package, but upgrades are available for an additional cost.

10 best natural spas around the world

Who doesn’t love a great spa experience? While a traditional Swedish massage or hot stone treatment is always relaxing, why not try something different and 100% natural?

All over the world, there are regions featuring geothermal pools, hot springs, and water heated by volcanic activity that also contain healing and curative properties. And this isn’t something new; even the Incas and the Romans enjoyed taking a dip in these natural spas. Minerals in the water help to alleviate ailments and diseases like asthma, psoriasis, muscle pain, acne, arthritis, neuralgia, and more. And not only is it healthy, its relaxing too.

For a closer look at some of the world’s most amazing natural spas check out the gallery below.

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Hotel packages for art and culture enthusiasts

Hotel Villa Magna
Madrid, Spain

Hotel Village Magna is a 5-star luxury hotel located in the center of Madrid. Until December 2012, the property will be helping travelers get to know the art and culture of the city through their Prado Package, which includes a private guided tour of the Museo Nacional del Prado, a museum featuring fine European art from the 12th-19th centuries. Not only that, but once the tour is over visitors will be seated for a gourmet, butler-service meal in one of the exhibition rooms where live music will accompany breathtaking art and sumptuous cuisine. Once back at the hotel, the package treats guests to stay in the Royal Suite where unlimited Cava will be provided, as well as a daily buffet-breakfast for two, private car service to and from the museum and airport, and a late check-out of 4PM.

Packages start at $14,575 per night. Call +0034915 871 234 or E-mail villamagna@villamagna.es to book. The Midland Hotel
Manchester, England

The Midland Hotel is a comfortable hotel loved by the rich, royal, and famous, as it has been a favorite of members of royalty as well as celebrities for 100 years. The property, which is located near many worthwhile art and history museums, is also focused on culture. And to help guests experience culture in England they are offering a Theater Breaks package, which includes overnight accommodations, a 3-course meal at The Wyvern Restaurant, two theater tickets to either Opera House or Palace Theatre, and a full breakfast in the morning. Some upcoming shows to expect include Chicago, Blood Brother, the Lion King, Spamalot, Calendar Girls, and Phantom of the Opera.

Packages start at $330 per night based on double occupancy. E-mail midlandreservations@qhotels.co.uk to book.

Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts
Rome, Italy

The Rome Cavalieri is a 5-star luxury property and is walking distance from many of the city’s historical and cultural landmarks. To help guests experience Rome’s offerings, the hotel has joined with Italy’s Finest (IF) Lifestyle Management to offer exclusive city tours that explore art, culture, architecture, history, and neighborhoods. Some examples include “The Secrets of Via Giulia” tour that takes guests to places like the Church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini, the Oratorio del Gonfalone, and the Palazzo Sacchetti, as well as the “Evolution of Luxury” tour that allows visitors to see the Opus Sectile from Porta Marina, the apartments of Princess Isabelle and the Ditta Medici, and a display of the celebrated Bulgari jewelers.

Moreover, the Rome Cavalieri has also partnered with MAXXI, the National Museum of XXI century arts, to offer guests a special package that includes accommodations, a buffet breakfast, two artsy cocktails, two entrance tickets to the museum with private transportation and VIP access, and an exhibition catalog.

For those interested in the lifestyle tours, they last approximately 3 hours and range from $790 to $1,975 based on two guests. E-mail ROMHI.Concierge@waldorfastoria.com to book. For those interested in the national museum package, rates depend on the time of year. Call +39 06 3509 2031 or E-mail RomeCavalieri.Reservations@waldorfastoria.com and mention P19MAX to book.

AYANA Resort and Spa
Bali, Indonesia

AYANA Resort and Spa is a luxury accommodation located high on a cliff overlooking Jimbaran Bay and the Indian Ocean. Because Indonesia is a melting pot of over 700 unique ethnic groups, AYANA wants to help their guests experience the unique culture of the area through their Bali Theater package. The property has partnered with the Devdan “Treasure of the Archipelago Show”, which takes viewers on a “high-energy visual tour of Indonesia’s cultural diversity, featuring a fusion of traditional and modern dance, aerial acrobatic performances, dazzling costumes and hi-tech special effects”. The package is a minimum of four nights and includes breakfast each morning, Aquatonic Pool experience, and tickets to the dance show at Bali Nusa Dua Theater.

Packages start at $285 per night, per person. E-mail reservation@ayanaresort.com to book.

The Langham Hungtington, Pasadena
Los Angeles, California

The Langham Huntington, Pasadena is a luxury hotel located on 23-acres at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains. To help guests experience all the cultural offerings in Los Angeles, the property offers an Experience the Arts package that includes accommodations, valet parking, shuttle service to museums in the area, and two VIP museum passes valid at over 18 venues.

The package is valid until March 28, 2012, and saves guests over $250. Click here to book.

The Langham, Boston
Boston, Massachusetts

The Langham, Boston, is an elegant hotel located in downtown Boston near sites like The Freedom Trail, Post Office Square, the New England Aquarium, many colleges and universities, and great shopping, dining, and nightlife choices. To help guests experience the finer side of the city, the hotel is featuring an Experience the Arts package, which includes luxury accommodations, breakfast for two in Café Fleuri, use of fitness facilities and indoor pool at Chuan Body + Soul, and two tickets to the MFA Exhibition or the Institute of Contemporary Art.

Package rates vary but save guests $58 on average. Click here to book.

The Inn of the Five Graces
Santa Fe, New Mexico

The Inn of the Five Graces is a luxury bed and breakfast as well as an award winning food and wine accommodation located in the historic part of Santa Fe. In fact, the inn is located on the oldest inhabited street in the United States. This year will mark Santa Fe’s 400th anniversary, and to celebrate the inn is offering guests a Four Nights Stay in Culture and History package. The 4-night package includes breakfast, cheese and wine gatherings on select nights, a private walking tour of the historic downtown area, two passes to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and a 4-day pass that will give guests access to five different museums including the New Mexico Museum of Art, the Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, the Museum of International Folk Art, the Museum of Indian Arts & Culture, and the Palace of the Governors which is home to the brand new New Mexico History Museum.

During low season, package rates start at $1,610. Call 866-992-0957 or E-mail guestservices@fivegraces to book.

Doubletree Hilton San Juan
San Juan, Puerto Rico

The Doubletree Hilton San Juan is a beachfront property located right on the Caribbean Sea. To help guests experience the finer side of Puerto Rico, they are offering an Art and Culture package, which includes complimentary breakfast and complimentary passes to the Puerto Rico Museum of Art. The package is also great because it is targeted at couples as well as families, so children can enjoy an enriching experience with their parents.

Packages start at $139 per night. Call 787-721-3118 to book.

Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort
Stann Creek, Belize

The Hamanasi Adventure and Dive Resort is a secluded boutique accommodation located on the central coast of Belize. To help recognize the end of the Mayan Long Calendar in December, 2012, the property is featuring an array of Mayan Experience packages, which include 7 nights beachfront accommodation, meals, air transfers, use of bikes and kayaks, and a selection of Mayan experiences, including:

  • Climbing the pyramids at Xunantunich and Cahel Pech
  • Visiting Actun Tunichil Muknal Cave to see pottery shards and skeletons
  • Snorkeling the Barrier Reef for sting rays whose spines were used in bloodletting ceremonies
  • Exploring the unexcavated Mayflower Maya site in the rainforest and trekking to Antelope Falls
  • Discovering the Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit Mayan ruins and eating lunch
    with a local Mayan family

Packages start at $2,099 per person. Call 877-552-3483 or E-mail info@hamanasi.com to book.

Pimped out presidential suites in Washington, DC




What better place to celebrate President’s Day than in Washington, DC? We thought about tracking down the most bad-ass Presidential Suites from around the world, but let’s face it – the District of Columbia does a pretty good job of being over-the-top all on its own.

From the “Extreme WOW” suite at the W for $10,000 a night to not one but two Thomas Jefferson Suites (at The Willard and The Jefferson), we’re pretty sure that there’s a good degree of excess going on in a city that continually preaches about budget cuts.

Without further ado, enjoy our gallery of Washington, DC’s best Presidential Suites.

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Four Seasons Hotel Washington, DC

This hotel in the heart of Georgetown boasts a special designation – it’s the area’s only five-star, five-diamond property. And when it comes to luxe, the Four Seasons knows how to go all out – it has six top-of-the-line suites, the most extravagant of which isn’t even the Presidential Suite, but The Royal Suite.

What will you get?
Behind bullet-resistant glass, a private entrance and a closed-captioned security system, the Royal Suite is as beautiful as it is functional. Guests enjoy a dining room that seats ten, four different living areas, artfully equipped kitchen, pantry with Sub-Zero refrigerator and separate service entrance, a master bedroom with his-and-hers closets, a massive bathroom, private office, fitness room and an alluring cream and silver color palate.

What makes us swoon?
A landscaped 1,000-square- terrace with three seating groupings, a fire pit and a dining table for 10 overlooking historic Georgetown (shown above) and a 90-gallon sculptural bathtub with a massive crystal fixture draped overhead.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $15,000 per night.
The W Hotel, Washington DC
Perhaps Washington’s funkiest luxury hotel, the trendy W boasts one of the city’s best locations – it’s rooftop bar overlooks the White House lawn. Luxe-seekers should go for the “Extreme WOW” factor and book the hotel’s version of the Presidential Suite.

What will you get?
As with all rooms at this modern boutique hotel, the Extreme WOW suite offers unique, vibrantly-colored décor. This suite offers a corner location, wet bar, signature W Cocktail Caddy, living room that can seat six, views of the Lincoln Memorial and Pennsylvania Avenue, virtual fireplace and unique art pieces.

What makes us swoon?
The bathroom’s floating tub with views of the Lincoln Memorial.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $10,000 a night.

The Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC

With a prime location along DC’s Southwest Waterfront, The Mandarin is undoubtedly one of the city’s most scenic hotels – many rooms offer water or monument views. Of course, the hotel’s Presidential Suite leverages the best of all of the hotel rooms, plus access to the hotel’s private Tai Pan lounge.

What will you get?
Panoramic views stretching from the Washington Monument to the Jefferson Memorial, a “great room,” with its soaring double-height ceilings, a full-size dining table and enormous crystal chandelier, a private study, and massive bathroom with oversized shower and tub.

What makes us swoon?
Other than the views? It’s something you might not expect – every time we’ve visited this room, it has had some of the most beautiful floral arrangements we’ve ever seen. A small circular window near the dining area is another of our favorite touches.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $15,000 a night.

The Jefferson

It’s only fitting that the top suite at this 99-room boutique hotel is named for its presidential inspiration, Thomas Jefferson. The hotel also has a slightly smaller Martha Jefferson suite, decorated in more feminine tones and often used as a bridal suite.

What will you get?
The Jefferson, DC’s expansive, top floor specialty suite, The Thomas Jefferson Suite, is as stylishly elegant as the rest of the hotel. Decorated in rich blues and featuring elegant period artwork and architecture, the room features custom-designed bedding, walk-in showers, hand-cut Italian stonework, in-mirror televisions, a private office and sitting area, service entrance, kitchen and optional exercise room.

What makes us swoon?
The custom-designed bed is actually square – special sheets were ordered just to fit the mattress.

Presidential Trivia:
When George H.W. Bush was transitioning from Vice President to President following the 1988 election, before The Jefferson, DC’s 2009 renovation, Bush selected his cabinet in the meeting rooms at The Jefferson, Washington, DC.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $6,000 a night.

The St. Regis, Washington, DC
Just two blocks from the White House, the St. Regis offers an ideal location, close to both the political center of the country as well as the lobbying firms of K Street. Their 2,510 square foot Presidential Suite is a traditionally elegant experience.

What will you get?
The Presidential Suite has two entrances, a separate master suite, sitting area and dining room, a private butler’s pantry with Sub-Zero appliances, two fireplaces and a private library/office.

What makes us swoon?
The ornate entry foyer graced with hand painted wallpaper from China and other bespoke design details.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $12,000 a night

The Willard Intercontinental
The historic hotel boasts a storied past – it’s said that the term “lobbying” began at their Round Robin bar. Just steps from the White House, this hotel’s grandest suite, the second “Thomas Jefferson” suite in our roundup, stands at nearly 3,000 square feet and is often used by visiting heads of state and other important dignitaries. The hotel also offers a similarly large and equally expensive “John Adams” suite.

What will you get?
Your own “oval office” (a dining room seats that ten and offers has breathtaking views down Pennsylvania Avenue to the US Capitol). Enjoy the custom-designed, Axminster carpet, one-of-a-kind highboys and service buffet, a tiled entry foyer in black and white marble, a dual parlor-living room with original artwork and two bathrooms.

What makes us swoon?
Its red and gold scheme and 18th-century design elements were taken from design motifs found in the White House.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $7,000 a night.

The Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC
The Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC is one of dignitaries and business travelers’ favorite properties in the area. The hotel offers a convenient, metro-accessible location and acclaimed Eric Ripert restaurant, West End Bistro.

What will you get?
The Ritz-Carlton suite offers a spacious living room with a fireplace, dining room with seating for ten, a massive bathroom with Jacuzzi and access to the hotel’s Club lounge.

What makes us swoon?
The large private terrace, accessible from both the bedroom and living room.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $6,500 a night.

The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown
One of our favorite DC hotels, this intimate Ritz-Carlton property feels more like a boutique hotel than a corporate chain. Offering a prime location just steps from Georgetown’s waterfront as well as shopping and dining, the hotel’s top suite offers expansive water views and ample space for entertaining or business functions.

What will you get?
The Royal Potomac Suite offers a separate living and dining room with dining table to seat 14, one and a half limestone and slate baths with stand-alone showers and soaking tubs, a private study and separate master bedroom sitting room, pantry and fireplace.

What makes us swoon?
Floor-to-ceiling windows and some of the city’s best water views.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $6,500 a night.

The Hay-Adams
Overlooking Lafayette Park and The White House, The Hay-Adams hotel is perhaps the hotel best associated with political power. The elegant and historic property is a popular choice for the world’s most elite travelers and celebrities alike – we’ve spotted quite a few in the lobby.

What will you get?
This distinguished and remarkable penthouse suite features a separate living room and one-and-a-half bathrooms. Highlights include a beautiful living room overlooking the White House, Lafayette Park and St. John’s Church. The suite includes a large dining table as well as gas-lit corner fireplace.

What makes us swoon?
The master bedroom views of the white house.

Bust out the Black Card:
It’s $3,500 – $7,000 a night.

Presidential Trivia: This is the same suite where the Obama family stayed for 12 days prior to the 2009 inauguration.