Daily Pampering: Stylecations at the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles

by Annie Scott on

The Ritz-Carlton has enlisted StyleChic‘s Aly Scott (pictured) to bring you a truly “Hollywood” getaway experience complete with a personal style consultation, exclusive shopping privileges and plenty of champagne.

According to a rep from the hotel, “Where do I shop?” is one of the most commonly asked questions at the front desk. Aly can certainly help with that, and help you hone your own style — whether you’re preparing for a special event or just looking for a great girlfriends or mother-daughter getwaway.

The custom packages from the Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles are the “Red Carpet Getaway” and the “Stylecation”:

Red Carpet Getaway (from $3,000 double occupancy or $2,500 single occupancy)

  • Guaranteed early check-in and late check-out
  • Two nights deluxe overnight accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
  • Club Lounge access; enjoy complimentary beverages and continuous culinary offerings throughout your stay
  • Dinner for two at chef Wolfgang Puck’s award-winning WP24 Restaurant & Lounge
  • Pre-arrival consultation with Aly Scott, founder of StyleChic
  • Six hour customized StyleChic experience with Aly Scott
  • Choice of $100 Spa Credit or 60 minute personal training session
  • Personalized welcome amenity hand-selected by StyleChic

Stylecation (from $1,800 double occupancy or $1,200 single occupancy)

  • Guaranteed early check-in and late check-out
  • Overnight deluxe overnight accommodations at The Ritz-Carlton, Los Angeles
  • Dinner for two at chef Wolfgang Puck’s WP24 Restaurant & Lounge
  • Three hour personalized StyleChic experience with Aly Scott
  • Choice of $100 Spa Credit or 60 minute personal training session
  • Personalized welcome amenity hand-selected by StyleChic

Both packages include a custom StyleChic itinerary tailored to you. Need some ideas? How about a champagne welcome in the newly opened VIP terrace lounge at Tods on Rodeo Drive? A private, white glove atelier service appointment with a high fashion fine jeweler known for his work with Beyonce, Rihanna and Zoe Saldana? You can also visit a custom couture atelier, have lunch at The Ivy, meet up and coming designers, hit the back room of an appointment-only vintage boutique and more, all chauffeured around in a private town car, of course.

We love these packages because they are designed to make you feel like a star — after all, who would want to fly to LA for a quick night or two to shop? Celebrities. They’re just like us.

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

Daily Pampering: Rum flights at Ritz-Carlton Key Biscayne

by Melanie Nayer on

While the U.S. and Cuba continue to talk through travel options, the Ritz-Carlton, Key Biscayne has found a way to bring a bit of Old Havana to Florida. The dark, sophisticated and sultry RUMBAR in the hotel sets the mood for what could be a steamy night. Thanks to the endless bottles of rum, however, guests won’t go thirsty.

On the weekends, RUMBAR transforms into Miami’s only upscale live Latin music venue with Grupo Nostalgia, a four-piece band in white dinner jackets, reminiscent of vintage Cuba. While you’re getting your groove on, take advantage of some of the unique and tasty offerings. Guests can choose from 52 rums, cachacas and piscos from 18 countries, an extensive cigar collection and, if you’re so inclined, VIP Rum Lockers for storing personal bottles.

Not that hip to your rum yet? No worries. The hotel offers rum flights so you can taste a few of the best.

On the flight menu:

  • Atlántico- Dominican Republic / aged between 5-15 years / $225 per bottle
  • Zacapa- Guatemala / aged between 6-23 years / $215 per bottle
  • Santa Teresa 1796 / aged over 15 years / $200 per bottle

Don’t worry my rum-tasting travelers, you don’t have to shell out a few hundred for a sip. The price of the flight is $30 and includes three (3), one (1) ounce pours of each rum.

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

Daily Pampering: Living large on Wall Street with the Ritz-Carlton

by Melanie Nayer on

If you have Gordon Gekko-style ambitions and want to live large like your favorite fictional Wall Street character, The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park, has a package for you.

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park is offering professionals an exclusive, two-night “Wall Street Style” package – complete with tools to turn yourself into a tailored tycoon and make it in the world of finance. The package is available for the weekend of October 1 – 3, 2010 and is available for booking through September 22, 2010.

The package includes:

  • 2 night accommodation in a Statue of Liberty View Executive Suite
  • Bottle of champagne in guest room on arrival
  • Style consultation at Saks Fifth Avenue with Style Director and Personal Shopper
  • $1500 shopping credit with Saks Fifth Avenue
  • For Men: A shaving consultation and Signature Full Service experience (scalp massage, shampoo, conditioning treatment, hot towel, haircut, manicure and shoe shine) at John Allan’s Club at Saks Fifth Avenue
  • For Ladies: Hair style at Saks Fifth Avenue Salon and Spa Makeup consultation at Dior Dine with Confidence workshop 5 course dinner with alcoholic beverages (to apply their new found skills)
  • Private town car service between hotel and participating locations

The total price for living large? Prices start from $4500 based on single occupancy and $7000 based on double occupancy.

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.

Daily Pampering: $18,000 diamond martini at The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo

by Melanie Nayer on

There are some things in life you simply never think you’ll see: Planes with back porches, hologram hotel rooms, gold-wrapped sushi, just to name of few. Yet, these things do exist. So, you set your expectations higher and expect that nothing will quite live up to the dreams you’ve conjured in your land of luxury lifestyle. And then, the Ritz-Carlton hands you a diamond martini, and you think you might have just found nirvana.

The only thing better than a good, dry martini (shaken, not stirred) is a good, dry martini with a diamond at the bottom. Enter: The Ritz-Carlton, Tokyo’s “Diamonds Are Forever” martini. The drink was designed as a unique way for men to propose to their girlfriend, but who says you need a man to drink a diamond martini? Certainly not me.

Head straight to the 45th floor of the Tokyo hotel and tell the bartender at The Lobby Lounge and Bar that you’d like the jeweled drink. Then, hand over ¥1,800,000 yen (approximately US $18,000) and sip slowly – you don’t want to swallow that priceless stone sitting at the bottom of your martini glass.

The “Diamonds Are Forever” martini is made with chilled Grey Goose vodka with a lime twist and poured over a flawless one-carat diamond. If the diamond doesn’t impress, I’m told the views from the 53rd floor of this Tokyo hotel are worthy of an $18,000 rendezvous.

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