Flying high above the alpine scenery, the Breckenridge Connect Gondola is by far the most elegant way of traveling to and from my accommodations at the Grand Lodge on Peak 7 in Breckenridge, Colorado. Moose graze in the wetlands below and a variety of Colorado wildlife can be seen from this airborne vantage point. Steps from the Lodge or downtown area, the gondola is one of the many luxurious appointments this property has to offer.... Read More
We’ve seen luxury, we’ve seen convenience and we’ve seen high tech in hotels. But the latest trend seems to suggest that even the busiest and wealthiest travelers still place a high premium on playfulness.... Read More
It seems fitting that Seattle, the outdoor-enthused, tech-savvy and culturally-engaged Emerald City of the Northwest would be home to one of the nation's top green, tech and art focused hotels. In 2011, the Pan Pacific Hotel group opened its first US location in the South Lake Union neighborhood of Seattle. Amid the busy bike lanes, gliding sea planes and headquarters of super-star corporations Amazon and REI, Pan Pacific Hotel Seattle blends seamlessly into South Lake Union's brimming scene of understated ‘hipness’. During a recent visit in Seattle, I stayed at the Pan Pacific to get a glimpse of this niche neighborhood and an appreciation for the property's perfect spot within it.... Read More
Every once and awhile you have the desire to stay at a hotel with a succeeding reputation. The world famous ICEHOTEL in northern Sweden is just one of those places, a hotel composed almost entirely of ice. It’s worth the jaunt too, to the Lapland Wilderness north of the Arctic Circle. From the moment we arrived by snowmobile, the encounters were otherworldly. At the original Ice Bar, the Champagne arrived on ice, literally. The suite I stayed in, Beam Me Up!, was a forest of icy evergreens, flying saucers and light beams — perfect for a professional space geek.... Read More
Bali, Indonesia. I’ll say it again, Bali, Indonesia. If you’re like most, pictures of tropical beaches, serene beauty or Balinese art probably flashed in your mind at the mere mention of the Indonesian province. Personally, I’ve pictured myself there a million times; of course I’m wearing a long white dress and…well, that’s another topic. Among its sandy shores, sits a plethora of four- and five-star hotels that equally compare in beauty and tranquility. Naturally, when we learned the Capella Hotel Group was opening a second property there in September, we were eager to see how the resort would compare to its competitors.... Read More
What part of your vacation makes the actual vacation? Is it the location, who you're with, the activities you do? What about your hotel accommodations, do they have the ability to transform a getaway based solely on their aesthetics? The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company thinks so. For the last decade, the team behind the brand’s designs have worked hard to make each new hotel unique to their location while keeping them consistent with the Ritz-Carlton design philosophy. This year they will be adding six more hotels to their collection in China, Israel, Kazakhstan, India and Aruba.... Read More
Wouldn't you like to be a treasured guest in the palatial home of a royal? When Prince Jefri Bolkiah, member of the Brunei Royal Family (Brunei Investment Agency, BIA) purchased the Hotel Bel-Air in Los Angeles, they closed it down for over two years to remodel the already posh property. And, Prince Bolkiah’s level of taste is beyond extravagant, so much so that today, even a true royal appreciates the warmth and ambiance of this secluded hideaway. As Prince Charles once described, “it’s like staying at a rich friend’s home.”... Read More