Luxury Spas: The Chateau Amber Retreat is beginning to gather momentum as the place to go when the itinerary calls for a private getaway of rest, relaxing, and, most importantly, recovering. This exclusive retreat caters to upscale patients who want to spend their recovery time from plastic surgery in a secure and discreet setting. The facility is located in Palm Springs, Calif., within the confines of the five-star boutique Viceroy Resort & Spa.
The staff of the Chateau Amber consists of RNs, LVNs, and CNAs who work closely with referring surgeons and primary care physicians to ensure a speedy and safe recovery. Recovering patients have the option of staying in a one- or two-bedroom villa or a standard guestroom. Guests of the patients are permissible for an additional fee.
Hotel Review: Been to a great resort lately? Chances are, you’ve been required to pay the $25-per-day “resort fee,” which typically includes free wireless Internet, use of the fitness center, parking and snorkel gear. That’s why it was a refreshing change to stay at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui, where management’s motto, for the past 25 years, is that “we don’t nickel-and-dime you,” says Candy Aluli, spokesperson for the property. Here, there are no hidden charges, and many services and activities are complimentary. Get ready — they include free parking, use of the 18-hole putting greens, fitness room, beach towels, beach chairs and mats, swim masks and snorkels. If that’s not luxury, what is? Free weekly activities include a seasonal putting party, poolside Mai Tai party, lei making, hula lessons, cultural seminar and guided horticultural tour.
Luxury Resorts: Nestled between a semi-private beach and 2,000 hectares of Atlantic Rainforest, the Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte is one of Brazil’s finest five-star resorts. The oceanfront resort, which is located just an hour away from Salvador, Bahia, beautifully captures the essence of nature while delivering an unsurpassed level of luxury.
The 292-room resort is set amidst a lush coconut palm plantation and offers several choices when it comes to accommodations. From the Deluxe and Master Suites to the opulent Presidential Suite, each room is tastefully outfitted in natural fibers and features contemporary and elegant décor throughout. Guestrooms and suites are equipped with air conditioning, a minibar, a cable TV, as well as a stunning panoramic view of either the gardens, Tatuapara Bay, or the sea of Praia do Forte.
Hotel Review: It doesn’t take James Michener to proclaim The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
“Some Enchanted Enclave.” If you’re going to take a trip to the Pacific, there’s no place like this — Hawaii’s first and only Mobil five-star property, and a recipient of the AAA Five-Diamond Award each year since opening. And from there, the list of awards and accolades goes on and on.
The Number One reason why the Four Seasons Resort Maui is so spectacular is this: This property has service down to a science.
Luxury Spas: The Spa at the Viceroy Hotel on Miami's Brickell Avenue is a relaxation haven and a visual feast. Situated at Icon Brickell, in a property that bears the creative mark of Kelly Wearstler, not only does the spa boast a 5,000-square-foot water lounge with five temperature levels and ceiling-to-wall windows, which is open to all guests, but a movie theatre room with oversized furniture evocative of "Alice In Wonderland." This place puts the "dream" in dream vacation.
Luxury Resorts: Situated on a hillside overlooking Acapulco Bay, Las Brisas Acapulco is truly one of Mexico’s finest hidden gems. After undergoing a $20 million renovation in 2007, the exclusive resort, which is nestled among 40 acres of lush hibiscus gardens, provides a tropical escape unlike any other.
Las Brisas Acapulco was originally founded in 1954 as a small cottage colony, and just three years later became an exclusive hotel that would soon attract the likes of high-profile celebrities such as Elizabeth Taylor, Ringo Star, Frank Sinatra, Richard Burton, and Barbara Taylor Bradford.
Capturing the essence of the area’s natural beauty, each of the 231 individual bungalow-style casitas, present a soft color palette of pinks and whites and feature modern minimalist décor throughout. Upon entering the casitas, guests are immediately welcomed by carefully arranged palm fronds and flower blossoms, which are placed on either a nightstand or table and spell out the word “bienvenido.” The casitas are also furnished with unique comfort beds, minibars, spacious marbled bathrooms with rock-tiled rain showers, outdoor private patios complete with large chaise lounges, and either a private or semi-private pool.
Luxury Resorts: Situated off the coast of Puerto Rico, the highly-anticipated W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island is set to make its debut this March. The retreat, which was formerly the Martineau Bay Resort & Spa, has recently undergone a multiyear, multi-million dollar renovation and is poised to become one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean.
Designed by David Rockwell and Patricia Urquiola — two of the most recognized names in the industry — the W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island is just as magnificent on the inside as the sparkling Caribbean waters that surround it. Each of the 157 guestrooms and suites present a beautiful blend of modern architecture and tropical flair. Accommodations range in size from the 560-square-foot Wonderful Room to the 1,440-square-foot WOW Suite, offering panoramic oceanfront views and direct beach access.
Luxury Resorts: The highly-anticipated Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is the newest luxury resort to hit the Tucson area. With the imposing Tortolita Mountains as a backdrop, the 250-room resort is situated just northwest of Tucson, in the charming town of Marana.
Spanning 850 lush Sonoran Desert acres, the property is poised to become a favorite among both adventure and luxe-minded travelers. The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain offers a wide array of adventure programming, more than 20 miles of hiking and biking trails, and is set to host the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championships each spring. Additional recreational activities include access to The White Stallion Ranch, a 27-hole Signature Golf Course designed by Jack Nicklaus, four tennis courts, and a 235-foot waterslide and adventure pool.
While the resort offers a diverse blend of Southwestern-style adventure, when it comes to luxury, the Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain delivers. Just some of the lavish on-site amenities include the Ritz-Carlton Club Level, an eco-holistic destination spa, a state-of-the-art fitness center, and an Infinity Edge Spa Pool with a unique 10-foot tanning island.
Luxury Spas: The Connaught, among London’s most prestigious five-star hotels, went Down Under to add on to its package of amenities with the addition of the renowned Aman Spa. The spa is located two levels below the hotel’s main lobby. The two-floor drop is a freefall change in decorum as it goes from Edwardian to Asian-inspired contemporary faster than you can say OMG.
The subterranean luxury spa features a 33-foot indoor swimming pool and offers various therapeutic and soothing treatments in five private treatment rooms. The hookup of these luxury brands marks the time an Aman Spa became part of a hotel other than one owned by Australian-based parent company Amanresorts.
The addition of the Aman Spa is part of an extension of the 113-year-old Connaught that also includes adding 33 guestrooms.
Resorts & Spas: The luxurious Aurelio Spa in Austria spices up the winter season with new treatments that revitalize the body after an exhilarating day of skiing.
The new spa menu focuses on Valmont products that incorporate Alpine herbs cultivated in Valmont's private alpine garden, triple DNA, powerful anti-oxidants and glacial water from the Wallis Alps. Facial masks like the 60-minute "Energy of Bisses" treatment moisturizes the epidermis, just like the ancient waterways (bisses) that transport the water of the mountain brooks to the mountain slopes. The "Ski Massage," offers a stress relieving full body massage including head and foot reflexology with menthol and eucalyptus oils that thaws out the exhaustion from a thrilling day of skiing in the Alps.
Resort Review: Of course we’re kidding when we say that “Honua Kai,” the newest resort in Maui, is Hawaiian for “Wow.” It’s not – but it should be! Because we were blown away by this spectacular, first-class resort. In fact, when we told a leading chef on Maui that we were staying at the new Honua Kai Resort & Spa, he easily acknowledged the resort’s top-rated status, raved about it in general, and told us, “It’s the best place to stay on Maui – even more high-end than the Ritz or the Four Seasons.”
We couldn’t agree more. We’ve stayed in some spectacular resorts all around the world, and the Honua Kai is one place we don’t think we’ll ever get enough of. We had two nights in sybaritic splendor here, and believe us when we tell you it was hard to leave.
The Start of Something Special
What makes the Honua Kai so spectacular?
First, the resort is the first new whole ownership condominium resort to be built on Kaanapali Beach in more than 25 years. Its goal: to redefine the resort experience. It does that by integrating all the services and amenities of a luxury resort hotel with spacious homes that easily blend indoor and outdoor living. The vision – which it has achieved -- was to heighten the bar, and set a new standard for resort living.
Luxury Resorts: Imagine a place surrounded by private beaches and scattered with mountainous terrain; a place where the sweet smell of hibiscus lingers in the air; and a place where the number of staff exceeds the number of guests. While such a place seems like a fairytale, we assure you it does, in fact, exist; and it goes by the name of Peter Island.
Located just four miles south of Tortola, Peter Island is by far the largest private island in the BVI and unarguably the most lavish. The island is only accessible via boat and after crossing the Sir Francis Drake Channel, guests will be amazed as they set their sights on the luxurious Peter Island Resort.
The resort features 52 guestrooms and three villas, including 20 BeachFront Junior Suites and 32 OceanView Rooms. The BeachFront Junior Suites are outfitted in rustic décor with stone and rough-cut cedar walls, large Spanish-tiled bathrooms with Jacuzzi tubs and oversized showers, and a private terrace or balcony overlooking Deadman’s Bay Beach.
Luxury Spas: The Chateau Amber Retreat is beginning to gather momentum as the place to go when the itinerary calls for a private getaway of rest, relaxing, and, most importantly, recovering. This exclusive retreat caters to upscale patients who want to spend their recovery time from plastic surgery in a secure and discreet setting. The facility is located in Palm Springs, Calif., within the confines of the five-star boutique 
Hotel Review: Been to a great resort lately? Chances are, you’ve been required to pay the $25-per-day “resort fee,” which typically includes free wireless Internet, use of the fitness center, parking and snorkel gear. That’s why it was a refreshing change to stay at the Napili Kai Beach Resort on Maui, where management’s motto, for the past 25 years, is that “we don’t nickel-and-dime you,” says Candy Aluli, spokesperson for the property. Here, there are no hidden charges, and many services and activities are complimentary. Get ready — they include free parking, use of the 18-hole putting greens, fitness room, beach towels, beach chairs and mats, swim masks and snorkels. If that’s not luxury, what is? Free weekly activities include a seasonal putting party, poolside Mai Tai party, lei making, hula lessons, cultural seminar and guided horticultural tour. 
Luxury Resorts: Nestled between a semi-private beach and 2,000 hectares of Atlantic Rainforest, the Tivoli Ecoresort Praia do Forte is one of Brazil’s finest five-star resorts. The oceanfront resort, which is located just an hour away from Salvador, Bahia, beautifully captures the essence of nature while delivering an unsurpassed level of luxury. 
Hotel Review: It doesn’t take James Michener to proclaim The Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea
“Some Enchanted Enclave.” If you’re going to take a trip to the Pacific, there’s no place like this — Hawaii’s first and only Mobil five-star property, and a recipient of the AAA Five-Diamond Award each year since opening. And from there, the list of awards and accolades goes on and on. 
Luxury Spas: The Spa at the Viceroy Hotel on Miami's Brickell Avenue is a relaxation haven and a visual feast. Situated at Icon Brickell, in a property that bears the creative mark of Kelly Wearstler, not only does the spa boast a 5,000-square-foot water lounge with five temperature levels and ceiling-to-wall windows, which is open to all guests, but a movie theatre room with oversized furniture evocative of "Alice In Wonderland." This place puts the "dream" in dream vacation. 
Luxury Resorts: Situated on a hillside overlooking Acapulco Bay, Las Brisas Acapulco is truly one of Mexico’s finest hidden gems. After undergoing a $20 million renovation in 2007, the exclusive resort, which is nestled among 40 acres of lush hibiscus gardens, provides a tropical escape unlike any other. 
Luxury Resorts: Situated off the coast of Puerto Rico, the highly-anticipated W Retreat & Spa – Vieques Island is set to make its debut this March. The retreat, which was formerly the Martineau Bay Resort & Spa, has recently undergone a multiyear, multi-million dollar renovation and is poised to become one of the most sought-after destinations in the Caribbean. 
Luxury Resorts: The highly-anticipated Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is the newest luxury resort to hit the Tucson area. With the imposing Tortolita Mountains as a backdrop, the 250-room resort is situated just northwest of Tucson, in the charming town of Marana.
Luxury Spas: The Connaught, among London’s most prestigious five-star hotels, went Down Under to add on to its package of amenities with the addition of the renowned Aman Spa. The spa is located two levels below the hotel’s main lobby. The two-floor drop is a freefall change in decorum as it goes from Edwardian to Asian-inspired contemporary faster than you can say OMG.
Resorts & Spas: The luxurious 
Resort Review: Of course we’re kidding when we say that “Honua Kai,” the newest resort in Maui, is Hawaiian for “Wow.” It’s not – but it should be! Because we were blown away by this spectacular, first-class resort. In fact, when we told a leading chef on Maui that we were staying at the new Honua Kai Resort & Spa, he easily acknowledged the resort’s top-rated status, raved about it in general, and told us, “It’s the best place to stay on Maui – even more high-end than the Ritz or the Four Seasons.”
Luxury Resorts: Imagine a place surrounded by private beaches and scattered with mountainous terrain; a place where the sweet smell of hibiscus lingers in the air; and a place where the number of staff exceeds the number of guests. While such a place seems like a fairytale, we assure you it does, in fact, exist; and it goes by the name of Peter Island.
HOTELS
HOTELS
HOTELS
HOTELS
