Travel Posh

The Kimberly Hotel is a privately owned property in Manhattan's fashionable Midtown area. Known for it's well appointed suites and apartments for extended stays the Kimberly Hotel has recently refurbished their Luxury Suites which include one bedroom and two bedroom configurations. The one bedroom luxury suite is now available at an excellent value of $449 plus tax/night including buffet breakfast for two adults and parking. The one bedroom suite is spacious and very well equipped to make for a comfortable stay for two adults. Guests walk into a spacious living room which opens out into a balcony with beautiful views of the city's skyline. Suites on higher floors also afford a view of the Chrysler building which is quite close to the property.

Though the suite has a decent sized bathroom it is not attached to the bedroom. A dining area, study area, wet bar, microwave and refrigerator make the suite perfect for long stays as well. Guests are bound to love the fact that they can walk around to famous landmarks like the Grand Central Terminal, Rockefeller Center (which is the nearest Subway station), Radio City Music Hall, Times Square, Theater District, United Nations and more.

The hotel's all day dining restaurant is under renovation and would soon re-open as the Alfred. Meanwhile all meals are served in Nikki Midtown which is a meditteranean themed restaurant in the property. A roof-top lounge by the name of 'The Upstairs' is also on the cards. Though the Kimberly Hotel does not have an in-house fitness facility it does give out passes to the New York Health & Racquet Club to guests without any charge.

(This post is based on the editors stay in a one bedroom luxury suite at the Kimberly Hotel during October' 2009)

Fall is around the corner and the golfing season is making a comeback. If you are a golf freak, then don’t miss the “Fall Stay-and-Play Golf Package” offered by the Renaissance Resort at World Golf Village in Northeast Florida. This resort has been renovated recently and is located in the World Golf Village which lies next to the famous World Golf Hall of Fame.

Along with the amazing golfing experience, you can also enjoy the amazing amenities of the Renaissance Resort. It features 301 remodeled guest rooms and suites. The hotel rooms boast of new furniture, ambience lighting, LCD HDTV televisions, and connectivity for laptops, MP3 players, digital cameras, and video game players too. The rooms also offer high-speed Internet access, two telephones with data ports, a wet bar and refrigerator, and coffee makers.The hotel also has newly renovated lobby, guest room corridors, billiard room and expanded fitness center, a new restaurant and bar.

The “Fall Stay-and-Play Golf Package” includes one night’s stay in deluxe guest room, one round of golf on the resort’s Slammer & Squire championship course or King & Bear championship course, breakfast and range balls. The accommodation is on dual occupancy basis. The package starts from $279 per night. You can also get the single occupancy package which starts from $179 per night.

This package is available from January 2, 2010. For reservation or further information visit www.WorldGolfRenaissance.com or call 888-740-7020 or 904-940-8000. Mention reference promotional code ZJ2 for double occupancy package and G4U for single occupancy package.

Hilton Hotel Worldwide has announced the plan to create their first full-service Hilton hotel in Mexico City’s Reforma Avenue. The hotel will be built at the property where the Sheraton Hotel currently stands. With this latest entry, The Hilton Hotel brand will have its 6th hotel in Mexico.

The company has signed a multi-year management agreement with Inmobiliaria Interpres S.A. de C.V for this project. The property at which this hotel will open is strategically located at the road leading to the city's business district and Reforma Avenue. It is very near to the major corporations and financial institutions and the international airport. It is also very close to the Mexico City's historic center.

The hotel will have 458 high-tech guest rooms and suites which have the usual Hilton standard and have been designed to provide spectacular views of Alameda Central Park and the Palacio de Bella Artes.

The hotel will offers 45,000 square feet of meeting space with capacity for up to 5,000 guests and a state-of-the-art business centre. Guests will be able to relax after a long day, at the 5,015 square-foot spa and sweat it out at the 3,100 square-foot fitness center and indoor and outdoor swimming pools.

The hotel will have three restaurants, one lobby lounge and a wine bar. The El Cardenal Restaurant will dish out Mexican and colonial cuisine while the Los Dones Restaurant will offer buffet dining and the Terraza Alameda will tempt guests with comfort foods complemented by views of the historic center. More information about the Hilton Mexico City Reforma will be available at http://www.hilton.com

Tourists to New York usually end up using the Subway to get around the cities so many attractions. Catering to this very need the Buckingham hotel located in the Big Apple’s art district is offering a ‘Subway package’ beginning 1st October’ 2009 onwards.

The package starts at $259 per night (for 4 person occupancy) with minimum of two nights stay. The price includes a $40 MetroCard which allows guests to travel anywhere on the Subway during their stay. As a part of the package the hotel will also pack an afternoon snack for guests to indulge in while they are sightseeing or busy shopping in the city.

The Buckingham Hotel is an over 75 year old luxury hotel located in the heart of Manhattan, a stone’s throw from Central Park, the Museum of Modern Art, Tiffany & Co., Gucci, Bergdorf Goodman and Barney’s.

For further details, you can log on to www.buckinghamhotel.com or call toll free at 888-511-1900.

St. Lucia is a popular holiday destination in the West Indies which attracts tens of thousands of tourists every year. For this fall season, which is expected to attract 50,000 visitors, the island has spruced up its resorts and hotels and increased its connectivity with the introduction of JetBlue flights. The airline has launched direct flights from New York on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays. Also, the American Airlines is also offering tickets to the island at just $150 each way.

St. Lucia’s three main hotels are under renovation right now, while one resort is under the third phase of its construction and another one will be opening in February next year. Let’s have a look at the ongoing changes in the hotel scene on the island:

• Cap Maison: This hill resort lies above the Smuggler’s Cove beach in Cap Estate. It used to be a sugar plantation and has now been turned into a 1,500 acre hill resort. The resort has the Atlantic ocean on one side while the Caribbean Sea provides another breathtaking view on the other. The hotel is renovating it private Villas all through September and the renovations will be completed by October 10th, 2009.

• Discovery at Marigot Bay: The Discovery resort is another popular resort in St. Lucia. It is going under a complete remodelling to provide a more intimate environment. The resort is importing 800 tons of white sand from Barbuda to improve its beach. The resort also plans to start a beach club and add two more restaurants to its property. The renovations have started on September 1 and the resort will reopen on October 31st, 2009.

• Rendezvous: This is a romantic, couples-only resort with intimate and tranquil settings. Rendezvous is undergoing a $12 million dollar renovation to improve the property’s look, feel and experience. This resort started the Rendezvous closed August 9 and will re-open on October 18, 2009.

• The Landings, a Rock Resort: The Landings, a Rock Resort is under the third out of four phases of its apartments by 2010. Sixty-five new apartments will be completed in this new phase.

• Saint Lucia will have a new hotel named Hotel Chocolat. It is expected to bring new experiences and attractions to the island. Lying on Rabot Estate on West Coast of the island, this hotel will be offering guests a chocolate making experience. The hotel will be connected with a cocoa plantation and will also offer bird watching, hiking and guided Fruit Safari Tours. Hotel Chocolat will open for business in February 2010.

For more information about the island of Saint Lucia, call 1 800 456 3984, or visit www.saintlucianow.com.

The Osprey slope side resort at Beaver Creek which opened in the winter of 2008 will launch a "ReTreat Yourself" women's getaway package in January 2010. The hotel which usually targets skiers with its proximity to the ski lift will now provide unique services under this package but only from January 6 to January 9, 2010. The package includes three nights’ accommodation at The Osprey at Beaver Creek, a "Tea Greeting" welcome that includes a consultation with a skin esthetician, daily ski and snowboard sessions, special spirituality classes and yoga classes.

Guests will be able to enjoy a daily breakfast at The Osprey, and lunch at Trapper's Cabin. The package is priced at $1,428.32 per person and rooms will be based on double occupancy, but singly occupancy can also be requested.

The Osprey is a cozy 47 guest room property and can be visited at www.vbcrp.com or on call at 800-752-7920.

If you want to experience luxury at its best, then THE US GRANT is the perfect option to vouch for. A luxury collection hotel, THE US GRANT hotel is one of the oldest names in luxury hotels. The hotel marks its 99th anniversary this year. To celebrate its century long existence, THE US GRANT makes the once in a lifetime offer of room rates starting from $99 per night through December 31, 2009. This is far lesser than the default rate of $260 night. So, if you want to experience luxury while sticking to your budget, this is your chance to go.

THE US GRANT is not just another name in the long list of luxury hotels. Having been around for a century, the hotel has served 14 U.S. Presidents including former president George Bush along with other notable personalities like Albert Einstein, Charles Lindbergh, Bruce Willis, Demi Moore and many others.

The hotel features a gigantic 270 guest rooms, each of which boast of sophistication and luxury personified. You could also indulge your self by opting for one of the 47 opulent suites in the hotel. These suites featuring original artworks, marble baths and linen bedding are sure to give you the stay of a lifetime. You could also pamper your taste buds at ‘The Grant Grill’ that offers you a delectable menu served on the most lavish platter.

If you want to experience luxury in the most affordable manner then this is your chance. Head to THE US GRANT and enjoy a lifetime experience.

The Charles Hotel situated on the Harvard Square is the member of Preferred Hotels and Resorts and has won AAA Four-Diamond award-winner. It offers a lot to tourists with its thriving jazz club, the Regattabar, two restaurants, and a private ice-skating rink too.

Now, in tune with upcoming festivities, from the Thanksgiving weekend onwards, the hotel is offering a wide variety of deals which will go on till New Year's Eve. You can take your pick from a number of great offers:

• Trimmings & Thanks Package - November 20 to 29, 2009
The Trimmings & Thanks package includes overnight stay in a deluxe guestroom, a personal signed copy of Chef Peter Davis' cookbook, choice of festive pie made at Henrietta's Table and packaged to-go and breakfast for two at Henrietta's Table.The cost of Trimmings & Thanks Package begins at $279 a night.

• Holiday Tree Lighting – On November 28, 2008, after dark
Join the community of Cambridge in lighting the official Harvard Square Christmas tree. The guest will be served sweets and hot chocolate and festive Music will fill the atmosphere with festivities.

• Ice Skating in the Square – On December 6, 2009 from 12 pm to 8 p.m.
Enjoy skating with Santa on December 6. The guests will get complimentary skating and rentals, holiday treats, and loads holiday music.

• Shop 'Til You Drop Package – From November 22, 2009 to January 3, 2010
The Charles Hotel is offering the guests an exclusive card to shop at the Harvard Square. The card will be given at check-in and can be used to get great discounts. The package includes overnight stay in a deluxe guestroom, two cocktails in the Noir bar, free skating and rentals for two people at The Rink and breakfast for two at Henrietta's Table.

The price of Shop 'Til You Drop Package begins at $259 per night, based for two people.

• Shop-Over Package - December 18 to 20, 2009
With the Shop Over Package, The Charles Hotel and Harvard Square will help the guests in completing their holiday shopping in style. The stores in Harvard Square will stay open of shopping until midnight. This package comes at a special price of $159 per night and includes overnight stay for two, two cocktails in Noir, skating and rentals at the Rink and breakfast for Henrietta's Table for two and a special Shopping Discount Card for shopping in Harvard Square Stores.

• Toast the New Year Package - December 31, 2009
The Toast the New Year Package includes overnight stay, a bottle of sparkling wine, breakfast in bed or breakfast for two in Henrietta's Table and complimentary day of fitness for two at the Wellbridge Athletic Club.

The price of Toast the New Year Package begins at $199* per night on per room double occupancy basis.

• Regattabar New Year's Eve - December 31, 2009
The Regattabar will start the New Year with music bash with great performers. The basic package costs $99* and includes party favors, champagne toast and the evening performances. Besides, there’s a $129* Dessert Package that also includes a complimentary dessert buffet. The $209* includes all this plus a full dinner at Henrietta's Table. For more information on the party, you can visit www.regattabarjazz.com.

• Rialto New Year's Eve - December 31, 2009
The informal dinner party style New Year’s Eve bash includes dinner by Chef Jody Adam. A four- Course dinner will start at 6 p.m. and will be priced at $85*. A six course meal will start at 9 p.m. and will be priced at $110*. Visit www.rialto-restaurant.com for more information.

• Gilded New Year's - December 31, 2009
This package includes overnight stay, bottle of Dom Perignon in the room, 6 p.m. seating dinner at Rialto, tickets to the Regattabar's New Year's Eve Bash, a champagne toast at midnight, breakfast at Henrietta's Table and access to an overnight garage parking.

The package is priced at $900 for two people and rooms will be booked on double occupancy basis.

To make your reservations for packages, log on to the hotel's website or call (800) 882-1818.

Curaçao is soon going to have a new luxury resort. The Hyatt Regency Curaçao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina is almost ready to welcome its well heeled guests and reservations have already started for stay from January 2010 onwards.

This new resort is spread in an area of 1,500 acre and is located at Santa Barbara Plantation. This beachfront resort has will 350 luxuriously rooms, a Hyatt Pure™ spa, a marina and 18-hole championship resort golf course. The rooms will be divided in doubles, Kings suite, VIP and junior suite, executive and presidential suites category.

The General Manager of Hyatt Regency Curaçao insists that every detail about the latest has been carefully considered and would reflect the rich culture of Curaçao. The rooms have natural sandstone flooring, Hyatt Grand Bed, flat screen television, deluxe bath amenities and a beautiful view the Caribbean Sea or Spanish Water Bay. The resort will also feature three private beach bungalows.

The resort has three restaurants which will serve dishes inspired from ingredients and techniques found on the island. Restaurant ‘Medi’ will serve Mediterranean cuisine, while the pool bar and grill will offer bar food. The golf clubhouse will have the third restaurant named ‘Shor’ which would specialize in seafood.

The resort will also have a huge full-service Hyatt Pure spa and Camp Hyatt which will be for children from the age of 3 to 12. There are multiple pools with lounge area and indoor and outdoor banquet space.

The reservation is open for the stay from January 2010. The resort is offering special introductory rates till the end of March 2010. The tariffs start at $359 per night.
To make your reservations, visit Curacao Hyatt website or call at 800.55.HYATT.

Luxury hotel the Ritz-Carlton Atlanta completed its 25 years recently. To mark this occasion, the hotel has completely redesigned the entrance foyers and lobby.

This hotel’s interiors have been transformed from the old traditional look to a more modern one. The brand new interiors feature some famous, traditional elements which have been transposed into a new and updated form. The famous Chippendale Mahogany sideboard has been refinished in a gilded platinum tone, the brilliant crystal chandeliers have been wrapped in sheer shrouds; and accent chairs are styled with damask patterns.

But the most amazing transformation has been done in the lobby lounge. It has been turned into a lobby bar and has been named as Lumen. The bar includes superb crystal chandeliers with red glow, a 7 feet tall settee which is covered in mohair and a bar cabinet which exudes beautiful blue glow in the night. The metal tables in the bar have been mirror-polished and specially designed by Brad Oldham. The bar has been decorated by beaded floor lamps and a custom-made, onyx-topped communal-styled table that accommodates up to eight people. It is named, Lumen, as the bar has various luminous effects.

For more information, please visit the Ritz-Carlton website.