Extravigator - Top Hotels

Leaders Club Fees

The Rover — Sun, 30 Jan 2011 11:45:50 -0500

It seems that the Leading Hotels of the World's Leaders Club is now charging for membership. Up until now you could hold a membership without cost if you booked some accommodations with them during the prior year. Now they are giving you two options, an "Access Level" at $100/year or the $1,200/year "Unlimited Level":

https://www.lhw.com/members/Account/JoinSelectMembership

I've been a member of the Leaders Club for many years. But, I'm not going to sign up for either of these optons. In today's economy, there are so many attractive hotel/travel promotions around that quite frankly I don't need the Leaders Club anymore.

What's the best place to stay in Florence?

hotelier — Sat, 29 Jan 2011 17:52:26 -0500

I certainly agree with Sohcahtoa's above assessment. That said, I'm sure that the most LUXURIOUS place to stay in when you're in Florence is the Four Seasons Hotel.

Geting room upgrades with AmEx and LHW?

marcie — Fri, 28 Jan 2011 12:26:12 -0500

The Leading Hotels of the World organization is now offering a very good worldwide seasonal sale for virtually all of its member hotels and resorts:

http://www.lhw.com/OfferPage.aspx?id=241&ext=LCC6LWS0111&utm_source=leadersclub&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=liaisons_january2011

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

Rick OShea — Wed, 12 Jan 2011 13:56:38 -0500

When I travel to a city I've been to before and I'm staying in my favorite hotel there, I like to specify the room I normally stay in when making my reservation. It bugs me when even though the room I wanted was written and documented in my reservation, the hotel informs me that somebody is currently staying in it and that I'll have to settle for a comparable room. Sometimes they'll make amends by giving me an upgrade and that certainly makes me feel a bit better though.

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

GingerT — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 14:22:34 -0500

The hotel not providing separate soaps for the sink, shower and bathtub....

giving me two bottles of hair conditioner and not even one bottle of shampoo....

having an HVAC system that only provides heat in the wintertime and air conditioning in the summer months, thus not providing me with the opportunity to regulate the temperature in my room to my liking no matter what the season is......

and not providing clean towels and refreshing the toiletries in the morning AND in the evening.

Hotels that are Overrated

Dex — Sun, 19 Dec 2010 23:53:38 -0500

Add the Waldorf Astoria to this list of overrated hotels!

Not Honoring A Confirmed Hotel Reservation?

Nanoose — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 11:53:21 -0500

As much as I hate to say it, I would side with the Wald-Ast on this one. I think the article summed up the point of view of the hotel: Cancel the Saudi's and their premium pricing and future Saudi business, or cancel Mr. and Mrs. Joe 6 Pack with their discount pricing. It's strictly business. And in all honesty, who knows who made the Saudi travel arrangements, but at the end of the day, these people need security that the Waldorf can offer. The last thing we need is an international incident with a Saudi not having security, something happening, and the world blaming New York for killing a Saudi on purpose--refusing him a room, etc etc. However, I don't understand why the hotel didn't alert the guests ahead of time that were losing their rooms.

Not Honoring A Confirmed Hotel Reservation?

TomatoMaven — Tue, 14 Dec 2010 10:49:24 -0500

How would you feel if you had a confirmed hotel reservation with a well-known, top-of-the-line hotel and they arbitrarily decided not to honor it? The travel critic Joe Sharkey tells such a story and you can read about it by clicking on the following link:

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/14/business/14road.html?_r=1&ref=business

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

cibo — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 17:20:28 -0500

Nanoose - I think your linking Murphy's Law to trip insurance is a brilliant observation! Similarly, a few years ago I had a term life insurance policy that I no longer needed and contemplated canceling. However, I hesitated to do so because I was worried that - as per Murphy's Law - as soon as I canceled the policy, the probability of my being run over by a proverbial bus would greatly increase. So, I just kept paying the insurance premiums for a few more years, comforted by the feeling that with that insurance policy still in effect, nothing would happen to me.

P.S. - Just recently, I finally canceled that term life insurance policy and, miraculously, I'm still able to steam up a mirror.

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

Nanoose — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 12:43:28 -0500

Cibo--funny I feel the opposite in regard to my luggage--mine is getting lighter and lighter! First, luggage itself seems to be getting lighter, there always seems to be some kind of new fabric/technology like feathers weaved with gortex that they make travelling bags out of with all kinds of compartments. And with the world so global, I know I can buy just about everything anywhere--I sometimes don't even bother packing toiletries--just buy as I go. I recently was at a Red Sea Resort town where I purchased a fur lined wool cape. So if you can find a wool fur cape in the mid east Red Sea neighborhood, you can find anything anywhere so I pack light. But I like your Murphy's law thinking--that sounds like a different take on "trip insurance"!!!

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

cibo — Sat, 11 Dec 2010 11:44:53 -0500

Nanoose, I guess you're right. It probably IS unrealistic to have a hotel have as many umbrellas as they have hotel guests. I've just been reluctant to take a compact umbrella with me on my trips because my bags seem to be getting heavier every year, especially as more and more travel items are becoming "necessities." So, maybe I'll try taking one along.

But, with respect to your comment about what am I doing out in the rain anyway, even if it's not raining, I usually ask the hotel doorman for an umbrella when the day's forecast calls for rain. Being a big believer in "Murphy's Law," I'm of the opinion that if you take an umbrella with you in the morning, doing that greatly diminishes the chance of rain that afternoon. : - )

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

Nanoose — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 20:03:02 -0500

But certainly you don't expect the hotel to have those nice umbrellas for all guests do you? The smaller compact umbrella would be insurance for you. And frankly, what are you doing out in the rain anyway? If it's such a major rain storm--so bad that the compact umbrellas are useless, you need to relax back at the hotel and wait it out.

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

cibo — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 15:56:33 -0500

Yes, but those compact umbrellas don't provide nearly as much protection from a soaking rainstorm as the nice, sturdy and wide umbrellas a good hotel will usually provide.

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

Nanoose — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 14:58:15 -0500

Cibo, you should buy a little compact umbrella to travel with. They are so small and easy to pack--and good for blocking the sun as well as the rain. This is a travel must--I think that is possibly asking too much for a hotel to have umbrella's for all their guests in a rain storm.

Geting room upgrades with AmEx and LHW?

shawfly — Wed, 08 Dec 2010 23:54:32 -0500

We've been very happy with making hotel reservations through American Express Travel Services and, at the same time, using my AMEX platinum card when we check in. Maybe it's the fact that the worldwide economy is depressed and business travelers are no longer reserving the most expensive rooms but, with the combination of American Express Travel Services and the AMEX Platinum card, we have ALWAYS been getting some very nice upgrades recently.

The Hotels with the Best Toiletries

marcie — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 01:42:32 -0500

Penny - of course it is. I'm sure all of us above would love to hear your inputs on this topic.

The Hotels with the Best Toiletries

penny — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 17:50:03 -0500

is this blog still open for comments?

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

cibo — Tue, 30 Nov 2010 19:58:27 -0500

I don't care if a hotel asks you to sign for an umbrella when it's raining and makes you pay for it if you don't return it; however it really upsets me if they run out of umbrellas on a day when it's pouring out. I count on hotels having umbrellas readily available for their guests because there is no way that I want to lug an umbrella with me all over the world when I travel. My baggage is heavy enough already.

I think it's totally unacceptable for a hotel to run out of umbrellas for its guests!

Private Villas v Luxury Hotels

Rick OShea — Sat, 06 Nov 2010 17:54:00 -0400

I would say that the decision whether you should opt for a private villa or check into a luxury hotel or resort depends on many factors, not the least of which is the total cost. It's been our experience that if you're just two, three or four people, going the luxury hotel or resort route is usually the most cost-effective alternative. But, if you've got a large family, or a large group of friends, the more people you have, the more a private villa makes the most sense.

With respect to your question about our favourite destination for this type of vacation, for our family, it's been a private villa on the Amalfi coast.

Hotels that are Overrated

GingerT — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 21:14:05 -0400

A few months ago Cibo put the Essex House in NY City on this list. I second the motion. The Essex House isn't what it used to be even though people still think of it as a fine hotel. It isn't anymore.

Rooms with the Best Views in the World

DonPablo — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 13:54:02 -0400

I've already posted above a picture of the view from our room during one of our visits to the Hotel Cipriani in Venice. But, every time you stay at the Cipriani, your room comes with many other views, free of charge. Those views are the views you experience when you take the hotel's complimentary motor launch from the island of Giudecca, where the Cipriani is located, across to San Marco and the center of Venice. Here are just a few of the many views you'll see on that pleasant, five minute ride on the launch:

Hotels that are Overrated

Sherri Nadeau — Tue, 26 Oct 2010 01:17:26 -0400

Four Seasons Sydney

Hotels that are Overrated

sohcahtoa — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 17:09:19 -0400

Even though it's centrally located and right in the heart of New York City, The Grand Hyatt Hotel's very convenient location can't compensate for the fact that the hotel is crowded and noisy throughout the day and well into the night. It may be right in the center of all the action, but I certainly wouldn't consider it to be a luxury hotel.

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

Nanoose — Fri, 15 Oct 2010 16:04:40 -0400

Jtilly, I agree with you and this situation has happened to me three different times in the past couple of years. And "Pardon our Dust" signs don't quite cut it! And on all three occasions, I didn't put up with that one bit without some sort of restitution. One hotel I moved out completely after being sent up to my room where hammering and other renovation activity was RIGHT ABOVE ME. Then, another time the pool was closed so I moved out the next day. And then another time, a big plastic sheet was over the reception area as I entered and I did stay but with a discount because it was a resort and my room was very far away from reception and I was never disturbed during my stay.

Your Hotel Pet Peeves

Jtilly — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 21:56:44 -0400

I don't think it's right when your hotel is in the midst of a major renovation of its premises, doesn't tell you in advance that this is happening and then charges you the same room rate that you had originally booked the room at, in spite of your inconvenience. This is particularly irritating when part of the renovation is taking place on the floor you're staying on.

The Greenbrier

travelista — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 17:58:39 -0400

I've heard some troubling things lately about the Greenbrier. I've been told that it's quite expensive for what you're getting (not very good value), not nearly as luxurious as it once was and, as everybody knows full well, it's certainly not the easiest place in the world to get to. It would not be high on my list of places that I'd like to go to.

New York luxury hotels

TomatoMaven — Thu, 30 Sep 2010 17:49:39 -0400

I agree with forager and billw that The Four Seasons is the place to stay. However, MMMT has pointed out that The New York Palace could also be an option to consider and ever since this grand old hotel, which used to be the Helmsley Palace, was taken over by the Dorchester Group, it has been returned to its former glory. The Gilt restaurant in the New York Palace, which is located where the old Le Trianon restaurant used to be, is worth visiting.

Luxury Hotels in Mexico

DavidO — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 11:39:52 -0400

Maroma Resort just south of Cancun. Stay in a Jr. Suite or better. It's right on a wide, beautiful beach with great snorkeling. Book through Virtuoso for the amenities.

Private Villas v Luxury Hotels

Samuinick — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 08:25:21 -0400

I have been living in Thailand for the last 7 years and over the last few years have seen a lot of wealthy visitors go for the private rental of a luxury villa over a hotel or a resort. They get extra privacy and extra personal service from in-house staff.

Do you many of you guys out there go for this option, and if so where is your favourite location for this type of vacation?

The Hotels with the Best Toiletries

Poco797 — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:06:32 -0400

Just back from the Mandarin Oriental in DC. Five stars, and also have Gilchrist and Soames Spa Therapy toiletries, which are aquatic scented.