Tag Archives: hotels

Wendy Reveals Her Favorite Hotel Suite. What’s Yours?

In case you missed it, Wendy revealed her favorite hotel suite last week, in an article in Elite Traveler. Though she’s stayed in over-the-top rooms in hotels all over the world, Wendy is most impressed by the InterContinental Deluxe Suites at the InterContinental Hong Kong. “The colorful ships and traditional junks crisscrossing Victoria Harbour sail so close to your suite’s glass walls that you can practically reach out and touch them,” she told the magazine. “It’s one of those rare hotels where you can do the best sightseeing without even leaving your room.”

Wendy was one of many globetrotting VIPs interviewed by Elite Traveler for their picks (including Los Angeles Clippers guard Chris Paul and travel expert Peter Greenberg), and, not surprisingly, the selections included some impressive properties and rooms all around the world.

But we wanted to know what you think are the best hotel suites around, so we posted the question on Facebook and collected some of our fans’ answers and comments below. Several of the folks who responded are frequent world travelers and in the travel business themselves, so we were fascinated to find out their faves. If your top pick isn’t on this list yet, click over to our Facebook page and weigh in. We’d love to hear from you!

The Prestige Elysée Suites at Le Bristol are the largest rooms in the Paris hotel. Photo courtesy Le Bristol

The Prestige Elysée Suites at Le Bristol, Paris, were the top pick for Vicky McGlynn, Bermuda specialist with Vicky Bell Bermuda Travel. “I dream of our stay there and the living room filled with flowers,” she says.

You’ll get your own private pool and a personal butler in the Amankila Suite at Amankila in Bali. Photo courtesy Amanresorts

Pretty much everything in Bali is gorgeous, but Christy Camren over at Hager’s Journeys says her favorite suite for soaking up all that beauty is the Amankila Suite at Amankila. And her reasons are pretty convincing: “Stunning views, private pool with sunbeds and covered lounge areas, a butler… It’s like having your very own private compound in Bali.”

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane Terrace Suite

The Terrace Suite in London’s Four Seasons at Park Lane opens onto a landscaped terrace. Photo courtesy Four Seasons

Travel agent Linda Terrill named the Terrace Suite at the Four Seasons at Park Lane, saying “It’s fabulous and has an added benefit: It’s in London.”

Jumeirah Dhevanafushi’s Ocean Sanctuary is its own private villa, with a pool, 24-hour butler service, and that beautiful Maldives view. Photo courtesy Jumeirah Group

Wendy first met Facebook fan Wanwisa Posner when Wanwisa won Condé Nast Traveler’s Dream Trip contest in 2008, after submitting a beautiful photo of Bhutan. Wendy planned that trip of a lifetime with the help of Maldives expert Lindsey Wallace of Linara Travel. So we weren’t surprised that Wanwisa’s favorite suite is in the Maldives: the Ocean Sanctuary Villa at Jumeirah Dhevanafushi (pictured). Back on land, Wanwisa also has a soft spot for Singita Lebombo Lodge in Kruger National Park, and who wouldn’t? The glass-enclosed lofts look out over the landscape (and game!) of a 33,000-acre park on South Africa’s border with Mozambique.

Singita Boulders Lodge is set in South Africa’s Sabi Sand Reserve, and the accommodations are like personal mini safari lodges. Photo courtesy Singita

Cookbook author Robyn Webb agreed with Wendy’s pick, but added “My fave, if it counts as a suite—well two, they are like houses!—are Singita Boulders in South Africa (pictured) and Qualia in the Great Barrier Reef area.”

The Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons George V in Paris is decked out with artworks, crystal chandeliers, fresh flowers and French chocolates. Photo courtesy Four Seasons

The Presidential Suite at the Four Seasons George V in Paris earned the nod from marketing maven and former Robb Report editor Debbi Kickham for three good reasons. As Debi commented on Facebook, “It’s like Versailles, and it even has its own gym. And they restock the kitchen with French chocolates every day!”

The suites in the Viceroy Anguilla have ocean views and private plunge pools outside, and lots of space and clean design inside. Photo courtesy Christian Horan

Reader Marisa Chieco Christmas fell for the Viceroy Anguilla suites. And it’s easy to see why. An ocean view, a huge marble tub, a private plunge pool, and oh yeah, all of Anguilla surrounding you. Gorgeous.

London’s Savoy hotel staff (seen here in 1904) have been hosting celebrities for more than a century. Star guests have included Katharine Hepburn, Winston Churchill, and Charlie Chaplin, all of whom have suites named after them. Photo courtesy Fairmont

Author, blogger and global shopper Sarah Lahey agreed with Wendy’s nod to InterContinental Hong Kong and Peter Greenberg’s choice of the Peninsula Shanghai, but added “I also loved the Katharine Hepburn suite at The Savoy in London (even though her name was misspelled on the plaque outside the door!).”

What’s your favorite hotel suite? Tell us in the comments below or on Facebook.

Wendy Shares Hotel Upgrade Tips with Giada De Laurentiis

Score Exclusive Savings at 22 Hotels and Resorts

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Don’t you love an empty white-sand beach? My family loved this one at the Sandpearl Resort in Clearwater Beach, Florida, February 2012.

Starting at midnight tonight Eastern Time, and continuing throughout the day on Saturday, June 21st, 22 hotels and resorts in Florida, the Caribbean, and Latin America will offer exclusive reduced rates in a Cyber Summer Travel sale. Five-star beach resorts will have suites available at half price, four-diamond resorts will cost just $99/night, and more. You can check out the special offers right now. They are valid throughout the summer and, in some cases, through the end of the year. But the booking window is one day only: June 21st (the summer solstice).

The deals that really caught my eye are 50% off beachfront suites at Anguilla’s CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa; three nights free if you book four at St. Kitts Marriott Resort; and $129 nightly rates at the Lord Balfour in Miami’s South Beach. Even one of my children’s favorite beach resorts is included: The Sandpearl, in Clearwater Beach, Florida (near Tampa), where we enjoyed a fabulously kid-friendly vacation two years ago.

Hope you scoop up something great!

Sandpearl Resort Florida beach volleyball

My kids played volleyball for days on the Sandpearl’s beach. It felt like playing on baby powder. Clearwater Beach, Florida, February 2012

Nobody expects to see a space like this at 7th Ave. and 31st St. It's the lobby of The Affinia Manhattan.

7 New York City Hotels That are Convenient and Affordable

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Question:

Hi Wendy,

A friend and his wife are going to New York City for their 25th anniversary. They want to see all the attractions, which will take them from the Statue of Liberty to the new Freedom Tower, and up to Central Park. What conveniently located Manhattan hotels do you recommend for someone with a budget of about $300 per night?

Thanks!

—Jack C.

Answer:

Jack, as someone who grew up in midtown Manhattan and still spends most days of the week there, zipping uptown and down on the subway, I do have a few picks for hotels that are well-located for sightseeing, convenient to public transportation, and budget-friendly (for NYC, that is). Given the tourist crowds that are expected to hit Manhattan over the next few months—New York City is, after all, the #3 U.S. destination for TripAdvisor travelers this summer—these options should come in handy.

In the Theater District: citizenM Times Square

This new 230-room hotel is the first stateside outpost of the Amsterdam-based hotel chain, whose motto is “affordable luxury.” The lobby, referred to as “the living room,” features oversized art and is filled with books and magazines. Efficiency is the theme, with self-service check-in and check-out, a 24-hour canteen, and rooms that make the most of their limited space with oversized beds and smart storage (218 West 50th Street, between 7th and 8th Avenues).

Near Fifth Avenue shopping: Viceroy New York

The 240-room Viceroy aims to bring a downtown vibe to its chic uptown location just a three-minute walk from Fifth Avenue’s most elegant shops and restaurants and the prettiest corner of Central Park. The lobby has an Art Deco vibe; the restaurant and bar, Kingside, is a destination unto itself; the rooms are done in brown leathers, wood paneling, and brass accents. Doubles start at $305 if you prepay (120 West 57th St).

Near the Flatiron: Ace Hotel New York

This trendy 260-room hotel a few blocks from Madison Square Park is a magnet for locals, thanks to its Stumptown-Coffee-serving lobby bar and Michelin-starred gastro pub, The John Dory Oyster Bar. In a building dating from 1904, the hotel has an eclectic aesthetic that combines the historic mosaic tile floor and stained glass ceilings with oddities such as a graffiti sticker mural wall in the lobby. Room sizes vary drastically, from Bunk Bed to Loft Suite (20 W. 29th St., near Broadway).

Near Columbus Circle: Hudson New York

Just five blocks from Lincoln Center, this Philippe Starck-designed hotel is still reasonably hip, even 14 years after it opened. Rooms are small; the focus is on the public spaces, such as the Sky Terrace rooftop bar, which is very popular in summer, and the Hudson Common, a beer hall and burger joint with nightly live music (365 W. 58th St., between 8th and 9th Avenues).

Near Pennsylvania Station: The Affinia Manhattan

This hotel is not in a pretty neighborhood, but it’s close to the transit hubs at Penn Station and Herald Square, yet still a few blocks removed from the noise and chaos of Times Square (and just a short walk to Macy’s and the Empire State Building). The hotel has an Old New York ambiance—with velvet couches and gold-plated elevators—and 618 modern, comfortable rooms (371 Seventh Ave. at 31st St).

At Grand Central Terminal: Grand Hyatt New York

It’s hardly a charmer, what with 1,306 rooms and a busy lobby, but it’s attached to Grand Central Terminal, making it one of the most convenient places to sleep in Manhattan. It’s got all the comforts of a large hotel: a 24-hour market downstairs, a fitness center, and just about any service you could need within easy reach (109 East 42nd St).

Near Soho shopping and galleries: The Nolitan

NoLita is a fun downtown neighborhood whose abbreviation stands for “North of Little Italy.” This hotel’s cozy lobby has a library, and its modern-industrial rooms have unfinished ceilings and wood-plank floors. Some even have floor-to-ceiling windows or balconies (30 Kenmare St.).

Great Deals at Prague’s Top Hotels (Plus an Extra for WendyPerrin.com Travelers)

Get Exotic Luxury For Less in Southeast Asia

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Question:

Hi Wendy,

My wife and I are interested in how to do exotic luxury travel on a reduced budget. We’ve enjoyed a lot of far-flung adventures over the years, but we just bought a new house, so our pockets are a little emptier than usual. We are absolutely craving a trip to Southeast Asia and are trying to figure out how to pull something off.

Thanks,

—Adam

Answer:

You’re in luck, Adam, because Southeast Asia is one of those parts of the world where your dollar stretches far. It’s chock full of spoil-you-rotten hotels with relatively affordable rates, thanks to the combination of a low cost of labor and a culture that values the art of hospitality. Your dollar buys a lot at the non-luxury level too: Skyscanner just named Vietnam, Bali, and Cambodia three of the world’s 10 best-value vacation spots of 2014.

One of my favorite Southeast Asia travel planners, Andrea Ross of Journeys Within Tour Company, is expert at orchestrating luxurious yet affordable itineraries (and she even writes her own Southeast Asia travel blog). Here’s her advice–and how she does it:

1. Find seasonal promotions. “Right now Four Seasons is offering some amazing summer specials,” says Andrea. “If you stay three nights at their Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai, Thailand, you get two nights free at any of their other Thailand properties, including the Four Seasons Koh Samui beach property. These deals won’t be available in high season, but if you don’t mind a little afternoon rain, or warmer temperatures, then going in shoulder season can be your best bet for getting luxury at a reasonable rate.”

2. Pepper your itinerary with boutique hotels that offer stellar service but also real value for the money. Andrea’s picks cost only $120 to $260 per night—hotels like Ariyasomvilla in Bangkok; 137 Pillars House in Chiang Mai, Thailand; Mekong Riverview in Luang Prabang, Laos; and Journeys Within Boutique Hotel in Siem Reap, Cambodia. “These hotels are winning TripAdvisor awards and daily go above and beyond for their guests,” says Andrea. “They also offer a window onto the history and culture of the locations they’re set in.”

3. Scrimp on your hotel in certain locations so you can splurge in locations where it matters more. “Splurge on your hotel at the beach, where you’re going to be spending more time in your room and using the hotel’s facilities. But when your schedule is packed and you’re going to be out and about—which is the case in Chiang Mai, which is a really fun town with lots of markets and restaurants and shopping—then luxury in your hotel isn’t necessary. In fact, often travelers in a luxury hotel will feel torn: They’ll want to get out and explore, but they’ll hesitate because they don’t want to leave the property.”

You can also read Andrea’s Insider’s Guide to Cambodia and her Insider’s Guide to Angkor Wat.

Who else has tips for getting exotic luxury on a budget in Southeast Asia?

Secrets to a Better Hotel Stay

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When TripAdvisor published its list of the ten hotels in the world with the best service, and I noticed that most of them are reasonably priced, I wrote How to Get Five-Star Service Without Paying Five-Star Prices and asked my friends on Facebook (frequent travelers, of course) this question: How do you get better service at hotels? When a problem crops up, how do you get it fixed, pronto? I thought I’d share their strategies, as well as my own:

* “Tip the bellboy who delivers your bags to your room generously, and the rest of the hotel staff will hear about it in no time at all. That first tip with a big smile is the key.” — Joe Yudin, WOW List Trusted Travel Expert for Israel

* “Make sure you speak to a person who can resolve the issue, and that varies from property to property.” — Sandy Ferguson,WOW List Trusted Travel Expert for Southeast Asia

* “Call the front desk, or the executive concierge (if you are on an executive floor), and explain the problem in a calm, respectful way. If that does not generate prompt attention, ask to speak with the hotel duty manager.” — Toby Saltzman, travelterrific

* “First rule: You get more bees with sugar than with vinegar. Keep your cool. Second rule: Be prepared to state what will make you happy. Know what you want in any negotiation.” — Charles Wolfe, Hurley Travel Experts

And here are my own tried-and-true tips:

* Book through a travel agent or destination specialist who has a close relationship with the hotel and sends it a lot of business. A travel agent who is tight with the hotel’s general manager and sits on the hotel company’s travel agent advisory board, for example, gets priority treatment (and extra perks) for his/her guests. Should a problem arise, the hotel’s manager will likely rush to rectify it (for fear that the hotel could lose the travel firm’s business); if the problem doesn’t get rectified, the travel agent can intervene on your behalf. (If you’re in need of the right travel specialist for a trip you have in mind and you’d like a recommendation, you may ask me here.

* Get a name to email. Look up the hotel on TripAdvisor, note the name of the manager or other employee who is replying to the negative reviews, grab his or her email address off TripAdvisor or from the front desk, and send him or her an email. Say that you’re at the hotel and are apprising him of your complaint so that he has a chance to rectify it before you get home and write your review.

* Take to Twitter. Tweeting directly to the hotel—like this—can be the fastest way to get a problem solved, as hotels want to nip consumer complaints in the bud before bad publicity goes viral. Particularly helpful are @HyattConcierge, @Marriott, @SheratonHotels, @WaldorfAstoria, and @WHotels.

* Post photos to Instagram. Some hotels—Four Seasons properties, for instance—monitor geo-tagged Instagram posts. If they note a guest is unhappy, they’ll take action to resolve the problem.

When you have a butler (like this one at Rosewood Mayakoba), it’s easy to get problems fixed. But what about when you don’t?

What are your strategies for getting better hotel service? Please share them below.

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