how to save money at luxury hotels

Have you ever noticed how expensive it is to eat breakfast at a luxury hotel? While it's possible for guests at the Four Seasons George V (pictured above) to walk half a kilometer to McDonalds on the Champs-Elysées, why would you? Part of the experience of staying in a five star hotel is the opportunity to sit in a beautiful dining room (or enjoy the luxury of room service), savor the ambiance, and enjoy an elegant and leisurely breakfast.

Did you know you can get that breakfast for free? All you need to do is make your reservation through a Virtuoso travel consultant. You will typically receive a complimentary daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade upon check-in if one is available, and an "extra amenity" contracted specifically with each one of over 780 luxury hotels and resorts around the world affiliated with Virtuoso. Your room rate will usually be the lowest published rate — and sometimes even less.

Everyone is trying to save money in this economy. Are you comparing online rates at luxury hotels for your next business or vacation destination? A Virtuoso travel consultant can stretch your travel dollar, pound, or euro. Do your research, come up with your best internet deal, and email me the details. If I can offer you a better value, I'll let you know!

Virtuoso travel consultant (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.

Iceland | luxury adventure travel

I recently spent four days in Iceland, and although November would not have been my first choice for a visit to this island country at the 66º parallel, the weather was acceptable. Iceland is a fabulous destination to visit for luxury adventure travel.

The name of the island was apparently a marketing ploy to discourage too many settlers from coming and taking away a good thing from those already there. Greenland is actually icy while Iceland is actually quite green!


Iceland offers wonderful natural beauty — waterfalls, glaciers, geysers, wildlife, and even a black sand beach. Although it's possible to do all the research yourself, rent a car or 4x4, and explore the island on your own, luxury adventure travelers will appreciate having an experienced tour company put together a personalized tour of the island. Our group of 15 was shuttled all over the south of Iceland in a caravan of three Lincoln Navigator SUVs. We saw the sights, learned about the history and culture of Iceland, and enjoyed it all in a perfectly relaxed and comfortable way. If you can afford it, this is the way to travel!

A few must-see highlights for your trip to Iceland:

• The Golden Circle Tour

This 190-mile circular route encompasses Thingvellir, site of the oldest parliament in the world; Geysir, the geyser which gave its name to all other erupting hot springs; and Gullfoss, Europe's largest waterfall.

• Hellisheidarvirkiun Geothermal Power Plant

Iceland has developed a green technology of exploiting the earth's own heat to produce electricity and hot water and is exporting this technology around the world.

• Seljalandsfoss waterfall

You can walk behind this waterfall, quite an interesting experience.

• Thorsmork

This nature reserve is accessible only by 4x4 mountain vehicles.

• Blue Lagoon Spa

I spent my last few hours in Iceland luxuriating in the naturally heated sea water of this outdoor spa. If you want to get a massage, you'll want to make reservations in advance.

Where to eat? The Seafood Cellar in Reykjavík has an incredibly imaginative chef. An asian-fusion style restaurant, just order the Chef's Selection menu ... and be prepared for a great surprise with dessert!

Where to stay? In Reykjavík, consider either 101 Hotel with a very contemporary design — rooms are smallish, so book a Junior Suite — or the Hotel Borg with an art-deco style. In a more rural setting in Southern Iceland, consider Hotel Ranga, a rustic property with wood paneled rooms on the south side of Iceland. This property is a good base for visiting the natural beauty of the country — and well situated (in the winter) to see the Northern Lights.

luxury adventure travel (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.

explore the world by private jet

I recently had the opportunity to experience Abercrombie & Kent's private jet on a flight from Boston to Reykjavik, Iceland. A&K invited a group of travel consultants and travel writers to experience their premium luxury product, and I can safely report that this flight surpassed any experience I have previously enjoyed in the air (including British Airways First and an actual private jet owned by an individual).

From the moment we were invited onboard this specially configured Boeing 757-200 jet, I was impressed with the spaciousness afforded the passengers. In my view, space is the ultimate luxury—whether in the air or on the ground, and our cabin was configured for just 52 passengers (not the 200 typically accommodated aboard this type of aircraft). The seats reclined into a very comfortable cradle position — but not into a completely horizontal bed because A&K typically plans its itineraries with 4 hour legs flown in daylight. (This makes perfect sense because their guests get to sleep in comfortable beds in the world's most outstanding five star luxury hotels.)

And then there was the food. Sixteen of us enjoyed a five course meal seated at tables in the jet's lounge area. The pièce de résistance was the Caviar Service (pictured above) featuring red and black Icelandic caviar accompanied with sour cream, red onion, egg white, egg yolk and served with both Laurent-Perrier champagne and Vodka. For the main course, we had the choice of a roasted fillet of lamb, grilled striped bass, or risotto with chanterelle mushrooms. I chose the bass, and it was wonderful — moist and perfectly prepared. I inquired afterwards and learned that the fish had been brought aboard uncooked and was prepared during flight. Also impressive was the choice of alcoholic beverages provided onboard which included three different single malt scotches and a selection of premium brands for each beverage type.

However, the ultimate luxury of A&K's private jet journeys is not the flight itself; it is the opportunity to see the world with a degree of privilege and comfort not readily available to the typical luxury traveler. Private jet travel permits a select group of upscale clients to enjoy itineraries that would be difficult, tiring, and sometimes impossible to experience using regular commercial flights. A&K can pull off these trips with ease, and all you need do is sit back and enjoy the world's natural and cultural attractions as you are whisked from destination to destination with unsurpassed comfort, convenience, and luxury. Future A&K itineraries include a round-the-world trip, an exploration of the continent of Africa, and many other opportunities that will excite your passion for world travel. Contact your luxury travel consultant for complete information about upcoming A&K Private jet Journeys.

private jet (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.

Boston | a fun city to visit

I recently spent two nights in Boston — at either end of a quick trip to Iceland — and had the chance to experience several of Boston's luxury hotels in the course of my visit.

Ritz Carlton Boston Commons. I spent a night at this beautiful property at the southeast corner of the Boston Commons. My room looked out over the commons with an incredible view of the autumn leaves ... and even a glimpse of the Massachusetts State House with the sun glistening on its golden dome. My deluxe room was large (425 sq. ft.), comfortable, and well equipped for the business traveler with a desk large enough for two users, two ethernet ports (not to mention wireless internet), a 42" flat screen television, and a large marble bathroom with separate stall shower and tub. The hotel has an immense Sports Club that occupies two entire floors; hotel guests can use it for $15 per day. For a most special treat, book a Luxury Park View Suite. This 1100 square foot residence — with a study, a living room (with pullout sofa bed), and Master Bedroom — features a dead-on view of the Boston Commons. Virtuoso amenities include an upgrade if available upon arrival, daily continental breakfast for two, and a complimentary lunch for two ... all at the Best Available Rate.

Mandarin Oriental Boston is a brand new hotel connected to the Prudential Center. This property is very convenient to high-end shopping opportunities on Boylston and Newbury Streets and is well located in the commercial center of Boston. We had dinner at Asana, the hotel's Asian-fusion restaurant that uses organic seasonal New England ingredients. In addition to featuring a "chef's table" at which guests can watch Chef Nicolas Boutin at work, the restaurant has a unique, glass-enclosed cheese room. The rooms at the Mandarin Oriental are large with a huge WOW factor, and the hotel's new spa is gorgeous. The Mandarin Oriental has applied for Virtuoso status, and it plans to offer Virtuoso amenities at the Best Available Rate; amenities are said to include a $100 spa credit per room in addition to an upgrade if available at time of check in and daily breakfast for two.

Boston Harbor Hotel is a landmark hotel on the waterfront overlooking historic Boston Harbor. Located just 10 minutes from Logan airport, this is a luxurious alternative to the in-terminal Hilton Hotel. I spent a night in a Deluxe Junior Suite (and easily made my 8 a.m. flight the next morning). The room featured elegant, traditional styling with rich drapery fabrics, silk wallpaper, and molded woodwork and crown mouldings. I especially liked the color scheme which was a tasteful blend of creme, green, gold, and red. The room features a marble bathroom and a very comfortable king bed with a soft pillow-top. Virtuoso guests receive a Full American Breakfast (through room service, if you wish) and a $50 hotel credit.

To take advantage of the complimentary Virtuoso amenities, just book through a Virtuoso travel consultant.

Boston's luxury hotels (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.

a great time for luxury travel to Europe

Want some counter-intuitive advice? This is an ideal time to think about luxury travel to Europe. Here are four reasons why:

1. Great exchange rates. The US dollar has gotten much stronger over the past three months. You'll be paying considerably less for your hotel room, meals, and sightseeing while in Europe and the United Kingdom. Here are the numbers, comparing July 15 to today (October 23).

• The price of one EURO has dropped from $1.60 to $1.28, a discount of nearly 20%
• The price of one POUND has dropped from $1.96 to $1.62, a savings of more than 17%.

This is the best exchange rate in five years!

2. Discounted room rates. The economic downturn has made many upscale travelers nervous about taking expensive trips. I can tell you, as a luxury travel consultant, that bookings have dropped significantly over the past few weeks ... and cancellations are up. This means lots of empty hotel rooms, and empty rooms motivate hoteliers to lower their prices and create special promotional packages to fill those rooms.

3. Valuable free amenities. You can get complimentary breakfasts, room upgrades, and other free amenities that can include lunch, dinner, spa treatments, or limousine transfers. How? Simply by booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant. Best of all, many hotels offer these amenities at the Best Available Rate. You pay less and get more.

4. Less crowds. When less people are traveling, you don't need to deal with crowds and long lines at the attractions you want to see.

I have always been a contrarian. When everyone else is buying ... it's an ideal time to sell. When everyone else is selling ... it's an ideal time to buy. This is one of those opportune times. With some very real values out there in the luxury travel market, this is a great time to plan a luxury trip to Europe.


luxury travel consultant (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.

guaranteed US Dollar rates in London

Travel providers are competing for the business of luxury travelers, making this an unparalled time to be shopping for luxury travel values. From time to time, I'll pass along some outstanding luxury hotel values that come across my desk.

Egerton House, London is a hotel set in a renovated townhouse built in 1843. Having recently undergone a loving renovation, Egerton House is located on a quiet tree-lined street in the heart of Knightsbridge. Near the Victoria and Albert Museum, and just a short walk from Harrods, this five star hotel is a wonderful place to land for your next trip to London. Guests also receive a pass to LA Fitness, a short 5 minute walk away, with free access to the club's swimming pool and fitness equipment.

A Guaranteed US Dollar Rate is available throughout 2009 through any Virtuoso travel consultant. This three-night package begins at $383 per night plus tax for Classic accommodations, $417 for Deluxe accommodations, and $850 for a Suite. This exclusive Virtuoso package includes the following amenities:

• Daily English breakfast
  
• one-way luxury chauffeur transfer to or from Heathrow (supplement for other London airports)
  
• Martini Master class
  
• Complimentary tickets to the Victoria and Albert Museum
  
• Free access to the LA Fitness health spa and gymn
  
• early check-in and late check-out

225£ for a five star luxury hotel in London? 2009 is the year to visit the UK.


Egerton House, London (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.

Christmas in Ireland?

Looking for a unique destination to spend Thanksgiving or Christmas vacation? Why not consider Christmas in Ireland? Stay in Dublin with its theater, culture, shopping, and vibrant nightlife — or explore the idyllic Irish countryside. You will treasure the fond memories of this family holiday forever.

The soft economy has led to some amazing luxury travel bargains. Joe Brancatelli's excellent travel website (subscribe at JoeSentMe.com) alerted me to some great Aer Lingus business class fares to Dublin — $1430 from JFK, BOS, or IAD; $1538 from ORD; and $1598 from SFO. These round-trip Holiday Fares before tax are available within two travel windows, Nov. 23-29 and Dec. 30-Jan. 2.

Where to stay in Ireland? Here are two great choices.

The Merrion Hotel is a traditional five star hotel in the center of Dublin. Created from four Georgian Townhouses (with a contemporary Garden Wing), you should book a room in the traditional wing to get the full experience of this traditional property. With a magical Christmas tree in The Front Hall, The Merrion has special plans for Christmas, including a visit from Santa on Christmas Eve with a gift for every child and a glass of champagne for Mum and Dad.

Mount Juliet is a Georgian Mansion on a 1500 acre country estate overlooking the River Nore. Christmas Day is something special with a visit from Santa and a traditional Christmas lunch. There is a superb Virtuoso package including full breakfast daily and a complimentary lunch for two once during your stay — all at the best available rate.

Make your plans early as there is a 30-day advance booking requirement for the Aer Lingus business class sale ... and limited space at the Merrion and Mount Juliet. Contact your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant for more information.



Christmas in Ireland (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
.