The Suite Life

How to Beat the Heat in Las Vegas - Caesar’s Palace Arctic Room at Qua Spa 

Las Vegas in the summer sounds almost as appealing as Anchorage in the winter. It’s hot, really hot, like Africa hot. In July, Vegas had a stretch of 21 straight days where the temperature was over 110 degrees. That’s almost too hot to even lay out at the pool and dip in the waterfalls. Sure the pool-side daquiris help and no wonder all of the casinos are air-conditioned.

But Caesar’s Palace not only heard the cry of hot Vegas visitors, they took action and created the brand new Arctic room at Qua Baths and Spa.

The Arctic ice room is complete with “snow” that gently descends from a domed ceiling through mint-infused air chilled to 55 degrees. Now that may not sound too cold to the average person, but it sure makes a difference when it’s 115 outside the spa. The blue-pebble and mosaic-tile-encrusted room at Qua Baths and Spa is so popular more than 200 a people a day enter its chilly doors. It’s blue interior and iridescent glass tiles recalls polar bears, penguins, and glaciers.

The snow is made from hypoallergenic foam and melts when it hits the ground. Unlike the Arctic, the floors here are heated. Qua’s ice room, billed as the only one of its kind in the U.S., comes from the millennia-old European bathing tradition of using snow to cleanse the body. Ice is available in the room for those who want to rub it on steaming skin.

2007 has already seen a rise in hotel rates around the world, especially in the luxury hotel sector. According to Business Travel News, rates for 2008 are going to continue to rise especially at hotels outside of the United States for many reasons, including the decline of the value of the U.S. dollar, lack of supply in cities around the world to cover the demand, and blossoming economies in Europe, Middle East, and India.

Many luxury hotel brands have announced that they are expanding their hotels across the globe (See the Business Travel News article) but this will take time and may not have much affect on the growing demand until 2009. Luxury hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels Group, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt, and Marriott have announced that they will open as many as 600 properties around the world in the next few years.

So what does this all mean? It means that it is going to take more and more effort to find the really good offers and rates. And knowing where to look is going to be key. Lucky thing that Perfect Escapes knows where to look and, even more importantly, brings that knowledge to you.

Here is an abstract from the Business Travel News:

“Many travel buyers will start crunching numbers for the 2008 hotel request-for-proposals season over the next few weeks, and what they are likely to find are some hard figures. Demand continues to outpace supply in cities worldwide, with the problem exacerbated outside the United States by the declining value of the dollar, now below the symbolic figure of £0.50.

Even without the currency depreciation, rates have grown by double-digit percentages in many cities in Europe, the Middle East and India this year, covering locations as diverse as London, Madrid, Dubai and New Delhi.

Demand in many cities has outpaced forecasts, including London, which has recorded double-digit year-on-year rate growth every month since May 2006, according to TRI Hospitality Consulting. It had expected London rates to rise 4.6 percent in 2007, but the average for the first five months of the year proved to be 12.8 percent higher than the same period in 2006. U.S. visitors to London, deterred by the weakness of the dollar, are down 7 percent, but visitors from Europe, especially from the new EU member states, replaced them. TRI believes rate growth in 2008 will cool to a more modest 4.0 percent.

Reports regarding Paris are mixed…it remains the second-most expensive city in HRG UK’s list of average rates in Europe. However, rate growth so far this year has been a relatively modest 3.1 percent, according to TRI. Amsterdam also has a mixed story…TRI figures for the year to date put rate growth at 6 percent and predicted it will continue to rise.

TRI figures show Berlin up 8.3 percent for the year to date and Munich up 18.8 percent. The reason for the rate surge is a growth of 3.5 percent in German gross domestic product in the past year, with a rise both in domestic travel and in the increasing popularity of Germany as a hub for European business meetings.

Rome and Madrid are experiencing double-digit growth as well, with the closure of some Madrid hotels for refurbishment a likely reason there, and Helsinki is “commanding very high rates.”

Prague is one of the few rays of light for buyers, with overcapacity forcing rates down 2.3 percent, according to TRI. Rates in Budapest also are depressed: Its average of $138 is the lowest of any European city tracked by TRI.

Moscow remains the city of hotel buyers’ nightmares. Rates are more than 40 percent higher than Paris, and TRI put growth so far this year at 27.6 percent.

The Middle East average daily rate is up 10 percent to 13 percent with occupancy continuing to climb.

India’s rates continue to soar. “India really struggles with issues of supply,” said Chevalier. “The major hotel chains are all trying to keep up by building more properties but it is going to take years to level out. There is definitely going to be double-digit rate growth for another couple of years.” Wardlow cited Delhi and Mumbai as cities with especially acute capacity issues, but noted rates have eased slightly in Bangalore—the epicenter of the Indian hotel shortage—with the opening of some new capacity.”

With the rise in popularity of mancations and babymoons, it was just a matter of time before luxury hotels realized that girls just want to have some fun, too. As more and more hotels are incorporating spas into their property, they are also realizing that combining spa treatments with other amenities can be a big draw for weekends away with girlfriends. This rise in offerings are also expanding the choices, from city adventures to relaxing at the beach.

Below are a few of our favorite Girl Getaway packages:

Spa for Two at Miramonte Resort and Spa - Indian Wells, CA
$279/night

Escape to the Miramonte Resort & Spa, a desert resort located in beautiful Indian Wells, California boasting luxurious accommodations in an idyllic setting. Italian fountains and warm hospitality greet you at one of the most well-appointed spa resorts in California, while fine-crafted stonework and gently curved arches evoke images of a Mediterranean villa. This special Spa for Two offer includes one night in a Superior room and two 60-minute spa treatments per night, per room.

The Well Spa provides guests with the opportunity to spend the whole day relaxing and being pampered. Spa for Two guests are welcome to use all of the spa’s amenities — including an adults-only swimming pool and whirlpool, saunas, steam rooms, and a meditation room — and to participate in all fitness and wellness classes. Visit Miramonte Resort and Spa for availability.

Girlfriend Getaway at Hotel Orrington - Chicago
$279/night

Chauffeurs, Champagne and Shopping. Enjoy champagne and strawberries in a chauffeured Towncar to Old Orchard for some shopping. Dine in style with a decadent $75 food-and-beverage credit good at The Globe Cafe & Bar, Narra Restaurant with famed Chicago Chef Jacky Pluton or the Indigo Lounge. Spend the night in the lap of luxury, enjoy a day out shopping with the girls and a stylish night with dinner and drinks. Call (877) 589-7688 and request offer code WO-25482.

Celebration of Women at La Posada de Santa Fe Resort - Santa Fe, New Mexico

From $335/night

Package includes two nights accommodations, one 50-minute Dancing Wind Massage or a 50-minute Morning Mist Facial per person, bottle of champagne upon arrival, four complimentary tapas from the Staab House, parking and resort activity fee, free museum pass to the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, a 10% discount in the museum shop and the Georgia O’Keeffe Cafe, a complimentary coffee table book from the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum, and a Georgia O’Keeffe biography presented in your room upon arrival. Call (877) 589-7688 and request offer code WC-10444 .

Unlimited Spa at CordeValle, a Rosewood Resort - San Martin in Northern California

From $1,150/night

Unlimited Spa package includes two nights for two in a Villa Suite, daily breakfast, unlimited 60-minute spa treatments for the duration of your stay (begins with check-in at 3pm and ends with check-out at 12 noon), wine tasting at Clos LaChance, and a special welcome amenity. Visit CordeValle for availability.

Shopper’s Package at Fairmont Olympic Hotel - Seattle

rom $529/night

Shopping in Seattle is easier when you can stay overnight downtown! You’ll enjoy The Fairmont Olympic’s close proximity to Seattle’s finest shops, restaurants and entertainment attractions. Package includes overnight accommodations in a luxurious Executive Suite, complimentary valet parking, $150 gift card to Nordstrom, town car service to and from Nordstrom or Pacific Place shopping center, two complimentary beverages in The Terrace Lounge. Call (877) 589-7688 and request offer WC-09515.

The New York Palace - New York City
From $640/night
Make a shopping trip to NYC extra special with the Towers Shop Package. Only steps from the City’s world-class shopping, The New York Palace is the perfect place to rejuvenate after a fun day of shopping. The Towers Shop Package includes, Towers deluxe accommodations, full American breakfast for two in Istana or room service, $100 Saks Fifth Avenue Gift Card, complimentary overnight parking. Call (877) 589-7688 and request offer WC-08495.

To find more Girlfriend Getaway packages on Perfect Escapes, visit the site and enter keywords “Girlfriend Getaway” or “Shopping Package” in the Search box.

Since The Suite Life has moved, our RSS feed has moved as well. To subscribe to the new feed, please follow the

This will help get your feed into all of your favorite places, including My Yahoo, Google, AOL, and countless others.

The Perfect DC Escape - Hotel Palomar Washington DC

Hotel Palomar Washington DC, a Kimpton Hotel, blends high-end design with sophisticated, personalized service to create an unforgettable experience. This luxury hotel provides travelers with an artful sanctuary within the bustling activity of Washington DC’s vibrant Dupont Circle.

Exclusively for Perfect Escapes guests: Book a Queen Deluxe or King Deluxe room for two nights at the Best Available Rate and receive daily breakfast, plus a confirmed double upgrade to a specialty room with a Fuji soaking tub.

Your two-night Perfect DC Escape at Hotel Palomar Washington D.C. includes:

• A confirmed double upgrade to a room with a Fuji soaking tub — a Motion Specialty Room, Spa Suite, or Superior Suite
• A complimentary aromatherapy spa box filled with luxurious bath amenities
• Breakfast for two each morning at the hotel’s Urbana restaurant

Offer is available through September 3, 2007. Visit Perfect Escapes for more information.