The Suite Life

Europe is taking steps to win back some of its previously dedicated tourists, Americans. The recent downturn of the American economy has affected not just those here, but tourism across Western Europe as well.

While Americans still find an economic advantage in Eastern Europe (and thus the region has seen an increase in tourism), Western Europe has become an even pricier endeavor, and has lost a significant amount of tourism dollars as a result. Official tourism boards in multiple countries have launched discount coupons, heavy advertising, and special offers to woo their Western patrons back across the ocean.

For Harry’s Bar in Venice, famous for being Hemingway’s hang-out, the way to win back the Americans was with a special 20% discount on drinks for “American Victims” of subprime loans and bad economy. It seems the bar may be actually laughing at and not with Americans’ plight with this special offer, but it might just work. As Hemingway once said, “Don’t you drink?…I have drunk since I was fifteen and few things have given me more pleasure.”

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Although the weather might not show it, Summer is just around the corner, and with it comes summer vacations.

While Europe is often considered a balmy clamor of tourists in the high summer months, certain locations boast the privacy and luxury that entice Hollywood stars and luxury travelers alike. A few spots in particular are almost guaranteed to lavish you in the vacation of your dreams while you rub shoulders with some of the celebrity elite.

Classic destinations for a vacation with the stars include St. Tropez, Mykonos, and St. Barts where upscale dining meets gorgeous views, top accommodations and enough privacy for stars and jet-setters to relax carefree.

For the trend-setters, Turkey’s Turquoise Coast and Croatia’s Dalmatian Coast have quaint towns with delicious food and cultural attractions.

Of course, there’s not always time to go clear across the ocean for some 5-star relaxation, and that’s why many luxury travelers are finding the stars in Mexico’s Riviera Maya resorts or party town Miami Beach, Florida.

Spend your summer with the stars and indulge in the world’s best luxury. You may not come back with the Paparazzi on your trail, but you certainly will enjoy a bit of starpower.

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

One of the main drawbacks to investing in vacation property is that some sort of ownership and maintenance is usually required. Whether it’s a time-share, a pied-a-terre, or a second home, each can often drain the relaxation out of your vacation.

Thus, destination clubs were born. While at first they had a rocky start, these exclusive, high-end clubs give luxury travelers the chance to feel at home around the world. With a hefty deposit (which NY Times says runs anywhere from 50k to 1mil) club members can access homes in top travel destinations for extended stays. From Los Cabos to Cairo, club members can enjoy the privacy and luxury amenities of the club-owned homes and ideally without enduring the competition of typical high travel seasons.

However there is a great variety in the availability, price and size of the destination clubs and they can be risky endeavors. The smaller clubs face less competition and more select properties, but also are more susceptible to risky investors who quickly find they can’t finance such high dues. Larger clubs are not as expensive, but also have to host more properties to meet larger membership demand, and often the properties are not equally luxurious. There is also the difficulty of securing the luxury properties that in top destinations are often very pricey and hard to come by. Especially when exclusive membership also means very high expectations.

To combat the substantial risks and to find a balance between the need for membership growth and need for exclusivity (after all why spend 500k for a luxury beachside bungalow if you are just one of 15 just like it on the block), the clubs have begun some self-regulation measures to ensure their success such as annual resource evaluations and standards.

Plus, there are some perks of being a club member. Not only do you get unique, spacious accommodations in a hot destination, but there is concierge service to help you plan get-togethers, special outings and more ensuring you do get what you pay for (at least for the most part). When the stakes are high, the results can sky-rocket you to a new level of luxury travel, but then again, what goes up must come down…

Visit Perfect Escapes to find luxury accommodations for your next vacation in top destinations around the world:

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By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

The Hotel & Resort Insider just released its list of the most happening London hotels. It is only natural that in a city where at every block old meets new, urban meets green gardens, and people of all nationalities and ethnicities are intertwined, that its hotels would also carry distinctive contradictions that make them both intriguing and a pleasure to stay at.

Of course, this level of sophistication and style comes with a hefty price tag, but a trip to London would not be complete with out either and it certainly pays to have excellent cuisine and posh lounges just down the elevator. Here’s some of the happening London hotels, from the HRI list and a few of our favorites as well…

Threadneedles: Attracting both business and leisure travelers alike, this hotel presents itself with a highly luxurious experience for both work and play, with detailed personal service and attention.

Haymarket Hotel: Décor to die for, this hip yet inviting hotel has specially designed guest areas including a library, conservatory and indoor pool. In London’s Theatre District, it’s close to many vibrant London areas.

Metropolitan: This is apparently the place to see and be seen, if that’s your scene. Home to the well-known Nobu restaurant, the hotel is pure modern luxury and service situated amongst a few of the most well known and high-end areas of London.

The Berkeley: Fancy meets family-friendly in this historic hotel that dates back to the 19th century and offers an array of services to make life traveling with children a luxury breeze.

Sanderson Hotel: This Morgan’s Hotel Group creation radiates hipness with colorful yet modern furniture displays and playful elements such as the giant red lips couch and the gorgeous pool table. 2 bars, a courtyard and more make Sanderson the place to stay and to play, in London.

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By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

A recent New York Times article exposed two of the toughest challenges facing luxury travelers in the coming year: rising prices and rising demand.

There have been significant price increases for almost every popular destination around the world, most noticeably in the luxury hotel sector. Business travelers and leisure travelers are competing for the limited luxury rooms which now come at an even higher premium rate. Popular business and travel destinations such as India, China (extra increases due to the Olympics), London, Paris and New York City are all seeing prices rise in double digit percentages, somewhere between 15 and 40 percent.

These extreme numbers are mainly due to the supply not being able to meet the demand. Luxury travelers are exploring their world in greater frequency, and doing so in the most luxurious of conditions, which all too often leaves not enough 4- and 5-star hotels to go around. While the major hotel chains all seem to have multiple international projects planned in these new luxury hot-spots, the supply is already so far behind the demand that the luxury hotels currently in these cities are able to charge hugely inflated rates, and maintain very high occupancy levels.

Help, however, is on the way. Many of the planned luxury hotels around the world should be completed within the year. This is especially important in China, where the Olympics are rapidly approaching, and places such as New York City where luxury travelers are expanding past Manhattan to the outlying burroughs for hotel space. But until the extra supply can supplement the growing demand, luxury business travelers and leisure travelers alike will continue to compete for the best hotels at premium prices. But you can’t put a price on happiness, especially when finding it thousands of miles away from home, right?

Find luxury hotel deals in New York City at Perfect Escapes.

See luxury hotels in London, Paris, and Beijing from Perfect Escapes.

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes