The Suite Life

Conde Nast Traveler has just released its Hot Hotel list for 2008. The list includes hotels in the Caribbean, Central and South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East, Australia and the Pacific, and of course, North America.

Here’s a sneak peak at the list’s North American Hot Hotels which included many Perfect Escapes accepted properties such as:

Aqua Cancun, Cancun
Rosewood Mayakoba, Mayakoba
Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya, Playa del Carmen
La Purificadora, Puebla
Grand Del Mar, San Diego
Ivy Hotel, San Diego
Angler’s Boutique Resort, Miami Beach
Tides South Beach, Miami Beach
Hotel Sax, Chicago
Palazzo Las Vegas
Ritz Carlton Dallas

And many more…

Some of these properties have such exciting design and anticipation that they are already achieving big industry buzz before they even open. So make sure to book early as the hotter a hotel gets the harder it is to get into, and it’s going to be one steamy summer.

Find luxury hotels around the world at Perfect Escapes.

See the entire Conde Nast Traveler Hot Hotel List for 2008.

Here at Perfect Escapes, we are clearly infatuated with luxury travel, and what better way to share our love of luxury than to hold a sweepstakes for one lucky person (and their guest) to be treated to a luxury escape at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Launched in September of 2007, Perfect Escapes has just announced the winner of its Weekend at the Wynn Las Vegas sweepstakes. Ms. Melissa Dickinson of San Clemente, California has won the complete luxury package which includes a 3-night stay in a Wynn Las Vegas Salon Suite, dinner for two at SW Steakhouse in the Wynn, tickets to Le Reve show, a $400 shopping or spa credit and of course, limousine service to and from the airport.

Thrilled by her luxury sweepstakes win, Ms. Dickinson exclaimed “I was stoked. I have a lot of friends who go on vacations to these kinds of hotels, but I had never been able to do that type of luxury package, and I thought, now’s my chance to live large for the weekend.”

The success of the sweepstakes also led Perfect Escapes to launch a second Weekend at the Wynn Las Vegas Sweepstakes, which you are automatically registered for when you sign up to receive The Perfect 10 newsletter, a bi-weekly newsletter that brings you the latest and greatest in luxury hotel deals, often exclusive to Perfect Escapes.

Read the entire sweepstakes winner announcement Press Release.

Find luxury hotels in Las Vegas on Perfect Escapes.

See this week’s The Perfect 10 newsletter from Perfect Escapes.

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

A recent W Magazine article examined a new class of concierge that has emerged in top luxury hotels. These are the “can do” concierges, who will do almost anything at anytime for their guests, and not just the VIP ones.

Increases in luxury hotel competitiveness and in hotel room prices seem to explain why hotels feel the need to both stand out from the crowd and to increase customer loyalty. Just as they are upping the design and amenity standards, so too are luxury hotels making guests feel more special with personal, constant service.

The article explains that 20 years ago, people didn’t use concierges for much more than restaurant recommendations, and assumed their services were reserved for VIP’s. But when the standard room now goes for over $500 per night, every guest has come to expect VIP-level service.

To some degree, that’s exactly what the hotels want. If they can fulfill inventive and sometimes outrageous requests, than they made the guest’s experience memorable and hopefully gained their loyalty. Luxury travel is all about unique, brag-worthy experiences these days, and concierges want to see it happen, especially since user reviews and word of mouth have become paramount to traveler’s hotel decisions. St. Regis’ legendary personal butler service, InterContinental’s pillow bar, and Peninsula’s Concierge Choice newsletter are just a few examples of the efforts made by top luxury hotel chains to make guests’ stays the best possible.

On the other hand, more and more extreme cases have arisen in which guests become downright demanding and difficult with their last-minute and unusual requests (house broken pets, double-decker buses and more). While concierges refuse to do anything “illegal or immoral”, they stick to their “can do” attitude as much as possible, and ask that you take advantage of their services on your next trip. Whether you need a rooftop private dinner for two or a new computer battery, they really are happy to help (most of the time).

Find luxury hotels in top destinations around the world at Perfect Escapes:

New York City

Chicago

Los Angeles

Miami

San Francisco

Las Vegas

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

Just as frequent spa-goers could recite the vast differences between a hot stone massage and a deep tissue, so could they explain that destination spas and resort spas are two wonderful, but very different, spa experiences. Luckily, Perfect Escapes wants to ensure every luxury traveler gets exactly what he or she is looking for, so here is a rundown of the intricacies and delights of each type of spa experience…

Destination spas are destinations designed for guests who seek total immersion in a spa experience. They offer an adult environment where the emphasis is on getting and staying healthy. These spas are intended to be the destination and not simply an added bonus to a vacation. As such, destination spas offer guests a wide range of therapeutically oriented activities to keep them occupied. These activities are intended to help guests find inspiration and become energized among a like-minded community of participants. They equally balance spa treatments with health-building activities such as education and seminars, exercise routines, and meditation to create an overall sense of growth and inner peace.

Most destination spas include lodging, meals, programs and some spa treatments in their base rates. Guests average longer visits to a destination spa with stays commonly being five days to multiple weeks. Destination spas are a great way to address particular health issues or initiate a healthier lifestyle. While much time is spent looking inward, destination spas are also a good way to enjoy the company of a close friend or partner looking to achieve the same relaxation and rejuvenation goals.

Resort spas, on the other hand, are for those guests seeking to enjoy some spa treatments as part of their overall experience. They often offer a family environment and a full range of dining and recreational experiences in addition to the on-site spa, such as golf and tennis. These spas offer a great way to pamper oneself as part of a larger getaway and are for the less formal spa-goer. So if you want to work those muscles playing sports, expand your mind site-seeing or simply relax on the beach, a resort spa often has all those activities close at hand, and you can go back to the resort for a body treatment to heal from all those adventures.

Most resort spas offer spa packages that bundle room nights and spa treatments but most guests book spa treatments separately from their lodging. Either way, be sure to book spa treatments ahead of your stay as they are generally difficult to get last minute due to limited treatment rooms and staff.

Need further help deciding whether a destination spa or a resort spa is for you?
- Go to a destination spa to rid your body of toxins. Go to a resort spa to tie on a couple of intoxications.
- Go to a resort spa to dine on lamb chops dressed in lemongrass. Go to a destination spa to nibble on lettuce dressed in grass with lemon.
- Go to a destination spa OR a resort spa for a perfect escape.

Top Destination Spas
If you are looking for an ultimate spa getaway, then consider a trip to any of these twelve amazing spas whose focus is on personal wellness and growth.

Agua Spa at the Delano Hotel, Miami Beach, Florida
Amandari, Bali, Indonesia
Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa, Baden-Baden, Germany
Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona
Canyon Ranch, Lenox, Massachusetts
Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand
Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas
Mii Amo at Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona
Miraval Resort, Tucson, Arizona
Plateau at Grand Hyatt, Hong Kong

Top Resort Spas
If you are looking to enjoy a terrific spa as part of a greater getaway, then consider staying at one of these twelve properties or go to Perfect Escapes for a list of great spas at many luxury hotel properties:

American Club, Kohler Waters Spa, Kohler, Wisconsin
Bacara Resort & Spa, Santa Barbara, California
Bathhouse at Calistoga Ranch, Napa Valley, California
Boulders Resort & Golden Door Spa, Carefree, Arizona
Esperanza, An Auberge Resort, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Fairmont Banff Springs, Willow Stream Spa, Canada
Hotel Le Sirenuse, Aveda Concept Spa, Positano, Italy
One&Only Ocean Club, Paradise Island, Bahamas
Spa at the Mandarin Oriental, New York City
Spa Halekulani, Honolulu, Hawaii
Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand
Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Palazzo Las Vegas, Nevada

By Eric Jeck, CEO for Perfect Escapes

There has been a recent surge in company blogs. Whether it’s to announce company news, promote special offers, or generally get the online audience involved, blogs are everywhere. Now the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) has launched their own unique blog allowing travelers to sound off on their gripes with airport security.

The T.S.A. blog aims to inform the public on news, reports, and general opinions (good and bad) about the organization’s policies and processes. The idea is that the more information that is out there and the more issues that the T.S.A. can explain or follow up on, the calmer people will be both online and in line at airport security checks.

While the blog initially saw an influx of angry “hate” posts, the conversation has since turned to legitimate discussions and concerns, which the T.S.A. chimes in on when appropriate, although they are not afraid to push back on particularly brash comments. The T.S.A. actually wants to push the conversation in hopes of educating the public and changing the notoriously unfavorable few of the administration.

So go ahead, complain about there not being a family line for those that have extra persons to de-shoe, or the fact that peanut butter is considered a liquid, the T.S.A. welcomes your compliments and your complaints, and is sure you have some to share.

Ready to make your escape? Find luxury hotel deals at Perfect Escapes in cities such as Chicago, New York City, Los Angeles, Las Vegas, and more…

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes