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.

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

Welcome to this edition of the “Three + Three” in which the Perfect Escapes Suite Life Blog brings you three great deals in three top destinations around the country. Published twice monthly, you can also get your 3 deals delivered directly to you by subscribing to our RSS feed.

This week we bring you offers from the 3 top destinations of Miami, Baltimore and Seattle. Get extra savings, a romantic stay, or a Tuscan-themed escape with these 3 great offers. Whatever you choose there are always exclusive Perfect Escapes perks, so pick your deal and your destination and make your escape!

Stay 3 Nights, Save 15% – Hotel Astor, Miami

Situated in the very heart of South Beach, the Hotel Astor provides top-notch amenities in a chic and sophisticated atmosphere. Book your escape to the Hotel Astor and receive: 15% off best available rate on your choice of room, guaranteed late check-out, welcome gift, complimentary room upgrade, and early check-in (on avail.).

Harbor View Love Affair – InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore

The gracious InterContinental Harbor Court Baltimore is the premier choice among Inner Harbor hotels, offering elegant accommodations in a landmark setting. Book the Harbor View Love Affair exclusive Perfect Escapes offer and receive: guaranteed upgrade to a Deluxe Harbor View room, rose-petal turndown service and chocolate-covered strawberries, and a $50 credit toward any in-hotel expenses.

Plus, book this or any other InterContinental Harbor View Baltimore stay with Perfect Escapes and you’ll also receive daily breakfast for two, complimentary valet parking for one car, and early check-in and late check-out (on avail.).

Taste of Tuscany – Hotel Vintage Park, Seattle

Elegance and personalized service are a way of life at the four-diamond Hotel Vintage Park, located in the heart of the city, just steps from the best boutiques, theatres, and arts venues. Book the Taste of Tuscany offer with Perfect Escapes and you’ll receive: overnight accommodations in your choice of winery-themed rooms and suites, complimentary valet parking, and a hand-selected bottle of Washington wine delivered to your room at turndown.

Remember, these special offers are exclusive to Perfect Escapes. Find more luxury hotel deals at Perfect Escapes for each of this week’s featured destinations: Miami, Baltimore, Seattle.

By Sarah Ziering for Perfect Escapes

An article published this morning in Investment News looks into the increasingly critical role foreign travel is playing in keeping the travel industry alive and well despite the weakening US Dollar.

As Americans make an effort to save, foreign travelers experience even greater savings on international trips to the United States. The article found this particularly true for international luxury travelers who have the cash to spend and can do so even more when their currency is so strong in the U.S.

Eric Jeck, our Perfect Escapes CEO, was quoted in the article for his expertise in luxury hotels and luxury travel trends and recent PE findings…

Eric Jeck, chief executive of Perfect Escapes, a San Francisco online travel agency that caters to affluent travelers, said he’s already noticed a significant increase in the number of Europeans booking trips to the United States. since last fall.

“The feeling on their side is, why go to Madrid or Paris again when you can go to South Beach or [Las] Vegas for the same or even less money now,” said Mr. Jeck. The most popular cities are those with good direct trans-Atlantic flights, he said.

While the article does state that travel is one of the first expenses to be put on hold when people face financial insecurity, luxury travel seems to have been able to continue its growth with the help of foreign investors and luxury travelers, at least compared to the overall stagnating domestic travel industry. Big U.S. markets such as New York, Miami, and Los Angeles will always pull in travelers, especially foreign, and those foreign investors with long-term goals may in fact be rewarded in the future, if they can withstand the short term instability.

Despite slowing travel industry growth, foreign thirst for international travel may be just what the U.S. hotel industry needs to fight back from the weakened U.S. Dollar. Luxury travel remains strong, and luckily for U.S. hotels and economy, both local and international luxury travelers refuse to let financial instability stand in the way of their jet-set world.

Find luxury hotels around the world at Perfect Escapes.

Read the full Investment News article.

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