B&B in Bloomington, Illinois

Bloomington is a growing midwestern town (population 75,000) in central Illinois, home to Illinois Wesleyan University and State Farm Insurance, among other notable institutions. We're in a midst of a Christmas visit with family. Where to stay in Bloomington-Normal? While there are the usual cookie-cutter motel chains near the airport, I enjoy the homeliness and intimacy of an excellent B&B when given the chance.

We are at the Burr House, an historic 1864 home located on the southwest corner of Franklin Park. A wooded park four blocks in area, Franklin Park is bordered by gracious 19th century Victorian homes, including the former residences of Adlai Stevenson (former Presidential Candidate) and "Private Joe" Fifer (former Governor of Illinois). Our room, the Queen Anne Suite, has a large and attractive bedroom and separate living room on the corner of the house. Our bedroom overlooks the snow-covered park (Bloomington had a white Christmas this year), and our living room faces the front of the house.

The Burr House is a nice, homey, and comfortable place that doesn't pretend to be a five star hotel. Rooms are attractively decorated in period style, and an excellent breakfast is cooked and served by Mary Ann in her dining room. Mary Ann is a very gracious and accommodating hostess who will take care of any special requests. You will get to know her and your fellow guests while in residence, which is part of the charm of a B&B. I wish the water pressure in the shower were a bit stronger and the water hotter — and a pillowtop mattress would be a great addition to the queen size bed, but the Burr House is a charming and historical B&B. We have stayed here twice and very much enjoyed the hospitality.


copyright (c) 2009 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.
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Four Seasons New York | incredible values

Planning to visit New York in the next month? Why not stay at one of Manhattan's most luxurious hotels, the I.M. Pei-designed Four Seasons New York. Offering the largest hotel rooms in the city, as well as Four Seasons brand of warm and gracious service, you will appreciate its central location (on 57th Street between Madison and Park).

You will also enjoy the added value of the Preferred Partner Best of Both Promotion. Guests staying three nights through January 18, 2010 (or on select holidays through 2010) will receive:

• Third Night Free
• $200 hotel credit per paid night (can be used toward room rate)
• Daily full American Breakfast for two through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• $100 Spa credit once during stay (not applicable to products)
• One-category upgrade based on availability at time of check-in

This promotion is only available through Four Seasons Preferred Partners. Book any Four Seasons anywhere in the world at a published rate, and you will always receive a Full Breakfast for two daily, upgrade if available, and an extra amenity (usually either a $100 spa credit or an $85 lunch credit, depending upon the property). Your rate is the same as if you booked directly with the hotel, and you pay the hotel directly upon check-out. Contact your Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant for full details.

Four Seasons New York (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 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.
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JetBlue gift catalog

In a brilliant example of viral marketing, JetBlue has published a catalog of gift items on its Facebook page. Called the "Flyer Collection," this is a catalogue of 15 gift items for the holidays. I hasten to add that these are tongue-in-cheek gift items, firmly in cheek, as JetBlue has invented some outrageous products, all to poke fun at its competitors who charge to check bags, charge for snacks, offer cramped coach seats, and don't come close to matching JetBlue's on-board entertainment. It's so brilliant I'm using my blog to spread the virus.

The Extrago Sherpa Shirt (pictured above) is described as holding "an entire trip’s worth of necessities, including the $20 bill you’ll save by not checking a bag. Granted, this isn’t the most comfortable shirt. But since you didn't book with JetBlue, perhaps comfort isn’t your main concern." That gives you an idea of the silliness and humor JetBlue's marketing department. You can't actually buy these articles, of course, but the catalog is well worth a look!

Now if JetBlue could only create a softer seat cushion (I find their seats a bit too firm for my taste) and introduce a business class section with 2X2 seating, it would be an airline I would love to recommend for domestic service. Still, you can buy two adjacent seats in its "extra leg room" section (with 38" of leg room) and get business class space for a lot less than domestic first class on most carriers.


copyright (c) 2009 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.
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luxury tropical resorts

Winter is upon us with a vengeance, and parts of the country are already enduring frigid temperatures and driving snowstorms. Even here in Berkeley, California where I live, this week has seen unseasonably cold temperatures with a slight accumulation of snow on Monday and temperatures in the 30's. It's enough to make a winter-weary traveler start thinking about warm-weather getaways to luxury tropical resorts in Hawaii, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

I am most familiar with Hawaii, being based on the west coast. Non-stops are available from SFO and LAX, as well as many secondary airports, to the major Hawaiian islands. Step on the plane at 8 a.m., and by 11 a.m. you'll find yourself in the warm, sunny tropics.

Where to stay in Hawaii? There are lodging options to match most budgets, but these are my choices for the best of the best.

Big Island — Four Seasons Hualalai. Land in Kona, drive a few minutes through the lava fields that remind one of a lunar landscape, and you will find yourself in this lush tropical resort that is the epitome of what a luxury vacation should be. No high-rise towers here — just two story buildings around four crescents, each with its own lawn and pool. Rooms are large and comfortable. Choose a second floor room for the best ocean views or, as many guests prefer, a ground floor room with its own outdoor lava shower.

Families will appreciate the complimentary kids program, and adults will enjoy the challenging 18-hole championship golf course as well as Hualalai's renowned spa (with both indoor and outdoor options for relaxing massages).

Oahu — The Kahala Resort. I love this hotel. There's a warm, relaxing, and comfortable feeling to this resort. 15 minutes away from the hectic, crowded madness of Waikiki Beach, I much prefer walking down the nearly empty beach in Kahala. If you're an early riser, you'll enjoy the beautiful sunrise (which is pictured at the very top of this blog as well as on my website).

Kauai — St. Regis Princeville Resort. Recently renovated and now under the management of St. Regis, one of my clients who just stayed at Princeville reports that the property is stunning and has a great general manager. Once this newly re-opened and re-branded hotel gets its service organized, this will be the luxury choice on Kauai. My favorite part of Hawaii - and a great destination for active travelers - Kauai is small enough to explore the entire island ... and varied enough to maintain your interest. Hike the Waimea Canyon (the "Grand Canyon" of Hawaii) or the beautiful Napili coast (wear shoes you don't mind getting muddy). Visit colorful botanical gardens or gaze at Kawaikini, the highest point on Kauai at 5,243 feet and the wettest spot on earth.

Maui — Four Seasons Maui or Ritz-Carlton Kapalua. These properties will appeal to different families. The Ritz-Carlton, in the Napili area of Maui, is a large resort set on an immense property. If you want lots of space, acres of green lawns, a beautiful beach, an award-wining children's environmental education program, and a challenging golf course, consider the Ritz-Carlton. Or, for a more compact setting with a complimentary kids program, you can't go wrong with the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea.

Enjoy value added amenities at any of these properties simply by booking through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner or Virtuoso luxury travel consultant. You will receive complimentary daily breakfasts, room upgrades if available, and other amenities that can include free lunches or spa credits.



luxury tropical resorts (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 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.
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two New York City luxury hotels

I made site inspections of two newly renovated hotels while in New York over Thanksgiving. As promised, here are my impressions.

The Pierre, located at Fifth Avenue and E. 61st Street, offers 189 guest rooms and 49 suites. The property is "owned" by the residents of the private apartments found within the hotel and managed for them by Taj Hotels, a hotel chain based in India. The hotel has two elegant entrances, and I was especially struck by the beautiful polished marble floors.

The renovated rooms have high ceilings and an attractive ivory color scheme. Elegant Indian fabrics are used for the bedding, and the effect is quite pleasant (see above). The most desirable rooms look over the buildings of the Upper East Side and offer a stunning view of Central Park. My one criticism of the property would be the bathrooms; they offer only a single, small rectangular vanity, barely larger than the sink. In my view, these do not provide enough surface area on which to place even one traveler's toiletries. Dual vanities are becoming the standard in five star hotels, and couples may have difficulty with the limited counter space at the Pierre.

The Plaza Athenee on E. 64th Street has long been one of my favorite hotels in New York. Located on a residential street, it offers understated but gracious service. Its one drawback had been its smallish rooms and old-fashioned, tiny bathrooms, but those limitations are now a thing of the past. In the extensive renovation, closets and long hallways have been taken out, creating more space for the guest rooms and, especially, for the bathrooms. Built-ins have replaced closets, and glass-enclosed step-in showers replace the old "shower in the tub with shower curtain." Especially impressive are new Suites, featuring a hardwood-floored living room with kitchenette and powder room, separated by a door from the bedroom.

The new aesthetic is classic contemporary, both in the restyled bathrooms and in the guestrooms. I noticed especially that the old formal draperies have been replaced with very tasteful, contemporary fabrics. My one criticism is that much of the old bedroom furniture is still being used in the guestrooms. Perhaps replacing the hard goods will be a future project once we have moved past the current economic slowdown.


Both the Pierre and the Plaza Athenee are members of Virtuoso, and guests enjoy competitive rates along with complimentary daily breakfast for two, room upgrades, and additional perks when booked through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant.


Virtuoso luxury travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 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.
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