two new luxury hotels in New York

guestroom at The Chatwal, New York

I had the opportunity to visit two New York Virtuoso hotels over the Thanksgiving holiday. Here's a brief description of these newly renovated luxury properties.

The Chatwal — Planning a visit to New York to see some Broadway shows? The Chatwal is a great hotel in the heart of the theater district, located on W. 44th Street, half a block from Times Square.

The contemporary art deco design of the hotel creates a warm and vibrant entrance, while the guest rooms are cool and elegant with unique decorating motifs with everything you'd want for a comfortable stay and a good night's sleep: 400-thread count Frette bed linens and sound deadening suede wall coverings. Bathrooms offer double vanities, soaking tub, separate walk-in rain showers, and separate water closet (not to mention TV's in the mirror). The hotel's spa and fitness facility provides a small, salt water lap pool (with a current to swim against) and two jacuzzis (one with hot and one with cold water).

Virtuoso guests enjoy an upgrade on arrival subject to availability, a complimentary continental breakfast for two daily, and a $100 Spa credit.



The Mark — This Virtuoso property was closed for an extensive three-year renovation during which the 1927 building was gutted to create larger guest rooms and install modern heating and plumbing systems. Located on the Upper East Side (E. 77th Street at Madison Avenue), the hotel is located in a residential neighborhood away from the bustle of midtown. The Mark is convenient to the Metropolitan Museum (3 blocks), the Whitney Museum (2 blocks), and the 77th Street subway station (2 blocks).

With a contemporary style created by French designer Jacques Grange, the lobby features black and white striped marble floors with very contemporary furnishings, and the very trendy bar pulses with energy. If you're looking for an elegant yet lively nightspot, consider the Mark.

But once you leave the lobby, the subdued guest floors create a restful environment for a good night's sleep. Rooms combine traditional, elegant crown moldings and door trim with contemporary furnishings. Bathrooms offer what every five-star hotel should have: double vanities, deep soaking tub, walk-in shower, and TV in the mirror. (OK, I really don't understand the TV-in-the-mirror thing, but the best new hotels all provide them!) Lead-in Courtyard rooms are more than 400 square feet and overlook the very attractive backyards of several townhouses on 78th Street (and, in particular, a beautiful maple tree whose autumn colors were quite striking). The fitness facility is large and very well equipped.

Virtuoso guests receive the added value of an upgrade on arrival subject to availability, complimentary daily Continental breakfast for two, and a $100 F&B credit.

New York Virtuoso hotels (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. 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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Ritz-Carlton STARS

Ritz-Carlton STARS has always been a "semi-secret" program, but now that the official veil of secrecy has now been lifted (including a new "for publication" logo), I'm free to tell the world about Ritz Carlton STARS.*

Sometimes the lowest price is not the best deal, and the STARS amenities make Ritz-Carlton a compelling value when considering your luxury hotel options anywhere in the world. Ritz-Carlton can be a better value than the competing Hilton, Hyatt, or Sheraton down the street.

What do you get?

Complimentary continental breakfast for two daily. This is a big deal, as breakfast can easily cost $30 per person at many luxury hotels. Your breakfast will be "on the house" on bookings made at the published rate - even weekend rates. (Free breakfasts are not available on negotiated corporate rates or promotional rates).

But the benefits only begin with breakfast. You can also get the following —

• Pre-registration and express check-in, upon request at time of booking.
  
• Late check out — a complimentary 4 p.m. departure upon request at time of booking, based on preferred availability.
  
• Clear space — every attempt will be made to clear space in sold-out situations.
  
• No walk policy — in sold-out situations a STARS client will never be "walked."
  
• First priority for requested room category, bed type, and connecting rooms.
  
• Complimentary, customized amenity, activity, or service. Whether you have a preferred welcome amenity, or just a very special request, that special courtesy can be extended to you.

These are very real benefits, and I've had clients benefit from each of them.


*Brownell Travel is one of 50 Ritz-Carlton STARS agencies, and as an independent affiliate of Brownell, any booking that I make for you entitles you to the STARS amenities at any Ritz-Carlton in the world.

Ritz Carlton STARS (search here on Google)


copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. 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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Atlas of Remote Islands

Several days ago, I received my review copy of Atlas of Remote Islands: Fifty Islands I Have Never Set Foot On and Never Will by Judith Schalansky. I had to wait my turn to see the book, however, as my partner Claire picked it up, started reading, and could not put it down! The Atlas contains 50 one-page stories that utterly intrigued her.

I finally got my chance the next day. As the title indicates, the book contains 50 topographical maps depicting fifty [mostly] little known and isolated islands; all are drawn to the same scale (1:125,000). The area and population of each island is indicated as well as its distance to the nearest land masses and a historical timeline. The real highlight of the Atlas, however, is the collection of the fifty short stories that were researched and retold by Schanlansky.

Although most of the fifty islands are destined to perpetual obscurity, a few do have enduring historical significance: St. Helena, in the middle of South Atlantic Ocean, was the island to which Napoleon was exiled and died. Easter Island, in the South Pacific, was denuded by its first inhabitants, twelve tribes who chopped down all the giant palms, leaving the island an ecological disaster; tourists still come to view the 887 monumental stone statues that make this an UNESCO World Heritage Site. The summit of Iwo Jima is the spot where World War II's iconic photograph was taken — six U.S. soldiers raising the American flag in a premature declaration of victory.

The book would be a thoughtful holiday gift idea for aspiring geographers and cartographers - or anyone with an eclectic interest in natural history.


copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. 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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weary of online booking?

A headline in the USA Today this morning said, Weary of online booking, clients return to travel agents. The article reported that only 46% of travelers who use the web to book travel enjoy the experience. Why is this so? Because there are simply too much data out there, and we're drowning in information.

The promise of the internet was that everyone could be their own travel agent.

• Want to know all the hotels in a city, along with all the different room categories, rates, and promotions? Go to an OTA such as expedia or orbitz.
• Want some [hopefully] impartial feedback on those hotels? Click onto TripAdvisor.
• Want to plan an itinerary for your European vacation to Europe? Travel websites have been created for every country in the world.
• Want to reserve plane flights, rental cars, trains, limousines, travel insurance, even museum tickets? You can do it all online.

The downside of this reality is that you're left on your own, and planning a vacation becomes a stressful hassle.

There's an alternative to using Google as your travel adviser. You can engage the services of an experienced travel consultant who has planned hundreds of trips, booked thousands of hotels rooms, and visited the exotic destinations you want to explore. A travel professional will charge a planning fee to craft your customized trip; you know how time consuming it is to plan travel, and the time of an experienced professional has value. In return, you benefit from their expertise sorting through thousands of options and helping you create the life-enriching travel experience of your dreams.


travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. 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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multi-island Hawaii trip

the beach at Manele Bay, Lana'i

While west coast residents have the luxury of traveling frequently to Hawaii and experiencing a different island each time, the rest of North America doesn't have that luxury. That's one reason to consider a multi-island Hawaii trip.

the Hawaiian Islands

Oahu is the most populated Hawaiian island. While many people enjoy Waikiki Beach for its buzz (lots of bars, restaurants, and nightlife - and an ABC Store on every corner), I recommend getting away to a more secluded tropical setting, the Kahala Resort, which I've enjoyed both times I've stayed there. Oahu is also the home of Pearl Harbor and the USS Arizona Memorial.

Maui is blessed with great beaches and offers beach vacations at every price point, from affordable condos to luxurious five star resorts such as the Four Seasons Maui. There's plenty to do. Many vacationers enjoy a bike ride down Haleakala Volcano at sunrise ... or a submarine tour from Lahaina.

Kauai is an active vacationer's dream, with widely varied landscapes on a small island easily explored in a week. Don't miss the Napili Coast, but wear shoes you won't mind throwing away after your unforgettable hike along a sometimes muddy trail. Stay at the St. Regis Princeville in the summer months and at the Grand Hyatt Kauai in the winter months.

The Big Island (Hawaii) offers an incredible diversity of scenery: fields of hardened lava flows north of Kona (resembling a lunar landscape), verdant rain forests on the Hilo side of the island, black sand beaches, and even an active volcano. Four Seasons Hualalai is my idea of what every tropical resort should be - low rise, two-story buildings spread out over a spacious resort.

Lana'i is what Hawaii used to be before the developers discovered this tropical paradise — not a single traffic light on the island. There are just two resorts: one by the sea (Four Seasons Manele Bay) with its beautiful, secluded beach — and one 1,500 feet above sea level in a setting that resembles a traditional Hawaiian pineapple plantation (Four Seasons Lodge at Koele). Still relatively undiscovered, Lana'i offers the best luxury values in Hawaii.

my favorite two-island itinerary

Maui and Lana'i are just a 45-minute ferry ride apart, and it's easy to combine a stay on these two islands. Begin your vacation in Maui, easily reached with non-stop flights from the west coast as well as Denver, Phoenix, Dallas, and Chicago — and many Canadian cities. Kick back your feet and enjoy a casual beach vacation. Rent from Hertz at the Maui airport (OGG), and plan to drop off your car at the West Maui Hertz office for a small drop-off fee. Hertz will drive you to Lahaina Harbor where you can catch the Ferry to Lana'i. Finish your vacation in the lap of Four Seasons luxury, either at Manele Bay or the Lodge at Koele. Fly home through Honolulu with easy connections everywhere.


multi-island Hawaii trip (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2010 by David Ourisman LLC. 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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