A Luxury Travel Blog

Last month, after $25m in renovations, L’Auberge Del Mar opened in California.  This coastal resort brings with it a new concept in Southern California hospitality, with an elegant look reminiscent of a high-end private estate. The renowned 120-room historic seaside has undergone extensive upgrades and is now home to Bleu Bar, a pool deck, a 4,500 sq. ft. spa, rooms with 42″ plasma TVs and the Waterfall Terrace with its own 14-foot illuminated waterfall.

Rome gets hotter and so does the shopping… the Summer Sales will start on the 5th of July and will last until the end of August, so don’t miss the opportunity of visiting Rome and during this period - you’ll be sure to have the chance of getting some great bargains at the most fashionable Italian boutiques! The Hotel de Russie is doing a Summer Sale package for this period. A minimum 2 night stay is required with prices running up to 818 euros for a Studio Room. Daily buffet breakfast is included, as is a welcome gift by a renowned Italian designer, after aperitifs at the fashionable Stravinskij Bar and two “Ancient Roman Ritual” massages at the De Russie Wellness Zone.

Continuing its philosophy of creating signature venues in its hotels in Asia and the USA, The Peninsula Hotels introduces Salon de Ning, an innovative new lounge and bar concept. Based on the fictitious tale of Madame Ning, a Shanghainese salonnière, these stunning new venues reflect the glamour and style of 1930s Shanghai - the “Paris of the East”. The first Salon de Ning is located on the rooftop of The Peninsula New York, and features two large outdoor terraces with Chinese-style day beds for relaxing and taking in the stunning city views. A glass-enclosed bar features an eclectic art collection and antique Chinese timber screens sourced from early 20th Century Shanghai residences.

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

• Some of the finest hotels from The Rocco Forte Collection
• Head for the West Country and sample Devon’s Finest
• Hotels, restaurants, bars and spas from fizzyclub
• Nestled in a caldera cliff are Andronis Luxury Suites, Santorini

Situated steps from scenic Central Park, the upscale shops of Fifth Avenue and top Manhattan restaurants, The Benjamin is an ideal location to experience New York during the summer - when the city comes alive. Join The Benjamin this summer and receive 15% off the Best Available Rate and a complimentary wine tasting flight for two at The Emery Bar. The offer is valid until 2nd September 2008.

Starting from now until 31st August 2008, you can stay at the stylish Affinia Chicago hotel and receive 20% off the best available rate!  The recently renovated property is located just steps from Michigan Avenue and will soon be home to the highly anticipated C-House restaurant. Opening in mid-May, C-House is the creation of celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson and will feature modern American seafood. Just in time for the warm weather, the hotel will also open its scenic rooftop bar, C-View, this summer.

This summer will mark the launch of celebrated chef Michael Mina’s first-ever cocktail lounge, Clock Bar, in the lobby of San Francisco’s historic Westin St. Francis. Creating a perfect harmony of bold flavours, sophisticated textures and artful presentation, Union Square will again have a stylish, welcoming rendezvous spot, presented in a cocktail venue that combines the classic sophistication of old-world San Francisco.

Barcelona is well known for having great restaurants with great design.  When you’re next there, try Inopia.  It’s owned by Albert Adrià, the brother of chef Ferran Adrià from El Bulli.  Great for tapas and has a huge menu, including fresh salt cod with tomato salad, and confit of tuna belly and ham croquettes made jamón Ibérico.

Luxury hotel chain Rocco Forte is offering a special package at their London Brown’s Hotel to celebrate the 100-year anniversary of Ian Fleming’s birth and the launch of the Imperial War Museum London’s new exhibition, “For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond“. The ‘Ian Fleming Centenary’ stay includes overnight accommodation in a luxurious room or suite, full English breakfast (which is reputed to be Bond’s favourite meal of the day), two tickets to the “For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond” exhibition at the Imperial War Museum, two Bond cocktails in The Donovan Bar, an exclusive, and a hardback copy of Ian Fleming’s Casino Royale. As well, guests can also make use of The Spa at Brown’s which offers a wide range of treatments, including a large selection of ‘Male Grooming’ packages

Brown’s Hotel is an ideal place to pay homage to the great Mr James bond - it is featured in John Gardner’s Bond novel ‘Icebreaker’ and the Donovan Bar offers a wide range of decadent Bond cocktails. And at the glamorous re-launch following the hotel’s recent £24 million renovation, famed Bond actor Roger Moore was in attendance. The Ian Fleming Centenary package starts from £315 per night, excluding VAT, and is available for Friday, Saturday and Sunday nights, from 18th April to 28th December 2008, subject to availability.  For further information or to make a reservation please call 0800 988 4040, visit www.roccofortecollection.com or email reservations.browns@roccofortecollection.com and quote ‘Ian Fleming Centenary’. Tickets to the ‘For Your Eyes Only’ exhibition are subject to availability and time restrictions may apply. To book these tickets, clients must contact the hotel directly to arrange.

Andrea Wren is a freelance journalist and owner of Luxury Worldwide Tours.

Affinia Hotels is opening a boutique hotel in Chicago next month.  Formerly the Fitzpatrick, the hotel has undergone $25m of renovations that have seen the development of 215 guest rooms, the lobby and a rooftop bar. The new hotel will also house C-House, a seafood restaurant led by the celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson. But, for those who prefer not to venture out, a 6-choice pillow menu is available.  Learn about this and similar extras on their website.

The latest enterprise from Steve Wynn is to be Encore Suites in Las Vegas, billed to open in December 2008. It’ll consist of 2,034 spacious suites with “a cosmopolitan style and sophistication ensconced in a comfortable, residential feel”. Suite sizes vary from 700 square feet (Resort Suites) up to 5,800 square feet (VIP Suites). In addition, there will be five signature restaurants, seven bars and lounges, a spa and salon, a nightclub and multiple retail outlets.  Rates are yet to be confirmed, but expect to pay upwards of $500 a night.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts will open its first W Hotel in Washington, D.C. in 2009. W Washington D.C. will open in what was the historic Hotel Washington, an Italian Renaissance revival building occupying the corner of the city’s world-famous Pennsylvania Avenue and 15th Street. Owned by Istithmar Hotels Washington, LLC, W Washington D.C. will be located directly across the street from the White House, offering 317 luxurious guest rooms, including 32 suites, a spectacular rooftop bar and terrace and a world-class signature restaurant.

One of the most romantic spots with stunning, sky-high views of Manhattan, would have to be the Lobby Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental, New York. Reservations are now available for their new Champagne Tasting Menu debuting just in time for Valentine’s Day. Toast your delighted valentine with fine Champagnes, savoury delicacies and the Manhattan skyline at your feet. The three-course Champagne Tasting Menu is $195 for two people, exclusive of tax and gratuity and is available daily from 2pm until 19th February 2008.

The first new resort on the Las Vegas strip in nearly three years has officially opened amid an impressive music, fireworks and light show that culminated with a concert headlined by Diana Ross. The new $1.9 billion Palazzo Las Vegas from Las Vegas Sands Corp. celebrated its grand opening at the weekend with a star-studded line-up of guests that included Hillary Swank, Mandy Moore, James Denton, Rebecca Romijn and Jerry O’Connell. This new resort-hotel-casino features modern European ambience and design, with spacious suites, restaurants by top celebrity chefs (Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Mario Batali and Charlie Trotter), top-class entertainment, a dynamic sports bar and lounge, The Shoppes at The Palazzo which has luxury stores including Las Vegas’ first-ever Barneys New York, and a Canyon Ranch SpaClub.