Few parts of the world do luxury as well as Asia. And few hotels do luxury as well as Ritz-Carlton. Which is why fans of luxury travel and way-cool Asia experiences should be excited by news of two new Ritz-Carlton properties across the Pacific. One is a beautiful resort on the north shore of Koh Samui, a fantastic island off the coast of Thailand with fabulous beaches, glimmering waterfalls and wonderful snorkeling and diving opportunities. The other is a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Niseko Village, which is set at the base of Mount Niseko-Annupuri, the Japanese ski region. The Ritz-Carlton Koh Read more
Ritz Carlton
Hotels are going the boutique route. Cruise ships are going the opposite direction. Each year, cruise ship operators seem to be upping their “mine is bigger and fancier than yours game.” And nobody does it better than Royal Caribbean. The cruise line made a big splash, as it were, with its remake of the Oasis of the Seas about five years ago. Then came its ever-so-slightly bigger sister ship, Allure of the Seas. Both ships feature seven distinct “neighbourhoods,” along with a carousel and designer shops, such as Kate Spade, and carry roughly 5,400 passengers. The Quantum of the Seas, Read more
What a great, progressive step. Hyatt Hotels has announced that, starting February 2015, ALL guests in ALL Hyatt properties will get free Wi-Fi. In a great item posted at skift.com, writer Jason Clampet notes that “the rollout will include all hotel brands, including the select-service Hyatt Place properties and up through its premium Park Hyatt offering. Use of Wi-Fi will not be limited to members of its loyalty programs, as was previously done at some brands. Hyatt Gold Passport members will have access to premium Wi-Fi service at some properties.” “Internet connectivity is no longer an amenity. It has become Read more
A great Ontario getaway, and a smashing cruise offer. Star Travel columnist Kathryn Folliott has a couple of excellent bargains on offer in her latest Fare Deals column. One great deal she outlines is for significant savings on a cruise with Silversea ; a free suite upgrade and on-board spending credit worth up to $1,000 (U.S.) per suite. I was lucky enough to have a suite on a Silversea ship last year, cruising the Mediterranean. It was an outstanding experience, with a HUGE suite that gave us everything we needed. The bedroom was large and comfortable and the bathroom was Read more
HONG KONG – I never cease to feel a sense of wonder when I get to this city. The airport gleams upon arrival, and it always seems to be a seamless, quick trip through customs, with nary a question to be asked. North American flights often arrive early in the morning, and you’ll probably see the mountains or hills of Lantau Island rising in the mist as you make your way into town by car or on the cheap (about $12) Metro express train. You then pass thousands upon thousands of red, green and blue shipping containers that line the Read more
