Travel Specials Around the World from International Harbors

specials

Following are favorite hotels for every type of travel from business to family or romantic exotic locales.

Alaska: The Hampton Inn, Anchorage
California:
- Four Seasons Hotel, San Francisco(Top ratings for quality and superb location.)
- Hotel Drisco, San Francisco (Located on Pacific Heights and considered one of the finest hotels in the world.)
- Hotel Mark Hopkins, San Francisco (Note: This world-class hotel is too lax on its dress code for its elegant and impressive Sunday Brunch; other than that, it is stunning.)
- Ritz-Carlton Hotel, San Francisco (On exclusive Nob Hill near Union Square and Chinatown, North Beach, Fisherman's Wharf, etc.)
Florida:
- The Setai, Miami Beach
- Lowes Don CeSar, St. Petersburg (Image above/right. Great family hotel: 7.5 miles of beaches)
- Hotel Indigo (A stylish boutique-inspired hotel with 100% smoke-free accommodations!)
- Renaissance Vinoy Resort & Golf Club (The only luxury hotel on the West coast of Florida that combines a private marina, 18-hole golf course, and 12-court tennis complex.)
Oregon: Monaco Portland, Portland (A Kimpton Hotel)
Washington: Hotel 1000, Seattle (In the city center near art, shopping, fine dining, the financial district . . . )

Canada: Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec (Image above. On a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River, yet close to Old Quebec.)

France
- Cour des Loges, Lyon
- Sofitel Lyon Bellecour, Lyon (A 5-star hotel on the banks of the Rhone)
Germany: Sofitel Munich Bayerpost, Munich
Ireland: Conrad Dublin, Dublin (In the heart of Dublin city center near the concert hall, St. Stephens Green, fashionable shopping, National Art Gallery)
Italy: The St. Regis, Rome
Portugal: Pousada de Faro - Estoi Palace Hotel, Rua Sao Jose, Faro (Set in the 19th Century Estoi Palace.)
Scotland: Edinburgh (A selection of five-star hotels, including the Caledonian Hilton on Princes Street in central Edinburgh.)
Switzerland: Lausanne Palace and Spain Lausanne (The GaultMillau Hotel of the Year 2011.)
Wales: St. Davids Hotel and Spa, Cardiff (Exclusive, striking, landmark building on Cardiff Bay.)

Australia: Thala Beach Lodge, Port Douglas (A 5-star eco-resort)
Maldives:The Maldives are one of the best dive sites in the world with some of the world's most exquisite (and most expensive) hotels, including Conrad Hilton's Ithaa Undersea Restaurant (pictured below) in his Rangali Island resort. At 16 feet below sea level it is the world's first all-glass undersea restaurant; it is undoubtedly one of the most spectacular restaurants on earth.
- Conrad Rangali Island Maldives Hotel (Set on two private islands.)
- Hilton Maldives Iru Fushi Resort & Spa (Stunning. Secluded.)
- Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, Kunfunadhoo Island (No news. No shoes. Barefoot luxury.)
New Zealand: Hotel Lighter Quay - McGallery Collection by Accor, Auckland

Ithaa Undersea Restaurant in the Maldives.

Bangkok: Shangri-La Hotel Bangkok (On the banks of the Chao Phraya River; travelling by riverboat is an excellent way to tour Thailand.)
China: The Langham, Hong Kong (Voted Best Business Hotel. Near Canton Road, Victoria Harbor and the Star Ferry.)
Japan: The Prince Park Tower, Tokyo
Malaysia: Top hotels in a range of prices, including Eastern & Oriental Hotel, in Penang and Shangri-La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa on Batu Feringgi Beach, Penang
Thailand: Aleenta Resort and Spa, Phuket (A lovely boutique hotel with luxury suites and villages on a pristine stretch of beach.)

Egypt:
- The Le Meridien Heliopolis, Cairo
- Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa, El Remaya Square, Cairo (With views of the Pyramids minutes away.)
Israel:
- Hilton, Tel Aviv (On a cliff overlooking the Mediterranean.)
- The Carlton, Tel Aviv (5-star deluxe hotel located on the beach close to the Old City of Jaffa.)
North Africa: Stunning 5-star hotels in Djerba, Tunisia including Yadis Djerba Golf Thalassa Spa on the sea front of Djerba and the Radisson Blu Resort and Thalasso in Djerba.
Morocco: 5 Star Hotels in Marrakech including Royal Mansour Marrakech, being created with the old city walls of Marrakech, and running about $2,100 per night (Image below.)

South Africa: Twelve Apostles Hotel and Spa, Cape Town
Tanzania: Zanzibar Serena Inn, Stone Town, Zanzibar. (A prestigious small luxury hotel decorated in Swahili style and Arabic opulence.)
Turks and Caicos: Parrot Cay Resort and Shambhala Retreat (right)
United Arab Emirates:
- Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Abu Dhabi
- Shangrila Hotel, Dubai (World-class hotel for businessmen with sea-view rooms.)
- Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai (5-star resort with a focus on families and couples on a private beach facing the Arabian Gulf.)
- Mina A Salam Madinat Jumeirah (A luxury hotel on a stretch of pristine private beach.)

Mexico:
- Fiesta Americana Grand Coral Beach, Cancun (Great family hotel pictured below. While such resorts are huge, they do provide something for everyone and, surprisingly, have sufficient space that private moments are possible.)
- The Royal Mayan, Cancun (Quintana Roo; Excellent for families and close to the exclusive Riviera Maya about 30 minutes from Cancun and 20 minutes from Playa del Carmen and close to XelHa, Mayan Pyramids, the second most dramatic coral reef system in the world and fine dive sites. Caution: Avoid their aggressive timeshare sales presentations -- unless you really WANT a timeshare.)