Waterfront dining, Cabo San Lucas
Rocker Sammy Hagar's in Cabo
Perito Moreno Glacier, Argentina
Roratonga, Cook Islands
A Reclining Buddha in Thailand
Nice on French Riviera
Flower Mart in Dublin, Ireland
The ultimate lodging in Tahiti
replete with glass coffee table to watch fish swimming below
specials
Because funds are tight these days, our travel is restricted to two weeks each year, so we are going to spoil ourselves during those two weeks; we are locating the best lodging in the world while trying to decide where to go. Once we have a cost, we will save for our journey -- no more credit, ever! Our premise is that we might as well spoil ourselves during our break from working 60-70 hour weeks, right! We're still trying to top our stay in Moorea and Bora Bora in 2002.
Offers arrive monthly from airlines, cruise ships and land tour operators with competitive rates and last-minute specials such as Cruise Direct, Orbitz and One Travel.
It's worth comparison shopping, although we never find rates differing by much.
Jamaica was one exception, but that is greatly due to the fluctuation between the dollar the Jamaican currency. We used One Travel for the Jamaica trip; everything went smoothly.
Specials are also featured on the Travel Blog. and the newest location, as we write, is the GRAND OPENING - Aulani, Disney Resort in Ko Olina, Hawaii! (Book by 12-16-11 and receive the 5th night free, compliments of Orbitz.)
Following are favorite hotels for every type of travel from business to family or romantic exotic locales.
United States
- 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
- Canada: Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec (Image above. On a bluff overlooking the St. Lawrence River, yet close to Old Quebec.)
Europe (including England, Ireland, Wales)
- 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.)
South Pacific
- 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
Asia
- 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.)
Middle East and Africa
- 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.)
South America, Central America, Mexico
- 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.)
Last Minute Cruises and Short Cruises
with Cruise Direct and Orbitz
Given the state of America's economy (and much of the rest of the world), most major cruise lines are providing deep discounts for even their most exotic journeys.
Also, Orbitz features cruise lines offering discounts, including free shore excursions. This is a good value because those excursions add up quickly.
Several cruise lines offer short 2-3 days cruises that will give you a taste of ship travel to see if longer cruises might appeal to you. These ships have game rooms (bridge, backgammon, etc.), classes, movies, gyms, casinos, view balconies, spas (massage and aromatherapy), and many dining options. It's a great way to determine if a one-to-two week cruise is for you.
Tip: Always get an outside room, and if your budget will allow, always reserve a balcony room.
Note: While there are "no smoking" or "non-smoking" sections on ships, we have heard complaints that smoke was coming up from the balcony room beneath their suite. There are now a few ships that are completely smoke free, so if you are a non-smoker these might appeal to you.
Changes in Latitude, Changes in Attitude