the art of the (hotel) deal

One&Only Reethi Rah, cover resort for The Best of the Best 2017

Are you looking for the best deal?

You have now discovered the best-kept secret for getting better values at nearly 1,200 of the world's most luxurious hotels and resorts. Generally speaking, you'll pay the same best available flexible rate you can find online, but by booking through a Virtuoso travel advisor, you'll also receive the following valuable amenities:

Breakfast for two daily. Does the thought of paying $35 (or more) plus tax, plus gratuity, for a croissant, glass of juice, and cup of coffee send you out the front door of the hotel looking for a Starbucks? Virtuoso guests can enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the hotel's restaurant or through in-room dining. Many Virtuoso resorts offer a complimentary Full American breakfast, through room service if you wish, including buffets. I know the best free breakfast in whatever city you'd like to visit...

Room upgrades. Most hotels will upgrade you if available at the time of check-in, but perhaps 10% will do even better: upgrade you when you book. I know a hotel family that gives my clients guaranteed upgrades at the time of booking. Upgrades mean ... more space, higher floors, or better views!

Extra amenities (like a $100 credit towards food and beverage or the hotel spa) give you added values at every hotel I book. My favorite Virtuoso extra amenity? A VIP welcome at the jetway of your plane by an hostess who will fast-track you through the immigration queue, help you collect your luggage, and escort you to your complimentary limousine to the hotel. And your return trip is complimentary too! And you're guaranteed an upgrade at this particular hotel.

It doesn't cost a dollar, euro, or pound more, and you don't need an expensive credit card with a $450 annual fee to qualify.

The art of the (hotel) deal, indeed. Contact Ourisman Travel ... or any Virtuoso travel advisor ... to enjoy the best value at a luxury hotel.

copyright (c) 2017 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

#VirtuosoWeek top ten | Best of the Best book

This is number ten of my "top ten list" from Virtuoso Week.

Actually, it's a tongue-in-cheek accolade to Virtuoso's annual hotel catalog, The Best of the Best. An index to the more than one thousand, one hundred Virtuoso hotels and resorts around the world, it's a fun video parody of Apple's minimalistic advertisements for its fabulous iPhone, iPad, and Mac products.

But there's something better than the book. Check out Virtuoso.com/hotels, always completely up-to-date with every hotel in the network. Unlike the book, the website contains each hotel's complete list of Virtuoso amenities and promotions.

Never heard of Virtuoso? It's literally a secret in full sight, an indispensable resource for savvy travelers searching the web for the best prices and money-saving amenities at luxury resorts. Virtuoso should be your first thought whenever you reserve a room at a five star resort. Sure you can do it yourself, but you're missing out on a better deal.

How do I find the Virtuoso amenities for my favorite hotel? Begin by clicking on Virtuoso.com/hotels to begin your search. Type in a country, a city, part of a hotel's name, an airport code. You can even use * as a wildcard character, and the search engine understands boolean arguments.

As great at the book might be, the website is honestly much more powerful, always up-to-date with all the new additions, and available 24/7 anywhere you have an internet connection. Virtuoso.com can even point you to your very own Virtuoso travel consultant who specializes in your travel destination... or just email me.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Virtuoso Best of the Best

Virtuoso's 2010 guide to the best luxury hotels and resorts in the world has been published. Featuring a cover shot of the new One&Only Cape Town in South Africa, this is just one of over 800 properties in 89 countries around the world in the exclusive Virtuoso collection.

Why should Virtuoso matter to you? Do you want to experience the utmost in comfort, service, and luxury when you travel? Do you care about maximizing the value you receive when you travel? Virtuoso offers added-value amenities at every one of the 800+ properties in this catalogue:

• complimentary daily breakfast for two
• room upgrades upon check-in, subject to availability
• an unique extra amenity or perk at each property that may include lunch, dinner, a spa credit, or transfers

You don't pay more — you just get more — simply by booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant. And just as important, you will receive the personalized attention and service you deserve from an experienced travel professional.

Click here to view the digital version of Virtuoso Best of the Best.


Virtuoso 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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