complimentary breakfasts at luxury hotels

Breakfast prices can sometimes seem frightening when staying at luxury hotels. Pictured above is a page from the room service menu at one of my very favorite hotels, the Beverly Hills Hotel. Many guests would want to order the American breakfast — for instance, two eggs with sausage, toast and a pastry, a fruit plate, a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, and a Cappuccino. The price is $55 plus $3.75 pp for room service delivery, and 20% service. With sales tax, that's $75 per person. $150 for breakfast for two? That's too much!

Here's how to enjoy the same breakfast for free! Don't use the hotel's website, but reserve your stay through a Virtuoso travel advisor. He or she will book the Virtuoso rate (typically the same as the best available "regular" rate on the hotel's website). These are typical Virtuoso amenities at nearly 1500 luxury hotels and resorts around the world:

• daily complimentary breakfast for two
• an additional $100 hotel credit (usually for food & beverage or Spa services)
• one category room upgrade at check-in if available

Virtuoso amenities are available at nearly 1,500 luxury hotels and resorts around the world. And even better than Virtuoso amenities are the preferred partner amenities a well-connected travel advisor can score for you at luxury chains. For instance, at the Beverly Hills Hotel (whose room service menu is pictured), my Diamond Club amenities will get you a confirmed upgrade at booking (up to the Jr. Suite category), a full breakfast in any venue including gratuities, and your $100 credit can come off the room rate room rate, if you wish.

You can check out Virtuoso amenities and book many Virtuoso hotels on virtuoso.com. Your Virtuoso travel advisor will be informed of your booking and will follow up by VIP'ing your stay with their contacts.

Click here to sign up for the Ourisman Travel Newsletter.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

when things go wrong ...

question emailed to me by Quora.com

I receive questions several times a day from Quora.com. Perhaps it's because I have answered such questions in the past, and readers have "upvoted" the answers I provided. I pass on most questions — ones for which there either is no answer or ones when a simple google search would suffice. I appreciate this opportunity, because it gives me insight into what the general public is thinking on the subject of travel.

I did answer the question quoted above. It addresses one of life's basic realities: sometimes things go wrong! Your flight is cancelled, and you're stuck somewhere thousands of miles from where you want to be. Your hotel can't find your reservation. There's a disagreement about the rate you booked. The room you get is tiny, nothing like the photo on the website. The toilet doesn't work. The bathtub is dirty. The front desk agent speaks rudely to you. And on, and on...

Things sometimes go very wrong. That's life, life happens, and nothing can prevent the occasional mishap. So the real question becomes ... when things go wrong, whom do you want on your side? If you have a grievance, to whom can you go to solve that problem. And thus my answer to Manojit Saha's question ... how can I complain? My answer...

You just did complain, and in doing so, you have illustrated the downside of using an OTA (online travel agency) to book hotels. Such companies use an automated process to process bookings and have minimal staff for customer service. 

What could you have done instead? Had you booked on the hotel’s own website, you could have phoned the hotel and spoken directly to the manager on duty to address your issue. Or you could have used a flesh-and-blood travel advisor to make the reservation in which case she or he would have been your advocate. 

You get what you pay for and, in this instance, you made the choice to use an OTA not set up for customer care.

Here's another thing about OTA's. They seldom offer the best value.

Here's a comparative analysis of two identical bookings for a Deluxe room at Le Meurice in Paris for 9JUN-12JUN.

Goibibo is advertising a total charge of 4050€ = 1350€ nightly. For this amount, you get a hotel room. Period.


If you want a much better value, book Le Meurice through a Dorchester Collection Diamond Club agency. You'll save hundreds of euros on your hotel stay...

• Guaranteed upgrade at booking from a Superior room (1200€) per night into that Deluxe Room, saving you 150€ per night
• Daily complimentary full breakfast for two.
• 100€ in bonus cash toward incidental expenses (or take it off your bill)
• Full, premium internet (not the low bandwidth you get for free)

And should anything go wrong? You won't have to contact a customer service center in India to solve your problem. I personally know the General Manager of Le Meurice, and if there is an issue, a simple phone call will get the matter investigated and a resolution made.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Plaza Athenee Paris | suite indulgence

art deco entrance to the Plaza Athenee Paris (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Looking for a WOW way to celebrate Valentines Day? You can make this February the most memorable month of your life. The Plaza Athenee Paris is offering a Suite Indulgence promotion, currently available for bookings as late as February 24, 2018. When you reserve a Superior Suite for 2+ nights, you'll receive a double upgrade-at-booking to a Prestige Suite (see the picture immediately below).

Prestige Suite at the Plaza Athenee Paris

With views over Avenue Montaigne, your Prestige Suite will provide you with a large living room, two marble bathrooms, and a master bedroom. With 80 square meters of living space, you'll have more than enough room to entertain in style ... or to relax in perfect comfort.

By booking through a Diamond Club agency such as Ourisman Travel, you'll get even more if you reserve this Suite offer.

Full American Breakfast daily for two guests — order off the menu, anything except alcohol or caviar — and it's all included, including tax and gratuities. You can eat in any of the hotel's dining venues, including in-room dining. 

Guaranteed double upgrade from Superior Suite (2100€) into a Prestige Suite (normally 4300€) — so, more than a 50% discount. 

Daily 100€ hotel credit that can even come off your room bill. 

Complimentary Premium WiFi for unlimited devices.

If you're planning to pop the question ... or just want to enjoy a most romantic weekend, in a most iconic hotel, in the most beautiful city in the world ... the first step is simply to get in touch!

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

holiday ideas for Paris

If your holiday plans include Paris, here are some favorite Christmas season ideas shared by the concierges of Le Meurice and the Plaza Athenée Paris, just two of the fabulous palace hotels that tempt visitors to the city of light.

Visit Vaux-le-Vicomte. To quote the words of the chateau's own website, "visitors will be transported to a sugarplum world of confectionary in a château decked with thousands of holiday decorations." The You Tube video above will give you an idea what visitors will experience: crackling fires, thousands of strings of light, decorated trees, rides in a horse-drawn carriage, and mountains of sweet treats. Tickets and shuttle from the train station can be reserved online. The 34 minute train from Paris Gare de l'Est to Verneuil l'Etang runs hourly, and you can reserve a shuttle to/from the Chateau (about a 17 minute drive).

Champs de Mars Christmas Market. Enjoy a skating rink at the foot of the Eiffel Tower, as well as a Christmas village where wooden chalets sell crafts, Christmas decorations, and regional gourmet products.

Both Le Meurice and the Plaza Athenée are part of the Dorchester Collection. When you book through a Diamond Club agency, you'll benefit from:

• guaranteed upgrade at booking (up to the Junior Suite category)
• 100€ credit towards your hotel bill
• full daily breakfasts for two that includes literally anything on the menu except caviar and alcohol
• complimentary Premium internet for unlimited devices

You can't get these amenities online. Get in touch, and we'll help you plan your next trip to Paris while saving you hundreds of dollars.

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

holiday ideas for London

photo by Martinvl and licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license

Visiting London during Festive Season? Here are favorite Christmas season ideas shared by the concierges at two of the top hotels in London, The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane.

Royal Albert Hall Christmas Carol Singalong. Gather in the magnificent auditorium of Royal Albert Hall (pictured above) as Jonathan Cohen leads the audience through a two hour singalong of his most-loved carols and Christmas songs. You can obtain tickets through your hotel Concierge. The Royal Albert Hall website lists the following dates:

Saturday, December 16 - 12:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 21 - 2:30 p.m.
Friday, December 22 - 2:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 23 - 12:30 p.m.
Saturday, December 23, 4:15 p.m.

Ice skating at Somerset House. This large, 18th century Neoclassical building, situated on the south side of the Strand in central London, overlooks the Thames just east of Waterloo Bridge. Admission to Somerset House is free, although some exhibits have a charge. The charge for ice skating begins at 8.90£ per ticket.

Both The Dorchester and 45 Park Lane are part of the Dorchester Collection. As a Diamond Club agency, we can secure exclusive, money saving amenities for you including:

• guaranteed upgrade at booking at The Dorchester
• 100£ credit toward your hotel room at The Dorchester
• daily 100£ credit toward your hotel room at 45 Park Lane
• full daily English Breakfast for two at either hotel (literally everything on the menu except caviar and alcohol)
• complimentary Premium internet throughout your stay for unlimited devices

Interested? Submit your travel request here, and we'll get you the full money-saving details.

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

do you do Black Friday?

Silversea Black Friday promotion

I received this email blast today, reminding me that Thanksgiving, otherwise known as the day before Black Friday, is nearly upon us. There are a lot of deals out there, including third-night and fourth-night free promotions at some of the world's most wonderful luxury hotels. These deals typically include such amenities as free daily breakfasts and hotel credits through amenity programs such as Virtuoso, Dorchester Diamond Club, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Rosewood Elite, and more.

There's even a promotion from Silversea, a luxury cruise line. Available to previous Silversea cruisers right now, the 5% discount sale opens to the general public on Monday, Nov. 20. Many Silversea cruises are part of the Virtuoso Cruise Program; this means even more savings to you when you book through your Virtuoso travel advisor. (You're free to put a cruise on deposit and then contact your Virtuoso advisor to take over the booking — but be sure to turn over the booking to us before you make final payment, due Nov. 28th if you want to take advantage of the Black Friday deal.)

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

3rd night free | can I get free breakfast with that?

If you could get free breakfast AND third night free, that would be a great value. New clients ask us all the time, "Do free night promotions also include Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Virtuoso, Diamond Club, (etc.) amenities?" The answer — for most of our luxury hotel partners — is YES!

There are a few luxury brands that are inconsistent about extending consortial amenities to free-night promotions. I regularly remind my sales reps about keeping up with the competition! But I'm happy to say that partners such as Four Seasons, Dorchester Collection, and Rosewood virtually always extend their amenity programs. You benefit from valuable perks such as free breakfasts, upgrades if available, and hotel credits. It's their customer-friendly policy.

Sometimes a promotion may appear on the consumer website ... but not show up on the preferred partner website or in Sabre. Not to worry! This means the person loading the rates accidentally left off a rate code, but can be solved with a simple phone call.

You can enjoy the best luxury hotel values possible by combining amenities with free night promotions. While I'm not allowed to post the exclusive Four Seasons amenities on a public website,  just drop us an email and we'll let you know.

P.S. — You can't book these deals with amenities online. You'll need to to make the booking through a connected luxury travel advisor ... at the very same price you'd pay online.

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

early London check-in after an overnight flight?

The Dorchester (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Flying a red-eye to London? Most flights from the US and Canada depart in the late afternoon or early evening and fly through the night. This is a great way to fly across the pond, especially if you're in a lie-flat sleeper seat and can fall asleep during your flight.

But when you arrive London early the next morning, you'll want to shower and change your clothes. Unfortunately, there being no arrivals lounges past immigration, you'll arrive at your hotel in the early-to-mid-morning needing to shower, shave or apply makeup, and put on some fresh clothes for the day.

What if your room isn't ready? While all Virtuoso hotels in London offer an early check-in if available, you can't count on this. Hotels can't control when in-house guests will vacate their rooms, and a full house means no early check-in possibilities.

The Dorchester Hotel has a new program for North American guests that will make your arrival much more pleasant. New GM Robert Whitfield recently told me about the offer: the Dorchester will guarantee you a room when you arrive! Two notes: (1) you or your travel advisor must provide your arrival information in advance, so the hotel can plan for your arrival. (2) While your specific room might not be available the moment you step enter the lobby, the Dorchester will give you access to a guest room of your own to use until your room is ready. You'll be able to shower, change, and go out for your morning's activities refreshed and feeling human again. (You can even take a nap, but I don't recommend this as it will totally screw up your sleep cycle!)

Diamond Club amenities offer you the best possible value at The Dorchester. All of our guests enjoy:

• guaranteed room upgrade (up to the Junior Suite category)
• full breakfast in any venue (including in-room dining) — virtually anything off the menu except alcohol and caviar, tax and gratuity included in the amenity
• one-time 100£ hotel credit that you can take off your room rate
• daily 100£ hotel credit for bookings of full Suites
• premium internet for unlimited devices

Another Virtuoso possibility in London currently offering guaranteed flexible check-in times is The Corinthia.

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

Beverly Hills Hotel | gourmet coffee shop dining

Fountain Coffee Room at the Beverly Hills Hotel (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Gourmet diner food anyone? Although we had been invited to dine with the rich and famous upstairs in the venerable Polo Lounge, we chose to have dinner at the soda fountain downstairs in the Fountain Coffee Room.

The last time I stayed at the Beverly Hills Hotel, I had my breakfast here at the counter, watching as the chef prepared my omelet, and I wanted Claire to have the experience of eating at this nostalgic throw-back of a restaurant. Breakfast is served all day long, and there are sandwiches, salads, and burgers on the menu. Open until 7 p.m., we came for dinner at 6:30. For an appetizer, we had excellent bowls of split pea soup. Claire's main course was a green salad with chunks of freshly cooked chicken. I had a turkey burger with blue cheese. And for la pièce de résistance, we split a vanilla milk shake — made from homemade vanilla ice-cream. Yum!

One of my favorite hotels in the world, the Beverly Hills Hotel offers its guests a sense of place complete with history and tradition. The hotel was actually built before the city was incorporated, and Beverly Hills got its name from the hotel. Guests walk the red carpet into the hotel's lobby. Hallways have wallpaper with the hotel's signature banana palm leaf-patterned wallpaper. Guest rooms have all been renovated in recent years, maintaining the hotel's traditional sense of style while tastefully updating the furnishings and wall treatments. The grounds are resort-like, and the hotel's pool is simply the best in Beverly Hills.

For the very best value, you'll want to book through a Dorchester Collection Diamond Club agency such as ourselves. You'll get a guaranteed upgrade at booking (up to the Junior Suite category), full daily breakfast for two in any venue (including the Fountain Coffee Room), a $100 credit that can be applied to the room rate (daily $100 credit for suite bookings!), and premium internet for unlimited devices.

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

Paris hotel site inspections

art deco entrance to the Plaza Athenee Paris, (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

It was only six weeks ago when I began my seven night stay in Paris. I have previously written about some of the great experiences we enjoyed — the Marmatton Monet Museum, Giverny, and a walking tour of the Street Art of the 13th and 20th arrondissements.

I also saw a lot of hotels, eleven in total. I've just posted reviews of those hotels on FlyerTalk, complete with a picture of each of the eleven properties. Here's the list of hotels that I visited:

Le Meurice
Le Bristol
Four Seasons George V
Ritz Paris
La Reserve
Plaza Athenee
Peninsula
St. James
Grand Hotel du Palais Royal
Relais Christine
d'Aubusson

Check out the FlyerTalk link for much more information, or feel free to contact me directly to talk about the luxury hotels of Paris. As a Virtuoso travel advisor, I can share with you my first-hand impressions and also provide value-added amenities that will save you hundreds of euros during your stay.

Paris is my favorite city in the world, and it has so many wonderful hotels. In my opinion, the first criterion is always location. As they say in real estate, the three most important things about any property are location, location, and location. Are you going to shop? Are you going to visit museums? Visit Notre Dame? Is your heart set on seeing the Eiffel Tower outside your window? Do you like Parisian glitz and style? What's your budget? Consider your answer to these questions, and I can help you find the perfect place for your dream vacation.

The picture at the top of this column is one of my favorites from Paris. It was taken outside the front door of the Plaza Athenee Paris. I was standing under the hotel's art deco entrance, aiming my camera up the front façade of the building. The "Plaza Red" awnings above each window helped create this memorable image.

copyright (c) 2016 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.

make a date with Paris in 2016

Watch this video, and you'll want to go back to Paris. Featuring scenes from my favorite city on the planet, you'll see shots of some classic Parisian scenes including the Arc du Triomphe, the Sacre Coeur, the Eiffel Tower lit up at night, and the grand rotunda of the Galleries Lafayette.

Also featured are two of Paris's best hotels, the Plaza Athenee Paris and the Shangri-La Paris. Both hotels feature killer views of the Eiffel Tower from some of their guestrooms.

So now that you're going back to Paris, here's how to get the best deal when you stay at either or these hotels. By booking through a Virtuoso and Diamond Club travel advisor, you'll receive the following added-value amenities for free.

Shangri-La Paris

• Complimentary full daily breakfast for two
• $100 hotel credit towards incidental expenses
• Upgrade if available on arrival

Plaza Athenee Paris

• Complimentary full daily breakfast for two (anything on the menu except alcohol and caviar)
• 100€ credit that you can use toward the room bill
• (daily 100€ credit if you book a full suite)
• Guaranteed upgrade at time of booking (up to the Junior Suite category)

I can get you this kind of value at more than 1,100 luxury hotels around the world.

P.S. — I have a date with Paris this September... 

copyright (c) 2016 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.

Dorchester Collection | 3rd night free all winter

art deco facade of the Plaza Athenee, Paris

Third night free is almost good as it gets, and when you get to enjoy it at one of the nine Dorchester Collection hotels, that's an unbeatable combination of luxury and value.

But it gets even better! You'll enjoy Diamond Club amenities along staying one night free in one of the world best hotels ... if you make your reservation with a Diamond Club travel advisor.

Book a guest room, and you'll enjoy these perks:

• a guaranteed one-category upgrade, up to Jr. Suite
• a one-time 100 hotel credit in local currency ($, £, €, or CHF)
• full breakfast daily for two in any venue — anything on the menu except caviar and alcohol
• premium internet for unlimited devices

Book a Suite, and you'll enjoy even more:

• an upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• a daily 100 hotel credit in local currency ($, £, €, or CHF) except for the free night
• full breakfast daily for two in any venue — anything on the menu except caviar and alcohol
• premium internet for unlimited devices

Don't miss out on this exceptional offer. The booking window begins November 1, 2015 and is open until February 29, 2016 for stays from 14DEC-3APR. Blackout dates may apply.

Check out these hotels for your next vacation or trip:
The Dorchester, London 
45 Park Lane, London 
Coworth Park, Ascot 
Le Meurice, Paris 
Plaza Athenee, Paris 
Le Richemond, Geneva 
Principe di Savoia, Milan 
Hotel Eden, Rome - closed for renovations 
Beverly Hills Hotel 
Hotel Bel-Air

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.

Plaza Athenee Paris | reopening today

Plaza Athenee Paris reopened this morning, August 1, at 7 a.m. Paris time. The property had been closed for many months for a renovation project incorporating a recently acquired building into the existing hotel. The Art Deco hotel is located on avenue Montaigne, and all front-facing rooms offer guests a view of the Eiffel Tower (if you look off to the right).

A reopening special dubbed "Be The First" is being offered for stays in August at Plaza Athenee Paris, subject to availability. A quick check of the GDS indicates that these rates are discounted 20€ per night. Guests receive American breakfast for two, two Black Rose Royal cocktails at the bar, a chocolate souvenir, and a "ribbon cutting" picture of your room.

An even better value is to book through any Diamond Club travel consultant. You'll pay the regular rate (i.e., no 20€ discount) … but in return you receive the following Diamond Club amenities:


A guaranteed one-category upgrade. Diamond Club guests are upgraded at booking. You want to stay in a Deluxe Room? Just book a Superior! Guaranteed upgrades up to the Junior Suite category.

100€ hotel credit. Yes, one hundred euros, not dollars, and it can even come off your hotel bill. Book a room, and you get a one-time 100€ credit. Book a full Suite, and you score a daily 100€ credit.

Full Breakfast Daily. You can take it in any venue. Want breakfast in bed? Order room service. Want to order off the menu? Anything except caviar and champagne is included, including tax and gratuity.

Free premium internet. Their highest speed internet, for unlimited devices, all for free.


Diamond Club amenities also apply to the other Dorchester Collection hotel in Paris, Le Meurice, as well as to Diamond Club bookings at every Dorchester hotel in the world. (Note that the hotel credit is in local currency. Staying in London? You get a cool 100£ in credits.)

copyright (c) 2014 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.

Le Week-end and the Plaza Athenee Paris

Went yesterday afternoon to see Le Week-end, because I leave tomorrow for Paris and wanted to further whet my anticipation for my 48 hours in my favorite city in the world.

Though the LA Times critique calls this "a sour and misanthropic film masquerading as an honest and sensitive romance," I actually found the movie fun — but perhaps that's because it's set in Paris, and I love everything Parisian! Without giving away the [thin] plot, the film opens with Nick and Meg on the Eurostar. This unhappily married English couple is headed to Paris to celebrate their anniversary. They arrive at their cheaper-than-cheap hotel in Montmartre and lug their suitcases up the stairs (no elevator here). Their drab, postage stamp room is barely larger than the bed within, and the small balcony looks down onto the nondescript street below. Meg refuses to stay. She drags Nick and their luggage into a cab which careens through Paris with the sunroof open, to better show us the sights.

Passing a stunning art-deco hotel near the Seine, Meg asks the cab to stop. I immediately whispered to Claire, "It's the Plaza Athenee!" They go into the hotel to get a room for the weekend and learn the hotel is totally booked. No rooms to be had. They sit on a sofa in the lobby to rest and are approached, shortly later, with news that a Suite has opened up … so they book the Suite for the weekend.

Its balcony on avenue Montaigne offers a stunning view of the Eiffel Tower. In the course of the film, we also see the ivy-covered courtyard of the hotel, the ivy being home to song birds who fill the courtyard with music. We see the illuminated bartop at Bar 228. We see the Dorchester Collection lapel pin on the front desk agent. Though we are never explicitly told the name of the hotel until the last moments of the final credits, this is indeed the Plaza Athenee Paris.

Currently closed for a complete renovation, the Plaza Athenee Paris will reopen in the summer of 2014. I'll be meeting with its sales manager this Wednesday to learn all about what you can expect when this Parisian palace hotel reopens its doors to welcome guests. In the meantime, know that any Dorchester Diamond Club travel consultant can get you the following amenities at the Plaza Athenee Paris:

• guaranteed upgrade at booking (up to the Jr. Suite category)

• 100€ hotel credit for a guest room (a daily credit if you book a Suite)

• Full Breakfast daily (including room service and anything on the menu except caviar and champagne)

• premium internet for unlimited devices

copyright (c) 2014 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.

3rd night free at Dorchester Collection

Third night free at some of my favorite hotels, with free breakfast and more — this is one of the best values that I've seen in a long time. The participating hotels are:

The Dorchester, London
Hotel Bel-Air, Los Angeles
45 Park Lane, London
Le Meurice, Paris
Coworth Park, Ascot
Le Richemond, Geneva
The Beverly Hills Hotel, Los Angeles
Hotel Principe di Savoia, Milan
Hotel Eden, Rome

All Diamond Club amenities apply (with the exception of the 100 unit credit for suites on free nights):

• Full Breakfast for two daily
• Guaranteed upgrade at booking up to Jr. Suite
• hotel credit 100 units of local currency for rooms (can be applied to room rate)
• daily hotel credit of 100 units of local currency for suites (but not on the free night)
• complimentary premium internet for unlimited devices

Valid dates: January 1 - March 31 (Dec. 1 - March 31 for UK hotels). Blackout dates apply.

Valid for stays in any room or suite at any Dorchester Collection hotel (exception — at Le Meurice, 3rd free applies only to Deluxe Room, Deluxe Suite, Executive Suite, or Prestige Suite bookings.)

copyright (c) 2013 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.

Coworth Park | weekend getaway outside London

the beautiful grounds of Coworth Park

I had the opportunity to spend an evening at Coworth Park for an overnight layover at Heathrow. The hotel is ideally suited for this purpose, being just a twenty minute drive from the airport (and infinitely more luxurious than any of the airport hotels on the perimeter of Heathrow). But you should also consider this property for a weekend leisure stay (for a corporate meeting or retreat).

One of ten hotels comprising the Dorchester Collection, Coworth Park offers the attentive service of a boutique hotel (just 71 rooms and suites) set on an expansive and picturesque country estate with two restaurants, a spa, gym, exercise room, horseback riding, tennis court, biking, croquet lawn, and a children's program. Just three years old in September, 2013, Dorchester Collection completed an extensive renovation of the original mansion and constructed new accommodations in the Stable and Cottage sections of the estate. Click here for pictures I took at Coworth Park.

We stayed in a Cottage Executive Suite, a large, two storied accommodation. The ground floor provided a substantial living area, small dining area, powder room, kitchenette, and work desk with desktop international power outlets, two Ethernet ports, as well as various output ports. Internet is fast and free for one device; Diamond Club guests receive free premium internet for unlimited devices. Upstairs was our large King bedroom with a second desk, a small bathroom with vanity and rain shower, a second small bathroom with a vanity, and a copper bathtub in the bedroom area. While I'm not a fan of duplex suites (why climb stairs?), the accommodations were spacious and the bedding on the four poster King bed was extraordinarily comfortable. The custom Muhldorfer down pillows were so perfect I looked for the label to order some myself (model 2010, 60/80 cm with 550 grams of 90% goose down, 10% goose feather filling).

The interiors at Coworth Park have a fresh contemporary style that blended some traditional elements, employed soft, restful colors, and displayed very good original art. Because the hotel was nearly full, I was unable to see many rooms. I did see a Superior Mansion room — sized as one would expect from a Superior — but Diamond Club guests receive a guaranteed upgrade at booking to a Deluxe. The high-ceiling end room felt spacious with a four poster bed. The bathroom was large with dual vanities, copper soaking tub, step-in rainshower, and WC. Ask to be blocked into "The Bothy," a small standalone cottage that is classified as a Deluxe room.

Diamond Club guests enjoy a guaranteed upgrade at booking, 100£ hotel credit, full breakfast for two daily (including room service), and the free unlimited internet previously mentioned. Coworth Park is a winner and highly recommended for locals seeking a weekend getaway or visitors wanting to stay in beautiful parklands outside of London.

Coworth Park (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 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.

where would James Bond stay in London?

We now know where James Bond spends the night in London. In the opening scene of the newest Bond book, 007 treats himself to a birthday breakfast after a night's stay. According to William Boyd, the book's author, "The Dorchester is the elite hotel — the choice of film stars and show business legends — and so it seemed fitting that when Bond wanted to give himself a special birthday treat, he would book himself a room at The Dorchester."

You can "Breakfast with Bond" on September 28th. The Dorchester will host a special "Breakfast with Bond" in The Grill from 10 a.m. until noon, with author Boyd reading scenes from the first chapter and mingling with guests. You can book the "Breakfast with Bond"online. The hotel will have signed copies of the book for guests staying this autumn, a "007 room service" involving martini nightcaps, and a full set of Ian Fleming's Bond books ... all of these available for purchase.

Even if you're not a member of Her Majesty's Secret Service, The Dorchester is always a great choice, a traditional luxury hotel right next to Hyde Park. Better yet, if you make a Dorchester Diamond Club booking (through a Diamond Club affiliated travel consultant), you score some really special perks:

• Guest rooms bookings receive a guaranteed upgrade and a 100£ hotel credit
• Suite bookings receive a daily 100£ hotel credit
• complimentary Full English breakfast, including via in room dining
• complimentary Premium internet for unlimited devices

Diamond Club guests have the privilege of exchanging a 100£ hotel credit for a private airport transfer in 2013.

Dorchester (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 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.

Alain Ducasse coming to Le Meurice

the restaurant at Le Meurice

Alain Ducasse, famed Michelin-honored French chef, has long been the head chef at the Plaza Athenee, one of two Dorchester Collection hotels in the city of Paris. It has just been announced that Ducasse will also take over the kitchens at Paris's other Dorchester Collection hotel, Le Meurice.

Le Meurice has the best location in Paris for tourists who want to walk everywhere in the center of Paris. Step out the front door, cross the street, and you're in the Jardin des Tuileries. Cross the gardens to visit the Musee d'Orsay with its world-class collection of Impressionist paintings. Turn left, and you'll shortly be at the Louvre. Turn right, and in several minutes you'll be at the Place de la Concorde and the Champs Elysees. A true luxury hotel, I especially enjoy the classic yet updated style of the guestrooms; they are exactly my style.

Being a Dorchester Collection Diamond Club agent, I am able to offer an exclusive set of amenities at both Le Meurice and the Plaza Athenee. These are guaranteed to save you money and make your stay more comfortable.

when booking guestrooms

• Guaranteed room upgrades, up to the Junior Suite category
• Full American breakfast for two daily
• 100€ hotel credit that can be applied to the room rate
• (or exchange the 100€ credit for a one-way airport transfer through Dec. 31)
• Complimentary premium internet for unlimited devices

when booking suites

• Full American breakfast for two daily
• Daily 100€ hotel credits that can be applied to the room rate
• (or exchange two 100€ credits to get round-trip airport transfers through Dec. 31)
• Complimentary premium internet for unlimited devices

Don't even think about using an OTA like Expedia, Priceline, Travelocity, or Orbitz. I can get you a better value at any Dorchester Collection hotel every day of the year.


Le Meurice (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 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.

Diamond Club | Dorchester Collection

I'm presently staying at the Hotel Bel-Air near Beverly Hills for the unveiling of Dorchester Collection's new Preferred Partner program, to be called Diamond Club. Brownell is one of a very few luxury travel agencies invited into this exclusive club, and this translates into substantial value for any of our guests staying at one of nine Dorchester Collection hotels around the world. The following information was provided at an official briefing at lunch today at the Beverly Hills Hotel):

• Guaranteed upgrade at booking to the next room category with maximum guaranteed upgrade into a Jr. Suite
• Full breakfast for two daily, including in-room dining. Tax and gratuity are included.
• $100, 100€, or 100£ one-time credit for room bookings, applicable to final bill
• $100, 100€, or 100£ daily credit for suite bookings, applicable to final bill
• Daily unlimited internet for unlimited number of devices
• No walk policy for Diamond Club bookings

Airport transfers — a special amenity offer through 31DEC, 2013

• the 100 unit credit for a room or suite booking can be exchanged for a one-way airport transfer
• with 2+ nights in a suite, exchange 200 units of currency for round-trip airport transfers

Please note the following: 

(1) Because 45 Park Lane is so small (just 45 rooms), is being treated as an all-suite property. No guaranteed upgrades, but you will receive a daily 100£ credit toward your final bill in all room categories.

(2) Diamond Club are in place of Virtuoso or FHR bookings but provide richer benefits, when booked under the Diamond Club rate code (only available to Diamond Club agencies) - which is equal to the Best Available Rate (but not promotional rates).

(3) The guaranteed upgrade at booking is a great amenity. Book a Deluxe at The Dorchester in London and be upgraded to an Executive Deluxe - a fabulous, WOW room category. Book an Executive at Le Meurice in Paris and be upgraded to a Tuileries view Executive.

(4) No other preferred partner program provides a hotel credit in the local currency, and 100€ or 100£ are worth more than $100 when staying in England, France, or Italy. Even in Switzerland, 100 CHF is currently worth about $108.

(5) Daily 100 credit for suites means that upselling to a Suite may be your best value at a Dorchester Collection hotel.

These are the nine member hotels at which you can receive the Diamond Club Dorchester Collection amenities:

England: The Dorchester, 45 Park Lane, Coworth Park

Paris: Le Meurice, Plaza Athenee

Milan: Principe di Savioa

Geneva: Le Richemond

Los Angeles: Hotel Bel-Air, Beverly Hills Hotel

Diamond Club Dorchester Collection (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 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.