FS Los Angeles | Hollywood's living room

Marilyn Monroe in front of FS Los Angeles (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Back from a quick trip to Beverly Hills, we spent the night at Four Seasons Los Angeles at Beverly Hills ... literally across the street from Beverly Hills. That the hotel revels in its Hollywood roots is immediately apparent when you pull up to the porte cochere. Greeting all guests is this larger-than-lifesize statue of Marilyn Monroe. To the right side of the lobby is the entrance to Windows Lounge, known as Hollywood's living room. Open daily from 4 pm, you'll never know whether the group at the table across the room might be negotiating the next Hollywood blockbuster.

The big news at the Four Seasons is its on-going room renovation project. While the room product has always been traditional and comfortable, the floor-by-floor renovation is taking guest rooms and suites to the next level. Follow this link to a short photo essay comparing the old and the new. The transformation is remarkable, and I think you'll be impressed. For something special, book a Premier Balcony Room; located on the corners of the building, natural light floods the room from two walls. 160 of the hotel's 285 rooms have been renovated, and all should be complete by year's end.

I've always been impressed by the hotel's spa, outdoor pool, and exercise facilities on the fourth floor. Most hotels have their gym in a completely enclosed, air-conditioned room ... but Four Seasons Los Angeles has created an indoor-outdoor exercise facility. When the weather is nice (which it is, most of the time in Southern California), the glass walls can open to let in the fresh air and sunshine.

Always one of the best luxury values in Beverly Hills, bookings through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner get you even more value. While I'm not permitted to list the amenities here, you'll get what you expect in terms of free breakfasts and hotel credits ... and there's a special FSPP promotion running through June 30 that just might get you a guaranteed upgrade at booking (not allowed to say on a public website ... but email for a complete list of Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities at all FS hotels worldwide).

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.

FS Punta Mita | summer villa special

I just got a phone call from Four Seasons Punta Mita with word of a great summer villa special. FS Punta Mita is one of my favorite beach resorts in the world. Why? Because Four Seasons has not one but two white sandy beaches — one an active beach for water sports and the other a quiet beach with a row of shade-casting trees along its edge ... perfect for sitting in the shade and reading, napping, or watching the gentle surf roll in.

The story is in the graphic above. There's a 7-night minimum to get these special rates, but if you want to spend week in your own Ocean View private residence or villa, imagine the possibilities. 3 bedrooms at just $700 per bedroom per night plus tax, 4 bedrooms at just $625 per bedroom per night, plus tax and 5 bedrooms at just $600 per bedroom per night plus tax. These accommodations include a full gourmet kitchen (so you don't have to eat out). Book by September 30th and stay by November 16th.

You get the Preferred Partner amenities with this booking. Due to contractural obligations, I'm not allowed to post them online — but here's the tease: I can get you freebies like upgrades, daily breakfast, and hotel credits, all for the same price you'd normally pay. Just drop me an email and I'll send you full details for any Four Seasons hotel or resort in the world.

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.

when is a Ritz not a Ritz?

rotunda of the Ritz London

This column is inspired by yesterday's announcement that Four Seasons will cease management of the Ritz-Carlton Chicago effective July 31st. On that date, Ritz-Carlton Chicago will become a Ritz-Carlton. Did you know that there are currently five (5) Ritz properties that are not managed by the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. They are:

Ritz Paris — one of my favorite hotels anywhere (I've stayed twice), the Ritz Paris has an enviable location right on the place Vendome. In the heart of Paris's 1st arrondissement, it's easy walking distance to anywhere in the center of Paris and is steps away from high-end shopping opportunities. The Ritz is in the midst of a quarter billion euro renovation. Expected to reopen by the end of 2015, I definitely want to visit when it reopens.

Ritz London — a very British hotel right on Piccadilly and on the northeast corner of Green Park (Buckingham Palace is on the opposite southwest corner, I enjoyed my 2009 stay at the Ritz. Come for the Afternoon Tea, and enjoy your stay in a very reasonably priced, traditional London hotel. Deluxe rooms and above, request a room on a high floor with lots of natural light, and for a real WOW, book a 1BR Deluxe Suites overlooking Green Park.

Ritz Lisbon — a Four Seasons hotel in the heart of Lisbon, Portugal, I enjoyed my stay here in 2009. A tip: it's relatively easy to score a room upgrade into a Deluxe room here. Just book through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant for priority status on the upgrade list ... as well as enjoy a rich set of FSPP amenities. Email me for full details on FSPP amenities at over 90 FS hotels worldwide.

Ritz Madrid — the Ritz Madrid is owned by Belmond (formerly known as Orient Express), and it's located in central Madrid next door to the Prado Museum. The Ritz is an older, traditional elegant hotel with great service. While I had to wait in line for concierge service at the Westin Place across the circle, two concierges approached me as soon as I walked up the Concierge desk at the Ritz.

Ritz-Carlton Chicago — still a Four Seasons Hotel (until July 31st), I can provide you with Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities up until then ... and Ritz-Carlton STARS amenities afterwards (which include a complimentary daily breakfast for two, free internet, and more). I expect the hotel will remain a member of Virtuoso after the Ritz-Carlton take-over.


I can provide added-value amenities at each of the above hotels, including complimentary daily breakfast for two, upgrades if available, and extra amenities that differ by property. Contact me for full details!

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.

is this Four Seasons Maui Beach tote in your future?

Four Seasons Maui beach tote

Four Seasons Maui provides a beach tote for guests to use during their stay. I received the bag pictured above as a gift from Four Seasons Maui but have never used it or taken it to the beach. It's a well constructed bag with zippered internal compartments (including a removable, padded internal compartment that will hold a portable computer or iPad). I want to pass it along to a client who's thinking about booking a vacation at the resort.

Here's how it can belong to you. Just book a 5+ day stay at Four Seasons Maui through me by 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT) on June 30. I will randomly select one of those bookings (using the "slips of paper in a bag" method) on the evening of June 30th. If I pick your booking out of the bag, I'll ship the bag to you free of charge by Priority Mail. If you have a U.S. address, I'll send it to your home; if you live outside the U.S., I'll ship it to you at Four Seasons Maui in time for your vacation.

What's so special about June 30? Four Seasons Maui is offering guaranteed upgrades at booking (if the next category is available at the time of booking) to all Preferred Partner bookings made by June 30 for travel from August 25 through December 15. If you stay 7+ nights during this period, you get a second $100 food and beverage credit for a total credit of $200 for your stay. If you've been thinking about a beach vacation in Maui, it's well worth your while to book your stay at FS Maui by June 30th!

Every Four Seasons Preferred Partner guest receives these exclusive amenities, available only through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, that will easily save you $450 over a five night stay.

• Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom, served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• Food and beverage credit of USD100
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
• Complimentary high-speed Internet access for up to six devices per room

Four Seasons Maui (search here on Google)

Fine print: The State of California, where I do business, has rules for the operation of contests that I want to be sure that I'm following, so here are the full disclosures: You are automatically entered when you make a 5+ night booking at FS Maui through me. There are no puzzles or games involved. No postage or handling fees will be charged - I'll ship by Priority Mail to you free of charge either to your home in the US or to your room at FS Maui. The entry period ends at 6 p.m. PDT on June 30, and the random drawing will take place that evening. Your odds of winning the bag are proportional to the total number of 5+ night bookings made at FS Maui between today and June 30. Example: if I make 4 bookings, you have a 1/4 chance of winning.

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.

Four Seasons Santa Fe

The newest Four Seasons is now accepting reservations, Four Seasons Resort Rancho Encantado. Encantado, formerly an Auberge Resort, is the highest rated resort in Santa Fe by Star Service. Located 9 miles north of Santa Fe, New Mexico, Four Seasons Santa Fe is a boutique resort with just 58 generously sized casitas (smallest size is 630 sq. ft.) and 10 large suites (1,100 sq. ft.).

The fine dining restaurant, Terra, offers Southwestern dishes prepared with organic, locally sourced ingredients. The spa offers 15 treatment rooms.

Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities include daily Full American breakfast for two (including room service), $100 food and beverage credit, a one-category upgrade at time of arrival based on availability, and complimentary internet for suite bookings. These amenities are available through any FSPP travel consultant at the same rates the public can access on the FS website, including Fourth Night Free or Resort Credit rates when offered.


Four Seasons Santa Fe (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 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. .

Four Seasons New York | Third Night Free

Four Seasons New York has announced a third night free promotion during the summer months, available from June 14 - September 9, although certain dates may become blacked out as occupancy rises. Summer is a lighter season for business travel to New York, so this promotion is aimed at the luxury leisure traveler - although business travelers can take advantage as well!

Coming to New York this summer? This is a rare value at the Four Seasons New York, one of the Big Apple's premier luxury hotels. Best of all, this free night offer is combinable with the Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities when booked through your FSPP travel consultant:

• Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom, served through In-Room Dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• Spa credit of USD100 once during stay (not applicable to products)
• Upgrade of one category, based on availability at time of check-in (excluding signature suites and villas)
• Complimentary high-speed Internet access for all suite bookings

Four Seasons New York (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2012 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. .