Hawaii opens October 15th with negative Covid test

Good news! Hawaii is in the process of reopening to visitors... and Hawaii's pre-testing program for Covid-19 will begins on Thursday, October 15. The state has created a two-minute video explaining the five-step process (see below).

Step one — surf to Hawaii's online Travel and Health Form. Each traveling adult will establish their own sign-in. Complete, e-sign, and submit the online form, adding any minors as "additional travelers." Verification numbers will be texted to your cell phone and emailed as well, and you'll have to enter these six-digit numbers.

Step two — enter details of your trip including arrival date, departure and arrival airport, flight information, government ID, your hotel in Hawaii. etc.

Step three — 24 hours before your trip, you will be informed by email and text that your Travel Health Questionnaire is available. Log in and complete the questionnaire. If you have your negative test result, you will be able to upload that form at this time. If it hasn't come yet, you will present the hard copy when you arrive in Hawaii.

Step four — check your email for your QR. Print this out and/or get the code on your phone.

Step five — Things to have ready at the airport checkpoint in Hawaii: your QR code, government-issued ID for each adult, a charged and working cell phone, and your test results (unless you've uploaded them ... but I'd bring them anyway).

What's deal with the Covid-19 pre-travel test? No earlier than 72 hours before your flight, take an FDA-approved nucleic acid amplification test (NAAT), performed using a nasal swab, and get proof of negative test results. CVS and Kaiser Permanente are both certified as trusted testing partners, but you can use any CLIA certified laboratory.

What if you don't get your test results before your flight? If you're lucky, your test results will be in your email by the time your reach the islands. If not, you will be required to quarantine in a hotel room (at a hotel that provides this option) until you receive your proof of negative test results and report them to the Hawai‘i State Department of Health.

Most luxury resorts will not allow you to quarantine at the resort. The following, for instance, is the policy of Four Seasons Maui:

The option to quarantine (rather than provide proof of a negative test) is not available to our guests. Therefore, all guests must have proof of a negative PCR Covid-19 test that had been performed no more than 72 hours prior to arrival. This will need to be shown at the airport, as well as at the Front Desk upon check in.

A temperature screening process will be in place upon arrival and throughout the Resort, along with additional Lead With Care protocols.

At this time, we will not allow outside guests to use our facilities, including the restaurants and spa.

Bottom line: find a test laboratory than will guarantee results within 3 days, and you're good to go! 

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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.

now that Southwest flies to Hawaii...

... where are you going to stay?

Today, Southwest Airlines launched its long-awaited service to Hawaii with the departure of Flight 6808 from Oakland, California (my home airport) to Honolulu. Passengers were greeted with leis both on boarding and upon their arrival into HNL. Service will continue to expand with a second OAK-HNL flight on March 24th, flights to Maui on April 7th, and service to Kona on May 12th.

These will be no-frills flights with nothing but Coach seats to be had for the long 5 1/2 hour flights. Neither will full meals be available. By adding seats to the Oakland-Hawaii market, the price of coach seats will likely come down. On the other hand, I highly recommend flying First Class on Alaska or Hawaiian. Pricing is surprisingly affordable, and both airlines offer comfortable First Class service and full meals. Some Hawaiian Airlines planes even have lie-flat sleeper seats.

Where to stay in Hawaii? I've listed my favorite hotels, and Ourisman Travel offers you added value by providing free breakfasts, $100 hotel credits, upgrades, and more — all at the same regular prices you're seeing online.

Honolulu
The Kahala Resort
Halekulani
The Royal Hawaiian
Four Seasons Oahu at Ko Olina

Maui
Four Seasons Maui
Andaz Maui
Fairmont Kea Lani
Ritz-Carlton Kapalua Bay
Montage Kapalua

Kona
Four Seasons Hualalai
Mauna Kea Beach Hotel
Fairmont Orchid
Mauna Lani, an Auberge Resort

copyright (c) 2019 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.

Sunday's postcard from Maui

beach tree on Maui (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

There is a path along the beach in the Wailea area of Maui. It begins at the Fairmont Kea Lani at its most southern point, passes the Four Seasons Maui and Grand Wailea, and ends at the Andaz Maui at its northernmost point. Walking this path is a great thing to do in the early morning while it's relatively cool — either before or after breakfast.

There are so many excellent places to eat and drink (we had dinner last night at Duo at the Four Seasons), so this is a good way to get some needed exercise and burn off those calories. Lots of couples were jogging the trail ... good for them! The trail is about 2 miles in length.

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 our website.

postcard from Maui

view from room 604 (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Words aren't necessary. This is the view of west Maui from my balcony in room 604 at Four Seasons Maui, an Oceanfront Suite. You just have to be awake at 6 a.m., but such are the rewards for being an early bird!

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 our website.

want a personal travel shopper?

I'll be attending Virtuoso Travel Week at the Bellagio in Las Vegas.

Shopping for travel can be very confusing. While Google is where many people begin to plan their next vacation, most people quickly become overwhelmed. Google the word "travel," and you'll get 1.19 billion results!

So consider us your personal shopper for travel. We can cut through millions of possibilities and help you plan the trip of your dreams. Whether you want an African safari or a bespoke trip that lets you experience the real China, a driving trip through the south of France or a relaxing vacation in Bora Bora, we can help ... because we've been there!

We will save you time, money, and frustration. If a beach vacation at Four Seasons Hualalai or Four Seasons Maui is capturing your fancy, we'll save you hundreds of dollars — with complimentary daily breakfasts and a hotel credit good toward a lunch or dinner. We can provide similar amenities at over 1200 luxury hotels and resorts around the world. It won't cost you a penny extra to book luxury hotels through us, and you typically pay at check-out, exactly the same as if you booked online.

Along with thousands of other Virtuoso travel advisors — and three other members of Team Ourisman, I'll be at Virtuoso Travel Week next week. It's not a vacation — it's work. I'll literally be shopping for you, listening for what's new and exciting and building relationships with our travel partners who help make your vacation special.

Is travel on your mind? Just click on our website and send us your travel request. While our response may take a bit longer than usual, as we'll be in meetings and networking from 6:30 a.m. until well past [normal] bedtime), we'll get back to you as soon as possible to help you Discover More in your travels.

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.

the stocking was hung on the doorknob with care

seen outside a door at FS Palm Beach (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Santa really gets around on Christmas Eve. When I left my room shortly after 6 a.m. this morning to head down to the gym, I saw the evidence of Santa's visit hanging on the door of the room neighboring mine. Three candy canes are visible, so I'm guessing this was left for a young family with one child. No other rooms in my hallway had stockings, so I'll leave this mystery to your powers of deduction.

With a twinkle in my own eye, I decided to add to the mystery ... and slipped in a little note of my own. "You were very good this year. Merry Christmas! Santa." The parents will just have to wonder where that came from!

Very much enjoying my brief stay at the Four Seasons Palm Beach. I'm in a third floor Ocean View room overlooking the pool and the ocean beyond. Very similar to the rooms at FS Maui, the room has an angled view of the ocean. Pictured below is the very nice view from my bed!

Four Seasons offers great values for families, as there is no charge for rollaway beds for children under 18, Kids for All Seasons programs are complimentary, and clients of FS Preferred Partner agencies enjoy valuable amenities. While I'm prohibited by contract from listing them here, I can tell you that if you've been paying for breakfast, would make use of a special one-time credit, and would appreciate a room upgrade if available, you should contact Ourisman Travel or any other Preferred Partner agency!

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.

Four Seasons | so much is included!

view of the main pool at FS Maui

Have you overlooked Four Seasons for your next vacation or business trip, worried that a five star experience is beyond your budget? Think again! While many hotels and resorts nickel-and-dime you with charges for everything, so much is included with Four Seasons's brand of hospitality.

Using Four Seasons Maui as an example, here are some of the services that are complimentary when you're a guest.

At the property
Kids 5 and under eat free
Aloha Suite for early arrivals and late departures
free cabanas and umbrellas
free coffee and tea in the lobby in the morning
complimentary Kids for All Seasons (a full-day children's program for 5 and up)
Outrigger Canoe program
free resort shuttle to restaurants and shops in Wailea

In the room
beach tote to use during your stay
age specific amenities for your children
complimentary rollaways for children 18 and under
two bottles of water refreshed daily

Recreation
daily fitness classes, including yoga on the beach, pilates, and tai chi
fitness center open 24 hours
game room
golf putting green
pool amenities (chilled towels, ice water, Evian spritz, frozen fruit, and more!)
snorkeling equipment
tennis courts and use of racquets

Preferred Partner amenities
While Four Seasons does not want us to publish the list, I can tell you that the FSPP amenities are significantly better than the resort's Virtuoso amenities which the whole world can see at this link.

Email me, and I'll be happy to send you my easy one page guide to the Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities at all 94 hotels and resorts around the world. It might be enough to convince you to spend your next vacation at a Four Seasons hotel or resort!

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.

Christmas at FS Maui, anyone?

A 2 Bedroom Oceanfront Suite at Four Seasons Maui just became available overnight for Festive Season.

Dates of stay: December 24 - January 1

Terms of reservation: Nightly rate is $6100 + tax. Full deposit taken at booking, and the reservation is non-refundable.

Preferred Partner amenities

• 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)
• Now standard at all properties: Complimentary basic Internet (up to 2 devices) in all guest rooms, complimentary premium Internet (up to 4 devices) in all suite

How to book. This will not stay available for long. Call my office immediately (510.647.8444) or phone the resort directly at 800.334.6284. Mention that your travel agent is David from Brownell Travel so that you can receive the Preferred Partner amenities.

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.

Four Seasons Hawaii | best time to visit Hawaii

Looking for the lowest rates for a trip to Hawaii? My rep from Four Seasons Hawaii has provided me with an exclusive list of "value dates." Occupancy is still relatively low during the following periods, meaning these are the best times to visit Hawaii. Rates may go up the longer you wait, so book now to grab the values while they last. The reservations are flexible, and you can cancel without penalty up to 21 days before your date of arrival for guest rooms.

Four Seasons Maui
April 7-20
May 28-June 17
September 21-28
October 1-31
November 1-20
December 1-18

Four Seasons Hualalai (Big Island)
May 17-26
June 1-8
July 5-12
August 23-30
September 1-3
September 26-October 1
October 20-31
November 1-20

Four Seasons Manele Bay (Lana'i)
May 10-31
October 20-31
November 1-30
December 1-18

Four Seasons Lodge at Koele (Lana'i)
May 9-31
June 1-30

You will receive valuable Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities, worth hundreds of dollars over the course of your stay, when booking any Four Seasons resort in Hawaii through a Preferred Partner travel consultant:

• 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 basic Internet access for up to two 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.

guaranteed upgrades at Four Seasons in Hawaii

Planning a trip to Hawaii? Four Seasons has the best collection of resorts anywhere in Hawaii. If your plans are bringing you to Maui, the Big Island, or to Lana'i, look no further than Four Seasons.

To make the best even better, Four Seasons Preferred Partner guests can get a guaranteed upgrade at a Four Seasons in Hawaii if you book by June 30th for stays August 25-December 15. But you have less than 30 hours to lock in your upgrade, as bookings under this promotion must be made by June 30. The offer is subject to availability at time of booking, and blackout dates and other restrictions may apply.

... and to sweeten the deal a bit more, you get an extra $100 towards food and beverages with a minimum 7-night stay during the same period.

Book by: June 30
Effective dates: August 25 - December 15

Please note the specific details of the offer at each Four Seasons in Hawaii:

1. Four Seasons Maui
Offer valid only on Garden and above room categories (does not apply to Mountainside)

2. Four Seasons Hualalai
The extra credit is only applicable to Poolside rooms and suites (not applicable to Golf Ocean); the upgrade is only applicable to Golf Ocean, Poolside, Partial Ocean and Ocean View categories.

3. Four Seasons Manele Bay
The extra credit does not apply to Garden Terrace rooms.

4. Four Seasons Lodge at Koele
The extra credit does not apply to Garden rooms.

The best deal, every day! Regardless of this particular promotion, all of my clients get the best luxury values in Hawaii, every day of the year, with following complimentary amenities at any Four Seasons resort in Hawaii:

• 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 in Hawaii (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.

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.

flight cancelled from Palm Beach to Dallas

view from our Premier Ocean View Room at Four Seasons Palm Beach

We checked out of the Four Seasons Palm Beach at 6:15 this morning and headed to PBI for our flight back to San Francisco. Check-in was quick, security was non-eventful, and we were waiting at the gate ... when the dreaded announcement was made. "American Airlines flight 499 to Dallas has been cancelled due to snow in Dallas. Please make your way to the ticket counter to reschedule your flight."

My first reaction was consternation, but my second thought was to recall the advice of travel journalist Joe Brancatelli. Don't wait in line. Call your airline's 800#, which I did (while walking to the ticket counter). Rather than hold for 3-6 minutes (as my cell phone charge needs to last all day!), I elected to have American phone me back.

While standing behind dozens of passengers in a line that never moved an inch, I answered the return call, reviewed our options, and snagged the two remaining First Class seats that would get us back to SFO today. The phone agent then arranged to get my bags transferred to the new flights, I then printed out our new boarding passes from a kiosk.

The line still had not moved an inch!

So, thank you, Joe, for your great tip! Even though it's a subscription based site, joesentme.com is an invaluable source of travel advice and bargains. I highly recommend it.

By the way, FS Palm Beach is a very nice resort, and we very much enjoyed our stay. Pictured above is the view from our Oceanfront room, well worth the upgrade from an Ocean View. The room is significantly larger (almost a Jr. Suite in size) with a direct view over the pool towards the ocean. Ocean View rooms have an angled view of the ocean, very similar to the layout at FS Maui.

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.

FS Maui | possible last-minute space for Christmas

Four Seasons Maui may have Festive Season space (Christmas through New Years). I learned this from my FS Hawaii rep; this would be due to last-minute cancellations at FS Maui.

If you're interested, please phone me ASAP at 877.444.2325 as this will not last! All bookings I make for you come with the Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities.

• 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 all suite bookings

FS Maui (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.

FS Maui | winter vacation in Hawaii

adults-only Serenity Pool at Four Seasons Maui

You could be here! Winter is coming, and the ensuing months will bring cold weather, snow storms, and short daylight hours to much of North America. If you're anything like me, you'll want to escape the cold and damp of winter and enjoy a week at the beach, soaking in the sun.

Four Seasons Maui is by far the the most popular resort that my clients book. Rooms are spacious, luxurious, and attractive, and if you're traveling with kids, you have two options.

1. Most comfortable — book two connecting rooms, a King-bedded room for you joined by an interior room to a room with two Queen beds for your children.
2. More economical — book a King-bedded room which also has a Queen-sized sofabed for the kids.

Guests rave about the service at FS Maui. I spent a morning at their adults-only Serenity Pool (see my picture above). It's a quiet place to relax in the sun, lounge under the shade of an umbrella, or laze in the pool. Every hour or so, Four Seasons pool attendants come by with a treat — frozen fruit, chilled towels, ice water, or a spray of Evian mist.

Three on-property restaurants offer a variety of cuisines. DUO specializes in steak and seafood, Ferraro's offers casual lunch or authentic Italian cucina rustic cuisine served right by the beach, and Spago (Hawaiian fusion cooking). Wailea offers more restaurants and great shopping, and Four Seasons offers a complimentary car service to shop and eat anywhere in Wailea.

So much is included. Though not inexpensive, Four Seasons Maui offers great luxury value with no resort fee. Meals for kids 5 and under are complimentary at DUO and Ferraro's. Kids For All Seasons is a complimentary full-day children's program. And the list of inclusions goes on...

Here's a secret way to save hundreds of dollars over the course of your stay at FS Maui: don't book online through an OTA like orbitz or expedia. Make your reservation through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner. Your room rate will be exactly the same, including any "Experience More" fifth night free or resort credit rates that you may find, but you'll get free breakfast every day and so much more.

• 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 USD 100
• 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 Maui (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.

is the cost of breakfast keeping you away?

review for Four Seasons Maui from Trip Advisor

Is the cost of breakfast keeping you away from luxury resorts like Four Seasons Maui? The five-star review above was recently posted on Trip Advisor. This family of four loved everything about their stay — everything, that is, except the cost of breakfast. They paid $80-$100 per day for two adults, one 7 year old, and one 4 year old. (The 4 year old ate free and the 7 year old's breakfast was half price).

adults-only Serenity Pool at FS Maui

Too bad they didn't know to book their vacation through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner. Each parent would have received free breakfast every morning (including the buffet) as well as a one-time $100 food and beverage credit (and a room upgrade, if available at check-in).

If the cost of breakfast is the reason you're considering a stay in a condo instead of Four Seasons Maui, think again! My clients enjoy free breakfasts as well as the incredible service offered by Four Seasons, including the Serenity Pool for adults and the complimentary Kids for All Seasons program for kids up to age 12.



and more TripAdvisor reviews from guests who just didn't know…

brooklyn y, July 19: "breakfast for 2 was about $70 with just coffee and pancakes for 2. But I had the BEST pear syrup and apple pancakes - wowie. I still think of these."

rohanluktuke, July 16: "Breakfast buffet is great as well. Consider getting the bed and breakfast package deal."

poshgirl24, July 15: "We bought the breakfast package because that buffet is heavenly."

Four Seasons Maui (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. .

room upgrades | the holy grail of hotel stays

Ocean View Prime Suite at FS Hualalai

I can't show the comic strip, as King Features wanted $60 for a one-time license, but go to the Rhymes with Orange website and click back to the April 15th cartoon. Cinderella is standing in front of "The Enchanted Forest Rental Desk" to rent a pumpkin coach. The rental agent, a flying fairy godmother complete with wand, informs her, There are no more pumpkin coaches on the lot, but for the same price we can upgrade you to a butternut squash.*

Room upgrades are the holy grail of luxury hotel stays. For many hotels and resorts, the only difference between a less inexpensive lead-in room and higher room categories is the view. A great example is the Four Seasons Maui where lead-in Mountainside rooms look away from the ocean with a view of the roof of the parking garage. Higher room categories (Garden, Partial Ocean, Ocean View, and Ocean View Prime) have progressively better views. So a room upgrade is a valuable perk that can save you $100 every night of your stay, depending on time of year.

How can you increase your chances of getting a coveted room upgrade? Find a luxury travel consultant who

(1) is a preferred partner of your favorite hotel families. Brownell Travel has preferred partner relationships with Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Park Hyatt, Orient Express, and Rosewood, among other luxury brands. We are among a handful of agencies that are the biggest producers for these brands, and our clients go to the top of the upgrade list.

(2) is a member of Virtuoso, or another consortium with negotiated amenities such as Signature or FHR. These perks include room upgrades on check-in, subject to availability, at over 900 five star hotels and resorts around the world.

(3) has personal relationships with sales managers at the hotels you want to book. If you send a lot of guests to certain hotels, and work with sales managers to VIP your clients, they get to know you and will often try to guarantee an upgrade in advance.

It can help if you are a frequent guest of certain hotels. So when you find a hotel you love, stay with it! Your own relationship, especially when combined with that of your travel consultant, will help you score a room upgrade!

room upgrade (search here on Google)

*Hilary B. Price, "Rhymes with Orange" (April 15, 2012)


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.
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Maui | beach vacation paradise

I'm just back from a 5-day trip to Maui during which we visited three different resorts and explored some of the beaches and snorkeling opportunities on Maui. Some quick impressions about Maui.

1. Maui is a beautiful island which is easy to get around. The one main road along the coast of West Maui is smooth and attractive (and it's been widened to four lanes around Ka'anapali area which helps the traffic flow).

2. Maui is all about great beaches. If you want to sit by the pool or beach, body surf in the waves, and go snorkeling, Maui is a beach vacation paradise. Want to go further afield? Visit the Haleakala Crater, the world's largest dormant volcano. More than 10,000 feet above sea level, you should bring warm clothing and, for a special thrill, bike ride down the mountain. Many visitors enjoy driving the winding road to Hana (with 600 curves and 54 bridges) through the scenic rainforests along the eastern shores of Maui.

3. Maui has two of the world's best luxury resorts, the Four Seasons Wailea and the Ritz Carlton Kapalua. Tip: by booking through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner and Virtuoso agency, you'll get free daily breakfasts, room upgrades if available, and other additional perks.

4. Maui has some very large beachside resorts, but if you prefer an intimate and very nice resort right on a great beach in a protected cove, you'll enjoy the four-star Napili Kai Beach Resort (pictured above). I saw a newly refurbished Ocean Front Suite, which sleeps a family of 4 comfortably, has 2 full baths, and a full kitchen - a good value at $590 and highly recommended for a Maui beach vacation.


Maui beach vacation (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2011 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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Hawaii on sale

United Airlines has just announced a fare sale to Hawaii with one way fares as low as $190*, and Alaska Airlines is advertising one-way fares as low as $169*. Explore the possibilities at united.com and alaskaair.com.

If you're planning a trip to Hawaii, this is the time to book with Hawaii on sale. 2011 occupancy levels are significant higher than 2010, and there are dates for which the lowest-priced rooms are already sold out at Four Seasons Maui and Four Seasons Hualalai. Avoid disappointment by booking your rooms now. Then go online and book your air once you have your space secured. Deposits at all Four Seasons in Hawaii are completely refundable up to 21 days before arrival.

Four Seasons features four Hawaiian resorts at which to enjoy a luxurious tropical vacation. FS Maui, Four Seasons very first resort, is renowned for its service and a brand-new, adults-only Serenity Pool. FS Hualalai is my idea of what every tropical resort should be - spread out and casual. FS Manele Bay (on Lana'i) offers seclusion and one of the best beaches in the world, while FS Lodge at Koele (also on Lana'i) creates the ambiance of a traditional Hawaiian pineapple plantation with a very fun and challenging 18-hole putting course!

You receive great value at Four Seasons resorts with complimentary Kids Programs and no annoying resort fees. As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner, my clients enjoy value-added amenities - complimentary daily breakfasts, one free lunch for two, and room upgrades on arrival if available.


*Additional taxes and fees will apply; see the airlines' websites for complete disclosure of fees and taxes. I do not sell air.


Hawaii on sale (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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Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea was Four Seasons' first resort property, opening in 1990. The property recently underwent a complete make-over of its 380 rooms and suites. Large guest rooms are equipped with flat screen televisions and elegant marble bathrooms, and a family of four can comfortably stay in a Deluxe room (or, better yet, an Executive Suite or 1 BR Suite). I was shown an Ocean View Prime Room during my recent site inspection. Prime rooms are located on mid-to-upper floors in the quieter central courtyard with a beautiful angled view of the Pacific Ocean.

Planning a family vacation in Hawaii? Four Seasons Maui has a great beach and features a large central pool. A complimentary Children's Program is offered every day of the year for children aged 5-12. Parents can indulge themselves in an elegant spa and make full use of complimentary exercise machines.

Three exceptional restaurants are located on property, including Ferraro's (Italian), Spago (California and Pacific Rim), and DUO, (steak and seafood). I dined at DUO and thoroughly enjoyed a meal that began with a superb glass of Pinot Grigio and perfectly prepared Mahi Mahi.

A Serenity Pool is currently under construction in the southwest corner of the property (see picture to left) that will provide a quiet place for adults — and especially honeymooners — to relax away from the exuberance of kids running, splashing, and playing. The ocean-front suites and six rooms facing the site will be closed until the pool's opening, and the construction should not affect anyone's enjoyment of the Four Seasons Maui.

Be sure to book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant to benefit from exclusive amenities that include complimentary Full Buffet Breakfasts for two daily in a partial ocean-view room or higher.


Four Seasons Maui (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2008 by David J. Ourisman. 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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