Ritz Paris | the rebirth of a legend

I am anxiously awaiting the unveiling of the newly renovated Ritz Paris.

One of the iconic hotels of Paris, the Ritz needed renovation badly. Because it can take a long time (as in years, apparently) to obtain permits when historic buildings are involved, the process was delayed… but renovations are now well underway. This video gives just a glimpse of the painstaking work underway and an anticipation of the glorious rebirth to come.

I'll be in Paris this April. While it won't be possible to tour the construction scene, I will be having tea with the sales manager of the Ritz Paris - hopefully to see some drawings of the newly designed rooms. Paris is blessed with many great hotels, and I expect the Ritz to be one of the true jewels of the luxury palace hotels of Paris.

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.

what's on your travel bucket list for 2014?

view from the museum at Hellbrunn Palace, Salzburg

I enjoyed some wonderful travels in 2013 which I've shared with you on Travel Horizons. With the new year upon us, it's time to turn my attention to 2014 and a new set of travel adventures. Here are some of my travel plans. What's on your travel bucket list for 2014?

COSTA RICA — 31JAN-7FEB. While I've had a number of opportunities to visit over the past few years, this is my chance finally to experience Costa Rica. One of the world's eco-tourism destinations, Costa Rica has mountains, rain forests, volcanoes, lakes, and beaches. I'll be seeing all of these as well as making hotel site inspections. Two nights at El Silencio, two nights at the Springs Resort, and the final three nights at Four Seasons Costa Rica. My itinerary and transfers have been arranged with the expert guidance of Rico Tours.

FRANCE — 1APR-9APR. My trip to France begins in Paris with two days of site inspections. I'm planning to see the Shangri-La, Prince de Galles, and Fouquet's Barriere — and hope to be able to also see some hotels currently under renovation or construction including the Ritz and the Peninsula. My six-day FAM trip then takes me to La Ferme Saint Simeon, Chateau La Cheneviere, l'Agapa Hotel, Le Domaine des Hauts de Loire, Chateau de Bagnols, and Hotel L'Alpaga. We'll be visiting Honfleur, the Beaches of Normandy, the Bayeux Tapistry, Mont St Michel, Perros-Guirec, the Loire Valley, Beaujolais, and the Alps. The trip ends in Geneva; here's a google map.

IRELAND — 3MAY-10MAY. Brownell's annual FAM trip will take me back to Ireland in May with stays at Ashford Castle, Dromoland Castle, Kildare Hotel (K Club), and possibly Ballyfin. It's also a chance to reconnect with all of my Brownell colleagues … and to enjoy some half pints of Guinness.

LAS VEGAS — 9AUG-15AUG. While Vegas is not an ideal summer destination (I dislike heat), Virtuoso Travel Week draws me back year after year. Four days of appointments with hotel sales reps, education opportunities, and connecting with fellow Virtuosos.

September-October? Still thinking about the destination for Ourisman Travel's second annual FAM Trip. Where would you suggest?

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.

Ritz Paris | renovations in process

click here to see the video

Ritz Paris is one of the iconic hotels of the world, located on the Place Vendôme, just a block from the Tuileries and in the one of the most exclusive shopping areas in the world. It has been closed since last August to undertake a complete and extensive renovation. The linked video shows some of the construction, some of the famous guests who have graced The Ritz with their presence, as well as a wonderful rendition of Puttin' on the Ritz.

One of my favorite luxury hotels in Paris, the Ritz Paris will be a glittering jewel of a hotel, appealing to upscale travelers who prefer traditional luxury accommodations. Always book through your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant to receive the very best values — including complimentary daily breakfast for two, room upgrades, and other valuable amenities at nearly 1,000 five star hotels and resorts around the world.

Ritz Paris (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.

Ritz Paris | closing for 2 years of renovations

The City of Paris has [finally] granted its approval, and the Ritz Paris will be closing its doors for two years to undertake needed renovations, scheduled to begin August 1, 2012. The hotel looks forward to welcoming back guests as of Summer, 2014.

The Ritz is a very special hotel set in one corner of the Place Vendome. Centrally located, it's a great location for shopping or walking to the major tourist destinations of Paris. I've stayed twice and enjoyed both visits, but the hotel really needs the refurbishment. According to the hotel's press release,

Rooms, suites, restaurants, bars, the spa and the famous Ritz Escoffier cooking school will all be carefully restored and recreated under the direction of the internationally renowned interior designer Thierry W. Despont. The Hotel's unique and celebrated gardens will also be embellished during the two year closure.

The Ritz remains open to guests until the end of July. Any booking made through your Virtuoso luxury travel consultant provides you with the following complimentary amenities:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• Daily American breakfast served at the Espadon restaurant or via room service, for up to two in-room guests
  
• VIP Treatment of mineral water, Ritz Champagne and homemade patisseries in room on arrival
  A 60 EUR Food & Beverage credit per room to be used during stay

Ritz Paris (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.
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Ritz Paris | VIP airport privileges at CDG

Hotel Ritz Paris is about to make your trip to Paris infinitely more enjoyable from the moment you land at CDG. There's not a shred of luxury in the typical airport experience. Terminals are crowded. Lines are long. Security screening is inefficient. And service? First class service ends the moment you step off the plane and enter the terminal.

Of all the international airports in the world, perhaps none is quite so inefficient as Charles de Gaulle in Paris. As soon as you step onto the jetway, you join throngs of passengers from all the other international flights to be herded through immigration and customs.

Let me entertain your imagination for a moment. What might a VIP welcome at Charles de Gaulle look like? Let's indulge our fantasies...

• What if, the moment you stepped off the aircraft, you were greeted by a hostess waiting just for you?
  
• What if this hostess ensured that you had privileged transit through security and passport control?
  
• What if she collected your luggage for you?
  
• What if she escorted you to your waiting limousine in front of the arrivals terminal?
  
• What if you were whisked off to your Paris hotel in a Mercedes Class E limousine?
  
• And what if this service cost you nothing?

This is not a fantasy. This is a complimentary amenity reserved exclusively for Virtuoso guests at the Ritz Paris from May 15 - Dec. 27, 2007.

Permit me to further indulge your fantasies. What if you could receive similar VIP airport privileges upon your departure from Paris? You will of course be driven to CDG in a Mercedes limousine.

• Upon your arrival at the airport, you will be led to a private lounge where you can relax.
  
• Your hostess will take care of check-in and luggage registration for you.
  
• She will also take care of any tax-free procedures.
  
• You will have the privilege of seat selection and will be guaranteed a seat even if the flight is overbooked.

(Alas, you will have to pay for your return-trip VIP airport fantasy).

Hotel Ritz Paris, one of the most elegant 5 star luxury hotels in world, is a member of Virtuoso. Your Virtuoso travel consultant can provide you with excellent negotiated rates, an upgrade at the time of booking, continental breakfast for two daily in the restaurant or by room service, as well as VIP treatment throughout your stay at this ultimate Parisian luxury hotel. And, lest you forget, VIP airport privileges at Charles de Gaulle, coming and going.

Why would anyone book the Ritz Paris any other way?

INTERNET SPECIAL: mention Travel Horizons, and I will book the Ritz Paris for you, or any Virtuoso hotel anywhere in the world, with absolutely no service or booking fees.



copyright (c) 2007 by David J. Ourisman. All rights reserved. If you would like to book the Ritz Paris, or any other Virtuoso hotel in the world, email me or visit my website.

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travel agent = added value?

Why would anyone use a travel agent? It's certainly easy enough to book travel yourself. Airlines, hotels, cruise lines, Amtrak, and virtually every other travel provider in the world has a web site. You can look at pictures, read descriptions, check availability, and scout out the lowest possible price.

If your first priority is finding the least expensive way to visit a given destination, then I encourage you to research and book on the web. It is well suited for comparison shopping. That's what the internet is best at!

If, however, you have other priorities, engaging a travel consultant may be well worth the investment. When might you want to work through a travel agent?

(1) You want to explore a destination you've never been to before. Travel consultants are travelers like everyone else, and -- like everyone else -- there are areas of the world to which each of us feels a certain connection, places to which we return time and again. For instance, my areas of special expertise are Paris and Bora Bora.

Find a travel consultant who specializes in the destination you want to visit. She or he will know the hotels, know the attractions, and have dozens of tips to offer. You'll get the trip you dreamed about at the price you want to pay, a well-designed itinerary, and you'll avoid the hassle, time, and potential missteps of trying to do it all on your computer.

(2) You have special requests such as early check-ins, late check-outs, upgrades, and rooms with a great view. A good travel agent has developed contacts with the hotels you want to visit, and those contacts can often accommodate your special requests (often, but not always). Here are some examples of requests I have recently helped my clients obtain:

• a 9 p.m. late checkout from a hotel in Singapore
  
• a suite at a Paris hotel with a direct view of the Eiffel Tower
  
• upgrading a client at the time of booking from a regular room into a Villa
  
• complimentary reservations in a pool cabana
  
• a corner suite at a Hong Kong hotel with a confirmed view of the harbour

(3) You want luxury accommodations, but you want the best value for your dollar, pound, yen, or euro. Would you like to be able to enjoy breakfast via room service every morning at no extra cost? Would you like to be upgraded to the next room category, if there is a better room available when you check in? There are all sorts of complimentary amenities that hotels can offer including lunches and dinners, airport transfers, and spa treatments. These differ by property, but as the guest of a Virtuoso agent, you automatically receive those free perks.

Why would anyone use a travel agent? Because sometimes it helps to have someone with experience and connections on your side. And because, especially with luxury travel, the best values usually are not found on the internet.

If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.
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amazing offer from the Ritz Paris

Here's an opportunity to enjoy a double upgrade at the Hotel Ritz Paris, one of the world's most beautiful and luxurious hotels. This amazing offer is detailed on Virtuoso's consumer website and is available with a minimum four night stay. A truly incredible value, the Guerlain Summer Exclusive Offer is available between July 8 and August 10, 2007. It includes...

• A double upgrade to a higher category room or suite at the regular Virtuoso rates.
  
  
• A one way transfer from the airport or train station, on arrival or departure.
  
  
• A welcoming host at the airport (not available for train transfers) who will offer you a personal greeting as soon as you disembark, priority through Customs, and luggage collection. You will be accompanied to your chauffeur-driven car.
  
  
• Furthermore, the offer includes daily continental breakfast and VIP treatment.
  
  
• Upon arrival you will receive a perfumed Guerlain gift in your room with an invitation to visit the Guerlain boutique, located at 2 Place Vendôme since 1936, just a few steps away from the Ritz.
  
  
• And as a final temptation, a 100 € Gift Certificate will be given to you upon arrival to be used at the hotel’s gastronomic restaurant L’Espadon for lunch or dinner.

Ideally located on the Place Vendome, enjoy a short walk to the Jardin des Tuileries, Musee d’Orsay, Louvre, Notre Dame, and the fabulous shopping of the 1st arrondissement. The Ritz is an ideal location for summer visitors to the city of Paris.

And, of course, guests of the Ritz have full access to the beautiful indoor pool pictured above.


To book this offer, e-mail me or visit my website.
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