I blame the bean counters at Marriott

view from the Club Lounge at Ritz Carlton Half Moon Bay

Ritz Carlton is truly one of my favorite hotel brands. It is for this very reason that I want to push back against the new cancellation policy being instituted by Marriott, its corporate parent. A few Ritz Carlton hotels still have a one day cancel deadline (Buckhead!), but most Ritz Carlton hotels now adhere to the 2-3 day cancelation deadline that is the new Marriott standard.

I blame the bean counters. This self-inflicted corporate unfriendliness is bad news for guests and bad news for Marriott Luxury Brands. I have nothing but the highest admiration for the ladies and gentlemen of Ritz Carlton, among the warmest and most gracious hosts in the entire luxury hotel industry. This unfortunate policy makes life harder for everyone, especially their business guests who need flexibility when they travel for business. What the Marriott bean counters may not appreciate is that this also makes life harder both for their travel partners (luxury travel advisors like myself) and for our Ritz Carlton Guardian Angels. I'm thinking of all the time I'll waste requesting waivers of cancellation penalties ... and the time my Guardian Angels will waste working on exceptions for my clients.

I acknowledge that cancellation penalties can serve a valid function. Once a room has been sold, it's "off the market" and cannot be resold. Last-minute cancellations do not leave enough time to re-sell that room. It's reasonable for the guest to compensate the hotel in the form of a one-night penalty if the cancellation prevents the hotel from selling the room to someone else. But unless a hotel is nearing a sell-out, nothing is really lost.

My appeal to the bean counters... read the Mission Statement of Ritz Carlton, and realize how this policy contradicts that mission:

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel is a place where the genuine care and comfort of our guests is our highest mission.  

We pledge to provide the finest personal service and facilities for our guests who will always enjoy a warm, relaxed, yet refined ambience.  

The Ritz-Carlton experience enlivens the senses, instills well-being, and fulfills even the unexpressed wishes and needs of our guests. 

My appeal to my clients and fans of Ritz Carlton: vote with your dollars. You don't have to tolerate minimum 3-day cancel deadlines at city hotels. The only way the bean counters will get the message is for us to send our business to their worthy competitors. Just checked a random day in New York City, and the cancel deadline is just one day at Four Seasons, Mandarin Oriental, Fairmont (The Plaza), Peninsula, Park Hyatt, and Rosewood (The Carlyle). 

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.

two luxury hotels in Barcelona + a newcomer

entrance of the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

I visited two distinctly different hotels while in Barcelona ... and learned about a new hotel about to open.

First, the Mandarin Oriental Barcelona which hosted my stay — contemporary and bold, you can get a sense of its style from my photograph of the hotel's entrance above. A former bank was transformed into a contemporary hotel right on the Passeig de Gràcia. Indeed, safety deposit boxes from the original bank have been preserved in Bankers Bar where you can enjoy drinks and tapas.

Most guests will prefer the suites. I stayed in a very comfortable Studio Suite. With more than enough space (53 sqm), the suite offered a well designed work desk and a sitting area with sofa and sling chair. The large bathroom featured a large oval soaking tub, a step in rain shower, two sinks set in a wide double vanity, and a WC, and a separate dressing area. Due to high occupancy, I was not able to see many rooms. I was shown a Deluxe Boulevard room. On the small side (34 sqm), the long and narrow dimensions of the room make it feel cramped, and the stark interior design styling had an "industrial" feel. Fortunately, the hotel is planning a soft renovation in 2018, and I was shown a mock-up room of a new design. To my eyes, it was much nicer with warmer colors, a variety of textures, and a more residential ambiance.

Next, the Majestic Hotel, one of Barcelona's two most notable historic hotels (the other being El Palace, formerly the Ritz). Owned by the same family since 1918, the Majestic has a sense of history and local flavor. Though rooms are on the small side, the close-to-square dimensions of the bedrooms make a difference, making the room feel more like home. Walls are covered with padded silk with a vertical striped pattern. Bathrooms are small but provide everything you would expect. Step-in showers are available in most rooms and suites, so be sure to request one if you prefer this over a tub. Not to be missed is the Majestic's Sunday Buffet which attracts lots of locals, so be sure to make your reservation in advance. The 57€ meal features unlimited pours of Moet & Chandon champagne and an elaborate buffet of local tapas, entrees, and desserts — really quite a good value. You could make a meal of champagne and oysters!

Something so new it hasn't yet opened, the Almanac Barcelona will be the first hotel opened by a brand new boutique luxury hotel company. Like the MO and the Majestic, the Almanac has a great location right in the center of things. Pictured to the left is a model Gallery Suite (with view towards the central courtyard). The hotel hopes to join Virtuoso and plans to offer rates inclusive of breakfast, minibar, and WiFi. Opening is scheduled for August but — to be on the safe side — reservations are being accepted beginning in October, 2017.

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.

looking forward to Barcelona and Mallorca

map of southeastern Spain with the location of Mallorca circled

A very popular European holiday destination, a group of Brownell travel advisors is heading to Mallorca in just a week. Our purpose is to learn about Mallorca (sometimes spelled Majorca), its resorts, and what there is to do and see. Oh — and also to have a good time, but that goes without saying! I'm blessed with some of the best colleagues in the travel industry.

My trip begins with a return to Barcelona. I previously visited in 2009 and posted a couple of blog articles. One article, does architecture shape culture?, contrasted the authoritarian church architecture found in most of Spain with the freewheeling, art deco architecture of Gaudi's Sagrada Família. The other article discussed two local restaurants in Barcelona. Mas Bacus is an enoteca (wine store), located at Carrer d'Enric Granados 68, a 15 minute walk from the Mandarin Oriental. Open from 12 noon until 10 p.m., it's closed Sunday and Monday nights, so I'll probably have Saturday dinner here. I learned from the MO concierge that Can Ravell is permanently closed; he has recommended 2254, located at 335 Carrer Consell De Cent.

While in Barcelona, I'll be spending two nights at the Mandarin Oriental, doing a site inspection of the Majestic Hotel, and making a hard hat tour of a new hotel still under construction, the Almanac Barcelona. I also plan to join the El Borne & Gothic Street Art Tour.

Then, six nights on Mallorca, split between the St. Regis Mardavall and Belmond La Residencia. Our itinerary includes excursions to:

Palma — Castle Bellver, Plaza Mayor, old Jewish Quarter, and the town's gothic cathedral
Finca Son Bordils — a winery visit including wine tastings and lunch
La Residencia — a walk on the resort's donkey trail with a picnic lunch in the olive groves
Deià — artists walk

We'll also be doing site inspections of the Park Hyatt, Castillo Son Vida, Hotel Castell Son Claret, and Hotel Gran Melia del Mar. Here is a google map of Ourisman Travel's preferred hotels in Mallorca. When you work through us, you'll receive the best amenity packages available through Virtuoso, Belmond Bellini Club, Starwood Luxury Privileges, and Travel Leaders Select.

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.

Las Vegas textures

Aria Resort & Casino, Las Vegas (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Las Vegas is larger than life — witness the Aria Resort & Casino pictured above. With over four thousand rooms and suites, many highly regarded restaurants, and quite affordable room rates, Aria is one of the newest properties in Las Vegas and well suited for those who want to live big.

But if you prefer boutique, there are also FANtastic choices available in Las Vegas. My favorite is the Mandarin Oriental, part of City Center in the center of the strip. A casino-free and smoking-free hotel, it's less than 400 rooms — 392 to be exact. While big by Mandarin Oriental standards, this is truly petite by Vegas standards.

We're staying at the MO Las Vegas for my weekend at #VirtuosoWeek. I love my Cityscape room. On the 18th floor, it has an interesting view of Aria and Monte Carlo and even a peak at New York, New York and its roller coaster to the left. Elegant and tastefully decorated, my clients enjoy FAN Club amenities (even better than Virtuoso amenities) throughout their stay: American breakfast for two daily, a $100 F&B or Spa credit, and a room upgrade if available upon check-in.

The other boutique choice in Las Vegas is the Four Seasons Las Vegas. Located at the south end of the strip, the Four Seasons sits atop one tower of the Mandalay Bay. It is an oasis of serenity in the midst of the madness of Vegas, but just steps from the casino and the wave pool at Mandalay Bay (and FS guests have access). Contact me for complete information on available Preferred Partner amenities at the Four Seasons and Virtuoso amenities at Aria.

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.

a guide to Hong Kong hotels

Statue of Hong Kong Film Awards, Ave. of the Stars, Kowloon (c) 2015 David Ourisman

Hong Kong is one of the world's most interesting cities. Whether you're traveling there for business, or just using HKG as a hub to elsewhere in Asia, it's worth an extended stay. Where should you stay when visiting Hong Kong?

Here are the questions I ask my clients:

1) Do you want to be on Hong Kong island itself ... or on Kowloon? Hong Kong is the old city with its narrow streets, small shops and restaurants, and the world's longest outdoor escalator. Kowloon is contemporary with modern shopping centers, and it boasts killer views of Hong Kong over Victoria Harbour (see my picture above).

2) Do you prefer traditional Asian hotels ... or contemporary hotels?

3) Do you want a view of Victoria Harbour from your room?

4) Do you want to be in Central? Or another way of asking the question: how comfortable are you with the subway system?

With these questions in mind, here are my tips on where to stay in Hong Kong:

Peninsula Hong Kong has recently finished a thorough renovation, and the results are absolutely stunning. A traditional hotel, located in Kowloon, many guests enjoy the sheer luxury of round-trip airport transfers in a Rolls Royce and the uniformed Peninsula doormen who open the doors when you enter its magnificent Lobby. Rooms in the tower have commanding views of the harbour.

Four Seasons Hong Kong is one of the finest city hotels in the world with superb service, large and beautiful rooms, and a great view of the harbour. FS Hong Kong is the only hotel in the world with two three-star Michelin restaurants, and the rooftop infinity pool overlooking the harbour is something special.

Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong is located right in Central. A traditional Asian hotel with dark carved wood decorating the lobby ... and its Harbour Rooms come with a coveted view of the harbour.

Ritz Carlton Hong Kong has the distinction of being the highest hotel in the world. Occupying the top floors of the tallest building in Hong Kong, you're sometimes above the clouds! The Club Lounge has wine on tap ... and the Island Harbour View rooms have a birds-eye perspective on Victoria Harbour.

InterContinental Hong Kong has the best view of all. Located in Kowloon right on the boardwalk, guests staying in Harbour View rooms have an unobstructed view of the harbour and Hong Kong beyond... a perfect place to sit and watch the evening light show (while listening to the music through your in-room TV).

Upper House is a special hotel. The lobby feels like a living room, and guest rooms are extremely spacious and beautiful. Located a couple of subway stops north of Central, if you're comfortable using public transportation, this could be the place for you in Hong Kong.


Tip: for a better-than-internet deal, book these hotels through a Virtuoso, Four Seasons Preferred Partner, Peninsula Pen Club, Mandarin Oriental FAN Club, Ritz Carlton STARS travel consultant for free breakfasts, upgrades, hotel credits, and more.

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.

what Parisians do in Paris

What do Parisians do in Paris? There are alternatives to standing in line at the Eiffel Tower, seeing a postage-stamp sized Mona Lisa in the middle of a large gallery with hundreds of tourists crowded in front of her, or having Starbucks coffee in the 6th arrondissement. Much better alternatives!

That's the idea behind this Google Map of 34 places in Paris that Parisians visit on their own. Only one of the 34 spots on this map (the Musée d'Orsay) is an attraction that would be on most tourists to-do lists. This map is a great for your next trip to Paris.

And when you're in Paris, I recommend you stay in one of the city's traditional "palace hotels" — the George V, Le Meurice, the Plaza Athenee, Le Bristol, the Ritz, and Hotel de Crillon (the last two hotels under renovation), or one of the new additions, the Mandarin Oriental, Royal Monceau, Shangri-La, and Park Hyatt Vendome. Need advice about where to stay? I've seen all nine, so please reach out to me. As a Virtuoso travel consultant, I can provide valuable amenities including complimentary daily breakfast for two at each of these hotels, upgrades, and additional perks.

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.

Virtuoso Travel Week | less than a week away

You might be interested in this video about Virtuoso Travel Week and all of the preparation that takes place for Bellagio to host 4,000 travel professionals. Travel Week has grown so large that attendees also stay at Aria and Vdara (not to mention the Mandarin Oriental, Four Seasons, and other Las Vegas resorts).

Travel Week is the biggest event that takes place at Bellagio. All 8,000 Bellagio employees are involved in putting on the event (no one can take a vacation week during Travel Week). Despite the large number of guests, everything flows smoothly, and Bellagio's staff is incredibly hospitable. I even enjoy saying hi to the security personnel who make sure you're wearing your Travel Week credentials. Same people every year … almost like family!

Why travel to Vegas in the middle of August? It's not the balmy weather. It's the opportunity to build relationship with the hundreds of hotel sales reps — the very same people who help Virtuoso travel consultants create the magic to help get you upgraded and take care of your special requests. I have about 300 sales appointments during the week, as well the even more productive information encounters where relationships are enhanced.

Example: here's a true story from last year's Travel Week, republished from my August 15, 2013 post:

I was seated at a banquet table when an email came in from a client who had several specific requests related to a prospective booking at Four Seasons Hong Kong. Could he get a spa menu? Could he arrange for child care? Could he make an reservation at one of the hotel's two three-star Michelin restaurants?

I was seated immediately to the left of the hotel's Director of Sales and Marketing. I handed her my iPhone, she read the request, said "Confirmed!", and I immediately let my client know. When I woke up at 6 a.m. this morning, the restaurant reservation had been made, the spa menu was attached, and information on child care was provided. I forwarded it back to my client.

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.

how to get breakfast for free at luxury hotels

Does the cost of breakfast intimidate you from staying at luxury hotels? The prices on the breakfast menu above are admittedly expensive, but if you think the only alternative is to leave the hotel and have breakfast in a diner, then you don't know the best kept secret in the luxury hotel business: how to get breakfast for free!

Do the math. If two guests order a continental breakfast every day at the New York City luxury hotel whose menu is pictured above, they will spend $56 per day, plus 8.75% tax — nearly $183 for a typical 3-day hotel stay. The continental breakfast includes a selection of pastries, fruit and berries, a glass of juice, and a cup of coffee or tea (and probably free refills).

Here's the secret to free breakfast: stay at a luxury hotel that's affiliated with a consortium like Virtuoso, and then use the services of a luxury travel consultant whose agency is affiliated with that consortium. There are also luxury hotel families — Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, Mandarin Oriental, Dorchester Collection, and others — that offer breakfast for free when you book through one of their preferred partner travel partners. You pay the same rate you're likely to find right on the hotel's own website, but you get additional value-enhancing amenities that include a complimentary daily breakfast for two, a room upgrade if available, and an extra amenity typically valued at $100 (such as a food and beverage or spa credit).

Want eggs and bacon instead of a continental breakfast? Some of my preferred partners will give you complimentary Full American breakfasts for two every day, including the breakfast buffet ... or the ultimate luxury of in-room dining. Or even if the amenity is a complimentary continental breakfast, you'll only pay the $4 supplement for a full breakfast.

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.

Mandarin Oriental New York | luxury with a view

dawn at the Mandarin Oriental New York

I was seated in the Mandarin Oriental New York lobby early Saturday morning and grabbed this picture with my iPhone. Not the perfect photographic instrument for low light photography, but it captured the moment. Mandarin Oriental New York's lobby overlooks the southwest corner of Central Park, with an unobstructed view down 59th Street. The crescent moon to the left of the skyscraper to the right added a stunning final touch to the scene.

The Mandarin Oriental is an extremely nice place to stay. We spent three nights in a Deluxe Hudson River room which featured equally interesting west-facing views of the Hudson River and New Jersey beyond. The room was attractively decorated with contemporary Asian decorating motifs. While the bedroom was not overly large (it felt like a Superior), the bathroom was perfect — a soaking tub with a view (see below), a large vanity with two sinks, a large rain shower, and separate WC. It's a great room for couples.

sunset from our soaking tub at the Mandarin Oriental New York

Central Park View rooms face east and offer a view of Central Park. Although they have the same square footage, Central Park rooms have larger bedrooms but smaller bathrooms (just one vanity … and no view from the tub). For the ultimate accommodations and views, book a Deluxe Central Park Suite — truly a wow room and a no compromise solution to where to stay.

Virtuoso guests receive an upgrade at booking, daily complimentary continental breakfast for two, and a $100 spa credit, and you can also take advantage of Suite Temptation packages offering third night free if you book a Deluxe Suite. Just book through your Virtuoso travel consultant.

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.

New York at Thanksgiving

walking south down Fifth Avenue (Central Park to the right)

Thanksgiving in New York has been a tradition for a number of years, as my sister lives there, my daughter goes to school there (Columbia), and my son and daughter-in-law live on the east coast as well. So I'm preparing to go once again to the Big Apple next week.

Where to stay? I've stayed at a number of different places. As my sister lives on the Upper East Side, I've split time between the Plaza Athenee and The Lowell, two very nice boutique hotels in residential neighborhoods. But this year — as my daughter's apartment is on the Upper West Side, I'm spending three nights at the Mandarin Oriental New York.

Mandarin Oriental New York is located on Columbus Circle at the southwest corner of Central Park. It's a great venue for seeing Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade; you can see it from the hotel's lobby high above the Time Warner Building. I'll post my review right here on Travel Horizons, as well as a review of the new Viceroy New York which I'll be visiting for a site inspection on Thursday morning. The Viceroy is a reasonably priced luxury hotel on W 57th Street at 6th Avenue, so I'm quite interested to see what it's like.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my readers! It's my favorite holiday of the year … still a family holiday that hasn't been overly commercialized.

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.

New York Christmas decorations

Mandarin Oriental New York is located on Columbus Circle at the southwest corner of Central Park, high atop the Time Warner Center. The ground floor of the building contains an upscale shopping mall with some festive holiday decorations. A client has shared this video and given me permission to post it on Travel Horizons.

With a contemporary Asian style, Mandarin Oriental New York is a good choice if business takes you to the West Side, if Lincoln Center is in your plans, or if you just want a killer view of Central Park from the lobby bar.

Virtuoso amenities include an upgrade at the time of booking (which really works out to be a nice discount on your room), daily continental breakfast for two, and a $100 spa credit for 2013. And when there are third night free promotions, the Virtuoso amenities also apply. Don't book online, as these value-added perks are available only through a Virtuoso travel consultant.


Mandarin Oriental 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.

WantMeGetMe.com | what's the big deal?

The newest big buzz in internet travel booking is WantMeGetMe.com. I don't see what's the big deal. It's a website offering a limited set of standard amenities at hotels in their program:

• Added to the VIP List
• Wi-Fi/Internet
• Room Upgrade (upon availability)

A few extra perks are offered in a not-so-systematic manner at a few of the hotels, but here's my initial analysis.

1. Virtuoso has better amenities. When you book through a Virtuoso travel consultant, you always get:

• free daily breakfast for two
• room upgrade if available at check-in
• an extra amenity (such as a complimentary lunch, spa credit, or other perk that differs by property)

Moreover, getting "VIP'ed" through a wholesaler booking is a non sequitur. I personally contact management at every Virtuoso hotel I book with a personal request to VIP my client.

2. Limited cities and hotels. Granted, WantMeGetMe.com is in its beta phase, and they will surely grow their collection, but there are currently no hotels offered in Hawaii or Hong Kong, just one hotel offered in Paris, just four in London.

3. Where are the top luxury hotels? Of the 21 hotels for New York, only 4 are Virtuoso five-star hotels. Missing from their list are the most requested five star hotels in NY: Four Seasons New York, Ritz-Carlton Central Park, Mandarin Oriental New York, and the Peninsula.

4. Their prices aren't as good. I checked the rates for The Lowell (one of my favorite boutique hotels in New York), and their rate for a Deluxe Jr. Suite at The Lowell was $90 more than the rate I am seeing in my system. (And WantMeGetMe didn't offer any regular guest rooms).

5. No way to review terms and cancellation policies before you provide your credit card. This is a big deal. Here's some of their fine print:

You may be eligible to cancel or change your prepaid hotel reservation, but you will be charged the cancellation or change fee indicated in the rules and restrictions at the time of sale.

Despite all the buzz, WantMeGetMe is just another hotel wholesaler. I provide my clients better rates, better amenities, better service, and more flexibility every day of the year (no change or cancel fees, ever). And so does any Virtuoso travel consultant in existence!

WantMeGetMe (search here on Google)

Paris luxury hotels | four reviews

the pyramid in front of the Louvre in Paris

During my recent trip to Paris, I spent three nights in Paris. I stayed at Le Meurice and visited three new Paris luxury hotels I had not previously seen. Here's what I saw and thought:

Le Meurice

This is my personal favorite in Paris. While neither the most expensive nor the most elegant of Paris's palace hotels, I love Le Meurice for two reasons.

(1) Location, location, location. Le Meurice has the most perfect location. Walk out the front door, cross the street into the Tuilleries, and you can walk everywhere!

(2) The hotel feels very Parisian to me. Rooms are large and comfortable with a traditional feel.

Le Meurice has reasonable rates, especially compared to some of the other luxury hotels of Paris, and Virtuoso guests receive a 10% discount, Full American breakfast for two daily, and a room upgrade if available.

Mandarin Oriental Paris

A brand new hotel that just opened in June 2011, the Mandarin Oriental is located just off the Place Vendome, one block from the Tuileries. The Mandarin Oriental is a terrific choice if you want a new contemporary hotel that enjoys a great location.

Guests enter an elegant and sophisticated lobby that overlooks a beautiful courtyard garden. Planted with over 200 varieties of trees and plants, the courtyard sets the tone for the entire hotel that is designed to be an urban retreat in the middle of a busy city.

We were able to see a Deluxe Room and a Superior Suite. Rooms will appeal to guests who appreciate warm, contemporary interiors. Rosewood is used extensively in the doors, headboards, and built-ins. There are no painted surfaces in the room; walls are finished with fabric surfaces. Bathrooms are finished in polished white marble, and all rooms have dual vanities, deep soaking tub, step in rain shower, and separate WC. However, the design of the bath area in the Deluxe area was a bit unusual. The two sinks were on one side of the tiled entry into the bedroom, while the tub, shower, and WC were on the other side. Although called a Deluxe Room, it felt like a Superior room in terms of space provided.

Raffles - Le Royal Monceau

Located near the Arc du Triomphe, Le Royal Monceau was built in 1928 at the height of the Roaring 20's. Along with the Ritz, it was a favorite of the expatriate community in Paris. The hotel has been recently renovated with a bold, contemporary interior design by Philippe Stark that I would describe as more LA than LA. Visitors looking for something quirky, artistic, and avant garde will love Le Royal Monceau. But if you favor traditional Parisian styling, or prefer more classic contemporary styling, you'll want to look elsewhere.

Guestrooms have a bit of a cluttered design. Starke is not a minimalist; his intention is to provide lots of details to intrigue the eye. Each room has at least one large widescreen TV within a mirror leaning against the wall. Bathrooms have lots of mirrors, so you'll see yourself in multiple reflections. Each bathroom has a large, deep soaking tub, two large vanities (large, square, and just an inch deep), step-in rain shower, and a separate WC. My favorite rooms were in the back of the house, very quiet and overlooking the large garden. Among other features, Le Royal Monceau offers the largest hotel swimming pool in Paris and a movie theatre.

Esprit St Germain

Looking for a boutique hotel on the Left Bank? Eglise St Germain is located near the Eglise St Sulpice and offers an attractive location from which to explore the 6th arrondissement with its shops, boutiques, and markets. The major feature of the hotel are the two homey, comfortable living rooms on the ground floor. Guests make extensive use of these common areas which feature a complimentary open bar, soft drinks, and coffee and tea throughout the day.

Guest rooms are quite small. This is typical of Left Bank hotels as they are situated in older buildings with smaller rooms. Most luxury guests will want to book either a Premier Room or a Suite. The Premier room is essentially the size of the hotel's Deluxe rooms with a larger closet and bathroom. The top floor Premier room has a terrace looking over the rooftops toward Eglise St Sulpice, while the others have more floor space. Suites are small Jr. Suites, a small sitting area separated from the small bedroom.

If having a lot of space is a priority, this hotel will not work for you. But Esprit St Germain has a lot of repeat guests who enjoy the residential feeling of the hotel.


Paris luxury hotels (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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why I've started booking hotels in Sabre

For years, I used Sabre to research hotel rates, then phoned the hotel's reservations center to make the reservation. I've recently started booking many hotel stays directly on Sabre. Here's why.

(1) I'm never put on hold. While I sometimes get through to a call center on the first ring, often reservationists are busy and I can be on hold for 5, 10, or 15 minutes, listening to muzak. And if I get disconnected, I have to start the process all over again.

(2) Direct bookings save a lot of time. Reservationists are required to follow a script, sometimes even to read boilerplate about of the property (until you literally give them permission not to read the boilerplate to you!). It can take ten minutes on the phone just to provide the same limited set of information (IATA number, guests names, dates, room and rate desired, credit card guarantee, and my email address).

(3) Accuracy. When making a reservation by phone, I always have to check the confirmation for accuracy (assuming they spelled my email address correctly and I got the confirmation): Is the client's name spelled correctly? Are the dates correct? Is the room category and bedding request accurate? Did they sell the Virtuoso rate? This is very important because if anything other than the Virtuoso rate is booked, my clients won't get their Virtuoso amenities (free daily breakfast, room upgrades, and other perks that differ by property).

When booking hotels in Sabre, I'll automatically get the rate I want. See the screenshot above of the Sabre blue window. If I sell rate # 2, I've booked the Virtuoso rate at the Mandarin Oriental New York for the Deluxe Hudson River View room with King bed (already upgraded from the Standard room which is the same rate).

(4) Clients receive a Virtually There link to their reservation, and they can access it at any time by going to Virtually There and typing in their Sabre locator code (a six letter code) and last name.

(5) I can cancel the reservation or revise details through Sabre, again avoiding the need to phone a reservations center.

(6) I can do all of the above 24 hours a day, even on my iPad, from anyplace in the world with decent WiFi access.

(7) Clients have a 24 hour help line to Sabre if they need to make last minute revisions or cancellations and can't reach me: (800) 593-8738 or (203) 787-6266. My clients will need to provide Brownell's agency ID, G8Y0.

Why did I wait so long? Basically, because of some technological glitches that prevented me from importing a PNR into Sabre from my agency's database, but now that those glitches have been solved, I've made the change.


booking hotels in Sabre (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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how to speed through immigration in Paris

If you're a FAN of Mandarin Oriental, here is a tempting offer. You will receive a VIP escort through immigration in Paris as well as a complimentary one-way limousine transfer to the Mandarin Oriental Paris. With just a three-night stay (two nights in a Suite), you will be met on the jetway by a hostess who will fast track you through immigration, assist you at baggage claim, and introduce you to your chauffeur who will drive you straightaway to the front door of the hotel. All at no extra charge.

Virtuoso guests will also receive the following complimentary perks:

• upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• complimentary American breakfast for up to two in-room guests
• one 85 EUR spa credit

As this promotion is exclusive to Virtuoso, simply ask your Virtuoso travel consultant to make your reservation. Dates of the promotion are 9OCT, 2011 - 26FEB, 2012 (with blackout dates over New Years).

A similar promotion is available with a minimum three night booking in a Superior Suite or higher at Le Meurice.


Mandarin Oriental Paris (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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don't be a last-minute travel planner

It's probably too late if you want to make any BIG plans for Labor Day weekend (although I did make one last-minute booking last night for a client who will be spending the weekend at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas). However, if you'd like to be vacationing somewhere during the Christmas and New Year season — and you don't already have reservations — now is the time to do some serious dreaming...

Are you drawn to the beach, to the mountains, to a romantic countryside inn, or to a vibrant city? Do you want to stay close to home - or fly to a far-off destination? Many resorts have minimum stay requirements over Festive Season, and many of the best properties are wait-list only at this point ... but the longer you wait, the more limited your options will be! The holidays are not friendly to last minute travel planning.

Summer is already over! What's on your bucket list for this fall and winter?


last minute travel (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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Mandarin Oriental Paris

Mandarin Oriental Paris is the newest addition to the Virtuoso collection of five-star luxury hotels in Paris. Centrally located at 251 rue Saint-Honore, the Mandarin Oriental Paris is on a great shopping street, just a block away from the Place Vendome, and very convenient to the Tuileries. In other words, a great location if you're coming to Paris and want to be able to walk to all the best tourist attractions.

So when does the hotel open? Summer, 2011, according to the Mandarin Oriental Paris website - but bookings are not yet being accepted. A boutique hotel with 99 rooms and 39 suites, this sketch suggests that the hotel will have large rooms with a very contemporary flair.

If you prefer the traditional "Palace Hotels" of Paris (the George V, Le Meurice, the Plaza, the Crillon), this will probably not be your hotel of choice. But if you go for modern design, the MO will offer stiff competition for the nearby Park Hyatt.

Looking for the best value? Just book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant at the Best Available Rate ... and receive the following value-added perks:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
  
• Complimentary Continental breakfast daily for up to two in-room guests
  
• One 85 Euro Spa credit per stay

Drop me an email, and I'll let you know when the Mandarin Oriental Paris begins to accept reservations.

Mandarin Oriental Paris (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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Washington, DC luxury hotels

I spent last weekend in Washington, DC to attend my nephew's wedding. I took advantage of being there to make some hotel site inspections ... and to see some sights along the way. Pictured above is one of the more famous residences in the city. However, it's not an easy place to book a room!

The most requested luxury hotels in Washington, DC are the Four Seasons Washington, the Ritz-Carlton Georgetown, the Park Hyatt, and the Hay Adams (currently undergoing a complete renovation). I took the opportunity to visit some less requested Virtuoso hotels. Here are my inspection reports of those Washington DC luxury hotels.

St. Regis Washington. An intimate hotel built in 1926 by a Turkish businessman in the style of an Italian Renaissance palace, I was impressed by the intricately carved 18-foot high wooden ceiling in the hotel's lobby. The location of the St. Regis is ideal for business travelers who want to be convenient to the lobbying firms on K Street or Washington's high-powered corporate law firms - and it is the home to Adour by Alain Ducasse. Guest rooms are small and feature a traditional style. The Superior room I saw was 350 square feet with a gold and red color scheme. Built-ins installed during the 2007 renovation provide hanging space and drawers, creating a bit more floor space in the process. Bathrooms are very small with a single vanity and a shower (but not a tub).

The Willard InterContinental has an impressive history. Abraham Lincoln stayed at the Willard prior to his Inauguration, and Ulysses Grant used to smoke cigars in the lobby and "hold court" with individuals seeking favors (giving rise to the term lobbyist). Rooms have traditional styling in shades of red, green, and gold. Rooms are comfortably sized, beginning at 450 square feet, but bathrooms are small with a shower in the tub and only a single vanity.

The Mandarin Oriental Washington is located near the Department of Agriculture and is quite convenient to the various Smithsonian museums. The hotel has constructed a private footbridge to the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial, and the lobby has a round atrium reminiscent of the architecture of the memorial. Guest rooms are comfortable and well-sized, 400-700 square feet, with large bathrooms that feature step-in showers but only a single vanity. The hotel's restaurant, CityZen, is one of the best restaurants in the city, overseen by Chef Eric Ziebold (who worked with Thomas Keller at The French Laundry).

Want to enjoy free breakfasts and more at the seven hotels mentioned in this article? Just book through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant to receive complimentary daily breakfasts for two, room upgrade upon arrival if available, and additional amenities that differ by property.


Washington DC luxury hotels (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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why use a travel consultant?

"Why use a travel consultant," many people wonder. In this age of internet booking, aren't all the best deals online? If you are an upscale traveler, used to staying in five star hotels, you might be surprised at the value a travel consultant can provide.

A client emailed me last evening from National Airport in Washington, DC. He had been stuck at DCA for five hours, three of which were spent on the runway. Storms in the New York area prevented his flight from departing. He planned to take the train back early the next morning but needed a place to spend the night. He gave me a price range and asked what I could find for him.

8:45 pm. I did a quick search and emailed him three choices. He chose a room at the Mandarin Oriental for $295. Granted, anyone with a cell phone could have booked that room for $295 while standing in the terminal at DCA. They might not have known to ask for the Summer Breaks rate (same price but with a $50 hotel credit), and the reservations agent might not have volunteered information about that promotion. That being said, I got him a far better deal — the Virtuoso amenities — which included a complimentary Continental breakfast for two, a $50 Food & Beverage credit, a $35 Spa credit, and an upgrade subject to availability.

As my client was climbing into a cab, I emailed him the confirmation number and hotel's address. Then, I did what I always do after making a reservation; I contacted the hotel directly. As it was now 9 pm, I spoke to the agent at the front desk to make sure his reservation was in order — and I asked if he could upgrade my client.

9:24 p.m. My client emailed me again. "They've put me in a very nice suite. So glad to be here and no longer sitting on the runway!"

Why use a travel consultant in this age of the internet? Because we actually provide expertise, added value, convenience, and service.


travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2009 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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