Fine Hotels & Resorts | worth $695 a year?

if you want more than a FHR continental breakfast...

There may be good reasons to spend $695 a year for an American Express Platinum Card. In fact, I have one myself. It gets me into Centurion and Delta airport lounges, provides a monthly Uber credit (that I use for Uber Eats), and pays my Sirius XM and CLEAR membership fees.

But what about booking hotels through FHR? You definitely have better choices than American Express when you want to book a luxury hotel. Here's why...

Looking for hotel advice? Don't look to the American Express call center for expertise. They're not set up to know you personally, understand your preferences, or steer you to the perfect hotel for you. Say you're going to Paris. Do you want to stay on the Left Bank, the Right Bank, or don't know the difference? Do you want a traditional Parisian palace hotel or an elegant contemporary hotel? Do you prefer a large hotel with dining choices? Or a cute boutique hotel? I've been to Paris dozens of times. I've visited the hotels, seen their locations, experienced their lobbies and viewed their rooms. I've shared that knowledge with my Team. We can listen to your Parisian dreams and make recommendations for your perfect stay in Paris. The random AMEX agent isn't set up to do any of that!

Want to get upgraded? American Express can offer upgrades upon arrival subject to availability. Because of Virtuoso and our exclusive relationships with luxury hotel partners, we can get you upgraded at booking at eight different Parisian hotels! Because we are Four Seasons Preferred Partner, your booking is at the top of the upgrade list at the George V (or any Four Seasons in the world), ahead of FHR and Virtuoso bookings.

Want more than a continental breakfast? American Express has a standard continental breakfast amenity ... but what if you want more than a croissant and a coffee? Would you like to order anything on the menu or enjoy the indulgent luxury of in-room dining? Many Virtuoso hotels offer daily complimentary Full Breakfasts. In fact, one of our hotel partners invites you to order anything you want on the menu (except alcohol and caviar), enjoy your breakfast in any venue (restaurant or in-room dining), and they even cover the tax and gratuity.

Want to be welcomed like a VIP? Once an American Express agent makes your booking, her job is done. But we've only begun to work our magic. We have invested many years getting to know hotel reps all around the world, and we personally reach out to our representatives every time we make a booking for you. We let them know you're coming, who's traveling with you, your special preferences, and your arrival time (if you've shared that information with us), and we personally ask for an upgrade.

Need a 4 p.m. late check-out? While this is FHR's contracted amenity with each of their hotels, if you really need that late check-out, we will reach out to our representative and ask if they would extend it to a Virtuoso or Preferred Partner booking. If they can not, we can still make your FHR booking for you through Amex ... and follow through to personally VIP your stay.

copyright (c) 2023 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member.

stunning new private residences in Costa Rica

 

Imagine the sunsets you'll watch from your own private residence overlooking Prieta Bay at Four Seasons Costa Rica. Ranging from 3 to 5 bedrooms, each residence affords panoramic views of the beach and the Pacific Ocean beyond. The spacious villas range in size from 5626-8687 square feet with expansive glass walls to let the outside in. Each comes with a private infinity pool and hot tub and is equipped with a gourmet European kitchen. Four Seasons can provide a chef to prepare special family meals in the privacy of your own home.

US citizens are welcome back to Costa Rica on November 1st, 2020, and Four Seasons will reopen on November 12th. An ecological treasure with incredibly diverse fauna and flora, Costa Rica is one of my favorite destinations in the world. My personal highlight was hiking the rainforests on raised wooden trails with Hector (pictured below) pointing out the many marvels right in front of me that I would never have spotted on my own.

Hector, our unforgettable guide in Costa Rica (c) 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

As a Four Seasons Preferred Partner guest, you'll enjoy generous value-added amenities, bringing you hundreds of dollars in savings through complimentary breakfasts and other hotel credits. We are restricted from posting publicly the precise amenity list, but just drop us an email. Any member of Team Ourisman can tell you about the special savings you'll receive at Four Seasons Costa Rica ... or any Four Seasons in the world — and, by the way, this is all at the same price you'd pay booking yourself online.

Click here to sign up for the Ourisman Travel Newsletter.

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

Santa Barbara | tropical resort by the beach

pool at the Beach Club, FS Santa Barbara (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Where to stay in Santa Barbara? A beautiful destination on southern California's Pacific coast, Santa Barbara is an easy drive up the coast from LA. Worth more than one visit, Santa Barbara offers two distinct vacation experiences. You might spend the weekend at an elegant/casual resort high in the hills, with sweeping sunset views of the Pacific Ocean and easy access to the historic sites of Santa Barbara. Or you can enjoy a tropical resort right by the beach.

Four Seasons Biltmore Resort offers the beach vacation option. I made a recent site inspection visit of the Four Seasons and can offer three take-aways:

(1) The lobby is gorgeous. When previously visiting the Santa Barbara County Courthouse, I was most impressed by the tile floors and elaborately painted ceiling beams of this classic landmark. The Courthouse provided the inspiration for the recent redesign of Four Seasons' lobby. It's simply beautiful.

We enjoyed lunch on the patio at Bella Vista, just off the lobby, and enjoyed the ocean vista from our table.

(2) The grounds remind me of Hualalai. Topical greenery lines walkways throughout the resort. While I knew I was in Southern California, it felt like Hawaii. The buildings, of course, were Spanish Colonial in style, not Hawaiian. Four Seasons has its own resort pool just for guests, as well as the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club with its larger-than-Olympic size pool. One of the unadvertised perks of booking through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel advisor: guests in all room categories enjoy access to the Coral Casino Beach and Cabana Club.

(3) For something special, book a Bungalow. Jungle Rooms are certainly comfortable and attractive with 450-550 square feet of living space; I recommend requesting a ground floor room in order to enjoy a large outdoor patio with direct access to the lawn. But Four Seasons' Bungalows and specialty suites are truly unique — they feel like an elegant beach home. The living room of the bungalow we saw is pictured above — and this bungalow even has its own private pool.

As Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel advisors, we offer exclusive amenities that will save you hundreds of dollars during your stay. Each of our clients (even those booked in Garden or Riviera rooms) has complimentary access to the Beach Club. If you're looking for perks such as — actually I'm not permitted to list those on a public webpage, but they're even better than Virtuoso or Amex Platinum amenities — you'll get those benefits through Ourisman Travel. Just email us for the full details!

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

the best views in Budapest

Girl from Buda (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Only guests at Four Seasons Gresham Palace enjoy a better view of the Chain Bridge and the Buda Hills beyond. This six meter statue, created by Israeli artist Eran Shakine, will grace this spot looking across Chain Bridge. This photo shows the view through the front doors of the Four Seasons, but the view from my third floor room is even more stunning. I awoke this morning to a complete panorama — unobstructed views from the Buda Castle to Matthias Church.

Four Seasons Preferred Partner guests at the Gresham Palace enjoy exclusive value-added amenities — complimentary breakfasts, hotel credits, and more. While I'm not permitted to detail them on a public web page, just email us to learn how you can save hundreds of dollars on a typical stay at any Four Seasons hotel or resort anywhere in the world.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

FS Los Angeles | Hollywood's living room

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

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

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

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

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

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

one hotel, three days, five stars

entrance of the Four Seasons George V, Paris

If you collect Michelin stars, do we have a culinary experience for you!

Four Seasons George V, one of the most elegant hotels in Paris (and indeed the world!), can boast three renowned restaurants with five total Michelin stars.

Le Cinq — Michelin three-star French haute cuisine
l'Orangerie — Michelin one-star
Le George — Michelin one-star Mediterranean-style

Imagine the gastronomic experience you'll enjoy with the George V's Preferred Partner Culinary Discovery package.

• Daily American breakfast for two served at La Galerie, Le Cinq, or through in-room dining
• The "Epicurean Escape Menu" for two, available for lunch or dinner at Le Cinq
• The "Tasting Menu" for two, available for lunch or dinner at l'Orangerie
• The "Flavor Menu" for two, available for lunch or dinner at Le George
• Private tour of the wine cellar

As a Four Seasons guest, you'll find yourself in the heart of the Golden Triangle and all its possibilities for ultra-luxurious retail therapy ... and just steps away from the Eiffel Tower, the Musée du quai Branly, the arc du Triomphe, and the Champs Elysees.

And as the client of a Preferred Partner agency, you'll enjoy an exclusive set of amenities at the George V or any other Four Seasons in the world. While we are not permitted to publish them on a public website, just drop us a line and we'll send you our worldwide guide.

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.

reservations for a sunrise | Haleakala Crater

Haleakalā Crater - Credit: NPS Photo

You have to get up really early to catch this view from atop Haleakala National Park on the island of Maui. In my experience, the most dramatic moments of a sunrise occur well before the crack of dawn. The gradual lightening of the eastern skies is an inspiring experience, one I've enjoyed many times. As it will take more than 90 minutes to drive to the National Park from Wailea, and more than 2 hours from the Napili area of Maui, this will give you an idea of when to set your alarm.

But you'll have to make reservations for the sunrise starting February 1, 2017. To quote from the National Park Service website:

Planning to see sunrise at Haleakala National Park?

Reserve before you go! 

Starting on February 1, 2017, sunrise viewing reservations are required and are only available at www.recreation.gov. The cost is $1.50 per car. You can make reservations up to 60 days before your sunrise visit. 

To enter the Summit District between 3 a.m. and 7 a.m., the reservation holder must be present and show both the one-day sunrise reservation receipt and a photo ID. The park entrance fee is separate and payable by credit card on the day of your visit. The entrance fee is good for three days — please keep your receipt.

Our favorite resorts in the Wailea area of Maui are the Four Seasons, Andaz Maui, Fairmont Kea Lani, and Hotel Wailea. Email for complete information about the Preferred Partner and Virtuoso amenities we can provide, including free breakfasts and hotel credits.

Oh, and be sure to bring warm clothes! Haleakala Crater is 10,000 feet above sea level, and it's cold up there ... even in Hawaii.

copyright (c) 2017 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.

San Francisco de Young Museum | Frank Stella

Frank Stella, Lac Lorange III, 1969. Acrylic on canvas. 108 x 162 in. (274.3 × 411.5 cm).
Albright-Knox Art Gallery, Buffalo, New York © 2015 Frank Stella/Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY

Frank Stella: a Retrospective is the current exhibit at San Francisco's de Young Museum, so if you're in San Francisco this winter, this is something for your to-do list (if you're a fan of contemporary painting). The Stella exhibit lasts until February 26, 2017.

I still have a term paper that I wrote about Frank Stella in college (dated May 8, 1972, if you're interested), so his art is of particular interest to me. If you're ever in Las Vegas, there's a huge Stella canvas behind the reception desk at Vdara Hotel & Spa that you can see for free!

Which gets me to this chance to see the exhibition for free... If you're a member of KQED (the public radio/television station in San Francisco), just present a valid KQED MemberCard and photo ID on January 20 and 21 to gain free admission to the de Young. If you're not, I urge you to support KQED or your local NPR station. Public radio is such a treasure.

Where to stay in San Francisco? My top three choices are the Four Seasons, St. Regis, and Ritz-Carlton. As Virtuoso and FS Preferred Partner travel advisors, we can provide added-value amenities at each hotel that include free breakfasts, hotel credits, and possible upgrades. Just email us for the full details.

copyright (c) 2017 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.

Where are you headed in 2017?

directional sign at Six Senses Laamu (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

So many places to visit, but just one lifetime. What direction are you headed in 2017?

This signpost was photographed last March at Six Senses Laamu in the Maldives. If you're looking for a beach destination, you couldn't ask for a more beautiful setting than the Maldives. The water is warm and clear — a simply delightful place to escape winter and relax in the warm tropical sun.

2016 took me to four continents — Asia, Australia, Europe, and North America — and so many fabulous destinations — The Maldives, Australia, London, Paris, and the south of France. I've blogged extensively about each of these trips and taken notes about where to stay and what to do.

Where are you headed in 2017? If your plans are already set, get in touch and ask us how we can provide you with better value at luxury hotels than you can get online. How, you ask? Through our affiliation with Virtuoso and our preferred partner relationships with the top luxury hotel families in the world. If you need help prioritizing your bucket list, still get in touch ... and we can discuss a world full of possibilities.

Enjoy the holidays with your family and loved ones ... and best wishes for the New Year!

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.

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.

FS Punta Mita | summer villa special

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

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

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

copyright (c) 2016 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

#Virtuoso Week top ten | FS Oahu at Ko Olina

This is the second of my "top ten list" of takeaways from this year's #Virtuoso Week where I'm on the lookout for great travel ideas. Although not "yet" a part of Virtuoso, FS Oahu will have FSPP amenities from Day One!

Just one week until reservations open The opening of reservations has been postponed at FS Oahu at Ko Olina. I had lunch with my Four Seasons Hawaii rep on Sunday. She told me that the website is going live August 18, but that date has been pushed back. The opening date is expected to be in April, 2016, but we'll know for sure hopefully soon.

Occupying the former JW Marriott, Four Seasons has undertaken a complete renovation of the resort. Existing guest rooms are large — 640 square feet — and of the total 358 rooms, 52 will be suites. There will be five restaurants on property including a seafood restaurant.

Located on a protected lagoon with clear water and calm waves, Four Seasons looks across the lagoon to Disney's Aulani. This will be the first Four Seasons resort on Oahu and the fifth in Hawaii. The other four are FS Hualalai (Big Island), FS Maui, FS Manele Bay (Lana'i), and FS Lodge at Koele (Lana'i).

More news will be forthcoming, including the Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities that guests will receive at FS Oahu when booking through your FSPP travel consultant. Although I'm not permitted to publish these amenities, please email me for my guide to the FSPP amenities at every Four Seasons hotel and resort worldwide.

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.

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.

Four Seasons Manele Bay — WOW beach vacation

the beach at Manele Bay, photo by David Ourisman (c) 2015, all rights reserved

I'm enjoying my third trip to Lanai. My first trip, in October, 2008, was spent at the Lodge at Koele. I was intrigued by this resort 1500 feet above sea level and built to resemble a Hawaiian pineapple plantation. My second trip, in January, 2010, was my first stay at FS Manele Bay, a resort overlooking the Pacific Ocean, with a short walk down to a beautiful crescent beach.

Third time's the charm? I'm back in Lanai for the third time, the occasion for this visit being an opportunity to experience the new room product at Four Seasons Manele Bay. As many of my readers know, Larry Ellison purchased the entire island of Lanai in June, 2012. The CEO of Oracle, Mr. Ellison is the fifth wealthiest individual in the world with seemingly bottomless pockets. 

Larry Ellison's goal for Manele Bay? To develop it into the best resort in the world. Toward that end, he informed the resort's management to spend whatever it takes to get to that goal. Half of the rooms have now been renovated, and Four Seasons has invited a number of travel consultants to experience the new room product. 

In a word, WOW! I'll let these two pictures do the talking. What impresses me most is how the interior designers have brought together different textures and materials, creating a warm, elegant, and contemporary feel. The bed is crafted of ivory colored leather, with Rosewood flooring, Zebrawood paneling, and teak trim used in the room. Behind the bed is a wall covered with handmade Nepalese paper.

Do you ever watch TV when you go on vacation? On the wall opposite the bed is a 75" flat screen specially designed for the resort to have practically no bevel, mounted on a wall covered with grass wall paper. The room features state-of-the-art technology with plenty of conveniently placed power receptacles, USB and ethernet ports by both desks ... and a fully automatic Toto toilet in the bathroom that lifts its lid in greeting when you enter the WC and does all sorts of other wonderful things for you that you never knew you couldn't do without.

Looking for a luxury beach vacation in Hawaii? Consider the quiet island of Lanai. While there's not much in the way of shopping and nightlife, this is the place to come to unwind, relax, and enjoy time on a great beach. And to receive added value, book through a Four Seasons preferred partner travel consultant to receive a daily buffet breakfast for two guests daily (normal price is $45 per person), a $100 F&B credit, and room upgrade if available. The resort is currently offering a double upgrade at time of booking and an additional $150 daily resort credit with a four night stay.

copyright (c) 2015 by David Ourisman LLC. As affiliates of Brownell Travel, we can provide our clients with Virtuoso amenities and amenities from other Brownell preferred hotel partners including Four Seasons, Ritz-Carlton, and more. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

falling euro? time for European luxury travel!

With the Euro currently equal to $1.15, and the pound likewise devalued against the U. S. dollar,  this a great opportunity for luxury travel to Europe. The Euro has been close to $1.40 in recent months, meaning that you're getting a 17% discount on your European vacation if you travel today.

Here's how to save even more at the top luxury hotels of Europe. Our Preferred Partner hotel relationships translate into deals for you that are better than anything you're likely to find on an internet website.

Want proof? Here's a sample deal at Le Meurice, my personal favorite hotel in Paris with the perfect location right in the heart of the city. I chose a 3 night stay, 25APR-28APR, to take advantage of an amazing $1007 round-trip business class airfare from EWR to London (which you would follow with a short flight onto Paris).

Guaranteed upgrade! I can get you a guaranteed upgrade into a Deluxe Room (pictured above) for 860€ per night, inclusive of free full breakfast each day for two guests (including breakfast by room service), free premium internet for unlimited devices, and a 100€ hotel credit that comes right off your final bill. With the credit, your effective rate is 827€ per night = $949, including taxes and surcharges.

What about internet rates? Expedia is currently selling the same Deluxe room for $1,069.40 per night including taxes and surcharges ... and this is room only — no breakfast, no free internet, no hotel credit.

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.

Virtuoso Week | Four Seasons Boston

Here's #5 on my top ten list from Virtuoso Travel Week.

Four Seasons Boston has completed a much needed renovation to its guest rooms. While the hotel's bathrooms previously had showers in the bathtub, as of April 2014 all guest rooms now provide step-in showers. This is good news for a great hotel in a wonderful city.

A number of luxury hotels that were constructed prior to the current evolution of room standards have to deal with this kind of situation, and I'm glad that Four Seasons Boston has done the necessary work to enhance its guest rooms… because this hotel enjoys a superb location right on the Boston Garden.

Preferred Partner amenities include the following:

• 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 guest room and suite bookings

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.

FS Punta Mita | as nice a beach as you'll ever find

selfie taken during a morning beach walk at FS Punta Mita

I'm still remembering my three days at the Four Seasons Punta Mita, especially this morning walk down the beach with Claire. Four Seasons was running a "selfie" contest for the best selfie taken by the Preferred Partner agents on the trip, and this was my entry. Didn't win, but while it stretches the usual definition of the genre, I believe (1) it is a selfie and (2) it actually has some photographic merit. 

Double-click on the picture to see the grains of soft sand on this wide beach. And did I mention that the water was as blue, warm, and inviting as it could possibly have been?

Best time to visit? I am told the best weather in Punta Mita is from November to April. You're out of the rainy season and the water is an incredible shade of blue… Located at the same latitude as Hawaii, you can see whales off the Mexican coast at the same times of the year that you can see them in Hawaii.

Fans of Four Seasons will be very comfortable at FS Punta Mita. Rooms are large, comfortable, with everything that you'd expect: King beds with Queen-size pull-out sofa beds (the room can easily accommodate a family of 4), marble bathrooms with dual vanities, separate tub and step-in shower, and WC. Preferred Partner amenities provide guests with extra value: free daily breakfast from the sumptuous buffet, a $100 food and beverage credit that should get you a free lunch for two, and room upgrade if available, as well as any promotions such as Third Night Free or Resort Credit rates. Contact your Four Seasons Preferred Partner travel consultant to take advantage.

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 Costa Rica | two beaches!

What a beach resort! This is satellite photo of Four Seasons Costa Rica from Google maps gives a birds-eye view of the resort, and the most amazing feature is that there are two beaches.

The beach to the north faces the Pacific Ocean. This is the "quiet beach" (and also has an adults-only "quiet pool" facing the water).

The beach to the south faces the bay, Bahia de Culebra. This is the "activity beach" with stronger waves. The resort's Sports Pavilion provides equipment for active beach activities including snorkeling, sea kayaking, sailing, and sail boarding.

The best thing about these beaches? Plenty of natural shade trees (which you can't really see from the satellite image, so here's a photo I took with my iPad while sitting on the beach while connected to the complimentary WiFi you received with a Preferred Partner booking). Grab one of the resorts many chaise lounges (no need to come early to reserve your chairs) and spend a few hours relaxing by the sea. The sand is soft and the beaches are uncrowded. Although technically "public" beaches, the only access is through the resort.

We've been to some wonderful Four Seasons beach resorts over the years (including Hulalai, Maui, Manele Bay, and Nevis), and FS Costa Rica is now my wife's favorite of them all!

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.

FS Costa Rica | last day to book 3rd night free

This has been the most popular promotion I've ever blogged about. Four Seasons Costa Rica has a fabulous 10th anniversary deal. There have been multiple requests for bookings over the past six days from my postings on Third Night Free and FlyerTalk. Great deal - every third night is free for every room and suite, and you'll get a guaranteed upgrade at time of booking if the next category is available (for room categories, but not suites).

But the promotion is running out - you have to book by January 27th (Monday) to take advantage. Here are the details:

Book by January 27, 2014
Travel dates: May 1 - September 3, 2014
Third night free for rooms and Suites
Terraza rooms upgrade into Brisa rooms.
Brisa rooms upgrade into Cielo rooms.

To make it an even sweeter deal, the Preferred Partner amenities do apply:

• Daily full American breakfast for two people per bedroom, served through in-room dining or in the hotel restaurant (including buffets)
• Spa credit of $100 once during stay
• For suite bookings, one complimentary round of golf per guest per stay (including club rentals)
• Complimentary basic internet for 2 devices in guest rooms, complimentary premium internet for 6 devices in suites

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.