Travel Horizons: STARS

Showing posts with label STARS. Show all posts

4.23.2021

furniture shopping in Charlotte, North Carolina

Hickory Furniture Mart

We are spending the weekend at The Ballantyne Hotel in Charlotte, North Carolina. A member of the Luxury Collection, guests can receive STARS amenities by booking through a travel advisor affiliated with a STARS agency. This gets you daily breakfast for two and a $100 resort credit, all for the same "regular" rate you can book online. We have been upgraded into a lovely Executive Suite on the top floor with a prime view of the 18 hole golf course, soon to be transformed into a vast public park with a lake and recreational offerings for guests and local residents as well.

North Carolina is renown for its furniture industry, and we stopped at Hickory Furniture Mart on our drive to Charlotte. Four floors of furniture showrooms under one roof, they promise "North Carolina pricing with incredible discounts of 65-80% off most standard retail pricing" ... and in fact we got great pricing. We shopped at Amish Oak and Cherry (the store pictured at the bottom left of the photo above) and were impressed with the quality and pricing of their furniture. We bought some pieces that were priced at about 50% of retail with an additional 15% discount. Most everything they sell is hand crafted for you, constructed with your choice of wood (cherry, maple, oak, walnut, etc.), finished with the stain and varnish of your choice, and customized with the drawer pulls you choose.

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2.19.2021

avoid this $388 mistake

Ritz-Carlton Cancun has been in the news in the last couple of days due to the stay of a prominent family from Texas. The family has frequently enjoyed this resort and chose this week to escape the freezing temperatures back home and enjoy the warm, sandy beaches of Cancun. I honestly have to sympathize with the Dad who had to cut short his time in the sun due to work obligations back home ... but what a great way for the rest of the family to enjoy four days together being pampered Ritz-Carlton style.

The mom texted friends, inviting them to come along and noting the $309 room rate, an incredible value for a stay at a luxury resort. But she could have told her friends about an even more phenomenal value, had she only known about it!

Here's a much better value at Ritz-Carlton Cancun:

four nights in an Ocean View guest room with balcony — $300 per night + tax
complimentary daily buffet breakfast for two at El Cafe Mexicano — a $72 daily value
$100 resort credit (one time) to spend on food and beverage or spa services
room upgrade at time of arrival if available
welcome amenity
early check-in and late check-out if available
complimentary WiFi

$388 extra value, exclusively yours by booking through a STARS travel advisor.

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3.25.2018

how your travel advisor can save you money

bill for two buffet breakfasts, FREE if you use a STARS travel advisor

It's a common misconception that hotel guests can find the best deals booking on the internet, either going to an online travel agency like Expedia or hotels.com or booking directly on the hotel's website. If you want to reserve a room at a luxury hotel or resort, that inclination is a fallacy.

This was our breakfast bill from this morning. My wife and I each ordered the breakfast buffet this morning at Ritz-Carlton Bacara Resort. At the end of the meal, our waiter brought us the pictured check to sign. If $77.58 sounds like a lot to pay for breakfast ... here's how you can enjoy that breakfast for free: make your booking through a travel advisor affiliated with a STARS agency. One of the perks you'll receive at Bacara is a free buffet breakfast for two each morning of your stay. And you'll get a late 4 p.m. check-out if available and a customized welcome amenity or service — all at the same rate you see on the web.

Even better amenities are coming, as I understand Bacara will soon be accepted into Virtuoso. Add to all of the above a $100 resort credit — and a room upgrade if available when you check in. That's even more value you can get just by using a Virtuoso travel advisor.

So don't buy into the flawed logic that you're better off booking it on your own. You can find a Virtuoso advisor on Virtuoso.com.

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.

3.24.2018

Ritz Carlton Bacara | excitement at what's coming

I am excited by the prospects for Ritz-Carlton Bacara. A luxury resort set on 87 acres of oceanfront property north of Santa Barbara, California, Bacara has been under Ritz-Carlton management since October, 2017. The resort has "great bones," and I believe it will become one of the premier resorts in the Ritz-Carlton family over the next few years.

That feeling began with the drive from the airport when I had a chance to speak with the manager of guest services. Having worked at Bacara for a number of years, he shared his excitement — and that of the entire staff — at Ritz-Carlton's philosophy of staff empowerment. If a guest is experiencing a problem, staff members are empowered to resolve the situation right on the spot. Apparently not how the resort has been managed in years past, the staff is taking to the Ritz-Carlton tradition of being ladies and gentlemen whose highest mission is the genuine care and comfort of the hotel's guests.

Significant plans are in the works for a complete renovation of the resort. First up, a contemporary redesign of the hotel's lobby will begin this June, and a refurbishment of guest rooms is planned to take place over the next two years. A very nice vacation resort today, some are predicting that Bacara will become the flagship property of the entire chain.

Coming soon: a temporary Club Lounge (in April) with a permanent Club to open in July. Bacara is working with Jean-Michel Cousteau to develop a seasonal Ritz Kids program by this September.

A few highlights...

The hotel has two excellent restaurants. Angel Oak is the signature steakhouse where we enjoyed a phenomenal meal. The Bistro, open for casual dining, hosted us tonight for an enjoyable dinner.
Pools are heated to 85º year round.
Bacara has received tentative approval to join Virtuoso.
Guests booked by STARS travel advisors receive complimentary daily Buffet Breakfasts for two... and the buffet includes hot items including eggs cooked to order.

2.02.2017

Janu-buried

photos by Jodi Demko, Director of Sales at RC Lake Tahoe

This has been a January to remember in California. The torrential rains that eased our 5-year drought also dropped many feet of fresh powder on the Sierra Mountains. Now's the time to hit the slopes, if you enjoy skiing!

Where to ski? My previous trips to Tahoe have taken me to Northstar, a family-friendly ski resort with a great ski school and trails to challenge everyone from novices to experts.

Where to stay? Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe, located mid-mountain at Northstar, is a true ski-in, ski-out resort. Leave your skis with the Ski Concierge, then phone in the morning when you're ready to hit the slopes. Your skis (and heated boots) will be ready and waiting for you when you head outside. Ski down to the gondolas, ride to the top of the slopes ... and enjoy the day.

And when you're done for the day, ski right to the back door of the resort, drop off your skis and boots, and enjoy a flute of Moet champagne on ice. Can you imagine a better day on the mountain?

Looking for a deal? Just book the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe through a STARS agent, and you'll receive a $50 breakfast credit every day at the same "regular" room-only rate you're seeing on the internet.

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.

11.02.2015

Ritz-Carlton STARS and Constellation Club

Have you heard of Ritz-Carlton STARS? STARS are part of constellations, and we're proud to announce that Ourisman Travel is a charter member of The Constellation Club, in recognition of which fact we have received a rubber ducky named Stella, the club's official mascot.

What does STARS mean for you?

1. It means that you'll receive special perks at any Ritz-Carlton hotel stay that we book for you. You'll receive Virtuoso amenities at every Ritz-Carlton that is a Virtuoso member ... and at those that are not Virtuoso, you'll stop;; receive STARS amenities. You'll receive a free continental breakfast for two (or better) when booking at the regular daily rate, late check-out when available, complimentary internet, and special recognition. Have a special welcome amenity you always enjoy receiving? Let us know, and the ladies and gentlemen of Ritz-Carlton can make it happen for you.

2. It means you'll get the recognition you deserve. It's a hotel policy that a STARS guest will never be "walked." Do you want to be pre-registered before you arrive? Just ask, let me know your arrival details, and we can make it happen.

What does the Constellation Club mean for you?

3. It means that your travel consultant is among a very select group recognized by Ritz-Carlton for their support, and they will go above and beyond to WOW our clients.

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.

9.11.2015

new Ritz-Carlton logo introduced

Ritz-Carlton today unveiled a newly designed logo, pointing out in its press release that "this is the first time in the 32 year history of The Ritz-Carlton that any changes have been made to the revered lion and crown." The luxury hotel company also introduced a new shade of the color blue to its logo.

Why blue? Blue glass was a status symbol in Boston in the 1920's (the roaring twenties), due to the fact that imported European window glass turned blue when exposed to the Boston air. Inspired by this history, RC Boston installed a blue chandelier in its ballroom. Something about the color blue stuck, and blue became a permanent fixture in the company's color palette. The blue field behind the logo recalls this story and reinforces the hotel's promise of "quality, excellence and the promise of beautiful memories."

Not earthshaking news, but something I thought you'd enjoy learning about on a slow news day! We are a STARS agency, able to offer our clients recognition and valuable amenities at every Ritz Carlton worldwide. We truly value our relationship with the ladies and gentlemen of Ritz Carlton and are happy to spread the news.

8.18.2015

#VirtuosoWeek top ten | new Bali resorts

Mandara Pool Villa

This is the third of my "top ten list" from Virtuoso Week. There are three new resorts in Bali offering Virtuoso amenities. Here are all twelve.

Manadapa, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, though not yet admitted into Virtuoso, offers equivalent amenities through the Ritz Carlton STARS program.

VIP status
Daily breakfast for two
pre-registration
$100 Resort Credit
4 p.m. late check-out

The rooms look gorgeous, and I predict Mandapa will become the go-resort in the Ubud area.

Alila Villas Uluwatu is located in south Bali, high on a cliff overlooking the ocean. All of the resort's one, two, and three bedroom Pool Villas feature an ocean View and a private pool. There is a Stay 3 Pay 2 promotion through 19DEC, 2015, and you can triple the promotion for 3 free nights with a 9 night stay. applicable Virtuoso guests receive:

Complimentary continental breakfast for two daily for duration of the stay
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability

W Retreat & Spa Bali is located in the busy Seminyak beach area. There's a special 4th night free promotion valid for travel now through 31OCT, 2016.Virtuoso guests receive

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily Buffet breakfast, for up to two in room guests
$100 USD Equivalent Spa Services credit, to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability

8.05.2015

Mandapa, Ritz Carlton Reserve | Ubud top choice?

Mandara Pool Villa

The new top choice in Ubud? Mandara is the new Ritz-Carlton Reserve resort opening this month on the outskirts of Ubud, Bali. I attended a dinner Monday night at which Mandara was introduced to a select group of STARS travel consultants in the San Francisco Bay area.

I was truly impressed. The smallest room is a Reserve Suite with a generous 1075 square feet of living space. Each villa has a private 30 foot long swimming pool and offers 4630 of interior and exterior living space.

Rates are highly competitive with Four Seasons Sayan and Amandari. Looking at 28AUG, a lead-in Suite is $667 + tax per night and a lead-in Pool Villa is $1045 + tax per night. Although the resort is still awaiting its entry into Virtuoso, I can get you equivalent amenities today:

daily breakfast for 2
$100 resort credit
upgrade if available
complimentary internet

Mandara Suite bedroom - overlooking the resort's rice terraces

7.25.2015

Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe | summer family vacation

When I woke up this morning and looked out the window (shortly after 6 a.m.), I could not believe the beautiful light of the mountain dawn. So I quickly dressed and went outside to capture what I could of the "golden hour." I was a bit late, but the light in this picture is just magical. Be sure to click the picture to see a full-size image.

Ritz Carlton Lake Tahoe is located mid-mountain at Northstar, a family-friendly ski resort just a bit more than three hours from the Bay Area (unless you wait until everyone else is driving up to Tahoe for the weekend, in which case three hours can easily turn into five ... so leave at 10 a.m., if you possibly can).

Great summer weather — sunny skies, clear blue skies, shirtsleeve temperatures (sounds strange to say, but San Francisco and East Bay residents will know what I'm talking about). Clean mountain air, great hiking, and mountain biking opportunities galore. Also great food! Last night I had the seared Hawaiian Sea Bass at the signature restaurant Manzanita, and it was phenomenal.

Consider Ritz Carlton for summer vacations with kids. There are lots of young families with kids playing in the heated pool, and this is a very kid friendly resort. One little girl was thrilled that the family's guest room had her personal "tent" set up for her arrival.

Your Ritz-Carlton STARS travel consultant can provide additional value for your stay — daily complimentary buffet breakfasts for two adults ... all for the same price you'd pay if you book it yourself on the web.

5.24.2015

Laguna | two SoCal beach resorts

view from Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel

I was in Southern California for one night this week and spent the evening at Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. While there, I had site inspections both of the Ritz Carlton and the Montage Laguna Beach. Here are my impressions of these two beach resorts.

I learned an interesting fact about Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel — it's the first resort that RC ever built. Located above one hundred feet above a long beach, the hotel offers incredible views of the Pacific Ocean. The beach view is so picturesque and inviting that there's a live web cam shown on four large screens behind the front desk... The resort has 396 rooms, and it's definitely worth getting a coastline view room for the beautiful view.

We were upgraded to a Garden View 1BR Club Suite. The rooms at RC Laguna Niguel have recently been renovated, and the results were very pleasant with a restful color scheme (blues and a pastel sea foam green) that gives a sense of place to this seaside resort. Our Suite had a powder room off the living room, and the main bathroom was large with dual vanities. A louvered door separated the vanity area from a smaller room with toilet and shower/bathtub combo.

Regular guest rooms feel spacious with the same color scheme as the suites. Additional space has been captured by removing the credenza from the wall opposite the bed, mounting the flat screen television on the wall, and moving the drawer space into a closet area. The bathroom had dual vanities and the same shower/tub combo. (The resort is 30 years old, and although it feels fresh, plumbing choices were made before separate step-in showers became the standard for luxury hotels).

I enjoyed the food. We ate Friday night at 180BLU, an open-air bar and restaurant overlooking the sea — very informal with a live musician playing an acoustic guitar. Our Saturday morning breakfast was enjoyed at Raya — we had a window seat in front of huge windows facing the sea from which we enjoyed watching the early morning surfers.

view from the lobby of Montage Laguna Beach

Montage Laguna Beach is a newer resort, built 7 years ago, just 10 minutes up the coast from the Ritz Carlton. A more intimate (just 248 guestrooms), our first impression of the property was the inviting lobby area with its inviting living room/lounge area overlooking the Pacific. Light and bright with a white wood cathedral ceiling, it feels like a casual yet elegant beach bungalow.

There are three categories of guest rooms at Montage. Every room faces the ocean, and Virtuoso guests receive an upgrade at the time of booking. You can see some ocean from the lead-in Horizon rooms, but Virtuoso guests are upgrade to Coastal rooms with quite a full view of the ocean. Book a Coastal Room, and you'll enjoy the upgrade to a Surf Room that has views of the ocean and the white sand beache. Guestrooms are a large 500 square feet, and bathrooms come with dual vanities, separate step-in shower and soaking tub, and a WC. The rooms have a residential feel that seemed just a bit tired to me; they could really benefit from new furnishings that reflect the casual elegance of the resort's wonderful lobby.

For a third option along the Pacific Coast in Orange County, consider Pelican Hill. A review from my previous stay can be found here.

5.01.2015

what color would you like your tulips?

photo from wikimedia.org, used under the Creative Commons license

This is a story about great, over-the-top customer care offered by the ladies and gentlemen of Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain.

I recently booked a weekend stay for a couple celebrating their wedding anniversary. One of the perks I can offer my clients as a Ritz-Carlton STARS travel consultant is a customized welcome amenity or service. I asked the husband what could make their stay extra special. His wife loves tulips, he said, and he would love to surprise her with a vase of tulips in the room upon arrival.

Ritz-Carlton loves doing special things to make their guests feel special, so I passed this request on to my Guardian Angel. Her response was that she would love to have tulips delivered to their room ... and what special color would she prefer? (Answer: lavender)

It brings a smile to my face to anticipate the pleasure that this simple welcome amenity will provide my clients on their stay at Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain.

UPDATE: the hotel also placed lavender tulips throughout the lobby and restaurant for their stay!

1.25.2014

polar vortex special | Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne

This?

… or this?

Ritz Carlton Key Biscayne has a special Polar Vortex exclusive offer from now until Feb. 6, 2014. Virtuoso amenities apply, and you also can get a customized STARS amenity or service.

Superior Room at $499

Complimentary View upgrade at booking (subject to availability)
Daily Buffet breakfast for two
$100 Resort credit
Early check-in/late check-out subject to availability

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.

10.18.2013

the best peach jam | Ritz Carlton Atlanta

I recently received a jar of peach jam from the Ritz Carlton Atlanta. It's rare for me (or anyone else) to rave about a jar of jelly, but this was an incredible product. Made from organic white peaches grown in Georgia (where else?), this jam was custom made for the hotel.

Just open the lid and savor the aroma. It smells just like fresh white peaches. Want a jar? As it's a Limited Edition deal, you'll probably have to visit the hotel... but if you're visiting Atlanta anytime soon, I can get you complimentary breakfast for two — and hopefully a jar of this jam as your STARS welcome amenity.

Atlanta, anyone?

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.

2.21.2013

Ritz Carlton Kapalua | complimentary Mai Tai's

enjoy a complimentary Mai Tai...

Ritz Carlton Kapalua, one of the five-star Virtuoso resorts on the island of Maui, has announced a Swing into Spring promotion which will run from March 16th to June 16th. When booking the Golf in Paradise or Island Paradise packages, you'll get the following complimentary extras:

local fruit plate and bottled water on arrival
a complimentary Mai Tai made right at your poolside chaise lounge
a gift Papaya Pineapple Lotion when you visit the spa
create your own Organic Hawaiian Bath Salt keepsake every Wednesday at the spa
and more...

Complimentary daily buffet breakfast for two guests is included in both packages, and if you've ever enjoyed the breakfast buffet at the Ritz Carlton Kapalua, you'll know you're in for a treat. The Golf package includes two free rounds of Golf, and the Island Paradise package includes fifth night free in a Deluxe or Deluxe Ocean View room. And you'll receive even more when booking through a Ritz Carlton STARS travel consultant.

... while relaxing by the pool

Ritz Carlton Kapalua (search here on Google)

8.23.2012

Thanksgiving vacation idea | RC Grand Cayman

Looking for a Thanksgiving vacation idea? I just received this promotion: get a guaranteed upgrade at time of booking at Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman for stays from November 16 - November 25, 2012. (This period spans all of Thanksgiving week and the weekends on both sides).

Only available through STARS agents (a select group of agencies comprising Ritz-Carlton's top producers), you will also enjoy a complimentary buffet breakfast for two (per room). By booking with a Virtuoso travel consultant, you will also receive a $100 resort credit per room per stay.

Everybody loves a beautiful view, so for the price of a resort view room, you'll enjoy the ocean vista from your Ocean Front room at Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman… but book now. This guaranteed upgrade offer is only being offered for bookings made by September 20.

Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman (search here on Google)

7.02.2012

Dorado Beach | opening 12/12/12

The opening date for Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve, has been announced — December 12, 2012. The resort is now taking Festive Season reservations, so get in touch ASAP in order to get your casita booked for this holiday season. (Website reservations probably won't go live until August).

I have the fondest memories of Dorado Beach, having vacationed there a couple of times over Christmas vacation when I was a teenager. The water was wonderfully warm, and it was a great place to meet other kids and play on the beach and in the surf. I even met Vice President Hubert Humphrey who was vacationing at Dorado Beach at the same time as my family.

For an even better deal at what will become one of the Caribbean's top resorts, book through any Ritz-Carlton STARS travel consultant for complimentary daily breakfasts and other VIP amenities.

Dorado Beach (search here on Google)

2.25.2012

Ritz-Carlton South Beach | extra $100 resort credit

Looking for a quick winter getaway? The Ritz Carlton South Beach is located in the historic art deco district of Miami Beach, a lively area with lots of dining choices, shopping, and nightlife, not to mention the sand and sea of Miami Beach.

Over the next five weeks, the resort is offering an additional $100 resort credit for bookings made through a Ritz-Carlton STARS agent. This offer is valid for every three night booking on stays from February 24 through April 30, subject to availability, when you reserve a Partial Ocean View, Poolside Lanai, Ocean Front, or any suite or Club room.

You will also receive the following Virtuoso amenities simply by making your reservation through any luxury travel consultant who is both Virtuoso and STARS. For the same best available flexible rate, you will receive these valuable extras:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
Daily buffet breakfast for up to two in-room guests served at Bistro One LR
A US$100 Spa credit, once per stay (not combinable; no cash value if not redeemed)

... plus the $100 resort credit per every three night's stay.

Here's the fine print: The credit is not applicable to room or tax, not valid on existing reservations, and not applicable to wholesale or group bookings.

Ritz Carlton South Beach (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. .

2.21.2012

Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale | STARS promotion

The Ritz-Carlton Fort Lauderdale is a beachside resort just a 10 minute taxi ride away from FLL, a major international airport with direct flights from all over the country. One of the top luxury choices for a beach holiday in the Miami area, my clients have been complimentary about the level of service and beautiful accommodations they have enjoyed at the Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale.

A special STARS promotion has just been released this morning. Exclusive to STARS agencies, the Fort Lauderdale March Madness Promotion is an offer to be considered if you're planning a family getaway to Florida this winter.

Book a 1 BR Residential Suite for 4+ nights, and receive one $200 resort credit.
Book a 2 BR Residential Suite for 4+ nights, and receive one $400 resort credit.
Book a 3 BR Residential Suite for 4+ nights, and receive one $600 resort credit.

This promotion is combinable with STARS amenities but is available only through your STARS travel consultant.

complimentary continental breakfast for two daily
customized welcome amenity
late 4 p.m. check-out

The fine print: Booking window is 21FEB-31MAR for travel through the end of May. Only offered on new reservation and not combinable with any other offer, resort credit must be used for incidentals in the hotel and can not be applied for room, room tax, gratuities, transportation or gift cards. This offer is subject to availability and does not include taxes or surcharges, advance reservations are required, rates do not apply to groups of ten rooms or more, not applicable to contracted corporate rates, is not combinable with other special packages or promotions and reservations must be made via official STARS reservations channels in order for the credit to be applied. Blackout dates: April 5-10, May 5-8, May 24-28.

Ritz Carlton Fort Lauderdale (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. .

12.08.2010

Ritz-Carlton deals for STARS guests

Ritz-Carlton Central Park — third night free. With an ideal location in the middle of Central Park South at 6th Avenue, Deluxe Park View rooms offer an outstanding view over Central Park. Valid through March 5.

Ritz-Carlton Battery Park third night free + guaranteed upgrade to the Club Level at time of booking. Offered from December 17 - March 31 (excluding New Years Eve). The hotel offers views of the Statue of Liberty from its Harbor Rooms.

Ritz-Carlton Boston Commons offers an upgrade at booking from January 1 - March 31. The hotel is located steps from the Boston Commons.

Ritz-Carlton Washington, DC offers an upgrade at booking to Club Level from a Deluxe room. Available through January 31 for visitors to our Nation's Capital.

Hotel Arts Barcelona offers an upgrade at booking into an Executive Suite from January 1 - March 31. The hotel is right by the Mediterranean Sea in the area of the old Olympic village.

These are just the highlights of current specials available for STARS guests. In addition to these Ritz Carlton deals, value-added amenities and VIP service is available everyday to every STARS guest at every Ritz-Carlton hotel in the world, including a complimentary daily breakfast for two for rooms booked at the best available flexible rate. Ritz-Carlton is always a value option for the luxury conscious traveler.

Ritz Carlton deals (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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