will Hawaii open for tourists on July 1st?

beach at Four Seasons Maui © 2020 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Hoping to travel again soon? I sure am. Here in the San Francisco Bay Area, we have been sheltering in place for over two months. I was forced to cancel two trips, a site inspection trip to the Big Island of Hawaii and a Windstar river cruise from Amsterdam to Basel.

Many travelers are hesitating for obvious reasons. We all prioritize our health and the health of our families. Beyond that, no one wants to fly off on a vacation and be surprised with a 14-day quarantine upon arrival. Flexible reservations are an absolute must. Before making a reservation, we want the flexibility of waiting as long as possible to assess the situation before committing to a trip.

Major luxury hotel brands are responding to what travelers need. New, flexible cancellation policies have been announced by Four Seasons, Marriott International (parent company of Ritz-Carlton, St. Regis, etc), and others. With only slight variations in wording, their new policy is this:

If you have an existing reservation, you can cancel it without charge up to 24 hour prior to arrival* as long as the cancellation is made by June 30, 2020. 

If you make a new reservation before June 20, 2020 for any future date, 2020, you will be able to cancel that reservation without charge up to 24 hours prior to arrival*. 

*This policy may not apply to Festive Season bookings, to dates with special event restrictions, or to periods of peak demand.

Please be patient. It takes time for new policies to be reflected in hotel reservations systems. Every rate for every room category at each hotel has to be modified. Please reach out to your travel advisor to iron out the details with the hotel or resort of your dreams.

copyright (c) 2020 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Dorothea Lange at the Oakland Museum

Dorothea Lange photographs at the Oakland Museum of California

Dorothea Lange: Politics of Seeing is a small exhibition of 130 photographs presented on the 50th anniversary of the gift of her photographic archive to the Oakland Museum of California. She is a gifted photographer, and I found the exhibit inspiring from both artistic and historical perspectives. The exhibition runs only until August 27, so you'll have to come this week.

The photograph above suggests what you can expect — a not-very-crowded exhibit (!) combining a number of framed photographs from her personal collection as well as some large, unframed blow-ups that display her work to dramatic effect. To quote the museum's promotional materials:

Through the lens of her camera, Dorothea Lange documented American life with riveting, intimate photographs that portrayed some of the most powerful moments of the 20th century. Lange was driven by the belief that seeing the effects of injustice could provoke reform and, just perhaps, change the world. From documenting the plight of Dust Bowl migrants during the Great Depression to illuminating the grim conditions of incarcerated Japanese Americans during World War II, Lange’s photographs demonstrate how empathy and compassion—focused through art—can sway minds and prompt change throughout this nation’s history.

If you're staying in San Francisco, just take BART to the 12th Street Oakland Station. From there, it's a 0.6 mile walk to the museum, located at 1000 Oak Street. The weather has turned beautiful this week! My two most highly recommended hotels in San Francisco close to BART are the Four Seasons and the St. Regis.

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.

South of Market walking tour

St. Patrick's Church from the MLK Memorial (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

San Francisco City Guides is a free program sponsored by the San Francisco Public Library (and one the beneficiaries of the city's hotel tax). Donations are welcome and are collected at the end of the tour but are not required. Walking tours are led by volunteers who love their city and want to share its history and sights with tourists ... and locals! One of our fellow walkers had recently moved to SF from Louisville and was taking advantage of these tours so that he could become knowledgeable about his new home.

I highly recommend the City Guides program and have taken quite a few of their tours. This past weekend, we showed up for a "South of Market" walk. The group met in front of St. Patrick's Church (pictured above), just a half block away from the St. Regis Hotel where we spent Friday and Saturday nights. After a quick walk through the church to see the white carrara Italian marble and green marble from Ireland, our guide took us through the neighborhood, pointing out historical and architectural sights of note along the way.

I never knew there was a Martin Luther King Memorial in San Francisco, but it's located at the south side of the lawn pictured above. The second largest MLK memorial in the country (Atlanta is home to the largest), it featured plaques with a number of Dr. King's quotes, including his admonition that "we must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools." Indeed!

Martin Luther King, Jr., Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution, 2 June 1959

Tours are offered daily, and the City Guides web site has a full schedule. A worthwhile way to spend a couple of hours getting to know San Francisco better.

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.

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.

beach vacation in Mexico

sunset at Casa Majani (c) 2016 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Punta Mita is an exclusive Mexican beach resort area just 45 minutes north of Puerto Vallarta. An easy non-stop flight from many US airports including San Francisco, Los Angeles, Dallas, Houston, and Atlanta, Punta Mita has beautiful white sand beaches and five star resorts, including the Four Seasons Punta Mita and the St. Regis Punta Mita.

Want something even more exclusive for a multi-generational family vacation (or even couples traveling together)? Consider a beachfront villa rental. On a Brownell Travel educational trip, we spent our first two nights at Palmasola, a 9 bedroom private estate directly on the beach. The beach was wide, sandy,  and completely empty, yet only a 10 minute walk in the sand to the Four Seasons's "quiet beach." We literally had our own private luxury resort for our stay — beautiful rooms, exceptional meals, and attentive service.

We can provide you with private beachfront villas all over Mexico ranging in size from 3 - 11 bedrooms. Casa Majani (pictured above) is a five bedroom villa (with a small sixth bedroom suitable for a nanny) just down from the St. Regis. The sunset view was incredible.

Whether you'd rather stay in a world-class resort or your own personal retreat, we can help you find the perfect spot for a beach vacation in Mexico — whether on the Riviera Maya, Punta Mita, Los Cabos, or elsewhere.

#1887ClubPuntaMita

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.

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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Mobil 5 star hotels for 2009

The Mobil Travel Guide has published their annual 5 star hotel awards for 2009. The list is posted on the Mobil Travel Guide website, along with links to reviews of each of the forty-three Mobil 5 star hotels.

What's the best way to book a 5 star hotel? Although many upscale travelers tend to book directly on the internet luxury travel consultant can typically provide a better value. Their clients receive complimentary amenities (such as free breakfasts, room upgrades, and more), usually at exactly the same rates found on a hotel's website. And sometimes a luxury travel adviser will have access to even lower contracted rates.

Interested in any of the "checked" hotels on the Mobil 5 star hotel list? I have access to special amenities at each of these properties. I charge no booking fees, and you pay the hotel when you check out.

California
LAX
√ Hotel Bel-Air
√ Beverly Hills Hotel
√ Peninsula Beverly Hills
√ Raffles L'Ermitage Beverly Hills
√ St. Regis Resort, Monarch Beach

SFO
√ Four Seasons Hotel San Francisco
√ Ritz-Carlton San Francisco
√ St. Regis San Francisco

Chateau du Sureau, Oakhurst (near Yosemite)

Colorado
√ The Little Nell, Aspen
√ The Broadmoor

Connecticut
√ The Mayflower Inn, Washington, CT

District of Columbia
√ Four Seasons Washington

Florida
√ Ritz-Carlton Palm Beach
√ Ritz-Carlton Naples
√ Four Seasons Palm Beach

Georgia
√ Four Seasons Atlanta
√ Sea Island - The Cloister
Lodge at Sea Island Golf Club

Hawaii
√ Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea

Illinois
√ Four Seasons Chicago
√ The Peninsula Chicago

Massachusetts
√ Four Seasons Boston
√ Boston Harbor Hotel
√ Blantyre, Lenox

Nevada
√ Wynn Las Vegas - Tower Suites
√ SKYLOFTS at MGM Grand

New York
√ Ritz-Carlton Central Park
√ Mandarin Oriental New York
√ St. Regis New York
√ Four Seasons New York
Trump International
The Point, Saranac Lake

North Carolina
Umstead Resort and Spa, Cary
Fearrington House Country Inn, Pittsboro

South Carolina
√ Sanctuary at Kiawah Island
Woodlands Resort and Inn, Summerville

Tennessee
√ The Hermitage Hotel, Nashville

Texas
√ Rosewood Mansion on Turtle Creek, Dallas

Utah
Stein Eriksen Lodge, Park City

Virginia
The Jefferson Hotel, Richmond, VA
The Inn at Little Washington, Washington, VA

Wyoming
√ Four Seasons Jackson Hole


Mobil 5 star hotels (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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Luxury Hotels | San Francisco

What's the best luxury hotel in San Francisco? As with most cities, there is no single definitive answer to that question. There are many wonderful hotels in San Francisco, and your choice will depend upon your budget and priorities. This article will report on recent site visits I made at the St. Regis, the Four Seasons, and the Ritz-Carlton hotels in San Francisco. A future blog will report on the Mandarin Oriental, the Campton Place, and the Huntington Hotel.

The St. Regis Hotel, located right next door to the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art (pictured to the left), is an ideal property if you wish to spend a day at the gallery. It's just a block from Mosconi Center, the location of many commercial exhibitions including MacWorld which takes places every January.

Like many St. Regis properties, this hotel has been designed with a clean, ultra-contemporary look in the lobby as well as the guest rooms. Some people love it, while others, of course, prefer more traditional interior decorations. The hotel has a fabulous indoor infinity pool overlooking the city. As only hotel guests and spa guests have pool access, you will be able to enjoy the water and the view in some privacy. (There was no one in the pool at the time we visited). The hotel's restaurants feature organic ingredients, so the St. Regis would be a good choice if this is important to you. Virtuoso guests are upgraded upon arrival, subject to availability (excluding suite categories), receive a daily continental breakfast at Vitrine or in-room dining, and receive a $75 retail credit at the Remede Spa.

The Four Seasons San Francisco is located right on Market Street, adjacent to the San Francisco Center (with Bloomingdales, Nordstrom, and a great food court). This hotel, like Four Seasons properties in general, has a comfortable contemporary style in keeping with the culture of its host city. Rooms in the front of the hotel look directly down Grant Avenue toward the arches leading into Chinatown (the largest Chinatown outside of Asia) and toward the historical buildings of the Financial District. The hotel has an extensive collection of modern art, and a printed guide is available to locate and identify the various art pieces displayed throughout the property.

Virtuoso guests receive an upgrade at the time of booking at the Four Seasons. My recommendation is to ask your travel agent to book you into a Deluxe View room and have you upgraded into one of the corner Premier Rooms. Almost as spacious as a suite, these are very special rooms with fabulous views. You will also receive a complimentary Full American Breakfast for two each morning in the restaurant or via room service.

The Ritz-Carlton San Francisco is also a special property and is ideal for those who prefer a more traditional feeling as well as large rooms. Located atop Nob Hill a few blocks north of Union Square and a few blocks west of Chinatown, walking back to the Ritz-Carlton does involve an uphill trek, but it's doable if you're in good shape (and you're not in San Francisco during the rainy season). Passing through the impressive entry of this neoclassical temple, you enter a warm and spacious lobby with elaborate floral arrangements appropriate to the season. We visited during the Easter season, and the florists had created a wonderful floral Easter bunny out of differently colored flowers.

Being an older building, the rooms are of varying size, even within a single room category. Be aware that the basic Deluxe rooms vary in size from smallish to quite spacious, so have your travel agent try to block you into one of the large Deluxe rooms. However, the real place to end up at this Ritz-Carlton is the Club Floor. Because of high demand, guests cannot be upgraded from a non-Club floor to a Club floor, but this Club offers food and beverages all day. We arrived at lunchtime, and there was an enticing spread of sandwiches available for guests in the living room-like atmosphere of the Club Lounge. In addition to the upgrade on arrival and continental breakfast for two, Virtuoso guests receive a $50 gift certificate for use in The Signature Shop.

Virtuoso amenities are available when rooms at these properties are booked through a Virtuoso agent.