now that your taxes are done...

Now that your taxes are done, how are you going to celebrate? A lot of CPA's will take the opportunity to leave the office and take a trip tomorrow. Everything ready to be filed with the IRS has been electronically transmitted, and extensions have been filed for all everyone else. It's the perfect time for accountants to take a week or two off for some rest and relaxation.

It's time to reward yourself, too! Today you filed your returns (or your extensions), so now is a great opportunity to consider your bucket list ... and decide how you want to invest your refund.

But when you travel, be sure to claim all your deductions.

• Are you getting complimentary breakfast for two?
• Are you getting a $100 food and beverage credit or spa credit to use during your stay, or a free airport transfer?
• Does the front desk offer you an upgraded room when you check in (assuming one is available)?

If you can't check off all those boxes, you're leaving money on the table... and tens of thousands of luxury travelers make that mistake every day. It's easy to make a reservation yourself through a hotel website or an OTA, but a Virtuoso travel consultant will get you everything to which you're entitled (just like an experienced CPA can actually save you money on your taxes): complimentary daily breakfast, upgrades if available, and an additional credit typically worth $100 or more.

Drop me a line if you have any questions!

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.

Christmas markets in Europe

Want to visit some Christmas markets? My friends at Rocco Forte hotels suggest these cities for a December trip to Europe:

Munich, Berlin, and Frankfurt provide an idyllic setting for a romantic Christmas market break. There's plenty of traditional treats for the senses. Aromas of spiced mulled wine, gingerbread and sausage fill the air as you wander through the streets, soaking up the festive atmosphere. From food and drink to hand crafted toys and tree decorations, Christmas markets offer something for everyone.

We have Virtuoso hotels in each of those German cities, including three Rocco Forte options. Please ask me about special Festive Offers at the following Rocco Forte hotels, and check out the Virtuoso amenities here (free, added-value perks you get just by booking with a Virtuoso travel consultant).

The Charles, Munich

Hotel de Rome, Berlin

Villa Kennedy, Frankfurt

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.

one city | two luxury hotel choices

view of Blythswood Square from room 101

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city, and we've had a chance to visit two of its best luxury hotels — Blythswood Square and Hotel du Vin. I have positive impressions of both, but as the hotels are in very different neighborhoods and have totally distinct styles, your choice will depend on your desired location in Glasgow as well as your personal preferences.

We are currently staying at Blythswood Square, named after the square on which it's located — an urban park with a green lawn, flower beds with pink and red blossoms, and leafy trees, especially pretty in the spring when the cherry trees are in full flower. An upscale contemporary hotel, our Deluxe room (#101) is an attractive ground floor room with the above view out my window. Convenient walking distance from numerous places to eat and a pedestrian mall with good shopping opportunities, the hotel is a good choice for both leisure and business travelers.

Our room features original architectural details — ten foot ceilings, paneled doors, crown molding and wood trim, and two tall colonial windows up to the full height of the room. Walls are painted a soothing off-white, and contemporary furnishings and drapes are in attractive shades of purple, greys, and greens. Hanging pendant lights provide an attractiveness quirkiness to the design. Our room has a step-in closet and convenient power and AV connections at desk level. The veined brown marble bathroom features a deep soaking tub, one large single vanity, a step-in rain shower and WC. The adjacent Classic room (#102) has an outside connector to our room. Slightly smaller, the room is brighter as it's on the corner of the building with three large windows that admit wonderful natural light to your living space.

The basement spa offers rooms for treatments as well as three warm water pools, large enough to swim as well as enjoy the jets.

Hotel du Vin at One Devonshire Gardens is located in the affluent residential neighborhood of West End. Nearby the University of Glasgow, the neighborhood is lined with attractive shade trees, beautiful townhouses, as well as the university campus. Comprised of five adjacent townhouses, you can enter your own townhouse through its original front door and go to your room up the center staircase. Each staircase faces a beautiful stained glass window.

A boutique hotel with only 49 rooms, one entire townhouse (#5) can be reserved for special family or group events. While lead-in rooms are small, they are nevertheless extremely charming, and the hotel offers a unique sense of place, a taste of Glasgow tradition, and the kind of character that only a lovingly restored older hotel can provide. Lead-in Standard rooms have a Queen bed and armchair but no soaking tub. Larger rooms offer King beds, some with four posters, and either one or two vanities (so make your preferences known to your Virtuoso travel consultant when you book). Classic rooms and above are large enough to provide sofas, and there are suites and duplex suites as well — one with its own conservatory and outdoor garden.

With free parking, Hotel du Vin is a set of connected urban townhouses for guests who want a pied à terre in Glasgow. Free parking is another advantage, as well as great set of Virtuoso amenities.

Le Taha'a Island Resort | casual luxury in Polynesia

view from a Beach Bungalow at Le Taha'a Resort (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

When I picture the perfect beach resort, the black and white photo above pretty much says it all for me. Sand and sea, a hammock hanging underneath shady palm trees, a clear view of the horizon, and a few overwater bungalows to lend perspective to the view.

I had the pleasure of visiting Le Taha'a Island Resort one morning during our Paul Gauguin cruise of French Polynesia's Society Islands. Le Taha'a is the perfect resort if you're seeking totally casual luxury, a sand-between-your-toes kind of existence where you just lay back, relax, and enjoy. This is a place I'd love to spend a week.

Fans of the former Kona Beach Resort (on the Big Island), or the Napili Kai resort (on Maui) will know exactly what I'm talking about. With just 60 suites, Le Taha'a is situated underneath the palm trees on a sandy knoll of land jutting out into the sea. While Four Seasons Bora Bora has a manicured elegance, Le Taha'a is laid back and casual. A wonderful spa takes advantage of a wholly natural setting, and you'll enjoy the great food you'd expect from a Relais & Chateaux resort.

No crowds whatsoever and no other resorts in sight, Le Taha'a is a place to go snorkeling and enjoy life in your own overwater bungalow. But if you want to take the path even less travelled, stay in one of the resort's Beach Bungalows — spacious suites with private plunge pools and a backyard that's exactly like the picture above.

Your Virtuoso travel consultant can provide you with valuable amenities (daily buffet breakfast, 75€ spa credit, a cocktail voucher, and an upgrade if available) in conjunction with some great promotions available for longer stays.

Special promotion just announced — stay 5 nights and save 50% on all room categories except the overwater suites. Includes breakfast for two daily. Travel dates: 1APR-30JUN, 1OCT-31MAR of 2016. A great reason to stay in a Beach Bungalow!!!

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.

5 reasons to cruise on the Paul Gauguin

view of Bora Bora one morning aboard the MS Paul Gauguin

Is a Paul Gauguin cruise in your future? This was our second visit to French Polynesia — and also our first time ever on a cruise ship. Here are five reasons you might want to consider a cruise on the MS Paul Gauguin for your honeymoon or anniversary trip to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, and French Polynesia.

1. You pack and unpack just once. No living out of a suitcase as you visit from island to island.

2. Your logistics are taken care of. Cruising is the easiest way to get from island to island without having to deal with airports and ferry terminals. From your arrival in Tahiti to your departure, someone else is dealing with all of the hassles.

3. Control over costs. Most everything is included on the Paul Gauguin — your cabin, all of your meals, cocktails and wines at meals, even gratuities. Shore excursions, spa treatments, and premium wines are extra.

4. Meeting fellow travelers. You're onboard with 300 or so fellow passengers who, like you, love to travel. It's easy to meet people, start conversations, and make friends.

5. Access to quality tours at every port. Paul Gauguin will offer excursions at every port, or you can arrange your own.

Voyager Club amenities. On some Paul Gauguin cruises, you benefit from Virtuoso's Voyager Club amenities — a $150 shipboard credit or $175 towards the purchase of other Virtuoso products in connection with your cruise. Just book through your Virtuoso travel consultant, or email Sarah@ourismantravel.com for immediate personal attention.

copyright (c) 2014 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell Travel. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

what 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.

Shangri-La | it's in our nature

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts hosted the Hotels Dinner on Wednesday night of this year's Virtuoso Travel Week. The dinner began with an amazing film that you can watch in the YouTube video above.

Virtuoso is an invitation-only consortium of the best luxury travel consultants in the world. About one thousand hotels and resorts are part of the program, and travelers can benefit from value-added amenities (such as free breakfast for two, room upgrades, and hotel credits) by reserving through their Virtuoso travel consultant.

Twelve Shangri-La properties are members of Virtuoso.

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.

China 72 hour transit without visa

Temple of Heaven, Beijing — photo (c) David Ourisman, all rights reserved

A relatively new policy allows travelers to China with US passports (and quite a few other European and Asian countries as well) to avoid the hassle of applying for a Chinese visa if you meet some rather precise criteria. To summarize:

1. Your stay in China is under 72 hours
2. You are both arriving and departing from the same city — Beijing, Shanghai, Xian, and a few other cities
3. You're stopping in China enroute from your country of origin, through China, to a third country

My friend Ben S of PointsPros just took advantage of this program on his flight (which routed him from Zurich through Beijing en route to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia — don't ask!) and blogged about it here. A really interesting article with some practical advice, if you're planning to do the same thing. (Ben's team has been phenomenal in helping me use miles for award travel).

Traveling to Beijing or Shanghai? Any Virtuoso travel consultant can provide you with free amenities at ten (10) hotels in Beijing and seven (7) hotels in Shanghai — complimentary daily breakfast for two, room upgrades, and other added perks — added value making these luxury hotels your best deal in these cities.

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.

Amanpuri Summer Benefits

The original Amanresort, Amanpuri is situated on the west coast of Phuket Island, Thailand with views of the Andaman Sea. Meaning "place of peace," the resort has only 72 guest pavilions. Amanresorts is the world's preeminent family of boutique hotels with properties in Asia, Europe, and the United States.

You could easily become an Amanjunkie, an appellation apparently invented by the reservations team in Sri Lanka by which they refer to repeat Aman guests… and a title proudly accepted by guests who just can't get enough of Aman's style of secluded, peaceful luxury with personal, attentive service.

Could this summer be the time to take the plunge? Amanpuri is offering a Summer Benefits promotion, in combination with Virtuoso amenities, that seems like an irresistible temptation: room rates beginning at $550 per night inclusive of daily breakfast, one complimentary lunch or dinner for two, room upgrade if available … and complimentary airport transfers with a three night stay. Any Virtuoso travel consultant can provide you with these amenities.

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.

Resort at Paws Up | luxury camping

This video is just under three minutes. Take a look for the gorgeous cinematography and a glimpse of what luxury camping is like at the Resort at Paws Up in Greenough, Montana. The food looks incredible, the wine cellar impressive (saw a bottle Grgich Hills in the video), and the tents quite luxurious.

Resort at Paws Up is a place to reconnect with nature and with those you love. What to do? Hot air ballooning, horseback riding, fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, rafting, tubing, and even golfing at a nearby course. Even try your hand at rounding up cattle. Looks like an incredible destination resort whether you want a romantic getaway or are looking for a week of safe and healthy family fun.

Rates include three meals daily, non-alcoholic beverages, airport transfers, and gratuities. Book through a Virtuoso travel consultant and receive a $300 activity credit to use during your stay as well as a bottle of wine for your welcome amenity.

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.

Gregans Castle | hidden gem in County Clare

Cliffs of Moher — (c) 2014 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

County Clare is one of my favorite places in Ireland, home to the Cliffs of Moher (pictured above) as well as the less well-known Burren National Park. The two most popular five star hotels in County Clare are Dromoland Castle and the Lodge at Doonbeg. You'll enjoy very comfortable stays at either of these, as well as the Virtuoso amenities that you can receive by booking through any Virtuoso travel consultant.

But if you'd prefer to be a bit off the beaten path, I loved Gregans Castle. After a morning tour of the Cliffs of Moher and the Burren, we had lunch and a site inspection at this property. Don't be fooled by the four star rating, as Ireland rates its hotels by an arbitrary check list. To be rated five stars, a hotel must have a doorman — which would have been totally out of character for Gregans Castle, a small gem of a boutique hotel. We received a warm personal welcome at the front door by the hotel's Director.

A wonderful 18th century country manor house (not a castle), Gregan's Castle has a restful atmosphere, beautiful views, and a simply wonderful restaurant (our lunch consisted of a pea & parmesan Risotto, followed by an exquisite Dark Chocolate Truffle Cake for dessert). If you can overlook the lack of separate step-in showers (showers are in the tub), everything about the accommodations is great. Each room is unique and designed by the Director's wife, a talented artist. Her sense of color and styling is spot on.

Breakfast is included in the reasonable rates, upgrades are possible, and with a two-night stay my clients receive the Celebrated Perk of a complimentary half-day walking tour of the Burren led by one of the most engaging and colorful tour guides you'll ever meet.

Gregans Castle has warmth, personality, and beauty that is beyond my ability to express in words. If my description engages you, trust me. This is where you want to stay in County Clare!

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.

getting from the Rome airport to the Amalfi Coast

Costiera Amalfitana — Photo by Paolo Costa Baldi. License: GFDL/CC-BY-SA 3.0

You've landed in Rome, and you need to get to the Amalfi Coast. What's the best way to get to Positano, Amalfi, Sorrento, or Ravello? This was the subject of a recent online discussion among Brownell travel advisors. Here is the gist of their wisdom.

1. Book a private transfer. Your driver will pick you up at FCO and drive you directly to your hotel in Positano (where there are two stunning Virtuoso resorts: Il San Pietro di Positano and Le Sirenuse) or elsewhere. Click the links to see the exclusive amenities your Virtuoso travel consultant can provide.

2. Train to Naples, then transfer. First, you'll have to transfer from FCO to the Termini in Rome. The train to Naples is a 70 minute ride. From the Naples train station, you can get a transfer to Positano. But depending on the number of people in your party, this can be more expensive with two transfers and a train ticket for each person in your group.

3. Rent a car and drive yourself. Is this a good idea? While some tourists think of this as a way to save money, it may not be the best way to go. Inexperienced drivers on incredibly tight mountain roads will find the drive extremely challenging. You risk risk hitting the wall … or people. And consider parking: about 30€ per night to park the car in Positano — and hourly charges before and after the overnight hours can run the cost up to 50€ per day for parking.


So those are your options. Even though the cost of a private transfer from FCO might sound like a lot, you're saving yourself a ton of stress and beginning your Amalfi Coast holiday in style.

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.

Costa Rica | rainforest paradise

Just back from Costa Rica, and this is the first of several articles I plan to write about this beautiful country. We visited both the mountain rainforests and the beautiful beaches. Today's report — the Costa Rican rainforest.

Costa Rica is blessed with incredible biodiversity. One of the highlights of our trip was a hike across the Arenal Hanging Bridges. Our guide Hector truly loves nature. I was struck by the almost childlike excitement on his face when he spotted various fauna — a family of wild pigs, howler monkeys, white-faced monkeys, toucans, even leafcutter ants. (Hector guided Jimmy Carter on two occasions!)

And the flora... green, lush, and beautiful! I took picture after picture of colorful leaves and ferns. This was one of my favorites!

You can plan a trip on your own, but we benefited from the expertise of Rico Tours who assisted with our itinerary, activities, and hotels — and you get Virtuoso amenities when using a Virtuoso travel consultant.

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.

Ritz London | photogenic staff and rotunda

Where was the photographer standing when this photograph was taken? She or he was evidently up in the dome of the Ritz London, looking down toward the rotunda. The hotel's staff was arranged on both levels of the central staircase, as well as the ground floor. A most interesting viewpoint on one of the celebrated hotels of London.

Designed by Cesar Ritz, the renowned hotelier of a former century, the Ritz London has a great location right on Picadilly, adjacent to Green Park. I spent a couple of nights at the Ritz several years ago in a Junior Suite and especially enjoyed the hotel's convenient location, ideal for walking to lots of places of interest.

Part of the Virtuoso travel network, guests can receive a great set of complimentary amenities just by booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant:

• Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability
• Continental breakfast daily, for up to two in room guests
• Complimentary one-way private airport transfers from hotel to either Heathrow, Gatwick or City airport
• 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.

Lake Fuschl, Austria | glorious scenery and hiking

photograph taken by David Ourisman at Lake Fuschl © 2013

Having recently returned from Austria, Berlin, and Prague, I've been asked: what is the favorite destination of all the places I visited. The answer? Lake Fuschl, located about a half hour east of Salzburg, Austria.

The photograph above speaks more eloquently than any number of words that I could write. Travel photography is one of my passions, and I loved the chance to walk [part way] around the lake and take pictures of the changing leaves and the lakeside scenery. If I went back, I'd spend the day walking all the way around Lake Fuschl. This particular photograph was taken from one of the Lake Cottages at Schloss Fuschl. As you can imagine, these are the ultimate room category ... and the Cottages sell out during the summer months, so book early.

Consult your Virtuoso travel consultant for exclusive amenities that add so much value to your stay: daily buffet breakfast for two, a $50 F&B credit, a $50 spa credit, and a room upgrade if available... all at the regular flexible rate that you can find on the Starwood website.

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.

check out the new virtuoso.com

the new virtuoso.com now available to everyone

Check out the brand new virtuoso.com, so new it just went live today. This website is a valuable source of information previously available only to Virtuoso travel consultants, so this will be a site to visit, bookmark, and use for your travel research. The whole idea of the site is to empower you, the traveler, to collaborate with your travel advisor to orchestrate the trip of your dreams!

You can share your impressions of hotels, cruises, and tours ... and you can also post a review of your Virtuoso travel consultant. 

Say you're traveling to London and want to know all of its Virtuoso hotels. Go to virtuoso.com, click on hotels on the front page, then enter "London" in the search box under City. The 20 Virtuoso hotels in London will show up on the right, and you can click on any of them to find out the amenities, see it located on a map, get general information about the property, and read reviews.

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.

Schloss Fuschl | I want to hike around this lake

the original castle in the distance

The two days I spent at Schloss Fuschl (pictured in the background of the picture above) were not enough. The resort is set on a beautiful lake, about 12 km around (about 3 hours). I'd love to go back to Austria just to take the hike. I would start in the late morning, have lunch in the small village of Fuschl at the opposite end of the lake, then continue around the lake back to the resort.

I recommend booking a Castle Suite, located in the original castle built in 1450 and offering an uninterrupted lake view right from your room. Or for a real WOW, stay in one of the Lake Cottages right on the lake level with an upstairs bedroom, downstairs living room with wood burning fireplace, and spectacular views of the water. You'll also enjoy the Virtuoso amenities during your stay at Schloss Fuschl by booking through a Virtuoso travel consultant: daily buffet breakfast for two, $50 food and beverage credit, $50 spa credit, and upgrade if available.

Here are some photos from my all too short walk by the lake.

looking through the autumn leaves at the lake

the beautiful woods around the lake

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.

traveling to Austria!

from Wiki Commons, photographer Hans Peter Schaefer, http://www.reserv-a-rt.de

I've never been to Austria. I grew up admiring the Austrian composer W.A. Mozart, being a fan of the Sound of Music, and even liking the Blue Danube Waltz — but I've never been there. Now, after well over a dozen trips to Europe (I've lost count), I'm finally traveling to Austria. I'm not sure even what to expect, but as our trip has been planned by our Virtuoso on-site in Austria, I'm confident that we'll have an interesting itinerary, great guides, and access to the must-see attractions during our eight days there.

Our trip begins in Vienna where I'll be staying at Hotel Imperial. After four nights in Vienna (I find it takes a bit of time to get over jet lag - expresso helps!), we'll enjoy an all-day drive along the Danube, eventually landing that afternoon at Schloss Fuschl, a castle on a lake a bit to the east of Salzburg. Our one full day there will be a time for rest and relaxation, enjoying the scenery, and perhaps even indulging ourselves at the spa. Our last two nights will be spent in Salzburg at Hotel Goldener Hirsch.

I'll also be doing hotel site inspections, which will not surprise my readers. While these are all Starwood properties, we'll also get a chance to do site inspections at the other Virtuoso hotels in Vienna and Salzburg. For those who do not know, Virtuoso amenities provide you with complimentary daily breakfast, room upgrades when available, and other valuable amenities, all at the room-only rate that everyone else books online. Just contact your Virtuoso travel consultant.

And after Austria, we're on to Berlin and Prague... Be watching this space during our trip as I update with my own pictures and highlights of the trip.

traveling to Austria (search here on Google)

copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Manoir Hovey | autumn colors in Quebec

Manoir Hovey is a Virtuoso inn on Lake Massawippi just outside the picturesque Quebecois village of North Hatley. I saw their presentation at Virtuoso Travel Week and was enchanted. With just 37 rooms and suites, this Relais and Chateaux property offers gourmet cuisine, gorgeous fall colors, and a charming and romantic setting for couples. Just 116 miles by car from Burlington, VT or 87 miles from Montreal, it is also easy to reach.

Rooms are individually decorated, most featuring antiques furnishings, wood-burning fireplaces, private balconies, whirlpools, and views of the lake. When I saw this picture, my only thought was: I'd love to spend a weekend here!

Virtuoso guests at Manoir Hovey receive exceptional added-value Virtuoso amenities when booked by your Virtuoso travel consultant.

• Daily buffet breakfast for two
• Complimentary 3-course luncheon including wine pairing for the main course
• Upgrade, subject to availability

Ready to plan a special weekend in Quebec? Get in touch, and I'll set it up for you. What a special place to pop the question ... or celebrate an anniversary!

Manoir Hovey (search here on Google)
copyright (c) 2013 by David Ourisman LLC. All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

top ten list from Virtuoso Travel Week

Here, in no apparent order, is my top ten list of things heard last Wednesday and Thursday at Virtuoso Travel Week in Las Vegas. Details are a bit sketchy (they're based on my scribbled, almost-legible notes, so I'll have to call in some cases for full details). Please email me, or contact your own Virtuoso travel consultant, if you want the full information on these travel opportunities.

1. Four Seasons George V is providing guests the opportunity to take complimentary cooking classes and also flower workshops. You can also sign up for guided early morning runs through the streets of Paris.

2. Peninsula New York is offering a guaranteed Virtuoso upgrade at booking and a complimentary three hour Mini Cooper tour of New York (as per James Baker, Senior Travel Industry Sales Manager).

3. Need a day room at DFW? Consider Four Seasons Dallas which is offering a day room rate - and enjoy their great spa while you're there. Beats the Admirals Club (unless you really enjoy all-you-can-eat pretzels and cookies).

4. Park Hyatt Washington, DC has a Family Plan — get a second room for just $125.

5. If you book Mandarin Oriental Bangkok as a FAN Club booking (instead of a Virtuoso booking), you'll receive a $100 hotel credit (in lieu of the Virtuoso Thai Buffet lunch for two).

6. The Peninsula Shanghai has a fabulous new Virtuoso exclusive amenity. A smart phone provided guests is pre-programmed with emergency numbers, a button to contact the concierge, and maps and guides of Shanghai attractions.

7. Want to rent a Balinese villa, complete with chef? Virtuoso provider Asia World Indonesia has a variety of rental villas all over the island at price points to satisfy all budgets. 

8. Snowdance Resort is a small ski destination with rustic cabins, great food, Virtuoso amenities ... and free skiing and snowboarding.

9. Is there a Lamborghini or Bentley in your future? Maybe not in your driveway, but you can drive like a billionaire for a week or weekend through Virtuoso provider Hertz.

10. Some amazing deals at Amangiri and Amangani this winter with minimum night stays. All-inclusive meals at Amangiri, and/or your choice of all-inclusive meals or free skiing at Amangani.

Virtuoso travel consultant (search here on Google)

copyright  (c)  2013 by David Ourisman LLC.  All rights reserved. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.