the difference between 5* and 4*

lobby of the Grand Hyatt Washington (c) 2019 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

I'm in Washington, DC for a family wedding, and we're spending two nights at the Grand Hyatt, Washington, DC. Why the Grand Hyatt? Two reasons ... it's literally across the street from the reception venue, and transportation is being provided from the hotel to the church where the wedding is being held.

As you may be aware, my business is focused on five star, luxury hotels. This stay gives me an opportunity to explain the differences between five- and four-star hotels. Here are some thoughts:

(1) A great value, I booked the Hyatt Privé rate for myself. For the nightly rate of $189, I am also receiving daily breakfast for two and a $100 hotel credit (which entirely paid for last night's dinner in the hotel's restaurant, Cure Bar & Bistro).

(2) The hotel is much larger than the typical luxury hotel, 897 rooms and suites. Guests enter the stunning 12-story lobby seen above. By way of comparison, the Park Hyatt Washington (Grand Hyatt's boutique luxury sister) has just 220 rooms and the Michelin-starred Blue Duck Tavern.

(3) We were upgraded to a Guest Room on the 12th floor with Grand Club privileges. Our room is an efficiently organized 351 sq ft with an attractive contemporary design and, most important, a comfortable bed. The workspace is intelligently designed with easily accessible power plugs and ports, and the internet is free and fast enough to do serious work. The bathroom was small with a single vanity and shower-in-the-tub.

(4) What about the Grand Club? I'm writing this blog from the Club at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday morning. Other Club guests are coming in to enjoy the breakfast

buffet which includes hot items such as scrambled eggs and quiches and a cold buffet spread including the fixings for lox and bagels, and an espresso machine. The selection thoughtfully includes such items as gluten-free muffins. While not pretending to offer the ambiance of a Ritz-Carlton Club Lounge, Grand Club provides a pleasant place to gather with a residential feeling. There is a presentation of snacks mid-day, hors d'ouevres and cocktails at the dinner hour, and a presentation of desserts after dinner.

(5) Who should choose the Grand Hyatt? Grand Hyatt is an obvious choice for business travelers or families with a budget of $200-$250 per night. Extremely well located for tourists, the hotel is just half a mile from the National Mall and the White House ... and atop Metro Center, the hub of Washington's metro system and the intersection of four subway lines. You can get quickly from the Grand Hyatt to most any place in the city

copyright (c) 2019 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.

enjoying my stay at Ritz Carlton Georgetown

Ritz Carlton Georgetown at dawn (c) 2017 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

I'm currently in my room at the Ritz Carlton Georgetown. A boutique hotel with only 86 rooms and suites, this property offers the intimacy you'd normally find in a Ritz Carlton Reserve. You will be ensconced on a quiet street just a short walk walk from the corner of Wisconsin Avenue and M Street, the very heart of Georgetown. The area features a myriad of small shops and a variety of different dining possibilities.

Life here revolves around the living room, much more like a living room than a typical hotel lobby. Filled with comfortable seating and a large, brick fireplace, guests gather here throughout the day — working on their portable computers or relaxing with a drink.

The neighborhood is the biggest reason to come. I enjoyed several early morning walks, one through the blocks north of M Street that are lined with well maintained antique brick homes, the hallmark of historic Georgetown neighborhood of Washington. Just a block to the south of the hotel is the waterfront, a walkway alongside the Potomac River where you can walk, run or bike while enjoying the sights — sunrises, sunsets, and a sweeping view of the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts.

To get the best value for your stay, book through your Virtuoso travel advisor and receive complimentary daily continental breakfasts, $100 F&B credit, as well as possible upgrades if available, complimentary WiFi, and early check-in/late check-out if availability.

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.

a bucket list for United Methodist tourism

Interior of the New Room, the first Methodist Chapel - released to the public domain 

United Methodist Communications has published a bucket list for Methodists, seven sites every United Methodist should see. I have listed those seven attractions as well as the closest hotels where we can offer extra value amenities.

1. England — The New Room (pictured above), located in Bristol, England, is Methodism's first meeting house. Stay at the Royal Crescent Hotel in the city center of Bath where we can provide Virtuoso amenities.

In London, make plans to see Wesley's Chapel and House, and in Epworth you can tour the Epworth Old Rectory where John and Charles Wesley grew up. Our closest partner hotel to Wesley's Chapel is Four Seasons Ten Trinity Square where you can enjoy Four Seasons Preferred Partner amenities.

2. Philadelphia — St. George's United Methodist Church is the oldest house of Methodist worship in continuous use in America. Its congregation has been meeting at that location since 1767, the church building itself dating from 1769. Francis Asbury preached his first American sermon here in 1771. The closest Virtuoso hotel is the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia, just six miles distant.

3. Ocean Grove— God's Square Mile at the Jersey Shore. A camp meeting was founded here in 1869, and thousands come during the summer to worship at the 6,000 seat Great Auditorium whose pipe organ has 11,000 pipes. Though no luxury hotels are found in Ocean Grove, consider the Berkeley Oceanfront Hotel in neighboring Asbury Park.

4. Washington, DC — the United Methodist Center is the only building on Capitol Hill not belonging to the government. Visitors can take self-guided weekday tours and attend worship each Wednesday at noon. The Mandarin Oriental Washington DC is less than two miles away.

5. Nashville — the Upper Room Chapel attracts visitors to the global home of United Methodist ministries focused on spiritual development. Worship is held each Wednesday morning, and admission to the museum is free. The Hutton Hotel is just a half mile away.

6. Zimbabwe - Africa University, in operation since 1992, the university's mission is to mold students from dozens of African nations into educated leaders for the church and for the world. The closest Virtuoso hotel is a safari lodge, Singita Pamushana Lodge.

7. Baldwin, Louisiana - Sager Brown Depot is the distribution center for relief supplies and the hub for UMCOR missions. Tours are available by appointment, and you can see and touch relief kits that are on their way to aid disaster victims around the world. There are four Virtuoso hotels in New Orleans, about two hours to the east. Best months to visit are between November and April.

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.

luxury travel bargains for europeans

Amazing luxury travel bargains are available to residents of Europe and the United Kingdom. It's hardly news that the US Dollar has fallen on hard times. That 100 Euro bill pictured above is worth $140. While bad news for Americans, this is an opportune time for European and British citizens to visit the United States.

Here are some luxury travel ideas for visitors to the United States (based on rates currently available for the dates indicated). All of these rates, when booked through a Virtuoso luxury travel consultant, come with a complimentary breakfast and an upgrade on arrival if available. I've put together the following itinerary, taking advantage of low weekend rates in major cities and low mid-week rates in Las Vegas!

New York. $399 for a Deluxe City View Room at the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park, Nov. 18-21. See New York Harbor and the Statue of Liberty from your hotel. Visit the great museums of New York. Windowshop on Madison Avenue. Explore Chinatown.

Las Vegas. $135.15 for a Junior Suite at The Signature at MGM Grand, Nov. 21-23. The Signature is an amazing new all-suite property, completely non-smoking, connecting by a moving walkway to MGM Grand and its casino, fabulous restaurants, and the entertainment possibilities of America's "adult Disneyland."

Scottsdale, Arizona. $211 for a Fairmont room at the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess, Nov. 23-26. You'll be upgraded at the time of booking to a Deluxe room, if available. Enjoy the fabulous shopping of Scottsdale. Play golf in the mild desert climate. Take a Day Trip to the Grand Canyon.

Washington, D.C. $395 for a Deluxe city view room at the Mandarin Oriental Washington, Nov. 26-29. Explore this beautiful city and its monuments. Visit the Smithsonian (at a time of year when the museums will be uncrowded) and the US Capitol. Even enjoy the cultural opportunities at the Kennedy Center.

The total cost of hotel rooms for this 12 day, 11 night tour of the United States, staying exclusively in 5 star luxury hotels, is $3285.30 before tax (with breakfast included every morning). That's only 2347 EUR (or 1635 GPB).

Virtuoso luxury travel consultant (search in Google)


copyright (c) 2007 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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