Las Vegas

There is no better time to go to "Sin City" than now during a down economy. Las Vegas has never been cheaper and more accessible and many of the best hotels in town are offering spectacular rates to entice you, the traveller, to stay with them. Since your dollar will go much farther currently why not stay at one of the fine luxury properties in Las Vegas?

My favourite luxury hotel in Las Vegas is the Four Seasons within the Mandalay Bay complex. It is a separate hotel with a separate port cochere, lobby, restaurants and guest elevators. The best part is Four Seasons guests get full access to the Mandalay Bay resort amenities. The Four Seasons offer grace and intuitive service and very comfortable rooms. The Four Seasons also boast some of the best views of the Las Vegas Strip from the Premier Strip View rooms and suites. For a real splurge, opt for the 180 degree Strip View suite. The Food and Beverage outlets are excellent with Verandah serving internationally influenced cuisine and a Sunday Brunch to die for. Charlie Palmer Steak is the best steakhouse I have been to in Las Vegas. The Spa offers blissfully wonderful treatments and a complimentary Cadillac Escalade is available on first-come-first-served basis to most locations on the Strip for sightseeing and shopping. For the best rates, book through a Virtuoso and/or Four Seasons Preferred Partner Travel Agent for additional benefits such as breakfast and dining or spa credits as well as upgrades (subject to availability).

Bellagio is another luxurious hotel in terms of the standard of accommodation but falls short on service. Our 1 bedroom Penthouse Suite had a spectacular view of the Bellagio Fountains which kept us enchanted for most of the evening. Many dining options abound -- Todd English's Olives was very good but our favourite was Noodles, a casual asian restaurant with cuisine from Southeast and East Asia. The benefit of booking a Bellagio Suite and above is that it includes round trip limo transfers to and from the airport as well as Executive Lounge access which includes private check-in and Concierge Service and all-day beverages and snacks as well as complimentary laptop use within the lounge. 

The SkyLofts at MGM Grand sits on the Penthouse level of the massive MGM Grand and features 50 duplex loft suites with a stark modern interior. Each of the bathrooms feature a walk in steam shower, a Kohler InfinitySok jetted tub with chromatherapy (the kind where there are jets on the sides as well as the bottom of the tub and the water overflows the edges to create a soothing cascading water feature), televisions galore and Bulgari White Tea amenities. A highlight is the complimentary round trip transportation to and from the airport in a Maybach limousine (upon availability but we have been lucky to get the Maybach every visit). Entertainment systems are controlled by Crestron portable units and all digital movies, music and radio as well as internet are complimentary. SkyLofts offer great value with tons of complimentary in room coffee, tea and soft drinks as well as 24 hour Concierge and Butler service. The 1 Bedroom Lofts are wonderful but the 2 Bedroom units are simply massive!! SkyLofts guest also get VIP treatment at all MGM Grand Hotel restaurants and nightclubs -- we were treated like royalty at Shibuya and Diego and had access to special seats at KA, the Cirque du Soleil show.

The Wynn Tower Suites are another option with a separate entrance, elevators, and pool. The decor at the Wynn is fantastic and our Salon Suite was about 1800 sq ft of luxury. The Wynn, however, did the least to make us feel like VIPs since there really weren't many perks except for a line pass at the Buffet and the Terrace Point Cafe (your room key, which is also your Casino player's card, is your line pass).  The Food and Beverage is, for me, quite average at Wynn with the Country Club and Daniel Boulud's restaurants resounding disappointments. Red 8 is the best option in my opinion but a very expensive one!! 

The Signature at MGM Grand is also a nice option to consider as each room is either a Junior Suite or a 1 Bedroom suite (which combine to make their 2 Bedroom suite) which come with a fully stocked kitchenette (in the Jr. Suite) and kitchen in the 1 bedroom suite. Most units come with balconies and units on the higher floors offer stunning views of the Strip. All the amenities of the MGM Grand are a 10 minute covered walkway away. 

Other hotels to consider which I have not yet stayed at are the new Trump International Hotel and Towers (which is similar in concept to the Signature), the Encore Tower at Wynn, and for serious highrollers, the Mansion at MGM Grand.

All the hotels I have stayed at come with additional benefits and amenities like breakfast, dining or spa credits, and space available upgrades if booked through a Virtuoso Travel Agent.

The journey towards Luxury Travel

My parents used to stay in luxury hotels before I was born and had heard stories from them as well as the guests we used to entertain so I grew up knowing that *something* really nice was out there but had no real experience. The first real step towards luxury travel was when on a family trip I got to choose one hotel on a trip to Atlantic Canada. In St. John's, Newfoundland, I had done some research at a travel agency owned by family friends and booked the Radisson. It was by far the nicest hotel I had stayed at and thus started my journey in search of better hotels. I was 10 or 11 at the time.

At 15, I was selected to go to Japan for a 3 week long scholarship from the Japanese Government to meet and interact with other Japanese-speaking foreign nationals. On this trip, I was exposed to International Business class for the very first time on Japan Airlines. There was no turning back after this!! I crossed over to the "Light Side of the Force" during my University years when I started to travel more extensively during my summer breaks and the occasional trip for Conferences. My next encounter was at the then Westin (now Omni) in Montreal where I stayed for a UN Symposium being held in the City and was shocked that they knew my name whenever I phoned downstairs. In retrospect, how naive!! But at the time I was in awe!! New York City was my starting ground whereby I would write to almost every 4 and 5 star hotel and ask for their brochures. I finally settled on the Waldorf Towers as it provided to me the best value for a luxury hotel. To this day, I still make the Waldorf Towers my "home away from home" and was the first luxury hotel experience for me. And there was no turning back.

My sister and I made repeated trips to New York City, Philadelphia and Washington DC trying various hotels, Hiltons, Luxury Collection by Starwood, Inter-Continental, and Westin but then we discovered the Four Seasons. Our first stay at a Four Seasons Hotel was the Four Seasons Philadelphia and this was a true eye opener -- we were hooked. We then tried the Four Seasons New York.

It was when we went to Europe where our education in luxury hotels took another huge leap. For 5 weeks we toured France with short sojourns to Geneva and Brussels. On this trip we experienced top hotels such as the Hotel des Bergues in Geneva (now a Four Seasons Hotel), the Majestic in Cannes, as well as the Crillon, Le Bristol, and the Four Seasons George V in Paris.

Since then we continue to save up both frequent flyer points as well as cash to have the occasional splurge at a top luxury hotel. Through these travels, a few favourite hotels worldwide have emerged. They are: One Aldwych, London; Four Seasons George V, Paris; and the Waldorf Towers, New York City. I will write more about each property in forthcoming blog entries.

The Luxury Hotel of Paris

Paris is, undeniably, one of the most romantic and premiere city's in the world and along with it has some of the world's greatest luxury hotels. Hotel Le Bristol, Hotel de Crillon, Le Meurice, Ritz, Plaza Athenée, and the Four Seasons George V are some of the world's finest hotels for their style, sumptuous surroundings, service and that je ne sais quoi and savoir faire of French hospitality.

Here are some of my favourites:

Le Bristol is located in the fashionable Rue du Faubourg St. Honoré close to the French Presidential Palace. Recently re-opened after an expansion into neighbouring buildings, every room and suite is different. Some of the rooms are on the small side but the vast majority are furnished beautifully and all have gorgeous master bathrooms. The Terrace Suites are large gorgeous suites overlooking Paris' largest indoor garden courtyard with a large terrace off the living room while the deluxe guestrooms are very comfortable indeed. The gastronomic restaurant, Le Bristol, is also highly recommended.

Hotel de Crillon is housed in the former residence of the Duke of Crillon and is where Marie-Antoinette took music lessons. Located on the Place de la Concorde this hotel offers sumptuous and newly renovated quarters. The marble bathrooms are gorgeous and the Jr. Suites are very comfortable. The Historic "Boiseries" suites offer original wood panelling and parquet floors while the Bernstein Suite offers penthouse terrace views of the Place de la Concorde and the Eiffel Towers. 

Four Seasons George V is located in the heart of the Golden Triangle on the Avenue George V. For me, this is probably the finest hotel in Paris as it features very large and well appointed rooms and many suites with terraces. The hotel has two Royal Suites, three Presidential Suites and four specialty suites including the Honeymoon Suite with two terraces and direct views onto the Eiffel Tower. The hallmark of "Le George" is service, service, service and while very expensive (as all of the hotels above are) it is worth every centime!!

For those on a smaller budget, Le Grand Hôtel Inter-Continental adjacent to the Opèra Garnier deserves Honourable Mention. It is not in the same calibre of luxury as the hotels above but its price point is far lower as well. The standard rooms are small but well appointed and the Jr. Suites with Opèra view have stunning views on this Parisian landmark. Right over a Metro and RER (Regional Train) stations and within a stone's throw from the Place Vendôme, the Louvre, the Madeleine, and les Grands Magasins on Boulevard Haussman.