First reason to Stay in Vendee

If you’re self catering, a good option in the current climate, the daily market in St Jean de Monts offers all the good value fresh food that self catering families could need (and free parking).

Cheese (cow, goat, sheep), fresh breads, several butchers and locally grown (often organic) fruit and vegetables. On Thursday and Saturdays it’s extended to include clothes, plants and general bric a brac.

Five reasons to stay in the Vendee

Half way down France’s west coast, there is plenty to attract cost-conscious visitors as well as families.
Following are the five main Reasons to stay in Vendee, instead of going anywhere else.
We can bet, that you will enjoy your Stay and you will like to visit Vendee Again and Again

Third Reason to stay in vendee

There are many restaurants worthy of mention. To ensure great value, eat where the locals do (look for 85 as the last two digits on the number plates in the car parks. It’s the number of the Vendée departement and indicates a local’s car).

Second reason to stay in Vendee

As well as the usual more expensive offerings, the little off license in St Jean de Monts’ main square has large steel vats of different local wines (mainly Loire valley).

Approximately €3 buys you 1.5 litres of unbranded white, rose or red wine (poured into a used plastic water bottle) that you would reasonably expect to be as rough as sandpaper. However, the locals all drink it and I’ve bought far worse from so called ‘select’ UK wine clubs for upwards of 10 times the price.

Fourth reason to stay in the Vendee

Notre Dame de Monts is the smaller, prettier sister of St Jean de Monts, just along the coast (why there are so many ‘de Monts’ in such a flat area I have no idea) which also has a huge, sandy (and often quiet) beach.

Fifth Reason to stay in the Vendee

The surrounding area also offers some interesting produce. Muscadet wine is excellent value. 5€ will buy a bottle of top grade sur lie of varying vintages and the ordinary AOC Muscadet is less than half that price. The hand harvested sea salt, Fleur de Sel de Guerande is internationally renowned as the finest salt available and is treated with a degree of reverence. A small bag costs €4-6.

Hotel Madrid announced the launching of a next generation booking engine on their website

Torrevieja, Spain - Hotel Madrid announced the launching of a new interactive booking engine that provides demanding guests an easy to use secure reservation system on their website www.ansahotel.com/

Hotel Madrid enhances guests experience with an innovative booking engine that provides an easy shopping experience. With a calendar overview showing best available rates and special promotions guests can now deal shop online and take advantage on real-time availability and pricing information. Guests are guarantee to have the best available rate when booking online directly with the hotel at www.ansahotel.com/

With this new online approach Hotel Madrid starts its journey into Web 2.0 technologies and promises to offer its guests a personalized and intuitive shopping experience.

Korean Air and Pullman Hotels launch Triple Miles Promotion

From April 1, 2009 members of the Korean Air frequent flyer program Sky Pass will earn 500 miles per stay (when staying on eligible rates) at Pullman Hotels and Resorts.

Sky Pass members staying between April 1 and June 30, 2009 will receive triple miles (1500 miles) per stay on a bonus launch offer.

Today there are 34 Pullman Hotels and Resorts throughout the world in popular locations such as Sydney, Paris, Bangkok, Beijing, Cairns, Sanya, Berlin, Madrid.

Graham Wilson – Vice President Marketing for Accor Asia Pacific said, “the Pullman hotels and resorts network is rapidly expanding throughout the world and we are always on the look out for new and suitable partnerships. The Korean Air Sky Pass program partnership provides access to the frequent traveling Korean market who have proven to be early adopters of the upscale Pullman hotel brand.”

Dubai tops table of EMEA hotel project cancellations

Dubai has suffered the greatest setback of all hotel construction markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, according to a new report.

The 2008 Q4 Construction Pipeline report, compiled by hotel real estate researcher Lodging Econometrics, shows that more than one fifth of all cancelled or postponed hotel projects in the EMEA region during this period were located in Dubai.

Twenty projects, representing 7477 rooms, were stalled in the emirate during what was an increasingly bleak final quarter for all markets.

According to Lodging Econometrics, project cancellations and postponements doubled in the second half of 2008, with a total of 164 projects, or 37,450 rooms, being shelved across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

The report cited a lack of available credit as critical in influencing the slowdown.

“In the Middle East, the evaporation of available lending has seriously impacted their pipeline of high-end resorts,” said the report.

“The withdrawal of cross-border global banks is having major impact, particularly in Eastern Europe and the Middle East.

MGM Mirage Closes $775M Hotel Sale as Dubai World Sues on $8B Mixed-Use Project

(LAS VEGAS, NV) -- Billionaire Phil Ruffin today closed a previously reported deal to buy the 2,885-room Treasure Island Hotel and Casino on the Las Vegas Strip for $775 million. Real Estate Channel reported the transaction Dec. 16, 2008.

Ruffin's holding company, Ruffin Acquisition LLC, is the buyer of record. Publicity-shy Ruffin, reported by Forbes to have a 2008 net worth of $2.1 billion, paid MGM Mirage $600 million in cash at closing for the property.

Ruffin also gave MGM Mirage a $175 million secured note bearing interest at 10% payable not later than 36 months after closing.

Ruffin Acquisition, LLC has an option to prepay this note on or before April 30, 2009 and receive a $20 million discount on the purchase price. The note is secured by the assets of TI and will be senior to any other financing, according to James J. Murren, Chairman and CEO of MGM Mirage.

Tried and Tested: The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai

BACKGROUND
The Address, Downtown Burj Dubai opened its doors on October 1 and is Emaar Hospitality Group’s first and flagship project under its own five-star global luxury hotel brand, The Address Hotels + Resorts. The brand’s focus is on location, advantage, guest benefits and service.This hotel offers 196 rooms and suites.

LOCATION
You’d be hard pushed to find a better city location for a Dubai hotel. The Address is in the new downtown district overlooking the tallest building in the world — Burj Dubai — and very close to Dubai’s financial district, Sheikh Zayed Road and the Dubai Convention & Exhibition Centre.Not only that, but the world’s largest mall — Dubai Mall — is its next-door neighbour featuring not only a bevy of international retail outlets, but an ice rink and an aquarium too.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS
When pulling up at The Address, you really feel like you have arrived. The 63-storey hotel stands elegantly next to two behemoths — Burj Dubai and Dubai Mall — and is surrounded by the new downtown development that comprises apartments, hotels and a souk.

Tiny hotel room may fit shrunken travel budgets

NEW YORK (AP) — A New York hotel with luxury sheets and state-of-the-art audio for less than $100 a night? All you have to sacrifice is a bit of privacy and a little — well, a lot — of space.

Moving beyond budget accommodations to an idea that borrows from a ship's berth or a train's sleeper car, developers are gambling that in tough times travelers looking for a little pampering at lower prices will embrace micro-hotels.

The concept of an entire hotel room the size of a suburban bathroom has spread across Europe in recent years. And as the U.S. economy deteriorates, interest in the idea has grown, especially in high-priced markets like New York City — where there are fewer options for budget travelers.

"It's certainly the right product for the times," said Tom Botts, a specialist in the hotel and travel industry at Hudson Crossing, a strategic advisory firm.

The trick, says Sean MacPherson, co-developer of The Jane hotel, is to make its 150 tiny single rooms — about 7 feet wide by 8 feet long — feel "charming and special" rather than simply cramped.

With no room for extra furniture, guests at The Jane — which is opening in stages between now and the end of the summer — stash suitcases and clothing in storage spaces above and below the narrow bed. A large mirror and a small window help stave off potential claustrophobia.

The "micro-luxury" touches at what was originally, in 1908, a hotel that rented cabin-like rooms to sailors for just 25 cents a night include 350-thread count sheets, a 23-inch flat-screen LCD television, DVD player, iPod dock and free wireless Internet.

Hotel Spas Try to Lure Locals

Hotel spas have long been a haven of calm for business travelers seeking to get the kinks out of their backs after a long flight or to unwind before a big meeting. But as the economic downturn hurts the hotel business, the spas are dealing with their own stresses.

According to PKF Consulting, spa revenue rose 5 percent from 2006 to 2007, largely because of higher charges for treatments. But since last fall, hotel spas have been dealing with both reduced occupancy and guests who have sharply curbed their discretionary spending.

PKF’s report on the outlook for hotel spas projected decreased attendance for 2009. To counteract this, hotel spa operators are trying several approaches to increase business and cut costs.

Hotel, resort operators in Cebu seek a stop to Napocor’s 20% rate hike

HOTEL and resort operators in Cebu are asking Malacañang to mediate and stop the National Power Corp. (Napocor)) from implementing a 20-percent increase in its generation rates starting this month.

With Visayas set to be hit by the biggest increase, they warn that the tourism and hospitality industry in Cebu, already bracing for a tough year because of the global economic recession and tough competition from rival destinations in the region, will lose its edge in the global market.

“Why is the government punishing an industry which is currently flying and has the best hope of helping the country during the crisis?” Hans Hauri, the chairman of the power committee of the Hotels, Resorts and Restaurants Association of Cebu (HRRAC), said.

Hauri, the general manager of Marco Polo Plaza Hotel, warned that with hotels and resorts forced to absorb the increase, many operators may have no choice but to freeze their expansion plans, including the hiring of more workers; or worse, lay off employees.

“Somebody will have to pay for it [the increase],” Hauri warned. He said power bills account for more than 10 percent of the operational costs of hotels and resorts.

Welbeck Hotel

• The Welbeck Hotel is located in Blackpool, England.
• On Blackpool's sea front

One mile from town centre and Blackpool Tower

Two miles from the Pleasure Beach and Sand Castle water park

The Kensington Hotel

• The Kensington Hotel is located in Blackpool, England.
• 900 metres from Blackpool Tower
• One mile from Sandcastle Water Park and the Pleasure Beach

North Grange Hotel

The North Grange Hotel is a seafront bed and breakfast residence located at the northern end of the Promenade in Blackpool, England, 2.5 miles from Blackpool Tower and four miles from the Pleasure Beach. The nearest tram stop is located opposite the hotel, and Blackpool North railway station is 2.5 miles away. Blackpool International Airport is six miles from the hotel.

New Central Hotel

• The New Central Hotel is located in Blackpool, England.
• 200 metres from the Promenade
• 300 metres from Blackpool Tower
• 750 metres from the Winter Gardens

• Half board includes full English breakfast and five-course dinner
• Wireless Internet
• Lounge bar
• Pool table

Chequers Plaza Hotel

The Chequers Plaza Hotel is located in Blackpool, England, two miles from Blackpool train station, the Wintergardens, the town centre, and Houndshill shopping centre. The Pleasure Beach is five miles from the hotel.

Ocean Hotel

The Ocean Hotel is located in Blackpool, England. The Blackpool Tower is five blocks away, and the Pleasure Beach is 1.5 miles away. Blackpool Airport is three miles away, and the nearest station, Blackpool North, is situated 500 metres from the hotel.
Set on the promenade overlooking the sea, The Ocean Hotel is housed in a traditional property spread over two storeys accessible by lift. Guests can enjoy a drink in the bar with its beamed ceiling and red leather banquettes. Onsite parking is complimentary.

A complimentary full English breakfast is served daily, and classic British dishes are served for dinner in the hotel's restaurant.

The Palm Beach Hotel

The Palm Beach Hotel is a three-storey terrace hotel set amidst parkland, 250 metres from the Pleasure Beach and half a mile from the Tower. The hotel's 80 guestrooms feature traditional decor with wooden floors, rugs, fabrics in warm colours and living areas with sofas and dark-wood furnishings. Amenities include televisions, coffee/tea making-facilities, direct-dial telephones, hospitality trays and bathrooms with tubs and showers.
A full English breakfast is served daily and the hotel's traditionally furnished restaurant offers an international selection of variety of dishes, including English, Italian, French and Indian favourites. Beers, wine, spirits and light snacks are available at the Tropicana bar and lounge, which hosts nightly cabaret shows with dancers and comedians. The hotel also houses a games room with a pool table, and afternoon teas are available in the sun lounge. Multilingual staff at the 24-hour front desk staff are on hand to assist with transport bookings, offer sightseeing advice and store valuables in the safe- deposit box. The beach is 100 metres away, while the rides of Blackpool Pleasure Beach are 250 metres from the hotel. The famous Blackpool Tower is half a mile away, as is the Winter Gardens conference centre. The seaside town of St Anne's is two miles away. Blackpool Airport is one mile from the hotel, with an approximate driving time of ten minutes.

Sandringham Court Hotel

The Sandringham Court is a centrally located budget hotel situated within 500 metres of the town centre, beach promenade, and Blackpool Tower. This two-floor hotel features 36 modern guestrooms decorated with dark wood furnishings and patterned fabrics, all of which come equipped with tea and coffee making facilities and colour televisions.
Guests can start the day with a full English breakfast and later on enjoy traditional home made food in the Windsor restaurant serving a three course dinner every evening. In high season guests of the hotel are kept entertained by live cabaret acts, karaoke, and a disco. There is also a games room with arcade games and pool table. Guests of the hotel also benefit from reduced price tickets to Blackpool Tower and the Waxwork Museum, available from reception. Practical amenities include free parking for up to 26 cars in the private car park and safe-deposit boxes at the front desk. Classic English seaside pursuits are on offer at the seven miles of beach and promenade just 500 metres from the hotel, where guests can enjoy donkey rides and seaside shows, or visit the aquarium. The famous Blackpool Tower, Winter Gardens and Grand Theatre are also within 500 metres, while the Pleasure Beach is two miles away. Manchester Airport is 60 miles from the hotel, around 50 minutes by car.

Carousel Hotel

The Carousel Hotel is a three-floor hotel located on Blackpool's seafront promenade, one mile from the famous Pleasure Beach. All 92 guestrooms feature simple pastel décor with light oak furniture, and are equipped with coffee/tea makers, televisions, high-speed Internet connections and complimentary toiletries. Executive rooms benefit from sea views.
Serving dishes from table d'hote and à la carte menus, the modern Carousel restaurant offers panoramic views across the promenade. The hotel is licensed for civil marriage ceremonies and offers banquet facilities for weddings and other social events. The Flyde conference room is also available for business meetings, with a range of audio-visual equipment for hire. Practical amenities include free parking nearby and 24-hour room service. At one mile away the Pleasure Beach, Sandcastle Waterworld and the Casino can be accessed by a stroll along the promenade. Blackpool Tower is four miles away. The hotel is approximately three miles from Blackpool Airport. Buses run to and from Blackpool Airport to the city centre. Taxis are also readily available at the airport, and the fare is approximately 5 GBP

Hilton Blackpool

Set directly on the seafront on the North Promenade, the Hilton Blackpool is a modern, eight-floor hotel located one mile from Blackpool Tower and the famous Tower Ballroom. The 274 air-conditioned guestrooms are decorated in light pastel tones with contemporary light-wood furnishings. Most rooms have sea views. Most rooms include Sony Playstations, high-speed Internet connections, televisions, direct-dial phones, hair dryers, tea and coffee-making facilities.
The heated indoor pool, sauna and steam room will help guests unwind after a busy day by the seaside. Families are welcome at the hotel, which provides children's activities, a babysitting service and kids' menus. In the evening, guests can enjoy Mediterranean dishes and fine wines in the restaurant and drinks in the bar before dancing the night away in the onsite Springs nightclub, which is also available for private hire. The hotel provides wireless Internet access and staff at the 24-hour front desk can provide room service around the clock. Guests arriving by car will find complimentary onsite parking for 316 vehicles. Within a mile of the hotel, guests can visit the Eiffel Tower's little sister, Blackpool Tower, the historic Grand Theatre, the Grundy Art Gallery and Louis Tussuads Waxworks. The white-knuckle rides of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, including the tallest and fastest roller coaster in Europe, are less than three miles away. Manchester Airport is 55 miles away, with an approximate driving time of one hour. With more limited service, Blackpool International Airport is located the closest to the hotel.

Grand Metropole Blackpool

The Metropole Hotel is a Victorian property located on the lively Blackpool Promenade, within 500 metres of Blackpool Tower and the North Pier. The 171 guestrooms are decorated in light modern colours with patterned fabrics and light wood furnishings. Modern amenities include televisions and coffee and tea making facilities.
Guests can dine on international dishes in the Victorian setting of the Promenade Restaurant with its sea views, and enjoy a light snack in The Conservatory Sea View Bar and Coffee Shop, which also offers views across the North Pier. The hotel hosts an array of evening entertainment seven nights a week, including live bands, in-house shows and cabarets. Guests can also relax in the hotel's two lounges and make use of the games room, equipped with a dart board and a snooker table. A number of conference rooms and business services are available for any guests with business needs; visitors will find complimentary parking onsite. Practical amenities include a 24-hour front desk with a safe-deposit box. For those wishing to explore the area, the Winter Gardens and Sea Life Arena are just 500 metres away, the Central Pier is one mile from the hotel; Blackpool Zoo and Pleasure Beach are two miles away. Manchester Airport is 50 miles from the hotel and takes an hour to reach by car.

Barceló Blackpool Imperial Hotel

The Paramount Imperial Hotel is located in Blackpool, England. The Pleasure Beach is three miles away, and Preston is within 20 miles. Blackpool train station is half a mile from the hotel, and the airport is within four miles.

The Big Blue

A striking blue building situated at the entrance to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the Best Western Big Blue Hotel in Blackpool is a modern hotel overlooking the sea and the amusement park. Blackpool's attractions, including the Tower, pier and Sealife centre are all within a couple of miles. The 157 air-conditioned guestrooms are decorated in contemporary style with neutral earth tones, wood finished floors and wooden furniture with cream and brown fabrics. All have color televisions with DVD players, complimentary wireless Internet access, and tea and coffee making facilities. Family suites have a games console and separate children's sleeping area with bunk beds, each with its own television.
Guests of the Best Western Big Blue Hotel can dine in the Blue Bar and Brasserie, which is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner serving a range of meals, snacks and drinks. Children can design their own freshly-cooked pizza and the menu includes international and British dishes as well as vegetarian options. The Best Western Big Blue Hotel has a fitness centre and offers massage services, as well as conference facilities and free onsite parking. Blackpool Pleasure Beach is on the doorstep, offering entertainment ranging from comedy shows, musicals and circus spectacles to white knuckle rides, crazy golf, bowling and bingo. Blackpool airport is two miles away, but the nearest major airport is Manchester, 60 miles away. Train services link Manchester airport with Blackpool via Manchester, and bus services also connect the airport with other towns and cities.

Savoy Hotel

Services

• Complimentary newspapers in lobby
• Concierge services
• Room service (limited hours)

Business & Event

• 24-hour front desk

Rooms (all rooms include)

• Bathtub only
• Coffee/tea maker
• Direct-dial phone
• Hair dryer
• Iron/ironing board (on request)
• Smoking rooms
• Television
• Trouser press

Pearl Continental Hotel, Rawalpindi

Ten minutes drive from the airport, Pearl Continental Hotel Rawalpindi enjoys the status of the only deluxe hotel in the city. A distinct culture flourished on the Rawal Plateau as far back as 3000 years, attracting tourists from the world over. With its close proximity to the archaeological sites, historical monuments and fascinating hill stations, the hotel serves as a transit haven for the tourists. A blend of warm elegance and gracious hospitality, Pearl Continental Hotel Rawalpindi has a distinctive character of its own.

Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi

Located in the heart of the business hub and 15 km from the airport, Pearl Continental Hotel Karachi - is a preferred choice for discerning corporate and leisure travellers. Vibrant and progressive, it retains the warmth and the spirit of Pakistan, while offering a variety of rooms, stylish restaurants and contemporary business facilities, establishing itself as an undisputed, premier business hotel. Whilst not forgetting that Karachi is the city of dreams, an all enveloping sensory roller-coaster ride which leaves you delighted and inspired at the same time. There is a lot more to this city than what meets the eye.

Marriott Buys Greenbrier, Pending Union OK

The Greenbrier Hotel Corp., which owns The Greenbrier resort in West Virginia, has sought Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It has also signed a conditional asset purchase agreement with Marriott Hotel Services Inc.

5-Star China Hotel To Be Carbon-Neutral

Mayland Seaside Hotel, a 5-star property proposed for Guangzhou, China, would be the first hotel in the world to be completely carbon-neutral. The hotel would generate its own power via integrated wind turbines, photovoltaic windows and a fuel cell.

Hilton Responds To Suit Over Prestige Name

Hilton intends to defend its right to label its luxury and lifestyle collection of hotels the Hilton Prestige Portfolio and has filed an answer denying allegations filed by Prestige Resorts & Destinations.

Royal suite at Burj Al Arab

Royal suite at Burj Al Arab - $10,900 (Dubai, United Arab Emirates)
According to the hotels on the list, the majority of the clients who book their top rooms are wealthy families in the middle of remodeling their homes, film companies and corporations. Of course, there are always stories of the random sheik, deposed dictator or pop star also.

Penthouse suite at The Hotel Martinez

What will $37,000 get you these days? A modest down payment on a home or a year of college education? Well, how about a single night in the world's most expensive hotel room? Luxury goods are available everywhere, at both lower and higher price points than ever. Not to be outdone, hoteliers are keeping pace. The quality of suites, their furnishing and amenities, is at an all-time level of extravagance, because the expectations of guests staying in regular rooms increased with flat-screen TVs, better bedding, in-room technology and wireless Internet access. Let take you on a tour of 10 most expensive hotel rooms in the world. Topping the list is-
Penthouse suite at The Hotel Martinez - $37,200 (Cannes, France)
Cannes is a summer haven for sun-deprived Europeans, and the annual film festival is one of the biggest events of the season. The Penthouse Suite at The Hotel Martinez is the ritziest place to stay, located on the seventh floor of the hotel. It has four bedrooms, and the enormous terrace has a private Jacuzzi and views of the Mediterranean.

Royal penthouse suite at President Wilson Hotel

Royal penthouse suite at President Wilson Hotel - $35,000 (Geneva)
The name of this suite recently changed from Imperial Suite to the Royal Penthouse Suite, and the price changed as well: The last time we published this list, the suite rang in at $33,000 per night. The suite is accessed via private elevator. All doors and windows are bulletproof, and there are panoramic views of Lake Geneva Rest assured, it’s got bulletproof windows and doors, along with the brilliant views of Lake Geneva.

The Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi

The Royal Villa at Grand Resort Lagonissi - $34,088 (Athens, Greece)
The three-bedroom Royal Villa at the Grand Resort Lagonissi in Athens has an indoor pool, an outdoor heated pool, a gym, a fully equipped kitchen and large living and dining rooms. We recommend you arrive with friends and split the cost three ways--but for the high-flying moguls who rent this villa, that is probably needless frugality.

Ty Warner-Penthouse

Mit großer Spannung wurde in New York die Eröffnung dieser neuen Luxus-Suite erwartet. Drei Persönlichkeiten taten sich zusammen, um das traumhafte Penthouse auf der obersten Hoteletage zu verwirklichen: der Eigentümer Ty Warner, der Designer Peter Marino und der Stararchitekt I.M. Pei, der sich aus dem Ruhestand heraus der Kreation von Amerikas exklusivster Unterkunft widmete.

Freitragende, gläserne Balkons und raumhohe Erkerfenster mit atemberaubenden Rundumblick von der Spitze des höchsten Hotels in Manhattan sowie 7,60 Meter hohe Gewölbedecken sind nur einige der zahlreichen Ausstattungsbesonderheiten. Jedes Detail wurde eigens angefertigt – von mit Halbedelsteinen verzierten Oberflächen bis zu Stoffen mit eingewebten Platin- und Goldfäden. Die Suite verfügt über neun Räumlichkeiten und schenkt das einmalige Gefühl in einem wahren Kunstwerk zu wohnen. Selbst für anspruchsvollstes Reisen setzt das Ty Warner-Penthouse neue Maßstäbe.

Burj ul Arab (once again)

A view of the interior of the Burj Al Arab hotel in Dubai July 14, 2008. The Burj al Arab is one of the world's most expensive hotels and a landmark of Dubai's coastline. REUTERS/Jumana El Heloueh (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES).

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi

Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi: $12,251 a night (£6,112)
Described on their website as your "private palace within the Palace", think acres of gold leaf and marble and Swarovski crystal chandeliers, and you'll get the picture. Now take a mental leap to imagine what the Princes suites, reserved for sheikhs, might feature.

The Imperial Suite, Ritz Paris, Paris

Cost per night: $13,500

This 2,000-plus square-foot space is filled with Egyptian mahogany and 18th-century French furniture inspired by the Louis XIV era. A sumptuous salon with a marble fireplace leads into a master bedroom, a replica of Marie Antoinette’s at Versailles. Gold-leaf moldings are on the walls, and the four-poster bed has a canopy topped with gilded wood. The two baths have large soaking tubs and plasma TVs.

For more information, visit www.ritzparis.com

Royal Suite at the Burj Al Arab, Dubai

Cost per night: From $13,600

This two-bedroom, 8,400-square-foot duplex suite overlooks the Arabian Sea and is decorated with leopard-print tufted carpets and Carrarra marble flooring. The first floor, with a movie theater and an Arabic-style lounge, and the second, with a master bedroom that has a rotating four-poster bed, are connected by both an elevator and a marble-and-gold staircase. The marble baths are stocked with full-size Hermes toiletries. A butler is also on hand.

For more information, visit www.burj-al-arab.com

Hotels under the sea or on the sky

Designed by Joachim Hauser, this 10-star underwater hotel– the Hydropolis Undersea Resort is a $500-million project. Positioned in Dubai, the 60% base of the hotel is surrounded by water. Around 1.1-million-square-foot of area is equipped by a shopping mall, ballroom, island villas, restaurant, high-tech cinema, a missile-defense system for your safety in 60-feet underwater and 220 theme suites. Soon expected.

Yotel

Yotel is a hotel built with rooms described as a cross between Japanese capsule hotels and first-class airline cabins, but I think they are more boat-like. The first, at London's Gatwick Airport, is developed by UK sushi king Simon Woodroffe and designed by industrial designers Priestman Goode. Trend-watching Springwise calls it "no frills chic."

According to the press release, "YO! Founder Simon Woodroffe conceived the innovative YOTEL cabins to provide a flexible and convenient ‘first class’ hotel experience at affordable prices. The next generation cabins come fully equipped with en-suite bathrooms, free Wifi and wired internet access and ‘techno wall’ entertainment systems."

We think it shows that with good design one can squeeze a lot of living into a very small space.

Sybarite Architects design the Apeiron in Dubai

The aptly named ‘Apeiron’ hotel is derived from Anaximander’s 6th century BC cosmological theory. He believed the beginning of time to be an endless, unlimited mass, subject to neither old age nor decay, perpetually yielding fresh materials, from which everything we can perceive is derived.

At 185m, this $500 million island hotel features a total floor area of 200,000m² and over 350 luxury suites. Access to this exclusive 7 Star resort is restricted to water (yacht) and air (helicopter) only. For the ultimate in arrival and departure style, yachts can moor in the heart of the building’s core. The Apeiron is the definitive James Bond retreat, boasting its own private lagoon, beaches, restaurants, art gallery, luxury shopping, cinemas, spas and conference facilities. Its dramatic silhouette on the horizon creates a completely unique architectural icon that will be instantly recognised worldwide.

The Burj Al-Arab

The Burj Al-Arab is named as “Tower of the Arabs” in Arabic. It is a luxury hotel in Dubai, in the largest city of the United Arab Emirates, which is marketed as “the world’s first seven-star hotel”.
In english “Burj Al Arab” means The Arabian Tower. Burj Al Arab was one of the most expensive buildings ever built. At night, it offers an unforgettable sight, surrounded by choreographed color sculptures of water and fire. This all-suite hotel reflects the finest that the world has to offer.

Top 10 Most Expensive Hotels:

By Maria Gomez

Most expensive hotels in the world with lavish opulence and an oasis of calm with space and silence providing the utmost in luxury.

No 4. The Plaza Hotel

Presidential Suite
$15,000 per night

The 7,802-square-foot suite covers nearly the entire 18th floor of the Plaza, with views overlooking Central Park. The walls are covered in silk, the reception area has a 10-foot-wide stained glass window and the hand-painted piano depicts scenes from the French countryside.

The suite has five bedrooms, five and a half bathrooms, two living rooms, a dining room, powder room and sauna. There are also three marble fireplaces, a terrace and a 2,000-bottle wine cellar (guests are charged extra for indulging). The Presidential Suite also comes with the use of a secretary/butler and the Plaza's chefs are at your disposal.

No 3. The Martinez Hotel

Presidential Suite
$18,500 per night

The Martinez Hotel in Cannes likes superlatives and bills itself as having the biggest, most expensive and only terraced penthouse suite on the Cote d'Azur. Perhaps some of this is Gallic swagger, but the price of the suites certainly makes them one of the most expensive in Europe. Both penthouse suites are 8,000 square feet and are decorated in the hotel's signature Art Deco style, with streamlined furniture, silk curtains and teak parquet floors.

While many of the hotel's rooms are painted in bright colors (peach, lime green), the penthouse suites are decorated in muted, understated tones (brown, cream and tan). Each suite has two bedrooms, a Turkish bath, kitchen, personal sauna and views of the Lerins Islands as well as the entire Bay of Cannes. The wraparound terrace is 2,000 square feet and can comfortably hold 100 people. It also has a Jacuzzi. Technophiles will appreciate the Bose plasma screen televisions and telephones and the DVD library. A private butler is on call 24 hours a day, and other amenities include use of a limousine, open bar and the option to join both suites into one grand apartment.

No 2. President Wilson Hotel

The Imperial Suite
$23,300 per night

At the sleek, modern President Wilson Hotel in Geneva, security takes as much precedence as luxury. Faster than you can say "Frette linens," the hotel's staff reassures guests that the security in the Imperial Suite is among the best in the world, ideal for celebrities or traveling heads of states who visit the United Nations headquarters next door at the Palais Wilson.

The Imperial Suite, which takes up the entire top floor of the hotel, is reached via a private elevator and has four bedrooms, all of which overlook Lake Geneva. The suite is decorated in a contemporary style, with marble and hardwood floors, and the bay windows overlook Lake Geneva and Mont Blanc. Off of the master bedroom is a dressing room as well as a study, and the suite has five bathrooms, all with mosaic marble floor, and a Jacuzzi and steam bath in the main bath. The living room has a billiards table, a library and a cocktail lounge with a view of the water fountain, and can accommodate 40 people. The dining room seats 26 people around an oval mahogany table. For the security-conscious or merely the paranoid, the Imperial Suite is also equipped with bulletproof windows and doors.

No 1. The Atlantis

Atlantis Bridge Suite
$25,000 per night

The Atlantis Bridge Suite has the distinction of being the most expensive hotel suite in the world - a whopping $25,000 a night. Found on Paradise Island, Bahamas. The Bridge Suite is located on top of a bridge that connects the two Royal Towers buildings, so it overlooks the entire resort and marina.

The ten-room suite is decorated in red, black and gold (lots of gold) and comes with its own butler, bar lounge and entertainment center as well as 12-foot ceilings. The master bedroom has a sitting area, his-and-hers closets, and hand-painted linens. The bathrooms have chaise lounges, marble baths, and dolphin fixtures. For those who are picky about their personal space, there are two separate master bathrooms. The kitchen also has its own entrance so the butler or cook never bothers you.
So, do you feel like spending $25,000 for one night?

No 7. The Fairmont Hotel

Penthouse Suite
$10,000 per night

The 6,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite at the Fairmont Hotel on San Francisco's Nob Hill takes up the entire eighth floor of the hotel and has three bedrooms, a dining room that holds 50 people, an eat-in kitchen and a two-story, domed library with a ceiling painted with the constellations.
There is also a billiards room covered floor-to-ceiling in Persian tiles, and four fireplaces inlaid with lapis lazuli. The bathroom fixtures are made of 24 karat gold, and a secret passageway is concealed behind the bookshelves on the library's second floor.

No 6. Hotel Cala di Volpe

Presidential Suite
$13,879 per night

The Costa Smeralda ("Emerald Coast"), on the eastern coast of Sardinia, became famous during the 1960s when the Aga Khan bought it and convinced his jet-set friends to start building villas and a yacht club on the beautiful but previously undeveloped island. The coast also served as the backdrop to the 1977 James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me.

The split-level Presidential Suite has three bedrooms, three bathrooms and two sitting rooms. The highlight is the private, outdoor saltwater pool on the second floor. The style is rustic but luxurious, with whitewashed walls, exposed beams, thick down cushions and wooden accents. The bed frames are wrought iron, and the tiles are hand-painted ceramic. The suite also has its own gazebo and solarium, as well as a DVD library and Bang & Olufsen stereos.

No 5. Westin Excelsior

Villa La Cupola
$14,950 per night

Rome's "Villa La Cupola" suite within the Westin Excelsior has all things Roman and excessive - a cupola, a Pompeii-style Jacuzzi pool, frescoes and stained glass windows. Located on the fifth and sixth floor underneath the cupola of the hotel (which was made famous by Fellini's movies), the suite covers 6,099 square feet and has an additional 1,808 square feet of balconies and terraces. While it only has two bedrooms, five more can be joined to it.

The stained glass windows in the living room detail allegories of a mythological figure paired with a modern one, such as Atlas and Television, Hypnosis and Neurosis, Hermes and Marketing, and Hermaphrodite and Fashion. The downstairs also has a private kitchen, and the dining room features an antique Murano glass chandelier, a private wine cabinet and an antique mosaic-tile-covered dining room.

What really makes this suite over the top is a private cinema with Dolby surround sound. Such luxury makes even the private elevator that leads up to the fitness area and Jacuzzi - complete with mosaic floors, vaulted ceilings and frescoes - seem ordinary. The painted horizons on the frescoes were designed to match perfectly with the real Roman one.

No 9. The Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski

Sultan's Suite
$7,500 per night

The Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski in Istanbul, located along the Bosporus, was originally the home of the last Ottoman sultans, and different incarnations of the property have been built (and torn down) since the 16th century. The building was bought by the Kempinski hotel group in 1986 and underwent a renovation in 1991.
Today, the hotel comprises two structures (the actual palace and the new hotel), and the Sultan's Suite is the most expensive room there.

No 8. Regent Beverly Wilshire

Penthouse Suite
$7,500 per night

The Regent Beverly Wilshire is the grande dame of L.A. hotels and happens to be the same age as the Academy Awards. Located on the 14th floor of the Beverly Wing, the 5,000-square-foot Penthouse Suite features three bedrooms, a wraparound balcony, a formal dining room, living room, kitchen and den, and is decorated with contemporary furniture. The master bathroom has floor-to-ceiling windows, two glass-enclosed showers, remote control toilet/bidet with a heated seat ...

No 10. Hotel Meurice

Belle Etoile Suite
$7,300 per night.

The most expensive Parisian hotel room is the Belle Etoile Suite at the Hotel Meurice, located on the Rue de Rivoli. The penthouse suite is reached via private elevator, where it opens onto a marble entry hall. The entire suite is decorated in a Charles X style - heavy drapery, intricate wood paneling with gilt edges, chandeliers and murals.

2. Go for alternative accommodations

Travelers often put too much emphasis on airfare when planning a trip while overlooking the total expense of accommodations. Hotels and resorts can charge premium prices with varying amenities that may not be included in your overnight rate. Vacation rentals, home-exchange programs, B&Bs, campgrounds, and even hostels can provide a great value with added extras such as kitchen facilities, extra space to accommodate groups (reducing the per-person price), free breakfast, or simply rock-bottom prices. (Or, in the case of a home exchange, no charge at all). If you purchase your airfare and hotel separately, looking for alternative lodging is a smart strategy.

1. Reconsider your vacation preferences

In the past, you may have preferred all-inclusive resorts, excursions throughout Europe, or a tour package operator that takes care of every trip detail. Before planning your trip this year, consider less-expensive alternatives and don't be afraid to leave your comfort zone. Never taken a cruise before? SmarterTravel's sister site Cruise Critic has a wide variety of deals and advice to help you find a sailing that's right for you. Or, follow the deals to a less-expensive locale rather than choosing your destination first.

If you usually rely on a tour operator to handle everything, instead reserve an afternoon and dig into the details of a trip yourself. While it may lack the convenience of having everything planned for you, you'll likely save a bundle by booking your transportation and accommodations on your own. Many providers now offer customer service options, too, so you won't be left hanging should anything go awry.

Ten ways to recession-proof your vacation

By Sarah Pascarella, SmarterTravel.com

It may seem harder than ever to justify leisure travel this year. With more bad economic news surfacing nearly every day, you might be thinking of cutting your vacation budget altogether. But a vacation doesn't have to be a frivolous expense. A well-planned trip can provide much-needed rest, rejuvenation, and escape from stress—and can be done in a way that won't hurt your bottom line. Here's how to plan a vacation for 2009 in light of the new economic reality.

4. Look for deals from local tourism bureaus

Once you've decided where you're going to visit, find the local convention and visitors' bureau (CVB) online and search for deals. CVBs often partner with restaurants, hotels, museums, and other attractions to provide discounts and promotions for travelers (and sometimes residents, too).

For example, Seattle's Convention and Visitors Bureau has a regularly updated coupon page; current offers include discounts for Argosy Cruises, 15% off a stay at the Holiday Inn Seattle Center, and a free coupon book for Seattle Premium Outlets, among other deals. NYC & Company, the CVB for New York City, has an offers section listing current promotions, such as two-for-one tickets to Off-Broadway shows, a third night free at luxury hotels, or 15% off general admission to the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum. Check your destination's CVB to see what deals are currently available.

Another source for promos is your destination's primary newspaper. Boston.com, the website for the Boston Globe, has an updated list of current restaurant deals around town; your destination's newspaper may report similar offerings. Find the local paper's website, then look under "Arts & Entertainment", "Dining", and the like to search for deals.

3. Bundle your airfare and hotel together with a package

Of course, it doesn't always pay to go a la carte. A few years ago, I purchased my airfare and hotel together as part of a Seattle vacation package through Travelocity, and I saved nearly $80. To determine if a package is a good deal for your upcoming trip, compare the cost of your airfare and hotel purchased individually against the latest package offerings from major travel suppliers. Be sure to conduct a true comparison—look at similar flights and hotels between both the a-la-carte and bundled offerings to determine actual costs. And don't forget to factor in all taxes and fees for both options.

6. Go where the dollar is strong

A few years ago, when the dollar was stronger, my parents took a trip to Quebec City. My father was thrilled to see how far the U.S. dollar went in Canada: "It was like having free money!" he exclaimed upon their return. A friend had a similar reaction after a trip to Poland two years ago—he was thrilled that most dinners for two totaled less than $40 U.S.

SmarterTravel's Christine Sarkis recently reported on eight destinations where the dollar is strong. Frommer's maintains a monthly column tracking the dollar's performance around the world; you can also find the latest worldwide exchange rates at XE.com. Typically, U.S. currency goes farthest in Central and South America, Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia. You may spend a lot on your airfare to get to these far-flung locales, but once in-country, you'll find exchange rates make the dollar almighty again.

5. Look for rail deals

As a college student, I spent a semester in Rome, then met up with friends and backpacked for two weeks before heading back to the U.S. Being students, we didn't have a lot of extra cash (especially at the end of the semester), but were able to travel affordably with rail passes from Vienna to Amsterdam. We purchased our passes directly from Eurail, but you can also buy them from other reputable providers such as RailEurope, RailPass.com, Rail Connection, or your travel agent.

If you're only exploring one country, you can often find a pass solely for intra-country transportation, either through the providers listed above or the country's rail service, such as BritRail, Deutsche Bahn, and Polrail. Be sure to compare point-to-point tickets (fares and schedules can easily be found online) against the pass prices to ensure you purchase the right type of tickets for your trip.

9. Compare actual costs

There's been a lot of press around the idea of staycations of late. But taking a series of day trips close to home may not actually offer the best value. One summer when I was a child, my suburban New Jersey family of five decided to forego a traditional vacation and instead take a series of day trips. We hit a few amusement parks, ate out at restaurants, went shopping, and toured a few museums. We even headed into New York City one day to see the Statue of Liberty. By the time the week was through, my parents were shocked at the total cost of all those admission prices and meals, as well as how many times we had gassed up the car (both to get to our destination and return home each day). For what we had spent, we could have taken a real vacation—and maybe even spent a little less.

The next summer, my parents were wiser. They booked a vacation rental cabin in Pennsylvania's Pocono Mountains region with my aunt, uncle, and cousins. (By splitting the costs with another family, my parents already started out with savings.) We spent a week fishing, swimming, playing board games, and cooking our own meals. And my parents spent significantly less than our "affordable" day trips of the previous year.

In short, when comparing options, always take true costs into consideration. Transportation is always a big ticket item (especially airfare), but what will your in-destination costs be? Are you planning on eating most meals out, visiting lots of attractions with admission fees, and taking advantage of local boutiques, spas, and the like? Getting a real sense of what you'll spend will help you choose your right trip this year, and avoid any sticker-shock later.

8. Don't be afraid of opaque sites

You should always know what you're buying before you turn over your credit card, right? Actually, in some cases, the answer is no. Using an "opaque" booking site (such as Hotwire or Priceline) can get you great deals on hotels and rental cars. If you know your travel plans aren't going to change, and if you are willing to pre-pay and enjoy a good bargain, these sites are a great resource.

I use opaque sites for rental cars, and have gotten economy rentals for as little as $10 to $12 per day. You can always search by pick-up location, car model (economy, sedan, SUV, etc.), and per-day price, and see your total with all taxes and fees included. Rentals are from reputable, nationally owned agencies.

The same goes for hotels. While you won't see the property name before you book, you can search by star ratings, user reviews, city neighborhood, amenities, and prices. Using Hotwire for a trip to Chicago, I paid just $129 per night for a four-star hotel in the Magnificent Mile, about a third of the property's usual cost. Browse the current opaque offerings for your next trip—you may be able to find a great deal.

7. Go last-minute

If you're able to drop everything and go, traveling last-minute can be a great way to save. Recent last-minute round-trip airfares have included $150 to Washington, D.C., from Los Angeles; $200 to St. Thomas, USVI, from major East Coast cities; and $200 to Grand Cayman from New York (LaGuardia). Also check travel providers with a last-minute focus, such as lastminute.com and LastMinuteTravel.com.

For accommodations and rental cars, sometimes all you have to do is call and ask if there's last-minute availability, and if so, if you can get a discount. This is an especially common practice with B&Bs, vacation rentals, and boutique hotels. In these cases, be sure to call the local hotel or car agency's front desk, rather than a central reservations line.

Slowdown, competition bring down hotel room rents by 25 percent

Chennai (IANS): A steep fall in occupancy ratio in the wake of the global slowdown and tight competition among hotel operators in a shrinking market have brought down hotel room rents drastically across the country, say industry officials.

"The average occupancy ratio across the country is around 50 percent, which has brought down the room rent by 25 percent. The hotels may revise their printed rates this September-October," M.P. Purushothaman, president of the Federation of Indian Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI), told IANS.

Vote No Dallas! to link anti-hotel proposition, anti-subsidy proposition in new media campaign

Yapta.com, an online travel website that tracks airline ticket prices for travelers has added a hotel price tracking service that will help consumers monitor and compare pricing for 110,000 national and international hotels. Basically, Yapta lets consumers choose a hotel that best suits their travel needs and then sign up to be automatically alerted if and when the price drops for a particular stay.

Yapta has included several useful features to help consumers track hotel prices. First, the site will collect the lowest published rate of a tracked hotel and will create a graph that visually demonstrates the price of the hotel over time. Users can also track multiple hotels at once and compare pricing. Alerts can be customized by drop in price or by the frequency of alerts received. And like many travel sites, users can search for hotels by filters, including star rating, price, and amenities.

10. Pack efficiently

In today's age of plentiful airline fees, putting together a well-packed bag will save you money. Fees for overweight bags currently range from $17 to $175, and oversized bags can set you back $29 to $150. By making sure you don't exceed size and weight limits, you won't get any surprises at the ticket counter. And nowadays, with many airlines charging just to check a bag, you can save even more by taking just a carry-on.

Hotel taxes in Keys will rise this summer

Taxes hotel guests pay in the Florida Keys will increase this summer in an attempt to beef up the marketing budget for the island chain.

The Monroe County Commission this week voted to raise the Keys' hotel tax from 4 percent to 5 percent. The extra revenue -- estimated at about $4 million this year -- will go to promotional efforts for the various destinations in the Keys, such as Marathon and Key West.

Hotel trade groups endorsed the extra tax, part of a statewide debate over how best to spend taxes paid by tourists.

Industry leaders gathered in Miami Shores Thursday to denounce efforts to spend hotel (or ''bed'') taxes on other government services, including a proposed Miami-Dade tourist police force endorsed by county commissioners this week.