This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.
30.07.2023 - 12:31 / forbes.com / Lake Como
Summer brings new perks and amenities to many top hotels and brands around the world. Dozens of new hotels and resorts are opening for the first time this season, but others are adding new features and renovations that repeat guests will be eager to see. From do-it-yourself goodies to eco-friendly changes, here is some of the latest news from the hospitality industry and properties around the world.
The Tuscan estate on the banks of the Arno River and just 15 minutes from Florence, Villa La Massa (a member of The Leading Hotels of the World) is celebrating a host of new features for the summer. It all starts with the arrival of new general manager, Elisa Peroli, who has been making exciting updates to the luxury hotel (sibling to Lake Como’s Villa d’Este). A new electric shuttle now makes the complimentary drive into Florence on regular intervals, which is part of the hotel’s growing sustainability efforts.
A full renovation to the Villino building was also unveiled for the season. Dating back nearly a century, the seven rooms and suites there have new interiors, but maintained their four-poster beds and frescoed ceilings. A new mixologist is also on staff and has revamped the menu with updated cocktails using herbs and ingredients from the property’s own garden. The property’s Bistrot L’Oliveto now serves both lunch and dinner to appeal to summer visitors looking for something more casual by the pool.
To celebrate the “art of travel,” Marriott’s Autograph Collection brand has a new collaboration with Fotografiska, a modern museum of photography, art and culture. Original art and photography are on display at Fotografiska museums and select Autograph Collection properties worldwide (including Berlin; San Pedro, Belize; Oklahoma City; and Tokyo). At participating hotels, guests will be able to borrow lomography 35mm film cameras and film rolls (with photography tips) to use during their stay. They will also receive free access to Fotografiska museums and priority reservations to museum bars and restaurants.
Two other Marriott brands, Element Hotels and AC Hotels, are launching a new “rest” program. At AC Hotels, guests can take part in a “do it yourself” turndown service where they can make lavender turndown sachets to enjoy in their bed. The brand has its own signature scent in public areas to calm guests using fig leaf, amber elements and fir balsam. Element Hotels will offer its complimentary evening reception with wine and beer available to all guests. Warm or cold towels infused with eucalyptus oil are part of the check-in process. In addition to restful sleep tips, Element guests can also enjoy “caffeine-free teas made with turmeric, lemon balm or lavender” for a natural detox before bedtime.
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This series of articles about credit cards, points and miles, and budgeting for travel is brought to you in partnership with The Points Guy.
With curved architecture and a multicoloured mural encompassing the exterior, Towner Eastbourne is an eye-catching stalwart of the south coast’s art scene. This year it celebrates its centenary with Towner 100: The Living Collection, which has accompanying text panels helping youngsters to learn their way around the exhibits. A 20-minute stroll west leads you to Holywell Retreat, a shingle beach with rockpooling and a tea chalet offering breakfast or lunch with a view. Admission free, townereastbourne.org.uk; family room, B&B, from £146, lansdownehotel.co.uk (gallery visitors to the hotel can claim a £20 discount)
Qatar Airways is putting flights across the world on sale, offering 30 percent off travel to everywhere from Bangkok to Sydney.
In July, The New York Post published an article in which New York real estate agents proclaimed that Atlantic Beach, a village in Long Island, is becoming the "new Hamptons."
When you travel, where you stay is only one piece of the puzzle. Equally as important are the experiences you have abroad: the things you see, the food you eat, the people you meet. And as of late, there is more interest than ever in travel experiences: cooking classes, snorkeling, ghost tours, wine tastings, trolley rides, all of it.
Welcome to the first episode of The Boarding Pass Podcast, brought to you by SmarterTravel. In this episode, we’ll bring you expert tips on avoiding traffic at the airport, debate the controversy of reclining seats on planes, and travel far away to the islands of Sao Tome and Principe with Matt Phillips, the Lonely Planet Destination Editor to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Paris Hilton hasn’t been much in the limelight lately, and now we know why. The 35-year-old socialite and media magnet has been busy developing a new line of luxury hotels to open in Dubai, New York, and Las Vegas.
If you want to stay at the best hotel in the United States, head to the French Quarter Inn in Charleston, South Carolina. And if you’re looking for the best bargain hotel stay in the world, it’s in a small town in northern Spain. That’s according to TripAdvisor’s Travelers’ Choice Awards, which just shared the best hotel ratings for multiple categories heading into 2019.
In this time of isolation, businesses and individuals around the world are sending out messages of hope. Discover, in photos, how we’re keeping our spirits up during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Summer heat wave gripping Athens was a convincing reason to return to my favorite Greek Island of Sifnos. Getting off the ferry at the tiny port and feeling the refreshing winds made me sigh with relief. You get a unique calming feeling when visiting this little gem of an island that you can't shake. It's like reuniting with a long-lost friend.
Grupo Xcaret is excited to introduce the inaugural Xcaret Culinary Festival, a first-of-its-kind event in Riviera Maya. In a groundbreaking culinary festival, distinguished chefs from around the world, including internationally renowned and Michelin-starred chefs, will join forces with the finest Mexican culinary experts to celebrate the art of Mexican cuisine. The event will showcase a captivating array of dinners, tastings, pairings, and presentations, blending innovation with the rich traditions of Mexican gastronomy.
Tucked away on a quiet corner in Shinjuku, a stone’s throw from the venerable Park Hyatt Hotel, lies Tokyo’s most unlikely 5-star property. More Manhattan than Tokyo, the Kimpton Shinjuku Hotel is nothing like most traditional Japanese luxury hotels. Inspired by New York’s art and fashion scene, and housed behind an art deco-style façade reminiscent of the skyscrapers of the Big Apple, the Kimpton is a breath of fresh air in a mostly staid luxury market – modern, youthful, stylish, whimsical, and edgy. It is everything a New York boutique hotel would want to be, only it is located in the heart of one of Tokyo’s most popular areas.