Hotel Caruso

The historic Hotel Caruso, Orient-Express Hotels’ fourth property in Italy, incorporates the excavated remains of an 11th-century palace, a colonnade that dates to the 17th century, and buildings and artworks from the 1700s. But the property, which opened after a million restoration in 2005, does not lack for modern comforts.

InterContinental Amstel

Since 1867, the Amstel has been a fixture on the banks of its namesake river in Amsterdam, Netherlands. The hotel became an InterContinental property in 1981 and since has reduced the number of accommodations (which now total 55 guest rooms and 24 suites, most with views of the Amstel River).

Riot in the Maldives, is it safe to go back?

12/08/2008
Trouble in paradise… It started on November 30th with 13 employees refusing to leave after being fired from the luxury resort island. The situation escalated into a full on riot with over 200 employees clashing with somewhere between 20 and 50 police. Police used pepper spray and electric batons to subdue the crowd and make arrests.

Then Tuesday December 2nd, the employees rose up again with 100 employees protesting. Management says that the strikers have given no specific demands, and that they will be also be fired on Monday with the resort closed, if they do not return to work. 4 days later 200 employees began a hunger strike. Organizers of the protest say that they are following tactics that worked for the employees of similar resorts in Manafaru and Cinnamon.

No resolution has been reported as of yet.

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Sources:
Human Rights Commission Defends Report

We Will Close Down If Necessary: Resort Manager

Hotel Terra at Jackson Hole, an Eco-Luxury first

Wyoming hole? You mean Jackson Hole, Wyoming. You will ski and snowboard it like you mean it! 4,139 vertical feet with 2,500 acres of in bound terrain, and over 3,000 back country. With that much area, Jackson Hole has one of the lowest skier densities in the country.

Okay, after skiing you’ll chill out and put your feet up at a really sweet mountain resort. Hotel Terra at Jackson Hole is one of the best around. At the high end, this and the Four Seasons are your best resort options in Jackson.

Terra offers the advantage of a smaller carbon footprint, as it is one of the first eco-friendly green hotels. What does that mean? Well, to name a couple things: 100% recycled shingles, 90% of interiors capture natural sunlight, made from 80% recycled steel, super high tech water and air filtration systems, and more.

Here are some photos:

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luxury suites

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The brand new Chill Spa at Terra
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View of the Terra hotel, which is pending LEED certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) at night

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what you can expect heading into town

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here’s the trail map, so that you can plan your day:
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allright, now get psyched!



A few more links:

http://www.hotelterrajacksonhole.com/
www.jacksonhole.com

http://www.jhunderground.com/
http://www.jacksonhole.net/transportation.htm



Mondrian South Beach Miami now open!

The newest phase south beach luxury hotels has just opened. Designed to be “Sleeping Beauty’s Castle” Mondrian is now open in South Beach Miami. The Morgans group does it again, putting fun hotels in beach towns where the glamorous hang out. The grounds are full of secret pathways through lush gardens, plunge pools, pool bars, and cabanas – with a separate area for kids.

The unique thing about this hotel is the condo aspect. Residences at South Beach Mondrian start at $500,000. Owners enjoy the same concierge and amenities as guests, only they never have to leave the renowned FL beach city.

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MONDRIAN
1100 West Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139
T 305 514 1500 F 305 695 3277
Reservations US 800 697 1791
Reservations International 00800 4969 1780

Presidential Treatment

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Those who fear their invitation to one of the inaugural balls will be lost in the mail are guaranteed to dance in Barack Obama’s presidency with the Red, White, Blue, and Green offering by the Ritz-Carlton, Georgetown. Guests will spend four nights in a presidential suite and will receive tickets for the inauguration parade and one of the official balls.

This eco-friendly package (hence the green in the name) begins with pieces from Gucci’s sustainable luggage line delivered to the guests’ homes. TerraPasses will offset carbon emissions from the round-trip, first-class air travel to Washington, D.C. The stay also includes the 24/7 services of a chauffer-driven, hybrid vehicle. Following the hoopla in the frigid D.C. winter, guests will fly to the Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman for a four-day stay. Here they can thaw out and ponder the new administration while taking part in organized eco-adventure activities such as snorkeling and kayaking or simply relaxing in the warm sun. The Red, White, Blue, and Green package, which includes airfare, starts at ,000. (www.ritzcarlton.com)

Debra Ryono

Luxury Hotels from LA to NY, South Beach to St. Bartelemy, Bora Bora to the Maldives , and the undiscovered.