Showing posts with label luxury travel on a budget. Show all posts
Showing posts with label luxury travel on a budget. Show all posts
Top 5 tips to planning a luxury escape: getting the most out of your hotel
After you’ve decided on your luxe hotel, or narrowed it down to a short list (see previous post), here's how to make the most out of your indulgent getaway: 1. Club access: check on the hotel site to see if there are ‘club’ rooms. While the rate may be slightly higher, you’ll be spoilt by the extras offered. Typically, they include transfers, complimentary welcome drinks, Club Lounge access where breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails are served, luxurious toiletries, complimentary newspapers, Internet access, spa use, and private butler. Lazing around reading newspapers after breakfast in bed is preferable to waiting in line for cold scrambled eggs. Not to mention popping into the lounge for champagne and hor d’oeuvres before dinner.
2. Promotions: also check for special rates. Most hotels offer promotions that represent such excellent value you immediately become suspicious. This is because they’re taking advantage of quiet periods. It may be that a city hotel busy mid-week with business clients is dead on a weekend, so it offers ‘weekend city breaks’ or ‘theatre packages’ including sightseeing tours and tickets to shows. Or a beach resort relying on weekend trade offers fantastic mid-week deals.
3. Romance packages: if there are several offers, opt for the romance package, which may include flowers, canapés, champagne on ice, chocolates, a candlelit bath, in-room breakfast or champagne breakfast, spa treatment, and late check-out. Whether you’re rekindling a romance or not, just enjoy the lavish extras. Plus, if the hotel is really quiet they’ll probably upgrade you to a suite.
4. All-inclusive packages: definitely not something I normally encourage travellers to do - it goes against all my beliefs about travel – travellers on all inclusives rarely leave the resort, don’t see much of a destination and don’t mingle with locals. But on a luxury getaway, you don’t want to leave the hotel! The reason you’re there is to enjoy the place. But not having to worry about money is a luxury, right? One thing you don’t want to be doing is calculating costs the whole time, so if you know up front all meals, drinks and activities are included, you can relax and just enjoy it all. The total figure might seem outrageous, but do the math, it’s generally cheaper than if you had to pay for everything separately.
5. Travel off-season: you’ll find even the most expensive hotels are affordable off-season, but keep in mind that while Venice might be romantic in winter, Dubai is sizzling in summer and few can handle it. This is when hotel rates are lowest though and even the seven star Burj Al Arab is a ‘bargain’ at only $1000 (!) a night over summer.
The pic above is of the plate of scrumptious canapés that welcomed us in our Grosvenor Club Room along with champagne, chocolates, Arabic sweets, and a bowl of fruit at Grosvenor House, Dubai.
Top 5 tips to planning a luxury escape: selecting your hotel
So what should you look for in a luxury hotel, to continue from my last post on luxury travel planning? 1. Rooms: scrutinize the website pics and list of amenities - the longer the better! You want a big bath or jacuzzi, not just a shower, a plasma TV, DVD and CD player or iPOD docking station (BYO music if they don’t have a library), a fully-stocked mini-bar, balcony or terrace, and lots of space. If the room isn’t sumptuous it had better be plush, unless you’re a minimalist, then you’re after style.
2. Facilities: is there valet parking, 24-hour concierge, florist, beauty salon/hairdresser and lobby shop? Are there swimming pools, with a separate pool for adults? Is there a gym, sports facilities, sauna, steam rooms? Is there a spa offering luxuriant treatments? Ask for a spa menu and book treatments in advance. Are there lush gardens for leisurely moonlit strolls? A crèche or child-care services if you’re taking kids?
3. Eating & entertainment: room service is a given, plus a wide choice of eateries so you don’t have to leave the hotel, and a fine dining restaurant is a must. Check if there's a decadent degustation menu or a local specialty that might need to be ordered in advance. Are there chic bars for pre- and post-dinner drinks? A cigar bar for smokers? And a club if you feel like a boogie? Ask for your names to be put on the door-list when you make your hotel reservation.
4. Activities: are there things to do to make the experience extra special? For instance, a cooking course in Italy, yoga lessons in India, elephant training in Thailand, and hot-air ballooning across the desert in Dubai? If the hotel offers tours and day trips, do they include private car and personal guide if you'd like one?
5. Location: is the hotel close to the centre if you're in the mood for sightseeing, shopping or a meal, and if so, does the hotel offer a car? Is the hotel on a beach or lake or does it overlook the desert or mountains? Then book a room with a view and balcony. Are transfers available and included or are you better off booking a car service? Forget taxis on a luxury escape, as you want to start spoiling yourself at the airport. Don’t forget to drop into duty free at Arrivals and pick up a bottle of champagne – just in case there isn’t a cold one on ice waiting for you!
See my next post for how you can get the most out of your hotel choice.
Pictured is the swanky Kempinski Mall of the Emirates, Dubai, again.