all the dish that’s fit to print
happy rum day!
Monday, August 16 is National Rum Day and we have Jamaica on the mind! It’s actually rumored that the Firefly property in Jamaica (known to have the most beautiful views of the Caribbean) used to be Captain Morgan’s lookout point. Although the origins of the holiday are questionable, it’s believed that the annual August date may have been picked to coincide with the end of the rum harvest in the Caribbean. We won’t dwell on the mystery for too long as we always love an excuse to stir up a summery cocktail (suggestion below). So grab a shaker, a bottle of rum (preferably Blackwell Fine Jamaican Rum), some reggae tunes and channel your inner-island in celebration. Bottoms up!
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reasons to face the date
While today’s date might have the superstitious afraid to leave the house, we have found a few specials that will have even them ready to walk under a ladder.
Remember that old, isolated hotel in the 1980’s horror classic The Shining? Hard to forget. While you won’t be alone at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, the panoramic views of the Rockies will take you back to that creepy setting (in a good way). And at 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill their “holiday” special is the $13 Superstitious Shrimp & Marg. A Pikes Place shrimp cocktail, served alongside a chilled house margarita. The perfect way to face your fears!
tweet tweet, hear all about it
AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape…AMPR ticker tape… AMPR ticker tape…
Hot off the press…
AUGUST 2010
Here is our monthly news in tweetable form.
New and Notable
- Up up and away for #BalloonFestival! #HotelParqCentral opens on 9/23/10. Rates starting at $179/night including breakfast and other treats.
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas
- #AnantaraBophut in Koh Samui, #Thailand will be getting an upgrade! And we have the pics (http://bit.ly/cSwDte) to prove it!
solo adventures for the exploratory traveler
Take a chance, maybe step outside your comfort zone and depart on a journey of self-discovery. Although it can be scary to deal with all of those little problems that always seem to arise, like a lost passport or mortifyingly funny language barriers, solo travel is our favorite way to experience the world. Skip the inevitable fight over dinner or directions and treat yourself to an individual adventure. Of course you will want to make sure where you are going is safe, and that the people are friendly and helpful. Travel + Leisure have put together a helpful guide of the best countries to travel solo in.
Number 9 on the list is Switzerland, a beautiful and tranquil place for a vacation. The Swiss Rail allows for easy traveling around the country, especially if you are in the mood for a picturesque hike in the mountains. Interlaken is the perfect base for a weekend trip to the countryside with its beautiful lakes and mountain ranges. A really great hiking root is an easy one hour hike from Grütschalp to Mürren that follows the railway and offers stunning views of the Lauterbrunnen valley. It is the perfect way to see the country without breaking a sweat!
Coming in at number 3 on the list is Bhutan. This is one of the most peaceful destinations in the world, and also one of the most expensive due to its policy of charging visitors a minimum of $200 a day to stay. However this means that there are far less of those pesky tourists! Nestled in the Himalayas, Bhutan also offers scenic and dramatic views that are perfect for a day of hiking. One particularly intriguing hike is the Tiger’s Nest High Pass Day Trek. Experience the ancient beauty of Bhutan and the Tiger’s Nest monastery on this 7-8 hours day hike through the Himalayas! Or just walking around the charming villages is also perfectly acceptable for those who are less inclined to long hikes on vacation.
So… pack your bags, and get ready to conquer the world!
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last minute memorial day getaways
Think you missed the boat on getting out of town for the long weekend? Think again. We’ve rounded up some great escapes that are still available, whether you’re craving beach or mountains, culture, or calm.
Where better to spend Memorial Day than in Lower Manhattan, the most historic part of the city? Stay at Andaz Wall Street, brand new in January, and take in some American culture, Manhattan-style. Federal Hall, where George Washington took the oath of office, is just down the street. Visit the cobblestoned streets of the South Street Seaport and its new Water Taxi Beach, pay homage at the grave of Alexander Hamilton at Trinity Church, or to capitalism at the New York Stock Exchange. And you’re at the ideal point of departure for sightseeing tours of the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island.
Andaz, meaning ‘personal style’ in Hindi, is not your average hotel. Here guests can imprint their own styles on their experiences, starting with check-in. This takes place in the Andaz Lounge where service is simplified, without the middlemen of doorman, bellhop, and concierge at the desk – just one “host” for each incoming guest. Full of clever features like a rotating closet that can open either into the bathroom or the bed chamber, and which innovatively incorporates a hanging area, full-length mirror and minibar and a vanity mirror on the back of the 42-inch flat screen television, Andaz Wall Street is ahead of its time, and has not forgotten the classics like a complimentary shoe shine, suit press, and the day’s paper (The Wall Street Journal, of course).
Rooms start at $275/night, click here for more details.
Think it’s impossible to get a good rate over Memorial Day weekend? Not at Inn on the Alameda, where rates start at just $215 a night and include the lavish “Breakfast of Enchantment” served each morning and wine and cheese reception each afternoon. Located in the heart of Santa Fe, it’s ideal for a weekend of relaxation, great Southwestern cuisine, and history. With classic Pueblo-style architecture and attentive personal service, the old-world ambiance of Santa Fe flows throughout the comfortable 71 rooms and communal areas. Mexican tile, handmade furniture, hand-woven rugs, local artifacts, and traditional Kiva fireplaces contribute to the hotel’s warm and inviting atmosphere. Amenities include complimentary parking for guests, two outdoor hot tubs, fitness facility, guest laundry, complimentary Wi-Fi in guest rooms and public areas, coffee service, and toll-free and local calls at no charge.
Over Memorial Day, experience the arts and culture by gallery hopping and shopping at the Jemez Red Rock Arts and Crafts Show, or catch a showing of Hitchcock’s Vertigo at The Lensic, Santa Fe’s Performing Arts Center on Saturday, May 29th.
For reservations and information, contact the Inn on the Alameda at 1-888-984-2122 or 505-984-2121 or at www.innonthealameda.com.
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, Colorado
The Blues, Brews and BBQ Festival, taking place over Memorial Day weekend in Beaver Creek, Colorado, is the unofficial start to summer in the Rockies. Celebrate the long weekend with an escape to Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, which hosts the largest tasting of Colorado microbrews in the state on Saturday, May 29. Featuring more than 80 special concoctions from 35 breweries, the Colorado Microbrew Tasting has become one of the highlights of festival.
The hotel’s restaurant, 8100 Mountainside Bar & Grill, has joined in on the festivities by offering a special “Featured Brewers Menu” that will pair beer creations from the microbreweries with special dishes.
Package includes:
- Accommodations at the Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, located in the heart of the festivities
- 2 entry tickets into the Blues, Brews and Barbecue Microbrew Tasting
- 2 commemorative tasting mugs
- 30% off services at Allegria Spa
Rates start at $219 per night. To book this package, click here or call 866-471-7658. For tickets to the Colorado Microbrews Tasting at Park Hyatt Beaver Creek, call 970-827-6505. Tickets are $35 in advance or $40 at the door.
Enjoy the Caribbean this Memorial Day without the crowds –or prices – of the high season. Instead of enduring the goose bumps that come after throwing on summer clothes and hoping for warm weather, celebrate on Parrot Cay and kick the summer off early. Check out the amazing deals, all available through September 8, 2010, and if you bring them, kids eat free.
- Four for three deal, starting at $2088
- Seven for five deal, starting at $3480
- 25% discount on packages – applies to all packages, which include the Sun and Seclusion, Parrot Cay Honeymoon, Dr. Perricone COMO Shambhala Experience, Wellness programs, and the brand new Babymoon and Romantic Runaway packages.
last minute for mom
So you weren’t able to snag a pair of Michael Bublé concert tickets. Now what are you supposed to give Mom for Mother’s Day?
GIVE HER SPA: Spa Day at the Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York
Were you a particularly nasty teenager? If so, choose between several Mother’s Day treatments at the Peninsula, including the “Spa Experience” and “Mother’s Delight” 75-minute, $225 treatments. Mom can spend all day at the spa swimming in the pool, lounging on the outdoor patio, and enjoying the complimentary champagne and macaroons available throughout Mother’s Day weekend. ESPA treatments are so unbelievable that Mom might forgive you for years 13-18…if you’re lucky.
GIVE HER BRUNCH: Brunch at Brant Point Grill at White Elephant, Nantucket
This is not just your average brunch – it’s the Brant Point Grill’s Annual Mother’s Day Bloody Mary Brunch, where Mom can request exactly how much Tabasco, Worcestershire, and horseradish she wants in her morning Mary. Treat Mom to an overnight stay at the White Elephant and Mom might forget about Michael Bublé altogether. Brunch is $45/person, and rooms start at $195.
OR GIVE HER BOTH: Breakfast and SPA at Andaz Wall Street, New York City
If Mom isn’t a stockbroker, she may never have been down to Wall Street. Introduce her to the Lower Manhattan neighborhood and the new Andaz Wall Street hotel, where brunch is being served now at Wall & Water restaurant. Enjoy creative fare like fried eggs and foie gras or classics like Belgian Waffles. Finally, all mothers who brunch at Wall & Water on Mother’s Day receive a card for 20% off at The SPA, valid through December. The SPA uses Luzern Laboratories facial products known for their anti-aging properties; not that you’re looking old mom, but we just thought you’d like to know!
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the magic of the holidays at park hyatt zurich
“Oh Christmas Tree, Oh Christmas Tree, Thy leaves are so unchanging.” Not true at Park Hyatt Zurich this season when the hotel lobby’s decorative evergreen becomes a “Wish Tree” in support of the local Children’s Spitex Canton Zurich foundation (Kispex) – an organization that helps sick children access outpatient care so that they might live in the comfort of their homes.
In addition to the typical trimmings of ornamental balls and garlands, a variety of colorful handmade red stars are sparkling on the tree’s boughs. Kids of Park Hyatt Zurich employees have tapped into their artistic energy and decked out one side of these stars with festive coloring. The other side has a brief description of Kispex.
From now until Christmas, guests of the hotel may select a star from the tree and choose to make a monetary donation to Kispex at the front desk. And in the true spirit of the season, Park Hyatt will collect all of the donations, double them, and give the total amount to the organization.
Pick up a star and make a holiday wish come true during your next visit to Switzerland!
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naughty or nice?
Choose naughty and save Santa the trip this year. Met Bar members can head to the Metropolitan London for a steamy “Baby It’s Cold Outside” Christmas Cabaret Spectacular on Wednesday, December 2, at 9:30 p.m.
Pin-ups Esme Bianco, Roxy Velvet, and Polly Cupcake will welcome you with a night of festive stripteases and burlesque performances on a custom-made silver sleigh. Before heading out, don’t forget to grab a bag of swag filled with Modern Courtesan lingerie and Hotel Chocolat sweets.
Members can RSVP to jamie.holloway@metropolitan.como.bz.
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the envelope please…
Alexandra Champalimaud, designer of the new White Elephant Hotel Residences on Nantucket, was named “Designer of the Year” at the 29th annual Gold Key Awards at The International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York.
From the exterior, the White Elephant Hotel Residences are quintessential New England cottages. On the inside, however, Alexandra Champalimaud has fused the traditional aesthetic that is so very Nantucket with a distinct European touch. This design vision, coupled with plenty of modern conveniences (a Sub-Zero refrigerator, a high definition flat screen television, and a panini maker, to name a few) is clearly the recipe for a great getaway.
As for that quintessential New Englandness, it is in full swing at the annual Christmas Stroll Weekend. A part of Nantucket Noel, a month-long community celebration organized by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce, the Stroll features carolers in Victorian Costume, bell ringers, student choirs, and even Santa and Mrs. Claus in a horse-drawn carriage, arriving via Coast Guard vessel, of course.
Visit http://www.nantucketislandresorts.com/ for more information.
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oh tidings of comfort and joy at park hyatt washington
Head to our nation’s capital and book a cozy holiday getaway with the Comfort & Joy Winter Package at Park Hyatt Washington D.C.
Enjoy a complimentary upgrade to a Park Deluxe room, where guests can spend a frosty evening snuggled up under a fluffy down comforter. Before lights out, chase away the chill in your bones and settle in to a steaming hot bath in the Park Deluxe spa-inspired bathroom.
Then savor the flavors of a revitalizing pot of tea from the hotel’s famously unique Tea Cellar. Boasting more than 50 rare teas from regions of China, Japan, Sri Lanka, and the Himalayas, the Tea Cellar is sure to please anyone in need of a soothing night-cap. If the kids are in tow – or you’re craving something a bit sweeter – ask for a complimentary pot of rich hot cocoa and a batch of freshly baked cookies.
As for the best part? There’s no need to worry about getting to bed early – check-out time for this special seasonal package is pushed back until 4 p.m. for a little extra hibernation.
The offer is available from November 29, 2009 through February 28, 2010. Rates start at $349 per room.
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