Archive for December, 2011:
Day 2: The New York Palace takes Christmas — and its decorations — seriously. The hotel’s 30-foot twinkling tree is decorated in warm copper and gold hues and topped with a star made from welded bars wrapped in gold. Its first Holiday Fantasy program includes Palace guards to greet visitors, a snowflake princess (who makes [...]
We made a pit stop at the charming Greek island of Santorini while cruising through the Mediterranean. Since our massive cruise boat was too big to pull up to the island, our crew parked in the middle of the sea and we hopped on a tiny speed boat that took us to the base [...]
Day 3: In The Hotel Hershey’s backyard — next to the skating rink and Harvest, the Four-Star hotel’s farm-to-table restaurant — you’ll find this Norway spruce, measuring in at about 20 feet tall. The outdoor Christmas tree is adorned with 4,500 white LED lights and topped with a star. By dusk, this tree is truly [...]
New year, new spa treatments; and this one involves local gems. The Five-Star spa at Mandarin Oriental, Boston will launch a new, customized healing crystal treatment January 1 that includes a foot ritual, a 20-minute exfoliating scrub and an 80-minute massage — all using the power of gems. The gemstone are mined from the New [...]
Day 4: We’ve pictured The Peninsula Chicago Christmas tree, decorated by Kehoe Designs in classic reds, golds and greens. It sits in the Five-Star hotel’s fifth-floor lobby, which means you can enjoy the famous afternoon tea, Sunday brunch, chocolate bar or a holiday brunch in the presence of the regal tree, all with views [...]
The InterContinental Moscow Tverskaya opened on Dec. 5. in the heart of the Russian capital. As the host nation of the 2014 Winter Olympics and the 2018 World Cup, Russia anticipates a boom in tourism in the coming years. And with the bump in visitors comes a slew of new Russian accommodations, such as InterContinental [...]
Day 5: This dazzling tree holds court at the shops at The American Club in Kohler, Wis. The 25-foot White Spruce was grown nearby on Kohler company property — the plumbing fixture company owns the Five-Star resort. Approximately 691 feet of LED and incandescent white lights mix in with the candy-themed ornaments, including candy canes [...]
By train, plane or automobile, you’ll likely have some downtime while you trek around this holiday season. Stay entertained with a pick from our list of top 10 books to travel with — then feel free to re-gift it come Christmas Day. [slideshow]
When it comes to luxury travel, Hollywood stars know how to do it right. From St. Barts to Aspen, these getaways are where the rich and famous spend their downtime. While we can’t guarantee that you’ll spot a celeb, we can promise that you’ll feel like one when you visit these hotspots. Check out these Hollywood [...]
Today we’re half way through our countdown at day six. Pictured here is the tree outside The Elysian in Chicago. The holiday evergreen adds a festive element to the Four-Star hotel’s already chic private courtyard. Send us your photos: Do you have a favorite hotel Christmas tree? Send your tree shot to photos@startle.com. Photo courtesy of The [...]