ASW Travel Deals: London, NYC, Miami, Maui, Racing in Baja, Hiking Moab and More
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Active Escapes, Quiet Getaways and More
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Some people do yoga on vacation; others go for the occasional run. This week we're thinking a little more... adventurously, from active escapes at Travaasa Hana in Maui to racecar driving in Baja and hiking Moab with the experts at Austin-Lehman Adventures. And after all that action, chill out with stays at the new Dream South Beach, the gorgeous Pavilions Phuket and other luxe resorts worldwide. (Image: The Pavilions Phuket - on sale Fri, July 31.)
Art Deco Meets Modern at South Beach Newcomer
Dream South Beach
Now Live
This South Beach newcomer lives up to the hype. Set in two landmark Art Deco buildings on Collins Avenue, right behind the former Versace Mansion, the boutique hotel has 108 sleek guestrooms washed in blue and white, and access to soft, sandy beaches, a restaurant helmed by chef Geoffrey Zakarian and a hip rooftop pool scene.
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Maui's Memorable Journey
Travaasa Hana - Hawaii
Now Live
Reinvented from the former Hotel Hana Maui, the brand new Travaasa Hana combines - in concept and name - travel and pravaasa ("memorable journey" in Sanskrit). The mix of adventure, relaxation and truly experiencing a destination are hallmarks of Travaasa. With the beauty of Hana, Hawaii, all around, it's hard to imagine a better marriage of purpose and place.
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The Royal Ferrari Hideaway
Esencia Estate - Riviera Maya
Now Live
It's rare to find a luxury resort as down to earth as this Condé Nast Traveler Hot List alum. Sitting on 50 wild acres of jungle by the beach, this striking Italian-style villa has white sand-colored interiors that match the serene beach outside. The Duchess of Ferrari originally built this tropical hideaway on Mexico's fabled Yucatan Peninsula in the early 1990s to entertain her globetrotting friends. It has since been remade as a 29-room boutique wonder, where that local culture is so intrinsic to the design that it can be found in the minutest details.
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A Barefoot Hideaway in Zihuatanejo
Hotel Las Palmas - Mexico
Now Live
On a nine-mile stretch of Playa Blanca, just 20 minutes from downtown Zihuatanejo, Hotel Las Palmas is unique escape between lush rain forest and the open Pacific Ocean. All 10 suites were individually designed by Enrique Zozaya in a sleek, modern-tropical style and capture the unspoiled views on private terraces and balconies. With the soaring Sierra Madre del Sur mountains in the distance and sleepy fishing village of Barra de Potosi close by, the Hotel Las Palmas is a true barefoot hideaway in a quintessentially Mexican setting.
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Minimalism to the Max in Long Beach
AVIA Hotel - Long Beach, CA
Now Live
There's a lot to love in Long Beach. It's the sixth largest city in California (with nearly half a million people), one half of the western hemisphere's largest port, and it's finally coming into its own as a magnet for travelers. The modern, 138-room AVIA Hotel sits at the epicenter of all the action. And the cheery Long Beach lovers staffing the property are happy to highlight the best of the city.
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Last-Minute London and New York City
It's hard to imagine, but true: Summer will slip away before you know it. Which means it's time for a mini-getaway to one of your favorite cities. And this is the time to go - the streets are quieter, the parks are in bloom and concerts, movies and performances are staged nearly every day. We've got last-minute availability at the Landmark London and three Manhattan standouts: the elegant Hôtel Plaza Athénée, the family-friendly Roger Williams and the über-sleek Thompson LES. Choosing can be tough when the options are so good.
Hôtel Plaza Athénée
Starting Wednesday 27/7 at 5pm BST
The Landmark London
Starting Wednesday 27/7 at 5pm BST
Thompson LES
Starting Wednesday 27/7 at 5pm BST
Hotel Roger Williams
Starting Wednesday 27/7 at 5pm BST
Mediterranean Style in South Florida
Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort
Starting Wednesday 27/7 at 8pm BST
Located 20 minutes north of Miami Beach in the heart of Aventura, Fairmont Turnberry Isle Resort & Club mixes country club charm with the sleek styling of a boutique hotel. The 392-room property is home to two Raymond Floyd-designed golf courses and the Laguna Pool, which features a water slide, a lazy river and cabanas outfitted with TVs and refrigerators (this is Miami, after all). With its family-friendly vibe, Turnberry Isle falls somewhere between Grossinger's in the Catskills (at its legendary height) and a posh island resort.
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French Service Meets American History
Sofitel - Philadelphia
Starting Thursday 28/7 at Noon BST
In the city's former stock exchange building, the 306-room Sofitel is retrofitted with streamlined rooms and an intimate brasserie. This Philadelphia gem is where French and American style come together - think Shaker quilts next to spacious marble bathrooms - in the French Quarter of an All-American destination.
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Adventures in Utah with Austin-Lehman
Arches to Moab
Starting Thursday 28/7 at 8pm BST
Epic renderings of sandstone and the frothy beauty of the Colorado River form the backdrop for Austin-Lehman's six-day exploration of the Utah desert in and around its fabled adventure capital, Moab. Guests hop on bicycles, bound down the river in rafts, clamber into 4x4s, and, of course, hike into some of the most jaw-dropping geology on the planet. Evenings are as relaxing as the days are active, with a fixed homebase - a lodge set against red-rock cliffs that happens to have its own winery.
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Wine and Golf in the Napa of the North
Spirit Ridge, British Columbia
Starting Thursday 28/7 at 8pm BST
Known as Napa of the North, Canada's Okanagan region is a year-round retreat east of Vancouver. The area is home to award-winning wineries, Canada's warmest lake and a stunning desert landscape fit for golfing virtually every day of the year. With exceptional service and Pueblo-style architecture, Spirit Ridge Vineyard Resort & Spa is just as much a hotel for oenophiles looking to unwind as it is for golf fanatics and families looking to take advantage of mild weather and myriad activities.
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Houston's Worldly Side
Hotel Derek - Houston
Starting Thursday 28/7 at 8pm BST
Near swank shops and Houston's art-gallery scene, the Hotel Derek is designed to feel like a superhip home, with 60s-style settees, English wingback chairs and cowhide rugs. The hotel works on the assumption that its guests have the same qualities as the fictional host, Derek: worldliness, a sense of humor and an eye for beauty.
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Chicago Shows its Quirky Side
Hotel Allegro - Chicago
Starting Friday 29/7 at Noon BST
It starts with a grand entrance: You'll walk in on a three-story staircase as wide as an IMAX screen. A double-sided fireplace and baby grand piano jazz up the lobby while Technicolor furnishings like cherry-red sofas and silver wallpaper add to the whimsical vibe. The Allegro, a Kimpton hotel, is a vibrant example of boutique-style hospitality in Chicago that playfully tips its hat to old-world glamour without ever taking itself too seriously.
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Sleep in a Palace in Portugal
Vidago Palace - Portugal
Starting Friday 29/7 at 8pm BST
In the mountainous north of the country, just over an hour from Porto, the recently opened Vidago Palace has, in one fell swoop, raised the bar for luxury getaways in Portugal. As far removed from the sun and sand of the touristy Algarve as you can get, this is a destination for the discerning traveler and the lover of fine things, whether they be cigars, hand-painted silk wallpaper, the country's best spa or a championship golf course.
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Beach, Spa, Repeat in Crete
Candia Maris Resort - Crete
Starting Friday 29/7 at 8pm BST
With 285 rooms, Crete's Candia Maris beachfront resort is large by Greek hotel standards. It shares the space between the large and airy guestrooms, a choice of restaurants and a host of activities, whatever your interest. Waterbabies will love the seven pools and sybarites can camp out in the resort's Thalassotherapy spa. Overlooking Amoudara beach just outside Heraklion, the resort underwent a top-to-bottom renovation five years ago, adding modern style and amenities to this uber-resort.
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The Real "On Golden Pond"
The Manor On Golden Pond - NH
Starting Friday 29/7 at 8pm BST
Katharine Hepburn and Henry Fonda made this elegant B&B famous in the 1981 film On Golden Pond, but three decades later the 13-acre estate on Squam Lake remains a revered and romantic New Hampshire countryside escape. With unbeatable views of the White Mountains, Manor on Golden Pond has distinctive guestrooms - from the Cotswold Cottage to the Canterbury Manor - plus all the trappings of a sophisticated inn, with the English heritage to back it up.
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An Eco Retreat on the Spice Isle
Maca Bana - Grenada
Starting Saturday 30/7 at Noon BST
Grenada is known as the most gregarious of the Caribbean islands, and Maca Bana, on a secluded cove on the Point Salines peninsula, represents a microcosm of that, from the general manager to the gardener. The boutique villa hotel (appropriately named after a tree in the indigenous Arawak language) has an infinity pool and beachside restaurant to entertain, plus each villa has a deck with a private hot tub. And even though the resort is just five minutes from the airport, it feels worlds away.
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High Style in Montego Bay
Round Hill - Jamaica
Starting Saturday 30/7 at Noon BST
With room decor by Ralph Lauren, Round Hill is a true standout among the properties along the northwest coast of Jamaica. High-end yet relaxed, it has sprawling grounds and a full-service attitude that invites total indulgence for guests. It's also got awe-inspiring views of the Caribbean from the rooms, restaurants and infinity pool, where visitors feel as if they're literally floating in the sea.
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A Barbados Stay Fit for Royals
Fairmont Royal Pavilion
Starting Saturday 30/7 at Noon BST
Skilled in the art of seduction, the Fairmont Royal Pavilion was one of the first great beach hotels to open on Barbados. Refreshed by a major 2010 renovation, this graceful Colonial-style estate makes the most of its location - by day guests swim, sail and cavort along the powdery beach or simply enjoy the views from a private terrace overlooking the water. And by night, one of the island's most elegant tables will be available, where dinner is served with the serenading sounds of the surf.
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Racecars & Relaxation with Momentum Adventure
Experience Baja, Two Ways
Starting Saturday 30/7 at Noon BST
This six-day journey with Momentum Adventure explores the wild, stark landscape of the Baja Peninsula, and balances adrenaline-infused outings with relaxation at the iconic One&Only Palmilla. Navigate a Baja Challenger racecar through sand washes, cactus forests and lone beaches; score a hole-in-one at a Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course; and fish for blue marlins in a yacht off the shore. Come evening, sip tequila in a breezy villa that overlooks the Sea of Cortez.
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Romance Near the Temples of Angkor Wat
Alila Sothea - Cambodia
Starting Sunday 31/7 at Noon BST
Over the last decade, Siem Reap, the gateway to Cambodia's magnificent temples of Angkor Wat, has morphed from a dusty backpacker hangout to a picturesque town filled with an array of five-star hotels, artsy boutiques and restaurants oozing with ambience. Service here is some of the finest and friendliest in the region, a trait nowhere more evident than at the all-suite Alila Sothea. The hotel's regal 39 rooms, which surround a glittering slate-and-gold-leaf-tiled pool, offer a tranquil, resort-like atmosphere that's rich with local culture and just 20 minutes by car from Angkor.
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Hilltop Romance on Phuket
The Pavilions - Phuket
Starting Sunday 31/7 at 8pm BST
These hilltop retreats are some of Phuket's most romantic crash pads thanks to sublime panoramic Andaman Sea views and the island's most discreet staff. All villas include swimmable pools and roomy decks for sun and shade. The 360 bar attracts the island's best dressed inhabitants who flock here at sundown for the calm view then stay sipping colorful cocktails late into the warm night.
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From Cooking to Kickboxing on Koh Samui
Anantara Bophut - Koh Samui
Starting Sunday 31/7 at 8pm BST
The best part of staying at the Anantara Bophut - besides the fact that it's on a beautiful Koh Samui beach - is the activities menu, which keeps every type of traveler entertained. Spend mornings windsurfing or learning Thai kickboxing, and afternoons cooking authentic regional dishes or snorkeling in the Gulf of Thailand. If you're craving some slothful downtime, relax next to the giant lagoon-style infinity pool or in the blissful spa.
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Art Deco Meets Thai Flair in Sizzling Bangkok
Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok
Starting Sunday 31/7 at 8pm BST
Though it's just steps from Bangkok's best shopping malls (and the city's notorious traffic-thronged streets), the Siam Kempinski Hotel Bangkok manages to provide a tranquil getaway that feels miles from the city's chaos. Capitalizing on the hotel brand's European roots, the design is an artful blend of Art Deco accents and Thai flourishes. In 303 rooms, huge beds, baths and work/lounge areas provide ample space to recharge, while the amenities a pool area, a spa and one of the city's best restaurants - offer plenty of excuses to stay close to home.
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Stately Style in the Heart of Washington D.C.
The Madison - D.C.
Starting Monday 1/8 at 8pm BST
Named for James Madison, the fourth president and "father of the Constitution," this stately hotel has traditional style and refined service to match - plus, a location that puts many of Washington's must-see museums and monuments along the National Mall within walking distance. Opened in 1963, the 353-room hotel has hosted the Dalai Lama, the occasional celebrity and every U.S. president since John F. Kennedy except Barack Obama. Not to worry - you can stop by the White House, just five blocks away.
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Atlanta's Tranquil Retreat, Newly Updated
Grand Hyatt Atlanta
Starting Monday 1/8 at 8pm BST
With 438 newly renovated cream-and-beige rooms (thoughtful details include iPod docks and air purifiers), a quiet and plush restaurant that serves locally-inspired Southern dishes and a beautifully manicured 9,000-square-foot Japanese garden, the Grand Hyatt Atlanta makes a tranquil retreat in the heart of the city's Buckhead District. This is the shopping mecca of the South, so boutiques, plus lots of award-winning restaurants, are all just steps away.
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The Beer Baron's Classic Dallas
The Adolphus - Dallas
Starting Monday 1/8 at 8pm BST
Built by beer baron Adolphus Busch in 1912 two blocks from Neiman Marcus's flagship store, Dallas's Adolphus Hotel has kept its place as a favorite among distinguished visitors for years. The draw? An Old World aesthetic with traditional furniture and paintings, a hyperattentive staff and an outstanding French restaurant - right in the middle of downtown.
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Beautiful Views in Washington State
Hotel Bellevue - Washington
Starting Monday 1/8 at 8pm BST
While Seattle may be one of the smartest cities in the country, its next door neighbor Bellevue is one of the most glamorous. Appealing to both savvy business travelers and couples seeking a romantic respite, Hotel Bellevue is an unassuming retreat in an environment where wealthy residents reign supreme. The property is intimate in size (just 67 rooms), but features luxury amenities in a serene garden setting, just a few blocks from the hustle and bustle of downtown Bellevue.
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