Manhattan's Historic Hotel Wolcott Offers Rooms for Just $110 A Night

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In an expensive city that all too often tears down its architectural heritage, it’s refreshing (astonishing, really) to find a massive discount at a historic hotel. But that’s exactly what you’ll discover at Midtown Manhattan’s Hotel Wolcott, which this month celebrates its 110th anniversary.

From March 1 to March 31, travelers can book a standard room for just $110 a night (a savings of more than 50 percent), including breakfast, for travel throughout 2014. Reservations must be made at the Wolcott’sanniversary web page. The landmark Beaux Arts-style hostelry, three blocks from the Empire State Building, has hosted such guests as Mark Twain, Edith Wharton, Henry Miller, and Buddy Holly.

Mark Orwoll is the International Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow him on Twitter at @orwoll and "like" him onFacebook.

Photo Courtesy of Hotel Wolcott

Orient-Express Claims a New Name in Luxury: Belmond Hotels

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To me, the phrase “Orient-Express” is synonymous with luxury travel: train rides through the Veneto, 16^th-century retreats in Cusco, exotic cruises along Myanmar’s Irrawaddy River. That's why I was so surprised to see that the company of the same name, which counts 45 alluring hotels, rail lines, and river cruises in its collection, is changing its moniker to Belmond starting March 10. According to the group, the decision was made in order to “strengthen our brand architecture” and “increase consumer recognition in the marketplace.” The ultimate reason? They never actually owned the name. The trademark had been licensed through SNCF, France’s national railway company, and the group felt that having a name they could call their own might lure more property owners to invest in the brand. Following the change, only the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train will keep its title.

SLS Brickell Hotel in Miami Preps for Swanky 2015 Opening

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Miami’s SLS Brickell hotel won’t open its doors until 2015, but elaborate plans from designer Philippe Starck already have us obsessed.

Like Starck’s existing properties in Beverly Hills, South Beach, Las Vegas and New York, the SLS Brickell will flaunt a playful-but-polished vibe, attracting Lincoln Road regulars and an artsy crowd from the nearby Perez Art Museum Miami and upcoming Brickell CitiCentre complex.

A total of 133 rooms and suites will greet guests next year, but it’s the 450 condo residences that will bring a unique urban culture to the property; not to mention 10,000-square-feet of foodie paradise (restaurants, pool bars) all manned by culinary director Jose Andres and James Beard Award-winning chef Michael Schwartz. And that rule about waiting an hour before swimming? We don’t buy it—we’ll be headed straight for the Sky Roof pool.

Maria Pedone is a Digital Editorial Assistant at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @mariapedestrian.

Photo credit: Deis

The New Rosewood London Hotel

Rosewood London

The new Rosewood London may occupy an imposing 1914 Edwardian landmark between Covent Garden and the City, but it exudes a youthful glamour. In keeping with the company’s master plan for brand reinvention, designer Tony Chi employed an eclectic combination of alpacca silver, horsehair, and lacquer to enhance and soften the building’s inherent grandeur. It’s a thoroughly modern mix that works.

Related Articles:
Ian Schrager’s New London Edition Hotel
London's Best Restaurants
London's Best Vintage Shopping

Photo by James Merrell

From Thrillist: Germany's V8 Hotel Lets You Sleep in Your Favorite Cars

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Giving new meaning to the phrase "asleep at the wheel", the V8's a 34-room German hotel dedicated to all things car that boasts a vintage auto museum, elaborately themed rooms tricked out with original parts/ memorabilia, and its own brew pub.

READ MORE AT THRILLIST.COM

Photo Courtesy of V8 Hotel/Frank Hoppe

Five Ways to Get a Better Hotel Room Rate

better hotel room rate

Looking to score a deal on a great hotel? These digital tips and tricks from T+L will ensure you get the best price in the house.

Hotel Brand Trends

Hotel Brands: Hyatt Ziva

Booking a hotel these days can be overwhelming: new names are appearing alongside established ones, and they’re competing for your attention, your dollars, and, above all, your loyalty. T+L has the scoop on the latest trends to help you find the one that’s right for you.

8 Hotels Where You're the Only Guest

hotel

Because the easiest way to score VIP treatment at a hotel is to either be rich or the ONLY guest, here are eight exclusive accommodations around the world that boast one single room – and your host's undivided attention.

SEE MORE AT THRILLIST

Photo courtesy of Thrillist

Hack My Trip's Hotel Loyalty Comparison Charts

Hack My Trip

You could spend an entire month doing nothing but comparing hotel loyalty programs and still not be sure you know which is best—but that’s why it never hurts to turn to the pros. And while we make the topic a professional obsession around here, there are a few specialists out there that even we revere. Among them: Scott Mackenzie of Hack My Trip, who just recently released these incredible tables that break down all that hotel loyalty programs have to offer. It’s one of the most comprehensive, thoughtfully analyzed resources we’ve seen to date, so take it from us: this one is worth bookmarking.

Nikki Ekstein is an Assistant Editor at Travel + Leisure and part of the Trip Doctor news team. Find her on Twitter at@nikkiekstein.

Image courtesy of Scott Mackenzie

London's Café Royal Hotel Unveils Apple iOS Bells and Whistles

Cafe Royal Hotel

One of London’s famous landmarks got a modern spin last week, as Café Royal Hotel—which opened just over a year ago on Regent Street—debuted a front- and back-of-house integration with Apple technology that's intended to streamline its entire operations process. Now, guests staying at the property can check in remotely using an iOS device, be it en route from the airport or over a cup of coffee in the restaurant, rather than having to queue up at the desk.

Bagan Prohibits New Hotel Construction While Awaiting UNESCO World Heritage Status

Myanmar

Bagan, an ancient city in Myanmar with thousands of Buddhist temples and stupas dotting the landscape—and a place that I was lucky enough to visit last December—has put a halt on new hotels while the government applies for UNESCO World Heritage status.

Trip Doctor: Hotel Tipping Guide

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When it comes to hotel gratuities, even the most seasoned travelers admit to being stumped. That’s why we’ve put together this handy cheat sheet below, which you can take with you the next time you’re on the road.

Hotel Tonight Introduces Look Ahead for "Planned Spontaneity"

HotelTonight

Weary of the unpredictability that comes with a last-minute vacation booking? You’re not alone. But HotelTonight, the always pioneering app for travel procrastinators, is coming to the rescue with a new feature called Look Ahead, intended to facilitate so-called “planned spontaneity.”

Debuting in a handful of the app’s major cities—New York, Los Angeles, Miami, and half a dozen others, with many more rolling out soon—the feature will offer a seven-day estimate of inventory and prices in a particular market, using a proprietary algorithm that factors in local events, weather, and historical data from HotelTonight and other booking engines.

Also on the calendar: notifications for upcoming concerts, conferences, or sporting events that might sway prices (say, Fashion Week or the NBA Playoffs), and a heads up about special packages that may be on offer (think romantic perks on Valentine’s Day, or value-added incentives for low-volume weekends). Pro tip: check the app a few days ahead of your booking to get a sense not just for the prices and inventory, but for the hotels you might be able to choose from.

Nikki Ekstein is an Assistant Editor at Travel + Leisure and part of the Trip Doctor news team. Find her on Twitter at@nikkiekstein.

Photo courtesy of HotelTonight

New Shutters on the Beach Program Lets You Order Beach Reads in Advance

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Still prefer real books to e-readers—but hate having to lug them in your suitcase? Shutters on the Beach, the iconic Santa Monica hotel, is introducing a new Beach Book Bag program, allowing guests to order their beach reads before stepping foot on the plane.

Just call the front desk up to 24 hours in advance of the scheduled check-in time, and the books will be bought at a local Barnes & Noble and waiting upon arrival. (Need inspiration? The Shutters blog will offer a current bestsellers’ list.) The best part: 20 percent of each purchase is donated to the bookseller’s Holiday Book Drive, which benefits the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, The Literally Healing Program.

In honor of this program, I polled a few Travel + Leisure colleagues on their recent top reads.

My pick is also a favorite of Assistant Editor Nikki Ekstein: Where’d You Go Bernadette? by Maria Semple

Deputy Digital Editor Adrien Glover recommends Norwegian by Nightby Derek B. Miller

News Editor Amy Farley couldn’t decide between The Luminaries, by Eleanor Catton, and The Flamethrowers, by Rachel Kushner

Freelance researcher Peter is catching up on the classics; he just started Dostoevsky's The Brother's Karamazov.

Happy reading!

Brooke Porter Katz is an Associate Editor at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @brookeporter1.

Photo courtesy of Shutters on the Beach

The View from Shangri-La's New London Hotel

Shangr-La London

Our favorite new perch to watch the rapid reshaping of London’s skyline:Shangri-La at the Shard, itself located in the city’s most dramatic new addition, Renzo Piano’s 1,016-foot icicle on the South Bank. For its first property in the U.K., the hotel group brings its inimitable Asian polish to the British capital, with contemporary Chinese art, Japanese cherry-blossom wallpaper in the 202 guest rooms, and an Eastern flair (soy-glazed Welsh lamb!) at the restaurant Ting. Teatime here is held in the 35th-floor lounge, where full-length windows showcase the cityscape unfurling across the Thames. Earl Grey? Gracious, no—bring us a pot of green jasmine. shangri-la.com.

Sarah Miller is Travel + Leisure's European Editor.

Photos courtesy of Simon Watso

London's Clubino Piano Bar Opens to Hotel Guests and Private Members

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London's newest members-only lounge, Clubino Piano Bar, is proving to be an exciting option for discerning locals and guests at the Baglioni Hotel London. On a recent trip, club founder Luca Del Bono invited me to preview the intimate space, tucked beneath the hotel’s park-view bar.

A New Luxe Hotel Spa: L. Raphael at the Four Seasons New York

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There’s no shortage of five-star hotels here in Manhattan. Five-star hotels with top-notch spas—now, that’s another story. The Four Seasons New Yorkrecently upped its game with a complete design overhaul, replacing the crammed check-in area with a warm, silver-and-chocolate-toned lobby that feels both spacious and inviting.

4 Easy Breezy Beachfront Hotels

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Four hotels that put the beach within reach.

Ambergris Cay, Belize: All 26 candy-hued, thatched-roof casitas atMatachica Resort & Spa sit right on the sand, with hammocks in matching colors. Book a Sea-View Cabana room—the Caribbean is just 125 feet from your door, with Belize’s famous barrier reef just a two-minute dive-boat trip beyond. $$

Hilton Rolls Out Mobile Room Selection

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Hilton is taking a page out of the airline handbook. This week, the hotel giant announced a plan to open room selection for members of the brand’s HHonors loyalty program—for the first time ever, this would allow guests to review floor plans of open rooms and pick their favorite before check-in. Roll-out is expected for over 650,000 rooms at 4,000 hotels across the Hilton portfolio—including its Waldorf Astoria and Conrad brands—by the end of the year, with limited availability piloting by the end of the summer.

Pay-What-You-Want Hotel Program Launched in Paris

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Last winter, we loved Switzerland’s creative “pay what you want” hotel initiative—and for three weeks this summer, Paris is following in its neighbor’s footsteps. Now through August 10—peak high season—five Right Bank hotels in the City of Light are letting guests spend the night and then decide what they think their experience is worth.

Robotic Butler Now Serving Guests at Aloft Hotels

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Aloft Hotels announced its latest hire today: a robot butler named A.L.O. who is now serving guests at the brand’s Cupertino location.

The first major hotel company to introduce a robot for front-of-house service, Aloft plans on using A.L.O. to help (human) staff around the clock, fulfilling chores such as delivering guest amenities and transporting bedding, towels, and other linens between laundry- and guest-rooms. The robot uses internal navigational software to find its way around the hotel and communicates via on-screen prompts.

Las Vegas’s New SLS Hotel, By the Numbers

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Las Vegas’s old Sahara Resort is being reborn as the SLS, a three-tower, Gensler-designed property on the north part of the Strip. Like its Miami counterpart, hotelier Sam Nazarian tasked Philippe Starck with creating a vision for the interiors, giving each of the buildings a distinctive look and feel.

How to Exercise in Your Hotel Room

Four quick but effective exercises from fitness guru Josh Holland, of New York's Core Club.

Stationary Chair Step-Up

1. Stationary Chair Step-Up

Plant right foot on a stable seat and step up, lifting your left knee into a slight bend. Repeat for one minute, then switch sides.

Bed Push Up

Hotel Commonwealth Unveils Punk-Themed “Rat” Suite

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The Rat. Besides having the single best name for a nightclub ever—short for The Rathskeller, which no one ever once called it—the cramped and dingy Kenmore Square dungeon known as “The Rat” was Boston’s most celebrated and notorious rock club, in an era when Boston had one of the nation’s great rock scenes. Between 1974 and 1997—from the protean days of punk through its latter-day revival—every band that mattered passed through that scuzzy, smoky basement: The Ramones, the Talking Heads, the Police, R.E.M., Husker Du, and local heroes like the Cars, Mission of Burma, and the Pixies. The club’s former owner recalls to the Boston Globe the subzero February night when Metallica played at the Rat—for six people.

Hotels.com Reveals Where to Find Luxury for Less

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The city where travelers can find the most affordable five-star hotels in the world? Warsaw, Poland, where the average luxury room went for just $130 a night in the first six months of 2014. This is according to the annual Hotel Price Index from Hotels.com, which looks at how much people spent for rooms at properties across the globe over the first half of the year.

The Moment: Hayman Island, Australia

Hayman Island, Australia

6:24 p.m.: You’re on the verge of sensory overload. It’s golden hour at the new 160-room One&Only Hayman Island, a green haven on the Great Barrier Reef, and you’re reliving the day’s adventures. It began with a seaplane flight over this, the world’s largest living structure,

Hotel Spas to Visit Now: Guerlain Spa

There’s nothing quite like the hotel spa experience. You can book an appointment last-minute; ride the elevator wearing just a bathrobe (with no shame); bask in a beautifully designed space; and head back to your room without even glancing at a bill.

These days, hotel spas are stepping up their game, partnering with top beauty brands to bring a new level of sophistication to their treatments and products. Here, one of our favorites:

Guerlain Spa at Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

Set along the Herengracht canal in historic 17th and 18th century town houses, the newest Waldorf Astoria is home to Guerlain’s first branded outpost in the Benelux. Seasoned “Beauty Coaches” evaluate skin prior to treatments, tailoring the experience to personal skin-care needs. The most lavish offering? The two- or three-hour Ultimate Face and Body treatment, featuring Guerlain’s signature energizing facial massage, used to stimulate cellular renewal and firm skin.

Katie James is an Editorial Assistant at Travel + Leisure. Follow her on Twitter at @kjames259.

Photo courtesy of Waldorf Astoria Amsterdam

World's Most Romantic All-Inclusive Resorts

Leave the kids and cares behind: it’s all about you—and your better half—at these romantic all-inclusive resorts.

From October 2011By Stephanie Orma

Hard-partying Cancún, Mexico, isn’t the first place you’d think to take a secluded romantic getaway. But couples-only Le Blanc Spa Resort will make you think again. This all-inclusive sets the mood with a private beach, butler service, and infinity pools—and has even attracted romcom sweetheart Julia Roberts.

World's Best Hotels 2013

Which hotels deliver the most extraordinary experiences? Check the results of Travel + Leisure’s annual survey to find out.

From July 2013By Travel + Leisure StaffAppeared as "World's Best Awards 2013" in T+L Magazine

Picture a cypress-lined road in Tuscany. Now picture yourself arriving at a 10th-century former castle on more than 4,000 acres of rolling hills. Welcome to Castello di Casole, a new 41-suite hotel that already ranks as No. 2 in the world.

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