Four Seasons Preferred Partner Enhancements

Today, Four Seasons announced enhancements to the Four Seasons Preferred Partner program. These enhancements are designed to deliver a higher level of reward to our clients.

As you know when you book through a Four Seasons Preferred Partner like Live Luxe Travel Co. you will receive unique value-added benefits and VIP status for your stay. For specific benefits at each property, request more information here.

Some of the biggest changes we are excited to note with the Four Seasons Preferred Partner Enhancements are:

• hotel/resort credits can be used for any experience: dining, spa and/or activities.

• hotel/resort credits are being increased and tiered for higher category accommodations

  • suites and specialty suites will earn a higher credit

  • private retreats will receive a credit per bedroom per stay

• breakfast can be taken either in the restaurant or through in-room dining

These benefits enhancements cover all new and existing reservations with a check-in date of January 12, 2021 or later.

Ready to book your next Four Seasons stay? We’re here and ready to help. Click the button below to request rates.

Alila & Miraval Hotels Join Hyatt Prive

Hyatt Privé is one of the luxury hotel programs we book the most here at Live Luxe Travel Co. We personally are very loyal to Hyatt and World of Hyatt. And we think Hyatt Privé is one of the better luxury hotels programs due to the benefits that come with booking the Privé rate.

Benefits with Hyatt Privé bookings differ from other programs because the room upgrade is confirmed at the time of booking. That means you always know if your room is going to be upgraded. Plus of course you get a hotel or resort credit, daily breakfast for two, early check-in and late check-out and another differentiating benefit is a welcome amenity. It’s nice to show up to a hotel room and find a bottle of champagne and dessert waiting on you!

As of this last week, Hyatt added two more brands to the Hyatt Privé program.

Alila Hotels

So what are Alila Hotels? Here’s how Hyatt describes the brand:

To stay at any Alila's hotels and resorts is to embark on an authentic destination experience. Be it in recreating the flavors of the local cuisine, enhancing your well-being through ancient healing arts or the thrill of adventure sports... Indulge in the joy of discovery at Alila.

Miraval Resorts

And how about Miraval Resorts? Hyatt describes Miraval Resorts as a life in balance —a healing sanctuary of surrender and discovery where nurturing specialists guide you through mindful experiences.

And when you book an Alila or Miraval Hotel or Resort with Virtual Travel Gurus, you’ll get a confirmed room upgrade, hotel or resort credit, daily breakfast for two each day and a welcome amenity.

For more information on Hyatt Privé or to book your next stay, just visit www.liveluxetravelco.com/hyatt-prive

New Additions to Hyatt Privé

With Hyatt’s recent acquisition of Two Roads Hospitality, there has been a much anticipated wait for additions to Hyatt Privé.

On Monday June 17th, 2019 Hyatt will officially add three new brands with dozens of new properties to Hyatt Privé. We are excited to tell you that properties from Thompson, Joie de Vivre and Hyatt Centric will now participate in Hyatt Privé.

Hyatt Privé bookings include a hotel/resort credit, daily breakfast for two and confirmed room upgrade at the time of booking. And those benefits are all complimentary just for booking through a Hyatt Privé advisor like Live Luxe Travel Co.

Here is the list of newly participating hotels in Hyatt Privé as of Monday, June 17th.

PARK HYATT

Park Hyatt Shenzhen

HYATT REGENCY

Hyatt Regency Bethesda

Hyatt Regency Casablanca

Hyatt Regency Istanbul Atakoy

Hyatt Regency Sochi

UNBOUND COLLECTION

Chicago Athletic Association

Great Scotland Yard

Holston House Nashville

Hotel Sofia Barcelona

Nam Nghi Resort Phu Quoc

UB Budapest Parisi Udvar

HYATT CENTRIC

Hyatt Centric Brickell Miami

Hyatt Centric French Quarter New Orleans

Hyatt Centric Gran Via Madrid

Hyatt Centric Guatemala City

Hyatt Centric Key West Resort & Spa

Hyatt Centric Levent Istanbul

Hyatt Centric Montevideo

Hyatt Centric San Isidro Lima

Hyatt Centric Las Condes Santiago

Hyatt Centric South Beach

Hyatt Centric Times Square New York

Hyatt Centric Waikiki Beach

THOMPSON HOTELS

Gild Hall

The Beekman

The Cape

Thompson Nashville

Thompson Playa del Carmen - Beach House

Thompson Playa del Carmen - Main House

Thompson Seattle

Thompson Zihuatanejo

Thompson Chicago

JOIE DE VIVRE

50 Bowery

Carmel Valley Ranch

Hotel Revival

The Laurel Inn

The Talbott Hotel

Book your next stay with Live Luxe Travel Co. to receive complimentary Hyatt Privé benefits. Request rates on our Hyatt Privé page, send an email to hyattprive@liveluxetravelco.com or give us a call at 1-888-743-8533.

2019 Travel Inspiration

Need some travel inspiration for next year? Here is Virtuoso's top 9 locations you should visit in the new year.

1. Grand Canyon

President Theodore Roosevelt, upon declaring the Grand Canyon a U.S. national monument in 1908, implored his fellow citizens to “do nothing to mar its grandeur, sublimity and loveliness.” Fortunately, they heeded his advice, officially granting national park protection to the 2-billion- year-old gorge on February 26, 1919. Virtuoso travel advisor Caroline Wood of Bozeman, Montana, calls the UNESCO-designated site “one of the most beautiful, magical places on the planet,” and with Native American Heritage Days, centennial celebrations, and other special events on tap throughout next year, it’s highly recommended that travelers plan well in advance.

What You’ll Love: Wood says there’s so much to explore around this 277-mile- long expanse that “most people barely scratch the surface.” To truly delve into the destination, she suggests a multiday rafting trip, which lets travelers “leave the world behind and easily access waterfalls and the turquoise waters of the Little Colorado River and Havasu Creek.”

Fall for this: Grand Canyon’s Havasu Creek.Photo by Grant Ordelheide/Tandemstock.com 

2. Puerto Rico

The sign says it all: Residents of the town of Humacao have replaced their once infamous “SOS” message, which went viral after 2017’s Hurricane Maria, with a hopeful “Bienvenidos!” As the U.S. territory continues to welcome visitors back, tourism is proving a vital force in spurring its recovery, says Stephen Adair, a Dallas-based Virtuoso advisor. Adair, who spent his teens living in the Cayman Islands, calls Puerto Rico one of his favorite vacation spots and encourages travelers to visit soon because, quite simply, “they need our support.” Inexpensive airfares to the capital of San Juan, more cruise-ship calls than ever, and refurbishments at hotels such as Dorado Beach, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve add even more impetus to go in 2019.

What You’ll Love: Old San Juan quickly got its groove back, and Adair notes that its cobblestoned streets and leafy plazas are as lively as ever – and (bonus) slightly less crowded. The Santurce Farmers’ Market turns the Condado neighborhood into a giant block party on the weekends. Beyond-the-capital pursuits range from treks in El Yunque – the only tropical rain forest in the U.S. – to a paddle through Vieques Island’s bioluminescent Mosquito Bay.

Star Power: Astronomy geeks will want to visit Arecibo Observatory, home to the world’s second-largest single-dish radio telescope, which takes up 20 acres; the refurbished visitor center offers VIP tours.

Colorful Old San Juan.Photo by Jeroen P/Getty Images 

3. Matera

In southern Italy’s Basilicata region, one of the world’s oldest continuously inhabited cities is about to become the newest European Capital of Culture. Calgary, Canada-based Virtuoso advisor Andrew De Angelis, who grew up in Italy, says that “although many artisans have left the larger cities, in Matera those traditions are still alive. It’s the genuine Italy travelers crave.” Look for tiny botteghe (“workshops”) displaying ceramics and colorfully painted cucù, animal-shaped whistles made of the local terra-cotta.

What You’ll Love: UNESCO calls Matera’s sassi “the most outstanding, intact example of a troglodyte settlement in the Mediterranean.” In these ancient neighborhoods set in the oldest part of the city, more than a thousand houses, churches, shops, and botteghe are built into natural limestone caves around the Murgia plateau, first occupied in the Paleolithic era. De Angelis loves walking Matera’s narrow streets at night, when the city’s cave dwellings take on an ethereal quality.

Materra’s 

sassi

. Photo by Bluejayphoto/Getty Images

4. Lima

A former pass-through for travelers on their way to Cuzco and Machu Picchu, Lima is “a city transformed,” says Virtuoso advisor Natasha Rhodes, from Calgary. Peru’s capital is set to host athletes from 41 nations for the 2019 Pan Am Games, July 26 through August 11; with concurrent Fiestas Patrias (national holiday celebrations) slated for July 28 and 29, advanced planning, Rhodes says, is essential.

What You’ll Love: Lima has become the epicenter of South America’s food scene, boasting bustling markets and a number of the world’s top tables, including Central and Maido (numbers 6 and 7 on 2018’s World’s 50 Best Restaurants list). A stroll along its malecón offers lush parks, Pacific views, and great people-watching. Just off the coast lie the Palomino Islands, where you can swim with sea lions and snap selfies with Humboldt penguins and Peruvian boobies.

Lima’s Plaza Mayor.Photo by Roussel Photography/Alamy 

5. South Australia

Oenophiles are catching on to Adelaide, the newest member of the elite Great Wine Capitals of the World network. The cosmopolitan city is a gateway to 18 different wine regions, which produce some 80 percent of Australia’s premium wines. Yet for all its cellar doors and stellar cuisine, this is not Sydney or Melbourne. “Adelaide is a much smaller and more intimate city than its ‘big sisters,’ ” says Janet McLaughlin. The Virtuoso advisor, who hails from Cincinnati, Ohio, also recommends South Australia for active adventurers and wildlife lovers, comparing biodiverse Kangaroo Island to the Galápagos. With tourism on an upward trajectory, however, she emphasizes visiting as soon as possible.

What You’ll Love: For McLaughlin, the Barossa Valley is a no-brainer: “Within an hour-and-a-half drive, you’ll hit 200 wineries.” One of the coolest is d’Arenberg Cube, a cellar-cum-wine school, restaurant, and interactive museum in McLaren Vale modeled after a Rubik’s Cube. Visitors find namesake roos and Remarkable Rocks on Kangaroo Island, while bushwalks reveal stunning gorges and sacred Aboriginal artwork in Ikara-Flinders Ranges National Park.

In the Market: McLaughlin loves browsing the Barossa Farmers’ Market for its artisan products and cultural immersion: “This is a true community market, so you really feel like a local.”

South Australia’s Remarkable Rocks.Photo by Hemis/Alamy

6. Oslo

Oslo is a role model for how cities can exist in harmony with their environment. More than 20 percent of the metropolis is dedicated to parks and green spaces, for example, and Virtuoso advisor Leighton Schembri of Sydney, Australia, is particularly impressed by its public transportation system: “The city bikes make it so easy to get around,” he says. Schembri visited during a recent cruise and found the thousand-year-old city, chosen as 2019’s European Green Capital, to be “so alive, the streets all lined with flowers.”

What You’ll Love: An Oslo Pass (around $50) offers 24 hours of unlimited public transport, including ferries to the Oslofjord islands, each of which has its own character. Flash it for free admission to the Viking Ship and Munch museums, plus many more. Slottsparken, which surrounds the Royal Palace, makes for a romantic stroll or picnic by a duck-filled pond. You’ll also find a lively vibe around Grünerløkka, Oslo’s hipster hood, known for its street art.

High Note: Walk up the Oslo Opera House’s angled, pedestrian-friendly roof to admire its views of Oslofjord and the surrounding forests.

Oslo’s Opera House.Photo by Nanisimova/Getty Images

7. Oman

Though it’s just a two-hour drive from the glitz of the United Arab Emirates’ largest city, this Persian Gulf country has been dubbed “the anti-Dubai” by the Washington Post. “Oman’s raw beauty is a ‘wow’ experience in itself,” says Kate Corey, a Virtuoso advisor from Chicago. “You trade Dubai’s skyscrapers for breathtaking mountains and serene, emerald-green waters. Instead of Bentleys and Ferraris, you pause for camel crossings.” The former frankincense powerhouse takes pride in its past with a clear eye toward the future, including a model universal health-care system.

What You’ll Love: In the country’s capital of Muscat, Muttrah Souq and the Sultan Qaboos Grand Mosque, which can accommodate 20,000 worshippers, are must-dos. Hike to traditional villages in Wadi Tiwi, or scale 9,872-foot Jebel Shams for a peek into Wadi Ghul, the “Grand Canyon of Arabia.” Oman’s centuries-old forts and castles include the UNESCO-designated Bahla Fort; in the south, Salalah offers access to two additional World Heritage sites: the ancient city of Al-Baleed and the nearby Land of Frankincense, with its fragrant trees and the remains of a caravan oasis.

Added Perk: Omani coffee, or qahwa, is more than just a strong, aromatic brew made with cardamom and served with dates. The drink is central to a culture of hospitality, where visitors are frequently invited into local homes.

Oman’s Musandam fjords.Photo by Mlenny/Getty Images

8. Egypt

“Egypt is back,” says Long Beach, California-based Virtuoso advisor John Oberacker, referring to the country’s resurgence after regional safety concerns kept many travelers from visiting in recent years. Adding to the excitement: the September 2018 discovery of a 2,000-year-old sphinx at Kom Ombo near Aswan, where, just two months earlier, two sandstone reliefs of King Ptolemy V were unearthed. Following his own visit, Oberacker counsels that the lower fares and thinner crowds currently found in Egypt won’t last, as travel continues to rebound: “The long lines will return.”

What You’ll Love: The 4,300-year-old Tomb of Mehu near Giza opened to the public for the first time this fall, revealing some of Egypt’s finest wall paintings. Oberacker also highly recommends a hot-air balloon flight over the Valley of the Kings. “It’s a moving experience,” he says.

The great pyramids of Giza.Photo by Sculpies/Getty Images

9. Laos

Southeast Asia’s only landlocked country hasn’t received as much attention as its more famous neighbors – and that’s a good thing. Laos’ relative isolation has kept it unspoiled and inexpensive, says Phoenix-based Virtuoso advisor Gena Stoll, who adds that its people “are some of the kindest and most welcoming I’ve ever come across.” Make plans to visit soon, she stresses, as they’ll be greeting quite a few more visitors in the near future, with some estimates predicting an increase of more than 50 percent by 2020.

What You’ll Love: Some of Stoll’s favorite memories are touring Luang Prabang’s morning market, bicycling along the Mekong River, and visiting a rice farm. Additional draws include the hill-tribe villages of Luang Namtha, rare Irrawaddy dolphins in the Si Phan Don archipelago, and the Khmer ruins of Wat Phu, forebear of Angkor Wat.

A golden temple in Luang Prabang.

Most Anticipated Hotel Openings of 2019

We are getting excited about several new hotels coming in 2019. Here is a list of some of the most anticipated hotel openings of 2019

Andaz Palm Springs - Opening Spring of 2019

The Andaz Palm Springs resort will bring new life to Downtown Palm Springs when it opens in 2019.

We've been waiting for the Andaz Palm Springs to open for over a year now. And after construction delays, we're finally get closer to seeing this beautiful hotel that will reinvigorate the center of Downtown Palm Springs open to guests. 

Constructed as a collection of small buildings and guestroom bungalows surrounding two outdoor pools and garden areas on an elevated patio terrace, the hotel offers panoramic views of Palm Springs and the San Jacinto Mountains.

A full-service spa, a fitness facility, 7,000 square feet of meeting and event space, a signature Argentinian restaurant with indoor and outdoor seating will be available to make the hotel a place to heighten your experience.

The Lodge At Blue Sky - Opening May of 2019

Gaze out at the mountain views and savor the peace at the Blue Sky Resort, opening of Park City, UT in 2019.

Bring on the adventure at the 46-suite Lodge at Blue Sky, set on 3,500 acres outside Park City, Utah. Almost everything here will revolve around outdoor pursuits, from fly-fishing and yoga in the summer to snowboarding and heli-skiing in the winter. You’ll find us learning how whiskey gets made at High West, the on-site distillery.

Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley

When the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley opens in 2019, it will surely be the hottest resort in the Napa Valley.

What will likely be the hottest new resort in the Napa Valley, the Four Seasons Resort & Residences Napa Valley will open it's doors in 2019. Located at the northern end of Napa, off the Silverado Trail, the property features a vineyard and winery overseen by renowned winemaker Thomas Rivers Brown.

The resort will have 85 guest rooms in single- and two-story villas scattered among the property’s vines and oak trees. And the resort will also feature two pools, one for adults and another for families. Plus a grill with outdoor dining, fire pits, and bocce make it a place to hang out before or after wine tasting. A restaurant, bar, and general store provide other dining options.

Fairmont Century Plaza Los Angeles

The Landmark Century Plaza Hotel will soon be reinvented with the opening of the new Fairmont Century Plaza in Downtown Los Angeles.

Fairmont Hotels will soon breath new life into the Los Angeles landmark Century Plaza Hotel, which first opened way back in 1966 on the former back lot of 20th Century Fox Studios. The hotel was most recently a Hyatt Regency. The new hotel will be housed in the recognizable, crescent-shaped 19-story tower originally designed by Minoru Yamasaki. It will have 400 rooms, a gourmet café, a brasserie serving American classics and a rooftop bar, among other amenities.

But the Fairmont Century Plaza Hotel isn't the only new and exciting hotel coming to Downtown Los Angeles. The Park Hyatt Los Angeles is expected to open by the end of 2019.

Baker’s Cay Resort

Curio Collection's Baker's Cay Resort will reopen in early 2019 following a massive remodel/reinvention of the Key Largo resort.

Hilton's Curio Collection Baker’s Cay is a new upscale beachfront hideaway carved into Key Largo’s most lush and secluded region. And the 200-room resort will boast two swimming pools separated by a cascading waterfall grotto, a salon, library and winding nature trails. Plus the resort will be home to four dining outlets including beachside taco-and-tequila eatery with one of the largest collection of house-made hot sauces and a food truck.

Located on the Gulf side of the Overseas Highway, this resort is tucked away on 13 acres of tropical groves situated on a former pineapple plantation previously owned by namesake Captain Ben Baker. And the retreat is supporting the local environment like coral restoration dive programs, dolphins rehabilitation initiatives and partnerships with brands to launch Baker’s Cay bikinis, sandals made from renewable raw materials; yoga mats from tree rubber and more.