Unbeatable St. Regis Special

The St. Regis brand is the flagship of the Starwood Hotel Group (St. Regis Tahiti shown above).  They are truly superlative properties in my experience.  Noteworthy aside, if you are an American Express Platinum Card holder you automatically qualify for Gold Preferred Status in the SPG program (see Post for all travel benefits of card).

Back to the point, St. Regis is offering an incredible deal: stay a second night at a participating St. Regis property for only $4.  The idea is to offer the same rate as when the first St. Regis property opened in 1904.  The deal is good for stays between September 15 - December 31, 2011.  The reservation code to cite is "STR1904" if calling in to make your reservation (1-877-787-3447).  Though the first night will undoubtedly command normal St. Regis rates, the average of two nights over a weekend stay are a sure value.  If you were contemplating a week jaunt in the fourth quarter, I would definitely check to see if there's a St. Regis property in your destination of choice. 

The Wallet to Take With You

I've heard that the big wallet is back.  I'm superbly unqualified to speak to the stylistic aspects of it, but I can share what motivated me.  Travelling overseas, I carry my passport with me everywhere I go.  It less about safety and more about the ability to use my American Express card without a large debate.  My passport was taking a beating, so I wanted a wallet that would hold a passport plus all the usual wallet affairs.


I came down on the Tumi Delta Passport Case.  It's large, large enough to hold a passport obviously.  I don't often carry my wallet in my pocket anyway.  To that end, the size doesn't bother me at all.  If you're planning on carrying it in a pants pocket daily, you will need big pockets.  Otherwise, the leather is exceptionally supple without being easily scratched.  There are a menagerie of pockets and compartments.  Overall, I'm very happy with the purchase.  I'm using it day-to-day now and not just away from home.

Read your Destination

I cannot claim credit for this bit of travel wisdom, and confess that I am somewhat embarrassed that I'm only now embracing it.  The credit belongs to fellow traveller and one much smarter than I.  The idea is simple enough, prior to reaching your destination read something selected from your destination.

Not the Lonely Planet Guide, though I am a fan, but rather a piece of fiction from a native author.  Prior to travelling to Russia, my sager companion read The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov.  I regrettably didn't partake until after returning, but even then it provided some amazing flavor and context.  In the future, I'm definitely setting aside some plane time to enjoy a bit of local fiction.  I would recommend the same for any traveller looking to enrich their journey.

The Right Travel Watch

In a world of infinite resources, I would probably equip myself with the Patek Philippe World Time watch, but even if I was able, I would be extremely reluctant to travel with it. 

In the world of the slightly more practical, the Tag Heuer Carrera Twin Time allows you the opportunity to keep track of local time and the time at home for less than $2,000. 

NOTE: This watch was brought to my attention by and colleague and friend.  I cannot claim credit, though I do think it is worthy to be a member of the discussion as are many others probably.  The Baume & Mercier Classima GMT, has the travel functionality of an additional hour hand, is a little larger than the Tag at a similar price point. 

In a similar vein, but at a little higher price point, the Omega Seamaster GMT also offers a second hour hand that allows you to easily keep track of two time in two locales. 

I don't own any of these timepieces, though I have been investigating.  My trusty Baume & Mercier Capeland, a high school graduation present has served me well thus far.  I would definitely be leery of wearing $30,000 on my wrist while travelling the world, but something stylish that afforded me avoidance of constant addition and subtraction to get to home time may well be worth consideration.  These are four examples specifically geared towards the traveller, though the world is full of great watches.

Air France Business Class

I preface this by saying that I believe Charles de Gaulle Airport is place that was forsaken by God long ago.  I've passed through on many an occasion, none of them exceptionally pleasant.  Once I was corralled to the end of the one of the terminals with every other passenger so that they could explode a suitcase somewhere in the middle of the terminal (turned out to be completely full of candy...mostly Laffy Taffy...I wasn't laughing). 

That being said, despite transiting through CDG, my most recent trip (ATL-CDG-LED-CDG-ATL) with Air France was really enjoyable, especially the transatlantic legs.  On their long-haul international fleet, AF has fully flat beds on all aircraft.  In my experience (A330, A340, B777), the seat experience has been exactly the same.  The food and wine are above average for airline fare.  The entertainment system is robust, easy to use, and (knocking on wood) always seems to work.  The flight attendants are always pleasant.  The wider planes in the fleet (A380, B747, B777) have a middle seat in business class, but the space is contained enough not to overly erode the experience. 

I always try and take in the Economist on Sundays.  On the last leg of my flight home (on a Sunday as it were), I stopped by the lounge but there were none available and the line at the newsstand was long enough to make me miss my flight, so I was prepared to do without.  With an air of hope, I asked the flight attendant who came to take my coat if there was a copy on board.  He offered to check and disappeared.  Just before the doors closed, he returned Economist in hand.  I'm not sure if there was one on board or if he went out and secured a copy somewhere for me, but that is fantastic service either way in my book.

Within Europe, AF has substantially less plush business class appointments.  Though the meal is upgraded and there are frequent flier bonuses, the seating itself is simply a row of coach seats where they do not sell the middle seat.  It isn't a terrible experience, but a little extra legroom on the three and a half hour hop from Paris to St. Petersburg would have been nice for the money. 

On the whole, however, all thumbs up to Air France for their business class.  It might not be Singapore Air or Virgin Atlantic, but it is comfortable and good value for the price.

Luxury in Las Vegas

AAA identified 9 Five Diamond Hotels in Las Vegas for 2011: Aria Report & Casino, Bellagio, Encore Las Vegas, Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, Skylofts at the MGM Grand, The Palazzo Las Vegas, The Venetian Las Vegas, and Wynn Las Vegas.  The Aria and Mandarin Oriental are new to the list.

I'm not that much of a gambler myself but one of the better externalises of gambling is that really great hotels in Las Vegas aren't reliant on room rates for profit.  As such, if you are willing to brave the summer heat (weather.com says its 97 degrees there at the moment), 5 of the 9 hotels mentioned above are running nightly rates for under $200.  There aren't many places where you can score Five Diamond luxury at those prices.

The Aria: Weekday, 2-night packages for $298
The Palazzo: $149 nightly rates with restaurant and spa coupons
The Venetian: $149 nightly rates with restaurant and spa coupons
Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas: $195 nightly rates
Four Seasons Las Vegas: $179 nightly rates

Of course if you ending up depositing vast sums in the casinos then you probably haven't come out on top, but if you are looking for luxury rooms in Vegas the season is looking decent so far. 

Aria Hotel, Las Vegas

Las Vegas is flush with hotels claiming the coveted AAA Five Diamond designation, and the Aria Hotel at City Center is among them.  My stay was without question superlative.  The Aria has all of the right appointments.  The room is filled to the brim with great technology (i.e. the shades are electronic).  The gym and pool area are magnificent.  There are some great restaurants on property, really enjoyed my meal at American Fish.  I'm not a connoisseur of casino floors, but their seems above average as well.  All of the staff were attentive, professional and friendly.  It's closer to the end of the strip than the middle, but if you go at the right time of year that's barely an impediment. 

The Aria was technically probably near perfect.  If there's a checklist for determining Five Diamond status I'm sure they received top marks at each category.  I have one minor but real complaint.  The property is truly massive.  Despite the technical perfection, it lacked almost any intimacy.  In my experience the best hotels in the world are the ones that comfortably allow you to forget you're staying in a hotel.  Though a magnificent hotel, the Aria was clearly just that.