Luxury Travel News From Around the World

European luxury discounted, edible fashion in Knightsbridge and Dubai’s Burj el Arab gets more awards!

Well its not really a surprise that some luxury hotels are starting to struggle a bit with the combination of the start of the European off-season and the decidedly chilly weather on Wall Street. If you do have any money for travel though, it means that there are some great luxury bargains to be had in Europe for this holiday season.

Italy has always be a favorite travel destination for Americans and will be one of the destinations worst affected if Americans decide to stay home in the face of a the strong Euro and the financial crises. Rome is a particularly crowded and hot in the summer and going off-season has always been a way to both catch a bargain and see the sights relatively crowd-free.

Discount 5-Star Hotel in Rome
The 5-star Westin Excelsior is a beautiful hotel which is centrally located in the prime Via Veneto district. Included on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2007 Gold List, the Excelsior enjoys a prime location in the celebrated Via Veneto district.  They have a number of specials on including the “Fall for Rome” which includes accommodation/breakfast/complimentary extra bed or crib for children 0-12 years old with rates from €350/night

Westin Excelsior, Rome

Tasty Fashion in London
Alternatively if you are considering some last-minute Christmas shopping in London why not check out The Berkeley . Located in the heart of London’s premier shopping district, Knightsbridge The Berkeley describe themselves as:

“A luxury hotel with a difference, The Berkeley combines cosseting 5 star luxury, contemporary elegance and celebrity buzz, with sublime service and state-of-the-art facilities.

Stay on a Sunday night and get a rate as low as £199. Rooms feature all the usual amenities, Italian marble in the bathroom, and exclusive exclusive Asprey toiletries. Although this time of the year the roof-top pool may not appeal you can arrange an in-room massage to relax after all the stress-full shopping in nearby Harrods and Harvey Nichols.

The Berkeley London

Even if not staying you may well want to book for The Berkeley’s “stylist afternoon tea fit for a fashionista”. The afternoon tea includes tea and savories but the highlight is the collection of cakes and “fancies” in the colors of the fashion season and regularly updated. The menu currently features:

• Alexander McQueen fromage blanc chiffon dress balanced with raspberry meringue
• Christian Dior duo of apple and hot pink cassis mousse & elegant fondant hat
• Smythson “Maze Bag” banana Madeira cake with gold leaf clasp
• Jimmy Choo high heel tuile

Tea is served in the finest designer bone-china tea set, which is designed to create a pseudo catwalk for the cakes! Allow at least 2 hours to enjoy!

Edible Valentino at The Berkeley

Burj el Arab is the best, again
Over in Dubai the Burj el Arab 7-star hotel has won top prize at the Travel Adviser Awards in Las Vegas at the Luxury Travel Expo. The Burj won World’s Leading Hotel as well as the 2008 World Travel Award for the World’s Leading All Suite Hotel. We can assure the Burj el Arab that they will not be getting awards from Luxury Property until the complementary tickets arrive in the mail!

Flights to Laos Cut
Meanwhile Indochina is feeling the pinch with visitor numbers down. Upmarket Bangkok Airways has suddenly canccelled all Thailand / Laos services including those into Vientiane, Luang Prahbang and Pakse. They have also canceled their Bangkok-Siem Reap (for Angkor Wat) service. That leaves only Lao Aviation the only carrier on the Laos – Thailand routes – not one of the world’s leading airlines and not recommended for service or safety standards.