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Another major designer has put her mark on the luxury hotel scene in designing 20 rooms for Claridge’s Hotel in London. Diane von Furstenberg, “the queen of print” and known for her iconic wrap dress, may not stay longer than three days at a time at any hotel, but her jetsetting ways and life of fashion has aptly prepared her for one of her most unique projects we have seen lately. The first interior design feat for DVF launched this last June, and was very well received for both her and this legendary London landmark.

DVF has long been a frequent visitor of the five-star hotel – over 30 years to be exact – and is one of her all-time favorite hotels when she is not off to more exotic locales such as Vanuatu or Abu Dhabi. And not unlike her own iconic fashion designs, she had her hand in everything – from the paint, to the furniture, to the art – in all the new hotel rooms. Some rooms even carry her own signed personal photos from her travels.

With gorgeous details depicting styles of Italy and the Middle East, as well as colorful Chinese floral patterns and animal prints, the rooms are breathtakingly glamourous and chic, and we would expect no less from the fashion icon.

Claridge’s provides a bit more information:

Breathing new life into a series of rooms, junior suites and the third floor piano suite whilst retaining the very best of the original features, von Furstenberg has created bespoke fabrics and furniture with her iconic prints and bold colours. As an ardent traveller herself she has apporached the project from the guest’s perspective first and as a designer second, with an instinctive understanding of what will satisfy not only men and women but also their families.

Speaking of her care and consideration for the history of such an iconic hotel she said, “I wanted to respect the architecture and the formality of the grand hotel room, but at the same time make it relevant to today’s lifestyle… I don’t want the hotel to change, I just want it to be more of a fantasy.”

The Piano Suite (shown above) in which she collaborated with her long-time friend and interior decorator Olivier Gelbsmann, comes with personal butler service, one or two bedrooms, (each with it’s own marble bathroom), large wardrobes, a marble fireplace and a spacious sitting room with enough space for a bar and a grand piano. With vibrant prints, glasswork from Murano, handcrafted items from Bali, and handcrafted rugs, the room is simply gorgeous.

Her other amazing guestrooms showcase gorgeous handcrafted rugs and luxurious interior décor accents that were handcrafted in Bali. Well equipped with king-sized beds, plasma TV’s, and custom cashmere blankets. The marble bathrooms include Asprey toiletries and plush bathrobes designed by DVF herself!

For those wanting to take their own piece of DVF home with them, the window dressings, inset wall coverings and upholstery are from DVF’s exclusive home line which will be available to consumers in September.

What do you think of her new hotel room design? If money were no object, could you see yourself there?

For more information contact Claridge’s Hotel at +44 (0)20 7107 8862 for room rates and more.

Love, K.

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The time has come again. JetBlue is offering an amazing deal, so amazing that it’s just too good to pass up for those who are ready to do some traveling. The All-You-Can-Jet pass, which was super successful in their past offering, is back again!

For those who are unfamiliar, here’s the deal. For $699 you can purchase their AYCJ-7 pass that allows you to travel any day of the week, to any destination within JetBlue’s skies. YES, you can travel AS MUCH as you want for only $699 during a one-month period!

The time-frame that you can travel is between Sept 7 and Oct 6, one full month. Can you imagine the possibilities? It is a HUGE steal! For those that want to save $200, you can also purchase their AYCJ-5 $499 pass but you won’t be able to travel Sunday-Thursday (no Fri and Sat flights).

So what is the catch? Well, not much, but here are some rules and guidelines:

  • domestic taxes and fees are already included but international and Puerto Rico taxes and fees are not
  • you must book each flight 3 days in advance
  • you cannot share tickets with family and friends – it’s only for you!

Not bad right?!? Should you take full advantage of this offer, you can become famous like a few other travelers last year. They went crazy with their flying!

This baby is like the Eurail pass of the skies! Yippee!

Visit JetBlue for more information and to book your pass (starting August 23, 2010).

Love,
KO

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Just another sign of changing times, this last Tuesday major airline Delta announced that it will allow passengers to book flights on Facebook via their “Ticket Window”. This is a first for any major airline to utilize social networking in this fashion, but I bet it won’t be the last.

Most airlines are already utilizing Twitter and Facebook for news, announcements, and specials, so this takes it another step further. Delta also recently designed their website, Delta.com, and in combination with the new Facebook feature, it is said to be an overall effort to interact directly with their customers via the web.

What concerns me about this shift in customer service is the lack of human contact we receive. When functioning correctly, it could be a very fast, efficient way to get immediate answers and help, but when failing it could cause major problems in terms of customer satisfaction. There still is something to be said about a human voice that you can ask questions to, receive answers, and elevate a call to manager when need be.

Spirit Airlines recently announced that they may be charging to speak to a live person, in the airport or on the phone, and I would hate for other airlines to follow suit.

JetBlue and Southwest have been very successful at dedicating staff to directly respond to complaints and customer concerns via Twitter. Not only is it used for negative issues, but they also love to hear and will respond to compliments as well!

Next on the list for Delta is more user-friendly changes to their website, as well as an iPhone application that will allow passengers to check-in for flights, check flight status, review schedules, review your frequent flier account, and utilize the electronic boarding pass feature in select cities amongst other features.

How do you feel about this shift in customer service and electronic based communication? Are you a fan? What are your concerns if any?

Love, K.

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Spirit Airlines introduces new fees. Again.

by Kirsten on August 4, 2010

Just another reason to not travel with Spirit Airlines, they decided to yet again introduce more useless fees, even more infuriating than the last. The last fee hike they implemented was for assigned seating, costing you anywhere from $8 to $20 extra, including the horrid middle seat. In addition, they also started charging for soda and water, charging you $3 for the luxury of hydrating yourself.

But this time my friends, it is getting ugly.

Spirit Airlines has now begun charging you to place your carry-on bag in the overhead bin, at the whopping price of $45 each way! The next thing on their list? Charging you to talk to a human being. (Check out my past article about airline fees including the announcement of Spirit’s carry-0n bag fee.)

They now plan to implement a fee structure any time you speak to a human being whether over the phone or at the airport. With the Internet available for most help, they see it as a luxury, and not a necessity to be able to talk to a customer service rep. Should you feel the need, then you can pay for it. We aren’t sure how soon this is going to happen, but their CEO, Ken Baldanza, said it is something they are looking at in the near future.

What’s with all these fees? And are they trying to get people to never fly their airline? Actually, the opposite is true. They believe that with their rock bottom fares, that they can give people the option to pay extra only for the things they want. I guess I can see their logic, but I still have a hard time swallowing it.

What do you think of these new fees? Are they totally ridiculous or do you feel their logic makes sense? Would YOU still fly Spirit Airlines?

Love, K.

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Traveling in Chicago

by Kirsten on July 22, 2010

Hey Everyone! I know it’s been a couple days since I last posted, so I wanted to give you a quick update. On Tuesday I arrived into the wonderful city of Chicago and will be staying through Sunday! It has been such a wonderful experience thus far and you can be sure to expect two great hotel reviews as well as a bunch of other great tidbits of info from their public transportation system to the shopping on Magnificent Mile.

Until then, I will be posting some things here and there, but you will hear a lot more from me upon my return!

In the meantime, let me know if there is anything specific you want to know about this great city, and leave a comment below!

Love, K.

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Most of us already know to avoid the mini-bar at all costs. The items are ridiculously priced and usually you can find a local store to pick up some snacks and drinks to have on hand in your hotel room. But what about those times we are temped? Perhaps we are dying for a jolt of caffeine and would love to have a chilled Coke or Pepsi. Is it worth spending the money? It may be, but take a look at the various prices of a Coke out of a hotel mini-bar across the world. You may re-think your choice dependant upon your destination!

The average cost of a soda from a mini-bar across the world:

Paris – $11. 76
I am not at all surprised that Paris tops the list. Known for their pricey food, high cost of living, and expensive hotel rates, this soda is outrageously expensive! My suggestion – skip the soda and get a nice drink down the street at an outdoor cafe. It probably will be cheaper and a good reason to sit and people watch!

New York – $7.10
Another expensive place to visit, the cost of a soda from the mini-bar reflects the high prices of the area. Definitely a lot better than Paris, but still ridiculously high, you can easily buy a bunch of six-packs for the same price of one! Skip!

Tokyo – $5.68
Although it is known that in Asian countries the dollar goes pretty far, I am surprised to see how pricey this small soda is! Tokyo is a bit more expensive than other cities in the country, so that may account for some of the cost, but still pretty shocking. Again – pass on the mini-bar!

Sydney – $5.12
I never knew that Australia was a pricey place to visit as well as to live until just recently, so the high cost of a Coke is not surprising to me when taken from a hotel mini-bar. I wouldn’t dream of paying this much for a soda!

Buenos Aires – $4.76
A place I am dying to visit, Buenos Aires is known for its beauty, chic city life, and warm people. Not so warm – the cost of a soda from the mini-bar! Wow. Knowing you can get a delicious meal for fractions of the cost of what we expect in the States, this surprises me! Definitely skip the mini-bar and go to a local spot for a drink and/or food. You will be surprised how far your money can go in Buenos Aires!

Cape Town – $2.63
I may think about spending this on a soda, until I remember that this is outrageously expensive, STILL! For one can of soda? I don’t think so. I guess if I was really, really thirsty I could take the leap, but in normal situations, I’ll pass.

What do you think of these prices? Are you willing to pay the price when desperate? Or would you skip it? Leave a comment with your thoughts below!

Love, K.

PS – I just love Travel + Leisure mag. When I saw this tidbit of info, I knew I had to share it with you! Thanks T+L!!

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Best New Designer Hotels Round-up

by Kirsten on July 13, 2010

I am excited to offer you a guest post from the fabulous Isabel over at Travel Intelligence. She was kind enough to offer her expertise in an area we all love, designer hotels! Read below about the best new designer hotels that she thinks we all should know about!

Best New Designer Hotels Round-up… from Luxury Hotel Specialists Travel Intelligence

It’s been a good year for fashion/hotel collaborations. Between Diane Von Furstenberg’s twenty new suites at London’s Claridge’s and the fashionista-dedicated Fashion 26 in New York, we’ve a whole lot of shiny new places to stay to put on our wishlists… and that’s just the start of it. Design houses have got in on the act too, with some super-stylish openings for their own new hotels in the past year. Here’s a few of our favourites…

Hotel Missoni, Edinburgh

Missoni’s first hotel opening just off Edinburgh’s Royal Mile generated much fanfare – and its praises are still being sung ten months on. With black and white decor punctuated with dramatic prints, it’s as smart and jazzy as fans of the label might hope for. Italian restaurant Cucina collaborates Rosita Missoni’s design with chef Giorgio Locatelli’s foodie know-how, and rooms are a well-coordinated mix of Missoni patterns. Best of all – as hotels so often skimp on this area of design – bright bathrooms will make you smile even on the rainiest of Edinburgh mornings.

Future openings: Kuwait, Oman, Brazil, Cape Town.

Armani Hotel DubaiArmani Dubai

Residence in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, is the first sign Armani’s bling factor is alive and well at its inaugural hotel. Gold and silver interiors are the second. Exercise your spending power with raids on Armani’s three hotel shops, paying special attention to The Galleria’s select edit of clothes and accessories from Armani Prive. Elsewhere, you can dine in style at one of eight restaurants and lounge your days away at Armani/Spa. Rooms are kitted out in Armani Casa furnishing, which you’d be tempted to take away – if only you could fit an oak table in your bag.

Future openings: Milan, Marrakech, Marassi, London, New York, Shanghai, Tokyo.

Maison Moschino, Milan

Moschino brings its tongue-in-cheek style to a 19th-century railway station in the centre of Milan. Here, you can share a bed with a floral-print wolf (in the Little Red Riding Hood room), check in to the Sweet Room to sleep under a cake-and-biscuit ornamented chandelier or luxuriate in a rose-petal appliqué bed (courtesy of the Life is a Bed of Roses room). Fairytale sleeping quarters are matched with artful public areas: lights in the lobby are fashioned like Moschino dresses and seats at Chlandestino Moschino restaurant ‘wear’ Moschino designs. It’s all like a very good fashion dream.

Isabel Clift is a writer and editor for travelintelligence.com, the London-based luxury hotel specialists. Browse their collection of luxury hotels to find a fashion-forward hotel, including their listings for luxury hotels in London.

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Passport fees go up in price on July 13

by Kirsten on July 7, 2010

We are right around the corner for another travel-related fee hike, this time with passports. What once cost around $100 will now be about $135. I wish I could say I am not surprised, but considering the government is the ones issuing these babies, it was just a matter of time before they tried to raise the price. They have to re-coup their money somehow, don’t they!?!

 

Here is a run down of the changes in passport fees:

New Passport

Old – $100*
New – $135*

New Passport for child under 16

Old – $85*
New – $105*

Passport Renewal

Old – $75
New – $110

Passport Cards

Old – $45*
New – $55*

Passports Cards for child under 16

Old – $35*
New – $40*

Extra Passport pages

Old – Free
New – $82

*Includes the $25 administrative fee

To see the full list of fees visit travel.state.gov

PS – Here is their reasoning behind the increase in fees:

The revised fees will cover actual operating expenses for the 301 overseas consular posts, 23 domestic passport agencies and other centers that provide these consular services to U.S. and foreign citizens.

Love, K

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$39 Sale on Southwest today and tomorrow

by Kirsten on June 22, 2010

Southwest is celebrating their 39th year in business, and what does that mean?!? $39 fares!! Fares will range from $39-$119 each way depending on how far you travel (the further the more expensive, duh!). Flights up to 450 miles will cost $39, flights 451-1000 will cost $79, and flights 1001-and beyond in miles will cost $119.

These fares are valid today and tomorrow only, so act fast! These fares are valid for travel Sept 8 – Nov 17, 2010.

Southwest birthday fares

These are the types of situations I recommend taking advantage of. Perhaps you have a place you haven’t visited yet, but have always wanted to. New York, Seattle, New Orleans, San Francisco, San Diego, Los Angeles, San Antonio? The possibilities are almost endless!  With travel fares increasing, this is a sure way to save!

Happy Travels!

Love, K.

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A favorite fashion sample sale site of mine, Gilt, recently announced their partnership with Virgin America.

Gilt and Virgin America

Flying in style just got better. Now you can earn 500 Elevate points when you make your first purchase on Gilt Groupe.

Gilt Groupe offers up to 70% off on the latest in women’s and men’s fashions and furnishings from top designers. Membership is free. Join today and go from runway to runway in style.

What a great idea! I keep telling you, fashion and travel are always related – here is another instance of how! A perfect way to get some extra points at Virgin, which helps you earn free flights – just by doing a bit of major discount shopping. Sign me up!

Love, K.

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