Florida 5 Star Resort Requires Planning To Find The Right One

Sometimes the worst part of the vacation planning is finding the right places to stay. For example, finding a Florida 5 Star resort sounds easy enough, but it depends upon where you plan to stay, what you plan to do, and how much money you plan to spend.

There are other factors that you have to view as well such as what kind of activities you want, the variety of onsite entertainment, the size of the rooms, if there are activities for children and teenagers if that is of concern to you, and what other types of services are included within the price of your stay.

Even with a Florida 5 Star resort, there can be a vast difference in the type of accommodations and the amenities depending upon the location and the resort where you are staying.

A 5 Star resort can vary in many different ways, so you want to be sure to check with the location where you will be staying. Even if you stayed previously with the same chain of resorts, if it was in a different location, do not assume that you will be entitled to the same services.

For example, if you stayed with the same chain last year and they offered childcare services that allowed you to do some adult activities, don't assume that a different location also has this optional service.

You will be very disappointed if you make that assumption and find out that it is not available. When it comes to vacation planning, many frustrations can be overcome by learning to ask questions rather than by making assumptions.

Take the time before you leave home to reiterate with the Florida 5 Star resort exactly what is included in your price and what is optional. Sometimes there is an all-inclusive package, especially if you are flying, that includes meals as well.

Try to get everything in writing if possible so that if anything happens, you have something to verify what they told you.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/

Unprecedented Hotel Boom in NYC

In a city where even residents often pay more than half their salaries for a place to lay their heads, visitors in need of lodging have long faced a shortage of hotel rooms and rising prices.

While planning her vacation to New York, Lisa Werness was so horrified by the prices in Manhattan that she opted for cheaper lodging in Brooklyn—where she scored a room rate of just $400 a night.

"Don't remind me. I'm trying to forget about it," the Raleigh, N.C., resident said of the price shortly after checking in at the New York Marriott at the Brooklyn Bridge. "We're just kind of biting the bullet."

Now, with 8,500 hotel rooms under construction in the city—a growth of more than 10 percent—that crunch could ease ever so slightly in the coming months. By comparison, it took from 1998 to 2007 to make a leap of the same size.

"One of the challenges that New York has always had is having enough rooms for tourists," said Sean Hennessey, CEO of industry consulting firm Lodging Investment Advisors. "Most of the time the corporate travelers are willing to pay more than the tourists, and the tourists kind of get crowded out."

New York sees more overseas and domestic visitors than any other U.S. destination except Orlando, Fla., according to analysts at Global Insight Inc. But it has fewer hotel rooms than less-popular spots including Las Vegas, Chicago, the Los Angeles metro area and Atlanta, according to Smith Travel Research.

The resulting shortage leads many travelers seeking an affordable room to head far afield of the usual tourist draws, and hotel developers have taken notice, with new lodging under construction or recently opened in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Long Island and beyond.

Even with the weak dollar making his trip to New York a bargain, London resident Mike Jones still found the price tag on his Brooklyn hotel room shocking.

"All the hotels in Manhattan are pretty much full at whatever rate they want to charge," said the 56-year-old, whose travel agent advised him to a book a room in an outer borough because of the cost. "They're operating at pretty much capacity, and they can charge pretty much what they like."

Even when he decided to stay in Brooklyn for its cheaper prices, he ended up with a bill for close to $600 a night, he said, adding, "That's crazy."

Indeed, the city's occupancy rate is much higher than elsewhere around the country—averaging 85 percent in Manhattan during the first nine months of this year, compared with the national average of 65 percent, according to Smith Travel Research. Manhattan's hotels are at or near capacity most nights of the year, said Hennessey, adding that the current growth is the largest he's seen in the city in 25 years.

While hotel developers are doing well around the country, the high demand and rising prices in New York City have convinced investors that it's a particularly good time to build hotels here. Even the current influx of rooms is unlikely to glut the market and knock down prices, Hennessey said, although he noted that an economic downturn could lead companies to cut back on business travel—a move that could lead to cheaper rates.

As of October, New York had 59 hotels under construction—more than any of the 26 other U.S. cities with the largest number of hotel rooms, according to Smith Travel Research. It also had 103 hotels in the planning stage, beating out all those other markets.

With most of those new properties expected to charge what Hennessey called "mid-market" prices, the new hotels should be a boon for tourists, although mid-range in New York—$200 to $300 per night—may still seem far too expensive for some.

In part, the building boom has been driven by developers like McSam Hotel Group LLC, which has made a business of buying properties not zoned for residential use but too small to be attractive as office space, then converting them into functional hotels with small rooms, Hennessey said. As of September, the company had nearly 30 hotels expected to open around the city by 2009, according to city tourism office NYC & Company. Representatives of McSam Hotel Group were unavailable for comment.

While properties already under construction are unlikely to be called off, the mortgage crunch has some in the industry wondering if future projects might be slowed by the rising price of financing. Either way, it seems unlikely that a city with such high real estate prices will soon be offering truly cheap hotel rooms.

And, says New York City Marriott spokeswoman Kathleen Duffy, they're unlikely to find such prices in Brooklyn, where, she says, rates are increasingly competitive with Manhattan. The Brooklyn Marriott where Werness and Jones were staying recently added a new tower with 280 rooms to keep up with demand, Duffy said.

A short drive away, on a stretch of Brooklyn's Fourth Avenue that is home to auto body shops and discount liquor stores, the boutique Hotel Le Bleu, which opened last month, charges upward of $300 a night.

That, says general manager Robert Gaeta, is a "good value."

"There's no foreseeable decrease in the demand for New York City as a destination for travelers," he said. "I have no doubts that we'll be at 90 percent occupancy on a consistent basis."

Source : http://travel.msn.com/

Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Hotel Top Picks!

Looking for a Palm Beach or West Palm Beach Hotel for your Florida vacation? We have done some homework and picked some of the best places to stay in this area of Florida.

Palm Beach and West Palm Beach Florida are known as a hot spot for some of the world's most famous and wealthy people. Known for its culture, both West Palm and Palm Beach offer an array of hotels that range from very affordable and elegant to high class and well worth the price.

If you decide to visit this area of Florida you will enjoy the Florida beaches, A1A highway, Donald Trump's Mar-a-lago, the million dollar mansions, Worth Avenue, fabulous restaurants, and so much more.

Note that West Palm and Palm Beach are extensions of one another. West Palm is on the mainland of Florida and Palm Beach is an island of sorts. You will find better rates at a West Palm Beach hotel, but if you can afford the higher prices, we suggest you rub elbows with the wealthy in Palm Beach. Be wary that this area has an inside culture that you may not like- Old Money goes a long way we found out.

This page is set up to provide a list of our favorite Palm Beach and West Palm Beach hotel choices. We'll provide our top 3 choices for either destination and you can read more at our favorite travel website, Trip Advisor (links at the bottom).

As you search our recommendation is to be wary of location. Some of the top spots are located well off the beaches of Florida, so we suggest you try to stay east of I-95 or even highway 1. This of course depends on the type of Florida vacation you are going on.

Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Top Picks The Breakers Florida Hotel Palm Beach
This luxurious hotel is always featured as one of the best hotels in Florida and the world. It is a true escape to luxury that you will never forget.

5-star and first class all the way that if you can afford the price tag each night, you won't regret it.

The Breakers Florida hotel, as one Florida traveler put it, is purely heaven.




Tropical Gardens Bed and Breakfast

This is a West Palm Beach hotel that for the affordable price is a steal in this region of Florida.

It may not be The Breakers Florida hotel, but you will definitely remember your stay at this charming little hotel located in the Old Northwood area.



Biba West Palm Beach Hotel

The wonderful design and uniqueness of this Florida hotel is why we put it on our recommendations list.

You will get a great atmosphere, excellent location, and overall a very cool place to stay with this West Palm Beach Hotel.

A class 3 hotel, many travelers have enjoyed their stay and also enjoyed the discount prices you can receive with this spot.



The Brazilian Court of Palm Beach Florida

This one is a top find in Palm Beach according to many travelers. A short walk from Worth Avenue, this Old World Palm Beach Mediterranean-style hotel dates from the 1920s offers excellent service and stay and has been labeled an icon of Palm Beach.



Other Palm Beach & West Palm Beach Hotels to look into

* Hampton Inn has a couple of West Palm Beach hotel locations. We happened to find some good reviews on either spot, but found them to be further from the beaches than we like.

* Palm Beach has other luxurious hotels to compare to The Breakers Florida Hotel and The Brazilian. This list includes, The 4 Seasons Resort Palm, Chesterfield Hotel, Plaza Inn, and The Ambassador.

* As for other West Palm Beach hotel choices, you should consider Parkview Motor Lodge, Comfort Inn, Crowne Plaza, and Marriott West.

* For the best price and highest ratings, we found Fairfield Inn and Suites a good hotel if you are on a tight budget.

These are our top choices for a Palm Beach or West Palm Beach hotel. Prices will vary in this region from very affordable to quite expensive as we don't suggest this as the best region for a discount Florida vacaiton.

However, we had a great time in West Palm Beach on our honeymoon and may go back one day when we strike it rich. We do suggest you do your homework if you are heading to this part of Florida.

The Palm Beach and West Palm Beach hotel reviews have varied extensively so take them with a grain of salt. Be sure you pick the right location if you want to be on the beach or near any of the key attractions including Worth Avenue, Peanut Island, the Flagler Museum, and so on.

Do take the Water Taxi and make sure you spend some time driving up and down the coast on highway A1A! Plus, if you want great food, make sure to book an evening at Charley's Crab and the City Cellar Wine Grill and Bar.

Source : http://www.discount-florida-vacations.com/

Hotel-Condo Hybrid Growing Trend in Florida, Nationwide

Denver attorney Jacques Machol loves the hotel amenities he gets when he stays at the Fountainbleau in Miami Beach: room service, housekeeping, linen service and a complimentary breakfast.

Only Machol isn't a hotel guest. He recently paid $735,000 for his 1,100 square-foot suite.

The hybrid concept of a luxury hotel that sells some of it units as condominiums has become one of the most popular trends in the industry in recent years.
Condo-hotels in the past two or three years have expanded beyond traditional markets in ski resorts or Hawaii and into other tourist destinations such as Orlando and Las Vegas. Projects also are under construction in urban centers like Atlanta, Chicago and New York.

Hotel developers like the concept because they spread their financial risk among the future condo unit-owners. Individual condo owners like it because they enjoy the resort-style luxuries, and in many cases the hotel rents out their units when they're away.

"Anything is at your fingertips," said Machol, who gets 45% of the income when the Hilton-run Fountainbleau rents out his suite.

Smith Travel Research, the lodging industry's leading research firm, doesn't keep figures on the number of condo-hotels in the United States since the popularity of the concept is so recent. But the hybrid concept "definitely is the hot topic of today," said Jan Freitag, director of client services for the Tennessee-based firm.
"Every major player, the major hotel owners in the country, are looking at hotel condos, hotel condo conversions, hotel condo construction to see if it fits their portfolios," he said.

The luxury hotel chains, including Hilton, Four Seasons, Marriott, Starwood and the Ritz-Carlton, have brought new credibility to a concept that in the 1970s was used as a tax shelter until the benefits ended in the 1980s.

"People have a lot more confidence buying into a Hilton or a Four Seasons because they know the name. They know the quality. They know it must be reputable," said Joel Greene, president of the Condo Hotel Center in Miami, a brokerage that sells such units.

The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Co., in fact, won't even manage a hotel anymore unless there is a residential component because of the lucrative nature of the condo-hotel concept, spokeswoman Vivian Deuschl said.

The Chevy Chase, Md.-based luxury chain first became involved almost five years ago with the concept in Washington, Boston and New York. The company recently opened condo-hotels in Dubai and Berlin.

"This is an idea that has reached a lot of acceptance," Deuschl said.

Several factors have led to the current boom in condo-hotel projects - the improving performance of hotel companies, the recent investment appeal of real estate over the stock market, low interest rates and baby boomers approaching retirement who want to invest in a second home, said Mark Lunt, a hospitality expert at Ernst & Young in Miami.

Hotel occupancy rates dropped after the 2001 terrorist attacks, limiting the amount of Wall Street money available to developers for building new hotels. So the developers went looking for another way to finance their projects and arrived at the condo-hotel concept. For a traditional hotel project, a developer typically has to come up with around 40% of the equity; a condo-hotel development requires much less investment for the developer.

"This rage started when financing for traditional hotels dried up," said Scott Berman, a partner in the hospitality and leisure consulting practice at Price Waterhouse Coopers in Miami.

"What's interesting is we're in a very favorable time for hotels. It will be interesting as traditional financing becomes more available whether this growth continues."
Nowhere has the condo-hotel concept been hotter than in Florida. An estimated 30 projects currently are under construction in South Florida. The Orlando area and the Miami-Fort Lauderdale area each could have as many as 10,000 units in the next few years. Each metro area had less than 1,000 units five years ago.

"Florida has been the market-leader in terms of supply growth," Berman said.
But the concept has risks for both the developer and the condo buyer.

The Securities and Exchange Commission considers the condo offering a "security" if income and expenses from the rental units are pooled and if a condo unit is sold to the buyer with the explicit expectation the buyer will earn money or derive tax benefits from it.

If the development is structured as a security, it can only be sold by a securities broker and it is easier for an investor to sue the developer under the SEC's anti-fraud rules, according to Los Angeles attorney Jim Butler.

Because most current developers choose not to sell their projects as securities to avoid the SEC complications, they are prohibited from discussing with a prospective buyer the economic or tax benefits from a rental arrangement, and they can't make projections on how much a condo unit can earn in rental income.

As a result, many buyers purchase a condo-hotel unit without all the facts.
"If you're not allowed to communicate revenue expectation, often times buyers are making a decision based on incorrect information or overly optimistic information," Lunt said.

James Walesa, a financial adviser for wealthy clients in suburban Chicago, put a deposit down two years ago for a one-bedroom condo-hotel unit at Canyon Ranch Living in Miami Beach, which is still under construction.

Aided by his financial background, Walesa did extensive research to find out whether it made economic sense to purchase the $485,000 unit, an effort he doesn't think the average buyer will make.

"The way they sell these things, I don't think it's fair to the consumer," Walesa said. "Unless the investor gets somebody who knows what they're doing and how to analyze this stuff, he is buying on the sizzle rather than the steak. I bought the sizzle but I was able to at least guess on the steak."

Source : http://www.condohotelcenter.com/

HardHat Tour of InterContinental SF

The newest addition to the San Francisco skyline is one that can be seen from our offices here at Perfect Escapes. We’ve watched it over the past year rise up from the foundation scaffolding to become the blue beacon in the South of Market area. And while it does look drastically different than the artist’s rendering that we have been seeing all over the place and which graces their materials, the building has grown on me. Then again, I look at it every single day.

A few weeks ago, I was given the opportunity to take a hard-hat tour as construction is still underway on the interior (yes, I do not look great in a hard-hat). The InterContinental is definitely going to change the SOMA neighborhood, as it stretches out the recent expansion of the Moscone Center and expands into what was previously a slight no-man’s land.

Inside the hotel (granted I had to use some imagination due to the construction), one thing that jumped out was the vast amount of conference space – over 43,000 square feet. Huge individual ballrooms and numerous individual smaller breakout rooms make up the three entire floors.

The rooms were nice, although this is definitely a hotel where depending what room you get and what floor you’re on will have a huge impact on your stay. Each room has a flat panel tv, hi-speed internet, and an iPod docking stereo. I’m kind of surprised every hotel doesn’t have that yet. The size of the rooms vary, as does the “unique” features, such as some of the rooms on the north face, which have very public viewing bathrooms. The entire wall of one bathroom was a window overlooking the neighboring office building. If you close the drapes, you’re fine. But definitely a bit unsettling.

On another floor, some very large suites overlook the outdoor area of the spa, which may cause a bit of discomfort for spa visitors. But I’m sure that once the hotel opens, they will make necessary changes. And people going to the spa can always retreat to the indoor pool, or to the elite Club InterContinental.

The biggest draw is the view. The entire hotel was built to keep the views of the San Francisco Bay Area in prime focus and from almost every side of the hotel, the views are fantastic. It is definitely worth the extra money to upgrade to a larger room on the upper floors since these tend to have the best views in any direction.

It should be interesting to see what the hotel’s addition to the city does in 2008, as it increases the amount of hotel rooms in San Francisco by another 550. And located only blocks away from the W San Francisco, the Marriott, Hotel Palomar, St. Regis, Westin Market Street, Four Seasons, and The Palace – it is definitely another notch in San Francisco’s rising luxury hotel scene.

The hotel is taking reservations for stays beginning February 27, 2008.

Source : http://www.perfectescapes.com/

A Storied Name In Miami Luxury Hotels, Boasting A Rich History And Tradition

As the creator of Coral Gables, land developer George E. Merrick also founded the University of Miami, and developed the suburbs with strict building codes to ensure the beautiful surroundings. Coral Gables is a largely residential, affluent area graced with broad, planted boulevards, golf courses, and country clubs. Stately Mediterranean homes, Banyan trees, and tropical foliage line its quiet streets. The thriving business district is also home to over 150 multinational companies and multinational headquarters.

In 1925, young Merrick joined forces with Biltmore hotel magnate John McEntee Bowman at the height of the Florida land boom to build "a great hotel...which would not only serve as a hostelry to the crowds which were thronging to Coral Gables but also would serve as a center of sports and fashion." In January 1926, ten months and $10 million dollars later, The Biltmore hotel debuted with a magnificent inaugural that brought people down from northern cities on trains marked "Miami Biltmore Specials." The Giralda Tower was lit for the first time and the champagne corks popped as the guests fox-trotted to the sounds of jazz, all in celebration of the birth of our Miami luxury hotel resort.

In its heyday, this Miami luxury resort played host to royalty, both Europe's and Hollywood's. The hotel counted the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Ginger Rogers, Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, Al Capone and assorted Roosevelts and Vanderbilts as frequent guests. Fashion shows, gala balls, aquatic shows by the grand pool and weddings were de rigueur as were world class golf tournaments. A product of the Jazz Age, big bands entertained wealthy, well-traveled visitors to this American Riviera resort.

The Biltmore made it through the nation's economic lulls in the late 1920's and early 1930's by hosting aquatic galas that kept the hotel in the spotlight and drew the crowds. As many as three thousand would come out on a Sunday afternoon to watch the synchronized swimmers, bathing beauties, alligator wrestling and the young Jackie Ott, the boy wonder who would dive from an eighty-five foot platform. Johnny Weissmuller, prior to his tree-swinging days in Hollywood, broke the world record at the Biltmore pool and was a swimming instructor. Families would attend the shows and many would dress up and go tea dancing afterwards on the hotel's grand terrace to the sounds of swinging orchestras.

In 1973, through the Historic Monuments Act and Legacy of Parks program, the City of Coral Gables was granted ownership control of The Biltmore. In 1983, the City oversaw its full restoration to be opened as a grand hotel. Almost four years and $55 million later, The Biltmore opened on December 31, 1987 as a first-class Miami Florida luxury hotel. Over 600 guests turned out to honor the historic Biltmore at a black tie affair.

In June of 1992, a multinational consortium led by Seaway Hotels Corporation, a Florida hotel management company, officially became the new operators of the Biltmore under a long term management lease with the City of Coral Gables, and again made significant refurbishments to the property.

Seaway invested in new lighting and telephone systems, computer systems throughout, repairs to the pool, furnishings, a complete guestroom renovation program and also remodeled a space into a state-of-the-art health club and spa. At the 1926 gala opening of the Miami Biltmore Country Club, Dr. Frank Crane predicted that "many people will come and go, but this structure will remain a thing of lasting beauty." He was right and in 1996, the hotel celebrated yet another milestone in its illustrious history --the 70th anniversary of this grand South Florida monument and an official designation by the Federal Government as a National Historic Landmark, an elite title offered to only 3% of all historic structures on the National Register of Historic Places.

Today, The Biltmore proudly boasts a four-star, four-diamond ranking and is one of only several resorts in South Florida recognized as a National Historic Landmark. 2006 welcomed the hotel's 80th anniversary and the beginning of a new millennium, a future marked with opportunity for this local legend.

Source : http://www.biltmorehotel.com/

Welcome to Florida's Elite Island

HOT NEWS: The Leopard Lounge has been selected to receive Wine Enthusiast Magazine’s 'Award of Distinction' for 2007

A jewel in the tiara on this exclusive, elegant resort island, The luxury 4 Star Chesterfield Palm Beach Hotel is a charming European-style boutique hotel ideally located between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intercoastal Waterway, just two blocks from the exclusive shops of Worth Avenue, affectionately referred to as "a little bit of England in Palm Beach Florida".

Encapsulating all that is luxurious and relaxing, each of the guest rooms and deluxe suites at this Palm Beach Hotel are beautifully decorated with fine fabrics, furnishings, and tasteful antiques. Relax by day around the pool or in the hot tub, enjoy any of the many fun activities in the area or take traditional English afternoon tea in the wood-panelled Library. At night enjoy superb dining and dance to world-class entertainment in the renowned Leopard Lounge and Restaurant.

A member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, The Chesterfield Palm Beach is located within easy reach of the West Palm Beach business district, City Place shopping and dining, Palm Beach Airport, local museums, theatres, and entertainment. It is also around a 1.5 hour drive South to Miami or even closer to see the Mets at their Spring training facility up North.


Source : http://www.chesterfieldpb.com/

Beachside luxury on Florida’s Key West

Two hundred and twenty-two luxury rooms and suites on the Gulf of Mexico, cuisine by renowned chef Norman Van Aken and a 6,000-square-foot conference facility are to highlight Beachside Resort & Conference Center, slated to open October 15 in Key West.

The resort is situated at the entrance to the island at 3841 N. Roosevelt Blvd. Blending a sophisticated urban elegance with Key West's unique laid-back attitude, it is to offer five-star amenities on seven acres of lush waterfront property.

Accommodations include 129 one-, two- and three-bedroom suites and 93 standard king rooms with plush beds, décor in soft earth tones, LCD flat-screen televisions and bathrooms with marble Jacuzzi tubs.

Suites feature fully equipped gourmet kitchens. Many incorporate spiral staircases leading to the private beach and heated pool or to a private sundeck.

Beachside's amenities are to include a 24-hour front desk, concierge and room service; reserved covered parking, fitness center, private helicopter landing pad, valet service, business center and free WiFi.

The property's food and beverage program is directed by master chef Norman Van Aken. Van Aken is to preside over Tavern N Town, offering small plates at the relaxed Tavern and gourmet dining at the elegant Town. Plans call for Tavern N Town to serve breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Beachside's conference center is to offer a variety of conference, meeting, party and banquet facilities with top-of-the-line audiovisual and sound systems. The ballroom accommodates up to 400 guests for a seated dinner or transforms into five separate rooms for meetings and breakout sessions. Outdoor function space also is available.

Source : http://www.easier.com/

Condos Vs. Condo Hotels For Vacaton Home Ownership

Condo hotels, also called condotels, are a relatively new concept in vacation home ownership. Rapidly gaining popularity, numerous condo hotels are now being built in Florida, Las Vegas, Chicago, Toronto, the Caribbean and many other locales around the U.S. and the world. To help illustrate the unique qualities of condo hotels, here’s a look at how they compare with traditional condos.

AMENITIES

Condos - The average condo has a community pool and some common areas.

Condo Hotels - A condo hotel has many of the amenities you would find at a four- or five-star hotel. In addition to a pool (or pools), there is probably an on-site restaurant (possibly several), a lounge, a full-service spa, a state-of-the-art exercise facility, poolside bar, etc. The amenities in a condo hotel are far greater than what you would typically find in a condo.

FURNISHINGS

Condos - Condos are usually sold unfurnished. You may decorate your unit as you like, and you pay for all furnishings.

Condo Hotels - A condo hotel unit is delivered to you completely furnished, typically with high-end furniture, appliances and fixtures selected by a professional interior designer. All units are decorated the same, more or less, much like hotel rooms. Condo hotel units are delivered user-ready upon receipt. The cost for furnishings is included in the price of the condo hotel unit.

SERVICES

Condos - You are responsible for your own housekeeping and unit upkeep. Services are usually limited to maintenance and possibly security.

Condo Hotels - You get daily housekeeping as you would in a luxury hotel. You have access to room service, concierge services, maintenance services and check-in services. The vast majority of condo hotels are operated by big-name hoteliers like Ritz Carlton and Hilton, the consummate professionals when it comes to customer service. Most of the same services available at their high-end hotels are offered at their condo hotels.

LOCATION

Condos - Condos can be found in almost every major market across the country. Some condo developments are in resort areas, while others are not.

Condo Hotels - At this time condo hotels are only available in a handful of locations, all of which are major vacation destinations or highly desirable cities, such as South Florida, Las Vegas and Chicago. Condo hotels are usually built on the most desirable pieces of land such as on a golf course, overlooking the ocean or in the heart of a major city.

PRICE

Condos - Prices for condos can start as low as $70,000.

Condo Hotels - Units start at $200,000, and most are substantially more. An oceanfront four- or five-star condo hotel unit can cost $500,000 to over $1,000,000.

RENTAL INCOME POTENTIAL

Condos - You have the option of renting out your unit when not using it. However, you are responsible for finding your own renters, preparing the unit for those renters, dealing with any maintenance issues that arise and collecting the rent. The condo association’s approval may be required on renter issues. You keep 100% of the rental revenue.

Condo Hotels - All details are handled for you. When you’re not using your condo hotel unit, you simply place it in the rental program. Renters would be found for you, and all aspects of the renters’ stay would be handled by the hotel management company. The entire process would be hassle-free for you.

You would receive a portion of the rent revenue, typically 40%-50%; the balance would go to the management company. Because the condo hotel most likely is a national or international hotel chain (such as Hilton or Ritz Carlton), it has a global sales force, multimillion dollar marketing campaigns, loyalty programs, a centralized reservation system and a strong Internet presence, all of which suggest that the property’s management would probably have better success at keeping your unit rented than you would as an individual condo owner.

APPRECIATION POTENTIAL

Condos – Whether your condo will appreciate or depreciate depends strongly on its location. Because there are so many condos on the market, the rules of supply and demand often help keep prices down. For the same reason, condos can be hard to resell.

Condo Hotels – Because condo hotels are a relatively new type of property investment, they are limited to just a handful of locales across the country. The supply is small and demand is currently high and growing, all of which contribute rapid and significant appreciation. Another factor to keep in mind when reselling a condo hotel unit is that you’re selling not only the actual unit but also the luxury lifestyle that comes with an amenity-filled, high-service property.

Many condo hotels are sold out in pre-construction. Often the developers, sensing the high demand, will themselves raise prices many times before all units are gone.

For example, The Mutiny condo hotel located in Coconut Grove, Florida was the first condo hotel to be built in South Florida. From the time the developer began accepting deposits until it sold out in pre-construction, there were nine price increases. People who bought early did exceptionally well.


Source : http://www.ownahotelroom.org/

Beachfront Hotels in Florida

Florida is the most famous for it beautiful sun soaked white sand beaches with the clear blue water of the sea touching the shore rhythmically. Irrespective of the age group you belong to, the work you do, your likes and dislikes, you cannot help but get enchanted by the scenic beauty of Florida. At a place like this what can be more enchanting than a spacious and tastefully decorated room with a patio or verandah overlooking the beach.

The entire tourism industry of Florida thrives on the presence of the beaches here. Therefore, it is no surprise that the entire beach line is dotted with a number of hotels, resorts and motels. You will find tourist accommodations that will suit all sizes of holiday budgets. Yet, the majority of the accommodations are expensive and thus, extremely luxurious.

A number of these hotels can accommodate even those tourists who are visiting on less than extravagant budget. These hotels offer you the beautiful gardens from where you can soak in the breathtaking view of the sea and the powdery white beaches. You can also rent cottages which are fully furnished and at times they also provide you with the luxury of a Jacuzzi and/ or a swimming pool. A number of hotels provide you with bicycles so that you can pedal your way through the beautiful places in this idyllic setting.

Some of the hotels are strategically designed with large windows so that the guests are not left bereft of any chance to soak in the exhilarating beauty of Florida even while they are within the premises of the hotel. These hotels are more often than not surrounded by small establishments which offer exquisite Chinese, Japanese, Mexican, Lebanese, Caribbean and Indian delicacies. The fact that the beach is a few steps away from your hotel room makes your stay very refreshing and relaxing indeed.

Source : http://ezinearticles.com/

Condo Hotels Offer Luxury and Great Investment Potential

Not Your Typical Vacation Home

What could be more perfect that owning a luxury vacation home at a landmark resort and receiving rent revenue whenever you’re not using it? Condo hotels are the newest trend in vacation home ownership. Live in it when you’re there; rent it when you’re not.

So how do condo hotels differ from owning a traditional vacation apartment or condominium? These are not your typical second homes. They are fabulously-furnished condominium suites in some of the most famous hotels and resorts around the country. The properties are usually large, high-rise, luxury hotels operated by a big name like Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton, Sonesta, Starwood or Hilton. Prices range from $200,000 to over $1 million for prime properties.

Generate Revenue to Defray Mortgage Costs

How do condo hotel owners find renters? This is what makes the program so appealing. When owners are not using their unit, it is put into the rental program of the hotel. By capitalizing on a hotel’s name recognition, advertising, national affiliations, centralized reservation system and management expertise, unit owners typically receive a higher level of rental income than they would from a traditional vacation home. Plus the hotel takes care of dealing with the renters, as well as all housekeeping and maintenance of the condo hotel units. Talk about hassle-free!

The Real Appeal of Condo Hotels Is Appreciation

While it’s nice to receive rental revenue on your vacation home, the more important factor from an investment standpoint is its appreciation. Condo hotel units have been appreciating at a far faster rate than single family homes and condos in the same areas.

Most condo hotels are purchased directly from the developer. With limited inventory, condo hotel units have been moving at lightning speed. In fact, almost all condo hotels sell out in pre-construction, long before even a single spade of dirt has been overturned. And as is the case in any situation where supply is greatly outpaced by demand, condo hotel owners have been seeing tremendous appreciation in their units.

World-Famous Resorts Attract International Attention

Most condo hotels are located in seasonal resort areas. South Florida, particularly Miami Beach and Ft. Lauderdale, is one of the country’s hottest markets with world-famous properties like the Fontainbleau, Canyon Ranch Living and Trump International leading the way. Las Vegas and some of the Caribbean Islands are also popular condo hotel destinations.

Who’s buying? The answer, in a nutshell, is everyone. That is, investors and vacationers who recognize the appreciation potential of a revenue-generating vacation home. That appeal isn’t limited to U.S. buyers. The concept of condo hotels has had international appeal with buyers from Latin America and Europe competing with Americans for the best properties.

Source : http://www.creiaonline.org/

Luxury Golf Hotels in Florida

A boutique hotel in Florida offers exclusive golf course privileges, the best water views from every room, and a great golf vacation for the whole family.
Luxury golf vacations are popular throughout the world. In the United States, great golf courses are hardly in short supply - and one of the best golf courses affiliated with a luxury hotel is in Florida. The award-winning Camp Creek Golf Course, 10 minutes away from the WaterColor Inn on Florida's Gulf Coast, is a gorgeous course, beautifully designed by Tom Fazio to provide a challenging game in a lovely setting. The golf course is private, and use is limited to guests of the Inn and WaterSound luxury vacation rentals. Here, a perfect family golf vacation is par for the course.
The WaterColor Inn & Resort

The WaterColor Inn is a boutique inn; a small 60-room luxury hotel. The design is open and airy, with full-on views of the Gulf of Mexico from every room. You read that right; every room has a water view. The patios are open and airy as well. Many guests love the hotel room's showers, because they are all designed to give an additional water view - the luxury of taking a shower with the whole of the Gulf of Mexico in view really is a terrific vacation experience.

In a sense, the best type of luxury golf resort vacation is easily had here; after all, Camp Creek was named Florida's #1 Golf Course of the New Millennium, and the WaterColor Inn was named 7th best hotel in the US by Travel & Leisure magazine, for a reason. This beachfront luxury inn is small, so that guests feel special and pampered on their golf and beach vacation. Yet it is also adjacent to the town of WaterColor, one of Florida's prime planned communities for residents and tourists. You're never too far from a restaurant or shop (if need be), despite the "getting away from it all" ambience of the luxury hotel. As a member of Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Watercolor Inn offers many non-golf activities such as free bike rentals, kayaking, a full-service day spa, tennis, and Camp WaterColor for children ages 4 to 12.
Camp Creek Golf Course

This Tom Fazio-designed golf course is, likely, the biggest draw of the resort. The fairways are contoured for a challenging game, with views all around. A serious golf course, for serious players, the Camp Creek course is private - use is restricted to WaterColor Inn guests and WaterColor Sounds luxury vacation rental guests - and relatively quiet. Children who play golf, and the family taking luxury golf vacations together, play at the WaterColor Inn & Resort's family golf course, the Origins Course. A few rounds at Camp Creek make for an exclusive, quiet experience.

The dunescape landscaping of the 18-hole. par 72 championship Camp Creek golf course is notable for both its beauty and gentle elevation changes. Tom Fazio has been often recognized by other golf course architects as the "Best Modern Day Golf Course Architect," and Camp Creek exemplifies his creative approach to course design. The slope rating is 145, not easy for beginners or hackers, and the golf course is measures 7,159 yards on a 1,000+ acre property.
Origins Golf Course

A luxury golf family vacation is nothing without tee time for the kids. Sure, children love the Watercolor day camp (who wouldn't love a make-your-own-sundae activity?) but quality family time on the child-friendly Origins Course is relaxing and fun. The only hole that is at all challenging here is the fourth green, which has a small, round, deep sand trap (a pot bunker). Other than that, the fairways are wide and flat, the atmosphere is low-key, and the family vacation memories accrued are more valuable than those gotten from enrolling the kids in Camp WaterColor every day of the trip.

Golfers of all skill levels are accommodated at the WaterColor Inn golf courses. The hotel itself is one of the best in the US for the family that loves luxury golf vacations, and that enjoys the fun of a Florida beach resort. Fun, relaxing quality time with the kids; it's what family vacations are all about.

Source : http://luxuryresorttravel.suite101.com/

Florida festival line-up 'remarkable'

Florida's Palm Beach County council has claimed that the line up for its 2008 arts festival is "nothing less than remarkable".

Visitors to the Florida Festival of the Arts Boca in 2008 will be treated to a "remarkable" line-up of artists and events, according to the Palm Beach County council.

Next year's festival, which will be held between February 29th and March 16th at the Count de Hoernle Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, Florida, has been designed to resonate with international literary and musical enthusiasts.

The organisers of the event - Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park - are hoping to position the Festival of the Arts alongside such prestigious events as the Tuscan Sun Festival, the Festival del Sole Napa and the Ravinia Music Festival.

On the line-up for the Florida event next year will be the Russian National Orchestra, Grammy-winning guitarist Chic Corea, Nobel Prize-nominated author Joyce Carol Oates and stateswoman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

Palm Beach city councillor Peter Baronoff said: "As a city, we are extremely excited to host and be involved in helping to create this world-class event which, I am sure, will easily come to compare with major festivals of its kind the world over.

"This year's extraordinary paring of exceptional music and literature is certain to further put us on the map."
Source:http://www.holidayextras.co.uk/

Florida festival line-up 'remarkable'

Florida's Palm Beach County council has claimed that the line up for its 2008 arts festival is "nothing less than remarkable".

Visitors to the Florida Festival of the Arts Boca in 2008 will be treated to a "remarkable" line-up of artists and events, according to the Palm Beach County council.

Next year's festival, which will be held between February 29th and March 16th at the Count de Hoernle Amphitheatre in Boca Raton, Florida, has been designed to resonate with international literary and musical enthusiasts.

The organisers of the event - Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park - are hoping to position the Festival of the Arts alongside such prestigious events as the Tuscan Sun Festival, the Festival del Sole Napa and the Ravinia Music Festival.

On the line-up for the Florida event next year will be the Russian National Orchestra, Grammy-winning guitarist Chic Corea, Nobel Prize-nominated author Joyce Carol Oates and stateswoman Kathleen Kennedy Townsend.

Palm Beach city councillor Peter Baronoff said: "As a city, we are extremely excited to host and be involved in helping to create this world-class event which, I am sure, will easily come to compare with major festivals of its kind the world over.

"This year's extraordinary paring of exceptional music and literature is certain to further put us on the map."

Winter Park commissioners approve Marriott hotel

JW Marriott will operate a new luxury hotel on the site of this city's legendary Langford Hotel.

City commissioners approved the elite hotel as the new operator Monday night on a 3-0 vote.

JW Marriott plans a 250-room hotel, spa and event space at the corner of Interlachen and New England avenues. That space has been empty since the Langford Hotel closed in 2000 and was demolished in 2003.

The city approved the site for a 230-room hotel and spa in 2001, but the owner, Langford CP, LLC has been searching for an operator ever since. Monday, commissioners agreed to amend that to 250 rooms. The principal owners are John Anderson and Jim Heistand.

Anderson said civil construction is expected to begin in May.

The ballroom and meeting space would be larger than initially approved, increasing to 14,570 square feet from 8,250 square feet. The spa would shrink to 12,000 square feet from 20,000 square feet.

The six-story hotel would actually have a slightly smaller footprint than what the city approved in 2001.

The only objections came from the neighboring luxury condominiums, The Residences. Bill Battaglia, president of their association, said condo owners had not been shown plans in advance.

There are 39 JW Marriott hotels in the world, 16 in the United States, according to the hotel's Web site. They include a 1,000-room JW Marriott Hotel and Resort on Central Florida Parkway in south Orange County.

The hotels pride themselves on attentive service, fresh flowers, large rooms with flat-panel televisions, lavish bathrooms and artwork.