W South Beach Is Open!

Where: 2201 Collins Ave [map], Miami Beach, FL, United States, 33139

The day has come: W South Beach is open. Yes, open. It is July 2nd, 2009 and, presumably, there will be heads on brand new W SoBe pillows this evening. Surreal, isn't it? Consider it your very special Fourth of July holiday present. Or consider it a sweet, sweet miracle.

As we've already noted, this weekend appears to be sold out — but if you're really jonesin' to get in there, you can get a room on Sunday night (there appear to be some available) — and rooms are actually down below the $300 mark; you're looking at $295 (before taxes) for a king.

But don't go booking a bikini wax, a massage and a romantic meal just yet: the on-site Bliss Spa isn't opening until December 15, and Mr. Chow isn't supposed to open until August 15.

Are you inside the W South Beach this weekend? Send us pics and tell us what the scene is like!

by Jenna - HotelChatter

Related Links: Hotel Deals in South Beach, W South Beach, South Beach Hotel Meta-Search

The King Invites the Rich to Royal Mansour, Marrakech

If the king owns the hotel, it's probably going to be somewhere close to a royal standard, right? That's why we've got a good feeling about Le Royal Mansour in Marrakech, Morocco, with its 53 luxury riads and exotic location built into the ancient wall of the city.

We've already started getting enthused about Le Royal Mansour and now we've got a few more concrete details on the opening schedule. For a start, there'll be a kind of soft opening in September but it's only by invitation and so far, sadly, we haven't found ourselves on the invite list.

The grand — dare we say royal? — opening will take place in November 2009, and you'd better start saving your pennies if you want to book a riad. The cheapest one will go from €1,500 ($2,100); if you want the fanciest "fit for a king" riad then you're looking at €20,000 ($27,900) a night.

King Mohamed VI is planning to get 10 million visitors to Morocco during 2010, and that's one of the reason he's gotten behind projects like the Royal Mansour hotel. But we have to wonder just how many visitors can afford €1,500 plus a night, no matter how cool the hotel looks. We've still got our fingers crossed for a September invitation. by amandak - HotelChatter

Related Links: Morocco 411, Hotel Deals in Marrakech, Top Attractions & Restuarants in Marrakech, Cheap Flights to Morocco

The Next Jet-Set Destination is…Nicaragua?

It might not be an A-list destination yet, but Nicaragua is getting more and more attention from the travel press, and that’s only increase now that its first boutique hotel, the Hotel Contempo, has opened outside Managua.

The hotel has only 18 rooms in three categories. Standard rooms all have plasma TV’s, high-speed internet included, safe boxes, and Travertine marble bathrooms with wood accents and “relaxation system” showers. We don’t know what that means exactly, but it sounds soothing. The Contempo rooms also have DVD players and a whirlpool Jacuzzi, and the Junior Suites have all that plus canopy beds, “gourmet bathroom products,” a private telephone line, WiFi, and individual A/C units.

Set on a 1.2-acre jungle property 11 kilometers from Managua, the Contempo also has events and meeting spaces, a business center, a lobby piano lounge and bar, and a restaurant that serves up both Nicaraguan and international specialties, as well as tapas and wine.

The drawbacks? According the map on its website, Contempo is a bit of a hike from Managua, so the it might take you some time to get to some of the capital’s sights, and the hotel web site is, so far, only en español.

That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of the hotel’s special opening deal, though: Until July 30, Hotel Contempo will offer rooms for $110-170 a night, including breakfast and internet access. Shuttle service to and from the international airport is only $5 for the 20-minute ride.
And here you thought it was all about getting to St. Tropez this summer. by EricRosen - HotelChatter

Related Links: Hotel Deals in Nicaragua, Managua Hostels, Cheap Flights to Nicaragua

Mariah Carey Lends Her Diva-ness to Turkey's New Mardan Palace

When you're opening up a ridiculously expensive, lavish, opulent hotel — whether the place is in Dubai or Dallas — you want to bring out the biggest of the big guns when you're selecting your celeb starpower for the opening. Someone who is well-known to have the most discerning tastes; someone whose reputation for accepting nothing less than the best and finest goes unquestioned. That is: you may want to bring in a Diva. Yes, with a capital D.

And who screams Diva more than anyone? Um, Mariah Carey. Duh.

Page Six tipped us off to the news that Miss Mariah spent her Memorial Day-ish weekend with her husbie Nick Cannon in Turkey, where she was paid a hot $1.5 million to sing at the opening of the Mardan Palace Hotel in Antalya last week (where the other half of the entertainment was covered by Tom Jones). The Mardan Palace is supposedly touted as Turkey's first luxe destination resort, boasting an amphitheater, a botanical garden, a fleet of luxury cars, insane water features, and a massive spa.

Rates at the Mardan Palace start at 260 Euros, and — bonus — some beds at the hotel have already been slept on by Sharon Stone, Richard Gere, and Heidi Klum, who were flown in for the massive opening gala as well. Via: Jenna - HotelChatter

Related Links: Turkey 411, Hotel Deals in Antalya - Turkey, Mardan Palace Hotel

Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones Open New Hotel in Bermuda

Apparently it's been 37 years since Bermuda has gotten a new luxury hotel, which means every other old hotel probably needs a fresh coat of paint and renovation.

Tucker’s Point Hotel & Spa had its ribbon-cutting last night, and Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, who are Bermuda residents and chair-people for the hotel, were there to mug for the cameras. (Too bad Kathleen Turner and the boys of Ocean's 11 weren't there to rob some jewels and pull off a casino heist.)

Hollywood fantasy aside, this hotel looks very very fancy. The website is sleek with some serious photo and floorplan porn.

A superior guest room in the "Manor House" starts at 500 square feet and all rooms have five-fixture baths, built-in wardrobes, and "comfortable furnishings for relaxation." There are roughly 150 square-foot balconies off each room, too, with views either of Castle Harbour or Harrington Sound and set up for "al fresco dining and relaxation."

A deluxe waterfront king with poolside private cabana, one of those private balconies, deep soaking tub, free WiFi and the usual accoutrement goes for $525. Dayum, we will need movie star bank to stay here, won't we? by shiralevine - HotelChatter

Hot Links: Hotel Deals in Hamilton - Bermuda, Tucker's Point Hotel & Spa

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