Sherman's Travel

Celebrities expect and get the very best. This high end clientele pulls in to tip-top spots around the globe, at properties as iconic as they are.

These six sexy properties have played home away from home to everyone from the Obamas to Madonna, providing the perfect respite for royalty, rock stars, and heads of state. So, whether you are looking to globe trot, celebrity spot, or simply live in the lap of luxury, you may want to hunker down in one of these world class properties for otherworldly accommodations and simply the best spa treatments on the planet. Enjoy…

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Those planning to visit London or Paris in the near future can extend their vacation plans to the other iconic destination or Brussels with a new autumn sale from RailEurope Inc. Travelers purchasing a Eurostar standard premier ticket will save 20 percent on their purchase, bringing tickets from London to just $131 and prices from Paris to just $139! Additionally, travelers will also receive a complimentary $20 gift card from Amazon.com. In standard premier class travelers will enjoy spacious reclining seats, extended legroom, complimentary newspapers, a light meal, and refreshments, all while traveling at 186 miles per hour. Tickets must be purchased by November 16, 2011 and travel is valid for six months after the purchase date.

THE VALUE: Save 20% on standard premier class and get a $20 Amazon gift card.

THE CATCH: The sale is only valid between London, Paris, and Brussels.

THE DETAILS: To book your ticket, visit www.raileurope.com.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low fares on flights to Europe.  Check out our Travel Guides for London, Paris, and Brussels, for more trip planning advice.

When booking hotels in popular European cities, it’s easy to spend far too many euros. While some destinations (oh how we love thee, Florence!) are famous for their cheap pensions in centuries-old buildings and former monasteries, many cities are quite expensive (Zurich anyone?). It can be really difficult to find a cheapo night’s sleep.

But never fear, there are a few practical steps that budget travelers can take to lower their costs. Here are four things you can do now to find a hotel deal even in Europe’s priciest cities:

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In case you didn’t know that Halloween is upon us once again, the fun-sized candy bars, pumpkin spice lattes, and throwaway costumes for sale everywhere you turn should be a clue. If you’re lucky enough to be traveling to Paris during this time, you’re also lucky enough to escape the holiday and all its commercialism. French citizens don’t typically celebrate Halloween and neither do their grocery stores, coffee shops, or schools. But if the spookiness surrounding October happens to make it one of your favorite months – or if you enjoy feeling chills run up and down your spine just because – Paris will not disappoint. These three tours will take your exploration of the city to deeper, darker levels.

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Escape the cramped seats and “extra fees” of budget airlines and coast past the Swiss Alps in style on Rail Europe. For a limited time, receive a free round-trip ticket to Paris on the high-speed Lyria with the purchase of a Swiss Pass, which grants unlimited access on the Swiss Travel system (consisting of trains, buses, and boats). World-famous scenic routes like Glacier Express or William Tell Express Plus (voted one of our Top 10 Train Trips in Europe) are also part of this system. The Swiss Pass also includes free admission to over 400 museums, and up to 50 percent off on select mountaintop excursions. Four-day Swiss Passes start at $281 per adult. Book by October 12.

THE VALUE: Round-trip tickets from Zurich to Paris typically cost $150 or more.

THE CATCH: A limited number of tickets are available for this promotion.

THE DETAILS: Purchase the Swiss Pass at www.RailEurope.com. You’ll be asked if you’d like a free ticket to Paris. Say yes, and include your e-mail and phone number to receive the offer and a representative will contact you. Travel to Paris is valid through December 10.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates on flights to Switzerland.

For travel tips to help you plan your vacation, take a look at our Paris and Zurich travel guides.

How would you like a downtown San Francisco apartment for $54/night? Or maybe a chic studio in the Marais in Paris for $128/night? With Roomorama, you can book apartment rentals online in 319 destinations around the world, often for far less than what you’d pay for a hotel.

The site, founded in 2009, offers a range of for-rent-by-owner properties that sleep up to 10 people. Currently there are 4,500 listings in North America, 8,000 in Europe, 3,000 in Asia (where Roomorama is rapidly expanding), and 2,500 elsewhere; the company expects to double its worldwide inventory by the end of 2011. Most apartments include the same amenities as a hotel, like Internet connection and cable TV, while also providing kitchen access or even a washer and dryer. The site certainly caters to high-end travelers, too – you can find a one bedroom in New York City’s trendy Soho neighborhood for $1,500/night – but most rentals fall in a very wallet-friendly range.

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Iceland Express has slashed summer fares to London and Paris this July and August. One-way tickets between New York City and the European capital cities usually cost well over $800 in the summer, so this deal saves over $300, and taxes and fees are included. July and August are peak times to visit these two cities for a good reason – London’s grey and rainy skies have been replaced by sunshine, and Paris’ outdoor cafes were made just for summer weather.

THE VALUE: Flights on other airlines cost over $800.

THE CATCH: Flight availability is extremely limited, and return flights from London or Paris start at $269.

THE DETAILS: Visit Iceland Express to book your flight.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Hotel Reviews to find the perfect Paris or London hotel.

Anyone who has relied on the phrase parlez-vous anglais to navigate Paris’ elegant boulevards (guilty as charged) will appreciate one of Pavillon de la Reine’s newest summer offerings: Daily French language lessons. The ivy-swathed, 17th-century property, located on the historic Place des Vosges in the Marais, claims just 54 rooms – a quintessentially Parisian perch from which to shed that ugly American stereotype and learn to properly order your own croissant, (“je voudrais un croissant,” for the record). Travelers who book the French language package receive accommodations in a double superior room, daily breakfast, private parking, an English-French dictionary, and daily, 20-minute French lessons. The package is available July 15 through August 15, based on availability, and rooms start at about $499/night.

See our Paris Travel Guide for more trip-planning information, then use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates on flights hotels, packages, and more travel deals.

The Mandarin Oriental Paris, located on Rue Saint-Honoré – a stone’s throw from the Louvre, opens today. From website renderings, the place looks slick with rooms featuring art deco touches and splashes of bright color. The spa has a mosaic vitality pool, while Michelin-star chef Thierry Marx mans two on-site restaurants, Sur Mesure and Camélia. Opening rates, on the other hand, are not so enticing with nightly pricing from 865 Euros. But, the opening special, beginning July 17 and running until August 28, includes a 300 Euro credit per room per stay and a 500 Euro credit per suite per stay which means you won’t have to shell out a couple hundred more for dinner and/or spa pampering. 011-33-0-170-98-7333; www.mandarinoriental.com/paris

Fancy a summer getaway to Europe or the Mediterranean? From Paris to Nice, Berlin to Barcelona, and even as far afield as Cairo and Tunis, Concorde Hotels and Resorts is slashing rates significantly at choice properties. Prices vary widely by hotel, but rates start at just $110/night. The offer is available for travel through August 31.

THE VALUE: This offer cuts rates by 30 percent in summer, which is peak season for most European locales.

THE CATCH: The lowest rates are for Hotel de la Cite Concorde in Lyon, but even plum Paris digs can be had for around $170/night, while the Hotel Concorde Berlin goes for under $150/night.

THE DETAILS: Click here to see a full list of participating hotels and the rates at each property.

WE’VE GOT MORE: Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find low rates and travel deals on flights.