Sherman's Travel

Forget the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays. ‘Tis the season for a new and improved BodyHoliday, and I was on a mission to celebrate it on a recent visit.

After being closed over the summer for a $20-million renovation, The BodyHoliday at LeSport in Castries, St. Lucia, is open again for business. But this time, there are significant improvements to public spaces and dining venues, including a new infinity-edge swimming pool and boardwalk (where morning yoga classes are held by the beach), and an expanded water sports center (where guests take free, daily waterskiing, windsurfing, and scuba lessons off of Cariblue Beach). There’s also free use of kayaks and hobiecats, plus tubing.

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Punta Tragara sits high on the rocky cliffs of Capri across from the Faraglioni Sea Stacks, about a 10-minute walk from Capri Town. The splashy 44-room villa-cum-boutique hotel has hosted the likes of Frank Sinatra, Eisenhower, Churchill, and, more recently, Jonathan Adler and Trina Turk. I checked in a few weeks ago and am happy to report that our few nights here were a highlight of our Amalfi trip. Read more

After three years of renovations, Miami’s Hotel Breakwater is back and better than ever. The 100-room South Beach resort treats guests with a swank rooftop lounge, relaxing pool, and private stretch of beach. To celebrate its return, Hotel Breakwater’s Unfiltered Opening Special offers rates of $179/night plus a free room upgrade (based on availability), welcome cocktails, and breakfast for two daily. Book the discounted rates by September 30.

THE VALUE The package offers 20 percent off standard rates, plus almost $300 worth of freebies.

THE CATCH The pool and spa deck are still undergoing upgrades and will reopen September 1.

THE DETAILS Book through the hotel’s website or by calling 877-388-9074.

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

For general trip-planning information, see our Miami Travel Guide.

After a year-long, multi-million dollar renovation, Casa Madrona Hotel & Spa in Sausalito now boasts a 3,000-square-foot spa specializing in water therapy, as well as a revamp of the guestrooms and lobby.

Originally opened in 1885, the hotel emphasizes its waterfront location in design and décor updates, including shelves made from recycled sea glass in the spa and cottage rooms and nautical accents in the lobby. So far, 46 of the 63 guestrooms have been updated (including 15 of 22 primo cottage rooms); the remaining rooms will be finished by the end of 2011.

Get a taste of the city’s food scene with Casa Madrona’s Simply Sausalito package, which includes $30 towards breakfast at CIBO (featuring local and seasonal ingredients) and $100 for dinner at Sushi Ran. The package is available through December 31; July rates start at $328/night.

For general trip-planning information, see our San Francisco Travel Guide.

As one of six so-called “palace” hotels in Paris – which go beyond even the elite 5-star standard – Hotel Le Bristol (www.lebristolparis.com) exudes opulence from its very core. From its beginnings as a glamorous 18th-century residence to its opening as a hotel in 1925 to today, the Le Bristol offers an exemplary level of service that one would expect from such a prestigious (and pricey) establishment.

Not content to rest on its laurels, Le Bristol pumps in 5 million euros each year for renovations. The hotel opened a new wing in 2009 with 26 rooms and suites plus a new brasserie restaurant, 114 Faubourg (more on that later). Next up, Le Bristol will double the size of its French-style spa as well as create a permanent home off the central courtyard garden for its 3-Michelin-starred Gastronomic Restaurant, which formerly rotated between two locations for summer and winter; the restaurant will be complete by July 2011.

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The Hotel Monaco Denver has just redone all 189 of its guest rooms, incorporating a bold new look by infusing color and patterns in striking ways. The new color scheme pairs deep brown and orange with splashes of turquoise accents – think chocolate and persimmon geometric carpeting and a teal wing back chair – while the hotel plays on its Western locale with cow-print throws and a bronco embroidered on decorative pillows.

Next up, the hotel plans to update the lobby with a new décor and furnishings, creating a vibe similar to the guestrooms. Renovations will start by the end of 2011.

Beyond its swanky new looks, the Hotel Monaco Denver offers guests sweet perks like free Internet access and free nightly wine receptions. (You can even request a pet goldfish in your room for the night.)

Take a gander at the renovated rooms by booking the Bring Your Sexy Back special and receive 20 percent off weekend room rates, free parking, and one appetizer at the hotel’s Panzano Restaurant.

For general trip-planning information, see our Denver Travel Guide.

Two years ago, the Four Seasons Resort Nevis – a 2008 Smart Luxury Award winner – was forced to close after sustaining damage from Hurricane Omar. Now the resort is finally ready to open its doors once again on December 15 after a complete refurbishment.

Renovations included the revamping of all 196 guestrooms with a new design and updated furnishings. The resort also took the closure as an opportunity to add some luxe new offerings, such as a sailing school and the surf-and-turf Coral Grill restaurant. A new director at the spa will see a reshaping of the spa menu, which draws inspiration from natural island ingredients. Lastly, four beachside cabanas (pictured) are now available, each decked out with open-air sundeck, entertainment center, and dedicated concierge service.

After the winter holidays, the resort will offer a fourth night free promotion from January 3 to December 16, 2011. High season rates start at $446/night, with the free night applied. Visit www.fourseasons.com/nevis for details.

Four Seasons Nevis is also gearing up for its 20th anniversary in February – no details have been announced as yet, but there’s bound to be a celebration for the momentous occasion.

For general trip-planning information, see our Nevis Travel Guide. Use our Travel Search price comparison tool to find the lowest rates and travel deals on flights.

Following a $350 million face-lift beginning in December 2007, London’s historically fashionable Savoy finally reopened on October 10 after several months of delays and extra costs pushing it more than $150 million over budget. One noteworthy addition is the set of “personality suites” honoring nine of the hotel’s most notable guests, including Charlie Chaplin, Marlene Dietrich, and Frank Sinatra. Each suite is outfitted with special pieces associated with its namesake, like the twelve pink roses that Ms. Dietrich would always request when staying at The Savoy.

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Shelling out for kid care at a hotel is one of those inevitable costs that can add a significant chunk to your vacation bill and there’s nothing you can really do about it. Especially in a city like London, where grown-up fun (happening restaurants, brilliant theater) comes at a high cost anyway, paying for several nights of nanny care can really take its toll. Unless…you check into The Athenaeum

For a limited time, the luxe hotel in London’s Mayfair district is offering complimentary nanny service. And these aren’t just any nannies… Read more

For a taste of ‘old world’ charm without par, head to the 120-room Baur au Lac, Zurich’s destination of choice for royalty, film stars, musicians, presidents and jet set for more than 165 years. Austria’s Empress Sissi spent a summer at this five-star retreat; Richard Wagner premiered one of his compositions there; and a baroness convinced the Swedish industrialist Alfred Nobel of the necessity of the international peace prize. History doesn’t get more colorful than that!

But not all is tradition and glory past at Baur au Lac, which has been owned and operated by the same family since its opening in 1844. Set in its own park a short walk from Zurich’s famous Bahnhofstrasse and steps from Lake Zurich, the hotel has recently completed a $50,000,000 renovation, raising the bar for service and comfort. The centerpiece was the reinvention of the hotel’s Pavillion restaurant by starchitect Pierre-Yves Rochon. Formerly open only in the summer, this long-time Zurich favorite in a pastoral setting now works year-round. The hotel is also home to Rive Gauche restaurant and bar, an enclave of cosmopolitan chic and the place to see and be seen in Zurich.

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