Andean Wings - New Luxury Hotel in Cusco, Peru

Yesterday, we were invited to visit a new Boutique hotel in Cusco. As this fell into our range of Luxury Peru Travel tours, we were only pleased to take some time out of our schedules to see what this new hotel would offer our clients. Would this suit your luxury Peru travel requirements? Please read on if you are looking for value and luxury all rolled into one!

Located 3 blocks from the main square of Plaza de Armas in a quite side street, Andean Wings Hotel offers guests a quiet and safe retreat after a day of tours to Machu Picchu. The hotel is a re-constructed old casona with nearly 300 years of history. The hotel offers a mixture of 14 suites and rooms that are individually and uniquely decorated in a colonial yet modern style. The design of each room has been carefully thought through offering guests a warm and comfortable environment.

The public areas of this Cusco hotel are equally well thought through. The main restaurant and breakfast area are located within a large covered patio area, which has been decorated to create a warm and home like feel. There is a bar small bar to one side of the courtyard, with possibly one of the biggest fire place ovens you will see on Cusco.

Better still this hotel offers you the chance to have luxury Peru travel at a much reduced price. Offering all the comforts and service of a 5 star hotel, but at a fraction of the price. Rates start at $110 per night for an entry level room, upto $560 per night for the excellent Presidential Suite. Make sure you book this hotel through Luxury Peru Tours, to qualify for our Peru travel agency discounts, and save even more money.

Andean Wings will enhance any luxury Peru Travel experience, however, we recommend that you use the great savings and opt for a Mini suite or above to really get the most out of your stay.

Ways Hotels Can Be Eco-Friendly

As we learn more about the threats to our environment, more people are embracing a 'Green' lifestyle. Businesses are now realizing that they also need to make changes in order to adopt a more environmentally friendly operation. One business area that is beginning to recognize the need to be more 'green' is the hotel industry. Many hotels are responding to consumer demands for a healthier and greener lifestyle by making their businesses more environmentally friendly.

Ways you can include your business environment friendly hotels:

1) Implement a towel and linen reuse program. Recycle stained tablecloths into napkins and aprons. You can also linen cloth bags from old records.

2) Take a non smoking policy throughout the hotel.

3) Enter rooms baskets and containers for newspaper, white paper, glass, aluminum cans, cardboard and plastic. Enter bins in publicareas.

4) Use fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs. Install devices that power down heating and cooling systems when guests leave the room.

5) Adopt the use of nontoxic cleaners by housekeepers. Adopt other cleaning practices such as cleaning the windows with vinegar instead of chemicals. Dispense shampoo and soap from large containers instead of disposable plastic bottles.

6) Offer guests walking maps and information on public transportation.

7) Provide bicycles to guests for sight seeing excursions

8) Use electric or battery operated lawnmowers. Use a mulcher to chop up the garden clippings to make your own mulch. Ban the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizer. Use only organic products on the lawn and garden. Use 'Gray' water from the showers and sinks for ponds and landscaping. Compost food waste and use it as fertilizer.

9) Create an organically-grown vegetable garden for the restaurant.

10) If the hotel has a pool and/or hot tub, install a solar water heating system and use pool and hot tub covers when the pool area is closed

11) Use recycled paper and pens with soy ink. Use recycled paper products that are either unbleached or bleached using a chlorine free process. (brochures, menus, comment cards, stationary products)

12) Stock mini-bars with organic or natural snacks and beverages.

13) Install low flow toilets and shower heads.

14) Replace old washing machines with both Water and energy-efficient models.

15) use light as a source of natural light as much as possible. You can use solar energy as a light source and a source of energy. Install dimmers on light switches to save energy.

16) sponsor environmental education programs for visitors and surrounding communities.

17) keep the property, the extent of a more natural state as possible. Planting trees and flowers.

18) Earn 'green' credentials Hotel. Used the hotel as a certified "green" byorganisation such as an independent, national, and state organization that certifies eco-hotels. An example is the Washington-based Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED), an architectural and building organization.

19) Use furniture made from responsibly harvested 'new growth' wood such as bamboo.

20) Use low emission paints and other material

21) Stock the rooms with toilet paper and facial tissue made from recycled products.

22) Buy products and services from eco-friendly vendors.

Being green means 'Green' hotels are adopting environmentally friendly practices and programs that will reduce energy, water, and waste. Hotels use a tremendous amount of energy and water as well as collect a huge amount of waste. By doing their part to conserve, recycle, and reduce, they are protecting the planet as well as providing a great place for eco-friendly guests to stay.

A Simple and Easy Guide to Renting a Service Apartment in Bangkok, Thailand

What are the best areas of Bangkok to rent? What facilities and services can I expect from a Bangkok serviced apartment? What are the best and worst serviced apartments in Bangkok? Read on to learn the answers to these questions and much more in my simple and easy guide to renting a serviced apartment in Bangkok for both expats and travelers.

Bangkok is the Center of Southeast Asia

As the commercial center of Thailand and the hub of business and leisure travel within Southeast Asia, Bangkok has exceptional hotels of all kinds catering to the business elite and casual traveler.

Recently, a new kind of accommodation has gained favor with business executives on short stays in Bangkok--the luxury serviced apartment. With increased commercial expansion over the past several years, serviced apartments are quickly becoming the favorite choice of living style for their affordable luxury.

What is a Serviced Apartment?

The serviced part of the equation usually refers to the daily or twice weekly cleaning of your room, the furniture, kitchen amenities and so on that normal apartments do not include. Some service apartments also function as hotels, and these are called Aparthotels.

What's So Special About Bangkok Serviced Apartments?

Real estate and relocation agents believe Bangkok has the most number of sophisticated apartments the world has to offer. There are not just one or two luxurious apartments, but close to 50. This is because skilled labor is cheap in thailand, and the city itself is a major business hub for the southeast asia region.

Renting a serviced apartment in bangkok can be a daunting task for several reasons--the primary one being there are so many 'fine print' and extra costs involved when signing a weekly, monthly or yearly contract.

I have been living in Bangkok for a few years now, and have gone through several serviced apartments, learning on the way which 'services' are included and what to expect from your stay in Bangkok.

Bangkok's City Plan

The Bangkok Jungle has several meanings, one of them being that the city was never built with a city plan or urban design in mind. The city is a sprawling landscape, a montage of residential and commercial buildings juxtaposing one another. It is home to 10 to 15 million people, depending on who is arriving from the rural country and abroad. The people as well, from poor to affluent, live side by side.

The city itself is lopsided; if you look down any major road in bangkok, you will see that both sides of the road arent balanced, building heights are different, and there is an overall lack of symmetry. This is what makes Bangkok unique and charming. And what makes it a jungle.

The Best Areas To Live In Bangkok

Bangkok contains inexpensive to exclusive apartments, but the best ones are found in the following regions of Bangkok:

Sukhumvit, the main road or artery of Bangkok



Asok, one of the most exclusive and expensive areas to live



Thong Lo, the chic and fashionable street,



Sathorn, the business district of Bangkok



Silom, another business and red light district



Ploenchit, business district



Chit Lom, business district The areas listed above are all within easy access to shopping, dining, entertainment, trains, skytrains, and expressways. If you choose to live in one of these areas, you will experience life in the center of Bangkok's thriving business and shopping centres while indulging in an ultra private serviced apartment in Bangkok. I personally recommend Asok and Chit Lom, as they are the classiest areas of Bangkok, but if you are looking to be close to the night markets Silom is perfect, and Sukhumvit is always a colorful experience.

Facilities and Services of Typical Bangkok Serviced Apartments

These vary between the different types of apartments and condos, but a standard of excellence has been establlished from the increasing competition among serviced apartments. Facilities and services are upgraded regularly to keep up with rival residences. However, before investing in a serviced apartment, be sure to check if these services and facilities are available.

5 Services That Should Be Included Free of Charge:

Room Cleaning



Water/Utilities



Internet Usage



24 Hour Security



Room Service/Errand Boy
4 Facilities That Should Be Included

Restaurant



Gym



Pool



Convenience Store
The Loopholes: Length of Stay, Deposits and Electricity

If you are staying for a month or year, the serviced apartment may charge you for electricity. Make sure that you negotiate this price to 6.5 Baht/Unit. A lot of times the apartment owners will charge 8 Baht/Unit for more profit. They only pay 3 or 4 Baht/Unit.

Be careful when signing leases; most require a 2 month deposit, and if you move out before your contract is finished you forfeit this deposit.

Make sure the serviced apartment has a laundry service, either in house or out of house. Most serviced apartments have coin operated laundry rooms as well as pick up services. More deluxe suites will have washing machine in the room. Note that most places do not have dryers.

How much Should I Pay?

This is a difficult question to answer, but the more facilities a serviced apartment has, the more it will cost. If a serviced apartment has a pool, gym and also functions as a 24 hour hotel, then the monthly price will be above 30,000 Baht.

Location also has a large part to do with cost of a bangkok serviced apartment. If you are staying in an area not close to skytrain or subway access, your price will be much lower. Conversely, staying in the business districts of Silom or trendy spots like Ekkamai or Thonglor will raise your monthly rent.

Which Serviced Apartment Should I Choose?

The serviced apartment market in Bangkok is lead by three groups, The President Group, The Ascott Group, and Centre Point. Most of them offer first class accomodation and have a decent system of serving their customers. However, there are numerous independent serviced apartments to choose from.

The 2 Worst Serviced Apartments in Bangkok

Ascott Bangkok Sathorn There have been several articles written in trade journals about the decline in service at the once famous and most prestigious serviced apartment in Bangkok. Once known for attention to customer relations, their lack of it is now glaringly obvious to everyone who stays there. This place is an example of a chain serviced apartment becoming too much like a corporation with no human touch of service.
Lebua Rumor is their staff is very untrustworthy. Read the trade journals and 'google' the residence for reviews.

Top 2 Most Luxurious Bangkok Serviced Apartments

Siri Sathorn Apartments Siri Sathorn is a five-star luxury `boutique` property which epitomises private and elegant living in a residential setting. It is a concept of the perfect home which appeals to international traveller. This place caters to Japanese clientelle but of course is open to everyone.
Fraser Place Urbana Langusan They have an exclusive 45-metre driveway leading from the main road to the serviced residence for great privacy. They also have some of the best services and customer relations I have ever experienced, pampered is the only word that comes to mind

Best Value Bangkok Serviced Apartments

Silom Convent Garden Newly built in November 2006, this chic serviced apartment is located in the Silom-Sathorn area but has some of the cheapest rates for this business and night market district. For 36,000 Baht/$1000 a month you can have a 38 square meter, 1 bedroom, fully furnished luxurious apartment complete with full kitchen, washer machine, flat screen tv, and rain shower. The only drawback is the place doesn't have a pool or gym, but thats the reason the price is so low and why its one of the best values in Bangkok.

If you are still undecided whether to have a stay in Bangkok on your next trip, it was just recently announced that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) plans to make Bangkok a "paradise" city. The article from the Bangkok Post states the BMA will establish a fund to address trash, pollution and traffic problems. Now is the time to take your next vacation or business trip to Bangkok, as life couldn't get any better in the City of Angels!

Hotel Champs Elysees

Some places give off an atmosphere almost indefinable, welfare and refinement in which we feel immediately enveloped by an intimate luxury. Champs Elysees  Plaza is one of those rare places where luxury is not ostentatious, but consists of a sum of details that makes it unique.

Its location, cross of the Rue de Berri and the Rue d'Artois, in a beautiful Hausman building, near the Champs Elysees in an island of calm and French glamour, a couple of the most secret fashion and gastronomy addresses.

The space and volume of rooms and suites whose dimensions (35 to 65 m²) are striking in Paris, are a key strength of the hotel. Spacious and furnished with nice touches, their contemporary and chic look use a charming furniture and noble materials (precious wood from Asia, silk, bronze). Mouldings, marble fireplaces, large windows, lighting, large bathrooms with Jacuzzi tub, high exceptional ceilings. Everything contributes to this spirit of luxury and Emotions do not allow, you may feel less.

Mrs. Agnes Ruchaud, Gerondeau supported by the designer Christine wanted th hotel is dedicated to wellness. He committed 18 months of work to create a jewel of a hotel as discrete. In addition to the remarkable comfort and design sensibility, and Mr. Lord Ruchaud have created the atmosphere of a bar and a restaurant for a relaxing holiday.

Deep armchairs a subtle sweetness, combined with modern materials, amixture of soft lighting and colored-spots, romantic bar very hype. It makes you want to sip a tea or a glass of champagne, to nibble a delicate flavor and not leave the hotel Champs Elysees Plaza.

The gym, with a design made of stones, wood, green plants and a large openings to the outside offers a sense of freedom conducive to the efforts. As the hammam, its smell of eucalyptus, its starry sky, tadelakts pink and grey, immerse you in a sensual dearm. Only exclusive treatment offered by the hotel will be an excuse to get out of this enchanting steam. Shiatsu, California, Thai or Swedish massages are on the menu.

This hotel Champs Elysees [http://www.trendy-chic-hotel-champs-elysees-plaza.com]  is THE perfect discovery of the summer. But be careful, mention it to your friends who only love the true luxury, refined and discreet, elegant and comfortable! This beautiful hotel, is managed as an aristocratic family Residence of Mr. Dominique Ruchaud, CEO and Ms. Agnes Ruchaud, Director of Marketing.

Luxury Hotels in Bangkok

Bangkok is the capital, largest urban area and primary city of Thailand. Known in Thai as Krung Thep Mahanakhon meaning "city of angels". Bangkok is the economic center of Thailand, dominating the country's economy. Development continues to pour in to Bangkok mostly neglecting the rest of the nation. It is ranked as the 55th richest urban agglomeration, slightly behind Singapore, Jakarta, and Metro Manila. Sometimes called "The Big Chilli", is considered to be one of the world's tourist hotspots. Bangkok is Thailand's major tourist gateway, which means that the majority of foreign tourists arrive in Bangkok. Few recommended Luxury Hotels in Bangkok:

Win Long Place Hotel Bangkok is the most expensive hotel at Bangkok. Located at Charoen Krung Road - a prime business area - where there are plenty of silver shops around and the most famous night life adventures area, antiques shops in walking distance and only 5 minutes to many places in Bangkok including the Oriental Hotel, Shangri-la Hotel, Royal Orchrid Sheraton Hotel, the Communication Authority of Thailand, the France Embassy, Sri-praya pier etc.

Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel is situated within minutes of attractions such as the Royal Palace, the Wat Pho Temple, the Chao Phya River, and the ruins of Ayutthaya. The Mandarin Oriental Bangkok Hotel is also within minutes of transportations, including the airport, the metro station, and a Sky Train station. Although named as Mandarin Oriental, this hotel offers traditional Thai furnishings and dcor style, including teak wood and silk fabrics.

Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit Hotel resides is located amongst commercial and financial district and prime shopping areas, this stunning five star hotel features city views from bedrooms. Modern and opulent, Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit offers a truly luxurious experience: Club Mill sime, with 24 hour butler service, personalized late checkout/in, complimentary drinks and breakfast, prestigious Club access, business and concierge services and much more.

The Peninsula Hotel Bangkok, with a price starting from $181, it is a popular hotel for tourists. Peninsula hotel has a unique design representing Thai culture. The Peninsula Hotel is located almost right on the banks of the famous Chao Phraya River, affording river views. The Peninsula Hotel offers 308 guest rooms as well as 62 one bedroom suites, several themed suites and is considered a luxury hotel with lower prices.

Bangkok is a place where you can see blend of old and new. You can see historical Buddhist temples on one hand and rocket buildings and luxurious hotels on the other hand. Bangkok is filled with more attractions per mile than any other city across the globe. The architectures are worth seeing.

Accommodation Alternatives Offered by Airport Hotels

Everyday is a business day. Everyday is rush day. Each second counts and there is nothing to waste time for. After all, time is gold. For a businessman who has to travel great distances to attend a meeting or conference, time is always precious. Traveling itself can be tedious but what can he do? Business requires it and as the businessman or executive that he is, he should be able to find the energy to do it because he has no choice. If your business flies you to Chicago, you should be able to see the advantages of booking a Chicago airport hotel room.

The city's hospitality industry has responded to the call to build hotels near airports for many reasons. One good example is a businessman who finds it too inconvenient to have to take a taxi to the city center to find accommodation. Another one could be an airline passenger on a connecting flight that has been delayed. Industry players saw a market in these people and the people themselves appreciated the convenience of taking a room in a hotel near the airport. Hence, hotels near airports were born. These hotels are almost just as good as any other in the downtown area and will come complete with the same amenities.

Business and quality time plus convenience and relaxation are the ingredients of a perfect trip that any businessman wants to make. These are also the advantages of booking a hotel near the airport. The time it takes to book and check in is so much faster which becomes an advantage for the guest who has to catch a meeting or another flight after taking some rest.

While Chicago airport hotels are not yet considered superior or in the ranks of the more luxurious accommodations, over the years, they will get better as those behind them continue to give them a fine-tuning. This should give these hotels the opportunity not just to improve both their amenities and services. They will also be driven by a common goal and that is to work for their clients' needs for satisfaction.

Aside from convenience, airport hotels also offer a very practical alternative to those high-end hotels in the city which can weigh too heavily on anyone's budget. Airport hotels are chiefly meant for convenience. Hence, one is not likely to find elaborate interior designs. Airport hotels cost so much less than a regular hotel but can offer the same quality of service nevertheless.

How To Get Free WiFi Access At Your Airport

As many of you know, one of the best places to relax and surf the web in an airport, while waiting for your next flight, is from your laptop in one of those airline lounges. Access to these lounges, however, are for those frequent flyers who have logged some miles with the airline. Unfortunately, not all of us fly as often as those people.

One of the good news for us web surfer/casual flyers, however, is that more often than not, these lounges offer Free WiFi access! Thanks to the wireless technology, the WiFi signal easily penetrates the walls of these lounges. I have to confess that I have logged on to these airport lounge hotspots to gain free Internet access at the airport many times.

Ok, even though these airport lounges are springing up in the airports around the world finding them still takes some work. Thanks go to the people at LoungeGuide.net whom make things pretty easy when it comes to locating these airport lounges. The LoungeGuide.net team did a great job cataloging all the lounges at the airports around the world. All you have to do is locate your airport and there the list of the lounges and their location. I bet there is already at least one lounge in your airport!

I used LoungeGuide.net last time to locate a lounge in the new Bangkok International Airport in Thailand for Free Internet access when I found out about my 4 hour layover. Yes, I did find the lounge with the Free WiFi access using the site. I was happily surfing the web and killing time for Free! Kudos to the Cathy Pacific people for providing the Free WiFi signal from their lounge in the Bangkok Airport.

Well, I hope this post will provide you a way to gain some Free WiFi Access already out there at the airports around the world. Now is a good time to remember to start collecting your frequency flyer miles, so you can be enjoying the free Internet while snacking on free food from inside those lounges!

For those of us who doesn't have access to these airport lounges you can find out more information on both free and paid WiFi service for your airport at http://www.airportwifiguide.com.