It was every Bachelor lovers big night last night when Jake finally made the decision of his life when he asked Vienna to be his bride. “For 31 years I have dreamt of a moment like this. I can’t believe it’s ending like this, but I know what’s in my heart and I know what I’m doing is right.”

Set in the backdrop of Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet on the beautiful island of St. Lucia is where Vienna said yes to Jake’s proposal along with the final rose. And after the Final Rose, it was announced that the new couple would get a chance to go back to Jade Mountain for the romantic getaway of a life time, just the two of them.

As for romantic getaways, Jade Mountain at Anse Chastanet couldn’t be more perfect. The very essence of Jade Mountain is the celebration of life and love. Each “sanctuary” room uniquely designed, intimate and comes with a massive infinity pool and only the most gorgeous views overlooking the Caribbean Sea below.

And when the time comes to take a break from romping around in your personal sanctuary here, take your love out into nature and discover the wealth of beauty this island has to offer. From snorkeling amongst the pristine coral reefs to a picnic on the soft sand beaches, Jade Mountain is sure to give Jake and Vienna memories to last forever.

Last Saturday, heavy rain caused flash floods all around the island of Madeira in Portugal, turning some streets into raging rivers of mud, water and debris. This is the worst devastation this Island has seen in living memory with 42 deaths reported over the weekend and close to 250 people have been displaced. Emergency crews are continuing their search for missing people along with a strong effort to clear debris.

According to the BBC weather center, they say the severe weather was due to a low pressure system, and that while Madeira can expect further rain with heavy downpours, there is no danger of a repeat of the flash floods.

Prime Minister Jose Socrates said he was “profoundly shocked” by the severity of the floods and promised the government would help Madeira recover as quickly as possible.

The island of Madeira, off the east coast of Portugal in the Atlantic Ocean is also a popular British tourist destination and according to the president of the regional government, Joao Jardim, he has said that he is unsure on how this will affect tourism in the area but not to dramatizing the situation too much.

Kiwi Collection works close with three hotels in Madeira and would like to extend its condolences to their friends on the islands and wish everyone there a quick and safe recovery. And in support of our friends, please consider staying at one of these fabulous hotels in the future and discover the spirit of Madeira for yourself.

The Vine Hotel:

This is a hotel with soul located near the historic Se Cathedral and is close to the Funchal Tourist Harbour. And being that Madeira is loved for world-renowned wine, The Vine Hotel is the place to be, to sample some of the best wine the island has to offer. Spend your days here taking a dip in the panoramic pool, a vinotherapy session in the spa or a gourmet dinner with a view over the city: these are just a few of the pleasures awaiting you.

Other Hotels in Madeira you should consider:

Choupana Hills Resort and Spa:

Reid’s Palace:

Each year, Interior Design Magazine puts out their picks for the best designs of the year. This year the Park Hyatt, Shanghai won for “Best Corporate Hotel”.

The hotel was designed by Tony Chi & Associates, an internationally acclaimed design firm with a philosophy of creating “invisible design”, which means that their designs are about “what touches you rather than what you see”.

This philosophy is evident at the Park Hyatt, Shanghai as it has a modern, simplistic design with touches of Chinese influence.

The Park Hyatt, Shanghai occupies the 79th to 93rd floors of the Shanghai World Financial Center in the heart of the Lujiazui business district in Pudong, Shanghai. And being that this building is one of the tallest in the world at 101 stories, this makes the Park Hyatt, Shanghai one of the tallest hotels in the world. This highlight is featured with huge floor to ceiling windows offering sweeping views of the Pu Dong skyline.

The Park Haytt, Shanghai is equipped with meeting rooms both on the 86th and 93rd floors of the hotel holding anywhere from eight to 22 guests, all with high-speed broadband internet access and has wireless LAN available in all public areas.

All meeting rooms are also equipped with built-in LCD projector and screen and flat screen television with teleconferencing facilities available.

These floors are also equipped to hold any type of social event for both your clients and colleagues. Private dining or cocktail rooms are available and can hold up to 228 guests.

When in town for your next meeting, make sure to book though Kiwi Collection where you can always get the best available rate. And as a complementary gift, all guests will receive a Water’s Edge Butler Bath upon arrival. So, you can experience the art of bathing with essential oils in your room.

You can choose from a menu featuring six aromatic, therapeutic baths based on Water’s Edge escape, tradition, and flow.

Looking for a hot new spot in London to check out?

St James’s Hotel and Club is delighted to announce the official launch of newly named restaurant Seven Park Place which, with new Michelin starred chef, William Drabble, and mouth watering new menus, now also boasts a brand new look.

With 26 covers, Seven Park Place is an intimate and exclusive addition to the London restaurant scene.

Dinner menus are available from £39 for two courses with a six course Gourmand tasting menu for £59.

William’s dishes are modern-French in style but made up of primarily British ingredients. Suppliers include Cornvale Foods for game and Lune Valley Lamb; Keltic Sea Fare for scallops, langoustine and Scottish girolles; Channel Fisheries for Fish; and Cove Shellfish in Poole for shellfish.

Tony Filmer was commissioned to develop the concept for the all new restaurant at St James’s Hotel and Club. Designed to complement the age and elegance of the 1920’s architecture, Filmer has chosen a host of renowned British designers as fitting company for newly appointed British chef.

Introducing an exciting palette of colours, contrasting textures and vibrant pattern, Filmer has added drama to the restaurant with deep aubergine sculptured carpet by Tim Page and handmade crystal lighting by Vaughan. William Yeoward, Osborne & Little and Designers Guild feature in the soft furnishings with Neisha Crosland wrapping the walls with glamorous print.

Check out some photos of the new restaurant at this excellent hotel in the UK below:

Foodies take note – London is getting another great chef among its midst. The Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park has just announced that famous Lyon-born chef Daniel Boulud is opening Bar Boulud in the hotel in Spring 2010.

Bar Boulud will be designed as a French bistro and wine bar, and will follow the format of Bar Boulud in New York, one of Chef Boulud’s most successful enterprises.

Daniel Boulud’s culinary roots can be traced back to his family farm near Lyon, France where he developed a love of home cooking using fresh seasonal produce. While it is in New York City that Boulud has mastered the culinary scene, he was first trained in France by legendary chefs Roger Vergé, Georges Blanc and Michel Guérard.

Located at street level with its own entrance directly onto Knightsbridge, the Adam D. Tihany designed restaurant, will seat 165.

Tihany conceived the restaurant interior with contemporary references to French wine making culture. The bar lounge features architectural, vaulted ceilings paired with classic materials such as wood, leather, cork, and zinc.

Wine barrels were the inspiration behind the vintage oak floors and wainscoting, and deep red leather banquettes and chairs conjure the warm depths of a delectable Burgundy.

“With a partner like Mandarin Oriental, the prospect of coming to London was irresistible. I have been visiting family in London for decades and often thought about what kind of place I would open there,” said Boulud.

Earlier this month, Boulud was honored with Three Michelin Stars for his New York-based restaurant, Daniel.

Bar Boulud, London will open from 11.00am to 2.00am daily.

Check out some photos of this chic London hotel:

AYANA Resort and Spa Bali has just unveiled the it’s recently renovated areas: Padi Restaurant and the Ballroom.

Padi, previously the resort’s Thai restaurant, has been completely renovated and expanded, and its dinner menu re-launched with an ‘Asian Spice’ concept offering Indian, Indonesian and Thai cuisine. The international buffet breakfast served at Padi every day has also been re-launched to offer a gourmet dining experience at six different food stations.

Padi’s dining area has been expanded to cater for up to 225 guests at any one time. It now features a magnificent open ‘hot’ kitchen where guests can watch native Indonesian, Indian and Thai chefs working alongside each other with fiery flair and fast-paced action, to prepare dishes from their homeland for the new pan-Asian dinner menu.

The Indonesian menu comes mostly from Java, complementing the Balinese menu available at Langit Theatre.

Padi’s design features a new entrance with a covered walkway adorned with Indonesian artworks, including a Balinese wood carving believed to emit positive energy to everyone entering the restaurant.

Inside, Indonesian heritage remains the main theme of the décor, with traditional textiles, magnificent wood carvings, and a thatch-roofed ceiling featuring an original painting from a Klungkung village, which depicts a scene from the Ramayana epic. Large lanterns suspended from the ceiling provide an art deco touch.

Padi now also offers private air-conditioned dining, with two dining areas on either side of the open kitchen that can be closed for up to 10 guests each, in a setting reminiscent of a cocoon.

When the folding doors to each room are fully closed, guests are completely surrounded by wooden ‘bee hive’ door panels and sea-shell walls and ceilings, creating a unique and cozy venue. The dining tables are equipped with built-in hot-plates to cater for ‘live’ cooking by guests and chefs.

“These renovations continue AYANA’s intensive upgrade program, which was launched following our rebranding in April this year,” said General Manager Charles de Foucault. “They follow several other upgrades recently, including the opening of the Rock Bar in July, and demonstrate the commitment by the resort’s owners since they built this property in 1996, to continually enhance the facilities, service and overall guest experience.”

This just in: The PuLi Hotel and Spa in Shanghai was just awarded the “best new hotel” award at the TravelWeekly China Travel and Meeting Industry Awards 2009, held in Beijing.

Martijn Van der Valk, the hotel’s new GM, accepted the award and said:

“It is a delight to receive such a prestigious award. To be named ‘Best New Hotel’, is a true testament to the hard work and dedication of our team.”

Hard work is a bit of an understatement in describing what this fabulous hotel in Shanghai has been up to this summer!

The hotel just opened this fall, and has an extensive health club and spa.

In fact, PuLi just announced its new Anantara spa, which is quite exciting for guests looking for an excellent new spa experience in China, and a new restaurant called Jing’An with New Zealand Chef Dane Clouston at the helm.

The spa opened in August, and draws on healing therapies from China, Thailand and India with “tea-inspired” treatments. Think about trying a detoxifying green tea or anti-ageing white tea treatment. Yummy and relaxing.

Jing’An, the hotel’s new restaurant, will be a real treat – especially for guests who enjoy home-cooked type cuisine with a twist. Chef Clouston is making it his mission to give guests three different types of experiences.

At breakfast, guests can enjoy a western-style menu with some Asian favorites and pastries prepared by German master baker Ralph Gottschalk. Lunch is casual an unpretentious bistro fare and dinner kicks it up a notch with some of Clouston’s more experimental dishes.

The TravelWeekly China Travel and Meeting Industry Awards recognize outstanding achievements and contributions to the travel industry in Asia Pacific. This year, more than 800,000 votes were cast by TravelWeekly China’s readers.

The awards were presented at the Raffles Beijing Hotel – one of our fabulous hotels in Beijing! (We love gross demonstrations of good taste).

The PuLi is located in the Jing An District in Shanghai and is right across from the Jing’an Temple (a gorgeous Buddhist temple in the city).

Check out photos of the new spa and restaurant below:

Swimming Pool at the PuLi

Jing'An Restaurant at the PuLi

Long Bar at the PuLi

Check Availability

We’re pleased to learn that SLS Hotel in Beverly Hills was just awarded the “best achievement in design” by VIRTUOSO Life Magazine – an award winning luxury travel publication – for their “best of the best awards”.

SLS Hotel Beverly Hills is the epitome of sophistication, which makes it a true fit for VIRTUOSO’s design award, and an exciting place to stay for any lover of cutting edge interior design (and fans of the brilliant French designer Philippe Starck).

This luxury hotel in Los Angeles is the product of a huge renovation of the former Le Meridien at Beverly Hills, and opened last October.

The first design element that makes the SLS Beverly Hills stand apart is its two lobbies. The Private Guest Lobby is the perfect spot for a quick business meeting or a meet up with your friends in L.A. You can spend a bit of time at the restaurant or book one of the three private rooms for a dinner or small get together.

The second lobby, called The Bazaar, is just like a lively marketplace. You’ll find yourself lost in an intimate collection of rooms and spaces (all designed by Philippe Starck), perfect for dining, enjoying a glass of wine, socializing and shopping.

You’ll find even more of Starck’s work in the guest rooms at the SLS where his gorgeous furnishings really add the touches needed to give each of the 297 rooms a chic and stunning atmosphere. Rooms are also extremely health conscious, with 32 allergen-resistant Pure rooms for guests that suffer from asthma and allergies.

Rooms are softly lit and guests will love the D. Porthault linens, pillow-top mattresses and MP3 connected sound systems.

Starck will continue to be quite busy with SLS Hotels in the future. He has an exclusive contract with Sam Nazarian (CEO of SBE and owner of the SLS Hotel brand), to design all future SLS hotels up until 2022! That will make Starck 73 when he finishes his contract.

Wow.

Three words for Mr. Starck: Way to go!

Check out some photos of the SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills below and let us know what you think of Starck’s work on this hotel!

Check Availability

If you’re planning a holiday this winter but have no idea where to go, consider all of the buzz around New Zealand and, specifically, Blanket Bay Lodge. Travel writers, industry experts and discerning travellers have spoken – Blanket Bay Lodge in New Zealand, and New Zealand itself as a destination in general, really cleaned up and won a wide array of travel and tourism awards this year.

Lodge at Blanket Bay is a tiny boutique hotel right on Lake Wakatipu. Built out of native New Zealand timber and stone, guests feel close to nature in this rustic setting.

Guests here stay in gorgeous lakeside rooms or suites, decorated with high end furnishings and plush rugs. Of course, since the lodge is going for a nature-inspired atmosphere, most of the materials used in the rooms are completely natural.

Blanket Bay’s best attributes include its stunning views of the mountains and the lake and its culinary excellence. Guests who enjoy fine food and wine and fabulous views will really love this retreat.

Not surprisingly, Blanket Bay won some of the travel industries top awards this year. For example, the Lodge was named “New Zealand’s Best Regional Property” at the HM Awards 2009 (Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Island’s only regional benchmark for excellence in hospitality management).

In addition, it was named the best leisure hotel in Australasia and the South Pacific in the Conde Nast Traveller Readers’ Travel Awards 2009.

“Our location in one of the most spectacular places in New Zealand combined with the unforgettable experience we work to produce for each and every one of our guests has been recognized by Conde Nast readers. We have a superb kitchen run by a talented team of award winning chefs to produce the very best in gourmet dining. We are just delighted to have the work of each and every member of our staff recognized in this way,” said Blanket Bay Manager Philip Jenkins.

New Zealand as a destination also topped the travel industry’s awards this year. New Zealand was named one of the top five favourite countries by Conde Nast readers for the sixth year in a row this September.

Sarah Miller, Editor Conde Nast Traveller, said New Zealand was popular with readers because of its fantastic landscape and its relaxed quality of life.

“New Zealand is also known for its fantastic food, its Maori culture, and for being one of the safest places on the planet. Of course, it’s also thought of as being forward-thinking for its environmental friendliness. And all that stuff adds up,” she said.

New Zealand was also listed fourth overall in the ‘Best of the Best’ section of the awards which includes cities, airports, hotels, cruise lines and other sectors within the tourism industry.

You can find out more about some of New Zealand’s luxury hotels on the Kiwi Collection website, where we maintain a collection of all of the country’s best high-end accommodation.

Check Availability

Perfect for family vacations, romantic escapades and food and wine lovers alike, it’s no surprise for us here at Kiwi Collection that Rambagh Palace Jaipur was just voted the “Best Hotel in the World” by Conde Nast Traveller readers.

This “traditional style” hotel in India scored an overall 95.62 and also topped the ‘Overseas Leisure Hotels for Asia and the Indian sub-continent’ category, with the “best ambience/décor’ and ‘location’ of all of the hotels in the ‘category.

There were 7,000 hotel nominations and out of this Rambagh Palace was voted first in the hotel nominations alone.

Conde Nast Traveller’s Annual Readers Awards give the magazine’s readership the chance to voice their opinions on travel and hotels across the world. Conde Nast Traveller’s readers are among the pickiest in the world.

More than 40,000 entries from readers were made this year in 26 categories including hotels from each continent, tour operators, airlines, cities, countries, islands, spas and airports.

Rambagh Palace is found on 47acres of gardens in Jaipur, India. The Palace was first built as a hunting lodge in 1835 and was later converted into a palace, acting as the residence of the Maharaja of Jaipur.
(more…)

Hotel Teatro, one of Colorado’s best luxury hotels, was recently included on Travel and Leisure’s 2009 World’s Best List as one of the Top 50 Large City Hotels in the U.S. and Canada.

Hotel Teatro was the only hotel in Colorado on the list, and the only hotel in Denver to make the 2009 World’s Best list in any category.

They’re pretty stoked about this recognition over at Hotel Teatro, which is why they’ve decided to celebrate by introducing the “World’s Best Martini”, which will be available for 50 days at Prima Ristorante, the hotel’s restaurant.

We’re always happy when the rest of the world acknowledges how amazing the hotels in our collection are – and are even happier when our hotels celebrate by concocting innovative drinks, meals or special packages for their guests.

The World’s Best martini will be a blend of Stoli Orange and Grand Marnier, garnished with a mandarin orange wedge and fresh orange slice. It sounds delish!

Perfect for business trips and vacations, Hotel Teatro really caters to quite a large crowd (which is probably why they were voted one of the world’s top hotels by hotel goers). This hotel is located right in the heart of Denver, close to the Denver Center for Performing Arts.

If you want to learn more about this great hotel, read our review of Hotel Teatro right here on the Jetsetter.

Richard Branson Wants to Build the World's Most Eco-Friendly Hotel

For sustainably savvy travelers the choices in high-end, ecologically friendly travel are growing everyday.

For many resort owners and operators, it’s a matter of common sense because green efforts can cut costs while attracting new clients.

For those who travel first class, it’s a chance to help the planet without giving up an once of luxury or comfort.

You probably won’t be surprised to learn British tycoon Sir Richard Branson is in the midst of creating what he calls “the most environmentally-friendly resort on the globe.”

Branson, is building the resort on Mosquito Island in the BVIs.

The development will feature twenty villas and a beachfront restaurant, powered entirely by wind turbines and solar panels. All motorized transport will be powered by biofuels; the guests’ food would come from a local, organic orchard.

Other internationally acclaimed luxury hotels that have a focus on sustainability include:

Tortuga Bay at PUNTACANA Resort & Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic, which offers a 1500 acre ecological reserve and park

Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort in Arenal, Costa Rica, which focuses on protecting and improving the Arenal Volcano, surrounding rainforest and the Tabacon Hot Springs

The Racha in Koh Racha Yai, Phuket, Thailand, which offers environmentally-friendly design and a comprehensive waste recycling program

King Pacific Lodge in North Vancouver, British Columbia, which is actively involved with protecting the surrounding Pacific Northwest’s temperate rainforest, utilizes hydro-power and solar panels for energy, and also offsets the greenhouse gas emissions associated with its guests’ air travel to and from the area

Inkaterra Machu Picchu in Machu Picchu, Peru, which is powered with hydro-electricity, works with local communities to promote reforestation, practices recycling, and is carbon neutral.

Right now, there are about 75 eco-friendly resorts at Kiwi Collection , the world’s largest independent luxury hotel reviewer.

These days there’s no reason travelers should ‘resort’ to choosing unsustainable accommodations when they can choose to go green.

If the environment is important to you, you might be interested in reading about other environmentally friendly hotels that have been featured right here on the jetsetter!

Escape the hustle and bustle this Labor Day by heading to tranquil Lake Placid. Surrounded by majestic mountains, clear lakes and rivers, you won’t find better scenery in New York!

Kick back and go canoeing or kayaking, hike on the mountains and enjoy all of the great shops, restaurants and bars in the area. Lake Placid is only about five hours out of the city – so it’s far enough away to feel like a big trip, but still doable for a long weekend.

If you’re planning on checking out this beautiful area for the long weekend, we recommend that you stay at some of these great hotels in Lake Placid:

Mirror Lake Inn: this gorgeous inn is the perfect spot for a family vacation or romantic weekend away with your sweetheart. Conveniently located one block from the quaint shops on Main Street, Mirror Lake Inn consists of five lodging buildings (two are on the lake side of the street with a private beach and boathouse in between, and three are on the Main House side of the street).

Lake Placid Lodge: One of the most exclusive retreats in North America, you can expect to get breath-taking views of the Adirondack Mountains from Lake Placid Lodge. This hotel is tiny – at only 30 rooms, you can expect excellent, personalized service and a high level of attention to detail at this gorgeous getaway.

The Whiteface Lodge: A luxury resort and private residence club, “rustic sophistication” is the best phrase we c

an use to describe the atmosphere at The Whiteface Lodge. Suites have Adirondack hardwood furnishings and handmade accents. You’ll love the big soaker tubs, pillow-top beds and cast iron gas fireplaces – perfect for snuggling up and enjoying your weekend getaway.

The Point: You’ll find The Point nestled among old pine trees. It really fits in with its surroundings as it’s constructed from massive notched logs and is a total refuge from the big city. You can spend your time here in solitude or you can be social. It’s totally up to you, depending on what you need in order to relax. The Point only has 11 rooms, so you can bank on an intimate, private experience here.

Amanresorts has announced the debut of Amanikan, a custom-built 105-foot coastal cruiser that fuses the romance of spice trading vessels with luxurious modern amenities. This boat is the newest addition to the fleet at Amanwana, the beautiful luxury nature camp set in a secluded cove on Indonesia’s west coast.

Check Availability

Amanwana, which means peaceful forest, is a haven for hikers, divers and naturalists. The resort is surrounded by pristine waters and maintains a variety of boats for cursing, fishing and diving. Nearby coves and beaches are perfect for beach combing, sunbathing and snorkeling.

Amanikan is the newest addition to the fleet at Amanwana introduced this summer to launch the 2009 Komodo Expedition, a seven-night adventure through the pristine wilderness and waters of Indonesia’s Komodo National Park.

The Komodo Expedition highlights a five-night excursion on Amanikan capped by a two-night stay at Amanwana where guests enjoy wall dives from the beach and treks to jungle waterfalls, as well as spa treatments and a range of water- and nature-based activities.

Amanikan, built in the style of traditional Indonesian vessels of wood known as Phinisi, features three above-deck cabins, a foredeck with an outdoor dining and bar area, as well as extensive dive facilities. This luxury vessel also features a lounge that is built into the bow and serves as the main gathering spot for sunbathing, drinks, or even a night sleeping under the stars.

Expeditions are currently running until October 30, 2009 with rates including meals, non-alcoholic beverages, two dives per person per day on board Amanikan, one dive per person per day at Amanwana and rangers fees for Komodo National Park.

Now has never been a better time to discover the wilderness and waters with one of the best resorts in Indonesia. This experience will be a truly enriching and unforgettable experience!

Check Availability

Need a crib, a Blackberry charger, or just some extra hangers? What about those special touches for a birthday or anniversary? Ensuring that all of the little details and personalized touches are there can be a challenge at even the world’s most luxurious hotels – but one hotel in Illinois is making it a whole lot easier to get those needs met.

Hotel Arista is launching “My Arista,” a new web-based system which allows guests to personalize their visit to fit their preferences and needs. Using “My Arista,” guests tell Hotel Arista’s dedicated staff exactly which amenities and options they want during their stay, including the latest in electronics and exercise equipment, specialty bedding, and personalized touches for special occasions

“My Arista” allows guests the option to select an in-room Nintendo Wii, Wii Fit, treadmill, or exercise bike. Additionally, the program gives guests their choice of ten different pillows, including a hypo-allergenic pillow, the “Anti-Snore” (saves marriages), or the “Buckwheat,” which touts easing tension and reducing back pain.

For bedtime preparation, the new tech option offers books of poetry or philosophy, a yoga DVD or an iPod pre-programmed with soothing music.

Hotel Arista, located in Naperville, IL, is the state’s first hotel property to receive LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification, and is also the recipient of a Four Diamond Award® in 2009 from the Automobile Association of America (AAA).

This eco-friendly hotel has 144 modern designed residential-style accommodations, as well as signature restaurant, SugarToad.

Hotel Arista artfully balances luxury with eco-friendliness by using 30% less water and 21% less energy than hotels of comparable size. All cleaning products are chemical-free, and abundant natural lighting contributes to the hotel’s energy savings. In development, the year-old property committed to recycling 70% of construction waste as well.