Orbitz Blog

Articles for ‘Europe Vacation’ Category

Le Meridien debuts new lobby concept with artistic bent

Wednesday, August 3rd, 2011

Grand entrance: The new facade at Le Meridien Barcelona

By Mark Chesnut

Business travelers as well as anyone planning a Europe vacation can get a peek at an artistic new lobby concept unveiled by Le Meridien Hotels and Resorts, when they check into the Le Meridien Barcelona.

The new lobby concept, called Le Meridien Hub, debuted in Barcelona in June and is to be introduced in the coming months at all of the brand’s hotels; the next property slated for the conversion is the Le Meridien Istanbul, in November. (more…)

Robots, kiosks: Gadgets changing the hotel experience

Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

Fast forward: Check-in kiosks at the Yotel in New York City.

By Mark Chesnut

Whether you’re heading out on business or enjoying a Europe vacation or New York vacation, you’re more likely than ever to find technology playing a role in making your hotel stay go smoothly. But looking to the airline industry may provide the clearest vision of how hotels will operate in the future.

As with seemingly every aspect of modern life, smartphones are an increasingly helpful resource during hotel stays. Ritz-Carlton, for example, now offers its World Concierge service on Foursquare, the location-based mobile program. Using a smartphone, travelers can now check into locations and landmarks in 25 countries for tips provided by Ritz-Carlton concierge staff from all 75 Ritz-Carlton properties. (more…)

Celebrity Silhouette steps out of the shadows

Friday, July 1st, 2011

Celebrity Silhouette takes its maiden voyage from Hamburg, Germany, on July 23.

By Kim Windyka

The latest in the Solstice class of cruise ships, the Celebrity Silhouette finally reveals herself on July 23 for her 7-night inaugural sailing through Europe from Hamburg, Germany. The ship offers a twist on all of the unique features that past cruisers on the fleet have come to know and love, along with some exciting offerings that they’ve never seen before.

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Hilton, in growth spurt, expands global hotel footprint

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

The Hilton McLean shows off Hilton's new lobby concept.

By Mark Chesnut

Hilton is in growth mode. And that means new hotel options for travelers around the world, with new properties debuting in Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and the United States.

Among the latest openings are the Hilton Bodrum Resort & Spa in Turkey, the Hilton Windhoek Hotel in Namibia and the Hilton Queenstown Hotel in New Zealand. Also new is the Hilton New York Fashion District, which opened in February as Hilton’s fifth New York City hotel, as a rebranding of the former Fashion 26 hotel. (more…)

Hotels up the ante with luxury products and services

Thursday, June 30th, 2011

Starwood Hotels debuted a jewelry line to celebrate the opening of the St. Regis Bahia Beach Resort in Puerto Rico.

By Mark Chesnut

Whether you’re shopping for Paris hotels for that next business trip or planning a much-deserved Hawaii vacation, it’s gotten easier to do travel in style, thanks to new services and products introduced this year at several luxury hotel brands.

In June, JW Marriott launched a series of partnerships with luxury brands in nutrition, culinary, art, culture, accessories and wellness. Partners include Christie’s, the art auction and sales company, which is organizing exhibitions and art gallery recommendations for the hotel chain. Tumi, the travel accessory company, is providing travel tips in the JW Magazine, and guests also now have access to insider information from Etude Wines, including how to properly choose and taste the best wine for every occasion. (more…)

Sophisticated Seabourn Quest sets out on June 9

Thursday, June 2nd, 2011

By Kim Windyka

The Seabourn Quest cruises into summer starting June 9.

The Seabourn Quest, the newest addition to the wonderful world of luxury cruising, will set sail on the first of three pre-inaugural voyages from Monte Carlo, Monaco on June 9, and her maiden voyage from Barcelona, Spain on June 20. Offering European sailings, the ship caters to  guests looking for a distinguished cruise experience. A wide variety of on-board activities abound for both the leisurely set and those seeking a bit more excitement, too.

Early birds can snag morning coffee and tea along with a panoramic ocean view at the Observation Bar, and then catch some rays on one of the 36 sun beds that line the Sun Terrace, or play a round of golf on the nine-hole course at The Retreat. The Grand Salon hosts cooking demos and enrichment activities by day, but transforms into an entertainment showcase come evening, with theater, comedy and musical performances. If you’re one of the lucky guests that find yourself on a select warm water sailing, you might even get to experience The Marina, a special enclosed area deployed by the ship’s captain. Here, you can enjoy water sports like kayaking, water skiing, and pedal boating. (more…)

5 movies that make me want to take a summer vacation

Monday, May 16th, 2011

The "Mamma Mia" church, one of many set locations that keeps calling me to Greece. Credt: Son of Groucho.

By Valerie Moloney

The summer that “Dirty Dancing” came out (1987, if you’re feeling nostalgic) my next-door neighbor and I spent the next nine months recreating the routines in our backyard and memorizing every word to “Be My Baby,” a painstaking process that involved stopping and starting my boombox until the cassette ribbon nearly snapped from being rewound so many times.

We thought we were Baby. We wore her jean shorts. We owned the same pair of Keds. And more than anything, we longed to be her swaying in Patrick Swayze’s beefy arms at the Kellerman’s Resort.

Twenty-four years later, it continues to be the film that I most associate with summer vacation. It must have been the time of my life (heyo!) for it symbolized my tween angst, my perennial girlhood crushes, my desire to escape – even if the getaway was a road trip with my family to upstate New York. (more…)

Meet me in Madrid: Orbitz launches major Europe sale

Monday, May 9th, 2011

Fall in love with the Gran Via and other European destinations during our Europe sale through June 5.

By Valerie Moloney

Europe, we’re in lust with you — you of haunting ruins, rustic food, couture and ancient art. What we would sacrifice to walk with your kings, your artists, your ingenues.  As a destination, you cannot be sampled in one itinerary — nor would we want you to be.

The timing couldn’t be better for a Europe vacation, what, thanks to Orbitz’s sale on flights and major Starwood hotels through June 5. If we don’t strike now, there’d be tons to regret — like that first pint of creamy Guinness in Dublin’s Temple Bar — and we just couldn’t have that. (more…)

Family vacations by sea: Cruising on the Queen Mary 2

Wednesday, February 2nd, 2011

The Queen Mary 2 sailing into New York Harbor. Credit: shinya.

By John George

Years ago, Cunard Lines promoted its transatlantic crossings with the slogan, “Getting there is half the fun.”  In our case, the opposite was true. As we topped off our recent trip to Europe with a cruise on the 9-year-old Queen Mary 2, getting home was truly half the fun.

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Your top 10 “experience” vacation destinations

Monday, December 20th, 2010
Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy, site of the Palios horse race. Credit: PhillipC.

Piazza del Campo, Siena, Italy, site of the Palios horse race. Credit: PhillipC.

By Vince Font

We recently posed the following question to our Facebook friends: “If you could travel to any place in the world to experience one event or festival, what would it be?” Travelers (and aspiring travelers) around the world chimed in to share this bucket-list of international events and vacation destinations.

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