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On May 8Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What’s the best time to visit Los Angeles?
The movies make it seem like Los Angeles is a summer wonderland 365 days a year; but L.A. does actually have seasons, they are just not the ones you know back home. The city's various microclimates mean it can be gloomy and cold in one part of town and scorching in another. The dry season starts around April or May, and the city doesn't see a drop of rain until November. Fog can make May gray or June gloomy, but July through October is the finest time of year in the beach communities. Typically, they enjoy sunny 75 F days and nights perfect for sleeping with open windows. Further inland and in the valleys, however, temperatures get into the 80s and 90s, making air-conditioning a must, so if you've planned a summer vacay pack the suntan lotion and a hat. By September or October, enclaves in the canyons and near national forests become hot and dry tinderboxes subject to devastating wildfires. Even during the season between November and April, there isn't that much rain. Just 15 inches falls in an average year, usually in the form of big downpours between January and March. When it's not raining, days are sunny and bright, with temperatures in the high 70s and 80s during the day and 50s or 60s at night.
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On May 3Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best spas in Hong Kong
Hong Kong’s luxurious hotels also offer luxurious spa experiences. Be sure to book an appointment at one of the following amazing Forbes Travel Guide Five- and Four-Star spas:
Not all spas offer serene views in addition to serene treatments, but the Five-Star Spa at Four Seasons Hong Kong serves up both. Treatment rooms feature large windows that look out over the cityscape and harbor. Guests also enjoy a Vitality Lounge that offers a crystal steam room, rhassoul chamber and ice fountains for female guests, and a flotation tank and Finnish sauna for men. Five-Star The Peninsula Spa by ESPA offers spa suites, so each guest has his or her own bath and window overlooking the exquisite Hong Kong Island skyline. Saunas, steam rooms and a Roman-style pool complete the experience. At Five-Star The Mandarin Spa, at Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, you enjoy traditional Chinese therapy treatments, 1930s Shanghai-era décor and a wet area that features rain showers, an aromatic steam room and a Kneipp footbath. Five-Star The Oriental Spa, situated at the luxurious Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, offers more than just treatments: The spa hosts yoga and Pilates classes, and lounges include heated loungers, crystal steam rooms and rain showers. Thai-, Chinese- and European-style treatments are on the menu. If enjoying a spa treatment in the sky appeals to you, try The Ritz-Carlton Spa by ESPA, which is perched on the 116th floor of this amazing hotel. Treatments at this Five-Star spa reflect traditions from both the East and the West, and the wet area includes an experience shower. The Grand Hyatt Hong Kong makes spa experiences a priority with Four-Star Plateau Spa, which offers 14 spa residential rooms that you can enjoy for an overnight stay. Have a fabulous massage, a luxurious bath and then wake up for a breakfast on the balcony. -
On May 3Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best hotels in Hong Kong?
Hong Kong is practically overflowing with luxurious Five-Star hotels guaranteed to wow you with thoughtful service, panoramic city and Victoria Harbour views, delicious cuisine and decadent guest rooms and suites. Be sure to enjoy accommodations at one of the following grand hotels:
The high-rise Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong, which opened in 2005, offers waterfront accommodations with views of Victoria Harbour. Muted elegance and neutral tones lend the property the perfect mixture of comfort and luxury. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the rooms make it easy to take in an amazing view of the surroundings, and service at this Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotel is truly top-notch. Be sure to try one of the hotel’s French-, Chinese- and English-style pastries — served at the restaurant and on the room service menu — which are absolutely divine. While the luxury Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong isn’t quite as new at the Four Seasons — it opened in 1963 — it's certainly no less sophisticated. The Five-Star hotel prides itself on its thoughtful service, and dining and drinking here is made delightful with The Krug Room, which offers fine French cuisine, and the rooftop M Bar, a chic spot to have a cocktail and take in a panoramic view. The Peninsula Hong Kong is the city’s oldest hotel; it opened in 1928. Colonial elegance is the name of the game at this Five-Star hotel; you’ll find marble floors, high ceilings and palm trees in the lobby, and afternoon tea includes a string quartet. But don’t let the historical feel fool you; this hotel is more than up-to-date in the technology area, featuring 3-D flat-screen TVs and Blu-ray DVD players in the guest rooms. If you’re traveling to Hong Kong on business, check into Five-Star Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, which is centrally situated in the heart of the business district. The hotel certainly isn’t all business, though. It’s surrounded by posh designer shops sure to delight the luxury shopping enthusiast. The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong calls itself that world’s tallest hotel thanks to its perch on floors 102 through 118 of Hong Kong’s International Commerce Centre. Naturally, one of the main draws to this hotel is the lofty view — no matter which room you book, you’ll wind up with an amazing vista of Victoria Harbour and Hong Kong Island. And those views are even more astounding and panoramic from the Five-Star hotel’s rooftop bar. The Five-Star InterContinental Hong Kong sits directly on Victoria Harbour, so it’s easy to take in the nightly Symphony of Lights from your own harborside guest room. Be sure to cool off at the rooftop pool, which also provides amazing views of the harbor, and enjoy the complimentary Tai Chi and yoga classes. There are 771 chandeliers at Five-Star Island Shangri-La — a large portion of them in the guest rooms. The blue-carpeted, white-marble staircase and enormous Chinese silk painting, “The Great Motherland of China,” in the lobby lend the hotel a dramatic air. Be sure to visit Restaurant Petrus for fine French cuisine and pretty views of surroungind Hong Kong.
For elegant Four-Star accommodations in this amazing city, book a room at one of these lovely hotels: The Upper House, Kowloon Shangri-La, Conrad Hong Kong and Grand Hyatt Hong Kong. -
On May 3Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best hotels in Detroit?
There are plenty of hotels to book in Detroit, but if glitz and gambling are your thing, be sure to reserve a room at Detroit's mega-resort, MGM Grand Detroit. Besides a luxe casino with 90 table games and 4,000 slots, the hotel features five restaurants as well as five bars — so you won't even need to leave the vast property to enjoy all the food and beverages you desire. Be sure to make a reservation at Bourbon Steak, one of chef Michael Mina's gems, serving wood-fired steaks, burgers and even delicious milkshakes. In addition, the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel includes a salon — you want to look your best while you're on vacation, after all — and Four-Star Immerse Spa, which offers an indoor pool and Japanese tea ceremonies as well as fabulous treatments. The guest rooms at MGM Grand Detroit offer the kind of luxury you expect from a Four-Star hotel: 42-inch plasma TVs and huge showers with dual showerheads.
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On May 3Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best spas in Kennebunk?
If you’re lucky enough to enjoy a stay at charming and historic Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The White Barn Inn, be sure to visit luxurious The White Barn Inn Spa. The Four-Star minimalist-but-luxurious New England spa incorporates local ingredients into its spa treatments. Maine sea salts are used in body wraps, and Kennebunk River rocks are used for the spa’s stone massage. If you’d like to enjoy an aromatic bath in your room after your treatment, set up the Light of the Moon Plunge — a butler will draw you a bath that incorporates mandarin orange and lemon essential oils and light scented candles to make the experience even more soothing. -
On April 30Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Montreal?
While you’re visiting this French-settled section of Canada, be sure to make a reservation to enjoy a French meal. These two Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurants are sure to please your palate:
Known for its exquisite food presentation, Four-Star Toque! offers avant-garde French cuisine — try the princess scallops marinated in blueberry water — and 1960s décor in a convenient downtown Montreal location. It’s advised to make a reservation at least a week in advance for this popular and sophisticated eatery, and while the restaurant describes its dress code as casual, eating here is certainly an occasion worth dressing up for — at least a bit. In the warm months, ladies don sundresses and men sport polo shirts and nice jeans. If you’re visiting Quebec City, be sure to visit Four-Star Restaurant Initiale, situated in the Old Port district, which serves French cuisine with a modern twist. Because the restaurant procures its ingredients from local sources, you’re sure to enjoy a fresh and delicious French meal. The fine-dining establishment is also pleasing on the eyes, with lots of open space and a simple but lovely cream and taupe palette. Its prix fixe menus include delicious dishes such as bass filet with white butter, artichokes and grilled leeks. -
On April 25Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best hotels in London?
You will find some of the world’s best hotels in London. After all, there’s a reason Forbes Travel Guide chose the city to be its first star-rated destination in Europe. If you are visiting London, stay in one of our Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star hotels.
Most of them are located in the tony Mayfair neighborhood. Try to reserve one of The Dorchester’s gorgeous suites — The Harlequin was a favorite of actress Elizabeth Taylor’s. Dine on contemporary French food at Alain Ducasse at The Dorchester — one of the city’s top restaurants — and schedule an appointment for a massage at Four-Star The Dorchester Spa. Across the way is 45 Park Lane, The Dorchester’s sister property. Inside 45 Park Lane, you’ll see art-deco splendor, but the rooms are ultra-modern, with iPads, cordless touch-screen phones and Bang & Olufsen TVs in the bedroom. Not only is Four Seasons Hotel Park Lane a Five-Star property, it has a Five-Star spa. It also offers one of the best amenities for travelers: a 10th-floor arrival lounge with great views of Big Ben and the London Eye as well as showers, in case you arrive early and want to freshen up before check-in. Mayfair hotel Claridge’s showcases its art-deco heritage in its stunning Foyer restaurant, with its arched doorways and elaborate silver screens. The guest rooms have the same look, but if you want something different, book one of the suites designed by Diane von Furstenberg.
The Savoy, located in Convent Garden, is one of the most iconic of the Five-Star hotels. Learn more about its storied past at its onsite Savoy Museum. An important part of that past is its American Bar. A number of famous cocktails, like the dry martini, were created at that very bar.
If you make Knightsbridge your base, try The Lanesborough, a St. Regis Hotel. The luxurious hotel caters to business travelers — every room comes with a Sony Vaio laptop and personalized business cards — but it has amenities everyone can appreciate, including a guests-and-members-only outdoor cigar lounge that has the city’s largest walk-in humidor. -
On April 23Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Tahoe and Yosemite?
Nothing goes better with a great view than a great meal. Here are two fantastic restaurants to try when you’re in the scenic Lake Tahoe and Yosemite areas:
Since 1984 — well before the farm-to-table movement gripped the U.S. culinary community — Erna’s Elderberry House has been serving its customers California cuisine made with farm-raised meats and local produce. The restaurant’s prix fixe menus change on a daily basis but always include six courses and several bottles from its 725-bottle wine list. Given that the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant is situated in Yosemite, it offers guests amazing views — windows frame vistas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the valley. You can even enjoy your meal on the terrace to be closer to nature. If you’re staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, be sure to dine at Manzanita, which serves California cuisine with a touch of French flavor. The food is delicious and locally sourced, and the views from this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant’s perch are lovely — you can gaze out at the snowy slopes while you dine. The hardwood tables and centrally placed fireplace bring the eatery a warm look in the winter. Grab a more casual bite here between ski runs during the day, or dress up and dine at Manzanita for dinner — on something like rack of lamb or pan-seared salmon. -
On April 23Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Tahoe and Yosemite?
Nothing goes better with a great view than a great meal. Here are two fantastic restaurants to try when you’re in the scenic Lake Tahoe and Yosemite areas:
Since 1984 — well before the farm-to-table movement gripped the U.S. culinary community — Erna’s Elderberry House has been serving its customers California cuisine made with farm-raised meats and local produce. The restaurant’s prix fixe menus change on a daily basis but always include six courses and several bottles from its 725-bottle wine list. Given that the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant is situated in Yosemite, it offers guests amazing views — windows frame vistas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the valley. You can even enjoy your meal on the terrace to be closer to nature. If you’re staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, be sure to dine at Manzanita, which serves California cuisine with a touch of French flavor. The food is delicious and locally sourced, and the views from this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant’s perch are lovely — you can gaze out at the snowy slopes while you dine. The hardwood tables and centrally placed fireplace bring the eatery a warm look in the winter. Grab a more casual bite here between ski runs during the day, or dress up and dine at Manzanita for dinner — on something like rack of lamb or pan-seared salmon. -
On April 23Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best restaurants in Tahoe and Yosemite?
Nothing goes better with a great view than a great meal. Here are two fantastic restaurants to try when you’re in the scenic Lake Tahoe and Yosemite areas:
Since 1984 — well before the farm-to-table movement gripped the U.S. culinary community — Erna’s Elderberry House has been serving its customers California cuisine made with farm-raised meats and local produce. The restaurant’s prix fixe menus change on a daily basis but always include six courses and several bottles from its 725-bottle wine list. Given that the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant is situated in Yosemite, it offers guests amazing views — windows frame vistas of the Sierra Nevada Mountains and the valley. You can even enjoy your meal on the terrace to be closer to nature. If you’re staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe, be sure to dine at Manzanita, which serves California cuisine with a touch of French flavor. The food is delicious and locally sourced, and the views from this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star restaurant’s perch are lovely — you can gaze out at the snowy slopes while you dine. The hardwood tables and centrally placed fireplace bring the eatery a warm look in the winter. Grab a more casual bite here between ski runs during the day, or dress up and dine at Manzanita for dinner. -
On April 19Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best spas in Vancouver?
Whether you’re in need of a good massage, an invigorating facial or a skin-glowing scrub, Vancouver has a pair of top-tier spas ready to pamper you Star Rated-style.
Living up to its name, Ancient Cedars Spa rests on a promontory that reaches out into the Pacific Ocean with an old-growth rainforest behind it. This geographically unique location drips with serene touches such as subdued colors, decorative cedar and slate tiles and sets the stage for the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa’s relaxing and renewing treatments such as lomi lomi massage and signature sacred sea treatment, which uses the Bouvier Hydrotherapy tub.
CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La centers around the five Chinese elements of metal, water, wood, fire and earth and each has a specialized suite featuring unique treatments. When you arrive at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star spa, a consultation will determine which elemental treatments will best suit you. From thermotherapy, mineral salt and citrus oils of the CHI skin polish, Pure Silk and Cashmere body wrap and more, CHI, The Spa at Shangri-La will help make your Vancouver getaway as peaceful as possible. -
On April 15Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What are the best spas in Tahoe & Yosemite?
A day of skiing or hiking the gorgeous natural surroundings of Lake Tahoe and Yosemite calls for some downtime at the spa. For unmatched personalized service, make an appointment at the tiny but lovely, art deco-style Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Spa du Sureau. The exclusive spa has just three treatment rooms and one wet room, but that wet room features a special Hydrostorm shower that incorporates relaxing aromas and color therapy for a unique thermal experience. If you’re staying at The Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe on the lovely Northstar Resort, be sure to schedule in some Zen time at The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Tahoe. Unwind by the fire in the relaxation lounge, enjoy the heated lap pool, or sit for a while in a pine-scented steam room or dry-heat lodge. And of course be sure to enjoy a treatment or two — perhaps an organic seaweed wrap and massage. -
On April 15Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What words best describe ARIA Resort & Casino's style?
The five words we would use to describe the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star ARIA Resort & Casino are contemporary, eco-friendly, entertaining, flavorful and one-stop-shop.
Contemporary. Guests will find lots of chic furnishings and contemporary artwork throughout the 3-year-old resort. And as for hues, lots of browns, navy blues and neutral colors like ivory can be found as well.
Eco-friendly. The hotel tower at ARIA Resort & Casino is the recipient of a LEED Gold certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Guests will notice the natural lighting inside, which brings an open, airy feeling to the hotel. In addition, the resort has the largest fleet of compressed natural gas limousines — 32 to be exact.
Entertaining. If you’re in the mood to clown around, check out the resort’s resident Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana. But if you’d rather watch partygoers as they dance the night away, book a table at Haze Nightclub. For something a little more intimate, head to Gold Lounge.
Flavorful. With more than 15 restaurants to choose from, guests can find Mexican fare at Javier’s, pastries and chocolates galore at Jean Philippe Patisserie, Japanese food at barMASA, everything from breakfast to burgers at Café Vettro, and fresh seafood at American Fish by Michael Mina.
One-Stop-Shop. When staying at ARIA Resort & Casino, which is located in CityCenter, you’ll have access to high-end shopping inside Crystals at CityCenter. A quick five-minute walk will give you access to stores such as Dolce & Gabbana, Lanvin, Christian Dior and Cartier. -
On April 12Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What special amenities are in the rooms at ARIA Resort & Casino?
One of the special amenities that guests can look forward to when staying at the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star ARIA Resort & Casino are rooms with wireless and IP-based Control 4 devices. These touchscreen control and entertainment systems devices allow guests to listen to music (choose from pop mix, cruisin’ R&B, today’s country, classic and more), adjust the lighting and room temperatures, and turn the flat-screen television on and off. Guests can even let housekeeping know if they would like to have their room serviced or not — just by touching the designated tab on the screen (a message will appear outside of the room door notifying housekeeping of the choice made). The device also allows guests to set a “wake/sleep” alarm in addition to checking flight information, which conveniently pops up on the television screen.
Aside from this device, there's a control panel on the wall that allows guests to open and close the sheer curtains as well as the blackout shades in the room. If you only want your blackout shades closed halfway, there's a "stop" button guests can press in an effort to still have some light enter the room. Technology plays a major role in guest rooms at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star resort. -
On April 10Forbes Travel Guide Inspector answered the question:
What should we pack for a stay at ARIA Resort & Casino?
When you’re planning a trip to the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star ARIA Resort & Casino, there are a few things that you should pack in your suitcase. For starters, a bathing suit (or two) is a must, especially if you are thinking about going to the pool and relaxing on one of the many chaise lounge chairs. And make sure you carry some suntan lotion with you so you can absorb the UV rays in an effort to work on your tan. After a long day in the sun, you’re probably going to want to eat at one of ARIA’s many restaurants such as Javier’s, American Fish by Michael Mina, Julian Serrano or Jean Philippe Patisserie. Be sure to pack some clothes with a little extra room in them because the food at these establishments are top-notch and very filling. We recommend either bringing roomy clothing or make plans to visit the resort’s gym before going to Haze Nightclub later that evening. Ladies will need to pack a couple of dresses and heels and guys should bring a button-down shirt, jacket, slacks and dress shoes. Last but not least, bring lots of money to gamble, buy souvenirs, see the resort's resident Cirque du Soleil show, Zarkana, and so much more.
Forbes Travel Guide Inspector
Forbes Travel Guide Inspector
Chicago, IL
Forbes Travel Guide created America's original hospitality Star Rating system in 1958. Since then, its team of incognito inspectors have checked into thousands of hotels, dined at just as many restaurants, and experienced scores of spa treatments to bring you information on the very best places to stay, eat and relax around the world. Throughout Startle, you'll find answers about these Star-Rated and recommended hotels, restaurants and spas, as well as destinations and activities, written and provided by Forbes Travel Guide's team of professional inspectors. It's a dynamic group of men and women who live around the world, have a wide variety of ages, interests and backgrounds, and are united by a passion for travel and a devotion to hunting down the world's most outstanding places.