With the spring weather upon us, we have our hearts set on Europe. Whether you’re traveling to London for the Olympic Games or hoping to stay as far away as possible, we have a suggestion for every traveler’s delight.

For the Olympics:

The Halkin

London, UK

The Halkin is a hidden gem in Belgravia. Clean lines and impeccable service define the London favorite, along with its award winning nahm restaurant serving up authentic Thai fare. Guests can even order this haute Thai cuisine for room service!

What’s New: Celebrating its 20^th Anniversary this year, The Halkin has certainly made its mark on the London hotel scene. To celebrate, The Halkin has partnered with William Curley, renowned patissier and chocolatier, to fashion a Couture Chocolate Afternoon Tea. This is a Champagne tea service inspired by the chocolatier’s new book, Couture Chocolate, and will include a selection of chocolate patisserie, homemade scones with clotted cream and preserves, and a selection of freshly made sandwiches.

Rates: Rates start at £260 ($422) per night.

Metropolitan London

London, UK

This well known London hotel is famous for its Met Bar that first opened in 1997 and set the trend for the ultimate great night out in the heart of London! Now the Met Bar has re-opened its doors with a whole NEW look featuring an expanded and innovative cocktail menu and classic seasonal British cuisine. For the first time, the Met Bar ended its “Members-Only” policy, making it accessible to all from early in the day to late at night.
What’s New: The new COMO Shambhala Urban Escape offers key Asian-inspired therapies as well as a resident acupuncturist. Among the treatments on offer are the Dr. Perricone facials (the COMO Shambhala Urban Escape is the only spa in the U.K. to work with this popular U.S. product line) and COMO Shambhala PURIFY facials, suitable for men and women.

Rates: Rates start at £229 ($372) per night.

For the Culture:

Orient-Express Afloat in France

France

Discover the French countryside from a new perspective with Afloat in France, a small fleet of luxury barges ideal for a group of family or friends on vacation. Fashion an itinerary that matches the interests of the crowd (think golf, cycling, or antiques), and relax in Orient-Express style over fine French dining and wine while meandering through the ever-changing scenery.

What’s New: Explore the finest vineyards from the Rhône Valley to Gevrey-Chambertin on the new seven-day “Wine Discovery Tour” aboard the Napoleón, which features instructive tastings, wine-centric French dinners, and guided walks through some of the region’s most famous vineyards. To ring in the new tour, each “Wine Discovery Tour” attendee is rewarded with a free one-night stay at a luxury five-star hotel in Paris.

Rates: Rates start at €4,450 ($5,825) per person, based on double occupancy of a cabin.

Le Pavillon des Lettres

Paris, France

The charming Pavillon des Lettres, an impossibly chic retreat for art and literature lovers, is the perfect alternative to Paris’ traditional hotels. Combining art, literature, and fine design, each of the hotel’s 26 rooms is devoted to a letter of the alphabet and a corresponding international writer (think B for Baudelaire or H for Hugo).

What’s new: Crazy Horse Cabaret, the avant-garde icon of provocative Parisian nightlife, celebrates its 60^th anniversary in 2012 with Le Pavillon des Lettres. Together they are offering a package that includes amour-inducing accommodations and VIP tickets to the show.

Rates: Rates start at €265 ($351) per night.

Crystal Cruises Royal Explorer Sailing

Stockholm to London

From the old-world charm of Stockholm’s Gamla Stan to Helsinki’s cutting-edge Ice Bar, revel in the rich cultural life and fascinating museums of these Baltic capitals. From August 14 – 25, spend 11 days exploring these spectacular lands with Crystal Symphony, with calls in St. Petersburg, Russia; Helsinki, Finland; Berlin/Warnemünde, Germany; and Copenhagen, Denmark.

What’s New: Fresh from a $15 million drydock, Crystal Symphony will be showing off her newly redesigned public spaces. Guest chefs Orjan Johannessen and Odd Ivar Sovod will also be joining the cruise, along with wine expert Eugenio Jardim and mixologist Simon Ford to celebrate the Crystal Wine & Food Festival.

Rates: Check here for current pricing and special offers

For the Cuisine:

Park Hyatt Milan

Milan, Italy

Cozily situated in the heart of Milan next to the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, this hotel is a natural favorite for visiting celebrities, design mavens, and vacation travelers alike.

What’s New: After a recent collaboration with the famous English fashion designer, Paul Smith, Park Hyatt Milan now serves their culinary creations upon beautiful, hand-painted dishes designed specifically for the hotel by Smith.

Rates:  Rates start at €540 ($715) per night.

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme

Paris, France

Recently accepted into the prestigious Palace Hotels Group, the five-star Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme offers a sensual, understated elegance that extends throughout the hotel – from the lavish rooms and suites to the captivating social areas and exquisite spa.

What’s New: Refreshed and ready for spring, guests can enjoy lunch or dinner on the terrace in an intimate and confidential ambience in the most glamorous neighborhood in the city. Make sure to try the chef’s newest creation, the Non-coupable, a guilt-free dessert that features fresh market strawberries, a base of low-fat cheesecake and cream, finished with a tangy spark of crystallized thyme and lemon.

Rates: Rates start at €1180 ($1550) per night.

For the Scenery:

La Réserve Ramatuelle

St. Tropez, France

Located just outside St. Tropez, this stunning property, with 360° views of the Mediterranean Sea, is an intimate, elegant getaway that is ideal for discerning travelers.

What’s new: La Réserve Ramatuelle just added four new health and wellness programs that combine medical assessments, personal training sessions, physical activities, and personalized diets for a total care approach.

Rates: Rates start at €650 ($861) per night.

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

Interlaken, Switzerland

Located in the picturesque mountain setting of the Bernese Oberland, this five-star hotel and spa, known as one of the most beautiful hotels in Switzerland, is in the ultimate location for a summer vacation. Whether visiting for a wellness weekend or a family holiday, the unique grand hotel atmosphere is sure to provide memories that last a lifetime.

What’s New: Offering everything from snacks to cakes to tasty drinks, the hotel has recently renovated its outdoor dining area, the Victoria-Jungfrau terrace, adding a new lighting system designed to create the perfect atmosphere for dinners under the starry, summer night sky. With the addition of 110 seats, the terrace can now accommodate up to 150 guests.

Rates: Rates start at 443.10 CHF ($488.16) per night.

The Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, nestled in the heart of the Swiss resort town of Interlaken, will host the ninth episode of ABC’s The Bachelor. Bachelor Ben Flajnik and his three bachelorettes will be left completely enchanted by the region’s natural beauty. Tune in to watch Bachelor Ben as he sets out on his Swiss journey for true love on MONDAY, FEBRUARY 27 (8:00-10:01 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network.

First opened in 1865 as one of the first true luxury hotels, the Victoria-Jungfrau evokes all the splendor of the Belle Époque.  Located between two stunning Alpine lakes and at the foot of the majestic Jungfrau Mountain, the hotel is an ideal starting point for those wishing to ski, hike, bike, or sail through the lakes and nearby Alps.  The wellness wing, including an ESPA treatment center and the world’s only SENSAI SELECT SPA, provides a relaxing retreat, and the four restaurants offer a range of cuisine from Swiss specialties to haute French.

In a setting such as this, there will be no lack of romance. Ben’s date activities include a candlelit dinner in the hotel’s Salon Rouge, an intimate yet elegant room that dates back to the hotel’s opening, and a scenic picnic lunch prepared specially for Ben and his date by the hotel. The fabled Rose Ceremony will be held in the grand Salle de Versailles, a glittering ballroom adorned with stucco and gold walls, coffered ceilings, and crystal chandeliers. For those looking to follow in the footsteps of Bachelor Ben, the Victoria-Jungfrau will offer a special romance themed package starting March 12, 2012.

The new season of The Bachelor, from Warner Horizon Television, airs 8/7 Central on ABC.  For more information on The Bachelor visit http://abc.go.com/shows/the-bachelor.  To learn more about the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa go to www.victoria-jungfrau.ch/en/.

ABOUT THE BACHELOR
In the hit primetime reality series The Bachelor, one lucky man is offered the chance to find true love.  A single and eligible Bachelor embarks on a romantic journey, getting to know a bevy of beautiful bachelorettes, gradually narrowing the field to the one woman to whom he may propose marriage in the dramatic season finale.  Hosted by Chris Harrison, The Bachelor is produced by Next Entertainment in association with Warner Horizon Television.

ABOUT THE VICTORIA-JUNGFRAU GRAND HOTEL & SPA
First opened in 1865 as one of the first true luxury hotels, the Victoria-Jungfrau continues to be the standard-bearer of the legendary Swiss hospitality.  The stunningly modern renovations of the resort complement its original Belle Époque design.  With its location in resort town of Interlaken, the hotel is an ideal starting point for those wishing to ski, hike, bike, or sail through the lakes and nearby Alps.  A 60,000 square foot wellness wing, including an ESPA treatment center and SENSAI SELECT SPA, provides a relaxing wellness retreat, and the four restaurants offer a range of cuisine from Swiss specialties to haute French.

Well, today we found him at the “top of Europe”, at Jungfraujoch’s Sphinx Observatory, located 11,745 feet above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Most well-known for as the setting for the 1969 James Bond film, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, Mr. Lauer arrived by train to the highest railway station in Europe  this morning.

Accessible only by cable car, the Swiss Alps are an outdoor sports enthusiasts’ dream come true. The majestic mountain peaks offer the world’s best Alpine skiing and snowboarding, as well as some incredible lower altitude activities on the crystal clear mountain lakes, such as boating and ice skating. Besides the vast array of activities available in the Alps, it is also incredible just to sit with a glass of champagne and enjoy the extraordinary scenery. From the glittering snow-capped peaks to the impossibly blue lakes, it is a sight to be seen at least once in a lifetime.

The Alps stretch through France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia; but we found Mr. Lauer in Interlaken, Switzerland, the home of the beautiful Victoria Jungfrau Grand  Hotel & Spa.

Read more about Matt’s Swiss adventures here and be sure to stay tuned to see where Matt will be tomorrow!

Now that fall is on the way and the days are getting shorter, we are dreaming of ways we can stretch the weekend just a little longer—especially while traveling! Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa has whipped up a way to pack a few extra hours into your stay by offering guests most treasured amenity of all, time.

30 Hours:
A day of hiking breathtaking alpine trails, swimming in crystal-clear mountain lakes, and unwinding in the spa at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa can leave guests wishing for more hours in the day. Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa has begun granting this wish and giving guests a chance to extend their dreamy Swiss stay with Your 30-Hour Day package. Valid until December 23, each night booked at the Interlaken hotel will last 30 hours, rather than the usual 24. This means a three night with a 5pm arrival will accrue an extra night free of charge! Rates start at CHF 345 (approximately $436 USD per night).

72 Hours:
Upon entering one of the Victoria-Jungfrau’s secluded Bel-Air spa suites, it may be impossible to fight total, immediate relaxation.  The hotel’s “72 Hours in Your Bathrobe” package encourages guests to ditch their suits at the door and spend three full days lounging in plush bathrobes in and around the spa. Upon arrival in Zurich, guests are met by private chauffeur and driven to the hotel, then welcomed to by-pass reception and head straight to a luxurious Bel-Air suite, equipped with private balconies boasting stunning mountain views. From the Bel-Air suite, the spa beckons, promising a day of complete unwinding with six hours of custom spa treatments, including ESPA or SENSAI SELECT face and body treatments, as well as indoor and outdoor pools, Jacuzzis, whirlpools, and the newly re-opened sauna with candlelit relaxation room.  At night, there is no reason to dress to impress as guests are invited to leisurely dine at the Spa Café or within the privacy of their suite. Rates start at CHF 3315 (approximately $4,161 per night).

Swiss design doesn’t have to be all about strict minimalism and clean lines. Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken has declared ‘auf wiedersehen!’ to such Swiss tradition by renaming Suite 250 the ‘Yash Chopra’ Suite and converting all 915 square feet into a Bollywood wonderland as a tribute to the famous Indian film director and newly-appointed Interlaken Ambassador, Yash Chopra. With nary an equilateral red cross to be found, the suite’s walls are adorned with posters of Mr. Chopra’s award-winning film Veer-Zaara, while decadent silk fabric and gold motifs appear throughout.

Thun-based design firm Raumforum selected whimsical Indian touches for the living room space, including a lacquered white Ganesha sculpture and velour leopard-print pillow cushions that pop against the deep neutrals of the leather furnishings. Additional Indian accessories include traditional Indian carpets and silk bedspread, while an Indian tea service is available for Bollywood stars and starlets to enjoy a cup of morning Darjeeling.

The Yash Chopra Suite includes a living room, bedroom with en suite bathroom, and guest bathroom. It has its own balcony with views of the Jungfrau Massif and is available from 2,250 CHF, approximately 2,695 USD, for two, breakfast buffet included.

We can’t all be Sukanya Roy, and for us mere mortals when it comes to spelling, things are about to get a little more tricky: “Sensai” is a Japanese spa that is a master of luxury goods and services, not to be confused with the ubiquitous “sensei,” the Japanese word referring to a master of a particular art form or skill.

The editors of Robb Report have awarded Sensai Select Spa at Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, Switzerland, a coveted spot on their 23^rd annual “Best of the Best” list, the culmination of an entire year’s search for the world’s most exceptional resorts, hotels, spas and more.

Opened in 2010, Sensai offers guests the unique opportunity to experience treatments based around the silk produced by Koishimaru silkworms. These silkworms were proprietary to the Japanese imperial family until the late 1990s, when permission to study their silk was granted to Sensai. The silk they produce triggers the creation of hyaluronan, a natural moisturizer with anti-aging properties. (We’ve never heard of it—but we bet Sukanya can spell it!)

This Valentine’s Day 30 lucky couples will learn all about the importance of body heat. Igloobase is open each winter as an idyllic winter wonderland escape and is partnering with Victoria-Jungfrau Collection to make February 14 a little more special (and memorable!).

Couples will enjoy romantic poem readings, musical performances, and a fire show before taking part in the action with waltz or a tango lessons on the frozen Lake Hinterstockensee. After working up an appetite, participants will enjoy an intimate meal at the Panorama Restaurant at the top of the mountain (at 7,185 feet) before returning down to the valley for an overnight stay at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.  The “Fire & Flame” package for two is 260 Swiss Francs (about $270) and includes transfers, dinner, and the shows.  The best reason we’ve encountered to brave the cold!

Hot off the press…

AUGUST  2010

Here is our monthly news in tweetable form.

New and Notable

Hotel Parq Central

• Up up and away for #BalloonFestival!  #HotelParqCentral opens on 9/23/10. Rates starting at $179/night including breakfast and other treats.

Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas

• #AnantaraBophut in Koh Samui, #Thailand will be getting an upgrade! And we have the pics (http://bit.ly/cSwDte) to prove it!

Deals and Steals

Island Outpost

• Beat the heat w #BlueMountainBreezeOut at #StrawberryHill in #Jamaica. Includes accommodations, massage, 20% off #spa + free guided hike.

Pavillon de la Reine

• #PavillondelaReine in the heart of #Paris has a winter package w mini in-room #Christmas tree, half bottle of champagne +free parking.

Food and Wine

Andaz 5^th Avenue

• Be sure to check out the shop at #Andaz5thAvenue in #NYC. Enjoy dishes from NY icons like #Katz’sdeli and GREAT people watching.

Inn on the Alameda

• #InnontheAlameda challenges you to a #margarita contest. Submit your recipe-winner gets a 2-night stay for 2 in a suite w fireplace.

Royal Mansour Marrakech

• After the souk, sample #RoyalMansourMarrakech tasty pastries at the #PatisserieBibliotheque -a library of treats to satisfy any sweet tooth.

Hotel Crillon Le Brave

• #Provence chic #HotelCrillonleBrave is offering all-inclusive cooking program package, which combines spectacular culture and cuisine.

Park Hyatt

• Michelin-starred Jean-François Rouquette invites top chefs and sommeliers to Masters of Food & Wine at #ParkHyatt Paris-Vendôme Oct 11-16
• #Ramadan begins on Aug 11. Taste 30 days of amazing after dark holiday menus at #ParkHyatt #Dubai, #Istanbul, #Jeddah, #Baku.

Body and Soul

La Réserve

• Work off those summer ice creams with hikes and spa at très français #LaReserveRamatuelle #bootcamp this September. 9/15-9/19 or 9/27-9/31

Parrot Cay

• Get your chakras in line w @ElenaBrower on 5 day yoga retreat at @ParrotCayResort. 5 hours of #AnusaraYoga daily and #COMOShambhala cuisine.

Grand Hyatt Tokyo

• W #GrandHyattTokyo Grand Summer Escape, get a bbq for 2 and access to Nagomi spa and fitness w 20% off all treatments http://bit.ly/bpJlUL

ESPA

•  Get smooth skin with #ESPA Beach Body Ready gift set feat. smoothing shower gel and moisturizing balm w/ #free salt scrub gift!

Action Packed

Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa

• Stay at the #VictoriaJungfrau in #Interlaken and check out the summer lugers in the #SwissAlps http://bit.ly/arzVyg

COMO Hotels & Resorts

• Bike through #Bhutan on a 7 night trip based at #UmaParo. From $3413 single occupancy see monasteries, prayer flags, and dramatic valleys.

Crystal Cruises

• W #CrystalCruises New Perspectives, go backstage at #MonteCarloBallet, dip in #Reykjavik hot springs, or see #SierraMadres by private plane.

Shakti Village Experiences

• See #India at new heights with #ShaktiVillageExperience‘s stays in mountain villages #Ladakh, in season now, #Kumaon or #Sikkim in October!

See and be Seen

Rosewood Mayakobá

• Stay at #RosewoodMayakoba and see young golfers compete in Mayakoba Junior Golf Classic August 16-19. The savvy golfers are all 18 and under

Nantucket Island Resorts

•  Take a trip to #Nantucket this winter for the island’s classic Christmas Stroll and stay at @WhiteElephantMA, open for this holiday event.

Royal Oak Foundation

• See @CharlotteMossNY receive #RoyalOakFoundation #TimelessDesign award for work as an interior designer author speaker and philanthropist.

Andaz Wall Street

• #WallStreet2 premieres September 24. See what all the fuss is about in the #FiDi with a stay at #AndazWallStreet or a meal at #WallandWater.

It’s Summer! And that means it’s time to take advantage of the outdoors. There is no better place to do so than at the charming and elegant Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa in Interlaken, Switzerland. Surrounded by three different mountain ranges ( Jungfrau, Niesen, and Harder) the Victoria Jungfrau Grand not only offers exquisite views, but also a plethora of outdoor adventures. Even the most timid of hikers will be swept away by the beautiful forests and mountains. Take in the lush greenery and sparkling lakes while hiking along the over 50 kilometers of trails very close to the comfort of your hotel. One of these can’t miss hikes, suitable for beginners and experts alike, is a route from Grütschalp to Mürren that runs parallel to the railway, and overlooks the stunning Lauterbrunnen Valley. Don’t forget to bring your camera!

Here’s something worth yodeling about: travelers can now extend their next Swiss vacation at no extra cost. Let’s be honest, who doesn’t love freebies?

For any three consecutive nights booked at La Réserve Geneva Hotel, guests will enjoy the third night FREE. Spend the extra evening relaxing in refined comfort on a soft velvet bedspread, or dining on seasonal Mediterranean dishes at the Le Loti restaurant. Rates start from CHF 900/night (about $857); offer is available for Executive and Deluxe Rooms and all Suites and includes access to all of the hotel facilities.

We all wish we could slow down Father Time. Well, at the Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa, it’s truly possible with a 30-hour day offering. For every 24 hours booked, with check-in at the guest’s convenience, six hours are added on as a gift. For example, a noon check-in is good until 6 p.m. the next day.  And, multiple 24-hour days can add up! Arrive at noon on Friday with expected check out on Monday at noon – that’s three 24-hour days plus an extra 18 hours.  So, one can stay an extra day and a half (until Tuesday at 6 p.m.) for nothing.