South Beach is as hot as ever, and perhaps the hottest hotel is the The Tides: The hotel not only just finished a top-to-bottom renovation led by hot designer Kelly Wearstler, but was named to Conde Nast Traveler’s Hot List for 2008. That’s a lot of heat.

As part of the renovation, Wearstler put her signature touch on the hotel’s 45 ocean-view guest suites, with custom designed treasures. The lobby and public spaces have vintage touches, such as 1940s high-backed “Senator” chairs from Milan and a European 1920s gold leaf wall hanging. Pretty glamorous, no?

The hotel’s got history, too: It first opened in 1936. With the Encore of an Icon package, if you stay between Sunday and Thursday, you’ll get your fourth night for the original rate of $1.50. Yes, you read that correctly. $1.50. Nighly rates for the other three nights start at $545, though.

Not such a bad way to spend a buck and change.

To book the Encore of an Icon package, click here.

Technorati Tags: Travel, South Beach, The Tides, Kelly Wearstler, hotel deals, travel specials, South Beach specials

Four Seasons hotels and resorts are usually pretty darn luxurious. Now, you can bet that with their new property in Mumbai, they’re pulling out all the stops.

Aside from having the distinction of being the tallest hotel in India (clocking in at 33 stories), the new Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai is the company’s first property on the Indian subcontinent. It has the largest guest rooms and Presidential suites in the city, and many of the 202 rooms feature sweeping views of the Arabian Sea.

Of course, the hotel has the obligatory dining options and spabut they really took pains to make sure that guests have no problem getting to the hotel. The Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai keeps a fleet of 20 BMW 7 Series for guest pick-up and transfer at the airport.

Now that’s what we call arriving in style.

Technorati Tags: Travel, Four Seasons, Four Seasons Mumbai, Mumbai, India, BMW, luxury travel

This may give a new meaning to “swimming with the fishes”: Fair Wind, which operates snorkel cruises on the Big Island of Hawaii, is giving passengers on its Hula Kai luxury catamaran a new way to see the ocean.

Using Sea Rockets, or underwater propulsion vehicles, experienced snorkelers can cover vast distances in short periods of timegiving them more exposure to the underwater topography and marine creatures. Think of it as an easier mode of free diving.

Participants might see everything from garden eels to whale sharks to parrot fish and scorpions. It’s practically a whole new world.

All of the tours are guided, and instruction is available with every tour. For more info, visit www.fair-wind.com.

Technorati Tags: Travel, Hawaii, snorkeling, adventure travel, Sea Rockets, Hula Kai, Big Island

Last week, I wrote a post about the most-searched honeymoon destinations on Ask.com. This week, for the earth-friendly bride, I found the following resource: Brides.com’s list of their “Top Ten Eco-Honeymoon Resorts.”

Their picks? Check it out:

Turtle Island Resort, Fiji
Jungle Bay Resort & Spa, Dominica
Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica
Six Senses Soneva Gill, Maldives
Tiamo, Bahamas
Chumbe Island Coral Park, Tanzania (pictured above)
Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa, Sonoma
Maho Bay Camps, St. John
Ranwell Holiday Village, Sri Lanka
Uno Lodge, Mexico

For more information, and to check out Brides.com’s entire list, click here.

Technorati Tags: Travel, honeymoon, eco-friendly travel, eco-friendly honeymoon, Brides.com, luxury resorts, green resorts

The world has turned its eyes towards China this year, what with the Olympics and all. In Planet Shanghai (Chronicle Books, April 2008), photographer Justin Guariglia’s photo essays examine everyday life in the rapidly growing city, from everyday city life to the city’s quirky sense of fashion.

Guariglia, who has shot for National Geographic Traveler and Smithsonian, captures the character of the old town and waterfront, which have retained their cultural character despite the city’s fast growth.

Discover what makes the city unique in such chapters as “Still Life,” “Daily Life” and “Style.”

To order a copy of Planet Shanghai, visit www.chroniclebooks.com.

Technorati Tags: Travel, travel books, Planet Shanghai, Shanghai travel