Tag Archives: Ritz Carlton

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Luxury Tours in Russia

St. Basil's Cathedral, Russia

From the brooding symbolism of Moscow to St. Petersburg’s romanticism, Russia’s history, culture and beauty will captivate just about any traveler. While there are a number of ways to explore the country, a luxury tour does away with all of the hassle of planning, allowing you to soak up all that Russia has to offer in true comfort and style.

Moscow and St. Petersburg – Scott Dunn
Moscow and St. Petersburg are two Russian cities that are steeped in history and culture, but are both extremely distinct in their own way. Scott Dunn is a luxury travel company that offers a fantastic tour of both cities, enabling you to experience the contrast between each. All of the hotels chosen for this week-long itinerary are five stars and centrally located, from the Ritz Carlton in Moscow to the Belmond Grand Hotel Europe in St. Petersburg, allowing you to easily explore your surroundings during any down time. Some of the highlights of the Moscow portion of the tour include shopping on Arbat Street, taking in the art at the Tretyakov Gallery, and a visit to Lenin’s mausoleum, while in St. Petersburg you can expect to sample caviar and vodka at a famous bar, visit some 18th century palaces, and check out the Hermitage Museum.

Assumption Cathedral, Golden Ring of Russia.

Frog Dares / Shutterstock.com

Golden Ring – Open Russia
The ancient kingdoms of the Golden Ring are located just outside of Moscow and showcase the important developments that have occurred in Russia’s history. Open Russia offers a two-day tour of the Golden Ring, taking guests to some of the historical towns around Vladimir and Suzdal, many sites of which have been granted UNESCO World Heritage status. The tour company focuses on the ultimate VIP experience, from preferential rooms at luxury boutique hotels to private museum viewings with tours conducted by museum curators to VIP restaurant reservations. In addition to this, all transport will be carried out in a luxury vehicle of your choosing, whether this may be a limousine, a luxury bus or a retro Russian vehicle.

Luxury Volga Cruise – Volga Dream
Running for over 2000 miles, the Volga is the longest and largest river in Europe, and, flowing all the way through Central Russia, is considered to be the national river of the country. The boutique Volga Dream vessel replicates the tsarist-era of luxury, making it feel as though you are aboard a private yacht. With 60 crew members to 100 passengers, the level of service is at the highest, and the rich onboard program ensures that you are always kept entertained while out on the water. There are a number of different cruise itineraries to choose from, depending on which cities you want to stop at and explore, and the crew are also able to create customized itineraries if there is somewhere in particular that you are especially eager to see.

Being the world’s largest nation, there is so much to see and do when you visit Russia, which is why a luxury tour is often preferred when it comes to taking in the sights. This way, you can be sure that you will not miss out on any highlights, and will also be able to enjoy the range of VIP extras that are added on by the tour operators.

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Hottest Arizona Hotels

Luxury resort

With so many different options, choosing a hotel to stay at in Arizona can be quite tricky. To help you out, OROGOLD has gathered together a list of some of the hottest Arizona hotels that we would most definitely recommend.

Amara Resort and Spa, Sedona
Part of the Kimpton Hotel group, the Amara Resort and Spa in Sedona is one of OROGOLD’s favorite places to stay in Arizona, and this is largely due to its fantastic swimming pool. Their zero-edge saltwater infinity pool seems to magically drop off into the base of the stunning red rocks around the hotel, and the views are like no other. To top it all off, the hotel offers wireless high-speed internet access from the pool itself, meaning that you can quickly and easily send your vacation snaps to your friends and family.

Arizona Biltmore, Phoenix
Originally built in 1929, the Arizona Biltmore is a Waldorf Astoria resort in Phoenix, offering some of the best accommodation in town. With 39 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, five fantastic restaurants, eight swimming pools, an award-winning spa, two championship golf courses, six tennis courts, and so much more, it is no surprise that this hotel is a popular one.

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch, Scottsdale
The Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch is sprawled out across 27 acres in the Sonoran Desert, with the majestic McDowell Mountains providing a picturesque backdrop. Their 2.5-acre water playground is bliss on those scorching Arizona days, while their Spa Avania provides some rejuvenating treatments inspired by Native American traditions. Golfers will love the 27 hole course right at their feet, while those who want to explore Arizona can make the most of the hotel’s jeep tours, biking trips and hot air balloon flights.

The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, Marana
The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain is a 45-minute drive from Tucson, with the entire area surrounding it so stunningly beautiful that you could easily mistaken it for a national park. The hotel has been inspired by the Hohokam Indians, making use of native ingredients and recipes in their restaurant, and eco-holistic therapies in their spa. This is a great place to experience the desert while still enjoying all of your favorite luxuries, with the perfect balance of relaxing and adventurous activities.

Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia, Scottsdale
Inspired by the famous Alhambra in Spain, the Omni Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Montelucia makes you feel as though you are somewhere far more exotic than Scottsdale. The beautiful Alhambra walkway leads you to a choice of three different pools, while the Moroccan-inspired Joya Spa is the ideal place to relax with a massage. With five world-class dining options to choose from, and excursions to climb Camelback Mountain for when you’re feeling adventurous, this is a touch of Spanish luxury in the middle of the desert.

Arizona has some fantastic hotels, each offering something slightly different. From a Spanish-inspired resort to a hotel that has embraced their region’s indigenous culture, we are sure that you will agree with OROGOLD when we say that these are most definitely Arizona’s hottest hotels.

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All You Need to Know About Luxury Hotel Reward Programs – OROGOLD Reviews

Luxury hotel reward programs are often misunderstood, with many travelers not bothering to sign up for one as they feel that the benefits would not make a difference to their stay. However, OROGOLD believes that a majority of reward programs offered by hotel groups can not only save you money during your stay, but will also give you many added perks that will make your trip much more enjoyable.

NIght view of a luxury resort with swimming pool.

Points are Easy to Redeem
One of the major problems when it comes to airline loyalty programs is that it can often be hard to redeem points, either because they only offer a small selection of seats for flights, or because of the lengths you have to go through to do so. In comparison, hotel groups have fewer restrictions, and do not blackout any dates for reward nights. The points that you earn with many hotel reward programs never expire, meaning that you can save them for however long you want, and they also allow you to use them for stays at competitor hotels. Many hotels will also accept your points instead of cash for things that you might spend on during your stay, such as room upgrades or meals at the hotel.

Extra Perks During Your Stay
Hotels are constantly offering deals and special bonuses to their reward program members, such as free room service breakfasts and free Wi-Fi. You can also use your membership status, no matter what level it may be at, to enjoy late check-outs, free parking, and other little perks that all make traveling slightly more convenient.

Woman lying on a hotel bed looking at her credit card.

The Best Reward Programs
Although the benefits to joining a reward program are plenty, they all do slightly differ, so it is important to do a bit of research before deciding which one, or more, to join. The Marriott program is one of the most diverse, and covers 18 different brands, including Ritz-Carlton and Renaissance, and also allows points to be redeemed with Delta and United Airlines. The Hilton program covers high end brands such as Conrad and the Waldorf-Astoria, has over 4000 locations in 90 countries, and can be used with 50 different airline and rail partners. The only downside is that you need to use your points at least once a year to stop them from expiring.

If you have already booked your trip, don’t worry, as you can still sign up online to the reward program at the hotel that you have booked, so that you will still be able to collect points for your stay, as well as enjoy member perks. Many hotels also offer credit card programs for their members, allowing you to earn points for money that you spend elsewhere, and these are usually easier to redeem than points earned from airplane credit cards. If the program you join is going to influence your travel in the future, be sure to research into the different programs available, as not only do the choice of destinations differ, but so do the membership perks.