msnbc.com: Luxury

Extreme excursions for thrillseekers

Tue, 24 Nov 2009 14:44:11 GMT

Sure, there's always an adventure that's more dangerous or more expensive, but adrenaline junkies without hedge funds still have plenty to chose from.

Hedge fund - Business - Investing - Funds - PAID

World’s best business hotels 2009

Mon, 23 Nov 2009 04:19:31 GMT

These top hotels combine service, technology, and comfort—everything that today’s business traveler needs on the road.

Hotel - Business - Travel and Tourism - Accommodation - Lodging

Tokyo crowned gourmet capital of the world

Thu, 19 Nov 2009 21:46:36 GMT

The Epicurean king who oversees the Michelin Guide fears he may be banished from France. His shocking crime? Awarding Tokyo the new gastronomic capital of the world.

Michelin Guide - Tokyo - Japan - Asia - Prefectures

Top budget resorts in the U.S.

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 14:57:23 GMT

Forget everything you thought you knew about resorts. These 10 escapes deliver thrilling activities, plush amenities, and sweeping views, from $119 a night.

Caribbean - Travel and Tourism - Lodging - resort - U.S. Forget

Retreats that will satisfy your soul

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 20:12:48 GMT

Whether you’re craving the sand between your toes, a walk on the wild side, some serious pampering or a return to romance, these retreats will satisfy your soul.

Romance - Arts - Literature - General Bitching - Robert Pattinson

Resort offers free stay in downpours

Tue, 17 Nov 2009 17:43:31 GMT

A luxury Malaysian beach resort has come up with a novel way for guests to actually look forward to a downpour on their holiday: a free night if the rainfall exceeds one inch.

Seaside resort - Rain - Travel and Tourism - Lodging - Thailand

High-level luxury at the world’s top hotels

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:32:01 GMT

These hotels offer a wide-range of amenities meant to lure travelers seeking high-level luxury. But the lavish life doesn't come cheap.

Hotel - Travel and Tourism - Lodging - Accommodation - Hotels and Motels

Europe’s most luxurious hotels

Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:32:11 GMT

These top spots offer every little elegant touch — some, even at a discount. We solicited expert advice to pull together the very best places to stay in Europe.

Travel and Tourism - Travel - Business and Economy - ChinaMobile - Africa

Lose the masses when wine tasting in Napa

Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:20:11 GMT

You don’t need us to tell you that Napa Valley is a nice place to visit. What you do need is a way to lose the masses.

Wine - Napa Valley AVA - United States - Napa Valley - Food

Where just-married couples visit the most

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:19:50 GMT

From the idyllic islands of Hawaii to the romantic isles of Italy, the top 10 most visited honeymoon destinations around the globe.

Hawaii - Italy - United States - Travel - Recreation

Honeymoon ideas for adventurous newlyweds

Wed, 4 Nov 2009 14:18:40 GMT

After the months of planning and stress that go into pulling off that perfect wedding fete, nothing’s sweeter than boarding the plane en route to the long-awaited honeymoon.

Honeymoon - Weddings - Recreation - Wedding - Relationships

Louisville hotel wins top ranking

Wed, 28 Oct 2009 13:06:14 GMT

Wade Johnson has plopped down in plenty of hotels, but ranks his stays at 21c Museum Hotel in Louisville as a one-of-a-kind experience. Turns out, that experience has a large following.

World’s most bizarre spa treatments

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:00:35 GMT

Nowadays, ailments like sore muscles, lank locks and sallow skin are being remedied with diamond elixirs, full-body fish therapy, and — yes — golf ball massages.

Eight escapes to heal your body

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 00:13:15 GMT

Ancient healing traditions that soothe the body, ease the mind, and feed the senses.

Don’t sweat it! Top 10 (affordable) spas

Fri, 16 Oct 2009 17:04:12 GMT

With more than 21,000 spas to choose from in the U.S. alone, just figuring out where to go can tie you up in knots. But don't sweat it: We've identified the top 10 (affordable) spas for every type of decompression.

North America’s top wine destinations

Mon, 12 Oct 2009 15:13:07 GMT

European destinations are often in the spotlight when it comes to fine wines but North America holds it own when it comes to varietals, according to travel Web site TripAdvisor.

The world’s quietest places

Tue, 6 Oct 2009 13:28:50 GMT

Need to get away from the noise? Around the world remain places that are surprisingly accessible where the constant din of civilization simply drops away.

The suite life — for $15K

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 19:49:22 GMT

JFK slept here. So did Prince Charles. Representatives of the Big Four presumably stayed awake as they worked on the United Nations Charter in 1945.

Top 10 new rooftop bars

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 20:46:21 GMT

Life is good at the top, thanks to these newly debuted U.S. hotel bars.

10 celeb-watching restaurants

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 14:51:07 GMT

Remember that “I Love Lucy” episode when Lucy eats at Hollywood’s Brown Derby and finds William Holden sitting in the next booth? Hilarity ensues, with Lucy making a fool of herself.

5 spots to live out your ‘Mad Men’ fantasies

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 19:24:45 GMT

Now in its third season, the critically acclaimed television show “Mad Men” has inspired a surge of tourism in New York City. Here are the spots to live out your 1960s fantasies.

Top 5 small, boutique hotels

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 18:37:36 GMT

Small can definitely be beautiful, with boutique hotel specialists and booking service Mr & Mrs Smith (www.mrandmrssmith.com) listing their five favorite properties around the world.

In a recession, we still need pampering

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 15:00:17 GMT

In this economy, we could probably all use a little pampering: a massage, a facial, a pedicure. Perhaps a nice soak in a hot whirlpool. The spa, new figures show, is one thing we're not giving up, even if it means opting for a cheaper experience and fewer treatments.

Top all-you-can-eat buffets

Sun, 6 Sep 2009 17:55:45 GMT

From Las Vegas to Singapore and New York, the best spots to satisfy a big hunger.

Most romantic cities for honeymooners

Tue, 1 Sep 2009 20:18:13 GMT

Sometimes you never feel more deliciously alone than when you're lost in the crowd. From the Charles Bridge in Prague to Cape Town's Table Mountain, we've found the world's top urban escapes, perfect for two.

Wine country contenders

Fri, 28 Aug 2009 21:54:27 GMT

Perhaps they're not the first place you think of when it comes to wineries, but these four regions offer character and great wine, without the hoopla.

Where supermodels go to get away

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 13:58:46 GMT

Where do Adriana Lima, Miranda Kerr, Claudia Schiffer, Heidi Klum and other uber-svelte beauty queens go to relax? You'll find them at these hotspots.

World’s tallest, coldest and greenest hotels

Fri, 21 Aug 2009 20:53:34 GMT

For travelers who like a hotel with a superlative attached, online hotel specialist hotels.com has come with a list of record-breaking hotels.

Beautiful lakeside resorts around the globe

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:34:40 GMT

Rather than looking out at the vast emptiness of the ocean, many vacationers appreciate the dramatic and varied scenery beheld from the shores of many lakes.

Great farm-to-table restaurants

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 16:35:38 GMT

A handful of top dining spots are taking the “eating local” concept to the next level by actually growing their own food.

The world's most spectacular tasting rooms

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 18:47:21 GMT

At these wineries, amazing views and innovative architecture are served alongside the local vintages.

Best wilderness resorts

Mon, 20 Apr 2009 01:17:37 GMT

The wilderness resort, once a journey into a remote backcountry outpost, is now an experience that blends luxury with the wilds. Throw in some education nature and your adventure comes together like a grizzly swiping a Coho salmon from a northern river.