Hotel Offers

Each January, Mr. Harper unveils his Grand Awards list, a compilation of his best hotel experiences in the previous year. At first glance, some properties can seem remote or otherwise difficult to work into an itinerary, but rest assure The Travel Corner can seamlessly weave these favorite hotels for your 2012 vacation plans.

Contact the Patty Shachat of The Travel Corner by calling
(978) 777-8945 or email us at patty@tvlcorner.com
As your Virtuoso Travel Advisor - I have insider affiliations with many of the hotels listed below.  So take a glance at these hotels have to offer,
 but please revert back to my agency for the most competitive pricing! 

Enjoy dreaming of your next luxury vacation!

Patty Shachat - Virtuoso Travel Specialist

This spectacular resort is perched on the sea cliffs of Kangaroo Island, a wild and magnificent place with an evocative landscape of rolling moors and sheep-dotted pastures. Suggested Itinerary: Sydney — Whitsunday Islands — Wolgan Valley — Melbourne — Kangaroo Island — Barossa Valley. Hotel details »

Set on a hill sloping gently down to an arc of golden sand, this stately 19th-century mansion has a curved portico and rocker-lined verandas. Use this relaxing retreat to explore nearby historic villages and underrated Rhode Island wineries. Hotel details »

At first sight, this bright Mediterranean villa looks wonderfully incongruous, set amid classic British countryside in the Hudson Valley, an easy weekend escape from New York. This Gilded Age mansion makes a great base for exploring scenic Hudson Valley or simply enjoying the extensive grounds and spa. Hotel details »

Located in the highlands of Chiriqui Province and justly renowned for its restaurant, this property affords access to wonderful hikes, coffee plantation tours and birding excursions. Suggested itinerary: Panama City — Chiriqui Province — Azuero Peninsula. Hotel details »

Enjoying a perfect location facing Quito's cathedral, the Plaza Grande was once the home of Juan Díaz de Hidalgo, one of the original Spanish conquistadors. Travelers to the Galápagos Islands frequently breeze right through Quito, later regretting that they didn't spend longer in Ecuador's delightful capital. Hotel details »

The most accessible of the Caribbean's top private island resorts, Jumby Bay is better than ever after a recent $28 million renovation. Hotel details »

This intimate St. Barths hideaway offers supreme seclusion as well as the island's best restaurant, enchanting Le Gaiac. Hotel details »

A remarkable new safari lodge in a private conservancy in the Samburu National Reserve. Setting a new standard in Kenya, this clifftop lodge can easily be combined with Elsa's Kopje and the legendary Masai Mara. As part of a community conservancy, much of the proceeds directly benefit the local people. Hotel details »

This eight-cottage property, with a house ideal for families on safari, features delicious Italian cuisine and effortlessly elegant décor. Although the wildlife has returned to the adjacent Meru National Park, visitors have not, ensuring consistently excellent game viewing. Suggested itinerary: Nairobi — Elsa's Kopje — Sasaab — Sanctuary at Ol Lentille. Hotel details »

Located in the heart of Rome, this exceptionally stylish penthouse on the top floor of a 17th-century palazzo boasts views of the Column of Marcus Aurelius, a well-equipped kitchen and a full staff. For returning visitors, this one-bedroom apartment is ideal. Hotel details »

Crowning a Luberon hillside planted with vineyards, this 70-acre property comprises six renovated farmhouses and ancient outlying buildings, all with terra-cotta-tiled roofs and gray wooden shutters. Suggested itinerary: Paris — Avignon — Crillon le Brave — Luberon. Hotel details »

This sleek, exceptionally attractive 82-room hotel overlooks the Douro River in the elegant old city of Porto, Portugal. Its restaurant presents delectable contemporary Portuguese cuisine. Suggested itinerary: Lisbon — Sintra — Coimbra — Douro Valley — Porto. Hotel details »

Set on 4,900 acres of stupendous Corsican countryside, the stone cottages of this property feature hypnotically beautiful views of the fragrant maquis and the coast beyond. One of its two restaurants is carved from inside a boulder. Suggested itinerary: Paris — Calvi — Ajaccio — Domaine de Murtoli. Hotel details »

Situated in a wooded valley about 20 minutes from the center of Hangzhou, Amanfayun comprises a small village, with many of the structures dating to the early 1800s. This exceptional resort is an almost perfect hideaway, but it would not appeal to everyone: It is a place for those who want to slow down, to de-stress and, for a few days, to rediscover a more contemplative side to existence. Hotel details »

This unexpectedly intimate alternative to Amanfayun has a dazzling interior that combines both Chinese and Western elements in a tour de force of contemporary design, and an astonishingly lavish spa. Suggested itinerary: Hong Kong — Lijiang — Shanghai — Hangzhou — Xi'an — Beijing. Hotel details »

Three hours northwest of Sydney, Australia, the Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa is set on a magnificent 4,000-acre former cattle ranch in a U-shaped valley defined by dramatic sandstone escarpments. Overall, this fine resort provides a memorable taste of the Australian great outdoors within easy reach of Sydney. Suggested Itinerary: Sydney — Whitsunday Islands — Wolgan Valley — Melbourne — Kangaroo Island — Barossa Valley. Hotel details »

Ideally located for touring the Barossa Valley, an enchanting place of rolling hills and vineyards, The Louise stands amid beautifully landscaped grounds that overlook neat rows of vines. With a tranquil setting and one of the best restaurants in Australia, this property makes a perfect finish to an Australian journey (see itinerary above). Hotel details »

This relatively new hotel proved to be a gilt-free exercise in contemporary good taste. The sweeping views of the Chicago River can hardly be bettered. Hotel details »

From a distance, this lovely resort looks like a slice of Tuscany transplanted by the Pacific. Guests make the easy drive from Los Angeles to take advantage of the two Tom Fazio-designed golf courses and the 20,000-square-foot spa. Hotel details »