At The Luxury Travel Agency, our core strengths are our Partnerships – the vast network of properties, airlines, and tour companies with whom we work so closely. We pride ourselves on creating and maintaining relationships with the world’s best in luxury travel. It is through these relationships that we can offer our clients the lowest rates, the finest seats, and the most exclusive experiences that money can buy.
We’re extremely proud to announce that The Luxury Travel Agency is now a Partner of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts brand! The Preferred Platinum Collection stretches around the globe, with over 150 standout properties in all of the most desirable destinations.
It’s the world’s largest independent brand, meaning their properties don’t have to abide by an overarching style or theme; each hotel is free to express their local culture and encourage a real sense of place. If you’re the kind of traveler who wants to stay at unique properties and avoid the big global chains, then the Preferred Collection is a fantastic option for you.
At all of the Preferred Platinum properties, The Luxury Travel Agency can offer you the very best rates available, plus a host of benefits and amenities that are completely free! You’ll have priority on room upgrades, plus you will be eligible for a USD 100 hotel, spa or food and beverage credit, daily breakfast, priority check-in/check-out, and more.
The Luxury Travel Agency Partner Hotels
This sense of place is perhaps best experienced in the aptly named, “Executive House Zen”. Located within the Hotel New Otani Tokyo (a “hotel-in-a-hotel” arrangement), the Executive House Zen is an ultra-luxurious sanctuary for those in the know. The 87 rooms are entirely contained on the 11th and 12th floors of the hotel, and express the finest in Japanese design. Tastefully restrained shades of gold, brown, and black cover the walls, on which hang calligraphy-inspired artworks. Throughout your room, you’ll find other little nods to Japanese culture; one suite might have a miniature Zen rock garden, another, a carefully cultivated bonsai tree. The overall effect is one of comprehensive peace and relaxation – something every visitor to Tokyo craves after a long day of urban exploration!
Executive House Zen in Tokyo, a Partner Hotel of The Luxury Travel Agency
Of course, guests at the Executive House Zen have the privilege of using all the spaces and facilities in the Hotel New Otani. The property alone has over 35 food and beverage options, including one of the city’s finest French restaurants, Tour d’Argent Tokyo. One can’t-miss attraction is the Japanese Garden, covering 10 acres of the property, with all of the picturesque elements those gardens are known for: arched red bridges, koi ponds, and a stunning array of flowers that change with the seasons. For a truly romantic experience, check out the rooftop rose garden, where 30,000 individual roses come together for a spectacular display that would be the highlight of any Instagram feed!
Heading south – way south – we come to New Zealand’s Azur Lodge. Set along the shores of Queenstown’s breathtaking Lake Wakatipu, Azur is a very small property, made up of only nine identical villas. Each offers nearly eighty square meters of premium lakeside living, with separate lounge areas, private sundecks, and unobstructed views of majestic Cecil Peak across the lake. The décor is simple and bright; after all, in New Zealand, the natural environment is the real star.
Azur Lodge in New Zealand, a Partner Hotel of The Luxury Travel Agency
Queenstown is often referred to as the “Adventure Capital of the World”, and it’s a well-earned title. Cradled by striking mountain ranges, it’s a dream destination for active travelers and adrenaline junkies. Hikers have their pick of routes, from relaxing lakeside trails to demanding mountain summits and everything in between. Getting back down the hill, you might find yourself on a zipline – or a paraglider! Many have heard of the famed Milford Sound, but on The Luxury Travel Agency’s last visit, we spent a day exploring the entire Fiordland National Park by helicopter, an absolute must for any visitor. Soaring over glacier peaks, touching down on the Pacific coast for fresh lobster, a meal in the secluded old-growth forest – there are few experiences in this world that measure up.
In the global capital of London, we find The Hari, a personal favourite for several of our luxury travel advisors. Tucked away in the affluent neighborhood of Belgravia, within easy walking distance to Knightsbridge, The Hari is a boutique hotel that offers charm and elegance in equal portion. With only 85 rooms, The Hari feels more like a luxurious London apartment than a hotel – an impression reinforced by the sumptuous velvet upholstery, wood furnishings, and cozy nooks for sitting by the windows.
The Hari in London, a Partner Hotel of The Luxury Travel Agency
This comfort extends to their dining options, which are kept simple yet immensely appealing. Their Italian gem, il Pampero, serves three meals a day in a kind of “vintage chic” setting that is a real treat to dine in – not to mention their authentic, Southern Italian menu that perfectly straddles the line between class and comfort (this travel advisor highly recommends their cacio e pepe, served in a pecorino cheese wheel – satisfaction guaranteed). The nearby Hari Bar exudes effortless cool (bibliophiles will adore the book-lined walls), while the upstairs Garden Terrace, wrapped in greenery, is the perfect spot for a summer beverage.
Over on “the continent”, luxury travellers can find plenty more examples of this dedication to a unique guest experience. In Amsterdam, a city long known for its unique conceptions of design, the Pulitzer Amsterdam stands as a testament to this approach. Perched on the edge of one of the city’s ubiquitous canals, the hotel is actually made up of 25 houses, with a history dating back to the “Dutch Golden Age” of the 17th Century. The rooms and suites all have their own quirks that give the Pulitzer its character; certain rooms have kept their exposed brick walls, while others offer two levels for family space. The collection of five “Extraordinary Suites” are all entirely unique – one is filled with extraordinary modern art, another with a vast collection of musical instruments and records, and so on.
Pulitzer Amsterdam, a Partner Hotel of The Luxury Travel Agency
Of course, any visitor to Amsterdam should explore its canals, something the Pulitzer is well equipped to facilitate. The hotel owns a pair of charming teak boats that guests can employ for private cruising, with room for up to 6 passengers per vessel; outfitted with bottles of champagne, or even a full kit for a floating picnic, there’s no better way to experience the “Venice of the North”.
Across the Atlantic, the Preferred Collection offers one of its finest gems in the NIZUC Resort & Spa. Located on the tip of Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, a mere 10-minute drive from the Cancún Airport, NIZUC pulls influences from Latin America and the Caribbean, and fashions an aesthetic all its own. It was recently voted “The Most Instagrammable Hotel in the World” – what else do you need to hear? Spacious suites and private pool villas dot the lush grounds, with plenty of privacy for luxury travellers on a romantic getaway.
NIZUC Resort & Spa, a Partner Hotel of The Luxury Travel Agency
In a space such as this one, your accommodations are only the tip of the experiential iceberg. NIZUC is home to the region’s first ESPA-branded spa; this award-winning brand is known the world over for its careful selection of natural products and holistic principles. Luxury travel advisors know that any top-notch resort should be judged (at least in part) by its ability to help their guests relax, unwind, and leave feeling better than when they arrived. In this capacity, NIZUC never disappoints! Contemporary knowledge is blended with ancient Mayan wisdom and local ingredients to produce a spa experience like none other – just one of the many reasons to consider NIZUC for your next vacation.
Moving northward, we finish our global Preferred tour in the state of South Carolina, at Montage Palmetto Bluff. Here, it’s all about the timeless “southern hospitality” that this region of the USA is so famous for. The hotel is set on a sprawling 20,000-acre property, with no end to your options for enjoying it. There’s a Nicklaus-designed golf course, stately yachts for exploring the May River, fishing of all description, clay pigeon shooting – the list goes on.
The Montage Palmetto Bluff
Meanwhile, the “hotel” barely resembles a hotel at all! A variety of rooms, suites, cottages, and residences are strategically located throughout the property, ensuring maximum privacy and enjoyment of the surrounding natural splendour. As with the other hotels in the Collection, Montage Palmetto Bluff places a strong emphasis on creating that “sense of place” for guests to really feel the culture and history of their destination. Us luxury travel advisors particularly love the cottages; the standalone buildings create a feeling of home, with their wood flooring, gas fireplaces, and splendid views over the river. Watching a southern sunset on your porch with your partner…it doesn’t get much more romantic than that!
More Information about The Luxury Travel Agency
The Luxury Travel Agency specializes in planning the most amazing journeys, accounting for every detail of a trip, ensuring that you bring home memories to last a lifetime. And if you just need to book the hotel – we will gladly do that! No matter how you travel, our Luxury Travel Advisors can elevate your experience.
Contact The Luxury Travel Agency today, and one of our expert travel advisors will be in touch with you right away to plan your journey of a lifetime!
