Panama City, Panama offers a range of other luxury hotels from which to choose. A few additional luxury resorts that offer the five star treatment  in Panama include the Trump Ocean Club International Hotel and Tower,  a 70-story building with amenities that  include a 24-hour doorman, concierge, fitness center, wi-fi, and a lavish pool and deck overlooking the waterfront.  Personal shopping is available, as well.

The Intercontinental Playa Bonita Hotel and Spa has 303 guestrooms and 29 suites. Amenities include Turkish baths, saunas, a cardio center and weight room with a view of the pool and the ocean. The Intercontinental has a spa with beachfront massages. There is also an Intercontinental Miramar Panama, located in Panama City, Panama.

The JW Marriott in Panama is a four-star luxury hotel. The hotel has 366 rooms and 23 suites. Some of the amenities include a spa and boutique, but the location  near shopping and a banking district is probably convenient for guests visiting for business or leisure.

Photo courtesy of Isla Palenque/PRNewswire

Claudine Williams is a travel writer who appreciates the finer things in life. Join her on Google+. 

The post A Luxury Resort on a Private Island: The Isla Palenque appeared first on Somewhere Luxurious.

If you are planning a Valentine’s Day getaway for your loved one and you are willing to take a trip to a  Georgia resort, you are in luck. You can give your loved one the most memorable Valentine’s Day ever, with the help of a sweet little fairy godmother and her magic. The fairy godmother at Barnsley Gardens Resort in Adairsville, Georgia has an Art of Romance Package that will wow the person you love. The package includes a two-night stay in a luxurious cottage, the Arbor Cottage, a gourmet dinner one night, breakfast daily, a couple’s massage and special treat from the fairy godmother, herself. Rates start at $980 a night.

Photo courtesy of the Barnsley Gardens Resort

Why do I recommend Barnsley Gardens Resort? The grounds are beautiful, the cottages are cute and cozy (with fireplaces) and modern conveniences, and you will feel comfortable, pampered, and relaxed there, at least I did during my stay. I loved the gorgeous gardens, the great food, and the laid-back atmosphere. I spent a lot of time in the spa area, lounging near the whirlpool and reading. In my room, one of the staff members lit the fireplace for me, and I snacked on some of my leftovers from dinner while I watched my favorite reality TV shows on the flat screen TV and chatted on my laptop with a friend. Hey, I like to multi-task.

During my stay, at this Georgia resort, I met the fairy godmother, and she’s simply awesome. In a perfect world, everyone everywhere who have no idea of what to do for Valentine’s Day would flock to Barnsley Gardens, book a cottage, and select one of her awesome packages or ask her to make custom romantic arrangements (that’s even better).

Don’t count out visiting Barnsley Gardens for your own special anti-Valentine’s Day celebration. If you are single or in a complicated relationship, you should definitely treat yourself. By the way, Barnsley Gardens Resort is on Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards for the Top 20 Resorts in the South.

The post A Georgia Resort for a Romantic Retreat appeared first on Somewhere Luxurious.

The Santa Barbara Beach and Golf Resort has recently been the focal point of some changes. This sprawling resort was previously called the Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina. It was once managed by Hyatt, and it’s now under new management. The new management took over the hotel at midnight last month, while the guests were asleep. The resort’s owner  stated in a press release that Hyatt didn’t live up to its agreement, so Hyatt was ousted in the middle of the night. The owner blamed Hyatt for $12 million in loss revenue in 2011 and a lower than expected occupancy rate.

Other than that bit, the resort has had some impressive reviews from Orbitz readers who commented on the resort’s food and family friendly atmosphere. Travel writer Fox Mahmud prepared to give the resort raving reviews after he stayed there in 2012, but once he heard that the owners kicked Hyatt to the curb, he feels that the resort won’t be the same. It takes money and bookings to run a resort. Hopefully, the owners and new management are able to keep all of the amenities intact  and keep qualities that people loved about the resort. With some luck, the improvements would be for the better, and the good workers there can keep their jobs. Those who need to go, need to go.

Will rates rise, or will the new management attempt to lower the rates and offer new deals to lure new guests? I’d bet on the higher rates, but some people are willing and able to pay the price as long as the quality is there, and the guests get more than what they expect. People will pay more for an amazing vacation.

Photo Credit: Santa Barbara NV Beach and Golf Resort/PRNewswire

The post A New Start for the Santa Barbara NV Beach and Golf Resort in Curacao appeared first on Somewhere Luxurious.