All hail Aqua Luna

Fancy living the life of a Tai Pan or sipping on a sundowner like a colonial conquistador? Well, if you're in Hong Kong it's easy: book yourself straight onto the Aqua Luna junk. Departing from both Central and Tsim Sha Tsui the junk runs day and night and gives you unrivaled views of the harbour from a spectacular vantage point. On arrival you can enjoy a complimentary glass of wine, beer or a soft drink, lie back on one of the comfy sofas and enjoy sunset in style from the water. With it's instantly recognisable deep red sails the Aqua Luna, a traditional Chinese junk, is an experience not to be missed. The junk is old and has been beautifully updated. An evening sail really is a fantastic way to spend 45 minutes in this crazy town! Book at http://www.aqua.com.hk/

Wallet-friendly luxury hotels

Stay at the Ritz-Carlton in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, and you'll bed down in a 430-square-foot room with a large marble bath and deep soaking tub, a flat screen television, and skyline views of the city. When it's time for breakfast, a butler will serve you an omelet made to order, piping hot toast and freshly squeezed orange juice. Since the property is situated in the heart of the city, you can walk to all the major shopping and sightseeing. But perhaps the best part about shacking up here? It's cheap. The room described above costs $200 a night. In pictures: Ten wallet-friendly luxury hotels Put down your glasses. It's true: Bargains can be found even at upscale, pricey chains like the Ritz-Carlton. What's more, while you can score good deals on deluxe properties by visiting them offseason, the kinds of hotels we're talking about have lower prices all year round. After all, who wants to visit the Caribbean in summer—the heart of hurricane season—or stay at Kuala Lumpur in June, when temperatures can surpass 90 degrees? "No luxury hotel is going to advertise itself as having low prices, but if you dig, you'll find that luxe hotels without high price tags do exist," says Adam Weissenberg, head of the tourism, hospitality and leisure practice at Deloitte & Touche. "In countries where the currency rate works out in favor of the U.S. dollar, deals can be found at upscale chains." While a room at the Tokyo Ritz-Carlton is $460 a night, for instance, a comparable room at the Kuala Lumpur Ritz is far less, thanks to the strength of the U.S. dollar against the Malaysian ringgit. Another a weaker currency, the peso, is driving down prices at the Four Seasons Resort in Carmelo, Uruguay, which is situated on the banks of the Rio Plata River. For $200 a night, travelers stay in 1000-square-foot bungalows with hand carved beds, terraces, private gardens with outdoor showers and baths with heated floors and deep soaking tubs. Guests can occupy themselves swimming in the property's huge pool, playing golf at the onsite 18-hole course, indulging in a four-handed massage at the spa, visiting Colonia, a UNESCO World Heritage site, or checking out local wineries such as Cerros de San Juan. Independent streak Where the exchange rate is poor, experts recommend steering clear of hotel chains and focusing instead on local, independent accomodations. "To find favorable prices without sacrificing luxury, travelers need to look to properties which don't have a big name attached to them," says Arabella Bowen, editorial director of ShermansTravel.com, a travel deal site. "Some, even in popular tourist areas, offer lower prices." For example, rooms at the Domaine Des Hauts De Loire in Onzain, France, in the heart of the Loire Valley, start at just $120 a night. Guests are welcomed to this fairytale property, once a former hunting lodge, by a large pond with floating swans, then check into one of 33 rooms, which have original 19th century furnishings, marble baths and flat-screen televisions. The hotel also has a garden full of vegetables and herbs, used to prepare meals at the hotel's restaurant. Tourists can spend their days visiting dozens of castles in the area, such as Chateau de Chaumont, which was home to Henry II, and Chateau de Chambord, the 440-room palace where Louis XIV spent his summers. Domestic deals The place it's most challenging to find a wallet-friendly luxury hotel, according to experts, is stateside. Still, travelers willing to look outside major cities can find deals. At the seven-acre Tu Tu Tun Lodge in Gold Beach, Oregon, for example, rooms start at $195 a night. Rooms at this price boast Italian linens, a granite bath and a private patio, with cascading plants, overlooking the Rogue River. The rate also includes guest activities such as kayaking and golfing, morning coffee and juice delivered bedside, an afternoon tea with freshly baked cookies, evening hors d'ouvres such as fish kebabs, and white chocolate fudge at turndown. They can take a dip at the on-site pool or take guided boating and fishing excursions that leave from the property's dock. With deals like these, the high-end life can be had—on a low-end budget.

How to fly business class without breaking the bank

There may be no such thing as a free ride, but you can fly a better class for less than retail. Y-Up Where You Belong What looks like a coach ticket but lands you in first or business? The discounted first class tickets called Y-Up (a.k.a. Q-Up). They’re valid on flights within the U.S. and Canada, and seats are almost always available (though most travel agents won’t offer unless you ask). Y-Up fares cost more than Orbitz’s best cheapies, but are much less than actual first class fares. FareCompare.com has a great search engine (and explains the fine print). Try Delt When you go to Rome, or Paris, or Tel Aviv, go with Delta. If you can book at least 50 days ahead, you can get up to 75 percent off BusinessElite Leisure fares. Delta has recently done a major upgrade, to the tune of horizontal sleeping suites (available next February), TV with HBO, and meals created by Michelle Bernstein. (Here’s the how-to fine print.) E-I-E-I-Eos And, of course, we can’t forget Eos, the excellent all-business-class London-NYC airline. Only 48 people travel on a plane built for 220, and you fly to Stanstead airport, avoiding the madness of Heathrow. We checked airfare for the middle of October: $3,292 on Eos, $5,836 on Virgin. That extra $2,544 can buy a lot of Paul Smith suits.

China Eastern: A Godsend

http://www.mojoinchina.com/post/1/150 Flights for $500 to the big apple. Courtesy of mojoinchina.com.

Does anyone have any suggestions for Laos?

Going there next month and wondering if anyone's got tips on where to stay in Luang Prabang. Thanks.

Check out this info on Bombay

City by the sea Mumbai (still “Bombay” to locals) is cacophonous and chaotic, bustling and cool. And it’s undergoing a major hip revolution — in food, fashion, and nightlife. Hop on. http://www.dailycandy.com/article.jsp?ArticleId=30435&city=15

Virgin America Launches

As of today, the new Virgin America is flying the friendly skies above our amber waves of grain. The debut routes go from SFO to JFK and LAX. New York to L.A. starts on August 29; D.C., Vegas, and San Diego roll out this fall. And they’re adding 30 cities over the next five years. What’s so special about another airline? Not much. Just spanking new planes, tons of TV and music options, IM capabilities with other passengers (hell-o, 24D), food you can order any time, mood lighting, and outlets at every seat. And something that will turn the Brits green: Virgin America is a low-cost carrier. That means SF-LA for $44 (coach) or $149 (first class); NYC-LA for $129 (coach) or $389 (first class). Yeah. We know how to throw a better tea party. At any elevation. Available online at virginamerica.com.

Budget Travel Costs for 94 Cities around the World

http://iloho.com/posts/170-Budget-Travel-Costs-for-94-Cities-around-the-World

How To Travel Like Royalty On A Backpacker Budget

This is a good article for cash-strapped travellers: http://www.bravenewtraveler.com/2007/07/04/how-to-travel-like-royalty-on-a-backpacker-budget/

www.PerfectEscapes.com

This is the site I work for. We find and publish hotel deals at only 4 and 5 star hotels in over 115 countries. We have 2200 hotels listed on the site. We also work with hotels directly to negotiate for exclusive offers and then provide them to our customers. You can receive the latest in Hotel Deals through our newsletter - The Perfect 10.