We did a post like this a while ago, and it seemed to be a hit, so we thought…maybe this should be a regular thing?

If you follow this site, you know that we’re a proud independent affiliate of Uniglobe Travel Center, a Virtuoso agency. That means that even a relatively small independent business like ours has some phenomenal relationships with travel suppliers around the globe, including some fabulous “best of the best” hotels, which participate in our Virtuoso hotel program.

Not only do our clients really appreciate those amenities — we’ve also taken advantage of Virtuoso’s VIP treatment ourselves! Here’s where we, and our clients, are staying right now!

Virgin Hotel Nashville, Nashville, Tennessee

A group of girlfriends wanted to celebrate a milestone birthday in Music City, and reached out to us about a short getaway to Nashville. Well, that destination has a new fan favorite in Virgin Hotels Nashville. The boutique hotel features rooms (they’re called Chambers here) with ergonomic headboards, yoga mats, and stand-alone vanities for getting ready for a night on the town, plus glam meeting spaces, a rooftop pool exclusively for guests, and 24-hour gym. Then, indulge in late-night bites in the Commons Club bar, serving specialties like Chicken Fried Mushrooms and Salmon Crudo ‘til 11 PM.

According to the hotel:

We’re here to turn the volume all the way up in Music City. We’ve reimagined not only what a boutique hotel can look like, but what it can do. Combined with Virgin’s unrelenting dedication to the consumer, we’re ushering in a new standard for hospitality and heartfelt service amongst hotels. Expect a modern, personalized experience with all the trimmings of Southern charm – and we’re just getting started. Minutes from Downtown, Gulch and both Vanderbilt and Belmont University. Close enought to it all and still maintain the comfort and excitiment of all things Nashville - The only spt on Music Row where you trully feel a part of Nashville.

Sound like fun? Our clients thought so. The Virtuoso amenities at this property include:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

Daily $70 Breakfast credit for two guests per bedroom
$100 USD equivalent Food & Beverage credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, not valid on room rate, no cash value if not redeemed in full)
A complimentary welcome amenity
Early Check-In / Late Check-Out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Our clients found a bottle of wine waiting in their room for them. Pretty sweet, right?

Casa Gangotena, Quito, Ecuador

Our clients who recently went to The Galápagos decided to linger in Quito for a few days, to explore South America’s best-preserved colonial old town, as well as the incredible natural beauty of the surrounding area. We booked them at Casa Gangotena, which absolutely blew them away.

The three-story Casa Gangotena Boutique Hotel is host to 31 rooms with unique Art Deco-inspired interiors, eye-catching antique furnishings, and quintessential technological conveniences. This eclectic boutique hotel invites guests to relax in their atrium-like Loggia, fountain-adorned garden, wood-paneled bar, and panoramic rooftop terrace. The spectacular orchids, plants, and flowers arranged throughout many of the spaces in Casa Gangotena are typical of Ecuador.

Beyond its doors, the wonders of Quito await! From where the hotel is situated in the iconic San Francisco Plaza, guests can head out to explore cobblestoned streets, ornate churches, plazas, shops, cafés, and markets. Views of the Andes Mountains accompany visitors around every corner.

The hotel’s guest-exclusive activities feature after-hours visits to the nearby San Francisco Church Bells and Choir, Carmen Alto Museum, and San Francisco Inner Courtyard and Brewery. Additionally, the hotel offers a pair of tastings, Chocolate Quiteño (traditional hot chocolate), and Café Quiteño. These are presented by the team of chefs, whose Cocina Mestiza celebrates the nation’s indigenous roots and Spanish heritage, with a modern take on traditional Ecuadorian fare, served at the hotel’s very own restaurant.

Casa Gangotena has played an important role in Quito’s rich history. Over the past few centuries, wealthy families aimed to build their homes in the vicinity of the plaza. The earlier incarnation of Casa Gangotena served as a residence for several Republican-era presidents until 1914, when disaster struck and the structure succumbed to a calamitous fire.

The reconstruction project was led by a pair of architects, two Italian brothers, Antonino and Paolo Russo, between 1918 and 1926. The Gangotenas, being a rather prominent family comprised of industrialists, politicians, and landowners, spared no expense when it came to the new mansion, bringing over inlaid flooring from France, and commissioning the city’s first oak door, which, to this day, welcomes guests to the hotel.

Virtuoso Amenities for this property include:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

Daily buffet breakfast for two guests per bedroom, served in the restaurant
Complimentary 6 course tasting menu dinner for up to two people, once during stay, excluding drinks (alcoholic & nonalcoholic) and gratuities
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

Our pro-tip for visiting the property — plan your day around cocktails on the terrace. Each evening, the staff of the hotel had something special planned for our clients who were their guests, and being able to relax with a drink overlooking the plaza was a real highlight of the trip.

The Ritz-Carlton Vienna, Vienna Austria

Austria is having a moment — we’re getting more inquiries for Vienna right now than any other destination in Europe. We were thrilled to be invited to the Virtuoso Symposium, where we had an opportunity to get insider access to the Imperial majesty of one of Europe’s most exciting capitals. And where did we stay? The exquisite Ritz-Carlton Vienna.

The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna is a casual yet impeccably luxurious retreat on the iconic Ring Boulevard in Vienna’s cultural heart. Offering a holistic twenty-first-century guest experience, this is where legendary service and imagination are innate. Staying here crafts memorable experiences, bringing together a destination-inspired dining scene, splendid accommodations, and an enriching spa. Featuring a stunning Rooftop Bar, two lively restaurants and bars, a 10,765-square-foot luxury spa, and some of the largest guest rooms in town, the hotel is a rare mix of hidden retreat and city address.

Of course, you’ll also get those Virtuoso VIP Amenities when we book you there, including:

Upgrade on arrival, subject to availability

Daily Full breakfast for two guests per bedroom in Dstrikt Steakhouse Restaurant
$100 USD equivalent Hotel credit to be utilized during stay (not combinable, no cash value if not redeemed in full. Not valid on transfer, room rates, add room upgrades, spa retail products, hotel retail products, taxes, tips, payouts or cash)
Early check-in/late check-out, subject to availability
Complimentary Wi-Fi

But of course, staying at any Ritz-Carlton property is always about much more than a gorgeous room, a perfect location and delicious dining. The service at Ritz-Carlton is beyond compare. They’ve trained their staff to pay attention to the smallest details of their guests’ stays, so that they can find opportunities to go above and beyond. And we’ve experienced that ourselves. Here’s the story:

On the day when I was checking out of the hotel after a wonderful visit, and while assembling my breakfast plate at the private buffet for our group, one of the waiters, Berthold, noticed that I lingered over the breads and muffins a little longer than usual. Did I need anything else? I said that I was just looking to see if they had Brötchen, and he said, no problem, I’ll bring them right out. I begged him not to make a fuss, but a minute later, he told me that if I wasn’t in a hurry, they’d bring some out to me in 6-7 minutes.

They actually baked bread for me, without me really asking, but because the staff at Ritz-Carlton properties are trained to be observant and to anticipate guests’ needs, and that’s exactly what Berthold did. So, when you ask why we recommend booking at a Virtuoso hotel, or we pitch a Ritz-Carlton to you, it’s because we know you’ll be well-cared-for.

So, are you ready to experience these fabulous properties for yourselves, give one of our rockstar travel advisors a call. We’d love to book you at a Virtuoso hotel!

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