WHAT'S IT LIKE? Combining urban sophistication with suburban amenities, The Ritz-Carlton, Pentagon City is a real standout when business or leisure brings you to Washington, D.C. In an area with many hotel options, it is one of the most dynamic high-end properties I can think of, complete with all of the style and panache of its Ritz siblings, and impressive... more

WHAT'S IT LIKE? The Hyatt Regency Philadelphia at Penn's Landing is a bustling, service-oriented property that caters well to large groups and events, with a comfortable lobby area that became the default meeting spot for various assemblies during my stay. It created a welcome, lively atmosphere from the moment I arrived to the morning I left, without becoming obtrusive. It's... more

WHAT’S IT LIKE? The three new buildings flanking Hotel Villa Kennedy’s 1904 centerpiece, Villa Speyer, do nothing to undermine its classic elegance, and the hotel  plays up this feature. The building’s ornate façade welcomes guests to a picturesque setting in the middle of one of Germany’s most cosmopolitan cities. But it’s by no means a stuffy old hotel; in fact,... more

WHAT'S IT LIKE? This nine-year-old hotel comprises a 12-story building based around four towers housing guest rooms, and a central atrium with a 148-foot-high glass roof. The hotel's modern décor features warm touches, such as contemporary and abstract artwork and classic Danish furniture, and its streamlined design enhances exposure to natural light.WHERE IS IT? A short walk from Kastrup Airport's... more

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Opened in August 2007, this contemporary five-floor property is ideally suited for the long-haul, stop-over business traveler. Clad in blue glass and with smart corporate appeal, the hotel's exterior transitions brightly into the spacious lobby. Arriving as I did in the morning twilight of Finland's dark winter days, after an eight-hour overnighter from New York, the airy... more

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Opened in August 2008, Radisson Blu Hotel, Zurich Airport, is quite unlike any other airport hotel business travelers are likely to experience. Its showpiece, a glowing wine tower that rises dramatically from the lobby (complete with high-flying acrobats) makes Radisson Blu feel more like a little slice of Las Vegas than an airport hotel. Its capacious, six-story... more

WHAT'S IT LIKE? I've been fortunate enough to visit a number of Shangri-La properties recently and am starting to get pretty spoiled by the brand's level of service. I checked into Shangri-La's Far Eastern Plaza Hotel, Taipei with sky-high expectations, but I was once again impressed with its modern yet exotic lobby, an eager-to-please staff and easy location. (The hotel... more

WHAT'S IT LIKE? Lebua at State Tower is a sleek design hotel carved somewhat incongruously from a soaring neoclassical office building in the heart of the Bangrak business district. The public spaces, rather than occupying contiguous floors, are scattered among the building's 65 stories, linked by a series of high-speed elevators. This provides some unique opportunities that the management has... more

FIRST IMPRESSIONS With no line at check-in for this 10:17 p.m. flight, the ticket agent quickly checked my bag and gave me my boarding pass and directions to the Red Carpet lounge. After a speedy trip through the dedicated first- and business-class security line, it was a short walk to the lounge, where the woman at the front desk handed... more

FIRST IMPRESSIONS My connecting flight from Bangkok had put me into Kastrup Airport early in the morning, so I had several hours of free time before my 12:20 flight to Newark. I had already been checked in for my Copenhagen–Newark flight at Bangkok Airport, so after perusing duty free, I headed to the lounge, for which I had a pass.... more

FIRST IMPRESSIONS On Nov. 21, Air France flew the first A380 bound for Paris from New York, and I was excited to board the inaugural flight. I arrived at 6:30 p.m., two hours before departure, and was delighted to find that I wasn't the only one eagerly anticipating the big event. Air France had pulled out all the stops with... more

FIRST IMPRESSIONS I arrived at Bangkok International Suvarnabhumi Airport about three hours before my flight to LAX. There was no line at the check-in counter where I received a welcome confirmation on my upgrade to premium economy class. After checking in, I spent about five minutes waiting at the passport security checkpoint and proceeded to have my carry-on luggage scanned... more