Three cheers for Arden who maintained this site by herself for two weeks while I was out on sick leave. Damn the flu. But my mock-vacation gave me the opportunity to catch up on some of my favorite old time movies. Oh, Steve McQueen, how I love thee.

I also had time to roam the internet searching for awesome hotels that I could never ever afford to stay in. Or, you know, I will stay in when I am not paying off student loans or credit card companies. Like this hotel in London. I actually found this hotel at the beginning of February but forgot to write down the name or the web address. Will you believe that I found it again by googling "London hotel lobby lips couch"? True story.

At first my google search lead me to this website which is now my new favorite. If you go to Hotels: Explore Our Collections you can even search for budget hotels. Granted, "budget" isn't the same as hostelworld "budget" but this hotel for $85? Free breakfast? Yes, please.

Moving far away from budget is this chain of hotels, clustered mostly in India. Udaivilas and Amarvilas are my favorites but you won't see me complaining if I had to stay in any of these hotels. I love that the 10 Days of Jaipur India in Luxury Special offers you the option to "set out on an elephant ride", have an appointment with an Ayurvedic doctor, and get a massage almost every day.

But if you're going to stay in luxury who says you have to stay in one place? Take this line of cruise ships in Egypt that lets you explore the Nile and keep your suitcase in one place.

Luxury hotels aren't only accesable after a 13 hour flight, however. Take this hotel in Portland, Oregon. (I inevitably found this other Sheraton hotel which is in Spain, not North America, but who cares?) Or this one in Boston -- which offers free swing dances and outdoor movies in the summer, FYI.

It's all well and good to visit places but wouldn't it be nice to retire here? Hell with retirment, let's move now!

I leave you with this song from Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. And don't miss out on the Spanish version.