Westin Bund Center Shanghai

Visible throughout Shanghai's historic waterfront known as The Bund thanks to its elaborate art-deco-inspired rooftop design, this hotel actually consists of three towers, the Crown as it is called and the newer Grand Towers, opened in 2007. Equidistant at around 45 minutes from Pudong International Airport or Hongqiao International Airport, the well-kept property balances the needs of business travelers, especially those working in the Bund Center in which this hotel is located and tourists who have optimal access to Shanghai's sights and shopping along nearby Nanjing Road, though many of the surrounding sidewalks were still unpaved with construction overhead during this inspection.

The Peninsula Hong Kong

This is one luxury hotel whose reputation precedes it ... The Peninsula Hong Kong was once regarded as the only place for any savvy traveler to stay in this historic city. Times may have changed, but The Peninsula remains much the same. Quiet conversation and boisterous laughter surrounds you. A particularly popular spot for Afternoon Tea, The Peninsula Hong Kong excels at this precious pastime. But first things first: arriving in one of the hotel's 14 Rolls Royces, you then sail through a smooth check in. Moments later, the elevator doors open onto the floor that will become your home away from home, and all is silent and still. The luxurious and charmingly "old-world" style of the rooms and suites will astound you here, and your every desire will be attended to in a timely and gracious fashion. Will you want to get out of bed before breakfast? Probably not. Why bother before Afternoon Tea? Perhaps by the time the Spa beckons. The city itself will be calling your name soon. Maybe you'll leave from the rooftop, taking a helicopter for a little "flight-seeing."

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi

Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi is prominently placed in the Marunouchi central business district, adjacent to Tokyo Station, offering a striking, contemporary setting within the landmark glass-clad tower of the esteemed Pacific Century Place. The hotel featured 57 rooms, including nine suites. Guest rooms are remarkably spacious with detailed features and contemporary furnishings befitting the hotel which is located in one of the world�s most technologically advanced cities in the world. Each room is equipped to meet the needs of the modern business traveler. Inspired by the sophistication of modern New York-style cuisine, Ekki Bar & Grill combines unique culinary skills with the freshest local ingredients. The result is a simple but varied menu with international appeal, from casual lunch items to more formal dining in the evening. The spa offers a quiet and relaxing setting on the seventh floor. The spa features wet spa facilities which include a steam sauna, jet showers, Japanese scrub showers and a traditional Onsen bath. Guests can unwind with a massage in one of two private treatment rooms or simply relax in the spa�s airy lounge.

Park Hyatt Tokyo

Centrally located in the Shinjuku district, Park Hyatt Tokyo offers breathtaking views of the city, an outdoor swimming pool and luxurious rooms with free Wi-Fi and flat-screen TV.

Hiiragiya Ryokan Kyoto

This exquisite ryokan is as fine an example of a traditional inn as you'll find in Japan. Situated in the heart of old Kyoto, it offers the ultimate in Japanese-style living, with a very accommodating staff that's helpful in initiating foreigners unfamiliar with Japan to the joys of a ryokan. Noteworthy former guests include princes of the Japanese royal family, Charlie Chaplin, and Pierre Cardin. If you're going to splurge just once in Japan, this is one of my top choices. Built in 1818 and an inn since 1861 -- Ms. Nishimura is the sixth-generation innkeeper -- Hiiragiya is a haven of simple design that makes artful use of wood, bamboo, screens, and stones in its spacious, traditionally arranged rooms. Even the remote controls for the lights and curtains are cleverly concealed in specially made lacquered boxes shaped like gourds (invented by the present owner's great-grandfather). Rooms, each one unique, are also outfitted with art and antiques such as gold-painted folding screens or lacquered bathrooms, and most offer garden views and cypress baths. Even the least expensive room -- a former tearoom only 4 1/2 tatami mats big, with a sink but no bathroom and a view of the garden -- is good enough for me. A recent addition added seven new but elegant rooms. Dinners are exquisite multicourse kaiseki feasts; Western-style breakfasts are available upon request.

The Peninsula Beijing

Recently renamed from The Palace Hotel to The Peninsula Palace Beijing following a US$ 34 million upgrade, The Peninsula Palace Beijing is now one of the premier hotel in Beijing for business and leisure travelers, as well as the venue of choice for important events and celebrations. Having opened in 1989, The Peninsula Palace Beijing has an imposing, traditional Chinese architectural-style exterior, integrated with the ultimate in luxurious, modern hotel amenities and facilities. The hotel offers 525 superbly appointed and spacious guest rooms and suites, based on The Peninsula's tradition of comfort, subtly blended with Chinese influences. Each one of the hotel's guest rooms is equipped with advanced technology for the convenience of hotel guests. Featuring two of the finest and most innovative restaurants in Beijing, Jing, a "modern meets Asian" restaurant, and the brand new Huang Ting, offering exquisite Cantonese cuisine, the hotel has set new standards of service in China. The Peninsula Palace Beijing offers a range of fitness facilities that includes a fully equipped Fitness Center, a heated swimming pool, steam rooms, saunas, as well as massage and beauty treatments. The hotel also features the most prestigious shopping arcade in Beijing, The Peninsula Arcade, with 50 exclusive designer boutiques. The Peninsula Hong Kong offers the ultimate in luxury accommodations with the most spacious hotel rooms and suites in Hong Kong. Each one of the hotel's opulent guest rooms is comfortable and stylish and equipped with advanced technology for the convenience of hotel guests - underlined, of course, by the world-famous Peninsula service. Among the most spacious in Hong Kong, all rooms and suites in The Peninsula Hong Kong are furnished to the very highest standards of luxury, blending classical European elegance with subtle oriental influences. Rooms are designed not only for their comfort and style, but also for maximum convenience, including advanced technology. Guests have a choice of rooms and suites in either the grand, historic Main Building or the more contemporary floors of The Peninsula Tower, with commanding views of the harbor and the city. The restaurants and bars at The Peninsula Hong Kong are among the most exclusive and most elegant in Hong Kong. Renowned as one of the best French restaurants in Asia, Gaddi's is Hong Kong's most elegant dining experience while Felix offers a sleek and stylish city rendezvous with stunning views across the harbor. High tea at The Peninsula's The Lobby is a Hong Kong institution, and the best authentic Cantonese food in town is served at Spring Moon. The Peninsula Spa is one of Hong Kong's most luxurious hotel spa facilities, complete with a state-of-the-art Health Club, huge Roman-style swimming pool, and beauty and hairdressing salon. The pool opens onto the hotel's sun terrace, providing an incredible view of Victoria Harbor and Hong Kong Island.

The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong

Two key words for understanding Hong Kong's Landmark Mandarin Oriental are location and luxury. "Landmark Oriental" and "Central" go together like "sky" and "blue". An easy walk from the hotel leads you to the zoo; a little further to The Peak for the renowned view of Victoria Harbour. Adjacent to The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, the world's top fashion houses vie for attention in The Landmark Atrium, the IFC (or head to "the lanes", if you prefer street shopping). You'll find a ton of restaurants and bars two blocks from the hotel in Lan Kwai Fong or up the Mid-levels escalator in SoHo. The luxury suites at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel feel more like a designer home than a hotel room, in a blend of British colonial charm with Chinese accents. Head down to the spa after a hard day touring the sights; the heated chairs in the water room are the perfect way to relax - unless it's a Friday night, in which case you should be heading to Mo Bar for a cocktail.

Hotel Côté Cour SL

A steady march of courtyard hotels have opened in Beijing in recent years, but Hotel Côté Cour SL is the first to enliven this authentic Chinese experience with a bit of comfort and style. The hotel is in Yanyue Hutong, an historic lane that was home to dancers, musicians and opera singers of the Ming-dynasty imperial court. Wangfujing, a renowned shopping street, is within walking distance. The 14 rooms, set around a pleasant courtyard with a lily pond, are fitted with elegant furniture, goose-down duvets and beautiful silk from southern China. The floors are made with antique bricks from Anhui province, and polished to a remarkable lustre. Alongside these “old Beijing” touches, each room has modern facilities, including Wi-Fi and flat-screen televisions with a wide range of satellite channels. The lounge, with its high ceiling and long windows, makes a pleasant spot to relax. It sees a free continental breakfast served each morning, and a happy hour in the late afternoon.