9 Hotels With Incredible Perks

Even a pauper can feel pampered at these posh getaways

(NEWSER) - Even upscale chains like Ritz-Carlton will rent you a room for a reasonable price—if you seek out a favorable exchange rate, an independent hotel, or an off-the-beaten-track domestic destination. Forbes finds 10 luxury lodgings that are affordable even in peak season:

1. Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
2. Domaine Des Hauts De Loire, Onzain, France
3. Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, Thailand

Socialite's child apparently OD's in failed murder-suicide

(NEWSER) - An 8-year-old boy was found dead today in a luxury hotel in Manhattan after his socialite mother apparently botched a murder-suicide attempt, police say. Gigi Jordan, 49, was taken to Bellevue Hospital after being found "babbling incoherently" in her $600-a-night room at the Peninsula New York on Fifth Avenue. "She lawyers up right away," a source tells the Daily News . "She won't answer any questions." More»

Poll of 40,000 hotels ranks visitors on politeness, generosity

(NEWSER) - The French are the world’s worst tourists, AFP reports. A global survey asked staff at 40,000 hotels to rate tourists on categories ranging from politeness to generosity to willingness to learn local languages—and the French finished last in several categories. Japanese tourists took honors in just as many and were ranked “best tourists” for the third year running. Americans topped the “noisiest” category. More»

(NEWSER) - The death toll in the suicide attack on a luxury hotel in Pakistan rose to 11 with at least 70 injured, reports the Times of London. At least two foreigners were among the dead at the five-star Pearl Oriental in Peshawar, though no more specific IDs were available. Still no claim of responsibility, but authorities suspect it's a Taliban strike in retaliation for the military offensive in Swat Valley. More»

(NEWSER) - The recession is igniting new hotel wars: not battles for customers, but between owners of luxury hotels and the properties’ operators, the New York Times reports. The owners are often struggling to keep up with big debt payments, hindered by a more than 16% average drop in hotel bookings across the sector. But operators are loathe to cut rates or amenities, saying that doing so will diminish a property’s brand. More»