Riding In Style At Montage Laguna Beach. Credit: Montage Laguna Beach
While there’s nothing wrong with parking yourself on a pool lounger for a few days when you’re on vacation, sometimes a little adventure is in order. These seven hotels serve up just that — chances to explore new destinations via luxury vehicles. Get ready to hit the road.
Montage Hotels & Resorts
Perhaps this luxe brand had adventurous drivers in mind when it chose the sites for its sumptuous hotels, boasting Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star outposts in in enviable locales that beg to be traversed like Laguna Beach, Kapalua Bay in Maui, Beverly Hills and Deer Valley, Utah.
When you stay at either of these prime properties, you can hit the open road in one of Cadillac’s newest cars (ranging from roomy SUVs to sleek sedans) or sit back and enjoy a complimentary chauffeured ride to nearby spots.
If you’re getting in the driver’s seat, pick up the hotels’ curated itineraries so you’ll know where to go for the best cruising (and sightseeing) experiences.
Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris. Credit: Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris
Le Royal Monceau — Raffles Paris
Let your teen put the pedal to the metal, without actually dodging oncoming traffic on the busy streets of Paris, when you book the Range Rover experience at this Five-Star Philippe Starck-designed hotel.
Your adolescent adrenaline junkie will have the chance to get behind the wheel of a new Range Rover Evoque (a crossover SUV) on a closed driving circuit about an hour outside of town. A professional will instruct the new driver for an hour while mom or dad sits in the back seat taking it all in.
After your adventure, retreat to your Junior Suite at the splendid stay, where you’ll also revel in daily breakfasts for the whole crew and a leisurely lunch at the stylish Le Bar Long.
Getting Dizzy with Speed at Hotel Metropole, Monte-Carlo. Credit: Hotel Metropole, Monte-Carlo
Hotel Metropole, Monte-Carlo
If you missed the Monaco Grand Prix in May, don’t fret. You can still experience a racing rush with the Get Dizzy With Speed offer from this Four-Star Monte Carlo hotel.
This exclusive opportunity literally puts you in the driver’s seat of an F1 race car that hits speeds up to 186 miles per hour in under three seconds. To ensure a safe experience at Provence’s Circuit du Luc track, you don authentic gear and participate in a workshop led by a certified F1 driver.
If you wanted to switch gears a bit, you could also temporarily join the Formula E Venturi team (the electric equivalent of Formula 1) in its technology center, a space that’s usually closed to the public. There, you’ll have an exclusive chance to get behind the wheel of the same simulator the F1 drivers use to ready themselves for the big race.
After your heart-pumping excursion, you’ll receive a diploma and an autographed photo to commemorate your adrenaline-filled afternoon.
The Peninsula Beverly Hills. Credit: The Peninsula Hotels
The Peninsula Beverly Hills
If zipping up the gorgeous Pacific Coast Highway is on your travel bucket list, then be sure to reserve your Southern California escape at this venerable Five-Star hotel.
Planning your dream drive is a cinch if you stay in any one of the suites at this chic L.A. retreat — a night in one of these sophisticated spaces earns you gratis usage of a ride from the property’s roster of BMW 7 Series, 5 Series and X5 vehicles, which means freedom to roam the fabled oceanside highway or just gallivant around town in style. Just be sure to ask for the luxury car when you book.
The Lexus LC 500. Credit: XV Beacon
XV Beacon
Jetting around town or out to the Cape for clams in a Lexus LC 500 luxury coupe is as easy as making a reservation with the concierge at this Four-Star boutique Boston hotel.
Rather than strolling along the city’s leafy streets, would-be test drivers can secure a time between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. to take the wheels out for a spin. The concierge can help with planning a stellar driving itinerary, whether you’re cruising to a Red Sox game or hitting the open country roads.
The American Club. Credit: The American Club
The American Club
Explore Wisconsin’s surprisingly scenic countryside during this Five-Star stay’s Ultimate BMW & Destination Kohler Getaway. Discover this cozy gem of a town with unlimited use of your BMW model choice — including the compact 6 Series Gran Coupe and the roomy X3 xDrive35i — for the duration of your stay.
But that’s not all. Look in the trunk of your borrowed beauty and you’ll find goodies such as Kohler Chocolates trail mix and local beef sticks, ensuring that you won’t get famished while you’re out on the road.
Once you’ve returned from your drive, settle in for a sumptuous evening that includes dinner at one of the resort’s restaurants, a 50-minute treatment at the indulgent Five-Star Kohler Waters Spa and the property’s own chocolates and brandy waiting for you in your room.
Fairmont Grand Del Mar’s Maserati Fleet. Credit: Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Fairmont Grand Del Mar
Just the name of this Five-Star San Diego retreat’s posh package sums it up just right: A Key to the Grand Life.
Not only does the deal present you with two-day access to a Maserati (feel free to hit the PCH again), it also includes two nights in the Manchester Presidential Suite, dinner for two at the resort’s Five-Star Addison Restaurant and a $750 credit to use toward extravagant extras, like tantalizing treatments at the Five-Star spa or rounds of golf on the Tom Fazio-designed course.
