By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The Bangkok luxury hotel, the five-star Tower Club at lebua on the Praya River, is now offering guests an authentic Thai cooking-class package that includesa stay in a luxury Tower Club suite and learning how to cook a five-course Thai meal at the hotel's Cafe Mozu. The package, with rates starting at $769, includes two nights lodging, a five-percent discount card for Bangkok's Emporium and Paragon shopping centers, and a three-hour cooking class at the poolside Mozu. The cooking class is available for up to four guests when a two-bedroom suite is booked, and up to six when a three-bedroom suite is booked. The package is available through Nov. 30.

I stayed at the hotel last spring, and advise anyone going there to not miss the Sky Bar on the 63rd floor, reportedly the highest outdoor bar in the world. It's located just below Sirocco, a super-luxurious restaurant and the world's highest al fresco eatery. Both have jaw-dropping views of the city, especially at night. Try the signature "Hangovertini;" much of the movie "The Hangover Part II" was shot at the hotel, including at the Sky Bar.

Cafe Mozu is glorious as well, by the pool and serving one of the most comprehensively ethnic breakfast buffets I've ever seen. Sure, they cater to American tastes (think fried bacon, omelets, home fries and other tedious, caloric items) but on a small scale. Much more prevalent is food you may not recognize, but simply have to try, the things the Thai people eat for breakfast - which is what they eat for dinner or lunch, and can include many rice dishes, soups, chicken or fish. There is also a wide range of other international foods to satisfy the hotel's worldwide clientele, and it's all worth trying yourself.

For information on the culinary program, visit www.lebua.com, email towerclubresvn@lebua.com or call +66 2624 9999

By Jan Shepherd, Globe Correspondent

It wouldn’t be Memorial Day holiday without a trip to Vermont for the fabulous statewide Open Studios weekend with scores of potters, glassblowers, fiber artists, furniture makers, wood artists, jewelry designers, painters and printmakers welcoming visitors to their work spaces. As part of the event’s 20th anniversary celebration earlier this month in Montpelier, the Vermont Crafts Council honored glassblower Harry Besett of Hardwick and furniture maker Robert Gasperetti of Mt. Tabor for participating every year. Recalling the first weekend, VCC executive director Martha Fitch told the audience, “We didn’t even have a map that year. We assumed people would know where to go.” Since then VCC publishes a detailed list and map with directions to all locations; this year there are 259 craftspeople and visual artists participating. The map is available at Vermont State Visitor Centers on major highways, online at www.vermontcrafts.com, and galleries. The map is organized regionally making it easy to select areas to explore Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Photo of glassblower Harry Besett by Wendy Besett

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The Great American Steamboat Company's revitalized American Queen chugged to her home port of Memphis April 26, to the revitalized Beale Street Landing, after her first voyage up the mighty Mississippi since 2008. The US flagged steamboat's appearance marks the return of overnight cruises on one of America's great rivers. Originally built in 1995 by the Delta Queen Steamboat Co., the American Queen is the largest and, company officials said, the most opulent steamboat ever built, which accommodates 436 guests and features palatial public spaces, elegant staterooms and Southern cuisine of Chef Regina Charboneau.

The company hired more than 300 employees from the Memphis area, including crew, to outfit the ship and estimates its appearance and rolling up and down the river to have an economic impact of $89 million for the region. On the first journey to its home port, celebrations including having Priscilla Presley, wife of arguably the most famous resident of Memphis, the late Elvis Presley, serving as the godmother of the American Queen in a christening ceremony.

After the festivities, the ship was heading out on her inaugural voyage up the Mississippi River to the Ohio River, with stops in Kentucky and Indiana before arriving in the disembarkation city of Cincinnati. She was to take part in the Kentucky Derby Festival's Great Steamboat Race with the Belle of Louisville and Belle of Cincinnati on May 2.

A variety of voyage lengths from three to 10 nights are available on the American Queen, with fares starting at $995 per guest, from departure cities of Memphis, New Orleans, St. Louis, St. Paul, Cincinnati and Pittsburgh. A pre- or post-cruise luxury hotel stay, bottled water and soft drinks, wine and beer at dinner and free shore adventures are included in each port of call. For info, check out www.greatamericansteamboatcompany.com or call 888-749- 5280.

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

Included in the package are a welcome dinner; a trip aboard the HMS Belfast to view the Diamond Jubilee River Pageant, a fleet of 1,200 vessels led by the royal family; visit to Penshurst Place, the former hunting lodge of Henry VIII, to enjoy the Elizabethan gardens, followed by lunch at the treasure-filled home of Randolph and Catherine Churchill; exclusive view of the royal procession from the balcony of 12 Carlton House; and farewell dinner.

Avoiding hoi polloi comes at a price: Rates for the Diamond Jubilee Tour package begin at $10,138 single, $17,594 double, inclusive of full English breakfast. Tax and service are additional.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Traveling in groups isn't limited to families, either. Luxury travel operator Abercrombie & Kent also reported that 11 percent of its reservations in 2011 were for groups of five more, compared to eight percent the year before.

As might be expected, resorts are focusing on the large-group angle, creating programs and specialties for families and those traveling with a crowd. The all-inclusive Curtain Bluff Resort in Antigua is running a multi-gen package valid from May 15-July 28, based on two interconnecting junior suites for seven nights, and includes private sunset sail on a 49-foot sail boat; private family cocktail party at The Bluff House; and photographer for family portrait, to include CD of the shots, for a cost of $8,950. Additional junior suites are available at $4,325 for the week. Check it out at www.curtainbluff.com

Villas are ideal for family travelers and on the 1,400-acre private island of Mustique in the Grenadines, there are 74 rentable villas, from two to nine bedrooms, fetching anywhere from $6,000 to $150,000 a week. Mustique's only resort, the Cotton House, has 17 suites and babysitting services. Anyone staying on the island has access to nine beaches and a downtown market, and kid activities including pony camp, tennis camp, sailing classes and movie nights. Check it all out at www.mustique-island.com and www.cottonhouse.net

In Turks and Caicos, the upscale The Somerset on Grace Bay has 53 villas and estates and new this year is the "Caicos Kids Club," a free program for kids ages five to 12 and run by certified teachers from a local school, a day program that offers a variety of changing, kid-friendly activities. They also have a group kids' dinner on select evenings to give their parents some alone time. Rates at the resort, with accommodations ranging from 1,400 to 5,000 square feet, start at $900 a night. For more info, visit www.thesomerset.com

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The new hotel overlooks the city's Lumpini Park and has 238 rooms with themed decor centered around five elements: Water, earth, wood, metal and fire. The water-themed rooms, for example, feature bathtubs offering front-on scenic views of the city. The hotel also has a chocolate boutique, infinity swimming pool overlooking the city, and So Spa, which resembles a mythological forest. The hotel is also said to be the first one in Asia to offer a fully connected lifestyle, with all rooms and suites equipped with fully integrated Apple Mac mini Solution technology and free Wi-Fi throughout the hotel. Other in-room benefits are free private bar, his-and-hers amenities and Illy espresso machine in So Comfy or higher room categories.

Rates at the hotel start at $165 a night. For information visit http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-6835-sofitel-so-bangkok/index.shtml

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Ocean House in Watch Hill, R.I., a $140-million luxury hotel that opened in 2010, has earned an AAA five diamond ranking for 2012 -- the first and only five diamond-ranked hotel in the state.

The new Ocean House replaced the original built in 1868 which had fallen into disrepair. The old structure was razed and a new one put up, using more than 5,000 artifacts salvaged from the original including furniture, window frames, doorways, moldings, front desk and a terrific old wooden elevator.

The hotel has but 49 rooms ranging in size from cozy 500-square-foot guestrooms to massive 2,700-square-foot luxury suites, and upscale amenities such as a 12,000-square-foot spa, with 20-meter heated lap pool, and a monthly "Farm and Vine" dining program in its Seasons restaurant, which celebrates New England food.

Ocean House is offering a "AAA Five Diamond" package in honor of the award, available through April 15, which gets guests a 20-percent discount off deluxe or terrace rooms. Rates at the hotel start at $292 per night. For information, visit www.oceanhouseri.com, or call 401-584-7000.

The management of Ocean House is also managing nearby Weekapaug Inn, which has been closed as it undergoes a $15-million renovation. Built in 1899, the inn's original 67 rooms will become 28 guest rooms, plus four, two-bedroom residential suites. The Weekapaug Inn is scheduled to reopen in October, Ocean House officials said.

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

If you're one of the millions of Americans completely smitten by the PBS Emmy award-winning series "Downton Abbey," and you're pining to immerse yourself in the show's Edwardian setting, you can for a price. NoteWorthy Events, a bespoke custom tour operator, is offering a one-day immersion in Highclere Castle, a.k.a. "Downton Abbey."

Guests on the one-day private tour will be met upon arrival by the current owners, the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon, and enjoy tea and coffee in the Countess' private morning room. After a guided tour through the state rooms with either the Earl or the Countess, settle in to the State Dining Room for a private lunch featuring wines from the Earl's cellar.

After dining, explore the estate in one of the Earl's private 4-by-4 off-road vehicles. Among the highlights are the grave of the 5th Earl of Carnarvon, who funded and assisted in investigations that led to the 1922 discovery of Tutankhamen's tomb, and the ruins of an Iron Age fort. Or take a guided tour of Highclere's Egyptology exhibition.

Finish the day with High Tea with the Countess, and upon departure, received complimentary copies of Lady Fiona Carnavron's books, including "Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey."

The tour cost, approximately $12,090, covers up to four people; advance registration is required.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

If you find yourself near a Sofitel, a world-wide chain of luxury hotels, around Valentine's Day, you can snag a deal with the Sofitel Magnifique Romance package, which runs until the end of February and includes a discount room rate, chocolate of flowers upon arrival, a bottle of champagne, in-room breakfast and late check out.

Among the properties featuring the package:
Sofitel, Washington, D.C., on Lafayette Square in the heart of the city, with rates starting at $270; Sofitel Montreal Golden Mile, in an area known for art galleries, museum and high-end shopping, rates starting at $253; Sofitel Chicago Water Tower, set alongside the windy city's famous Magnificent Mile and hard by Lake Michigan, rates starting at $245; Sofitel Paris Le Fauborg, a five-star property in arguably the world's most romantic city, near the Champs-Elysees, the Louvre and boutiques of the Saint-Honore district, rates starting at $470; Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam, set between two iconic canals, a historic property dating from the 15th century and recently renovated, rates starting at $431; and Sofitel Rome Villa Borghese, in the center of Rome, a five-star property close to the Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and designer shops, rates starting at $364 a night.

To book and for more information, visit www.sofitel-magnifiqueromance.com, or follow Sofitel on Facebook.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Valentine's Day is approaching, which reminds of us two things: It's time to be romantic, and winter is half over. There are a number of places, far and near, to warm up to the romantic cause with Valentine packages, and here are some: 

The White Barn Inn up in Kennebunk Beach, Maine, is running a romance package for the romantic month of February, which includes a night's stay in a deluxe room adorned with chocolate-covered strawberries and champagne to wash them down with. Included is continental breakfast, afternoon tea and a romantic dinner for two. Rates are $600 for one night, dropping to $565 if staying more than one night. Check it out at http://www.whitebarninn.com/ or call 207-967-2321.

The Opus Vancouver has a "Cupid Concierge" deal for $295 a night, getting you a room, sparkling wine at check-in, a half-dozen roses or orchids delivered to your room before arrival, a half-bottle of Veuve Clicquot, a framed photo of your choice and a handwritten message from you delivered to your room before arrival, breakfast in bed and late check out. Upgrade to a suite for $100 more. See more at http://www.opushotel.com/vancouver.html

Also in Canada, Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal has a "Bare Your Heart Package" for the romantic in you, which includes a one-night stay and breakfast in bed, with rates from $219 in Canadian dollars (the exchange rate is nearly even these days), available throughout February (except Feb. 24 and 25). A $10 donation per package sold will be made to Fondation En Coeur, a Quebec-based agency that helps kids with heart disease and their families with support services and information, and helping improve medical services in pediatric cardiology and adult congenital heart disease. Visit http://www.fairmont.com/queenelizabeth for more information.

Go west and get warmer with the "Back in the Saddle Package" at the Tanque Verde Ranch in Tucson, Ariz., which offers 20 percent off room nights (their rates are all inclusive, with meals and activities) for anyone booking three or more nights from Feb. 10-19. Rates start at $225 per night, not counting the discount. The resort is a working horse ranch with 180 horses on 60,000 acres of desert landscape between the Rincon Mountains, Saguaro National Park and the Coronado National Forest, where couples can horseback ride, hike, mountain bike, swim, fish, enjoy the spa and relax in a room - that has no television. This is about romance, not what's on cable. Visit http://www.tanqueverderanch.com/

Wine is romantic, and the Fairmont Mission Inn & Spa in Sonoma, Calif., unwraps its "Romance in Wine Country Package," with a room, two one-hour spa treatments, sparkling wine and a chocolate strawberry amenity, rose-petal turndown and sparkling wine tasting passes at Gloria Ferrer Winery. Packages are priced from $429 per night, and the special runs Feb. 10-19. The hotel serves what it calls a food lover's "aphrodisiac menu" for $125 per person. Check it out at http://www.fairmont.com/sonoma

Another Arizona resort, L'Auberge de Sedona, offers its "Sedona Snowmance" package for two that highlights skiing and getting warm and cozy later in new guest rooms with mountain views. The package includes two nights, two lift tickets to Flagstaff Snowbowl per day booked, a $75 food and beverage or spa credit per day booked and free winter drinks by the fire, ciders, teas and cocoas (the hard stuff is available but not free). Package savings are 40 percent with rates starting at $265 for guest rooms and $320 for cottages. The deal is valid through March 15. Check it out at http://www.lauberge.com/

Sunsets on the Pacific are pretty romantic, and the "Stay, Spa & Splashes" packages at Surf & Sand Resort in Laguna Beach, Calif., allow you to enjoy them. The deals, with 30 percent off rates starting at $625 a night, include a one-night stay, spa treatment for two, three-course dinner for two at the resort's signature Splashes restaurant, and gourmet breakfast in room (or the restaurant). Check it out at http://www.surfandsandresort.com/

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

If you see a pink taxi cab roaming the streets of Boston, take a photo of it. The effort may net you a free trip to London. The taxi belongs to The Langham in Boston, a luxury hotel, once the Federal Reserve Bank, that takes its name from the Langham Hotel in London. The specially outfitted pink taxi – the color is Langham's signature shade - was brought from London in November.

The contest ends Jan. 12 and is being held to commemorate the addition of the taxi used to shuttle hotel guests around the city.

Anyone spotting the taxi can snap a photo and upload it to The Langham's Facebook page, and will be automatically entered into a contest to win a London getaway on Virgin Atlantic Airways, which includes air, and three nights at the Langham there, which opened in 1865, reportedly as Europe’s first grand hotel. It lays claim, by its location at the top of Regent Street, to being the most centrally located luxury hotel in London.

The winner will be picked at random and announced on or about Jan. 31. Once you snap a photo of the Langham taxi, upload it at www.facebook.com/langhamboston. You could end up in the London pink.

This season, guests at the ski-in/out St. Regis Deer Valley in Park City, Utah, can—for a price—ski with two-time Olympic medalist Shannon Bahrke (left) on the mountain where she won her 2002 silver medal. A half-day with the mogul queen is $400 per person, including lunch at Jean-Georges' J&G Grill; a full day is $800 per person, including dinner and drinks at J&G. For groups of four, the rate is $1,500 half day, $2,400 full day. For corporate clients, a half day is $5,000 for up to 12 people with lunch; a full day is $10,000, including cocktails and dinner. For those unable or unwilling to make the splurge, Barhke schmoozes with all guests about once a week over free afternoon s'mores on the hotel's Astor Terrace.

While the programs with Bahrke are open only to hotel guests, anyone can watch the daily sunset champagne sabering demonstration, when a restaurant employee pops the cork on a bottle of champagne by whisking a sword up its neck (a great party trick, if you master it). Best way to access the hotel is via the free funicular from Deer Valley's Snow Park Lodge. The heated, glass-walled cars climb the cliffside and deliver panoramic views of the mountain and valley.

After the sabering, stick around for cocktails—the signature 7452 Mary, a bloody Mary distinguished by a wasabi-celery foam and named for the hotel's elevation—and perhaps dinner in the St. Regis Bar & Lounge or Executive Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's J&G Grill (two must-orders available in either location for lunch or dinner: black truffle pizza with fontina cheese ($12) and steamed shrimp salad with local greens and avocado champagne dressing ($12).

For those unable to ski with Bahrke, she offers the following tips for mastering those pesky moguls:

-- Look ahead, read the terrain, and interpret it: Look for a pattern in the moguls and plan four or five turns ahead.

-- Plant your pole after you've hit the mogul, not before. That keeps your hands in front, allowing you to keep moving forward and linking turns without getting twisted or in the back seat.

--Be relaxed: Let your legs come up

--Control speed: Don't slam on the brakes, instead, make little hockey-style checks in the troughs between moguls to slow your speed.

--Don't give up: So many people give up on moguls because it doesn't feel good, but if you stick with it, you'll get it.

--Surrender control: Mogul skiing isn't about control. You have to surrender, let your body go, and be okay with it.

During ski season, a superior guest room at the hotel ranges $519-$1,649 per night, which includes ski and boot valets, who assist with equipment and warm boots overnight. Car service to nearby Park City Mountain Resort and The Canyons is available. For those who prefer to not lift a finger while vacationing, butler service is available (worth the splurge if only to task him with making everything fit nicely back in your suitcase when it's time to depart).

Photo of

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Now the hotel has launched "Bespoke by Grace," a new concept that lets guests customize numerous aspects of their stay before arriving, including choices of pillows, fragrances and mini-bar contents, and other experiences such as champagne at night and use of a mobile phone pre-loaded with useful local numbers. Romantic types can arrange for fresh flowers, daily champagne and strawberries and initial-embroidered robes. Guests can complete the process at any point between booking and arrival. They will receive an online form by email once they book a room, or can call the hotel directly to discuss their requirements.

For information, visit www.vanderbiltgrace.com, or call 401-846-6200.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Included in the $890 per night special rate are accommodations in a Cayman-inspired beach cottage, with full kitchen, free Wi-Fi and roomy living spaces; the option of booking a spa treatment in an open-air pavilion surrounded by sea grape trees; pre-stocked selection of coffees, water, tea, milk, juice and assorted cereals; use of the swimming pool, fitness center, yoga, bicycles, media library, water sports, hiking, and culinary and art classes; and one-way airport transfer. Concierge, in-cottage catering, sommelier and wedding and business services are also available, at extra cost, to further customize a holiday.

Cotton Tree is on the northernmost point of Grand Cayman, 10 minutes from the island’s fabled Seven Mile Beach. To make a reservation or for more information, visit http://www.caymancottontree.com/ and mention promotion code CT375 when booking the Thanksgiving special.

(Photo courtesy of Cotton Tree)

By Megan Lisagor, Globe Correspondent

It didn’t take long living in Paris before I upgraded my daily routine. Mostly that meant showering in the morning rather than the afternoon, but it was a start. The countless hair salons and lingerie shops act as a constant advertisement for la belle vie. So do the moms in Chanel boots and fur vests at the playground — in contrast to my Converse and fleece. Even the pharmacies make support hose seem sexy in their window displays. Beauty ranks with an ability to discuss Derrida as a worthy, if not necessary, endeavor.

I needed to brush up on my philosophy and Gap Body wasn’t doing me any favors, but my conversion had its limits. I don’t have hours to devote to my personal appearance, thanks to a toddler who enjoys going to the bathroom with me. In the States, I’d found a fast pedicure in a dark color like gray was the easiest way to feel current and refreshed. France doesn’t value the shortcut, however; the only accepted quickie might be the cinq à sept.

Bucking this tradition, Prisca Courtin-Clarins and some friends opened Nail Factory, an American-style bar à ongles. Perhaps because she’s one of the adored heiresses of the skin-care company, the concept has been embraced. It’s hard to get an appointment at any of the three locations, where a beauté des mains lasts 30 minutes (or less in my experience) and costs 25 euros (about $35, a steal compared to spas). This is good news for travelers who want an affordable mani, or a window into the French fashionista’s soul.

Despite the amount of time Prisca and her fellow swans spend in Manhattan, differences exist at Nail Factory. Locals still favor the French manicure, a look that peaks at prom in the United States. In my opinion, it’s better to play the Parisian part by choosing revolution red. Incidentally, both of my visits resulted in small cuts, for which the technicians offered no apologies, just the stinging application of antiseptic. In France, of course, one must suffer for her pleasure.

Photo by Megan Lisagor

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The Black Point Inn, located in Prouts Neck, on Maine’s southern coast is hosting its annual food and wine lovers' weekend, Oct. 28-30, offering an Italian slant and a package deal. The two-night, all-inclusive package goes for $639 a couple. On Friday, guests are greeted with a Bisol Prosecco and hors d’ouevres reception and get to sample more proseccos before having dinner in the inn’s Chart Room, served with Italian wines.

The next day, after an Italian breakfast, they can explore the area where fabled artist Winslow Homer did some of his most notable work. In the afternoon, there is an Italian wine tasting, followed in the evening by Chef Will Benner’s six-course meal incorporating local ingredients paired with even more Italian wines. For information and reservations visit www.blackpointinn.com or call
207-883-2500.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

Red Mountain Resort in St. George,
Utah, is giving active or retired military packages like two 50-minute massages,
an adventure trip to Zion National Park, and a discount for a retreat package
of three nights or more, all with the price of $111.11 each. The offer is good
for the month of November. Visit www.redmountainresort.com, or call 877-246-4453.

The Reefs in Southampton,
Bermuda, celebrates Veterans Day and the 11/11/11 date by offering travelers
booking a four-night stay, including Nov. 11, a rate of $11.11 for their room
on that night. Active duty and retired military members get an additional
15-percent off with valid military ID shown at check-in. Rates here start at
$410 a night, and include ocean-view accommodations and full daily breakfast
for two. For information, call 800-742-2008 or visit www.thereefs.com

Sandals and Beaches Resorts in Jamaica, Antigua, the Bahamas, Saint Lucia and Turks & Caicos honor the military with a special discount program, in which active and retired military get the usual military price break, plus an additional 10 percent this year, combinable with the current “Up to 65-percent Off” and “Free Night Stays” at any of their properties. Check it out at 866-726-3257 or by
visiting www.sandals.com

Norfolk, Va., is home to one of the largest naval bases in the country, and is honoring vets this year by hosting the inaugural Norfolk Freedom Half Marathon from Nov. 11-13, to raise awareness and support for the needs of vets and their families. The event includes a health and fitness expo Nov. 11-12, and a wheelchair invitational event and a Wounded Warrior and Family Run on Nov. 13. Events start at $65 for adults, $15 for kids. For information, call 800-368-3097 or visit www.visitnorfolktoday.com

For 11 days, starting Nov. 11, guests can reserve an ocean-front, two-bedroom
penthouse suite at the Atlantic Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale for $1,111.11 a night, a 20-percent price break. Other savings there are $11 per night valet parking and $11 in-room movies. Reference promo code is OCN11. To book, call 877-567-8020.

You get a $111 spending credit at Rayavadee, in Krabi, Thailand if you book and stay there before Nov. 11. Credit is good for spa treatments, food, drinks and select activities. For information, call 011 66 75 620740-3 or visit www.rayavadee.com

Tropicana Casino Resort in Atlantic City, N.J., is offering a variety of specials, including an $11 IMAX ticket to see “Real Steel,” with Hugh Jackman, an $11.11 one-pound bag of breakfast blend coffee from its Starbucks, and 11 percent off regularly priced items at Old Farmer’s Almanac, the resort’s old-fashioned general store. Check it out at www.tropicana.net or call 800-465-3222.

Planters Inn, in Charleston, S.C., is offering a two-night package for $1,111.11, which includes a stay in the Relais & Chateaux hotel’s luxurious Plantation King Room with its full living room and huge Italian-marble bath. Check it out at www.plantersinn.com or call 843-722-2345.

By Paul E. Kandarian, Globe Correspondent

The Fairmont Battery Wharf is offering the ICA “Ahts” by water package, giving guests the chance to visit the cutting-edge museum and offering dock-to-dock service from the hotel to the museum via water taxi. The package includes two roundtrip rides, two tickets to the ICA, overnight accommodations and breakfast for two at the hotel’s Aragosta Bar & Bistro. The package starts at $339 and is available through Oct. 30.

Built on the original site of the Museum of Fine Arts, the Fairmont Copley Plazas “Museum of Fine Arts Weekend Package” allows guests to see the museum’s expansive collection of art from Egypt and Asia, and from periods such as Impressionism to American art. The museum’s new “Art of the Americas Wing,” scheduled to open to the public Nov. 20, consists of 53 new galleries. The new Linde Family Wing for Contemporary Art just opened in September. The Fairmont Copley package, good through Dec. 31 with rates starting at $219, includes two tickets to the MFA and overnight accommodations

For reservations or information, call 800-441-1414 or visit http://www.fairmont.com/

By Hilary Nangle, Globe Correspondent

More than 30 Italian museums, including the Capitoline and Vatican Museums, as well as private collections, loaned artifacts and masterpieces to "ROME. From the Origins to Italy's Capital," organized by and on view at the Museum of Civilization, in Quebec City, through Jan. 29, 2012. The exhibition traces Roman civilization from 850 B.C. through the mid-19th century. On view are nearly 300 priceless treasures, including statures, mosaics, frescoes, paintings, busts, sarcophagus, and tapestries.

Never before has any museum attempted to cover the Rome's rich history in a single exhibition. "ROME" takes visitors through 2,600 years spanning five periods of Roman history: Antiquity, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque, and Modern. A number of the works on view haven't been previously displayed publicly anywhere in the world. These include a mid-second century statue of Venus; a circa 1198-1216 mosaic of Pope Innocent III; "Hope" one of three theological virtues from the predella of the Baglioni altarpiece, created in 1507 by Raphael; the Tapestry of the Nativity and central dossal of the baldachin, crafted in the Barberini workshops between 1635-37; and a circular tabletop with the head of Medusa, signed and dated by Francesco Sibilio, in 1825. The exhibition also includes a multimedia installation, "Fontina di Roma," a fountain of film clips in water.

Guided tours, lasting about 45 minutes, provide an excellent introduction to the exhibition and are available in English.

By Joe Ray, Globe Correspondent

Something of a media darling, M. Wells is/was also a gastronomic UFO housed in a diner: they do what they wanted to, which is pretty admirable in my book. It received incredible raves and, since I’ve been there, one blazing, bizarre review whose subject matter I’m not touching with a ten-foot pole.

Since then, the restaurant has apparently been forced out of its Long Island City location by its landlord and, at this point, there are only rumors about it resurfacing.
When we arrive, François promises to share some of his caesar salad with smoked herring, but it disappears before I point my fork in his direction.

I try bacalao magasin, a veritable bath of olive oil that poaches, heats or finishes carrots, shrimp, beans, peas and salt cod in a great terracotta bowl.

For our "Big Dish'' – menu choices here are divided into "big'' and "small'' – we try the "BibiM Wells,'' a seafood riff on the Korean dish, which is something of a bunt that could have been a home run with more thought given to the play of texture that make the original so good.

The night we’re there, I wish we were with a much larger group to try the big dishes, where much of the creativity appears to lie – BBQ short ribs, lamb saddle with za’atar, tahini and pomegranate molasses, chicken wonton pot-au-feu – but get a sense of the bigger game the chefs seem to be after with an escargot and bone marrow pasta dish with shallots and a red wine ‘purée’ – the mollusk cousin to octopus and bone marrow pasta. M. Wells’ snails are served right in the bone, two forms of slippery goodness bathing in the wine sauce, covered with crunchy, garlicky breadcrumbs.

What is (“What was”?) most interesting at M. Wells is the idea factory the place became. Francois and I get talking about it - in Paris, you’d wonder about the chef’s motives, what they want to accomplish and, often, what their next step will be. Here, creation seems to be the whole point – there is no next step.

Brouhaha aside (please) it’ll be interesting to see what happens next.

********************************

Food and travel writer and photographer Joe Ray is the 2009 Lowell Thomas Travel Journalist of the Year and author of the blog Eating The Motherland. Follow him on Facebook and Twitter @joe_diner