Emirates has announced it is to launch a fourth daily service from Dubai International Airport to John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in March 2015. The new service will depart JFK at 4:30 p.m. and arrive in Dubai at 1:15 p.m. the following day. The return flight will depart Dubai at 2:50 p.m. and arrive at JFK at 8:35 p.m. Times are local. This 4th daily service will be operated with an Airbus A380 featuring 14 First Class Private Suites, 76 Business Class lie-flat beds and 399 Economy Class seats on the main deck. Its upper deck features Emirates' On-Board lounge for premium passengers and two unique Shower Spas for First Class passengers. All passengers on-board can enjoy access to up to 1,800 channels of films, TV shows, music and games. Contact your travel agent for more details

Good news-you can now enjoy personalized and thorough travel coordination and assistance for flights from, to or through New York-LaGuardia airport just like you do at JFK, ATL, SFO and LAX. VIPs experience:

• Complete coordination of the entire airport experience.
• Greeter service curbside and/or at the arrival gate.
• Assistance with baggage and porter service.
• Escorted and accelerated journey through check-in and security.
• Complimentary access to Delta Sky Club.®
• Discreet boarding at a preferred time.
• 24/7 flight monitoring and rebooking assistance.
• Full confidentiality and protection of identity and travel plans.

LAN offers a full flat seat to Lima and Brazil

One of the new features offered in the new Premium Business class cabin is a 100% horizontal full flat seat that includes: an ottoman (feet support), a memory system that records your seat position and lumbar massage. In terms of onboard entertainment, passengers traveling on the LAN Boeing 787 will enjoy new features including high-definition screens using the latest touch technology (15.4" in Premium Business) and new data ports compatible with Apple® devices, tablets, cell phones, digital cameras, and USB devices.

Hong Kong-based Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, which has 27 hotels in Asia, North America and Europe, earned the top overall score in the tier as well as top marks for arranging group travel, meeting facilities, physical appearance and in-room business amenities. Ranked eighth in the 2013 survey, Mandarin Oriental improved its overall score more than half a point year over year, more than any other brand in the tier. Last year's top brand, Four Seasons, slipped to second but improved its score year over year. Buyers gave it top scores for its sales staff, consistency across its portfolio and in-room personal amenities. Hilton Worldwide's Waldorf Astoria Collection rounded out the top three, improving on its ninth-place finish in 2013. Buyers also said it provided them the highest-quality data of all luxury brands.

Starwood mobile app can now serve as room key

Now you can use your SPG® app to check in, get your room number - even unlock your door. Once you've registered your mobile device, you'll receive a push notification asking if you'd like to use SPG Keyless whenever you book an eligible stay at a participating Starwood hotel. Click below to download app.  

1. SOFITEL DUBAI DOWNTOWN, Sheikh Zayed Road Downtown Dubai: 350 guest rooms, including 76 suites
2. ROYAL PAVILION VILLAS, Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, Liwa Desert, UAE: 10 one-bedroom villas
3. ANANTARA DUBAI THE PALM RESORT & SPA, East crescent, Palm Jumeirah: 293 rooms and villas
4. FOUR SEASONS RESORT DUBAI, Jumeirah Beach, Dubai: 237 rooms
5. RIXOS BAB AL BAHR, Ras Al Khaimah: 650 rooms and suites
6. WALDORF ASTORIA DUBAI, Palm Jumeirah: 319 rooms and suites (pictured below)
7. MARSA MALAZ KEMPINSKI, The Pearl Qatar, Doha: 281 including 69 suites, 2 Presidential suites and 2 Royal suites
8. HYATT PLACE DUBAI / AL RIGGA, Deira, Dubai: 210 rooms; 84 apartments
9. ALILA JABAL AKHDAR, Hajar Mountains, Oman: 84 rooms; 2 villas
10. RAFFLES Istanbul, Turkey: 132 rooms and 49 suites

Lookup: The PackPoint packing list builder isn't just another checklist app -- it generates a customized list of items you should pack. Especially useful for longer trips. Travelers enter some basic information: destination, date, length of their stay and purpose of the trip. Then users can specify their agenda -- from "fancy dinner" to "international" to "baby" -- and the app calculates what should go in the suitcase. Weather information is taken into consideration and shown on top of the list

 Click to download: Apple 

 Click to Download: Android 

Entrain: A mathematical way to beat jet lag. Entrain is like an advanced alarm/calculator, for jet-lagged travelers. Developed by researchers from the University of Michigan, the app requires users to input their sleeping habit data -- wake up time, bedtime, time zone and typical amount of light exposure received at home. A lighting schedule will be provided - sometimes the app will recommend complete darkness during the day or some hours of bright light -- from a lamp -- at night. Travelers following the schedule should overcome jet lag faster.

Click Here to Download 

SleepSounds HQ: More than 500 natural and city sounds for travelers who need more than a bed to get to sleep. The sounds fall into 19 categories including ocean, cricket & insects, fire, public places and household. Soothing tracks like white noise and pink noise are reportedly good for traveling babies Click Here to Download

Barefoot elegance is the approach at Turtle Inn, (pictured below) a beachfront hideaway with 25 individual thatched cottages. The private accommodations are decorated with handcrafted Balinese furnishings selected by the Coppolas and all feature private decks over white-sand beaches that lead to the Caribbean. The food, like the villas, is  relaxed perfection. There are also two bars serving up cocktails, Belize-brewed beer and Coppola wines.  Contact your Protravel agent for exculsive  amenities including daily breakfast, upgrades on availability, early check-in/late checkout and other VIP goodies.  

(PS: Click on the banner photo at the top for another vacation paradise idea)