Hotel Happenings

Yotel Weary travelers faced with layovers at London's Heathrow or Gatwick airports have a new alternative to hours in an airport lounge. Yotel, a capsule hotel located inside the airports' terminals, offers passengers a relaxing respite. Think private cabin equipped with a bed, wi-fi, room service, a bathroom and a flat-screen TV. Guests can check in for as little as four hours for just $49. Globetrotters, rejoice: more locations are in the works.

Trianon Palace & Spa Once the honeymoon destination of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor, Trianon Palace & Spa, located within a stone's throw of the Château de Versailles in France, has undergone an extensive face-lift. Visitors to the five-star hotel, built by René Sergent, the architect who designed the Plaza Athénée in Paris, can meander in the grand public spaces within or in the newly restored gardens. For mealtime, Michelin-starred chef Gordon Ramsay has opened a restaurant in the hotel.

Grims Grenka In-the-know travelers are forgoing Europe's tried-and-true tourist destinations and heading in droves to Oslo. The just-opened Grims Grenka is feeding the needs of discerning jet setters with guest rooms that boast mix-it-yourself cocktail bars and freestanding baths, while the hotel's rooftop lounge offers breathtaking views of the booming city. Rooms start at $345 per night.

Tablet Hotels A standout among travel sites on the Web is Tablet Hotels. The Tablet staff selects hotels, but guests—and only confirmed hotel guests—can rate them. If a hotel isn't being rated favorably, it's removed from the guide. Top-10 lists abound, and it's easy to search hotels by criteria like agenda (great food, skiing) and landscape (jungle). Cool feature: music playlists compiled by hotels to help you get a feel for the mood of the locale.