Every seasoned golf traveler knows there’s much more to a great golf trip than what it says on your scorecard. That’s why Fairmont Hotels & Resorts recently unveiled a slew of engaging new golf packages just in time for fall and winter travel.

The new packages feature world-class golf, breathtaking locales, spectacular accommodations, inventive spa treatments and a host of other luxuries, all delivered in Fairmont’s signature style. A sampling of the available packages is listed below (along with a few of our favorite golf holes and signature cocktails for good measure.):
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Beijing -26 Jun 2009 - The Golden Pillow Award Ceremony was held on 15 May 2009. The coveted China Golden pillow Awards, now on its sixth year as the leading awards programme for China’s hospitality industry, is organized by the 21st Century Business Herald & Business Travel Magazine and is recognised as one of the most prestigious hotel evaluations in China and Asia.

Accor China won the award of 2009 China’s Most Investment-value International Hotel Management and Mr. Robert Murray, Senior Vice President of Accor Greater China, won the award of “Leaders of the Hotel Industry of 2009″ two years in a row.

Apart from those two awards, one of the Accor brands - Sofitel Luxury Hotels, has also won a number of individual awards. Sofitel Wanda Beijing won the award of China’s Top 10 Most Popular Business Hotels, Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort Nanjing won the award of China’s Top 10 Most Popular resort Hotels of 2009, while Sofitel Forebase Chonqing was awarded with Most Luxury Business Hotel in West China of 2009.

All along, Sofitel has been known for its French elegance and quality of service. These awards not only further enhance its positioning in the international market, but also motivate continuous improvement in providing the best of hospitality. All 150 Sofitel hotels combine French elegance with the unique culture of each region, placing them among the globe’s leading brands. By using scarves of Hermes, the French traditional luxury brand renowned for their high quality production and perfect artistic design, in its guestrooms and other hotel areas, Sofitel Forebase Chongqing creates a unique and captivating design aesthetic and brings the hotel a never-before-seen artistic ambience.

The accolades endorse Accor’s reputation in hotel development and management in China, and “will certainly raise the confidence of our associates and attract more investors to partner with Accor”, added Mr. Murray.

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Sofitel, World Class Hotels & French Elegance
Sofitel is the only French luxury hotel brand with a presence on five continents, in more than 50 countries. Sofitel offers contemporary hotels and resorts adapted to today’s more demanding and more versatile consumers who expect and appreciate beauty, quality and excellence. Whether situated in the heart of a major city like Paris, New York or Bangkok, or nestled away in a country landscape in French Polynesia or Brazil, each Sofitel property offers a genuine experience of the French art de vivre.

Already drawing the crowds in the South American resort of San Alfonso del Mar in Chile, this artificial lagoon and swimming pool is eight hectares in size and contains an incredible 250,000 cubic meters of water. Acknowledged by Guinness World Records as being the world’s largest swimming pool, the lagoon trounces all other record holders in the category, including the Orthlieb pool in Casablanca, Morocco, itself a huge 150 meters by 100 meters – the San Alfonso pool is 1km in length.

The revolutionary clear water artificial lagoons, transparent to a depth of 35 meters and unprecedented in design and construction methods, are the brainchild of Crystal Lagoons founder, biochemist and Chilean businessman Fernando Fischmann. Equivalent in size to an incredible 6,000 standard domestic pools, details of its technology are to be unveiled for the first time at Cityscape Dubai later this month.

I believe this gives new meaning to living large!

This strikingly contemporary InterContinental in the French Polynesia consists of 80 identical over water villas, which extend in to the warm lagoon like two claws, with the only differences being the views–of the lagoon, the beach, or Mount Otemanu. Floor-to-ceiling windows, Lucite ceiling fans, bug tubs overlooking the water, and bathrooms with black slate floors relect the clean modern aesthetic throughout.

The atmosphere is more South Beach than South Pacific, down to the stylish clad reception staff and shirtless cabana boys by the infinity-edge pool. In a savvy environmental move, the sort pimps in cold seawater to feed the air-conditioning system and for use at the spa.

A stay here might run you run you $1500/night with a minimum four-night stay, but you’ll be hard pressed to find a more exclusive and exotic retreat.

When it comes to the illustrious E at Equinox in Manhattan, calling it a “gym” doesn’t quite do it justice. This high-end fitness center offers everything from private cabanas and spas to rooftop patios and dining areas serving gourmet food. Equipment is always cutting edge, like their aromatherapy treadmills that release rejuvenating wafts of orange essence. Plush concierge services are also offered, along with a personal manager that keeps track of your progress and schedules workout sessions.

No need to every worry about every waiting in line to use an elliptical, because this gym allows no more than 200 members to join. Of course, such exclusiveness comes at a price. A yearly membership will run you $23,500.

If you’re visiting Tokyo, you’ll want to make a stop at one of the coolest boutiques for trendy street fashions. Inspired by the idea of a “Rock Star’s Residence”, Hysteric Glamour takes pieces of the imaginary star’s daily life, and transforms them into shop functions of the boutique.

Shelves and wardrobes are replaced by items such as the rectangular dining table at the custom made extra-long black Chesterfield sofa in the second floor, creating a sensation as if someone is actually living there.

The VIP room in the second floor, covered with the brand designer’s private collection of original Bettie Page photographs, elicits a condensed atmosphere.

100%ChocolateCafe truly lives up to its name.

The kitchen’s menu serves chocolate, and only chocolate. From chocolate drinks, and chocolate pastries, to chocolate ice cream and even chocolate sandwiches, this Chuo-Ku, Japan restaurant is a chocolate lover’s dream.

The concept behind 100%ChocolateCafe is to put your senses at the middle of a “chocolate kitchen” and it doesn’t fail to deliver. Covering one of the walls are 56 different types of chocolate blocks, tastefully placed in glass showcases.

I’m pretty sure this is where Willy Wonka hangs out after a hard day’s work at the Chocolate Factory.

Conceptionalized by Kundo Koyama, the creator of the “Iron Chef” TV show, Tokyo Curry Lab restaurant is based on a concept of creating an innovative lab for experimenting and inventing unique curry recipes.

Located in Tokyo’s monumental Tokyo Tower, a “lab” area with colorful spice tubes on display is accompanied by a contemporary dining counter behind it. The serious yet humorous interior is intended for curry lovers serious at play.

Don’t you hate it when you’re waiting in the two hour long dinner buffet line at the Bellagio and some so called “VIP” guest strolls right in? I used to hate it as well, until I was the VIP that didn’t have to wait in line or pay for my food.

So how did I manage to get comped? The key is to join the casino’s players club. Every casino has a different players club program, so be sure to stop by their information desk and ask what they have to offer. After you’ve found the casino you enjoy playing and staying at, stick with it. For Tami and I, we absolutely love the Venetian. It’s a beautiful casino with a nice shopping mall and it’s just a short walk to our other favorites; Bellagio, Caesars Palace and Wynn. Not to mention, the Venetian is home to the Tao, one of the most exclusive night clubs in Vegas, and boy do we love to party!

After you’ve received your players card, be sure to use it every time you’re at the tables or slots. Using the players card gives you a “rating” as the casino tracks the amount of money you’re spending. As a basic rule, the more money you spend, the better the comps get. Tami usually plays a couple hundred at most in slots, and I’m usually at the crap tables with no more than a thousand bucks. Even as light gamblers, Venetian Players Club has given us everything from comped spa treatments and show tickets, to buffets and hotel suites.

In fact, they just sent us a free weekend stay for October and November, and you best bet that we’ll be out here having a crazy fun time in Sin City. So next time you’re in Vegas, don’t be the chump waiting in line or paying for your stay. Get your players club card, and start being a VIP!