While Red Light Districts and coffeehouses are one side of Europe’s other city of water, fine galleries and museums, designer shopping, stylish boutique hotels and old world renovations are the other. With an increasing number of direct flights from across North America, Amsterdam has never been as easy to reach. Here are three options on where to stay:

If Money is No Object: The Dylan
Starting Rate: Standard doubles 455 Euros ($721) per night
It’s not that Dylan, but still remarkably cool. The stylish 17th century landmark hotel on the Keizersgracht canal is to many the ultimate boutique accommodation. Each of the 41 sumptuous rooms and suites is individually designed, and they’re known throughout Europe for their cool color schemes. Every room has a theme. Examples include the Klassbol—entirely raspberry red and elephant grey with striped draping around the 4 poster bed—and the Kimono —with hand painted Japanese kimonos, hand painted white oriental china and black lacquer wood flooring. The Dylan’s restaurant, lobby and other common areas exude a sleek and contemporary confidence that, when paired with the guest rooms, gives it an edge that would be hard to recreate in any other city.

Smart Luxury: Lloyd Hotel and Cultural Embassy
Starting Rate: 95 Euros ($150) per night
The building that the Lloyd occupies in Amsterdam’s Eastern docklands area has had many past lives; first as a hotel for emigrant’s heading to the Americas, then a prison for 50 years and finally a workshop for artists before it’s reopening as a hipster hotel in 2004. Everyone of the 117 rooms differs in size and décor and has been redesigned by a wide variety of renowned Dutch architects, designers and artists. Get this—rooms range from one star (95 Euros) with shared bathrooms to five stars (450 Euros) with unusual extras like an eight person bed in one and a fiberglass bath in the center of the room in another. Something in the middle? Three star rooms feature contemporary furniture from Dutch artists like Ineke Hans and Tjalko Lokhorst.

Smart Family: The House Boat
Starting Rate: Doubles from 135 Euros ($213) per night
While Amsterdam is probably not the first city you think of when the words “family friendly” come to mind, if you’re creative, there is no better place. Enter: houseboats. Docked on the canals that run throughout the city, these floating flats are generally more spacious, have better amenities and a view of the city that you could not get elsewhere. The House Boat, a Dutch company, has a dozen or so boats set up in prime locations all over the central districts of the city. Most can fit a family of 2-5, though some can sleep as many as 14 guests. Most of the ships have been renovated in the past five years and feature contemporary décor and furnishings, kitchens and outdoor patios with small gardens.

You may not be friends with Rosa, the Duchess of Ferrari, but that doesn’t mean you can’t go on vacation to celebrate her Aug. 24 birthday. Now through Aug. 30, you can stay at the 50-acre Playa del Carmen residence she once called home for a special birthday rate of just $395 a night, with the fourth night free.

During your stay at Esencia, the 29-room private estate in which the lucky Ms. Rosa used to reside, you’ll experience the ultimate in accommodations, complete with 12-foot ceilings, 600-thread-count sheets and 24-hour private chef and butler service. The beach is steps from your front door, the property’s gourmet restaurant is right around the corner and Playa del Carmen’s vibrant nightlife is just 20 minute away. Indulge in a massage or facial at the on-site spa, which is the first such establishment in the Riviera Maya to incorporate organic fruits, plants and herbs (most of which were grown on-site) into its treatments. The spa also offers complimentary group yoga and meditation classes in its colorful garden.

Starting to like this Rosa gal? You’ll absolutely love her if you stay at Esencia on her actual birthday—on that day, all guests will enjoy complimentary food, non-alcoholic beverages and spa treatments in her honor.

So start humming “Happy birthday to you,” and after you book a trip in honor of your good pal Rosa, click to sign up for our weekly travel alert. In it, we tell you about the greatest luxury travel deals on earth, so when someone decides it’s time to celebrate, you can be sure you’re invited to the party.

Forget fingerprints and DNA, when it comes to spending money people are as different as snowflakes. Beyond what we spend it on, what sets us apart from the rest is where we spend it. When planning a vacation, it’s nice to know you’re in the hands of a source you can trust. Unfortunately, finding a travel site that meets your specific needs isn’t as easy as it used to be. With Web 2.0 in full swing and travel sites abounding, you can spend countless hours trying to find the deals, properties or content you need. Fortunately, we know a thing or two about finding luxury travel where it lives, so we’ve compiled a comparative list of the best—and worst—resources for deal-seeking travelers on the web today.

How it Works: Each site is judged on three criteria. Ratings are given on a scale from 1 to 5, with 5 being the highest–just like the star system (unless you’re in Dubai).
The Criteria:
Deals: How deep are the discounts? And are they worth it?
Insight: Do they know luxury? Or are they just doing their job?
Charm: Do they give good editorial?

Five Star Alliance
Deals: 1     Insight: 4     Charm: 4

As a directory of luxury hotels, Five Star Alliance does its job with an insider’s eye. The aggregated list, as the site suggests, could very well be the “web’s most comprehensive, hand-picked collection of luxury hotels.”

However, Five Star fails to deliver on its promise of luxury hotel deals. Their deals include links to Travelocity, Best Western, Holiday Inn and a smattering of low-rent hotel chains. The Five Star Alliance Offers section delivers the luxury, but what’s on offer can be far from a deal—a one-time high tea at the Hotel Danieli in Venice; a 30-minute jet lag massage for two, contingent on a three night stay at the Desert Palm, Dubai; and a complimentary martini in the drawing room of the Egerton House in London.

If you’re looking for the right hotel, Five Star is a good place to start, but if you’re looking for a real luxury break, you’re barking up the wrong tree. Do check out their blog—The Informed Traveler—though, for some great one-off deals pulled from outside sources and a healthy dose of smart travel writing.

Globorati
Deals: 2     Insight: 5     Charm: 5

As its name suggests, globorati is the ‘it’ kid of luxury travel sites. Unlike many of its competitors, you won’t find any advertorials here–the site’s editorial policy strictly forbids kickbacks for content.

Globorati’s top editors, Mark Jolly and Nicole Contreneo have worked for Condé Nast Traveler and The New York Times, respectively. With a resume like that, you know you’re in good hands. They do all of the research for you and deliver it in the form of witty, well-versed editorial. The interface is even super cool. Use the integrated digital map feature (it might look familiar, um, Google) to find the finest in hospitality the World over, or check out the ‘Dreamlist’ for the editor’s top picks.

Deals aren’t globorati’s specialty, but a handy Kayak.com banner will search “hundreds of travel sites from all over the world” to find the best rates on the irresistible vacations you’ve just read about.

Kiwi Collection
Deals: 2      Insight: 5     Charm: 4

The Kiwi Collection is like an exclusive members-only club for luxury hotels. Participation in Kiwi publications is strictly by invite only, and they boast that only one percent of properties in the world ever score such an invite.

Visitors can customize their search for the perfect hotel, not only by location and price, but also by a slew of other criteria, including lifestyle and personal interests. Along with an in-depth hotel finder, you’ll find an online travel magazine, Wow Travel, and the Kiwi store, which carries everything from high-design furniture to summer-themed compilation mix CDs. Like Globorati, Kiwi has a digital map feature, but this one’s more James Bond than Google Maps.

The site doesn’t advertise travel deals or discounts, but you can narrow your search by price.

Luxury Link
Deals: 4    Insight: 3     Charm: 3

Luxury Link takes an eBay-esque approach to the luxury travel market. Just like the online auction house that started it all, Luxury Link has auction-only deals, as well as “buy now” offers.

Current auctions include “A Venetian Ode to Old-Fashioned Romance on the Grand Canal” and a Mystery Auction featuring a “seaside escape” to the East Coast, in which the identity of the destination is kept under wraps until the last bid has been placed. For those with a competitive edge, and a decent amount of time on their hands, Luxury Link gives travelers the opportunity to fight for their right to vacay.

You won’t find any witty editorial or fancy user interfaces, but Luxury Link’s unique approach to travel planning certainly sets it apart from the competition.

Mr. and Mrs. Smith
Deals: 4     Insight: 4     Charm: 5

If any website could be described as sexy, this is certainly it. Mr. and Mrs. Smith—if those are their real names—disseminate their deep knowledge of luxury living in a sleek and sophisticated package.Tagged as the boutique and luxury hotel specialists, they refer to their approach as, “A wink to couples everywhere, who fancy checking into a fabulous hotel under this classic dirty-weekend pseudonym.” They cover absolutely every angle of the luxury hotel market from classic luxury resorts to oddball boutiques and vintage hotels.

Membership on Mr. and Mrs. Smith is required to take advantage of their exclusive deals, and costs between $20 and $499 dollars per year. GoldSmith members, the highest rank in the Smith family, enjoy entry into airport lounges, invitations to VIP events, upgrades at Smith hotels and offers from luxury brands. Current hotel deals include $180 off room rates at Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley and 25% off room rates at the Hacienda San Jose on the Yucatan Peninsula.

New to the site is a membership rewards program called the Vault, where members can cash in on credits added to their “safety deposit” when they book through Mr. and Mrs. Smith. Vault goodies include everything from a strip poker set from Agent Provocateur to diamonds.

Perfect Escapes
Deals: 4     Insight: 1     Charm: 0

If it’s luxury design you’re looking for in a travel site, refer back to Mr. and Mrs. Smith or the Kiwi Collection, because Perfect Escapes isn’t about pomp and flash. Similarly, you won’t find any witty editorial or fancy marketing jargon here.

Instead, Perfect Escapes provides a straightforward guide to luxury accommodations and travel deals. Given, they only scratch the surface of opulent accommodations–most of their selections are part of larger luxury chains–but they know a good price when they see one. If you’ve had enough of flashy graphics, refined editorial and discerning taste, Perfect Escapes is the spot for you.

Sherman’s Travel (Smart Luxury)
Deals: 3     Insight: 3     Charm: 2

Sherman’s Travel is also a glossy print publication, but it was the company’s online success that brought this tangible manifestation about. Sherman’s may not be as sleek as some of its up-market competitors, but it’s certainly a step up from a few we can think of in the aesthetics department.

They recently moved into the luxury space, bringing their tried and true model to the world of five-star properties. The editorial staff spins detailed descriptions of their selected destinations that make you wish you were there, and the deals are worth a look as well. Check out the Luxe 15 for the editor’s top picks of the month, or use the Smart Luxury feature to track down the perfect travel package. If you hate having to log on to find updated information, sign up for the Luxe 15 newsletter and have it delivered straight to your inbox.

Tripkick
Deals: 1    Insight: 5    Charm: 5

Tripkick is all about the details. Unlike their competitors, the folks at Tripkick have distilled the hotel ranking game down to the room. You’ll begin your search by querying on the basis of City, Personality or Features. Once you’ve selected a hotel, then Tripkick narrows the search according to your needs. If it’s a quiet room you desire, they’ll find it, if it’s a view you’re looking for, they’ll find that too.

Once you’ve taken your trip, the site invites you to come back and share your experience, especially with regard to your particular room number. Tripkick will also connect you to transportation options, to and from your destination. What it won’t do is provide you with special deals. They’ve already given you a review down to the room, now it’s your turn to do a little work.

If it’s non-user-generated editorial you crave, hop on over Tripkick’s blog for a playful look at world travel.

WhatAHotel
Deals: 3     Insight: 4     Charm: 3

While the name conjures images of fast food hamburgers, the folks over at WhatAHotel really know quality. The site doesn’t come with any bells and whistles, just lists of the best. The homepage is divided into two sections: Best Hotels by Popular Cities and Best Hotels Chains. Follow a link and you’ll be introduced to another list—a selection of the finest accommodations accompanied by a short description and a thumbnail of each hotel. Clicking through to one of the carefully selected hotels, gets you the full run down as well as a chance to book through them.

In terms of deals, you might find a better price somewhere else, but if you do, they’ll match it. Sign up for their e-mail newsletter, and you’ll also receive some “exclusive complimentary perks.”

Tablet Hotels
Deals: 2     Insight: 5     Charm: 5

Tablet Hotels is a super-attractive and easy to navigate site highlighting a broad range of luxury hotels around the world.  Sounds perfect, right? Well, not if you’re looking for a great deal.

Tablet’s “Special Offers” often just state the lowest rate they were able to find over the past month—a great reference point, but no guarantee you’ll be able to find the same rate when you try to book.  And when they do have a legit deal, you can often find a better one on the hotel’s website (e.g. a Tablet offer at the Crane Hotel in Barbados saves you 20% on a 3-night stay, but the hotel itself offers a 35% discount on the same stay at it’s website).

The thing that saves Tablet is its killer editorial.  If you’re looking for in-depth descriptions—and pictures—of a ton of great hotels and destinations, you’ve found your site.  We could do without their Style and Music sections (to you really need a booking site deciding what you wear to dinner in Dubai or listen to on the plane to Paris?), but stick with the basics and you won’t be disappointed.

In yet another move to prove that living “green” will cost you way more money than not doing so, the D.C. Fairmont has created the Eco Power package, billed as “the ultimate cosmopolitan experience for environmentally aware travelers.” This trendy and earth-conscious package will accept 999 of your United States dollars (before tax) in exchange for the opportunity to stay in the Lexus Hybrid Living Suite, a super-eco-friendly room designed using organic materials, recycled materials and materials made from rapidly-renewable resources. You’ll also get to use of a Lexus hybrid for tooling around, and enjoy a bottle of organic wine and local artisan cheeses on the house. If that doesn’t leave you feeling green, the Fairmont will also make a $100 donation to the National Geographic Society for every Eco Power package sold.

The meat (pardon, tofu) of the issue is this: you can get a “regular” room tomorrow at the Fairmont for $209 a night. This temporary domicile will still be luxurious, and although not furnished by eco-designer Kelly LaPlante, it appears that both types of rooms are powered using traditional power sources, and the furnishings used in the Lexus rooms are already doing as much good for the environment as they’re going to — whether you use them or not.

Realistically, the ultimate benefactor from this package arrangement is not our suffering Mother Earth, but the Fairmont Washington, D.C. It is commendable to buy and use recycled and sustainable materials, but the hotel has already bought its room furnishings and won’t necessarily make future purchases from sustainable vendors either way. The loaner car sounds nice, but according to the reviewers at Edmunds, the extra-heavy Lexus LS 600h L Hybrid only gets better gas mileage in the city (and actually gets worse mileage on the highway) than its non-hybrid counterparts. So, you’ll be burning just as much petroleum as the next guy, despite the word “hybrid” displayed boldly on your front doors. A regular Lexus LS 460 rental, with better overall gas mileage, could cost you as much as $450 in our nation’s capitol, but that still only puts the total price at $659 if you stay in the non-LaPlante room. The $100 donation to National Geographic is a conscience-friendly extra, but if you give the society money yourself, it’s tax deductible, you can designate what your donation goes toward and (best of all) you’ll end up with a subscription to the magazine.

So far, we’re talking about $759 in the regular room versus $999 in the “green” room (quotes intentional). We all know a bottle of organic wine and a hunk of artisan cheese shouldn’t cost $140, and besides, the package doesn’t really do anything stellar for the environment. Invest the extra money in some real earth-friendly ventures (solar power panels, a hybrid of your own, planting a row of trees) and show the Fairmont what real eco power is all about.