Hotels put on the ritzSummer is proving...

Hotels put on the ritz

Summer is proving to be a hot season for haute hotel openings. Among the debuts and redos:

* The Grenadines: Raffles International Hotels and Resorts, which runs the historic Raffles Hotel Singapore and Raffles L’Ermitage Beverly Hills, among others, is testing the waters in the Caribbean. On July 29, the 156-room former Carenage Bay resort, closed for three years, will become Raffles Resort Canouan Island after a $35-million face-lift. It has a new spa at the beach and a new Trump International Golf Club. Introductory rates, through Nov. 12, begin at $298. (877) 226-6826, www.raffles-canouanisland.com.

* Hungary: Gresham Palace, a 1906 Art Nouveau landmark in Budapest, opened last month as the 179-room Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace Budapest. The $110-million renovation of the former apartment building added modern amenities and restored mosaics, stained-glass windows and other details. The hotel includes a restaurant, cafe and spa. Doubles begin at $332. (800) 332-3442, www.fourseasons.com.

* Canada: Another Four Seasons opened last month in the mountain resort of Whistler in British Columbia. The 242-room Four Seasons Resort Whistler includes a spa, pool and a bistro and bar with terrace. Summer rates begin at $260. (800) 332-3442, www.fourseasons.com.

* Monaco: The 146-room Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo , closed since September for a multimillion-dollar renovation, is scheduled to reopen July 27 with a new Restaurant Joel Robuchon. Summer rates begin at $504. 011-377-9315-1515, www.metropole.com.

Lady Liberty

to reopen

in August

Reservations for two new tours of the Statue of Liberty, scheduled to reopen Aug. 3, are expected to be available starting Thursday by phone.

The monument was closed after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, although visitors have been able to go to Liberty and Ellis islands in New York Harbor.

When it reopens, visitors will be able to see inside the statue through a glass ceiling and walk out onto the observation deck.

The ferry from Manhattan to the two islands costs $10 for adults for a round trip, $8 for ages 62 and older and $4 for ages 4 to 12. Entrance and tours are free. For more information, visit www.nps.gov/stli.

Greeks urged

to buy seats

for Games

Athens

Organizers called on Greeks last week to snap up unsold tickets for the Summer Olympics next month.

At the end of June, officials said fewer than 2 million of 5.3 million seats allocated to national Olympic committees and sponsors had been sold.

Analysts said security concerns and high prices had scared off some foreign visitors.

In the U.S., lodging, tickets and packages were still being marketed at www.cartan.com, (800) 818-1998; and lodging at www .athens2004.com (click on “Online Accommodation Booking”).

Compiled by

Jane Engle