AbercrombieAndKent

Abercrombie & Kent offers many once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for family vacations, but one of the most special trips has got to be its river barge cruise through the Burgundian countryside. A chartered seven day cruise aboard La Belle Epoque, A&K's 126-foot-long, 16.5 feet wide barge, is a luxurious and relaxing way to travel and to taste award-winning Burgandy wines, and hence is nominated for a Luxist Award for Best Luxury Family Summer Vacation.

The barge, which is equipped with six cabins, all outside facing and each equipped with en-suite bathrooms. There's one deluxe double cabin; one deluxe twin/double; two twin/double cabins and two cabins each with twin beds. There's also a small swimming pool, a sauna and several sun decks. Bicycles are also available for those wanting to cycle in the towns the barge visits. A gourmet chef is on board to prepare all of the meals, which are included in the cost of the excursion.

The seven-day-long itinerary commences in Venarey-les Laumes. After a champagne welcome, there is time to settle in before dinner on board the barge. On day 2, after lunch, you will visit 12th-century Fontenay Abbey with its peaceful gardens and beautiful cloisters. On the third day, you will cruise to Ravières passing the 18th-century Forges de Buffon. It was here that the great naturalist Georges-Louis Leclerc de Buffon commercially exploited his scientific discoveries by harnessing the waters of the River Armançon to power the water mills. Barge guests will visit the hilltop village of Flavigny (where the film Chocolat was made) and then continue to ancient Alesia, site of the last battle between the Gauls and the Romans in 52 BC.

The African bush is full of beauty and danger---best to leave excursion planning to an experienced professional. There are none better than Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury travel company that's been at it for half a century, now nominated for a Luxist Award in the Best Adventure Getaway category.

Established in 1962 by a British family living in East Africa, Abercrombie & Kent offers an unparalleled safari in Kenya and Tanzania. The two-week East Africa in Style itinerary starts with a flight to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and socioeconomic hub of East Africa. After two nights there, you'll fly to Lake Manyara, where towering trees loom in front of a 2,000-foot escarpment. For the next two days, you'll see wildlife including monitor lizards, vervet monkeys, African spoonbills and pelicans.

Your next stop will be the Ngorongoro crater, a caldera nearly half a mile deep, formed from the core of a collapsed volcano; its prairie boast lions, elephants, hyenas and gazelles. Continue on to the Samburu and Masai Mara game reserves, where you'll meet with members of nomadic tribes and learn about their cattle-herding lifestyle. On your last day, you'll stop at the Kent family home for a final lunch before heading back to Nairobi. All the while, you'll be waited on by a personal tent butler; groups are limited to 12 people in total.

Abercrombie & Kent's East Africa in Style getaway is a spectacular opportunity, but these memories won't come cheaply. The cost, based on double occupancy, starts at $16,000 per person plus airfare. Once there, the experience is priceless.

Vote for the Adventure Getaway that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Last month, I wrote a Luxist article about Abercrombie & Kent opening seven new Villas in Mykonos, Greece, for their travel clientele. Now, twenty-two new villas have been opened for the use of Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club members, in addition to A&K travel clients. The Villas are located in Tuscany, Provence and the Cote d'Azur. They were added to the A&K Residence Club property portfolio because of increasing interest for family friendly, multi-generational European travel.

These properties are in the most-requested destinations in Italy and France, ten in Tuscany, six on the Cote d'Azur, and six in Provence.

A human amenity of an A&K Residence Club villa vacation is the existence of a dedicated global experience manager, who works works with members and their families to make all the arrangements for the Villa stays, including preparing the home with groceries and other amenities. Managers have insider access to experiences that are unique to each destination.
A&K Residence Club members appear to be inveterate travelers, who explore the areas completely. Here are three thumbnail sketches --all with experiential examples of what is offered on the Villa vacation in these significant areas.

Best Caribbean Cruises
Each of finalists for the Readers' Choice for the Best Caribbean Cruse offers the ultimate in luxury. One features a ship that cost $800 million to build, measures 1,132 feet in length and is outfitted with the latest and most modern amenities, including a pool with a retractable dome. Another offers all-suite, all-balcony ships and the must inclusive ultra-luxury experience with everything included in the fare, including air, gratuities and unlimited shore excursions. The third nominee is perfect for anyone seeking an exclusive experience on a smaller ship while the fourth nominee bills itself as the world's best upper premium cruise line. Finally, there's a nominee known for the feng shui-inspired elegance of its ships as well as the rich cultural activities for its passengers.

Crystal Cruises
Cunard Cruise Lines
Oceania
Regent
Silversea


Best City Hotels
Nominees for Readers' Choice for Best City Hotel include one considered to be the most glamorous in all of London that has been the destination of choice by Kings and Queens alike, not to mention a smattering of Hollywood stars. Another, designed by world-renowned architect, I.M. Pei, rises high above Manhattan offering stunning views. The third nominee is a historic hotel that is only a few short steps away from the Champs-Elysées in Paris. Another nominee, also in Paris, is a breathtakingly beautiful property that was originally a palace commissioned by Louis XV. The final nominee is a tranquil, lush getaway amid gorgeous manicured gardens in Venice, accessible only by boat.

Claridge's, London
Four Seasons, New York
Four Seasons George V, Paris
Hotel Cipriani
Hôtel de Crillon, Paris

The Luxist Awards' Readers' Choice nominees for the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation include a luxurious family safari in Kenya where you'll see the wilds up close. The second nominee is a family trip to the Rockies in Colorado where just about every winter sport can be enjoyed. The third nominee is a paradise for families located in a picture-perfect stretch of beach on the Big Island's Kona Coast. The fourth nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime educational cruise to the Galápagos Islands. The final nominee is nestled in a rugged 2,500 acres of native forest on the edge of the Mamaku Plateau in New Zealand; it boasts a game reserve, seven trout streams, four lakes and more than 70 kilometers of hiking trails.

Abercrombie & Kent Family Safari in Kenya, Africa
For families with a thirst for adventure, a safari trip to Africa may be the ideal cure to the winter blues. Leave the planning to Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury travel company that's been at it for half a century, now nominated for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation category.

Founded in 1962 by a British family living in East Africa, Abercrombie & Kent offers an unparalleled family safari in Kenya. The 11-day itinerary starts with a flight to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and cultural, economic and political hub of East Africa. Once there, you'll start your journey with a visit to Daphne Sheldrick's Baby Elephant Orphanage, where keepers sometimes sleep with lonely animals at night. Proceed to the Giraffe Center, where you'll feed long-necked beauties from the palm of your hand.

Next, you'll head out into the wilds with a drive to the Sweetwaters Reserve, one of the best places to spot a rare chimpanzee or black rhino. Then delve deep into bush country with a trip to the Samburu game reserve, rife with buffalo, lion, leopard among others; meet with members of the nomadic Samburu tribe and track game, catch butterflies, or even ride a camel.

The next day, you'll spend the first of three days on the Masai Mara Game reserve, sleeping in tents near the Talek River and witnessing the vast expanse of the African savannah. Travel to a nearby village to learn about tribal culture and discover the proper way to throw a spear or light a fire with sticks. For amateur aviators, consider the optional hot air balloon safari before heading home.

Vote now for what you believe is the best international ski destination. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on February 1st.

For families with a thirst for adventure, a safari trip to Africa may be the ideal cure to the winter blues. Leave the planning to Abercrombie & Kent, a luxury travel company that's been at it for half a century, now nominated for a Readers' Choice Award in the Best Luxury Family Winter Vacation category.

Founded in 1962 by a British family living in East Africa, Abercrombie & Kent offers an unparalleled family safari in Kenya. The 11-day itinerary starts with a flight to Nairobi, the capital of Kenya and cultural, economic and political hub of East Africa. Once there, you'll start your journey with a visit to Daphne Sheldrick's Baby Elephant Orphanage, where keepers sometimes sleep with lonely animals at night. Proceed to the Giraffe Center, where you'll feed long-necked beauties from the palm of your hand.

Next, you'll head out into the wilds with a drive to the Sweetwaters Reserve, one of the best places to spot a rare chimpanzee or black rhino. Then delve deep into bush country with a trip to the Samburu game reserve, rife with buffalo, lion, leopard among others; meet with members of the nomadic Samburu tribe and track game, catch butterflies, or even ride a camel.

The next day, you'll spend the first of three days on the Masai Mara Game reserve, sleeping in tents near the Talek River and witnessing the vast expanse of the African savannah. Travel to a nearby village to learn about tribal culture and discover the proper way to throw a spear or light a fire with sticks. For amateur aviators, consider the optional hot air balloon safari before heading home.

Abercrombie & Kent's Kenya Family Safari is the experience of a lifetime, but these kind of memories don't come cheaply. The cost, based on double occupancy, is $5,825 per person plus airfare. For those who can afford it, there are few alternatives that can compare.

Vote now for what you believe is the best of breed for each of the Winter Travel categories. Readers' Choice Awards for the Best in Winter Travel will be announced on January 31st.

When you think of Abercrombie & Kent, you may think of tours and safaris. Did you know that they also have villas?

Well, they do. A&K owns and operates villas all over the world, including in France, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Italy. The villas vary in size and style, but all bring that old world A&K glamor to the table, as well as the A&K expertise -- they can arrange excursions for you like balloon rides, wine tastings, cooking classes and more.

Two new properties have recently opened in Italy, La Fornace (Tuscany, above) and La Castellina (Chianti).

La Fornace, scenically located near Arezzo and Cortona, has a heated swimming pool with a view of the countryside, a pizza oven, a gym and spa, grand stone fireplaces, bikes, a volleyball court and a soccer field. Does that just about cover your whole family? There are 5 en-suite bedrooms (sleeps 10) with satellite TVs, two kitchens, a game room, a cinema, a piano and central heating and air conditioning. Get a few friends together and rent it for $11,744 to $16,224 per week (high season).

Alternatively, La Castellina has six bedrooms (sleeps 10 +1) and lies in the heart of a small wine-producing estate. There's a large swimming pool, table tennis, badminton, WiFi, a bread oven and the sitting room is a rustic-chic converted hay barn. It's available for $9,744 to $14,432 per week (high season) -- and you can have A&K arrange a personal chef for you, transportation to nearby vineyards, whatever you'd like.

Visit akvillas.com to see galleries and floorplans of their villas worldwide (and to book -- be sure to invite us if you have an extra bed!).

This year is the 150th anniversary of Darwin's Origin of the Species, so don't you think it's about time you saw the Galapagos? If you've been waiting for an even more auspicious reason, then Abercrombie & Kent, the travel agency made adventurous hedonists, wants you to mark this Thursday, December 10 on your calendar.

At 9 a.m. Central Time A&K will begin discounting the prices for nine destinations and its World Pass. Every thirty minutes from then on, another 5% will be subtracted, so that by 3 p.m. CST the price you pay will be 60 percent smaller than the retail price. Notice we did say "trips:" in case you're taken with Darwin's spirit of enterprise but not his destination, Galapagos isn't the only option. Other locales include Eastern Europe, East Africa, Chile, Peru, Botswana, Zambia, Jordan, and Turkey.

The catch: there are only limited number of slots on each trip, and once they're gone, they're gone. That means you need to balance your desire to save with the joy-killing principle of scarcity, so bring your adamantium nerves. A second choice wouldn't go astray, either. But even if you miss out on a chance to ride the camels in Jordan's Wadi Rum, well, there's always... the Galapagos.

The posh Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is offering a trial membership for those interested in trying out one of the club's multi-million-dollar residences (and really who wouldn't be?). The Trial Membership offers access to beach, mountain and golf destinations in idyllic vaction spots including the Turks & Caicos, Deer Valley and Kiawah Island.

Most residences are 4,000 square feet with four bedrooms and at least four bathrooms providing a luxurious home away from home for a gathering of family and friends to celebrate a special event or just gather for some much-needed relaxation. The Trial Membership provides access to the full range of Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club services including a dedicated Global Experience Manager to orchestrate every aspect of your stay, greeting at the airport and private transportation to the residence, pre-arrival grocery shopping, daily housekeeping and the local knowledge and activity-planning assistance of a Destination Host.

For a limited time, Trial Membership in the Abercrombie & Kent Residence Club is available for $1,400 per night. Reservations can be made for a minimum of three and a maximum of seven nights and can be made from two to 180 days in advance of travel date but must be made by September 30, 2009. More details on the club website.

As the Sherpa Report mentioned last month, this is actually a trend with several other clubs including Exclusive Resorts, Ultimate Escapes and Quintess also all offering trial memberships to tempt travelers during a time when people are cutting back on their vacationing.