Best international summer destination

San Pietro di Positano Wins the Luxist Award for Best International Summer Destination

The writer John Steinbeck once described Positano, Italy, as "a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone." Fortunately for well-heeled travelers, the town is quite real-and the San Pietro di Positano hotel offers lodging worthy of a Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Award in the best international summer destination category.

San Pietro was founded in 1970 by Carlo "Carlino" Cinque. Carlino had been in the hospitality business since opening a smaller hotel in the heart of Positano at the age of 23, all the way back in 1934. He chose San Pietro's location for its enviable position high in the coastal hills above Positano, all visible from a 423 square meter terrace accessible to the inhabitants of the resort's 33 rooms.

Gallery: Hotel Il San Pietro di Positano

San Pietro di Positano quickly became the premier hotspot for glamorous visitors to the Amalfi Coast. Over the decades, high-profile guests have included Barbara Streisand, Sting and Julia Roberts; Keith Richards and Mick Jagger reportedly wrote the song "Midnight Rambler" while vacationing in Positano.

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San Pietro di Positano, Italy: Premier Hotspot on the Amalfi Coast

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The writer John Steinbeck once described Positano, Italy, as "a dream place that isn't quite real when you are there and becomes beckoningly real after you have gone." Fortunately for well-heeled travelers, the town is quite real-and the San Pietro di Positano hotel offers lodging worthy of a Luxist nomination in the best international vacation category.

San Pietro was founded in 1970 by Carlo "Carlino" Cinque. Carlino had been in the hospitality business since opening a smaller hotel in the heart of Positano at the age of 23, all the way back in 1934. He chose San Pietro's location for its enviable position high in the coastal hills above Positano, all visible from a 423 square meter terrace accessible to the inhabitants of the resort's 33 rooms.

Gallery: Hotel Il San Pietro di Positano

Tags: Awards-main, best international summer destination, Italy, Luxist-Awards, Positano, San Pietro, San Pietro di Positano

Continue reading “San Pietro di Positano, Italy: Premier Hotspot on the Amalfi Coast”

Luxury Wine Tour in Tuscany: A Wine Tasting Extravaganza

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

Wine Tours Through Tuscany with Cellar Tours.

When it comes to visiting wine country, there's the standard booze bus variety-and then there's the exclusive week-long Tuscany Wine Tour, a Luxist Awards' nominee in the Best International Summer vacation category.

When you touch down in Florence, Italy, your personal chauffeur will be waiting to whisk you away in a Mercedes to the Piazza Santa Maria Novella hotel where you'll spend your first night (the boutique resort is actually a small mansion down the street from the Renaissance church of the same name down the street). On day two, you'll be driven out to the Chianti Classico region for a private tour of the Badia a Coltibuono property, where you'll savor wine and olive oil before continuing along to another estate, ending the day at the hilltop castle in Siena for an overnight stay.

Wake up the next morning for a red wine tasting in the nearby village of Montalcino and lunch at the Poggio Antico's Michelin-spangled restaurant; you'll round out the afternoon with a stop at the hillside town of Montepulciano before heading back to your castle for the night. Days four and five bring more wine tastings, small village sightseeing and overnights at a villa-style hotel. The last day of the trip includes a visit to the medieval village of San Gimignano before returning for one final night in Florence.

The Tuscan Wine Tour sure beats the booze bus, but it's also more expensive: Trips start at 500 Euros per person, per day, for one couple. For two couples touring together, prices start at 450 Euros, airfare not included.

Vote for the International Summer Vacation destination that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: awards-main, best international summer destination, Cellar Tours, chauffeur, Italy, luxist-awards, Tuscany, wine tasting, wine tours

Luxury Train Travel From Paris to Istanbul Aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient Express

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Luxury Train Travel Through Europe on the Venice Simplon-Orient Express.

In little more than a century, the Orient Express has become perhaps the most celebrated train ever to grace a set of tracks, earning top billing in Agatha Christie's Murder on the Orient Express and films inspired by the book. It's no surprise, then, that the latest incarnation---the Venice-Simplon Orient Express---has earned a Luxist Awards' nominee in the Best International Summer Vacation category.

The first direct Orient Express from Paris to Istanbul rattled down the tracks in 1889 after years of earlier editions dominated by treacherous transfers in the middle of the route. Bookended by two world wars, the roaring 1920s and 1930s saw the Express ferrying hordes of Europe's most glamorous citizens across the continent. But the middle of the century brought many changes in the world of transportation, and by the dawn of the new millennium, old-fashioned cars had been largely replaced by high-speed trains like the TGV.

Thanks to the privately-operated Venice-Simplon Orient Express, however, the tradition continues. Only one such train runs from Paris to Istanbul per year, but the itinerary is well worth the wait. Start in the City of Lights and watch as the French countryside fades away in the twilight. You'll wake up in Hungary, disembarking for an overnight stay in Budapest and a tour of the city the following day. As the train chugs east, you'll spend another night onboard before another urban jaunt, this time to Bucharest. City turns to countryside as you traverse Bulgaria, terminating in Istanbul.

The six-night trip offers ample time to enjoy the luxurious amenities of the Orient Express---champagne poured by white-gloved hands, opulently appointed cabins-while taking in the sights and sounds of Europe. Rooms range from $4,680 to $14,290, based on double occupancy. And unlike the original Orient Express, this one doesn't require any uncomfortable transfers via horse-drawn carriage.

Vote for the International Summer Vacation destination that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: Awards-Main, best international summer destination, Europe, Istanbul, Luxist-Awards, Orient-Exress, Train, Venice, Venice Simplon Orient-Express

Ciragan Palace Kempinski in Istanbul: The Former Home of Ottoman Sultans

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The view of the Bosphoros from the Ciragan Palace in Istanbul, Turkey

For any traveler looking to stay in a hotel fit for kings in Istanbul, there's no need to look farther than Kempinski's Ciragan Palace. Once home to Ottoman sultans, the locale is a fitting nominee for a Luxist Award in the best international vacation category.

Built on the European side of the Bosporus by Sultan Abdulaziz between the years of 1863 and 1867, the original Ciragan Palace lasted until 1910, when it was decimated by a fire. The walled-in ruins became a soccer stadium for decades; in 1989, the site was restored to its former glory, with a modern hotel complex built next to the refurbished palace.

Gallery: Ciragan Palace Kempinski Istanbul

Beyond the hotel's walls, Istanbul beckons. The city of 12.6 million is Europe's second-largest metro area, and its streets are filled with attractions accumulated over thousands of years. Highlights include the Hagia Sofia, a millennium-and-a-half-old building converted from cathedral to mosque to museum, as well as the Galata Tower, an ancient edifice that offers panoramic views of Old Istanbul.

Today, the hotel's atrium greets guests with grandeur worthy of a sultan. A vast chandelier hangs from the ornate ceiling; a magnificent white stairway winds between the first and second floors. Visitors who stay in the Palace Suites are greeted by a private butler and ushered to rooms graced by balconies overlooking the water; some also include 65-inch LCD televisions or private steam rooms. The most modest rooms start at about 350 Euros, while the most opulent suites easily exceed 2,000 Euros per night.

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

Tags: awards-main, Best international summer destination, Ciragan Palace Kempinski, Istanbul, Kempinski, luxist-awards

Hotel Santa Caterina: One of the World's Most Glamorous Destinations

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

When it comes to fine hotels near the posh seaside town of Amalfi, Italy, none have a better history and pedigree than the Hotel Santa Caterina. For over a century, it's been one of the world's most glamorous destinations---small wonder it's a Luxist Award nominee in the Best International Summer Vacation category.

The Hotel Santa Caterina has always been a family affair. The resort was founded in 1880 by Giuseppe Gambardella and redesigned by his son, Crescenzo, in 1904. Crescenzo's daughters currently run the 66-room establishment with the help of their own children. With a seawater swimming pool, gym, decks and an open-air restaurant, the modern edition of the resort offers just about every amenity a guest could want.

Gallery: Hotel Santa Caterina of Amalfi

Somewhere between the time of Giuseppe and the era of his grandchildren, the Amalfi coast became a celebrity mecca, immortalized in song by the likes of Beyoncé and Jay-Z and actively frequented by dozens more. The stars come for the beauty of the sea and the charm of the town of Amalfi itself, which boasts a bevy of medieval architecture including St. Andrew's cathedral and the Chiosto del Paradiso, an elegant burial ground that now serves as a museum.

A room at the Santa Caterina---with its breathtaking views of Amalfi---will set you back at least 400 Euros per night, and more than 1,200 per night for one of the larger suites. But for a whiff of the salty sea air as the light of Amalfi twinkle in the distance, it's hard to feel you didn't get your money's worth.

Vote for the International Summer Vacation destination that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: Amalfi Coast, awards-main, best international summer destination, Hotel San Caterina, Italy, luxist-awards

The Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Summer Travel

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Is there an adventure getaway that you think offers an unforgettable experience? Is there a beachside hotel that you believe is superior to all others? Which international summer destination provides the best in luxury, landscape and culture? Can you tell us about a luxury family summer destination that offers an incredible experience for both young and old? Which cruise do you think is the best one to take during the summer months?

If you can recommend what you believe are the best in summer travel, we want to hear from you! The Luxist Awards Readers' Choice Awards for Best in Summer Travel will be awarded based on your nominations and voting.

We're currently seeking nominations for the best-of-breed in the following categories:

Best Adventure Getaway
Best Beachside Hotel
Best International Summer Destination
Best Family Summer Destination
Best Summer Cruise

One nomination per category, please. Submissions can be filed until August 15, 2010. Winners will be announced on September 1, 2010.

Tags: awards-main, beach, beach hotel, best adventure getaway, best beachside hotel, best international summer destination, best luxury family summer destination, best summer cruise, cruise, luxist-awards