Honduras

Black Pearl Golf Course Opens On Roatan

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Sports

The island of Roatan off the coast off Honduras now has its own golf course. The exotically named Black Pearl at the Pristine Bay Resort is a Perry and Pete Dye-designed par-72, 7,179-yard course with plenty of Caribbean views. The course starts near the ocean and then zig zags into the foothills of the island before taking the player back toward the sea.

The course includes plenty of treats (and tricks). The 11th hole (a par 3) has an elevated tee and the green sits in the middle of a lake ringed by a narrow bunker. Roatan has become a popular stop on many Caribbean cruise itineraries. The course opened December 1 exclusively for Carnival and Royal Caribbean passengers. The Sky Lounge and 19th Hole restaurants are also open to enjoy before and after a round.

The Resort and Spa at Pristine Bay, a 120-room, five-star hotel will have a "soft opening" this spring. Villas, home lots and condos are also being sold. Villas start at $600,000 and range up to $1 million; lots start at $230,000 and range up to $700,000; and condominiums from $348,000 to $700,000. A 155-slip full-service marina located near The Black Pearl clubhouse will provide deep-water access for yachts.

Tags: caribbean, honduras, roatan

Five Cigar Recommendations for Father's Day

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

I'm about to celebrate my first Father's Day, so when I heard that the Beverly Hills Cigar Club had a few cigar suggestions for the occasion, I opened the e-mail immediately. In past years, I would have written the blog post for everyone else ... this year, I have something at stake!

Vin Lee, CEO of the Beverly Hills Cigar Club, has put together an interesting menu of cigars for Father's Day this year. From this list, I'd go with the Oliva Serie V, though my personal favorite these days is the 601 Trabuco (hint, hint).

Let's take a look at the five cigars Lee offers up as Father's Day suggestions:

1. CAO America Monument Pinstripe Torpedo
The wrapper on this cigar consists of two leaves arranged to deliver a pinstriping effect. One is a golden brown Connecticut Shade, and the other is a chocolate brown Connecticut Broadleaf. The filler comes from Nicaragua, the Dominican Republic and the United States. Notes Lee, "Warm summer nights this Father's Day, heat up the Kalamazoo 900 Grill and let Dad light up America while he slow grills his special burgers. No, he still won't tell you what's in the sauce though."

Tags: beverly hills, cigar, cigar club, cigar lounge, cigars, colombia, costa rica, dominican republic, fathers day, fathers-day, FathersDay, honduras, Mexico, nicaragua, NicaraguanCigars

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Davidoff Introduces Zino Embassy Selection Perfecto

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Cigars

Davidoff's new Zino Embassy Selection Limited Edition Perfecto is the latest taste of luxury to come out of the Swiss company. This new cigar consists of a Honduran blend that is powerful, spicy and sophisticated without being overbearing. The perfecto-sized cigar is 6 inches long and has a ring gauge of 53. It sports an Ecuadorian Special Sun Grown Wrapper that was made in only limited quantities -- with Davidoff given the rights of exclusive distribution.

Look for the Zino Embassy Selection in a gorgeous burgundy box, and the 10-count size does make this cigar a tad more accessible to the full range of cigar smokers. Crack open the box, and you can admire the new black and gold Zino band that has been designed for the occasion.

Tags: cigar, cigars, davidoff, ecuador, honduras, zino, zino davidoff, ZinoDavidoff

The Deep Luxury of Simplicity at Hacienda San Lucas in Honduras

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Green

At luxury hotels, there's something of a formula: the latest electronic gadgets, check. Personalized service, check. Luxurious linens, lovely room design, delicious food, check, check check. Maybe I'm jaded, but doesn't it get a little same-old, same-old after a while?

What's really rare is a place that provides true luxury outside this conventional mold -- a feat which I think is only accomplished by having a person of impeccable taste paying attention to every last detail of a guest experience. And to my mind, the exemplar is Hacienda San Lucas, in Copán Ruinas, Honduras.

Hacienda San Lucas is an eco-lodge has just eight rooms, and no, it doesn't have the latest bells and whistles. There's no flat screen TV, no whirlpool tub, no "in room console" where you can open and close your shades while lying on your bed. There's not even a telephone in the room -- which, come to think of it, is a luxury of its own kind. But owner Flavia Cueva is a person of impeccable taste, and she has rigorously thought through every single detail. The result is a total retreat that's simply and sensually luxurious.

When you arrive through the tropical lush greenery, you'll smell strong scent of burning wood, hear the pat pat pat of fresh tortillas being made, and see commanding valley views: in places, directly into the town's Mayan ruins, with the the wavy-topped mountains as a backdrop. The main building was Cueva's centuries-old family home, some nine years ago, she added guest rooms at a remove from the main building. The rooms feature pitched wide wooden planked ceilings, white plaster walls, adorned with local tapestries and art work and smooth stone floors. At night the entire property is lit by countless candles, in the rooms, along the walkways, and in the dining area.

In a quiet spot, there's Gaia, a dedicated yoga pavilion and meditation space with views into the Mayan ruins. Arrange yoga classes during your stay with excellent local teacher (and ex-pat Canadian) Leah Glatz, who frequently works with Aum Rak, a local Mayan shaman. Or attend an organized retreat: on August 8th-16th, Global Soul Adventures is running one of its acclaimed yoga retreats at San Lucas.

Gallery: Hacienda San Lucas in Copan Ruinas, Honduras