Lausanne

Annie Scott's Incredible Journeys in 2010

This year, I am thankful and fortunate to have traveled to 16 countries for my work with Luxist, AOL Travel and Gadling, including Austria, Belgium, Dominican Republic, Barbados, England, Scotland, Switzerland, France, Aruba, Curacao, Spain, Zambia, Mexico, Italy, South Africa and within the United States. Some trips were press trips, and others were my own adventures, like my honeymoon in Florence. Each trip had its own merits, but, as this is Luxist, a year-end roundup of the most luxurious places I was lucky enough to visit is called for.

Here are the top five most lavish and thrilling experiences I had in 2010, where I stayed, and a little more information about each of the trips. Perhaps you'll be inspired to take one of these journeys yourself in 2011!

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Annie Scott, cannes, Lausanne, luxury travel, Montreux, Montreux Jazz Festival, Oscar de la Renta, Punta Cana, Sanctuary Retreats, Swiss Riviera, Vienna, Zambia

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The Magic of Montreux and the Swiss Riviera

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Swiss Riviera is undeniably one of the most beautiful parts of the world. Whether you stay in the five-star Beau-Rivage Palace or shack up for a more reasonable price at a UNESCO World Heritage Site winery (like this one), the landscape alone will soothe your soul and inspire your mind. One particular gem along the glistening string of Lake Geneva towns is Montreux.

You may have heard of Montreux in relation Hemingway's A Farewell to Arms (it served as a safe-haven for Catherine Barkley and Lt. Frederic Henry) or the Montreux Jazz Festival, an annual event curated by Claude Nobs which has featured nearly every great artist of the last 44 years (that's how long it's been running), from Aretha Franklin to Prince, from Miles Davis to the Black Eyed Peas. Though no longer focused specifically on jazz, but more on popular music of the times, the festival has become one of the most prestigious in Europe -- this year, they are operating with a 22 million Swiss Franc budget (about $20,992,356) -- and you can be sure the performers don't mind spending time on Lake Geneva (above).

Tags: beauty, Bill Gates, caux, lausanne, lavaux, montreux, swiss riviera, switzerland

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Angleterre & Residence Hotel, Swiss Riviera Living

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Angleterre & Residence Hotel is a charmingly majestic complex of luxury villas-turned-hotel-rooms right on the shores of Lake Geneva in the cosmopolitan Swiss Riviera town of Lausanne.

Situated right next to the world-renowned Beau-Rivage Palace, the Angleterre & Residence is a perfect fit for those who would prefer something a little more quaint and in keeping with the laid-back feel of Lausanne. Each villa has three floors of sovereign hotel rooms and access to the courtyard, the captivating pool above, the Cinq Mondes Spa at the Beau-Rivage Palace, and the breakfast room with an unobstructed view of Lake Geneva. The French Alps look so close you could almost touch them.

The six historic villas, or "pavilions" as they call them, feature modern, comfortable decor, though parts date back as far as the 18th century. Although the hotel is adjacent to the boardwalk, you'll find the villas remarkably well-protected from the street; discreet and quiet. The property has 75 rooms and junior suites, four banquet rooms, private underground parking and two restaurants, all without ever feeling overwhelming or like a "compound."

My stay at the exceptional Angleterre & Residence Hotel in Lausanne, one of the most beautiful cities in the world, was one I would repeat and recommend. Check out the gallery for a first-person look at this fabulous hotel.

Gallery: Inside the Angleterre & Residence Hotel

My trip to the Switzerland was sponsored by Switzerland Tourism, but the ideas and opinions expressed in this article are 100 percent my own.

Tags: Angleterre Residence, Hotels, lake geneva, Lausanne, swiss hotel, swiss riviera, Switzerland

Kate Spade Lausanne Plie, Handbag of the Day

by Nicole Weston (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags

This plush, chocolate-colored Kate Spade bag was inspired by the city on Lake Genevain Switzerland that shares its name, Lausanne. The Lausanne Plie bag tries to capture the "chic sensibility" and "rich culture" of the quiet town by combining rich beaver fur with luxurious snakeskin leather. The bag has a drawstring closure and is topped with a thick braided leather handle with gold accents. It measures 11.8"h x 16.5"w x 6.3"d and, like all of Kate's bags, this one also has her signature larabee dot lining. Price: $995.