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Istanbul EDITION Hotel Set to Debut in April 2011

New luxury lifestyle hotel brand EDITION is set to make its European debut in Istanbul in April, hot on the heels of the opening of the brand's first property on Oahu, Waikiki EDITION, last October.

But if you're a fan of the Hawaii property, don't expect a carbon copy, at least in terms of aesthetics.

Situated within the city's lively Levent neighborhood, known for its Kanyon mall and impressive skyline, the Istanbul EDITION will be an urban resort offering a mix of Eastern and Western influences, the signature creative direction of Ian Schrager and the high-touch service of Marriott.

The starting point? A tall, domed lobby; a fundamental mark of traditional Ottoman style realized here with a modern twist. Eastern touches are present throughout: walls, ceilings and floors are lined with mosaic tiles, a cornerstone of traditional Byzantine architecture, and public spaces are gracefully bejeweled with bronze and gold leaf reminiscent of Ottoman style in all of its splendor. Traditional hanging lamps are featured in the guest rooms while Gold Bar's VIP seating area has taken its inspiration from traditional Turkish Tea Rooms. Leather tufted ottomans are surrounded by u-shaped seating influenced by old Bosphorus villas that featured such rooms for socializing, relaxing and smoking. The long-standing ritual of the Hammam is clearly reflected in the unparalleled spa offerings.

Tags: edition hotels, hammam, ian schrager, istanbul, istanbul edition, istanbul edition hotel, marriott, new hotel openings, turkey, waikiki edition

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Best Cruises to Take During the Summer

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise

Luxist readers have nominated their favorite cruises to take around the world during the summer months. From Istanbul to Hong Kong and Egypt, what these cruises have in common are once-in-a-lifetime opportunities to see the world while enjoying luxurious accommodations and other incredible amenities. What's best, is you will be able to explore the beauty and culture of faraway places without having to spend half of your time in confusing and crowded airports.

The top five cruises to take during the summer, according to our readers, are:

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise (seen in photo above) offers a 24-day itinerary that begins in Bangkok, Thailand and ends in Kobe, Japan, with stops in five cities along the Pacific coastline. The first week includes stops in Vietnam's sprawling Ho Chih Minh City and bustling port of Da Nang before chugging over to Hong Kong, where shore excursions include a helicopter ride and high tea at the Peninsula Hotel.

Week two starts with a journey to mainland China's seaside city of Xiamen; the trip continues with two days in Shanghai, the "Paris of China," and wraps up with a day on the Yellow Sea. The third week takes visitors to South Korea, first to the mountain-backed city of Mokpo, then to Jeju, a volcanic island formed from eruptions nearly 2 million years ago. The trip ends with stops at Nagasaki, Kagoshima and Kobe, Japan.

The Fabled Far East cruise takes place on the Seabourn Pride, a boat that boasts both a restaurant and spa. Best Available Fares per person, based on double occupancy, start at $11,400 for wait list spot, while the brochure fare is $22,800. Fares go all the way up to $32,800 for a wait list spot in a deluxe owner's suite (the stated brochure fare is $65,600), not including airfare.

Gallery: The Yachts of Seabourn

The Yachts of Seabourn (The Fabled Far East Cruise)

Tags: Athens, awards-main, Best Cruises, Best summer cruise, Best summer cruises, Cunard Cruise Line, CunardCruiseLine, Greece, Istanbul, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, National Geographic, Norway, Oberoi Zahra, Queen Mary 2, Sea Cloud, Seabourn, Turkey

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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

Istanbul Culinary Institute Explores The Tastes of Turkey

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you aren't familiar with Turkish cuisine you are missing out. Turkish cooking is as varied as the country itself. Influenced by its position at the crossroads of Western and Eastern civilizations, the cuisine represents a melding of various traditions. The Istanbul Culinary Institute has created programs to help tourists explore the full wealth of the cuisine. The Institute has just announced their line-up of summer and fall programs featuring carefully curated culinary tours throughout the Southeastern and central regions of Turkey, led by some of the best known women chefs and food writers of Turkey. There is also a special "crash course" on Turkish cooking, offering visitors an intensive five-day culinary educational experience at the ICI. Click through after the jump for three tours:

Tags: culinary tour, culinary tours, culinary travel, istanbul, turkey, turkish cuisine, turkish food

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Shangri-La Istanbul to Open in 2012

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts is making its first foray into Istanbul, Turkey, having signed an an agreement with Tanriverdi Holding Company to manage a new hotel, slated to open in April 2012.

The hotel will be on the site of a former tobacco company and warehouse which dates to the 1930s, the exteriors are protected by the city's Cultural and Natural Assets Committee. I'll be interested to see how this goes, for in order to preserve the historic façade, seven of the hotel's 14 stories will be built underground. (Presumably, of the 200 rooms planned, these won't be the rooms that will have private terraces.)

A rooftop restaurant and bar is planned, as well as a health club,spa, swimming pool, business center, ballroom, and conference and meeting room facilities. The hotel will be in the same neighborhood as the beautiful Dolmabahce Palace, and should be well-located for business travelers.

Tags: hotels, istanbul, new hotels, shangri-la

Byzantia: Jewelry by Stella Flame

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Jewelry, Luxury Travel & Hotels

While I was checking out Rock Hall, the new Connecticut B&B I told you about last week, I noticed that the proprietress, Stella Flame, had simply gorgeous jewelery: pieces that were big, bold and yet totally tasteful.

I asked her about it, and it turns out that she's a jewelry designer, represented by Sola Showroom in Manhattan. Her inspiration is Istanbul, a city that she loves, and she aims to bring a modern twist to the feel of ancient Mediterranean designs. (This is a common theme with her bed & breakfast, a Mediterranean style estate in the heart of Connecticut.) Stella designs the pieces, which are crafted in Istanbul, using jewels set into a signature combination of oxidized silver and 24 karat gold. On the day of my visit, Stella was just about to fly out to Istanbul to confer with her master jewelers.

These pieces retail in the neigborhood of $1,500 to about $3,000, depending on the stones that are used, contact Sola showroom for prices.

Gallery: Byzantia Jewelry by Stella Flame

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Tags: bedandbreakfast, istanbul, jeweler, jewelery

Istanbul Sapphire Is Europe's Tallest Tower

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Real Estate Developments

Need more proof that Istanbul is becoming one of the most cosopolitan cities in Europe? Check out the Istanbul Sapphire, the 261-meter skyscraper that will be the tallest residential building in Europe once it is completed in late 2009. The skyscraper has been under construction for three years and recently reached full height. It will have 64 floors and offer 174 private residences. The total cost of the project is currently $200 million and around 40 percent of the whole project has been sold. The tower is also home to a shopping center, fitness center and spa, restaurants and includes vertical gardens and a viewing terrace.

[via Turkish Daily News]

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Tags: istanbul, istanbul sapphire, IstanbulSapphire, skyscraper

The Millionaire Fair Heads To Istanbul

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Events

My colleague Jared Paul Stern has written before about the renaissance of Istanbul as a luxury destination. Even more than the opening of a W hotel or a Jimmy Choo boutique, the arrival of the Millionaire Fair in town symbolizes that Istanbul is on the radar of for luxury brands. The Millionaire Fair travels the world showcasing real estate developments, high-end jewelry and watches, luxury cars and other items to tempt the wealthy. This is the first time that Turkey is hosting the Millionaire Fair and an account in Today's Zaman says that several luxury hotels in ?stanbul were full due to visitors flying in to the city to attend the Millionaire Fair. Istanbul even beat out Dubai to hold the event this year. The fair features over 200 global brands as well as select Turkish brands such as Moonday Yachts, a jewelry collection from Topal Mücevherat and a three-wheeled Spyder motorcycle made by the Depar company.

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Tags: istanbul, millionaire fair, MillionaireFair, turkey

Take a Tour of the New W Istanbul

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

As my colleague Deidre Woollard noted the other day, Istanbul has become something of a hotspot for foriegn brands. In addition to the Christian Dior boutique she wrote about, Marc Jacobs, Chloé, Bottega Veneta and Jimmy Choo have all recently opened shops in the Besiktas district, aka the SoHo of Istanbul. The centerpiece of the neighborhood is undoubtedly Starwood's new W Istanbul (which she mentioned as well). This is the first European outpost for W, the fastest growing luxury hotel brand in the world with 22 properties and 18 more in development. Here's a tour of the hip new hotel which W constructed out of a row of beautiful 1870s townhouses. The W Istanbul features 134 luxurious guest rooms including 26 suites -- many with their own private gardens, terraces and cabanas -- a branch of chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's New York hotspot Spice Market, a sexy Sip Lounge bar, and a signature spa. It also boasts spectacular views of the Bosphorus, the renowned waterway between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara.

[via UrbanDaddy]

Gallery: The W Istanbul

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Tags: Bottega Veneta, BottegaVeneta, Chloe, Istanbul, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Jean-georgesVongerichten, Jimmy Choo, JimmyChoo, Marc Jacobs, MarcJacobs, Spice Market, SpiceMarket, Starwood, Turkey, UrbanDaddy, W Hotel, W Hotels, WHotel, WHotels

Foreign Brands Investing in Istanbul

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The beautiful and historic city of Istanbul seems to be suddenly becoming a hot spot for travel and shopping, not just for those looking for a historical experience but for those looking for the latest stores and hotels. The International Herald Tribune recently did a story on the rise of shopping malls in the Turkish town. Income is rising in Turkey and malls are attracting shoppers by offering newness and one-stop shopping, food and entertainment. Foreign retailers are starting to move in as well. WWD reports that the Christian Dior boutique at the Istinye Park shopping complex is thriving. Although the general economic environment is worsening, Turkish retail is very appealing to foreign investors.

One foreign brand making a move in Istanbul is W Hotels Worldwide which will mark its entry into Europe with the grand opening of W Istanbul. The W Istanbul is the centerpiece of the Ottoman Row Houses. W Istanbul features 134 guest rooms, including 26 suites, Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten's Spice Market restaurant, and a signature spa. The rooms include private gardens, terraces and cabanas and are designed in a blend of modern and Turkish design.The project complex in which W Istanbul is located includes luxury residences and retail shops which will offer global luxury brands.

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Tags: dior, istanbul, malls, turkey, w hotel

Luxe City Guides Offer Only the Best

by Sandy Maple (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Luxe City Guides are not your ordinary travel books. In fact, they aren't books at all. They are are beautiful, sleek, accordion-style guides that are small enough to fit in your pocket. These travel and style guides point the discerning traveler to only the best of the best in Asian, European and Australian cities.

From Bali to Tokyo, the guides are packed with personally researched information from city-insiders who know their way around the fashion, food and entertainment scenes. Luxe takes things a step further by including information on services, shops and secrets that you might never find on your own. With Luxe, you are a visitor, not a tourist.

Whether you are looking for the best martini in Istanbul, want to design your own handbags in Hanoi or desire a quiet moment in a secret garden in the heart of Bangkok, Luxe will take you there in style.

The guides are written in an opinionated and irreverent style and are beautiful to look at. With no paid advertising, the Luxe City Guides are updated twice each year with regular online updates.

Buy the guides individually for $9 each, or get a customized boxed set of twelve for $108.

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Tags: asia travel, AsiaTravel, austrtalia travel, AustrtaliaTravel, bali, bangkok, city guide, CityGuide, entertainment, european travel, EuropeanTravel, hanoi, istanbul, luxe travel guide, LuxeTravelGuide, style, tokyo, travel, travel guide, travel secrets, TravelGuide, TravelSecrets

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