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10 of the Best Dream Villas (and Why You Want to Rent One)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Why rent a luxury hotel room when you can step it up a notch and have a villa instead? Many people don't consider villas by sheer reason that the thought doesn't occur to them, or if it does it's intimidating because people aren't sure how it works. It's really not that complicated, and the benefits of having your own luxury home (as opposed to just a suite in a hotel) at your disposal for the duration of your vacation are amazing.

As far as which villas you might want to consider take a look at the 10 on this slide show, which are complete with villa renting tips like how to consider whether or not you'll need to rent a car and how to choose the best season. Apparently Croatia is becoming one of the hottest villa-vacation hot spots in Europe, and Meikloeur Castle in Scotland is one of the priciest renting for $37,200 per week (but for that you get your own 18 hole golf course).

Tags: hotel, how to, HowTo, journey, journeys, luxury, top 10, top ten, Top10, TopTen, vacation, vacations, villa, villas

Carol Parc Hotel

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Perhaps the poshest hotel in the city of Bucharest in Romania is the five-star Carol Parc Hotel which opened this year. The boutique hotel is home to 20 rooms and suites and the rooms boast wood-burning fireplaces, terraces, plasma televisions, and Bulgari amenities. The hotel is also home to the Poem restaurant for fine dining. It is also one of the priciest hotels in the area with rooms starting at 300 euros but first-time guests are eligible for a 50% disount on the first night's stay, and a room upgrade for the entire stay. The hotel's website has an excellent virtual tour that gives you a look at this beautiful property.

Tags: bucharest, carol parc hotel, CarolParcHotel, five star hotel, FiveStarHotel, journey, romania, travel

The World's Most Expensive Cruises

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

People who have money and taste are ever looking for different and more exotic ways to relax and entertain themselves, and the world of cruises is no exception. Trips to the Caribbean and the Bahamas are all but mainstream, so luxury cruises are moving towards smaller more personal ships and less common locations. And the world's most expensive luxury cruises are no exception, with popular locations ranging from the Baltic to Africa to Antarctica, and prices soaring upwards of $2,000 per person per day in some cases. Money like that will get you the best rooms, interesting adventure options (like kayaking in the Antarctic), upscale shore excursions with exclusive perks and privileges, and of course travel at the peak of the sometimes short seasons. Where do you want to go? I don't think I could decide!

Tags: boat, cruise, cruises, expensive, journey, journeys, most expensive, MostExpensive, ship, top 10, top ten, Top10, TopTen, travel, travels, water, world's most expensive, World'sMostExpensive

Hotels Upgrade Their Gadgets

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It used to be that part of the fun of staying in a hotel room was extra conveniences and access to technology you may not have had at home, like pay-per-view cable. But now that Tivo and flat screens have become somewhat commonplace, going to a hotel room usually isn't so special as far as gadgets are concerned. And hotel chains haven't only lost their technological edge in terms of "special extras," but they're in real danger of actually falling behind and causing their customers to feel inconvenienced if they're unable to hook up their iPods or access wireless internet. Thankfully, many hotels are making aggressive efforts to upgrade their offerings, installing HD flat screen TVs, clocks with ports for music players, improved programming with more movie options, and other items. What are you most looking forward to?

Tags: convenience, gadget, gadgets, hotel, hotels, improve, journey, journeys, technology, travel, travels, upgrade

Hotel Particulier

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Hotel Particulier, charming hotel in the Montmartre region of Paris recently opened. The mansion is home to just five suites with a secluded garden in the backyard. The hotel may look traditional from the outside but the interior features a lot of furniture from modern designers. Opening special rates start at €290 ($390) per night for the small suites and €390 ($525) for the larger ones. After the jump, check out the reasons why this hotel is worth checking out.

Tags: france, hotel, hotel particulier, HotelParticulier, journey, montmatre, paris, travel, vacation

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Celebrating Hong Kong's Handover In Style

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Has it really been ten years since Hong Kong was handed back to mainland China? The Langham Hotel, Hong Kong has a package available July 1 through August 31 to commemorate the event. The package includes suite accommodations for two nights, a 15-minute helicopter tour of Hong Kong, a two-hour "Symphony of Lights" harbor cruise, dinner for two at T'ang Court, daily breakfast in either the Langham Club Lounge or L'Eclipse, complimentary use of the Langham Club Lounge, featuring evening cocktails and hors d'oeuvres and more. The hotel concierge can also arrange visits to the ten major sights new to Hong Kong in the last ten years such as Avenue of the Stars in Tsimshatsui, the International Finance Centre, Golden Bauhinia Square, the Wetland Park, the Star Ferry Pier, the Tsing Ma Bridge (connecting Lantau Island with New Territories) and Ngon Ping Village and Wisdom Path. The package starts at $1,997.

Tags: hong kong, HongKong, journey, langham hotel, travel, vacation

Luxury Equestrian Tours Around the World

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Horseback riding is a more popular hobby than some may realize, with 20 million Americans considering themselves riders and 12 million taking it fairly seriously by riding at least once per week. With that many interested, equestrian-based luxury vacations are getting better and better all the time. From Micato Horseback Safaris in Africa where you can play polo and spot zebra to Cross Country International's Chateau-to-Chateau Trail in France featuring leisurely rides through the countryside with stops for wine and massages -- there's something for every taste and in every area of the world.

Tags: equestrian, horse, horses, journey, journeys, luxury, riding, tour, tours

Rovos Rail Train Journeys in South Africa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

We've briefly mentioned the Rovos Rail line of trains before but it truly is one of the world's most luxurious ways to travel. Rovos Rail runs through South Africa and is the idea of Rohan Vos, an entrepreneur who made his fortune in car spare parts . He bought up old old railway carriages and converted them to his own specifications. When railway authorities demanded large fees to travel on their rails he decided to make his pet project pay for itself. The company functions like a boutique hotel chain on wheels. Details include under-floor heating, air-conditioning, ensuite shower and toilet, real beds and electric blankets. You can also order complimentary drinks for your mini bar and your suite comes with a bathrobe and slippers, a full-size shower with branded toiletries and flowers and a fruit basket on the table. A 14-day trip from Cape Town to Dar Es Salaam costs $12, 800 for Royal accommodations.

[via AME Info]

Tags: journey, railway, rovos rail, RovosRail, south africa, train, travel

Radissson Launches Online Boutique

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Decor, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Radisson has become the latest hotel chain to launch an online boutique. The new boutique for guests in the U.S. and Canada includes bedding, bath products and even the wall mirrors and wall-mounted hair dryers. It isn't the most luxurious offering we have seen by far but this ice bucket set is sort of cute. The ice bucket and shaker are stainless steel with an acrylic center wrap that's been coated with a rubber frost spray and is double wall insulated and he tray is stainless steel. The ice bucket is $75, the cocktail shaker is $38 and the tray is $48.

Tags: boutique, decor, hotels, ice bucket, journey, radisson, travel, vacation

Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel, Philadelphia Remodels for Spring

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Radisson Plaza-Warwick Hotel in Philadelphia, PA has just finished with $15 million dollars in remodeling projects, and is re-opening this Spring with a whole new look. All guest rooms will have Sleep Number beds (you can adjust bed's firmness to your particular taste), granite counter tops in the bathrooms, and 32" LCD televisions. But the penthouse suite is where the real luxury is, with 3 two-bedroom suites overlooking the city, several larger 42" LCD televisions, and plenty of spacious living areas for entertaining or just bumming around in.

Sounds dreamy.

Tags: hotel, journey, PA, Philadelphia, plaza, radisson-warwick, resort, sleep number, SleepNumber, travel

Take A Private Jet Journey to Remote Lands

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The aptly named Remote Lands, Inc is now offering private jet journeys as a unique way to see the world. The first of these packages, called "Passionate Epicures and Insatiable Travelers," is available this year and will have room for a cozy 36 guests and is scheduled to travel to Thailand, Burma, Bhutan, India and China. Attractions include not only the locations themselves, but also best-selling authors, world-renowned chefs, and cultural experiences like attending a Thai wedding and visiting the home of a Bhutan dignitary.

Or if that sounds a little too generic for your taste, maybe a "bespoke travel package" is a better fit. Remote Lands will design an individualized Asian vacation just for you, basing it on your particular preferences and lifestyle, and offer choices including everything from bodyguards and massage therapists to audiences with Asian nobility.

Tags: asia, bespoke travel, BespokeTravel, bhutan, burma, china, india, jet, journey, journeys, plane, private jet, PrivateJet, remote lands, RemoteLands, travel

Luxury Christmas Feast at Llangoed Hall

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Western Mail's hunt for the most extravagant Christmas dinner in Wales led them to Llangoed Hall. According to this article, the luxury country hotel offers one of the most deluxe feasts in the area. The meal which costs £110 per person includes home tea smoked goose breast with scrumpy cider syrup and sage-scented pannacotta, a cappuccino of wild mushrooms with a black truffle foam and cheese straws and a Christmas pudding with caramelized rum sauce, brandy butter and prune and Armagnac ice cream among the many offerings. The feast also includes entertainment and the weekend includes a Boxing Day clay pigeon shoot and a seafood gala dinner. The Christmas House Party runs from noon on Christmas Eve to Wednesday, the 27th December 2006 and prices for the holiday packages start from £550 per person.

Tags: christmas, england, feast, journey, llangoed hall, LlangoedHall, wales

Christmas in Austria Tours

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It's hard to think of a more traditionally picturesque place to celebrate Christmas than Salzburg, Austria. Karin Winkler creates small tours that include a traditional Salzburg Christmas and New Years dinner in a private home decorated for the holidays. She even cooks you dinner. There are two tours, one from December 15 to 24 and one from December 22 to January 2 that include visits to the Salzburg Christkindlmärkte, the fortress, castles and other historically significant places, an operetta and an opera at the Marionette Theatre and a visit to the Stille Nacht - Heilige Nacht (Silent Night - Holy Night) museum. The tours cost $3,495 and $ 4,495.

Tags: austria, christmas, holiday, journey, salzburg, travel

Exotic Extravagance, a la Crusoe (sort of)

by Anton Friant (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

rinconcareyes

Thinking about pulling "A Good Year" of your own? Check out these luxury villas from Rincon Careyes on Mexico's pacific coast – it's like Robinson Crusoe meets Donald Trump in a secluded, tropical fantasy land that prides itself on maintaining the highest standards of extravagance while still giving their residents a sense of intimacy with their exotic surroundings. Their empty lots start at $475k, but be sure to check out the 3-acre private lot "La Playa"; with multiple, interconnected dwelling units (many open-air), this $6m property certainly threatens to rip you out of your 80 hr/week Wall Street gig. It's more fun to climb palm trees than corporate ladders anyway, right?

Tags: exotic, journey, rincon careyes, RinconCareyes, travel, villa

Cheeca Lodge

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Estates, Luxury Travel & Hotels

The Cheeca Lodge and Spa in the Florida Keys recently went through a major renovation before their 60th anniversary. The resort's 27-acres feature a nine-hole Jack Nicklaus golf course, a large lap pool, fitness center, 5,000-square-foot spa, a camp for kids, a long fishing pier, and a beach pavilion for water sports. Accommodations include guestrooms and suites as well beachfront bungalows with private sandy patios. Our Republican friends may want to stay in the George Bush Presidential suite which includes mementos from Bush Sr. including autographed photos of himself with his son, President George W. Bush. The suite also has a private screened balcony with views of the ocean running the entire length of the suite.

They are currently offering a midweek promotion through December 21 with resort view suites at $260 per night. The resort will also soon have condos for sale for those who want to make the Cheeca experience a more permanent affair.

Tags: cheeca resort, CheecaResort, florida, hotel, journey, travel

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