luxury travel

Wreck Week 2011 at Rosewood's Little Dix Bay: A Luxury Diving Paradise

We've long loved Rosewood hotels for their understated luxury feel -- each of the brand's properties, spread throughout the US, Caribbean and Europe, offers a unique ambiance that blends in with the surroundings of the area but singularly top-notch service and amenities.

That's part of the reason we're so eager to show off their newest luxury package offered at Virgin Gorda resort Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands. The third annual "Wreck Week" offers unparalleled access to some of the Caribbean's best dive sites and includes five days of diving -- 14 dives total on 13 wrecks.

Tags: british virgin islands, bvi, carribbean, little dix bay, luxury travel, rosewood, virgin gorda

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Architecture, Nature & Elegance at Amanyara, Turks & Caicos

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Tags: Aman resorts, Amanyara, bar, luxury travel, resort, Turks and Caicos

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The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong: Highest Hotel in the World Opens

by McLean Robbins (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Want to get high ... legally? No, we're not talking a Salvia trip à la Miley Cyrus, but a literal 118 stories high.

The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong yesterday announced the opening of their 16th property in Asia, which boasts the title of "highest hotel in the world." Located at the very top of the International Commerce Centre (ICC) in Hong Kong and occupying floors 102 to 118, the hotel takes the honors away from the current title holder in Dubai.

"The opening of this landmark hotel in Hong Kong is the culmination of many years of hard work and dedication to delivering the very best product, facilities and service in this international gateway city," said Herve Humler, president and chief operations officer of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, L.L.C.

Arrival
Don't prep for a long elevator ride just yet. The hotel's arrival lobby is actually located on the ninth floor of the building, where guests will pause before being transported to floor 103, which offers panoramic views of Hong Kong and the harbor.

Gallery: The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong

Tags: highest hotel, hong kong, hotels, luxury hotels, luxury travel, ritz carlton, ritz carlton hong kong, the ritz carlton

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Ralph Lauren's Cars, Private Parrot Cay Villa & More in Bid to Save the Earth Auction - Part 2

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos, Auctions, Celebrity Shopping, Charity, Celebrity Design

Parrot Cay Villa for auction in Bid to Save the Earth

Last week we reported on the host of international celebrities, creative icons, industry leaders and conservationists joining together with famed auction house Christie's to support the 2011 Green Auction, a momentous live event and companion online auction raising funds and awareness for the preservation and sustainability of the planet.

Christie's has partnered with luxury charity auction site charitybuzz.com to put more than 200 coveted auction packages online from now through April 7 to raise funds for Oceana, the Natural Resources Defense Council, Conservation International and the Central Park Conservancy. Supporters can make a Bid to Save the Earth at www.charitybuzz.com/BidtoSavetheEarth.

A companion invite-only event and live fantasy auction hosted by Seth Meyers will be held at Christie's New York on March 29 in partnership with Vogue's Runway to Green. The event will feature a fashion show sponsored by Tiffany & Co. on the night of the live auction, with designer collection selections available online through Net-A-Porter.com.

In part one of our report on the incredible experiences on offer, we focused on the big ticket items estimated at over $100,000 apiece, including a ride with Harrison Ford on his private plane. Now we're selecting some of our favorite lots across a range of expected prices (N.B.: Lagerfeld and Ducasse are being auctioned off live tonight):

Tags: Alain Ducasse, auctions, bid to save the earth, celebrity auctions, Chanel, charity, Charity Buzz, Christies, christies+bid+to+save+the+earth, christiesbidtosavetheearth, environment, Ferrari, Girard-Perregaux, green+auction, greenauction, Karl Lagerfeld, luxury travel, Paris, Parrot Cay, Ralph Lauren, Ralph Lauren car collection, Robert F. Kennedy, Turks and Caicos

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Luxe Destinations: Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

We recently reported on JetBlue's great new direct service to the island paradise of the Turks & Caicos. To help you plan your glamorous getaway, Luxist is featuring the best of the Caribbean hotspot's luxury resorts, beginning with our top pick, Parrot Cay, situated on a private island.

On 1,000 pristine acres including a mile-long powdered beach, the resort is an elegant combination of glorious nature, understated luxury and unparalleled privacy. The first private island property from COMO Hotels and Resorts, it features an award-winning holistic spa, healthy gourmet cuisine and beach houses with private pools.

Parrot Cay's rooms are designed to maximize light, facing the sea or the island's natural landscaping, and awash in ocean breezes. Balinese day-beds, four-posters and private pools encourage relaxed lounging outdoors, while interiors come in whitewash and teak, with many of the Hamptons-style houses offering direct beach access.

There are also luxe villas belonging to private owners who make their properties available to rent. The spa, COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay, overlooks mangroves and wetlands rich with birdlife. Situated just behind the beach is one of the world's most beautiful swimming pools.

We'll see you there.

Gallery: Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos - Preview

Tags: beach, beach resort, best beach resorts, best Caribbean resorts, best island resorts, best luxury Caribbean resorts, Caribbean, COMO Hotels and Resorts, island, JetBlue, luxury travel, Parrot Cay, private island, private island resorts, resorts, spa, swimming pools, travel, Turks Caicos, Turks and Caicos, Turks and Caicos resort, villas

Luxe Travel Tip: JetBlue's New Direct Service to Turks & Caicos

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Thanks to JetBlue, it's now a whole lot easier to get to one of our favorite luxe travel destinations, the Turks & Caicos islands. The eco-friendly airline known for its style and value just introduced direct service to the Caribbean hotspot's Providenciales island from New York's JFK and Boston's Logan airports. The flights leave JFK daily.

Tags: airlines, beach, Boston, Caribbean, islands, JetBlue, jetblue+service+to+turks+and+caicos, jetblueservicetoturksandcaicos, JFK airport, Logan airport, luxury resorts, luxury travel, resorts, travel, Turks Caicos

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The Classicist: Thoroughbreds, Bourbon and Private Planes from Flexjet

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Wings, Events, Sports, The Classicist

The Classicist: Thoroughbreds, Bourbon and Private Planes from Flexjet

Private jet juggernaut Flexjet is offering an alluring incentive to new fractional owners via a promotion with Kentucky's Keeneland, one of the world's leading thoroughbred racing and auction facilities. The three-day Unbridled experience centers around the 2011 Breeders' Cup World Championships this fall. Known as the thoroughbred industry's most prestigious championship event, the Breeders' Cup attracts fierce competition for the richest prize-money event in the world with over $26 million in purses at stake. There's a lot more to the Unbridled experience, however, as you'd expect considering the cost for a 1/16th fraction (or 50 hours / year) on one of the company's Learjet 40XRs starts at $362,500.

Each owner and their guest will enjoy the Breeders' Cup races in the comfort of a finish-line owner's suite at the iconic Churchill Downs, one of the world's greatest racetracks and home of the Kentucky Derby, as well as an invitation to attend sun-up morning workouts. A one-on-one meeting with a renowned thoroughbred trainer and an insider's look at a famed horse farm are also in the offing. The Unbridled experience is available in limited quantities at no extra charge for Flexjet customers purchasing a new fractional share now through June 12, 2011; the all-inclusive experience takes place November 3 - 6.

Gallery: Flexjet Unbridled Experience

Tags: 21c Museum Hotel, Bombardier, bourbon, Breeders Cup, Buffalo Trace, Churchill Downs, distillery, equestrian, events, Flexjet, fractional ownership, horse breeding, horse farm, horse racing, horses, jets, Keeneland, Kentucky, Kentucky Derby, lear+jet45, Learjet, learjet45, Louisville, luxury travel, Private jet, private plane, spirits, sports, stables, the South, thoroughbred, whiskey

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Giraffe Manor in Kenya: Where Guests Live Among World's Tallest Creatures (with video)

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Video

Giraffe Manor in Nairobi Kenya

For those seeking a truly exotic, once-in-a-lifetime Out of Africa-type experience, Giraffe Manor may be just the place. Here, guests enjoy the unique chance to interact with its resident herd of Rothschild Giraffe, a rare breed which is among the world's tallest creatures. Guests have the unparalleled experience of the giraffes, with the animals vying for guests' attention at the breakfast table, the front door and even at the bedroom window. Giraffe Manor is located in 12 acres of private land only 20 kilometers from Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. It is set within 140 acres of indigenous forest.

Guests interact with the giraffes throughout the day. Breakfast is served in the sun room, with its enormous windows flung open to welcome the giraffe that come and join you. Dinner is a cosy affair as the drawing room fire is lit and guests and managers gather for evening drinks. You can either chose to have a candlelit hosted meal in the dramatic wood paneled dining room or at your own table under the stars surrounded by the glow created by lanterns and candles on the terrace.

Gallery: Giraffe Manor in Nairobi, Kenya

Tags: Africa, awards-main, giraffe, Giraffe Manor, giraffe+manor+in+kenya, giraffemanorinkenya, giraffes, Kenya, luxist-awards, luxury travel, Nairobi, Rothschild Giraffe, Rothschild Giraffes, safari, video, www.luxist.com/2011/03/09/giraffe-manor-in

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Flexjet Partners with Abercrombie & Kent

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wings

Flexjet Partners With Abercrombie & Kent

Luxury travel enthusiasts will be pleased to hear about a new partnership between adventure travel company Abercrombie & Kent and jet share leader Flexjet. Flexjet customers will now have complimentary access to Abercrombie & Kent's travel experts to plan dream vacations, and Abercrombie & Kent's travelers will receive generous benefits when purchasing Flexjet options. Marco Polo Club members, Abercrombie & Kent's most frequent travelers, will receive benefits on Flexjet fractional purchases or jet cards, while Flexjet fractional customers will be treated to a three-year Marco Polo Club membership and customized itineraries to coincide with the use of their private jet.

"We continue to seek and pioneer new ways of exploring the globe and admire this same ambition in Flexjet," said Geoffrey Kent, Founder and Executive Chairman, Abercrombie & Kent. "We're pleased to be forging this relationship with a top aviation solutions provider that is also known for setting industry standards and look forward to introducing its customers to some of our favorite hidden corners of the world." Born as a safari outfitter in 1962, Abercrombie & Kent's unparalleled travel services now extend around the globe to more than 100 countries on all seven continents, bringing unexpected comforts and amenities to remote destinations.

Gallery: Flexjet x Abercrombie & Kent

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Abercrombie and Kent, aviation, luxury travel, private jet, private plane, safari

Louis Vuitton Launches First iPhone App

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Gadgets, Luxury Travel & Hotels

Famed French luxury goods house Louis Vuitton has just launched Amble, designed to be the ultimate iPhone app for chic travelers. The Amble application, Vuitton's first, interacts with a dedicated Amble website, enabling travellers to prepare their luxe journey on their computer or iPad. According to the company, Amble is "an invitation to explore the world at a leisurely pace [and] make serendipitous discoveries", which you can then record on your iPhone in photo, video, audio or note format in the "My Amble" section of the application. The app draws on the treasure trove of information provided by the acclaimed Louis Vuitton City Guides.

Addresses are provided free with Amble for various cities covered by the guides, while the full Louis Vuitton City Guide content can be purchased from iTunes for selected cities. In addition, at any time users can click on the "Around Me" icon, an ergonomic interface using the GPS iPhone facilities, in order to discover places of interest near to their position. The app also offers users the opportunity to share their favourite "spots" along their journeys with their friends via email, Facebook or Twitter, as well as to submit them to Louis Vuitton, where they may be published on the website. Amble can now be downloaded free of charge from the Apple App Store.

Tags: app, Apple, apps, iPad, iPhone, Louis Vuitton, luggage, luxury goods, luxury travel, technology, travel

BeautifulPlaces Adds Nantucket's Harborview Place to Luxury Portfolio

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

BeautifulPlaces, the international luxury villa hospitality and experiential travel company, is now exclusively representing Harborview Place, an enclave of prime real estate on Nantucket. "We are pleased to welcome Harborview Place into the BeautifulPlaces villa rental portfolio," says Patrick Smith, CEO and co-founder of BeautifulPlaces. "Nantucket was high on our guests' request list with its unique combination of historical significance, old world charm, exclusivity and modern luxury." Located on the waterfront just two blocks from Main Street and Straight Wharf and adjacent to a secluded beach, Harborview Place consists of ten private waterfront residences (above) which include five-star 'on island' amenities plus a dedicated concierge to see to guests' every need prior to their arrival and during their stay, including complimentary airport and ferry transfers, beach and boat services, spa appointments, and afternoon teas and events plus custom travel itineraries. Each of the traditionally-styled one – three bedroom residences in the compound has a distinctive personalized décor including top of the line kitchens and bathrooms, plasma TVs, wireless internet, iPod docking stations and more.

Tags: BeautifulPlaces, Harborview Place, luxury travel, Massachusetts, Nantucket, real estate, travel, villa

Lupita Island in Tanzania Offering Green Rates this Spring

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Lupita Island in Tanzania is offering green rates this spring.

Lupita Island, the extraordinary private sanctuary in the Rukwa region of western Tanzania, may be worth a visit this spring. From March 1 through May 31, Lupita is offering "green" rates that are one-third less than its rates during the high season.

Luxist's Ann Brenoff's piece on Lupita this past summer described Lupita as "a real life fantasy island." Indeed, the luxury resort is a fantasy island of sorts, as it is situated on Lake Tanganyika, the longest and second deepest lake in the world. Lupita Island sits amid 130 acres of unspoiled forest and grassland overlooking the myriad of islands and the clear blue waters of the lake.

Lupita offers luxurious accommodations set amidst a pristine natural habitat in Tanzania. Guests stay in eleven lavishly decorated, thatched-roof open-air living spaces (double occupancy) and two family cottages each offering breathtaking, uninterrupted views of the lake. Rooms are spacious and exquisitely appointed. The smallest rooms are 1,800 square feet and the two-bedroom, two-bath suites are 2,400 square feet. As guests relax powerful waterfall showers, bathroom walls open to nature and life's stresses simply melt away. Each room also includes bathtubs or plunge pools on either the deck or terrace, a large lounge with a bar and beautiful views of the surrounding lake and neighboring islands.

Gallery: Lupita Island in Tanzania

Tags: Africa, Firelight Expeditions, Lupita, Lupita Island, luxury travel, safari, Tanzania

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Nisbet Plantation on Nevis Offers Free Vacation Giveaway

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Still searching for a New Year's resolution? Resolve to travel more in 2011? Nisbet Plantation Beach Club on the idyllic island of Nevis in the British West Indies, can help with 101 resolution ideas and a free vacation giveaway.

Choose one of the 101 things to do at Nisbet Plantation on Nevis that you might like to experience, from hiking Nevis Peak, playing croquet on the resort's Great House lawn or horseback riding on the beach, for a chance to make the resolution come true with a free stay at the acclaimed resort.

Simply select your favorite Nisbet Plantation New Year's Resolution by January 31, 2011 for a chance to win a grand prize of a seven day/six night vacation for two at one of the highest rated hotels in the Caribbean.

Gallery: Nisbet Plantation on Nevis

Tags: awards-main, contest, giveaway, giveaways, luxist-awards, luxury travel, Nevis, Nisbet Plantation, Nisbet Plantation Beach Club, St. Kitts

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The Classicist: Inside a Hundred Legendary Louis Vuitton Trunks

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Books, The Classicist

Since 1854, when Monsieur Louis Vuitton opened his first store in Paris, his name has been synonymous with the ultimate in luxurious luggage. His incredible trunks with their now iconic canvas coverings, introduced that same year, combined pragmatism and elegance and were "perfectly adapted to the current means of transport and changes in the lives of his clients." That's the basis of the best luxury book of the year, Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks, just published by Abrams, Illustrated with 600 images taken from the Louis Vuitton archives in France and new, specially-commissioned photographs. From trains and ocean liners to the earliest automobiles and even hot air balloons, on journeys to all corners of the globe, the Vuitton trunk has crossed time and borders and remains an icon of the golden age of travel, epitomizing the glamour and elegant decadence of an era when journeying to a foreign land involved adventure, romance and style.

The trunks featured in the incredible book are "extraordinary in every way, for a hundred reasons," writes Patrick-Louis Vuitton, the fifth-generation descendant of Monsieur Vuitton who is now in charge of bespoke orders for the firm, "as much for what they carried as for the work, the care, the inventiveness and the ingenuity required to make them." The 100 featured trunks are divided into five sections according to the people who owned them: Explorers & Adventurers, Crowned Heads & Aristocrats, Dandies & Fashionable Ladies, Artists & Scholars, and Hedonists & Eccentrics. Many a Maharaja, actors from Douglas Fairbanks to Sharon Stone, couturiers from Jeanne Lanvin to Karl Lagerfeld, as well as the likes of Ernest Hemingway, Leopold Stokowski, and Damien Hirst have all traveled with Louis Vuitton trunks, often customized in various ways.

Gallery: Louis Vuitton: 100 Legendary Trunks

The Complete Wardrobe made for Sacha Guitry, 1913

The volume of a Louis Vuitton trunk can be defined by the nature of its contents, the means of transport, its handling, etc.

The Mail Trunk made for Paul Poiret 1911

Tags: Abrams, Aristocrats, bespoke, books, coffee table books, exotic leather, France, Louis Vuitton, luggage, luxury goods, luxury travel, LVMH, Maharaja, Paris, travel, trunks

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Annie Scott's Incredible Journeys in 2010

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

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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