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Smythson Leather Passport Cover

People who travel a lot often find that their passport really takes a beating, so whether you want to buy one as a treat for yourself or as a gift for someone special a protective but stylish passport cover can be a solid and worthwhile investment. This one from Smythson is the ultimate in functional but stylish minimalism in solid black with simple silver letters spelling out "Passport" on the front cover. Inside there's a slot for your passport and for a boarding pass, and the whole thing comes packaged in a light blue box for handy gifting and storage between adventures. $120

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Tags: passport, passport cover, PassportCover, smythson, travel, travel accessories, TravelAccessories, traveling

On Being a Travel Loser

by Alison Wellner (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

You go on vacation to let go, but you probably meant to let go of your stress, not your iPod, your camera, your passport...or your false teeth.

British company Airport Parking and Hotels Ltd (APH) joins the group of travel companies that occasionally release a list of the amusing things they've found that their clients have lost, presumably in a hotel, a car, or an airport lounge. Clothing tops the list, accounting for almost half of the items in their lost n' found, and there are a fair number of gadgets as well: 17% of APH's total lost items were mobile phones, games consoles, mp3 players and cameras. APH says that "luckily only" 4% of travelers lost their passport, but honestly, given the hassle of losing a passport, that number seems pretty high to me.

Then there's the unusual items: the aforementioned false teeth, a ski boot that contained a tube of hemorrhoid cream, "odd shoes", which I presume means a single shoe rather than shoes of a strange style. I may have a suspicious nature, but some of the objects they've found simply scream "criminal activity" to me: an electric scale, for instance, what legitimate purpose might that have? And then there's an assortment of crutches, walking sticks and wheelchairs, which totally seems like evidence of insurance fraud. I don't even want to speculate on why someone would leave a pram behind.

Tags: hotels, montreal, paris, travel, traveling

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How to Protect Valuables While Traveling

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Few things can ruin a trip faster than having something precious get lost or stolen. Although the best policy is to leave valuables at home while traveling (do you really need to bring those diamond earrings?), sometimes you just can't do without. When that's the case here's how to protect your irreplaceables while traveling:

Document your valuables before you leave for insurance purposes, in case the worst happens. Take a copy with you and leave one with someone at home.
Make a point to be (and look) alert Pickpockets and theives often target those who look preoccupied and innattentive.
Never pack valuables in checked luggage. Keep them with you in your carry-on instead.
Use see-through bags when packing your carry-on so the TSA inspectors can easily see what's inside without needing to directly handle the contents and potentially spill, drop, or pocket anything.
Don't put items loose into the TSA bin Anything small (like watches, cell phones, etc) should be put into a coat pocket, handbag, or ziplock bag to keep them together before going through security.
Always keep your carry-on as close to you as possible Make a point to stash it in the compartment either directly above or in front of your seat, if possible keep your most precious cargo in the bag that goes under the seat in front of you, and don't leave your carry-on behind when to go to the baggage carousel to pick up your luggage.
Have locks on everything You can't lock your carry-ons while they're going through security, or your checked luggage while it's on the plane, but having them locked at all other times (i.e. while your carry-on is stowed in the overhead compartment or your luggage is in the trunk of a taxi) can still help prevent theft.
Use the hotel room safe Locking items in your hotel room is all but worthless, and locking locked luggage in a hotel room isn't much better. Stash valuables in the room safe, hotel safe (even better), or if neither of those is an option you can always bring your own (check out Pacsafe).
Don't leave your luggage on a tour bus Just because everyone else is doing it, and the tour guide says it's okay, is no guarantee. Lock up any luggage you must leave behind and take all irreplaceable items with you.

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Tags: journeys, luxist-awards, main-pedia, summer-travel-pedia, summertravel-pedia, travel, travel tips, traveling, TravelTips, winter-travel-pedia, wintertravel, wintertravel-pedia

Eden Rock Artist in Residence Keeps the Kids Busy

by Tom Johansmeyer (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Art, Children

Sometimes, the hardest part of choosing a vacation spot is balancing between your wants and the kids' needs. Sprawling out on the beach or sipping a cocktail by the pool works for you, but children need distraction ... constant distraction.

In perhaps the most creative travel offer I've seen this year, Eden Rock – St. Barths is offering an easel, a paint brush and a palate of watercolors. Rather than splatter aimlessly, each kid will receive a one-time lesson with the Eden Rock Artist in Residence (the next is still to be announced).

Even for the caliber of guest that you find at Eden Rock, this can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

During the lesson, kids will also be exposed to the gallery's exhibitions in progress. In the recent past, this gallery has been home to the likes of Richard Prince and Will Cotton. The natural St. Barths aesthetic plus that created by the artists invited to show their work in the gallery yields a unique combination that is sure to inspire any budding artist.

The lessons are only available when the artist in residence is, in fact, in residence, so check with the Eden Rock Hotel when making reservations. The program runs through August 2009.

Tags: art, artist, artists, children, eden rock, EdenRock, kids, luxury hotel, luxury hotel package, luxury hotel suites, luxury hotels, luxury travel, LuxuryHotel, LuxuryHotelPackage, LuxuryHotels, LuxuryHotelSuites, LuxuryTravel, resort, resorts, richard prince, RichardPrince, st barths, StBarths, travel, traveling, will cotton, WillCotton

Moreschi Amerigo Travel Slippers

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Shoes

Sometimes a great traveling experience is defined not by where you went or even who you were with, but instead by the smallest comforts of home -- like a great pair of slippers. Moreschi Amerigo offers a great pair of men's travel slippers that really do seem to have it all: comfort, style, and convenience. Made of soft Italian Nappa leather inside and out, the slippers feature timeless style plus the ability to fold them up and zip them away for easy travel packing. Available in red or black, $245.

Via acquire

Gallery: Moreschi Amerigo Travel Slippers

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Tags: moreschi amerigo, MoreschiAmerigo, slippers, travel, travel slippers, traveling, TravelSlippers

Lux Tip: Make Coach Feel Like First Class

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Lux Tips

These days the cost of flying first class has gone so high it's gotten too expensive for all the but the richest of travelers. Coach fares, which by definition offer less comfort and amenities, are at the point where even the most basic of comforts like a warm blanket or little bag of peanuts cost extra money or aren't offered at all. It's getting downright ridiculous how uncomfortable flying can be!

The good news, though, is that with just a little bit of forethought it's pretty easy to make your coach ticket feel like a first class one -- without the first class hit to your bank account. Take a look at the tips in the gallery below and then share any tips and tricks you have for making flying coach easier in the comments

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Gallery: Tips to Make Flying Coach Feel Like First Class

Shut out the world, relieve in-flight headaches, and reduce fatigue

Give yourself an in-flight spa treatment

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Tags: air travel, AirTravel, coach, first class, FirstClass, lux tip, lux tips, LuxTip, LuxTips, tip, tips, travel, traveling

Boris Becker's Ambitious Plans for Tennis Resort

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services

Tennis star Boris Becker has been busy making big plans over on the luxurious Al Marjan Island: he's building a mega-resort that's being touted as one of the area's most ambitious ever. The Boris Becker Beach Resort and Tennis Academy will offer two ocean front exposures and 2.5 million square feet of luxury holiday homes, high end resort and spa facilities, a five star hotel, and of course a world-class tennis academy 50% owned by Becker himself.

A couple of interesting facts: the academy and resort will be partially solar powered, the design is meant to represent a sea turtle when viewed from the air, and it's all scheduled to be finished by 2010.

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Tags: al marjan island, AlMarjanIsland, becker, boris becker, BorisBecker, island, middle east, MiddleEast, resort, resorts, tennis, travel, traveling

Wayfarers Walking Tours

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Charles Kuralt was quoted as saying "Thanks to the interstate highway system, it is now possible to travel from coast to coast without seeing anything."

That is so true these days, you really can do a lot of traveling and yet somehow manage to see very little of the world. So why not remedy that by going on a walking tour? The Wayfarers are in their 26th season of offering luxury walking tours, and this year they have a list of locations that's better than ever with itineraries in India, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, and even Alaska if you're interested in staying here in the States. The tours are all-inclusive and feature only the best in high class accommodations and dining, plus they're conveniently ranked from physically easy to difficult (so you don't have to worry about getting in over your head if you've never been on a walking tour before). Prices vary based on the location and length of the tour, but you can expect them to start somewhere between $3695-$6,995 .

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Tags: tour, tours, travel, traveling, travels, walking, walking tours, WalkingTours, wayfarer, wayfarers, wayfaring

Pamela Anderson Working On A Dubai Hotel

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Celebrity Shopping, Green

Ugh, isn't Dubai full up of celebrity hotels, resorts, and developments already? Apparently not, as the latest celebrity to join the fray of "I have a hotel in Dubai" is Pamela Anderson.

Her hotel will apparently be environmentally friendly, although how exactly we're not sure -- except that she was quoted as saying "It's built with no fossil fuel at all... in Abu Dhabi - where they have all that oil."

Pamela was first inspired for the project after traveling to the area this past June with the Make a Wish Foundation. No word on what her hotel will be called, or when it will open for business.

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Tags: dubai, eco friendly, eco-friendly, EcoFriendly, hotel, hotels, journeys, pamela anderson, PamelaAnderson, tourism, travel, traveling

Buy a May Fair Hotel Suite for a Year

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Services

If you travel a lot it having nice places to stay can get really expensive. The May Fair Hotel in London is looking attract those types of travelers by offering them a way to defray those costs a little: buy one of their hotel suites for an entire year. Of course the price tag is not cheap at $585,000 but it does represent a savings of 60% compared to their regular nightly rates.

It might be nice to be able to leave some things in the suite and treat it like an apartment of sorts (an apartment that includes a daily maid and room service!) but you'd really have to travel a lot to make the cost economical.
What do you think, would you do it?

Gallery: The Mayfair Suites Collection

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Tags: london, may fair, may fair hotel, MayFair, MayFairHotel, suite, suites, travel, traveling

L'Auberge Del Mar Opens

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Last week L'Auberge Del Mar re-opened in Del Mar, California with a new design that's more like a high end private estate than a typical luxury resort. The renovation cost about $25 million dollars, or $200,000 per room, and the result is a combination of both upgraded appearance and upgraded services and amenities. There's too much detail to talk about it all here but some of the new features that caught my attention are the Waterfall Terrace (which includes a 14-foot illuminated waterfall) and the 4500 sq ft luxury spa. The rooms all have walk-in showers, marble-topped vanities, the best in technologically advanced amenities (i.e. 42" plasma TVs and iPod docking clock radios), and many have fireplaces. Where do I sign up?

Gallery: The New L'Auberge Del Mar

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Tags: ca, california, del mar, DelMar, journey, journeys, LAuberge Del Mar, LaubergeDelMar, luxury resort, LuxuryResort, resort, resorts, travel, traveling

The World's Most Luxurious Airlines

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings

Flying used to be a fun (or at the very least tolerable) but nowadays it's turned into an outright chore. Lines are long, seats are cramped, there are extra fees for absolutely everything, and forget getting served anything to eat (you're lucky if you get water and a few pretzels). That might be the case for most of us but it's not the case for everybody! There are some airlines (usually those flying overseas) that offer luxuries like champagne, caviar, private cabins, and lie-flat beds. Here's the list of the most luxurious airlines in the world:

Via Gadling

Gallery: The most luxurious airlines in the world

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Tags: air travel, airline, airlines, AirTravel, travel, traveling

The "Around the World in 80 Ways" Dream Vacation Package

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Talk about the trip of a lifetime! The "Around the World in 80 Ways" package is, of course, a tribute to the famous film "Around the World in 80 Days," and was created by The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd. as part of a fundraiser benefiting Elton John's AIDS Foundation. The trip was created as a celebration of the coinciding 80th anniversaries of the Academy Awards and The Leading Hotels of the World Ltd., and is LHW's effort to combine film and luxury travel into an extraordinary "Oscar-worthy" experience. The package covers the globe with gourmet meals, luxurious spa treatments, and tours of the local landscapes in exotic locales like Jaipur, Dubai, and Hong Kong, plus some more close-to-home destinations like London, New York, and San Francisco. Sounds like a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience -- see the details below.

Gallery: The "Around the World in 80 Ways" Package

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Tags: around the world in 80 days, around the world in 80 ways, AroundTheWorldIn80Days, AroundTheWorldIn80Ways, Elton John, Elton John AIDS Foundation, Elton Johns AIDs Foundation, EltonJohn, EltonJohnAidsFoundation, EltonJohnsAidsFoundation, package, packages, travel, traveling

Cook with the Chef at Villa Mangiacane

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Dining, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Wine

In beautiful Tuscany sits Villa Mangiacane, a hotel that in addition to beautiful scenery and luxury sleep accommodations offers its own wine, olive oil, and now cooking classes.

As part of the "Flavours of Chianti" package you're treated the first night to a 4 course candlelit dinner prepared by Mangiacane's acclaimed Chef Massimo Bocus, which prepares you for the following day's cooking lesson with the Chef and a Villa Mangiacane wine and olive oil tasting. Among other treats (like cooking aprons, daily spa access, and fresh fruit in your room) you'll also get a Tuscan Cookbook and a bottle of Villa Mangiacane Chianti. €1270-€2450

Gallery: Villa Mangiacane

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Tags: cooking, hotel, hotel package, hotel packages, HotelPackage, HotelPackages, hotels, italy, travel, traveling, tuscan, tuscany, villa mangiacane, VillaMangiacane, wine

Travel Like A Celebrity (i.e. Better than First Class)

by Rigel Celeste (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Services, Wings

For millions of travelers every year who fly coach it's hard to walk past the spacious first class seats and through the little curtain to the cramped rows in the rear, but what do those first class passengers look up to? Those traveling better than first class, of course.

Many airlines offer "extra special" treatment to celebrities and other big names, and although the services vary from airline to airline some things are consistent across the board: little to no waiting in airport lines, extreme efforts to protect privacy, and extra security. Plus, of course, VIP lounges and premium food/drink. Not a celebrity? You can buy the services yourself and feel like one for only about $100.

Most of the airlines who offer special upgrades don't advertise their services, and many don't even post them on websites and flyers. Airport Assistance Worldwide, though, is one that isn't so secretive. On their website you can check out services and even make a reservation. Happy travels!

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Tags: air, air travel, airline, airline travel, airlines, AirlineTravel, airport, airport assistance worldwide, AirportAssistanceWorldwide, airports, AirTravel, travel, traveling, VIP

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