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Jade Mountain

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It's not often that an article on a hotel will send me scrambling for pictures. But a recent article in the Ottawa Citizen had me curious to check out Jade Mountain in St. Lucia. Perhaps it was the quote in the article that claimed some people burst into tears when seeing their hotel rooms. What kind of place provokes this sort of reaction? The gallery below will give you some idea.

Jade Mountain offers 24 unique rooms that have just three walls and are open to the Caribbean on the fourth side. Each one also has its own private infinity pool that drops off into the distance. The rooms are designed with an open floorplan that even includes the bathrooms. The overall effect is one of tranquil luxury designed to encourage the guests to never leave their rooms. The living areas of the rooms are finished with more than 20 different species of tropical hardwood flooring and trims harvested in an environmentally correct way and the iinterior walls are finished in a crushed blush toned coral plaster quarried in Barbados. The flooring exposed to the weather is finished in quarried coral tile from neighboring islands. In room facilities include fridge, tea/coffee maker, hair dryer, iron and ironing board but no television, radio or telephone and guests are asked to refrain from using their cell phones in public. Daily rates for November 1 – December 19, 2008 start at $1250.

Even Trip Advisor's reviewers rave about this place. The only caveat is that getting there often requires a wicked drive through hilly terrain. You can also get there by helicopter.

Gallery: Jade Mountain

Tags: jade mountain, JadeMountain, resort, st lucia, StLucia, travel, vacation

Villa Rockstar Offers Private Recording Studio In St. Barths

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Want to vacation like a rock star? In December, Eden Rock – St Barths will unveil the Villa Rockstar, a private villa for rent that features the only private recording studio on the island. The hotel has partnered with Oceanway Recording Studios of Hollywood, CA to create the perfect musical retreat. The 16,000 square foot Villa Rockstar includes a circular bathroom tiled in white gold, a private 20-seat Cinemascope screening room fitted with THX-approved sound components and a a Land Rover and a new Mini Cooper available for guests. There are four suites and two additional cabins, two pools with a bar, a private gym, putting green, pool table and a croquet lawn as well as a personal butler. Rates at Villa Rockstar start at 15,000 euros per night.

Tags: eden rock, EdenRock, hotels, resort, st barths, StBarths, travel, vacation

West Baden Springs Hotel's Amazing Atrium

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

I have a weakness for the grand hotels of the early 1900s. A couple of years ago I wrote about the renovations of the French Lick Resort's makeover but the renovations also extended to the West Baden Springs Hotel in French Lick, Indiana which was reopened in 2007 after a $500 million renovation. The most impressive feature of this resort is a huge six-story domed atrium. The atrium is a setting of classic elegance offering small seating areas, live performances of soft music and shops around the perimeter. The West Baden area was once a vacation destination for those coming to take the waters at the local springs. The first hotel was opened in the 1850s but burned down in 1901 and was replaced by today's grand incarnation. After the stock market crash in 1929, the hotel slowly lost its guests and closed in 1932. It was bought in 2005 and when it reopened last year it was the first time in 75 years that it had been in use as a hotel.

The hotel includes a spa, indoor pool and 246 guest rooms and suites. The hotel shares amenities with the French Lick Resort offering access to golf courses, riding stables and historic tours. Overnight golf packages with unlimited golf at the Donald Ross Course, The Valley Links and driving range usage start at $375.

[via The Columbus Dispatch]

Tags: french lick, FrenchLick, hotel, indiana, vacation, west baden springs hotel, WestBadenSpringsHotel

Villa Malibu Holiday Getaway Packages

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Last time I mentioned the Villa Malibu complex it was to discuss Brody Jenner's move there in 2007. Now the complex which is located near the Pacific Coast Highway between Zuma Beach and Point Dume in Malibu, California, has started renting out units for vacation packages during November and December. Thanksgiving packages start at $10,700 and Holiday packages start at $11,300, per package for two-and-three bedroom suites. The packages include a one month lease, fully catered dinner for five to eight people, a private tour of Malibu wineries with a picnic lunch, horseback riding lessons and access to Villa Malibu's full-service amenities and onsite private staff which consists of a concierge, chauffeur and a beach porter. There is also a pool with private cabanas, an outdoor barbeque and dining garden, tennis courts, basketball court, fitness center, Pars course and a doggy park. While Malibu can be a bit cool in winter, like many beach towns, it is a lot calmer and easier to enjoy out of season.

Gallery: Villa Malibu

Tags: california, malibu, vacation, villa malibu, VillaMalibu

Borrego Ranch Resort and Spa

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Real Estate Developments

The Southern California desert region is getting a new spa resort. Joseph DeNucci, former COO of the Miraval resort, is behind the Borrego Ranch Resort & Spa, which will open in November 2008. The $50 million resort is located in the Anza-Borrego Desert of Southern California and will offer a custom experience on 42 acres that includes a $25 million Tom Fazio-designed Signature Golf Course and Montesoro, a second home community. Borrego Ranch is located in Borrego Springs, 80 miles from San Diego and 150 miles from Los Angeles.

The ranch will feature 19 private casitas and 44 poolside rooms each with a service bar, sitting area with fireplace, marble bath with Cactus Tea bath amenities, coffee maker and private patio or balcony. The casitas range in size from one to four bedrooms and most have a wood-burning fireplace and private pool or spa and all include a wet bar, compact refrigerator and microwave. The spa offers massage, skin care, hair care, manicures and pedicures. The resort has an impressive amount of activities to keep you busy from golf and tennis to fitness classes, hikes, swimming and bicycle and horseback riding. There is also life-size chess, shuffleboard, bocce ball, a putting green, an archery range and championship croquet courses. Instead of being stuck to a strict spa schedule, guests can choose what interests them whether it's a romp through the desert or just some poolside time with a good book. Rates start around $300 per night.

Tags: borrego, desert, golf, montesoro, resort, southern california, SouthernCalifornia, spa, vacation

Best Hospitality in Bermuda: The Pompano Beach Club

by Meg Massie (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

It's hard to have a bad vacation in a place like Bermuda. The island is lovely, the people are friendly, and it's unlike any other place on earth. When traveling internationally, it's always a plus to stay somewhere with a warm, accessible staff. I've never been better accommodated than when I stayed at the Pompano Beach Club in Southampton, Bermuda.

The resort itself is made up of a few dozen oceanfront cottages along the most sparkling blue water you'll ever see. The Pompano has all the standard resort amenities, including a private beach, pools, game and fitness center, spa, and water excursions, but by far the greatest amenity is its dining room. Your breakfast and dinner each day are included in the price of your stay, and the food easily competes with most of the finest restaurants in America. The dress code is "smart-casual," meaning collared shirts for men and no jeans, t-shirts, or sandals. You will have your choice of three or four different items per course each evening on the resort's rotating five-course dinner menu. There are plenty of restaurants nearby if you choose to dine out, but why would you?

The staff is the friendliest I've ever encountered on any of my travels. Merv, the bartender, makes the best rum swizzle on the island -- it's a Bermudian staple.

Even though Bermuda is due east of the Carolinas, its climate is much nicer, tempered by the gulf stream. It can get uncomfortably hot and humid in the summer months, but spring and fall are lovely. Even in winter, temperatures rarely dip below the mid-50's, and the water is usually warm enough for a swim.

It's a tiny island -- only a few miles long -- but there's so much to do. Don't let Bermuda just be a short stop on your next cruise, like so many tourists do. This island is ideal for a nice long vacation, and the Pompano is the perfect place to spend that time.

Tags: bermuda, dining, island, pompano-beach-club, southampton, tourism, travel, vacation

Personal Passions Fuel Getaway Plans

by Laura Malesich (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Vacation...Time off...Getaway... no matter which term you use personal travel seems to be driven more by individual interests than any other purpose lately. In a recent survey taken by American Express Travel, 87% of respondents indicate taking trips for the pursuit of personal passions will continue or even increase over the next two years despite economic conditions. Whether you have always wanted to learn top culinary skills, play a new instrument, or attend a sporting event of your dreams putting your vacation funds towards individual enrichment seems to be the trend and personally I am all for it! Here are the top interests shared by Americans:

42% choose destinations for culinary reasons
28% take-off for a sporting event
25% traveled for adventure
21% skipped town for music-related opportunities
15% claimed educational interests for their travel

Most people expressed they are also willing to spend more money and stay longer for vacations that further their personal dreams. If you have time off I think why not grow as a person while enjoying time away from the daily grind.

Tags: American Express, American Express Travel, AmericanExpress, AmericanExpressTravel, AMEX, vacation

More New Hotels For Atlantic City

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Like Las Vegas, Atlantic City is steadily trying to move from being strictly a gambling destination into turning into more of an overall vacation spot. Two new hotels go a long way toward furthering that aim. The Water Club is a a $400 million, 800-room hotel built by the Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa which opened earlier this summer. It was quickly followed by the 330-room Chelsea, a retro-modern hotel which has a 1950s/60s theme and is a $110 million makeover of two older hotels.

Both hotels feature lavish rooms, concierge services, spa treatments and fine dining without a roulette wheel or a slot machine in sight. Both are located near casinos, The Water Club is next to the Borgata and the Chelsea is next to the Tropicana Casino, but the focus is on the vacation not the gambling. Atlantic City also has one major advantage over Las Vegas, attractive beaches and ocean views.

Gallery: Atlantic City

The Borgata

The Piers at Caesars

Revel Entertainment

MGM Grand

The Grand at Diamond Beach

Tags: atlantic city, AtlanticCity, new jersey, the chelsea, the water club, TheChelsea, TheWaterClub, travel, vacation

Gayana Eco Resort

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas, Green

Eco travelers there is a new place to check out in Borneo. The Gayana Eco Resort is located on Gaya Island 10 minutes off the Borneo coast and the city of Kota Kinabalu. Gaya Island is one of the five coral reef islands that make up the Tunku Abdul Rahman Marine Park. The location is also home to a marine ecology research center which works with coral reef rehabilitation.

The resort has 44 luxury rooms all located over water and feature balconies, large bathroom with Harnn luxury amenities, in villa private bar, king or twin beds with luxury linens, feather pillows and duvet, LCD televisions and DVD players. Some villas also have steps directly from their balconies into the lagoon for that afternoon swim. The resort offers gudied kayak trips and nature tours and there is also a spa at the resort which includes double treatment suites with Jacuzzis. The resort's cafe Macac" sits beside the resort's infinity pool and offers cocktails, cool drinks and lunch specialties to the pool including pizzas from a wood fired pizza oven. The resort also includes the Alu Alu restaurant, an overwater restaurant which serves seafood and has over 15 display tanks of live seafood from spectacularly bright coral trout to giant lobsters, prawns and snapper. Rates start around $200 a night.

Tags: borneo, gayana eco resort, malaysia, resort, travel, vacation

Tises South Beach Summer Serenity Package

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

The weather may be a little steamy but there are benefits to heading to South Beach in the summer. Less crowds means more room to enjoy the sights and sounds of Miami Beach. The Tides South Beach's "Summer Serenity" package offers the chance to recline along the exquisite art deco-inspired pool terrace, share cocktails in the chic new bars of the magnificent lobby, enjoy breakfast amid the stunning interiors of La Marea restaurant and relax before serene ocean views in a spacious Kelly Wearstler-designed Studio Suite. The package includes a night in an Oceanfront Studio Suite, rum summer cocktail for two upon arrival and full American breakfast for two. The package is available Sunday through Thursday and is $390.

Tags: florida, resort, tides south beach, TidesSouthBeach, vacation

Nu Hotel Opens in Brooklyn

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

Hersha Hospitality, the company behind the recently opened Duane Street Hotel in Tribeca, New York City, is now taking on Brooklyn. The Nu Hotel is billed as Downtown Brooklyn's first boutique hotel. The 93-room, newly built hotel was designed by Datumzero Design Office and has guest rooms in three styles, the Nu Standard, the Nu Friends Suite, and the Nu Urban Suite. The Nu Friends Suites are equipped with bunk beds and modular furniture and Nu Urban Suites feature a cozy bed niche with leather surroundings, a sitting area and custom hammocks. Rooms have cork flooring, organic bedding materials and custom furnishings crafted from FSC- certified, sustainably harvested teak wood. Rooms also include 32" flat-screen televisions with "jack packs" to dock audio, video and computer electronics and complementary wifi access. The bathrooms have stone and glass showers, rain head showers, Aveda bath products and chalkboard walls where guests can jot notes for housekeeping, travel companions or themselves.

The hotel also includes Nu Bar, the hotel's cafe/lounge and the Nu Gym as well as bike storage and bicycle use service. The lobby, like many these days, is designed for lingering with a business center, custom concierge service and the "library nook" which offers a comfortable place to hang out. Rates begin at $200 per night.

Gallery: Nu Hotel Brooklyn

Tags: brooklyn, hotel, new york, nu hotel, NuHotel, travel, vacation

Stevenswood Spa Resort Guarantees The Weather

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

Hotels always hope for good weather but the Stevenswood Spa Resort on the Mendocino Coast in California is willing to bet on it. The resort has said that they will offer a $5 cash rebate for every degree over 72 for stays between now and the end of August. The rocky coast of Northern California is known for its temperate weather even when its sweltering everywhere else, although my friends a little further up, in Humboldt County, have been seeing a lot of warm temps.

The Stevenswood Spa Resort is located in the forests of Van Damme State Park. Suites have large picture windows with views of the surrounding gardens, beaches, meadows, and redwoods. Each suite has a wood-burning fireplace, plasma televisions, cordless phones, MP3/iPod docks, and free wireless high-speed Internet access. Bathrooms are finished with ocean-green slate from Madagascar and hand-blown Venetian glass bowl vanities.

The resort features a gourmet restaurant, the Restaurant at Stevenswood and the Indigo Eco|Spa, a 3,500 square-foot well-being facility that features multiple treatment suites, tranquility room, Infrared sauna, Canyon view Jacuzzi tubs and an outdoor ocean terrace. The spa offers a comprehensive menu of body, skin, and facial treatments that use organic- based products.

Rates start at $229 for a Grande Suite. The hotel also offers a last-minute specials option on their website with suites for the next night or two that are discounted by 10% or more.

Tags: hotel, mendocino, resort, stevenswood, vacation

Aguas de Ibiza Spa and Resort

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

In September, a new hotel concept will open in the Balearic Islands, the cluster of islands off the coast of Spain that includes Ibiza and Mallorca. The Aguas de Ibiza Spa & Resort will be a waterside hotel located by Ibiza's Santa Eulalia Bay marina. The glamourous new hotel was built by local architect Juan de los Ríos, designed by Barcelona-based Triade Studio and run by the Torres family. It will offer 112 rooms and suites. Deluxe rooms and suites will have private terraces and large glass windows. The fourth floor is home to the Cloud 9 club, a hotel within the hotel that will have its own check-in desk, design scheme, services and amenities. Cloud 9 will offer loft rooms including the Presidential Ibiza Loft which is a two-story luxury suite. All rooms have Bang & Olufsen televisions.

Aguas de Ibiza is designed to be "eco-luxurious" combining eco-friendly materials with techniques to reduce energy usage by more than 35 percent in comparison to luxury properties.

The resort also has a gym, climatized pools with mineral salts, three outdoor pools including a rooftop pool, beauty salon, boutique and a business center. The Revival Wellness Club will offer everything from treatments with Ibiza salts to aromatherapy with seagrass and almonds. The resort will also include the Scuba cocktail bar and Air Ibiza, a rooftop par with a red-tiled pool. There will be three restaurants serving tapas at the Alabastro Lounge, Mediterranean specialities at the Oligo: Madeinterranean and modern interpretations of traditional Ibizan dishes at the gourmet restaurant La Sal.

[via Design Taxi]

Tags: hotel, ibiza, resort, spa, travel, vacation

Three Forks Ranch Opens For Guests

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spas

The Three Forks Ranch located on a huge 200,000 acre spread along the Colorado-Wyoming border, is a new ranch destination combining fly fishing, horseback riding, sport clay shooting and other rugged activities, along with the sumptuous experience of a luxury resort and spa. The 30,000-square-foot lodge has 15 rooms and details like giant-beamed cathedral ceilings and European hand-carved paneling. The 15 guest rooms have antique oriental rugs, silk-linen wallpaper, Bellisari Italian linens, Chadsworth & Haig robes and L'Occitane toiletries and all rooms in the lodge have views of the Little Snake River Valley.

The lodge's Oxbow dining room offers gourmet meals, afternoon teas and wine tastings. The Roaring Fork Spa has hot tubs, soaking pools, and four massage and treatment rooms, with treatments such as Little Snake River Stone Therapy, Sportsman's Relief Massage and the Catch-and-Release Body Wrap.

The owners of the Three Forks Lodge have gone to great lengths to restore the fish population. A plan led by hydrologist Dr. Dave Rosgen of Wildland Hydrology was developed to reduce erosion, plant new vegetation and develop wetlands, creating the largest privately funded river restoration in U.S. history and a pristine fly-fishing environment. The Three Forks Ranch fishing guides offer custom fishing opportunities for novices and those with more skills. Fishing for brook, cutthroat, brown and rainbow trout is all catch-and-release. The summer fly-fishing season runs through October 31, 2008 and the winter season which begins December 15, 2008 offers cross-country skiing, snowmobiling, alpine skiing excursions to nearby Steamboat Springs, sleigh rides and dogsledding. All rates include lodging, meals, guide, horseback riding, hiking, four-wheeling, and sporting clays and one massage treatment. A four-night room in a deluxe room costs $5000.

Tags: fly fishing, luxury, ranch, spa, three forks ranch, ThreeForksRanch, vacation, wyoming

Nurburgring Driving Experience

by Deidre Woollard (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels, Luxury Cars & Autos

If you are a serious racing enthusiast there are certain places that you dream of driving in order to test your mettle. One of them is the Nurburgring racing circuit in Germany. It is one of the longest and most challenging race courses in the world including 170 turns and 1000 feet in elevation changes.

Distinctive Driving Tours, which operates luxury driving tours, is now offering an all-inclusive track tour of the Nurburgring racing circuit, this August. The experience costs $8,000 (without airfare) and includes transportation to and from the airport, accommodations (based on double occupancy), breakfast, lunch and a cocktail reception. Guests will also receive instruction from International Drivers Training and track time in 10 different vehicles, including the Lotus Exige, Porsche 911, Audi TT, Renault Megane Sport, Volkswagen Golf GTI and BMW's 120i, 135i, 320si and 325i. Use of a Porsche GT3 RS is available for an extra $2,200 to $4,400 (half day or full day) supplement.

Distinctive Driving Tours offers a variety of other driving adventures including a Nascar experience and driving getaways in Arizona and California as well as annual trips to the Monaco F1 and LeMans.

Tags: driving, nurbringring, vacation

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