A Luxury Travel Blog

Worldhotels is offering opera lovers the chance to experience opera season in Verona with an exclusive package from its member hotel, the luxurious and stylish Byblos Art Hotel Villa Amista. This years there’s the return of a multitude of favourite performances across the summer months of June, July and August, including the Puccini classics, Tosca and Madame Butterfly, as well as Georges Bizet’s Carmen, Aida by Giuseppe Verdi and a headline double bill of Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni and I Pagliacci from Ruggero Leoncavallo. All performances take place at the historic Arena of Verona, one of the most famous open-air opera theatres in the world. See their website for further details of the offer.

The Seminaris Seehotel in the middle of the young, dynamic city of Potsdam has 123 single rooms and 102 doubles and will be home to the Ukraine soccer team for their first ever appearance in the World Cup finals. It is a relatively new hotel (opened in 1998) located in the former Hohenzollern residence, at the River Havel. Fitness facilities include a sizable wellness area, Potsfit, which includes a swimming pool, Finnish sauna, steam sauna, fitness equipment and massage showers.

The above is one of a series of blog entries highlighting the luxury hotels that will be home to the national teams participating in the 2006 Fifa World Cup. If you have actually stumbled upon this page because you are looking for accommodation for the World Cup, try A Germany Hotel which lists hotels throughout the country, caters for a variety of budgets, and offers online booking.

The Regent Beverly Wilshire, a Four Seasons Hotel, has spent $30m on an extreme hotel makeover. Located in the heart of Beverly Hills, this luxury hotel is located at one of the world’s most famous intersections - Rodeo Drive and Wilshire Boulevard. With the addition of Cut by Wolfgang Puck, contemporary lounge Sidebar, a new Spa and Pool Bar, room renovations and The Blvd, the hotel is pioneering a new trend in rejuvenating Grande Dame hotels.

The Millbrook Resort in Queenstown, New Zealand, has recently received the official Qualmark report confirming them as just one of three five-star hotels in the South Island. They’re approaching winter now and the locals are tipping for a great ski season. It’s a good time to take advantage of their June and July offers: the Village Inn at NZD$195 per room per night, up to 30% off other room types and 20% off the ultimate in accommodation at Millbrook, Fairway Homes.

Villa Bordoni is a new, stylish and elegant countryside estate located in the heart of Florentine Chianti Classico, the most upscale and picturesque area of Chianti. Run by founders and owners of successful Florentine restaurants ‘Baldovino’ and ‘Beccofino’, the property is surrounded by vineyards, olive groves and a beautiful Italian garden and pool. The hotel is also proud to be among Condé Nast Traveller’s “60 Best New Hotels in the World” list for 2006.

The newly opened Burasari Shanghai Inn is the only hotel in Bangkok’s old Chinatown that incorporates classic Chinese design with contemporary furnishings. And from now until mid-June 2006, they have a special offer for those booking directly through their website: double/twin rooms are available for 1,750 THB (about $45) rather than the usual internet rate of 2,100 THB ($55). This hip hotel has 21 superior rooms and was recently admitted as a member of Special Hotels of the World. 

Orient-Express Hotels Ltd., owner and operator of 50 deluxe leisure properties in 25 countries, has announced that it has agreed to acquire a 100% interest in Napasai, a luxury hotel and villa development located on Koh Samui island in the Gulf of Siam, about one hour’s flight from Bangkok. The company will pay $25 million in total for the hotel, 8 adjacent villas and area of land suitable for further development.

The Kenyan travel destination management company Maniago has quickly established itself as one of the leading names in African safaris. Now, with the introduction of their prestigious Luxury Adventure Safari Experience, they have redefined the term luxury. The safari will provide its clients with an unforgettable encounter with the people, wildlife and landscape of one of the last remaining unspoiled regions in the world. The more adventurous among you can take in the magnificent landscape at sunrise from the aerial tranquillity of a hot air balloon.

The Spanish national side will be staying at the Sportschule Kaiserau in Kamen (North Rhine-Westphalia), near Dortmund for the 2006 Fifa World Cup. Interestingly, this is the same base that was used by West Germany when they won the 1974 and 1990 World Cup tournaments. After decades of underperformance in previous World Cups, Spain will be hoping that, another 16 years on, they’ve picked a still lucky venue.

The above is one of a series of blog entries highlighting the luxury hotels that will be home to the national teams participating in the 2006 Fifa World Cup. If you have actually stumbled upon this page because you are looking for accommodation for the World Cup, try A Germany Hotel which lists hotels throughout the country, caters for a variety of budgets, and offers online booking.

The first ice bar at sea will debut on Celebrity Cruises’ Century when the ship emerges from its on-going $55m ‘revitalization’ today. The Martini Bar will feature a liquid wall that freezes to form a sparkling crystalline appearance and a bar counter that freezes into ice-cold stone, while a solid block of ice will display bottles of liquor behind the bar. The concept was created by the company’s Fleet Design department and is one of many new features being installed during Century’s dry-dock at Fincantieri’s Palermo shipyard.

Togo will be staying at the newly renovated Hotel Waltersbühl at Wangen in Baden-Württemberg (the same region as the Dutch and Iranian teams), for the 2006 Fifa World Cup. Being part of a sports academy owned by the Württemberg Football Association, this hotel offers top-class facilities for training camps, seminars and courses. The training facility that Togo will use will be the Allgäu Stadium, the home of FC Wangen.

The above is one of a series of blog entries highlighting the luxury hotels that will be home to the national teams participating in the 2006 Fifa World Cup. If you have actually stumbled upon this page because you are looking for accommodation for the World Cup, try A Germany Hotel which lists hotels throughout the country, caters for a variety of budgets, and offers online booking.

One of the summer highlights in Austria is the Vienna Festival and this year, with it being the 250th anniversary of the birth of Mozart, it will focus upon his work. Included in the festivities are performances of The Magic Flute and Così Fan Tutte. Venues throughout the city are playing host to concerts, operas and theatre performances until 18th June 2006.

The Sofitel brand is expanding in China with the opening of two new hotels: Sofitel Galaxy Nanjing and Sofitel Zhongshan Golf & Resort (also in Nanjing). Never before has Accor launched two hotels in the same city on the same day. And it won’t stop there; three more Sofitel hotels are expected to open in China before the end of the year, taking their total in the country to 20, more than any other recognised luxury brand.

Summer has just begun to look that little bit brighter, with a range of great May and June getaways with De Vere Hotels & Resorts. While it’s best known for its place in golfing history as 4-time host to the Ryder Cup, The De Vere Belfry offers so much more, including a 2 AA Rosette French Restaurant and Aqua Spa facilities, and can currently be enjoyed from only £59 per person per night on a B&B basis. Alternatively, Brighton is a superb destination for any break – and the historic De Vere Grand Brighton hotel has been at its heart since 1864. Today, its elegant surroundings embrace sumptuous cuisine, a well-equipped leisure club, a superb health & beauty salon and even its own nightclub, with prices currently starting from £67.50 per person per night on a B&B basis.

Bergisch Gladbach is the only place that will host two World Cup teams.  Not only will it house the favourites Brazil, but it’ll also be the home of the South Korea team.  They’ll be staying at Grandhotel Schloss Bensberg. This palace hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World and set in luxurious surroundings where food is served by 3-star chef Joachim Wissler. Training for the South Korean team will take place in the Bay Arena at nearby Leverkusen.

The above is one of a series of blog entries highlighting the luxury hotels that will be home to the national teams participating in the 2006 Fifa World Cup. If you have actually stumbled upon this page because you are looking for accommodation for the World Cup, try A Germany Hotel which lists hotels throughout the country, caters for a variety of budgets, and offers online booking.

Why not treat yourself to a luxurious weekend of birding amidst the rugged beauty of the Adirondacks? The Mirror Lake Inn Resort & Spa birding weekends run from 2nd to 4th June and 20th to 22nd October 2006. Along with your group leader, you will get the opportunity to explore Whiteface Mountain for the rare Bicknell’s thrush, yellow-bellied flycatcher and boreal chickadee. You may also marvel at peregrine falcons as they patrol their ancient territorial cliffs.