A Luxury Travel Blog

I am sitting on a train out of London having just attended The Luxury Travel Fair at Olympia, the first event of its kind in the UK. Presented by Condé Nast Traveller in conjunction with British Airways, the fair included over 150 exhibition stands, a question and answer session with BBC World Affairs Editor John Simpson (pictured), a performance sponsored by India Tourist Board and much, much more.

Exhibitors included most of the names you’d expect and many more besides: Aberkrombie & Kent… British Airways… Cunard… Kuoni… Orient Express… Relais & Chateaux… Samsonite… Small Luxury Hotels… all were in attendance. So many, in fact, that it was a little difficult to get around all the stands in the time that I had available. Thank you, though, to those who took time to speak to me.

Running in conjunction with the Luxury Travel Show is the much bigger House & Garden Fair. If you wanted to truly do justice to the two events, you’d need at least a second day to visit and possibly all four. The event began yesterday and continues until the end of Sunday.

Are you one of those people that likes to lounge on the beach yet still communicate with the outside world via your laptop? In theory, it sounds great but, in practice it’s not entirely realistic because laptop screens are difficult to see properly in extreme sunlight. Not any more, though! The laptop screen shade shades the laptop screen in bright conditions. Now all you need is something to keep the sand out.

Every summer, the fantastic Lincoln Center Festival in New York presents an enormous array of stunning performances of dance, theater, music, and opera from troupes based around the world. With diverse performances - including Julie Taymor’s Grendel, Benjamin Bagby’s Beowulf and Ong Keng Sen’s Geisha. This year’s festival once again showcases the new, revisits the classics and touches the far away. The Lincoln Center Festival is located at 132 W.65th St., from 10th-30th July 2006.

In addition to the possibility of Harrods opening at London Heathrow’s terminal 5, it’s been speculated that celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, one of just three chefs in the UK to maintain 3 Michelin stars for his restaurants, might also open a restaurant there. If the enterprise is to go-ahead, the former professional footballer will be involved in all aspects of the planning and, it is said, would cook there from time to time. The terminal is not due to open until 2008, though, so don’t get too excited just yet!

Gibbs Technologies Ltd, the world’s only High Speed Amphibian (HSA) technology specialist, has unveiled a prototype of the first commercially viable high-speed amphibian Quadbike/All Terrain Vehicle (ATV) - Quadski. The Quadski will allow you to have fun driving on land one minute and then head straight into the sea or a river the next.

When you see a lone, bright red Ferrari parked outside, you kind of already know that you have reached somewhere that’s likely to be grand and palatial. The entrance to the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni was in full bloom when we arrived in the sleepy-but-romantic town of Bellagio earlier this month, and the interior lived up to initial indications.

This historic building is a restored 19th Century villa that is as grand inside as it looks on the out. There’s an air of grandeur exhibited by the hallways, stairs and communal rooms all of which have been kept close to their original state. Ceilings are littered with beautiful frescoes and chandeliers abound. Head for the elegant Ristorante Terrazza Villa Serbelloni when you arrive and took a moment to digest the setting.

What’s really special about this hotel, beyond the decadence of the building and its interior, is its position and the views all around. We were in room 262, arguably the best-positioned room in the hotel; being positioned on the second floor with windows looking out in two directions (approximately north and west), you’re able to see beyond the hotel gardens both up and down Lake Como.

The outdoor infinity-edged pool was a little chilly to swim in during our mid-June visit but, in the height of summer, it no doubt provides a refreshing opportunity to cool down. You certainly couldn’t grumble with the pool’s setting, close to the lake edge, and with stunning views of Lake Como both up and down.

For those that prefer warmer swimming conditions, there is a heated indoor pool just nearby with massage and whirlpool options within.  There’s also a shallow kids’ pool with a short slide. In a separate building, a short walk up from the hotel, are fitness and beauty facilities with a number of tantalising treatments available for those seeking to pamper themselves.

Just as our heads hit the pillow on the evening of our stay, there was a huge bang outside. A little alarmed at first, we got up and looked out of the window to see a small vessel had gone a short way out on to the lake and was releasing firework after firework. We joked that they really shouldn’t have gone to so much trouble for us, but the reality was in fact that there was a wedding celebration taking place. And what a firework display it was!  I’ve heard that Italians love any excuse for a few fireworks and this was clearly evident.

A buffet breakfast at the hotel the next morning was available in a fabulous dining room - a room which epitomises the hotel’s grandeur. As Murano chandeliers dangle overhead, we indulged in a sumptuous breakfast - a perfect way to start the day. If you’re heading to the Italian Lakes, you couldn’t ask for a much better setting than Bellagio and, if you’re in Bellagio, there’s really only one place to stay: the Grand Hotel Villa Serbelloni. 

JCast is a new video podcast from the Dubai luxury hotel group Jumeirah, bringing you the latest news and property videos to your iPod. Show your friends where you stayed and keep informed about what’s going on in the Jumeirah world. You can download Jumeirah promotional videos to your iPod Video, or watch them on your PC or Mac, with new episodes appearing every fortnight.

Last weekend I was fortunate enough to take in some of the new Windermere on Water festival in Cumbria. With children in tow, we visited Levity II which had just been re-located from Barcelona and set up in Bowness-on-Windermere.  In fact, it’s made appearances at venues all over the globe, including the Sydney Olympics in 2000. Inside this tent-like structure, your senses are treated to a visual extravaganza but, the clever thing about it all, is there’s not a light bulb in sight; instead, these wonderful effects are solely courtesy of the natural light outside. This unique world comes courtesy of the Nottingham-based company, Architects of Air.

From today until Sunday, Condé Nast Traveller presents The Luxury Travel Fair in conjunction with British Airways. This is a new event, held at Olympia in London. A good mix of exhibitors will be in attendance, including the likes of Cox & Kings, Kuoni Travel, Relais & Chateaux, Small Luxury Hotels of the World and many more. Your ticket to The Luxury Travel Fair will also admit you to The Daily Telegraph/House & Garden Fair which is co-located in Olympia.

Axl Rose was arrested this week after allegedly biting a security guard in the leg at the Berns Hotel in Stockholm. The Guns N’ Roses frontman is also suspected of causing damage to the hotel. A police spokesman said that Rose was drunk during the confrontation and was not questioned by police until he had sobered up.

U2-owned The Clarence celebrated its 10th birthday this month. Band members Bono and The Edge bought the property in 1992. It was then a traditional two star hotel but re-opened in June of 1996 as a luxury boutique hotel. Since then, it’s attracted the rich and famous from all over the world, the most recent of which has been Pamela Anderson with her two most precious possessions… her sons, of course.

The long-awaited W Dallas Victory opened in the heart of Dall, on Victory Park Lane, last week.  Here W Hotels sytle combines with Texan hospitality and, to celebrate the opening, there’s a special package available until 1st September 2006. For $329 per night, you’ll not only get a wonderful room but also a few other perks such as a welcome gift, VIP access for two to Ghostbar, two cool cocktails in the Living Room and a decadent dessert for two when purchasing dinner at the Craft Restaurant.

In the heart of Rome, near the Spanish Steps, a small building hides six luxurious, light, minimalist suites: perfect for those who feel the classic hotel to be too impersonal or a bed and breakfast too familiar. Intown is a very charming, rich yet simplistic, designer project, evoking the feeling of being in a Roman friend’s Patrician palace. Everywhere is deluxe comfort and privacy with magnificent and precious furnishings emphasising the quiet atmosphere evocative of the eternal Roman spirit.

I don’t know about you, but I just love shellfish, and particularly mussels! If shellfish is your thing, head for Brussels’ Chez Leon and indulge in mussels near the Grand Palace. It’s exceptionally popular with tourists and, whether you like your mussels with onions, garlic or cheese, it really doesn’t matter: they have a huge range of options available.

Moments after touching down in Tahiti, it emerged that Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban’s honeymoon reported here earlier isn’t quite so exclusive afterall. For 31-year-old Eva Longoria of Desparate Housewives fame, and her French boyfriend, are staying just metres away at the same St. Regis resort in Bora Bora. Staff are said to be regularly patrolling the perimeter of the resort on jet skis to discourage paparazzi.

Brookman’s deluxe travel hammock now features sound with its integrated, water-resistant AM/FM radio pillow. This 8′ long hammock is perfect for beach excursions, and the new water-resistant radio pillow lets you listen to music as you rest. Weighing only 22 lbs. in its own backpack, the hammock sets up in seconds and supports up to 250 lbs. Features a beverage holder and a pocket for your book or sunscreen. Weather-safe and rust-resistant, the hammock features a stainless steel frame and a durable nylon surface.