A Luxury Travel Blog

Nevada-based Supersonic Aerospace International has commissioned Lockheed Skunk Works to design a plane that can cover New York to Los Angeles in just two hours. Called the QSST (quiet supersonic travel), this supersonic aircraft could be a successor to Concorde, capable of speeds up to 1200 mph (Mach 1.8), but will hold just 12 passengers.

Is the end of summer getting you down? Hotel Piedras y Olas invites you to take their Rainy Day Challenge and reserve your trip to the beautiful southwestern coast of Nicaragua for some luxurious rest, relaxation and adventure. During the month of October guests will receive 15% off of this luxury hotel’s standard room rates, plus one night free if it rains during any stay of four nights or longer. Rates begin at US $97.75 per night for deluxe view rooms and $153 per night for casitas and villas, based on double occupancy.

In addition to fine dining, wine and a 19″ entertainment screen, travellers on Emirates‘ business class service between New York and Dubai will soon be welcoming a new luxury - flat bed massage seats. An ad campaign for the seats was launched in the US this week with the service scheduled to start on 1st October 2006 on flight EK204, a Boeing 777-300ER.

What is it with celebrities and hotels all of a sudden…? First we have Nicky Hilton… then  Richard Gere… then Paris Hilton… and now it’s the Gallagher brothers of Oasis fame. According to Life Style Extra, they are launching a chain in the US and said to be using their songs as themes for the hotels.  Despite their efforts, Oasis never really conquered the US like they did the UK… so perhaps this is a re-vitalised attempt to do just that.

In a project initiated by the consulting company AaS-International AG, a business class flight service called Arabian-Wings will commence operations early next year. Flights will operate between Ras al Khaimah International Airport (in the United Arab Emirates) and Germany, with just 48 seats available.  It’ll be interesting to follow their progress as they will face stiff competition in the form of Emirates and Lufthansa.

It must have happened to you… you arrive at your destination, tired after a long journey.  You open your case and… oh no, something’s leaked everywhere!  Not any more. Thanks to Pitotubes, you can store any liquids you might be travelling with in high-tech sealed refillable bottles and they’ll be able to withstand changing air pressures and clumsy baggage handlers.

The Mövenpick Residence Karon Beach, Phuket is the latest Mövenpick Residence and features 30 luxurious two-bedroom apartments on a pristine stretch of beach with beautiful views of the Andaman Sea.  Available nearby are the facilities of the Mövenpick Resort and Spa Karon Beach, Phuket for guests’ use.

Guam Palace Hotel will undergo renovations and be re-flagged as Sheraton Laguna Guam as of April 2007 in an agreement struck between Premier Hotels & Resorts Guam and Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide. The hotel will be the first international resort to be located on the sunset strip of the island.  Included in the changes will be a new wedding chapel, fitness center, spa and an extensive lagoon. 

The Telegraph has recently run an article on the best places to stay in Prague and cites the Four Seasons Hotel Prague (for luxury), Hotel Neruda (for intimacy) and Hotel Josef (for design). However, look out also for the Mandarin Oriental which opens next month on 12th September 2006.

Westin Resorts & Hotels is to manage a new hotel in Auckland’s Viaduct Basin in June 2007. The NZD $90 million Westin Auckland will be one of New Zealand’s first smoke free hotels - and a five star hotel with rates of at least NZD 400 per night expected.  There are currently only five other Qualmark five star hotels in Auckland: Hilton Auckland, Langham Hotel Auckland, Quay West Suites, SkyCity Grand Hotel and Stamford Plaza.

There were some interesting choices in today’s USA Today article on great seafood shacks. Those with websites that made the editorial are:

• Costello’s Clam Shack, Noank, Connecticut
• Arnold’s Lobster & Clam Bar, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
• Brown’s Seabrook Lobster Pound, Seabrook, New Hampshire
• Five Islands Lobster Co., Georgetown, Maine

Scotland’s The Lodge on Loch Lomond Hotel - which have previously attracted two US Presidents - was last night sadly attacked by fire in what is being treated by police as a criminal act. Thanks to the quick thinking of the owners and staff, damage was kept to a minimum and the hotel remained open with just two rooms needing to be accommodated by nearby hotels. Let’s hope Strathclyde Police track down whoever is responsible.

Have you ever wondered why we can’t watch live television when we’re 40,000 feet up in the sky?  Why’s it always pre-recorded in-flight entertainment?  Don’t worry, it’s set to change. Virgin Blue are pioneering the way with their live2air product which is the culmination of 5 years’ work.  It won’t be free, though.  Introductory rates start from $6 AUD (more for longer flights).

Silversea Cruises has begun offering its Silver Sailing savings incentives giving the opportunity for passengers to save up to 50% on a special selection of South Pacific and Southeast Asia voyages in 2007.  The best savings are to be found on the Vista, Veranda and Midship Veranda Suites - the line’s most popular categories. For example, Silver Savings fares on the Silver Whisper departing on 5th January 2007 start from $2,997 per person - a 50% reduction.

To celebrate the completion of $11m in renovations, Grand Traverse Resort near Traverse City, Michigan, is expanding its packages by offering new culinary vacations featuring hands-on cooking classes with the resort’s award-winning chefs. Ideal for food lovers of all levels of experience, three Culinary Escapes are planned for 2006 with Executive Chef Richard Beichner and Pastry Chef Craig Lewkowitz. Each package is priced at $299 per person, based on double occupancy in the hotel, plus tax and nightly resort fee.

SmartCruiser.com is offering a unique luxury cruise deal to Tahiti & French Polynesia, giving you the opportunity to discover some of the most scenic wonders of the world aboard Regent Seven Seas Cruises (formerly Radisson Seven Seas Cruises) six-star cruise ship, the Paul Gauguin. From only $1795 per person, you can enjoy seven balmy days and sultry nights savoring the mystical beauty of Tahiti aboard the award winning vessel.