A Luxury Travel Blog

This little girl is called Lily and was less than two years old when the video was filmed. I think her geographical knowledge would probably put a lot of adults to shame!

Look out for a new hotel on the Dubai skyline – the Copthorne Hotel Dubai in Port Saeed, Deira. It has 163 spaciously comfortable and luxurious rooms, offering guests spectacular views over Dubai creek and surrounding parks from private balconies.  What’s more, it has four restaurants serving international cuisine with a warm Arabic hospitality provided by a multilingual team of well trained professionals. Deira City Centre’s shopping district is within walking distance and Dubai International Airport is only 10 minutes away.

Four Seasons is heading for downtown Manhattan.  It will retain its midtown location but will also occupy the first 22 floors of an 80-story residential tower that is planned near Ground Zero.  The plans form part of a proposal from World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein. The new tower will be Robert A.M. Stern Architects with an anticipated opening by 2011. The hotel will have 175 rooms, a restaurant, pool, spa and health club with several suites, including one 3,700-square-foot royal suite.

With 550 seats, you’d think there’d be no problem getting a table at Tokyo’s Tofuya Ukai restaurant. But you’d be wrong – this place books up weeks in advance.  On arrival, the first thing that will strike you is a replica of the Eiffel Tower and a lavish Japanese garden.  Inside you’ll be treated to delicacies such as jellied duck slices and other specialties.  Expect lunch for two to set you back over $100, but enjoy the experience to the full!

As of tomorrow, the Negara on Claymore will be rebranded as the Pan Pacific Orchard, Singapore. It is the brand’s second property to be established in the city state of Singapore, within the commercial, retail, dining and entertainment enclave of Orchard Road. The 20-storey hotel offers this close proximity to retail therapy at nearby shopping malls, a variety of culinary pleasures and many of the city’s key attractions. For business travellers, the central business district is only a ten-minute drive or ride via the MRT train. Following refurbishment, the hotel has 200 guest rooms, of which 48 are Pacific Club luxury executive suites and rooms. These premium Club rooms are newly styled in a contemporary décor, with improved furnishings and fittings. Additional hotel facilities include a well-equipped business centre, six meeting rooms, a boardroom, a lobby lounge, the popular Vibe restaurant featuring a signature modern churrasco, a Straits-Chinese restaurant specializing in authentic Peranakan cuisine, a spa and a fitness centre, as well as a mineral water swimming pool which uses NASA-patented ionisation technology to destroy bacteria 1,000 times more effectively than chlorine – a first for a Singapore hotel.

It’s been nearly 20 years since I visited Norway. I really ought to visit again soon, and Franco Tenelli’s video gives ample inspiration to do so.

The first 5 star hotel to grace the state of Utah is officially Stein Eriksen Lodge. The news came this week with the publiation of the latest Mobil Travel Guide.  It is just one of 41 accommodation establishments across USA and Canada to achieve the top accolade. Stein Eriksen Lodge’s setting within a Rocky Mountain ski resort, its hot cider and cocoa served by valets to guests as they prepare to ski, and the Glitretind’s fine food were among the reasons cited for the achievement.

Whilst the Mobil Travel Guide celebrates its 50th anniversary, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs will mark its 48th consecutive year on the five star list, making it the longest-running five star property in Mobil Travel Guide’s history.  That’s no mean achievement! Also enjoying five star status in Colorado is The Little Nell in Aspen.

Not even a $50 million renovation has been enough for The Greenbrier to re-gain its five star status which it lost back in 2000. The Mobil Travel Guide was released this week with The Greenbrier – which has in the past hosted both Presidents and Royalty - still stuck on four stars.  Minor improvements are still continuing and the historic resort’s main restaurant may yet see an overhaul… so maybe next year for The Greenbrier.

If you’re wondering why the post rate has slowed a little this past week, it’s because I’ve been suffering from ‘flu.  It even had me confined to bed one day, missing a day of work due to illness for only the second time in about 15 years!  I’m pleased to say, though, that I’m not past the worse of it, and so you can expect normal service to resume as soon as I have caught up on a few work issues.  Thanks for your patience.

The former Sea Castle motel has been demolished to make way for Hyatt Siesta Key Beach resort, taking up 300 feet of the beautiful Crescent Beach. The resort will offer 44 furnished residences, 1,600-2,600 square feet, with privileges at an adjoining beach club, and the units are anticipated to cost from $200,000 to $750,000. Hotel-like amenities such as valet parking, full-time front desk, concierge, pool, fitness center, locker room and spa and massage treatment rooms will also be available. Occupancy is planned for 2009.

The world’s most sivilised airline campaign from Silverjet.

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

• Venice’s first design hotel: Ca’Pisani
• Book online with Luxury Holidays Direct
• Kids are welcome at Driftwood in Blighty’s Famous 5 country
• One of the UK’s most exclusive travel agencies: Earth

Head for San Diego and enjoy the eco-friendly spa and exciting marina at the newly renovated Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina with an introductory rate of $169 between now and 30th April 2008. To take advantage of this offer, simply enter the code ‘INTRO’ when making your booking online.

Stay at the new St. Regis Mardavall Mallorca before 13th March 2008 and you can take advantage of their opening offer. Three nights in a Junior Suite Garden View, gourmet breakfast, airport transfer, Mallorca Pepper Snapper welcome cocktail, private Champagne & Deluxe-Tapas menu in your room, a bottle of Krug-Champagne, spa treatment and vineyard excursion…  all this and more for just 793 euros per night.

From tomorrow, a range of Champneys spa products will be available in Silverjet’s Silver Lounges and onboard their aircraft. The onboard bathrooms will feature Champneys Skin Comforting Hand Wash and Skin Comforting Hand and Body Lotion, whilst the terminal shower areas will be stocked with Watermint Showergel. In addition to this, each customer will receive an amenity pouch onboard containing Champneys socks and eye shade plus earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste. Champneys spa taster treatments will also soon be available in the London Luton Silver Lounge on a monthly basis.