Halekulani, one of the world’s finest and most acclaimed luxury resorts, and Gourmet, the magazine of good living, have gathered together leading Asian culinary masters for an unparalleled epicurean experience at this iconic Hawaiian resort.
From 13th to 15th November 2009, connoisseurs from around the world are invited to join hosts Sara Moulton, Gourmet executive chef, and Vikram Garg, Halekulani executive chef, as they lead guests through a weekend of authentic tastes, intimate seminars, chef-led farm and market tours, hands-on cooking demonstrations and cocktail parties featuring Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indian master chefs. Follow this link for the full schedule.
Three-night event packages start at $1,480 per person and include three nights at Halekulani and access to all events.
A new luxury travel website has recently been launched by the passionate duo, Mr. & Mrs. Crystal, who have extensively researched the most hip, trendy and charming hotels, restaurants, bars and beach clubs in Europe. The result is a personal travel concierge service with exclusive recommendations and tips for 27 luxury destinations, which you may want to use for your next holiday. Recognising that travellers feel inundated with information, Travel Hedonism differentiates from other websites by providing a selective handful of reliable tips. In addition to easily navigating to a particular destination, users can also choose one or more “vibes” such as “romance”, “hip” or “foodie heaven” and Travel Hedonism will suggest luxury hotspots and tips which match the user’s preferred theme.
Maggie Beer is one of Australia’s favourite cooks, cookery writers and a pioneering champion of Barossa regional cuisine. Her farm shop offers daily verjuice cooking demonstrations at 2pm. Visitors to the farm shop will also find Maggie’s gourmet products and award-winning books. Her cooking, using mainly local produce, has been pivotal in the development of South Australia’s regional cuisine and her pheasant pate, verjuice and quince paste are exported around the world. If you’re visiting, make sure you book a verjuice workshop in advance.
Have you heard about the newly launched Paresa Resort in Phuket? The resort as 49 luxury villas and suites all with private pools and located on Phuket’s ‘Millionaires Mile’. Following its launch Paresa has unveiled its Energy Pool. Designed to recharge and vitalise the body and mind, the pool is made from black terrazzo and lies under one of the resort’s strong and inspiring banyan trees, generating warmth from the terrazzo and peacefulness from the tree. Located on the main Infinity Pools sundeck; the Energy Pool has stunning Andaman sea vistas.
At the centre of the Energy Pool is a large 4kg obelisk of Rose quartz crystal, which softens negative energy, instills balance and harmony as well as being good for relationships. It can also encourage love. Rose quartz is also known to calm and strengthen your inner energy.
This resort is perched high on the cliff top, surrounded by tropical forests and the blue waters of the Andaman Sea, Paresa is unique when comparing to the usual Thai resort architecture we normally see in Thailand; Paresas architecture and elegant interiors have been designed to complement the natural surroundings, boasting uninterrupted sea views with a southern Thai influence.
Located in the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, Zambia, Thorntree River Lodge features breathtaking scenery with river views and sightings of a variety of animals on the Zambezi River. Adventure and excitement of the true Africa beckons as views of the unspoilt bush, natural waterholes and spectacular sunsets welcome you with luxury and superb hospitality. Guests are accommodated in luxurious suites, all with private decks overlooking the river. Your safari experience at this, ‘the home of the elephants’, will include on site river activities as well as elephant back safaris. Thorntree’s close proximity to Victoria Falls means that a visit to see ‘the smoke that thunders’ is a must for every guest staying at the lodge.
Bush comfort is the ultimate aim as guests can relax in paramount luxury while they take in the sights. Each secluded and spacious room overlooks the Zambezi River. Enjoy the African bush and Zambezi River from your own covered verandah. All rooms offer en suite facilities and are designed with comfort and space in mind in an unparalleled, quality, bush experience.
Footage from the Mosi Oa Tunya National Park, taken in August this year from someone staying at Thorntree River Lodge, can be viewed below:
The Guardian published its top 10 country B&Bs in the UK. Somewhat diplomatically, perhaps, they’ve managed to cover B&Bs from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. Want to know where they recommend? Here’s the list:
As many of you already know, A Luxury Travel Blog, although very popular, is more of a sideline for me. During the day, I’m usually busy running our UK-based online tourism business and today we updated our competition page over on the UKhotel.com website. This month’s competition gives you the chance to win a fabulous luxury stay in London (breakfast included) and experience a Martini Master class with the hotel’s head barman, Antonio Pizzuto, who has spent some 40 years perfecting his art. To enter and be in with a chance of winning this wonderful prize, click here.
Zara Spa at Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea features Oriental-inspired thermariums, tropical rain showers and 24 spacious treatment rooms and suites. It is also known for the diversity of its five pools: a hydro-pool, a large outdoor heated massage pool with 3% salt concentration, various massage jets, whirlpool and geysers, a Kneipp-foot massage pool, an indoor Dead Sea pool with 28% salt concentration and the infinity pool which looks out over the sea.
Sit back and watch in amazement at this video footage from Alaska. A skier gets caught up in an avalanche and buried alive. Fortunately for him, he lost his glove just prior to being buried, which marked his approximate whereabouts. He was also with people who were trained in avalanche rescue. He was rescued in just 4 and a half minutes and escaped without serious injury.
Zambian Horizons is a collection of luxury camps and lodges in Zambia’s top national parks and this Autumn saw the addition of a new safari house and a complete refurbishment of their private island retreat.
Sausage Tree Camps Kigelia Safari House
Recently opened, Kigelia House is the ideal place for groups of friends and families to enjoy a more exclusive luxury Lower Zambezi safari experience. Set slightly apart from the main camp and closest to the Zambezi River, guests can soak up the panoramic views, the picturesque winding river and abundant wildlife. Kigelia House is the ultimate private safari house, complete with a fully stocked bar and large dining area guests can dine in privacy away from the main camp. A spacious open plan living room boasts deep leather sofas and a high canvas ceiling which spills out onto the verandah overlooking the Zambezi River. It is here too after adrenalin packed safari drives that guests can unwind on the day beds which surround the large infinity pool.
Sindabezi Island
The long awaited, private island paradise of Sindabezi Island is now complete and open to guests. All five thatched cottages have been rebuilt from the ground up, two of which have been transformed into honeymoon suites complete with ensuite bathrooms and roll top baths for the ultimate luxury. To enhance the romance of this secluded island two new star gazing decks have been built offering uninterrupted views of the Zambezi River and the African sky. In addition a private ‘Mokoro’ overwater deck is ideal for sundowners and romantic candlelit dinners whilst the main dining area in the centre of the island sits on stilts offering stunning dawn and dusk vistas of the River and its wildlife. Each open fronted cottage sits on the edge of the island overlooking the River, where Hippos wallow only metres away. Private valets will make guests stay effortless, from turning the beds down at night, switching the flickering safari lamps on and closing the mosquito nets around the bed, so that guests can climb in and feel cocooned to waking you in the morning with a cup of tea and a selection of freshly baked biscuits to kick start your action packed day.
Starwood Hotels & Resorts has opened its 150th hotel in Asia Pacific – the ITC Royal Gardenia, a Luxury Collection hotel in Bengaluru, India. The opening of the 292-room hotel underscores Starwood’s long-term strategic growth plans in Asia Pacific, where it has executed 23 new deals in 2009 – seven hotels have been opened prior to the opening of ITC Royal Gardenia and another seven hotels are slated to open by the end of this year.
Within China, Starwood is set to double its current footprint to 100 hotels by 2012.
Sitting on the hillside of Anissaras, Hersonissos, Paradise Island Villas offers easy access as it is located just 23km from Heraklion airport. Family owned and run, the hotel is a chic retreat, combining the elegance and charm of a luxury boutique hotel, in a collection of 12 stylish villas, all with private pools with Jacuzzis and gardens. And now’s the time to take a look – early booking offers are available for season 2010.
Cult Napa winery Merus has recently undergone a major revamp by UXUS in Amsterdam. Merus started as a family business run from the owners home, gained cult status thanks to constant near perfect reviews from critic Robert Parker, and has now opened a designer winery/cellar door. Check out the Flickr gallery for the pictures!
Searching for the ultimate winter wonderland break? Then look no further than the enchanting Scottish Highlands. Alladale Wilderness Reserve covers 23,000 acres of the highlands and this Summer saw the opening of two new, chic highland bothies to compliment the main stalking lodge on the reserve. Ideal for couples and smaller groups of friends and family, Eagles Crag and Ghillies Rest sleep between 2-4 people and add a touch of luxury to this remote wilderness. Every aspect of a true Highland break has been thought of and catered for. Guests can expect a fully stocked kitchen and fridge brimming with locally sourced, organic ingredients to cook up a feast with, or the option of a hearty, home cooked dinner delivered from the main lodge for guests to simply pop in the oven. Days can be spent embracing the highland air with a personal ranger who is on hand to take guided hikes up the glens, pony treks across the reserve, fly fishing lessons, stalking on the hills and 4×4 safaris in search of the elusive European Elk and Wild Boar. All in the knowing that when guests return to their bothy a fire will be burning bright and freshly made tea and cakes will be awaiting their return.
Co-ordinated by an ex designer for Mulberry, the bothies have been designed to the highest standard, incorporating contemporary classic design with local materials and artisanship. The rooms all have under floor heating; there are wood-burning stoves in the sitting rooms, and Fired Earth double ended baths to relax in after a day outdoors. The living room with its high ceilings and chunky beams plays host to generous Andrew Martin sofas and London-based Vincent Sheppard chairs, along with large tanned leather beanbags.
Alladale offers a nightly rate from £400 in Ghillies Rest and £700 in Eagles Crag which includes a fridge stocked full of locally sourced, organic ingredients to cook up a feast with along with the option of dinner cooked for you by a chef from Alladale Lodge and left for you to heat up. Also includes a personal ranger to take guests on 4×4 wilderness safaris, fishing lessons, hikes and mountain bike rides.
A new luxury travel website has recently been launched by the passionate duo, Mr. & Mrs. Crystal, who have extensively researched the most hip, trendy and charming hotels, restaurants, bars and beach clubs in Europe. The result is a personal travel concierge service with exclusive recommendations and tips for 27 luxury destinations, which you may want to use for your next holiday. Recognising that travellers feel inundated with information, 
As many of you already know, A Luxury Travel Blog, although very popular, is more of a sideline for me. During the day, I’m usually busy running our UK-based online tourism business and today we updated our competition page over on the 
Zara Spa at 
Sitting on the hillside of Anissaras, Hersonissos, 
Cult Napa winery 
Searching for the ultimate winter wonderland break? Then look no further than the enchanting Scottish Highlands.