A Luxury Travel Blog

Enjoy rare vintages and top scoring wines guided by the winemakers themselves. Taking place for the first time this year, the Aruba Wine Extravaganza (2nd-4th September 2010) will bring together about 50 different South American wineries. The event, held at the Radisson Aruba Resort Casino and Spa, will include a series of wine tastings under the stars, special lunches and a sparkling wine reception in the ball room foyer, followed by a gala dinner and award presentation.

A Luxury Travel Blog has teamed up with the publishers Thames & Hudson to offer you a great chance to win one of 5 copies of the fabulous book ‘Dive in Style‘ by Tim Simmond. I have a copy of this beautiful book myself and it contains over 700 fabulous illustrations of where you can “chill, snorkel and dive”… a must for anyone who has a passion for the most luxurious diving spots around the world!

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is comment on the posts within this blog. The five readers with the most approved comments during the remainder of August and September 2010 will each receive a free copy of the book. (Naturally, comments need to be of a certain quality, otherwise they won’t be approved.) So… what are you waiting for? Have a browse of the blog – there’s literally thouands of blog entries which you can discuss – and comment away!

Julian was appointed Managing Director of bmibaby on 1st April 2010. He previously held the position of commercial director for two years, responsible for marketing, revenue management, public relations, network planning, e-commerce and customer services. Prior to this Julian spent two years working for IATA in Montreal where he was responsible for marketing and business development opportunities within the airline sector. His initial entry into the airline industry however was with Jet2.com, where he was involved in the business planning and launch of the airline. After a term as business development manager for Jet2.com, he moved to MyTravelLite as Head of Marketing and Development, though soon took over as Managing Director of the airline. Prior to entering the airline industry, Julian had ten years of management experience within the entertainment industry, working with both Virgin and Blockbuster.

What is it that you do exactly?

Working at bmibaby there is no such thing as a typical day! We work in such a fast paced environment my day can vary hugely. I am responsible for the oversight of the airline’s ongoing business, from day to day management, through to longer term strategic planning. My team look after the commercial side, which encompasses sales and marketing, network (where we fly and when), pricing, customer service, and e-commerce. Others areas include operations (the day to day delivery of the flights), engineering (making sure the aircraft are safe and fit to fly), cabin services (offering the in-flight service we pride ourselves on), and ground services (the airport activities we undertake).

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

My background is more commercial, but I really enjoy the actual flying and travelling aspects of the job. I try to fly as often as possible to interact with the crew and customers and this keeps it real for me in seeing the business come to life. I also enjoy the challenge of keeping the business prominent in the eyes of the consumer, and so enjoy interacting with media and doing promotional activity.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

Fiji: I did some consulting work for an airline there for a few months, and grew to love the place and the atmosphere. Relaxing in a hammock on the beach, watching the sunset while reading a book after a hard day in the office can’t be beaten!

Montreal: I lived there for two years, and came to know the place as home. The city is one of the friendliest and most exciting cities I’ve ever known, and was such a great mix of North America meets Continental Europe.

Las Vegas: The fountains of Bellagio are one of my favourite places on this planet! You can lose yourself in the grandeur of the place, and provided you take it all with a healthy pinch of salt (and are sensible with the chips!), you can have the most amazing time!

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

A Beef Teriyaki dinner in the Bahamas, when a group of us sat around the chef’s hot plate and ate from the edges as he prepared the food. I’ve always tried to find Teriyaki that tasted that good since, but am still looking!

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

In my time as a cinema manager I met a few celebrities. On one occasion I had to ask Stephen Gately what his name was (I knew he was in a boy band, but that was all I knew!). I also had to escort U2’s ‘The Edge’ out the back door once as word had got around he was there, and so he needed to escape! My most memorable encounter though was escorting Pierce Brosnan around the cinema during a premiere – I had given the staff explicit instructions not to trouble him, but then went and did it myself by asking him if he’d have his photograph taken with my girlfriend (I got good brownie points for that though!)

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I want to do a long overland expedition one day – taking a few months to travel from a to b. I’d like to overland it to the Far East from Europe or from North to South America perhaps. I will one day!

Many thanks, Julian, and good luck with your new role at bmibaby.

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With the increasing dilution of the term ‘luxury travel’, a group of like-minded luxury companies, encompassing art, architecture, air charter, and travel have come together to organise a truly luxury fair in Singapore.

Attendees are by invitation only, and consist of past clients, whom have been identified to be true connoisseurs of all things luxe. Developing synergies through complementary services, they aim to create an event that satisfies a select group of people – people who have moved beyond ego validation and a life defined by appearance, position and status, deferring instead to a life that is an intriguing mix of serene convenience and fulfilling adventure. These people often indulge in private eccentricities and are answerable to no one.

The event is titled “Discovery of the Senses”, with emphasis on the sixth sense – imagination.  It is organised as a sit-down dinner at the Four Seasons Singapore, and features the culinary cuisine of Emmanuel Stroobant of St Pierre.

Companies who are co-hosting the event include: Collectors Contemporary (Art), Richard Ho Architects (Architecture), Silversea (Luxury Cruises), Air Chartering (Chapman Freeborn), Relais & Chateaux (Hotels and Gastronomy), Aracari (Peri Destination Experts), Wild China (China Destination Experts), and Quotient TravelPlanner (Customised Travel Planning).

This is actually a viral video from Levi’s rather than another story of some guy walking right across the USA. That said, it makes entertaining and uses frame-by-frame video footage of an actor and model by the name of the Michael Johnson as he passes various landmarks. Apparently it uses some 2,770 still photos that were taken on a 14-day trip across the country.

The Swiss are very enterprising when it comes to penalties for speeding.  Not only do they take into account the amount by which you are exceeding the speed limit, but the fine is also determined by your own personal income.  Spare a thought, therefore, for the wealthy Swedish man who was recently clocked doing close to 300 kilometeres per hour(!) in his £140,000 Mercedes.  He now faces a fine of €650,000.  Yep, you read that right – €650,000.

Greeted with refreshing fruit juice on our arrival at reception at the Sheraton La Caleta Resort & Spa, we made our way to the Club Level 5th floor where we had a family room for the duration of our stay.  This is a relatively new hotel having officially opened in April 2005; it has 284 rooms of which 20 are suites (2 with outdoor Jacuzzis).

Our room was wonderfully spacious, spotless as you would expect, and with a great sea view. Although we didn’t take advantage of the various perks, occupants of Club Level rooms have access to the Club Lounge with meeting rooms and internet access, as well as having access to breakfast down by the  poolside.

The hotel has three main pools – two that are heated, upper pools and a lower saltwater pool.  In fact, there’s a fourth, small pool for children at the hotel’s small kids club, too.  The kids club is admirably looked after by a lovely lady named Inma who entertains the children well whilst they are in her care.

Restaurants at the hotel are also plentiful with a buffet held every evening, as well as a Spanish restaurant (where you can enjoy private dining for up to 22 people) and a Japanese restaurant.  There’s also a good children’s menu at the hotel, refreshingly offering dishes that extend beyond the usual chicken nuggets (grilled salmon steaks, pasta carbonara, fish special of the day, roast chicken supreme, etc.)

I enjoyed a tour of the Caroli spa and health club at the hotel with the spa manager, Isaac Raymond, who explained what the 1,800m² spa had to offer. It included aromatic showers with essential oils, chromatherapy, two outside areas where the sound of water helps you to relax, Roman plunge pools (one hot, one cold), treatment rooms, steam room, a 34 °C  thalasso pool, an igloo that maintains a constant temperature of 5 °C and, of course, a gym.

Other facilities at the hotel include internet access which is available in-room for a relatively modest fee or for free, courtesy of the Sheraton Link near reception. There is also a hair and beauty salon on site and, at the time of our visit, there was an offer for a pedicure and manicure for a very reasonable €47.25 including taxes.

The hotel also has a large ballroom that can be used for conferences, corporate press releases, weddings and  parties – so big that the automobile manufacturers  Toyota, who have a presence on the island, are able to drive vehicles into and out of the room when they make press announcements and release new models.

The crew of Clash of the Titans stayed at the hotel last year and now, one year on, some of those involved were back to promote a raffle that will allow one lucky winner to stay at the hotel and explore some of the movie locations.  Judging by our visit here, they are sure to enjoy it.

My thanks go to Tenerife Tourism Corporation for their assitance with the visit.

Siam Park is Tenerife’s latest attraction.  From the same people behind the highly successful Loro Parque on the north of the island, it is a spectacular waterpark that was opened in September 2008 and that can be found on the south of the island, just outside Costa Adeje.  Siam Park has a large artifical beach with the biggest artifical waves in the world, and rides for all young and old alike, making it suitable for families and friends with any age children in tow.

After a quick tour of the resort which enabled us to get our bearings and to get some sense of scale of the place (it’s big!), we sorted outselves out with a locker and started off with the relatively tame but relaxing Mai Thai River ride where we drifted along the ‘river’ in inflatables, meandering past rapids and waterfalls before taking a tunnel beneath an aquarium and admiring the fish (most notably, sharks!) above.

Next up was ‘The Lost City’ – a huge hit with the little ones who don’t reach the height requirements for some of the park’s rides or who are simply too scared by some of them.  There is loads for them to enjoy here, be it squirting passers-by with water guns, exploring the labyrinth of bridges and nets, tipping buckets of water on people, going down the numerous slides or bracing themselves for the periodic deluge from an enormous ‘bucket’ of water from above (pictured).

One of the favourite rides for visitors to Siam Park is The Dragon where a speedy raft of a group of four shoots down a tube and is propelled high up before spinning around a cone, by a roaring dragon.  And if that doesn’t spin you enough, The Giant guarantees an anticlockwise spinning splash before racing down from the starting point, the head of the giant.  Plus there’s the Jungle Snakes, a series of twisting slides, each slightly different.

But perhaps the highlight is the Tower of Power.  People that brave it slide solo down an almost 90-degree chute with a 28-metre drop in around just 4 seconds.  Oh, and just in case that alone doesn’t sound extreme enough, you also whizz through a shark-infested pool when you get to the bottom – but don’t worry, that bit isn’t quite as dramatic as it might sound as you’re encased in a tube so they can’t get you.

I was in two minds about this one but our two boys wanted to see Daddy do it so I didn’t see chickening out as an option.  I climbed the steps to the top; as it turned out, later in the day seemed to be a good time to do the ride, as the queue had dissipated.  Only a few people stood before me, covered head to toe in tattoos and yet cowering at the prospect of going on the ride… this did not bode well!  Thankfully, I didn’t have too long to dwell on that thought and, before I knew it, it was my turn.  And what an experience it was!  I can’t claim to have seen the sharks as I ‘whooshed’ through – everything was a bit of a blur!!!

I leave you with some video footage of the Tower of Power and other rides at Siam Park so you can get more of a sense of how much this great attraction has to offer.

My thanks go to Tenerife Tourism Corporation for their assistance with the visit.

Asia’s most recent and exciting luxury boutique hotel group, Alila Hotels & Resorts, has introduced its second property in Indochina: Alila Luang Prabang. Set to open its doors in October 2010, Alila Luang Prabang is expected to raise the bar for luxury retreats in Laos.  The small UNESCO Heritage town of Luang Prabang is the cultural centre of Laos, known for its laid back atmosphere & profusion of temples, handicraft shops & art galleries.

And overlooking the confluence of the Mekong & Nam Khan rivers, the new Alila hotel & spa will offer breathtaking views of the surrounding sacred mountains & nationally treasured landmarks. The property will perfectly complement the existing property also owned by the group, 3 Nagas by Alila – a boutique hotel in central Luang Prabang that was sensitively restored in 2003.  Alila Luang Prabang has conserved the site’s architectural heritage, combining existing colonial buildings built between 1910 and 1920 with new structures designed to complement the original designs. The all-suite property will comprise 23 suites, all uniquely designed, with private gardens & either a pool or outdoor pavilion with fantastic views.

The Maltese archipelago, consisting of Malta, Gozo and Comino, is one of Europe’s best kept secrets.  Whether guests choose to explore the depths of history & heritage or immerse themselves in the natural escape that is Malta, they will discover a luxurious, yet affordable, oasis in the heart of the  Mediterranean.  A place of infinite possibilities and affordable luxury, Malta offers above and beyond any another holiday experience to deserving guests who have a taste for relaxation, adventure, pampering, history, fine dining and fun.  The perfect destination for a weekend break, the islands also hold a fantastic array of events over the year to tempt visitors to its shores; from traditional food, wine and religious festivals, to the Malta  Festival of Arts and the Malta Jazz Festival, Malta’s annual programmes attracts names from around the globe.  The Maltese islands boast 5 star hotels and the finest spas, unbeatable sailing and top sporting facilities, exclusive dining and charming boutique hotels, all surrounded by stunning beaches and clear blue  waters. With picturesque views, beautiful architecture and an array of activities to offer guests, Malta awakens and renews the senses of any holidaymaker. Just a three hour, direct flight from all over the  UK, guests can let the calm waves of the Maltese shores wash away the congestion and headaches of life.

A stone’s throw from the upmarket shopping precinct of Plaza del Duque, the five star  Iberostar Grand Hotel Anthelia is well positioned on the south of the island of Tenerife – close to the beach and good quality shops, yet sufficiently far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Playa de las Americas.  This was my fifth visit to Tenerife and my third to the Adeje region, and once again it didn’t disappoint.

The Iberostar Anthelia is a large hotel, with some 390 rooms divided into 5 separate zones.  We had adjoining rooms in ‘Carmen’ which overlooks the kids’ club and pool, and out to the sea and the beachfront of Fañabé  beyond.  We arrived quite late so, after ordering from room service, had a great night’s sleep and explored the hotel the next day.

A sumptuous breakfast buffet was served in the Zeus restaurant in the morning, between the hours of 7.30am and 10.30am, so catering both for the early risers and those who enjoyed a lie-in whilst on holiday.  The first morning after our arrival I noticed that ‘football’ (soccer) was available on the activity calendar. Although I was leaving it rather too late for a call-up from Fabio Capello, I turned up to a game supervised by the ever-friendly Marcus, a young German working at the hotel.  It was hot, but thoroughly enjoyable with a mixture of English and Spanish players; I just hope Marcus has fully recovered from me accidentally standing on his ankle in a goalmouth incident!

Activities available at the hotel are wide and varied, with everything from cooking demonstrations and evening shows to tennis and tai chi.  One of the highlights for families staying is the kids’ club and the entertainment available for children aged 4-12 years old.  The club was equipped with lots of indoor and outdoor space, a small area for playing football and a small pool, and several staff on hand.  Each day, all the children could participate in the day’s games and, if successful, were presented with a medal at the kids’ disco later that evening.  Without exception, all the children loved the disco, learning the actions to a medley of English and German tunes, whilst parents relaxed with a drink or two before ‘Smiley’ the dog made an appearance at the end to draw the night to a close… a perfect recipe for a good night’s sleep for the whole family!

Other facilities at the hotel include multiple pools, restaurants and bars. In all, the hotel has three restaurants: Poseidon (a gourmet restaurant), Portofino (an Italian restaurant) and Zeus (a buffet restaurant). There is also the Thai Zen SPAce area which offers a new concept in wellbeing, offering yoga, meditation, massage, beauty treatments, flower baths, aromatherapy Jacuzzi, etc… you name it!

I was also lucky enough to be given a tour of Iberostar Grand Hotel El Mirador, an adults-only hotel just a little further up the coast towards La Caleta, with 120 suites. The tour took in the stunning Royal Suite for which guests pay an additional supplement of 900 euros per night.  This hotel also has three restaurants, as well as a meeting room/wedding venue/cinema, and it currently shares its spa with Anthelia but will have a new spa coming soon. There is also a gym with windows with sea views that open up to a lovely sea breeze whilst you’re burning the calories.

Both hotels do what they do well.  If you’re travelling with family, or perhaps in a group, you’ll enjoy the facilities and scale of Anthelia.  If you’re looking for a romantic getaway – away from children – then the solitude of El Mirador will suit you down to the ground.

My thanks go to Tenerife Tourism Corporation for their assitance with the visit.

A German designer named Andrew Kupresanin has come up with a digital camera called ‘Nadia’ that assesses the aesthetic beauty of the photograph you’re taking. Rather than show a LCD viewfinder image of what you’re shooting, it displays a percentage. The higher the figure is to 100%, then supposedly the “better” the picture, presumably taking into account a number of the “rules” that make a good photograph (eg. the rule of thirds) as well as contrast/lighting, etc. Although perhaps a little primitive in this version, it’s makes for an interesting alternative to the way we normally take photographs and I wonder if this is an add-on feature that might be integrated into digital cameras of the future.

Iconic Cape Town Hotel Ellerman House will introduce Apple iPads to each of its eleven luxurious rooms and modernist villa over the coming months – the only hotel in South Africa to offer iPads for guests’ use. The iPad is fast becoming an indispensible item within the gadget market and a supremely useful tool in the hospitality industry, due to both its numerous practical uses and leading entertainment.

This is Ellerman House’s latest move in a drive to enhance the guest experience through contemporary themes, bespoke luxury experiences and new technology. The introduction of in-room iPads will give guests uninterrupted internet access; the chance to read their favorite books and magazines online; up to date information on Cape Town’s latest restaurant openings, events and activities and real time hotel updates such as interactive room tours, virtual tours of the hotel’s world renowned art collection and unique music compilations, tailored to guest’s preferences.

I will go to the ends of the earth to uncover gems and gourmet delights for ALTB readers. This time I went to the very north of Scotland to the Caithness Smokehouse in Barrock. Barrock is only about five miles from Dunnet Head, the most northerly point on mainland Britain, and about three hours of driving into the wilds north of Inverness.

I had the good luck to meet John Inglis, the owner of the Caithness Smokehouse and ’smoker’, who kindly agreed to talk to me about the smokehouse and show us around. John is enthusiastic about promoting local produce and applauds the move away from fast food to local artisan products with the emphasis on taste. He uses traditional methods and only top quality local produce, such as hand dived Orkney scallops and Scrabster fish and seafood. The food produced at the smokehouse is luxurious by anyone’s definition, yet visitors are welcome to have a look around as John is a cheerful, laid-back kind of person who delights in the opportunity to tell people about his venture.

The smokehouse is situated right next door to the house John shares with his wife Christine, and it’s not unusual for a coach load of tourists from Canada, America, Germany or the Netherlands to show up at the house hoping for a tour. But don’t start thinking about the oxymoron of “luxury coach travel”. Look instead to John’s impressive list of customers.

As well as supplying local hotels, restaurants, retail outlets and visitors to the smokehouse, the Caithness Smokehouse also supplies Mey Castle (which was the home of the Queen Mother in Caithness) and Skibo Castle (where Madonna held her wedding). Skibo Castle is also home to the exclusive Carnegie Club, named after Andrew Carnegie, once the richest man in the world, who owned an estate at Skibo.

John was also proud to tell me he had been asked to smoke the largest trout ever caught in Caithness – a whopper weighing in at 11lb 10oz. He offers a smoking service to anglers, other individuals and food producers. As he says, “You supply it, we smoke it, you eat it.”

There’s all kinds of things already on offer at the Caithness Smokehouse: cheese, bacon, ham, eggs, and of course fish and shellfish, and they’re expanding their range all the time. The emphasis is always on top quality local produce. The smokehouse has made it to the finals of the Scotland Excellence Awards for food and drink for the last couple of years – no mean feat for a relatively new business.

By now you’re probably wishing you could just pop up to the north to get a piece of the action, but it’s a wee bit far to go. No worries, you can order by phone or online and have Caithness Smokehouse produce delivered to pretty well anywhere in the UK within 48 hours, so you don’t have to miss out on this treat.

That said, I would say that the whole area is worth a visit even if just to visit Dunnet Head and John o’ Groats (too many cyclists!) and for the marvellous photo opportunities of the beautiful scenery.

Coloured Shakespearean terracotta, patterned mosaic pavement and a gurgling fountain; the setting was already magical at the urban oasis that is Courtyard 51, and now they’ve gone and made paradise even more comfortable – with a new veranda from which to admire the view, as you sip on your champagne or Champagne cocktail. The range is extensive, with bottles ranging from £49.50 to £325, and, unusually, an excellent rosé selection. Open from afternoon until late (Sun-Thurs 3-10pm), those partial to unwinding with a quality Cuban will also find their whims satisfied by the knowledgeable cigar butler.  The Courtyard itself is open for dinner throughout the week, with Lebanese, Moroccan, Turkish, American or Indian classics served depending on the day; food becomes available at the veranda’s thirty tables Fridays and Saturday.  A particular treat will be the two opera dining nights to be hosted on 20th and 21st August 2010; the perfect chance for some culture beneath the stars!

Nicola Di Luzio is an intern at Hg2 luxury city guides.

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