A Luxury Travel Blog

According to Tripadvisor, the top 10 destinations in Europe are currently:

1. Monte-Carlo, Monaco
2. Heidelberg, Germany
3. Salzburg, Austria
4. Florence, Italy
5. Lucerne, Switzerland
6. Venice, Italy
7. Siena, Italy
8. Rome, Italy
9. Hamburg, Germany
10. Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Are there any notable omissions in the list, do you think? Where would you choose as a top European destination and why? Please click on the comments to tell us.

Casa Kimball is a stunning Caribbean estate set on 3 acres of land with panoramic views of the Atlantic Ocean and surrounded by almond trees and coco palms.  Inspired by the dramatic natural elements of the island and the beautiful landscapes of the Caribbean this full service luxury villa offers guests vast views of the Atlantic from all points of the property and modern open spaces, outdoors and indoors, which benefit from the warm Caribbean breezes and sunshine. The exceptional design of the infinity pool creates an outstanding centrepiece to the property and the dramatic cliffside hot tub a more private, but enqually stunning counterpoint.

1) Costa Rica abolished its army in the 1940s to invest in its peoples
education, welfare and environment.
2) Nearly 30% of Costa Rica is protected national parks.
3) Forbes magazine recently voted our local beach in the top five in the
world. Another one of our local beaches has recently been voted as the number one beach in Central and South America in the Trip Advisor traveler poll of 2010.
4) The Nicoya Peninsula is one of a handful of ‘Blue Zones’ in the world.
These are places in the world where people live longer and healthier than anywhere else on earth due their environment and surroundings.
5) And saving the best till last – Costa Rica has just voted in their
first female President, the glamorous Laura Chinchilla.

Dahlia Nahome runs costaricanvacation.com and enjoys writing about the Nicoya Peninsula.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

If you’ve chosen to go on a luxury safari for your holiday, you’re certainly in for some exciting sights. The early mornings and dusty journeys will be worth it when you spot that elusive creature or catch nature in action in a way you would never have managed at home. The appeal of safaris lies in their dangerous feel; even though they’re extremely safe, being in such close contact with animals that would otherwise seriously harm you is thrilling and addictive. That doesn’t even cover the wonder of witnessing nature in its most primitive element, reminding all of us where we’ve come from.

Many people don’t realise that there are a number of choices to make when going on a safari. Here’s a quick guide as to which safari you might want to choose when booking your holiday.

1. Traditional Safari

This will be your opportunity to spot the “Big Five”, otherwise known as lions, leopards, rhinos, elephants, and buffaloes. Many people head on safari anticipating spotting these elusive and thrilling species; if that’s your aim, you will definitely want a traditional safari with guides who will have some idea as to where these animals can be found. There are certain countries where you’re more likely to spot particular animals; white rhino are most readily found in South Africa, but large herds of elephants are more common in Botswana. Uganda or Tanzania are perfect if you’d rather spot some playful gorillas or chimpanzee.

2. Mobile Safari

A mobile safari simply means that you’ll move along with a camp each day. Depending on how much you’d like to spend, you’ll be setting up your own camp or it will be set up for you before you arrive. At the higher end of the cost scale, you’ll have a normal bed, an en suite bathroom with a shower, and even a mobile bar. At the lower end, you’ll use private camp sites and communal facilities, which are normally still perfectly clean and convenient. Mobile safaris really allow you to see a lot of Africa if you’re willing to spend some time “roughing it” in the wilderness. If you’d like to follow a particular herd of animals, especially during seasonal migration, this is the best option for you. Otherwise, a mobile safari is similar to the traditional safari experience.

3. Walking Safari

If you’d like to get closer to nature than an ordinary safari will allow, you may find it worth your while to choose a walking safari. You’ll cover less distance, of course, but walking through the African plains, slowly creeping up on wildlife, will really bring you back to your hunter-gatherer roots and you’ll find your senses come alive as you learn to feel in tune with the landscape. Being exposed to the wild is an amazing feeling that you just won’t get in a vehicle and is something that everyone ought to experience once in their lives. Most walking safaris take place in Zambia, where they were introduced by Norman Carr, but they are slowly becoming more popular in other regions of Africa.

4. Self drive Safaris

If you’re not too bothered about viewing specific animals in the wild, you may find that a self-drive safari is the perfect choice for you. You’ll hire your own vehicle and set off on your own, without a guide; this is great if you want to stick to a schedule or just do whatever you’d like without being restricted by someone else’s timeline. South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park offers these self drive safaris, which can give you an amazing opportunity to try and find a few of the big five on your own; however, there are no guarantees, so this is best suited to the frequent traveller who doesn’t need to cram everything in one visit.

No matter which safari option you choose, a luxury safari holiday is truly an experience you’ll never forget. You may just find yourself longing to head back to Africa again and again; we know we do!

Greg Fox is a Director at luxury travel specialists Mahlatini.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Luxury is often seen as a grown-up pleasure, something we have to leave behind when we become parents. I have news. It’s not true! You can still enjoy an indulgent break, in relaxing surroundings, without leaving the kids behind.

The Rosevine near Portscatho in Cornwall is a stylish country house right by the sea that welcomes adults in need of break, who just happen to have their kids in tow. You get to sink into squishy sofas and read a book while the children are off in the den with the wide screen TV and the X-box.

When it comes to accommodation you can choose a studio or an apartment. All have kitchen facilities, giving you the flexibility to heat up baby food or a light snack, before coming down to the dining room for superb, locally sourced food and a sea view.

The relaxation doesn’t have to stop there. You get the steamer chairs on the lawn while your offspring take to the trampoline, play area or visit the indoor pool. Beyond the garden gate is the safe sandy beach at Porthcurnick, which is owned by the National Trust and is great for rock-pooling.

There’s little need to move, but if you are the exploring type then you have the pleasures of Cornwall at your finger tips. Four miles away you will find St Mawes, where you can wander around the small boutiques, visit St Mawes castle or hop on the passenger ferry to Falmouth.

The sheltered coastal village of Portscatho is just along the coastal footpath and you’re surrounded by some of the best sailing waters in the UK.

You are invited to the inaugural Ladies Golf Classic at Magenta Shores Golf & Country Club, Magenta, New South Wales. The ladies-only event will be held on Friday 15th October 2010 and tickets cost $129 per person.

To book: call Chantelle Veness (02) 4332 4411 or email VenessC@mirvac.com. Book early as there is a limit of 120 players.

Various attractions will be held during the day, including a golf clinic and wine tastings. Participants will also receive a lady’s gift bag. There will be a cocktail reception and prize presentation in the evening.

There is luxury accommodation on site at the Quay West Resort, so why not treat yourself to a weekend away while you’re at it?

When entering the world of private flying it’s important to fully appreciate all of your options and to know precisely which one will benefit you the most. Making a choice between the various forms of private flying can be difficult, and sometimes it helps to think about your options as you would when ordering at a restaurant. Whether choosing how to fly privately or how to dine out, understanding the available selections and factoring in your specific budget and taste are paramount.

For your consideration, here are the main forms of private flight:

Ad hoc charter

Ad hoc charter is one of the most flexible methods of flying privately. Essentially it’s air charter “on demand”- you choose your desired aircraft, flight route, and desired date. Once a booking is scheduled, prices and availability are guaranteed and all is taken care of in a single payment. Ad hoc charter is like buying a la carte. Imagine the waiter is your broker and the menu lists your charter options- you order what you like and they take care of the rest. All you need to do is pay the bill.

When one embarks on an extravagant dining experience, making sure the desired restaurant is up to par goes without saying. The same standards apply when finding a reliable broker for your ad hoc charter adventure. Like restaurants, one must be aware that there are a number of brokers and aircraft operators in the aviation sector and it’s important to use a reliable, highly regarded broker. For the best ad hoc experience, it is essential to make sure your chosen broker has a proven track record of success and safety, as well as widespread global experience.

Ad hoc charter is the ideal option for those who wish to avoid commitment beyond the short term, or for those who have ever-changing travel needs. As when ordering a la carte, you’ll be paying full price but you’ll be getting precisely what you want.

Jetcard membership programs

Jetcards are a recent addition to private jet options and have become extremely popular, especially for those who make several short trips a year. With Jetcards, clients prepay for a set number of flight hours (typically between 25 and 50) in their chosen category of aircraft, which can range from light and midsize cabin jets (6-7 people) to super midsize and large cabin and global cabin jets (10-14 people). Jetcards come with guaranteed hours, similar to having a generous gift card to a restaurant you frequent. You already know you’re going to get a good meal and it’s already paid for- just let them know when you’d like to make your reservation.

While availability and access to aircraft are guaranteed, an important factor to keep in mind when choosing a Jetcard provider (as when entering any contract) is to read the small print very carefully for hidden extras and conditions. When purchasing a Jetcard key aspects to look for are:

· Clear transparent pricing
· No peak-time additional charges or restrictions
· No fuel surcharges
· Discounts for return trips and the option to cancel with a full refund on unused hours.

Jetcards offer a simple solution for those who wish to negotiate the cost of their private jet flying annually and strike a deal with one single supplier that offers a consistent level of service and support. Similar to purchasing a gift certificate for a restaurant you like, trust and frequent often, but even better due to the guaranteed reservation and discounted price compared to an a la carte order.

Fractional ownership

Fractional ownership is another popular option, yet its appeal has slightly diminished with the arrival of Jetcards, mainly because it requires far more commitment. With fractional ownership customers buy an up-front ownership share in an aircraft at its market value plus the cost of additional monthly management fees. Shares tend to start at 1/16th of the aircraft (for about 50 hours a year) and are purchased for a fixed term (usually five years) before being sold back at market value. Fractional ownership would be like buying a fraction of a restaurant. It’s as if you were to own 1/7th of a restaurant and have access to it one pre-determined day a week. Not to mention you are also responsible for the excess fees and maintenance that come with that ownership.

When selecting an aircraft keep in mind your desired passenger capacity and aircraft range. The larger the capacity and the longer the range, the higher the capital fee and ongoing charges will be. Share costs are linear and can range from a few hundred thousand to several million dollars. One wouldn’t want to buy into a restaurant that didn’t serve one’s desired cuisine or have a preferred beer on tap. Since the investment is so large, it’s essential to make sure the aircraft you invest in is the one you want to spend your time in.

If going the fractional ownership route it’s important to keep in mind the aircraft’s true exposure to depreciation of the capital cost and a long-term contract without exit options. Talk to satisfied clients and do your research before taking this option, because once you’re in- you’re in!

Outright ownership

Outright aircraft ownership is exactly that – full and complete ownership of an aircraft. Essentially with this option, you’ve bought the restaurant. It’s an ideal choice for high-net-worth individuals, corporations and senior executives who often purchase their own jet to achieve total flexibility. Costs can range from $2.5 million for a light cabin jet to $50 million for a long-range jet, and this is before factoring in the annual cost of employing crew, maintenance and the actual operating costs incurred in flight.

When purchasing your own aircraft, finding a management company with a proven track record can significantly reduce operating costs by contracting out spare hours. One would never buy a restaurant and then put it in the hands of sub par management- like all investments it’s essential to make sure whoever is in control is using the utmost care and caution.

When deciding where you’ll dine this evening, inevitably a series of questions are presented: what am I in the mood for? How much can I spend? How much time do I have? Though initially complicated, selecting from your private flying options is just as simple. Assess your needs, know what’s available, and choose the plan which best suits your travel lifestyle. Making the right selection makes all the difference and will undoubtedly leave you coming back for more.

Phil Mathews is President of Air Partner, North America.

If you would like to be a guest blogger on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Situated in mid Cornwall, the Georgian port of Charlestown makes the perfect base for a Cornish holiday. Ideally place for visiting the whole county, whether you are looking for an activity filled break or relaxation and recuperation, everything you need is close at hand.

For outdoors enthusiasts, there is access to The South Coast footpath and several golf courses and sailing clubs nearby. The surf beaches of the North Coast are only a 30 minute drive.

If you want to chill out, Charlestown itself doesn’t disappoint. Built between 1790 and 1810, the sheltered port is frequently used as the set for period dramas and home to a fleet of square rigged ships.

With so much to offer, it’s not surprising then that Charlestown was selected as the starting place for luxury self catering accommodation specialists, Simply Time in Cornwall.

They have just launched their first cottages situated in a magnificent location on Charlestown’s quayside with views over the sheltered harbour and coast beyond. Based on an ethos of laid back coastal living with all the luxuries of home, each cottage has been carefully renovated by local craftsmen and contractors to exacting standards.

Simply Time in Cornwall’s aim is to make visitors feel they are staying in the holiday cottage by the sea they’ve always wanted to own. Their attention to detail is evident throughout. The cottages are stylishly furnished and everything you need for perfect bolt hole – rain or shine – summer or winter – has been thought of.

The cottages can be hired individually or together for holidays with extended family or friends.

The Australian Gourmet Traveller magazine and Harvey Norman, the cooking appliance specialist, invite you to a Harvey Norman Gourmet Institute special pasta event at Domayne’s Alexandria store in Sydney on 13th October 2010.

Top chef Guy Grossi will cook duck and wild mushroom filled tortellini with caramelised pear and fettuccine with calamari ragù.

Tickets cost $55 each and the price includes wine, canapés, tastings and a gift bag. To book your tickets email dgunns@acpmagazines.com.au or phone (02) 9282 8396.

Amanyara is located deep within a 5,000-acre nature and wildlife reserve called Northwest Point, on the island of Providenciales. The Aman hotel chain provides some of the best luxury resorts as well as the most expensive in the world.

Amanyara looks incredibly spacious, yet it gives you complete privacy depending on whether you are here on a romantic vacation or just to get away from the bustle of everyday life. The aesthetics of Amanyara imitates the Asian-inspired minimalistic look, with a lot of polished teak, floor-to-ceiling glass sliding doors and many cushy daybeds and alfresco lounging spots. The whole architecture of Amanyara is just spectacular and very exquisite. It’s easy to forget you are in a resort at all as it feels more like you are in zen heaven!

Architect Jean-Michel Gathy tried hard to create the resort keeping in line with its natural surroundings. Instead of trimmed lawns, palm trees, and fluorescents-bright flowers is a chalky, hardscrabble landscape of cacti, Serenoa, and scrub. The seacoast is mostly iron-shore, a rough combination of lava and pitted limestone. He compensated for the harshness by creating a series of calming, reflective ponds and importing stone, wood and other materials from Indonesia and other countries.

Replicating the resort on a more intimate scale are the Turks and Caicos luxury Villas. Each Villa has three, four or five bedrooms, an infinity-edged swimming pool, living and dining pavilion, an outdoor dining sala, kitchen, personal cook and housekeeper. The villas are totally private and the environment is so calm and quiet that you can’t help but relax. No surprise then that its name ‘Amanyara’ is the Sanskrit word for ‘peaceful place’.

Hong Kong has not only been voted Favourite Island but also overall won the Bronze Medal in the Best of the Best Top 100 Travel experiences at the Readers’ Travel Awards from Condé Nast Traveller magazine that were unveiled in London on Wednesday 1st September 2010.

Hong Kong beat all the other islands including Sicily and the Maldives by scoring 94.77 out of a maximum of 100 on eight criteria, including range of accommodation (86.29) and variety of attractions (87.08), moving from number 15 in 2009 into the top three.

To add to the glory, Hong Kong was also voted into the Top 10 in the Best Overseas City category.

Hong Kong airline, Cathay Pacific, was named Favourite Business Airline and numerous Hong Kong hotels scored very highly in the Favourite Overseas Business Hotel category including: The Peninsula Hong Kong (1st) and The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong (3rd).

In the first ever Lonely Planet Awards to be announced this month, avid worldwide travellers voted swimming in the azure waters off Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia as the ‘Greatest Outdoor Experience’.

High on the list for snorkelers and scuba divers, Lizard Island’s crystal clear waters, fringing reefs and shallow coral gardens captivate visitors with an exceptional array of technicolour marine life rarely experienced elsewhere in the world.

Surrounded by 24 exquisite beaches, Lizard Island is one of Australia’s most iconic Great Barrier Reef resorts. Boasting unrivalled dive sites such as the world famous ‘Code Hole’ where divers can come face to face with curious potato cod, giant clown fish, sea turtles, stingrays and ‘friendly’ sharks, it also has outstanding snorkelling just off its beaches including the magnificent 100 year old clam gardens that are home to myriad fish and other small sea creatures.

An award winning all-inclusive resort, Lizard Island  has just 40 beautifully appointed suites. Complementing its very special location, the property offers the best of understated luxury with five-star gourmet dining on fresh Australian produce and a wine cellar to match including unlimited French champagne, indigenous inspired spa treatments at the Azure Spa and a wealth of water sports and activities. The resort also organises visits to the Lizard Island Research Station to give guests a better understanding of the precious underwater world that surrounds them.

What would be your greatest outdoor experience?  Please post a comment to let us know.

The 2010 Conde’ Nast Traveller Readers’ Awards were presented at a scintillating evening on Wednesday 1st September 2010 at the Royal Institution of Great Britain in Albemarle Street.  It was a good night for Italy with Venice and Sicily in particular picking up “Favourite Overseas City” and runner up prize for “Favourite Island” respectively.

Great success also for the Italian hotel industry as the Hotel Spendido in Portofino picked up the award for “Favourite Overseas Leisure Hotel in Europe, Asia Minor and Russian Federation”, followed in second place by the Hotel Cipriani in Venice.

Todd Harris is Senior Vice President for Hospitality and Member Services at Exclusive Resorts, a luxury destination club offering members hundreds of vacation residences around the world. He supervises all aspects of the member experience. Previously Todd spent 14 years with The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, serving as General Manager of some of their most acclaimed hotels, including The Ritz-Carlton Bachelor Gulch in Beaver Creek, Colorado and international properties in Singapore, Japan and South Korea.

What is it that you do exactly?

I oversee the overall service experience at Exclusive Resorts, to ensure that our members have a first-class vacation every time they travel with us.   This includes responsibility for the travel planning services our members receive from their dedicated Member Services Managers, as well as the in-residence experience they enjoy when they are staying with us in our homes.   I spend my day speaking to members, reviewing their feedback, and supporting hundreds of service staff (housekeeping, concierge, and property maintenance) across nearly 40 destinations in the U.S., Caribbean, Europe, Mexico and elsewhere.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love my relationships and connections with my staff.   As you can imagine, with on-site service personnel supporting nearly 400 club residences as well as our Denver-based Member Services Managers, we have quite a team.   I’ve really enjoyed building our service model, finding enthusiastic and expert service professionals to add as we expand, and working with all of them to identify new ways to not only continue enhancing our the services we offer, but also to surprise and delight our members on their vacations.

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

To me, the best travel experiences are often to celebrate important family occasions.

1.      Peninsula Papagayo, Costa Rica – In addition to my role with Exclusive Resorts, I’m also a member of the club.   About two years ago, my wife and I were fortunate to share a memorable wedding with a small group of close friends and family at the Exclusive Resorts “enclave” in Peninsula Papagayo.   The homes were stunning, the wildlife and landscape fascinating, and working with our onsite concierge team in Costa Rica on all the details made everything simple, so we were really able to relax and enjoy that special weekend.

2.      Hawaii’s Big Island -We took my wife’s family to Kohala Coast on the Big Island to celebrate her mom’s 60th birthday recently. None of my wife’s family had ever traveled to Hawaii before, and I was happy to be able to help organize a trip that brought everyone together for a family reunion in a destination that was new to them and has long been a favorite of mine.

3.      Sea Island, Georgia – My wife and I invited all eight members of my immediate family for a fantastic family reunion in Sea Island, Georgia. The Cloister at Sea Island is truly an exceptional resort property, with a terrific array of activities, five miles of private beach, and the amazing 65,000 square foot Cloister Spa.

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

I think the most memorable dining experience I’ve had was probably when I was living in Japan. As an expatriate hotel manager for a five star hotel brand, I was fortunate to be able to travel around Japan and experience many unique aspects of their culture. I specifically remember one dinner in Fukuoka where I couldn’t communicate with the local staff so I asked for the “set menu”. One dish included them pulling a live squid out of a tank in the middle of the restaurant and clipping off its tentacles and serving them directly onto my plate. I had the hardest time picking them up with my chop sticks as they were still squirming and jumping all over my plate.   I loved trying the local cuisine while living abroad, and this particular meal has definitely remained vivid in my memory.

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

Andre Agassi and his wife Steffi Graf are members of Exclusive Resorts, and I have had the opportunity to spend some time with them at a couple of club destinations where they were conducting tennis clinics for their foundation.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

This one is easy because we’ve been planning a trip for our members here at Exclusive Resorts, as part of our unique Once in Lifetime program, that is at the top of my personal list:   a South African experience, combining a stay in Cape Town, South Africa with a luxurious safari experience in Kruger National Park. To go on a world-class safari (complete with luxury accommodations and private guides) and enjoying the local beaches and wineries of Cape Town sound like a perfect balance of adventure and relaxation.   Experiencing the many different aspects of South Africa on a trip like that is something I would love to do someday.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Todd.  I can appreciate how a plateful of squirming tentacles must have stuck in the memory!

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Cambodia has long been a destination known for its rich cultural heritage and extraordinary history. However, most visitors to the country are unaware of the beautiful coastal region of Sihanoukville & Ream that lies just 220 km from Phnom Penh. One of the most unspoiled coastlines anywhere in South East Asia, Sihanoukville & Ream is an up and coming destination for those who are looking for the next big thing.

The coastline of Sihanoukville & Ream boasts a wide range of impressive beaches, each distinct and unrivalled in comparison to the beaches of popular tourist destinations like Thailand and Bali. Located on the beautiful coastline of Sihanoukville, Sokha Beach and Independence Beach are blissfully peaceful, with stretches of soft white sand just waiting for visitors to mark their footprints. Further East, discover Occheuteal Beach, backed by a row of casuarina trees. Stretching for 4 km, visitors can make the most of the water sports available here such as banana boating and jet skiing. Ream lies 18 km East of Sihanoukville, a charming fishing village with beautiful, long beaches that border Ream National Park, a stunning 150 sq km of primary forest and 60 sq km of marine habitat.

The area is also famous for its crystal clear waters and abundant marine life. An extraordinary diving destination, Song Saa Island is paving the way for eco-friendly tourism in the country and encouraging marine wildlife protection in the region through a dedicated marine biology team who founded the first private marine protected area in the country. Opening there in 2011 will be Song Saa Island Resort, an ultra-luxurious and intimate collection of villas aimed to cater to the area’s growing beach tourism.

Visiting New York during the US Open? Swing by The Fitz Bar & Restaurant at the Fitzpatrick Manhattan or The Wheeltapper Pub at The Fitzpatrick Grand Central to catch up on every backhand, ace and volley. Throughout the tournament, each of these unique spots will be serving up food, fun and specialty cocktails, including:

The John Isner – A cocktail to be savored over a (very) long match. Vodka, coconut liqueur, banana liqueur, raspberry liqueur, pineapple juice shaken and served in a chilled martini glass.

The Martini Navratilova – A classic with a spin. Gin and dry vermouth shaken over ice and served with 3 blue cheese-stuffed olives.

The Fitz Bar & Restaurant, located on Lexington between 56th and 57th Streets, is a chic, relaxed spot where you can enjoy all the Grand Slam action either at the bar or in The Library. The Wheeltapper Pub, located on 44th Street between Lexington and Third Avenues, offers two indoor bars and a spectacular 2,200-square-foot outdoor Patio- perfect for watching Murray’s strategic strokes, Nadal’s acrobatics and Venus Williams’ power shots.