3 pounds of fresh Chino Farm’s pumpkin (skin off, seeds removed)
6 tablespoons butter
1 cup chopped onion
1 tablespoon diced fresh garlic
1 tablespoon diced fresh ginger
½ cup flour (all purpose)
1 ½ quarts vegetable or chicken stock
½ cup heavy cream (whipping cream)
¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
Fresh chervil or chives
Pumpkin seed oil (optional)
Directions:
1. Cut the butternut squash in 1 inch size pieces or smaller chunks
2. Melt the butter in a soup pot and sweat the onions
3. Add the pumpkin, garlic and the ginger
4. Sprinkle with flour and mix well
5. Add the vegetable or chicken stock
6. Bring to boil and simmer until very soft
7. Add the cream, nutmeg and cinnamon
8. Bring again to a boil and purée the soup in a blender
9. Decorate with swirls of light whipped cream and pumpkin seed oil
10. Garnish with chervil leaves or finely cut chives
Thank you to Martin Woesle, Chef de Cuisine at the highly acclaimed Mille Fleurs restaurant in Rancho Santa Fe, California, for the recipe.
News is just in tonight that Sir David Barclay and his brother Sir Frederick, who own the Daily Telegraph newspaper and the Littlewoods retail group in the UK, have bought the loans originally made to the Maybourne Hotel Group by two Irish banks in 2005 to fund the acquisition of three top London hotels - Claridges, The Connaught and The Berkeley. By buying the loans, they acquire the hotels from the National Asset Management Agency (Nama), the Irish government agency that was given the responsibility of managing the loans at the height of the financial crisis. The two brothers already owned The Ritz hotel in London.
Now that the Dreamliner has officially taken off on its maiden voyage, CNBC is taking you inside this much-anticipated aircraft with the documentary, “Dreamliner: Inside the World’s Most Anticipated Airline”, which airs tonight at 9pm. What does it really look like? Will it change the future of travel? What is so special about the Dreamliner that some think it will revolutionize the aviation industry? Clips from the show can be viewed below:
When it comes to your honeymoon, it’s always a good idea to prepare way ahead of time. That way once you get there, all you have to worry about is lounging, relaxing and celebrating your recent nuptials. In terms of destination, the majority of today’s honeymooners opt to go to warm and sunny luxury beach resorts. If you fall under that category, you’ll need plenty of gorgeous swimsuits, cover-ups and accessories to make you feel romantic and sexy. For any honeymoon beach getaway, you’re sure to take plenty of photos to remember your trip, so you’re going to want to look your best. Read on for all the essentials for a romantic luxury beach getaway.
Swimsuits
As a rule of thumb, anything white is perfect for a honeymoon. Not only is white the color for brides in many Western countries, but it also symbolizes purity, grace and innocence. Melissa Odabash is one designer who always features gorgeous bikini sets that evoke a sense of romance and sensuality. On the other hand, Brazilian brands like Despi and ViX specialize in sexy yet sophisticated swimsuits with gorgeous embellishments that pop beautifully against your skin. Finally, Sauvage is perfect for fashionable brides who crave that glamorous beach-chic style; featuring sparkling Swarovski crystal details, Sauvage swimsuits are elegant and perfectly chic for a beach honeymoon.
Cover-Ups
If you’re planning a honeymoon beach getaway, most likely you’ll be staying at a resort. You’ll need a lot of cover-ups and dresses, as they will most likely be your typical daytime outfit of choice at the resort. Think tunics, kaftans and dresses in fabrics that are lightweight and flowy. Both Debbie Katz South Beach and 6 Shore Road make breathtaking cover-ups in an assortment of styles. All styles feature unique details and embellishments, and are made with breezy, luxurious fabrics. In addition, Melissa Odabash makes gorgeous ready-to-wear resort pieces that work perfectly as cover-ups or as an outfit all themselves. In any of these designers’ styles, you’ll look and feel sexy, sensual and perfectly romantic on your honeymoon.
Accessories
Every woman knows that it’s all about the detail and certain accessories can really make or break an outfit. For any honeymoon beach getaway, make sure to bring at least one pair of flip-flops. Havaianas and Ipanemas are two brands that are affordable, comfortable and feature a variety of colors and styles. In addition to flip-flops, hats are essential for a honeymoon beach getaway, as they help keep the blazing hot sun out of your face. In terms of style, go for a floppy hat; not only are floppy hats fun, but they also add a sense of elegance, mystery and high fashion to any beach ensemble. In terms of jewelry, you want to keep it simple, so either go for a chunky bracelet or a necklace. Cocobelle makes gorgeous accessories, including beautiful beaded cuffs and belts, perfect for pulling your entire beach look together.
And finally, the number one thing not to forget for any honeymoon beach getaway is the honeymoon lingerie. Choose styles that compliment your body type and get to sizzling!
Susan Bodack is the Director of Social Media Marketing at InStyleSwimwear.com.
Lauren Cicione is an ex-New Yorker (former contemporary art dealer) Italian American who moved to Montalcino, Tuscany two years ago. She knew it was time for a career switch when her foodie tendencies to visit every new restaurant in NYC started taking precedence over her interest in checking out new installation sculpture. Growing up in an Italian American family, she had a long-standing passion for good food and Italian wine with a strong connection to all things local and organic. After spending much time cooking with brilliant renowned chefs, harvesting grapes, working in the vineyard, becoming close friends with many of the top Brunello producers in Montalcino, she started a company called Tuscan Auteur to share with other oenophiles and wine collectors, the fortunate, lush lifestyle she lives there.
What is it that you do exactly?
Tuscan Auteur is a very specialized concierge service for the town of Montalcino, where I curate innovative itineraries for wine collectors coming to explore the world famous Brunello and the surrounding area south of Siena. In addition to the winery visits, I offer the complete luxury Tuscan experience, booking villas for clients, bringing in private chefs, organizing wine paired dinners, arranging cooking class, etc. I’m branching out this year to begin work with corporate clients arranging incentive trips to the area as well as wine retailers offering oenophilic travel to their top collectors.
In addition to trip planning and touring with clients, Twitter, Facebook and PR for Tuscan Auteur (documenting Tuscan life and the majority of what I eat and drink here) constitute much of my time. I’m also continually visiting wineries in search of artisanally produced jewels to share with clients (in and beyond Montalcino.) I’m an avid eater and always trying out the hundreds of restaurants from Michlin stared establishments to mom and pop local trattorias sourcing the best tastes around. I never give a restaurant suggestion to clients without recommendations on which dishes to order. That being said, I have to revisit several times and seasons to cover the majority of menus.
I also enjoy the simplicity of country life working in my vegetable garden and cooking with native friends learning about the local culinary traditions. Periodically I volunteer to work in the vineyards of my favorite producers to see hands on, exactly which stage of the growing season they’re at. For me it’s important to be in tune with what’s happening with the season and grapes in order to truly explain the place my clients are visiting, the wine they are tasting and the terroir it comes from.
On a wine tour day with clients, we meet in the morning. If it’s our first day together, I explain the very strict growing and aging regulations that make Montalcino the most restricted winemaking zone in Italy. Depending on the group, we will visit anywhere from 2 – 4 wineries in a day. We visit only small family run vineyards mostly working organically, biodynamically or in an old fashioned farming method. I strive to open the eyes and pallets of my clients to the artisanal Brunellos being produced. At each winery, we meet personally with the owner, walking through the vineyard, touring the cellars and often barrel tasting in addition to current vintages from bottle. If we’re not eating at the kitchen table with the producers over a vertical tasting at lunch, we’re at one for my favorite Montalcino restaurants where I’m a regular. At the end of each visit, clients can purchase hard to get wines direct from the vineyards to be sent home to their personal cellars. Tuscan Auteur then organizes the grouping and shipping of these select wines for each client.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
It’s hard to choose one thing that I love most about my job. In essence, I have chosen what, to me, is an ideal lifestyle and I share that with clients. That said, spending time explaining the town and wine I have fallen in love with never really feels like work. I love meeting guests coming from all over and always connecting seamlessly due to a common passion for wine and food. All this while I am concurrently promoting well made artisanal wines and honest producers whom I truly believe in.
What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?
A few years back I took an adventure vacation to Costa Rica. There we stayed at the Pacuare Lodge. The only way to arrive to this hidden river paradise is via white water rafting. It is the closest to jungle luxury one can get – private cabanas, stone swimming pools and outdoor showers hidden amidst the tropical flowers, birds and trees.
My local go to is Il Pellicano on the Tuscan coast. Over the decades, this Italian tradition has been frequented by the likes of the Kennedy’s and Missoni’s. The dramatic sunrise over the sea is priceless.
When visiting my native Ischia, an island off the coast of Naples, Italy, I often stay at a friend’s villa in Forio or hop over to the Mezzatorre, one of the island’s most beautiful hotels perched over the Mediterranean, where I sip caprioscas at the salt water pool build into the cliffside above the sea.
What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?
One best meal?! Virtually impossible for me as there are so many variables that make for a good eating experience – company, location, food, wine. Memorable, though, would include a baby sucking pig roast paired with a vertical tasting of multiple vintages of Brunello and Rosso at one of my favorite vineyards in Montalcino; or a five course, romantic Champagne infused seaside dinner at La Pineta on the Tuscan coast, complete with pesce crudo and then spaghetti with sea urchin, my forever favorite!
Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?
As for hobnobbing with the rich and famous, five years in the New York City international art world was the perfect platform. From artists, to collectors, to writers, I mingled and worked with it all. When engaging with high-profile clients here in Tuscany, it’s wonderful being on a more relaxed level as they are on vacation and enjoying life with good wine and company in a breathtaking setting. I have worked with several high profile clients, journalists and wine producers since moving to Tuscany. As one may imagine, the clientele of art collecting to wine collecting is expectedly similar.
What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?
I’m hoping to make my way to northern India this winter but the specific plans are still not in stone. This summer, I spent the later part of July in Corsica visiting artisanal wine producers of the island.
Thank you for taking part in our interview, Lauren, and good luck with your trip to India.
Tripadvisor recently published ‘10 unique luxury hotels you’ll never forget’. Strangely, it’s just a list – albeit with pictures – but with no explanation as to what, precisely, makes each one memorable. For what it’s worth, though, I’ve reproduced their list below. Please post a comment and tell us what hotels you think are unforgettable… and, of course, why!
1. Banyan Tree Al Wadi, UAE
2. Goldeneye Resort, Jamaica
3. Six Senses Con Dao, Vietnam
4. Playa VIK Jose Ignacio, Uruguay
5. Borgo Egnazia Villas Hotel Golf Spa, Italy
6. Le Royal Monceau Raffles Paris, France
7. The Leela Palace Kempinski New Delhi, India
8. Fullerton Hotel, Singapore
9. W Retreat & Spa, Maldives
10. Kenoa Exclusive Beach Spa & Resort, Brazil
To call ‘The World by ResidenSea’ a cruise ship may be doing it a disservice, because, in the truest sense, The World is not a cruise ship, but the largest privately owned residential yacht on Earth. The World was launched in 2002 and features personalised 165 private luxury apartments. Each of these apartments are owned by those known as the ‘Residents’,who collectively own the ship, and because of this, every sailing of The World is effectively sold out.
So what else is so special about The World? Well, it features concierge and room-service, several high end restaurants, a cinema, a world-class spa and a medical centre. As well as this, it also has two swimming pools, a tennis court, a nightclub, an art gallery, casino, library, jewellers, a jogging track, exercise classes and equipment and a retractable marina for water sports. It also features the only real grass putting green at sea.
The one thing that each of the privileged passengers of The World say that attracted them to parting with a considerable amount of money to purchase part of the ship is the privacy. A ship of its size would usually carry around 1800 passengers, whereas the average occupancy of The World is about 150. Because of this, the ship often feels eerily empty, even when it’s at full capacity.
You may think that all of the wealth surrounding The World might mean that its detrimental to the environment. This couldn’t be further from the truth! The World is one of the greenest cruise ships ever built. The engines of The World don’t burn heavy bunker oil like most ocean-going ships. They burn common truck diesel fuel, resulting in far less pollution. The ship features the unique Scanship wastewater cleaning system in which wastes are filtered by means of a flotation system. Solid waste is separated by flotation, then dried twice and incinerated. Waste water remaining after the flotation process is then ultraviolet filtered, and the residual water is clean enough to be used as technical water. The World is the only passenger ship approved to dock in places such as Monterey, California, which applies the strictest pollution controls in the United States on large cruise ships.
Rather than sticking to set destinations like a regular cruise ship, there is a democratic process that goes into choosing the itinerary each year. Destinations tend to be selected based on world events. For example, it might land in Monaco for the Formula One Grand Prix, Rio de Janeiro for the Carnival, Scotland for the British Open Golf tournament or Cannes for the Film Festival.
This delicious dipping sauce is surprisingly easy to concoct, yet is complex in flavour. It will add a lively, spicy Thai zing to grilled meats such as beef or chicken, or to roasts such as pork. Whilst it can be mixed and used immediately, allowing the sauce to stand in the refrigerator for a day or so will only heighten the symphony of flavours. The secret here is to avoid powdered chili and to use only coarse dried chili flakes, where the seeds remain clearly intact. Or better still, use whole, dried, Thai bird eye chillies – smoking them briefly in a dry hot pan, before grinding them in a pestle and mortar.
Ingredients:
1 tbs hot chili flakes
1 tbs chopped coriander (stems and leaves)
1 tbs chopped green onions
A few rings of thinly sliced red shallots
1/4 cup Thai fish sauce (“Nam Pla”)
5 tbs freshly squeezed lime juice
1 tbs of raw rice, ground & toasted (optional)
Directions:
Toast the rice grains in a dry frying pan until golden. Grind to resemble coarsely ground black pepper.
Mix all the ingredients in a serving dish. Taste, and add a little cold water if desired. That’s all there is to it!
Thank you to Got Daeng, Owner of Gecko Villa, northeast Thailand, for the recipe.
24th July of this year marked 100 years exactly since Yale man and National Geographic explorer Hiram Bingham puffed and sweated his way up to the jungle-covered ruins of Machu Picchu. A century later, travelers who want to take in this true wonder of the world aren’t limited to explorer-style bivouacking; rather, there are now a wide range of accommodations, dining experiences, spas and adventures that rival the best in the world. So, in honor of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham and the incredible cultural patrimony of Peru, I would like to show you what a luxury trip to Machu Picchu looks like today.
Most visitors begin their journey in Lima. A short stay allows you to soak in the glorious colonial past of Lima’s central plaza. Palms, tropical-yellow buildings with exquisitely-carved wooden balconies and Spanish palaces sweep you back in time. Before becoming too nostalgic, head for the modern and very hip Miraflores district. Hugging the green cliffs, Miraflores offers visitors an incredible vista of the Pacific, where sunsets are tinged with not a little romance. It also is at the heart of Peru’s gastronomic revolution (read about it in CN Traveller). Refresh yourself with tart, spicy ceviche at celebrity-chef Gaston Acurio’s La Mar or revel in his refined dishes at Astrid y Gaston. Allow yourself to be lulled to sleep by the sound of the sea as you rest at the incredible Miraflores Park Hotel.
An early-morning flight sweeps you away from the coast over the breath-taking snow-covered Andes to Cusco, the mountain capital of the ancient Inca empire. Before you even notice the altitude, your private guide and driver escort you to Peru’s Sacred Valley. This drive winds up through the hills surrounding Cusco and takes you across the high purple altiplano. Mountains rise steeply in the distance while cows and sheep graze roadside. Descending into a warm valley, follow the wide Urubamba River to the secret garden that hides Sol y Luna’s beautiful luxury casitas. Relax in your own little home, enjoying the scent of the flowers, birdsong and complimentary local chocolates. Enjoy an evening at the chef’s table with a selection of fine wines before returning to a roaring fire and a relaxing bath.
The next morning you’ll awake to brilliant sunshine and decide whether you’ll ride horses in the face of the glorious Andes, kayak brilliant blue lakes, soften your muscles in Sol y Luna’s beautiful spa or perhaps try them all! You’ll visit Inca ruins, ancient towns and vibrant artisan markets. You may even join a local chef as he shops for the freshest native ingredients and teaches you to prepare Peru’s best dishes. You’ll lunch the Peruvian way with a “pachamanca” al fresco experience: adobe-roasted potatoes and meats. The evening brings performances of traditional local dance and excellent, tart pisco sours.
Now that you’ve acclimatized, you return to Cusco. This Andean city is a brilliant mix of Inca stones, indigenous tradition, Spanish architecture and colonial culture. From the Plaza de Armas, set like blue, green and red gemstones against the background of the dusty Andean foothills, you can explore cathedrals rich in Cuzqueña School art and golden woodwork. You’ll discover Incan history in glorious museums and enjoy an emperor’s perspective as you gaze down on the city from the Inca fortress of Sachsayhuaman. Perhaps you’ll spend one evening in the incomparable, historic Monasterio Hotel (Richard Gere and Jim Carrey were recent guests) or perhaps you’ll opt for the more intimate pleasures of Inkaterra’s La Casona – a refined restoration of a colonial mansion. Regardless, you won’t lack for dining choices, from the nuevo-Andino perfection of Gaston Acurio’s Chicha to the rich tapas and select piscos of Cicciolina.
Walk past exquisitely crafted Inca stones, take your photo with a gaily-decorated alpaca and then stroke the soft sweaters and scarves made from this Peruvian camelid’s wool. Listen to the ancient Quechua language, still used to do daily business at the local market, and revel in the joyful music and brilliant costumes at an exhibition of Peruvian dance.
In the morning, prepare for a journey of a lifetime as you board the blue and gold Hiram Bingham train. Beautifully appointed in the old-world style of 1920s Pullman cars, this train journey not only harkens back to a time when travel was incredibly special and incredibly luxurious, it also takes you from high mountain scenery to cloud rainforests, redolent of South American adventure. You will enjoy exquisite cuisine and awe-inspiring views as you relax in the glass-encased observation car.
Upon your arrival in Machu Picchu town, your private guide will escort you to the completely unique Sanctuary Lodge. Perched just outside of the citadel of Machu Picchu, this property allows you to sleep and dine steps away from this world-famous place.
A place that photos can not do justice. The surrounding peaks are impossibly steep, green with rainforest growth. The river rushes white far below. Clouds drift in through the valley, hemming the city in and creating the impression that you are floating high above the rest of the world. The buildings of Machu Picchu are carved of grey stone, seemingly out of the mountain itself. As you stand, surrounded by wonders of nature and human history, the sense of tranquility and wonder is unlike anything else. Your stay in the exclusive Sanctuary Lodge means that you, unlike many tourists, will see the sun rise and set over the ruins as your private guide brings the stone and stories to life.
The Hiram Bingham train brings you back to Cusco, where you enjoy one more day browsing the great markets, steeping yourself in the clear Andean air. You fly to Lima, stroll through the bohemian beauty of Barranco, taking in the Pacific one more time. By the time you board your homeward-bound flight, you are relaxed and as tranquil as a Machu Picchu morning. You sleep, satisfied.
Emily Guilmette is the Marketing Director at Kuoda Travel.
From cool country houses to chic coaching inns and eccentric hideaways, we tell you our favourite English love nests – all within travelling distance from London. So read on for the best places to enjoy rest, relaxation and of course, romance.
When Babington House opened in 1999, it reinvented the country-house experience, injecting a sense of fun into what had become an outdated institution. Today, it has retained its sense of style but matured into a place that effortlessly mixes catwalk and comfort food. Decor is now charismatically retro, with floral prints reminiscent of granny’s parlour and tassles on the chairs. Chefs (ex River Cafe) raid the gardens to produce unfussy rustic cuccina that perfectly reflects the laidback ambience. Book one of the prized suites at the thoroughly British spa. Spread over three levels, each has outdoor tubs overlooking the original Victorian walled garden, a woodburning stove and a massage area to ensure housewives are anything but desperate.
Highs
The spa is a triumph.
The cinema has pre-release screenings of big-name movies.
Lows
Midweek can get a little over-run with members’ children.
No chance of spontaneity – you have to book months ahead.
Sometimes you want the timbre of tradition but not the tie-and-jacket trimmings, in which case The George provides the perfect compromise. It is a 16th-century coaching inn where the oak beams and open fires have been Farrow & Ball’d with lashing of theatricality by the owner, a former set designer. Rooms are sexy and modern, some with roll top baths, others tucked into the eves. All have Vi-sprung beds and frette linen as well as cute little surprises such as Tivoli clock radios. Flap out your newspaper, curl up in an oversized leather armchair by the roaring fire and enjoy a proper pint. And if you can’t be bothered to change for dinner, the maitre d’ won’t reach for the smelling salts.
Highs
Rye’s cobbled lanes are a joy to wander around.
The inn has a deal with the nearby excellent Rye Retreat spa, which uses eco-trendy Aveda products.
Lows
No onsite parking.
Off season, the menu doesn’t vary much and the kitchen doesn’t make enough use of local produce.
Raymond Blanc offers the art of French seduction in a brilliantly bucolic setting. Le Manoir Aux Quat’ Saisons is impossibly cliche’d in all the right ways: the quaint village setting, the cobbled courtyard, afternoon tea by the croquet lawn. The operation is almost as smooth as its owner because M Blanc is nothing if not passionately meticulous. He once conducted a survey of how often waiters approached diners during a meal to ensure staff were being attentive without becoming intrusive. Rooms are themed with the 15th-century dovecote and the Opium Suite with its private garden the most popular. Don’t miss a kitchen tour before dinner to see the army of chefs at work and discover the precision planning required to produce the restaurant’s stunning two Michelin starred dishes.
Highs
The food is amazing.
Service is very suave and fabulously French.
Lows
It’s a bit over-logo’d which can feel a little conference hotel-ish.
Some of the rooms are a bit of a hike from the main house.
This is the Dita Von Teese option where burleseque meets boutique: Barnsley House is unashamedly in your face. Rooms have glitterballs, dinosaur egg-size baths at the end of the beds and in some rooms, jacuzzis centrestage in the sitting rooms. The hotel’s tagline is “Don’t be afraid to indulge yourself”. In fact, it’s difficult to do anything else, particularly with complimentary champagne and homemade ice cream filling up the minibar. Dine al fresco in its gorgeous gardens (it was formerly the home of internationally renowned gardener Rosemary Verey and the borders are beautiful), book into its sexy spa where the Ren treatments are top-notch, or reserve the cinema for a private screening of your favourite film. Yes, of course, the seats are the softest Italian leather… and bubblegum pink.
Highs
The vincigrassi maceratsese baked pasta dish of parma ham, porcini and truffles is indecently delicious.
The hotel owns the pub across the road, perfect for a more casual lunch or pint.
Lows
It’s all about the bedrooms so there is very little public area.
The high-tech white goods in the bedrooms can be difficult to fathom.
It’s an enticing combination: The Crown Inn was a location for our best ever rom-com Four Weddings and a Funeral and it has recently been Cinderella’d by the doyenne of British designers, Ilsa Crawford, turning it into the most modern of coaching inns. First a warning: when we last visited, the chintz was still in the process of being chucked (sadly, the suite where Andi finally fell for Hugh’s fringe remains a taste-free zone for now) so ensure you get a revamped room. These are understated and chic: using good, unfussy fabrics with a hint of hardwearing horseblanket about them, think Roberts radios rather than Bang & Olufsen and a brown Tetley teapot rather than an unworkable frappuccino-maker. Downstairs, there are low-flying blackened beams, walls with traditional plaster made from lime and horsehair, a hotch-potch of local Ercol chairs and plenty of pewter for a sense of the 16th Century. The restaurant is presided over by the exuberant Rosie Sykes, the Guardian Weekend’s ex Kitchen Doctor, and is delicious and oh so British.
Highs
Old Amersham is incredibly cute, with plenty of browse-ability including a sweet shop that stocks old-fashioned favourites such as sherbet fountains and love hearts.
You can take the Tube there, Amersham is the last stop on the Metropolitan Line.
Lows
It’s difficult to sound proof a 16th Century inn adequately so it can be noisy, particularly at the front.
For an inn, its range of beers is pretty disappointing.
Machu Picchu is one of the most spectacular sites in the worlds, so it is only fitting that your trip to the ancient Incan citadel should compare in class. Luckily, the city of Cusco, where many visitors base themselves before and after their Machu Picchu tours, is flush in 5-star accommodations. Here are some recommendations to help you start planning your dream Peru vacation.
The most exclusive and intimate 5-star hotel in Cusco is undeniably La Casona. With only 11 suites within a complex closed to the public, guests are ensured privacy and high attention to detail. From architecture, to design, to its own history, Las Casona is as colonial as it gets. The building was built sometime between 1585 and 1700 on the location of the former Inka Pumakurko neighborhood, which included several Incan schools—the practice of replacing Inca structures with colonial ones was a popular practice among the conquering Spaniards. La Casona passed through several owners, and at one point became part of the Santa Clara convent. Today, La Casona is recognized by the National Institute of Culture as a Historical Monument and is Cusco’s premier luxury hotel. It is discretely tucked away on the tranquil Plaza Laz Nazarenas, just 2 blocks from Cusco’s main square. Guests enjoy personalized professional dining services, in-room fireplaces, marble bathrooms with luxurious tubs, and VIP services that include housecleaning 3 times daily.
First an Inca temple, then a home of Spanish nobility, and finally a luxurious boutique hotel, Casa Cartagena encompasses modern comfort with colonial charm. Situated between the main historic center square and the charming San Blas art district, Casa Cartagena is steps away from Plaza Las Nazarenas where upscale shops mix with cobblestone streets. The 16 exclusive suites surround two lovely private courtyards, and the interior decoration is an exquisite blend of colonial features—such as stone face walls and carved wooden furniture—and chic modern design. In addition to the hotel’s upscale boutique shop that sells handmade Andean goods, such as clothing made from baby alpaca wool, guests are sure to appreciate the full service spa. The three level spa begins on the ground floor with a hydro massage pool, continues on to a men’s only level, and concludes with an area exclusively for women, allowing all guests to relax in their area of personal comfort.
A slightly larger 5-star hotel in Cusco is the Aranwa Boutique Hotel. Part of a luxury Peruvian hotel chain, Aranwa Boutique occupies a refurbished 16-century mansion where famous paintings from the Cusco School of Art hang in thick frames on stately walls. The exterior of the hotel features an exquisitely preserved wooden façade, which accents the grand wooden front door, which is framed by stone pillars. Aranwa offers a variety of room options; its 42 rooms are divided from classic rooms up to suites. All come with impressive marble bathrooms, colonial-style furniture, and twice-a-day housekeeping. The hotel opened in 2010, so all its rooms and amenities are new, and it will soon open a full service spa. Aranwa Boutique is conveniently located a few blocks from the main plaza.
There’s been a lot of media uproar recently surrounding the $16 cupcakes ordered by the US Justice Department. We’d like to take a moment therefore to put this in perspective and introduce you to the $107,000 cupcake. And yep… you did just read that right. Back in January of last year, Since1910 – in honour of their 100 year anniversary – came up with this publicity stunt. The New York based jewellery store commissioned the creation of a $106,794 cupcake (OK, so I exaggerated just a little bit with $107,000 but what’s $206 between friends?!). The cupcake came in chocolate or vanilla and was topped with a 5.48 ct round-cut, F color, Si2 clarity diamond, in order to justify its rather hefty price tag. So there you have it… maybe the US Justice Department’s spend could have been a whole lot worse than it actually was.
For many people fall and winter vacations aren’t so much about money, they are about time and escaping the eternal screech of the smart phone ringer. Some of the best fall and winter luxury vacation spots will let you trade in the phone for a pair of skis, hiking shoes or scuba gear and come back renewed and revitalized.
Three strategies will make any vacation renewing rather than hectic and draining:
• Timing, avoid high season crowds.
• Transportation, pay for the best (usually private jets) to get where you want to go in the most efficient manner possible.
• Safety. Choose places that let you relax without worrying about crime, questionable food or diseases.
In the following vacation list these strategies are used to select the best and most rejuvenating North American vacations.
1. Early fall, Yellowstone, hiking. Yellowstone in the fall is miles of empty open space perfect for hiking and reawakening the spirit. The luxury resorts in Jackson Hole and some of the Yellowstone resorts remain open into the fall to cater to the people that really know when to come. Look forward to no crowds, pristine air and colder weather that kills the bugs and brings the animals out in force.
2. Early fall and winter, Ely, MN and Lake Vermillion. Fall, fishing and canoeing. Winter, ice fishing, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Off the beaten track, Ely MN is the US entry point to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA). The Boundary Waters is arguably the most pristine wildlife area in North America outside of Alaska. Accessible only by canoe with a guide this pristine wilderness area is the ultimate quiet escape. You can bring your cell phone but don’t expect it to work. Nearby is Lake Vermillion, the most exclusive lake in the region. Serviced by many elegant and understated resorts, this is a coveted northern vacation spot. A bit of trivia, Bob Dylan was born in the small town of Hibbing and grew up in Duluth, MN.
3. Fall, North Vancouver, salmon fishing until October, salmon run watching until late November, boating. Possibly the most beautiful city in the world, Vancouver in fall has it all. Great weather, turning trees, running salmon and outstanding five star hotels and restaurants. Venture north daily by boat or plane into the wilderness for salmon fishing/run watching, hiking and ocean fishing. Truly remarkable in every way.
4. Fall, El Dorado County, CA, hiking, biking and wine tasting. El Dorado County sits at the foot of Lake Tahoe and the El Dorado National Forest.
Aptly named, El Dorado is a lost land of beauty. With breathtaking hiking and rolling hills dotted with wineries El Dorado is also perfect for biking enthusiasts. It is intimate compared to the large flat expanses of Napa. Sitting at the base of the mountains the terroir is similar to the most prestigious wine growing regions of Europe. Smaller, top rated vintners abound.
5. Fall, Brandon Dunes, Pebble Beach, Augusta National, and Pinehurst, golf. Golf is the ultimate quest for perfection. Brandon Dunes, OR, Pebble Beach, CA, Augusta National, GA (private) and Pinehurst, NC all challenge your game and wipe your cares away with blissful natural and manmade perfection.
6. Winter, Aspen, CO., Jackson Hole WY, Park City, UT, skiing, snowboarding, sledding, snowmobiling. Here are some things to keep in mind when choosing a ski vacation:
• Ski the Rocky Mountains for the best, dry, fluffy snow.
• Choose mountains that are well designed with fast lifts. Design significantly affects lift lines and your entire vacation.
• Book ski-in/ski-out quality resorts whenever possible (book early- the best ones fill up). Worth every penny when you are really sore after a hard day on the slopes!
• Hire a helicopter and a guide for an amazing experience.
7. Winter, British Virgin Islands, diving. The Virgin Islands let you float through an enchanting world of coral heads and brightly colored creatures. Numerous resorts offer relaxation and excellent accommodations.
8. Winter, Fisher Island and Key West Florida, boating and fishing. Fisher Island is a little piece of luxury that is somehow trapped right next to brazen, glitzy Miami. Total relaxation is available further down in the Keys. Warning! Once you get on a boat down there you may never come back.
9. Winter and fall, Sedona, AZ, hiking and biking. Sedona is known for spas, artists and healing crystals. It is also filled with extensive hiking and biking trails. The scenery varies from streams and forests to high desert within a few miles. Breathtaking red rocks and amazing restaurants will surprise you at every turn. Best retreat at the end of winter when you just feel like you can’t possibly stand another frigid day.
10. Late fall and early spring, Zion National Park, UT, hiking. Like Sedona but massive, a little cooler and without the healing crystals. Zion is one of the top US destinations for European visitors. Somehow North American travelers routinely overlook it.
This week’s image is of the pool at Playa Vik Jose Ignacio. It is a 75-foot cantilevered pool of Uruguayan black absolute nero granite with a fibre optic lit celestial map of the southern hemisphere that sits amidst the Lapacho, stretching out beyond the limit of the terrace and cantilevering 32 feet over the beach garden below.
Guy Louis Roger is President at Asiana Pearl Vision, a boutique travel designer based in Cebu city and operating exclusively in the Philippines, focusing on high end tailor made tours and bespoke travelling experiences. Guy has an hotelier background and he has been working on senior management positions for Accor, Dusit, Pan Pacific, Le Meridien, Lucien Barriere groups and some independent luxury boutique hotels. He spent 25 years in South East of Asia.
What is it that you do exactly?
I spend my time to developing and implementing the philosophy of our small company. We are committed to a style of travel that is environmentally, culturally and socially responsible.
Beside an excellent knowledge of the country the fact of being directly established in the Philippines allows us to behave more effectively, we are every day in narrow contact with our guides and can react at once for any particular wish of our customers or in improbable problems which could arise during the journey.
But especially it allows us to ceaselessly improve our services: discoveries of new tours out of the mass tourism, regular visits of our partners and permanent research of new even more authentic and more comfortable addresses, very privileged contacts with our guides, systematic meeting with all our clients at their arrival and departure of their stay and direct return of their feedback.
We particularly like mixing experiences, it is a part of our added value and in accordance with the destinations and when it is possible we invite our customers to live alternatively in luxury hotels, boutique resorts and then in a delightful home stay with Filipinos.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
I love to discover new authentic destinations out of the beaten paths and to deliver unique experiences to our guests including contacts and inter actions with the local population.
I am also a luxury hotels addict and I really enjoy providing high quality of services with a concierge and “white gloves” approach to meet the high expectations of the discerning travelers.
What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?
The Amanpulo, a beautiful and romantic hideaway on a private island in Palawan, Philippines, this ultra-exclusive destination is a wondrous lost paradise where earth- given beauty and a luxury resort embrace the island hosts for a dream.
The Ritz in Paris, a legendary Palace with an old tradition of excellence and elegance, a synonym for
perfection.
The Banyan Tree Seychelles, the stunning pool villas combine contemporary and colonial décor with spectacular views of the Indian Ocean, swaying palm trees and lush tropical forest.
What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?
A 4 hours lunch with my family at Michel Bras, a unique fine dining restaurant located in the remote mountains of Aubrac, France with sweeping views over the valley towards the village of Laguiole. This is an essential culinary trip for anybody who loves food. The gorgeous surroundings, outstanding staff and overall zen-like atmosphere of the property make this restaurant a sensational destination. You must book a table several months in advance.
Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?
In my long carreer in the hospitality industry, I have been serving a few celebrities such as Mick Jagger, Juan Carlos King of Spain, Jacques Chirac President of France. I have also learnt from my first boss that all the guests are VIPs.
What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?
I am a tropical islands lover and I am planning to discover Sumba in Indonesia. I need to find some time for this… not so easy!
Thank you for taking part in our interview, Guy. Sumba looks stunning – a paradise for birdwatchers, I imagine, or for nature lovers in general. I take it you would be staying at Nihiwatu?
Winter is drawing in, the nights are getting darker, the temperature is starting to plummet, and I’m already starting to think about where I’d rather be, and where I can be planning my next holiday.
To be honest, anywhere that has sunshine, blue skies and sand as far as I can see is a winner for me, but I am drawn to visit a place I thought I could only ever dream about – the Maldives.
The islands of the Indian Ocean have always been somewhere I have longed to visit. Images of perfect isles scattered lovingly across the clear blue waters lure me in, and with peace and tranquillity abundant seemingly wherever you choose to lay your hat, that draw gets stronger and stronger every day! Believe me, when you spend your days in the presence of a well-travelled team of luxury holiday experts like I do, your tongue ends up hanging out at the prospect of a trip to an island paradise like this.
Top of my personal wish list is Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, a favourite of Madonna with an unbelievably romantic setting. It’s not hard to see why celebrities choose to retreat here on their vacation, the resort’s philosophy of ‘no news, no shoes’ just about says it all. Guests can envelope themselves in a luxury escape that still retains a true Maldivian feel, while a 25 minute transfer by seaplane not only guarantees a level of remoteness that few get to experience, but also allows you stunning views across the archipelago as you zoom through the skies. Bliss!
Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort & Spa is one of the most recent luxury developments in the Maldives, and is an awe-inspiring sight. Privacy is paramount – a comforting prospect when considering my pasty white skin and a bikini combined – more for the benefit of the other guests you see – with each villa featuring its own private pool and terrace or sundeck. It is even a haven for families, with an array of amenities available even including bottle sterilisers, nappies and branded baby shampoo, so you can avoid dragging with you the abundance of kiddy clobber that so often puts families off long-haul travel with young children.
One of the best-known resorts in the Maldives is One&Only Reethi Rah, which has won numerous awards over the years, and looking at it closely, it’s not hard to see why. Located on one of the larger of the islands in the North Male Atoll, the all-villa nature of the resort gives a sense of privacy, while most include their own private pools, and many their own outside personal dining areas, daybeds and luxurious baths for two. Whether it’s adventure or sanctuary that you’re after you’ll find it here. I think I would err on the side of caution and opt for the sanctuary option myself – looking at those views I could stare out at the ocean all day long!
Visitors to Huvafen Fushi are met at the airport by their very own butler – now for me this is the best possible start to any holiday! A mixture of modern elegance and Maldivian charm, this is a near perfect utopia, and for a little added quirkiness, an underwater spa (yes really!) and barefoot, sand-filled bar make for a real conversation starter. I’m not one for working out while I’m on holiday – I prefer to slog my guts out in the gym for months before I go away instead – but checking out the over-water gymnasium here is a must, as is a dip in the saltwater flotation pool!
W Retreat and Spa is the antithesis to some people’s idea of what a traditional Maldives holiday should be – to others it is quite simply perfection. This is because here, contemporary styling is so abundant, from the gleaming white soft furnishings throughout to the artwork on the walls and the funky waterfront exterior canopied Sip Lounge. The draw for me has to be the AWAY Spa, with more treatments from around the world on offer than I can count! An array of eating and drinking options offering everything from in-villa dining to an underground nightclub mean that a holiday here will certainly be one to remember.
With so many offers available year round, I think a trip to the Maldives could finally be on the cards!
Carole Booth is Commercial Director at Destinology.
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Ingredients (serves 8-10):
News is just in tonight that Sir David Barclay and his brother Sir Frederick, who own the Daily Telegraph newspaper and the Littlewoods retail group in the UK, have bought the loans originally made to the Maybourne Hotel Group by two Irish banks in 2005 to fund the acquisition of three top London hotels - 
When it comes to your honeymoon, it’s always a good idea to prepare way ahead of time. That way once you get there, all you have to worry about is lounging, relaxing and celebrating your recent nuptials. In terms of destination, the majority of today’s honeymooners opt to go to warm and sunny luxury beach resorts. If you fall under that category, you’ll need plenty of gorgeous swimsuits, cover-ups and accessories to make you feel romantic and sexy. For any honeymoon beach getaway, you’re sure to take plenty of photos to remember your trip, so you’re going to want to look your best. Read on for all the essentials for a romantic luxury beach getaway.
Lauren Cicione is an ex-New Yorker (former contemporary art dealer) Italian American who moved to Montalcino, Tuscany two years ago. She knew it was time for a career switch when her foodie tendencies to visit every new restaurant in NYC started taking precedence over her interest in checking out new installation sculpture. Growing up in an Italian American family, she had a long-standing passion for good food and Italian wine with a strong connection to all things local and organic. After spending much time cooking with brilliant renowned chefs, harvesting grapes, working in the vineyard, becoming close friends with many of the top Brunello producers in Montalcino, she started a company called 
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This delicious dipping sauce is surprisingly easy to concoct, yet is complex in flavour. It will add a lively, spicy Thai zing to grilled meats such as beef or chicken, or to roasts such as pork. Whilst it can be mixed and used immediately, allowing the sauce to stand in the refrigerator for a day or so will only heighten the symphony of flavours. The secret here is to avoid powdered chili and to use only coarse dried chili flakes, where the seeds remain clearly intact. Or better still, use whole, dried, Thai bird eye chillies – smoking them briefly in a dry hot pan, before grinding them in a pestle and mortar.
24th July of this year marked 100 years exactly since Yale man and National Geographic explorer Hiram Bingham puffed and sweated his way up to the jungle-covered ruins of Machu Picchu. A century later, travelers who want to take in this true wonder of the world aren’t limited to explorer-style bivouacking; rather, there are now a wide range of accommodations, dining experiences, spas and adventures that rival the best in the world. So, in honor of Machu Picchu, Hiram Bingham and the incredible cultural patrimony of Peru, I would like to show you what a luxury trip to Machu Picchu looks like today.
From cool country houses to chic coaching inns and eccentric hideaways, we tell you our favourite English love nests – all within travelling distance from London. So read on for the best places to enjoy rest, relaxation and of course, romance.
Machu Picchu is one of the most spectacular sites in the worlds, so it is only fitting that your trip to the ancient Incan citadel should compare in class. Luckily, the city of Cusco, where many visitors base themselves before and after their Machu Picchu tours, is flush in 5-star accommodations. Here are some recommendations to help you start planning your dream Peru vacation.
There’s been a lot of media uproar recently surrounding the $16 cupcakes ordered by the US Justice Department. We’d like to take a moment therefore to put this in perspective and introduce you to the $107,000 cupcake. And yep… you did just read that right. Back in January of last year, 
For many people fall and winter vacations aren’t so much about money, they are about time and escaping the eternal screech of the smart phone ringer. Some of the best fall and winter luxury vacation spots will let you trade in the phone for a pair of skis, hiking shoes or scuba gear and come back renewed and revitalized.
Guy Louis Roger is President at 
Winter is drawing in, the nights are getting darker, the temperature is starting to plummet, and I’m already starting to think about where I’d rather be, and where I can be planning my next holiday.