A Luxury Travel Blog

Formerly an actor with the RSC, Grant Thatcher began the series of LUXE City Guides back in 2002. There are now more than 30 guides, including the best of the best from 20 in-the-know residents in each location.

What is it that you do exactly?

I’m Editor in Chief which encompasses everything from designing the covers and handmade box sets, to overseeing our blog LUXEtasy.com, and our new LUXE City Guides Mobile apps which span seven different handset brands including iPhone, BlackBerry, Nokia and 34 models. It’s no wonder my hair is grey!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

When you consider that so many people in the world today don’t get to travel at all, the fact that I do it for a living is a great luxury. We’re the only city guide series in the world that sends staff editors to the city we’re researching to work hand in glove with our city resident editors, checking and refining the draft until we have the perfect LUXE mix, so even though research tends to be really expensive and grueling (14-16 hour days are the norm) we do at least get to see a horde of things that most visitors would never experience. Add to that our fascination with shopping, artisanal, bespoke and custom-made goods and at least we get to window shop while we work!

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

Tricky! Because of my job I’ve been fortunate enough to stay in some pretty amazing places around the world and the very best of them are special not because they are expensive or exclusive (quite often the contrary) but because they have that essential ‘It’ factor which may be personality, service, location or quirk. Im not remotely interested in gold taps and Rolls Royces, but seeing as this is a blog devoted to luxury, then my choices would be Villa Feltrinelli, The Connaught, and the Tirta Enning suite at CSE Estate in Bali – but I had a fab time campervanning around New Zealand not so long ago (if you don’t count the chemical loo…!)

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

I loved the rustic, super-simple, eat with your fingers Indonesian food at Waroeng Tugu in Bali. It’s tiny and very basic, you sit at heavy wooden trestles, in an open-sided, traditionally-styled kitchen, the chef decides what he will cook and you will eat – it’s delicious, quiet, romantic and far from the madding crowds.

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

My lips are sealed. When I travel for LUXE I always like to stay under the radar as you get to observe better, and for the most part I think the truly rich and famous are the same. I imagine being really famous must be a royal pain in the butt – incognito is the new luxury.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

Syria. Im a nut for archaeology and am longing to visit Palmyra, and get down to some serious souk retail therapy in downtown Damascus.

Thank you, Grant.  I wasn’t familiar with Palmyra but Googled it and it does indeed look amazing.  Good luck in getting there.

Ayana Resort and Spa Bali has re-opened Damar Terrace restaurant following extensive renovations by Yasuhiro Koichi, the acclaimed Japanese designer behind the Rock Bar.

Koichi, whose company Design Studio SPIN has created some of Asia’s most iconic bars and restaurants, combined comfort with modern Asian decor for relaxed all-day dining at Damar Terrace. His trademark style is reflected in the combination of traditional materials, motifs and colors, set off by cutting-edge lighting and clean modern lines softened by tranquil lotus ponds.

The restaurant’s menu has also been relaunched to feature more ‘small bite’ options and European dishes, to add to the range of Asian favorites.

A ‘skateboard/punk rocker’ in his youth, David Sutcliffe is now one of three partners who run a small travel agency in Harrogate, England called Traveltalk. Specialising in luxury, tailor-made and adventure travel, Traveltalk was created 25 years ago by David’s colleague, Christine Thompson. After much hard work establishing the company in the area they developed a large core client base and are now, according to David, the leading agency in Yorkshire.

What is it that you do exactly?

My primary task is to be there for our clients, whether it be dealing with a new enquiry or ensuring that their travel plans run smoothly. Beyond that I do the administration tasks necessary to make sure that the agency runs smoothly, allowing the other members of staff to concentrate on dealing with their clients.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I’m a self-confessed travel geek, so I enjoy all aspects of the industry. I love reading the magazines, watching the travel channels and talking to clients about my favourite destinations, but most of all I love having the opportunity to visit places I wouldn’t otherwise be able to. I’ve seen parts of the globe that most people never will and I’m very grateful to be in such a position.

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

Savute Under Canvas, Botswana – I stayed at 4 of the &Beyond properties in this amazing country, but this was the highlight for me. Staying in a tent whilst outside you could hear lions and hyenas close by was an experience that will stay with me forever. It was also the first time I’d seen a leopard on safari.

Baltschug Kempinski, Moscow – We arrived late into Moscow and didn’t get a real impression until the following morning when I looked out of my bedroom window across the Moscow River to St Basil’s Cathedral, Red Square and the Kremlin. Whilst Moscow might not be as pretty as St Petersburg, you get a real feeling of being somewhere special, somewhere important.

Four Seasons Sayan, Bali – After a long journey this was a real sight for sore eyes. Beautifully set in the Ayung river valley near Ubud, this was the perfect place to relax.

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

If you ever find yourself in Ibiza you must visit the Cardamom Club in Santa Eulalia. Superb Indian cuisine in a wonderful setting – chicken jalfrezi with a cold beer, outdoors under a canopy of trees on a Mediterranean evening……paradise!

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

We do have a few high profile clients, but best to respect their privacy. I’ve been shouted at by the late Hughie Green in a hotel in Edinburgh if that counts, but it was a case of mistaken identity, he apologised and even bought me a drink. I’ve also met Iggy Pop and John Peel. Oops, almost forgot… I am currently in an awkward relationship triangle with Jennifer Love Hewitt and Carmen Electra…

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

This changes on an almost daily basis, but at the moment I would love to see Norway, preferably on a Hurtigruten cruise. The scenery looks like it would literally awesome.

Thank you, David. I can heartily recommend Norway – it’s been 20 years since I was there but I still have fond recollections of the scenery.

Conrad Bali’s award-winning Jiwa Spa has been rejuvenated with the addition of stunning new garden spa pavilions, an expanded holistic wellness programme and a new level of skincare pampering using marine-inspired Thalgo beauty products. Drawing inspiration from Bali’s natural beauty, the five new spa garden pavilions feature indoor and outdoor treatment areas surrounded by a tropical water garden. They will also use the spa’s new treatment menu, developed in collaboration with Thalgo, the premier French skincare line. The Spa menu offers highly advanced therapies based on the algae and active marine-based Thalgo skin and body products, as well as natural treatments based on ancient Indonesian traditions.

The rejuvenation is part of Jiwa Spa’s aim to provide guests both luxurious pampering as well as a lasting path to wellness. In addition to the existing nine treatment rooms, spa pavilions, 25 metre pool and fitness centre, Conrad Bali has introduced a Wellness Studio which boasts Wellness and Lifestyle activities for long term good health including meditation and yoga classes.

Perched 70 metres above sea level on the cliffs of Bali’s southernmost peninsula, Banyan Tree Ungasan will be located near the sacred site of Pura Luhur Uluwatu Temple. The resort is designed to offer absolute privacy and seclusion but is just 25 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport and the thriving beaches of Kuta, Seminyak and Sanur. The resort’s location offers unrestricted panoramic views of the Indian Ocean and a pristine white-sand beach sits at the foot of the cliff top resort.

The new property will boast 73 spacious pool villas all set in their own lush landscaped garden with outdoor showers, and will be complemented by the award-winning Banyan Tree Spa offering guests an extensive range of natural holistic massages, beauty and body treatments.

Guests will be able to take their pick from three restaurants. Ju-Ma-Na restaurant, which means ‘white pearl’ in Arabic, overlooking the Indian Ocean, will offer gourmet menus. Tamarind, set in the tranquil surroundings of the Banyan Tree Spa will serve a variety of organic dishes, and Bambu will present popular international and local specialties.

My name is Claes Bohlin and I am the owner and founder of Bohline Exclusive Villas which are a luxury villa rental company. I run this company together with my girlfriend Cecilia Lilja and we both have a burning desire for travels. Our main goal with the company is to offer our clients the best vacation ever while staying at a villa on a special destination. We have chosen to keep this company small because we like to offer the client a very personal service.

What is it that you do exactly?

I run the company Bohline Exclusive Villas and offer my clients the right villa for the right occasion. I also sell luxury services to the client as a supplement to the villa stay. When a client contacts me, I will take the time to listen to my client’s needs. Every client has very different needs and it’s very important to understand the client and what he wants during his vacation. Every little detail has to be right; the stay at the villa is important but it’s very important that the client will enjoy the activities and restaurants which he could visit on the destination.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Travel, travel, travel. To be able to travel very often in this job is a benefit which I love the most. I think my girlfriend agrees with that. I also like to arrange these amazing vacations for my clients and to see the results of a satisfied traveller when the client is back home and very pleased with everything. When the client says that the vacation was a memory for life, I’ll say mission completed.

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

This question is very hard because every destination is so different from one another. But first of all I have to say the Maldives. The Maldives was like a dream; I couldn’t imagine it could be so wonderful like it was when me and my girlfriend got off the little seaplane and got welcomed by the staff of the resort. The water had an amazing colour – it’s almost hard to desribe. The feeling of being so alone in the world and yet totally relaxed was great! If you like to relax and enjoy diving, this is the place for you to visit.

My second favourite place has to be St. Martin in the Caribbean. It was here I rented my first villa ever. This place has it all. If you love to go out for dinner to a gastronomic restaurant you will not be disappointed. The island has so many restaurants to choose from. Here you will find French and Italian cuisine. The island is also very famous for the low-flying aircraft which can be seen at Maho beach.

My third destination of choice has to be Bali because it has a wonderful nature if you visit the whole island. I would not recommend staying at the touristy parts like the big Kuta beach for example, but I recommend taking a cab and going for a visit around the whole island to see the small villages and local theatres. You are also able to watch the dophins in the sunrise at Lovina beach in the north. There is something magical about Bali.

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

This was an easy question for me. The restaurant was called La Gaiac and it was located on the island of St. Martin. Me and my family got seated on a rooftop which had about five different dinner tables. They played some classical music on the roof while we decided to have their tasting menu. The menu consisted of dishes like foie gras, lobster and many more delicious dishes. The service was excellent from the staff and the feeling of being seated on this rooftop and having this superb food together with your family was a memorable visit.

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

Most of our clients are rich but maybe not famous. They are often well educated, earn a good salary and love to travel to explore the world. If we have any celebrities as a client, we will do our best to keep their vacation with us as discrete as possible. This is very important for us. The celebrity wouldn’t have to think about whether the press will find out where they are going to vacation. By renting a villa you always seek privacy and a secluded destination to be sure that you could be relaxed during your vacation.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I often travel to ordinary places to enjoy the sun but I love to visit places like Tibet, the Inca Trail and Antarctica. These special destinations have something to offer me. To go there with my camera and take some wonderful footage would be my next goal. Every destination has something very special to offer – that’s why I love to travel and have the chance to provide my clients with the perfect tailormade vacation!

Thank you, Claes. We wish you continued success at Bohline Exclusive Villas.

There are few places on earth that are as romantic and steeped in mystical spirituality as Bali. Known to some as The Morning of the World, and to many as The Island of the Gods, it is no small wonder that literally thousands of couples pledge or renew their wedding vows in Bali. And there are few more romantic, luxurious, more private and convenient wedding venues than the five villas that make up the beachfront Pantai Lima estate on the island’s west coast.

This exclusive estate of super luxury villas built right on the Bali beachfront at Pererenan, an unspoiled fishing community, a short drive north of Seminyak, Bali’s centre of sophisticated shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Each of the five luxury villas – Waringin, Melissa, Sound of the Sea, Ambra, and Mary – is individually architecturally-designed and completely different from one another. Four of the five villas are more than large enough to cater for a memorable multi-course wedding banquet for 60 guests, or as many as 200 to enjoy canapés, cocktails and Champagne. And the Villa Mary grounds are so spacious that as many as 250 can comfortably enjoy a sit-down dinner.

The much loved luxury Orient Express resort of Jimbaran Puri is set to open 22 new luxury pool villas next month. Each spacious villa will have its own swimming pool, and hard wood deck where spa treatments can be enjoyed. All villas are set amidst a traditional Balinese garden courtyard, with separate bed and living rooms, and personal, unobtrusive butler service. Villa guests will enjoy all of the facilities that are provided at the hotel. The villas are an exceptional choice for those seeking the luxury of space, privacy, style and comfort in a property on Bali’s beachfront.

Still not yet decided where to go this year?  Maybe luxury travel specialists ITC Classics will give you some inspiration.  Here’s a selection of ideas from their January Sale:

Indian Ocean

Diva, Maldives

Stay 7 nights and only pay for 5, plus book more than 45 days in advance and receive an extra 10% discount. Valid until 31 July 2009 (excluding 10th-15th April). You will stay in a Junior Suite on a Half Board basis from £2,590 per person. Price includes economy flights and seaplane transfers.
Saving £1,960 per couple.

Caribbean

Royal by Rex Resorts, St Lucia

Stay 10 nights and only pay for 7. In addition receive a complimentary spa treatment during your holiday.
Valid until 30th April 2009.  You’ll stay in a Deluxe Suite on a room only basis from £1,730 per person. Price includes economy flights and private transfers. Saving £640 per couple.

Blue Waters, Antigua

Receive 30% off accommodation in the Cove Suites.  Valid until 18th December 2009. Enjoy 7 nights at Blue Waters in a Cove Suite on a bed & breakfast basis from £1,570 per person. Price includes economy flights and private transfers. Saving £1,100 per couple.

Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos

Stay 7 nights and only pay for 5. In addition, book by 31st January 2009 and receive complimentary half board. Valid until 12th March 2009. Enjoy a Garden View Room on a bed & breakfast basis from £2,450 per person. Price includes economy flights and private transfers. Saving £1,860 per couple.

Middle East

One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai

Stay 5 nights and only pay for 4 plus receive complimentary dine around.  Valid until 13th February 2009.
Relax in a Palace Deluxe Room on a bed & breakfast basis from £1,345 per person. Price includes economy flights and private transfers. Saving £1,135 per couple.

Far East

Banyan Tree Phuket, Thailand

Stay 7 nights and only pay for 5. Valid until 31st March 2009.  You’ll be treated to a Pool Villa on a room only basis from £2,369 per person. Price includes economy flights and private transfers.  Saving £1,620 per couple.

Karma Kandara, Bali

Stay 7 nights and only pay for 5. Valid until 31st March 2009. Indulge in a 2 Bedroom Pool Residence on a room only basis from £2,420 per person. Price includes economy flights and private transfers.  Saving £1,360 per couple.

Terms and conditions apply. All offers are subject to availability.

Situated at Pererenan, a largely deserted stretch of beach 25 minutes by car from Bali’s sophisticated and cosmopolitan shopping, dining and clubbing, the new Pantai Lima estate comprises five luxurious beachfront villas and 70 staff to wait on your every need.

Each villa has been uniquely created by French designers Gaelle Echene and Charles Pelletier, with considerable personal input from the owners. Four villas are 5-bedroom, one has six bedrooms, and many of the bedrooms offer stunning ocean views since all five villas are right on the water’s edge, sharing 170 metres of largely deserted beachfront.  Bedrooms have 37 inch liquid crystal TV displays, and Bose DVD players and sound systems. Another great touch are iPod docks in each villa which connect with speakers in every room and in the gardens.

The estate is about 25 minutes by car from Seminyak, Bali’s centre of sophisticated shopping, dining and nightlife. The world-famous Nirwana Golf Course is just 4 km to the north-west.

Located along the scenic Jimbaran coast, Raffles Resort Amartha will feature a resort comprising approximately 85 villas and 25 Raffles Residences for private ownership. Occupying a sprawling 11 hectares, Raffles Resort Amartha is built to resemble a Water Palace, with inspiration drawn from classical Javanese-Hindu architecture and style, characterised by open spaces, water features and walled couryards on rising terraces. The resort is just minutes away from Bali’s international airport, Denpasar.

Kevin May is editor of Travolution, an industry-focussed magazine for online travel and division of Reed Business Information.  It consists of a blog, e-news service and a physical magazine, and is a leader in its field with an advisory board that comprises some of the biggest names in the travel industry.

What is it that you do exactly?

I am responsible for all editorial content on Travolution, including our magazine, website and blog. I also produce our fortnightly podcast, The Purple Pod, and organise our conferences and other events as well as oversee the Travolution Awards. It’s a busy job!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The most rewarding aspect of editing Travolution is being able to track and analyse such a wonderfully diverse and innovative industry as travel and its use of the web. Equally, as a journalist at heart, when we set the record straight or uncover a scoop still gives me an incredible buzz. I’m very lucky to work with some fantastic writers and reporters.

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

Hanoi: easily the most fascinating city I have ever visited. My wife and I stayed there during a seven-month jaunt around Asia in 2000. We were mesmerised by the colour and smells, the French and traditional Vietnamese quarters, and – whether it exists in reality or not is another question – a sense of proud nationhood. A remarkable capital in a remarkable country.

Varanasi (Benares): This central Indian city is an assault on the senses and consciousness. Despite it being a place where many people come to die (simply because of its proximity to the holy Ganges river), life abounds everywhere. The customs associated with death, while perhaps alien and odd to some westerners, are seen as life affirming to Hindus, giving it the feeling of being a place where people actually come to celebrate life. My wife was also taken very ill here so I have the utmost respect for Indian medical staff forced to work in, er, challenging conditions.

Lake Toba, Sumatra: The most beautiful place I have had the pleasure of visiting. Once a sunken caldera (super-volcano), currently a giant lake, Toba has incredible feature, plant life and a real feeling of isolation. There are few places on earth that have had such a dramatic physical history and the laid-back attitude of the people is in absolute tune with the environment around them. An almost perfect location on many levels.

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

I spent four days practically marooned on a slow boat travelling across the Tonle Sap lake in Cambodia. I ate rice every meal as – being a strict vegetarian – the boiled ’something’ didn’t appeal and there was absolutely nothing else to eat. After finally arriving in Siem Reap, I ate almost everything I could on the menu at the guesthouse – mounds of vegetables, a huge omelette, slice after slice of bread, any fruit I could get my hands on, cereal, yoghurt… everything. It might not sound like a feast for a king, but it tasted so good.

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

I have been fortunate to meet many wonderful and talented people through work or when travelling, although I have a tendency to steer away from so-called celebrities, even when given the opportunity. In fact, most of the “richest” people I’ve met are probably those that have created a fantastic business and subsequently reaped the rewards for their innovation and passion for travel and the Web.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I am currently at that stage, with a young family, where I am yearning to return to places I have visited previously, primarily – though not guaranteed at all (!!) – in the vain hope of sharing the experiences I had. I hope to return to Angkor Wat in Cambodia one day and also trek the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal (a three-week hike). Egypt, Mexico, Peru and New Zealand would also make my current wishlist.

Unfortunately the overseas trips of a business magazine editor these days consist primarily of enjoying the inside of some very nice hotel conference suites. A shame really…

Thank you, Kevin. And keep up the good work at Travolution!

If you are looking for something different from your next luxury vacation, then spare a thought for the world’s only interactive elephant experience.  The Elephant Safari Park Lodge in Bali opens on 1st March 2008, and gives its guests the opportunity to live among 27 endangered, indigenous Sumatran elephants and, by doing so, to learn about all aspects of their behaviour.  The lodge has 25 air-conditioned rooms with LCD televisions and WiFi, a safari-themed spa, a wedding gazebo, a bar/lounge and a restaurant.  Introductory offers include transfers to and from Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) which is just over an hour away in Denpasar. Go for the Taro Suite – it comes with a private butler.

Suite name: Dalem Jiwo Suite
Resort: Amanjiwo, Central Java
Size of accommodation: 1,300 sq m
Cost per night: £1,278 per night (Rates are subject to 10% service charge and 11% government tax. Rates include airport transfer.)
What makes it special? Amanjiwo is set in the countryside of Central Java with clear views of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world. Amanjiwo has 35 suites, 34 of which encircle the main building and offer both interior and exterior living areas.

Amanjiwo is set in the countryside of Central Java with clear views of Borobudur, the largest Buddhist sanctuary in the world. Amanjiwo has 35 suites, 34 of which encircle the main building and offer both interior and exterior living areas.

Entry to each suite is by sliding glass door that provides a light filled living and sleeping area. The king size bed is positioned in the centre of the suite beneath the high ceiling and doomed rooftop. The bathroom has twin vanities, a dressing area, shower, and leads to a small courtyard revealing an outdoor sunken bath.

The Dalem Jiwo is set in a discreet compound ensuring the utmost in peace, privacy and luxury. The Dalem Jiwo two bedroom suite is a discreet compound, complete with a private entrance, a classically styled rotunda and surrounding terrace with two separately walled bedrooms. Each bedroom has stone steps descending to the suite’s private 15 meters pool finished in a green Javanese stone known as Hijau danau and is surrounded by rice terraces. The Dalem Jiwo butler, always on call, has separate quarters in the compound.

Concierge.com, the online home for inspired travel from Conde Nast has posted its picks for the third annual World’s Sexiest Beaches list.  Beaches are both on and off the beaten path and are chosen for their beauty, buzz factor and overall steamy appeal.  Here’s their top ten:

1. Caprera Island, Sardinia, Italy
2. Salvador, Bahia, Brazil 
3. Cousine Island, Seychelles 
4. Playa de los Lances, Tarifa, Spain
5. Pink Sand Beach, Harbour Island, Bahamas 
6. Kuta Beach, Bali, Indonesia
7. South Beach, Miami, Florida 
8. Pigeon Point Beach, Antigua 
9. Bodrum, Turkey 
10. Santa Maria Beach, Ilha do Sal, Cape Verde

Tanya Schliff is founder of DirectoryofHotels.com, a unique hotel guide focusing on global travel.  She started the site because she found that, when researching her own travels, there were very few resources that gave her direct access to the hotel for questions and reservations. She favours independent travel rather than using booking agents or travel agents and believes that travellers benefit greatly from having direct contact with the hotel they have chosen.

What is it that you do exactly?

As Founder and Editor, I write reviews and report on “all things” travel for our blog, TravelerWIRE and our monthly newsletter, answer questions from our readers and am constantly researching new and exciting places of interest.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I am not going to lie, traveling is a blast and I feel very fortunate to be able to do what I do. In addition, I get great pleasure from having the creative freedom to write about, promote and support the hotelier, especially bringing light to the small to medium properties.

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

It is very difficult to pick just three, as every travel affair will always have a place close to my heart.

Four Seasons Bali at Sayan and Jimbaran Bay, Bali, Indonesia – I had the pleasure of staying at both properties in Bali, they are each different experiences and not to be missed. Jimbaran Bay brings traditional old world charm, cool breezes, sprawling grounds, rocky peninsula and gorgeous views of the vast blue sea.  The villas are over 2000 square feet, comprised of three thatched roofs including an outdoor living area, the abode with a king-sized canopy mosquito-net bed, sandstone floors, indoor/outdoor shower and each with a private plunge pool. Sayan is situated close to Ubud, an artist´s colony in hills, and is structured with modern lines.  The entryway is stunning, and infinity edged lotus pond overlooks the Ayung river and surrounding rice fields. Again the villas, are striking with a modern Balinese twist, outdoor dining area, deep soaking tubs, separate dressing areas, private outdoor plunge pools.  No stone left unturned.

Maroma Resort & Spa, Mayan Riviera, Mexico  - a secluded oceanfront resort and spa where everyone calls you by name.  One sip of there house margarita, scented with anise, and you won’t want to leave. My favorite experience was the Temazcal where I endured an extraordinary ancient Mayan rebirthing ceremony (reminiscent of a North American Indian sweat lodge) where super heated lava rocks doused with herb-infused water create an intoxicating and healing experience.

Il Pelicano, Porto Ercole, Italy - a stylish and exclusive retreat with an outstanding restaurant and wine cellar and an equally profound and intimate bar. Surrounded by centuries old olive trees and situated above the Mediterranean Sea with a path that leads down to a heated seawater pool and beyond a sunbathing rock platform by the sea.  The property was awarded the “Purple Lily” by Relais & Chateaux and exudes old Hollywood glamour filled with romantic history.

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

I have had the pleasure of dining at some wonderful places, but this little restaurant in the medieval village of Capalbio, Le Mura, was something special. Delivering a surreal and intimate dining experience, Le Mura’s hosts, a husband and wife team, where Roberta cooks and Gerry guides you through local history in their cozy home, formerly the castle bakery.  There is no menu at Le Mura, only four tables each night and everything is fresh and made to order. Even as the only guests that night, our experience lasted no less than 5 hours. If you are lucky, like I was, Roberta took me into the kitchen where I threw on a chef’s cap and she taught me her recipes for the evening. All local delights and masterful creations like wild boar, rabbit and freshly made pasta. Magical! Guests have included the likes of Mario Batali.

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

Living so close to Los Angeles, where my husband is a native, it is not difficult to bump into celebs from Madonna at L’Orangerie, Paris Hilton at Peninsula Beverly Hills to Gwyneth Paltrow at Esperanza Resort.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I have always dreamed of hunting the winter white truffle in Piemonte, Italy.

Thanks, Tanya. Le Mura sounds like a fascinating little find… how did you get to hear about it?