A Luxury Travel Blog

As we all know, France is renowned for producing some of the finest wine on Earth, and among the towering buildings of Paris, wine is the drink of choice. Where better to go on a stag weekend for the more sophisticated gentleman?

Stag weekends don’t all have to be about strippers and beer, but this pre-conception can put off the more discerning man from having one. This is a shame, as the tradition of a stag party is a fine one: one last hoo-ra before getting married in whatever form you like. For a more luxurious stag weekend, a wine tasting tour of Paris easily fits the bill. Visiting a number of different bistros and restaurants from the Left Bank to Montmartre, and perhaps a visit to one of the royal cellars near the Louvre is a delightful way to see out the final days of bachelorhood in possibly the classiest city in Europe.

If you feel like venturing further afield, the stag weekend in Paris could turn into a small road-trip, visiting different vineyards close by to see where the grapes are grown, and the wine is made, as well as sampling the taste.

Either way, pre-arranged wine tasting tours of Paris and the surrounding area are easily booked, and many stag companies are looking to attract more upmarket customers and offering such tours, so if you’re best man to a groom that insists he doesn’t want a stag do, because he’s not into that sort of thing, perhaps suggest a wine tasting stag weekend in Paris.

Nick Lewis writes for Eclipse Ski, a Brighton based ski holidays agency.

Charley Boorman (of Long Way Round fame) is bold enough to offer his own recommendations. The actor has teamed up with American Express to suggest ‘The One Thing’ you should do when you visit Paris, Amsterdam, Madrid, and Edinburgh. Think you know these cities well? His recommendations are surprisingly savvy and inventive. You can watch him enjoy unique adventures from a visit to Amsterdam’s smallest microbrewery (Brouwerij de Prael) to a private CV tour of Paris. His vodcasts are worthwhile, whether you’re a seasoned globetrotter or looking for a fresh adventure nearby.

Formerly with Skyscanner, Aaron Ritoper is the Vice President of Business Development at Fly.com, a website which scours major airlines, international carriers and online travel sites, and helps people easily sort and refine results by criteria such as number of stops and departure times and traveller class.

What is it that you do exactly?

I’m in charge of developing the Fly.com business across Europe. This means I manage our all commercial relationships, ensure we achieve our targets, and communicate across markets to spread the word on Fly.com (sharing the latest flight deal insights). Travelzoo travel producers are very knowledgeable, so I spend time with them to review the latest bargains.

On the technology side, the flight search experience is constantly developing, and hours are spent with the team to build the flight search product of the future.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

It’s not every day that you get the chance to build a global brand with the talent and resources of a company like Travelzoo. I love the challenge and the reward that we see as people discover how much better Fly.com is at finding cheap flights compared to legacy websites.

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

Méribel – Is fantastic place for a ski vacation. The last time we went “hors-piste” with a ski guide, and when he handed out avalanche beacons and put a snow shovel in his backpack that definitely made a lasting impression.

Iceland – Seeing the Northern lights was definitely high on my list. I stayed out in the countryside outside of Reykjavik and around midnight green oscillating light filled the sky.

Hawaii – A wonderful place for a family vacation, we stayed at the Grand Hilton in Waikoloa and found it very family friendly. The dolphin pool in particular was a big hit.

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

Probably the time I ate barbequed buffalo on an Indian reservation in New Mexico. They had the whole animal roasting on a spit and there were demonstrations of traditional dances with rhythmic music – it was very festive!

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

I’m constantly on airplanes so I’ve run across quite a few celebrities along the way. Within the travel world, I enjoyed speaking with Stelios Haji-Ioannou not too long ago just before my easyJet flight from London to Nice, France. I happened to be one of the first people on the plane, so tipped off the flight attendant that an important guest would be following me.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

It’s about time for a surfing trip, so I’m hoping to spend some time in Biarritz, France soon.

Many thanks, Aaron. Having experienced the Northern Lights in Greenland myself, I can understand how that might be up there as one of your highlights.

If you are looking for a truly romantic retreat for your honeymoon you cannot go wrong with Le Mas Candille, Cote d’Azur. Located 10 minutes from the bustle of Cannes but set within lush grounds, here you get the best of both worlds.

Enjoy being chauffeur driven in a luxurious limousine from the airport to the hotel where you will stay in authentically French styled rooms in the 18th century converted farmhouse. The views from your room are unbelievable being set on the hillside above the French Riviera.

To really set the romantic atmosphere newlyweds can have exclusive use of the Shisheido spa, where it is transformed into an intimate setting to enjoy limitless treatments and a candlelit dinner served up by Michelin Starred Chef Celebre, Serge Gouloumès.

Morning brings a caviar breakfast in bed or if you prefer you can opt for a picnic breakfast in the surrounding lush gardens.

Cote d’Azur offers many different aspects including great food, wine tasting, perfume making or just a leisurely stroll down le Croisette mixing with the rich and famous.

You can experience real French romance at Le Mas Candille and if you can’t get the VIP treatment on your honeymoon, when can you?

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

• Treat yourself at Le Meurice
• Seeing is believing at Shompole
• Delve into Visit Florida Luxury Insider
• Explore the South Pacific with Turquoise

There is something decadent about a hotel swimming pool that lends itself well to luxury. Whilst the sea allows you to connect with nature, the salty water and sticky sand can mitigate the enjoyment for many.

With man-made aquatic pleasure zones, there are no such discomforts. And it is little wonder that so many hotels around the world put so much thought and effort into getting their swimming pools just right. A great pool can be a hotel’s Pièce de résistance; a therapeutic and sensual chill out space where the troubles of home feel at their most distant.

Of course, just as there are several methods to skin a cat, the magic of a great swimming pool can arise in different ways, such as the ambience, the architecture, or the view. Some would say they also have to be population-controlled. After all, even the most beautiful pool can be rendered uninhabitable by a gaggle of splashing Half Term school kids.

But that’s all in the planning. Choose your hotel carefully, perhaps rise out of bed that extra hour early, and if you’re lucky, you’ll get to enjoy the perfect hotel swimming pool experience.

Here are a selection of some of the best hotel swimming pools in Europe:

Ritz, Paris
The hotel that oozes old world glamour like none other inevitably comes up trumps with its grandiose swimming pool. Boasting ornate architecture and neoclassical design, the Paris Ritz’s pool is one of the most elegant places to swim in the entire City of Lights. Open to hotel guests or members of its health club, this opulent subterranean escape is suitably exclusive to ensure only a privileged few get to enjoy its still waters.

Ledra Marriott Hotel, Athens
The rooftop pool at the Athens Marriot does not instantly strike you with its beauty, but raise your eye level and you will quickly awaken to its stark appeal. The 360-degree panoramic views of Athens afforded from the pool are simply sensational, including magnificent vistas of the famous Acropolis and the maze-like streets of the Plaka down below. As an added bonus, during balmy summer evenings. the rooftop hosts parties and banquets.

Hotel Cipriani, Venice
The first thing visitors to Venice notice is its incomparable beauty. The second thing, alas, is often the smell wafting from its ubiquitous canals. So what better way to restore equilibrium to your nasals than retreat to the only hotel swimming pool in central Venice? The pool is filled with salt water and is even heated for your comfort during the cooler months of the year.

The Berkeley, London
There are plenty of high-quality indoor swimming pools in London – indeed, book into any 5-star hotel and you will find one. But the city’s changeable – and often damn right cold – weather has shied many establishments away from investing in an outdoor pool. One exception is the historical Berkeley Hotel. Built in the 1970s, the pool is set under a retractable roof and is flanked by imposing Roman pillars and arches. But its crowning glory is its views, which span the vast green beauty of Hyde Park, and bustling commercial activity around exclusive department stores Harvey Nichols and Harrods.

Hotel Caruso Belvedere, Ravello, Amalfi Coast
Located on the highest point of the town, one bright spark had the idea of marking this hotel’s geographical landmark with an open-air infinity pool. And what an idea it proved to be. The pool offers glorious panoramas of one of Europe’s most delightful coastlines, as well as a myriad of 11th-century Roman Ruins. And as with the very best infinity pools, this one generates a visual effect of water extending to the horizon, adding to the sense of drama and character.

Susan Radcliffe is a qualified journalist working for hotel comparison site sletoH.com (’hotels’ spelt backwards!!)

Spring is coming and soon its bright days will greet the opening of a new deluxe boutique hotel in the heart of Paris. Ideally located where the rue Duphot meets the rue Saint-Honoré, Le Burgundy Paris, the new intimate, confidential address brings elegance and delicacy to hotel luxury. Architects and decorators have crafted a refined, exclusive decor, blending contemporary furniture and luxurious materials while favouring space and light. Le Burgundy Paris also serves as a veritable showcase of precious and unusual “objets d’art”, and devotes a considerable space to contemporary art.

Europe’s first theme park devoted entirely to the understanding and discovery of plant life, will open in April 2010. After 10 years in the making, this extraordinary project has been implemented by the Maine-et-Loire Departmental Council under the guidance of Christophe Béchu.

Perfectly located near Angers in the Anjou district of the Pays de la Loire, France’s leading horticultural region, Terra Botanica, aims to be both fun and educational, offering the visitor an exciting adventure into the world of plants.

At a cost of 83 million euros, it has been designed to respect the environment, whilst inviting visitors to discover the world of plants through highly original interactive activities. Spread across 11 acres of gardens, aquatic spaces, glass houses and buildings, the park will be interspersed with 40 attractions, nature trails and entertainment for all the family.

Charity Buzz, an online auction site with luxury and celebrity experiences has a large number of travel package auctions for every type of traveller with destinations all over the world. Not only will winners get an experience of a lifetime, but they will also help a good cause like Gabrielle’s Angel Foundation for Cancer Research and the Center for Hearing and Communication.

Listed below are some of their best auctions currently live:

• A one week all-inclusive stay at the Four Seasons oceanfront villa in Hawaii
• Stay in a five-bedroom mansion in Aspen during the Food & Wine Classic with an exclusive private wine tasting
• Receive the royal treatment, including a private shopper and black-tie dinner, on a VIP escape to Paris, Versailles & Champagne

Jeni Matthews created Red Balloon Travel and Consulting with the goal in mind to provide spectacularly unique French holidays.   After graduating from Northwestern University in Communications and International Studies, she headed straight to France, and has been living in the little known Rhone-Alpes region ever since.  She uses her first-hand knowledge and close business relationships to provide her clients with a very intimate and unforgettable experience.   Tourists from around the world flock to the Eiffel Tower in Paris and the Pope’s Palace in Avignon.  However,  very few people know about the delectable truffles of the Drome that are shrouded in mystery, or the rich tannins that characterize the red wines from the exclusive Cornas appellation.

What is it that you do exactly?

I organize custom holidays for people who are interested in a completely original French experience.  Basically,  I design a client-specific itinerary that includes restaurants, hotels, excursions, transportation, and whatever else is needed to provide the ultimate vacation.   I first speak at length with the client in order to understand what are, for him, the most important aspects of the trip.  Equipped with this information, I contact each service provider to lay out a program that will both include all the clients’ wishes and add a few pleasant surprises.  I have personal relationships with each business with which I work, thus enabling me to offer unique experiences that usually surpass the highest of expectations. Once everything is organized, I personally greet the client to make sure he has arrived safely and has settled in to his new surroundings.  I am on call for the entire trip, should any questions arise or last minute changes be necessary, which provides a little extra reassurance to the client. 

When I am not working on specific programs, I devote my time to discovering new people and places to add to my portfolio.  I’m always on the lookout for something new and original.  This often involves my spotting an interesting building or sign, which leads to further investigation, which in turn develops into the discovery of a fantastic restaurant, or hotel, adventure that simply must be shared with others (although not too many, of course).  It is very important to me that I have personally experienced each service I offer, so that I know my clients will enjoy only welcome surprises.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

What I enjoy is twofold.  I love being able to impart my knowledge to other people.  It’s such an incredible feeling when a client is enthralled by his meal in a tiny, off-the-map bistro where I have been dining for years.  But I also love when I make a new discovery to add to my portfolio.  It’s as if I have happened upon a marvelous secret that is only begging to be shared.

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

Kauai – the island is absolutely beautiful, with its hidden waterfalls, enormous beaches shaded by cliffs, and the amazing snorkeling!

Stockholm – the city is so alive, and the people incredibly hospitable.  We had a fabulous dining experience at “Grill” right in the city centre.

Maison de la Pra – this B&B in Valence, France is a remodeled 15th Century private mansion.  The owner has done everything himself, from the cast-iron light fixtures, to the dining room table, to the impressive wine-tasting cellar.  Henri-Jean is so enthusiastic about his creation and his city, it’s impossible not to enjoy it!

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

A recent lunch I had in Saou, France was remarkable in every sense of the word.  The setting was breathtaking, with the Pre-Alpes mountains as a backdrop and the main square of the tiny village as the restaurant terrace.  The service was exceptional, as the owner took care of us and made sure everything was to our liking.  The food was divine; I had a ingenious dessert of aubergine sliced paper-thin served over an avocado and hazelnut purée. Finally, the company was fabulous, which is always primordial.

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

One of the essential elements of Red Balloon Travel is that very few people know of the places I send my clients.  While Brad and Angelina are not far away in Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, my clients often feel it is much more interesting to partake in something a little more personal and exclusive, far from the flashbulbs and glory.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I would love to visit Peru.  I love France, but it is my home now, so it’s always interesting to see other countries.

Thank you, Jeni. If you don’t mind, I might just have to ‘pick your brains’ a little before I next visit France.

The Evian Royal Palace hotel – which I reviewed on this blog back in 2006 – is enjoying its centenary celebrations and now has more cause to celebrate because it has gained a 5th star. Book a stay at the hotel for any dates in July 2009 and you can enjoy a 100 € per room and per day credit.  The same offer extends into August at the resort’s sister hotel, the Hotel Ermitage.

To commemorate World Environmental Day, on 5th June 2009, Luxury Properties Europe – a specialist in both sales and long and short-term rentals – is launching environmental guidelines to stimulate their worldwide clientele’s awareness. In each and every one of their properties located in France, Italy, Switzerland or Greece, there is an Environmental Guide with 8 daily tips for eco-friendly home improvements.

Alain Ducasse has opened a new cookery school this month… where  you are the chef.  The Ecole de Cuisine in Paris is about learning, sharing and getting to know the universe of tastes of Alain Ducasse. Everything is mixed in a unique atmosphere in a school created by Pierre–Yves Rochon. Cooking, pastry-making and wine-tasting courses take place in four kitchens – Cèpe, Truffe, Olive and Piment - all equipped by Perene and with advanced Miele facilities. Ducasse has entrusted the keys of his school to Hotel Le Parc Paris executive chef, Romain Corbière.

Luxury operator Sanctuary Retreats has added a luxury villa in St Tropez to its portfolio in time for the Cannes Film Festival, which this year takes place between 13th and 24th May 2009. Sanctuary Retreats has further announced that it still has availability at three of its properties in and around Cannes during the festival.

‘Villa 7’ is a stylish villa designed in the neo-Provencal style. It has stunning views of the bay, the Alps and the village of St Tropez. The property has three ensuite bedrooms and sleeps up to six people. What’s more, ‘Villa 7’ also has a wine cellar, an outside dining terrace and a 17m heated pool set amongst the garden’s palm trees. Cannes is a short boat trip away from St. Tropez.

Chateau des Vigiers Golf & Country Club has a reputation for excellence and the French resort has never been so accessible with the launch of an exciting new offer for 2009. Golfers are being given the opportunity to enjoy a four-night stay in the luxury resort, which is situated in the Dordogne region in the south-west of France, for as little as 405 euros.

The promotion runs until the end of the year and means anyone booking for three nights at Chateau des Vigiers in one of their ’Classic’ or ‘Tradition’ rooms can get an extra night free.  In addition, guests can enjoy four days’ unlimited golf on any of Chateau des Vigiers’ three nine-hole loop golf courses designed by Donald Steel, three three-course dinners in their exclusive restaurants and full access to the spa facilities.

Basking stylishly within the grounds of a beautiful old farm, the ultra contemporary Jiva Hill Park Hotel, near Crozet, France enjoys 35 hectares of its own natural parkland with stunning vistas of both the Jura Mountains and Mont Blanc range. The hotel has taken full advantage of this space, equipping itself with a wide variety of facilities to suit all interests – especially the sporty types!

One of the most incredible features on offer is the EUROLAC water sports centre. This breathtaking 650 metre man-made lake has been created and designed especially for water sports fanatics. Try your hand at wakeboarding, water-skiing (slalom and jumps!), mono-skiing and even barefoot skiing! All equipment can be provided by the hotel, and instructors are on hand at all times.

For those who love to keep fit, not only is there a state-of-the-art fitness suite and large heated swimming pool indoors, the outdoor vicinity offers a 2.5km jogging circuit, a fitness trail, golf practice course, tennis courts and in the winter, skiers can take advantage of the nearby Jura mountains. Bikes are also available to hire and use in and around the grounds for those after more leisurely exercise!

To help encourage guests to keep fit, Jiva Hill Park Hotel is currently offering a two night sports package for just 571€ for two people. It includes two nights accommodation in a Deluxe room on a B&B basis, 1 hour private tennis coaching, 1 hour private golf coaching, and 1 ski pass per person (until 30th March 2009) or bike rental (remainder of the year).

And if just reading this is a little too exhausting – fear not – the choice to laze around at leisure is also available, whether it’s chilling out by the pool, indulging in spa treatments or relaxing in the beautiful sauna and hammam – the choice is yours!