A Luxury Travel Blog

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.

Halekulani, one of the world’s finest and most acclaimed luxury resorts, and Gourmet, the magazine of good living, have gathered together leading Asian culinary masters for an unparalleled epicurean experience at this iconic Hawaiian resort.

From 13th to 15th November 2009, connoisseurs from around the world are invited to join hosts Sara Moulton, Gourmet executive chef, and Vikram Garg, Halekulani executive chef, as they lead guests through a weekend of authentic tastes, intimate seminars, chef-led farm and market tours, hands-on cooking demonstrations and cocktail parties featuring Vietnamese, Japanese, and Indian master chefs.  Follow this link for the full schedule.

Three-night event packages start at $1,480 per person and include three nights at Halekulani and access to all events.

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

Ideally located on Hawaii’s breathtaking island of Kaua‘i , the newly-opened St. Regis Princeville Resort introduces an unparalleled level of sophistication and serene luxury to one of the most remarkable destinations in the world. Following a multi-million dollar renovation, the iconic resort has been transformed into an elegant reflection of its island home, paying homage to the land and culture. The resort features 252 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, including 51 premium ocean view suites, the elegant Halele’a Spa, Prince and Makai Champion golf courses by Robert Trent Jones II and Kaua’i Grill by world renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten.

Chef Robert McCormick of the Hotel Hāna Maui takes pride in his ability to source just about all he needs to create his acclaimed cuisine right from Maui itself — and often from within just a mile or two of the isolated, idyllic resort. To host an ideal evening featuring a five-course dinner paired with fine wines, the hotel reaches out to the mainland, inviting renowned second-generation winemaker Kathleen Heitz Myers to share her expertise and select vintages with a few fortunate guests.

On Saturday, 29th August 2009 at 7:00 pm, guests will assemble at the historic Plantation Guest House for a reception followed by the five-course dinner and lively, authentic entertainment by the Hotel Hātna-Maui Musicians & Dancers. Come and discuss the wines with Kathleen Heitz Myers, daughter of founders Joe and Alice Heitz, and now President of Heitz Cellars. Take away a deeper understanding of the wines and the cuisine — and a bit of the magic known as ‘the spirit of Hāna.’

The cost of the event is $150 per person, plus tax and gratuity, and includes reception and 5 course dinner.

Shira Lazar currently hosts Mahalo’s This Week In YouTube and is the Editor-At-Large for CondeNast’s Jaunted.com travel blogging from around the globe. Previously, Shira hosted NBC’s 1ST LOOK and OPEN HOUSE, DirecTV’s HAVOC ON THE 101 and was a correspondent on Reelz Channel’s DAILIES. She has developed and hosted online video content for Movies.com, Hollywood.com, Live Earth, Yahoo! TV, Verizon VCAST and more. She was recently the official video blogger of Internet Week, red carpet host for the 2009 Webby Awards and participated as a social media maven on Ashton Kutcher’s 24 HOURS AT SUNDANCE. Shira is a frequent guest on Fox News Channel, CBS and CNN as an entertainment and travel correspondent. As a crossover personality and hybrid journalist, Shira Lazar continues to bridge the gap between old and new media and be a voice for the millennial movement.

What is it that you do exactly?

On an ideal morning, after checking and answering Eastcoast emails on my crackberry and laptop, I enjoy starting it off with a workout- I either go to the gym to train, jog outside or do bikram yoga. I also love green tea in the am- that’s my go-to energy booster. Then it’s off to meetings and shoots typically around the entire city. I work on a lot of projects at once, so I’m never really in one place. Currently, I am working with MasterCard on their “Break in Their Jeans” promotion.

Sometimes, I get called in the AM for a last minute live shot for CNN or Fox News. I live very much on the go, so I have to be ready for whatever comes my way. I always keep the essentials on me to the point where at times it looks like I’m living out of my car. My evenings are typically packed too- sometimes I have to cover a red carpet or host/moderate an event. If I have time, I’ll set up a business dinner at a fun spot. By the time I get home in the evening, if I’m not too tired I’ll continue emailing, blogging and tweeting up a storm. Then it all starts again the next morning.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The amazing people I get to meet that constantly inspire and challenge me. I also love to simply make people happy and bring them access to individuals, stories or experiences they don’t have access to or otherwise wouldn’t know about. Bringing my voice to bigger issues that create a positive impact for the world is also truly rewarding.

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

Patagonia, Chile – When you look around you all you see are snowcapped mountains, acres a flat green land and aqua lakes. The air is so fresh too. They don’t call it a hikers paradise for no reason.

Kauai, Hawaii – This is my ultimate vacation spot. The moment you get off the plane, it exudes this calming energy. The island has this jungle vibe complete with fresh fruit stands and incredible beaches, which make you feel like you’ve really escaped reality. I usually get a beach house on Anini beach, where you can wake up and within a few steps be lounging in the water.

Tarifa, Spain – Tarifa is located at the southernmost tip of Spain, and is the ultimate surf town. The white-sanded beaches stretch for miles, where you can also hike and take a dip in some amazing natural ponds. After dinner, I would sit on the beach, look out onto the horizon and see the lights of Morocco. It’s a very special and quaint spot.

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

I’m friends with a lot of chefs so this is a hard question, because I’ve had so many incredible dining experiences. One of my longest dining experiences went from noon until 6pm at one of my favorite Italian lunch spots in Los Angeles, Café Mauro. I also had the most amazing one-of-a-kind cured salmon recently at the Beverly Hills Hotel that sells for over $100/pound. One of my most authentic dining experiences though might have recently been in Chile where we went rock climbing and then set up an entire picnic in a cave looking out onto the mountains and lake. It was low-key, but such a memorable moment.

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

Being in Hollywood and working in entertainment news, I’ve had countless encounters with many celebs. I’ve been drinking at Four Seasons and Britney Spears flies by. I’ve worked closely with Ashton Kutcher at the Sundance Film Festival and interviewed everyone from the classics like Al Pacino and Steve Martin to Angelina Jolie and George Clooney.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

Space travel. I want to go with Richard Branson on Virgin Galactic in Space and live-stream the entire experience.

Thank you, Shira. You are clearly a very busy person and I appreciate you taking the time to take part in an interview on A Luxury Travel Blog.

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.

I’m noticing an increasing tendancy for people involved in the luxury travel to turn to social media tools and more innovative ways of getting their message across online.  One such example is OutriggerHawaii.com which is celebrating its first birthday since its launch. Departing from the traditional hotel Web site, it showcases the allure of Hawaii by featuring unique stories and video vignettes that capture the spirit and adventure found only on the Islands. Launched in July 2008 by Outrigger Enterprises Group, the destination Web site has won several awards for sharing the culture, history, and beauty of Hawaii, with people around the world.  It certainly seems to be a little more pro-active than many hotel websites in getting across information such as local events, and by updating its blog.  It also uses the likes of Twitter, Facebook et al.  What do you think?  Will we see more luxury travel businesses making use of social media tools?

These days, restaurant menus are so descriptive they read like fine literature. And with all the scrumptious-sounding descriptions of foams, emulsions, purées and reductions, it’s tempting to bathe in the dishes rather than eat them.  Actually… now you can!

Order up a treatment from the new Apothecary Menu at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai’s Spa, and both your body and spirit will benefit from Hawaii’s freshest local ingredients. When you book a wrap or scrub at The Spa, which has just undergone a $7 million facelift, a Spa Concierge will create a custom blend just for you. Featuring more than twenty Hawaiian ingredients, the Apothecary Menu takes its inspiration from the Big Island’s long tradition of healing with natural elements. Your custom blend will be based on physical characteristics, scent preferences and overall needs for well-being.

Need some exfoliation? Try crushed macadamia nuts, coconut or volcanic pumice. Craving a detoxification? Kona – a green, deep sea clay – should do the trick. Ready to be soothed? (And really, who isn’t?) Your custom blend might include essential oils of juniper, birch, rosemary, lavender, Vitamin E and grape seed.

A luxury AAA Four Diamond resort, The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii is offering a new adventure package which includes admission to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, plus you can enrol in one of the many classes offered by the Hawaii Volcanoes Institute, an educational arm of the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, and a non-profit organisation dedicated to the education of Hawaii Island geology, biology, history and culture – an ideal opportunity for the visitor who would like a bit more than just sand and surf during their Hawaiian getaway.  Guests can experience a variety of educational opportunities ranging from monitoring Kilauea’s vital signs to learning basic birding techniques about Hawaii’s endangered birds. Package includes deluxe accommodation, daily breakfast for 2, daily tennis, Fun in the Sun Activity passes, a picnic lunch for two, enrollment in a Hawaii Volcanoes Institute class, and a donation to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park through the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to be used to support the threatened and endangered species at the park including the Hawaiian Petrel (seabird), Hawksbill Turtle, the Mauna Loa silversword, and the Hawaiian Nene Goose. Prices from USD449 per night including taxes. Three-night minimum stay required. Valid until 20th December 2009.

Featuring newly remodeled guest rooms, a refreshed spa and fitness centre, updated restaurant and lounges, remodeled beach and pool, and up-to-the-minute technology upgrades across the resort, Grand Wailea’s charm and founding elements of trees, water, flowers, art, light and sound more prominent and enjoyable than ever.

$50 million in renovations has seen guest rooms re-designed to create a unique and luxurious residential experience consistent with The Waldorf Astoria Collection, welcoming guests with a tasteful blend of Western and Polynesian décor, including new carpeting, freshly-painted walls, beautiful dark wood furnishings and 37” flat-screen televisions. The bathrooms have been enhanced with new frameless shower enclosures, upgraded fixtures, lighting and artwork, complimenting the existing oversized soaking tubs, marble vanities, and sinks and accessories.

The Wailea Canyon Activity Pool has been restored with fresh colour schemes and seven separate pools including a baby beach, seven waterslides, the world’s first water elevator, caves, waterfalls and Jacuzzis, have all been re-tiled and re-plastered to enhance guest enjoyment and relaxation in and out of the water. Recently named “Top Hotel Spa in Hawaii” by Travel and Leisure magazine, Spa Grande has also undergone renovations.

Upgrades have also been made to food and beverage venues including a complete renovation of the famous Botero Bar, and private luxury town homes (Ho’olei at Grand Wailea) have been introduced to a gated community adjacent to the resort, ideal for large family gatherings, groups of friends, or anyone looking for more exclusive and spacious vacation options.

In a world where your personal space is only getting smaller, it’s nice to know there’s a place where your world will only get bigger. Ke Kailani’s exclusive 65-acres on Hawaii’s Big Island provide the perfect setting for their airy and luxurious villas, as well as some of the last remaining oceanfront home sites on the Kohala Coast.  And if all that lush open space – including the spectacular infinity pool at their dramatic Kaiola Grotto – isn’t room enough, explore the rest of the 3200-acre Mauna Lani Resort for privileged access to its luxurious amenities.

AAA has announced the 2009 AAA Five Diamond Award winners. Ten establishments have been added for a total of 103 hotels and 59 restaurants that have achieved Five Diamond status, the travel authority’s highest rating for hotels and restaurants. For 2009, six hotels were added to the list: The Beverly Hills Hotel and Bungalows, Beverly Hills, CA; Montage Laguna Beach, Laguna Beach, CA; Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, Westlake Village, CA; The Ritz-Carlton, Palm Beach, Manalapan, FL; InterContinental Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta, GA; and Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, St. Louis, MO. The four dining additions are Addison, San Diego, CA; Chef Mavro, Honolulu, HI; Restaurant Guy Savoy, Las Vegas, NV; and The Pavilion Antigua, New Winthorpes, Antigua.

Representing the upper echelon of the hospitality industry, AAA Five Diamond Award winners make up just 0.28 percent of the 58,000 Diamond Rated lodgings and restaurants throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

Enjoy up to 40% off the prevailing rate at Hyatt Regency Waikiki Beach Resort and Spa. Take advantage of this discounted rate through until 26th December 2008.  Aloha has many meanings. It could mean hello, goodbye, love or great rates at this amazing resort.

Enjoy five nights accommodations at The Kapalua Villas with VIP passes to an exclusive sky box located on the 18th hole (15th-19th October 2008 only) You’ll also get a one hour golf clinic for two with an LPGA Tournament Professional at the Kapalua Golf Academy.  See their website for further details.

Owned by the famous McCormick Spice family, The Onion House is a unique architectural oddity that has now been made available to rent as a holiday retreat. It can be found in Kailua Kona on Hawaii’s Big Island and was built by the celebrated architect Kendrick Bangs Kellogg, designed to take full advantage of its natural tropical surroundings. The property has garnered a great deal of media attention since opening and HGTV chose the master bedroom of the house as one of the top ten ‘Most Romantic Bedrooms’ in the world.