A Luxury Travel Blog

Although arguably not as famous as the Lonely Planet books, Moon Handbooks have been in production for over 30 years and are renowned for their wide appeal, from families through to solo adventurers.  Landing on my desk recently was their guide to Tahiti written by David Stanley.

The first thing to note is that the author is a travel writer who has travelled extensively and spent a considerable amount of time in the Pacific. (He’s also written Moon Fiji and Moon South Pacific.) Indeed, he’s visited well over 200 countries and it’s clear that the research he carries out is meticulous.

There is extensive background information on the history of the various islands, some insights into the culture, as well as practical information on the sights not to be missed and the best places to stay for a variety of different budgets. The maps and pictures – an essential ingredient of any good travel book – are very clear, albeit mostly in black and white.

Tahiti isn’t actually somewhere I’ve ever been, but this book – now in its 7th edition – nevertheless makes for very enjoyable reading and certainly whets the appetite for making a trip there one day.  If on the other hand you are already booked to go, I’m sure you’ll find the publication invaluable.

I recently received a printed copy of Dan Poynter’s Air Travel Handbook – a goldmine of information for the travel enthusiast and, in particular, the frequent flyer. It’s not really the kind of book that needs to be read from cover to cover but instead is easy to dip in and out at any point and learn anything and everything you want to know about air travel.  Its coverage really is extensive, covering everything from packing to making the most of airline frequent flyer programs.  A huge amount of research has gone into compiling the publication, and the book is packed with references to further online sources of information.  For this reason, I would suggest you opt for the eBook rather than the printed edition as you’ll be able to click on the links rather than have to copy them from the book into your browser. The author, Dan Poynter, is clearly a seasoned traveller – he is a licensed pilot himself, travels almost 10,000 kms every week and has completed more than 20 round-the-world itineraries.  That alone should be make him a pretty good authority when it comes to flying!

A Luxury Travel Blog has teamed up with the publishers Thames & Hudson to offer you a great chance to win one of 5 copies of the fabulous book ‘Dive in Style‘ by Tim Simmond. I have a copy of this beautiful book myself and it contains over 700 fabulous illustrations of where you can “chill, snorkel and dive”… a must for anyone who has a passion for the most luxurious diving spots around the world!

To be in with a chance of winning, all you have to do is comment on the posts within this blog. The five readers with the most approved comments during the remainder of August and September 2010 will each receive a free copy of the book. (Naturally, comments need to be of a certain quality, otherwise they won’t be approved.) So… what are you waiting for? Have a browse of the blog – there’s literally thouands of blog entries which you can discuss – and comment away!

Daunt Books, the travel specialists, has launched an online resource for discerning travellers.  Mimicking the unique design of the shops where the books are arranged by country, the user can browse the careful selection of guides, non-fiction and fiction which have all been personally recommended and reviewed by the knowledgeable staff.  Whether you’re looking for a guide to the most luxurious hotel or a well-written and engaging piece of non-fiction that really explains the history of the place, this online boutique will certainly point you in the right direction.

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

• Craving for Travel: Celebrating Life’s Moments
• Check out the luxury spas portfolio from Johansens
• Rollable travel shoes (!) from Spare Pear
• Boutique chic from Villa Elena, Sicily

We are delighted to announce a new competition. A Luxury Travel Blog has teamed up with Blurb to offer you a great chance to win one of five £50 vouchers to use on their website.

An online creative book publishing platform, Blurb allows everyone and anyone to create their own coffee table book. Perfect for those treasured memories, or that once in a lifetime trip away.  Using Blurb’s free proprietary software BookSmart (available to download via the Blurb website)  you can start creating your photobook in no time, helping you re-live those fantastic memories.

Photobooks based on people’s travels around the world are among the most popular books published on the Blurb platform, and we’re offering 5 lucky readers the chance to make their own book for free.

All you have to do to win is comment on this blog entry, telling us why you deserve one of the vouchers the most, by 31st January 2010. The five comments picked out by the kind folk at Blurb will each receive one of these great vouchers.

So… what are you waiting for?  Tell them why you deserve to win!

To be notified of other great travel competitions, sign up at Travel Competitions.

The Leading Hotels of the World annual directory for 2010 was released worldwide this week.  There are 13 new Leading Hotels in the handsome hardcover volume which showcases more than 450 members in over 80 countries across the globe.  They are as follows:

Royal Spa Kitzbühel, Jochberg, Austria
The Augustine, Prague, Czech Republic
Kameha Grand Bonn, Cologne, Bonn, Germany
Verdura Golf & Spa Resort, Sicily, Agrigento, Italy
Hotel Villa Magna, Madrid, Spain
One&Only Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
Chateau Star River, Guangzhou, P.R. of China
Zendai Hotel Yin, Shanghai, P.R. of China
Capella Singapore, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort, Riviera Maya, Mexico
Bristol Buenaventura, Buenaventua, Panama
Tivoli São Paulo Mofarrej, São Paulo, Brazil

It’s not every day you get to dine with the dead.  Sign up for Four Seasons Hotel Dublin’s “Discover Dublin” package and you’ll be treated to an authentic evening that leaps right off the pages of James Joyce’s  famed short story, The Dead. You’ll feast as Joyce’s characters did, with the very same hearty menu. For dinner, you’ll enjoy chicken, spiced beef and baked ham with cloves and floury potatoes. For dessert, it’s plum pudding, custard with nutmeg, blancmange, red and yellow jellies, Samarian figs, peeled almonds, raisins and small chocolates.

All the details are plot-perfect, right down to the tabletop decor, which features a vase with stalks of celery and a pyramid of apples and oranges flanked by decanters of sherry and port. The soundtrack to this exclusive evening? A reading of Joyce’s work by an experienced scholar — and yes, he’ll even take requests and lead the group in discussion.

A mobile version of Hg2’s groundbreaking new restaurant guide, Eat New York, goes live on UBI UBIâ„¢ today. It’s  the only high-end restaurant and travel guide designed exclusively for the smartphone platform. With  a unique take on the restaurant world, Eat New York is designed specifically for savvy residents and sophisticated travellers, with 150 insider recommendations from well-known chefs, restaurant critics and wine experts. Alongside the finest of fine dining, Hg2 Eat New York highlights the out-of-the-way, the hidden and off-the-beaten-path – from hole-in-the-wall sushi bars that serve the best sashimi outside Japan to an oenophile’s dream wine list at a Michelin-starred restaurant.

The Great Hotels Organisation has officially launched the Special Hotels of the World 2009 Exclusive Travel Collection Directory. The latest edition includes a hand-picked selection of over 50 of the world’s best hotels that offer something special or unique to the discerning traveller. The new coffee-table style directory features breathtaking photography, hotel facts and tips on restaurants, spas and local attractions.   Special Hotels of the World also provides consumers a luxury travel advisor service online. This includes 24/7 live chat where clients can discuss their travel needs in real time with an advisor.

Think Louis Vuitton and you instantly think ‘luggage’.   But, unbeknown to many, there is another aspect of the LV brand – Louis Vuitton City Guides – which has been running for 10 years.   The 2009 edition is out now, featuring many new destinations. They will be available from LV boutiques worldwide from tomorrow.

I’ve managed to get my hands on a Sony PRS-505 Reader which has been out in the US for a while now, but has only recently become available in the UK through the High Street retailer Waterstones  (priced at £199).   As soon as I opened the box, I was immediately struck by the look and feel of the product. It is approximately the size of a standard DVD case and  comes complete with a smart leather cover.

First things first, though… what is it?   In short it’s a device that has the ability to store eBooks (as well as  PDF files, Word documents… and even other file formats such as  MP3s).   What this means is that when you travel, you  no longer  need to pack multiple books into your luggage.   Instead, you can just transfer files into your reader or on to a memory stick or SD card that you can use in conjunction with the reader.

It’s quickly apparent, therefore, that this is a traveller’s dream, particularly if you’re a bit of a bookworm or you’re sometimes away for long periods of time. It’s really light and compact, weighing just 9 ounces (without the cover) and measuring only one third of an inch thick.   When you consider that it has the capability to hold 160 eBooks, you begin to truly appreciate its weight-saving potential.

Two memory card slots allow for thousands more books and a healthy battery life will ensure the device can keep on working for up to 7,500 page turns (with significantly faster refresh rates than the previous model).   Other neat features include a bookmark button that allows you to mark your place in the text, and the use of  e-ink which allows pages to be displayed very effectively, yet  without the need for backlighting.

Whilst the Sony Reader is unlikely to replace the traditional paperback any time soon, it certainly provides good reason for those who travel regularly to not have to worry about how many books they should pack.   There will always be some who prefer the touch and feel of a real book so it will be interesting to see just how much of a dent this new technology makes upon the traditional market.

The first 5 star hotel to grace the state of Utah is officially Stein Eriksen Lodge. The news came this week with the publiation of the latest Mobil Travel Guide.   It is just one of 41 accommodation establishments across USA and Canada to achieve the top accolade. Stein Eriksen Lodge’s setting within a Rocky Mountain ski resort,  its hot cider and cocoa served by valets to guests as they prepare to ski, and the Glitretind’s fine food were among the reasons cited for the achievement.

Whilst the Mobil Travel Guide celebrates its 50th anniversary, The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs will mark its 48th consecutive  year on the  five star  list, making it the longest-running five star property in Mobil Travel Guide’s history.   That’s no mean achievement! Also  enjoying five star status in Colorado is The Little Nell in Aspen.

Not even a $50 million renovation has been enough for The Greenbrier to re-gain its five star status which it lost back in 2000. The Mobil Travel Guide was released this week with The Greenbrier – which has in the past hosted both Presidents and Royalty –  still stuck on four stars.   Minor improvements are still continuing and the historic  resort’s main restaurant may yet see an overhaul… so maybe next year for The Greenbrier.

With the growth of Web 2.0 and Travel 2.0 (both terms I despise, incidentally), people have talked about user-generated content as though it were the latest craze to grip the world.   However, the reality is quite different – Tim and Nina Zagat of Zagat Survey LLC, for instance, have been using this simple concept offline for almost 30 years, in order to produce their well-known guidebooks.   Now rumour has it that they could be selling their empire… watch this space!