A Luxury Travel Blog

On selected flights during May, Upper Class fliers with Virgin Atlantic will be ‘treated’ to a new in-flight innovation.  More comfortable seats, free WiFi, a new menu or maybe improved cabin staff, you might wonder?  Think again. No… their great idea – which has reportedly been the culmination of the efforts of four designers working for six weeks – is novelty ice cubes that look like Sir Richard Branson’s head.  Yep, that’s it… something I’m sure you always wanted.  Apparently it’s actually a move designed to celebrate the launch of the airline’s new in-flight bar.  Ridiculous though it might be, I guess it will have the desired PR effect.

The annual Cannes Film Festival transforms this charming town in the French Riviera into a bustling hotspot filled with excitement as the biggest celebrities in Hollywood and worldwide come together to celebrate cinema. From local nightclubs, resorts and hotels, luxury Cannes Film Festival accommodation options see a sudden urge every year. Here are some top spots in Cannes where celebrities love to party and unwind.

Luxury hotels

When it comes to Cannes Film Festival accommodation, celebrities are looking for a private and luxurious experience during their stay in the French Riviera. The Eden Roc Hotel in Antibes is an ideal choice to enjoy private pool parties and varied cuisines.

If you are hoping for a more glamorous choice, the Majestic Barriere offers all the essentials of a luxury vacation. From private beaches, multi cuisine restaurants and stunning ocean views, Hotel Majestic Barriere is designed with silk furnishings and crystal chandeliers.

A global name in luxury hotels, the Ritz Carlton is preferred for its ambiance, royal interiors and spotless private beaches. Its close proximity to the festival makes it a favourite among red carpet celebrities.

Restaurants, bistros and cafés

Apart from offering a great assortment of Cannes Film Festival accommodation options, this city is home to several eating joints that dish up delectable food. To enjoy a relaxing lunch overlooking the French Riviera, dine at the 3.14 The Beach.

For a typically French gourmet experience, visit the Auberge Provencale or Moulin de Mougins. Being one of the highlights of the Mediterranean, seafood in Tetou is counted among the finest in the region. La Colombe d’Or allows you the unique opportunity to dine in the presence of priceless paintings of artists like Picasso, Matisse, and Chagall.

Party destinations

For an exciting lunch by the beach, La Voile Rouge is the perfect spot. Known for its popularity among film entrepreneurs, La Voile Rouge is always beaming with life thanks to all-day DJs playing great music.

Le Baoli is a Pan-Asian restaurant that promises a unique dining experience with private parties and special film screenings. For an exciting evening of dancing and a breathtaking display of fireworks, you can hit the Baron Rouge.

Nightlife

The VIP Room in Cannes is a nightclub filled with A-list celebrities, especially during the festival. Pulsating with hip hop beats, this nightclub is a favourite among celebrities like Paris Hilton, Jay Z, Mary J Blige and Beyonce Knowles.

The Nikki Beach in Cannes is a great way to unwind and relax. Offering a great chance to rejuvenate after the festival, this beach club is a favourite haunt of Hollywood stars.

Andy Butler is the Online Marketing Manager at Burger Davis.

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Suite name: Room 601, Corner Alcove
Hotel: The Iron Horse Hotel, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Size of accommodation: 630 sq ft
Cost per night: $189 to $389
Who’s stayed there? Usher, Dave Matthews, Carrie Underwood, Etta James and Tommy Lee.
What makes it special? Room 601 has all the style and furnishings of a cool downtown condo with large windows overlooking the Harley-Davidson Museum, original exposed brick walls and massive wood posts and ceiling.

A stay in the Corner Alcove suite is truly one of a kind. The spacious room offers a seating area with velvet sofa and tattoo-inspired lounge chair perfect for relaxing, along with a luxurious pillow-top King bed to provide a blissful night’s sleep. The large well-lit bathroom features double sinks, a sexy walk-in fluted glass and tile shower and huge rain dome showerhead.

Because of its location in a renovated warehouse, this suite has architecture rarely found in a hotel room. High ceilings, large windows and wall murals hand-embellished by the artist give the room its loft-like feel, while exposed brick walls and original wood timbers speak to its history.

The entire room is outfitted in the best of the best – custom contemporary furnishings, a leather swivel chair and executive desk, luxury bath products and bed linens, and a fully stocked bar make this a room that proves difficult for any guest to leave!

If you would like to be featured as ’suite of the week’ on A Luxury Travel Blog, please contact us.

This November saw the unveiling of a new eco jungle-lodge in Peru’s Tambopata National Reserve. Hacienda Concepcion is the second property under the byInkaterra name, the sister brand to pioneering Peruvian ecotourism company Inkaterra Hotels. byInkaterra launched in 2010 to offer travellers to Peru a more immersive, guesthouse-style experience of the country, without compromising on the renowned quality of Inkaterra’s signature expert guiding or authentic Peruvian hospitality. The first lodge, El MaPi, a 48-room, contemporary designed hotel in Machu Picchu Pueblo, opened last summer.

New lodge Hacienda Concepcion, located downriver from Inkaterra Reserva Amazonica, boasts a guesthouse-style central lodge constructed of natural materials with 8 double rooms, a spacious bar and restaurant and views into the surrounding jungle. Evenings are punctuated by the sounds of the rainforest, with trails around the lodge illuminated by oil lanterns and candles. One of the first guests through the door was Mick Jagger, who booked the entire complex for his family on his recent tour of the country. Guests at Hacienda Concepcion can enjoy authentic Peruvian dishes made from locally-sourced ingredients and complimentary Pisco Sour cocktails at sundown. A shady pathway through rubber and cocoa trees leads to 7 individual cabanas built in the local tribal style set around a natural lake which attracts colourful exotic birds and many reptiles. IN line with Inkaterra’s reputation for conservation and investment in the local natural economy, the lodge is 100% carbon neutral and guests can undertake numerous discovery excursions into the rainforest to observe fauna, wildlife and indulge in twilight walks to spot fireflies, tarantulas, snakes and bushbabies, amongst others. There are also canoe trips down the nearby Madre de Dios river to track caiman and capybara as well as visits to the original Fitzcarrald shipwreck which inspired film director Werner Herzog’s award-winning movie “Fitzcarraldo”.

A 3 day/2 night package starts from $280 per person sharing a double room. Rate is on a full-board basis and includes round trip transportation by land and river, excursions to the canopy walkway, Inkaterra butterfly house and a trip to Lake Sandoval.

So, I’m A Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here has returned to our screens.

For some, this is a cause for celebration and more daily discussions in the office (I’ll bring my earplugs) whilst for others it’s just another addition in a long list of reality TV shows that seem to be so popular these days.

Whilst my own personal attitude on the show might be ‘I’m Not Bothered about Celebrities Get This Off My TV’ you can’t help but admit that the first few shows are usually a good watch. The opening episodes featured parachute jumps and the obligatory disgusting food challenges and I believe the first contestant has already left camp… didn’t take long did it?!

As is the way with many reality TV shows, they love to create contrasts as a means of enhancing the drama, and in this case adding to the humour.

On the one hand you’ve got unfortunate souls sleeping rough with spiders, rats and other nameless creepy crawlies and on the other you have the ever smug and ever likeable Ant and Dec whizzing along on a rather nice speedboat and staying in the lap of luxury, which is where the contestants first were introduced to one another in the opening episode.

That lap of luxury has a name, The Palazzo Versace, a beautiful luxury hotel located on Australia’s alluring Gold Coast.  I think it’s safe to assume that any hotel with the Versace name applied is going to feature a good deal of style. And this one certainly does not disappoint.

Featuring treatments at the Per Aquum Spa, private water salon cabanas for luxurious relaxation, refined restaurants like Vanitas and Il Barocco, and of course, an on-site Versace Boutique – the hotel is the perfect contrast to life in the Aussie jungle.

Your fully branded Versace guest room at the hotel will feature a private bar, whirlpool tub, deluxe range amenities, complimentary Internet and an LCD TV with Sony Playstation.  And that’s only the half of it.

One passing thought that crossed my mind was that if I were a minor C list celebrity who might be on the show’s radar, it would be a good idea to be included on the ‘standby’ list purely to enjoy a couple of weeks staying here. But what if they called you up, I hear you say?  Well, you could always just feign illness I suppose!

Dominic Speakman is the CEO at Destinology.

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Marty Carr is CEO of Carr Golf Travel, which includes the brand Online Golf Travel, and offers bespoke golf travel in Europe and the US and runs several world-class golf events in Ireland. The son of Joe Carr, who won 40 golf championships and was one of the world’s best ever amateur golfers, Marty studied at the University in California before working for five years on Wall Street. He returned to his native Dublin in 1990 to set up the Carr Golf Group.

What is it that you do exactly?

I manage a business of more than 40 staff. I get up early and am in the office at 7.30am each day (when I am not travelling) and I spend a lot of my time in meetings and dealing with emails, but am at my happiest selling. No day is ever the same. I travel and am on the road at least three months of the year. I also attend a lot of international and domestic golf events and also events which we run. Our company manages several golf venues and I visit these from time to time.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The variety, meeting people and working as part of a team. The golf business is all about fun.

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

1) Floridian Yacht & Golf Club – This was a unique club owned by Wayne Huizenga and I was privileged to be a member. The accommodation, the golf course, the clubhouse and the staff were spectacular, but it was so relaxed and so much fun. It has since been sold and is privately owned.

2) I love The Breakers in Palm Beach. I spent Christmas there with my family and it was just fantastic.

3) Doonbeg Lodge in Ireland. This creation by the owners of Kiawah Island is the finest golf links resort in the world.

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

I had an interesting meal a few years ago at Nobu in Malibu. I had just flown in from Ireland and was a little tired. I went out to dinner with Stuart Townsend and the actress Charlize Theron. The food was unbelievable (I love sushi) and I decided to pick up the tab as I was staying with them. Little did I know we were drinking vintage saki and the bill was close to $2,000. Needless to say I will never forget this one.

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

I have been fortunate to meet and play golf with many celebrities over the past 20 years. Dan Quayle and Dan Marino play in our family golf events every year. I have also played golf with Jack Welsh and Matt Lauer (who my brother and I beat in a 9-hole match, this was memorable). I also have played golf with Wayne Gretsky and Catherine Zeta Jones and we have had Michael Douglas, Rush Limbauch, Tom Fazio, Denis Taylor, Arnold Palmer, Bobby Orr work with our company over the years.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I would like to travel around the world for six months. My two girls are 8 and 10, so I will probably have to wait a few years before I can do this, but I would like to visit South America, Australia, Asia, Africa with them over a long period of time.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Marty.  The course at Doonbeg Lodge does indeed look stunning!

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Luke Powers is a passionate traveller, always keen to explore new destinations. But mostly he enjoys exploring his own back yard: greater Cape Town. He loves a slow road trip on backroads, with plenty of time to meet the locals and take loads of photos. He lives in Cape Town and revels in every detail of this popular layered city, especially the City Bowl and surrounding mountains. He is a bit addicted to running, especially on trails. What else? He has a fascination with junk stores, flea markets and left field collectables. He is constantly searching for the perfect cup of coffee and croissant.

What is it that you do exactly?

I am the Managing Director of Africa Bespoke. This means that I am involved in the day to day operations of the business. This includes sourcing new business,dealing with some enquiries, managing and updating the website, blog and socialmedia aspects, marketing, plus going site inspections and educational of our preferred properties. Never a dull moment.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Planning travel for our clients: plotting the trip, pitching it perfectly, matching it to the person’s likes and needs, plus putting it together so that the result is seamless travels. I also really enjoy dreaming up exciting new journeys by combining interesting destinations and activities. Africa has so many unique aspects to explore.

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

Rovos Rail - I recently took this legendary luxury train from Victoria Falls to Pretoria. What a treat! It really is a superb experience, with every detail thought of, incredible service, fine cuisine and the most scintillating wine list one can imagine. Hard to beat just whiling away the hours in the Observation Car reading a novel, talking or playing backgammon to the rhythmic clickety clack of the train.

Jinja, Uganda - Lived in a tent overlooking the White Nile River for 3 months whilst working for a river rafting outfit. We live a simple life on the equatorial forest-lined river banks with the mighty Nile flowing past below, red earth in between my toes. Good beer fantastic people, great memories.

Sabi Sabi Selati Lodge - The Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve is hard to beat. Legendary for its Big Five sightings, it delivered my Big Five dream: a world class leopard sighting. We were guided by a ranger who charming raconteur with and unsurpassed knowledge of the fauna and flora.

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

Tough question as I love my food and restaurants, plus we are lucky to have so many good ones to choose from in the Cape. I would have to say wild boar hunting stew and roast pheasant in Italy, near Rome. Cooked by my Italian cousins and eaten in a medieval village atop a hill. Hard to describe the authentic vibe and tastes.

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

A few years ago in Brazil we were in a small surfing beach village near Salvador, called Itacare. There were very few travellers around, so every day we shared the beach with a small band of English speaking travellers, which included a couple of good looking girls. English speaking girls were a rare find in Brazil, so the singles amongst us got a lot of flak for not chatting them up. No brainer, right? Nothing happened of course, until a couple of days later when the penny finally dropped and we suddenly realized it was none other than Charlize Theron, Stuart Townsend, Kate Bosworth and Orlando Bloom! Our single mates were then forgiven for not attempting their best chat up lines on these Hollywood A listers.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

Nepal – for some incredible trekking and whitewater kayaking.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Luke.  Your responses make for an enjoyable read.

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

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.

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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?

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

Montenegro has just had the sort of publicity Max Clifford would give his Granny’s eye teeth for. Billionaire Nat Rothschild eschewed the usual suspects (Skibo Castle, South of France, Marrakesh)  and held his 40th-birthday party (three fun-filled days, 400 of his closest friends and one million of the Queen’s pounds) in this pristine corner of the former Yugoslavia, so small Wales only fits into it the once.  The column inches this generated for the event and, therefore, the venue has reinforced the tiny tourist-dependent state’s image as the up and coming holiday destination  for discriminating A-listers. So what’s all the fuss about?

1. Aman Sveti Stefan

After a painstaking and agonisingly protracted restoration, one of the world’s leading luxury hoteliers has brought one of Europe’s most iconic postcard images (the fairytale 15th-century island village rising out of a sparkling Adriatic) back to its brilliant best. Sveti Stefan is one of those things: a travel legend that actually lives up to its billing. The hotch potch of old stone buildings tumbling down twisting alleyways is utterly beautiful and ultimately romantic even more so now that its humble fisherman’s homes have been turned into five-star palaces. It ticks the old buzz word: location as well as the brand new one: authenticity. Aman has employed its usual restraint so the cottages remain simple: a vase of fresh rosemary will probably be the only adornment, lighting is based on the old fisherman’s lamps, wives used to hand in the window to will their husbands’ safe passage. Aman Sveti Stefan is where the AAA-list guests for Rothschild party stayed. It is head, shoulders- and knees and toes above anything else in the country and one of the hottest hotels in the Med right now. But Aman’s arrival means Four Seasons, Banyan Tree and Kempinski are all planning properties.

2. Porto Montenegro

This new £500m destination marina is where Rothschild held his main celebration, a disco at the Lido Mar. It’s a very cool beach club, with a stunning 65-metre infinity pool that seems to flow right into the bay beyond. The marina (in which Rothschild is an investor along with Oleg Deripaska) hopes to rival Cannes and Monte Carlo and has berthing for hundreds of super-yachts worth up to £130m as well as waterfront properties, owned by the likes of Eddie Jordan and Novak Djokovik. There’s also a small band of boutique designer stores such as Heidi Klein and a couple of restaurants. Porto Montenegro has a truly spectacular setting,  with craggy limestone mountains crashing into the Bay of Kotor. However, the marina staff bandy around the expression new frontier a lot. Translated that means it’s still only half built. Right now, there’s not a right lot there. It is definitely worth a day’s sunbathing at the lido, which is very sexy, but two days might be stretching the X factor.

3. The natural beauty: Montenegro is gorgeous

A combination of mountains and sparkling sea is always a winner,  especially when they’re fringed by pink pebble beaches. There are lovely medieval towns such as Kotor, which has its own mini version of the Great Wall of China, and the old capital Cetinje which barely registers we’re now in the 21st century. Mount Bjelasica is one of only three remaining virgin forests in Europe and Tara River Canyon, making it the second deepest in the world to the Grand Canyon. There is fantastic seafood and hours of entertainment attempting to pronounce Montengrin place names. A word of advice, it is much easier to say Pljevlja after a few glasses of the local rocket fuel.

Susan d’Arcy is Editor of Spa Confidential.

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There’s a two-week window in Toronto’s social calendar when the whole world is watching – the Toronto International Film Festival (8th-18th September 2011). As a discerning festival that is highly respected in the industry, it always attracts the crème de la crème of Hollywood. With the arrival of the TIFF Bell Lightbox last year – a cinema and entertainment complex that now hosts the film galas – there is a new epicentre to the event.

Previously, wide-eyed ingénues and movie moguls would congregate in the chi-chi Yorkville district famed for its plush hotels, restaurants and bars. Now that the TIFF Bell Lightbox is situated in downtown Toronto’s Entertainment district, the galaxy of stars has dramatically shifted. Thankfully, the newly chosen neighbourhood can easily cope…

The Ritz Carlton opened this year with all the refinement and opulence one would expect of the brand (together with a mega-spa for beautifying), while the Le Germain and the Soho Metropolitan hotels continue to offer discretion and supreme comfort. Those hungry for food as well as fame will be well catered to at Lee (Asian Fusion), Buca (Italian), Blowfish (Japanese), Nota Bene (Continental) and Jacobs & Co (Steakhouse). Celebratory drinks could be quaffed in the exotic environs of Spice Route, the jewel-like dance floor of Dolce Social Ballroom, or in the newest addition to the club scene – Maison Mercer. All have elegant outdoor terraces with cabanas and jungle-worthy foliage, but beware of catching stiletto heels in the perilously gapped wooden decking. Expect to see a falling star…

Stepahnie Plentl is author of A Hedonists Guide to Toronto.

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If you love nothing more than indulging in a little retail therapy, then you’re probably already aware of some of the world’s most famous shopping streets. Here, we look at 5 of the best known shopping streets around the world that are found in some of the most exciting and glamorous cities on the planet!

Oxford Street, London

Perhaps the UK’s most well-known shopping destination, Oxford Street stretches for 1.5 miles from one end to the other and boasts around 550 shops and restaurants meaning there’s plenty of opportunity to splash the cash.

As a general rule, shops here are open from 10:00 to 19:00 Monday to Saturday, except on Thursdays where they close an hour later. Sunday trading times are 12:00 to 18:00, although opening hours may vary on a store-by-store basis.

Oxford Street is probably best known for its large department stores, which you’ll find in the section of the road running between Marble Arch and Oxford Circus, including branches of John Lewis, Selfridges and Debenhams.

You’ll also find dozens of more specialised retailers, so if you’re looking to pick up some jewellery, you might want to visit the street’s Ernest Jones and Fossil stores. For the latest in men’s and women’s fashion, Gap, French Connection and American Apparel are just some of the places you can visit.

Many of the outlets located here are regarded as their respective organisation’s flagship store and as such are often used to host launches and special promotions, with celebrities usually making appearances at these events, particularly for the switching on of the annual Christmas light display. However, you’ll also find A-listers hitting the high street by themselves, with P Diddy and Beyonce among those seen here.

If you need to take a break from scouring the shops for bargains, there’s a whole host of restaurants, bars and cafes on the street that serve refreshments, ranging from fast food establishments like KFC to upmarket Italian eatery Carluccio’s. There are also a number of London hotels in the area so you can base your stay on Oxford Street should you wish to do so.

Fifth Avenue, New York

As one of New York’s longest thoroughfares, Fifth Avenue in Manhattan is for many shopaholics a dream destination to indulge in some retail therapy.

As far as Fifth Avenue goes, it’s between 49th Street and 60th Street where you really go to town with making some purchases. It is here that you’ll find a selection of high-end boutiques and luxury department stores.

Among the many iconic shops you’ll come across is the flagship Saks Fifth Avenue branch. Open since 1924 and selling a wide range of men’s and women’s clothing made by leading European and American designers, this is a great place to upgrade your wardrobe, with DKNY, Burberry and Diane von Furstenberg just some of the brands sold.

If it’s designer jewellery and watches you are after, the branches of Cartier, Omega and Tiffany & Co are sure to delight. Numerous mainstream retailers also have stores here, including Abercrombie & Fitch and H&M.

Sports fans, meanwhile, may want to visit the NBA Store. Here, you’ll be able to pick up jerseys and memorabilia relating to the world’s leading basketball league.

Many outlets stay open as late as 22:00, although times vary between individual stores.

There is much more to Fifth Avenue than just great shopping, as the intersection with 59th Street forms the south-west tip of Central Park. Continue heading northwards and you’ll come to the stretch of the road known as Museum Mile which is home to several cultural institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Avenue Montaigne, Paris

For fantastic shopping in continental Europe, there is perhaps nowhere like Paris’ Avenue Montaigne.

Situated between the bank of the Seine and Champs Elysees Avenue, here you’ll find a selection of high-end stores from some of the leading names in French and international fashion.

The street is some 600 metres long and there are dozens of shops you’ll be able to visit, including branches of Prada, Dior and Chanel. You can also purchase men’s and women’s clothing at the Versace and Ralph Lauren stores, so it should come as little surprise that this is a great place to head to if you want to dress like an A-lister.

Who knows, you may even spot some celebrities browsing the aisles next to you! Katie Holmes and Victoria Beckham have both been spotted at the Giorgio Armani store here.

Via Monte Napoleone, Milan

Located in the heart of Milan’s fashion district, Via Monte Napoleone is known throughout Italy as being a fantastic place to buy watches, jewellery and clothing from the world’s leading high-end brands.

There’s the chance to browse more than 200 stores here, from Marc Jacobs and Rolex to Borsalino and Audemars Piguet.

Ladies looking for the perfect pair of shoes to complement a new outfit may well be in luck. Ugg, Jimmy Choo and Christian Louboutin are just some of the names to have stores here.

Via Monte Napoleone is also a great place to get some designer homewares, as it is home to branches of Royal Doulton, Wedgwood and Waterford Crystal, so there’s bound to be something for you.

Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills

Visit the stores found along Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills and you’ll be shopping in what is commonly regarded as one of the best places for luxury shopping in the world.

Stretching for three blocks along the Californian city, there are around 100 chic stores, boutiques and hotels for you to visit, with Juicy Couture, Dolce & Gabbana and Guess among the many high-end fashion outlets where you can splash some cash.

Breguet and Battaglia are just two places where you’ll be able to buy beautiful watches and jewellery, while the four-floor Rodeo Collection mall has interior design stores and spa and beauty centres. While enjoying a spot of retail therapy along Rodeo Drive, you could well bump into some of the world’s most famous actors and musicians.

Britney Spears, Leonardo DiCaprio and Danny DeVito are just a selection of the stars to have been seen browsing the shops and boutiques here, so well as walking away with some new clothes you might even be able to get a couple of autographs too!

Those who visit any of the above shopping streets will be able to not only shop but explore the wonderful sights throughout the cities in which they are found. The only problem is whether you’ll be able to tear yourself away from the shops long enough to see what else the cities have to offer!

Robin Sutherland is the Managing Director at TravelSupermarket.

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A fire has ravaged Sir Richard Branson’s luxury home, the Great House, in the Caribbean after lightning struck the property during a tropical storm. Sadly, the house has been completely destroyed but thankfully 20 people were able to escape unhurt.  Among them was British actress Kate Winslet, Branson’s 90-year-old mother (who Winslet is believed to have helped carry from danger) and Branson’s daugher, Holly.  Sir Richard was staying at a nearby property on the island when the lightning struck.

Helen Howitt is co-founder, with her partner Adam, of Sheepskin, a small collection of unique holiday properties located in inspiring landscapes throughout the UK. Prior to forming Sheepskin, they both worked in international product development. They left corporate life to pursue a love of travel and a passion for discovering beautiful and unusual places. Some of the most awe-inspiring places they found were in the UK and Sheepskin was formed from a desire to share these with others. Since Sheepskin launched they have continued to add unusual, carefully selected properties to their collection. Sheepskin’s collection now includes 12 properties in Wales, four in the West Country and one in the Peak District; in 2011 they will expand to the Cotswolds and hopefully into Scotland.

What is it that you do exactly?

We are a small, close-knit team at Sheepskin, so on a daily basis I get involved in everything from helping guests organise their stays at our properties and putting together their tailor-made guides, updating our website, blog and social media pages, planning and implementing marketing and PR activities, responding to specific requests from the press with editorial and images, continuing the search for further unique properties to add to our collection and liaising with their owners.

Many weeks I travel out of the office to visit new properties. We only include places where we would love to stay ourselves (in fact we do stay in every one before they join the collection). I work with every owner to ensure that our guests will get absolutely the level of comfort, service and experience that they expect when they stay there. Then I re-visit with our photographer, we take a portfolio of honest yet beautiful images and whilst I am in the house I write the details to represent the house on our website.

Any spare time; I try to spend thinking about where Sheepskin can go next as a business; Sheepskin Snow is next on our list.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

When I am ‘off the map’ on a dirt track somewhere following the owner’s directions to a great new property I think I have the best job in the world but this would leave me feeling a little empty if it wasn’t for hearing how our guests enjoy staying at these places. It’s the best feeling and best part of my job when guests tell us how much they enjoyed their time away and appreciated our help. You know that you have helped someone find a great place to relax and escape for a while and have a holiday that they will remember.

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

My 3 places are all ‘best’ for very different reasons;

1. During our travels in South America, Adam and I drove into the Andes, off the tourist trail to Laguna Santa Rosa. We had a tent with us which we tried to pitch in the hard, salt crusted earth by the lake as we watched the flamingos but as the sun started to set it soon got very cold at 4000m and we resorted to bedding down in the wooden refuge hut. A two room cabin which at a push would accommodate 10 on the floor but it was only us that night (and for some nights before it seemed from the visitor book). With the exception of altitude sickness, this location is one of the most stunning and memorable places I have ever had the privilege to visit and stay. In the middle of the night, we thought about packing up and heading to lower altitude but we persevered and gradually acclimatised and we were glad we did. Sun rise over the lake, surrounded by salt beds, sandstone craggy hills and Llamas was spectacular, we woke early and saw Flamingos bathing nearby in the cool waters. We were sorry to leave but didn’t want to stay another night in case someone else wanted to enjoy the peace and solitude of this beautiful place. This was luxury of a kind that you do not find in many places on earth!

2. Jnane Tamsna and Eco Lodge outside Marakech

We left work on Friday afternoon and late that night we had been transported to another world in a guest house in the Atlas Mountains perched on a hillside at the edge of a village. I don’t normally like these types of places where a hotel is built in the middle of a rural village as it is normally only the owner and the guests that benefit from the arrangement. This place was different though; local villagers had been involved in the restoration and are now involved in running the lodge from the man who meets you at the village café, puts your luggage on a donkey and leads you up the hillside through walnut groves with a tin lantern to light the way, to the people who cook your wonderful meals and the guide who can walk with you into the Atlas mountains each day if you wish.

We were sorry to leave but after 3 relaxing days exploring the mountains it was time to experience Marakech. Wanting to enjoy the hustle and bustle but be able to escape it we had booked Jnane Tamsna in the Palmerie. None of the places here are in the most stunning locations but stepping inside was like a gateway to another world. The eight individual and traditionally furnished rooms where all off the cool, shaded porticos around the inner courtyard. On the night we arrived we didn’t realise that we were the only guests, we came out into the courtyard for dinner to find one table, places in the centre of the courtyard, lit by tens of candles all around it. Day or night it was a tranquil place to relax and unwind. We couldn’t stay still for long though and didn’t need to with Marakech just a few minutes away.

3. I have to mention one of the properties in our collection (and I promise I am not being biased). Adam and I fell in love with Lletty, in the Brecon Beacons, the first time we saw it. We stayed there with friends over New Year and it really is just an idyllic place. All the creature comforts you could want, peace and tranquillity, a private view of the Black Mountains and a real sense of home. On our previous visits we had ensured that the beds were all very comfortable and made extremely cosy with faux fur throws and our Sheepskin bathrobes were all in place. We had picked up a goose on the way from the local butcher so we had everything we needed for a quiet but completely indulgent New Year’s celebration. At midnight we took the Sheepskin rugs outside and sat on the deck watching the fireworks against the inky black, night sky across the valley.

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

Oh my, that’s a difficult one. Food is one of the reasons I travel, to experience the different cuisines of the countries, I keep a food journal whenever I travel.

Normally I would say that the food is more important than the surrounds (you don’t look for air-conditioning and table cloths if you want great, local food in places like Kuala Lumpur for instance) but the meal I will choose was lunch during a trip around South Africa. Near Franschoek we spotted a tiny sign for a vineyard (it wasn’t in the official list but we thought we’d have a look). On the vineyard they had a small restaurant where for some reason we were the only guests. At first we were a little apprehensive particularly with the quite limited menu. But we had a table in the sunshine on a terrace overlooking the vines stretching across the valley so we chanced it and were glad we did. We had, possibly the best fish and chips (no ordinary fish and chips for sure!) I have ever tasted and a magnificent, oaked Chenin blanc all sitting looking out over a tranquil valley under a perfectly clear blue sky. Simple but wonderful!

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

A couple of our property owners are, not quite rich and famous but well known in art and media circles though I do not want to encroach on their privacy by saying more. Mariella Frostrup stayed at one of our properties for the Hay Festival this year though all was organised via her agent so we didn’t exactly rub shoulders.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

I’d like Adam and I to ride our motorbikes from the UK through Europe and eventually into India. Two things are in the way at the moment, first the time it would take is way longer than we wish to be away from Sheepskin at the moment and secondly we would want to do it in style. We’ve done motorbike holidays before, camping on the way, it’s fantastic for a week or so but after that it gets a little tiresome so we’d be searching for great places to stay along the way this time.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Helen.  Regular readers may recall that we ran a special feature on a Sheepskin property – the Music Mill in the Peak District – earlier this year.

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.

George Tyshchenko is Head of Sales & Marketing at national cruise specialist Gill’s Cruise Centre, which is head-quartered in Cardiff and has offices in London.

George has always had links with the sea, having been brought up in the port of Cardiff, and he spent his early working life with the Merchant Navy as an officer with Cunard Line. He has worked in the world of travel, and specifically cruise travel for upwards of twenty five years now.

What is it that you do exactly?

A typical day starts when I arrive promptly at my office based in pleasant surroundings on the outskirts of Cardiff, and settle down with a coffee, liaising with our Sales Division, Analysts and Web team to examine the previous day’s statistics– bookings, revenue, the number of incoming phone calls and web enquiries in response to our adverts. It’s the only way to start the day in order to keep my finger on the pulse.

The next, equally important part of the day involves getting together with our enthusiastic commercial team to decide what key offers to include in upcoming national news adverts, direct mail & e-mail marketing. This is largely driven by daily communication with our cruise line partners, as they can provide up to date news on their activities within the cruise market, and advise of any offers & incentives that may be available to our clients. We work with all the major cruise lines – Cunard, P&O, Princess, Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, Fred Olsen and MSC to name but a few.

When selecting the cruises that feature in our advertisements, we usually look for a good range of itineraries, prices, cruise lengths and destinations so that we can provide the best possible choice for our cruise guests. Gill’s has been selling cruises for over 50 years and over that time we have built up a very loyal following – our regular guests look to us to provide the best possible deals and we work closely with our cruise partners to endeavour to keep one step ahead. That includes educational ship visits to experience the ‘product’ for myself – as a cruise specialist Gill’s prides itself on the excellent first-hand knowledge that our staff have of our cruise line partners and their ships.

I am lucky enough to live on the outskirts of Cardiff, and after my working day is done, I love to run or cycle through the hills behind the city to let off steam for a couple of hours.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

I love my work – it is one fast rollercoaster juggling act, trying to maintain the best possible product mix for our clients. It can get quite intense, especially when it gets close to deadline time, but we’ve a great team here and I love the camaraderie. It’s great finding a good offer, working with our talented design team to discover the best & most attractive way of presenting it, and then seeing it go down really well with our customers – it makes my day!

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

When you say places, I am including ships in that description!

Seaborne Legend: The Seaborne Legend is not a large ship, in fact she’s small and intimate, but the quality of the ship is outstanding. My time on board was a unique and memorable experience. We cruised to Lundy Island, Dublin, Guernsey & Rouen – but it wasn’t so much the itinerary that was special, although that and the company were very pleasant, but the surroundings were sheer, undiluted, unpretentious luxury.

Oosterdam: I would describe my stay aboard Holland America’s cruise ship Ouisterdam as ‘luxury on a large scale’. She has the facilities of a large liner and we enjoyed excellent service to match. We cruised up Mexico’s Pacific Coast, visiting places such as Cabo san Lucas, Mazatlan and San Diego.

Cape Town is my third choice. I have visited Cape Town many times and I would rank it as one of the most stunning places I have visited for its spectacular scenery and the fact that everything is very high quality. It’s a very upmarket city and the seafood restaurants are amazing – and incredible value for money.

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

The Queen’s Grille dining room on Cunard’s Queen Mary 2 – I was privileged enough to take a mini cruise aboard this iconic vessel. I appreciate good food and this was one of the most exquisite dining experiences I have had. I found the whole experience outstanding, from the understated elegance of the dining room and the fine quality of the china and glassware to the incredibly high level of service – she is in a league of her own. It is no surprise that Queen’s Grille dining has been voted one of the top restaurant experiences in the world.

One funny-memorable dining experience for all the wrong reasons is when I collected a take-away from my local Indian restaurant – I was walking out of the restaurant, twiddling my car keys absent-mindedly on one finger, when they span off, flew across the room, and landed in someone’s curry. I made an apologetic exit!

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

I was quite star-struck when I encountered esteemed actor Robert Powell and his beautiful wife Babs of Pans People fame aboard Cunard’s new Queen Elizabeth – I’m not sure who made the greater impression on me! I was also privileged enough to meet the Royal Ballet’s very elegant Principal Ballerina, Darcy Bussell, aboard P&O Cruises’ Azura when she came to name the vessel.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

You may have gathered that my life has something of a food theme going on – I would absolutely love to go back to Mexico to experience a lot more of their fascinating dishes. I would also be fascinated to experience the Northern Lights, and I have long fancied a trip to the beautiful Galapagos islands. Of course, one of the hazards of working for a cruise specialist is that we get to see wonderful images of far flung places every single day and I never get de-sensitised to them – it would be great to have Dr Who’s skills to be able to transport myself instantly to wherever tales my fancy!

Thank you for taking part in our interview, George. Having experienced the Northern Lights in Greenland myself, it’s something I’d high recommend!

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Camilla Shaughnessy is the founder of EventfulStays.com, a UK accommodation website which specialises in mid- to high-end home stays available for short term lets searchable by event. Camilla enjoyed the echelons of senior positions in corporate life before establishing her own consultancy firm in 1994. She went on to launch Eventful Stays in December 2010, inspired by renting out her Oxfordshire home to help generate additional income after the market crash in early 2010 when she and her husband lost their savings. While investigating ways in which to rent out her home – which features a pool house, helipad and gym – Camilla realised that, whilst there are numerous holiday rental companies, none specialise in major event-focused breaks or indeed personal ‘events’ such as special birthdays, wedding anniversaries and hen weekends – and so Eventful Stays was born.

What is it that you do exactly?

I get up at 5am when my head is usually buzzing with ideas and get a couple of hours of work done before the phones start ringing. I look after the day-to-day running of the website, deal with new potential rentals to make sure they adhere to our standards and manage the marketing and public relations teams. By 7.30am it’s time for a break so I go for a run, cycle, do a bit of kickboxing or 60 lengths in the pool. I’m lucky that my office is in my home – my team works from the summer house – so no commuting for me. When everyone has arrived, the office banter begins and we start the day with a motivational chat. As I recruit mainly young graduates I make sure they are involved or know about all the big decisions so they can see the effort that goes into running a new business. They’ve all had to watch me lament the loss of my beloved sports car which had to be sold to pay for the next phase of the website!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Starting a website and overcoming all the hurdles that inevitably brings is mentally stimulating and I’m sure not everyone can say that about their job. I’m also a member of ‘Modern Muse’, which was established last year by the Everywoman network. Modern Muse aims to inspire and motivate young women and girls about business and entrepreneurship. I recruit young, mainly female graduates on paid internships and arm them with the skills needed for a professional upmarket start up business. Once a week, some of the team stay for supper – or as they put it ‘are held hostage’ – so that they can have open and frank exchanges about their hopes and aspirations, ideas and frustrations. I also line up discussion groups with schools and college sixth forms to engage young women in understanding the opportunities that can be made available to those with drive, determination and a bit of imagination. All they need is a little inspiration and to know what is possible. That gives me a lot of satisfaction.

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

I’d say the strangest place I’ve ever spent a night was a luxury converted Double Decker Bus with an on-board Jacuzzi, which I now think of as a great alternative for the more, uhm, discerning festival-goer (that would be doing Glastonbury in style!).

To celebrate my sister’s wedding we stayed at this delightful pousada in Portugal. I’m a big fan of avoiding hotels and B&B’s when a home stay is an alternative, if you haven’t noticed.

I enjoyed a stay at a fabulous Georgian Beach House in Ilfracombe, Devon where we celebrated a memorable winter family reunion. But then our family, being of Irish descent, usually have pretty sizable get-togethers! We just celebrated my father’s 87th birthday at a sumptuous cottage in Gloucestershire. We dined in style and a spontaneous game of water polo turned into a fun riot, as no one seemed to know the rules – or be bothered about them. The kids just looked on in horror at their mad parents until they gave in and joined the fun. My father played referee – needless to say!

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

Well, I once helped out my friend Gerald – the owner of a firm that provides personal bodyguards – by having lunch at The Ivy with a ‘loaned’ team of protectors positioned in and around the restaurant, foyer and outside – with cars at the ready. Best favour I’ve ever done! The bodyguards were on their final VIP training exercise so I stepped in as their client. Needless to say the other diners were completely intrigued – especially as they obviously didn’t recognise me. I then went to Brown’s, where I had a business meeting over tea, and the doorman was completely taken aback when asking if I wanted a taxi, he suddenly realised I had three cars awaiting me. Shopping in Harrods was equally as entertaining. It was like having five husbands watch what you are spending.

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

Well just this week I rubbed shoulders with the Prime Minister at a Conservative lunch and I often see Jeremy Clarkson as he lives about 10-miles away from my home from Chipping Norton.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?

My schedule is pretty punishing so if I went anywhere it would sadly have to be with my laptop and iPhone in hand! But first and foremost is spending time with my husband and son. This summer I have decided to go back to my roots and spend a week cycling and fine dining in Ireland – for the simple reason that my husband would only agree on the basis of the fine dining and my 15-year-old son’s prerequisite was dare-devil off-road biking. My next priority is time with my friends. Perhaps a trip to Scotland to walk, talk and stay in a Laird’s castle. And once the sports car is replaced – definitely a priority – I’ll look at going somewhere warm and beautiful like the Maldives.

Thank you for taking part in our interview, Camilla. I’m off to Scotland myself next month to do a special feature on some very luxurious accommodation on a Scottish island… watch this space for details!

If you would like to be interviewed on A Luxury Travel Blog in order to raise your profile, please contact us.