Here’s a round-up of luxury travel stories that have caught the eye this week. To make sure you receive these new weekly alerts in your web browser, please click on the red bell icon in the bottom right hand corner of the page and click ‘subscribe’ (works on desktop only – for other ways to subscribe, please click here). This will also alert you to any other posts on the blog. Should you wish, you can unsubscribe at any time, by clicking on the icon again and selecting ‘unsubscribe’.
Luxury hotel close to presidential palace stormed by militants in Somalia, gunfight ensues
A group of armed militants are laying siege to the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to eyewitness reports of gunfire and explosions at the scene. The luxury hotel is frequented by government officials and politicians. Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to local reports. Witnesses say heavy gunfire can still be heard within the premises, though it’s not clear how many people are inside. Some also said the attackers – four to five militants – had donned Somali security personnel uniforms… [read more]
The world’s most spectacular hotels: 2020 Gold List by Condé Nast Traveller
The “best hotels in the world” have been revealed, according to the 2020 Gold List compiled by Condé Nast Traveller. The annual list by the luxury travel publication highlights some of the most spectacular hotels around the world. Here we look at some of our favorites from the shortlist of 129 hotels, chosen from the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand… [read more]
Can luxury travel give Japan’s economy a post-Olympics shot in the arm?
Virtually every time she finds herself enjoying the view or sampling local cuisine in one of Japan’s many picturesque backwaters, Evelyn Teplass-Mugii asks herself why there is not another foreigner in sight. All too often, she says, the tourists are following the well-worn “Golden Route” which links the bright lights of Tokyo and Osaka, with a cultural and historic detour to the ancient capital of Kyoto typically thrown in… [read more]
The luxury yacht that turns into a submarine
It looks like something straight out of a James Bond movie, but this concept might just signal that the future of superyachts is sub-aquatic. Dreamed up by Italian-based naval architect Elena Nappi, the hybrid vessel can travel on both the surface of the sea and underwater. Known as the “Carapace,” it submerges to a depth of 985 feet for up to 10 days at a time, offering amazing views of marine life… [read more]
Why the luxury sabbatical trend looks built to last
A true sabbatical is the definition of luxury. Most people would consider it a privilege to take time away from the responsibilities of work with the intention of exploration, learning without an objective, or for deep inner reflection. While sabbaticals were once reserved for those in academia, in recent years, there’s been a growing trend toward adult gap years — or at least adult gap months. As a result, there are a number of travel companies lining up to become the experts in this area… [read more]
We really enjoy hearing from our readers and would love to hear your views on any of these stories! Please click on the comments below and share your thoughts. Thank you.
Have a story you’d like to share? Please contact us for details.
Paul Johnson is Editor of A Luxury Travel Blog and has worked in the travel industry for more than 30 years. He is Winner of the Innovations in Travel ‘Best Travel Influencer’ Award from WIRED magazine. In addition to other awards, the blog has also been voted “one of the world’s best travel blogs” and “best for luxury” by The Daily Telegraph.
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6 Comments
I read about the attack in Somalia. I think it lasted 7 hours, with 5 dead? Something along those lines. I’m not sure who the civilians were, I assume not political figures. I imagine there will be more information on it now or over the next few days. Very worrying times, and such a sad world we live in when things like this happen.
I wonder if it’s partly a lack of information about Japan at our end in terms of media for travellers, as well as a bit of an unwillingness and worry about going off the beaten path there. From what I know from a friend who went a couple of years back, things are done very differently over there and as amazing as it is, it can be pretty daunting to travel around not knowing what you’re doing, having the language barrier become an issue, not feeling confident in getting yourself to the ‘hidden gems’. I do hope they can change this and introduce tourists to the lesser known areas and generally just make it a little easier for visitors to do it. Japan has been on my bucket list for over 10 years now and one day I’ll make it, hopefully! When I do, I’d like to think I’d go off the beaten track a bit and spend time exploring the less popular haunts.
I have only driven past the Anantara Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman and it is a very different location from most hotels. High up in the mountains on testing roads you really want a 4 x 4 vehicle to access the area.
Oman’s canyon is small compared to America’s Grand Canyon but when you stand overlooking Oman’s version it still feels your field of vision. A stunning area for walking and exploring.
The number of jobs and careers that people are experiencing in their working life is increasing. No surprise then that more people are taking sabbaticals.
Also, I’ve noticed that some of my friends are being made redundant with a financial package, sometimes on “gardening leave”. Some of them are seeing that as an opportunity to travel.
Another factor is the pensions crisis. If you are going to be working until you are 70, before you can retire, then you are going to need a few sabbaticals to get through.
Seems to me that every week on Luxury Travel News there’s yet another super yacht story. I’m not complaining about the choice of stories, I’m just astounded that there’s so much going on in what is such an exclusive market segment.
That yacht is pretty impressive. It looks incredibly slim and streamlined and the interior is very swish. There’s actually a lot on board, more than I thought with the spa and health club and such. I can see the appeal of the submarine element as you’d get such a different experience of the marine life. Shame it’s only a concept, probably won’t be available in our lifetime as they say “so it is impossible to think that a harness like this could be put on the market before 100 years”.
Luxury hotel close to presidential palace stormed by militants in Somalia, gunfight ensues
A group of armed militants are laying siege to the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to eyewitness reports of gunfire and explosions at the scene. The luxury hotel is frequented by government officials and politicians. Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to local reports. Witnesses say heavy gunfire can still be heard within the premises, though it’s not clear how many people are inside. Some also said the attackers – four to five militants – had donned Somali security personnel uniforms… [read more]
Luxury hotel close to presidential palace stormed by militants in Somalia, gunfight ensues
A group of armed militants are laying siege to the SYL Hotel in Mogadishu, Somalia, according to eyewitness reports of gunfire and explosions at the scene. The luxury hotel is frequented by government officials and politicians. Somalia-based Islamist group Al-Shabab has claimed responsibility for the attack, according to local reports. Witnesses say heavy gunfire can still be heard within the premises, though it’s not clear how many people are inside. Some also said the attackers – four to five militants – had donned Somali security personnel uniforms… [read more]
The world’s most spectacular hotels: 2020 Gold List by Condé Nast Traveller
The “best hotels in the world” have been revealed, according to the 2020 Gold List compiled by Condé Nast Traveller. The annual list by the luxury travel publication highlights some of the most spectacular hotels around the world. Here we look at some of our favorites from the shortlist of 129 hotels, chosen from the U.S., Canada, Caribbean, South America, Europe, Africa, the Indian Ocean, Asia, the Middle East, Australia and New Zealand… [read more]
Can luxury travel give Japan’s economy a post-Olympics shot in the arm?
Virtually every time she finds herself enjoying the view or sampling local cuisine in one of Japan’s many picturesque backwaters, Evelyn Teplass-Mugii asks herself why there is not another foreigner in sight. All too often, she says, the tourists are following the well-worn “Golden Route” which links the bright lights of Tokyo and Osaka, with a cultural and historic detour to the ancient capital of Kyoto typically thrown in… [read more]
The luxury yacht that turns into a submarine
It looks like something straight out of a James Bond movie, but this concept might just signal that the future of superyachts is sub-aquatic. Dreamed up by Italian-based naval architect Elena Nappi, the hybrid vessel can travel on both the surface of the sea and underwater. Known as the “Carapace,” it submerges to a depth of 985 feet for up to 10 days at a time, offering amazing views of marine life… [read more]
Why the luxury sabbatical trend looks built to last
A true sabbatical is the definition of luxury. Most people would consider it a privilege to take time away from the responsibilities of work with the intention of exploration, learning without an objective, or for deep inner reflection. While sabbaticals were once reserved for those in academia, in recent years, there’s been a growing trend toward adult gap years — or at least adult gap months. As a result, there are a number of travel companies lining up to become the experts in this area… [read more]
We really enjoy hearing from our readers and would love to hear your views on any of these stories! Please click on the comments below and share your thoughts. Thank you.
Have a story you’d like to share? Please contact us for details.
I read about the attack in Somalia. I think it lasted 7 hours, with 5 dead? Something along those lines. I’m not sure who the civilians were, I assume not political figures. I imagine there will be more information on it now or over the next few days. Very worrying times, and such a sad world we live in when things like this happen.
I wonder if it’s partly a lack of information about Japan at our end in terms of media for travellers, as well as a bit of an unwillingness and worry about going off the beaten path there. From what I know from a friend who went a couple of years back, things are done very differently over there and as amazing as it is, it can be pretty daunting to travel around not knowing what you’re doing, having the language barrier become an issue, not feeling confident in getting yourself to the ‘hidden gems’. I do hope they can change this and introduce tourists to the lesser known areas and generally just make it a little easier for visitors to do it. Japan has been on my bucket list for over 10 years now and one day I’ll make it, hopefully! When I do, I’d like to think I’d go off the beaten track a bit and spend time exploring the less popular haunts.
I have only driven past the Anantara Jabal Al Akhdar in Oman and it is a very different location from most hotels. High up in the mountains on testing roads you really want a 4 x 4 vehicle to access the area.
Oman’s canyon is small compared to America’s Grand Canyon but when you stand overlooking Oman’s version it still feels your field of vision. A stunning area for walking and exploring.
The number of jobs and careers that people are experiencing in their working life is increasing. No surprise then that more people are taking sabbaticals.
Also, I’ve noticed that some of my friends are being made redundant with a financial package, sometimes on “gardening leave”. Some of them are seeing that as an opportunity to travel.
Another factor is the pensions crisis. If you are going to be working until you are 70, before you can retire, then you are going to need a few sabbaticals to get through.
Seems to me that every week on Luxury Travel News there’s yet another super yacht story. I’m not complaining about the choice of stories, I’m just astounded that there’s so much going on in what is such an exclusive market segment.
That yacht is pretty impressive. It looks incredibly slim and streamlined and the interior is very swish. There’s actually a lot on board, more than I thought with the spa and health club and such. I can see the appeal of the submarine element as you’d get such a different experience of the marine life. Shame it’s only a concept, probably won’t be available in our lifetime as they say “so it is impossible to think that a harness like this could be put on the market before 100 years”.