luxury travel (53)

Luxury Golf in the US

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The sweet marriage of golf and luxury consummated itself very early on in the game’s existence in America. Resorts where the country’s gentry had been vacationing long before golf was part of the American sports landscape quickly aligned themselves with the noble game imported from Scotland in the late 1800s.

Golf was being played by 1892 at The Homestead, the classic American resort that grew up around the healing natural springs in the Virginia mountains. Three years later the game landed at

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Consider the following:

 

>> Small companies operate the majority of business aircraft. Most companies with business aircraft have fewer than 500 employees.

>> Business aircraft users have a major presence in the business world. On average 92% are amongst the most innovative

>> Charter operators and general aviation serve over 5,000 airports in the USA. Commercial carriers serve about 400 which number is declining fast!

>> The business traveler saves up to three weeks per year by avoiding long lines

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Tuscany in the fall. You just can’t beat it. Long gone are the hordes of summer tourists from around the world, who travel in the height of season. It does get dark early and the weather is not balmy, however, in the fall you can live life as it was meant to be, meeting locals when the pace is slower.

Castel - Cyrpus and Lawn Sunrise

 

I came to view the burnt orange colors of sunsets, drive through the rolling hills, eat in gastronomic heaven in small restaurants off the beaten path, and visit medieval villages. Tuscany speaks t

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“Viva Venezia” – The Grand Canal with Dorsoduro and the Santa Maria Della Cathedral

Can a hotel inspire one to travel? In most cases, no. But the Sina Centurion Palace is that unique hotel experience that we all long for… a hotel stay that can change your entire perspective on a city or an area. 

 

The 19th Century Façade – The building is not old in comparison to Venice architecture.

I recently took a trip to Venice, that city of stunning architecture, long narrow canals, bridges, gondolas, the Car

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Sometimes the most authentic way to experience a destination is with a small group led by an expert guide. Such was the case when my neighbor Daira Paulson went snorkeling in Micronesia last year.

“We took a Sea for Yourself snorkel trip to Yap and Palau, where we snorkeled in clear warm water with a wide variety of colorful fish and coral. It was a spectacular experience. The group size is limited (we had nine).

“The company owner, a marine biologist, and another marine biologist who has lived in
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Vienna Travel: ‘I am trying to convince a group of friends to visit Vienna Austria. We are planning our annual city trip. My friends love the good things in life and like culture. Which tips would win them over for a Vienna city break?’, my ex boss recently asked an unusually simple question.

I can actually write a book about the answer. Here are my key winning arguments that will provide the final kick to any culture traveler for visiting my hometown.

 

Two UNESCO World Heritage sites

 

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If you love

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5 Star Hotels in Mumbai

India can be one of the best countries in the apple to appointment and its mix of age-old and avant-garde is a alluring experience. The majority of westerners that appointment are abiding to feel a little ability shock on accession at the arduous cardinal of people, signs of abjection and all-embracing anarchy which is India. However already you get accomplished this it is a absurd country to appointment and has some amazing India destinations. Abounding bodies travelling to India will acquisiti

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“World’s Best” La Valencia Hotel

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San Diego has some wonderful hotels, but none are better loved than La Valencia. “The Pink Lady” has been a landmark in La Jolla since 1926.

 

For many years, I naively thought I was the only one whose heart skipped a beat at the sight of La Sala, where potted palms and traditional furnishings welcome guests to have a drink and enjoy the ocean view.

 

Then, La Valencia made the cover of Travel & Leisure and I realized I wasn’t alone in my admiration of the hotel’s Spanish colonial architecture, clas

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For those who daydreamed through their high school Spanish vocab, el ganso means "the goose." El Ganzo tweaked with a z is also the name of Los Cabos’ newest 72-room Preferred Boutique waterfront hotel which bespeaks of its distinctive  long, white, sinewy exterior designed by HKS Architects.


Situated at the base of the Puerto Los Cabos marina on a fisherman's wharf overlooking the Sea of Cortez, all rooms and suites have limitless ocean views with access to one of Cabo’s only swimmable beaches

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Dubai's Best Luxury Hotels

9296545074?profile=originalThe best travel advice I ever received? “Pick your hotel carefully. More than any other factor, it will color your impression of the destination.”

 
Nowhere is this more true than in Dubai. Travelers who report “it’s just another big city” obviously didn’t make a good choice on lodging.

The problem is that it’s hard to get the inside scoop – advice from someone who’s actually been there. What follows are my recommendations based on having stayed in each of these properties

Jumeirah Beach Hotel

My hus

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Six-Star Hotels? Don't Believe It

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From NMT Images

So far no international classification for hotels exists,but that hasn’t stopped ambitious hotel marketers from slapping any number of stars, diamonds, cacti on their properties and touting them as 5 or 6 or even 7 star properties,whatever that may mean in real service and amenities.

 

I think the ratings inflation trend began with the Xanadu-  frenzy in Dubai, especially with the luxury hotel, Burj Al Arab (Tower of the Arabs), built on an artificial island and billed as a 7-Star s

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Sri Lanka's Amazing Ulagalla Resort

 http://http://www.examiner.com/article/ulagalla-is-an-amazing-destination-sri-lanka

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There are some places so special that one feels the need to tell everyone but at the same time would like to keep it a secret so as not to have it inundated with people. Such a place is Ulagalla Resort in the heart of Sri Lanka. Ulagalla is located between the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Anuradhapura, which was once the capital of Sri Lanka; and about 20 miles north of Dambulla, which is also a UNESCO World Her

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It’s just a decade old, but as you’d expect, this resort on the South China Sea beachfront in the small Malay sultanate ruled by one of the world’s richest men — originally built as a royal palace by the sultan’s very naughty kid brother to the tune of more than US$1 billion — has been in the front ranks of Asia’s top hostelries ever since. With 420 rooms, suites, and villas on a lushly landscaped 45-acre (180-hectare) spread, the palatial joint is awash in soaring columns and all manner of sum
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Hotel Bellechasse - So " Couture "

The Hotel Bellechasse Saint-Germain has an elegant design hotel situated a few steps from the famous Musée d’Orsay and the Louvre, in the heart of Paris.

This intimate, sophisticated to the details: all the interior design has been beautifully conceived and designed by the great couturier Christian Lacroix.

The hotel has 34 rooms decorated with original wallpaper and high-impact stage and decorated with colors, subjects, and furniture pieces that suggest a unique neo-classical and bohemian spirit.

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October 2010 - Historical charm meets cutting edge cuisine at The Restaurant at Winvian, http://www.winvian.com
where exceptional food, flawless service and luxurious yet comfortable
décor has been recognized by AAA and received the prestigious Five
Diamond Award for 2011. The Five Diamond accolade is the highest level
award given to lodgings and restaurants by AAA.

At the helm of Winvian's kitchen is Executive Chef Chris Eddy, a
culinary architect, whose ever-changing menu highlights only the
freshest
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Mandarin Oriental Hotel Bangkok - Sublime!

Our recent trip to Asia solidly cemented my opinion that South East Asia is still very grateful and anxious to encourage tourism.  Thailand, in particular, really set itself apart from any other place we have traveled to.  Our stays at both the Bangkok Mandarin Oriental, and the Mandarin Oriental Dhara-Devi in Chiang Mai, were superlative.  Having experienced these hotels first-hand, I can see why the Mandarin Oriental chain is consistently voted as having some of the top hotels in the World, wi

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The minute I stepped into the lobby, I knew this was going to be a special vacation. 

I took in the fresh scent of lemongrass as I eyed the beautiful surroundings – check in desks to the left, softly curtained sitting areas to the right and the bright blue water of an infinity pool in the back. On the beautiful white sand beaches of Cancun this 260 room Palace resort  is 25 minutes from the  airport in the  hotel zone within walking distance to a Flea Market, Mall and restaurants. But you will ha
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Philadelphia is home to America’s most historic square mile.  While that may seem like a small area, once you start walking from place to place it isn’t so save steps and stay at the Omni Hotel Independence Park.  It is just a few steps from Independence National Historic Park, the Liberty Bell, the Betsy Ross House, and all the must-see sight. Plus, the Four-Diamond luxury Omni Hotel is the perfect place to rejuvenate at the end of the day.

 

From the minute you are greeted by the doorman and en

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A couple of nights ago I got to join a group for a little soirée like quite a few I've attended in some of the glammer circles of South Beach. The venue was a line of ten sleek white cabanas facing the ocean, stocked with bubbly, shrimp and crab legs, decadent desserts, and lots of Ketel One. A DJ spun global lounge sounds, and between sips, noshes, and gazes out at the busy beach and the ships in the distance we all happily dished about the latest doings in South Florida and beyond.



Except t
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by David Paul Appell

On my most recent visit to Iberostar’s ginormous Playa Paraíso spa facilities on Mexico’s Riviera Maya below Cancun, I decided to take a more in-depth look at the modern, elegant spa used by guests at all five resorts here. Situated at the back of the quaint town-plaza-style resort shopping center, it’s an impressive two-story affair open 365 days of the year, with 25 shower-equipped treatment rooms, each of which is identified by a mysterious-sounding Maya name (don’t worr

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