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]]> http://www.alicemarshall.com/2010/03/11/1570/feed/ 0 http://www.alicemarshall.com/2010/03/08/never-say-never/ http://www.alicemarshall.com/2010/03/08/never-say-never/#comments Mon, 08 Mar 2010 23:04:32 +0000 janet http://www.alicemarshall.com/?p=1515

Always wanted to drive a fast car around cornices (the fancy name for those roads built along the ocean, usually cut into the cliffs), like James Bond? Crystal Cruises can make it happen. This spring and fall, Crystal’s European sailings are bringing guests even more unique shore excursions, ranging from cultural experiences to thrilling explorations.

Go ashore in Scotland to during a round-trip London sailing from August 25-September 5 (11 days) for the Edinburgh Military Tattoo, an annual performance at Edinburgh Castle full of guns, drums and bagpipes. But you won’t be just any attendee – you’ll be sampling Scotch whiskeys, enjoying a three-course dinner and watching from a private box.

Unlock the mysteries of Italian cooking while you cruise from Venice to Barcelona on May 25-June 6 (12 days) by stopping by the palace home of Countess Lelia Passi in Venice. Visit the bustling Rialto fruit market to become more familiar with local ingredients before  arriving at Tiepolo Palace where the Countess will share secrets of the aristocratic culinary tradition as you prepare a delectable meal in any food-lover’s dream kitchen.

And for those with the extreme gene, there is an independent tour of the French Riviera from, you guessed it, behind the wheel of a Ferrari, Lamborghini or Maserati. Simple as that. When you disembark at Cannes, your sports car will be ready for you at the pier. Take her for a spin and do your very best to observe the speed limits. This excursion is offered on the Venice to Barcelona on May 25-June 6 as well.

Never say never again!

CARIBBEAN

Parrot Cay, Turks & Caicos
Getting married at a private island resort in the Caribbean is a fantastic kick-off to a new life.  Parrot Cay offers two beachfront setting for wedding ceremonies – a boardwalk aisle that leads to an unspoiled beach, or the beachfront of a private villa available for rent.  Parrot Cay also insists that stress need not be a part of the preparations; all weddings include the dedication of a planner to assist with all preparations, including reserving the dates, food and beverage details, music and entertainment, photography, and any other service requested.   Parrot Cay can accommodate small, intimate weddings, or can be bought out for larger weddings (up to 120 guests). 

Rosewood Mayakobá, Mexico
Weddings at Rosewood Mayakobá are all about choices – choose stunning outdoor venues like the white sand beach or the Plaza with views of the resort, lagoon, and tropical jungle.  Three different restaurants are available to cater.  Retreat to the privacy of a private plunge pool after the ceremony, or come down a day early with the wedding party and receive treatments at the resort’s spa, Sense, which is its own private island. 

NANTUCKET

White Elephant, Nantucket
The landmark White Elephant offers the perfect venue for an in-town wedding with 64 beautifully appointed rooms, suites, and stunning spa.  The hotel can also accommodate guests in the newly added White Elephant Loft, a luxurious three-bedroom, four-bathroom Loft complete with gourmet kitchen, gas fireplace, exquisite living room and dining room, sitting room, and massive skylights.  Also new this year are the White Elephant Hotel Residences – a collection of 25 one-, two-, and three-bedroom Hotel Residences just steps from the White Elephant.  At White Elephant, Nantucket Island Resorts can arrange for an array of ceremonies, from the sandy beaches of Brant Point Light to the green lawn overlooking Nantucket Harbor. The Sun Deck at the Brant Point Grill caters to up to 60 guests; for larger receptions of up to 300 people in the spring and fall, couples have the option of reserving the entire hotel and holding the reception under a tent on the lawn.   And if the soon-to-be newly-weds need to relax from all the hectic planning, guests can go off to town for shopping and biking, or the 32 miles of beach, while the couple can relax at the White Elephant Spa, complete with champagne and strawberries.


The Wauwinet, Nantucket
For those couples seeking a truly intimate experience, The Wauwinet offers an unrivaled location for the most elegant and classic weddings. Wedding season at The Wauwinet is in May or October, and the inn can accommodate up to 150 guests. Located nine miles outside of town on the peacefully secluded northeast tip of the island, guests can relax in one of the 28 guest rooms with bay or garden views or in one of the four garden cottages.. With a backdrop of Nantucket Bay at sunset, those who wed at The Wauwinet are hard-pressed to find a more romantic location. The Wauwinet offers the services of the highly-lauded TOPPER’S Executive Chef David Daniels who caters food to a pristine tent on the lawn overlooking the Bay.   Pre-wedding jitters can be taken care of with a couples’ massage at The Wauwinet Spa by the Sea.

THAILAND

Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa, Chiang Rai, Thailand
Perched amidst luxuriant tropical forests, Anantara Golden Triangle is culturally rich and naturally beautiful – a meaningful setting for an intimate garden wedding.  The resort offers two wedding packages that include everything necessary to make it a celebration to remember. The “Regal Elephant” wedding adds a Thai touch to the ceremony as the bride and groom share a memorable elephant ride.  

Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, Thailand
The gentle lull of rolling waves and rose petals strewn on golden sand makes a wedding at Thailand’s original seaside resort paradise a favorite.  The “Western Wedding” at the Anantara Hua Hin provides a ceremonial cabana for the wedding, along with cake, decorations, and music.  For a more traditional Thai ceremony, The “Thai Wedding” includes sacred chanting by Buddhist monks during the “Rod Nam Sang” well-wishing holy water ceremony. 

Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa, Koh Samui, Thailand
Choose a stylish indoor ceremony or a beachfront exchange of vows at Anantara Bophut. Awaken to the sound of jovial drumbeats and the festive “Hae Khaan Maak” parade, as the groom escorts his bride from her chamber. Adorned in traditional Thai costumes and flower garlands, tie the knot in front of family and friends, followed by blessings from Buddhist monks and well-wishers during the “Rod Nam Sang” ceremony.

Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa, Thailand
Glide into marital bliss on a catamaran weaving through the islands of the Andaman Sea off the coast of Trang. Anantara Si Kao offers these exotic options for exchanging vows.  For those looking for a more traditional approach, the resort also arranges for land ceremonies and receptions.

MALDIVES

Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa and Anantara Veli Resort & Spa, both in the Maldives, offer several different packages for unique destination weddings.  Wedding experiences offered include getting hitched aboard a yacht sailing through the sea, or walking down a torch-lit aisle to the beat of island drummers.  Both resorts provide for all the necessities of a wedding ceremony; from photographers to flowers and cakes to spa treatments for bride and groom.

Cocoa Island
A private island in the South Male Atoll, Cocoa Island has just 33 suites and villas – so forget about crowds of strangers peering in on the ceremony.  Weddings are Cocoa Island are purely ceremonial (not recognized by law), so maybe the perfect place to take those gorgeous wedding photographs after a less aesthetic wedding at City Hall.

SOUTH ASIA

Uma Paro, Bhutan
Take part in an intimate and spiritual marriage blessing ceremony at the magnificent shrine of the Kyichu Lhakhang, one of Bhutan’s oldest temples. Wed amidst the splendor of this 7th-century temple’s magic orange trees, bearing fruit year-round. During the two-hour ceremony, 20 monks will conduct prayers, accompanied by drums, horns, and cymbals.

INDONESIA

Uma Ubud, Bali
Choose a legal marriage, commitment ceremony, or even a simple, traditional Balinese blessing in the quiet, culture-rich countryside of Bali. Arrange for your ceremony to take place in the remote meditation bale, a site for some of Bali’s most inspiring views of the River Oos and the Tjampuhan Valley. Let the resort do the work for you, covering everything from table settings, to flowers, even traditional masked fire dancers and Balinese music.

Today is International Women’s Day and it’s very clear that Mother Nature has been notified as it is the most gorgeous spring day here in New York City – finally!

It’s also a very appropriate day to recognize strong independent females, like Sue Harmsworth, the CEO and founder of the global spa company ESPA International.   Sue has been working in the spa industry for over 40 years and has consulted on nearly 200 spas in over 60 countries worldwide since she started ESPA in 1993 – quite the accomplishment!

Here is a little advice and insight from Ms. Harmsworth for all women to absorb and consider:  “I have a very female workforce globally and try to mentor them in how to deal with the stress of modern life.  I believe that if you are straight with people it is much easier in the long run.  The world is very small and any attempt to cover up will always be found out.  If you don’t know something, don’t pretend that you do.  Respect other cultures and don’t think our way is the best.  Be open to new ideas and people who know better.  We never stop learning; I learn something new every day.  Have a curiosity about everything and everybody and be aware of everything around you.  Assume nothing, what you say is often heard in a different way.  Believe in yourself, many people can achieve great things.”

Right on, Sue, and Happy International Women’s Day!

• Choice of a 80-minute massage of facial
• Additional 15-minutes of guided meditation
• Full use of the spa’s steam rooms, showers, ice fountains, jet pools, roman waterfalls, and relaxation areas
• Valet parking

Choose from ESPA’s Swedish, Hot Stone, or Reiki Massage (Deep Tissue is available for an additional $10).  Or, for guests more intersted in a facial, the spa offers three types of Super Active facials; ‘Toning, Lifting and Firming’ for those with maturing skin, ‘Calming and Soothing’ for those with sensitive skin, and ‘Repairing and Restoring’ for sunburned vacationers who might have forgotten their sunscreen at home.
The offer is valid until April 30, 2010.  Book in March and guests are invited to participate in a complimentary yoga class hosted Saturdays at 9 a.m.

The FAN prize includes:

• Two-night slip stay for one boat
• Dinner for four paired with house wine at Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant
• Four 60-minute spa treatments at the tranquil White Elephant Spa
• Four tickets to The Whaling Museum

 
 To enter, visit http://www.nantucketboatbasin.com/  by April 1, 2010

Bodysgallen Hall (left) and Hartwell House

In anticipation of greener, warmer months, Historic House Hotels has organized its second year of guided garden tours. The 300-year-old, participating properties include Bodysgallen Hall & Spa in northern Wales and Hartwell House & Spa just outside of London. The historic homes were a gift to The National Trust in 2008. As such, members of the Trust’s U.S. affiliate, The Royal Oak Foundation, receive special concessions at the houses.

Enjoy spectacular views of Snowdonia and Conwy Castle during a three-night stay at the 17th-century Bodysgallen Hall, nestled amidst 200-acres of wooded parkland in northern Wales. From May 18-21, guests can participate in visits to nine beautiful gardens, including the world-famous Bodnant garden and the exotic plant nursery of international plant hunters Bleddyn and Sue Wynn-Jones.

Or channel your inner royalty with quick trip from Central London to the rural landscaped countryside of the stately Hartwell House in Buckinghamshire. Stay for three nights, June 21-24, and explore ten gardens, including the late Nancy Lancaster’s former garden near Oxford, Lord Carrington’s garden at Bledlow, plus some National Trust gardens at Cliveden and Waddesdon Manor. 

Price per person sharing a double or twin bedroom is £1150 for either property. Cost includes accommodation for three nights, luncheon for three days, transport between the halls and garden destinations, dinners, breakfast, a tour of nine or ten gardens, and full use of the spa (including VAT).

The Royal Oak Foundation is the United States partner of the National Trust of England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  Royal Oak members gain free entry to over 300 important historic houses and gardens. The Foundation supports National Trust conservation projects and offers a series of lectures and other public programs across the US on topics including British history, architecture, gardens, and the fine and decorative arts.  As a U.S. not-for-profit organization, membership dues and donations are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

Hyde Park at night (left) and the Belgravia Suite at The Halkin

Holding off on that dream trip to London? Delay no more. As the pound slumps in the world market (£1.00 is equal to about $1.50), one of the world’s more expensive cities is now more affordable for Americans than ever.  Say goodbye to traveler’s guilt!

Book the Ultimate Savings offer at Park Lane’s chic Metropolitan London seven nights prior to your reservation date and take advantage of the irresistible exchange rate. With a minimum stay of two nights, rates start from £179 ($269) for a City Room per night (not including VAT).

Or pop over to The Halkin for an Extend that Weekend Feeling offer. Book three nights (Thursday—Sunday) and save a minimum of 20% on your stay against the best unrestricted available rate. This offer is based on a minimum of three consecutive nights and is applicable to all room categories. Both offers are valid until December 31.

The Academy Awards will be presented in Los Angeles on Sunday, March 7.  But did you know the road to this year’s Oscars actually started at the Nantucket Film Festival?

Three Oscar nominated films, The Hurt Locker, The Messenger, and The Cove, all screened at the 2009 Nantucket Film Festival. Together, they have collectively garnered 12 Academy Award nominations.

Wait! There’s more! Nantucket Film Festival alumni of previous years are also nominated for Academy Awards.

Lee Daniels (Film Festival Alum 2007) is nominated for Best Director and Best Picture, Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire.

Jason Reitman (Film Festival Alum from 2000-2001) is nominated for Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay (co-written with Sheldon Turner), and Best Picture, Up in the Air.

Stanley Tucci (Film Festival Alum 2001) is nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, The Lovely Bones.

Celeb spotting during last year’s Festival included Ben Stiller, Meg Ryan, Ben Foster, Harold Ramis (a.ka. Egon from Ghostbusters), Kathryn Bigelow, Cheryl Hines, Paul Giamatti, Fisher Stevens, Peter and Bobby Farrelly, Lily Taylor, NBC’s Brian Williams and Chris Matthews, husband-and wife-duo (and part-time Nantucket residents) Jerry Stiller and Anne Meara, and director, John Hamburg.

This year, the 15th Annual Nantucket Film Festival will take place June 17-20, 2010, and will be filled with parties, screenings, discussion panels, awards, and more.

Stayed tuned to learn how one lucky couple can win a VIP Trip to the 2010 Film Festival and The Wauwinet!

For more information on the 2010 Nantucket Film Festival please visit http://nantucketfilmfestival.org/

Now it’s easy (and affordable!) for you to take that last-minute breather from winter. Offering is available from March 1-31. Not a COMO fan yet? You still have time, click here. For more information, e-mail the Uma Reservations Team at res.ubud@uma.como.bz.

…and that’s not all! 

The picturesque White Elephant hotel on Nantucket is now on Facebook. Become a fan, and you can enter to win access to Nantucket’s “it” event for gourmands and wine connoisseurs alike – The 2010 Nantucket Wine Festival.

One lucky couple will have the chance to win:

• 4 day/3 night stay in a luxurious White Elephant Suite or a one-bedroom White Elephant Hotel Residence
• Two tickets to the following events:
  • Thursday: Harbor Gala on the White Elephant Lawn, featuring over 30 wineries and restaurants
  • Friday: The Ultimate Seafood Seminar
  • Friday: Six-course Wine Dinner at TOPPER’S at The Wauwinet featuring Pride Vineyards of Nappa Valley
  • Saturday: Grand Tasting featuring wines from over 150 world-class wineries
• Sunday Brunch for two at Brant Point Grill at the White Elephant featuring the infamous “Make Your Own” Bloody Mary Bar

Hurry, become a Fan by April 18 to enter to win!