go now: bern, switzerland

June 25th, 2008

An art aficionado, or just like to ‘see and be seen’ at the original Art Basel and other fairs in that admittedly less-than-fair city? Why not do as the Swiss do and stay at the elegant Bellevue Palace in Switzerland‘s capital city of Bern. The train station is a 5-minute walk from the hotel, and the train ride to Basel is short and lovely. In Bern, shop in the Old Town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, or visit the Paul Klee Center, a Renzo Piano-designed homage to the Swiss native in the countryside.

Hot off the press: rumor has it that French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his glam new wife, model and chanteuse Carla Bruni, have booked “a whole floor” of the Bellevue Palace for the upcoming World Cup C Match between France and Italy. May we suggest a little… romance? (more…)

beach blanket bingo

June 25th, 2008

The Cottages at The Boat Basin may be situated right on Nantucket Harbor, but that doesn’t mean guests should pass up a day at the beach side of the island. The Cottages’ brand new Beach Bus is ready to go, equipped with surf boards, boogie boards, surf casting fishing rods with all the tackle, beach chairs, umbrellas, and all the towels you could ever need. Beach coolers are also available and specially stocked to each guest’s request. The Bus will take daily trips to Surfside (one of Nantucket’s hottest beaches) but routes may be customized so visitors can scope out some of the insider spots, too.

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new to the table

June 23rd, 2008

Gayle Warwick Fine Linen introduces a dazzling array of new tabletop linen – embroidered by hand on Irish or Belgian linen, this collection is heirloom worthy, but without the fuss. Your grandmother, were she a mother of three balancing a high-powered investment career with quiet dinner parties at home and chic vacations in the Hamptons, would certainly approve.

(Psssst… heard through the grapevine: a major New York-based department store is picking up the entire Gayle Warwick tabletop collection this September. Stay tuned for more!)

hot off the press and crystal clear

June 23rd, 2008

Traveling the world from the comfort of your own penthouse, all while avoiding flight delays and lost luggage? The ultimate in luxury!

Less is definitely more with Crystal Cruises. Bucking the trend that bigger is better, Crystal Serenity will be decreasing the number of staterooms while increasing the number of richly appointed and coveted Penthouse accommodations. Following the conversion, the world’s #1 mid-sized ship will feature 72 Penthouses, 32 Penthouse Suites, and four lavish 1,345-square-foot Crystal Penthouses.

Good news to keep in mind when booking trips for 2009, especially the new fall cruise visiting Israel and Egypt. Serenity’s maiden calls include stops in Sihanoukville, Cambodia; Petropavlovsk, Russia; Patmos, Greece; and Sinop, Turkey.

PARK IT…in a fly ride.

June 17th, 2008

Feel the need for speed, in style? Book the Presidential or Diplomatic Suite this year at Park Hyatt Milan and choose to cruise in a Porsche Cayenne, Boxster or Carrera, throughout your stay. Test drive the 2,690-square-foot suite on the hotel’s top floor with panoramic city views from a furnished terrace, regally appointed with hand-laid Venetian stucco and Italian marble, then hit the streets. No need to drive to the hotel’s famous neighbors, the Duomo and Galleria Vittorio Emanuele, but take the car for a spin to the city’s top designer stores, or just lean back in a drop top and enjoy the summer breeze. Other sweet rides… (more…)

it’s a wrap!

June 16th, 2008

You know how it feels – the stress of a full-time job, balancing family and social life, and trying to eat healthier and exercise more. No wonder by the time you finally book that exotic vacation you’re looking a little less bikini-ready than you’d like. Now you can wrap away the extra inches – along with the dreaded airplane bloat – with these restorative body treatments at hotels across the globe. (more…)

east meets west at the jared coffin house

June 10th, 2008

Opening June 28: The Harbor Wok at the Jared Coffin House on Nantucket. Locals are buzzing about the return of on-site dining to “the JC” after a three-year absence, as the space formerly known as Jared’s has undergone a head-to-toe renovation to make room for the island’s only Chinese restaurant. And what better place to watch the 2008 Summer Olympics, live from Beijing?

pachyderms in action

June 10th, 2008

One of Anantara Golden Triangle‘s biggest draws is their on-site elephant camp, a conservation effort for re-habbing Thailand’s street elephants under the watchful eye of philanthropist John Roberts. Check out all the action here, on Anantara’s live elephant cam.

Read here for more on Anantara’s largest residents, and go here for information on John Roberts and the Asian Elephant Foundation.

PARK IT… with tykes in tow

June 5th, 2008

Whether traveling near or far, Park Hyatt hotels help families with tykes in tow by offering special amenities and goodies for all ages. For example, Park Hyatt Beaver Creek hosts a s’moregasbord every afternoon around the fire pit. Kids enjoy homemade marshmallows in gourmet flavors like toffee or M&M, with dark or milk chocolate, and graham crackers – the quintessential campfire treat. Scrumptious, no matter the season. Other Park Hyatt caregivers include… (more…)

got any cheese?

June 4th, 2008

A passion for cheeses is overtaking the culinary world and foodies everywhere are clamoring to learn about vintages, pairings, cheese-producing regions, and exciting new blends. In the world’s upscale restaurants, cheese sommeliers are becoming the go-to experts for the proper pairings with wines and other beverages but only Crystal Cruises, the world’ #1 luxury 5-star floating resort, is taking that extra step to ensure that the sommeliers onboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity truly are experts. As of August 1, the sommeliers will be fully certified by the International Cheese Academy at the Hotel and Tourism School in Austria. (more…)

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