Scenic Tours – Rhine River

When people think romance, Paris and Venice tend to be the first destinations that pop into most people’s heads.  But the splendor of Amsterdam can definitely give Paris and Venice and run for their money.  Rhine and Moselle River Cruise is offering a 15-day scenic cruise that takes passengers through the picturesque canals.  The liveliness of the vibrant city centers, small towns with rustic cobblestone streets and historic seaports are all part of the itinerary of the luxury ship known as the scenic “Space Ship”.

Ports visited include Venlo and its once-a-decade World Floriade Exposition; the fairytale town of Cochem; Strasbourg, the capital of the Alsace wine region of France; and Luxembourg, one of Europe’s smallest and most prosperous countries.

Included optional excursions give guests the option of sightseeing according to their interests, whether it is a visit to a German home for Kaffeklatsch (“coffee and conversation”) or a wine tasting in the French countryside of Barr Fares for the April 2, April 4 and Aug. 20, Oct 8 and 15 departure dates – and the reverse itinerary departures on April 18, July 23 and Sept. 3, Oct 22 and 29.

Scenic Tours – Rhine River

Guided tours include the Anne Frank House, bike tour or a sightseeing canal cruise.  For the engineer-minded, the Middleburg’s Delta Works offers insiders’ look into the complex structure of dams, locks and barriers, built to protect a large area from the sea and declared one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Engineers.  For offers on Scenic Tours’ other European, Russia, and Egypt destinations, please visit their website, http://www.scenictoursus.com.

Sicily is Italy’s largest island and the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It’s also a geographical and political region of Italy, famed for its beautiful beaches, cuisine, and fascinating history.

Prepare to be overwhelmed by Sicily’s contrasts, landscapes, beaches and amazingly diverse, ancient heritage. From its bustling capital of Palermo to age-old Roman and Greek ruins, the sun-drenched beaches and the towering, smouldering Mount Etna, this is one island that overflows with wonderful treasures.

When you think of Sicily, sprawling five-star resorts don’t usually come to mind, but that’s about to change. Next month, the most rustic of the Mediterranean islands will be home to the most luxurious resort in the region.

Set to host its first visitors in May, Verdura Golf and Spa Resort will be the only property in the Mediterranean to offer an across the board 5-star experience.

Boasting two championship golf courses, a first-rate spa, a yoga center, six restaurants, a private beach and 55 luxury private villas, the luxury Verdura Golf and Spa Resort is certainly upping the ante when it comes to Sicilian hotels.

Book your vacation now and stay at the luxury Verdura Golf and Spa Resort in Italy. Read our luxury blog to learn about the best luxury travel destinations in the world.

l’Austral – Compagnie De Ponant

The only thing that can complete the enjoyment of music by Jules Massenet, Mozart, Rossini, Puccini, Delibes, and Verdi performed by accomplished musicians, is actually cruising the places that inspired the beautiful music.

Compagnie du Ponant’s newest mega yacht, L’Austral, fulfills any opera enthusiasts’ dream by taking them from Suez to Venice on a 12-day Et Vogue l’Opéra cruise, departing on May 10, 2012. The intimate surroundings of the new ship allows an unique opportunity for the guests to spend time with the artists outside of the theater setting.

The music program on the ship is extremely rich in culture and operatic arts. Guests can also choose to attend Operatic-themed lectures from renowned experts such as Dr. Elizabeth Fresnel, an author and phoniatrician who specializes in the voice as related to memory. Artistic and Stage Director of works such as Le Comte Try, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, The Sound of Music, Carmen, Jean-Francois Vinciguerra will direct a selection of compositions on board and in private concerts ashore.

Featured performers include dancer Eugenie Andrin, known for her choreography work in Parisian musicals and operatic ballets; Swiss soprano Brigitte Hool, awarded the Parisian Prize Trofemina; and Fabrice di Falco, whose creative range has earned him performances before Denmark’s Queen.

Departing from the city of Suez, L’Austral will sail through the Suez Canal from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean, and explores Lebanon’s lively capital of Beirut. Guests will also get a taste of the beauty of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, Greek port Colossus Rhodes. Also can be seen on this excursion is Nafplion, a Peloponnese peninsula seaport that served as the first capital of Modern Greece. Itea, Delphi Valley, and the picturesque beaches of Parga are all among the destinations on the itinerary.

The ship will also spend a day in the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Dubrovnik, an architecturally rich city of palaces, monuments and white stone churches, and visits the largest of the Dalmatian Islands, Split, centered around the ancient Roman Palace of the Emperor Diocletian. At the final port of Venice, guests also has the option of adding a post-cruise tour of the famed St. Mark’s Square.

A shorter version of the cruise with a 7-day (May 10-16) itinerary is also available on sailing from Suez to Itea. A 6-day excursion (Mary 16-21) is also available from Itea to Venice. 30 percent discount is currently being offered under Ponant’s Bonus program. Reduced prices range from $3,910 to $9,885 per person, double for the full-length 12-day option; $2,542 to $6,459 for seven days; and $2,093 to $5,314 for six days. Included in the price are all meals with wine, beer and soda; Captain’s welcome aboard cocktail party and gala dinner; 24-hour room service; and all entertainment, events and shows as indicated within the itinerary.

The 466-foot L’Austral mega-yacht houses two restaurants with gourmet haute and country French cuisine, spacious lounges, theater, games area, two open-air bars, a swimming pool, library, fitness area, expansive sun decks, and a comprehensive spa. It also boasts over 132 staterooms, 124 with private balconies, and all the latest technology, including flat screen satellite TVs and Wi-Fi.

The luxurious opera cruise will surely provide an experience that will please the artist and the traveler.

Located in the heart of the Jardin Alpin – France, the five-star Hotel de Charme Les Airelles is well known for its old world charm.

Hotel de Charme Les Airelles had completed a 37 million Euro renovation back in December 2009.

The Hotel de Charme Les Airelles is designed in the spirit of grand chalets of the past. The hotel is perfectly positioned at the foothills of the mountain with convenient access to the ski slopes via Gloriette and the Relais des Skieurs.

The hotel offers its guest 37 guestrooms, 14 suites, plus a 5,900 square-foot private apartment.

Several of many guest amenities include: flat screen TV’s and built-in DVD players, video-on-demand service, sound dock, jukebox, in addition to wireless high-speed Internet access.

Enjoy the luxurious 7,000 square-foot Valmont Spa, the Pierre Gagnaire Restaurant and three additional dining options.

The hotel provides a beautiful Hermes designed horse-drawn carriage, a skating rink and carousel offering endless hours of fun. Shoppers can also find an exclusive Valentino boutique.

Hotel de Charme Les Airelles offers families an elaborate Kid’s Kingdom that provides hours of entertainment for children, under the direct supervision of a certified nanny.

Hotel de Charme Les Airelles is just five minutes from the nearby Courchevel Airport, thirty minutes from Moûtiers Rail Station, and approximately a two-hour drive from both the Geneva and Lyon International Airport.

For more information, please visit www.airelles.fr

Ulus 29

Looking for a unique, international social experience? In amazing Istanbul, Turkey you can see for miles and enjoy fine dining.

Ulus 29 opened back in 1993 and can be found on the scenic, hilltops of Ulus, Turkey. This incredible restaurant establishment offers patrons magnificent views overlooking the Bosphorus.

Ulus 29 both with its fine dining restaurant and Club 29, clearly establishes the luxury standard of indulgence and entertainment of Turkey.

Metin Fadillioglu is the owner of Ulus 29 and has created many classical trendy spots like, Çubuklu 29 and Hip Nişantaşı Brasserie. Fadillioglu is definitely a pioneer name in the Istanbul restaurant & entertainment industry.

Ulus 29 is a unique fine dining restaurant, where internationally acclaimed chef Mert Şeran features his very distinct techniques and creativity in avant-garde modern cuisine. Şeran is quite popular and one of the top chefs in Istanbul culinary scene.

The chef offers diners two signature menus: one with a wide sushi selection and the other with a list of Turkish and international favorites.

For wine lovers, you are in luck. Ulus 29 has highly experienced sommelier Stephane Vattepain, who will provide exquisite recommendations from the restaurant’s own wine cellar, which was awarded with Wine Spectator Award in 2011. The Ulus 29 wine list offers from over 4,000 fine wines to choose from.

The elegant and vibrant Terrace Bar and the Club section adjoin the spectacular view of the restaurant. The Terrace Bar is a great spot to have cocktails after work or your fine dining experience.

For a night to remember, on Fridays and Saturdays you can enjoy yourself at the Club 29 with its famous DJ’s and special cocktails. The Club is known as one of the world’s trendiest night clubs, with its music and its hip clientele including celebrities and many well-known international names.

Món Gastro-Bar – Valencia

What does recycled cardboard furniture that easily passes for a postmodernism art piece; Lumbrera lamp with the elegance of classical design and contemporary lighting efficiency; and the a funky Bold Type Chair that would excite any font junky have in common? They are all edgy creations of renowned Spanish design studio, Sanserif Creatius. Now, Sanserif Creatius is once again making headlines with their newest brain child: the Món gastro-bar in Valencia, Spain.

Món is a 6,400 square-foot bar that blends eclectic postmodern art with tapas or intimate dinners with flashlights. The first thing guests notice is the masculine lines of the industrial concrete floors and brick walls. The decor is softened by slabs of wood that have been alternated with murals that represent most iconic cities in the world, from Tokyo, New York, Sydney, to London.

Architectural symbols of cities that dress the walls of Món and colorful beams further achieves the softening effect.

Even the position of Món signifies its eclectic theme. While the bar pushes the limits of modern design, its main entrance is actually located on the main road, San Vicente Street, that links central square of the city of Valencia with the medieval Old Town. Through the main entrance is Món’s cocktail bar and main tasting area with Solxluna leather bar stools.

To the left of the cocktail bar is an alternative private area with a Chesterfield sofa that’s definitive of American or British design. The dining area continues the eclectic atmosphere completed with the decor of fifties-style chairs like Tulip Arms by Eero Saarinen, Swan Chair by Arne Jacobsen, and the latest creation of Ana Yago. Most of the furniture was created with green recycled or natural materials.

Wooden staircase lead to the second floor of Món, an open space, where guests can relax while waiting for their gourmet dishes to be prepared. The Món offers a complete dining and art appreciation experience.

With nearly 3000 years of history … Rome is truly the Eternal City. Across from the Temple of Vesta inside the Roman Forum, Hotel Fortyseven combines the best of old and new Rome.

Deep in the heart of this ancient city, Hotel Fortyseven celebrates recent Italian art, as each of the hotel’s five floors is dedicated to a different 20th-century artist (Mastroianni, Greco, Modigliani, Quagliata and Guccione).

Combining contemporary art with an ancient location, you can’t beat the Hotel Fortyseven setting in the historical center of Rome.

Look out the and enjoy incredible views of the 2,000-year-old city from the rooftop of the hotel’s Circus Restaurant. It’s been recently remodeled, and this fine restaurant can boast it’s one the best places to eat in the city. The Circus Restaurant also offers a wonderful Sunday brunch.

You can check out photos here.

A sample from the chef’s new Mediterranean menu at Circus Restaurant can be found here:

Starters
Parma ham with green apple and raspberries sauce
Smocked beef angus with rocket salad, aged Parmesan cheese and balsamic vinegar reduction
Squid salad with lime and crunchy vegetables, tuna bottarga and caper flowers

Main dishes
Home made tagliatelle with lobster sauce, Liguria olives and brised eggplant
Trofiette durum wheat pasta with basil pesto, pistacchio nuts and swordfish
Rack of lamb in crust herbs and braised spinach
Grilled salmon steak in a red Chianti wine sauce

Savoia Excelsior Palace

For history lovers who also enjoy heritage hotels, your search is now over.  The iconic Savoia Excelsior Palace (part of the Starhotels Collezione) celebrates its 100^th year as a hotel, providing the perfect excuse to uncover the fascinating Italian city of Trieste and experience this iconic grand dame.

The Savoia Excelsior Palace epitomizes grandeur and glamour, and was built by celebrated Austrian architect Ladislaus Fiedler. The luxury property had first public opening back in 1912 and was recognized as ‘the most luxurious hotel in Austria-Hungary’.

Celebrating 100 years, Savoia Excelsior Palace houses over 20,000 meters of silk and velvet, over 6,000 porcelain antiques, plus room-upon-room of delicate period furniture, luxury reigns now as it did a century ago.

Savoia Excelsior Palace is located in Trieste, Italy. Many smaller Italian cities like Trieste are relatively undiscovered by the world’s travelers. Trieste has been part of La Repubblica for less than a century and is a fascinating melting pot of Italian, Mittel-European and Slavic cultures.

Historically tempting the ‘Grand Touring’ elite through its doors with the promise of panoramic views of the Adriatic Sea, from its south-easterly setting on the waterfront, Savoia Excelsior Palace welcomed many aristocrats, artists and diplomats.  Emperor Franz Josef of Austria-Hungary was a frequent guest and his apartments remain perfectly intact today.

Savoia Excelsior Palace went through an extensive renovation project between 2007 and 2009. The result was stunning as turn-of-the century frescos, precious mosaics and intricate architectural detailing have been restored to their former glory.

The restoration project brought an air of contemporary chic by sensitively working with the existing classicism of the building to ensure that it remains the must-visit address in Trieste 100 years on.

The luxurious Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich Switzerland has a long tradition of excellence, going back as far as 1899.

The Dolder Grand Hotel re-opened its doors in 2008, to its élite clientèle after an extensive renovation period of four years. After touring the hotel, it became quite evident why it has taken them so long to re-open.

The elegant Dolder had been truly transformed into an oasis of well-being. The famous architects, Foster & Partners, have turned this very traditional and monumental Zurich landmark into a luxury city resort.

Sitting on the hills of Zurich, overlooking the lake’s busy shores as well as the Alps, the hotel offers a serene environment of forest walkways whilst, at the same time, it is just minutes from the city where you’ll find everything from the best shops to metropolitan entertainment.

The rooms at the Dolder Grand Hotel are spacious, decorated with the finest materials and opulent furniture in a contemporary design, featuring the highest standard of modern day technology (for example every room offers free wireless internet access, as well as clever Bang & Olufsen entertainment units which allow you to control almost all of the room’s luxuries with the touch of a universal remote).

After soaking up the view from your private terrace, the hotel has an award winning Spa which stretches on forever. The spa includes countless pampering extravagances which will rejuvenate you from head to toe.

The Spa was designed by the internationally renowned wellness specialist Ms. Sylvia Sepielli and is open to indulge you 7 days a week from 7am to 10pm. In September 2008, it received the Tatler Award for “the smartest escape”. A temple of relaxation, where only the best is good enough, with all the amenities and delights that anyone, even the most demanding client, could ask for.

Culinary excitement is provided by the German cook Heiko Nieder who will serve you up some miraculous treats for your taste buds in “The Restaurant”, which has been awarded a Michelin star, as well as 17 Gault Millau points.

The quality service and attention to detail in this newly re-opened resort is nothing short of excellent and it makes for the perfect weekend getaway, to clear your head and to soak up the finest, luxurious pleasures. In April, the Dolder Grand was on the 2009 hotlist of Condé Nast Travelor (UK) as one of the world’s best new hotels.

Each of the Dolder Grand’s four luxury Top Suites is an expression of individual extravagance. Harmonious interior designs, each different from the other, create an exclusive ambience in all four suites.

For more information: please visit The Dolder Grand Hotel

Summit of Leysin, Switzerland

Winter in northern CA is experiencing delays. Midway into January, we are finally getting some cool weather. Though not nearly enough snow where I live, but at least Summit of Leysin, Switzerland is enjoying my snowy winter.

The luxury alpine resort at Les Diablerets in the Lake Geneva Region is covered in a deep blanket of fresh snow (yes, the fluffy kind).

With eight feet of snow to date, also known as the Canton of Vaud, the Lake Geneva Region is located in Southwestern Switzerland. With entertainment and recreation other than just skiing, the area is also home to museums, restaurants and shops; something for the artistically-hungry, the foodies, and the shoppers.

With stunning mountain views across Lake Geneva, cozy chalets serving authentic cheese fondue, and fast scenic rail connections from Geneva Cointrin Airport to the mountain villages in less than two hours, the Lake Geneva Region offers the ultimate Swiss ski vacation.

Thanks to more than 500 miles of marked ski runs, the resorts of the Lake Geneva Region can offer slopes for skiers and boarders of all abilities.

Currently 37 resort properties in the Lake Geneva Region are offering a Free for Kids offer that gives children age 9 and younger a complimentary ski pass and free accommodations in their parents/accompanying adult guardian’s room.

Take advantage of the snow while it lasts. Fluffy snow beats a thin layer of dirty northern California frost any day!

For additional news and information about the Lake Geneva Region, visit www.lake-geneva-region.ch 

Courtesy of: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – Munich

Mandarin Oriental Munich Hotel is a hotel of quiet luxury, tucked away in a side street, yet centrally located near the famed Maximilianstrasse, in Munich Germany.

Spending time at this luxury hotel is truly a tourist’s heaven. The Mandarin Oriental is located in Munich’s historic area. Since it’s location is off the beaten path, it offers a quiet and peaceful setting.

This German lxuury hotel offers wonderful personalized VIP service and sincere know how to treat a customer right.

Travel + Leisure voted the Mandarin Oriental Munich Hotel as one of their top 10 of the World’s Best Hotels. You will find an elegant gem of Neo-Renaissance charm, which has been entirely renovated, and the highest levels of personalized service in the city.

With just 73 rooms and suites, the amazing Mandarin Oriental Munich Hotel promises the most personalized of services. What’s more, the beautifully redesigned rooms are some of the largest in the city, so you can lounge in the lap of luxury.

Courtesy of: Mandarin Oriental Hotel – Munich

All the rooms exude understated luxury and unapologetic comfort. Each has state-of-the art technology, including wireless LAN connectivity, flat-screen televisions in the bathrooms and surprising touches of luxury, such as exclusively designed bed linens, paintings by celebrated artist Wong Kee Chee and heated mirrors that stay mist-free.

The hotel’s restaurant is a place that everyone needs to experience at least once in their life. The atmosphere is beautiful and so romantic. The chef Mario Corti did an amazing job.The restaurant also offers over 400 wines from all over the world.