If you ever loved the life of luxury travel and luxury hotels, El Pаlаuеt Living іѕ home to chic centre-city ѕuіtеѕ wіth hіgh roofs, stained glаѕѕ windows, brilliant whіtе furnіturе аnd саrvеd mоldіngѕ. Stay in VIP style while visiting Barcelona, Spain!

In an аrt nouveau building thаt dates bасk tо 1906, еасh aesthetically dеѕіgnеd ѕuіtе at El Pаlаuеt Living lіkеwіѕе comes with a реrѕоnаl assistant. Each person has іntіmаtе іnfоrmаtіоn оf еvеrу one оf Bаrсеlоnа’ѕ bаrrіоѕ.

MОЅT LОVЕD RООMЅ:
Thе bеѕt (аnd mоѕt соѕtlу) оf the Tіbіdаbо ѕuіtеѕ whісh оvеrlооk the mountains іѕ Principal Tіbіdаbо, which hаѕ a wоndеrful ѕеmі-сіrсlе ѕеаtіng area, a stained glаѕѕ wіndоw іn hаlf of thе duаl lounge аnd a ѕmаll bаlсоnу. El Pаlаuеt Living suites fееlѕ light аnd brееzу, and furthermore glоаtѕ some lоvеlу frеѕсоеѕ. Pаѕѕеіg de Gràсіа flаtѕ оvеrlооk thе frоnt of thе buіldіng; lіkе Principal Pаѕѕеіg de Gràсіа bеѕt іn vіеw оf its lаrgе tеrrасе. (Bоth Principal Pаѕѕеіg de Tibidabo аnd Prіnсіраl Passeig dе Gràсіа wеrе оnсе thе buіldіng’ѕ fundamental living quarters, thuѕ the nаmеѕ and their lаѕhіngѕ оf ѕрасе.)

RECOMMENDED ROOMS:
Chіеf Tіbіdаbо аnd Prіnсіраl Pаѕѕеіg de Gràсіа have thе most space. Hоwеvеr іn the еvеnt that hаvіng a terrace stresses уоu, opt fоr the formal.

PET‐FRIENDLY:
Small dogs саn come tоо fоr frее, but you’ll have tо саrrу all thаt thеу nееd wіth уоu – nоthіng іѕ provided. Rеmеmbеr thаt the El Pаlаuеt Living apartments аrе аll whіtе аnd rаthеr fаnсу; mеѕѕу dоgѕ mау mеаn hеаdасhеѕ.

KIDS:
Exсерtіоnаllу wеlсоmе. Bunkѕ саn bе аddеd to rooms fоr free; thе сhеf са whір up a сhіldrеn’ѕ mеnu. Bаbуѕіttіng wіth a local bаbуѕіttеr саn bе masterminded (€42.35 60 mіnutеѕ) wіth a dауѕ’ nоtісе.

ACTIVITIES:
Take уоur little ones to thе zoo аt Parc Ciutadella, or tо thе аԛuаrіum (Eurоре’ѕ bіggеѕt) on Mоll d’Eѕраnуа. Mеаndеr аrоund Poble Eѕраnуоl wаtсhіng the сrаft wоrkѕhорѕ аnd glаѕѕ-blоwіng. On thе оff сhаnсеѕ thаt thеу’rе nоt scared оf hеіghtѕ, hаvе a ride оn thе Port саblе саr from Bаrсеlоnеtа ѕhоrеlіnе over tо Mоntjuіс.

BABYSITTING:
A lосаl bаbуѕіttеr can be bооkеd fоr 60 mіnutеѕ (gіvе two days nоtісе).

NО СОMРЕLLІNG RЕАЅОN TО РАСK:
Bunkѕ, саrrіаgеѕ, ѕtеrіlіzеrѕ, сhаngіng mаtѕ аnd tоіlеtrіеѕ for lіttlе Smіthѕ can аll bе рrоvіdеd, but уоu dо need tо book ahead оf time.

MЕАLЅ:
Aѕk for a рrіvаtе gourmet chef аnd рісk уоur оwn mеnu, оr gеt organic grосеrіеѕ and trеаtѕ fоr thе lіttlе Smіthѕ delivered to your flаt.

HOTEL EATERY:
Speak and уе ѕhаll find: оn thе оff сhаnсеѕ that уоu need a рrіvаtе сhеf, a соmрlеtеlу lоаdеd ѕtосkеd fridge, a dеlіvеrу оf organic trеаtѕ or a PA-аrrаngеd brеаkfаѕt every mоrnіng ѕіmрlу lеt the рrореrtу know. Yоu won’t miss hаvіng a formal еаtеrу.

HОTЕL BAR:
Nо bаr, hоwеvеr thеrе’ѕ a curated ассumulаtіоn оf Spanish wіnеѕ, саvа аnd champagne іn suites, and with Bаrсеlоnа on уоur dооrѕtер, уоu wоn’t gо thirsty.

LОСАL BARS:
Engаgе уоur wау іntо Mutis, a саndlеlіt, velvet-clad ѕреаkеаѕу іn a private apartment building bу Bar Mut, аmоngѕt Dіаgоnаl and Pau Clаrіѕ аvеnuеѕ. Bооkіngѕ are fundamental so rеԛuеѕt thаt the аttеndаnt оrgаnіzе it(+34 934 158 515).Bаr Mut іtѕеlf merits trуіng – people еаt lаtе hеrе and іt’ѕ on the соѕtlу ѕіdе, but thе fish-centered tараѕ аrе dеlісіоuѕ. Attеmрt thе ѕсаllорѕ or thе саrрасіо huevos frіtоѕ. Fаіntlу-lіt, аtmоѕрhеrіс Andu оn Correu Vell іѕ a rеаl local’s hаunt and wеll оff thе tоrіѕt trail. In саѕе уоu’rе anxious tо trу a соuрlе of reasonable ѕhоtѕ of thе lосаl Vеrmоuth, Quimet y Quіmеt (+34 934 423 142) on Pоеtа Cabanyes іѕ thе рlасе tо gо.

LOCAL CAFÉS:
The ѕmаll, сhаrmіng Crерѕ a Bаrсеlоnа саféѕ (+34 933 015 401) serves – оbvіоuѕlу – crepes аnd gаllеttеѕ іn ѕwееt аnd арреtіzіng соmbоѕ, wіth a range оf teas аnd infusions. Pау ѕресіаl аttеntіоn tо thе hеаvеnlу Cаеlum іn thе hеаrt of the Gоthіс Quаrtеr. Stуlіѕh саfе аnd ѕhор соmbіnеd, іt’ѕ the іdеаl рlасе tо ѕtосk uр on уummу Spanish gооdіеѕ (mаrzіраn, nоugаt, brоwnіеѕ… )

ROOM SERVICE:
Rеgаrdlеѕѕ оf whether уоu need a drіnk, ѕnасk оr full-blown thrее course mеаl, El Pаlаuеt Living has a 24-hour rооm ѕеrvісе ассеѕѕіblе from thе аttеndаnt. Mediterranean аnd Japanese menus rоund оff the trаdіtіоnаl аnd mоrе fаѕсіnаtіng аltеrnаtіvеѕ.

WET & WILD:
There is no swimming pool at El Pаlаuеt Living, but make sure to make uѕе оf the wаtеrbеdѕ, ѕаunа and bасk rub rооm оn thе tеrrасе.

PАСKІNG TIPS:
Trу not tо ѕtrеѕѕ yourself in thе event thаt уоu forget аnуthіng. There is need to worry. Yоur аttеndаnt will replace аnу thіngѕ thаt are AWOL аmіd уоur ѕtау.

ADDITIONAL INFO:
El Pаlаuеt Living араrtmеnt соmеѕ furnished wіth a реrѕоnаl аѕѕіѕtаnt, who wіll joyfully sort оut аnу аddіtіоnаl еxtrаѕ amid уоur ѕtау. Rеgаrdlеѕѕ оf whеthеr уоu сrаvе fоr a bасk rub, аn hаіr ѕtуlе, a mаkе-uр соnѕultаtіоn, a ѕіttеr or ѕіmрlу ѕоmе rесоmmеndаtіоnѕ, let уоur PA take сhаrgе.

El Pаlаuеt Living is simply a luxury hotel you need to stay at. Enjoy all that Barcelona, Spain has to offer. Return again soon and read our luxury blog for more luxury travel destinations and accommodations.

Photo: El Pаlаuеt Living

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach will be a new luxury property when completed in 2018. Once opened, the luxury property will offer 250 feet of prime, oceanfront living upon 2.2 acres. It’s the ultimate luxury experience to be an owner here.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach will be a stylish, 52-story tower property offering incredible view of the Atlantic Ocean. In total, there will be 212 residences. The sizes range from 1,605 sq. ft. up to to 3,640 sq. ft. The available Penthouses offer sizes up to 6,320 sq. ft. That is VIP living.

Building plans show an impressive two-story lobby. There is four stories of glass that overlooks both the property’s pool and scenic Sunny Isles Beach.

Of course, a new luxury property like The Ritz-Carlton Residences will offer endless amenities. There will be easy access between the main pool and the beach, plus the oceanfront restaurant. There are countless activities at The Residences in Miami for resident to enjoy. There is a roomy areas for children to play and have fun in the sun. If you want to stay in shape, head to the state-of–the- art fitness center that offers ocean views.

Owners can choose from spacious floor plans. In addition, they provide a variety of ocean, city and Intracoastal views. Units offer tall ceilings up to 10 feet tall. In the penthouses, ceilings soar to above 15 feet high.

The kitchens are definitely high end. Find fine, Italian cabinets and luxurious stone countertops. Enjoy European appliances, a cappuccino maker, plus wine cooler.

Enjoy the warm weather in South Florida by hanging out on oversized terraces. Residents will enjoy a private elevator lobby to reach their home. In some residences, you will have your own private pool.

The interior is luxury from top to bottom. Each master bedroom has a roomy walk-in closet. Do your laundry with a full size washer and dryer in the unit’s laundry room.

For techies, you’ll appreciate the Smart home technology. There is WiFi Service and high speed Internet access.

Also located at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach property are two bar areas. Relax and enjoy your favorite cocktail with friends and family. One of the bars is a garden bar.

Take the fun outdoors and enjoy all Florida offers. There are many private beach amenities to take advantage of. Enjoy chaise lounges, cabanas and umbrellas. The property’s Beach Restaurant provides residents both beach and swimming pool service.

Are you ready to live a life of luxury? Make your plans to own a piece of paradise at The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Sunny Isles Beach is a luxury living property. We enjoy sharing high-end real estate stories like this in our luxury blog. Contact us to help you find your next dream home.

Photo: The Ritz-Carlton Residences

Tomorrow is Valentine’s Day. Lovers all around the world celebrate that special person in their life. For those who are attending a party or social event, be sure to enjoy a some delicious Valentine’s Day cocktails.

Cruzan Rum is a popular spirit brand. It’s rum products are drunk in many bars and nightclubs. With Valentine’s Day almost upon us, be sure to enjoy great tasting, Valentine’s Day cocktails.

Maybe you are planning to host a Valentine’s Day party or just want to make a delicious cocktail. We want to share some awesome cocktail recipes. Impress that special someone in your life or make sure your friends enjoy your social gathering.

These signature, spirited cocktails are provided by some of the best spirit brands. Basil Hayden’s Bourbon, Cruzan Rum, Laphroaig Scotch, and Knob Creek Bourbon.

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Basil Hayden’s® Valentine Mule – by Rob Floyd (Los Angeles, CA)
Ingredients:
2 parts Basil Hayden’s® Bourbon 3⁄4 part Fresh Lime Juice
1⁄2 part Simple Syrup
1⁄2 part Strawberry Jam Ginger Beer
2 dashes Angostura Bitters Rosemary Sprig (for garnish)

Method:
– Combine all ingredients except for ginger beer and shake with ice. Strain over ice into a rocks glass and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a rosemary sprig.

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Cruzan® Valentine’s Sparkler
Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts Cruzan® Aged Light Rum
1 1/2 part Vanilla Simple Syrup
1/2 part Unsweetened Fresh Cranberry Juice
2 parts Sparkling Wine

Method:
– Combine all ingredients in a champagne flute and stir twice. Garnish with an orange peel cut in the shape of a heart.

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Be My Peat-Heart? – by NYC mixologist Andrey Kalinin
Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts Laphroaig® Select Scotch Whisky
1/2 part Drambuie® Liqueur
1 part Bordeaux Red Wine
3 dashes Orange Bitters
Orange Peel (for garnish)

Method:
– Add all ingredients together in a mixing glass and stir. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass (served up). Garnish with a flamed orange twist.

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Knob Creek® Sour Ginger – by Chef Mike Isabella
Ingredients:
1¼ parts Knob Creek® Bourbon
2 parts Fresh Squeezed Ruby Grapefruit Juice
¾ part Domaine de Canton® Ginger Liqueur
½ part Lemon Juice
Lime Wedge, stuffed with Candied Ginger

Method:
– Combine all ingredients in a shaker. Add Ice and shake. Strain over ice in a rocks glass. Squeeze the lime wedge to disperse the candied ginger into the drink.

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Let us know how you like the above Valentine’s Day cocktails. May romance be in the air and you have a terrific day.

Enjoy delicious Valentine’s Day cocktails with the one you love. The Life of Luxury also offers luxury event planning services. Read our luxury blog for the best news in the luxury industry.

Give that special person in your life a luxury gift for Valentine’s Day. Luxury watch brand Jaquet Droz has introduced the Petite Heure Minute Astorite watch.

This gorgeous watch would make a great Valentine’s Day gift for your wife or girlfriend. Women appreciate fine jewelry and wearing a nice piece gives them a sense of pride. Heads will definitely turn when wearing the new Petite Heure Minute Astorite watch from Jaquet Droz.

This beautiful watch is a limited edition timepiece. Only 28 pieces were produced. Therefore, this rare watch becomes a valuable collectible. When worn, the fine watch truly communicates feminine elegance. Its striking beauty evident form the first glance.

Astorite is a rare pink gem and adorns the gorgeous, watch dial of the new Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Astorite watch. Given the its off-center hours and minutes subdial at the 12 o’clock position, the watch immediately catches one’s attention. As a top Swiss watchmaker, Jaquet Droz continues to refine the luxury sector with creativity and craftsmanship.

The watch’s astorite dial comes with a white mother-of-pearl center. The watch case is made from 18K red gold and professionally set with 232 brilliant diamonds. The total weight of the diamonds is 1.23 carats. As a result of the pink color from the astorite gemstones, it perfectly reflects the brilliance of of the red gold case. Due to the pink color of this rare gem, it is perfect as a Valentine’s Day gift.

With a bed of pink, the gold and silver inclusions plus black flecks and veins pop in contrast. The watch case diameter is 35 mm in size. The watch battery has a power reserve of 68 hours.

The watch movement is the Jaquet Droz 2653.P with a self-winding mechanical movement. It comes with a balance-spring and pallet-fork horns in silicon. In addition there is a 18-carat red gold oscillating weight.

On the back of the Petite Heure Minute Astorite case, you’ll find an individual, limited serial number that has been carefully engraved.

If interested in the new Petite Heure Minute Astorite watch from Jaquet Droz, please contact us today. We work with most luxury watch brands and can help you find that perfect timepiece. Follow our luxury blog for more fine jewelry news and product announcements.

Photo: Jaquet Droz

Want to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a romantic, tropical getaway? Melia Hotels & Resorts is a Spanish hotel chain. They are offering 3 incredible luxury vacation packages for Valentine’s Day.

Melia Hotels & Resorts founded back in 1956. As a result, they offer more than 370 luxury properties around the world, covering 40 countries. For those looking for love in the Caribbean, you are in luck. Rekindle that romance in a beautiful setting and let Melia take care of the rest.

Valentine’s Day is a day of love and caring. It doesn’t matter if you are married, engaged or are in a relationship. Spend precious time together as a couple. As a result, enjoy every minute you have together. You never know what life will bring to disrupt your lifestyle.

Three awesome, luxury properties from Melia Hotels & Resorts are – Meliá Nassau Beach All-Inclusive in the Bahamas, Meliá Caribe Tropical in Punta Cana and Meliá Braco Village in Jamaica. Therefore, aach of these luxury resorts are ideal for a wonderful couples escape.

Celebrate love in VIP style. Be sure to enjoy the beauty of the Caribbean. Warm waters and white sand beaches. That is what dreams are made of.

Meliá Nassau Beach All-Inclusive (Nassau, Bahamas)
Couples can get comfortable in the adults-only pool with DJ music and Bahama Mama cocktails. Drink straight from the pool’s wet bar and day/night activities. Guests can enjoy extra privileges when booking at The Level. Enjoy access to exclusive beach area, relax in the private lounge at breakfast or choose from a selection of premium top shelf liquors and appetizers throughout the resort. In addition, receive preferential bookings at onsite restaurants and much more.

Meliá Caribe Tropical (Punta Cana, Dominican Republic)
Flamingos, Toucans and tropical garden invites travelers to enjoy this all-inclusive hotel in the stunningly beautiful Dominican Republic for Valentine’s Day. Celebrating the day of romance with a party on property, Tuesday, February 14. Guests will be encouraged to bring their loved one and dance along to a live DJ. Additionally, the hotel is offering 25% the regular rate with promo code MCT&TL until 2/10/17, which is an ideal opportunity to experience an upgraded treat at The Level Adults Only (Meliá Hotels & Resorts elevated service concept).

Meliá Braco Village (Rio Bueno, Jamaica)
Located right next to the beach, the small and intimate resort offers big luxuries for couples. Relax with two swimming pools that overlook the sea. In addition, utilize four bars and six restaurants that offer a wide variety of national and international cuisine. Meliá Braco Village is a destination to relax and unwind, especially at Yhi Spa.

Contact us to assist you with booking a Valentine’s Day getaway with Melia Hotels & Resorts. Stop by again to read about other luxury travel destinations on our luxury blog. Live a VIP life!

Photo: Melia

Super Bowl Sunday is this weekend. The Big Game draws millions of people all around the world to watch on TV. Many are hosting huge Super Bowl parties and scrambling to figure out what they are going to serve to all the hungry party guests.

Destination Hotels has come up with several delicious Super Bowl recipes that will be a huge hit. The luxury travel brand owns the largest collection of distinctive, independent properties in all of North America.

Super Bowl 51 will be battle of to exciting teams – the Atlanta Falcons and New England Patriots. The Falcons are lead by likely MVP Matt Ryan and the Patriots leader is quarterback legend Tom Brady. It should be a competitive game with two high powered offenses going at at.

Four top luxury properties from Destination Hotels are offering their Super Bowl recipes. They include – Stowe Mountain Lodge, Cliff House Maine, Paradise Point and Motif Seattle. You and your guests will love these great tasting, food recipes.

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Stowe Mountain Lodge
– A Destination Hotel found in scenic Stowe, Vermont. The Solstice restaurant at Stowe Mountain Lodge offers an unexpected twist on classic rural comfort food.
Hong Kong Wings

Ingredients:
2 pound chicken wings
¼ C Soy Sauce
¼ C Brown Sugar
2 TBS Sambal
2 TBS Fresh Ginger
1/3 Cup Coconut Milk
1TEASP BLK Pepper
Salt to taste
1 TBS Cornstarch
Sesame seeds

Steps:
– Place everything BUT sesame seeds in a covered pot on LOW and cook for 2.5 Hours
– Remove and place on a cookie sheet. Place in an oven and cook under HIGH broiler till charred
– Finish with sesame seeds

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Cliff House Maine
– From the gorgeous shores of Cape Neddick, Maine, Nubb’s Lobster Shack at Cliff House Maine offers a classic New England favorite with a fresh take.

Lobster Hush Puppies

Ingredients:
8 Cups Cornmeal
8 Cups Flour
1 Cup minced thyme
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp Baking Powder
4 Tbsp Salt
3 Tbsp old bay
2 Tbsp + 2 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbsp + 1 tsp baking soda
16 eggs, lightly beaten
4 Cups buttermilk
4 Cups sour cream
4 Cups green onion, finely sliced
2 Cups red bell peppers, small diced
2 Cups shishito peppers, small diced
Lobster meat, small chop

Steps:
– Combine all dry ingredients together in a large bowl
– Combine all wet ingredients together in a separate bowl
– Fold wet ingredients into dry, then add in scallion and peppers. 0
– Mix lobster meat into small batches of batter.

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Paradise Point Resort and Spa
– Offered fresh from sunny San Diego, California, Paradise Point’s Barefoot Bar and Grill presents a West Coast classic that’s sure to please the crowd.

Pig Out Burger

Steps:
1. Season a burger patty with salt & pepper and place on hot flat top grill.
2. Simultaneously, toast a brioche bun on the flat top.
3. Place a piece of pork belly on the flat top and grill until nice and crispy on both sides.
4. Cook the burger to the desired temperature and put the pork belly on top of the burger, and cheese on top of the pork belly.
5. Make the sandwich: bottom bun + bbq sauce + sautéed mushrooms + burger patty + pork belly + crispy onions + bbq sauce + top bun
6. Serve with desired side!

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Motif Seattle
– Located in the epicenter of Seattle’s thriving art, fashion and music scene, Motif Seattle’s Frolik restaurant offers an inventive take on some American classics.

Tater Tot-tine
– Crispy tater tots topped with a rich mushroom gravy, crispy bacon and beechers cheddar cheese curds.

Ingredients:
1lbs of your favorite tater tots
6oz of your favorite cheese curds- new use Beechers – sliced
6oz mushroom gravy- recipe follows
2oz cooked crispy bacon bits

Steps:
– Deep fry the tots- they could be baked as well
– Drain but keep piping hot
– Add them to a bowl along with the sliced cheese curds and allow them to sit for about 2 minutes to soften the curds
– Pour the mixture into a serving bowl
– Pour the gravy over the top and garnish with the chopped bacon

Enjoy Super Bowl LI and we hope you find the above Super Bowl recipes as good as we do. Let us know what you think.

Try these incredible Super Bowl recipes. Come back soon to read more food and culinary stories on our popular luxury blog.

Think big, live bigger. We all want more these days. Spending lots of money on tangible things is out. Memorable experiences are in. DreamMaker is now offering Passport to 50 – an incredible, luxury trip around the world, covering 20 cities in 20 days!

DreamMaker is a luxury travel boutique that caters to the wealthy. Passport to 50 is the world’s most expensive trip and is a the company’s first private jet offering. They made it ultra-luxurious by offering an around the world opportunity on a privately outfitted Boeing 767 airplane. This VIP experience is clearly targeted to ultra-high net worth clientele. The price tag is an eye-popping $13,875,000 and worth every penny!

Passport to 50 launched by DreamMaker is an over-the-top, travel experience like no other. Not only will the billionaire client travel in VIP style upboard the custom Boeing 767, but 50 close family and friends can join and accompany in a second Boeing Business Jet.

As part of this global vacation, you will cover over 50,000 kilometers or 31,069 miles). But don’t think for a second you will be spending the majority of the time in the air and not enjoying a great time on the ground. In fact, it’s quite the opposite. You’ll only be in the air about 12% of the time. To visit an amazing city means you should be able to enjoy it and not be rushed.

While creating the world’s most expensive trip, DreamMaker made sure every detail was taken into account. The Passport to 50 travel itinerary starts in Koh Samui and continues on to Siem Reap, Kathmandu, Agra, Florence, Siena, Cannes, Moulinet, London, Barcelona, Ibiza, Marbella, Marrakech, Havana, Knoxville, Kona, El Nido, A Secret Island, and ends the trip in Manila.

Highlights of this once in a lifetime travel experience include – a one-to-one ratio of guest to staff, a USD $500,000 charity poker tournament with the world’s top-ranked poker player in the air, and a hotel which will rebrand its identity to “Hotel 50” (including chipping out its marble tile in the foyer). Mining conglomerate World of Diamonds Group was commissioned to create the trip’s most luxurious amenity; a set of 18-karat gold swizzle sticks set with white and blue diamonds worth a total of USD 1 million.

DreamMaker partnered with World of Diamonds Group to create the trip’s most luxurious amenity. A set of 18-karat gold swizzle sticks that are set with white and blue diamonds. It’s a spectacular piece of jewelry that is valued at $1 million. Many of you may recall, we published an article on the world’s most expensive dining experience – Ultimate VIP Dinner – World’s Most Expensive Dining Experience at $2,000,000

For $2,000,000, enjoy The a helicopter ride and delicious, 18-course degustation dinner menu. Drink pairings of 44 and 55-year old vintage wines and eat with diamond-encrusted chopsticks. During dessert, be presented with a gorgeous 2.08 carat celebrity Blue Diamond ring designed for and worn by famous, movie actress Jane Seymour.

World of Diamonds Group Director Karan Tilani stated, “DreamMaker’s commission demonstrates our expertise in creating spectacularly bespoke pieces out of fancy colored diamonds.” The gorgeous set of 50 18-karat gold swizzle sticks where designed with a spinning globe on top. Each of the 50 swizzle sticks are 20 white sparklers and represent every city landing of Passport to 50. In addition, a rare fancy blue diamond signifies the blue skies traveled on this amazing trip.

The private jet service is being offering by Experiential Aviation. Gregory Patrick is the founder and experience designer℠ at DreamMaker and was quoted, “Since 1988, we have been setting benchmarks in the experiential travel space worldwide. In 2017, we will be the first to introduce Experiential Aviation as the pinnacle of private aviation.”

The custom fitted Boeing 767 airplane of course will offer flat beds for sleeping, numerous luxury amenities and chef-inspired cuisine. But DreamMaker has taken it to the next level by partnering with hypnotherapist April Norris. She was tasked with developing a holistic program to integrate cutting-edge wearable sleep technology and alternative wellness techniques. For example, hypnotherapy, Ayurvedic medicine, and Reiki healing. Gregory Patrick explains, “It is irrelevant how big and beautiful your private jet is if you are unable to relax comfortably or get the required amount of sleep on the plane.”

Talk about going that extra mile for your client, Hotel 41 in London became the first property to completely undergo a rebrand mission. The luxury hotel changed their identity to “Hotel 50” in honor of the Passport to 50 luxury travel program. As a result, they plan to chip out the marble tile in the hotel’s foyer, plus commission newly monogrammed bed and bath linens. There will even be a “Hotel 50” flag hung. In addition, 50 monks’ blessings and 50,000 lotus petals will await the lucky guests.

To offer the utmost in client customer service, DreamMaker has designed Passport to 50 to include a one-to-one ratio of guest to staff. 50 professionals are being hand-picked and represent experts in their respective fields. Again, another personal touch ideally chosen for this unbelievable experience.

Gregory Patrick is a big believer in charitable causes and his Passport to 50 is no exception. We wants to help benefit children all around the world. DreamMaker has partnered with several charity organizations, including Water.org, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Starlight Children’s Foundation, as well as Whole Child International.

For example, 2,500 bicycles will be donated to rural children in Cambodia to help them attend school. He plans to build “fun centers” for 50,000 children battling life-threatening illnesses in the United Kingdom. Another example is providing clean drinking water for 50,000 at-risk children in the Philippines. These acts of kindness will truly make a difference for these deserving children in need.

Patrick proudly explains, “Through this trip, we have a way to act as a conduit to positively impact children’s lives. It makes no sense to work so hard to please the most discerning of clientele without making the same effort to balance the decadence with an element of kindness that delivers higher levels of fulfillment.

If Passport to 50 is for you, you can make your plans now and book is luxury trip of a lifetime. It is scheduled for August of 2017.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Passport to 50 trip from DreamMaker. Contact us today if you are interested. We hope to share more luxurious travel experiences in upcoming stories from our popular luxury blog.

Photos: DreamMaker

Each Year since 1801, Burns Night is celebrated on January 25. The holiday pays tribute to Scottish writer – Robert Burns. He is one of the world’s most popular writers.

The day is a celebration of life In Scotland. Scottish food, bagpipes, poetry and more! If you are planning to attend a Burns Night event or possible host your own Burns Night party, be sure to try Laphroaig whisky. This popular Scottish whisky is great tasting and loved around the world.

Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky really wants to make it easy for everyone to celebrate Burns Night. They have provided a detail infographic to help you better understand Burns Night.

This helpful infographic is a nice guide to assist with your Burns Night activities. Learn what to drink, eat and various ways to celebrate this Scottish holiday.

New York-based mixologist Andrey Kalinin, has created two Burns Night related cocktails. The two, delicious cocktails use Laphroaig whisky. Try these two whisky recipes and let us know what you think.

Ode to Whisky [Sour]
Ingredients:
2 parts Laphroaig® Select Scotch Whisky
3/4 part Lemon Juice
3/4 part Heather Honey Syrup
3 dashes Cardamom Bitters
1 Egg White
Fresh Cardamom (for garnish)

Method:
1. Combine all the ingredients in a cocktail shaker.
2. Dry shake (if using egg white).
3. Add ice and shake vigorously.
4. Pour into a coupe or martini glass (served up).
5. Garnish with cardamom flakes.

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Tam O’Shanter (photo above)
Ingredients:
1 1/2 parts Laphroaig® Select Scotch Whisky
1/2 part Drambuie® Liqueur
1 part Bordeaux Red Wine
3 dashes Orange Bitters
Orange Peel (for garnish)

Method:
1. Add all ingredients together in a mixing glass and stir.
2. Strain into a chilled coupe or martini glass (served up).
3. Garnish with a flamed orange twist.

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If you savoir the great taste of Laphroaig whisky straight, consider trying Laphroaig 10 YO ($49.99) or Laphroaig Lore ($124.99). Either is a fantastic choice to sip on Burns Night.

Enjoy Burns Night with Laphroaig whisky. We hope you return again soon and follow our luxury blog. We also offer event planning services to assist you.

Photo: Caitie McCabe Photography, LLC

During a recent stay in the beautiful Napa Valley, I had the opportunity to visit Domaine Carneros and take the “Art of Sparkling Wine“ winery tour.

As you head west on the Carneros Highway (Hwy 12/121) to Sonoma, you’ll notice the iconic Chateau-style winery up on the hill. Take a left on Duhig Road and turn right into the parking lot. It’s a well known, local landmark and a very popular winery to visit.

Domaine Carneros was originally founded by Champagne Taittinger, which is the stately Champagne house of France. During the late 1970’s, Claude Taittinger search the United States for a place to produce wines locally. He purchased a rolling, 138-acre parcel located in the heart of Carneros, Napa Valley. The classic 18th century château-style building that resides onsite today was finished in 1989. The inspiration for this gorgeous building was the historic Château de la Marquetterie in Champagne, France.

The Carneros region is famous for both its Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. These two varietals are essential for the best tasting, premium sparkling wines. A varietal wine is primarily made using a single variety of grape.

It was recommended by a colleague to take the wine tour. The Art of Sparkling Wine tour provides an intriguing, educational experience. It’s a terrific way to learn how sparkling wine is made. Of course, the highlight for most is to actually taste several of the sparkling wines, as well as Pinot Noirs.

The Art of Sparkling Wine tour is offered three times a day. The tour times include 11:00 a.m., 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. The price is only $30 per person, plus local sales tax. The tour usually runs between 1 and 1-1/2 hours.

To start, our group of 12 people met in the a tasting room. We were all looking forward to a great VIP experience. After an intro of the winery’s history from our guide Michelle, we all tried a glass of 2011 Estate Brut Sparkling Wine. It had a crisp, yet light taste and was delicious. The sparkling wine is made using 2/3 Pinot Noir grapes and 1/3 Chardonnay. Brut is the wine industry’s common name for “dry”. Extra Brut is counter-intuitive and actually means more sweet.

We learned that Domaine Carneros uses two stage fermintation process. The first is in the large wine tanks and the second, in the wine bottle itself. The combination of sugar and yeast causes CO2, which makes the famous bubbles in sparkling wine as well as champagne. Our guide explained the term “nose” of a wine. It actually means the aroma or bouquet. The nose actually is the key method we perceive the wine’s flavor in our own mouth.

The Art of Sparkling Wine tour includes watching a 10-minute video. Then we got to walk along an observation area to see the large wine tanks and the winery’s bottling operations from above.

Depending on the time of the year and weather in the Napa Valley, the tour may include a walk to the nearby vineyards. Take in the amazing lake and vineyard views from your terrace table. After our walking tour, we ended in a tasting room and sat down to taste additional sparkling and still wines. We were served a plate of local artisanal cheeses, crackers and raisins to pair with our wines.

We tried a 2008 Prestige Cuvee which was decadent. It’s a heartier food wine with a full taste. Next was a 2012 Brut Rose that we were told is ideal with salmon. Next was a 2013 Avant-Garde red wine, which was rather light. What followed, was a heavier red wine – 2013 Pinot Noir Estate.

We all enjoyed the casual atmosphere of the tasting area and the opportunity to try many, great tasting wines from Domaine Carneros.

It was interesting to learn about the micro-climate regions of both Napa Valley and Sonoma Valley. The Carneros region is perfect for growing Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. The result is a world-class, California sparkling wine.

Once the wine tour is over, you can take your time wandering around the massive property that covers about 4,800 square feet of space. Enjoy strolling around the winery and view the grand staircase, formal gardens and fountain. It’s such a peaceful setting in the middle of this world famous wine region.

Domaine Carneros was a wonderful stop during our day of sightseeing and wine tasting. The winery is located in an incredible and beautiful setting among the vineyard covered hills. The staff was top notch and provided VIP style hospitality. I look forward to returning once again.

Domaine Carneros
1240 Duhig Road, Napa, CA 94559
(707) 257-0101 or (800) 716-2788

If you would like to visit the wine country region of California, be sure to add the Art of Sparkling Wine tour at Domaine Carneros to your list of things to do. We can help plan your perfect Napa Valley or Sonoma Valley getaway. Read our luxury blog to learn about more luxury travel ideas and must-see places to visit.

Photos: The Life of Luxury

As the Chinese calendar turns to the New Year under the sign of the Fire Rooster, Jaquet Droz introduces four, luxury watch models. It’s a result of extraordinary collaboration between the Ateliers d’Art, thus celebrating the historic ties between China and brand known for its twin stars.

The Fire Rooster is the 10th animal or sign of the Chinese zodiac calendar. In celebration, the new luxury watch brand Jaquet Droz pays tribute with a stunning watch collection. The Chinese New Year is obviously a huge event in China each years. In addition, millions of people celebrate it around the year.

Two of the new watch models utilize miniature painting. They are available in beautiful 18K red gold. The dial of the Fire Rooster is made from ivory enamel. In addition, variations are available both with and without diamonds. Both luxury watch models were designed and created by the craftsmen of the Ateliers d’Arts. The watches are based on the iconic Petite Heure Minute watch from Jaquet Droz. Quantities are extremely limited. The diamond version is available in only 28 pieces and without is just 8 pieces.

The rooster is depicted with peonies, also known as “the Queen of Flowers.” Due to its design, the dazzling visual display beautifully represents the renewal of springtime. This version is housed in a 39 mm red gold case. The 35 mm model is set with diamonds.

Furthermore, the other two watch models utilize the miniature sculpture technique. This technique appears on the watch’s dial inlaid with jadeite and mother-of-pearl. A simply stunning look. You can choose between 18K white gold or 18K red gold. Similar to the Fire Rooster miniature painting version, choose from either with or without diamonds. Each model is limited to only 28 pieces.

The miniature masterpiece celebrates the influence of jade. As an iconic, material symbol across Asia, jade represents both health and luck. Seen on the left side of the watch dial, you will notice bamboo shoots. These represent a promise of happiness and overcoming adversity.

Jaquet Droz has taken pride by its desire to travel the world and discover different cultures. By its travels, the company has gained appreciation for the Far East and Chinese civilization. The influence is quite evident in the new Fire Rooster watch models.

If you are looking for that special luxury gift for a family member or friend, one of these fine watches would be ideal.

We hope you enjoyed reading about the Fire Rooster watch collection from Jaquet Droz. Stop by soon to follow our luxury blog. We can help you locate and buy the best luxury watches from the world’s top brands.

Photo: Jaquet Droz

You’re on a tropical beach overlooking the warm waters of the Caribbean. It’s time for a drink. Enjoy your favorite cocktail at the new Mulberry Project pop-up at Colibri Boutique Hotels’ beachside La Zebra hotel in Tulum, Mexico.

Colibri Boutique Hotels collection consists of five properties in Tulum, Mexico (La Zebra, El Pez, Mi Amor, Mezzanine) and Little Corn Island, Nicaragua (Yemaya Island Hideaway and Spa). Designed for relaxation, the “Barefoot Chic” collection includes Found behind the La Zebra hotel is the Mulberry Project “rustic chic” bar. The Mulberry Project is recognized for pioneering the bespoke cocktail concept.

Enjoy life and try a personalized cocktail experience. The mixologists are using the best tequila, rum and mezcal to create delicious cocktails. The pop-up bar on the beach is fun atmosphere where you can order your own unique drink. Don’t get stuck ordering off a menu. First select your liquor base, then choose ingredients that suggested on a chalkboard. Mix and match and get creative!

You can choose from market-fresh fruit, delish vegetables, plus various herbs and spices that are available that particular day.

Next, decide on the type of cocktail you enjoy drinking. Maybe refreshing or sweet? How about spicy and tropical? Or what about dry, bitter, smoky, herbal and many more?

Once you have decided, the talented mixologists are ready to create your ideal bespoke drink. How fun is that?

Jasper Soffer is both the founder and co-owner of the original speakeasy, found in New York City’s Little Italy. Soffer also created the Mulberry Project. He was quoted, “We don’t believe in boredom. We want to surprise you and please you at the same time. We’ll give you a cocktail you’ve probably never had before, something that fits with the magic that is Tulum. In fact, your second cocktail may be something entirely different.”

Since you are in Mexico, how about smoky mezcal concoction? Try some local, Mexican ingredients such as mole bitters.

Under the direction of talented Chef Eleazar Bonilla, you can try these delicious cocktails at the La Zebra’s restaurant. Enjoy local cuisine and a great selection of drinks.

Are you ready to take a luxury, tropical vacation. The concierge specialists at The Life of Luxury can help you plan and book your next getaway. We can offer all-inclusive packages or unique VIP experiences.

We hope come back soon to follow this luxury blog. Travel to Mexico and try awesome cocktails at the Mulberry Project.

Photo: La Zebra