bLavish

Walk on the Wild Side with Belize at the Jaguar Reef Lodge

April 21, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Let's Get out of Here Vacation Packages, Reasons To Travel at 12:18 pm | (2) Comments »

The amazing Jaguar Reef Lodge is located in Belize, the small, beautiful country located on the Caribbean just south of Mexico’s Yucatan.  Jaguar Reef Lodge boasts 300 acres of wilderness & 1,000 feet of beach front. The Lodge is about 2.5 hours from the Belize City airport; transportation is provided.

Try on the Walk on the Wildside Family Adventure:

Walk on the Wildside Family Adventure invites kids under 18 to “eat free, sleep free, and play hard.”
Families stay in air-conditioned 2-bedroom, 2-bath suites on the beach and includes 7 nights, all meals, airport transfers & a 3 full-day adventure tours. Price starts at $3595 for 7 days, 2 adults & 1 child.

Choose from:  mountain bikes, beach cruisers, sea kayaks, fishing, Cockscomb Basin Jaguar Preserve Tour, Sittee River and Barrier Reef Snorkel Tour or River of Caves Expedition at Caves Branch. 

Don’t miss this opportunity to check out beautiful Belize.

Fractional Ownership Exclusive Resorts Vacation Club- Is it for You?

April 5, 2006 | Posted by Allison as How the Rich Survive, Reasons To Travel at 9:52 am | Comments »

Tired of renting the same old hotel room in Destin, Florida?  Want to travel the world over, yet still feel at home- but without the mortgage?  Sick of eating out every meal while you vacation?  If you have answered ‘yes’ to any of these questions, then the Exclusive Resorts membership club may be just what you’ve been needing.

With more than 280 luxury residences in 36 of the world’s top destinations, Exclusive Resorts is the leading luxury fractional ownership club.  All you have to do it pay $395,000 plus $25,000 in annual upkeep and you can go wherever you want effortlessly.  They handle all the detail for you such as travel plans and stocking the pantries with your favorite foods.

Take the family skiing in Deer Valley, Utah; enjoy the Mediterranean haven of St. Tropez or head to Naples, Florida and engage yourself in relaxation and spa pampering.  Eric Pai of Montclair, New Jersey joined the club and hasn’t looked back since.

“I’m a numbers guy, I did the math, and it worked.  Everywhere we used to go, we were renting multiple hotel rooms, eating out for every meal.  With this, I can take the kids to a breadth of places and still feel like it’s my home.”

I’m sold.  I enjoy the luxury of easy travel, especially if someone else is stocking the pantry!  Now, about that $420,000….

Pop the Question in French Riviera Luxury, Chateau de la Chevre d’Or

March 29, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Reasons To Travel at 12:40 pm | Comments »

Thinking of popping the question to your loved one?  Why not take them on a French Riviera excursion to Chateau de la Chevre d’Or?  Perched between the mountains and the Mediterranean in the medieval village of Eze, France, the Chateau de la Chevre d’Or offers magnificent views.  Opened to the public in 1953, this spectacular chateau has rooms, suites or even private apartments available, each with its own unique charm.

What more could you want to romance your sweetheart with views of the Cote D’Azur coast, medieval beauty and delicate care from the patrons of this luxurious haven?  You can choose from one of three magnificent restaurants; relax by the private swimming pool; feel the bubbles in your Jacuzzi or enjoy access to a private golf course, although, if things go well, maybe you don’t want to leave the bed too often.

With this relaxed and luxurious location, you are sure to pop with question with ease, romance and with pleasure.  Best wishes.  Cost per room varies, staring at- $500.

Ireland- A Mecca of Wealth

March 17, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Reasons To Travel, The Reasons Why at 1:06 pm | (2) Comments »

Ireland has passed out both the United States and Japan, the Emerald Isle rose last year to eight place in a prestigious world table for human development.

The 2005 Human Development Report, published by the UN, found Irish people to be the second wealthiest in the world, with a GDP per head of $37,738.  Ireland is also one of the most unequal in terms of wealth, however, with a high percentage of the population at poverty levels.

But, it looks like the Irish are living it large with their new ranking.  High spending is prevalent and new upscale restaurants and hotels are popping up all over the place. Since 2002, the country has risen 10 places in the ranking of economic performance, life expectancy & education standards. 

It’s a good time to be Irish and an even better time to visit Ireland.  From Celtic ruins to modern accommodations, this is a beautiful country to experience.  Book your Ireland vacation package now & have yourself an even better St. Patrick’s Day!

 

Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa: Your Tahiti Vacation Awaits

March 15, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Let's Get out of Here Vacation Packages, Reasons To Travel at 11:05 am | (1) Comment »

Is it time to shake off the working blues?  Are you truly ready to get away from it all and put yourself in the care of luxury and pampering?  Look no further than Bora Bora, a South Pacific island where your dreams await you.

In the sheltering arms of palm trees and massage therapists, you will be treated royally at the Bora Bora Nui resport & Spa.  Are you ready to be satisfied, relaxed, released from the drudgery of commonplace work politics?  Step into the light of elegance that French Polynesia has to offer.

Drawing inspiration from a rich island bounty and the abundance of the sea, the Bora Bora Nui Resort & Spa is pleased to offer a range of dining options created by Chef Michel Seyve that celebrate the unique flavors of the area. From unique breakfast service by canoe to gourmet cuisine by torchlight, every meal is a feast for your senses.

Relax and indulge yourself in your choice of the Beach Bar, casual & relaxed, or the Hopuna Bar, nestled between thatched-roof bungalows and offers a panoramic view of the lagoon.

Choose from a multitude of activities such as shopping in the gift boutique; pampering yourself from your pick of spa and salon treatments; take a swim in the 10,000 square meter “infinity” swimming pool; enjoy the white sand beach on this private island; take a chance with sport fishing, or shark and ray feeding, or scuba diving and snorkeling, or kite surfing and even windsurfing.  Whew!  Or just take it easy with your new book on a lounge chair by the ocean.

With so much to do and see, you need to get packing!  Room rates range from $700-$3000 per night.
 

A Perfect St. Patty’s Day Awaits You

March 6, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Reasons To Travel at 2:25 pm | Comments »

Luxist has a fabulous idea for St. Patrick’s Day this year, March 17.  Why not treat yourself to a real Irish holiday? 

“In honor of the upcoming St. Patrick’s Day holiday, how about a stay at one of Ireland’s premier castle hotels, Ashford Castle. Situated in near Cong, in County Mayo, Ashford Castle is a wonderful place to experience the luxuries of country living in a structure that parts of which were begun in 1228. Some enhancements have been made since the dark ages, notably bathrooms and electricity. The hotel is on the shores of Lough Corrib, Ireland’s second largest lake and features elegant grounds perfect for an afternoon stroll. As a former guest of the hotel, I can attest to the warmest service and delicious dining that the castle offers. By the way, if you can’t make it to the castle soon, rent “The Quiet Man” with John Wayne. It was filmed in the village of Cong and on the castle grounds in 1951. If you can, arrive by helicopter to get a bird’s eye view of the castle and grounds.”

The best of both worlds, bathrooms, electricity and history dating back to 1228.  What more could you ask for in an Irish holiday?  Room rates vary from $400-$600.

Treat Yourself to a Luxury Hotel Suite

February 14, 2006 | Posted by Allison as Reasons To Travel at 1:07 pm | (1) Comment »

In most circles, $1,000 or $1,500 a night for a hotel suite would net at least a raised eyebrow; $2000 would certainly give most people pause. But for the world’s most elite travelers, a room that costs less than $5,000 a night isn’t even worth considering. At ritzy hotels in some of the world’s most extravagant cities, presidential and imperial suites can be had for prices that climb to more than $10,000 a night.  Here are the top three, all coincidentally located in the Big Apple:

The Four Seasons, The Presidential Suite

To elite guests throughout the world, the Four Seasons embodies upscale hospitality. This New York City hotel was designed by noted architect I.M. Pei. The Presidential Suite is a 3,000-square-foot penthouse on the 52nd floor. Unlike many other top-of-the-line suites in the city that are done up in traditional furnishings and antiques, the Four Seasons offers up a contemporary look complete with black marble floors and rich wood paneling. Guests gain access to a 24-hour staff, TV monitors that pop up a la Jay Leno and marble baths complete with whirlpools. The list of notable former guests includes Michael Jackson, who made the Four Seasons his home for three months. Cost per night, $10,000.

St. Regis, Presidential Suite

For travelers in the market for luxury, the St. Regis, another New York City hotel with a lengthy pedigree, serves it up on a silver platter (to those who can pay $10,500 a day). The hefty rate buys guests a three-bedroom, four-and-half-bath suite with views of Central Park. John Jacob Astor opened the St. Regis in the early 1900s, and although much has changed in New York during the last hundred years, some things are exactly the same as they were in 1904. Each of the hotel’s 16 floors is served by its own maitre d’. Guests in the Presidential Suite dine in a formal dining room with meals prepared in the full-sized kitchen by their very own staff. The living room is furnished with antiques, tapestries, Oriental rugs and Louis XV furniture. The master bedroom has silk-covered walls, and a walnut-paneled library is available to guests who want to curl up with a book at the end of the day.  Cost per night, $10,500.

The Plaza, Presidential Suite

Guests who are rolling in the dough can check into the same digs as tycoon Alfred Vanderbilt! The 28-year-old chose to make the brand-new Plaza hotel his bachelor pad back in 1907 when an entire year’s bill was only $25,000. Since then, little has changed — except the prices. Now, one night’s stay is a cool $15,000, and the Plaza is still heralded as the city’s most elite hotel. The two-level Presidential Suite occupies the entire 18th floor of the hotel; plus, guests have access to a rooftop area. Within the 7,800-square-foot space, there are two living rooms, a parlor and a library. That’s in addition to six bedrooms and seven — yes, seven — bathrooms. The suite also has a private wine cellar, four balconies and a staff of maids, a butler and chauffeur with a Rolls Royce. For those quick snacks, there’s even a private chef on call at any hour of the day.  Cost per night, $15,000. 

Enjoy your stay!