Luxury Travel in Sedona Might Include a Stay at the Enchantment Resort. The photo is courtesy of the Enchantment Resort.

Luxury Travel in Sedona

Sedona, Arizona, is unquestionably one of the most beautiful small cities in the world. Known as the Red Rocks of Sedona, the city is surrounded by towering red sandstone formations that glow in brilliant shades of red and orange whenever the sun rises or sets. Anyone who enjoys physical pursuits, such as hiking or mountain biking, could not possibly find a more amazing place to engage in these activities. But besides the sheer physical beauty of this area, there are many other reasons for visitors to enjoy luxury travel in Sedona.

Sedona is a bit of a sleepy little city, no matter how much it has to offer, but it’s within two hours of the bright lights, big city shopping, and night life of Phoenix. It’s also a two hour drive from Sedona to the Grand Canyon, an obvious “must-see” if you have not visited Arizona in the past.

About Sedona

One of the first things any visitor to Sedona will notice is Sedona’s Native American heritage. It was, at one time, home to both a large population of the Yavapai and the Apache tribes. Members of these tribes were removed to a reservation in 1876 but in 1900 several hundred returned to the Sedona area and their ancestors still live in Sedona.  Early Anglo settlers were farmers and ranchers and Oak Creek Canyon was known for its peach and apple orchards. Sedona was, until quite recently, still very much a cowboy town. It had around 50 residents in the mid-1950s and some parts didn’t even have electricity until the 1960s! Both the Native American and Southwestern Frontier legacy runs deep in Sedona and you will come across it everywhere.

Sedona is also considered, by those with an interest in New Age pursuits, to be an area where five spiritual vortices (or vortexes) are clustered.  The New Age movement is a Western Spiritual movement that began in the second half of the 20^th century and draws upon Eastern, Western and metaphysical traditions and includes self-help influences such as psychology, parapsychology, and holistic healing. The vortices are said to be at Sedona’s Bell Rock, Airport Mesa, Cathedral Rock, and Boynton Canyon. When you get to Sedona, don’t be surprised by the frequent references to New Age psychology and consider a visit to the “Center for the New Age”!

Shopping in Sedona

One of Sedona’s biggest guilty pleasures is the shopping. Sure, there are many, many tourist trap sorts of places but there are also beautiful galleries with a focus on Southwestern art and sculpture. You will also find wonderful places to buy kachina dolls, Native American silver jewelry, western wear, and sportswear for the hiking and biking inclined.

What makes Sedona’s shopping so spectacular for me is Tlaquepaque (tla-keh-pah-keh). Tlaquepaque is a beautiful, beautiful place to visit, even if you aren’t a big shopper but it’s also an amazing place to buy Arizona arts and crafts. It’s built beneath the sycamore trees which line Oak Creek. It was originally fashioned after a traditional Mexican village. No matter how hot it is in Sedona, and sometimes it’s very hot, Tlaquepaque exudes an air of coolness and refreshment. Stucco walls are vine-covered, walkways are cobblestoned and shaded, galleries and shops are cool and lovely, and it’s so quiet at Tlaquepaque that you can hear the birds singing.  When it’s time for a lovely lunch or a cold beverage, there are wonderful restaurants and cafes at Tlaquepaque too.

Where to Stay

Come to Sedona for the beauty of the area and the shopping. But stay in one of these two luxury resorts.

Enchantment Resort and Mii Amo Spa:  This resort is surrounded by those famous Red Rocks. It’s set on 70 acres of natural terrain and is right at the doorway of Boynton Canyon. The views from the resort are magnificent. Hints of the Native American culture are everywhere. There’s even a club for kids ages 4 -12, called Camp Coyote so if you’re traveling with your family, this is a wonderful luxury travel place to stay. And don’t miss the fabulous Mii Amo Spa.

L’Auberge de Sedona: is a glorious, luxury Sedona hotel, resort, and spa on the banks of Oak Creek with elegant accommodations, award winning dining, and a gorgeous spa. Dine by the side of Oak Creek under the sycamore trees, enjoy your suite’s private outdoor shower and the luxury of the ministrations of the hotel’s experienced and caring staff. L’Auberge de Sedona is a romantic place to stay in one of the world’s most romantic spots.

Speak with one of our knowledgeable travel advisors to learn about the best times of the year to visit Sedona and enjoy the perks and amenities of booking through an online travel advisor.

The Spa at the Rome Cavalieri is a True Perk of Luxury Travel! The photo is courtesy of the Rome Cavalieri.

The World’s Best Spas

Luxury travel is a pleasure. And one of the greatest pleasures of luxury travel is a day, or at a least a few fabulous hours, in the resort’s spa. Spas are wildly popular today, and with good reason. There’s nothing more relaxing, soothing and more of a getaway from the stresses of being a parent, an employee, and a citizen of this technology-rich world, than a day at the spa where nothing matters but your comfort and pleasure. Sound hedonistic? There’s nothing wrong with that!

Today’s spas often offer treatments which are indigenous to the area where the resort is located with native healing techniques and treatments which use native ingredients. Many have ocean or jungle views and spectacularly beautiful interiors which echo the regions in which they are found. The best spas in the world not only offer tranquility and calm. They also offer a link to the culture and traditions of their peoples and country. Don’t skip the spa during your precious luxury travel time.

Here’s some information on world-class  luxury travel resorts around that world. These resorts also have the best of the best spas.

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans

The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans is a fabulous place to stay in the fabulous luxury travel destination of New Orleans! It’s situated right on the edge of the French Quarter and besides its world-class spa, it offers a wonderful restaurant, impeccable service and a combination of Southern elegance and service.

The specialty of the Ritz-Carlton Spa, New Orleans, is replacing your “worldly concerns with a world of comfort.” The Spa’s beautiful décor and enormous variety of treatments and therapies are what puts it at the top of the list of the world’s luxury spas. It has 22 treatment rooms, over 100 therapies, a fitness center, a Spa Café, a store, and complimentary valet parking. It is the winner of a host of awards. Healing Lifestyles chose it as a Top Luxury Spa, Elle Magazine ranked it among the Top Ten Spas in the United States, and Travel + Leisure named it the number one Hotel Spa in the U.S. and Canada.

Rome Cavalieri, Waldorf Astoria Hotels & Resorts, Rome

The Five Star Rome Cavalieri is the very first Waldorf Astoria in Europe. It has an amazing view of Rome and is only a few minutes from the great monuments of the Eternal City. And even though the Cavalieri is in the center of things, it is a tranquil and elegant address for luxury travel. It’s surrounded by fifteen acres of beautiful parklands. Its collection of art is more important and larger than that of many museums, the Cavalieri’s standard of luxury sets it above many other of Rome’s hotels, and the Grand Spa is world class. In fact, Travel + Leisure Magazine’s readers voted it the best spa in Europe.

The Grand Spa is in the tradition of the great baths of Ancient Rome. It has ten themed rooms, an an array of pampering treatments from all over the world including Shiatsu finger pressure and Ayurvedic healing. There is a Turkish bath with hot and cold plunge pools, four swimming pools, and so much more.

The Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok

To conclude our tour of a few of the best luxury travel spas worldwide, I’ve chosen the Mandarin Oriental, Bangkok. The Mandarin Oriental is a Five Star hotel which offers world class service and wonderful dining and meeting facilities as well. The hotel calls itself a “paragon of contemporary luxury” and is, indeed, one of the world’s most beautiful and prestigious hotels.

In the Mandarin Oriental Spa, good health and beauty is achieved through meditation, massage, and the use of natural herbal remedies in the ancient tradition of Thailand. The Spa is a century-old teak wood house which was voted “Best in the World” by Travel + Leisure Magazine. It has 19 private suites, and décor which is based on classic Siamese aesthetics.

Don’t forget to make time for a “time-out” at a wonderful world-class spa during luxury travel. Spend some time soothing your mind and body at one of the world’s best spas. Click here to find out about hotel and spa reservations from one of our knowledgeable luxury travel advisors.

Top Off Your Visit to the World's Most Beautiful Airports with a Visit to the World's Most Beautiful Hotels. The photo is courtesy of the Greenwich Hotel, Manhattan.

The World’s Most Gorgeous Airports

Did you ever think of flying to Beijing to see the airport? Apparently, one of the perks of luxury travel is the compelling beauty of some of the world’s airports. When you read about modern airports, it seems that some of them rival Disneyland. Take Beijing International Airport, for example. Travel and Leisure Magazine just called it “The World’s Most Beautiful Airport.” Now perhaps you would prefer not to travel to Beijing just to see the airport, but there are lots of exciting things to do in Beijing and lots of wonderful hotels to stay in to make your luxury travel, well, luxurious.

Beijing Airport

Terminal 3 at Beijing International Airport, opened for the 2008 Olympics, is two miles long, and is designed in the shape of a dragon. The ceiling is a color-coded (red and yellow) metal mesh and with the sun shining through, pours a dazzling reflection of the mesh on the floor of the terminal. Beijing is one of those cities which have spent big bucks and have hired internationally known architects to make the airport a Disney-esque preview of the city of Beijing.

And while in Beijing, where to stay – how about the Aman at Summer Palace? There’s something about the name of this Five Star Hotel which seems to echo the fantasy and magic of terminal three at Beijing’s airport. It’s a peaceful retreat located next to Beijing’s beautiful Summer Palace. In fact, the resort is housed in pavilions that were once part of the Palace and are over a century old. These pavilions were then used by guests as they waited for an audience with the Express Dowager Cixi. The resort is also only 15 km from the Forbidden City and features peaceful courtyards, traditional Chinese architecture and easy access to other landmarks, such as the Great Wall.

Barajas Airport, Madrid

Terminal 4 at Madrid’s Barajas Airport opened in 2006 and is designed to handle 35 million passengers each year. It looks like it may become the most important air-hub in Europe. It features colorful pylons which support a bamboo-lined roof creating a series of canyons which are traversed by both incoming and outgoing passengers, although at different levels. Luxury travel to Madrid can be capped off with a marvelous stay at the Hotel Villa Magna. This luxe hotel is in the center of Madrid and includes 150 large rooms and suites. It’s near the main shopping area, Madrid’s Art Triangle which includes the Prado, the Reina Sofia, and the Thyssen Bornemisza. It’s also near the Royal Palace, the Royal Theatre, Santiago Bernabeau Football Stadium and Flamenco Tablaos and Bars.

New York, New York, USA

While the United States is not noted for the outstanding beauty of its airports, the TWA Terminal at JFK Airport in New York is an exception. It’s important to note though, that one can no longer fly out of that terminal. The Eero Saarinen designed terminal closed almost ten years ago. However, it won’t be too long before luxury travel enthusiasts will be able to stroll through this unused terminal to check into their JetBlue flights in the next terminal over. The TWA Terminal was known for its poured concrete curves and billowing swoops, resembling the flight of a bird. Saarinen saw it as architecture which would “express the excitement of air travel.”

While in New York, enjoy some luxury travel accommodations at the Greenwich Hotel. The Greenwich is an 88 room boutique hotel in TriBeCa, which belongs to actor Robert De Niro. The spectacular hotel features an inviting and cozy style in which every single room is different and Conde Nast Traveler says it sports the atmosphere of a discreet men’s club and a “delicious feeling of space and eternity.” The neighborhood is rich in art, architecture, and history and is home to many well-known celebrities.

Come to see the airport and while you’re there, immerse yourself in the luxury of some of the world’s finest hotels. For more information or reservations, speak with an online travel advisor here.

You’ve never thought of visiting some of the world’s finest airports? Let’s hope we’ve put a “bug in your ear” and sent you to some of the world’s most beautiful cities as well! Learn more here.

Whether you prefer water-based adventures, land-cruising excitement, or the heart-pounding adrenaline of free-falls in the air, luxury travel adventures are within reach. Photo courtesy of Huntington District US Army Corps of Engineers.

Seeking Adventure? Extreme Sports and Luxury Travel Ideas

If the rush of adrenaline calls your name, if you’re a doer, not a watcher, then extreme sports are for you. Slap on the helmet and knee-pads, and get the parachute ready because here is our guide to the most extreme luxury travel destinations in the world, as well as top hotels for extreme sports enthusiasts and how to prepare for extreme sports travel:

Top 3 Extreme Luxury Travel Destinations

Mount Everest – Every extreme sport enthusiast’s bucket list includes climbing this world famous mountain. At 29,029 feet, this mountain has the highest peak in the world.

Mount Thor in Canada – This granite peak, found in Auyuittuq National Park on Baffin Island, presents the world’s steepest vertical peak at 4,100 feet, making it a favorite for climbers and thrill seekers.

Mount Chimborazo in Ecuador – While Mount Everest may have the highest peak, this mountain is actually closer to the moon and stars due to the fact that the earth is not perfectly round. At 20,703 feet above sea level, this peak brings climbers as close as earthly possible to celestial bodies.

Top 3 Luxury Hotels that Cater to the Courageous

Victoria Falls Hotel in Zimbabwe – With breathtaking direct views of the famous Victoria Falls Bridge spanning the Batoka Gorge, this hotel offers a variety of extreme sport options, including bungee jumping, gorge swings, white-water rafting, and more.

Copacabana Palace Hotel, An Orient-Express Hotel, in Rio de Janeiro – Facing the magnificent Copacabana Beach, this spectacular hotel will make arrangements for those looking for water-skiing and jet skiing. Nearby, guests can easily find spots for hang-gliding and other extreme sports. Plus, this luxury travel destination is a hotspot for celebrities young and old.

Falkensteiner Schlosshotel Velden in Austria – A stay at this Austrian lakeside chateau brings visitors a stunning view of the largest and warmest Alpine lake in Europe, offering water activities, mountain climbing, skydiving, and a variety of sports to suit every season.

3 Hints for Preparing for Extreme Sporting

Take lessons – Before you set out on your luxury travel extravaganza, seek classes. Professionals offer extreme sport training, often closer to home than you think. Skydiving lessons are available in nearly all bigger cities, and deep sea scuba lessons are offered in towns nowhere near the ocean.

Go with a guide – Many resorts and luxury travel tour companies offer or can arrange guided tours for those interested in a variety of extreme sports, and many include complimentary lessons and equipment usage. One of our favorite luxury travel tour companies is Curimum Eco-Cultural Tours in Rio de Janeiro. They’ll take guests on guided mountain biking tours, hiking to Corcovado, and a variety of other guided tour options, and equipment is included.

Use the right equipment – The cost of a tour or extreme sport experience usually includes use of their equipment, and most are required to maintain quality checks on these items. Don’t be afraid to ask when they last checked for quality. If you prefer to bring your own equipment, be sure your location allows it, and have a professional check it before you use it to prevent malfunctions.

Luxe Travel advisors know extreme sporting AND luxury travel.

If you’ve always wanted the adrenaline rush of free-falls, bungee jumping, hang gliding, and more, your Luxe Travel advisor can make that possible. We know the top luxury travel tour companies all around the world from Africa to Asia, from the Caribbean to South America, and we can set up the extreme sports vacation you’ve always dreamed of.

If you’d like more information about these or any other extreme luxury travel destinations, contact an experienced luxury travel advisor at Luxe Travel: concierge@luxetravel.com or 1-866-365-8747.

Luxury Vacations Aboard Celebrity Cruises are Getting Even Better. The photo is courtesy of Celebrity Cruises.

Luxury Vacations are Getting Even Better!

Celebrity cruises are well known for luxury vacations. Those who enjoy luxury vacations have always said that they were awed by the wide array of fabulous services and amenities on Celebrity Cruises. And now, Celebrity Cruises have just announced that they are making luxury vacations aboard their ships even better.

In response to the rave reviews Celebrity has gotten about its modern 25/7 butler service, Celebrity decided to “sweeten the pot” even further. What’s new to tempt you to spend your luxury vacations on Celebrity? Here’s a list:

• The Celebrity eXhale bedding program. This includes premium mattresses, 100% Egyptian cotton linens, and luxurious pillows and duvets.
• BVLGARI luxury bath products
• Dual iPod/iPad docking stations
• Reserved theater seating
• A wonderful and upgraded welcome bottle of “Banc de Blanc” sparkling wine featuring a label commemorating the cruises with artwork from the ArtCenter/South Florida artists.

Celebrities VP of Hotel Operations, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo is quoted as saying “Vacationers investing in suites expect – and deserve – a luxurious experience with a generous host of premium services and amenities, which we’ve always been devoted to delivering. And now, we’re thrilled to enhance their experience even further, with additional amenities that match their lifestyle and reflect our modern luxury ambience.”

More Amenities

The amenities mentioned above will enhance luxury vacations for all Celebrity Cruise vacationers. Butler’s are European trained and help with unpacking and packing, arranging dining in-suite as well as afternoon tea service or espresso, shoeshine service, and assistance with the booking of other services such as spa services, shore excursions, and any kind of specialty dining you might wish during luxury vacations.

Those staying in luxury suites during luxury vacations aboard Celebrity’s fleet will enjoy priority boarding and debarkation, a complimentary dinner for two on 7-night itineraries and two dinners for two on 8-nght itineraries in one of Celebrity’s “special restaurants.” These luxury vacations guests will also get priority selection of dining time, large verandas, the use of Frette bathrobes and oversized towels, a pillow menu, Hansgrohe showerheads, daily fresh cut flowers, a fresh fruit platter every day, and more.

Lutoff Perlo says that their travelers have told her that the amenities aboard Celebrity meet or exceed other luxury cruise lines and represent a better value.

Celebrity has announced that luxury vacations will get even better this year with the debut of even more spectacular suites.

• The “Reflection Suite” was created for luxury vacations! It is 1,636 square feet in size, and has a 194 square foot wraparound veranda. The shower room is fully glass enclosed – even the floor and ceiling – and offers 360 degree views of the ocean and a rain showerhead and heated bench seat. This shower is a first in the cruise industry. The Reflection Suite will also offer 10 foot high floor to ceiling windows, a grand piano, a dining room table, and a wet bar.
• “Signature Suites” will offer amazing views of land and sea with the 10 foot high floor to ceiling windows also offered in these suites and a 118 square foot veranda. Private verandas are graced with whirlpools.
• “AquaClass Suites” are also perfect for luxury vacations! Guests in these suites enjoy the services of a personal Spa Concierge who arranges AquaSpa treatments, exclusive access to Celebrity’s Mediterranean –themed restaurant, “Blu,” as well as AquaClass guestroom suites,  and access to the Persian Garden, and the Relaxation Room. Each AquaClass bathroom has a five head Hansgrohe shower tower, custom-blended bath products, and other amenities.

What are you waiting for? October will be here sooner than you think. Plan your luxury vacations aboard the Celebrity Cruise fleet and enjoy the plush new suites with all of their special amenities. Click here for more information.

Celebrity has been known for years for its luxury vacations. And now they’re getting even better. Click here to speak to our luxury travel advisors to learn more about the perks and amenities of making reservations through us.

Learn About Using Your Cell Phone Abroad From a Luxury Travel Agency. The photo is courtesy of Denver 911.

Luxury Travel Agency Tips About Taking Your Cell Phone Abroad

Some of the most useful luxury travel agency tips today are about cell phones. Amazingly enough, what with the huge leaps and bounds in technology, and particularly phone technology today, getting cellular service abroad can be a real hassle. And to add “insult to injury,” while there are lots of options available for using a cell phone abroad, many are not available to individual users depending on their cell phone carrier and their own individual needs. This is particularly true, unfortunately, for those traveling from North America. This is because our cell phone systems are so complex.

Luxury Travel Agency Cell Phone Tips I : Using Your Own Phone

• Your cell phone provider does not necessarily offer international service. A luxury travel agency can help you get this information.
• Cell phone services offered by cell phone providers which do offer international service are usually very expensive.  For the most part, business travelers are more likely than those traveling for pleasure, to feel that it’s necessary to use their own phone and phone number overseas.
• If your cell phone carrier is based on the GSM system, then it’s possible, although not guaranteed, that your cell phone may work overseas. In North America T-Mobile and AT&T, and are two cell phone carriers based on the GSM system.  Most countries – all of Europe, Australia, and most of Asia – use either the 900 or 1800 GSM spectrum. North America uses 1900 and 850. Unless your North American or Canadian phone is a tri or quad band phone, it will not work overseas. You can check this by searching GSM online or speaking with your phone’s carrier. More expensive and newer phones are more likely to be a tri or quad band phone than older or cheaper phones.
• A very important luxury travel agency cell phone tip is this: make sure that your own carrier has roaming agreements with carriers in the country you plan to visit. And make sure that that roaming agreement is set up on your service.
• Now, make sure that you find out what surcharges apply to you if you’re going to make calls or receive calls in a country that has a roaming agreement with your carrier. The costs may be so prohibitive that you may decide against it. Some countries charge up to $5 per minute for both incoming and outgoing calls.

Luxury Travel Agency Cell Phone Tips II: Rent a Cell Phone

• Some people opt to rent a cell phone. Beware! There are lots of different rates and options. Most cell phone companies which rent cell phones for use overseas ask renters to sign a binding agreement, leave a large deposit, and then bill the traveler upon return.
• Cell phones may be rented online or at the airport. Airport rentals are very expensive and may well cost you more than using your own phone and roaming. It’s expensive online, but not as expensive as the airport.

Luxury Travel Agency Cell Phone Tips III: Rent or Purchase a Compatible Phone

• Then – get a prepaid SIM card. Insert this into the phone. This card gives you service and a phone number. These “pay as you go” SIM cards have no contracts and lower rates than the phones in Luxury Travel Agency Cell Phone Tips II. Since service is pre-purchased, you will know exactly what it’s costing you as you use it.
• If you run out of the service you have bought, you can buy more at places like convenience stores or even at newspaper stands overseas. You can then punch in the code you have purchased and you will have more service. Another important luxury travel agency tip is to keep an eye on your credit to make sure you don’t run out at an inopportune time. Incoming calls are often free and international calls may only cost a few cents a minute.
• SIM cards are often specific to one country. If you’re only going to Germany, buy a German SIM card. These often allow you to use your cell phone and get the same rates as locals.
• If you’re going to more than one country, get an international SIM card. These are usually more expensive for outgoing calls but incoming calls are free and you won’t have to change your phone number after you cross the border into another country.

IMPORTANT LUXURY TRAVEL AGENCY TIP IV: FIGURE OUT YOUR OWN NEEDS BEFORE YOU DECIDE ON THE PHONE AND SERVICE. Use your phone now and call your luxury travel agency here for more information on cell phones and oversea usage.

Your cell phone is just one of the many things you need to consider when taking a luxury vacation. If you don’t mind paying the high rates, use your own cell phone. But if you want a better deal, see the tips above. Speak with a luxury travel agency advisor at your luxury travel agency here to find fabulous places to go and marvelous places to stay overseas!

Luxury Vacations in Rome Begin at La Posta Vecchia. The photo is courtesy of La Posta Vecchia.

Luxury Vacations in Rome

Rome promises endless delights from art and architecture to history, food, not to mention amazing hotels. Luxury vacations of a week or two will only give visitors a tiny taste of the Eternal City. Then again, it will give them the desire to come back again and again to experience all that is Rome.

Things to Do

• One of the most popular things to do in Rome on luxury vacations is to visit Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini. This is a museum where the archaeological remains of ancient Roman houses have been unearthed beneath Palazzo Valentini. They are on permanent display after restoration by a team of art historians, architects, and archaeologists, and are a rich addition to Rome’s historical heritage. All of the homes belonged to well-to-do citizens of ancient Rome. New life has been given to the homes through sound effects, lighting, and virtual reconstructions. It’s difficult to get tickets for this site. If you would like to add Le Domus Romane di Palazzo Valentini to your list of things to do on luxury vacations in Rome be sure to speak to an online luxury travel advisor here.
• The Church of San Luigi dei Fancesi is another site that is not to be missed during luxury vacations in Rome. The famous Italian painter Caravaggio (1573 – 1610) was commissioned to do the murals and painting in this beautiful and historic church.
• The Centro Storico is a part of Rome which offers some of Rome’s best examples of Roman classical and Baroque architecture. It also offers the romance of a stroll along the ancient labyrinthine streets of that part of the city.
• The Pantheon is an ancient temple which was once entered through a staircase of 15 steps. Over the centuries, the steps have been obliterated by the dust of time and the temple is at street level. The temple has changed much over the years but it is still a must-see on luxury vacations.

Places to Stay During Luxury Vacations

The Hotel Eden Rome is a wonderful place for luxury vacations! It’s a Five Star hotel located between the Via Veneto and Via Condotti and very close to the Spanish Steps. Built in 1889, the hotel features exquisite antique interiors, amazing exteriors, and a reputation for discreet and personalized service. Hotel Eden has been visited by leaders, aristocrats, celebrities, and world royalty who were enjoying luxury vacations in Rome.

La Posta Vecchia is an intimate home built during the Renaissance and is an award winning, independent, Five Star hotel. Visitors return often because staying at this hotel is like owning one’s very own aristocratic residence – if only for luxury vacations. La Posta Vecchia sits above the Tyrrhenian Sea and is surrounded by its own private park. It boasts an excavated Roman villa within its own foundations and it’s only a forty minute drive from Rome.

Regina Hotel Baglioni is located on central Via Veneto, a strategic spot which very close to the Villa Borghese, Piazza di Spagna, Via Condotti, and the very famous fashion street. This hotel is a meeting place of the international jet-set who enjoy their luxury vacations in Rome while staying at the Regina Hotel Baglioni. The hotel has a marvelous selection of rooms in the Art Deco style and a breathtaking view of Rome from its top floor.

If luxury vacations in Rome sound wonderful, speak with an online travel advisor about the best place for you to stay and the things that you would like to see.

Enjoy luxury vacations in Rome – after all, after the first time you’ll want to come back over and over again to experience it’s grandeur!

Your Luxury Travel Agency Recommends a Sandwich for Lunch - in Sandwich, England. The photo is courtesy of Indiana Insider Blog.

Yet another Reason to Visit Great Britain

It’s lunchtime here. Every hour of the day it’s lunchtime somewhere, right? And what would lunch be without the ubiquitous sandwich? Heroes, subs, paninis, open-faced, finger, grilled, or a PB & J, a sandwich by any other name would be just as delicious. But let your luxury travel agency advisor advise you that there wasn’t always a sandwich. No! In fact, 2012 is the 250^th anniversary of the sandwich and another terrific reason to visit England (as if there weren’t enough great reasons already.)

History of the Sandwich

The invention of the sandwich is attributed to the Fourth Earl of Sandwich who had his digs in Kent, England. It seems that he was quite the gambler and didn’t want to give up his gambling to use a knife and fork. The good Earl demanded that meat be served between two slices of bread to free up his hands for gambling, an unheard of practice at the time. Your luxury travel agency advisor thinks, as does the rest of the world, that this was an excellent idea!

Celebration of the Sandwich

2012 is the first year of the “Sandwich Celebration,” which will be held, according to your luxury travel agency advisor, in Sandwich, Kent, England on May 12 and 13^th. Sandwich is a pleasant two hour drive from London where you’ll be able to visit all of the sites there, stopping of course for afternoon tea at your luxury hotel in London, before taking a lovely day trip to Sandwich. (Any luxury travel agency will tell you NEVER to miss the pleasure of afternoon tea in London!)

Sandwich is a quaint town where a curfew bell is still rung each evening at 8:00. It’s a quick trip from Sandwich to Dover Castle, Canterbury Cathedral, and the Secret Gardens of Sandwich. You can learn more about all of these trips by speaking with an advisor from your luxury travel agency.

The sandwich making competitions will be judged by the current Earl of Sandwich,

May 12 and 13^th

Besides the sandwich making competitions, there will be a dramatic show which is all about – yes – the creation of the first sandwich, lots of food, concerts (one will be an 18^th century concert in full costume), shopping, a teddy bear’s picnic for children, and lots more. Our travel advisor thinks that this will be an excellent want to spend an idyllic weekend in the English countryside and it’s such a bonus that it’s only a short drive from London.

The Food Fayre will be on Guildhall Forecourt and at St. Peter’s church and will feature every drink and food to go with or make a sandwich. Twenty stalls are planned. There will be street music all day on Sunday provided by various local bands with a free concert on Sunday. The Earl of Sandwich himself is sponsoring the Teddy Bear’s Picnic with free sandwiches and lemonade for the 80 children who will be chosen through a lottery to attend. This promises to be quite an event, according to your luxury travel agency.

Speak with your luxury travel agency advisor today to find out more about travel in England in general, and travel to the Sandwich Celebration today! After all, as our luxury travel agency advisor says, that celebration is only two weeks away!

If you don’t think you can make it to Great Britain in time for the Sandwich Celebration, there are all sorts of other pleasures to enjoy during a British spring, summer, and fall. Click here to learn more from a knowledgeable advisor at your luxury travel agency online about travel to Great Britain this year. Use an online luxury travel agency to reap all the benefits of a luxury travel agency advisor’s many contacts in the travel field and get some wonderful luxury travel perks and amenities.

No matter how large or small your business meeting is set to be, luxury cruises can turn the hassle of meeting planning into a dream come true, especially with all-inclusive cruises such as Silversea. Photo courtesy of Silversea.

How to Book Luxury Cruises for your Business Events

Offsite business meetings are often more hassle than they’re worth, but when it comes to luxury cruises, not only is the hassle cut in half, the cost savings are unbelievable.

If you are thinking about luxury cruises as potential sites for your next meeting or event, use our guide to luxury cruises and business meetings to discover your options, figure the best values, and know how far in advance you should start planning.

Capacity aboard Luxury Cruises

Luxury cruises are all different when it comes to size – some are meant to cater to a select few and are therefore smaller, while some are designed for mass crowds and can handle groups in the thousands.

Smaller luxury cruises will feel more intimate, and service will be more one-on-one, and their smaller sizes mean you’ll have opportunities to get into smaller ports often unavailable to larger ships. The bigger luxury cruises, on the other hand, give you access to more choices and premium varieties of dining options as well as entertainment and excursions.

Whether your group ranges from 100-1,000 or 2,000-6,000, there are luxury cruises designed to cater to your specific event. Even smaller luxury cruises normally have meeting rooms and premium AV capabilities, so the size of your group will not affect your ability to host onboard a luxury cruise.

Convenient Pricing with Luxury Cruises

Budgeting for any meeting can be difficult, especially when it’s offsite, but meetings aboard luxury cruises make pricing much simpler.

For starters, if you plan to host your meeting in an international location, ground meetings will mean currency conversion, but meetings on luxury cruises means you’ll still be able to pay in U.S. dollars.

No matter how many international ports your cruise visits, if it’s an American-based cruise company, American currency it is. This means you don’t have to deal with conversion fees from credit card companies or currency exchanges, and you don’t need to worry about the uncertain fluctuations in exchange rates, which often make budget planning for international meetings a near impossibility.

Another aspect to consider is that luxury cruises are usually all-inclusive, so you can set your budget ahead of time and know you’ll have no problem sticking to it. All-inclusive luxury cruises normally include all food and drink (including premium alcoholic beverages), entertainment, room costs and tips, so feel free to let your employees indulge – no matter how much they indulge, your price stays the same.

Most luxury cruises don’t charge for use of meeting rooms and AV equipment, and it’s not hard to find an all-inclusive cruise that will also cover breakfast, snacks and beverages during your meetings, but to make sure how much of your meeting expenses are already in the cost, be sure to check ahead of time. Your luxury travel advisor is the best source of knowledge for this type of question – she knows which luxury cruises offer which services, so be sure to let your advisor know your preferences so she can find which cruise line best fits your needs.

Public Cruises or Chartered Ships?

Depending on your needs, and your budget, you’ll want to decide between joining a cruise already planned and open to the public or chartering a private ship where your group will be the only guests on board.

Public cruises mean you’ll have more variety on board for entertainment and meals, and the costs will be significantly lower since your guests aren’t the only ones the staff is attending to.

Chartered ships, however, mean you’ll have complete privacy, and you’ll be able to make the decisions about meal customization, entertainment options, and pretty much every other aspect of the cruise.

What and When to Plan

How early you should plan depends on how unique your desired experiences are. The more customized or unique, the earlier you should plan, since luxury cruises often don’t repeat the same itinerary within a year. For these or chartered itineraries, 18 months is the recommended advanced timing. Otherwise, if using an already-existing or common itinerary, 12-month advance notice is best so you can make sure the space will be available for your entire group.

Once you know which cruise company you’re using and which itinerary, figure out airfare, keeping in mind if people are coming from different locations around the world. Also, make sure you know the departure and arrival ports for your cruise – they’re often the same, but if they’re different, your roundtrip airfare will be more like two one-way tickets.

Figure out as soon as you can what meeting materials you need, and arrange to have them delivered to the ship ahead of time. Check with your luxury travel advisor or the cruise’s operations manager to see when and who should receive your packages.

Ask your luxury travel advisor if a passport is required for your cruise. If you’re docking and exiting the ship at international locations, chances are, you’ll need a passport, and it must be valid for at least six months past your cruise date. Travel visas may be needed as well, depending on your ports, so make sure you find out ahead of time so you’ll have ample time to obtain the needed paperwork, and so you’ll be able to factor such costs into your budget.

Ease the burden of meeting planning with luxury cruises and experienced luxury travel advisors.

Luxury cruises make budgeting for a meeting a breeze, and the experienced luxury travel advisors at Luxe Travel understand all the aspects of combining travel with business events.

Contact a Luxe Travel advisor at 1-866-365-8747 or concierge@luxetravel.com, and we’ll help you figure out if luxury cruises are the best option for your business meetings. Not only do we help with the aspects of trip planning, but we can also assist with planning info flyers, meeting space, catering, team-building tours and excursions, meeting itineraries, motivating awards ceremonies, hotel and airfare arrangements, and more.

Luxury Travel on the Beach at Sundown on Cape Cod. The photo is courtesy the National Park Service.

Luxury Travel on the Cape

If you’re a Northeasterner, Cape Cod is simply known as The Cape. This is the place that we all went sometime in our childhood, or have taken our own children. Maybe we were nostalgic and took our kids to see all the places we loved as children. But whether you’ve been to the Cape or not, luxury travel doesn’t get much better than that first whiff of the salt flats and the ocean beyond. And the closer you get to the Atlantic, the stronger the smell and the feel of the ocean in the air becomes until suddenly, you see the beach – everyone’s destination for those “lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.”

Fly to Boston

If you don’t live close enough to drive to Cape Cod to enjoy luxury travel there, it’s a reasonable road trip from Boston’s Logan airport. And Boston is wonderful spot to spend a few luxury travel days either before or after a trip to the Cape.

The Beach

The National Seashore of Cape Cod offers miles and miles of wide, sandy beaches for those enjoying luxury travel. Adults and kids will learn to love the feeling of a cold, wet, sand-filled bathing suit after a day at the beach. All you need is a cooler full of sandwiches and cold drinks, lots of sunblock, a book, a Frisbee, and flip flops to protect your tender soles from the heat of the midday sun on the sand. Don’t forget a pocketful of change to buy the kids (and yourself) a large Italian ice from the man with the mobile cart. The hardest thing about the beach is picking the flavor of the ice and deciding when to leave. This doesn’t sound like luxury travel? I guess we all have our own idea of luxury travel.

Then it’s time for a nap for the kids and a cold adult beverage for mom and dad and, of course, the discussion as to where to have dinner. On the nights you want to dress up, there are many, many, fine restaurants for those enjoying luxury travel, but a lobster roll, or fried clams eaten at a clam shack with greasy fingers and mayo on your chin, is second to none for lunch .

If you have your children with you, and can rip them away from the beach, they’ll love gazing into the front window of a fudge shop – a kid’s idea of luxury travel – hands pressed to the glass to shield their eyes from the glare of the sun, or picking out the all-important souvenirs to remind them of their stay on the Cape. Maybe you’ll take the ferry for  a breezy ride to Martha’s Vineyard or Nantucket. Then there’s whale watching, something you’ll never forget. If the wind in your hair, a sunburn on your nose, and fabulous seafood is your idea of luxury travel, Cape Cod has you covered.

Chatham Bars Inn

And when you want to snuggle into a warm bed in a cool, luxurious room after a long day in the sun, the Chatham Bars Inn is considered to be the most prestigious hotel on Cape Cod for luxury travel. In fact, the Chatham Bars Inn calls itself “New England’s Finest Oceanfront Luxury Resort & Spa.” The resort is right on the beach and features rooms in the Main Inn, Cottage Rooms, and Spa Suites. There is a large menu of pursuits, among them: private excursions to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket, deep sea fishing, whale watching, tennis, barrier beach walks, croquet, biking, golf, afternoon tea and more. Children are welcomed and there are award winning children’s programs that appeal to all ages. And when it’s time for dinner at a Classic Cape Cod restaurant, the Chatham Bars Inn offers four restaurants. The elegant Main dining room features New England cuisine, the cozy tavern is, the Beach House Grill which is right on the beach, and don’t miss Afternoon Tea – an elegant feature of luxury travel – in the South lounge.

For more information from your online travel advisor about booking a luxury travel trip to Cape Cod or accommodations at the Chatham Bars Inn, click here.

The pleasure of a trip to the Cape is luxury travel that no one ever forgets. Make plans for a beach vacation on Cape Cod this summer. Click here for more information.