JustLuxe: Lena Katz Articles / News

Exhale's FusionFest: Free Classes, Spa Services & Giveaways

Lena Katz — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:09:02 EDT

Beach season is one week away � and if your love handles, thigh jiggle and beer belly are still lurking around, then you�re probably looking for an intensive fitness regimen to start immediately. Which is why it�s so convenien...

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Amusement Park VIP Perks to Enhance Your Family Vacation

Lena Katz — Fri, 17 May 2013 04:54:43 EDT

A recent news story about rich people allegedly hiring handicapped tour guides to jump lines at Disney ignited a firestorm of commentary online. One question we as travel experts ask is: Why go to such questionable lengths when almost every amusement park has a VIP offering that gets you line-jumping privileges and plenty of other perks?...

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10 Picturesque Picnic Spots to Dine Al Fresco This Summer

Lena Katz — Fri, 17 May 2013 01:49:38 EDT

It�s al fresco dining season again, and hotels are getting creative with their outdoor setups. From a rustic-elegant set up overlooking the Spanish hillside, to a romantic beach tryst on a private South Sea island, here are 10 over-the-top open air set ups that take picnicking to a new level....

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The New York Palace: A Classic Address in Metamorphosis

Lena Katz — Fri, 17 May 2013 10:10:04 EDT

So much glamorous Manhattan history still lives, breathes and whispers around the legendary corners of The New York Palace, it feels as if you�ve walked into a movie set when you enter. And for those who have always wanted to stay in such a place and feel that sort of glamour enfold them, this is THE summer to do it. The Palace is under renovations and as such, various discounts are offered throughout the hotel as well as room rates for the Towers reduced to 50 percent of what they�d usually be. It�s the best deal to be found in Manhattan this summer at one of the city�s most iconic addresses....

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Vegas Uncork�d 2013 Presented by bon appétit Showcases World's Best Chefs

Lena Katz — Thu, 16 May 2013 02:33:58 EDT

Vegas Uncork�d presented by bon app�tit pulled off its 7th year in grand style. It was a long weekend of glorious excess, showcasing some of the world�s most famous chefs and the Strip�s most glittering venues....

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Eventi Hotel Shows Off its Sociable Personality in New York's Chelsea District

Lena Katz — Sun, 12 May 2013 10:10:04 EDT

Let the unusual name of this Midtown newcomer clue you in: for business meetings or spontaneous meetups, cross-country rendezvous or a midweek shopping spree, the Eventi � a Kimpton Hotel is a great home base for a social stay in Manhattan. It�s a friendly, casually chic, centrally located and versatile boutique hotel. Like most of its Kimpton sister properties, it excels at making the business-class traveler feel at home. Since the public spaces are spread across many floors, the hotel never feels congested, or like one particular group has overtaken the entire property....

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Culinary Students Compete Live for $20K at Chase Sapphire Preferred Grill Challenge

Lena Katz — Thu, 09 May 2013 02:50:47 EDT

For the marquee-name chefs in town for Vegas UnCork'd by Bon Appetit, a live cooking demonstration held onstage in front of 300 discerning foodies is all in a day's work...but for two of Vegas' brightest culinary students, it's the chance of a lifetime....

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10 Specialty Mother's Day Brunches

Lena Katz — Mon, 06 May 2013 06:00:04 EDT

Have you been thinking about putting an up-to-date spin on traditional Mother's Day brunches? You're in luck because plenty of top dining establishments from the Cape to the California coast are planning to offer much more than a standard buffet and bubbly for 2013. From beer brunches in LA to Asian fusion in Manhattan, here are ten specialty brunches that your mother is sure to remember!...

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Ever After Matches Couples With Their Perfect Place to Say 'I Do'

Lena Katz — Fri, 03 May 2013 06:34:41 EDT

Choosing a venue can be one of the most stressful aspects of planning a wedding. Take the stress inherent in trying to plan any big event and multiply it by ten; then factor in extra hurdles if you're doing a destination wedding or you have picky in-laws with their own opinions. Any extra help is much appreciated but usually not completely trustworthy....

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Westin Dawn Beach Offers the Big Brand Experience on Tiny St. Maarten

Lena Katz — Thu, 02 May 2013 10:10:04 EDT

Even amidst the colorful and culturally diverse islands of the Caribbean, the half-French, half-Dutch island of Sint Maarten/St. Martin holds a special multi-cultural place. It belongs to two European nations, and is split down the middle in its allegiance. The languages, currency, and atmosphere change markedly according to which side of the border you�re on; but whether tourists favor the shopping on the French side or the bar-hopping on the Dutch, they�re limited, lodging-wise....

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Sofitel New York Offers French Style in The Big Apple

Lena Katz — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 03:25:47 EDT

Sofitel, a French brand, has taken quiet but sure steps to elevate itself from business stopover to luxury standby over the past few years�and it�s worked. Once upon a time it may have been the European businessman�s home-away-from-home, but over time it�s become a true luxury bastion�and in no property is that more apparent than the heart of Manhattan....

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Feel the Heal at These Diverse Natural Hot Springs Destinations

Lena Katz — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 12:43:29 EDT

Mineral baths, therapeutic mud, volcanic springs�when it comes to hydrotherapy, nobody provides better than Mother Nature. Here�s a roundup of our favorite hot springs experiences, from historic to luxurious to Viking....

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Is Hybrid Yoga the Next Big Thing in Trendy Fitness?

Lena Katz — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 03:22:47 EDT

Yoga these days has gone so far beyond Hatha and Vinyasa. Hybrids are all the rage, as multi-certified instructors figure out how to combine it with other practices like martial arts, dance, swimming and more. Aside from the obvious health and wellness benefits of incorporating yoga into your lifestyle, many of the formerly specialized yoga types are finding a new user base as people look to stretch their bodies and psyches to challenging new places. From hardcore to low-impact, and from tasty to downright silly, this list comprises all of our favorite hybrids that are currently on the market....

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Game of Thrones Locations: Beautiful Spots From the HBO Hit Series

Lena Katz — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 06:19:04 EDT

There are a lot of special effects in the HBO blockbuster fantasy series Game of Thrones, but one thing that�s never faked is the spectacular scenery. If you�re looking at an elegant medieval port city, an endless expanse of frozen white wasteland, or an exotic oasis within a parched desert, you�re probably looking at the real deal, not some sort of green screen. Many destinations have worked with GOT producers to get this impressive cast/crew of hundreds over to their most unusual and beautiful corners for filming. Now, as fans get ready for the start of Season 3, here�s our guide to where your favorite scenes were shot in real life....

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Martin Miller: Everything But the Gin

Lena Katz — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 06:10:28 EDT

The story of Martin Miller Gin is so oft-repeated and well rehearsed at this point, every booze chronicler has covered it. Everyone knows of the British entrepreneur�s industry-leading demand for quality, his journey to find the purest water, and his quirky personal brand....

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9 Fitness Retreats to Whip You Into Shape for Summer 2013

Lena Katz — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 01:22:21 EDT

With less than two months to go till swimsuit season, it�s time to start thinking about working off that winter chub and getting back into trim, fit and fighting form. If it�s hard to force your body back into the standard �fit body� routine of regular five-mile runs and cross-training sessions at the gym, we recommend kick-starting your program with a �pre-vacation� at a luxury fitness retreat. Resorts and fitness companies are coming up with innovative, fun and unique programs that combine strength training, dance, hiking, biking, meditation and more....

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Wildlife Watching: A Northern California Coast Guide To Whales, Seals and Eels

Lena Katz — Tue, 12 Mar 2013 07:01:39 EDT

With the Mendocino Coast Whale Festivals kicking off the spring season of whale migration, it�s a good time to remind yourself how truly awesome the wildlife watching opportunities...

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Celebrities Guest Bartend Inside Urban-Chic Lounge, EVR

Lena Katz — Wed, 13 Mar 2013 03:56:58 EDT

Most professional creative types have worked in a bar at some point before they became successful in their chosen art. Usually once they hit it big time, however, they never look back�unless Manhattan nightlife impresarios like Alex Likhtenstein and Ian Magid whisper in their ear. At EVR lounge in Midtown Manhattan, well-known performing...

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The Only Luxury Boutique Cottage Hotel on Grand Cayman: Cotton Tree

Lena Katz — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 01:58:22 EST

It�s a tale of two sisters�both entrepreneurs and Caribbean girls. Cayman Islands natives with worldly backgrounds and an innate sense for hospitality, Heather Lockington and her sister turned a chunk of beachfront land on Grand Cayman into a lovely and serene luxury villa getaway. It�s sophisticated enough to satisfy the jaded �Please-I�ve-seen-everything-in-the-Caymans� crowd and comfortable enough to make guests feel right at home�whether they�re a honeymooning couple or a family with small children....

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Le Blanc Spa Resort Cancun: All-Inclusive, Kid-Free & Romance Aplenty

Lena Katz — Mon, 25 Feb 2013 08:31:11 EST

If there still are people in the post-recession world who managed to get away on a luxury Valentine�s mid-week mini-break, we salute them. It�s not easy to justify that kind of romance-before-work attitude these days. For most of us, spring is the first opportunity to take that romantic getaway...but we begin dreaming about it long before....

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Our Favorite Cruise Trends for 2013

Lena Katz — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 07:52:50 EST

The Cruise Line International Association (CLIA) had some intriguing and exciting trends to report during its most recent State of the Industry Press Conference in New York this year. From brand-name entertainment to celebrity chef-driven cuisine to a focus on small-ship experiential cruising, the future of this waterborne form of travel is far more diverse and adventurous than it was in the past. And it�s moving toward less-charted waters, as well. Here are the trends we�re most excited about, and the cruise line that currently is setting the standard for each trend....

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Taste of a Destination: The Best Local Experiential Food Journeys

Lena Katz — Thu, 14 Feb 2013 03:31:39 EST

If the way to a person�s heart is through their stomach, then it makes sense that the way to get to the heart of a place is through its food. So, for proponents of experiential travel or people who just like to eat and drink their way through a vacation, culinary tourism is where it�s at�and the experiences here are destination-centric as well as delicious....

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Skip Valentine's Day Expectations and Plan a Romantic Evening at Home

Lena Katz — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 05:17:52 EST

Haven't made your Valentine's Day reservations yet? You are not alone. In fact, you're right on trend. Whether partnered up or not, a lot of people are ready to re-evaluate their commitment to Valentine�s Day and the ridiculous, crowded, overpriced rituals it demands....

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America's Coziest Firesides

Lena Katz — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 07:46:51 EST

It�s sleeting, it�s freezing, it�s snowing...and we�re all tired of it. We want a cozy seat near a warm, crackling fire�preferably one with hot toddy service and some delicious desserts. Just in time for the Big Chill and Valentine�s Day around the corner, here�s a gallery of America�s coziest hotel and restaurant firesides�from the iconic Bowery Hotel in Manhattan to the snowy Rocky Mountain peaks....

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There's Snow in Stowe! Vermont's Powdery Mountains Welcome Ski Lovers

Lena Katz — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 07:50:18 EST

This may come as a surprise to you, but January of 2013 is turning out to have some fairly unpredictable weather. But as low temperatures drive LA to near-panic and a bone-chilling, drizzly haze overtakes New York, the luxury ski resorts of the Northeast are happily open for business. Always an early-season go-to for East Coast snow bunnies, Stowe Mountain Resort opened in mid-November for 2012-2013, saw heavy snows in December, and currently has 300 acres open for skiing....

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