|
|
|
October 06, 2006  Luxury Resorts: Hawk's Cay Resort is located 90 miles south of Miami in Duck Key of the Florida Keys. Formerly known as the Indies Inn, the resort has been a noteworthy haven of luxury to the rich-and-famous crowd for years. The exotic Caribbean-style resort is spread over 60 heavenly acres. There are 177 guestrooms, which are at least 420 square feet, and 295 two-bedroom villas of various levels. The Sanctuary-designated villas offer 1,750 square feet and a private swimming pool, while the Bungalow villas provide 750 square feet. Guests can see dolphins up close and personal, as there are dockside and in-the-water sessions where guests can spend up to three hours with the delightful mammals
Scuba diving, snorkeling, kayaking, parasailing, and water skiing highlight the water-sports offerings. Golf can be played at the nearby Sombrero Country Club's 18-hole championship golf course. Tennis and volleyball courts are on the premises, and the resort's Indies Spa provides massages, body treatments, facials, teen-spa services, and a fitness center and a salon. The resort has an 85-slip marina and a dockside general-convenience store. Over 50 of the slips have shore-power hookups. Private boat charters are on the island too. Many visitors never leave the resort because there is so much to do at the resort. Additionally, turnkey vacation villas are available as investment properties.
Hawk's Cay Resort provides numerous fine-dining and lounge alternatives and various activities for
children. The resort is equipped to handle social and business gatherings, as it features wedding, honeymoon and family reunion packages on its website. Special rates are extended to those who make their reservations online.
For LxM James Rothaar
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
September 19, 2006  Luxury Adventures: Located at the foot of the Aitong Hills in the Masai Mara National Park in Kenya, this Fairmont resort known as the Mara Safari Club is set to give you an adventure so unique, it will top your list of travel stories for the next few years. Its biggest draw - being at one with nature - literally. The adventure set accommodations are luxury fitted tents, aligned with viewing decks that face the Mara River, providing a superb vantage point to view the resident hippos and the local birdlife.
Fifty luxury tents, of which seven are en-suite premium, are superbly furnished with netted four-poster beds, solar heated running water, and luxury amenities. The main building consists of a lounge, bar and dining room, and is suspended over the river. A swimming pool and poolside bar are set on the banks of the river, giving you yet another close encounter with the wild. (For the truly adventurous who care to get that close.) Other wildlife excursions and game drives are arranged in 4x4 Land Cruisers around Masai Mara Game Reserve and are conducted by experienced drivers who are also local naturalists.
Al fresco lunches and softly lit dinners create the ambience in a restaurant that serves European, African and Asian cuisine combined with fresh Kenyan produce. Showcasing African flavor, woven wall hangings and Masai artifacts are displayed about the property. There are traditional Masai dances performed nightly, with many opportunities to learn about traditional culture and local wildlife. This exclusive union of a Fairmont property with an African jungle backdrop is genius and unique. It is sure to be a one-of-a-kind true bush experience.
For LxM Sherry Martin
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
August 28, 2006  Luxury Adventures: We all dream of those life-changing experiences that will transform us into enlightened beings-but we don't ever seem to get off our ergonomic office chairs. Maybe it's the planning and details that stop us from packing our bags and hitting the open road. Fortunately, the "experience" experts at Wallbounce can deliver that life-altering adventure you've been waiting for all these years. From a bicycle tour of Provence to Hatha Yoga, massage and rafting, these clever adventure aficionados have planned it all. With trips as varied as a high-flying trapeze school to deep sea diving, Wallbounce has an experience that'll fit even the most creative career daydreamer.
Biking through some of the most beautiful parts of France, you'll catch the scent of lavender as you wind through the countryside and soak up the sun and the culture. From wine tasting to open air markets you'll return to the "real world" refreshed and ready to take on new challenges (like those quarterly reports - okay, we're reaching). If you're looking for something a little faster paced, jump into the driver's seat with Dale Jarrett's NASCAR racing team at Talladega Superspeedway. Imagine the sound of a high-performance engine screaming in your ears and the smell of hot rubber as you enjoy 6 -60 lap driving lessons from one of NASCAR's best drivers.
Perhaps something a little more luxurious? Wallbounce offers decadent chocolate tasting experiences, cooking courses with world-renowned chefs, an Italian culinary tour in Tuscany exploring the countryside, and even a relaxing At-Home Wine Tasting for the cultured home-body. If health is where your heart is, Wallbounce also provides Private Lessons with a Personal Trainer and Private Prenatal Yoga Class for all of the mommies-to-be.
Whether you're looking for the adventure of a lifetime or an experience to transform your soul, Wallbounce has taken care of all the details - now all you have to do is pack.
For LxM Amy Covington
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
|
|
August 24, 2006  Adventure Travel: As a general rule it's probably not a good idea to consume food with ingredients you can't pronounce but when it comes to adventure travel, sometimes the unknown is the most exciting. Take for example Lubaantun and Nim Li Punit. While the name may not roll right off the tongue, you'll waste no time exploring these Mayan ruins above a valley cut by the Columbia River. You may have never heard of Gorgonian fan corals but you'll get up close and personal with them, along with enormous sponges, hundreds of colorful fish and sheer coral-encrusted walls that inhabit the magnificent Barrier Reef of Belize. Placencia may sound like a sterile scientific term, but it's really a beautiful coastline where you can catch 8-10 different species of fish in one day, year round.
If the unfamiliar doesn't phase you, visit the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, the world's first protected area set aside to preserve the greatest cat in the new world - the jaguar. If you're lucky enough to spot one, you may find yourself at a loss for words. A 30-minute guided Kayak trip down the tropical South Stann Creek River, will reveal never-before-seen (well, at least to you anyway) wildlife and vegetation. At the end of each adventure-filled day you'll want an equally exciting place to stay. Nestled on 22 lush acres, the Hacienda-style Inn at Robert Grove is situated on the finest white sand beach Placencia has to offer. Whether you're a die-hard adrenaline junkie or just want a romantic getaway, your visit to Placencia and Belize will be an unforgettable one.
For LxM Amy Covington
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
August 23, 2006  Luxury Travel: Forget realism, for you life is all about fantasy. Who wants to think about unpleasant things like bills, work and war? Sure, there comes a time when you have to pay the Tax Man, earn some cold hard cash and well, you can't always ignore current events. That doesn't mean you can't escape once in a while. You crave a Middle Earth where Forces of Light and Forces of Darkness are clearly defined and causes are defended with ardent valor. Where magic is real and adventure is found around every corner. Movies have provided a welcomed escape from the real world for decades-a place where the cares of the world are left outside the double swinging doors. You could stay at home and watch every Lord of the Rings movie ever made or you could take an exotic trip of a lifetime.
Luxmore Jet operates jet boat tours on the Upper Waiau River, which flows between Lake Te Anau and Lake Manapouri. These lakes are situated in the heart of Fiordland National Park a World Heritage Area in the South Island of New Zealand. On this once-in-a-lifetime trip you'll visit a location on the River Anduin where The Fellowship of the Ring from the Lord of the Rings trilogy was filmed. Then it's on to a 40-minute flight over the Kepler Mire where Frodo and Sam tramped through the Dead Marshes before flying over Lake Manapouri through Hurricane Passage to the Norwest Lakes where the Fellowship left Rivendell. Here the helicopter will land to view the magnificence of the Norwest Lakes and Lake Manapouri before returning to Te Anau. While you may not see any Ents or Hobbits, we're certain you'll see more than enough wildlife and nature to fuel your imagination for years to come.
For LxM Amy Covington
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
August 04, 2006  Luxury Vacations: When Nick Hexum is on the
road making music with 311, he rents out his private
paradise, Melody Key Island. While Nick's band plays
alternative rock, Nick's island is for alternative
luxury travelers seeking an original esoteric
escapade. The tropical retreat is a quick boat ride
from the Florida Keys and approximately 125 miles from
Miami. So, although it is private and remote, it is
not like that Tom Hank's Castaway movie. So there is
no need to bring volleyballs for companionship. With a
masseuse and a private chef available as well as
myriad water-sports activities, and pulsating
nightlife on the Keys, the experience can be molded to
fit a variety of vacationers' desires.
The four-tiered house has three bedrooms on its second
level. The fourth or top level is a crow's nest that
is perfect for viewing surroundings or stargazing. The
master suite has a king-size bed, and the other
bedrooms have queen-size accommodations. The breezy
island residence has amenities comparable to a
Manhattan luxury unit. It is equipped with a washer
and dryer, commercial-level kitchen appliances, a
plasma-screen HDTV with VCR, DVD, a DVD library and
Tivo®. Wireless Internet service and a superb stereo
system also are included. The third floor features a
300-gallon salt-water aquarium stocked with native
tropical fish and invertebrates. The dining area
looks out onto a 12 x 30 feet balcony that provides an
awesome view of the surrounding islands, the Atlantic
Ocean, and the Gulf of Mexico. A fully equipped
gourmet kitchen features a large side-by-side
refrigerator, an island cook-top with grill, oven, and
breakfast bar.
Money Island was the island's previous name before Mr.
Hexum purchased it. No pets are permitted on the
island. Maximum occupancy on Melody Key Island is six
guests, and the minimum age requirement is 16 years
old.
For LxM James Rothaar
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
July 30, 2006  Luxury Adventures: The term "tauromaquia"
loosely translated means bullfighting. The California
Academy of Tauromaquia teaches the art of
bullfighting. Classes are taught in San Diego, Mexico,
and Spain. Since safety is a requisite of such a
challenging curriculum, pupils spend substantive time
in a classroom before they are matched against a bull.
The instructors of the course are either experienced
matadors or extremely skilled aficionado practicos of
bullfighting. Before that first face-to-face encounter
with the wild livestock occurs, students view videos
and learn as much as possible about bulls and their
fiery demeanors. At the end of the course, enrollees
experience tientas, which means they face a live bull.
Much like delving into martial arts, this is a
mind-set. Learning how to duel with bulls requires
equal amounts of mental discipline and physical
ability. The course is taught in weekly and three-day
intensive sessions. It also is available on a
long-term or an ongoing basis.
The California Academy of Tauromaquia instills a sense
of camaraderie into all of its students, as it offers
assistance in arranging study groups to promote
long-term training and commitment to the art.
Enrolling at the Academy is very much like joining a
club with perpetual memberships. The goal of the
school, aside from keeping participants from being
gored, is to assist its students to ultimately become
aficionado practicos of bullfighting. All who enroll
in the three-day or weekly program are welcomed to
attend the Academy's events after completing their
lessons.
Bullfighting began during the Spanish War of
Reconquest, which was an eight-century ordeal that
began in 711 AD. Knights, Moors and Christians would
take occasional breaks from brutally killing each
other and instead spend their days off fighting
Iberian bulls. The spirited savages enjoyed the
challenge of battling the ferociously macho beasts to
the death. Bulls, much like their barbaric foes, would
rather die than lose a battle. Over time such extreme
encounters morphed into a ceremonious sporting event
without the aid of ESPN. The first historic bullfight
took place in Vera, Logroño, in 1133 AD, at the
coronation of King Alfonso VIII.
Check out the California Academy of Tauromaquia's
website for more info.
For LxM James Rothaar
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
July 07, 2006  Luxury Adventure: Ahhhhhhhh Aaaa ahaaa aahaahaa, me Tarzan, you Jane. Canopy Tours offers you just that, a chance to relive a once-in-a-lifetime dream, swinging by rope hung from the tops of trees through the branches just like the King of the Jungle. The Tsitsikamma National Park forest in Knysna, South Africa is your dream come true location. Just bring along your giggle, they provide state of the art equipment and modern construction through strict civil engineering codes for your safety and comfort.
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
June 21, 2009 | Contributor: Katherine Sutton
 LuxuryTravel-Adventures Been there, done that with the Caribbean, Fuji, or Hawaii? There's still an Island getaway that may have slipped passed your Island-eying vacation planning: The Galapagos Islands.
Galapagos Inc, a luxury South American travel and tour company, has announced an "In the Footsteps of Charles Darwin" Anniversary Tour, which takes travelers through an intellectual Island adventure.
This year happens to mark 150 years since Darwin tromped around the exotic and peculiar Galapagos region, documenting his theories of evolution in the Origin of the Species. I'm not about to fill hundreds of pages on my observations of the beaks of finches, but the Anniversary Tour is so beyond the sun block and beach book standard Island break-a perfect trip to stir the mind and capture nature.
Over nine days, the Anniversary Tour takes travelers on land and ship explorations within Darwin's "Enchanted Islands." Lectures and tours by category "3" naturalist guides (the highest category for guides) are all included as you come face to face with free roaming marine iguanas, flamingos, Galapagos land tortoises and more.
There are soft white sand beaches, water taxis, and some stunning restaurants on the agenda as well.
Who wouldn't want to do it like Darwin?
Katherine Sutton
Freelance Writer
JustLuxe Contributor
Related Topics: Adventure |
 |
|
|
June 13, 2006  Luxury Vacations: The charm of 17th century Venice definitely has an aura worth bottling and preserving forever, as so many spots around the world imitate its old-world charm. The Alta Bella Fishing Lodge at Cap Cana is the latest with its lush and plush Venetian-theme luxury resort community that is currently in development. When it is completed, the lavish "town within the island" will encompass over
25,000 acres, including a six-mile stretch of white-sand beach and turquoise-blue waters. Cap Cana is located at the eastern-most tip of the Dominican Republic.
The 30-acre Alta Bella Fishing Lodge will be the centerpiece of the development. It will include a five-star hotel, luxurious condominiums, and private villas. Three Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course will dot the landscape. The community will include a
huge full-service spa, tennis courts, swimming facilities, and polo grounds. A 5,000-seat amphitheater and a casino will stoke the nightlife. There are plans for 10 international restaurants and a 120,000-square-feet area is measured off for boutiques and stores.
One-, two- and three-bedroom hotel-condominium units, at pre-construction prices, will be available in the fall 2006. The living area of the units is from 850 up to 5,500 square feet. Fractional-ownership opportunities also are available. Construction is to be completed by fall 2008. Prices of property in the Dominican Republic are very competitive compared to other parts of the Caribbean Islands.
For LxM James Rothaar
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
June 08, 2006  Luxury Tours: Admit it-you've envisioned yourself on the Tour de France, zipping at break neck speed through charming French towns and open country roads. But when you do a reality check, you're no Lance Armstrong. That doesn't mean you're sanctioned to your sofa for the rest of your life. A new tour from Breakaway Adventures, a company that specializes in relaxed overseas getaways, lets cyclists live out their dreams but without the risk of careening headlong into a crepe stand (although they'll make no promises, the pedaling is up to you). Pedal the same streets of the Tour de France "peloton," minus the breakneck speed, crashes and sore muscles.
On the nine-day, eight-night Tour de France for Wimps tour, available now through Sept. 23 from $1,759 to $1,855/person, guests will tour the Alsace region. While cyclists on the tour may not total the Tour de France racers' 115 miles a day, they will travel an admirable 86 miles over the course of the tour.
Sites along the tour of the region, known for its vineyards and wineries, include Colmar, the Venice of Alsace; Turckheim, whose medieval cobbled streets are still patrolled by a night watchman; and Andlau, whose Romanesque church sits in a sea of vines. Several of the tour's hotels offer Michelin-starred restaurants, and the chef at Rouffach was even a former cook at the French presidential palace.
A fully-supported independent tour, guests travel at their own pace without a guide, but with a local staff member always on call to assist with bike issues, deliver wine and move luggage from place to place. Travelers meet at the beginning of the tour for a debriefing and question and answer session where they receive a detailed itinerary with maps and visual pointers to guide them.
"We decided to offer the Tour de France for Wimps tour to give those who dream of wearing the yellow jersey a chance to follow in the footsteps of these amazing athletes," says Carol Keskitalo, co-owner of Breakaway Adventures. Are you ready to don your yellow jersey? Visit www.breakaway-adventures.com or call 1-800-567-6286.
For LxM Amy Covington
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
May 25, 2006  Luxury Auto: With Father's Day right around the corner the scramble to find the perfect gift is on - after all how many more ties can you give the poor guy? This year put dad in the fast lane and take advantage of an age-old idea wrapped around two tons of automotive excitement - automotive time-sharing. Getting behind the wheel of a Ferrari F355 Spider,Lamborghini Gallardo, or Porsche 911 Carrera 4 coupe is a great way to jump-start Father's Day this year.
Automotive time-share clubs like the Otto Club, Club Sportiva, and Van Horssen are out there, engines running and ready for membership. As a member you own access to some of the sexiest sports cars around. This is the best of both worlds for dear old dad - fast cars and no insurance payments. You'll be sure he's going to appreciate the frugal investment as well as the excitement of getting close and personal with these beautiful machines.
For LxM Amy Covington
Related Topics: Adventure |
|
|
|
 1 2 3 4 5 6 7  |
|
|
HOTELS
HOTELS
HOTELS
HOTELS
