Category Archives: Luxury

Best Bars of 2015 (Excluding London)

Hey globetrotters, who’s up for a drink? If you ever happen to find yourself thirsty in Barcelona, Rome, Atlanta, Bath or even tiny Hillsborough, North Carolina here’s where to go for the best flow of drinks mixed with camaraderie. Continue reading

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Time Restaurant & Wine Bar | Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto | Rome

Craving to unwind, be pampered and have a taste of La Dolce Vita in grand style? When in Rome you can do so at the Jumeirah Grand Hotel Via Veneto’s superb Time Restaurant & Wine Bar. Continue reading

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Having a Rewarding Experience in Rome with IHG’s Spire Elite

Taking advantage of my chance to try out IHG Rewards Club’s new top membership level, Spire Elite, I had a fantastic time last month exploring one of my favourite cities: Rome. Continue reading

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Christmas Unwrapped Afternoon Tea at Intercontinental London Park Lane

This review of the Intercontinental’s limited run Christmas Unwrapped afternoon tea isn’t the first (and hopefully won’t be the last) opportunity for me to rave a little about one of London’s more elegant spaces and for you to add a … Continue reading

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Good Stuff #48

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Grub Edible insect innovators, Grub, … Continue reading

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Good Stuff #47

Good stuff and lots of it! Here’s the low down on some fine things to see, sip or savour – all of which I’ve recently come across and thought were worth sharing with you. Enjoy. Tacopedia: The Taco Encyclopedia Published … Continue reading

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Grosvenor House Apartments: View From The Penthouse

“There’s luxury, and then there’s sophistication,” says Maddie Salters, and “The Penthouse at Grosvenor House Apartments embodies the latter: true elegance, presented with grace, not overstating itself.” Continue reading

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#BBQbound: Dallas

From Austin I headed north to Dallas, a city I’d never visited before and one that I really wasn’t certain whether I’d take to or not. I ended up regretting not having more time to spend there. As for the BBQ, Dallas wound up being one of the tastiest pit stops of my three week road trip. Continue reading

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Inspired and Aspiring Travel with IHG’s Spire Elite

Over the summer, IHG unveiled its Rewards Club’s new top membership level: Spire Elite. When asked to give it a test run with a jaunt over to the Continent, I did not hesitate to take IHG up on the offer. … Continue reading

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Win a Case of Prosecco Spumante Extra Dry Vallate from WineTrust

Online wine retailer, WineTrust, offers discerning customers a “ruthlessly edited selection” of wines from small independent wine makers whose products have “character and deliciousness that over-perform for their price.” Sounds good to me! So when the opportunity to pop the cork and collaborate with WineTrust presented itself, I raised my glass high to such delectable ambition and suggested we find a way to pass the bottle on to you lovely readers. Continue reading

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My Mini Grand Tour: Abbaye de Montheron

Set beside the Talent River within the wooded Jorat Valley (and only about a 15 minute drive outside central Lausanne), the Abbaye de Montheron is an ideal venue for special occasions, dynamic dinners paired with long forest walks, and quick rural retreats without having to put too much of a pause on all that urban luxury just up the road in Lausanne. Continue reading

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Virtually Travel the World Without Leaving Your Hotel Room

Currently being tested for two weeks at the London Marriott Park Lane and New York Marriott Marquis hotels (check with the individual properties for exact dates), VRoom can be requested to use for free by guests in the same manner as they might go about ordering room service meals or laundry pickup. Upon request, the VRoom gear is hand-delivered to the guest’s room along with instructions and left on loan for up to 24 hours. Continue reading

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September Issue of UK Cigar Scene Out Now

Issue Eight of the monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download. Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with news of … Continue reading

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August Issue of UK Cigar Scene Out Now

Issue Eight of the monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download. Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with news of … Continue reading

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Afternoon Tea with a Difference with Bird of Smithfield and Veuve Clicquot

In celebration of Afternoon Tea Week – Monday the 10th to Saturday the 15th of August – Bird will be offering guests sandwiches with a twist, classic scones and yummy cakes – all served alongside “The Earl of Veuve” cocktails (Veuve Clicquot Rich infused with delicate Earl Grey leaves). Continue reading

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Living Lech: Auf Wiedersehen!

Four days in Lech am Arlberg was a rejuvenating experience. Though it’s known as ski country, the relatively uncharted summer territory was just as charming and far less crowded, with enough recreational activities available to keep me constantly on my toes. High-altitude fun in the stunning Alps meant that I was out daily hiking, fishing, and enjoying the early July heat spell. Continue reading

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Living Lech: A Taste of Austria’s Gourmand Side

Austria, like any culture-rich nation, has a consummate tradition of food: timeless recipes, fresh ingredients, and local preferences. That’s given. What I didn’t expect from my four-day trip to Lech, a traditional valley town nestled into the sprightly Alps, was for my farm-fresh experience to cross-over with world-renown couture gastronomy. And here’s the thing about couture: it always fits. (Not sure if I could say the same for my jeans afterwards.) Continue reading

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Living Lech: An Unrivaled Experience at Aurelio’s Lush Spa

Winner of a Relax Guide SPA Award in 2015, the state-of-the-art spa at Hotel Aurelio includes a 23-meter swimming pool, experience baths, saunas, treatment rooms, and more while offering a wide array of rare amenities and tailored services. Continue reading

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Living Lech: Sporting and Recreation in the Athletic Alps

It was my first introduction to the world of summer sport and outdoor recreation in the resort town of Lech, and it was a blast. After four days in Lech, my running shoes were dusty with exertion, but I still couldn’t shake the feeling I wanted more time to appreciate everything on offer. Luckily, Hotel Aurelio put together a programme that allowed me to dabble in a wide array of Lech’s summer options. Fishing, llama trekking, cooking classes, and marathon shopping (it may as well be a sport,) were all highlights for me. Continue reading

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Living Lech: Summer at the Magnificent Hotel Aurelio

During her three night visit to the “fairytale landscape” of Lech, Maddie Salters stayed at Hotel Aurelio, where her “every impulse and need was catered to in a decadent manner indicative of the finest five-star hotels.” According to Maddie, “to say the Hotel Aurelio spoils you would be an understatement: choices seem boundless, from cuisine to entertainment, and bespoke itineraries are par for the course.” Continue reading

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Living Lech: Where Luxury and Adventure Await

Lech am Arlberg is a linchpin in European ski culture, known for its flawless slopes and prim luxury hotels, which offer privacy and comfort to winter holidaymakers. But Lech blooms into a little-known treasure in the summer, when its rolling green hills and burbling rivers become the ideal location for hiking, biking, and sport. Michelin-starred plates are served out on sunny terraces and relaxation becomes synonymous with indulgence. Continue reading

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July Issue of UK Cigar Scene Out Now

The seventh issue of the monthly UK Cigar Scene Magazine is now online and ready for download. Each issue of UK Cigar Scene is free to download and includes a video interview with a key cigar personality along with news … Continue reading

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Polo Bar Pop-Up at Barcelona’s OneOcean Club (CDCLifestyle)

Mayfair heads to the Med this August when The Westbury Hotel’s award-winning Polo Bar pairs with Barcelona hotspot, the exclusive OneOcean Club, for a pop-up bar promising to keep club guests refreshed with a delicious array of gin and tonic … Continue reading

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5 London Hotels Offering Uniquely Urban Access (OneTravel)

Here’s a list of five upscale London hotels offering excellent access to the vibrant metropolis they call home – be it supreme convenience, gentile comfort or a more stylish than typical way to get around town. Read my complete post … Continue reading

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Wimbledon-Themed Afternoon Tea at The Landmark London

Earlier today I had the pleasure of enjoying afternoon tea in the light filled Winter Garden of five star hotel, The Landmark London. I reckon it’s one of London’s most elegant spaces to book an afternoon tea service, and proved to be an excellent setting for me to get through an initially awkward start and have a great conversation. Continue reading

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UK Premiere of Roxanne by Paul Frankl

Shot in 35mm and on location in Soho, the film follows the relationship of transgender sex worker (played cool and convincing by Miss Cairo) and motherless 12 year-old Lily (spectacularly portrayed by Thea Lamb). It’s an ‘unlikely friendship’ kinda flick – not too dissimilar in theme to, say, About a Boy except the ‘boy’ in Roxanne is a girl and the ‘Hugh Grant’ character is Miss Cairo. Continue reading

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Happy 150th to The Langham London

One of London’s most lauded luxury destinations, The Langham, celebrated a stately 150 years as a hotel last week. I tagged along for some of the birthday fun and had a peek at what’s new and upcoming for this upscale mainstay of impeccable hospitality. Continue reading

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Scents of Summer Afternoon Tea at Intercontinental London Park Lane

A new limited edition Scents of Summer afternoon tea is available now and running until the end of September at the Wellington Lounge of the Intercontinental London Park Lane. The colourfully presented tea features a bouquet of delicacies created by the hotel’s Executive Chef Ashely Wells in collaboration with Edward Bodenham, 9th generation of the world’s oldest family-run perfumers Floris. For a taste (and whiff) of the joys of summer, this afternoon tea offers a luxurious opportunity to while away some and come out smelling like a rose! Continue reading

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Yummy Sophistication in Swish Digs: Yauatcha City, Broadgate Circle

The new 7,220sqft semi-circle restaurant echoes the swankest of design elements of its flagship Michelin starred sister site in Soho – only in shinier new Broadgate Circle digs for easy access to Liverpool Street passers by and for City workers keen to flash cash in tasteful (and tasty) surroundings near their offices. Continue reading

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Five Years of Bar Boulud London

Now considered a mainstay of the Knightsbridge dining scene, Bar Boulud London at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park celebrated five years at the hotel last week by closing the restaurant to the public and putting on an anniversary dinner hosted by Chef Daniel Boulud for “special customers and guests, and a few select media.” What a pleasure it was to be included among the select few invited to attend. Continue reading

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Art for a Cause: Artists Team Up with Rolls-Royce to Battle Breast Cancer

At the Rolls-Royce Showroom in Berkeley Square, passion, support, and community were affectionately curated for the benefit of breast cancer patients. The Breast Cancer Care Art Auction, brought together by Breast Cancer Care and supported by Rolls-Royce, invited twelve stunning contemporary artists to create an impactful piece that would push the boundaries o modern sculpture while showing great respect and care of the theme. I was honoured to attend the preview of the auction on May 19th, and deeply touched by the philanthropic efforts of all involved. Continue reading

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Barcelona’s Spa at the Top of the World (OneTravel)

That the tallest building in Barcelona is the five-star waterfront Hotel Arts speaks volumes to this sensational city’s much-lauded reputation as the dream Mediterranean getaway. The 43-storey luxury hotel is situated at a marine between town and beach and caters capably to guests seeking both seaside chills and urban thrills. At the very top of the Arts is 43 The Spa. For rarefied pampering with a view to match, the spa’s signature 43 Sea Experience allows the body to unwind while the mind and spirit soar. Continue reading

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Barcelona Brief: OneOcean Club at Marina Port Vell

A key component of my brief Barcelona visit was a browse around OneOcean Club at Marina Port Vell. When it opened at the end of 2014, this private club raised the bar (and expectations) for the boating world by offering a range of luxury services and facilities just steps from the boundless amenities and amusements of an ever buzzing metropolis. Continue reading

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Barcelona Brief: The Stylishly Sumptuous Hotel Majestic

If you’re keen to hold convenient court in Barcelona’s elegant and central Eixample district (yet never realise it as long as the door to your room’s terrace is kept shut to not allow even a decibel of noise to seep in from the streets), then this five star hotel’s location is for you. Within easy reach of Las Ramblas; loads of upscale shops; Gaudi’s Casa Batlló, La Pedrera (Casa Milà) and Sagrada Familia; and the Barri Gòtic, it’s a fine location for sightseeing. The hotel is also only a minute’s stroll from Passeig de Gràcia station, where you can hope a train to the airport and be there in about a half hour. Continue reading

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Barcelona Brief: Ah-Inspiring Hotel Arts

The highest building in Barcelona? It’s the five-star, 43-storey Hotel Arts. At the top floor of this seaside beacon of luxury is 43 The Spa. For rarefied pampering with a view to match, the spa’s signature 43 Sea Experience allows the body to unwind while the mind and spirit soar. That guests can have a gorgeous al fresco lunch several floors down just minutes after … or a stroll the beach … or hit the far humbler but nonetheless inviting neighbourhood bars in nearby Barceloneta … or hop the Metro/hail a cab for more decidedly Barcelonan delights adds dreamy depth to such splendorous me-time. Continue reading

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