Tag Archives: luxury
Lobster Safari in the Koster Islands, West Sweden
The Koster Islands are situated off Sweden’s western mainland just south of Norway. It’s a beautiful part of the world – a rugged and ‘out there’ archipelago where wilderness and cultivation blend in such a way as to suggest that humans and nature actually can get along. Summer’s the main time folks visit this tranquil area, but I was there at the onset of autumn for the start of the lobster season. Lured by the prospect of catching (and eating!) the regionally renowned “black gold of the sea” lobsters for myself from one of the cleanest of nutritionally rich fjords in Scandinavia, I tagged along on a Lobster Safari “activity and dining experience” offered by the lovely little Hotel Koster on the island of Sydkoster. Continue reading
Win a Year’s Supply of Massages from Urban Massage
In May, I wrote about how much I enjoyed my experience booking a session with Urban Massage, an on-demand mobile massage service delivering five star treatments to customers at their home, hotel or office within 60 minutes of booking, currently operating in Zones 1 to 4 of London. I’ve just come across a bit of info that’s worth bringing the service up again as Urban Massage is running a Refer a Friend competition with the prize of a year’s supply of massages (aka (12 x 60 minute treatments across 12 months). Sounds good, yeah? Just be fast getting the word out to your buddies because the comp ends this Friday the 3rd of October. Continue reading
Review: Pont Street Restaurant at Belgraves Hotel
Before making my rez for Friday night din-din at the Belgraves hotel’s Pont Street restaurant, I skimmed the web for a few reviews. Ouch! I’m not sure whether what I read was egregiously unfair or if Pont St subsequently got its act together, but my experience was way better than those perused online. Continue reading
Faroes and Away: My New Happy Place
Sometime between my trip to the Faroe Islands and writing up this series about the experience, I paid a visit to the dentist for a routine check up and cleaning. To say I’m not a fan of going to the dentist would be putting it mildly. Usually during a check up, I’ve got my eyes clinched tight and my hands clutching the arms of the chair with my lower legs and feet squirming around. In my mind, I’m concentrating as hard as I can on pleasant thoughts and such. This last time in the dentist’s chair, my mind went straight back to the Faroes. It’s my new ‘happy place’ I reckon and as scenic a mind’s eye destination as I could ever image. I was, for perhaps the first time during dental appointment, completely unfazed and all but unaware of the activity going on in my mouth. Continue reading
Faroes and Away: Shhh …
It may seem mundane and not terribly exciting, but one of the main reasons I loved my time in the Faroes was the peace and quiet found there. Folks say that silence is golden. But during one particularly placid morning at my hotel, it was mostly deep green and soft brown with tiny dots of wild flower yellow and a soothing blue ocean view. Continue reading
Faroes and Away: A Bad Day Fishing …
My first full day in the Faroe Islands had me tagging along with local television personality and ace cook, Gutti Winther, on a fishing trip at what seemed to be the very edge of the world. The salmon weren’t biting, but the setting was breathtaking – and the clean sea air, majestic scenery, and Gutti’s ‘plan b’ lunch more than made up for any lack of catch. As the saying goes, “a bad day fishing is better than a good day at work,” and my scenic Faroese fishin’ expedition certainly proved that point. Continue reading
Faroes and Away: Just Go
Why the tiny (if staggeringly scenic) nation of the Faroe Islands wasn’t overrun with tourists during my visit in early August is beyond me – especially considering that my flight from Stansted was hardly more than two hours long and that I had never seen anywhere on earth quite as extraordinary or been anywhere quite as distinctive. That this archipelago of 18 islands jutting from the juncture of the North Atlantic and the Norwegian Sea is such an accessible yet sparsely populated and utterly gorgeous destination should be reason enough for you to stop whatever it is you’re doing right this instant and start making plans to see the Faroes for yourself. Continue reading
Christmas in July? Good Stuff!
Ho ho huh? Here’s a bagful of seasonally premature Good Stuff to stuff keep in mind as 2014 rolls onwards to a hopefully very festive end. With many major brands (and those wishing to be so) hosting sneak preview shows every July to highlight what’s on their nice lists for Christmas, it’s a fun if odd time to be on the consumer end of media. Anyway, I’m never one to turn down an invite to a party – even if I’m not sure if it’s half a month early or late. So, deck the hall and all that jazz as I share some of the more notable Yuletide prospects I came across this past month. Enjoy. Continue reading
Good Stuff and a New Place to Puff
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. Continue reading
Sleep Basel: The Passage
During my Basel City Break, I stayed at The Passage. Only open since February of this year, the sleek and minimalist four star hotel served as a conveniently positioned base for exploring the city and a comfy HQ well worth returning to. Continue reading
Discovering Athens … #blogtrottersgr
Whether on its own as a cheer and cheerful city break or as a pivotal component to an extended Greek vacation, Athens is wonderful place to discover and one that I’ll be raving about for awhile. Continue reading
Made in Mayfair Insider Experience with Intercontinental and London Luxury Quarter (OneTravel)
The InterContinental London Park Lane hotel has teamed up with London Luxury Quarter to create custom made “Made in Mayfair Insider Experience” tours. From Britain’s oldest family run perfumery to bespoke shoes that take nine months from order to delivery, … Continue reading
Urban Massage ‘Home Delivery’ Massage Service for London
You know what I did all last week? Sat on my butt, dodged deadlines and tapped away on my MacBook trying to diminish a greater than usual workload. And that was pretty much it. To be sure, it was pretty boring but, in all honesty, not a terribly bad way to spend a week – I’m a writer by choice and certainly appreciate opportunities to make a little extra cash and contribute to some killer projects (all to be shouted out about soon). But, man, such a job can wreak havoc with my back and shoulders. So, when an offer came my way to review Urban Massage’s new “on-demand mobile wellness service delivering massages to home, hotels and offices by vetted, qualified and insured therapists who can be at your door/chosen location within 60 minutes notice,” I was like oooh yeah, please! Continue reading
Win a Bijoux Afternoon Tea for Two at The Langham London
London’s historic home of the afternoon tea, The Langham London, is preparing once again to launch its annual Bijoux Afternoon Tea with Champagne Laurent-Perrier. To be served in the refined and elegant setting of the hotel’s Palm Court, the specially themed “Summer Season” tea will be available from 15 May to 6 July and priced at £52 per person (£65 with a glass of Laurent-Perrier Brut). But guess what? Here’s a chance for one lucky reader to win tea for two for the price of a tweet. Continue reading
Infinity Brunch at Aqua Kyoto
Upscale and great value in an elegant and easy to reach locale, the Infinity Brunch at swish Soho eatery, Aqua Kyoto, would be a wise addition to your bucket list of must-do London brunches. Continue reading
Portugal Please: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova
My Portuguese adventure coming to a close, I was left with only one more night to savour before flying back to Blighty. Good thing my last night was in an absolutely fantastic setting! Otherwise, I might have started to doubt for a second the hospitality show to me throughout this lovely little country as well as the foodie expertise that’d gone into the execution of my Festival of Food itinerary. As the trip unfolded though, I never once questioned the restorative benefits of my adeptly planned week-long ramble through Portugal. Indeed, I arrived back home eager to share the stories of my time abroad. The story I’m sharing today is one of a luxury homestead that’s an easily recommendable destination: Herdade da Malhadinha Nova. Continue reading
Super Yacht Me
So, I left my one bedroom flat in East London (Zone 2) early on a ho-hum Tuesday morning to hop the bus en route to the exclusive five star May Fair Hotel just off the Piccadilly to attend Superyachts.com’s Top 100, an event for mega yacht execs and brand reps to rub elbows and gab about the future of their industry. Featuring a full day of press workshops with “the visionary builders and designers behind the largest super yachts in the world”, Top 100 had been set up for journos to crash “intimate sessions with the heads of the super yacht industry, gain an in-depth insight into the largest luxury yachts set to launch in 2014 and discuss the most vital topics surrounding the world’s most incredible yachts”. Continue reading
CRN Celebrates 50 Years with 80 Metre Mega Yacht (CDCLifestyle)
CRN is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year as a luxury yacht builder. Part of the Ferretti Group since 1999, CRN specialises in the manufacture of bespoke mega yachts between 40 and 90 metres long. These boats are customised completely to the client’s specifications and sometimes even their wildest whims. Continue reading
Photos from CRN’s Mega Yacht Shipyard in Ancona, Italy
Yeah, multimillion dollar boats for multibillionaires seeking seaworthy luxury retreats. Apparently back in 1963 when CRN started making mega yachts, clients were eager to buy shiny things to show off at sea. These days – as the brand celebrates its 50th anniversary – its super rich buyers are more keen to splurge on a boat that enables them to slip away from the world and the ogling eyes of all the rest of us less affluent folk. Continue reading
London Spotlight: Mayfair Shopping (OneTravel)
London Spotlight: Mayfair Shopping OneTravel, Nov 29, 2011 Synonymous with luxury, the very mention of this perpetually stylish district of London brings a smile of satisfaction to travellers and locals seeking the finest of shopping experiences. READ MY COMPLETE POST: London Spotlight: … Continue reading