-
Modern Luxury in an Ancient Land: Petra and The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea
If a visit to the kingdom of Jordan is not on your to-do list, it should be. The superb hospitality of the people and the beautiful natural and historical treasures you can experience in this peaceful country are more than worth the trip. However, I have one more reason to add; the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. Video produced and presented by Richard Crawford Luxury Rich Ancient Heritage and Palatial Façade Taking its cue from Jordan’s rich ancient heritage and abundance of well-preserved antiquities, the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea borrows the inspiration for its palatial façade and lush hanging gardens from the ancient kingdom of Babylon. Set right on…
-
I Could Have Danced All Night: My Private Sydney Opera House Tour
An Exclusive Tour of the World Famous Sydney Opera House I may never get a chance to perform to a cheering crowd at the Sydney Opera House, but that doesn’t mean I haven’t performed there. In fact, I recently sang on the main stage, took up the baton at the front of the orchestra pit, danced in the rehearsal room and enjoyed spending time in the same dressing room used by Prince, even playing a tune on the piano Prince himself would have played there while he waited to perform. Of course, I’ve also sat in the best seat in the house. See the video of this exclusive tour below…
-
Experience One of Italy’s Most Famous Traditions
One event that’s been on my bucket list for a long time is the Palio di Siena, a centuries-old ritual that takes place in the heart of the picturesque medieval Italian town of Siena. This horse race set within Siena’s Piazza del Campo is so much more than the 75 seconds or so of breakneck, bareback racing around an oval course surrounded by mediaeval and renaissance buildings. The Palio is an expression of the city’s history, the passion of its citizens and the rich Tuscan region of which it is a part. As I checked this event off my to-do list recently, I learned that the way to truly experience…
-
The Fairmont The Palm Dubai Hotel is Everything You Love About Dubai
There is so much to do and enjoy in Dubai that you would have a hard time listing all of it. However, you can find a sampling of all of it in one hotel, the Fairmont The Palm Dubai. This large five-star resort hotel is located on “trunk” of the iconic Palm Jumeirah development, right on the Arabian Gulf and with beautiful views of the city skyline. If the hotel’s only amenities were the oasis-like pool area, featuring three individual pools to ensure that families, children and couples without children can each enjoy a custom atmosphere, and the vast private beach, it would already be very inviting. However, the Fairmont The…
-
The Milestone Hotel – Personalized Hospitality in an Exquisite Setting
As one of the world’s foremost cities, full of historic and cultural attractions and boasting a vast multicultural population and a thriving business center, London provides everything the visitor could want in excess, except for one thing. Fortunately, the Milestone Hotel, a boutique luxury hotel centrally located just steps from Kensington Palace and the lush, green acres of Kensington Gardens has what you need, an oasis of sophisticated comfort, tranquility and personalized service that lets you enjoy the delights of this energetic metropolis without sacrificing your serenity. Impressive Attention to Detail I was so impressed with the attention to detail apparent in every aspect of my stay at the Milestone…
-
Raffles Hotel Dubai – An Eye Opening Experience Of Luxury
“One’s destination is not a place but just a whole new way of seeing things.” These words were the perfect introduction to this exquisite luxury hotel. These words were presented in a note left to me by the manager, and what a great first impression it made, setting the tone upon my arrival at the Raffles Hotel Dubai. Great Attention to Detail There are many unique touches and details that make the Raffles Hotel Dubai special and one of the most impressive is the extremely large size of the guest rooms. These apartment-sized rooms offer breathtaking views of the Dubai skyline which you can enjoy through large windows or on…
-
The Aldrovandi Villa Borghese, A Treasure in the Heart of Rome
Located in a quiet, upscale neighborhood right in the center of Rome and across the street from the famous gardens of the Villa Borghese, the family-run Aldrovandi Villa Borghese is an exquisite luxury hotel convenient to all that Rome has to offer and yet secluded, spacious and private. Built in the 19th Century as a luxurious, ivory colored villa, the hotel still maintains the elegant look of days gone by in its marble floors, carved wood panels, chandeliers and draperies. More importantly, the Aldrovandi Villa Borghese is updated to the highest modern standards of hospitality and luxury. Perhaps the most striking and unique feature of this special property is the…
-
Epic Relaxation in a Superlative Setting – Grand Cayman’s Caribbean Club Hotel
The Caribbean Club Condominium Hotel on Grand Cayman Island is one of my favorite places in the world to stay. It’s not just this exclusive hotel’s superb accommodations and spectacular setting on the world famous Seven Mile Beach that makes it special, it’s the feeling of relaxed elegance that surrounds the property that makes it a truly relaxing Caribbean getaway. Whether you visit Grand Cayman for the sun, sand, diving or sailing, the Caribbean Club is the perfect base of operations for your Caribbean vacation. The well-deserved superlatives don’t stop when describing the Caribbean Club, which is known as the most exclusive boutique hotel on Grand Cayman. Add to that…
-
Sampling the Global Standard in Hotel Luxury at the Raffles Hotel in Singapore
The world’s finest luxury hotels are distinguished by a few essential qualities: perfection in service and physical surroundings, a sense of heritage, a rich tradition and an authentic connection with their location. In every one of these qualities, Singapore’s Raffles Hotel is rightly famous as a global standard. A stay at this legendary hotel has been on my bucket list for a long time and I was thrilled to have the opportunity to fulfill this dream recently. As high as my expectations were for this experience, the Raffles Hotel surpassed them all. Luxury Accommodations Since 1887 Ask any seasoned traveler with a taste for the finer things for advice on…
-
Reconnect with Nature: The Majesty of Zion National Park
The magical interplay of rock, water and time has given rise to a host of hauntingly beautiful geological features that draw visitors to the American southwest. The winding canyons and steep cliffs of Zion National Park, located in the southwest of the U.S. state of Utah, a little under an hour’s drive from the easy-going and active city of St. George, offer visitors a glimpse into both the deep geological past and the cultural history of the Native American people who inhabited the region for several thousand years. The environment you will find today in Zion National Park is a testament to change and I guarantee a visit to this…
-
Top Ten Things To Do At The Sundance Film Festival
En route again taking in experiences around the globe; this time off to explore Park City, Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. Here is my Top Ten list of things experience during the festival. Top Ten Things To Do At The Sundance Film Festival 1. Skiing Above all else, Park City is an epic destination for skiers with three of the top Rocky Mountain ski resorts right at your doorstep. With over 9,000 skiable acres of perfect powder and hundreds of runs, the only thing missing will be the crowds. During Sundance, the majority of Park City’s visitors are attending screenings, panels and parties, leaving the slopes and lifts significantly…
-
The Kempinski Hotel Ajman – An Oasis Worth Visiting
Who doesn’t dream of escaping to an exotic oasis retreat for a few days of relaxation in luxurious surroundings? I recently had a chance to do just that at the Kempinski Hotel in Ajman, U.A.E., a location supremely convenient to Dubai but worlds away from the frenetic pace of the extravagant, modern mega city. If you’ve been drawn either as a tourist or a business traveler to this shimmering country perched on the edge of the Persian Gulf, a stay at the Kempinski Hotel as an add-on to your Dubai itinerary may be just the way to experience the richness of the region’s desert heritage and stunning beaches. Alternatively, with…
-
Cire Trudon Candles Bring the Glow of Versailles to Your Home
Few locations evoke images of elegance and luxury like the French court of Versailles in the 17th and 18th centuries. From the reign of the “Sun King,” Louis XIV, in the late 17th century to the time of the French Revolution in 1789, the palace of Versailles was the epitome of style, both in the gardens and furnishings of the exquisite palace and the elaborate clothing worn by the hundreds of courtiers who served the French royalty of the period, including the famous queen, Marie Antoinette. While those days of opulence and power are now long gone, their memory lives on to this day and I was excited to learn…
-
Legend Meets Luxury in Talos Timepieces
Legend meets luxury in the elegant, Swiss-inspired craftsmanship of Talos watches. These exquisite timepieces reflect the romance, mystery and mechanical might of the classical Greek myth honored in their name. When I first encountered Talos timepieces, I was reminded of their mythological namesake, an early imagining of what we know today as a robot, although in the myth this machine was built not by man but by the gods themselves. According to legend, the winged bronze giant known as Talos was created at the request of Zeus by Hephaestus, the god of fire and ironworking, and presented as a gift to the chief god’s lover, Europa. Talos was intended to…
-
Wings Air Helicopter: Exclusive Fly Over + Birds Eye View of New York City
There are many fun and exciting ways to experience New York City and I have enjoyed most of them. Just walking the streets will fully immerse you in the fabric of what makes the city so dynamic and exciting. Whether you partake of the subway experience, it offers hours of people watching and entertainment or a leisurely cruise along either the Hudson or East River allows for a picturesque experience. A Fly Over New York Unlike Any Other Recently I was fortunate to experience the city from a very unique and exclusive vantage point. Thanks to the services offered by Wings Air Helicopters I hovered 1500 ft. above the heart…
International Luxury Lifestyle Magazine
