Luxury Travel

We arrived at Dulles airport on Virgin Atlantic's new Airbus 380. It was Friday, late afternoon, and we had less than 48 hours to see Washington DC.  Our hotel, The Liaison Capitol, was welcoming, the rooms a good size and the staff helpful – the service was great all weekend. The hotel is located right by the Capitol Building so our first excursion was to see that renowned centre of political intrigue by night. It was beautifully lit and imposing and we could see stretched before us the Mall, which is where we were heading on Saturday to walk all 21/2 miles of it.

On Sunday 2 February Sunborn Gibraltar was escorted to her permanent home in Ocean Village Marina. Accompanied by flat calm seas and bright sunshine, a crowd gathered to witness the arrival of this game-changing yacht hotel.

La Rosiere
Variety is the spice of life and an invitation to ski at La Rosiere, a French resort that had never featured on my radar, was irresistible. Lots of familiar names around: Mont Blanc, Monte Rosa, Aosta Valley, and in sight across the valley: Val d’Isere so there were obviously good prospects.

Whistler sets a standard that many other ski resorts have to match; right up there with Aspen and some European resorts but for very different reasons. The main concern for many is the flight; eleven hours but you do not lose skiing time as it is overnight and you are chasing the sun outbound.  Passing through Vancouver airport is quick and the transfer is less than two hours to Whistler, the roads are good and it’s worth keeping awake for the stunning scenery.  

Yves de Contades talks to Niklas Berg, CEO of Avinode, the Air Charter Marketplace.
- Where did you grow up?
Gothenburg, Sweden
 
 - How did you start in the industry?
 

International Excellence interviewes Scott Morrow, CEO of Luxury Link, the luxury travel site.
Where did you grow up?
I grew up in Clinton, Tennessee, a small town of 3,000 residents at the foothills of the Smokey Mountains.
How did you start in the industry?

 
Needless to say that one night in Paris is never enough, but one night is all that I had time for.
It started with a train journey, and I'm sure you've all sampled the delights of the Eurostar, but in case you've missed out during the last nine years, then I suggest you give it a try. It really is the only way to get to Paris - so very simple and easy, turn up at London St Pancras, settle yourself comfortably into your seat, and a meal and a few drinks later there you are in the centre of Paris.

Where to take a Ferrari FF to enjoy it at its best? Well it was designed as a touring car so a luxury Chateau near the Le Mans 24hrs racing track seemed like a really good idea. The French roads are ideal touring material and provide endless opportunities to really test out this wonderful feat of engineering. Perhaps starting with a really unique hotel in Paris and finishing up in a historic house in England would make this a perfect review of this fantastic Italian supercar.

 
It was Sunday and I was heading to the Emerald Isle to take in some art. Two of Ireland’s finest hotels, The Merrion in Dublin and County Laois’s Ballyfin, have come together to showcase their own collections of fine Irish art in a venture titled Inspiring Irish Art Weekend. I was hoping to be spoiled.