Victor Ozols has long talked about taking up yachting as a hobby. He recently realized that he was thinking too small.

Money aside, I've always thought I'd make a great yachtsman. I've seen that yacht show on the Travel Channel, and I'm pretty sure I can do everything those experienced yacht owners do, only better. I'd cruise the waterways of the world in an energy-efficient mega-yacht with my family, dropping by elegant ports of call to host parties and explore the new surroundings, all while treating my crew really nicely and doing some charitable stuff for the local people as well. Yeah, it would be great.

Only maybe a regular yacht isn't good enough, not when I can have a luxury submarine instead. As the U.S. Submarines website points out, a yacht is fine and dandy until you hit rough water, and then all the fancy floor tiles in the world won't keep you from getting seasick. A submarine, however, has the ability to submerge to the tranquil world beneath the whitecaps with a moment's notice, so you can enjoy a few rousing games of underwater baccarat without losing your lunch on the croupier. Knowing that, why would anybody suffer with a "regular" mega-yacht? It's crazy.

Christmas is still four months away, so there's plenty of time to put a bid on the Phoenix 1000 (pictured), the most luxurious submarine in the world. At 65 meters long and 8 meters wide, it has 460 square meters of interior space spread out over multiple decks. A flying bridge at the top provides a fantastic perch from which to take in the sun when on the surface, while the deck saloon and passenger areas below have every conceivable amenity, including panoramic windows that provide amazing views of the outside world. There are even remote fish feeders to give you something to look at as you gaze into the great blue beyond. A diver lockout chamber and a diving mini-sub ensure that a quick getaway is always possible should the need arise.

The estimated price of the Phoenix 1000 is $78 million, but it looks like it's been on the market for a while, so there might be some wiggle room. What do you think, Jaunted readers? Show your weekend editor some love and pony up for the luxury submarine he so surely deserves for his efforts. I promise to be the nicest submarine owner on the seven seas.

Related Stories:
· Phoenix 1000 [U.S. Submarines]
· Yachting Coverage [Jaunted]

[Photo: U.S. Subs]]]> Victor Ozols 2008-08-09T14:55:07-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/7/26/173332/028

For better or worse, the media landscape is driven by images more than words. Here, Victor Ozols reflects on the significance of imagery in the world of travel, and how it influences our perceptions of places we've never been.

Like most of you, I often daydream about traveling to exotic, interesting places. These daydreams are informed by my own memories and experiences as well as the barrage of travel images I see on TV, in magazines, and on websites such as this one. The images get so deeply ingrained in my head that they begin to define places I've never been, places that probably bear little resemblance to their photo depictions. Maybe, by listing some of the visuals that are so often used to show what travel looks like today, we can give them the perspective they deserve.

Take, for example, the luxury travel category. What does luxury travel look like? According to the glossy magazines, sleek brochures, and travel shows, several elements are essential for a place to be luxurious, foremost being the infinity pool. I don't know what it is, but there's something about an unbroken sight line that goes from pool water to ocean water to sky that screams luxury.]]> Victor Ozols 2008-07-26T17:35:23-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/5/21/112020/382

The developers of the Trump Ocean Club in Panama City just obtained a protective order against Dubai's Jumeirah Group from a Panamanian court. The Ocean Clubbers say they've faced "veiled threats of legal action" from the Middle Eastern luxury hotel chain because Jumeirah feels that Trump's new $220 million tower copies the design of their flagship Burj Al Arab in Dubai.

The Trump Ocean Club, pictured at right, does look a lot like the Burj, at left, but you'd think Jumeirah would be flattered. The Burj Al Arab's sail-style construction has been described by critics as the "pinnacle of tackiness," so it's no surprise that Trump would admire the design. Besides, it's not like the Trump folks copied the Burj's amazing rooftop tennis court.

Jumeirah hasn't tried to sue yet, and we doubt they actually will: This whole thing smells like a Trump publicity stunt. Selling your place as a Burj knockoff is probably a lot easier than getting mega-rich tourists excited about Panama City.

Related Stories:
· Trump Ocean Club [Official Site]
· Trump Project in Panama Goes to Court [IHT]
· Trump Tower Developer Gets Order of Protection [La Prensa]

[Photo: IHT]]]> Hunter Walker 2008-05-21T15:45:02-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2008/4/28/22721/9425

Taking The Ghan right down through the center of Australia is a journey already reserved for those with a fair bit of time and cash, but it's one of those once-in-a-lifetime train trips that are really worth doing. The Ghan's just come up with an option that makes it even more likely you'll only do it once: The new Platinum version costs a whole lot more than the original.

Traveling by rail from Adelaide to Darwin takes two nights and three days, and starting on September 10, 2008, passengers on the Ghan will have the option of booking Platinum Service in one of 24 refurbished cabins. We're talking ultra-luxury for a train here, plus 24-hour in-cabin steward service to satisfy your every whim.

It all sounds wonderful, but it comes at a price--A$2,975 (almost $2,800) for a twin share for the two nights. Not cheap when you consider you could fly that route for a few hundred bucks and just a few hours. Either way, all you'll see in between is vast, empty desert. We'd still probably be game to try it.

Related Stories:
· The Ghan [Official Site]
· Ghan Takes Rail Travel to Platinum Class [The Australian]
· Train Snobs Flaunt Self-Proclaimed Good Taste [Jaunted]

[Photo: leekelleher]]]> amandak 2008-04-29T09:30:01-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/7/9/215054/1307

He wears sunglasses to the Oscars, goes to every Lakers game and parties harder than you do. Jack Nicholson, the iconic star of Chinatown, The Departed and Anger Management, was snapped partying on a yacht off France's Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat with no fewer than FIVE women in swimsuits. Gotta start that chest tan sometime, right?

A lot of stars rent yachts for their relative privacy, according to Yacht Charters magazine, but in this case Nicholson's babelicious boat was irresistible. Actually, now that we look, the guy in the hat looks a little like Stephen Hawking. Maybe he could teach ol' Jack a thing or two.

Related Stories:
· Jack's Favorite NYC Watering Hole [HotelChatter]
· Jaunted Tracks Mr. Nicholson [Jaunted]

[Photo: In Case You Didn't Know]]]> egw 2007-07-10T08:45:35-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/4/27/1067/09262
Luxury hotels will come up with all sorts of creative ways to rip you off these days. There's the old standby, over-priced WiFi, and its close cousin, the $24 omelet. And the W Union Square, while not in the same category as a Four Seasons-type place, certainly deserves a shout out for its $2.80 8-ounce black coffees. It's always nice when one of 'em decides to throw you a bone.

Rocco Forte Hotels has a nice little feature on its website that allows you to avoid long distance charges by requesting a phone call from the Rocco Forte hotel of your choice. The best part is that it actually works: We got a call from the Astoria Hotel in St. Petersburg just a few minutes after requesting it on the web. Just remember to give them a land line and not a cell phone number, or else you probably will rack up quite a bill.

Related Stories:
· Rocco Forte Hotels [Official Site]]]> djk 2007-04-27T10:18:06-05:00 http://www.jaunted.com/story/2007/2/8/13109/87861
While you were busy searching for obscure Danish music television performances (or, truthfully, Lazy Sunday), YouTube’s founders were busy getting rich. Your procrastination and online exploits kind of made them who they are, but you won’t see a penny of their money. So how much do they have? Co-founder Chad Hurley will come out of the Google-YouTube buyout with around $326 million, while his partner Steve Chen will get stock worth roughly $290 million. Poor Steve.

Now that Steve is poor rich, he needs to find himself. With mo’ money come mo’ problems, and a whole lot of fair-weather friends. A trip to Amankora Paro in Bhutan is in order, where Steve can stare out into the great beyond and contemplate the sudden inequality between him and his friend Chad, in between yoga sessions and spa treatments, for $925 a night. That’s significantly less expensive than Hurley’s perfect vacation but remember, Steve Chen is the poor one.

Other destinations where rich dudes can go to clear their heads? India, for starters. For something closer to home and more easily reached via private jet, he could try Arizona. Canyon Ranch is nice, though it could require too much interaction with normal people. If all else fails, Chen can give one of T+L’s power broker travel agents a ring. Those bigwigs usually don’t take calls, but they’d probably let his through.

Related Stories:
· YouTube founders split $650M payout [CNN Money]
· YouTube Founder Has 326 Million Reasons To Live [HotelChatter] ]]> djk 2007-02-08T14:27:26-05:00 Search Jaunted string http://www.jaunted.com/search/