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Tag: Luxury Travel View All Tags

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Would You Camp In A Tent Shaped Like The Sydney Opera House?

November 5, 2009 at 5:09 PM | by Omri | 0 Comments

There's a certain class of people who enjoy the idea of being in nature but are less than enthusiastic about the "dirt" and "sleeping on the ground" and "being outside" parts of the experience. Their idea of roughing it involves a covered caravan, a $750 credit card bill at REI, and a case of white wine. Not red wine, because that would be too luxurious. Within that group, there's a certain subclass of folks who also have something of an nouveau riche air about them. In addition to actually "camping" in decadent comfort, they need to look like they're camping in decadent comfort. The new Opera capsule caravan, styled after the Sydney Opera House, is designed with them in mind:

We can't believe we're saying this, but this "tent" has a wine cabinet and more. Find out what else after the jump.

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The $10 Million Dollar Hermes Helicopter Will Fly The Tokyo Skies

Where: Tokyo, Japan
August 12, 2009 at 8:59 AM | by JetSetCD | 0 Comments

While we realize that this isn't exactly the best week to bring up helicopter travel on account of "The Horror On The Hudson" this last weekend, still we can't deny the cool factor of this story out of Tokyo.

After l'Hélicoptère par Hermès, or the Hermes Helicopter, debuted in late 2007, we were wondering what billionaire's yacht would sport it first. Turns out it won't be the private playtoy of a person at all, since a Tokyo company has purchased the 'copter designed by the French fashion house, with intent to offer flights between the central district of Akasaka and Narita International Airport. Taking the Eurocopter EC 315 will cut the travel time by an hour, and eliminate dealing with any ground traffic.

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The Very Rich Can Hop On Discovery Channel's New Hardcore Adventures

August 4, 2009 at 1:09 PM | by Omri | 0 Comments

Is this the recession or what? Guess not: Discovery Communications is teaming up with travel provider G.A.P Adventures to launch dozens of luxury trips based on Discovery Channel programming. With prices starting at $2,000 per person for trips ranging from 3 to 24 days, these are not for the faint of wallet.

Locations range from common tourist destinations like the USA and Mexico to places like Botswana, where you'll probably always need a guide. All of the packages come with their share of intriguingly esoteric Discovery Channel twists; one of the USA tours revolves around historic parks in the Southwest. What travelers will see on the 12 day tour, though, ranges from rock formations to deserts to dwellings abandoned thousands of years ago.

The other USA destination is even more nature-oriented, taking travelers all the way up north to Alaska. Adventurers spend 10 days observing wildlife in their habitat, which can be both mindblowingly fascinating and straightforward deadly.

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A Whole New Type of Safari: Komodo Dragons In Indonesia

Where: Indonesia
July 31, 2009 at 9:15 AM | by amandak | 0 Comments

Chilling in an Aman Resort in some exotic location is already pretty enticing, but we've just heard that this hotel group has got a luxury cruiser happening too, based out of their Amanwana resort on Moyo Island, Indonesia. And we want to get on it.

The 105-foot cruiser, called Amanikan, looks a bit like a romantic old trading vessel, but is full of all the necessary luxury inside in its three cabins. They are running a trip called the Komodo Expedition which includes five nights of cruising (with days full of diving) and two final nights at the island resort. While you're on the boat you get to visit Komodo dragons and stop by the Komodo and Rinca Islands to see wild horses, deer and monkeys as well, not to mention all the sea life you'll discover while diving and snorkeling.

Exotic luxury doesn't come cheap, of course. It'll cost you upwards of $22,000 for you and a mate for the week, including everything except alcoholic drinks. But getting up close and personal with a dragon and then retreating to exotic luxury might just be worth it.

Related Stories:
· All the Pretty Seahorses [Jaunted]
· Where to Find Komodo Dragons in Their Natural Habitat [Jaunted]
· Indonesia Travel Guide [Jaunted]

[Photo: Amre Ghiba]

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Elite Car Rental's New Ad Might Make You Rent a Luxury Car...Or Just Get Horny

July 29, 2009 at 1:59 PM | by juliana | 0 Comments

Usually when we talk about Rental Cars here, we are often griping about the humiliating car we received at the airport, or the inevitable malfunction that happens after we drive out of the parking lot. Of course, there's some good things to say too like getting a cheap one-way rental or a great weekend deal.

But we don't often comment on car rental ads much. Maybe it's because nothing has ever peaked our interest since OJ had to stop doing those ads for Hertz. (You know, because of that "pesky" murder trial.) However, Elite Car Rental has changed all that around. AdRants recently posted about this racy ad from the luxury car rental company that had Adrants a little confused about the direction of the ad which has the tagline, "Get There Faster."

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Shanghai Wants to Keep Luxury Travel Alive

Where: Shanghai, China
July 17, 2009 at 4:08 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

Some cities look at this economic downturn and see the collapse of their tourism industries; Shanghai sees dollar and yen signs. China's biggest city is aiming to take over the luxury business market while it's on sale, even as next year's World Expo looms large.

Just as its fellow countrymen in Beijing did a general tidy in advance of last year's Olympics, Shanghai hotels and outfitters are cranking up their luxury offerings even in a time when there may not be anyone to enjoy them. The centenarian Peace Hotel is getting a major facelift, and a brand new all-glass cruise terminal opened in November to pull in shore excursions from far and wide.

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Bankrupt Car Company Offers Luxury SUV

June 12, 2009 at 1:42 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

Hey, you know, this economic downturn, we can beat this! All we need is a smile and a $45,000 luxury car for our next road trip! Such must be the thinking behind Chrysler's decision to debut a luxury Grand Jeep Cherokee for its 2011 line, despite being bankrupt two years before its debut.

Built on Mercedes M-Class bones, the 2011 Grand Cherokee is a gas guzzler of the classic model with heated rear seats, auto-dimming headlights and a built-in back-seat tray so your upholstery doesn't get dirty. Since we know gas prices will never go up again, it's an SUV bargain! At least when R. Kelly sings "You remind me of my Jeep" from here on out, you can insist on a particular model.

Chrysler filed for a quickie bankruptcy in April; a proposed merger with Fiat is currently being fought by dealers nationwide who face forced closings under the new agreement.

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Spend Your Way Out Of Guilt!

April 17, 2009 at 2:41 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

Everyone knows the recession is causing people all over the world to, if not cut back on their spending, at least cut back on the appearance on spending. (This will later be known as "Sachsing," after Goldman Sachs' decision to move a Las Vegas technology conference to San Francisco to avoid criticism about misusing bailout money -- as opposed to Aiging, which involves spending as much as possible publicly while hoping no one will notice.) But only one news outlet has the cojones to suggest you spend your way out of guilt about traveling when other people can't afford to do so.

If the New York Times is so up on volunteer vacations, why do they tout the most expensive, extravagant ones first in a recent article on them?

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These Rocking Chairs Now Worth $250 More

Where: 1471 West Millers Cove Road [map], Walland, TN, United States
April 10, 2009 at 4:01 PM | by egw | 0 Comments

"Easy to get to, hard to leave," boasts the website for Blackberry Farm, a picturesque retreat in the Great Smoky Mountains.

According to MSNBC, "agritourism" is on the rise this year as travelers sweetly yearn to get back to the land. Not many farmers' kids we know grew up tooling around on the backroads in a Lexus GX SUV (available for rental on-property!) or getting four-handed massages inspired by the Cherokee, but at least Blackberry is a working farm producing artisan cheeses, fruit, cured meats and preserves.

And then we noticed something funny: Back in 2007 our sister site HotelChatter noticed how heavily acclaimed Blackberry Farm was, noting the tasteful decor and delicious dishes.

The farm has since added 12 guest rooms -- and most shockingly, over $200 to its daily rates for the most modest accommodations. No time like the present to urge people to get back to nature at a ridiculously inflated price!

Want to get back to nature on a budget? You may have to forgo award-winning fly-fishing and the spa, but volunteer vacations like those offered by organic farms through WWOOF offer the chance to get your hands dirty and a little relaxation time, too.

Related Stories:
· Living The Luxe Life Down On The Farm [MSNBC]
· 2007: Luxury in the Middle of Nowhere: Blackberry Farm [HC]
· Volunteer Travel: It's A WWOOFer's World [Jaunted]

[Photo: markalbert]

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What to Do if the Wine Cellar on your Superyacht Does Not Suffice

February 21, 2009 at 4:24 PM | by Victor Ozols | 5 Comments

I recently got my hands on the new 2009 issue of Burgess Superyacht Living & Style Magazine, and I'm more convinced than ever that superyachting is for me. There's simply no more potent symbol of wealth, success, and conspicuous consumption than one of these 40-meter-plus luxe boats. A private jet is nice, but who's going to see it beyond a few people at the airport? An opulent mansion is a little more visible, but you can't force people to drive by your house to envy you (yet). With a superyacht, however, you can seek out the poor people (i.e. owners of "regular" yachts) whether they're in Monaco or Wildwood and slowly cruise by with a margarita in your hand, guaranteeing the admiration and jealousy of all who witness the spectacle.

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Luxury Ice Capades: Deception Island

January 30, 2009 at 11:55 AM | by MattyC | 3 Comments

Matt Chesterton has returned to Jaunted with tales of his latest trip cruising around Antarctica. Every day this week, he'll be enlightening us on this luxury ice capades adventure. Enjoy.

"My God, this is an awful place!"

That was Robert Falcon Scott's final verdict on Antarctica, as recorded in his diary. You can hardly blame Scott for allowing his quintessentially stiff Edwardian upper lip to quiver for a moment. He was about to freeze to death, a state of affairs which in his view -- to paraphrase another of his journal entries -- threatened to put a bummer on the entire trip.

We on the Antarctic Dream had fewer complaints. At no point did we have to choose between starving to death or spit-roasting one of our huskies. We ate well, drank well and could watch up to four movies a day. True, we ran out of beer. That shook us. But only the Germans considered it a fate worse than death by hypothermia.

Nothing awful, then. But one place we visited was eerie, if not downright sinister -- such stuff, to adapt Shakespeare, as nightmares are made on. This was Deception Island in the South Shetlands.

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Luxury Ice Capades: Life in the Freezer

January 29, 2009 at 1:55 PM | by MattyC | 0 Comments

Matt Chesterton has returned to Jaunted with tales of his latest trip cruising around Antarctica. Every day this week, he'll be enlightening us on this luxury ice capades adventure. Enjoy.

It was the biggest piece of ice I'd ever seen in my life. A monstrous, sparkling slab of frozen bling. And to think I could only see one fifth of it! It filled me with awe -- and I'm not easily filled with anything.

I wanted to reach out and touch it. But of course I couldn’t. The bar was too wide, and Hugo the barman was keeping an eagle eye on his prize.

That's right: It was half-price whisky night on the Antarctic Dream. And each large--and I mean large, Hugo had the kind of quivery right hand you really appreciate in a barman--Scotch would be poured over a carved chunk of glacial ice, recently hauled aboard by several burly crew members.

Bacchanalian? Hardly. Poor old Bacchus never got out of the Med as far as we know. He had to settle for warm liquor.

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