July 10th, 2009
Georgia O’Keeffe, “Red Canna”, 1925; Portrait by Alfred Stieglitz, 1918
Just the mention of Georgia O’Keeffe conjures up images of New Mexico’s unique spirituality, sense of place, and individuality. And now, Georgia is coming to the big screen in Santa Fe, one of the country’s most culturally-rich small cities! The O’Keeffe Museum and the Lensic Performing Arts Center announce the exclusive ‘live’ red carpet premiere of “Georgia O’Keeffe,” a Lifetime Television original movie, starring Oscar winner Jeremy Irons and Oscar nominee Joan Allen. (more…)
July 6th, 2009
For three days only, July 8, 9 and 10, Crystal Cruises, the world’s highest rated luxury line, is offering 25% off of its already reduced fares for upcoming fall and winter itineraries on its two ships, Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Savings apply to all categories of staterooms excluding penthouses.
In addition to 25% off, all cruises include at least a $500 per person spending credit, good towards virtually everything except casino gaming and cruise deposits.
The 25% savings is available on the following itineraries:
September 26 – October 8 “Adventures of Tycho“ 12-day sailing from Venice to Athens
With the net savings: fares begin at $4,088 per person, plus $1,000 per person spending credit
Ports of call include: Trogir (maiden call); Corfu; Katakolon; Crete; Rhodes; Mykonos; Kuşadasi.
November 10 – 22 “Caribbean Connoisseur“ 12-day sailing from New York to Miami
With the net savings: fares begin at $3,139 per person, plus $500 per person spending credit
Ports of call include: Bermuda; St. Maarten; Antigua; Curaçao; Grand Cayman.
November 12 – 22 “Atlantic Adventure“ 10-day sailing from Lisbon to Miami
With the net savings: fares begin at $2,655 per person, plus $500 per person spending credit
Ports of call include: Ponta Delgada and Grand Turk.
December 5 – 20 “South American Splendor“ 15-day sailing from Manaus to Buenos Aires
With the net savings: fares begin at $4,050 per person, plus $1,000 per person spending credit
Ports of call include: Boca de Valeria; Santarém; Rio de Janeiro; Montevideo.
December 10 – 21 “Coral Sunsets“ 11-day sailing from Caldera to Miami
With the net savings: fares begin at $2,381 per person, plus $500 per person spending credit
Ports of call include: Aruba; St. Barts; St. Maarten; Grand Turk.
As with every Crystal Cruises sailing, fares include:
- All meals, including Nobu’s Silk Road and Sushi Bar and Piero Selvaggio’s “Valentino at Prego”;
- All non-alcoholic beverages, including coffee and espresso drinks, bottled water, sodas, milkshakes, and teas;
- All onboard activities with the exception of spa treatments, personal services, casino expenses, and optional add-ons;
- In-port shuttle bus service from port to city center (where available);
- Airport transfers to and from ship on the specified air/sea dates for guests traveling.
Port taxes, security charges, and handling fees are additional. Gratuities are at the guest’s discretion.
For more information, please visit the line’s website at www.crystalcruises.com.
July 6th, 2009
Park Hyatt just announced the opening of Park Hyatt Jeddah – Marina, Club, and Spa, the second in the Middle East for the hotel chain, and the first five-star property to open in the city since 2004.
The second largest city in Saudi Arabia after the capital, Riyadh, Jeddah is a major center for Middle East commerce. Business travelers will love the convenient location, just a quick five-minute drive to the financial district (traffic jams abound on the congested streets). Organizations can hold massive conferences, and companies can seal the deal at the adjacent Lazurde Meeting and Conference Center that boasts an over 8,600 square foot ballroom that can be divided up for meetings, an outdoor reception area by the sea, and all the high-tech multimedia gadgets needed for an A+ presentation.
Practically built in the Red Sea itself on the Corniche of Jeddah, it’s hard not to appreciate the view as well. The resort is a remarkable engineering feat that reclaimed prime waterfront land from the Red Sea while retaining the delicate surrounding marine life. It’s the closest hotel in the city to the jaw-dropping King’s Palace, which is located on its own island. It also faces the iconic King Fahd’s Fountain, the world’s tallest fountain, which shoots up water at 233 miles per hour and is illuminated by over 500 spotlights at night.
The restaurant, Nafoura, faces this scene (as do most of the guest rooms) and serves up mouth-watering mezzes and grilled Mediterranean dishes from the open kitchen. Sipping tea (no alcohol allowed) and smoking shisha on the outdoor terrace (the menu has over 20 varieties of the flavored tobacco) will undoubtedly be a popular activity. Cigar aficionados can light up in a separate cigar lounge.
Keeping in line with Park Hyatt’s chic and modern yet understated aesthetic , French interior designer Gilles Quiffet and architect Patrice Hart designed the 142 guest rooms and public spaces to fuse a sleek European style with Arab-Andalusian architecture. Native artwork and crafts adorn the rooms, while intricately landscaped gardens surround the complex. Spa facilities are on the way and will feature separate ladies’ and gentlemen’s areas including the region’s first Hydrotherapy center.
Rates start at 1350 Saudi Riyals.
July 2nd, 2009
We all know that last-minute travel is trendy in 2009. Some of those who would normally book holidays six months out are waiting until the 11th hour to pick a spot, pack up, and go.
Vogue blogged about last-minute escapes this week. Not your run-of-the-mill weekend getaways but far-flung jaunts into worlds more exotic than our own, like Florence and Beirut.
One of the chosen is La Reserve Ramatuelle, opened a few weeks ago in the South of France. Sitting up in the Mediterranean hills, it takes in the heady views of the sea. As an added flourish, it’s the first spa featuring La Mer products in all of France. Vive la France- and the summer escape.
July 1st, 2009
Ever booted up your laptop while traveling only to discover that there was no wireless internet available or that the service costs an arm and a leg? The small machine suddenly morphs from an information powerhouse into a useless hunk of plastic only good for playing spider solitaire, making us wonder why internet was created for computers and not the other way around (impossible, we know).
These days, Wi-Fi is as necessary as water. So, if we were asked the question, “What one item would you bring to a deserted island?,” we would probably answer, “My laptop, but only if the island has free Wi-Fi.”
In the case of Cocoa Island in the Maldives, that pretty Mac book would be a great item to have, as this private island resort has free Wi-Fi in all guest rooms, as well as in reception, at the bar, and in the restaurant. Not only do you enjoy the relaxing serenity of a private island, but you also have endless access to the World Wide Web. One suggestion: you might only want to mention this complimentary amenity to your colleagues after you return from vacation.
July 1st, 2009
Reduce your carbon footprint and cover more ground around the capital with Park Hyatt Washington‘s complimentary Bicycles at the Park program. Available for hotel guests, the rentals last four hours, allowing plenty of time for a scenic ride, and perhaps a picnic lunch. The new hybrid bicycles are comfortable and sturdy, no matter the terrain. For a leisurely ride, we suggest the flat towpath along the canal. For a more intense workout, try a rugged trail in Rock Creek Park. An historic route to take is the Mount Vernon Trail, which starts at Roosevelt Island and follows the Potomac River to Washington’s famous estate at Mount Vernon, and along the way goes through Old Town Alexandria (a perfect lunch spot) and Fort Hunt Park. The concierge will be sure to put you on the right path with a city biking map, bike lock, helmet, kickstand, and bottled water.
Bicycles at the Park will continue to be unveiled at more Park Hyatts around the world. We’ll keep you posted!
