NEWS FROM THE VINES: WHAT’S HAPPENING IN NAPA VALLEY
FALL 2022
To see Napa Valley at its most picture-perfect, consider visiting in fall. Daytime highs are next to perfect, and the changing leaves blanket the valley in shades of brilliant yellow, orange, and burgundy. With “crush” season in full swing through early November there’s opportunities for grape smashing, wine blending, and harvest dinners. Here are the can’t-miss events and seasonal hotel offers to put on your radar this fall.
Appointments available Thursday-Monday
Ever dreamed of becoming a winemaker? The Barrel Blending Experience at Conn Creek Winery lets you play winemaker for a day and even take home the fruits of your labor. During the experience, you’ll receive an overview of the Napa Valley AVA, followed by a guided tasting of Cabernet Sauvignon barrel samples, and instructions on blending techniques and strategies. You’ll go home with a custom blend perfectly suited to your tastes.
Blending is an art as well as a science. If you sign up for the Bottle Blending Camp at Judd’s Hill Winery, you’ll learn how to perfect your Bordeaux-style blends using samples from four barrels of four red varietals. It’s a fun and educational way to hone your palate as a single, couple, or as a group. Reservations for this experience can be made with at least 24-hour notice. If you can’t make it in person, the Bottle Blending Day Camp can even be done remotely over Zoom.
Date: Available Wednesday-Monday
During this 90-minute experience, you’ll craft a wine exactly to your preferences and specifications, then fill and cork the bottle and design a bespoke bottle label. It’s a great way to learn about the blending process — with the ultimate reward of bringing home your own custom bottle.
Napa Valley isn’t just for winemakers — it’s also a haven for artists and design mavens. At Stanly Ranch, Auberge Resorts Collection, guests can gain an appreciation for Napa’s artistic side through two new exclusive experiences. The Wine & Design excursion will take participants on a tour of the region’s most architecturally stunning wineries, where they’ll learn about the history and architectural elements behind these striking venues while also tasting a few award-winning wines. At the tour’s end, guests will receive a signed copy of Heather Hebert’s acclaimed book, “The New Architecture of Wine.” For more hands-on instruction, sign up for the Design a Hat with an Artisan experience, which involves spending an evening with the Bay Area’s most coveted milliner, Willee Roberts of Hampui Hats. At Willee’s outdoor studio, guests will participate in a hat-making ceremony using the finest and most sustainable materials — the ultimate Napa Valley souvenir!
From October 24 to 30th, Auberge du Soleil will celebrate its third annual Champagne Week, a guest-favorite event with daily Champagne tastings hosted by premier and Grand Cru houses and paired dining experiences at the hotel’s Michelin-starred restaurant. Expect wines from renowned producers like Krug, Dom Perignon, Laurent Perrier, and Duval Leroy. Indulge in executive chef Robert Curry’s six-course prix fixe tasting menu at The Restaurant for dinner, or a three-course paired lunch. In honor of the occasion, the Bistro and Bar will also offer an extended menu of Champagnes by the glass. Santé!
As fall is one of the most popular times to visit Napa Valley, prices are often sky-high from September through early November. But if you’re willing to play hooky and skip a few days of work, you can enjoy 15 percent off two-night minimum stays at The Archer Hotel, a boutique property in downtown Napa with a gourmet steakhouse and a rooftop spa and pool.
If stomping on grapes isn’t your idea of vacation fun, treat yourself to an indulgent harvest season experience at Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, where guests receive 20 percent off the best available rate when they stay Sunday through Thursday. Heighten your relaxation by booking a pampering treatment (not included), whether it’s a bud bath, a Himalayan salt stone massage, or the “Calistoga Elixir” whirlpool bath infused with grape skins, seeds, and oils.
If you needed another excuse to visit Napa during the magical harvest season, Carneros Resort and Spa is offering guests who stay two nights or longer a resort credit of $300 to spend toward a variety of experiences—brunch at the Boon Fly Café, a luxurious spa treatment like a Quiet Mind massage or Valley Glow body scrub, or a seasonally-inspired dinner at FARM.
Virtuoso® Reveals Preferences and Top Destinations for Upscale Travelers this Fall and Festive Season
Las Vegas (August 16, 2022) – Global luxury travel network Virtuoso® reveals when, where and how the affluent are traveling next. Respected as an industry-leading trend forecaster, Virtuoso gathered data and insights from its network of travel advisors, preferred partners and high net worth/ultra-high net worth clientele based on its data warehouse of more than $49.5 billion in transactions and an ongoing series of surveys. The results were shared at luxury travel’s leading event, the 34th annual Virtuoso Travel Week. Running August 13-19 in Las Vegas at Bellagio Resort & Casino, ARIA Resort & Casino, and Vdara Hotel & Spa, the event is recognized as the fashion week of travel, where the latest news and trends affecting the industry are unveiled.
While travel has felt, at times, uncertain during 2022, luxury travelers have led the way forward, even in the face of covid variants, travel restrictions, and overwhelmed airports. The pent-up demand that many of us felt during the last few years has resulted in a surge in flights and bookings, resulting in trends like revenge travel and hectic “Airmageddon” scenes at major airports around the world. It’s no wonder why this year’s summer vacation cost more than it did last year and even the years before that – travelers are ready to get back out there and spend, and not just to Europe but the broader world. Both inbound and outbound leisure travel sales are booming, in some cases surpassing 2019 levels, and booking windows have normalized back to pre-pandemic numbers (which explains why it’s so hard to find deals and discounts). Despite the challenges, it’s undeniable that the future is bright, with travel sales in 2023 pacing 47 percent higher than 2019.
An overview of the information is below, with complete findings here.
Travel Roars Back
- Upscale travelers are ready to resume their pre-pandemic travel lives and have consistently led the way, even during shaky times. In January 2022, 85 percent said they were in a ready-to-travel mindset and 86 percent planned to take an international trip. Fast forward to summer 2022, even airports overwhelmed with air traffic and lost baggage is no strong deterrent for getting back out there.
- When it comes to recovery, the spend for outbound leisure travel is expected to outpace actual travel (i.e., the volume of people on the ground). According to Tourism Economics, in some markets, like Australia, U.K., and France, the differential between the two is quite slim. For others, like Mexico, China, and Brazil, the spend is expected to return years ahead of the number of outbound travelers.
- Outbound leisure travel sales have shown a strong rebound, even in markets where borders only recently opened up. The U.S. has already outperformed 2019 numbers for 2022 by 122 percent, Australia by 113 percent and Canada – at 80 percent – is rapidly catching up. Globally, we have surpassed 2019 – travel’s high water mark – for outbound travel booked January-July at 102%.
- Hotel booking windows are much wider than they were in 2019. Now, the median window for domestic hotels is 58 days (compared to 2019’s 44) and 80 days for international hotels (compared to 60). This is good news for hotels, of course, but for travelers it means more difficulty finding deals and discounts.
- 76 percent of travelers have accepted a “new normal” (up from 35 percent in January 2022), with many travelers making peace with all the uncertainty and volatility. Now, the number of travelers who were put off by traveling in January 2022 has dropped by 26 points (from 38 percent to 12 percent).
- Future sales of travel in 2023 are pacing 47 percent higher than 2019—great news for cruising, which is leading the way with heavy bookings in 2023.
- According to Tourism Economics, global outbound leisure spending won’t fully bounce back until Q2 2024 exceeding 2019 levels by 21 percent by 2024. And from there, the numbers keep climbing, surging to 55 percent of 2019 levels by 2026.
- 74 percent of Virtuoso travelers say “creating a travel experience that best fits my expectations is more important than price,” with plans to increase their previous year’s spend of $20,700 per person by 34 percent to $27,800 in the next year
Who is Traveling, Where are They Headed, and Why Are They Going Now?
- How are people traveling? The most popular way is traveling with a spouse or significant other, followed by traveling with friends and family trips with kids under 18. While traveling with friends showed a slight decrease (from 46 percent in 2019 to 36 percent in 2022), it’s still the second-most popular form of travel.
- Solo travel is on the rise—but not in the way you might expect. Interestingly, among Virtuoso clients, the highest level of interest is coming from the 65+ age group, increasing from 4 percent in 2019 to 18 percent in 2022. Meanwhile, the interest among travelers ages 18-34 has dropped from 12 percent in 2019 to 6 percent in 2022.
- Younger, richer travelers are getting out there in a big way. The 18-34 age group averaged 2.2 more international trips in the past year than the 65+ age group and 1.3 more domestic trips. DIY travelers took about the same number of trips in the past year as Virtuoso-advised travelers, but the latter took longer trips, spending more nights in hotels, rentals, and cruises and skewed more toward international trips.
- 78 percent of travelers say they’re ready to travel now. For 87 percent of those polled, the dollar’s parity with the Euro plays a factor. And only 35 percent say that this summer’s air travel complications have caused them to cancel or postpone plans.
- The hottest global summer destinations? The United States, Italy, France, Canada, and Greece come out on top, followed by the U.K., Spain, Mexico, Ireland, and Switzerland.
- The U.S., Italy, France, Mexico, and Canada are among the top international destinations for September-December 2022. And hotel bookings for fall and festive travel (September 1 to January 15) made through July of this year are at 173 percent of where they were at the same point in 2019.
- While 45 percent of people say they’re ready to travel now or within the next 3 months, 38 percent say it will be 6-12 months before they do so.
- Disconnecting from the routine and stresses of home and connecting with new people, cultures, and ideas are primary reasons for travel in 2022.
- Purpose-driven travel remains paramount. Environmentally-friendly philosophies and practices and the preservation of natural and cultural heritage are top-of-mind concerns, especially among Gen Z and Millennials. And many are willing to pay more—56 percent of Gen Z and 46 percent of Millennials for eco-friendly tourism practices and 58 percent of Gen Z and 52 percent of Millennials for travel that preserves natural and cultural heritage.
Fall and Festive Travel
- When it comes to festive/holiday travel, many people are ready to make plans, even amid the uncertainty of traveling during a pandemic. In 2020, only 16 percent were comfortable planning and making adjustments later if need be, and now that’s up to 28 percent. And in 2020, people waiting to book until closer to their travel date was 22 percent; that’s now consistently down to 15 percent.
- In terms of the motive behind holiday travel, 71 percent will travel for vacation, while 21 percent will travel to see family and friends.
- Islands and beaches are topping travelers’ lists for holiday travel, followed by trips with a wellness component, an ocean cruise, and cities outside the U.S. 62 percent will travel to multiple destinations, while 38 percent will travel to a single destination. Notably, wellness-focused trips were the only category to see a year over year increase: 2021 (13 percent) versus 2022 (24 percent).
- Among the 18-34 age group, high-end travelers seek out (and are willing to pay more for) travel brands/experiences that focus on environmentally-friendly philosophies, those that contribute to local people and that also preserve natural and cultural heritage.
- Booking trends are indicative of a strong fall season during which volume will remain above 2019 levels.
- Across all countries: through July, hotel and in-destination leisure booking volume is at 157 percent of 2019 levels.
- While the United States still leads all countries by a significant margin in total hotel and on-site booking volume, Europe will continue to be a hugely popular regional destination market.
- Trips to the Caribbean islands seem to be gaining popularity through the rest of 2022 and into 2023.
Virtuoso® is the leading global travel agency network specializing in luxury and experiential travel. This by-invitation-only organization comprises over 1,200 travel agency locations with more than 20,000 travel advisors in over 50 countries throughout North America, Latin America, the Caribbean, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Africa and the Middle East. Drawing upon its preferred relationships with more than 2,200 of the world’s best hotels and resorts, cruise lines, airlines, tour companies and premier destinations, the network provides its upscale clientele with exclusive amenities, rare experiences and privileged access. Normalized annual sales of (U.S.) $25–$30 billion make Virtuoso a powerhouse in the luxury travel industry. For more information, visit www.virtuoso.com.
Misty Belles, Virtuoso – Vice President, Global Public Relations
Alice Marshall Public Relations – Senior Account Director
These hotels are bringing their gift shops to the next level
Instead of the requisite trinkets that often fill hotel gift shops, these next generation gift shops at hotels are filled with locally made pieces that are of-the-place, and things you would actually seek out.
Dromoland Castle’s new Charlotte & Co. boutique, Ireland
Dromoland Castle just opened Charlotte & Co on May 2, a boutique celebrating Irish artisans and giving visitors a one-stop shop to pick up an authentic, Irish-made item to remember their trip. The boutique features a collection of Irish contemporary design comprising chunky, hand knit Colin Burke sweaters that reimagine traditional motifs; homewares by KOPPER KREATION made with reclaimed copper, steel, and brass; handmade perfumes made in and inspired by The Burren national park from Burren Perfumery; super chic freeform architectural modeling kits from ARCKIT (think Lego goes high design); and several other proudly Irish makers. While only in-person right now, the shop will go online (and will ship internationally) starting in June 2022.
Click here for high-resolution images.
News from the Vines: Winter 2020
What’s Happening in Napa Valley
While it’s no secret that Napa Valley has faced some challenges this year, the region is open to visitors and the spirit is stronger than ever. The Glass Fire that broke out in September is now 100 percent contained and most of Napa County’s 45,000 acres of vine were not impacted. For those wondering how to help, the best way to support the community and its members is to visit. And the timing couldn’t be better. As harvest closes out this month, travelers will be welcomed with the start of Cabernet Season – the best time to visit for those in the know. From November through April, summer heat is replaced with perfectly mild temperatures – think warm days, cool nights, and blue skies. The pace slows down and foliage is at eye level as the vines become dormant along Silverado Trail. (Leaf peeping is not just on the east coast!) Brilliant yellow wild mustard flowers are scattered through the vineyards and along country lanes. During this time of year, visitors can more easily nab reservations at Michelin-starred restaurants. Greater access to wineries is another bonus with more opportunities to meet winemakers and receive impromptu glimpses behind the scenes.
What’s New in Wine (and Spirit) Tastings
These tastings are shaking up the scene in Napa Valley, with freshly designed spaces and new experiences with an emphasis on privacy. Napa Valley Distillery, the first distillery to open its doors in the city of Napa since prohibition, opened a new speakeasy tasting salon dubbed the ”Hollywood Room” with cocktails crafted from spirits made just a few feet away. The art deco-designed space is punctuated with tiki bar-like decor. Animal lovers will gravitate towards Oasis by Hoopes, where wines are accompanied by an animal sanctuary and regenerative farm. The outdoor space, which opened in October 2020, is dotted with airstreams, lounge areas made with recycled materials, a farm stand (with produce for purchase), as well as rescued chickens, pigs, and goats. Faust’s new tasting room, housed in a Victorian home originally built in 1878, opened in September 2020 following a four-year renovation. Known for their Cabernet Sauvignon sourced from organically farmed estates, the new space still features the original cellar from pre-prohibition era. And for travelers prioritizing privacy, Charles Krug, the oldest wine estate in Napa, opened five new private WIFI-enabled outdoor tasting cabanas on the winery’s picnic grounds and Trefethen is now offering a nightly after-hours experience permitting only one booking per evening – meaning guests have the whole estate to themselves. Space to watch: Yountville’s Baldacci Family Vineyards will open a new hospitality center in March 2021, featuring new private tasting rooms, a wine bar, and an outdoor patio overlooking wine country vistas.
Neighborhoods to Watch
Calistoga
Calistoga, the northern most town in Napa Valley – famed as a wine-meets-spa destination thanks to its geothermal waters – is in the limelight thanks to a crop of new hotels and multi-million-dollar resort renovations. Four Seasons Resort & Residences will open this winter with 85-rooms and an on-site vineyard and tasting room – a rarity in Napa Valley. As a nod to Calistoga’s wellness roots, the property will offer an eight-room spa with steam pods in which hammocks will be suspended above geo-thermal pools for guests to absorb the heated vapor. Coming soon, Dr. Wilkinson’s Backyard Resort & Mineral Springs, originally built in 1952, will unveil a large-scale renovation. Considered one of the first resorts in Calistoga and known for its mud bath treatments, the property’s new look will include a Southwestern-inspired restaurant, House of Better. This December, Solage, part of the Auberge Resorts Collection, will unveil a $30 million-dollar renovation overseen by architect Howard Backen – considered the creator of “Napa Valley Style” – and Los Angeles-based interior design agency Studio Collective. In addition to 11 new accommodations, Solbar - their signature restaurant – will double the size of the patio for outdoor dining and the new PicoBar, with light bites and cocktails, will sit next to an enlarged pool deck with contemporary loungers and cabanas.
Downtown Napa
Spanning three buzzy blocks in the heart of Downtown Napa, First Street Napa is an ever-growing hub for shopping, dining, and tasting. Known for its locally owned boutiques and independent restaurants and wineries, the district has recently welcomed a surge of new shops like C’est La Paire for chic boots and handbags; The Bennington Napa Valley for vintage finds; and Copperfield’s Books, a mainstay store returning to First Street. The first standalone tasting room dedicated solely to luxury California brandies, California Brandy House, will open on First Street on November 6, 2020 for outdoor tastings. The new concept will debut with two leading brandy portfolios, Germain-Robin and Argonaut. Visitors will be guided through tasting flights, including single-barrel samples that are only available at the tasting space. For those looking for something on the fizzier side, the first and only dedicated Champagne & sparkling wine lounge in Napa Valley, Be Bubbly, has just opened its doors. Over in Napa’s Oxbow Public Market (a 40,000-square-foot marketplace with an expansive outdoor deck along the Napa River), Bar Lucia opened this summer from owner behind Kara’s Cupcakes. Highlights of the bar include rosé and sparkling wines paired with seasonal bites. Founder Kara Haspel Lind named the bar after her great grandmother and her daughter, honoring the traditions passed down through five generations of women in her family. For those visitors who are overwhelmed with options across the region, a brand-new Napa Valley Welcome Center will open on November 12 as a resource for itinerary-planning. New technology will provide visitors insider tips in a no-touch manner, and a 16-foot video wall will offer a taste of Napa Valley travel inspiration to pedestrians along First Street through floor-to-ceiling glass windows.
Looking Ahead to 2021
Black History Month – February 2021
In honor of Black History Month in February, travelers to Napa Valley can explore the roots of BIPOC pioneers in the winemaking business and support local initiatives throughout the region. Leaders in the industry include Brown Estate Vineyards, which was the first Black-owned estate winery in Napa and is now best known as one of Napa Valley’s most well-regarded zinfandel producers. Neighboring Okapi Wines is a micro-boutique winery that produces just a few barrels of wine each year. Founder Dan Johnson limits its production to 300 cases per year to maintain sustainable farming practices. Carneros Resort and Spa is offering a Diversity in Wine Flight featuring four wines by vintners and winemakers of color. The tasting flight is available at two of their onsite restaurants with 10% of proceeds being donated to UNCF. To support diversity in the wine industry, Napa Valley Vintners, a nonprofit association representing more than 500 wineries in the region, has partnered with UNCF to create a new scholarship program for people of color to pursue college degrees in subjects including grape growing and winemaking, with $1 million already invested into the program.
Women Winemakers are changing the way we drink wine (and beer!)
The month of March is all about celebrating women with International Women’s Day on March 8, 2021. As one of the top viticultural regions, Napa Valley is known for its sprawling vineyards, historic wineries and towns that dot the countryside. It is also home to many women who have made names for themselves throughout the area. To name a few, Elaine St. Clair is the only woman in the U.S. to hold the commercial title of both winemaker and brewer. Kathryn Walt Hall is the force behind HALL Wines and WALT Wines in St. Helena and has been in the Napa wine industry for almost five decades, having also worked as an attorney, community activist, and as the United States Ambassador to Austria. During her 40-year tenure in Napa Valley winemaking, Heidi Barrett, who known as “The First Lady of Wine” is behind California’s most notable cult wines, including Screaming Eagle, which has a starting price of $700 a bottle. Today she’s co-founder of her own label, Barrett & Barrett, where she continues to produce some of the top Cabernet Sauvignons.
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About Visit Napa Valley
Visit Napa Valley is the official destination management organization for the Napa Valley, with a mission to promote, protect and enhance the region’s position as an attractive travel destination and enhance its public image as a dynamic place to visit, live and work.
The Napa Valley, conveniently located just an hour from the San Francisco Bay Area, consists of the following distinctive towns, including, from north to south, Calistoga, St. Helena, Rutherford/Oakville, Yountville, the city of Napa, American Canyon, and the outdoor recreation area of Lake Berryessa.
For additional information on the Napa Valley, or to plan your Napa Valley experience, please explore VisitNapaValley.com, and follow us on Facebook and Instagram @VisitNapaValley.
In partnership with Massachusetts BMW Centers, the White Elephant, White Elephant Village, and The Wauwinet will provide guests of their top suites with their own set of wheels this season – a 2013 BMW X5 Sport Activity Vehicle.
Guests who book The Loft at the White Elephant, any of the three-bedroom Residences at White Elephant Village, or the Coatue Suite at The Wauwinet will receive the keys to their own BMW for complimentary use during their stay.
Named to Conde Nast Traveler’s 2013 Gold List and Travel + Leisure’s 2013 World’s Best Hotels, The Wauwinet’s spacious Coatue Suite features a private deck with views of Nantucket Bay and direct access to the property’s famous lush lawns. This ‘adults-only’ hotel is the only Relais & Châteaux property on Nantucket.
For those wishing to be at the heart of the action, The Loft at the White Elephant, also named to Conde Nast Traveler’s 2013 Gold List, is a bright and airy three-bedroom condo nestled right in the heart of town. And just moments from Main Street, the White Elephant Village Residences offer easy access to the island’s vibrant shopping and dining scene and local beaches, not to mention an array of complimentary amenities, including a swimming pool and bicycles. Both The Loft and the Residences are ideal for families and groups of friends looking for a vacation home experience with all the benefits of a five-star hotel stay.
Guests can take their BMW X5 35i on a drive through Siasconset, a tranquil community with rose-and-ivy covered cottages, explore a different beach every day (Nantucket offers 80 miles of swimmable beach), enjoy an organic lunch at Bartlett’s Farm, and check-out the oldest working windmill in the US, Nantucket Windmill, built in 1745. Or head to Madaket Beach, located on the most western tip of the island for a stunning view of the sunset.
For more information and rates visit www.nantucketislandresorts.com or call 800.475.2637.
*Amenity is available for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
As Fashion Week winds down in New York and continues on, escape to Paris, the city that is home to Chanel, Hermes, Dior, and Louis for your own Fashion Week experience.
Hôtel du Petit Moulin, designed by Christian LaCroix and located in Paris’ trendy Marais district, is offering the “Ooh Là Là Vintage Fashion Masterclass” package. This experience evokes a bygone era with custom-made vintage clothing matched with a decadent champagne and tea service. Ooh Là Là Vintage, a top purveyor of retro fashion, first consults with guests to pinpoint their favorite vintage looks. Then, following a fitting, dressed in their chosen attire, guests enjoy a grand afternoon tea. And for true fashion enthusiasts, sister company Madame Tra La La is on hand to custom-design vintage pieces to be taken home as a souvenir.
Rates from €335 (approx. $440) per night (minimum stay of two nights), including daily breakfast. The package is offered through December 31 (perfect if you want to avoid the hub-bub of Fashion Week).
To book visit www.hotelpetitmoulinparis.com or call 33 (0)1 42 74 10 10
European vacations should be filled with limitless experiences and extravagant memories (envision stepping foot in Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste where Louis X1V was married or whale watching on the Norwegian Sea). Well, imagine no longer! Crystal Cruises has added seven European maiden calls to their 2012 itineraries:
Klaipeda, Lithuania: Surrounded by the Baltic Sea, Latvia, Russia, Belarus, and Poland, the city of Klaipeda is filled with rich attractions and must see sights. Stroll the cobbled streets or absorb the beauty of the Curonian Spit before heading to the Lithuanian Sea Museum to enjoy several animal exhibits along with a dolphin and sea lion show.
Heimaey, Iceland: Although Heimaey was demolished in 1973 by a volcanic eruption, the reconstructed island still remains a dominant fishing port in Iceland and a popular tourist destination. Enjoy a day playing golf on one of the 62 courses or book a tour with Glacier Jeeps to explore Vatnajökull, the largest glacier in Iceland.
St-Jean-de-Luz, France: Located on the Basque coast, this city is easily one of the most attractive. Its medieval-esque environment is home to the historic Church of St.John where Louis XIV tied the knot with Marie Thérèse. After being wooed by the charming ambiance, wind down and stroll along the beach boardwalk.
Leknes, Norway: Surrounded by picturesque mountains and cliffs perfect for climbing, hiking, and cycling, Leknes is blessed with some of the most stunning scenery in the world. Whether one relaxes on the beach or hits the local shops for some souvenirs, a must-see in this city is the old schoolhouse in the Fygle neighborhood.
Bonifacio/Corsica, France: The town of Bonifacio is the predominant attraction on the French island of Corsica. It is best known for its immaculate Haute Ville, a series of tall and narrow medieval homes perched high above the sea on the edge of striking white limestone cliffs. Completely encircled by the citadel walls, the steep walk is worth it for the unparalleled views, as well as the opportunity to meander through the labyrinth of ancient streets and narrow alleyways.
Palamos, Spain: Set right on the coast of Costa Brava, this 800-year-old village is known for its symbolic beaches and particularly exceptional prawns. Daytrip to Barcelona, head to the fresh fish market, or explore gothic Girona.
Akureyri, Iceland: Iceland’s second-largest city is home to one of its most superb fjords, surrounded by attractive snow dusted mountains and pastures. Top to-dos include whale-watching, seeing the “Waterfall of the Gods”, and visiting the botanical gardens
Bon Voyage!
Its official, Nantucket’s cobblestoned Main Street has been named one of “America’s Greatest Main Streets” by Travel + Leisure! Located in the heart of the island, Nantucket’s Main Street runs from the center of the island right down to the busy Nantucket Harbor (once the whaling capital of the world). Lined with gorgeous elms, old fashioned lamp posts, benches, Greek revival buildings, and old-fashioned store fronts, the street is awash with New England charm. Best of all, there’s tons to do! The street is filled with chic boutiques, souvenir filled shops, art galleries, fantastic restaurants, and more. After a full day of shopping, rest your head at the new Inn at the White Elephant Village, opening this summer or one of the other iconic Nantucket hotels all walking distance from Main Street – Jared Coffin House, White Elephant Hotel, White Elephant Residences, or The Cottages at the Boat Basin. There’s no denying it, Nantucket’s Main Street really is one of America’s greatest!
We’re a mere six weeks away from spring break (not that we’re counting or anything…) and we’ve got warm temperatures on the mind! Whether you’re looking for some QT with the family, or hoping to jet off with your sweetie, Jamaica’s GoldenEye Hotel & Resort is offering some enticing winter getaways for families and couples alike. GoldenEye was once home to author Ian Fleming and the birthplace of James Bond. Today, the property features a collection of one- and two-bedroom Cottages, Villas, and Suites, as well a Fleming’s original five-bedroom villa.
For the Family: “Come Bond with Us”
Package includes:
- Activities: Picnic at Firefly (Noel Coward’s former home), fishing trip, tour of the local community with the Oracabessa Foundation, kayaking, and paddle boarding
- Trips: Dolphin Cove, Mystic Mountain, and Dunn’s River Falls
- Extras: Complimentary daily breakfast, a bottle of Blackwell Rum, US $100 OR $150 resort credit per day (one-bedroom Beach or Lagoon Cottage OR two-bedroom Beach Cottage, respectively)
- Insider Tip: Meet Ramsey, the hotel’s resident historian – having worked on the property since the days of Fleming. Have him carve you a monkey coconut (he’s an expert!) for an authentic souvenir.
- Rates: Starting at $1,500 per night; five-night minimum stay required. Valid now through April 30, 2012; blackout dates apply.
For the Couple: “For Your Eyes Only”
Package includes:
- Activities: Picnic at Firefly, private four-course dinner for two including wine pairings, and cocktails at sunset on the “GoldenEye” – the property’s glass-bottom boat
- Trips: A thrilling jet-ski excursion around the coast of GoldenEye
- Extras: Complimentary daily breakfast, a “90-Minutes-of-Bliss” in-room couples massage, and a bottle of Blackwell Rum
- Insider Tip: Bike ride to Firefly and sip champagne at dusk. Rumored to be Captain Morgan’s lookout, Firefly offers one of the most beautiful views of the Caribbean sunset.
- Rates: Starting at $840 per night; seven-night minimum stay required. Valid now through April 30, 2012; blackout dates apply.
For more information, visit www.GoldenEye.com or call 1.800.Outpost.
Nantucket Island Resorts raised over $7,500 through their Breast Cancer Awareness month efforts! For the month of October, all Nantucket Island Resorts hotels donated $1 from every leisure room night bought to the Marla Ceely Lamb Fund, a local charity that helps Nantucket residents suffering from cancer to defray the costs of transportation and lodging for patients who must travel off-island for cancer treatment. “We are so grateful to NIR for their interest and support in this important cause! The patients who must travel for cancer treatment are so moved by the community’s efforts,” said Ginnia Faria, coordinator for the Marla Ceely Lamb Fund. Through this effort, along with donating $1 for every cosmopolitan and pink lemonade bought at the Brant Point Grill at White Elephant and TOPPER’S at The Wauwinet and $1 per Breast Cancer T-shirt sold, the hotels raised $2,717.
In addition, Nantucket Island Resorts also participated in the island’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 16, 2011 to benefit the American Cancer Society. Bettina Landt, General Manager at the White Elephant, said, “We had a spirited team and a wonderful day to walk. Our goal was to raise $1,000. We ended up far exceeding that number and raising $5,052.”
These efforts will make a big difference in the lives of Nantucket residents suffering from cancer as well as help aid the fight against breast cancer.
