September 12th, 2011
Summer is over, that chill is starting to creep back into the air, and pumpkins are showing up in grocery stores and at farmers markets. That tan is lingering, but for how long? No need to suffer goose bumps to get those last few rays of sun through the fall – we’ve consulted with some experts at ESPA and Guinot to find out the best ways to keep that golden tan!
While the sun is still strong enough to give you a bit of a glow…
Step 1: Stock your bathroom larder with ESPA’s Invigorating Salt Scrub, Essential Body Moisturizer, and Body Silk Spray.
Step 2: After catching some rays, be sure to exfoliate once or twice a week. ESPA’s Salt Scrub is an excellent exfoliator and will help the tan go deeper and make the skin hold its color longer. In addition to nourishing and making the skin feel smooth and fabulous, it stimulates pigmentation for a deeper tan, affecting new cells instead of only the top layer.
Step 3: Slather on some Essential Body Moisturizer to instantly quench thirsty skin, deeply hydrating with Bergamot and Lavender.
Step 4: Spritz on a bit of Body Silk Spray to give the skin a silky sheen and radiant glow, making any tan shine brighter.
Step 5: Be the envy of the office for weeks to come.
If the September sun isn’t quite warm enough to lure you into a teeny bikini…
Guinot has just the solution. We won’t tell anyone that you’re cheating – and your dermatologist won’t chastise you
Step 1: Fill the cabinet with Gommage Facile smoothing body scrub, Hydrazone Corps moisturizing body lotion, and Auto Bronze self tanning cream.
Step 2: Lather up with Gommage Facile to make your skin silky smooth and slough off any dead skin cells.
Step 3: Watch your skin become instantly bronzed while applying Auto Bronze self tanning cream – tinted to make application fool proof and to give an instant tan.
Step 4: Keep skin plump, hydrated, and healthy (and extend the life of your self tan) in between bronzing with Hydrazone Corps moisturizing body lotion.
Step 5: Fend off inquiries of your latest trip to the Caribbean with comments like, “Oh, I’m just naturally olive!”
More about the products: (more…)
August 16th, 2011
After Labor Day we’ll be putting away all our summer whites but not so fast with those Nantucket Reds, they’re alright! While Nantucket conjures images of quintessential New England summers and those famed weathered-looking pants, we recommend donning the slacks this autumn and heading to the Grey Lady. Forget high season crowds, in the fall the masses have dispersed and the rates have dropped. If that alone is not reason enough, here are another 14 Reasons to visit Nantucket in the fall.
1. Value
Fall rates at hotels on the island are greatly reduced in September, October, and November. For example, at the iconic White Elephant the lowest midweek July rate available is $550, while in September guests can stay overnight for as little as $375 with the Hot Dates, Cool Rates promotion.
2. Nantucket Restaurant Week , September 26-October 2, 2011
For a small island, Nantucket has a wide variety of renowned culinary establishments that include the new Brick Bistro, award-winning TOPPER’S, and the harborside Brant Point Grill, home to the Lobster Bloody. During restaurant week, three course dinners will be offered at these and other top Nantucket eateries from $25 – $45.
3. Nantucket Historical Association’s Harvest Fair, October 2011
Celebrate fall harvest at the Old Mill and learn about Nantucket’s agricultural heritage, play lively colonial games, and make traditional crafts such as cornhusk dolls or beeswax candles.
4. The Nantucket Project, September 30-October 2, 2011
Unlike crowded, impersonal meetings-of-the-minds like TED and the Aspen Institute, the first Nantucket Project will gather amazing speakers including Ed Crane, founder and President of the CATO Institute, a libertarian think tank, and Craig Ventor, biologist and entrepreneur best known for being among the first to sequence the human genome, for an intimate weekend of stimulating lectures and conversation held at the White Elephant.
5. Nantucket Conservation Foundation’s Cranberry Festival, October 8, 2011
Visit Nantucket’s famous cranberry bogs, generally closed to the public but open for a short time in October just when the berries are harvested. Partake in bog tours, hay rides, sheep-shearing, and, of course, fresh berries and delicious cranberry confections.
6. Golf
Nantucket’s top-notch Sankaty Head Golf Club’s coveted ocean views and links-style holes are usually only available to members. In the off season (October-May), for a fee, anyone can tee off.
7. Nantucket Slam, Cystic Fibrosis Benefit, September 11-13, 2011
This all-inclusive, two-day, competitive catch and release tournament is two days of competitive fishing for Bluefish, Bonito, Striped Bass, and Atlantic Bonito/False Albacore. To get a “Slam,” one must catch three of a designated species in the same day. All proceeds benefit the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
8. Scenic Hiking and Biking
Rent a bike and roll down the recently resurfaced 6.4 miles of bike paths of Nantucket and check out the beautiful fall foliage. Bike rentals typically cost around $30/day; complimentary bikes are available for guests of White Elephant Hotel Residences, The Cottages & Lofts at the Boat Basin, and The Wauwinet.
9. Spooky Halloween at haunted Jared Coffin House
Every year kids can dress up and go trick-or-treating at the shops and stores lining Main Street. Enjoy a super spooky stay on Nantucket at the Jared Coffin House, said to be haunted by the ghost of the successful 19th century ship-owner after whom the house was named. Other ghosts are rumored to roam the halls and rooms of this historic property – room rates start at $125 October 23-31.
10. ACK Pink with Nantucket Island Resorts for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, October 2011
For the month of October, Nantucket Island Resorts will be donating $1 from every room night bought to the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer charity. In addition, guests booking a stay during the weekend of October 14-16 will have the opportunity to participate on the Nantucket Island Resorts-sponsored team during Nantucket’s Making Strides against Breast Cancer Walk on Sunday, October 16. Nantucket Island Resorts has committed to a $1000 donation for the Breast Cancer Walk. Those who join the team will receive a complimentary team tee-shirt. Additionally, proceeds from themed cocktails and treats on offer at The Wauwinet, the White Elephant, the White Elephant Hotel Residences, and Jared Coffin House will be donated to the cause.
11. Inexpensive Airfare
Think getting to Nantucket is difficult and pricey? Phooey! Fly Jet Blue direct from New York City to Nantucket starting at $69 this September.
12. Romance
If you took the kids to Nantucket this summer, come back in the fall without the little ones and stay at the romantic Wauwinet (open until October 29). The 32-room inn doesn’t allow children under 12, so there’s no chance of having a screaming baby just down the hall. Rates at this luxury inn start at just $225 in October.
13. Traditional New England Thanksgiving
Visit the state where the original Thanksgiving took place. The White Elephant’s Brant Point Grill hosts a special Thanksgiving buffet with all the comfort foods you’d expect at your grandmother’s house without all the cooking and dirty dishes. Brave souls can participate in the 10th Annual Turkey Plunge on Children’s Beach, where hundreds jump into cold Nantucket Harbor on Thanksgiving morning.
14. Fall isn’t all… Come in December for Christmas Stroll! December 2-5, 2011
Nantucket Island celebrates the entire holiday season with Nantucket Noel, a month-long celebration organized by the Nantucket Island Chamber of Commerce that runs November 25-December 31. The highlight event is the Annual Christmas Stroll Weekend. Stores, shops, and restaurants open their doors for holidays shoppers, carolers sing favorite holiday tunes, and Santa Claus arrives via a Coast Guard Vessel. This is an authentic experience not to be missed! Several Nantucket Island Resorts properties are open for the Stroll Weekend, including the historic and centrally located Jared Coffin House, the iconic White Elephant, and the luxurious White Elephant Hotel Residences. These properties offer a variety of cozy accommodations for visitors to the island.
July 25th, 2011
Need a vacation? Black Tomato is offering an amazing prize that will make you feel good inside and out. Enter here to win a trip to Jamaica at the incredibly chic and Bohemian Jakes AND a three-day pre-trip BluePrintCleanse for you and your travel partner so you arrive beach bod ready. After sipping on six fruit and vegetable juices daily for three days, arrive at an Oceanfront Cottage for a four night stay, complete with a seaside scrub at the resort’s Driftwood Spa, courtesy of Black Tomato. Guests can explore the beautiful YS Waterfalls, lounge on the beach, or take a boat trip to the Pelican Bar (situated on a sand bar almost a mile out to sea). After a three-day juice cleanse that jerk chicken and watermelon sorbet served up at Jakes will taste like manna from heaven!
July 22nd, 2011
Feel like a hair dryer is blowing directly into your face each time you step outside? Air conditioner ailing amid the 100 degree temperatures? And are you afraid that if you stand in front of your open freezer door one more time your electricity bill may look more like your monthly rent? Jakes in Jamaica feels your pain and has decided to share the recipe for their homemade sorbets, which launched this month at the chic bohemian resort.
Coming to the rescue of heat wave sufferers, Jakes offers the icy treat in unique flavors such as the island-authentic Soursop*, refreshing Cucumber & Ginger, as well as fruity classics, watermelon and passion fruit. (All produce used is grown locally in the Treasure beach community.)
If you can’t make it to Jamaica this weekend, follow these simple steps to create your own frosty clouds of Jakes-tastic sorbet bliss.
Jakes Homemade Watermelon Sorbet
1. Place following ingredients into a mixing bowl:
- 4 cups of seeded watermelon (We recommend buying organic. Jakes uses only local produce, and we want this to taste as close to the real deal as possible!)
- 1/2 cup of sugar
- 1/2 lemon (peeled)
- 4 cups of ice
2. Blend at low and increase to high for 30 seconds until stiff peaks form. Serve immediately.
3. Tweet (@jakeshotel) a photo or comment about your creation (ours is below!).
With rates at Jakes starting at $95 per night this summer, there’s no reason not to head down to the island’s South Coast. It may be hot there too but it’s hardly a case of “out of the frying pan, into the fire” … I think we can all agree that taking a dip in the Caribbean Sea is the best way to beat the heat!
*What exactly is Soursop? Native to the Caribbean, this funny fruit may be prickly and green on the outside but inside is an edible white pulp with a is sweetly tropical flavor.
For reservations call 1.800.Outpost or visit jakeshotel.com
July 7th, 2011
Why settle for less than the best when you don’t have to? Travel + Leisure makes finding the very best in travel a whole lot easier with their annual World’s Best Awards list. This year, 13 of our favorite hotels and resorts, not to mention our best-loved cruise line and spa brand, all made the list. Some properties even walked away with awards in multiple categories! Now that is something to celebrate!
Anantara Golden Triangle
#15, Top Resorts in Asia
#4, Top Family Hotels in Asia
#5, Top Hotel Spas in Asia
Crystal Cruises
#1, Top Large-Ship Cruise Lines
The Peninsula’s ESPA Spa
#9, Top Hotel Spas in US and Canada
Palacio Duhau Park Hyatt Buenos Aires
#1, Top City Hotels in Central and South America
#19, Top 100 Hotels Overall
Park Hyatt Beaver Creek
#41, Top Family Hotels in U.S. and Canada
Park Hyatt Chicago
#45, Top Large Cities Hotel in US/Canada (100 rooms or more)
Park Hyatt Milan
#52, Top 100 Hotels Overall
#4, Top Large City Hotels in Europe
Park Hyatt Melbourne
#2, Top City Hotels in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
Park Hyatt Mendoza
#4, Top City Hotels in Central and South America
Park Hyatt Saigon
#10, Top City Hotels in Asia
Park Hyatt Sydney
#4, Top City Hotels in Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific
Parrot Cay
#25, Top Resorts in the Caribbean, Bermuda, and the Bahamas
The Wauwinet
#7, Top Inns in US/Canada (fewer than 40 rooms)
Uma Paro
#12, Top Resorts in Asia
White Elephant
#19, Top Family Hotels in U.S. and Canada
Congrats to all of the winners!
June 30th, 2011
Fashion icon Donna Karan unveils some of her travel tips and secrets in an interview on Saks Point of View. We’re not surprised that this chicster favors COMO Hotels and Resorts properties. She loves water and nature, which she finds at her home on Parrot Cay, and her most memorable summer vacation involved a yoga retreat in Bali at COMO Shambhala Estate. There are also useful tips on what to wear and how to pack. We wish we could travel like Donna…
June 29th, 2011
Set in the heart of Provence amid lush vineyards and olive groves, the refined-rustic Hotel Crillon le Brave is offering oenophile’s the rare opportunity to participate in the annual Vendanges (grape harvest) with an all-inclusive* three-day weekend package.
Package Details
When: The Vendanges package is offered at Hotel Crillon le Brave September 29 – October 2
What:
- Three nights of accommodation
- Daily breakfast and dinner (*wine and other beverages are not included with dinner)
- One picnic lunch
- Two half-days of involvement in the grape harvest of the acclaimed Château Pesquié vineyard (where evidence of wine cultivation dates back to the 14th century!)
o Picking and transporting grapes to the caveau (wine vault)
o Learning about the different kinds of grapes, ideal time for harvest, the wine-making process and taste analysis from winemaker and estate owner, Paul Chaudiere
Price: €1300 for a standard room or €1550 for a deluxe room based on double occupancy.
A relaxed haven of simple sophistication, the five-star property consists of seven beautifully restored stone houses, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, that are linked by bridges, cobblestone walkways and hidden courtyards. The authentic Provençal accommodations include 23 rooms, seven suites and a two-bedroom house, each decorated with a mix of contemporary furnishings and shabby-chic accents.
In addition to the hands-on Vendanges experience, guests can explore the hotel’s terraced gardens and take a dip in the swimming pool, tour the historic village on complimentary bikes, or play on the nearby tennis and boules courts. The open-air spa at Hotel Crillon le Brave offers a selection of therapeutic body treatments.
The southern region is famous for its food, and Hotel Crillon le Brave’s restaurant does not disappoint. Set in a rustic cellar with an open fireplace and terrace, the restaurant serves up flavorful regional cuisine such as gigot d’agneau (leg of lamb) and ragoût de gambas (shrimp stew) by Chef John Ellis. Local Rhône wines like Gigondas, Vacqueryras and Châteauneuf-du-Pape enhance the experience.
To make a reservation, call +33 (0)4 90 65 61 61 or email reservations@crillonlebrave.com.
June 23rd, 2011
Parrot Cay’s Private Residences allow guests all the privileges of the main resort – mile-long white sandy beach, access to award-winning COMO Shambhala Retreat spa, daily complimentary schedule of activities, world-class cuisine at Lotus & Terrace Restaurants – with an exclusive added level of privacy.
NOW until Thanksgiving, Parrot Cay is offering an amazing saving of $1500 per day for those renting a Private Residence. Other benefits include:
- Full board – with the option of dining in the resort’s two restaurants for all meals or in the privacy of the villa (breakfast and lunch from room service and dinner created by a personal chef from a selection of menus)
- Dedicated butler service
- Housekeeping
- Full team of Parrot Cay Private Residences support staff
- Full resort privileges, including preferential restaurant and spa reservations
- Children under 12 stay and dine gratis off of the children’s menu
Further, guests have the opportunity to stay in the NEWEST addition to the estates, the stunning Tamarind villa, a beautiful villa divided into two distinct houses of three bedrooms and two bedrooms that can be rented individually or rented together as five bedrooms. The main house has a deck and swimming pool along with an ocean-facing gym and butler’s quarters, and the guest house also has its own sun-drenched deck and pool.
Rates start at $4,000 per night for a three-bedroom Island Villa. (This offer can also be combined with the 7-for-5 or 4-for-3 deals for increased savings.)
June 14th, 2011
Lucky fans will get the thrill of their lives upon meeting the “Queen of Suspense” herself, author Mary Higgins Clark, on Crystal Cruises’ “Beyond the Bosporus” sailing from Venice to Istanbul September 7 – 19.
Known for keeping readers on the edges of their seats, Clark will share tales of her life, her novels, and what it takes to make the suspense come to life.
Two-for-one fares start at just $7,485, and guests can save on verandah and penthouse staterooms as part of Crystal’s big fall fare sale. All bookings include air transportation from 24 North American cities and $2,000 “As You Wish” shipboard credit per couple.
Is the suspense killing you? Book today for the thrill of a lifetime!
June 13th, 2011
Little (and big) Francophiles don’t have to stop learning this summer just because the school year is over. The charming Pavillon de la Reine, set in the heart of Paris’ Marais, is offering a new getaway package that includes daily French lessons.
Dormir (Sleep): The impossibly chic Pavillon de la Reine is the only hotel located on the historic Place des Vosges. Originally built in the 1600s as part of the Place Royale by King Henry IV, each of the 54 individually designed rooms are a brilliant combination of antique pieces and sleek contemporary design – cozy yet stylish, sophisticated but comfortable.
Apprendre (Learn): Enjoy 20 minutes of fun and engaging daily French instruction, as well as a French-English dictionary, so one can expertly declare, “je voudrais un croissant” or ask, “où est Le Louvre?”
Jouer (Play): The beloved ivy-clad hotel is steps away from the three-Michelin-starred Ambrosie restaurant, and close to such landmarks as the Pompidou, the Picasso Museum, and Notre Dame. Pavillon de la Reine is ideal for those who love the life and activity of the Marais – not to mention the amazing cafés and boutiques in the neighborhood – perfect for that caffeine boost before a day of shopping in Paris’ oldest designed square in the city.
Rates start at €350 including accommodations, French lessons, dictionary, breakfast and private parking. The package is available July 15-August 15, 2011 and can be booked by calling 33(0)1 40 29 19 19 or visiting www.pavillondelareine.com.
Polish Your “Fr-Englais” at Paris’ Pavillon de la Reine with New French Lesson Package
Little (and big) Francophiles don’t have to stop learning this summer just because the school year is over. The charming Pavillon de la Reine, set in the heart of Paris’ Marais, is offering a new getaway package that includes daily French lessons.
Dormez (Sleep): The impossibly chic Pavillon de la Reine is the only hotel located on the historic Place des Vosges. Originally built in the 1600s as part of the Place Royale by King Henry IV, each of the 54 individually designed rooms are a brilliant combination of antique pieces and sleek contemporary design – cozy yet stylish, sophisticated but comfortable.
Apprenez (Learn): Enjoy 20 minutes of fun and engaging daily French instruction, as well as a French-English dictionary, so one can expertly declare, “je voudrais un croissant” or ask, “où est Le Louvre?”
Jouez (Play): The beloved ivy-clad hotel is steps away from the three-Michelin-starred Ambrosie restaurant, and close to such landmarks as the Pompidou, the Picasso Museum, and Notre Dame. Pavillon de la Reine is ideal for those who love the life and activity of the Marais – not to mention the amazing cafés and boutiques in the neighborhood – perfect for that caffeine boost before a day of shopping in Paris’ oldest designed square in the city.
Rates start at €350 including accommodations, French lessons, dictionary, breakfast and private parking. The package is available July 15-August 15, 2011 and can be booked by calling 33(0)1 40 29 19 19 or visiting www.pavillondelareine.com.