Daily Pampering: Swiss watchmaking excursion in Geneva for $12,000

by Melanie Nayer on

For the man who has everything, this little excursion will send him spinning: Pure Entertainment Group has created an exclusive watchmaking excursion in Geneva for the serious watch aficionado.

Upon landing in Geneva, guests will be transported to their Junior Suite at the renowned Five-Star hotel Beau-Rivage Geneva via private transportation, where you will be greeted with a complimentary bottle of Veuve Clicquot Champagne, fresh flowers, and Swiss chocolates.

The 4-night package includes everything from guided tours of the city to dinner for two at the Michelin-Starred restaurant Le Chat Botté. The sublime offering, however, is the limo to the De Bethune watch manufacture in La Chaux L’Auberson, where you’ll receive a showing of the De Bethune private watch collection. Rumor has it, during your discussions with De Bethune founders David Zanetta and Denis Flageollet, there’s a possibility De Bethune will create a bespoke watch for just for you.

The cost of this once in a lifetime watchmaking package? The 4-night stay starts with private transfer services, dinner for two and the visit to the De Bethune starts at EURO 8,600 per couple (approximately $12,068).

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.

Top ten hostels in Europe

by Alex Robertson Textor on

Staying in a hostel in Europe is a rite of passage for budget-conscious travelers making their way around the continent. This is particularly the case for budget-conscious younger travelers. Here are ten hostels across Europe that either receive particularly high user-review grades or are notorious enough in one or another way to be noteworthy.

St. Christopher’s at the Winston, Amsterdam, Netherlands. The Winston presents itself as “an interactive museum of modern art.” However it refers to itself, it is without question one of the most dynamic budget hotels in Europe, with a few hostel-style dormitory rooms on offer. It’s got a restaurant on the premises and a nearby nightclub, and is aesthetically far more exciting that your average hostel.

Långholmen, Stockholm, Sweden. Ever wanted to spend the night in a prison? OK, a former prison? Långholmen is a rehabbed prison located just a stone’s throw from Stockholm’s supercool Södermalm nabe. Fantastic, and not as austere as you might expect.

Good Bye Lenin, Krakow, Poland. Tucked away in a corner of Krakow’s history-rich Kazimierz neighborhood, Good Bye Lenin replays the aesthetics of Polish socialism in a cheery, friendly space. Very atmospheric and fun.

Balmers, Interlaken, Switzerland. In operation for over a century now, family-run Balmers is Switzerland’s oldest hostel. Balmers offers dormitory rooms, private rooms, and tent accommodations. And lots of fresh air, obviously.

Meininger, London, United Kingdom. The Meininger chain of hostels can be found mostly in big cities across Germany and Austria. The London outpost, though not particularly British in spirit, is a welcome, well-scrubbed addition to London’s dreary hostel scene.Oops! Hostel, Paris, France. Far more stylish than your average hostel, Oops! injects a blast of fun energy in Paris’ Latin Quarter. Hotel interiors wizard Philippe Maidenberg is responsible for Oops!’s fresh interior design.

Hostel Archi Rossi, Florence, Italy. One of the best loved hostels in Florence, Hostel Archi Rossi offers free wi-fi, free breakfast, and complimentary walking tours of Florence. Archi Rossi is very close to the Santa Maria Novella train station, too.

Kadir’s Tree Houses, Olympos, Turkey. Near Antalya on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, Kadir’s Tree Houses is a sprawling complex of bungalows, cabins, dormitory rooms, and campground. Kadir’s provides a great range of services (laundry and a travel agency, to name but two) and also includes both breakfast and dinner in its nightly rate.

The Pink Palace, Corfu, Greece. One of Europe’s most notorious party hostels, the Pink Palace is a garish temple of hedonism, just possibly the best place in the world to play spin the bottle in five languages. Woohoo!

Hotel 4 Youth, Berlin, Germany. There are two Hotels 4 Youth in Berlin. The branch on Schönhauser Allee gets especially high marks. 133 beds, conical pillows, and a few nice extras (seminar rooms, a pool room) make this a top Berlin hostel. Location in hip, bohemian Prenzlauer Berg is also a big plus.

(Image: foilman / Flickr)

Ecotourism’s next evolution: Rent a cow in Switzerland

by McLean Robbins on

Need to get away from it all? How about a month or season on a picturesque Swiss farm? Thanks to to enterprising Swiss farmers, professionals can now contribute to the local economy and “participate physically in the life of a medium-size mountain farm and to acquire at a preferential price genuine goods produced on the estate.”

Sure… but what does that mean? According to bmi Voyager, the concept was launched by herder and farm owner Michael Izor, who allows people to rent his cows in western Switzerland, just outzide of Zurich. “The animals are very calming and we hope it gives people a little perspective,” said Izor.

For £180 (one month) to £380 (a four-month season), one gets their choice of a specific cow, a preferential rate on local cheese, and access to the farm itself. The landowner then agrees to offer a tour of the estate and a meet and greet with the staff and your cow.

You’re also promised a light welcome meat – we’re hoping one that isn’t beef based! You’ll also receive a certificate of sponsorship and a picture of your cow, as well as a preferential rate on mountain pasture cheese at the price of CHF 16 per kilo.

Seasonal sponsorships include the above, but also require a commitment of four hours of mountain work, According to the website, “this work will consist of looking after the pastures and enclosures, preparing the fire wood, participating actively in the raking of the hay, etc. There’s nothing like work to fit in and get a better understanding [of the land].” A season-long contract also requires a minimum purchase of at least 10 kilos of cheese.

This surely brings new meaning to the term working vacation!

Image via Flickr user Artnow314.

Daily Pampering: Luxury ski chalets for the ultimate winter retreat

by Melanie Nayer on

Have a few hundred thousand dollars to spare and want to do something special this winter? You’re in luck! The Abercrombie & Kent group just added 18 new luxury ski chalets to its already grandiose offerings and starting this December, they’re available for you.

Enjoy the very best in private ski accommodations in the French and Swiss Alps, including your own personal chefs, housekeeping and private chauffeurs. Intrigued? So are we, so we’ve highlighted a few for today’s ultimate Daily Pampering:

France:

Chalet Montana sleeps 15 and occupies arguably the best spot in Les Carats, the most exclusive enclave in Val d’Isére at the heart of Espace Killy. Fabulous for experienced ski enthusiasts, Chalet Montana faces the black ‘Face de Bellevarde’ ski run, scene of the men’s downhill in the Winter Olympics of 1992.

Cool and slightly crazy, Chalet Himalaya is located on the piste in the hameau of La Daille in Val d’Isere. A former 17th century monastery, Chalet Himalaya sleeps 12 and is full of quirky features and facilities, such as the ancient stone window seats and the part-indoor, part-outdoor swimming pool which has an adjustable depth. Each of the bedrooms has an en-suite bathroom with vast bath which doubles as a steam room. Guests are catered for by a Mosimann’s chef.

The Shemshak Lodge is brand new for the 2010/2011 season and also sleeps 12. The lodge sits on the piste within walking distance of the resort of Courchevel 1850 in the Trois Vallees.Switzerland:

Chalet Kernow is stylishly furnished with antiques and contemporary pieces collected from around the world. The chalet sleeps 12, comes with billiard table, Sky Sports, Xbox 360, Wii, PlayStation2, networked Linn music system, outdoor Jacuzzi and ground floor mini spa with team room, sauna and massage room. Chalet Kernow is located within walking distance of the Medran ski lift and the facilities of Verbier’s shops, bars and restaurants.

Contemporary-rustic in style, Chalet Les Esserts is set over the ground floor of Chalet Sagittaire with access to its shared leisure facilities. The modern chalet sleeps 6 and features up-to-date sound and vision entertainment systems that compliment the traditional Swiss antiques.

The cost? The villas will be available in December at a starting price of $8,257 (Les Esserts in Swiss Alps in low season weeks) and will go as high as $122,685 (Shemshak Lodge in Courchevel French Alps).

Want more? Get your daily dose of pampering right here.


[Photo credit: Chalet Montana, Ross Woodhall]

Meet locals (and save money) hiking through Europe – International travel tip

by Gadling Staff on

Most travelers are keen to mingle with locals while taking in the sights. Do both and save money by hiking along the fjords and fjells of Scandinavia and/or the soaring majesty of the Alps.

Don’t like the idea of lugging your gear over the mountains? No worries. Join one of the following hiking clubs that maintain hut-to-hut hiking trails and get discounts on accommodations. This lets you can pack light and spend each night in the company of local hiking enthusiasts:

Happy trails!

[Photo: Flickr | Geir Halvorsen]