Daily Pampering: Golden needle acupuncture face lift in Paris

by Annie Scott on

The Villa & Hotel Majestic & Spa‘s brand new MajClub Wellness Centre in Paris has developed a 100 percent natural face lifting procedure with the use of golden needles and acupuncture.

The MajClub Wellness Centre features a number of treatments developed by Céline Claret Coquet, creator of Clé des Champs, an organic line of products inspired by traditional Chinese medicine. You can find out more about her products here, but to get a truly once-in-a-lifetime experience, visit the MajClub Wellness Centre and ask for the three-step program.

“With just three, painless, simultaneous actions, therapists can provide their guests with 100 percent natural rejuvenation. ‘The first step is an acupuncture session, to relax and harmonize the body’s energy,’ explains Coquet. ‘This is followed by a facial lifting created by acupuncture, which considerably improves the skin’s elasticity by stimulating the facial muscles and encouraging microcirculation. The third step involves a natural beauty prescription using Clé de Champs beauty treatments, optimizing the benefits of the acupuncture lift.'”

That’s right. Gold needles in your face. It may sound scary, but it’s a lot less invasive than, say, plastic surgery. I asked why the golden needles make a difference:

“Each session of acupuncture makes it possible to relax and to harmonise the body’s energy,” replied a representative for MajClub. She also called lifting with acupuncture “the must have treatment for wrinkles.”

“Lifting with acupuncture fights against the loss of elasticity in the face, the only place where the muscles are closely attached to the skin. Whatever the age or condition of the skin, wrinkles are mainly caused by a loss of firmness. Lifting with acupuncture considerably improves the skin’s elasticity with a stimulation of the facial muscles. Moreover, you can often notice that it has effects on the quality of the skin, due to the stimulation of the microcirculation. This is how fragile and irritable or spotty skins are considerably improved and how dry and oily skins are regulated.”

That makes sense to me. Regular treatments (every couple of months) are recommended for optimum results, but even one session can make a dramatic improvement in your skin’s appearance; as you probably know, circulation is tantamount to magic.

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

Daily Pampering: Champagne and custom shoes at Swissôtel Sydney

by Annie Scott on

Here’s an unusual collaboration: Swissôtel Sydney and Shoes of Prey, an online bespoke women’s shoe service, have partnered up to create a luxury, high fashion shopping experience complete with bubbly and a custom pair of shoes.

Guests of Swissôtel Sydney, located right in the heart of Sydney’s stylish shopping district, can book a SHOESôtel package for two to receive:

  • Two Shoes of Prey gift vouchers valued at AUD 275 per person
  • Accommodation in a deluxe Classic Twin Room
  • Champagne High Tea for two, served in the stylish Crossroads Bar

If you book your package and design your shoes six weeks in advance, your custom shoes can be available for you upon arrival. That way, you can be sure you step out in style when it’s time to buy up half of Sydney.

This is a great package for a mother-daughter getaway or for you and your best friend. You can create your ideal shoes with whichever color, fabric, heel, toe and adornments you’d like, in luxe materials like buttery-soft calfskin leather, snakeskin, fish skin and Italian silks. The best part of this package may be the anticipation of perfect shoes as you wait for your trip.

There are popup concept stores where you can be fitted for Shoes of Prey shoes, or if you get the wrong size, they’re willing to take them back. Visit Shoes of Prey for more info on the shoes or to get designing, and Swissôtel Sydney to book the SHOESôtel package.

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

Galley Gossip: 10 Smart travel tips from women around the world

by Heather Poole on
When it comes to preparing for a trip, flight attendants are experts. We travel light with just a rollaboard and a tote bag. Rolling instead of folding leaves clothes wrinkle free. Outfits are coordinated around footwear; a comfy kick-around pair for exploring the city by day and something dressy for dinner and a show at night. Undies, socks and bikinis, whatever can be wadded up, are housed inside shoes. No space goes unused. To make things simple, pack black and be done with it. So what if we wear the same outfit over and over, that’s what accessories are for! Scarves and jewelry can completely change boring black into something fab. Whatever gets left behind becomes the perfect excuse to go shopping for something new! Or how about getting to know the locals at a Laundromat. What better place to read a guide book or ask around for a great place to eat?

Flight attendants aren’t the only experts. My last Galley Gossip post, The Best Women’s Travel Writing 2010 – book giveaway, brought in quite a few interesting travel tips from smart women travelers around the world. Here is a list of my top 10 favorite tips…

10 SMART TRAVEL TIPS FROM WOMEN

1. My mom always says bring your swimsuit and one easy outfit in your carry on so you won’t lose a vacation day if checked bags are lost – Lindsay

2. If you are traveling with someone else, pack a few things in their luggage and a few of their things in your luggage. Then, if God forbid, one of you loses your luggage, you will still have some things to wear. – Leslie

3. Bring your children with you on trips. They get to experience the world in a new and exciting way. You will teach them to have a love for both travel and adventure, and you’ll get to see them learning about the world and new places. It’s almost like experiencing things again yourself for the first time. What is more beautiful than that? – Michelle

4. Throw out any leftover shampoo, hand lotion etc when going home. This leaves room for souvenirs that you haven’t shipped home. – Judy

5. When I travel alone I wear a fake engagement ring and wedding band on my ring finger. It helps keep away unwanted attention. – Jen

6. Be spontaneous. When you’re spontaneous, sometimes great things happen, and sometimes not so good things happen, but if you’ve got a good sense of humor the bad times can leave the best (funniest) memories. – Susan

7. Don’t stress! Besides doing some research before you go about what is available (i.e., sailing, snorkeling, hiking tours, etc.) go without much of an agenda at all, except to have FUN! – Julia

8. Make an effort to go somewhere every other month. Even if it’s a 2-3 hour road trip away from home. Work gets monotonous and I need to get a dose of the “travel bug” every now and then to keep things interesting. – Marena

9. Pack an amazing convertible dress like the American Apparel Cotton Jersey Bandeau Dress – $43 . It’s space-saving magic – Gina

10. I email myself AND my mother a copy of my passport, my itinerary, and the international phone numbers for my credit cards. If I can’t get online, I know I can call my mum should anything get stolen. – Morgan

[Photos courtesy of Madaboutasia and Julie70]

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Professional honeymooners: dream job or nightmare?

by Laurel Miller on

Does a half-year working honeymoon sound like your idea of a dream job? If so, you might want to contact RunawayBrideandGroom.com, an Irish travel agency catering to destination weddings and honeymoons.

But wait- there’s more! You’ll also be paid 20,000 euros (about $27,000). “The Ultimate Job” is the latest in a series of promotions designed to capture the public imagination and serve as a “brilliant” marketing tool for people and places. The idea was inspired by last year’s blockbuster “Best Job in the World” campaign in Australia.

Winners will travel the globe for six months, and get paid to test out the most romantic wedding and honeymoon destinations around the world. More than 1,000 couples have already applied for the chance to be sent to resorts in Africa, Europe, Asia and the United States. You don’t have to be Irish to apply, but you do have to tout Ireland as part of the process.

Hopefuls have until April 7 to apply for the “horrendous assignment” — as the company teasingly calls it (hee.) — which starts mid-May. B.Y.O. Viagra and UTI medicine.

The winners will be asked to blog about their experiences a few times a week, “when they can get out of the hammock after sipping a glass of champagne,” says Rosemarie Meleady, managing director of RunawayBrideandGroom.com. Assuming they stay sober long enough, they must also write for The Irish Times once a month.

While 182.5 days of globetrotting is a dream job for many (mainly real travel writers), it would still test the limits of even the most solid of couples. Here’s hoping the company also throws in a good divorce lawyer.

Hotel safety tips: How to choose the best hotel room, best hotel location

by Melanie Nayer on

When it comes to your safety, hotels can be your best source of security while traveling. While hotels are constantly making improvements to improve their safety, there’s nothing worse than discovering your passport has been stolen or your laptop is broken thanks to a disabled door lock and a fast thief.

While you’re searching for your next hotel, keep these safety tips top of mind.

What makes a safe hotel:

Never compromise your safety for a dollar. A great deal on hotel room can certainly cushion you budget, but it’s worthless if the hotel is in a bad neighborhood or isn’t up to code on things like door locks and surveillance cameras. Once you find the right location, narrow down your hotel choices by taking into consideration the following:

  • Is each room equipped with a dead bolt lock and a peephole?
  • Does the hotel room have an electronic guest room lock? Key locks are cute and add a bit of charm, but electronic doors track the comings-and-goings of all who enter.
  • Do the hotel rooms have a telephone enabled with emergency call button or the ability dial outside of the hotel?
  • Do photos of the hotel show well-lit hallways, parking garages and lobby areas? (Side note: never book a hotel without viewing pictures first).
  • Hotels with limited entry/exit options usually have less foot-traffic, which keeps stragglers off the premises.
  • Does the hotel provide 24-hour concierge/security? Knowing someone is on duty at all times allows for peace of mind if you’re feeling unsafe.
  • Before booking a hotel room in an international destination, make sure it’s in a safe area by checking with the US Embassy in that country.

When arriving at your hotel:

  • Stay with your luggage at all times. If a bellman offers to take your bags, make sure to keep the bag with your laptop, wallet and jewelry in it, and get the Bellman’s name.
  • Once you check in, grab a few hotel cards or matchbooks with the hotel’s address on it and place them in your bag. If you get lost, you have the address and phone number ready to give to a cab driver.

Selecting the safest hotel room:

  • While the higher floors have the best views, the lower floors have quicker access to the ground. In the event of an emergency, you want to get out fast. Keep in mind that some fire departments, including those in the United States, can only reach as high as floor 8 in an emergency.
  • Whenever possible, do not take a hotel room on the ground floor if it has doors and windows that open to the outside. This is particularly important for motels with rooms off parking lots. If you can’t get a room on a higher floor, forgo your view and choose a room facing the interior or courtyard.
  • Guestrooms near the elevators are generally the safest, but can also be the noisiest. If you’re staying alone, request that your room is in the middle of the hallway or near an elevator – while the alcoves and corner rooms are very intimate and offer great views, they are also somewhat hidden making it easier for thieves to access.

After arriving in your room, check for the following:

  • If the hotel room you’re staying in has older door locks (metal keys instead of the electronic key cards) make sure to check the deadbolt and safety chain when you arrive in your room. If they seem jittery or loose, ask to change rooms.
  • Check the closets and bathrooms for anything left from the last guests and ensure all windows and adjoining doors shut and lock properly.
  • Check the phone to make sure an outside line is accessible.
  • Locate the nearest fire exit and count how many doors along the way until you reach the exit. In the event of a fire and heavy smoke, counting the doors will ensure you get to safety if you can’t see.


When you leave your hotel room:

  • Leave the television on – it gives the impression someone is in the room. Ask the maid service to keep the TV on or turn on the radio during turn-down service.
  • The ‘please make up my room’ sign is also code for ‘I’m not here’. Don’t worry about making your bed or needing clean towels – maid service keeps track of the rooms and what’s been cleaned, so they’ll get to you regardless of whether you have the sign on your door. If you don’t need your room serviced, place the “Do not disturb” sign on your door when you leave. This gives the impression you’re inside.
  • If you have valuables and don’t have an in-room safe, ask to use the security vault in the hotel. If you have an in-room safe, use it!

Now that you’re armed with the best hotel safety tips, get out of your room and enjoy your trip!

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