Luxury train service launching from L.A. to Vegas

by Jeremy Kressmann on

A new train operation launching in 2011 hopes to capture Vegas travelers looking for an upscale ride on their way to Sin City. Called the X Train, the service will whisk passengers along the 300 mile journey in style, boasting a sports bar, gaming tables and food & beverage service.

The company behind the service hopes to capture a greater share of the estimated 12 million drivers who make the trip between the two western cities each year. Trips are expected to take 5.5 hours and the service will initially run from Thursday through Monday. There’s been no word yet on pricing.

We’ve seen how new train routes can completely alter transportation links between two cities like Madrid and Barcelona. L.A. to Vegas by plane is a similarly short flight, typically only about an hour in length. If X Train hopes to beat the airlines here, they’ll need to be careful not to price their tickets too “luxuriously.” Still, the attractive amenities of the X Train look like an appealing way to glide into Vegas in style. Let’s see what happens as the service ramps up next year.

[Via PSFK]

Flexjet members get extra bump on Korean Air

by Tom Johansmeyer on

This is a first: a fractional jet provider and an international airline are partnering up. Flexjet’s fractional owners can now access premium services when they fly overseas on Korean Air. Under this new arrangement, the Flexjet Connect program, members will receive incentives to buy first class tickets on , not to mention elite status for a full year, dedicated check-in and luxury concierge services in select airports. And, Korean Air passengers can reach more than 5,000 U.S. airports with as little as 24 hours’ notice on high-performance Bombardier business jets.

According to Fed Reid, President of Flexjet, “This first-of-its-kind collaboration with Korean Air adds value to our program offerings, while further expanding our global reach.” He adds, “For our discerning fractional customers, this strategic partnership between two industry leaders obsessed with excellence ensures they will experience the same level of comfort and high-quality travel they have come to expect from Flexjet.”

Walter Cho, Senior Vice President, Passenger Business Division, Korean Air, says, “Now our customers can fly privately from a local airport to catch their Korean Air flight, or get closer to their meetings by flying to regional airports, knowing that our partners at Flexjet and Jet Solutions will provide a seamless and convenient travel experience with impeccable service.”

Daily Pampering: Five tips for luxury home-swapping

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Even the most ostentatious of hotel rooms doesn’t compare to the luxury of an upscale residence. There’s something at once more comfortable and luxurious about having an entire home to yourself, especially when it comes with a housekeeper, butler or chef. If you’re looking to swap homes instead of booking a suite when you take your next vacation, Luxe Home Swap is an essential destination for you.

I had the chance to sit down recently with Debbie Wosskow, co-founder of Luxe Home Swap, and she introduced me to the ins and outs of trading homes in the high-net-worth world. Her site, which facilitates these exchanges is built with he own experiences in mind and is designed to help you window shop and make contact. The rest is up to you and your fellow home-traders.

Currently, the service has more than 600 homes registered and available, and Wosskow is targeting 10,000 by the end of the year. The profiles are content-rich, she says, providing member-submitted information on both the homes and the surrounding areas. Yet, this is just a starting point. Below, you’ll find five home swap tips from Wosskow.

%Gallery-92614%

1. Chemistry: This is the most important ingredient, according to Wosskow, who says, “The chemistry has to be there.” Unless you feel good about the swap, it’s not going to work out for you.

2. Communication: Expect to trade up to 20 or 30 messages when arranging a swap. In addition to getting comfortable, you’ll have plenty of details to nail down. Also, Wosskow says contract is a good idea.

3. Greetings: Have someone on hand to greet your swappers and get them settled. Your housekeeper, for example, can take care of this for you.

4. Details: Think about what your guests may want or need. Are you willing to let them use your car? Your skis? Work out what you’re willing to share, and decide what will be off-limits. Make this clear up front.

5. Honesty: Be honest – from deciding whether to list your home to how you behave throughout your swap. Luxe Home Swap works because of its members’ honesty, and this peer pressure has been rather successful.

So far, most of the homes available on Luxe Home Swap are in Europe, though Asia is growing rapidly. The United States is still a bit thin, but you can change that by joining!

Want more? Get your dose of Daily Pampering right here.

Free spa experience at the Ritz-Carlton Naples

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Any spa-lover needs to visit the Ritz-Carlton Resorts of Naples, because the Elements treatment at the beach property is nothing short of incredible. Now, the chance to visit the spa free makes this an absolute no-brainer. This is one of my favorite spas, and the deal might be enough to get me to book a flight.

Stay at either the Ritz-Carlton beach or golf resort, with the Spa Escape Package, and you’ll get a $200 spa credit, basically making your treatment free. You may want to have a little extra work done, but to have $200 knocked off the price from the start makes that a lot easier to handle. Rates start at $349 a night for the beach resort and $259 for the golf resort.

Need more incentive? From June 1, 2010, through the end of October, you can take advantage of the spa’s “Me Time” deal. When you book a 50-minute massage or facial, you can have your choice of two complimentary enhancements (a $50 value). On the list are hair masks, back scrubs, collagen masks and lip treatments. This is available every Sunday through Friday from 9 AM to 1 PM (but it can’t be combined with other promotions or discounts).

%Gallery-51126%

Daily Pampering: Join up at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando

by Tom Johansmeyer on

Is it time for resort and luxury membership club to make a comeback? The new program from the Ritz-Carlton Orlando – the Grande Lakes Membership Club – takes a personal approach, rather than push the same caned programs to the many different people who write the same big checks. The baseline consists of the sort of top-shelf amenities you’d expect, but the programs are differentiated by level: platinum, golf, spa and social.

Depending on what you choose, you could pick up an Executive Suite and gain unlimited access to the 18-hole, par 72 Greg Norman signature golf course or 50-minute treatments or salon services at the spa are nice – and that’s per month! Everyone scores resort pool and tennis court access, concierge services and member social events.

If you prefer predictability in our annual vacation and like a certain level of treatment, this is the way to go.