What will you do if the Mayan calendar is correct?

by Jessica Festa on
Lately, there has been a lot of controversy surrounding the end of the Mayan calendar and 2012 marking the end of the world, as we know it. To help gain some insight, the people over at First Choice have created this infographic to give everyone a fun visual of where and how one could spend their last year on Earth. The group polled over 2,000 United Kingdom locals as well as some top travel bloggers. While 51% of participants said they would spend time with family, 22% said they’d want to see the world. How would you respond?

If you’re having trouble viewing the infographic, you can click here to see a larger version.

The 2012 Bucket List was created by First Choice – The Home of All Inclusive

Hotels offer VIP culinary experiences for New York travelers

by Jessica Festa on

New York City is one of the top food destinations in the United States. To help visitors experience the city’s gourmet offerings, these luxury hotels are offering VIP culinary experiences to their guests.

St Giles Hotel New York-The Court

The St Giles Hotel New York-The Court is located in midtown, giving guests prime access to the best restaurants, cafes, and bars the city has to offer. Guests of the hotel will be able to indulge even further by partaking in their James Beard Award Package, which is linked to the James Beard Foundation Award Ceremony and Gala Reception in May 2012. The package includes:

  • Overnight accommodations in an executive suite on May 7
  • Two tickets to the James Beard Award Ceremony and Gala Reception at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall
  • Private chauffeur car service to and from the event
  • Chocolate covered strawberries and a bottle of champagne
  • A copy of the brand new book titled “The James Beard Foundation’s Best of the Best: A 25th Anniversary Celebration of America’s Outstanding Chefs”
  • Breakfast for two in the onsite Icon Restaurant
  • A portion of the proceeds being donated to City Harvest, an organization that helps feed the hungry

To take part in this package, you will have to place a bid on Luxury Link from March 14-March 21. Trump International Hotel and Tower

Located near New York’s iconic Central Park, the Trump International Hotel and Tower is world-renowned for its luxurious offerings. It’s no surprise then that the property’s onsite restaurant, Jean-Georges, has received numerous accolades like five stars from Mobile Travel Guide, a AAA Five Diamond Award, and four stars from the New York Times. For guests who want to experience the superb cuisine of the restaurant, the hotel is offering a Jean-Georges Culinary Masters Course for guests who book a three-night stay. The experience includes a VIP cooking demonstration led by Michelin three-star Executive Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and a one-hour pastry-making class with Executive Pastry Chef Johnny Iuzzini.

Rates start at $3,333 per night. Click here to book.

Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park

The Ritz-Carlton New York, Central Park is a five-star hotel that offers elegance, charm, and VIP dining. Recently, Gadling covered the property’s All Caviar Package, which is so luxurious it is worth mentioning again. Guests will be treated like royalty as they are met on arrival with a caviar martini. From there, there is an afternoon of caviar tasting at Petrossian led by a French expert. In the morning, guests will enjoy a full American breakfast and a 60-minute Caviar Skin Crème Massage at La Prairie at The Ritz-Carlton Spa. Still craving caviar? The experience will take you back one last time to Petrossian for a three-course caviar pairing.

Packages start at $1,985 for a park view room, with upgrades available at an additional cost. Click here to book.

The Setai Fifth Avenue

Located on New York’s grandest shopping street, The Setai Fifth Avenue is an upscale hotel that matches its surroundings. Inside the hotel you will find Michelin-starred restaurant Ai Fiori by Chef Michael White, which features modern interpretations of regional Italian and French dishes. For guests who want to live lavishly while in New York, the hotel is offering a package called The Experience. With the offer comes:

  • Overnight accommodations for three or more nights
  • Full American breakfast at Ai Fiori or in-room each day
  • Three-course tasting menu and wine for two at Ai Fiori
  • Unlimited soft drinks, water, and afternoon snacks
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Chef’s welcome amenity

The package runs until the end of the year and rates vary depending on dates. Click here to book.

Luxury spring break options for the budget traveler

by Jessica Festa on

Do you wish you could afford to relax on a beach in the Caribbean with private butler service, or watch the sunset from the veranda of a luxury villa this spring? Thanks to Jetsetter Home‘s spring break sale, now you can.

Jetsetter Homes boasts properties all over the world, and during select dates this spring, some of their most affluent properties will be on sale. The private villas are each hand-selected, visited, and approved by Jetsetter travel correspondents, so you know the recommendations you’re getting are coming from a travel professional.

There is no fee to signup – simply go to the website and register for free.

To get some affordable, last minute vacation ideas for spring break, check out the gallery below.

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15 palace hotels that will make you feel like royalty

by Jessica Festa on

Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live like a king or queen? While you may not have been born into royalty, you can still live lavishly, if only for a weekend.

While five-star hotels can offer plush bedding, spacious penthouse suites, and high-class amenities, it’s nothing compared to the luxurious living offered at these palace properties. Genuine artifacts from centuries ago adorn the halls, acres of lush gardens, furniture made of gold – no expense is spared at a palace hotel. Not only that, but you’ll be sleeping in the same space as kings, queens, and society’s most elite members once did, long ago.

Sound like fun? Before you start planning your next royal getaway, check out the gallery below.

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Luxury Travel: Ferragamo family launches limited edition collectibles at Lungarno Collection hotels

by McLean Robbins on

The Italian hospitality group Lungarno Collection, owned in part by the Ferragamo family, is stepping up their branded offerings with a new collection of “Ferragamo Creations,” Hotels magazine reports.

Limited-edition pieces will include bespoke items originally designed for celebrities, including ballet flats designed for Audrey Hepburn and the court shoes worn by Marilyn Monroe in “Some Like It Hot.”

The line is available to guests checking into suites at Hotel Lungarno, Gallery Hotel Art, Continentale and Lungarno Suites in Italy. Prices begin at €400 (US$533) per item.