Luxury travel: Three days of sun and ski in Lake Tahoe

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s a multiple personality syndrome happening in Lake Tahoe. In the winter, the region is packed with snowboarders, skiiers and skaters ready to take on the chill and hit the slopes. In the summer, Lake Tahoe turns laidback with endless nights on the lake and festivals in the streets. The area is frequented by skiers, sun-worshipers, families, singles and solo-travelers. You can spend the night roasting marshmallows by an open fire or enjoying sushi at the local Japanese restaurant. Whether you come here to ski or sit in the sun, luxury travel in Lake Tahoe can be a traveler’s paradise.

Where to stay:

The Northstar -at-Tahoe Resort is one of Lake Tahoe’s newest “villages” and features everything from an ice skating rink to hot dog stands to sushi bars. The village at Northstar offers different accommodations, but to make the most of your stay choose a condo at Northstar and take advantage of the full kitchen, washer-dryer in unit and electric fireplace. The condos have balconies that overlook the village and because of its location on the mountain, you can walk from your condo to the gondola in less than 3 minutes, hitting up Starbucks along the way.

For the ultimate in luxury travel in Tahoe, head to the Ritz-Carlton, Lake Tahoe – an oasis in the mountain. The resort is accessible via a private gondola from Northstar to the Ritz-Carlton, so you can easily shuttle between the village and the hotel, if you choose to do so. Or, you can hit the slopes straight from the Ritz. After a day of skiing or boarding, let the massage therapists at the Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe spa ease away your muscle aches. My suggestion: Opt for one of the spa packages that includes a bath soak. The copper tubs in the spa are meant to release stress on your muscles. After a day of snowshoeing at Tahoe, I can say with certainty this spa service saved me from the pain I was bound to wake up with the next morning.

%Gallery-117172%What to eat:

Northstar-at-Tahoe village has everything from French hotdogs and burritos-to-go to gourmet pizzas and wine bars. For sushi lovers, don’t miss a meal at Mikuni Japanese Restaurant & Bar. The restaurant offers typical Japanese food and the sushi bar is full of unique rolls and combinations.

If the pub scene is more your style, TC’s Pub in the village is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The food is typical American bar style and the burgers are worth the wait from the kitchen on a busy day. Thanks to its location near the lifts, TC’s is also a great place to warm up after a day on the slopes or in between runs.

Don’t miss an opportunity to dine at Manzanita, Ritz-Carlton Lake Tahoe’s signature restaurant. (Suggestion: let the chef plan the course for you and ask the sommelier to pair your food with wine. You’ll never forget the meal.)

While it’s great to spend time in the village, it’s also worth it to get out and explore the Tahoe region. Head into town (only a 10 minute drive from the Northstar village) and check out the local shops and restaurants. Our favorite meal in town was at Pacific Crest Grill, the restaurant attached to the favorite local hangout, Bar of America.

What to do:

If you’re here in the winter, you’re hitting the slopes. If you’re here in the spring, you’re hitting the hiking trails. But aside from the obvious, there are few hidden treasures to check out.

For winter visitors, take a spin around the ice skating rink at Northstar. At night, the rink lights up with strands of bulbs and decorations, and fire pits surround the rink for watchers to roast marshmallows.

Dogsledding with Wilderness Adventures takes place at Squaw Valley, the next village over from Northstar. The dogs run a few times a day, but it’s advisable to book your reservations in advance as this popular activity books up fast.

If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing, rent some snowshoes and head out for a hike. My suggestion: go first thing in the morning when the trails are clear and you have the mountains to yourself. Because you have the flexibility to walk various trails and weave in and out of trees, you’ll come across some of the best views from the mountain that skiers and boarders won’t likely see. Word to the wise: snowshoeing is harder than you think! Even as a long-time runner, I was sore for days after a 3 mile snowshoe hike. My advice: stretch often and hit the spa after your hike for some good massage therapy!

On rainy days, or days when you just need a break from the mountain scene, hang out in the village and take the kids to some creative shops. The Northstar village has jewelry making and candle making shops, and stores just for kids who want to do their own shopping without mom and dad.

The Lake:

Let’s be honest, you might be here to ski, snowboard or skate, but you’re not going to miss a turn around the lake. The Lake Tahoe region is, in fact, situated around an expansive lake that provides some of the best scenes you’ll ever see out West.

The entire drive around Lake Tahoe can take up to three hours, but if you’re up for it you’ll enjoy the various twists and turns of the roads that lead to some of the peak spots for pictures. If you don’t have an entire three hours to spare, head toward the Lake and drive into South Lake Tahoe, just over the Nevada border and about a 45-minute drive from the Northstar village. The town area has a cute shopping center and boardwalk, and you’ll still get to see some picturesque Lake Tahoe views.

Side trip: Lake Tahoe is only a three hour drive from San Francisco. On your way back to San Francisco from Lake Tahoe, make a special stop at the Jelly Belly Factory, located off I-80 about halfway between the two destinations. The Jelly Belly Visitor Center is open daily from 9am-5pm. You can take a guided tour of the factory, or just head straight to the good stuff in the Jelly Belly retail store.

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Parts of this trip were sponsord by Northstar-at-Tahoe, but the opinions expressed in this post are mine.

The top six gangster style first and business class flights from the US — without chartering a G6

by Grant Martin on

We all like to treat ourselves once in a while, whether its with luxury fur coats, $300 gastrogasm dinners at Noma or Momofuku or the Presidential Suite at the DC Mandarin Oriental. For the brass over at Gadling Labs, we like to fly in international First or Business class. And there are a few, very special routes that rank among our favorites ever taken. Curious? Ever taken one yourself? Read below for the best of the best.

6. Open Skies, All Business Class 757: Washington DC or New York to Paris
Flying on OpenSkies is like staying at a bed and breakfast. Instead of dealing with massive, hulking name brands and wrestling the mass of humanity at the airport, OpenSkies caters a boutique, luxury experience flying single-aisle, personal aircraft from the nation’s capitol or New York City directly into Paris Orly, the smaller airport on the south side of the city. Single rows of luscious, business class seats flank each side of the generously appointed aircraft, and if you’re in the mood you can even fly facing backwards while gloating at the quickly dissolving American coast. The best part of OpenSkies, however, is the oustanding prices. With frequent fare sales and an agressive marketing campaign it’s often easy to find tickets on this aircraft for just slightly more than a regular coach ticket on other airlines — and for that price it’s a steal. [Price at booking: $1981 for a Biz Seat,$4062 for a Biz Bed, www.flyopenskies.com]

5. Air New Zealand, Business Class on a 777: Los Angeles to Auckland
Private, lie-flat beds are a rarity on transoceanic flights out of the United States, and Air New Zealand does it right. The nose of this 777 hosts eleven rows of lie flat beds, all angled such that each person gets his or her own privacy, such that each person can get the best possible service and can relax and rest up on the 13 hour journey to the corner of the world. Add to that a fun loving group of friendly staff and a delightful destination and you’ve got a winning combination. [Price at booking: $7868, www.airnewzealand.com]

4. Singapore Airlines, All Business Class A340: New York City or Los Angeles to Singapore.
Most journeys from the east coast of the US to southeast Asia require a stopover somewhere on the west coast or in Japan. And almost all of the rest of the flights are in two or three class service aircraft, where four hundred people are jammed into a cramped, dank aluminum tube for the eight thousand mile journey. But not on Singapore’s all-business-class service. Consistently rated as top carrier on the planet, Singapore has taken an extra step with a portion of their NYC-SIN and LAX-SIN flights: they’re on full business class aircraft: 100 seats of 30″ wide seats, top notch catering and world class in flight service. In these digs, your 18 hour flight will go by in a flash. [Price at booking: $7400, www.singaporeair.com]

3. V Australia, Business Class on a 777: Los Angeles to Sydney
V Australia brings all of the swankness of the Virgin brand to the transpacific route, from colorful, inflight cabins to inspiring, world class catering to a posh checkin and lounge experience. For the best experience, book seats 5H and K as a couple, where you can pull a series of curtains shut to create your own private cabin. Take in a movie or two on departure from Los Angeles and then get a full eight hours of sleep in a fully flat bed before you pull into Sydney — and did we mention that you get to keep the pajamas? [Price at booking: $5208, www.vaustralia.com]

2. British Airways, First Class 747: Chicago or New York to London
The upper deck of a 747 is a special place to reside, but on the British Airways 747, you actually want to set up camp in the first floor nose — right under the pilot. That’s the section of the aircraft where first class passengers ride, where the full effect of in-flight pampering can be felt and where the stress of your London business trip can melt away. BA is in the process of rebuliding their first class service this year, but you can bet that it’ll remain the industry leader on this route either way. [Price at booking from Chicago: $8351, www.britishairways.com]

1. Emirates, First Class A380: New York to Dubai (pictured above)
The Emirates A380 has a mixed history with New York’s JFK, but when the service is running, it’s running hot. Emirates’ First Class service features a full host of over-the-top amenities, from private suites for each passenger to onboard showers to a bumpin onboard lounge. You’re going to pay dearly for the pleasure of flying though. [Price at booking: $17918, www.flyemirates.com]

[Editor’s note: We know that the G6 isn’t an airplane. It’s a reference to the Far East Movement Song. Gangster? Get it?]

Luxury travel: Presidential Suite at Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC

by Melanie Nayer on

There’s no denying that power is the top player in Washington DC. From the White House to the Capitol Building to the endless red leather, cherry wood restaurants that have housed heads of state for martini lunches over the years. Still, Washington DC has a few hidden gems worthy of an ambassador or two.

Mandarin Oriental Washington DC‘s recently renovated presidential suite is anything but ‘under the radar’ in this high-powered city. On a brief stop to Washington DC, I had the opportunity to explore the 3,500-square-foot space and overwhelmed by the idea of high-level meetings happening in his luxe space.The Presidential Suite in the Mandarin Oriental Washington DC offers 3,500-square-feet of space for a nightly rate of $10,000. The three-bedroom suite comes complete with a living room, kitchen, full bathrooms and separate dining area, but it’s the “great room” that steals the show.

The massive room offers enough seating for a cabinet meeting (or a little less) and to help inspire the attendees, features views of The Washington Monument, Lincoln Monument and Jefferson Memorial, and on clear days you can see all the way to the Capitol Building.

The adjacent study which connects the living room to the bedroom has been made into a cozy annex for respite and intimate meetings. A small nook off the master bathroom has enough space for a treadmill – the perfect accessory for a jetlagged traveler needing to work off some energy.

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Top 5 hotels to visit for Valentine’s Day

by Melanie Nayer on

It’s Valentine’s Day… that special Hallmark holiday when women swoon over heart shaped candies and men scurry at the last minute to find anything red that might suffice as a thoughtful gift. But let’s be real, teddy bears and chocolates are so cliche. Unless it comes in a little blue box with a white ribbon, you’re going to have to start upping your game on Valentine’s Day.

Good news lovers: We’ve found the perfect way for you wow your partner, and also enjoy a little bit of the holiday for yourself. These five hotels have everything you could want for the perfect Valentine’s Day – romance, seclusion, and of course, room service.

  1. Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec, Canada. Take your princess to a castle in Canada and cuddle up in storybook fashion at the Fairmont Frontenac in Quebec. The hotel, declared a World Heritage site from the UN, has an old-world European charm that captures any heart.
  2. XV Beacon, Boston, Massachusetts. The hotel is a hidden gem in one of the most cosmopolitan cities. XV Beacon sits right on Boston’s historic Beacon Hill and offers amazing views of the copper-domed state house, Boston Common and the Boston skyline. What’s more, each room comes complete with a fireplace – the perfect excuse to cuddle up on a cold winter’s night.
  3. El Dorado Resorts, Riveria Maya, Mexico: Escape to Mexico for a little romance in the Riveria Maya. The all-inclusive El Dorado Resorts offers three classes of rooms for various price-points, all with ocean views and in-room jacquzzis. Hint: Champagne goes really well with that bath.
  4. Jade Mountain: St. Lucia’s most romantic resort includes infinity pools, endless spa services and the utmost privacy. Enjoy restaurants, bars, boutiques, art gallery, spa, water sports or just spend time at the beach in Jade Mountain.
  5. Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, California: Nothing says romance like roasting marshmallows at an outside fire pit while watching the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. The Ritz-Carlton, Half Moon Bay, is located only 23 miles from San Francisco, making it an easy jaunt for last-minute travelers wanting to impress.

Daily Pampering: Private jets with JetSuite from $999 one-way

by Melanie Nayer on

When commercial airlines get too complicated, why not opt for your own private jet to get you where to need to be. JetSuite, a 4-seater private jet, was developed by industry veteran Alex Wilcox and several other founding members of JetBlue Airways to offer travelers a little more luxury in-flight.

JetSuite’s fleet of Embraer Phenom 100 jets are some of the most fuel-efficient aircraft in their class with speeds up to 450 miles per hour, an operating altitude of up to 41,000 ft, and a glamorous interior cabin designed by BMW. It also has one of the largest baggage compartments in its category, alleviating the stress of lost baggage when you arrive at your destination.

Starting at $999 for a one-way flight, this could be a great option for friends wanting to whisk themselves away for a weekend or the CEO needing a last-minute flight to a business meeting.
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