Daily Pampering: Helicopter rides to Sonora Resort, Canada

by Melanie Nayer on

Luxury comes in all forms, but luxury takes on an entirely new definition when you’re flying in a private helicopter over Vancouver to Sonora Resort.

The private ride is for guests of the British Columbia, Canada, resort only and will whisk travelers up and away for a 45 minute flight over Vancouver to the private Sonora Island. The helicopters are owned and operated by Sonora Resort and offer comfortable seating for 12, headsets so you can speak to the pilots, and huge windows so you don’t miss a thing on the ground.

The cost? A mere $800 per seat. You could go cheaper and take a three-and-a-half hour ferry ride from Vancouver to Sonora, but where’s the fun in that?

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Daily Pampering: Bottega Veneta $43,200 suitcase

by Melanie Nayer on

The fine craftsmen at Bottega Veneta have released their new high-end suitcase, and it’s simply divine.

The elegant alligator suitcase with brass hardware is part of Bottega Veneta’s fall 2010 collection and is made of pure alligator skin. The alligator luggage piece also includes a lock and key buckle for added safety, an internal elastic pocket and a garment bag.

Don’t think to hard about this one, though. There will be only one design exclusively available by private order from Bottega Veneta, so if you want one you must order now.

The price: A mere $43,200, but according to the website, the item is available to ship within three days.

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

Daily Pampering: Making waves in the Maldives

by Melanie Nayer on

Why settle for the beach in your backyard when you can hit the waves on the other side of the world. We found some remote islands in the Maldives that will leave you so zen your family won’t recognize you. You might need to cash in a bit on your savings account, but can you really put a price on your sanity?

Here are three great spots for soaking up the sun on the Maldives islands in the Indian Ocean:

Anantara Kihavah Villas, South Male Atoll: The opens in December and will sport 78 spacious overwater and beach villas. Think private pools, wooden sundecks, outdoor showers, and over-sized bathtubs built for two. There’s also a ‘jungle spa’ for those of you who want to test your wild side. Opening rates start at $980 for a Beach Pool Villa.

Cocoa Island, Makunufushi: Cocoa Island was recently named ‘Indian Ocean’s Leading Boutique Hotel’ in the 2010 World Travel Awards. The resort is hosting some December packages inc offers seven nights for the price of six, and 14 nights for the price of 12 from November 1 to December 26, 2010. Rates start at $880 per night for a Dhoni Suite this fall and are inclusive of daily breakfast.

Naladhu, Velighandu Huraa island: This hideaway has 19 secluded houses, each with its own private pool. Your House Master will serve as your concierge, butler, and personal assistant. While you’re here, go on a Naladhu Spa Journey that includes a wellbeing consultation, skin assessment, daily private yoga classes, and a 90-minute treatment per person per day with a Master Therapist. Rates include accommodations and daily breakfast and start at $2,100 for an Ocean House.

What are you waiting for?

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Daily Pampering: Maldives resort turns restaurant into undersea honeymoon suite

by Melanie Nayer on

What was once a room for foodies is now a suite for lovers.

The Ithaa restaurant at Conrad Maldives Resort & Spa normally features a “reverse-aquarium” room that seats about a dozen guests for an underwater dining experience. However, in honor of the hotel’s fifth anniversary, that room has been converted into an undersea honeymoon suite (10 other guests not included).

The glass-domed room is submerged in the Indian Ocean and must be reserved at least two weeks in advance. The rate? It’s a mystery, but HotelsMag.com found a water villa room rate at the resort for $1,725 per night.

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Explore Lake Powell by houseboat this fall

by Kraig Becker on

When the Glen Canyon Dam was built back in 1966, it created Lake Powell, the second largest man-made lake in the United States behind Lake Mead. Covering more than 250 square miles in area, Lake Powell falls along the border of Utah and Arizona, a spectacularly beautiful region of the country that offers picturesque sandstone cliffs, winding canyons, and sun drenched vistas. It is truly an amazing natural setting that is best explored by boat, or better yet, by houseboat.

With the fall travel season just around the corner, Lake Powell Resorts and Marinas is giving travelers a chance to experience an interesting combination of luxury and adventure by discovering everything that the lake has to offer via a houseboat. Heading into their peak season, the resort is offering an unprecedented 40 percent off boat rentals when booked before Sept. 15th, which makes this trip as affordable as it has ever been.

Lake Powell has a lot to offer visitors, including hidden beaches, great fishing, kayaking and even hiking trails that will take you into the Pueblo cliff dwellings. You can be as active or lazy as you choose, while discovering everything that his aquatic playground has to offer. Best of all, the fall weather is generally very good, making this a great warm weather escape when the cooler temps set in.

The luxury houseboats have all the amenities you would expect, and more. For instance, they come with fully equipped kitchens, comfortably sleep 12, are fully stocked with plenty of towels and linens, and include deck chairs, and water slides. The top of the line models even have state rooms with queen sized beds, hot tubs, wide screen HDTV’s with satellite television, outdoor gas grills, and wine coolers as well. All the comforts of home, and then some.

To book one of these houseboats, and take advantage of these great discounts, click here. Then start planning your fall escape to an unexpectedly beautiful and comfortable destination.