The French Riviera’s La Villa Mauresque on the French Riviera is one of the most splendid villa hotels you will find anywhere.

La Villa Mauresque is located in the charming village of Boulouris, which lies between Cannes and St. Tropez.

La Villa Mauresque features 17 luxurious bedrooms housed in two Moorish villas dating from 1860. Most rooms offer stunning sea views, while the others provide lovely garden views.

Found on a private seafront, the luxury boutique hotel offers luxury and serenity with an infinity pool and a seafront spa and Jacuzzi, lush garden, and private harbor
with facilities for complimentary water activities: canoeing, kayaking, small catamaran, zodiac and snorkeling.

Windsurfing and scuba diving are also offered, as well as a small 4cv motor boat for those without a sailing permit.

To really enjoy the local sites, hire a 97-foot private yacht for day cruises along the scenic French Riviera or a 17-foot motor boat.

Ideally located for exploring the French Riviera, otherwise known as the Côte d’Azur, La Villa Mauresque is just 30 minutes from Cannes, 30 minutes by boat from St. Tropez, 50 minutes from Nice airport and one hour from the port of Monaco.

For additional information or reservations, please call +33 (0) 4 94 83 02 or visit the website at www.hotelsfrench-riviera.com

Relais Paradiso is located along the shores of the idyllic Amalfi Coast in Italy. Relais Paradiso, a five-star hotel invites travelers to enjoy the very best it has to offer with its unique all-inclusive package concept.

From world-class cuisine, luxury accommodations to truly personalized service and much more, guests can experience the ultra-exclusivity of the luxury boutique resort for just the cost of a night’s stay.

Current rates for this package range from €240 per person, per night for 1-2 night stay or €205 per person, per night for a 3 night minimum stay. Prices are valid until October 31, 2010.

The Relais Paradiso All-Inclusive Package features deluxe accommodations in the hotel’s well-appointed guestrooms overlooking the town of Vietri sul Mare and the pristine Bay of Salerno.

In addition, Relais Paradiso hotel guests will enjoy the gastronomic pleasures of the Amalfi Coast as the package features a complimentary buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner prepared by the resort’s executive chef who focuses on incorporating only the freshest seasonal ingredients indigenous to the region.

A true highlight of the luxury hotel package is the Privilege White Card that is presented to each hotel guest.

This card, which is valid for one year at all Ragosta Hotels, provides guests with complimentary late check-out/early check-in, a welcome cocktail, complimentary newspapers, 10 percent reduction on SPA treatments and 10 percent reduction on events at all Ragosta Hotels.

The All-Inclusive Package also includes complimentary transfers to and from Vietri sul Mare to the beach, room service, mini bar access, a complimentary Sun Care Set and much more.

Relais Paradiso All Inclusive Package:
€240 per person, per night for 1-2 night stay or €205 per person, per night for a 3 night minimum stay. Package valid through October 31, 2010.

Package Inclusions:
* Guestroom Accommodations
* Daily Buffet Breakfast
* Lunch and Dinner (beverages included, served in glass)
* Privilege White Card: provides guests with late check-out/early check-in, welcome cocktail, complimentary newspapers, 10 percent reduction on SPA treatments and 10 percent reduction on events at all Ragosta Hotels Valid one year
* Welcome Champagne Cocktail
* Personalized Service
* Room Service
* Mini Bar
* Internet Connectivity
* Transfer with driver to and from Vietri sul Mare and the beach
* Refreshing Sun Care Set
* Complimentary Access to Panoramic Outdoor Swimming Pool (from May to September)

Relais Paradiso offers guests a unique hotel concept in the spectacular Mediterranean town of Vietri sul Mare. In keeping with Ragosta Hotels Collection mantra, guests of the luxury property are invited to “define their lifestyle” with the hotel’s chic offerings such as its chic rooftop pool, exclusive executive lounge and its 24-hour honor bar, featuring cocktails, coffee, wine, beer and champagne.

Upon opening in August 2009, Relais Paradiso Hotel features 22 spacious guestrooms and suites with panoramic terraces overlooking the pristine Bay of Salerno and the lush landscape of the fragrant and colorful Amalfi Coast.

Additional in-room amenities include plasma-screen televisions, a courtesy collection by ExPure SPA, complimentary Wi-Fi connectivity, fresh local flowers and much more. During their stay, guests will enjoy truly personalized service from a welcome Champagne cocktail to personal car transfers to the nearby town of Vietri sul Mare.

In addition to its luxurious guestroom accommodations and amenities, the hotel features an expansive outdoor area with suspended gardens, solarium and a panoramic outdoor swimming pool. Dining facilities include a hip yet relaxing Lounge Bar, the Lounge Restaurant, which features Mediterranean cuisine, as well as the Honesty Bar, which is located in the hotel’s foyer and is open 24 hours a day.

For additional information and reservations, please contact Ragosta Hotels at www.ragostahotels.com or +39 089 763 4111

The luxury Hotel du Palais in Biarritz was built in 1855. This five-star hotel overlooks the Atlantic Ocean, and has been permanently restored boasting a glamorous five-story Guerlain Imperial Spa.

The legendary Hotel du Palais is well-known for its surfing spots and a glamorous jetset scene, and was once the palatial summer home of Napoleon III and Empress Eugenia.

This truly grandiose oceanfront villa in Basque Country, has interiors with restored nineteenth-century antiques and décor dating all the way back from the Second Empire.

This upcoming summer, Hotel du Palais will host a wide selection of both exciting and culturally enriching events, including a Dior jewelry exhibition, classical
musical and dance performances, art auctions and a special guest chef.

Art & Accessories – Hotel du Palais will host a DIOR Jewelry Presentation showcasing the latest collection from this legendary fashion house (July 28-August 14); French artist Maître Françoise Carayol will be auctioning some of his finest works including antiques and paintings (August 6-9), and local ceramist Joël Cazaux will display many of his signature pieces (August 9-18).

Sounds of Summer – Hotel du Palais is highlighting virtuosic concerts performances throughout the summer: a cello-piano duet featuring some of the Romantic Era’s greatest pieces (June 27), the world-renowned Ballet Flamenco de Maria Carrasco from Madrid (July 14), soprano Princesses Sophie and Catherine Galitzine of Russia (July 23), and a four-hand duet from piano prodigies Lidija and Sanja Bizjak (August 4).

Culinary Delights – In accordance with the annual Indian “Festival Namaste,” celebrated Chef Hemant Oberoi, Grand Chef of the Taj Group of Hotels and Executive Chef of the Taj Mahal Palace & Tower in Mumbai will be a guest chef to the hotel’s world-class restaurants (July 1-7).

For additional information, please visit: www.Hotel-du-Palais.com

Do you ever wish you could get away somewhere to just chill? Where mind, body and soul can simply be at one?

You can do this at Y Noddfa where, in keeping with its status as a  country estate of exceptional quality and prestige, an impressive choice of ‘residents only’ amenities are available following an extensive £2 million investment program.

Located in the heart of North Wales’ Lleyn Peninsula Y Noddfa Luxury Lodge Park  http://www.ynoddfalodgepark.com offers luxurious seclusion in a peaceful 60 acre gated country estate.

Prestigious luxury state-of-the-art lodges offer the best of both worlds and are available as a holiday hideaway or, if you prefer, you can buy one for your personal use and enjoyment.

Within this tranquil estate – this sanctuary – you can enjoy the large heated swimming pool and jacuzzi with its surrounding relaxation area, plus gazebo with built-in barbecue and refrigerators; tennis courts; state-of-the-art gymnasium; woods; six natural lakes; 2.5 acre fishing lake; all this set within a lush natural natural landscape.

There is also a safe children’s play area with a soft bark surface, swings, slide, climbing frame, rope wall and bridge. Plus, a football pitch that is ideal for 5-a-side.

If you are searching for stylish seclusion, this is the place for you. Stretch out with that book you’ve been wanting to read but never found the time; jump into your personal hot tub whenever the mood takes you – enjoy sunshine and soft drinks, or moonlight and champagne and take time to do some serious star gazing.  Or, do absolutely nothing at all . . . Heaven!

Nearby you can explore the dramatic coastline of high cliffs and endless beaches bounded by the bright blue ocean, ancient hills, and quiet lanes. Everywhere around you is steeped in history.

Southwards is Pwllhelli, a Victoria market town with a fine harbour and probably the best marina in Europe. West of Pwllhelli is the fashionable coastal resort of Abersoch – now famous for its Westock summer festival. Nearby Morfa Nefyn offers golf, sailing and the delights of Porth Dinllaen, a beachside hamlet accessible only on foot – but well worth the walk.

Snowdonia National Park http://www.snowdoniaguide.com with its stunning scenery and numerous attractions is on your doorstep, as is the stunningly beautiful village of Portmeirion http://www.portmeirion-village.com

Other area attractions to see are Electric Mountain http://electricmountain.co.uk and Sygun Copper Mines http://syguncoppermine.co.uk

Written by: Ellen Dean

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is a celebration of style, sports, cuisine and fashion, with discreet service and traditional elegance evoking an atmosphere of pampered luxury for all.

An ideal destination in both winter and summer, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel is located in one of the most challenging ski areas in all the world and offers a host of summer alpine activities.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel boasts a total of 159 guestrooms and 38 suites, offering stunning views of the Swiss Alps. The hotel is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World, Swiss Deluxe Hotels and Swiss Historic Hotels.

Badrutt’s Palace Hotel opens its doors to guests this summer from June 25th 2010, through September 11th 2010.

The valley in which St. Moritz lies is the Engadin. The word ‘Engiadina’ is its original form in the locally spoken Rheto-Romansh language, and means ‘Garden of the Inn’, referring to the River Inn whose source is close by.

Now you can enjoy a special package at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel in St. Moritz. Take a horse-drawn carriage ride for two, luxuriate in the private Veronica Spa Suite (your personal spa), swoon over a candlelit dinner at Badrutt’s Palace Hotel’s gourmet Le Restaurant serenaded with live piano music, create romantic memories that defy time.

With Badrutt’s Palace Hotel’s 115 years ‘ experience in devising romantic getaways and celebrations, the Cupid’s Delight Package has the ingredients to fire up untold passion.

The Cupid’s Delight Package features three nights at the five -star Badrutt’s Palace Hotel, a couples’ massage and together time in private Spa Suite Veronica, with its Jacuzzi for two, steam room and lounge; moments for sweet nothings over a candlelit dinner in chic Le Restaurant, where Badrutt’s chefs create mouth-watering dishes; and a horse-drawn carriage ride snuggled up in blankets through the captivating Fex Valley.

Reserve the package bow from 2,660 CHF (US$ 2,300) in a superior double room.

Wedding and Celebrations:

Lofty amid the romantic Engadin peaks, Badrutt’s Palace Hotel offers the perfect setting for weddings, honeymoons and romantic trysts. Magnificent rooms, excellent service and a professional team ensure every celebration is an event to remember.

for more information or reservation, please call +41 (0) 81 837 1100 or visit http://www.badruttspalace.com/CupidsDelightE to reserve Cupid’s Delight, or to inquire about weddings and celebrations.

Jeanette Doeze launches Soul Suites in Antwerp, Belgium.

Soul Suites features ultra comfortable suites and is conveniently located in the South of Antwerp, which is known for it’s vibrancy, highly recommended restaurants and cocktail bars, galleries and a diverse range of shops.

Jeanette Doeze previously owned and managed the delightful B&B Slapen Enzo, which she expanded and renovated into the current Maison Delaneau.

Soul Suites are bright serene spaces decorated by Jeanne van de Meulengraaf. Each suite comprises a sperate, sumptuous bedroom, large bathroom, living room and open style kitchen with a mix of elegant, modern and vintage furniture.

All apartments are approximately 70m2, which makes them extremely spacious. Wireless internet is provided at no charge.

When the weather is nice, you can relax on your own private terrace.

Suite guests can find numerous restaurants, cafés and galleries, located nearby.

Soul Suites is located a 10-minute walk from the Museum of Contemporary Art. The Geuzenstraat tram stop is a 2-minute walk away and brings you to the Groenplaats in 2 stops.

The room rate is 150 per night.

For additional information, please visit: www.soulsuites.com

SOUL SUITES
Marnixplaats 14
2000 Antwerp, Belguim
info@soulsuites.com
+32 (0)471285716

The dark, enchanting blue of the Mediterranean, white grains of sand from the beaches of the coast, and the serenity that murmurs quietly in distant city sounds.

These, mixed with the fresh air, tinged slightly with salt from the sea, and a gentle breeze that appears near ceaseless, are what make a Cote d’Azur villas nothing short of but, entirely and completely, a paradise.

Cote d’Azur, a hybrid name inspired by the French word for gold and the azure blue of the Mediterranean Sea, is deservedly and well named.

The beautiful coast of the South of France has been a tourist hot spot for centuries, and many of the first visitors to this luxurious landscape were royalty and aristocracy from around the world.

The cities that line the coast, Nice, Cannes, and St. Tropez, are famous for not only their beautiful views, but also the wonderful culture and architecture that these cities have been built upon and around.

It is no wonder then, that such a place has drawn so many famous writers and artists from around the world as well, hoping to catch a spark of inspiration from its calming beauty. In the past, greats such as Pablo Picasso and Edith Wharton visited, lived in and worked on the Cote d’Azur.

Today, celebrities like Elton John and Bridget Bardot have even made their homes on the French Riviera.

Cote d’Azur is a dreamlike haven for foreigners and locals alike, as the weather that permits outdoor activities and relaxation stays relatively moderate year round.

In Cannes, it has been boasted that the city regularly receives sunlight for twelve hours a day, almost every day. Rich in history, culture, beauty and still so full of a sweet piece of calm, Cote d’Azur calls out to the heart of the weary and wishful, offering rest and peace.

Many visitors to the city often rent or stay in hotel rooms or suites, if only to rest for a bit when running low on energy from enjoying all that Cote d’Azur has to offer. But, for an optimal experience on the French Riviera, it may be better to stay at a villa.

While it may be an interesting enough experience to run into and listen to other foreigners and visitors to the coast, for a more private and focused stay a hotel does not offer the same feeling as a villa might. Crossing paths with strangers on the street, is very different from brushing shoulders in a crowded lobby or narrow hallway.

To stay in a villa is similar to staying in a vacation home, providing one with a more authentic and at-home feeling. Enjoying a drink on a private deck or patio as the sun sets is a surprising amount more serene than staring at the sky through a hotel room window.

Full of beautiful land, buildings, people and history, Cote d’Azur is paradise in waiting.

The sun continues to shine over this French vacation spot, and all that is left is for more people to see and take in for themselves, the blue gold that is Cote d’Azur.

The Lanesborough in London, England, is pleased to offer its guests the “Butler Picnics” event this summer, available now through August 2010.

Situated on the borders of Knightsbridge and Belgravia, The Lanesborough is in an enviable location right in the heart of London, England – with panoramic views of historic Hyde Park.

The Lanesborough has long been considered one of the world’s most luxurious hotels. The luxury hotel offers elegant surroundings, exquisite cuisine, unsurpassed attention to detail and world-renowned service are second to none.

The hotel just recently premiered Apsleys a Heinz Beck Restaurant. This fine dining restaurant was proudly awarded its first Michelin star in February 2010.

Served in Hyde Park, The Lanesborough’s “Butler Picnics” is a truly unique experience. Whether a romantic rendezvous or a family affair, butlers will provide individual consultation to personalize each picnic experience and ensure an enjoyable and memorable trip for all.

The Lanesborough butlers will deliver the tasty picnic basket directly to Hyde Park and serve the gourmet banquet. They will also clean up and bring everything back to the hotel after the guests have finished their delicious picnic menu.

From Jane Austen’s literary vignettes to Victorian England’s famed summertime gatherings, picnicking has long been considered a very British affair. In celebration of this cultural affection, The Lanesborough in London will offer guests “Butler Picnics” between May and August 2010.

Courtesy of: The Lanesborough

The property’s unmatched sense of elegance, proximity to Hyde Park and impeccable butler service ensure that The Lanesborough Butler Picnics offer the ultimate alfresco dining experience.

The Lanesborough will create beautiful bespoke hampers to suit all occasions; including romantic picnics á deux to fun-filled family gatherings. Savory menu highlights include deluxe summer inspired canapés, Cornish poached lobster with Beluga mayonnaise and balotine of truffled foie gras with asparagus jelly washed down with chilled Taittinger rose champagne.

To follow, relish in a Cropwell bishop stilton trifle with pear marmalade and oatmeal sablée or a scrumptious summer berry Rumtopf. Finish off the culinary extravaganza with The Lanesborough’s Artisan chocolates. All will be served in an exquisite traditional hamper complete with crystal glasses, plates, linen, napkins and a large picnic rug.

To ensure an enjoyable and memorable experience, butlers will provide a personal consultation to modify each menu, ensuring that favorite dishes and drinks are harmoniously integrated. He will then deliver the hamper to the park and serve the gourmet banquet.

Once finished, allow the butler with a mere phone call, arrive and clean everything up. This allows you all the more time to soak up your surroundings.

The butler picnics are completely bespoke and will be served in Hyde Park; the luxury Champagne picnic is priced at £250 per person.

Reservations must be made 48 hours in advance.

For reservations, call the hotel on +011-44(0)20 7259 5599 or visit www.lanesborough.com

If mountains could grow hotels, then the Blue Palace in Crete would certainly be one such case, magically combining rugged, arid mountains with the warm, turquoise ocean, the cool breeze drifting in from the bay with the warmth of the rocks from which the villas, bungalows and private suites seem to have formed naturally over time.

There are few places on earth where infinity really seems to be something tangible that you can experience, yet at the Blue Palace, infinity is just a step through your veranda doors and into your private pool.

The Blue Palace is nestled within a picturesque, quiet bay that exemplifies the natural beauty that is Crete. With the well known coast of Elounda on one side, the ancient and majestic relics of Spinalonga Island on the other, the 251 stylish and contemporary rooms and villas enjoy one of the most remarkable locations.

Carved from the rocks down which the bungalows and villas appear to tumble towards the warm ocean, every room and every villa enjoys magnificent ocean views. With most villas and suites having their own private infinity pools, you can quite literally step from exquisite comfort to infinity in a single breath.

The Blue Palace has truly been designed to provide the perfect retreat to help calm and relax both the body and the mind, with infinity pools and a white pebbled beach both providing escape, and the exclusive Elounda Spa where thalassic pools are filled each day with fresh heated seawater drawn directly from the Cretan Pelagos, providing the ultimate in relaxation and therapy.

The Elounda Spa provides a range of Thalassotherapy treatments and is situated on the white pebbled beach on three levels, offering unbeatable indulgence that’s guaranteed to wear away the troubles of the other world you used to worry about. The other world seems to grow faint as the serenity and peace combines with the outstanding natural beauty of the resort to provide an experience which is likely to stay with you for a very long time.

But whilst all this luxury feeds the soul, the body needs feeding too – and the Blue Palace does not disappoint here either. In fact, with five restaurants to choose from you may find that deciding which one to choose each night is the most stressful part of your stay!

At the very top of the resort, boasting the most astonishing views across the Aegean Sea is The Olea Main Restaurant. The award winning L’Orangerie is where you’ll be able to choose from a range of Mediterranean dishes which use locally sourced ingredients, in addition to an enviable wine list.

Alternatively you may choose the Blue Door right on the water’s edge where the day’s catch will be served up with a traditional Greek salad, for a dining experience that’s one of the freshest possible. An Asian dining experience is available at the aptly named Asia Blue, where the menu includes dishes ranging from Chinese and Polynesian to Thai and Japanese.

The experience of staying at the Blue Palace – Crete, is one which might be considered the closest possible opportunity to fulfill William Blake’s suggestion to ‘Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, And eternity in an hour.’

The new Villa & Hotel Majestic in Paris recently debuted the stunning 4,800 square-foot MajClub Wellness Centre.

The new luxury spa features revolutionary treatments that were designed by Céline Claret Coquet, the creator of Clé des Champs, which is an organic line of products inspired by traditional Chinese medicine.

Coquet has created an innovative face lifting treatment through the use of acupuncture and gold needles, that provide spa guests with 100% natural rejuvenation.

The innovative treatment consists of only three, painless, simultaneous actions. Well trained spa therapists provide their guests with 100% natural rejuvenation.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

Céline Claret Coquet explains, “The first step is an acupuncture session, to relax and harmonize the body’s energy. 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.”

MajClub Wellness Centre offers other simply scintillating treatments, including deep cleaning facials using extracts of seasonal products to nourish and tone the skin, combined with stimulation of acupressure points to regain balance.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

Bodywork is just as holistic. The “Turina” massage, for example, restores the flow of energy throughout the body by stimulating pressure points, preparing the body to face the challenges of each season.

MajClub Wellness Centre is located in the lower level the Villa & Hotel Majestic hotel. The Centre raises the bar among its closest competitors thanks to the variety and quality of its treatments and facilities.

Additional spa amenities at the MajClub Wellness Centre include: blue-tiled hammams, infrared saunas, a fitness facility with Technogym equipment, a heated indoor lap pool, teakwood chaise lounges for relaxing and more.

Courtesy of: MajClub Wellness Centre

The Villa & Hotel Majestic has quickly distinguished itself as one of Paris’ best properties since its debut earlier this year.

The Villa & Hotel Majestic is a contemporary sanctuary located just steps from the world famous Champs-Elysées. The luxury hotel has 52 guestrooms and suites that offer classic décor with modern accents.

Many of the hotel’s accommodations have spacious private and landscaped balconies that bring the beauty and elegance of Paris to the forefront.

For more information, please visit: Villa & Hotel Majestic