Adventures: Traveling and experiencing the world is living the luxury lifestyle at its fullest, as every adventure leaves you desiring more and more! Each journey is an opportunity to discover and create your own experience. The Extraordinary Life Experiences JustLuxé.com Vacation Getaway will give a lucky winner a head start of $3,000 toward a trip to Sydney, Monaco, Ibiza, Los Angeles or Rio de Janeiro.

This is a collaborative effort in association with Jaguar and the 2009 Jaguar XF. The XF is an extraordinary luxury sports sedan so unique it could be in a class of its own. Industry pundits globally assert that it is the most compelling sedan ever built by the esteemed automaker. Britain’s most popular auto-buying What Car? named it the Car of the Year and the Best Executive Car for 2008.

This is your opportunity to experience life in the Luxé lane!

Experience: Sydney

The Establishment Hotel is located in the heart of the bustling city’s Business District. The centrally located five-star hotel has great proximity to local attractions, such as Sydney Harbour and the Opera House. The hotel features three restaurants, four bars, and one of Sydney’s most popular nightclubs, Tank. The award-winning club features three bars, a dance floor and a VIP area. Ravesi’s is a waterfront boutique hotel with roots that date back to 1914. Drift, the hottest beach bar in Bondi, is a haunt for local A-listers and jetsetters. The Observatory Hotel is acclaimed for its fine restaurants, the Galileo and the Globe Bar. The lavish hotel has tennis courts, a full spa, and a 60-meter swimming pool on the premises. Rooms at the Medusa Hotel, which is in Darlinghurst, are vibrant and colorful. The contemporarily decorated hotel is a converted 18th century Victorian mansion. BLUE Sydney is a boutique hotel that over looks the Wharf on Woolloomooloo Bay.

Experience: Monaco

What trip to Monaco is complete without a visit to the Le Louis at the Hotel de Paris, or Le Vistimar at the Hotel Hermitage. Experiences are just waiting to happen to all visitors of the most glamorous principality in the entire world. What came first jetsetters or Monaco? A stay at the Monte-Carlo Bay Hotel & Resort or the Fairmont Monte-Carlo is an lavish affair. Recommended places to experience include the Casino de Monte-Carlo, Jimmyz and Le Café Jordin. Monaco is the capital of opulence with its casinos and nightlife.

Experience: Ibiza
Ibiza is part of the Balearic Islands on the Mediterranean Sea. It is well known for its hot summer parties and decadent nightlife. It hangs anyway you want it in Ibiza with a Mediterranean twist of blissfulness that is simply irresistible. Privilege, which is among the biggest clubs in the world, is large by anyone’s definition with 25-meter-high ceilings and an indoor pool. Located in Ibiza Tourio and San Antonio, the club attracts a fair share of celebrities, debutantes and paparazzi in its gatherings. Other noteworthy hotspots of the night include Amnesia, Eden, and Space. While sleeping is optional in Ibiza, only the finest in accommodations will do. The capital of relaxation and hedonism offers an array of top-caliber hotels that are guaranteed to tickle the fancy of even the most discerning guests. The El Pacho Hotel is posh contemporary elegance extraordinaire. It also is the location of the outrageously inviting Pacha nightclub. The Hotel Es Vive, a 52-room boutique hotel, is lively and buoyantly decadent year round. Check out the Smirnoff Electric Cabaret to replenish and play among the “moving” stars of the town’s vibrant nightlife. The flat roof of the Hotel Ocean Drive is a sunbather’s dream overlooking breezy Talamanca Beach. Ocean Drive Hotel offers easy access to both historic Ibiza and the beach. The Grand Hotel is in the center of Barcelona. Its central location to the city’s best restaurants, shopping and sights puts it on our list of favorite hotels. The Neri Hotel is both architecturally and artistically amazing. The completely renovated hotel was once an eighteenth century palace.

Experience: Los Angeles
From Santa Monica to Hollywood to Beverly Hills, Los Angeles is an experience that provides innumerable hotspots. Shop on Rodeo Drive; cruise Sunset Boulevard; go clubbing in West Hollywood; visit the Santa Monica Pier. And that’s just scratching the surface of the adventures one can enjoy while visiting Los Angeles. The Sofitel Hotel and the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire put their guests in perfect position to be first in line when the heralded shops of Rodeo Drive open their illustrious doors, while the Hollywood Roosevelt, which is on Hollywood Boulevard, is minutes from Universal Studios and the Hollywood Walk of Fame sidewalk. West Hollywood’s Sunset Marquis and Hotel & Villas is a favorite of the entertainment community. It has a full-service recording studio and screening room onsite. The hotel is just moments away from some of West Hollywood’s best attractions, such as the Roxy, the Viper Room, the Stinking Rose, and the Vanguard. L.A. is a cornucopia of savory restaurants and spicy nightlife opportunities. Eat it up!

Experience: Rio de Janeiro
Beyond its fame for being a party-heartily zone, Rio de Janeiro is combination of beaches, sports, sun, exotic parks and gardens, spectacular mountain views. Rio de Janeiro is the second largest city of Brazil. A must-see sight is the Cristo Redentor, a.k.a. as Christ the Redeemer, as it is one of the newly named Seven Wonders of the World. Actually, its position atop the Corcovada Mountains makes it hard to miss. Other noteworthy vistas include the Maracana futbõl stadium, the cable cars of Sambõodromo, and Ipanema Beach in the Zona Sol (South Zone). The Maracana, which is in the Zona Norte (North Zone), is among the largest soccer venues in the world. Other districts of Zona Sol, the richest and most popular region of Rio, are Glória, Flamengo, Botafogo and Urca.

Here is a destination hotel for the adventurous at heart. The Ariau Towers is built entirely on the Rainforest Canopy. It is a treetop luxury hotel that looks down upon the Rainforest. There is a bar that resembles an eagle’s nest and a honeymoon suite that is 110 feet off the ground on a mahogany tree. There are more than three miles of catwalks that bond it into one lofty location. The Copacabana Hotel is the most famous luxury resort with a history dating back to 1923. Other fantastic lodgings of the area include Hotel Fasano and Ponta dos Ganchos Resort. The Hotel Tropical Manuas, the largest hotel of the area with more than 500 guestrooms, has its own zoo and large swimming pools with artificial waves that can be used to enjoy various water-sports activities. Some of the finer restaurants include Porcao, Casa Rosa, and the Zero-Zero Club.

The making of extraordinary life experiences is a personal journey with limitless opportunities. It is a mission that should not be taken lightly. Enter the Extraordinary Life Experiences Vacation Getaway and win a head start toward compliments of JustLuxé.com and Jaguar.

It is yours for the taking … accelerate!

Technorati Tags: Sydney, Life Experiences, Luxury Lifestyle, Fine Living, Sydney harbour, Monaco, Hotel De Paris, Ibizia

With all the Olympic buzz, the world’s gaze has shifted to China. You may not be heading to the games in Beijing this summer, but a trip to China, ranked one of the top international destinations by the World Tourism Organization, may be on the horizon. An absolute must is a visit to Xian, an ancient capital of China and the terminus of the legendary Silk Road, home to the Terracotta Warriors, one of China’s most renowned archaeological discoveries. Described as a “Natural History Museum,” Xian is simply brimming with relics and sites. The city is also an important part of the economic revival of interior China, a bustling modern city. The place to stay is the Shangri-La Hotel, Xian, situated within easy reach of the top tourist attractions and the city’s business and entertainment districts. The only luxury hotel located in the Gaoxin hi-tech development zone, The Shangri-La has choice guest quarters and an impressive service team including IT butlers. Also on site: four trendy designer restaurants, the largest meeting and banqueting facilities in Xian, and a fully-equipped health club with heated pool.

Technorati Tags: Featured Luxury Hotels, Business Travel, Food and Wine, Asia

It seems that both the Costa del Sol and the Costa Blanca have a longstanding tug-of-war going when it comes to tourist numbers. Each one claims, at various times, to have drawn a larger number of visitors to its region - The Costa Blanca recently published its numbers from July and August last summer, placing the number of visitors to the area at 600,000 during this two month period. That beat the Costa del Sol, at least for that part of the year. Arguably, the Costa del Sol's tourist trade burgeons with or without a signature work of architecture. After all, the Costa del Sol already has the luxurious resort town of Marbella, which attracts the most elite and wealthiest of tourists from Spain and beyond. (Of course, the average tourist is welcome too, as long as he or she can spare the extra cash.) Thanks to a massive capital project spearheaded by a former Marbella mayor, the city received a major landscaping overhaul which added a more breathtaking element to its already gorgeous terrain.

Located on the country’s north Pacific coast, only 30 minutes from Liberia’s international airport, the 2,300-acre Peninsula Papagayo is comprised of 15 miles of coastline, 31 distinct beaches, golf courses designed by Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus and 500,000 acres of surrounding eco-parks. At the tip of the peninsula, the two- and three-bedroom ocean-view villas of the Four Seasons Residence Club Costa Rica feature large terraces and plantation style decor accented with indigenous wood finishes. A one-twelfth fraction of a three-bedroom villa is priced at $225,500 and entitles its owner to 21 nights of use per year. An equal share of a two-bedroom unit is $169,500. Owners may enjoy all that the highly lauded Four Seasons Resort Costa Rica has to offer, as well as exchange privileges at other Four Seasons Residence Clubs.

Park Hyatt Paris-Vendôme is a truly luxurious Parisian hotel, located in the heart of the city on the prestigious Rue de la Paix. It is within walking distance of the Place Vendôme, the Place de la Concorde, the Louvre and the Musée d’Orsay are also nearby. This is the place to be seen in one of the slickest cities in the world. Its fabulous new 2700 sq ft ‘Blaise Martin’ spa has fast become one of the most popular in the city, and the ‘in-suite spas’ containing  a bathroom with whirlpool bath, hammam, steam room shower and a dedicated table for massages, make this stunning hotel all the more exclusive.

The latest enterprise from Steve Wynn is to be Encore Suites in Las Vegas, billed to open in December 2008. It’ll consist of 2,034 spacious suites with “a cosmopolitan style and sophistication ensconced in a comfortable, residential feel”. Suite sizes vary from 700 square feet (Resort Suites) up to 5,800 square feet (VIP Suites). In addition, there will be five signature restaurants, seven bars and lounges, a spa and salon, a nightclub and multiple retail outlets.  Rates are yet to be confirmed, but expect to pay upwards of $500 a night.

Tailor-made wine and culinary programmes are being launched at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, later this month. Their first Weekend Connoisseur package takes place on the weekend of 21st-24th March 2008 and includes 2 nights’ deluxe accommodation, a bottle of Ruinart Champagne, a 3-course lunch, an 8-course dinner, a Champagne brunch, daily breakfast, a one-hour massage, a group wine class and wine tasting from The Fine Wine School… and an opportunity to taste the world’s finest single-origin chocolates, including those from Dominican Republic, Tanzania and Madagascar, with Chocolate Sommelier Martin Li. The rate per guest room is HKD $13,988.

Size doesn’t always matter. Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Superior Small Lodgings, a collection of cozy, comfortable hotels and inns each with 50 rooms or less, are ideal for a couples getaway that supersedes the formality of big-name hotels. Often upscale and usually owner-operated, these properties add a touch of rustic romance to a beach chic destination that has come into its own with five-star hotels, upscale shopping opportunities and an eclectic dining scene.

Besides the properties themselves, Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Superior Small Lodgings offer something else that is comparably small and friendly: the bill. Especially during the summer and early fall months, it isn’t uncommon to find an SSL property just steps from one of the destination’s Blue Wave beaches for approximately $100 per night – an outstanding value compared to most beach destinations. 

From now through September 30, 2007, many of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Superior Small Lodgings are offering a free night…stay three nights, get the fourth night free.  Bookings should be made through each individual property. A full list of Greater Fort Lauderdale’s Superior Small Lodgings properties can be found at www.sunny.org/ssl. 

Examples of property-specific experiences and amenities at Superior Small Lodgings in Greater Fort Lauderdale include:

At The Pillars Hotel at New River Sound (www.pillarshotel.com), the only thing more breathtaking than the view of the Intracoastal Waterway is the decadent dinner served to guests on most nights. The meal – strictly limited to hotel guests and prepared by the property’s private chef – takes place under a romantic setting of the stars and watching the mega-yachts cruise by. The Pillars also offers an extensive menu of spa treatments which can be scheduled dockside, poolside or in the privacy of your guestroom. Need a beach break? The hotel is an easy two-block walk to the renowned Fort Lauderdale Beach.

Villa Sinclair Beach Suites & Spa (www.villa-sinclair.com) is a converted Spanish-style mansion dating back to the 1940s redesigned with Parisian flair. Just 150 feet from Hollywood Beach and its newly-renovated Broadwalk, Villa Sinclair’s highlights include a tropical garden and patio, a cedar sauna and a hot tub “Vita-spa” that sits up to six. Parlez vous francais? The owners speak the language of love, French. 

  Leave the guide book at home when staying at Cottages by the Ocean (info available at www.4rentbythebeach.com) in Pompano Beach. Owner Elaine Fitzgerald knows as much about the destination as Robert Poirier does about palm trees. Elaine has the inside scoop not only on the area’s best restaurants and best attractions but its best-kept secrets as well. The six-room property also is conveniently located just two blocks from a pristine swath of beachfront.

Dubai had bought the Queen Elizabeth 2, one of the world’s most majestic cruise liners, and planned to turn it into a luxury floating hotel.

Dubai said it has paid Cunard Line 100 million dollars for the liner, the latest move in its ambition to become a global tourism desert hotspot ranking alongside Las Vegas.
Carol Marlow, president of Cunard, said the company was delighted that when the QE2’s “legendary career as an ocean liner ends there will continue to be a permanent home for her that will enable future generations to experience fully both the ship and her history”.

“Dubai is a maritime nation and we understand the rich heritage of QE2. She is coming to a home where she will be cherished,” Dubai World chairman Sultan Ahmed bin Sulayem said in a statement

The QE2 has crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times in its 40-year lifetime and carried over 2.5 million passengers.

But it will sail no more once it is berthed at a huge multi-million dollar palm-shaped artificial island and turned into a luxury hotel from 2009, according to the plans unveiled by Istithmar, the investment arm of state-owned Dubai World development company.

The Palm Jumeirah, which is one and a half times the size of New York’s Central Park and can be seen from space, will eventually include thousands of luxury apartments and villas as well a hotel part-owned by billionaire Donald Trump.

The 963 foot (293 metre) long ship weighs around 70,000 tonnes and has a combined guest and crew capacity of 2,794, Cunard said on its website.

Dubai’s latest purchase is just another step in the city-state’s sprint to become a major tourist and leisure destination to rank alongside Las Vegas and Orlando in the United States.

The ship, which was launched by Queen Elizabeth II herself in September 1967, is the longest-serving cruise liner in Cunard’s 168-year history and was its longest-serving flagship.

Since it came into service in 1969, the ship has undertaken 25 world cruises, has crossed the Atlantic more than 800 times and has carried more than 2.5 million passengers.

Istithmar said its refurbishment programme would aim to recreate the ship’s original interior and would also include a museum celebrating its rich history.

Dubai has undertaken several other mega-projects in order to more than double the number of its tourists to 15 million by 2015.

Work on Dubailand, a cluster of billion-dollar schemes billed as the “world’s most ambitious tourism, leisure and entertainment project”, is well under way.

Scheduled for completion around 2025, Dubailand is estimated to cost 235 billion dirhams (64 billion dollars) and will also house the world’s largest transparent snow dome and a Universal Studio theme park.

Equally ambitious is Burj Dubai, or Dubai Tower, which is touted to become the world’s tallest skyscraper.

Launched in early 2004, the construction of the one billion dollar tower by South Korea’s Samsung should be completed at the end of 2008.

Via High Chic

If a Florida Keys lifestyle is your dream there's another new place to check out . The Marlin Bay Yacht Club is an upscale marina community that will have 84 single family homes with a Dutch Colonial style. The featured model is a three-story home with three bedrooms and decks on every level. A fourth floor roof deck is reached via a spiral staircase in the master bedroom. The homes also include two-car garages. The homes have equity memberships with deepwater boat slips, a marina and a clubhouse. The homes range in price from $1.7 to $4 million.

Via Luxist