Ambergris Cay is being transformed at the Turks & Caicos Sporting Club in the British West Indies by DPS Development. The Cay will reportedly be developed into a luxurious sporting and housing development with its own jet strip and marina, and only electric-powered vehicles will be allowed on the Cay.

Sea-view sites for homes are being sold with prices ranging from $525,000 to $5,000,000, making sure that this private island affords not only immense luxury, but also exclusivity.

From a recent article in TheStreet.com

Fishing, snorkeling and other water activities will be offered by professional guides. About 450 homes will eventually be built. Private members pay a one-time $75,000 fee and about $7,500 in annual dues to be a part of the club. The island is home to more than 18,000 iguanas, the seas are filled with coral reefs and turtles, and humpback whales migrate through the islands from January to March. One of the added benefits: no property taxes.

“The idea was, people want to own something. These are not time shares or vacation club projects,” says Peter Pollak, a managing partner of DPS Development. “They’re not in a resort with massive hotels and casinos and villa rental apartments. There’s pride of ownership and they’re stewards of the land.”

Private vacation villas offer many advantages for large groups traveling together. Luxury Retreats has responded to growing demand for villa rentals in Italy, and planning a villa vacation is now easier than ever before.

“Over the past two years, we’ve seen a marked increase in travelers eager to try the villa experience in Europe,” notes Ben Tuff, Director of Sales for Luxury Retreats, “and once they realize its unique advantages, our guests rarely go back to vacationing any other way.”
…
“Over the past six years, travelers have been able to browse our growing inventory of villa rentals in Italy online,” explains Clauderic Saint-Amand, Vice President of Marketing for Luxury Retreats. “We’re now pleased to be able to offer a selection of villas in catalogue form to make it even more enjoyable to plan a vacation with family and friends.”

source

Luxury Retreats is the sister company to CaribbeanWay, which specializes in Caribbean luxury villa rentals.

The 69-acre island is about 4,000 ft long sitting. The Cay is one of the northern most extremities of the Bahamas, 110 miles from West Palm Beach and 45 miles north of Freeport. On Walker’s Cay currently sits a defunct hotel and harbor, a private airport, a white-washed church and a diesel-fueled power plant.

A fishing show called Walker’s Cay Chronicles is currently ESPN network’s highest-rated outdoors sporting program.

From a recent article:

“We’re not going to turn it into something it’s not,” said Clark, a 47-year-old former accountant who now deals in hundreds of millions worth of development. “We’re going to try to keep the fishing feel.. It’s not going to be an Atlantis.”
…
Clark’s company expects to close on the property in June. Until then, the purchase price remains confidential. It could spend five to 10 years developing the resort, but in the short term will put the restaurant, airstrip and marina in working order.
…
A fishing show called Walker’s Cay Chronicles is the ESPN network’s highest-rated outdoors program.

“We’re not going to turn it into something it’s not,” said Clark, a 47-year-old former accountant who now deals in hundreds of millions worth of development. “We’re going to try to keep the fishing feel.. It’s not going to be an Atlantis.”

More and more people are buying a villa in Lanzarote in the Canary Islands. So you´ve spent many, many hours searching for the perfect villa, and you´ve found it! Everything is arranged with the estate agent at lawyer, now you just need to pay for it. So how do you send over the money?

The cheapest and easiest way is to use a specialist broker. You will see them advertised in overseas property magazines and the internet, or your estate agent can recommend one for you. By using a good broker you can achieve very favourable rates of exchange compared to what you might get at your high street bank, saving you perhaps thousands of pounds on the purchase price. When buying abroad, normally you have to pay a deposit to secure the property and have to pay the balance in 2 or 3 months time. For the deposit, you are likely to use a Spot Contract. This is where the rate of exchange is fixed at the moment in time when it is asked for. This rate of exchange can move quite a bit even in just one day. For the balance of the money, the most common method is to use a Forward Contract. This fixes a price today for a transaction to be made in the future. This eliminates the risk of currency fluctuation changes and means you know exactly how much your property is going to cost you.

Currency levels can fluctuate quite markedly as we´ve said. Sterling to Euro levels have moved by over 5% in the past 6 months, which means that on a property of 200,000 pounds sterling value, fixing the rate at the start could have saved you 10,000 pounds by the time it comes to hand over the money. Of course it can work the other way and you could lose the opportunity to gain through the fluctuation of the rate of exchange! Do you want to take the gamble?

Bob Dickie lives in Lanzarote and runs Luxury Villas Lanzarote who offer a wide range of private luxury holiday villas across the island to suit every budget. Living there, he knows every area and villa very well and can offer extensive up to date information regarding all aspects of your holiday. You will benefit from booking direct with the villa owner at lower prices. Lanzarote Villas.

Luxury Travel Magazine online has recently come out with their Top 10 World’s Most Romantic Luxury Hideaways list. Hotels making the list are sublime escapes in pristine surroundings offering unparalleled seclusion for romance.

Making this year’s list are irresistible hideaways around the globe including Capri’s chicest new retreat to a sublime resort on Brazil’s Costa Esmeralda and an enchanting, restored French chateau in the wine region of Beaujolais. The list also includes the USA’s best kept secret for a luxurious romantic escape.

Other hotels making the top ten list include magical hideaways in Patagonia and New Zealand, each nestled in dreamlike settings surrounded by breathtaking scenery, as well as an idyllic sanctuary adrift in the Indian Ocean’s Maldive Islands, an exotic kasbah in Morocco’s High Atlas mountains and an extravagant hotel overlooking the most famous monument ever built for love.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World (SLH), which boasts 359 hotels in nearly 60 countries, announced that it finished 2005 with a 10% increase in reservations revenue over the previous year.

“There is no arguing that luxury travel is on the rise,” commented SLH Joint Managing Director Paul Kerr. “As illustrated by our consistent growth throughout 2005, there is high demand for the very best accommodation. Not only will we continue to offer the best properties globally, we will strive to make the booking process much easier and more efficient through our online advancements – always delivering to our guests exactly what they want,” he added.

Overall, arrivals to SLH hotels in Europe were once again strong in 2005 with an increase of over 10% in revenue for travel to both France and Spain. Elevated demand for SLH properties in Paris and the Cote D’Azur in the South of France helped to fuel the growth in France; while the addition of four new member hotels contributed to the reservations growth in Spain. For 2005, America remained SLH’s number one source market making up 60% of the total global business, followed by the United Kingdom in second place.

Full article via TravelDailyNews

Tuscany located in central Italy is the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance and a popular vacation destination. When you need something that isn’t your average farmhouse in Tuscany, RentVillas.com has your answer. Here are their latest offerings from their latest press release. Most Italian villa rentals are Saturday to Saturday, with a one week minimum stay.

• Castello Machiavelli (2): Located in a 9th century castle once owned by Machiavelli, this apartment is surrounded by a medieval hamlet and gorgeous views. The location is ideal for day trips to Lucca, Florence, Siena, San Gimignano, and Volterra.
• Villa Antonietta (10): A traditional but well-equipped country villa in the midst of the Chianti hills, this property sits near the ruins of a 14th century castle. Open-beam ceilings and terra cotta floors provide that authentic Tuscan feel.
• Il Rifugio (2): This apartment within an ancient Vertine hamlet provides picturesque surroundings for an intimate Italian vacation with your loved one. Explore nearby villages Gaiole and Radda or take a day trip to Monteverchi, Siena, or Florence.
• La Villa Monteriggioni (6): Overlooking the medieval walled hamlet of Monteriggioni, this stone villa is decorated with frescoes and original 17th century furniture. Vineyards and olive trees on the property produce olive oil and Chianti Classico wine, while the garden by the private pool is kept in classic Italian style.

Well what do you think? Have you stayed at these villas?

Newlyweds Laura Dern and Ben Harper, who celebrated their long-tem love with a Christmas-themed wedding in late December, enjoyed their first few weeks of wedded bliss in Paris, where the couple, along with their children, stayed at The Ritz… Toulouse Lautrec may have been surrounded by a bevy of beauties for his artistic inspiration whenever the artist attended the Moulin Rouge, but none could equal the grace of Penelope Cruz, who recently visited the legendary dance hall with her sister during her stay in the City of Light, Paris… Brit pop sensation Robbie Williams was able to take one of France’s top musical achievements, an NRJ Award for best international male performer, back to his suite at The Ritz-Carlton, where the singer stayed during his stay in Cannes.

Full article here.

The classic Sea Jewel charter yacht, constructed in 1987 was recently listed for sale at a price of $17.8 million dollars. The yacht accommodates up to 15 in 6 cabins. This 151′ motor yacht is probably one of the finest Feadships of her size ever built. She is maintained by professional crew of ten and is currently stationed in the Western Mediterranean.

Guest accommodations for up to eleven in two double, two twin and one triple cabin all with en suite marble bathrooms. The guest accommodations are situated on the lower deck area, which features a private guest lounge. Adjacent to the lounge is a very convenient triple cabin with its own bath for children or staff. The decor throughout all staterooms is truly outstanding.

The large salon on the main deck has generous seating and, like the rest of the yacht, is tastefully paneled and decorated. The dining salon is also on this level and seats up to 12 guests. There is also a sky lounge salon with convertible sofa bed located on the bridge deck level with the captain’s cabin forward.

On the bridge deck level, there is seating for up to 30 guests out of doors. This area is completely private. The aft part of the bridge deck consists of a large seating area that can also be used for outside dining. On the main aft deck, there is another outstanding dining area.

The captain’s cabin is on the bridge deck and has an en suite office. On the forward lower deck level, there are comfortable crew quarters for eight in four double cabins. Each cabin has its own en suite bathroom. The large crew mess is located opposite the galley. There is a large laundry room with two washers and two dryers. There is also a walk-in refrigerator/freezer, cold room and ample storage areas.

Whistler, British Columbia is aproximately 78 miles (126 kilometres), from Vancouver, and the area has several large hotels, eateries and bars, condominiums, and expensive homes. The area is also the location of the top rated Whistler Blackcomb ski resort which has been selected as the site of the 2010 Olympic Winter Games. The slopes are ideal for all ages and skill levels. This European-style resort has three glaciers, more than 200 marked trails, 33 lifts and 12 alpine bowls with a vertical drop of more than 5,000 feet (1524 meters). Abercrombie & Kent is offering an experience at Whistler that has an unprecedented degree of luxury and exclusivity and service.

You can start your ski fantasy with a private limousine transfer from Vancouver International Airport along the picturesque Sea to Sky Highway. Then find yourself in comfort with a deluxe mountain view room and a “Ski Concierge” to manage your needs and equipment. Along with the professional instruction, from beginner to expert, with reserved lunch seating at the best slope-side dining. And don’t worry, you won’t be sitting around waiting in a lift lines.

• High Performance Equipment - “Travel Light” and we outfit you in high-performance rental equipment from Salomon, Rossignol, Atomic and Burton . Each morning warm boots are waiting — and at the end of the day, let the Ski Concierge take charge of the equipment to store it for the night.
• Professional Instruction - Spend half of each day with Whistler’s top instructors, people who know the very best places on the mountains for alpine skiing, cross-country skiing, skate skiing or snowboarding. High tech lifts transport you to the alpine world high above the village with no waiting.
• Fresh Tracks - For those who just can’t get enough skiing, we include “Fresh Tracks” tickets for an early morning breakfast high up on the mountain and first crack at the fresh powder on untouched slopes. Your Private Guide skis you to the front of the line at every lift.
• Reserved Lunch Seating - At the end of your morning lesson, your ski guide escorts you to a premier slopeside restaurant, where you are seated immediately, enjoying superb service and spectacular views.
• Christine’s on Blackcomb - Rock and wood accents create a warm and inviting ambiance. Chef Steve Bjornmark has updated the menu with lighter fare including Ahi tuna, a variety of satays, hot sandwiches and pastas. Located at the top of the Solar Coaster Express inside The Rendezvous.
• Steeps on Whistler - This welcome refuge is a casual full-service restaurant featuring West Coast favorites. Daily specials complement classics such as the Smoked Salmon Chowder. Located in the Roundhouse Lodge on Whistler Mountain.
• Exclusive Snowcat Ride - During your stay, climb aboard one of the resort’s Snowcat trail groomers to ride along closed slopes empty of everything except their twilight beauty. It’s a time and a place few skiers will ever experience – and an A&K exclusive.

The “Readers Choice” Awards were established by Travel Weekly in 1993 to acknowledge and celebrate excellence in the travel industry and are considered to be one of the highest accolades a travel company can receive.

“To be acknowledged as the world’s best by America’s top travel professionals is truly a great honor,” said Geoffrey Kent, chairman and chief executive officer of the Abercrombie & Kent Group of Companies. “Our mission is to provide the very best in travel and we succeed because of our focus on the customer. Travel agents recognize that our worldwide network of 48 destination management companies enables us to set a higher standard and deliver authentic experiences.”

“On behalf of all of us at Intrawest, I would like to congratulate the A&K team for the high recognition received from the top travel professionals across North America,” said Joe Houssian, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Intrawest Corporation. “Abercrombie & Kent is an impressive operation and we are starting to realize the benefits of bringing our companies together in a strategic partnership. We will leverage our leadership position in the destination resort and luxury travel industries to build on the impressive growth of this business.”

The Danai Beach Resort & Villas offers luxury and service on a clifftop hideaway which overlooks white sandy beaches along the coast of the Aegean Sea. In the nothern part of Greece amidst the towering pine trees are 60 spacious suites and villas, some with private plunge pools and all personalized and decorated in the highest regard.

The Danai Beach Resort & Villas is a 50 minute drive from the Makedonia International Airport Thessaloniki Greece. Situated, between two traditional villages, Metamorfosis 2.5 km and Nikiti 4 km. Its beach about 2.5 km long leading to Metamorfosis, attractive not only for its extensive golden sands, but also for the way the pine trees grow right down to the water’s edgee

The resort’s recreation facilities include tennis, swimming pool, sauna, water-skiing, non-motorized sports (windsurfer, paddle boat, kayaks), speed boat, motor cruiser for private touring, and there is an 18-golf course nearby. On-site facilities feature a full-service spa, fitness gym, boutique, jewelry store, newsstand, and wine cellar.

For the full experience there are intimate evening events on a private beach including what they refer to as “Maria Callas” night, an opera tribute with champagne, candles, torches, white lounging sofas and tables which are spaced a fair distpart apart and brought directly onto beach. Shrimp and in-house smoked salmon canapés are offered, as the finest hand-picked cognacs and cigars are brought to the table for selection.

With 7 beaches and 16 luxury villas on a mere 740 acres (~3 square kilometres), Frégate Island in Seychelles, originally a hideaway for pirates, is a tropical paradise. The island is named after the Frégate bird which has a six-foot wingspan and can still be seen feeding off the island’s coast. Far, far away from the clatter of modern life, Seychelles lies four degrees south of the equator approximately 1,000 miles south of India, 1,000 miles east of Africa, and 1,000 miles north-east of Madagascar. The year round temperature averages 24-27° Celsius (75-86° Fahrenheit).

Mahé, Seychelles can be reached by flights from major European gateways, and the flying time from Europe is approximately 10 hours. Frégate Island is then only a twenty minute flight by chartered air from the main island where the international airport is located.

Rentals include a villa for 2 and start at 1900 euros per night with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included, with a 3 night minimum stay. Amenities include air-conditioning, satellite TVs, DVD/CD players, and Jacuzzi. The island resort has facilities which offer a spa services, 2 swimming pools, a marina with small sailboats and big game fishing, scuba diving, fitness equipment, 2 bars and 2 restaurants.

“After searching for the finest home for these animals since the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and noting that the temporary residences we found for them were no longer optimal, we feel that the best solution for the animals is to reunite them collectively in a new habitat,” said Don Jacobs, Chairman, Marine Animal Productions. He continued, “Atlantis has established empathy for our animals, our people and efforts to rebuild the community. They are committed to participating in these efforts by establishing a `Katrina Kids’ program with us which will sponsor trips for Mississippi Gulf Coast school children to visit the resort and the dolphins. A research program will also be established with regional Universities to enable ongoing collaboration with the Atlantis veterinary medical and research teams. We feel their heritage in building and operating the largest outdoor man-made marine animal exhibit in the world, their facilities, maintenance and husbandry standards make this the best home in the world for our 17 dolphins.”

Atlantis in Paradise Island includes hotel towers surrounding a 34-acre waterscape with 11 million gallons of fresh and saltwater lagoons and pools. The resort is home to the largest open-air marine habitat in the world with over 200 species and 70,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays, including The Dig, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through the ancient Atlantis. The resort spends approximately $33,000 per month just feeding its fish and wildlife.

Atlantis Resort’s management has also recently annouced a new development, The Residences at Atlantis, an exclusive condominium-hotel to be built within Atlantis, Paradise Island. Owners will enjoy all the exciting resort amenities, including access to the marine habitat, water activities, casino, gourmet dining and entertainment, yet reside within a gated community that includes a private pool. The 400 units are comprised of studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom suites with the finest finishes. Condominiums will be delivered turn key, totally furnished with designer touches including china and linens. The $200 million development project is a partnership between Kerzner International Limited and Turnberry Associates, one of the premier real estate development and property management companies in the United States.

SeaTree Estates, located only minutes from the famous Playa Grande Golf Club and Beach on the north coast of the Dominican Republic, offers pristine, oversized oceanfront luxury villas uniquely designed and custom developed to immediate rental or private use and is a a new and totally exclusive gated, oceanfront luxury villa community. The villas are provided to their new owners in live-in condition, providing a low-stress solution to luxury villa construction.

Seatree Estates has selected in December North Coast Management to provide preferred luxury villa rental and property management services. North Coast Management, a Dominican Republic property management company is to be the preferred provider of comprehensive property management and luxury villa rental services to the luxury villas of SeaTree.

“We have watched North Coast Management grow to become the leading property management firm in our area,” said Lynn Kramer, co-founder of SeaTree and co-creator of Sea Horse Ranch. She continued, “Their attention to detail, superior management services and totally professional approach to property management demonstrates that they share the vision we have for the luxury villas of SeaTree.”

North Coast Management provides its management services to additional villas in the surrounding area, including Villa Castellamonte, Flying Cloud and Villa Agualinda. Villa Cantamar, the first luxury villa to be completed at SeaTree, has already retained North Coast Management.

“We are delighted to have been selected by SeaTree as their preferred property management company,” remarked Michelle Matthews, president of North Coast Management. “SeaTree has set a new, higher standard for quality in luxury villa developments that demands the superior villa management services we are known to provide,” she concluded.

Forbes has released new feature showing their favorite destinations for 2006. We know higher prices won’t keep the discerning traveler away. The picture thumbnail is of the Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

Bad news for the consumer is good news for the hotels, however. “The travel industry will do really well this year. It’s a great time to be an operator,” says Freitag, who predicts room-rate increases of 5% in 2006–well above inflation. “What that means for the individual is: Book early, book often,” he advises.

The trends are the same overseas, and Freitag cites especially high demand in such vacation hot spots as the Caribbean and Europe. “We’ve seen anecdotally that new resorts are coming online in those locations. While we have no hard numbers, demand is certainly up there, as well.” That means you’ll be paying more for your hotel this year, whether it’s in dollars, francs or euros.

The Washington, D.C.-based Travel Industry Association of America predicts that high energy costs, which are pushing up air fares, slower growth in corporate profits and weak CEO confidence will all be factors affecting the travel industry in 2006. Increasing travel costs led TIA to forecast domestic and international travel spending in the U.S. to increase just 4.4% this year, compared with last year’s 7.8% jump.

Forbes Travel Feature: Where We Want To Go In 2006

• The Addison, Amelia Island, Fla.
• L’Albergo della Regina Isabella, Ischia, Italy
• Hotel Basico, Playa del Carmen, Mexico
• The Huntley Santa Monica Beach, Santa Monica Beach, Calif.
• Ku Anguilla, British West Indies
• Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
• Monart Luxury Destination Spa, Enniscorthy, Ireland
• One&Only Maldives at Reethi Rah, North Male Atoll, The Maldives
• The Palms, Providenciales, Turks and Caicos
• The Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, The Cayman Islands

A complete list of winners is as follows (* signifies consecutive year winner):

Best Airline in the World
Singapore Airlines *

Best Airline for Business Class
British Airways

Best Airline for New Business Class (new)
Malaysia Airlines

Best Airline for Domestic First Class (new)
United PS Service

Best Airline for First Class
Emirates

Best Airline for Premium Economy Class (new)
United Airlines-Economy Plus

Best Airline for Economy Class
JetBlue Airways

Best Low-Cost Carrier
JetBlue Airways *

Best Airline for Onboard Service and Flight Attendants
Asiana Airlines *

Best Airline in Mexico
Mexicana Airlines

Best Airline in Central/South America
Varig Brazilian Airlines

Best Airline in Canada
Air Canada *

Best Trans-Atlantic Airline (new)
Air France

Best Trans-Pacific Airline
Thai Airways International PCL *

Best Airline in the Nordic Countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway
and Sweden
Scandinavian Airlines *

Best Airline in the South Pacific, Australia and New Zealand
Qantas Airways *

Best Airline in Eastern Europe
Czech Airlines *

Best Airline to Russia, The CIS and Baltic States
Finnair *

Best Airline in Africa
South African Airways *

Best Airline in the Middle East
Emirates *

Best Airport Lounges
United Airlines-Red Carpet

Best Airport in the World
Changi Airport Singapore

Best Airport in North America
Chicago O’Hare International Airport *

Best Frequent Flyer Program
United Mileage Plus *

Best Airline Alliance
SkyTeam

Best International Hotel Chain
Park Hyatt *

Best Domestic Hotel Chain
Westin Hotels & Resorts *

Best Hotel in the United States
The Bel-Air, Los Angeles

Best Individual Hotel in Asia (new)
The InterContinental, Hong Kong

Best Individual Hotel in Europe (new)
The Ciragon Palace Kempinski, Istanbul

Best Individual Hotel in Canada (new)
Fairmont Le Chateau Frontenac, Quebec City

Best Asian Hotel Chain (new)
Grand Hyatt

Best European Hotel Chain (new)
Luxury Collection

Best Canadian Hotel Chain (new)
Fairmont Hotels & Resorts

Best Latin American Hotel Chain
Sheraton Hotels & Resorts *

Best Hotel Rewards Program in the World
InterContinental Hotels Group - Priority Club Rewards

Best Car Rental Company
Hertz *

Best Luggage Brand
Travelpro

Best International Cellular Phone Service
Cingular Wireless

Best Credit Card Rewards Program
American Express Membership Rewards *

Best Technological Gadget
Apple iPod

“We have a team in place and are ready to go,” said Sabrina Ford, president of Saber Air.

Saber Air is proposing to fly Boeing 757-200 long-range jets as a secondary airline offering service from Houston to Anchorage and on to Yuzno-Sakhalinsk. The Russian destination, on Sakhalin Island, is the location of booming oil and gas development, in which several U.S. companies have a stake.

“I left a teaching position in Spain to return to Alaska to help get this launched,” said Phil Bray, chief operations officer for Saber Air. “That shows you my commitment to serve Alaska and Russia with a viable airline.”

Russia Jet Direct ceased operations in September 2005 after a start-up in August.

Waiting for Santa to slide down the chimney with papers, Bray indicated that a deal was close to closing for the funding shortly before the Christmas holiday.

source

He packed his bag and with the firm belief that it is difficult to starve in a civilized country, he left the boat.

It was rare to see a white person on the beach and ever rarer to see more than one sailboat in the bay. The days were spent looking for a job in the morning and swimming in Cane Garden Bay in the afternoon. It took 3 weeks to convince Charlie and Ginny Carey to give him a job in their fledging new charter company, ‘The Moorings‘.

‘The Moorings’ is now an enormous empire with hundreds of charter yachts in bases all over the world, but it started with 4 Pearson 35’s and a small Dufour. Charlie had just added several new Morgan Out Island 41’s that had arrived with many problems. Bob Woodrow, Bill Hirst (now a surveyor), George Forster (Road Town port pilot) and Ed took turns with charter check outs, area briefings and skippering jobs. Charlie and Ginny were great employers and pioneers in the charter industry. Several years later, all but one of the charter companies in Tortola were run by managers trained by them. Ed has fond memories of Charlie walking down the dock on Fridays, paying the crew in cash from a fist full of notes! A far cry from the multimillion dollar company ‘The Moorings’ became.

These before and after photographs of Road Town tell quite a story. The lower picture was taken from ‘Horse Path’ in 2002. The other was taken from a private residence in the late 60’s.

When Ed first sailed into Road Town he saw 4 bedroom houses for sale in prime locations for $15,000 that would be worth millions today. And until the late 60’s, Road Town was primarily built around a single lane road tucked into the hillside, with the stores backing onto the water. A loophole in the law allowed any entrepreneur to own land he reclaimed.

The character may have changed but now hundreds of people take their vacation in these islands, which still have more beds on charter yachts than in hotels. It’s still hard to beat as a yachting cruising ground, but I bet it was beautiful in in the days before the people came!

View more pictures of Tortola’s change.

Products and services that were once the preserve of a very wealthy few—from designer handbags to fast cars, bespoke tailoring and domestic servants—are increasingly becoming accessible, if not to everyone, then certainly to millions of people around the world.
…
As Thorstein Veblen noted over a century ago in “The Theory of the Leisure Class”—the book in which he coined the phrase “conspicuous consumption”—spending lavishly on expensive but essentially wasteful goods and services is “evidence of wealth” and the “failure to consume in due quantity and quality becomes a mark of inferiority and demerit.” But in the 21st century, “being a conspicuous consumer is getting harder and harder”, says James Lawson of Ledbury Research, a firm that advises luxury businesses on market trends. What does a billionaire have to do to get noticed nowadays?

Global economic and population growth has created many more wealthy people, some of whom seek to exhibit their wealth with material possessions.

Being a millionaire, for instance, is becoming commonplace. In 2004 there were 8.3m households worldwide with assets of at least $1m, up by 7% on a year earlier, according to the latest annual survey by Merrill Lynch and Capgemini. The newly wealthy are often desperate to affirm their status by conspicuously consuming the favoured brands of the already rich. In developed countries this can be seen, in its extreme form, in the rise of “Bling”—jewellery, diamonds and other luxuries sported initially by rappers—and Britain’s unsophisticated Burberry-loving “chavs”.

This new class of wealth and the attitudes in the developed world are contributing to an increase in truely deluxe luxury travel around the world.

As it gets ever harder to consume conspicuously, are some traditional luxury consumers giving up trying? According to Virginia Postrel, author of “The Substance of Style”, conspicuous consumption is much more important when people are not far from being poor, as in today’s emerging economies. In developed countries, in particular, “status is always there, but the shift in the balance is towards enjoyment”. For instance, the first thing the newly super-rich tend to buy is a private plane. But that, she says, is “not so much about distinguishing themselves from the masses as not being stuck with them in a security line”.

Texan and currently indicted congressman Tom Delay has traveled like a the best among us during the past 6 years. A recent article in the Arizona central details some of the more luxurious destinations for Delay, his colleagues and team.

He was very friendly. We always see the relaxed side of politicians,” said Daniel Vassi, owner of the French bistro Chez Daniel at Palmas del Mar. Vassi said DeLay has eaten at his restaurant every year for the past three and was last there in April with about 20 other people, including the resort’s owners.

The restaurant is a cozy and popular place on the yacht-lined marina at Palmas del Mar. Dishes include bouillabaisse for about $35.50, Dover sole for $37.50 and filet mignon for $28.50. Palmas del Mar is also a DeLay donor, giving $5,000 to DeLay’s Americans for a Republican Majority PAC in 2000.

Delay seems to find interesting ways to pay for his luxury vacations. In 2004, DeLay was admonished three times by the ethics committee, and it has been recently alleged in 2001 the Korea-U.S. Exchange Council spent at least $106,921 to finance the three-day trip from Washington to Seoul which DeLay and accompanying staff assistants described at the time as having an “educational” purpose.

AP’s review found DeLay’s various organizations spent at least $1 million over the past six years on hotels, restaurants, golf resorts and corporate jet flights for their boss and his associates.

Although it’s illegal for a lawmaker to tap political donations for a family vacation, it is perfectly legal to spend it in luxury if the stated purpose is raising more money or talking politics.

Tom Delay is currently under indictment for charges that he conspired to pass corporate contribution money to republican candidates for the Texas legislature. It has been reported that DeLay “received free travel valued at $13,998.55 from Fox News Sunday for ‘officially connected travel’ on October 1-2, 2005, from Sugarland, TX to Washington, D.C. and back to Sugarland, TX. the weekend after his indictment on September 28, 2005.

DeLay’s own political empire has underwritten far more travel.

The destinations for DeLay or his political team include a Ritz-Carlton hotel in Jamaica; the Prince Hotel in Hapuna Beach, Hawaii; the Michelangelo Hotel in New York; the Wyndham El Conquistador Resort & Golden Door Spa in Fajardo, Puerto Rico; and the Phoenician resort in Scottsdale, built by Charles Keating before he became the most public face of the savings and loan scandal in the early 1990s.

There’s also the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Fla., offering “dazzling views of the Gulf of Mexico, warm golden sunsets and three miles of pristine beach” plus golf, a spa, goose-down comforters, marble bathrooms and private, ocean-view balconies. Rooms run from about $389 to more than $3,000 a night in December, the month DeLay’s PAC spent $4,570 on lodging there in 2004.

“He liked to talk to people,” said Pedro Muriel, a waiter at Puerto Rico’s El Conquistador Resort. Muriel recalled DeLay staying in an enclave of privately owned red tile-roofed villas.

The villas have up to three bedrooms, kitchens, living rooms and French doors that open onto terraces or balconies facing the Caribbean. Prices average about $1,300 a night.

DeLay’s donors have also financed visits to country clubs and tournament-quality golf courses, including the exclusive Baltusrol Golf Club in Springfield, N.J., site of this summer’s PGA Championship; Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pa., home of another PGA event; and Harbour Town Golf Links, a course on Hilton Head Island, S.C., that was designed in consultation with Jack Nicklaus.

“World class. Dynamic. Luxury resort. Spend a day, spend a week, spend a lifetime,” another DeLay fund-raising spot, the ChampionsGate golf resort near Orlando, invites on its Web site.

The resort, where a round of golf costs $70 to $80 per player on top of lodging, has two top-notch courses designed by pro golfer Greg Norman.

Dining at fine restaurants also is routine. The stops for DeLay and his associates include Morton’s of Chicago, where the average dinner for two goes for about $170 before tax and tip, and “21″ in Manhattan, a longtime glamour spot where American caviar goes for $38 for a taste.

Say what you want about his politics or ethics, but clearly this man knows how to travel.

Lansing Cay, where 75 percent of the island’s shore consists of sugar sand beaches, is in the initial planning stage and is planned to be an ultra-exclusive island paradise on a smaller, more intimate scale than Musha Cay Resort, the statement said.

It added that Melk’s inspiration came from observing what a famous entertainment couple (who were former frequent guests of Musha Cay) has done by developing a spectacular villa and support buildings on a nearby island of similar size to Lansing Cay.

The plan for Lansing Cay is to build a six-bedroom, three-story, 12,000 square foot Manor House at the highest point on Lansing.

The planned six-bedroom, three-story home will have a fabulous great room/dining room, a workout/spa area and a large veranda surrounding the entire structure with 360-degree panoramic views of the turquoise blue water that is famous in the Exumas.

Preliminary concepts for Lansing will somewhat mirror the Bahamian/English Colonial architecture of Musha Cay with some very interesting improvements, according to Howard Holtzman, the original architect for Musha Cay.

A sea wall and boat landing will be built in deep water on the northern most tip of Lansing Cay and an additional, three houses will be constructed for the island manager, chef, other staff and guests.

It is planned that Lansing Cay will be available to rent when completed to guests who prefer an even more intimate getaway than Musha Cay and when Musha Cay is totally occupied and requires additional capacity. Completion is planned for Fall 2007.

Sounds like a great island to follow.

Containing over 350 properties in Italy, France, Greece, Spain, Portugal, Croatia, Gozo, Cyprus and the Caribbean, The Villa Book continues to grow rapidly, adding new destinations for new vacation experiences. Imagine relaxing at a beautiful villa with private pool in Tuscany or Provence, or a luxurious island retreat on Mykonos or Ibiza. For the romantic at heart, maybe a villa on the magical Greek island of Santorini or a charming riad in exotic Marrakech.

And it’s not just villas …. Whether for business or pleasure, The Villa Book also offers stylish apartments in the city centres of Venice, Florence, Siena, Rome, Milan, Paris, Prague, Bath. In all cases, the apartments are close to famous cultural sites – you could be around the corner from the Spanish Steps in Rome, on the Grand Canal in Venice, the Piazza della Signoria in Florence, or overlooking the Seine from a terrace on Ile St Louis in Paris. These apartments make a great home base for exploring the charm at the heart of these historic cities.

No longer will you need to search the web endlessly and worry about the information you are given. You can book with confidence with the professionals and be assured of a personal and informative service. Many of the properties are exclusive to The Villa Book and you will not find them anywhere else. For those that are not, due to the company’s customer driven ethics and influence with local agents and owners, you will find the rates extremely competitive.

Most of the properties have at least some maid service and other services can usually be arranged, including a full time chef, yacht charter, babysitter or transfers to and from the airport. Unlike a hotel holiday, staying at a villa offers flexibility, privacy and space to unwind and The Villa Book will ensure a personal service to make sure you find exactly what you are looking for. Stays of less that one week are allowed at some properties and you will be protected against currency fluctuations and credit card surcharges.

• La Vie en Rose in Marigot St. Martin Tel: 0590.87.54.42
• Le Chanteclair in Marigot, St. Martin Tel: 05.90.87.94.60
• Citrus Restaurant at Lowlands Cupecoy St. Maarten Tel:059954.54343
• Mario’s Bistro in Marigot, St. Martin Tel: 05.90.87.06.36
• L’Escapade in Grand Case Tel: 05.90.87.74.05
• Le Tropicana in Marina Port La Royale, Marigot Tel: 05.90.87.79.07
• Le Pressoir in Grande-Case, St. Martin 05.90.87.76.62
• Temptation at The Lowlands, Cupecoy, St. Maarten Tel:05995.4588254

The rapid growth in e-commerce has been slow to impact wine merchants, due partly to the complexity of interstate shipping of alcohol, and partly to a reticence on the part of consumers to obtain vintages from cyberspace. Personal Cellar addressed this issue with a sophisticated transaction engine which ensures that each product is offered for sale only where shipping is permitted. Shipping is tightly controlled, with refrigerated trucks and careful handling.

For winemakers, Personal Cellar has opened new sales channels and made it easier to manage their inventory. Many smaller operations — which produce some of the finest wines on the market — lack the infrastructure to continuously promote their product. Personal Cellar frees them to concentrate their efforts on winemaking, and can also help by moving “library” wines quickly when warehouse space is needed for a new season’s crush. This, in turn, adds up to savings for the consumer.

To ensure buyer satisfaction, Personal Cellar submits each new wine to a tasting panel for review, and guarantees a full refund to the customer if the wine is returned. Personal Cellar has grown steadily over the past four years as online shoppers gain confidence that their purchases are “Tasted, Recommended, Guaranteed.” Fine vintages are reasonably priced, and auctions offer an opportunity to acquire them at prices far below the suggested retail cost. Both novice and connoisseur wine enthusiasts are now enjoying premium wines, often not available from any other source, without paying a premium.

The Personal Cellar guarantee allows customers to build their own preferred stock without relying on reviews, ratings, or high prices as indicators of quality in a wine. In addition to bidding on auctions, visitors may search for wines, send gift packages, or join a wine club to discover new tastes each month. The inventory encompasses producers worldwide, and is continually expanding under the leadership of Company President Jono Hart.

As e-commerce in all sectors continues to grow, and as the effects of the recent Supreme Court decision governing interstate wine commerce are felt, antiquated laws will vanish. In the meantime, Personal Cellar’s guarantee of high quality, excellent service, and fair prices is paying off in increased sales and satisfaction.

Sir Rocco Forte, Chairman and Chief Executive of Rocco Forte Hotels, is in Las Vegas for the seventh annual Luxury Travel Expo today to accept a Leaders in Luxury award in recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the hotel industry.

The prestigious Leaders in Luxury awards ceremony is the grand finale of Luxury Travel Expo, which attracts the largest gathering of luxury suppliers in the world and is an opportunity for exhibitors, which include luxury travel destinations, cruise lines, hotels and tour operators, to meet with travel agents and industry leaders to discuss how best to promote the luxury travel market.

The Leaders in Luxury awards are presented to those individuals who have shown exemplified superior leadership in four categories, namely Hotel, Cruise, Tour and Travel Professional. The award recipients are carefully selected by the editors of three of the leading travel publications in the United States: Travel Agent Magazine, Luxury Travel Advisor and Premier Hotels & Resorts.

Previous winners of the hotel award include Paul McManus, President & CEO, The Leading Hotels of the World; Isadore Sharpe, Chairman and CEO, Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts; Chris Cahill, President & COO, Fairmount Hotels and Resorts; and Simon S. Cooper, President & COO, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company. Sir Rocco is the first European hotelier to receive the award.

Sir Rocco was Chairman and Chief Executive of Forte Plc until it was subjected to a hostile takeover bid in 1996. He has since proven his passion for the industry by starting again with Rocco Forte Hotels, a collection of luxury hotels that is enjoying an aggressive expansion throughout Europe. Ten luxury hotels have been launched in as many years and Rocco Forte Hotels’ flagship Brown’s Hotel opens in London on Monday, 12 December.

Over the next three years, an additional five properties will open, as Sir Rocco continues to work towards his aim of building a collection of luxury hotels covering all major European cities. Three properties are under construction in Germany ( Villa Kennedy opens in Frankfurt in March 2006, Hotel de Rome in

Berlin in September 2006 and a yet to be named Munich property in 2007 ) making Rocco Forte Hotels the country’s market leader with regard to luxury hotels.

A luxury hotel is also due to open in Prague in 2007 and work has recently started on Rocco Forte Hotels’ first resort property, Verdura Golf Resort & Spa, which will open in Sicily in 2008, bringing the total number of hotels in the Rocco Forte Hotels collection to 15.

All members of the Rocco Forte Hotels collection share a commitment to individual stylish design, attention to detail, exceptional levels of comfort and personal service, and the latest technology.

At the Dubai Airshow, Lufthansa Technik, recently unveiled a new model of the Airbus A380, the double-deck Airbus A380VVIP, a private aircraft with state-of-the-art interior on both the upper and the main deck.

Following the latest design ideas the main deck will be used for representative purposes and in-cludes a forward lounge, various meeting rooms, the main galley, a spacious royal lounge and dedicated dining & conference area. The rear section of the A380’s main deck features a First and a Business Class which would be used by the entourage. The upper deck will be reserved for the principal and accompanying guests. A private lounge with numerous divans could be found in the front section as well as a modern galley with a buffet. The mid section houses two guest rooms - separate bathrooms with showers are attached to them. Finally, the VVIP area will consist of a private office, a private bedroom with dressing area, a private bathroom and a wellness area in-cluding a steam bath and exercising machines.

GUANA ISLAND, BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS — Couples looking to indulge in complete seclusion and unparalleled opulence, look no further. Redefining the meaning of peace and privacy is Guana Island, a treasured private island located in the British Virgin Islands. From November 1 to December 19, 2005 and April 16 to August 31, 2006, Guana Island is offering the “Indulge Me” package representing the ultimate week-long paradise escape for $14,000 per couple. Guests will enjoy personal attention to their every need, first-class dining and champagne, and activities including a day trip aboard a luxury yacht, secluded beach picnics, rejuvenating massages and much more.

Guana Island’s “Indulge Me” package embodies utmost privacy and service second-to-none with accommodations at the island’s North Beach Cottage, a completely secluded one-bedroom house with living room, kitchen and bath and sweeping views of the Atlantic Ocean. Nestled on its own 1/3 mile beach, the Cottage features sundecks and a private pool. The “Indulge Me” package includes the following:

• Eight days, seven nights at North Beach Cottage.
• Full body massage for him and her. The massage ends with a
  moisturizing body polish with a choice of Cucumber Mango, Grapefruit, Lemon
  Grass or Guava Fruit lotion.
• Full day on the island’s luxury yacht Sovereign, a 68′ Sunseeker.
• Two Guana Island T-shirts.
• Welcome bottle of champagne.
• Three meals per day.
• Wines with lunch and dinner.
• Afternoon tea and coffee.
• Castaway picnic on a secluded beach.
• Sunset cruise with tropical drinks.
• Taxi and boat transfers.

Guests of Guana Island enjoy complimentary access to kayaks, small sailboats, windsurfers, paddle boat, tennis courts as well as freedom to explore the Island’s seven beaches and twelve miles of nature trails.

Guana Island also offers additional options for couples seeking a memorable escape. Ideal for a honeymoon, Guana Island’s “Romantic Escape” package includes eight days and seven nights in a guest room with terrace, welcome bottle of champagne, wine with lunch and dinner, three meals daily, beach picnic, sunset cruise and more. Rates start at $4,550 per couple for an eight-day/seven-night stay. Additionally, couples that want to bring the entire family down to celebrate their retreat or “familymoon” can rent the entire island. Private island rates start at $16,500 per day and include accommodations in fifteen double-occupancy rooms and North Beach Cottage, the island’s private villa, three meals per day plus wine with lunch and dinner, beach barbecue with a Caribbean band, afternoon tea, coffee and snacks, complimentary use of non-motorized watersports equipment including kayaks, snorkeling gear and fishing equipment, and three round-trip group boat and taxi transfers.

“Each guest is unique and has a special idea of what they want in their holiday,” says AnnChristine Gormley, Director of Sales for Guana Island. “If they want more or less than a package offers, we develop a vacation that fulfills their dreams. From simple to simply extravagant, we can arrange just about anything.”

Guana Island, an 850-acre private island located in the British Virgin Islands, offers seven beaches, 15 guest rooms and a private villa. With a focus on privacy, the island only offers accommodations for 36 guests. The resort island offers watersports, two tennis courts, a croquet court and an oceanview dining terraces. Guana Island is home to more than 50 species of birds, including the roseate flamingo that can be seen while exploring the islands many hiking trails. Started in 1933, Guana Island is the longest run hotel in the British Virgin Islands. For more information or reservations visit the Guana Island Website.

The 19 land parcels were sold on a private treaty basis to a group of 18 individual buyers. The total purchase price was $308psf for the 18,084sqm island.

“This upward trend in the value of our islands reflects a strong demand from individuals seeking a unique lifestyle that only Sentosa Cove offers,” Margaret Goh, General Manager of Sentosa Cove, said.

“Our decision to release the land parcels on Treasure Island for sale in the retail market was to cater to the strong demand by individual home owners seeking to build and design their very own personalised bungalow villas with private berths,” Ms Goh said.

53 per cent of the plots were sold to foreigners from Malaysia, China and Hong Kong.

Treasure Island will house 19 waterway bungalows where homeowners have the luxury of mooring their private yachts at their backyards. The sizes of the bungalow parcels range from 778.4sqm to 1,297sqm.

Since its first launch in October 2003, a total of 189 bungalow lots have been sold, representing 88 per cent of the total number of bungalow lots in its Northern Precinct. With the exception of Paradise and Coral Islands, all bungalow lots in Sentosa Cove have been sold in the retail market on an individual basis.

Bungalow land values on Sentosa Cove have appreciated by 50 per cent on an average since from March 05 onwards – after Sentosa Cove launched its private treaty method of sale.

IN 2006, AMANRESORTS ARRIVES IN THE CARIBBEAN

On a secluded corner of the Island of Providenciales in the Turks & Caicos Islands, British West Indies (B.W.I.), Amanresorts will open its first resort in the Caribbean, Amanyara. The resort derives its name from ‘aman,’ the Sanskrit word for peace, and ‘yara’ the word for place in the language of the Arawak Indians, one of the region’s indigenous peoples. It enjoys a pristine location well removed from much of the development on the eastern part of the island. Transfer from the international airport of Providenciales is 20 minutes along a narrow coastal road that rises to a hill and then falls away into a flat plain covered with native bush and stunted trees.

Located on the western coast, adjacent to Malcolm Road Beach, the resort provides immediate access to the pristine reefs of the Northwest Point Marine National Park just offshore. Embracing a landscape of ponds and ocean, Amanyara is comprised of freestanding, contemporary ocean, beach and pond pavilions and two, three-bedroom villas, all of which feature shaded areas on three terraces with large sliding glass doors. Open to views and cooling sea breezes, designed for lounging, dining and sun-bathing, Amanyara reflects the colourful palette of the Caribbean.

Elegant private villas and pavilions blend unobtrusively with their surrounds, offering easy access to diving, golf and spa treatments. Amanresorts will confirm reservations from 1 March, 2006.