Elite Traveler

03/27/2023

Regarded as one of the most luxurious mountain villages in Europe, Gstaad is a must-go for lovers of the finer things. As the village’s only five-star hotel open year-round, Ultima Gstaad is unmissable, indisputably providing guests with the best experiences, paired with incredible views.

Though situated in restful remoteness, Ultima Gstaad makes the journey easy with both airport transfers and a helipad on offer. Access to the Presidential Suite is equally impressive with a private elevator directly from the parking lot to your doorstep.

Seeping with stunning views, the Presidential Suite’s two bedrooms each have their own private balcony in addition to a bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.

Back in the living area, the open-plan lounge and reception leads into a well-lit kitchen. While it may be chilly outdoors, rich carpets, fur blankets and a steam fireplace fill the suite with a warm glow, complementing the chalet-feel that the wooden ceiling beams project.

Read more: https://elitetraveler.com/suites/11709/presidential-suite-ultima-gstaad

03/27/2023

The Best Luxury Literary Hotels Across the World

Some of the world's finest hotels have been welcoming writers into their arms for centuries now, acting as a home away from home in the city of their muse.

For the greatest luxury literary hotels across the globe:

Remaining just as alluring in their elusive glamor today, these unmissable luxury literary hotels have inspired writers throughout history.

03/27/2023

Jacob & Co has launched the Billionaire Timeless Treasure – a one-of-a-kind $20m timepiece crafted with rare yellow diamonds.

What justifies this hefty price tag? The luxury brand embarked on a three-and-a-half-year quest to collect 880 carats of the precious gem before spending thousands of hours cutting the rough yellow diamonds using the highly complex square-shaped Asscher cut pattern.

Just 216.89 carats made the final cut; every stone was meticulously checked to ensure its color and clarity were up to Jacob & Co’s exacting standards.

Read the full story: https://bit.ly/3KlHJe9

03/27/2023

The Finest Dive Watches of 2023

Featuring OMEGA Watches, ROLEX, and Brietling, these waterproof watches boast higher water resistance and a host of safety features.

The very best dive watches boast higher water resistance (300 meters and up) and a host of premium safety features.

03/26/2023

A warm island breeze flows through the tall open-walled lobby to gently greet new arrivals at Four Seasons Mauritius at Anahita. The Indian Ocean archipelago is around 500 miles east of Madagascar and has drawn everyone from Charles Darwin to Mark Twain to its alluringly remote shores over the past 150 years.

The 64-acre, all-villa resort located on Mauritius’s serene east coast is an expanse of lush tropical gardens and swaying coconut palms, featuring two beautiful beaches (with a third on a nearby islet), a thatched-roof overwater spa, fitness center, watersports center and access to two golf courses.

Accommodation is spread between the mainland, where the majority of the facilities lie, and the resort’s private island, which is joined by an elevated pathway over the lagoon. Privacy is in abundance whether you stay in one of the 45 sprawling residences or one of the 90 1,130-sq-ft one-bedroom pool villas.

Read the full review: https://bit.ly/ETFSMauritius

03/25/2023

Bittescombe Lodge & Deer Park is among the first properties in the UK from Mandarin Oriental Exclusive Homes. A partnership between Mandarin Oriental, the revered upscale hotel operator with its collective of celebrity “fans”, and StayOne, the prestigious private home rental operation purporting to deal in the top 1% of properties, MOXH was launched in 2022.

The property, completed in 2022, is a total transformation of a neglected farmhouse, barn and outbuildings in the heart of the English countryside, that was slowly sinking into obscurity. What had been for generations, a working family dairy farm is now a very individually styled and luxuriously appointed structure, primed to meet the demands of the most discerning of clients.

Purists for English country house decor may require a gulp of pure country air before they approach this uniquely stylized property, but an open mind will be amply rewarded. Contemporary is juxtaposed with traditional and embellished with elements ranging from subtly luxurious to colorfully unrestrained.

Read the full review: https://bit.ly/ETBittescombe

03/24/2023

The Vesper Martini: Few cocktails are as glam, nor are many as lethal. Famously named after James Bond’s love interest Vesper Lynd in Ian Fleming’s 1953 novel Casino Royale novel (as well as the 2006 film), the Vesper pushes any argument about gin versus vodka martinis out of the way simply by using both.

The iconic story tells that Bond ordered a dry martini, specifically requesting “three measures of Gordon’s, one of vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet.” It wasn’t until later, when he met Vesper Lynd, that his signature serve found its name.

While Bond favored Gordon’s in a Vesper, we’re inclined to make a small adjustment and instead use Eight Lands Gin.

Made in Speyside (there is more to Scotland than whisky, you know), Eight Lands Gin uses only organic botanicals to create its fresh, spicy flavors that lend themselves perfectly to a martini. After all, if you’re only using three ingredients, each one has to be perfect.

Get the full recipe: https://bit.ly/ETVesperMartini

03/24/2023

Flexjet Launches European Helicopter Division

Flexjet has brought its private helicopter division to Europe, adding a super-midsize Sikorsky S-76 to its fleet.

Read more:

Flexjet has brought its helicopter division to Europe, adding a super-midsize Sikorsky S-76 chopper to its fleet.

03/23/2023

Thrilling adventures and vistas straight out of a fairytale has rendered the magical Lake Tahoe one of the most coveted spots across the United States. From winter skiing to summer sailing, this utterly charming Lake Tahoe mansion grants an exciting opportunity to make the beloved region home throughout the year.

The five-bed, five-bath property has been perfectly designed to spotlight the great outdoors through peaked ceilings and enormous windows for seemingly endless vistas of sun-soaked pine trees, the distant mountains and the Carson Range.

Other highlights include a media room with a full bar, an extensive wine cabinet, a separate lounge, a games cove, and even a patio that features a hot tub, a large firepit, and views across the forest and the nearby golf course.

Read the full listing:
https://bit.ly/ETLakeTahoeMansion

03/23/2023

Food is one of the defining elements of any culture. How people prepare, consume and celebrate their cuisine, and the influences it draws from, speaks to the history and experience of that culture more than anything else.

Set at the nexus of North, Central and South America while also bordering the Caribbean Sea, Belize has been influenced by some of the most vibrant and varied cuisines on the planet.

From this, a food culture has evolved in Belize that is as complex and invigorating as the country itself.

Head to the link to discover our guide to a foodie getaway in Belize: https://elitetraveler.com/belize-tourism-board/belize-for-food-lovers

03/23/2023

Boasting extraordinary vista across the iconic New York City skyline, the last of the The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company New York NoMad Penthouses is on sale - and not one to be missed.

Read more:

03/23/2023

The Best Luxury Easter Eggs of 2023

We've curated a list of showstopping luxury Easter eggs including chocolatey creations from Gleneagles, Hotel Le Bristol Paris and Ashford Castle in Ireland.

Take a look:

Here, Elite Traveler has rounded up the very best luxury Easter eggs that are almost too beautiful to eat.

03/23/2023

How Up Norway is Creating a New Era of Luxury Travel

Where travel used to be about switching off, in recent years, the goal has moved towards switching on: Switching on to the landscape you’re visiting, the cultures you’re experiencing and, most notably, the environmental impact of the trips you’re taking.

One travel organization that has seamlessly tapped into this mindset shift iUp Norway, a luxury travel curator offering one-of-a-kind journeys across the Scandinavian country.

Self-described as the “antithesis of stock tourist travel”, Up Norway’s itineraries are considered, with everything from the places you visit to the people you meet carefully scrutinized to ensure both a limited environmental impact and a maximized social impact.

We spoke to founder Torunn Tronsvang to find out more:

Up Norway founder Torunn Tronsvang discusses creating a new era of luxury travel, seeing the Northern Lights and sustainability.

03/23/2023

Monica Galetti on her Return to MasterChef

Monica Galetti has announced she will be returning MasterChef UK: The Professionals after a year-long hiatus.

We caught up with the celebrated chef to find out what she got up to during her time away from the much-loved British cookery show.

Read the interview:

Monica Galetti discusses setting up her own restaurant, Mere, and returning to MasterChef after a year-long hiatus.

03/22/2023

With the opening of Principe, ex-Eleven Madison Park chef Abram Bissell is on a mission to prove that New York City will always have room for another Italian restaurant.

Located in SoHo on the corner where West Broadway meets Prince St., Principe is rooted in Italian culinary sensibilities, with a design-forward interior and accessible sharing menu easily establishing it as one to watch in the ever-growing list of new New York eateries.

Expect handmade pasta dishes, a raw seafood bar and smart, sleek design.

Read more: http://bit.ly/3LEGEil

03/22/2023

St. Regis Maldives Launches Coral Reef Conservation Project

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is partnering with marine environmental consultancy Reefscapers to launch a conservation initiative, in what will be the most advanced coral propagation program yet in restoring degraded reefs.

Uber-luxurious hotel St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort is partnering with Reefscapers to launch a coral reef conservation initiative.

03/22/2023

The Making of Johnnie Walker Black Label

Johnnie Walker's signature Black Label is made up of over 29 different whiskies from the four corners of Scotland. However, while whisky purists will tell you that the blend is always made to an exact secret recipe, the measurements, as well as the whiskies included, can change almost weekly.

We take a look behind the scenes with master blender, Dr Emma Walker:

Johnnie Walker master blender Emma Walker discusses the making of the Black Label Scotch whisky blend, which features 29 or more whiskies.

03/21/2023

Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow is a Rolls-Royce Finale

Rolls-Royce Motor Cars have unveiled the highly limited-edition Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow car, the last ever of the uber-iconic Wraith line.

Read more at the link:

Launched in March 2023, the Black Badge Wraith Black Arrow is the final issue of the iconic Rolls-Royce Wraith.

03/21/2023

London is gearing up to host a mammoth party in honor of King Charles III’s coronation. Taking place from 6 – 9 May 2023, the three-day extravaganza will include processions, religious services and a star-studded concert at Windsor Castle.

In typical fashion, London’s best hotels are going all out to celebrate the occasion. One such property is The Goring, a frequent haunt of members of the royal family, which is putting on several coronation-themed experiences to mark King Charles III’s ascension to the throne.

Among them is an extra-special afternoon tea menu including coronation Cotswold chicken sandwiches, scones decorated with an outline of the King and crown-shaped baked treats.

Head to the link to read our full round up of the very best hotels in London to celebrate the coronation: https://bit.ly/ETCoronation

03/21/2023

Bodyism Announces Residencies at Luxury Hotels

With the launch of the new wellness pop-ups this summer, Bodyism members and non-members will be given access to bespoke personal training sessions, fitness classes and ‘clean eating’ menus in stunning locations across the globe.

Read more:

One of London’s most exclusive wellness brands, Bodyism, has teamed up with a collection of luxury hotel brands to host pop-ups in 2023.

03/21/2023

Capella Unveils Hotel in Historic Sydney Building

Capella Hotels and Resorts has welcomed guests to its very first property in Australia, set within Sydney’s former Department of Education building, a stone’s throw from the Opera House and Harbour Bridge.

Take a look inside:

Capella has unveiled its first property in Australia, set within Sydney’s former Department of Education building.

03/20/2023

Bentley Residences Launch Resident-Only Restaurant

Bentley Residences have announced a partnership with Todd English, in which the award-winning celebrity chef will be curating the menu of the residents-exclusive restaurant.

Celebrity chef Todd English will be at the helm of Bentley Residences' residents-only restaurant, his Sunny Isles Beach debut.

03/20/2023

With its golden sandy beaches, tranquil waters and velvet-green mountains, Hanalei Bay has long been a popular vacation destination. Now, 1 Hotels has opened its first property in Hawaii, just a ten-minute drive from the sleepy town of Hanalei, overlooking an unspoiled stretch of Kauai’s North Shore.

The eco-luxe brand teamed up with Starwood Capital for the project, acquiring the hotel – then the St. Regis Princeville – and investing $300m to transform it into a signature 1 Hotels resort. The heavy costs have certainly paid off.

1 Hotel Hanalei Bay boasts 252 breezy nature-inspired rooms and suites, thoughtfully adorned with soft rugs, potted plants and hand-woven wall decorations. Materials have been sourced sustainably and locally – think black basalt tiles and plenty of reclaimed teak furnishings.

Read more: https://bit.ly/ETHanaleiBay

03/19/2023

Perpetual playground of the jet-set, St Moritz has been one of Europe’s most glamorous destinations for about as long as the wealthy have traveled. Strolling through the avenue of trees that leads to the Grand Hotel des Bains Kempinski, it’s hard not to be struck by its façade, towering with the grandeur one can expect from one of the oldest hotels in Switzerland.

Read our full review in the link: https://elitetraveler.com/travel/hotel-news/kempinski-st-moritz-review

03/18/2023

New hotel group Janu has announced the launch of its first hotel, which will open in Tokyo in fall 2023. Like its sister group, Aman, Janu will offer an elevated take on soulful wellness travel but with a more spirited social scene.

Janu has selected Tokyo’s Azabudai Hills – a hotly anticipated ‘modern urban village’ – as the location for its first outpost, with the energy of the managed hub reportedly matching that of the infant hotel brand. Guest experience will be at the heart of the property, with Janu hoping to provide a community-focused environment.

The hotel will be located in the B-2 District Tower, offering 122 guestrooms across 13 floors. Designed by Jean-Michel Gathy, each room will be light and spacious with floor-to-ceiling windows framing the views beyond, and some with private balconies.

Read more: https://bit.ly/ETJanu

03/18/2023

The Best Luxury Literary Hotels Across the World

Some of the world's finest hotels have been welcoming writers into their arms for centuries now, acting as a home away from home in the city of their muse.

For the greatest luxury literary hotels across the globe:

Remaining just as alluring in their elusive glamor today, these unmissable luxury literary hotels have inspired writers throughout history.

03/17/2023

Hotel Bel-Air is extravagant enough in its own right – but its glorious Presidential Suite takes unrivaled luxury to new heights. Proof? After a visit in the 1990s, King Charles III of the United Kingdom remarked that it was "like staying at a rich friend's home." If there's a better advertisement for a suite that feels both extraordinary in its scope and homey in its comforts, we're yet to find it.

Sprawling over 6,775 square feet of indoor and outdoor space (that's about one-and-a-half NBA basketball courts, in case you were wondering), the suite could more accurately be described as a mansion. It comes complete with its own private swimming pool, a full kitchen, a glamorous dining room, a conference room and even an art collection.

But it's the bathroom that stands out, thanks to its built-in TV, the hotel's signature limestone floors, drenching showers and deep bathtubs. The single bedroom opens onto a spacious courtyard, mirroring the laid-back LA charm that infuses this spectacular hotel.

Read more: https://elitetraveler.com/suites/10701/presidential-suite-hotel-bel-air-part-of-dorchester-collection

03/16/2023

Victor and Neste Make SAF More Accessible Than Ever

Sustainable Aviation Fuel (SAF) promises an emissions reduction of up to 80% — and with it, a potential solution to business aviation’s biggest problem. But can you fuel your next private flight with SAF? Thanks to a new partnership between Victor and Neste, you can.

The leading SAF, made by Neste, is produced purely from renewable waste and residue raw materials like cooking oil and animal fat waste. It can be used in any jet without the need for conversion and has fewer particulates than kerosene, so it burns cleaner. So far, so good.

But production costs are high — estimated at two to three times higher than kerosene by the time it arrives at the airport. And even if you’re willing to pay the premium, as a consumer, until recently you couldn’t buy it directly from Neste. That is what makes a new partnership between Neste and Victor so innovative, and potentially the first step towards a major shift in consumer choice within the industry.

Read more:

Fly Victor and Neste's partnership uses a Buy Here, Use Later system to making sustainable aviation fuel more accessible than ever.

03/16/2023

Rosewood London Launches David Hockney-inspired Tea

Once again headed by the hotel’s executive pastry chef Mark Perkins, Rosewood London has launched its latest Art Afternoon Tea, which is inspired by the vibrance and style of David Hockney.

The luxury hotel will be celebrating the latest David Hockney exhibition in London for its latest Art Afternoon Tea.

03/16/2023

The Best Hotels in London to Celebrate the Coronation

Wondering where to stay during King Charles III's coronation? Our roundup of the best London hotels includes Hotel Cafe Royal, The Goring Hotel and Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane.

Read more:

From personal tours of the Crown Jewels to royal-themed afternoon teas, these are the best hotels in London to celebrate the coronation.

03/16/2023

Cabin Charm Meets Alpine Luxury in Lake Tahoe Mansion

This utterly charming mansion grants an exciting opportunity to make the beloved Lake Tahoe home throughout the year.

Read more:

Property of the Week: This Lake Tahoe mansion features mesmerizing vistas across one of the most beautiful regions in the Americas

03/16/2023

Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga Reunite in New Campaign

Champagne luminary Dom Pérignon and pop supernova Lady Gaga will be thrilling fans across the world once more with the announcement of a second collaboration that fuses together dance, music, and sparkling wine.

Dom Pérignon and Lady Gaga: Chapter 2 centers around the shared vision between the pop star and the Chef de Cave Vincent Chaperon.

03/15/2023

Furna Makes its Mark on the Brighton Food Scene

Think of classic British seaside food and the likes of salty fish and chips, bags of piping hot donuts and even pots of cockles come to mind. Brighton’s restaurant scene, however, is proving there’s much more than meets the eye.

The vibrant little city has plenty of great eateries, and even its own set of highly respected restaurant awards, but bar a few established favorites, it has tended to shy away from more high-end fine dining. The arrival of Furna late last year, however, has shaken this up.

Sitting in the heart of the city just a few moments from the iconic Brighton Pavilion, Furna is the first restaurant from chef Dave Mothersill. Proving that fine dining can be elegant and thoughtful while simultaneously informal and welcoming, Furna offers a tasting-menu-only experience in an intimate space with each dish delivered with an infectious rate of enthusiasm.

Read our full review:

Review: Dave Mothersill's Furna restaurant is proving that the Brighton food scene is about much more than fish and chips.

03/15/2023

The Jimmy Choo Patisserie Returns to Four Seasons Madrid

The Four Seasons Hotel Madrid just got even more stylish – and considerably sweeter – with the return of the JIMMY CHOO Patisserie.

Read more below:

First introduced in November 2022, the sweetly stylish Jimmy Choo Patisserie has returned to Four Seasons Hotel Madrid

03/15/2023

Girard-Perregaux Reveals Green Laureato with Aston Martin

The latest watch from the Girard-Perregaux x Aston Martin partnership is a thing of beauty.

Girard-Perregaux has paid homage to the enduring legacy of British motor racing with the new Green Ceramic Laureato Aston Martin Edition.

03/15/2023

The V&A Announces Expansive David Bowie Exhibition

London's Victoria and Albert Museum has managed to secure an enormous cache of over 80,000 pieces spanning David Bowie's six-decade career.

Read more:

The V&A has managed to secure an enormous cache of over 80,000 pieces spanning David Bowie's six-decade career.

03/15/2023

Regent Cruises Unveils Longest World Cruise Ever

Named The Sense of Adventure, Regent Seven Seas Cruises have unveiled its latest - and longest - World Cruise, clocking in at a remarkable 154 nights aboard in total.

Read more:

The longest world cruise in history, Regents Seven Seas Cruises 'The Sense of Adventure' will sail in January 2026

03/15/2023

Hennessy Unveils Partnership with Kim Jones

Hennessy and Dior creative director Kim Jones have collaborated on an exclusive capsule collection, featuring a bespoke pair of sneakers and two hand-finished cognac decanters.

Read more:

Hennessy has partnered with Fendi artistic director Kim Jones to release an exclusive collection featuring a pair of shoes and two decanters.

03/15/2023

When it comes to the history of architecture, few names match the significance, influence and prestige of Antoni Gaudí i Cornet, better known simply as Gaudí. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, architects were captivated by the modernist style; Gaudí took this new movement and made it his own, becoming by far the leading figure of Catalan Modernism. To this day, almost a century after his death, Gaudí’s influence is plain to see across the cobbled streets of Barcelona.

At the link, we round up some of his must-see works: https://bit.ly/ETGaudi

03/14/2023

Hennessy Unveils Partnership with Kim Jones

Hennessy is no stranger to luxury collaborations, with the cognac brand having teamed up with the likes of Berluti, Lorenz Bäumer and Yan Pei-Ming in the last year alone. For its latest cross-industry project, LMVH-owned Hennessy has partnered with British designer, Dior creative director and Fendi artistic director Kim Jones.

The Hennessy XO x Kim Jones collection will feature three distinct pieces: a pair of sneakers and two bespoke decanters. Each has been meticulously designed by Jones to mark the point where spirit meets art.

While collaborations are nothing new for Hennessy, this marks the first time it has worked with a fashion designer, as well as the first time Jones has partnered with a spirits brand. Together, the duo has created an exclusive capsule collection that not only reflects Hennessy’s 150-year-old heritage and the time-honored process of cognac making, but also his own design values.

Read more:

Hennessy has partnered with Fendi artistic director Kim Jones to release an exclusive collection featuring a pair of shoes and two decanters.