What do private villas, luxury cruises, five-star luxury properties, and private yachts have in common? To start, let's talk about the unprecedented level of service, elegance and style that is associated with these types of luxurious getaways. Educated travelers know that a high level of personalized attention is key when it comes to booking a lavish retreat. Smart travelers are bypassing traditional online booking engines that are impersonal, focusing their attention on luxury suppliers that offer much more in the line of travel concierge services.
Trips of Distinction, a leading seller of luxury travel to Tahiti, the Caribbean, Hawaii, Mexico and Europe, personally hand pick private villas with butlers, luxury resorts known for impeccable service, and private yachts and premier cruises that are fit for royalty. An 800 number provides each client the unique ability to speak with a travel specialist who is eager to offer exceptional industry insight. With a wealth of knowledge and first-hand education of destinations, vessels and properties, this personalized concierge service is unsurpassed and caters to the client's every whim. Customers will feel secure that they are getting the best option for their travel needs, and the highest quality and value for their dollar.
For a limited time, Trips of Distinction is offering special incentives when you book travel, including a $600 culinary experience complete with personal chef, a $500 resort credit for spas, restaurants, and golf, or a $200 onboard spending credit on certain cruises.
With a fantastic portfolio of exotic destinations, Trips of Distinctions is the obvious choice for personalized service when booking your next luxury vacation. With the guarantee of a unique vacation itinerary and first-class service all the way, why would you settle for anything less?
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Trips of Distinction
See Seven Wonders
Paramount Business Jets is offering a special excursion that takes a group of 16 to the Seven Wonders of the World in a month.
Sixteen passengers, or a group, will be on a luxury-latent month-long journey that touches down on all of the world's continents. Travelers will fly aboard a fully staffed 737 Boeing Business Jet loaded with amenities that include a full shower, live music, gourmet menus, in-flight massage services, a yoga instructor, and facial treatments.
The actual cost per passenger in a group of 16 travelers is $356,250 or $5.7 million for the entire group. The trips are open to anyone who is wishing to book it. The Seven Wonders vacations also can be taken in legs or sections for less than a month.
Paramount Business Jets books flights year round and offers guaranteed availability with a 10-hour notice. Aircraft available include light, midsize, heavy jet or airliner.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Holiday Ideas For Lottery Winners
In my quiet moments, I sometimes fantasise about how I would spend my lottery winnings should my numbers ever come up. And with odds of 14 million to 1, or thereabouts, I'm afraid fantasy is all it's likely to be! Of course, one of the great pleasures of winning would be the sharing of my good fortune with family, friends and favourite charities but once their needs were met, my thoughts would quickly turn to travel. So, of all the incredible places and experiences the world has to offer, what would be on my lottery list?
The Galapagos
Topical, in this anniversary year of Charles Darwin, The Galapagos would definitely be somewhere near the top of my list. Located 1,000 kilometres off the coast of Ecuador, the Galapagos Islands are a National Park and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The islands are described as a living laboratory of evolution where birds and animals have no fear of man. Being able to get this close to such extraordinary wildlife, which roam as freely as they did thousands of years ago, would really be a unique experience. Unfortunately, the islands and their flora and fauna are at risk from the increasing amount of tourism, so it would be important to find a holiday with the smallest possible impact on the environment.
New Zealand
We were lucky enough to visit New Zealand a few years ago and there were several places we visited which I would like to go back and devote more time to. One of which is Abel Tasman National Park on the northern coast of the South Island. Famous for its golden beaches, granite cliffs and the Abel Tasman Coast Track, it is New Zealand's smallest National Park. And as a lottery winner, I would definitely indulge myself and stay in the heart of the park at the wonderful Awaroa Lodge.
On our previous trip, we also tried to go whale watching from Kaikoura but were thwarted by bad weather so we would definitely schedule that into the itinerary and hope the weather gods looked on us more favourably second time around. Other stops on our grand tour would take in The Coromandel and The Tongariro National Park on the North Island.
China
Like many other people last year, I watched the coverage of the Beijing Olympic Games on TV and became increasingly interested in visiting China. If my lottery win happens soon, I may even make it in time for the eclipse! Must see sites would of course, include The Great Wall, The Terracotta Army, Tiananmen Square and The Forbidden City.
African Safari
It has long been a dream of mine to see big cats, elephants, giraffes and other exotic animals in the wild. Safari holidays are very popular these days and unfortunately can be very expensive but with my lottery winnings in hand, I could afford the best! I think it's really important to do your research when planning this type of holiday. There are lots of options when it comes to location and type of experience and timing can also be a key issue.
Skiing in Style
Skiing is one of my passions and no travel list would be complete without a great ski holiday. So where would I go? Whistler, in Canada, has been my favourite resort since my first visit in 1993. I haven't been there since 2002, so I think doing Whistler "in style" would be my ski holiday of choice. "In style" would mean first class travel, helicopter transfers, private ski instructors, staying at the Chateau Whistler and eating at great restaurants like The Bearfoot Bistro.
Well, I think that would keep me busy for a while...long enough to think of a few more experiences to add to the list anyway!
By : Mandy Moore
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
Indonesia's Top Five Dive Sites
Indonesia is an archipelago comprising of over 17,000 islands, a volcanic arc that spreads over two thousand miles from Sumatra in the west to Papua in the east. At the heart of the coral triangle, a region which scientists believe holds the planets highest concentration of marine biodiversity, Indonesia surely plays host to some of the worlds finest dive sites. Of course the quality of a dive is purely subjective but here are my top five for diving in Indonesia.
Pantee Peunateng, Pulau Weh, Sumatra: This high adrenaline dive sites is highly exposed making it an intense experience even when conditions are calmer than most. A fringing reef with dramatic craggy wall sections it has typically strong currents that attract many species of pelagic fish. Black and whitetips are often seen whilst larger fish, attracted by the nutrients brought in by ocean currents include whale sharks, mola mola and mantas. Not for the faint hearted Pantee Peunateng is surely a wild experience.
Lekaun One, Bunaken Island, North Sulawesi: The infamous Lekaun dive sites have always been on many a travelers list whilst.
The reef flat that surrounds the island plunges to hundreds of meters creating a dramatic wall covered in hard and soft corals desperately competing for space. Hunting reefs sharks and trevally can often been seen working their way up the reef, whilst giant green turtles rest in the ledges of the wall.
The Passage, Raja Ampat: One of the more popular dive sites of Raja Ampat and only 5-10 meters deep it forms a river like sea fjord where many passages snake off to meet underwater grottoes. A truly mystical experience this is one of many in the region like it. The tree canopies overhead close above it whilst the sun rays bring out the dramatic colors of the reef.
Hairball, Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi: For macro life there are few places on earth that can compare with the Lembeh Strait. The black sand slope at Hairball plays host to a huge abundance of marine life. On a typical dive here you can expect to find many types of octopus, snake eels, frog fish, star gazers and nudibranchs (sea slugs) where in other parts of the world these sightings would be few and far between.
Langkoi Rock, Komodo: A submerged pinnacle found not far from Langkoi Island to the Southwest of Komodo which makes an exhilarating dive. The walls that surround the pinnacle drop away steeply to great depths. Exposed to strong currents and surge, it attracts many types of shark including grey reefs, white tips, hammerheads and bronze whalers. Many believe it is a breeding ground for many grey reef sharks. Langkoi Rock is a truly heart pounding diving experience.
By :
a Little Bit of Paradise
Whoever said there was no unspoiled beauty left in Florida has never been to Caladesi Island State Park. This diamond in the rough is one of the few remaining examples of a secluded island paradise. Four miles of undeveloped white sand beach and dunes line this island on the Gulf of Mexico, providing an ideal escape for sun worshippers and nature lovers.
In fact, Caladesi Island was voted number one in the Annual Top 10 Beaches ranking by coastal expert Dr. Stephen Leatherman, Director of Coastal Research at Florida International University.
In addition to its beautiful beaches, the island boasts acres of lush mangrove forests; one of the few tree species that survives in salt water. The mangrove are also increasing the size of the island as their immense root system traps soil and continue to spread. Explore this area on foot via the three miles of trails or by kayak trails that intertwine through the forest. The vegetation on Caladesi Island provides an ideal nesting place for the gopher tortoise, loggerhead and green sea turtles, and the occasional Eastern diamondback rattlesnake.
The beach at Caladesi is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Popular sightings include American oystercatchers, black skimmers, royal and least terns and snowy, Wilson's and piping plovers. On the bayside of the island watch for great blue herons, snowy egrets and roseate spoonbills. See if you can spot the osprey nests located atop barren pine snags.
By : v.k.-melhado
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