Built so close to the stars, it was tempted to catch them: Five stars adorn the “Riffelalp Resort” at 2,222 meters above sea level, the highest location for a luxury hotel of this kind in Europe.

As incongruous as it might seem, one can find oasises in the mountains. The Riffelalp Resort, located just above Zermatt in Switzerland, resides at an altitude of 2,222 meters above sea level, is such a place. Riffelalp Resort is definitely an oasis of calm and luxury awaits fortunate guests here.

The resort was built at the dawn of the new millenium, and offers every creature comfort one could wish for, such as various restaurants and bars, a wine bar, an indoor pool, a sauna, a solarium, and a gym.

But this luxury Swiss hotel also offers something that no architect or designer could make: unobstructed views onto the majestic Matterhorn mountain and pure, fresh air.

In winter, the hotel has ski-in facilities, due to its location halfway up the mountain. In summer, this advantage offers many thrilling mountain excursions right at the door. Or simply ride the jolly Riffelalp tram to the Gornergrat Railways and either go up to the Gornergrat or down into Zermatt. By the way, this nod to luxury has a prolonged tradition: the original Grandhotel Riffelalp opened its doors in 1884.

How to get there:
Drive or take public transportation from Lausanne or Bern to Zermatt via Brig/Visp. In Zermatt take the Gornergrat Railways to the Riffelalp. If driving: park car in Täsch and take train to car-free Zermatt.

Riffelalp Resort
3920 Zermatt
Tel. +41 (0)27 966 05 55
Fax +41 (0)27 966 05 50
reservation@riffelalp.com

Courtesy of: Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort

Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort is an exclusive resort and member of Virtuoso, Leading Hotels of the World. Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort has also been certified as a prestigious Leading Spas and Leading Golf from the Leading Hotel Brand.

Located in the heart of the Tuscan Maremma region of Italy, Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort can be found in the medieval village of Saturnia.

The luxury Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort features 140 guestrooms, including 80 Junior Suites and two Grand Suites, state-of-the-art spa with 53 treatment rooms, two restaurants, an Aldo Coppola Hair Salon, a conference center with meeting room for up to 250 people.

Also there are six outdoor pools and an indoor pool, a replica of a traditional Roman bath house, fitness center, tennis court, practice green, Cruciani Luxury Cashmere, Spa Boutique, Spa Cafe and an art gallery.

In addition, Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort opened a championship golf course in spring 2008, designed by renowned architect Ronald Fream that allows golfers to take in the spectacular Tuscan setting.

A true medical spa with a staff of hydrotherapy treatments based on the area’s unique thermal waters which date back to the Etruscan period.

The 3,000-year-old thermal pool has been flowing continuously into the natural crater nestled at the center of the resort, containing precious minerals and salts which were found to have healing effects on aches and pains of the ancient Romans.

Terme di Saturnia recently unveiled six Blackrose Spa Suites, which serve as an “ultra-exclusive spa within a spa,” featuring signature treatments and therapies.

The suites feature black oak paneling, small traces of blue hues and pockets of natural sunlight and each detail has been carefully studied and paired to create a harmonious whole.

The Blackrose Spa officially opened in spring 2009, and treatments in the luxury suites range in rates from € 200 to € 300.

For additional information on the Terme di Saturnia Spa & Golf Resort, please visit – http://www.termedisaturnia.it/en/

Courtesy of: The Romanos Resort

The luxury Costa Navarino, Greece, the Romanos was the first luxury hotel to open in this unbelievable new coastal destination.

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. has partnered with TEMES S.A. and announced the opening of The Romanos, a luxury collection resort in Costa Navarino, Greece.

The Romanos is located amongst lush olive groves in the Messinia region on Greece’s southwest Peloponnese coast. In addition, The Romanos Resort is the first hotel to open in the new luxury destination of Costa Navarino.

The Romanos is part of a 130-hectare, mixed-use beachfront development called Navarino Dunes, the first of four major developments in Costa Navarino.

Navarino Dunes will include the first signature golf course in Greece designed by Bernhard Langer in cooperation with European Golf Design – The Dunes Course, a 4,000 square meter spa – Anazoe Spa, various restaurants, lounge areas, and retail and entertainment options, offering travelers escape and indulgence on the magnificent Mediterranean coast.

The Romanos Resort features 321 luxurious rooms and suites, including 121 with individual infinity pools. Almost all rooms offer spacious furnished terraces with beautiful views of the Mediterranean. Guests staying in the suites will enjoy access to the resort’s Butler Service.

For the ultimate in opulence, the resort’s 660 square meter beachfront Royal Villa Koroni features a private infinity pool, a secluded barbecue area, a spa treatment suite with steam room, private fitness facilities and an elevator. Guests of the Royal Villa Koroni will also benefit from a 24-hour dedicated Butler Service.

Roeland Vos, President, Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa, and the Middle East (EAME) comments: “We are delighted to have partnered with TEMES S.A. to create a new luxury destination at Costa Navarino. Our long-standing partnership, combined with the strength of The Luxury Collection brand, will put Costa Navarino on the map as the Mediterranean’s newest destination for global explorers. The opening of this magnificent resort also further underlines Starwood’s market leading position in the region, operating a total of nine luxury hotels and resorts in Greece.”

The Romanos Resort offers an array of culinary delights, including Pero a destination restaurant featuring ethnic and indigenous cuisine based on local organic ingredients, Eleon a Greek restaurant complete with a well-stocked wine cellar, extensive lounge areas and a lobby bar. The resort will also have outdoor areas for grilling offering a serene, romantic and casual mood for outdoor dining.

The Romanos, a Luxury Collection Resort, is the first of two Starwood properties to open in Costa Navarino this summer. The Westin Resort, Costa Navarino will open on July 1st bringing another magnificent resort to this exciting destination.

In 2012, Starwood will introduce its W Hotels brand to Greece with the opening of W Athens, Astir Palace Beach.

For additional information, please visit http://www.romanoscostanavarino.com/

Cornwall is a historic county in England, that is rich in scenic beauty and British history.

Cornwall is quite a special place with its own culture, language and even its own micro climate thanks to the Gulf Stream which passes its shore. Famous for its impressive landscape, friendly people and Gaelic tradition or delicious seafood Cornwall is an ever popular holiday destination in the UK.

Another feature of Cornwall is the provision of quaint cottages which supply a welcome alternative choice to more formal forms of accommodation like hotels.

With a cottage in Cornwall, you put yourself right in the center of the best that Cornwall has to offer. There’s a large choice in terms of location, from remote farms to sea and hill top views. Choose to be close to a village or out a long distance from the hustle of modern life.

Naturally, that does not apply to modern convenience like broadband Internet and satellite television should you need them! By choosing one of the many luxury cottages in Cornwall you can take more control of your holiday, and stay somewhere actually special and remarkable.

West Cornwall offers spectacular hills and countryside, as well as long golden beaches, authentic unspoiled towns and towns and a colorful history and cultural heritage. You can visit the mythical home of King Arthur ( Tintagel ) set on a remote cliff crown with waves crashing below, or visit the spectacular St Michael’s Mount, the romantic Sennen Cove, the preferred Eden project, monkey sanctuaries and plenty more.

Even when you’re on seemingly remote walks along cliff tops and moors civilization is never that far away, and finding great places to eat is never a difficulty. Sea food is very popular in Cornwall with locally caught produce a real favorite. Another culinary specialty of Cornwall is fudge which is produced in several places round the county to conventional recipes, and of course Cornish ice cream and cream teas!

One of the nicest things about staying in a cottage in Cornwall is that you get a genuine flavor of the local culture and strategy for living. Whether you plan a short stay of a couple of days, or a longer 2 week break cottage holidays in Cornwall are a great option for you.

When planning your trip, finding a great cottage in Cornwall is very easy. Most cottages now have websites and there are numerous directories to choose from, as well as official tourist websites which list details of hundreds of great places to stay.

Courtesy of: Old Milking Parlour Hotel

The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt in County Wicklow, Ireland has partnered with The Old Milking Parlour at Ballymurrin, just 20 minutes from the hotel, that has been converted to a gorgeous, eco-friendly 2-bedroom retreat.

Guests are now welcome to book a stay in this private and historic getaway in the “garden of Ireland.”

The Old Milking Parlour at Ballymurrin, is a lovingly restored 17th century Quaker meeting house and member of Sustainable Tourism Ireland.

The hotel’s owners restored the outhouses into the Old Milking Parlour and turned it into wonderful self catering accommodation which, bar the cows, has kept its old world feel with a stylish fusion of old and new architecture.

Guests are offered preferable rates when booking a holiday which includes a stay in both properties, ensuring guests will see two wonderful sides to The Garden of Ireland or Co. Wicklow.

The Milking Parlour is located 30 minutes from the hotel, and has white washed stone walls throughout, contains two double bedrooms, a wonderful open plan sitting room with stove and glazed doors from all living areas open onto a lavender edged, private garden with BBQ area.

This property is a model of eco-friendly self catering, where all materials were chosen for their sustainability, creating a high standard of accommodation which incorporates a unique learning tool of environment-conscious design, meeting the needs of the discerning traveler.

Under-floor geothermal heating combined with a roaring designer stove, ensure warmth permeates the Old Milking Parlour in winter and in summer the solar panels generate energy, providing the vast majority of hot water and heating.

The Ritz-Carlton, Powerscourt, received the Silver Award by introducing an Environmental Action Plan focusing on energy, waste & water management and developing it across all aspects of the business.

This award is recognized as one of the most successful programs in Europe and is voluntary to all hotels to enter, demonstrating leadership in environmental management within the hospitality sector.

The island of Formentera is the smallest of the four primary Balearic Islands of Mallorca (Majorca), Eivissa (Ibiza), Menorca (Minorca) and Formentera. Eivissa and Formentera are the two smallest islands and together are known as the Pine Islands. This is due to abundance of pine trees.

The archipelago can be found in the Western Mediterranean Sea, near the eastern coast of the Iberian Peninsula. Combined, these scenic islands are an autonomous community and province of Spain.

Palma is the capital and the official languages are Spanish and Catalan. Formentera is ten miles south of Eivissa and is accessible only by boat. There is no airport.

Formentera is a small island and only thirty two square miles in size. One of accommodations to consider is the resort Es Pujols. It’s really the only real resort on the island.

Formentera has a wide range of hotels, hostels, and apartments, and can be found just minutes away from the pristine white beaches and turquoise ocean waters.

Formentera offers travelers other overnight options. Consider one of the many rural farmhouses that are rented out for the summer. There are only a few thousand houses on the island so it may be difficult to actually reserve one. Take a look at the islands many hostels.

Be sure to take into account where you would like to stay. If you’re looking to be in the center of all the party action, Es Pujols would be the natural choice.

If you’re searching for a more rural experience, try the farmland area near Far de la Mola or Far de Barbaria. I would recommend you stay away from the villages of Sant Francecs and San Ferran. Bu there are nice areas just outside these 2 villages.

Formentera has a wide variety of luxury,  accommodation choices.

L’Ambroisie in Paris, France offers a sublime interior. The restaurant is made luxurious with tapestries, time-polished materials and muted colors.

Guests who are welcomed to this exemplary restaurant, find themselves right under the arcades of place des Vosges. Romantic surroundings and pitch-perfect ambience unite flawlessly with classic French cuisine.

Luscious foie gras, perfectly prepared seafood, and sumptuous ingredients like truffles and chestnuts impart dishes with flavor and texture.

Plus, a terrific wine list heightens the appeal of every mouthful. A fine dining experience waiting for all in Paris.

L’Ambroisie
9, pl des Vosges
Paris 75004
01 42 78 51 45

St. Patrick’s Cathedral

Dublin, Ireland is one of the most visited cities in all of Europe and has many popular attractions for tourists to enjoy.

Perhaps one of the most famous of Dublin’s attractions is St. Patrick’s Cathedral. It’s the largest church in Ireland. Be sure to put St. Patrick’s Cathedral on the top of your list of things to do in Dublin.

Saint Patrick’s Cathedral is also known as The National Cathedral and Collegiate Church of Saint Patrick, Dublin.

The first church was built in 1191 to honor Ireland’s Patron Saint. Today, it’s a historical site that tourists flock to year after year. Visitors go into the chapel to pray for free, although there is a charge for sightseeing.

The Cathedral is open year round, except for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and the day after Christmas, which is called St. Stephen’s Day.

For people who like to occupy themselves there are self guided tours and everyone is welcome to the services. The cathedral’s website lists all the available church services with times and days.

St.Patrick’s Cathedral includes a bookshop on site. There you can purchase books and CDs. It’s good to know that all proceeds go towards the maintenance of the cathedral.

You can find guide books that will offer an overview of the tours. They will point out what there is to see and the relevance of each attraction. St Patrick’s Cathedral is a spectacular site and along with the Baptistery offers a great day out.

The St. Patrick’s Cathedral is steeped in the rich history of Dublin. The Cathedral is truly a site to behold. Visitors can pray or just walk the grounds and take in the sights. A truly remarkable place to visit, St. Patrick’s Cathedral should be on every itinerary.

If you are lucky enough to visit Ireland and specifically Dublin, you are sure to experience the warm welcoming of Dublin hospitality and take home memories that will last a lifetime.

For more information, go to St.Patrick’s Cathedral

Jaquet Droz – Paris

It’s been 225 years since Jaquet Droz opened its first watchmaking workshop in the French capital of Paris.

History sometimes does repeat itself. Jaquet Droz recently inaugurated its first Parisian boutique at 8, rue de la Paix.

Jaquet Droz is well known for its luxury watch products, and rich watchmaking tradition.

Located at 8, rue de la Paix – the new Parisian boutique is characterized by sleek lines, a palette of black, enamel colors and gray as well as contrasting matte and glossy surfaces.

Founder Pierre Jaquet Droz, was fond of Paris and he created a workshop there in 1785.

Then in the early part of the 21st century, Jaquet Droz launched the “Elegance Paris” Collection, which included luxurious timepieces that were influenced by the glamor and femininity of fine, Parisian fashion.

Jaquet Droz has moved into one of the world’s most prestigious addresses. The new Jaquet Droz Parisian boutique is just a stone’s throw from Place Vendôme.

Number 8, rue de la Paix pays tribute to a sense of French style, that’s characterized by a rich taste for perfection and pure luxury.

Stafford London by Kempinski

The Stafford London by Kempinski is located in heart of St James’s The Stafford. The luxury London hotel was originally built as private residences. The buildings that comprise the hotel (number 16-18 St. James’s Place) were home to many tenants including Lord and Lady Lyttelton.

As The Stafford London by Kempinski celebrates its centennial, the luxury hotel is offering an year-long celebration, including its £100,000 VIP Experience.

Long defined by luxury, The Stafford London by Kempinski prepares for a diamond jubilee and the upcoming Olympic Games in London.

Although the exact opening date of The Stafford Hotel as it stands today is highly debated, research indicates that it took place in either spring 1911 or early 1912. With this in mind, the hotel opted to use 2011 as its preparation period for a year of festivities in 2012.

General Manager Leon Baum was quoted, “In 2011, we were inspired by our rich heritage and embarked on a renovation program that made the hotel better than ever; we launched our rustic British restaurant The Lyttelton and began pulling together new one-of-a-kind experiences for our guests. This year, we celebrate it all. Each initiative highlights our quintessential British character, while also illustrating how we continue to evolve and exceed our guests’ wildest expectations.

Stafford London by Kempinski

Hotel guests can find numerous opportunities to learn of The Stafford London by Kempinski’s rich history, including: VIP experiences, historic exhibits, new epicurean offerings, and much more!

To kick-off the celebrations, the hotel is unveiling the ultimate London VIP experience. Drawing on its long-standing relationships with iconic U.K. brands, The Stafford’s £100,000 Anniversary Package celebrates the finer things in life. The luxury hotel package includes:

– Luxurious London pied a terre for three nights at The Stafford in either the duplex Guv’nor’s Suite or more contemporary Penthouse of The Stafford Mews; plus a £10,000 dining credit to spend on epicurean experiences in the hotel’s American Bar, The Lyttelton, or in-room dining throughout the stay
– Effortless airport experience including private waiting lounge, escort through customs/immigration, transfers and more through Heathrow by Invitation
– Chauffeur driven Bentley, Jaguar or Rolls Royce limousine at guests’ beckon call throughout their stay
– Private butler to attend to every need and desire
– Feast fit for the most discerning foodies consisting of a private dinner party in The Stafford’s 380-year-old wine cellars for up to ten guests; a choice of three-course or five-course tasting menu prepared by Executive Chef Brendan Fyldes; and wine pairings by Master Sommelier Gino Nardella
– Bespoke fashions courtesy of famed tailor Henry Poole and hatters Lock & Co; a heirloom-worthy piece of custom jewellery by London’s top designer Patrick Wyatt; fittings and consolations can be conducted in-suite or at the designers’ shops
– A private portrait photo-shoot with internationally renowned photographer Alistair Morrison (Morrison has shot celebrities from Sir Anthony Hopkins to Helen Mirren to Twiggy and has 82 photographs in the National Portrait Gallery)
– Exclusive London experiences to fill the itinerary including: traditional afternoon tea in an exclusive British setting of either the Royal Academy, Highgrove House or Kensington Palace; a private Champagne or Wine Capsule experience on the London Eye; a half-day spa retreat at a neighbouring establishment; a speedboat tour of The Thames River; and a chance to try the indulgent Mahiki Armada Treasure Chest concoction

The incredible £100,000 Anniversary Package is priced at £100,000, excluding taxes and gratuities. It is available now through December 31, 2012 and is subject to availability.

To book, contact reservations at: +44 (0) 207 493 0111.

Hungary is a former Eastern Bloc country but has emerged as a popular European travel destination, offering a return to magical Renaissance, ancient folk traditions, and quaint rustic villages.

Perhaps the single most underrated city in Europe, Budapest is a city for lovers and dreamers.

Although London, Rome, Paris and Madrid continue to be hot spots in Europe, there does exist other wonderful and magnificent cities and locations that are often overlooked.

One of those hidden gems is definitely Budapest, Hungary. Budapest is located in the heart of Europe, and is one of Europe’s most splendid cities.

A mention of Budapest, Hungary brings to mind the meandering blue Danube River. The famed and gently flowing Danube River splits the city of Budapest into two.

In Budapest, one can view both breathtaking natural beauty or exquisite architecture. This “City of the Spas” and “Queen of the Danube” is undoubtedly one of the most amazing cities in the world.

Budapest is also a tourist’s dream. The city provides a wide range of activities to keep you busy on your European vacation or holiday.

Museums stand in the streets, rich with history. The Aquincum Museum and Roman ruins house the 2,000 year old remains of the Roman town of Aquincum.

You can learn more about the Roman Empire at the Budapest History Museum and Castle Museum. These hold archaeological remnants from that formative era.

A visit to the Transport Museum offers insight behind the well known railway system in Budapest. In addition, this transportation museum holds one of the earliest collections of transport-related articles in Europe.

A significant piece of Budapest’s diverse history is the story its Jewish people and heritage.

Budapest was severely devastated by the Holocaust during World War II. More than a half million of its men were deported to the Auschwitz concentration camp.

A popular location in Budapest is the hot springs. These natural resources of warm water are believed to contain powerful healing capability. World travelers regularly come to Budapest to use the healing thermal baths.

The Szechenyi Bath in Budapest provides hot water that ideally makes it a popular refuge even in the icy cold winter air.

For nature lovers, Budapest also boasts many beautiful caves. Carved by the natural springs, these caves offer another amazing opportunity to explore.

Visiting Budapest is nothing short of visiting paradise. A trip to Budapest will surely be one you will never forget.