Shania Twain’s husband, Robert John “Mutt” Lange is not some recluse who never leaves his home. He travels the world with Shania. His work as a music producer takes him to the States and Europe.

Shania Twain is a popular Canadian country pop singer-songwriter. Shania’s hit 1995 album The Woman in Me brought her instant fame all across the world.

The 1997 album by Shania Twain titled “Come On Over” became the best-selling studio album of all time by a female. Quite an accomplishment.

“He on his own has never had this kind of success. And me on my own, I doubt very much I would have had this kind of success. First of all, would I even have found anyone who had so much faith in me? Part of why I think I flourished is because he believed so much in me. He loved my voice; he loved my songwriting. He was my biggest fan.“ says Shania Twain.

Her “The Woman In Me” album may be one of the most expensive country albums ever produced. When Mercury balked at the price Mutt agreed to pay a part of it out of his own pocket.

When asked when she feels most sexy, “I think it’s when i get out of the tub. your skin is fresh and you’ve stuck your hair up without even looking. that’s when you look your best.”

“I don’t want my body to be a distraction from my talent or my brain.”

Referring to Dolly Parton, “I was inspired by her, and inspired to be my own thing, she was so individual, so unique on her own, what I took from her was go out and be yourself, and be different, dare to be different.”

Raffles Hotels & Resorts is proud to be an award-winning, luxury international hotel company. Its history dates all the way back to 1887 when the with Raffles Singapore was first opened. Now the Raffles Hainan will open in China this month on the tropical island of Hainan.

Raffles Hainan is the company’s second hotel to open in China. The new luxury resort will open in Clearwater Bay, which has become the new hotspot on China’s southeast coast of Hainan Island.

Clearwater Bay is a 500 square-kilometre development that includes the Raffles resort, plus two championship golf courses adjacent to Raffles, private residences, a cinema complex, luxury retail, yacht clubs and a 780-berth marina for sailing and water sports.

Offering 12 kilometres of gorgeous coastline, Clearwater Bay is likened to the French Riviera and is destined to rise near the top the luxury tourism market.

Raffles Hainan offers hotel guests the perfect beachfront location with 299 rooms – starting at 80sqm – plus 32 villas, all with private balconies and scenic views of the ocean or golf course.

With a strong connection to art, Raffles Hotels &; Resorts wanted to continue that trend in Hainan. Raffles Hainan showcases over 1,000 beautiful works of art throughout the luxury China resort.

Herbert Laubichler-Pichler is the General Manager of Raffles Hainan and was quoted, “Raffles Hainan will be one of the most prestigious addresses on China’s popular holiday island as the first luxury opening on Clearwater Bay, the only resort adjoining championship golf courses and with Sanya’s largest guestrooms, all with sea-view balconies. With the addition of Raffles’ signature warm and graceful service embodied by the Raffles Butlers, we are setting a new luxury benchmark on the island.”

The Raffles Spa offers ultimate pampering an relaxation. The spa features both Asian and Western treatments to its clients. Foodies will enjoy seven fine dining restaurants and bars, and private events spaces will sit alongside Hainan’s homage to the Long Bar at Raffles Singapore, in tribute to the Hainanese bartender who created the Singapore Sling.

Rooms and suites at the Raffles Hainan will feature a contemporary design that combines local inspired interior design accents. Artisan wood furnishings, colorful fabrics and artworks pay homage to the traditional hill tribes in Hainan, and bring a sense of place to the interiors.

To make plans and visit China and stay at the luxury Raffles Hainan hotel, please contact The Life of Luxury and talk to one of our travel concierge specialists to book your dream vacation.

Situated amongst 550 acres in Kildare, Ireland – the K Club Hotel, Spa and Country Club is a luxurious Irish country retreat that offers guest 69 rooms.

Straffan House was built on the countryside grounds of the K Club property. 34,000-sq-ft in size, Straffan House was first inspired by the original structure of the same name built back in 1832 in the style of a French Chateau that now houses the nearby K Club Hotel.

This elegant private residence is now available for exclusive use for all to experience its beauty. Guests will enjoy traditional outdoor pursuits of fishing on the River Liffey, falconry, skeet shooting and horse riding.

For golf lovers, you’re in luck. You can play unlimited golf on either the Arnold Palmer designed championship courses: The Palmer Course which was the location of the 2006 Ryder Cup, or the Smurfit Course, which for the last three years has hosted to the European Open.

If you are looking for a little pampering, guests can also enjoy the luxurious 20,000 square foot K Spa which is widely recognized as one of the finest spas across all of Europe. It’s no doubt considered the finest in Ireland.

Straffan House spa

The private estate Straffan House features a total of 10 bedrooms which are all ensuite. Also find an indoor swimming pool with ‘swim up bar’, spa, games room, cinema, gym, in addition to a glass-enclosed, thermostatically-controlled wine cellar. Plus for foodies, enjoy a dedicated service team, concierge and private chef.

Three stories tall, Straffan House offers luxurious amenities and high ceilings, fine stucco work and gorgeous chandeliers. You will also find original works of art by noted Irish artists Sir William Orpen and Jack B.

Rates at Straffan House are currently US$26,000 per night in the summer months and US$16,000 per night in the winter which runs from September 15th to March 15th inclusive.

If interested in learning more or booking a reservation at the Straffan House or K Club Hotel, Spa and Country Club in Kildare, Ireland (near Dublin), please contact a travel concierge specialist at The Life of Luxury.

Vichayito, Peru is a beautiful destination that offers an abundance of wildlife all year
round. Area guests can observe dolphins, ocean turtles, sea lions, plus the amazing seasonal migration of humpback whales.

Vichayito Beach can be found on the north coast of Peru. There you will find the idyllic resort Vichayito Bungalows & Tents By Aranwa Hotels. The luxury resort provides a variety of Bedouin-style tents and stilted bungalows that have been set on the sand and offer incredible views of the Pacific surf.

Vichayito Bungalows & Tents is the perfect spot to watch the humpback whale migration as these gentle mammals travel on their annual migration along along the Peru coast from Antarctica.

Vichayito Bungalows & Tents by Aranwa offers hotel guests a rare and close-up opportunity to see the migrating humpback whales. The resort is offering the “Peru Country of Whales” package in partnership with The Blue Whale Foundation and their non-profits campaign.

Between now October 31, 2013, choose from one of two the “Peru Country of Whales” packages. Both include a morning whale watching tour guided by FBA marine biologists with round-trip transportation from the hotel to Organos port, drinks and snacks on board, and access to FBA whale specialists while on land.

This once-in-a-lifetime 4 day/3 night Peru package begins at around US$222.00 per person and the 3 day/2 night package starts at around US$177.00 per person inclusive of VAT and service.

In addition to the humpback whale activities, the two packages include accommodations for two, plus an American buffet breakfast and pizza night for two.

The hotel’s fresh and rustic ambiance is the ideal complement to the relaxed Vichayito beachside location.

The Bedouin-style tents are a luxurious way to connect to the environment with their soothing
natural soundtrack of ocean waves and are well-appointed with amenities such as spacious bathrooms with multi-jet showers, a large terrace for dining and lounging, flat screen TVs, minibars and much more.

Looking for something more upscale? The suite tents also offer air conditioning, a separate living area, and bathrooms with separate showers and claw foot tubs.

If you are interesting in watching the annual Humpback humpback whale migration from Vichayito Bungalows & Tents in Peru, please contact The Life of Luxury and one of our travel concierge specialists will assist booking your trip.

Dr. Michael Tick is a biochemist, laboratory director for The Institute for Skin Sciences (ISS). Dr Tick is also the founder of Edimi, which is a quality line of organic skincare and body care products that can be found at the best luxury spas and salons located around the world.

Dr. Tick is well respected and an internationally renowned research Scientist. His life-long goal is to bring good health and wellness to the people through their own skin.

According to Dr. Tick, it’s important to realize that skin is not all the same, particularly between men and women. So when you choose your skincare products, be careful and get the right product for your specific skin type.

Proper skincare is very important. Here are some of the key differences in skin types between men and women:
– The skin of a man is thicker than the skin of a woman and has more collagen; therefore women tend to age faster than men.
– Women have more subcutaneous fat – fat below the skin – than men. Therefore women suffer from cellulite.
– Men secrete more sebum (oil) and they secrete it throughout life. Women stop secreting sebum after menopause, therefore the skin looks coarser and drier as the woman ages.
– Men sweat more than women and the sweat stays on the body longer. Men also have more body hair and therefore more surface area for bacteria to develop.
– The female skin is also more functionally responsive than the skin of men. Therefore female skin has a greater tendency to redness and to irritation to skin care products and so women are said to have tender skin.

In addition to men having facial hair, there are additional structural differences between a
man’s skin and that of a woman. For example, a man’s skin is about 25% thicker dues to androgen (testosterone) stimulation which results in a greater skin thickness.

Due to the increased skin thickness of men, Dr. Tick says, “These differences are important in developing skin care products, for example odor control is more difficult in males than in females, because of the presence of body hair and the increased production of sweat and of sebum. Facial stinging is also more prevalent in women and therefore we must test facial products and cosmetics more rigorously for sensitive skin in women. Less collagen in female skin combined with thinner skin means a larger anti-aging market for women. Lastly, the increased subcutaneous fat in women means that the market for the development of cellulite treatment is almost completely confined to this group.”

Men also have a higher collagen density than women, regardless of their age. Dr. Michael Tick states, “Because collagen content is directly related to the signs of skin aging, it has been said a woman’s skin is about 15 years older than a man’s of the same age. However, men are less sun savvy than women, meaning they don’t use sunscreens, and could contribute to why the “15 year” skin age difference is not readily noticed. UV damage from the sun can add years to a man’s skin.”

Dr. Tick believes that men and women need to search for skincare cleansing products that do not contain sodium lauryl sulphate (or equivalent). The reason is that these types of skincare cleansers are alkaline based and alkaline are “drying agents” which will ultimately dry out your skin. Not the desired result for your skin.

Also, look for skincare products that have a high pH (pH stands for potential hydrogen, which is a measurement of the acid vs. alkaline levels in the body and your skin. Remember, you don’t always have to go to a high-end spa to get great skincare products.

Another skin difference is a man’s skin texture tends to be tougher. Production of skin sebum (oil) is also a difference compared to women. Soon after puberty, the level of sebum production in males increases which results in greater androgen secretions. The result is a higher level of unsightly acne in younger males.

Pololu Valley on the Big Island of Hawaii is a pristine and beautiful valley once inhabited by early Hawaiians, but long since abandoned because of fear of Tsunamis.

The valley, however, offers spectacular vistas of green sloping cliffs dropping into the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean below. Pololu Beach, located at the bottom of the valley, is also a gorgeous black sand beach. Because of these areas inaccessibility to cars, the area remains calm and pristine and is a great out of the way destination.

To get to Pololu Valley, drive to the very end of Highway 270 on the big island. At the parking lot/trailhead at the end of the highway you can either enjoy the spectacular Hawaiian scenery from your car, or you can take the adventurous route and hike down into the valley and onto the black sand beach below.

The hike is relatively short (about 25 minutes), but is rather steep and can be wet and treacherous. In fact, the trail was long closed due to earthquake damage, but has now re-opened to the public.

The zigzagging dirt path will take you through beautiful ironwood trees, through marshland, lead you past the creek flowing through the valley and offer you stunning views of waterfalls and the cliffs dropping into the ocean.

Once you arrive at Pololu beach, bring a picnic, spread out and relax. The breathtaking local island scenery is well worth the steep climb up and down.

Some people do brave the rough surf and go for a swim at this beach, but use extreme caution, especially in winter months as the surf and currents can be very strong.

If you are ready to book that dream vacation to tropical Hawaii, then contact one our travel concierge specialists at The Life of Luxury.

Hotel Esencia

The Caribbean region continues to be the number one destination for international travelers and 2014 looks like the area will remain the world’s most popular hot spot.

For 2012, over one billion international tourists vacationed in the Caribbean region and took the top place in world travel. To date for 2013, it looks like the Caribbean will have another banner as traffic is surpassing that of 2012.

We wanted to share with you several picks for the Caribbean region’s top travel destinations for 2014.

Honduras and the Birding Boom:
Honduras is truly a natural paradise and is becoming more popular as awareness grows. The Central America country is already a popular eco-destination. James Adams is the head naturalist, at The Lodge at Pico Bonito and has declared Honduras as the ‘toucan capital of the world.’

Birding is a popular activity around the world. For example, in the U.S. it’s the 15th most popular and the fastest growing outdoor recreational activity. Birders love to travel so Honduras makes the ideal destination for these birding enthusiasts.

The Lodge at Pico Bonito offers its hotel guests access to a multi-story canopy observation tower plus naturalist guides who can lead birding hikes to spot over 400 species of birds that have previously been seen on the nature lodge site.

Hotel Esencia:
Mexico is still another popular tourist destination, although the drug wars over the last several years has tarnished the country’s travel industry. In 2012, over 20 million U.S. tourists visited Mexico and greater than 20% of those travelers visiting the scenic Riviera Maya region on the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico.

At one time, Hotel Esencia was the private retreat of an Italian Duchess and has become the area’s top boutique hotel. The resort property offers guests the Riviera Maya’s first world-class organic spa – featuring a wide variety of new healing spa rituals, incredible regionally inspired gourmet cuisine plus 29 luxuriously outfitted rooms and suites.

Be sure to explore several of Mexico’s amazing archaeological sites with nearby trips to Tulum, Chichen Itza, Uxmal and many more.

Samana Peninsula:
An undiscovered hideaway that awaits you, the Samana Peninsula provide stunning beaches to relax and enjoy the Caribbean weather.

You will find the Sublime Samana Hotel & Residences in the community of Las Terrenas. the Sublime Samana Hotel & Residences is a luxury 20-room boutique resort that offers guests six miles of private beachfront. It’s also the area’s top luxury hotel.

Ciudad Colonial in Santo Domingo:
The Dominican Republic is another Caribbean gem that must be seen. As the oldest city in the new world, the colonial city of Santo Domingo increases in popularity. Santo Domingo is proud to be home to the first church in the Americas, and offers visitors to see experience numerous museums, fine dining restaurants and non-stop nightlife.

The first luxury hotel, Las Casas del XVI, is scheduled to open later this year in November. Hotel guest of Las Casas del XVI will have access to nine rooms and suites in the recently renovated houses that date back to the sixteenth century. The hotel is also perfectly situated as it’s within walking distance to many local area attractions.

If you need help in booking a reservation for a memorable Caribbean vacation, please contact one of our travel concierge specialists at The Life of Luxury.

House of Sillage is a luxury haute parfumerie company located in sunny California, and is planning to debut its Limited Edition Private Collection Luxury Travel Perfume Spray this fall at curated fragrance and luxury lifestyle trade shows.

House of Sillage develops extraordinary fragrances that are rivaled only by their stunning and highly sought after bottle-art designs.

The artfully-designed piece resembles an emerald-green gecko climbing a beautiful exotic flower was inspired by during a hot tropical night on a remote island in the South Pacific.

The first and only one of ten made-to-order House of Sillage Private Collection Travel Spray features a glorious gecko, adorned with stunning bezel-set center and round Colombian green emeralds (more than two carats), climbing a leafy vine embellished with round brilliant-cut colorless diamonds (more than four carats).

The fragrance bottle contains a total of 665 gemstones on the piece, all handset on an 18K yellow gold cylinder. It’s a truly amazing design which took several months to create. It is priced at $118,000 retail.

The Limited Edition Gold Travel Spray from House of Sillage holds 7.5ml and comes with one of each of the brand’s six different fragrances along with the Certificate of Authenticity, packaged in a gorgeous Birdseye Maple lacquered gift box.

House of Sillage Founder Nicole Mather was quoted, “Our exciting new one-off statement piece is truly the essence of our passion for haute parfumerie created from the inside out. Tt’s an elegant addition to the House of Sillage line and represents a synthesis of artistry and craft, tradition and innovation.”

All of the company’s scents are produced in France by a team of professional noses, artists and designers, and distributes its fragrance products in over 25 countries.

We have access to the best luxury fragrances and perfumes.  Please contact The Life of Luxury for the best beauty products in the world.

Mammoth Mountain Ski Area is the leading four-season mountain resort in California and is proudly celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

With 1.3 million annual skier visits, Mammoth Mountain is the third most frequented ski resort in the entire United States. The popular ski resort attract skiers and snowboarders from all across California as well as from across the U.S. plus many countries from around the world.

Mammoth is undergoing a variety of enhancements as it prepares for the upcoming 2013/2014 ski season. One example is the popular Mammoth Mountain Inn is undergoing a $700,000 renovation that will enhance the hotel guest experience.

The resort’s enhancements will offer customers more fun on the slopes thanks to the re-opening of June Mountain, new air service routes from the biggest California cities, a Sochi Olympic Games training ground, enhanced experiences for visiting families at the Unbound Playgrounds and Adventure Zones, in addition to new culinary experiences that will make foodies very happy.

Mammoth Mountain is proud to have been named an Official Training Ground for U.S. Freeskiing and U.S. Snowboarding, by the U.S. Ski and Snowboard Association. It will be a great chance to see the top U.S. skiers and snowboarders prepare for the 2014 Sochi Olympic Games early next year in Russia.

In addition, the 2014 Olympic Snowboarding Team for halfpipe and the new slopestyle Olympic event will be announced at Mammoth during the final Sprint U.S. Snowboarding Grand Prix Jan 18-19, 2014.

June Mountain is Mammoth Mountain’s neighboring resort and is scheduled to re-open in mid-December with full operations. June Mountain hopes ot attract both skiers and snowboarders by offering an experience for all levels of abilities. The resort is idelaly suited for both families and entry-level skiers and snowboarders.

For those who enjoy a fine dining experience, try CAMPO and celebrated chef Mark Estee. The restaurant, located in The Village at Mammoth was just named one of Esquire’s best new restaurants in the United States. In addition, Lakefront Restaurant is a delightful lakeside restaurant and introduced a new chef, seasonal menu, and organic produce.

Families can enjoy both Unbound Playgrounds and Adventure Zones, which provide a comfortable introduction to snow terrain parks for beginners and children.

New this season are the arrival of Big Bird and the Cookie Monster who will reside in The Playground section of the park. The park will offer a Sesame Street West theme this winter, which make sit the perfect place for children to kids to discover the winter sport.

If you are interesting in booking your winter ski trip to Mammoth Mountain, California – please contact one of our travel concierge specialists who can help arrange your stay.

Combining modern amenities with authentic Victorian opulence as you traverse the Mississippi River, the American Queen Steamboat Company operates the largest steamboat ever built and certainly the most luxurious – the American Queen.

The American Queen from the American Queen Steamboat Company © is the largest paddlewheel boat offering overnight accommodations across the heartland of the United States.

From the works of famous author Mark Twain, to Tennessee Williams and William Faulkner, the romantic imagery of the Mississippi River and the mighty steamboats that once traversed her flowing waters have become an ingrained part of how we view the mighty river.

Today, this imagery of the Mississippi River is all but gone, with the exception of a few ships that fall more into the category of floating museums than truly, operational luxury cruisers.

Undeniably grand
Recently rescued from retirement by The Great American Steamboat Co. to the tune of around 15 million dollars, the American Queen has now seen a further six million dollars invested for restoration and renovation costs. Trumpeted as “the only authentic overnight paddlewheel steamboat in America”, certain is that the American Queen is unquestionably the largest and grandest steamboat in operation today.

Old-world aesthetic and entertainment
Styled like an antebellum era Victorian mansion, the luxurious American Queen dazzles with the luxurious interior design, and period correct furniture and antiques that glorified the famous steamers that inspired her creation. A wide variety of themed tours are available ranging from blues BBQ adventures to a trip that follows in the footsteps of Elvis Presley as he made his way through Ohio and Tennessee. Traditional showboat entertainment is paired with big band music and swing dancing in the two-deck tall Grand Saloon, and onshore excursions throughout your trip give guests the opportunity to experience the culture, cuisine and history surrounding the Mississippi river like they’ve never seen before.

Accommodations
Despite the American Queen’s elegant upper-class decoration and atmosphere, the dress code onboard requires only elegant-casual attire. In true Victorian fashion, the most exclusive and luxurious suites feature an attached veranda from which to enjoy a tea or cocktail while soaking in the panoramic river view. Antique fittings and furniture complete the ambiance of nostalgic old-world luxury offering guests an experience that’s tough to top.

For additional information about the American Queen and their themed steamboat trips down the mighty Mississippi River, please contact a luxury travel concierge member at The Life of Luxury.

Imagine your perfect wedding at a tropical location. Well, Real Resorts would like to help make your special day – a Royal Wedding to remember forever.

Two luxury villas exclusive properties available are the private Pure Serenity Luxury Villa at the gated Pok Ta Pok Golf Course Community in Cancun – Mexico, as well as the Luxury Dream Villa at Isla Mujeres.

You have your choice of two different Royal wedding packages to choose from at each luxury villa. They each come complete with Real Resorts’ signature Royal service from the heart, and a fairytale setting for a boutique wedding celebration.

The Pure Serenity Luxury Villa is off the beaten path in the exclusive Pok Ta Pok community of Cancun, but still in the middle of the city’s Hotel Zone.

This incredible, six-bedroom villa comprises 15,000 square foot. The home’s patios provide full-view views of the turquoise Caribbean ocean plus you can enjoy 180 feet of secluded waterfront. The villa grounds, one-and-a-quarter acres in size, also includes gardens and paths.

Get pampered and unwind, try one of the indoor and outdoor pools with spas, steam bath, sauna, cold plunge pool, indoor gymnasium and 1/2 court basketball area. The Pure Serenity Luxury Villa is also staffed with housekeepers, cooks, butlers and groceries to stock your refrigerator. If needed, additional wait staff is available.

The stunning Dream Villa is contemporary, elegant and spacious, and can be found in a quiet area on the western shore of Isla Mujeres. There you can enjoy the amazing views of the iconic Mexican Caribbean and the Bay, which lies between the Island and Cancun.

Isla Mujeres is a small beautiful island that’s just a half mile wide by five miles long. You can explore beautiful beaches on each side of the island. The island is only eight miles from Cancun, across the Bahia de Mujeres (Bay of Women).

The Dream Villa features four, spacious oceanfront bedroom suites that come luxuriously furnished and features a large terrace. The Guest Suite can accommodate up to 10 of your closest guests. You’ll find a gorgeous master bedroom that truly is a luxury penthouse with a panoramic ocean view. There’s also a private patio, its own steam bath, in addition to a soothing rain shower in its spa style bathroom.

The villa is staffed with a butler and housekeepers. The personal chef will work with each guest to provide a custom meal menu each day.

The Royal Wedding packages include a three night stay and up to 30 guests can attend the wedding ceremony and reception. The luxury wedding celebration package also features a wedding cake, flowers, and two one-hour cocktail receptions with hors d’eouvres. The spoiled wedding couple can enjoy a couples’ massage, a rose petal strewn bed with aromatherapy candles, and a romantic moonlight beach dinner.

The Pure Serenity Luxury Villa Wedding and the Dream Villa Wedding packages are both priced from $14,900 USD (all inclusive). Already have wedding plans but need a special place to enjoy your honeymoon? No problem. The two villas make for the ultimate honeymoon. You can choose from several Honeymoon experiences that are priced from only $7,000 USD (all inclusive).

If interested in learning more or making that dream Royal Wedding package at either Pure Serenity Luxury Villa or Dream Villa, please contact one of our travel concierge specialists who can help arrange your special occasion.