Hovertravel is the only scheduled Hovercraft operator in Europe. It’s also the quickest way for visitors traveling to the UK, to reach the Isle of Wight.

The scenic Isle of Wight offers some of the best beaches in all of Britain. In addition, enjoy the historic Victorian architecture, all alongside some of quaintest English villages. It is definitely the perfect place for a day out.

Launched in 1965, Hovertravel’s service is a safe and speedy 10 minute flight across The Solent to the Isle of Wight.

More importantly, it means that from London to the Island is a journey of just 1 hour and 45 minutes.

As the world’s longest running hovercraft operator, the Hovertravel experience is also one your children will never forget.

Neil Chapman, managing director of Hovertravel, explains, “For any Americans visiting Europe, the quick flight on our hovercraft is a truly unique and enjoyable experience. We regularly welcome visitors from around the world who have traveled many miles to witness this iconic British invention.”

The Hovertravel terminal is linked to London via several transport options including trains and the Greyhound coach service which departs directly outside the Hovertravel terminal.

For additional information on travel deals and events in Europe this Spring & Summer, please contact us using the below form:

Dedicated beach-lovers head to Kauai for some of the most beautiful and scenic beaches in Hawaii. Kauai beaches comprise more than 140 miles of sandy shores, more than any island in Hawaii. Along the coastline visitors will find more than forty Kauai beaches to choose from creating unrivaled options in the chain of islands.

Incredible sunsets are synonymous with Ke‘e Beach Park. Located literally at the end of the road on Kauai’s North Shore between the dramatic Na Pali Coast and Limahuli Stream, the reef lagoon at Ke‘e Beach is a favorite snorkeling site.

The water is clear and there are tons of colorful reef fish and turtles. Ke‘e Beach has a very tropical look with a backshore lushly vegetated by ironwood trees, coconut palms, ti, and guava.

Ke’e Beach is another rival for the best beach on Kauai and is one of the most frequented. It’s found where the road literally ends on the North Shore. The Kalalau Trail and the Napali Coast both begin here where sweeping cliff views fill the western landscape. Azure blue water, amazing black lava cliffs and powdery sand flanked by swaying palms create an idyllic setting.

Large rocks and reefs keep the water currents gentle in the summer but in the winter the water becomes more rough and dangerous. Though not as stunning or wide as Tunnels Beach or Hanalei Bay Beach, Ke’e Beach remains near the top of the list of the best beach on Kauai.

The beach offers pinic areas, restrooms, and several historic sites. If you’re looking for Kauai beach villas, your best bet is to look between Ke’e Beach and Hanalei for a good variety of properties.

To book a travel reservation to Kauai, Hawaii or any of the tropical Hawaiian islands, please contact The Life of Luxury by using the below contact form:

Sometimes even kings are not immune to the recession and economic hardship. One of the surprising cutbacks is that King Juan Carlos of Spain is relinquishing his approximately, 21 million-euro ($27 million) yacht – tiled “Fortuna.”

As the European country of Spain continues to battle the never-ending recession and record unemployment, hard choices must continue to be made.

The Fortuna yacht is similar to other assets such as the royal palaces, which are owned by the state and managed by the National Heritage for the use of the 75-year-old king and his family.

Fortuna is 41.5-metre (136-foot) in length and was donated back in 2000 by a business group. It’s costly to maintain in addition to taking it out on the Mediterranean. According to the Spanish press, each sailing costs more than 20,000 euros for each refuelling.

Last week, a spokesman for the institution was quoted “The king has taken the decision to ask the National Heritage to proceed with the release of the asset,” said late Thursday.

The next step is the National Heritage board needs to approve the King Juan Carlos yacht’s transfer back to the government. The next choice would be to keep the luxury yacht or to sell Fortuna.

Source: AFP

Photo: Ghost Yachts

Ghost G180F is a stylish and innovative 55­ metre high performance yacht, which was developed by Ghost Yachts and leading Dutch yacht builder Feadship.

By offering a high performance yacht with a focus to set standards, Ghost G180F was designed to combine high efficiency with a thrilling sports­yacht performance and compliant with class requirements for yachts under 500 Gross Tonnes.

The innovative lightweight semi­-displacement hull, designed by De Voogt Naval Architects, provides a top speed of 29 knots top speed and a generous cruising range of 4000nm.

Francis Gumbs of De Voogt Naval Architects was quoted, “We transformed Ghost Yachts’ objectives into a low weight, efficient hull with optimal propulsion layout. This results in performance normally only achieved on Superyachts with
significantly larger engine installations.’

Gumbs continues, “The clear lines of the styling are mixed with a rich variety of materials like semiprecious gemstone, liquid metal panelling and aluminium panels which reflect the yacht’s core material.”

Photo: Ghost Yachts

Ghost G180F features 2 main engines – MTU 12V4000M93L, 2580 kW @ 2100 rpm and 2 four blade controllable pitch propellers.|

The yacht’s luxury accommodations includes an owner’s stateroom with bathroom and dressing rooms, plus four guest staterooms with en suite bathrooms that can hold eight guests. Ghost G180F comes with a nine person crew – one in the captain’s cabin and eight in four crew cabins.

The luxury boat’s overall length is 55.00 metre / 180’5″

Caesars Atlantic City

Many people never get the chance to spend a stay in a luxury hotel.  What if you could ….for free?  Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City is offering 3,000 free rooms at several of their luxury resorts in Atlantic City.

Summer is almost here Caesars Entertainment Atlantic City is ready to make it a memorable one. A team of sexy body-painted models will be handing out 3,000 free room key cards.

You will have the chance to stay at one of these wonderful resorts and casinos – Caesars, Harrah’s Resort, Showboat and Bally’s Atlantic City.

This is a one day, special event – Tuesday, May 21, 2013 and will be held in New York City at the following locations:
Bryant Park from 12:00PM – 1:00PM
Madison Square Park from 1:30PM – 2:30PM
Wall Street from 4:00PM – 5:00PM
Penn Station from 5:30 – 6:30

So keep a look at and if you spot one of the four body painted models emblazoned with the hotels’ logos, you’re in luck.

If you find one, the hotel room key cards will have individual promo codes to be redeemed for one FREE night at the designated resort.

If you need help booking a travel reservation to New York City, Atlantic City or anywhere your heart desires, please contact The Life of Luxury by using the below form:

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

If you have only ever cruised with one of the contemporary cruise lines upgrading to a luxury line will give a real six star experience.

Let’s look at some of the differences.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Accommodations and Service
The atmosphere of not only the public areas on luxury ships but the accommodations provides a memorable experience and fond cruise memories.

Examples of this are Crystal Cruises ships Serenity and Symphony. The cabins are luxurious and roomy and nearly two-thirds have private verandas.

Most luxury cruise lines sail smaller ships, accommodating from 180 to 400 passengers, thus allowing some cabins to be as large as 1000 square feet. Regent Cruises even offers penthouse suites.

These luxury ships normally have a staff-to-passenger ratio that allows you to have personalized service at any time. The fleet of the Yachts of Seabourn includes one ship that accommodates 208 passengers and carries 135 crew members.

You can even choose to have a private butler to be there for you whenever the need arises. Staff will get to know you and your likes and dislikes immediately so that they can serve you better. Most of these luxury lines offer 24-hour room service from one of their fine restaurants so that you can satisfy your hunger whenever it suits you.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Dining
Dining in luxury means creative gourmet meals supervised by some of the top chefs in the world. Meals are served with your choice from a selection of fine wines. Most ship’s restaurants have open seating so that you can dine when you choose, not on a set schedule.

Your dining experience includes waiting staff in tuxedos, multiple course meals and a table set with fine China and elegant crystal. You may also find sumptuous buffets set up along the pool on the beautiful decks.

This style of cruising is often more “all-inclusive” than the average cruise holiday. This means that alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks are included, so you can enjoy a cocktail before dinner, wine with your meal, and a fine after dinner aperitif.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Activities and Excursions
A cruise like this still has all of the relaxing activities that make a cruise a cruise.

You can still bask in the sun by the pool, swim and workout. But what you will also find on a cruise centered on luxury are exclusive programs that are special to that cruise and that itinerary.

For instance, on a cruise that includes Rome and Italy you may find a program where you can study the art of the Renaissance. Evenings on board you may find yourself attending a starlight orchestral concert.

Part of the personalized service you receive on board a cruise like this is to make all of the arrangements for you when you go ashore.

Photo courtesy of Silversea Cruises

Itineraries
A luxury cruise tends to have more exotic destinations and itineraries that include places like Australia and New Zealand, Antarctica, Asia and Africa. You can even cruise the world in luxury. These luxurious smaller ships like those of Silversea have the advantage of going to smaller and more secluded harbours that passengers on the larger ships never get to see.

Other Unique Voyages
There are cruise lines like Windstar that offer voyages on sailing yachts. The ship called Windstar is a streamlined four-masted vessel with 10,000 square feet of teak deck space. Their fleet also includes the Wind Surf, which is the biggest sailing yacht in the world, accommodating 310 passengers.

When planning your next cruise, why not consider luxury cruises. They may cost a little more, but you get a lot more for that money you spend.

Article supplied by Cruise Specialist website About2Cruise. Like on Facebook

The Ritz-Carlton New York – Battery Park

The Ritz-Carlton New York is Manhattan’s only luxury waterfront hotel. This luxurious AAA five diamond hotel provides incredible views over New York Harbor, Ellis Island, and the monumental Statue of Liberty.

The 39-story, 298-room luxury hotel is found in Battery Park’s scenic esplanade, nearby some of New York’s top cultural sites and historical landmarks, including Wall Street, the 9/11 Memorial, and South Street Seaport, and within minutes of the hip nightclubs, chic restaurants and eclectic boutiques of Soho, Tribeca, and the Meatpacking District.

To enjoy Lower Manhattan, The Ritz-Carlton New York is offering their “The Summer in the Park” package. It’s the chance for both locals and visitors to experience unparalleled luxury at the downtown New York City hotel, enjoying lavish accommodations, breathtaking views of the New York Harbor and superlative service.

The Ritz-Carlton New York

The new package allows hotel guests to make The Ritz-Carlton New York, Battery Park their home base and indulge in exciting New York-centric summer activities: rediscover the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island with a sail for two around Lower Manhattan with Manhattan by Sail; pedal along the Hudson River and Riverside Park with bike rentals provided by Bike and Roll; and enjoy the many concerts, festivals, outdoor movies and art exhibitions throughout the parks with a delicious picnic basket for two prepared by Chef Dangler.

With a deep knowledge of all he major New York City attractions, the hotel’s gracious concierge team will work tirelessly to create customized itineraries for guests to explore quintessential sites of downtown Manhattan. Using a mix of must-see landmarks and local favorites, the friendly experts will craft unique adventures based on each guest’s whims and passions.

The lower Manhattan hotel package includes luxurious accommodations, daily continental breakfast, a day bike rental for two, a 90-minute sail for two, a picnic blanket to take home and a picnic basket with gourmet petite sandwiches, salads and specialty desserts. The package begins at $425 per night and is available through Labor Day weekend. A minimum two-night stay is required.

To learn more or book a hotel reservation at The Ritz-Carlton New York, please contact us using the below form:

Bonhams was founded in 1793 and is one of the world’s largest auctioneers of fine art and antiques. Bonhams just announced an exciting new addition to the upcoming Quail Lodge motorcar auction in Carmel, California.

Designed by Giovanni Michelotti for Vignale and then sold new to the famed North American Ferrari importer Luigi Chinetti, the amazing 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignale will be up for auction.

This incredible Ferrari was announced as one of the early car consignments at the Quail Lodge motorcar auction to be held in August.

Truly a one-of-a-kind Ferrari sports car, the luxurious 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignal was originally the star attraction at the January 1954 New York Auto Show at Madison Square Garden.

This Ferrari was part of the luxury carmaker’s legendary 250 model range. It was also tailor made to showcase a wealth of exquisite design and styling details that put it in a class of its own. Impeccable and correct in every detail, the tobacco and bruno siena-colored Ferrari (its original livery colors) would be a welcome entrant and fierce competitor at any major concours d’elegance around the globe.

No doubt this beauty would become the crown of any luxury car collection. This show-stopping Ferrari will be offered along with many other cars of distinction at the 16th annual Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction during the world-famous Monterey Peninsula Car Week, in scenic Carmel, California.

To learn more about the 1953 Ferrari 250 Europa Coupé Vignale or make reservations to attend the Quail Lodge Motorcar Auction in Carmel, California, lease contact us using the below form:

Photo: CXC Simulations

For avid car lovers, there is no thrill like being on a race track and getting that adrenaline rush. But for most of us, the closest we’ll ever get is watching on TV or attending a live car race event.

Car simulators are a hot trend right now. Based in Los Angeles, CXC Simulations offers state-of-the-art racing simulators for professional racing teams and drivers, and for users who wish to experience the thrill of racing in their own home.

CXC Simulations was approached by Toyota of North Hollywood to retrofit a 2006 Lola Champ Car and used as a racing simulator by people of all sizes and abilities.

The Champ Car simulator had a number of very strict requirements. Even though it needed to end up as a simulator, CXC had to make sure that it could be used as a racecar even after its work was done. The client requested unparalleled realism, easy access in and out of the car, a seat that would accommodate a wide range of body sizes, as well as in-game and on-car branding.

Mobile One Porsche Super Cup and Former IndyCar/Champ Car Driver – Matt Halliday was quoted, “It is pretty amazing what the CXC guys have been able to do with this project and the realistic nature combining the forces and drivability of the real car is very accurate.”

The custom Champ Car simulator features three 55″ LCD screens offer a 180 degree field of view that completely covers the driver’s peripheral vision. A high-powered force feedback system was added to provide drivers with the same experience they would have on the track.

Offering an LED gauge system, custom stairs for easy access, and a custom-made wide seat and headrest covered in leather, this one-of-a-kind simulator is certain to be a success.

To learn more about the production simulators from CXC Simulations, please visit: http://www.cxcsimulations.com/products/motion-pro/

Holly Dyment Fine Jewelry

For those desiring jewelry that’s unique and ideally masters the bridge between bad girl glamour and luxury jewelry, jewelry designer Holly Dyment offers punk rock chic pieces that radiate the Met Ball 2013 theme & Punk: Chaos To Couture.

Holly Dyment’s Spring/Summer 2013 collection is full of both fantasy and mystery. Truly inspired by visionary creations from the likes of Tim Burton, Andy Warhol, Alexander McQueen, Cirque du Soliel and Damien Hurst, Dyment’s line of jewelry creations evoke another level of creative and inspiring fashion forward design.

Each piece of every collection is individually handcrafted by Holly Dyment herself and is unforgettable and irreverent, yet wearable, with almost any wardrobe ensemble.

The seven, distinctive rings within Dyment’s Darkside Ring Skull Collection were created using only the finest, handpicked gemstones from India plus colors that are based on ancient astrological color charts for the days of the week. A whole lot of glamour, the right level of edgy attitude, and a perfect splash of bling, Holly Dyment Fine Jewelry is perfectly punk.

The collection pieces are set in 14 and 18k yellow or white gold with precious and semi-precious gemstones and diamonds. The heart of the brand’s jewelry design can be found within the sweet spot of juxtaposition – seriously beautiful and unique statement pieces of the highest quality, with a vivaciously vibrant sense of fun and intrigue.

Prices for the Darkside Ring Skull Collection range between $6,750 and $7, 350.

Individual collections for Spring/Summer 2013 include: “Drop dead Gorgeous,” Dark Side Ring,” “Harlequin Stickpin,” “Evil Eye” and “Carnival Earring collection” and range is price from $3,240 to $11,200K.

To view all the collections by Holly Dyment, please visit: www.hollydyment.com

All-New Range Rover

Land Rover North America recently launched a new video, titled “Roam Free.” Available online (and below), the video celebrates the unparalleled capabilities of the brand’s luxury vehicles.

Land Rover is the popular and respected British maker of Land Rover and Range Rover sport utility vehicles. They are renowned for providing its clientele with some of the most luxurious and capable vehicles in the world.

Evoking the free-form discipline of parkour to bring to life the brand’s essence, the 60 second video captures the luxury brand’s essence of all-terrain, go anywhere, and do anything feeling of freedom and premium all-terrain capability.

The Land Rover “Roam Free” video focuses on four parkour or free running athletes demonstrating amazing feats of balance, fitness and agility. The journey and movement of the athletes cleverly represents the “Above & Beyond” capabilities of Land Rover vehicles.

The group movement in *Roam Free* was specifically choreographed to offer video viewers with a virtual comparison to the reality of the way a Land Rover vehicle drives and feels on and off road. Coming full circle to truly encompass the Land Rover brand, the video is set to play with the tranquil sounds of the world-renowned composer Johann Sebastian Bach.

All-New Range Rover

Land Rover offers a stellar, vehicle lineup that includes the legendary Defender, LR2 (Freelander 2), LR4 (Discovery 4), Range Rover Sport, Range Rover and Range Rover Evoque.