The New World’s oldest city – Ciudad Colonial in the Dominican Republic will be home to a new boutique hotel – Casas del XVI

Santo Domingo’s Ciudad Colonial is proud to be a UNESCO World Heritage site and regarded as the oldest European settlement in the new world. Now you can step back in time and follow the same cobblestone streets as Christopher Columbus, arrived on the island of Hispaniola in 1492.

Casas del XVI will be an eight-room luxury hotel in the Dominican Republic and is scheduled to open March 2014 in Santo Domingo’s emerging Ciudad Colonial. There is a planned soft opening of the new hotel on December 15, 2013.

What makes the Casas del XVI hotel so unique and intriguing is it will be the first to offer exclusive accommodations in restored sixteenth century, colonial houses.

The boutique hotel carefully preserves the beauty of the abodes that make up the old town neighborhood by offering guests accommodations in eight rooms and suites across three different houses. Each house is reminiscent of the Dominican Republic island’s earliest European settlers.

The stunning interior of each house is decorated based on the theme relating to Dominican culture and sixteenth century history. The result is based on owner’s ultimate goal of preserving the original architecture, drawing upon the area’s international influences, plus celebrating the vibrant Dominican culture.

The interior decor of each colonial house consists of themes that include: maps, navigation and of course …. the pineapple, a true symbol of hospitality to the indigenous people. Also displayed are images of the Colonial City’s inception during the early age of island exploration

Hotel guests quickly realize the colonial charm and will also notice an eclectic mix of ancient artifacts, handcrafted local and international furniture, in addition to local artwork.
For the ultimate in concierge service, each colonial home offers a personal butler to attend your every need.

There is much to see and do during your stay. Casas del XVI hotel guests can pick from a wide variety of excursions. Consider Old City guided strolls, a flavors of the city tour, golf challenge at the Las Lagunas Country Club, tasting series at the area’s finest restaurants, tours of the colonial churches, a rum experience at the historic Ron Barcelo distillery, a chocolate, clay and sugar tour, plus much more!

Included in the nightly rate at both Casa del los Mapas and Casa del Arbol is a delicious, daily a la carte breakfast that features traditional Dominican and international menu options. The meals are prepared by the butler each morning in the fully equipped kitchen of each house.

For those who desire a fine dining experience, private lunches and dinners can be arranged with a private chef. Or if you wish, your personal butler can also cook your special meals with advance notice.

Pre-opening rates at the Casas del XVI boutique hotel in the Dominican Republic begin at $225 per night.

If you are interested in book a reservation at the new Casas del XVI hotel in the Dominican Republic, please contact one of our travel specialists at The Life of Luxury.

Luxury watch brand Jaquet Droz is a renowned Swiss watchmaker that has been in business since 1738.

Jaquet Droz has just introduced a new luxury watch – the Perpetual Calendar Eclipse. This beautiful watch is truly a poetic masterpiece of fine watchmaking.

The Eclipse is one of the watch brand’s most iconic timepieces. The craftsmen at Jaquet Droz brilliantly paired up the moon phase complication, which displays the fascinating cycles of the night of the sky on the dial, with the Perpetual Calendar.

The result is incredible and a finely orchestrated union, which definitely raises these two complications to a new level of visual elegance.

The Perpetual Calendar Eclipse watch features two straight hands on the black or ivory-colored Grand Feu enamel dial. It produces a sharp contrast with the curves of two wavy hands, tipped with a crescent moon.

At the 6 o’clock position, you’ll notice a black or ivory-colored onyx index that seamlessly moves across the face of a golden moon. The moon is revealed then concealing until its total eclipse.

The Jaquet Droz Perpetual Calendar Eclipse draws you in and then surprises with its innovative design and contemporary calendar display.

The luxury Jaquet Droz watch’s calendar information can be easily read on various places on the watch dial. Found on the left side is the day of the week and on the right side is the current date.

At the 12 o’clock position, there’s a single-hand counter that displays the month with the leap year that discreetly appears in a small window.

The total visual result plays out on a night sky that boasts eight stars, which is the watchmaker’s favorite number.

The new watch from Jaquet Droz also features a stylish black leather strap.

If you are interested in learning more or purchasing the new Perpetual Calendar Eclipse watch from Jaquet Droz, please contact The Life of Luxury.

Many people choose to handle their debts through a process known as debt consolidation. The objective of consolidation is to turn many debts into a single one with a lower rate of interest.

Debt consolidation is an excellent way for someone with a lot of high interest debt from credit cards, car loans, or other high-interest loans to save money in the long run, as well as improve their credit rating.

It does not, however, absolve them of the debt, and in fact it requires them to offer up some form of collateral or other item of demonstrable value in order to justify the loan.

Still, the reduced rate of interest tends to not only make the buyer’s payments much lower and more affordable, it allows the borrower to save money in the long run by paying off more of the money they actually owe and less of the interest on the initial amount.

When someone chooses to consolidate their loans, they go to a bank or other lending institution and bring information regarding all of their extant loans. This can be everything from credit card bills to car loans to gambling debts.

Most of these loans are known as “unsecured loans” because the borrower does not have to offer up anything as collateral in the event that they are unable to pay off the loan. As such, the lender needs to have a high rate of interest on the loan in order to make sure that they will gain back the amount the originally spent, plus a profit.

The rate needs to be so high that even if many of the borrowers do not pay back the loan, the company still makes money. This is why credit card debt and gambling debt are famous for their high rates of interest, since it is common for borrowers to default on them.

A consolidated loan then pays off all those extant loans and replaces them with a single large loan that is secured, in that the lender asks for collateral in the form of goods, properties or investments that they can collect on should the borrower be unable to pay.

While this means that the consolidated loan cannot be larger than the value a borrower can offer in collateral, it does mean that they can replace high-interest, unsecured debt with low-interest secured debt.

This has the downside of meaning that they lose their house or other property if they fail to pay off the new loan, however, and it also requires that the borrower own valuable and unmortgaged property that is more valuable than their extant debt.

Still, consolidation is considered better than bankruptcy for one both financially and in terms of credit rating in the long term, since it shows that one is willing and able to pay off one’s debts through one means or another.

It also means that the borrower will be able to access credit cards and take out other loans while paying off their consolidated loan, although financial expediency becomes much more important when paying off a large consolidated loan.

If you need financial advice to help you with debt consolidation or retirement planning, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can refer a certied financial planner to help your needs.

According to the National Cancer Institute, approximately 238,000 men will be diagnosed with new cases of prostate cancer this year. Prostate cancer is leading incidence in the U.S. of this terrible disease.

Second on the list is breast cancer, which will effect greater than 234,580 women and men. The daily batle against cancer is an enormous one, as about 13.7 million Americans are currently living with cancer or have a history of cancer.

So whether you have a loved one, friend or co-worker dealing with cancer, just as important as the medical treatment they undergo is the emotional support they receive.

Dr. Niki Barr is pioneering cancer psychotherapist and was quoted, “Friends, family, co-workers – they can all play an important role in helping a cancer patient’s recovery simply by providing emotional support.”

Once someone is diagnosed with cancer, it’s critical they receive social support to help them deal with the disease and let them know they are not alone. In a National Institutes of Health report, it’s been proven that social support such as emotional support, does positively influence health outcomes.

Barr continues, “Even if you’re not among the person’s closest friends or family, you can help far more than you imagine simply by being encouraging and supportive.”

During her career, Barr has learned from her patients there are several commonon things that consistently do benefit them:

• Make your offer of help specific. “Call me if you need anything at all,” puts the burden on your loved one – who already carries a tremendous burden! Instead, you might offer to make dinner for her family on Wednesday night and ask what meal everyone enjoys. Or volunteer to drive him to his doctor appointment on Monday afternoon. This makes it easy for your friend to politely accept or decline your offer, and it ensures you provide the assistance you feel comfortable providing.

• Sometimes saying nothing at all says everything. If your friend or loved one wants to talk about her treatments, complain about his situation, or not talk at all, being a good listener or simply a quiet presence speaks volumes. When a person complains, many of us jump to “help” by suggesting solutions. That’s likely not what your friend or loved one is looking for. As my patients have said time and time again, sometimes they just want to get it all off their chest. An empathetic listener is all the help they need.

• If you’re not sure what to say, err on the side of being positive. Don’t say what you don’t know – for instance, you don’t know that everything is going to be just fine. But if you admire your loved one’s strength or sense of humor, if your friend’s attitude inspires you, tell them so. We all benefit from hearing a sincere compliment.

• Not sure what to talk about? Follow his lead. Some days, my patients want to talk only about their illness, the treatment they’re undergoing, and how they feel. Other days, they want to talk about anything BUT cancer. We all have days when we’re immersed in our own lives and other days when we want to be distracted – or to just feel normal.

According to Barr, “When a person who’s going through what may be the most difficult, stressful event of their lives knows that you care, it makes a difference. If you’re truly at a loss for words, it never hurts to simply say, I’m thinking about you.”

Niki Barr, Ph.D. founded a pioneering psychotherapy practice that’s devoted to helping cancer patients in all the various stages of the disease.

She also works with their family members, caregivers and friends. Barr adds, “I remind my patients often to refuse to listen to cancer ‘horror stories,’ so please, don’t tell those!”

For those who want to bring in 2014 with a truly luxury VIP experience, then consider spending it in Las Vegas with several New Year’s Eve Packages.

The trendy and very popular Surrender Nightclub is located in the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas hotel. They are offering “The Ultimate VIP Package” for $150,000 for the upcoming New Year’s Eve celebration.

This ultimate New Year’s package starts with with a dinner tasting menu with an optional wine pairing at the adjoining Asian dining hot spot – Andrea’s restaurant. Price includes up to 10 guests.

You’ll enjoy premium seating inside the posh Surrender Nightclub, and indulge with a $100,000 engraved bottle of Dom Perignon Rose Gold, plus three magnums of Grey Goose and one magnum of Don Julio.

For music lovers, you are in luck. This package allows you to join electronic dance music superstar Diplo in the actual DJ booth during the raucous countdown to the New Year. Groove to the latest music as Diplo spins his hits and provides the evening’s high-energy entertainment.

There are other terrific VIP New Year’s packages available at Surrender Nightclub and Andrea’s in the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas hotel.

– Premium package priced at $6,400 – includes a prime nightclub table for 12 with two bottles of Dom Perignon and three bottles of ultra-premium liquor.
– Club’s dome table package priced at $3,200 – includes ten-person tables with one bottle of Veuve Clicquot and two bottles of ultra-premium liquor.
– For $2,400, receive eight-person tables with one bottle of Veuve Clicquot and one bottle of ultra-premium liquor.
– For $1,500, receive six-person tables with one bottle of ultra-premium liquor for $1,500.
– Lower bungalow package at $5,200 – for 20 guests includes two bottles of Veuve Clicquot and three bottles of ultra-premium liquor.
– Gaming pavilion tables priced at $2,400 – for eight guests, with one bottle of Veuve Clicquot, and one bottle of ultra-premium liquor.

The Andrea’s Executive Chef Joseph Elevado, has created a fabulous New Year’s Eve dinner tasting menu. The price is $250 and does not include either an 18% gratuity or sales tax.

The New Year’s Eve dinner tasting menu at Andrea’s restaurant includes: “Bacon Ikura” Wasabi Cream Cheese Foam and Furikake Chip; Champagne Marinated Tai Snapper, Oscetra Caviar, Nashi Pear Tsuma; Unagi plus Foie Gras Terrrine, Lotus Root Chips and Figs; Butter Poached Lobster,

Perigord Black Truffle, Crispy Ramen and Uni Butter; Wagyu Tamarind Short Ribs and Karashi Potato Gratin; Composed Nigiri Sushi: Toro, Bonito and King Crab; and a dessert sampling.

For wine lovers, an Andrea’s Sommelier wine pairing with each item is available for an additional cost of $75.

The patio at Andrea’s is also available to guests to bring in the New Year. Tables will include a bottle of ultra-premium liquor for either four guests ($1,200) or six guests ($1,600). All prices are inclusive of gratuity and tax.

So bring in 2014 in high style and be part of one of the hottest New year’s parties in Las Vegas at the Encore at Wynn Las Vegas hotel.

If you are interested in reserving a luxury VIP New Year’s Eve Package reservation at Surrender Nightclub and Andrea’s in Las Vegas, then please contact a travel concierge specialist at The Life of Luxury. We can help with all of your travel accommodations

McLaren is one of the most well known and respected names in car racing. The brand remains the only marque to win the Indianapolis 500, Formula 1™ Constructors’ Championship, 24 Hours of Le Mans and Can-Am Championship.

2014 brings us McLaren’s 50th anniversary and a big celebration is planned at the 19th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance car show in Florida.

On display will be a wide variety of rare and significant McLaren racers from five decades of racing competition. McLaren has helped define motorsport via a tireless pursuit of perfection.

To celebrate 50 years of McLaren, the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance will showcase a 2014 Honoree Jochen Mass’ 1977 McLaren M23 Formula 1 racer as part of the “Cars of Jochen Mass” class. This historic Cosworth-powered M23 took Mass to second place in the 1977 Swedish Grand Prix at the 2.497 mile Anderstorp circuit.

McLaren Automotive North America is honored once again to be a participating sponsor for the third consecutive year, of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance. McLaren is planning to host event guests at its brand display pavilion on Saturday March 8 and Sunday March 9, where several special vehicles will be shown.

The 2014 Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is scheduled ot be held between March 7-9th 2014 on the 10th and 18th fairways of The Golf Club of Amelia Island at The Ritz-Carlton, Amelia Island.

Bill Warner is the Founder and Chairman of the Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance and was quoted, “McLaren’s racing record is without equal. The company is about quality and excellence in every component of the car, their execution, preparation and presentation.”

The Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance is recognized as one of the top automotive events in the world. The car show event draws nearly 250 rare vehicles from collections around the world.

Bruce McLaren Motor Racing Ltd. was originally created way back in 1963 by Bruce McLaren after he drove for Cooper Cars. Bruce McLaren won the 1959 and 1960 Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship and the 1962 Monaco Grand Prix. Bruce McLaren also personally won two Can-Am titles in 1967 and 1969 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans, alongside countryman Chris Amon in 1966, driving a Ford GT40.

Although Bruce McLaren passed away in 1970, his legacy and strong company brand continues to this day. Between 1972 and 1976, McLaren cars took three Indianapolis 500 victories, plus winning the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1995 with the F1.

The 1995 victory at Le Mans cemented McLaren with the recognition of becoming the only marque in history to claim motorsport’s famous Triple Crown – victories at the Monaco Grand Prix, the Indy 500 and the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Car enthusiasts don’t want to miss this major car show event in Florida. To make plans to attend the 19th annual Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance in March 2014, please contact The Life of Luxury for tickets and help booking your Florida travel arrangements

Above Photo Courtesy of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway – lowres

A razor is often a forgotten luxury but we all know what a bad one can do to our skin. A good quality razor is hard to find, but we wanted to offer one that could be one of the best out there.

Henry Tuke is a British luxury brand in London that specializes only in exceptional men’s gifts and accessories.

The luxury razors from Henry Tuke are ideal for men who feel that “good enough is simply not good enough.”

Each razor is hand sculpted and cast from solid silver or bronze. They can also be customized and made to bespoke sizing requirements.

A man’s face can be challenge for many razors. As a reference, the average man spends about 3,000 hour during his life just shaving. He can have approximately 15,000 to 20,000 course hairs growing out of his face. A razor can take a beating and one with a dull blade can cause skin problems and even bleeding.

So for descerning men around the world who desire more than your average razor, Henry Tuke may be your answer.

The line of Henry Tuke razors come available in various shapes ranging from lions and mermaids to nude ladies and silver birch twigs. The entire razor collection is compatible with either the Gillette Fusion blades or Mach III family of cartridges.

Henry Tuke razors are definitely a huge step above your typical plastic disposables or supermarket quality razors.

Tom Tuke-Hastings is founder of Henry Tuke and was quoted, “I believe we’ve produced a range of products that any man would be proud to use. After all, how many men can say that a naked woman shaves them every morning?”

All Henry Tuke products are made in Great Britain and their new line of razors would make that perfect Christmas gift for your husband, boyfriend, dad or or other family member or friend.

The mission of Henry Tuke to use only the finest materials and a strong desire to create beautiful things without cutting corners.

You can purchase the Henry Tuke razor with pricing starting from £300 for a “twig” razor cast from silver birch made in solid bronze.

We earlier published on article on the Henry Tuke – Champagne Sabre which is the world’s most expensive Champagne sabre – selling for an eye-popping £27,000. Read the Henry Tuke article.

Talking about death is never an easy topic. But understanding the importance of a will and an accurate one is critical.

Simply stated, a will is a document that’s also called a “last will and testament” that determines how a person’s property or estate will be distributed after death.

A will states a person’s final wishes and is typically read by a county court after your death. The court tries to ensure that person’s final wishes are actually carried out.

Jeff Gorton is a Certified Public Accountant and a Certified Financial Planner™ that specializes in individual tax and retirement planning. Jeff knows the importance of an accurate will and offers several tips to help you.

Only about 40 percent of adults in the U.S. actually have a will. The primary reason is likely due to people not wanting to be reminded of their own mortality and that life will go on without them, according to Gorton.

Jeff states, “But what’s the alternative? If you die without one, the state decides what becomes of your property, without regard to your priorities. Why not enjoy the fact that a will is an instrument of power? You get to decide who gets what.”

Gorton summarizes a basic will into four unique sections:
• Executors — Most wills begin by naming an executor, the person responsible for carrying out the wishes outlined in the will. Duties include assessing the value of the estate, gathering the assets, paying inheritance tax and other debts if necessary, and distributing assets among beneficiaries. It is recommended that you name at least two executors in case your first choice is unable to fulfill the obligation.

• Guardians — A will allows you to designate a guardian for your minor children. Whomever you appoint, you will want to make sure beforehand that the individual is able and willing to assume the responsibility. For many people, this is the most important part of a will since, if you die without naming a guardian, the court will decide who takes care of your children.

• Estate — Your estate encompasses everything you own, including real property, financial investments, cash and personal possessions. Once you have identified specific gifts you would like to distribute, you can apportion the rest of your estate
in equal shares among your heirs, or you can split it into percentages. For example, you may decide to give 45 percent each to two children and the remaining 10 percent to a sibling.

• Gifts — This section enables you to identify people or organizations to whom you wish to give gifts of money or specific possessions, such as family heirlooms or a car. You can also specify conditional gifts, such as a sum of money to a young daughter, but only when she reaches a certain age.

Although there is no legal requirement for a professional to write a will for you, he highly recommends getting certified help in preparing one. Jeff Gordon says, “After working a lifetime for your assets, you deserve to have them go where you want after you’re gone, and your family will be grateful to you for not leaving them with the headache of trying to sort out your estate.”

In addition, he also encourages his clients to create a written income plan (WIP), which is a living document that helps organize financial priorities.

If you are in the need of legal advice, please contact The Life of Luxury and we can help get you in touch with a certified law professional in your area.

The Elandsberg Nature Reserve is north of Pretoria in South Africa. Now you can own a luxury lodge and experience incredible wildlife firsthand.

The luxury lodge is 700 square meters of covered living space in size and sits on 520 hectars of land.

Elandsberg Nature Reserve consists of 12,000 hectares and was created back in 2006 when seven landowners agreed to open up and manage this scenic reserve.

The game farm can be easily accessed and offers stunning views over the Waterberg mountain range. The South African game estate features a gorgeous rim flow pool, air conditioning, plus other modern fittings. There is also a generator available for back up power.

As a land owner, you would have access to 250 km of jeep track that makes game viewing on Elandsberg even easier. In addition, find 75 km of mountain biking / hiking trails. One limitation is that leisure quad and off road motor biking ares not allowed on the game reserve property.

With abundant wildlife, Elandsberg includes all the naturally occurring plains game that can be found in Limpopo Province. Major wildlife available include – buffalo, sable, white rhino, roan antelope, leopard and brown hyena.

Plus, Elandsberg landowners receive a small free hunting quota each year for non-commercial use.

The asking price for the 700m² luxury lodge and 520 hectars of land in South Africa is ZAR 13,900,000. That is equivalent to US 1,415,216.26 or EUR 1,025,954.14

If you are interested in this luxury lodge or looking for other luxury real estate, please contact The Life of Luxury.

Andrea Pivetta is an Italian designer who over the last 2 decades has worked with numerous leaders from companies across various business industries.

Pivetta “Opera Only” is the latest creation from Andrea Pivetta. This amazing piece of art follows his original piece in the field of sound – a multi-channel amplifier titled “Pivetta Opera One.”

“Opera Only” is based on intuition, imagination and genius solution. It’s a fascinating piece that uniquely crosses between both sophisticated technology and art.

The size of “Opera Only” is impressive but required due to the fact it pumps out a staggering 160,000 watts. In addition, Andrea Pivetta also wanted to create something very special and unique from a visual point of view.

Andrea Pivetta’s mission is to simply offer a unique product. He feels his customers want solutions that are tailored just for them.

The external structure is constructed of aircraft aluminum. Cleverly thoughtout, its openings or connections are not visible from the outside.

This mightly amplifier can handle any speaker load. With transducers of equivalent stature, it can convey profound sonic beauty.

The Pivetta “Opera Only” openly reflects the expression of creativity and equally complemented by the inside high-quality audio technology.

It’s definitely an impressive visual. Consisting of a black 12-sides prism, its structure actually changes completely once the device is turned on. Divided into six distinct sections to unveil all the internal electronics at a glance.

The price tag is not available at this time, but is quite steep. Any owner will quickly realize the value and be able to experience extreme audio luxuries.

Proud to be the world’s number one luxury watchmaker, Montres Breguet has quickly ascended to that position after being acquired by the Swatch Group in 1999.

Breguet features its “Breguet the Innovator. Inventor of the Tourbillon” watch exhibit with the second stop in their U.S. tour – at the Tourbillon Boutique in Chicago.

The luxury watch exhibit features a fascinating retrospective of the most iconic mechanism ever created in modern watchmaking. The highly anticipated showcase has traveled across both Europe and Asia first opening in Geneva earlier this year.

Offering the most expansive contemporary collection of tourbillon wristwatches plus rare historic pocket watches, the Breguet watch exhibition presented a unique look into the brand’s horological legacy and it’s contributions to the future of watchmaking.

Today, the luxury watch brand continues to pay tribute to its founder and the innovation that changed timekeeping forever. “Breguet, the Innovator. Inventor of the Tourbillon,” is truly a testament to the legacy of A.-L. Breguet and the impact of the tourbillon on his standing in European society.

The final stop in the Breguet U.S. tour will be New York City, from November 8th – 17th at the Breguet Boutique – 711 Fifth Avenue.

Abraham-Louis Breguet (A.-L. Breguet) was awarded the patent for the tourbillon on June 26, 1801 and is well recognized as the father of contemporary horology. The exhibit takes attendees back to the original tourbillon and its significance in today’s luxury watch industry.

This genius technological invention neutralized the effects of the Earth’s gravity in pocket watches. The result was the tourbillon offered tremendous precision in mechanical timepieces.

One of the priceless timepieces available for viewing at the “Breguet the Innovator. Inventor of the Tourbillon” watch exhibition is a tourbillon repeater chronometer that dates back to 1812.

This legendary perpétuelle pocket watch with “à toc” quarter repeater is widely known as the “No. 5.” Also on display is the 5377 ultra-thin tourbillon that was introduced by Breguet at Baselworld earlier this year.

If you are in the market for a Breguet luxury watch or any other luxury watch brand, please contact The Life of Luxury.