The top 3 trips to make before you turn 40

 

Nora Ephron once said, “Oh, how I regret not having worn a bikini for the entire year I was twenty-six. If anyone young is reading this, go, right this minute, put on a bikini, and don’t take it off until you’re thirty-four.” The bikini is a metaphor. The ultimate luxury is youth. All the gold in the world cannot buy the spirit, optimism, and plain freedom of our younger years. But youth is wasted on the young.

The cruelest joke ever played on mankind was to combine curious energy and a lithe frame with cultural naiveté and an immature palate. Which is exactly what makes our late 20s and 30s so interesting. It’s the sweet spot in life when tastes are developed, yet appetite for newness is high; career is soaring, yet demands on wallet are few; and worldview is sage, yet knees are in working order.
So before it’s too late, take these three epic, game-changing trips:
Take a guided tour through West Africa
This part of the world is not for the faint of heart. The roads alone are enough to send most travel enthusiasts packing, not to mention the region is soaked in the sad history of the slave trade. But this is exactly why it’s a must-see for the truly intellectually curious who have the means to do it right. With a personal guide-driver and vehicle, you can get through Ghana, Togo, and Benin – and back again – in about 12 days, covering the most important “slave castles” along the Atlantic coast as well as sites of incredible local religious significance, like the python temple in Ouida, the 500-year old lake-village on stilts in Ganvie, and the voodoo market in Lomé. You’ll experience the absolute richness of an often over-looked part of the world and come to understand modern context in the Americas and the Caribbean in a way you never thought possible. It’s certainly not cheap to travel this way, but it’s a cultural lens not many in this world will ever have the opportunity (nor courage) to look through – and it will never leave you.

Go to the DMZ in North Korea
For any self-described world observer, the geopolitical implications of a trip like this are reason enough to place it high on the travel priority list. It’s not the kind of place you take kids, to say the least. Getting to the 38th parallel is no easy feat, involving half-day planes to Seoul, followed by lengthy bus rides north to the border. It necessarily entails a monitored tour sponsored by American armed forces stationed at the border, with seemingly endless security checks and mandatory army-led training on how to behave inside the zone. The experience includes two incredibly close brushes with the notoriously closed nation: 1) a brief trip technically into North Korea via one of the three eerily sky-blue-painted diplomatic meeting rooms that straddle the demarcation line at Panmunjom; and 2) a journey 240 feet underground into the infamous Third Tunnel of Aggression, one of several tunnels clandestinely dug by the North Koreans for the purpose of invading Seoul. The experience cannot be put into words. It’s more like outer space than any place you’ve ever been, and it’s something any serious travel pro must check off before the opportunity becomes untenable.

Learn to sail with a fleet in The Med
Perhaps one of the most unique aspects of the late 20s and 30s is the opportunity to vacation with friends. You’re out of the woods with respect to school, careers are on cruise control, paychecks are healthy, but the realities of raising a family haven’t fully set in. There’s no better time to learn how to sail, no better place than the Mediterranean, and no better way than via fleet. Sometimes called “flotilla” yachting, this mode of holiday feels almost like summer camp – several small 50-foot sailing yachts each berthing about 10 people travel together as a fleet from location to location on a pre-determined route for typically seven days and seven nights, adventuring by day and celebrating by night. With a professional skipper guiding each yacht, the guests (“crews”) learn to sail with old friends while invariably making new ones. Growing in popularity, it’s the fleet of like-minded individuals that makes these trips incredibly unique vis-à-vis simply chartering a single yacht. A week on the open water aboard a boat that isn’t simply a huge floating hotel – now that’s something to write home about.

A luxury family break in Marbella

 

Marbella has always been synonymous with a jet set lifestyle. Puerto Banus’ Marina is a sight to behold, crammed full of luxury super yachts.
Designer shops line the streets nearby and people with medically enhanced physiques can be seen walking along as if on a continuous catwalk. Those who have an exclusive pass to drive along the road next to the port, do so in cars that even Jeremy Clarkson would fawn over. It’s an ideal spot for sitting in a cafe and people watching!

It’s not just for the multi-millionaires and billionaire oligarchs, however. There’s a wide range of accommodation for all price brackets, guaranteed warm sunshine and somewhat Anglicised culture, which does make it easier if you have young children with you.
So it’s no surprise that it’s a popular holiday destination for Britons. It’s also very easy if you have children because the flight time is bearable, car hire at Malaga airport is easy and it’s only a forty minute drive from there.
We travel to Puerto Banus several times a year as we have family who live there. Most of the time we stay in a self-catering apartment because it’s cheaper and more convenient with small children. During winter months occasionally we treat ourselves to a short break in a luxury hotel.
Having tried a few luxury hotels in the area, we found the best one for families to be the Gran Melia Don Pepe. The hotel is located right on the beach front, all the rooms have breathtaking sea views and there are great pools, both outside and inside.
The inside pool is especially welcome for a winter break. Even in winter although the temperature in Marbella is mild, most outside pools aren’t heated. My children are still happy to splash outside in these conditions, however I need an outside temperature of at least 85 degrees before I’ll even dip a toe. This meant that the inside pool and jacuzzis were perfect for us all to enjoy together.
We usually stay in a Red Level Suite at the Don Pepe. You can get some great deals in winter. It’s ideal for families as you have spacious rooms with plenty of space for chill out time. There are two televisions and a Wii or Playstation, whichever you prefer. One thing to remember is to take your own DVD player for the room, though.
Children receive a welcome pack which is always a treat and there’s a kids’ club too.
The breakfast buffet is outstanding and they even have a mini buffet section for children. One thing I hate about buffet breakfasts with children is that I never have time to eat as I am continually getting up and down to fetch things for my little ones!
In The Don Pepe they have their own buffet area so they can enjoy going and helping themselves. They also have a cupboard next to it full of Rubix cubes, colouring sheets, pens, etc. so that the children can be occupied and don’t start complaining that they want to leave and go to the pool after they have finished their two mouthfuls of cereal!
With a Red Level Suite you have access to an exclusive lounge where all day long there are free drinks and snacks available for you to help yourself. This made it so easy with the children as we could just go in there and help ourselves to sandwiches, cakes and drinks without constantly having to order food. You also have your own concierge who offers help and advice.
In the evenings we often ordered room service for supper. The suite had a large dining table and it made dining with small children very convenient.
Despite being a luxury hotel, which also caters for corporate guests and couples, families are made to feel so welcome. In Spain there seems to be a different attitude to children where they are always seen as a great blessing and never an inconvenience. All the kindly words from staff made them feel very special and at ease.

3 award-winning, historic, romantic places to stay in breathtaking Virginia

Some say that if you visit Virginia, you may never want to leave! It has some of the most beautiful, breathtaking scenery in America, historical sites, quaint shops, colonial style architecture, wonderful outdoor activities and is the perfect destination for romance. Here are 3 award-winning places to stay in Virginia, where luxury, romance and history go hand-in-hand.
The enchanting, historic, romantic Keswick Hall
Chosen as one of the country’s most romantic getaways by Good Morning America, Keswick Hall is gently framed in a palette of golden hues, as it sits magnificently in the luscious grounds of the Keswick Estate.

The architecture of this impressive mansion is Italian inspired. The north wing, Villa Crawford, was built in 1912 as a stunning Italian style estate and in 1948 was converted to a country club. However due to the death of the then owner in 1971, the country club slipped and fell into decline for a couple of decades. At this time it was known as the ‘mansion of senile ruin’, until the husband of the late Laura Asheley, Sir Bernard Ashley, came along and had the vision to see how it could be, in all its glory that visitors love today.
Keswick Hall is Conde Nast’s “#1 Small Resort in Mainland U.S. It has its own 18-hole Arnold Palmer signature golf course, 7 tennis courts, 3 pools, a spa and fitness centre, a vineyard, croquet, fly-fishing, nature trails and many of activities. One of the pools has an infinity edge with amazing views over the countryside.
The estate is 600 acres, with formal and informal gardens, in the truly spectacular landscapes of Monticello, where Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains meet Thomas Jefferson country.
The interior is exquisite, featuring wood burning fireplaces, hand-painted armoires, antiques placed artfully here and there; it has retained its grace whilst enjoying some modernisation. Each of the 48 rooms and suites have rich fabrics and furnishings, so that guests feel pampered, relaxed and renewed.
Awards won:
2004-2011 Travel + Leisure 500 “The World’s Best Hotels”
1998, 2000-2011 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List
2011 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List #1 Hotel in North America for Food
2011 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List #1 Hotel in North America for Design
2011 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards – #1 US Mainland Small Resort
2011 Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report Top Food & Wine Resorts #9 Worldwide
The exquisite, delightful, welcoming Chestnut Hill B&B
Don’t be fooled by the fact that Chestnut Hill is classed as a B&B, it has won awards and is extremely highly rated by guests. One couple who have stayed at amazing hotels all over the world, rate it as the best place they have stayed, with the exception of the 7 star Emirates Palace, in Abu Dhabi.

Originally built in 1860, the name reflects the abundance of chestnut trees that were then on the land, which were sadly destroyed in 1910′s blight. Current owners Kathleen and Troy Ayers bought it in 2003 by absolute auction, with the terms that the house would be moved to an adjoining piece of land, in order to allow an access road to be built to ease congestion. After the renovations were completed Chestnut Hill was placed on Virginia’s Register of Historic Places.
Today this historic home lovingly retains the master craftsmanship qualities is was renowned for, so that guests can enjoy the past, alongside present day comforts. There are only 2 guest rooms on each floor, which are beautifully decorated, marrying together warm, welcoming hues with utter elegance and history.
It is well known for its southern charm and hospitality; enjoy a glass of wine from local vineyards during wine and cheese tasting, the Full Gourmet Fusion breakfast that guests love and choose from packages, including the Romance Package, Babymoon or Birthday Packages.
Awards won:
Best of Mid Atlantic – Select Registry
Best of BedandBreakfast.com award winner
Decorated By Rockefeller – the opulent, colonial Williamsburg Inn
Built by John D. Rockefeller Junior in 1937, with the intention of providing only the finest European style, world-class hotel for the guests; today it is the jewel in the Williamsburg Hotels’ crown. In 2001 after intensive restoration, which enhanced the Inn even beyond Rockefeller’s initial intentions, the Williamsburg Inn became even more remarkable and is considered a rare property.

Today the Inn’s visitor can move easily from the 19th to 21st century; from the Regency decor of the 19th century, to the original 20th century heritage of the building whilst enjoying the amenities of the 21st century.
The 62 rooms and suites are spacious, opulent and decadent with elaborate marble bathrooms, luxurious deep tubs and separate showers. The room sizes are from 500 square feet and are equipped with 26″ flat screen TVs, Bose wave radios, data ports, WiFi and dual phone lines.
Soak in the romance, fall in love with the European inspired cuisine, unwind in the spa amenities and cosy robes, take a horse drawn carriage ride and feel renewed at the Williamsburg Inn.
There are 2 outdoor pools, one for familes and the other which is a spring-fed adult only pool, 2 award winning golf courses and the award winning spa.
Awards won:
Travelers Choice Family Award: Williamsburg Inn named the best hotel for family travel by TripAdvisor in the inaugural “Top 10 Places in the U.S. for Families to Discover” category; 2011
Platinum Plate Award: Williamsburg Inn Regency Room; Hampton Roads magazine, Platinum Level; 2011
National Trust Historic Hotels of America: The Williamsburg Inn selected as a National Trust Historic Hotel of America for 19 consecutive years
Jackie de Burca is Co-owner of Holiday Home Advice.
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An insider’s guide into bar hopping in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil has long been celebrated for its natural beauty and as the home to the most spectacular of all Carnival celebrations. As you can imagine, Rio locals (known as Cariocas to their friends) are a lively bunch who like nothing better than to gather with friends at the end of the day, drink a cold Chopp (draught beer) munch on a Pasteis (A crescent moon shaped pastry filled with prawns, cheese or meat) and discuss the latest football results. Bar culture is huge in Rio, which means there is a bar to suite almost every mood and occasion.

Here are our suggestions of where to go when the mood strikes:
Sipping at sunset?
Head to one of the beach side tables at Azul Marinho for chilled white wine and delicious seafood snacks. Situated on a pedestrian walkway right next to the rocks at Arpoador, the Carioca’s favorite sunset spot. Here you have an unspoilt view of the sunset and the length of Ipanema beach. For an even more relaxed approach to sunset drinking, head to Arpoador and buy a beer or a caipirinha from one of the beach side vendors, a short walk up onto the rocks and you can take your place, perched among the locals who gather daily to watch the surfers and the sun go down.
Hiked up Sugar Loaf and need an afternoon pick me up?
Rest your feet at charming Bar Urca. Overlooking the Urca marina, this traditional bar with a relaxed vibe serves cold beer and great caipirinhas alongside a beautiful view of the sea and Sugar Loaf. Most patrons sit on the long stone wall of the marina opposite the bar and catch up on the days events with friends. Make sure you try one of the bars famous Pasteis.

Stickler for tradition?
Bar do Gomez dominates a small crossroad in cobbled Santa Teresa. Beyond doubt, it is among the best of the traditional botecos in Rio and the perfect stop-off point while exploring the area. Founded at the start of the 19th Century as a grocery store the bar maintains its old wooden store fittings. Choose a table in the corner or stand on the street to better take in the antics of the mainly local crowd. Best for beer and traditional bar snacks, but also has a pretty good wine list.
Experimental cocktails more your thing?
If you have had just about enough of the traditional caipirinha, chic Londra, in the basement of the Fasano hotel is a good nightclub/lounge in which to get your Martini fix, as well as a host of traditional cocktails with a masterful Rio twist. For good service and pre-dinner cocktails, Astor next door serves wonderful Brazilian cocktails employing a range of exotic fruits and is a grand master at the old favorites too. Try the vodka and caju juice cocktail a surprising delight.
5am and you’re still thirsty?
No problem. Rio has an answer to most problems. Head to Jobi in Leblon for mindblowing (quite literally) caipirinhas and cool chopp served until the last people leave, well after sunrise…
When only Champagne will do…
Due to the climate – both literal and economic – good Champagne is harder to get your hands on than you would think in Rio. The Copacabana Palace Hotel has a luxurious poolside bar which serves the bubbly stuff but for a more local experience head to Champanharia Ovelha Negra in Botofogo (week nights only) for a large selection of Champagne and sparkling wine. The best place to raise a glass has to be the Verve Cliquot poolside bar at The Santa Teresa Hotel, with views over the city and Guanabara bay and sounds from the Tijuca forest surrounding you.

The top 10 wine destinations to visit in 2013

 Well, France – often regarded as one of the best wine producers in the world – was excluded from   that TripAdvisor list. And now they’ve been snubbed again, this time by Wine Enthusiast, who have declared the following as the top 10 wine destinations to visit in 2013:

1. Rioja, Spain
2. Danube, Austria
3. North & South Forks of Long Island, New York
4. Stellenbosch, South Africa
5. Monterey County, California
6. Vale dos Vinhedos, Brazil
7. Willamette Valley, Oregon
8. Hunter Valley, New South Wales, Australia
9. Douro Valley, Portugal
10. Puglia, Italy

London hotels ranked the worst in 100 cities

           

Visitors to London have marked its hotels as the worst in a list of 100 cities due to overpriced minibars, lousy breakfasts and slow service, according to a survey.

  A study by travel metasearch website Trivago of hotel reviews from more than 140 accommodation booking sites found London came last in a list of 100 cities that had at least 135 hotels and 60 reviews. It did not include TripAdvisor postings.

The German city of Dresden came top with its hotels receiving the highest ratings and most positive reviews from guests.

"Users praised Dresden hotels for their value for money, whilst London hotels were criticised for their prices," said a spokeswoman for Trivago.

"In particular, reviewers felt the minibars were overpriced and breakfast service was both overpriced and disappointing, whilst hotels in Dresden were praised for their delicious and well-valued breakfasts."

She said London hotels were also criticised for overcrowding at breakfast, long queues at check-in, inability to cope with large groups of people, small rooms and poor views.

On the other hand, hotels in Dresden were praised for their exceptional service, efficiency, helpful staff, as well as their spacious rooms with excellent views.

Close behind Dresden in the list of cities with good hotels were Hanoi in Vietnam, Tokyo, Chicago, and Krakow in Poland.

Joining London in the bottom five were Rio de Janiero, Copenhagen, Paris and Amsterdam.

The spokeswoman from Trivago, which is majority owned by Expedia, said the website released its reputation ranking classifying destinations according to the reputation of their hotels twice a year.

Metasearch engines allow users to send requests to other search engines and databases to get a single list of results and are popular with consumers facing an overload of information on various competing deals.

The 10 best cities for hotel rooms: 1. Dresden, Germany; 2. Hanoi, Vietnam; 3. Portland, US; 4. Tokyo, Japan; 5. Santiago de Compostela, Spain; 6. Gdansk, Poland; 7. Chicago, US; 8. Seattle, US; 9. Krakow, Poland; 10. Budapest, Hungary.

The 10 worst: 91. Los Angeles, US; 92. Kiev, Ukraine; 93. Frankfurt, Germany; 94. Panama City, Panama; 95. Brussels, Belgium; 96. Amsterdam, Netherlands; 97. Paris, France; 98. Copenhagen, Denmark; 99. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; 100. London, UK. - Reuters

 

New Gulf Air Falcon Gold Lounge, a place of serenity



The new spacous Falcon Golf lounge at BIA
 
 

 

Bahrain’s national carrier, Gulf Air’s Falcon Gold Lounge at Bahrain International Airport (BIA) seamlessly integrates contemporary design and architecture with Arabic influences.

The fully renovated lounge sports an open design giving a sense of space and freedom with generous and clever use of space, creating an environment that combines peace and tranquillity with extensive modern-day business and catering facilities. For the first time, premium passengers have the added facilities of seven private sleeping rooms, a cigar lounge and shower rooms with hotel-style towels and luxury brand toiletries and amenities.

Passengers can stay connected with free wi-fi throughout the lounge, discreet power sockets at every seat and a business centre that includes PCs, fax machines and printers. For families the lounge offers a spacious family room with highly trained professional SkyNannies in attendance as well as a gaming room equipped with Xbox and PlayStation units.

The lounge upgrade is in-line with the airline’s service and product enhancement strategy both in the air and on the ground including the company’s aircraft which are either new or have been refurbished. The current fleet age is 5.2 years, one of the youngest in the region.

Gulf Air chief executive officer Samer Majali says that the upgraded-lounge was a further example of the airline’s commitment to investing in its hub. He says: “Bahrain is our most important market so developing and improving our home-product is key. The new lounge is the latest in a series of service enhancements across our entire passenger value chain including the re-launch of our Sky Nanny Service, Sky Chef, online check in and a robust network connectivity in the Middle East.

“We believe in investing in our customers and, as we keep improving ourselves in our customer service on the ground, we will continue to add more features and facilities in the air as well, so that our premium customers enjoy a consistently enhanced experience throughout their journey,” he says.

Gulf Air chief services officer Marcus Bernhardt says: “The revamp of the Bahrain Falcon Gold Lounge is part of an extensive lounge-renovation programme across our network, which saw the inauguration last year of our new premium lounge in Terminal 4 at Heathrow International Airport in London, and will be preceded next year by the upgrading of our premium lounge in Dubai International Airport.”

The architectural design of the new 1,720 sq ft lounge offers Arabian ambience with its huge walls adorned with Bahraini paintings and murals and featuring well laid-out business, dining, lounging facilities and TV areas in addition to offering panoramic views of the runway through a high glass wall. The design concept has been inspired by Bahrain’s heritage as the Pearl of the Gulf, and its pearl harvesting tradition.

There are also separate prayer rooms and secure lockers for those who want to use these facilities. The private sleeping rooms boast comfortable beds with dimming light and the ‘do not disturb’ option to rest in complete privacy. The rooms are also equipped with hi definition TVs with wireless headphones.

The modern, self-service buffet area offers a wide variety of snacks and meals, including an Italian coffee corner offering the world famous Lavazza brand coffee varieties.

The lounge can accommodate up to 200 people and all Platinum, Gold and Silver card holding FFP members of Gulf Air, and premium class ticket holders of Gulf Air’s code-share partner airlines.