Luxury Lifestyle

Italians have long had a history of consuming and producing their fair share of fine wines. From the luxurious bottles of Brunello di Montelcino to the inexpensive bottles of Chianti, the Italian  region of Tuscany produces several predominantly red wines that are ever so pleasing to the palette. Tuscany is Italy’s third most planted region and yields primarily the Sangiovese grapes, with red wine accounting for over 80% of its wine production. Most of the production comes from the Chianti region that produces over 8 million cases of wine per year , while the Brunello di Montelcino region with its richer and more intense wines produces only about 333,000 cases annually. The quality standards of all Italian wines are controlled and classified by the government. A  DOCG classification  (Denominazione di Origine Controllata e Garantita) is the highest standard guaranteeing the origin and blend, while DOC (Denominazione di Origine Controllata) is a less restrictive precu...

Martinis were in vogue decades ago, but in recent years they have made a huge comeback. During Prohibition the authorities didn’t come down hard on gin manufactures so the martini became popular during the 20th century. There are martini bars, vodka bars and an even wider assortment of martini recipes. The martini, at its most basic, is merely a combination of gin and vermouth that is garnished with an olive, onion or lemon twist. Some of the newer creations are so varied there seems to be a martini for everyone’s tastes. World’s Most Expensive Martinis Tokyo Midtown Tower at the Ritz-Carlton in Tokyo, Japan In 2007 when this building was christened, the Ritz-Carlton created this James Bond martini to celebrate. It’s called, “Diamonds Are Forever” and is called “decadence in a glass” by some. The mix is made with chilled Grey Goose vodka, a lime twist and another twist – a flawless one-carat diamond. You get to keep the diamond. Price: $18,000 Blue Bar at the Algonquin H...

If you have never tooled around wine estates and vineyards in various parts of the world, put it on your list of romantic things to do. Rent a couple of motorbikes, a driver or just roam around in your rental and you’ll see some amazing properties and vineyards. You won’t often get to see the inside of the estates, as they are generally inhabited by the label’s family or the on-premise master winemaker. But most have tasting rooms, which will get you close enough to provide a romantic place to share some of the label’s most popular vintages. In fact, buy a few bottles, cheese and a baguette and stop along the road for a country-style picnic. The wine estates we selected are all within driving distance in the areas near Bordeaux – with the exception of the Chateau de Ferrieres, which is outside of Paris. You could easily spend a day or two going from one to another and enjoying the outstanding grape varietals of the region. This is a great bed and breakfast getaway. 1. Chateau Lafi...

Dubai  is always in the news for having some of the most extreme things in the world: man-made islands, high-high-rise buildings and lots and lots of wealth. But, you might wonder what a person does for fun in this big, desert, Muslim city.  Of course, there are plenty of standard attractions like the souks (markets),  the world’s tallest tower  and the old part of the city – but if you want to see the city’s wild side, take a peek at our list of five completely different and  fun things to do in Dubai ,  the largest city in the United Arab Emirates . 1. Chill Out Ice Bar Can you imagine how inviting this would be to anyone who has been outside in the dead heat of Dubai where temperatures have climbed to over 130 degrees? Such a high concept, it’s not surprising that this club is buzzing with tourists and locals alike.  Chill Out is Dubai’s only ice bar and is located in the Times Square Mall.  It’s the combination of sub-zero weather, inte...

Los Angeles (LA), California is well-known for being the entertainment capital of the world, but it is also a mecca on the West Coast for fine dining. In a large part, thanks to its history with Hollywood and demanding upscale clientele, there has long been a thriving marketplace in the city for restaurants on the cutting edge of contemporary cuisine. Eclectic dining has long held its place in Los Angeles lore. Since the city’s explosive growth in the early to mid 1900′s, LA has become home to many ethnic groups that have helped influence the local cuisine. The large Asian, Eastern European and Latin American populations of LA have combined to be the inspiration for many modern culinary creations like Korean tacos, ceviche, chicken tequila fettuccine and even simple tortilla “wraps”. In the 1980′s Wolfgang Puck, from the original Spago on the Sunset Strip in LA, was considered to be one of the pioneers of  local California Fusion Cuisine . This rich tradition of cuisine w...

The Czech Republic has undergone a serious makeover since the end of the communist era in 1989. What was an extremely controlled nation has returned to its bohemian roots. After all, that is where the word “bohemian” came from – Praha (Prague) is the capital of the Czech Republic and Bohemia. Since its introduction to capitalism and free commerce, Prague has risen to become one of eastern Europe’s most exciting major cities. The view is spectacular from the famous St. Charles bridge and seeing the Prague Castle lit up at night looks like something out of Disneyland, the happiest place on earth. The President of the country still resides in the castle, which dates back to the ninth century. Although much of the city’s history has been marked with sad events, it has turned itself around and become a worldwide hot spot. These days, there are clubs for all ages and all price ranges in this magical city and it’s a safe haven for all types of nightlife. Check out the five top sites we’v...

Anyone who travels can see the vacation rental market just keep growing with plenty of credit going to online services like Flipkey, HomeAway and AirBnB. This mainstream popularity has now launched a rising trend of luxury and designer vacation rentals. This concept brings all the comforts, convenience and privacy of a vacation home or apartment, but designed specifically to impress the guests with a stylish surrounding like a boutique or luxury hotel.   One company that helped pioneer the concept is  MySuites , who design, manage and rent “boutique suites” in New York City. They hold a collection of apartments located in a variety of Manhattan hot spots and are used only by their guests. Their apartment suites are usually found in vintage buildings, which ensures they have a prime location and an authentic NYC setting. Neighborhoods include Chelsea, NoMad District, Meatpacking District, Greenwich Village and the East Village. Steping out of the tourist traps and puts...