Luxury Lifestyle

Nestled in the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains in the heart of Transylvania, a tiny Romanian town is now home to a fairytale come true in the form of  an adorable 10-room hotel built from clay and sand . The hotel’s Romanian name is   Castelul de Lut Valea Zanelor , which translates to “Clay Castle of the Valley of the Fairies” in English, an absolutely fitting moniker for these ancient architectural accommodations. Construction was only recently completed, and the hotel will be open to guests very soon. The hotel’s owners, Razvan and Gabriela Vasile, sold their home in Romania’s capital city of Bucharest in order to bring this clay fairytale castle into reality. The Valley of the Fairies, situated near the tiny village of Porumbacu De Sus, is 24 miles from the city of Sibiu. Its remote location and jaw-dropping views add to the hotel’s charm and mystique, effortlessly giving visitors the sense that they have traveled not only distance, but also time, in ord...

Luxury travel has entered a new phase, in which conspicuous consumption is giving way to more meaningful and authentic travel experiences, and to an increase in the number of luxury travel companies converting to mobile technology, as a means of boosting the luxury cachet. Whilst sales in luxury hotels are being led by key developed markets like the US & EU, an increase in international luxury travel is expected in emerging markets, mainly driven by booming demand from the expanding middle class.. Luxury overhaul Luxury travel has entered a new phase, in which conspicuous consumption is giving way to more meaningful and “authentic” travel experiences. Leisure travel An increase in international leisure travel is expected within luxury travel, driven by growing tourism flows from emerging markets and aspirational middle class consumers. Middle East takes the spotlight Growing demand and substantial investment, with a strong focus on luxury hotels, ar...

The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Claridge's, London The Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris The Hotel del Coronado, San Diego The Victoria & Albert Museum, London The American Museum of Natural History, New York Le Royal Monceau – Raffles, Paris The Designers' Christmas Trees, Paris

A new kind of resort is coming to Costa Rica. Nayara Hotels is planning to open its third hotel in the country, but this time with a twist: it will consist of 24, 945-square-foot tents. The Nayara Tented Resort’s tents will each have a master suite and en-suite bathroom, along with an adjoining tent that can serve as a lounge or second bedroom. Each tent will sit on its own platform with a plunge pool filled from nearby hot springs. “We loved the beautiful tented camps in Africa and Asia, and recognized that there was nothing in Costa Rica, or even Central America, as spectacular, especially nothing that was open year-round. We have access to the highest mountain in the area with 360-degree views. It is a magical setting for an ultra-luxury tented camp,” said Leo Ghitis of Nayara Hotels. Nayara has partnered with Luxury Frontiers, known for its top-ranked tented camps in Africa, on the project. “It is exciting to work with a company that shares similar goals and values t...

One of the world's great skylines, New York City looks spectacular when seen, with a drink in hand Leave the noise of the city behind and see New York in a new light. Sit back and marvel at the famous skyline from the comfort of the solarium on this gorgeous 80-foot 1920s style yacht. Get up close to The Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island on this 1.5-hour cruise. As you pass by such important sites at Battery Park, the financial district and South Street Seaport, your captain will provide an informative narration. You will see and learn about parts of Brooklyn and Queens, passing by the Williamsburg, Manhattan, and Brooklyn bridges of the East River. The Manhattan provides turn of the 19th century elegance and comfort, complete with teak decks and mahogany trim. The spectacular glassed-in observatory on the back deck is equipped with cushioned seating around conversation friendly tables. The observatory is heated in the winter and air-conditioned in the summer, providing p...

Scott Galloway makes the case for the Apple Watch Edition in 4 minutes and 52 seconds. If you haven’t seen the  YouTube  of Scott Galloway’s presentation at the DLD (Digital-Life-Design) conference in Munich earlier this year, you’re in for a treat. Galloway is a professor of marketing at the NYU Stern School of Business, where he teaches brand strategy to second-year MBAs. In the attached 16-minute video he handicaps — at breakneck speed — what he calls the four horsemen of tech: Amazon, Google, Facebook and Apple. His take on the first three are well worth watching, especially if you’ve sunk good money into Amazon or Google. But to cut to the chase — and the winner — start at the 11 minute mark, where he makes the case, brilliantly, that Apple will become the first trillion-dollar brand. A few of his zingers: Luxury brands give you self-expressive benefit: “They signal something about you. This is not a timepiece [holding up his watch]. I have not wound it i...

Unfortunate news for Detroit residents: Michigan's metropolis gets rated the "most dangerous U.S. city to visit for gay travelers" in a new LGBT luxury travel survey. Instead, gay travelers would be considerably better served by visiting Paris, which is called the "best destination for singles," or Istanbul, the "best destination for gays and their girlfriends," by  ALT (Alternative Luxury Travel) By Bruvion , a new company catering to LGBT travel needs. The gay-owned and operated company affords clients "an insight that they won't find" at other travel outlets, according to co-founder Jason Couvillion. Take a look at more information on ALT By Bruvion here . Most Opulent Destination: Sardinia, Italy A playground for the social elite who flock here with their yachts each summer to see and be seen, Sardinia offers many luxurious 5-star hotels featuring the most expensive rooms found anywhere. Hottest New International De...