Posts Tagged ‘luxury villa rentals’

Hot and Delicious Miami Restaurants to Enjoy in 2011-2012

Saturday, November 19th, 2011


Makoto Miami - Photo: billwisserphoto.com

With the vacation season in Miami about to kick into high gear we’re sure many heading South are already considering the age old question of where to eat after a day spent basking in the sun or touring Art Basel. Sure, if you’ve managed to secure an opulent and private luxury villa rental, there’s definitely the option of staying in, but even those with their own butlers and fully stocked kitchens will likely also want to sample some of Miami’s restaurant scene. Here are some suggestions for your days and nights out:

The Dutch – Chef Andrea Carmellini has always drawn on his roots as the son of Italian-Americans when creating his restaurants (like the lauded Locana Verde in Manhattan) and his dishes (Locana specializes in uncomplicated Italian fare). Carmellini’s The Dutch, which first opened in SoHo and is now debuting in Miami, is a little more Americana, a little more comfort food than the chef’s previous ventures. Fans of the original The Dutch will find that the hotly anticipated, now open Miami version incorporates a Southern spin, which includes dishes like oyster sliders and an abundance of pies. 2201 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, 305-938-3000

Makoto – Many looking for a good meal in the Bal Harbour Shops now have another alternative, the refreshing Japanese menu put forth by chef Makoto Okuwa at his eponymous restaurant. Okuwa has taken advantage of the fresh seafood available in Miami by presenting an interesting mix of sushi and sashimi options, along with grilled meats and innovative noodle and rice dishes. Adventurous? Try the “hotate” (live scallops). 9700 Collins Avenue, 305-864-8600

New Look: Morgans on the Beach -
Photo via Miami NewTimes

Morgans on the Beach – Joe Allen’s was a Miami lunch staple and when many regulars found out it was being replaced by Morgans on the Beach they were quite upset, even demanding that certain dishes be kept on the menu (the kitchen staff has largely remained the same). This second outpost for Morgans has proven to be successful–breathing new life and decor into an iconic restaurant. Along with the old favorites, chef Paul Suriel has added new dishes to the menu included pulled pork sliders, mac and cheese, and pizzas. The restaurant also has a respectable cocktail menu that includes a lemon basil margarita. 1787 Purdy Avenue

De Rodriguez Cuba – The newest offering from Douglas Rodriguez, one of the forefathers of New Latin cuisine, De Rodriguez Cuba’s menu is heavily influenced by the fresh seafood available in the ocean nearby. A vacation in Miami isn’t complete without some Latin flavor and Rodriguez’s new offering is definitely gourmet with selections like oxtail in a spicy red wine sauce and chocolate cigars. 101 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305-672-6624

Pastry Chef Hedy Goldsmith – Photo via Ocean Drive

The Villa by Barton G. – If you want a special occasion restaurant in a gorgeously opulent setting, in this case the luxe mansion of the late Gianni Versace, then The Villa is a great choice. It may be difficult for food to stand out amidst such gorgeous surroundings, but the cuisine served up by Jeff O’Neill–including the foie gras ambrosia–certainly manages. 1116 Ocean Drive, Miami Beach, 305-576-8003


Thinking of dessert? Try Hedy Goldsmith’s delicious creations at Michael’s Genuine Food and Drink (130 NE 40th Street), which include gourmet versions of childhood faves like Oreos and Pop-Tarts, or try Buttercream in Coral Gables (1411 Sunset Drive), where many Floridians flock for the cupcakes.

If you’re thinking of a vacation in Miami this winter consider the gorgeous luxury villa rentals offered by Villazzo — privacy, beauty and five-star service to rival any hotel.

Luxury Villa Vacations Conspicuously Absent from 2011 Luxury Travel Trends List

Monday, October 11th, 2010
Cox and Kings Travel Announces Its Top 10 Trends for 2011 – Luxury Villa Rentals Conspicuously Absent.
Recently, Thomas Stanley, the COO of the well established Cox and Kings travel company, released what he believes to be the ten hottest trends in luxury travel going into 2011. Cox and Kings have been around for awhile, about 250 years to be exact, so when they make a proclamation those in the travel industry usually listen. Of course, whether or not these predictions are entirely accurate remains open to debate. While the list cites the Revival of Tour Groups as one of the ten, and a way to offset costs and make luxury travel in the current economy more affordable, it seems that a whole segment of the luxury travel market not looking to cut costs is forgotten when considering such a trend.

Miami Beach In October: Fashion, Wine, and the Prelude to Luxury Villa Rental Season

Saturday, September 4th, 2010
Fashion, wine, and the prelude to Luxury Villa Rental season make for a great Fall South Beach getaway.

As the summer season draws to a close, that doesn’t mean all ideas of vacation need flee until winter. In many locations, as seen in St. Tropez, autumn is the perfect time to visit. Usually you will find less of a crowd and, in the case of Miami Beach, some great events to help pass the time when you’re not whiling away the hours poolside at your luxury villa rental. In October alone, the city of Miami is hosting two great events that shouldn’t be missed if you’re vacationing there at the time. In fact, they’re pretty great reasons to plan a jaunt to Miami in October, even if you had no prior plans to visit. (more…)

Modesty the New Trend on the Sands of St. Tropez?

Friday, August 13th, 2010

Well-heeled travelers amid the luxury villa rentals of St. Tropez now seem to prefer covering up to baring all

St. Tropez is known as a place of glamorous excess, where the rich frolic in the sunshine and party well into the night. In the past it was also quite famous for its topless beaches, a Cote d’Azur tradition that seems to be in decline in recent years. Vacationers from yacht owners to those staying in luxury villa rentals will have noticed that fewer and fewer women are daring to bare their breasts lately. French sociologist Jean-Claude Kaufmann has been following the issue since the 1990s and has published books about his findings. Kaufmann has recently updated his old data with interviews with a new generation of women and has not only confirmed the trend, but has attempted to work out the reasons for the cultural shift.

Only fifteen years ago, when Kaufmann first conducted a study on the popularity of toplessness on the Cote d’Azur, he found that the majority embraced le monokini (bottoms only) for their beach wear. The style was especially popular in St. Tropez where topless and nude beaches have been all the rage since they were introduced in the 1960s. Tahiti Beach, for instance, is constantly showing up on Top 10 Lists, from one of the best beaches on the Cote d’Azur to one of the world’s top nude beaches. The secluded Plage de Tahiti is located about four kilometers from St. Tropez’s city center and can be found along the north part of famous Pampelonne Beach. Yet, even on beaches where topless women were once everywhere, a marked downturn can be seen. The recent trends in swimwear–like the cut-out one pieces so popular in 2010 and seen in St. Tropez on the likes of Paris Hilton–also seem to support this new keep-the-top-on modesty.

Kate Hudson debuted an array of stylish cover ups in St. Tropez this summer.

Kaufmann’s new interviews have led him to draw the conclusion that, “cultural reference points have completely changed in the last fifteen years. What was once fashionable has now become old-fashioned, and young women in particular no longer think twice about stigmatizing in a very emphatic manner the ‘old women of 50′ who dare to take off their bikini tops.” Furthermore the sociologist has found the reasons for this new way of thinking include keeping a semblance of modesty as a form of seduction, the fear of skin cancer and out-and-out shyness.

Supermodel Heidi Klum is stylish in a modest black cover up - Tropez 2010

According to RUE89, which published an article based on Kaufmann’s findings, it is not nudity itself that makes modern women blanch, but outright public nudity. “A tiny inlet or by a river or somewhere like that where there’s only me and maybe some people I know very well,” one woman told the publication about where she would be comfortable bearing it all. “I don’t feel at ease on a beach.” It seems that the current generation of women would be much more comfortable going topless poolside at a secluded luxury villa rental rather than a crowded St. Tropez beach.

While toplessness in the 60s was a sign of the Love Generation revolution and women’s lib, this new modesty seems to be the take of the new feminists who, while comfortable with their own bodies, prefer to only show them in more private places, like around the private swimming pool of a luxury villa rental. While everyone has their own ideas about what is fun and appropriate it seems that more and more women are choosing to cover up when in the glaring sun and the public eye.

Image Source: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

St. Tropez Named One of the Top Five Most Expensive Port Marinas in the World

Friday, July 23rd, 2010

Find out what a portion of water will cost you in the land of stars, sand, and luxury villa rentals

Ever since Bardot turned the world’s eyes on St. Tropez in the 1950s, the area has been a beacon to the rich, famous, and those who’d like to be. So it’s no surprise that when Wealth Bulletin came out with their list of most expensive places to dock a superyacht, St. Tropez was not only on the list, but in the top five. While the Italians have the lock on the first three priciest yacht spots, the report makes it clear that saving yourself a berth in one of the marinas of St. Tropez won’t come cheap. And with only thirty mega-yacht berths available, throughout the St. Tropez waterway, both price and space are making staying on a yacht for a St. Tropez vacation prohibitive for even the world’s most lavish travelers.

In compiling their report, the Wealth Bulletin used a 230-foot yacht, the longest length that some exclusive marinas will allow, as theirsample. To be as accurate as possible, the prices cited do not include dates of high activity in certain ports like the film festival in Cannes or Monaco’s F1 race.

So how much will it cost you, exactly, to moor a 230-foot vessel in St. Tropez? €1,300 a day.

And with just thirty mega-yacht berths available, the peak periods of June through August for the Cote d’Azur are consistently booked, which is why vacationers to St. Tropez routinely see yachts dotting the bay’s azure horizon.

Considering the high percentage of yacht-wielding socialites, celebrities, and otherwise wealthy jetsetters, it might seem strange that so few berths are made available by the St. Tropez port authority, especially considering that it is one of the most famous ports in the world for luxury travel. But size, quality, and environmental considerations play key factors in limiting the number of yachts allowed in St. Tropez’ bay at one time.

First off, the bay is quite small compared to others: while the U.S.’s vacation-oriented Chesapeake Bay stretches 200 mi (322 km) long by 30 mi (48 km) wide, the Gulf of St. Tropez’s coastline is only 7.45 mi (12 km) long by comparison, allowing for only a limited number of safe berths for large yachts.

In addition to the limitations in size, the St. Tropez port authority also seeks to limit the number of yachts in the bay in order to control water pollution as well as unsightly boat traffic.

Of course, there are even more expensive places to moor your yacht in Europe.

Seven of the top ten marinas can be found in Europe with the most expensive, in Capri, costing €2,900 ($3,914 U.S.) per night. The bargain of the bunch? Abu Dhabi’s Yas Island Marina at €421 per night. Of course, these costs don’t include all the other annual expenses that go along with owning a yacht, which can run up to about twenty percent of the vessel’s total value.

Despite the high cost of owning a yacht and anchoring it in St. Tropez, the berths in these high-end marinas are always full and often taken by boldfaced names. If you’ve booked a yacht or luxury vacation villa in St. Tropez this summer you’ll be sunning yourself alongside the likes of Paris Hilton, who has been seen jumping off her yacht Tatoosh and getting sprayed with champagne on club roofs in the middle of the day.

Paris Hilton aside, for many of the elite travelers to St. Tropez, it’s becoming much more comfortable and convenient to book a luxury villa rental instead. With gorgeous grounds and round-the-clock service, luxury villa rentals in St. Tropez offer just as much luxury service and amenities as any superyacht, but with the added bonus of being much closer to the beaches and center of town. Getting into town from a yacht, after all, requires an inconvenient ride to shore on a dingy.

What’s more, you’re guaranteed to find ten times as many luxury villa rentals to choose from in and around St. Tropez, compared to only thirty slots for yachts in the St. Tropez bay. So, if you’re ready to experience the full luxury of St. Tropez, spend your time there in a luxury villa hotel and simply enjoy the yachts from a distance.

New, Revamped Luxury Boutiques Open in St. Tropez Amid Peak Luxury Villa Rental Season

Wednesday, July 14th, 2010

St. Tropez natives and luxury villa rental vacationers alike look forward to new and improved editions to one of the world’s most exclusive shopping districts.

St. Tropez is famous for many things–yachts and luxury villa rentals, glitzy late night parties and celeb spotting–and it’s no surprise with the calibre of vacationers the village draws that one of the things it is most known for is great shopping. High-end shopping. In anticipation of this year’s high season of July and August, many designers are opening and revamping stores in the chic resort town.

Tod’s

The Italian luxury brand founded and run by the elegant Diego Della Valle has been having a banner year. Not only did they recently announce a great coup–namely signing Karl Lagerfeld to design a special collection for their Hogan brand, which was started by Diego’s son Emanuele–but they are also redesigning all of their flagship stores. From Beverly Hills to St. Tropez, the new Tod’s stores have been unveiled one by one to reveal interiors meant to evoke the feel of a friend’s home–albeit a very stylish friend.

Every store features different furniture and art, and are made up in warm colours and luxurious fabrics, so as to make the customer feel like they have just passed the threshold of one of the inviting and impeccable luxury villa rentals that dot the area around town. The St. Tropez store features rich woods and chairs done in deep blue velvet and yellow leather with chic nailhead detail. It seems clear that the darker, richer furnishings and Tod’s new “Home Concept” have been inspired by the classic and luxe designs of Derek Lam, the brand’s creative director for ready-to-wear and accessories.

Tod’s, Place de la Garonne, St. Tropez

Louis Vuitton

The luxury brand also recently renovated their St. Tropez boutique and celebrated with a glittering party and a special edition Neverfull beach bag. Only 500 of these limited edition monogrammed “St. Tropez” GMs were produced and they were only sold out of the new St. Tropez store. The renovation means an expanded retail space in a gorgeous villa with sleek interiors filled with blond wood, lavish beige furniture, and framed black and white photographs. One of the most beautiful elements of the store is it’s charming Provençal-style garden courtyard, which makes you feel like you’re in an authentic St. Tropez luxury villa rental rather than a bastion of commercial excess.

In celebration of the event, LVMH has also commissioned graffiti artist André to produce limited edition drawings, some of which will be available for sale at the store.

Louis Vuitton, rue François Sibilli, St. Tropez

Chanel

2010 is the year of Karl Lagerfeld in St. Tropez as the French resort town seems to be the venerable designer’s current amour. Not only did Lagerfeld hold the Chanel Resort collection runaway show in St. Tropez, but the company also produced a star-studded ad campaign here and held a glittering fête to celebrate. To cap off the St. Tropez obsession, Chanel recently opened a seasonal “pop-up” store in an 18th century mansion located near the Place de Lices.

Decorated in very Chanel black and white, as well as chic reds and beige, the store also boasts stencilled walls, a gorgeous garden and, of course, racks and racks of gorgeous clothing items. The only downside is that the pieces are all from the house’s fall ready-to-wear collection and, while it may seem a little incongruous shopping for tweed while wearing a floaty caftan, it is Chanel after all and there really is no wrong time to snap up some interlocking Cs. Some of these pieces are bound to end up in the closets of those staying in luxury villa rentals in St. Tropez in 2010.

Chanel, 25 rue François Sibilli, St. Tropez (Open from June 23 to October 3, 2010).

Lanvin

On the heels of the Chanel pop-up store comes news that Lanvin is following suit. Of course, pop-ups may be the wrong word here. These are not exactly hastily thrown together retail outlets, but true lessons in glamorous luxury. Now, only a short walk from the beach, you can flip through Alber Elbaz-designed summer and pre-fall pieces and revel in the feminine whimsy of the boutique’s design. Like the Chanel store nearby, and the many sun worshippers coming in to vacation in St. Tropez luxury villa rentals, the Lanvin boutique will disappear come October.

Lanvin, 30 rue Francois Sibilli, St. Tropez

So, darlings, where will you be laying down the Black AMEX this summer?

Image Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5

Luxury Villa Rentals in St. Tropez Exemplify High-class Vacationing

Monday, July 12th, 2010

In perhaps the most exclusive resort destination in the world, luxury villa rentals define the epitome of privacy and luxury for the rich and famous.

Over the years, the glittery French resort town of St. Tropez has become synonymous with sun, beauty, glamour and all the good things in life. The quaint medieval town set on a bay has been drawing the world’s who’s who for decades with its sandy beaches and cloudless skies. Even before becoming known as St. Trop (trop being the French word for “too much”), this village was called the Montparnasse of the Mediterranean, because of its appeal to artists and writers. Illustrious personalities from Paul Signac and Matisse to Colette, Anaïs Nin, and Françoise Sagan, were all drawn to the beauty and isolation of this place. For as popular as St. Tropez is, it is still just as hard to reach. With the exception of the peak summer season, which draws millions of vacationers, St. Tropez remains a quaint, sleepy town for the remainder of the year. And while there are plenty of luxury hotels in and around the center of town, St. Tropez is the kind of place you can best experience by staying in one of the luxury villa rentals that dot the surrounding area—some with all the amenities of a five-star hotel—that offer great access to the beaches and hotspots that make St. Tropez so popular.

St. Tropez has come a long way since it first became known internationally as the place to be. That distinction came thanks to a pouty-lipped Brigitte Bardot who arrived in town to film Roger Vadim’s And God Created Woman–after which nothing was ever the same for St. Tropez again. Suddenly the sleepy fishing village was catapulted to the top of the Côte d’ Azur’s hot list and the rich and famous began descending en masse, especially during the high season months of July and August. The fact that the village was (and still remains) both remote and isolated only served to make it that much more popular and exclusive. Today St. Tropez remains a gorgeous place to vacation in a luxury villa rental with much to keep you entertained.

Beaches

Days in St. Tropez are best enjoyed at one of the area’s exclusive beach clubs, like the famed Nikki Beach, or by the private pool offered in many of the luxury villa rentals in the area. Many of these pools feature “vanishing edge” designs that appear to blend directly into the Mediterranean Sean. Remember —  reservations are mandatory at most of the beach resorts. Many of the area’s best beaches, found along the Baie de Pampelonne, require a drive from the town, but head west from the city center and there are others that can be found within a reasonable walking distance. Other beaches you might want to try: Bouillabaisse Beach, Plage des Graniers, Salins Beach and Caneliers Beach.

Eating and Nightlife
Aside from beaches, shopping (both luxury stores and the open air markets at the Place des Lices), and wandering around the charming city center, a vacation in St. Tropez would not be complete without ample good food and great nights on the town. Try Café de Paris for delicious sushi and sashimi or Caprice des Deux for traditional regional fare. Great dining experiences can also be had at Leï Mouscardins, Château Hôtel de la Messardière, La Bouillabaisse and Café Senequier, which offers great breakfast options.
The nightlife in St. Tropez usually gets started around 11pm and mainly consists of exclusive nightclubs and private parties. From the legendary Les Caves du Roy and the cash-only Voile Rouge Beach Club on Moorea Beach to the hip Brasserie des Arts (open to 3am in the summer) and the Papagayo Club, St. Tropez is a celebration of wealth and celebrity status when it comes to getting your groove on at glamorous nightspots filled with people to watch and ever-flowing champagne.
St. Tropez and its luxury villa rentals offers a chance for a once in a lifetime vacation filled with white sand beaches and endless nights. This is a spot that mixes natural beauty with glamour and excess—the perfect elements for the town’s official sports, the de rigueur activities of people watching, celeb spotting and sun worshipping. But then, surrounded by such beauty, both natural and otherwise, how could one really think of doing anything else?
Image Sources: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 / 6

Can You Really Trust Luxury Villa Rental Companies?

Wednesday, July 7th, 2010

Luxury villa rentals in St. Tropez, Marbella, Miami Beach, and beyond offer the privacy and exclusivity that you cannot get from even the most expensive 5-star hotel. But is the risk of picking a “luxury lemon” worth giving up on a reliable luxury hotel experience?

Wherever there is sand, sun, and sea in the world, you’re bound to find a crop of luxury villa rentals to choose from. Whether it’s St. Tropez, Marbella, Miami Beach, or Ibiza, you can always find a huge selection of amazing rental properties that span traditional to contemporary architecture and that will put you in the middle of the action and nightlife as well as the middle of nowhere. For those who have a already made a few trips to these exclusive vacation havens and have tried out a few different hotels, the prospect of having their own private luxury villa seems like the next logical step in experiencing the ultimate luxury vacation.

However, with luxury villa rentals, there is always an unknown quantity — or, more specifically, an “unknown quality.”

Luxury villa rental companies are notorious for showing only the best aspects of the luxury villas they list. Sure, they might show a bunch of photos of a villa’s pristine pool, charming terrace, and well-appointed master bathroom. But they fail to show how the plasma TV doesn’t work, or how the villa’s wall that faces the seaside is crumbling, or how the bathroom hasn’t been renovated for 25 years.

I recently read an article about “how to choose a luxury villa rental in Tuscany.” The writer told a hilarious yet tragic story about how once he had chosen a majestic Tuscan villa to stay in, thinking that it would be a single-family luxury vacation rental. When he arrived, he was dismayed to find out that the villa, “had been carved up into apartments with thin dividing walls.” He paints a miserable Tuscan vacation in that villa, saying, “One doesn’t go to Italy to be woken by renditions of Take Me Home, Country Road – at 6am, in German.”

Oh, the horror!

This writer’s article, as well as many others who write about the luxury villa rental market, go on to list all of the due diligence required to ensure that what you see is what you get when choosing a luxury villa rental. In order to ensure a high quality villa rental, writers suggest so much comprehensive research and scrutiny over a property that you would be completely exhausted by the end of the search! Some writers suggest finding a contact in the city that you want to stay in and paying them a small sum of money to independently check out the villa rental you are considering. Another writer suggests that you “pack a small tool kit and a cache of batteries in various sizes (for TV remote controllers, torches and the like; never presume a villa’s inventory will be complete).”

Who is going to pack a tool kit for a vacation in a luxury villa rental?

The only way you can truly assure yourself an amazing villa vacation experience that lives up to your expectations is to work with a luxury villa rental company that visits and hand-selects the villas that it offers. If you use this criteria to select luxury villa rental companies to work with, you’ll find that there are very few of them in the world today who can vouch for the properties that they list on their websites.

For example, Wimco Villas, which is one of the largest luxury villa rental companies in the industry, offers this vague explanation in the “About Us” section of their website: “Each [Wimco] staff member is required to visit several of our vacation destinations each year and familiarize themselves with the villas and hotels there so they can serve you better.” How many is “several,” exactly? Which villas listed on their site have been visited and inspected, and which ones have not?

Other luxury villa rental sites, such as Jetsetter, use a small logo on their property pages to show prospective clients which of their properties have been checked and visited by a staff member and which have not. This is a much more transparent way of finding luxury villa rentals that you can trust to live up to what is posted on a website. Of course, it also limits the number of “safe” luxury villa options to choose from.

However, smaller, ultra-exclusive villa rental companies, such as Villazzo, guarantee their entire list of luxury villa rentals. Companies like these hand-select the properties they offer, and usually maintain an office in all of the vacation destinations where they offer luxury villa rentals. This is by far the best way to find the luxury villa of your dreams, since you can be assured that the villa has had a thorough walk-through and is determined to be a property that lives up to the high standards of the company that lists them on their website.

So, the next time you go in search of a luxury villa rental online, remember to look for a company that offers the best guarantee of quality, and the largest selection of luxury villas that have been hand-selected and approved. Stick to this approach and you can be assured that you won’t have to bring a toolbox with you on your next vacation!

ELITE TRAVELER – VIVA LA VILLA

Saturday, September 1st, 2007

With residences in Miami, St. Tropez, Courcheval, Paris, Marbella and Aspen, the Villazzo residence club experience offers guests a general manager and full hotel staff (including child care, chef, bartender, masseuse, maid service and more) in what would traditionally be a villa rental package. Hotel style decor and amenities (like Bulgari toiletries and a business center) create an experience like being ˝the only guest in a private boutique hotel in the best locations, ˝ according to Villazzo VP Thierry Morali. (more…)

FLAIR – FIVE STAR LIVING

Sunday, July 1st, 2007

Three concepts; extraordinary properties, outstanding accessories, and exceptional service made Villazzo. In 2002 Christian Jagodzinski founded Villazzo and developed a new hotel concept bringing the five-star hotel experience to hotel-quality private residences, in some of the most desirable holiday locations worldwide; St. Tropez, Marbella, Miami, Aspen, Courchevel and Paris. The result is a place that guests don’t have to share with anyone, that combines all the advantages of both villa and hotel, without the disadvantages of either. (more…)