Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

THE BEST OF MIAMI DURING ART BASEL

Wednesday, November 27th, 2019

It’s that time of year again, when the world descends on Miami for its 18th Art Basel event. Between December 5-8, 2019, Miami Beach comes alive to the sound of art lovers, fashionistas and culture enthusiasts, all in search of the next big thing and latest contemporary art on offer.

If you’re one of the 83,000 visitors in search of; art, luxury home rentals and a vibrant party scene, read on. This feature covers all the essentials.

Dwell Well – Luxury Residencies

From luxury villa rentals to mansion rentals, Villazzo offers the best luxury Miami rentals at last-minute notice. Offering seclusion in premium locations, each property comes fully-serviced with a dedicated concierge, as well as; butler, chef and housekeeping at your disposal.

Make the most of your visit with five-star pampering at Villa Sasha. This modern property oozes sophistication with indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis and a heated pool. For something bigger, Vila Contenta is one of the largest mansion rentals set within 39,000 sq ft. Ideal for families, it boasts seven sizeable bedrooms with every convenience catered including a games room and library.

If modern living is more your vibe, Villa Vanya brings all the contemporary feels – fully kitted out with a theater and swanky indoor bar.

Just a few blocks from the event in the Miami Convention Center, Villa Siri is conveniently located. This top Miami villa offers stunning views in this prestigious waterfront address.

Touch of Affordable Luxe

For affordable luxury without the fringe benefits, you can simply hire a luxury house rental with Global Luxury Villas.

Larger groups will enjoy the space that Villa Ola affords, with seven bedrooms and plenty of dining spots, ideal for Miami villa get-togethers. While Villa Lori provides a beautiful backdrop for entertaining guests, wooing them with views across Biscayne Bay.

Art Basel Essentials

The Miami Convention Center plays host to the main Art Basel fair, where you can pour over modern masterpieces. Tickets start from $45 and can be booked in advance online.

During the four-day event, be sure to visit its Aqua space in South Beach (December 4-8). This is a popular gathering spot where visitors can rub shoulders with collectors and curators in informal settings.

Equally not to be missed is the critically-acclaimed Scope event (December 3-8). This is where new and emerging artists are discovered. The venue transforms into a club after hours for late night jinx. Held at 801 Ocean Dr, Miami Beach, it’s in a bustling part of town, still within easy reach of the best Miami mansion rentals.

Finally, further along Ocean Drive (at 12th street), UNTITLED is worth a visit, presenting exclusive artworks this year from Tom Bianchi and much more.

Dining Out

When it comes to dining out, there’s plenty of options in the city. However, with it being a busy time of year, be sure to make the most of the concierge booking service at your Villazzo Miami villa.

In the heart of trendy downtown, Zuma brings Japanese izakaya dining to the mainstream, with noted chef Rainer Becker.

Just as alluring is Nobu at Eden Roc. Try the famous black cod at this popular Asian fusion restaurant and celebrity hangout. You’re sure to bump into an A-lister or two.

For American cuisine at its best, head over to Barton G, designed to ‘shock and awe’ the senses. This vibrant eatery is always a great place to impress clients or hang with friends, especially over a cocktail.

A final notable mention is much-loved steakhouse, Prime 112. Located on Ocean Drive, it’s a busy spot for those visiting some of the Art Basel events nearby.

Dress to Impress

Of course, Art Basel is also a gathering of people who come to be seen. From your luxury villa rental to designer clothes, this is an event where you’ll want to impress on every level.

Knowing what to wear is always a challenge, especially in the comfortably warm 69°F breeze.

Layers of linen are always advisable for the many different settings you’ll find yourself in. But don’t forget, this is an event that commands artistic flair – so creativity, colour and personality are encouraged.

Creative Ines Figarado favours hand-designed avant-garde costumes, while visitor Diana Boland celebrates high-street chic in Zara.

In terms of designer brands, art collector Matthew Strauss favours Tom Ford. Publicist Molly Krause opts for a mix of everything, from Theory to Sergio Rossi and Hermes thrown together.

Londoner Shevanne Helmer fuses vintage chic with handcrafted Vita Kin and luxe designer Gucci for a bespoke look.  (Taken from Artnet.com)

Art Basel Miami comes once a year, be sure to enjoy it as its meant – in style!

WHY RENT A VILLA FOR YOUR HOLIDAYS?

Thursday, September 13th, 2018

Holiday time is precious, so when it’s time to unplug, unwind and get away, you’ll want to ensure that every moment is enjoyed to its potential. Which is why many people are turning to luxury vacation homes instead of hotels for their vacations.

Offering unrivalled luxury, a private space to unwind and great value for money, there’s plenty of reasons to make the switch. Still need convincing? Here’s seven good reasons why you might want to consider renting a villa for your next break…

Villa Silvana

Enjoy Privacy

If holidays are about one thing, it’s getting-away. Renting a villa provides the perfect way to escape the daily grind without having to share your space with strangers. A private pool all to yourself, an outside dining space exclusively for your party – and in most cases, no immediate neighbors. Many luxury villa rentals, like Villa Silvana in St Barth’s, offer seclusion and luxury in a hilltop retreat, within easy reach of the beach.

Family with Kids in Pool

Value for Money

Contrary to popular belief, a luxury villa rental can be a great way to enjoy value for money. When you consider the sheer size of the property you have access to, often with added bonuses such as free parking, WiFi, gym access, cable TV and a private pool – the perks add up. If you enjoy self-catering, then it’s also a great way to cut back on expensive hotel food and drink. Furthermore, with the flexibility to check-in and out at your leisure, it makes for a stress-free way to spend a well-earned break.

Villa Rochelle

Great for Groups

Holidaying with a group of friends or extended family? Hotels aren’t always the most convenient way to spend quality time together, with groups often spread out. Luxury vacation homes, however ensure that you can spend time together without compromise. Villa Rochelle in Ibiza, for instance, is a breath-taking property offering 16 bedrooms for larger groups. It comes complete with private pool, gym, dance floor and chill-out tent (yes, chill-out tent!) to create an unforgettable vacation.

Women Shopping

Live Like a Local

The best way to immerse yourself in a culture is to live like a local. This can be hard to do when you’re surrounded by fellow holidaymakers. However, since villas are located in private neighborhoods and highly desirable locations, it’s likely that you’ll get to experience a different side of your destination. It also enables you to shop and dine like a local too!

Businessman

For Business and Pleasure

More and more we’re seeing business travelers bringing their families with them on work trips. Villas provide the perfect ‘home from home’ for families to base themselves, offering areas to work and play, without distraction.

Villa Vanya

Exclusivity

If for no other reason, a luxury villa rental gives you access to the most exclusive properties available. For example, the highly desirable residence of Jungle Island in Miami is home to Villa Vanya, one of the most exclusive properties in the area. It features waterfront views and seven impeccably decorated bedrooms in 10,500 sq ft grounds. It’s as close to a ‘money can’t buy’ experience as you could hope for.

Foodies

Foodie Lovers

Vacation homes are the way to go for foodies. With most properties boasting gourmet kitchens and endless dining spots, inside and out, it’s the ideal way to self-cater, especially enjoyed by larger groups.

Girls by Pool with Staff

Five-Star Treatment

And finally, you don’t have to stay in a five-star hotel to reap all the benefits of luxury. Villazzo offers luxury villas with an in-house concierge service, on hand to meet all your needs. This includes organizing personal touches, from stocking your favorite foods to making bookings and catering to the needs of your guests, and much more.

For an unforgettable vacation, Villazzo offer some of the most exclusive luxury villa rentals in the world. With outstanding customer service and an unrivalled portfolio of properties, you’re guaranteed a five-star stay.

SAINT-TROPEZ FOR FOODIES

Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018

The French are known for their love of food and drink with good reason. The French Riviera presents the perfect climate and environment for growing fresh fruit and vegetables, as well as home to a number of wineries and vineyards. It also benefits from its coastal location, with fresh seafood in abundance.

With such a rich combination of local produce, and its jet-set visitors, it’s easy to see why Saint-Tropez is one of top destinations for foodies.

If you’re planning a visit, here’s some foodie-favourites to sample:

Michelin

Michelin Star Dining

With a staggering 66 Michelin starred restaurants in Saint-Tropez, you’re spoilt for choice when it comes to five-star dining. From L’Olivier to Le Belrose, and La Table du Mas to La Pomme de Pin, you could choose a new restaurant every night!

However, boasting three-stars, La Vague d’Or celebrates luxury dining at its best, at the Residence de la Pinede. Head Chef Arnaud Donckele is a true alchemist of flavour, using locally sourced produce including great seafood ensembles. For a memorable experience, try the ‘Au Fil Du Temps’ five-dish menu, combining classic favourites with wine pairings. Its outdoor terrace completes the dining experience.

Spectacular Seafood

Spectacular Seafood

Saint-Tropez is a fish-lovers haven, and with so much great seafood on offer, you don’t always have to dine five-star. La Bouillabaisse Plage is the perfect spot to enjoy great food against the sound of crashing waves, with a fillet of sea bream starting from €28. You can enjoy equally great dishes at low key finds like El Mas bar, or the more upscale La Plage des Jumeaux restaurant.

Farmers Market

Farmers Market

The open-air market of Place des Lices is a fantastic spot to scoop up locally sourced fruit and veg, to enjoy back at your luxury villa rental. Open from Tuesday to Saturday (8am-1pm), you can buy olives by the bucket load, delicious home-made bread, tomatoes in every colour, and freshly made tartes and sweets to make the heart sing!

Villa Jessica

Channel your inner Gordon Ramsay!

There’s nothing quite like home-cooking, and with so much fresh local produce to enjoy, all you need is your own kitchen to conjure up a three-course meal. Luxury vacation homes such as Villa Jessica, are made with get-together’s in mind, offering a modern fully equipped kitchen and dining area, as well as outdoor terrace for dining under the stars!

Wineries

If you’re partial to a glass of rosé, this is the region that produces some of the finest bottles. Take a visit to the family owned estate at Chateau Minuty, which conjures up romantic images of sunny afternoons, glass in one hand. Why not buy a few extra to enjoy back at your villa rental.

Villazzo provides luxury vacation homes in Saint-Tropez and some of the most desirable destinations in the world. Coupled with outstanding service, it provides all the trappings of a five-star hotel, in the privacy of your own villa.

Saint-Tropez, Summer’s Coolest Hotspot!

Thursday, May 31st, 2018
saint-tropez luxury villa

Film stars and royalty, families and friends – Saint-Tropez is an all-inviting destination that must be visited once, and is sure to lure you back time and again.

Put on the map thanks to Brigitte Bardot in ‘And God Created Woman’, visitors trickle in from mid-May onwards. This signals the start of summer for the French coastal town, when temperatures reach 22°, rising throughout July and August.

If you’re thinking of planning a chic get-away with sun, sea, shopping and seafood high on your list, then book early to secure a luxury villa to rent in Saint-Tropez.

Villa Victoria

Chic Sleeps

Effortlessly fashionable, the French Riviera has long attracted the jet-set community who enjoy the exclusivity of a Saint-Tropez luxury villa. And it’s easy to see why. With plenty of hilltops bathed in trees and greenery, it’s the perfect setting for luxury and privacy.

Saint-Tropez villas offer great variety too. Whether you’re looking for the perfect beachfront villa to soak up the sun, a stylish hilltop retreat for sweeping views, or a charming home-from-home for all the family – there’s something for everyone.

Nikki Beach

May and June

When Saint Tropez welcomes tourists in May, many come for its glorious but not too-hot temperature. This is also a great time to visit before the bustling crowds embark.

Ideal for a day trip, you may time your visit with the International Cannes Film Festival (18-19 May). Neighboring Cannes is only an hour and half by car, with great bars and VIP parties to enjoy. You’ll be glad of your luxury vacation rental in Saint-Tropez to retreat back to!

There’s plenty of cultural attractions too, from the Exhibition at the Annonciade museum (free entry), to the Spring Music Festival (April – August) in the renaissance cinema.

Pampelonne beach provides the perfect spot for sunbathing and swimming. Be sure to swing by Club 55 or Nikki Beach and do as the locals with an ‘Aperol Spritz’!

Le Voiles

You won’t want to miss the ceremony of some grand regatta events, the first of which is Les Voiles Latines Regatta (24-27 May), followed by the prestigious Giraglia Rolex Club (8-16 June). This is a haven for yacht men and women, especially in the Ponche quarter and Old Port.

 

Women Shopping

Luxury Living

The French are known for their great food and drink, and this is particularly celebrated in the Côte d’Azur, eating like a king wherever you dine!

Michelin star L’Olivier offers stunning food in its charming garden. Likewise, La Vague D’or has made quite a name for itself serving up culinary seafood masterpieces. Luxury doesn’t have to be five-star though, as Le Kikouiou demonstrates with al fresco dining and hearty pizzas. Alternatively, the Place des Lices is a fantastic market where you can scoop up local produce to enjoy back at your luxury rental villa.

On the note of shopping, the triangle between the Place de Lices, Rue Allard and Rue Gambetta is the place to go for designer shops. Here you can find everything from Louis Vuitton to Chanel. You are in Saint-Tropez after all!

Looking for a luxury vacation home in St Tropez? Look no further, Villazzo curates the finest villas around the globe, coupled with outstanding service for the ultimate luxurious get-away.

The Five Top Trends for Summer 2012 Vacation Wear

Sunday, April 22nd, 2012

Whether vacationing in a luxury villa rental in St. Tropez or Miami these trends will serve you well this summer

Planning a summer vacation can be daunting enough–where to go, what to do, where to stay–but once that’s all settled, what remains is what to pack, which can be equally problematic. Depending on your destination and the duration of your stay, you may require quite a few outfit changes for any one luxury vacation. If you’re undecided about accommodation in the South of France or Miami this summer, we’d definitely suggest the privacy and exclusivity of a luxury villa rental. If what to bring is more the problem then we think a mix of the following trends will hit just the right note no matter what your vacation plans.

BIG, BOLD PRINTS – Nothing says vacation like a loud Hawaiian patterned shirt, right? Well, not exactly, although high end designers from New York to Milan have embraced the graphic nature of Hawaiian and floral prints and modernized them for 2012.

Net-a-porter.com calls the look “techno tropics” and relates how this season from “graphic Hawaiian florals at Altuzarra to Peter Pilotto’s hothouse stems, kaleidoscopic prints reign supreme…[these] blown up florals and oceanic motifs mean instant drama.”

Brightly hued and bold prints will serve you well from day (like the Alberta Ferretti shorts seen above) to night (when you can make good use of Matthew Williamson’s easy breezy belted kimono-style maxidress). A look like Roberto Cavalli’s floaty red and white maxi is a perfect vacation piece, because it can do double duty between day and night depending on your choice of accessories.

JET SET GYPSY – Boho is a trend that never really goes away, but every so often more than just the usual designers like Cavalli and Pucci’s Peter Dundas revisit the style. This season flowing skirts, lace, wedges and chunky statement jewelry are perfect pieces to pack to complete that luxe boho look.

Cavalli, Pucci, Dolce and Gabbana, and Missoni and Versace, as seen above, seem to do the luxe gypsy style particularly well. Perhaps it’s something about the romance of the Mediterranean that inspires these designers, either way these items are perfect for any luxury getaway. Missoni’s cobalt silk-chiffon Haydee skirt or Versace’s printed chiffon top are just two great options for incorporating the gypsy look into your vacation wardrobe.

PRETTY PASTELS – This spring there’s a little bit of dichotomy when it comes to color. On the one hand soft and feminine pastels were all over the runways, on the other the trend of bold colorblocking and neon brights (we’ll get to that next) seems to be hanging around for the foreseeable future. One look at the pastels designers are churning out and it’s easy to see why these pieces could easily become vacation staples.

A cropped skinny jean in a cotton candy shade, like the apricot pair from MiH seen above, is one of the must-have items this summer (add a pair of red and white pants to the mix and you’re half way to being vacation ready), one that can easily be accessorized from totally casual to acceptable for balmy evenings eating al fresco. Mixing different shades of pastels is also a great way to add visual interest to a softly feminine outfit. Of course, you’ll never go wrong packing a classic shift dress like the lavender Jil Sander seen here, which is made uber feminine by adding the floral bag from Reed Krakoff.

BLOCK IT OUT – Nothing says summer like bright hues, which is why colourblocking is one of those trends that just seems to work best with bright summer days and long summer nights. During your luxury villa rental vacation do as net-a-porter suggests and “pep up your palette with bold primary colors” like “fuchsia, mint, emerald and orange – electric block color is so bright now!”

Emilio Pucci’s colorblock sweater looks so chic paired with skinny white pants, perfect for a daytime stroll or some time on a yacht. Gucci’s colorblock silk crepe de chine top looks fabulous with their purple pants and nude heels, a versatile look that can easily take you from day to night.

GO SHORT – It seems like a no brainer when heading on vacation to a sunny and hot destination, but this summer shorts really are all the rage. From denim cut offs to smart and preppy printed versions we recommend packing at least a few to get you through the hot days and warm nights.

Reminiscent of a deck chair, Stella McCartney’s cotton and silk-blend shorts pretty much scream vacation, while who wouldn’t love Yves Sant Laurent’s red shorts paired with their lively floral blouse (you can also get shorts in the same floral print)? Meanwhile, Michael Kors’ leopard print short shorts are glamorous and exotic.

Where accessories are concerned, think about a Two Part Bag, which will work for both day and night. This printed canvas and leather clutch from Proenza Schouler comes in both a clutch and a tote, the smaller of which can easily be slipped into the larger when traveling.

As for shoes, wedge sandals are uber hot at the moment, but don’t forget a pair or two of what net-a-porter is calling the “ready to wear heel” (like Brian Atwood’s Claudia embroidered suede pumps above), which will instantly become the focus of any outfit. Of course, another option is to embrace the flat-for-night trend by choosing a pair or two of embellished flats that are easily packed and perfect for your vacation evenings.

Photo 1 – www.stylesizzle.com
All looks from net-a-porter-.com