By Mary Mullaj The Mondrian Hotel quietly opened it doors to guests two days ago, but the official grand opening will take place during Art Basel. The Mondrian will fill a luxury niche that has been heretofore neglected. With a concept the Morgans Hotel Group and design by award-winning Dutch designer Marcel Wanders, the result […]

By Sean Ballent LAX is getting a new facelift. The Los Angeles airport, which hasn’t been touched up in 24 years, is about to receive a $5.5 billion modernization.  The Tom Bradley International Terminal will be rebuilt with new gates for jumbo jets and a grand central hall that will feature restaurants and shopping. A […]

By Sean Ballent The new SLS Hotel at Beverly Hills is a contemporary spectacle of design. Nightclub creator Sam Nazarian went way over the top in putting together his latest creation. With it’s doors opening to the public yesterday, visitors got a taste of its fashionably daring allure. French architect Philippe Starck has been installed […]

As the perfect antidote to turn around one’s fortunes during these trying times, travel website VirtualTourist.com has come up with a list of the top 10 monuments in the world believed to bring good luck. Make the bad vibes go away with a touch or a tickle of a belly, bottom, or even a pair […]

By Mary Mullaj After four decades as a luxury ocean liner, and with 25 world cruises and 800 transatlantic crossings under her belt, the Queen Elizabeth 2 will become a floating hotel in Dubai. The QE2 still remains the fastest cruise liner, but she was built in the sixties, and is now facing some competition […]

By Sean Ballent Jose Ignacio was once a secluded fishing village on the southern coast of Uruguay. Now it’s the new South American hot spot. The town is a place of exceptional and delicate natural beauty. It’s a place of sleepy dirt roads, rocky points, and sandy coves. Fittingly designed single-family homes and small businesses […]

By Sean Ballent Manhattan’s chicest studio-based design firm ICRAVE is creating work that encourages innovation and interaction. The company creates high-energy spaces that actively engage visitors in their environment. The firm has established a base of high profile clientele along with a reputation for delivering Manhattan’s top nightclubs and restaurants. A recent ICrave project that’s […]

By Beth Brody The elegance, sophistication, and pristine location in the beautiful historic capitol of Greece are only the beginnings of why this Athens hotel is truly fit for a king. The historic magnificence that the palace exudes is perfectly complimented by ultra-modern amenities and attentive service fit for the most discerning guests, even royalty. […]

By Mary Mullaj Bluelounge, a multidisciplinary design studio, has created the ultimate gadget for all your gadgets. The Bluelounge Sanctuary, an integrated charging station, lets users power up their cell phone, iPod, PDA, and bluetooth headset at the same time in one compact and convenient location. It uses a universal phone charger compatible with over […]

By Mary Mullaj Two unusual hotels, one in Sweden and the other in Canada, offer experiences unlike other hotel stays. Using the natural and locally occurring building materials of ice and snow the hotels are rebuilt again each fall. Production of both will start shortly, so now is the time to plan a visit to […]

Whatever your dream winter destination may be, take a minute to consider a safari at Molori Safari Lodge; we assure you this isn’t your average African adventure. Formerly a private South African residence and frequented by many heads of state and high profile individuals, the lodge officially opened to the public in October. Set in […]

After 37 years of ownership, Something Cool is for sale for $950,000 euros. Built in 1964 in Holland by Wilton Feyenoord, the yacht has been owned by the Heineken family since 1971, enjoying many, many summers onboard, including times with the Dutch Royal Family. The 29.7-meter yacht has been professionally maintained throughout the years and […]

  Looking for the ultimate warm-weather hideaway with a killer view? The newly renovated Oceana Santa Monica is the ultimate beachside boutique hotel offering guests spacious rooms (many with ocean views) with beautiful new furnishings, an oceanview lounge and the very best in customer service. The hotel was recently listed in Condé Nast Traveler’s 2008 […]

The Michelin Guide has been providing outstanding dining recommendations in Europe for over a century, and made its debut in the Bay area in 2006. The rating system uses stars, which are coveted by chefs worldwide. It is an honor to receive just one, and there are only six Michelin two-star restaurants in Northern California. […]