Uber hits the seas
In addition to hitting the skies in May with a limited helicopter service for Cannes; Uber has now launched “UberBoat,” a private ferry service, in Istanbul, where it has had a presence for one year. It has teamed up with sea transport company Navette on the project. The speed boats will be capable of transporting […]
200 words + $125 = $1 million Inn
A 200-word essay and $125 is all it will take to become the proud owner of a bucolic New England inn, says its owner, who won the establishment in the same way. For more than two decades, Janice Sage has run the Center Lovell Inn, a majestic bed and breakfast nestled in western Maine, famous […]
Four Season in the sky by 2016
Four Seasons has just revealed its completed private jet that it announced last year. This Boeing 757, equipped with a Rolls Royce motor, has seats for 52 passengers and has been luxuriously customized by a host of designers. The reclining white leather seats were handcrafted by Italian VIP aircraft seating manufacturer Iacobucci. The blankets are […]
‘Slow Tourism’ in Tuscany and Sicily
Italy’s railway has renovated four lines that had fallen into disrepair, hoping rides along picturesque routes in 1920s steam trains will attract tourists. Officials said the objective is the development of a form of “slow tourism”, inspired by the slow food movement, that seeks to promote the different facets of a regional heritage including history, […]
Top 50 Eats in Asia
The Bangkok-based restaurant Gaggan, which puts a modern spin on classic Indian dishes in a bid to bridge the gap between eastern and western fare, topped this year’s S. Pellegrino and Acqua Panna’s list of the 50 best restaurants in Asia, unveiled Monday night in Singapore. The fine dining of Tokyo’s Narisawa, which is rooted […]
China’s luxe market is shrinking
It’s shinking, diversifying and buying elsewhere, says Bain & Company. China’s luxury market shrank last year, a global consultancy said, attributing the decline to a national anti-corruption campaign, slowing economic growth and changing consumer tastes. Sales of luxury goods in mainland China fell`1% to 115 billion yuan ($18.5 billion) in 2014 compared to a year […]
World’s best lodges, says NatGeo
Thatched bungalows in the rainforest of Costa Rica and luxurious tents in the Australian Outback are among some of the properties chosen to form National Geographic’s new collection of boutique hotels and lodges. Launched as the National Geographic Unique Lodges of the World, properties chosen were judged on factors such as design and character, guest […]
New ice hotel emerges in Sweden
The 25th Hotel in Jukkasjärvi, Swedish Lapland, has opened its doors and the establishment has released a video showing the building of the bar. Titled “Booom!”, the ice bar features a central block of crystal designed to look like it has created splashes of snow on the walls. Designed by Italian sculptor Maurizio Perron, Bulgarian […]
Michelin’s ‘Cook of the Year’
French chef and sauce specialist Yannick Alleno on Wednesday scooped the title “cook of the year” in recognition of his highly individual and experimental take on traditional haute cuisine. The annual award, organised by the Gault Millau restaurant guide, praised Alleno as a “great French cook”. Alleno, who was awarded three Michelin stars in 2007, […]
Ten top restaurants in Latin America
In the 50 Best Restaurants in Latin America 2014 list, the Lima restaurant headed by Peruvian chef Virgilio Martínez claimed the top honors. Established in 2009, Central serves traditional Peruvian dishes with an avant-garde twist. Chef Virgilio Martínez honed his craft in restaurants around the world, between London, Madrid, Bogota and New York. The spot […]