Saint Tropez

Saint Tropez has been under a lot of change again this year.Our favorite hotel "La Bastide des Salins" has renovated all the 14 rooms and we just love it. It is very Saint Tropez style. We really feel at home, it is a little quiet hotel nested in a gorgeous garden with of course a great swimming pool. It is a very nice place to stay, relax and enjoy. The staff is lovely.I highly recommend it.http://www.bastidedessalins.com/fr/index.php LVMH  has bought an other place: Maison Blanche, so your best place for a before diner drink is not here any more, but should be replace by a Champagn

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INCREDIBLE INDIA

A journey through north and south India in train and car with driver. A journey through India : Delhi, Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra, Varanasi, Chennai, Trichy, Madurai,  Periyar, Cochin,  Mysore, Hampi, Goa, Mumbai.Colors, fragrance, organized chaos, diversity, will be what come in to my mind when I reflect on India.Each state is different. The food, the people, the language, the landscape, the history all are very very different. We have the feeling we had visited 7 countries and not just one.The north is desertic when the south is lush. The south is much

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South Beach Miami

To escape the winter a good destination is with no doubt South Beach. We make a stop over for few days on our way to Saint Barth. The best hotel to stay there is the Delano even if I can complain about the rooms and shower rooms which are ridiculously small for the price they charge. You also need to be award that they will charge you with every thing they can like the umbrella on the beach. And that you may have to share your room with a Cockroach like we experience and that they absolutely don't care...no apologize. And you need to be award that they will not reply to your complain.However,

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Chamonix

The ski season is open, the snow is here all perfect. Chamonix has a major face lift. With the ringing out of the old year and in with the new comes an enormous change . Elsewhere shops are empty and closing in Chamonix there is an enormous amount of fantastic new shops and restaurant openings capturing the spirit of the place .Lets start by mentioning a major restaurant and bar opening with Cap Horn ( related only by the owner being the cousin of the piste restaurant in Courchevel ) . It has a super sushi bar , fab tapas Jazz bar and excellent restaurant : opposite is Munchie also very cool a

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Paris

Before the ski season, and when the Christmas decoration are on Paris is a wonderful destination.After having staying in some of the best boutique hotel in Paris we want back to the real Palace and I have to say it is much much better. The Plaza Athénée is a great place the service is as it would be and even better than expected. The breakfast is delicious. They have a very trendy bar. The location is excellent on Avenue Montaigne, right in the luxury shopping district (Montaigne and close to Saint Honoré) You can walk to  the main Museum (Le Louvre, Musé d'Orsay, Branly, Musée d'Art

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Tanzania Dar El Salem & Serengeti

If you fancy a long safari week end in Tanzania I highly recommend Singita Sabora tented Lodge in Grumeti Reserves.To get there you need to  spend a night In Dar El Salam. The unique choice for the hotel is the Kilimangaro Hyatt. Probably the best hotel in town : good services, fine diner. The guest are very mix , business people, safari tourist, hunters, NOG workers, Chineses, airline crews.... which make it very interesting.The next day you will have to fly at least to small planes to arrived in Grumeti Reserves. The Sabora Tented camp is a fix camp. We all the luxury you can dream off.

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Venise, Redemption day and Biennale

Venise is one of my favorite place on the planet. This particular moment of the year is magic. We saw the most beautiful and longest (45 mm) firework perform on the Grand Canal. We stay at Cipriani which is the best hotel for the summer as you can profit from the swimming pool. We attend a special diner at the Cip's on the terrace which is the absolute best location to watch the firework.On sunday, we did an early footing to enjoy Venise without the crowd and use the privilege of crossing the pop up bridge across the islands.Follow by the Biennale at the Arsenal and Punta del Dogna.Best summer

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ZANZIBAR

Voted one of the best and more exotic beach island in the world by Condé Naste.Located in the Indian Ocean the Zanzibar Archipelago has gorgeous white sand beachs.  Now part of Tanzania it has been before controlled by the Sultanate of Oman and part of the British empire. As a result  there is a strong influence from Arabs, Indians, Africa and British.Which make it a very special and colorful place.Highlight: the color of the sand and its special texture. Watching the local fishing poulp at low tide. The beauty of women in there colorful outfit. The market. The wood doors

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Up date on José Ignacio

We have been enchanted by the charm of this little village , last year  So we decided to go back , to escape for a few days from the cold european winter season. We tried a new place in town: "Playa Vik" which has been reviewed in all the luxury travel magazine , coming out as a must go destination. Unfortunately, the place absolutely did not meet our expectations.     First of all, it is not finished and as a result , the guests had to suffer a lot of inconvenience. Secondly, it is more a villa rental than its seven star hotel billing(without any kitchen facilities though)

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LOng week end in South Africa

We started this long week end with a stop in Johannesburg.Best place to stay: is in the modern and super chic Melrose Arch , which is located in a very nice and safe district, surrounded by shops and restaurants.Best place for dinner:  The Butcher Shop in Nelson Mandela Square.What to do : hire a car with chauffeur and have a complete tour of the town including Soweto.ThEn we took a small plane to head to my favorite destination Kruger park. This time we stayed at Singita Ebony Lodge. You will never be disappointed by any of the Singita Games lodges. The service is immaculate, the game sa

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A long week end in Dubai.This is a very good place for a long week end just before winter time is upon us. The temperature is very nice and the sea water amazingly warm.Where to stay: of course at Burj Al Arab. Treat yourself with a suite at the best hotel on the planet (7 stars) and immerse in the abundance of Ali Baba legends of the persian gulf. The smallest suite has two floors, and the decoration is very opulent  , in night blue and gold shades. You will have your own butler ane the bathroom offers a wealth of Hermes products.The only weak point: we were not very impressed by the bre

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BeirutThere is one destination that is all over the travel and style magazines this year and its Beirut . So we decided to have a look and  fly over for a long week end.  To get a bit of sun and soak in the ambiance , just a couple of hours from Europe.Some after "war" buildings are still there and despite the claims of new harmony you can see some UN and military troops hanging around . Most of the city has been cleaned up and rebuilt.Massive investment has been made for reconstruction. You can feel a real desire to be back on the map with heavy reference back to the towns glory day

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South America: Buenos Aires, José Ignacio, RioArgentina: Buenos Aires. A very clean and green city.Hotel Faena, Stark designed. we are  big fans, he always mixes his particular style whilst keeping the atmosphere of the local place. Set in a completly new developpement in the city Drink: Maté, herbal tea found in Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay, South Brazil. They drink it all day long, carrying they maté cup and thermos of hot water everywhereFood: Dulce de LecheRestaurant: Cabanas las Lilas, good Argentinan steakhouse with a nice outside terrace on the riverbank. Olsen for lunch, locate

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ParisNot much is going on in Paris. But Paris is Paris. The best shopping district is still Avenue Montaigne, François 1er and Avenue du Faubourg Saint Honoré (All in walking distance).We used to stay at Pershing Hall near the same aera. However, this will be the last time. We do not agree with the new principle "Pay more Get Less". You pay George V prices get no service at all. Forget the Boutique hotels in Paris  , go for  5 stars:Hotel Barriere Fouquet or Georges V. Just make sure you book the one in the location you like and which attract guests in the same tri

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London I need to update my list of restaurants in London. On paper , London is not the capital of Gastronomy it is Tokyo with 11 , 3 star Michelin restaurants , then it is Paris with 10. However, London is a city where there is always something is happening and a lot of new restaurants  , they just pop up.So far my favorite restaurant is UMU,  a Japanese michelin star restaurant. Eating at the bar is always more fun, you can enjoy the talent of the sushi chef. Do you know thee guys  need at least 7 years of study to be a master sushi chef , as much as a doctor ! This is art on t

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BostonI have to say Boston was not on my top list of "I really have to go place"!First of all, I was not excited to fly to the USA via Newark. Despite them  taking all of your 10 fingers print and your picture, they are quite friendly nowadays! No big queues at customs like it use to be! No more grumpy staff! Clean an refurbished airport! Good Start.So Boston, autumn is a great time to visit this city. I found it very clean and polished, very WASPy, quite pretty , also with all those old very well preserved buildings. You really have a feeling of safety. On the contrary nothing is happeni

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Monday 18 to the 23 OctoberSailing the Nile , from Luxor to Aswan just like in the 19th century on the Geand Tour, in a dahabieh.I have to admit when we booked this trip I was not so sure about it.A week on a sail boat on the Nile sounded a bit boring. Not at all ! It is very relaxing and peaceful.We booked this special cruise on a replica of an old Egyptian sailing boathttp://www.nourelnil.com/ which is the best way to do it.The boat is gorgeous, very well decorated, low speed as expected , to enjoy every thing going on on the Nile : birds, fishermen, donkeys, buffalos...all on the sounds of

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SAINT TROPEZA lot of new hotels in St Tropez this summer:Le Kube: New addition to Murano resort Paris and Marakech.Set in the entrance of Saint Tropez with a nice view on the Baie de St Tropez. Also watch out for the traffic right on the road in and out to the village, must me a pain to move around!All white, very comptemporay, 2 swimming pools one for the guest only and one which is like a beach club. Excellent restaurant, same chef a in Le Saint Roch Courchevel, however absolutly empty. Really a stunning place more South Beach than Saint Tropez.La Reserve: new addition to La Reserve Geneve

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VENISE Fantastic moment to go to Venise.This week end was the "festa del Redentore" which occurs every year the week end of the third Sunday of July. On the Saturday take place a fabulous fireworks on the Laguna! It is very something specialAt this period, it is also the time of the "Art comptemporary Bienale" an huge exhibition of art in all the city, increadible the art is every where.In the park each country as is own Pavillon there they exhibit their chosen artists. A must go is the old Arsenal building enormous place...a week end is not enough to visit just his place. The exhibition take

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SANTIAGO CHILIWe are still under the charm of this ultra clean and save city..I will describe it at the Swiss of South America.There is plenty of excellent restaurants mainly serving Peruvian cuisine. Most of them have terrace.The local drink Pisco Sour is excellent but very very strong! We also enjoy the local wine specially Altair.I will recommand to stay at the Ritz Carlton. For its location at El Golf, for its swimming pool and gym on the roof top. For the service and mainly because its is relatively small . A "W" hotel is suppose to open soon.Restaurants:Puerto Fuy. Sea food. Modern cuisi

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