Travel: Private Jet Travel

Private jet hire has never been easier.

If you are a VIP, then you should definitely travel like one. Private jet charter allows more flexibility in your schedule, better security measures, convenience, more privacy, highly trained personnel, better amenities, impeccable service and sheer luxury while traveling.

Travel when you want, when you want.

Just like commercial flights, websites like http://www.privatejetshire.co.uk/ let you compare prices from over 40 private jet hire charter companies, producing the cheapest quotes for luxurious VIP travel. You now can have access to over one million exotic destinations worldwide with over 5,000 different aircrafts to choose from.

Rental aircraft can include anything from small private light jets, small piston propeller jets, medium-sized jets, helicopters, business jets and Lear jets.

Not sure what kind of air transportation you will need? Private jet travel should be based off of how many people are traveling as well as the distance you are flying. A 5-seat jet may be ok for travel between small regional airports but a 16-seat jet may be better for long-haul flights. Mid sized jets that seat 7-10 are usually equipped to fly transatlantic. A representative A 5-seat jet may be perfect for travel between small regional airports, while a 16-seat jet may be the best choice for a longer-range journey. Mid-size jets, which usually seat between 7 and 10 people, are often equipped to fly transatlantic journeys. In each case, the representatives of each charter service can help you choose the best plane for your needs. The price of each flight will be determined in part by the availability of your chosen jet, the flight path and your schedule.

 

 

Fraser Yacht Preview

Travel Guest Post: Private Jet Travel to the PGA Master’s & The Kentucky Derby

Spring has arrived and with it comes two of the most highly anticipated sporting events – the PGA Master’s Tournament and the Kentucky Derby. For sports enthusiasts looking to experience either first-hand, while enjoying the convenience of flying privately, New York-based jet charter firm PlaneClear offers a wide array of options.

While PlaneClear’s been busy coordinating such travel, it’s not too late to get into the action. Below is sample pricing for round-trip private jet travel and admission to both events (cost varies depending on length of stay, aircraft selected, etc.; additional cost estimates from alternate departing cities are available upon request).

The Kentucky Derby

• ·         From Chicago Area: $6,500
• ·         From Dallas Area: $13,500
• ·         From Los Angeles Area: $36,000
• ·         From New York Area: $11,000

The Masters Tournament

• ·         From Chicago Area: $10,450
• ·         From Dallas Area: $13,750
• ·         From Los Angeles Area: $36,250
• ·         From New York Area: $10,250

 

PlaneClear was founded in 2008 to make every aspect of the charter booking process ‘plain clear.’ With no loyalties to operators, PlaneClear boasts a customer-centric experience and provides the most cost-effective each and every time. The company’s private aviation specialists are equipped to personally tailor every trip based on the unique needs of each client – whether it’s a 120-foot-plus jet or a boat side seaplane.

To book, contact PlaneClear at flyplaneclear.com or call 1.877.FLY.1101.

Travel Guest Post: 5 Great Cities for Sporting Fans

1. 1.   Melbourne

[The MCG: what a place for a sports fan to spend Boxing Day]

The initials MCG can only mean one thing to cricket fans: Melbourne Cricket Ground. This is the place where test matches are held in the sweltering heat of an Australian Boxing Day – an event which makes 100,000 fans interrupt their festive celebrations to attend one of the highlights of the world sporting calendar.

The MCG is also the place to head to if you want to experience a sport which is unique to Australia; the rough-and-tumble of an Australian Rules football game is really worth writing home about.

As is the Melbourne Cup, a horse racing event held during the first weekend in November which is one of the world’s oldest and richest turf races; it’s been held since 1861.

Even greater speeds can be seen at Melbourne’s Albert Park race track during the annual Australian Grand Prix.

With the Australian Open tennis championships – one of the world’s four biggest tennis tournaments – also being held in Melbourne, the city can arguably claim to be the best sporting city in the world.

1. 2.  London

[Wimbledon Centre Court: now comes with a roof]

The 2012 Olympics in London won’t really put London on the sporting map; it’s always been regarded as one of the world’s sporting capitals.

This is partly due to Wembley Stadium, on whose sacred turf World Cup finals and world title boxing matches have been staged. Then there is the equally impressive Twickenham – rugby union’s version of Wembley.

London also boasts the All England Club, which is rather better known as Wimbledon during the two weeks in midsummer when it hosts the world’s most famous tennis tournament.

Just like Wembley, Wimbledon and Twickenham, Lords is a place of pilgrimage for sports fans from all over the world – it’s the headquarters of world cricket.

1. 3.  New York

[The Seventh Avenue entrance to Madison Square Garden in New York]

Madison Square Garden is one of many sporting meccas which make the Big Apple a delicious prospect for sporting tourists; this indoor multi-purpose arena is the place where the boxing ‘fight of the century’ between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier took place in 1971.

Today, the Garden is host to legends of basketball the New York Knicks and legends of ice hockey the New York Rangers. Located in midtown Manhattan; the Garden is the perfect sporting arena for a night out. There a host of near-by bars to visit for pre or post-game tipples.

Over in Queens, there is Flushing Meadows, home to the US Open tennis tournament each August; Queens is the place which baseball’s New York Mets call home. The Mets’ rivals the Yankees also attract incredible support; they will always be associated with the Bronx.

All this and there’s also American football teams the New York Giants and the New York Jets; sporting ‘franchises’ which share the MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.

1. 4.  Paris

[Stade de France]

Paris in spring is the ideal place for rugby fans who want to see the French rugby team display their flair with a rugby ball at the Stade de France in the Paris suburb of Saint Denis. Seeing a Gallic rooster, the French national symbol, released on to the pitch before a game is one of sport’s great traditions.

The stadium also hosts the French football team – this is the place where France won the World Cup in 1998 in front of 80,000 lucky spectators.

Every May, tennis fever grips Paris each May as the French Open is played on the red clay of the Roland Garros tennis courts in the Bois de Boulogne. The tournament attracts some of the most stylishly dressed and discerning tennis fans in the world.

1. 5.  Dubai

[Action at a night race at the Dubai World Cup. Picture by Arne Bevaart]

The past decade has seen this city attract some of the world’s biggest sports teams, stars and events; lured by the warm weather and promise of prize money. The city hosts two annual tennis tournaments, two annual golf tournaments, the Dubai World Cup thoroughbred horse race and the Dubai sevens rugby tournament.

And the city still can’t quench its appetite for sport – it has expressed an interest in staging the 2024 Olympics.

There’s no getting away from the fact that Dubai is the world’s fastest up-and-coming sporting city; London, New York, Paris and Melbourne should watch their backs!

Author: James Christie writes for business directory, Thomson Local; the perfect place to find a travel agent to help you book your next city break.

 

 

Travel Guest Post: Top 7 French Riviera Holiday Locations

As a tourist, you can visit the French Riviera for two distinct experiences. You can experience the glamorous lifestyle of celebrities in bustling towns like Monaco, Cannes and Nice. On the flip side, quieter towns like Antibes and Vence allow you to enjoy the scenic beauty and romantic side of the Riviera. Here are some of the best holiday destinations in the French Riviera from both sides of the spectrum.

Antibes

Located between Cannes and Nice, Antibes is a delightful town with an old world charm. Lined by glorious golden beaches like Plage de la Salis and Plage de la Gravette, Antibes is most known for its extensive Picasso collection. Housing a wide collection of sketches, ceramics and paintings by the Cubist revolutionary, Antibes is the perfect destination to enjoy a lazy vacation.

Cannes

Possibly the most popular city in the French Riviera, Cannes is known for its celebrity spotting, refreshing Mediterranean weather and large number of sunny golden beaches. Plage de la Croisette is a popular sunbathing spot and is divided into multiple sections of public and private beaches. Apart from plush suites and resorts, luxury villa rentals are a popular form of holiday accommodation in Cannes.

 Eze Village

This medieval town is the high roller’s dream. Home to exotic perfume outlets, high fashion boutiques and luxurious hotels, Eze Village boasts a spectacular view of the Mediterranean that few other towns can match. The hills surrounding the village are ideal picnic spots and on a clear day, you can see as far as Corsica.

Monaco

 An epitome of fashion and glamour, Monaco is a favourite among the rich and the famous. The Monte Carlo Beach enjoys an iconic status as tourists often spot the biggest movie stars, models, and other celebrities. Home to lavish hotels, luxury villa rentals and exciting experiences, Monaco offers unique holidays, combining glamour with a dash of flawless natural beauty.

 Nice

 Nice is one of the most popular stops on a typical French Riviera tour as it is home to several attractions and offers a rich cultural experience. Nice is home to scores of public and private beaches. From affordable public beaches and hotels to private suites and luxury villa rentals, vacations in Nice are always, well – nice.

 St. Tropez

 Considered an equivalent of Mexico’s Tijuana, St. Tropez is the veritable party destination of the otherwise peaceful French Riviera. With a spectrum of accommodation options, party destinations and attractions, St. Tropez is a favourite among honeymooning celebrities as well as regular tourists. Aside from nightclubs and luxurious hotels, St. Tropez is also famous for its many beaches. Visit the Plage de Tahiti, Plage de Pampellone or Plage Port Grimaud beaches to enjoy an exhilarating experience in St. Tropez.

 Villefranche-sur-Mer

Counted among the most romantic spots in the French Riviera, Villefranche is a small Mediterranean town offering a rich and intimate holiday experience. Villefranche is known for charming narrow cobbled streets, pebbly beaches and lively sights that keep tourists entertained. With a breathtaking view of the Mediterranean, the harbour in Villefranche is lined with fancy sailboats and yachts.

 Author: Andy Butler works for Burger Davis International Realty, a leading luxury villa rental specialist on the French Riviera. He enjoys photography, travel, blogging and spending time with his family. Follow Burger Davis on twitter @BurgerDavis

Travel Guest Post: 7 Surprises You May Encounter at a Luxury Hotel

Luxury hotels are known for exceptional service, amazing food, dazzling entertainment, beautiful rooms and breathtaking locations. Most people who often stay at luxury hotels enjoy these features time and time again. Eventually these luxuries can begin to feel commonplace. However, certain luxury hotels also have other, more unique amenities to offer. In many cases these services are not promoted, but if you know they exist, you could find your next hotel stay enhanced by a surprising new experience.

For example, the Alila Luang Prabang hotel in Laos offers its visitors transportation via a vintage Mercedes. This is a one-of-a-kind classic automobile that has been modified to accommodate more passengers, glass stands for drinking champagne, a radio and a television set. It is safe to say that everything but the outside is modern about this old, but beautifully updated vehicle.

Thistle Hotels has invented a “Lazy Sundays” package for those who are not morning people. This means that for people who have had a hard week of early mornings, Sunday can truly be a day of rest. This unique amenity is designed to make your Sunday morning leisurely, enjoyable and slow, with breakfast in bed, morning and early afternoon movies and a 6 pm checkout time.

For something truly unique, try a paragliding arrival to the Six Senses Hideaway at Zighy Bay in Oman. Visitors to this hotel have the option of arriving from the airport via air, water or land. If you are not interested in paragliding onto the hotel property, you have access to either speedboats or jeeps ready to take you to your destination with style. Either way, you will get to see the surrounding landscape in a unique and personalized fashion before arriving at your rooms.

Most luxury hotels try to accommodate every type of guest that may walk through their doors. At the Epic Hotel in Miami, this includes even those who are unusually tall. These people have special rooms designed just for them. Higher ceilings, longer beds, and bigger bathtubs are just a few of the unique amenities in this hotel’s “tall rooms.”

In honor of the Texas Rangers’ trip to the World Series, the Ritz-Carlton in Dallas announced a broad choice of baseball amenities at their location. They set up “baseball concierges” exclusively to answer questions about baseball and the Series. They also trained their regular staff extensively on baseball trivia and related information to prepare them to assist the crowds of visitors to the city for the World Series.

The Quincy Hotel in Singapore offers a variety of unique amenities free of charge to its guests. If you visit, you will be picked up from the airport in your own personal limousine with free WiFi internet. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all included in your stay, as are complimentary cocktails and other drinks, such as unique cocktails. Complimentary laundry service is also provided by hotel staff.

Sushi aficionados will not want to miss the sushi classes at the Miami Beach Hotel. Here, you can enjoy one-on-one courses on the history of sushi and on how various types of sushi are created. Of course, this is right before you enjoy you own delicious sushi dinner that you helped make yourself.

Running a luxury hotel sometimes seems like a continual process of inventing progressively more creative forms of pampering and hospitality. As you travel to different destinations, sample the options available at the world’s finest luxury hotels — you might be surprised by what they have in store.

 Author: Post contributed by Kari Holton on behalf of Deals.org.uk

Travel Guest Post: The Elite World of Private Clubs

Money buys many things: fast cars, designer clothes, gourmet food, fine wines and even carnival cruises, to name but a few. Can money buy everything? Not always. It cannot buy class and exclusivity. Sometimes, you just need to be part of the club. At least, that is how those who run private members’ clubs throughout the world think. These clubs do not just let anyone join. You need to be a certain type of person, one who fits with the club’s ethos and values, to be able to cross the threshold.

Some clubs are more exclusive than others. The most exclusive keep going via word of mouth, operating without publicity. Others encourage prospective members to apply, but will vet applications against certain criteria. The cost of joining a private members club often acts as a filter in itself, but there are other requirements too. Being involved in a particular area of work, having certain contacts or simply just sharing the club’s own attitude. While they may vary greatly in their character and nature, all private clubs are intended to be comfortable spaces in which their members can relax and network, away from the madding crowd. Here is an eclectic choice of some of the world’s best.

The Groucho Club, London

The Groucho Club is one of many London clubs, although unlike most, has a short history. It was founded in 1985 as a club for London’s media and celebrity elite, and only accepts membership applications from anyone who has a proposer and seconder among its current members. As well as comfortable, contemporary space for its members to relax in, the club has a restaurant and bedrooms (the walls of which would no doubt tell a few tales, if they could talk).

The Ivy Club, London

London’s exclusive Ivy restaurant has an even more exclusive club attached to it. Of all London’s clubs, this may well be the most exclusive. It is housed over three floors on the same site as the Ivy, but the entrance is concealed. You can’t apply to join the Ivy ‒ you have to be invited. It has been in operation since 2008, and is a favorite of international celebrities. Among those who have been seen leaving the club are Kate Moss and Kevin Spacey.

The Core Club, New York

The Core Club was established in 2005 as a home-away-from-home for the élite of New York. Unlike some of the older and stuffier clubs, the Core has contemporary styling, and a relatively relaxed attitude. The initiation fee is $60,000 and the first year’s membership will set you back $72,000. New York has plenty of private clubs, but the Core Club is the club for those who are top of their game. Members include financiers, sports people and actors.

The Grand Havana Room, Beverly Hills

An invitation only club, with much more affordable fees than the Core, at $2000 a year. The club is dedicated to the art of cigar smoking, and is the only place in the US that you can legally smoke Cuba cigars. Entrance is by private elevator, into private humidors, where its celebrity members can smoke in peace. Members include Mel Gibson and Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Raffles Country Club, Singapore

Singapore has several clubs with their roots in the old colonial days, but Raffles is the most exclusive. The club charges $13,000 dollars per year for membership. For that, members get access the club’s extensive facilities away from the hustle and bustle of Singapore. There are two golf courses, tennis courts, a spa, restaurants and banqueting facilities, and numerous social events. The club brings together the brightest and best of Singapore.

The Royal Bangkok Sports Club

Opened in 1901 by the King of Thailand as a horse breeding club, today this is Thailand’s most exclusive club, and offers a wide range of facilities. Membership costs $65,000. The club has its own horse racing circuit, golf course and much else besides. It has a huge waiting list, with even the wealthiest and most successful of Thailand’s residents having to wait up to ten years for a spot. However, once in, they are there for life, and their membership can be passed to their children, and then to their children’s children.

Author: Imogen Reed