If you’re looking for a fun getaway to relax or hang with family and friends, then you should definitely check out Grand Lucayan, in Grand Bahama Island. Its the largest property in the fourth biggest island of the Bahamas. Although not located right on the US, the island is just 55 miles off the Florida coast, making it extremely accessible and perfect for a relaxing getaway without having to go far. Here are a few fun facts about what this town is known for:
Jars, Grace Bay Club’s newest restaurant pop boast picturesque views on Grace Bay Beach in Turks & Caicos. The concept is genius and innovative, the entire food and beverage menu is served in jars of various shapes and sizes. Jars are the second pop-up dining experience to arrive at Grace Bay Club, just one year after successfully introducing the Caribbean to its first pop-up restaurant and bar, Stix on Grace Bay, now making an encore appearance at West Bay Club.
Jars feature a 30-foot communal table with colorful stools for guests to enjoy innovative cuisine, rum punches, and handcrafted cocktails, all while savoring the unforgettable ocean views directly on Grace Bay Beach. The main bar, perfectly situated under a palm tree thatch hut, and lounge area, complete with oversized sofas and the sounds of Caribbean music twirling in the background, set the mood for an extraordinary experience under the stars.
Now let’s get to the menu, some of the highlights include Chilled Yellow and Red Tomato Gazpacho with Manchego Scone; Spiny Lobster Ramen with Ginger Pasta & Snow Peas in Sesame Broth; Malaysian Fried Rice with Red Chili Egg, Spring Onion and Dungeness Crab; Coconut Pana Cotta; and Island Ice Cream Cassata. The cocktails are just as exquisite. The handcrafted cocktail includes innovative sips such as the Minty Cherry Fizz, a sparkling cocktail with cherry beer and crushes mint, and the Torrontes Mojito, a bold island-inspired blend of rum, lime, mint and topped with Torrontes Wine, as well as a selection of refreshing rosé wines and in-house flavored rums.
If you’re planning a trip to Turks & Caicos, visit Jars on Grace Bay as it is open daily, from 11am to 6pm. For more information about Grace Bay Club, please visit www.gracebayclub.com. For reservations please email reservations@gracebayclub.com or call toll-free (+1) 800-946-5757.
Now that the weather has finally improved, its is finally time to take our party to the harbor. Spirit Cruises offers several daily cruises aboard the posh Spirit of New York yacht. We recently had the privilege of enjoying the season’s maiden voyage aboard the newly renovated vessel. Last week we attended a press showcase which allowed media and industry insiders the chance to experience a two hour tour complete with dinner buffet and DJ. Since our last visit with Spirit Cruises there have been several fabulous changes.
The most talked about celebrities and fashion icons gathered at the iconic The Mark, before heading to New York’s most coveted annual event, the 2014 Costume Institute Met Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Victoria and David Beckham, Lupita Nyong’o, Lily Donaldson, Margot Robbie, Karolina Kurková, Adele Exarchopoulos, Domenico Dolce, Elizabeth Olsen, Dianna Agron, Giovanna Battaglia, Monica Bellucci, Douglas Booth, Bianca Brandolini, Coco Brandoini, Joy Bryant, Arizona Muse, Eddie Redmayne, Lord Arthur Mornington, Sarah Paulson, Bee Shaffer, Andre Leon Talley, Stella Tennant, Mario Testino, Gabrielle Union, Sukie Waterhouse and many more departed the hotel at sundown to join Chair Aerin Lauder and Co-Chairs Anna Wintour, Bradley Cooper, Oscar de la Renta, Sarah Jessica Parker and Lizzie and Jonathan Tisch at the museum.
Every now and then, a person goes on vacation and stays at a hotel that blows their socks off because of the wonderful features they found inside. As an extreme, this can be an underwater hotel with windows that look into an aquarium, or less unusual hotels with themed apartments and rooms.
Five incredible hotels
The La Balade des Gnomes Hotel in Belgium (pictured above) has designed its accommodation around myths and fairy tales, having as its motto, ‘All that you can imagine is real’. There are ten rooms, including a two-story one that is designed as a Trojan horse, with the interior made almost exclusively out of wood. Another is called the Macquarie Island where the room is in the shape of a boat seemingly floating on water, complete with a sandy beach – all indoors. Also available are suites that feature wooden toadstools for seating, skies filled with glowing stars and fairy-tale style crooked windows.
If one does not mind a bit of screaming on vacation, then the New York New York hotel in Las Vegas has a roller coaster that goes right through the building. It has a 180-degree twist and dive maneuver, and is open to anyone over 5’4” high. Those planning to get married can literally take the plunge by tying the knot on the ride, whilst travelling at 67mph.
There are some hotels where the bar is so special it is the only place to go to unwind. London has quite a few of these that evoke nostalgic memories of early twentieth century opulence. One such is the Bassoon Bar at the Corinthia Hotel in Westminster, the heart of British politics. The bar has an Art Deco interior, while the drinks are named after the heady days of Empire. It is most renowned for its cocktails, which are very expensive but worth the money. A main feature of this place is that the grand piano also doubles as a bar.
Then there are the hotels that cater for the sportier of guests, such as the Radisson Blu Aqua Hotel in Chicago. Here, guests can indulge in the usual activities of swimming or going to the gym, but can also enjoy a game of basketball on their very own court, that is half the size of a professional court. It has been so cleverly designed a sporty guest could almost wish they could take it home with them. Perhaps they could with these types of basketball courts at versacourt.com. Nothing is impossible.
Those wanting to holiday in Canada can try accommodation that changes every year at the Ice Hotel in Quebec. Here, during the months of January through to March, the rooms are constructed entirely of ice, only to melt and be re-built in a different style the following year. The temperature inside the room varies between -3 and -5 degrees Celsius, so it may not be for those who like warmth, but at least the four-foot thick walls protect against the wind. Those who are not brave enough to spend the night can enjoy a special tour and drinks and stay at the nearby lodge.
At its simplest, currency trading is where one country’s currency is exchanged for another at a set rate. It’s a huge market worth many trillions of dollars and trading takes place on a daily basis. The value of currencies fluctuates for a variety of reasons, sometimes as a reaction to economic or political news in a particular country or trading bloc, such as the European Union, or because speculators are seeking a quick profit on trades in certain currencies.
One of the world’s major capital cities, Paris, France has a venerable history spanning more than 10,000 years. It grew from a small settlement in the middle of the Stone Age to be the greatest city in France, developing as a center of art and culture, fashion, high finance, medicine, science and tourism. The metropolitan area is one of the largest in Europe, home to more than 12 million people. Centuries of political and cultural development have resulted in an abundance of museums, theaters and galleries as well as a wide selection of architectural styles and monuments.
What to see
Top of the list of famous Parisian landmarks is the Eiffel Tower, which has become the symbol of the ‘City of Love’, also known as the ‘City of Light.’ Designed by Gustave Eiffel, the tower was created originally for the 1889 World’s Fair. It stands 1,063 feet tall (around 81 stories) and is the tallest building in Paris. No first visit to the city is complete without climbing it to benefit from the incredible views from each of the three different levels, the first two of which have restaurants and can be accessed via elevator or stairs, while the third and highest level is only accessible via the elevator.
The wonderful cathedral of Notre Dame de Paris on the Île de la Cité is one of the most famous in the world. Originally built in 1163 and added to many times over the centuries, it was damaged during the French Revolution in the late 18th century. The fabulous French Gothic architecture was restored during the early part of the 19th century and it is now a stunningly beautiful building and a major tourist attraction.
Fine art lovers all over the world are familiar with the world’s most visited museum in Paris, the Louvre, and more than eight million visitors each year flock to see the extraordinary collection of artworks gathered there from all parts of the globe, particularly Leonardo Da Vinci’s enigmatic Mona Lisa. Established in 1793, the Louvre was a product of the French Revolution. The controversial glass pyramid leading to an underground lobby was completed in 1989.
Where to eat
There are many wonderful restaurants and diners in Paris and more than a few are very special indeed. If seafood is a favorite, try the charming, unassuming Huitrerie Regis in St. Germain des Pres for the best fresh oysters in town, delivered directly from the Marennes-Oléron region on the Atlantic coast. Fruits de mer may also include, clams, sea urchins and prawns, depending on availability.
In the heart of the city overlooking the Palais Royal try Macéo for great vegetable dishes as well as scallops and wild sea bass. The wine list here is superb and Englishman Mark Williamson, who owns the restaurant, also runs the bar around the corner.
Getting around
First-time visitors to Paris arriving on one of the Air France flights at Charles de Gaulle or Orly airports can take the train, an airport shuttle bus or a minibus into the city center, depending on where their accommodation is located. Public transport in the city is excellent and there are a range of travel cards and tickets to choose from, depending on the length of your vacation.
Originally opening in 1929, The Lexington New York City was and still is known for providing comfort to Jazz aficionados and Hollywood A-list stars like Marilyn Monroe and Joe DiMaggio. To celebrate the recent $46 million transformation, the New York City landmark threw a spectacular party that consisted of live jazz music, light bites, and delicious cocktails. Guests included Ruben and Isabel Toledo, John Tracy, Karine Plantadit, Desmond Richardson, to name a few.