The Dandelion Chandelier Luxury Travel Calendar highlights the ideal luxury travel destinations for the month of December, as well as notable luxury hotel and resort openings, new cruise vessels and luxury train launches around the world in December 2017. For the rest of the Luxury Calendar, click here. For other Travel coverage, click here.
It’s almost vacation season, and staying fit while you’re away on holiday is a top priority for many. Who wants to come home from vacation feeling sluggish and unhealthy? So what do you do if your favorite workout is spinning, and you’re headed out of town? More and more, you’ve got nothing to worry about. The most beloved spinning studios and other popular boutique fitness classes are popping up in popular winter vacation spots around the world. Sand or snow, you’re more likely than ever to find your studio following you on your holiday adventures. SoulCycle started this trend, and others are beginning to follow. Here’s what you can expect to find this holiday season in the most luxurious vacation destinations.
The French-speaking island of St. Barth’s – or to be precise, Saint Barthélemy – has long been a glamorous year-end playground and the destination of choice for the owners of mega-yachts, the fashion industry elite, entertainers, athletes and their entourages. The Leeward Islands tropical paradise is the stuff of dreams. But the 2017 hurricane season was brutal, with a string of named storms wreaking havoc on many parts of the Caribbean, including this lovely island. So what will become of this year’s holiday season? Will New Year’s Eve in St. Barth’s still be the number one place in the world for a glittering celebration? We asked our far-flung correspondents to investigate, and here’s what they reported back. It’s the latest intelligence we have on what you need to know if you’ve planned (or were planning) a stop in St. Barth’s this winter. Of course it could change, but this is what we know for now.
If you haven’t already, it’s time to start your holiday shopping. What’s that, you say? Not feeling it this year? We’ve got just the remedy for those who need to find wonderful holiday gifts but have no desire to hit the mall, the avenue or the Internet. Why not do your holiday shopping in Italy this year? In case you think starting your holiday shopping in October is a nutty idea, let’s look at some facts. According to the National Retail Federation, in 2016 U.S. consumers reported that they began shopping for the holiday season at the following times: 41.4% during the month of November; 12.2% before September, 6.5% in September and 21.9% in October. See? Some people may already be done!
If money were no object, how would you choose to see the world? Would you do it “all in one go” on the luxury trip of a lifetime? Or would you spread it out over several years and multiple journeys, so that you could absorb and appreciate everything that you experienced? Would you travel with strangers? With just one other person? Or with 50 of your closest friends? It’s a champagne dilemma. And one that the uber-rich are increasingly faced with. Taking a Grand Tour of the civilized world was a cherished ritual of the wealthy in the 19th century – the trips lasted for months, sometimes years, and were an important facet of becoming a sophisticated adult in high society. Fast forward to today, when such a trip can be completed in a matter of days if you have the right budget. New York, London, Paris, St. Petersburg, Jaipur, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Sydney – if you’ve got a couple of weeks and lot of stamina, you can check all of these destinations and more …
