Travel

Travel

Goldfinger Anniversary at Bürgenstock Resort

A James Bond style weekend

Apart from the environs of London, the Alps have the highest density of James Bond locations in the world. Many Bond movies were filmed here, among them, Goldfinger, which on 17th September will celebrate its 60th anniversary. Bürgenstock Resort by Lake Lucerne provided the backdrop for the iconic film and in its honour, is organising a series of fabulous events. Sean Connery and the Goldfinger crew lived at the mountain-top resort’s Palace Hotel for a month in 1964, shooting scenes in nearby Stans and on the Furka Pass, among other Swiss locations. Between shoots, Connery headed to the Bürgenstock golf course, where he worked on perfecting his swing, needed for an upcoming scene with Bond nemesis Auric Goldfinger (played by German actor Gert Fröbe). The 1950s Hollywood-style pool and Bull’s Eye bar at the Bürgenstock hotel were chosen as the location for the opening scenes in this film, after the initial credits – which were supposed to take place in Miami. Goldfinger is playing cards at a table located between the pool and the bar as Bond saunters by and assesses…

Travel

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – Salzburg

A fairy-tale castle turned into a wellbeing centre of excellence

If you think that the only reason to visit Salzburg is Mozart, think again. For the wellness devotee, SalzburgerLand is a bonanza of luxury alpine spas, and arguably the jewel in the crown is the multi-award winning Naturhotel Forsthofgut. The Naturhotel Forsthofgut is the lovechild of the ultimate spa hotel and a modern fairy-tale castle. […]

Travel

Italy in September

No crowds, no screaming kids and still plenty of sun

Going anywhere in Italy in the height of summer feels like wrestling your way into a lifeboat when a cruise ship is sinking. Hordes of tourists everywhere, fistfights for the last table in a restaurant and hour-long queues to visit museums and churches. September however is peaceful, with plenty of availability and an explosion of […]

Travel

Porto Zante Villas & Spa

In the footsteps of Olympians

With the Paris Olympics round the corner, the luxury resort of Porto Zante Villas & Spa on Zakynthos Island is inviting guests to a unique experience exploring the western coast of the Peloponnese and visiting Ancient Olympia on their own private yacht. With much better beaches – and access to them – than Mykonos and, if you […]

Culture, Travel

Summer festivals in the Alps

Highlights of an inspiring summer

The Alps have become as popular in summer as they are in winter. And it is not only nature and sports lovers flocking to the jaw-dropping European mountain range but also those passionate about the arts. All kinds of cultural festivals take place in the region; classical music, jazz, cinema and much more. Here we […]

Travel

Svølvaer – Lofoten Islands

Brutal Arctic beauty

Svølvaer is located in the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in Norway, 700km north of the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its arresting fjord landscapes, Northern Lights and postcard-pretty villages-turned resorts, known as Rorbuer. I am staying at Svølvar, on the island of Austvågøya. I am staying at the resort, Svinøya Rorbuer. My host, Ragnar […]

Travel

A summer of sport in Kitzbühel

Outdoor pursuits in the heart of the Tyrol

Although most people associated Kitzbühel with skiing, this beautiful medieval town in the Tyrol is as exciting in summer as it is in winter. Amidst its stunning alpine backdrop, Kitzbühel bustles with all kinds of outdoor activities, that allow visitors to feeling invigorated by sport amidst the natural beauty of the area. Here we bring […]

Travel

Aberturret Estate House

Scottish hospitality at its best

Nestled deep within the picturesque heart of rural Perthshire near the town of Crieff, and just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, stands the newly opened Aberturret Estate House. Blessed with a secluded location on the Glenturret estate, it was once the Dower House of Clan Murray, one of the great families in Scottish history, who […]

Travel

Amilla Resort Maldives

Luxury, conservation and sustainability in paradise

Amilla Maldives is a luxury resort developed on a natural island, nestled within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. On arrival, I was welcomed by General Manager, Narelle McDougal, for whom conservation, sustainability and accessibility are top priorities. “I’ve been in hospitality all my professional life and it always annoyed me […]

Travel

Paradis Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa

World class golfing in the Indian Ocean

William Cowper’s well-known proverb, “Variety is the very spice of life”, was actually preceded by Aphra Behn. In her play, The Rover (1651), she coined the phrase: “Variety is the soul of pleasure”. Prior to Behn, Euripides argued that “a change is always nice” in Orestes. These pedigrees of linguistic talent were unified with the […]

Travel

Diriyah

The City of Earth

A year after the ancient site of Diriyah was announced as a Giga project in Saudi Arabia, our Editor-in-Chief, Julia Pasarón, speaks to Group CEO, Jerry Inzerillo, about the significance of this unparalleled project for the future of the Kingdom. The birthplace of The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the ancestral home to the Al […]

Travel

A Night at The Pelham London

Aristocratic chic in the heart of South Kensington

The Pelham Hotel has been attracting tourists and locals alike ever since it opened its doors in 1989, on the site of three large white-stucco-fronted Victorian townhouses, a few steps from South Kensington tube station. I, personally, have been a regular since I could order a G&T without being asked to show my ID. From […]