Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Intrepid Holiday Transport
Thursday, November 10, 2011 at 01:18PM Planes, Trains & Automobiles: Intrepid Holiday Transport
Not lucky enough to enjoy a VIP ride on Santa’s sleigh? Fret not: transportation and hotel clients around the globe are offering chic modes of transit this holiday season, from pan-India travel on a luxury train to your very own donkey chauffer in Mallorca – just steer clear from Steve Martin’s travel trips and make sure to make it home post-adventure!
La Residencia, Mallorca
www.laresidencia.com
Donkeys have always played a fundamental role in Mallorcan life, with the mules being used to transport goods to and from villages to the mountains. To honor the Mallorcan way of life, La Residencia offers guests a chance to experience the countryside with these furry friends. The donkeys will accompany guests along a new nature trail on the picturesque hillside that forms the backdrop to the historic Mallorcan manor house. Guests will pass through pinewood forests and olive groves where they will be able to take in the breathtaking views of the Tramuntana mountains and the Mediterranean Sea, pausing by a rustic shepherd’s house to enjoy a traditional Mallorcan picnic lunch, entirely made from locally sourced produce.
MSC Yacht Club, Italy
What better way to discover the most intriguing parts of Italy – and beyond – than a privately owned, Italian cruising company who knows the region better than any other? Available aboard MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, MSC Yacht Club rolls out the red carpet to couples, families and groups as they journey to an array of historic cities, from Genoa and Marseille to Barcelona and Casablanca. What's more, MSC Yacht Club guests receive an abundance of exclusive amenities during seven-night and longer itineraries: Italian-designed suites by renowned Italian architect and interior designer Giuseppe De Jorio; 24-hour Butler service; 24-hour Concierge; complimentary wines and spirits; complimentary fine dining in a private restaurant; and a private sundeck with pool, Jacuzzi and outdoor bar.
Forty 1° North, Newport, Rhode Island
With a state-of-the-art docking and yacht service facility on par with world-class yachting destinations around the globe, Forty 1° North is the ideal getaway for luxury sailing enthusiasts. With on-property launch boats, the hotel is able to provide harbor tours for guests seeking to experience Newport’s strong nautical history with the option of enjoying cocktails onboard with family, friends or that special someone. From afternoon leisurely trips to romantic sunset cruises, this is the perfect way to enjoy this waterfront city in style.
The Hiram Bingham Train, Peru
Once only accessible on foot, today there is a truly relaxing way to reach Machu Picchu: aboard the Hiram Bingham train. Complementing the legendary Orient-Express train service in Europe and Asia, the Hiram Bingham links Cusco to Machu Picchu. For many visitors a trip to Machu Picchu is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and the Hiram Bingham assures a magical journey, never to be forgotten. As passengers step on board they are surrounded by a world of polished wood, gleaming cutlery and glittering crystal. The train is composed of two dining cars, an observation bar car and a kitchen car, and can carry up to 84 passengers.
Cox & Kings
As the traditional mode of transfer in the Middle East, camels are reliable and efficient for their ability to go days without water, if not necessarily the most comfortable ride. On Cox & Kings’ 12-day, 11-night “Hidden Treasures of Jordan” journey, guests enjoy a camel ride through Wadi Rum’s ancient valleys and towering weathered sandstone mountains – the most spectacular desert scenery guests are likely to see.
Saffire Freycinet, Tasmania
Ready for a fast-paced blast up the coastline of Great Oyster Bay? Buckle up for Saffire’s Great Oyster Bay Blast, a thrilling boat ride on board the Saffire vessel. Cruising alongside the picturesque Hazards Beach to Schouten Passage and past Muirs Beach, the vessel is powered by three 350 horse power outboards and can reach speeds of up to 45 knots (50 miles per hour). Throughout this one-hour adventure, guests will learn about Tasmania’s extreme weather conditions and the hazardous livelihoods of some of the Bay’s past and present inhabitants. Bookings essential, cost $110 per person, minimum four people.
Qantas Airways, Australia
While temperatures drop across the U.S., the Southern hemisphere's summer is just getting started. Escape the five-hour turkey basting sessions with a flight aboard Qantas Airways. Passengers can jet off to Bondi Beach in style aboard an A380 with daily flights from LAX, featuring Marc Newson-designed cabins, ergonomic seating and self-serve snack stations. Travelers now have the option to depart from DFW with direct flights jetting off four times a week with daily service scheduled to begin in 2012. Skip the stove and fly in First to experience Neil Perry's culinary masterpieces, savor the award-winning Comtes de Champagne Taittinger or sleep in comfort on a fully flat Skybed. A trip Down Under promises more excitement than clean up and leftovers.
La Mamounia, Morocco
Why choose one mode of unique transportation when you can have it all? La Mamounia offers guests an exciting variety of ways to explore the Moroccan landscape. Offering a fleet of bespoke garnet red Jaguar Daimler's and Range Rovers, guests will be transported in comfort and style to any activity or destination. Offering a chance to see Morocco from a different perspective – thousands of feet in the air – guests can experience the magic of Marrakech by hot air balloon. La Mamounia can also arrange a helicopter ride over Marrakech, offering a bird's eye view of the medieval medina, the imposing Atlas Mountains, and the Ourkia Valley dotted with tiny Berber villages. For those who feel the need for speed, the hotel offers excursions on four-wheel 'quad bikes,' a thrill-filled way to take in the stunning scenery and African sunshine.
Hotel Cipriani, Italy
The acclaimed Orient-Express property Hotel Cipriani has partnered with Seawings tooffer guests the chance to discover Venice from the beautiful blue skies aboard a seaplane. For the price of 320 EUR per person, Cipriani guests will be escorted by a private boat from the dock of the hotel to a Cessna Caravan 208 seaplane. The plane accommodates up to nine passengers, all with window seats, to allow guests to take in the gorgeous scenery for approximately 30 minutes. In addition to the Venice Lagoon, sights include the islands of San Servolo, San Giorgio Maggiore, Giudecca, Sant’Elena, Lido, Murano, Burano and Torcello.
Maharajas’ Express, India
As model trains make their way around Christmas tree displays, travelers can depart on their own life-sized train journey on Maharajas' Express and explore a destination worlds apart from the usual seasonal routine. Trade in wool hats and scarves for saris and kaftans, five-star cuisine and royal elephant polo (a nice departure from Rudolph). Leave the chaos of holiday shopping behind to instead discover colorful bazaars selling an array of exotic spices, hand-woven textiles and carefully crafted toys. With four distinct journeys departing throughout November and December – Royal India, Princely India, Classical India and the newly unveiled Royal Sojourn – the only problem travelers face is choosing just one.
Paul Gauguin Cruises, French Polynesia
Looking to island hop without living out of a suitcase? Join Paul Gauguin Cruises to experience the beauty of the South Pacific, all from the comfort of a deluxe ocean-view stateroom. Committed to providing an extraordinary luxury cruise experience tailored to the unparalleled wonders of Tahiti, French Polynesia and the South Pacific, the m/s Paul Gauguin will transport discerning guests to explore and experience Tahitian paradise. Exciting itineraries allow guests to travel to Australia, New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga, as well as the Marquesas, Tuamotus, Cook and Society Islands.
Grand Hotel Timeo and Villa Sant'Andrea, Sicily
www.grandhoteltimeo.com www.hotelvillasantandrea.com
The winding roads of the Sicilian countryside, the backdrop of the pristine coastline…can it get any better? Thanks to the Grand Hotel Timeo and the Villa Sant’Andrea, it can. Both Orient-Express properties offer guests the opportunity to explore Sicily in their own Vintage Fiat 500. Driving solo or escorted by a personal guide, guests can choose from a variety of itineraries – from discovering the active Mount Etna, cruising through the diverse Wine Country, visiting the small fishing villages, or touring the places that Francis Ford Coppola chose to shoot the famous movie The Godfather, the rich history and culture of Sicily are just a gear shift away.
Bitter End Yacht Club, British Virgin Islands
Planes, boats and ferry rides: spend the holidays at Bitter End Yacht Club, located on the protected waters of North Sound on the sunny island of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands. Bitter End provides its guests with sailing and water sports equipment, all complimentary, including more than one-hundred watercrafts, such as Hobie sailboats, windsurfers and kayaks – all amongst some of the world’s most luxurious private yachts. Accessible only by water, it takes at least one flight and two boat trips to get to the island, where professional sailors come to play and novices learn.
Orion Expedition Cruises, Australia
www.orionexpeditions.com
Anchors away! Based in Australia, Orion Expedition Cruises provides even the most discerning travelers with opportunities to experience "the path less traveled" to destinations including remote parts of Western Australia, New Zealand and sub-Antarctica, Indonesia, Melanesia, Tasmania, Papua New Guinea and Southeast Asia. With two ships in its fleet, Orion Expedition Cruises provides onshore educational experiences led by seasoned expedition leaders and specialists including marine biologists, ornithologists and zoologists.
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