Luxury 2012

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Amenity Kits Airline Food and Wine Elite Credit Cards Indulgent Train Travels Opulent Tours

LUXURY ’s Guide to experiencing the Globe in Style

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What Is Luxury?

H

ow do you define luxury? If we polled Global Traveler readers, I wouldn’t be surprised to receive a number of different responses. As a traveler, it is fascinating to observe and understand the diverse interpretations of luxury around the world.

While in transit, the little luxuries of travel always catch my attention. Boarding a flight, it might be the amenity kit stocked with better products than you use at home or the in-flight cuisine created by a master chef you greatly admire. On a train, maybe it is a glass-domed window offering breathtaking views as you sip a cocktail and sit in total comfort.

Elite credit cards with travel benefits can help improve your next trip experience.

Among the benefits are room upgrades, lounge access and airline and hotel reward points.

Personally, luxury tours stand out as my definition of luxury. Floating along the Nile, gliding in a helicopter over Victoria Falls or swimming with sea lions in the Galápagos, without a care in the world about how to get to your next destination — that’s luxurious.

We hope you enjoy Global Traveler’s Luxury Book 2012. It offers insight into the best of luxury travel, whatever your definition may be. It’s worthy of reference as you plan your next year of travel indulgences.

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2012 | luxury | 3

contents

Globility

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EDITORIAL Editor in Chief LISA MATTE lisa.matte@globaltravelerusa.com Managing Editor K imberly Krol kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Senior Editor JANICE

HECHT jan.hecht@globaltravelerusa.com Associate Editor/Copy Editor Patricia Vanikiotis patty.vanikiotis@globaltravelerusa.com

ART Art Director T RACEY CULLEN tracey.cullen@globaltravelerusa.com Staff Photographer CHRISTOPHER P. OTTAUNICK christopher@globaltravelerusa.com

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ONLINE eFlyer USA Editor KATIE SKRZEK katie.skrzek@globaltravelerusa.com

A Case of Luxury

Global Traveler announces the winners of its

first- and business-class amenity kit survey.

By Katie Skrzek

Contributors

10 Classy Cuisine Airlines take premium-cabin dining to new heights.

By Allison Voigts

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22

Cream of the Crop

Elite credit cards yield a

bounty of perks and prestige.

By Beth Vrabel

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eFlyer Asia Editor RUTH WILLIAMS ruth.williams@globaltravellerasia.com

Romancing the Rails

Rediscover the joy of the journey

on today’s luxury trains.

By Richard Newton

28 To the Ends of the Earth Luxury tours take you around

the world in sumptuous style.

By Barbara Radcliffe Rogers

Richard Newton Barbara RadcliffE Rogers Katie Skrzek Allison Voigts Beth Vrabel For complete bios, visit globaltravelerusa.com

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Contact Us General Inquiries/Issue Requests tel 267 364 5811 Subscriptions tel 818 286 3134 | gbtcs@magserv.com Public Relations Kimberly Krol tel 267 364 5811 ext 202 | kim.krol@globaltravelerusa.com Letters to the Editor letters@globaltravelerusa.com Reprints Ed Kane | FosteReprints tel 800 382 0808 ext 31 edk@fosterprinting.com

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COVER PHOTO: Deccan Odyssey Photo: © Deccan Odyssey

4 | luxury | 2012

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Best Overall First Class — Emirates (men)

Best Overall First Class — Emirates (women)

Best Overall Business Class — V Australia (men)

Best Overall Business Class — V Australia (women)

Luxury

A Case of Global Traveler announces the winners of its first- and businessclass amenity kit survey.

By Katie Skrzek Photos by Christopher P. Ottaunick

6 | luxury | 2012

T

he votes have been tallied. The results are in. Global Traveler’s expert team chose the best amenity kits in the sky. Eighteen airlines participated in this year’s survey: Aeromexico; airberlin; Air Canada; Air Tahiti Nui; Austrian Airlines; Delta Air Lines; Emirates; Etihad Airways; Finnair; Qatar Airways; Singapore Airlines; South African Airways; Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd.; TAM; Turkish Airlines; United Airlines; US Airways; and V Australia. After carefully examining the offerings, the GT team selected its favorites.

OVERALL, WE WERE impressed with the quality and variety of products offered in the amenity kits. Familiar brands, including Axe and Schick, appeared frequently.

Singapore Airlines’ kit features strictly Kiehl’s products. The white Kiehl’s logo on Singapore’s black bag is more visible than the airline’s small black logo. Though visually unappealing, Kiehl’s leafy Calendula Herbal Extract Toner took the lead for first-class spa product.

V Australia features spa products from Australian company Grown. Sumptuously scented with notes of citrus, herbs and vanilla, the hand cream scored highest among all business-class spa products. globaltravelerusa.com

Best Packaging First Class — Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd.

Qatar received an honorable mention for its Molton Brown products; however, its bag was a bit small.

Gender-specific kits were few and far between, with offerings from only V Australia, Emirates, Etihad Airways, TAM and airberlin. The main distinction between these kits was the presence of shaving products for men. Despite being impressed with Emirates’ kits, we found the bags hard to open, particularly the men’s leather first-class kit. United’s bag comes with a built-in hook for easy use in the lavatory. We found Swiss International Air Lines’ sturdy bags among the most reusable in the bunch. Air Tahiti Nui’s chic square-shaped bag features its flower logo but not the airline’s name — perfect for reusing. Ease of use and potential for reuse were important features to the team.

Best Packaging Business Class — Emirates (women, left; men, right)

IN AN EFFORT to go green, some airlines are cutting back. United and SWISS advertise items not included in their kits — shaving necessities and sewing kits, for instance — are available upon request. Finnair aims to put forth an eco-friendly product. In a landslide victory, their aromatherapy pillow won most unexpected item. The pillow contains Swiss pine curls, similar to woodchips. The scent is faint, the rustling noise is not.

Many airlines are in the process of updating their amenity kit offerings.

Several unveiled new kits earlier this year. Others plan to roll out new designs and products later in 2012.

And the Winners Are …

Best Overall First Class — Emirates Business Class — V Australia Best Spa Product First Class — Singapore Airlines (Kiehl’s)

Best Packaging First Class — Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd. Business Class — Emirates

Best Men’s Product Emirates — Razor Best Women’s Product V Australia — Grown Facial Moisturizer Most Unexpected Item Finnair — Aromatherapy Pillow

Best Spa Product First Class — Singapore Airlines (Kiehl’s) Business Class — V Australia (Grown)

Know Before You Go Forget to pack lip balm? Did your pen run out of ink? Know what to expect from your amenity kit before you arrive at the gate.

Best Spa Product Business Class — V Australia (Grown)

Aeromexico (Business class, unisex) Comb, drawstring bag, ear plugs, eye mask, socks, hand cream and lip balm by Korres, toothbrush and toothpaste airberlin (Business class, women) Ear plugs, eye mask, slippers, socks, hand cream and lip balm by L’Occitane, toothbrush and toothpaste (Business class, men) Ear plugs, eye mask, razor, slippers, socks, lip balm and shaving cream by L’Occitane, toothbrush and toothpaste

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2012 | luxury | 7

Best Men’s Product Emirates — Razor

Best Women’s Product V Australia — Grown Facial Moisturizer

(First class, women) Brush/comb, mirror, refreshing cloth, face lotion, fragrance and hand cream by Bvlgari, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste (Business class, women) Brush/comb, mirror, refreshing cloth, face lotion, fragrance and hand cream by Bvlgari, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste Etihad Airways (Diamond first class, women) Ear plugs, eye mask, socks, facial moisturizer, hand cream and lip balm by La Prairie, toothbrush and toothpaste (Diamond first class, men) Ear plugs, eye mask, razor, shaving cream, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste

Most Unexpected Item Finnair — Aromatherapy Pillow

Finnair (Business class, unisex) Aromatherapy pillow, ear plugs, eye mask, socks Qatar Airways (Business class, unisex) Brush/comb, ear plugs, hand cream, fragrance, lip balm and replenisher

by Molton Brown, tissues

Air Canada (Executive first class, unisex) Ear plugs, eye mask, facial towelette, mint, socks, hand cream and lip balm by B. Kamins, a B. Kamins coupon, toothbrush and toothpaste Air Tahiti Nui (First class, unisex) Comb, ear plugs, eye mask, lanyard, mint, pen, socks, hand cream gel, lip balm and refreshing cloth by L’Occitane, stickers (do not disturb/ please wake), toothbrush and toothpaste Austrian Airlines (Business class, unisex) Ear plugs, eye mask, hand cream, mint, shoe horn, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste 8 | luxury | 2012

Delta Air Lines (Business class, unisex) Ear plugs, pen, refreshing towelette, socks, lip balm and hand cream

by Korres, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste Emirates (First class, men) Brush/comb, deodorant, razor, shaving foam, aftershave, fragrance and hand cream by Bvlgari, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste (Business class, men) Brush/comb, deodorant, razor, shaving foam, aftershave, fragrance and hand cream by Bvlgari, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste

Singapore Airlines (First class, unisex) Facial cleanser, facial cream, facial toner, hand salve and lip balm by Kiehl’s South African Airways (Business class, unisex) Brush/comb, ear plugs, eye mask, hand cream, lip balm, pen, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste Swiss International Air Lines, Ltd. (First class, unisex) Brush/comb, ear plugs, eye mask, mint, socks, eye cream, hand cream and lip balm by La Prairie, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste (Business class, unisex) Ear plugs, eye mask, lip balm, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste

TAM (First class, women) Brush/comb, ear plugs, eye mask, shoe horn, socks, face/body moisturizer and lip balm by Rituals, toothbrush and toothpaste (First class, men) Brush/comb, ear plugs, eye mask, shoe horn, socks, face/body moisturizer and lip balm by Rituals, toothbrush and toothpaste (Business class, unisex) Comb, ear plugs, socks, toothbrush and toothpaste Turkish Airlines (Business class, unisex) Brush, ear plugs, eye mask, shoe horn, socks, facial lotion, fragrance and hand cream by Hermes, stickers (do not disturb/please wake), toothbrush and toothpaste United Airlines (First class, unisex) Brush/comb, ear plugs, eye mask, mints, pen, refreshing towelette, socks, hand cream and lip balm by Escents, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste US Airways (Business class, unisex) Ear plugs, eye mask, pen, socks, hand cream and lip balm by Gilchrist & Soames, toothbrush and toothpaste V Australia (International business class, women) Brush, ear plugs, eye mask, pen, socks, facial moisturizer, hand cream and lip balm by Grown, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste, vanity pack (International business class, men) Ear plugs, eye mask, pen, razor, socks, hand cream, lip balm and shave gel by Grown, tissues, toothbrush and toothpaste

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ALL-AMERICAN: American Airlines’ halibut with truffle corn salsa Photo: © American Airlines

Classy A Cuisine Airlines take premiumcabin dining to new heights. By Allison Voigts

10 | luxury | 2012

s constant technological innovations make flying more comfortable, the congealed-looking meals and plastic trays introduced by in-flight dining have thankfully become a thing of the past. Some airlines hire celebrity chefs to help revamp their first- and business-class menus; others consult with world-renowned wine experts or offer an onboard coffee house. One even features a bespoke menu cooked to order by a personal chef. We’ve compiled a sampler of current offerings in premium-class cabins.

Lights, made with cranberry juice and Grand Marnier.

In addition to exotic cocktails, the airline prides itself on an extensive selection of Champagne, Old and New World wines (including Canadian reds and whites) and late-bottled vintage Port. And at mealtime, passengers may choose from three menus featuring signature Canadian dishes like roasted black cod with maple glaze, Asian-inspired dishes such as braised beef medallions with hoisin sauce and vegetarian dishes including baked red pepper stuffed with mushroom and pumpkin.

BOARDING A FLIGHT as far north as Toronto or Calgary, it can take more than a cup of coffee to warm up — which is why Air Canada spirits away its first-class passengers with a signature cocktail made from Canada’s award-winning Iceberg Vodka. Triple-distilled in Newfoundland from pure iceberg water, the ultra-premium liquor is featured in monthly cocktails like the Northern

IN 2011, THE READERS of Global Traveler voted Alitalia’s food the “Best Airline Cuisine” in the world, and for good reason. The Rome-based airline has masterfully married regional Italian ingredients with its in-flight menu.

Each season, the dining service in Alitalia’s Magnifica business class focuses on two unique regions in Italy, sourcing the ingredients, inspiration and wines from those areas. globaltravelerusa.com

Recent menus designed in collaboration with ALMA — the International School of Italian Cuisine — highlighted Basilicata, known for its sausages, and Sardinia, famous for its artichokes and twice-baked bread. A typical meal might include homemade pasta dumplings filled with spinach and Trentino’s famous cured ham, turbot fillets in sweet-and-sour sauce and Northern Italian apple strudel. With the May–July menus highlighting Campania and Emilia Romagna, the airline will have featured each Italian region, but passengers can enjoy the project’s most well-received dishes in an upcoming “Best of ” compilation menu.

AMONG THE MYRIAD challenges presented by in-flight dining is creating a menu that will appeal to the diverse tastes of a global customer base — a challenge American Airlines overcame with the help of Chef Richard Sandoval, whose 20-plus restaurants worldwide charmed audiences with authentic Latin American flavors. “With so many customers flying to destinations all over the world, it’s important for me to design cuisine that embodies the flavors of the regions which American serves,” he says.

Passengers flying in American’s first- and business-class cabins between Europe, Asia and Latin America can choose

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from entrées such as halibut with truffle corn salsa, which Sandoval says “has an amazing flavor profile, and the salsa accompanies the subtleness of the halibut to really bring out those flavors.” The former Bon Appétit “Restaurateur of the Year” will continue to collaborate with the airline to introduce more new dishes to the menu this spring, including a chipotle miso cod with lemon red chili pepper aioli.

WHEN IT COMES TO serving restaurant-quality food at 30,000 feet, who better to transform an airline’s service than a world-class catering company? From the menus and beverages to the cabin crew training, Austrian caterer DO & CO has earned Austrian Airlines AirTrax’s “Best Business-Class Catering” award for two years running. (The fare on another DO & CO-catered airline, Turkish Airlines, was recently voted “Best Airline Food” in a Skyscanner survey.)

In addition to offering carefully crafted dishes — like stuffed eggplant and walnut pear tart — worthy of its finest New York or Milan restaurants, DO & CO trains an onboard chef to put the finishing touches on each business-class meal.

And for that crucial caffeine kick at the end of a long-haul flight, the airline has teamed with Austria’s Meinl roasters to offer a “Vienna Coffee House” menu of 11 different espresso drinks.

PAIRED PERFECTION: Austrian Airlines’ food and wine Photos: © Austrian Airlines

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Finnair combines Nordic ingredients like fresh herring, forest berries and wild mushrooms with Mediterranean favorites such as pastas, cheeses and olives.

TRIPLE TREAT: Finnair’s three meal styles (top to bottom): Wellness and Energy, Chef’s Gourmet and Food Lover’s Treat Photos: © Finnair

12 | luxury | 2012

WITH THE 2012 OLYMPICS only a few short months away, preparations in London are in full swing. But for some of the city’s estimated half a million visitors, the celebration will start before they even touch the ground.

British Airways teamed up with Simon Hulstone, head chef of the Michelin-starred Elephant Restaurant, and award-winning chef Heston Blumenthal to create an onboard menu inspired by the 2012 Olympics. The menu, launched in late March, is featured on British Airways’ long-haul flights in all cabins.

In first class, the airline continues to offer its sumptuous afternoon tea. Modeled after high tea at The Dorchester in London, it features finger sandwiches, cakes and scones along with fine teas from all over the world. And on flights departing the U.K., first-class passengers can enjoy another British staple: fresh seafood, supplied by Scotland’s renowned Loch Fyne company.

The “Catch of the Day” is both fished and farmed sustainably and includes salmon, oysters, mussels and halibut.

WHAT DOES $15,000 BUY on a flight between New York and Abu Dhabi? Among other perks, a personal chef — at least if you’re flying Etihad Airways. The U.A.E. airline recently recruited 100 leading chefs from 5-star hotels and top restaurants around the world to serve its Diamond First Class cabins.

At the helm is award-winning chef Thomas Ulherr, who won three gold medals at the IKA Culinary Olympics. With the help of the onboard personal chef, passengers can select premium produce, meats, sauces and sides from a bespoke “Mezoon Grille” menu. Or they can explore a flexible à la carte menu of adaptable appetizers, mains and desserts. The “Taste of Arabia” menu features six courses of Middle Eastern delicacies.

The tailor-made dining service launched last fall and is available on all flights offering Diamond First Class.

IF THERE’S EVER A TIME to try reindeer tenderloin, it’s in the air above Helsinki (just don’t tell the kids).

Making use of unique regional flavors, Finnair combines Nordic ingredients like fresh herring, forest berries and wild mushrooms with Mediterranean favorites such as pastas, cheeses and olives. The airline offers business-class diners a choice of three distinct meal styles: “Wellness and Energy,” featuring healthy vegetarian dishes; “Chef ’s Gourmet,” offering gourmet meats like roasted lamb or steak; and “Food Lover’s Treat,” consisting of home-style comfort foods like bratwurst and hearty stew.

Among the world-class wines to have been featured on Finnair flights — which helped the airline top Decanter magazine’s airline wine list — are Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc 2009 and Château La Pointe 1999.

And on the award-winning sparkling wine list, the Joseph Perrier Cuvée Royale Brut Vintage 2003 makes a perfect choice before take-off or while polishing off a berry timbale. globaltravelerusa.com

Charming Destinations • Culturally and Historically Bestowed Land • Combination of Ancient Treasures and Modern Wonders

H I N A ing is Believing China National Tourist Office, New York

China National Tourist Office, Los Angeles

Tel: 1-212-760-8218 Email: info@cnto.org

Tel: 1-818-545-7507 Email: la@cnto.org www.cnto.org

UNCOMMONLY GOOD:

Scandinavian Airlines’ service Photo: © Scandinavian Airlines

From the Georg Jensen cutlery to the porcelain plates and bowls by Royal Copenhagen, each piece makes a perfect vehicle for Scandinavianinspired fare such as marinated salmon, beef tournedos and regional cheeses.

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ON BOARD JAPAN AIRLINES, food lovers are in luck: The Japanese menu truly is a feast fit for an emperor. Designed

by Hiroshi Takami, the fifth-generation head chef at Kyoto’s Kyoryori Watakame restaurant, the menu focuses on healthy, seasonal ingredients from Japan’s farms and fisheries. Dinner in the airline’s first- and business-class cabins begins with thoughtful appetizers like duck breast sushi rolls with Welsh onion — ideally consumed with a premium Isojiman sake — followed by steamed rice, tofu, salmon and sole.

Less adventurous diners will be no less satisfied with Chef Seiji Yamamoto’s (of Tokyo’s Michelin-starred RyuGin Restaurant) Western menu. The first-class service starts with amuse-bouches and hors d’oeuvres such as seared duck with caponata and orange, followed by mouthwatering mains like Welsh lamb with honey and Madeira sauce. And as a special treat, French chocolatier Jean-Paul Hévin this year released the “Arriba” chocolate — a blend of grand cru cacao beans with a hint of vanilla — served exclusively after meals on JAL flights.

IN AN EFFORT to offer a diversified menu for premium passengers, Asiana Airlines seeks consultations from Korea’s leading restaurants and food experts. Those sources include the minds behind La Cucina, South Korea’s No. 1 Italian restaurant; Chef Edward Kwon, a Korean celebrity chef behind the movement to globalize Korean food; and those at the Institute of Korean Royal Cuisine, who help maintain the tradition of Korean food on flights.

Equally important to the airline is the quality of its onboard coffees and teas. The Asiana Tea Garden serves only environmentally friendly coffees and teas. The service was created in partnership with Rainforest Alliance, a company dedicated to sourcing coffees and teas from farms free of chemicals and insecticides.

IF ANYONE UNDERSTANDS the importance of good design, it’s the Scandinavians — which is why Scandinavian Airlines spares no expense in serving its business-class pas-

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CHEF’S SPECIALITIES:

South African Airways’ cuisine Photo: © South African Airways

‘I wanted to do dishes that are slightly uncommon. … Fish and shellfish conjure happy memories for me, so I am partial to those dishes on the SAA menu.’

— chef Reuben Riffel

sengers on the very finest Swedish, Danish and Norwegian dinnerware. From the Georg Jensen cutlery to the porcelain plates and bowls by Royal Copenhagen, each piece makes a perfect vehicle for Scandinavian-inspired fare such as marinated salmon, beef tournedos and regional cheeses.

Oenophiles will delight in sipping both Old World wines and challengers from wine experts Oz Clarke and Richard Juhlin’s wine list, particularly since every appellation is served in Sweden’s legendary Orrefors crystal. Recent selections include Domaine William Fevre Chablis 2006 and Fabre Montmayou Malbec 2005. Other thoughtful onboard touches include espresso, sandwiches and fruit, available from the buffet bar between meals; and an alternative “Grab & Go” breakfast for long-haul passengers wanting to savor a little more shuteye before landing.

ONE OF SEVERAL airlines focusing on fresh, regional ingredients, South African Airways teamed up with celebrity

16 | luxury | 2012

chef Reuben Riffel to offer flavorful South African favorites on its business-class menu. Riffel earned his reputation as South Africa’s favorite chef in his early 20s at Monneaux Restaurant, followed by Bruno’s Brasserie in England and Reuben’s Restaurant in his native Franschhoek.

The former Unilever “Chef of the Year” says of his inspiration, “I wanted to do dishes that are slightly uncommon. … Fish and shellfish conjure happy memories for me, so I am partial to those dishes on the SAA menu.

I’ll never forget Ma’s soutsnoek [salt pike] hanging behind the kitchen door — partly because of its pungent smell, but mostly because we’d snap a piece off after school and have it on hot baked bread with mounds of apricot jam or moskonfyt [wine jam].”

Passengers departing South Africa can enjoy Riffel’s signature dishes, like pickled kingklip with fennel crème and dhal or lamb rilette and sous-vide lamb loin, with a selection of fine South African cheeses and wines. globaltravelerusa.com

FIRST IN BUSINESS revolutionary entertainment

• State-of-the-art: Extra-large touchscreen (15.3” - 39cm), remote control off screen possible ibl from bed position • Stay connected: Use the USB power port to recharge your personal device, or connect your laptop to the power port • Personalized: Watch videos saved on your iPad or other devices on the Business class screen Available on our daily service between New York JFK and Brussels as from 1 June 2012.

brusselsairlines.com/experience or your travel agency

Elite credit cards yield a bounty of perks and prestige. By Beth Vrabel

S Elite credit cards go beyond appearance, tailoring perks for card companies’ best customers.

18 | luxury | 2012

tatus isn’t something that can be tucked into a wallet, waiting for the right moment to be flashed about and admired.

Actually, scratch that thought.

Because status goes hand in hand with elite credit cards, especially when plastic is replaced with titanium, carbon or even 23-carat gold.

Elite credit cards go beyond appearance, tailoring perks for card companies’ best customers. “People have to ask themselves, ‘What do I want to earn?’ ” said Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research, CreditCards.com, a credit card comparison website. Whether that affinity is for merchandise, products, airlines or vacations, chances are there is an elite card available.

A newcomer to the market is the United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase, which debuted in March. Cardholders can take advantage of 40,000 bonus points and a waiver on the

MOST MAJOR AIRLINES have elite cards, which might have higher annual fees but boost travel benefits for frequent flyers. “This is a good option for someone who has an affinity with certain airlines,” Woolsey said. globaltravelerusa.com

Photo: © Coutts & Co.

Cream of the Crop

first year’s fee of $95. Other perks: waived standard fees for the first checked bag, priority boarding, double miles on United purchases, exclusive event access and miles that never expire.

Perks of broader-spectrum cards, such as the American Express Centurion and JPMorgan Chase Palladium, include access to jets and islands, lounges and restaurants, film screenings and fashion shows. These elite credit cards deliver unparalleled service and rewards.

But exclusivity comes at a price. Expect to pay several hundred dollars a year for the privilege of being an elite credit card holder, and plan to spend a hefty amount annually on that card to maintain its status. Most elite cards are charge, not credit, cards. So plan to pay off the total each month.

“The annual fee is so stiff, the thinking is that nobody right out of college is going to apply for this card,” Woolsey said.

“You definitely need to have the travel needs and the income to justify a card like this.”

But for those with excellent credit and healthy bank accounts, there’s a vast crop of luxury card options.

Photos: © AMerican Express, United, JP Morgan Chase

The new United MileagePlus Club Card from Chase includes two passes a year to the United Club, where luxury travelers can nibble on free snacks and sip complimentary drinks while keeping up to date via WiFi. If your affinity is to a specific hotel or brand, cards abound for you, too. This includes the Ritz-Carlton Rewards Credit Card. This card gets users 50,000 Rewards points with the initial use, which translates to a free night at most of the luxury brand’s properties. Earn complimentary room upgrades, late check-out and a $200 annual credit for airline incidentals.

ANDREW BUSSA OF FrequentFlyerGuy.com stumbled into owning one of the world’s most exclusive credit cards, the 23-carat gold and palladium JPMorgan Palladium Card.

After, as he puts it, “nearly starving in Denmark” when merchants wouldn’t accept his traditional American swipe card, he called Chase asking for a smart chip card. “This is what they offered me,” said Bussa, who added he has a long-lasting relationship with Chase and JPMorgan but doesn’t have the billionaire status rumored of Palladium cardholders.

From the moment it arrived — via overnight UPS in a silver JPMorgan box with a tan felt liner — Bussa appreciated the card’s stellar impression and customer service. The card, laseremblazoned with his signature, arrived already activated.

“I’ll call up [customer service], it’ll give me the recorded message that this call is being recorded, and then a human being picks up the phone,” Bussa said. “It’s the best customer service I’ve experienced pretty much anywhere.”

The Palladium Card provides airport lounge access, a boon for someone who travels 100,000 miles a year. It also offers ultimate rewards and a concierge service about as full-service as possible, from reservations at a Michelin-rated restaurant to setting up daycare or a plumber. “Any errand that you need to arrange and don’t want to, they’ll do it for you,” Bussa said.

After being unexpectedly delayed in New York, the Denver resident called the concierge to see if there was a show he could see. This was with a half-hour notice on a Friday night. Within minutes he had options and restaurant suggestions. “It didn’t seem like a problem at all,” Bussa said.

The Palladium Card comes with a $595 annual fee. Users get 35,000 bonus points when they spend $100,000 annually and make another purchase within that year, Bussa said.

Although he’s only had the card since January, Bussa said the fee seems worth the service and benefits. This includes being reimbursed for a United Club Pass, which runs about $450 a year.

“It’s really great to know that I have the ability to open doors, even on very short notice, anywhere in the world I go. It gives you a good feeling about yourself,” Bussa said. “There are two signatures on the card — mine and J.P. Morgan’s. I’m in good company.”

Another perk: The distinct plunk the card makes when tossed onto a table. “I can always win credit card trumps,” Bussa said with a laugh.

He admitted there is one downside. “I do have to take the card out of my wallet when I go through a metal detector.”

THEY MIGHT BE MADE of metal, but when it comes to travel, entertainment and prestige, the Centurion and Platinum cards are the gold standard. “It certainly has a fairly high cost of entry to get the card, but it does provide probably the best and broadest array globaltravelerusa.com

2012 | luxury | 19

GUEST PRIVILEGES: The American Express Platinum Card provides access to airport lounges worldwide.

Photo: © Karenfoleyphotography | Dreamstime.com.jpg

‘One of the things that people who carry this [Platinum] card say about it is that it provides access to all the airport lounges across the world,’ ­—

Ben Woolsey, director of marketing and consumer research, CreditCards.com

20 | luxury | 2012

of travel benefits for a cardholder,” Woolsey said. According to CreditCards.com, the Centurion Card has a $5,000 initiation fee and $2,500 annual membership.

“It’s definitely our highest level of card,” said Elizabeth Crosta, American Express director of public affairs. “I can’t tell you how to get one, because it is truly by invitation only.”

Consumers are said to be invited to own the titanium metal card once they charge a minimum of $250,000 per year on a more standard American Express account. Crosta wouldn’t confirm the level necessary to spend in order to garner a Centurion Card invite, but she did say spending habits are just one factor in the decision-making process.

“It’s not just if you meet a certain threshold,” she said.

“But they are definitely the people who spend the money who get the card.”

A Platinum Card runs an annual $450 fee. A Premium Rewards Gold Card fee is $175 annually.

Aside from prestige, what does having a Centurion or Platinum card garner a person? The list of perks grows all the time. “December of 2010 and April of 2011, we added a bunch of new benefits to the card,” said Crosta.

Many of these are for frequent travelers. “One of the things that people who carry this card say about it is that it provides access to all the airport lounges across the world,” said Woolsey about the Platinum Card. “So you don’t have to be a stand-alone member of the Admirals Club.”

Travelers also may take advantage of a $200 airline fee credit per year, which can be used for any airline-related

expense such as changing flights, baggage fees or in-flight meals. The incurred cost is credited back to the cardholder.

“It’s a super-awesome benefit because no matter how affluent a person is, they want good value,” Crosta said.

Other travel perks: The fee for the Global Entry program, which expedites passengers through U.S. Customs, is reimbursed if paid for with the Platinum Card. “If you travel internationally, you skip the line,” Crosta said. “You swipe your card at the kiosk and go right through.” Cardholders also don’t incur foreign transaction fees.

Another perk is the membership reward program.

Points pay for hotels, airfare, cruises and more. To airlines, the points look like cash, not a mileage flight, so travelers can upgrade. Even sweeter: Cardholders get 20 percent of their points back when they book with Pay with Points.

If your interests spread beyond travel, you’ll likely take advantage of the Platinum and Centurion cards’ premium access. American Express buys nights out at exclusive restaurants, skyboxes in New York during Fashion Week, seats at the Tribeca Film Festival, private cooking demonstrations with celebrity chefs, private book launch parties, premium seating during the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and early tickets to top-notch concerts.

Upcoming events include a chance to cook with superstar chef Giada De Laurentiis and invitations to her book launch party; tickets to the four-day Aspen Food & Wine Classic, including a private reception; and special access and tickets to Wimbledon, including Champagne and a photo reception with former champion John McEnroe.

ANOTHER BY-INVITE-ONLY elite card is from U.K. bank Coutts & Co. The prestige factor comes into play not just because Coutts & Co. is among Europe’s oldest banks but also because it is largely rumored to be the choice of Queen Elizabeth II. “I wouldn’t say on the record that is the case because we never talk about our clients,” said Nick Gill, Coutts & Co. spokesman. The private bank, founded in 1692, is a leader in the United Kingdom but also operates globally with strongholds in Hong Kong, Singapore and Switzerland.

Gill said World Card invitations are extended only to Coutts & Co. customers who “typically have a million pounds’ worth of investable assets.”

Only about 30,000 World Cards are in circulation, with cardholders paying an annual fee of £350 (about $475), which is refunded if they spend £50,000 (roughly $79,100) during the previous 12 months.

Coutts & Co. World Card perks include travel insurance, priority airport passes and access to executive lounges at airports. The comprehensive concierge service is also very popular, Gills said.

globaltravelerusa.com

Romancing the Rails Rediscover the joy of the journey on today’s luxury trains.

By Richard Newton

T

ravel was once as much about the journey as the destination. The emphasis shifted with the advent of mass tourism. Today, most of us regard a journey as something endured in order to get where we want to go. Where is the glamour? Where is the sophistication? Where is the romance?

It’s on the rails.

Above the platform at London’s Victoria Station, the clock shows 10:30 a.m. The train will depart in 15 minutes. But what year is it? The old-fashioned carriages are painted brown and cream. Through the windows it is possible to glimpse the interiors: varnished marquetry and sumptuous upholstery.

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Liveried staff carry luggage aboard. Many of the departing passengers look as though they stepped out of the pages of an Agatha Christie book.

The train service is the British Pullman, taking us through the Kent countryside to the English Channel on the first leg of one of the world’s most famous rail journeys. After crossing through the Channel Tunnel, we find another legendary train waiting for us at Calais. An Art Deco logo proclaims what we already know: This is the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

The Orient-Express first pulled out of Paris in 1883, heading across Europe to Constantinople (now Istanbul). From the start, it set the standard for a new kind of travel. The routine logistics of going from one place to another were elevated into a social event.

Over subsequent decades, ocean liners and aircraft superseded trains as the preferred mode of transport for the world’s elite. By 1977, the Orient-Express stopped rolling, globaltravelerusa.com

and comparable famous trains around the world appeared similarly doomed.

Yet there were still many travelers who yearned for refinement above speed. Convinced of this market, a Pennsylvania-born businessman, James B. Sherwood, purchased and refurbished the old carriages, bringing the Orient-Express back into service in 1982. It has never looked back.

As we trundle out of Calais, passing through 21st-century suburban sprawl, the meticulously restored 1920s carriages feel like an archaic charade, and we sense the danger that this journey will be no more than an expensive piece of make-believe.

But once we have donned our formal wear and joined our fellow passengers in the restaurant cars, we happily surrender to the experience. Rural France scrolls by outside, unchanged since the Orient-Express’s heyday but for the occasional cluster of futuristic wind turbines.

As the sun sets, the journey has taken the best part of the globaltravelerusa.com

day. Planes streaked overhead, transporting passengers from London to Venice in a couple of hours. We won’t get there until tomorrow afternoon, and already we’re beginning to wish the journey would take longer.

After dinner, we find the stewards transformed our cabin from a private lounge into a bedroom. As we sleep, we move from France into Switzerland and then into Austria. Our first view at daybreak is of idyllic alpine valleys and snowcapped peaks. After breakfast, we explore the train, savoring the everchanging view from different vantage points as the train rides rhythmically over the tracks.

Throughout the journey, we have been aware of a nagging sense of déjà vu, perhaps as a result of the innumerable classic movies set on sleeper trains: Murder on the Orient Express, The Lady Vanishes, North by Northwest, Silver Streak and many others. This trip is simultaneously exotic and familiar.

When we pull into Venice, we can’t help but feel sorry for

AT YOUR SERVICE: Venice Simplon-OrientExpress Photos: © Orient Express

2012 | luxury | 23

CONTINENTAL DRIFT: The Southern Spirit, Australia

Photo: © great southern rail

Arrival at a railway station is so much more civilized than arrival at an airport.

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those who chose to arrive by plane. How mundane. Over the past 24 hours, we enjoyed not only a glimpse of the past but also of the future. We’ve been admitted to an exclusive club of travel connoisseurs, people from all walks of life who have rediscovered the joys of the journey.

Arrival at a railway station is so much more civilized than arrival at an airport. There is no waiting for luggage; it is already with us. We don’t have to worry about transferring to the city; we are already there. As we step out of Santa Lucia Station and inhale the distinctively pungent Venetian air, we are beginning to contemplate the world of possibilities for our next grand train journey.

Perhaps we will ride the Orient-Express again on one of its alternative routes. We could travel back from Venice to London via Dresden and Krakow, or trace the original route from Paris to Istanbul via Budapest and Bucharest.

The success of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express since its relaunch 30 years ago helped to stimulate a resurgence of luxury train travel.

One of the latest services to take to the rails is the Danube Express, operated by a subsidiary of Hungarian National Railways. With its elegant blue, white and gold carriages, the Danube Express offers a range of four- to 10-day journeys throughout the year, plying routes across Central Europe from the Polish Baltic to the Bosporus.

In Spain, a celebrated luxury service is about to be revived after an eight-year hiatus. The 14-carriage Al-Andalus has been expensively renovated to its original 1920s glory and is expected to return to service in May 2012, operating a leisurely six-day circuit of Andalucía, departing from Seville.

Alongside the heritage services, there has been a recent return to more prosaic overnight train services. In December 2011, the Italian state railway company, Trenitalia, unveiled Thello, a ninehour sleeper service from Paris to Venice via Milan. Thello strips away the lavish theatricality of the luxury trains in favor of clean and simple functionality.

Another famous scheduled train service, the Trans-Siberian Express, which takes a week to cross Russia from Moscow to Vladivostok, was formerly strictly functional.

But in post-Soviet Russia, luxury is no longer taboo, and in 2007, the Golden Eagle Trans-Siberian Express was initiated.

Unashamedly recapturing the tsarist era, this 5-star train offers Imperial Suites and palatial public areas. The 3,600-mile route bridges Europe and Asia, skirting the shores of the world’s largest lake, Lake Baikal. This is luxury train travel on an epic scale.

Russia’s neighbor, China, has not yet fully jumped onto the luxury train bandwagon, though since 1985 the Shangri-La Express has operated as the country’s only hotel train, providing a range of routes from Beijing. Although it is not up to the heady standards of its more famous global rivals, the Shangri-La is vastly more comfortable than China’s regular train services.

China’s first genuine luxury train service, the Tangula Express, was due into service in 2008, managed by Kempinksi. Stunning photographs of the stylishly contemporary interiors have been published, but nearly four years on there is still no firm news about when the highly anticipated train will embark on its maiden journey.

In recent years, South Asia has become one of the epicenters of the luxury train industry. As in Europe, much of that success can be attributed to James B. Sherwood. Buoyed by the reception of the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, in 1991 he purchased the Silver Star train from New Zealand, shipped it to Southeast Asia, commissioned a thorough remodeling and brought it into service as the Eastern & Oriental Express in 1993.

The Eastern & Oriental primarily travels between Bangkok and Singapore via Kuala Lumpur, with occasional itineraries into northern Thailand. The cabin décor adds an Asian twist to the classic Art Deco ambience of the sister train in Europe, and there is the additional attraction of an open-air observation car at the rear of the train, from which passengers can savor cocktails as they progress seamlessly through the Southeast Asian countryside. globaltravelerusa.com

Train aficionados have a wealth of luxury services to choose from in India which, with 71,000 miles of track, boasts one of the most extensive rail networks in the world. The new flagship of India’s railways is the Maharajas’ Express, which entered service in 2010 and instantly raised the bar for luxury trains.

Traveling like a maharaja doesn’t come cheap. Fares for a deluxe cabin start at $10,990 for a six-night itinerary (including sightseeing stops at the Taj Mahal, Varanasi and the tiger haven of Bandhavgarh National Park). All cabins are spacious and air-conditioned, outfitted with proper beds, panoramic windows and LCD TVs. For the ultimate in luxury, the presidential suite (which occupies an entire private carriage) costs from $38,500 per trip.

Among India’s other luxury trains are the Golden Chariot, operating a seven-night circuit out of Bangalore; the Palace on Wheels in Rajasthan (the nearest real-life equivalent to the train memorably featured in Wes Anderson’s 2007 movie The Darjeeling Limited); and the Deccan Odyssey, which journeys between Delhi and Mumbai.

There are also multiple options for train connoisseurs wishing to cross the vast red heart of Australia. The oldest is The Ghan, which began service in 1878.

With updated rolling stock and carriages, it is still going strong, bisecting the country south to north between Adelaide and Darwin. In 2008, 25 Platinum Class cabins were introduced, instantly elevating The Ghan into the front rank of the world’s luxury trains.

Other Australian luxury trains include The Indian Pacific, operating the 2,700-mile route between Sydney and Perth; The Southern Spirit, which takes in the eastern seaboard between Adelaide and Brisbane; The Spirit of the Outback, from Brisbane to the inland farming town of Longreach; and The Sunlander, from Brisbane up the Pacific coast to Cairns.

For African travelers, luxury rail travel used to mean the legendary Blue Train, which since 1923 provided exquisite comfort on the route between Pretoria and Cape Town, crossing the fearsome semi-desert known as the Karoo. Although The Blue Train continues to maintain its fabled high standards, in recent years it has been eclipsed by another African rail service that fulfills the ultimate fantasies of wealthy train enthusiasts.

Since it was established in the 1980s, Rovos Rail, the brainchild of South African businessman Rohan Vos, has offered some of the most luxurious train journeys on the planet. Rovos’ Pride of Africa provides a range of tours in South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Zambia and Tanzania using steam locomotives.

For dyed-in-the-wool train fans, Rovos Rail’s private station in Pretoria is heaven on Earth. From the balcony of the colonial-style main building, you look out at a busy scene of huffing locomotives and luxury carriages being prepared for their next journey. globaltravelerusa.com

Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani (No. 15)

If you’ve ever wanted to dance half-naked around a beachside bonfire, this hippie haven 10 miles north of Ko Samui is a good place to do it. The island’s claim to fame is the

Ko Pha-ngan, Surat Thani LEGENDARY LUXURY: The Blue Train Photos: © The Blue Train

2012 | luxury | 25

SCENIC ROUTE:

The Rocky Mountaineer Photos: © the rocky mountaineer

The Blue Train bluetrain.co.za

Palace on Wheels palaceonwheels.net

Danube Express danube-express.com

Rail Australia railaustralia.com.au

Deccan Odyssey deccan-odyssey-india.com

Rocky Mountaineer rockymountaineer.com

Golden Chariot goldenchariottrain.com Maharajas’ Express indian-maharajaexpress.com Orient-Express orient-express.com

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Rovos Rail rovos.com Royal Canadian Pacific royalcanadianpacific.com Trans-Siberian Express transsiberianexpress.net Trenitalia trenitalia.com

South America’s first genuine luxury train is the Hiram Bingham, operated by OrientExpress. Working the route between Cusco and the famous ruins at Machu Picchu, a threehour journey each way, the train offers regular daytrips but does not have sleeper facilities.

The United States was forged by railroads, and for many years it was crisscrossed by legendary sleeper trains such as the 20th Century Limited, “the most famous train in the world.” As elsewhere, the trains suffered in competition with jet airliners, and most of the country’s high-end railway heritage was lost by the 1960s.

From 1991 until its demise in 2006, the American Orient Express recaptured the heyday of the American railways. Its proposed successor, the American Railway Explorer, was due to enter service in 2011 but was subsequently put on hold, raising questions about the viability of luxury train travel in the United States.

That it is possible to run thriving upscale train services in North America has been proven in Canada, where the Royal Canadian Pacific continues to ply part of the route that was established by the first transcontinental service in 1886.

Today, the Royal Canadian offers 5-star private staterooms as well as fine cuisine in a beautifully restored dining car, enabling passengers to wallow in nostalgic splendor as they cross the Rockies on trips between Calgary and Vancouver. Of all the world’s top trains, this is one of the most intimate, with room for just 30 passengers.

At the other extreme, but operating in the same spectacular region, is the Rocky Mountaineer which, since it started in 1990, has become the world’s most popular private rail service. More than a million passengers have been carried on the Rocky Mountaineer’s main routes from Calgary or Jasper to Vancouver.

The Rocky Mountaineer’s double-decker carriages are designed with scenery in mind.

The upper decks feature domed windows, maximizing the view of the looming snowy peaks. Although there is no accommodation on the train, the Gold-Leaf Package includes luxury hotel accommodations at each overnight stop as well as exclusive use of an open-air observation deck.

Over the past hundred years, humankind has sought to make mass transportation quicker, cheaper and more convenient — but not necessarily better. As more travelers rediscover the romance of trains, perhaps the true Golden Age of Travel is yet to come. globaltravelerusa.com

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never see, interpreted by expert guides. And always there will be exclusivity — a rare experience or a one-off chance to see inside a culture, to follow a personal passion or to take part in an unparalleled event.

Luxury tours take you around the world in sumptuous style. By Barbara Radcliffe Rogers For most people, the destination is the first draw, especially if it’s an exotic one few y definition, a tour is a journey where you get the experience people have visited. National Geographic Expeditions offers a rare and someone else worries about the details. But what makes chance this summer to explore such a destination while indulging a passion for photography in a 14-day “Mongolia Photography Expedia luxury tour different from others? It’s not easy to define.

First, of course there’s the superlative level of lodging and dining. tion” led by the society’s premier documentary photographer, Chris Nights may be spent in a tent, but it will be a beautifully appointed Rainier. Along with epic landscapes — sunrise on the towering Gobi traditional safari tent evocative of Out of Africa, with candlelit meals sand dunes, the Flaming Cliffs turned even redder at sunset — will served on fine china and white linens. Transportation may be by be rare opportunities to meet and photograph nomadic peoples grandly elegant train or private jet. Or it may be by camel or on whose culture predates Genghis Khan. Tour participants will cross foot — but at the end of the day there will be fine dining, a luxurious the steppes to traditional ger camps; visit camel-herding families; and capture images of Buddhist monks, Mongolian throat singers and room and probably a spa to pamper tired muscles.

The destinations may be exotic and hard to reach; or if they are not, the vibrant pageantry of Mongolia’s colorful festivals and competithe experiences will be in-depth with insider access to places tourists tions. Specially arranged photo shoots, camel-back transport, mask

B

28 | luxury | 2012

globaltravelerusa.com

DEEP SOUTH: Cox & Kings Antarctica tour Photo: ©Cox & Kings

ceremonies and nights in felt-lined tents home to nomadic camps are only part of the exciting itinerary, with expert photographic advice to capture every new experience.

While transportation may not be as exotic as riding a camel across the Gobi, travelers who book “Timeless Wonders of Vietnam, Cambodia & the Mekong” with Uniworld will explore the historic delta on board the new boutique ship River Saigon. The ship’s 30 well-appointed river-view staterooms are a floating hotel for the river half of the two-week trip, while local transport includes a luxury sampan to visit floating river markets and a tuk-tuk to the UNESCO-acclaimed Angkor Wat temples. The remaining nights are spent in 5-star hotels. Each of the 13 included excursions, all led by local experts, provides insight into the culture — for example, meeting stone carvers before visiting the temples of Angkor Wat and visiting a local school to learn how the graceful Khmer dancers tell stories through their art.

Occasionally, an epic tour threads together disparate destinations tied by a common theme, as in National Geographic Expeditions’ 24-day private jet experience tracing the paths of worldwide human globaltravelerusa.com

TEMPLE TOUR: A tourist at Angkor Wat, Cambodia Photo: © Kelvintt | Dreamstime.com

2012 | luxury | 29

BEHIND THE SCENES:

Roadtrips tours include the London Summer Olympics and the FIFA World Cup in Brazil (above), and Geringer Global Travel offers culinary tours in India (right).

Photos: © Roadtrips, Inc., © Susan Geringer

migration with the author of The Journey of Man. National Geographic Explorer-in-Residence Spencer Wells will lead a small group to 10 lands that tell the story of human history. Meeting everyone from people who live much as our ancestors did — the Huli Wigmen of Papua New Guinea and Bedouin nomads in Jordan — to the Leakeys to discuss their family’s finds at Olduvai Gorge, this select group will visit Papua New Guinea’s Highlands people (unknown to the outside world until the 1930s) and go bush-walking with an aboriginal guide and swim in a billabong in Australia’s pristine wilderness before visiting the ancient rock art carved on its sandstone outcrops. Before ending their tour with the extraordinary cave paintings in southern France, the group 30 | luxury | 2012

will ride elephants, learn culinary secrets from a Thai chef, visit the ancient cities of Petra and Angkor and meet people as diverse as the “long-necked” Padaung women (who wear layers of brass rings that appear to elongate their necks) and the Indian man who holds the missing genetic link that helped Wells establish early migration patterns from Africa to Australia.

For travelers looking to mix luxury with adventure, Lindblad Expeditions has been specializing in expedition-style travel for almost 50 years. Expedition cruise ships and experienced guides lead the way on their itineraries, which include tours across the globe. The company’s newest expeditions feature a “West Africa Odyssey,” trekking 16 countries along the continent’s western coast; “Vietnam and Cambodia — Sailing the Mekong River”; “Exploring Turkey and Greece,” on board the Sea Cloud squarerigger clipper ship; and “Exploring the Cultures and Wildlife of Papua New Guinea.”

Other luxury tours provide unique experiences in a single place. Specializing in bespoke travel to select worldwide sporting events such as the Summer Olympics in London, the French Open, the Monaco Grand Prix or the FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Roadtrips creates tours with VIP access to red carpet and private events. Add-ons to the London Summer Olympics, for example, could be a Chef ’s Table dining experience at one of Gordon Ramsay’s London restaurants or driving an Aston Martin with one-on-one coaching from an instructor at Millbrook test tracks.

The newest Roadtrips addition takes racing enthusiasts to any of the Formula 1 races worldwide, with private parties, unique race globaltravelerusa.com

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You won’t soon forget a thrilling round at New Zealand’s Jack’s Point. BY Dale leatheRmaN

bEIjING

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EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY Jack’s Point is located 15 minutes from the center of Queenstown, the rollicking, adrenaline-infused ‘Adventure Capital’ of New Zealand.

26 | Global Traveler | March 2012

A

few years ago, New Zealand secured its status as one of the world’s top golf destinations, boosted by the opening of a pair of spectacular courses on the North Island — Cape Kidnappers and Kauri Cliffs.

The latter, a 5-star resort with woodsy cabins and a golf course skirting the bluffs above the Bay of Islands, is my personal favorite. But on the South Island, I have a new love — in a setting as stunning as Kauri Cliffs’, but for different reasons.

Jack’s Point is located 15 minutes from the center of Queenstown, the rollicking, adrenaline-infused “Adventure Capital” of New Zealand. While a round of golf

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usually does not risk DrIveN To DISTraCTIoN: life and limb, playing Lake Wakatipu provides a breathtaking backdrop to this Jack’s Point is nonethe- short par 3. less thrilling. The Re- PHOTO: DONNelle Oxley markables mountain range towers almost 7,600 feet above the course, close enough in spots to make you crane your neck to see the peaks. The view on some holes is dominated by the vast Lake Wakatipu, while others are blessed with both lake and mountain views. Designer John Darby framed every hole with a glorious backdrop, so you’ll come away buoyed by the experience even if the course globaltravelerusa.com

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ROYAL ROOMS: Catherine Palace Photo:© Dainis Derics | Dreamstime.com

Delving deeply into a more narrow geography is the ultimate luxury for those who already spend a lot of time on the road.

32 | luxury | 2012

viewing and behind-the-scenes access to the teams, celebrities and patrons.

Exploring India in depth, Geringer Global Travel will offer “Culinary & Cultural India” in spring 2013, a 16-day small-group tour visiting Mumbai, Kochi, Kumarakom, Udaipur, Jaipur, Agra and Delhi to introduce the exotic mosaic of Indian history, culture, traditions and cuisine. Focusing more on people and local life than on places, the tour offers participants the chance to immerse themselves in the culture by interacting with people and celebrating life with locals. This tour is timed to visit India during Holi, or the Festival of Colors.

Delving deeply into a more narrow geography is the ultimate luxury for those who already spend a lot of time on the road.

Exeter International specializes in such in-depth experiences in Russia and Eastern Europe. After settling guests into beautifully renovated 5-star hotels, Exeter International takes advantage of its two decades of expertise in the region to offer the exclusive excursions that are so difficult to arrange in that part of the world. Backstage tours at the Mariinsky (Kirov) and Bolshoi theaters, gala dinners in private palaces, walking underground in an authentic Cold War bunker, watching the making of a film in the Koliba Film Studios in Slovakia, and private tours of the off-limits Hermitage Storage Rooms are typical experiences.

So, too, is a private visit to the workshops of Catherine Palace, where artists rebuilt the world-famous Amber Room panels, with the amber masters as exclusive guides. Local experts who speak perfect English lead the small groups.

As the name implies, JapanQuest Journeys focuses on seeing guests experience a real slice of Japan’s highly diverse culture with close-up, hands-on and expert-guided luxury tours. After seeing Kyoto’s premier sights, guests might spend the night in the quiet mountains above the city at a former Buddhist temple converted into an elegant and refined Japanese inn. Itineraries venture into the Japan Alps in Matsumoto and Takayama, to the Inland Sea, and explore traditional Kyoto or contemporary Tokyo.

Cox & Kings is perhaps the world’s oldest travel brand, founded in 1758 and the first choice of thousands traveling from Britain to India even before the British Raj. They have since expanded their expertise to include destinations worldwide and have just released an ambitious series of luxury itineraries in Latin America and Antarctica. A 13-day “South America Immersion” begins in the mountains of Chile and travels past volcanoes and glacial lakes to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, with special attention to the wines and cuisines en route. “Ecuador & Galápagos in Style” spotlights the region’s natural and culinary diversity, from hiking snowcapped volcanic peaks to learning the ancient ways of Ecuadorian cheese making — all without sacrificing the luxury that Cox & Kings travelers expect. Four days are devoted to spotting marine iguanas, sea lions and giant tortoises among other fauna and flora in the Galápagos Islands, and the trip ends with a hike through Cotopaxi National Park, home of the highest active volcano in the world.

In “Brazil: A Wildlife Safari,” the experience goes far beyond globaltravelerusa.com

Introducing...

Global Traveler’s

2012 Leisure Travel Awards

Make your voice heard by choosing the best of the best in the leisure travel industry. Vote for your favorite leisure travel destinations, cruise lines, tour operators and resorts.

Voting opens May 1 and closes Dec. 31, 2012.

Winners will be announced in 2013.

Vote online at globaltravelerusa.com/leisureawardsballot.

Categories include

n Best Spa n Best Natural Attraction n Best Ski City n Best River Cruise Line n Best Island and more!

Vote best for the in le i trav sure TOD el AY!

INTO AFRICA: Elephants at Amboseli National Park Photo: © Smellme | Dreamstime.com

Abercrombie & Kent abercrombiekent.com Cox & Kings coxandkings.com Exeter International exeterinternational.com Geringer Global Travel geringerglobaltravel.com JapanQuest Journeys japanquestjourneys.com Lindblad Expeditions expeditions.com Micato Safaris micato.com National Geographic Expeditions nationalgeographicexpeditions.com Roadtrips roadtrips.com Uniworld uniworld.com

34 | luxury | 2012

the festive streets, taking guests deep into its forests and into remote areas of the Amazon. Firsthand encounters with exotic wildlife include the opportunity to fish for piranha and swim with the endangered Amazonian dolphins. “Antarctica Fly/Sail: Extreme Impressions of Nature” takes travelers literally to the ends of the earth by including a four-day Antarctica cruise with daily landings for up-close encounters with penguins, whales and seals before exploring Patagonia.

Photography is paramount in upcoming Abercrombie & Kent Antarctica expeditions, with several photo-focused departures to the White Continent in both their 14-day “Classic Antarctica” and 20-day exploration of Antarctica, South Georgia and the Falkland Islands. Surprises abound in this rarefied and fragile environment — sightings of emperor penguins, an iceberg 133 square miles in size and even an unprecedented landing at Cape Horn, the southernmost headland of Tierra del Fuego. One departure is specially designed for families.

For most travelers, though, the name Abercrombie & Kent says “African safari” loud and clear. It was 50 years ago that Geoffrey Kent and his family founded a safari company in Kenya “with a single Bedford truck, a sterling silver ice bucket and countless hopes and dreams.” Half a century later, A&K leads travelers on journeys in more than 100 countries on all seven continents. This fall, they return to their old roots on a 50th-anniversary safari, “Back to Where It All Began,” for 12 days in East Africa.

It features exclusive events — an opportunity to meet with pioneering wildlife filmmaker and conservationist Alan Root and a celebratory luncheon at Muthaiga Country Club, where Geoffrey Kent himself will share memories.

Other highlights, in addition to superb wildlife viewing, are visiting Karen Blixen’s farmhouse, immortalized in Out of Africa; a behind-the-scenes look at Amboseli Elephant Research Project in Amboseli National Park; meeting with Maasai in their village; and a balloon flight over the Mara.

African safaris remain among the most popular luxury tours. Micato Safaris, already known for sumptuous ecolodges, bush homes and ranches connected by luxury transport, raised the bar on custom safaris by adopting an “All Trips Include All Tips” policy, allowing travelers to concentrate on their surroundings and the exceptional wildlife. Also new to Micato’s collection is Tawi Lodge, private thatched cottages at the foot of Mount Kilimanjaro in Amboseli National Park, each equipped with a fireplace and manned by a personal butler. Also new this year — and butler-served — is Ngerende Island in the Maasai Mara, where luxurious canvas and mahogany suites overlook the Mara River. Micato’s “One for One” commitment assures that for every safari sold, Micato sends one African child to school.

Whether it’s driving an Aston Martin at Millbrook, sipping tea as the sun sets on the Taj Mahal or learning the fine points of photography with a National Geographic expert, a luxury tour can be the trip of a lifetime. globaltravelerusa.com

ANYWHERE ELSE THIS WOULD BE A REAL HIgH POINT. But this is the Dead Sea, at over 1300 feet below sea level the lowest place on earth. First-time Israel vacationers Caitlin and Arthur are having the time of their lives – they are literally standing on pillars of salt. “We’d always heard about its beauty and healing qualities,” said Caitlin. “It was mesmerizing to float on the water and not sink.” Getting there was also a revelation: just 90 minutes from Jerusalem, and an easy visit to the place the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, as well as the mountaintop fortress of Masada. The Dead Sea. One of the wonders of the world. Only in Israel.

goisrael.com There’s a little bit of Israel in all of us.

Come find the Israel in you.

Follow our journey through Israel

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MileagePlus.

Voted “Best Frequent Flyer Program” 8 years in a row.

MileagePlus has been named the world’s Best Frequent Flyer Program by Global Traveler magazine for the 8th year in a row. And now the best is even better. With United’s expanded airline network and our 2012 Premier® program, MileagePlus gives you more benefits, features and ways to earn and use award miles than ever before. To learn more, go to mileageplus.com.

The world’s most rewarding loyalty program.

SM

As voted by the readers of Global Traveler magazine; www.globaltravelerusa.com.