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International Herald Tribune
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ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT
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Friday, September 19, 2008
PRIVATE ISLANDS | Rent or buy
Civilization is left behind on remote private islands
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Vladi bemoans the fact, however, that quality islands are almost always in short supply as their owners tend to hold onto them for some time because they are strongly attached to them emotionally, and the islands are stable financial assets. One of Vladi’s hot properties at the mo-
ment is Sanda Island, off the coast of Scotland. Located 45 minutes by helicopter from Glasgow, this 400-acre chunk of history also entitles its owner to the neighboring islands of Sheep and Glunimore as well as the right to use the title ‘‘Laird of Sanda’’ and to issue one’s own stamps and gold coins. Of course, one doesn’t have to own an island to take advantage of its privacy, because many of them are for rent. In fact, Vladi says it’s essential for individuals to rent a few islands in diverse locales before deciding to buy in order to ‘‘strip away false illusions about islands.’’ Those who crave the advantages without the hassles of upkeep can rent a ‘‘full-service island.’’ One of the most luxurious of these is Musha Cay in the Bahamas. Owned by the magician David Copperfield, it comprises a group of 11 private islands covering 700 acres with 40 ‘‘sugar sand’’ beaches and five secluded beachfront villas that offer the utmost in island luxury to as many as 24 of the renter’s nearest and dearest
friends and relatives. Depending on the season when one chooses to rent, Musha Cay rates range from $24,750 to $44,500 per night, all inclusive. An ecofriendly alternative is Turtle Island in Fiji, which offers 500 acres that can accommodate 28 guests for around $275,000 a week.
Lighthouse living At the other end of the spectrum — for those who really want to get a way from it all — four people can opt to stay in a lighthouse keeper’s home on a private islet in Myken Fyr, north of the Arctic Circle, off the coast of Norway, for ¤2,500 ($3,560) per week. The lighthouse is not in a tower, but on the roof of the keeper’s wooden home, high above the shoreline, with stunning ocean and mountain views. The house has recently been refurbished with four twin-bedded rooms, sitting room, kitchen and bathroom. Myken Fyr is available self-catered or fully serviced. J.C.
FAMILY TRAVEL | Toy concierges and bubble discos
Have family will travel — in style, of course
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graphy, kayaking, team challenges and envin the not-too-distant past, a typical family ronmental science workshops. “Through a vacation consisted of taking the fascinating series of activities over and uncheapest charter flight to some budget der the seabed, junior guests learn more Mediterranean sun spot or piling the kids, about their world and how to get a deep redog and camping gear into the back of the spect for nature,” says Sarah Clark, vice car for a road trip to various national parks. president of marketing for the Preferred How times have changed. Nowadays, Hotel Group, which includes the Cape some of the world’s most luxurious hotel Sounio resort. “Kids play and learn together groups and travel companies are going out with the most famous family in ocean disof their way to cater to family travel with covery — the Cousteaus.” products and services that were unimaginThe new Park Hyatt Beijing, located in the able just a few years ago. Chinese capital’s highest building, will also The prestigious St. Regis hotel in Washhave family programs that combine amuseington, D.C. — known for accommodating ment and education. “When serving a family, presidents and prime ministers rather than instead of offering a standard preteens — recently added a package, our experienced “toy concierge” who delivers ‘If a family is family concierge team will identify the DVDs such as ‘‘Mary Poppins’’ interested in needs of the family members and ‘‘Star Wars,’’ or goodies from an “FAO Schwartz Toy learning about and personalize their itinerary accordingly,” says the hotel’s Treasure Chest” that includes local culture, head concierge, Benny Xiao Bin everything from Candyland and Zhao. “If a family is interested in Scrabble games to Lego kits we could learning more about local culand carpet skates. arrange a ture and hutongs [houses along Even hotel chains that have rickshaw tour’ narrow lanes],’’ says Zhao, traditionally catered to grown‘‘then we could potentially arups are becoming more kidrange a rickshaw tour. If the family is interfriendly. The brand SuperClubs — which ested in contemporary art, then we could argained worldwide fame for its adults-only range a guided tour to the 798 Art District. Hedonism Resorts — has created a new The key is to make the Beijing experience brand called Starfish especially for those relevant and memorable for each of our with children. With beachside locations in guests.” Brazil and Jamaica, Starfish keeps young Around the world, Hyatt has developed ones entertained with everything from all sorts of programs and services for trapeze lessons and rock climbing to giant younger guests. The Park Hyatt Saigon ofwater slides, banana boat rides and bubble fers baby bath amenities, bottles with a discos (rooms filled with bubbles for the kids steam sterilizer, cribs, table-edge guards to run, slide and dance through). and a special selection of DVDs. Some hotels blend fun and learning, like At the Grand Hyatt Bali, kids can learn the Cape Sounio Grecotel Exclusive Resort Balinese arts and crafts. At the Grand Hyatt near Athens, which sits on the edge of both Kauai Resort and Spa in Hawaii, children the Aegean Sea and a national park protectcan take hula lessons, learn about ening ancient ruins. Created by the oceanodangered monk seals or learn palm-frond grapher Jean-Michel Cousteau, the resort weaving. At the Park Hyatt Toronto, the execfeatures an “Ambassadors of the Environutive chef, Joan Monfaredi, offers an exclument” children’s program, which includes sive behind-the-scenes tour for kids, includsnorkeling, stargazing, underwater photo-
ing a child-size chef’s outfit and a personalized apron signed by Monfaredi. Disney pioneered the family-friendly cruise long ago, so it was only a matter of time before other cruise lines followed suit. Crystal Cruises offers a three-tired “Junior Activities Program” that caters to passengers aged between three and 17. Daily activities are published in onboard newsletters, and permanent facilities include a library with books and DVDs, the Fantasia playroom with arts, crafts and games, and the Waves video arcade for teenagers. Crystal also offers special menus for kids who crave food other than gourmet (which is probably all of them). Even adventure cruises to exotic places are getting into the family act. The 48-passenger Eclipse offers special family cruises around the Galápagos Islands during summer and winter school holidays. Kids are given their own naturalist guide and Zodiac boat for water activities and shore excursions. Youngsters can also eat together at their own table and participate in evening group activities like crafts, music and movies. National Geographic Student Expeditions offer high-school students a hands-on experience in a dozen different exotic destinations, including China, India, the Sahara desert, the Costa Rican rain forest and Iceland’s glaciers. Teen participants choose an “on assignment” project at the start of each journey that might include photography, writing, culture and arts or spiritual traditions. The expeditions are lead by National Geographic writers and photographers who have experience in each destination. Smithsonian Journeys has also created half a dozen upscale family vacations including a Tuscan sojourn based at a medieval castle with its own gourmet restaurant and swimming pool. Activities include learning how to paint frescos, tower climbing and playing soccer against a local youth club. J.R.Y.
DESTINATION CLUBS | Luxury fractional ownership
Upmarket vacation alternative to timeshare investments
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any hotel groups around the world are offering fractional club membership and private-residence ownership at their luxury properties — allowing participants to enjoy the pampering and privileges such clubs offer without the aggravations of owning a property outright. By purchasing a share at a “destination club,” buyers can vacation at a property and enjoy all its amenities in a more cost-effective way than they would if they wholly owned a vacation home. Shares normally range from one-quarter to one-twelfth ownership. At the moment, prices range from some $40,000 to more than $1 million, depending on share, location, size of the property and the level of luxury afforded. Luxury fractional ownership is similar to traditional timeshares, as it offers deeded property with the same rights and chances of appreciation or depreciation as other real estate transactions. But it differs in the level of luxury, services and amenities. With luxury fractional ownership, the title is usually conveyed to the owner by a cobeneficiary interest in a trust, which is recorded and guaranteed by a title insurance policy. Each owner holds a simple interest in one or more homes, which can be sold, willed or transferred by the owner. Services offered at many clubs include pre- and postarrival concierge services that range from stocking the refrigerator to arranging tee times and prepping skis to daily maid service and even placing family photos in the unit. Airport shuttles, “free” use of a car and family storage facilities are also included at some clubs. Targeting mainly the 78 million baby boomers in the United States who are planning to retire in the next 15 years and who have an estimated $1 trillion in disposable income, the Ritz-Carlton says that its fractional and wholly owned residences are “firmly positioned for tremendous growth opportunities.”
Golden years “Baby boomers have revolutionized the term retirement,” says John Cottrill, the senior vice president of Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, based in Orlando, Florida. “Many work well into their golden years, while increasing leisure time and activities
STEVE MASON / GETTY IMAGES
Quality is scarce
Forsythe Island in Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand (above and lodge, inset) is available for rent. Its peaks, oceanfront and views are obvious assets. WWW.VLADI-PRIVATE-ISLANDS.DE
or many of the world’s wealthy, true relaxation can be obtained only in surroundings that offer the ultimate in privacy and safety. Many high-profile people recognize that owning one’s own island is among the few reliable ways to completely escape the pressures of work, curious onlookers and the paparazzi. Today’s famous island-owners include Johnny Depp, Nicolas Cage, Brooke Shields, Richard Branson and Ted Turner. Farhad Vladi, one of the world’s most prominent private island brokers, estimates that there are about 30 island transactions a year. Brokering island sales and rentals for more than 30 years, Vladi Private Islands has sold some 2,000 islands to date. The most expensive island for sale on Vladi’s Web site (www.vladiprivate-islands.de) is Great Hans Lollik in the U.S. Virgin Islands, a 500-acre (202 hectare) patch of sand and tropical vegetation that is available for $45 million. Vladi divides the islands into two main categories: ‘‘quality islands’’ that are very habitable, close to infrastructure, not too far from the mainland and with easy access to medical care; and ‘‘adventurer islands,’’ which don’t offer these advantages. ‘‘We can see today that the quality islands are sought after by people who intend to personally use these islands — in general off Europe, North America, New Zealand and Australia,’’ says Vladi. ‘‘On the other hand, investors tend to buy adventurer islands in the hope of selling them for more at a later date, as these are inexpensive properties.’’
Ritz-Carlton’s destination club portfolio includes ski resorts such as Aspen, Colorado.
such as traveling, spending time with their families and seeking new and one-of-a-kind experiences.” According to Cottrill, most second homes are used an average of two to four weeks a year. The current Ritz-Carlton destination club portfolio runs a broad gamut, from skiing in Aspen or Bachelor Gulch, Colorado to lounging on the beaches of Grand Cayman or Abaco in the Bahamas or enjoying the cosmopolitan urban lifestyles of San Francisco or New York. New properties are planned for Chicago in Illinois, Lake Tahoe in California; Kapalua Bay and Kauai Lagoons in Hawaii, South Beach in Miami, and the Turks and Caicos Islands in the Caribbean. Membership services at their ski locations include having boots warmed and skis ready and waiting beside the ski lift. In Colorado, a “ski nanny” is on hand to meet the children at the residence and escort them through the rental process and ski school. At day’s end, the kids are accompanied to their own après-ski party. Golfers have the choice of a traditional walking caddy or a forecaddie armed with information on each hole, the strategy for playing it and the exact yardage and knowledge of the putting surfaces.
Banyan Tree Private Collection claims to be the first asset-backed destination club in Asia offering perpetual and transferable membership. Members enjoy one week’s stay per year at any of Banyan Tree’s villas for 50 years. Besides its traditional destinations in Asia and the Indian Ocean, the group has acquired properties in London, Tuscany and Provence, with plans to include Barbados, Mexico, Greece, Morocco and India in the network. Membership costs a one-time fee of $120,000, plus $3,000 annual dues. Fairmont Heritage Place (FHP) is the exclusive private residence club of the Fairmont Hotels and Resorts group. Among its current locations are Acapulco in Mexico, Telluride in Colorado and St. James in Barbados. More properties in Vail, Colorado and Punta Cana, Dominican Republic are in the pipeline. Owners have reciprocal-use options that allow them to trade their vacation time at any other FHP location or any property in the Fairmont hotel portfolio. Participants are also entitled to membership in the Fairmont President’s Circle, which includes upgrades and many other privileges at Fairmont properties worldwide. J.C.