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| Jul 10 2007, 12:15 PM EDT (current) | jimglab | 16 words added, 6 words deleted |
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by Danielle DiGiacomo
July 2007
Planning a vacation around a luxury event can make for an exciting, entertaining and enriching journey.
In the age of the BlackBerry, with our workdays flooding into our personal lives, holiday time is more precious than ever. When we do get the occasional break, it should be truly spectacular and unforgettable. Not surprisingly, event-based travel has become increasingly popular, with travel agencies planning luxury packages around everything from the Olympics to Carnevale. We’ve highlighted some of the most extravagant event-based escapes, with the thinking that whether they are legendary or off-the-beaten track, they are all entirely luxe ways to enjoy event-based escapes. (All dates provided are for scheduled 2007 trips, unless otherwise noted.)
Film Festivals
Sundance may be the mother of all film festivals, but its frenzied pace and packs of paparazzi do not foster luxurious relaxation. Cannes has been attracting the glitzy and glamorous for decades, and its French Riviera location is the perfect spot to blend the pleasures of the cinema with a beach holiday. The festival, held May 14–25, 2008, offers premieres of the finest in cinematic mastery throughout the world. Festival passes (included in the price of the yacht rentals below) allow access to all 20 films in competition for the coveted Palme d’Or award, as well as showcase films projected at the Grand Theatre Lumière, vintage “Cannes Classics” at the Bunuel Theatre, and gala opening and closing ceremonies.
For a truly original Cannes Film Festival experience, stay where the jet set does—on a privately chartered yacht. Several agencies offer charter packages during the lavish celebration, with prices for smaller models starting at $14,000 per week or $2,000 per day. Moody Yachts (elmarine.com/cannes-events.html) has a large fleet of boats available for charter. Small motor yachts that sleep six are perfect for families, but if you want to roll like P. Diddy (for the cool price of $455,000 per week) and bring your entire entourage, there are options like the O-mega, which can sleep 32 and host up to 110, and has an outdoor pool. Should you prefer to hand the responsibility of yachting to someone else, Wind Surf’s Grand Prix cruise, which sets sail in May, combines two events in one two-week trip. For $4,000, guests enjoy the pleasures of a fully equipped, first-class sailing yacht, complete with wireless Internet, Bose audio docks, luxury sheets, Ridel stemware and gourmet cuisine. When you arrive in Cannes, a delectable dinner at legendary Hotel Majestic awaits, as well as a film screening and red-carpet event. Finally, two nights in Monaco coincide with the Grand Prix, where travelers have access to time trials and special reserve seating for the competition.
If you’re feeling too relaxed to go far, you don’t even have to leave the yacht for some celluloid satisfaction. The John Cleese Film Festival (888-286-9827) was set aboard the Silver Shadow cruise liner in May. It might sound more wacky than extravagant—-but with an all-suite ship that includes an on-board spa, hair salon, boutiques, fitness center and five gourmet restaurants, it’s clear that this funnyman has a taste for the high life. Guests were entertained by screenings from the Cleese canon, from the obvious (Monty Python’s Life of Brian) to the obscure (a documentary about the potential extinction of Madagascar lemurs). The star himself was onboard to engage guests with his life stories and professional wisdom, while stops included ports at Halifax, Waterford and Southampton. Fares for this grand adventure, which lasted 16 days, started at around $7,500. Silversea Cruises reports they’re hoping to offer the event in 2008, too.
For some landlocked movie fun, check out these star-studded mountain resort fests. Telluride Film Festival takes place over Labor Day weekend, ideal for a rejuvenating fall break. Special Event Travel (specialeventtravel.com) helps guests customize their festival experience. TSE Sports and Entertainment offers packages to several other prime vacation destinations: Maui, Vail, Aspen and Tribeca.
Mid-June’s Maui Film Festival will delight those who enjoy viewing screen stars under celestial ones; most films screen on a beach or golf course. The package includes an all-access screening pass, a round of golf, a luxury rental car, a VIP event pass for celebrity hobnobbing, and two nights of five-star lodging.
Combining the pleasures of slope and cinema, late September’s Aspen Filmfest package offers the majesty of a Rocky Mountain setting, along with the requisite celebrity schmoozing and a ritzy residence. Each package is customized, but prices typically start at around $3,400 per person.
Sports Travel
If you prefer athletics to art, you’ll find plenty of travel packages organized around exclusive sports events, from the Super Bowl to the Masters Golf Tournament. Sports Traveler VIP (sportstraveler.net) has cornered the market, offering packages for clientele with “the most discerning taste for excellence.” All accommodations and services are distinctly five-star, and individual options like a personal concierge and private jet are encouraged. The Olympic Games in Beijing are a year away (August 2008), but it’s never too early to start planning. For $5,000–9,000, you can stay at the palatial Tianlun Songhe Hotel and enjoy tickets to two Olympic events, an on-site guide, a translator and transportation.
While Sports Traveler VIP covers all of the major events-—the U.S. Open, Wimbledon, the Belmont Stakes—-specialty sports such as yachting are covered by specialty agencies. To experience the America’s Cup 2007 yachting competition (June 23–July 7) in Valencia, Spain, the spectacular vantage point of your own yacht offers the best view. A number of boats are available through Charter World (charterworld.com/index.html?sub=americas-cup).
Guests can enjoy the up-close view of the yachts whizzing by their decks by sunlight, and the unforgettable Spanish coastline by moonlight. Yachts that sleep eight guests start at $19,000 per week.
The land of Champagne and foie gras is also home to the premier cycling event of the year, so it’s only appropriate to experience the spectacle in a setting of total opulence. Veloe Chappe Agency has designed Tour de France packages that cater to cycling fans. One long weekend escape (July 27–30) lodges guests at the palatial Hotel Meurice, with nightly feasts and access to a deluxe viewing suite. Guests will watch the Tour on television the first two days, with VIP access to the peloton on the final day to watch the winner’s triumphant lap through Paris. All of this fine living costs roughly $2,000 per person.
Winter sports should not be discounted from the range of vacation options. Late November brings the World Cup Ski races to Aspen; and the town’s most prestigious hotel, the St. Regis,Regis, offers a package worthy of royalty. Beautifully appointed rooms, a heated outdoor pool and a famous spa may make it difficult to venture outside, but the package includes slopeside race viewing and a two-day lift pass. Events take place November 23–December 21.
Holidays and Carnivals
What better way to celebrate a break from work than to join the celebration somewhere beautiful and far away from daily life? Rather than throw your own party, enjoy these events organized by entire communities.
A great place to start is Abercrombie and Kent (abercrombiekent.com),(abercrombiekent.com), the gold standard for booking extravagant escapes. With the capacity to plan personal vacations across all continents, the agency helps clients find the carnival suited to their particular tastes.
One such magical experience takes place biannually in Egypt. On February 22 and October 22 each year, nature makes an impact as solar rays illuminate the Abu Simpel temple, inspiring the festival of the same name. Sojourners from across the globe make the trip to witness this phenomenon and participate in a vibrant celebration. Trafalgar Tours (trafalgartours.com)(trafalgartours.com) offers a nine-day tour on a five-star cruise ship. Ending at Aswan with the temple festival, the trip includes tours of the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the vibrant metropolis of Cairo. The journey costs $1,775 per person. Easter is celebrated differently across the globe, with two of the most spectacular incarnations in Guatemala and Austria. Guatemala’s Semana Santa inAntiguain Antigua occurs between two holy Sundays: Palm and Easter. The city is alive with a constant stream of colorful processions, during which effigies are paraded and flower petals scattered through the cobblestone roads. Numerous private villas, set on the pristine, quiet beaches, are available—from four-bedroom models with Jacuzzis, maid service, a fitness center and wireless Internet to six-bedroom versions with a private chef and an outdoor pool. Browse through abundant options at perfectplaces.com; they start at $2,500 per week.
No mention of international festivities would be complete without the two biggies: New Orleans Mardi Gras and Rio de Janeiro’s raucous Carnevale, both in February. To enjoy the Creole city’s fête with true class, you can’t beat the sumptuous Windsor Court Hotel’s “Beds and Beads” package (windsorcourthotel.com),(windsorcourthotel.com), which includes a two-night master suite stay, Mardi Gras souvenirs, breakfast and take-away cocktails (all the better for enjoying the parade up close) from the Polo Club Lounge. Much further south, in the heart of Brazil, VIP Tour Brazil (viptourbrazil.com)(viptourbrazil.com) offers a six-day tour complete with a cruise on a private 40-foot sailboat, a personal escort, a five-star hotel and a night of dancing at the Sambadromo. The journey takes place February 17–21, 2008 and costs $8,300 per person.
Now put down that BlackBerry and join the party!
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