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Welcome - says Mary Gostelow - to the latest issue of WOW.travel, news, hints and trends before you find them elsewhere. Read below for quick bites - you can also click straight through for Seven Sensational Wedding Venues, for Paul Kerr's insider thoughts, and a concierge's ideas for New York. And what is hatter to the world traveler Alex Tilley's personal style? You have stories from around the world, namely Barbados, Peru, Costa Rica, Hong Kong, Honolulu, India, Quebec and Spain, and Away-night takes us to Bhutan. Here, too, below, you have WOWconfidential.
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Love Travel Guides: Handbooks for the luxury vagabond
Our new friend, Australian Fiona Caulfield, can't stop traveling - and sharing inside information. She modestly describes her Love Travel Guides as hand-books, in handmade silk pouches, for luxury vagabonds. Find out what to do, see, eat and buy in Bangalore, Mumbai and New Delhi - but first read her story here.
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Tilley Endurables - The Finest Hats and Travel Clothing in the World
The right gear is essential for serious travelers. WOW.travel met Alex Tilley, the eponymous all-purpose hat designer and supplier of any travel clothes you need, worldwide, trekking in Bhutan (he's with his wife, art welder Hilary Clark Cole). Read more on Tilley's style here.
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Soar above the Jura Mountains in the new Eurocopter
Helicopters are, of course, essential for heli-skiing. Jiva Hill Park Hotel, ten minutes' drive north of Geneva Airport, now has a six-passenger EC 135 Eurocopter to take you high up into the Jura Mountains. Back at the ranch (sorry, art-filled modern resort, with golf and water-skiing), choose one of the villas that comes with private outdoor hot tub.
Jiva Hill Park Hotel, Geneva, France
See other hotels in Geneva (2)
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Work up a sweat at The Sports Club/LA
In San Francisco, we love running up-and-down Nob Hill. If it's wet, we head for The Sports Club/LA, which has over 110 fabulous classes a week, including spinning at 6:30 am, www.mpsportsclub.com. It's integral with Four Seasons San Francisco so hotel guests have free access, www.fourseasons.com.
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One of the industry leaders in the conception, design and development of restaurants...
Bob Puccini, left (with the manager of La Mar, San Francisco, Andrew Generalao) conceptualized the health café at The Sports Club/LA - he's also the brains behind many Kimpton restaurants and the addictive wine, cheese and chocolate ENO bars. He knows all the best new restaurants.
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Escape the hectic terminals of LAX in the oneworld lounge
It's definitely worth flying British Airways, Cathay Pacific or Qantas out of Los Angeles International Airport: the wines in the First Class oneworld lounge include Wolf Blass, Charles Krug and Moët & Chandon, www.oneworld.com. That's what we call style.
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Hair Room Service by John Nollet
Good-lookers are flocking to Park Hyatt hotels to a Hair Room Service cut. New York-based John Nollet (whose clients include Johnny Depp, Elizabeth Hurley, Kylie Minogue and Uma Thurman) makes flying visits to Buenos Aires, Chicago, Dubai, Istanbul, Milan, Moscow, Shanghai, Sydney and Tokyo, carrying his gear in bespoke Louis Vuitton trunks, www.parkhyatt.com.
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Experience more than just a great luxury hotel - discover culture at Taj Tashi Thimpu
Dasho Wangchuk Dorji - in the typical Bhutan gho coat - is Vice Chairman of the mighty Thimpu-based Tashi Group. WOW.travel went to visit, and stayed in the unique Taj Tashi Thimpu - read about it here.
Taj Tashi Thimphu, Bhutan, Thimphu, Bhutan
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Vera Wang designs more than extraordinary wedding dresses
New York-born Vera Wang, one of the most successful designers in the USA, has made her name for eternally-memorable wedding dresses. She has also designed one of the suites at the Halekulani, Hawaii - read more about this iconic resort here.
Halekulani, Oahu, United States
See other hotels in Oahu (4)
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Amanresorts now offers new Pilates programs
Pilates addicts seems to look fabulous. What's the secret? Well, as Joseph Pilates said, in ten sessions you will feel the difference, in 30 you will have a new body... Amanresorts is now rolling out programs under director Ivana Daniell, a former ballerina. It will include Gyrotonic®, with a Pulley tower for resistance breathing, www.amanresorts.com.
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South Beach Wine & Food Festival sure to be a hit!
Head to Miami South Beach February 19-22, 2009, for its annual Wine & Food Festival. Participants include Daniel Boulud, Tom Colicchio, Emeril Lagasse and Martha Stewart and sponsors include American Express, the Brandman Agency, Evian, Food & Wine magazine, Moët Hennessy USA and Riedel.
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Wahanda's spa pick of the month
Every treatment - even a Super Active Facial - starts with a de-stressing foot ritual at the three-floor The Peninsula Spa by ESPA, New York, www.peninsula.com. Designed by Alexandra Champalimaud, this spa is February hot pick from WOW.travel's spa partner Wahanda.
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Calm the nerves on your big day with some pre-wedding yoga
Yoga before a wedding at Inn at Mountain View, Vermont (the bride is to the left of the photo). Now, WOW.travel shares Seven Sensational Hotels for weddings around the world - read them here.
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Hong Kong Arts Festival
Hong Kong Arts Festival runs through to March 8th, 2009. Among the events we'd like to attend are Bernard Haitink (photo) and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir, Latvian National Opera's Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk - and 50 Years of Bossa Nova, www.hkartsfestival.org.
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Le Sereno is sure to steal your heart
Le Sereno, on St Barth's, is adding three sensational hill-side villas - each has four bedrooms, indoor and terrace kitchens and a 36-foot pool. Seen here from left, Le Sereno owner's wife Angelica Contreras and son, designer Christian Liaigre and Jacques Roy, GM of the luxury resort, www.lesereno.com.
Le Sereno, Grand Cul de Sac, St Barthelemy
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Ready! Set! Go! The first Louis Vuitton Pacific Series will take place this month
WOW.travel is off to New Zealand, for the first Louis Vuitton Pacific Series, organized by Bruno Troublé and the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Auckland through February 14th, 2009. Yachts competing are from China, France, Greece, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Switzerland (Alinghi), UK and USA (BMW Oracle).
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Coming Up Next Month!
Next month you find our choice of Seven Spectacular Hotels to stay before you fly (I am actually writing these very words in the oh-so-welcoming Executive Lounge of Hilton Heathrow, having been snowed in at London's main airport - I spent last night on the terminal's stone floor). You will also experience staying at the fabulous Hotel Ritz, Madrid. Our insider is Bill Heinecke - and Alexandra Champalimaud shares her very special style. Enjoy!
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