Travel & Gourmet

The perfect winter vacation: These luxury provide unforgettable experiences

The year is almost over and therefore you shouldn´t lose any time to spend very special vacations. Time for relaxation, adventures and unique experiences. Reflect on the year as well as re-set resolutions and spend beautiful days with your beloved ones. This is true luxury! We have selected ...

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AMAN LE MÉLÉZIN

"The best time to come to yourself is now!"

Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco
Located in the countryside of Montalcino, Tuscany, in the midst of the world-famous Brunello di Montalcino wine region, Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco is one of Italy's oldest and best-preserved estates. The 800-year-old estate has been lovingly restored over many years since 2003 by Massimo and Chiara Ferragamo and covers over 2,000 acres and includes castle ruins steeped in history, a medieval church and the Borgo, a historic village that is now the heart of the resort.

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Tuscan winter time at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco

In the beautiful Tuscan countryside of Montalcino, the festive season kicked off on November 26, 2022 and enchants guests of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco with a unique program until January 7, 2023. From ice skating amid medieval ruins to a Christmas workshop, there's plenty on offer for guests young and old. Ice skating is the hotel's newest attraction in the heart of a medieval village. This is offered daily from 2 pm to 8 pm. 

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Traditional Christmas Market

At the Borgo local artisans meet and offer handmade goods and handicrafts. Visitors can enjoy mulled wine, hot chocolate, Tuscan biscotti and roasted chestnuts while Christmas carols play in the background. This is open on the following days: Dec. 10, 17 and 24, 5 to 8 pm.

The fine-dining restaurant Campo del Drago, which recently received its first Michelin star, and the Osteria La Canonica tempt with a sumptuous selection of dishes. 

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A festive kids club

"Once upon a time there was a small house in the forest of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco, where Santa Claus hid to find comfort and peace." A secret retreat of Santa Claus in the Tuscan forest, where children can drop off Christmas letters and spend time in magical hut with Babbo Natale and his elf friend. Open on the following days: December 13, 16, 18, 20, 23 and 25 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm.

From craft activities, to Christmas baking classes or writing letters to Santa - there is something for everyone. In addition, there will be the opportunity to take a photo with Santa Claus as he parades through the alleyways of Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco on December 24.

From December 21 - January 7, the Children's Club will be open daily from 11 am to 7 pm.
On December 10, 17, 24 and 31, the Children's Club will be open from 12 to 8:30 pm.

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On December 31, all guests are invited to dance the night away starting at midnight...

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Aman le Mélézin celebrates 30th anniversary season

The Aman Le Mélézin is an icon of the Alps and, with it´s spectacular location in Courchevel 1850, has been offering France's best all-round skiing experience for exactly three decades. The reopening for the ski season on December 9, 2022, celebrates the 30th anniversary of this exceptional hotel, which is not only located in a renowned ski resort, but attracts gourmets and wellness enthusiasts from all over the world. To mark the occasion, the property will offer exclusive new offerings and unique experiences that take full advantage of the hotel's enviable location, exceptional facilities and unparalleled local knowledge.

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Enjoy the view

Located right on the Bellecôte slopes, Aman Le Mélézin offers breathtaking views of the mountains and forests in the heart of Les Trois Vallées, one of Courchevel 1850's most coveted resorts. With captivating views, nearly all of the hotel's 31 rooms and suites have balconies or expansive terraces, and some feature outdoor cedar whirlpools. Guests enjoy Aman's ubiquitous signature ski-in/ski-out service, a comprehensive spa offering, and a choice of fine restaurants and convivial après-ski areas. The latter include Nama, Aman's Japanese restaurant, and a sprawling sun terrace and bar just a stone's throw from the village.

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Unforgettable experiences

The Aman Le Mélézin has introduced an exciting first tracks adventure that will be a highlight of even the most experienced skiers' stay. A knowledgeable ski instructor will take you to the highest point at the edge of the valley, where you will be treated to magnificent views of Mont Blanc and La Grande Casse. Then it's off for a breathtaking solo descent on "La Combe de la Saulire", a legendary untouched slope, protected from the wind all year round and with the finest fresh snow. 

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Evening event

To satisfy appetites whetted by the pristine alpine air, Aman Le Mélézin is offering an anniversary evening event at Les Prés de la Croix, a picture-perfect mountain chalet, as well as a pairing of après-ski, Aman Champagne and Volschenka caviar in the hotel's bar. The former holds a carriage ride: At dusk, head from La Tania (30 minutes from the hotel) to Les Prés de la Croix, where a typical Savoyard dinner of cheese fondue or stew awaits by a crackling fire. On Friday evenings, a coordinated five-course meal can also be arranged by a private chef. Meanwhile, the children play in the mezzanine of the chalet or toboggan under the stars before returning to the hotel, by sled or snowbike via La Tania, by cab. 

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Optimization of the well-being

Those who want to focus on their health will be well taken care of this season. Several new extras in the suites help guests maintain their wellness routines. These include a healthy minibar with fresh juices, loose teas and nutritious snacks, a meditation corner with yoga mat and a Technogym bench with weights. Suites and rooms can also be outfitted with singing bowls, incense, Tiger Balm, bath oils, candles and even a customized music playlist. Here, a level-headed new beginning in 2023 succeeds in effortlessly achieving any resolution related to health and relaxation.

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The perfect combination

In addition, Wellness in the Snow and Extreme Snow Sports & Recovery are two new health and fitness options that can be incorporated into any stay of five nights or more. Wellness in the Snow includes a daily one-hour private functional fitness or yoga and meditation class, a daily healthy breakfast and lunch or dinner. Add to that a swim in the snow forest, a snowshoe hike with a mountain guide and a snowshoe jogging session with a private instructor. There is also a healthy picnic on the slopes, an electric snowbike session, a snowmobile ride through the forest and a heli-sky tour or paragliding flight. The exciting time is perfectly rounded out with a three-hour stay at the Aman Signature Spa, a 90-minute facial, an Iyashi Dôme sauna session, daily après-ski "teatox" with healthy mocktails or Newby Herbal Teas, and exclusive spa-inspired turndown gifts each night. 

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Enjoy special occasions

In the coming season, guests can book several exclusive offers: The Call of Courchevel (Dec. 9-16) welcomes guests during the resort's opening week. The Ski or Spa Escape is available on selected dates throughout the season and is ideal for travel companions who primarily want to enjoy the alpine retreat. 2023 will be the Year of the Rabbit and Easter; these special occasions will be celebrated at the height of the season. 

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Holiday program at Shiki

Since 2015, Shiki in Vienna's Krugerstrasse has been delighting diners with authentic Japanese cuisine - enriched with European accents. Owner Joji Hattori, together with his two chefs de cuisine Alois Traint and Gerhard Bernhauer, focuses on the use of fresh, seasonal ingredients of the highest quality in both the brasserie and the Michelin-starred fine dining restaurant.

The holiday season is all about getting together and eating well, which is why Restaurant Shiki serves up especially festive fare at Christmas and New Year's Eve.

For this reflective time, the Shiki offers a gala dinner including a Christmas concert on December 20. To classics of the chamber music consisting of Händel-Halvorsen and Brahms interpreted of restaurant owner Joji Hattori (violin), Alexey Stadler (violoncello) and Hyung Ki Joo (piano), a 5-Gala-Menü is served, which leaves with specialities such as Sashimi of the Hamachi, Sushi creations and duck à l'Orange no desires open. Price: 350 euros per person including aperitif and wine accompaniment.

To ring in the new year festively, there is a New Year's Eve concert with gala dinner on December 31. Also on this evening the Shiki takes you into unique worlds of sound. Opera singer and musical performer Johanna Kräuter will perform Broadway works and French chansons by Edith Piaf or Michel Legrand, accompanied by Lior Kretzer on the piano. The Shiki will also serve a 7-course menu. Oysters, Japanese Toshi-Koshi buckwheat noodles and Black Cod pickled in Saikyo-Miso are just a few examples of the exquisite menu of the gala menu. Price: Gala Dinner 295 euro per person, wine company 115 euro per person.

Reservations are accepted as of now via the homepage, by telephone and by email.

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The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna

Alpine après-ski and a luxurious city vacation don't go together? The Atmosphere Rooftop Bar team manages to unite these apparent opposites.

Once again this year, the Ritz-Carlton, Vienna has come up with something very special for a pre-Christmas season full of magic. This year's Christmas market on the Atmosphere Rooftop Bar is all about "Urban Après-Ski" and thus combines urban chic with an alpine powder feeling. From the beginning of November, Vienna's highest Christmas market will once again open its doors - or rather - its gondola doors: sitting in genuine ski gondolas from the Salzburg region, visitors can enjoy the pre-Christmas season to the fullest. With a view of the breathtaking and hopefully snow-covered Vienna, the magical Christmas market accompanied by culinary highlights invites you to linger. With punch and hot chocolate or truffle liver cheese roll, baked potato and classic Hütten-Kaiserschmarrn and wonderful fondues, comes not only Christmas anticipation, but also cozy-glamorous après-ski feeling. Unique drink specialties such as the homemade Passion Gin Punch or the Christmas Negroni round off the ultimate ski experience.

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Private & Spectacular Gondolas

This year, for the first time, gondolas - which can also be rented exclusively - offer an extraordinary setting for any Christmas party. The gondolas offer space for up to 8 people and are - to guarantee maximum coziness - heated. Reservation is required!

The market is open again this year daily from 16:00 to 22:00 and is located on the 8th floor of The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna. Open daily: 16:00-22:00 (subject to closure due to weather conditions).

Address: The Ritz-Carlton, Vienna, Schubertring 5-7, 1010 Vienna

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Magical Christmas season with SONEVA's festive calendar

Soneva, the prestige luxury resort label, has announced a spectacular holiday calendar for its award-winning destinations in the Maldives and Thailand for December 2022. Guests of Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives and Soneva Kiri in Thailand, are invited to enjoy the magic of the holidays to the fullest. Special experiences that will be remembered for a lifetime include exquisite starred cuisine, festive feasts, world-renowned wellness specialists, sports legends and an exciting vacation program for children of all ages, as well as a personal visit from Santa Claus and one of the world's top mentalists, Lior Suchard. In true Soneva tradition, the iconic Silver Party at each resort will end the year in style with sumptuous food, live music and unforgettable entertainment.

As 2022 draws to a close, Soneva Fushi invites you on a gastronomic journey for the spectacular New Year's Eve celebration, "So Global, So Local." A tantalizing feast for the senses leads along torches and illuminated pathways to delicious live cooking stations and magical live entertainment. The evening culminates with a countdown to 2023 and a dazzling light show to welcome the New Year, followed by a live band and DJ spinning into the wee hours of the morning.

Place Vendôme is decorated with the ephemeral Chalet Ritz Paris for the holidays!
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Magical atmosphere

From the fabulous Christmas tree to the magic
of the Grand Jardin, the
the Ritz Paris has its most beautiful decorations and invents
extraordinary menus to delight young and old.

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Unforgettable moments

For Christmas or New Year, experience an unforgettable and culinary moment
under the glass roof of the Bar Vendôme and celebrate
celebrate the style of the Ritz Paris.


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