The One&Only Palmilla is a posh and peaceful sanctuary on the southern tip of Mexico’s Baja Peninsula. Following a $110 million renovation and expansion in 2003, it has been a favorite retreat for Hollywood celebrities since its opening in 1956. Celebrity clientele includes Dustin Hoffman, Ashton Kutcher, Demi Moore, Oprah Winfrey and John Travolta (who…
We were in food and fashion heaven at the opening bash of the Westfield San Francisco Centre — the phenomenal new $460-million transformation of the old Emporium, which thankfully has morphed into BLOOMINGDALE’S and over 170 other specialty stores, a huge theater, and numerous eateries. It took four floors and a 1.5 million square feet…
How lucky can a girl get? Not only have I been to The French Laundry in Yountville, in the Napa Valley twice, I was treated on both occasions by my foodie cousin who kept his finger on speed-dial until he succeeded in getting us a reservation, the required two months out. (Editor’s Note: This restaurant…
Drum roll, please… We’re extremely proud to introduce Vagablond’s new design. We feel it’s a better representation of our upscale content, sophisticated collection of global contributors, and our unique position of offering daily articles about luxury travel, superior shopping, vintage wines and delicious foods. As you can see, it features more color, a cool new…
My very favorite thing about Christmas is the music. Every year I buy at least one new Christmas CD. This season, I’m already up to two, with maybe one more ending up in my collection. Starbucks has some good collections in their stores (or you can order them online from their music Website). I picked…
If you’ve always dreamed of escaping to tropical French Polynesia, the ultimate in elegant luxury can be yours at the magnificent St. Regis Resort, Bora Bora, one of the world’s most exclusive resorts. From the its Zen Pool to an adults-only Focal Pool, you can kick back and relax with private day-bed cabanas and a…
The wind kicks up eraser dust in Bouzy. In rare moments, standing alongside Grand Cru Pinot Noir vineyards and looking just a few dozen kilometers north toward the glitzy glam of Reims — the city that quite literally threw its trash here (used as fertilizer) into the late 1990s — it feels like class is…
For over 80 years, the Huntington Hotel & Nob Hill Spa has been consistently ranked as one of the most distinguished luxury hotels in my home town. It’s also one of the world’s most luxurious places to stay. Situated atop Nob Hill (called “Snob Hill” a century ago because it was the wealthiest San Francisco…
Here’s the latest in our monthly series of interviews with travel writers. This time, I questioned Tim Leffel, author of the contrarian traveler’s guide to getting more for less, “Make Your Travel Dollars Worth A Fortune,” published by Traveler’s Tales at $12.95, and “The World’s Cheapest Destinations”. I’m reading it now and relishing Tim’s winning…
It’s better to give than to receive. That’s the embodiment of the bold (Product) Red™ initiative co-founded by Bobby Shriver and Bono. (Product) Red is now collaborating with some of the world’s most iconic brands — including Gap, Converse, American Express, Motorola, Emporio Armani and Apple to help eliminate AIDS in Africa by donating half…
The 2005 Rockefeller Christmas Tree. Photo by Sue Frause. Hey, big spender — here’s the holiday package for you. The Buckingham Hotel in midtown Manhattan is offering a posh package now through Jan. 8, 2007. One couple per night will see and experience the Christmas Tree at Rockefeller Center in style. For $75,000, here’s the…
If you’ve seen the new TV commercials for Apple’s new iPod Shuffle, you already know that it’s better and smaller than ever. They call it “the world’s smallest digital music player.” And with 1GB to store up to 240 songs for only $79, who can argue with them? This would make a great stocking stuffer,…