Luxe Beat Featured Articles

Artist Anne Faith Nicholls quietly lives in Palm Springs and creates art that is being collected by people worldwide. I met her when I was invited to an open house, where I was pleased to see executives connected with Desert X also in attendance. We enjoyed a glass of champagne while pursuing her completed art on her studio’s walls and observing a couple of pieces in progress. Recently, on a beaut...

After COVID-19, in 2022, Crystal Cruises suspended operation, the end of the line for one of the most storied luxury cruise companies. In came the hospitality entrepreneur sister-brother team of  Anouchka and Gregor Gerlach , who showcase 40-years in the hotel industry. The forward-thinking impresarios, owners of Seaside Collection , a travel brand operating 11 luxe-boutique properties in Europe a...

Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson , Arizona, is renowned for its luxurious amenities, stunning natural landscape, and unique features that blend into the Sonoran Desert. Famous for its spectacular location with breathtaking views of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Loews Ventana Canyon Resort makes a tranquil retreat for anyone wanting to experience the beauty of the desert Southwest. It is easy...

This Valentine’s Day, take a romantic escape where “chocolate steals the show.” Houston In Houston , Texas, for example, put Case Chocolates, the world’s first chocolate and cocktail speakeasy, at the top of your list. Your tasting experience features several flights of unique chocolates sourced from regions around the world, paired with high-end libations. These chocolates have a delightful surpr...

“Riches of the Mekong” cruise visits treasures of the legendary Asian river The  Mekong River  is a lifeline that unites six countries, from the Himalayas through Southeast Asia. Beginning in Tibet , it traverses China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam en route to the broad South China Sea. For thousands of years, the fabled thoroughfare has connected merchants and traders from China...

Welcome To St. Ermin’s Entering the lobby of this grand establishment, old-world charm envelopes you. A double marble staircase winding to an undulating mezzanine greets you. It has an opera house feel. Surveying the lobby, you see art from around the globe. The walls are adorned with antique and contemporary pieces. The bookcases have an eclectic feel with fun and thoughtful art pieces of many st...

I don’t recall my first visit to Coastal Mississippi , but I was told our family went there when I was very young. Over the years, my parents would mention various details about the area, always with much enthusiasm. Time went by, my parents passed away, and while cleaning out our family home, I found a Biloxi beach lighthouse magnet tucked away in a box. I saw it as a message for me to return to...

“Welcome to Rome,” I told my teen once our plane touched down on the runway. “And happy birthday!” Leo grunted something incomprehensible to my husband and me, which didn’t sound like a “thank you.” He was tired after a long overnight flight and felt that he was missing out on a birthday party with friends. Our long-awaited trip didn’t seem like an auspicious start.   We spent weeks planning this...

Since 2017, Executive Pastry Chef Jean-Philippe Maury has partnered with the MSC cruise line, establishing stores on MSC Meraviglia, Bellissima, Grandiosa, Virtuosa, Europa, Euribia, and now the newest ship, MSC World America.  With all the ship’s splendor, the World America brings unique onboard lifestyles experiences. In the World Galleria underneath a 374-foot long LED dome is the eye-catching...

The Red Snapper originated in New York in the early 1930s. Allegedly, a French barman named Fernand “Pete” Petiot left Harry’s New York Bar in Paris to work at the King Cole Room at the St. Regis Hotel in NYC. The classic Bloody Mary name was thought to be a bit vulgar so it was changed to Red Snapper. Later in this cocktail’s evolution the vodka was swapped with gin and it has been synonymous wit...

London has now been officially recognized as “a chocolate paradise.” And Lindt chocolates continues to display the art of chocolate-making. Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer has just opened Lindt & Sprungli flagship central London store in Piccadilly Circus. But he was overshadowed by chocolate. In the form of a recreation of the capital’s skyline made entirely of Lindor truffles. Complete wit...

The Beginnings, 19th Century Ehlers Estate is a distinguished winery in St. Helena, Napa Valley , renowned for its organically farmed Bordeaux varietals and rich history. Bernard Ehlers, a Sacramento grocer who relocated to Napa Valley in the late 19th century, established the winery in 1886. After Bernard’s passing, his wife, Anne, maintained operations until the 1920s, and then several owners fo...

“When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile” ~Regina Brett~~ You can say that again. We are walking towards a sweet, nutty smell with a hint of coffee? Or is it notes of floral? Vanilla? somewhere nearby in the city of Valletta , Malta. The street is busy; it’s Christmastime, after all, and everyone is out shopping for last-minute gifts to bring home, wrap, and place with care under the tree...

Praia da Falésia in the Algarve, Portugal was voted as the best beach in the world at the Travellers’ Choice Awards 2024 . Sicily’s Spiaggia dei Conigli and Spain’s La Concha Beach came second and third. Beach dropping is a popular pastime. It has been calculated that every five seconds, someone somewhere is either talking about their favourite beach or just about to. Beach-upmanship has become an...

“At Ximuwu Safari Lodge , we believe true luxury is inclusive. That’s why we created Southern Africa’s only fully wheelchair-friendly luxury lodge,” says founder and CEO, Elly Suverein of the game lodge located at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve bordering the Kruger National Park. After complications following back surgery in 2017, her husband Patrick was confined to a wheelchair and the coupl...

Emerson Resort and Spa isn’t far from Saratoga. It’s an easy ride, less than 100 miles down Route 87 South. Recently, I visited the resort with Leanne, a friend I’ve known since 2000, when I moved to Upstate New York from Massachusetts. We were interested in what the resort offered, mainly whether we could park the car and stay on the property for the weekend. It would be a nice little Staycation...

Edinburgh Castle is one of the most recognizable landmarks and top attractions in Scotland’s capital city. It’s hard to miss it, as this stone bastion sits upon a mighty rock atop the Royal Mile and has a commanding presence over the town. Those who built this stalwart stronghold knew what they were doing, as with this prime location, they had strategic advantage. As you tour the castle, you’ll le...

If you are looking for a luxury hotel option in Madeira , look no further than the majestic Savoy Palace . This impressive hotel, which opened in 2018, is one of seven Savoy Signature hotels sited on the volcanic island jewel of Madeira. The Savoy Palace epitomises the best that Madeira has to offer. This elegant upscale accommodation, owned by a local family has a surprise around every corner. Pe...

Cambridge is a renowned centre of academia. It is also a renowned centre of Premier Cru gin-making. For unparalleled luxury, unrivalled extravagance and the ultimate in gin-upmanship, your drinks cabinet must showcase the work of British master distiller, William Lowe . He is the world’s first master Distiller and Master of Wine. He produces some of the world’s most expensive and innovative gins....

Ah, Scotland ! It’s impossible not to fall hard for this enchanting country. The landscapes alone will take your breath away, along with the magical, mystical aura that surrounds them. For geographical purposes, Scotland is the most northerly of the four sections of the United Kingdom and occupies about one-third of the island of Great Britain. Its scenery is sublime with towering mountains and gr...

There’s a word for St. Maarten / St. Martin – special. The magic starts with the gift of two cultures, a Dutch and a French side of the island and more than 80 nationalities. The party crowd prefers the Dutch side, and those seeking a bit more serenity the quieter French side. You won’t be disappointed with whichever you choose. When it comes to sand and sea, there’s an embarrassment of riches. Yo...

Who tells our stories? History is full of stories that weave through the fabric of our cities – layers upon layers of human experience still available for us to explore.  My favorite way to appreciate American history, and history in general, is through traveling. I love immersing myself in the stories and lore of the locations I adventure to. You may not be able to walk a literal mile in these hi...

After a two-year refresh, The Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage new design elements beautifully blend luxury decor with the allure of the natural desert surroundings. This summer there are so many activities available for those seeking a getaway away from coastal June Gloom. The multi-million-dollar remastering project re-imagined lighter and brighter public spaces, guest rooms, culinary dining experien...

The historic Fairmont Breakers Hotel  originally opened in the roaring twenties as a lavish waterfront sanctuary for tourists and movie stars, such as Elizabeth Taylor, Cary Grant, Babe Ruth and Clark Gable. Now the newly renovated hotel and spa continues to wow guests staying in Long Beach with its impeccable service and distinctive architectural design. Embodying classic California glamour, the...

South of Mull and north of the inner Hebridean isles of Islay and Jura, Colonsay has 120 residents, one school, one hotel, one shop, one petrol pump, two doctors (husband and wife),  goats who can trace their ancestors back to the Armada, an eighteenth century golf course, a wildflower honey maker, a Hangman’s Rock (the island’s old place of execution), countless ruins and innumerable seabirds and...