The Affluent Travelers

A Dream ? Greece on $75,000 a day

Athens is so hot and busy during the peak season that we offer a few extras to make it bareable.

Best way from the airport to your suite at the Grecotel's Cape Sounio Hotel ($18,560) on the Aegean is by Helicopter ($1900). Amenities are a view of Poseidon's Temple and a private pool. 

Lunch ($280) then be chauffeured to town ($360) and stroll from the Parthenon to the Agora.  Plaka for dinner and King George Palace Hotel for a nightcap.

Tour the Greek islands on the modestly priced, seven cabin Alexandria at $47,807 a day.  Dinner at the ancient port of Nafplion then sail to Mykonos. A Mykonas Blu bungalow  ($2900) overlooking the secluded harbor.

Splurge on the last night at Corfu's Palazzo Imperiale ($22,800) - A favorite of Aristotle Onassis.    jo@InsiderTraveler.com

Most Expensive Meal 9/06

                                                                                                                                      Restaurant Guy Savoy  is on the second floor of the Augustus Tower, affording an enviable view of the classically inspired architecture and statuary of the Roman Plaza in Caesars Palace.

Guy's canvas is your plate, and he bares his soul with culinary creations that are festive, fresh and delicious - even poetic. Given his charisma and penchant for theatrics, Savoy seems well suited to the site of his first U.S. venture.

"My meal there was the most  expensive I've eaten.  Ever." says the LATimes S. Irene Virbila.  "How expensive? Obscenely expensive. A dinner for two will average just under $1,000.  If you can bring yourself to forget about the cost, the experience is transcendent."

In order to meet his high standards, Savoy sent his son Franck, who managed his Parisian restaurants, (Le Chiberta, La Butte Chaillot, L'Atelier Maître Albert and Les Bouquinistes), to Las Vegas one year prior to the opening to find the best workers and products available locally.  The wine list is mostly French, very good and yes, very expensive.

New York's Most Expensive Omelet

Culinary craziness has reached new heights in New York with the debut of the $1,000 omelet! Le Parker Meridien hotel on W. 57th St. added the bank breaking breakfast dish to its menu, charging patrons what it costs to buy about 200 omelets at your local greasy spoon.

This massive offering of an omelet features a whole lobster, six eggs and 10 ounces of Sevruga caviar and it is all served on a bed of roasted potatoes. Much like this dish, Norma’s is known for its quality of ingredients and attention to detail. Fans of both succulent lobster and the finest of caviar will surely enjoy the Zillion Dollar Lobster Frittata.

For penny pinchers, Norma's, the restaurant in Le Parker Meridien, offers an economy version of the frittata, a crustless quiche that contains 1 ounce of sevruga caviar.  It costs $100. 

   When Pipes and Norma's executive chef, Emile Castillo, decided to incorporate caviar into a frittata, they knew it would be a costly proposition. They pay $65 an ounce for sevruga.

Chewton Glen, England

Luxury country-house hotel located on the edge of the ancient 'New Forest' in Hampshire and just a short walk from the sea.  Built in 1733, it has been owned by Martin and Brigitte Skan for the past 40 years, Chewton Glen has been voted the 'Best Small Hotel under 100 Rooms in the World'.

Voted Best Hotel Spa in Europe by Germany's Gala magazine, Chewton Glen sets a new benchmark in hotel spa facilities. A selection of over 50 exclusive beauty and body treatments is provided by a team of highly qualified therapists and fitness instructors. The centrepiece of the club is an 'ozone treated' classical style indoor pool. Over $5 million  was spent to refurbish the Spa in early 2005.

There is a choice of over 500 wines to accompany your food. Recently voted among the best 25 restaurants in the UK by Egon Ronay, the Marryat Restaurant has held its Michelin-starred status for 21 years.

Within the 130 acres of grounds there are a 9-hole par 3 golf course, a practice range, two indoor and two outdoor tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, a croquet lawn and a putting green.

Rania the Maldives

Lying off the southern tip of India, the slender chain of coral islands known as the Maldives are strewn like a magical necklace across the shimmering azure waters of the Indian Ocean

The first of its kind in the Maldives, Rania allows total freedom and a unique way to enjoy the 1,192 idyllic low-lying sandbank islands and coral reef lagoons seldom seen by locals or tourists. Spend your days lazing on board the yacht or in the luxury Rania suite on Water Garden Island Spa, both providing the highest level of standards with every modern technological convenience.        
     Redefining the concept of ‘exclusive’ the Rania Experience doesn’t just give you a desert island of your own, able to accommodate parties of up to nine in absolute luxury, it also provides a private motor yacht large enough to take your party offshore.
     All yours, exclusively. There is a private butler to attend your slightest whim, your own personal spa therapist for unlimited massage treatments, a PADI dive instructor on hand to take unlimited dives or train you up to divemaster level and a private chef to provide à la carte menus to match your taste. Surround all this with a palm-fringed swathe of virgin sand and a sheltered lagoon bright with shoaling reef fish and it is easy to see that for honeymooning couples after privacy or once-in-a-lifetime family reunions, tropical bliss doesn’t get any more blissful than this.     
     Available to only one group of guests at a time (groups consist of nine people maximum). Unlimited spa treatments, diving, alcohol (excluding champagne and specialty wine), á la carte dining at the resort's two restaurants, sport fishing, snorkeling and water sports and three hours of sailing a day are included in the nightly rate, which starts at $10,000 per couple from Dec. 20 through Jan. 5, with an extra charge of $750 per additional guest. A minimum three-night booking is required.

Las Ventanas in Cabo San Lucas

Las Ventanas al Paraíso, situated between San Jose Del Cabo and Cabo San Lucas in an area known as Cabo Real, is located just 15 minutes southwest of San Jose Del Cabo International Airport. At the southern tip of Mexico’s 1,000-mile-long Baja Peninsula, Los Cabos combines a starkly beautiful desert landscape with one of the richest marine environments encompassing both the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Cortez.

The desert is a mosaic of color and texture with forests of saguaro cactus, sand dunes and stunning rock formations. Los Cabos is Mexico’s leading upscale tourist destination. Hollywood first discovered it in the post-World War II years when stars went down for the sport fishing and to relax in privacy.

Expansive and richly appointed, all suites have marble showers and Conchuela limestone floors. At the end of the day share the warmth of a seaside fire, and be lulled to rest by the rhythm of gently washing waves. Or, turn your personal telescope toward the heavens to gaze at the shimmering stars.  Rooms ange in size up to thee bedroom suites for $4,600 a night.

The one and three bedroom luxury suites are peaceful oases featuring Jacuzzis, private swimming pools, fireplaces, terraces and a secluded open-air treatment area. In this serene paradise, timeless beauty co-exists with five-star pleasures. Enjoy an aromatic exfoliation and soak, followed by a rejuvenating aromatherapy "raindrop" massage treatment. (2 hours 30 minutes) (available only in one- and three-bedroom suites)

Unique in-room tequila welcome
24-hour room service
Live entertainment nightly
Access to The Spa & fitness center
Video library
Nightly turndown service
Luxury tennis
Fresh fruit replenished daily
Bottled water
Enhanced poolside service & amenities
Personal butler service for each one-bedroom and three-bedroom luxury Suite

To ensure that playing tennis at Las Ventanas is an exceptional experience for guests, the resort offers a world-class tennis program. Two new championship courts offer a hard surface and excellent lighting so guests can play in the cool evenings.

Tennis instruction is provided by Peter Burwash International, one of the world-wide leaders in tennis instruction. For 25 years, PBI has been heralded for its extensively trained staff, exceptional service and quality instruction. The organization only offers its programs at the world's finest hotels and resorts. A resident PBI pro is at Las Ventanas full-time to provide guests with personalized, professional training.

Las Ventanas is known for its special touches that delight guests, and the resort's pampering is offered on the courts, too. To ensure that guests remain comfortable, the resort provides complimentary cold towels, Evian spray mists and light refreshments at courtside. Upon request, an attendant will be at your disposal to chase balls, provide fresh towels, clean sunglasses and see to any other need.

Istanbul, Turkey

Ciragan Palace Hotel

Once the residence of the last Ottoman Sultans, the Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski İstanbul is the only hotel situated directly on the European shores of the Bosphorus. As the first member of the Leading Hotels of the World in Turkey, The Ciragan Palace Hotel Kempinski İstanbul is actually two hotels: the restored Sultan's Palace itself and a grand deluxe hotel featuring five star luxury.

Sultan Murat V, deposed during a military takeover, was held prisoner here with his family until his death in 1904. After this the palace became the new location for parliament and was opened on November 14, 1909. Parliament convened here for just two months before a fire, which broke out in the central heating vents, destroyed the entire palace in just under five hours, leaving only a stone shell. Priceless antiques, paintings and books were lost, along with many vital documents.

In 1946, Parliament gave the palace, its outbuildings and grounds, to İstanbul Municipality where it was used as a dumping ground for sand and other construction materials. It was also used as a swimming pool and was a football ground for the local team.

In its new incarnation the Palace has received the following awards:  Condé Nast Traveler - Top 100, The Best in the World,   Gourmet - The World's Best Hotels,   Condé Nast Traveler - 2000 Gold List, Best Places to Stay in the World,   Institutional Investor - The World's best hotels,  Travel & Leisure - Eating Well in Istanbul,  Architectural Digest - Hotels Around the World.

To ease the jet lag and transition into vacation mode I settle in for a Traditional Turkish Bath- "Kese" at the Çırağan Health Club. The first  part is  a warm soak and massage for complete body relaxation.  It finishes with a refreshing body scrub- Ottoman style.  There is nothing like the luxurious tub, smells of ocean and earth scents,  and peaceful music.

Wynn Las Vegas

2.7 Billion Dollars and 5 Years later.....
the Most Expensive Hotel in Las Vegas.

Wynn Las Vegas, at 3201 Las Vegas Blvd South, boasts one of the best locations in Las Vegas. Standing mid-Strip, Wynn is next door to the popular Venetian hotel resort casino. Wynn Las Vegas is across the Las Vegas Strip from the recently expanded Las Vegas Fashion Show Mall, making it a perfect perch for passionate shoppers.

Erected on land where the legendary Desert Inn once stood, the 42-story, Wynn Las Vegas is sheathed in a coppery bronze that reflects the bright desert sun. Visitors may notice the absence of floors 40-49 in Wynn Las Vegas elevators; buttons jump from 39 to 50, a courtesy to Chinese gamblers who consider the number 4 unlucky.

On 192 acres, Wynn Las Vegas holds more than 2,700 guest rooms with floor-to-ceiling windows and a 110,000 square foot casino with several gambling areas. Players at table games are issued RFID [radio frequency identification]-equipped betting chips, making it easier for Wynn Las Vegas to identify counterfeit chips, keep track of markers, rate players for comps, and deter casino cheats.

If you've seen the ad, casino kingpin Steve Wynn proclaims atop the 50th floor of Wynn Las Vegas: "I'm Steve Wynn and this is my hotel -- the only one I've ever signed my name to."

The centerpiece of Wynn Las Vegas megaresort is a 150-foot-tall mountain with a five-story waterfall that cascades into a three-acre, man-made lake. Wynn Las Vegas also has an 18-hole championship golf course.

Tower Suite: A chic, cosmopolitan living and entertaining area offers an unbelievable view of the sparkling Las Vegas Strip.  Marble covers every surface in the his-and-hers bathroom, complete with air-infused soaking tub and separate shower, not to mention the 13" Gateway flat-screen TV. Choose one with a conference table for 10 (and perfect hospitality-hour wet bar)... and leave no question who's in charge.

Additional features: VIP check-in, exclusive restaurant, a terrace with a private pool.
-1,950 square feet with wall-to-wall, floor-to-ceiling windows
-Entry foyer with private massage room
-Expansive living room with dining alcove, wet bar, and powder room
-50" plasma high-definition television with DVD entertainment system
-Cordless phone, fax, high speed Internet access
-Pillowtop king-sized signature Wynn beds with 320 thread count European linens
-Individual lighting and automated drapery controls at bedside
-Walk-in closets
-Bath and glass-enclosed shower, private toilet, his & her sinks, and LCD TV's
-Desert BambuTM bath amenities, over-sized Turkish towel

World's Most Expensive Lunch

Few places cater to the whims and fancies of the super-rich and famous as consummately as Gstaad. It might have been custom designed for that purpose. The town is ringed by mountains, and therefore inaccessible and zoom-lens-proof; it's exorbitantly expensive, and therefore exclusive. It's beautiful, and therefore judged to be the rightful property of le jet set ; it's snowy and slopey, and so equipped to fully entertain those who could ski before they could walk, and whose idle richness has given them a taste for sporting pursuits of the most adrenaline-addled variety. Beyond this, it has a Cartier shop, a Rolex shop, a Patek Philippe shop, and a hotel that used to be a palace (from which,  'the whole extravagant hotel lobby scene' was launched in the Thirties when minor European royals and other fascinating people gathered there to disport themselves). Yet, of all the things that Gstaad offers the mindlessly loaded, the Eagle Ski Club - probably the most expensive restaurant in the world - is the most irresistible. The Eagle is a private members' restaurant located in a sprawling, oddly spartan chalet balanced on the top of a private mountain, Wasserngrat, and is served by a private ski lift - both of which (the lift and the mountain) belong to the club. Although a simple pasta lunch will set you back a relatively paltry $65, it costs $48,400 to gain access to the restaurant and the club, making it possibly the world's most expensive lunch.   Polly Vernon Sunday April 18, 2004 The Observer

Alain Ducasse Restuarant, NYC

The restaurant is located in the Essex House Hotel in Central Park, its cuisine based on the best American produce, prepared with French expertise. Alain Ducasse worked with Paul Valet to renovate this legendary location- a feast for the eyes as much as for the taste buds. The result is out of this world,  – a place that is lively, convivial and truly sophisticated.

The wait time is several months. The price is $500-600 per couple.
155 W. 58th St. between Sixth and Seventh Aves.
212-265-7300

Size of restaurant :
  65 places occupying 3 separate dining rooms
  Private room for 10 to 12 people
The Chef’s Table for  6 people

The 2002 Mobil Travel Guide awarded 5 stars to  the Alain Ducasse at the Essex House. It was the only restaurant in its class to receive 5 stars that year.