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

Singapore Air Luxury Suite

For Singapore Airlines, the $360 million and four years it invested in creating its new Sleeper Seat is simply the cost of doing business its way.

"We firmly believe in bringing back the romance of travel," said Bey Soo Khiang, Singapore Airlines' senior executive vice president for operations and service. The carrier is considered one of the industry's most influential trendsetters.

The Sleeper Seat is encased in mahogany and is the widest in the world at 35 inches, equivalent to two economy seats.

It is equipped with a 23-inch liquid crystal display television screen, laptop power source, a vanity table and comforters and pillows designed by Givenchy of France.

Fresh bed linens and a down-filled duvet are provided with  tailored turn-down service. Slip into a Givenchy-designed pajama suit, soft eye-shades, warm terry-cloth socks, and sleep in world-class luxury.

Round trip Sleeper Suite airfares  $10,000  and under.

 

The Most Lavish Suites Afloat

Jutting out at each side of the Queen Mary 2 at the stern are the Balmoral and Sandringham Grand Deluxe Apartments. Each is often combined with  the neighboring Penthouse to make  well suited  accomodations for the family. 

If you are in a particularly expansive mood, you can reserve both Grand Duplexes with the 3 Deluxe Apartment in between to create a  8,288 sq palazzo

Here your concierge and a personal butler anticipate your needs and comply with the utmost speed and efficiency. Lavish amenities include marble baths with whirlpool tubs, towel warmers, walk-in closets, en-suite bars stocked with selected spirits or wine and soft drinks, fresh flowers and pre-dinner canapés.

The enormous Grand Duplexes include sweeping living quarters - an expansive balcony downstairs, a luxurious master bedroom upstairs, and two marble bathrooms (one with a whirlpool tub and one with a separate shower). There is also an additional guest bathroom with a shower located downstairs.
info: theAffluentTravelers@mindspring.com

SuperYacht "My-Jo"

Designed, built and equipped to impeccable standards as a sleek, modern super-yacht.  Jo's classic interior, spacious decks, wide range of activities and professional crew offer the perfect environment for relaxation and entertaining.

With a dark blue hull color Jo is a refined version of the six Golden Bay series yachts with naval architecture from Benetti. The exterior style is from Stefano Natucci, while the interior is a François Zuretti concept modified by the owner's individual family style. The decorative theme is colonial, with painted cherry wood.

Spacious reception areas and decks provide for ease, comfort and stylish entertaining at sea or in port. MY-JO is designed to fit perfectly with the requirements of both family and charter use, easily accommodating up to 12 guests in 6 cabins - the owner's suite, 2 double cabins and 2 twin cabins (with Pullmans) and a multipurpose cabin, with accommodation for up to 12 crew in 6 cabins.

The owner's bedroom extends across the yacht's full beam with a king sized bed in the center, facing aft. As in the main saloon, the satin-finished cherry wood is set off with light colored fabrics, with a more lavish look and feel. Over the bed is a large button packed panel that controls everything. A small adjacent area is furnished with a mini bar, a desk and a plasma television screen. The vast area in the owner's suite is a lavishly decorated oasis of marble and wood, flanked on either side by walk through dressing rooms.

Activities:

Dinghy Sailing
Feel the freedom and get in touch with your soul under the power of wind and sail alone on our Laser Pico sailboat.

Jet Skis
Boost the adrenaline rush as you fly across the waves on our two Kawasaki jet skis. Extraordinary maneuverability, yet rock steady stability will make this the ride of your life.

Water Skiing
The Novarania tender will get you up and get you going for a fun whirl off the beach.

Wakeboarding
Hold tight and learn how to master this art. If already proficient try an exhilarating ride along the surf line.

Snorkeling
The gear is on board. Swim over beautiful coral reefs and enjoy spotting different tropical fish.

Donuts
Up for some adventure! Skim across the waves on our inflatable 'donuts' while being towed by the tender.

Kayaks
Enjoy everything the underwater world has to offer from the surface, as you paddle peacefully along in our see-through kayaks.

Sails the Mediterranean/Caribbean -163' long,  12 guests, 6 cabins, $175,000  per week, all expenses and crew. 

Contact: theAffluentTravelers@mindspring.com

The Orient Express

This luxury train was first built in Japan in 1972 and operated as the Silver Star train in New Zealand. It's carriages were then remodelled and designed by Gérard Gallet, the man behind much of the design and refurbishment of both the British Pullman and the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express.

On board the Eastern & Oriental Express, the atmosphere harks back to a 'Colonial' age of rattan chairs on the verandah, linen suits and tea dances. The on board cuisine continues the same very high standards already established by the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express in Europe. The inaugural journey departed in September 1993 and the Eastern & Oriental Express quickly built for itself a highly regarded reputation as providing one of the most adventurous and exciting rail journeys in the world.

In addition to the two night journey between Singapore and Bangkok, the E&O also travels overnight to Chiang Mai from Bangkok.

The E&O has two Presidential Suites. Daytime seating converts to two single beds at floor level at night, with a separate dressing area. There is ample room to entertain one or two of your fellow guests in daytime configuration. Equipped with all the same facilities as the Pullman and State Compartments, with the addition of a complimentary bar. Prices range from $2,800-$5,800 depending on your route.

Time aboard the train is full of diversions. In the Dining Cars, waiters present gourmet Asian and European dishes and fine wines in gleaming crystal and silverware. The Bar Car with its resident pianist and variety of local entertainment provides a special opportunity to meet fellow travellers. In the Saloon car, the Boutique sells a range of exclusive Collection Eastern & Oriental Express merchandise, and there is also a Reading Room with a varied library.

The most popular place on board is the open decked Observation Car, which provides an unbeatable opportunity to enjoy the beautiful scenery.

The E&O accommodates 132 passengers in 66 air-conditioned compartments, all furnished with beautiful fabrics, fine linens and soft towels, and a friendly room service is available 24 hours a day.

Seabourn Spirit #1

The intimate, all-suite Seabourn Spirit is once again the highest-rated cruise ship in the world in the 2005 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Poll. The ultra luxury ship was awarded the same title in the 2003 poll. Spirit's overall score of 97.7 was bolstered by perfect scores of 100 in the categories of "Itineraries" and "Crew/Service." In addition, the magazine's readers rated the ship's value as "Excellent."

Spirit's identical sisters, Seabourn Pride and Seabourn Legend, shared the spotlight with admirable scores in their own rights. Pride earned a perfect 100 for "Crew/Service" and Legend took the top spot in the small ship category for "Food/Dining," barely edging ahead of second-place Spirit by two-tenths of a point.

On-Demand Learjet

Here's what you will find in your America Express bill. Note the $1,000 off offer. On-Demand flying will run  $1,800 an hour. Or you can book 25 hours for $92,000.

Premier Fleet Plus—Learjet® Class. It offers you a pleasurable  travel experience by putting you in a Bombardier Learjet® 60 - featuring a quiet, stand-up cabin, room for six to seven passengers and expansive baggage capacity. Premier Fleet Plus – Challenger Class Premier Fleet members can step up to the program that puts them in a Challenger 604 – the aircraft whose name has been a legend. The Challenger 604 boards the widest cabin in its class, and expansive stand-up heights, of over six feet with room for 9-12 passengers.  Exceptionally quiet.

With the Premier Fleet Plus-Learjet and Challenger Class jet cards, you get all the flexibility and guarantees of Premier Fleet, including: Guaranteed FREE positioning. With Premier Fleet, you don’t have to pay to bring a plane into position, to return an empty aircraft to home base, or for another aircraft to meet you. One-way, round trip, overnight—all flights are billed at the same "no-surprises" rate. Easy, low-cost entry. You can join Premier Fleet by contracting for just 25 hours of flight time. Guaranteed availability. Need a bigger jet than the size you’ve contracted? With just 12 hours advance notice, you’re guaranteed an aircraft with the passenger capacity and range you need. Even many fractional ownership programs can’t promise you that!

skyjet.com

Best First Class

Earlier this year, Emirates launched a non-stop flight from New York to Dubai, which at 17 hours, is one of the longest flights in the world. In the air, passengers are treated to flat beds with massaging chairs, on demand dining and on demand entertainment with over 500 channels. Amenity kits are stocked with Clarins products, and there's a lit vanity built into the seat. The fully-flat sleeper beds have a mattress pad for extra cushioning, and passengers are given pajamas, slippers and a blanket. If you'd rather drink your way through the flight, there's a stand up bar in the cabin, or guests can sample the built-in mini bar. Privacy screens with "do not disturb" signs can create a cocoon shelter around the bed, ensuring privacy and peace.  (from Forbes Best  First Class of 2004)

 

For more information, visit www.emirates.com.   

Pricey and Hot

The Most Expensive Car  is the 2003 Ferrari Enzo at $643,330 (as of 11/04). It is a 6 speed semi-automatic, V12.  You will go from 0-60 mph in 3.6 seconds.  The top speed is 217 mph.

Then there is the  2001 Saleen 57 for $395,000.  It is a 6 speed manual, V8.  Top speed is 215 mph and it goes from 0-60 in
3.3 seconds.

Private Jet Travel

Flight Options, a leading provider of private jet travel solutions and an affiliate of Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN), is expanding its JetPass program. The Flight Options JetPass provides access to the Flight Options fleet in 25-hour increments without fractional ownership requirements. “Many of our individual and corporate clients are looking for private flight options in addition to ownership,” said John Nahill, chairman and chief executive officer, Flight Options, LLC. “JetPass offers the luxury and convenience of private jet travel with a smaller commitment. This is the perfect compliment to our fractional program.” As an added incentive JetPass members who sign up now will be exempted from any fuel surcharge for their first 12 months of membership. Additionally, this seamless travel solution is fully refundable and offers clients a significant savings over fractional competitors’ jet card programs.

The Flight Options JetPass is available on the most requested aircraft in the Flight Options fleet - the Beechjet 400A, Hawker 800 fleet and a large cabin 10-passenger aircraft, such as the Challenger, Gulfstream IV and Legacy. JetPass members receive the benefits of the Flight Options fractional ownership program—safety, a consistent service experience, the best pilots in the industry and guaranteed availability. “Flight Options is the first private aviation company to offer the full spectrum from membership to leases to fractional ownership, all under one company. This all-encompassing approach truly reflects the best that private aviation has to offer by providing consistent service that transcends from one provider, ”added Nahill.

Based in Cleveland, Ohio, Flight Options, LLC is the world’s fastest-growing provider of private jet travel solutions. The company offers the complete spectrum from fractional ownership, leasing and membership options and has received the prestigious ARG/US Platinum Safety Rating twice. The Flight Options fleet of more than 215 aircraft includes the world’s largest fleets of King Air’s, Beechjet 400A’s and Hawker 800’s. The fleet also includes the CitationJet, Hawker 400XP, Citation V, Citation 650, Falcon 50, Citation X, Challenger 601, Legacy and Gulfstream IV.

For More Information Contact:
Phone: 216.261.3500
flightoptions.com