The Affluent Travelers

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

The Diamond District

The United States is the world's largest consumer market for diamonds. Over 90 percent of the diamonds that come into this country go through New York City and most of them go through the Diamond District.

47th Street between Fifth Avenue & Avenue of the Americas
212-302-5739

A jewelry lover's paradise, this area is filled with family businesses specializing in diamonds, gold, and other items such as fine gems, pearls, silver, platinum, watches, and antique and estate jewelry. Shop for loose stones, a stone that is already set in jewelry, or have your own stone reset. Generally, most stores here are open weekdays, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For a complete list of Diamond District stores, visit www.47th-street.com.

Manhattan occupies only twenty-three square miles, but that's big enough for two diamond and jewelry districts. The larger and better known fills the entire block of West 47th Street between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. This one street forms the world's largest market in the commodity. he second and older district, centered at the northwest corner of the Bowery and Canal Street, is more of a general jewelry market; its shop windows display vast quantities of jade. It's also the southernmost of three single-trade districts on the Bowery

The diamond trade, secretive and often mysterious to outsiders, runs on a strict honor code. Dealers of size and repute, many of whom are Hasidic and Orthodox Jews, belong to the Diamond Dealers Club, an organization that provides a market for stones and a venue for the settlement, by arbitration if necessary, of disputes and claims between members. The Club enforces the industry's cardinal rule that dealers must honor their word at the risk of expulsion from the industry. Unlike garment manufacturers who go bankrupt, financially troubled diamond dealers must repay all their creditors in full if they hope to maintain good standing in the trade.