For those who like their coffee with a strong nose Thailand could be the ideal destination, after a blend made from elephant dung was put on sale by an upmarket hotel chain. The Black Ivory blend, made from coffee beans digested and excreted by Thai elephants, is billed as producing
The Loney Planet’s Top 10 Cities for 2013, plucked from its Best in Travel 2013 guide, elects San Francisco to top spot, with Amsterdam, Hyderabad, Derry and Beijing close behind. San Francisco came top as a result of its cultural mix, Amsterdam is to celebrate anniversaries for its canal, for
A replica of India’s world-famous Taj Mahal, four times the size of the original, is to be built in Dubai as what is to be billed as the world’s grandest wedding venue. It took the Mughal emperor Shah Jahan 22 years to build the marble mausoleum for his queen 360
According to a study carried out by travel website Kayak in the US the best time to book a flight is 21 days before departure. And, research of millions of flights booked by Kayak users over a six-month period showed that the average fare for a domestic flight in the
Why pay $69,000 (£43,000) for a beech wood bike without brakes? Not sure, perhaps aesthetics or conversation piece… London-based designer Andy Martin teamed up with the furniture company Thonet to steam bend a unique bicycle that allows you to be one with the road. Designboom explains, “the fixed gear conception
I apologize for not writing in the last few months. I have no one to blame but myself, even though I have a lot to say. The problem is that I just don’t know how to say it. That being said, here goes: Over the next few months, you will
You have less than a year to prepare to what luxury blogs are describing as a “once-in-a-lifetime trip”. For USD 60,000 you are invited to join the renowned anthropologist Jane Goodall, founder of the Jane Goodall Institute and UN Messenger of Peace, with 20-year National Geographic magazine contributing photographer, speaker,
To celebrate 50 years of the world’s favorite agent 007, Christie’s auction house will be running a series of events in South Kensington and online. September 28 – October 8 40-lots direct from EON Productions’ archive will be auctioned via the internet only Browse the catalogue which includes chamapgne, ‘Goldfinger’
This month the best food iin Finland can be found 262 feet underground in what it is being coined a “pop-down” restaurant. Eating underground promises a unique experience with a silver spoon feast serving up entrees like roasted veal and fennel risotto. “Muru Pops Down in Tytyri is in stark
The editors at Budget Travel magazine decided to list their picks for the top ten trendsetting eateries that have brought new food concepts global like New Nordic cuisine, the nose-to-tail experience and gastropub fare, according to Luxuo. On the list there are six restaurants from the US with others from
First the bad news: there is going to be a lot less champagne to go round this year. The good news: what there is could be outstanding. After one of the worst spring growing seasons on record, producers of champagne are bracing themselves for one of the smallest harvests in
Paris leads a list of the 101 best hotel restaurants around the world, as compiled by popular food site The Daily Meal. Spanning six continents, more than 40 countries and 80 cities, the list was curated by consulting ‘trusted sources’ like the Michelin Guide, and recommendations from The Daily Meal’s
Erik Wachtmeister, the Swedish social media entrepreneur that created aSmallWorld, is back with a new online venture, Best of All Worlds. Watchtmeister’s site targets the “top 1%” and all members need to be invited in, similar to aSmallWorld which was created in 2004, the same year as Facebook. “The top
In China, the haves do not have to actually do the time — that is if they can pony up for a look-like. According to Slate.com’s exposé, if wealthy and powerful criminals are willing to “…spend some money, [they] remain free,” noted a Chinese anonymous police officer. The cost of
If you are looking for an off the beaten path type of holiday – one that likely no one you know has ever made – look to the Telegraph’s compiled list of the “world’s most extreme places”. This is not a Rick Steeve’s guidebook but rather a how to get
According to the editors at VirtualTourist.com, a user-generated travel site with 1.2 million registered members from 220 countries, the world’s best city for street food fare in Bangkok. Members specifically recommend Soi Rambuttri in the old district of Bangkok and Soi 38 near Sukumvit for its evening food markets which
BMW i3 and i8 electric and hybrid cars launch in 2013 and 2014 respectively. They are to be the world’s first to sell directly to customers online. According to Bloomberg, BMW, the world’s largest maker of luxury vehicles, is using the Web to find “an inexpensive way to reach more
While London has the Olympics, those in New York on August 4, 11 and 18 (7am-1pm) have the opportunity to climb the walls near Spring Street and zip-line “30 feet above East 17th Street and Park Avenue South.” The Summer Streets festival hosted by the Department of Transportation will extend
1927 Rolls Royce Phantom I Playboy Roadster hits the block at Coys auction at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire, England on July 14th. This impressive machine is in pristine condition and for three decades was part of Warner Brother’s movie fleet — appearing in classic films including Giant, the FBI Story, and
The Qatari owners of Harrods are planning to launch a line of hotels under the name of the famous luxury London store. “The target plan is to open Harrods hotels at sites in key cities such as Kuala Lumpur, New York and Paris as well as in China. “Preference will
Dinner in the Sky, a global culinary event, heads to Brussels this year during Brusselicious 2012 – a year-long food festival. More than 600 guests are expected to enjoy the nose-bleed seated meal produced by the Dining Event company, known for their branded altitude dining, clubs and weddings in Paris,
A new Spanish-run site aBoatTime.com is promising one-stop shopping for chartering yachts and organizing Euro sailing and diving adventures. A quick glance at the site shows a slew of boat selections (ranges from ulitmate luxury to cutting edge technology), simple registration process that allows for a small deposit and emails
At this point the floating utopia is only a design concept but many are saying it is completely feasible. Italian designer Michele Puzzolante is working to change the face of resort and marina living. His Solar Floating Resort (SFR) is “covered completely in a photovoltaic skin, the resort is 100%
Meet Synergy aircraft. Its creator John McGinnis contends that flying will soon be cheaper and greener than driving. He claims new technology allows him and his team to produce planes that offer: Way more room. A quiet, smooth ride… with a view! Far greater economy, using better fuels. Easier operation.
Inspiring eighth grader Mallory Kievman from Connecticut has invented a promising cure for hiccups. This isn’t your average science fair project, Kievman with the assistance of her pops has won “prizes for innovation and patentability (the pops are patent-pending) at the Connecticut Invention Convention competition for young entrepreneurs. And the
Disneyland proves “it’s a small world” is more than a song especially if you want to gain access to their elite, secret club, Club 33. According to the LA Times, Club 33 has a waiting list in excess of 800 names and no one has been admitted for the past
In addition to celebrating the women and mothers dearest to you today, you might want to gift life to other mums around the world with a simple, small gesture. Water.org has launched the campaign Honor your Mother. Honor Another where you can quickly create and share a sentiment with and
Lacoste reveals their new collection Flag, “carrying sporting values, the spirit of international competition, inspired by the flags of each country,” according to AFP-relaxnews. “The Croco Flag polo shirt sees Lacoste’s signature little green mascot swapping his scaly shirt for the colours of a country over a classic white cotton
Design by Veronika Grebennikova
