The Italo is Italy’s response to France’s TGV and Germany’s ICE. The nation’s first privatized high-speed train is designed by Ferrari. The dark Ferrari-red casing and stylish, comfortable interiors that seats 450 passagers outshines the TGV and speeds from Rome to Naples in an hour or to Milan in three.
In the Italian city of Naples, the Casoria Contemporary Art Museum has launched a protest, Art War, against the Italian governments’ austerity cuts by burning works of art from around the world. The Art War began on April 17 and reportedly will continue until the cuts are revoked — three
If you are a foodie, you might be better off planning a trip through Japan this year as it has surpassed France in 3-starred Michelin restaurants, 36:26. Plus the Ritz closes this summer and won’t reopen until 2014. Thanks to AFP-relaxnews, here are all the three-starred restaurants in Japan, by
Spain is to become the next Las Vegas, says casino kingpin Sheldon Adelson. Adelson recently announced a $35 billion investment to construct a mini Vegas strip in both Madrid and Barcelona. He explained, “We are looking at 12 integrated resorts, 3,000 rooms each. A mini Las Vegas about half the
Apparently New Yorkers are too lazy to stop off at a bodega or drugstore on any corner to buy energy drinks, snack bars, gum, mints and over-the-counter pain relievers. At least that is what the New York City Economic Development Corporation thinks as they awarded two students from Stern Business
Over 200 egg-quisite eggs were tucked away in secret locations around London leading up to Easter. The event, hosted by Fabergé, spotlighted egg-shaped wonders imagined by numerous world-renowned designers including Mulberry, Candy & Candy, Nicky Haslam, Theo Fennel, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Quinn, Zaha Hadid and Selfridges. The 40 days
Giusto Manetti Battiloro, a renowned gold-leaf producer, has created 24K Gold Torpedo cigars with California-based humidor maker Daniel Marshall, priced at $200. The cigar is a Nicaraguan puro with full-bodied Jalapa filler blend, a milder Estelí binder, a rich Cuban-seed wrapper aged five years and topped with a 24K gold
Elite Traveler, a magazine targeted towards private jet setting by Net Jets, published its ranking of the top 20 restaurants in the world. The blog Luxuo points out, “The selection provides an interesting contrast to other international rankings like the… World’s 50 Best Restaurants list.” This is best exemplified by
Luxury hotels, the likes of Ritz-Carlton, Auberge Saint-Antoine, Setai Hotel, and the SLS Hotel, have decided to park food trucks on their premises to promote gourmet fast food by their top chefs. The blog PSFK overs a round-up explaining the hotels want to draw in hungry guests and visitors that
On March 27, the first 9-hole course is to open in the Maldives at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa. The majority of the holes are par three and average 123 yards — the entire course is built on 7.5 hectares. Although this is currently the first golf course in the
This distinct, wild scent is packaged in a spray paint can — and it isn’t just for looks. A spritz will turn you, or whatever you spray, royal blue for a matter of minutes before disappearing but the “spicy herbal scent” lingers. Wode by Boudicca, billed as a Graffiti perfume,
It is often said that people find greater fulfilment from the places they go and experiences had –opposed to things accumulated. A new service, Side Tour, is hoping to prove this with exclusive, intimate events around New York and Austin for SXSW. A quick glance at SideTour.com feels a bit
A UK-based company Blue Forest is making both children’s and adults’ wildest dreams come true with custom luxury treehouses. The blog Rich Times notes “that [the treehouses] would lure even Tinker Bell to move from Neverland.” However these luxury treehouses are a far cry from Neverland with features that include
With the release of the lastest iPad and the necessity of touchscreen technology in freezing temps — IKEA with the support of agency SMFB developed a new product BERÖRA (Swedish for “touch”). The BERÖRA is a “sewing kit with a special conductive thread to sew into a glove or mitten,
Tennis pros Andre Agassi and Stephanie Graf are offering a private one-hour tennis lesson in Las Vegas to the winning bidder. The lesson is being auctioned to benefit the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. It is valid for one year and the date is TBD by the ‘golden duo’ and the
Well, only if you are in first class and flying and Virgin Atlantic Airways. In an effort to not disturb others passengers and make for the best in-air experience — the Upper Class suite flight crew have been trained to whisper at the “ideal tone” reported by The Rich Times
Over 200 egg-quisite eggs are tucked away in secret locations around London. The event, hosted by Fabergé, spotlights egg-shaped wonders imagined by numerous world-renowned designers including Mulberry, Candy & Candy, Nicky Haslam, Theo Fennel, Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Quinn, Zaha Hadid and Selfridges. In addition to providing 40 days and
Rule number one – sometimes you lose and don’t get a trophy. Rule number two – when you lose and you don’t get a trophy remember the feeling, work harder next time and if still lose, repeat and do it again eventually you should win. However, everyone is not entitled
Instead of buying a studio in New York City you can now have an abandonned village, Courbefy, located in the Limousin region of France (less than 30 miles from Limoges) for €330,000/$438,174. There are reportedly 19 buildings (with residences) in the villages but it also comes with a slew of
Enter the new Ferrari California convertible updated with a new Handling Speciale package for 2013. It is scheduled to be officially unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in March. And, it is expected to be lighter and even faster than the 2012 California. The blog Luxury Insider notes that the
World renowned couture designer Oscar de la Renta launched a digital inspiration board for anyone that wants to inspire his next resort collection. Oscar is asking for you to be his muse during the next three months. All you need to do is upload images or videos on The Board
In the near future, nanocapacitors spewed from a spray can on to a wall, tree, clothing and even underwater may replace ugly cell towers. During the Solve for X event, Google’s answer to TED, a Utah based start-up ChamTech Operations Enterprises, Inc. unveiled their spray-on wireless antenna technology. Wacth it.
Apparently booking a block of rooms in a five star hotel or renting a few villas will no longer cut it for corporate retreats or family vacations. There are whole villages for rent in Austria, France, Italy, UK, Germany and Switzerland. The prices vary but the firm Rent A Village
If candy hearts won’t cut it this year and you are looking for something out-of-[the little blue]-box, here are a few gift options luxury bloggers are pushing: Mile [not-so] High: Bid on a 3-course champagne dinner aboard a grounded Concorde. British Airways is offering “royal treatment, red carpet and gourmet
The high-end fixture firm Donbracht has developed the horizontal shower to alter your shower experience — ideal for those that do not like to be immersed in water, like with a bath, and too lazy to stand. According to the home decorating trends magazine Trendir, there are six water bars
Renowned performance chef Grant Achatz is offering a tribute to Ferran Adria and the close of elBulli with a 29-course menu at NEXT. For $365 diners can experience Achatz’s interpretation of elBulli’s top dishes and drinks from the last 25 years. Here is the menu in Spanish and English. Expect
Since Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow last week, it’s time to make the most of the cold and Volkswagen has the ultimate in winter gear, the GTI Crazy Bob. According to VW.de, the Crazy Bob is made from the highest quaility cold-resistant plastic with ergonomic front and back design that
Amazon.com’s members-only flash-sale site MYHABIT launched its first designer tab, with the likes of Thakoon, Valentino and Balmain, to attract high-end shoppers in search of 60% savings on February 6 at 9am PST/12pm EST. Top fashion houses including Bibhu Mohapatra, Costume National and Alejandro Ingelmo have been hanpicked for the
