More details on the 2011 Vacation Deprivation study can be found here: www.expedia.com/vacationdeprivation.

“At Expedia, we believe travel experiences on vacation are an essential part of living a balanced, meaningful life,” said Scott Durchslag, President of Expedia Worldwide. “But perspectives on this differ around the world. Americans can often live to work, viewing vacations as a guilty privilege to be downplayed around the workplace — especially if they are worried about their jobs. Europeans work to live, feeling vacation is a right rather than a privilege. Asians take the fewest days of vacation and spend them secretly checking emails. I am convinced this is a false choice because vacations allow employees to rejuvenate, sharpen the saw, connect with new cultures, and renew their relationships. It is no coincidence that the happiest, well-balanced employees are the most innovative and productive.”

Expedia’s Vacation Deprivation study surveyed 7,803 employed adults across 20 countries. It asked employed individuals to share the number of vacation days (as distinct from mandated holidays) they take each year, what obstacles they face, where they prefer to holiday and how they behave on arrival. Among the findings:

• Europeans lead the world in vacationing. On the whole, European workers enjoy considerably more vacation time, as measured by days given and days taken, than their peers elsewhere. The average employed European earns 25-30 vacation days in a given year, and, with some exceptions, tends to use them all. Brazilians treat vacation as the Europeans do — as a vital part of being employed, rather than a luxury. The study showed that Brazilian workers receive 30 vacation days and enjoy every one of them.
• Americans treat vacation as a luxury rather than a fact of life. Americans receive roughly half the Europeans’ allotment of vacation time. In 2011, employed Americans earned 14 vacation days and took 12, a decrease from 2010. The median number of vacation days US workers earned in 2010 was 15 days; the number taken was 12. In comparison, the French earned 30 vacation days, and took all 30 in 2011. In 2010, the average French worker used all but one of their vacation days.
• American vacation habits are more like Asians’ than Europeans’. Asia represents the most vacation-deprived region in the 2011 Vacation Deprivation study. Japanese workers trailed the field, taking a mere five vacation days out of 11 available, while South Korean respondents enjoyed seven out of a possible ten days of vacation. Last year, Japanese workers left six vacation days on the table, trailing only the Italians. Italian respondents reported that they left seven vacation days unused in the past year, more than any other nation, though Italians are not precisely vacation-deprived, having 28 days at their disposal.
• Money and planning are the most commonly-cited reasons for not taking vacation. Overall, 22% of respondents said they believed they could not afford it, and 20% said “lack of planning.” The US leads the world in money worries: 1 out of 3 Americans say that they can’t afford vacation. However, almost 50% of US workers describe their financial situation as “solid” or “good,” which reinforces the notion that Americans view vacation as a luxury. Brazilian respondents, on the other hand, were least likely to see money as a vacation impediment (6%). Brazilians chose “lack of planning” as their top reason.
• The world’s least supportive bosses work in Italy and South Korea. Most workers reported that their bosses are largely supportive of vacation — Americans find that 73% of their bosses are supportive. The reverse was true in Italy (56% boss disapproval) and South Korea (52%), where respondents were most likely to believe management frowns on employee vacations or were unsure. Work/life balance seems to be most prevalent in northern Europe, with Norway and Sweden boasting the highest boss-approval percentages (88% and 82%, respectively.)
• Most vacationers find it difficult to disconnect from work. The Danish find it easiest — only one in seven respondents from Denmark report that they check email and voicemail regularly while on break, with more than 50% refusing to check in even once. Americans, too, prefer to disconnect when on vacation, with only 25% checking in regularly, and 75% checking in sometimes or never. More than 50% of French, Japanese, Indian and Italian workers remain tightly connected to the office while on vacation.
• Most people prefer beaches over romance. Globally, beach vacations are king. Twice as many respondents cited beach vacations as their preference, versus “romantic holidays with spouse” — except in South Korea, which overwhelmingly chose “romantic holidays” (45% versus 27% favoring the beach). Romance was the preferred option for the Japanese as well, unlike Argentineans and Mexicans, who were four or five times as likely to select the beach as they were to choose a romantic holiday, a city getaway or an outdoor adventure. The Dutch were the outdoorsiest vacationers, while Singaporeans prefer the city.

Also opening for Members’ use this month are stunning apartments in Miami on Miami Beach, a Broadway penthouse in New York’s Times Square and a two bedroom apartment in the El Born district of Barcelona.

THE CITY COLLECTION

Following on from the success of the Classic Collection, The Hideaways Club’s first Fund of luxury villas across the world, comes the launch of the City Collection – an exclusive private Members Club which will provide investors with a new way to enjoy an unrivalled and luxurious city lifestyle. The City Collection will ultimately have a portfolio of 120 city properties, acquired over the next three years, to include a wide selection of fully serviced apartments in some of the most vibrant and glamorous cities around the world which will be as diversified as Rio de Janeiro and Moscow to Buenos Aires and Sydney.

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After the long, treacherous months of winter, spring and summer couture

1. Bikinis, bathing suits, and swimwear are taking some surprising turns for 2011. Denim, a wardrobe staple, has hit swimwear. At the Mercedes- Benz Swimwear 2011 Fashion Week, held in Miami Beach, denim swimsuits were featured in several runway collections. True Religion and Ed Hardy showed several denim bathing suit styles. Both designer collections feature one-piece and bikini swimsuits with an emphasis on corseted looks. Other pieces featured belts and vested swimwear touches in denim. Boy shorts, studded denim, halter tops, and chain details round out the newest in denim swimwear looks. Pieces range in price from $50 to $150. Tops and bottoms are typically sold separately, ensuring proper fit for all body types. Visit www.edhardy.com and www.truereligionbrandjeans.com to see the latest collections.

2. Another refreshingly new trend in swimsuits is the return of a white one-piece. Dolce & Gabbana showcased a sea of white romper-style swimsuits. Among them were several belted styles, many sweetheart-necklines, and delicate  details of lace, crochet-work, ties and buttons. This look was made famous by Marilyn Monroe in the 50s. The white  swimwear look is delicate, feminine, and yet playful with the updated details. The pin tuck stitching details and touches of lace and crochet complete the overall look. Dolce & Gabbana pieces are in the pricier range, typically several  hundred dollars, but are well worth the investment. Their suits are timeless and constructed with the highest quality  standards. Suits and styles can be purchased from the online store at store.dolcegabbana.com.

3. Other honorable mentions in swimsuit trends: animal prints, bold floral prints, ruffles, and convertible bathing suits.Several designers featured swimsuits with attached sheer sarongs that can be worn in a multitude of different combinations. Carol Wior featured several convertible swimsuits with built-in sarongs and is among the more affordable in swimwear options. She offers suits in a wide range of sizes and cup sizes, which is important for larger-breasted women. Carol Wior suits can be purchased online at www.qvc.com. Her bathing suits range in price from $60 to $130. A refreshing take on the bold floral trend centers around floral placement on a swimsuit. Large blooms could be seen placed on the diagonal from the shoulder to the hipline, highlighting the body and adding a slimming effect. Isaac Mizrahi has some affordable pieces in his Isaac Mizrahi line at Target. His collection is very affordably priced. Prices range from as low as $10 to $30. He also features several animal print swimsuit options and ruffled options in his recent collection. Ruffled tops are a wonderful way to add volume to a petite or small-chested woman. View the entire Isaac Mizrahi collection at www.target.com or in any Target location.

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In two previous articles, I discussed the benefits of flying privately and the various types of private air travel investments that are available to you, including fractional ownership, jet card programs and traditional charter.

If you’re trying private air travel for the first time, traditional charter is likely to be the best way to dip your toe in the water. There are no long term commitments or big capital outlays. Just like renting a limousine, you pay only the cost of your trip.

More specifically, charter may be attractive if your travel profile looks like this:

• You fly roundtrips on the same day (so that you minimize “deadhead” costs of flying the aircraft back to its home base from your outbound leg and back to pick you up for your return flight.)

• You make travel plans well in advance (so that we can thoroughly investigate the market.)

• We can identify reputable and safe charter operators near your home base who fly aircraft that satisfy your needs and who have the aircraft inventory to deliver reliable service and availability when you need it. (Again, this will limit the cost of positioning aircraft.)

• Your usage may vary substantially over time so that “pay as you go” charter is better for you than locking into a program with a “use it or lose it” commitment.

There are at least one thousand charter operators in the United States. Although you certainly can find charter operators on the internet, this isn’t quite like buying a set of steak knives. Charter flying is expensive and, more importantly, you’re putting your life and the lives of your family members in the hands of the operator, its aircraft and pilots.

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From a hobo childhood in the outback to Monaco millionaire, by his early 30s this private investor and entrepreneur was earning a seven-figure sum on the trading floor before being head-hunted for a secretive hedge-fund based in Bermuda. His financial success enabled him to retire to Monaco, at the enviable young age of just 34. He went on to dabble in further projects and became a household name after starring as an investor in Dragons’ Den, backing Levi Roots and his now famous Reggae Reggae Sauce.

Currently a member of the Business Review Weekly ‘Rich 200’ list (the 200 wealthiest Australians), Richard Farleigh talks to Angela West about his business successes, failures, tips and destinations.

From ‘Backward Child’ to Chess Champ
At 10, he wanted to be a bushranger, “A kind of Aussie Robin Hood”, at 20 “an academic”, at 30 “a master of the universe hedge fund manager… Oh, and at 15, a religious minister!” he recalls.

Born in the country town of Kyabram, in the state of Victoria in 1960, Richard Buckland Smith (his middle name a nod to ancestors traced back to the infamous Rum Corps rebellion) was one of 11 siblings. He never knew what it was like to have a proper home with his natural family, who travelled around the countryside in an old truck, the children exposed to the elements except when they made camp and sheltered in a tent.

His father, a shearer/seasonal labourer/opal miner, was a violent alcoholic and Richard’s first memory of him was one of ‘fear’. Before he was born, a baby sister had died after drinking bad water from a river. When he was two, all of the children were taken into care and separated. Shortly afterwards, Richard was fostered by Marjorie and Keith Farleigh from Sydney’s southwestern suburbs. They were initially to look after him for a few months until his parents reclaimed him, but Richard succumbed to a bad bout of measles, during which one of his eyes ‘turned’, forcing him to wear a patch. Confined to a darkened room with daily doctor visits, it needed two operations to correct it, by which time he was five.

Now at school, Marjorie decided this fragile little boy needed her and would be staying. Richard’s relationship with his foster father, however, was never close and there was a brief, tense reunion with his biological parents when he was four but it wasn’t until adulthood that he made contact with his other siblings. His mother died in the 1990s and he lost track of his father.

His timidity, low self-esteem and unwillingness to speak was misinterpreted as an indication of being ‘backward’, and Richard was placed in the lowest class at kindergarten. At the age of eight, however, he was thrown a lifeline when his primary school teacher spotted his aptitude in mathematics and recognised his potential.

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In a previous article, “Fly Privately” (May/June 2010), I discussed how the frustration of flying with the commercial airlines is pushing many weary travelers to seek refuge in private air travel where they enjoy greater convenience, time savings, security and many other “quality of life” benefits. But the choice of private air travel leads to a further question: What type of private air travel investment is right for you? Fractional ownership? A jet card program? Or perhaps on demand charter may be your best bet?

Most importantly, how should you go about making this decision?

At Shaircraft Solutions, we begin by having you answer several important questions, among them:

• What is your budget?
• How often do you fly?
• Where and when do you fly?
• How far in advance do you plan your trips?
• How many passengers and how much luggage do you take?
• Do you prefer to fly on a fleet managed by a single operator?
• Do you have specific aircraft preferences?
• What is the best use of your capital?
• Can you take advantage of depreciation tax deductions?

Analyzing your responses to these and other questions, we develop a travel profile that enables us to determine the type of private air travel investment that’s right for you. The general rule of thumb that passes for common wisdom is that if you fly between 50 and 400 hours per year your best option may be fractional ownership, which involves owning a share of an aircraft that is managed by a single operator as part of a fleet. If you fly less than 50 hours per year, you may be better off with a jet card or “pay as you go” charter, and if you fly more than 400 hours annually, you may consider buying a whole aircraft.

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There’s something quite therapeutic about spending an hour or so browsing holiday resort websites. It’s armchair travelling at its finest: no tickets to buy, no airport delays and no end of holiday options, from castles in Scotland to game reserve lodges in South Africa.

A few years ago I edited the in-house magazine for a resort developer in Spain. One of the sections was “Editor’s Letters”; readers wrote in to share their holiday experiences, all with one thread in common – their timeshare membership. It was afascinating insight into what we do when we finally get away for a holiday and usuallyone or two photos would fall out of the letters that arrived on my desk.

What struck me most wasn’t the number of letters the Spanish postman delivered but the sheer breadth of these holiday stories – often with anecdotes a particular memberof staff who’d made the family’s holiday that bit more memorable.

There was a particularly colourful photo of an older couple who had just tied the knot and flew to Kenya to celebrate. They spent the first week of the rest of their lives feasting like kings in a safari setting, in rather unusual company. There were no smiling relatives to be seen in the photo as they’d flown out alone; instead, they posed with four jovial yet slightly formidable looking Masai warriors, who, according to the wife’s letter, had presented them each with a pair of leather handmade sandals as a wedding gift. The joy of their Kenyan adventure was obvious in that one photo and you’d be hard-pressed to find a happier snapshot in any wedding album.

The most poignant letter of all, though, was from a lady who had recently been widowed. The thought of returning to the Spanish resort where she and her husband had spent their holidays was almost too much and she had vowed never to holiday again. Thanks, however, to some persistent but gentle pressure from her two best friends, she finally relented. Paper-clipped to the letter was a photo of three lovely ladies in Tenerife. There they were, the British version of the “Golden Girls”, celebrating a night to remember (thanks, in equal parts to a great dinner, complimentary bottle of cava and a charming head waiter). The lady signed off by saying this holiday had inspired her to plan more trips with her friends, something her husband would have wanted, and they were already planning a follow-up trip next winter.

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But for some, the cost of owning a highend luxury or sports car is prohibitive – or at least the cost of owning a second or third such car. And as these vehicles tend to be designed for a more recreational type of use rather than for the daily commute to the office or to tote the kids to football practice, the thought of paying for insurance, maintenance, garaging and, of course the full price of the motorcar itself, may seem ridiculous for a vehicle that will spend more time in storage throughout a typical year than tearing down the road.

Enter fractional car ownership.

Like fractional second-home ownership, fractional car ownership provides the best of both worlds: as-needed (or should we say as-desired) use of the vehicle(s) without the high costs of full-time ownership. This makes a lot of sense, as most of us spend our weekdays earning a living and don’t need the expense of what is normally a six-figure-priced car spending most of the time in either the garage at the office or at home. Instead, fractional car ownership makes luxury and sports vehicles available for long weekends in the country, vacations to seaside resort towns and jaunts into major metropolises for special events. In short, just when you want it.

Think about it: How much would you have to spend for a brand-new Maserati, Lamborghini or Ferrari? How much more would you spend on insurance? And add to that the ongoing costs of maintenance and storage. All for what, just a few weeks of driving a year? Even if you went out of your way to plan driving excursions, how much total time would they add up to?

Fractional ownership makes the math a lot more workable, just as it does for vacation homes, yachts, jets and high-end recreational vehicles.

As with other fractional products, some fractional car clubs offer an actual fraction of ownership in specific vehicles, while others are selling membership in clubs that offer the use of vehicles. Some of the fractional car programs include special rally events in resort destinations for club members to try out new vehicles and meet other enthusiasts, private racetrack venues in scenic areas with an elite club atmosphere, and days for members to test their skills on the track in unique vehicles that aren’t street legal.

A Rough Road
The global recession that followed the 2008 credit crisis was tough on many high-end and luxury markets, and fractional car ownership was no exception. The number of companies in the sector has been winnowed out – but the remaining companies have proved their resiliency and by and large are growing and expanding at a steady rate now.

And what was not so good for the industry on the whole ultimately proved beneficial for the consumer. “Basically, because of the downturn [in the economy] there is more value for the dollar spent by the consumer,” says Sia Bani, owner and general manager of Club Sportiva, a major player in the industry. “We’ve been able to price it a bit more economically.” Bani explains that by diversifying his company’s offerings (chiefly through day rentals and non-member excursions in which drivers get  behind the wheel of six different exotic vehicles over a 120-mile drive), they were able to weather the recession and keep the cars on the road.

Bani says that there isn’t much competition in the California area anymore, save for the possible exception of some limousine or taxi company operators who make available a single exotic car that they own. But Club Sportiva has a seven-year history and genuine offerings, and Bani is optimistic about the future: “Already 2010 is a lot better than  2009 for us,” Bani says. “By what we’re seeing in terms of consumer spending, things are picking back up.”

Following is a look at three very different companies and what they have to offer automobile aficionados.

P1 International
P1 International pioneered the concept of a private members’ club offering shared access to a fleet of supercars. With 10 years expertise in refining the concept, the club continues to offer its members an unrivalled experience with access to a stable of the finest and fastest cars.

A P1 membership is a financially astute and exciting way for car enthusiasts to gain access to a collection of the World’s finest supercars. The shared ownership model allows the substantial costs of owning and running a supercar, including depreciation, insurance, servicing and maintenance, to be shared across the Club membership. An annual membership fee provides members with access to the club’s collection of supercars for a fraction of the cost of ownership of just one supercar.

With a P1 membership you can experience the landmark events of your year with the perfect car for the occasion, and make even the ordinary an event in itself. Take in the highpoints of the English summer season – be it Henley Royal Regatta, Glyndebourne, Wimbledon, Royal Ascot or the Cartier International Polo at Guards Polo Club – in an Aston Martin DBS. Choose a Ferrari California for a late spring trip to the Cote d’Azur, where you stay in St. Tropez for a week before driving over to Monte Carlo for the Monaco Grand Prix. Enjoy the timeless elegance of an Edwardian country house weekend amongst the Georgian splendor of Babington House for your late summer getaway in a Bentley Continental GTC. Celebrate your wedding anniversary in effortless style with a weekend away in the magnificent surroundings of Cliveden, in Ferrari’s flagship the 599GTB Fiorano.

The P1 team will help recommend the right car for the occasion, and deliver it in immaculate condition to your door ready for your trip. Live your life the way you want, when you want – nothing could be easier with P1.

With membership plans available from only £500 per month, you could soon be driving your dream car and benefiting all the extras that P1 can offer you.

Contact P1 International on 01372 721 711 or visit www.p1international.com for more details.

Club Sportiva
Club Sportiva was founded in early 2003 as the pioneer in the luxury car time share market. Over the past seven years, with hundreds of members, corporate and individual clients, Club Sportiva has offered sports car aficionados the ultimate exotic car driving experience – without the complications of car ownership. In 2009, the Club expanded its portfolio offering through exotic car rentals, excursions, and owner revenue sharing programs. The Club continues to grow through partnerships, enabling a presence nationwide.

Only Club Sportiva offers access to the world’s top luxury vehicles at rates far below rental. Two different memberships are available to address the requirements and desires of different individuals. Both die-hard car enthusiasts and those who simply appreciate fine vehicles will find all they are looking for in our Club.

Corporate Packages Available – Tailored to your company’s specific needs – ideal for an executive perk, corporate incentives, or client appreciation.

All Club Sportiva Memberships include the following benefits:
• Access to million-dollar exotic car collection
• Vehicle delivery available anywhere in Northern California
• Comprehensive 24/7 roadside assistance
• Access to all Club events – road rallies, track days, Member dinners, and other Member only events
• Additional services include: complimentary parking, auto detailing, dent removal, rim repair, paint protection film and more.

All new members must be at least 30 years of age, possess a valid driver’s license, a clean driving record and adequate insurance. For elite-car access, members must pass the Club Sportiva Performance Driving Academy (PDA) half-day course ($750).

For more information, email ml@clubsportiva.com, call 415-978-9900 or visit www.clubsportiva.com.

Ascari
Club Ascari is the ultimate drivers’ club. Members have full access to all Ascari Race Resort facilities, as well as their unique advanced driving academy, race programs and the Club’s international social calendar.

Club Ascari offers three different levels of club membership: individual, family and corporate. Alternatively, for those only wishing to access the track facilities, they can provide an Annual Track Pass.

Ascari’s concierge service is available to all club members seven days a week. For help with travel plans, arranging to meet fellow club members, or organizing a day at the resort with family and friends, the concierge team is there specifically to help you.

In the heart of Andalusia in Southern Spain lies the exclusive Ascari Race Resort. Ascari is one-of a-kind – a combination of luxurious day retreat and adrenalin-packed racing circuit. It is home to the Ascari Club – a private members’ club for people united by a passion for the finer things in life and for driving … fast. On non-club days its beautiful, unbranded facility is the perfect setting for some of the world’s finest private parties, corporate events and product launches. Fernando Alonso calls the circuit “the most demanding race track in the world.” Nearly every curve is inspired by elements of the world‘s finest racing circuits, including Spa, Brands Hatch, Bathurst, Nordschleife and Silverstone.

Ascari is committed to providing the world’s finest driving experience, both for club members and private guests. They have spared no expense in creating the ultimate fleet of on- and off-track vehicles, which range from karts to 4X4s right through to Formula 1s. Ascari develops road-legal race cars from their headquarters in Banbury, UK.

Individual, family, premium and corporate Ascari Club memberships are available. The Individual Member Superior package includes:

• Five-year membership for one person
• 50 exclusive club member track days (members can cede up to 20 of their driving days for use by their guests; non-driving guests always welcome)
• Welcome pack and personalized racing suit
• Access to our Ascari Racing Academy
• 20% discount for Ascari Academy car rentals and driving programs and a special discount in case of purchase of a race car from Radical Motorsport and Lola
• Access to Ascari Club special events
• Access to Ascari off-road facilities, including 4×4 track, buggies and karts for members and their guests
• One year free parking in our garage

Joining fee: 60,000 euros*; annual fee: 13,000 euros*
*plus 16% Spanish VAT
For more information, call (+34) 952 18 71 71 or go to www.ascari.net.

Car-Sharing
Not to be confused with fractional car ownership, car-sharing is a utilitarian alternative to buying or leasing a car for people in major cities or college towns who don’t have a daily need for a motor vehicle. Rather than focusing on  pleasure usage of high-end vehicles, car-sharing is more for city-dwellers who need a car for weekly trips to the supermarket and other non-daily and infrequent trips beyond walking distance or outside the range of public transit.

Car-sharing is a green concept, and its vehicles tend to reflect that niche, with smaller, gas-efficient models as well as hybrids and other alternative fuel vehicles offered.

Zipcar is the world’s leading car-sharing service with more than 400,000 members and 7,000 vehicles in urban areas and college campuses throughout the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

As a leader in urban transportation, Zipcar offers more than 30 makes and models of self-service vehicles by the hour or day to savvy city residents and businesses looking for an alternative to the high costs and hassles of owning a car in the city. Zipcar has major operations in Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, London, New York, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Portland, San Francisco, Seattle, Toronto, Washington D.C., and Vancouver.

With Zipcar’s revolutionary technology, reserving, accessing and using a Zipcar is as easy as getting cash from an ATM. In minutes or up to a year in advance, members can reserve Zipcars online or by phone, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Zipcar members have automated access to Zipcars using a “Zipcard” to simply unlock the door and drive away. Rates are as low as $6 per hour and $60 per day, with gas, parking, insurance, and maintenance included. Zipcar also offers frequent driver and business (Zipcar for Business) programs with additional discounts.

Each Zipcar takes over 15-20 personally owned vehicles off the road. Members of Zipcar and car sharing programs report a 47% increase in public transit trips, a 10% increase in bicycling trips and a 26% increase in walking trips. With Zipcar, members are more likely to take advantage of all methods of transportation. Zipcar members use cars only when they need to, and often walk or bike more, resulting in healthier residents.

Zipcar partners with leading developers to provide its exclusive access to Zipcar memberships and to place Zipcars onsite at select properties. More than 30 top developers and property managers across the U.S. – including Equity Residential, Peter Cooper Village/Stuyvesant Town, Charles E. Smith and PN Hoffman – have partnered with Zipcar to distinguish their properties with car sharing on-site.

Zipcar has two pilot electric vehicle programs. The first launched in San Francisco in early 2009 with converted plug-in Toyota Prius. It launched its first Electric Vehicle Pod, including an allelectric vehicle (EV) Citroen c1 and a plugin hybrid (PHEV) Toyota Prius in July 2009 in London.

More information is available at www.zipcar.com.

As a private aviation advisor, I frequently hear from frustrated business and leisure travelers who are fed up with the commercial airlines:

“I was in Phoenix on a golf trip with my buddies. We played a round in the morning and then headed to the airport. I’d scheduled a meeting in New York the next day with my biggest client who was flying in from Chicago. No problem. I had a flight to Denver where I’d change planes and get into New York around 10:00 p.m., stay in a hotel overnight and do the meeting the next day. Or so I thought… My flight was delayed out of Phoenix for no apparent reason. (You can never get a straight answer from the airlines.) By the time I got to Denver, I had 10 minutes to make my connection. Sprinting for what seemed like a mile from one concourse to another, I made it with five minutes to spare. Or so I thought… The door at the gate was open but the gate agent told me I was too late. He wouldn’t let me on the plane. I explained my situation, but to no avail. There were no other options to fly east from Denver that day. I ended up flying to Los Angeles, and then taking a packed red eye to Washington, D.C. that got in around 5:00 a.m. I waited for the first flight to New York and barely made my meeting.”

This may sound extreme, but I’m willing to bet that something like it, or worse, has happened to you.

Contrast this nightmare (or substitute your own) with flying on a private jet. You fly where, when and with whom you want to fly. Fully 80% of domestic commercial flights fly into only 50 airports, holding you hostage to the airlines’ arbitrary hub system. By contrast, private jets fly into 5,500 airports in the U.S. alone. That means that you can fly direct to an airport that likely is very close to your final destination, avoid connections (and the delays and lost luggage that go with them) and shave hours off your travel time.

No one can deny the quality of life benefits of private jet travel. Have a critical meeting tomorrow at 10:00 a.m. in another city? If you’re flying commercial, you better fly out tonight just to be sure you make it; or, you could go home tonight, coach your kid’s baseball game, have dinner with your family and fly out first thing tomorrow on a private jet … ending up back in your office by 3:00 p.m. the next afternoon.

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Massages and Muscles
If you’re old enough, you may remember the stereotypical masseuse/masseur of days gone by: a strong, athletic, masculine type (whether a man or a woman) that would roughly work the muscle groups with a pain-inducing technique that made massages anything but desired. The aforesaid masseuse/masseur would gruffly work over the client’s body, seemingly without concern for his or her comfort – kind of like a pizza maker working the dough, doing whatever is necessary to finish the job.

Today’s massage therapists are quite different. The good ones start by asking questions and listening to the answers: What parts of your body are sore? Do you have any injuries? Do you want an intense rubdown after your workout or do you just want to relax and unwind on the table?

A massage therapist also has tools in addition to his or her own two hands. One popular technique focuses on the use of smooth, heated rocks rather than digital manipulation. Another uses jets of water to knead the deep-tissue muscles.

Types of massage methods vary. Swedish massage tends to be a relaxing style than can vary in intensity, and the deep-tissue or sport massage carries the DNA of the old workout style – but without the callous masseuse/masseur. Many techniques combine aromatherapy and audio-relaxation aids.

Seaweed and Skin
Body treatments and facials make up another major spa aspect. Most people have heard of the seaweed and mud wraps; many spas feature other specialty wraps and soaks, each with their own benefits, which include chocolate, wine, beer and milk. I’m not sure why food and drink have become such popular treatments, but it may have to do with their appeal outside the spa – the idea of spending an hour covered in chocolate does sound more appealing than time spent wrapped in seaweed!

Facials are skin purifying, cleansing, hydrating and wrinkle-removing treatments for men and women. While the object of many women’s facials is to achieve a younger looking appearance and a healthy glow, men’s facials tend to restore elasticity to wearied skin and reverse the harsh effects of daily shaving.

Relaxation and Rejuvenation
If you are looking for a truly relaxing experience where you can reconnect with nature, refresh your mind, rejuvenate your body, and cleanse your soul, the Ya’ax Ché Spa at Hacienda Tres Ríos, located in the Riviera Maya in Mexico, might be the right place for you.

The philosophy of this original spa is based in the Mayan belief that human beings are all connected to everything around them: the universe, other people, and nature. Our bodies reflect pain when the balance among these elements is broken. Thus, the Ya’ax Ché Spa treatments are designed to re-establish that balance.

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Paul Sinclaire

Paul Sinclaire is that precious commodity in the fashion world – a man who knows what women want in fashion and knows how to deliver the goods. Especially goods that will sell.

Sinclaire has made a career out of this – first as a fashion editor with a trio of Vogue Magazine editions – American, Italian and L’Uomo, then as a consultant with a series of top fashion houses – Valentino, Dolce & Gabbana, Dries van Noten. More recently he’s put his stamp on the fashion world as a creative director, helping to establish the label Club Monaco, Toronto-based Tevrow & Chase and the Twist line, which is sold in South Africa Woolworth stores.

Now, Sinclaire has employed his intuition and creativity to produce a new line – Sinclaire 10 – a collection of classic pieces with whimsical and creative twists, created exclusively for Saks Fifth Avenue.

“This collection is all about giving women – stylish women with stylish lives – what they really want,” Sinclaire says. “They want super cute clothes that are well made at a good price. And they want something that has a unique touch but is something that they can wear season after season.”

How does Sinclaire know so much about what women want? He talks to them. And not just any women, mind you. The women in Sinclaire’s world are some of the most influential women in social and fashion circles. Their names are synonymous with the concept of effortless chic. Names like Aerin Lauder and Sara Handreke. These are the women who inspire Sinclaire. He studies their look from head to toe, filing away seemingly every detail.

At the age of 20, South African entrepreneur Jason Russell recognized that women of all cultures and ages appreciate beautiful pieces of jewellery. So, Russell founded Cazabella, a designer jewellery company, and launched his first collection in July 2008.

Cazabella sold out all stock within six weeks. Russell now acts as managing director and operates his design company with a clear understanding that customers will always expect to receive exceptionally beautiful pieces with “wow” factor at highly competitive prices. The immense popularity of the jewellery line has created highly satisfied, engaged clients who tell Cazabella what they like: “Regular customer feedback drives our creativity from average to superior,”
Russell says.

Within its first year of penetration into the South African market, Cazabella had firmly established its success by dominating the costume jewellery market with a number of unique attributes. These attributes include high-end costume jewellery at unsurpassed value and quality.

Russell has a particular eye for precision, balance and scale – and, obviously, a drive and passion for what he does. Russell attributes his passion to his Italian descent and love for fashion. He says his creations are heavily influenced by the European fashion industry.

But to succeed of course, Russell had to have good business acumen. “The core vision of exceeding customer expectation with high-quality product at great prices has empowered the highly motivated associates to initiate their own sales organizations as Cazabella ambassadors,” he says. Cazabella, a private wholly owned South African company, has developed its business model around a win-win philosophy. Its 500-strong sales ambassadors and elite presidents are afforded full business development support to create wealth and success and great skills confidence.

“The objective of our team is to continually bring gorgeous designer pieces of unsurpassed quality to our customers at amazing value,” he says.

Product Perfection
The quality of Cazabella jewellery is maintained through Russell’s insistence that his products meet the highest standards and are made from top-quality materials. Cazabella makes extensive use of Swarovski crystal, and all the company’s silver-colored jewellery employs double-rhodium plating.

Okay, so we’re not really talking about a college cafeteria. California Culinary Academy (www.chefs.edu/san-francisco), located in San Francisco, offers culinary students a hands-on education with experienced faculty dedicated to providing the necessary skills, knowledge, support and guidance to pursue fulfilling career opportunities. CCA is part of Le Cordon Bleu Schools in North America, one of the largest providers of quality culinary arts education. The schools have produced some of the world’s finest culinary professionals and continue to be dedicated to promoting the
advancement of education, training and the appreciation of cuisine worldwide.

This is not simply cooking classes. The school offers an Associate of Occupational Studies degree in Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts and certificates in Le Cordon Bleu pâtisserie and baking and Le Cordon Bleu culinary arts. It’s also accredited by the Accrediting Commission of Career Schools and Colleges (ACCSC) and the American Culinary Federation. The San Francisco campus includes demonstration and instructional kitchens; classrooms; computer labs; a library; and academic and administrative staff offices. But what really caught our eye is that CCA also features a fine dining student-run restaurant where guests enjoy inventive and exceptional cuisine with an ever-changing menu.

Here, you’ll get to sample the goods from students who might become the next great chef; graduate Chuy Valencia was
recently nominated for Best New Chef of the Year from TimeOut Chicago magazine, as well as for Best New Mexican restaurant of the year.

Carême 350
California Culinary Academy features an on-campus, open-to-the-public restaurant, Carême 350, that is run by the students, who prepare and serve the meals. While patrons enjoy a delicious fine dining experience, students have the opportunity to apply their culinary training and gain relevant experience in an active restaurant environment. It’s an
extraordinary opportunity for them to spend time at each of the various kitchen stations: hot, cold, pastry, prep, etc., and acquire experience in both front- and back-of-thehouse functions. In addition, they’re exposed to the finer points of restaurant marketing and management.
You, on the other hand, get to eat delicious food.

I grew up in Colorado. We’re known for big mountains, great skiing, a certain beverage that comes in a can affectionately dubbed the “Silver Bullet,” and the elevation of our capital city. Festivals, on the other hand, are not our strong suit. Sure, we have a handful, and generally speaking they are a good time, but it’s not like we’re approaching Mardi Gras-levels of revelry or anything like that.

So, as a kid living in a medium-sized town an hour or so north of Denver, when I heard it was carnival time, I knew that a few flatbeds, buses, and 18-wheelers would soon be rolling in, and that the next morning a traveling amusement park would rise like a phoenix from the dirt parking lot at the county fairgrounds.

Unfortunately, the promise was always much better than the payoff, which is why most of my life, whenever the word “carnival” was uttered, the only images I could conjure were those of a few rickety rides, a number of tossa-bean-bag games, and funnel cake (nothing wrong with funnel cake, of course).

That is, until I spent some time in the Caribbean, where places such as Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba, and virtually every other island at some time during the year host an extravagant celebration that has nothing to do with winning stuffed animals or riding a tilt-a-whirl, but everything to do with commemorating the culture, folklore, and traditions of the people who inhabit those particular destinations.

Each year when I clear my schedule to go on vacation, I look back on all of my previous experiences and realize that sometimes a vacation should be focused on self healing and renewing yourself.

That’s when it came to me. Why not combine my time off with spending extended time at a spa? As an owner of a timeshare that allows you to change destination each year, I decided to visit the much read about Papillion the Spa at Westgate Lakes in Orlando, Florida USA. In between enjoying my luxurious all-equipped condo, I thought I could also do some much needed pampering.

A perfect way to escape from the stresses of everyday life is to visit Papillon the Spa, Westgate Lakes, which offers the ultimate showcase in relaxation, rejuvenation, and renewal of the mind, body, and spirit. The word Papillon is French for “butterfly” and is the unique theme of the Spa. Their vision is to wrap you into an unforgettable chrysalis (cocoon) of comfort. Papillon was created to offer a collection of therapies that promote a sense of well being for guests.

Completed in November of 1999, Papillon spans 10,000 square feet of the beautifully appointed resort, Westgate Lakes. The spa’s Grecian décor is complimented by candlelit ambiance, healing aromas, and soothing music. To prevent any type of discomfort, Papillon has even equipped the treatment tables with warmers. In addition to the treatment areas, the facilities include saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools, a full service salon, and much more. The facilities are tailored to accommodate any type of healing. If your idea of healing includes relieving your body of toxins through a regimented workout schedule, then the latest in fitness cardio and weight training equipment is available to you. The spa even offers complimentary child care during designated hours while you are taking advantage of Papillon’s services.


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