Steele Luxury Travel Blog

On the Go: The United Kingdom London XXX // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-05-24T17:15:00.000-04:00

Throw away the bowler hat and screw the tea-drinking etiquette, this summer London is going XXX – the city hosts the 2012 Games of the 30^th Olympiad. What, you thought “XXX” suggested something else other than the Roman numeral for 30?

And if you haven’t got your tickets yet, get online NOW. Running from July 27^th to August 12^th, it is safe to say the Summer Olympics are the set to be the biggest sports event of the year. And while we gay boys readily admit to chomping at the bit waiting to check out the male gymnasts and if Michael Phelps will do a repeat of that full-body Speedo photo (Oh. My. God.), if you are jetting off to see Team USA kick ass in the city nick-named “The Smoke,” chances are you are seeing just one event. This leaves the rest of London open for games of a different sort.

Despite being home to Europe’s largest gay population, London, surprisingly, doesn’t have a declared gay ghetto like Marais in Paris or Schöneberg in Berlin. What this means is that gay bars and clubs are splashed all over the city and, thankfully, within easy reach via the city’s extensive subway system (they call it “the Tube;” feel free to make all the penile puns you want), but to make it easy on the first-timer, the sections of Soho (by day) and Vauxhall (by night) are safe bets to get your gay on with impunity. Old Compton Street, in Soho, is a virtual catwalk of cruising, and a few blocks over are Brewer and Berwick Streets, London’s red-light district.

In all the hyper-competitive one-upmanship that dominates London’s gay dancescape, it is a dangerous game to bestow the title of “the best” on any one place. However, to see how the city earned its rep as a infamous, and deafening, party town, Fire, Central Station, and East Bloc are all safe bets, and in the case of the club named G-A-Y, a really safe bet. The same danger goes for the gay barscape, but Barcode Vauxhall and Sweatbox will do you proper.

While you are out, keep in mind that many pubs begin to close at the party-pooping hour of 11:30 PM, and that the Tube (hee-hee-hee!) grinds to a halt at midnight and does not start up again until 5:30 AM. However, most clubs keep the party going well into morning, so this may not be an issue. If you must use a taxi, plan for it; London cabs are wildly expensive.

Steele Luxury Travel will plan your trip to London “XXX” from soup to nuts! Contact us at 646-688-2274 or visit www.SteeleTravel.com for more information!

Lufthansa Operates First Scheduled Flight with New Business Class // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-05-23T03:54:00.001-04:00

A Lufthansa Airbus A330-300 with the registration D-AIKP took off May 22 under flight number LH 414 from Munich (MUC) to Washington Dulles, with the airline’s new First Class and new Business Class. The new Business Class was first unveiled to the public in March at ITB Berlin
On May 21, Lufthansa took delivery of a new Airbus A330-300, which is already equipped with the latest Lufthansa cabin as a standard feature. The aircraft with the registration D-AIKP is the first Lufthansa Airbus featuring the new Business Class on board. Each of the 48 seats is equipped with an integrated air-cushion system with which the seats can fold flat to create a bed 1.98 meters long. Business Class travelers get an individual entertainment program with the new, enlarged 15-inch monitors. Guests in all classes who wish to go online in flight may do so with FlyNet, the broad band Internet service.

At the front of the cabin is the new First Class, which already flies on the upper deck of Lufthansa’s Airbus A380. Eight guests can enjoy the premium offerings with luxurious easy chairs that transform into what Lufthansa boasts is the largest, most comfortable bed of its class. Travelers aboard Lufthansa's Economy Class also enjoy “Eco seats” equipped with integrated monitors.

American Airlines Set to Modernize Widebody Fleet of Aircraft // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-05-10T10:42:00.000-04:00

American Airlines said it has taken the next step in its fleet modernization plan, including the redesign and refurbishment its international widebody aircraft. As part of this redesign, American's entire fleet of 777-200ERs will have fully lie-flat Business Class seats with aisle access for every seat, international Wi-Fi, in-seat entertainment throughout all cabins, and Main Cabin Extra seating offering more legroom. The 767-300ERs will have fully lie-flat Business Class seats with aisle access for every seat, and Main Cabin Extra seating.

"This redesign will comprehensively improve our future international widebody experience through fully lie-flat all-aisle access seats, in-flight entertainment and Wi-Fi, and will place our product among the industry leaders. This is something our people are excited to see as we work toward a new and modern American Airlines," said Virasb Vahidi, American's chief commercial officer.
American's entire fleet of 777-200ERs will be redesigned to a two-class cabin configuration to better match capacity and demand. The aircraft cabin will feature unique mood lighting and a dramatic archway and ceiling treatment to create a feeling of spaciousness similar to the 777-300ERs, the first of which American plans to receive later this year. A Business Class walk-up bar stocked with snacks and refreshments is for premium customers. International Wi-Fi will also be available inflight.
Up to 45 new fully lie-flat Business Class seats will provide customers among the largest living spaces of any 777 Business Class seat offered by U.S. airlines. The new seat will give travelers up to two times more living space than American's current 777-200ER Business Class seat. Seats will feature a large tray table, a work surface, and every component of the seat – including the seatback, head rest and leg rest – can be individually adjusted using intuitively designed, simplistic seat controls.

Direct aisle access from each Business Class seat will allow customers to easily move about the cabin without impacting other customers. In-seat entertainment will feature more than 700 hours of on-demand audio and video entertainment, which gives customers an enormous selection during their flight. Up to 120 movies, 180 TV programs, 350 audio selections and 30 games will be available on a 15.4-inch HD-capable touchscreen monitor positioned in each Business Class suite. A premium handset will serve as a remote that will allow customers to easily select programming without touching the monitor. Also, every seat will feature individual 110-volt universal AC power outlets and USB jacks for charging personal electronic devices.

Throughout the Main Cabin, new seats will provide increased knee room and improve overall customer comfort. American's retrofit will include installation of up to 45 Main Cabin Extra seats and up to 170 Main Cabin seats. The Main Cabin Extra seats, located in the forward portion of the Main Cabin, will offer four to six inches more legroom than the standard Main Cabin seat, allowing greater personal space and convenient access when boarding and deplaning.

Every Main Cabin seat will have universal AC power outlets, USB jacks and HD-capable touchscreen monitor – nearly 9 inches – loaded with up to 120 movies, 180 TV programs, 350 audio selections and 30 games. Once redesigned with the new Inflight Entertainment, the 777-200ERs will have more than nine times the number of entertainment options that are currently available in the Main Cabin on today's 777-200ER. The 777-200ER is intended to fly mid- to long-haul international markets in Europe, Asia and South America.

American intends to retrofit up to half of its existing 767-300ER aircraft. Those that are redesigned will operate the new configuration with fully lie-flat Business Class Seats and all-aisle access. The remaining 767-300ERs that are not redesigned will be retired over time. Customers will get an enhanced onboard experience with the installation of up to 28 fully lie-flat Business Class seats, each with aisle access. The Business Class seats will offer individual tray tables with a work surface, and universal AC power outlets. Samsung Galaxy Tab™10.1 devices will continue to be available for customers seated in Business Class, offering access to a wide variety of movies, TV programs and audio selections.

The retrofitted 767-300ERs will also feature 14 Main Cabin Extra seats with four to six inches more legroom than a standard Main Cabin seat. The Main Cabin of the retrofitted 767-300ERs will have 167 seats. The airline intends to use retrofitted 767-300ERs on flights to existing markets.
The redesign is slated to begin in early 2014. American is currently working to determine the installation timeline and will have more details on anticipated completion dates in the future. As part of its international widebody strategy, American anticipates taking delivery of 10 Boeing 777-300ERs beginning at the end of 2012 through 2013. The 777-300ERs will be configured as three-class aircraft and include fully lie-flat First and Business Class seats, Main Cabin Extra, and Wi-Fi capability to keep customers connected while traveling internationally.

Steele Luxury Travel
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W Hotels to Add New Dubai Property on Palm Jumeirah // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-05-09T14:12:00.000-04:00

W Hotels Worldwide said it has signed an agreement with Al Sharq Investment LLC to introduce a new W Hotel in Dubai on the Palm Jumeirah. Set to open in 2016, W Dubai-The Palm will be located in Dubai’s most prestigious residential, leisure and tourism hub and will offer spectacular views of the island, Dubai Marina and the waters of the Arabian Gulf.

“We are proud to partner with Al Sharq Investment as we open a new W Hotel in this iconic destination in Dubai,” said Roeland Vos, president of Starwood Hotels & Resorts, Europe, Africa and Middle East. “This signing marks an important milestone in our overall growth strategy to expand the W brand in primary cities throughout the Middle East including Doha, Amman, Muscat, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.”
W Dubai-The Palm will feature 283 guest rooms, including 102 suites, five WOW suites and two Extreme WOW suites (W’s interpretation of a Presidential Suite). The hotel also will offer W exclusives, including the brand’s signature W Lounge experience (W’s transformation of the traditional lobby), a WET pool, SWEAT (W’s state-of-the-art fitness centre) and an AWAY Spa.

The hotel will feature eight contemporary dining and lounge concepts, more than 2,500 square meters of meeting and event space, and a full-service WIRED business center. These offerings will be complemented by the W brand’s signature service promise, Whatever/Whenever, providing guests whatever they want, whenever they want it.

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EVA Air Introduces New Business Class Cabin // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-05-08T10:07:00.000-04:00

EVA Air has introduced a new business cabin called Royal Laurel Class. The airline has invested $100 million to upgrade the top cabins on all of its Boeing 777-300ERs with new, fully lie-flat seats. The first new cabin will go into service June 2 on a Taipei-New York flight. Seats are laid out in a reverse herringbone layout that enables passengers at windows to look out without turning and those in the center to dine and talk with travel companions. Or passengers can pull out privacy panels. The seat also has 15.4-inch touch screens.

Steele Luxury Travel
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On the Go Travel: Greece My Mykonos // www.SteeleTravel.com/mykonos

2012-05-07T18:23:00.000-04:00

It may have an area of only 40 miles, but few gay getways loom as large as the Greek island of Mykonos.

And for eight days (and seven nights), from August 20 to August 27, Mykonos is front and center: Steele Luxury Travel has partnered with the premier villa provider on the island to create the Mykonos Island Villa Escape, an exclusive Steele Luxury Travel Travel Experience for a select few across one of the most celebrated landscapes on Earth. Zeus, King of Olympus, fought for his rule here against the Titans, the sun god Apollo so well-regarded the isle he named it after his grandson Mykonos, and mere mortals set up shop here since at least the 11th century BC. Its time to find out what all the fuss is about.

Under a golden Mediterranean sun and washed by serene ocean breezes, you find out fast. With its titanium-white houses, wine-dark waves, and elegant windmills, Mykonos, for all its well-known tourist luster, still remains true to its proud Greek roots. As they always done, tavernas serve local wine and are filled with nightlife that goes well into the wee hours—Greeks are notorious party people—and the four Mykonos Town museums highlight the island’s ancient past. Greek history is inseparable from the Greek present, and archeological sites dating back to Achilles and Agamemnon dot the isle. For true Greek buffs, cast your eyes to the west and the islet of Delos, legendary birthplace of Apollo, whose exploits with his male admirers still have yet to be topped.

No pun intended.

For Steele travelers, it all starts in Mykonos Town, “Chora Mykonou” to the natives, and your very own villa, which is made up of three traditional Mykonian homes offering unmatched Hellenic hospitality, complete with a personal chef preparing daily breakfast, daily maid service, a 24-hour concierge at your service, and a genuine houseboy at your beck and. Roundtrip airport transfers to Mykonos are included in your package, as are a luxury yacht party cruise around the island two catered sit-down dinners, one in your villa, the other at Mykonos’s famed Belvedere Hotel. Steele Travelers will also receive a pass to the week’s gay parties and events produced by XLSIOR!

For more information or to make a reservation on the Mykonos Island Villa Escape 2012, visit www.SteeleTravel.com/mykonos or call 646-688-2274.

Milla Jovovich in star lineup for Vienna Life Ball www.SteeleTravel.com/lifeball

2012-05-02T16:46:00.001-04:00

VIENNA — Actress Milla Jovovich, former US president Bill Clinton and models Lydia Hearst and Kiera Chaplin will up the star factor at this year's Life Ball, Vienna's glitzy annual AIDS charity event, on May 19.

Jovovich will be on hand to represent the US AIDS research foundation amfAR at the milestone 20th edition of the event, while Clinton, a regular since 2007, will also attend for his Clinton Health Access Initiative project.

Some 40,000 people are expected at the Life Ball, where ballgowns and body paint mix every year in a swirl of colour and glitter against the neo-gothic backdrop of Vienna's City Hall.
Held on a red-ribbon-shaped catwalk, the traditional fashion show -- organised this year by Vogue Italia magazine -- will retrace 20 years of Life Ball designs, with creations by such names as Roberto Cavalli, Vivienne Westwood, Heatherette and Gianfranco Ferre.
In true Viennese form, the show will also open with 100 debutantes and their partners dancing to a "polonaise" by Frederic Chopin and performed by Australian pianist David Helfgott.
On the eve of the ball, a "Red Ribbon Celebration Concert" at the nearby Burgtheater will feature the jazzy notes of Randy Crawford and Al Jarreau among others, interspersed with short readings by actress Melanie Griffith and writer Maya Angelou.

This year's Life Ball was themed "Fight the Flames of Ignorance", after previous editions took the elements of water, air and earth for inspiration. or the fourth consecutive year Steele Luxury Travel has once again been selected as the exclusive USA based tour operator in providing access to the Life Ball, Europe's, and quite possibly, the world's most extravagant HIV and AIDS benefit held annually in Vienna, Austria. Contact Steele Luxury Travel to reserve one of the last few spaces at 646-688-2274 or e-mail info@steeletravel.com

Last year, the event made 1.9 million euros ($2.5 million) for the fight against HIV and AIDS.

Steele Luxury Travel - The Life Ball 2012
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Lufthansa’s First Boeing 747-8 to Begin Flights to Washington www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-05-01T16:33:00.001-04:00

You can now book tickets on Lufthansa’s first Boeing 747-8, which will start flying between Frankfurt and Washington, D.C. on June 1. Four more of the new jumbo jets will be delivered to Lufthansa fleet. By late summer, 747-8 flights will be offered to Chicago, Los Angeles, Delhi and Bangalore.
Lufthansa has revamped its business class on these panes, which will have new business class seats that recline into a lie-flat bed and also have additional storage space and an enhanced in-flight entertainment system. The 747-8 Intercontinental will bring double-digit improvements in fuel efficiency and CO2 emissions per passenger over its predecessor, the 747-400.

Steele Luxury Travel
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On the Go Travel: IML Chicago // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-04-30T17:35:00.001-04:00

By Dane Steele Green // Steele Luxury Travel

It is the world’s premier leather extravaganza and Chicago’s third largest annual event. Polish up your leather and buff up your rubber—the International Mr. Leather competition, IML itself, rips the Windy City a new one on May 25-28.

Surrounded by the sumptuousness of the Hyatt Regency Chicago (so much for being “underground”), things kick off with the opening ceremonies, wherein contestants and judges officially see just what it is they are up against. Preliminary rounds can be vicious: Appearance and presence are taken in to account on May 25 and physiques are tallied on the 26. Those rounds cull the herd so that by the 27, the day of the actual contest, only 20 finalists remain.

Judges—and they are puissant—include European import Eric Guttierez, Mr. Leather France and International Mr. Leather for 2011; respected BDSM intellectual Andrea Zanin (aka, the “Sex Geek”); homoerotic illustrator Ira C. Smith; and VP of Marketing & Public Relations for the Nasty Pig fetishistic clothing line, Dave Hughes. For those not in the leather/fetish community, the seriousness of IML, and MrBB, can seem a little “extreme,” but have no doubt, this is serious business. Those who judge the event are roundly regarded as authorities; participants can spend years preparing.

In case you’re curious, “leather image” counts for 40% of a participant’s score, presentation another 40% and physical appearance the final 20%. Running concurrently with IML is MrBB, or the International Mr. Bootblack competition. Contestants take up positions in the IML Leather Market at which they perform bootblacking (that is, fetishised shoe shining) and judged accordingly. Winners are whisked off to the House of Blues for their victory dance and the official start of their reign. Things go out with a bang on May 28 with the traditional IML final blowout “sweat disco,” the Black and Blue Ball. Of course it would be called that.

For spectators, beginners, and note-takers for next year’s competition, the IML Leather Market—one of the largest leather/fetish emporiums on the planet—runs throughout the competition and brings everyone up to speed on the leather life. There is also the not-to-be-missed roast of Guttierez at the Leather Archives and Museum (yes, it exists) on May 24. Gird your loins for that one.

Go to http://www.imrl.com/ for more information or contact Steele Luxury Travel to secure your flights and hotel at info@steeletravel.com or call 646-688-2274.

On the Go: The Riviera Maya A Mayan Manscape // Steele Travel Blog // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-04-25T09:46:00.002-04:00

For those of not in the know, the Riviera Maya is particularly picturesque stretch of powder-white Caribbean coastline on Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, framed by Cancún in the north and Punta Allen in the south, with the island of Cozumel thrown in. Lapped by electric blue waves are some of the most exclusive resorts in the Caribbean: The Viceroy, Rosewood, the Banyan Tree…

And screw ‘em all, because you can’t run around nakie in public there.

But that particular activity, and so many others (!), are encouraged from August 31 to September 7 at the all-inclusive Adonis Tulum, the Riviera Maya’s only “straight friendly” resort and site of one of the most colorful gay events in the Americas: The week-long/multi-party/all-male/dance extravaganza that is CaribbeanHeat.

Overlooked by the ruins of the ancient Mayan port city of Tulum (“too-loom”), things start off with a bang at the Welcome Party, and because there are nine parties crammed into the seven days of the event, it’s best to throw your clock out the window. It’s also best to pay at least a little attention to your dress (for the five seconds you actually remain dressed...) The Yin Party is black-attire only; the Yang Party, white-only. The Speedo Party is self-explanatory. The two Manhunt.com parties are really self-explanatory. And the “run around nakie” part? The hotel has a clothing-optional area, for all those who pride themselves on non-existent tan lines.

For those in sticker shock at the $1,180 price tag, here is what that entitles: Accommodation for all seven nights in a selected suite at the Mexican-Mediterranean Adonis Tulum, all meals and snacks, dinner a la carte at any of the hotel’s restaurants (Mexican, Italian, Asian), beverages (all house wine, beers, liquor, and soft drinks for you milquetoasts), and VIP access to all the parties. More over, Delta Airlines is offering CaribbeanHeat attendees 20% discount on all its flights to Cancún International Airport (that’s where you fly in) eligible from any aiport, and CaribbeanHeat offers a 10% discount on all packages for all Manhunt users. And on the off chance you need a break, tours of the afore-mentioned Tulum, one of the most beautiful of all Mayan sites, and the spectacular pyramids of Chichén Itzá are available if you want to get your culture (both sites are not to be missed; Tulum is all of five minutes away).

For more information, go to caribbeanheat.info and the CaribbeanHeat Facebook page or contact Steele Luxury Travel to plan your Caribbean Heat Vacation! www.SteeleTravel.com

Virgin Atlantic Introduces New £100 Million Upper Class Cabin // Steele Luxury Blog www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-04-24T12:31:00.000-04:00

Virgin Atlantic Airways has introduced a new Upper Class cabin that is part of its £100 million redesign of the Upper Class product. Virgin has created a new website at www.virginatlanticplaneview.com/ that has a virtual tour of the new cabin. The site links to more than 40 YouTube videos that feature the new cabin.

The new cabin features an eight-foot-long bar billed as the longest in the sky. The bar is separate from the main cabin and designed to be a place to socialize. Another new element is a new bed that is 87 inches long, an inch-and-a-half wider than the previous version, and reclines 50 percent more. The suite has a new entertainment hub and other design elements. Each seat has a 12.1-inch touch-screen monitor, and carries Virgin’s new entertainment system called JAM. The cabin continues to use the Virgin red color theme, has Swarovski crystal accents and a new mood lighting system that changes color throughout the flight.

Steele Luxury Travel
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Steele Luxury Travel in Japan // Final Day - ANA Business Class // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-04-04T23:40:00.000-04:00

Due to my short stay in Japan, I woke up very early, at about 4am. I looked out my window to find Hoshinoya beautifully covered in snow, about 6 inches of the beautiful heavy, wet type of snow. I ordered an Udon breakfast that was delivered to my door. The night before my return, I yearned to see how I can get myself into business class on the return. The flight was showing as full on ANA in all classes of services. But, I took a stab at it anyways. I logged into my United.com Mileage Plus account and looked up the flight—nothing available. I neurotically checked every 30 minutes for a miracle. And bam! There it was!.... An economy class award seat. Well, that didn't help me. I kept on checking. Finally at about 8:30pm, I refreshed the availability and the ANA flight came up in business class. I quickly reserved my space and instantly got excited about the luxurious experience I had a head of me! It was am miracle that a seat opened up; I don't know how it happened.

My car came to pick me up and I checked out of Hoshinoya Karuizawa. I hopped onto the train back to Tokyo. An hour later, I was on the JR Express to Narita airport. Checked in. Priority bags tagged. Lounge invitation. The lounge was fabulous! If Steele Luxury Travel had a VIP Centurion Lounge outside of New York, this would be it. Chic grays and blacks with white sheer curtains surrounded the enormous space. Outfitted with a sake bar, udon soup bar and treats galore, this was the perfect place to relax or get hopped up on sake before your flight. Our flight was called and I rushed to the aircraft: a brand new Boeing 777-300ER. Delicious.

I selected the bulkhead single aisle window seat amongst 65 business class seats on the plane. My own sphere of personal space was so inviting. The fully flat bed with ample work and storage space was superb. I stretched out and awaited the service. The menus were handed out along with plush blankets that double as a duvet sleeping bag. The food menu featured a lunch service, either Japanese or Western style, along with a plethora of snack items available all flight long including a cheese burger, udon, soups, salads, sushi, parfaits, ice cream and many much more. A restaurant in the sky. I watched a movie while I enjoyed my delicious lunch and then flattened out my enclave into a bedroom where I slept a full 8 hours.

We soon landed in New York. After flying home in business class, I have a new found love for ANA. Flying their premium class offers you the better looking flight attendants, delicious cuisines and Japanese service that makes flying that many hours a true delight. Thank you Mileage Plus and ANA. During my jaunt to Japan, I stayed true to my company’s slogan and mission statement: Live Your Indulgence.

Be sure to check out my photos of the trip including images of ANA’s beautiful aircraft here: http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10101018872188769.2956322.821181&type=1&l=670a5c664f

Airline Service is the Best in 22 Years, According to Latest Quality Survey

2012-04-03T08:42:00.001-04:00

Airline Service is the Best in 22 Years, According to Latest Quality Survey

Steele Luxury Travel in Japan // Day 3 - Hosinoya Karuizawa Japan www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-04-02T21:51:00.000-04:00

The next morning at Hoshinoya Kyoto, I was awoken to a tapping at my door. A young Japanese woman quietly entered with a large bag over her shoulder (it sort of looked like an extra extra large pizza delivery box warmer). She set up the most beautiful American breakfast for me as I watched the water pass by my window. I had a full day of Japanese activities. I met with Yoko and we made our own incense, we made Japanese paper using the traditional Japanese block printing technique. We finished with a lovely Japanese tea ceremony. I found these activities to calm, center, and relax me. The Japanese culture is truly intricate and calls for focused attention.

At check out time, I was whisked off to the train station in Kyoto to catch another train back to Tokyo, connecting with another hour-long train ride to Karuizawa in Nagano Japan.

As I arrived in Karuizawa, I noticed beautiful ski slopes to the left of the train station. Snowboarders were zipping down the mountain and I yearned to go the following day. Karuizawa was beautiful. It reminded me of a Japanese style Pocono Mountains mixed with a touch of Aspen. Japanese country homes, log cabins and mansions were scattered through the thick forested and intertwined snow covered roads and paths. I was thrilled to be in a snowy setting, as we did not get much of it this past winter in New York!

A driver was waiting for me as I arrived form the train, which actually was a huge luxury limo bus, only for me. Again, the hot towels were served and we were off to Hoshinoya Karuizawa. The welcome cabin was separate from the main property. A young lady sat on the floor with perfect posture as she played the Hoshinoya original Japanese instrument set—it sounded beautiful and certainly set the relaxed pace for me. When the gong sounded, it was time for my drive through the Hoshinoya complex to my villa/suite.

Hoshinoya Karuizawa is a gorgeous property offering deluxe accommodations in a villa style setting, modern design, all amongst a large campus offering a traditional Japanese Kaiseki restaurant, lounge, an impressive and colossal lobby, a spa, as well as activity rooms where you can participate in various Japanese activities. The director of sales, Ryuichi was responsible for showing me the ultimate Hoshinoya experience possible and he did just that!!

The entire resort is centered on wellbeing and relaxation. I was invited by the hotel to join that at their French restaurant Bleston Court Yukawatan, which is located at their sister property up the road. This dinner may have been the most excellent dining experience I have had in my life, for sure top 10. Wow.

The next day, I participated in various Japanese activities. After a breakfast was delivered to my room, I started off at 7:00am with Japanese stretch/yoga class, all done in Japanese. Yet, I got it ;) Then, off to the hot Onsen, outdoor springs, which was located “off campus” and up the block from my yoga class. The Onsen is a Japanese tradition where one goes into extremely hot natural spring waters for relaxation and revitalization. There is an entire ritual to go along with this, including showering prior, entering into the hot springs, then dry sauna, then cold water, I did not stick to the rules; I simply jumped around for about 30 minutes. As I entered into the hot springs outside in the lush mountains, it started to snow. Heavy gorgeous snowflakes. I was all by myself with the snowflakes. I slowly entered into the hot hot hot water leaned my head back, closed my eyes, and enjoyed the moment. (Yes, I did stick my tongue out to catch the snowflakes.).

After the Onsen, I participated in other Japanese experiences including a massage, Hoshinoya’s own indoor luxurious Onsen, Japanese arts and crafts, followed by a delicious Japanese Kaiseki farewell dinner at Kasuke in the hotel.

The next day, I was whisked off to an early train back to Tokyo, then onto the JR Express for my BUSINESS CLASS flight on ANA’s new Flatbed seats to New York. After my economy class experience on the outbound, I really wanted to fly business class home, so I made it happen…

A full photo album coming in the next post!

Germany’s Airberlin, Austria’s NIKI Join Oneworld Alliance // www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-03-26T17:31:00.000-04:00

Airberlin, Germany’s second-largest airline, is now part of oneworld. Austria’s NIKI, also a member of the airberlin group, joined oneworld as an affiliate member at the same time. Both airlines are immediately offering oneworld’s services and benefits, and substantially expanding the alliance’s network in Germany, Austria and throughout Central and South Europe.

Joining oneworld will strengthen airberlin’s competitiveness, enabling it to offer customers an unrivaled alliance global network served by partners including some of the best and biggest airlines in the world. Customers benefit from expanded global network and increased competition.

For oneworld, airberlin’s addition makes Germany a home market for the alliance -- stepping up competition for some 200 million passengers a year flying to, from and within Europe’s biggest economy.

Airberlin serves a total of 162 destinations in 40 countries. Almost 70 of those airports, along with the countries of Iceland and Iraq, are new to the oneworld network, extending oneworld’s global coverage to some 800 destinations in 150 countries, served by more than 8,750 departures a day carrying nearly a million passengers a day on a combined fleet of almost 2,500 aircraft, generating annual revenues of almost $100 billion. Airberlin and NIKI’s networks will be covered by oneworld’s marketing leading alliance fares and sales products as of April 1.

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Steele Luxury Travel in Japan // Day 3 & 4 // Kyoto and Hosinoya Kyoto www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-03-20T16:38:00.000-04:00

Day 3 // Tokyo Arrival

After all the innocent and gentle service from the all female crew on All Nippon Airways, I landed in Tokyo unscathed. I was fine. A bit gazzed out but okay. The crew did their bows and I deplaned. Swiftly through customs, I got onto the JR Express from Narita to Tokyo, then on a train to Kyoto. The train system in Japan is immense, complex yet easy to navigate. The trains are super high speed and very clean and VERY EXPENSIVE. If you are traveling to Japan and have time in advance to purchase a JR Pass, this will allow you to travel on an unlimited basis by rail and ferry for a set amount of days. A 7-day pass costs around $300. I obviously did not have time to purchase the JR Pass in advance, so I was looking at anywhere between $100 and $150 per train ride. Ouch!

The trains are mostly operated by a female crew. They even have young pretty ladies who come through the aisle every so often selling rice snacks, bento boxes, and other delicious treats.

In another 5 hours, fueled by a berry flavored 5-Hour energy shot, I arrived at the Kyoto Hyatt Regency hotel—a stunning hotel. The lobby was grand and featured beautiful high cealings addorned in soft gold colors. The entire lobby was fixed with beautiful Japanese lattice work which created a truly unique design effect. A smooth spiral staircase was the lobby's key design feature. I felt warm and comfortable. I was escorted to my room by a female bell hop. My simple yet modern room featured a soft modern Japanese style with a low bed, easy lighting and a spa bathroom. The best part of the room was the Toto toilet. When you approach, the lid pops open, plays music and invites you to sit in its warm seat. It will clean you, clean itself, dry you and dry itself all with the push of buttons. Un-real. At this point, I was up for 24 hours. Knowing that I was in for delicious Japanese cuisines, I decided to order a hamburger and fries immediately following a sleeping tablet. Lights out. I'm getting one delivered to Manhattan tomorrow ;) Good night.

Day 3 // Kyoto City Tour

Prior to my departure, I wanted to see Kyoto. I did not necessarily want to wander around the city on my own, I wanted a more formal introduction to this beautiful city. I went onto Viator.com and booked a morning half day city tour. As I met around 25 other travelers from around the world, we boarded a tour bus and visited some of Kyoto that was operated by yet another female driver. Where are the men? Females are the drivers, operators, cooks, flight attendants, bell hops, and so on... Very interesting...

Our first stop was the Nijo Castle built in 1626. Nijo Castle (二条城, Nijōjō) was built in 1603 as the Kyoto residence of Tokugawa Ieyasu, the first shogun of the Edo Period (1603-1867). His grandson Iemitsu completed the castle's palace buildings 23 years later and further expanded the castle by adding a five story castle keep. We took off our shoes, as you are request before entering into any temple, or hotel room, and some restaurants. The greatest feature of this fortified structure were the floors. As we walked through the castle, the floors made a light squeek sound, almost sounds like small birds chirping. The soothing sound of this floor was actually a security feature to warn of intruders. Once may say that this was the first home security system ;)

All of a sudden, the sound of young school girls filled the palace. I would say at least 200 13 to 15 year old school girls came flying through. They were on a class trip. They saw me, I saw them and waived. The reaction that came from these girls when I waved and smiled could be compared to Justin Bieber showing up in Times Square. It was pretty cool. We turned the corner away from the screaming Japanese studenttes. But I wanted more. As we ran into the girls outside again, I screamed out Konnichiwa!!! They lost it and so did I.

We then visited the beautiful Golden Pavilion in Kyoto which is a Zen Buddhist temple. The structure in the middle of a lake truly shined in its regal stature. As we wandered through the surrounding forest of lush, green flora and fauna, we found a farmer's market selling anything and everything green tea. I devoured green tea cookies, green tea buns, green tea candies, and green tea. They call me Dane Steele Green Tea now.

After a tour through modern Kyoto, I returned to my hotel to grab my bags and take a 30 minute taxi to what I have been waiting for: HOSHINOYA KYOTO!As I arrived at Hoshinoya Kyoto's private boat landing that was supposed to take me up the Hozu-Gawa River, the sound of the high water levels obviously did not make for safe conditions. Next to the landing was a quaint departing lounge for all guests of Hoshinoya Kyoto. I was offered green tea, a hot towel and snacks. I then hoped into a waiting car that personally escorted me alongside the river through gorgeous and lush mountainside to the resort, about 5 minutes away.

As we pulled up to this gorgeous small resort, I was met by my host, Yoko, who was to take care of me during my stay. My stunning villa over looked the river. I was served delicious Japanese snacks, and changed into my comfortable Japanese loungewear while I enjoyed a cup of green tea as I settled into my room. Yoko set up my dinner and activities over the next few days. I decided to draw myself a bath in the deep cedar tree bathtub and finished book #3 of the Hunger Games series, Catching Fire.

Later that evening, I was invited to a traditional Japanese 13-course Kaiseki. I joined another couple and two other Japanese single travelers. We watched a handsome Japanese man make homemade buckwheat noodles as we were served this out of this world traditional Japanese feast ornately served with cold Japanese sake. It was a world class dining experience and cultural event. A bit buzzed from my sake and on a high from the experience, I retired to bed early. As I laid on my Japanese futon, I fell to the sounds of the rushing Japanese river with a soft smile on my face.

2012-03-13T14:40:00.000-04:00

Day 2 // ANA Flight # 9 JFK – NRT

One item made me extremely happy. As I walked through JFK, the ANA crew rolled up. They all arrived in the terminal dressed sharply. Each and every single flight attendant had a Rimowa black roll on, exactly like mine. I smiled and snapped a shot. One FA was not too happy with my candid photo shooting ;)

A 14 hour flight. Oy vey. Since it was a day flight, I was not so moved by the fact I wasn't up in the front. Aside from ANA’s collaboration with Boeing in creating the new 787 Dreamliner, their Boeing 777-300ER, has been fitted with their newest cabin. First class comprises of just 6 suites that enclose each passenger into their own enclave for half a day. Business class features the new staggered seating, where the configuration is 1x2x1; each seats has direct aisle access.

As I walked THROUGH the cabin, I noticed that the cabin seemed cramped and not spacious. That may be a problem with the airline’s idea of flat bed seating, it cramps the space and creates a thin long bed. Unfortunately, I was not able to experience their business class, so I will comment no further. Economy class—I was seating in the first row, right behind business class in the bulkhead. My seat was not bad as my feet could not touch the wall in front of me, even if I tried. My video came out of my arm, so it was like I was flying business. The seats would not recline, none of the seats in economy do... Instead, the bottom cushen slides forward offering more space as a recline—What junk is that? Listen up airlines, we don't like this. Change it.

ANA's "Non reclining seats"

The food was very good actually; two choices; either Western or Japanese. I opted for Japanese teriyaki. Yum. I watched 3 movies, read a book and sat there. And sat there. And did some more sitting. I was bored so I went to the back and asked for a second meal. No flight attendants really spoke English well, but from what I experienced with the airline, they DO NOT break or even bend the rules. So, I became sick. My blood sugar was so low that I needed food now. I denied the Pringles and banana. Denied the rice crackers. I wanted another hot meal.

Economy Class Japanese Meal

The chief pursor (with 3 junior pursors under her), came to get me from the back alley where I was pleading for food like a pauper. I told her I was sick and I need to eat. She handed me a hot meal and closed he curtains to the galley and said eat here. She gave me a bow and she shut the curtains. Yumm, again. Before we landed, we were served a second meal of Pasta with marinara sauce and cheese—very Japanese... but it was great. Then we touched down in cloudy Tokyo...

Steele Luxury Travel

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Steele Luxury Travel in Japan // Day 1 - Departure on All Nipon Airways

2012-03-12T12:40:00.000-04:00

Monday // Day 1: Departure to Tokyo

My night was sleepless- Knowing that in just 12 hours I would be in my way to the other side of the globe, which I had no plans of just 48 hour prior. I am very honored and thankful to the Japanese National Tourism Organization (JNTO) and Discover Japan for collaborating in offering me a complimentary ticket to Japan on either JAL (Japan Airlines) or ANA (All Nippon Airways). I selected ANA as they are part of the wonderful star alliance. The trip would give me a strong kick to maintain my Premier 1K status.

The rest of the trip was up to me. As my ticket was issued on Friday night at about 9pm, it was truly last minute for a Monday departure. The tickets offered were ONLY in economy class. The fare level they booked me in did not allow any changes, upgrades, purchased upgrades, bump upgrades, bribe upgrades, smile upgrades—you get the point – none whatsoever. But of course, being the Steele Traveler that I think I am, I tried every way possible.

I finally said to myself, okay, this is a humbling trip for me. I am going for a new experience. To temporarily escape and suspend what I am accustomed to. I will fly economy class and it will be fine.

Before I left, I did my research as to what I wanted to do in Japan. I wanted an authentic Japanese experience, no running to gay bars, or scrambling through a bustling city. Tokyo was out. I came across this fantastic, luxurious hotel group called HOSHINOYA. They have two properties and a few more that are opening in the near future. Hoshinoya Kyoto and Hoshinoya Karuizawa are two ultra modern properties that offer a modern twists to the traditional Japanese Ryokan, both very easy to travel to from Tokyo. A Ryokan is a Japanese style inn outfitted with tatami-matted rooms with futon beds. Delicious meals are also usually included in the Ryokan. Words can not describe how special these two properties seemed to me. I contacted the US representative for Hoshinoya, Yuki, who was about just as excited as I was for my special retreat. Yuki is Japanese angel. She helped me plan my entire trip from trains to directions. For once, I took the back seat in travel planning. The level of service that Yuki provided was only a hint of what I was about to experience in Japan.

I packed by bags and headed to the airport for my 11:00am departure headed for Tokyo...

Lufthansa Unveils New Business Class Seats! www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-03-09T11:16:00.000-05:00

Lufthansa has launched its new Business Class seat that offers a horizontal sleeping surface measuring 1.98 metres in length. The seat can be used as a flat bed or as an upright or reclining seat, with its intuitive adjustments, additional storage space and enhanced entertainment system. Passengers will be able to enjoy the new Business Class cabin when the new Lufthansa Jumbo, the Boeing 747-8, enters scheduled service next month.

“We integrated our customers very closely into the development of our new Business Class so we would be able to offer a product that was totally in line with their wishes and requirements,” says Jens Bischof, member of the Lufthansa German Airlines Board.

“The horizontal sleeping surface is a crucial factor for our passengers. This request was the focus for all our other considerations. In addition, we have improved very many details which, taken together, create maximum comfort,” He explains.

These include ergonomically improved cushioning to ensure a high degree of comfort in a sitting or horizontal position, as well as lowerable armrests that provide more space in the shoulder area when lying down. Each sitting or horizontal position can be adjusted individually and continuously without the need for the passenger to stand up. In addition, each passenger has more surfaces to put things on and additional storage compartments on the actual seat.

Another novel feature is the innovative seating arrangement in the form of a “V”. Two neighbouring seats are angled towards one another along a central axis. This solution enabled Lufthansa to fulfil one of the main wishes expressed by customers - to sit or lie facing the direction of travel. This seating arrangement also enabled Lufthansa to virtually double the distance between two neighbouring seats at shoulder level, which in future will give Business Class passengers greater privacy.

Steele Luxury Travel
www.SteeleTravel.com

The Huffington Post: A Viennese Ball For Good www.Steeletravel.com/lifeball

2012-03-08T17:38:00.000-05:00

Award season here in the US generates an undeniable buzz. The Golden Globes, the Emmys, The Oscars, the SAG Awards and Sundance stir up a media frenzy with celebrity sightings, pre- and post-awards events, screenings, red carpet fashions, and galas of all kinds. Now that March has arrived and the red carpets are all rolled up, it's time to turn your attention overseas, for a ceremony that is, quite literally, life changing. The 2012 Life Ball hits this May in Vienna, Austria, raising money, awareness, and spirits for HIV/AIDS organizations.

Founded by Gery Keszler, the Life Ball started as a simple fundraising event for the gay community in 1993. Keszler chose to have the event in Vienna to play off the tradition of the Viennese Ball, where opulent costumes and décor are standard. With the permission of then-mayor Helmut Zilk, the first ball took place in, and in front of, Vienna's historic City Hall. Since its inception, the Life Ball has become one of the largest charity events in the world, attracting big name celebrities and personalities, large party-going crowds, international media attention, and generating millions of dollars each year for HIV/AIDS research and outreach projects across the globe. And as the perception of HIV has changed--from a disease effecting only homosexuals to one of global impact and importance--so has the audience. It's no longer just a party for the gay community and the jet-setting elite, but an open invitation to the world.

And the world wants to come! Tickets are limited to only 3,780, and quickly become one of the hottest passes across Europe. If you are willing to dress in elaborate, creative, and decadent costumes based on the ball's changing themes (and who wouldn't?) then you can try your luck at getting a 'Style Ticket', which will also give you access to model your wears down the red carpet, among the celebrity contingent. If you're hoping to make your creativity be known this year, be sure to check out the Style Bible, which lays out the guidelines and dress code that these party goers must adhere to. But if you want to just have a good time in your regular gala-going formal wear, the tickets are awarded in a raffle system, or through giveaways with media outlets, as well as an online auction on ebay. You can also purchase a ticket just for the opening ceremony, which is going to blow any Grammy-pre party your friends went to last year and wouldn't stop bragging about out of the water. There is one ultimate one ultimate option in securing your Life Ball Experience with guaranteed admission. Steele Luxury Travel is the exclusive US tour operator in providing access to the Life Ball's annual extravaganza. Steele builds an entire week around the Life Ball complete with dinners, tours, parties as well as an extension jaunt to Prague.

The theme for this year's Life Ball is the final phase of a 4-year cycle started in 2009, celebrating each of the four elements. The first element was Water in 2009 with the theme of "Let Love Flow!", followed by Earth in 2010 with the theme "Sow The Seeds of Solidarity", and Air in 2011 with "Spread the Wings of Tolerance". Rounding things out this year is Fire with "Fight the Flames of Ignorance". So plan your costumes accordingly!

Each year the Life Ball begins with an extravagant opening ceremony in the main square of Vienna City Hall, which can accommodate 45,000 people and easily rivals opening ceremonies of any Olympics or World Cup in theatrics. With lavish light shows, costumes, music, and opening acts, you could say it's the sinfully delightful event the Olympics always wants to be! But to make sure that the true meaning of the event is not lost in all the glitter, there are moments of silence in honor of all those the world has lost to HIV/AIDS, as well as opening speeches from dignitaries and partners for the event.
Once the opening ceremony is finished, usually lasting around the 2-hour mark, those with tickets to the gala are shown inside the beautiful and historic city hall, where rooms, gardens, and other spaces not usually accessible to the general public are opened up to the revelry of the night (and early morning!).

And, of course, a charity ball is nothing without its celebrity guests, and Life Ball has them in spades. It has become a destination for budding international starlets and legendary names alike to show up and celebrate, all in the name of solidarity. But the famous are not just sticking to the red carpet anymore; many have chosen to join the fight as spokespeople, both for Life Ball and other organizations that help fight the disease, and stigma, of HIV, including President Bill Clinton, Janet Jackson, Brooke Shields, Sir Elton John, Naomi Campbell, Fran Drescher, and Donatella Versace.
And because the Life Ball started as an event amongst the gay community, you know there's got to be a fierce fashion show! This fashion show has become one of the most hotly anticipated traditions of the Ball, and has seen some of the biggest names in the industry hit the red runway. With Thierry Mugler starting things off with the first runway in 1993, names have included John Galliano, Jean-Paul Gaultier, Vivienne Westwood, Roberto Cavali, Christian Lacroix, Donatella Versace, Heatherettte, Patricia Field, and in 2011 DSquared. These fashion shows see heavy hitting names in the model world such as Heidi Klum, Eva Padberg, Naomi Campbell appear alongside international stars and celebrities like Udo Kier, Olivia Jones, Til Schweiger, Kylie Minogue, Cyndi Lauper, and Dolly Buster.
So if the fact that the Academy Awards is right around the corner, thus ending our awards season and celebrity ogling for the year, gives you the shakes, simply turn your gaze to the international stage and mark the Life Ball down on your calendar this May. It is a celebration of acceptance, tolerance, love, and awareness. Which makes for a pretty good statue.

Get all the information you need for Life Ball 2012 at their site here . And if you are of the adventurous spirit, check out this year's guidelines for the Style Tickets at Life Ball's Style Bible site. Be sure to check out Steele Luxury Travel's available Life Ball travel packages, with an exclusive post Life Ball excursion to Prague where guests will stay at the luxurious 5-star Roccoforte Augustine Prague!

Follow Dane Steele Green on Twitter: www.twitter.com/steeletravel

A Trip Of Lifetime. A Beautiul Gift of Personal Time and Exploration.

2012-03-05T10:36:00.000-05:00

It all started this past Thursday I recieved an e-mail with the title containing CONGRATULATIONS. As we all do, I was about to delete the message immediately deeming it as spam. But, I urged to open it up.

About a month prior to the receipt of this e-mail, I received an e-mail from Discover Japan and the Japan National Tourism Office. The e-mail invited top travel agents and tour operators to apply for a complimentary flight, including all taxes and fees, to Japan. After a meaty application process, I submitted my thoughts on Japan and how I think the destination in itself sells and how much potential it has in the world of Steele Luxury Travel.

Back to the bogus looking e-mail. My application was submitted and I received a free ticket to Japan. I was thrilled. However, looking at my travel schedule, I noticed that there was not much time to fit a quick trip in. I did some research and formulated a brilliant idea: personal time and vacation, alone and by myself, no clients, no email, simply me. and I was to depart the following Monday, in just 2 days!

I found two of the most beautiful places in Japan to stay in for an authentic experience. I did not want to go to a big city, I did not want chaos. I was yearning for something extremely special and Japanese. I looked into various Ryokens, which are Japanese guest houses and inns and decided this was the way for me to go.

Then, I came across HOSHINOYA. Hoshinoya has two properties, Hoshinoya Kyoto and Hoshinoya Karuizawa. These two properties are distinctly Japanese, both offering brilliant amenities, superb service and top rate experiences. I decided to go with these two properties. My contact on Los Angeles, Yuki, could not have been more helpful in planning this quick and meaningful trip.

As I sit here in the British Airways Lounge at JFK, I am thrilled that I have taken the bold leap to sincerely leave everything behind for a week and to "Discover Japan" and discover myself. Many people think that the life one leads in the travel industry is fabulous and jet-set. Don't get me wrong, it is, but it is still our work; the work we live, breathe, and look forward to. However, we sometimes may get lost in our work duties, passions and blend these elements all together within our personal lives.

For the first time in forever, I will be turning off my Blackberry and focusing on rejuvinating myself and amplifying my passion for the exploration of our fascinating globe with the fantastic destination: JAPAN.

The Coach Couch // Air New Zealand Leads the Industry with a Brilliant Innovation

2012-02-28T11:55:00.000-05:00

The Coach Couch

Air New Zealand, the airline that gave you naked flight attendants on the carrier’s safety video (I kid you not; Youtube it), has actually manage to come up with something even more eye-catching: Room to move around in Economy Class. And you don’t even have to leave your seat to do it.

It’s called “Skycouch,” and it is poised to revolutionize the coffin-like conditions one usually experiences in coach right before the Xanax kicks in. Think of it as a hide-a-bed for planes. Found on Air New Zealand’s Boeing 777-300s and conceived for long-haul flights, Skycouch consists of three specially-designed abutting Economy seats that, when the arm rests are lifted up and the footrests extended, form what has long been the long-sought-but-never-achieved Holy Grail of Economy Class: an honest-to-goodness, lie-flat bed. More over, the dimensions — 29" wide and 5' 1" long — are comparable to berths often found in First and Business Class cabins. Other amenities include a trinket tray, a winged headrest, pillows, and seat-belt extenders enabling passengers to stay buckled in even when out cold. Stretch your legs, cuddle with your flying buddy, and enjoy the Xanax.

Unveiled in 2010 by Air New Zealand CEO Rob Fyfe, who is totally execu-hot and got just as naked as his employees in the airline’s “Nothing to Hide” ad campaign (he plays the silver-haired luggage-handler with the killer ass; Youtube that, too), Skycouch was first utilized on the Los Angeles-Auckland route. As the airline refits its entire long-haul fleet to include Skycouch, 20 to each 777-300, other North American, Asian, and European routes are expected to come on board throughout 2012.

Of course, Skycouch isn’t entirely altruistic; with less people flying, airlines the world over are thinking of all sorts of creative ways to get people to pay for seats, filled or not. Nevertheless, the pricing is straightforward: Of the three seats composing Skycouch, two are full price, while the third is half-off. When one does the math, this actually pulls off a nifty trick; having all the room of higher-end seats, Skycouch makes Economy a more attractive flying option compared to Business and First class, whose main allure, arguably, has always been the spaciousness.

“For those who choose, the days of sitting in Economy and yearning to lie down and sleep are gone,’’ Fyfe said in a statement. “The dream is now a reality, one that you can even share with a traveling companion — just keep your clothes on.”

Hypocrite.

Check out Skycouch at www.futuretakingflight.com.

United Set to Debut Daily Newark Liberty-Istanbul Service July 1 www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-02-22T13:14:00.000-05:00

United Airlines, a subsidiary of United Continental Holdings, Inc., plans to launch daily nonstop flights between its New York hub, Newark Liberty International Airport, and Istanbul, effective July 1, 2012, subject to government approval. Westbound service from Istanbul begins July 2.

Istanbul will be the 76th international destination that United serves from New York/Newark and the 37th city in United's trans-Atlantic route network. With service to points in the Americas, Europe and Asia, United now claims to offers more flights from the New York area to more destinations worldwide than any other airline. United flight 904 will depart New York/Newark daily at 7:27 p.m. and arrive in Istanbul at 12:20 p.m. the next day. Flight 905 will depart Istanbul's Ataturk International Airport daily at 1:55 p.m. and arrive at New York/Newark at 6:02 p.m. the same day.

The airline will initially operate the services with three-cabin Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 183 seats – six in United Global First, 26 in United BusinessFirst and 151 in United Economy, including 67 Economy Plus seats with added legroom. Effective Aug. 28, the airline will operate the service with two-cabin Boeing 767-300 aircraft with 214 seats – 30 in BusinessFirst and 184 in Economy, including 46 Economy Plus seats. Both United Global First and United BusinessFirst feature flat-bed seats, along with a wide range of premium-cabin services and amenities.

Steele Luxury Travel
www.SteeleTravel.com

Viceroy Hotel Group to Rebrand Properties in St. Lucia, Mexico www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-02-20T14:56:00.000-05:00

After rebranding its Tides hotel on Mexico’s Riviera Maya in January, Viceroy Hotel Group announced that two of its luxury destinations, The Jalousie Plantation in St. Lucia and Tides Zihuatanejo in Mexico, will re-launch in 2012 as Viceroy Hotels and Resorts properties. Following the recent renovation and rebranding of Viceroy Riviera Maya, the development will start in Zihuatanejo this month and conclude in the fall after completion of renovations at Sugar Beach.

With the growth of Viceroy Hotel Group in markets such as Abu Dhabi, Turkey and the Maldives, the transition of the properties from Tides to Viceroy is a natural progression recognizing the evolving strength of the Viceroy brand. Viceroy Hotel Group looks forward to a progressive year for the portfolio, with Sugar Beach and Zihuatanejo being an integral part of the international development.

Steele Luxury Travel
www.SteeleTravel.com

United Rebrands Premium Cabins, Upgrades Food & Entertainment www.SteeleTravelBlog.com

2012-02-20T14:51:00.000-05:00

United Airlines, still integrating its service with merger partner Continental Airlines, said it will upgrading its premium-cabin services to offer customers new food and beverage options, more choices in in-flight entertainment, new amenity kits, pillows and blankets on long-haul international flights
United is also rebranding its international, long-haul premium-cabin services by introducing United Global First, a first-class experience on three-cabin aircraft, and United BusinessFirst, the airline’s new business-class experience on two-cabin and three-cabin aircraft. Beginning March 3 on long-haul international flights and many flights within Asia and the Pacific, first-class customers on three-cabin aircraft can experience United Global First, including a flat-bed seat, priority airport services and more-personal attention. On most of United's three-cabin aircraft, United Global First suites offer flat-bed seats, laptop power, USB ports, individual audio and video on demand with noise-reduction headsets, additional storage compartments and a multi-course meal with complimentary wines.
Starting in the second quarter 2012, United will upgrade the long-haul first-class experience with new amenities, including more comfortable bedding amenities, additional in-flight food choices, new amenity kits featuring Philosophy-brand skin-care products.

United said it also will extend Continental's BusinessFirst product to United, offering an elevated business-class service with new amenities, including an additional entree option, for a total of four, designed by United's Congress of Chefs; a new way to improve business-class meals to improve the quality and taste; an expanded wine selections chosen by Doug Frost, sommelier and master of wine; a new ice cream sundae dessert with a choice of six toppings; improved in-flight entertainment, including noise-reduction headsets; new amenity kits featuring Philosophy-brand skin-care products; duvet-style blankets and higher-quality pillows and hot towels.

For customers flying United in North America, between North America and Central America, between North America and northern South America, and on some flights within Asia and the Pacific islands, the airline will continue to offer United First and United Business premium-cabin services. On most flights, United has revamped its premium-cabin meal and snack choices to offer customers their favorites among options previously available only on United flights or Continental flights.
The rebranding and expanded menu options come as United continues with plans to invest more than $550 million to upgrade aircraft interiors. The airline has installed Economy Plus seating on dozens of Continental aircraft. When fully deployed, United will offer customers more extra-legroom economy-class seats than any other airline in the world. United continues to upgrade its widebody fleet with new premium cabins, with more than 130 aircraft outfitted with flat-bed seats. Once completed in early 2013, United will offer more premium-cabin flat-bed seats than any other airline.

Beginning later in 2012, customers will see additional improvements, including larger overhead bins on Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft -- increasing the available carry-on storage space by approximately two-thirds -- and satellite-enabled inflight Internet service. United also is introducing on-demand entertainment on its transcontinental p.s. service, along with an expanded premium-cabin service with flat-bed seats.