June 2009 Archives

The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences, Kapalua Bay, the highly anticipated residential development, is now open on a 24-acre oceanfront setting at Maui's Kapalua Resort. Situated near The Ritz-Carlton, Kapalua, the property features the newest Ritz-Carlton Destination Club (previously The Ritz-Carlton Club) location, and private ownership luxury residences.

"The new Members and Owners are enjoying this addition to the Kapalua Resort lifestyle, as well as Maui's beauty and spectacular views of the surrounding islands," said Peter J. Watzka, executive vice president and chief operating officer for The Ritz-Carlton Development Company, Inc. (an affiliate of The Ritz-Carlton Hotel Company, LLC). "Additionally, the Maui location is just the beginning of the expansion plans for the evolving Ritz-Carlton Destination Club brand."

Kapalua Bay, LLC is the developer of the new resort. "We are delighted to welcome this stunning new property to Kapalua Resort's portfolio of luxury living," said Ryan Churchill, senior vice president of Maui Land & Pineapple Company, the majority owner of Kapalua Bay, LLC. "Whether a family wants to enjoy long vacations each year or spend a lifetime here, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences is an incredible offering that fits perfectly with the tradition and comforts of Kapalua Resort."

The property boasts 62 fully furnished, two- and three-bedroom fractional ownership residences ranging from approximately 1,912 to 2,257 square feet. Club Members purchase a deeded, one-twelfth interest giving them the opportunity to stay 21 days per year. Prices start at $350,000 per interest.

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Kapalua Bay features 84 wholly-owned Residences. The three- and four-bedroom floor plans offer living areas ranging from roughly 3,002 to 4,271 square feet. Design elements include a private elevator and garden entryway, gourmet kitchen, and lanai opening to 180-degree views. Prices start at $3.9 million.

Property amenities are highlighted by a private 6,100 square-foot beach club, 8,500 square-foot pool with bar and grill, and a second bar located near the water's edge.

Members and Owners, through membership at the Kapalua Club, will enjoy access in the coming weeks to a nearly 30,000 square-foot spa, as well as the current amenities offered at the Kapalua Resort, including golf course privileges, award-winning white-sand beaches, 12 dining options, and the Kapalua Adventure Center.

SOURCE The Ritz-Carlton Destination Club

Here's a great Bermuda deal for this Summer...when you stay 4 nights at participating properties, you get a $400 room credit.  It's to celebrate Bermuda's 400 years.

The offer is good through August 21 and some great properties are participating: both of the Fairmonts, Elbow Beach, 9 Beaches, Pompano Beach and The Reefs among others...

I love Bermuda!  The beaches along Southampton are my favorite.  Here's a picture I took last year from my balcony at Pompano Beach... they have amazing sunset views there.

Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson's privately owned collection of award-winning luxury retreats, is delighted to collaborate with British Virgin Islands (BVI) Tourist Board, and offer guests the opportunity to experience a taste-infusing culinary tour with some of the world's leading chefs and winemakers.

Necker Island will host the very first 2009 Winemakers Dinner on the 16th July 2009, one of eight private dinners that will take place throughout July and December at selected exotic locations. The dinner at Necker Island will feature a seven course gourmet meal prepared by master chefs. Each course is paired with two fine wines selected by the very best winemakers in the world. One of the wines that will be poured at this dinner will be the Pio Cesare Barolo 2004 which was ranked #6 by the Wine Spectator in the top 100 Wines of the World in 2008.

Even more convenient is the fact that this special occasion takes place during only one of six 'Celebration Weeks' where Necker Island accommodates guests on an individual room basis.

Jon Brown, Managing Director of Virgin Limited Edition, commented: "We're thrilled to support the BVI Tourist Board on this project. Not only will guests be able to combine a stay on one of the world's most exclusive islands with such an unforgettable and unique culinary experience as the Winemakers Dinner, but they will be supporting the local community, as all net profits made from the event will go to the BVI charitable fund which benefits schools, youth programmes and the local Red Cross organisation."

To support this experience Virgin Limited Edition has created a special 'free night' offer for guests who wish to participate in the Winemakers Dinner on Necker Island. For arrivals on the 15th July 2009, guests can book to stay for four nights and pay for just three, or they can stay for eight nights and pay for seven nights, this offer is only valid for arrivals beginning on the 15th July 2009.

The price for a four night stay for two guests starts from US$12,900 and includes accommodation, all meals and drinks, as well as two special Winemaker dinners - one on Necker Island and the other on a neighbouring island

One of the finest luxury estates in Evergreen, Colo., is -- for the first time in its 24 years -- available for purchase. Nicknamed Meadow Mountain Estate and nestled on 7.8 acres in Evergreen's prestigious Soda Creek community, the supremely custom land/home package is offered at $5.2 million. It is listed by Coldwell Banker Residential Brokers of Evergreen.

 

Built into Soda Creek's wooded hillside, the southwestern-style main residence began as a smaller more traditional home when constructed in 1985. But in 1992, its original owner, Terry Epstein, began a massive renovation of the existing structure. The three-year transformation added 3,700 square feet to the main home and completely changed its interior and exterior motif.

Working with Evergreen-based Tolleson Architects and Vintage Designs, the end result was a stunning 10,000+-square-foot reflection of the architecture, materials and nature-inspired ambience that Epstein had always admired while vacationing in Santa Fe, N.M.

"I had traveled to Santa Fe numerous times when I decided I wanted to dramatically change the look and feel of my property," says Epstein. "I wanted a property that was more comfortable, more natural. . . a place where one could really enjoy life."

Epstein even went so far as to add a 600-square-foot heated guest tipi on the property grounds. Designed by Lakota Indian John Eagleday, the tipi is complete with authentic hand-painted Native American wall murals, a stone-ringed fire pit, hardwood floors, an AV system and waterproof canvas walls custom crafted by Colorado Yurt Company.

Post-renovation, the home features seven private bedroom suites, a solar-heated indoor pool and hot tub, four striking water features, a 12-person hot tub cavern, a game room, a 16-foot bar, a 1,200-bottle wine cellar, home theater, 17 televisions, audio-video system, numerous patios and roof-top decks, and more than 125 expansive windows framing views of the Continental Divide.

A meandering stone walkway connects the main home to the guest tipi, various terraces and park-like areas, a fenced playground and a six-stall livery stable with caretaker's quarters.

This Rocky Mountain estate is sited just 35 minutes from downtown Denver and an hour from Colorado's world-class ski resorts.

SOURCE Meadow Mountain Estate