Martini Luxury Travel

Marjie Martini Invites You to Join Her On Her Luxury Travel Itinerary

2006-10-02T13:50:00.000-07:00

Welcome Lovely People!

Each week I will travel to yet another exotic and mysterious location, where sensual delights await to awaken all of your senses.

Join me, Darlings, as we explore luscious, humid beaches in Madagascar, eye-candy caffes along the French Riviera; glamorous yachts docked at San Remo; sumptuous villas in Italy and Spain; pristine beaches in South Africa; romantic getaways in Europe; elegant mountain lodges in Canada and America...and that's just a taste of what is to come!

A presto!
Marjie Martini
Martinis at Midnight

THE FAIRMONT CHATEAU WHISTLER - CANADA

2006-10-01T03:41:00.000-07:00

Dahlings, you simply haven't lived until you've stayed at the Fairmont Chateau in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

Patrons walk lazily along the tiled corridors in sumptuous Spa gowns, on their way to the VIDA Spa where they will be pampered and treated in absolute luxury.

An entertainer croons Sinatra at the Grand Piano in the Mallard Lounge as guests settle near the large fireplace for a Martini or an Hors d'ouvres before dinner.

The staff are cordial, polite and professional. Service is on par with any five star luxury resort.

Here are some highlights from the site:

Rated #1 in Golf Resort Canada, the on-site Fairmont Chateau Whistler Golf Club is home to Canada's only David Leadbetter Golf Academy.

FAMILY FUN & ENTERTAINMENT, children will love the heated pool, jacuzzi and mini-golf.

A distinguished member of 'Leading Hotels of the World'

Canada's #1 Golf and #1 Ski Resort by the readers of the Condé Nast Traveler Magazine

Situated majestically at the base of Blackcomb mountain, this superb hotel is a ski-in, ski-out resort.

For more information, visit the Fairmont Chateau Whistler website...

The Garden Route, South Africa

2006-09-14T12:50:00.000-07:00

Seriously, Dahlings: you haven't LIVED until you have toured this exquisite region of South Africa. The perfumes of the ocean and flora are intoxicating; the sunrises and sunsets will outdo any masterpiece, and the fresh seafood is a sumptuous and bountiful treat. Do yourself a favour - get on the next plane, First or Business, it's up to you and enjoy!

South African Trilogy: Gourmet Indulgences
The Cellars-Hohenort, South Africa
The Marine Hermanus, South Africa
The Plettenberg, South Africa

The Garden Route in South Africa runs through some of the most wildly beautiful land in the world. The thin stretch of lush land at the foot of the Outeniqua and Tsitsikamma Mountains faces the Indian Ocean and is bordered by extensive lagoons that run behind a barrier of sand dunes and pristine white beaches. The region has some of the largest indigenous forests in the world - giant yellowwood trees and wildflowers - as well as eucalyptus and pine. Beginning in Cape Town and ending in Port Elizabeth the route is dotted with small coastal villages, sandy beaches, amber rivers and freshwater lakes, all framed by the dramatic backdrop of mountains meeting ocean in a dazzling display only Mother Nature could create.

This 9-night package for 2 includes:

A classic Garden Route escape beginning at The Cellars-Hohenort, with:

3 nights in a Premier Suite with separate living area and DVD center
Bottle of wine in the suite upon arrival
Morning tea and coffee service
Full English breakfast for two daily
Set Menu dinner for two on two nights of your choice*
Special 15% savings on purchase of one of the following activities for two:
1-hour of horse riding at Nordhoek Beach
Picnic in the world-renowned Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens
Visit to local vineyards including wine tasting and packed cheese platter
Value Added Tax
Then enjoy the incomparable ocean climes of The Marine Hermanus, with:

3 nights in a Premier suite with ocean view and spacious lounge area
Sparkling wine in the room upon arrival
Morning tea and coffee service
Full English breakfast for two daily
Set Menu dinner for two each night*
Special 15% savings on purchase of one of the following activities for two:
Hemel and Aarde wine tour including transfers
Fynbos Nature Walk with guide, including packed picnic lunch
Taxes
Complete your idyllic adventure overlooking the Indian Ocean at The Plettenberg, with:

3 nights in a Premier suite with separate living area & sea view
Fresh fruit and flowers in your room upon arrival
Morning tea and coffee service
Full English breakfast for two daily
Set Menu dinner for two on two nights of your choice*
Special 15% savings on purchase of one of the following activities for two:
2-hour Ocean Blue Safari
Monkeyland Experience
Elephant feeding at Knysna Elephant Park
Taxes
Plus, receive a special farewell gift:

The Collection Cookbook
The perfect souvenir for lovers of fine dining, wine and travel, The Collection Cookbook is filled with beautiful scenic photographs, useful cooking tips, anecdotes from the chefs, and South African wine suggestions from the Sommeliers.

See Details on Luxury Link...

Experience the Classic Splendors of Scotland by Rail

2006-09-14T12:28:00.000-07:00

The Royal Scotsman, Classic Royal Scotsman Journey, Scotland

Enjoy the nostalgia and splendour of days gone by and the golden age of travel with this magnificent rail journey for two, including:

4 nights on board The Royal Scotsman
Your sleeping car cabin provides lower beds, dressing table, full-length wardrobe, hairdryer, individually controlled heating, cooling ceiling fans, opening windows and cabin service call button. Each cabin has its own private bathroom with shower, wash-basin and toilet, constant hot water, high quality toiletries and fresh fluffy, white towels every day. With the train stabled at night in a quiet siding or station you are assured a good night's sleep.

Excursions each day as listed in the itinerary **
Enjoy visits to Keith, Glen Grant Distillery, Ballindalloch, and more…
All meals while onboard, including wine with dinner
Dine in sumptuous style surrounded by rich mahogany panelling and luxurious fabrics.

Alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages while onboard
Onboard entertainment
Taxes

For Details of this tour, visit the Luxury Link website...

Fabulously Chic Places to Drink Martinis - London, UK

2006-08-29T13:09:00.000-07:00

JAZZ AFTER DARK - SOHO, LONDON, UK

Jazz after Dark was first launched in 1985, it is a late night cocktail bar, restaurant & Jazz club. Open till 2am Monday to Thursday and 3am Friday & Saturday with live jazz/ blues & Latin playing every night of the week till late, making it the perfect venue for Birthday parties, Hen Nights, Leaving Do’s or any celebration.

Jazz after Dark has also had its fair share of well known visitors, Greta Garbo was one of the first to dine here when she visited London in the eighties. Charlton Heston, Bill Murray & Alison Moyet were amongst some of our late night jazz lovers.

Jazz after Dark is a favourite haunt for well known New Orleans Jazz & Blues musicians.

Pete Doherty & The Libertines performed here in their early days, Amy Winehouse is also a regular here she often makes a surprise visit and sings with the band. Young American students love the cool jazzy atmosphere which is Jazz after Dark.

If you haven’t discovered Jazz after Dark yet it is well worth a visit.

Jazz After Dark
9 Greek Street
London
W1V 5LE District: Soho

Tel/Fax: 0207 7340545

Nearest Tube: Tottenham Court Road
Not far from: Oxford Circus, Leicester Square, Piccadilly

London, Paris, Edinburgh, Rome, Milano, Rio de Janiero, Sao Paolo, Brasil, New York, Miami, Los Angeles, Austin, Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, Vancouver Island, Canada; Buenes Aires, Sydney, Victoria, Australia, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg in South Africa, Port Louis in Mauritius; Hong Kong; Tokyo; Bali; Fiji, Dubhai - it just doesn't end!

Martinis in Monaco

2006-08-22T08:51:00.000-07:00

Howzit Dahlings!

Ooh-la-la! We just loooove Monaco: saucy, sassy, sexy beaches. Smouldering restaurants and hotel rooms.
The first time Teddy treated me here, I was swept off my feet, literally!

The Principality of Monaco (French: Principauté de Monaco; Monégasque: Principatu de Múnegu; Occitan: Principat de Mónegue), more commonly known as Monaco, is a constitutional monarchy and city-state in Western Europe located along the French Riviera between the Mediterranean Sea and France . Affluent Monaco is one of the five European microstates.

Monaco is the most densely populated country in the world and the world's second-smallest independent country with a population of just 32,409 and an area of 1.95 square kilometers (481.9 acres). It has more millionaires per capita than any other country in the world.

HISTORY
Monaco derives its name from the nearby Greek colony of Phocaeans, Marseille, in the 6th century BC, which referred to the Ligurians as Monoikos, from the Greek Μόνοικος — μόνος + οίκος, "single house", which bears the sense of a people either settled in a "single habitation" or of "living apart" from others. According to an ancient myth, Hercules passed through the Monaco area. A temple was constructed there by Phoceans, the temple of Hercules Monoikos.

Memorial of François Grimaldi guised as a monk with a sword under his frockFollowing a land grant from Emperor Henry VI in 1191, Monaco was re-founded in 1228 as a colony of Genoa. Monaco has been ruled by the House of Grimaldi since 1297, when François Grimaldi (Malizia) seized the fortress protecting the famous Rock of Monaco while dressed as a Franciscan monk (monaco in Italian);

From 1793 to 1814, Monaco was under French control. The Congress of Vienna designated Monaco as a protectorate of the Kingdom of Sardinia from 1815 until 1860 when the Treaty of Turin ceded to France the surrounding countship of Nizza and Savoy. During this time there was unrest in the towns of Menton and Roquebrune, which declared independence, hoping for annexation by Sardinia. The unrest continued until the ruling prince gave up his claim to the two towns (some 95% of the country) to France in return for 4 million francs. This transfer and Monaco's sovereignty was recognised by the Franco-Monegasque Treaty of 1861.

Until the 1911 constitution, the princes of Monaco ruled absolutely. In July 1918, a treaty was signed providing for limited French protection over Monaco. The treaty, part of the Treaty of Versailles, established that Monegasque policy would be aligned with French political, military, and economic interests.

Rainier III acceded to the throne following the death of his grandfather, Prince Louis II, in 1949. A new constitution, proclaimed in 1962, abolished capital punishment, provided for women's suffrage, and established a Supreme Court to guarantee fundamental liberties. In 1993, Monaco became a member of the United Nations, with full voting rights.

In 2002, a new treaty between France and Monaco clarifies that if there are no heirs to carry on the dynasty, the Principality will remain an independent nation rather than revert to France. Monaco's military defence, however, is still the responsibility of France.

Prince Albert, Marquis of Baux took over the royal duties on 31 March 2005, because his father Prince Rainier III was too ill to exercise his royal functions. On 6 April 2005, Prince Rainier died and his son succeeded him as Albert II of Monaco. Prince Albert II of Monaco formally became the ruler of Monaco on 12 July 2005, in a celebration that began with a solemn Mass at the cathedral where his father was buried three months before, after a reign of 56 years. His accession to the throne was a two-step event with another ceremony drawing heads of state for an elaborate ceremony held on 19 November 2005.