Posts Tagged ‘luxury’

Pattaya Luxury Hotels ? Something for Everyone

One of the most popular destinations in Thailand, the city of Pattaya is located on the eastern coast of the gulf, approximately 165 kilometers South East of Bangkok. Being so close to Bangkok makes Pattaya a weekend getaway for Thais and foreigners alike. Pattaya luxury hotels are some of the most visited in the world.

Like much of Thailand, Pattaya has a tropical climate. Seasons range from warm and dry to hot and rainy. Originally a small fishing village, Pattaya first gained popularity as a vacation spot during the Vietnam War era, when American GIs dropped by for their “Rest and Relaxation”. Since then, it has become a high-traffic family friendly tourist destination. And with the new airport, Suvarnabhumi an hour drive away, Pattaya tends to increase in popularity. It’s easy for families to find a hotel in Pattaya, as there are a multitude of high-end options.

There definitely isn’t a lack of things for tourists to do while visiting. For the marine adventurers, there are several Pattaya luxury hotels near the aquatic action. Pattaya Beach is right next to the city center, and close to the nightlife. Most of the beach is occupied by rental deckchairs that are offered by vendors from the area during the day. Jomtien Beach is just south of the Pattaya and is separated from the main section of the city by Pratumnak Hill. This area is mostly residential and is filled with hotels, bungalows, and condominiums on beachside locations. There are also a variety of restaurants located in the area to cater to visitors. Jomtien Beach is also a great location for water sports. Tourists can use jet skis, go parasailing and rent small sail boats. In addition to the mainland beaches, just off the coast of Pattaya there are several island groups. For purposes of tourism they are nicknamed the Near Islands, Far Islands, and Coral Island. This area, especially the Far Islands, is known for its fantastic scuba diving scenery.

There are also a variety of non-aquatic activities in the area. There are an impressive 21 golf courses near the city. The Sri Racha Tiger Zoo is home to several hundred tigers, thousands of alligators, and a bunch of other animals. Nong Nooch Tropical Botanical Garden is just outside the city and features 500 acres of gardens and an orchid nursery. One of the most popular attractions in Pattaya is Mini Siam. It is one of the most famous model villages in existence. Mini Siam incorporates miniature replicas of the monuments and historical sites of Thailand including: Bridge over the River Kwai, Temple of the Emerald Buddha, Prasat Hin Phimai, and Democracy Monument. In a section called Mini World, replicas of the Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty and Trevi Fountain are displayed. And you shouldn’t forget the famous Tiffany Cabaret Show; you will enjoy the spectacular performance and be amazed at the talented and beautiful transvestite performers. No matter what kind of sites you’d like to see, there is sure to be a hotel in Pattaya that is right for you.

Phuket Continues to Entertain with Affordable Luxury

Popular throughout Southeast Asia and beyond, Phuket Beach attracts a large variety of international travelers. Located on the west coast of Thailand on the Andaman Sea, the cost of living here is very low compared to other international beach resort cities. Thailand opened up to western influence many decades ago, therefore gaining wide popularity among westerners. Phuket and specifically, Patong Beach have both rebounded after the cataclysmic tsunami of 2004. Dusit Thani Laguna Phuket Hotel is a fantastic way to spend a holiday vacation in Thailand. Guest rooms have interior decorating that couples delicate antiques with silk textiles of pastel, cream, and olive colors, creating a refreshing and exuberant atmosphere. Juxtaposed against the pristine Andaman Sea, the rooms are positioned for easy access to Bangtao Beach. The hotel offers a swimming pool, lounge, and mini bar. Beach life here consists of a wide choice of things to do.

Cosmopolitan Lifestyle at Budget Prices

 People from all over the world are able to come here because of the reasonable prices and cheap hotels. There are mainstream activities like water sports, and eclectic ones like fish massages to suit everyone’s needs. Entertainment venues are nearby and the beach is a short walk or ride away. Beach life here consists of a wide choice of things to do. Whether sitting in a beach chair and relaxing, or exploring the many different beaches on Phuket Island, it’s all here. There is parasailing, jet-skiing, kite-boarding, water-skiing, or diving and snorkeling. Other activities include Muay Thai boxing events and lessons, Thai cooking classes, and trekking through the jungles and forests on elephants.

There are plenty of massage shops, spas, malls, hospitals, and markets and other amenities and facilities available around Phuket. Bicycle rentals are available to explore the hillsides or the jungles. The area is spread out and not congested, creating a loose and mildly exciting environment. Sports activities such as football and volleyball can be found at various parks or beach areas. There is also a stadium for rugby, football, and jogging at the southern end of the west side of Phuket.

There are plenty of popular local things to do on Phuket Island itself.  There are canoeing trips available to explore caves and coastlines around the island. The Phuket Fantasea Show, Simon Cabaret, Promthep Cape Restaurant are other popular places to go. There is also a shrine to Brahma surrounded by thousands of wooden elephants known as the Elephant Shrine. Monkey Hill is a favorite place for locals and travelers to visit. Travelers can get there from Toe Sae Road which leads up to Toe Sae Hill that everyone calls Monkey Hill.

Two of the best waterfalls on Phuket are Ton Sai and Bang Pae, they are part of The Khao Praew Thaew National Park.Temperatures range from an average of 24ºC to 32ºC. November to March is the high season with less rain and humidity. Low season is May through September when It rains a lot and gets very humid. Songkran is the very popular week-long water festival every mid-April. Make sure to book a room in advance during this time, as thousands of people come here to celebrate.

Tampa Bay Luxury Homes Tampa Luxury Real Estate

Welcome to the Tampa Bay online edition of Luxury Home Magazine. Search our collection of the most beautiful Tampa Bay luxury homes, estates and land for sale in the Tampa Bay luxury real estate market. Known for some of the most beautiful weather in the country, Tampa Bay has some of the most breathtaking luxury homes in all of Florida. The location of the Tampa Bay market is ideal for accessing some of the finest ranked beaches, award winning restaurants, championship golf courses and equestrian offerings that Florida has to offer. Not to mention the wonderful attractions of the Walt Disney World Resorts along with Busch Gardens, Sea World, and Universal Studios are just minutes away.

For the avid sports fan the Tampa Bay area is home to the Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Stanley Cup Champion Tampa Bay Lightning and the Tampa Bay Rays. The Tampa Bay luxury real estate market offers a variety of luxury lifestyles. Tampa Bays many waterfront communities are ideal for boaters, anglers, beach bums and those who enjoy the views and lifestyle of waterfront living.

Tampa Bay’s many golf course communities are among the best in the state offering world class championship courses and the ability to play 365 days per year. Downtown Tampa offers upscale urban living for those who enjoy fine dining, the arts, and culture along with shopping and an upscale nightlife. Tampa’s attractive climate and strong economy and favorable tax structure have drawn many large corporation to the area. The island lifestyle combined with a strong economy is what draws thousands of people each year to relocate to Tampa. Whether you are a businessman, a retiree, or just looking to relocate to a better climate, Tampa has something for everything.

Tampa offers many other luxury communities such as Avila, Cheval, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Stillwater, Lake Keystone, Dolce Vita, Keystone Shores, Water Brooke, LaDera, Westshore Yacht Club, Tampa Palms, Hyde Park, Dana Shores, Lake Jovita, Stone Lake Ranch, Tree Tops, Corey Lake Isles, Westchase, Symphony Isles, Waterchase, Mira Bay, Beach Park, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, and Steeplechase. This online edition of Luxury Home Magazine offers our readers the best of all luxury real estate found in the Tampa Bay area.

Real Estate Opportunity: 4 Luxury Pool Villas In Phuket

Because of the economic crisis and the climate of change in the real estate industry, investing in real estate is currently a very tricky business. That being said, changeable times are also the best ones to invest in real estate. Garden Island Phuket does not only sell luxury houses, villas and apartments on the most famous island of Thailand, this well-established real estate broker also advise you of the best opportunities of the market. This Phuket Real Estate company has considerable experience as a Property Developer and Development Consultant.

Garden Island is now developing one very interesting project in the heart of Phuket. These magnificent luxury homes are designed and constructed to meet the hope of those seeking an exceptional Phuket house.

The “Garden Hill Villas Collection” is based on a premise that the homes are offered in a beautiful area surrounded by a luxuriant nature. Step away from the noisy crowded cities: in the “Garden Hill Villa Collection”, you will hear nothing but the tweets of birds.

The location close to the waterfall national park is private yet just minutes away from all commodities: from this houses, you are just 10-15 minutes away from Patong beach and 2 major golf clubs are less than 10 minutes away.

The property also enjoys fast access to shopping centers, restaurants, a local Thai market that sells wonderful fresh products and 2 international standard hospitals.

These delightful Phuket pool villas have been architecturally designed to reflect the best in modern tropical Thai style living.

These magnificent Pool Villas are available for sale now. For their size and location these homes represent real value and should be considered by those seeking a special home in Phuket!

There are two floor plans:

1. Two lower homes with a four bedroom design are available at 14.9 millions Bahts (US$ 456,000)

2. Two upper homes with a four bedroom design are available at 15.4 millions Bahts (US$ 471,000)

Please note, the pool area and surrounding floor plan for that level are the same for both house types.

Should the Buyer request it, Garden Island Phuket is prepared to offer a guaranteed two year’s “rental-income” of Baht fifty thousand per month.

For those Buyers looking to benefit from a guaranteed rental return, lease the property privately or reside in their new pool villa, Garden Island Phuket Co. Ltd can provide a comprehensive Property Management Agreement designed to assure stress free ownership.

A property of this quality deserves to be decorated and furnished to a high standard. Garden Island Phuket can also manage this part of the property development so all you need is your suitcase!

A few words about the company:
Garden Island Phuket is real estate agent specialized in villa, apartments and lands for sale in Phuket, Thailand. Our professionalism and our experience as a service provider in the domain of real estate will help you to step in the Phuket market, one of the most interesting in Thailand, if not in the whole Asia.
Garden Island has a deep understanding of the needs and expectations of both properties sellers and buyers. We also assure effective property management to improve the performance and the success of the houses we sell to investors. Our team of real estate professionals forms a well established company in Phuket and will help you to find the best opportunity in the most stunning areas of Phuket.

Visit our website: www.gardenislandphuket.com

Our main activities:

Homes for sale in Phuket –  Phuket villa holiday rentals – Long term rentals –  Long term rentals – Lands for sale in Phuket

Balboa Bay Club Ideal for Weekend in Luxury

Why just read about the rich and famous when you can vacation with them? A stay in a Newport Beach luxury waterfront hotel will give you an up-close look at how the other half lives — or maybe we should say the other 10 percent.

The Balboa Bay Club will be glad to share its front-row view of the good life now that this legendary club of the Newport Coast elite has opened half its units to the general public. Before 2003, the resort’s prime Newport Beach real estate was only available to members of the club. Now there are 150 rooms and 10 suites available to anyone yearning for some weekend affluence.

Staying at the club a night or two would be a sure-fire way to impress the significant other, or to completely escape from job stress, but still keep costs within reason. We consider resorts like the Balboa Bay Club “special-occasion” getaways ‘ places we go to celebrate, not just to get away. With small houses on nearby Balboa Island going for $4 million and 100-foot mega-yachts parked in slips right out in front of your bay-view suite, the Balboa Bay Club takes you many steps beyond the average getaway.

The first clue you’re not in Kansas anymore is when you cruise the circular driveway to the lobby area. Behind that line of dark-colored, late-modeled SUVs there’s a gleaming new two-seat sports car you don’t quite recognize because, in all likelihood, it’s not the kind of car available at your local auto mall. Then it’s not one or two valets, but a platoon of at least six fair-haired young gentlemen running to and fro to make certain that no one waits long for their vehicle.

And the service just keeps on coming. From the smiling young woman at check-in to the cordial bellhops to the extraordinarily punctual room service attendants ‘ who managed to bring us cookies and milk while the cookies were still warm ‘ the service at the Balboa Bay Club, during our stay, was consistently top-rate.

And then there are the rooms. Once we opened the door to our bay-view suite, we could fully appreciate the club’s location and attention to detail. The sliding glass doors opened to a maritime show that continued from dawn to dusk. From small Duffy boats to super-yachts, from kayaks to college rowing teams, the sights and sounds of Balboa Bay are mesmerizing. You’ll be tempted to spend many an hour on the one of your two private decks that are perfect for viewing all of the water activities.

The rooms are over-size and our one-bedroom suite actually had two of these large rooms with two bathrooms, one so spacious it had three dressing areas, a walk-in closet, a two-person Jacuzzi-style tub and a separate shower room. The bathrooms were Italian marble, the counter-tops granite and the overall design was reminiscent of those bathroom areas you see in home d?r magazines ‘ you know, the ones you wonder if you will ever really be able to afford.

Large-screen TV, high-speed internet, games, they’re all there. And, when it came time to turn in for the night, our luxuriously appointed king-size bed was form-fitting and among the most comfortable we’ve ever slept on. Oh those 10 percent do live well.

The Balboa Bay Club actually was created in 1948, back when there were far fewer people living in Newport Beach and the area was a popular getaway for Hollywood elites. There are about 2,800 members of the club, which includes a couple thousand or so living on the property and the others just dropping by to use the spa, Olympic-style pool and other recreational facilities. Past and present members of the club include such familiar names as John Wayne, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Wagner, John Travolta, Jerry Seinfeld and Jim Carey.

The first few years of the “public” Balboa Bay Club have gone well and the resort has attracted a consistent stream of getaway travelers, most hailing from California and arriving by car ‘ although John Wayne Airport is only a 15-minute drive from the resort. The temperate coastal weather and the property’s waterfront location are big draws.

In fact, Newport Beach is a pretty good draw all on its own. Take a drive and you’ll see that modern, wide palm tree-lined thoroughfares take visitors through some of the priciest real estate in the country, the gorgeous blue Pacific Ocean almost always visible with just the slightest elevation.

World-class shopping and fine restaurants are in nearly every part of the city ‘ and, we might mention, the club’s restaurant, the First Cabin, is no slouch either. Famous galleries, exquisite home furnishing stores and many fascinating shops are awaiting your exploration in nearby Corona del Mar. Or visit Fashion Island, one of two Orange County super retail complexes that just seem too grandiose to be called shopping centers (the other being South Coast Plaza in nearby Costa Mesa). Name a store found on New York’s Fifth Avenue, and you’ll probably find a version of it at Fashion Island.

For the outdoor enthusiast, it’s just a five-minute drive from the club to Upper Newport Ecological Reserve, a 752-acre coastal wetland that is home to 200 rare and endangered bird species. Visitors enjoy walking tours through the area.

On our visits to Newport Beach, we have enjoyed shopping on Balboa Island, which has a tiny, but busy Main Street ‘ actually it’s called Marine Avenue ‘ which is just a few short blocks with about 70 shops and restaurants to explore. This little example of Small Town Americana offers a wide selection of shops in all price ranges as well as several boutiques and galleries.

The downtown shopping area is just part of the attraction on Balboa Island, an island small enough that you can walk entirely around its perimeter in less than two miles. It’s fun to observe life on an island that remains exclusive because it is so expensive. There is no denying that the ever-present sunshine and the harbor views create a quiet respite from bustling city life and clogged freeways. The colorful villas and vacation-style homes on the island are quite lavish for their size.

Walk out onto your deck at the Balboa Bay Club and you’ll likely see many electrically powered Duffy boats — which you can even rent for your own cruise on the bay. Duffy boats are made locally and are specifically designed to take a group of people out on the water in total comfort and luxury for simple harbor cruising. The 21-foot boat we rented could accommodate 10 adults with plush bench seats on each side of the boat with table tops available in the middle for drinks or snacks. The boat was entirely shaded and had plenty of open areas on the sides to enjoy the view. It was easy to operate and requires little or no boating experience.

Our Duffy boat wasn’t exactly like the 100-foot mega-yachts tied up in from of our suite at the Balboa Club — but let’s just say it was a tad bit easier on fuel.

AT A GLANCE

WHERE: The Balboa Bay Club is in Newport Beach, which is located in Orange County, south of Los Angeles. It is easily reached on the 405 freeway.

WHAT: A playground for the wealthy, but still within reason for the average middle-income family if you go for just a weekend.

WHEN: Year-round, with blue-sky weather virtually any time of the year.

WHY: “Weather and water” as one club executive explained. The weather’s perfect most of the time, and the club is the only waterfront resort in Newport Beach.

HOW: For more information on the Balboa Bay Club, phone 888-445-7153 or visit www.balboabayclub.com. Be sure to check out their package specials that begin at around $300 a night. For information on Newport Beach, contact the Newport Beach Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-800-94-COAST or visit www.newportbeach-cvb.com.