VIRTUOSO LIFE | Virtuoso Life Travel Articles

July / August 2010
July / August 2010
Issue 58

DREAM IT, DO IT

Nice to see you again, the nearly 11,000 ardent travelers who shared your travel aspirations with us in this year’s survey.

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INSIDER'S ITALY

Insider's Italy, an Advisor-Planned Itinerary

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TICKET TO RIDE

Ticket To Ride - Seven Space Tourists Prepare for Liftoff.

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OUT OF THE MIST

Unforgettable people, a wrenching past, and majestic mountain gorillas: Rwanda leaves a powerful impression.

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May / June 2010
May / June 2010

Real Escapes

These days, travel is all about the experience, from what you do to where you stay.

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Parisian Pad: La Reserve Paris

Calm in the City

22 Urban Hotels where tranquility reigns

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The Four Seasons Hotel Mexico, D.F.

Mexico City, Done Right

For a rich immersion in the capital’s culture, head to its historic heart.

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Headlining Hotels

Go Green! A look at today's most eco-savvy stays.

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March / April 2010
March / April 2010

25 Best Beaches

A few favorite spots for sinking your toes in the sand.

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Image courtesy of: KIERAN SCOTT

North Island Epic

Pristine landscapes, divine dining, and giant trout: New Zealand’s flair for the dramatic is best seen up close.

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Balearic Beat

From Ibiza’s nonstop nightlife to Menorca’s British history, Spain’s Balearic Islands sing a siren song.

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Fusion Therapy

Long an idyllic escape, the Maldives reinvents itself as a melting pot of spa cultures.

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January / February 2010
January / February 2010

Learning to Crawl

A spirited family vacation: three generations go pubbing in Ireland.

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The Year Ahead

Right spot, right time. In a world of possibilities, the question isn’t “Where next?” – it’s “Where now?”

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Pinnacles of Taste

In Italy’s Dolomites the views are straight from a snow globe and the meals are the stuff of legend.

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Scottish Odyssey

Famed fairways. Fine whisky. Historic castles and royal palaces. A visit to Scotland is all that and more.

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November / December 2009
November / December 2009

8 Trips That matter

Make “once in a lifetime” your mantra once a year with travel that transcends vacation.

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Treasures of Tunisia

Desert dunes and lush oases. Roman ruins and local wine. This is Africa like you’ve never known it.

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Mexico on a Mission

Trace the country’s history with a tour through its colorful and quirky colonial cities.

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12 great reasons to Cruise 2010

Cruise lines are serving up a year’s worth of smooth sailing.

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September / October 2009
September / October 2009

Destination Dining

Where to eat now at top tables across the country.

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Valleys of the Lost

Discover the grape feared gone for good on Chile’s Andean flank.

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Taste of Asia

An annotated sampler of the East’s culinary high points, from noodles in Bangkok to aloo gobi in Jaipur.

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Image courtesy of: DAVID NICOLAS

Fork on the Road

Pack your appetite for a gourmet’s drive through southern France.

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July / August 2009
July / August 2009

10 Dream Destinations

You dream, They deliver: Virtuoso travel advisors created singular itineraries for your top 10 destinations in our Travel Dreams Survey.

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Image courtesy of: DOOK

Mighty Good Times

Rhinos, river horses, and a behemoth waterfall – Africa tops the Travel Dreams Survey as your favorite adventure destination.

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Your Travel Dreams

The results of our annual Travel Dreams Survey, plus stories on the destinations you want.

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Blue Heaven

A yachting sojourn through French Polynesia is the ultimate island idyll.

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May / June 2009
May / June 2009

Small Pleasures

One universal perk at these small boutique hotels is knowing you're among a select few that's discovered them.

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Comprehensive Caribbean

With 7,000 islands stretching 2,500 miles, there’s a beach retreat for everyone.

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Whales Tales

From geography lessons and wildlife studies to a little mother-son insight, an Alaska cruise is truly educational.

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Hotels That Help

Book a stay where you can combine good times with good works.

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March / April 2009
March / April 2009

Kauai Connection

A close-to-home sojourn delivers the ultimate luxury for a busy family: time to unwind.

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Image courtesy of: DAVID NICOLAS

Life in the Slow Lane

A yacht, a bike, Crete and the Peloponnese – prepare for a modern-day Greek odyssey.

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Down Under Australia

Often overlooked, Tasmania distills the Aussie Experience into one easily drivable drop.

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Vacations for the Ages

Traveling with kids – from toddlers to teens – is a challenge. These tips and trips can help.

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January / February 2009
January / February 2009

Emerging Europe

Today show travel editor PETER GREENBERG shares his hot list of the continent’s best-kept secrets and bargains.

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Madrid's Moment

As the Spanish capital re-emerges onto the travel scene, its vibrant neighborhoods take center stage.

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Image courtesy of: BOB STEFKO

Northern Exposures

Medieval meets modern on a Baltic Sea cruise, one of the best ways to experience Europe today.

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What Matters

Volunteer vacations are on the rise, and the rewards can be life changing.

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November / December 2008
November / December 2008

Statements of Style

Hotels that epitomize today’s modern design.

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All the World’s Treasures

The ultimate guide to gems around the globe.

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BREAKING THE ICE

Travel to the end of the earth to get acquainted with Antarctica’s fierce and unforgettable wilds.

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Image courtesy of: ANNABEL WRIGHT

Festive Revival

Expatriates, foreign governments, and no less than the King of Morocco himself fuel the glorious resurgence of Fès.

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September / October 2008
September / October 2008

The Editors' List

Virtuoso Life editors give a nod to hotels that stand out from the crowd.

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Dinner with Florence

Editor Justin Paul dons a toque with Tuscan masters and discovers why they're so jovial in the morning.

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CULINARY SEA SONS

Cookbook author Jeff Koehler sets sail with chef André Soltner for a taste of the Mediterranean.

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EDGE OF THE WORLD

While there may not be any more truly “undiscovered” places in the world, Patagonia offers travelers the rare chance to feel as though they’ve stumbled upon a new continent.

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July / August 2008
July / August 2008

The Winning List

Virtuoso Life’s Travel Dreams Survey results: Which places and adventures top your must-see list.

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Dream Makers

You picked the destinations; Virtuoso Life editors present premier experiences to match.

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On Top of the World

Travel has the power to change your entire perspective. Sir Richard Branson’s space tourism venture does it in a world without gravity.

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Africa, As Imagined

Discover the thrill of the chase on a modern-day African safari.

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May / June 2008
May / June 2008

A Sense of Place

Perfect the art of escape at these dramatic hotels.

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Beijing Old and New

A primer on what to do in Beijing as it readies to welcome the Olympics.

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Stonewalling History

Love a good Mystery? The Power of Machu Picchu grows stronger with each trip.

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Catered Tots

Hotels up their game for the most persnickety guests.

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March / April 2008
March / April 2008

Paradise Unplugged

Ten Caribbean hideaways that beckon with bygone charm.

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What’s Driving Dalmatia

Senior editor Justin Paul gets behind the wheel for one of the world’s great road trips.

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The Morphing of Mauritius

This melting pot in the middle of the Indian Ocean is more than just a pretty face.

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The Unrivaled Reef

Divers find Nemo and much more on saltwater safaris to the Great Barrier Reef.

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January / February 2008
January / February 2008

Pink Dreams and Port Wine

Portugal serves up an enticing cocktail of sun, city, scenery, and special treatment.

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Barcelona, Family style

Can a city celebrated for its adult sophistication entertain the pint-size set?

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It's a Green World After All

Start-to-finish sustainably minded trips that don’t skimp on the pampering.

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Sea of Dreams

Pop culture meets ancient history on this year’s Mediterranean sailings.

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November / December 2007
November / December 2007

It's a Wrap

This year’s holiday gift guide provides a surefire checklist to please your favorite traveler.

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India Shines On

A practical guide to jewelry hunting in New Delhi, Agra, and Jaipur.

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In the Neighborhood

A tour of the top U.S. shopping districts from coast to coast.

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Champagne Wishes

Vintage bubbly sipped at the source? A tour of the top houses in the famed French wine region.

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September / October 2007
September / October 2007

La Rioja on a Roll

10 meals, 72 courses, 27 wines: Pack your stamina for a bike ride through Spain.

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On the Leading Edge of Luxe 10 Hotels To Know

From clever cocktails to underwater fun for kids, these ten hotels lead the way in innovation.

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Barossa Blooming

Barossa Valley’s ascent to Australia’s new gourmet darling.

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Critical Appeal

Restaurant Critics in seven countries share their favorite places to eat.

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July / August 2007
July / August 2007

The Winning List

The result's of our first-ever reader's survey are in. See our reader's choice for ultimate dream vacations.

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Ultimate Itineraries

Italy, New Zealand, French Polynesia: Our readers picked the locations, we present two weeks in each.

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Private Islands, Worlds of Possibility

The best in private-island resort getaways, plus private jet travel.

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Image courtesy of: Susan Seubert

Hawaii Reigns

Far and away the favorite family vacation destination in our readers’ survey, Hawaii has something for everyone.

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May / June 2007
May / June 2007

Forever Young

Newly revamped, these grande dame hotels show how seven decades into it they’re still queens of their domain.

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Miracle Makers

Ten top hotel concierges share their cities' best kept secrets - and their own most astounding feats.

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Deep in Paradise

A dive adventure in Fiji reveals a spectacular underwater world worth preserving.

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High Tee

Elevate your golf game – and score – on western Canada’s challenging mountain courses.

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March / April 2007
March / April 2007
Image courtesy of: Neil Rabinowitz

Great American Adventures

Explore the world in your own backyard with these 10 North American outdoor escapes.

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Taking the Plunge

Family fun on the Salmon River’s Middle Fork – one of the country’s last great wilderness trips.

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Image courtesy of: Kevin Miyazaki

Vintage Return

Savoring wine, cheese, and Côte d’Or romance on Burgundy’s historic canals.

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Global Gourmet

There’s a science experiment on your plate, and these chefs are leading the high-tech dining trend.

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January / February 2007
January / February 2007

10 Trips of a Lifetime

Learn to be a winemaker. Take the fashion-insider’s track through Paris. Zip into suborbital space. The time is now.

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The Ultimate Mystery Island

Storied, impossibly remote, and ever intriguing: Easter Island captures the imagination.

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Turkey's Rising Star

In Istanbul, Ottoman palaces and imperial mosques rub up against swank hotels with sky bar lounges.

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Hawaii's Road To Paradise

From lavender gardens to gourmet cuisine, discover Upcountry Maui on a sunup-to-sundown road trip.

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November / December 2006
November / December 2006

Peak Pursuit

The top ten resorts in North America this year: what's new, who's going, and how to stay in style. Bonus: gear guide.

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Sol Searching

Hot Topics: Ten of Mexico's finest beaches for everything from family fun to setting suns.

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Royal Waves

Regal cruising in a grand suite. Plus: The best suites at sea.

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Play Through

Jamaican Green: Montego Bay's best golf.

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September / October 2006
September / October 2006
All the World's A Shop

All the World's a Shop

Diamonds in London. Linens in Lisbon. Antiques in Shanghai. An insider’s shopping guide.

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Qué Bueno

Buenos Aires sparkles with culture, passion, optimism – and some of the most sophisticated (and inexpensive) shopping.

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Dining by Design

These five new restaurants have design pedigrees that are as impressive as their menus.

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In the Bag

Pack like a Pro. Packing tips from the people who travel most.

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July / August 2006
July / August 2006

South Africa's Liquid Assets

The most famous sweet wine of the eighteenth century was beloved by Napoleon, esteemed in the courts of Europe, and praised in the novels of Jane Austen and Charles Dickens.

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Raising the Bar

From their esteemed bartenders and exceptional people-watching to their stunning views and storied histories, these eight definitive hotel bars invite the question: Is it cocktail hour yet?

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Ace Service

Bjorn Borg was my hero growing up. I loved his crafty baseline skills. It was the 1970s, the era when tennis had its greatest grip on the American imagination, and I spent each day in the summer taking lessons and playing with friends.

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Modern Man, Exfoliated

I'm being coated like a savory entree. My skin tingles under a cleansing gel leavened with crushed olive pits. The gel melds lemon oil, thyme oil, and numerous other emollients and combines with the earthy aroma of the olive pits.

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