March 19, 2009

Potsdam: a perfect day trip from Berlin

Just outside Berlin is one of Germany’s most enchanting destinations: Potsdam. The one-time residence of Prussian kings and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the town is set among a chain of lakes, and features royal palaces and gardens, a historic town center filled with unique boutiques and great restaurants, and unique architectural works from […]

Destinations: Europe, Germany

Tags: architecture, architecture tours, art tours, Babelsberg, Baroque, Berlin, Berlin tours, Cecilienhof Palace, Einstein Tower, Einsteinturm, Erich Mendelsohn, gardens, Germany tours, history tours, Jewish, Jewish artists, Jewish tours, Liebermann Villa, luxury, luxury travel, Martha Liebermann, Max Liebermann, Mies van der Rohe, neo-Classical, New Garden, palaces, pleasure gardens, Potsdam, Potsdam Conference, Potsdam tours, private, private Berlin tours, Rococo-style, Russian Colony, Sanssouci, shore excursions, Telegraph Hill, tour, tours, travel, UNESCO, villas, vineyards

March 18, 2009

Philanthropic travel in India

India is one of the best destinations for philanthropic travel, and many travelers ask us how they can contribute to local communities while touring India. It is very easy for us to incorporate philanthropic experiences into any of our private India tours–these experiences make travel in India that much more meaningful, and we consistently hear […]

Destinations: Asia, India

Tags: aid organizations, Artisans of Leisure, charities, charity, children, Delhi, donate, donations, family, India tours, Jaipur, NGO, non-profit travel, organizations, orphanage, Philanthropic travel, philanthropy, private, private tours, schools, tour, tours, travel, travelers, trips, villages, volunteer, volunteer vacations, voluntourism

March 17, 2009

The ultimate Aussie: a Kangaroo Island insider

We recently caught up with one of our preferred guides on Kangaroo Island, Australia. The island is featured in several of our luxury Australia tours–we consider it to be one of Australia’s most worthwhile destinations and a must for anyone interested in wildlife, incredible scenery, and an opportunity to experience the best of Australian hospitality. Our guides connect […]

Destinations: Australia, South Pacific

Tags: Adelaide Hills, art, Artisans of Leisure, Australia tours, Australian, Barossa, bird tours, birds, cattle station, Coonawarra, family, family tours, food, fossils, guide, Kangaroo Island, Kangaroo Island tours, kangaroos, Peggy Rismiller, private Australia tours, Richard Forley, sheep, South Australia, Southern Ocean Lodge, Top End, tour, tours, travel, wildlife, wildlife tours, wine, wine country

March 4, 2009

Must Buy: gold in the souks of Dubai

A trip to the souks—particularly the gold and spice souks—is a must when in Dubai. These markets offer travelers a glimpse into Dubai’s past that a visit to one of the city’s modern malls does not provide. The souks are a wonderful place to purchase local goods, or to simply wander the narrow walkways, browsing the numerous […]

Destinations: Dubai, UAE

Tags: Dubai Creek, Dubai tours, Emirates, gold, gold souk, jewelry, markets, shopping, souks, UAE

March 2, 2009

A conversation with Chef David Sterling of Los Dos, Mexico’s acclaimed cooking school

We recently enjoyed speaking with renowned Yucatecan chef David Sterling, the founder of Los Dos Cooking School in the charming colonial city of Merida, Mexico. Q: Your cooking school in Merida, Los Dos, is one of the leading culinary schools in Mexico. You were instrumental in making Yucatan cuisine more internationally known and regarded. How […]

Destinations: Latin America, Mexico

Tags: ancient ruins, chef David Sterling, chocolate, classes, cooking, cooking tours, cooking utensils, cuisine, culinary, culinary blog, culinary destinations, culinary schools, culinary techniques, culinary tours, culinary travel, culture, culture blog, dance, Diana Kennedy, European, excursions, festivals, folk art, food, food blog, foodie, French chocolate, gourmet, Guanajuato, Gustav Eiffel, haute cuisine, hotels, Los Dos Cooking School, luxury, luxury haciendas, market, Mayan cuisine, Mayan villages, Merida, mestizo cuisine, Mexican food, Mexican kitchen, Mexico City, Mexico tours, Michoacan, Morelia, music, Portuguese, recipes, s cookbooks, Spanish, street food, tours, traditional, travel, trips, Yucatan, Yucatan cuisine, Yucatecan, Yuecatecan, Zitacuaro

February 27, 2009

Private Architecture Tours of Tokyo

Tokyo is one of the best places in the world to see modern and contemporary architecture. Aoyama, Harajuku, Roppongi, Ginza and other neighborhoods are filled with important buildings by some of the world’s leading architects, including SANAA, Herzog & de Meuron, Tadao Ando, Le Corbusier, Kenzo Tange, Rafael Vinoly, Renzo Piano, Toyo Ito, Fumihiko Maki, […]

Destinations: Asia, Japan

Tags: Aoyama, architects, architecture, art, Artisans of Leisure, contemporary architecture, design, Fumihiko Maki, Ginza, Harajuku, Herzog & de Meuron, Japan tours, Kenzo Tange, Le Corbusier, luxury, modern, Rafael Vinoly, Renzo Piano, Roppongi, SANAA, Tadao Ando, Tokyo, tours, Toyo Ito, travel, Yoshio Taniguchi

February 27, 2009

The perfect dramatic opening to Venice

Cruising by private boat from Marco Polo airport to your palace hotel is a quintessential Venice experience and the best, and most romantic, way to arrive in this city of islands. As you depart the airport and glide through the lagoon, watch as the views of rural islands and sparkling water slowly give way to […]

Destinations: Europe, Italy

Tags: Artisans of Leisure, Bauer Il Palazzo, culture, Grand Canal, Gritti Palace, Hotel Cipriani, islands, Italy tours, luxury, luxury hotels, luxury tours, Murano, private boat, private touring, private tours, tours, Venetian, Venice, Venice lagoon

February 27, 2009

Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, Hong Kong

We arrange a lot of very interesting tours in and around Hong Kong. One of our favorite excursions is to Sha Tin, one of the New Territories, to visit the Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery. The monastery is situated on a high hill and is accessible only by foot, so travelers need to be in relatively […]

Destinations: Asia, China, Hong Kong

Tags: 10000 Buddhas, Buddha, Buddhist, China tours, day tours, Hong Kong Heritage Museum, Hong Kong tours, luxury tours, luxury travel, Man Fat Tsz, New Territories, Sha Tin, Shatin, statues, Ten Thousand Buddhas Monastery, tours, travel