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Paris
If you want to make your journey to Paris luxurious, we recommend hiring a private charter plane. This makes even a short city trip over the weekend worthwhile, as the fast check-in leaves plenty of free time for exploring. Since Paris Le Bourget Airport, as the leading private airfield, is located close to the city centre, the onward journey to the booked first-class hotel is quickly possible by limousine.
Hardly any other city exerts such magic as the metropolis on the Seine. Paris is not only the “city of love”, but also of good taste. Well over 17,000 restaurants and pubs await gourmets from all over the world. The choice seems endless, but you can’t go wrong with this selection when it comes to haute cousine.
Paris is not only the city of countless sights, but also one of the most important fashion capitals in the world. French haute couture and designer fashion has a global reputation. If you have the means, you can get your money’s worth in Paris in countless luxury boutiques. Here are a few tips:
The historic Samaritaine department stores, reopening in June 2021, is a real hotspot for luxury shopping. On five floors in two buildings you can find almost all the noble French and international fashion labels. On 20,000 square metres you can choose between fashion from Alexander McQueen and Balmain to Yves Saint Laurent. The Samaritaine also offers accessories, shoes and several restaurants. Built in the Belle Epoque style and carefully restored over 6 years, the building is a real sight itself with its staircases designed by Gustave Eiffel, its glass roof and 19th century mosaics.
One of the most exclusive shopping streets in Paris is Rue Saint-Honoré. It is often compared to 5th Avenue in New York, with which it has a partnership. You will find numerous shops with designer fashion, accessories, fine shoes, such as Hermès, Chloé, Longchamps, Yves Saint Laurent, Fendi, Missoni or Stella McCartney.
Place Vendome, with its Victory Column built under Napoléon, is where the fine jewellers in Paris are concentrated. Directly on the square are boutiques by Rolex, Courbet, Chanel, Cartier, Chopard as well as the 5-star luxury Hotel Ritz, where Princess Diana spent her last night. Incidentally, the legendary fashion designer Coco Chanel stayed in a suite of the luxury hotel. The 188-square-metre suite on the 2nd floor can now be rented by anyone from €18,000 per night.
For culinary delights while shopping, Place de la Madeleine is the place to go. Fauchon, the delicatessen shop has been here since 1886, where you can find everything a gourmet’s heart desires. Cakes and pastries, delicacies, top wines and champagnes, fine chocolates and pralines, pâtés and cold cuts. All the specialities can also be enjoyed on the spot in the restaurant. On the opposite side of the Madeleine Church is Caviar Kaspia, one of the best places to get caviar from all over the world. You can also enjoy one of the caviar-themed menus in the on-site restaurant, with its 1920s décor.
The number of top hotels in Paris seems endless and it’s hard to choose. A favourite is the Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris, a luxury hotel of the highest order in an absolutely brilliant location. It is pretty much right between the Arc de Triumph and the Eiffel Tower – both are also within easy reach, as is the Avenue des Champs-Elysées. The hotel terrace offers a sensational view of Paris, the inner courtyard is known for its opulent flower arrangements. Three restaurants with a total of 5 (!) Michelin stars await visitors. Many of the hotel rooms and suites have their own terraces from which you can look out over Paris – they are extremely sumptuously furnished.
The Hotel de Crillon is located right in the centre of Paris – directly at the Place de la Concorde, the Jardin des Tuileries and the Seine. It is a genuine luxury hotel that leaves nothing to be desired. It is located in a city palace dating from 1758 and has almost as many suites as rooms. It is one of the hotels in Paris where many world-famous musicians, politicians and film stars have stayed over the years.
A great designed hotel in Paris is the Hôtel du Louvre, which is part of The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. It is located in a very beautiful building in the Grand Hotel style and radiates exactly this atmosphere inside. It looks relaxed, very noble and the rooms are large and bright. The location in Paris is unbeatable. it is situated in one of the best areas of the city and almost all the famous sights and museums are in the immediate vicinity. The in-house restaurant “La Brasserie du Louvre by Bocuse” was recently completely renovated and its sophisticated cuisine also delights the Parisians themselves.
St Tropez
After so much city life, a more relaxed stay on the Mediterranean is just right. More precisely, on the Cote d’Azur. Here, too, the choice for friends of the luxury lifestyle is huge and at first you don’t really know where it is most beautiful: St. Tropez, Cannes, Nice or Monte Carlo. One place name sounds more beautiful and legendary than the other. We are finally drawn to St. Tropez.
A touch of luxury, pompous yachts, expensive sports cars, hip beach clubs and, of course, celebrities everywhere you look, that’s what comes to mind and what most people expect when they hear Saint-Tropez. But Saint-Tropez is far from being just a cliché and the “cradle of the international jet set”, it is a completely charming little town with small, narrow streets, picturesque courtyards and olive trees, the charm of which hardly anyone can resist once they get involved with the little harbour town.
The celebrities first came in the 1950s, when the little town gained worldwide fame, especially through films starring Brigitte Bardot. The film resulted in a real rush of artists but also high society.
Today, many prominent Europeans spend their holidays in Saint-Tropez or stop there with their yachts and visit, for example, the famous beach clubs or noble restaurants or shop in the expensive boutiques of the luxury labels.
If you want to relax from the high life of the small town, it is not far to the beaches of St. Tropez, for example the Plage de Pampellone. It is the most famous beach on the Côte d’Azur and also the one where you are most likely to meet celebrities. Because that’s also where you’ll find the trendy clubs like the legendary “Le Club 55”, where the evening ends glamorously. Whether Clint Eastwood, Paul McCartney, Bill Gates, Bruce Willis or George Clooney, everyone who is anyone has visited “Le Club 55”.
Italy
We leave France and head for Italy, where we start in Rome, the “eternal city” where the dolce vita can be enjoyed so excellently.
Speaking of dolce vita: a luxury train of the same name will soon make it possible to experience Italy’s most beautiful places and landscapes along historic routes and symbolic destinations – just like the famous Orient Express once did, where nostalgia and luxury met. One destination is Rome, of course, and the carriages promise absolute extra class. There will be 12 de-luxe cabins or 18 suites as well as a prestige suite. This offer is to be experienced beyond the borders of Italy, because starting from Rome the Orient-Express La Dolce Vita is also to call at Paris, for example.
Rome
Once you arrive in Rome, you don’t even know where to start first, so varied is the offer for pampered travellers. So let’s start with an extensive shopping tour, preferably in the Via dei Condotti, Rome’s luxury mile. Here you will find all the big designer labels in close proximity to each other. It starts directly at one of the most beautiful squares in Rome, the Piazza di Spagna in front of the famous Spanish Steps. Here you can shop for luxury goods seven days a week, because the boutiques are also open on Sundays. Just let yourself drift along the 700-metre-long street in the centre of Rome and marvel at the latest creations of the great designers. After just a few metres, you will discover the first well-known names. Gucci, Valentino and Prada are the first. If you shop here, you can be sure of special shopping advice. The physical well-being is also taken care of. Right next to Prada is the Antico Caffé Greco. It is the second oldest coffee house in Italy and a real institution when it comes to coffee and always worth a break while shopping.
Then it’s on to the French brands Dior, Hermès, Céline and Louis Vuitton, all of which have flagship stores here. There are also boutiques selling fine jewellery by Bulgari, Frederico Bucellati and Damiani. Incidentally, just at the end of the street is the famous Trevi Fountain, which has been the focus of numerous films.
Shops with tradition line up in the Roman centre, and many look as if they want to offer themselves as a film set for a historical plot. The elderly lady who welcomes customers at “Moriondo & Gariglio” could easily be hired as an actress. In the back of the shop, the chocolates are still packed by hand, while in the front you can look into the displays and warm up with a hot chocolate.
You can’t help but try all the delicious dishes at one of the city’s most legendary trattorias. It stands on Piazza Margana, the “Antica Trattoria Angelino”, and the plaques on the wall leave no doubt about its fame. Chairs and tables in front of the door are blocked off for filming, but you can still stop in. Goethe’s historic osteria is a destination for German literary connoisseurs, who of course know exactly how much the poet felt at home here in autumn 1786. His enthusiasm for pasta is on record.
At La Pergola, you not only eat particularly well, but are also treated to a dream view over the city. Located in the 5-star Rome Cavalieri Hotel, the exclusive restaurant serves its guests unique gourmet cuisine and sweetens their stay with wonderful paintings, unique tapestries and antique sculptures. The atmosphere of the three Michelin-starred restaurant couldn’t be better, so it’s no surprise that La Pergola was named Rome’s best restaurant. What’s more, the restaurant is one of the best in Italy, as well as one of the best in the world!
For demanding travellers with high expectations, there is a rich selection of de luxe hotels in Rome. There are over 50 (!) of these five-star luxury hotels in Rome’s city centre and the surrounding area. Often it is only a few steps from the hotel door to the next sight. The prominent locations are also reflected in the prices of the hotels.
Other hotel brands such as Waldorf Astoria, among others, offer luxurious accommodation for an all-round successful stay in Trevi.
Trastevere is a trendy bohemian neighbourhood in Rome. If you are looking for traditional trattorias, craft beer bars and artisan shops, this part of the city is the place to be. In addition, some impressive churches and other buildings are at home in this district. The Gran Meliá Rome Villa Agrippina is one of the best luxury hotels in Trastevere and is the ideal accommodation to enjoy your holiday in this exciting part of town.
Venice
A tip beforehand: if you are travelling to Venice by plane rather than by land, treat yourself to a ride on the vaporetto, the public water taxi that takes you to the lagoon city. You get on directly at the airport and can already see the unique city scenery during the entire journey. Of course, you can also book a private vaporetto in advance, which will take only you individually to your destination.
The choice of hotels in Venice seems endless, with many hotels located in centuries-old palazzi from days long gone. The San Clemente Palace Kempinski Venice is a case in point. It is located on the private island of San Clemente and can be reached in just a few minutes by the free hotel boat from Piazza San Marco. Enjoy the classic décor of the 196 rooms and suites overlooking the lagoon or the centuries-old park.
There is always something happening in Venice, with something for everyone. For those who want to take a break between shopping and culture, a tour on the “Floating Wine Cellar” is recommended. On board an original gondola, guests sail through the winding canals of the city, stopping at small bars and tasting selected wines and delicious antipasti directly in the gondola.
Harry’s Bar is also famous, as it was here that the Bellini cocktail was invented, but also the carpaccio, the classic for antipasti lovers. It was opened in 1931 by Giuseppe Arrigo Cipriani and his friend Harry Pickering. The international jet set loved the location. Truman Capote, Ernest Hemingway and Orson Welles were guests. About a quarter of a century later, the hotel followed. This time named after Giuseppe Cipriani and now Belmond Cipriani. The décor is inspired by the glamour of bygone times, including a golden ceiling.
And another tip: Those who want to discover the lagoon city in a particularly exclusive way can even rent a sleek Riva boat for their excursions. Those who do not have a driving licence for this noble means of transport on water can at least charter their own captain.
Spain
After immersing ourselves in times gone by in Venice, we leave Italy and head to Spain, a modern, vibrant metropolis that they say never sleeps:
Barcelona
The Spanish metropolis offers just the right thing for every taste and every demand. For art lovers, the numerous art and cultural sites are the object of desire, shopping queens are drawn to the bustling shopping streets of the enchanting city by the sea and party lovers throw themselves into the colourful nightlife. Whatever attracts you to Barcelona, you will get your money’s worth.
Barcelona is an elegant city, one of the most stylish cities in all of Europe, if not the world. From magnificent architecture to an atmospheric old town, Barcelona seems to be bursting with style.
If you fancy luxury shopping but only spend your money on the best of the best, Barcelona has a lot to offer.
We start at Passeig de Gracia, without a doubt Barcelona’s most elegant stretch of luxury shopping brands in the city. Start at Plaça Catalunya and work your way up to Carrer Diagonal, or vice versa. Between Gaudí’s La Pedrera and Casa Batlló, you’ll find a wide and airy boulevard lined with names like Chanel, Prada, Versace, Hermès and MaxMara. If you’re looking for jewellery, be sure to check out Cartier, Tiffany & Co and Bagues Joieria.
For those who need companionship or advice on their activities, this special tip is just the ticket: Personal Shopper Deluxe is a company founded by Piluka de Echegaray, an expert in image consulting and personal shopping. The first thing the client has to do is answer a series of questions that help the company understand their unique style. Then the personalised advice kicks in, guiding prospective customers to just the right luxury shops.
If you’re walking extensively during the day, you’ll need to make a break in style. Although revered for its exciting nightlife and golden beaches, the real highlight of Barcelona is its exceptional food scene. From top-notch upscale cuisine in a Michelin-starred restaurant to authentic street food in the city’s backstreets, a visit to one of Barcelona’s best restaurants promises an unparalleled gastronomic journey.
Under the direction of chef Romain Fornell, a Michelin-starred Caelis is driven by a passion for innovation, be it groundbreaking techniques, abstract flavour combinations or unusual ingredients.
Lasarte is regularly named one of the best restaurants in Barcelona (if not all of Spain), and not without reason. Shortly after opening its doors in 2006, the restaurant has gone from strength to strength, earning a prestigious third Michelin star. The result is a gastronomic experience like no other, filled to the brim with culinary delights such as Wagyu ravioli and pickled oysters.
The hotel industry in Barcelona also leaves nothing to be desired. One example is the 5-star Hotel Bagués, which is particularly impressive in the categories of location and furnishings. The rooms are large, wonderfully designed and the hotel is located right in the centre, next to the Ramblas, the Boqueria Market, the Plaza Catalunya, as well as Barcelona’s landmark, the Sagrada Familia. Last but not least: from its roof terrace, there is a sensational view of the entire city, making it certainly one of the best hotels in the old town of Barcelona.
The Grand Hotel Central is also one of the best hotels in Barcelona. It has an infitity pool on the roof terrace, the rooms are very nicely furnished and due to its proximity to the Gothic quarter, the centre with its old town and the Barcelona Cathedral, it is perfect for all those who are looking for a really good design hotel or boutique hotel in Barcelona, of which there are not as many in Barcelona as one might think. The sky bar on the roof terrace is brilliant, where you can have a great meal or just a cocktail or vino while enjoying the view of Barcelona.
Mallorca and Ibiza
The Balearic Island has a lot to offer, also in the luxury segment. Leisure activities are also at the centre of attention. There are now 20 golf courses on the Balearic island, attracting players from all over the world. Accordingly, there are many luxury resorts for pampered golfers. A particularly beautiful one is located in a quiet bay near Palma: the Hotel Cap Rocat. The hotel is a restored former military fortress that enchants its guests with its charm and atmosphere. In addition to the numerous golf courses near Palma, the Maioris golf course and the golf resort Golf Son Antem are in the immediate vicinity. The Sea Club restaurant is located in the bay directly on the sea.
The Sa Torre golf hotel is also worth a visit. It is very quietly located in the interior of the island in a scenic setting. The finca dates from the 14th century and has been extensively restored. Built in the style of Mallorcan manor houses, the luxury hotel with several buildings and an imposing tower from the 14th century functions as the main house, and the rooms have a convincing individual character.
The complex also includes a chapel and a windmill from the 19th century. The beach club is located about 10 minutes by car from the hotel, directly on the rocky coast of Mallorca.
But even for non-golfers, Mallorca has a lot to offer for those with exclusive taste like the Sant Francesc Hotel Singular. This luxury hotel is ideal for exploring the historic centre of Palma, as the Plaça de Sant Francesc and the famous Cathedral of Mallorca are just a few minutes’ walk away! Situated in a 19th century villa, the Sant Francesc Hotel Singular pays special attention to contemporary art, which is also displayed in the 32 unique rooms and ten exclusive suites.
The Carrossa Hotel Spa Villas is also one of the most beautiful luxury hotels and is located in the unspoilt north-east of Mallorca. The 5-star hotel is located on a hill in the region of Levant
and offers its guests a unique view of the bay of Alcùdia all the way to Cala Millor. Surrounded by old almond and olive trees, the 350-hectare complex offers the perfect place for a relaxing holiday. The hotel has a total of 75 elegant rooms and suites in authentic Mallorcan style.
Those who want to enjoy exclusive culinary delicacies in a dreamlike ambience are in the right place in Palma de Mallorca, directly at the marina in the Mar de Nudos. Those who want to experience the Japanese-Mediterranean cuisine of top gastronome Marco di Loreto should make reservations days in advance, as word of the restaurant’s quality has long since spread on Mallorca.
Just outside the Balearic capital, in Palmanova, there is a very special gastronomic tip: Il Chiringo. This small but fine mixture of café, bistro and restaurant is located directly on the white beach under pine trees. Here, everything is freshly and tastily prepared and served by a very friendly and cordial staff. Anyone who has enjoyed the unique atmosphere here will certainly come back soon.
We also take a look at the neighbouring island, where a new in-location has established itself in terms of special culinary delights: TATEL Ibiza. It is a restaurant and music venue at the same time and is located on the chic Playa D’En Bossa. It could hardly be more casual. The TATEL brand was founded by tennis pro Rafael Nadal and singer Enrique Iglesias. Not at all surprisingly, the casual but luxurious charm with ambience is the order of the day here. The concept of the restaurant is convincing: it combines all the elements of enjoyment that should never be missing when relaxing on holiday: top food, good music and a fantastic sea view. Chef Nacho Chicharro delivers the former. His menu is based on that of TATEL Madrid.
He uses fresh, regional ingredients in traditional but modernised Spanish recipes. What has already proved successful in the capital is also served here: truffles, for example, and there is also a choice of fresh seafood. In an informal atmosphere, almost like a 1920s speakeasy club, you eat, drink and enjoy the vida bonita. A highlight of the restaurant is the copper DJ pulpit. From there, the area around the beach terrace becomes a chill-out zone in the evening with live performances and world-famous DJs.
