What Do You Get For $75,000 A Night In Manhattan
With the help of another top travel agent, this issue of
DG Amazing Experiences brings you new hotels and suites, including wellness retreats in Mexico and Turkey. We also take you to Abu Dhabi for the opening of a new Four Seasons.
I try to cover luxury at all levels from yachts that charter for several hundred thousand dollars a week to suites and villas which start around $1,000 per night, always trying to focus on what's new or something I think is unique.
This time I couldn't resist sharing an
Architectural Digest list of the most expensive suite in New York City. To find out what you get for $75,000 per night, read on.
What's your favorite suite or villa? Drop me a note!
I hope a
ll your trips are amazing experiences!
Editor-in-Chief
DG Amazing Experiences
Please Note - DG Amazing Experiences is not commercially affiliated with any of the resorts we profile or travel advisors we reference.
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1. The Masters VIP Hospitality Preview
The Masters is one of the biggest draws for private jets each year. As an example, NetJets operated over 300 flights in 2015.
With many of you going there, I thought it might be helpful to give a quick rundown of the hospitality some of the operators will be providing:
NetJets is hosting its annual Friday night dinner with Jim Nantz and several of its sponsored PGA pros for a "chalk talk." There will also be a live performance by Dierks Bentley.
FlexJet and Flight Options, both part of Directional Aviation, will have a hospitality suite at the Augusta FBO, focusing on making the arrivals and departures experience seamless and fun, featuring The Cast Iron gourmet food truck, themed cocktails, rolled cigars, an on-site concierge and amenities such as umbrellas, sunscreen and water bottles for owners to take with them to the course.
WheelsUp will be hosting a Thursday evening member party, including a panel moderated by ESPN's Scott Van Pelt, Andy North and Mike Tirico. There will also be guest appearances by Ricky Fowler and Graeme McDowell with food prepared by celebrity chef Ming Tsai.
Sentient says they will have private hospitality areas and access on various patios, so if you are going to The Masters, make sure you find a friend whose hooked up with some of the fun events and VIP access.
Partner Spotlight: Presidential Aviation
Presidential Aviation offers bespoke aircraft management solutions to suit the interests and lifestyles of private jet owners both under Part 91 and Part 135.
The company is focused on making private aircraft ownership the most rewarding and enjoyable experience for owners through comprehensive management services that include repair and maintenance at their in-house FAA-approved 14CFR part 145 Repair Station.
Presidential Aviation's fleet include aircraft from Gulfstream, Bombardier, Dassault, Cessna and Hawker.
2. The Most Expensive Suites In New York City
Recently Architectural Digest put together a slide show of the 13 most expensive suites. So you don't have to click, click, click, below you will find a few of the priciest ones, with the winner coming in at $75,000 per night.
Which is your favorite?
It's got a prime location on the Upper East Side on the corner of 77th Street and Madison Avenue, one block from Central Park. It has five bedrooms and four fireplaces, plus a private elevator. Living room ceilings are 26-ft. high and it crosses two floors. By the way, it's 9,500 sq. ft. with a 2,500 sq. ft. terrace and the dining room seats 26. It's ideal for entertaining, including product launches or for family travel. Still, take a deep breath at the price, a BBJ-sized $75,000 per night. And, I remember when you could rent an apartment in Manhattan for 75k! If you end up staying at The Penthouse at
The Mark, let me know what you think!
Four Seasons Hotel New York, Ty Warner Suite
Take your private elevator to the top floor of the I.M. Pei designed iconic New York City Hotel and you might miss the Qing Dynasty antiques or grand piano as you take in the views of Manhattan and the surrounding boroughs from owner Ty Warner's namesake suite, spread across 4,300 sq. ft. and taking up the entire floor. You also get your choice of a Maybach or Rolls Royce with driver to take you about town. The
Four Seasons New York takes up the block between 57th and 58th streets between Fifth Avenue and Park Avenue. A former "most expensive," it is now in second place at $50,000 per night.
St. Regis New York, Presidential Suite
Architectural Digest calls it "like the grandest apartment in New York City." With its Fifth Avenue prime midtown location close to Rockefeller Center, Central Park and Bergdorf Goodman, you will be well situated if you stay at the Presidential Suite at the St. Regis New York. There are three bedrooms and four bathrooms at 3,430 sq. ft. making it a great pick for families. There is also a full kitchen making it easy to entertain, including the dining room. AD likes the option of going down to the King Cole Bar in the lobby where your personal butler will make sure you get a hard-to-get table. It runs $35,000 per night.
Mandarin Oriental, New York, Suite 5000
An exclusive of albums from Academy Records for your listening pleasure is one of the perks when you pay $36,000 for the 50th floor Suite 5000 at the Mandarin Oriental in New York. With three bedrooms over 3,300 sq. ft. the hotel's location atop the Time Warner Center on the southwest corner of Central Park provides fab views. When not looking out at the city, you can appreciate works from Katherine Mann and Andrew Levitas.
The Pierre New York, The Tata Suite
In case you were wondering about the name, it reflects the owner, Indian conglomerate Tata Group, which was mentioned in the Republican debates for its business consulting division, and whose holdings range from tea to auto makers Rover and Jaguar, and the Taj group of luxury hotels and palaces. AD called it "a study in Upper East Side sophistication with its gold, silver and porcelain tones." The magazine said the views of Central Park make it "feel like it's your own backyard."
At 1,300 sq. ft. it wouldn't have made the list, however, you can buyout the entire 39th floor creating a six bedroom complex ideal for heads of state as well as large families. That goes for $30,000 per night.
Other hotels with suites on the AD list include the new Park Hyatt on "Billionaire's Row" at $30,000 per night; The Peninsula Suite at its namesake hotel; Champagne Suite at Lotte New York Palace (which has seen its ownership change from Leona Helmsley to the Sultan of Brunei and now a Korean conglomerate), all at $25,000 per night. Baccarat Hotel and Residences (the vision of Barry Sternlicht) comes in at $18,000 per night, followed by The Empire Suites at The Carlyle (part of the Rosewood Group) for $15,000 per night. Following are The Greenwich Hotel's Axel Vervoordt designed TriBeCa Penthouse and The Penthouse at The Quin (also $15,000), and for a bargain at $8,500, the Empire View Suite at Langham Place.
3. Catching A Private Wave In Southeast Asia
The Perfect Wave, a travel agency for surfers, called Occy's Left "one of the best" while Surf Europe calls it "God's Left." Either way, if you are a hard core surfer you probably know about. The good news is even if you're not a former world champ, you can experience it as part of a stay at Nihiwatu, a luxury resort located on the Indonesia Island of Sumba.
We had a full Special Report a few weeks ago, but several people asked for more information about the surf experience. The season runs from April to October with July and August being the best months.
There are surf boards of all types available free at the resort for guests, but only 10 people per day can surf on Occy's Left, and the resort has watermen who are there to assist you, if you need it or just want it.
The ethos is Africa meets Asia, and there are a variety of villa style accommodations. Guests include honeymooners, families, spa enthusiasts, famous folks looking to get beyond the range of the camera lens and of course hard core surfers.
You can contact Managing Partner James McBride at [email protected] or +1 (646) 789-1897
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4. Hot New Hotels in Merida, Bodrum and Abu Dhabi
Jaclyn Sienna India is co-founder of Sienna Charles Travel. She represents the new breed of luxury travel advisors who don't sit at a desk tapping away on a computer keyboard staring at a blinking screen booking flights. Sienna India instead travels about 200 days a year and the Just Back From
section of her website includes destinations as diverse as Palm Beach, Palm Springs and St. Lucia to Dubrovnik, Stockholm, Tokyo, Kenya and Abu Dhabi. With so many new luxury hotels opening, I asked her to give me her picks for hotels she is most excited about.
If you want to see previous picks by other top travel agents visit the Newsletter Library
at DG Amazing Experiences.
Opening in June, about 15 minutes from Merida's International Airport and 25 minutes from the historic city,
Chable
promises to make a place as one of the top wellness retreats in North America.
Located on over 100 forested acres, there are just 40 units. Thirty-eight are 1-bedroom casitas, each 1,700 sq. ft., with their own private pools, outdoor showers and living areas. Rates start at $950 per night single, $1,250 double and go to $2,200 per night over Christmas and New Year's.
There is an 8,000 sq. ft. Presidential Suite with three bedrooms, dining room, living spaces and private pool. Rates vary from $4,900 to $8,900 based on season. The Royal Presidential Suite is 10,000 sq. ft. and includes a media room, spa suite, Jacuzzi and large pool with private gardens. Rates vary from $7,900 to $9,900. Rates include three meals a day and include daily spa credits ranging from $130 to $500 per day. There is a two-night minimum for stays.
Architecture is a mix of modern and traditional, with several existing buildings on the property restored. Sienna India says, "We needed this. Wellness resorts in North America are lacking in terms of room product and dining. Right now you have to go to Asia or Europe to get the complete experience, so I am very excited about Chable.
The spa will have a Mayan theme and is located next to a Cenote. There will be nine treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna, salt cabin and floatarium. There will also be warm and cold whirlpools, a water circuit that features showers with various water pressures and a relaxation pool. There will also be a library, yoga and meditation rooms.
The resort, which took over five years to build out as a pet project of a wealthy Mexican family, represents the old adage "where there is a will there is a way." It's remote location and expansive property means individual units will have significant privacy, however, just to build the resort, it was a massive project of building access to this unique location.
Dining will feature dishes prepared with food from on-site organic gardens as well as local seafood. Sea bass ceviche infused with ginger, lime, celery coriander and cucumber is an example of how the chef will merge his local bounty. There is the promise of "the world's largest tequila collection."
C
anyon Ranch Wellness Resort at Kaplankaya (Turkey)
Canyon Ranch
comes to Turkey with a wellness resort about an hour from the Mediterranean resort of Bodrum. It also has an onsite helipad enabling guests to transfer directly from their yachts or a 10-minute flight from the airport (BJV). By land, it is 45 minutes.
Sienna India says, "It's the perfect place to come at the end of a European vacation to relax and recharge."
Opening in July, it is a member of The Leading Hotels of the World. The enormous 107,000 sq. ft. spa complex will feature classic massages, Asian therapies, restorative touch therapies, Ayurvedic body treatments, hydrating and soothing body scrubs, facials and so forth. There is also a complete salon for both men and women. There are a myriad of life wellness programs, including medical consultations. Additionally, there are food and nutrition classes, including cooking lessons, digestive wellness and proper use of vitamins and mineral supplements.
There is a three level main building where rooms and suites range from 581-2,497 sq. ft. and each room has a private balcony with views of the Aegean Sea. There are individual "Rooms on the Ridge" ranging from 441-742 sq. ft, some with rooftop patios.
The top suite types are the Hotel Executive Suite featuring a king bed in separate sleeping area, living room and dining table with four chairs. You can connect with either King or Double rooms. The Presidential Suite at 2,492 sq. ft. features an oversize balcony, eight person dining table, a private outdoor garden and service kitchen. You can connect to a Double room to make it into a 2-bedroom suite.
Local activities include hiking and biking. The resort also has its own yacht.
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island
Four Seasons is in the midst of a series of signature openings, with second hotels in London, New York and Miami on tap. One of its most anticipated hotels is going to be in
Abu Dhabi
, where Sienna India says, "Everything there is perfect. The hotels are built with the expectation that they will have royalty visiting on a daily basis, so the attention to detail and the service is really second to none. Then you have Four Seasons, and you know it's going to be excellent at every level."
Al Maryah Island is home to the International Finance Center, Abu Dhabi Global Market, Cleveland Clinic and The Galleria, a luxury shopping destination featuring a plethora of luxury brands including Brioni, Burberry, Dior, Gucci, Prada, Ralph Lauren, Tom Ford, Louis Vuitton and an outpost of King of Diamonds Laurence Graff. Sienna India also likes Abu Dhabi for its culture and museums.
The hotel itself itself will have 38 suites, six speciality restaurants and lounges, two ballrooms, a full-service day spa, separate fitness centers for men and women, plus a pool.
There are four suite categories. The starting point is the Four Seasons Executive Suite, and they range from 807 sq. ft. to 915 sq. ft. Next is the Deluxe Four Seasons Executive Suite category ranging from 1,098-1,593 sq. ft. with either city or water views.
Sienna India says her favorites are the top two suite types. The Presidential Suite (abo
ve) is 1,884 sq. ft. and includes a living and dining room. Located on the 12th floor, it offers both city and water views. It can be converted to a 3-bedroom suite by connecting two adjacent rooms. On the 13th floor, The Royal Suite (below)
is 2,874 sq. ft., also with city and water views. Ceilings are two stories high and separate sitting and dining areas make it ideal for entertaining.
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5. Special Reports Spotlight:
DG Amazing Experiences Special Reports give you comprehensive inside information that is a "must-read" before you go:
Special Report: Four Seasons Maui Resort at Wailea - A look at two very different, new Presidential Suites.
Special Report: The Brando - How an 18th century boardroom battle created a new luxury resort in French Polynesia.
Special Report: Mukul Beach Golf & Spa - A new playground for adventure travel, sport fishing, golf and a unique spa on Nicaragua's Pacific Coast.
Special Report: The Haven aboard the Norwegian Breakaway - Is it possible to have a luxury experience on one of the world's largest cruise ships?
First Look: The first report from Crystal Cruise's new 62-person yacht Crystal Esprit, including its two-man submarine.
Theme Report: We travel through Asia, the Middle East and Europe to pick the best villas and residences at nine Six Senses properties.
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