Ural’s early reputation for iffy reliability came from their insistence on manufacturing every last nut and bolt in-house. But they’ve since seen the light and departed from stubbornly vertical integration, incorporating some of the most capable components in the industry: German-built gear sets by Herzog, an alternator sourced from Japanese …
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Glass Panels for Legacy Citations
Older aircraft are a bargain these days, but if the cockpit panel has old-style “steam gauge” instruments, it can be a challenge to upgrade to today’s fully integrated all-glass computerized gear. It will soon be easier, however, for owners of older Cessna Citation jets.
Innovative Solutions & Support is now flight-testing …
Ritz Reserves Thailand
Ritz-Carlton Reserve, the hotelier’s new collection of small boutique hotels in secluded and exotic locales around the globe, has opened its first property off the coast of Thailand’s Andaman Sea. The resort, slated to open in late summer, is officially named Phulay Bay, A Ritz-Carlton Reserve. It features 54 one-bedroom villas, each with an unspoiled ocean view, private plunge pool, and sheltered outdoor bath and shower. Rooms decorated in contemporary Thai design feature oversize beds, pillows and chairs, and a plethora of indigenous trees and plants surround guests inside their suites and on private decks. Phulay Bay’s design allows guests to feel completely secluded, with private access to beaches and in-room candlelit dining prepared by the resort’s chef. The ESPA spa and will focus on traditional Thai massage in 11 treatment rooms, each with a private terrace and outdoor bathtub. Rates start at ,500 for two nights, including round-trip transfers from nearby Krabi airport and a yoga retreat for two. (http://reserve.ritzcarlton.com)
—Alexandra Foster
Historic Housing
The 13th-century St. Thomas Monastery is one of seven historical monuments in Prague that comprise the Augustine, a new hotel near the city’s commercial district. Clustered around courtyards and gardens, the seven restored buildings now house 101 luxury hotel rooms, a restaurant, and two bars. The monastery, which retains areas for several still-practicing monks on its grounds, houses the hotel’s 90-seat restaurant within its glassed-in courtyard. Also, every guest room affords views of the picturesque monastery chapel and its gardens.
The property, which includes two hotel suites, retains several historic features unearthed during construction, including wooden ceilings, wine vaults, and stone arches, while stalactites from the 17th century are showcased in the grotto bar. The three-floor Tower Suite boasts panoramic views of the surrounding rooftops and spires from its top-floor bedroom. Suites start at about 5 a night. (www.roccofortecollection.com)
—Alexandra Foster
Eating and Staying in Bilbao
Cooking is a way of life in Bilbao, so much so that the city contains several gastronomical societies (formed mostly of men and numbering anywhere from 20 to 100 members). These societies often take over an empty building, add an industrial kitchen, some tables and chairs, and meet a couple of times a week to cook, socialize, and eat.
Made-to-Order Spa Experience
While some spas customize treatments based on the guest’s preferences for scents or their skin type, the Eau Spa at the Ritz Carlton, Palm Beach has taken the process a step further. The spa offers a Scrub and Polish Bar, inviting guests to consult with a resident mixologist to create a personalized blend of herbs, oils, and sea salts, which can be administered during one’s treatment or packaged for later use. Spa director Amal Elbahnasawy describes the experience as a “customized body cocktail,” meant to represent the spa’s philosophy of “a completely carefree and open environment, not necessarily a sacred place where you have to whisper.”
To that end, the 42,000-square-foot spa features 19 spa villas: private casitas surrounded by outdoor gardens meant for quiet reflection. Three couples’ spa villas provide an intimate experience that includes oversize tubs, garden enclaves, and outdoor rainfall showers. Treatments include the Platinum and Diamond Facial, which incorporates a diamond-infused elixir, and the Bamboo Massage, which features warm bamboo shoots soaked in essential oils to work out muscle tension. Treatments start at 0 for a Swedish massage and go up to ,500 for the Diamond package for two, which includes a champagne lunch in a private garden, a body wrap, massage, manicure, and pedicure. (www.eauspa.com)
—Alexandra Foster
Laps of Luxury
For the true racing enthusiast, securing a ticket to the F1 Grand Prix Monaco is an unparalleled experience. Securing accommodations at the popular race, however, can prove a nightmare. For this year’s race, held May 22-24, Echelon and My Yacht Monaco have teamed to offer an exclusive package for 14 guests. The package includes daytime access aboard a private yacht with views of every qualifying race, an invitation to the Ferrari pit lane for a private introduction to the drivers and their respective cars, and suites at the nearby Hotel de Paris, which is sold out to the public every year at race time. Also included in the package is a dinner at the table of celebrated chef Joël Robuchon at his eponymous restaurant, and a personal tasting menu with the compliments of the chef himself. Prices start at ,000 per person for the three-day package. (949.429.8117, contact@echelonexp.com)
—Alexandra Foster
At Sea with Wine
For wine aficionados who desire more than a simple wine tasting, Silversea Cruises has created 11 Wine Voyages for 2009 that take passengers through the Mediterranean, South America, or Northern Europe to experience an area’s wines through tastings and lectures by vineyard owners, winemakers, and other epicurean specialists. On many voyages, guests will also have the chance to explore some of the world’s most celebrated wine regions on guided-shore excursions. One such tour is hosted by Salvatore Ferragamo, grandson of the founder of the eponymous brand, who will serve as host for Mediterranean cruise from Lisbon to Monte Carlo with stops in places such as Cadiz, Malaga, Ibiza, Barcelona, Cannes, and Corsica. He’s also the managing director of the family’s Tuscan winery, Il Borro estate. Each specially designed excursion features an intimate view of a specific locale with stops along the journey while cruising on a luxury vessel with all its amenities. (www.silversea.com)
—Jill Newman
Tee Off at St. Andrews’ Old Course
As most golfers know, getting a tee time at the renowned Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, can be an exercise in patience. Even those who have made the trip to the course and wait in the lottery line to receive a possible playing time are often disappointed to learn that the course is completely booked. In honor of Homecoming Scotland 2009, a series of events and celebrations throughout the year in honor of poet Robert Burns’ 250th birthday, the Old Course Hotel and golf course are offering exclusive, guaranteed tee-off times to its guests as part of the Come Home to Play package.
The package, starting at ,679 per person, includes a three-night stay at the resort, guaranteed tee-time on the Old Course and either the New or Jubilee course, a spa treatment at the Kohler Waters Spa, and two dinners at the resort’s fine-dining restaurant, the Road Hole Grill. (+44 (0) 1334 474371, or email reservations@oldcoursehotel.co.uk and mention booking reference HOMGLF)
—Alexandra Foster
Arizona’s Authentic Old-World Escape
If not for the cactus-strewn landscape of Arizona’s Paradise Valley (a residential enclave of Scottsdale) and the famed Camelback Mountain looming nearby, guests of the newly opened InterContinental Montelucia Resort & Spa might imagine they were on holiday in the south of Spain. The 34-acre resort was inspired by the old-world village architecture and lifestyle of Andalusia region of Spain, among surrounding areas. In addition to Moorish motifs, courtyards, and numerous antiquities shipped from Andalusia, the resort’s two-story, 31,000-square-foot Joya Spa houses an authentic Turkish bath (hamman). Upon entering the cast-iron gates of the spa—conceived by renowned spa designer Sylvia Sepielli—guests can rinse their hands in the waters of a 17th-century Spanish fountain or enjoy a rooftop swimming pool that overlooks Camelback Mountain. Spa treatments are customized to an individual’s preferences, health, and skin type, using products containing the essence of a local cactus flower that blooms just 12 hours per year. Five of the 19 treatment rooms offer fireplaces, flat-screen TVs, and direct poolside access, where guests can recline in a cabana and order a traditional spa salad, or indulge in Champagne and truffles?or a burger and fries?following treatment. (480.627.3020, www.joyaspa.com)
—Jessica Taylor