Top 10 Travel Gifts just in the nick of time....

1. Hard to find, but worth the hunt, Cartier’s newest parfum, Baiser Vole , comes in a roll-on small enough to fit in your evening clutch…

2. The iPhone Lens Dial is the essential camera accessory; with a simple spin of a wheel, this nifty gadget by Photojo, allows you to take panoramic pics on your iPhone. www.photojojo.com

3. Decoupage trays with luggage label motifs by John Derian….they are so cool, so chic, so vintage … johnderian.com

4. Go Clean Travel bags for your gym gear, laundry, shoes and boots…at last, someone came up with bags large enough to pack a pair of knee high boots in your suitcase. I can finally get rid of the plastic bags from the drugstore!!!!! www.flight101.com

5. The Canon Powershot S100 is the oh-so-perfect compact point and shoot camera guaranteed to take great pictures each time. I would gift this to myself!

6. Luxe City Guides should be your ‘go to’ resource for restaurants, shopping and style tips in Asia, Europe and, most recently, key U.S. cities. They are cleverly written and small enough to stuff in your stocking. www.luxecityguides.com

             7.

     For calorie-free macarons, check out ‘Judith Leiber’s  party crystal pillboxes inspired by this iconic confection. Choose from 14 flavors—I mean colors-- including champagne, lemon, rose and mint. www.judithleiber.com 

8. Now you can have breakfast in Tokyo, lunch in London and dinner in Paris without leaving your home… 50 Disposal paper World Dinner Maps are a great gift for the traveler at heart! www.seletti.it

9. The Truconnect MI-FI looks like a metal credit card, but it is a portable, personal, pocketable Wi-Fi hotspot! Stay connected 24/7! www.truconnect.com 

10. Create a bespoke fragrance for that someone special in your life. All it takes is a few consultations with Lyn Harris, the founder of Miller Harris, and, voilá, your individual eau de parfum will be delivered in a hand-engraved bottle with a name or message etched on the glass! Of course, you will have to fly to London for your consultations, but that’s where I come in!!!

Happy Trails!

Marrakech

Marrakech

My last stop was Marrakech; it's like a great cup of coffee after a perfect meal!

The Four Seasons Marrakech Resort and Spa just opened in June and the growing pains of infancy have disappeared.  The design of the hotel is modern Moroccan with a twist of American, but the service is pure royalty!

From the moment you arrive, they meet you at the plane and the closest you'll ever come to a security guard or customs agent is when you wave goodbye. There's even an ATM machine in the hotel so you don't have to waste valuable time exchanging money! There's a spa with 6 jacuzzis and a separate couple's spa; if wellbeing is your thing, the FSM is your hotel.

You can go to the  Four Seasons' website for their services,  but contact me to find out how great they are or to book a room--whichever comes first..

Palais Namaskar took 6 years in the making before they found a management company worthy of their excellence--thank god the Oetker Group (Le Bristol in Paris, Hotel du Cap Eden Roc  in Antibes) was around because another 6years is a long wait. Now you,too,can rent a villa with a lake and pool surrounded by such magnificent gardens, Versailles pales next to this property. If you don't want to use your Frequent Flyer miles for your ticket, the Palais Namaskar can pick you up on their private jet!

They are keeping the hotel under wraps until their  spring  2012 opening so I was not allowed to take pictures, but , lucky you, I am able to give the inside scoop to my favorite readers. Who needs Page 6 when you have me around!

www.palaisnamaskar.com

My heart belongs to La Mamounia(glam personified) and Royal Mansour(dripping with luxury), but if you're looking for the real deal, stay in a Riad for an authentic, Moroccan experience--Farnatchi and Noir d'Ivoire are both in the Medina and two of the best, but talk to me and I'll set you up.

Have to run--due to the  Four Season's connections, I am at the airport's duty free in record breaking time for some last minute shopping

 -----speaking of shopping, contact me for the best addresses in Marrakech!!!

 
www.mamounia.com
www.lhw.com/RoyalMansourMarrakech
www.riadfarnatchi.com
www.noir-d-ivoire.com

Monaco

Ah, the good life...check out my fabulous suite at the new and improved oh-so-chic Hotel Hermitage in Monte Carlo--just when you thought it was stuffy and stodgy, they reinvented themselves with fab accommodations, techno toys galore, a young, hands on GM and a tunnel connecting to the most spectacular spa on earth...this is the underground South Beach of Monaco.

On the other side of the tunnel and oozing with elegance and je ne sais quoi is their sister property, Hotel de Paris--everyone should have a sister like this!

If you want to see and be seen, park your booty in their bar-- their Alain Ducasse 3 star Michelin restaurant ain't bad either...   


Check me out on the balcony of my suite

Both hotels are owned by SBM (Principality of Monaco) which is a good thing because now they are bringing Jimmy'z nightclub and the Buddha Bar so close to the hotels, you can mosey over in your Manolos pain free--if you get my drift!!!

Just when I thought it couldn't get any better, voila, I took my all-of-5-minute helicopter ride to Nice airport for my flight to Marrakech.

Thank you, SBM for bringing magic into my life....

You may contact me for more details.

December 5, 2011

I have so much to say and so little time.  One day, I hope there is an invention to record my experiences without carrying a video camera.  People always say they cannot wait for "smell-e-vision" but I can't wait for "experience-e-vision.  Okay so I digress bit. 

Saturday and Sunday was spent in beautiful Milan. What would a trip to Milan be without shopping! As you know, I spent Friday visiting dear friends and a multitude of properties which left me time on Saturday to do what my husband says I do best - SHOP! (Dear Hubby, I was very good and did not break the bank. I only bought one pair of shoes). Actually, I combined my two favorite things and went to the Eat's Food Store. Yes, it's hard work..eating and shopping and eating and shopping. It's a tough life but I do it for you! So you, dear reader can benefit from all my hard work... okay, okay - I did it for me...but I am writing about it so you are in the know.

 Seriously folks this place is so new that you are the first to hear about it.   If you visit Milan you have to come here and check it out.  It's a must see.  Imagine your favorite produce market, cafe, wine bar combined into one extravaganza. I bought a few tomatoes to nosh on and they were so sweet and fresh.  We then walked over to wine wine bar.  It's totally high tech and stream line.  Each type of wine is stored at a temperature that is specific for that particular type.  You can tell by my picture that I could have stayed here all week.  Eat's Food Store is located in the Galleria del Corso, in the historic Via del Corso area.  Eat's just gave us one more great reason to visit!

Sunday, our last day (sigh) we decided to venture out to the lovely town of Bergamo just north of Milan.  Bergamo has the wonderful distinction of having two centers.  The first center which marks the historical area sits atop a hill and overlooks the bustling downtown that is the modern center.  We walked on the small quaint cobblestoned streets and enjoyed the local fanfare. It was chilly that day but the air was clean and fresh.  It's just 40 kilometers north of Milan but it feels like a world away. The town attracts hiking and biking enthusiasts.  We definitely got our exercise in for the day.   It is also known for the Christmas market that runs from December 1st to January 1st.  The market is open on Sundays too.  As our group took in the sights we stumbled upon a small parade and the band was playing wonderful music. It was a scene out of an old movie. It was a perfect end to our Italian excursion.  Go to this site for more information. meridianadibergamo.it



Monday morning our group left the beautiful peninsula of Italy and arrived on the second leg of this trip.  We were transported to none other than one of the most spectacular ocean properties on The French Riveria - Hotel du Cap Eden Roc.  The  property is officially closed this time of year but they opened their doors to host a lunch just for us!!!  If you only have one place on your bucket list....this is it! I don't mean to be a tease, but you have to book a year in advance.  Just like New York's hottest restaurants, Hotel du Cap is always and I repeat always sold out unless you contact me Jody Bear, of course!  Click here to read more about the most elegant property on earth.

DECEMBER 2011 MILAN

Welcome to Jody Bears All!

Glad you are here joining me today as I start this new site.

12/2/2011

I'm writing you from Milan as a guest of the gorgeous Hotel Armani Milan.  As soon as we landed we were escorted and greeted at the hotel by the lovely Anna Bartko, Director of Sales and Marketing who treated us to breakfast and a warm welcome.

Anna Bartko on the left.

I was impressed by the attention to detail and the branding strategically placed in the most clever places! What do you ask?  Well, the hotel itself is in the shape of the letter A... I'm telling you - in my next life - I am doing the SAME...note to self : must keep the letter J. 

Also the sugar packs, which the hotel packages, have an A stamped into the cubes.  He is like Zorro. Loooove it!

I couldn't come to Milan without visiting more friends in nearby fabulous properties... one person being the handsome charming and always gracious Ezio Indiana.  Don't you just love his name?  Ezio is the General Manager of the newly redone Principe di Savoia.  
If you have never been you must stay here!  Ezio and his staff will take care of you.  You can go to the link and get a sneak peak if you click here.












Did I mention I only had two hours of sleep of the plane? I was a bit excited about this trip and had to plan my itinerary down to the wire. Thankfully, the jet lag had not kicked in so I paid a visit to my friends at the Bulgari Hotel Milan.  (Guests get to pamper themselves with Bulgari products which are standard in every room.)  Right now, the hotel staff has decked the halls with candy jars throughout the lobby.  I was in need of a little sugar to keep me going so I snacked on the gummies and licorice. E A T   Y O UR   H E A R T   O U T....Speaking of which Bulgari Hotel Milan is offering a new year celebration with a two-day gourmet feast in the hotel's restaurant. Also, look for the Knightbridge property to open April 2012.  The Knightbridge property will be so close to Harrods you could walk over there in your Bulgari Hotel Slippers. A stone's throw away!  That's going to be serious competion for the Mandarin Oriental.

It's alway Christmas at the Bulgari Hotel Milan. Candy 24/7. My dentist is going to kill me.

Back in my room again - it's getting late but I'm still on New York's clock so I thought I would say a little more about my day:  I stopped by to pay a visit to the GM of Four Season Milan, Vincenzo Finizzola.  How could I not?  The property was intially a convent erected in the 15th century. Though the outside is old world, there is nothing in the interior that is dated!  A top of the line spa and pool is scheduled to open Spring 2012.  Vincenzo told me they spent 2 years drilling underground for this project. I wonder if they found any fossils or oil.

The photo to the left is from their official website.  Look at this courtyard.  Imagine yourself sitting there after a proper Italian meal.  Right now this courtyard is tastefully decorated in Christmas lights.  These decorations would get any Scrooge into the holiday spirit.

I sat and chatted with Vincenzo Finizzola, the Four Seasons Milan General Manager.

As you can tell I had chock full day and worked up quite an appetite.  As I said before, I planned this trip down to the specifics and could not wait for dinner.  I am a travel consultant by day and a foodie by night.  I needed veal milanese, right away (FYI: it's called veal milanese there too). Who could resist dining at the newly opened Osteria Del Corso?  Believe me, the hype is well founded.

Deliciously crispy yet juicy veal with a perfect salad of fresh tomatoes and arugula in a light squeeze of fresh lemon.  What a perfect way to end the evening. It doesn't get any better than this.  Mangia!

And with that thought I leave you.  I have another full day tomorrow.  Truly a wonderful first day in Milan. I cannot wait to see what surprises tomorrow brings. Ciao!