Rent an Entire South Pacific Island in Bora Bora: The Four Seasons Bora Bora

If this isn't the perfect South Pacific getaway, we don't know what is: The Four Seasons Resort Bora Bora is now available for complete island buyouts, maximizing privacy and a perfectly customized experience.

"Your Own Private Island" is a seven-night exclusive buyout package, which includes use of all 107 accommodations (100 overwater bungalows and seven beachfront villas), four restaurants, the spa, the Resort's maritime fleet, pool, beach, resort activities and 250 Four Seasons employees. All meals, beverages, WiFi in all guest suites, airport and island transfers are included, as well as one spa treatment per guest.

Of course, a private island doesn't come cheap: The full seven-day package is available for $1,000,000. Other customizable buyout options are also available, with pricing from $45,000 per night for a room-only package, based on a minimum of three nights.

Contact our agents to find out more and check availability >>

This article originally appeared in our sister publication: Luxury Travel Advisor

Conrad Sells Seashells by the Iberian Seashore: New Conrad Algarve Opening 2012

I'm afraid of new things.  When someone gives me a food that has even an accent mark over the vowels, I scuttle back into my shell like a timid hermit crab.  But something's got me poking my little eyestalks out of my snail shell home. Just on the horizon is the opening of the next Conrad hotel in the Algarve region of Portugal and the crabby world of its sun-soaked southern coast is is all atwitter with talk of its guest rooms that would put any shell to shame. Coming in fall of this year, the new luxury hotel will be right at home in the Ria Formosa National Park, home to as many Roman ruins as it is sandy barrier islands. 158 rooms leave ample space around lakes and gardens that play host to the very best in Iberian flora.  Moving inside, you'll find balconies and marble bathrooms aplenty.  Eat with Gusto at the signature restaurant (guess the name?), offering the only grilled-to-order meat and seafood that the region is so famous for.  And would it be a luxury hotel if it didn't have a spa that claims to be one of Europe's best? You'll just have to come try it out to see if it stands up to the hype when this regional beauty opens its doors.  I might even come out of my shell to visit.

In the meantime, why not check out our other hotels in the Algarve region?

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: The Sandy Lane Hotel

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Sandy Lane Hotel in Barbados is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for rooms. This luxury hotel is located in a mahogany grove overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The Sandy Lane Hotel has 112 luxurious rooms, each with a large private verandah, plasma wide screen television, DVD/CD player, stereo, private bar, personal in-room safe, and a convenient telephone system. With 9 tennis courts, 3 golf courses, and special child programs, this luxury hotel has something for everyone. Traveling with a large group or your extended family? Consider staying in the 5-bedroom villa which is set in its own gardens and has a team of staff ready to serve your every desire.

Check rates, availability, photos and more of the Sandy Lane Hotel here!

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: Alila Villas Uluwatu

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Alila Villa Uluwatu in Bali, Indonesia is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for ambience and design. This luxury hotel is located on a cliff top plateau along the southern coast of Bali. The view from this hotel is simply breathtaking, and the entire property aims to fulfill its tradition of offering an experience that is serene, sensual, and pleasantly different. With 84 spacious villas, all with private salt-water pools and ocean-view cabanas, this Alila property goes above and beyond the expected levels of luxury. The rooms have ceilings from bamboo and flat roofs that are insulated with volcanic rocks. Indulge yourself in the spectacular cliff top pool and bar, and take in the beauty that surrounds you everywhere you turn at this incredible hotel.

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: The One and Only Ocean Club

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The One and Only Ocean Club in the Bahamas is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best for ambience and design. This Versailles inspired luxury hotel is located just 20 miles from the Nassau International Airport and enjoys an entire mile of private beach. Its residential-style villas are perfect for families, and the service is out of this world. This luxury resort has a 3 to 1 staff-guest ratio, and its personal butler service is extended to all guests. The Mandara Spa is in the Balinese style and offers private treatment villas, baths, and gardens. All accommodations feature a private balcony or terrace, and the guest rooms are styled with a classic colonial architecture.

If that isn’t enough to send you packing, consider this: The One and Only Ocean Club was the site at which several scenes of Casino Royale were shot!

West Bay Club Turks & Caicos Offers Springtime Deals

While the West Bay Club sounds like the name of a clandestine group of freemasons plotting to take over the world, in actuality it's one of the very finest hotels on a set of islands already famous for its world class luxury accommodations.  And now from April 15 until June 2, the West Bay Club is offering 10% off its top-of-the-line rooms and suites.  Not only that, stay for five nights, and every fifth night will be free.  That's another 20% savings and is a deal that's well worth an exclamation point!  

"But why stay at the West Bay Club?" you might be asking.  You always do ask the incisive questions.  Well, it's located at the west end of the most famed beach in the Turks and Caicos, Grace Bay, and if you know Grace Bay, you'll know that the western end is more tranquil than its eastern counterpart.  If you want the tropical serenity of a secluded resort on the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean, the West Bay Club is the place for you.  And that's a hypothetical preference that I think you, as an insightful questioner, probably share.  

And the rooms.  Oh, the rooms.  They've struck me speechless, and now I find myself quite at a loss for words, which is somewhat awkward, since there's another entire paragraph to write.  What's that? I'm still writing, you say? Well, that suggests I possess all the self awareness and quietude of my middle school years. But those suites.  Wow.  Their oceanfront suites feature full kitchens, waterfront balconies, and spacious living areas, and that's not even to mention the larger two and three bedroom suites that are perfect for the whole family or one person with multiple personalities. There's never been a better time to stay at the West Bay Club in Turks & Caicos.

National Works Project: National Hotel South Beach's New Year's Resolution

The National Hotel South Beach is playing a game of Keep-Up-with-the-Joneses with its neighboring hotels, and this can only turn out well for everyone.  After getting approval in November, the National is beginning the redesign work that will change the interior and exterior of the hotel.  As HotelChatter reports, the renovations include a new entrance canopy, a one-story building by the pool deck and most crucially a whole new addition to their backyard. 

That addition?  A definitely-not-a-food-truck (illegal by Florida law) that will be serving some kind of deliciousness.  Bets on it?  I'm thinking maybe some delicacies travelling northward from the caribbean, but it could also be the American classics.  In any case, it's a welcome addition to one of South Beach's older and more charming boutique hotels.  We're glad to see that the National Hotel is making an effort to revitalize the property to build on its already lustrous and historic past.

Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012: The Saffire Freycinet

We understand that no one aims to come in second place; there is no recognition for mediocrity. We at Five Star Alliance understand better than anyone the importance of offering the most luxurious resorts in the world, so we notice what’s going on in the industry, and it matters to us, because it matters to you. We work hard to offer you the best in the industry, and we’d like to welcome you to our second blog series where we feature the best and most luxurious resorts in the world. But don’t take our word for it. These resorts have been recognized as the best in the business and have made the prestigious Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012.

The Condé Nast Traveler Gold List 2012 is the eighth of their annual lists, and the hotels chosen by their team of editors and experts are the best for service, food, location, rooms, leisure facilities, ambiance and design.

The Saffire Freycinet in Tasmania, Australia is featured on the Gold List 2012: Best hotels for rooms. This luxury hotel is located on the curve of sandy coastline that joins Tasmania to the Peninsula in Freycinet National Park. This luxury hotel overlooks the Great Oyster Bay, and it provides guests with 5-star accommodations unlike any other. The Saffire is dedicated to providing exceptional service, quality, and an unforgettable experience. This is a boutique hotel with just 20 incredibly luxurious suites that are packed with every amenity and feature you could imagine. From a full fridge to an iPod preloaded with your favorite music, this hotel certainly has it all. Get ready for an incredible adventure, and be open to the hotel’s powerful vibes and calming personality that will bring you to a deep level of rest and relaxation.

Environmental Jawstice: Shangri-La Hotels Save Nemo

In a laudable move, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts has announced the expansion of its sustainable seafood policy to include the discontinued use of all shark fin products in 72 hotels and resorts, as well as phasing out additional of species of fish who suffer from overfishing and support unsustainable farming industries. The two species to get the axe of preservation are Bluefin tuna and the Chilean sea bass. As Time Magazine and Greenpeace report, the commercial overfishing of sharks and fish is leading to a depletion of marine ecosystems that, due to declining populations, will not be replaced.  Shangri-La's steps to reduce demand for these items are commendable, and it follows their initial 'Sanctuary, Shangri-La's Care for Nature' project that have developed marine sanctuaries to support the integrity of important coral reefs around their properties. 

In order to fulfill its contractual obligations, all banquets reserved to include the dish shall be honored, but no new requests for shark fin soup can be made either individually at its restaurants or through its commercial catering. If you would like to show your support by staying at any of Shangri-La's now more sustainable hotels and resorts, you can find them all at Five Star Alliance.

Luxury Traveler’s Bucket List: Santorini, Greece

We’ve all made New Year’s resolutions and managed to stop going to the gym or taking those cooking classes come February. This year, make a commitment to a simpler, more fulfilling resolution: travel more. Take in what the world has to offer, and do it in style. Be sure to keep up with our new blog series where we’ll be featuring an incredible destination everyone should visit in his/her lifetime. Consider this list a tool to give you a few ideas and inspiration on exciting places to go, where to stay, and what to see!

Our second feature destination today is Santorini, Greece.

About Santorini:

Santorini is an incredible island in the Southern Aegean Sea, and it has been said that Santorini sunsets are some of the best in the world. With breathtaking views of the volcano and neighboring islands and miles of beaches, it’s an island worth exploring in your lifetime. The famous, cliff side white-washed houses with sky blue roofs are iconic of the Greek Islands, and they will open your eyes to beauty and awaken the intrepid spirit in you.

Things to do:

Be sure to visit the Santorini volcano, hop into the hot springs, take a donkey ride, and then watch the beautiful sunset in Oia. Explore the Boutari winery, the first winery on the island to open its doors to the public in 1989 and spend the day in Oia, where all of the beautiful white houses can be found.

Local Cuisine:

Be sure to try Fava, a puree made from Fava beans, white eggplant, the ‘national’ course in Santorini, and of course, their seafood options including octopus.

Luxurious Accommodations:

Santorini has 11 luxurious hotels. A few worth checking out are the Tsitouras Collection Hotel and Vedema Resort. The Tsitouras Collection Hotel has served as a school, post office, and private home over the centuries, and now it’s an exclusive hotel full of history and culture. It has been renovated and converted into 5 units, each with a separate theme and embrace Greek culture and tradition. The Vedema Resort is constructed in a traditional style and features an authentic look inspired by the colors of the Greek Islands. This resort boasts 10 pool suites and a luxurious Presidential Villa, and it overlooks a vineyard, which hosts nightly wine tastings.

Have you been to Santorini? Where did you stay? Be sure to keep up with our blog series and check out our first featured destination, Prague.