Deborah McCormick – Page 3 – Ocean Blue WORLD

The St. Jane Hotel

Sophistication in the Second City

Frank Lloyd Wright once said, “Eventually, I think Chicago will be the most beautiful great city left in the world.” Who could argue? Particularly when you step back in time, while simultaneously stepping forward into the mod new St. Jane hotel.

This Michigan Avenue icon is a self-described “historic landmark with a modern perspective.” The name is a nod to civil rights leader and social worker Jane Addams.

Photo Courtesy by http://tenspeedhero.com — Photo Courtesy by tenspeedhero.com

Historically speaking, the art deco skyscraper dates back to 1929, designed by the Burnham Brothers as regional headquarters for the Carbide and Carbon Company. In 1994, the building received landmark status. Today, it stands as beautiful reminder of jazz-era Chicago at its peak, with a polished black-granite exterior and 24-karat gold leaf accents and dark green terra cotta on the tower. Legend has it the Burnham Brothers designed the building to look like a giant champagne bottle with a gold foil top.

This is the second major restoration for the building, which was formerly a Hard Rock Hotel. Chicago’s Booth Hansen was tapped as the lead architect for this restoration, while Simeone Deary Design group handled the new interiors, which includes crystal chandeliers, herringboned stone floors and contemporary art culled from Chicago-area artists.

The 365-room hotel is filed to capacity with eclectic style and one-of-a-kind furnishings. The hotel aims to create exceptional, unscripted moments for every guest. Whether that’s the spacious ceilings and uncommonly large windows, the lustrous marble bathroom countertops or private bars stocked with locally sources items, there’s a sense of mystery that keeps revealing indulgent clues.

The Tower at St. Jane

The Tower offers a singular guest experience that feels like you’re on top of the world. During your stay, a dedicated concierge caters to every whim. While spectacular birds-eye views of the city keep you company and each room is an artfully curated space of wonder. The Tower rooms are on floors 24-36, and those guests have access to The Nobel, the 24^thfloor private rooftop bar with its own unrivaled window on the world. Extra perks to reward you for elevating your stay include a welcome gift, dedicated concierge staff, 24-hour check in and out, two free garment presses and a shoeshine.

At the St. Jane, art deco lives on at the epicenter of a new cultural movement, one that brings people together and blends classic luxury with modern comfort.

Salt & Barrel

Tasty Taproom and Kebaberie

Hong Kong’s culinary scene has a new reason to celebrate with the opening of Salt & Barrel, a concept restaurant between BlackSalt’s Taran Chadha, chef patron, and local breweries Black Kite and Kowloon Bay, and liquor retailer the Tramline Co. The new eatery is tucked behind the busiest street of South Lane and lures in foodies with an enticing aroma of spices and grilled meats. The idea behind the restaurant is the misunderstood Kebab.

“I always thought Kebabs were not appreciated enough,” chef Taran Chadha said. He believes kebabs should be marinated in a healthy way, using high-quality meats, seafood and seasonal vegetables and with traditional and modern equipment to grill them.

Kebabs are said to have originated in Turkey when soldiers would grill chunks of freshly hunted animals skewed on swords over open fires. With Salt & Barrel, Chadha blends the taproom and Kebaberie under one roof. When you enter the restaurant you encounter a vibrant palette of warm colors in a relaxed atmosphere with artwork reflective of the Mughal Empire. It’s one long, airy room with a bar at the front of the restaurant, offering a range of craft spirits and draft beer options paired with food. Beer is popular and many guests order draft on tap. There are a couple of reliable choices in the red, white and sparkling wine category. Or you could opt for the lassi, a non-alcoholic mango drink to sooth the palate from the spices.

The main menu has a list of small plates. Then, there’s a small selection of main dishes, each featuring a type of meat, spice profile and suggested beverage pairing. The tasty piquillo pepper samosas have a three-cheese filling and tamarind chutney—a mild version of jalapeño poppers. Tandoori trout filet—also on the small plates—is a pink trout cooked rare and served with marinated roe, creamy yogurt and buckwheat puri. The murgh musallam chicken dish is marinated, stuffed with eggs and cooked to perfection. Salt & Barrel has a rotating selection of sweet treats for dessert and they vary daily.

After the runaway success of BlackSalt, Chadha’s debut restaurant that celebrated his Indian heritage, Salt & Barrel is an exciting new chapter in the celebration of the kebab.

The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation

Pushing the World Towards Change

The French have a saying: Ce n’est pas la mer á boire, meaning it’s not like you have to drink the ocean, or more plainly, it’s not that difficult. For the The Prince Albert II Foundation, or Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco, pouring millions into environmental projects to reverse the course of our planet is like drinking the ocean. As Prince Albert says, “to save our planet, to change a system that destroys it step by step we will need all the ideas, all the willings, all the mobilized means… and we will need to do everything to convince the world to change with us.”

These are big audacious goals and the foundation works hard to generate new awareness over our planet’s alarming environmental state. Prince Albert II saw it first hand when he visited the North Pole in April of 2006, as the devastating effects of global warming on the ice melted in front of him. A generation earlier, Prince Albert I studied the environment through a different lens, as a pioneer in oceanography researching the movement of see ice and glaciers.

Prince Albert II is head of the princely house of Grimaldi. He is the son of Prince Rainier III and actress Grace Kelly. He’s one of the wealthiest royals in the world and speaks French, English, German and Italian. His foundation exists to protect the environment and promote sustainable development on a global scale. Three priorities for the foundation are the Mediterranean basin, the Polar Regions and lesser-developed countries such as Sahelian African, which has been ravaged by biodiversity loss and drought.

For more than a decade, the Prince has been giving awards to key figures for outstanding environmental protection initiatives. Last January, The foundation awarded Douglas Woodring of the Ocean Recovery Alliance a prize for innovative philanthropy related to his creative and scalable programs for reducing plastic pollution across the world. Prince Albert is committed to environmental protection everywhere. Climate change, water change and loss of biodiversity are stressing our planet. He believes the only way to recovery is to stop making the same mistakes.

This past September, and for the second year in a row, Prince Albert II presided over the Monte Carlo Gala for the Global Ocean, to raise money for ocean conservation. The event drew celebrity heavyweights such as Orlando Bloom, Diane Lane, Madonna, Adrien Brody, Adriana Lima, Chris Tucker and more. Last year, actor Leonardo DiCaprio was honored for his work to protect and preserve our shared planet.

And while actors make it look easy to protect the planet, it’s not.

Exploring Fall Foliage in High Style

Nothing signals the changing of the guard from summer to fall like autumn’s leaves turning brilliant fiery hues of orange, red and gold. While it’s always an adventure to hop in the car and road trip along the tree-lined highways of spots like Aspen, Ontario or Vermont to witness the colorful transformation, we’ve explored a few leaf-peeping places that offer unconventional ways to capture the camera-worthy scenery.

Niagara Falls by helicopter

Go up, up and away over the most spectacular waterfalls and see the leaves changing, all in one breathtaking sweep. There are no bad seats on this roughly 30-minute flight that takes you above the action with views in every direction.

In September and October the tours are in full swing, which is also considered off-season, so hotel prices drop along with the temperatures and falling leaves. Plan accordingly as the fall foliage peaks around mid October. If you do decide to embark on foot, Dufferin Islands in Niagra, just south of Horseshoe Falls is an exceptional place to witness spectacular scenery from ground level.

Ziplining in New England

New Yorkers looking to escape the bustle flock to The Catskills Mountains for scenic hiking, horseback riding, antiquing and an array of fine gourmet restaurants and markets. For the adventure seeking types, however, there’s an escape of a different kind by way of the second largest zipline in the world. It’s also the longest, highest and fastest way to soar above the fall foliage. Embark from Hunter Mountain’s base Lodge and plan on three hours to complete the course.

Foliage in Finland

What autumn leaves are to North Americans is known as “ruska” to locals in Finland, a natural phenomenon that paints the northern landscape in gorgeous hues of red, yellow and green— blue even. A photographers’ haven for the two weeks of peak season, usually in late September, Finland becomes a blanket of color-filled forests and wilderness. The further north you go, such as Lapland, takes you deeper into leaf-peeping territory and is best experienced by boat. However, if you opt to hike or bike, you can stop and pluck blueberries right from the ground and witness spectacular autumn lights (solar flares) that reflect off the surrounding lakes.

Happy fall exploring the foliage wherever you are, and wherever your wanderlust takes you.

The vacation of a lifetime on your own private island.

Unless you’re Richard Branson and have your own private island complete with butler service and a yacht, you probably don’t think that kind of exclusivity is in the cards as a vacation option. But it is, you just have to know where to look. We did some checking around and found a few off-the-map spots where you can rent your own island paradise for a night, week or a month. In fact, even Branson’s place is an option, for the right price.

Little Harvest Caye Placencia, Belize

Not far offshore from the gorgeous village of Placencia, is a 1.5-acre island that could be all yours for somewhere in the neighborhood of $1855 per night. If that feels pricy, it sleeps 14 and comes with five private suites, each offering beautiful seaside and mountain views, big bay windows and cool evening breezes that build off the Peninsula—at no extra cost. Bedrooms have soaring wood ceilings, and open onto a white sandy beach connected by thatch walkways. Also, there’s your own private pool. Wash the sand away in bathrooms with natural stone floors and admire the hand-carved accents. There’s also a staff on the island to attend to your every whim, a golf cart for your transportation needs and kayaks and a ping-pong table for recreation. If you start feeling landlocked, charter the boat and driver to the nearby village of Placencia.

Popa Island, Panama

This island getaway in the Bocas del Toro archipelago is for the budget minded travelers. The brightly colored eco-friendly bungalows go for $160 per night. The bungalows have thatched roofs and are suspended by sticks above the water. Here, mangroves and a coral reef are your neighbors, as well as two monkeys that are the islands mascots. Adventure seekers might be interested in the crocodile night safari.

Necker Island, British Virgin Islands

Surrounded by the sparkling blue Caribbean waters, 74-acre Necker Island shines with its Balinese-style homes, each with private pools and never-ending views. This is the place where rock stars hide and celebrities seek. While it rents for 78,000 a night, it’s currently closed for renovations after Hurricane Irma’s devastating destruction last year, but will reopen in October of this year. The island has two private beaches, two infinity pools, a swim-up bar, a hot tub that seats 30, a gym, mini submarine and a personal chef and other staff.

See you don’t have to live like a millionaire, to vacation like one. You just need a few eager friends and loved ones to split the bill.

Go Glamping in Europe

Glamorous Luxury Camping in Europe

If you’re the jet-setting type that prefers a high-altitude adventure all-inclusive of an equally high thread count, glamping might be your thing. It’s a step up in accommodations for the outdoorsy types. To break it down, “glam” plus “camping” equals glamping. It’s quickly become a fad, but not a passing one. Glamping is here to stay with all its yurts, eco-pods, teepees and safari tents—so ditch the portable stove and propane and pull up to a posh campsite. Here are a three popular spots in Europe to go glamping.

La Truffiére Treetop Cabin, France

As one of the most visited destinations, France is an exceptional place to dip your toe into glamping. Adventure seekers looking for exciting new heights can book a log cabin in the sky. We guarantee it won’t bring back any childhood memories, however, as this tree house is air-conditioned. But the quirky cabin should spark some exciting new memories. The luxury tree house has a comfortable living room with a lounge and kitchen, three bedrooms (but sleeps four) and a terrace with your own hot tub. Plus, lots of little extras like a Nespresso coffee machine, flat screen and a Bluetooth music player.

Cerza Safari Lodge, Normandy

Come face-to-face with a rhino, wallaby or antelope. This Mongolian village has six yurts, lodges on stilts by the lake and a zoobservatory, where you watch gazelles through your window. Feeding the animals is highly encouraged here, and if you’re lucky you’ll get to pet a rhino. Your reservation gives you priority access to Cerza zoological park, a protected area for endangered species. Take a special discovery tour and go behind the scenes at the park to get the lay of the land.

The Yurt Village, Lucerne, Switzerland

Get seriously back to nature with endless alpine-peak views in this hippie-style village in Luthern Bad, Lucerne’s hinterland. It’s a fun collection of yurts, scattered around a traditional Swiss house, as if Mother Nature gently placed each one. This is a place for healing and as legend recalls Mary, the mother of God, appeared to a farmer on the night before the Pentecost, instructing him to dig for water and wash in it, to cure his gout. Remember that while you’re yurting it up here, you’ll also have the pleasure of eating veggies straight from a clay oven, before stepping over to the sauna yurt and then cooling off in a running river.

Wherever you wander, know that you can still pay homage to your wild side, but now with a bit more luxury, euro style.

A Lobster Roll Foodie Adventure Along the Atlantic Coast of Maine

A road trip devoted entirely to lobster rolls? Where do I sign up for that? We embarked on a virtual road trip to map out the best places along the coast to have a “meet and eat” with the finest crustacean sandwiches in the Northeast. Here are three standout establishments that answer the question, “where do I find a great lobster roll in coastal Maine.”

The Clam Shack in Kennebunkport

This institution in Kennebunkport opened in 1968, and is known for its fresh lobster meat coated in a unique mayonnaise and melted-butter blend. But not just any old butter. Owner Steve Kingston sources Kate’s Homemade Butter from Maine at $110 a case. He says that’s what makes the taste so distinct. Kingston defies the norm with a non-traditional round roll. Kingston says of the dish, “I’m very fanatical about a very simple sandwich.” He plucks his lobsters from Kennebunkport’s Cape Porpoise Harbor and has them delivered to his seafood market, which is next-door to the restaurant. There, he steams the lobsters in ocean water and takes the meat off by hand. A laborious process that demonstrates there’s a lot of painstaking detail behind every sandwich sold here. It pays off. In the summer months, The Clam Shack sells an upwards of 500 rolls.

Five Islands Lobster

Perched on an active fishing wharf, skirting Sheepscot Bay is this standout lobster spot that claims to own the title of “best lobster shack in Maine.” The surrounding Five Islands’ waters are some of the coldest and deepest around—ideal for nurturing healthy meaty lobsters and lots of them. Lobsters go straight from “water-to-table” and are never stored in tanks. In fact, you’ll be able to watch the lobster boats pulling away from the dock from your table. This is an authentic coastal Maine dinner at its best.

Red’s Eats

Right off Wiscasset’s Main Street and operating for 78 years now, Red’s Eats resembles a red caboose plucked from the railroad tracks and left resting underneath a Siberian Elm tree. It’s basically a trailer with a striped red-and-white awning serving sandwiches out of a small window. The ambiance is all around you though—Red’s is perched on a corner overlooking the Sheepscot River. The spot is known for its huge rolls overflowing with meaty lobster—a tourist stopover and a locals’ favorite. Author and seafood expert Mike Urban said about the place, “If you can handle the hour-plus wait in line or on the sidewalk along busy U.S. Route 1, your sweet reward will be a magnificent lobster roll known far and wide as one of the best in Maine.”

While everyone lays claim to having the best lobster roll, it’s probably a good idea to embark on a New England adventure and draw your own conclusions. Just be sure to pack a big appetite.

Winter wonderland. Summer playground. Beaver Creek, Colorado

Unlike many Western ski resorts that evolved from old mining towns, Beaver Creek was envisioned and built from the ground up. Developers had a singular goal in mind: to provide the ultimate guest experience. You’d never imagine the opulence that awaits as you pass through the unassuming town of Avon. Once you’re through the front entrance, you know something special is in store. A private road skirted by a lush golf course takes you on a picturesque journey to the foot of the resort. There, a paved village links boutique shops and restaurants, while escalators (yes, you heard that right) whisks skiers up to the lifts. At the day’s end, warm chocolate chip cookies await. Not exactly roughing it. Beaver Creek has earned its reputation for fresh powder with a side of posh.

Beaver Creek offers three distinct mountain areas with everything from gentle groomers to heart-racing black diamonds. The mountain boasts a 4,040-foot vertical rise serviced by 16 lifts with 150 trails. Beginners will find easy runs at the top and they get the same spectacular view as the diehards. Intermediate skiers have more than 805 acres of easy-cruising “groomers” at their disposal. Coyote Glade near the Bachelor Gulch lift is a great place to explore—particularly if you like the trees. Beaver Creek is also the place to challenge yourself, so don’t shy away from the black runs near the Centennial Express lift. Experts will gravitate to the double-black diamonds at Royal Elk Glades and Bald Eagle off the Grouse Mountain Express lift. It’s every bit as challenging as Vail’s back bowls—don’t let anyone tell you differently. But the mountain is a lot mellower than Vail and that’s a good thing.

In the summer months when the snow melts, take the lift up and explore a different type of downhill—miles of rolling single tracks. (Views included.) The village in Beaver Creek is its own adventure with an open-air, ice-skating rink right in the center of everything. Dine at Toscanini for savory Italian or Blue Moose for NY-style pizza if the kids are in tow. In the off-season—spring and fall—you’ll find lots of deals on meals and places to stay.

There’s also fly-fishing nearby, horseback riding and the Beaver Creek rodeo. From the bull riding to calf roping and barrel racing, it’s a family-friendly night out complete with cotton candy and salty pretzels. Other activities include a scenic gondola ride up the mountain to Spruce Saddle. From there, you can explore several hikes such as the Royal Elk Trail and the Overlook Trail. At the base of Beaver Creek, there’s a small adventure area for kids that includes mini golf, a bungee trampoline and a rock-climbing wall. There are also tons of concerts and movies outside throughout the summer. If all of this activity has you feeling tired, rejuvenate at one of the many luxury spas.

Photo courtesy, Spa Anjali, Beaver Creek Colorado

Summer or winter, spring or fall, activity is always blooming in Beaver Creek. As the expression goes, locals come for the winter and stay for the summer. You’ll enjoy any season here.

The Roca Brothers’ New Chocolate Factory

A Bean-to-Bar Chocolate Factory by The Roca Brothers

The Roca Brothers are to food what the Coen brothers are to the film world. Their three-Michelin-star El Celler De Can Roca restaurant has been best of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants. Executive chef Joan won the 2016 Chefs’ Choice Award and runs the restaurant with his brothers, Josep the sommelier and Jordi the pastry chef. Their latest venture is a dream of Jordi’s: a bean-to-bar chocolate factory. While a lot of the project is still under wraps, we do know a few details about this culinary delight in the making.

Much like preparing for a film role, Jordi has been travelling around central and South America to totally immerse himself in chocolate culture, studying how chocolate is made and meeting with suppliers to get the lay of the land. In this case, the land is humid tropical climates where cocoa thrives.

The new chocolate factory will have a posh address at Girona’s Placa de Catalunya, the heart of Barcelona’s city centre. The plan calls for it to reside inside a chic 15-room boutique hotel with a large terrace and beautiful city views. On the ground floor (I mean, where else would you have it?) there will be a chocolate workshop visible from the street and a chocolate tasting bar where you can sample cocoa beans in a variety of cold and warm beverages. The retail shop will ensure you have something decadent to take home and remember your time here.

Joan said of his plans at the #50BestTalks Barcelona event around this time last year, “the project will take around a year we’re told.” It has taken even longer apparently and it looks like the official opening will be sometime in early 2019. Roco already has a whimsical gelateria called ROCAMBOLESC in Girona on Santa Clara Street. He wants to draw attention to the world’s best small suppliers through cacao sourcing from Peru. This mega diverse country ranks high on biological diversity and diversity of plants. Good chocolate flavor is a result of diversity of soil and climate and Peru has that in spades.

Zaha Hadid’s Masterpiece in Macau

Zaha Hadid’s Morpheus Hotel

The City of Dreams now has another treasure in which to lure and mesmerize its guests. The Morpheus Hotel, the world’s first free form, high-rise exoskeleton is officially open. Wait, what? In plain speak that means that the building’s structural geometric grid negates the need for internal walls or columns that would clutter the hotel’s interior. It’s the first building in Asia without a single internal column. Held up instead by a free-form frame.

Morpheus combines its optimal arrangement with structural integrity and sculptural form,” said Viviana Muscettola, ZHA’s project director. “The design is intriguing as it makes no reference to traditional architectural typologies.”

Named after the Greek god of dreams, the hotel debuted on June 15, and travellers were eager to get their first look inside. There are 772 rooms in the 40-storey building formed from two, twisting circulation cores that connect at the podium bottom, separate, and re-join again at the rooftop. It’s all part of the larger City of Dreams Macau collection. Here you’ll find an array of the finest dining, spa and luxury services in the region, true to their “Art of Winning” slogan.

Famed British architect Zaha Hadid designed the hotel and with it became the first woman to win the prestigious Pritzker Architecture Prize. The grand opening of her masterwork was bittersweet, however, as this was Hadid’s last project before her death in 2016. Macua’s buildings in general borrow their architectural style not from one place, but many places around the world. Morpheus is different. It evolved as new architecture, expressing the city for a change. The structure is designed to look like a stylized eight. An interesting choice knowing that 8, has long been regarded as the luckiest number in Chinese culture.

A splashy launch of Morpheus takes the form of a multi-million dollar advertising campaign. The campaign, created by Chandelier Creative and a partnership with photographer Nick Knight, perfectly captures the opulence, allure, and magnetism of the remarkable space.

The campaign, inspired purely by Morpheus, pulls in great works ranging from Napoleon on horseback to Calliope on her throne, which are references to the boldest, most iconic archetypes throughout time. It’s a futuristic world that personifies the spirit of victory. And because the sky is the limit here, the campaign also features actor, filmmaker, and martial artist Donnie Yen along with supermodel and actress Du Juan.

Lawrence Ho, Chairman, and CEO of Melco Resorts & Entertainment (Morpheus’ owners) said of the new resort, “It is our goal to offer a journey of the imagination and the sensation of personal triumph for tomorrow’s most sophisticated world travelers. An unprecedented masterpiece of quality, taste, and vision, Morpheus is destined to become the icon of the new Macau.”

5 MUST-HAVE SMART SUMMER TRAVEL GADGETS

Must-Have Summer Travel Gadgets

In a world of technology, today’s traveler has a plethora of travel gadgets to choose from. Here’s a list of our favorite “smart” travel gadgets that are a #MustHave for your next vacation abroad! Cheers!

Waterproof Tech Cases

Water, sand, dirt and even dust are no match for OverBoard’s 100% waterproof tech cases. They’re full protection for your iPad, iPhone and e-reader. Born from the beaches of Thailand and Australia in 2006, OverBoard resulted from two friends who spent six months on an epic beach and boat holiday. They went “overboard” trying to protect their technology valuables from water and sand until the light bulb moment—we need a waterproof bag. From there, the bags and cases have made their way into 70 countries. Lightweight and durable, the cases provide full touch-screen capabilities, while protecting your devices from the elements. Music lovers listen up. There are waterproof headphones just for you.

Sky-Zen Travel App

If you’re a frequent flyer, particularly to paths that take you far from home, the SkyZen Travel App has your name on it. The effects of flying on your health, including disrupting sleep patterns, contributing to weight gain and a negative impact on wellbeing are well documented. You’ve probably even experienced them first hand. Well the OAG and Air Transport Association have teamed up to help you do something about it. The SkyZen Travel app tracks your movement and sleep patterns and sends the output to a Jawbone fitness band, Apple Watch or Fitbit. This data is merged with live flight schedules and routes to provide tips and suggestions on how to avoid jetlag and ensure a smooth arrival to any destination.

Language Translator by Pilot

Pilot is the world’s first smart earpiece, which promises instant in-conversation translation, UN style. Created by Waverly Labs to break down the language barriers that are difficult and frustrating when you’re traveling in a foreign country, Pilot is a smartphone app that translates English, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese, with more languages on the way.

There is some hardware involved. Each pack comes with two earpieces—one for you and one for the person you are talking to—and the app can even be used to make conference calls between various parties all speaking different languages. The company started with a crowd-sourced campaign and now has reached its first production goal that completely sold out. Better get your pre-order in now.

Spectacles

Remember Google glass? The new high-tech glasses leader is now Spectacles. With two integrated cameras that let you share everything you’re seeing live on Snapchat with your followers. It’s like a hands-free camera that captures your world, exactly how you see it. This year, Spectacles released its next-generation sunglasses, a slimmed down version with new photo taking and water-resistant features. Buy them in onyx, ruby and sapphire and plan to plunk down $150.

Kindle Oasis

The greatest travel gadgets save space and are lightweight and that’s Kindle. Now with the new Kindle Oasis, it’s also a waterproof e-reader. Available in 8GB or 32GB sizes, the larger 7″ screen features Amazon’s Paper White technology to read in bright sunlight without glare. Plus, it’s integrated with Amazon’s Audible service, to let you read or listen with a single tap to over 200,000 audio books.

Private Jet Charters Fuel Travel Passions

Private Jet Tours are the Ultimate in Luxury Travel

The large, commercial airlines can get you to your destination, and occasionally they’ll even get you there on time. However, if you’re looking to go off the beaten path and want a one-of-a-kind experience in the friendly skies, look into a private jet charter. The champagne flows freely and the seats are ultra plush, plus you can get to lesser-known destinations without all of the fits and starts.

Here are four dreamy destinations that are best accessed by a private jet.

Norman’s Cay, The Bahamas

Nestled on an unspoiled stretch of the northern Exuma Islands, 55 miles southeast of Nassau as the parrot flies, Norman’s Cay is simply spectacular. A private jet is the only way to get to this remote island paradise (besides a boat). And it is pretty dreamy, so say the travel bloggers. Once the headquarters of a Columbian drug cartel, Norman’s Cay is now a super swanky resort being developed by the Four Seasons. Fly to Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport (NAS) from many major cities, then take a charter flight directly to Norman’s Cay.

Easter Island, Chile

Easter Island is a small island in the middle of the South Pacific and it’s very secluded. So secluded in fact, that the Chilean CAA has a policy that only one aircraft can fly in at a time. Once you get there you’ll understand why it’s one of the most mystifying places on earth. Hundreds of sculpted volcanic rock called Moai dot the landscape. Think oversized heads resting on a massive pedestal. The lowest temperatures are in July and August and the highest is in February. Flying there? It’ a long journey and the only airline to take you there is Chilean airline LATAM, headquartered in Santiago. If you’re coming from New York or Los Angeles, plan on 11 hours just to reach Santiago and another five and a half hours to get to Easter Island.

Bratislava, Slovakia

Slovakia’s capital is small, but packed with castles and cathedrals, an old town hall and a classicist 18th century palace where the Peace of Pressburg was signed after Napoleon’s victory at the Battle of Austerlitz. There’s also a unique observation deck 95 meters up that has been compared to a UFO. Bratislava banks by the Danube River and Austrian border. The airport is the largest in the Slovak Republic and private charters will help you avoid connections and layovers.

Did you know? Private jets can fly higher than the 35,000-foot elevation restricted to commercial airlines.

St. Moritz, Switzerland

The journey to the land of glitz and après-ski is quite a fuss without a private jet. Why? The Samedan airport offers no commercial flights because it has such a short runway. Perched at 5,600 feet, the views are spectacular. Once you arrive you’ll be mesmerized by shimmering lakes, lush forests and towering mountains.

Have we fueled your dreams yet? These carriers offer the most luxurious private jet tours: Intrav, Four Seasons, Abercrombie and Kent and Smithsonian Journeys.