OUTRAGEOUS PERKS

Right, so you may have heard about tanning butlers in chic sun destinations, or super senior concierges that have connections to the best tables at the hottest eateries in town, but that's nothing compared to some of the most intriguing and lavish amenities at the world's finest hotels. Thanks CNN for the roundup! Would you find any of these useful in your travels? Tell us, we'd love to know!

-The Art Concierge, Andaz 5th Ave- NYC. GM Jonathan Frolich aims to connect guests with local culture, even going so far as to commission street artists to graffiti the hotel walls, and pushing guests straight to the top of the waiting list of world famous tattoo artist Mister Cartoon.

-The Fragrance Butler, Rosewood Hotels- North America- Want to try a new scent? Ring your butler who will be toting menu complete with scents from Chanel to Tom Ford, Bulgari to Marc Jacobs

-The Pet Psychic, Hotel Monaco- Portland- What's your pet thinking? If you're stuck on that thought while staying at this hotel, simply ring downstairs and this special staff member will work with you and your pet over a glass of wine to solve all manner of issues.

-Mad Men Mixologist, The Surrey Hotel-NY- On call 24/7, arriving in mere minutes with a cart containing just about everything needed to create a custom cocktail. He'll not only whip one up, but he'll leave the instructions behind so you can do it yourself. (and, he leaves the cart behind)

-Plastic Surgery Recovery, The Pierre- NY- Working hand in hand with NY Presbyterian, this package includes round trip car service to and from procedure, private escort, in room spa treatments, special healing menu and a doctor on call

-Recovery Conceirge, Ritz Carlton New Orleans- Taking it a little too hard in the Big Easy? Club level guests can now chat to Russell who will prescribe tips to rid the most horrible hangovers

-On Site Genealogist, Lodge at Doonbeg-Ireland- Trace your roots with their 2 resident members of the Council of Irish Genealogical Organzations who will trace your roots and coordinate visits to your ancestral villages

-Rock Star Recording Studio, Eden Rock- St Barths- Didn't make the cut on the X Factor tryouts? Indulge in their 16,000 sq ft Villa Rockstar complete with a recording studio where A-listers have spent time making music in the past.

OUTRAGEOUS HOTEL FEES

We've all had those moments where we feel we've been ripped off while traveling (hello 28 Euro glass of milk in Greece, one of my personal bests). I felt better after seeing this list- what's your best/worst experience? Shout out on Facebok and share!

Biggest Resort Fee? Ritz Carlton St Thomas- $55 per day. Um, didn't you already pay for all of the amenities in the hefty room rate?

Most Obscene Gym Fee? Wynn Las Vegas- $30 per day. I'll take a jog on the strip, better people watching anyway.

Most Absurd Valet Fee? Inter Continental San Francisco- $53 per day. No self parking option so you're stuck there

Craziest Room Service Fee? Trump International Beach Resort Miami- 20% service charge, 9% tax, $3 delivery fee. I'll go downstairs and get it myself.

Most Bizarre Fee- Elysian Beach Resort USVI- $21 per day Energy Surcharge PLUS $110 for daily housekeeping. I just can't even comment without being ridiculously snarky.

Sexiest Fee? M Resort & Spa- $20 "Men's Only" fee to visit the adults-only Daydream Pool. I thought that was just a guido club thing...

The Art Of The Galão- There are certain words in other languages that just cannot be directly translated in English. Take schadenfreude in German for instance, a feeling of pleasure gained via someone else's misfortune; ilunga, from the African language of Tshiluba, when loosely translated describes someone who will neither forgive nor forget a repeated wrong.

And then, in Portuguese there is the galão. This blissful beverage that elicits instant effervescent happiness is simple enough in its composition but incredibly difficult to describe exactly how delicious and uniquely flavored it truly is. It's the kind of drink that takes you aback and makes you want to say "you had me at first sip" as it's the perfect balance of ¾ hot foamed milk and ¼ espresso that somehow just tastes completely different in Portugal than in it does when recreated anywhere else in the world.

To be Portuguese is to live in a heightened state of all-consuming coffee culture. It was Portugal that actually even introduced coffee to Brazil by the King of Portugal centuries ago whereas most would tend to assume it was the other way around. It was brought to Brazil where it could be grown in massive volume and turned right back around to Europe, and now it's literally a part of the fabric everywhere across the country. In restaurants, perpetually buzzing cafes, clubs, museums, side streets, universities, homes and vending machines and is a daily ritual for most citizens, beginning early on in life.Coffee is more of an event, a social occasion even if only to meet someone and sip an espresso quickly while standing up at a café, it is a way to end (or even begin) a great meal and a means by which to spend a lazy Sunday morning.

The galão is truly best enjoyed a café in Lisbon. My choice would be a charming place called Pastelaria Suica in Rossio Square in the center of the city which incidentally served as a meeting point during World War II where exiles could negotiate their tickets to Switzerland and thus to freedom.

Outdoor seat, preferably facing a bustling square, aluminum table with just one leg slightly off kilter due to the uneven grooves of the cobblestone streets beneath your feet, tabletop covered by a waxy sheet of tablecloth paper, chair perfectly positioned outward in prime people-watching position. A galão is always served steaming hot in a tall glass, steam and gorgeous aromas arising constantly and one must take great care not to burn fingers. The sugarphobe in me always seems to take a hiatus when the concoction appears on a menu, because to have it just absolutely right, one must succumb to the multiple cubes that must be added to achieve the perfect balance.

Since a galão almost always must be accompanied by an obligatory sweet of some sort, order a traditional pastel da nata and enjoy that while waiting for your drink to cool. Then, sip or gulp, and enjoy the galão, the views on the street, and everything else that goes along with this charming city and stay as long as you want as most café waiters in Portugal will never bother you to move even if you decide to spend hours on just one drink.

If you can't hop the pond but find yourself in the New York metro area, hop a train or a taxi to the heavily Portuguese Ironbound section of Newark and take a stroll down to Delicia's Bakery on Ferry Street. It's about as close as one can get to the Lisbon experience, but there's still that tiny bit that's missing, that certain something that just can't be translated...

THE BLOCK PRINTER OF SANGANER- A wise woman (and I do mean very wise, as in Indira Gandhi) once said, ““If you wish to know something about India, You must empty your mind of all pre-conceived notions. Why be imprisoned by the limited vision? Don’t try to compare. India is different. And as exasperating as it may seem, they would like to remain so…This is the secret of India, the acceptance of life in all its fullness...”

Every time one visits India, it is a completely different story, another extreme adventure for the senses each complete with its own unique set of personalities and experiences. A few weeks ago, I added another person to my long list of “most memorable travel characters”, and if you ever find yourself in Sanganer, you’ve got to go see this guy.

Sanganer is located in Rajasthan, just a short jaunt from the Pink City we know as Jaipur where you’ll pass majestic temples, ancient forts and palaces en route in a gentle haze that makes the city appear to be dusted in a shimmery gold. Set within the majestic Dausa Gate, amid the camel-filled alleys, lie the homes of thousands of craftsmen whose ancestors made Sanganer the “metropolis of calico painting.” The delicate flower, bird, tree and animal prints for the gathered Rajasthani skirts were created here and it’s fascinating to sit and watch the older artisans in their orchestral movements through the block printing process. One separates the colors, another cuts the finely crafted woodblocks and a third prints each color down the fabric.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akE6jQJkQSQ&feature=channel&list=UL

It was here that I shook hands, exchanged words, and fist-pounded blocks with the self-proclaimed “master of block printing” – a very senior guy donned in traditional dress, proudly showcasing with his outstretched arm and hand tremendously intricately printed cloths that he did by that same bruised, calloused hand over decades. He proudly shouted his name several times, along with his tagline- “ONE FIST, ONE DESIGN!” The prints were incredible, the designs so intricate and if it wasn’t fascinating enough to watch him, he gently placed a piece of cloth, a worn palette of ink stains, and a series of carefully crafted wooden blocks and with his eyes and hands alone, gestured for me to take a try which was exciting yet nervewracking. How do you perform with a master looking on at your work? The distorted elephant I somehow managed to create after banging blocks until my hands were red and numb seemed to amuse him and make him beam with pride. Not bad for a first-timer I suppose, or perhaps he was just thrilled someone was taking such an interest. It’s easy to lose sight of how much time these ancient, authentic crafts take to make when we live in a world of reproductions and cheap knock-offs.

India is a world unto itself, with thousands of possibilities so take time to savor moments like this- of which there will no doubt be many along your travels...

EXPLORATEUR EXCLUSIVE- Save up to 40% on creative, bespoke India journeys! Connect with us for more information and as always, be sure & tell ‘em The Explorateur sent you!

THE BLOCK PRINTER OF SANGANER- A wise woman (and I do mean very wise, as in Indira Gandhi) once said, ““If you wish to know something about India, You must empty your mind of all pre-conceived notions. Why be imprisoned by the limited vision? Don’t try to compare. India is different. And as exasperating as it may seem, they would like to remain so…This is the secret of India, the acceptance of life in all its fullness...”

Every time one visits India, it is a completely different story, another extreme adventure for the senses each complete with its own unique set of personalities and experiences. A few weeks ago, I added another person to my long list of “most memorable travel characters”, and if you ever find yourself in Sanganer, you’ve got to go see this guy.

Sanganer is located in Rajasthan, just a short jaunt from the Pink City we know as Jaipur where you’ll pass majestic temples, ancient forts and palaces en route in a gentle haze that makes the city appear to be dusted in a shimmery gold. Set within the majestic Dausa Gate, amid the camel-filled alleys, lie the homes of thousands of craftsmen whose ancestors made Sanganer the “metropolis of calico painting.” The delicate flower, bird, tree and animal prints for the gathered Rajasthani skirts were created here and it’s fascinating to sit and watch the older artisans in their orchestral movements through the block printing process. One separates the colors, another cuts the finely crafted woodblocks and a third prints each color down the fabric.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akE6jQJkQSQ&feature=channel&list=UL

It was here that I shook hands, exchanged words, and fist-pounded blocks with the self-proclaimed “master of block printing” – a very senior guy donned in traditional dress, proudly showcasing with his outstretched arm and hand tremendously intricately printed cloths that he did by that same bruised, calloused hand over decades. He proudly shouted his name several times, along with his tagline- “ONE FIST, ONE DESIGN!” The prints were incredible, the designs so intricate and if it wasn’t fascinating enough to watch him, he gently placed a piece of cloth, a worn palette of ink stains, and a series of carefully crafted wooden blocks and with his eyes and hands alone, gestured for me to take a try which was exciting yet nervewracking. How do you perform with a master looking on at your work? The distorted elephant I somehow managed to create after banging blocks until my hands were red and numb seemed to amuse him and make him beam with pride. Not bad for a first-timer I suppose, or perhaps he was just thrilled someone was taking such an interest. It’s easy to lose sight of how much time these ancient, authentic crafts take to make when we live in a world of reproductions and cheap knock-offs.

India is a world unto itself, with thousands of possibilities so take time to savor moments like this- of which there will no doubt be many along your travels...

EXPLORATEUR EXCLUSIVE- Save up to 40% on creative, bespoke India journeys! Connect with us for more information and as always, be sure & tell ‘em The Explorateur sent you!

DINNER IN THE SKY- When terrestrial dining is no longer enough

When foodies converse with fellow foodies, it gets heated. Competitive culinary banter can reach all sorts of maniacal levels, generally followed by someone going down the El Bulli reminiscence route which can stop the one-upping in its tracks. Admittedly this foodie has pulled that card occasionally but I now have an even cooler gauntlet to throw down next time I find myself in a dining-obsessed crowd - Dinner In The Sky.

It is exactly as it sounds, and what began with a crazy idea and a crane in Belgium has spiraled outward to a worldwide phenomenon, available now in 35 countries. And if you can handle being hoisted 50 meters up on a table supported by a crane to have your dinner, then this is for you.

It begins with a rectangular table, fully set with service for 20, comfortable chairs, and smiling, welcoming, well-dressed staff. It seems normal enough until blast-off, and said crane propels you high into the sky, where you spend the next several hours hovering above the land below and drinking in stunningly breathtaking views along with your wine and champagne.

As you float along, the staff discreetly serves while you eat suspended in the air. Legs do not dangle thanks to a sturdy bottom platform, and temperatures do not become uncomfortable thanks to a generous canopy, and just about anything can be organized to be served. Chefs have their own place in the middle of the table to craft their creations and it's just full-on impressive from liftoff to descent. Cocktails flow, diners toast to the beauty and their luck to be aboard, and spirits tend to fly higher than the table itself.

The concept certainly has a wow factor that leaves event organizers on a high for months at a time reveling at their success with clients. Even those who may have a slight fear of heights stand to be cured just by the value of the views along with the simultaneous, perpetual adrenaline rush. One word of caution: there is no "rest room in the sky", so our advice is to visit before liftoff. Those who simply cannot wait are brought down briefly during the flight, which can sometimes be an inconvenience to fellow diners, especially those who have to be convinced to embark in the first place.

Though this flight of dining fancy took place over Paris, the apparatus and concept can be set up just about anywhere in the world. Over a vineyard in France, lazing over Lebanon, meandering sky-high over Monte Carlo, even over a concert or the Vegas strip for an extra fabulous surprise. Your cost for high-flying adventure? US $6500. Your take-away from soaring suspended in the air on this most unique culinary experience? Truly priceless.

SOUK THIS! LESSONS LEARNED IN MOROCCO
When I arrived at Djemaa el Fna in Marrakech, I fully believed I was keyed up with all of the negotiating skills I thought I so expertly acquired thorugh my years of shopping while traveling. Yeah- not so much- this place was unlike anything I had ever experienced and if you think you know how to bargain, think again before you step your foot in this souk because you will indeed be running with the big boys!

This has got to be one of the most fun, enriching, and gut-wrenchingly-funny things I've ever done, and I'd do it again weekly if I could. It's like being in a badly acted play, where vendors become abjectly over-emotional, almost heartbroken about having to come to terms with the bottom line price you throw at them.

I fondly recall the gentleman who held up a lighter against a jacket I was haggling about, who came to a teary-eyed point screaming he'd rather BURN it than sell it to me at that price...but guess what, I got the price, and a cute pair of shoes to go with it. And so will you.

Here are a few tips I learned:

1. Keep an open mind regarding what you want. If you think you want a red scarf for example, you'll likely be shown an array of hundreds, all with red hues and intricate unique designs,and you'll likely want to buy them all.

2. You are the MASTER of all things negotiable! Do not be deterred from the price you are willing to pay. And if you don't achieve success with one vendor, stroll down a few paces and you'll likely find the same items somewhere else so start all over again.

3. Poker face, poker face, poker face. Display no emotion.

4. Work on your "pretending to be disinterested" act after a few back-and-forths.

5. Relish the overly-emotive ham acting of the seller. Take time to appreciate all the work he/she is putting into it, the persuasiveness, the faux-anger, the close-to-tears-sheer-agony of when they finally come around to getting close to your price. It's a show, it's great and it's meant to be enjoyed!

6. Remember, this is how it goes. This is how it's MEANT to play out. It's easy to fall into the guilt-ridden trap of feeling as though you're somehow skimping on helping out the local economy, but they love this. It's a passion, it's how business at the souk is done so dive right in. What they will likely find strange or rude is if you actually didn't engage in a negotiation.

EXPLORATEUR EXCLUSIVE- Receive a complimentary bespoke Morocco travel guide customized to your exact needs...created by our Explorateur Concierge team when registering for Concierge Access. Connect wtih us for more information and as always, be sure & tell 'em The Explorateur sent you!

LA RESIDENCE HUE- Vietnam

There are hundreds of ways to experience Vietnam in all it’s beautifully chaotic splendor, but if you’ve ever yearned to cross the threshold into private homes, you’ll know that most of the tourist haunts provide only surface views of everyday living at a glance. Want to immerse yourself truly? We’ve got the solution. La Residence in Hue offers a fabulous Residential Life program that peers behind the curtain at everyday traditional life in the country’s towns and cities.

Guests of the program embark on an intriguing one-of-a-kind exploration that includes 2 nights at La Residence in a superior room, visits to a pair of traditional Vietnamese homes where descendants of Vietnamese royalty still reside today, visits to 2 French homes built in the colonial era including a gorgeous lunch served in the garden, cyclo transport and dinner at Le Parfum, the city’s premiere eatery. A dinner experience at Tha Om is also included, one of the city’s most exquisite compounds of traditional Vietnamese homes, whose owner is a noted preservationist and antiques dealer who has saved and revitalized four traditional garden homes bounded on one side by a stunning half-moon lotus pond.

It’s something out of a dream, a most unique way to experience how you’ve always envisioned this part of the world to be, behind traditionally closed doors for a revolutionary experience only a privileged few have been able to see. http://www.la-residence-hue.com/the-residential-life/

EXPLORATEUR EXCLUSIVE- Receive a complimentary bespoke Vietnam travel guide created by our Explorateur Concierge team when booking this package (a $150 value!) Connect with us for more information and as always, be sure & tell ‘em The Explorateur sent you!

CHARGING FOR CARRY-ONS

This is just so RyanAir-esque. Charging for carry-ons, I can barely even write such a sentence without a scowl on my face. Low cost carrier Allegiant Air will start charging about $35 per carry on bag. Come on now…

THE $1 BILLION RESORT-

Real Madrid, quite possibly the world’s most renowned football club, announced it will spend US $1 billion on a luxe resort complex complete with multiple hotels, marina and amusement park in the UAE. “Real Madrid Resort Island” will also feature an Oceanside stadium, hi-tech club museum and fabulous beachside bungalows with views of a hologram show scrolling Real Madrid’s most thrilling goals. And, in case you were worried, rest assured there will be a 10,000-seat stadium as well.

WORLD’S MOST DANGEROUS AIRPORTS

Whether they’re big, small, innovative or antiquated, if you’re an avid traveler, chances are that airports of any type intrigue you in some way. It’s challenging to fully grasp how these micro-cities function, and beyond that, how their design concepts even arise. Have a look some of these feats that have been named to the list of “World’s Most Dangerous Airports”- and consider this if you’ve ever flown into any!

-Kansai Int’l Airport- Osaka, Japan- Engineers here had to head 3 miles offshore into Osaka Bay to construct this artificial island that battles daily against potential earthquakes, cyclones, storms, unstable seabeds and global warming that may eventually impact rising water levels that surround the complex.

-Gibraltar- Moonlighting as a base for the UK’s Royal Air Force, commercial flights land here on a strip that is bisected by Gibraltar’s busiest road. Railroad gates drop each time a plane lands or takes off. Eek.

-Madeira International Airport- Portugal- A runway built literally on a bridge- thankfully it’s strong enough to handle a 747 but to look at this photo, it’s easy to have doubts.

-Courchevel International Airpot- France- Pilots landing at this airport in the French Alps would be best served by slalom lessons in addition to the required special certification before attempting this runway- takeoff is downhill, landing runs uphill literally, at an 18.5% incline grade.

-Ice Runway- Antarctica- Surprise, no runway here at all! Just a long thick sheet of ice that is groomed carefully and frequently, so supersized aircraft used to haul researchers and supplies can travel in and out with relative ease, as long as Mother Nature cooperates.