The Explorateur’s Exclusive Getaways

Friends, families, freewheelin’ babes and badasses… our swanky friends at The Explorateur – an insider travel concierge of sorts – wanted me to share some sweet news about a few very exclusive trips they’ve added to their repertoire for the Fall. Tell them our Editor-in-Chief, Layla Revis, sent you if you sign up to their newsletter. That way, they’ll treat you extra nice 😉

Just Chillin in Tanzania

A bit about The Explorateur. We heard about them when we were working with Small Luxury Hotels of the World and their Founder came highly regarded. We needed some tips on Croatia and we were told that he was the guy who made an art of arranging yacht trips around the Croatian coast. So what is The Explorateur? A unique forum filled with fabulous insider information (sorta like us). They also arrange exclusive offers at the world’s most unique and interesting hotels, shops, and restaurants around the world much like the travel agent you *wish* you had. Their ever-globetrotting editorial team blends their collective decades of experience in the travel industry with savvy insider knowledge of the world’s most eclectic finds. Stylish, yet unpretentious, they help guide travelers with a hint of wanderlust.  The team has the scoop on anything and everything a traveler needs to know. And, if they don’t know, like us, they’ll travel to find out.

TANZANIA-  6 Days, Stunning Explorations- starting at US $1500 per person, double occupancy

Itinerary includes:  Begin at Kilimanjaro for an overnight at Kia Lodge and option to explore the mountain, followed by  a drive the next day for a visit to Lake Manyara, game drive for phenomenal animal viewing + 1 night at Migunga Tented Camp including all meals, transfer to Serengeti for an early morning game drive and visit to Olduvai Gorge + 2 nights at Ikoma Tented Camp including all meals, transfer to Ngorongoro Crater for a gorgeous crater exporation tour and overnight at Crater Forest Lodge, all  meals, followed by early morning transfer back to Arusha.

My Chateau or Yours?

FRANCE – Spectacular New Years Experience at Chateau de la Barre- 1295 Euro per person, based on 12 sharing.

Mingle with royalty and get treated as such when you round up 12 friends to share the chateau as guests of Comte and Comtesse de Vanssay in their Loire Valley chateau.

30 Dec- Get treated to a champagne reception and visit of the chateau followed by cheese and vintage wine tasting supper in the billiard room in front o fthe monumental XIVth century fireplace- enjoy chocolate and port wine in your room.

31 Dec- Explore the remarkably restored old city of Le Mans, stage set to many films followed by festive New Year’s Eve dinner in the XVIIth centrury grand dinign room of the chateau with all the family silver and crystal- usher in the new year at midnignt with champagne in the Grand Drawing Room underneath the ancestral portraits

01 Jan- Renaissance day- visit famous Chenonceau castle with a new year’s day lunch feast at Leonardo da Vinci’s home served as if you were in 1530- or a private lunch in XVIIth century Chateau Chene de Coeur hosted by the owners

02 Jan- Depart with a special present from Chateau de la Barre

PLUS- Daily English breakfast and afternoon tea, fresh flowers in room, wine tasting at nearby winery built into a Xth century limestone cave

Kda-oo naH, pray-uhH 'euy (Translation: "Oh God, It's Hot")

CAMBODIA –  Hotel de la Paix – Siem Riep’s most stylish hotel set against some of the world’s most spectacular ancient sights

Explore this incredible land in the comfort of this stunning art deco hotel starting at US $275 per night- and receive the following lovely treats to enrich your stay:

– Welcome drink and cold towel on arrival
– Daily gourmet hot breakfast buffet
– Wireless Internet access in all guestrooms
– Daily turn-down service with treats
– Pre-loaded iPod with music and narratives on Cambodia, which may be taken on outside excursions
– Access to undercover Khmer inspired swimming pool
– Access to award winning Spa Indochine

So take a jaunt, check out The Explorateur, and let us know what you think (just don’t make us too jealous when you go on and on about that trip to Chateau de la Barre or Tanzania!

 The Explorateur 

Shitkickers and S’mores: Wickenburg, Arizona

Wickenburg, AZ

Wickenburg is probably responsible for some of the happiest moments of my youth: hayrides, s’mores, making art, punching holes into hand painted leather belts, and riding horses (of course). There’s really little not to love about this old style Arizona ranch town. In fact, it’s one of the oldest, most beloved towns of it’s kind. So, this fall, we say… lasso up the kiddes and check out their 32^nd Annual Four Corners States Bluegrass Festival which will welcome musicians and spectators from around the great southwest and beyond from Nov. 11 – 13 at Wickenburg’s Everett Bowman Rodeo Grounds.

Sponsored by the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce, the southwest’s bluegrass festival will feature bluegrass greats The Brombies, Sonoran Dogs and Thomas Porter & Copper Creek, in addition to performances and contests by lesser-known enthusiasts competing for cash and prizes in more than 13 categories including open fiddle, mandolin, guitar and banjo. Yeehaw!

Gates open at 11:00 am. Friday, with live entertainment running from 1pm – 5:30 pm. The best part for the chilluns? Saturday and Sunday’s lineups feature a pancake breakfast beginning at 7 am.

Additional festivities will include food and drink concessions, arts and crafts, and a designated Kid Zone for the smaller budding enthusiasts. Single-day tickets purchased in advance are only $15 for adults, $8 for children and $12 for senior citizens. Three-day passes are also available for $40, $20 and $35, respectively. Tickets purchased at the gate will be higher.

The Everett Bowman Rodeo Grounds are located at 935 Constellation Road, just 1/2 mile east of Highway 60/93 in Wickenburg. Reserved self-contained RV camping may be arranged in advance through the Wickenburg Chamber of Commerce. While general bleacher seating will be available, spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets to sit on. Just note that outside alcohol, dogs, food and coolers are prohibited.

For more info on where to stay or what to do:

www.wickenburgchamber.com

Kerala: The Great Escape

Vythiri Resort

Kerala; a land that has gained fame as ‘God’s Own Country’ is a chili shaped strip of land that is sandwiched between the lofty mountain chain of the Western Ghats and the Arabian Sea in India. Tucked away at an altitude of 700-2100 meters above sea level in a particularly beautiful corner of Kerala is Wayanad. The latter which happens to be one of the better kept secrets of Kerala is about 150 miles from Cochin.

Vythiri Resort is a romantic hideaway cocooned in the lap of the rainforests of Wayanad. The Vythiri Resort which sprawls over a whopping 150 acres boasts of 18 thoughtfully designed cottages, a multi-cuisine restaurant and a spa. Since the time it opened its doors to the discerning traveler it has been winning the hearts of people from across the globe. Not surprising then that it was conferred the prestigious International Quality Crown Award by the Madrid based Business Initiative Directions (BID), a few years back. For a truly out-of-this-world experience you should stay in one of the dizzy tree houses that are perched some 100 feet above ground level at the Vythiri Resort. These luxurious tree houses come with a bath attached bedroom.

www.vythiriresort.com

Wayanad also enjoys a salubrious climate all through the year with the monsoon coming from late Jun until early September (But Wayanad truly comes alive during the monsoons).

Sanjay Sivadas is a travel writer based in Bangalore, India. He may be reached at sanjaysivadas@yahoo.com

Travel Ready Multi-Purpose Moisturizer

STEAMCREAM

When we first heard of STEAMCREAM we thought is sounded so bizarre. What is this stuff? And why is it called Steamcream? We loved the containers, but we were baffled. Then we discovered that it’s called Steamcream because it harnesses the power of a revolutionary steam-infusion manufacturing process to provide a long-lasting, intensive and effective form of skincare, first and foremost for the face. However, because the steam technique produces a gentle, loosely-bound emulsion that allows each ingredient to breakdown, it can penetrate the skin where needed and where other creams find hard to reach. I love the stuff because, instead of packing face cream, leg cream, and hand cream, I can just pack Steamcream into my bag and it covers every nook and cranny. Plus, it smells delish. Travel-friendly at just 2.6oz, it’s approved for carry-on luggage, but lightweight enough for beach bags, book bags and purses.

Price: $18