For a UK based self-catering holiday with a difference check out Beach Retreats. They look after fabulous finished properties on the north coast of Cornwall, including stunning apartments in Watergate Bay, I checked them out last weekend to experience truly 21st century beachside living. They are currently promoting their collaboration with a holiday concierge service – the idea is that visitors have their every need and ‘diva like’ whim catered for. I was impressed upon arrival- after a stressful week at work and a late evening flight it was great to discover a fridge full of local Cornish delicacies and a perfectly chilled bottle of English wine!
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If ever you get an opportunity to visit the Buddha Bar... take it!
We did, and our minds were pleasantly expanded into culinary excellence.
The restaurant is situated about 3 minutes walk from Embankment tube. On entering you are immediately buzzed with the sense of cool meets gothic meets Asia and as you move through the main restaurant you can’t fail to see the 20 foot high gold Buddha, not something you’d expect in the heart of the Capital… but hugely impressive.
The venue must have either been a ballroom, cinema or theatre at some point due to the dramatic open space, not to mention the high ceiling, which is adorned by humungous chandeliers. The lighting is ambient and the music ‘nu cool’ dance… this will give you a better idea of what the venue is about.
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7th Heaven is the UK’s leading specialist in the sale of top end Caribbean real estate investment, property and land for sale. They offer in depth information on the Caribbean, bespoke property search through their local contacts and information on upcoming hotspots that might be of interest to investors
A good example of the type of properties on sale through the company is Trump international Hotel and Tower block located in the Punta Pacifica Peninsula which is a great tourist, residential and hotel complex of more than 2.8 million sq. ft. The development is being constructed in the strategic and most exclusive area of Punta Pacifica in Panama City where it is destined to become a world-class landmark and an architectural icon. The development will exceed a $400 million dollar investment and will be the largest residential Real Estate property in all of Latin America. Prices from £262,294 to £317,607. Click here to view.
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A stunning new development, Istana Phuket, has just been launched. Set on a breath-taking 24 acre site overlooking pristine Naithon Beach on the North-west corner of Phuket Island, the project has already been given the accolade of “Top Ten Luxury Project” by Asia’s most respected industry publications. Named Istana after the Sanskrit term for Palace, the guiding principal behind every design element of the Istana Phuket is the word FOO - which literally stands for Feeling of Opulence. The Istana Phuket development is made up of nineteen estates with un-beatable views across the Andaman Sea. Each plot ranges between 1,600 and 3,200 square metres and is designed to blend seamlessly with the rain forest environment, offering a sense of total tranquillity.
When it comes to the interior design there is also no expense spared and innovations include:
• Sixteen-seat dinner tables and home cinemas
• Italian Poliform kitchens and wardrobes
• Lutron Hone Information Systems to give owners total control of the interior environment and allow them to summon staff from anywhere in the villa.
• Huge back kitchen areas that can cater for social parties with up to a hundred guests
• Home gymnasiums
• Finely wrought stone and timber floors, Italian cabinetry and joinery,
• Exquisite art works and the best of contemporary furniture
• Southern Italian Travertine marble finishing
• Separate au pair and staff quarters
• Walk-in wine cellars in some of the villas
Each Istana villa also has a bespoke cocktail station and bar, catering for up to 150 guests, complete with hand-crafted bar equipment and a unique signature cocktail list.
As a testament to the estates popularity, nine of the opulent 4 to 6 bedroom villa estates have sold immediately and the remaining ten are for sale starting at just over £2 million or €2.3 Million.
Unless there’s sufficient lubrication involved (probably tequila or sambuca) you probably won’t find me on the dance floor. It’s not that I don’t enjoy dancing – I really do – it’s just that, like many of my friends and associates, I’d rather avoid the humiliation of not being very good at it.
“So how about some lessons?”
“Not likely!”
...or so I thought. But that was before I was invited to a free lesson at the studios of former world champion Latin American dancer (and winner of ITV’s ‘Strictly Come Dancing’), Karen Hardy. How could I refuse and what a great opportunity to win some bonus points with my girlfriend!
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