Pelican Hill: Mediterranean Majesty on the California Coast

• TRAVEL
• by Privy Editor
• 4/30/2012

Privy membership certainly has its perks. Earlier this year, we were invited by the PR folks at Pelican Hill to stay at their ultra-luxurious resort. Laid out among acres of sprawling terraced landscapes with magnificient views of the Pacific Ocean, the Resort at Pelican Hill makes you feel as if you were somewhere in an Italian village with a view of the Mediterranean Sea.

As a late Autumn sun shepherds our journey toward a much anticipated destination, there emerges a thoroughly unique testament to a renowned Italian architect’s vision, in Newport Beach in Southern California. Situated on a 504-acre site that is one of the most serene and beautiful of coastal settings, where the azure embrace of the Pacific encounters uncrowded beaches and thousands of acres of vibrant coastal habitat, sits a masterwork unlike any other in America.

"VIP" Entry into the United States of America Nightclub

• TRAVEL
• by Privy Editor
• 8/10/2011

This just in for our Privy jetsetters, if you're an American Express Platinum or Centurion cardholder, you'll love this news. In addition to adding Priority Pass Select membership American Express Platinum and Centurion (Business and Personal) Cards will be receiving  the $100 application fee for Global Entry credited back to their card accounts. Jump the velvet rope and get "VIP" Entry into the United States of America "Nightclub".

The Honeybee Effect

• TRAVEL
• by Mike Walsh
• 3/24/2011

Like the paperless office, we once imagined that technology would obviate the need for travel. If anything, the opposite seems true. We travel more than ever – although, perhaps because of technology, its nature and purpose is changing. In my own journeys I increasingly meet a new kind of traveller. Urbane, connected, and possessed of an almost romantically optimistic mindset about global opportunity. Dov Charney, the founder of American Apparel, once described his target market as ‘global metropolitan adults’. But I think its more than that. There is a new generation of ‘Borderless’ executives, whose nomadicism is less a case of carbon insensitive escapism, but rather – like honey bees – a crucial component in the pollination of global innovation.

Eco-Friendly URBN Oasis

• TRAVEL
• by Linda Kim
• 2/17/2011

I had heard great things about URBN Hotel, and during my latest trip to Shanghai I had the chance to check it out for myself. On first glance the surrounding area wasn’t too impressive—just a bunch of unassuming local shops with a few upscale restaurants thrown in for good measure. But this made more sense to me later, when I realized how important this connectedness to the city was to the hotel’s ethos. And I was also comforted upon realizing that we were within walking distance from the hustle and bustle of Nanjing Lu’s bright lights, museums, restaurants, and luxury shops.

Bacara Resort: Seaside Getaway in Santa Barbara

• TRAVEL
• by Privy Editor
• 2/10/2011

Luxurious, understated, intimate, and relaxed. These are just a few of the words we would use to describe the Bacara Resort and Spa in the beautiful seaside town of Santa Barbara. The 78 acres of beachfront property, nestled between the Santa Ynez Mountains and the Pacific Ocean, provide a truly breathtaking resort experience. Bacara’s 49 specialty suites and 311 luxurious guest rooms are housed within three- and four-story Spanish Colonial style villas scattered throughout the lush gardens of the property.

Phuket: A Slice of Heaven in Your Very Own Private Pool Villa at TRISARA

• TRAVEL
• by Stephen Liu
• 2/03/2011

There is nothing quite like laying on a secluded white sand beach, with nothing to tickle the ears but the sound of waves washing over the shore and palm trees swaying overhead to the beat of a gentle breeze. Though Phuket, Thailand’s largest and most popular island, is no longer a hidden gem, it offers pockets of peaceful bliss for visitors looking for reprieve from the outside world.

A Hotel Tour

• TRAVEL
• by Privy Editor
• 11/18/2010

One part pleasing décor, two parts attentive service, a dash of city view…What’s your recipe for the perfect hotel? We know that Privy members have stayed at some of the top hotels around the world, so we scoured your reviews to find some of your favorite picks. Come with us on a grand hotel tour; we’ll start off in New York, stop over in San Francisco, then cross the Pacific, eventually culminating our journey in Hong Kong.

Going to Expo 2010?

• TRAVEL
• by Privy Editor
• 10/01/2010

If you've decided to travel to Shanghai to catch the World Expo or maybe are already there, you're in luck as we here at Privy are proud to present to our beloved Privy members with our brand new city guide.