Asia, Travel
Admiralty, Central, Hong Kong, Intercontinental, Kowloon, Ladies market, Mr. & Mrs. Fox, Night Market, Nobu, Sugar, Upper House
Captivating, chaotic & crowded – Hong Kong never sleeps! View the towering skylines from Kowloon, the nightly Symphony of Lights, or shop the mega malls. Hong Kong demands all your attention. Browse the Chinese “Lanes” of Li Yuen, bargain at the Bird, Ladies, Jade & Temple Markets (open until 1AM), ride a “junk”or see the worlds largest Buddha. Discover private nightclubs or marvel at tomorrow’s technology. Its easy to become addicted to Hong Kong!
Where2Stay – Kowloon or Hong Kong Island? Does it matter? The bargain rate of 32 cents (U.S.) makes taking the Star Ferry across the harbor (eight minutes) the best deal on the planet!
Hong Kong Island – The heartbeat & business center of Hong Kong with slick skyscrapers, sumptuous malls and party central!
Upper House – quiet, luxurious and intimate, voted one of the best hotels in Hong Kong. Located in Admiralty, attached to the Pacific Place Mall you might never see daylight! Imagine a zen inspired boutique hotel high atop a skyscraper! Floor to ceiling windows capture the dizzying view below. All rooms are suites, enormous bathrooms feature sunken tubs & huge walk in showers (easy to lose your roommate). Surprise snacks show up nightly. Top floor restaurant Cafe Grey is the perfect spot for cocktails, snacks & to show off that new sexy dress!
Kowloon – A dizzying array of electronics, jewelry shops & street markets mixes the old with new Hong Kong.
Intercontinental Hong Kong On the harbor, the Intercontinental Hotel shows off! Staggering views of Hong Kong Island, free smart phone devices, a rooftop infinity pool and their famous lobby bar (try their “Unbelievable Bubble Cocktails”) set the stage for the nightly light show across the harbor. Reserving a harbor view room is a must. Dine in Michelin star restaurants (Alain Ducasse Spoon & Yan Toh Heen) and the iconic Nobu. Stroll the Ave of the Stars outside the hotel’s front door.
Where2Dine – Over 11,000 restaurants from hole in the wall noodle shops to Michelin stared destinations, eating is a major attraction. Luckily taxis are inexpensive and the MTR is simple and fast (directions are in English)!
Twenty-Six by Liberty – Pay in advance, 26-seat counter where the kitchen comes to you. Michelin star chef, 10 courses, blowtorches & stylized modern cooking
Aqua Roma & Bar – 30 stories up, get front row seating for the nightly laser light show. Try their anxiety cocktail. Or two!
Mott 32 – Hidden is an understatement! Through one office building into another, down an escalator, descend a circular staircase w/iron chains into a dark sexy room. Modern Chinese – pre-order the roast goose, a must! Won best restaurant in Hong Kong!
The Chairman – small & elegant serving exquisite Cantonese. One of Asia’s 50 best restaurants. Do not miss the crab.
Mr. & Mrs. Fox – newly opened, hot, chic & lively on three levels (bar, restaurant & private den) Book early, stay late, order the scallops w/oyster ceviche.
Ho Lee Fook – Not a misprint, it means “good fortune for your mouth.” Funky, crowded & hip serving Asian fusion cuisine. Descend past the peacock feathers & waving Chinese gold statues. After a couple of drinks you’ll be waving back! Reserve early!
Dining Tip – Want the best dim sum? Take the MRT train to Central Station (don’t leave the station), get in line for Tim Ho Wan. Take a ticket, fill out the paper form and wait. It’s fun to make new friends!
What2Do – Day
Victoria Peak –Taking the tram is part of the experience. Views are breathtaking! Hope for a clear day!
Lantau Island – Climb the 268 steps to gaze at the Tian Tan Buddha, then visit the PoLin monastery for their vegetarian lunch!
Tai O – Quaint, picturesque fishing village w/houses on stilts & an old fashioned seafood market is a step back in time!
Stanley Market – along the coast, this picturesque market is a must for souvenirs, jewelry & tiny lanes!
Avenue of the Stars Stroll day or night for views of this amazing skyline, laser light show every night at 8 PM
Junk – Sail Victoria Harbor in this restored Duk Ling “the HK Junk” boat. Do not miss this!
The Markets – Ladies, Temple, Jade & Bird markets. Fun, addicting and crowded! Shop until you drop! Remember to bargain!
Where2Play – Night
Ozone – In the Ritz Carlton on the 118th floor – the highest bar in the world. Dramatic, glamorous & dazzling w/outside terrace. Dress to impress, don’t look down.
Dragon I – Jet setters, models and hip society crowd all gather in their Red Room. Open until 4 AM! Flirt to get in.
M Bar Mandarin Oriental – Elegant, seductive, great date spot. Bored with your date? View will keep you occupied!
Sugar – On the top of the EAST Hong Kong Hotel – don’t miss the outdoor wraparound terraces, music and killer views bathed in fuchsia lighting.
A city that thinks their mile is “Magnificent!” Where boutiques, baseball & Blackhawks are more enticing than dating (maybe!) Whether you’re into jazz, blues, top chefs or architecture you will be blown away by Chicago!
Travel in Style. Want the red carpet treatment? VIP Travel is your go to travel source for that hard to get reservation! All you need to do is relax, enjoy the VIP “Experience” and be whisked about town.
Where2Stay
Trump Hotel – Pleasure or business? What better place than Trump Hotel Chicago? Towering over Michigan Avenue, this glass & steel skyscraper is one of ten in the world to hold a 5-Star Forbes rating for both its restaurant & hotel! It is the tallest reinforced concrete building in the world. With the largest hotel rooms in Chicago, panoramic views & luxurious spa what more can you want? How about one of their special exotic martinis at Rebar?
Shake it up – Start by flying high New Years Eve at Sixteen for dinner, then head to Rebar for fireworks and champagne. Then retire to your room to make your own fireworks!
Virgin Hotel – Wouldn’t it be nice to be a virgin again? Sir Richard makes that a reality with the opening of the first Virgin Hotel in the world! Rooms are colored exactly like his planes – red and white. Use their Virgin app (your wish, their command.) Don’t miss “Death by Chocolate” in their Miss Ricky diner, free cocktails from 6-7, meet your roommates in the Common Room or hang out literally on their roof top. And you thought you could never be a virgin again!
Where2Dine
Chicago Cut – Make the cut! Fantastic charred steaks, city views, outdoor terrace (in summer) buzzing bar – reservations essential! Martinis overflow (you even get a straw). Probably the most happening place in Chicago!
Momotaro – Not a carnivore? How about sushi & whiskey? Don’t get lost in their 11,000 sq. ft space! Serving modern Japanese in the Fulton Market District. Don’t miss their signature tartar. Don’t have a reservation? Head to their downstairs izakaya. Large tables, make new friends!
Duck Inn – Duck in! Esquire magazine named it one of the new 10 best restaurants in America & bartender Brandon Phillips just won the Global Bartender Competition for his Gin Cocktail & Gin popcorn. Pre order the duck when reserving. Better than a movie!
Pick Me Up Café – Hungry at 4 AM? Head to Lakeview (filled w/ vintage shops & bars) to this 50’s style cafe! Open 24 hours on weekends – don’t miss their zombie coffee drink: three shots of espresso, two cups of coffee, steamed milk, whipped cream w/ chocolate & caramel! Gives a whole new meaning to “getting picked up.”
Lunch Tip – Want to fast track that business deal? Dine at Sixteen, on the 16th floor in the Trump Hotel. Awarded two Michelin stars, the view alone makes you a winner!
Where2Play
Three Dots and A Dash: A bit of Hawaii in Chicago. Follow the tiki torch lit back alley named after Don the Beachcomber. Order one of their “Pain Killer “cocktails & a Pu Pu Platter. You won’t feel a thing!
Violet Hour – A yellow lightbulb is the only clue that you have arrived! This Wicker Park bar is ideal for that romantic tryst. White tables, chandeliers, candles & artisanal cocktails. Read the house rules – no beer, cell phones, no Grey Goose! Think Absinthe, beet syrup & egg whites!
The Drake – Footloose? Stay on your feet & move to the rhythm of ballroom &salsa.
Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse – Head into the “triangle”and you might never emerge. An a iconic institution – start early evening w/martinis you can drown in & end the night singing with the pianist!
What2Do
Chicago is a cultural mecca! Museums – Art Institute, Science & Industry, Field Museum to name a few. Love boat rides? Take the Chicago Architecture Boat Cruise but bundle up! For the sports fanatic – hockey, basketball & baseball which will keep him occupied while you stroll the Magnificent Mile! Don’t forget Fulton Market -art galleries, restaurants, bars and boutiques. Don’t want to carry those bags? Have VIP Travel Experience travel help out!
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Don’t Miss
The Chicago Architecture Biennial – Artist exhibits, installations from over 70 studios in 30 countries (October -January)
Randolf St. Monthly Market (dates vary)
Creatures From the Concrete (September 13th-January 10th)
Robot Revolution at the Museum of Science and Industry (May 21st-Jan.3rd)
The Next Hot Neighborhood – Pilsen on Chicago’s South Side! New buzz, new restaurants, new galleries
Look Out – Willis Tower Sky-deck Plexiglas box-step out at your own risk suspended
Europe, Travel
Buddha Bar, Cafe Stern, Epicure, Fondant Louis Vuitton, France, Le Voltaire, paris, VIP Travel Service
Paris – Always on the Edge
Where2Stay
Buddha Bar Hotel (Right Bank) – Asian decor w/gold silk, tassels, red lacquer & lack accents create a hip, sleek vibe. Situated steps away from Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore & Champs-Elysee (shopping epicenter) recharge & mingle in their courtyard. Great way to meet your next door neighbors!
Hotel Sezz (Right Bank) “Discrete, sexy & artsy.” Black floors & muted red accents create a Zen ambiance in 26 rooms. Staying there feels like you jumped the line at an exclusive club.
Hotel Relais St-Germain (Left bank) “Paris on steroids.”Three adjoining 17th-century houses w/exposed oak beams & velvet drapes. Perk – access to Le Comptoir (6 month waiting list)
Hotel Thoumieux (Left Bank) A 15-room eclectic hotel features leopard throws & flocked wallpaper. Their Brasserie is the place to dine. (Rub shoulders w/ Calvin & Karl) Owned by the Costes brothers.
Who wants to wait on line? You want that front row seat or that impossible dinner reservation. Build your own VIP Experience. Let a concierge luxury travel service create your ultimate Parisian trip!
Stay Local w/ A La Carte Paris
The Marais – Stay in the hippest area of Paris. On one of the oldest streets in Paris, stroll the Place des Voges. Hip boutiques & art galleries at your doorstep! Hungry? Dine at Alain Ducasse Benoit or Michelin Star L’Ambroise. Diet when you get home!
Ile St- Louis – Do you want to know a secret? Staying on Ile St- Louise is like staying in a 17th century village in the center of modern Paris! Remarkably the same as centuries ago. This luxurious one bedroom looks onto your secret garden! Specialty boutiques, bakeries and cafes make this a truly special stay! You’re friends will be jealous!
St Germain – What could be better than stepping out your door onto the elegant Boulevard St. Germain? Retire to your 2-bedroom spacious apartment after a day of shopping & a night of cocktails & people watching at Cafe Les Deux Margot. Don’t forget to visit one of the great museums of the world – Musee d’ Orsay! A well rounded experience!
Champs -Elysee – Do you have shopping withdrawal symptoms? Do you want to be in the middle of the action? Stay at this apartment by the Arc de Triomphe and Champs Elysees. Everything right outside your door. Best news – your apartment faces an inner courtyard so you can get your beauty rest!
70 Michelin Stars makes Paris the Culinary Capital of the World
Where2Dine
Le Voltaire – “Diners Wear Prada.” Never out of fashion in this chic hotspot. Serving French classics in a jewel box of a room.
Café Stern – Stunning new addition. Mingle w/ models & photographers. Walk thru the entrance past stuffed lynx & wolves in diamond necklaces. Design by Phillip Stark, Italian food & French men – a dangerous combo!
Kong – Imagine a glass UFO landing on a Paris rooftop. Every window boasts a different view of Paris complete w/ lucite chairs embedded w/ faces! Lobster hot-dog anyone?
Epicure – Stars have a whole new meaning in Paris. Michelin Stars. Splurge & go for a 3 star lunch – expensive. The dining room is gorgeous & you’re at Le Bristol Hotel. Life is good!
Chez George – Best business lunch. Sometimes classic is the way to go! The quintessential Parisian restaurant.
Where2Play
Le Montana – Exclusive club in St Germain des Pres, making it past the doormen is your first challenge.
Le Bar 8 Mandarin Oriental – Stunning decor & seductive lighting make this bar perfect for business or hot tete-a-tete. Serving street food by day & gourmet tapas at night.
Dukes Bar – Elegant men’s club w/over-sized leather chairs & piano bar. Just drink the “James Bond” & “Duke’s Martini.” You’ll be invincible!
Upcoming Events
Fondant Louis Vuitton – Is it a ship, a whale or an explosion? Architect Frank Gehry & CEO of LV Bernard Arnault create this contemporary art museum. Lunch at Le Frank where food becomes art!
Fête des Vendanges à Montmartre In a city of wine & cheese, what’s better than a festival dedicated to just that? October 14
FIAC Art Fair World’s largest forums for contemporary artists at the Grand Palais Gallery – dealers and owners. October 22-25
Haute Couture Show – Plan your trip with VIP Travel Experience. Winter in Paris – How romantic! January 24-29
