2018 Cannes Film Festival: what you should know about this year’s edition.

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 6 minutes

In one month time the 2018 Cannes Film festival will start and this year and one big novelty is that there will be no selfies allowed during the photocall on redcarpet. Thierry Frémaud, General manager of the festival, believes that celebrities should take advantage of the professional photographers present. He also declared that a selfie is a ridiculous and grotesque activity. We already know that there will be no Kardashians / Jenner this year at Cannes…. 🙂 More seriously, here is what we know so far about this year edition.

Cate Blanchett, Glamorous President Of The Jury

Cate-Blanchett-Cannes-2018

In the history of Cannes film festival, not so many women got the prestigious role of president of the jury. In 2018, after all the sexist scandals, the #metoo initiative, Cate Blanchett will be the 71st President. Weinstein is persona non grata at the festival. The 48 years old Australian actress is a true activist in the protection of women in cinema. It is expected to hear a few words about this painful and important topic from her. On 71 editions only 12 had a woman president. Cannes can do better. Here is the list of women president of the jury since the festival foundation in 1946:

  • 1965 Olivia de Havilland
  • 1966 Sophia Loren
  • 1971 Michèle Morgan
  • 1973 Ingrid Bergman
  • 1975 Jeanne Moreau
  • 1979 Françoise Sagan
  • 1995 Jeanne Moreau
  • 1997 Isabelle Adjani
  • 2001 Liv Ullmann
  • 2009 Isabelle Huppert
  • 2014 Jane Campion
  • 2018 Cate Blanchett

Cate Blanchett is a multi-rewarded accomplished actress. With 2 Oscars for best actress (Aviator and Blue Jasmine), 3 Golden Globes and 2 BAFTAS, she is for sure one of the most gifted and elegant actress of her generation. It is clearly a great choice for Cannes.

“I have been to Cannes in many guises over the years; as an actress, producer, in the marketplace, the Gala-sphere and in Competition but never solely for the sheer pleasure of watching the cornucopia of films this great festival harbors.” – Cate Blanchett

To note that the master of ceremony this year is Edouard Baer. He already hosted the ceremony two years in a row in 2008 and 2009 and the organizers believe he is the ideal presenter for the show.

No Avant-premières This Year at Cannes

one important decision this year at Cannes is that there will not be any morning session avant-premiere for the press. Everybody will discover the films in the evening sessions, corresponding to the official release time. Journalists will need to work late at night to bring their critics the next morning. With this new change, the festival wishes to maintain suspense until the last minute. Also let’s note that the festival will start sooner than usual. Historically the Cannes film festival takes place every year mid-May. This year, the organizers decided to start it sooner, from the 8th to the 19th of May. It seems this would give more chances to get all the big producers, actors and film distributors there. Let’s not forget that Cannes is also the biggest film marketplace in the world. Last but not least, the festival will end on a Saturday with the announcement of the palme d’or. Until last year, The last Sunday was always a weak day where everything was wrapped up the previous day. The Cannes film festival wants to finish the journey with a high pitch! Therefore there will be a big production as the closing film of the festival. For the record, Cannes will also happen during the Royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Hopefully it will not erase the festival from the news.

Netflix: Not Welcome!

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The Cannes film festival announced they have changed the rules since last year concerning Netflix. In the 2017 edition, two films competing were from Netflix, meaning no distribution in the movie theaters. The Meyerovitz Stories » from Noah Baumbach, with Adam Sandler and Dustin Hoffman, and « Okja » from Bong Joon-Ho, with Tilda Swinton an Jake Gyllenhaal were running for best picture. This year the message is very clear, all participating movies require a distribution deal in theaters. So bye bye Netflix and other online streaming platforms. With the rise and the financial power of platforms like Netflix, there is a shift in the film industry, with a total producer budget of two billion dollars, Netflix is capable to compete with any film studios today. The big difference is that all movies they produce remain within the online streaming platform. This is not supporting movie theaters that are having a hard time to bring people back to the “big screens”. Thierry Frémaud makes a big statement by keeping the competition for films with regular distribution. In case Netflix still wants to come to Cannes, they can present films “hors competition”.

Other Interesting Facts About Cannes This Year

First things first. This year we have the return of the “opening film”. Everybody Knows by Asghar Farad with Penelope Cruz and Javier Bardem will open the competition as it will also run for the palme d’or. Last time Cannes had an opening film it was in 2012 with Moonrise Kingdom by Wes Anderson. Another film to highlight is the world premiere of SOLO, the new Star-Wars spin-off. Historically, it is the third time there is a Star-Wars movie revealed in Cannes. Last but not least, the Swiss talented director-producer-actress Ursula Meier will be the president for the Golden-Camera prize. It is an important prize as it rewards young talents for their first film. By giving this responsibility to a Swiss director, means Switzerland has great talent and a clairvoyance about the future of cinema.

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You can read more about the incoming Cannes film festival by visiting the official website here: http://www.festival-cannes.com
The 2018 Cannes film festival will start in less than a month. Everything is already getting ready for this shinning moment in the year of cinema. Silence, roll camera…. and action!

José Amorim

Info sourced in the official communication of the Cannes Film Festival, website, Elle.com, Forbes, Wikipedia and Hollywood Reporter. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Flying onto the rich list: 2018’s most expensive airports

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

More of us are travelling by air than ever before — the latest International Air Transport Association (IATA) statistics show a rise in global air passenger demand of 7.6 per cent for 2017 compared to the previous year. And to match this, there’s a natural drive to expand and improve existing hubs or create brand new airports that take the strain from older counterparts. Airport construction is complex, creative and expensive — so here are 2018’s most expensive airports.

Terminal 4, Changi International Airport

Terminal-4-Changi-International-Airport

The latest addition to Singapore’s Changi Airport has only been open for a few months — but it’s already won praise for outstanding customer experience. Its Fast and Seamless Travel (FAST) system is making travel super-efficient, with 50 automated bag-drop machines and 65 check-in kiosks.

Attractions: new fans claim it’s the world’s most luxurious air terminal — it features an interactive Heritage Zone for history buffs, street food stalls, niche shopping and a digital theatre.

Cost: £550 million.

Perth Airport expansion plan

Perth-Airport-extension

Perth Airport connects Western Australia to the rest of the world — and since passenger demand has increased significantly in recent years, plans have been unveiled for a major expansion project. The 10-year scheme will expand international Terminal One, providing nine new contact points for wide-bodied aircraft — and include a brand-new runway to further increase capacity.

Attractions: the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) monitor’s Aussie airport’s closely for customer experience and Perth rates equal highest for good Australian airport parking — so you’ll have a smooth pre-flight experience.

Cost: $2.5 billion.

Quaid-e-Azam International Airport, Islamabad

Quaid-e-Azam-International-Airport-Islamabad

Construction on the Quaid-e-Azam Airport in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad began back in 2017 and it’s due to open imminently after the 2017 completion date was delayed. At nine million, the passenger capacity is reasonably small — but it’s still large enough to cope with the transfer of all operators from the city’s existing Benazir Bhutto airport and maintains Islamabad’s second-place ranking behind Karachi as the nation’s busiest centre.

Attractions: it has 25 jetties and is spread over 19 square kilometres and fans of aircraft innovations will be glad to learn that it’s perfectly able to handle the A380 — the world’s biggest passenger plane.

Cost:  $700 million.

Daxing Airport, Beijing

Daxing-Airport-Beijing

Daxing Airport in Beijing will instantly become one of the world’s largest when it opens in October 2019. The site covers 47 square kilometres, required 52,000 tons of steel and features five kilometres of gates.

Attractions: if you enjoy the buzz of being part of a big crowd you’re in for a treat — Daxing will eventually have capacity for 100 million passengers.

Cost: £9.1 billion.

As air travel becomes more accessible for the masses, we can continue to look forward to more expensive and impressive civil engineering feats as carriers and governments try to stay ahead of the curve. 2018’s most expensive airports prove that when it comes to connecting the world, the sky really is the limit.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

The Dos and Don’ts of a Great Vacation

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Reading Time: 8 minutes

Luxury-Travel-Blog-guide

If you’re planning on taking a wonderful luxury summer vacation this year, you will need to plan well in advance. Last-minute vacations can be fun, but it is unlikely that you’ll be able to have your pick of the best hotels and flight times, and that can have an impact on the overall vacation. Here are some excellent dos and don’ts to ensure you have the most wonderful vacation and enjoy every second of it.

Dress For The Trip

If you’re traveling somewhere exotic and hot, it can be tempting to dress ready for your final destination in sandals and shorts. You might even leave your jacket or coat behind. The problem is that your trip might not be quite so warm and you could end up sitting on a plane for six, seven, eight hours (or even longer) in the freezing cold. This is especially true if you are traveling at night. Therefore, dress for the journey, not the destination. Make sure you have room in your carry-on luggage so that you can put your warmer clothes into your bag when you land, and if you wear your summer clothing underneath, you can easily get changed and be comfortable as soon as you land.

Travel-tips

Drive Safe

If you’re not flying but driving to your ultimate destination, then it’s essential that you are well prepared for the trip. Make sure that the car you are hiring, or your own car, is roadworthy. Your car should have the right levels of oil and water in the engine, and enough gas to get you where you want to go. If you do need to fill up the tank, then it’s best to determine how far you can get with what you’ve got and work out which gas station is going to be best to use in advance. If you plan well, you won’t run out of gas and be stranded in the middle of nowhere. You will also need to be wary of other road users. If you’re going on a summer vacation, then the chances are that many other people on the road are doing the same thing and this means that there are going to be more vehicles using the roads than usual. Pay attention to the directions and speed limits and ensure that you are always aware of what is going on around you at all times.

Enjoy the New Cultures

Part of what makes a great vacation is learning about new cultures and countries. Don’t go expecting everything to be the same as it is at home; you’ll be disappointed if you try to find your favorite breakfast cereal or soft drink, for example, because those items may not be available in all countries. However, if you travel with an open mind and plan to experience as many new things as possible you’ll never be disappointed because there will always be something exciting to taste, see or experience.

It’s a good idea to learn at least a few useful phrases of the language that is spoken in your destination as this can help you out a lot more than trying to speak English to locals who don’t know English at all. Although it’s likely that in the more tourist-centered areas there will be many people who can speak English, this should never be expected or required. If you go out further to explore, then there will be even less chance of hearing English spoken.

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Don’t Get Carried Away

When you’re on vacation, you should be able to forget about all those usual worries and tribulations that you have to contend with on a daily basis. Therefore, why put yourself in a position that involves finances and business? That’s what a timeshare is, and although you might feel that you love wherever you are that you may want a property, this is a thought to really consider. Think through all the pros and cons, to determine if a timeshare will suit your current lifestyle. It’s far better to stay away from any big decisions like this until you’ve given it a lot of consideration and thought. If you’ve already bought a timeshare and may want to sell it on, then you can learn more here.

Join In

There may be times when you want to lie on the beach and relax, but your vacation companion may want to check out a museum or go on a tour. If you can agree to be separated for a while and spend time alone doing what you like, that’s no problem. However, at times, it’s good to be together. Try to partake in an activity or event that gets you out of your comfort zone. If you walk around without listening to the guide or taking anything in, you may miss out on an experience that you might really enjoy.  If you do get involved with a local tour group, or visit a historical, cultural site, of course, it is important to remain respectful at all times, even if it may not interest you.  Even if you don’t think you’re going to enjoy whatever it is you’re signed up to do, it’s important to give it a chance. You may find that it’s actually a lot of fun or that you learn a lot from it. Compromise is usually part of any vacation, especially if you are traveling with several different people with different interests.

Dress Respectfully

Make sure that you do some research before you arrive at your destination about the culture and what is expected there. It’s important that you don’t get this wrong as it can offend many people and cause embarrassment. Take churches or other religious sites, for example. There will often be strict dress codes that you will need to follow. Make sure you pay attention to what you should do because you may not be allowed in otherwise and that may disrupt your plan for that day, for example. Just as you would expect visitors to your own country to obey the rules and culture, so you should do the same when you travel anywhere. It leads to a much more relaxed and enjoyable vacation for visitors and locals alike.

To Tip or Not to Tip?

Tipping is another cultural aspect that you should look into before you travel somewhere. Some places don’t allow tipping and find it rude or insulting, such as China, Japan, and South Korea are such places. Other destinations include it as part of the final bill, such as in Switzerland, which has a law that says all gratuities must be included in the final price. Knowing what is expected when it comes to tipping before you arrive at your chosen vacation destination will mean you won’t feel uncertain or confused and you won’t offend anyone.

Travel Light

You may automatically think that going on vacation means you have to take as many beautiful items of clothing and accessories as possible, but this is not the case. What you should really do is to travel as light as possible. This is especially the case if you’re going somewhere warm where you intend to stay on the beach most days; what more do you really need to take other than a few swimsuits and sandals?

The other benefit to traveling light is that you’ll have more room in your suitcase to bring things back home with you. This is what a luxury holiday can be about for some people; finding exquisite items and bargains that cannot be bought at home and returning to them.

Make Sure You Relax

Your luxury summer vacation is a time to relax and unwind. If you’re going to be working or worrying, then this defeats the point of your vacation. Without the relaxation aspect of a vacation, it can just become a more expensive way to do what you would normally do anyway; no one wants that.

Think of the people you are traveling with and make sure you are going to be entirely there and present for them. If this means working extra hard during the week or two leading up to your vacation, then this might have to be the case. By the time you get back home you will have bonded more, you will be feeling happier, and you will be ready to tackle whatever life or work has for you.

Overall, a vacation is a time to relax, unwind and spend time with friends, family and loved ones. Although it may seem unnecessary to prepare every aspect of your vacation, it can be beneficial to have a solid understanding of the culture and climate of your destination.  Any other helpful pointers that you look into before your trip will ensure your vacation is as memorable as possible. Most of all a vacation is about having fun, and taking the time to prepare will make it all the more satisfying once you are on your trip, and have very few worries.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. All images are for illustration purposes only. 

Four Unusual Activities to Try in Cincinnati

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Cincinnati-guide-city

Do you live in Cincinnati, OH or have an upcoming trip planned to the city? Are you looking to step off the beaten track and discover Cincinnati’s more unusual side? Cincinnati is absolutely loaded with activities, sightseeing opportunities, and events throughout the year, but not everyone is happy with the typical touristy things.

If that’s the case then you’ll want to read on as we’ve put together a list of the top four unusual activities you can try the next time you are in Cincinnati. For residents, these may be activities you didn’t even know existed in your hometown.

The American Sign Museum

Visit-Cincinnati

Here’s a really cool museum that you won’t find anywhere else: the American Sign Museum. Just as you might have guessed, this is a museum filled with signs, which ends up being an incredible sight to take in. The museum is filled with that distinct neon buzz, as every wall and ceiling is covered in unique signs. The collection starts in the 1970s and dates back as far as the 1800s. Those with a love and interest in pop culture and history will definitely want to be sure they swing by for a visit.

The Cincinnati Escape Room

Maybe you’re on the hunt for adventure and intrigue. If that’s the case, then an evening at the Cincinnati Escape Room is just what you’re looking for. Prepared to be locked in a room and given 60 minutes to find all the clues you need to escape. This is a real life puzzle adventure that is an absolute blast as a couple or as a group of friends to experience together.

Explore by Pedal Wagon

Sometimes, it’s all about the journey rather than the destination, which is why the pedal wagon is the perfect way to explore the city. The company Pedal Wagon Cincinnati is one that is offering tourists, and residents, a whole new way to experience the city. Here, you will be working together to pedal your way around the city and explore all its top sights. This isn’t your average bike ride though, as the pedal wagon seats a large number of people and even features a canopy on top.

Cincinnati-city-guide

The Lucky Cat Museum

Are you feeling a little low on luck? If so a visit to the Lucky Cat Museum may be able to turn that around, and give you a very unusual way to spend an afternoon. This museum is home to those cute little cat figurines that are typically found in Asian restaurants. The figurines are called the Maneki-neko, which is a symbol that has been part of Japanese culture for more than 1,000 years. They are meant to give luck to the owner of the figurine, specifically, financial luck.

Don’t Settle for the Ordinary

A trip to Cincinnati means you’ve got the opportunity to step outside the box and discover some rather unusual sights and activities. This is just a small glimpse of what the city has to offer in terms of unique and unusual.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Claude Meylan, Watchmaker and Sculptor of Swiss Heritage

Arsene Wargas
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Claude Meylan, Watchmaker and Sculptor of Swiss Heritage
Reading Time: 7 minutes

There are hundreds of watchmakers producing their watches in Switzerland. Some brands are for sure more outstanding than others and a few brands have an interesting story to be told. Claude Meylan is a hidden gem in the history of Swiss Watchmaking. Expert in the savvy technique of skeletonisation the Swiss manufacturer will sculpt the Swiss heritage as a leightmotiv to innovate and surprise the watch aficionado. Each year, Claude Meylan crafts its watches in ways that only an artist would care for his precious creations. This year more than never, Swiss heritage is at honor. From Swiss icons to Swiss traditions, Claude Meylan creates an original and endless universe.

The Skeleton Watch Art by Claude Meylan

A skeleton watch is a mechanical watch, in which all of the moving parts are visible through either the front of the watch, the back of the watch or a small cut outlining the dial. True ‘skeletonization’ also includes the trimming away of any non-essential metal on the bridge, plate, wheel train or any other mechanical part of the watch, leaving only a minimalist ‘bare’ skeleton of the movement required for functionality. Often, the remaining thinned movement is decorated with engraving. This can be with or without a dial face that allows the user to see through to the movement.

Claude-Meylan-Skeleton-movement

Obviously, the fine art of skeleton a watch would require a “less is more” approach. Bringing the movement to a minimalistic level is not necessary the only thing you can do. It can actually be more than that. It is a complex work of mechanics, art and design as well as maintaining the movement efficiency. Claude Meylan is definitely a true master in the art of skeletonization, working for other brands as well in the Vallée de Joux. Claude Meylan will use ETA movements and Valjoux movements in its watches. It is impressive to see how the movement is completely reworked to a deep degree. You will hardly recognize the original movement in the final result. Very impressive.

Claude-Meylan

Claude-Meylan-watches

Claude Meylan and the Swiss heritage

Claude Meylan is a proud company based in Vallée de Joux, a location dedicated to watchmaking. The roots of Claude Meylan is its major inspiration. The Swissness gathers a tremendous amount of cultural references and Claude Meylan uses this heritage to tell stories of tomorrow. The Vallée de Joux and its lake is a big inspiration for the Swiss watchmaker.
Claude-Meylan-Vallee-de-joux
Claude-Meylan-LAbbaye
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Claude-Meylan-swissness

Claude Meylan reveals the Meylan family know-how that perpetuates the art of skeleton for several centuries. Samuel-Olivier Meylan is probably one of the first watchmakers to establish his workshop in the Valley of Joux. He became officially a watchmaker in 1748 and he helped a lot the cause of watchmaking in the valley. Samuel-Olivier Meylan developed his skills as skeletonisation master and his know-how was transferred generation after generation. The Brand Claude Meylan was established in 1988 by Claude Meylan. His passion for watches brought him to develop the brand and conquered a confidential list of customers around the world. In 2002, Henri Berney acquires Claude Meylan from the hands of the founder himself and pursuits the tremendous work of skeleton watches. One specificity of Mr Berney is his passion for rare movements, especially the Valjoux. So he will dedicate a lot of his time purchasing rare Valjoux movements like the Valjoux 89, the Valjoux 13″88 or the Valjoux 13″23. Some of these movements stopped its production in the 50’s. But the adventure of Claude Meylan pursuits its road. In 2010, the brand was bought by Philippe Belais who also acquired in the same year the traditional leather gainerie Vaudaux. Two traditional Swiss know-hows with the same passion for beautiful things. Mr Belais brings a new energy and a true aim to develop the watch brand and to tell the brand story.

Claude Meylan, Sculptor Of Time And Swiss Story-Teller

What strikes in Claude Meylan collections is its ability to tell an amazing Swiss story, watchmaking story as well as in terms of design. The Culture of the Swiss emblematic regions have inspired Claude Meylan to celebrate certain rituals through ancestral symbols. The Poya collection pays the tribute to the original festival of the climb to the mountains pastures and associates Claude Meylan’s know-how to the Swiss Art of paper cutting. In this theme the skeletonisation makes completely sense.

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Claude-Meylan-poya-watch

Claude-Meylan-poya-swiss

Claude-Meylan-pocket-watch-poya

Claude Meylan combines its expertise with the traditional cuts of POYA arts to superimpose them to the decorations of the openwork movement. In the first watch of this series above, we discover an ETA 2512 caliber at 3 o’clock, which allows to free quite a lot of space to display the decor. The second watch has the entire dial that turns around with the hour hand. This allows you to discover different details of the dial across the day. It is a very clever idea. The ETA Unitas 6497 caliber powers this watch that is a beautiful skeleton version of the original movement. The last watch is a beautiful piece, a pocket watch. Sober and with innate elegance, this creation celebrates a new sculpture of time Claude Meylan. At its heart, adorned with white Rhodium, the hour and minute wheels lead the white hands in an infinite ballet. The ETA Unitas 6497 caliber is also powering this pocket watch, but fully skeletonized and engraved.

Claude Meylan, The “Tortue” and the “Legends”

The more you discover Claude Meylan, the more you want to learn more about this amazing brand. There are 2 amazing collection among others is the Tortue and the Legends. The Tortue or tortoise case-shape lends an eccentric nobility to Claude Meylan’s skeletonised movement, perfectly framing the whirring mechanics. The tonneau shape is a supreme icon of watchmaking elegance.

Claude-Meylan-Tortue

Claude-Meylan-watches

Claude-Meylan-tortue-watch

The ETA 2801 caliber is unrecognizable. Claude Meylan has suspended all the movement elements between 2 sapphire glasses. With this collection called LAC, we can see the inspiring peacefulness of Lac de Joux and represents one of the icons of the brand.
The second collection that deserves a big highlight is the collection called Legends. It is a fantastic narration of amazing watches carrying extraordinary Valjoux movements. Valjoux SA, formerly Reymond Frères SA, was founded in 1901 in the Valley of Joux. In 1944, the company joins Ebauches SA and later on is acquired by ETA Manufacture Horlogère SA in 1965. Claude Meylan is passionate to purchase vintage Valjoux movements and rework them with skeleton design.

Claude-Meylan-Legends-collection

It is inspirational to see such a great Swiss brand to create watches in the best state of art possible. Prices are really reasonable. There is an honesty and a cult for authenticity within Claude Meylan that honors the Vallée de Joux brand. If you want to see more about Claude Meylan, you can visit the brand official website:
http://www.claudemeylan.ch 

Claude Meylan is a fantastic Swiss ambassador for watchmaking. Historically located in the Vallée de Joux, this watchmaker offers a never-end story with great watches and a decent collection. Claude Meylan deserves to be known and to conquer the heart of watch aficionados around the world.

Arsene Wargas

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Great thanks to Pia de Chefdebien at Claude Meylan for the time and support in the writing of this article. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

The Sunday Brunch At Le Mirador? Do Not Go!

José Amorim
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The Sunday Brunch At Le Mirador? Do Not Go!
Reading Time: 7 minutes

The sunday brunch became more than a habit, it became a art of living. It is one of the best moments in the week, that you decide t spend good time chilling-out and preparing for a new week to start (without thinking too much in it). So generally you look for a great place with great food and that everything seems easy and comfortable. That was definitely not the case last Sunday at Le Mirador close to Vevey in Switzerland. And here is why I would not recommend this place.

Before: it was amazing

I remember the time that Le mirador was part of the Kempinski hotels administration. Everything was fantastic for the customer. From the first step into the place, the personnel, the quality of decoration, the food, even the hotel itself was a great place to stay. The Spa by Givenchy: one of the best spas in the area. Although I live 20mn away, I spent a couple of weekends there. The Sunday brunch was amazing. White tablecloth on the tables, highly qualitative food, true champagne included in the meal, experienced and competent people at your service. It was very expensive but it was a true delight to go there and spend the entire day by adding the day-spa.  Then things changed.

Le-Mirador-VD-review

Then: The Change Was Radical

Then, things started changing almost from one day to another. The reason was easy to understand, the Kempinski was not any more in charge and the hotel was sold to a Chinese Group called Citychamp Dartong. The transition was done from a communication point of view quite discreetly, even from a identity point of view. But the change in the hotel itself was radical. I went there during the first year after the purchase, curious to know what would change. Well everything changed. The Sunday brunch was much cheaper, from CHF 125 to CHF 85. But everything was cheaper. No tablecloth anymore, the decoration was really at the level of a highway restaurant and the personnel was 2nd class. The Brunch from a food perspective was terrible. I decided to never go back again. I kept following the hotel news via its social networks.

The Transition Phase Was Over, They Said.

One day, in a desperate action to still believe things can change, I contacted the community manager of Le mirador to express my disappointment. I got an answer saying that in deed they faced a few challenges when they got their independence from the Kempinski administration. Now things were better, they renewed the restaurants and the new chef and his team had things in hand now. I said to myself that perhaps I would give it a try. Last Sunday was for me the perfect opportunity to try again. It was Easter and they had a special menu.

Le-Mirador-Brunch-Dimanche-Review

Disappointing, Tiring And a Bitter Feeling Of Being Ripped Off

So last Sunday I took the family and went to Le Mirador, hoping it would be the perfect moment. I was not capable to imagine what I would get for Easter. By entering by the main door, I went to say hello and announced I had a reservation to Le Patio for the Sunday Brunch. The only lady sitting at the main entrance, sent me outside and walk with my family through the alleys where cars passes, in the cold, with two small kids rather than propose to just cross the inside terrasse-garden (as I used to do in the past). We did as she suggested. Afterwards I realized we could have passed by the terrasse-garden.

Once we got installed in a nice round table, I did realized that the decoration was much better. Tablecloth was back and there was an effort to create a contemporary ambiance. Everything was fine until we wanted to get food. The self-service buffet was not great. There was no added value dishes, mainly green salad, sliced tomatoes, smoked salmon and some of red tuna. To note small Foie-gras hamburgers. Nice idea but no preparation, no sauce, quite dry. Such a big area dedicated to this was a waste of time. All elements were duplicated in the central table so it would give you the feeling of “a lot”. In terms of hot dishes, there were cooked vegetables, chicken sausages, bacon and beans. Not even eggs! We needed to order to the cuisine team who would do it in front of you. They had Prawns, Scallops, Beef and Lamb. The idea was nice but in the entire crew of 3 or 4 people, only one person was really competent. I suppose it was the chef. All the others were assistants, some of them training. So, yes, it was a fight to get something warm to eat. 15mn to being able to order some pasta with bolognese sauce for my son, 10mn to order 2 fried eggs… my wife abandoned the idea to get a warm meal. At the end, we did not have 10mn together at the table because I was desperately fighting for food.

There was also a sushi station in the buffet, which is a good idea. Unfortunately the person taking care of the Sushi just vanished and there was nobody there to help. There was as well the “plateau de fromages” (the cheese station) where there was not many cheese choice. The knife was completely overtaken by the “blue cheese” as there was just one knife for all the plateau. The same for the Desserts by the way. Then the desert buffet was pretty disappointing as well. A duplicated choice of “tartelettes” and very commun pastries. Only one dessert was good and original: the three chocolate cake. All the rest was really “average”. There was not enough cutlery available, so your chocolate cake would end up with bids of red fruits and vice versa. To grab a tartelette was also very challenging. We needed to ask for help as the cutlery was not adapted. We ended up not spending good time together as I spent my entire time fighting for food. The only thing we got at the same time was our coffees at the end.

The only nice initiative was the Easter eggs hunt organized for children. Le Mirador dedicated a room for that. Unfortunately it was not well managed as my son came back with just a couple of chocolates because “the older children took everything for them”. I felt bad for my 5 years old son until the moment I saw it was not a great quality of chocolate or even something the chef would have done.

After paying CHF 266, we decided to leave. There was nobody at the vestiaire. After a while I decided to take our jackets myself. The person responsible for it was actually serving customers outside in the terrasse.

In conclusion, we can sense there is an economical rationale behind a lot of choices. Most of the employees could barely speak French and did not have any experience. I still highlight the good skills and professionalism of the young chef. Unfortunately he was alone trying to do his best. After this experience I would definitely not recommend this place. Let’s not forget it is supposed to be a 5 stars hotel, so we expect premium. There are dozens of other places in the region where you can have better quality and service for a better price. It is a shame as the location is unique and they do have a couple of great people working there.

Jose Amorim

Info sourced by visiting Le Mirador and experiencing the Sunday Brunch. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

Bring the Luxury of a 5 Star Hotel Bed to Your Own

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 3 minutes

Luxury-beds

Most people who have to travel a lot on business will agree that one of the very few perks of having to stay away from your home often is the luxury of sleeping in a five-star hotel bed. There is just something about those beds that we can’t seem to find in our own, but that can be changed though. It is possible to bring the luxurious comfort of a hotel bed to your own if you just know how, and we are about to tell you.

Go All White

A hotel bed is not only about how it feels, but also about how it looks and that cloud-like feeling begins with going all white. Aside from being the first step in creating that 5-star hotel bed you want, white pillowcases and bed sheets are also a lot easier to clean, so there’s that added advantage.

The Right Sheets

The silky sheets which makes those hotel beds all the more comfy are not picked at random and good hotels have very strict requirements for them. While picking out your sheets, you need to look for two features primarily and they are as follows:

  • Every sheet you buy should preferably have a thread-count of around 300
  • Cotton is the way to go and Egyptian cotton sheets are what most five-star hotels buy for their beds
  • Microfiber is not going to cut it here

The Right Mattress

Now, we come to the most important part of making a luxurious bed and that’s selecting the right mattress. Here, you actually have an advantage over hotel rooms because you will have the freedom to choose one according to your own specific needs, while the hotel beds are always the same for everyone. Sticking with a feather bed will make the bed super-fluffy, but since you will be sleeping in that bed every night, you might want to find something that’s fluffy as a cloud, but also provides your spine with some support in accordance with your sleeping habits. Thanks to Sleep Sherpa, you don’t have to go to an actual store and try out a bunch of mattresses anymore to find the right product for you. They are an extensive online resource for all things related to bedding and especially mattresses, so do check them out before investing into a product.

Getting Your Pillows Sorted

Add at least two down pillows and two fiber-fill pillows to your bed so that you can choose between them, depending on the need of the moment. For example, feather filled down pillows are comfortable for sleeping or resting while lying down, but if you need a bit of support while sitting on your bed, the microfibers will be perfect for propping you up.

These tips are enough to cover the main aspects of bringing five-star comfort to your bedroom, but you can still add one more feature to your bedding for give it that ultimate finishing touch; a fluffy, down comforter. After that, you are done and you may actually start missing your bed while on those long business tours away from home!

Daniel Clark

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

Moving to Portugal? Here is where you should live. 

José Amorim
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Reading Time: 7 minutes

Living-in-Portugal
Portugal became the new El Dorado for luxury travelers but not only. The Lusitania country is now a perfect destination for holidays as well as for living. We hear a lot about international celebrities moving to Portugal and some cities are better than others if you wish to find thr best place to settle. Here is our top places in Portugal if you think moving permanently. They represent hidden gems and you better hurry up if you wish to enjoy the great life there.

Why Portugal is a great destination?

Probably before telling you where to go in Portugal we should start by answering a very good question: Why Portugal? There are definitely very good reasons, from climate, to cost of living. Let’s start by saying that Portugal is located on the western edge of Europe. This makes Lisbon being in the perfect location for weather. The Portuguese capital is considered as the most sunniest European capital of all with a total of 2’799 annual hours of sun. In comparison, Athens is behind with a total of 2’771 hours. By being in such a special location, we tend to say that Portugal has an excellent location for travelling purposes. The country is at the meeting point of 3 main continents: Europe, Africa and America. Thanks to 3 key airports, Lisbon, Porto and Faro, you can basically go everywhere in the world. Being at the cross-road of so many destinations and cultures, this also provides a high variety of cultural influences and even a diversity of landscapes. All united in a small area. In Portugal you can find small beautiful beaches, desertic plains and green mountains. All surrounding cosmopolitan cities with a millennial heritage.
Luxury-travel
From an economic point of view, Portugal is the 46th most competitive economy in the world (source: World Economic Forum) and being part of the European union, this membership helped develop the country infrastructures. If you are thinking to move permanently to Portugal, you might want to know about the cost of living as well. Here is an index taking from the annual study done by UBS:

  • Food: 47.4 (index: New York = 100)
  • Clothing: 44.3 (index: New York = 100)
  • Services: 53.1 (index: New York = 100)
  • Metro ticket: € 1,40 (journey of approximately 10 km)
  • Bus ticket: € 1.80 (journey of approximately 10 km)
  • Restaurant: € 40 (3 course meal in a good quality restaurant)

We tend to say that Portugal is also one of the best countries to buy a house. The country has a very transparent and clear tax rules. The government offers great facility to obtain residence permits in order to attract foreign investors. it also has big tax advantages for people retiring and living in Portugal. For the first 2 years you merely do not pay income taxes, in order to help you settle. Obviously the more we speak about Portugal, the more prices climb. Lisbon and Porto became major destinations, so at LuxuryActivist we decided to reveal some hidden gems that you might not have thought about. Here is our selection from North to South.

Guimaraes, an UNESCO world heritage

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Guimaraes is a northern city in Portugal and was associated with the foundation of the country. The city is often referred to as the “birthplace of the Portuguese nationality” or “the cradle city” (Cidade Berço in Portuguese) because it is widely believed that Portugal’s first King, Afonso Henriques, was born there, and also due to the fact that the Battle of São Mamede – which is considered the seminal event for the foundation of the Kingdom of Portugal – was fought in the vicinity of the city. It was the country capital until the middle-age and its city center is protected by UNESCO world heritage programme. The city is small (around 55’000 inhabitants) but has an intense cultural life. Besides its museums, monuments, cultural associations, art galeries and popular festivities, it has since September 2005, an important cultural space, the Vila Flor Cultural Center. This cultural center has two auditoria, exhibition center and a concert-cafe. Guimarães was the European Capital of Culture in 2012, together with Maribor. Guimarães was elected by the New York Times one of the 41 places to go in 2011 and NYT called it one of the Iberian peninsula’s emerging cultural spots.

Coimbra, Europe’s historical university.

coimbra-city coimbra-library Coimbra-university
Coimbra is the 3rd largest urban center of the country behind Lisbon and Porto. During the Late Middle Ages, with its decline as the political centre of the Kingdom of Portugal, Coimbra began to evolve into a major cultural centre. This was in large part helped by the establishment the University of Coimbra in 1290, the oldest academic institution in the Portuguese-speaking world. Apart from attracting many European and international students, the university is visited by many tourists for its monuments and history. The wealth of the city rests mostly on the University of Coimbra with about 20,000 students – the city has a total of 35,000 higher education students considering the other higher education institutions based there – but also in shopping, technology and health sciences industry, administrative offices, financial services, law firms and specialized medical care.

Santarém, born from multi-culturalism

Mercado-Municipal-de-Santarem Santarem-hidden-portugal Santarem-Igreja-do-Seminario
Since prehistory, the region of Santarém has been inhabited, first by the Lusitani people, and then by the Greeks, Romans, Visigoths, Moors and later Portuguese Christians. Of the various legends related to the foundation of Santarém, the most famous tells of the Visigoth Saint Iria (or Irene), who was martyred in Tomar (Nabantia) and whose uncorrupted body reached Santarém. In her honour, the name of the town (then known by its Latin name Scalabis) would later be changed to Sancta Irene, from which Santarém would eventually be derived. The city of Santarém stands is situated on a plateau, located on the right bank of the Tagus River 65 kilometres (40 mi) northeast from Lisbon. Santarem has a typical mediterranean climate. Winter temperatures are soft and you have a low level of rain in summer (average of 2 days per month in July and August). Last but not least, Santarem was born and raised in the middle of the Ribatejo valley, well known for its wine. There are several miles of vineards, so it is a great area for all wine lovers.

Setubal, a small paradise not far from Lisbon

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Lisbon, Cascais and Sintra have been in the travelers’s radar for a while now. But did you ever visit Setubal? In the beginning of the 20th century, Setúbal was the most important center of Portugal’s fishing industry, particularly sardines. None of the many factories then created are operating today. However, the existing maritime ports, either traditional, commercial and the new marines, keep the city links to the ocean and water well alive and vibrant. Tourism, based on the beautiful existing natural conditions plus excellent hotels, resorts and infrastructures, is one of the city’s most appreciated resources, due to its interconnection with the Sado river on one side and Atlantic Ocean on another, having a coast line with both.

Albufeira, at the entry door of the Mediterranean sea

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The name originated from the Arab Al-buhera, which means castle of the sea, owing to its location along the coast, or alternately al-Buħayra, for the lagoon, in reference to the lagoon that formed in the lowlands. The town started to become a hub for tourism in the 1960s, and has grown to accommodate this since, growing out into the surrounding hills to accommodate thousands of the 5 million tourists who visit the Algarve region each year.

Portugal became the new hot spot for better living. Each year more and more people decide to move to this country and find a better balance between professional and personal life. By developing its infrastructure, Portugal is for sure a great destination for luxury travelers, but not only. No matter if it is for a weekend, a week or a lifetime, you will definitely enjoy the way Portuguese enjoy life.

José Amorim

Info sourced in LuxuryActivist travel experiences, Forbes, LeTemps and Wikipedia. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

6 Luxury Beauty Trends to Watch in 2018

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Beauty-trendsWe all need a bit of pampering now and then. Whether we treat ourselves to a gift to raise our happiness a little, or we go all out on a luxury pampering in order to bring our self-esteem up, it is important to make ourselves feel special sometimes. There’s nothing quite like indulging in a few of the latest and most luxurious home beauty trends.

The worlds of beauty and fashion, for both men and women, are a constant stream of new trends and ideas. Most of these will burn out and fade away before anyone really notices their existence. Often, there is a good reason that fads die out, and in some cases, the ones that survive seem to defy all rational explanation. The following trends represent the latest ways that the average fashion-conscious individual can find luxury beauty products without the enormous price tag.

Masks and Patches

Ever since the rise of the face mask selfie across Instagram and similar platforms, retailers have been struggling to keep up with consumer demand. Masks are proving to be one of the biggest and most prominent beauty trends so far of 2018. Not only is the market for beauty masks growing, it is also expanding and evolving.

Masks can be used for specific conditions, or as a more general anti-aging product. They are also increasingly coming in the form of patches, designed to be used on areas of the body other than the face. Chest, arm, and breast, patches are all becoming an increasingly common sight, and are certainly winning their place in the hearts of customers.

Vitamins and Minerals

Everyone has been aware of the potential that vitamins have for improving and restoring our general health, and in alleviating specific ailments. Vitamins are increasingly being used topically, applied directly to the skin, whereas they were once only ingested orally. Vitamin-rich diets which incorporate large quantities of so-called superfoods are becoming popular as a way of ensuring the best possible general health.

Alongside vitamins, there are other substances, i.e. minerals, which are also important to maintaining good health. Minerals include substances such as zinc and iron, which our bodies need, and we generally acquire from the food that we eat.

Getting the recommended doses of as many of these vitamins and minerals as we can every day is important. These substances will affect your body’s ability to repair and maintain itself. This means that long-term deficiencies in these substances can have a serious impact on, not only on an individual’s health but also on their appearance. Taking some supplements for healthy gums can make a world of difference to your appearance.

Treat Your Body Like Your Face

We are very rapidly moving towards a situation where body skin care is viewed with the same level of importance as skincare for the face. The products that we are used to seeing for facial skincare, such as cleansers, serums, and acid exfoliators, may soon start being used over the rest of the body. After all, for the most part, skin is skin.

This is becoming known in some quarters as the Brazilian approach. In Brazil, there has been a long-standing trend of approaching anti-aging as a top to bottom process. They begin with the head and work their way down to the toes with various skin treatments.

Eco-Friendly Products and Packaging

We live in a far more environmentally conscious world than we used to. Everyone now understands the nature of climate change and the unique challenges and threats that we are facing because of it. The fight against climate change is one that can only be won if it is being fought on all fronts. Consumers are increasingly demanding that the businesses they give their money to take their environmental obligations seriously.

Traditionally, the worlds of beauty and fashion have not put their best foot forward when it comes to protecting the environment. There are many within the industry who have long been frustrated by inefficient and environmentally unfriendly practices. However, now that there are significant and tangible commercial pressures encouraging businesses to invest in a greener future, many more businesses are embracing the approach.

Organic plant-based beauty products have been popular for quite some time, but we are now also able to produce plant-based biodegradable packaging for those products. It is, therefore, possible to significantly reduce, perhaps even eliminate, the environmental costs of many of these products.

A significant part of the current battle to reduce business’ carbon footprint is reducing the amount of water that common products use. We often don’t appreciate how much water is used in just about every stage of manufacturing and distributing a product. With water being a scarce resource in many parts of the world, there is a real problem with large corporations taking what little is available to produce their products. It is, therefore, likely that we are going to see the major beauty and cosmetics manufacturers reducing their water usage.

Skincare Supplements

As we touched upon earlier, vitamins and minerals are essential for the body to maintain its health and appearance. Unsurprisingly, we are starting to see the emergence of supplements which are aimed at promoting the body’s natural skincare mechanisms. There is an increasing array of so-called beauty powders now available; these can be mixed into fruit smoothies or other healthy beverages in order to compound the benefits of each.

Many of these supplements also contain ingredients that promote anti-aging effects while protecting the body from oxidative stress and related damage.

Personalization

Personalization is a big trend in just about every industry right now. Today’s consumers place a great deal of value on an individual experience. They are looking for something that is not only unique but which is also tailored to them specifically. The beauty and cosmetics industries are uniquely well-positioned to embrace this trend.

These six trends represent our best current indication of where the beauty industry is headed over the next year. As with all creative industries, there is a degree of unpredictability at play. But, if the behavior of the market so far is anything to go by, these trends should hold.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only. 

How to Plan a Luxury Garden Party for This Summer

LuxuryActivist
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Reading Time: 6 minutes

Luxury-Garden-Party

When planning a garden party, it is essential that you know the tips and tricks to help add a touch of class and glamour. Ensuring your guests are well catered for will determine the success of your party. Here are the factors you need to consider when planning a luxury garden party.

Setting the Tone

The first step in the planning stages of your garden party should be what sort of tone and feel you want for the day. Knowing what would suit your garden and your guests is essential for your party to be an overall success. There are numerous factors you need to consider for your garden, such as its size and layout, so you can plan accordingly and host a party that can accommodate your guests whilst being comfortable at the same time. If you do not have enough seating space for all your guests, it is important that you have plans in place to ensure all your guests can make the most out of the party.

Entertainment

Your main priority when hosting your garden party is to ensure your guests are entertained throughout their stay. There are many ways that you can help bring your party to life and provide entertainment that your guests can enjoy. As your guests are likely to wander around the garden as opposed to being confined to one place, bringing in activities and entertainers such as magicians and musicians can inject a bit of fun and excitement into your garden party. Having the entertainers in separate places in the garden will ensure your guests always have something new to check out.

Lighting

As your garden party will be outside, it is important that you consider the lighting, especially at nighttime. The way you use lighting can transform your garden and create a beautiful scene. Having lights on the trees and using candles in jam jars can help bring your garden to life. When it gets dark, your garden lighting should be subtle. Too much lighting can be overpowering for your guests, so make sure you take this into account to ensure your guests are comfortable and relaxed.

Outdoor Decorations

Once you have decided on the tone and theme of your garden party, you will need to have decorations that match. You should have a color scheme that translates throughout your garden and all the way down to the smallest detail. To bring some luxury to your garden, choosing colors such as gold, silver, and copper can add a touch of class.

Prepare for Weather

As your garden party will be taking place outside, it is vital that you are prepared for all types of weather. Although your party will be taking place in summer, there is a chance of rain so taking precautionary measures will ensure your garden party goes as smoothly as possible. Having a marquee in your garden will provide shelter for you and your guests and enable you all to enjoy the party regardless of weather conditions. Temperatures will drop as the day turns into night, so purchasing rugs and blankets will help keep your guests warm and able to stay outside in comfort. If you do not want to feel too restricted, opting for a canopy could be another option for you.

Heating

Having outdoor heating is essential for keeping your guests warm throughout the duration of the party. Firepits, chimeneas, and patio heaters can provide the heating needed to keep your guests happy and satisfied. Having consistent heating will ensure your guests are comfortable throughout the whole party and reduce the risk of any guests leaving or going indoors.

Food and Drink

When choosing the food and drinks for your guests, it is important that you pick quality over quantity. You will want to get the best food and drinks on the market to add an extra layer of luxury to proceedings. Brewing your own beer can add a distinctive touch to your garden party, so looking at websites like Woodys Home Brew will help you find out more on what equipment and help you will need. Make sure to have a wide range of food and drink to give your guests more choice and bear in mind any dietary requirements beforehand. Also, ensure you factor in the number of guests coming to your party so you can provide the right amount of food and drink.

Accommodation

Once your garden party is coming to an end, that does not mean that it must stop altogether. If you have a large garden, hiring out luxury tents can provide guests with accommodation and add a unique twist to your party. Make sure that you know how many guests are staying over so you know how many people you are accommodating. Also, ensure your luxury tents are sustainable for all types of weather.

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Finishing Touches

Before your garden party begins, adding a few finishing touches can enhance the overall experience. Minute details and personal touches can go a long way in bringing your party to life and fitting the theme you have chosen. Opting for fresh flowers or rose petals on tables can help fit the summer aesthetic and create the right atmosphere for your party. Also, having luxury dinnerware as opposed to paper plates and cutlery can help set the scene and inject a bit of glamour and sophistication to the day.

Ask for Help

If you are planning and hosting your garden party alone, the entire process can be incredibly exhausting. Having a helping hand can go a long way and ensure your party is well structured and goes accordingly to plan. Enlisting some help from a friend or family member can take the weight off your shoulders and make sure that every aspect of the party is covered.

If you would like more tips and tricks to hosting the perfect summer garden party, make sure that you look online at specialist websites that can give you a better understanding on all the tools you need to create a successful garden party.

Carol

Info sourced by the author for luxuryactivist.com. All content is copyrighted with no reproduction rights available. Images are for illustration purposes only.

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