Posts Tagged ‘Chef’

The Villa, a different Approach to Travel.

Wednesday, September 15th, 2010

Very often we get emails from new clients inquiring about Luxury Travel Consultant2 Travel’s concept. The questions go as follow, How does this work? do I get to have my own bedroom?, I do not know anyone, where do we eat?, can you elaborate  & explain exactly what you do?, why is it cheaper?. It seems like people get intimidated once they have to think a little bit outside the box & we understand since our clientele pays for the trip & they do not want to be duped into any kind of weird concept since they are investing their $$ . It is very simple & works as well as any other Tour group that you will join whenever you want to take a vacation.

A luxurious Villa always offers amenities such as private chef, sommelier, drivers, Tour guides and we offer travel concierge services such as booking golf, a spa day or just plan a spa day at the property like we did  for a group of people who joined our tour in Luberon, Provence.

Staying in a beautiful villa is no different than staying in a 5 stars hotel, the difference is that the villa offers a lot more rewards in terms of money spending. A lot of people would love to have a vacation where they stay in an amazing villa with swimming pool, drivers, chef who caters to their needs ( Our chefs always buy fresh at the farmers markets) , everyday, we talk menu for the next day.  We , at times include a spa day in our tours if we can find a couple of masseuses and our chef will cook a great and very light meal . More & more groups travelers are discovering the rewards of villa travel, if you compare the costs of luxury hotel rooms for groups of 8 to 12 people, the average per – person costs of a villa – especially with our Luxury Travel Consultant2, our company – is very competitive.

Also staying in a villa is really about a deeper understanding of the region and the country. You discover & explore the region as well as taste the local cuisine. Western Europe such as France, Italy, Spain have a very powerful history and we want our clients to discover the beauty, food, wine & history and also meet local people ( wine tasting catered by a private chef), where the owner was delighted to talk about her winery  & the region. The group had a great time and really enjoyed themselves.

Villa accommodations are not anymore for close friends, family members it can also afford small groups ( 8 to 14 people maximum), high-profile travelers or those who require additional privacy  the opportunity to reconnect without all the bustle of a large resort – but without skimping on amenities.

Our tour groups are mainly focused on epicurean travel and lifestyle-based experiences. Our true passion is to provide our guests with an experience and a sense of place that they will find nowhere else.

Visit us online at, www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com

Contact us at, anne@luxurytravelconsultant2.com

The herb garden at the Villa in Gordes, Luberon. Provence

The herb garden at the Villa in Gordes, Luberon. Provence

One of the swimming pools in Gordes, Luberon. Provence.

One of the swimming pools in Gordes, Luberon. Provence.

The Patio where we had our dinners or lunches. Gordes. Provence

The Patio where we had our dinners or lunches. Gordes. Provence

one of the Kitchen, Gordes, Luberon. Provence

one of the Kitchen, Gordes, Luberon. Provence

The pool with showers & Chaises Longues. Gordes, Luberon. Provence.

The pool with showers & Chaises Longues. Gordes, Luberon. Provence.

The Garden with amazing views, Lake como.

The Garden with amazing views, Lake como.

Dining room at the villa . Thanksgiving 2010. Lake Como

Dining room at the villa . Thanksgiving 2010. Lake Como

Wine tasting at the property with the group. Gordes, Luberon. Provence.

Wine tasting at the property with the group. Gordes, Luberon. Provence.

Dinner at the villa, catered by Private chef.

Dinner at the villa, catered by Private chef.

Entrance to the Living room. Villa on Lake Como.

Entrance to the Living room. Villa on Lake Como.

Lake Como.

Sunday, August 29th, 2010

Lake Como.

Lake Como.

Lake Como which is also known as Lario, is the third largest in Italy & the deepest ( 1,345 feet). It is shaped like a sprawling upside -down Y, with the arms of Locco, Como & Colico. The como shore is the most developed , with numerous restaurants and hotels, as well as a scenic road that follows the ancient Strada Regina, lined with elegant villas & aristocratic gardens. While visiting Como, have a drink at Villa D’Este, worth the stop. Villa D’Este was built by the Pellegrino Tibaldi in 1570 for the Gallio family, it became a luxury hotel in 1873, frequented by princes & actors.

Day Trips.

Let’s set the record straight, Lake Como was handsome before George Clooney moved there. This beautiful peninsula reaches out to greet visitors as they drift past on boats and it is impossible not to get smitten by Bellagio’s inviting waters, rugged, zigzaging streets, red roofed buildings, lush cypress groves & gardens. You can get close & personal with the entire town in an hour or two. you can wander for a while & then have a lunch or a latte at a lakeside  coffee shop or just hop a boat back to Como. Bellagio, has two splendid villas to explore, Villa Serbelloni & Villa Melzi with its beautiful gardens.It is 75 kms north of Milan.

Bergamo, is located in the Alpine foothills & is breathtaking. It is 58 kms east of Milan. The Piazza Vecchia, is a majestic medieval square & the ideal location some buttery biscotti that melts on your tongue.

Must see , Verona.

The city is an architectural aphrodisiac with fairy- tale Palazzo of striped brick and marble & secretive streets. Another legend that Romeo & Juliet lived here, visit the Casa di Gulietta, site  of countless pledges of undying love – some of them sincere. ( 161 kms east of Milan).

Special Offer from Luxury Travel Consultant2.

Win 2 free stays at Villa Larienella when you & a guest gather a group of 12 guests ( 6 each)

The Tour Departure Dates:

November 20 – November 27, 2010

8 days/ 7 nights

14 guests $ 2,800 pp

The Tour package includes

Villa Accommodations ( Double occupancy)

Drivers ( mini buses), Transfers & Touring the region

Private chef ( All meals included) as well as Thanksgiving meal, ( 3 Bottles of wine included for dinner)

( Air Fare not included)

Visit us online at, www.luxurytravelconsultant2.com


Old villa in Verona with balcony.

Old villa in Verona with balcony.

Lake Como, Bellagio, Verona.

Lake Como, Bellagio, Verona.

Garden on Lake Como.

Garden on Lake Como.

Amazingly beautiful Lake Como.

Amazingly beautiful Lake Como.

Lake Como, a sprawling upside-down Y

Lake Como, a sprawling upside-down Y

Beautiful Villa , Lake Como.

Beautiful Villa , Lake Como.

Sustainable agriculture in Luberon, France.

Saturday, August 21st, 2010

Hello & Welcome to Luxury Travel Consultant2 Blog.

Today, Organic Wines are not a fade anymore -

Biodynamic Farming France.

Organic vineyards & Wines

Organic Grapes .Biodynamic Farming is based on the agricultural philosophies of Rudolf Steiner. While biodynamic farming includes organic farm management practises, it also uses specially prepared , natural treatments, incorporating natural rhythms and cycles of the moon and sun, light and warmth.
The Demeter Biodynamic Farm Association has a website with lists of biodynamic producers , visit them online at www.bio-dynamie.org
Chateau La Canorgue is an organic & biodynamic vineyard located in Provence, the movie ” A good year ” was filmed there.
Chateau Romanin is another organic & biodynamic vineyard located outside of Aix en Provence. The Castle where we will be staying for 1 week in September does biodynamic farming.

A healthy Love of Organic Wine

Provence, Chateau ThouarRead an article from The Guardianweekly about organic wines in Provence, France. Wine Growers in Provence are turning to chemical-free garpe Farming.
Today says the article, we consumers are much more health conscious and more demanding& more aware of the environment and this includes what we eat & drink. This demand has prompted wine growers in Provence, the weather is perfect- ambient temperature, mild winters with hardly any frost, reliable hot sun from the beginning of spring to the end of summer.
With modernizing, which was the motto of the day, farmers used pesticides & herbicides which gave them larger yields & disease -free grapes, but if the people were happy the soil was not and became saturated with chemicals. One wintner, Jean Claude Lavaud , realizing that a change was needed made a commitment to environmentally friendly viticulture. he now produces organic wines. His winery is inspected once a year and at times randomly, organic wines in France must have the Logo ” Agriculture Biologique”, AB. The Label will read “Wine made with Organic Grapes”, but will never claim to be an organic wine since wintners still add sulfites, a preservative that prevents oxidation & bacterial spoilage.
In France, organic wine has really caught on and is no longer a fad- especially with the younger generation. No headache effect the reason behind it is because of the low level of sulfites and the absence of pesticides in the soil.
Cheers! A votre sante!

September 18, 2010 – September 25, 2010   $ 2,850 pp ( 12 guests invited) , Double occupancy- exclusive of Air.

We also will accommodate you with other dates through October & November 2010.

Package includes:

  • Chateau  Accommodations
  • 8 days / 7 nights
  • Breakfast, lunch & Dinner served daily
  • Gastronomic meals &Organic wines tasting
  • Olive oil Mill visit & Tasting
  • Drivers ( Transfers & Touring the region)
  • Sight seeing and visits ( see our E brochure)