All posts by Stefanie

Top 5: Fathers Day Hotel Guide

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For the Golfer: The Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

 

With a storybook landscape, year-round activities, and its spectacular setting at the shore of one of America’s most beautiful lakes, it is easy to see why Coeur d’Alene has been named the “Playground of the Northwest”, and the dream of every golfer.

For the Adventure-Seeker: Explora Patagonia, Chile

 

For hundreds of years, this was the end of the world for most. A destination people spoke in legends. Traveling to Patagonia meant sailing across one of the world’s most dangerous seas, which also meant making it there was luck, making it back was impossible. Five hundred years later, Patagonia continues to be a wild, unknown land at the end of the world, however, with a luxury hotel every discerning father needs.

For the Stylish traveler: Armani Hotel, Milano

 

The most stylish man alive has personally designed the hotel that most travel magazines call the epitome of a design hotel. With sleek decor and unparallel service, this hotel is the perfect spot to take your fashionista father for a well-deserved break.

For the Hippie Dog Lover: Wythe Hotel, Brooklyn

 

This hip new Brooklyn Hotel started with the discovery of a factory on the Williamsburg waterfront. The building was constructed in 1901 and has been converted into a 70-room hotel. Since one of the owners is the famous restauranteur Andrew Tarlow -Diner and Marlow & Sons- he quickly turned Reynards -the hotel’s restaurant- to an instant hit.

For the Wine Connoisseur: Bernardus Lodge, Carmel

 

Surrounded by the excesses every father likes, Bernardus is the ideal spot. Living in opulence of good wine and superb food is just the beginning. However, feather beds, cozy fireplaces and oversized bathtubs for two made me realize that this would be the perfect fathers day getaway for my parents, minus me.

Travel Tip: Summer Travels Must Haves

Travel Tips

Due to my hectic travel schedule, my carry-on is always ready to go with the essentials, but what changes are the must-haves of each season. Thank God my favorite season is kick starting, so all I need is to go shop for the above, pack and go.

For Her:

 

For Him:

 

 

The Jefferson Hotel. Washington DC

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If you are a regular reader of Posh Voyage, you will find that the hotels I usually write about are not only the best in the city, but also hidden gems that give you a sense of uniqueness.

Let me start by saying that this 91-room hotel is President Obama’s go-to spot when hosting lavish dinners; after all, it is only 4 blocks away from The White House. He has been at the hotel 17 times in the past 2 years, so you can imagine the fun stories the Manager shared with me about the Secret Service.

The Jefferson Hotel is reminiscent of walking into your own historic home (minus the tired rooms). A complete renovation in 2009 has achieved the perfect balance between a historic and a fresh hotel. From heavenly rooms to drop-dead gorgeous bathrooms, the Milstein family did it exactly right.

The location is perfection—close enough to the key locations, but far away enough to unwind after a busy day. The hotel’s décor was inspired by its namesake, so if you are a history lover, walking through the halls will prove to be quite a treat, with original documents signed by Thomas Jefferson decorating the walls.

My room was a breath of fresh air; the light colors, floor to ceiling windows, the classical music playing and the welcome amenities set the tone for my relaxing evening.
When walking in, the gorgeous Plume restaurant beams with romantic touches like candlelight’s and peonies. Plume is the signature restaurant that hosts the most decadent dinners in DC. My personal favorite dish is the Maryland blue crab risotto. Tip: Though its an appetizer, it’s so good you can ask for an entree-sized portion instead.

With a 2:1 staff to guest ratio, you will find that whatever you need is, it will be met as soon as your are finishing your sentence, literally. I checked-out of the hotel at 5am and called the Valet to have my car ready. As expected, my car was already in the front, with a cup of fresh brewed coffee and 2 members of the staff saying goodbye with smiles that belonged to the 5pm shift.

At the end of our meeting, I asked the Manager how they prepare the hotel for The President, Senators and other politicians. He gave me the following insight:
“From a preparation standpoint, we have become very efficient after hosting the President so many times! The most obvious and detailed preparations concern the security of the President, which the Secret Service spearheads”.

“Initial preparations typically begin a couple of days before and continue right until the moment he arrives. While the President’s security is clearly of the utmost importance, we insist that our other guests be treated with the respect that they deserve, and the Secret Service and White House have done an excellent job of allowing our other guests to enjoy their stay with minimal interruption while still maintaining the proper security levels.” I can attest to that, for as far as my personal experience, I felt like the First Lady during my stay.

While I might not agree with Obama on all of his decisions, staying at The Jefferson is one that I fully support!

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Shangri-La Hotel. Paris, France

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Flowers, pastel colors and fairytale rooms are just the just right combination for the parfait mother’s day voyage.

It’s in a city where food is more appetizing, love is more fervent, and fashion is more creative. Any ideas? You guessed right, my beloved Paris. A city in which no matter what tasteful corner you turn on, it will always take your breath away.

After carefully researching for my dream hotel (if I were a mother of a human and not my dear puppy), I came up with the most enchanting property ever, Shangri-La Paris.
It was built in 1896 by Napoleon’s grandnephew, Prince Roland Bonaparte, so you can be sure that luxury emerges from every corner of the hotel.

As you walk in through the ever-so-French elegant façade, the royal treatment will begin in this quiet residential area of the 16th arrondissement.

The best part of the whole stay is walking into your room and seeing before you the finest view of the iconic Eiffel Tower welcoming you to the city of lights. Oddly enough Prince Bonaparte was not a big fan of his knockout view, so he asked for his master bedroom to be built in the opposite direction.

Yes, the guestrooms are superb, but the bathrooms are something else. They feature marble bathrooms, gorgeous floor to ceiling windows (which I love), heated floors, rainfall showers and silk-threaded wallpaper. The silver accents and orchids complete the tasteful and lavish look.

The service is so exquisitely detailed and precise, that from the moment you set foot in the hotel, you will feel like you are living in your Parisian mansion. Note that a few dozen uber-qualified staff will be at your service at all times. They also make you feel that their sole purpose of existence is to please you, which is pretty awesome.

Dining has to be the best part. The hotel currently lays claim to two Michelin rated restaurants: L’Abeille and Shang Palace. Executive Chef Philippe Labbé of L’Abeille was also recognized as the Cuisinier de l’Année 2013, which basically means he is the best cook in Paris. Quite an accomplishment I would say.

Since I like saving the best for last, I left the Spa for the end. This was the final piece in my puzzle in order to rate this hotel as the best and most luxurious new hotel in Paris.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

La Villa Gallici. Aix-en-Provence, France

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Time stood still at this quintessential hotel in Aix-en-Provence. This 18th century Provençal house and its surroundings (member of Relais et Châteaux) were once Paul Cezanne’s inspiration to paint the complex fields he is so renown for.

The typical original French furniture, fabric, smell and cuisine welcome you to a destination you will never want to leave. Once you walk outside and see the seven-acre garden, relaxing pool and the quaint lounge areas, you will fall in love with Villa Gallici, the way all their guests do.

Each bedroom was exquisitely decorated with its own charm, however, the Classic King Room that happens to be the most economical room, is terrific.

What I found to be the most impressive fact of this historical Inn, is that most of the objects you use during your stay date back to the 18th century, hence treat them with utter care and no red wine in the sofa!

Now, I saved the best for last… dinner. The testing seasonal menu feature Mediterranean and Provencal delights. The favorite is the duck with white truffle honey.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Shutters on the Beach. Santa Monica, California.

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Located in sunny Santa Monica, this gorgeous beachhouse-esque hotel is located directly on beach with only a few yards of sand separating you from the great Pacific Ocean. This is my personal favorite hotel located in the Santa Monica area. With its SoCal ease and its luxury appeal, Shutters makes you feel at home and like you never want to leave. Celebrities flock to this cool hotel; I have spotted both Reese Witherspoon and Adam Levine having a low-key lunch at their beachside café, One Pico.

The rooms are nothing short of cozy chic, big fluffy comforters dress the bed, a Tibetan rug sits atop the hardwood floor, and the bookcase is stocked with a library and keepsakes to give it that at-home feel. The hotel itself gives off an open and airy feeling that will have you relaxed the moment you step through the doors. Their spa, One The Spa, has effective products and luxury treatments designed by red flower and Omorovicza. Looking for something a little more upbeat? Shutters offers yoga on the sand and even surf lessons!

If you’re in the mood for a ladies brunch, One Pico is the place for you. All their food is locally sourced and completely organic, as is the California style. If you’re looking for something a little more casual, come to the Living Room. They have early morning breakfast, afternoon tea, and a relaxing happy hour with famed mixologist Tricia Alley. Enjoy jazz piano every Sunday at Monday beginning at 6pm. Coast is my personal favorite restaurant within the hotel. With its sparkling ceiling Christmas lights or its ivy growing on the walls, this café and bar is sure to impress, they even have a Cirque du Soleil themed dinner!

This hotel is in the hub of the nightlife and activities in Santa Monica. It is a short 10-minute walk to the 6th street promenade where there is amazing shopping sure to consume your day. Take your children to the Santa Monica Pier, located 5 minutes down the beach. Or stay by the pool, with its ocean views and private cabanas; this hotel might be the dream home that you never want to leave.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.

Top 5: Valentines Gifts for the Travel Aficionado

Top 5,

For the adventurous traveler:

 

Trappers Cabin at Ranch at Rock Creek, Montana.
The most secluded accommodation in Montana is Trapper Cabin, located in a private spot on the banks of Rock Creek. The combination of canvas, wood and stone gives you the rugged feel with a luxury twist. So don’t worry about having to dig a hole every time you want to go to the bathroom, you will have a first class bathroom, a cozy bedroom and a romantic tub, where you can watch the stars while listening to the wild life in all its splendor.

For the clean traveler:

 

Me undies is considered by many as the most comfortable undies in the world. Me Undies takes the dreadfulness and shyness out of underware shopping. Sign up for monthly shipments that come with a 20% discount and arrive at your door.

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For the classical traveler:

 

Smythson travel wallet has been my travel companion for more than 4 years. It is probably the best purchase I have ever made, therefore I highly recommend you getting one. It keeps my travel documents in order and my mind at ease.

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For the stylish gal:

 

A gift certificate for this uber cool hair salon, Dry Bar, with locations all across the US is the ideal gift for someone like me. Every girl is obsessed with Dry Bar; not only for the free booze, but also for the girly environment and the A MA ZING blow-dries. This is perfect for the stylish girl on the go.

For the business traveler:

 

A subscription or credit for Uber would be my ideal gift. Needless to say it’s the app I spend the most time and money on. Forget about being stranded on the streets of an unfamiliar city. With the touch of a button, a black town car (or SUV) will pick you up in minutes. The best part? They always have a cold bottle of water and mints to enjoy before your next stop.

 

For the sleek traveler:

 

Frends headphones turn the sidewalk into a catwalk. They have several colors to choose from, but I personally love the white. les_casques_couture_de_frends_542040587_north_883x.1For the eco traveler:

 

Traveling doesn’t necessarily mean hoping on a plane; a bike can also take you a long way, specially Gant City Bike. Explore your city and you will be amazed at the awesome spots you will discover. This limited-to-25 edition, single-speed cruiser bike features retro styling with hand stitched leather handlebars, a Brooks leather saddle with attached tool bag, hand-welded lugs, a sculptural LED headlamp, a unique enamel head badge, and large, off-white tires for a smooth ride.

 

Press: Posh Voyage Inteview

Travel News

See full interview: www.diwyy.com

See full video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BJAwLXC6fjU

Stefanie Dee Kronemeyer Coppel set out to create incredible travel experiences for her customers.

If her early successes are any indication, we say she’s accomplished that and more.

We recently sat down with Stefanie, founder and CEO of Posh Voyage, a travel concierge firm that helps travelers narrow down the infinite travel destinations and luxury hotel options worldwide. It was awesome connecting with Stefanie and learning how she launched her travel business.

Below you’ll find her outlook on business, pursing a career while leaving time for travel, and some of her favorite locations to stay.

What is Posh Voyage?

Posh voyage is a luxury travel concierge and blog that recommends the best hotels worldwide, as well as plans bespoke itineraries for savvy globetrotters looking to travel stress-free.

Posh Voyage also features insider tips like which rooms have the best view, which restaurants are worthy of your visit and what to order when you get there.

My passion for hotels and obsession with luxury triggered the desire to start Posh voyage. However, when I say luxury, I do not mean necessarily the most expensive, but the most unique. My latest find was a gem in Florianopolis called Ponta dos Ganchos.

The idea is to turn a simple travel idea into an unforgettable experience for clients that do not have the time to do so. A recent example was when a client emailed me to book three hotels in different regions in France for his Honeymoon. Naturally this plan seemed like it was missing the WOW factor, so I told him to give me two days and transformed the bland 3-hotel itinerary to a Fairytale countryside voyage. Starting with a few nights at Plaza Athenee in Paris filled with unique private museum tours by night, architecture walks, foodie tours with a renown Parisian chef and dinners at the most decadent Michelin-starred restaurants, before heading to a unique boutique hotel in the Champagne region where they were welcomed with a hot air balloon ride and a private visit to the Dom Perignon cellars.

A few nights after, they drove to Dijon and stayed at an enchanting typical French castle and had the most unbelievable private mustard tasting tour upon visiting the best vineyards in the region. Then they headed to Bordeaux for a few more fantastic wine-tasting tours. Followed by a truffle hunting expedition in Cahors, before indulging a meal made by the truffles they had picked. Finally, they headed to Provence and stayed in a world-famous spa. There they had private cheese and wine tasting tours before heading back home… probably a few pounds heavier.

Who are your clients?

High-end clientele that do not have the time to plan a vacation, but want to have an amazing experience, clients that require a personalized itinerary with complex logistics and clients that want a better deal for their money. The fact that my client gives me a $50,000 budget for a ten-day trip, doesn’t mean I book necessarily the most expensive, I always look for the best possible offer with the most amount of amenities.

Using numbers and stories, how big has your success been?

So far the company has been running for 10 months, and the number of monthly blog visitors went from 0 to 5,000 in the first few months, increased to 10,000 by the 6th month and currently up to 20,000 visitors for December. Now with the Travel Concierge Tool, most of the clients come from visiting Posh Voyage’s website and feel inspired by my articles to plan a trip in the near future. Since the opening of Posh Voyage Concierge in November, I have planned more than 40 bespoke trips worldwide.

Where did the idea for your business come from?

I arrived to Sao Paulo International Airport, and waited 2 hours for a car that was supposed to pick him up to take me to The Fasano. I then called the AMEX Centurion travel agent, only to find out the agent booked my flight arriving to the wrong airport, and forgot to book the car transfer. Attention to detail while traveling is imperative, and since that very moment, I decided to create a business that caters to jetsetters looking for personalized attention and bespoke itineraries while traveling.

The business idea also came while working in a luxury concierge service in New York. Since I had to be “in-the-know” in the travel and food world, all my friends, and friends of friends, started asking me what hotels I recommended for different destinations, and what to do in that specific location.

What did you do before this business?

Make impossible travel requests happen at Quintessentially Concierge. Working in the luxury concierge business, there is nothing you can’t do, and if there is, then this job is probably not for you. Two crazy requests I got from clients were: One was to have her private jet painted pink for a bachelorette party that I organized for her, and the second one was to book 3 presidential suites in 3 different countries because the client didn’t know which of the locations he was going to prefer that night, and did I mention they were non-refundable?

After working at Quintessentially for two years, I got offered a job at one of the most successful Private Sale Sites located in Boston, Rue La La, to help launch the Travel Flash Sale Site. My time in Rue La La inspired me to start my own on-line business with a focus on travel planning. I started working on my own business plan for Posh Voyage after work, and during the weekends. A year and a half later I left my job at Rue La La to launch Posh Voyage Blog and Concierge.

What was your first product/service like? How successful was it?

The initial idea was to have a blog featuring the best hotels in the world. After doing this for 4 months, I felt like I needed to put my previous experiences in to practice and start planning travel. I then had to take numerous tests to get certified as a Travel Agent by IATAN, a corporation that recognizes the best suppliers in the travel world.

What is your favorite inquiry?

Where the client gives me the travel dates, the type of vacation they want, but lets me go wild with the itinerary. I get to build the most unbelievable experiences, as simple or over-the-top as the client wishes.

How did you get your first customers?

Thanks to my great contacts in the industry, I emailed them as well as friends and family to introduce the new site. Since then, most of the clients contact me through word of mouth of satisfied costumers. I do not advertise, because I am a firm believer that if I exceed my client’s expectations, they will be the ones advertising me with their friends.

The biggest advantage is that I have actually traveled to most of the destinations and I have a firsthand experience, therefore I can give more accurate advice (taking into account what type of traveler you are, what style of the trip you are looking for and who you will be traveling with), than a travel agent from AMEX Centurion that most likely gets her information from the hotel’s website.

What have been some of your biggest challenges?

Getting customers to trust the “travel agency” world again, it is wrongly associated with adding an additional percentage to the price, when the truth is I get the best industry rates out there, therefore the client gets a better price, with additional hotel amenities like spa credit, late check-outs, breakfast included and other great perks.

What have been some of the biggest milestones along the way?

Getting certified as a Travel Agent by IATAN and planning travel for the CEO of one of the biggest technology companies in the country.

Based on your experiences, what advice do you have?

As an entrepreneur you have a great idea, but the real challenge is to actually make it happen. Along the way I had to be my company’s CEO, lawyer and marketing expert, therefore feeling lost along the way was a completely normal feeling, but I always remember that I was trying to master new subjects while running my company. Learning something new every day is a regular thing, so patience is key.

Do you think the travel industry has been affected by new media?

It has affected the travel agencies focused on short and simple itineraries due to the user-friendly online travel agencies like Orbitz, but it has enhanced the luxury travel industry.

There has always been a need for personalized travel planning, and media has only affected it positively, making my clients more aware of the infinite travel options out there.

Amanyara Hotel. Turks & Caicos

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During my five years of working as a travel curator, I have never come across a property so perfectly executed like Amanyara. The fact that Amanyara is only a few hours away from major cities like Miami, Dallas, New York and Boston, makes it my favorite and most desirable beach destination (specially during the cold winter).

When you enter Amanyara  you will easily understand why I consider it to be the most beautiful hotel of the Aman brand. You will be welcomed by a contemporary setting, with an infusion of Japanese architecture. It is located in a sensual tropical island; one you would want to be lost in forever with your better half.

When you walk into the lobby you might have to pinch yourself once or twice to make sure you are not in a wild dream. The hotel has 38 pavilions and 20 villas, which are equally as beautiful. If you are traveling with a big family a Villa might be the best option due to their size, they all range between 3 to 4 bedrooms. If you are on a romantic getaway, I suggest staying in either the Pool Pavilions 120 or 125.

As soon as you realize that the beautiful pavilion the manager is walking you to is yours, you might feel dizzy and extreme excitement all at the same time, they are absolutely stunning. Each features a private pool, not plunge pool, but a 30-foot pool, therefore there is no need to share it with strange guests and unwanted small humans.

The restaurant terrace is the perfect place to have a decadent breakfast before heading to one of the gigantic lounge sala´s next to the pool. If you get tired of tanning (not that anyone would get) the library is the perfect place to unwind and sip a delicious Mojito. If for dinner you want something extra special, get a private table at the picturesque cove right on the beach. Maybe, if you’re lucky, you will get to see famous celebs, such as Mary J. Blige and Sting, who usually perform at Amanyara’s holiday parties.

 

Photographs courtesy of the property.