Villa Giorgio on Lake Como

The Villa Giorgio on Lake Como looks to be a fabulous place. Villa sleeps 25 in 9 luxury suites. The guesthouse sleeps 10 in 6 bedrooms/5+ bathrooms. However, the villa and the guesthouse may not be rented together. Pool is shared with owners. The property sports beautiful Italian gardens, private lake access and a staff. The villa can be rented for $20,000 & up/week, depending on availability, exchange rates, and season. The guesthouse can be rented for $10,000-$20,000+/week, but again, depending on availability, exchange rates, and season.

This is a fabulous property. Here is a snippet from the Villa Vacations site:

One of the most beautiful villas on Lake Como, Villa Giorgio was once the residence of the famous composer, Vincenzo Bellini, and is considered something of a national monument for Italy. The location (3 km north of Cernobbio, between the famous Villa D'Este hotel and the villa owned by actor George Clooney) is within walking distance of a variety of shops and restaurants. The closest train station is in Como, just 10 minutes away; you can be in Milan or cross the border to Lugano, Switzerland, in just 30 minutes.

Villa Giorgio is perfect in every way. The estate consists of a main villa and a guesthouse, which is located in a completely separate area and is totally independent from the main villa. The two can not be rented together, since the owner lives in one and moves to the other when it is rented.

Click HERE to go directly to one possible source for renting this property. Or click ahead to do a custom Google search for Villa Giorgio Lake Como.

Villa Sofia on French Riviera sleeps 12

The Villa Sofia has 6 bedrooms, 6 bathrooms, A/C, WiFi, heated pool, balcony & terrace, and spectacular sea views. A staff is also included. The cost is $20,000 and up/week, depending on the season, broker, availability and exchange rates. This is truly a fabulous location on the riviera for you and 11 of your very best friends to share.

From the Villa Vacations site:

The location is very central, yet quiet. The villa offers a spectacular panoramic view over the bay of Villefranche and is just one mile from Cap Ferrat. Renovated to the highest standards, this luxury villa was built in 1880, during the “Belle Époche” (the Golden Age of France), and has all of the beautiful architectural features of that period. Facing south, Villa Sofa is bathed in sunlight all day.

I was in Cap Ferrat when I was only 10 - and I can still remember how fabulous this area was then. I suspect strongly that it has changed little from that elegant state!

Click HERE to go directly to one source for renting this magnificent villa. Or click ahead to do a custom Google search for Villa Sofia French Riviera.

The Rocks Villa & La Rocca Apartment in Positano

I can testify to the excellence of the La Roccia apartment, as I stayed there two years ago. We had the most fabulous time. This apartment is the lower floor of the Rocks Villa. It has two rooms with double beds and a smaller room with a single bed, housing 5 people nicely. It has a nice kitchen and 2 baths.

The Villa also now sports a pool, shared by occupants of the apartment or the villa.

A ten minute walk along the most precious Amalfi coast will get you into the town of Positano, a gorgeous, pastoral town frequented by famous celebrities. This is an absolutely wonderful place to visit and one could occupy their time for a whole week just in Positano itself. Making day trips to famous sites is also very easy. You can have the Roccia Apartment for between US $2,500 and US$5,000, depending on season, availability and brokerage used. Or you could rent the Rocks Villa (with room for 6), costing you the same amount. Or rent both for between $5,000 and $10,000 for 11 people, for a week. Check it out. This is a wonderful place to stay.

Click here to go directly to one source of the offer. Or click ahead to do a custom Google search for La Rocca Apartment in Positano.

Scientific American - Bright Horizons Cruise # 2

Scientific American, my very favorite magazine, is sponsoring a 10 day cruise to the Caribbean this December 7 to the 17th, 2008. The cool thing about this cruise is that it is being managed and run by the experts on "educational cruising" - InSight Cruises. The price for the best accommodations is $3,999 per person in their best suite for two. Very nice! The conference fee is $1,275. Checkout the links below to find out the different subject matters being covered in the conference. Of course, there are the other usual costs found with the cruise industry. And you will have to make your way to Fort Lauderdale, as well.

The cruise leaves from and returns to Fort lauderdale, Florida, with the following port visits:

HALF MOON CAY
ST. THOMAS, U.S.V.I.
ROSEAU, DOMINICA
WILLEMSTAD, CURACAO
ORANJESTAD, ARUBA

Click here to go directly to a source of the offer. Or click to do a search for Scientific American Bright Horizons cruise . And do be sure to visit Scientific American on the web as well.

About Us

The intention with this site is to collect together into one place, information about places where we would want to vacation. It's our biased opinion that everyone who visits here will agree that the places we are promoting are in fact pretty darn nice! Anyway, we encourage you to comment on the vacation opportunities we are highlighting here and to visit the websites we promote. Some are in fact very affordable given the experience provided.

As for the title of this site, it is an attempt to reverse psychology you into visiting because you can't stand the idea that something would be out of your reach. Forgive us for this childish approach.

Turtle Island in the Fiji Islands

Privately owned Turtle Island in the Fiji Islands looks like it could be a really nice place for your honeymoon. Or you could even take the whole family. Quoting the Turtle Island site: "During your stay on Turtle, home will be one of only 14 'bures', traditional, two room, thatched cottages built by Fijian craftsmen."

The 14 different cottages allow for up to 14 couples to be on the island at once. Couples can stay for $1,604 to $3,249 per night, depending on the cottage chosen. This does NOT include transport and taxes, which add a substantial sum to the total costs. You can also rent the entire island (14 cottages) for a mere $275,000 for 7 nights, though other fees and taxes likely apply. If children are involved, a cottage can hold 4 kids, so you'll be able to accommodate more than 28 humans.

It is worth noting that these rates include everything - booze and all. Fact is, you can leave your wallet at the airport in Nadi before you come over on seaplane - though I don't know who you will leave it with. Perhaps I'll volunteer to hold it ;-) But, do be sure to read the Turtle Island website in case I have accidentally misrepresented something.

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it or just click to do this search for South Pacific Turtle Island Fiji. Click here to go directly to the Turtle Island site.

106 Day Luxury Pacific Cruise

The Crystal Cruises "Pacific Circle Celebration" cruise is a full tour of the Pacific Rim if I ever saw one. A luxurious one at that. The cruise departs LA on January 21, 2009, returning to LA 106 days later on May 7, 2009. It is possible to have a shorter stay on board by choosing different ingress egress points, but who would want to do that? The rate sheet says this cruise, with the best accommodations will cost $280,060. Better hurry and book though, as there are not that many penthouse cabins, with their luxurious space of 1,345 square feet. Lesser cabins (nice) will be $83,285 according to the rate sheet. You mileage will vary, depending on whom you book through and availability.

The ship "Crystal Serenity" has only 1,080 passengers so the ship is pretty open and uncrowded. With her crew of 655, your stay ought to be pretty well managed!

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do the search for World Cruise 2009 "Pacific Circle Celebration" to find many choices for booking this cruise. Or, you could click here to go directly to a source of the offer.

Here is a list of ports of call. This doesn't include places where ship transits but does not dock. Visit one of the cruise booking sites for full details.

Los Angeles/San Pedro, California, USA
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Nuku Hiva, Marquesas Islands
Rangiroa, French Polynesia
Mooréa, Society Islands
Papeete, Tahiti, Society Islands
Bora Bora, Society Islands
Rarotonga, Cook Islands
Suva, Fiji
Nouméa, New Caledonia
Waitangi, Bay of Islands, New Zealand
Auckland, New Zealand
Tauranga, New Zealand
Napier, New Zealand
Wellington, New Zealand
Cruising the South Pacific Ocean
Dunedin, New Zealand
Sydney, Australia
Melbourne, Australia
Adelaide, Australia
Fremantle/Perth, Australia
Broome, Australia
Komodo Island, Indonesia
Bali/Pedang Bay, Indonesia
Semarang/Borobudur, Indonesia
Singapore
Bangkok/Laem Chabang, Thailand
Sihanoukville, Cambodia
Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Chan May, Vietnam
Ha Long Bay/Hon Gai, Vietnam
Hong Kong, China
Xiamen, China
Shanghai, China
Nagasaki, Japan
Osaka, Japan
Shimizu, Japan
Tokyo/Yokohama, Japan
Otaru, Japan
Petropavlovsk, Russia
Dutch Harbor, Alaska, USA
Kodiak, Alaska, USA
Seward, Alaska, USA
Ketchikan, Alaska, USA
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Victoria, British Columbia, Canada
San Francisco, California, USA
Los Angeles/San Pedro, California, USA

Necker Island in British Virgin Islands

Necker Island is a small island in the British Virgin Islands just north of Virgin Gorda, located at 18°31′38″N, 64°21′29″W. Privately owned by Sir Richard Branson, you can rent the entire island - or during selected periods, rent for two, sharing the island with other couples. Many a famous person has stayed at the island, originally conceived as a luxury location for entertaining rock bands under the Virgin Music label.

If you want to rent the entire island for 10 days, it would set you back a cool $470,000. BUT, you could bring along 27 of your BFF. Or, if you just want to bring along your significant other, and do a little island sharing, it will cost between $23,500 and $26,250 per week, depending on which rooms you settle for. Everything is in the price, including meals and booze. Nice. Though I think you might have to pay extra for that massage you might need. The island includes a staff of 50 to make sure your stay goes well.

Mouse over to fill the search input so you can edit it. Or just click to do the search for Necker Island Sir Richard Branson to find out a whole lot more about this little relaxation spot. Or, you could click here to go directly to the source of the offer.