Virtuoso Life - November/December 2008 - (Page 20)

EDITOR’S NOTE R Treasuring Your Time articles don’t merely paint a beautiful picture and tell an intriguing tale; they also contain concrete information, with specifics from the world’s top hotels, cruise lines, tour operators, and the like, complete with departure dates, rates, and details on accommodations and what sorts of amenities are included. those amenities are a Virtuoso calling card, and can include complimentary upgrades, meals, shipboard credits, and more. (some of the more creative amenities in this issue: a gift certificate to Bloomingdale’s in new york on page 78, a 30-minute foot massage in hanoi on page 147, and flower-strewn turndowns on Bora Bora on page 193.) Besides the good, old-fashioned VIP treatment bestowed by such amenities, everyone appreciates a good deal. Value is important at any level, and Virtuoso is all about adding value to your experience – including those VIP extras, of course, but in particular the value of your relationship with your travel advisor and that advisor’s connections throughout the world that help make your trips seamless. as we wrap up a year full of political and economic change, who doesn’t want to get away from it all? after all, as shakespeare wrote, the world is your oyster – so pick your pearl and travel in style. EcEntly I was chatting with a Virtuoso travel advisor about the cover of this annual “style Issue” of Virtuoso Life. “I love it,” she told me of our pearlstrewn cover photograph. “In fact, I’m wearing my south sea pearls right now, so I admit that I’m partial to them.” her comment illustrates how bringing back mementos, baubles, and treasures from your travels provides lasting reminders of one of life’s highlights: leisure vacations. time away from your everyday life, routines, and surroundings, either with family, your spouse, friends, or even alone, is time well spent. Perhaps it’s the ultimate investment, because the return is priceless. not only do you reconnect with yourself and your traveling companions, you add to your list of life experiences. From the sights you see to the people you meet and the knowledge you acquire along the way, travel has the power to change you. you’ll find that the articles in these pages (even the shopping ones) focus on experiences: the experience of sifting through pearls in French Polynesia, the sensory bazaar of Fès’ ancient medina, the unexpected, intense spirituality of visiting the last continent and coming face-to-face with a mammoth iceberg. It’s our mission to both entertain and inform you, so Virtuoso Life EDITOR esrnka@virtuoso.com Pearls of wisdom: Learn how to select the perfect pearls – and other jewels – with our gem guide on page 92. 20 V I RT U O S O L I F E (ELAINE SRNKA) ARTURO RODRIGUEZ, (PEARLS) JOHN PARRISH

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Virtuoso Life - November/December 2008

Virtuoso Life - November/December Contents Editor’s Note Contributors Luxe Report Bon Voyage City to Go Suite Talk Vanity Case Design Tour Tasting Notes Global Gourmet Quick Escapes All the World’s Treasures Fèstive Revival Jet, Set, Go Breaking the Ice Statements of Style Expert's Picks Wild West Island Time Well Traveled Travel Trends Great Outdoors Shopping Guide Big Shot

Virtuoso Life - November/December 2008

For optimal viewing of this digital publication, please enable JavaScript and then refresh the page. If you would like to try to load the digital publication without using Flash Player detection, please click here.