Elite Insider - September 30, 2014
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Vintage Cars, Vintage Wines, and Glorious Views
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As the leaves begin to turn, our thoughts do too, to cool-weather pleasures that make the most of the autumn days ahead. We've rounded up the season's most tempting travel offerings and hope they inspire grand adventures in the weeks to come.
Warmest regards,
The Schwabs
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A Barbaresco Wine Outing at Harvest Time
With the harvest underway, fall is the ideal time for a visit to the Piedmont wine region. The Seven Stars Galleria Milano elevates the experience by handing guests the keys to the luxury car of their choice for an unforgettable excursion to the village of Barbaresco -- a must-stop on any wine lover's itinerary. The outing includes a tour of the Marchesi di Gresy winery, a wine and local food tasting, and an afternoon free for touring and shopping before slipping back behind the wheel for the return drive to Milan. Guests also enjoy suite accommodations for two nights overlooking the historic Galleria, a bottle of champagne in suite, and daily Italian breakfast.
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Experience London's Royal Pride
Cars, excursions, and "vintage" come together in an entirely different (but equally spectacular) fashion at St. James' Court, a Taj Hotel. The Royal Pride package pulls out all the stops with a chauffeured, three-hour bespoke London tour in the guest's choice of vintage cars from the hotel's extraordinary fleet (the Downton Abbey Rolls Royce "Gabriella" among them). Also included are a VIP Shopping Experience with special discounts, complimentary afternoon tea, two complimentary cocktails of the month at The Hamptons Bar, and 20% off a variety of pampering treatments at the Wellness Centre.
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Last Call for an Engadin Autumn Adventure
There are still a few weeks to enjoy a glorious fall getaway in the Engadin before the Grand Hotel Kronenhof closes its doors to prepare for ski season. Daily breakfast buffet and half-board provides plenty of fuel for days of adventure in the Engadin/St. Moritz region, where guests enjoy unlimited use of all open mountain railway systems. Then, return to the hotel for world-class pampering with 10% off treatments at the luxury Kronenhof Spa. The Golden Autumn Days package is available through Oct. 20.
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Grand Hotel Wien, Vienna
Rising above Vienna's world-famous Ringstrasse boulevard, the Grand Hotel Wien first opened its doors in 1870 and was an instant hit with Viennese society. The city's first luxury hotel boasted 300 guest rooms, 200 bathrooms, a steam-powered elevator and telegraph office. In 1894, Johann Strauss celebrated his jubilee with a performance in the grand ballroom.
Today, the Grand Hotel Wien offers 202 elegantly furnished rooms and spacious suites, several of Vienna's top restaurants and bars, and the intimate Grand Spa No605, inspired by the spa bath culture of early 20th century Vienna. Just steps from the Vienna Opera House and other attractions, its lobby opens directly into the upscale shopping center Ringstrassen-Galerian. Learn more about this exceptional hotel here.
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As The Maslow in South Africa's stylish  Sandton debuts its high tea this October, it joins a tradition that is already the stuff of legend at its sister hotels: Palace of the Lost City in Sun City (pictured), the Table Bay Hotel in Cape Town, and the Royal Livingstone Hotel near Victoria Falls in Zambia. Read more about high tea offerings at all four hotels in this Sept. 22 Sun International blog post.
 Guests of Prague's stylish Augustine Hotel, which occupies the site of a 13th-century Augustinian monastery, can sample lager brewed from the resident monks' own centuries-old recipe. Among the unusual features of the hotel's St. Thomas Brewery Bar, located in the cellar of the original brewery, is the floating terracotta floor designed to protect the historic setting.
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On the Road with Greg and Jeannie
Fall is already shaping up to be a productive season, thanks to a heavy sales call schedule that has kept Greg, Sandy and Jeannie on the road non-stop. Throughout September and into October, these include agency visits in Los Angeles, San Francisco, New York City and the Tri-State area, Texas and Chicago.
Late September saw a break in routine, though not productivity, as the team flew down to Cancun for several days of networking at the International Luxury Travel Market Americas show. We'll have more to share in the next Insider.
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Hot Spots
What to do and see in Elite destinations this season:
Il Nuovo Antico
(music concert series) Oratorio San Filippo Neri Bologna, Italy Sept. 16 - Nov. 19, 2-14 Lincoln Center Presents White Light FestivalVarious venues New York, NY Oct. 7 - Nov. 11, 2014 Victoria & Albert Waterfront; Cape Town Int'l Convention Centre Cape Town, S.A. Oct. 12-14, 2014 Frieze Art FairRegent's Park London, England Oct. 15-18, 2014 Rendez-vous Bundesplatz (light show) Parliament Building Berne, Switzerland Oct. 17 - Nov. 30, 2014 Viennale (film festival) Various venues Vienna, Austria Oct. 23 - Nov. 6, 2014 Die Zauberflute Zurich Opera House Zurich, Switzerland Dec. 7, 2014 - Jan. 11, 2015 Bonfire Night (fireworks) Various venues London, England Nov. 5, 2014 Florence Art and Restoration FairFortezza da Basso Florence, Italy Nov. 13-15, 2014 Lucerne Festival at the PianoKKL Luzern and other venues Lucerne, Switzerland Nov. 22-30, 2014 Huguenot MonumentFranschhoek, S.A. Nov. 29-30, 2014 Opening Night: Beethoven's FidelioTeatro alla Scala Milan, Italy Dec. 7, 2014
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