Gauguin, Brel and Paul-Emile Victor never left. Choose the “nomad duo”, a cruise on a 38 foot private catamaran and discover the Iles-sous-le-Vent: Raiatea, Huahine, Taha’a and Bora Bora.

Idleness is guaranteed among these gorgeous landscapes. Diving, swimming and other nautical activities are also available. Another “well-being” bonus being offered is a Tahitian massage. About 6000 euros per person for 10 days and full board leaving from Paris.

The construction of this spectacular cathedral was started in 1882 by Gaudí on an impulse and should not be finished before 2026, the centennial anniversary of the death of Gaudí, or maybe even 2030…

But visiting this cathedral is still amazing! If you don’t suffer from vertigo, take the spiral staircases that go all the way up to the towers. It is guaranteed that you will have a magnificent view of Barcelona! To follow the progress of the construction, you can stay at the Eurostars Gaudi Hotel, a four star establishment of contemporary design. Another site that must be visited if you are a fan of the Gaudí style is the Parque Güell on the hills of Carmel where Gaudí gave free rein to his imagination and built a vast garden made of curves and wonders.

The cross between the new and old world gives you plenty of free time to enjoy the ship’s movie theater. Between the stopovers in Bermuda and the Azores, your days will be filled with movies to see and enjoy as well as debates and lectures by movie professionals, actors, directors, producers and screenwriters.

You must calculate about 3500 euros for 15 nights and the Paris/Havana flight. For information and reservation: Club Med and travel agencies.

The sailboat made up of 32 cabins and designed by the architect du Phocéa will bring you from July 7 to July 15 2008 to Calvi and Bonifacio on the “Beauty Island”, Porto Cervo in Sardaigna, Civitavecchia (Roma), Portoferriao, Elbe Island and even the small but very jet-set port of Portofino on the Ligurian coast.

The small size of the sailboat will allow you to dock between wild coves and steep cliffs as well as have privileged access to five golf courses. Boarding and unboarding take place in Nice. You must count about 3500 euros for an 8 day cruise (excluding flights). For information and reservation: Compagnie des Iles du Ponant.

Each winter on its slopes you can see Calvin Klein, Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones, Kevin Costner, Mariah Carey, Paul Simon, Kurt Russel, Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffiths or the Clinton family. Jack Nicholson also has a home in Aspen and visits every year.

When visiting, three places are not to be forgotten: first there is the St. Regis Hotel where you go to see and be seen. Then on Aspen’s main street, the Jerome Hotel is part of the historic hotels of this resort town where clients such as Johnny Depp, Sylvester Stallone and Donald Trump have stayed. But if you are looking for a quieter place, choose the “Little Nell” which is Sean Connery’s favorite address in Aspen.

Gstaad, the “Beverly Hills of the Alps”
If Liz Taylor, Michael Jackson, Hugh Grant or the former British Prime Minister John major are some of the celebrities that can been seen in Gstaad, this Swiss resort town also has an impressive amount of celebrity residents. Roger Moore has had a secondary residence in Gstaad for many years just like the Italian designer Valentino and Paris Hilton, Mohammed al-Fayed, Ursula Andress, Keanu Reeves, Roman Polanski and Victor Emmanuel de savoir also have a pied-à-terre. Johnny Holiday recently bought a house which caused quite a stir. If you rent a cabin in Gstaad for your holidays, the odds are that you will probably have a famous neighbor!

Crans-Montana, Gstaad’s rival.
When it comes to luxury, Crans-Montana holds its own and has some serious references in the matter. Just this winter this Swiss resort welcomed Prince William of England, Liam Gallagher, James Blunt as well as Carla Bruni and her stepson Jean Sarzozy. Among the loyals of Crans-Montana, Alain Delon is an unconditional visitor of the Grand Hotel du Golf & Palace, one of the best addresses of Crans-Montana and celebrating its 100th anniversary this year. The actress Gina Lollobrigida, the composer Michel Legrand and David Hallyday also have their regular hangouts. The Quebec singer Céline Dion has a very particular connection to this resort town since in 1988, when she was still unknown, she resided in Crans-Montana to prepare for the Eurovision contest. She won the competition which really started her career. Since then, Céline Dion has not forgetten Crans-Montana and visits regularly.

Lionel Richie is one of this hotel’s best clients. There is also the Cheval Blanc with its 34 rooms decorated with mountain photographs taken by Karl Lagerfeld. “Courch” cannot keep count of its celebrities and Gerard Depardieu, Ewan McGregor, the newsreader Arthur, the king of Morocco Mohamed VI as well as the Beckhams are some of those in love with this resort town. Since 1993, the resort has also welcomed the “Trophée Femmes en or ” which rewards every year in December, exceptional women in nine different categories.

Some of the winners have been: Claire Chazal, Julie Depardieu and Audrey Pulvar.

·         With package tour operators, a package including boat transfers and three nights with breakfast is often available for between €700 and €1000 (for the cheaper villas), depending on the season and not including flights, for good four-star accommodation. In order to book into a five-star hotel such as the Huvafen Fushi, the Soneva or the Taj Exotica, budget between €1000 and €1500 per night, depending on the season.

·         One night for four persons in the Presidential villa at the Taj Exotica costs between €4600 and €13,800 per night with breakfast, depending on the season.

·         Massages and Treatments: for individual treatments, the price is quoted in Dollars and is usually equivalent to what would be charged in the best spas in the capital cities of the world. At Soneva, for example, a “Spa Journey” lasting ninety minutes would cost $360, and would consist of a facial treatment, foot bath and body massage. Massages (Shiatsu, Thai, Balinese, Swedish etc) cost around $190 for fifty minutes, and ninety minutes of Hot Stone Therapy will cost around $170.

·         Activities for Well-Being: some are free, such as meditation sessions (a free thirty minute course in Dhyana meditation, for example, is available twice a week at the Conrad Rangali). Some other activities cost money (around $20 for a Tai Chi lesson lasting one hour). The five-day programs with a lifestyle consultant, at Soneva Gili and Soneva Fushi (see “Sanctuaries for the body and mind”), expect to pay around 750 Euros, plus accommodation. 

·         Coco Palm Bodhu Hithi: on the North Malé atoll, this resort offers 100 villas on stilts or beach built in the style of a traditional village, each with its own private pool. The interior design is contemporary, with round bathtubs, pebbles and clean lines. Villas both on the beach and on stilts are available from 144m2 to 188m2, and the hotel contains the Coco Spa, a spa like no other.

·         Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru: on the Baa Atoll, this is a resort consisting of 102 villas opened at the end of 2006, and is the second Four Seasons resort to open in the archipelago, the other being the Four Seasons Kuda Hura. The new complex has more of a contemporary feel to it, and includes a sanctuary dedicated to Ayurveda, named the Ayurvedic Retreat, inside the Landaa Spa, which occupies one hectare. The therapists are from Kerala (the area of India where Ayurveda was born) and also from Sri Lanka. The spa also offers a detoxifying and purifying panchakarma course (only available in a two-week session), and a yoga master, resident within the resort, is always available to give lessons to those wishing to learn or just improve.

·         W Maldives Retreat & Spa: opened in 2006 on the Ari atoll, this is the first W resort on the islands. It consists of 78 individual villas, each with a private pool, set on stilts, and fitted with glass floors. Equipped with the latest gadgets, including plasma screens, mini wine cellars, exterior and interior bathrooms and much more. This resort is notable for the 15 Below bar, an underground bar offering an impressive selection of wines and spirits. And, of course, a spa.

·         Naladhu: opened in March 2007, this development consists of 19 exclusive villas, each comprising 225m2. The style mixes retro with certain influences from Sri Lanka’s colonial past. Each villa has its own private pool, solarium and landscaped garden.

·         Le Diva Resort and Spa: The former White Sands Resort and Spa was re-opened in 2006 by the Mauritanian group, Naїades Resorts, with new developments and a wide variety of improvements to the original design. Full of novelties, it offers stilt and beach villas and a skin-renewing spa, all set along a stunning 2km beach.

·         Stilts or sand is really a question of taste: if scuba diving is what you’re after, sleep on stilts above your own giant pool complete with calm breezes and the sound of the sea. If you prefer palms, gardens and patios, keep your feet in the sand with a villa.

·         A range of accompaniments: it is worth mentioning that several villas offer a variety of extra options with rooms, (including massage tables, Jacuzzis, king-size bathtubs and even private treatment rooms). One spa known to do this is the Village Spa in Conrad Rangali. Another is the Beach Villa Suites at the Taj Exotica, which offers personal treatment rooms for total privacy.

·         Tranquillity as standard: the layout of the Maldives makes it one of the most exclusive destinations in the world for those seeking total solitude. The island hotel system makes it extremely challenging for the paparazzi, and the private villas with room service permit visitors to remain undisturbed. Because of this the Maldives remain prized by celebrities seeking to get away from it all, and also for anybody who desires a feeling of calm during their holiday.

·         The largest villas are situated in the Private Reserve of Soneva Gili (1400m2, enough space to easily accommodate eight to ten people, situated on stilts); also very exclusive are the two “Sunset Villas” of the Conrad, situated on stilts far away from the other villas. On the island of Reethi Rai, the priority of One & Only was to place each villa as far away from the next as possible, allowing every guest their own private space, whether on the beach or in the gardens. This gives the feel of effectively doubling the size of the island.