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DG Amazing Experiences Insider Travel Briefs For Private Aviation Travelers
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Special Report: Taj Campton Place brings small hotel luxury to San Francisco |
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Insider reviews of unique experiences from VIP supercar tours of Italy, treks to see the Polar Bears, safaris in Africa, Cuba by private jet and previews of top suites and villas at hotels and resorts across the USA, Hawaii, the Caribbean, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Brasil, Cambodia, China, Costa Rica, Ecuador, England, Fiji, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Maldives, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Oman, Panama, Portugal, Qatar, Russia, Seychelles, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, Switzerland, Tahiti, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, Vietnam, plus on the high seas aboard Regent Seven Seas Explorer, Seaboard Encore, Crystal Esprit, Crystal Mozart, Crystal Symphony, Norwegian Breakaway, and Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas
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 Dining and Staying in San Francisco
In one of the best cities in the world, there is a surprisingly lack of truly outstanding hotels. Even the various ratings guides agree to disagree and there are only a handful of true 5-star properties. Taj Campton Place brings high touch luxury, gourmet dining and the smallness that San Francisco made famous with the boutique hotel trend. This week we give you a Special Report on India’s Taj Group’s entry into the city by the bay.
All the best,
Doug Gollan Founder/Editor
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Table of Contents
A. Private Aviation Headlines B. Before You Buy Reports - Jets, Yachts, Villas 1. Overview 2. Accommodations 3. Restaurants and Bars 4. Fitness Terrace 5. Meetings and Events 5. Activities 6. VIP Contact 7. Executive Security Reports 8. Jet Card Insider Reports 9. Best Of DG Amazing Experiences Library
A. Private Aviation Headlines
Jet Card Buyer’s Tips
B. Before You Buy Reports
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Special Report: Taj Campton Place
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1. Overview San Francisco has a number very nice hotels, yet only two that get five stars from Forbes Travel Guide – the Four Seasons and St. Regis. Taj Campton Place is one of five properties that get four stars. Interestingly, AAA gives only one hotel here five stars – The Ritz-Carlton. Taj Campton Place is one of 18 hotels that AAA rates four stars for the city. I only mention the above because for a city of its size and stature of San Francisco it has fewer top rated hotels than one might imagine, and there isn’t even a consensus about which ones are truly at the top of the food chain. With that in mind, I returned to one of my favorites – although it has been at least 15 years – staying at Taj Campton Place as it was across the street from a conference I was attending at the Hyatt. I’ve always liked the near Union Square location and while not a high-rise, the quintessential city by the bay views. There are only nine suites out of the 110 keys so if you are looking for a grand villa palazzo presidential suite, you don’t need to bother reading the rest of this report.
Taj Campton Place in my opinion does a good job blending the smallness of the boutique hotels for which San Francisco is famous with the high touch, high-end luxury service for which India’s Taj Group excels. That said, the service was not flawless. More on that in a minute. The hotel gets some good press. The Telegraph calls it “A five-star luxury property just a block off San Francisco's vibrant Union Square. From changing lobby artwork to an on-site Michelin-starred restaurant, the Taj Campton Place is a place even non-guests can enjoy.” In addition to praising its location close to Chinatown, the theatre district and the famed cable cars, the paper wrote, “overall space exudes elegance, with a classic European-style décor that includes contemporary touches, all done up in natural tones with occassional bursts of color.” The restaurant was recently named one of San Francisco’s most romantic by Thriller while Smarter Living called the hotel “best for foodies.”
 The smallness of the hotel enabled me to get from the conference area in the basement of the Hyatt and back up to my 11th floor corner room in less time than if I was staying at the Hyatt. Room service was fast and efficient and my standard club sandwich was fine. Trip Advisor rates Campton Place with 4.5 stars. There are 830 excellent ratings and 294 very good ratings compared to just 37 guests who thought it was terrible. The bad reviews mainly dealt with a $30 facility charge – question what it’s for which is legitimate since it’s a city hotel and there isn’t really any facilities such as a pool or extensive fitness center. 2. Accommodations There are just eight suites available as one suite, its Luxury Suite, is booked by a long-term guest. Executive Suite (2 in this category)
Guests in the 759 sq. ft. Executive Suite enjoy looking out over Union Square and the sweeping views of San Francisco. You can order room service from Campton Place’s award winning restaurant and enjoy a special dinner for two at the lovely dining room set up in the suite. They will serve it by course on request. There is a dining table and living room. Bathrooms are tiled in limestone. Wifi is complimentary for all guests. Campton Suite (6)
At 466 sq. ft., the Campton Suites are situated in the corner of the hotel and enjoy views of Union Square from the from a built-in window seat. There’s a separate living room. 3. Restaurant and Bar Campton Place Restaurant
Michelin-starred fine-dining Californian-Indian Campton Place Restaurant continues to be a city favorite in a city know for great restaurants. Chef Srijith Gopinathan is changing the architecture of California cuisine as he blends California fresh ingredients and the use of its smoke, fire and brining techniques with India’s multi-faceted regional dishes, aromatics and traditional spice blends. Try Halibut with Green Strawberry Chutney, Curry Leaf, and Ghee or Liberty Duck Breast with Fava Greens, Morels, Rhubarb, Cipollini Onions. The again, The Slow Cooked Lamb with Green Garlic, Snap Peas, Pickled Carrots, and Yogurt is enticing as well. Dinner is served Sunday through Thursday 6:00pm to 8:30pm Dinner and 6:00pm to 9:30pm Dinner on Fridays and Saturdays. Campton Place Bar & Bistro
The Campton Place Bar and Bistro offers a small bar and about a dozen tables in an intimate setting. Choice range from New York Steak to Roasted Fult Farms Chicken Breast, the Campton Place Cheeseburger as well as several Indian dishes. Hours aae 11:30 am to 11:00 pm daily with food served until 10:30 pm. 4. Fitness Terrace The Fitness Terrace is open 24 hours and includes TechnoGym equipment. There is one eliptical machine, two treadmills, on stairclimber, two recumbent bikes, one stationary bike, a leg press machine, flexibility anterior and exterior machines. There are also free weights and mats for stretching. 5. Meetings and Events
The 1,350 sq. ft. Campton Room has a built-in marble bar, mirrored credenzas, louvered ceilings,adjacent restrooms and a foyer. It can accommodate 72 in classroom seating, 120 theatre style and 150 for a reception. The Executive Board Room can seat 12.
6. Contact
7. Executive Security Reports
8. Jet Card Insider Program Reviews
9. Our Most Popular Special Reports
If you are looking for more ideas and inspiration, check out some of our most popular Special Reports below... |
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Cuba with your own private jet
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From driving classic cars to cigars, nightlife, nature and the arts, Cuba has so much to do. Johnny Considine, the Irish owner of Cuba Private Travel, who has been living in Havana for 15 years, has been featured in the likes of the Financial Times, Forbes, Conde Nast Traveler and The Telegraph. He recently told How To Spend It, “The quality of experience that you can have now in Cuba is top-notch. He can also arrange a tour of the island nation using your own private jet. Read more..
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Seven hot superyachts for charter this Winter
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We checked in with Northrop & Johnson’s top brokers to find out which superyachts are hot for the charter market this winter, and in our report are seven picks arranged by pricing, high to low. For each super yacht, you’ll find a summary of length, builder, launch and renovation dates, capacity for guests, number of cabins, range of rates, where each boat will be based for the winter season, minimum charter length, captain as well as list of toys.
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Crystal Esprit is perfect for groups up to 64
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Crystal Esprit sits in the wide gap between chartering a super yacht and even the smaller luxury cruise ships that take 200-300 passengers. There are 91 crew and 62 guests, and the passenger areas are spread across four decks.
Explore hidden harbors and out of the way island beaches, swim to shore, splash out on wave runners, water toys and your own private submarine. Crystal Esprit is a 5-star floating resort for just 62 guests. You even can charter the entire yacht for celebrations or meetings. Read more…
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Tour Italy Like a VVIP By Super Car
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1000 All’Ora combines its insider auto industry connections with the best of Italian luxury experiences. They arrange everything from hotels to restaurant reservations, sourcing the specific super car types you want and accompany your group providing VVIP service.
They will also video your experience, including filming by drones, providing you with a memorable look back at your adventure. They arrange factory tours and behind the scenes visits to wineries, ateliers and museums. Below is a sample four-day itinerary, but at the end they will do whatever you want, wherever you want in Italy. Read more…
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Takeovers in The Bahamas, Costa Rica and Panama
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Sometimes you want to takeover the entire place. In this issue we look at three private resorts, visiting The Bahamas, Costa Rica and Panama. Each provides the privacy and personalized service that comes with your own residence, but offer more than a typical villa, and are perfect for friends, family and special events such as wedding and even corporate retreats. Read more…
IF YOU ARE FLYING IN MEXICO OR BASED IN MEXICO, A JET CARD FOR MEXICO...
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A billionaire’s private island resort in Fiji
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Laucala Island in Fiji was once the playground of publishing mogul Malcolm Forbes. Now owned by Red Bull founder Dietrich Mateschitz, it is a private island resort with just 25 oversized villas bringing together high luxury and South Pacific romance in a playground of soft adventure, and even an 18-hole golf course. Each villa is different, designed with an eye to traditional Fijian style and all come with private pools set amidst the palms of coconut plantations, white sand beaches, turquoise lagoons and lush green mountains. Read more…
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Sponsored: Why You Should Buy An Airplane Now!
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 With the new tax laws, if you fly more than 50 hours per year it makes sense to explore ownership options. Ventura Air Services’ CEO Nik Tarascio has authored, “Own Your Own Airplane: It Costs Less Than You Think.”
You can schedule a free consultation with Ventura. They’ll handle everything from arranging a test flight to signing on the dotted line. For a copy of Nik’s book and to start the conversation, click here.
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Why Waikiki is back as a luxury destination
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Waikiki is back as a destination for luxury travelers. The Ritz-Carlton Residences Waikiki Beach has joined the Halekulani, Royal Hawaiian and Trump International as 5-star options. But the real change is that both Waikiki and Honolulu have become a destination fit for foodies, adding to the increasing quotient of luxury shopping. Most importantly, and often overlooked, a quick drive to the other side of Oahu and you will find deserted beaches, hiking, biking and all sorts of soft adventure on par with Hawaii’s outer islands. Read more...
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Montage Los Cabos is Mexico’s newest star
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With luxury hotels and resorts popping up around the world like Starbucks, it says something that the lead travel story in the South China Morning Post’s luxury magazine was recently about a resort on the opposite side of the Pacific Ocean, in this case the Montage Los Cabos, which opened in May. Conde Nast Traveler already put the resort on its list of “New Hotels and Spas Worth Traveling For” with the headline, “You Can Finally Swim in Cabo,” a reference to its location on one of the destination’s few swimmable beaches. In this Special Report we give you a detailed, inside look at its suites, villas and residences and all the amenities and facilities. Read more…
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Luxury on the Bund in Shanghai
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If you are visiting on leisure or have extra time, or this is your first time coming to Shanghai, The Peninsula should be at the top your consideration set. It also has a board meeting room with stunning views of The Bund on the west bank Huangpu River. The area is notable for its beautiful waterfront buildings, many of which have been restored. If you are doing a product launch, there is some nice rooftop space, indoors and outside. Read more…
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Fine and Fun Skyscraper Dining in Bangkok
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lebua at State Tower in Bangkok has become the epicenter of Thailand’s move to award-winning internationaining, with 2-star Michelin restaurant Mezzaluna, Breeze, Sirocco, and soon Chef’s Table under the direction Vincent Thierry of the 3-star Michelin Caprice in Hong Kong. Of course, the nightlife is not restricted to restaurants with a multitude of specialty bars from The Flute A Perrier Jouet and Al fresco 64, a Chivas bar, lebua No. 3, with its caviar shooters and of course the bar that launched a worldwide trend, Skybar (pictured left). Read more...
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Views of the lake in Geneva
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In the center of Geneva, convenient to private banks and the United Nations, Hotel D'Angleterre is hotel with a view of Lake Leman, both from its top suites and fine dining restaurant. Part of the Red Carnation group of boutique luxury hotels, each suite and room has its own unique decor. Don’t forget to check out its new cigar lounge. Read more...
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About DG Amazing Experiences
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 I’ve chosen you to receive DG Amazing Experiences because I believe you share my passion for both business aviation and the best travel and luxury experiences in the world. DG Amazing Experiences is your e-newsletter guide to the best places and experiences for private jet travelers like yourself. The content is personally selected by me with the help of some of the smartest and best travel advisors in the world. My goal is to give you a look ahead at what's new, what's hot, and the best of the best. To make it easy for you, the stories are short, but detailed, and I provide plentiful links to additional, relevant information.
If you are looking for private aviation solutions from on-demand charter to jet cards, fractional and even full ownership, please visit our sister website Private Jet Card Comparisons to access our buyer’s guide to over 250 jet card programs and our exclusive on-demand charter guide. Our VIP assistance program can help you decide which solutions are optimal for you.
Credit: Photos in the fireplaces story provided by each hotel
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