San Diego Hot Spots

I currently reside in the lovely city of San Diego, California and if I do say so myself, it is definitely a fab place for travel - if you do it right.

San Diego has plenty of gorgeous places to lounge if you want a posh night out, and the beach never goes out of style. If you're a fabtraveler and you're going to be breezing through San Diego at some point, you don't want to miss these luxury travel recommendations.

The Ivy Hotel / Envy
Celebs like Meryl Streep, Terrence Howard, John Mayer and Jessica Biel have all graced the tastefully decorated halls with their presence and so can you. The Ivy Hotel is a top notch hotel, and boasts a classy (read: expensive) restaurant called The Quarter Kitchen as well as a sizzling nightclub, aptly named Envy. The place reeks of luxury. Pictured is the Star Suite, a 1275 sq. foot room with, yes, king-size bunk beds, a "performance" pole and a shower that turns opaque when touched (??). I call top bunk!

Moonstone LoungeAnd here I was thinking that the Hard Rock Hotel had passed its prime. The Moonstone lounge, located on the refreshing rooftops of San Diego's Hard Rock Hotel in the famed Gaslamp quarter, is a fabulous place for fabulous lounging. Private poolside cabanas feature lounge seating, flat screen TV's and mini bars all for your personal indulgence.



Stingaree
Stingaree, one of the hottest nightclubs in San Diego takes a fab night out straight to the top - literally. The Oasis at Stingaree is a rooftop lounge for those who need a break "when the action gets too hot inside". Grab a seat next to the cozy fire pit or lounge on one of the Oasis beds. For those who consider themselves true VIPs, eight cabanas are available for reservation.


30 TWO Bar & Lounge
This luxury hang out elevates itself from the rest of the crowd with two words: members only. 30-TWO Bar and Lounge members gain all kinds of VIP access to the place including: a private backdoor entrance, high tech entertainment systems, town car service, personal concierge assistance and special access to entertainment events. In addition to personal nightlife entertainment, 30-TWO Bar and Lounge opens its sleek corridors for corporate trainings, art and music exhibits and openings, and television and movie filming and screenings.

Party Monsters Cabo is Full of Monsters

The idea: Nine ambitious party planners head to the LG Villa in Cabo to see who can throw the ultimate party for Hollywood's hottest A-listers—and only one will return a winner

The problem: It's a reality TV show.

The other problem: They're planning for "hollywood A-listers" so there's a lot of whining and ridiculous requests and apparently the contestants don't know what they're doing. Sounds like another weekly hour of people acting like over the top idiots on camera. Plus, it's a reality TV show.

The other other problem: It's a reality TV show.

But I guess if I got to stay at a luxury Cabo hotel I would toootally do it too. Even if I only had 24 hours to throw a party for Diddy. DIDDY his name is DIDDY come ON people!

Jo-Bro Heats Up in Cabo

Cabo seems to be on the radar an awful lot lately. As evidenced by Heidi and Spencer from The Hills, it's a hot spot for destination weddings in Cabo as well as a Cabo hotel vacation.

Well here's the latest - Jo Bro Joe Jonas was spotted vacationing in Cabo with his new girlfriend! Noooooo already? I thought we were still celebrating sympathizing the breakup with Taylor Swift. Here's the paparazzi-tastic pic:


Scandalous. So who is this girl? It's 10,000 BC star Camilla Belle, with whom Joe has denied being involved. Well we caught you Joe. You want us to believe you brought this girl all the way to Cabo as a demonstration of your friendship? I think not.

Best Hotel Room Views. Ever.

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica (featured Cabo hotel) - Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

Paying the big bucks for a hotel room doesn't just mean a big bed and a grand piano in the middle of your suite. It often means the most incredible views - views you didn't even think existed in real life. Having trouble visualizing that kind of view? Take a look at these from the exclusive Luxury Travel community, Extravigator.com:


Corner Junior Suite (Room 471) at the Hotel Splendido - Portofino, Italy



Grand Velas All Suites & Spa Resort - Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico



Singita Boulders Lodge - Sabi San Reserve, South Africa



La Sirenuse - Positano, Italy



29th floor of the Bellagio's Spa Tower - Las Vegas, NV



The REAL Eiffel Tower. The Hotel Le Meurice - Paris, France


And my personal favorite, drumroll please....


Royal Suite at the Birkenhead House - Hermanus, South Africa. Now that's what I call luxury travel!

Want to see a few more of the best hotel room views in the world? Visit Extravigator.com.

Take the Celebrity Travel Quiz

Think you're up to date on all your celebrity gossip?

Well iVillage has put together this little quiz to see just how much you know about celebs and all the fabulous places they travel.

Where did Brad and Jen spend their final weekend as a couple? Where do Cam Diaz and Drew Barrymore like to hang out? If you don't already know you can totally find out! Enough talk, test your knowledge and take the quiz here!

Cabo Hotel Pueblo Bonito Rose Reveals New Upgrades

Pueblo Bonito Rose, an all-suite Cabo hotel and resort, has unveiled some welcome enhancements. I looked up reviews for this resort and many people said that the rooms were outdated. Well guests new and old will be glad to know that they've majorly updated their look. They've redone their suites with new furniture, design and decoration, they've revamped their gourmet restaurant Fellini's (tres chic) and they've even added a new beachfront sushi restaurant and an Internet Cafe. Sounds abso-lovely Pueblo Bonito, congrats! Wanna see a magic trick? Here's some exclusive pics:

BEFORE:


AFTER:

Ooh la la!

Hotelchatter.com listed Pueblo Bonito Rose as an ideal Cabo hotel to visit for winter vacations a while back (check out the article here), and in light of that I'm seriously considering visiting. I hear airfaire to Cabo is pretty affordable as of late too. AND, as if I needed anymore incentive go to, PuebloBonito.com is offering a 25% discount for booking through thier site. Sweet!

Oh Cabo, you've stolen my heart. Now if only I could convince my friends to go with me...

New Wynn Hotel Scheduled to Open Dec 22

Want more Wynn? You got it. A fabulous new luxury Wynn hotel called Encore is opening right next to the old one in Vegas. Every room is a suite! Woo! Although I have no idea why you would want to open a brand new, relatively expensive hotel in these times, it still sounds pretty cool and is probably worth a reservation. Also you have to give the guy credit for sitting on the roof of his hotel to introduce it. Hey, if you got the dough, why not spend it?

Luxury Travel Tips: FabTravel on a Budget

As much as we all love the idea of FabTravel, it's not always possible to live the complete celeb luxury life. I think I'm definitely feeling that right now. So in response, I've decided to put together a few tips on how to travel in the Fab lane but still save a few bucks. I swear, it's possible.

Tip #1: Do your research. It can get a little time-consuming, but when it comes to getting good deals on a luxury Cabo hotel and the like, searching for good prices will almost always save you some dough. Sites like farecast.com not only gives you results for all the hotels in your desired area, it can even tell if the current rate is a deal, average, or overpriced.

Tip #2: Pack light. If you really want to commit to the luxury lifestyle, you don't need to bring a lot of stuff! You're staying at a fab hotel so chances are they're going to provide you with everything you could want including snazzy toiletries and a lovely robe or towel you can lounge in all day. So forget extra clothes and anything that will weigh you down - you'll only end up paying extra fees for your extra baggage at the airport!

Tip #3: Try the local fare! Luxury travel isn't just about staying at a luxurious hotel, it's about being in a new and different place. If you're in a city or country that has some unique food to offer, try going local and buying some authentic street fare. This way, you won't be spending a fortune on a 5 star gourmet meal EVERY night and day of your vacay. It's a great way to experience the area at it's best- plus it's fun!

Tip #4: Travel with friends. Split the cost of everything and you could save big bucks on your luxury suite, bottle service at luxury night clubs, a limo, or anything else that is a little too posh for just one. It's worth a shot and you'll have an excellent time living in the fab lane with your peeps. Can't go wrong there!

Do you have a tip? Let me know in the comments and I'll add it!

-MissFab

How to Judge a Hotel by Its Website

We know you've all heard the saying "don't judge a book by its cover," but that doesn't apply when it comes to hotels and their websites. The quality of a hotel website can be a very telling factor when it comes to the quality of the hotel itself. I found an interesting video on About.com on just how to judge a hotel based on its website. Check it out!

Submit Your Luxury Travel Stories

Got any info on the latest in Fabtravel?
Did you go on a fabulous vacation and want to brag about it?
Send me a comment or message and I'll feature it on the blog!

Best of: Cabo Hotels

As Cabo San Lucas continues to grow as a luxury travel destination, the hotels and resorts are becoming increasingly fabulous. Now that travel isn't really the first thing on everyone's mind, the best Cabo hotels are offering the occasional discounted rate. Yippee!

So what do I mean by "fabulous"? Beautiful rooms, gorgeous views, impeccable service, luxury spas and more...each of these Cabo hotels wish to offer the entire luxury experience. Enjoy!

Pueblo Bonito Pacific Holistic Retreat and Spa

The ultimate luxury Cabo hotel for complete relaxation. Pueblo Bonito Pacifica is strategically located away from the hustle and bustle of the strip of Cabo hotels on Medano Beach. A private beach completes the romantic atmosphere (no kids allowed). Travel tip: Check out their beach bed packages!

The Esperanza

The Esperanza may be a small boutique resort, but it is every bit as luxurious as its rivals. Newly renovated in 2007, The Esperanza is a sophisticated, intimate hideaway. With beautiful oceanview casitas and ten luxury suites, every detail is artfully executed.

The One and Only Palmilla

A great resort for honeymooning couples and families alike, The One and Only Palmilla is, as its name implies, a remarkable place. If you long for picturesque oceanviews, this resort is it. All rooms have ocean front or beach front views and the 24-hour butler service doesn't hurt.

Las Ventanas al Paraiso

Las Ventanas is all about pampering its guests. From the cuisine to the spa to the rooms, the resort is top notch in every respect. All suites have marble showers and Conchuela limestone floors, some even with personal telescopes!

Dreams Los Cabos

Another great resort for families, and a popular destination for weddings, Dreams Los Cabos is an all-suite resort perfect for those seeking a balance between luxury and exploring all that Cabo has to offer.

While all of these Cabo hotels are definitely in the realm of FabTravel, each has its own unique luxury flair!

Be Fab, Shop By Appointment in a Limo

In Vancouver, you don't have to be a celebrity to shop in the fab lane. You probably do have to be at least a little rich, though.

As if your trip to British Columbia needed to get any better, Vancouver now offers Shopping By Appointment Tours.

So here's the breakdown: You, in a limo or town car, being taken to a bunch of high-end stores picked with your specific desires in mind, on a 3 or 4 hour shopping extravaganza, all for $500-690. Don't forget to bring extra dough for all the shopping you'll be doing.

The neighborhoods range from Granville Island to Robson Street, Chinatown to the South Granville Rise and you’ll check out everything from haute couture designs to museum quality First Nations art.

The Shopping Tours have such enticing titles as Carts and Bling Bling, Shoes! Shoes! Shoes!... Shoes? I don't need to say another word. But I will: There are 26 different tours to select from. Wahoo!

Luxury Travel = Luxury Spas

When I think of Fab Travel I think of enjoying a star-studded day at a Cabo spa. Massage, facial, body wrap, mud mask, sauna, mani, pedi, the whole she-BANG. Ahhhh, pampering.

Here are the top spas from across the globe. If you can't actually go to them, maybe you can relax by visualizing yourself there...

Four Seasons Hotel George V, Paris, France

This Parisian spa has all the good stuff but where it really shines is with its private treatment rooms, a private VIP room with a whirlpool, sauna, steam bath and two massage beds, and a relaxation room with three lounge chairs and private music stations. Talk about luxury!

Chiva-Som International Health Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand

Besides a beautiful tropical surroundings, this beachfront resort uses indigenous herbs, flowers, and oils in its spa treatments.

Signature Treatment: The Revitalizing Body Cocoon, which starts with an invigorating lemongrass-spice scrub, followed by an aromatherapeutic body wrap to stimulate circulation and calm the senses. (Offered as part of Chiva-Som Spa Packages, starting at $1,650 for 3 days.)

Golden Door, Escondido, California

The Golden Door spa is a favorite of Hollywood celebrities, as its location and treatments allow for a 5-star escape. The spa hosts week-long health, beauty, and relaxation programs.

Signature Treatment: The 45-minute Citrus-Sea Salt Scrub with Avocado includes a full-body exfoliation with aromatic sea salts, a warm water wash, and mosturization with a citrus-shea butter body cream (part of a seven-day program, $7,750).

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, Cabo San Lucas, Mexico

This luxury Cabo spa is all about complete holistic relaxation and cleansing. An adults-only Cabo resort, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica takes a cue from its beautiful surroundings and treats its guests to the ultimate luxury spa treatment.

Signature Treatment: Jantsu Water Therapy. This deeply relaxing aquatic experience simulates a dolphin’s dance and is an energetic therapy that takes you underwater into a deep state of peaceful meditation. ($130.00)

Couples Negril, Jamaica

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, Kailua-Kona


Signature Treatment: During the Polynesian Niu (Coconut) Scrub, a blend of organic coconut and pineapple products is used to polish and massage the whole body—which is then wrapped in a warm blanket and moisturized with soothing coconut milk (80 min, $220).

Mii Amo at Enchantment Resort, Sedona, Arizona


Signature Treatment: The Mii Amo Spirit—an hour-long treatment that combines energy balancing and massage with guided healing visualization ($140).

Equinox Resort & Spa, Manchester Village, Vermont


Signature Treatment: The Equinox Legend combines a skin analysis and facial along with a healing body wrap. Both treatments are customized with specific salts, sugars, muds, seaweeds, and fragranced oils to target particular skin types (80 min., $185).

St. Regis Resort, Aspen, Colorado


Luxury travel at it's best! Signature Treatment: The Remede Customized Massage is based on a one-on-one consultation to focus the relief (1 hour, $155).

Luxury Hotel Rooms of the Future

So we don't have flying cars, but German scientists have taken a cue from The Jetsons and are working on the luxury hotel room of the future. According to HotelChatter.com, the room is super-techy, with features like sensor-lined carpet that heats up the room when the guest arrives and a bed that "simulates a light pendulum motion" that gently rocks you to sleep. Weird. I wonder if that actually helps you sleep. I guess it has to.

The futuristic-ness doesn't stop there, though. The bathroom is equipped with infrared beams from the walls that instantly transform your ho-hum toilet-center into a sauna, complete with a whirlpool set in the floor.

Lastly - perhaps the most creepy part - at the touch of a switch, a robot delivers the drink of your choice (visions of I, Robot dancing in my head). Well, I guess the creepiest part is how WHITE and sterile-looking the room is in the picture.

That's quite a step up from the luxury Cabo hotels I've been to lately. But we are talking about the future here! I think I still prefer the ocean view hotel room...

FabTravel Made Easier – You want to vacation in a Cabo Hotel? GO FOR IT

Fabulous travel just got better - and more accessible. Popular airline Southwest is teaming up with Mexican carrier Volaris to add flights to fabulous locations like Cabo and Puerto Vallarta. By joining forces, the two airlines hope to bring lower fares and better customer service across the U.S./Mexican border. Volaris will offer flights to the U.S. starting in 2009 and in 2010 they will become Southwest Airlines’ Mexico codeshare partner.

So hopefully in a few short months we’ll be jet-setting our way to a luxury Cabo hotel, basking in the sun and forgetting our troubles. Woo!

For more information on the merge, check out Southwest’s blog: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/viva-mexico

Cute Celebs with Cute Luggage

...in cute airports?

Not really. But the bags are awesome! Check out these fabulous celebrities with their fabulously cute luggage! Also get ideas for what's in for designer luggage this winter. If you want to travel like the celebs, you've gotta stick with the high end brands. Louis Vuitton and Prada always seem to lead the pack. Not only are the very good quality pieces, they're super classy and stylish.

Beyonce, Louis Vuitton Patchwork Bag

Victoria Beckham, Prada Napa Fringe Tote Bag in Brown


Fergie and Marc Jacobs

Cameron Diaz, Prada handbag and Louis Vuitton luggage

Jessica Simpson, Prada Napa Gauffre Frame Bag


Eva Longoria, Salvatore Ferragamo Annabella bag in a dark cherry patent

Want to see more cute luggage? Check out my previous post on Designer Luggage for Fall and Winter 2008.

Gorgeous Sunsets at Cabo Hotel, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica Reviews

I stumbled across a great travel blog with some beautiful pictures of Cabo sunsets. These pictures were taken by the authors of the LA76 Strategic Design blog. The location is Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, a luxury hotel in Cabo San Lucas.






That beach bed looks like the peak of luxury travel to me! Ohhh what I wouldn't give to be at a Cabo hotel right now! For more information and to read Pueblo Bonito Pacifica reviews, visit www.mypueblobonito.com.

See the rest of the collection at LA76 Strategic Design: Sucker for Sunsets

Destination Weddings in Cabo

What better way to chase away the winter blues than to escape to a tropical paradise and get hitched!?

A particularly popular idea is destination weddings in Cabo, and with good reason. Cabo has amazing weather, beautiful beaches, gorgeous luxury resorts and, well, it's Cabo. It speaks for itself really. Anyhoo, here are some pictures I gathered from resorts and hotels for some destination wedding in Cabo inspiration.

Ceremony at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica

Fun, beachy table set. Love the colored wine glasses!
Photo: Pueblo Bonito Pacifica

Starfish, navy, beachy theme. So cute!
Photo: www.weddingchicks.com

A classy (and classic) dinner set. Can't go wrong with silver.
Photo: Pueblo Bonito Pacifica

Beach wedding in Cabo!! Gotta have that harp.
Photo: Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach

Inspiration from Christina Aguilera's bachelorette party in Cabo. Can you say beach bed?
Photo: www.weddingchicks.com.

Beach wedding again. I imagine getting married and then just running into the ocean with glee.
Photo: Pueblo Bonito Sunset Beach

For more advice and tips on destination weddings in Cabo, visit the Pueblo Bonito Weddings Page

Oh, The Fabulous Life...

“The cool thing about being famous is traveling. I have always wanted to travel across seas, like to Canada and stuff.”

Britney Spears

Travel 2.0 - Traveling in a Web 2.0 World

I recently came across some interesting sites that are quite intriguing for the travel savvy. In any case, they're a good way to pass the time if you're bored on the Internet. Journeys is probably my fave on the list because you can see some really amazing pictures you don't really find on other travel sites.

Jneys.com - Travel the world without ever leaving your house! Journeys is an amazing visual adventure to some of the most beautiful places in the world.

CostToDrive.com - calculate how much it would cost to drive from Point A to Point B. This site is particularly useful if you'd like to see whether flying or driving would be more economical. Unfortunately, the site only does locations within the use. So if you're like me and you live in San Diego and you wanted to see how much it would cost to drive to to your favorite Cabo hotel, then you're outta luck!

Onebag.com - the ultimate guide to packing light. Categories include what to pack, what to pack it in and how to pack it.

BestRestroom.com - ever wanted to know what America's best bathrooms looks like? Well now you can see them in all of thier decorative glory...and then maybe you can start a roadtrip and visit them all?