Rich? Flipper Will Be Your Friend

Okay, I confess - the reason I'm writing this post is because I've always wanted to swim with dolphins. You don't have to be a super duper luxury traveler to enjoy some quality time with a fun-loving dolphin, but it is definitely not for the shoestring traveler. Heck, if you want to enjoy a group session with dolphins at The Atlantis Hotel in Dubai you have to shell out 230 big ones...per person.

Be prepared to hand over and arm and a leg if you want individual or small group dolphin interaction (why would you want anything else?). If you're a celebrity, it's probably free though. Take Mischa Barton for example:



After partying with a host of celebrities at the opening extravaganza of the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai back in November, she took some time out to play with a dolphin in the resort's Aquaventure water park. Looks like she got a professional photographer to play too!

Fabulous Photo: The Giant Windsail Hotel

What? This is crazy looking. This is the W Barcelona, scheduled to open October 1, 2009. According to the W Hotel website, it's "nothing but sweet dreams in 473 inviting rooms."

I don't think anything else about the hotel can top its exterior, but the interior is sure going to try. The giant wind sail hotel will feature world-class gourmet restaurants, "sensual rooftop bar" (not sure how they are going to accomplish that), a decadent spa and state-of-the-art meeting spaces.

(Image: www.ricardobofill.com)

Luxury Travel Must-Have: Cabo Beach Beds

Being in bed is a great place to be, especially if you're trying to relax. But being in bed on a beautiful white sand beach in Cabo takes the luxury travel cake.

Before this year, I thought beach beds only existed in music videos but now I know that I, too, can be fabulous and lay in bed on the beach. Luxury resorts in legendary beach hot spots like Cabo, Hawaii and Thailand offer this amazing opportunity that everyone seems to want to know more about and I am no exception.

One of my favorite Cabo hotels, Pueblo Bonito Pacifica, offers what they call the "Beach Royalty Packages":



I'm sold.

The Couples Royalty Day Package includes:

• Your own curtained bed on the hotel's beautiful private beach
• Two iPods
• Two cocktails
• Two bottles of Voss water
• Your choice of a snack or lunch from a special menu

OR, if you want to spend a romantic evening, you can enjoy a delicious three-course meal, complete with Voss water and a domestic drink. "Dinner begins at 6pm, the rest is up to you." Oh RLY?

Sounds like heaven to me, and the perfect way to spend time with your significant other. Even if it's your dog.

Celebs Invade Cabo for the New Year

If you haven't heard, celebrities are flocking to Cabo resorts. The list of big timers who visited Cabo to ring in the New Year include: Cindy Crawford, Kid Rock, Jennifer Aniston and John Mayer, Courtney Cox and fam, Ben Harper and fam and George Clooney. Phew!

Luxury Camping is In-Tents

Luxury camping is all the rage for FabTravelers. Who knew that camping doesn't have to be all about dirt and roughing it? Places like Mauritius, Thailand and Australia all have luxurious tent resorts that just may be the unique high-end experience you've been looking for. If you cringe at the thought of dirty feet and infrequent showering but love the romance of star gazing and being one with nature then luxury camping is for you.

Le Martis Camp - Kenya. Experience Africa - with style. The camp is beautifully designed by camp owner Lemarti's wife, Anna Trzebinski, but its intention is to immerse you in an authentic and awe-inspiring African environment.

Greystoke Mahale, Tanzania. Located on the Beach at the edge of Lake Tanganyika, in the Mahale Mountains National Park; it doesn't get more remote than this. This luxury camping ground (with running water, no less) can only be accessed by charter flight and is home to the world's largest known population of chimpanzees. Every day you can venture out into the forest to observe them. Oh, and you can't book with them directly, you need to find a reputable Tour Operator who specializes in African travel. Yeah.

Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle, Thailand. You need a river boat to get to this "camp ground" that features only 15 luxury tented accommodations. Take a bath in your hand-hammered copper tub on your all-inclusive three- or four-night stay, then train a few elephants and embark on an excursion through the exotic bamboo jungle.

Banjaar Tola Kahna National Park, India. A jungle safari lodge fit for the movies. Situated along the banks of the Banjaar River, Banjaar Tola is actually the third safari lodge in the Taj Resorts family. It is set to open in early 2009. Did I mention that Kahna National Park is also a tiger reserve? Rawr.