Vivid Resorts & Getaway Dreams: The 2010 Luxury Travel Expo - Feature

The reasoning in pursuit of the functionality of luxury which has fast become the advent of modern socity with the aspect of technology ranging to the farthest corners of the earth functions in the possibilities of what is being offered. While many countries work to satisfy the cravings and possibilities of their constituents from Thailand to Egypt to South Africa to Italy, the idea rests in what travelers want to experience and is often a changing proposition. Bringing different ideals from resorts to tour operators to cruise ships and the aforementioned tourism boards, The Luxury Travel Expo at Mandalay Bay Las Vegas attempts to cross-section the different mindsets in one place which at times is a very rare thing indeed.Land destinations traverse the ideal and while many just simply have to be done (Thailand and Tahiti) come to mind, new structures and out-of-the-way viewpoints play to a certain dichotomy. At the inset, Iceland is a quick jump from New York. Anytime one flies to London, the island comes into play with extensive nature as well as mineral spas to placate the hardest of hearts. For the arts oriented within a structure supported by IcelandAir, the Airwaves Festival which occurs in October brings in both local and internationally lauded bands. Food & Fun in late February highlights cuisine while the white wondrous beauty reigns within the island.Peru, situated half a world away, has also been regarded for its gateway city in Lima. With 100 years of culture within Maccha Piccu. However in terms of cuisine in structure, heading up the coast to Trujillo along with the Citadels provides a balance to the exceptional national park and luxurious surroundings of Paracas.For a closer jump within the US but just far enough away for a taste of exoticism, Puerto Rico speaks the knowledge of foodies with the Saborea Festival in April exciting the taste buds along with the exceptional rum of the island paradise. Also in reflection, the ongoing Puerto Rico Zest which offers an exceptional dine-around fixe price menu allows for a more completely experience.Cruises, with the exceptional technology at our finger tips has become the idea of the floating palaces that the engineers early in the last century only dreamed about. However the most ultra luxurious sometimes doesn't compare to a true adventure.Pandaw River Cruises, which only recently have been operating with distinction in Burma and, just this year, Laos offers a grand view of the different elements of Southeastern Asia that many people have only sought until now. The 14-day cruises on fully luxurious steam ships include afternoon tea, cocktails and hor d'oevres every evening, drinks and local spirits included, all scheduled shore excurisions. Breakfast and lunch are open air and single seated while the dinners are candlelit all included within a double occupancy stateroom on board.Norwegian and Holland America Cruise Lines, by comparison, offer a completely different experience but distinct depending on the luxury needs of the guest. HA has recently begun highlighting their Culinary Arts Center in cooperation with Food & Wine (which also did Taste Of Beverly Hills) which involves cooking demos on-ship and wine tastings with specified cellar masters. NCL, by comparison, is moving within a themed structure with some of their programs. In addition to their signature steakhouses, Cirque Dreams & Dinner (offered exclusively in the Spiegel Tent on the Norwegian Epic) offers texture with eclectic entertainment while "Presumed Murdered", a dinner mystery collaboration from novelist Scott Turow ("Presumed Innocent") & Second City offers an immersive experience.From a more specific art-based niche cruise perspective, Avalon Waterways offers three new cruises that encapsulate a true Old World vision with New World ways. Within France both the "Arts & Impressions River Cruise" (which takes one on a tour through many of the defining museums of the arena) to the "Burgundy & Provence Jazz River Cruise" (from which you attend the Vienne Jazz Festival as well as listen to jazz onboard most evenings while sailing down the Rhone and the Saone), the possibilities are both soothing and enlightening. However, the propensity of the "Legendary Danube Wine Cruise" which takes its passengers from Prague to Budapest allows for a vivid cross-section of tastes and views.Moving from Europe to Asia, the possibilities inherent in full group tours within Hong Kong, Macau and Singapore show a growing distinction which simplifies the infrastructure for Western travelers. China Discovery Tours offers a 7 Day/6 Night package from $2349 a person which includes air/hotel/meals as well as tickets to the Hong Kong Food & Wine Festival (date dependent). GTS Globotours offers a 8 Day/6 Night Signapore/Hong Kong A380 Experience which includes round trip from Los Angeles to Hong Kong, flight between Hong Kong and Singapore aboard the A380 as well as 3 Nights accommodation and tours in each city. Their Hong Kong Chinese New Year: Year Of The Rabbit Package, from 1599 per person for 7 Days/5 Nights includes round trip from LAX or SFO with tickets to Chinese New Year Parade and Chinese New Year's Eve Dinner.Approaching Japan from a separate perspective, the intention of Hiroshima with its extensive sake breweries, bugatu dances and the Otorii Gate offers a rich heritage with inevitability of its significance during World War II with the texture of the Hotel Granvia provided tangible luxury for the world traveler. While the Hiroshima Airport is easily accessible, those interested in witness the sites over land can perceive through the Japan Rail Pass which offers Tokyo access with a Kyoto stop.Jumping through the Pacific to Hawaii's Big Island, Kona Village, just abreast of the Four Seasons Hualalai offers a distinct different world experience. Bereft of television and the modernization (but still with Blackberry access), this secluded hideaway offers the best of both worlds while offering visions and mood unparalleled.Packaged perspectives for the business traveler on the go jumping between New York and points overseas always becomes obstacles because of the suspension of supersonic service. However necessaries allow for both luxury and efficiency.Open Skies offers business class service non-stop from JFK to Paris that idealizes the new market where Europe can become a weekend getaway. Interacting with this perspective is Paris Luxe Apartments which offers ultra exclusive accommodations where view, area and amenities are just the beginning of the experience.Speaking of airlines with the getaway potential, IcelandAir offers quick stops from the East Coast to a point halfway to Europe, a spot renown for its possibility. If long shore and extensive business possibility in Dubai is in perspective, then Emirates with its A380 service from JFK and Heathrow is inevitably enraptured with the future. With its luxurious design replete with onboard showers and lounge, to say nothing about the First Class private suites, Emirates corners the long range market.In both representing and highlighting the vivid possibilities in luxury ramifications around the world, Luxury Travel Expo allowed for the perspective that within land based uber resorts, floating palaces on the sea and luxurious visions with the air, all textures are covered for the traveler looking for the next generation of life elevated.