Category Archives: Private Islands

The most expensive resort in the world is ready for a rebrand.

When the Philippines' Banwa Private Island had its soft opening in May 2019, it boasted a nightly rate of $100,000. The luxury resort offered six oceanfront beach villas, spacious Jacuzzis, and infinity pools that's in addition to 12 garden rooms with panoramic views of the island. The grounds were replete with everything from spas to elevated bar lounges, and guests had access to jet skis and yachts.

Then came a pandemic-related closure in 2020. When the resort reopened in May 2021, it was to a greatly reduced cost: Its new nightly rate was $45,000.

The reduced rate is part of the resort's effort to revamp its reputation as the world's most expensive resort.

"We don't want to claim that title right now," the resort's marketing consultant, Judith Los Banos, told Insider on a video call. "We had a different team [when it launched] who wanted to market it as the most expensive," she added.

Banwa now wants to be known as an "air travel bubble" destination that offers "crowd-free" luxury holidays amid the pandemic. It's cut down capacity, too: Banwa now allows 36 people to stay on the island during charters, down from 48 guests when it first opened. The resort formed a partnership with aviation company Ascent Flights Global in December to introduce private air travel to their guests, per their website.

"We want the guests to be more comfortable and to have [more] privacy," said Los Banos.

The discounted price comes with a minimum three-night stay, which means that even with the price cut, guests have to spend at least $135,000 to charter the island.

The resort was initially only for exclusive charters, but Los Banos said individual villas are now also available for bookings. The nightly rate for a villa starts from $2,500 for two guests, with a three-night minimum stay.

Los Banos said the villas are the most popular option for guests staying on the island. Each villa comes with a private butler and full board meals, which include breakfast, lunch, a choice of afternoon snack, and dinner.

Banwa may have an outsized reputation because of its price tag, but it hasn't played host to many guests.

"There were some days we didn't have any guests," Los Banos said.

Los Banos estimated that "almost" 100 guests have stayed on the island. She added that the resort's clientele are "very private people [who] don't usually have social media accounts."

Fiona Harper, a travel writer who visited Banwa on a media tour in 2019, told Insider the "personal attention from the staff" was what made the island special.

"Much of the value at this high end [resort] is in the privacy it buys," Harper added.

The resort is located in tourist paradise Palawan in the Sulu Sea, where many of the country's most famous private islands are located.

One these islands is Amanpulo, which is managed by Aman Resorts, the famed hospitality company with resorts in places like New York, Venice, and Bali. The resort's nightly rate for its villas start from around $1,430. Amanpulo boasts a star-studded clientele, including celebrities like Bill Gates, Mariah Carey, and Beyonce.

"Banwa is in the Sulu Sea so it's not as popular as other beaches," said Los Banos on what sets them apart from other resorts. "It's a garden island with a beautiful landscape, without dangerous animals like other parts of Palawan. It's like a private sanctuary," she added.

Link:

The most expensive resort in the world is looking for a rebrand - Insider

Former world No. 1 tennis player Ana Ivanovic and Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Marco Verratti are among several sports stars to buy virtual islands in The Sandbox, the blockchain-based virtual world computer game. Islands were also bought by Bayern Munich winger Kingsley Coman, Swiss tennis player Stan Wawrinka and Dan Holzmann, co-owner of the Swiss soccer club FC Basel.

Exclusible, an NFT marketplace that works with luxury brands, sold a total of 25 private islands in The Sandbox for a combined 910 ETHwhich currently equals about $2.9 million. Exclusible limited sales of its last available virtual private islands to influencers with at least 1 million social media followers. Former Victorias Secret model Sara Sampaio was among those to buy the digital land, as well as crypto trading platform eToro, which ran an ad during Super Bowl LVI.

Coman, who also plays for the French national team, bought his metaverse island in collaboration with CHMPS PARISSE, a French streetwear brand that will promote its products in The Sandbox. The Sandbox is owned by Hong Kong-based Animoca Brands, which also made Olympic pin NFTs for the IOC.

Warner Music Group, Adidas, Gucci, Atari and Snoop Dogg are among other brands and celebrities to have bought land in The Sandbox to launch NFTs and digital experiences in its virtual world. On Tuesday, JP Morgan launched a virtual lounge in Decentraland, which competes with The Sandbox for metaverse prowess as virtual worlds fueled by cryptocurrencies.

Whether its large tech players such as Microsoft planning to create realistic workspaces, or Ariana Grande holding a concert in Fortnite, the opportunities presented by interactive, digital worlds seem limitless, reads a report from JP Morgan. The metaverse will likely infiltrate every sector in some way in the coming years, with the market opportunity estimated at over $1 trillion in yearly revenues.

JP Morgans report titled Opportunities in the metaverse says$54 billion per year is spent on virtual goods and that NFTs have a current market cap of $41 billion. The report also says that 60 billion messages per day are sent on Roblox, whose users have been able to buy NFL-branded digital jerseys and helmets to dress their in-game avatars and visit Nikes virtual campus called Nikeland.

The term metaverse was first used in Neal Stephensons 1992 dystopian science fiction novel Snow Crash, but the phrase has burst in popularity since Facebook rebranded to Meta last year to re-position itself as a metaverse first company. Rob Shaw, director of North America sports partnerships at Meta, will speak more on the companys metaverse vision at SportTechies State Of The Industry conference from April 12-13 at One World Trade Center in New York.

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Athletes and Celebs Pay $2.9M for Islands in Metaverse - SportTechie

Good morning. Its Wednesday. Well look at settlements in two high-profile lawsuits one filed against the company that manufactured that AR-15-style rifle used in the Sandy Hook school massacre in Connecticut 11 years ago, the other filed against Prince Andrew by a teenage victim of his friend, Jeffrey Epstein.

The families in the Sandy Hook settlement said it was worth $73 million. The money, to come from insurance companies for the gun manufacturer Remington, was believed to be the largest payout ever in a liability case against a gun maker.

But beyond the money, the settlement represented a major setback for the gun industry. The lawsuit had used a novel legal strategy to sidestep a federal law that shields gun companies from litigation. The families lawyers argued that the gun maker had violated Connecticuts consumer protection law by promoting its products in ways that appealed to so-called couch commandoes and troubled young men like the 20-year-old gunman who stormed into Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., on Dec. 14, 2012, killing 20 first graders and six adults.

Similar consumer protection measures in other states, including New York, could provide a framework for families of victims in other mass shootings.

[Sandy Hook Families Settle for $73 Million With Gun Maker Over Massacre]

This is an important win for victims of gun violence and the movement to hold the gun industry accountable, said Jonathan Lowy, chief counsel for Brady, the gun control group formerly known as the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, which has been suing gunmakers and dealers since the late 1990s. It sends a powerful message to these executives even with your special protections, you can and will be held accountable for gun violence.

Lawyers for the company did not immediately return calls for comment. The agreement was disclosed in documents filed in Connecticut Superior Court on Tuesday that did not provide details of the settlement, including the amount the families would receive. And the settlement will be paid by insurance companies that had represented Remington because it is in bankruptcy. As a result, gun industry officials said that the decision to settle was not made by a member of the firearms industry.

Remington had proposed settling with the families for $33 million last year as a trial date approached. Josh Koskoff, the lead lawyer for the families, said in July that they had rejected the offer because of its glaring inadequacy.

The families had maintained that Remington marketed the AR-15-style Bushmaster rifle as a weapon of war, using slogans and product placements in violent video games played by troubled young men like the Sandy Hook gunman. One ad showed a photograph of the rifle with the words Consider your man card reissued.

The families had said that a central goal of the lawsuit was to pry open the industry and expose it to more scrutiny. Remington had resisted turning over any internal documents, arguing that the families had not presented a legal justification for seeking them.

But lawyers for the families said on Tuesday that Remington had agreed to release thousands of pages of internal company documents, including possible plans for how to market the weapon used in the massacre a stipulation that had been a key sticking point during negotiations.

Nicole Hockley, whose 6-year-old son was killed, said the documents included in the settlement were crucial and paint a picture of a company that lost its way, choosing more aggressive marketing campaigns for profit.

Weather

Expect a sunny day with temps reaching the mid-40s. In the evening, will be partly cloudy with temps in the low 40s.

alternate-side parking

In effect until Monday (Washingtons Birthday).

Weeks before he was to be questioned under oath, Prince Andrew settled a lawsuit brought by Virginia Giuffre, who had accused him of raping her when she was a teenage victim of Jeffrey Epstein.

The financial terms of the settlement, announced in a court filing in Manhattan, were not disclosed. The deal saved Andrew, the disgraced second son of Queen Elizabeth II, from having to go to trial. Giuffre had claimed that Andrew, known as the Duke of York, sexually abused her when she was under 18 at Epsteins mansion in Manhattan and on Epsteins private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

The lawsuit had cast a shadow over the royals as Queen Elizabeth was celebrating 70 years on the throne, the longest reign of any British monarch. Last month she stripped Andrew of his military titles, and Buckingham Palace said he would no longer use the title His Royal Highness.

Andrew, in a joint statement by the two sides that was attached to the court filing, did not admit to any of Giuffres accusations but said that it was known that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked countless young girls over many years. He also said that he regrets his association with Epstein and commends the bravery of Ms. Giuffre and other survivors in standing up for themselves and others.

That characterization of Giuffre was noticeably different from the way Andrews lawyers had described her when they moved to have the lawsuit dismissed last fall. The lawyers said then that Giuffre has initiated this baseless lawsuit against Prince Andrew to achieve another payday at his expense and the expense of those closest to him.

Eva Petric creates site-specific artworks and oversees their installation. She was on hand with the technicians and the riggers when Collective Heart, a translucent work made of lace, was hung over the high altar at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan several years ago.

The sexual-misconduct allegations. The accusations against Prince Andrew first surfaced in 2019, after Mr. Epstein was arrested on federal charges. One accuser, Virginia Roberts Giuffre, claimed that Mr. Epstein had trafficked her to Prince Andrew, and that the prince had raped her when she was 17.

The settlement. Prince Andrew settled the lawsuitfor an undisclosed amount on Feb. 15, just weeks before he was scheduled to sit for a deposition. He did not admit to any of the accusations against him in the statement announcing the deal.

She cannot supervise the installation of two of her latest works. For now, anyway, she cannot go where they are going, even though they are going only about 250 miles, roughly the distance from Times Square to Rochester, N.Y.

They are heading to the International Space Station, as a prelude to establishing an art gallery in an even more distant place: the moon.

The Moon Gallery Foundation, a nonprofit that says its partners include the European Space Agency, will announce plans for the mission to the space station and the lunar gallery today in Manhattan. Reaching low Earth orbit on our way to the moon is the first step in extending our cultural dialogue to space, Bernard Foing, the chairman of the foundation, said in a statement. He was the lead project scientist of the European agencys first moon mission, a satellite that orbited the moon in 2003.

The foundation said the gallery, a collection of 65 works, would be launched on Saturday on a rocket bound for the space station. The foundation said it was collaborating with Nanoracks, a company that arranges for experiments to fly to the space station. NASAs description of the mission said another part of the Moon Gallery would be photographs and videos from a new camera that could be used on future space platforms.

There are space constraints in space, so the artist had to think small each compartment in the grid-like rack being sent to the space station is slightly more than a half-inch wide and a half-inch tall. Petric, who divides her time between New York, Vienna and the Slovenian capital of Ljubljana, said she was happy to bid her two tiny works goodbye, though she said she regretted that she could not be on the space station when they arrived.

Dear Diary:

One night, after searching for parking in Washington Heights for almost an hour, I reluctantly decided to put my car in a garage.

Finding one, I asked the attendant if they took cars overnight.

Yes, he said, for $40.

As I reached into my wallet, the attendant motioned toward me and then pointed to a car parked in a spot just outside the garage entrance.

Although he didnt speak English very well and I didnt really understand what he was saying, I realized that the car he was pointing to was his. It soon became clear that he was offering me his spot instead for $25 in cash.

A few minutes later, I was happily walking to my destination, and he was enjoying the fruits of an enterprising approach to solving my parking problem.

Jean Molot

See the original post:

Eleven Years After the Sandy Hook Massacre, a $73 Million Settlement - The New York Times

Private planes. Resort buyouts. Whole-ship charters.

It's the upper end in the world of luxury travel, something Virtuoso calls "ultraluxe," and it's been growing in popularity.

"What really tipped us off was all the increase for private villas," said Misty Ewing Belles, Virtuoso's vice president of global public relations. "Villas were the first piece of that, which we all know for obvious reasons when Covid hit, that was where [clients] migrated toward. That's continued on, but then we started to see other luxury services and other add-ons and then other, more elaborate trips."

Virtuoso tapped into its community of ultraluxe specialists to delve into what was going on.

According to a survey of advisors, 76% of respondents who specialize in luxury excursions have seen an increase in interest in private and unique experiences. The majority of respondents said their clients are spending an average of $25,000 to $50,000 on ultraluxe trips. And, 26% said clients are spending in excess of $100,000 per trip.

Misty Ewing Belles

"Ultraluxe," Belles said, is most easily defined as "exclusive use:" private transportation, accommodations and more.

Luxury tourism is on a faster recovery track than budget tourism, according to data and analytics company GlobalData. The company found that 29% of respondents to a live poll said their budgets for travel are "a lot" or "slightly higher" than they were pre-pandemic. Additionally, in the U.S., total hotel revenue from leisure travelers for luxury hotels increased 147% year over year in 2021.

GlobalData travel and tourism analyst Ralph Hollister called that figure "a significantly higher percentage increase" when compared with the number for U.S. budget hotels, which saw a year-over-year revenue increase of 42%.

"The ongoing recovery of luxury tourism looks to be in good stead as the number of high-net-worth individuals continues to grow across the globe and especially in important source markets such as the U.S.," Hollister said. "Increasing amounts of disposable income will boost demand for premium products and services."

The uptick, Virtuoso says, is coming from both Covid-related pent-up demand and Covid-enabled wealth accumulation. The affluent, now with higher travel budgets, are interested in hitting the road.

And, Belles noted, people wanted to travel but at the same time avoid others.

"Maybe they've redone their home or homes, and now they're putting it into their travel," she said. "I think that it's not just the 1% who are doing it; I think you have the aspirational travelers who are wanting to get back out there and who have more money than they normally would, as well."

But for the ultrawealthy, Belles said, the trips are grand. Private yachts around Greece, long-term villa stays and private islands are just some of the trips she's seen Virtuoso members plan.

Victoria Boomgarden

For Victoria Boomgarden, president of Elan Travel in Naperville, Ill., ultraluxe travel has been the focus of her 40-plus-year career in the industry. But interest in private transportation and stays "has just exploded," she said. It's more comfortable and, in a pandemic, more controllable. Clients are also motivated to get out into the world. Even those who were more budget-conscious before the pandemic are spending more on blockbuster trips.

Boomgarden has planned a number of over-the-top trips recently, from a 10-year-old's birthday in Paris (including receiving a pair of handmade Repetto ballet flats) to a 60th birthday aboard the Belmond Royal Scotsman. For the latter, Boomgarden chartered the train, added a Scotch whisky expert and bagpipe entertainment and stocked it with 100 varieties of the spirit for guests to enjoy.

"Did they know that existed? No," she said. "I knew the train would be a good match. But then it just kept building and building, and it was so much fun."

Limor Decter

Limor Decter, an advisor with Embark Beyond in New York, was recently accepted into Virtuoso's Ultraluxe Community, a group of advisors and preferred suppliers focused on that sector of travel.

"I think that everyone has had time to reprioritize the travel experience," she said. "And I know that everyone is craving connections and time with loved ones. Celebrations now need to be so much more impactful and meaningful than they were in the past."

Private yachts have been big sellers for Embark, Decter said, especially among multigenerational groups interested in cruising the Caribbean, Mediterranean or the Adriatic.

Kristin Chambers

Kristin Chambers, the Boston-based founder of D.A. Luxury Travel and Travellustre, said ultraluxe trips run anywhere from $100,000 to $2 million per week.

She recently chartered a SeaDream Yacht Club ship for a family celebration. The ship will cruise the Adriatic starting in Dubrovnik, Croatia. Chambers bought out Sponza Palace, where the group will enjoy a traditional Croatian dinner and an orchestra performance. She's planned a number of out-of-the-box experiences for the cruisers, before they end in Venice with a rooftop celebration where the host of the journey honeymooned 55 years ago.

"Travel is no longer about booking a trip," Chambers said. "It's now, 'I'm investing in a journey.'"

Cate Caruso

Cate Caruso, owner of True Places Travel in Vancouver, Wash., said she believes ultraluxe travel's boom is tied to the effects the pandemic has had on society as a whole, like the Great Resignation. "People are just reevaluating their lives," she said.

A client had a number of travel plans on the books before the pandemic hit. He pulled away from all of them. Last year, though, he decided to sell his business and wanted to go all-out; he rented two villas for a family of four at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita over festive season. The bill was over $50,000.

"A lot of people are reevaluating their lives," she said. "When they step into that retirement, then their bucket list becomes their to-do list."

Update: This report was updated to note that Misty Ewing Belles, Virtuoso's vice president of global public relations.

See the article here:

'Ultraluxe,' the tip-top of luxury travel, expands as travelers seek exclusivity - Travel Weekly

Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley said that efforts are in full effect to bring a prompt solution to the existing backlog at the Department of Labour and Workforce Development.

A virtual stakeholders meeting was held on Thursday, February 10 where the Government representatives and members of the private sector came together to speak about existing issues contributing to the backlog as well as discussions on possible solutions.

Honourable Wheatley stated that although there are challenges, the ultimate goal is to make business with the private sector easier and more efficient.

He said, Over the last weeks, I have heard the many concerns about work permit issues, and we thought it best to come together in a forum such as this to find the best solution forward. I want to commend business owners who have understood the vision and have also made their contribution to address some of the concerns. Remember that we are in this together and we want the same things you want, which is to find an amicable solution and a sustainable system.

Meanwhile Acting Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Michelle Mc Lean shared a report highlighting the number of work permits which have been processed since July 12, 2021 when the Online Work Permit System was activated.

According to the Acting Labour Commissioner, the Department received 5,466 work permit applications, with 3,546 being renewal applications. From the total number of renewals, 2,005 have been processed.

A total number of 1,573 new applications were submitted and approximately 1,050 were processed. Additionally, 347 entertainments, emergency and temporary work permit applications were also processed.

Mrs. McLean said, I am confident that with a few additional staff, and by tweaking the existing Online Work Permit System, the backlog will undoubtedly be significantly diminished in a few months. In the meantime, we at the Department of Labour and Workforce Development continue to work tirelessly to process the work permits as we strive to meet the needs of our clients.

The Department of Labour and Workforce Development continues to promote good labour practices at workplaces to ensure stable and harmonious labour relations between employers and employees, and to protect the rights, wages, working conditions, safety, health and welfare of workers through enforcement of the British Virgin Islands Labour Laws.

Notes:

Photo 1 of 2: Official photo of Minister for Natural Resources, Labour and Immigration, Honourable Vincent O. Wheatley

Photo 2 of 2: Official photo of Ag. Labour Commissioner, Mrs. Michelle Mc Lean

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Stakeholders Meeting Addressing Labour Concerns Held - Government of the Virgin Islands

Ambergris Cay offers private beachfront villas available to rent and a full-service resort where all ... [+] food, beverages and activities are included in the daily rate. The six bedroom villa is seen here.

Ambergris Cay, located in the southeastern portion of the Turks and Caicos island chain, is a luxurious private island in the Caribbean unlike any other. It is one of the only private islands in the world that is accessible by private jet. On top of that, Ambergris Cay offers private beachfront villas available to rent and a full-service resort where all food, beverages and activities are included in the daily rate.

Indeed, there are few secluded vacation destinations in the world where one can directly reach by private jet without having to take a second mode of transportation to get there. The ultimate getaway, of course, is spending a holiday in a beachfront home on a private island. But while many private islands offer a luxurious experience, getting to them can be difficult at best.

Book Richard Bransons Necker Island and you will have to first fly to Beef Island Airport and transfer by helicopter. Want to vacation in a villa on The North Island, the same private island in The Seychelles where the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge went for their honeymoon? Just like William and Kate, you will have to first take a helicopter transfer from another island (they flew from Mah). Interested in visiting Turtle Island in Fiji? Youll first have to fly to Fijis Nadi Airport then take a seaplane to get there.

Ambergris Cay is one of the only private islands in the world that boasts an airport with a ... [+] 5,700-square-foot-long runway that can accommodate a private jet.

Ambergris Cay, a three mile-long, one-mile wide island in the Turks and Caicos is one of the only private islands in the world that boasts an airport with a 5,700-square-foot-long runway that can accommodate a private jet. No transfers are necessary. Not only can you fly your Gulfstream IV or Cessna Citation to get there directly from such FBOs as Teterboro in New Jersey or Hanscomb Field south of Boston, but it will take less than three hours to do so.

Ambergris Cay can arrange for a customs and immigration official to meet guests who privately fly directly to the island, enabling them to depart the U.S. and avoid having to first land Providenciales International Airport which services the Turks and Caicos islands. Prefer to fly on a commercial flight? There are daily non-stop flights into Providenciales from New York, Miami, Charlotte, and Atlanta, to name a few, and Ambergris Cay will transfer you in one of its own twin engine prop planes. The flight, which is included in the price of the stay, takes only 18 minutes. Land on the Ambergris Cay and you will be greeted with a glass of champagne served in the Welcome Center before you are whisked away to your beachfront suite or villa.

Take a flight from Newark or JFK of just three hours, and you can be on your own private island with ... [+] a spectacular beach.

While it can take an entire day to get to some of the nicest locations in the Caribbean, it is possible to fly out of New York in the morning and be sitting on the beach at Ambergris Cay by lunch. Take a flight from Newark or JFK of just three hours, and you can be on your own private island with a spectacular beach, incredible water and in your own vacation home faster than you can get to most places in the U.S., says Jay Kaminski, an Ambergris Cay homeowner who resides in New Jersey. We arrive on Ambergris with just a backpack and transition so quickly into relaxation. While admittedly biased, I dont believe you can find the same wonderful experience in such a short travel time from the U.S.

Everything is included at Ambergris Cay, from the cocktails served at your chaise lounge chair, to ... [+] the butler service, meals, snacks and 24-hour room service and daily half-hour massages at the spa.

Ambergris Cays all-inclusive experience enables its guests and homeowners to leave their wallet back in the villa. Indeed, everything is included, from the cocktails served at your chaise lounge chair, to the butler service, meals, snacks and 24-hour room service and daily half-hour massages at the spa. Its white-sand beaches are expansive and the turquoise water of the sea is crystal clear and calm. This is a destination for people looking for a tranquil, rustic Caribbean island experience, with all the luxuries and amenities of a five-star resort, says Kevin Matier, Director of Sales and Marketing for Turks and Caicos Collection, which manages Ambergris Cay. It is very true and authentic.

Waterfront villas that offer three, four or six bedrooms, are luxuriously appointed and available to ... [+] rent by the night. Spacious, they range in size from 3,200 square feet to more than 5,000 square feet.

Kaminski, a consultant for early biotech and technology companies, his wife, Julie, a self-employed business owner and doctoral student and their three grown children, visit the island frequently, spending several weeks there most months. The Kaminski family fell in love with the islands simplicity and rustic feel, but appreciate the availability of upscale services and amenities expected from an exclusive resort, says Jay. The uniqueness of the island and location is the unparalleled view of the stars at night, literally zero light pollution, the clear crystal waters and the year around temperature range of roughly 82-84 degrees (what fluctuates is the humidity), he adds.

The Kaminski family also appreciates the undisturbed wildlife on the island, and in particular the cool rock iguanas, and the incredibly friendly people of Turks and Caicos Islands. As soon as you arrive on the Cay your shoulders just drop and you feel relaxed,as if you are the only ones on the island, says Kaminski. It is a true place to unwind, and refuel. The big choice of the day is should we start at the beach and then the pool or reverse the order today.

Ambergris Cay's wildlife includes rock iguanas.

Ambergris Cay is ultra-secure as there is no public access to the island as only staff, registered guests and homeowners are allowed onto the property. It is also extremely private as even during high-season there are relatively few people on the island. No need to ever worry about getting a chaise lounge on the beach or having to wait to take out a paddle boat or kayak or to use one of the tennis courts. The island is very private and the owners (and guests) respect each others privacy tremendously, says Kaminski.

However the island also has a wonderful community around the holidays with gatherings and social events. So you can choose to participate in as much or as little as you like.As my children like to say, its not that there is nothing to do, its that we choose to do nothing which we think is just awesome, Kaminski says. A crowded day at the beach is 15 people.

The six-bedroom villa, seen here, is ideal for families or friends seeking more space and privacy, ... [+] as they are equipped with multiple entertaining areas, both indoors and outdoors, a state-of-the-art kitchen and two swimming pools.

While there are twenty private homes on the island, eight villas are available to rent by the night. These waterfront villas, which offer three, four or six bedrooms, are luxuriously appointed. Spacious, they range in size from 3,200 square feet to more than 5,000 square feet. They are ideal for couples or families seeking more space and privacy, as they are equipped with multiple entertaining areas, both indoors and outdoors, state-of-the-art kitchens furnished with Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances, outdoor Blaze barbecue grilling stations, laundry rooms with full-size washers and dryers, flat-screen HD televisions and high-speed wireless internet. Each villa is also equipped with a heated swimming pool, an outdoor shower, and two electric golf carts for getting around the 1,100-acre island.

Ambergris Cay can arrange for a private chef to prepare meals in your own kitchen. Or, if you prefer ... [+] to do the cooking yourself, you can submit a shopping list and Ambergris Cay will do the grocery shopping. The six bedroom villa is seen here.

A bathroom in the six-bedroom villa is seen here.

Prefer to eat some or all of your meals in the villa? No problem. Ambergris Cay can arrange, for an additional charge, a private chef to prepare meals for you as often as you wish in your own kitchen. Or, if you prefer to do the cooking yourself, you can submit a shopping list and Ambergris Cay will do the grocery shopping for you in Provo and fly your order over on one of its private plans (this convenient service has a modest 15% surcharge of the cost of the order). Of course, you can eat some or all of your meals at Calico, the full-service restaurant on the island or you can opt for your butler to bring you room service.

Ambergris Cay also offers ten luxuriously appointed one-bedroom beachfront suites that are suitable ... [+] for couples or families traveling with small children.

Ambergris Cay also offers ten luxuriously appointed one-bedroom beachfront suites that are suitable for couples or families traveling with small children. Each is equipped with a wet bar, refrigerator stocked with snacks, oversized shower and a plunge pool. Located on a wide beach, they are steps from the water. All accommodations, including the villas and one-bedroom beachfront suites, are equipped with air conditioning, and have access to 24-hour room service, butlers and daily housekeeping.

A full-service restaurant on the island serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. A tiki hut with a full ... [+] service bar serves cocktails day and night.

Currently, Calico is the only full-service restaurant on the island. It serves breakfast, lunch and dinner (additional restaurants are in the works). The dinner menu changes daily, with a wide variety of dishes from which to choose, grilled Caribbean lobster to New York strip steak and fresh ceviche, depending on the catch of the day. Or, should you catch a red snapper or tuna while out fishing, the chef will prepare and serve it to you that same day.

While there is only one restaurant, there are a multiple of venues around the island where meals can be served. You can have a picnic lunch on a nearby sandbar reachable only by boat or you can request an intimate candlelit dinner or a bonfire complete with smores on the beach. Want something not on the menu or have a dietary restriction? No problem. The chef can prepare just about anything you might want, especially if you notify Ambergris Cay ahead of your arrival so the ingredients can be ordered.

Motorized boats take guests out on a fishing and snorkeling expeditions, as well as for waterskiing ... [+] and tubing.

There are many activities to keep you occupied. Motorized boats can take you out on a fishing or snorkeling expedition or for waterskiing or tubing. There are two Har-Tru tennis courts and a new Pickleball court. Miles of trails will take you on adventures around the island, which can be done on foot, or on one of the bicycles or electric mountain bikes owned by Ambergris Cay. A gym is outfitted with exercise equipment and weights and there is an outdoor fitness course. Many additional amenities and restaurant experiences will be added in the months and years to come, and ground will soon break for a new all-glass state-of-the-art 3,000-square-foot fitness facility and yoga studio, with unencumbered views of the ocean.

Ambergris Cay boasts two Har-Tru tennis courts and a new Pickleball court.

A typical day for the Kaminski family is laid back and relaxed. We start with coffee and sunrise, then check email and world news, work out and then eat a light breakfast, says Jay. Then we go to the beach or pool, walk on the beach, eat lunch and then go stand-up paddle boarding or eFoil surfing (surfboard with motor and propeller), go for a mountain bike or e-bike ride, collect sea glass, have a cocktail and watch the sunset, make dinner or grab dinner at the restaurant and then its movie or series timeand the next day, we begin again.

Ambergris Cays Clubhouse is located on a secluded cove. It features a snack bar, pool table, and ... [+] arcade games. Water sports are also offered here, such as paddle boarding and kayaking.

Ambergris Cays Clubhouse is located on a secluded cove. This Adirondack-style lodge has a wrap-around porch with rocking chairs and a ping pong table. Indoors, it features a snack bar, pool table, and arcade games. Theres an adjacent studio stocked with art supplies where children can create arts & crafts. Water sports are also offered here, such as paddle boarding and kayaking. Babysitting services are available for an extra fee. The Clubhouse is staffed from 10am to 5:30pm daily and is also upon request each evening for a beach barbecue or a private event.

Each villa is also equipped with a heated swimming pool, an outdoor shower, and two electric golf ... [+] carts for getting around the 1,100-acre island. The six-bedroom villa is seen here.

There are currently 20 homes on the island and several under construction. The Ambergris Cay development team is selling a limited number of custom- built homes each year. The cost to build a new home starts at $4.5 million while the annual cost to keep it running (utilities, management, membership fee, community fee) is approximately $100,000. As part of the Ambergris Cay membership, residents are given full access to all of the islands amenities plus ten complimentary nights in the beachfront villas which can be transferred to friends or family. Ambergris Cay also manages a rental program for owners who wish to participate.

Ambergris Cay is ultra-secure as there is no public access to the island as only staff, registered ... [+] guests and homeowners are allowed onto the property. The private beach of the six-bedroom villa is seen here.

There are no property, capital gains or income taxes in the Turks and Caicos, which is a British overseas territory. We are not really interested in people using this as an investment vehicle, says Turks and Caicos Collections Matier. We are looking for people who want to be part of a community. An advantage for owners who participate in the rental program is they do not have to keep sending money down to Ambergris Cay to keep it running, says Matier. Everything is taken care of, from daily maid service to keeping the air-conditioning running, he adds. Its a turnkey operation.

The resort's swimming pool is adjacent to a beautiful cove.

The islands full infrastructure includes a reverse osmosis water purification system as well as an independent electrical generation system. A cell tower provides phone and high-speed internet access and there is a fully-staffed fire department. Ambergris Cay employees, as well as construction workers, are housed in dormitories on the island, so there is never a shortage of staff. The staff is vaccinated and the ratio of staff to guests can be as high as two-to-one during slower periods.

There is an infirmary on the island and a hospital where guests can be flown in an emergency situation. The infirmary is able to perform Covid-19 antigen tests, with results available within an hour (these are administered on a complimentary basis for guests who need results for their departure flights).

Ambergris Cay, located in the southeastern portion of the Turks and Caicos island chain, is a ... [+] luxurious private island in the Caribbean unlike any other. It is one of the only private islands in the world that is accessible by private jet.

The all-inclusive rack rate for a one-bedroom beachfront suite (based on double occupancy) is $3,000 per night (seasonal promotions can be seen at this link). Three-bedroom villas start at $6,000 per night while four-bedroom villas, which accommodate eight guests, cost $8,000 per night (villa rates are based on double-occupancy) with an additional $800 daily charge for each guest over the age of 12. Kids who are 12 and under the age stay free and rates are inclusive of service charges and taxes. Ambergris Cay is an ideal location for a destination wedding, bachelorette getaway or a family reunion.

For more information about booking a stay at Ambergris Cay or real estate opportunities, contact this link.

Read more:

Vacation In A Villa On A Private Island In The Caribbean - Forbes

Miranda Vickers had spent the best part of a decade reporting from war-torn Kosovo. As a war correspondent she saw the horrors of war up close. When it was all over and she came back to England, she needed some solace. As a child she'd play for hours on end on a little island in the Thames called Chiswick Eyot.

So, it was there that she begun an epic four-year journey that would see her explore more than a hundred River Thames islands and be the first person to write a book about them.

"I needed to step back and see the world could be quite a beautiful place and it's not all blood and betrayal and misery. The relief of writing this flowed from me. It was a form of escapism," she tells me over coffee not far from her Ealing home.

"Growing up with the river it was always somewhere to gravitate to. It was rather stinky in the '60s and a dead river and nobody swam in it. You were told you would die if you swam in it. But from the age of about seven my mother would take me down to the foreshore at Strand-on-the-Green and we'd have picnics and I'd be rummaging for bits of old treasure.

READ MORE: 'I built my dream home on a private island in the middle of the River Thames'

"Little Chiswick Eyot was on my doorstep. This wonderful little island was so mysterious. It had a little beach and was like a little microcosm of a far away treasure island on our doorstep.

"Every Sunday and weekends, mum used to drive us down there with a little flask and packs of sandwiches and leave us there all day. We'd wade across to the island." Chiswick Eyot just happened to be the last working Osiery on the Thames where people still harvested the long reeds called Osiers that come from willow trees - and wove them into baskets for the London markets. Miranda and her cousin cut them down with penknives and used them to build dens.

"We'd stand on the prow of the island like it was a boat and smoke our cigarettes - bearing in mind we were ten or 11 years old, we used to buy them and kept our secret supply in our camp," laughs Miranda. "We used to swim off the tiny beach on the far side of the island. You could swim quite far out into the river until you reached a terribly dangerous current which could literally suck you in.

"The smell of Thames mud in the back of my mum's car when she came to pick us up is one of those things that still sticks in my memory. It was the most idyllic time like Swallows and Amazons. We bunked off school - I hated my Conservative Catholic girls' convent.

"My single mum couldn't keep that much of an eye on me, I was a bit of a rebel. It was an element of freedom that I don't think sadly many kids get today. I mean who would leave two little girls of eight, nine or ten alone for a whole day?

"We had to be inventive. We had penknives and we cut the osiers and made a bivouac and covered it in moss to make it waterproof and we'd hunker down in it and watch for the 'Americans' coming.

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"At the end of the summer were were sun burnt brown and our bare feet were tough as anything. Covered in mud at the end of the day, the bath water would be black and our clothes used to stink," Miranda shrugs.

"We got rescued a couple of times when the tide came up by the riverboat police. But they were forever rescuing kids as they were everywhere along the river banks in those days." This was a time of course when the Thames was a working river and was still very dirty, being used constantly by barges and lighters.

Inspired by her return to Chiswick Eyot, Miranda started writing an article for the Ealing Historical Association about it and her interest was reignited. She soon started exploring more islands and her publishers were massively interested. The only catch was they wanted her to explore all 92 of them!

It took Miranda four-and-a-half years to reach all the islands! She bought a little inflatable motor boat with her husband and in summer they would explore together. Mooring up, her husband would often listen to the cricket on the radio while Miranda stomped about on the islands, measuring them, observing and meeting locals.

In the winter she would beaver away in library archives finding out as much as she could about the islands. By the second year she'd found 120 islands existed! Most of them were hardly known apart from the celebrated Eel Pie island where rock stars used to hang out.

The epic voyage started at Leigh-on-Sea at Canvey Island.

Miranda says: "It's one of the most maligned places in the UK but I loved it. I absolutely found it fascinating. I rang the Essex Tourist board and asked if they had any nice places to stay on Canvey Island and they burst out laughing!"

There were no more islands between here and Chiswick Eyot so the voyage resumed on Miranda's childhood haunt. Any islands further towards London had long since been eroded by the Thames tides, but the islands from Chiswick Eyot upstream had survived.

The voyage took the couple right out into Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire all the way to Lechlade, the official source of the Thames. "I met fascinating people and I discovered beaches and micro ecosystems. Various islands like Isleworth Ait have very rare mollusks on for example.," says Miranda. "The whole process made me realise that although there are other rivers in the world with islands, it's only on the Thames where they are little oasis of life.

"People say when they cross to the islands by ferry or boat or bridges they feel a weight has left their shoulders. The whole sort of romantic idea of islands is encapsulated in these little worlds."

Miranda's husband also warmed to the task as the voyage went on and eventually would enjoy swimming and picnicking.

"It brought us together," she says, half laughing!

Some of the islands are privately owned and there are strict conservation rules in place to stop them being eroded continually. But they are actually constantly in danger, not just from being flooded but from Mitten crabs which eat away at the earth, causing the soil to collapse. "There's lots of new species that have been introduced into the river over the last 20 or 30 years that are non-native and are invasive and are causing quite a lot of problems on the islands," says Miranda.

"They come in on the hulls of great trawlers from all over the world. Mitten crabs are especially attacking Chiswick Eyot and there's a programme to stop them by putting concrete base around part of the island."

The willow trees can also grow up to 70ft and have to be maintained so they don't fall into the river. But there's plenty of good reasons for preserving them. "I think people gravitate to islands. Look at Greece. Islands are a magnet. It's that sense of isolation and escapism. Stepping into another little world. In times of insecurity they become a refuge," says Miranda.

Miranda's favourite island is Platt's Eyot because it's the tallest in the river and "you have walk up a hill to a beautiful meadow covered in oxide daisies, wildflowers and poppies and you look down the cliff into the water. How long it will remain like that I don't know because developers are hovering around."

She adds: "The number of boatyards is diminishing rapidly and there's so much development. Time will tell if they build a residential block on it. They say they will resurrect the boat yard but what that really will look like we don't know.

"There have been two very mysterious fires and no-one'es ever been prosecuted. It's obvious who is behind it. The River Thames is a working river not the residential housing estate that it's becoming. That's the crisis the river is facing. Developers can add another 20-30,000 onto a flat if it's got a river view."

It's clear from talking to Miranda that the islands must be cherished and preserved. As she explains so passionately, they offer us somewhere we can return to nature and the natural rhythms of life, and in a world which is becoming madder day by day, this has to be worth fighting for.

Miranda's book Eyots and Aits, Islands of the River Thames is available here

Do you have a fascinating story or memories from the River Thames? Email martin.elvery@Reachplc.com

Read the original post:

'I played on a River Thames island as a kid, now I've explored over 100 islands' - My London

"Somebody that was maybe 20 years younger than us could grab this, whether they wanted to carry it on as a business or a retreat or private residence," Flowerpot Bay Lodge owner Brent Mallison says.

The six suite, seven-bathroom multi-story lodge has been used as a place to stay for a decade and with visitor numbers booming on the Chathams business has never been better.

"From now right through until April there will be someone here every night," Mallinson says.

Rooms are hard to come by so what happens next will have an impact on the entire Chatham Islands.

"I would hate to see this cease functioning as a tourist lodge but at the end of the day it is what it is," Mallinson says.

Selling property on the Chathams isn't easy.

Especially when it's a two-hour flight away, in the middle of the ocean.

"It's a pretty hard property to market, it's not like you can do an open home," Harcourts' Stephen Gregory-Hunt says.

With owners Brent and Bernadette heading for retirement - the question now is will it remain a tourism business or go into private hands?

"Doesn't come up very often, if at all. Most of the sales on the Island are done privately, within the island," Gregory-Hunt says.

It's a chance to become the 46th resident of Pitt Island but you'll need approval from the other locals too.

"Oh here's my pet seagull who has come in to see what we're up to. That's Jackie," one local said.

Keeping an eye whoever takes over this slice of paradise at the bottom of the world.

Continued here:

Rare piece of property up for sale in the Chatham Island - Newshub

Years of research by Pacific Whale Foundation, NOAA, and the state has prompted a new set of voluntary recommendations for boaters operating around humpback whales.

The new recommendations were announced Monday after those agencies, along with tour operators, private boaters, fishers, and other community members, collaborated over the last year to craft recommendations in order to keep both whales and watchers safe.

The suggestions advise boaters to reduce speeds to 15 knots in Hawaiian waters during whale season, but also to:

Whales are usually around the islands from November to April during their breeding season and are a major tourist attraction. Up to 10,000 come each year. However, the first arrivals vary, so boaters are urged to keep abreast of sightings throughout the year and post a lookout on their boats shortly before, during and shortly after whale season to help spot whales in the distance.

Statistics show that at a speed of 15 knots or less, collisions with whales are greatly reduced, according to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The measures are also meant to reduce whale harassment. The suggestions are just that, guidelines, and wont be enforced beyond the rules already in place. Humpback whales in U.S. waters are federally protected. It is illegal to approach humpback whales within 100 yards, including by boat, kayak, drone, when swimming, or by any other vessel or means, according to the DLNR.

The suggested rules come one week after a humpback whale calf was found dead off the shores of Oahu. The whale calf appears to have suffered a traumatic brain injury consistent with a vessel strike, NOAA Fisheries said on Monday.

The research began in 2013, when we first set out to answer that question of what can we recommend as the best speed for boaters operating during whale viewing season, Jens Currie, chief scientist at Pacific Whale Foundation, said.

Slower and more prudent speeds have been a major talking point for whale safety for years now, said Ed Lyman, of the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary.

The available data suggests that transit speed, when around whales, should be 15 knots or less, he said.

The studies found that as boats approach whales at higher speeds, the animals would change direction, indicating they are not comfortable with the presence of vessels, DLNR stated in a press release. Their speed changes, and their dive and respiration rates change.

Its nice we can put some quantification on this from our scientific studies, Currie said. Youll have much more time to react, the slower you go. Its significantly different at those slower speeds than higher ones.

The suggestions come the same week as Whale Week, Feb. 13-20, with Friday being World Whale Day, the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary announced.

Read the original post:

State Recommends 15-Knot Speed Limit Around Whales, Other Safety Measures - Big Island Now

Alexa, how much did Jeff Bezos spend on his 10-minute rocket ride to the edge of space?

Bezos has reportedly spent $5.5 billion on his space company.

Heres what the Amazon founder couldve done with that money here on Earth.

He couldve saved 38 million people from starvation, according to World Food Program estimates. Vaccinated two billion people in developing countries against COVID-19. Given paid sick leave to Amazon employees who contracted COVID while working in his warehouses. Or lowered rather than raised the price of masks sold by Amazon.

Bezos is not only the worlds richest man hes also a Davos Man. Political scientist Samuel Huntington coined the term in 2004 for the globe-trotting billionaires who fly into the Alpine resort town every year for the World Economic Forum.

New York Times global economics correspondent Peter S. Goodman has covered the forum for years and seen Davos Man in all his glory.

He is a rare and remarkable creature a predator who attacks without restraint, perpetually intent on expanding his territory and seizing the nourishment of others, while protecting himself from reprisal by posing as a symbiotic friend to all, says Goodman in his book Davos Man: How the Billionaires Devoured the World.

He pretends that his interests are the same as everyone elses. He seeks gratitude for his exploits, validation as the product of a just system in which he is a guardian of the public interest, even as he devours all the sources of sustenance. He argues that his own prosperity is a precondition for broader progress, the key to vibrancy and innovation.

What does Davos Man want in return for selflessly and heroically improving our world? Tax cuts. Deregulation. No unions. Minimum wages instead of living wages. Austerity measures that force governments to privatize public services. No handouts for anyone during tough times until billionaires get their taxpayer-funded corporate bailouts with no strings attached.

And hows that deal working out? Goodman reports that over the past 40 years, the wealthiest one per cent of Americans gained $21 trillion, while households in the bottom half saw their fortunes shrink by $900 million. Since 1978, total compensation for corporate executives has increased more than 900 per cent, while wages for typical American workers have risen just under 12 per cent. Worldwide, the 10 richest people are worth more than the combined economies of the 85 poorest countries.

In 2020, the wealth of the worlds billionaires increased by $3.9 trillion while their philanthropic contributions hit a 10-year low. At the same time, upwards of 500 million people fell into poverty during the global pandemic. If the agony of 2020 had demonstrated anything it was how the rich could not only prosper but profiteer off everyone elses suffering, says Goodman.

Extreme inequality is leading us to a bad place. Were scared and struggling. Out of desperation, were turning to real or pretend populists who pocket campaign contributions from Davos Man, slash their taxes, gut government spending and deflect our anger onto immigrants and refugees.

Strife and inequality will create more opportunities for political movements that employ scarcity as a springboard to hate, stoking fear of ethnic and religious minorities as an electoral strategy.

So whats the solution? Goodman recommends a universal basic income for regular people along with a wealth tax for billionaires and the breakup of their monopolies.

It wont be easy. Reducing economic inequality is not terribly complicated, says Goodman. Its just exceedingly difficult as a political objective. The government needs to reapportion wealth so that ordinary people gain a meaningful stake in society. But those who possess wealth have mastered how to use it to manipulate democracy, preventing a fair distribution.

While that redistribution will be difficult, its essential and ultimately doable.

Democracy has been warped by the billionaire class, its workings tilted toward private islands, offshore bank accounts and secret meetings in Davos convened to plot the next insider deal.

Reclaiming power from Davos Man requires no insurrection or revolution of ideas. It demands the thoughtful use of a tool that has been there all along: democracy.

Read the original post:

Review | Beware of billionaires offering to save the world - TheSpec.com