|
|
 |
| El Paso-owned and proud |
Jul. 25 - Jul. 31
|
|
Don't go to Las Vegas or London without reading this column
By William Tomicki |
 Your man in Las Vegas
Steven Striker is the ultimate Las Vegas insider. Known simply as "Striker," he is a valuable connection, larger than life, dressed in bespoke suits who speaks softly but carries a Rolodex of connections that will open any door in Las Vegas.
Striker's company, Striker VIP, Inc., is the preeminent concierge service built on rock-solid relationships and tailored for a discerning and demanding clientele.
If you want the best seats to the hottest show, a table at an impossible-to-get-into restaurant, front-of-the-line treatment at the best club, prime fight tickets, a stretch Hummer or stealth Mercedes, a bodyguard or just a magnum of rare Bordeaux, Striker's your man.
Subtly elegant, professional and classy, Striker will work to make your visit to Las Vegas unforgettable, be you one person or a group. This is a phenomenal gentleman offering an invaluable service.
Check out www.strikervip.com or call (702) 895-8426. Striker carries three cell phones (and a pocket full of Cohibas); one cell number is (702) 204-9392.
Flying high
German-based LTU International Airways has begun regularly scheduled flights from Los Angeles and Las Vegas to and from Düsseldorf. With one of the highest safety records in the industry, LTU brings over 50 years of experience and serves over 80 destinations worldwide. Service, food and wines on LTU have always been superb. Flights from Los Angeles will operate five times per week, excluding Tuesday and Saturday, while the Las Vegas flights will be twice per week, on Monday and Tuesday.
For more information, go to www.ltu.com.
Express yourself
Heathrow Airport remains a mess to navigate but there is one redeeming asset there: Heathrow Express is a non-stop service between London's Paddington Station and the airport. Clean, well-staffed trains depart every 15 minutes with a journey time of 15 minutes to terminals 1, 2 and 3 at Heathrow, and a further eight minutes to terminal 4. Express and First Class offer air-conditioned, spacious carriages with onboard TV offering news and weather, items from the BBC motoring program Top Gear, segments on popular destinations, and for those just arriving in London, onward travel advice from Paddington, where the train terminates. Quiet zone coaches are also located on all trains. A taxi share scheme operates at Paddington. For more information, visit www.heathrowexpress.com.
One must eat
London musts: Lunch or dinner at Butler's in the Chesterfield Hotel, more like dining at your richest friend's Mayfair townhouse with wonderful wines, perfect service and carefully cooked cuisine including some great classic English dishes, all in a setting of warm paneled walls and chintz prints. The Conservatory Restaurant at the Chesterfield is ideal for a light lunch or supper, with stunning views of the garden and fountain creating a wonderful al fresco atmosphere.
Chesterfield Hotel, 35 Charles, Street, Mayfair, London, +44 020 7491 2622.
Luxe London
One of London's best-kept secrets, hidden away amid the bustle of Bloomsbury, are the glorious Bedford Estate Gardens, home to the private sculpture garden of a prestigious gallery based just off Berkeley Square. The pieces displayed range from small intimate studies to the truly monumental, with new additions frequently added to the collection. Private appointments can be made through the gallery, but with prices starting around $80,000 you may prefer to view from a safer vantage point.
Fortunately, the best of these are the Terrace and Wood Deck at the Montague, a delightful 4-star townhouse hotel next to the garden, from which it can be viewed at leisure with the essential aid of a cooling glass of Pimm's. Al fresco dining is laid on throughout the summer, but be sure to call in on a Sunday for one of their celebrated spit roast barbecue lunches. You'll find sizzling food, a party atmosphere with live music, and a great way to recharge the batteries if you're spending the day at the nearby British Museum. The luxe Montague represents superb value with fabled Red Carnation service under the seamless direction of affable General Manager Dirk Crokaert.
Try visiting www.montaguehotel.com, 15 Montague Street, Bloomsbury, +44 0207 637 1001.
Warriors galore
The famous terracotta warriors of Xi'an, China have marched on London and are currently billeted at the British Museum where a once-in-a-lifetime exhibition, The First Emperor: China's Terracotta Army, stays on until April 6, 2008. What better reason to visit London? www.thebritishmuseum.ac.uk/firstemperor.
William Tomicki is Publisher and Editor of ENTREE, a travel newsletter found at www.entreenews.com. Write him at wtomicki@aol.com |
|
|
|
