Happy New Year from The Luxury Travel Bible

To all The Luxury Travel Bible readers we wish you a very happy, healthy and luxury New Year. Thank you for all the support in 2010 since our launch in April. See you in 2011! - TLTB team

Bonne Annee, Kenourios Chronos, Felice anno nuovo, Szczesliwego Nowego Roku, Feliz Ano Novo, Feliz Ano ~Nuevo, Blwyddyn Newydd Dda, Gott nytt år, S Novim Godom, Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit, Kenourios Chronos, Gelukkige nuwe jaar, Onnellista uutta vuotta,blwyddyn newydd dda

Reading for the first class lounge

Two of the stylish, travel books Santa brought Christmas morning... Audrey Hepburn style and The Art of Travel - some perfect reading for my next The Luxury Travel Bible trip! SB

Happy Holidays

May your wrapping be festive &; all your destinations bright: Happy Holidays to our readers from all of us here at The Luxury Travel Bible. Many thanks for all your amazing support throughout 2010 since our April launch and here's to a luxury 2011!

An inspiring charitable, challenge.

The last few weeks in The Luxury Travel Bible office have been full of mince pies, hot chocolates and Christmas parties with a good dose of cocktails and canapés. That is why we are even MORE impressed with the amazing achievement of Neil O'Maonaigh-Lennon. While the rest of us have been getting festively as full as the Christmas goose Neil has been running his "Marathon Mad" challenge of 105 marathons in 105 days (yes you did read that correctly, 105 marathons in just 105 days). Starting in Brighton on September 30th this challenge has taken Neil around the United Kingdom, in often difficult weather conditions. He is running the marathons in aid of Cancer Research UK and has raised £10,000. Cancer Research is the world's leading charity dedicated to beating cancer through research. The organisation has saved millions of lives by discovering new ways to prevent, diagnose and treat cancer. Neil is due to complete his 105th marathon on 23rd December back where he started at Brighton Pier.

'Marathonman 105' follows Neil's 2008 challenge of running 30 Marathons in 30 days around Taiwan. We can't wait to see what he attempts next but TLTB's only hope now is that he takes a very well deserved rest over Christmas and New Year. SB

To see more of Neil's journey around the country and to donate visit http://www.marathonmad105.com/ , http://www.justgiving.com/Neil-O-Maonaigh-Lennon

Lee Westwood's first golf academy outside UK

World Number One golfer Lee Westwood is to open his first overseas junior golf academy next summer at the Spainish five-star La Manga Club resort. Already a popular resort for active families this latest facility will allow junior luxies to follow in the footsteps of one of the world's best golfers. The academy will operate between August 1-5 and also 8-12 will follow a programme designed by Westwood, teaching children all aspects of the game. The academy will run for two hours each day and will be open to boys and girls aged between seven to 11 and 12-16 years. Westwood said: "I am delighted to be working with La Manga Club on my first academy outside of the UK. I hope that the principles that have helped me to rise to the top of the game will be a source of great benefit and encouragement to young players both on and off the golf course."
http://www.lamangaclub.com/



Sleep like a King

Part of the Palace of Versailles, once the setting for French state affairs, popular tourist destination and symbol of French decadence, is set to accommodate guests from late 2011. Belgian company, Ivy International SA, is to turn The Hotel du Grand Controle, traditionally home to the palace's treasurers, into a luxury 23-bedroom hotel. The 5.5 million euro (7.3 million US dollars) renovation of the 1,700 square-metre building, which was built in the 1680s by architect Jules Hardouin-Mansart, will be led by Frederic Didier, chief architect for historic monuments. The company will lease the building for 30 years and pay back rent each year to the Chateau de Versailles. This fee will be used to complete necessary renovation work to the building.

The construction of this new hotel was made possible by a 2009 agreement between the French Culture Ministry and the Tourism Department that was intended to boost the economic development of French historical and cultural landmarks.

The UNESCO World Heritage Centre has named the Palace of Versailles as one of the greatest achievements of 18th-century French art.
en.chateauversailles.fr

Asia's first 'Snow Polo'

The recently opened Tianjin Goldin Metropolitan Polo Club ("Metropolitan Polo Club"), with the largest facilities in China, will host Asia's first 'Snow Polo' tournament from February 15th to 20th 2011. The tournament, which follows the Chinese New Year holidays, will have an Alpine village and ice sculptures as its backdrop. This prestigious competition will be played between six teams from the world's leading polo playing nations: England, France, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina and China. Two matches will be played daily in a league format, 14 goal open, during the week-long event.

http://www.metropolitanpoloclub.com/ http://www.goldinmetropolitanhotel.com/