Thanksgiving is a week away and families across the US are finalizing plans to commune around their designated dinner table.  Most gatherings will be in the dining rooms of a parent, aunt, brother, sister, etc., etc., but some groups will choose to get out of familiar holiday surroundings and take unique trips.  There are several options in Thanksgiving travel packages, including luxurious retreats.

One holiday escape can be found at the Dunton Hot Springs Resort, across the mountain from Telluride in the Colorado Rockies.  Their Thanksgiving Food & Wine Package includes four nights in one of the resort's authentic restored mining cabins, a traditional Thanksgiving feast, day trip to Sutcliffe Vineyards, complimentary bottle of wine, and a spa treatment of your choice. 

Like countless others, I'll be gathered around my dining table filled with turkey, stuffing and all the trimmings; but the experience at Dunton Hot Springs certainly offers something unique for the crowd looking for the less customary.

In 1825 Paul Coalson purchased 750 acres of land in Georgia for one dollar an acre.  This began a long and interesting history for the property, which is now the historic Coalson Plantation & Inn located in Thomasville, Georgia. 

It is believed that Coalson built the original main house- which remains the core of the inn today.  After serving as a cotton plantation during the Civil War, the property was transformed into a hunting resort by new owner Howard Melville Hanna, a shipping-oil-steel magnate.  The property stayed in the Hanna family for years which saw the additions of the Pool House and The Showboat Theater, where the first private screening of the classic film Gone with the Wind was held.

Today, the Coalson Plantation & Inn offers luxury that recalls the elegance of a past era.  Among the 33 rooms are truly unique accommodations including the Melrose Suite - the former bedroom of Howard Melville Hanna, the regal Winnstead Suite, and the romantic Hibernia Cottage.  Blended with the charms of the past are the amenities of today, with an indoor pool, tennis courts and fitness center.  Mr. Coalson's $750 has certainly been stretched into a priceless luxury experience.

Now, that expereince offered by the luxury property is on the market. Currenly listed at $9,875,000 by Harry Norman Realtors, the Coalson Plantation & Inn is a truly unique and special piece of luxury real estate.

Where would you go for a new and unique gourmet meal?  How about 165 feet (50 meters) off the ground with a great view?  Not on a balcony or a high floor eatery surrounded by floor-to-ceiling glass, but on a special table suspended by crane.  Well, that's exactly the experience offered by Dinner in the Sky.  Up to 22 people can be strapped into their chairs and hoisted up into the blue yonder for a feast like no other. 

The special event can be held anywhere there is enough space - approximately 500 square meters.  You can choose to have a full meal hosted by gourmet chefs who work at the center of the table, entertain clients for cocktails, or enjoy one-of-a-kind tastings.

Just be sure to keep a firm grip on your silverware.

I recently took a trip to the "City of Lights" – Las Vegas, NV.  On most occasions my trips have consisted of discovering new restaurants and nightlife, enjoying time by the pool and testing my luck at black jack.  On this particular trip though, I discovered a service I'd not experienced before – Eminence Luxury Services – a high-end car rental service.

When one travels, a car is often a nice amenity to have on hand, but the selection at Hertz can be unimpressive to the discerning customer. Eminence Luxury offers an easy solution in providing a large selection of most en vogue, luxury cars on the market. For the sophisticated consumer, exquisite Bentleys and Aston Martins are available. Individuals looking for something a bit more edgy and exotic can choose from a wide selection of Ferraris and Lamborghinis.

NetJets is the self-proclaimed worldwide leader in private aviation.  They operate about 750 planes co-owned by their clients, who are guaranteed a specified model of aircraft for their trip within a few hours notice.  NetJets offers its services in the US, Europe, and the Middle East and flies to more than 173 countries.  Along with flying the aircraft, NetJets arranges a variety of travel-related services, from customized catering to emergency medical treatment and even a VIP program affiliated with UPenn's vet school that provides veterinary care for your animal no matter where you are in the world.  Now we're talking. So how exactly does NetJets work?  First, a consultant "assesses your needs" to help determine what jet type that is right for you.  Then, you buy as much airtime as you need - fractional shares start at 50 hours of annual flying time.  The next step is traveling, whenever and wherever you want.  When you call for a flight, your aircraft, or a larger one, will be dispatched. From then on, you'll have access to an entire fleet – the largest and most diversified private aircraft fleet in the world, and don't worry about ground transportation...NetJets takes care of that too.  Sounds like a good deal to me!  Oh, and the starting price is half a million dollars.

I'm a big fan of Bravo's Top Chef.  It has everything you could want in a reality competition show:  exciting challenges, tense eliminations, and a contender with a faux-hawk (this season, anyway).  On tonight's new episode the final four competitors head to Puerto Rico to continue to chase their culinary dreams, while we just sit and watch.

For those of us on the couch not lucky (or talented) enough to make it on the TV show, Trump International Hotel & Tower New York offers an exclusive experience sure to satisfy the cooking desires within.  The Jean-Georges Culinary Master Course at the luxury hotel is a private two-hour cooking demonstration by world-renowned chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, and is part of a package that includes three nights in an executive suite and a three-course dinner at Jean-Georges restaurant.  You'll even get a signed copy of the chef's book, Asian Flavors of Jean-Georges.  After witnessing a master in action and being outfitted with his recipes, your kitchen is sure to become the domain of a top chef.

Recently, we posted information about an historic Coral Gables estate that came with its own private island.  Those of us without an island retreat of our own have several opportunities to rent a private island getaway for an amazing vacation.  There are island options for many travel budgets, including of course, the unlimited budget of the super-affluent voyager.  Virgin Airlines owner Sir Richard Branson's famous Necker Island, a 74 acre paradise in the British Virgin Islands, can be rented for $47,000 a night for up to 28 guests.  If that sounds a little steep, there are certain times when you can rent rooms in one of the island's six guest houses starting at $23,500 a week (still more than a little steep for me). 

Amenities on the island include two freshwater pools and Jacuzzi, tennis courts, water sports, fishing, spa and everything that can be expected on the ultimate idyllic island paradise.

Having just spent several days at The Boca Raton Resort & Club, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to write about this luxurious facility.  Like most luxury resorts, The Boca Raton Resort & Club offered a variety of amenities and services that highlighted the overall experience. From the magnificent Spa Pallazo – a rejuvenating and tranquil haven – to the state of the art fitness center, there was no shortage of pleasurable activities. 

People staying at a resort are there for one of two reasons:  business or pleasure. Either way, when a day of hard work or an afternoon of golf ends, one retreats back to the comfort of the guestroom.  It's a great feeling to walk in and see a freshly made bed and neatly folded bath linens; knowing all the while you did nothing to assist with the pristine condition of the room.  Often times though, it's the little details that complete the opulent experience.  In the case of The Boca Raton Resort & Club, the turn down service was one of these details.  I misspoke…it was the "treats" that were left when the service was completed.  Each evening there was a delectable piece of chocolate or delightful key lime cookies waiting atop the untouched bed.  Who knew that such small tokens were capable of making such a big difference?

Blending a rich history with contemporary appeal, The Clarence is a boutique hotel in Dublin, Ireland that has all of the ingredients needed to create a unique luxury experience.  The fact that it is owned by Bono and The Edge of U2 only further adds to the appeal and injects The Clarence with A-list allure.  Originally built in 1852, the 50-room hotel was purchased by the Irish rockers in 1992 and transformed into an elegantly modern escape that still maintains its unpretentious charm.  With so much to offer, including its ideal location in the center of Dublin on the River Liffey, individually designed rooms and suites, relaxing spa, and popular Octagon Bar, it would be hard for anyone to check-out of The Clarence saying "I still haven't found what I'm looking for."

Vacations can be stressful.  From organizing, to travelling, seeing the sites, planning excursions, time is lost to enjoy the one thing that is the purpose of many voyages -- relaxing.  Lucky for the luxury traveler, Longitude 180 is helping to change that.  The boutique agency, located in Toronto, caters to busy professionals and offers luxury travel to premium destinations as a break from the hectic schedule.  What makes Longitude 180 unique is that they mix desirable destinations such as the beaches of Bora Bora or the wilderness of Australia with a relaxing itinerary meant to "rejuvenate" and "re-connect".  Tours of exotic environments are accompanied by events such as oceanside yoga in the morning and/or nightly meditation.  With tranquil voyages like these, rejuvenation is a given and you may re-connect with someone very important...yourself.