A private beach with white sand imported from Egypt.  A five-acre pool with gondola rides.  Gold-plated mirrors on the bathroom floors.  These are just a few of the things that earn the new Mardan Palace in Antalya, Turkey the billing of grandest and most expensive hotel in Europe.

Russian billionaire Telman Ismailov spent over $1 billion to create the luxury hotel, which recently opened with a celebrity-studded event to showcase the opulence.  10 restaurants, 14 bars and cafes, and spa with offerings such as a 24-karat gold-leaf body wrap display the pinnacle of extravagance.  Luxurious accommodations feature multi-media systems and 24-hour butler service, while two "Royal Suites" boast private pools and more. 

See more of the amazing details on the hotel's official site.

This weekend Daylight Savings Time begins and we spring ahead by moving the clocks forward an hour. For those of us in locales with cold winters, losing one hour of sleep is a small price to pay for the promise of more sun and warmer weather on the horizon.

The dawn of spring and summer also means many people will be looking to travel. Crystal Cruises is known for providing outstanding luxury journeys, and this summer they are offering 100 new adventures in the Mediterranean. There are itineraries that include paragliding in Barcelona, windsurfing off the cost of Turkey, hiking in Italy and much more. Crystal Cruises also offers a savings program to help reduce the cost of all voyages, and also a plan that allows 2009 travelers who book this month big discounts on 2010 trips. Lean more on their website.

The positioning of Newport Beach and other communities on Southern California's Pacific Coast provide a stunning backdrop for Orange County luxury homes, perched to take in the unobstructed ocean views. 

Fine luxury resorts also inhabit this picturesque locale, including the recently opened Resort at Pelican Hill.  The resort encompasses 504 acres of prime real estate with luxury accommodations inspired by Italian architect Andrea Palladio.  Boasting Bungalow Suites and Villas with all ocean views, resort boutiques, a European cafe, Tom Fazio-designed golf courses and much more, The Resort at Pelican Hill offers luxury that feels a world away in a convenient location.

Tomorrow is an historic day for America, as Barack Obama will be sworn in as the 44th President of the United States.  Beginning the same day Obama starts his presidency, The Fairmont Hotel in Chicago is offering a special luxurious package in his honor.  The Fairmont's "Presidential Hometown Tour" features two nights in the newly renovated Presidential Suite with views of Lake Michigan and the famed Chicago skyline from the 37th floor.  In addition to accommodations in the suite outfitted with Obama memorabilia, guests will tour the city in style as a chauffer-driven Bentley takes them down Lake Shore Drive to many notable spots, including the First Family's Hyde Park home and the basketball courts where Obama often plays his beloved sport.  The package also features dinner at Spiaggia, where the President-elect and his wife shared a private dinner to celebrate his landmark victory last November.

For more information on this unique promotion priced at $8,244, contact The Fairmont Chicago.

With the current state of the economy finding deals on any travel, let alone luxury escapes, is becoming increasingly difficult.  Several holiday plans are being altered or cancelled due to uncertainty and rising costs.

One reliable option is LuxuryLink, which has been providing affordable luxury travel online for over a decade.  Their packages feature premier 4 and 5 star hotels and resorts that have been examined by staff.  Travel packages also come with complimentary luxury services, which may include spa treatments and gourmet meals.

LuxuryLink is currently offering a gift certificate of up to $200 with the purchase of a travel package.  Those booking getaways will have to hurry, though- the offer expires on December 15th.

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.

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.