Luxury Real Estate

By Andrew Harper

Many people have a list of places they’d like to visit before they move on to the next world; here are a few American suggestions of my own.

For conversation’s sake, I have avoided the obvious targets, but a stroll across the Golden Gate Bridge or a trip up the Empire State Building is still definitely worth it.

Though we are lucky to live in a beautiful country, I have focused on smaller, man-made locales, simply because a catalog of pretty American places could stretch on forever.

This list is admittedly subjective, but it comes from 30 years of professional wandering. Some places are more well-known than others, but all share a sense of tranquility and wonder.

And since I review small boutique hotels for a living, I have included nearby recommended places to stay. Happy travels!

Madison Valley, Montana

Montana’s Madison Valley, which runs between the Madison and Gallatin ranges down to West Yellowstone, is magnificent Lewis and Clark territory. This is unspoiled land, vast and uncompromising – everything you hope Big Sky Country will look like. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Lodge at Sun Ranch.

San Francisco de Asis Church, Ranchos de Taos

Famously painted by Georgia O’Keefe and described by her as “one of the most beautiful buildings left in the United States by the early Spaniards,” this handsome adobe mission a few miles outside of Taos Pueblo yokes together a staggering five centuries of American history. Harper Recommended Hotel: Casa de las Chimeneas, Taos.

Whaling Museum, Nantucket

At its whaling peak during the first half of the 19th century, the small island of Nantucket had 88 ships scattered across the oceans. The Whaling Museum is wonderfully evocative of this era (plenty of scrimshaw and rusty harpoons), and out-of-season Nantucket Town, with its Greek Revival mansions and cobblestone streets, is equally enchanting. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Wauwinet.

Battery District, Charleston

The historic Battery District of Charleston, South Carolina, home to dozens of stately antebellum mansions, is one of the prettiest American neighborhoods I’ve ever explored. Follow the promenade along the shores of the Charleston peninsula; Fort Sumter, where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, sits broodingly across the Cooper River. Harper Recommended Hotel: Planters Inn.

Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston

Housed in a charming Venetian-style palazzo, this gem of a gallery displays works by Rembrandt, Michelangelo, Whistler and Sargent. It’s small enough to tour in an hour or so, and you can spend the rest of your time enjoying the sunny, flower-filled courtyard. And if your name happens to be Isabella, you get in free. Harper Recommended Hotel: XV Beacon.

The Four Seasons Restaurant, New York

If you had to choose only one restaurant in New York City to visit, the Four Seasons Restaurant would be the one. The city’s prettiest dining room was designed by architects Mies van der Rohe and Philip Johnson, and astutely hasn’t been touched since its introduction in 1959. The Pool Room is a study in muted sophistication, despite some of the outsized egos at the tables. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Lowell.

The Rothko Chapel, Houston

This small, non-denominational chapel located just off the Menil gallery in Houston’s Museum District seems unassuming at first, but spend some time surrounded by the 14 mysterious paintings by Mark Rothko, and it may start sinking into your skin. Harper Recommended Hotel: St. Regis.

The Huntington Gardens, San Marino, California

Mr. Huntington did quite well in railroads, and he’s left us with a wonderful afternoon escape just outside of Los Angeles. After admiring some of the spoils of his industry – a Gutenberg Bible, a Shakespeare folio, Thomas Gainsborough’s “The Blue Boy” – venture out into the superb botanical gardens, home to dozens of unique environments: an almost eerily authentic Japanese garden, a lily pond straight out of a Monet painting, and an entrancing collection of cacti. Harper Recommended Hotel: Hotel Bel-Air.

Robie House (Frank Lloyd Wright), Chicago

The Robie House, the world’s first modern home, was designed in 1908 by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, and still seems startlingly contemporary 100 years later; with its broad horizontal lines and sleek art glass windows, it looks like a modernist yacht. Wright himself showed up to protest the planned demolition of the house (it was to be replaced by a seminary dormitory) at the ripe old age of 90. Harper Recommended Hotel: Four Seasons.

The Oregon Coast

Highway 101 along the Oregon Coast swerves through 360 miles of jagged cliffs, rocky outcrops, sweeping dunes and temperate rain forests. The coastline lacks deep harbors, so there are no large cities here – just old logging towns, fishing villages and the occasional artist colony. And the entire coast is public land, which makes for excellent picnic opportunities in rugged and remote spaces. Harper Recommended Hotel: The Stephanie Inn, Cannon Beach.


Editor’s Note:
For more information on this company, contact Margaret Temple, the Business Development Manager at Andrew Harper in Austin, Texas. Andrew Harper is an exclusive partner with Luxury Real Estate. This is some great advice for travelers seeking great deals. For more than a quarter century, Andrew Harper has explored the world as an incognito traveler. Always paying his own way, his unbiased reviews of the finest hotels, villas, yachts, restaurants and culturally authentic travel experiences are legendary. Through a variety of media, complemented by highly personalized travel planning services, members of Andrew Harper’s luxury travel club enjoy the resources to dream, plan and realize an unparalleled level of globetrotting. This blog entry is chock full of great information, just like Andrew Harper’s previous blog entry. Be sure to keep checking back at the Luxury Real Estate Blog for scoops like this!

By Andrew Harper

Getting a better room is easier than you might think – and it never hurts to ask.

Most travelers never think to ask for a hotel room upgrade, which is regrettable. During the off-season, large hotels frequently run high vacancy rates, and moving a guest into a nicer room doesn’t cost anything except for some extra laundry expenses. As with so many other things in life, there is simply no harm in asking politely.

An upgrade doesn’t have to mean a larger room. Perhaps it’s an ocean view, a king-size bed or a room in an especially quiet wing. The important thing to remember is that hotel upgrades are mostly about personal relationships, rather than loyalty programs or special credit cards (though those can certainly be helpful).

Upgrades are given at the discretion of the hotel manager or the front desk clerk. These people tend to receive a fair amount of grief from finicky guests on a regular basis, and they appreciate being treated with respect and patience. Acting entitled or being deceitful usually won’t help your case – these are professionals who have seen it all before.

Dress nicely, and be as friendly as possible, even if you’re exhausted after a long flight. Inquire about an upgrade after you’ve given your name, but before you’ve been assigned your room. Do a little research on rooms beforehand, and make a specific request (e.g., “Would it be possible to be upgraded to an executive suite at no extra charge?”).

Simply asking for a “better room” is not as effective as requesting a particular room using the hotel’s terminology (Central Park Suite, Harbor View Suite, etc.). Don’t be disappointed if an upgrade is not possible – this is a matter of availability, after all.

In large-city hotels, upgrades are more likely during weekend, due to the absence of business travelers. For smaller hideaways in scenic locales, your chances are better during the week. Frequent visitors or members of various hotel reward programs will gain preferential treatment, but more often than not, hotel management is happy to lend a favor to a calm, amiable guest. It’s good for business.

Here are 10 tips for securing a hotel room upgrade.

1. Contact Management Before You Arrive: If you are celebrating a special occasion, feel free to mention this in an email. A personable and enthusiastic call to confirm your reservation also can help.

2. Book a Mid-Range Room: You’re more likely to be upgraded from a mid-range room than the cheapest room in the hotel.

3. Time It Right: Large city hotels tend to be busier during the workweek. For a smaller hideaway in the country, try for a midweek booking if you have some flexibility.

4. Arrive During Mid-Afternoon: Checking in between 3 and 5 is optimal. The front desk clerk will have a better sense of the day’s bookings and cancellations.

5. Look the Part: Dress appropriately. A nice jacket can make a world of difference. If you’re traveling with tired children, it probably won’t hurt to have someone mind them in the lobby while you’re at the front desk.

6. Be Personable: Ask nicely. Mention that you’d be happy to reference the counter clerk’s name in customer evaluations.

7. Be Specific: For example: “Would it be possible to be upgraded to an ocean view?” If you have a preferred room that you’ve stayed in before, feel free to mention it.

8. Mention Relationships: If your company does a lot of business with the hotel, feel free to mention it. If you use a travel service or a credit card that has a “special relationship” with the hotel, by all means, pipe up.

9. Take Advantage of Minor Misfortune: Laundry gone missing? Noisy neighbors? Kindly let management know that an upgrade will wipe the slate clean.

10. Leave On a Happy Note: A nice tip for the doorman. Smiles for the concierge. A note of approval to the manager. Every little bit helps, especially for the next time around.


Editor’s Note:
For more information on this company, contact Margaret Temple, the Business Development Manager at Andrew Harper in Austin, Texas. Andrew Harper is an exclusive partner with Luxury Real Estate. This is some great advice for travelers seeking great deals. For more than a quarter century, Andrew Harper has explored the world as an incognito traveler. His unbiased reviews of the finest hotels, villas, yachts, restaurants and culturally authentic travel experiences are legendary. Through a variety of media, complemented by highly personalized travel planning services, members of Andrew Harper’s luxury travel club enjoy the resources to dream, plan and realize an unparalleled level of globetrotting.

By Jim Johnson

From his blog: Move to Bend Oregon for the Music

One of the reasons people are buying homes in Bend, Oregon is the music. The Les Schwab Amphitheater is where a lot of that music happens. It is a beautiful outdoor riverfront amphitheater built in the historic Old Mill District in 2001. The amphitheater was named in honor of a remarkable Central Oregonian, Les Schwab.

The amphitheater canaccommodate approximately 8,000 patrons for concerts and other events in a casual outdoor setting. All summer long it will host some of the biggest names in entertainment plus free concerts by local and national performers every Sunday.

BB King just finished a concert here. Brooks and Dunn will perform on Wednesday, August 6th. Cheryl Crow will be here on Thursday, August 28th. There are many other great artists who will be performing through August. Music is one of the many reasons people live in Bend. You can see the schedule of performers here.


Editor’s Note:
Jim Johnson is the Principal Broker of Century 21 Gold Country Realty. He has lived in Bend, Oregon since 1981 and is familiar with its finest properties. In case you’re familiar with the Western United States and you’re curious, yes the Les Schwab mentioned in the first paragraph is that Les Schwab. We welcome wonderful blog entries like this in the LuxuryRealEstate.com Blog. Share the positive points of your communities so potential buyers can see different sides of cities they might miss otherwise.

By Jennifer Schuyler

Seattle is the international headquarters for LuxuryRealEstate.com and best known for its cloudy skies and rain. What many people don’t know is how beautiful our city is during the spring and summer months.

In the spring, the cherry blossom trees and rhododendrons are in full bloom throughout the city. During the summer months, the city is abuzz with outdoor festivals, concerts at the pier, community farmers’ markets, pick-up volleyball games at Golden Gardens and Alki Beach, boating, sailing… you name it, we’ve got it!

If you are visiting Seattle this summer, please stop by LuxuryRealEstate.com’s international headquarters and say hello. Our staff would love to see you!

The following poem sums up many of my feelings. It is by Miles Christian Barth:

Summer
When water flows, and the wind blows.
You can feel the summer breeze,
playing with the autumn leaves.
When clouds are white, and the sun is bright.
You can see the grass grow tall,
next to the river's water fall.
When roses are red, and the weeds are dead.
You can taste the gold, sweet honey,
while the earth is warm and sunny.
When trees are green, and they can't be seen.
You can hear the church boys singing,
while the morning bells are ringing.
When morning turns to night, and the moon's your only light.
You can smell the honeysuckle,
as you stroll along and chuckle.
When summer comes around,
fun and mischief sure abound.

- Miles Christian Barth, USA


Editor’s Note:
Jennifer Schuyler is the Senior Membership Manager with LuxuryRealEstate.com. She has a remarkable history of meeting and exceeding luxury brokers’ marketing needs. Summer is definitely awesome, isn’t it? I can’t wait until the summer issue of LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine arrives later this month, I believe. The photo above of the cherry blossoms on the University of Washington campus is from www.flickr.com/photos/mystereys/438434552 and it is the copyright of mystereys on Flickr.

By Allyson Metters

Like many of my friends, the most important thing in a home for me is the kitchen – not that I am a great cook, but there is something about that room that appeals to me. Every time I see a property listing, I always take a look through the photos for the kitchen shots.

According to an article entitled “What Luxury Looks Like in the New Kitchen and Bath” in Custom Builder magazine, multiplicity is a trend in luxury kitchens – multiple islands, sinks, appliances – even multiple kitchens.

The article also covers luxury trends for master baths – including showers equipped with steam, sound therapy, and aroma therapy.


Editor’s Note:
As she mentioned, Allyson Metters is the Relocation Manager for LuxuryRealEstate.com. She helps people who are moving to find a perfect broker to meet their needs in their new area. Allyson makes an interesting point about amenities and what people are looking for in a luxury home. Keep an eye on changing tastes.

By Robert Lockard

After taking more than 400 fabulous photos at the 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat in April, Ilya Moshenskiy, the Principal Photographer of Ilya Estate Photography, is showing off his versatile talents in another field. On the left is a recent photo he took at Salty’s Seafood Restaurant in Seattle. The dessert is called the Ooey Gooey Ice Cream Sandwich.

It’s quite amazing that, in addition to his talents as a real-estate photographer, Ilya is also able to take world-class photos of gourmet food. To take advantage of Ilya’s expert services, contact him at ilya at ilyaestate.com.


Editor’s Note:
Robert Lockard is the Public Relations & Media Specialist with LuxuryRealEstate.com. I am Robert. I create all of LuxuryRealEstate.com’s newsletters, write the editorials in LuxuryRealEstate.com Magazine and much more. You can see all of Ilya’s photos of the 6th Annual Spring Retreat here.

By Jean-Yves Piton

Today’s real estate marketplace is most definitely more technology-driven worldwide. This fact became even more evident during the Technology Roundtable held at the 6th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat in San Diego. Top brokers in the luxury real estate industry are now seeking for more tools to become more productive and effective vis-à-vis their top competitors.

Here is an example: You never stepped into the agency today. You have already received many text messages from prospective buyers you need to follow up with this morning. Your property buyers located your ads on LuxuryRealEstate.com. They were able to view both photos and virtual tours of the properties they saw and liked. They also connected with you a few times via LiveChat on your PDA.

You have already called your clients back and all of your appointments are scheduled on your PDA phone. You are bringing along with you both your laptop and a data card to ensure you are able to share all the needed electronic documents, in case you need them. You have completed numerous successful property visits today. You are calling your 1-800 line to check any voicemails left at the office by any possible home buyers. Luckily, your Bluetooth headset allows you to do so while driving your car to another property.

You beat traffic since you are guided by your GPS. Before your client arrives, you have plenty of time to check the latest industry news on the LuxuryRealEstate.com Webzine, read blog entries on the LuxuryRealEstate.com Blog and educate consumers about market news on your blog. Time to see if you have received any signed contracts via your efax in your email inbox. While at it, you might as well update your customer database regarding today’s activities and before you forget.

Does this sound familiar?

Clearly, in order to gain a competitive edge and increase sales, it is critical to embrace new technologies in the new real-estate era.


Editor’s Note:
Jean-Yves Piton is the Global Services Membership Manager for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He assists Bente Madtsen, the Director of Global Services, in expanding the LuxuryRealEstate.com brand into even more countries around the world. Indeed, technology is bringing us new capabilities and expectations. We need to react quicker, think faster and be ready to meet clients’ changing needs. This is a time of incredible challenges and opportunities. The picture above is from www.dougbelshaw.com/tag/meetings.

By Jean-Yves Piton

Are you presently intensifying your global promotional and advertising campaigns regarding your most-prestigious properties to ensure your presence amongst the upper-class segment?

Despite a weakening global economy, wealthy investors and property buyers are not affected by slowdowns and market volatility. As communicated in the recent IBNLive.com/CNN video “Despite weak economy, super rich continue to splurge,” the wealthy clientele “doesn’t usually look at the price tag, despite what's happening to the global economy” while making purchasing decisions.

While planning your upcoming sales and marketing strategies/initiatives, keep in mind that promoting and showcasing your luxury properties in the best light possible will provide you with a much higher level of success to reach out to this niche market. Equally important, your wealthy international client might be aware of Who’s Who in Luxury Real Estate (LuxuryRealEstate.com) and looking to indulge himself/herself with a one-of-a-kind property.


Editor’s Note:
Jean-Yves Piton is the Global Services Membership Manager for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He assists Bente Madtsen, the Director of Global Services, in expanding the LuxuryRealEstate.com brand into even more countries around the world. One good idea for marketing your luxury properties is to have great photos that showcase their impressive features. Ilya’s Photography, the official photographer of the 6^th Annual Luxury Real Estate Spring Retreat, is an excellent resource for you, and I highly recommend him.

By Janice Ridge

What is the next big thing for the Ultra-wealthy? Hot air!! Hot-air balloons, that is. Krug, the French champagne maker, offers the most-expensive hot-air balloon ride in the world, available in various locations around the world.

The price tag of about $80,000 (that’s 4 zeroes!) for 8 persons is all-inclusive: While your personal butler serves you a gourmet meal and champagne (Krug, of course), enjoy the majestic scenery in your white leather digs, high above sea level!

Now that’s luxury. Hey, do you think they sell “fractional” hot-air balloons?


Editor’s Note:
As the Director of Membership at LuxuryRealEstate.com, and herself a licensed REALTOR®, Janice Ridge is devoted to coordinating the efforts of all of the LuxuryRealEstate.com Membership and Account Managers, so that each of our members is given superior service. This is a unique bragging opportunity to say that you’ve taken the most-expensive hot-air balloon ride in the world. Maybe this is the next big thing for you.

By Scott Rudolph

I speak with so many that I find myself often speaking with people in various stages of illness. Short- and long-term sickness is an unfortunate occurrence but it allows us to reassess and prioritize what matters most! Truth is, sick or not, we are writing our life story in each moment, with each decision. Is your story an adventure? Is the relationship with your spouse a love story?

Writing our story reminds me of some of the behind-the-scenes dialogue during our Fall Conference in Washington D.C. a month after the tragic events of 9/11. I flew into Ronald Reagan International Airport with jet escort, settled into a well-appointed bunker of a boardroom and appreciated conversation related to reprioritizing… purposefully booking travel, hotels, buying real estate for family, etc. We rallied to support personal and economic health, strength, vitality.

So, what would you do differently if this were your last year? Each time I ask the question I hear:  spend more time traveling, build experiences, start a company, more philanthropy, etc. If your answer is, “exactly what I’m doing now” then kudos to you! If not, let’s get to it… now… today… in this moment.

Book your trips; buy a dozen homes; fill these new homes with the homeless; adopt a dozen children; start a company to right wrongs; write a song; speak out against injustice; call people and reconcile hurt feelings; fill a food bank for a year… I could go on. Make it significant. Keep it low-key. Here’s to your personal and economic health!! Email me your ideas and success stories.


Editor’s Note:
Scott Rudolph is the Director of Business Development for LuxuryRealEstate.com. He works with a variety of luxury-focused companies to expand the LuxuryRealEstate.com influence. Carpe diem! What a wonderful blog entry. I hope that we will all take Scott’s words to heart as we go about our daily lives. What would we do differently if we really believed that our time on earth is limited and fragile? I definitely second Scott’s sentiments, and I hope to be a better person in all of my seemingly small decisions and relationships.