I may dream of disconnecting from all things electronic, but fly into a panic when wifi goes down or more frequently, can’t find my phone. And I know I’m not alone.

But there’s a persistent fantasy that I will one day deliberately land in some remote (and beautiful) location where there is no wifi, no television, no internet–and no clocks. I would be with my soulmate and days could be spent exploring terrain, foods, customs, each other, and a different rhythm of life. We would have no problem disconnecting from the noise of modern existence.

Imagine falling to sleep at night under all the stars that are lost to city lights and pollution. That is disconnecting of a different kind.

This idea came up last week as I was pondering remote possibilities for an off-the-grid vacation–where only light bulbs and fans would be acceptable. Theoretically speaking.  I imagined that a remote oil rig somewhere might be interesting (for one night), but knew there had to be more suitable destinations.

But the idea did get me to thinking about off-the-electronic-grid vacations,  where one (or two) might unplug, rewind and reset.  Listed below are just a few of the possibilities I found:

Punta Placer, Oaxaca, Mexico

Forget about cell phones ringing at Punta Placer. Stay in a   beachfront  and palm covered bungalow just outside the tiny seaside   fishing village of San Agustinillo on the southern Pacific coast. You’ll   find no television and the luxury of air conditioning comes from ocean breezes. No boredom here, though. You can swim with protected sea turtles, hike through the Oaxaca rain forest and even melt under skilled hands with an aromatherapy massage. While not a 5-star resort, you will enjoy home-cooked Mexican food, rustling coconut trees, a margarita or two, deck chairs,  and some spectacular sunsets. Clocks and watches optional.

Amankora, Bhutan

Imagine, by whatever means necessary, you land in remote Bhutan between India and the remote Tibetan Plateau. You might not expect to find a luxury resort, where you can totally unplug and get away from all of life’s noise. Imagine meditating in a 7th century Buddhist monastery or climbing, even part way, up Himalayan mountains that peak at 22,000 feet. You might also want to try archery or white water rafting through deep river valleys surrounded by blue pines and ending the day relaxing in the hotel spa’s steam room

There are several fine resorts and hotels in this last remaining Buddhist kingdom of Bhutan. Unplugging should be easy. Watches and clocks are irrelevant.

Ultima Thule Lodge, Chitina, Alaska

Want to get really serious about disconnecting from the world as we know it? If so, you will need to hop on a bush plane to get to Ultima Thule Lodge in remote Alaska, because the nearest road is 100 miles away.

The beautiful log-sided lodge sits next to the 13 million-acre Wrangell-St. Elias National Park–the largest protected land mass on earth– and is completely out of cell phone range. There is, however, a single computer in the lodge with a dial up modem that we might want to try just for nostalgia’s sake. Remember the sound?

Reviews for this surprisingly luxurious lodge are amazing. “The most amazing place you will ever visit,” says TripAdvisor. One of “the Best Wilderness lodges,” says Mens Journal and a “once in a lifetime” adventure  according to Travel & Leisure Magazine. The hiking description from Ultima Thule Lodge website is pretty exciting:

Glacial runoff thunders down from the mountain in a massive waterfall. Vast clouds of vapor glitter in the sunlight. You watch as the glacier calves a huge, jagged shard of ice, and it drops down into the valley below, crashing into the Chitina river.

Behind you, the two-seater Piper Super Cub waits silently, it’s steel propeller glinting in the sun, it’s massive, rubbery bush-wheels perfectly suited for a landing at the top of the world.

Oh, and did I mention Northern Lights? They see them here. And given the very remote location, a watch might come in handy.

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa, Key West, Florida

This is another resort that will require boat, helicopter or sea plane for arrival. A perfect setting for Gilligan’s Island, this remote key has white sandy beaches, lots of iguanas and a multitude of colorful fish species that might be seen while snorkeling while snorkeling at nearby Dive Looe Key National Marine Sanctuary.

The thatched bungalow rooms at this treasured resort have no telephones, televisions or alarm clocks (and no guests under the age of 16). They do, however, have chilled champagne awaiting your arrival. I explored booking a room for most any period this summer and found no vacancy. And given that Little Palm Island Resort and Spa has long been a favorite getaway for high profile celebrities, presidents and savvy travelers. The wise traveler, however, would be smart to book well in advance–and the unwise one during hurricane season.

The resort offers gourmet dining (both in room and in restaurant), a world class spa and guest lodging that entices one to stay more than a single night. From their website:

Our thirty Florida Keys suites, nestled two apiece in thatched-roof bungalows, are so silent and peaceful, it’s like you’re living alone in the lap of luxury.  Island Escape Suite, Island Elegance Suite, Island Romance Suite and Island Grand Suite guest quarters are housed in thatched roof bungalows, with custom-made king-sized beds with romantic butterfly netting, so plush some guests never want to leave.

I confess to never having visited the Florida Keys, but a reservation and disconnecting at this resort could lure me there from San Diego!

In conclusion….

This is a topic I will likely keep exploring. There is a secret terror lurking inside me that fears being unconnected. There is also part of my soul, though, that wants nothing more than to bury the phone, ipad, and laptop for a week to test my survival skills. And that is challenge enough!

Do you have any off-the-grid vacation suggestions?

The post The Luxury of Disconnecting appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

by Roberta Murphy

Shattering California state records, Southern Califonia luxury hotel resort La Montage  recently sold foe $360 million–or around $1.4 million per room according to a recent article in the LA Times. Said rooms, by the way, go for around $600 per night each.

This purchase price shatters all recent records in California and comes close to matching other pricy sales, which includes the Hotel Del Coronado, which recently sold for over $1 million per room and the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Hawaii and the Waldorf Astoria New York which each sold for more than $1.4 million per room.

This recent purchase of the La Montage was completed by the Strategic Hotels & Resorts Inc. which also  bought the 250-room Montage Laguna Beach from an affiliate of Ohana Real Estate Investors, a Redwood City investment firm funded by Pierre Omidyar, the founder and chairman of eBay. Ohana still  (for time being) owns the Travelodge Laguna Beach and the Montage Beverly Hills, among other properties.

Montage Hotels & Resorts will continue to run and operate the upscale Laguna Beach resdort, which opened in 2003 on South Coast Highway. It has a meeting rooms, a spa and a five-star rating from Forbes. Resting on a 50-foot bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean and unforgetable sunsets, the La Montage Laguna Beach beckons guests seeking the ultimate Southern Californan getaway.

The post La Montage Laguna Beach Sold: Priciest Yet appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

 Imagine my surprise this morning when we   were notified that Luxury Home Digest had   been named a top travel blog in the world– albeit #87 on the list!

 Though we’ve written plenty about luxury homes, luxury destinations and favored hotels, more recently we’ve warned about travel to Mexico and Egypt because of political issues and potential dangers to travelers in these locations. And advising our readers to consider travel closer to home–at least until things calm down. 

We hope to travel to both Mexico, Egypt and other distant locations soon, and will do so as soon as we deem it safe to do so. In the meantime, there is Thailand, Singapore, Europe and other destinations calling for a visit–sooner rather than later.

Regardless, what are some of your favorite travel blogs–and ones that would surely rate above #87?

The post Luxury Home Digest a Top Travel Blog? appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

Amazing Underwater Hotel Experiences to Become a Reality?

It seems underwater hotels are the new rage in bizarre hotel experiences. Finland blew us away with the ice hotel, China with its underground hotel, and now Fiji, Africa and Dubai –and other countries which now have competing underwater hotel experiences for the adventurous and well-heeled.

Sites of some current underwater hotels:

1. The Manta Resort in Zanzibar, Africa (Pemba Island) is located 13 feet below the surface and rents for $900 to $1500 per night.
2. On Rengali Island in the Maldives is the Conrad Hilton’s Maldives Rengali Island Resort where an underwater restaurant is, on occasion, turned into a luxurious underwater hotel room that rents for at least $800 per night. Would imagine that reservations are needed far in advance.
3. 3. Sweden’s Utter Inn offers a tiny single room (80 square feet) 10 feet underwater for around $170 per night.  A boat drops you off at the small station that sits  above the room. No restaurant or spa here. Bring your own food and wine?
4. Jules Undersea Lodge in Key West, Florida requires that you scuba dive to your room, located 30 feet under the surface. Pizza delivery is available to these spacious 2-bedroom units. Rates start at about $800 for two under their Jul package.
5. The Poseidon Undersea Resort on mysterious Katafinga Island in Fiji is pictured above. Very luxurious, rooms here start at $1500 per night for a single and double that for a couple. These rates may be dated, so would advise checking!
6. Floor to ceiling windows are standard at the luxurious and newer Atlantis The Palm in Dubai, United Arab Emirates which sits in a virtual aquarium. For best rates, the hotel advises you contact them directly. Restaurants and family fun look absolutely wonderful. What an adventure!

I have yet to stay in an underwater hotel room, but do wonder what it would be like to sleep among the sea life. Would also have difficulty falling asleep if I could see what sea life was going on around me.

Should I put in on my bucket list?

The post Underwater Hotel Experience appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.

We are making reservations now to attend the National Association of Realtors NAR NARDIGRAS, which will logically be held in New Orleans, November 4 through November 8.  We are arriving a couple of days early to attend a two day Cyberprofessional meeting and will spend the balance of our time in unspecified meetings–but will additionally be taking photos and reviewing lodging, restaurants and local “catches.”

Time will understandably be limited.

Can any of our readers suggest an interesting Bed and Breakfast or small Inn in the French Quarter or Garden District in New Orleans? Something picturesque? Maybe even something haunted?

Mostly, Scott and I are seeking something to capture in the viewfinder–and some stories to tell. Reviews are guaranteed!

We welcome your suggestions and will happily publish relevant links.

The post Seeking New Orleans Bed and Breakfast or Inn appeared first on Luxury Home Digest.