Saatchi Art Featured in Forbes Holiday Gift Guide

11/22/18

This holiday season, gift an unforgettable luxury experience that money actually can buy. From a lavish private island stay in the Maldives to a magical Christmas Eve in the largest private estate in France, these one-of-a-kind packages are sure to take your breath away.

Christmas at Château de Vaux-le-VicomteCourtesy of Franklin LeCointre

Christmas Eve at Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte

To celebrate Christmas in style, La Réserve Paris has designed a week of unprecedented fairy-tale festivities. The luxurious journey starts in Paris with a program that includes a cruise on the Seine, a VIP visit to the Eiffel Tower typically reserved for state visits and dignitaries, and a completely private visit to the Louvre Museum.  On Christmas Eve, guests embark via helicopter to Château de Vaux-le-Vicomte, the largest private estate in France built in the 17th century by Nicolas Fouquet, superintendent of finance for Louis XIV, the Sun King. The estate has been owned by the same French family for five generations, and for the first time ever, the chateau will open its doors to welcome guests on Christmas Eve. The lavish festivities continue with a carriage ride through the gardens designed by French landscape architect André Le Nôtre (who also designed the gardens at Versailles), a sumptuous dinner in a festive reception hall by Jérôme Banctel, Executive Chef of the two Michelin-starred Le Gabriel restaurant, a wine pairing from the Château Cos d’Estournel, and an incredible firework display to cap the magical evening. To book this Christmas package, email nzimmermann@lareserve-paris.com or call +33.1.58.36.60.22.

Coco Privé, a luxurious private island in the Maldives available to book.Courtesy of Coco Privé

Coco Privé

As a highly sought-after destination for celebrities, billionaires and royalty, Coco Privé is one of the most lavish private islands in the world and only available for exclusive hire. For $45,000 a night, this Maldivian island features a master residence and five guest villas, boasting a wine cellar with over 150 bottles hand-selected by a sommelier, cocktail bar, library, indoor and outdoor gym areas, sauna, state-of-the-art kitchen, dining room, and a 40-metre pool with a 24-hour team of hosts and butlers, and a private chef for unlimited dining. Amenities include spa treatments anywhere and anytime with your own personal therapist, a Robinson Crusoe-style castaway sandbank picnic, or snorkeling with sea turtles guided by an in-house marine biologist. And if that's not enough, the island also offers Coco Privé Soirée, a luxurious party experience spread across three days as an indulgent bonus for your island retreat. This extravagant $50,000 celebration (in addition to the nightly rate) features a private fireworks display, a tropical disco party, bespoke culinary experiences, and a sunset bonfire while exhilarating Boduberu performs traditional Maldivian songs. The luxurious experiences starts as soon as you land at Malé International Airport, where a yacht will be waiting to take you to paradise. To book your stay, call +960 664 8887 or email yourplace@cocoprive.com.

A peek at the Lagoon Suite where guests have access to their own private lagoon.Courtesy of Blue Lagoon

Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland

Opened just this past April, the Retreat at Blue Lagoon Iceland offers a luxurious stay to unwind and promote full-body wellness while discovering the mystical landscape of Iceland. The Lagoon Suite, starting at $2,400 a night, offers guests a two room suite and their very own private lagoon (the only suite that offers this) for an intimate, unique experience at one of the wonders of the world. All Retreat guests are granted access to the Retreat Spa, which offers a variety of treatments inspired by the Lagoon's geothermal healing properties and seawater including the three-step ritual, a cold well, steam room, sauna, fireplace, restaurant, and more. The most popular treatment, the In-Water Massage was designed to unify the pleasure of massage therapy, the revitalizing powers of the geothermal water, and the natural beauty of the surrounding volcanic landscape. Guests are set afloat on a soft mattress-like pillow while suspended in the water and massaged with Blue Lagoon mineral massage oil. Escape to the land of fire and ice for a one-of-a-kind retreat by booking here.

A look inside a Ruinart cellar.Courtesy of Ruinart

Discover Champagne with Moët & Chandon, Dom Pérignon, Ruinart and Veuve Clicquot

Discover the secrets behind the méthode champenoise, indulge in fine French cuisine, and taste your way through a collection of LVMH's signature prestige cuvées from Ruinart, Veuve Clicquot, Moët & Chandon and Dom Pérignon. The Clos19 experience offers exclusive behind-the-scenes access to the cellar masters and their maisons with an unrivaled program including a welcome dinner at Michelin-starred restaurant Le Millénaire, a Ruinart pairing in the grounds of Le Jardin at Les Crayères, and a tour of the church where Dom Pierre Pérignon is buried - a particularly special experience as the Abbey is not open to the public. This package costs $8,100 for two guests and can be booked online here.

America's Cup in Hamilton, BermudaCourtesy of Clive Mason / Getty Images

Tack and Jibe Like an America’s Cup Sailor

Inspired by the maritime traditions of Bermuda, this package includes a two-part private sailing lesson with former professional America’s Cup sailor, Tucker Thompson. Thompson will teach guests the ropes on an International One Design yacht: iconic 33-foot day racers which are the first class of yachts awarded International Classic Yacht status by the International Sailing Federation and beloved by sailing enthusiasts. Between hoisting the sails and navigating the boat, there will be opportunities to dive into Bermuda’s turquoise waters and snorkel around a private island before ending the day with an unforgettable sunset dinner and champagne toast to celebrate a day of intense lessons. Set sail for $50,000 by emailing bermuda@rosewoodhotels.com, and this package even includes a Breitling “SuperOcean” Series timepiece.

Jin-Woo Prensena, daredevil photographer at work.Courtesy of 45 Park Lane Exhibitions

The Sky's The Limit Photo Session

Best known for his large-scale aerial images, fine art photographer Jin-Woo Prensena is offering a bespoke experience this holiday season for the daredevil and photography enthusiast. Prensena will take you and a guest on a private helicopter tour along the Malibu coast in a 120-minute ride high above the Pacific Ocean and California coastline to capture a one-of-a-kind photograph. Prensena who is known for his fearless aerial photographic style will work in tandem with the individual or couple to choose the perfect image from a height, angle and view perspective for this exclusive photo that he will print, sign, frame and deliver. Included in this one-of-a-kind experience is round-trip transportation, a three-night stay in a 5-star beachfront hotel, all meals, transportation and private concierge service for $65,000. Book via Saatchi Art here.

St. Hugo vineyard in Coonawarra, Australia., the country's most distinguished Cabernet Sauvignon region.Courtesy of Ultimate Wine Experiences Australia

"Sainthood" Wine Experience at St. Hugo

Embark on a three-day wine and culinary journey, and leave your legacy with St. Hugo’s ultimate wine experience in the Barossa Valley. Start the trip off with a personalized and private tour of the winery with vintage tastings, and end the day with an indulgent eight-course meal to discover the home of St. Hugo. Next, hop aboard a chartered flight to St. Hugo vineyards in Coonawarra, Australia’s most distinguished Cabernet Sauvignon region where you select your own row of vines from the premium St. Hugo vineyard blocks. A name plate will be placed on your chosen row to mark the start of your vineyard legacy. Finish the trip with an unprecedented opportunity crafting your own red wine blend created from the finest parcels of fruit chosen by the chief winemaker. Once matured, your bespoke St. Hugo wine will be bottled and stored on-site in the Sainthood vault for safekeeping, and for the next three years, you will receive a supply of your superb wine, bottled and delivered directly to your home. This price tag totals $150,000 per person, and can be booked online.

A lobster dish at EMP Winter House, the new Aspen pop-up by Chef Daniel Humm.Courtesy of American Express

EMP Winter House

After two successful summer pop-ups in East Hampton, Eleven Madison Park is launching the inaugural edition of EMP Winter House in Aspen. American Express Card Members are invited to join Global Dining Collection Chef Daniel Humm and Restaurateur Will Guidara to take a first look at EMP Winter House before it officially opens its doors to the public. At this exclusive kick-off event, guests will enjoy a festive cocktail reception followed by a seated, multi-course, wine-paired dinner to celebrate the start of the winter season and seasonally inspired menu. If you can't make it that evening, book a large format dinner for the ultimate winter feast with Alphine Fondue or a Roast Lamb Feast with friends in your very own private yurt. Cardholders can book here for the exclusive opening event, and all guests can make a reservation here.

A suite view at the SLS South Beach.Courtesy of sbe

The Suite Life by sbe

sbe hotel group offers a 360-degree luxurious hospitality program at the iconic Delano Hotel and SLS South Beach in Miami, Florida. The Suite Life provides five-star personalized experiences, luxury automobiles at your leisure, and first-class service beginning the moment you get off the plane. Booking The Suite Life will grant you a three month Jet Smarter membership, pick up from the airport in a brand new BMW, a luxury cruise with VanDutch, a 24-hour Experience Connoisseur to help connect you to over 20 sbe culinary and entertainment venues. In addition, you'll receive one-of-a-kind gifts from over 10 highly-coveted brands, including Away, Lavazza, Perrier-Jouët, and Whispering Angel giving you the ultimate luxurious experience that extend beyond the walls of your hotel suite for a $15,000 price tag. Book a suite at the Delano or SLS online here.

A view of the Borgo at Rosewood Castiglion del Bosco.Courtesy of Castiglion del Bosco

Winemaking From Tuscany to Beijing with Massimo Ferragamo

Fashion mogul, Massimo Ferragamo crafted an extraordinary journey from Italy to China to bring his iconic Zodiac Brunello di Montalcino wine to life. The gift includes a one-on-one harvesting experience with Castiglion del Bosco’s chief winemaker, Cecilia Leoneschi, including a helicopter tour of the newly opened and fully privatized Tenuta Prima Pietra vineyard in Tuscany. The journey continues in Beijing, where guests will receive a copy of a specially commissioned artwork signed by an acclaimed Chinese creator that celebrates the Year of the Rat Zodiac wine vintage (2020), as well as a coveted collector’s edition of six previous vintages and the current vintage, all of which come in magnum bottles. Mr. Massimo Ferragamo, owner of Castiglion del Bosco, will host guests at the gala launch of this prized wine. This cross-country package totals $65,000 and can be booked by emailing alessandra.li@rosewoodhotels.com.

A helicopter tour through the Kimberley in Western Australia, one of the last great frontiers in the world.Courtesy of HeliSpirit

Heli-Safari Through the Kimberley in Western Australia

The HeliSpirit Luxury Helicopter Safari offers a six night trip through the Kimberley in Western Australia, one of the last great frontiers in the world. Private sky tours offer landings on a mountain pinnacle to watch the sunset, and invite travelers to fish in wild rivers, explore aboriginal art, soar through gorges and swim through the world’s only horizontal waterfalls. Accommodations are set within one-of-a-kind wilderness retreats, including the Bullo River Station, Kimberley Coastal Camp and El Questro Homestead, ranging from $13,000 - $19,000 per person with itineraries for private groups, families, and all-inclusive options. To book, email bookings@helispirit.com.au.

To view the gift guide, visit https://www.forbes.com/sites/taylorboozan/2018/11/22/forbes-gift-guide-2018-best-luxury-travel-experiences/#3bd6b0a17ca4