Italy is probably our favourite country in the world! Why? You have some of the most beautiful beaches for the summer, plenty of ski resorts for the winter, and arguably the best food and wine in the world, all year round. What’s not to love! Italy is the fifth most visited country by tourists each year, and thanks to its rich history and culture it also has the most UNESCO world heritage sites in the world (50!).
Food and wine are certainly one of the main reasons people visit the country. Not only is Italy the largest exporter of wine in the world, it is also is the birth place of some favourite international cuisines. Pizza and Pasta were of course invented here, and can be dated back as far as 2BC, meaning we’ve had plenty of time to perfect our recipe! Italy’s food is so good in fact, that on several tourism surveys it has been voted the best country in the world. When you are here, remember that the food is slightly different depending on region, if you are after Pizza the best can be found in Naples and if you want some of the best truffles in the world then Alba serves them by the bucket.
Coffee is another huge commodity in Italy, Italians consume 14 billion espressos a year, and although the coffee is not necessarily grown in Italy, attention to detail is taken over the grinding, temperature and even the kind of water used. Again, Napoli is probably the best place in the country to grab a great espresso, but the consistency is unparalleled throughout, so you’ll struggle to find a bad coffee wherever you go.
The temperature can reach 40°C in parts of Italy, and in the cites humidity levels can be unbearable, so you’ll want to find a spot to cool off. Italy’s coastline is a paradise, crystal clear blue sea and white beaches paired with mammoth portions of sea food and wine are hard to beat anywhere in the world. Sardinia, Sicily, Tuscany and the Amalfi coast are some of our favourite regions for beaches. There are also many islands around the coast which can be accessed by a short trip on a yacht, there you’ll find some mystical gems and feel more in touch with the local’s way of life than on the mainland.
If its hiking and skiing you’re after, then Italy has you covered there too. The country is connected to the highest mountain ranges in Europe – the Dolomites and the Alps, with part of the Mont Blanc sitting nicely inside Italy. Italy also holds the only active volcanoes in Europe: Etna, Stromboli and Vesuvius which make for jaw dropping hikes. If skiing’s your thing, then resorts such as Cortina d’Ampezzo and Courmayeur offer world class skiing as well as the quality of food expected across Italy.
Tourism is one of Italy’s most profitable sectors and there’s no surprise why. The country is full of world famous monuments, bursting with culture and history. All of which are on most people’s bucket list. Some of the main attractions can be found in Rome – including the colosseum, the Trevi fountain and the world’s smallest country/ centre of the catholic church – the Vatican City. In other parts of Italy, you can find delights such as the ancient ruins of Pompeii, where time stands still after a volcano eruption preserved the city in 79AD, the leaning tower of Pisa and the canals of Venice.
If its glitz and glamour you’re after, you can’t miss a chance to visit lake Como, the upscale resort situated beside Italy’s third largest lake, is home to many celebrities including Madonna, George Clooney and Richard Branson. With picturesque views of the alps and bags of wildlife, it is one of the most beautiful and luxurious places to visit in Italy.
Lastly, how could we not mention the art in Italy. Several of the most influential Renaissance artists in the world originated here and the work certainly stands the test of time. Littered around all of Italy’s largest cities you can find work by Michelangelo, Da Vinci and Botticelli to name a few. You can see amazing sculptures such as Michelangelo’s Statue of David in Florence or world famous paintings such as Leonardo da Vinci’s Last Supper in Milan.
Are you tempted to make an impromptu trip to Italy yet? We’d love to help you explore our beautiful country by flying private. Just give us a call or contact us through our websites live chat, and we’ll arrange flights to as many cities as you can cram in! If there’s anything you’d like to hear us discuss in more detail, why not send us a message on Facebook. We’d be happy to write about it in the future!
Conference sessions will be led by senior industry experts and will include presentations, panel discussions, and audience interaction. The main themes will cover:
ATM Transformation – Challenges and Opportunities
Utilising Social Media to Support Flight Operations
New and Emerging Technology Transforming Aviation
Performance-based Regulations – Oversight
Economics of Safety
Regulatory Impacts on Multiple AOC Operations
Airport Operations and Efficiency
Ground Operations Safety
Extracting the Value of “Big Data” in Aircraft Operations
At Luxwing, we love to eat almost as much as we love to fly! And what better way to combine the two than by checking out some of the best restaurants from around Europe! Have a look below at our top 10 favourites. How long will it take you to try them all?
Funky Gourmet – Athens, Greece
Setting the bar for this top 10 is Funky Gourmet in Athens, equipped with its two Michelin stars, Funky Gourmet serves food in an unconventional and innovative way, stimulating multiple senses through some of the most delicious foods and the finest ingredients. The restaurant was ranked amongst the best in Greece through 2010-2016, and has managed to hold onto the number one spot for the past two years.
La Pergola – Rome, Italy
Its cuisine, La Pergola in Rome takes the trophy. It was the first and is still the only restaurant in the city to be hold 3 Michelin stars, and it certainly deserves this title. The menu is fairly small, but the food is innovative and simple. The rare white truffle is a must. La Pergola has a spectacular wine list, and when you find a moment to take your mind off the food and drink, the view is spectacular, as La Pergola is located atop of the tallest hill in Rome.
La Marmite – St. Moritz, Switzerland
Possibly the best mountain food in the world, La Marmite is located on top of the exclusive Swiss alps resort of St Moritz. Even with the incentive of a ski in/ ski out approach, you’ll be in no rush to leave the restaurant, as the lobster, caviar and truffles are served by the bucket, and on sunnier days you may sit outside with the celebrity clientele to enjoy the stunning views and the vodka ice bar.
NOMA – Stockholm, Sweden
As a 4-time winner of the world’s best restaurant, NOMA is not one to be missed! The reinterpretation of Nordic cuisine has created a movement in modernised Scandinavian food which is currently spreading across the globe. The menu is full of vegetables and locally foraged ingredients and the combination of flavours is simply incredibly. Located in a hip, old warehouse in Stockholm, NOMA has for the past 14 years been creating a new style of high-class dining. If you’re not planning a trip to Stockholm don’t worry, René Redzepi has furthered the restaurants fashionable appearance by opening in some of the coolest cities in the World – London, Tokyo and Sydney.
El Celer De Can Roca – Catalonia, Spain
Chosen as the world’s best restaurant in both 2015 and 2013 and then number two for an additional four years, El Celer De Can Roca in Catalonia holds some of the most incredible Spanish cusine on the planet. The three Michelin star restaurant is owned and ran by three highly and individually respected brothers – each taking out a different task within the restaurant: The oldest is the chef and uses local ingredients and inventive presentation to create dishes such as caramelised olives on bonsai; The next brother is the sommelier and manages the huge 60,000 bottle wine cellar; and the youngest brother is the patissier who invents wild deserts, including some based on perfumes such as Calvin Klein Eternity and Bulgari. The restaurant is a little far out of town – about an hour north-east of Barcelona, but of course if your just flying in for the food Luxwing can help fly you closer than the international airports.
Le Meurice – Paris, France
As the most sophisticated and expensive restaurant in Europe you would expect big things, and Le Meurice in Paris doesn’t disappoint. The walls and plates are lined with gold and the seasonally updated menu holds the best truffles in the world, making this 2 Michelin star eatery the perfect spot for any truffle lover.
Dstage – Madrid, Spain
After receiving 2 Michelin stars working at El Club Allard, Diego Guerrero has recently gone on to open Dstage, his own, award winning restaurant which focuses on telling a story though food – Right from the beginning where you are escorted to the kitchen counter to sample a selection of tasters, to the end where you are encouraged to take home a copy of the menu. The food has a slight Asian and south American influence due to the chef’s recent travels, but the ingredients and presentation remain world class.
Osteria Francescana – Modena, Italy
Moving into our top three, we have the best restaurant in Italy, and after spending the past 4-years in the top 3 best restaurants in the world, Osteria Francescana has finally, and deservingly won its place as the best restaurant in the world – The first Italian Restaurant to claim this title. The 3 Michelin star establishment has taken on the difficult task of updating the very traditional Italian cuisine, a challenge which has triggered some criticism. However, the food (at least in our opinion) has if anything improved, and the modern tastes from the classic dishes are something which just has to be experienced.
Martin Berasategui – Lastarte, Spain
Martin Berasategui holds the most Michelin stars of any Spanish chef, and his signature restaurant is incredible. In fact, based on millions of genuine customer reviews, Trip advisor has just named it the best restaurant in the world! After holding its three Michelin star reputation for 14 years, the restaurants continue to serve small portions focusing on the quality both in terms of taste and presentation, as each dish looks like an absolute work of art, we recommend getting the 14 course tasting menu allows you to sample all the dishes, and some of the best Mediterranean food in the world.
The Fat Duck, Bray, England
After being crowned the best restaurant in the world in 2005, The Fat Duck’s fusion of taste and innovation makes it, in our opinion, one of the best restaurants in the world. The combination of perfectionism and innovation can be seen by the number of staff working in the restaurant. The small restaurant seats only 42 diners but matches that at a 1:1 ratio with 42 chefs perfecting each dish. On your visit, we once again recommend the 14 course tasting menu which includes delights such as ‘nitro scrambled eggs and bacon ice cream’, as well as various other uniquely prepared dishes.
Are you feeling hungry yet? Give us a call and we’ll help get you a reservation, and on the next flight to any of these top restaurants. We’d also love to hear your favourite recommendations. Let us know on Facebook and stay tuned to this Luxwing’s news for more of our luxury international recommendations.
Flying private brings with it many luxuries, but few seem to realise that it can in fact get you to places that are otherwise inaccessible. A lack of direct commercial jet routes or direct transport means that the places we have listed below are some of the most exclusive in the world, not only remote, but also luxurious and eloquent. If you are interested in taking a trip to a private island or remote mountain top, then look no further – Luxwing have outlined the best places in the world that are made more easily accessible through private aviation. Just choose one and we’ll take care of the rest.
Buzios, Brazil
The Brazilian seaside resort of Buzios is one of the most upscale and exclusive resorts in the country. And if you’re not one for taking several connecting flights or long drives, then a charted jet is the perfect transportation to this rustic beach town. Once you’re there, the center is full of high class dining and nightlife, with plenty of bars, clubs and fantastic restaurants to enjoy. The beaches are also fantastic, and if you’re a fan of surfing then you’re in luck as there are plenty of water sports including surf lessons by top professionals.
Naladhu, Maldives
The tiny island of Naladhu is the the most luxurious places in the Maldives. Facing out onto the Indian ocean, the clear turquoise waters and white beaches even surpass the elegance of the rest of the Maldives! There is, of course, plenty of sea life, so snorkeling is a must during your visit. If you do decide to visit the exclusive island (there are only 20 villas), then the only alternative to private jet is a boat ride from the mainland.
Calivigny Island
This huge private island is one of the most exclusive destinations in the world, and it’s pretty spectacular. The €100 million retreat is 80 acres big and boasts views of the Atlantic and Caribbean oceans from its two beaches. The Island can sleep up to 50 guests and the easiest way to get there is by private jet, so gather up your friends and family, as they will all want to get in on this experience!
Song Saa Island, Cambodia
Song Saa is a private Island off the coast of Cambodia, most of the resort is untouched by man leaving plenty of tropical rainforests and protected coral reefs – both holding plenty of exotic animals, just waiting to be explored. The part of the island which has been developed is home to a mere 24 luxury private villas which include world class spas. The entire island was built with sustainability in mind, so you can feel proud whilst you stay on the environmentally friendly island.
Four Seasons Resort and Residences Jackson Hole, Wyoming
As something a little different from the rest of our suggestions in this list, we also recommend this fabulous mountain resort. Perfect for Winter or Summer, whether you are after skiing, hiking or mountain biking, Jackson Hole in Wyoming has it all! The hard to reach corner of America is best traveled to to by private jet, to avoid a very long drive and, winding mountain trails. As part of the famous Yellowstone natural park, you can expect some of the best mountainous nature and wildlife in America, including natural hot springs and geysers. And what better way to see these marvels of nature than by flying in via private jet and getting the birds eye view!
Necker Island
Probably the most famous private Island in the world, Necker Island is owned by Sir Richard Branson, and can be rented out for up to 34 guests. The 74 acre island is part of the British Virgin Islands and includes tennis courts, pools and two beaches for you to enjoy during your stay. Unfortunately, the island can only be reached by private jet, but the good news is we have you covered!
Are you interested in any of the places we’ve listed above? These difficult to-get-to getaways are a great way to escape the city, and flying private allows the benefit and flexibility of jumping straight back to civilisation when you need. If you’d like some help booking a trip, you can give us a call and we’ll not only fly you from A to B but arrange all of your itinerary and transfers on the other end.
