November 2008

While I don’t offer this up often, I’m offering now!  I’m going on a 3 week trip in South Africa and Namibia mid December.  Starting in Kruger Park at two game lodges, then onto Capetown, then to The Garden Route (Plettenberg), ending in Namibia.

Anywhere you’d expressly like me to check out?  Email me. inquiries@spire.com

I’ve been to South Africa a couple of times before and it’s one of my favorite destinations for winter sun.  Active/Sporty, Great food & wine, very scenic, lovely people, excellent service and a lot of variation.  My kind of place.  Look for the many files published when I return in January.

Renting a villa (serviced or not) is one of the loveliest, most relaxing ways to spend time off. Also - it’s a great way to conserve some cash, being that with a group it is a cost savings for sure.  There are plenty of beautiful options that could end up costing per person under $1500 for a week. That is far less than a top-tier hotel. And, with your own living room, pool, kitchen, and staff in many cases…how can one go wrong?  Personally, I love a good hotel, but adore a great villa! It’s just more relaxing - sitting back in a cushy living room reading a book, making a light breakfast in a crisp white kitchen, napping on a hammock poolside.

The problem is… via which agency to find and rent the perfect villa? I was frustrated by how many providers there are and how few people had anything good to say…so, years ago  I started in my quest for the best, to source and vet worldwide topnotch villa rental providers. What did I find?  There are only maximum a couple of service providers per market who a) have great villas on their books and b) provide stellar service.  (I and many friends have experienced in years prior renting a villa that looked NOTHING like it did in the photos we were shown while in research phase.  BEWARE of Dolce Vita Villas - with whom I had this experience with my family in Sicily. The owner was not even willing to refund part of the fee paid after he acknowledged it was a different level than he had pitched)

Where floats your boat? Caribean, Mediterranean, South America, Sri Lanka, Mexico….? A chalet in the Swiss Alps or Aspen?…  you name it - we know the best provider. See this file about Brazilian Villas as an example…simply gorgeous, accessible, many beachfront.

Interested to rent a villa, castle or chalet? Email: inquiries@spire.com.

Share your villa rental stories with others by responding here.

My dear friend Sindhu, the founder of DeviDoll www.devidoll.com

has built quite an impressive website around ethical fashion.  She curates like me! picking carefully from all of the worldwide vendors of eco-clothing.  Stylish Sindhu wears much of these finds, looking gorgeous while being a good citizen.

I was not surprised last week to hear from her last week that the pool of her potential clients (females aged 30-50 mostly) were seemingly more concerned with the “look” of the fashions on offer than the make, roots, story, fabrics…When there is more and more ethical fashion to purchase, one doesn’t need to choose between the two!

Do you buy anything “eco” to wear?  From where if so ?

Side by side, in the middle of the action, being able to tap the bartender for the latest gossip and a little taste from a cool looking bottle.  I adore sitting at a bar at the right restaurants.  Much more than at a table.  One of the reasons is that I can’t stand having to speak loudly.  At the bar, you are next to one another rather than across the table. Another, it takes less time and, often, at the end of a work day, I prefer a shorter meal to a longer one.  Also, one can get away with eating less than at the table and having a glass of wine rather than a bottle—waiters frown on the one dish order (in Europe especially)  at the bar, one can have bites, small plates to share.
Two of my favorites, one in London, the other in NYC.  Both Italian, both two of my favorite, sexy atmospheres with delicious, simple food and a great scene.

Bar Milano in NYC  http://www.timeout.com/newyork/restaurants/gramercy-flatiron/14463/bar-milano
Cecconis in London  http://www.cecconis.co.uk/restaurants.php?r=CEC#1***1

Buon Apetito!

What are your favorite bars to eat at worldwide?  Write us: inquiries@spire.com

“If we don’t change our direction, we’re likely to end up where we are headed”

Top of Tom’s website.  FULL DISCLOSURE: Tom is one of my best friends in the world.
His business is not one I’d fit into he categories we cover in Suzanne’s Files - and, I just had to tell you about it.

I’ve been working with one of Tom’s top coaches for months.  It’s one of the smartest decisions I’ve made, to do so.  The process is fulfilling, challenging, super insightful and one of the best gifts you can give yourself.  You tweak yourself.  I find that with the many moving parts of my life and how my business intertwines with my life, it is a process I’d be irresponsible to myself and those whom I love and have any type of relationship with—not to do.

Company Execs, Entrepreneurs, wealthy individuals who need some holistic coaching… Take a look.  If you don’t live in Europe or Asia (where Tom and his colleagues are based) I’m sure you could write them to ask who they recommend elsewhere.

www.thomaspreston.co.uk