Top 10 Lists

From fine dining to our own Select Services, here you can find "Top 10" lists on luxury products and services across the globe.

Accommodations

When you apply the word "luxury" to hotels, what do you see? Most likely, it is impressive décor, impeccable service, and countless amenities to make your stay beyond memorable. According to Utell^® Hotel & Resorts, these attributes and many more are what make the following the ten finest luxury hotels in the world.

Avenida Palace – Lisbon, Portugal

At Avenida Palace, you are staying in this city's only palace. This superlative hotel features elegant rooms with marble bathrooms, a Jacuzzi and a spectacular view of St. Jorge Castle and Marques de Pombal Square. Built in 1892, Avenida Palace is located in Restauradores Square, a few minutes away from the heart of the city's cultural district. The Avenida Palace is truly a place fit for royalty.

Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof – Frankfurt, Germany

The Steigenberger Frankfurter Hof hotel is ranked among the top 100 hotels across the globe. Located in the city center, you will be moments away from Frankfurt's shopping areas and cultural treasures. The hotel is luxuriously furnished and fitted with modern communication and entertainment facilities.

Fujairah Rotana Resort and Spa – Fujairah, United Arab Emirates

The setting of Fujairah Rotana Resort and Spa is spectacular: brilliant gardens surrounded by stunning waterfalls and pools, and white sand beaches that seem to go on for as long as your eyes can see. Each room offers a private terrace overlooking either the Indian Ocean or the mesmerizing lakes and hills. Be prepared for discreet service, unparalleled cuisine, and an array of Zen-inspired spa treatments.

Marco Polo Parkside Beijing – Beijing, China

This jewel of the East offers two club lounges, a four thousand square meter spa, state-of-the-art gym, a sauna, an indoor pool, five restaurants, two ballrooms, all on a five-star property that is as close as you can get to the Summer Palace. Each room fuses the styles of both East and West and the luxury suites are unforgettable.

Grace Hotel Sydney – Sydney, Austrailia

An art deco luxury hotel built in 1930, this hotel was restored with original features, so you'll walk down wide hallways over marble floors under pressed-metal ceilings alongside masterful ironwork. It's a short walk to the Darling Harbour and King St. Wharf, not to mention the fabulous shopping at the Queen Victoria Building.

Warwick New York Hotel – New York City, United States

When you arrive at this historic landmark built in 1927, you will be greeted with chilled champagne and chocolates. Spacious rooms offer marble bathrooms and round-the-clock room service. The restaurant features more than fifty stunning murals. The Warwick is also conveniently located within minutes of Central Park, Fifth and Madison Avenue, Radio City Music Hall, Times Square and Rockefeller Center.

Al Manshar Rotana Hotel – Kuwait, Kuwait

This contemporary nineteen-floor, five-star luxury hotel has a pool on the roof that allows you to swim amid a scintillating view of the Kuwait Harbor and radiant Gulf. World class shopping is right outside your door. There is also a poolside snack bar and an elegant in–house restaurant that provides incomparable cuisine all day.

Royal Windsor Grand Palace – Brussels, Belgium

The Royal Windsor Grand Palace offers a selection of rooms individually designed by famous fashion designers. Imagine sleeping in one room with frescoes painted by an Italian artist, or in another room that has a sofa covered with fuchsia velvet and a bed covered with a high couture patchwork quilt. The best location in town, this luxury hotel is one street away from the Grand Palace and a heartbeat away from the Sablon Antique Square.

Silken Puerta America – Madrid, Spain

Eighteen world famous architects and designers combined efforts to create this magnificent luxury hotel. Each of the twelve floors is truly unique, and exquisite attention has been paid to the smallest detail in every room. Gracefully situated on a quiet, residential street, it is only a five minute-walk to the world famous Avenida de America.

Grand Rotana Resort and Spa – Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt

A multitude of activites await you at the Grand Rotana Resort and Spa, including snorkeling, windsuring, riding horses or camels, desert safaris or visiting the ancient sites! You even have your own private beach. Utell Hotels and Resorts rated he Grand Rotana Resort and Spa as the number one luxury hotel in the world!

Automobiles

The extravagant and plush materials that once set luxury automobiles apart are giving way to a new breed of amenities as mainstream automobiles are now including things once only thought of as "luxury". Luxury is going electronic. As discovered by Forbes Auto, here are 10 features that are redefining automotive luxury:

According to NADA Guides, here is a list of the top 10 most popular luxury automobiles for 2009:

ERA Select Services^®

Discerning clients deserve select services, and ERA International Collection specialists are happy to offer you access to ERA Select Services. This exclusive program offers attractive pricing on products and services from preferred national and local vendors and will remain with you throughout your lifetime of homeownership.

Preferred pricing extends to everything from travel and home to home security and storage services – one more way that the ERA International Collection leads the luxury homes market.

To see a complete list of our Select Services partners, please click here

Country & Golf Clubs

According to AskMen.com, the finest and most exclusive country clubs in the U.S. generally uphold an old, unspoken rule in regards to prospective members. Don't bother asking if you feel you have to. New members are mostly invited based the referrals from current members. Here is their top 10 list of the most discrete country clubs across the country:

Locust Hill Country Club – Rochester, New York

Membership at Locust Hill Country Club is fairly basic — if you don't know another member, you need not apply. A prospective member first needs to be sponsored by a current member and endorsed by another.

Oakmont Country Club – Oakmont, Pennsylvania

Located near Pittsburgh, Oakmont Country Club is among the nation's oldest private clubs. It boasts a world–class golf course that has ranked consistently alongside Augusta and Pebble Beach. Oakmont has played host to more major golf championships than any other U.S. golf course.

Cherokee Town & Country Club – Atlanta, Georgia

The Town Club, located in the posh Buckhead area of Atlanta, features a massive 90,000-square-foot clubhouse, 16 tennis courts, three pools, and more, while the Country Club's golf courses are world–class. Memberships are limited, based on a referral from a current member, and fees are not made public.

Sherwood Country Club – Thousand Oaks, California

Opened in 1989, the plush and numerous amenities of this residential country club include world-class dining, a wine cellar, a pub, and more than a dozen tennis courts of hard, grass and clay surfaces. Homes within Sherwood begin at $1.6 million, and club membership initiation fees begin at $200,000 with annual dues running at about $7,300. These are exactly the figures that will sufficiently keep out the masses.

Bighorn Golf Club – Palm Desert, California

Bighorn features a pair of championship golf courses, a 40,000-square-foot clubhouse, a 13,000-square-foot spa and salon, tennis courts, a pool, shopping, and many other amenities. Home prices range from about $1.9 million to $8.4 million, and fees are as high — or higher — than any in the country: A dual membership fee costs $325,000 with another $15,000 in annual dues.

Hillcrest Country Club – Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles' exclusive Hillcrest Country Club features a championship golf course and 12 tennis courts, which are located just across the way from the famous studios of 20th Century Fox. Membership fees start at $275,000. Visitors are only granted entry if they are guests of a member, and prospective members can only apply through current members, with no guarantees that they'll be accepted.

Loblolly Pines Golf Club – Hobe Sound, Florida

Loblolly Pines Golf Club opened in 1988 and keeps a low profile. Ranking among the most exclusive and secretive clubs in the country, membership fees are kept private and no one will even speak with you about becoming a member without a referral from a current member. The rarely available cottages on the property run as high as $2.5 million.

Pine Valley Golf Club – Pine Valley, New Jersey

Pine Valley Golf Club is a no–frills kind of place that offers little beyond a round of golf. For golfers around the world, Pine Valley's golf course is nothing short of spectacular and numerous golf publications consistently rank it as the top golf course not just in the U.S., but in the world. Pine Valley does not admit women as members, but even if they did, the waiting list to become a member is alleged to be so long that it may take a decade for your name to come up.

Round Hill Club – Greenwich, Connecticut

Located in one of the wealthiest cities in the country, Round Hill's extreme exclusivity can be depended upon. Not surprisingly, since Round Hill is said to be the club of choice for former President George W. Bush and family, all information related to membership fees and requirements are kept under lock and key.

Augusta National Golf Club – Augusta, Georgia

With a membership fee that ranges from $250,000 to $500,000, there are few clubs that carry the prestige that Augusta National does. Membership requirements are extraordinarily simple: You must be a man and you need to sit patiently by the phone as there are no application processes at Augusta, no referrals and no endorsements. Membership here is strictly by invitation.

Fine Dining

Just when you thought you'd seen and tasted everything, here are the top 10 new restaurants according to Gayot.com. These lively and entertaining restaurants have made quite a name for themselves in a short amount of time.

Allen & Delancey – New York City, New York

One thing that is apparent when entering Allen & Delancey is the edgy opulence of the atmosphere: the brick, candlelit, wood–paneled, chandeliered rooms, full of antiques and curios. It feels so lived–in that you half expect an eccentric wine enthusiast to emerge and welcome you to his private dinner party.

Aubergine – Carmel, California

Each course comes to the table in symphonic harmony. Don't leave a bit on the plate–––that's what the small army of miniature breads are for. Wine pairings take on a personal touch with wine director looking after the underground cellar. If selections can be both humble and daring, then these are. With only twelve tables, the intimacy level gets up close and personal, all the better for the warm and attentive waitstaff to attend to your every impulse.

Charlie Palmer – Costa Mesa, California

NYC comes to OC! Named Charlie Palmer at Bloomingdale's South Coast Plaza, the restaurant serves Palmer's signature "New American" cuisine. The interior features a large main dining room on the ground floor of Bloomingdale's, along with a bar-lounge area and private dining room.

Christopher's Restaurante & Crush Lounge – Phoenix, Arizona

This eponymous restaurant is run by a famous chef. But it's the food that proves the celebrity is cooking deep. The chef pairs three concepts in his operation. "One" is a French bistro. "Two" is the Crush Lounge wine bar with an after-hours menu until 2 a.m. nightly. "Three" is a small, fine-dining section within the restaurant, called C144. (The "C" is for Christopher; 144 means a "gross.") Limited to 12 diners, meals are elaborate.

Forté di Asprinio – West Palm Beach, Florida

Fueling the Palm Beach scene is this minimalist entry. Even from the street, the neon fuchsia glow commands interest, the restaurant design fuses the future with elements of the past, apparent in details like saddle seats and arching space-like lamps. There is nothing warm or rustic about Forté di Asprinio, rather, welcome to the world of stylistic Italian. The chef keeps the dishes clean, with only three or four elements starring on the plate. Six hundred selections of wine range in price from $30 to $20,000.

4^th & Swift – Atlanta, Georgia

The rough brick walls and exposed industrial elements from an old dairy form the backdrop for some of the most inventive food Atlanta has seen in a long time. Glassware is topnotch, and the wine goes for by–the–glass customers as well as bottle purchasers. Enthusiastic young patrons bring a level of excitement to the audience, and Swift's food will hold their attention for a good while.

Gordon Ramsay at The London West Hollywood – West Hollywood, California

After filming his "Hell's Kitchen" show for many years in the City of Angels, Gordon Ramsay, attracted by the glitter of Hollywood, finally decided to open his own restaurant just off Sunset at The London West Hollywood, formerly the Bel Age hotel. This hillside dining room, divided in two, along with four private dining rooms, boasts views of the city from the large windows dressed with gold blinds. The designer lavished attention on every detail, creating an elegant and modern atmosphere in gray, gold and white tones. The wine list is still under construction, but already offers over 300 labels–––mainly old–world white wines to complement the dishes.

L2O – Chicago, Illinois

When it opened, the name of this restaurant initially caused confusion. That's all water under the bridge since the seafood-focused dining room ushered in a new (and utterly exciting) era of high-end dining. Dine in this serene, almost spa-like space filled with Macassar ebony columns, plush couches and white leather chairs (the single onyx two-top has "it table" status written all over it). It blends touches of Japanese, French and even molecular gastronomy, with plenty of made-in-house treats (bread, butter, and yogurt). The extensive wine list caters to both high rollers.

Restaurant Charlie – Las Vegas, Nevada

Line–caught seafood, naturally–raised game and organics fill the menu at Restaurant Charlie, the 85-seat dining room at The Palazzo Resort in Las Vegas. The chef's kitchen table perched in the air above the action accommodates eight and offers a spontaneous tasting menu. The décor, with its modest brown and earthy–blue palette, might put off some customers in search of flash. However, chef Trotter is already working on a plan to update the décor.

Ubuntu – Napa, California

If you have negative preconceptions about a combination vegetarian restaurant–yoga studio, cast them aside forever. Diners can't help being taken aback by Ubuntu's vast, stylish space: high stone walls fronted by splashy art, reclaimed wood tables and flooring, contemporary music – a vibe that's alive. Striking sculpture – a quartet of life–size, primitive figures – separates a long wine bar from the dining room. This is gorgeous food, artfully composed, vivid in color, ready for its close-up. The restaurant's own biodynamic garden supplies seasonal ingredients. A fat wine book comprises mostly A–1, earth–friendly producers.

Spas

Upside Living recently named the top 10 resort spas that the U.S. has to offer. After a stressful work week, what's better than to sit back and relax and pamper yourself?

Miraval Life in Balance Resort & Spa – Catalina, Arizona

Miraval Life in Balance Resort & Spa was built on the notion of helping others find their inner spirit, which might have been lost through daily life struggles. Hence the name, Miraval invites the Ying and the Yang into your lifestyle, promoting an amazing sense of Balance and Tranquility. With 106 rooms, incredibly private patios, and the blue sky in Arizona, you cannot possibly leave the Miraval not feeling rejuvenated, alive, and ready to take on whatever it is that the world has to offer.

Golden Door – Escondido, California

The National Weather Service has stated that Escondido gets approximately 250 days of pure sunshine each and every year. If that fact alone isn't enough to make you want to hop on a plane to the beautiful west coast, perhaps this is: How does meditative sand gardens, koi ponds, elegant courtyards and ancient Japanese Honjin Inn ambiance, in the heart of Southern California sound to you? Boasting an amazing staff –to guest ratio of an astounding four to one will allow for the greatest of personal attention. Only 40 guests grace this Spa property per week.

Sea Island Spa at the Cloister – Sea Island, Georgia

Picture yourself in a cozy, seaside cottage with a vision of salt marshes and tidal creeks, accompanied by a highly experienced spa staff, all of who assure you that the world you left behind simply no longer exists. Upon the grand opening in 1928, the Cloister was almost immediately known for its gracious Southern charm.

Grand Wailea Resort Hotel & Spa – Wailea, Hawaii

While you are certain to find ideal beaches and stunning sunsets, you will also find a mind changing experience second to none. The copious property on Wailea Beach, on the southwest shore of the island of Maui, is nearly an island in its own right, taking up residency on a 40-acre piece of Hawaiian real estate. This spa features a $30 million+ art collection, including pieces by Picasso and Botero, which reveals the level of clientele you can expect.

Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires – Lenox, Massachusetts

This just happens to be one of the most scenic corners of the Southern Berkshire Mountains. Treatments at this rare resort spa might include: full body massage, aromatherapy, polarity, reflexology, glycolic skin treatments, thalassotherapy, and numerous additional body–delving experiences. You will find educated, certified, health specialists, nutritionists, naturopathic Doctors, and behavioral therapists alike.

Ten Thousand Waves Japanese Health Spa – Santa Fe, New Mexico

This little piece of America is where United States and Japan actually come together, creating a serene escape next to none. This spa resort encourages natural health, as well as a healing environment. The immaculate health spa is situated on a pinion–covered hillside, which is designed like a Japanese onsen, with a variant style.

Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort & Spa – Farmington, Pennsylvania

This Pennsylvania resort spa mission is not only to provide you with a temporary relief but to encourage a lasting sense of overall wellness through a never-ending carte du jour of massage, body "kurs" and treatments such as Aroma Body Paraffin, Detoxifying Seaweed Mask or Ayurveda treatments to calm your "third eye". Stay in an elegant Chateau or in one of the private homes like Walden Pond, located in a wooded hollow or the English country style The Cottage at Grouse Glen.

The Spa at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island – Kiawah Island, South Carolina

The resort spa at this well–appointed resort is posh, while their treatments (containing botanical extracts, seaweed, and minerals) are inspired by the larger-than-life setting. Whether you choose an ocean view room or a luxury suite, don't forget to stop and enjoy all that nature has to offer. You can also visit the notable and historic town of Charleston, whick is just 30 minutes away.

Canyon Ranch – Tucson, Arizona

While Canyon Ranch might sound as though you are off to a cattle farm, quite the contrary; it is the ultimate that the "wellness spa" world has to offer. This is where people revive, regroup, and commit to a healthier way of living. Canyon Ranch also has tremendous facilities and outdoor programs. The Tucson property can accommodate up to 240 guests in adobe-inspired cottages on just over 150 acres in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Arizona.

Lake Austin Spa Resort – Austin, Texas

At Lake Austin, the only thing you should see coming down is the calories and weight, as this is also among the healthier resort spas found and very likely one the best, nationwide. Featuring a quaint 40 room property, it is very easy to meet people; nevertheless, the spa itself is quite lavish.