New & Noteworthy

June 24, 2008 A Match Made in Caicos Quintess destination club has partnered for the first time with the Ritz-Carlton, offering five four-bedroom villas to members along the beach of West Caicos. Each of the five homes boasts 80 feet of private oceanfront property on the restricted island and will be offered as an enclave of Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve with private beaches for members only. Molasses Reef is expected to open in early 2009, and the Quintess enclave is expected to open within the following year. In addition to the beachfront location, members can also enjoy access to all of the Ritz-Carlton services, neighboring the Quintess enclave including a fitness center and spa, 24-hour concierge, and three restaurants created by Chef Gray Kunz. Memberships to Quintess’ more than 70 residences around the world start at $210,000, with $18,750 in annual dues. (www.quintess.com) —Alexandra Foster
June 10, 2008 Fit for a King A 15^th-century palace that was once home to the ruling families of Florence, Italy, has been restored to reveal 36 unique residences now available for purchase as part of the latest private residence club offering from Palazzo Tornabuoni. Managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Palazzo is offering studio, one-, two-, and three- bedroom private residences, each with a distinctive cultural and historical provenance, including rooms with frescoes by Baroque-period painter Agostino Ciampelli and 18^th-century stucco ceilings. Prices for one-eighth shares in a residence range from $332,000 to $835,000 and include services and amenities such as a household staff, spa and fitness center, and a personal concierge who can provide preferential access to Florentine art, culture, food, and wine. The property is slated to open this fall. (866.753.6667, www.palazzotornabuoni.com) ―Alexandra Foster
May 20, 2008 The Greenbrier Goes Green The Greenbrier Sporting Club, a private residential sporting community and membership club tucked within the Allegheny Mountains of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is going green. The Sporting Club’s latest residential offering at the club’s Summit Village will comprise 56 unique homesites, ranging from one to more than six acres of land apiece, each custom built to environmentally responsible specifications by architects and designers who fit Greenbrier’s “green certifications.” The green development will minimize environmental impact by using wood products from sustainably managed forests, energy from geothermal sources, and captured rainfall for reuse, while maintaining such luxury amenities as an on-property private golf course, spa, and mountaintop Summit Lodge. Sales for the homes at the Greenbrier Sporting Club’s Summit Village began in mid-May, and the addition will break ground in June. (www.greenbriergreenhomes.com) ―Alexandra Foster
May 6, 2008 New Views of the Sea of Cortez Querencia, one of the first private communities in Los Cabos, Mexico, is offering new residences with up to one acre of land on prime real estate along the Sea of Cortez. In its second phase, Querencia is breaking ground on residences, villas, and condominiums available now for purchase that will be completed in fall 2009. The new additions include a Gil Hanse-designed golf course―the community’s second course―a beach club and restaurant, and private cabanas along the seafront. Club membership, which is limited to 700 members upon completion of the second phase, includes access to all amenities for $150,000 annually. Club villas, condominiums, and water-view lots are available from $850,000 to $14 million. (www.loscabosquerencia.com) ―Alexandra Foster
April 22, 2008 Mayan Riviera Welcomes New Community A range of residences are available for purchase at Nizuc, a 28-acre private resort community under construction along the shoreline of the world’s second-largest reef on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. Nizuc is being developed and operated by General Hotel Management Ltd., whose portfolio of properties includes the Setai on Miami’s South Beach and the Legian in Bali. The $180 million development, slated for completion in October 2009, will comprise three beachfront villas (shown), 16 Club Suites condominiums, 160 one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, and 45 hotel rooms. In addition to the two nearby Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses - easily accessed by boat via private waterway - and seven sculptured outdoor pools, the reef provides snorkeling and diving. Residences start at $1.3 million, and beachfront villas start at $10 million. (www.nizuc.com) ―Alexandra Foster
April 8, 2008 Under the Tuscan Sun Picture an Italian vacation in a 1500s villa perched atop rolling hills surrounded by 150 acres of land and views of neighboring farms and vineyards. This cinematic scene could be experienced on your next trip to Europe, as One Key destination club has chosen the Tuscany region of Italy for its first European location. One Key has acquired 10 homes, ranging from a stone farmhouse in Siena to a seven-bedroom villa in Florence. The picturesque Val d’Orcia hills home (shown), built in the 1500s, has a natural stone outdoor pool, a wood-burning pizza oven, and formal dining room. Located five minutes from the bustling town of Sarteano, this home provides complete privacy on its 148-acre lot. One Key members have the choice of 15-, 25-, or 45-night travel cards that provide access to the club’s multiple homes in 20 locations throughout the world. Fifteen-night travel cards start at $34,900. (www.onekeyworld.com) ―Alexandra Foster
March 25, 2008 Desperately Seeking Solstice Solstice, a destination club with 14 luxury properties in desirable locales such as Aspen, Paris, and St. Bart’s - as well as a yacht with a four-person crew available for private charter - has added New York to its growing portfolio. Situated in the West Village, the spacious, contemporary-designed one-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments have terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows featuring sweeping city views. The bonus: Members have access to a personal Solstice lifestyle specialist, who the club says is available anytime to track down tickets to in-demand Broadway shows or secure a table at one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Solstice membership plans vary and start at $615,000 with $34,000 in annual dues. (480.240.2370, www.solsticecollection.com,) ―Alexandra Foster
March 11, 2008 Fairmont Resorts to Idaho Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, whose renowned properties include the London Savoy and the Plaza in New York, will break ground on Fairmont Tamarack, its first U.S. whole-ownership resort and vacation-home property. The resort community, tucked into northern Idaho’s Payette River mountains (pictured above), is an all-season destination, but owners are likely to be drawn to there for winter sports: The private mountain at Tamarack is limited to just 2,000 skiers and snowboarders daily, and its snow-front lounge will organize tickets, rentals, and lessons for a day on the slopes. In warmer weather, golfers can enjoy the Robert Trent Jones Jr. signature course at Osprey Meadows. Buyers can choose from 32 different floor plans in the property’s 305 luxury hotel-condominiums. Homes start at around $700,000 and go up to about $5 million. The resort is set to be completed by 2011. (888.893.1526, www.fairmonttamarack.com) ―Alexandra Foster
February 5, 2008 Luxe Living in Rancho Mirage When the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage opens in September it will be the first luxury hotel and residential development in California’s newly rediscovered Coachella Valley, a location that was a popular weekend retreat for Hollywood’s high-profile Rat Pack in the 1950s. Located about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, the $500 million development is located on a 650-foot bluff with views of the valley, and will offer a range of second home ownership opportunities. Priced from $895,000 to $7 million, the 130 residences include 16 one- and two-bedroom spa suites, located adjacent to the 24,000-square-foot La Prairie spa, in addition to condominium-style residential suites and villas set away from the hotel. Owners will have access to all of the hotel¹s amenities, including the spa, swimming pools, and restaurant from Los Angeles-based chef Joachim Splichal of Patina. The 244-room hotel will open in September, and the spa suites will be ready in November. The remaining residences are expected by 2010. (888.972.6240, www.livingranchomirage.com) ―Samantha Brooks
January 22, 2008 Private Access Made Easier Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay, a private island residential club community, has made it easier for its members to gain direct access to its luxurious island. The club has built the longest lighted private jet strip in the Caribbean that can accommodate G550 or Bombardier Global Express XRS, making direct access from cities around the world a breeze. By summer, it will also have on-site customs and immigration facilities for nonstop private flights. Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, known for its fishing, kayaking, 300-acre nature preserve, and its golf-taxi via private plane to 12 top Caribbean courses, has oceanfront homesites ranging from $600,000 to $6 million. (877.815.1300, www.tcsportingclub.com) ―Jill Newman
January 8, 2008 On The Mark Jacques Grange is not necessarily the first designer that springs to mind when it comes to large-scale condo-hotel projects. Best known for his traditional French interiors, his bespoke designs are usually reserved for private clients including fashion designers Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent and Princess Caroline of Monaco. However, Grange’s latest project, New York’s Mark hotel, firmly establishes the 63-year-old designer as one of the leading names in the city’s competitive condo-design market. The Upper East Side hotel, scheduled to open this summer, will offer 42 residences for sale in late January. Units are priced at approximately $5,000 per square foot, with studios starting at $2 million. The penthouse—which includes five fireplaces, a private rooftop deck, and a living room with 26-foot-high ceilings that rests beneath the building’s landmarked copper roof—is priced at $60 million. Originally built in 1927, the Madison Avenue hotel closed in January 2007 for an extensive renovation that will transform the 15-story structure into 118 hotel rooms and 42 residences—32 of which will be fully designed and furnished by Grange. The hotel’s redesign includes a mix of Art Deco-influenced pieces that pay homage to the building’s origin, combined with contemporary, one-of-a-kind accents from designers such as Mattia Bonetti and Vladimir Kagan. The residences straddle the traditional and modern worlds, with solid-oak flooring and coffered ceilings blending with streamlined Boffi kitchens and sophisticated Crestron home-automation systems. (212.722.1600, www.themarkhotel.com) —Samantha Brooks
December 18, 2007 San Miguel de Allende’s Take on Luxury Nestled in the romantic colonial artist’s village of San Miguel de Allende, Bald Mountain de Mexico’s newest project combines luxury homes and the city’s first five-star hotel with a wide range of amenities. The first phase of the Artesana Rosewood Residences, operated by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, is slated for completion in June 2009. The first offering of 20 residences will be available this spring. San Miguel de Allende is located 180 miles northwest of Mexico City. The homes are being crafted by local artisans to look and feel like Old San Miguel, with arches and columns hand-carved from locally quarried limestone, hand-wrought ironwork, and outdoor fountains on lush patios with panoramic vistas of San Miguel’s churches and spires. The 65-suite boutique resort will offer private amenities like plunge pools, fireplaces, and a covered outdoor living space. Both residents and hotel guests will have access to a wide range of amenities including a tequila and wine cellar, a world-class spa, and several restaurants. (800.519.7683, www.artesanasanmiguel.com) —Jill Newman
December 11, 2007 The Oyster’s New Pearls The Oyster Circle, a members-only destination club with a portfolio of luxury homes in some of the world’s most desirable locations, has added three new properties to its already extensive portfolio. The new destinations include a ski chalet at Les Trois Valleés ski resort in the French Alps with ski-in/ski-out facilities; a secluded villa on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake; and a luxurious villa just five minutes from the heart of St. Tropez with easy access to some of the best beaches in the French Riviera. Offering all the luxuries of second-home ownership without any of the worry or maintenance, the Oyster Circle properties have an average value of $4.5 million. Membership fees range from $490,000 to $590,000 and are limited to just 400 members. (353.1.279.9525, www.theoystercircle.com) ―Bailey S. Barnard
December 4, 2007 Terranea Finds a Secluded Home When the private beachfront resort community Terranea is complete in 2009, it will offer residence on one of the last secluded stretches of beach on Southern California’s well-populated coastline. Terranea, located on the 102 acres that once housed Marineland on the Palos Verdes peninsula just 15 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport, includes 50 oceanfront casitas and 32 detached villas, along with a 400-room hotel, nine-hole golf course, 25,000-square-foot spa, and three saltwater swimming pools. Villa owners are granted 90 days of use per year, and casita buyers have 60 days of use per year. When not in residence, owners have the option of putting their home into the hotel’s rental pool to receive a portion of the nightly rate. The first offering of 51 casitas and villas sold out within 48 hours when they were released in 2005. The remaining 31 properties were released for sale in November, with prices starting at $2.25 million. (Terranea, 866.366.7474, www.terranea.com) —Samantha Brooks
November 1, 2007 Sail Around the World Without Ever Leaving Home Four Seasons Hotels and Resort will take its distinct brand of luxury service to sea in 2010 with its new 719-foot vessel, which will tour some of the world’s most exciting cities and ports of call. Private residences will be available aboard the ship, offering the opportunity to relax at home while experiencing some of the most exclusive global travel available. The Four Seasons, a fully private residential ship, will have all the amenities of a luxury hotel and will provide exclusive access to such places and events as the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the Grand Prix in Monaco, Antarctica, the Amazon, and the British Open. Four Seasons expects to average 250 days in port annually, offering extended stays on each of the seven continents. The vessel is now offering 112 one- to four-bedroom residences starting at $3.8 million. (www.fourseasons.com) —Alexandra Foster
November 1, 2007 Shangri-La Residences Underway at Island Gardens The Shangri-La Hotel in Miami will launch its new residences on the upper floors of its 150-room hotel at Island Gardens in 2010. The luxury hotel and residence also features its own super-yacht harbor built specifically for megayachts and designed to become an international gateway to the Caribbean. Shangri-La is offering one- to four-bedroom residences from $200,000 to $800,000. Shangri-La at Island Gardens is part of a mixed-use development featuring luxury boutiques, a waterfront promenade, and world-class dining. (www.flagstonegroup.com) —Alexandra Foster

June 24, 2008

A Match Made in Caicos

Quintess destination club has partnered for the first time with the Ritz-Carlton, offering five four-bedroom villas to members along the beach of West Caicos. Each of the five homes boasts 80 feet of private oceanfront property on the restricted island and will be offered as an enclave of Molasses Reef, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve with private beaches for members only. Molasses Reef is expected to open in early 2009, and the Quintess enclave is expected to open within the following year. In addition to the beachfront location, members can also enjoy access to all of the Ritz-Carlton services, neighboring the Quintess enclave including a fitness center and spa, 24-hour concierge, and three restaurants created by Chef Gray Kunz. Memberships to Quintess’ more than 70 residences around the world start at $210,000, with $18,750 in annual dues. (www.quintess.com)

—Alexandra Foster

June 10, 2008

Fit for a King

A 15^th-century palace that was once home to the ruling families of Florence, Italy, has been restored to reveal 36 unique residences now available for purchase as part of the latest private residence club offering from Palazzo Tornabuoni. Managed by Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, the Palazzo is offering studio, one-, two-, and three- bedroom private residences, each with a distinctive cultural and historical provenance, including rooms with frescoes by Baroque-period painter Agostino Ciampelli and 18^th-century stucco ceilings. Prices for one-eighth shares in a residence range from $332,000 to $835,000 and include services and amenities such as a household staff, spa and fitness center, and a personal concierge who can provide preferential access to Florentine art, culture, food, and wine. The property is slated to open this fall. (866.753.6667, www.palazzotornabuoni.com)

―Alexandra Foster

May 20, 2008

The Greenbrier Goes Green

The Greenbrier Sporting Club, a private residential sporting community and membership club tucked within the Allegheny Mountains of White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia, is going green. The Sporting Club’s latest residential offering at the club’s Summit Village will comprise 56 unique homesites, ranging from one to more than six acres of land apiece, each custom built to environmentally responsible specifications by architects and designers who fit Greenbrier’s “green certifications.” The green development will minimize environmental impact by using wood products from sustainably managed forests, energy from geothermal sources, and captured rainfall for reuse, while maintaining such luxury amenities as an on-property private golf course, spa, and mountaintop Summit Lodge. Sales for the homes at the Greenbrier Sporting Club’s Summit Village began in mid-May, and the addition will break ground in June. (www.greenbriergreenhomes.com)

―Alexandra Foster

May 6, 2008

New Views of the Sea of Cortez

Querencia, one of the first private communities in Los Cabos, Mexico, is offering new residences with up to one acre of land on prime real estate along the Sea of Cortez. In its second phase, Querencia is breaking ground on residences, villas, and condominiums available now for purchase that will be completed in fall 2009. The new additions include a Gil Hanse-designed golf course―the community’s second course―a beach club and restaurant, and private cabanas along the seafront. Club membership, which is limited to 700 members upon completion of the second phase, includes access to all amenities for $150,000 annually. Club villas, condominiums, and water-view lots are available from $850,000 to $14 million. (www.loscabosquerencia.com)

―Alexandra Foster

April 22, 2008

Mayan Riviera Welcomes New Community

A range of residences are available for purchase at Nizuc, a 28-acre private resort community under construction along the shoreline of the world’s second-largest reef on Mexico’s Mayan Riviera. Nizuc is being developed and operated by General Hotel Management Ltd., whose portfolio of properties includes the Setai on Miami’s South Beach and the Legian in Bali. The $180 million development, slated for completion in October 2009, will comprise three beachfront villas (shown), 16 Club Suites condominiums, 160 one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, and 45 hotel rooms. In addition to the two nearby Jack Nicklaus-designed golf courses - easily accessed by boat via private waterway - and seven sculptured outdoor pools, the reef provides snorkeling and diving. Residences start at $1.3 million, and beachfront villas start at $10 million. (www.nizuc.com)

―Alexandra Foster

April 8, 2008

Under the Tuscan Sun

Picture an Italian vacation in a 1500s villa perched atop rolling hills surrounded by 150 acres of land and views of neighboring farms and vineyards. This cinematic scene could be experienced on your next trip to Europe, as One Key destination club has chosen the Tuscany region of Italy for its first European location. One Key has acquired 10 homes, ranging from a stone farmhouse in Siena to a seven-bedroom villa in Florence. The picturesque Val d’Orcia hills home (shown), built in the 1500s, has a natural stone outdoor pool, a wood-burning pizza oven, and formal dining room. Located five minutes from the bustling town of Sarteano, this home provides complete privacy on its 148-acre lot. One Key members have the choice of 15-, 25-, or 45-night travel cards that provide access to the club’s multiple homes in 20 locations throughout the world. Fifteen-night travel cards start at $34,900. (www.onekeyworld.com)

―Alexandra Foster

March 25, 2008

Desperately Seeking Solstice

Solstice, a destination club with 14 luxury properties in desirable locales such as Aspen, Paris, and St. Bart’s - as well as a yacht with a four-person crew available for private charter - has added New York to its growing portfolio. Situated in the West Village, the spacious, contemporary-designed one-bedroom and three-bedroom apartments have terraces and floor-to-ceiling windows featuring sweeping city views. The bonus: Members have access to a personal Solstice lifestyle specialist, who the club says is available anytime to track down tickets to in-demand Broadway shows or secure a table at one of the city’s most popular restaurants. Solstice membership plans vary and start at $615,000 with $34,000 in annual dues. (480.240.2370, www.solsticecollection.com,)

―Alexandra Foster

March 11, 2008

Fairmont Resorts to Idaho

Fairmont Hotels and Resorts, whose renowned properties include the London Savoy and the Plaza in New York, will break ground on Fairmont Tamarack, its first U.S. whole-ownership resort and vacation-home property. The resort community, tucked into northern Idaho’s Payette River mountains (pictured above), is an all-season destination, but owners are likely to be drawn to there for winter sports: The private mountain at Tamarack is limited to just 2,000 skiers and snowboarders daily, and its snow-front lounge will organize tickets, rentals, and lessons for a day on the slopes. In warmer weather, golfers can enjoy the Robert Trent Jones Jr. signature course at Osprey Meadows.

Buyers can choose from 32 different floor plans in the property’s 305 luxury hotel-condominiums. Homes start at around $700,000 and go up to about $5 million. The resort is set to be completed by 2011. (888.893.1526, www.fairmonttamarack.com)

―Alexandra Foster

February 5, 2008

Luxe Living in Rancho Mirage

When the Residences at the Ritz-Carlton, Rancho Mirage opens in September it will be the first luxury hotel and residential development in California’s newly rediscovered Coachella Valley, a location that was a popular weekend retreat for Hollywood’s high-profile Rat Pack in the 1950s. Located about 100 miles east of Los Angeles, the $500 million development is located on a 650-foot bluff with views of the valley, and will offer a range of second home ownership opportunities. Priced from $895,000 to $7 million, the 130 residences include 16 one- and two-bedroom spa suites, located adjacent to the 24,000-square-foot La Prairie spa, in addition to condominium-style residential suites and villas set away from the hotel. Owners will have access to all of the hotel¹s amenities, including the spa, swimming pools, and restaurant from Los Angeles-based chef Joachim Splichal of Patina. The 244-room hotel will open in September, and the spa suites will be ready in November. The remaining residences are expected by 2010. (888.972.6240, www.livingranchomirage.com)

―Samantha Brooks

January 22, 2008

Private Access Made Easier

Turks & Caicos Sporting Club at Ambergris Cay, a private island residential club community, has made it easier for its members to gain direct access to its luxurious island. The club has built the longest lighted private jet strip in the Caribbean that can accommodate G550 or Bombardier Global Express XRS, making direct access from cities around the world a breeze. By summer, it will also have on-site customs and immigration facilities for nonstop private flights. Turks & Caicos Sporting Club, known for its fishing, kayaking, 300-acre nature preserve, and its golf-taxi via private plane to 12 top Caribbean courses, has oceanfront homesites ranging from $600,000 to $6 million. (877.815.1300, www.tcsportingclub.com)

―Jill Newman

January 8, 2008

On The Mark

Jacques Grange is not necessarily the first designer that springs to mind when it comes to large-scale condo-hotel projects. Best known for his traditional French interiors, his bespoke designs are usually reserved for private clients including fashion designers Valentino and Yves Saint Laurent and Princess Caroline of Monaco. However, Grange’s latest project, New York’s Mark hotel, firmly establishes the 63-year-old designer as one of the leading names in the city’s competitive condo-design market.

The Upper East Side hotel, scheduled to open this summer, will offer 42 residences for sale in late January. Units are priced at approximately $5,000 per square foot, with studios starting at $2 million. The penthouse—which includes five fireplaces, a private rooftop deck, and a living room with 26-foot-high ceilings that rests beneath the building’s landmarked copper roof—is priced at $60 million. Originally built in 1927, the Madison Avenue hotel closed in January 2007 for an extensive renovation that will transform the 15-story structure into 118 hotel rooms and 42 residences—32 of which will be fully designed and furnished by Grange. The hotel’s redesign includes a mix of Art Deco-influenced pieces that pay homage to the building’s origin, combined with contemporary, one-of-a-kind accents from designers such as Mattia Bonetti and Vladimir Kagan. The residences straddle the traditional and modern worlds, with solid-oak flooring and coffered ceilings blending with streamlined Boffi kitchens and sophisticated Crestron home-automation systems. (212.722.1600, www.themarkhotel.com)

—Samantha Brooks

December 18, 2007

San Miguel de Allende’s Take on Luxury

Nestled in the romantic colonial artist’s village of San Miguel de Allende, Bald Mountain de Mexico’s newest project combines luxury homes and the city’s first five-star hotel with a wide range of amenities. The first phase of the Artesana Rosewood Residences, operated by Rosewood Hotels & Resorts, is slated for completion in June 2009. The first offering of 20 residences will be available this spring. San Miguel de Allende is located 180 miles northwest of Mexico City.

The homes are being crafted by local artisans to look and feel like Old San Miguel, with arches and columns hand-carved from locally quarried limestone, hand-wrought ironwork, and outdoor fountains on lush patios with panoramic vistas of San Miguel’s churches and spires. The 65-suite boutique resort will offer private amenities like plunge pools, fireplaces, and a covered outdoor living space. Both residents and hotel guests will have access to a wide range of amenities including a tequila and wine cellar, a world-class spa, and several restaurants. (800.519.7683, www.artesanasanmiguel.com)

—Jill Newman

December 11, 2007

The Oyster’s New Pearls

The Oyster Circle, a members-only destination club with a portfolio of luxury homes in some of the world’s most desirable locations, has added three new properties to its already extensive portfolio. The new destinations include a ski chalet at Les Trois Valleés ski resort in the French Alps with ski-in/ski-out facilities; a secluded villa on the shores of Lake Garda, Italy’s largest lake; and a luxurious villa just five minutes from the heart of St. Tropez with easy access to some of the best beaches in the French Riviera. Offering all the luxuries of second-home ownership without any of the worry or maintenance, the Oyster Circle properties have an average value of $4.5 million. Membership fees range from $490,000 to $590,000 and are limited to just 400 members. (353.1.279.9525, www.theoystercircle.com)

―Bailey S. Barnard

December 4, 2007

Terranea Finds a Secluded Home

When the private beachfront resort community Terranea is complete in 2009, it will offer residence on one of the last secluded stretches of beach on Southern California’s well-populated coastline.

Terranea, located on the 102 acres that once housed Marineland on the Palos Verdes peninsula just 15 miles south of Los Angeles International Airport, includes 50 oceanfront casitas and 32 detached villas, along with a 400-room hotel, nine-hole golf course, 25,000-square-foot spa, and three saltwater swimming pools. Villa owners are granted 90 days of use per year, and casita buyers have 60 days of use per year. When not in residence, owners have the option of putting their home into the hotel’s rental pool to receive a portion of the nightly rate. The first offering of 51 casitas and villas sold out within 48 hours when they were released in 2005. The remaining 31 properties were released for sale in November, with prices starting at $2.25 million. (Terranea, 866.366.7474, www.terranea.com)

—Samantha Brooks

November 1, 2007

Sail Around the World Without Ever Leaving Home

Four Seasons Hotels and Resort will take its distinct brand of luxury service to sea in 2010 with its new 719-foot vessel, which will tour some of the world’s most exciting cities and ports of call. Private residences will be available aboard the ship, offering the opportunity to relax at home while experiencing some of the most exclusive global travel available. The Four Seasons, a fully private residential ship, will have all the amenities of a luxury hotel and will provide exclusive access to such places and events as the 2012 Olympic Games in London, the Grand Prix in Monaco, Antarctica, the Amazon, and the British Open. Four Seasons expects to average 250 days in port annually, offering extended stays on each of the seven continents. The vessel is now offering 112 one- to four-bedroom residences starting at $3.8 million. (www.fourseasons.com)

—Alexandra Foster

November 1, 2007

Shangri-La Residences Underway at Island Gardens

The Shangri-La Hotel in Miami will launch its new residences on the upper floors of its 150-room hotel at Island Gardens in 2010. The luxury hotel and residence also features its own super-yacht harbor built specifically for megayachts and designed to become an international gateway to the Caribbean. Shangri-La is offering one- to four-bedroom residences from $200,000 to $800,000. Shangri-La at Island Gardens is part of a mixed-use development featuring luxury boutiques, a waterfront promenade, and world-class dining. (www.flagstonegroup.com)

—Alexandra Foster