Virtuoso Travel Advisor - Julia Kostina - Luxury Travel Advisor

Speaking Puglia… so much to say!

Authentic Luxury, Italy, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, PugliaFebruary 13, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Puglia, Apulia, heel of the boot, relatively new destination for luxury travellers which is already developed enough for being considered luxury, yet untouched enough to be still authentic. Right time to go and explore. Honestly, I don't even know where to start. So lets start from the most well known North and slowly move to…

Where to stay in Istanbul, Chapter 4, The Peninsula Hotel

Authentic Luxury, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, TurkeyJanuary 30, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

And now my favourite so far, The Peninsula Istanbul. Why favourite? The reasons are many. First of all, unique location which combines all the advantages of being on the shore of majestic Bosphorus, yet walking distance to many attractions. The modern name of the area is Karaköy, but there is also historical name Galata…

Luxury hotels of Istanbul – where to stay? Chapter 3, Bosphorus, Arnavutköy.

Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, TurkeyJanuary 29, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus - one more luxury address in Istanbul to be considered. Modern, slick, elegant as you expect from Mandarin Oriental brand. Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus Things to consider about location of Mandarin Oriental Bosphorus: if your check in comes to weekend evening, expect lots of traffic to arrive - I've spent almost hour pushing…

Luxury hotels of Istanbul – where to stay? Chapter 2, Bosphorus.

Authentic Luxury, Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, TurkeyJanuary 25, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

No doubts, bank of Bosphorus provides sublime hotel setting. Bosphorus waters are always alive, day or night, with numerous boats of any possible type and size browsing its smooth surface in all directions, majestic palaces and mosques framing the scene from both sides, European and Asian. Our first stop, Four Seasons Bosphorus. …

Luxury hotels of Istanbul – where to stay? Chapter 1, Sultanahmet.

Luxury Hotels, Luxury Travel, TurkeyJanuary 24, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

I will not surprise anyone saying that Istanbul is a big city. Well, very big city it is. So, the variety of neighbourhoods and broad selection of luxury hotels in different locations can be quite confusing. I have no ambition to compare all luxury hotels of Istanbul since they are many, so just few…

Where to stay in Lyon? InterContinental Lyon – Hotel Dieu!

France, Luxury Hotels, Luxury TravelJanuary 16, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

InterContinental Hotel Dieu is not just the most elegant and chic address in the city, it is one of the city’s most emblematic historical landmark buildings, UNESCO World Heritage site. After tremendous reconstruction, building was transformed to something much more than just modern luxury hotel in the city centre. Stunning historical building now accommodates few…

Lyon, silk capital of France

Authentic Luxury, France, Unique experienceJanuary 12, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

Did you know that Lyon has been a silk capital of France and whole Europe for hundreds of years? Traditions of silk making in Lyon start as far as XVI century. Amazing that hand made silk production still exists, and it is not just tourists' extraction. This little workshop which you see on my pictures…

Lagendary restaurant La Tour d’Argent

France, Gourmet dining, Luxury TravelJanuary 8, 20242KViews 0Likes 0Comments

When in Paris, this is one of the icons: La Tour d'Argent, four-hundred-year-old household - imagine??? That was my second encounter with chef Yannick Franques. First time I met him in Southern France 13 years ago when he was at Oetker Saint Martin. That was like... oh... deja vu... I definitely met this handsome chef…