To say that Uber is no stranger to innovation would perhaps be the understatement of a lifetime.

In recent years, the company that revolutionized ground transportation has also launched UberCHOPPER, UberBOAT, UberYACHT and, even UberBALLOON, bringing with every variation on its wildly successful platform, new levels of convenience and luxury to its global multitude of users. Now, in a bid to assist travelers in celebrating the winter holidays with the greatest of ease, Uber is debuting UberMOUNTAIN.

Just in time for one of the best ski seasons the region has seen in years, the introduction of UberMOUNTAIN will allow lucky snowbunnies to enjoy the French Alps via helicopter and snowmobile rides at the push of a button.

In order to take advantage of this over-the-moon fabulous feature, users will simply need to open the app, tap on the icon for UberMOUNTAIN and select the options they most desire. How easy is that?

Suddenly the trek to the Alps doesn’t seem so formidable at all now does it?

Here’s what you need to know.

When?

The special in-app UberMOUNTAIN experience will be available for ten days (Feb 23 – Mar 4).

What?

There will be three options:

• Helicopter connection between Lyon, Nice or Cannes to Val d’Isère and
• Panoramic flights from both ski stations above the Alps, ‘3 Valleys’ and Mont Blanc
• Snowmobile activity (free)

Cost?

• Helicopter connection (500€ per person)
• Panoramic flights (138€ per person)
• Snowmobile activity (Free)

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The heavily trafficked intersection of Wilshire and Santa Monica boulevards in Beverly Hills has been the source of both great anticipation and speculation among Angelenos for quite some time now. The hallowed location that, among other distinctions, counts the home of the Golden Globes, otherwise known as the Beverly Hilton, as its neighbor and the legendary Trader Vic’s as its predecessor will soon be unveiled as the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills.

The 12-story hotel slated for a June 2017 opening promises to take luxury in Beverly Hills, the West Coast capital of the segment, to new heights with 170 guestrooms that literally offer a room with a view courtesy of floor-to-ceiling windows opening onto oversized private balconies that peer out over vistas ranging from a bird’s eye view of the Hollywood Hills to the soaring, gleaming heights of Century City and beyond. Expect the hotel’s 119 deluxe rooms and 51 suites as designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon to showcase richly upholstered furniture in soothing tones of celadon, taupe and white and bespoke art alongside the staggering array of amenities that are the hallmark of the Waldorf-Astoria brand.

Elsewhere on the property, expect a triple-height lobby with a contemporary Art Deco design, hand-painted murals and custom Strass crystal chandeliers as well as Lalique installations and one-of-a-kind pieces of significant artworks throughout.

I generally don’t care to do previews, preferring instead to experience a property in person before sharing news about it but every once in a while, a first look bowls me over and I simply cannot help myself. This is such a case.

The Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills officially opens its doors to global luxury travelers on June 1, 2017.

For more information visit, www.waldorfastoriabeverlyhills.com.

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What better way to celebrate a storied 90-year history in the fashion world than by staging an extraordinary and unique fashion event at Rome’s iconic Trevi Fountain with none other than Kendall Jenner opening the show?

Such was the case yesterday in the Eternal City as celebrities including Kate Hudson, Bella Thorne and Lottie Moss joined the fashion glitterati which included Vogue International Editor Suzy Menkes and fashion blogger Chiara Ferragni for Fendi’s second ever Haute Fourrure Show, entitled “Legends and Fairytales”. Karl Lagerfeld, the long time Creative Director of Fendi, was also of course on hand as his elegant, whimsical designs inspired by the illustrations of the early 20th-century Danish illustrator Kay Nielsen took center stage before a star-studded crowd at the otherworldly once in a lifetime event.

See video below:

Founded in Rome nine decades ago, FENDI opened its first boutique in 1926 in Via del Plebiscito, featuring a small fur atelier and leather goods workshop. Still today, the luxury Maison not only continues to host in-house ateliers and creative temples where highly-skilled artisans convey all their expertise to unique creations, all made-in-Italy, it simultaneously continues a tradition of great revolutionary worldwide achievements, avant-garde experimentation, unlimited research and innovation, proposing new luxurious and modern fur designs and accessories.

To mark the occasion, The Maison is also releasing the “FENDI Roma” book at the San Luca Academy inside Palazzo Carpegna, alongside “FENDI ROMA – The Artisans of Dreams” exhibition at Palazzo della Civiltå Italiana. The exhibition, open to the public from 9th July, is conceived to celebrate the Maison’s unique fur craftmanship and creativity, founding and distinctive elements of the luxury Roman House’s core values.

Find out more about all things Fendi by clicking here.

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I am honored to have been chosen to serve on the nominating committee for the NewNowNext Traveler’s Choice Awards for the third straight year and I am equally excited to note that for 2012 a slew of fun new categories have been added. This year your votes will determine everything from the Bossest Beach and Ultimate Resort to the destinations with the sexiest and most stylish locals.

Who will the winners be? It’s all in your hands now. This year you can vote right here at www.theduanewells.com.  See below on the right hand side to start voting. Vote today and vote often for your favorite hotspots around the globe.

Can’t wait to see what you come up with!

Voting closes on 11/27  so don’t sleep on this contest or run the risk that your favorite nominees might not make it into this year’s the winners’ circle.

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Protecting the Potables
Returning home from that idyllic wine country getaway, you definitely want to pack a bottle of that impossible-to-find vintage from the local vineyard. The Vinnibag, a travel device with inflatable air chambers that expand around wine bottles or other fragile item to stabilize them during transport, is a bottle saver. It’s as easy to use as blowing up a balloon, plus it’s reusable and recyclable. Overpackers take note: It takes up additional room (about one more inch in circumference than the bottle alone) in the suitcase when it’s blown up. Vinnibag.com, $28

Originally published at Advocate.com. To read this post and more by Duane Wells at the Advocate, click here.

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