America's Best Beaches: The Elan Collection Will Be There

Are you surprised? Southampton boasts America's best beach, according to "Dr. Beach,Stephen Leatherman, director of Florida International University's Laboratory for Coastal Research, who has compiled the list for 20 years. Coopers Beach in Southampton, with its pristine, gently sloping white sand, convenient parking and amenities, topped the list of America's best beaches in an annual survey released today to coincide with the start of the summer vacation season.

Main Beach in East Hampton, Long Island, not far from Southampton and Westhampton, where The Elan Collection recently announced plans to add a spectacular two-acre waterfront estate spanning more than 10,500 square feet. Other current and future Elan locations made the top ten list, including Coronado Beach, Calif. (No. 3), near the Casa del Mar residence in La Jolla and Elan's future downtown San Diego penthouse; Kahanamoku Beach in Waikiki, Honolulu (No. 6) and Hamoa Beach in Maui, Hawaii (No. 9). The Elan Collection has plans to add a residence soon at an undisclosed island in Hawaii. (Keep checking the website, blog, Twitter and Facebook for updates.

Which beach are you vacationing at this Memorial Day Weekend? And an even more intriguing question…which beach is on your wish list for next year?

The Elan Collection Unveils First Ski-In/Ski-Out Luxury Mountain Retreat in Vail

Today, The Élan Collection announced the unveiling of its first ski-in/ski-out luxury mountain retreat with shared interests priced under $1 million: a 3,500 square-foot penthouse located at the top of The Arrabelle at Vail Square.

Nestled at the base of the Vail ski resort and just footsteps from the Eagle Bahn gondola, The Arrabelle Penthouse features en suite bathrooms in all four bedrooms, hardwood flooring, Viking appliances, luxurious furnishings and fixtures, as well as views of Vail Square and the best of Vail Mountain. But it's not just the penthouse itself that makes this vacation property a must-have... it's all of the value-added amenities too:

• The Arrabelle hotel services such as valet parking, luxury fitness center and spa, ski and boot storage, daily housekeeping, room service, etc.
• Vail Medallions (fully transferable for year-round recreation at five ski resorts and five golf courses)
• A dedicated 24-hour concierge staff
• Travel accommodations
• Limousine services and luxury vehicle to use when in residence
• Included private jet service
• Personal item placement inside the penthouse
• Option to exchange use rights for other properties within the Élan network

A luxury penthouse with all of these A-list amenities and all of Vail right at your fingertips for under a $1 million? Now that's elan... for more information about this opportunity, contact residence specialist Liz Leeds at lizizleeds@msn.com or (970) 331-1806.

The Haute Side of Mud Season: Less Crowds, More Privacy, Warmer Vacations

In most parts of the world, springtime means warmer temperatures, longer days, lighter home decor, and a chance to break out that new pret-a-porter sundress you saw on the runways. But in the best and poshest of ski resort towns, spring brings something called "mud season." (Isn't there a classier name for "mud"? The French say "la boue.") While most ski areas have shuttered their lift operations for the year, there are still luxury vacations to be had in Vail and Big Sky, Montana (two fabulous Elan mountain destinations).

The slopes are still open in Vail and Big Sky, of course... but if you're only a cold weather skier, the mud season offers a chance to explore your Elan hometown in a new light. Crowds are smaller; valet parking won't be full; fine restaurants offer too-good-to-pass-up prix fixe deals; and when the sun comes out, you can hike snow-sprinkled trails, watch the rivers rise or witness nature at its best--perhaps an elk being born or wildflowers sprouting in the meadows.

"Our mud season may not be our popular time of year, but it is a special time," notes Cathy Gorman, Elan residence specialist for The Big EZ Lodge in Big Sky. "We have so much wild life activity here. To see elk, deer and moose living so close among us is a rare and exciting thing. You can experience just how dynamic the outdoor world is."

With The Elan Collection, you can enjoy a luxury mountain retreat during the peak winter season, but sometimes the hautest vacations are best enjoyed in the quiet and privacy of the off-season.

Pebble Beach Summer Vacation: Golfing, Classic Cars and Luxury Homes

In Pebble Beach, serious golf aficionados and classic automobile collectors have their choice of premier events to suit their fancy this summer: golfers have the U.S. Open Championship (June 14-20, 2010) and classic automobile collectors have the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance (August 11-15, 2010).

Both events are considered the pièce de résistance of their respective circles, and take place on the renowned Pebble Beach Golf Links—just steps from The Elan Collection's newest vacation home in Pebble Beach. This 6,200-square-foot Mediterranean-style estate is set on an acre lot overlooking the 15th and 16th holes of Pebble Beach Golf Links and Stillwater Cove. The residence boasts four master bedroom suites, five baths, a large media room, wine cellar, private guest suite, three-car garage, butler's pantry and has recently been completed to offer breathtaking views from almost every room. Can golf lovers think of anything better than spending a pleasant summer day watching Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson sink a putt right from their own terrace? And can classic car enthusiasts imagine anything grander than taking a leisurely stroll (or even better...driving their Ferrari 250 GT SWB Berlinetta or 1933 Duesenberg SJ Speedster) from their vacation home to the Concours d’Elegance and admiring the historic automobilia and automotive art?

It’s a dream holiday reserved for true connoisseurs of art and style, classic cars, world-class golf, and of course… luxury real estate. For more information, contact Steve LaVaute at (831) 241-1434 or slavaute@gmail.com.

The Return of Luxury Spending

Who, in the world of luxury real estate, hasn’t been looking forward to the return of affluent spending? Experts predicted this day would arrive soon—just maybe not this soon.

According to a new online survey by the Harrison Group and American Express Publishing (via Robert Frank, author of The Wealth Report and Susan Kime at Luxist), more than 1,900 consumers with more than $100,000 of discretionary income (and a mean of $52,000), found that more than 50% are optimistic about their future. Fewer people said they feel guilty purchasing luxury goods (from 54% to 45% in past year) and more say they like it when others recognize them as being wealthy (up from 30% to 42% in past year). Harrison Group also estimates discretionary spending by the affluent and wealthy will rise by $56 billion in the next year, with $28 billion going to luxury, marking a 6% to 8% jump.

Who will reap the biggest benefits? Automotive, travel, and services, according to the report. That said, the new picture of affluent spending won’t look like the spending of years past. Still, Stan Tonkin, vice president of international marketing and sales for The Élan Collection, finds all of this news encouraging amid recent reports that fractional jet operators, private aviation companies and other luxury fractional clubs announced positive first-quarter results: “It shows that there is still a sizable appetite for luxury fractional vacation opportunities, especially a new generation of shared ownership properties like The Èlan Collection. We are redefining the luxury vacation experience by bringing the benefits of shared interest home ownership to the exclusive world of private residence clubs. We see it as a win-win for those travelers who still want their vacations, but don’t want to tie up all of their financial assets in one home.”

What’s the picture of luxury spending you’re seeing?