When you think of bright sunny days filled with state-of- the-art facilities and superb service, plus a challenging golf course with a rejuvenating spa, then The Phoenician in Scottsdale, Arizona will absolutely satisfy your cravings for luxury vacation.

The Phoenician has so many things to offer to everyone. There are 454 elegantly designed guest rooms which are about 600 sq ft each, 12 luxury suites ranging from 1,200 up to 4,000 sq ft can be found from the main building.

However, if you prefer privacy, you may find the Canyon Suites better equipped for that purpose.  Each suite is beautifully designed and strategically located as to avoid other guests. Back in 1940s cosmetic tycoon Elizabeth Arden built a first class exclusive Spa for the rich and famous on the very spot where Canyon Suites is now standing.  Just like back in those days, the Canyon Suites today pamper their guests with everything they want and need.

Golf addicts will have a time of their life in there.  You can play at three different golf courses, the Desert, the Canyon and the Oasis.

After a game of golf, you can relax and have someone pamper you with soothing massages and beauty treatments that will rejuvenate your body, mind and spirit. They do have efficient and well-trained staff to the various European and Eastern treatments.

If you want to bring the kids and they are not into golf, don’t fret because there are so much activities in store for them to enjoy such as parachute play, sand sculpture, puppet shows, water slide, basketball, soccer, and many more.  They would not be bored while you putt and swing over to the three courses. By the way, the resort has pools with 165 foot water slide and manmade waterfalls. That alone will be the highlight of your kids’ vacation.

Another thing, if somebody from your family is an art lover, The Phoenician has a $25 million worth of art and antiquities which include tapestries, sculptures, paintings, furniture and even pre-historic fossils.

This 250 acre resort is under the management of Starwood Hotels & Resorts. Plan your Arizona vacation and make your reservation online.

When you want to unwind to a place where you can play a good round of golf while your wife is rejuvenating in a spa and your kids immersed at various activities created just for them, look no further, plan your next vacation at the Gleneagles Golf Resort in Scotland.

Golf enthusiasts will have a time of their life in playing not one but three different golf courses in Gleneagles. The premier golf resort has the King’s Course, the Queen’s Course and the PGA Centenary Course, which they are proud to announce, will be the venue of the 40th Ryder Cup in 2014.

If you are just starting to play the game or you want to share your passion with your kid, Gleneagles has a World Class Golf Academy. They offer lessons for beginners, intermediate and those who just want to perfect their swing.

While the resort offers the best in the game of golf, it also offers the best accommodation and impeccable services for those who also expect luxury and pampering. They do have a 5-star hotel, which has 232 guest bedrooms with some rooms designed to satisfy guests with certain preference and requirements.

To those who felt that staying in a hotel is so public, do not despair; your Scottish holiday will still be luxurious with Glenmor Village. It is located within the resort and has luxury homes, which is available via a program called Seasonal Ownership. Basically, for a one-time fee, an owner can stay on one luxury home, stay at the same time each year until 2058 plus a free access on all of the amenities that Gleneagles Resort has.

If you want a change of pace and rest your clubs for a while, then why not try other activities like shooting, tennis, swimming, horseback riding, fishing, and a whole lot more.

You can check the rates and availability of the place at this site, click here.

Photo Credit: Gleneagles

Where do you go when you want to get away from it all and just play golf?

Sandy Lane in Barbados is one of the best out there when it comes to luxury resorts most especially if you are into playing unlimited golf. Whether you are alone or want to enjoy the weekend with your wife and kids. Sandy Lane has everything for everyone.

Choose one of the three or play the three challenging golf courses that the resort offers to its guests. A golf course which was built way back in 1961 which was played by quite a number of famous professional and amateur golfers. Tom Fazio designed another one, which is a 72-par golf paradise and the last course can give you a stunning view of the Caribbean.

While its main highlight is the three immaculately designed golf courses with lush greens and 45 holes all in all, namely, The Green Monkey, The Country Club and The Old Nine, it has several other amenities and underwater sports activities that both a child an adult can enjoy.

Experience Spa services like no other in Sandy Lane. They have professional therapists on hand to give you an unbelievably relaxing massage in a romantic Romanesque environment with the sound of waterfalls flowing around you. Just imagine spa suites that include hydrotherapy pools, private gardens, and unique treatments mixed in from the Far East and European traditions.

Dining is altogether a different experience. Since the resort is quite huge, they made sure that they have four restaurants and five bars that are strategically placed around the place. Each has a different menu to offer. You can either dine at one of them or you can have them inside your room.

At Sandy Lane, a guest can choose from 112 rooms and 5 Fully loaded Villas. If you want to stay in the private villas, expect to shell out around US$9,000 up to $25,000 a day. Prices vary depending on the season. It is more affordable if it’s during summer. They charge higher on colder seasons.

If these photos would not convince you, I don’t know what else. Check the villas availability and the different vacation packages they and make your reservations online. Get the luxury Sandy Lane experience and find out why numerous business tycoons, music moguls and Hollywood A-Listers love to stay there. Tennis number 1 player, Tiger Woods would not have chosen to get married in Sandy Lane if it is not up to par.

Photo Credit: SandyLane

The Bear’s Club is an equity, private golf club that was established by Jack Nicklaus in 1999.  To gain entrance to the private golf club, one needs to shell out half a million dollars as membership fee.

Veteran golfer-clubbers usually prefer the equity club membership since they can passed on to their children their membership and they have a little profit on the side while enjoying the exclusivity and luxury that it offers.

The Bear’s Club is regarded as practically a shrine to legendary golfer Jack Nicklaus as he was the one who founded the club and designed the challenging golf course. It was his wife, Barbara who designed the tuscan-inspired clubhouse.

This 401-acre luxurious private golf club is located in Jupiter, Florida, in the very heart of Northern Palm Beaches that promises privacy and convenience. It is affiliated with an upscale real estate to which Jack himself owns a house very near the golf club.

For avid golfers who needed to play golf every single day just like those caffeine lovers who cannot start the day without drinking coffee every morning, it is definitely a huge plus if you are living in an area affiliated with a private golf club.

The amenities that each member enjoys are quite unrivaled as the golf club boasts that they do have the finest and most experienced staff that gives an exceptional white glove services. Aside from the 18-hole Nicklaus golf course, they have a 40,000 sq ft Clubhouse, 17 Golf Villas, 14 Club Cottages, 13 Vintage Estate Homes and 55 residences. It is truly an upscale golf real estate community.

Photo Credit: BearsClub

As early as now, golf aficionados are rounding up their list of the best winter golf resorts and one of them is the Kapalua Golf Resort in Maui. Even the people from PGA recommend this golf resort and that is the reason why the Mercedes-Benz Championship chooses this golf course as its playing ground.

Kapalua is also known for their unspoiled beaches but the two golf courses, The Plantation Course and The Bay Course they have there made it more extraordinary. This coming October, the first Kapalua LPGA Classic will be held there as announced by the Ladies Professional Golf Association or LPGA last month.

It has been regarded as Hawaii’s number one golf resort by a leading golf magazine, Travel & Leisure Golf Magazine.

The good thing about this golf resort is their in-house Kapalua Golf Academy which pro and non-pro can hone and enhance their playing skills with the Academy’s state-of-the-art facilities.

There are several accommodation options to choose from, they have the Kapalua Villas, Kapalua Luxury Homes or stay at the Ritz-Carlton. These accommodations will truly give a one of a kind Maui Experience that is world class.

Getting there is easy by this interactive map they offer in their official site. You can either make your reservations online or call them.

 Photo Credit: Kapalua

How about shelling out a million US dollars just to play in this challenging golf course in Southampton, New York designed by two extraordinary golfers with totally different styles, the legendary Jack Nicklaus and Tom Doak? Unbelievably expensive, right? To those who lived and breathed golf, the exclusivity it brings to them, makes it just worth the huge initiation fee.

Photo Credit: Sebonack

Two years ago when it was opened to the golfing community, it said to have been demanding USD$650,000 for an avid golfer to join in the Sebonack Golf Club but today, it is rumored to have reached almost USD$1M.

It is one of the most exclusive golf clubs in the world and if rumors are correct, it is also by far, the most expensive. The Sebonack Golf Club guarantees that every golfer will experience the most enjoyable and luxurious way of playing golf.

They have several strict rules inside the club. They do not allow exceptions to the rules they have created. It is applicable for all members, tournament champions or just an avid average golfer it does not matter. Each member and guests are required to act consistent to proper etiquette.

Photo Credit: Forbes

The management expects members to follow the dress code at all times. Golf players are required to don their proper attire while guests are required to wear clothes with collars and sleeves. And this dress code is applicable to all areas of the golf club except at the privacy of the cottages. Even hats should be worn with brims facing forward, no hip-hop styles in there.

Get this: even if you have paid for a ridiculously high price to join the Sebonack Golf Club, they won’t let you play if you are improperly dressed.

Members can stay overnight at well-designed cabins inside the golf club. If they charged so much and each year it gets higher, expect a luxurious, classy surroundings and amenities. You kinda wonder why even at this high joining fee they still have a waiting list. Talk about exclusivity!

Find a detailed instruction on how to get there, click here.

Photo Credit: http://www.maunalani.com/mauna-lani-photo-gallery.htm

In Hawaii you will find a little slice of perfection unrivaled by any other island paradise. At the Mauna Lani Resort you will spend your vacation with sweeping views of crystal clear blue waters, white sand beaches, and refreshing ocean breezes. And if the spectacular views aren’t enough you will also have access to world class amenities and hospitality that only can come with island life.

At the Mauna Lani you will find yourself enraptured in the luxury of the 2,700 sq. ft. bungalows that the resort offers for accommodations, along with a 1,300 sq. ft. lanai for you to sit back and waste your days away on. The bungalows come completely equipped with grill, private pool, and jacuzzi. And for ultimate relaxation you can schedule a personal massage right at your own bungalow. With all the amenities this resort has to offer you barely have to leave your little piece of perfection.

Have a personal chef cook a meal for you and your friends and family, take time to golf at one of the resorts championship golf courses, or keep up with your routine with a personal trainer. This is truly your home away from home, luxury style. At the Mauna Lani Resort you can have luxury, spectacular scenery, and the comforts of home all in one.

http://www.maunalani.com/hawaii-luxury-bungalows.htm

Photo Credit: adhe55

Switzerland, home of the most beautiful and scenic vistas also offers some unique and elaborate luxury resorts. Set upon a backdrop of luscious foliage and snow capped mountains, there is truly something for everyone in this spectacular country.

Zurich is home to a number of these world class hotels with breathtaking views. Here you have a multitude of fabulous choices. The Baur au Lac offers unparalleled hospitality located in a fashionable area. This Swiss beauty is located near a lake with a private park for its guests to enjoy.

The Widder Hotel is centrally located in Zurich and only minutes from the famous Bahnhofstrasse where you will find splendid style and fashion. The old world beauty that this resort offers will delight any adventure or romance seeker.

At the Grand Hotel Quellenhof Bad Ragaz you will find the breathtaking beauty of the Swiss Alps right outside your door. The resort offers the best in amenities, ranging from thermal hot springs to elaborately landscaped gardens and parks to its own 18 hole golf course.

With the unprecedented beauty that Zurich, Switzerland has to offer you are sure to leave renewed and refreshed. Take in the beautiful mountain air and sit back and let one of these luxury resorts handle all the details.

Photo Credit: dianapermatasari

One of America’s biggest hotel corporations has announced its newest addition to their hotel family. InterContinental Hotel Group has announced that they will be building two additional world class Hotel Indigos in sunny San Antonio. The group plans to locate these hotels at the famous Alamo and San Antonio River Walk areas where guests can get a little taste of history as well as luxurious accommodations. According to sources both hotels will feature designs that reflect the character of the areas that they are in, with the Riverwalk establishment featuring bold colors and wood tones that are characteristic of classic Texas style.

The boutique style hotels are popping up all over the world with 15 North American Hotel Indigo locations all ready and many more in the development process. And the ambitious hotel group does not plan on stopping there. In the past 2 years they have acquired over $100 million dollars worth of hotel assets and according to the groups management they intend to acquire an equal amount of property in 2008. Management states that they are looking forward to the opening of San Antonio’s two newest Hotel Indigo locations as early as next year. Soon you will see these boutique style resort hotels opening up all over the place so keep your eye out for your next vacation.

A very popular type of luxury resort destination for golf enthusiasts are the luxury golf resorts.

Luxury Golf resorts are resorts that have facilities, activities, and amenities that are primarily catered to the sport of golf.  This type of luxury resorts’ central features are their world-class golf courses and clubhouses.  It’s main difference from other types of luxury resorts are its golf package offerings that gives guests access not only to luxurious accommodations and cuisine, but more importantly to golf sports facilities including range balls, cart fees and all greens.

Due to it’s primary focus on high-end golf facilities, luxurious golf resorts offer elite hotel rooms and  spacious villas, and are usually located in areas with breathtaking natural sceneries.  Others take it up a notch higher by offering active lifestyle activities such as nature trekking, backpack trips, fishing and others.

Popular Luxury Golf Resorts

Luxury golf resorts are very popular around the world, but the finest ones are found in the United States, Ireland, and Scotland, the latter two countries being the bedrock of gold sports.

Among the more popular luxury gold resorts around the world are the following:

1.  Kiawah Island Golf Resort in Kiawah Island, SC, USA

2. Four Seasons Punta Mita in Punta Mita, Mexico

3. Old Course Hotel in St. Andrews, Scotland

4. Cloister at Sea Island in Sea Island, GA, USA

5. Fairmont Banff Springs in Banff, AB, Canada

7. Loews Ventana Canyon Resort in Tucson, AZ, USA

8. The American Club in Kohler, WI, USA

9. Mauna Lani Bay Hotel in Kohala Coast, Hawaii

10. Casa de Campo in La Romana, Dominican Republic

11. The Inn at Spanish Bay in Pebble Beach, CA, USA

12. Marbella Club Hotel Golf Resort And Spa in
Photo Credit: havenholidaysMarbella, Spain