Luxury Link Lends a HandNovember 18, 2009 by Kristen Gathany and Daymora Pen
Last week the Luxury Link team took a day away from the
offices to help build a home for a very deserving family in
What a workout!! Just got back from a great day volunteering
with Habitat for Humanity – we helped put the final touches on a home in a
nearby area of

The home is painted a lovely light blue and constructed with a lot of love and dedication. We had the privilege of meeting the wonderful lady – Betty – who will be living there along with her three children. She told us a little about herself and her family and it was clear what a positive and immediate impact this will have on her and everyone around her. It was a great experience volunteering with Habitat for Humanity (this was our first time), and we certainly look forward to volunteering with them again!
Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit housing organization dedicated to building simple, decent and affordable housing in partnership with people in need. For more information please visit www.habitat.org.
To view more pictures please visit our Flickr Account.
To view video footage of our day (including a few clips of Kristen driving the Bobcat!) please visit: http://vimeo.com/7588739
New Properties on Luxury LinkNovember 6, 2009 by Karen Jost
We are proud to feature the world's very best hotels, tours and cruises and we’re always looking for more great properties for our travelers. This month we’ve added a lot of exciting new hotels and resorts. Here is a brief look at a few of our favorites:
The St. Regis
Princeville Resort

The St. Regis Princeville Resort opened its doors in
the beginning of October after a mutli-million dollar renovation. Formerly known as Princeville Resort, the resort
is now part of the St. Regis brand and is their first property in
The

In
For a complete list of the new properties featured on LuxuryLink.com check out our Community page.
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Halloween 2009October 30, 2009 by Karen Jost
We work hard. After all, finding you the best deals on luxury travel is no easy task! But once a year we step away from our computers and celebrate Halloween in true Luxury Link style- copious amounts of candy and costumes are required.
This year the stakes were high for the Annual Halloween Costume Contest:
First Place- $50
Second Place- $25
Third Place- $10
Bragging rights for an entire year- Priceless
Here are the winners- 3rd Place- Kristen Gathany a.k.a. Dead Ballerina

2nd Place- Windy Morrisey a.k.a. Goth Rocker Chick

And . . . drum-roll please . . .
1st Place- Andrew Hahn and Raine Nelson-Grua a.k.a. Jon and Kate Plus 8!!!

For more pictures of the LL Team and their Halloween costumes (including President Diane McDavitt dressed as a subsitute teacher) check out our Flickr Account
October 30th, 2009
5:34 pm PST
I gotta go with Jon and Kate--toooo funny and so timely!
October 30th, 2009
6:05 pm PST
...WOW,,and to think I actually trust my luxury travel plans to this group...
November 3rd, 2009
3:12 pm PST
Looks like everyone had a great time. Still would like to see a picture of Nancy Taylor. Looks like her invisible costume worked.....
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Calistoga Ranch- It’s So Relaxing!October 13, 2009 by Bob Bennett
Luxury Link staff member Bob Bennett sounds off on why Calistoga Ranch is the ultimate getaway.
One of the reasons Luxury Link is The World’s Leading Luxury Travel Website, is the caliber of the properties we feature. Every property and package has been carefully examined by travel professionals and meets strict criteria for inclusion. We’re not going to send you to a property that we wouldn’t stay at ourselves. Case in point- our Chief Product Officer recently stayed at Calistoga Ranch. Here are his thoughts on the property:
Where did you go and why?
Bob: My wife and I chose Calistoga Ranch because we loved
the architecture and feel of the property. The guest rooms are
free-standing with cedar exteriors tucked in a canyon full of pine trees, it
really is spectacular. We also liked that it’s up in Calistoga which is
near a lot of the northern

What was your favorite part about
Bob: Visiting the wineries was great. Bennett Lane Winery not only shares my name but has a car that races on the NASCAR West Circuit- oh and plenty of 90pt wines as well.

Did you get a chance to dine at the Lakehouse (Calistoga Ranch’s restaurant)?
Bob: We did! The chef uses a lot of local ingredients and the food is fantastic. I had the elk and it was delicious. Walking to the restaurant (or cruising in one of the hotel’s golf carts) is a great way to explore the grounds. The property has its own pond and we saw deer nearby as we were heading to the restaurant.
Any suggestions for people considering staying at Calistoga Ranch?
Bob: Work with the hotel on your winery visits and dinner reservations. The service is fantastic and they may be able to get you into a few special tastings and restaurants that otherwise might not be available.

Would you stay there again?
Bob: Absolutely. It’s so relaxing. You get to eat and drink like a king, and just unwind in the quiet tree-lined setting. I’d live there if I could afford it. They have ownership options, we walked through one and I’ll never forget it.
For more information on Bob and the rest of the Luxury Link team, check out Our Team.
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Luxury Link Staff Members Adopt a BeachSeptember 14, 2009 by Kristen Gathany
At Luxury Link we believe that it’s important to contribute to our local community. So last month we threw on our sandals and sunscreen and hit the sand for a beach clean-up.
Luxury Link recently took part in a great community activity
with the help of Heal the Bay,
a nonprofit environmental organization dedicated to making

Heal the Bay provided a wonderful speaker, plus all the
supplies needed to gather trash and manmade debris. We learned A LOT about the
massively detrimental impacts of storm drain run-off in
September 19th, 2009
10:10 am PST
Kristen, what a great idea. Next time I visit my place in Key Largo, there is a small stretch of beach where I am going to start a regular pick up program.
October 2nd, 2009
4:02 pm PST
that's so good to hear, mountie!! every effort counts. i live right near the same area that Luxury Link cleaned up, and it's nice to have a direct impact on your own surroundings and community.
October 31st, 2009
7:22 am PST
I try to get a beach jog done at least three days a week (OK, I'm not always home every week...so I miss a few days now and then), and there is an area where I always do my "cool down" walk-around. I try to take those few minutes to pick up the collection of beer cans, etc., and deposit them in the nearby trash can (is that really so hard to do for those who enjoyed the beverages?).
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Deal Alert!September 10, 2009 by Dan Davis
Finding great deals on your favorite Luxury Link properties has never been easier. Luxury Link staff member Dan Davis tells you how to you take advantage of our new deal alert system.
You’re on the hunt for your next dream vacation. Like a sponge, you soak up all the information you can find. Photos, amazing accolades, guest reviews from fellow LL travelers, slick Google satellite views – all nudging you in the right direction.
You find the luxury hotel you’re looking for. Now to find the perfect package.
We recently introduced a new site feature that keeps tabs on your favorite properties for you. Simply go to the page of your favorite property, scroll to the section below the current packages and sign up to receive an email alert whenever a new package becomes available. Now you’re an insider, one of the first to know about any new package for the hotels you love.
So sit back, enjoy browsing the amazing luxury hotels featured on our site and let Luxury Link help scout the way to your next dream vacation.
September 11th, 2009
12:48 pm PST
Come on Dan....you're not making any easier for those of who are trying to grab auction packages at minimum bid prices! We have to keep some things secret.
September 15th, 2009
9:21 am PST
Deal Alert or not, I wouldn't want to go up against any of our community VIP members :)
September 17th, 2009
1:32 pm PST
Just got a LL auction package I have been watching for a long time. Best of all, I got it at my price and used a certificate. Keep those alerts coming.
September 18th, 2009
9:05 am PST
I love the new e-mail feature. Lets you keep on top of the packages you like.
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No Longer NamelessAugust 27, 2009 by Karen Jost
Luxury Link fans come together to help name our blog.
We are pleased to announce that our blog has a name- LuxuryThink. A big THANK YOU to everyone who contributed suggestions! And a special Thank You to Milehikrs who suggested the winning name.
Milehikrs- To show our appreciation, we are sending you a gift certificate for $100 off your next Luxury Link purchase.
Thanks again everyone! Keep reading LuxuryThink for travel news and the inside scoop on Luxury Link.
August 27th, 2009
3:09 pm PST
I love the new name!
August 27th, 2009
3:15 pm PST
......good choice....and congrats to Milehikrs on the suggestion!
September 7th, 2009
5:39 am PST
...now that the blog has a new name....where is it displayed?
September 10th, 2009
2:09 pm PST
Good point Omegaet! We are working to get our blog name added to the page. Should be up soon.
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Luxury Link Lets Loose at the Annual Summer Beach BashAugust 24, 2009 by Daymora Pen
At Luxury Link, we
work hard to bring you the best deals in luxury travel. But that doesn’t mean we can’t have a little
fun along the way! Daymora gives you
the low-down on our annual
Luxury
Link held its 3rd annual Summer Beach Party earlier this month at Back on the Beach Café in
Fun in the sun with a game of beach volleyball.

The party started with tasty appetizers and refreshing beverages. LL family also attended the event and there were kids everywhere you turned! Some of the kids flew a kite; a few of us tossed a football around; adults and children played a game of volleyball; and the less athletically-inclined watched from the sidelines.
CEO Drew Marich with his sons, Griffin and Brady.

As the sunset painted the horizon orange, we moved inside to enjoy our dinner followed by indulgent Sprinkles cupcakes for dessert. For after-dinner entertainment, we put on our poker faces to play some cards through the end of the night.
Kat’ plays a winning hand.

It was a great afternoon and we all enjoyed spending time together outside of the office. Looking forward to next year’s party!
September 10th, 2009
6:07 am PST
Hey Drew, you have a couple of cute sons. Matching shirts always a good idea!
September 11th, 2009
12:51 pm PST
...are those potato chips or nacho chips....they look good! Why is "Dad" the only one with a smile..."put us down and let us get back to the food......pleeeeeeze!"
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Beach Towel- $10, Sunscreen- $5, Saving Money on Your Dream Vacation- Priceless August 20, 2009 by Karen Jost
Customers who purchase select packages on LuxuryLink.com with a World MasterCard® card will save $150.
World MasterCard® cardholders pay attention! We’ve got a great promotion to help you save money. From now until the end of the year, World MasterCard® cardholders will have access to exclusive offers on LuxuryLink.com. Just look for packages with the World MasterCard® logo or visit the special themed vacation pages. Then find the package that is right for you and book it with a World MasterCard® card. You’ll instantly save $150. These packages will change regularly and feature a variety of properties all designed to inspire you and help make your dream vacation a reality.
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Share the LL Love and Earn Money For Your Next VacationAugust 13, 2009 by Andrew Hahn
Luxury Link has been working hard to deliver the best deals to our customers for over 12 years now. One of the things we’re most proud of is that our customers continually report that they’re overwhelmingly happy with the experiences they’ve had with us.
As a way to spread the love, we recently launched Luxury Link’s Refer-A-Friend program. We’re all really excited about it because in a small way it’s making the world a better place – money from each sale will be donated to worthy charities. Here’s how it works:
1. When
you refer your friend and they purchase a qualifying package, your friend
immediately gets $100 off the purchase price.
2. We
give $50 to a charity that you select every time a friend you refer
purchases a package.
On top of all of that, LL gives you $100 in credit every time a friend you refer purchases! It’s a good way to earn some credit towards your next vacation, a great way to share the gift of affordable luxury travel with your friends, and an awesome way to help out some worthy causes.
You can easily sign up and start sharing Luxury Link with your friends by going to your My Account page.

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