Luxury Living Blog

In the world of luxury hotels, few hotels have come close to the Fountainbleau South Beach’s $1 billion dollar renovation (yes, that is  a “b”, not an “m”).  Yes, this complete update and renovation took approximately 2 years, and in the end, there were two $1 million dollar chandeliers dangling in the lobby.  (that time they were “m’s”).  Let’s analyze further.

Well, for the price tag, we certainly hope the investors were elated, and that their dreams were transformed into a marketable reality.  The theme translates to a spectacular blend of culture, outlining Miami’s “Golden Era” with an upsweep of modern luxury.  This renovation will be further enhanced by the luxury hotel’s prime location on Collins Avenue, overlooking the southern Atlantic waters.  

Fontainbleau is a resort-style luxury hotel, featuring every modern amenity and convenience.  There is the Lapis Spa, with 30 private treatment rooms available to pamper guests.  

The new Poolscape features an exclusive European pool (separate from the main pool), multiple dipping pools, and an interactive waterscape pool area for the kiddies. There are 31 cabanas in total, and plenty of poolside space for all-once you decide which pool area suits your tastes.

Inside, the guest rooms are equipped with plasma screen televisions, iMac and other sophisticated technology.  The smart and sleek design scheme feels luxurious, calming and rich.

There are 11 upscale and differing dining and entertainment destinations to select from, each offering up boutique and robust culinary designs in special settings.  The next time you are in Miami and want to see what all the talk is about, schedule your stay at Fontainbleau and indulge with the best of us!  Don’t forget your luxury rental car, you definitely do not want to approach the valet in anything less. 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

As long as there are realtors, there will be persuasion to invest in properties.  From primary to vacation properties, the pressure remains on to invest now, with constant chatter of the “market on the upswing”, and prices “at an all-time low, about to go up”.  When it comes to vacation property rentals, let us explain why renting is better than owning.

When you purchase a vacation home, you will likely be strapped to a mortgage that is roughly twice the cost of renting.  And as it is a vacation rental, you are only there part of the year, yet stuck making those payments all year long.   Renting out your vacation property part of the year is always an option, but it is not something you can rely on. 

Wouldn’t it be a whole lot cheaper and stress-free to simply invest in a luxury property rental when you travel?  You only pay for the time you stay, and you are off the hook for the following:

•    Property maintenance work and fees
•    Mortgage payments for 10-30 years
•    Property taxes
•    Property insurance
•    Any unpredictable and expensive issues that pop up
•    Worrying about the housing market

Everyone knows that when you own property there are always expenses, and you are always putting money back into it.  Aside from the financial aspect, when you rent luxury properties rather than invest in them, you are free to travel all around the world-giving you a richer life experience than simply retreating back to the same old vacation spot annually.  With a property rental, you are free to immerse yourself in the new experiences and cultures each year with a different luxury property rental in a different place, and you will save scads of money in the process!
 

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals

Dear Imagine Lifestyles,

I am a fan and a reader of your blog, I enjoy your stories and information.  I will be visiting Miami in a few weeks, and I am having a difficult time deciding between the Porsche 911 convertible rental and an Aston Martin convertible rental.  What model do you suggest for Miami?  Any tips would be appreciated, I just plan to drive throughout the city and explore.

Thanks again,
Mike, North Carolina
 

Hello Mike,

Thanks for following our website and luxury blog, we appreciate all of our fans and work hard to provide new material daily.

As for your upcoming trip here to Miami, that is awesome.  We can understand your indecision between the Aston Martin rental and the Porsche 911 rental, as both are truly awesome and luxurious cars.  It may be most beneficial to you for us to go over some details of each.

The 911 convertible rental features a 3.6-liter six-cylinder engine.  The Sport Chrono Package Turbo offers and over-boost function to raise torque from 460 to 505 pounds per foot at the touch of a button.   This extra power is derived from twin turbochargers with variable turbine geometry.

Capable of hitting the 0-60 mark in about 3.8 seconds, this is definitely a fun car to drive.  There is no worry about the soft-top convertible function; it drops in 20 seconds flat with the touch of a button.  It is one of the easiest to operate.  There is a wind deflector and an optional lightweight hardtop in case you require it.

The interior is lush, with a cozy cockpit designed with the driver in mind.  The Porsche 911 features automatic climate control, HomeLink system, on-board computer, and a 12-speaker Bose surround-sound system to enhance your luxury car rental experience.  Overall, it is an exciting car to rent in Miami. 

Now let’s take a look at our Aston Martin rentals.  We have two Aston Convertible rentals to choose from- the Aston Martin Vantage and the Aston DB9 Volante.  These models are slightly higher to rent than the Porsche 911, but you definitely get what you pay for in the world of exotic cars. 

The Aston Martin Vantage Roadster boasts a handbuilt 4.7-liter V8 engine that puts out 420 horsepower-catapulting it from 0-60 in 4.8 seconds.   To complement the power beneath the hood, this is another breathtaking example of a classic Aston Martin.   Yes, there is just something special about an Aston Martin.  This roadster is more compact, and in our opinion, easier for tourists to navigate on unfamiliar roads.  This makes it the ideal luxury rental car in our opinion.  So if you are a fan of the Porsche 911 convertible, the V8 Vantage convertible may be a better choice if you are taking a vacation.

There is also the option of our Aston Martin DB9 Volante convertible.  This Aston convertible rental is the convertible version of the Aston Martin DB9.  The hardtop roof on this exotic is completely hassle-free, dropping in 17 seconds at the push of a button.

The DB9 Volante rental features a 5.9-liter V12 engine capable of pushing it from 0-60 in about 4.7 seconds.   Yes, Aston is a powerful brand, and an ideal luxury rental car for Miami, New York, Chicago and LA. 

We hope this information will help you decide which luxury car rental will suite you best for your pending visit to Miami!
 

Thanks again Mike, we are looking forward to setting you up with the exotic rental car of your dreams.

Sincerely,
Imagine Lifestyles

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals
 

Yet another luxurious Lotus concept is rumored to be appearing at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show next month-watch out for the Lotus Evora 414E hybrid concept.

This is a hybrid version of the Evora, and is joining the ranks of the select few luxury carmakers that have jumped on the hybrid bandwagon.  Yes, as we have mentioned previously in our luxury blog, it certainly takes more financial backing and strategy to introduce hybrid technology into exotic cars. 

The Evora 414E hybrid is a concept powered by lithium polymer batteries, driving one electric motor at each rear wheel.  Each of those motors put out 207 horsepower each, which gives us the name of the exotic car-414, as the combined horsepower equals 414.  Each motor utilizes a single speed reduction transmission, allowing for torque vectoring between the two for increased traction. 

Running on battery power alone, the Lotus 414E can run about 35 miles, at which point a 1.2-liter gas powered motor kicks in to recharge the batteries.  In total, you could drive approximately 30o miles between battery charges.

It is approximated that this car hits the 0-60 mark in less than four seconds.  Lotus is using the Evora Hybrid concept to draw attention to their HALOsonic Internal and External Electric Sound Synthesis, designed to indicate the cars otherwise stealth approach to pedestrians.  It also allows drivers to select the desired engine sound, which is completely awesome, drivers can choose from:

•    A V6 engine sound
•    A V12 engine sound
•    Or a “futuristic propulsion” sound

The futuristic propulsion sound is a bit questionable, but we like options, so it is cool.  So look for the new Lotus hybrid model to debut at the Geneva Motor Show next month, it has all the components to make a great addition to the world of luxury cars and exotic rental cars.

Post by Imagine Lifestyles Luxury Rentals