MIT Does London + Paris with Shangri-La & American Airlines

With eight advisors from across the United States, we boarded our American Airlines flights to London for our first stop in the epic adventure. Greeted with luxury private transfers provided by Shangri-La The Shard, London we each settled into our home in the sky.  

The Shangri-La The Shard, London is a quintessential part of the London skyline and the building is an architectural icon and Western Europe’s tallest building.  The hotel lobby is located on level 34 and has sprawling views over all of London.  It’s walking distance from notable landmarks such as the London Tower, Shakespeare’s Globe, Borough Market and the St. Paul’s Cathedral.  We were welcomed to our rooms with fun writing on the windows and a lovely amenity!  

Shangri-La The Shard, London

Shangri-La The Shard, London

Borough Market

After checking in, we joined the Chef to explore Borough Market and see where they get lots of their fresh products.  The market is full of fresh produce, cheese, seafood and more!  We tried some mushroom risotto and fresh cheese from the countryside.  

From there, we walked over the Tower of London Bridge to visit the Tower of London fortress where we had the pleasure of meeting a guard who shared a bit about the history of the Tower of London.  We were able to walk around and even got to see the crown jewels.  Unfortunately, no pictures were aloud, but loved seeing them and learning about the history.  

Tower of London

TING at the Shangri-La The Shard, London

Dining at TING at the Shangri-La The Shard, London is fine dining with Asian influence and also the classic British gastronomy from both cultures.  Locals in London come to celebrate special occasions and the epic views!  Another unique feature at the hotel is, especially during the pandemic, they’ve partnered with The Proposers to curate special private experiences for couples to get engaged.  They can enjoy a romantic setting and special dinner for two. Honestly, Shangri-La really does go above and beyond for gorgeous Instagrammable moments around the world and the Shard didn’t disappoint. Believe it or not, over 2000 couples got engaged at Shangri-La The Shard, London in 2021!  

During our time in London, we enjoyed some activities curated by NoteWorthy.  See the full descriptions of the unique curated experiences and contact NoteWorthy for you or your client trips to London!  

Changing of the Guard

Behind the Scenes at the Changing of the Guard. The Changing of the Guard is one of London’s most famous ceremonies. With NoteWorthy, you can experience preparations behind the scenes. You will meet the Queen’s personal guard as the suited and booted gather for inspection before their duties begin. You will have the chance to learn about the ceremony from the Guardsmen, as well as opportunities for memorable photos with the serving military officers at your side. When the time comes for the parade, you will watch from inside the Parade Ground, separated from the tourists crowding the railings who get a much less satisfactory glimpse of the proceedings. After your special access experience, you will visit the Guards Museum, where you can try on the Guards’ tunic uniforms and bearskin hats. This experience is enriched, both before and afterwards, b your NoteWorthy guide’s tales about London’s most important sites nearby, including Big Ben, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall and St James’s Park. Please note, the Changing of the Guard is subject to weather and may be cancelled due to rain.

Street Art Master Class in East London

Street Art Master Class in East London. East London has become a hotbed of graffiti art; its streets colourful with painted motifs and slogans ranging from the simple to the exquisitely detailed. This experience offers you the chance to unleash your inner Banksy during a graffiti masterclass with a professional street artist. Enroute to the experience, your NoteWorthy guide will build up the backstory as you pass, and pause, at important pieces of London’s street art. Once there, prepare to get hands-on with the paint as you learn about this subversive art form and have a go at it yourself. You will discover more links to Van Gogh than you might have thought possible.

Kings Cross St. Pancras train station

The morning of departure, we enjoyed breakfast with views of London at the TING restaurant.  After checking out we went to tour the Kings Cross St. Pancras station.  We toured the train station where we learned about the movies created there (Harry Potter and Spider Man) and all of the history.  It was easy to see how convenient taking the train was vs. hopping on a plane to connect you to Europe. 

While on the Eurostar train, we enjoyed the scenic countryside of London before entering an underwater tunnel that connected us to France. There was high speed internet to get plenty of work done and we enjoyed lunch on the train.  In just two hours we arrived in Paris and started our second part of the journey.  

We arrived at the iconic Shangri-La Paris, the former home of Prince Roland Bonapart and now a gorgeous Parisian luxury hotel.  With 100 rooms and suites, the hotel overlooks the Eiffel Tower and the River Seine located in the 16th arrondissement, just minutes from the Champs-Elysees. True to the Shangri-La brand, it mixes traditional Asian hospitality with the grandeur of European style.  

Shangri-La Paris

Shangri-La Paris

The rooms were nicely appointed and spacious and most with views overlooking the Eiffel Tower. We joined the hotel management team for a reception at their impressive Shangri-La Suite with the largest terrace ever and we got to see the Eiffel Tower twinkle throughout the night.  Truly an impressive suite for a honeymoon, romantic getaway or proposal – really special!  

Guerlain Perfumery

The next morning, we enjoyed a truly Shangri-La Paris breakfast at the La Bauhinia restaurant.  The spread was very impressive with your choice of French toast, eggs, pastries and even noodles or dim sum.  We also had plenty of croissants!  

We enjoyed an exclusive Guerlain Perfumery experience before their shop on Champs de Elysees opened.  It is an iconic perfume brand that has influenced perfume around the world for over a century and oldest shop on the avenue since it opened in 1889.  Since then, they’ve created over 1100 perfumes, with over 4000 rough materials and currently 130 available to purchase.  We learned about the complexity of perfume from Dominique the Expert Perfumery and history of the company.  One of my favorite parts was smelling the raw ingredients and guessing what it was and describing it.  Everyone had a different take on the scents, so it was a really fun activity that I’d highly recommend to anyone traveling to Paris.  This activity was arranged by local tour operator, 1889 Experience and they will truly open doors for you in Paris!  

Vintage Cars Activity

Another fun activity we enjoyed, was a tour around the city in some vintage cars with this unique concept of the 4 roues sous 1 parapluie. It was such a fun activity and our guide, Roger was a wealth of knowledge about Paris.  It was raining, so we didn’t get to open the tops, but would be so fun to experience with the open tops of the cars and seeing the sights above!  We stopped along the River Seine and took in the views, house boats and local community.  Also recommend for small groups of friends to get acclimated with the city in a unique and fun way.  

We enjoyed dinner at a rooftop trendy restaurant and enjoyed cocktails at a Parisian lounge to celebrate our last night together with the MIT FAM group.  Truly it was an amazing experience and we couldn’t have asked for better partners for such an epic trip.  Thank you Shangri-La The Shard, London, Shangri-La Paris and American Airlines for making this trip so memorable. 

Come Sail the Virgin Way!

I’ve never desired to go on a cruise. But when I learned about Virgin Voyages, the new adults-only cruise line from Sir Richard Branson, I knew it was a game changer and thought: “This is a cruise I would actually go on!” So, when the opportunity arose to set sail the Virgin way, I jumped and grabbed my friend Amy.

I was excited, but nervous: Would I like cruise life? Would I survive sharing a 185 sq ft cabin? Would there be a sea of floral shirt and fanny pack-sporting “cruise people” to cramp my style and my eyesight?

Check-in was seamless, especially considering the added in-terminal Covid test. How you get nearly 2,800 people tested and boarded as fluidly and graciously as possible was baffling. In true Virgin style, violet mood lighting and DJ beats greeted us as we boarded Scarlet Lady and were shown to our Sea Terrace Cabin.

Props to Virgin’s space planners and decorators, who have created a 185 sq ft cabin that was (relatively) spacious, comfortable and oh so chic. Bedding can be arranged as king or L-shaped twin beds (which actually made the room feel larger). Some have L-shaped bunk beds to fit four, but…even three’s a crowd unless you’re in one of the premier “Rock Star Quarters.” The red sling hammocks on the terraces are an especially playful touch.

Aside from each one of them being drop dead gorgeous, the staff was terrific - and plentiful with a little over two staff: one guest ratio. There is not one main cruise director, yet ten hosts/hostesses to ensure a fantastic journey. Huge smiles grace everyone’s faces, each person is encouraged to be fully themselves down to (appropriate) flirtatious conversations with guests and short sleeves to reveal tattoos. Some of those tatts may have even been implemented in the ship’s tattoo studio, which is located next to your usual onboard vinyl store; cool, right? 

The Virgin app does it all. Start booking restaurants and shore excursions in advance, and come check-in time, you can reserve spa time, order food, chat with the concierges - and wait for it – shake the app for Champagne delivery! Just stay where you are, and a bottle of Moët magically appears! Be it bubbly or something else, enjoy an al fresco sunset libation at least once at The Dock, one of the ship’s quieter locales at the stern of the seventh deck.  

Speaking of Champs, the F&B is incredible. Instead of buffets, central kitchens and seatings, Virgin boasts a slew of fun restaurants and eateries, each with its own kitchen and bookable in the app Open Table-style. There are offerings for every craving and diet, from vegetarian cuisine to Korean BBQ to an experimental outlet called The Test Kitchen. Smaller eateries and bars are also aplenty – Sip for Champagne, The Pizza Place and Lick Me Till…Ice Cream got me in trouble daily. Rick, the ship’s master mixologist, even leads a cocktail/photography class that’s simultaneously educational, fun and a bit naughty.

I have no comparison for shipboard wellness, but I was impressed. The spa is modern and gorgeous, and there is even an onboard acupuncturist. The top two decks house indoor and outdoor facilities, and an apropos red running track hovers above the top deck. This SoulCycle addict definitely took a ride in the panoramic sea view spin studio.

Let’s talk about entertainment. Work prevented my attendance at “Untitled Dance Show Party Thing,” Cirque du Soleil-esque “Duel Reality” and interactive “Never Sleep Alone” with the in-house sexologist. But I danced nightly in the Studio 54-reminiscent Disco and frequented all the parties. Be sure to bring red for Scarlet Night, the voyage’s signature ship-wide party (presided over by a giant octopus) and a great set of pj’s for the midnight top deck pajama party with The Hostess – the resident Drag Queen. And yes, she also has her own show AND hosts Drag Queen Bingo and Karaoke.

Just when you think the entertainment can’t get better, a collab with J.Lo was announced a few days ago! She’s not taking a residency any time soon, but as “Chief Entertainment and Lifestyle Officer,” she will be elevating the already spectacular lineup.

Something else no other cruise line has? Its own beach club! Each Caribbean itinerary will stop at Virgin’s private beach club in Bimini (the Bahamas), a bastion of beach chic. Set against calm turquoise waters, you can lounge on the beach or enjoy more of the party vibe by the pool area– frosé and piña coladas in hand, of course.  

End verdict: I had a blast. Expectations FAR exceeded. While I don’t know if I am a cruise convert, I will say that I hope it isn’t too long until my next Virgin Voyage. Ahoy Sailors!

FAM: Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort

An easy 3.5-hour flight from Miami, this island, part of the Lesser Antilles is the escape everyone dreams of. We suggest VIP arrival transfers to whisk you past the occasionally long lines checking travel registration, covid test and vaccination documentation. Then, a 1-hour drive on a stunning yet somewhat winding road will lead you to the most desired location on the island. Sitting at the base of The Pitons, twin UNESCO World Heritage site peaks, with magnificent beaches, Sugar Beach immediately feels like home.

It is easy to understand why the property is rated as one of the top 25 Caribbean resorts by Travel & Leisure. From your driver, reception staff, and personal butlers, everyone you encounter is beaming with warmth. The hotel is an oasis, offering a holiday to make everyone you know jealous.  

Set in over 100 acres of spectacular and lush scenery, there is always something new to discover. The property boasts an incredible amount of modern art pieces. Dine at one of the numerous on-site restaurants serving up everything from the fresh catch of the day to pizza on the beach to decadent multi course haute cuisine. If you happen to be in town on a Friday, be sure not to miss the DJ set and dance party at Bayside Restaurant & Bar. If not, you surely won’t lack entertainment, as there are talented local musicians playing throughout the property.

Most accommodations require a short drive up from the beach or main reception area but there are always friendly staff ready to whisk you away. You are also given a personal phone to call for transfers whenever needed. All rooms come with a private pool and are the embodiment of luxury beach chic. We suggest opting for an upgrade to a villa with stunning ocean and Piton views. Or if you prefer beach access right from your room, the Luxury Beachfront Villas are perfection. For larger groups, numerous multi-roomed residences give you privacy and come with perks like your own infinity pool or kitchen.  

After a multi-month closure and refurbishment Sugar Beach recently reopened with stunning enhancements. From the redesigned Great Room where celebratory dinners are had in style, to an updated gym, newly added poolside cabanas and additional luxury rooms, Sugar Beach is only getting better.  

Other highlights are the treehouse-like spa with the best jungle vibes you could hope for and the sunset deck which offers striking views.

For off-site activities, the hotel can help arrange numerous adventures. Our favorites were a visit to La Soufrière volcano as well as the nearby sulfur springs for a soak and mud bath. Be sure to get there early on the weekdays and miss the crowds! You can also visit the small town of the same name to check out to beautiful colored buildings and seaside vegetable and fruit market. Another great excursion is to Superman Waterfall, so named, as part of the movie Superman 2 was filmed here. After a refreshing soak, one of our local guides shared a variety of delicious fruits to snack on. 

Back at Sugar Beach, the best snorkeling and diving on the island can be found walking right off the sand. Or grab a kayak or stand-up paddle board for an aquatic workout. You can also laze the day away wandering from the pool to the beach, or book a number of fun boat excursions.  

Then watch the sun set while doing a rum and chocolate tasting poolside. After dinner each night be sure to save room for the treats left back in your room after turn down service.  

The hotel is a honeymooner’s dream, offering the most romantic getaway possible. Yet it also caters wonderfully to families, with a kid’s club and activities to please every age. For any celebration from birthdays to anniversaries, the staff go above and beyond to make you feel special.  

With current testing requirements to return to the US, Sugar Beach makes it a breeze with on-site testing. The hotel takes safety precautions seriously and is perfectly designed to help guests avoid crowds, enjoy the natural surroundings and truly relax.  

Sugar Beach is a gem and we understand why so many guests continue to return year after year.

MIT Host and Author: Kate Mayer, Director of Membership for MIT