Many successful people travel a lot for work. Sometimes they travel alone, sometimes their families come too. Often their PA or other personal staff also travel a lot, accompanying and supporting the primary of getting things set up in their absence, or ahead of their arrival. To the uninitiated, this sounds very glamorous, a dazzling whirlwind of hotel rooms, room service and international travel. But to those who do this often, it can be anything but. You start to miss the space, cooking and creature comforts of ‘home.’ Long work hours and eating on the run mean your health can suffer and sleep becomes of primary importance.
At BBB, we understand the needs of busy individuals and their superstar PA’s, so we have spoken to our various partners and want to suggest here our top solutions to create a ‘home away from home,’ whether that’s accommodation abroad, London residences for family or business colleagues coming into town, packing and removals services for longer travel or how to recruit the extra staff to make things work. We’re here to help, so if any of the below appeals or you have any other requests, however wild or weird, just get in touch with us at info@thebbbook.com
We have a great number of contacts, listed in the app and otherwise, who offer reliable, well priced and first class services, many of whom we can secure preferential rates with. So get in touch and we’d be happy to help.
A touch of glamour in La-La-Land…
LA is a whirlwind of lights, cars, money and Hollywood stars. This is great, but when you’re there to work, you also need some calm. But this shouldn’t have to mean you miss out on the glamour entirely…
The Bungalows at the Beverly Hills Hotel were first introduced in 1915 to accommodate families that wanted more space and privacy and they remain an important part of the character of this iconic hotel. They are known the world over for their history with Hollywood royalty and colourful anecdotes, which include Elizabeth Taylor spending six of her eight honeymoons there, Howard Hughes living there on and off for over 30 years and Lauren Bacall and Marlene Dietrich each calling them home for over a year…
Bungalow 1 was a favourite place to stay of none other than Marilyn Monroe. She spent more time in this bungalow than any other, so it’s only right that the property’s thoughtful new design incorporates aspects of Marilyn Monroe’s life and whimsical elements reflective of her most celebrated movie roles.
With curvy furniture, bright and abstract floor coverings, colorful travertine stones, and gold-leafed ceilings, this feminine space is both playful and sophisticated. Strong Jean Michel Frank influences pay homage to her use of his designs in her own home, including extensive use of parchment to envelop aspects of each room. The one-bedroom bungalow suite includes a living room with dining area, fireplace and half bath; master suite, full master bath and dressing room and private terrace. The main suite also connects to two adjoining bedrooms making it a three bedroom bungalow (2,620 sq. Ft.).
Special features of this stunning property include a Chanel N°5 fragrance bar and bath amenities, a library featuring classic Marilyn Monroe films and books, a Marilyn Monroe Champagne Bath Bubble Experience featuring a Some Like it Hot bubble bath (Ceara pure Atlantic sea salt from the coast of Brazil and Sweet Orange and Grapefruit Oils), Marilyn’s Menu (available via in-room dining), inspired by an interview that appeared in the 1952 issue of Pageant Magazine.
The hotel itself is located in the coveted zip code of 90210, within easy proximity of the business and entertainment centres of LA. Los Angeles International Airport is just 40 minutes away, and the Pacific not much further. Within the hotel grounds, guests are surrounded by 12 acres of tropical gardens and exotic flowers, giving an air of tranquility as a welcome retreat from the hustle of the city.
Weekend escapes to Barrio Alto…
Make The Lumiares your home away from home in Lisbon. In the heart of fashionable Barrio Alto, the hotel is stylishly designed and each of the 5 rooms apartment style room sizes, ranging fro Studio to Penhouse, features a kitchen, making relaxed dining at the end of a busy day possible across the property. For those who prefer not to cook however, the Lumi Rooftop has wonderful views and delicious cuisine, or take a walk to one of the many fantastic local restaurants.
The hotel has free high-speed WiFi throughout, making working from the room convenient and economical.
The hotel’s small but perfectly formed spa and fitness area offers an integrated health, wellness and relaxation haven with a selection of high quality spa treatments, sauna, steam room and fitness facilities. They have some of the best therapists in Lisbon on hand to deliver a broad range of treatments, so if destressing is a must, they have it covered.
Family or colleagues visiting London?
Four Seasons Residences London at Ten Trinity Square are a unique collection of ten luxury residential-style accommodations, located between the third and seventh floors of The Four Seasons Hotel at Ten Trinity, just by Tower Bridge.
With open-plan living areas, dining rooms, fully equipped kitchens and up to four bedrooms, the residences sleep 2-9 people and offer a new level of luxury living within the City of London. The stand-out accommodations – including the Tower Residence – offer extensive private terraces with stunning views overlooking the Tower of London and Tower Bridge.
London’s leading designers, including Martin Kemp Design, LINLEY, Richmond International and Fox Linton, have created elegant and refined interiors with an individual style and character for each residence, drawing inspiration from the heritage building’s origins in the 1920s.
Run away to the South of France…
What could be more perfect than a private villa at La Reserve Ramatuelle this summer? Tucked away in the hills, right next to Saint Tropez, the villas are truly a hidden gem. There are just 14 private villas, all surrounded by pine trees and interrupted only by the tranquil sound of cicadas…
Clinging to the hillside, nestled in large, fragrant private gardens, all the villas look out onto the infinite blue expanses of the Mediterranean. Each has its private heated swimming pool, some of them with a pool house: an azure blue oasis making a striking contrast with the subtle green shades of the umbrella-like stone pines and the silvery leaves of the olive trees. And of course that supreme sense of peacefulness, barely troubled by a playful breeze, that gives one the impression of being in a unique bubble of serenity. This is really voluntary exile…
The villas have three to six spacious rooms ensuring individual comfort and privacy: en suite bathrooms for each room, a fully equipped dressing room… Whether as a family or among friends, this is a place designed for the sheer joy of being together. All are also fully serviced, including a dedicated housemaid, as well as private chef services and other bespoke options, to make each stay memorable and unique.
Guests also have access to all the hotel’s facilities, including a wonderful Spa, three sumptuous restaurants and a private beach on the Plages de Pampelonnes.
For all travel related enquiries, just email anna@thebbbook.com for quotes, special discounts, further suggestions and more.
Need extra staff for holiday travel or visiting guests?
Travelling also means leaving behind some of the facilities and comforts of home, whether that’s child daycare or Deliveroo. Perhaps the trip is for a project and a little extra organisational help is needed on the ground for an event or a meeting? Perhaps the children need supervising so the adults can relax, or perhaps everyone needs a break from the kitchen and a chef is desired? SORTED can take care of all of this for you.
Some examples of placements might be:
- Nannies – travelling or on location
- Tutors, so studies don’t fall behind on holiday
- Private chefs – for a special dinner or a whole trip
- EA, PA and VA services
Do get in touch with info@sorted-pa.com for any questions, we’d be happy to help.
Kitting out a holiday home in style…
In the BBB Boutique this month we have brought you a selection of homewares, gadgets and furnishings to help turn any home into a haven. Not only are these excellent treats for stylish (and often time-short) PA’s, but many of our partners also offer special rates and personalisation options that are perfect for any bosses with holiday homes, seaside villas or country pads.
Luks Linen, for example, works with several boutique hotels and private residences to offer superb quality linen towels and other products that are effortlessly stylish, well priced and perfect for travellers.
Posh Trading Company can personalise any of their dinner sets with logos or initials, for that added extra at home or for corporate entertaining (or a wonderful thank you gift to a host your boss stayed with?)
Ali Miller London also offers a bespoke service with her playful china pieces, as does Rosanna Lonsdale with her stunning lamps and shades.
Head over to the Boutique section on the app to get special discounts on all these products or some inspiration for your home
Expecting multiple deliveries? Or packing it up and storing it away…
Cinch currently rank on Trustpilot as the UK’s most trusted storage company. By storing outside of London they are able to offer the most competitive storage rates for for personal, business and archive use. Their collection and delivery service means that customers can have single items or whole storage rooms delivered back to their houses, meaning this is perfect if the family is relocating for the Summer, or if you need whole rooms sent abroad for a temporary residence.
If clients are coming in to London too, Cinch offer the excellent service of taking delivery of items and keeping them safe – so if you’re having a sofa shipped from one place, some suitcases from another and boxes of new china arriving on a different day, they will accept delivery of all if for you, seamlessly and stress free, then keep it in storage until everything has arrived and then deliver it to your ‘home away from home’ or back to your full time residence.
BBB is very pleased to offer year round special partner rates to all SORTED PA’s and right now, quote ‘BBB Home’ to get 20% off all services booked between now and end of April!
Or reach out to alex@thebbbook.com with any queries, about other types of storage, removals or more…
What to buy the person who has it all….
Secret Cinema has for years been a hot ticket and nothing has changed with the latest production of ’Stranger Things.’ Immerse yourself into Hawkins, Indiana and lose the stresses of everyday live whilst wandering the mall and uncovering what really happened… A lesser talked about but highly reviewed show right now is Bjork’s Vulnicura VR. Located in Hackney, step outside yourself into 55 minutes of Bjork-inspired beauty, Vistiors will step into Bjork’s creative genius, exploring the Icelandic locations that inspired her music in a utopia of sound and colour. The otherworldly experience is available for just a few weeks, so book in fast to give the music fan in your life a gift to remember.
If you’re looking for an experience, but something longe than a night, we can’t recommend highly enough some of the fantastic once-in-a-lifetime trips from our travel partners. For example… ‘Vinotherapy’ is an invitation-only discovery trip of Bordeaux, where guests can stay in at a private wine estate, explore a host of vineyards and sellers, meet growers and producers, spend the day aboard a private Riva and even meet an oyster farmer, followed by a tasting… how romantic! In ‘The Keys to Vatican City,’ travellers discover everything this incredible place has to offer, with exclusive access to miss the crowds and queues. A private visit to the Vatican Library, a blessing from the Pope, off-limits areas of the Vatican and a private Mass are just some of the highlights. Or for the something truly unique, perhaps the ‘DestiNAtion You’ experience is the one…. The incredible opportunity sees your DNA being processed by some of the most highly skilled geneticists in the world, to determine your precise ancestral origins and genetic history. Our travel team then tailor-make a trip for you based exactly to your DNA, taking you to discover the places where your ancestors came from and essentially, what makes you, you! If you’d like to discuss any of these incredible trips, please email us.
If your person is keen on ancestry, but doesn’t have the time to cavort around the world, perhaps Genealogica are more up their street. They undertake intensive ancestral research over many months too build up a comprehensive history of your origins, more along the family tree vein than DNA… coming from the team behind one of the world’s most well-known productions, with access to some of the leading experts in geneology, this really would make an exceptional gift!
Christmas is also a time to be thankful though for all the many ways in which we are lucky, and to remember those less fortunate than ourselves. For some who have it all, the best way they can celebrate is to spread the joy and to give. There are a number of organisations out there offering help (and requiring donations of money or time), as well as gifting sites that give back to the community. Some of our favourites are Good Gifts who allow you to buy something much needed in the name of someone you love (and you’ll get a card to present to the lucky friend), Oxfam Unwrapped who do something very similar and Crisis, where you can sponsor the Christmas of a homeless person, offering them a hot meal, a shower, a health check and a bed. BARTS Christmas Appeal is also quite special, asking people to give a gift to someone in hospital over this season. It shouldn’t be so, but many older people have no families or visitors whilst they are in hospital, which at any time of year is horrible, but especially at Christmas – not to mention the stresses of children and their families. Many hospitals accept donations, both in form of gifts or money, and we think any form of support for these initiatives is excellent.
Overall this Christmas, when trying to avoid the trappings of Amazon and the stress of Westfield, we hope this has provided some interesting food for thought, if nothing else. If you’d like to discuss any of these ideas with us, or anything else, please just get in touch. And Happy Christmas one and all, see you in 2020!
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