Monthly Archives: June 2022

Why Joe Biden’s Inflation ‘Plan’ Will Only Make Americans More Miserable – The Federalist

Posted: June 7, 2022 at 1:30 am

In an op-ed in last weeks Wall Street Journal, President Bidens ghostwriters outlined what the title of his column called a plan for fighting inflation. After reading the article, five simple words come to mind: Hold on to your wallet.

At best, the political messaging behind Bidens plan would do little to solve Americans pain. More likely, it would make the problem worse. Here are the major components of his agenda.

The column began with a series of statistics to claim that our economy faces these challenges [i.e., inflation] from a position of strength:

In January 2021, when I took office, the recovery had stalled and Covid was out of control. In less than a year and a half, my administrations economic and vaccination plans helped achieve the most robust recovery in modern history. The job market is the strongest since the post-World War II era, with8.3 million new jobs, the fastest decline in unemployment on record, and millions of Americans getting jobs with better pay.

Since I took office, families have increased their savings and have less debt The U.S. is in a better economic position than almost any country.

When taking credit for vaccine campaign birthed by the Trump administration, Biden should look to the words of Barack Obama: You didnt build that. As to the rest of the statistics, it stands to reason that restarting an economy that was shut down in spring 2020 would have resulted in job growth and prosperity, regardless of the president in the White House.

More to the point: At a time voters are already abandoning Democrats in droves over inflation, telling the American people they should quit whining about sticker shock every time they visit the gas station or the grocery store because other economic measures look fine seems both presumptuous (big surprise) and politically risky.

Homer Simpson famously ran for Sanitation Commissioner on the platform Cant Someone Else Do It? The slogan mirrors whom Biden thinks should lead the charge to tame inflation:

The Federal Reserve has a primary responsibility to control inflation.

Congress could help right away by passing clean energy tax credits and investments that I have proposed.

Ive done what I can on my own to help working families during this challenging timeand will keep acting to lower costs where I canbut now Congress needs to act too.

So much for The Buck Stops Here.

In fairness, Biden has a point about the Federal Reserves responsibilities. He also has a point in highlighting the fact that his predecessor wrongly badgered the Federal Reserve in 2019 to cut interest rates, which would have overheated the economy while stoking inflation.

But, after re-nominating Jay Powell to a second term as Federal Reserve Board chairman, Biden shouldnt escape responsibility either. Former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke recently admitted that Powell and the Fed made a mistake by not acting sooner to curb inflation. So why on earth did Biden re-nominateand for that matter, why did the Senate re-confirmone of the key people who helped cause the inflation problem in the first place?

Biden also claims other solutions will curb inflation: We can lower the cost of child and elder care to help parents get back to work. He dare not say the name, but this and other references in the column allude to the $5 trillion Build Back Bankrupt bill.

But that legislation would raise, not lower, inflation, on two levels. First, subsidizing programs like elder care and health insurance only encourages companies to raise their prices to capitalize on government subsidies.

Second, the legislation the House passed last November used 10 years worth of tax increases to pay for spending programs that would last for only a few years. Because the bill front-loaded all its spending, the Congressional Budget Office and Joint Committee on Taxation estimated the legislation would increase the deficit by roughly $276 billion this fiscal year, and another $217 billion next yearadditional stimulus that would only stoke the inflation fires further.

At a time when fighting inflationto say nothing of our $30 trillion in debtmeans Washington should cut federal spending, Biden keeps pushing his multi-trillion-dollar spending spree. That fact alone illustrates why Bidens plan will not succeed any time soon.

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9 Big Things We Learned From The Michael Sussmann Prosecution – The Federalist

Posted: at 1:30 am

Less than one week ago, a Washington D.C. jury acquitted former Hillary Clinton campaign attorney Michael Sussmann of lying to former FBI General Counsel James Baker. Since then, pundits on both the left and the right have painted the verdict as an indictment of Special Counsel John Durham, suggesting his investigation into the perpetrators of Spygate is a bust.

This myopic view of the prosecution, however, ignores the many revelations exposed since the special counsel indicted Sussmann last September. Here are nine significant details learned from the Sussmann prosecution.

The special counsels indictment against Sussmann alleged he lied to Baker when presenting Baker data and whitepapers purporting to show a secret communication network between the Russian-based Alfa Bank and the Trump Organization. While the trial focused on whether Sussmann had told Baker he was bringing the FBI that material on his own, when he was really representing the Clinton campaign and tech executive Rodney Joffe, the indictment and various court filings exposed the birth and nature of the Alfa Bank hoax.

The Alfa Bank hoax originated when cybersecurity expert April Lorenzen shared supposedly suspicious data with another tech expert, Joffe. Joffe then told his attorney, Sussmann, about the data, claiming it showed a back-door communications network between Trump and the Russian-based Alfa Bank. Sussmann shared that information with lead Clinton campaign attorney Marc Elias and employees of the investigative firm Fusion GPS.

Joffe then exploited both his relationship with other tech experts and his access to proprietary and sensitive data from the Executive Office of the President. Among other things, Joffe pressured an executive at another tech company and a researcher at Georgia Tech to search broadly for data purporting to connect Trump to Russia. Not only was no connection found, but in emails disclosed in the case, Georgia Techs Manos Antonakakis told the others they needed to regroup and rethink their theory, noting hatred of Trump was their motivating factor.

Instead, Joffe forged ahead, drafting a whitepaper that hid the fallacies of the theories. Sussmann then peddled that data and whitepaper, along with two others, to the FBI and later the CIA. Meanwhile, Fusion GPS pushed the Alfa Bank hoax to the media, with the assistance of Georgia Techs David Dagon, whom Fusion GPS connected with reporters to supposedly authenticate the research and the conclusion.

While Joffe and his crew thought the whitepaper adequately masked the problems with the Alfa Bank theory, trial testimony revealed that the FBI quickly concluded the data did not support the existence of a secret communications network. In fact, after reviewing one whitepaper an agent noted it sounded 5150ishcrazy. According to prosecutors, one CIA agent went further, believing that the underlying data had been created.

In total, this evidence revealed not just that the Alfa Bank theory was wrong, but that those pushing it knew or should have known it was a hoax. And many individuals were involved in both the crafting and peddling of the hoax.

Many players took part in crafting and peddling the Alfa Bank hoax, but the bottom line proven during the Sussmann trial was that Hillary Clinton both paid for and personally okayed her campaign minions giving the press the fake story about a Trump-Russia secret communication network. Former Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook testified that Clinton personally greenlighted the pushing of that Alfa-Bank hoax, and Sussmanns acquittal cannot erase that fact.

Further, given that her campaign team sought Clintons personal approval to peddle the Alfa-Bank hoax to the media, logically one would expect that Mook or others close to Hillary likewise sought her permission to push other angles of the Russia collusion conspiracy, such as those emanating from the Christopher Steele dossier.

Clintons full involvement in the Russia collusion hoax, either directly or through her various Perkins Coie and Fusion GPS agents, remains shrouded from view, in part, because of the former presidential candidates abuse of the attorney-client privilege. The Sussmann trial exposed this reality when prosecutors moved for access to 38 documents of some 1,500 withheld from the grand jury based on claims of attorney-client privilege.

The court in the Sussmann case ruled that the Clinton campaign had improperly secreted numerous documents from prosecutors, and ordered Fusion GPS to turn the unprotected material over to the special counsel. But the courts order only addressed the wrongly withheld documents from the batch of 38 at issue. The court did not rule on how many of the approximately 1,500 remaining documents had likewise been withheld based on a misplaced reliance on attorney-client privilege. Hopefully, the special counsel will force production of those documents soon.

While the Sussmann prosecution focused on the Alfa Bank hoax, the prosecution also revealed a second crazy conspiracy theory pushed by Sussmann and Joffethis one to the CIA. In court filings, the special counsel detailed how, in February 2017, Sussmann used his connections to obtain a meeting with CIA agents.

During that meeting, in addition to providing the CIA with updated Alfa Bank allegations, the special counsel said Sussmann provided the agency thumb drives with separate data files for the YotaPhone by the location of the domain name system or DNS lookups, including one for Trumps Central Park apartment, one for the EOP, one for Spectrum Health Care, and one for the Trump Tower.

Sussmann told the CIA that the DNS data indicat[ed] that a Russian-made Yota-phone had been seen by [Sussmanns contacts] connecting to the WiFi from the Trump Tower in New York, as well as a from a location in Michigan, at the same time that then-candidate Trump was believed to be at these locations.

But the special counsels investigation revealed that Joffe and his crew had obtained more complete data about the Yota phones and that data showed the DNS lookups involving the EOP began at least as early as 2014, meaning before Trump came on the scene. The data provided to the CIA, however, omitted those DNS lookups from the material given to the CIA, misleading the agency.

Other court filings suggest an even more scandalous reality: that Trumps enemies were tracking his physical movements. This scenario seems likely given a CIA memorandum included in a filing by the special counsel. That stated Sussmann claimed, the phone was never noticed in two places at once, only around the Presidents Movements.

Sussmanns acquittal does nothing to lessen the significance of him peddling to the CIA fraudulent-by-omission data to prompt an investigation into the sitting president of the United States.

The special counsels prosecution of Sussmann, by necessity, revealed Joffes involvement in curating the Alfa Bank data and crafting the hoax. But the many pre-trial filings and subsequent testimony during the two-week Sussmann trial exposed Joffes involvement in several additional suspicious schemes.

First, in addition to working on the Alfa Bank hoax, Joffe took a lead role in devising the Yota phone conspiracy theory. Sussmann purportedly went to the CIA on Joffes behalf, albeit without naming Joffe as the client behind the intel. To cull the Yota phone data, Joffe also exploited his access to the data of the Executive Office of the President and pressured other cyber-experts to mine proprietary information to frame Trump.

A second significant revelation came during trial, when witnesses testified that Joffe had served as a confidential human source (CHS) for the FBI during the relevant time period and until 2021, when he was terminated. Although Joffe was a CHS, instead of presenting his handler the supposedly suspicious Alfa Bank data, he used Sussmann to feed it to the upper echelons of the FBI. Simultaneously, Joffe provided another FBI contactagain, not his handlera similar warning about the supposed Alfa Bank-Trump connection, resulting in circular reporting of the hoax.

Joffe also bypassed his handler a third time, in March 2017. Thats when he used Sussmann to provide the Department of Justices inspector general information that a specific OIG employees computer was seen publicly in Internet traffic and was connecting to a Virtual Private Network in a foreign country.

Given that Joffe used Sussmann on two prior occasions to directly feed the government misinformation about Trump and those connected to Trump, it would not be shocking to find that Joffe repeated the process when he had Sussmann approach the OIG on his behalf. For now, however, the public knows little more than those basics, although the special counsel also knows that Joffe remains a subject of investigation and there are still crimes for which the statute of limitations has yet to expire.

As noted, little is known about the details of the tip Sussmann conveyed to the DOJs OIG in March of 2017 on behalf of Joffe. What is known, however, is that the OIGs office withheld information from the special counsel about that meeting.

From various filings in the Sussmann case, Durhams team revealed that the DOJs OIG did not inform prosecutors that Sussmann had actually met with the inspector general about Joffes tip. The OIG also originally withheld some documents related to Sussmanns meeting with the IG about Joffes tip, only providing the material to the special counsel after Sussmann had told prosecutors of his meeting with the IG.

In addition to withholding information about Sussmanns meeting with the IG, during the proceedings in the Sussmann case, the special counsel discovered the DOJs OIG had two of Bakers cell phones, as well as other cell phones of individuals connected to the Russia collusion probe, but had not provided those to Durhams team. From this, the public learned that the DOJs OIG is not a team player.

The prosecution of Sussmann also exposed that the FBI is not our FBI, but the swamps. Bakers trial testimony made that clear when he was pushed by prosecutors on why he had only recently discovered an old email from Sussmann in which Sussmann texted that he wanted to meet on his own behalf. Baker told the special counsels team, Im not out to get Michael. This is not my investigation. This is your investigation. If you ask me a question, I answer it. You asked me to look for something, I go look for it.

Thats a shocking attitude for the former general counsel of the FBI to take, given that Baker alsotestifiedhe was 100 percent confident Sussmann said during their September 19, 2016 meeting that he was not representing a client. Baker also told the jury he likely wouldnt have taken the meeting if he knew Sussmann represented the Clinton campaign.

Rather than condemn Sussmann, Baker blamed himself for throwing Sussmann into a maelstrom and expressed outrage at how the congressmen investigating the investigation into Trump and his campaign behaved when they questioned Baker about his meeting with Sussmann. Baker displayed not even a sliver of the same distress over his friend lying to him.

Bill Priestap, another high-level FBI official during the relevant time frame, seemed similarly reticent in assisting the government in its prosecution of Sussmann.

And these are just those who testified at Sussmanns trial. The Crossfire Hurricane team, up to and including its leadersthen-FBI Director James Comey and Deputy Director Andy McCabeas well as many of the FBI agents working for former Special Counsel Robert Mueller likewise proved themselves not out to find the truth, but out to get Trump.

The Sussmann trial revealed that Trump may be gone, but the FBI still belongs to the swamp.

The Sussmann prosecution also proved that the legacy media swims in the swamp. Emails exchanged between Fusion GPSs co-founders Glenn Simpson and Peter Fritsch exposed the symbiotic relationship between the Clinton campaign and reporters working for the New York Times, the Washington Post, Yahoo! News, ABC News, Reuters, and more.

While anyone paying attention already knew the media was in on the Russia-collusion hoax, seeing the tag-team effort to destroy Trump in the black-and-white of emails provided indisputable proof of the corruption of the supposed standard-bearers of journalism. If those emails werent enough, the corrupt medias failure to cover the Sussmann trial until his acquittal provides a repeat of the lesson, teaching Americans that journalistic integrity no longer exists at major corporate outlets.

The next revelation discovered as a result of the Sussmann prosecution came unwittingly from the defense team when they disclosed three sets of handwritten notes taken during a March 6, 2017 meeting in which high-ranking FBI officials briefed acting Attorney General Dana Boente. (Boente stood in at the meeting for Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who had recently recused himself from the investigation.)

The FBIs McCabe, Priestap, and Counterintelligence Deputy Assistant Director Peter Strzok updated Boente and his staff during that meeting. As part of the discovery in the Sussmann case, the special counsel team provided Sussmann with notes taken by DOJ officials Tashina Gauhar, Mary McCord, and Scott Schools.

As Hans Mahncke and Stephen McIntyre previously detailed at The Federalist, those notes indicate that the FBI lied to the DOJ during the March 6, 2017 meeting in numerous ways. For instance, the notes reference CROWN reporting, implying that the dossier was an official United States intelligence product when it was actually made-up stories and gossip and paid for by the Clinton campaigna fact the FBI knew from their [Igor Danchenko] interview.

Significantly, as Mahncke and McIntyre stress, the FBI had interviewed Danchenko in January 2017 and at that time Danchenko disavowed much of the intelligence Steele attributed to Danchenko in the dossier under the moniker Primary Sub-Source. Yet the March 6, 2017 notes omit any mention of Danchenko, suggesting the FBI concealed the crumbling of Steeles reporting from the DOJ.

The notes from the March 6, 2017 meeting, while discussing the Alfa Bank data, also omitted any reference to the fact that the FBIs cyber analysts who investigated the data Sussmann provided had concluded soon after receiving the data that it did not suggest any covert communications between Trump and Russia. Instead, the FBIs analyst concluded the whitepaper pushing the theory sounded delusional.

The FBI agents handling the Crossfire Hurricane investigation withheld these details and others from the DOJ during the March 6, 2017 meeting. The notes further indicate Strzok lied to DOJ officials about the opening of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, telling them that Trumps request for Russia to find Clintons missing 30,000 emails prompted the Australian diplomat to provide his tip about Trump aide George Papadopoulos to the U.S. embassy in London. But the Australian diplomat provided his tip before Trump made the joke.

Not only were these details either omitted or misrepresented during the March 6, 2017 briefing to the DOJ, the fourth and final FISA application to surveil Carter Page, dated June 29, 2017, continued to rely on the disavowed portions of the Steele dossier. And from the notes of the March 6, 2017 meeting, it now appears that the FBI agents in charge hold responsibility for the material omissions, as they either lied to, misrepresented, or withheld key facts from the DOJ.

What remains unclear, however, is what Durham intends to do about it. So, while we have learned much from the Sussmann prosecution, we still dont know whether Durham intends to hold the Crossfire Hurricane team responsible for their role in the scandal. However, with the five-year statute of limitations set to expire later this month on any lies that made their way into the final FISA application, we should know soon if the special counsel sees crimes in play that prosecutors can prove.

If not, justice may still come, just without jail. The Sussmann prosecution proved that, because even an acquittal cannot erase the historic record of the complicity of those involved in the worst political scandal of our countrys history.

Margot Cleveland is The Federalist's senior legal correspondent. She is also a contributor to National Review Online, the Washington Examiner, Aleteia, and Townhall.com, and has been published in the Wall Street Journal and USA Today. Cleveland is a lawyer and a graduate of the Notre Dame Law School, where she earned the Hoynes Prizethe law schools highest honor. She later served for nearly 25 years as a permanent law clerk for a federal appellate judge on the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. Cleveland is a former full-time university faculty member and now teaches as an adjunct from time to time. As a stay-at-home homeschooling mom of a young son with cystic fibrosis, Cleveland frequently writes on cultural issues related to parenting and special-needs children. Cleveland is on Twitter at @ProfMJCleveland. The views expressed here are those of Cleveland in her private capacity.

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Gas Prices Have More Than Doubled Since Biden Took Office – The Federalist

Posted: at 1:30 am

Gas prices are now more than double what they were when President Joe Biden took office just 18 months ago.

According to AAA travel agencys gas tracker, the nationwide average for a gallon of regular unleaded fuel reached a new record of $4.87 on Monday, a 101 percent increase from the $2.42 when Biden was inaugurated in January 2021. Prices for diesel also hit a new high on Monday at $5.65 per gallon.

Speaking in Japan last month, President Biden celebrated the high prices as an incredible transition while increasing his push for the Democrats energy agenda that prioritizes the suppression of oil and gas production.

When its over, well be stronger and the world will be stronger and less reliant on fossil fuels, Biden said.

While gas prices approach a nationwide average of $5 per gallon, which could happen within days, analysts at JPMorgan Chase expect an average of $6.20 per gallon by August. California residents are already there, paying an average of $6.34 per gallon to fill up their tanks.

At the same time, Americans are coping with the fastest pace of inflation increases in four decades. According to the Department of Labor, overall prices are up 8.3 percent from last year, and energy prices are up more than 30 percent. Prices are only expected to keep rising as high energy costs, particularly for diesel, translate into higher prices across the economy due to the increased expenses of transportation and production.

Last week, Gallup revealed that Americans confidence in the economy is at its lowest point since 2009 after they have been shocked by daily record gas prices for nearly the entire month of May. The trend has only continued throughout June, with price leaps far higher post-Memorial Day than seen last month.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Thursday that coal prices are now on the rise after the capital-intensive industry has faced similar investment hurdles as oil and natural gas by virtue of their being fossil fuels. As electricity demand roars during dry summer heats waves, the North American Electric Reliability Corporation warned that Americans across the country will face rolling blackouts.

Despite soaring energy prices, which are in large part a consequence of the administrations enthusiastic forfeiture of the energy dominance inherited from the Trump White House, Biden announced a major push to promote unreliable solar power to replace coal, oil, and natural gas on the power grid. The president invoked the Defense Production Act to manufacture new panels while waiving import tariffs on solar supplies for 24 months. Last month, CBS News revealed that Biden canceled more oil and gas projects in Alaska and the Gulf of Mexico.

Tristan Justice is the western correspondent for The Federalist. He has also written for The Washington Examiner and The Daily Signal. His work has also been featured in Real Clear Politics and Fox News. Tristan graduated from George Washington University where he majored in political science and minored in journalism. Follow him on Twitter at @JusticeTristan or contact him at Tristan@thefederalist.com.

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Private Offshore Islands that Enhances the Built of a Real Estate Portfolio – LUXUO

Posted: at 1:30 am

As many explore new ventures during the pandemic in the past two years, some explored the evergrowing blue-chip investments of real estate and diversified their portfolio. Avid real estate lovers would want to own a private island as well, for a getaway or perhaps everyday living. This is a way individuals, together with their family or friends, could indulge in private spaces and acquire peace round the clock. Some private islands were once owned by popular celebrities and notable personalities, which they have decided to put up for sale. For those looking to beef up their real estate portfolio, this presents an opportunity not to be missed.

In the 2000s, the United States real estate market increased the cost-per-acre for private islands. The effect was supplied by the arrival of the internet, which provided wider access to island listings and drove up its demand.

However, the price increase is not fairly distributed in the world. Prices are inclined to be lower in Nova Scotia, parts of Michigan and Maine, and parts of Central America, but it is higher in Europe, the Bahamas, and Oceanic countries like French Polynesia.

Having an island to yourself is more than just owning a remote property, but what you would possibly relish on the island is what makes it second to none. Hence, looking for a land offshore to conquer could boost a well-rounded real estate portfolio.

Known as Little Crab Key, the 1-acre island has a 5,325-square-foot, six-bedroom house on the Florida coast. It features a pool, a beachfront, and tropical landscaping that boost the propertys front porch appeal. There are palm trees along the coast, which is the vision of a typical summer island and yes, there are also orchids.

Located a mere 15 miles from Key West with just a short boat ride from the backyard beach, it is an ideal escape or could potentially be a short-term stay. Although the border of the island is largely undeveloped, edged with jungle foliage, one would be able to easily grow accustomed to the serenity. This gorgeous oceanfront home cost a cool US$3 million and is able to widen your assets to include a private island. Further developments to the island could also result increase the growth in your real estate portfolio.

Located in the middle of Cobbosseeconte Lake, this island provides the classic Maine adventure. Even if you did not grow up in the West, you would have most likely dreamt of occupying your summer away in an isolated, bosky area where hiking and fishing are the primary activities.

This 22-acre island lists for US$799,900 and offers up two rustic cottages as well as several bunkhouses, so the entire family could assemble on the property. The interior showcases a country-like resemblance to a lodge and its also covered with a sweeping woodland with walking paths marked out throughout the island. As the island is remotely located along a lake, there is no light pollution from the surroundings. With this added plus point, owners and guests could indulge in a fulfilling evening of stargazing. The opportunities for adventures are nearly unlimited.

The most affordable among the 5 islands recommended, this property has many unfulfilled potential for change and upgrade. After all, it would be an upward asset worth the effort.

Looking for a house in Premium Point is nearly impossible. It is a desirable area with very little turnover in ownership as people usually live here for at least 30 years. Due to its high demand, the seclusion of the island and the Mediterranean-style waterfront home comes as a steal for US$4.9 million.

The property was built in 1917 and presents a six-bedroom for a grand living. The 7,796-square-foot home features an outdoor pool, indoor gym, and a two-car garage. An exclusive detail is the gorgeous view of Long Island Sound and Premium Mill Pond. There are also new updates on the property which include a two-story addition folding in the family room, a wine room, a bedroom and full bathroom, plus a terrace with a built-in fireplace overlooking the pond. Ideal for housing overnight guests, the pool house features a bedroom, shower, kitchenette, and changing room. By diversifying into existing, long-standing property such as Premium Point, slightly over 100 years old, this storied island could add interest for future buyers.

It was not long ago that news of Nicolas Cage selling his assets broke the internet. The eccentric actor has amassed quite the real estate portfolio, possessing mansions in Newport Beach, New Orleans, and Las Vegas, and even two castles in Europe and Los Angeles. His most unusual yet captivating property is Leaf Cay located in Exumas, Bahamas which is listed for US$7.5 million.

Leaf Cay could make a perfect destination for adventurous travellers who have a thirst for watersports like sport fishing and boat sailing. The islands highlight is the access to three beaches and a miniature pond that could serve as an independent harbour for your yacht. The island has no development yet but it is well maintained and ready for the approval of at least five cottages. Overall, with great planning for further developments and the relatively low investment cost for a celebrity island would be a huge portfolio lift.

In the U.S. Virgin Islands, the properties were key pieces of the late investor, Jeffrey Epsteins substantial international property portfolio. Two of the private island properties owned by Epstein are going on the market for a whopping US$125 million.

The larger of the two islands is named Great St. James spanning over 160 acres and the smaller island, Little St. James is across 70 acres. It includes a helipad, a private dock, a gas station, two pools, a main residential compound, four guest villas, three private beaches, a gym and a tiki hut. This property is hot on the list due to its expanse and full-suite, which even includes a personal gas station for yachts. This island is a potential large expansion for any real estate portfolio as this diversified addition serves like a mini remote town, incomparable to the usual apartment investments.

Counting any of these properties in your investments list could add weight to a real estate portfolio that is seeking stable growth through diversification.

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Private islands and space flights: 8 of the most exclusive travel experiences you can book with points – The Points Guy UK

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The most exclusive travel experiences you can book with points

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How US Virgin Islands Tourism Survived the Pandemic – Caribbean Journal

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The pandemic has had a devastating effect on the tourism industry at large, and on the cruise business in particular. As a region largely dependent on the cruise business, the Caribbean took an incredible economic hit.

The U.S. Virgin Islands (USVI), one of the largest cruising destinations in the region, was also profoundly impacted.

Cruising is a major segment of the territorys tourism sector, bringing in on average nearly $300 million into our economy every year pre-pandemic. With the cruising industry now in recovery mode, we are taking aggressive initiatives to build back our share of the business, employing a similar toolkit to the one we used to successfully attract new air service to two of our major islands, St. Croix, and St. Thomas, during the pandemic.

While still recovering from 2017s two devastating Category 5 hurricanes, we were then hit in 2020, like the rest of the world, with the public health crisis of COVID-19.

As Commissioner of Tourism, I was faced with the question of how our tourism product was going to survive and sustain through this unforeseen challenge.

Once the cruise industry shut down, our teams had to quickly pivot to a new strategy of exponentially increasing airlift and overnight stays on all three of the main USVI islands, St. Croix, St. John, and St. Thomas when we reopened.

We shifted our marketing strategy away from cruising to the overnight traveler. To attract them, we needed more airlift. So, we undertook a very aggressive push strategy with the airlines.

We met frequently with airline executives to inform them about the strength of our tourism infrastructure and about our consistent COVID health and safety protocols that allowed us to reopen in the Summer of 2020. Moreover, we ensured them that their passengers would arrive to find a safe, comfortable, and welcoming place to stay. Using this multi-pronged approach, we were able to convince the airline executives that the USVI would be a smart and lucrative bet during the pandemic.

Our strategy proved to be effective.

According to Transportation Security Administration numbers, U.S. Virgin Islands airports in St. Croix and St. Thomas received 14 percent more passengers in February 2022 than in February 2019. Furthermore, the USVI was the fastest-growing territory for total capacity in all the Americas between 2019 and 2021, growing total departure seats by 35.8 percent.

With airlift in place, we are now focusing on the cruise industry. The outlook for cruising is positive as the industry regains momentum.

According to Cruising Lines International Association 2022 State of the Cruise Industry Outlook Report, 2022 is a pivotal transition year, with full recovery projected by 2023, as passenger volume is expected to be back at 2019 levels. To get our share of the returning business, we are developing strategies to dramatically increase port calls by 2023, many of which dovetail with those we used with the airlines.

We are committed to strengthening our relationship with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) and individual cruise companies to return the position of the Ports of the Virgin Islands as a marquee destination for Caribbean cruising.

Our plans include working with the private sector, stateside and on island, to improve and add offerings to our destination. We are also looking forward to the unveiling of a third pier in St. Thomas to accommodate Oasis Class Vessels.

Weve recently announced a partnership with the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA) to increase cruise calls, create new experiences and products, collaborate with the local private sector, create more employment and purchasing opportunities for our locals, promote summer cruising, and more.

We understand these steps are just part of the larger picture. Our overall goals include helping local businesses and entrepreneurs reimagine our tourism product and creating more engaging local experiences for all visitors.

By working strategically, we can help build a more comprehensive offering in the U.S. Virgin Islands that will attract visitors year-round. That, in turn, will generate more jobs and opportunities for residents, improve our overall economy, and maintain a high quality of life for our citizens.

Joseph Boschulte is the Commissioner of the U.S. Virgin Islands Department of Tourism

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Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world’s most beautiful secret lagoon – Stuff

Posted: at 1:30 am

Im floating in the world's most beautiful lagoon. You might think I'm talking about Bora Bora or perhaps the Maldives.

But, no, this one is much closer to home. And much more secret. Its so secluded, no satellite can pick it up. Thats because its hidden inside an island.

Welcome to Fijis Yasawa Islands, and a place known as the Sawa-i-Lau Caves.

Quite a few people make a mistake when holidaying in Fiji by spending their entire break in Port Denarau, on the main island. While it has some glitzy resorts, you need to venture further to explore Fijis real beauty places like the Yasawa Islands.

READ MORE:* Paradise found: The best places to loll in the Pacific* Matangi Private Island, Fiji: The tropical tree house island you need to visit* Golden Bay: Escape the crowds to a hidden slice of the tropics

This stunning archipelago is only reached by ferry or flight from Fiji's mainland, and here life is simple: there are no roads, shopping malls, or supermarkets.

Youll find a series of towering islands wrapped in turquoise waters, and lined with golden sands. And best of all, there is a hotel to suit every budget, from $35 dorms to beachfront villas with private pools.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Sawa-i-Lau Island is home to one of the most beautiful lagoons in the world.

One of the northern islands is called Sawa-i-Lau, which is home to the secret lagoon.

The easiest way to reach it is by staying at a nearby resort, such as Blue Lagoon Beach Resort. It runs several trips a week to the caves, which start with a short boat trip, before arriving at a deserted beach.

Were then led up a stone path to find a small entrance to the cave. As you step inside, youre greeted with almost mythical beauty; a pool of turquoise water sits inside an almighty cavern, with shafts of light streaming in from a crack in the earth high above. It almost looks too beautiful to disturb but your guides then invite you all for a swim.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

Sawa-i-Lau Island is in northern Yasawas.

As youd expect with such a dramatic setting, legends swirl around the caves. One of the more popular is that a young chief and his lover fled to the cave, after threats that she was about to be married off to a rival chief.

He would swim into the cave with food until the pair managed to escape the island and find refuge, where they lived happily ever after.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

The lagoon is hard to spot from above.

But that's not all the secrets this lagoon holds. There is a second hidden chamber you can explore but you need to be ready for a serious adventure to get there. It's only accessed by swimming through an underwater tunnel for a few seconds, where you pop up in a pitch-black cave.

It all sounds a little overwhelming, but you'll have guides to help you through, and light up the cave with their torch. (You can also skip this part of the tour, as many do.)

I preferred the first chamber, full of movie-like beauty. If you want to restart international travel with a serious adventure a trip to the worlds most beautiful lagoon should be on your bucket list.

Brook Sabin/Stuff

The lagoon is easily reached from Blue Lagoon Beach Resort.

Getting to Fiji: Fiji Airways has services from Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch to Nadi. See: fijiairways.com

Getting to Blue Lagoon Resort: Most guests arrive on the Yasawa Flyer, an interisland ferry service running between Port Denarau and the major resorts. You can also take a seaplane or helicopter to the hotel.

Staying there: Blue Lagoon Beach Resort starts from $204 for lodge rooms, and $366 for villas, with a meal plan additional. See: bluelagoonresortfiji.com

Accessing the caves: Blue Lagoon Resort has regular trips to the Sawa-i-Lau Caves, which costs around $65 per adult ($89 FJD) or $35 ($45 FJD) for children.

The author travelled to Fiji before the start of the Covid-19 pandemic courtesy of Tourism Fiji and Fiji Airways. This story was produced as a part of an editorial partnership with Tourism Fiji. Read more about our partnership content here.

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Sawa-i-Lau Caves: How to find the world's most beautiful secret lagoon - Stuff

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The New Dream List: 12 Once-In-A-Lifetime Travel Goals – Forbes

Posted: at 1:30 am

Northern lights illuminate the sky over the Lofoten Islands, Norway, in early September

Machu Picchu, the Great Wall and the Taj Mahal used to occupy top spots on many peoples bucket lists. But the bucket lista term Ive always despisedis giving way to a general desire to go big, splurge on an adventure and seek out dream experiences now, because weve all been pent up for too long and because weve all seen how quickly plans can change, how quickly opportunities might disappear.

Also, for various reasons, visiting places that get millions of visitors each year is less appealing than it used to be. We want to have mind-blowing experiences in mind-blowing places, but without the crowds. The pandemic isnt finished, overtourism is back, and we dont want to be part of either. Heres some better dream fodder.

Rorbuer cabins in the Lofoten island, Nordland

Earlier this year, the high-end travel company Blue Parallelwhich began life nearly 20 years ago as the premier experts on South American luxury travelbroadened its horizons. In a very big way: Their new Polar initiatives include the wide-open spaces above or below the 66th parallel. In Norway, that includes immersions into Viking history, private rib boat safaris to Runde Bird Island, hiking and cycling along Geirangerfjord and staying in a fishermans cabin in the gorgeous Lofoten archipelago, above the Arctic Circle.

Horses on the beach in front of the villas at NIHI Sumba

Routinelyand very deservedlynamed the best hotel in the world, NIHI Sumba occupies 500 hectares on a sparsely populated island where local animist traditions have remained largely intact. Its an hour east of Bali and from Java, the most populated island on earth, and its a completely different island, says the hotels partner and CEO, James McBride. While it started out as a surf destination with a legendary break, it has since grown into a totality of experience, with a herd of 24 horses for rides in the sea, a spa safari in which a single couple relaxes all day in a wellness sanctuary, waterfalls, palm trees, organic food thats grown on site and cooked over fires and plenty of spacethe ultimate dream, says McBride.

Blue Parallel Polar lands a helicopter on a glacier in Iceland

Blue Parallel Polar is also taking guests to increasingly remote parts of Icelandfar from the crowded Golden Circle and up onto glaciers (and into the Westman Islands, one of the countrys best kept secrets, and scuba diving (brrrr!) in the Silfra fissure, a rift between the tectonic plates of North America and Eurasia, and home to fascinating cold water marine life.

A ScicSailing gulet along Turkey's Turquoise Coast

The word turquoise comes from the old French for Turkish stone, but it just as aptly applies to the waters around the countrys southwest coast. A week aboard a traditional Turkish gulet (sailing ship), eating delicious food, sunbathing, swimming and taking in the beautiful, vivid colors of the water is the stuff of pure fantasy. A good way to make it a reality is to book in with ScicsSailing, a company that has been offering no-fuss, all-inclusive voyages in the bays around Bodrum for decades, both for guests who reserve a single cabin about a comfort yacht and for those who privately charter a luxury one, which has hotel-style amenities.

The Gobi Desert

Riding horses past sacsaoul bushes, black-tailed gazelle and ibex. Mountain biking along ancient desert routes past dramatic canyons and cliffs. Camping in the shadow of the Gobi Altai Mountains and later sleeping in a glamorously done-up yurt. These are a few of the things that spring to mind when thinking of Mongolias vast, empty playground. Earthtones, a startup focused on nature-immersive journeys has put together a program that includes all of this and more, such as rides on the deserts famous Bactrian (two-hump) camels.

An elephant keeper at Reteti

When Katie Rowe founded Reteti in 2016, she brought nine female rangers and keepers from the local community to help care for a growing brood of orphaned elephants. Reteti is unique in that the Samburu women who keep it going are as respected and valued as male elephant keepers are. Theyre blazing a trail for women in conservation everywhere, which is one reason the adventure travel company Uncharted sends guests their way. Reteti is open to visitors, who can see the elephants and talk to the keepers while staying in the lovely new Reteti House, an exclusive-use private retreat.

Fernando de Noronha

Midway between South America and Africameaning far from everythingthe hyper-protected Brazilian island went from being an undeveloped military outpost to a natural paradise with strict limits on tourism and a massive commitment to preservation. This is an ecological sanctuary, a place that marine researches use as a control group, in contrast with the developed beaches on the mainland. Its a once-in-a-lifetime trip for divers (something Blue Parallel can organize too), not only for its warm, gin-clear waters and abundant marine life but also for its laid-back Brazilian island vibe.

Hikers pass by a small lake in New Zealand

The experimental travel company Hiking New Zealand recently put together a 15-day experience that theyre calling New Zealand Uncut. It covers the vast and varied landscapes of both islands as it makes its was from north to south without the rigor and discomforts of, say, the Milford Track. Rather, this is New Zealand for people who dont camp, a series of day hikes and short walksfrom strenuous alpine hikes to beach strollsin remote areas where the islands majesty shines.

A tiger on the prowl in India

A flying tiger safari in Central India

Royal Expeditions is a boutique luxury travel company founded by the Princess of Jodhpur, who was a member of parliament and the minister of culture. The outfit created a flying tiger safari (by Pilatus jet) over the wilderness of central IndiaRudyard Kiplings inspiration for The Jungle Book. On land, naturalist guides show visitors around national parks in open-top vehicles, theres an option of taking special full-day photography permits, which allow access from sunrise to sunset.

The mountains of Slovenia

An increasingly better known secret, Slovenia is one of the worlds last great forest paradises, full of beautiful places to visit and teeming with delicious things to eat. Wanderlux Journeys trip takes guests into Velika Planina, a herdsmens settlement place in the Kamnik-Savinja Alps . Its accessible only by foot or by daytime cable car, making slowing down part of the program. The trip includes chef Bine Volcic (known for his daring zero-waste cuisine at Monstera Bistro in Ljubljana) and renowned forager (yes, this is a thing in Slovenia) Katja Rebolj, and theres hiking, foraging, a hands-on culinary workshop and a night in a cottage high above the city lights.

A chimpanzee in Greystoke

The Serengeti has many selling points, but solitude is not among them. Fortunately, Tanzania is a big country, with a number of game reserves that are still remote and untouched. In the south, theres Ruaha National Park, the best park youve never heard of and Tanzanias best-kept wildlife secretwith an impressive number of elephant and even more lion. The greater Ruaha landscape has one of only six lion populations larger than 1,000 in the world and is now home to some 10% of the planets lion. Another corner of Tanzania worth exploring is Mahale National Park on the western border and Greystoke, where visitors can observe wild chimpanzees. Cartology Travel can being either one to life.

Puma tracking in Torres del Paine

Southern Chiles top predator, the Patagonian puma, calls Torres del Paine home. Heading out to look for them with wildness tracking professionalssomething else offered by Earthtonesadds a new dimension to a trip to this majestic end of the earth. The hikes are accessible, short in duration and light on difficultly, and theyre capped off with star-filled nights in a mountain ecolodge.

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A $100M island sold in 4 months: The moves behind this agents deal – Inman

Posted: at 1:30 am

Its not unusual for extremely high-end luxury listings to take several months or even several years to sell.

That was the case with Great Island in Darien, Connecticut, a 60-acre property with a Gilded Age mansion once owned by baking powder entrepreneur William Ziegler that was first listed in 2016 only to linger on the market. But once Douglas Elliman agent Jennifer Leahy took over the listing late last year beating out other brokers with more experience she snagged the $100 million deal in less than four months while tendering multiple offers.

The historic property outside New York City was first listed by Zieglers descendants, the Steinkraus family, via a trust in 2016 for $175 million. When it failed to sell, it was listed again in 2019 for $120 million.

The main house on the property is dated to the early 1900s and spans about 13,000 square feet with 10 bedrooms, complete with impressive views of the Long Island Sound from nearly every room. Additionally, a colonial farmhouse that dates to the 1800s resides on the property, as well as an equestrian building with a granite stable and an arched tile ceiling designed by Rafael Guastavino, the engineer who created Grand Central Terminal.

The island, which is one of the largest private islands to be sold on the East Coast, has remained in the hands of the Ziegler family and his descendants since Ziegler bought the property circa 1900 as a summer residence.

So, how did the Douglas Elliman agent seal the deal, one of the priciest thus far in 2022?

Leahy told Inman her process for selling the listing was highly strategic. For such an expansive property, Leahy drew on her New York City-based developer network to generate buzz, thought outside the box with her marketing, made the property extremely accessible, intentionally listed the home at a time of year that would show off its assets, networked within her brokerage and leaned on her community ties.

Jennifer Leahy | Credit: Douglas Elliman Realty

I think it was a combination of using my strong ties to developers based out of New York City and using that network to create a buzz and get as many eyes on the property [as possible], Leahy told Inman.

Since the property includes so much land and because theres a lack of available land on which to develop in New York City, Leahy made sure to inform all her developer contacts about this unique opportunity thats just under a two-hour drive outside of the city.

For those [developers] who maybe were slowing down or not doing projects at the same [level of] enthusiasm in New York City, it was an awesome opportunity to do a development in a very unique and major way in an exclusive part of like a bedroom community of Manhattan, Leahy explained. So that was my first strategy.

The islands main house has views of the Long Island Sound from almost every room | Douglas Elliman Realty

Knowing that she was dealing with a property that didnt have much luck on the market twice before, Leahy realized she needed to market Great Island in every way possible. That meant speaking with individual investors about its possibility as a legacy property, her developer contacts for its land potential and even going so far as to tell agents about its potential to be broken up into lots by developers and ultimately have brand new luxury homes on the property.

She wanted to make sure that anyone who might remotely be interested realized that the possibilities for Great Island were really endless.

I was selling it every which way that I can, Leahy told Inman. And Im my clients fiduciary, which I take very seriously. I have to think outside of the box. A $100 million property, thats a big number right there. I had to literally turn over every stone possible to drum up not just one, but multiple bids.

Some luxury agents use exclusivity in order to generate interest and curiosity about a property. This can be a very effective tactic and is often preferred by high-profile sellers but with Great Island, Leahy decided to take the opposite approach, and it ended up paying off.

She made sure every agent in her market of Fairfield County had access to see the property to really understand how spectacular it was.

Given her marketing tactic of making people see the potential for the property beyond its current use as a summer home for one family, it was crucial for her to get agents to the property so they could see for themselves how other possibilities might play out.

Lots of agents keep high-end listings very precious, Leahy told Inman, but my idea about it was, if I was going to get this to be subdivided and developed, I would want as many agents locked and loaded to be in a list in front of their clients who maybe could put forward $100 million but if its developed and divided and there were beautiful new houses going up for $10 million, they sure would have someone [who could buy it].

With a property of this size, Leahy also realized that getting agents to actually walk the land and explore it would also be crucial to the sale, so she would give several hours-long tours to agents in the area so that they had time to get the lay of the land.

The island has been owned by Gilded Age baking powder entrepreneur William Ziegler and his descendants for over 100 years | Douglas Elliman Realty

When given the option, most listing agents probably wouldnt market a property located in a summer-centric market during the winter when most plants are dead and gray.

But once again considering the land value at hand on the property, Leahy had photos and videos of the property taken during the dead of winter when there was little foliage. That did make photos less colorful, but it also allowed potential buyers to see the acreage better and to see just how many views of the Long Island Sound were to be had from the main property.

I also listed the property when there werent leaves on the trees so that you could see how expansive the views were from every spot on that island, Leahy said. You have inland lot, and in that inland lot, you have spectacular views because we have fabulous elevation.

I think there were people who were very skeptical about the listing in winter, she added, but it was very strategic, and even now [in May], being on the property, you cant see through the trees already.

To get the property in front of the type of clientele who might be interested in purchasing a whole island, Leahy turned to her fellow agents at Douglas Elliman and just kept making calls within the brokerages network.

Tapping into their networks, who they have as billionaires or five-hundred millionaires, making sure that they knew the property was available, Leahy said. Sixty acres in the water is pretty rare. Obviously, a lot of these are storage facilities for great wealth, and this is an opportunity for someone of great wealth to have a spectacular piece of land.

The equestrian building was designed by Rafael Guastavino, the engineer who created Grand Central Terminal | Douglas Elliman Realty

Leahys involvement in her community through serving on Dariens planning and zoning commission for four years also helped her build credibility and ties in the community. Those relationships came in handy when the town approached her as an interested buyer and ultimately became the buyer of the property.

Everybody knew me in town and Im a kind person, and I think Im known to be kind of fair and a good listener, Leahy said. I feel so honored to have been the bridge to get so far with the town and everybody basically made sure that they had the information, the access and the communication that they needed to make this possible.

Get InmansLuxury Lens Newsletter delivered right to your inbox. A weekly roundup of all the biggest news in the world of high-end real estate delivered every Friday. Click here to subscribe.

Email Lillian Dickerson

Anatomy of a Deal is an infrequent feature in which agents share stories of the obstacles they overcame to seal a tricky deal. Send submissions toLillian@Inman.comand please include the property type, price, location and what made the deal unique or challenging to close.

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Vacation in the Middle East? Absolutely yes. – Washington Times

Posted: at 1:30 am

OPINION:

When many Americans hear a generic reference to The Middle East their immediate impression may be one of war and/or challenging circumstances. The last two U.S. generations have heard endless tragic stories of American hostages, death to America chants from Iran, the war in Iraq and a never-ending dispute between the Israelis and Palestinians. The impression of trouble in the region runs deep.

One word that probably doesnt immediately pop into Americans minds when referencing The Middle East region? Vacation.

It should, however. When looking at great getaway spots, one should give serious consideration to Oman.

Located on the Arabian Sea, the Sea of Oman, the Persian Gulf and the Straits of Hormuz, Oman has a coastline that runs nearly 1900 miles. It has pristine beaches and coast in a wide variety of settings. If a beachfront resort is your speed, you have multiple choices ranging from five-star luxury to more affordable accommodations. Expect modern, clean and comfortable. Most importantly, expect friendly, courteous, professional service everywhere.

The Omani culture is a friendly one. Whether youre visiting the big city of Muscat or a tiny historical village, youll find the locals to be exceedingly courteous. A suitable analogy might be the State of Maine in the United States. While large American metropolitan areas like New York can be intimidating and people are taught not to make eye contact, in Maine, the culture is overwhelmingly amiable. Even the toll booth attendants in Maine act as though theyve known you forever. So it is in Oman. The amiable approach is natural and comfortable.

One essential element of any vacation is food. If you are a seafood or meat lover, youre going to be very happy in Oman. The nation has a rich history of fishing, so fresh fish and lobster are plentiful. If youd like to try traditional fare, you can find places to sit on the floor and order a large shared plate of seasoned basmati rice with lamb or beef, topped with spicy yogurt and tomato sauce. If you need a taste of home, western cuisine is readily available, ranging from high-end steaks to local burger joints. Platters of rice and spiced meats are available at almost every restaurant.

If youre an underwater diver, many will argue there is no better place on earth for avid divers looking for exceptional marine life. Muscat is not only the capital of Oman, it offers several dive sites within a reasonable drive, including some with private islands and genuinely unique diving experiences. There are tour operators offering 3-4 day extravaganzas that tour much of Oman and the best diving spots.

If exploring historical sites is your bag, a visit outside of Muscat is almost like going back in time. The remnants of a long-ago era are visible almost everywhere. You can visit mountain-side villages that are hundreds of years old. You can find mud homes built into the sides of mountains. Forts, castles and important historical structures dot the countryside as well.

The Hajar Mountains are a stunning and dramatic place to explore. They begin just outside Muscat and continue all the way toward neighboring countries. They are large, majestic and a reminder of how harsh mother nature can be. Soaring peaks of more than 9800 feet and plummeting valleys offer awe-inspiring views.

Oman offers no shortage of true luxury five-star resorts. Among the best is Alila Resort. Situated far from any hustle or bustle, nearly a mile and a quarter above sea level, it offers the most relaxing luxury experience with just a dash of adventure. At that elevation, every room has stunning views and the infinity pool appears as though the edge drops seemingly forever. Mountain climbs, spa days and unspoiled stargazing are all part of the experience.

While ancient history is a highlight of any journey around Oman, Muscat offers some extraordinary modern facilities as well. The Grand Mosque, completed in 2001, is made from over 300,000 tons of Indian Sandstone and its architecture makes an impressive statement. It has an information center and all tourists are invited to visit the center to ask any questions they may have about the mosque or the religion.

The Royal Opera House is a truly world-class performance hall that opened in 2011. In addition to the performance halls, the complex features formal landscaped gardens, a cultural market with retail, luxury restaurants and an art center for musical, theatrical and operatic productions. It makes a huge statement about modern culture in this ancient historical country.

When it comes time to pick up a few gifts for friends and family back home, the Mutrah Souk located on the Corniche in Muscat is an authentic old-world bazaar where tourists and locals can haggle over a variety of items including hand-made scarves, carpets and historical souvenirs.

Oman has a low crime rate and is generally considered to be safe for business, tourists, families and even for women traveling alone.

The best time to visit Oman is between October and March. The winter months are when the weather is pleasant, relatively cool and essentially perfect. April and May are considered the shoulder season, as the temperatures start to heat up, but vacations are still enjoyable.

Visit Oman. It will change your perspective.

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Vacation in the Middle East? Absolutely yes. - Washington Times

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