Indispensable travel advice from Everyone's Favourite Butler A world authority on the art of travel, Charles MacPherson has planned itineraries for celebrities and business leaders, and trained the staff of some of the world's leading hotels. In this easy-to-follow guide, you will find his tips on how to: Plan Your Trip: choose luggage and accommodations, master wrinkle-free packing, secure an upgrade and manage your schedule. Travel in Style: for business or pleasure; by plane, train, cruise ship, coach, yacht, car or even private jet. Make the Most of Your Stay: get help from the concierge (every hotel's best-kept secret) and navigate international dining etiquette and tipping culture. And much more! Slip this compact book into your carry-on luggage for a trusted companion wherever your travels may take you.

Host a dinner party * Make a bed * Set a table * Use the proper fork * Polish silver * Prepare high tea * Present a calling card * Make conversation * Fold a shirt ... all with the charm, ease and sophistication of a butler. Now in its fifth printing, this beautifully illustrated style, etiquette and entertainment guide lays out the essentials of entertaining and household management in a clear, straightforward style. For anyone who rents or owns--be it a small urban condo or a lavish country estate--The Butler Speaks includes everything you need to know to simplify, organize and care for your home. Charles MacPherson offers modern advice on personal style and etiquette--how to receive guests; present your business card; make polite dinner conversation-- and advice on entertaining at home--how to make a cheese plate; hold your cutlery; set a table--all with the flair, charm and unpretentious grace of the butler.

Perched on an island off the shores of Cornwall, England, the soaring castle of St. Michael’s Mount has been home to the St. Aubyn family since 1647. For nearly thirty years, Stanley Ager, one of the most esteemed butlers of the twentieth century, ensured that St. Michael’s Mount was an impeccable place to live and a gracious and welcoming one for guests to visit. Revered by everyone from royalty to the estate staff, Stanley Ager considered it his calling to run a home gracefully and efficiently. Several of the men whom he trained at St. Michael’s Mount went on to serve in the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace and at British embassies throughout the world. But you don’t need a manor to benefit from Ager’s wisdom on homekeeping. This carefully detailed, charmingly illustrated, eminently useful volume offers important insights and techniques, including how to: Wipe a glass—or a chandelier—until it sparkles *** Fold napkins precisely—in six different ways *** Polish furniture—or silver—to a mirror finish *** Lay a beautiful table and serve a meal impeccably *** Brush, buff, and maintain any manner of clothes and footwear *** Fold and pack for a trip—for business or pleasure *** Select and pour wine *** Stage “impromptu” romantic picnics *** And, among other graces, open a door soundlessly, roll an umbrella perfectly, and iron a newspaper

The most in-depth guide available to the tipping culture of some of the world's most frequently visited countries.

Indispensable travel advice from Everyone's Favourite Butler A world authority on the art of travel, Charles MacPherson has planned itineraries for celebrities and business leaders, and trained the staff of some of the world's leading hotels. In this easy-to-follow guide, you will find his tips on how to: Plan Your Trip: choose luggage and accommodations, master wrinkle-free packing, secure an upgrade and manage your schedule. Travel in Style: for business or pleasure; by plane, train, cruise ship, coach, yacht, car or even private jet. Make the Most of Your Stay: get help from the concierge (every hotel's best-kept secret) and navigate international dining etiquette and tipping culture. And much more! Slip this compact book into your carry-on luggage for a trusted companion wherever your travels may take you.

This beautiful guide makes the vast enigma of China accessible to every visitor. Continuing the series' winning formula, this new edition combines in-depth, up-to-date descriptions with dazzling photographs, detailed maps, cutaway illustrations of renowned structures, and a wealth of useful travel tips organized by cities and areas.

On title page, the 'i' in the word 'bullshit' is represented by an asterisk.