Best In Travel Magazine Issue 34 // November 2015

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FUN AND SUN IN THE CARIBBEAN

Something for everyone in the

USA NORTH AMERICA AND CARIBBEAN SPECIAL

34 ISSUE

November 2015

It’s what’s

NEW

It’s what’s

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THE MOST HAPPENING PL ACE IS HAPPEN I N G N OW Introducing the new Sandals® Ochi Beach Resort.This brand new five-star Luxury Included® resort is trendy when you want it to be, private when you don’t. It has a hot new beach club, 11 bars—including the Caribbean’s first Speakeasy—and 16 totally on-trend restaurants. It’s exciting and it’s happening—but only when you want it to be.Because the other side of Sandals Ochi offers unsurpassed privacy when you want a more serene escape.True romance spans over a hundred acres of lush tropical gardens and the elite All-Butler Village, the epitome of privacy. It’s all included. All unlimited. All the time.Sandals Ochi: the place to be and be seen.

Sandals® is a registered trademark. Unique Vacations, Inc. is the affiliate of the worldwide representative of Sandals Resorts.

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It’s what’s

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in All-Inclusive Resorts

1-800-SANDALS SANDALS.COM

OCHO RIOS, JA M AICA

CONTENTS INTRODUCTION 7 SANDALS EMERALD BAY 8 SANDALS ROYAL BAHAMIAN SPA RESORT 16 BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS 18

GOLDENEYE LICENCE TO CHILL 90 CASA DE CAMPO 94 HARD ROCK PUNTA CANA 96 ROUND HILL HOTEL 98 ROCKHOUSE HOTEL 100

WHAT’S NEW IN THE CARIBBEAN 22

ALL ABOUT ANGUILLA 104

OINK, OINK! 34

ATLANTIS PARADIS 106

HOW TO HOLIDAY LIKE A CELEBRITY 42

INTRODUCING DOLPHIN COVE 108

CELEBRITY HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS 46

GO! JAMAICA 112

PURE SHORES 52

JAMAICA INN 114

CAYMAN ISLANDS 56

MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE 116

BEAUTIFUL BARBADOS 62

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE 124

PROFILE ON THE PLAZA 68

PRIVÉ JETS 126

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK 70

AVIS 128

LAS VEGAS 72 MIAMI NICE 76 HIP SPRINGS 80 SURFIN SANTA CRUZ 84 4

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SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL 130 SANDALS GRANDE ANTIGUA RESORT & SPA 132 SANDALS GRANDE RIVIERA BEACH & VILLA GOLF RESORT 134

CONTENTS

SANDALS LA SOURCE GRENADA RESORT & SPA 136 SKYPOOL SUITES AT SANDALS LA SOURCE 140 ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES 142

Cover and this page Sandals Royal Bahamian Balmoral Tower

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Introduction

INTRODUCTION You don’t need Best In Travel to tell you that scorched and packed - to escape across North America and the Caribbean are two of the Atlantic. You’re better off visiting the the all-time great holiday destinations.

Caribbean and North America in April when the temperatures are balmy rather than Sure they maybe a 8+ hour flight away but blistering, and the locals are still eating and that’s not far at all, when you think about drinking al fresco. how much fun (and sun) awaits you at the other end.

Ready to join them? Read on for the lowdown on the destinations that are even But don’t wait until summer - when it gets hotter than the weather…. Enjoy the issue!

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SANDALS EMERALD BAY

Golf, Tennis & Spa Resort

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Sandals Emerald Bay

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Sandals Emerald Bay Golf, Tennis and Spa Resort brings unprecedented luxury to the easy-going rhythms of the Bahamian Out Islands. Secluded within 500 tropical acres along a pristine, mile-long beach, the resort is home to three impressive pools - including a half-acre, zero-entry pool with a dramatic fire pit in the middle, seven exceptional restaurants, a par 72 Greg Norman designed golf course, a 29,000 sq. ft. spa and a deep-water marina.

Further to this, Sandals Emerald Bay, Great Exuma, Bahamas offers gourmet dining in a choice of seven à la carte restaurants; six full service bars serving premium brand wine and spirits; land and watersports including unlimited scuba diving* and six Har-tru tennis courts all lit for night play; gratuities and even airport transfers.

An exclusive Red Lane® Spa**, featuring skincare products and premier services that embrace the best of the Caribbean region, enhances this stunning resort.

The Exumas are one of the most uniquely beautiful places on earth.

Comprising 360 tiny islets and cays deep within the pristine Bahamian Out Islands, the waters of The Exumas are revered the world over for their fishing, yachting and diving, and offer some of the region’s most treasured dive sites such as the renowned ‘blue holes’ documented by Jacques Cousteau, and the Thunderball grotto of James Bond fame.

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Sandals Emerald Bay

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SANDALS ROYAL BAHAMIAN SPA RESORT & Offshore Island

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The moment guests arrive at Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort & Offshore Island, they realise that they’ve entered a realm of sophisticated splendour. The Duke and Duchess of Windsor made this beautiful resort the epicentre for high society as the famed Balmoral Club of the 1940s, and The Beatles stayed there when filming Help. Today, transformed into Sandals Royal Bahamian, it remains an oasis of European grandeur where guests are still treated as royals.

Sandals Royal Bahamian Spa Resort

This award-winning and recently renovated resort offers two holidays on one, as in addition to the magnificent mainland resort, Sandals Royal Bahamian features an exotic offshore island escape just minutes away, where guests can enjoy a chic beach club overlooking two pristine beaches.

Sandals Royal Bahamian Resort has recently completed a multi-million dollar renovation, meaning a complete transformation inside and out, including the creation of fourteen new swim-up river suites.

Perfect for cooling under the sun, each suite runs parallel to the water, so guests can dip in instantly!

The resort boasts six further pools, two of which are oceanfront and feature sophisticated outdoor lounge seating and lively signature swim-up bars; ten gourmet restaurants; six bars; and an exclusive Red Lane速 Spa**.

Reserved for the highest level of accommodations, airport transfers at Sandals Royal Bahamian include a chauffeured Rolls-Royce or Mercedes-Benz.

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BEACHES TURKS & CAICOS RESORT VILLAGES & SPA

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Beaches Turks & Caicos

A Luxury Included® (all-inclusive) holiday to Beaches Turks & Caicos Resort Villages & Spa offers a true island escape for the whole family.

Located on a 12 mile stretch of white sand beach, Beaches Turks & Caicos comprises four villages boasting the architecture and ambiance of Italy, France, the Caribbean and Key West.

The newest village, the Key West Luxury Village, features more than 150 suites and villas, three gourmet restaurants, private pools and more.

Every room in this village is Concierge level and above, including 20 Butler Service villas and suites.

With 19 distinct dining options offering a culinary expedition around the globe, Beaches Turks & Caicos’ Discovery Dining programme will ensure that both kids and parents will find something they love.

For tots, tweens and teens, the list of activities available at Beaches Turks and Caicos is endless. Whether it’s gaming in the new Xbox 360® Game Garage, chilling in the sizzlin’ teen disco, Club Liquid, splashing around in the 45,000 square-foot Pirates Island waterpark or hanging out with the Sesame Street® gang, there’s something for all ages. Whilst the kids are having fun, parents in need of some me time can visit the resort’s Red lane® Spa** to relax and unwind or work up a sweat with the unlimited land and water sports available on resort, including unlimited scuba diving for certified divers. www.beaches.com

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NORWEGIAN

ESCAPE MIAMI TO THE CARIBBEAN YEAR-ROUND NOVEMBER 2015

CARIBBEAN’S LEADING CRUISE LINE

2013 | 2014

www.worldtravelawards.com

©2015 NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE LTD SHIP’S REGISTRY: BAHAMAS AND USA 30736 8/15

Recognised worldwide as a leader... in helping businesses save more on corporate travel.

With a global network spanning over 90 countries and a team of over 6500 travel industry professionals, FCm Travel Solutions draws on its global reach and local teams to deliver outstanding results for clients. Working with our industry partners, our people create real savings by customising travel programs to suit the needs of each client.

Our focus is on negotiating the right deals for clients and providing personal service through small, dedicated teams rather than call centres.

This award-winning approach to travel management enables us to deliver better travel ideas and greater savings for companies around the world.

www.fcm.travel Better travel ideas. Greater savings.

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WHAT’S NEW IN THE CARIBBEAN Best In Travel offers an update on the hot and the happening in the Caribbean…

SANDALS OFFICIALLY OPENS IN BARBADOS Following an extensive renovation project, Sandals Barbados reopened on 28 January 2015, and is now Barbados’ only five-star Luxury Included® resort.

Located in the heart of Saint Lawrence, a bustling South Coast hot spot comprised of a stunning beachfront, colourful nightlife, and superb restaurants and lounges, Sandals Barbados has added luxury included elegance with beautifully-appointed rooms and suites, gourmet dining, impeccable butler service, and more.

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What’s new in the Caribbean

Sandals Barbados has been re-imagined from the ground up. No stones has being left untouched with wide-ranging renovations that include the introduction of seven new gourmet restaurants bringing the total to 11, total refurbishment of the resort’s 280 existing rooms, as well as a numerous other additions and enhancements offering Sandals guests the newest levels of luxury in line with Barbados’ reputation as one of the region’s most sought after destinations.

The accommodations range from new swim-up river suites situated in the resort’s lush tropical garden to opulent beachfront butler suites. The resort’s new butler-level suites boast spacious bedrooms and living room areas, as well as lavish bathrooms and private balconies, some with their very own tranquillity soaking tub.

Barbados is home to exotic locales, a rich history, and an extensive variety of sports and activities. With a spectacular landscape that changes dramatically from one town to the next, each locale possesses an equally sundry pace, offering activities and entertainment for nature lovers, club-goers, and adventurers alike. Escape to this exotic gem where deep caverns and monkey-populated forests abound against the setting of rocky cliffs, white-sand beaches, and sparkling seas.

For the full low-down and to make a booking, visit www.sandals.co.uk/main/ barbados/bd-home

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MALLIOUHANA

THE CARIBBEAN’S BRIGHTEST STAR

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What’s new in the Caribbean

Malliouhana reopens as an Auberge Resort following a three year closure and 18 month renovation.

Auberge Resorts Collection, internationally renowned owner and operator of boutique luxury hotels, resorts, residences and private clubs, has re-launched and rebranded the former Malliouhana Hotel & Spa as Malliouhana, an Auberge Resort, following a three-year closure, acquisition by AJ Capital Partners and an 18-month end-to-end redesign. The celebrated Caribbean resort, located on a bluff overlooking Meads Bay and Turtle Cove on the island of Anguilla, re-opened its doors on 1 November 2014, exactly 30 years after its initial debut in 1984, when it quickly became the go-to luxury hideaway for the international jet set.

Auberge Resorts Collection looked to two of the hospitality industry’s hottest design talents, TAL Studio and SB Architects, to refresh the resort’s design and décor, while Auberge’s own award-winning culinary, spa and operations teams reimagined the guest experience to appeal to today’s discerning traveler. A tropical oasis with 360-degree views of the Caribbean Sea, the transformed Malliouhana raises the bar for luxury in the Caribbean with its 44 spacious ocean-view rooms and suites, a dramatic open-air cliff-side restaurant, two new infinity-edge swimming pools and a signature Auberge Spa. The design team removed walls and opened up vistas to create a visual connection to the sea that surrounds guests from the moment they arrive. The fresh new colour palette of mint, mango, saffron and white is inspired by the Caribbean sensibility and the effect of the water on Anguilla’s sugar-white sand. The theme of sky and sea is doubled in the lobby, where celadon interiors are reflected in a mirrored mosaic floor. The former reception desk has been replaced with two individual concierge desks, each topped with a ceramic sculpture of a Caribbean woman that has been commissioned for Malliouhana as a spirited tribute to Caribbean beauty.

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Guest accommodations have the collected feel of a stylish Caribbean residence owned by a glamorous world traveler.

Chinoiserie and British Colonial pieces complement early 20th century deco and rattan seating. An oversized mirror anchors each guest room and cleverly hides the television.

Guest rooms also showcase some of Malliouhana’s original treasures: a collection of animated jungle scenes depicting the Garden of Eden and painted by distinguished Haitian artist Jasmin Joseph.

Accommodations offer 720 to 2,500 square feet of indoor/ outdoor living space and feature Auberge Resorts Collection’s signature amenities, from Nespresso coffee makers and complimentary snacks and beverages to luxury linens, microfiber robes and artisan bath products custom blended for Malliouhana in the resort’s bespoke lemongrass scent.

Renowned in the Caribbean for its superb legacy of fine dining, The Restaurant at Malliouhana features an updated open-air space in its exquisite bluff-top setting. Under the direction of new Executive Chef Jeremy Bearman, formerly executive chef of fivetime Michelin-starred Rouge Tomate in New York City and 26

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L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas, the re-envisioned restaurant features a contemporary American menu that embraces Caribbean traditions and flavours, such as jerk spices, passion fruit, tamarind and guava.

Adjacent to the restaurant is the Sunset Bar, an indoor-outdoor lounge that takes full advantage of its location on the most scenic vantage point on the island. Offering a selection of more than 40 rum varieties, the bar also features island-inspired cocktails, such as a coconut martini with house-made elderflower water, a traditional daiquiri made with coconut and passion fruit and a menu of small plates as well as a selection of fine cigars, all accompanied by nightly live music and stunning sunsets nightly.

Set in an intimate tropical garden setting, the two-story Auberge Spa sits next to two ponds and a jungle of island vines and exotic flowering plants. Exuding a luxurious residential ambiance, the villa-style spa features four private treatment rooms, regionally inspired therapies, an outdoor meditation garden and a relaxation lounge. Decorative wooden oars line the walls at the spa’s front doors,

What’s new in the Caribbean

and a palette of blue, white and sand reflect the seaside setting. With treatments rooted in local healing traditions, the spa offers relaxing results-oriented skincare and rejuvenating body therapies to soothe and pamper guests. Treatments integrate island grown, organic and natural ingredients such as aloe and lemongrass, and custom house-made delights including a made-toorder sweet sugar cane body scrub, aloe mousse for après sun skincare and a banana rum masque for deeply nourishing hair care.

After they are greeted with chilled lemongrass towels and the elixir of the day, spa guests can opt to create custom oil blends for their massages at the Aroma

Design Bar. Signature treatments include Coconut Dream, a customized aromatic and therapeutic compress and massage incorporating the sun-kissed Malliouhana sand, coconut and a hint of passionfruit; Island Drift, a trio of a tropical Caribbean rum foot soak, sweet sugar cane body exfoliation and a coconut crème massage; and Sol Salvation, a hydrating wrap using a freshly made chilled aloe mousse and an aloe-lemon refresher elixir. Guests are invited to extend their spa experience and enjoy the ocean breeze in hammocks post-treatment in the open-air meditation garden set in an alcove of white and orange-flowered geiger and ficus trees.

Guests preferring to soak up the sun will have ample opportunity at Malliouhana’s two new swimming pools. The heart of the resort, the two new infinity-edge pools are generously sized for a 44-room resort, allowing both couples and families the luxury of space to lounge and dine poolside. More active guests can enjoy a variety of outdoor activities, including yoga on the beach, biking, kayaking, snorkelling, deep-sea fishing, sailing, windsurfing and paddle boarding, as well as tennis and horseback riding.

For the full low-down on Malliouhana, please visit www.malliouhana.aubergeresorts.com

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LEADING HOTELIER AWARDED ONE OF ST. LUCIA’S HIGHEST HONOURS Nick Troubetzkoy, a visionary champion of excellence in the Caribbean hospitality sector has been awarded The Saint Lucia Medal of Honour (Gold) by the Government of St Lucia.

Mr. Troubetzkoy is the owner and designer of the world famous hotels in St Lucia, Jade Mountain and neighbouring Anse Chastanet. The twin resorts often appear on lists of the world’s most exclusive properties.

As part of Independence Day honours on 22 February 2015, Governor General Her Excellency Dame Pearlette Louisy, as Chancellor of the National Societies of Honour, awarded The Saint Lucia Medal of Honour (Gold) to Nick Peter Troubetzkoy for his outstanding contribution to the development of the tourism industry in St. Lucia.

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What’s new in the Caribbean

Focused on providing a unique, world-class experience, Troubetzkoy has always wanted to create a luxury experience that is also genuinely St. Lucian. Evidence of his deep appreciation for the island’s beauty and culture can be seen in the original local artwork prominently displayed throughout Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, as well as the resorts’ many activities that feature chocolate made from organic raw cacao, grown locally at the neighbouring Emerald Estate, which also provides locally grown, organic produce to the resorts’ kitchens.

Troubetzkoy aims to keep the economic benefits of his success on island by investing in the community and by providing training for St. Lucians. “There is an immense pool of talent here and I wanted to ensure that the enormous amount of skill could be put into a resort which they could feel well connected to,” he said.

Since 1974, Troubetzkoy has been a deeply engaged member of the St. Lucian community. Originally from British Columbia, he eventually became a St Lucian citizen. He has continued to play an important role in the creation of the Soufrière Foundation as well as the Soufrière Marine Management Authority, which conserves the fragile reefs and coastal waters.

Troubetzkoy believes that St. Lucia as a destination still has much development potential and he hopes to continue giving back to the community. His dedication to the conservation of ecosystems when creating responsible tourism structures occurred at a time when the concept of sustainable tourism was just emerging.

More than a thousand local craftsmen and labourers helped to create Jade Mountain, which opened in 2006 and had an enormous impact on the community of Soufrière, providing long-term economic stability in one of the lesser developed areas of St. Lucia.

The combined staff of Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain is in excess of 500 people, and many hundreds more have worked for varying periods of time over the decades, especially during phases of construction and property enhancements. www.ansechastanet.com

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‘Bohemian Chic’ Hotel Draws Discerning Jetsetters with Unique Design, Personalized Attention and Unspoiled Natural Beauty

INTRODUCING HOTEL CASA LAS TORTUGAS: RELAXED LUXURY ON ISLA HOLBOX 30

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Discerning travellers seeking a new destination for creative inspiration and rejuvenation have quietly begun to discover Hotel Casa Las Tortugas (holboxcasalastortugas.com), a boutique hotel off the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. The luxury hotel sits on the main beach of Isla Holbox, a 26-milelong island untouched by mass tourism, commercial resorts and even cars that is quickly becoming the go-to destination for travelers seeking an authentic alternative to the more commercialised beach towns along the Caribbean.

The 21-suite eco-friendly hotel has developed a loyal following among social influencers like artists, designers and other trendsetting travelers with its bohemian chic atmosphere, ‘green’ mindset and personalized approach to hospitality. A family-run project, the hotel was founded in 2003 by Italian architect Gianni Golinelli and his wife Greta to showcase their love of design and appreciation for the pristine beauty of Holbox. Casa Las Tortugas is now a second-generation passion run by the couple’s daughter Francesca Golinelli and her husband Patrick Wiering, a former professional kiteboarder who also runs the hotel’s renowned kiteboarding school.

Conceptualized to show off the untarnished beauty of Isla Holbox while protecting its fragile ecosystem, Francesca and Patrick bring an eco-friendly approach to every decision they make, sourcing produce, spices and even meat for their restaurant, the Mandarina Beach Club, from a neighboring farm, while using their own brand of locally sourced, eco-friendly toiletries and mosquito repellant. The hotel has also eliminated plastic water bottles in favor of glass.

What’s new in the Caribbean

The personal design influence of Francesca is evident in every suite, with locally sourced antiques, artisan-made colonial furniture and fine linens with a luxurious twist on traditional Mexican fabrics. Rooms range from Standard Suites, charmingly bestowed names like Lavanda and Canala, to stand-alone ‘Beach Bungalows’ nestled directly on the shore. Accommodations also include Pool View and Ocean View Suites, which offer complimentary spa treatments, and rooftop Master Suites which feature high ceilings and separate living areas.

All accommodations include a gourmet complimentary breakfast, which recreation-loving guests will appreciate on their outdoor adventures. Casa Las Tortugas offers a wide range of activities, including whale shark tours, kiteboarding lessons, and a guided tour of the exotic flora and fauna on nearby islands. Guests can also arrange windsurfing, stand-up paddleboarding, sailing, horseback riding and bird-watching adventures.

For those who prefer to relaxation to recreation, the Mandarina Beach Club offers organic, locally sourced cuisine in a social atmosphere, while the Agua Spa and Yoga Center offers a full range of organic treatments, including energizing body scrubs with orange and honey, papaya facials and even a romantic couple’s bath with milk and mint leaves. The spa’s distinctively holistic approach soothes mind, body and spirit while honoring the 4,000-year-old Mesoamerican traditions of the Yucatan.

The all-new beachfront yoga pavilion features daily meditation and yoga classes taught by accredited instructors from all over the world, including well-known New York instructors Loren Bassett and Halle Becker. A full range of classes and healing sessions, including Janzu, Afro dance and the recently-added paddle board yoga, is available upon request.

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OINK, OINK!

Meet the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas

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Meet the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas

The remote Exumas are an archipelago of 365 cays and islands straddling the Tropic of Cancer. Though part of the Bahamas, this part of the chain is a world away from mainstream Caribbean. Here you will find no cruise ships, high-rise hotels or glitzy casinos. This is the Out Islands – a lost corner of the Caribbean, dotted with uninhabited islands, desolate beaches and remote enclaves for A-listers eager to escape the public eye.

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Operating out of Great Exuma, Coastline Adventures offer a unique glimpse into this secluded world. The tours are run by local expert Glenroy Smith and Captain Bob. After picking you up from your hotel, they’ll whisk you off for the day on their state-of-the-art speedboat.

Their excursions run for a full-day or a half-day and several bucket-list experiences, including the legendary swimming pigs of the Bahamas. The family of pigs live freely on the sandy beaches of Big Major Cay, and after basking in the sun for hours, they swim in the surf. The pigs, though wild, are friendly, running from under the shade of almond trees to greet visitors that come bearing treats.

With stomach rumbling it’s time to earn your lunch by snorkelling in impossibly-clear waters for conch shells. The national dish of the Bahamas is conch salad – a mix of the freshest conch, peppers, onion and lime – and the crew show you how to prepare lunch with your fresh catch. From opening the conch shell to skinning and dicing the conch meat, ending in a delicious lunch for everyone.

Next stop is a visit to a cay inhabited solely by iguanas. From out of nowhere, the iguanas scurry on to the beach as the boat draws near. They’re surprisingly unafraid and will crawl all over you if they can smell food.

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Meet the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas

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On the full-day excursion you also visit Thunderball Grotto – locations of two James Bond films “Thunderball” and “Never Say Never Again”. The intricate, underwater maze located on Staniel Cay is enclosed by skyhigh cave ceilings with holes just big enough to let the sun shine through and reflect off the water. And there’s also another bucket-list experience: swimming with nurse sharks.

What makes the day so memorable however is the warmth of the Bahamian crew – great guys welcoming you the incredible sights and experiences of their own backyard.

To find out more visit www.coastlineadventuresexuma.com

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Meet the famous swimming pigs of the Bahamas

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HOW TO HOLIDAY LIKE A CELEBRITY BERMUDA, NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN

Thanks to its romantic pale pink sands and ridiculously pretty pastel houses that belong in a watercolour painting, Bermuda has long been a favourite haunt of the rich and famous. Rumour has it that Chelsea Clinton was conceived in Bermuda when Bill and Hilary were on holiday and John Lennon stayed (and played) here in the summer of 1980 while writing his last album Double Fantasy. Meanwhile movie stars Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones were so taken with Bermuda that they bought a house, while former tennis ace Pat Rafter also has also called Hamilton (the Bermudan capital) home since 1994.

Golfers can take to the fairways (Bermuda has more golf courses per square mile than any country in the world) while sun seekers can toast themselves on Bermuda’s famous beaches . In the words of Mark Twain, Bermuda is “the perfect country for a jaded man to loaf in.”

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Want to holiday like a Hollywood star? Here’s the low-down on the Caribbean and North American addresses you need to hit

How to holiday like a celebrity

SANDY LANE, BARBADOS

GANSEVOORT, NEW YORK

When Europe is under a dark blanket, every celeb seemingly heads abroad to Barbados to bask in some winter sun. Music industry mogul, Simon Cowell, his partner Lauren Silverman and ex Sinatta all seek out Barbados’ fabled west coast (nicknamed the Platinum coast) where they check into luxury beachfront resort, Sandy Lane. If you can’t afford to follow in Simon’s cuban heeled footsteps and stay at Sandy Lane, celeb spot at Lime Grove.

This overdraft shattering shopping mall - within a stone’s throw of Sandy Lane - affords fabulous people watching opportunities. Mr Nasty aside, Sir Philip Green and daughter Chloe, Tulisa Contostavlos and Mariah Carey have all been spotted soaking up the sun in Barbados. As has local girl done good, Rihanna. The Bajan beauty regularly returns to her homeland for some R&R.

The Big Apple - home to Bloomingdales, the Empire State Building, Tiffany’s, Fifth Avenue, Times Square, Central Park, Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty and iconic yellow taxis - has been mesmerising celebs for years.

Where do they stay in the city that famously never sleeps? It’s got to be the glamorous Gansevoort - named for a nearby Dutch-christened street - in the hip Meatpacking District.

Songstresses Christina Aguilera and Katy Perry like to call the hotel - whose rooms afford arresting views of the Empire State Building to the north and the Hudson River to the west - home, when in town. And of course Kim Kardashian and her then-husband Kris Humphries famously resided in the US$7,000 per night Presidential Suite while shooting Kourtney and Kim Take New York. The real must see, however, is the hotel’s heated rooftop swimming pool (complete with underwater music!) and Plunge bar: think people watching at its best.

NECKER ISLAND, BVI

Where do the stars head when their romantic lives turn a little bit Bridget Jones? Take a bow Necker Island. This is where One Direction heart throb, Harry Styles, retreated after his break up with America’s sweetheart Taylor Swift. Located in the beautiful British Virgin Islands, Necker Island is Sir Richard Branson’s private island paradise which was recently the subject of a BBC2 documentary Billionaire’s Paradise: Inside Necker Island. Hazza isn’t the only A lister that the island has welcomed: past guests include Princess Diana, Nelson Mandela, Kate Winslet, Kate Moss and more.

Branson’s 74-acre Caribbean retreat - with its army of 100 staff - could be yours too… for a spend of £40,000 per night.

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MIAMI, USA

Want to make merry with the stars? Miami - the East coast’s hottest and hippest city for fun and sun - is where it’s at. This is a shamelessly glitzy city where star sightings (Shakira, Matt Damon, Jo Lo, Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan – oh and OJ Simpson – all own homes here) are ubiquitous. If you want to see the likes of Li Lo doing something tabloid worthy, book a table at upscale Chinese eatery, Philippe. It’s not cheap (the bill is as over the top as the nightly noodle show which sees a mound of dough beaten into submission before emerging as fine strands of noodles) but it’s worth it for the chance to dine alongside Alex Rodriguez and Ryan Seacrest on crispy seaweed and shrimp toast.

Then dance off any excess calories consumed at achingly cool club, The Mansion.

Expect to queue (the line of people pleading to be allowed past the velvet rope snakes around the block), but once inside you can revel in the company of luminaries like JT and Jessica Biel.

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How to holiday like a celebrity

KAUAI, HAWAII

Want to share a beach with Beyonce et al?

Say aloha to Hawaii (the home state of US President Barack Obama and entertainer Bruno Mars). Stars - including Reese Witherspoon, Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Charlize Theron, Kimye and Cameron Diaz flock to Hawaii in their droves during winter and for good reason.True the journey to get there is something of an odyssey but this is a small price to pay for a piece of sunny paradise. Hawaii is home to eight different islands but Kauai (Hawaii’s fourth largest island) represents your best chance of bumping into a celeb. Increase your chances further by checking into the sumptuous St. Regis Princeville. Nestled among verdant sea cliffs, the resort boasts an incredible 19 dining options, an 11,000 square foot spa, working cattle ranch and two award winning golf courses. Sure a stay here isn’t cheap but it is unforgettable

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CELEBRITY HONEYMOON DESTINATIONS Wondering where to honeymoon?

Follow in the footsteps of the rich and famous and head to one of these haute spots in the sand

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Celebrity honeymoon destinations

PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA

Located 110 miles east of Los Angeles along Hwy 111, Palm Springs is where the Rat Pack cronies headed when they wanted to escape the intensity of Hollywood. However it wasn’t just Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jnr and Dean Martin who flocked to this desert jewel.

Elvis and Priscilla Presley spent their 1967 honeymoon at 1,350 Ladera Circle, Palm Springs. Designed by the architectural firm of Palmer and Krisel and built by celebrated local designer, Robert Alexander, Elvis’ futuristic semi-circular Honeymoon Hideaway is currently on the market for a cool US$9.5 million.

MUSTIQUE, ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES, CARIBBEAN

The small private island of Mustique was where Sir Paul McCartney whisked wife number three - New Jersey heiress Nancy Shevell - a week after tying the knot at Old Marylebone Town Hall. The former Beatle benefited from a “little help from his friends.”

Sir Paul - who recently collaborated with Rihanna and Kanye West on the hit single Only One - honeymooned at Mick Jagger’s exclusive Mustique retreat that boasts six bedrooms, a butler, private chef 25ft swimming pool.

Elsewhere on the Caribbean island after just three months of dating, X Factor judge Cheryl Cole tied the knot with Jean-Bernard Fernández-Versini in high end Cotton House Hotel.

BARBADOS, CARIBBEAN

Legendary performer Barbara Streisand and actor James Brolin chose to honeymoon in the British Overseas Territory and understandably so. Only a handful of places on earth are more seductive and beautiful in the flesh than on the postcard but Barbados is one of them. Even better: it doesn’t require a string of vaccinations to get there and you’re guaranteed sun and spoken English. Golf ’s fallen superstar, Tiger Woods, also chose Barbados as the venue for his ill fated 2004 wedding to Elin Nordegren. Woods wed his Swedish finance at Sandy Lane Golf Club - a favourite haunt of Simon Cowell and cronies.

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PURE SHORES

Craving surf, sand and sun? The Caribbean has it covered.

However consisting - as it does - of over 7,000 islands and islets, attempting to pick the best beach can present something of a challenge. Fortunately Best In Travel has done the leg work for you and selected 10 top spots: those who get trapped in front of their computers at home only have themselves to blame.

DICKENSON BAY, ANTIGUA Antigua is blessed with an abundance of bounty advert beaches but most of the action is to be found at Dickenson Bay where you can swim, snorkel, sail, fish and dive – or simply soak up the sun. Beyond the beach, cricket fans will want to try and take in a Test match at the St Vivian Richards Stadium – the Caribbean is crazy about cricket and Antigua especially so.

Perfect for: cricket lovers

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Pure Shores

ELEUTHERA, BAHAMAS

KEYHOLE PINNACLES, ST LUCIA

The basic ingredients – lapis lazuli waters and powder fine sands – are here in spades making Eleuthera the perfect place to slumber in the sun. If, however, lounging doesn’t satisfy (maybe you’re from Mars or something), there are other options. Wreck divers can explore the Devil’s Backbone – a superb dive site off Harbour Island – while kite surfers can skip across the waves of the eastern shores.

If you’ve never snorkeled or dived on a Caribbean coral reef, you’re missing out and when it comes to places to take the plunge, the Keyhole Pinnacles - voted one of the ‘10 Best Dive Sites’ - are up there with the best of them. The four underwater sea mountains that rise dramatically from the depths to within a few feet from the surface are coated in colourful corals. Why not dive right in and see for yourself?

Perfect for: beach bums

Perfect for: budding Jacques Cousteau’s

LAS GALERAS, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

HORSESHOE BAY, BERMUDA

Found at the furthest point of the Samana Peninsula, Las Galeras is often overlooked owing to its ‘off the beaten track’ location.

But don’t be deterred; the area boasts some of the best beaches in the Dominican Republic making it well worth any extra effort involved. Playa Rincon is particularly captivating, managing to stun even the most jaded of traveller. You can rent beach chairs, refuel in one of the restaurants and then work off the calories by saddling up and going on a horse ride, snorkelling or diving.

Perfect for: privacy. Mass tourism and overdevelopment has yet to hit.

Bermudians are at pains to point out that their island isn’t actually in the Caribbean.

Still their beaches are of a Caribbean quality – none more so than Horseshoe Bay whose pinks sands are, as the name suggests, shaped like a horseshoe. Horseshoe Bay has a lifeguard on duty from May- September (Bermudians won’t venture into the sea before Bermuda Day on May 24), a cafe and changing facilities – making it ideal for families. Other attractions for ankle biters include an annual sandcastle competition.

Perfect for: families

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LONG BAY, JAMAICA Want to hit the beach and bars? Then Long Bay (a gorgeous 11km long stretch of sand also known as Seven Mile Beach) is the name you need to know. The sun splashed shores are a powerful lure for most during the day – including the hawkers and hustlers who patrol the beach selling their wares. Nights meanwhile, are for enjoying the tropical party lifestyle; as the sun sets, reggae (well you are in Bob Marley country) and rum, rule.

Perfect for: making merry

RUM POINT, GRAND CAYMAN We’re not going to mince words. Rum Point – at the top of Northside – can’t compete with Cayman’s iconic Seven Mile Beach.

Nonetheless it’s still a not to be missed morning; locals drive from all over the island for a snorkel session and to swing in hammocks at the weekend. At the Wreck Bar, you can enjoy a lazy lunch washed down by a famous Cayman mudslide or stay on and watch the sun set at next door Rum Point restaurant.

Perfect for: relaxing

SEVEN MILE BEACH, CAYMAN ISLANDS You could visit Grand Cayman and never leave stunning Seven Mile Beach (SMB), so seductive is its stretch of unbroken white sand. Popular with beach-goers of all ages, it’s also a great place to people watch: expect to see couples strolling hand in hand and 50 something women, their flesh spilling over their bikinis, power strut past hard core surfer dudes. Of course no visit to Cayman is complete without seeing some stingrays: at Stingray City, the island’s most famous residents sweep across white sand flats in the shallows.

Perfect for: foodies: glitzy Grand Cayman has an exceptional eating out scene

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Pure Shores

VARADERO, CUBA

WEST COAST, BARBADOS

Boasting 21km (or 13 miles) of beautiful, white, soft, sandy beaches shaded by palms, it’s little wonder that Varadero is Cuba’s most popular beach. Can’t bear lying on a beach all day? The sea, with its unsurpassable shades of blue, is too enticing to pass up and chances are you’ll spend longer in the water than a dolphin. When night falls, learn to salsa up a storm at one of Varadero’s numerous all inclusive resorts. Note: this is not the place for those who object to having to wear a coloured bracelet to breakfast.

Rhianna - Barbados’ most famous export (after rum) - hangs out here when she’s not collecting collaborating with Kanye and Sir Paul, while Mick Jagger, Simon Cowell and golf ’s fallen super Tiger Woods also frequently flock to the West Coast – or the ‘Platinum coast’ as locals like to call it – to laze on beaches of icing sugar sand and swim in crystal clear azure waters. On the West Coast, the toughest decision you’ll make every day is where to eat.

Perfect for: celeb spotting

Perfect for: beachgoers of all ages

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CAYMAN ISLANDS

BANKING ON A GOOD TIME Forget Barbados and the Bahamas. This time around it’s Grand Cayman that is stealing the scene. After years in the second rank of Caribbean destinations, this idyllic, sun kissed location is an island on the move Like most things that are worthwhile, reaching Grand Cayman can be hard work but the payoff is pure heaven. For while the island’s association with offshore banking and the rich and famous means that Grand Cayman is often thought of as an over the top sort of place, it isn’t like that all.

Rather it’s a small island (despite its name Grand Cayman is just four miles by 22 miles and home to a mere 45,000 people ) whose pristine powder fine beaches and balmy waters offer a welcome charm for travellers tired of city life.

Any tour of the island is bound to include a visit to Seven Mile Beach – a five and a half mile (don’t ask) stretch of sand that glints in the sunshine with the sparkle of a newly wed’s solitaire and is pictured on every postcard.

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CAYMAN ISLANDS

Nonetheless for all its fame, Seven Mile Beach remains remarkably unspoilt (the government does a good job of keeping the temptations of development in check and no hotel is allowed to be built higher than the tallest palm tree) and even in high season you can still stroll its length before breakfast and barely see another soul. Venture there in low season and you’ll find the beach empty, but for the husks of coconuts, and mercifully free of vendors vying to vying to braid your hair.

Once you’ve had your fill of this eye wateringly beautiful beach, it’s time to take to the sea: the lapis lazuli waters from which shoals of fish leap, their scales flashing silver in the sunlight, are too enticing to pass up a diving or snorkelling session. If you’ve never snorkeled or dived on a Caribbean coral reef and go tomorrow to the famous Cayman Trough you will be amazed as I was – and still am – by the beauty and incredible diversity.

A boat trip to Stingray City Sandbar, a sandy shallow spot where you can meet the Cayman Islands’ most famous residents – southern stingrays – is another must. On any brilliant day, you’ll find hundreds of black, velvety stingrays – some of which have six to eight foot wingspans – doing what they have done for eons: feeding and frollicking in the waves.

But the sea hasn’t always been so saintly – witness the ‘Wreck of the Ten Sails’ which took place in 1794 when 10 merchant vessels in a convoy between the UK and Jamaica ran aground on the reef one night, because a warning signal was misunderstood. According to local lore and legend, Caymanians managed to save every passenger prompting King George 111 to make Grand Cayman tax free in gratitude.

Away from the water, the great natural wonder of island is the native blue iguana – a giant dragon like lizard, found only in Grand Cayman that grows to more than five feet long and can weigh as much as 25 pounds. The blue iguana faced extinction only a decade ago but thanks to a successful recovery programme, their numbers have risen from 25-144. The best place to view the distinctive blue iguanas slumbering in the sun is over at the Queen Elizabeth 11 Botanic Park. Set in 65 acres of lush gardens, the park also offers a chance to explore local flora and fauna including, my favourite, the Chanel No 5 tree, and see a recreation of a traditional sugar almond coloured Caymanian house complete with a sand garden.

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Close by to the Botanic Park, you’ll find the 2.5 mile Mastic Trail – the route used by islanders to transport timber from the North side of Grand Cayman to Bodden Town, right up until the 18th century – and a reminder that there’s more to the island that sand and sea. As you tramp past banana orchids (the national flower), silver thatch palms, ancient mastic trees and lens friendly wildlife (endemic Cayman parrots, West Indian woodpeckers and Caribbean doves are all present and correct), the pollution and high rises of hectic London life seem a million, million miles away.

Indeed for those attracted by the great outdoors, Grand Cayman has much to offer and nature lovers won’t want to miss the Grand Cayman Turtle Farm.

When Christopher Columbus sailed through the region back in 1503, he saw so many turtles that he named the islands ‘Las Tortugas’. Times have changed: the Grand Cayman Turtle Farm, the only one of its kind in the world, breeds now endangered green sea turtles and then releases them into the wild. Visitors can tour the farm and see the creatures in various stages of growth.

For a dose of culture, head to Pedro St James (aka Pedro Castle), the only building to have survived a massive hurricane in 1785. It’s hardly the V&A but this beautifully restored three storey plantation style house, gives you a flavour of Cayman’s colonial period of life; it was here that an end to slavery was declared in 1835 and the story is told in fun 3D presentation.

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CAYMAN ISLANDS

Sleepy Bodden Town, the original capital of the Cayman Islands, could be your next port of call. This time warp town is only a couple of kilometres away from the current capital, Georgetown, but it feels like another world. In the former you’ll find the usual Caribbean clichés: islanders swigging rum while swinging in hammocks, radios playing reggae and rural roads lined with homegrown produce stands.

By contrast the Disney-esque (all the buildings have been painted in candy pink or mint green ice cream) Georgetown targets cruise shippers in search of tax free shopping.

If Grand Cayman is celebrated for its glitzy shopping, its cuisine is less well known although that’s changing. Celebrity chef and co owner of top New York restaurant Le Bernardin, Eric Ripert, has created two restaurants. Periwinkle offers a casual alfresco dining experience while Blue – the island’s only AAA Diamond rated restaurant – is the place to dine on delicate coconut ginger soup with avocado and yellow fin tuna in a savoury soy citrus vinaigrette amid elegant, sea inspired décor. For post dinner drinks, make for a beachside bar blaring Bob Marley music. Calico Jacks is a top spot to quaff Cayman Mudslides (a plastic cup of frothy vodka, kahlua, tia maria and ice cream) at tables shaded by ketchup coloured umbrellas before dancing away the calories on the sand with friendly locals as well as Australians, Canadians and Jamaicans; Cayman draws people from all over the world.

They come here on holiday and then return repeatedly as the island vibe and slack paces works its subtle inexorable magic. In time, completely enchanted they find a way (thanks to Grand Cayman’s position as the world’s fifth largest financial centre) to move here for despite having a village called ‘Hell’, the island is anything but. All told, this is one of Caribbean’s top treats and a great place to call home (Sylvester Stallone, George Michael and Microsoft number two, Paul Allen all have beachside residences) whether for a week’s vacation or a whole lot longer…

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Anguilla’s Ultimate Destination

Nestled in the crescent curve of Rendezvous Bay, this intimate and casually sophisticated beachfront resort celebrates the ultimate Caribbean escape. Guests are enticed by the magnificent beach, renowned dining options, rejuvenation at the Venus Spa, and challenging golf at the 18-hole Greg Norman Signature Design Championship Course.

Rendezvous Bay • Anguilla • Telephone 264.498.2000 www.CuisinArtResort.com

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BEAUTIFUL

BARBADOS

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Beautiful Barbados

The signs are unmistakable. It’s wet, windy and dark at four o’clock so it must be time to head abroad and bask in some winter sun. If the daily grind is getting you down and you need to recharge your batteries in a tropical paradise, may we suggest Barbados?

When in Britain the sky is the colour of porridge , the leaves are falling and everyone is succumbing to the cough-ice, in Barbados it’s hot. Not sweltering sunstroke hot you understand, but blue skies, smattering of clouds, top up the tan hot.

Only a handful of places on earth are more seductive and beautiful in the flesh than on the postcard but, in our mind, Barbados is one of them. Even better: it doesn’t require a string of vaccinations to get there and you’re guaranteed sun and spoken English.

The majority of Brits make a beeline for Barbados’ fabled west coast which isn’t nicknamed the Platinum coast for nothing: this lap of luxury is where the jet set (think leggy models, real estate gurus, playboys and socialites) hang out. For people watching at its most intoxicating, look no further than Lime Grove – a new, overdraft shattering shopping mall packed with people who look like they are living in an Armani holiday advert.

Yes the west coast is good at showing off, but sometimes less is more right? So if, like BIT, you can survive a holiday without bumping into Simon Cowell and co, head south where you’ll find pockets of paradise that have not yet been lost.There’s no such thing as a bad beach in Barbados, but Brownes beach, Miami beach and Accra beach – all on the sun kissed south coast – are exceptionally fine spots. From a distance, the ocean appears a tantalisingly unnatural aqua but, up close, it’s as clear as if poured from a tap.

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The three S’s – sun, sand and sea – are invariably Barbados’ biggest headline grabbers but, while undeniably beautiful, they tend to divert from the island’s equally enticing interior. Here you’ll find rolling hills, traditional chattel houses the colour of mint ice cream, beautiful botanical gardens, magnificent plantation houses (step forward St Nicholas Abbey) and the spectacular subterranean attraction that is Harrison’s Cave. This massive underground cave stream system, which recently celebrated its 30th anniversary, is the place to gaze in awe at caverns and crystallised formations.

But it’s the island’s east coast that excites me most, being that little bit more colourful, curious, courageous and crazy than the rest of the Barbados. Sequestered by sugar canes and thick fields, this is the Caribbean in its rawest, most real state where on a patch of grass, a makeshift wicket is set up and a tattered ball hurled at a well worn bat while ladies in their best outfits gather at the church next door; where rural roads are lined with home grown produce stands and cows and goats wander into the road, while the blue green sea glistens in the sun and the vegetation has a lush brilliance.

By contrast Bridgetown – Barbados’ bustling capital – is lively place to stroll overflowing with fruit sellers and souvenir shops targeting cruise ship passengers in search of an ‘I heart Barbados’ t-shirt and Tortuga rum cake. On Broad Street – the Bajan capital’s main thoroughfare – you can also window shop for tax free Rolexes and Ray Bans.

When you’ve had your retail therapy fix, make for the George Washington House (the only house outside of America where the great man resided), followed by the Barbados Museum. The latter is hardly the V&A but does give you a flavour of the colonial period of life. It’s perfectly possible to ‘do’ Bridgetown in an afternoon, although admittedly that goes against the chilled out nature of the island.

After ambling around town, chances are you’ll have worked up an appetite. Fortunately Barbados has a thriving local gastronomic scene and restaurants such as the Roundhouse and The Cliff have earned a reputation for quality – as well as their arresting views.

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Beautiful Barbados

And if you’re in Barbados on a Friday night, don’t miss the legendary Oistins Fish Fry. The small fishing village opens it doors to tourists and locals alike, all of whom flock here for the barbecue fish and rum drinking, to a backdrop of reggae, pop and country music. Yet as fantastic as events like the Friday night fish fry are, without a doubt one of the island’s greatest assets is its people. Charming and hospitable, they always have time to talk and help make Barbados one of the most welcoming countries in the Caribbean.

NEED TO KNOW AND NOT TO MISS EXCURSIONS

Two unforgettable day trips include a Tiami catamaran cruise (a five hour cruise with lunch, snorkelling and giant turtle viewing opportunities) and a trip to the Mount Gay rum distillery. Rum is the drink of Barbados be it by itself, with coke or in a cocktail. At Mount Gay Rum visitors centre, you can take a tour of a working distillery and learn a little more about the world famous rum (the darker the drink, the older the rum but note that unlike scotch older doesn’t necessarily mean better). On Tuesdays and Thursdays, an excellent West Indian buffet that includes macaroni pie, flying fish and Bajan rum cake is offered at the end of the tour.

To book a Tiami catamaran cruise, visit www.tallshipcruises. com. To book a Mount Gay Rum tour, check out www. mountgayrum.com. For more information on Barbados, log onto www.visitbarbados.org

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An experience of a lifetime that captures the opulence and romance of Imperial India

www.the-maharajas.com

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Profile on

THE PLAZA More than a century ago, The Plaza set an incomparable standard for luxury. Today, New York’s most prestigious address has returned as the ultimate luxury lifestyle destination. The legend continues at the distinctive landmark, which emerged from a delicate and thoughtfully curated $450 million, three-year restoration in 2008 with its glory and history intact.

Managed by Fairmont Hotels & Resorts, the passion and uncompromising service that made The Plaza a legend in the 20th century has returned with a new and contemporary spirit. As a treasured piece of New York history, The Plaza is poised to play a significant role in the city’s future.

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LOCATION:

The Plaza resides at the crossroads of fabled Central Park and fashionable Fifth Avenue in the heart of Manhattan, between 58th and 59th Streets. The hotel is located within a short walking distance from Fifth Avenue shopping, the Broadway Theatre district, The Metropolitan Museum of Art and countless other spectacular New York City attractions.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

The Plaza offers 282 distinctive guestrooms, including 102 suites, designed to meet the highest and most demanding of standards as well as two signature family accommodations, the Eloise Suite and the Tower Suite, both located on the 18th floor.

Profile on The Plaza

Thoroughly renovated, the refined elegance of each spacious guestroom and suite is inspired by the Louis XV style of French décor. The Plaza is the only hotel in the world to offer 24-karat gold plated sinks and fixtures in every room, cradled in solid white marble vanities. Each bathroom features Sherle Wagner original designs, known world-wide as the premier source for luxury bath accessories. All guestrooms and suites reflect the grace of a glorious past, updated with contemporary conveniences.

The Plaza’s 102 suites (the most of any luxury hotel in New York) are available in seven distinct designs and layouts, include six duplex Terrace Suites on the hotel’s penthouse level. The Royal Terrace Suite offers a staggering 2,100 square feet of space and is located on the southwest corner of the hotel’s penthouse floor, affording extraordinary views of Central Park from large windows in the suite’s spacious living room. Flowing off of the master bedroom, an inviting outdoor private terrace on the suite’s second floor offers enchanting views of both Central Park and New York City.

Distinguished with a front door that mimics the grillwork in the film’s logo, The Fitzgerald Suite stands apart from all other suites. It has been built from the ground up with new oak floors, wall coverings from Catherine Martin Home, custom built-in shelves and a comprehensive range of unique accessories from luxury home furnishings store RH, Restoration Hardware, as well as a bespoke “writer’s nook” in tribute to the author.

In January 2011, iPads were deployed in all guest rooms, making The Plaza the first hotel in the world to provide guest services and room controls using Intelity ICE (Interactive Customer Experience) software to all of its guests. The iPads feature a multimedia video welcome screen and provide guests with touch screen access to control their entire hotel experience.

The Fitzgerald Suite at The Plaza was unveiled in May 2013 in honour of the famous patron, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and to celebrate the release of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, the newest adaptation of Fitzgerald’s great American novel.

Designed by Catherine Martin, costume designer, production designer and co-producer of Baz Luhrmann’s The Great Gatsby, the 700-square-foot suite on the 18th floor of The Plaza has been transformed into a dramatic art deco space.

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THE RANCH At Rock Creek

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The Ranch At Rock Creek

The Ranch at Rock Creek is situated on 6,600 acres of rugged Montana wilderness on the outskirts of Philipsburg. The Ranch offers an array of rustic yet elegant accommodations, including luxury suites in The Granite Lodge, authentic log cabins and historic barn accommodations.

Additionally meandering along Rock Creek lie several luxury canvas cabins, often considered the definitive glamping experience.

The property features a 2,000 square-foot spa and a 5,300 square-foot event barn. A variety of year round outdoor activities are offered, including fly fishing, horseback riding, sporting clay shooting, geocaching, hiking, biking, bowling and more. Come winter, guests can enjoy on-property snowshoeing, horse-drawn sleigh rides, ice skating and sledding, as well as trips to Discovery Ski Area, a quaint alpine ski destination located just 25 minutes away and equipped with a Ski Concierge available exclusively to Ranch guests.

The Ranch at Rock Creek is affiliated with Relais & Chateaux, Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts, Signature Travel Network, Kiwi Collection and is the only US property to be included in National Geographic’s Unique Lodges of the World. In 2013, The Ranch became Montana’s first and only property to earn the Forbes Travel Guide Five-Star Award. www.theranchatrockcreek.com

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LAS VEGAS

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Las Vegas

AMERICA’S PLAYGROUND

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New York might be the city that never sleeps, but Las Vegas is the city that’s always up – and up for anything.

Whether it’s three in the morning or three in the afternoon, there’s nothing that can’t be had in Las Vegas. It is the premier destination for all-night parties, non-stop gambling, exquisite resorts, exclusive events and more, and has truly earned the nickname “America’s Playground”.

Thanks to its many, many offerings, Las Vegas is also known by many names: Sin City, the Entertainment Capital of the World, the City of Lights, to mention but a few. From Elvis impersonators, to elaborate stage productions, beautiful showgirls, spur-of-the-moment weddings, and quite literally everything else in between, Vegas is home to every type of entertainment a visitor could imagine – and a few more!

Each of the numerous world-class resorts on the infamous Strip are attractions in themselves, giving guests little reason to venture further than their lavish lobbies. Boasting attractions like an Eiffel Tower, erupting volcanoes, and one of the world’s most impressive synchronised fountains, wherever travellers end they can rest assured it’ll be an experience they’ll never forget.

Part of the city’s everlasting appeal is its ability to cater to every, and any visitor. Young or old, lavish or modest, night owl or early riser, Vegas never plays favourites and always delivers. Visiting for a single night or a solid week, no one leaves the city without having had the experience of a lifetime.

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Las Vegas

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MIAMI NICE

Bling is king in America’s Magic City.

BIT CHECKS OUT THE HIGH LIFE There’s more to life than work. More to experience than spending a couple of hours of each day commuting to the office and it’s time to do something about it! What you need is to escape the economic woes and stress that swirls around us and live it large for a long week-end.

But where to make merry? Take a bow Miami – a shamelessly glitzy city where you can party hearty all day and all night long. A place where star sightings (heavy hitters like J Lo, Shakira, Matt Damon, Enrique Iglesias and Anna Kournikova, Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan – oh and OJ Simpson – all own homes here) are almost as ubiquitous as black cabs in London.

It was films such as Scarface and TV programmes like Miami Vice – with its super sized speedboats, Ferraris and abundance of beautiful women – that catapulted this exuberant US city onto the world stage back in the 80s.

Three decades down the line, Miami still looks the part and plays host to more than 12 million tourists annually who flock to the East coast’s hottest and hippest city for fun and sun (Miami is almost indecently blessed with good weather). Of course, the city has its knockers but they tend to be people who haven’t lived there, loved there and laughed there or who are easily intimidated by the ‘brash, flash, trash’ façade. Sure, the metropolis isn’t for people who see the point in The National Trust but, as Will Smith once rapped, for those who fancy a few “days of playing, Miami is the city that keeps the roof ‘blazin.”

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Miami Nice

Miami is made up of a number of neighbourhoods many of which warrant a visit – step forward wealthy Coconut Grove and Coral Gables, Little Havana and Little Haiti (Miami has a multicultural make up and half the population speak Spanish), Wynwood and the Design District.

However if you’re only staying in South Florida’s sunniest city for a few days and after a hedonistic holiday, stick to South Beach aka party central.

A sucker for showiness, ‘Sobe’ – as the area is known – is the spot to see (keep your eyes peeled for the chance to see the likes of LiLo doing something tabloid worthy) and be seen, so ditch the flip flops and dress up. It was Andre Agassi who patented the statement ‘image is everything’ but Miamians have taken it to a whole new level. Jimmy Choos – like champagne and good china – might only get brought out for special occasions elsewhere in the world, but Miami isn’t most places.

Ready to let your hair down and live a little? Here are the classic components to a hedonistic week-end…

OUT AND ABOUT

The beach is the glue binding South Beach society and deservedly so: Miami boasts some of the best beaches in the country. Yet while the sun splashed shores and ocean are a powerful lure for most, there’s plenty of other action in this town to keep you entertained.

Tempting though it is to stay slumbering in the sun, be sure to explore Sobe’s art deco district. Art Deco – a term used to describe certain buildings and objects from the 1920s – is Miami’s signature style. Indeed Miami has the largest concentration of deco in the world and all of the hottest hotels feature deco details (read streamlined symmetry, friezes, glass blocks, curved edges and corners). To learn more about the movement, where to go and what to look for, pay a visit to the Art Deco Welcome Center.

Miami also has a myriad of museums but the best is Casa Casuarina; a gaudy but gorgeous mansion also referred to as the Versace House. For many years, the house where fashion mogul, Gianni Versace, lived and died was only open to a privileged few but it has now opened its doors to the masses – or anyone who wants to cough up 65 bucks. The hour long tour takes in Gianni’s central courtyard, dining room, lounges, pool and a look at the marble toilet billed as one of only three in the world.

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BEST BITES

The Magic City has a thriving local gastronomic scene (Miamians spend more time eating out than in their own kitchens), and there’s a warren of restaurants with gourmet ambitions all dedicated to feeding you up.

For a casual lunch, check out the institution that is the News Café where you can nosh while watching a parade of scantily clad beauties walking or roller blading by – it maybe a cliché but its fact. Alternatively fill your stomach to bursting point at Jerry’s Famous Deli.No matter what you’re craving in the comfort food genre, this much loved 24 hour Jewish food emporium will have it. Bagels? Check. Pizza? Check. Pasta? Check. The place is invariably almost always packed with locals and tourists alike trying to stave off hangovers. Meanwhile politicians and power brokers gather for lunch at Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink – hailed

by The New York Times as one of the top 10 new restaurants in America. Make no mistake: cuisine such as shiitake mushroom pizza and baby beet and heirloom salad is delicious, but it’s the schmoozing that really adds spice to this landmark.

Over on Collins Avenue, you can tuck into plates from all over Asia at The Setai’s restaurant. Culinary sensations such as octopus sashimi with tomato jelly, blue fin tuna tataki with sticky rice, fried crab and sesame balls are light enough that you won’t leave too full to hit the clubs.

AFTER DARK

For post dinner drinks, seek out the Sky Bar; a red hot and happening venue patronized by perma tanned models and modelers.

Then stop off at Ian Schrager’s surreal Delano Hotel – a much loved local icon with a façade that makes Buckingham Palace look like a Travel Lodge and enough marble to rival Rome. The hotel’s Rose Bar boasts a lively scene straight out of the society pages of Hello! and offers late night eats, a club like atmosphere and – most importantly for Miamians – a fully stocked bar. Aim to end your evening at The Mansion – an achingly cool club where you can dance away any calories consumed. Expect to queue (the line of plebes pleading to be allowed past the velvet rope snakes around the block), but once inside you can revel in the company of luminaries like JT and Jessica Biel.

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Miami Nice

TOP SHOPS

Miami is a world beating, over draft shattering shopper’s town. Drop some dollars down Espanola Way – a European strip lined with beautiful boutiques (there’s no brand bland here) and quirky art galleries. Lovely Lincoln Road – an open air mall – is another lively place to stroll overflowing as it is with funky shops stocked with sexy tees and skinny jeans sporting four figure price tags, indie book stores and cafes which spill out onto the sidewalks. Shopping aside, the people watching at Lincoln Road is among the best. The pedestrian esplanade is packed with leggy models, real estate gurus, socialites, gold diggers and Italian playboys for whom the main uniform is an exotic pampered pooch – making it quite the South Beach scene.

SLEEPOVER

Now somewhere to stay… Selecting the right hotel is never easy; luckily BIT has done the legwork for you.

BEST FOR… PRIVACY

Whoever said Miami lacked finesse obviously hasn’t stayed at the soothing Setai (www.setai. com). An oasis of calm on a go-go strip, The Setai has won a slew of awards and for good reason. This pampering palace pushes the boundaries to an all new level of opulence and style. A combination of old school elegance and Asian architecture (the hotel centres on an Asian courtyard with stone paths, quiet corners and waterfalls), nothing has been done by halves. Those grey, antique bricks in the lobby?

Shipped over from Shanghai.

Rooms are decked out in chocolate teak, wood and Asian embellishments while amenities include three pools (each one has a different temperature and is surrounded by gardens with secluded corners), a first rate fitness centre and oriental spa. On the food front, enjoy an alfresco lunch at the beach bar and grill or haute cuisine at The Restaurant; both serve breakfast until 11am meaning you can enjoy a long lie in (what’s the point of staying at The Setai if you don’t make the most of it?) Don’t leave without trying a chilli passion cocktail at the bar between the lobby and courtyard.

BEST FOR… PARTYING

Matching The Setai’s ante is Gansevoort South (www.gansevoortsouth.com) – the southern outpost of New York’s lauded Hotel Gansevoort – with its dramatic million dollar shark tank in the lobby. If The Setai has a love affair with all things Asian, this Collins Avenue address is all about acid colours; hot pink, sun burnt orange and gold give Gansevoort South a seductive, sexual air. While all 334 rooms are unusually large, for the full on playboy lifestyle splurge on a suite. Said suites come equipped with custom designed tables, sofas, lounge chairs and oversized mirrors – perfect for preening in.

This bustling resort sees a constant influx of gorgeous creatures (well Wilhelmia Models do rent a space on the third floor), who frequent the 18th floor for the 110ft palm tree fringed rooftop pool and bar. To fit in with the fabulous folk, sweat in style at the onsite David Barton gym where you can sign up for innovative classes such as ‘slo-gasmic’ and work out to music that comes compliments of international DJs perched on a sculpture 50 feet above the main floor. The hotel, like the city, has the feel of the future.

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HIP SPRINGS

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HIP SPRINGS

Palm Springs – the hangout of the Rat Pack back in the 60s and 70s – has got its groove back. BIT has the low down on the decadent desert oasis Surrounded by the stunning San Jacinto and Santa Rosa mountains, the desert town of Palm Springs stands for everything we love: hot weather (Palm Springs enjoys 360 days of sunshine each year), fabulous sun tanned bodies and some of the swankiest hotels and bars on the planet.

Located 110 miles east of Los Angeles along Hwy 111, Palm Springs is where the King of Cool and his Rat Pack cronies headed when they wanted to escape the intensity of Hollywood. However it wasn’t just Dean, Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jnr who flocked to this desert jewel. Liberace, Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable: name your star and they’ll almost certainly have had an extravagant home here. The question isn’t so much who has stayed and played in Palm Springs, as who hasn’t?

No trip to Palm Springs would be complete without seeing the homes of the aforementioned in addition to the house where Elvis and Priscilla honeymooned, the street where Hedy Lamarr, Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, George Reeves and Dorothy Lamour all lived, the properties featured in both Ocean’s Eleven and Miami Vice and many, many more. The Best of the Best’s 90 minute ‘Rich And Famous Tour’ shows you the estates of the celebrities who helped put Palm Springs on the map.

Searching for more stars? Make for Palm Canyon Drive where you’ll find the Palm Springs Walk of Stars – around 350 Golden Palm stars embedded in the pavement.

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Today Palm Springs still packs in celebrities by the bucket load thanks to Coachella – an achingly cool music festival attracting, among others, the Arctic Monkeys, The Killers and Jay Z every April. The Palm Springs International Film Festival is another annual jamboree that draws in the glamorous, A list likes of Bradley Cooper, Anne Hathaway and Halle Berry.

Architecture is another attraction. The desert town boasts the largest concentration of mid century modern architecture in America: expect to see one storey homes with curved roofs, rectangular pavilions and floor to ceiling glass walls. Then there’s the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway (aka cable car) which whisks you from the scorching desert to the summit of San Jacinto. Tip: it gets chilly at the top of the mountain – even in summer – so bring a jumper.

Palm Springs also satisfies serious shopaholics. For funky vintage stores and second hand furniture shops, the Uptown Design district is where it’s at. Even if shopping doesn’t interest you, don’t miss Dazzles (760-327-1446) whose garden is choc full of kitsch 1960s phone cabinets, plastic flamingos and 1950s sun loungers making for retro sensory overload.

Elsewhere label lovers will want to head to the Desert Hills Premium Outlets to pick up Prada, Burberry and Armani Exchange threads for a fraction of what they cost in the malls.

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HIP SPRINGS

Ready to relax? Sumptuous spas are another part of Palm Spring’s deep bag of attractions. BIT enjoyed a facial which left us feeling rejuvenated (we can’t count the number of people who said we had a certain glow about us) and ready to check out the pulsating nightlife.

For while the desert town is rightly renowned for its spas, year round sunshine and sensational shopping scene, the real reason people flock to Palm Springs is to drink designer cocktails and dance to fresh DJ spun tunes around kidney shaped pools until the wee hours (sleep is a mere afterthought). Palm Springs lives by its own rules and rhythms: it looks like the sort of place where Don Draper goes on holiday in Mad Men and where you will have one too many cocktails.

The pool party over at Ace – a hip, happening and celebrity ridden hotel (Florence Welch was a recent guest) – is a great place to drink margaritas from glasses the size of goldfish bowls. Another hot spot to gather post midnight is the rainbow hued Saguaro Palm Springs, where the pool is surrounded by beds of bright desert flowers. There’s plenty to draw the foodies too: The Saguaro (pronounced Suh-whar-oh) is also home to Tinto – a wine bar and tapas restaurant run by celebrity chef Jose Garces, that’s garnered rave reviews for its spicy tomato-topped octopus and mussels with chorizo.

But Palm Springs isn’t all about hobnobbing with celebrities and pretty young things at pumping pool parties. Those who love the great outdoors won’t leave disappointed either. Next time (yes there will be a next time) we’re aiming to take a trip to the Indian Canyons – the ancestral lands of the Cahuilla tribe – and the natural wonder that is the Joshua Tree National Park. Oh and perhaps play a round of golf – there’s over a hundred courses to choose from including the famed PGA West stadium, which hosts the Bob Hope Classic every February.

Mostly though, Palm Springs provides what we all need in these times: good old fashioned glamour and an excuse to get together and party. Sure, Palm Springs won’t suit everyone – you either get it or you don’t (and there are plenty of people who love to loathe the glitz and bling). But if you do, then like the BIT team, you can’t wait to return.

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SURFIN SANTA CRUZ Best In Travel makes waves in sunny Santa Cruz California calling this summer? You can’t very well visit the Golden State without learning to surf.

And the best place to get wet? Say hello to Santa Cruz – a small yet lively, Californian beach town approximately 75 miles south of San Francisco which has been officially recognised as a World Surfing Reserve alongside Malibu (California), Ericeira (Portugal) and Manly Beach (Australia).

But Santa Cruz has always been legendary in surfing circles: a century ago the Hawaiian Princes Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole Piikoi and David Kahalepouli Kawanaanko a Piiko, were spotted surfing on 15 foot redwood planks weighing 100 pounds in this sunny seaside resort. And in the 1950s, Jack O’Neill – the man who invented the wetsuit and changed the surf industry forever – opened up his first surf shop in SC.

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Surfin Santa Cruz

Today, pros ride world class breaks off Steamers Lane but if you’ve never set foot on a board before, Cowell’s Beach (where the waves and thus wipeouts are gentler) is arguably the best place to get schooled in the ‘sport of kings’.

BIT recommends signing up up for a surf lesson with Richard Schmidt’s surf school (www.richardschmidt.com). Richard, who was born and raised in Santa Cruz, has been teaching the basics of surfing to all ages and sexes for more than 25 years and is acknowledged as one of the world’s most accomplished big wave surfers.

After suiting up – Hollywood’s tendency to depict hot blondes surfing up a storm in skimpy bikinis and boar dies, is at odds with reality where the less than warm water ensures that anyone without a wet suit will quickly turn blue – Richard will talk you through how to catch and ride a wave, before testing your skills out at sea. Richard swears by the ‘Schmidt guarantee’ - he’ll have your standing and surfing on your first day out. (“The only prerequisite for learning to surf is knowing how to swim! I guarantee it.”)

As you ride blue green wave after blue green wave while watching the bone white and flour fine sand glint in the Californian sunshine with the sparkle of a newly wed’s solitaire, deadlines and to-do lists will magically disappear. You’ll be on a roll - and if our experience is anything to go by - will never feel more alive.

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Back on shore, head to the Surfing Museum in the old Abbott Memorial Lighthouse (www. santacruzsurfingmusuem.org) up by Lighthouse Point where there’s a bench remembering “all who caught their last wave”. The small but perfectly formed Surfing Museum is the place to see vintage redwood planks used by the Hawaiian royalty, as well as the mangled board of Californian surfer Eric Larsen who – somehow – survived an attack by a 17 foot Great White in 1991.

But Santa Cruz isn’t all about surfing: there’s more to this Californian paradise than just playing in the Pacific. Away from the water, the big attraction is the famous 1907 Santa Cruz Boardwalk. The old school American amusement park famously appeared in cult flick The Lost Boys.

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When you’ve screamed your head off on the Giant Dipper and wild wooden 1924 roller coaster, one of the best things to do in Santa Cruz is simply to stroll and people watch along Pacific Avenue – alive, as it is, with laughter and music. It’s here that Santa Cruz’s strong 1960s spirit pervades: expect to see laid back hippies, stoners and one of a kind shops (SC has resisted the pressure to become the same as everywhere else) selling crystal pendants, O’Neill hoodies and ‘Keep Santa Cruz Weird’ bumper stickers.

When night falls returne to your room - we recommend the Beach Street Inn & Suites (www.beachstreetinn.com)m a stylishly modern motel, just steps away from Main Beach. Arnold Schwarzenegger, California’s former governor, famously said in The Terminator: “I’ll be back.” As you climb into crisp, white sheets and driftoff while listening to the waves crash onto the shore, we reckon you’ll agree. Whether you’re a nature lover, foodie, sun worshipper, shopper or yes, surfer, Santa Cruz will steal your heart…

Surfin Santa Cruz

NEED TO KNOW SURFS UP

Surfing Two hour group lessons at the Richard Schmidt Surf School cost US$80 per person, while private instruction costs between US$80-100 per hour (all equipment included).

Richard also offers week long surf clinics and camps for those who want to dive straight in. For more information visitwww.richardschmidt.com or email surf@richardschmidt.com WHERE TO STAY

The Beach Street Inn & Suites Rooms have all the mod cons (flat screen TVs, iPod docking stations and free wifi) and boast sublime sea views that will make a suitably smug Facebook update, a sun deck – the perfect place to turn lobster coloured on a lounger – and spacious bathrooms equipped with rain showers.

For more information, visit www.beachstreetinn.com GETTING THERE

Santa Cruz, California, is located approximately 75 miles south of San Francisco and 349 miles from Los Angeles. Many visitors choose to take scenic Highway 1 along the California coastline to Santa Cruz or Highway 17 through the Santa Cruz mountains.

Visitors can also choose to fly into San Francisco International Airport or Mineta/San Jose International Airport.

FIND OUT MORE

For further inspiration, information and to download the free Visit Santa Cruz Travel app – available for Android and iPhone devices, visit www.santacruz.org

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EVERYTHING AND ANYTHING YOU COULD WISH FOR IS CATERED AT THE VERY HIGHEST

Managed by PlanHotel Hospitality Group

Proudly hosting the 2016 World Travel Awards Africa & Indian Ocean Gala Ceremony 9th April 2016

LEVEL OF ALL-INCLUSIVE SERVICES FOR THE MOST MEMORABLE HOLIDAY EXPERIENCE

DIAMONDS LA GEMMA DELL’EST TREASURED MOMENTS A luxurious hideaway set on the western-shores of Zanzibar, Diamonds La Gemma dell’Est offers pictures-perfect spaces to surround yourself in the beauty of nature.

Take in the sights of the azure seascapes from your private terrace, sample local and international cuisine and immerse yourself in the world of leisure, as you explore experiences to treasure for life. www.diamonds-resorts.com KENYA - MALDIVES - MOZAMBIQUE - ZANZIBAR

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GoldenEye

LICENCE TO CHILL

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GoldenEye Licence to Chill

Creative movers and shakers have flocked to GoldenEye ever since it was made famous by Ian Fleming, who dreamed up James Bond in this remote corner of Jamaican paradise.

The 007 creator would undoubtedly approve of how the present owner – Island Records founder Chris Blackwell – has reinvented the legendary hilltop hideaway for the next generation of Hollywood A-listers and rock stars.

Following a two-year, top-to-tail overhaul, the all-new GoldenEye boasts 11 beachfront villas, which savvy investors are currently snapping up on the open market.

Set amid mango and banyan trees, the new Beach Cottages range from $900,000 to $1.2million, and all front GoldenEye’s private beach. Owners can put their properties into the rental pool to generate extra income whilst they’re off jet-setting elsewhere.

The original Fleming Villa, which also features a private beach, has been subtly enhanced, whilst respecting the heritage of its creator. Relics on show range from the Casino Royale manuscript to the orange bikini worn by Halle Berry in ‘Die Another Day’.

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IAN FLEMING, 007 CREATOR

Ian Fleming first came to Jamaica during WW2, sent by Naval Intelligence to investigate U-boat activities in the Caribbean. He found it difficult to keep his mind on the war, such was the beauty of the island and its people.

After the war, he bought a rundown property in a tiny village in Oracabessa Bay and transformed it into his dream home, naming it after a naval operation he had worked on. He loved GoldenEye above all for its simplicity.

It was a place to dream. And here he dreamed up James Bond, 007.

CHRIS BLACKWELL, ISLAND RECORDS FOUNDER

Christopher Blackwell was born in London and spent his childhood between Jamaica and the UK. After holding down a variety of jobs, he set up Island Records in 1960 in Kingston.

Artists to break through on Island include Roxy Music, Grace Jones, U2 and, most famously, Bob Marley and the reggae sound of Jamaica.

GoldenEye also held a strong association with the Blackwell family. His mother, Blanche, was the long-time lover of Ian Fleming. Chris also worked as location scout for the first Bond film, Dr No. He also once suggested Bob Marley buy GoldenEye, which had fallen into disrepair after Fleming’s death in 1964. The reggae superstar considered it “too English” so Blackwell took it on instead – although Marley’s name was on the original title deeds. www.goldeneye.com

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GoldenEye Licence to Chill

MOST LIKELY TO SEE:

Jennifer Aniston, Johnny Depp, Naomi Campbell, George Clooney

LEAST LIKELY TO SEE:

Lindsay Lohan, Wayne or Colleen Rooney, Charlie Sheen, Justin Bieber

STRANGE BUT TRUE:

Sting wrote “Every Breath You Take” while staying here 007 + Bob Marley = GoldenEye

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CASA DE CAMPO

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Casa de Campo

An exclusive escape situated on the South Eastern coast of the Dominican Republic, Casa de Campo offers privacy and seclusion along with spacious hotel accommodation and luxurious villa homes.

Guests can stay at either the 185-room hotel with five-star premium amenities, set amid beautiful landscaped grounds, or a private villa with oceanfront views, a butler, maid and chef services, as well as private pool and indulgent interiors.

Positioned as the country club of the Caribbean, Casa de Campo guests will experience “The Sporting Life” with classic sports including five Pete Dye-designed golf courses (one of which is the famed Teeth of the Dog), which was named the Caribbean’s Best Golf Course at the World Golf Awards 2014 and Number one Golf Course

by IAGTO 2014. Additional facilities include a 370-slip Marina & Yacht Club, Polo and Equestrian Club, La Terrazza Tennis Center and skeet/trap shooting at the 245-acre Shooting Club.

Casa de Campo is a private paradise favoured by the world’s elite. Guests can relax amongst the resorts 7,000 acres of lush tropical grounds, exclusive beaches with stunning vistas or The Casa de Campo Spa. The resort offers guests cultural immersion through the architectural wonder of Altos de Chavon, an artisan’s village modelled after a XVI-century Mediterranean town, perched high above the Chavon River. The 5-000 seat Grecian styled amphitheatre will play host to a number of 2015 live concerts, with world-renowned tenor Andrea Bocelli commencing the season on 4 April 2015.

Casa de Campo is a member of the Preferred Hotels & Resorts Legend Collection and Member of the Leading Hotels of the World. The resort is only a short drive away from Punta Cana (PUJ), which operates daily direct flights from all major U.K airports. www.casadecampo.com.do

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HARD ROCK PUNTA CANA

An All-Inclusive

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Hard Rock Punta Cana

Located on a stunning stretch of whitesand beach in the Caribbean, the Hard Rock Punta Cana is everything that patrons have come to love about the renowned brand and more. Set on a sprawling property, the impressive hotel and casino offers an all-inclusive experience that few others can match.

With over 40 years in the industry, the Hard Rock Café knows a thing or two about hospitality and entertainment and it shows.

The hotel offers a range of rooms and suites which are as luxurious as they are spacious and comfort. On the grounds guests have their pick of 13 pools, nine restaurants, a Nicklaus designed golf course, an exquisite spa, and of course one of the best gambling experiences to be found anywhere.

The Hard Rock Punta Cana is home to one of the Dominican Republic’s biggest and most well-furnished casinos as well as its largest Sports Book. The casino is over 13 500m2 of Blackjack, Craps, Roulette, Baccarat, and 450 slots, as well as an exclusive Salon Privet VIP area with high-limit games. The five-star Sports Book offers wagering on all major sporting events and is staffed by world-class personnel.

The Rock Spa® is certainly of the finest in the Dominican Republic. Spread across almost 20 000m2, it comprises 46 cabins and six palapas offering three unique spa experiences. Home to an advanced hydrotherapy centre with lagoons, two whirlpools, steam room, sauna, food creek pathway, hydro-reflexology, sensory expertise pool, and a cutting edge ice room, there is little that can’t be had. Whether guests want a relaxing, rejuvenating experience, to work on their fitness, or simply some pampering, The Rock Spa® covers it all.

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ROUND HILL HOTEL

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Round Hill Hotel

Round Hill Hotel and Villas is situated on a lush 110-acre peninsula just west of Montego Bay, Jamaica. Boasting a guest list of world leaders, cultural icons and Hollywood A-listers, this classic resort continues to attract a jet-set from around the world who enjoy timeless glamour and understated luxury along with pristine natural beaches and the inimitable Caribbean waters.

Accommodations include 36 Ralph Lauren-designed oceanfront guest rooms, 90 luxurious villa rooms and suites or a selection of 27 private 2 - 6 bedroom Villas – most with private pools.

Other highlights include open-air terrace dining and The Grill at Round Hill, award-winning family programs, an infinity pool, tennis courts, state-ofthe-art fitness centre, and spa located in a beautifully-restored 18th century plantation house. www.roundhill.com

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ROCKHOUSE HOTEL

Rockhouse is a casually chic boutique hotel perched upon the scenic cliffs of Negril, Jamaica’s Pristine Cove, overlooking the serene waters of the Caribbean sea.

Named as one of the ‘1000 Places to See Before You Die’ in Patricia Schults’ New York Times Best Selling Book, the property sits on eight acres of lush, tropical gardens and features world class dining, spa and wellness programmes that celebrate and incorporate the abundant culture and resources of Jamaica.

For an ‘in-the-know’ global jet-set of stylish travellers, the Rockhouse Hotel has long been a cherished destination offering understated tropical elegance while upholding an impeccable ethos of social and environmental responsibility.

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Rockhouse Hotel

The hotel is home to three of Jamaica’s most talked-about restaurants: the Rockhouse Restaurant, Pushcart Restaurant & Rum Bar, and the Pool Grill & Bar. Each dining experience is situated in a unique, visually stunning location and offers a variety of renowned island cuisine ranging from the vibrant spices and flavors of authentic Jamaican home cooking, to internationally celebrated, and stunningly romantic, fine-dining.

Preference is given to local produce, in particular from the Rockhouse Organic Farm. The Rockhouse Spa features innovative treatments designed with a holistic focus on wellness and rejuvenation. Under the guidance of Linda Hall, renowned 25+ year veteran of Caribbean-based spa programmes, Rockhouse’s certified massage technicians receive constant training to ensure that guests are pampered with the very best techniques promoting the relaxation and healing of one’s system. www.rockhousehotel.com 101

WORLD’S LEADING RESORT 2014

WORLD’S LEADING SPORTS ACADEMY 2014

LIVE YOUR DREAMS Ever dreamed of a five-star luxury suite which opens onto a stunning beach and blends in effortlessly with the sea? Ever imagined playing alongside trainers from Chelsea Football Club or the stars of tennis, rugby, cricket and golf? How about dinner courtesy of the most famous Michelin-starred chefs? This is Forte Village’s constellation.

And you are the real stars.

fortevillage.com + 39 070 9218820 holiday@fortevillage.com

BEST IN TRAVEL

ALL ABOUT ANGUILLA Ticked off Trinidad and Tobago? Been to Barbados and The Bahamas? Done the Dominican Republic?

It’s time to try the British Overseas Territory of Anguilla - aka one of the Caribbean’s best-kept secrets.

On Anguilla - whose name means eel (an apt description for a long, thin island measuring a mere16 miles by three miles) - you’ll find turquoise seas together with gastronomy, history and culture in spades.

Of course Anguilla’s biggest draw is arguably its beaches.

Situated in the British West Indies, around 100 miles northwest of Antigua, 150 miles east of Puerto Rico and nine miles north of St. Maarten, this laid back little island boasts some of the best beaches in the entire Caribbean. There are 33 to choose from including Shoal Bay East with its 2.5 mile stretch of sand, watersports facilities and restaurants, the secluded Captain’s Bay (accessed along a dirt track) and Little Bay - the latter of which is memorably accessed by boat from Crocus Bay. But regardless of where you decide to stretch out your beach towel, expect impossibly soft, squeaky sand the colour of icing sugar.

But Anguilla offers so much more than just a day on the beach. Once you’ve had your fill of the eye wateringly beautiful beaches, it’s time to take to the sea: sailing is one of the most popular pastimes on Anguila but you’ll also find yachts, windsurfers and kayaks available for hire while, for true adrenaline junkies, water skiing can easily be arranged.

Yet as enjoyable as activities above the water are, it’s what lies beneath that is of real interest. And if you’ve never snorkeled or dived on a Caribbean coral reef before, you’ll be wowed by the beauty and incredible diversity...

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All about Anguilla

Anguilla is known as the ‘Wreck Diving Capital of the Caribbean’. The big headline grabber is the Spanish galleon, El Buen Consejo, but there are nine shipwrecks in its surrounding waters that are home to a wide variety of corals and marine life including angelfish, barracudas, margates, sharks, snappers and turtles.

Back on dry land, the region’s gastronomy is a further pull. Food isn’t just for mealtimes on Anguilla - it’s a culture of its own. The island has over 100 restaurants - loved by the A-list likes of Robert De Niro and Paul McCartney - offering international and local cuisine, created by award winning chefs.

And don’t worry about your waistline (you are on your holidays after all). Simply work off any excess calories consumed by following one of the numerous walking tracks around the island from the rocky coastline of Windward Point in the north to the ‘rain forest’ trail at Katouche.

With jaw dropping view after jaw dropping view, you’ll want to get married just to have a honeymoon here.

Or take to the fairways at CuisinArt Golf Resort & Spa’s 18-hole, 7,063 yard golf course. Designed by Australian golfing legend Greg Norman, this US$50 million course has been hailed as the Caribbean equivalent of Pebble Beach thanks to its gorgeous ocean views and water features on no fewer than 13 holes. For those who like to stay where they play, the prestigious neighbouring resort (www.cuisinartresort.com)with its five restaurants and first rate spa, should fulfill every desire imaginable.

Other upscale accommodation options include the much loved Malliouhana - which is re-opening on a bluff high above Meads Bay and Turtle Cove as an Auberge Resort (www.malliouhana.aubergeresorts.com) in November 2014 following an extensive three year refurbishment.

Whether you choose to stay at CuisinArt, Auberge or one of Anguilla’s other resorts, villas and intimate hotels, you can look forward to the sort of attention that makes you feel, even if only for a week, that you have entered a different world.

So how to reach this idyllic low lying island? Currently, there are no direct international flights to Anguilla. However, from the United Kingdom, British Airways and Virgin Atlantic all have excellent services into Antigua and St. Kitts with onward connections to Anguilla. Flights are also available from Puerto Rico (one hour by air), which is served by several US and inter-island carriers.

For more info, please visit www.ivisitanguilla.com 105

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ATLANTIS PARADIS

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Atlantis Paradis

Atlantis, Paradise Island is a unique, ocean-themed destination located on Paradise Island, The Bahamas, and features a variety of accommodations, all built around a 141-acre waterscape comprised of over 20 million gallons of fresh and saltwater lagoons, pools and habitats.

Home to the largest open-air marine habitat in the world, there are over 50,000 marine animals in lagoons and displays, including The Dig, a maze of underwater corridors and passageways providing a journey through ancient Atlantis. Atlantis is home to Aquaventure, a non-stop water experience consisting of thrilling water slides, a mile-long river ride with high intensity rapids and wave surges, and never-before-seen special effects. Dolphin Cay, the resort’s interaction and education center, was created with the goal of enlightening visitors about the wonders of these remarkable ocean inhabitants.

The Cove Atlantis, a 600-room resort, features oversized rooms with a step down living space, spectacular designs by acclaimed interior architects Jeffrey Beers and David Rockwell, unprecedented services and amenities, private all-adult and family pools, lavish cabanas and breathtaking views of the ocean. Atlantis is also known as THE culinary destination in The Caribbean with a collection of restaurants from world-renowned chefs including Nobu Matsuhisa, Jean-Georges Vongerichten, Bobby Flay and Todd English. The resort boasts an impressive collection of luxury boutiques and shops, casino, and the largest conference center, meeting and convention facilities in The Caribbean. www.atlantisbahamas.com 107

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INTRODUCING DOLPHIN COVE Dolphin Cove continues to provide first class Dolphin interactions in its signature natural Dolphin lagoons. Dolphin Cove takes great pleasure in creating an experience that allows guests to gain appreciation for these amazing mammals in their natural habitat: take a bow the Caribbean Sea. Dolphin Cove prides itself on it’s excellent customer service in all its locations, three in Jamaica and one in Grand Cayman, and is pleased to be the recipient of Trip Advisors Certificate of Excellence for three consecutive years.

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Introducing Dolphin Cove

The company has also received a World Travel Award for four consecutive years. In 2011 and 2012, they were voted The Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Excursion Operator. Then in 2013 and 2014 Dolphin Cove gained the title the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction. In addition, they have been nominated for the Caribbean’s Leading Adventure Tourist Attraction for 2015.

As well as dolphins, Dolphin Cove is also home to sharks, stingrays, exotic birds, snakes and iguanas, all exceptionally trained to provide one on one interactions with all visitors.

Other activities such as mini boat rides, glass bottom kayaking, a petting zoo and a bird aviary have also been added to enhance the already top-notch parks. www.dolphincoveja.com www.dolphincove.ky

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Looking for a luxury private island? At Ayada Maldives you’ll discover pristine coral reefs where dolphins play, feast in six restaurants, live in a traditional wooden thatched villa with private pool and butler service, and find utter relaxation in the spa.

Explore our world: swim across the equator, see local villages, go fishing or try the many different watersports; or stay on land for tennis, yoga, Pilates and the gym. Enjoy outstanding diving and snorkeling on reefs that have barely been visited by humans while some of the country’s best surfing breaks are just a quick speedboat journey away.

2014

Magudhdhuvaa Island, Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll, Republic of Maldives T: +960 684 4444 info@ayadamaldives.com www.ayadamaldives.com

BEST IN TRAVEL

GO! JAMAICA GO! Jamaica Travel Company Ltd, a boutique operation, is an incentive travel and outbound tour company which was formed in 1995 in Kingston, Jamaica. CEO, Dave A Chin Tung, with many years experience in the travel industry realised there was a need for an alternative to the major tour companies, and GO! Jamaica Travel was formed to fill this market void.

The company has, over the years, represented companies such as Worldspan, TWA, Martinair Holland, Demo Rent-A-Car, and Holiday Inn Select. In 2014 it was the top seller of RIU Hotels in the Caribbean.

The company has contracts with many large and small independent hotels worldwide (some 118,000 properties) as well as cruise lines and car rentals, and in 2014, the Company launched its own booking engine offering incredible discounted rates.

Travel agents and consumers can access the portal on a 24 hour basis.

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GO! Jamaica

GO! Jamaica also works hand in hand with the Jamaica Tourist Board and the tourist boards of a few Caribbean islands in promoting tourism to the islands.

Familiarisation tours of hotels are often arranged for travel agents and the media to broaden their knowledge of products being offered.

In the 2012 Responsible Tourism Awards, the company was awarded a ‘Special Commendation’ by The Centre For Tourism And Policy Research of the University of the West Indies for its ‘Outstanding Contribution To The Development of Jamaica’s Tourism Product’.

Although the Company is based in Jamaica, there are travel agents in The Cayman Islands, The Bahamas, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados and Curacao who use its services.

In October 2014, GO! Jamaica Travel Company was awarded the ‘Caribbean’s Leading Tour Operator’ in the World Travel Awards by voters in the travel industry.

As GO! Jamaica expands in various markets worldwide, customer service will remain at the forefront of the organisation whose goal is to provide a quality product at competitive rates to travellers, while keeping the personal touch. www.gojamaicatravel.travel

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JAMAICA INN Caribbean’s Leading All Suite Hotel 2015

Located in beautiful Ocho Rios, Jamaica Inn boasts an eight-acre property situated on a private cove with an offshore reef. With a 700-foot private white sand beach considered to be one of the best in the Caribbean, this exclusive resort is the perfect getaway for the traveller seeking unassuming style and warm, friendly service. Family owned since 1950 and boasting a roster of famed guests including Marilyn Monroe, Ian Fleming and Kathryn Hepburn, Jamaica Inn offers timeless elegance and relaxed luxury on the best white-sand beach in Jamaica.

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Jamaica Inn

Accommodation revolves around 47 spacious suites and five one and two-bedroom cottages.

Each suite comes complete with a private balcony or large verandah overlooking the distinctive blue Caribbean Sea. Verandahs and balconies boast a full-size sofa, wing chair, breakfast table, writing desk and coffee table – and many rooms feature Jamaican antique furniture and full-size dining tables for two. All suite bathrooms underwent extensive renovations recently and now feature expanded modern showers, custom tile work and bathroom vanity space.

The cottages are set on a bluff with stunning views of the Sea and are tastefully decorated in a blend of Jamaican and Indonesian styles, featuring private plunge pools and secluded outdoor showers. The cottages are completely private yet only a few steps away from the inn and all of its amenities.

Further draw include KiYara Spa: housed in a collection of rustic thatch-roofed huts surrounded by tropical gardens, guests can enjoy facials, massages and body treatments set to the sound of waves and soothed by constant sea breezes.

When night falls, jam along with Inner Groove, a favourite local Jamaican reggae band which plays nightly on property. www.jamaicainn.com 115

BEST IN TRAVEL

MONTEGO BAY CONVENTION CENTRE Montego Bay, Jamaica Offering more than 142,000 square feet of flexible indoor and outdoor event space in the heart of the Rose Hall’s elegant corridor, the Montego Bay Convention Centre is a state-of-the-art facility, the largest of its kind in the English-speaking Caribbean.

The Centre features: • A Grand Ballroom with 18,417 square feet featuring plush carpeting, track lighting and surround sound audio all connected to a state-of-the art full service kitchen.

• A Meeting Centre with more than 9,737 square feet where you can run 9 concurrent meetings. All rooms feature surround audio and carpeting.

• The Ocean View Terrace is attached to the Exhibit Hall and features more than 17,000 square feet of space with a stunning ocean view.

• The Courtyard with its amazing view offers more than 25,000 square feet of outdoor space perfect for receptions and celebrations of all types.

• Dedicated parking for 500 vehicles.

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Montego Bay Convention Centre

Getting to the Montego Bay Convention Centre is a mere 15 minutes away from the Sangster International Airport with direct links from the highway. Situated just next door the Rose Hall Great House with a direct view of the Caribbean Sea is the ideal meeting place in close proximity to:• Over 4,000 luxury hotel rooms as well as restaurants and bars • Full service medical facility • Local Activities and Attractions • 5 Shopping Centres • 2 championship 18 hole golf courses At 15,000 sq. ft. the main kitchen, is one of the largest, best equipped on the island using only top of the line equipment, it is a huge space with specialty prep rooms for salads, seafood, meat and pastry. Catering is a big part of the Centre’s services from coffee and tea breaks, to working lunch buffets, cocktail parties and 5-course white glove banquets. Both the kitchen and Exhibition Hall also have freight access, parking is ample, with coach bays.

Management of the Centre is a key part of the operations, and is handled by SMG. Based in the US, with a track record for marketing and managing over 65 convention facilities worldwide. Jamaica is the second Caribbean location to be added to the Company’s portfolio, following the opening of the Puerto Rico Convention Centre in San Juan. www.mobaycentre.com 117

Yo ur g a tewa y to i n s p i r i n g a c h i e v e m e n t s .

At the 5-star One World Hotel, commitment and dedication blend seamlessly with a humble desire to pamper and please. This is a world where unparelleled attention is given to quality of service, and of course, facilities.

The opulent elegance of the function rooms occupy over 5,000 square metres of space, 438 plush guestrooms and lavish suites come complete with state-of-the-art interactive features.

A culinary parade of 6 unique restaurants, lounge and bars are displayed, serving up some of the most innovative creations. And a 5 million sq. ft. shopping mall to explore right next door.

With every effort taken to exceed expectations, this is a world that will leave a lasting impression.

Anything’s possible in One World. Visit www.oneworldhotel.com.my to begin your journey.

Find us on

Certificate of Excellence 2014 WINNER

International Star for Leadership in Quality Award 2013 Gold Category

One World Hotel

first avenue, bandar utama city centre, 47800 petaling jaya, selangor, malaysia. toll free domestic: 1300 88 7888 toll free international: 1800 88 7888 tel: 603 7681 1111 fax: 603 7681 1188 email: enquiry@oneworldhotel.com.my website: www.oneworldhotel.com.my

BEST IN TRAVEL

NORWEGIAN CRUISE LINE www.ncl.co.uk Having invented contemporary Caribbean cruising more than 40 years ago, Norwegian Cruise Line now has eight ships that sail around the world’s most popular cruise destinations which includes Southern, Eastern and Western Caribbean itineraries.

Launching in October 2015 Norwegian Escape will be Norwegian’s largest in the fleet carrying 4,200 passengers and will sail weekly Eastern Caribbean year-round from Miami.

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With Norwegian Cruise Line you are free to plan your days on your own schedule. Free to relax, be active, dress up or go casual. With Freestyle Cruising guests get it all – beautiful beaches, water sports, tropical rainforests, duty-free shopping and unique experiences from visiting mysterious Mayan temples to climbing Jamaica’s Dunn’s River Falls or swimming with dolphins to eco-adventures.

Norwegian Cruise Line

Norwegian Cruise Line invented the private island experience and are now taking it to new levels, creating the perfect place to play on land and at sea, relax and feel the cares of the day melt away. When guests cruise to the Bahamas with Norwegian they have an exclusive invitation to spend the day on Great Stirrup Cay. Guests can while away the day doing absolutely nothing, or get active and try something new like a Waverunner tour of the islands. They can indulge in a massage or a cocktail, dance to a live band and dine in island style at the beach barbecue.

Norwegian is investing U.S. $50 million in a brand new private island experience for guests, called Harvest Caye. Situated on two adjoining islands on the unspoilt coast of southern Belize, this exciting eco-friendly destination is designed to retain the natural beauty and local culture of this tropical paradise. Guests can expect stunning beaches beside the watersports lagoon, an island-style village and more.

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PRIVÉ JETS WINS ANOTHER PRESTIGIOUS WORLD TRAVEL AWARD

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Privé Jets

This year, Privé Jets was honored with two World Travel Awards: South America’s Leading Private Jet Charter and the Caribbean’s Leading Private Jet Charter. TO Last year, Privé Jets was honoured with two World Travel Awards: South America’s Leading Private Jet Charter 2014 and the Caribbean’s Leading Private Jet Charter 2014.

“We are proud to be the winners of not only one World Travel Award, but two World Travel Awards this year. This is a reflection of how well-prepared our agents are in serving clients from each corner of the world,” says Privé Jets co-founder and COO Andres Arboleda.

Each region of the globe comes with its unique challenges. Especially some of the islands in the Caribbean, which planes have limited access to. The Caribbean is one of the most visited places by the ultra-wealthy, who always expect the highest level of customer service. Privé Jets takes pride in its ability to meet even the most demanding of expectations and ensure a safe and comfortable trip for each client.

Privé Jets is a leading provider of private aviation, offering an enhanced experience in all aspects of luxury and corporate jet travel. Privé Jets offers its clients access to more than 6,000 aircraft worldwide, including helicopters, turbo props, light jets, midsize jets, heavy jets and even jet airliners. As an award-winning private jet charter company, proud Inc. 5000 company, Virtuoso Travel Network partner, and member of the National Business Aviation Association, Privé Jets stands ready to provide you with quality, personalised service on all your jet charter flights www.privejets.com 127

BEST IN TRAVEL

AVIS

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Avis

Founded in 1946, Avis has continued to put the customer at the heart of everything it does. Globally, the history of Avis is steeped in a tradition of innovation and compelling ideas, and the company is proud to share this expertise across the Caribbean islands.

In every decade since the 1970s, Avis has introduced a new technical innovation which has helped to revolutionise the industry. For over 40 years Avis has pioneered changes in how customers book cars.

Avis has won an unprecedented 85 World Travel Awards over the past 18 years, and continue to strive to set the industry benchmark in achieving excellence in car rental. The company invests a lot of time and energy into the customer experience, and the recognition from some of the travel industry’s leading bodies highlights their dedication to ensuring that they always offer our customers the best service, and the best cars, so that clients enjoy their Avis driving experience.

As an international corporation -- and as a local business in the neighbourhoods in which it operates -- Avis strives to be a strong community leader and role model. The company’s corporate responsibility extends beyond philanthropy and volunteerism to include consistent adherence to business practices that are friendly to customers, employees, and the environment.

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BEST IN TRAVEL

SANDALS RESORTS INTERNATIONAL

Sandals Resorts International (SRI) is the parent company of some of travel’s most visible brands including Sandals Resorts, Beaches Resorts and Grand Pineapple Beach Resorts. Founded

by Gordon “Butch” Stewart in 1981, SRI is based in Montego Bay, Jamaica and is responsible for resort development, service standards, training and day-to-day operations.

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Sandals Resorts International

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SANDALS GRANDE ANTIGUA

RESORT & SPA

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Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa

On an island renowned for its beaches, Sandals Grande Antigua Resort & Spa takes pride of place with its prime location, directly on the most famed beach of all, Dickenson Bay. Sandals Grande Antigua offers the best of both worlds on one idyllic island. Guests can experience the authentic charm of the islands in its lush garden oasis known as The Caribbean Grove and relax in European grandeur amidst its palatial retreat known as The Mediterranean Village. The resort offers an array of superb facilities, including six pools and five whirlpools and on-site Red Lane® Spa**. The rooms and suites at Sandals Grande Antigua are calming retreats with king-size beds, crisp white linens and breath-taking views. For a truly special holiday experience, guests can even book one of the resort’s Rondovals, freestanding, completely circular havens that open out either directly onto the beach or onto a private plunge pool.

With eleven spectacular restaurants to choose from, Sandals Grande Antigua has an unrivalled range of culinary choices. From exciting Japanese-style dishes prepared before your eyes, to an informal South-Western grill or traditional Caribbean fare, guests can savour a world of dining pleasures, or enjoy a premium brand drink or signature cocktail in one of the resort’s seven full service bars.

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SANDALS GRANDE RIVIERA

Beach & Villa Golf Resort Considered the true Garden of Eden, Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort, the largest Sandals Resort, is situated on the slopes of over 100 acres of beautiful hillside gardens overlooking the Caribbean Sea. This magnificently landscaped resort has taken the meaning of “lush� to a whole new level, with views to include blossoming gardens, grand mountain views and panoramic ocean views. The grand resort features three distinct holiday experiences with plenty of areas to bask in the Caribbean sun. There is a plantation-style Great House perched atop a hill with grand ocean views, an all-butler village offering the pinnacle of luxury and privacy, and a seaside garden oasis called the Riviera Seaside Village featuring the hip Ochi Beach Club.

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Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort

The vast Sandals Grande Riviera features an incredible 16 gourmet restaurants and, following recent renovation work, features new Discovery Dining concepts for the brand including Southern, tapas and a speakeasy bar. Additional upgrades to the resort include: a Popcorn & Palms Cinema, featuring endless popcorn and movies under the stars; new garden and landscaping throughout the resort with updated furniture, water installations and signature fire pits.

A highlight for golfing fans, all guests at Sandals Grande Riviera get complimentary green fees at Jamaica’s most elite and popular golf course, the Sandals Golf & Country Club, with transfers to the golf course even included.

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BEST IN TRAVEL

SANDALS LA SOURCE GRENADA

Resort & Spa

Defying every convention of traditional design, the new Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort & Spa takes innovation beyond the realm of imagination to create an extraordinary resort unlike anything you have ever experienced.

Conveniently located only minutes from Maurice Bishop International airport, Sandals LaSource Grenada features a total of 225 rooms housed within three distinct villages: Pink Gin, Italian and South Seas. The resort, which is set on the stunning Pink Gin Beach, boasts Sandals’ most elaborate accommodations to date, including Skypool Suites which feature cantilevered private plunge pools with infinity edges on the balcony.

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Sandals La Source Grenada Resort & Spa

Guests can whet their palates at their choice of ten global, gourmet dining options, including the island’s first top-tier steakhouse, Butch’s Chophouse. True to the mission of Sandals’ Discovery Dining program, internationally trained chefs create authentic dishes that take guests on a gastronomic expedition around the world without ever having to leave the resort.

Sandals LaSource Grenada’s impressive gastronomic experiences include Soy, a sushi bar; Café De Paris, a French café; Spices, serving Caribbean cuisine; Le’Jardinier, a French restaurant; the Tipsy Turtle, featuring traditional British fare; Neptune’s, a Mediterranean beach bar; Kimono’s, a Japanese Teppanyaki restaurant; Cucina Romana for Italian fare; Butch’s Chophouse; and Dino’s Pizzeria.

Other features include at Sandals La Source a zero-entry infinity pool; a Red Lane® Spa** with nine treatment rooms, as well as a nail and hair salon; and a fully-equipped indoor and outdoor wellness centre complete with a state-of-the-art gym, waterfalls and reflective pools.

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SKYPOOL SUITES AT SANDALS LA SOURCE The highly innovative Skypool suites at Sandals LaSource Grenada Resort & Spa are perfect for a romantic getaway in paradise. Perched atop a cliff in the resort’s Italian Village, they offer breath-taking views of the pristine Pink Gin beach and romantic Grenadian sunsets, all of which can be viewed from the comfort of the suite’s private infinity plunge pool!

The magnificent oversized suites also feature a full living room with butler pantry, wet bar, indoor dining table, plush sofa and chairs, and HD LED Smart TV. The double doors open to a luxurious bedroom which boasts a king size bed and large HD LED Smart TV. The bathroom includes two Carrera marble vanities with backlit mirrors, Kohler claw footed tub, separate frosted glass shower and a frosted glass water closet. The bedroom opens for access to an oversized balcony with cantilevered heated private plunge pool with an infinity edge, comfortable lounge chairs, ottoman, side table and romantic, freestanding soaking tub. The flooring is made of Turkish ivory patika travertine natural stone with accents of pebbles and porcelain planks from Italy.

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Skypool Suites at Sandals La Source

All guests staying in the Skypool suites have the luxury of their very own personal butler to tend to their every need. Sandals’ Personal Butler Service, available in all top tier category suites, provides an unimaginably supreme standard of service and luxury, to ensure that a guest’s every need is met and their stay as enjoyable as possible.

The butlers are trained in accordance to exacting standards by the Guild of Professional English Butlers, which provides butlers and valets to nobility and celebrities worldwide. They are trained to anticipate guests’ needs and to create lifelong memories with individual touches.

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ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES MUSTIQUE, ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

A small private island which has built an incredible reputation as a home away from home for both A-list stars and royalty, Mustique has become a sanctuary for those wishing to escape the usual holiday destinations and really get away from the real world. The island has 74 villas to rent, nine pristine individual beaches, and the beautiful Cotton House boutique hotel would be the perfect romantic location for a honeymoon.

Recent visitors, Prince William and Princess Catherine, have ensured it remains a royal favourite, even choosing the island for their babymoon. As one of the few places in the world where guests can gain real privacy, it’s not hard to see why they continue to return to the beautiful 1,400acre private island and why it would make the ultimate romantic escape.

Although a lot of guests choose private villas (there are 74 for rent on the island), The Cotton House hotel - which has 17 rooms and an excellent restaurant - is a great choice for those wishing to follow in royal footsteps. All of the Cotton House hotel’s rooms have a veranda, and some private pools, and it is one of the main social hubs of the island. Several of the rooms are located in the main house and others are scattered through the gardens. The vibe is a real home from home feel with its casual elegance and breathtaking views and sunsets. The hotel has a spa with signature treatments, a stunning veranda where guests can take afternoon tea overlooking the lily pond, and glamorous weekly cocktail parties which, combined with the casual chic beach cafe, ensure the best of both worlds.

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St Vincent and the Grenadines

PETIT ST. VINCENT, ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

Located on the southernmost tip of the Grenadines, the five-star island of Petit St. Vincent offers guests a complete escape from the stresses of modern day living and the ultimate romantic castaway experience. The boutique island resort has just 22 private cottages spread over 113 acres, which feature a sunken living room, wooden sundeck, separate bedroom, bathroom and dressing room.

Petit St. Vincent is best known for being completely ‘unplugged’. Once on the island, guests can count on total privacy and barely a trace of the world from which they escaped – no televisions, phones, casinos, not even room keys and the primary way to communicate with staff is via flagpoles outside each of the cottages.

With spectacular sea views, stunningly clear waters and two miles of white sandy beaches, Petit St. Vincent is the ideal location for relaxation. The 22 individual luxury cottages along with an open air spa provide the ultimate beach hideaway. Guests can enjoy the resorts incredible food and wine in the rustic local style restaurant or the chic new barefoot beach bar and restaurant.

The island also offers meditating yoga sessions in a pavilion looking out over Conch Bay, as well as soothing massage therapy services in the privacy of guests’ own cottage.

For more information on the 32 individual islands and cays that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines visit www. discoversvg.com

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Hotel & Casa Valamar Sanfior 4*, R

With contemporary charm and stunning seafront location, recently refurbished Hotel & Ca for Adriatic holidays. The hotel lets you enjoy a memorable romantic holiday with rooms w Casa and its family rooms with fun activities for all ages, is tailor made for an unforgettable

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asa Valamar Sanfior represents a premium choice with a view and great wellness options while the e family vacation.

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