Luxury Escapes Magazine Issue 19

Issue 19

Santorini’s seven most

PICTURE-PERFECT POOLS

Plus:

Salinas de Maras

Southeast Asia by Ship

See The Florida Keys

Celeb Escapes

Places of Pinterest, Peru

Our favourites cruises in the region

Our guide from mile markers to pie

Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans

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CONTENTS SALINAS DE MARAS Places of Pinterest, Peru

PICTURE-PERFECT POOLS

SANTORINI

SOUTHEAST ASIA How to see it by ship

‘TIS THE SEASON Our holiday gift guide

KEY WEST From mile markers to pie

CELEB ESCAPES Windsor Court Hotel, New Orleans

Image: Bo Larn

Luxury Escapes Magazine Published by Luxury Escapes, 259 Coventry Street South Melbourne, 3205, Victoria Australia Writer and Editor Elspeth Velten Publisher Jeremy Same For subscriptions sign up at luxuryescapes.com Cover Image: The Iconic Santorini

FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK My most recent journey on the seas was a three-day, four-night live-aboard voyage that I took from the Indonesian island of Lombok to the Komodo Islands in the country’s east. The boat was less than luxurious – my fellow 25 passengers and I (barely) slept on foam mats in a crawling-room-only space and shared one sloshy bathroom that was waterlogged more often than not.

We ate communally on the floor and didn’t see a shower for days, and if we wanted a change of clothes from our bags, a trip down into the vessel’s propane-scented depths was necessary. To get to shore, we had to swim.

All of these detractors ceased to matter on the morning we woke up in Komodo, though, the pink sun rising over rolling green islands and turquoise waters stained with reefs. An early-morning snorkel session yielded time spent with clownfish and an octopus, and a day spent searching for the island’s famous beasts – the dragons themselves – felt excitingly like a real-life trip to Jurassic Park. We tracked down mutant-sized manta rays flying beneath our boat and lounged on a pink beach while transparent waves lapped gently on shore. The Komodo region is one of my favourite places in the world, so imagine how great it would be by luxury cruise (page 32)! A shower and change of clothes could only make the deal sweeter, I guess.

FOLLOW LUXURY ESCAPES ON: Elspeth Velten Luxury Escapes Editor @ElspethVelten @ElspethVelten

EN ROUTE

HOLIDAY GIFTS FOR A

TRAVELLER Topas Titanium Large Carry-on Multiwheel, Rimowa, AUD $1490; huntleather.com.au

Stocking Filler Set, Kiehl’s, $26; davidjones. com.au

The countdown is on – we’re officially in the middle of shopping season and there’s no denying it. For the traveller in your life, here are a few things that can make the difference between a bad packing day and a relaxing time away – whether that special someone is most often found jet-setting to exotic lands afar or daydreaming about weekend-getaways closer to home.

Livescribe Notebook, Moleskine, USD $30; shop.moleskine.com

Tiki Tiki Kimono, Seafolly, $300; seafolly.com. au

Heritage Print Travel Adaptor Leather, Diane von Furstenberg, USD $98; dvf.com

Lomo’Instant Camera, from AUD $150; lomography.com.au

The Supple Gentleman Gift Kit, Aesop, AUD $90; aesop.com

Pineapple Blast Printed Cotton Boxer, Mitch Dowd, $25; davidjones. com.au

Mexico the Cookbook, Phaidon Press, AUD $60; au.phaidon. com

Cynnie Woven Drawstring Backpack, Elizabeth and James, AUD $813; neimanmarcus. com.au

EAT THIS RIGHT NOW

1.

4.

2.

3.

1. BO LARN

Sydney’s Bo Larn serves up modern twists on Thai classics like crispy softshell crab with mango salad and stuffed betel leaf with smoked trout and salmon roe.

2. RAFFA AND THE FOX The latest from chef Jay Raffaele, this modern Australian joint in Melbourne serves up innovative dishes in Albert Park’s trendy dining district.

3. PASTICCERIA PAPA The third Italian café and restaurant opened by Salvatore Papa, this Sydney stalwart is best known for its baked goods, gelato and Italian faire.

4. RICHMOND HILL CAFE & LARDER The Café and Larder is the culinary playground of head chef George Bilionis and offers a seasonally- shifting menu of Mediterranean-inspired delights made from local produce.

Image: Aenaon Villas

SANTORINI’S PICTUREPERFECT POOLS

The image is almost as iconic as it can get: white stone dwellings accented with blue domes and doors – Greece’s crown jewel, Santorini, seems impossibly beautiful as the island’s volcanic cliffs emerge from the Aegean sea. But what would all of that celebrated blue and white be if it weren’t for the addition of some perfectly coordinated swimming pools studding the cliffside in cerulean? The island certainly has its share of picture-perfect pools; the following hotels host our favourites. Be ready to feel better than ever about bathing suit season.

Image: Aenaon Villas

AENAON VILLAS On the highest and most narrow point of Santorini’s spine, Aenaon’s seven private villas surround a surreal, caldera-view infinity pool. But why share with the other guests when you can have your own swimming hole? Aenaon’s Villa Elidami has a private pool hidden just a couple of footsteps above its larger counterpart, complete with day beds and outdoor dining. The villas themselves boast spacious living and dining rooms, high cave-style ceilings, fireplaces and in-room massage sessions. There’s no restaurant at Aenaon, but breakfast, included in your rate, is served in-room daily at the time of your desire.

ASTRA SUITES In the town of Imerovigli, Astra Suites’ Pool Suite was built to impress. Boasting a king bed, separate living room decked with original art, a kitchenette, entertainment system and a private heated swimming pool on a secluded veranda, the Pool Suite is only upped by the hotel’s Architect’s House.

Hidden in the cliffs between Oia and Imerovigli, the private house features a cliff-side infinity pool that towers 300 metres above the sea. But if you can’t spring for a private pool, don’t worry – Astra’s communal pool enjoys just as impressive a view.

Image: Astra Suites

Image: Ku De Ta

CHROMATA UP STYLE HOTEL

Image: Chromata Up Style Hotel

This small design hotel in Imerovigli has just 22 rooms and suites, meaning that competition for day beds around the impressive infinity pool is low. When you factor in that some of Chromata’s traditional Cycladic cave-shaped, whitewashed suites have their own jacuzzis and sun-soaked verandas, the centerpiece pool becomes even more private. All that’s left to do is grab a drink from Chromata’s pool-side cocktail bar in time for sunset.

There’s almost no need to upgrade at this Imerovigli hotel because even at the basic end, several of Grace’s Deluxe Rooms have personal exterior plunge pools. Things only get more extravagant as you work your way towards the top of the line – the Grace Suite features a private hammam and indoor plunge pool with caldera views, and the two-bedroom Villa boasts a hammam, kitchen, wine cellar and cigar bar, private heated pool and an outdoor fireplace.

Grace’s additional communal infinity pool is accompanied by the requisite poolside bar.

Image: Grace Santorini

GRACE SANTORINI

Image: Iconic Santorini

ICONIC SANTORINI Iconic bills itself as a boutique cave hotel, but as beautiful as its 22 residences are, we don’t think you’ll be spending much time in your cave once you see the hotel’s outdoor infinity pool with jetted tub seating.

There’s also an indoor grotto pool at the spa for the true cave-dweller in you. Rooms and suites feature private terraces, Aesop products and some have private indoor or outdoor grotto pools, too. On the lavish side of things, the Iconic Suite has both an indoor and outdoor pool, plus plenty of sunny lounging space on plush daybeds and an outdoor couch (with stunning views, of course).

Image: Katikies Hotel

KATIKIES HOTEL In Oia, the 27 rooms and suites at Katikies offer a blend of classic and contemporary touches. Whitewashed walls pop with Santorini blue accents, and Greek antiques sit pretty under beamed ceilings. Rooms feature mini wine cellars and in the Honeymoon Suite, a bottle can be enjoyed on a private sun deck with a jacuzzi. But for everyone else, the hotel’s two outdoor infinity pools are nothing to scoff at. Add a pool restaurant and bar to the equation and you may never leave the Katikies grounds.

Also in Oia, Mystique offers stone-crafted 35 rooms and suites with panoramic views, driftwood accents and secluded terraces.

Some suites boast outdoor jacuzzis, private fitness rooms and massage beds, and freestanding Villas are decked out to the nines.

Mystique’s cool blue infinity plunge pool surrounded by day beds and umbrellas is the resort’s center of focus.

Image: Mystique Resort

MYSTIQUE RESORT

For more luxury travel news and exclusive deals, visit LuxuryEscapes.com

PLACES OF PINTEREST:

SALINAS DE MARAS In our regular column, Places of Pinterest, we serve up the low down on those iconic travel images that pinners love – how to get there, where to stay, what else to see nearby… all the details that you need to turn your virtual daydream into reality.

WHERE The Salinas de Maras are located about one hour by car from Cusco, Peru in a region that’s known as the Sacred Valley of the Incas.

WHAT

HOW

The Salinas de Maras, also known as “trabajos de sal”, are man-made salt mines that date back to the 13th and 14th-century Inca civilization. The mines take the form of a communal system of about 3,000 shallow pools – a salty underground spring called Qoripujio funnels through the system to fill each pool.

Once full, the pools are allowed to sit and evaporate, leaving just salt where water once was. This process is repeated every few days.

Each pool or group of pools is controlled by a family from the area, and newcomers are allowed to take over and work abandoned pools. Visitors can have a walk around the terraced pools and take part in salt collection, and salt harvested here is available for purchase in nearby markets. The organically-shaped pools glow bright white against the area’s rugged brown mountainous backdrop, and when full, each pool boasts a different shade of coffee-coloured water.

The easiest away to visit the Salinas de Maras is by taking a day trip from the nearby city of Cusco. Cusco is the most popular base for those looking to visit the famous Machu Picchu ruins – the city is ripe with Spanish colonial architecture, Inca ruins, indigenous culture and all of the modern conveniences a tourist could want or need. Well-reviewed tour companies like Pachamama Explorers and Llama Path offer half day tours that include stops at villages and ruins in Maras and Moray, and, of course the Salinas.

Cusco and its surrounds are located at an altitude of about 3,400 metres, so visitors should read up on altitude sickness and learn about the necessary precautions before arriving. The easiest way to acclimate to reduced oxygen is to relax for a few days on arrival – hiking and other strenuous activity should be reserved for later in the trip.

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Aside from the obvious attraction – Machu Picchu – the region surrounding Cusco offers many Incan ruins and picturesque villages.

The Sacred Valley of the Incas spreads out through the Andes Mountains and attractions include impressive agricultural terracing at Tipon and Moray, a weekly market with indigenous crafts and products in Pisac (you never knew how much you needed an alpaca sweater) and an archaeological site in Ollantaytambo.

STAY Cusco offers plenty of accommodation across all budgets, but perhaps one of the most exciting options is the Belmond Hotel

Image: Belmond Hotel Monasterio

WHAT ELSE

Monasterio. Located right in the cobbled city center, the hotel inhabits the halls of a former monastery that dates back to 1592 and features a picturesque and tranquil central courtyard. Rooms at Hotel Monasterio are full of Peruvian artwork, furnishings and flair, and some can even be enriched with oxygen for those feeling the effects of altitude sickness.

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CELEB ESCAPES

WINDSOR COURT HOTEL

Images: Windsor Court Hotel

Just a five-minute walk from the famous French Quarter and boasting a recent $22 million renovation, New Orleans’ Windsor Court Hotel is a no-brainer for those looking for a luxurious stay in the Big Easy (discerning guests have included Hollywood royalty like Beyonce, Jay-Z, Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel). Windsor Court’s 316 rooms and suites are comprised of more than 80 percent suites and boast classic English and French Vogue decor and Italian marble bathrooms. Suites enjoy 24-hour service, separate living areas, private balconies, wet bars, butler’s pantries and more.

But things really reach a peak in the James J. Coleman Presidential Suite. The two-bedroom pad is perched on the 22nd floor and lined by terraces with both Mississippi River and city views. The suite is decked out with a library, butler’s pantry, dining room, grand salon with a full entertainment center (and a baby grand piano, of course) and access to the Club Lounge with concierge service and daily nibbles and snacks from award-winning chefs.

If you want Club Lounge access without the presidential price tag, simply book into a room in the Club Level which inhabits Windsor’s top four floors. Rooms and suites here are luxuriously furnished and feature state of the art electronics. Access to the Club Lounge means that guests always have the help of a dedicated concierge on hand and through the day, a expanded continental breakfast, English tea, evening hors d’oeuvres and cocktails are available.

Other amenities at Windsor Court include an award-winning spa with a sauna and steam room, a rooftop fitness center with cardio and weight machines and complimentary water and fruit, an audio tour of the hotel’s original art collection and the icing on the cake (or sugar on the biegnet) – a rooftop pool.

The 65-foot saltwater pool and the surrounding deck are open year round from 6am until 10pm and enjoys panoramic skyline views.

Dining options at Windsor Court include the Grill Room, Polo Club Lounge, Cocktail Bar and Le Salon. All feature lavish decor and Southern and Loiusiana menu classics – these restaurants totally live up to the high standards of the NOLA culinary world. At the Grill Room helmed by accomplished Chef de Cuisine Daniel Causgrove, Southern cuisine is presented with comfort food influences. Look for local favorites like fried oyster salad, blackened grouper and smothered greens. A six-course tasting menu is available for $95 per person, if blue crab gratin and mixed berry cornbread cobbler sound tempting to you (yes, they do).

The Polo Club Lounge is draped in dark woods and rich furnishings like leather chairs and sofas that create the perfect ambiance in which to enjoy cocktails, jazz and crabcakes. Live local jazz five times a week is accompanied well by a 600-bottle wine list. Cocktail Bar highlights creations from mixologist Kent Westmoreland, and Le Salon offers a traditional tea for your free afternoon.

The menu boasts 26 different loose-leaf teas and indulgent sandwiches like lobster salad

WHERE CULTURE MEETS CONTEMPORARY LUXURY

Your ideal stay is waiting at Park Hyatt Siem Reap.

Come enjoy a decadent lounge, two swimming pools, exquisite French and Cambodian cuisine and refined, luxurious rooms in the heart of downtown Siem Reap.

Reservations +855 6321 1234 or www.siemreap.park.hyatt.com Sivutha Boulevard, Siem Reap, Kingdom of Cambodia The trademarks HYATT™, PARK HYATT™ and related marks are trademarks of Hyatt International Corporation. ©2014 Hyatt International Corporation. All rights reserved.

7 WAYS TO SEE

SOUTHEAST ASIA

BY SHIP Want to hit a few spots in Southeast Asia without having to organize transport details and travel days? Why not unpack just once, and wake up to a different destination every morning? The following cruise itineraries offer the best of the entire region – whether you want to focus on the beaches of the Philippines, search for Indonesia’s Komodo Dragons, eat catfish along the Mekong River or explore temples in Myanmar. Just don’t let all of the onboard amenities distract you from stepping foot on shore!

Windstar’s Southeast Asia Unveiled itinerary takes guests on a 10-day journey through Vietnam from Hong Kong to Ho Chi Minh City on the Windstar Star Pride. Making stops in Halong Bay, Hanoi, Da Nang, Qui Nhon and Nha Trang, the Star Pride carries just 212 guests in 106 suites, all with ocean views and many with verandas or balconies. Suites feature Queen beds with Egyptian cotton linens and full-sized bathtubs with L’Occitane amenities, and Owners Suites even have separate living and dining areas and one-and-ahalf bathrooms. You won’t get antsy on this small ship, though. The luxurious vessel features a fitness center and a super-cool water sports platform where guests can enjoy complimentary use of waterskis, kayaks, sailboats, paddle boards and more. There’s also a casino, pool and three whirlpools aboard and restaurants include AmphorA and The Yacht Club.

Images: Windstar Cruises

WINDSTAR CRUISES SOUTHEAST ASIA UNEVILED

CELEBRITY CRUISES INDONESIA & MALAYSIA Sailing round-trip to and from Singapore, this Celebrity route spends 14 nights hopping between Bali, the Komodo Islands, Phuket, Langkawi, and Port Kelang, Malaysia. Shore excursions range from searching for Komodo Dragons to grabbing a dose of culture in Ubud and lounging on white sand beaches in Malaysia. The cruise takes place on the 2138-capacity Millennium ship which features a spa club from famous American luxury spa Canyon Ranch, an innovations store selling electronics, an iLounge authorized Apple reseller, a martini bar, solarium, wine cellar and several restaurants including Blu and Qsine. Penthouse suites come with European-style butler service, and the Concierge Class accommodations feature fresh in-room floral arrangements, shoeshine service, a pillow menu and priority check-in.

Images: Aqua Expeditions

AQUA EXPEDITIONS CAMBODIA, VIETNAM & THE MEKONG From a company that’s at the forefront of Amazon River cruises, a new route along the Tonle Sap and Mekong Rivers in Cambodia and Vietnam is a welcomed addition. Not to mention the shiny new design-focused boat that makes the trip in style. The seven-night Siem Reap to Saigon (or the reverse) Expedition Cruise accommodates just 40 guests in 20 Design Suites – some with balconies – that feature floor to ceiling panoramic win-

dows, King-size pillowtop beds, bathrooms with dual sinks and rain showers, plus plenty of communal space for spreading out.

Guests can pass the days (and evenings) at the boat’s outdoor plunge pool, private screening room, library, indoor lounge, outdoor observation deck, or by taking shore excursions by aluminum boat or bicycle. Southeast Asian cuisine prevails in the kitchen and fresh ingredients like catfish and river prawns are purchased from riverside markets on the regular.

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Seabourn’s 14-day Philippines and Borneo itinerary skips along picture-perfect islands between Hong Kong and Singapore, stopping at Hundred Islands, Manila, Boracay, Coron, Puerto Princesa, Kota Kinabalu, Muara Brunei, and Kuching. The Seabourn Soujourn ship makes the trip and boasts 225 oceanview suites, 90 percent of which feature private verandas. Suites have complimentary in-suite bars, Egyptian cotton linens and amenities by Hermes, Bijan and L’Occitane, separate living areas and bedrooms and walk-in closets. Tempting Wintergarden Suites feature dining for six, bathrooms with whirlpool tubs and glass-enclosed solariums with soaking tubs and baybeds. The ship offers six whirlpools and two swimming pools, an open-air sky bar, shuffleboard courts, a nine-hole putting green, a panoramic Observation Bar with 270-degree views and a Grand Salon that hosts lectures, cooking demonstrations, live music, dancing and more.

Images: Seabourn

SEABOURN PEARLS OF THE PHILIPPINES & BORNEO

Royal Caribbean’s family-friendly floating city that is the Legend of the Seas hit’s most of the region’s beach and culture high notes during a 10-night cruise from Singapore to Hong Kong via Koh Samui, Bangkok, Sihanoukville, Ho Chi Minh City, Nha Trang, Hue and Danang. The ship features six whirlpools and pools (including an adults-only solarium), a rock climbing wall, a 12-hole miniature golf course, Broadway-style shows, a casino, a fitness center with classes like yoga and kick-boxing, an outdoor movie screen, an upper deck jogging track, a video game arcade and plenty of youth programs. Legend of the Seas has four categories of staterooms with different levels throughout – at the top, Royal Suites have whirlpool bathtubs and baby grand pianos. Some suites can accommodate up to eight people.

Image: Royal Caribbean

ROYAL CARIBBEAN THAILAND. CAMBODIA & VIETNAM

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CRYSTAL CRUISES MYSTICAL MALAYSIA AND MYANMAR

Images: Crystal Cruises

Board one of the world’s most luxurious ships, the Crystal Symphony, in Singapore for a 13-day route with stops in Kuala Lumpur, Langkawi, Phuket, Yangon, Penang and Malacca. The vessel boasts incredible upscale accommodations including the Crystal Penthouse which features a dining area, audiovisual system, floor to ceiling windows, butler service and a bathroom with a Philippe Stark Duravit jacuzzi tubs, a television, Aveda amenities and a crystal pedestal sink.

Facilities include the Seahorse pool and jacuzzi surrounded by sleek daybeds, the 19th-century gentleman’s club-inspired Avenue Saloon Piano Bar, a teens club with Wii, Playstation, Xbox and designer beanbags and several dining options including the Lido Cafe, outdoor dining at the Trident Bar & Grill and the Venetian-designed Prego Italian restaurant.

VIKING RIVER CRUISES MEMORIES OF MANDALAY Viking’s Memories of Mandalay tour offers a look into the mysterious ways of daily life in Myanmar with a 16-day round-trip Bangkok schedule that includes 11 days of cruising on the mighty Irrawaddy River. After two days exploring the city of Yangon, guests hop on board the Viking Mandalay ship in the coun-

tryside town of Pyay and float upstream for scheduled stops at villages, temples and forts at Kan Ne, Magway, the Sale Monasteries, Bagan, Yandabo and Amarapura before disembarking in Mandalay for a flight back to Bangkok. The capacity-60 ship features staterooms with floor to ceiling sliding French doors and Queen beds, opening windows and river views. There’s also a communal sun deck, bar, lounge, dining room and library.

WHICH

FLORIDA KEY IS FOR YOU?

Have the urge to take a selfie at the Southern-most point of the continental United States, or simply a hankering for a road trip of beach bum proportions? An exploration of the Florida Keys may just be what the doctor ordered. This 113-mile chain of islands is connected by one of the country’s most scenic roads – US 1 or the Overseas Highway – and though traffic on the one-lane-each-way strip can be fierce during the high season between Christmas to Easter, drivers never seem to express strife. This is perhaps the most relaxed (and delightfully eccentric) getaways in the country, after all. Leave your high heels and designer duds at home and embrace the land of key lime pie, conch snacks and sixtoed cats.

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MARATHON Heading to the Keys for some family fun in the sun? The islands of Marathon may be your best bet for a friendly home base.

The 10-mile long region includes Vaca Key, Fat Deer Key, Grassy Key and more, and hosts educational attractions like a turtle hospital and the Dolphin Research Center. The city boasts an airport, golf course, seafood restaurants and plenty of resorts. And, most importantly, two sandy beaches (rare in the area) with facilities and free entry – Sombrero Beach and Coco Plum Beach.

SEE: History buffs will love Pigeon Key, a tiny island that lies under the stretches of the Seven Mile Bridge and used to house workers from Henry Flagler’s Overseas Railway project in the early 1900s. The key is on the National Register of Historic Places and for visitors there’s a museum and daily historic tours.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO The road that stretches from the tip of mainland florida to the edge of Key West over 100 miles later is marked all they way by mile markers, which is the only way you’ll be able to figure out where you are while crossing endless expanses of the deep blue. Even businesses list their addresses by mile marker location. Mile markers start at 0 at the road’s end on Key West, and increase as the road shoots north.

They keys themselves are broken up into regions: the Upper Keys include everything between Key Largo and Islamorada, the Middle Keys are composed of the islands of Marathon, and the Lower Keys stretch from the famous Seven Mile Bridge (one of the world’s longest segmental bridges) down to Key West.

31 Image: VisitFlorida.com

KEY LARGO Underwater enthusiasts need look no further than the chain’s nearest component to the mainland – Key Largo. Just an hour from Miami by car, this island is the most convenient jumping off point for those looking to explore John Pennekamp State Park, the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary and the impressive Spiegel Grove shipwreck. John Pennekamp park was the first underwater park in the USA and is comprised of 178 nautical miles of healthy coral reefs, seagrass prairies and mangrove forests. On Key Largo, visitors will find ample opportunity to embark on snorkel, scuba, kayak and glass-bottom boat trips. The region is known for being the best place to dive in the Keys.

Image: VisitFlorida.com

EAT: Don’t skip having a meal at Alabama Jack’s – a roadside shack that serves up some seriously tasty conch fritters and fish sandwiches while overlooking a mangrove swamp.

And, of course, save room for an obligatory slice of key lime pie.

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KEY WEST At the tip of the island chain, Key West is notorious worldwide for being wild and weird – really weird. This island (dubbed the “Conch Republic”) is host of the Keys’ most vibrant party scene, but don’t expect bottle-service in clubs with bumping beats. Colourful Duval Street in the historic Old Town is lined by beachy bars and restaurants, and a walk down the strip conjures memories of famous residents like Jimmy Buffet, Tennessee Williams, Judy Blume and even Ernest Hemingway. The Spanish colonial house he lived in from from 1931 to 1940 is now a museum and the grounds are still roamed by the descendants of the writer’s famed six-toed cats.

STAY: The Casa Marina Waldorf Astoria Resort opened in 1920 and is listed on the country’s National Register of Historic Places.

The resort offers 311 guest rooms, many with views of the resort’s 1,100-foot private beach – the largest private beach on the island – and two outdoor pools. Guests can even spend the night in a historic Flagler building with room for two.

Image: VisitFlorida.com

ISLAMORADA If reeling in a big one is the aim of your vacay, the six islands of Islamorada will have you hooked. It is known as the “sport fishing capital of the world,” after all. A huge fleet of four-hour fishing boats leave daily with both backcountry flats sport fishing and and saltwater fly fishing on the schedule, an uncommon choice to have in one place. Regular catches include tuna, grouper, sailfish, tarpon and the region’s famous bonefish. It goes without saying that with all of that fishing comes plenty of seafood restaurants.

SEE: Check out the extensive History of Diving Museum which hosts an impressive collection of historic and international diving helmets along with exhibits exploring 4000 years of diving history.

THE LOWER KEYS The Lower Keys run from Sunshine Key to Stock Island and include Cudjoe Key, Big Pine Key and No Name Key. They’ve kept a quiet personality despite their proximity to Key West, and they’re the perfect destination for the land-locked nature lover – there are two wildlife refuges (and a marine sanctuary) and plenty of opportunities to spy on the eponymous key deer. Bahia Honda State Park sits at mile marker 37 and the National Key Deer Refuge is on Big Pine Key at mile marker 33.

lime pie, head to the Square Grouper Bar and Grill on Cudjoe Key. Look for twists on the typical like yellowfin tuna and avocado egg rolls and housesmoked fish with key lime tartar.

Image: VisitFlorida.com

EAT: For some of the region’s best key

LUXURY ESCAPES TV Luxury Escapes reviews two of Thailand’s finest resorts!

Sofitel Krabi Phokheethra Resort

Hotel Sofitel Bangkok Sukhumvit

• One of Thailand’s largest pools/ access to beaches

• Centrally located near world-class shopping

• Spacious Thai/European style rooms

• Three restaurants/roof-top bar

• So Sofitel Spa and a nine-hole golf course

• Modern rooms are a calm oasis

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