World Traveller Aug'15

THE REGION’S BIGGEST LUXURY TRAVEL MAGAZINE

Issue Eighty Eight | August 2015

Complimentary Copy

Ticked

Produced in International Media Production Zone

Off

INDIA An adventure through Rajasthan discovering the real people

BUDAPEST Feeling Hungary?

This quaint city is the epitome of Euro-cool

SINGAPORE Celebrate with the city state as it turns 50

Inspiring bucket-list ideas, from China's Great Wall to sleeping under the magical Northern Lights

You’ll discover everything your family needs for an exceptional stay experience, from complimentary buffet breakfast to children’s access to the kids clubs. Our extensive recreational facilities and dining options will ensure a holiday you’ll always remember.

To make a reservation, call us at +965 2226 9600 or email us at jmbreservations@jumeirah.com For more information, visit jumeirah.com /JumeirahMessilahBeach

@jumeirahmessilahbeach

@JumeirahMB

August 2015 World Traveller

Editor’s Note Managing Director

Issue eighty eight

Victoria Thatcher

August 2015

Editorial Director

We’ve nearly made it to the end of another Dubai summer. Although as you read this the mercury will still be pushing 40-50 degrees Celsius, we’re now into the final straight of the hot weather. Which is the perfect time to plan a last-minute, end-of-summer getaway.

Prepare for some serious inspiration in our “Book It List” (p35) and scratch your Euro-itch with a trip around Budapest (p46) or join Lara Brunt in discovering the opulent palaces and down-to-earth experiences of Rajasthan (p52)

John Thatcher Editor

Richard Jenkins Senior Designer

Andy Knappett Sales Manager

Lisa Price lisa@hotmediapublishing.com +971 4 375 3608

Inside this issue you’ll also find travel expert Rob dispensing advice about cruises, a tour around Iconic Singapore, plus the chance to win a stay in the Italian Alps.

Features Editor

Lara Brunt

Enjoy the issue, and we’ll see you in September.

Designer

Emi Dixon Illustrator

Andrew Thorpe

Richard Jenkins richard@hotmediapublishing.com

Production Manager

Chalitha Fernando Editoral Intern

Leyla Yilmaz

@wt_magazine

The Great Wall of China

Jun-Dec 2014 | 22,920 | BPA Consumer Audit Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from HOT Media Publishing is strictly prohibited. All prices mentioned are correct at time of press but may change. HOT Media Publishing does not accept liability for omissions or errors in World Traveller.

Tel: 00971 4 364 2876 Fax: 00971 4 369 7494

5

Welcome Contents

Contents

Check In The Sections

8 Be Here Now Leafy Berkshire in England and dreamy Siena are the places to be seen this latesummer.

Check In News and inspiration from around the world

13 Globetrotter A new high-end restaurant in London, bright swimwear and a stunning Mexican hotel.

22 Chef’s Top Tables Destinations In-depth travel features to fuel your wanderlust

Jacob Kenedy, chef and co-owner of Bocca di Lupo and Gelupo cafeteria, shares his top dishes.

24 Spotlight On: St. Petersburg The Russian city is a treasure trove for tourists when the weather is fine.

27 Style & Wellness Weekends Everything you need to know about short-haul escapes 6

A new spa in Dubai, plus fabulous lines of jewellery and the Magnificent 7 style tips.

August 2015 World Traveller

Destinations 35 The Book It List Five of the most sensational once-in-alifetime destinations on earth, from the Great Wall of China to the Great Barrier Reef.

46 Stay Hungary Whether you’re a first-timer or a returning visitor, Budapest has got everything a traveller needs.

52 The Real Rajasthan Lara Brunt goes on an adventure in India to discover how the real residents live their lives.

Weekends 66 News Hot news from the region’s luxury hotels, plus a magical night in the Maldives.

68 Six of the Best: Iconic Hotels These famous, and glorious, hotels are emblems of the countries in which they stand.

73 The Great Escape Disappear for a weekend at the stunning Sheraton Grand in Dubai.

58 Iconic Singapore

76 Suite Dreams

The city-state celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, making it the perfect time to visit.

An out-of-this-world Mauritian paradise is a gift everyone should award themselves.

7

Check In Be Here Now

Be Here

Now

Berkshire, England For over 300 years Cliveden House in Berkshire, England, has played host to the great, good, and not so good – it was here in 1961 that the UK Secretary of State for War, John Profumo, chanced upon a 19-year-old Christine Keeler, sparking both a brief dalliance and the biggest scandal in British political history. Infamy aside, the house has also welcomed virtually every British monarch since George I, and the likes of President Roosevelt, Charlie Chaplin and George-Bernard Shaw. This month sees the historic abode cast in the spotlight once more as a new book, The Mistresses of Cliveden, is released. It tells the story of the women associated with the House down the ages, and the power, intrigue and scandal within. clivedenhouse.co.uk

8

August 2015 World Traveller

9

Check In Be Here Now

10

August 2015 World Traveller

Siena, Italy The magnificently picturesque setting of Siena, Italy, plays host each August 16 to one of the world’s most unique sporting events: the Palio di Siena. This shortest of horse races (it lasts no more than 90 seconds) draws a huge crowd from near and far and encircles the Piazza del Campo, where 10 jockeys ride bareback on a thick layer of freshly laid dirt. Each jockey rides for the honour of their contrade (district) dressed in its traditional colours. And in what’s always a frenzied spectacle, very few manage to remain onboard their horses as they navigate the treacherous turns in the piazza. The race actually takes place twice a year, with the first scheduled every July 2. The August date has been set since 1581, and the same horse has only ever won both races twice. ilpalio.org

11

Live your

Arabian dream of beachside luxury

An authentic, Arabian retreat on Sir Bani Yas Island, Anantara Al Yamm Villa Resort provides endless opportunities to experience the natural beauty of the island. A selection of 30 exclusive beachfront or mangrove lagoon view villas offer five-star comfort, enhanced by breathtaking views and ultimate serenity.

Snorkel or kayak through clear waters or embark on wildlife drives and make your island getaway truly unique.

Embark on a journey rich with discovery at anantara.com Call +971 (0)2 656 1399 or crome@anantara.com

United Arab Emirates • Cambodia •China • Indonesia • Maldives • Mozambique • Qatar • Thailand • Vietnam

Rates from AED 1,600* per night in a one bedroom villa including breakfast for two. *Rates are subject to 10% service charge and 6% tourism fee. Subject to availability.

August 2015 World Traveller

Globetrotter Here’s what’s hot in travel this month…

Out with the Old Be amongst the first guests to check in at these newly refurbished abodes

The Lanesborough, London, UK

Excelsior Hotel Gallia, Milan, Italy

Hotel Esencia, Tulum, Mexico

No area of The Lanesborough, London was left untouched once the most sweeping of renovations had come to a conclusion last month. With it, The Royal Suite has been reinstated as the hotel’s largest suite, complete with seven bedrooms, while Eric Frechon, Paris’ esteemed three-Michelin star chef from sister hotel Le Bristol Paris brings his protégé Florian Favario in as executive chef at the hotel’s Céleste restaurant. lanesborough.com

Originally opened in 1932, the new look Excelsior comes courtesy of renowned Milanese designer Marco Piva. His exquisite touch is evident throughout, but it’s the hotel’s seventh floor Katara Suite which makes the jaw drop furthest to the floor. It’s one of the largest in Italy, packing in two terraces - including one on the roof - a private spa and a unique Princess Suite as one of its four bedrooms. excelsiorhotelgallia.com

Its original purpose was to serve as a hideaway home for an Italian duchess on what is widely considered the most beautiful beach on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. Now under the ownership of art collector Kevin Wendle, the refurbished boutique hotel – which is surrounded by the Mayan Jungle – is brimful of charm, character and a selection of Wendle’s cherished pieces. You’ll have a hard time stepping outside. hotelesencia.com 13

Check In Globetrotter

Summer er style

Short Break If you’re wondering what we’ll be wearing by the pool on our summer holidays, Vilebrequin’s latest line up of swim shorts is the answer. Utilising the brand’s typically cool designs, this year the line is also bringing out a range of stylish jackets and bags to accompany the bright and colourful shorts. WT has a particular fondness for the print that looks like houndstooth from a distance, but up close it’s revealed to be a series of quirky sardines. vilebrequin.com

La Chabanais

High life

Designer Dwellings The queen of British fashion, Dame Vivienne Westwood, was the muse for The London West Hollywood’s new bilevel penthouse, which at 11,000 square feet is the largest in Los Angeles. Nearly half of that space is devoted to what we think is the penthouse’s finest feature – it’s al fresco rooftop terrace (pictured).

From here you can drink in jaw-dropping

panoramic views of Beverly Hills, while kicking back aside the pool or fire. Guests of The Penthouse Inspired by Vivienne Westwood will also be treated to exclusive designer experiences, including one hour of private shopping at the Vivienne Westwood store in West Hollywood and a special discount on all purchases. thelondonwesthollywood.com

Travel Download

Globe trotter

Book It

All the media you need, whatever your journey

App Pixelmator

Music Apple Music

Film Fantastic Four

Simply the best photo-editing App available. Your travel photos will be polished to an unrecognisable sheen.

The music giant’s version of Spotify is out now. The first three months are free, and it’s got Taylor Swift – one up on its rival.

Another bout of superhero action, with a quirky cast of characters packing nifty powers.

Expect explosions and CGI galore.

14

Book Plunder and Deceit Mark R. Levin’s powerful new book explores civil rights in the USA, and how young people can inspire change.

The UAE’s Empty Quarter is one of the places to feature in the book Christian Voigt Photography, which is published by teNeues this month. To compile the tome, Germanborn Voight travelled the globe with his camera, intent on capturing both the weird and wonderful. As such, the featured images are incredibly diverse, ranging from a run-down tattoo studio in Buenos Aires and backstreet hair salon in Beijing, to Amsterdam’s Rijksmuseum and New York’s iconic Central Park. It makes for a truly engaging account of one man’s travels. teneues.com

Check In Globetrotter Left : Dishes from La Chabanais Right : Inaki Aizpitarte

Listen up

Bluetooth bliss Fed up of fiddling around with headphones that get tangled up in bags, and can make your ears feel numb on a long-haul flight?

The Philips Sound SHB7250 headphones could be the answer to your prayers. Often, speakers that connect through Bluetooth sacrifice sound quality for the extra convenience, but these offer rich bass and an extreme level of clarity. A simple buttonpush connects the headphones to your smartphone, and you’re in business. Once back on the ground (and flight mode has been disabled) the headphones can also be used to take calls, all in perfect, cushioned comfort.

Check in, dine out

These stunning new London restaurants are all vying for your attention Prescott & Conran’s all new Paris-inspired Les Deux Salons in Covent Garden was designed by Sir Terence Conran himself. Set up to catch the affluent theatre crowd, the space has a stunning French restaurant on the first floor, while the ground floor features a café, bistro, bar and épicerie.

Launched by Virgin Atlantic and Delta and Inspired by the airlines’ business- and firstclass lounges, NY-LON at the O2 is a lounge bar that aims to “bring the best of New York and London style, design, glamour and mixology to London’s O2 alongside the undeniable buzz of checking in to a first-class lounge.”

Inaki Aizpitarte has finally moved away from his beloved Paris to open an establishment in London’s Mayfair. He says La Chabanais is “totally different” from anything he’s done before, and will be there once a month to make sure everything is running as smoothly as possible. It’s a must-try for London visitors.

Home on the range

Aman for all seasons If you’ve run out of excuses in your attempts to escape the family home to fit in 18 holes at the weekend, here’s the news you need: Aman will debut a golf resort in the spectacular setting of the Dominican Republic before the end of this year.

Amanera will be surrounded by verdant jungle and framed by the island’s dramatic Cordillera Septentrional mountain range, while at its heart will be the Playa Grande Golf Course, which will boast the highest number of ocean-side holes in the Western hemisphere.

Accomodation comes in the form of one-bedroom casitas (a small house), many of which boast pools while all afford breathtaking views. It might cost you more than your typical green fee, but all the family will be thankful once they’ve seen what else is on offer. amanresorts.com/amanera 16

August 2015 World Traveller

Peruse this

Incan treasure If Peru is on your must visit list, here’s somewhere unique to base yourself. Opening this month, Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba stands in the spectacular Sacred Valley of the Incas - where the Andean mountains provide the backdrop - and houses just 12 impeccably designed rooms, although its grounds will soon swell through the arrival of 24 boutique casitas. From here Peru’s great outdoors is yours to explore, with the Hacienda offering a visit to Machu Picchu, tours of Incan ruins, horseback riding, mountain biking and river rafting to boot. inkaterra.com

17

Check In My City

MY CITY

Cannes

Martine Micallef The luxury perfumer, who has nearly 900 retail outlets in 54 countries, delights in beautiful France Check-in to the luxurious Majestic Hotel for an unforgettable stay. Five star service, comfortable rooms and a private beach – what more could you ask for? For a cultural fix, visit a small village of artists called Saint Paul de Vence, which is part of one of the oldest medieval towns on the French Riviera. I love the fact that the gallery is open air and you can see artists at work in their studios.

Art & design fans should head to Fondation Maeght Museum in Vence, a contemporary art museum that houses 18

paintings, sculptures and drawings from the 20th century. The works are integrated within the architecture and gardens, creating an amazing all round experience.

The best luxury shopping can be found at La Croisette, the beach road of Cannes where you’ll find both French and international brands as well as independent boutiques.

For the best fine-dining, make reservations at L’Oasis in Mandelieu, Cannes harbour.

This two star Michelin restaurant is an exotic haven, with flamboyant décor and a ‘winter garden’ complete with a rock waterfall. A combination of traditional Mediterranean tastes and modern Asian cuisine, the gastronomic menu never fails to delight. For lunch on the run, Chez Astoux in Cannes offers fresh, delicious delicacies from the sea – the seafood platter is exquisite. A dish you must try is La bouillabaisse, the famous fish soup with spicy cooked fish and Provencal herbs.

French cuisine at its best.

Clink glasses at The Terrace Bar of

Hotel Carlton on la Croisette, which is perfect for a spot of people watching, with great views and an elegant atmosphere.

Famous for appearing in Alfred Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief, the bar is a favourite amongst stars during the Cannes film festival.

An unforgettable place I’ve visited in the city is the Iles de Lérin opposite the Bay of Cannes. It is perfect for a day trip. Unspoilt, these beautiful islands offer crystalline waters, botanical flora and fauna plus a rich history. Take in the scenery, swim in the charming little coves and visit the ancient vineyards owned by monks. Most people don’t know this about the city, but it’s only eight miles from Grasse, perfume capital of the world, where we handcraft each M.Micallef bottle.

Don’t leave without walking up the winding, cobbled streets in the old part of Cannes to find panoramic views of the city. A visit to the daily farmers market to pick up fresh local produce is also a must, particularly if you’re planning a picnic.

Check In Ask The Expert

Harriman Fjord, Alaska

Ask the EXPERT

Rob Arrow is a product manager at dnata and a self-confessed hotel geek. With nearly a decade of experience in the luxury travel industry, Rob loves nothing more than talking hotels and discovering destinations. His favourite country is Lebanon, his favourite city is Los Angeles and his dream is to own a boutique retreat in the Italian Alps.

Q. My wife and I would like a multidestination holiday. Is a cruise a good option? If so, which routes are best?

A. The idea of cruising has changed beyond recognition. Nowadays there are a multitude of cruises, vessels, experiences and much more to choose from. If you are wishing to cover off a number of destinations in a short period of time and you do not mind going to bed in one city, lulled to sleep on the seas and waking up in a new port of call, then this really is an experience for a multi-destinational holiday. With regard to routings it’s very rare today to find a cruise that does not enter into a port across most of the seas. The key questions to ask are, where to get on and off? How many nights do you want to go for? What do you want to see and where? I believe for a first timer 20

The New Forest, England

it’s important to choose the correct vessel.

If you want to make the most of land based activities then smaller ships that can enter more ports are better. Cruising around the Mediterranean is very popular with the option of taking in a large number of ports including Barcelona, Nice, Monaco and Rome, or possibly you wish to go further East and do a mixture of the Greek Islands and historical sites. Dubai itself is becoming more popular with most ships passing through at differing times, one route includes down to Oman, across to India and then onwards to Thailand and Singapore. Further afield, a number of cruises now commence in Vancouver and Seattle and head north into Alaska, taking in mountains, Fjords, bears and remote Inuit communities. If being out on the high seas is too much to take in or you are not feeling enough ports of call, then you might be more inclined to try an inland river cruise down one of the big European rivers such as Danuabe or Valta. One thing is for sure there is a lot to consider and a lot of decision to be made and with dnata Travel working alongside some of the best cruise companies such as Silverseas, Costa or Princesses we can recommend what suits your needs.

Q. I love Europe - where can I visit to enjoy both a modern city and forests to explore?

A. The wonderful factor of Europe is most of the best cities are surrounded by large green swathes of land and in many cases forests. I spent a long time thinking of the best and what is modern. With

years of investment most European cities have spectrum of modernity. One of the first that came to mind was Berlin, a city steeped in history but only looking like it does today thanks to years of investment and redevelopment making it one of the most vibrant and fun modern capitals in the world. Another wonderful thing about Berlin is the wooded area which really is at its heart in the Tiergarten, across to Berlin Zoo and of course if this is not enough then a short train ride away out to the Grunewald, a UNESCO Biosphere site with 3,000 hectres of trees and wonderful walking paths, all 1hr from Berlin Hautbahnhof, meaning you can leave your room in the very modern and luxurious Waldorf Astoria Berlin and before you know be in the forest. Another city which wasn’t first to spring to mind was St. Petersburg, one of the most romantic and well planned cities, only 300yrs old and very recently renovated. St. Petersburg has some wonderful new hotels including the ultra-Palatial Four Seasons Lions Palace, which is full of modern touches such as Sintoho restaurant, walk to the edge of the water by the Hermitage and get whisked off by Hydrofoil to the vast forested gardens of the Peterhof Palace only 30minutes away. Of course there are some great well known cities with forests close by, Munich and Black Forest, Barcelona and Montserat, and often overlooked the modern Eastern area of London and Canary Wharf and its proximity to the Epping Forest region with luxurious country house hotels such as Chewton Glen or Heckfield Place.

Find a new perspective on

Switzerland this

Discover an itinerary that’s right for you. :LWK VR PXFK RQ RƏHU 6ZLW]HUODQG KDV QHYHU ORRNHG VZHHWHU Eden Au Lac, Zßrich

The Chedi Andermatt, Andermatt

Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, Montreux

4 nights

4 nights

4 nights

from

from

from

AED 3,730*

AED 5,210

AED 5,600

per person

per person

per person

*This rate must be booked prior to 28 August 2015

Visit

Call

dnatatravel.com or your nearest dnata Travel outlet.

+971 4 389 8777 for the best summer offers.

277657

Terms and Conditions Valid for bookings up to 31 October 2015 (unless stated otherwise). Please refer to the dnata Travel Grand Tour of Switzerland brochure for speciďŹ c travel periods—some seasonal surcharges may apply.

All prices were correct at time of printing and are subject to currency uctuation up until the time full payment is made. All prices are subject to availability and special conditions apply.

Check In Chef’s Top Tables

Chef’s

TOP TABLES Trained at Moro and Boulevard before opening Bocca di Lupo in London, Jacob Kenedy is also co-owner and Chef at Gelupo geletaria. The Bocca cookbook is out now.

22

Da Dora, Naples, Italy Order: Linguine alla Dora (with seafood) If I had to have a favourite restaurant in the world, this would be it. They do nothing other than cook seafood (or leave it raw), but they do it so exquisitely that every meal there has been the best of my life. Start with mixed seafood antipasti (both the cooked and raw options), and ask for extra tartufi di mare (Venus clams), raw or cooked. Then have the linguine. Then grilled fish. Then fruit. If you die from overeating it’s ok, as you’re already in heaven.

Boulevard, San Francisco, USA Order: Menu varies. An example: Wood roasted Berkshire kurobuta prime rib chop; black mission fig fritter & vidalia onion soubise Nancy Oakes is one of the world’s great chefs. Her cuisine is complex, generous, sophisticated and welcoming and her restaurant, Boulevard, is an example of how friendly and refined a fine dining establishment can be. She learned a lot from the French, and they in turn could learn a good deal from her incredible knowledge of ingredients and skills.

August 2015 World Traveller

Clockwise from top left: Boulevard; Boulevard; Steamed Grouper; Skate with butter sauce

Tung Po, Hong Kong Order: Clams with black bean, steamed spotted garoupa with celery This bustling, booming seafood restaurant above a wet market on Hong Kong Island is a hoot. Waiters will share a drink with you, music will get louder as the evening progresses, and ordering the freshest seafood with reckless abandon will yield best results. A larger group will allow you to try more things, which is only for the best. No one seems to know why they give rice bowls to drink from though...

Sweetings Restaurant, London, England Order: Skate in black butter

Sora Margherita, Rome, Italy Order: Fettucini cacao e pepe (with sheep’s cheese and pepper)

I always think of Sweetings as the quintessential London restaurant – if you try to imagine where Mr Banks would have gone for lunch in Mary Poppins, this is it. Old English atmosphere that would be impossible to recreate without being naff and clichéd, here it is genuine and wonderfully fun, because it is more or less unchanged in 200 years. The fish dishes are wonderfully cooked and you can taste the age and quality in the recipes.

Of course it would be hard to pick the world’s great restaurants without visiting Italy more than once. This hidden little trattoria is an absolute gem; conveniently bang in the middle of Rome’s sightseeing heartland. An unmarked door leads to a humble little dining room where you’re given, with great warmth, a handwritten menu and beautifully honest Roman Jewish mama’s cooking. The artichokes alla giudia are as good as any, or better.

23

Check In Spotlight On

Spotlight On

6DLQW 3HWHUVEXUJ Rush to Russia for a fabulously cultured mini-break

6HH DQG 'R Church of the Savior on Blood

(DW DQG 'ULQN Tsar

Stay Solo Sokos Hostel

This architectural piece of Romantic Nationalism was built on the site where Alexander II died in 1881 in honour of his life. Construction began in 1883 and was completed in 1907 making this monumental building a true work of art.

Get your hands on an exquisite taste of Russia through head chef Roman Vasiliev at this noble venue whereby Russian classics such as the Olivier salad with smoked sturgeon is served to fulfil guests want for a historic taste of culture.

Located in the historical centre of St Petersburg popular destinations such as St. Isaac’s Cathedral and the beginning of Nevsky Prospect are just a 15 minute walk away from this unique hotel featuring a union of new and old interior.

Palace Square

Ill Lago

ç 'RQàW PLVV

Connecting Nevsky Prospekt with Palace Bridge makes the central square of St Petersburg an exceptional sight to see.

This popular, historic location is also home to many events of significance including Bloody Sunday and the October Revolution of 1917 attracting keen historians from all over.

An experience of Italian fine dining is available at this contemporary location on the outskirts of St Petersburg. This elegant venue features a summer terrace and outdoor veranda, a perfect setting for a tranquil and relaxed meal.

Founded by Catherine the Great in 1764, Hermitage Museum features a range of art including prehistoric, Italian, Spanish and decorative. Classical and Egyptian Antiquities are also displayed at this extravagant location.

The Grand Palace Designed to be the centrepiece of Peter the Great’s “Russian Versaille” , the Grand Palace holds a truly magnificent air of grandeur and beauty for guests to dwell on.

24

Stroganoff Steak House Feast on a meaty meal at Stroganoff Steak House where beef and lamb is flown in from worldwide locations such as New Zealand and Argentina. They not only offer meaty portions but seafood is also a popular choice such as Kamchatka Crab and oysters.

August 2015 World Traveller

&

Style Wellness Very Grand The Grand Hotel Tremezzo Celebrating its 105th anniversary this summer after a refurbishment, the stunning Grand Hotel Tremezzo hotel on the shore of Lake Como, Italy, has been helping people relax for generations. The T Spa has also been renovated in collaboration with ESPA, and caps off a stay of sheer indulgence in one of the most stylish locations on the planet. grandhoteltremezzo.com

25

Check In Style & Wellness

On your bike Banish cellulite If you find that countless hours at the gym aren’t helping you get the body you desire, it’s time to hop on the Spa bike at The Pearl Spa, Four Seasons Resort Dubai at Jumeirah Beach. The hydro-massage bath with an integrated biking system allows you to sculpt and tone your body, while cycling in the privacy of a hot tub. The lowimpact form of exercise burns 700 calories per session, and is ideal for those who want to fight water retention and cellulite.

As well as being great for sorting out the troublesome skin condition, it’s also a terrific way to burn calories sculpt and tone, and is also fun and relaxing. Bikers can shift up to 700 calories per session. Elsewhere in the Pearl Spa, elite level skincare and massage treatments will take care of the rest of your aches and pains, and the spa is probably best known for its deluxe aqua thermal experiences - it’s not known as the Pearl Spa for nothing. fourseasons.com/dubaijb/spa

3.

The High Seas Van Cleef & Arpels’ High Jewellery

2.

1.

7

4.

Magnificent Island hopping style

3.

6.

5.

7.

(1) Missoni Elisabetta crochet-knit triangle bikini (2) Rosantica profondo goldtone pearl hair tie (3) Valentino studded two-tone leather sandals (4) Matthew Williamson printed silk crepe de chine kaftan (5) Super Duper Hats (salmon) (6) Sensi Studio maxi woven toquilla straw tote (7) Totême Biarritz cotton-terry beach towel. Available at net-a-porter.com, S*uce hat availalbe at S*uce.

26

Throughout history the craftsmen of Van Cleef & Arpels have always drawn inspiration from the natural world, and in the maison’s latest high jewellery collection it’s the seven seas which provide the stimulus. From rolling waves to the myriad colours they reflect, and from stones and shells to the creatures - both real and mythical - that swim these varied waters, this is a collection designed to represent a travel memoir composed of aqua treasures. It’s a collection that fully demonstrates the incredible skill and imagination of Van Cleef’s artisans, and the boundless imagination they impart on their work. The collection was launched at a glamorous event in Monte Carlo, the ideal location to showcase the deep blues and stunning corals of the collection’s inspiration. Nicolas Bos, the president and CEO of the jeweller, said that the idea of the collection aimed to capture the Renaissance period, when travel was much in the imagination. vancleefarpels.com

August 2015 World Traveller

Reawaken your senses Resense Spa has just launched its new Dead Sea inspired spa in Ishtar. Drawing on the healing properties of the Dead Sea, these new treatments are sure to delight travellers coming from all four corners of the globe. The Dead Sea has been celebrated for its mineral rich waters, muds filtered by UV light and high oxygen levels for centuries, and Resense has designed a menu that incorporates this natural recipe.

The Spa houses traditional “Ishtar Baths” including Dead Sea pools, Hydro pools and Tepidariums as well as “Mind and Body Experiences” such as Ashtanga Yoga and meditation - an ideal place to indulge in ancient therapies. With 20 specially designed treatments rooms with private facilities, as well as a separate ladies-only area, the Dead Sea has never been so relaxing. kempinski.com

27

Check In World Traveller Promotion

Last minute summer getaways onYas

Island

Kids Rule on Yas this summer, with amazing offers to enjoy

I

f you’re looking for a lastminute adventure to spark your summer, look no further than exciting, magical Yas Island. With a packed schedule of fantastic summer activities, plus the world-famous Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, it’s the ideal place for kids to get active. Here are just a handful of the incredible experiences to create enjoyable memories on Yas Island this summertime.

28

Kids stay, play and dine for free

Summer Season at Yas Island Rotana

Summer Festival at Yas Mall

Many Yas Island hotels (Yas Viceroy, Crowne Plaza, Radisson Blu and Yas Centro) are giving away free stays and amazing theme park tickets for kids with a stay. Plus, join in the hunt for the 250 golden keys hidden daily around the island to win weekly prize draws valued at over AED 10,000.

Key finders will also be entered into a grand prize draw to win tickets from Flynas and Etihad!

Live shows at du Forum this month include Sesame Street Live, Mythbusters and magician Hans Klok. If you are looking for a unique dining experience, don’t forget to visit Rangoli, for deliciously exotic Indian cuisine with a perfect modern twist!

Or, if you are in for a great night out, come down to Y bar and enjoy a great atmosphere, delicious a la carte menu, music and a great terrace.

The Yas Mall Summer Festival is in full swing! Daily prizes of up to AED 1000 in vouchers will be up for grabs, and customers just have to spend a minimum AED 300 from any Yas Mall brand on the day to enter the draw which takes place in the Town Square at 7:30pm daily.

A grand draw on August 19 will include tickets from Etihad and a luxurious holiday to Switzerland from Flight Centre.

August 2015 World Traveller

Summer Offers

These deals will only be available over summer, so make sure you don’t miss out.

Call +971 4316 6666 or visit dnatatravel.com

Radisson Blu Hotel, Abu Dhabi Yas Island

Yas Mall

Two nights from USD 173 per person Special offers: 36% room rate reduction (reflected in price), two children under 12 stay & dine free, complimentary Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi ticket for all guests once per stay, extend stay to three nights & receive fourth night free Includes: Stay in a Standard room with breakfast daily.

Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015*

Yas Rotana, Abu Dhabi Two nights from USD 145 per person Special offers: Complimentary 2 day Yas Two Park Pass (Yas Waterpark and Ferrari World) per guest once per stay, children under 12 years old stay and dine for free Includes: Stay in a Family Room with breakfast daily (can accommodate up to 4 adults & 4 children) Validity: Until Sep 15, 2015*

Crowne Plaza Abu Dhabi Yas Island Summer on Yas Island

Yas Marina’s attractions This summer take advantage of a great deal with Safwa Marine and charter a luxurious yacht for a 3-hour cruise around Yas Island with up to 12 people and pay only AED 5,175 (50% off the original cruise price). It’s a peaceful, relaxing way to see all of Yas Island’s beautiful sights, including its host of stylish restaurants and bars.

Visit yasisland.ae for more information

Two nights from USD 177 per person Special offers: One child under 12 years old stays and dines for free, one complimentary extra bed, complimentary two day Yas Two Park Pass (Yas Waterworld Abu Dhabi and Ferrari World Abu Dhabi) for all guests once per stay Includes: Stay in a Superior room with breakfast daily Validity: Until Sep 14, 2015*

Yas Viceroy Abu Dhabi

Yas Island Rotana

One night from USD 90 per person Special offers: Complimentary upgrade to the next room category and late check-out till 3PM plus receive 50% discount on Spa treatments and 25% discount on F&B Includes: Stay in a Marina room with breakfast daily Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015* *T&Cs apply 29

Check In dnata Offers

WORLD TRAVELLER

Reader Offers

B A

A USA Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek

5 nights from USD386 per person Special offer: Stay 4 nights and receive an additional night free Includes: Stay in a Standard King room with return airport transfers Validity: Aug 1-Oct 3, 2015 Orlando, Florida is the home of some of the USA’s most memorable theme parks, so it’s great for fun-loving families that want a trip to remember.

30

B USA The Ritz-Carlton Naples

5 nights from USD657 per person Special offer: Stay 4 nights and receive an additional night free Includes: Stay in a Coastal View room with breakfast and return airport transfers Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015 Found in Florida, not Italy, this ultra-luxe haunt is close to museums and the Ritz’s Tiburón golf club, making it a classy getaway. Autumn in Florida is wonderfully temperate.

H

France Aparthotel Adagio Paris Centre Tour Eiffel

Zanzibar Melia Zanzibar

4 nights from USD345 per person Special offer: 10% room rate reduction Includes: Stay in a Studio room with return airport transfers Validity: Until Sep 15, 2015.

Blackout dates apply.

4 nights from USD819 per person Special offer: 25% rate reduction Includes: Stay in a Melia Garden room on an All Inclusive basis and return airport transfers Validity: Aug 1-Sep 30, 2015

There are very few places in Paris with better views of its most famous landmark, and in fact the views from all angles are spectacular.

Head to Zanzibar for an adventurous getaway that nobody else will have tried clear blue seas and relaxation await at this jungle paradise.

August 2015 World Traveller

C

I G F

You can book these offers by calling dnata on +971 4 316 6666

K D

How to Book

Or by visiting dnatatravel. com. Terms and conditions apply. On the same site you can also sign up to dnata’s newsletter and receive more offers direct to your inbox.

E

J

E Seychelles Savoy Resort & Spa

F Thailand The St. Regis Bangkok

Hong Kong The Excelsior Hong Kong

5 nights from USD886 per person Special offer: Stay 4 nights and receive an additional night free Includes: Stay in a Savoy Mountain View room with breakfast daily and return airport transfers Validity: Aug 1-Sep 30, 2015

3 nights from USD390 per person Special offer: 10% rate reduction Includes: Stay in a Deluxe room with breakfast daily and return airport transfers Validity: Until Oct 31, 2015

4 nights from USD440 per person Special offer: Stay 3 nights and receive an additional night free Includes: Stay in Superior Park view room with breakfast daily and return airport transfers Validity: until Oct 31, 2015

Bangkok may have a reputation for excess, in both noise and bustle, but the St. Regis is the antidote, a relaxing and luxurious getaway where peace is all around.

Hong Kong is a beautiful place to visit over autumn, as the trees begin to lose their coloured leaves and the air cools down, meaning the hot summer is on its way out.

The Savoy name is worldfamous in hotel circles for good reason. The Seychelles’ mountainous terrain makes for glorious photos.

31

Check In dnata Offers

Walt Disney World Resort

Six Senses Zighy Bay

Heritage Le Telfair

Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

dnata’s FANTASTIC FOUR

Exciting Escapes There’s adventure to be found at these incredible destinations H

USA Walt Disney World® Swan and Dolphin Resort, Orlando 4 nights from USD538 per person Special offer: 25% rate reduction plus children below 9 years eat free breakfast, lunch and dinner when ordering from the children’s menu Includes: Stay in newly renovated Grand Deluxe Guest room - Swan and return airport transfers Validity: Until Dec 31, 2015 Wet, wild and Disney.

32

I

Oman Six Senses Zighy Bay 1 night from USD300 per person Special offer: 10% room rate reduction plus early check in at 12:00hrs and late check out at 16:00hrs Includes: Stay in a Pool Villa with breakfast Validity: Aug 1-Aug 31, 2015 From the moment you arrive at Zighy Bay (by hang-glider, if you like) you’ll be struck by the quality of one of the very best resorts in the whole of the Middle East.

J

K

Mauritius Heritage Le Telfair Golf Resort & Spa

Malaysia Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur

4 nights from USD622 per person Special offer: Book a Deluxe room for 2 adults and receive an additional room free for 2 kids under 18 years of age including half board Includes: Stay in a Deluxe room with breakfast and dinner daily, complimentary unlimited Green Fees at Heritage Golf Club and return airport transfers Validity: Aug 1-Sep 30, 2015

3 nights from USD540 per person Special offer: 10% rate reduction Includes: Stay in a Club room with breakfast daily and return airport transfers Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015

Perfect for a golfing getaway.

Kuala Lumpus is up-and-coming in terms of nightlife, hotels and restaurants, so make sure you’re ahead of the curve and book your stay before everyone else catches up.

August 2015 World Traveller Promotion

The

Adventureof a Lifetime

From quick trips to epic journeys, Contiki trips cover the world from all angles for 18-35 year old travellers. It’s about making every moment count. At Contiki, that’s what we do best

T

here are lots of different ways you could choose to travel the USA & Canada but none is quite like Contiki.

Travelling with us will give you the best possible experience with no hassle, the best team & more included. Travel with us & you’re choosing to get the best of each destination, with exclusive accommodation, food & experiences. It’s unbeatable value every time.

More choice No two travellers are the same, which is why we offer eight unique ways to explore the world.

For 18-35s only We’re all about exploring the

world with like-minded people, which is why we only run trips for 18-35 year olds. And Contiki’s all about making new friends from around the world.

Around 50% of our travellers set off solo, meaning you’ll have a ton of opportunities to make new friends.

More included Our trips include everything you need to have the adventure of a lifetime and best value: · We take care of all the logistics like booking the accommodation · We include breakfast most days & delicious local meal experiences

· We get you from place to place on wheels in our luxury coaches or in the air · Our team of young, fun & knowledgeable Trip Managers, Drivers & Local Guides know all about the destinations & the sights

New USA & Canada trips for 2016 Two new In-depth Explorer trips for USA & Canada for 2016

Canadian Encounter 7 days, 5 states Washington D.C.; Pittsburgh; Niagara Falls; Toronto; Montreal & Boston Price per person starting from: USD 1180.00

Save 10% on above by using promocode PPWTMAG10

Revolutionary Roads 8 days, 5 states Boston; New York; Philadelphia & Washington D.C. Price per person starting from: USD 1930.00 Save 10% on above by using promocode PPWTMAG10 World Traveller readers can get a 10% discount on all Contiki trips of 7 days or over departing in 2015. Quote code PPWTMAG10 when booking.

For more information, please call +9714 316 6666 or email contactcentre@dnata.com 33

A NEW PERSPECTIVE. A NEW EXPERIENCE. 6MWMRK LMKL EFSZI 7LIMOL >E]IH 6SEH [MXL XLI TYPWI SJ XLI GMX] EX ]SYV ½RKIVXMTW HMWGSZIV E RI[ YVFER WERGXYEV] [MXLMR *VEWIV 7YMXIW (YFEM ;I MRZMXI ]SY XS I\TIVMIRGI SYV FVERH RI[ LSXIP VSSQW IEGL JIEXYVMRK GSRXIQTSVEV] MRXIVMSVW [MXL EFYRHERX REXYVEP PMKLX HIWMKRIV EQIRMXMIW ERH TERSVEQMG ZMI[W SZIV XLI GMX] 6IPE\ YR[MRH ERH IRNS] SYV +SPH 7XERHEVH JEGMPMXMIW ERH E[EVH [MRRMRK WIVZMGI %X *VEWIV 7YMXIW (YFEM [I LEZI MX EPP BOOK NOW for our Guaranteed Best Available Rates and special promotional offers at www.dubai.frasershospitality.com 8SPP *VII *6%7)6 8IP )QEMP VIWIVZEXMSRW HYFEM$JVEWIVWLSWTMXEPMX] GSQ

8,) *6%7)6 '300)'8-32

Bahrain Bangkok Barcelona &IMNMRK Brisbane Budapest Chengdu

Doha Dubai )HMRFYVKL +PEWKS[ +YERK^LSY Hanoi Ho Chi Minh City

-WXERFYP Jakarta Kuala Lumpur London Manila Melbourne 2ERNMRK

2I[ (IPLM Osaka Paris Perth Seoul Shanghai 7LIR^LIR

Singapore 7Y^LSY Sydney 8MERNMR Wuhan Wuxi %P 6M]EHL

*VEROJYVX

%FYNE

&IVPMR

+IRIZE

/YRQMRK

=ERKSR

&EPMOTETER

(EPMER

,IJIM

.SLSV &ELVY

0EKSW

2ERGLERK

8SO]S

+YVKESR

August 2015 World Traveller

Book-It List The

No more excuses – it’s time to turn that travel ‘bucket list’ into a ‘book-it’ list. Whether you daydream of experiencing Antarctica, or diving the Great Barrier Reef, here are reasons why you just need to do it…

Zion Canyon from Angel’s Landing, Zion National Park, Utah

35

Destinations Book-It List

“I’ve Always Wanted to View The Northern Lights...”

BUT: ‘They might not show!’

We understand your concern. The magic of the Aurora Borealis is one of the world’s last mysteries — Lapland’s indigenous Sami people will tell you it’s the tail of a mythical Firefox glancing across the snow, sending sparks into the night’s sky. Science, meanwhile, insists that the Lights are caused by solar-wind particles hitting the Earth’s upper atmosphere. And yes, they’re fickle, but on a clear night at the right time of year, you’ve an 80 per cent chance of a sighting. Here’s how to stack the odds in your favour... When?

The Northern Lights appear from late September to late March, between 6pm and 1am, and the best chances of sightings are in midwinter (December and January).

Admittedly, there are cheaper deals at either end of the season, but we don’t recommend taking the risk.

Where? Best to see the Lights under the

36

‘Aurora zone’. This broad band of Arctic air haloes the planet, and in Europe covers the far north of Finland, Sweden, Norway and all of Iceland. Avoid cities as light pollution makes the Lights harder to see.

How? Seeing the Lights requires warm clothes, patience and luck. Increase the latter by stretching your trip as long as you can — to three or four nights, ideally. This is because the Lights can’t be seen when there’s cloud cover, so extra time gives poor weather the chance to move off. And be ready to scoot outdoors at a moment’s notice, as displays last from a few hours to just minutes.

For maximum night-sighting potential, try the small Finnish ski resort of Kakslauttanen, where you can sleep in a toasty glass-domed igloo with specially designed condensation-proof glass — even in your pyjamas, there’s no chance of missing the show.

August July 2015 World Traveller

Aurora Borealis in the Arctic Circle

37

Destinations Book-It List

Adelie penguins hauled out on floating icebergs near Paulet Island, Antarctic Peninsula

“I’ve Always Wanted to see Penguins in Antarctica...”

BUT: ‘It’s just too big an adventure! Where would I even start?’

38

In the century since Scott’s heartbreaking expedition to the South Pole, the Great White Continent has drifted from the outskirts of human exploration into mainstream tourism. Today, if you want to visit its most famous inhabitants, the penguins, you’ve lots of choice.

Most trips to Antarctica involve joining a ship from South America, during a season that lasts from late November to late March (January, when the ice is most reduced, is the best time to go). The majority sail out

of Ushuaia, Argentina, which is the best option for price and choice. Always opt for an ‘expedition cruise’. These involve multiple landings on Antarctica, as opposed to the ‘cruise only’ boats, which involve drifting between icebergs, but no up-close interaction with the penguins. Your next obstacle is the Drake Passage, the infamous stretch of water where the Atlantic, Pacific and Southern Oceans all squabble violently for supremacy. If you’re willing to spend the extra, you can fly across this on a small

August July 2015 World Traveller

plane from Punta Arenas, in Chile, to King George Island, just off the Antarctic peninsula, where you’ll then hop onto an expedition ship. Quark Expeditions (quark expeditions.com) is by far the biggest Polar operator.

Once the Drake has been conquered, you’ve multiple routes around the Antarctic peninsula to choose from, some taking in the surrounding islands, including South Georgia and the South Shetlands.

But if penguins are your priority, Quark’s

shortest, 11-day trips take you straight to the heart of the action, introducing you to three of Antarctica’s penguin species: Adélie, gentoo and chinstrap, and — if you’re lucky — a fourth, the elusive macaroni. If it’s the big one you’re after, however, the emperor penguin, you’ll need to invest significantly more time and money. These nest much further south, and will involve a land operator rather than an expedition cruise. The largest of these are Adventure Network International

(adventure-network.com) and the Antarctic Company (antarctic-company.info), which both offer ‘emperor’ trips, flying out of Puntas Arenas or Cape Town to camps on the continent, and from there to the emperor colonies. Most land operators provide the basic kit you’ll need, too.

Finally, pack a good camera. A number of boats now have a staff photographer, who’ll teach you how to take the perfect penguin shots (bear in mind you’re not allowed any physical contact with the wildlife).

39

Destinations Book-It List

“I’ve Always Wanted to Teeter on the Grand Canyon...”

BUT: ‘There’s nothing else to see once I’m out there’ Canyon ticked off, you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s scant reason to stick around these parts. Everybody makes the same mistake: most of the Grand Canyon’s five million annual visitors take it in from Las Vegas on a quick helicopter flight, or a day’s coach trip and never get another sighting of the American Southwest.

But the Grand Canyon, awe-inspiring as it is, isn’t the only motivation to make an overland pilgrimage into the heartlands of Arizona and Utah. From the eroded, almost lunar desert-scape of Arches National Park (five hours from the Grand Canyon) to the bristling blaze of orange pinnacles at Bryce Canyon (five hours), and from the soaring cliffs and riverine forests of Zion National Park (a four-hour drive) to the stark sandstone buttes of Monument Valley (three hours), this expanse will keep you — and your dazzled retinas — occupied for weeks. And if you do Utah’s big four as listed, anti-clockwise from Arches National Park to Monument Valley over a two-day trip (13 hours’ driving in total), you get to bed down overnight in a tucked-in-the-woods luxury cabin at Zion Lodge, with one of the heartiest breakfasts in the state. (Rise very early on day two if you want to catch Monument Valley in the morning sun.)

Then, of course, there’s the Grand Canyon itself, which — since you’ve come all this way — you should do properly. Get up close to the grandaddy of canyons on an expert-led trek. The respected Wildland Trekking (wildlandtrekking.com) offers foot and mule-assisted treks, including an exhilarating four-day Rim-to-Rim itinerary, which allows you to cook, eat and sleep under a star-punched night sky.

40

August July 2015 World Traveller

Grand Canyon National Park (North Rim) from the Toroweap (Tuweep) Overlook Arizona

41

Destinations Book-It List

“I’ve Always Wanted to Dive The Great Barrier Reef...”

BUT: ‘Hasn’t it been damaged by the hordes of divers?’

In truth, the Great Barrier Reef is no more under pressure from over-use and global warming than any other dive spot. And the reef is as long as Italy, so it’s easy to avoid the busier spots and seek out those (vast) areas where the coral is spectacular.

The first thing to avoid: the many day-trip cruises that jostle out from Cairns harbour each morning. They’ve been depositing divers on the same bit of reef for decades, so you’ll find damaged coral and fewer fish. Head instead to less accessible areas, where the marine eco-system is alive and kicking. Lizard Island, 240km north of Cairns and far from any population centres, is outstanding (and has just been rebuilt after getting walloped by Cyclone Ita — it reopened in April). With its own prolific fringing reefs, you can walk straight off the beach with your snorkel and see the type of spectacle it’d take you hours to reach elsewhere. Expect to see everything from plucky clownfish, to angelfish, wrasse, fusilier fish, manta rays, moray eels, turtles and reef sharks.

Wherever you go, timing is important.

Avoid Australia’s peak season if you want fewer fellow divers and better hotel rates.

Easter weekend and mid-December to midJanuary are when rates rocket. Southerly Lady Elliot Island has cracking coral gardens that are also reachable with just short-boat or snorkelling trips; turtle season (November to March) is great for kids, as the creatures like shallow swimming and lay their eggs on the beach.

If you want to get far away from the crowds and the damage they’ve caused, a live-aboard puts you right on top of the reef day and night. Mike Ball Dive Expeditions (mikeball.com) has a three-night Fly Dive trip from Cairns to the famous Ribbon Reefs and Cod Hole.

42

August July 2015 World Traveller

Aerial view of the coral cay Green Island surrounded by Coral Reef

43

Destinations Book-It List

“I’ve always wanted to walk the Great Wall of China...”

BUT: ‘I’m worried it’s too touristy’ We hear you. Badaling, the access point to a restored stretch of the Ming Dynasty wall, a two-hour drive from Beijing, is a carnival of tourist tat (snow-dome Great Wall featuring a waving cat, anyone?) and the crowds are, well, wall-to-wall.

But Badaling is to the Great Wall what Hollywood Boulevard is to California.

Marvel at its excesses, then pack some steamed rice cakes (the Ming Dynasty’s

44

favourite travelling snack), pull on your boots, and head further afield to explore the more winsome reaches of this monument, which is not, in fact, a continuous wall (rather a broken line of ramparts from different eras, stitched together by popular imagination).

Want that killer photograph of crenellated stone wall snaking through soft green peaks? You’ll need the blockbuster spots between Jinshanling and Simatai. For a canny way to avoid the Beijing coach tours to Jinshanling, travel from Beijing in the late afternoon (2.5 hrs, avoid 5pm-6pm traffic) and spend a night in one of the handful of hotels at the foot of the wall, such as the Jinshanling. You’ll have the wall to yourself from 7pm and, crucially, before 10am, when you’ll get the best light for photos. To take in the wall without a soul around, head west to Jiayuguan, an

unpeopled spot in the western deserts of China, where a stretch of unreconstructed wall is backdropped by snow-dusted peaks.

Too intrepid? Try a day-trip from Beijing — but one that doesn’t involve a crowded bus tour. Beijing-based Simon Service (simon-service.com) is run by Englishspeakers, who arrange private-car services to the Great Wall at Jinshanling. Or get a blissfully crowd-free perspective of the busier stretches at Badaling on a helicopter tour with Great Wall Helicopter Tours (greatwallhelicoptertours.com).

However remote you go, avoid summer weekends and Chinese national holidays (such as the first week of October and the Chinese New Year). Also, avoid Great Wall scams by refusing temptingly cheap excursions offered at tourist sites in Beijing — they often turn out to be a forced pointto-point tour of tourist shops.

August July 2015 World Traveller

Jinshanling Great Wall, Hebei

45

Destinations Budapest

Hungary For More With grand architecture, cultural quirks and a rich cafĂŠ society, Budapest has enough to impress new and returning visitors, says Sankha Guha

46

August 2015 World Traveller

47

Destinations Budapest Opening spread: Fisherman’s Bastion. This spread, clockwise from right: Matthias Church and back view of St. Stephen of Hungary; St. Gerhard statue on Gellert Hill; Detail of St. Stephen of Hungary; Pedestrian street Vaci Ucta.

Overleaf, clockwise from top left: Chain Bridge; Matthias Church; Tramline on the Danube Promenade; Schloss Sigmaringen Castle; Apple strudel; The Four Seasons Hotel Gresham Palace; Fisherman’s Bastion.

B

udapest has a new and distinctively odd landmark. I am peering down from a window of the presidential suite on the ninth floor of the Kempinski Hotel Corvinus in Pest. Across the road, in Erzsebet Ter (Elizabeth Square), there is a tree that appears to be bandaged in paper.

There is a rational explanation for this.

The hotel management has granted me privileged access to the inner sanctum of a temple. This suite was Michael Jackson’s residence whenever he was in town. Though it has been redecorated since his final visit, the Versace-influenced furnishings and the whole 189sqm extravaganza is every bit as blingy as one would hope. However, for the Jackson faithful, the inner sanctum remains unattainable; the nearest they can get is the tree in the park. Since his death, fans have festooned it with photos, magazine cuttings, fresh flowers and billets-doux addressed to their idol. It is an improvised but semipermanent shrine.

It has yet to become a major draw but, as Budapest’s sites go, it has the benefit of novelty. Most of the others have become so familiar to me over the years that I tend to underestimate their impact on first-time visitors. Being part Hungarian, I feel at home here, but maybe I take my birthright slightly for granted. A part of me envies the first timer. Like them, I want the thrill of discovery. I want to feel Budapest emerge afresh in my imagination as one of the great cities of modern Europe. I want to be a bornagain tourist.

I resolve to do as the best tourists do in a new city: walk. Most of the big hotels are concentrated in a small area of central Pest known as Belvaros (the Inner City; municipally, the Fifth District) and most of the principle landmarks are within strolling distance. Exploring at street level reveals many small surprises. It hadn’t occurred to me before, but as I walk past the ornate secessionist gates of the Gresham Palace (now the Four Seasons Hotel), I realise there is a British axle at the hub of Budapest.

The palace, one of the most graceful Art Nouveau buildings in the city, was commissioned by the London-based Gresham Life Assurance Company. It occupies a prime location in the square on

48

the Pest side of the famous Lanchid (Chain Bridge). This, too, has a British provenance.

The first permanent stone bridge in the city was designed by an Englishman, William Tierney Clark, and is a grander version of one he built earlier in Marlow, Buckinghamshire. Moreover, the square on the Buda side of the bridge is named after the Scottish engineer Adam Clark (no relation), who oversaw its construction.

Walking across, you notice the scale of Budapest. This is no twee medieval museum town in east-central Europe. It has ambition. Perhaps that is hardly surprising from a former capital of the AustroHungarian Empire. It is, in fact, bigger than the other capital, Vienna, and marginally more populous.

This morning, the river is more the Grey Danube than the summery blue of Strauss’s corny old tune, but, even in winter, under

I resolve to do as the best tourists do in a new city: walk a sky leached of colour, you cannot fail to appreciate the beauty of the topography.

The scenic Buda hills on my left descend in a series of humps and escarpments to the drifting north-south line of the river and, on the opposite east bank, lies the commercial and administrative heart of the country in Pest – with a crowded skyline all the way to the flat horizon.

To appreciate these views, the next best thing to a helicopter is the funicular railway that starts in Adam Clark Square. The Budavari Siklo was originally intended as a quick and cheap commute for workers employed in the Var (Castle district) at the top of the hill. It is now entirely a plaything for us tourists. The quaint wood-panelled carriages look like wonky but upmarket garden sheds, and seem in extremely good nick for such an antique mode of transportation. Their near pristine condition is explained by the fact that the original machinery of the 1870 Siklo was destroyed during the Second World War. The current railway is a replica that opened

August 2015 World Traveller

Where To Stay Budapest Kempinski Hotel Corvinus is characterised by elegant and unobtrusive luxury, with distinctive architecture. Meanwhile, centrally located is the grand Boscolo Budapest Hotel, one of the most striking destinations in the city. To book, visit dnatatravel.com or call +971 4 316 6666.

49

Destinations Budapest

in 1986. The ride lasts just 90 seconds and, at 1,000 forints per adult, it cannot be classed as the cheapest thrill in town.

The Castle district offers some of the city’s most pompous architecture – a procession of palaces, churches and monuments – and is a must for any Budapest neophyte. The changing of the guard I witness is a rather homespun affair, with strutting soldiers struggling to hang on to some sense of decorum amid the camera-clicking hordes.

The area took a terrible beating during the siege of Budapest, a vicious street fight that lasted six weeks and which has been compared in its intensity with Stalingrad.

The Germans (aided by Hungarian fascist allies) made their last stand against the Red Army here. Much of the architecture has a recently restored feel: the edges seem sharper, the colours brighter and the façades smoother than one might expect.

The makeover is so convincing that, when I round the corner into Disz Ter, the sight of the shattered former Ministry of Defence, which has been left as it was at the end of the war, comes as a shock.

Just a few hundred metres away, the 19thcentury neo-Gothic splurge of the Matthias Church and the peculiar Fishermen’s Bastion looks even more Disneyish after such a visceral reminder of recent cataclysm. Snow White and all her dwarves would not look anachronistic proceeding along the fairytale terraces, but such reveries are interrupted by the megaphone voices of German and Japanese tour guides marshalling their flocks. Bemusing though it is, the Fishermen’s Bastion does nevertheless offer definitive panoramic views of Budapest.

Round the corner from my hotel in Pest, I find another survivor of the many

The changing of the guard is a rather homespun affair horrors inflicted on Budapest in the 20th century. The Gerbeaud Confectionary, in Vorosmarty Ter, opened its doors in 1870 and reached its apogee in the belle époque as a temple of sweet indulgence. I remember being brought here as a child in the dour decades of communist rule, and yet, through all those years, despite suffering the indignity of a name change, the café everyone still called Gerbeaud retained a whiff of its original decadence.

Trading under its old name again, the café has been restored to its full former glory by its new German owners. The quality of fare has gone up – and so have the prices.

My friend Celia, who is working in the city for a few months, is a fan. “I love the apple strudel. It is soooo good. The best!” she enthuses. But she concedes the pricing is eye-watering for many Hungarians. “It’s not a local place, which is really sad.”

50

August 2015 World Traveller

The Lotz Café, in the former Paris Department Store, is more reasonably priced but reason has little to do with anything else. The Art Nouveau frontage of the building, on Andrassy ut, is eye-pleasing enough but it gives little hint of the neoBaroque glory hidden within. Nowadays, the building is principally a bookshop. To reach the café, take the escalator away from the volumes on the ground floor – without warning, you are propelled into a ballroom that Marie Antoinette would not carp at.

There is more than a hint of Versailles about this grandiose interior. Huge mirrors reflect and amplify the ostentatious gilt-edged decoration featuring frescoes by the 19thcentury artist Karoly Lotz. It is wildly over the top for what is only a coffee shop.

The room was intended for an adjacent casino in 1885, before being knocked through to become a part of the department store. After the Second World War it was neglected, serving as storage space for such workaday goods as were available in the communist-managed economies of the Eastern Bloc. Today, reinvented as a café, it has a wicked glint to it. Remarkably, for all its outrageous posture, the down-toearth prices in the Lotz make it a favourite for locals and tourists alike. It is a worthy addition to café society in a city famous for its coffee-and-cake culture.

I have one last obligation as a born-again tourist. Tramline No 2 has been named the seventh most scenic in the world – and the top in Europe – by National Geographic. It is an accolade of which Budapest’s natives are proud, but one that many feel only confirms what they already know. The ride begins unpromisingly as it departs its southern terminus and rolls past the cultural complex next to Rakoczi Bridge. The Palace of the Arts is a fine building but it suffers from its proximity to the newish National Theatre, an alarming heap of terrible ideas, next door.

The tramline heads north on the Pest bank of the Danube and normal service is resumed. Gellert Hill, with its giant post-war statue of liberty, dominates first, and many of the other wonders of Budapest follow in swift succession; the bridges, the hills, the baths, the castle and the broad sweep of one of Europe’s great waterways. Then the outline of the Palace of Westminster seems to appear out of the low winter mist. This is not a hallucination. The Gothic Revival style of the Hungarian parliament was indeed inspired by Westminster and its river-front position adds to the illusion that we are some 1,500 kilometres to the west. But there is a further twist.

This parliament is almost the same size as its antecedent in London – which is pretty cheeky for a small landlocked nation. Some would say that’s typical. The Hungarians were not imitating to flatter, they simply wanted a building commensurate with their self-image.

51

Destinations India

The

Real Rajasthan’s everyday street life is just as appealing as its aweinspiring forts and palaces, discovers Lara Brunt

52

August 2015 World Traveller

53

Destinations India

J

aipur is slowly waking up. As the city stretches and yawns in the early morning light, merchants sweep their shopfronts and locals stop for a steaming cup of masala chai. Soon the streets will be teeming with rickshaws, motorbikes, cars and camels, but for now, the energetic cacophony of city life is muted. It’s precisely why we got up at dawn to explore the backstreets of Jaipur by bike with guides Eleonore Gaspa and Raju Meena from Cyclin’ Jaipur. Originally from Paris, Eleonore and childhood friend Ophelie Teyssandier founded the firm after discovering the essence of Jaipur lies not only in its beautiful monuments but in its vivid street life, too.

Dubbed “the Pink City”, Jaipur is the capital of the regal state of Rajasthan.

Renowned for its spectacular architecture and colourful textiles and semi-precious stones, its nickname originates from a visit by the Prince of Wales in 1876, for which the city was painted terracotta pink in celebration. We spend the morning exploring the old walled city, weaving through the Muslim quarter and marble carvers’ district, and stopping to admire the grand Albert Hall Museum, art deco Raj Mandir Cinema and honeycombed Hawa

Jaipur is the capital of the regal state of Rajasthan Mahal (Palace of Winds). We munch on crispy onion kachori and potato samosa, washed down with fresh lassi, and follow exuberant singing, drumming and bell ringing to Chaura Rasta, the oldest Shiva temple in Jaipur. We even stop by Raju’s house to meet his mum and the 15 or so cows that share their dwelling.

Swapping two wheels for four, Eleonore drives us to a private elephant centre near Amber Fort, the magnificent honey-hued structure that bewitched us the day before, on the outskirts of the city. Elephants have long been revered in India, with maharajas wielding power from the back of the mighty animals for centuries. Today, painted pachyderms star in festivals and weddings, including the annual Jaipur Elephant Festival held during the spring festival of Holi.

The centre is home to 23 female elephants, mostly rescued from circuses, which spend most days ferrying tourists up to the 16th-century fort. We meet Rangmala, a 28-year-old elephant who greedily gobbles up the bananas we offer and stands patiently while we add our own vibrant designs to her rough grey hide. “The mahouts live with their elephant 24 hours a day and are the only person to ride them,” Eleonore explains.

The afternoon is spent wandering the atmospheric town of Amber, which is home to a restored step well and around 300 temples that blend Hindu, Muslim and Jain 54

Opening spread: Jaipur Holi Elephant. This spread, clockwise from above: Holi elephants; City Palace and Lake Pichola, Udaipur, India; Local dress; Private dining area at lebua resort, Jaipur; Local spices; Elevated view of Lake Pichola and Udaipur City; Devi Garh by lebua

August 2015 World Traveller

55

Destinations India

Where To Stay lebua Resort Jaipur & Devi Garh by lebua A short drive from the bustle of Jaipur, lebua Resort Jaipur is made up of 60 large suites decorated in vibrant colours, and three sprawling villas each with a private pool. There’s a 20,000 sq ft L’Occitane spa, heated pool and two restaurants. Located 28km from Udaipur, Devi Garh by lebua is housed in an 18th-century fort palace.

The 39 suites feature minimalist interiors and gorgeous views over the countryside. There’s a restaurant, private dining, a heated outdoor pool and an excellent spa. Don’t miss sundowners at the terrace bar.

architecture. We also visit a local family, with matriarch Gigi welcoming us into her home with the most beautiful smile. She shows us how to make chapati and paratha, which we smear liberally with fresh buffalo ghee.

We return to our suite at lebua Resort Jaipur, 10km from the city centre. Inspired by the vibrant gemstones that Jaipur is known for, the 600sq ft suite has a sunken Jacuzzi and private garden on the rooftop, both welcome respites from the chaotic city streets. The resort itself is just as striking.

The contemporary design was inspired by Jantar Mantar, the Royal Observatory of Jaipur, built in 1728, and features a series of fiery red buildings constructed from stone, set against the backdrop of the Aravali mountains.

We’re treated to a private dining experience in an outdoor sunken terrace, surrounded by flickering candles and rose petals. Our meal begins with tasty vegetarian plates such as grilled paneer with mint chutney and green pea patties, followed by a thali made up of various little dishes served with piping hot breads and rice. Every dish is sublime, especially the melt-in-your-mouth butter chicken and lamb laal maas, a traditional Rajasthani curry that gets its rich red colour from chillies.

Unfamiliar with Indian desserts, we tuck into the moong dal halwa (creamy yellow dal flavoured with saffron and cardamom) and gulkand kulfi (delicate rose petal ice 56

August 2015 World Traveller

Left: The Palace of the Winds, Jaipur. Above: Gardens and Hall of Mirrors, Amber Fort Palace, Jaipur

cream) with relish.

The romantic ‘White City’ of Udaipur is our next destination. Set around the shores of Lake Pichola and surrounded by a majestic ring of craggy green hills, Udaipur boasts beautiful palaces, ornate temples, whitewashed havelis and a maze of tightly winding streets. Seeming to float on the lake are two island hotels, Lake Palace and Jagmandir Island Palace; the former famously starred in Octopussy, and there are nightly screenings of the Bond film in the city’s cafés.

Towering over the lake, the grand City Palace is Rajasthan’s largest palace. Udai Singh II, the city’s founder, kicked off construction in 1599, and the building was later extended by various royal rulers.

We shuffle past exquisite paintings and stunning mosaics of peacocks, before the crowds get too much and we seek solace in the gardens at the southern end of the complex. We board a boat and cruise the shimmering lake, watching women doing their laundry, before disembarking for a leisurely lunch at Jagmandir Island.

Our next stop is Devi Garh by lebua, an 18th-century fort palace in the Aravali hills, around 45-minutes’ drive from Udaipur.

The building lay in ruins for decades until a wealthy industrialist family bought it in the 1980s. A seven-year restoration project followed, involving a team of 750 people, before the palace opened as an all-suite luxury hotel in 2000. While the historic architecture has been beautifully

preserved, the interiors are strikingly contemporary, with smooth white marble and splashes of colour.

The palace overlooks the village of Delwara, and we wander into its streets in the late afternoon with Akhtar as our guide.

He grew up in Delwara and, like many of the villagers, now works at Devi Garh. “I’m the mayor of Delwara,” he declares, as he shows us around the streets, clean and humming with life, waving to locals and explaining the different saris and turbans they wear.

Akhtar shows us Jain and Hindu temples and Muslim mosques, and introduces us to

We shuffle past exquisite paintings and stunning mosaics the local potter who demonstrates how he uses a traditional spinning wheel. As we continue on, a group of weathered farmers wearing blood-red turbans beckon us over to a café. One insists on buying us a cup of chai, so we sit down and chat, with Akhtar acting as translator. When I compliment them on such a lovely village the men beam with pride.

As we walk back to the hotel, past the kitchen garden brimming with herbs and vegetables, Akhtar says the village walk is often the highlight of many guests’ trip.

“Sometimes it’s the simple things,” he says with a grin, and I can’t help but agree.

57

Destinations Iconic Singapore

The new Singapore Airlines Premium Economy Class experience offers greater seat comfort, more food and beverage options as well as inight and on-ground privileges.

Visit SIApremiumeconomy.com to ďŹ nd out more.

58

August 2015 World Traveller

Iconic

Singapore The island city-state off the southern coast of Malaysia is an intoxicating blend of high-tech futurism and stunning natural delights

ArtScience Museum Making up an integral part of Singapore’s neon-blazed skyline is the famous ArtScience Museum, which has been inspiring and educating visitors since 2011. The unusual lotus flower design is often referred to as “The Welcoming Hand of Singapore.”

59

Destinations Iconic Singapore

City Skyline There is no shortage of iconic buildings in Singapore. In this picture you can see the striking Marina Bay Sands hotel, the “Mer-lion” statue which is an emblem of the city, and the Sky Flyer, a huge ferris wheel.

Peranakan Houses Like many locations with a storied history, Singapore has been careful to preserve its past. These are a few of some 6000 carefully conserved Peranakan houses, along Koon Seng road. The Joo Chiat and Katong districts are also 60

great places to find homage to the fascinating background of the early Peranakans that inhabited Singapore, and their opulent costumes, embroidery, beadwork, jewellery and furniture are a significant part of Singaporean culture.

YourSingapore offers a fantastic walk along the Peranakan trail, beginning at the Spice Garden and taking in the Peranakan Museum and finishing at the Peranakan Inn at dinnertime, where fish head assam curry and other dishes await.

August 2015 World Traveller

Cable Cars The Sky Network will take you to the top of Singapore’s Faber Peak, or to the buzzing Sentosa district, with the city’s buildings and parks sprawled beneath you. Glide above sand, sea and jungle while keeping an eye out for the dolphins in Resort World Sentosa’s Adventure Cove.

Faber Peak is a unique hilltop destination with spectacular views of Singapore and beautiful event venues.

Gardens by the Bay To celebrate Singapore’s Jubilee weekend, in August there will be a special edition of the “Garden Rhapsody”, featuring lasers for the first time. It is one of Singapore’s most famous sights, with light shows daily.

61

Destinations World Traveller Promotion

Summer in the

Seychelles This paradise of the Indian Ocean offers much more than just a beach holiday

62

August 2015 World Traveller

T

he Seychelles has a well-deserved reputation for being a place of fabulous tranquillity, perfect for relaxing and recharging the batteries. But something many travellers miss out on is the opportunity to enjoy an adventure of a lifetime, hopping between islands and enjoying exhilarating activities, as well as being pampered.

Raffles Praslin makes the ideal luxury base for a stay in the Seychelles, located just minutes from Anze Lazio, one of the best-rated beaches in the world. The Raffles Spa offers ocean views from its relaxing treatment rooms, and the 13 villas and suites offer private plunge pools and outdoor pavilions to soak up breathtaking

views of the turquoise ocean.

What sets the Seychelles apart from many holiday destinations is the wide variety of islands, each with its own character. Day excursions to the many inner granitic islands are a great way to discover memorable sights, or interact with the local Creole culture, where a blend of philosophies from many different continents make local festivals a carnival of colour, music and dance. Raffles Praslin also offers exciting helicopter tours, boat trips, cycling and walking excursions and a whole host of watersports. Maybe that’s the best thing about visiting the Seychelles – you get as many holidays as you want, all in one. raffles.com/praslin 63

Destinations World Traveller Promotion

Home forthe

Holidays Dusit Thani Dubai

Looking for a Thai escape in the heart of the city?

Look no further.

D

usit Thani Dubai is a luxurious five-star hotel that captures the essence of Thailand in the vibrant heart of Dubai. Its prime central location means the airport can be reached in just 15 minutes, and it’s also extremely close to other famous Dubai amenities like Dubai Marina, Dubai Mall and the iconic Burj Khalifa.

The newly-renovated One and Two Bedroom Suites offer fabulous comfort along with separate kitchen and living areas, and you’ll spot traditional Thai-inspired hand carved artworks and furniture as well as the latest technologies to make your stay memorable.

Dusit Thani’s Thai inspiration is best exemplified by the hotel’s most recent accolade – the Gold Certification from EarthCheck.

64

OFFER! Family Summer Adventure Package

Dusit Thani Dubai is the first hotel in the Gulf States to earn this award, which recognises the incredibly high standard of sustainable efforts from the hotel – just one way that Dusit Thani helps to make the world a better place.

DINE HERE Benjarong serves Royal Thai cuisine straight from the palaces of Thailand, PAX Ristorante & Lounge is the place to go for Italian favourites and The Californian offers international buffet. dusit.com

Dusit Thani Dubai’s Family Adventure Package includes a stay in the newly renovated Two Bedroom Suite with buffet breakfast for four persons, complimentary airport transfers, entrance passes to either Wild Wadi or Aquaventure Waterpark and 20% discount in all dining venues of the hotel excluding in-room dining and alcoholic beverages, for just AED 5,200.* Length of stay: Three nights Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015 *Subject to room availability.

Advanced reservations recommended

August 2015 World Traveller

Weekends

Two days is still plenty of time to travel

Vivanta by Taj, Dal View, Srinagar

66 Top tips for a thrilling weekend 68 Six of the Best Iconic Hotels 73 The Great Escape 74 Reader Offers

65

Weekends News

The GASTRONOMERS’ DINNER Jumeirah Emirates Towers, Dubai

Hotel Bites News from the area’s luxury hotels

Mövenpick, Jeddah The hotel firm has revealed plans to open Mövenpick Hotel Heraa Jeddah in 2019, its fourth property in the city and the 14th in the kingdom. Set to occupy a prime location on Prince Sultan Road, it will service both business and leisure travellers.

W, Istanbul History meets chic as the W Istanbul unveils its stunning new look. Acclaimed Turkish designer Mahmut Anlar is behind the vibrant new décor, with guests entering the hotel through an interactive art installation that mixes light, videos, motion sensors and mirrors.

Fairmont The Palm, Dubai Beat the heat as the summer draws to a close with a host of chilled summer activities at Fairmont The Palm. Seagrill on 25° offers a chilled seafood extravaganza, and the Mashrabiya Lounge is great for iced tea and coffee to stay cool.

66

From August 1, anyone with a penchant for adventurous dining should head to Jumeirah Emirates Towers for a three-course dinner

with a difference. The night of culinary exploration takes in four different venues, with a different dish and drink in each – ending up in The Ivy for an

indulgent dessert platter. Priced at AED 750 per person, there is only one sitting per day at 7:30pm, so book early.

04 366 5866

Lofty Ambitions The Loft Fifth Avenue, UAE With venues at Yas Mall in Abu Dhabi, The Dubai Mall and elsewhere already in place across the UAE, The Loft Fifth Avenue has just announced two more locations in Dubai – at Bay Square and Palm Jumeirah.

Its signature treatment is the cashmere wood body treatment, the perfect therapy for anyone looking to balance out his or her skin for a sense of wellbeing. A generous scrub is applied to the skin followed by essential oils of lavender and wood, which give the body a truly nourished finish. A relaxing head massage ends the treatment. theloft5thavenue.com

August 2015 World Traveller

An evening to remember Coco Bodu Hithi, Maldives You may have seen some memorable sunsets on your travels, but nothing compares to watching the sun go down on the Maldivian horizon.

This summer, the luxury resort of Coco Collection’s Coco Bodu Hithi is celebrating evening activities, from a scenic sunset cruise to a

“Breeze Beach Barbecue.”

After that, it’s time to stroll down to the beach and enjoy a private cinema under the canopy of stars, picking your own movie from the menu and enjoying popcorn while the action plays out in front of you. Paradise. cocoboduhithi.com

67

Weekends Six Of The Best

SIX OF THE BEST

ICONIC HOTELS These wonderful venues stand as symbols of the countries in which they’re found

1.

68

1.

Mena House, Cairo This astonishing palatial hotel is located amongst Cairo’s most valued piece of history; the Great Pyramids of Giza, and reflects that of a suburban Arabia. Although its exterior is encircled with 40 acres of lavish gardens its interior mirrors that of Egypt’s antiquity through handcrafted furniture, breath-taking antiques and original works of art, which embellish the full interior of the hotel to its finest. The hotel’s facilities are never-ending with the spa, fitness centre and outdoor heated swimming pool all luxurious aspects of this much-respected five star hotel. minahousehotel.com

August 2015 World Traveller

2.

Raffles, Singapore As one of the remaining great 19th century hotels in the world, its classic Colonial architecture remains prominent against Singapore’s nearby industrial skyscrapers, making this Asian location an enticing place to stay. Raffles features 14 restaurants and bars, which include Raffles Grill and The Long Bar, where the famous Singapore Sling was created.

Admired past guests are some of the elite including as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Michael Jackson and George W. Bush, to name a few. raffles.com/singapore 2.

3.

98 Acres, Sri Lanka Exhibiting magnificent views of the Ella Gap and Small Adam’s Peak Mountain, 98 Acres Resort and Spa reflects the rustic element of nature in which the site is surrounded, by using ‘illuk’ straw and other recyclable substances within the area to build chalets in the

3.

midst of the exotic Sri Lankan foliage. Get involved in 98 acres’ unique activities such as The Art of Making Tea. Get a step by step journey through the tea plantations and withering process with one of the resort’s experts who reveals the resorts speciality art form: Pure Ceylon Tea. resort98acres.com

3.

69

Weekends Six Of The Best

4.

5.

Just metres off the coast of Dubai stands the symbol of the city, the Burj Al Arab. Built on its very own island just metres from the sandy terrain of Jumeirah beach, its unique structure resembles that of a sail of a dhow and was designed by architect Tom Wright.

This hint of Arabia houses nine worldclass restaurants and bars, and an awardwinning spa. The luxury suites where guests are accommodated have access to the private Burj Al Arab beach and Wild Wadi waterpark, making it the perfect destination to please both children and adults on a oneof-a-kind family holiday. jumeirah.com

On the European banks of the Bosphorus, the Swiss么tel is perched overlooking the scenic views of Istanbul. Burrowed in amongst international shopping destinations and acres of historical gardens, the hotel gives guests a remarkable choice of city or nature, something for everyone.

With facilities such as their awardwinning Purovel Spa and exclusive rooftop swimming pool, this spotlight includes both historic and modern twists of luxury.

Istanbul itself, an intoxicating blend of European and Middle Eastern ideals, is enjoying its moment in the sun as the travel destination du jour. swissotelliving.com

Burj al Arab, Dubai

70

Swiss么tel, Istanbul

July 2015 World Traveller

5.

4.

6.

Dusit Deverana, New Delhi In the heart of New Delhi lies this urban resort experience mirroring the natural beauty of Indian countryside in its green and tropical landscaping. This tranquil resort also emulates glimpses of gold and metallic shades to mimic that of India’s elaborate heritage. Amongst this tranquil getaway a world of bustling adventure is near as New Delhi’s luxury malls and historic sights are close in range to this hushed spot. This high society facility offers extensive offers to its premium guests including a ďŹ tness centre, outdoor swimming pool, spa and a beauty salon. deverana.in

6.

71

Check In Abu Dhabi News

August 2015 World Traveller

Abu Dhabi For your summer escape As the season wears on, Abu Dhabi is just getting started

The summer season is in full swing this August as Abu Dhabi presents Louvre Abu Dhabi Stories: Immortal Figures, which exhibits a celebration of sculptures from across the globe. For younger visitors, performances of Sesame Street Live and Elmo Makes Music are on at du Forum and in Al Ain. The Illuminaire – Fire and Light 72

Spectacular showcases this month in Al Ain displaying dancers, acrobats, gymnasts and many more in this action-packed experience. So pack up your bags, grab the kids and head on down to Abu Dhabi this August for days of entertainment for the whole family to enjoy. abudhabievents.ae

August 2015 World Traveller

The

Great

Escape Sheraton Grand Hotel, Dubai

At a

GLANCE Fast facts about the Sheraton Grand Hotel, with Avnish Masih, Head of Concierge So where is this hotel?

It’s right in the heart of Dubai, within walking distance of the World Trade Centre and just a short drive from DIFC, The Dubai Mall, Burj Khalifa and the rest of Downtown Dubai. It’s also on the outskirts of the Old Town, meaning exploration of the gold and spice souks is easy.

Good spot! So what’s the hotel like?

Airy, breezy and luxurious. It’s got a terrific rooftop pool, and the Feast Brunch that takes

place on Fridays is absolutely sensational, with a truly memorable dessert table as well as a huge range of international cuisine to enjoy. It’s always busy and buzzing with revellers.

Is there a spa to relax?

There certainly is. With male and female operators, Shine Spa is a peaceful and relaxing oasis.

Try out a Balinese massage for an all-over workout, while enjoying the views of Dubai’s iconic skyline from the 52nd floor. Treatments originate from

China, Thailand, India and the Mediterranean.

What are the other dining options?

Feast isn’t just for brunch – it’s open for breakfast, lunch and dinner and for drinks until 1am, and Sheraton Club members can enjoy the luxurious complimentary breakfast and snacks throughout the day.

Coming soon is the GCC’s first Novikov restaurant, which will specialise in seafood and Mediterranean dishes.

ç Sheraton Grand Hotel has 474 rooms and 180 branded apartments

ç Its location is right between the old town and the new

ç It’s the 13th Sheraton “Grand” Hotel in the world

ç There are 54 nationalities at work in the hotel 73

Weekends dnata Offers

WORLD TRAVELLER

Weekend Reader Offers

Jetwing Lighthouse

Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

Kempinski Aqaba Hotel

Sofitel The Palm

UAE Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi Hotel & Villas 1 night from USD113 per person Special offer: 20% room rate reduction plus receive complimentary upgrade to half board Includes: Stay in a Park room with breakfast Validity: Aug 1-Aug 31, 2015

UAE Fairmont Bab Al Bahr 2 nights from USD157 per person Special offer: 25% room rate reduction plus receive complimentary upgrade to half board Includes: Stay in a Fairmont room with breakfast daily Validity: Aug 1-Sep 20, 2015 74

Fairmont Bab Al Bahr

Jordan Kempinski Aqaba Hotel 3 nights from USD816 per person Special offer: Stay three nights and get a free upgrade to Junior Suite or Panoramic Room Includes: Stay in a Deluxe Double room with breakfast daily and lunch or dinner including return airport transfers Validity: Until Sep 15, 2015

UAE SoďŹ tel Dubai The Palm 1 night from USD130 per person Special offer: Complimentary upgrade to half board Includes: Stay in a Luxury Sea View room with breakfast Validity: Until Aug 30, 2015

UAE Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah

Jordan Four Seasons Hotel Amman

1 night from USD118 per person Special offer: 20% room rate reduction Includes: Stay in a Classic room including breakfast daily and lunch or dinner Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015

2 night from USD630 per person Special offer: Stay two nights and receive an additional night free Includes: Stay in a Double Executive Suite with return airport transfers and receive a complimentary mobile sim card and welcome kit Validity: Until Sep 30, 2015

Sri Lanka Jetwing Lighthouse, Galle 3 nights from USD400 per person Special offer: Stay 2 nights and receive an additional night free Includes: Stay in a Deluxe room with breakfast daily and return airport transfers Validity: Aug 1-Aug 31, 2015

Oman Hilton Salalah Resort 1 night from USD155 per person Special offer: 30% room rate reduction during Khareef Includes: Stay in a Mountain View room with breakfast Validity: Until Aug 31, 2015

August 2015 World Traveller

WIN! Nira Montana, La Thuile, Italy Nira Montana in the heart of the Aosta Valley is one of Italy’s most stylish resorts.

Just steps away from the Italian Alps at the foot of Mont Blanc, Nira Montana is perfect for mountain lovers all year round, offering world-class cross-border skiing in winter to exhilarating mountain sports available in summer. We’ve got a twonight stay, including dinner and a couple’s spa treatment to give away.* To be in with a chance of winning, just answer this question: Which valley is home to Nira Montana?

A) Aosta B) Costa C) Alorta Email your answer to easywin@ hotmediapublishing.com by Aug 31, 2015 *This prize is valid for 6 months, is subject to availability and not transferable for cash.

Blackout dates are New Year Holidays Dec 28 2015 – Jan 6 2016, and Feb 13-28 2016. Flights and other transport and transfers must be arranged individually.

75

Weekends Suite Dreams

Suite Dreams What: About: Shanti Maurice, a Nira This remote getaway resort is Resort the ideal destination for families and couples to retreat to. With

Where: a selection of adventurous Chemin Grenier, activities like water sports and Mauritius tennis, everyone can indulge in all that this secluded escape has to offer. An award-winning spa is at your ďŹ ngertips with several 76

treatments for you to luxuriate in, including Indian and Oriental experiences among many more.

Exclusive to honeymooners, a private candle lit dinner and spa therapies such as a petal bath are on offer. For families, suites range in size to accommodate everyone, and are all ocean

facing, to provide views of this stunning Mauritian island.

Unique features like outdoor rain showers; private pools and gardens are just some of the luxurious qualities Shanti Maurice has to offer for your perfect getaway. shantimaurice.com

AB UDHABI

ALAI N

WESTERN REGI ON

Sesame Street

Mythbusters

August 6 - 8 du Forum Abu Dhabi

August 13 - 15 du Forum Abu Dhabi

August 14 - 15 Al Ain Municipality Theatre Al Ain

Shreya Ghoshal

Hans Klok

August 15 Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

August 21 - 22 du Forum Abu Dhabi

The Illuminaire

Bader Saleh

August 21 - 22 Al Ain Municipality Theatre Al Ain

August 28 du Forum Abu Dhabi

August 28 - 29 Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

Mummenschanz

Comedy Friday

August 28 - 29 Al Ain Municipality Theatre Al Ain

September 4 Al Raha Beach Theatre Abu Dhabi

September 4 - 5 Emirates Palace Abu Dhabi

800 555

@abudhabievents

abudhabisummerseason.ae #ADsummer

Official Events Partners

Official Airline Partner

Official Hotel Partner

Official Payment Card

Official Media Partner

Strategic Partner

Presented by

Value Redefined ...

Welcome to the only Platinum Plan Luxury Resort in the Maldives offering Water Villas with private pool.

Enjoy a memorable stay in one of our Sunset Water Suites, with 24/7 butler service, room service, premium minibar and fine dining, all included.

L i l y B ea ch R esor t & S p a

Huvahendhoo, South Ari Atoll, M aldives Tel: +960 668 00 13 Fax: +960 668 06 46 Email: sales@lilybeachmaldives.com Website: lilybeachmaldives.com