Silver Cloud will offer more gilt-edged refinements than you would ever expect on an ice-clad Expedition ship in Antarctica. Along with five dining options, her service and space ratios are the highest in expedition cruising. She is superbly designed to capture the magnificent scenery with panoramic public rooms, broad decks, and verandas in most suites so that breaching whales or cavorting penguins are never far from view.
Intimate 200-Guest Expedition Ship s Outstanding Expedition Team of Expert Guides and Lecturers s Ocean-View Suites With Butler Service
For a copy of the Silver Cloud brochure, please see your Travel Professional, call Silversea on 1300 306 872 or visit silversea.com
Fares are cruise-only, quoted in Australian Dollars, per guest, based on double occupancy and include 10% Early Booking Bonus. Voyage must be booked and paid in full by the offer expiry date to redeem savings. Fares are correct at time of going to print and may rise as the sailing date approaches. For full Terms & Conditions, visit Silversea.com
Ushuaia
South Georgia
Launching in November 2017, Silver Cloud will offer 10-19 day voyages through Antarctica in her inaugural Expedition season. Fares from $14,085pp, including our Early Booking Bonus.
EARLY BOOKING BONUS OFFER SAVE 10%
Complimentary Wine, Champagne and Spirits s Menu Selections By Relais & Châteaux s Included Shore and Zodiac Excursions
170 SUITE LIFE
The Terrace Suite at 11 Howard and hotel suite reviews of Shangri-La Sydney, Andaz Tokyo, Mandarin Oriental in Tokyo, Sofitel Fiji, Pullman Auckland, Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Hotel and QT Museum Wellington.
189 CULINARY TRAVELS
Epicurean offerings in Jeonju, South Korea –the home of bibimbap.
194 GLOBAL KITCHEN
Recipes from Mexico.
200 EPICUREAN TRAVELS
The latest from the world of fine food and drinks.
210 CELEBRITY TRAVELLER Cate Blanchett.
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COVER ILLUSTRATION
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We asked our editorial team of all the luxury travel opportunities coming on board in 2017, what excites them the most?
“I’m desperate to get to Cuba this year. A&K and a few private yacht charters announced their itineraries last year and with some fivestar hotel openings in the pipeline, 2017 looks to be an interesting year for a country previously untouched by Western developers.”
You can read Katie's overview of luxury travel experiences in Cuba on page 72.
“I'm loving the increase in private jet tours on offer in 2017. Crystal Air Cruises’ new 16-day around the world journey, which includes visits to Bora Bora, Jaipur and Abu Dhabi, sounds like the perfect way to spend the Christmas and New Year period.”
You can read the latest news in private jet tours on page 94 and the Culinary Discoveries journey with René Redzepi on page 201.
Helen Alexander
Lara Brunt
Deborah Dickson-Smith
Natasha Dragun
Hannah Edensor
Jennifer Ennion
Chris Frame
Kelly Jane Gabriel
Tessa Gallagher
Belinda Jackson
Roslyn Jolly
Sara Lieberman
Rob McFarland
David McGonigal
Lisa Perkovic
Henry Peters
Beatrice Spence
Craig Tansley
FROM $200 PER NIGHT
VOTE NOW FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN THE ULTIMATE AUSTRALIAN HOLIDAY FOR TWO AT ONE&ONLY HAYMAN ISLAND AND EMIRATES ONE&ONLY WOLGAN VALLEY, OR A LUXURY STAY FOR TWO AT INTERCONTINENTAL BALI RESORT.
Voting is now open for the annual Luxury Travel magazine Gold List Awards 2017. Each year we ask you to tell us about your preferred luxury travel hotels, resorts, cruises, airlines, rail journeys, travel professionals and much more. Visit luxurytravelmag.com.au/goldlist2017, fill out the survey and you could win three nights’ accommmodation and daily breakfast for two at One&Only Hayman Island and two nights’ mid-week accommodation and breakfast, lunch and dinner at Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley valued at A$10,000*, or five nights’ accommodation and daily breakfast for two at the InterContinental Bali Resort valued at over A$3700*.
Discover two of the most definitive experiences in Australia; One&Only Hayman Island in the Great Barrier Reef and Emirates One&Only Wolgan Valley in the Greater Blue Mountains, both surrounded by awe-inspiring natural wonders, offering amazing adventures. oneandonlyresorts.com
Blessed by an endless stretch of white sand beach overlooking the tranquil waters of Jimbaran Bay, InterContinental Bali Resort embraces a 14 hectare tropical landscape and features 417 guest rooms and six swimming pools. bali.intercontinental.com
When is the best time to go? When I travel I want to arrive at my destination when there’s not too much rain, it’s not so hot, there aren't crowds of tourists, and definitely not during any typhoon, hurricane or blizzard season. This question of “when” is a key decision-making factor in planning a holiday, even for a luxury traveller. Our Cover Story this issue is your ultimate annual travel planner: we’ve identified the “sweet spot” for visiting 11 fabulous luxury travel destinations so you can plan your next trip knowing you won’t
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have to compromise when it comes to climate, crowds and luxurious experiences.
This issue we also bring you Part II of our Cruising Special, where cruise writer David McGonigal looks at the cream of the crop of luxury ocean cruise lines and what sets them apart from premium and mainstream operators.
And for our Luxe-for-Less story we’ve found the best luxury deals available at some truly luxurious resorts in Bali, ever a favourite destination of Australian travellers.
Voting for the Luxury Travel magazine Gold List 2017 is now open
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Thank you for continuing to flip through our pages. Safe travels,
GARY ALLEN MANAGING DIRECTOR
for the best luxury deals on offer, follow @LuxeforLessAU on Twitter
Exclusively for adults and located just 30 minutes’ drive from Port Vila, The Havannah, Vanuatu is an oasis of tranquility and your perfect romantic retreat. With only 17 luxurious villas set amidst elegantly landscaped gardens, you can be assured privacy and personalised service, Havannah style.
Crown Towers Perth gleams with newness. It reflects off the marble and travertine stone floors and shimmers in the custom-made chandeliers suspended from the seven-metre high ceilings in the lobby. It is articulated in the opulent Chairman’s Villa, and is reinforced in The Waiting Room, a slick mid-century bar.
Two years in the making, the $650 million hotel – the most expensive hotel ever built in Australia – is just outside the city centre on the banks of the Swan River. Its completion signals the arrival of ultra-luxury to the already existing Crown complex, previously comprising the five-star Crown Metropol and four-star Crown Promenade.
Singapore-based interior architect Michael Fiebrich, the firm behind the award-winning Crown Towers Manila, has designed the hotel’s 500 guestrooms, villas and suites.
“We’ve let the spaces be clean, architectural and modern so when you walk through those doors everything becomes a beautiful frame for the view,” says Fiebrich.
This was illustrated perfectly in the Premier Club Suite. Occupying 105 square metres, the suite is walled by floor-to-ceiling windows offering incredible views of the Swan River. Comprising a living area, bedroom and enormous bathroom with an Apasier marble stone tub, the suite is a sophisticated example of architectural design and elegant luxury.
The Crystal Club, a private lounge conceived by interior designer and architect Blainey North, exudes exclusivity offering guests private check-in, complimentary breakfast and a spectacular 15th-floor terrace.
With the signature Crown Towers restaurant yet to be announced, the main onsite dining venue is Epicurean – a gourmet
buffet almost outshone by the dessert section encompassing a gelati bar, towering chocolate fountain, decadent cakes, and drawers filled with dainty petit fours.
Also the work of North, the Crown Spa is a tranquil retreat inspired by the refraction of light underwater. Guests are advised to arrive 30 minutes before the scheduled treatment to allow time to relax in the Aqua Spa Retreat. Soaking in the heated vitality pool beneath a magnificent chandelier, this half hour passed far too quickly.
In Fiebrich’s words, Crown Towers Perth is “simple yet modern with flourishes of luxury”. My stay proves he is quite right. crownperth.com.au/hotels/crown-towers
Hurawalhi, a luxury 90-villa resort, has opened in the Maldives. A scenic 40-minute flight from Velana International Airport, the resort is set on the 16-acre island of Hurawalhi in the Lhaviyani Atoll and comprises a mix of over-water and beach villas, half with private infinity pools. The resort has three restaurants including the world’s largest all-glass undersea eatery, sitting at a depth of almost two metres below the lagoon. There is also a wine cellar, two bars, a champagne pavilion, a spa and a variety of water-based activities. hurawalhi.com
Set on a two-acre private island in the Baa Atoll, Four Seasons Maldives Private Island at Voavah is a new exclusive resort giving guests access to their own part of this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Features include a beach house, spa, PADI 5-star Dive Centre and 19-metre luxury yacht. The private property has a threebedroom beach villa, a two-bedroom water villa, two mezzanine suites, three dedicated children’s rooms and a team of staff that live on the grounds. Meals can be taken in the beach house, by the pool or via an island picnic. fourseasons.com/ maldivesvoavah NEW
Internationally renowned hotelier Ian Schrager has opened his first hotel in China. The Sanya EDITION opened in November on Hainan Island off Southern China, and is set on 50-acres of lush tropical gardens with its own 20,000-square-metre private ocean overlooking the South China Sea. The property is divided into
different zones, including those for water, sports, family, eating, nightlife and relaxation. There’s something for everyone, from the rock climbing wall for adventurers, The Spa for those seeking relaxation, and water slides and a treehouse for young travellers. The hotel comprises 512 guestrooms including 46 suites, and 17 villas,
each with a private pool and outdoor space. The horse-shoe shape of the property provides each guestroom with oceanviews. The EDITION brand aims to balance a chic design aesthetic and personalised service with food, beverage and entertainment offerings that reflect the culture of each hotel’s location. editionhotels.com/sanya
Bentley has launched its new Continental Supersports, the world’s fastest four-seat car and the fastest accelerating and most powerful Bentley ever. With a top speed of 336km/h and an acceleration of 0-100km/h in 3.5 seconds, the new Supersports has a W12 engine as well as newly designed higher-capacity turbochargers and a revised charge-air cooling system. The vehicle also features a new torque converter and high-performance carbon ceramic brakes with enhanced cooling and minimal fade under extreme conditions. The luxurious interiors are tri-tone in colour and sport a new diamond-quilted design in the seats and door side panels. It also comes in a convertible model. bentley.co.uk
AT Hotel Group has opened a boutique luxury hotel at Airlie Beach, the gateway to Queensland’s Whitsunday Islands.
The waterfront Heart Hotel has been designed by Hunt Designs Architects and features high-pitched roofs and spacious verandahs, inspired by the iconic ‘Queenslander’ buildings.
Now you can travel the world on a 21-day private jet journey with Captain’s Choice. The journey encompasses four continents before finishing in the Pacific Islands. It departs from Sydney, making its first stop in Beijing, China then moving on to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Samarkand, Uzbekistan; Venice, Italy; Reykjavik, Iceland; Québec City, Canada; Cartagena, Colombia; and finally the island of Kauai, Hawaii, before returning to Sydney. All accommodation, dining, drinks and sightseeing is included, as well as the luxury private jet travel and free-flowing Dom Perignon. The Captain’s Choice Boeing 757 has been specially fitted out to seat just 50 guests in luxury with lie-flat business seats. Tour pricing starts from A$93,500 per person, twin share. captainschoice.com.au
Accommodations range from a luxury room to a club-floor Luxury Ocean View Spa Suite, and all rooms include L’Occitane amenities, BOSE audio, Nespresso machines and Samsung TVs. Dining is available at the hotel’s restaurant and bar – casual but sophisticated venues offering locally inspired food and drinks. There’s also a boutique art gallery on the hotel’s top floor. hearthotelwhitsundays.com.au
NEW OPENING
Drawn from the legend of the mythical creature portrayed as a rabbit with horns, Jackalope in Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula is an imaginative hotel concept from Melbourne-based creative Louis Li that endeavours to fuse art, contemporary design, dining and storytelling into an
idyllic luxury escape. Taking reservations for April this year, the 46-room property has been crafted by architectural firm Carr Design Group and multi-disciplinary studio Fabio Ongarato Design with a specially commissioned, seven-metre tall namesake sculpture
Jackalope offers guests the option of either terrace- or vineyard-view rooms, with the larger, 85-square-metre suites branded as Lairs. Rooms feature floorto-ceiling windows, private terraces and
handcrafted furniture by Melbourne designers. The hotel will also house a contemporary art collection and offer guests a 30-metre infinity pool with views over the vineyard, a private pavilion for spa treatments and two on-site restaurants. jackalopehotels.com KM
The InterContinental Bali Resort has launched newly designed Singaraja rooms incorporating world-class technology and inspired by Balinese Hindu philosophies, imagery and symbolism. Michel Chertouh, Regional General Manager for Bali Resorts, IHG, described the design as: “conceived to bring the ‘Soul of Bali’ to life with features such as hand-painted batik prints and intricate wood carvings, coupled with personalised technologies that will set new standards in Bali.”
The room interiors are the work of Singapore-based James Park Associates and feature full-wall murals inspired by the designs on traditional Balinese textiles and wooden headboards carved with geometric lattice patterns. Each room also has a prominent carved circular wall-feature and signature pendant lamps with cast brass decorations depicting dragons and other mythical Balinese characters.
Furniture within the rooms has been designed to convey a timeless tropical aesthetic. Sustainably sourced Indonesian wood has been used throughout the rooms, and the bathrooms feature Indonesian marble.
As part of the resort’s ongoing commitment to improving its carbon footprint, rooms are fitted with an energy management system with occupancy sensors to reduce power consumption. For guest relaxation, each room now has a high definition smart TV with access to on-demand movies, TV, YouTube and streaming on high-speed internet.
The InterContinental Bali Resort is located along the golden-sand beach of Jimbaran Bay and, alongside luxury rooms and suites, offers five swimming pools, an internationally acclaimed spa and awardwinning restaurants.
bali.intercontinental.com
Malaysian luxury resort The Datai Langkawi will be closed for 10 months for an extensive renovation project later this year – the most significant enhancement to the hotel in its 23-year history. Interior designer Didier Lefort of DL2A, who was part of the original design team with Australian architect Kerry Hill, will lead the redesign.
“This renovation is a testament to The Datai Langkawi’s commitment to providing unmatched luxury accommodations, the highest level of
Boutique luxury brand Dream Hotels will open its sixth hotel this month. Located in Hollywood, it will become the brand’s West-Coast USA flagship. Set between the Hollywood Hills and downtown Los Angeles, Dream Hollywood includes 178 rooms and suites, and five restaurants and bars. The hotel also has an 11,000-square-foot rooftop with views of the LA skyline. dreamhotels.com/Hollywood
Luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has launched a new hosted journey, Norway’s Winter Wonderland. Starting in Tromsø, the journey stops in the Lofoten Islands and finishes 10 days later in Bergen. Along the way guests will take reindeer and husky sleigh rides, go hiking and horse riding,
cruise fjords and, with three nights spent above the Arctic Circle, possibly see the Northern Lights. Departures are in November 2017, then late February/early March and November 2018. Rates start from A$11,995 per person, twin share. abercrombiekent.com.au
service, and the modern amenities that appeal to today’s luxury global travellers,” said Arnaud Girodon, General Manager of the resort.
As part of the renovation, the resort’s rooms, suites and villas will be redesigned. New features will include a nature centre, extra spa pavilions, a fitness centre by the beach, and a refreshed retail space. With renovations commencing in September, the resort is scheduled to reopen in the latter half of 2018.
thedatai.com/langkawi/
Longines is celebrating the 60th anniversary of its first Flagship watch collection with the release of the Flagship Heritage timepiece. Available in steel, yellow gold or rose gold, each luxury timepiece has a brown leather strap and 38.5mm case. Longines’ Ambassador of Elegance, actress Kate Winslet, chose the face of the anniversary timepiece during a visit to the brand’s headquarters in Switzerland. Each limited-edition model is numbered and the gold version is particularly exclusive with only 60 available. longines.com
Join Christine Manfield, one of Australia’s most celebrated chefs on board Aqua Mekong, with specially tailored culinary experience and menus reflecting her favourite flavours and cooking techniques.
Join us on this unique journey through two of southeast Asia’s most welcoming and intriguing countries. Following the Mekong River through the heart of Cambodia into Vietnam you’ll see how this great waterway sustains the lives of the people and their villages along the route. Join acclaimed chef and author Christine Manfield when you board the intimate luxury vessel, Aqua Mekong, for a week long cruise. Special meals on board will highlight the many influences and traditions which have made the region’s food so bountiful and flavoursome. Contrasting with the peaceful canals of the Mekong Delta, the tour finishes in cosmopolitan Saigon.
Travel Dates: 12 - 20 October 2017
Price:
Twin Share per person: $14,295
Single Supplement: $9,925
Call 1300 851 925 or your local travel agent for more information | abercrombiekent.com.au
1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge will open on New York's Brooklyn Heights waterfront in February 2017. The hotel's nature-inspired rooms feature native plants, reclaimed woods, industrial steel and floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the bridge.
The rooftop has a plunge pool with daybeds, and there’s also a spa, fitness centre and 50seat screening room. The restaurant by chef Seamus Mullen promotes farm-to-table values and locally sourced ingredients. Guests can also enjoy handcrafted cocktails and panoramic views of the Manhattan skyline at the 10th Floor Lounge, or grab fresh fruits, nuts and granola at the Lobby Farmstand. 1hotels.com/brooklyn-bridge
A 19th-Century gothic New York building is now home to Thompson Hotels’ latest offering, The Beekman. Located in Lower Manhattan, the boutique hotel comes complete with a nine-storey atrium and pyramid-shaped skylight. Designer Martin Brudnizki has furnished the high-ceilinged rooms and suites with bespoke and vintage furnishings, curated artworks, and modern luxuries like rain showers and spacious marble baths.
For dining, modern French dishes are served at Augustine, while acclaimed chef and restaurateur Tom Colicchio is behind Fowler & Wells, serving New York cuisine made using seasonal flavours and classic cooking techniques. The restaurant is also home to The Bar Room, offering a list of handcrafted cocktails and an all-day bar menu. thompsonhotels.com/hotels/nyc/the-beekman
International yachting brand X2 has launched in Pattaya, Thailand. Based out of the Ocean Marina Yacht Club, X2 Yachting offers a luxury day and overnight cruise on board a 53-foot Grand Banksstyle luxury motor cruiser, dubbed Shiraz. Accomodating up to 20 people, with modern technology and large undercover outdoor areas, the boat has been redesigned to cater to guests’ comfort. x2yachtcharter.com/pattaya-fleet
Six Senses has launched a range of yoga wear in collaboration with Ana Heart of London. Manufactured using sustainable practices, the collection of functional and comfortable yoga wear is feminine with an edgy twist, and made from eco-friendly fabrics in charcoal, white and indigo. The range is available at nine of Six Senses’ spas and will be rolled out across the remaining spas throughout the year. Prices range from €50 (about A$73) for a tank to €135 (about A$190) for sweatpants. sixsenses.com
GLOBAL PRIVATE JET BOOKING SERVICE
PRIVATEFLY HAS THE LOW-DOWN ON ITS TYPICAL LUXURY JET-SETTING TRAVELLER.
HE IS A MALE 41 YEARS OLD
HE TRAVELS WITH 3 OR 4
OTHER PASSENGERS
HE SEARCHES FOR FLIGHTS BY BOTH
DESKTOP 59%
MOBILE 31% AND BY
HE BOOKS HIS PRIVATE JET
ONE WEEK OR LESS BEFORE HIS FLIGHT
A TRIP THAT COSTS HIM £3,500
Aman Resorts has announced its newest property just out of downtown Shanghai in China. Set to open in late 2017, Amanyangyun will offer 13 fourbedroom villas and 24 one-bedroom club suites designed by Kerry Hill Architects, plus 12 Aman Residences available for purchase, set in restored antique dwellings. The resort, set in the heart of a camphor tree forest, will also offer six dining venues and an Aman Spa with two swimming pools, a fitness centre and yoga/pilates studio. aman.com/ resorts/amanyangyun
MACq 01 hotel will open in Hobart on 1 June 2017. Set on Hobart’s Macquarie Wharf, each of the hotel’s 114 rooms and suites tells the story of a separate Tasmanian character, which is in turn illustrated on each room door. Rooms will have views of either Hunter Street or the Hobart waterfront and the hotel will offer drinks and dining at its Old Wharf Restaurant, The Story Bar and its lounge. MACq 01 is operated by the Federal Group, which also owns the Henry Jones Art Hotel and Saffire Freycinet. macq01.com.au
Oetker Collection’s Palácio Tangará hotel will open in the heart of São Paulo in June. The hotel will comprise 141 guestrooms including 59 suites, all with park views. The hotel will also offer a signature restaurant, chef’s table, bar, wine cellar and lobby and lounge bar. palaciotangara.com/eng/hotel/
Leonardo DiCaprio is set to launch an eco-friendly resort at Blackadore Caye in Belize. Billed as the world's first "truly restorative" island developmment, it will use sustainable building techniques that regenerate the surrounding eco-systems and will be powered completely by renewable energy. The island will also have a climate change research station. restorativeislands.com/ blackadore-caye/
Sofitel will welcome its second hotel in Sydney with the opening of Sofitel Darling Harbour. The hotel will be part of the new International Convention Centre development, with construction due to be completed in September. The hotel will be the largest built in Sydney for more than 20 years, with 35 storeys and more than 600 rooms. sofiteldarlingharbour.com.au
The Ritz-Carlton brand is returning to Sydney with the launch of a 220room hotel above The Star casino. Set to open at the end of 2020, the Ritz-Carlton Sydney will have 220 rooms and 150 private residences across its 60 storeys, within a building designed to look like a twisted silver spiral. development. star.com.au
W MELBOURNE
W Hotels Worldwide has announced the development of W Melbourne, set to open in 2020 as part of the luxury Collins Arch development. The hotel will offer 294 guestrooms, including 40 suites and an Extreme Wow Suite, designed by New York’s SHoP Architects, global designers Woods Bagot and interior designers Hachem. The hotel will feature a bar and restaurant, spa, fitness centre and indoor heated pool. starwoodhotels.com/whotels
TRAVEL IS A ONE-WAY TICKET TO ADVENTURE, INSPIRATION AND DELIGHT, BUT IT CAN ALSO DELIVER UNWANTED SURPRISES IF YOU DON’T DO YOUR RESEARCH. COVERING 11 POPULAR DESTINATIONS, THIS GUIDE WILL HELP YOU FIND THE ULTIMATE TIME TO TRAVEL.
For most people, travel plans demand some thought to help the journey run as smoothly as possible. Yet considerations such as peak and offpeak seasons, weather conditions, school holiday periods and cultural events don’t always occur to the uninformed traveller. That’s why we’ve pinpointed the best times to travel to some of the world’s most sought-after holiday destinations. These sweet spots can deliver the best value for money, fewer crowds and other unexpected benefits for the luxury (or luxe-for-less) traveller.
With an influx of design-focused resorts, cutting-edge restaurants and high-end shops, Bali is much more than just Bintangs and beach bars these days. Beloved by Australians year round, it has something to suit every type of traveller.
Hordes of school-aged children and their families descend on the major hubs of Kuta, Seminyak and Nusa Dua during the Australian school holidays, especially in the winter months of June and July. This is also the middle of Bali’s dry season so swapping the cold with Bali’s tropical climate is an easy sell. Expect additional flights from high-end airlines like Qantas and Virgin, extra staff in the kids clubs, and large groups of travellers. Beware, family rooms book out months in advance.
Easter usually falls towards the end of the rainy season, with passing showers but blue skies and sunshine for most of the day during April. Temperatures drop from around 27°C to an easy 22°C at night. This is a perfect time to visit the mountains and rice paddy fields of Ubud. Expect extra lush greenery and plenty of birdsong as the backdrop for your daily yoga.
LOW SEASON
The wet season descends on Bali from October through to April. Like most tropical destinations,
Bali sees its fair share of rain but often it’s a passing shower in the afternoon, which brings a respite from the higher humidity at this time of year. Better yet, you won’t have any trouble getting dinner reservations at Seminyak’s famous eateries. High-end hotels often offer spa discounts or even free upgrades to entice visitors, and flights drop to as little as $300 return on budget airlines.
If you want to ring in the New Year at iconic bar Potato Head surrounded by hundreds of complete strangers, book your flights now. Otherwise, the period between Christmas and New Year is not the time for you. Expect expensive flights, heaving crowds, big parties, high hotel prices and plenty of loud merrymaking.
By February and March the heavy downpours ease and the crowds dissipate. Locals return to their favourite Seminyak hotspots, surfers have the swell to themselves on the west coast and resorts are no longer overrun by children. You’ll find low season rates for flights at about $400 to $500 return and luxury hotels for around $200 a night, but still enough occupancy to bring a bit of atmosphere to the pool bar.
Fiji has a year-round mild climate, with temperatures rarely dropping below 20°C, so when looking for the destination’s sweet spot, it’s best to go when airfares are a little cheaper and chances of rain are low.
Being a family friendly destination, Fiji’s peak seasons follow the Australian school holidays. Its busiest seasons are also the hottest (during the Christmas school holidays) and the coolest (as everyone escapes the winter months of July and August). Fiji Airways (formerly Air Pacific) is the national carrier, and its specials are as unpredictable as those of the Australian carriers – all of which have regular flights to Fiji. That said, flights are always at their most expensive over the summer months, and over the Australian and New Zealand school holiday periods.
The top surfing seasons coincide with these peak seasons too: the summer hot season has shorter swells and lighter winds while winter produces the biggest waves.
Fiji’s shoulder season is between the summer and winter peaks. As it tends to have a moderate mid20s temperature without too much humidity, it is also the best time to visit climate-wise.
There isn’t really a low season in Fiji. Though the temperature varies from the low to high 20s, there are no extremes so it’s ideal as a beach holiday destination pretty much all year round. If you are specifically looking for good-value deals, look out for hotels that are undergoing major refurbishment. Often there are great deals around the time the upgraded accommodation is first made available.
Fiji, being a Christian country, has no major festivals other than Christmas and Easter, which resort and hotel staff treat as just another working day –enjoying the festivities with guests.
The only period to avoid is late November, during ‘Schoolies Week’, when flocks of high school students head to Fiji’s island resorts for a couple of weeks of serious partying.
Don’t think you can avoid the rain by going in the cool ‘dryer’ months. Fiji’s rain comes in showers, which can be more prolonged in the wet months, but they’ll come anyway, whatever month it is. Unfortunately, they don’t confine themselves to any particular time of day either. Like the rest of
Fiji, they run on Fiji time. But don’t worry, though you might go a whole week without rain in the winter, you’re unlikely to experience several consecutive days of rain – even in the summer.
Fiji’s sweet spot is definitely the shoulder season between the summer and winter peaks, as it tends to have a moderate mid-20s temperature without too much humidity, and there are usually some great deals to be found.
DEBORAH DICKSON-SMITH
Home to tropical rainforests, buzzing cities, tranquil beach resorts, delicious street food and some of the world’s best dive sites, Malaysia’s equatorial climate sees warm temperatures all year round. There are, however, distinct wet and dry seasons that you should consider when planning where and when to visit.
Daily averages range from 22°C to 32°C, while temperatures in hill resorts such as the Cameron High-
lands are usually cooler, at around 21°C during the day and 10°C at night. Peak season coincides with several national holidays – Chinese New Year in January and the end of Ramadan celebrations (Hari Raya Puasa), which fall in June or July. During these times accommodation is at a premium with high season surcharges in place. On the east coast, school holidays in Europe and the Middle East mean visitor numbers are high in July and August, and it’s a good idea to book well in advance.
SHOULDER SEASON
Wet and dry seasons should play a major part when deciding whether to focus your plans on the east or west coast of Peninsular Malaysia, or east Malaysia on the island of Borneo. Aim to visit outside of peak season and the monsoon months – from March to May, and September to October – to take advantage of quieter resorts and promotional hotel offers. At these times it’s usually possible to secure direct return flights with many carriers for around $400 to $500. Journey time from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur is just over eight hours. Flights to Kota Kinabalu usually cost a little less during the same period.
LOW SEASON
The west coast and the islands of Penang, Langkawi and Pangkor experience less rainfall than their
“Fiji’s sweet spot is definitely the shoulder season between the summer and winter peaks, as it tends to have a moderate mid-20s temperature without too much humidity, and there are usually some great deals to be found”
east coast counterparts, however the heaviest downpours occur in July and August. Jungle treks in east Malaysia are less popular in January and December as rainfall and rough waters limit wildlife-spotting opportunities.
Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast experiences around 2500 to 3000 millimeters of rain per year, forcing many island resorts – Perhentian, Redang and Tioman – to close from November to February. During this time the sea is too rough for watersports throughout the region, and destinations on Borneo such as Kota Bharu and Kuantan can experience flooding. Singapore’s school holidays run from mid-May to the end of June, and again during November and December, meaning beach destinations are especially busy. If you’re looking for a couples holiday, try to avoid family resorts during this time.
To enjoy the best of Malaysia, April and May are a great time to visit. Calm seas enable the snorkelling and diving season to get underway on the east coast, while the coral reefs and white sand beaches aren’t too busy just yet. On the west coast, Kuala Lumpur and the highlands are sunny with the odd shower, and in east Malaysia it’s the start of turtle season. Thankfully, airline prices remain relatively low outside of peak season. Direct return flights from Sydney to Kuala Lumpur can be found during April and May for around $300 to $400. This is also usually the cheapest time of year to fly from Australia to Kuching.
HELEN ALEX ANDER
From its northern regions to the far south, the weather conditions in Thailand change considerably, moving from temperate to tropical. Even the beach holiday regions of the south have different rainy seasons, so it could be said to have several sweet spots.
Thailand’s northern landlocked provinces have three seasons: hot (March to June), rainy (July to October) and cool (November to February), whereas the southern coastal provinces, being closer to the equator, have just two: rainy and dry.
Fortunately, for those planning a beach holiday, Thailand’s two coasts have slightly different rainy seasons. On the Andaman coast, where Phuket, Krabi, and the Phi Phi Islands lie, the southwest monsoon brings heavy storms from April to October, while on the Gulf of Thailand, where Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, and Koh Tao sit, most rain falls between September and December.
So, the cooler months of December through to February, with less chance of rainfall, make this period Thailand’s peak season.
SHOULDER SEASON
The shoulder season is from March through to June as it gets progressively warmer but wetter.
LOW SEASON
Low season is July through to October, due to the higher chance of rainfall, especially around the Andaman coast in the south. It can be quite rough on the water during this time and some tour op-
Opposite
“Thailand’s sweet spot is in the shoulder season, with the driest, but hottest month being April”Clockwise from top left: The Pool at Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur; Phi Phi Islands, Thailand; Six Senses Yao Noi, Thailand; Villa Amanzi, Thailand (available only to Afini members). page, from left: Dubai’s cityscape at night; Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara, Dubai. GEORGE APOSTOLIDIS HELICAM CO. CYBEROOU / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
erators and speedboats do not operate. Andaman coast hotels usually have promotions during this season, and some can be as low as half price. Bargain airfares abound, too.
The coastal resorts within the Gulf of Thailand are less affected by the weather, as it usually rains in the evening, or even overnight, by way of a heavy thunderstorm which quickly passes and mercifully clears the air.
There are many festivals throughout the Thai calendar – but rarely do they cause much inconvenience to travellers. Quite the opposite: most festivals are great fun and, as long as you join in, they can be a highlight of your visit. (Check out all the Thai festivals here: thaifestivalblogs.com).
For snorkelling or scuba diving in the Andaman Sea, the time to avoid is July through October as the water is very rough and currents can be strong. Some diving tour companies don’t even operate during these months and some national marine parks are closed to visitors. But note, this does not apply to scuba diving in the Gulf of Thailand.
Thailand’s sweet spot is in the shoulder season, with the driest, but hottest month being April. This also happily coincides with the cheapest time of the year for flights. The cost of flights to Thailand does not vary a great deal throughout the year, however they are at their lowest between January and April. DDS
Dubai is blessed with glorious weather for eight months of the year and a surfeit of sensational hotels and attractions. Time your visit right and you can enjoy the famously extravagant emirate without breaking a sweat (or the bank).
From December to March, the mercury averages a pleasant 26°C during the day, making it ideal for the beach, waterparks and desert safaris. The winter festival season is in full swing, with major events such as the Dubai World Cup horse race in March. The city is also a top New Year’s Eve destination thanks to its spectacular firework displays, although celebrations will set you back an average of $808 per person versus $335 in Sydney, according to Travelex.
If you’re looking for value, April and May or October and November are your best bets, as airlines and hotels drop their prices – although keep an eye out for annual conferences, such as the Arabian Travel Market in April, which causes room rates to spike. Weather-wise, you can expect sunny days in the low to high 30s.
LOW SEASON
From June to September, Dubai is a popular stopover for Australian travellers en route to
Europe for summer. But with temperatures averaging 43°C with 95 per cent humidity, many locals and expats head for cooler climes. As the mercury rises, hotels offer excellent deals and all but the hardiest visitors are limited to indoor attractions – something Dubai does incredibly well, with air-conditioned theme parks, mega malls and ski slopes.
Unless you’re heading to Europe, give the sweltering summer months a swerve. The atmosphere is subdued during the holy month of Ramadan, expected to begin this year on 27 May, while religious holidays, such as Eid al-Fitr (expected to start on 25 June) and Eid al-Adha (1 September), attract large numbers of regional visitors for up to 10 days. “Hotel room rates tend to escalate substantially during Eid holidays, with most hotels charging 100 to 200 per cent more,” says Rashid Aboobacker, a senior consultant at TRI Hospitality Consulting.
With average highs of 31°C and the sea temperature of around 27°C, November is ideal in Dubai. There are no major school holidays for key inbound markets such as Saudi Arabia and the UK, so hotel rates remain competitive. Return economy fares from Sydney with Emirates, meanwhile, cost $1679 from mid-October to the end November, compared to $3079 during the peak pre-Christmas period from 6-23 December 2017.
LARA BRUNT“Dubai is blessed with glorious weather for eight months of the year and a surfeit of sensational hotels and attractions”DUBAI TOURISM
A country of great contrasts, you’ll find everything from sprawling vineyards to hippo-filled waterholes in South Africa. Be strategic about where and when you experience both and you’ll never want to leave.
PEAK SEASON
South Africa’s key drawcard is its safari experiences. The best time for animal viewing occurs in the dry winter months around May to September – the grass has thinned out, making it easier to spot lions stalking their prey and leopards slinking through the grass. However, the safari lodges will be at their busiest (with prices upwards of $800 per night), the safari vehicles packed to the brim and flights into Johannesburg sitting at a high $1400.
The tail end of summer, between February and April, sees comfortable temperatures on safari, with baby animals being born every day. You will have to peer through the long grass, but it’s also a great time for bird watching. Save some money on your long haul flights, with fares as low as $750 return, and splurge on light aircraft transfers to the safari parks for $600 per person.
LOW SEASON
You might have a better chance of a private safari, but sitting in the rain in an open air Jeep
for several hours during South Africa’s wet season is never fun. You take that risk between October and January, so a better bet is to head south to Cape Town where the south-easterly Cape Doctor wind provides a respite from the 35°C-plus temperatures. The city comes to life in summer, with sundowner concerts in the Kirstenbosch gardens, champagne festivals and Minstrel Carnivals.
Cape Town’s summer months are popular with beachgoers – local bars and restaurants are packed to the brim over the festive season and into January. Expect hotel prices at beachfront Camps Bay to skyrocket, at more than $500 per night during New Year festivities.
If it’s your first time to South Africa, consider a trip during the end of April and early May. Spend a few days touring the vineyards of Stellenbosch during April’s harvest season, when the wine community is abuzz, before heading up to Kruger National Park to watch baby impala take their first steps. Hotels will still be readying for the winter months, so you might find well-priced lodges at $600 per night, and you’ll be able to fly in to major cities for under $1000.
Many will argue there’s no bad time of year to visit Japan, but depending on your interests, there are a number of considerations you’ll want to keep in mind. Also remember that Japan is a long country, so the weather on the chilly northern island of Hokkaido is vastly different to the subtropical islands of Okinawa, regardless of the season.
PEAK SEASON
You will be hard-pressed to get a hotel room on Japan’s main island of Honshu during sakura (cherry blossom season), which runs between lateMarch and mid-April. Expect the same crowds and expensive hotel rooms in autumn (October
to November), when the leaves begin to change colour. The weather in spring can vary from close to freezing overnight to 20˚C during the day, but there’s little rain and skies are clear. Autumn daytime temperatures are mild (15-22˚C), humidity is low and nights are crisp. Hotel prices during peak seasons can surge between 80 and 180 per cent on shoulder and low season rates, and guides are more expensive as well. You can still get good flight deals, though, with rates only about 10 per cent more than shoulder seasons.
Early March and most of September are the preludes to Japan’s busiest seasons. The former sees the weather begin to warm: Tokyo’s average daytime temperature is 15˚C, days are clear and humidity is low. September days are warm (27˚C), but only have four hours of sunshine. September is also one of Tokyo’s wettest months. Hotel rooms and flights are at their cheapest, guides are available at short notice and you generally don’t have to queue for attractions.
Travelling in Japan from late November through to mid-March will not only save you money, but will also mean you can visit attractions without the crowds. There are exceptions, most notably the days around Christmas and the New Year, plus destinations that target winter-loving travellers: Japan’s ski fields, which are at their best and busiest at this time of year. Winters in Tokyo see average temperatures around 10˚C, with days dry and skies clear. Flights out of Australia in mid- to late-December through January are notoriously expensive, given school and public holidays falling around this time – as are return
flights into the country in January. Domestic Japanese flights over the festive season also reach a peak, and at this time many hotels have a minimum length of stay. Some attractions and restaurants are closed from the end of December until early January. November and March see flight fares drop to shoulder season rates.
The most frustrating times to travel around Japan are during national holidays. An increased demand for public transport and accommodation means expensive hotel rooms and crowded trains and attractions. Avoid Golden Week (end of April to first week of May) and Obon (midAugust). Parts of Japan (Okinawa and the southwest) are prone to typhoons between May and October. This can impact travel plans and
cause flight delays. Summers (in particular July and August) are hot and humid and uncomfortable for sightseeing – because of the temperature and also summer school holidays in Japan.
If you don’t mind rugging up, early February to mid-March is the perfect time to visit Japan – locals are back at work and school, luxury hotels offer their cheapest rates of the year, flights from Australia are at an annual low, shops and museums have re-opened and festivals are in full swing. Mid-May also tends to have a good combination of warmer temperatures in Tokyo (23˚C) and fewer tourists, and you’ll still catch cherry blossoms in northern Hokkaido at this time of year.
NATASHA DRAGUNWhile England’s weather rarely gets rave reviews, on the whole summers are pleasantly mild and winters don’t get very cold – there’s not a great deal of regional variation, either. That said, it’s wetter in the west than the east, and the south gets more sunshine than the north.
England is at its busiest and most expensive over the warmer months, from the end of June through to early September, when London’s daytime temperatures can reach 20˚C, humidity sits between 46 and 85 per cent and rainfall is low. Other peaks are in December: Christmas, Boxing Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day – it’s colder (around 10˚C during the day) and there is often snow, but there’s also carolling, Christmas markets and ice skating. It can be crowded, so book tickets to attractions in advance. You can get reasonable flights from Australia through England’s summer months, but prices can increase by 50 per cent or more in December and January; expect the same hike for hotel room rates compared to the low season.
Hotels start to get more expensive as the weather warms after winter (mid-March to early June) and when things start to cool off after summer and school holidays (September through October). At these times of year, the temperature sits between 10 and 17˚C and rainfall is relatively low, except in October, which is
London’s wettest month. Accommodation is generally 10 to 20 per cent cheaper in shoulder periods than over the summer months.
LOW SEASON
The cheapest time to travel to England is from November to early December and from January to mid-March. While airfares to and from Australia are still at their peak in January, hotel rates are at their lowest and there are few crowds. London’s average temperature in January is 5˚C, and November through January are among the wettest months with drizzle, rather than heavy downpours. The winter season is one of England’s top times for theatre, opera, ballet and classical music.
TIMES TO AVOID
Schools in England break up towards the end of July and go back during the first week of September. July and August are when most Britons take their holidays. While these months are England’s warmest, they’re also the busiest so as well as higher prices for hotels, guides and restaurants, you’ll have to deal with crowds and limited availability.
SWEET SPOT
September ticks all the boxes when it comes to weather, accommodation and travel. Temperatures are pleasant (12 to 19˚C), there’s an average of six hours of sunshine a day, and humidity rarely goes above 65 per cent. The month can be wet, but it’s usually a light rain. September heralds in the cheapest international flights of the year from Australia, and while hotel rooms and car hire are not at low-season rates, they’re 15 to 20 per cent cheaper than busy periods.
In a country blessed with so many natural and manmade assets, the Italians certainly know how to make the most of it and live la dolce vita. A lot of that has to do with the weather.
When in Rome the saying goes, and one of the simplest pleasures when in Italy is eating gelato. Who wants ice cream in winter? That’s just one of the many reasons Italy’s peak season is during summer. The Amalfi Coast is a sea of brightly coloured umbrellas and dazzlingly tanned Italians. Almost every town in Tuscany throws a festival or two. Evenings in Florence are spent drinking Aperol Spritz on the piazza.
Autumn is often considered the tail end of the tourist season, with the crowds falling away just as the leaves start to drop. You’ll find the beach umbrellas packed up and the big-name exhibitions winding down. For shoppers, this is a great time to find sales across the flagship stores of luxury brand names in Florence. With early-bird rates and more airlines flying into Europe, expect to find fares dropping to around $1000 return for this time of year, leaving travellers with a little extra spending money.
Winter is definitely the quietest time of year to visit Italy, with snow falling across the Alps, Milan and Venice. There’s a charm to Venice without the crowds, although expect them to arrive in droves during Carnival in February. Temperatures drop to just above zero, so rug up, and splurge on one of the many hotels housed in beautiful palazzi around the city. You’ll find hotel rates at the more reasonable $300 mark as opposed to the warmer months where prices start at $600 a night, and a glass of Chianti served in Murano glass inside a 15th-Century palace is worth the extra layers you’ll need to pack.
Italians know how to holiday. They choose the hottest month of the year and head to the beach, shutting up shops, restaurants, even galleries, and making a beeline for the coast to escape the stifling
KASBAH TAMADOT Morocco
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dry heat of August. Save your trip to Tuscany for another time, as you will find it hard to get a meal during Ferragosto, the holiday season during the last two weeks of August. Expect flights to nudge upwards of $2000 into more popular airports of Rome and Milan.
Swap the glitz and glamour of the Amalfi Coast for the rugged, peaceful beauty of the Cinque Terre in June. The weather is warm, but never in the high-30s, while the sea breeze and the seafood are sublime. Even better, non-resident cars have to stay outside the designated UNESCO World Heritage areas. You’ll find flights under $1600 if you travel and return before the peak months of July and August. This is also a great time to head inland to Florence, which celebrates its patron Saint San Giovanni’s birthday on 24 June with a historic parade, fireworks and festivals in almost every piazza.
Mexico is rich with secluded beaches, sparkling cenotes (natural swimming holes) and ancient ruins, but that’s not her only charm. The rustic streets and vibrant culture suck you in and leave you hypnotised, while its sensuous, elegant hideaways epitomise luxury.
Throughout the high season of December to April, rainfall is minimal, varying from 12 millimetres in Cabo San Lucas and 70 millimetres on the Yucatan Peninsula, while temperatures sit around 25°C. This dry climate makes it the perfect winter escape for American holidaymakers,
while hotel rates on the Yucatan Peninsula can increase as much as 50 per cent between December and January. December airfares are 20 per cent more expensive than average, with the price tag leaping to around $1700.
Religious festivities tend to take over during the Christmas period, with re-enactments of Mary and Joseph’s pilgrimage to Bethlehem, along with a similar pilgrimage to Mexico City in honour of patron saint, the Virgin of Guadalupe. Similarly, Easter celebrations dominate April, which coincides with a two-week holiday for locals, leaving tourist hotspots jam-packed.
SHOULDER SEASON
Mexico’s shoulder season, stretching from July to August, experiences some of the highest temperatures of the year (think 30°C and up), but also some of the wettest periods for the Pacific Coast. Prices at popular resorts and beach destinations tend to spike in this period as it intersects with a national summer vacation. For the rest of Mexico’s luscious coastlines, the shoulder seasons experience a bout of heavy rainfall in the afternoons, however these showers usually clear the increased humidity and bring temperatures down.
LOW SEASON
Peak temperatures, high humidity levels, and a hurricane season across the Pacific and Caribbe-
an Coasts exemplify Mexico’s low season, spanning May to June, and September to October. September is the heart of the hurricane season, and while this doesn’t always guarantee a storm, it does bring between 150 and 300 millimetres of rain and strong winds. If you’re willing to brave the low season, airfares start from $930 return in May.
Be sure to steer clear of hurricane season, which reaches its peak in mid-September, as well as the United States’ Spring Break period from March to April.
An indulgent getaway in Mexico is best planned for November, when the rainy season has all but dried up, and the tourists are yet to descend on the stunning beaches. Temperatures sit at a comfortable 28°C with far lower humidity than the low season. Flying to Los Angeles from Australia in November will score you some of the cheapest flights of the year, according to Skyscanner, with prices likely to drop by 12 per cent to around $1200.
The essential places to experience the pinnacle of luxury include Tulum in the Riviera Maya region, with high-end hotels like Be Tulum offering suites for over $100 less than the peak season price tag.
Cabo San Lucas is another decadent gem on the peninsula of Baja California Sur, and is home to resorts such as The Cape, which offers a deluxe king room from $700 per night, while Esperanza Resort suites are over $100 cheaper than during high season.
HANNAH EDENSOR
From east to west, America is a country of extreme contrasts. When it’s sunny in Los Angeles, it could be snowing in New York. Here is when to visit these two dynamic, yet completely different, cities.
NYC: Hotel room rates peak during autumn (September to November) and the end-of-year festive season. The city is a continual party from late November through to the New Year, with events such as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and New Year’s Eve in Times Square. It’s cold outside at this time of year (6-12˚C), but that doesn’t stop vacationing families and European travellers flocking to the streets. Airfares from Australia begin getting expensive in November and peak in December and January. Autumn temperatures, meanwhile, fluctuate between 10 and 16˚C, with flights from Australia at this time around 10 per cent more expensive than the shoulder season. LA: The summer months (June-August) see temperatures hovering around 24˚C, with long days of sunshine and next to no chance of rain. Smog levels and humidity can be high (90 per cent), which means that beaches are crowded. This time of year is also the main school break, so expect popular tourist destinations and hotels to be extremely busy and expensive. December and January are also busy thanks to an influx of international travellers over the festive season; flights from Australia are 15 to 50 per cent more expensive than the low season.
“An indulgent getaway in Mexico is best planned for November, when rainy season has all but dried up, and the tourists are yet to descend on the stunning beaches”SEAN PAVONE / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
NYC: Mild weather makes spring (March to May) a popular time to visit, although travel numbers are not at their peak and you can still find hotel deals – earlier in the season, discounts of 30 per cent are not uncommon. On a blue-sky day in spring, when the temperature is 18 to 20˚C and humidity is 55 per cent, there’s nothing better than exploring parks in bloom with cherry blossoms. But the season is known for its unpredictable weather, with lots of rain. There’s plenty to look forward to, including the Tribeca Film Festival and the beginning of the Broadway awards season. Flights from Australia are at their cheapest in March.
LA: Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to October) see temperatures vary from 18 to 23˚C. There are fewer crowds and the air is clean, making it a great time to enjoy outdoor pursuits, not to mention LA’s theme parks. You can expect to pay 10 to 25 per cent less for hotels at these times, and flights from Australia are at yearly lows across both seasons.
NYC: With the New Year rung in, NYC begins to hibernate. January through to early March is the only time of the year when hotel occupancy dips below 90 per cent, which means that rates are also more affordable. In January and February when the weather is at its coldest (a few degrees above freezing), snow is common and the events and festivities calendar slows; these are the quietest months on Broadway, making it a good time to buy tickets and get
tables at popular restaurants. Hotel rates can be 50 per cent cheaper than in the high season. LA: January, February and November are the quietest time of year in LA in terms of visitor numbers. Average temperatures in February sit around 18˚C, but the humidity is high (85 per cent) and this is LA’s wettest period, with rain predicted for about a third of the month. Flights out of Australia are slightly higher than during spring and autumn, and you can still find good hotel deals. November is warmer than February and equally humid, but there’s less chance of rain. Flights from Australia are at their cheapest of the year, and
hotel rooms are a minimum of 20 per cent cheaper than peak season.
NYC: February is windy and bitterly cold: snow turns to slush, people retreat indoors and it gets dark by 5pm. On the positive side, you can get 50 per cent discounts on hotels and will rarely have to queue for attractions. Flights from Australia at these times are around 30 per cent cheaper than peak season.
LA: One of the main reasons tourists visit LA is for the theme parks, which become extremely busy around major public holidays, driving up ticket and hotel prices as well as car rental rates and domestic flights. Avoid days surrounding New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King Jr Day (midJanuary) and Presidents’ Day (mid-February). Also avoid the Spring Break and Easter period (mid- to late-March), the summer vacation period (late May to September), and the Christmas season, which begins at the end of November and runs to the New Year.
NYC: The peak of summer during July and August can be hot, with July daytime temperatures averaging 30˚C while humidity hovers around 64 per cent. The weather keeps many domestic visitors away, and local New Yorkers use these months to escape to holiday homes. Which means you can get great hotel deals at this time – 30 to 50 per cent off peak rates. Airfares from Australia are also decent (around 30 per cent cheaper than Christmas), and it’s a good time to book tables at in-demand restaurants. Summer music festivals are also in full swing.
LA: Over the first two months of autumn, September and October, the air is clean, there are fewer crowds, and you can get great deals on luxury hotels and resorts (25 per cent cheaper than high season) plus cheap flights from Australia. Expect temperatures in the mid-20s and high humidity (90 per cent), but low rainfall.
LUXE-FOR-LESS DEALS IN BALI / & OUR WRITERS TAKE IN: TWO OF GERMANY'S CITIES, MUNICH AND BERLIN / TRAVEL THE WAY WE DO...ON A JOURNEY THROUGH THE NILE / THE HACIENDAS AROUND QUITO, ECUADOR / WE GUIDE YOU AROUND THE SWANKY CITY HOTSPOTS IN MELBOURNE / WE TELL YOU HOW TO PLAN A LUXURY HOLIDAY TO CUBA
WITH BALI’S TRAVEL “SWEET SPOT” FALLING IN FEBRUARY AND MARCH, NOW’S THE TIME TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LUXE-FOR-LESS DEALS IN THE ISLAND PARADISE. Lauren Caruana and Grace Smith BREAK DOWN SOME OF THE BEST DEALS AVAILABLE.
InterContinental Bali Resort is set on beautiful white sands at Bali’s Jimbaran Bay, 15 minutes from Ngurah Rai International Airport and not far from popular tourist spot Seminyak. The resort’s 417 rooms are divided into three tiers of accommodation; resort classic, Singaraja and Club InterContinental.
Special: Stay two nights in a Club InterContinental Room and receive a third night free.
Inclusions: Unlimited Club InterContinental Lounge access with 24-hour light refreshments, gourmet breakfast, afternoon tea, sunset canapés and cocktails, 24-hour butler service, unlimited complimentary children’s programs, complimentary WiFi, return airport transfers.
*Regular rates start from US$260 (about A$341) per night for a King Club InterContinental Room. Offer valid for bookings until 28 March 2017 for stays between now and 31 March 2017.
This contemporary Seminyak luxury resort offers 229 rooms, suites and villas designed in bold colours that pop against natural timber features and the lush greenery outdoors. Locally sourced artworks and innovative W touches further bolster the resort's design aesthetic.
Special: Book a two-night stay and pay with MasterCard by 14 July 2017 and you’ll save 20 per cent.
Inclusions: Room only.
*Regular rates start from IDR3,420,000 (about A$335) per night. Offer valid for stays until 14 July 2017.
The beachfront St Regis Bali Resort in Nusa Dua is an all-suite and villa resort. Additional luxuries include 24-hour butler service, three restaurants, a bar and a deli, and a 3,668 square-metre lagoon.
“This contemporary Seminyak luxury resort offers 229 rooms, suites and villas designed in bold colours that pop against natural timber features and the lush greenery outdoors”
Special: Book two nights in a St Regis Suite and receive 20 per cent off your stay.
Inclusions: Breakfast.
*Regular rates start from IDR5,926,812 (about A$580) per night. Expiry date not specified. Check with hotel for up to date information.
Located on Bali’s secluded south coast, Anantara Uluwatu is a cliffside resort made up of 74 seaview suites, private pool villas and duplex penthouses. The property features a cliffedge infinity pool and a rooftop balcony with 360-degree ocean views.
Special: Book a minimum two-night stay and receive discounted and complimentary extras.
Inclusions: Daily breakfast buffet for two, a signature cocktail or mocktail per person, per stay, room upgrade and a late checkout time of 4pm (subject to availability), 20 per cent discount on dining and 90-minute oil massage (for two people).
*Regular rates start from A$388 per night. Expiry date not specified. Check with hotel for up to date information.
Bulgari’s Bali Resort combines the brand’s signature contemporary Italian design with the rugged natural beauty of the Balinese landscape. Set on its own private cliff overlooking the Indian Ocean, the resort offers a number of unique day excursions including helicopter flights over the nearby volcano and visits to the local markets accompanied by a personal shopper.
Special: Book a couple’s getaway experience from Rp12,000,000 (about A$1173) per night.
Inclusions: Welcome amenity, daily breakfast for two, nightly turndown service, flower bath on arrival evening, one 90-minute Balinese massage for two, one romantic dinner experience for two, return airport transfers, daily serving of exotic Indonesian fruit.
*Regular rates start from IDR8,400,000 (about A$822) per night. Offer valid until 31 December 2017. Minimum stay is two nights.
The Conrad Bali is a beachside resort that offers a range of guest rooms, suites and villas spread across four low-rise wings and surrounded by lush greenery and lagoon-style pools. Amenities include tennis, golf, watersports, shopping and even a beachfront wedding chapel.
Special: Stay four nights in any room and receive complimentary extras.
Inclusions: Daily buffet breakfast, afternoon tea and evening cocktail for two, complimentary WiFi, return airport transfers, 120-minute spa experience for two, unlimited laundry and dry cleaning service, 15 per cent discount on restaurant dining and spa treatments, late check-out time of 3pm.
*Regular rates start from US$129 (about A$169) per room, per night. Stays must be booked 15 days in advance. Expiry date not specified. Check with hotel for up to date information.
Designed to emulate the architecture of a traditional Balinese village, The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay spans 35 acres, providing guests with direct beach access. The all-villa resort offers guests complimentary sunrise yoga, kids’ club, Balinese dance performances, and kayaking and catamaran sailing.
Special: Receive 25 per cent off standard rates for Residence Villas and enjoy exclusive perks.
Inclusions: Daily buffet breakfast for two, meals for children aged five and under throughout stay, use of a car and driver for up to four hours per day, 24-hour butler service, laundry and pressing service, return airport transfers in a Toyota Kijang SUV.
*Regular rates start from IDR19,743,750 (about A$1030) per night. Offer valid for stays until 31 December 2018.
Ayana Resort and Spa Bali is located on 90 hectares of cliff-top land above Jimbaran Bay, just a short drive from the airport. The resort has 18 restaurants and bars, an exclusive private beach, 12 swimming pools, a worldclass spa, a golf putting and fitness centre, and complimentary WiFi.
Special: Book two connecting rooms and save 50 per cent on the second room.
Inclusions: Breakfast for four.
*Regular rates start from A$401 per room. Offer valid for bookings made before 23 December 2017.
Nestled among the rice paddies and banyan trees of Tjampuhan Valley, Como Ubud is a contemporary Asian hotel comprising just 26 rooms, suites and villas. The hotel’s restaurants, Kemiri and Uma Cucina, serve locally sourced Asian cuisine, while the Shambhala Retreat offers a range of holistic, Asian-inspired wellness treatments.
Special: Choose one of three added extras to enjoy during your stay.
Inclusions: Guests may choose one of the following extras: a one-way airport pickup, a two-course lunch or dinner at Uma Cucina, or a 60-minute COMO Shambhala massage.
*Regular rates start from US$232 (about A$302). Expiry date not specified. Check with hotel for up to date information.
Amanusa resort is situated on the southern peninsula of Nusa Dua, which is home to some of the island’s best golf courses. Guests receive priority reservations at Bali National Golf Club, as well as all-hours access to floodlit tennis courts.
Special: Stay three nights and enjoy a complimentary activity.
Inclusions: Daily breakfast, airport and interresort transfers, and the choice of one of four activities: a massage, a beach bale breakfast, a temple tour, or a soufflé cooking class.
*Regular rates start from US$500 (about A$654) per night. Offer valid until 31 March 2018 and also available at Aman’s Amandari and Amankila resorts.
For more information on these Bali deals head to luxurytravelmag.com/luxe-less
For full deal details and terms and conditions, visit individual hotel or resort websites.
See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
Europe’s capital of cool, Berlin, is a city that screams diversity, combining its rich history with alternative subcultures, artistic flare and contemporary living.
There’s plenty to keep you busy –for shopping, Kurfürstendamm in the city’s west has been described as the Champs-Élysées of Berlin, and here you’ll find plenty of high-end shopping including at the Kaufhaus des Westens, or KaDeWe, department store. Or you can head to department stores like Galeries Lafayette or the architecturally cool Quartier 206, both in Friedrichstrasse. And for drinking and dining, there’s a wealth of Michelin stars to be found throughout the city, as well as hidden bars like Tausend, tucked away under the train tracks across the river from Friedrichstrasse Station, or Buck and Breck, a tiny space for just 15 patrons.
Berlin is also home to a thriving arts scene. With more than 400 galleries and over 5000 artists operating in the city, there are plenty of great spaces for art lovers to check out especially in the Mitte district. Try the KunstWerke Institute for Contemporary Art, home of the original Berlin Biennale; Contemporary Fine Arts, one of Berlin’s best-known art spaces; and Sammlung Boros, a private collection housed in 3000 square metres of exhibition space that was formerly an air-raid shelter.
I’m staying in the Mitte district at the Hotel de Rome, a luxurious Rocco Forte hotel. There is architectural beauty in every direction; churches, museums and the Brandenburg Gate are all within a moment’s walk of the hotel.
The hotel building, constructed between 1887 and 1889, was once the head office of the Dresdner Bank until after World War II. As soon as I walk through the grand, original doors, it becomes apparent that this is no ordinary hotel. I’m fixated by the interior design, where traditional architecture
is juxtaposed with modern furnishings. At Hotel de Rome it is evident that efficiency is key and customer service paramount. Staff stand ready with greetings from the moment I arrive and willingly escort me to check in and then to my room. It’s explained to me that the doors to each room are designed to resemble those of a bank vault; a cool nod to the hotel’s history. I use my keycard to tap and open the doors to my ‘vault’ and I’m struck by the brilliantly high ceilings, again catching myself admiring the grandeur of my surroundings. With contemporary Italian-style interiors by designers Tommaso
“There’s a wealth of Michelin stars to be found throughout the city”From top: Lorenz Adlon EssZimmer, Berlin; outdoor dining at FACIL.
FISCHERS FRITZ
Contemporary French cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars fischersfritz-berlin.de/en
LORENZ ADLON
Modern European cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars lorenzadlon-esszimmer.de/ en/
REINSTOFF
Contemporary German cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars reinstoff.eu/english/
TIM RAUE
Contemporary Asian cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars tim-raue.com/en/
FACIL
Creative modern cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars facil.de/en/
HORVÁTH
Regional Austrian cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars restaurant-horvath.de/en
RUTZ
Contemporary cuisine (and wine bar)
★ ★ Michelin stars rutz-restaurant.de/
Ziffer and Olga Polizzi (sister to Sir Rocco Forte, the brand’s chairman), my Junior Suite is impressive. Comfortable chairs, lounges and a king size bed are set among floor lamps, striking artworks adorn the walls, and a large window provides views onto the street below. The sleek, modern bathroom is clad in light grey marble and offers a large shower and bathtub.
The Hotel de Rome’s adoption of a luxe Italian aesthetic is further evident at restaurant La Banca on the ground floor. Live music played in the bar area ensures a lively atmosphere. After a brief conversation about tastes and the level of my appetite (which is high after a huge day exploring Berlin), my waiter, Nico, takes control of both food and wine.
The beef carpaccio is one of the best I’ve ever had, accompanied by special Rocco Forte olive oil which is produced by the family for exclusive use in their hotels.
The dinner is fantastic to the end and Nico doesn’t disappoint, providing fabulous wines throughout the meal.
To balance indulgence in food and drink, there is a spa and gym at the hotel. Sir Forte is a fitness fanatic and his hotels all have a pool at least 20 metres in length. After a night out in Berlin, the ideal recipe for recovery is to chill out by the pool, have a steam in the sauna and maybe follow up with a massage. You’ll be fresh and ready to head out for another night in this vibrant city.
l STAY HERE
Rates at Hotel de Rome start from €390 (about A$539) per night for a Deluxe Room. roccofortehotels.com/hotels-and-resorts/ hotel-de-rome/
Munich, or München, is the capital of Bavaria and the third most populous city in Germany. As with Berlin (and many of Europe’s great cities), it’s home to centuries-old buildings and many museums. In particular, Kunstareal, the museum quarter, houses some of Bavaria’s most prestigious cultural attractions. Modern-day Munich still delivers when it comes to German clichés, from its raucous beer halls to families out together on a Sunday clad in lederhosen, but the historic throwbacks add to the city’s charm (and fun).
Beer is king in Munich and one of the best beer halls to visit is Hofbräuhaus, originally founded in 1589. There’s much to do here even for non-beer drinkers, with halls to explore, live music to enjoy and plates of cold cuts, cheeses, sausages and other Bavarian fare to eat. Fair warning: it will likely be filled with tourists, but that’s not necessarily a bad
thing here, with crowds of happy visitors adding to the energy and vibe of the hall.
I’m visiting Munich during winter and the Christmas markets in the city’s central square, Marienplatz, are a sight to behold. Bedecked with twinkling lights, the market stalls are teeming with people browsing for Christmas-themed souvenirs while eating grilled sausages and sweets, and I find the hot and spiced mulled wines are a true treat and great to help stave off December’s chill. Located in Altstadt (old town), the central Marienplatz Square is also home to the New Town Hall, Neues Rathaus, a neo-Gothic building housing the Rathaus-Glockenspiel, chiming and re-enacting 16th-Century tales each day at 11am with its 43 bells and 32 life-sized figures.
There is a wealth of experience in Munich beyond Bavarian culture and history. Munich’s Englischer Garten (English Garden) is larger than Central Park in New York and is home to a Japanese teahouse, Greek-style temple and several beer gardens. In summer you can go surfing in the artificial stream or pedal boating on Kleinhesseloher See (Kleinhesseloher Lake).
For car enthusiasts, BMW Welt is a showroom in a futuristic building of glass and twisted steel next to the BMW Plant and Museum. Check out BMW, Mini and Rolls Royce exhibitions and two-Michelin-star dining at EssZimmer. The BMW Museum offers junior programs full of activities for kids. There are also plenty of shopping haunts like the designer boutiques and department stores along Maximilianstrasse.
Just a stroll from the English Garden, I’m staying at The Charles Hotel, a five-star, 136room offering in a relatively new building
“The Christmas markets in the city’s central square, Marienplatz, are a sight to behold”
(circa 2007). The rooms are modern and spacious – they’re the largest standard rooms in town at a minimum of 40 square metres, and the décor features shades of taupe, mossy green and cream, and utilises cotton, silk, wood and natural stone. The rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows so they’re light and airy, and each has a large limestone bathroom with walk-in shower and heated floors. The hotel’s 26 suites range from 48 to 146 square metres and are individually designed with a separate sleeping and living area.
The hotel has a spa offering relaxation treatments, a sauna, a steam room and a huge pool – it’s a nice space to chill out in, especially when visiting in the winter months when the temperatures outside can sometimes be unbearable. There’s also a gym which is small but adequate enough for a workout.
The Charles Hotel’s restaurant, Sophia’s, opened last year and is set in a light-filled room with views of the garden across the street. Offering menus themed around a concept of ‘botanical bistronomy’, vegetables and fruits take centre stage, offering a delicious and light alternative to
the traditional heavy foods of the region. I dine here one Saturday night and the restaurant is full; a good sign. I start with a Red Roost cocktail showcasing beetroot and bourbon as its main ingredients, which is interesting, to say the least. I dine on a rockfish bouillabaisse and spaghetti with lobster followed by poached pear with pear ice cream. Portions are generous and the meal is just delicious. Breakfast is served here too; buffet style, with fresh juices, pastries and breads on offer. I have the option of egg dishes, pancakes and waffles too. On weekends, breakfast is served until 2pm, inviting a long, lazy and relaxed morning, and ideal for kicking off a day out in charming Munich.
Rates at The Charles Hotel start from €390 (about A$539) per night for a classic room roccofortehotels.com/hotels-andresorts/the-charles-hotel/
See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
Clockwise from top left: Deluxe Room at The Charles Hotel; the hotel's facade; living room in the Monfort Suite, The Charles Hotel.
Opposite page, clockwise from top: Christmas in Munich; vintage cars on display at BMW Welt; a vintage convertible; view of the Old Botanic Garden from The Charles Hotel.
GEISELS WERNECKHOF
Modern European/Asian cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars geisels-werneckhof.de/ ATELIER
Modern French and Mediterranean cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars ateliergourmet.de/englishmenu/
RESTAURANT DALLMAYR
Contemporary cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars dallmayr.com/delicatessen/ restaurant-dallmayr/ ESSZIMMER
Contemporary French cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars esszimmer-muenchen.de
TANTRIS
Contemporary cuisine
★ ★ Michelin stars tantris.de/en/
Stern of face, empty of eye, they stare. Blank, sightless eyes see nothing, yet see everything in the future and back to the ancient world.
The colossal sculptures of Abu Simbel are in Egypt’s deep south, touching on the border with Sudan, and are the jewel of the appropriately named Nile in Style journey with Abercrombie & Kent.
“Nowhere are there so many marvellous things, nor in the whole world beside are there to be seen so many works of unspeakable greatness,” wrote Herodotus of Egypt in the fifth century BC. Fifteen centuries later, he’s still on the money.
My journey begins in Cairo: with 20 million souls (give or take a million or two), it’s the entire population of Australia crammed into one heaving metropolis – one of the world’s great cities. Egypt has had a tumultuous few years since its long-term dictator, Hosni Mubarak, was toppled in 2011, but slowly, the country is steering a new path to peace and prosperity. “From your lips to God’s ears,” say Egyptians when I express my hope.
While it sells itself on its antique traditions, Egypt also has a nose for luxury, amply demonstrated by the Four Seasons at Nile Plaza. But it can’t escape its past – pulling back the curtains at the sleek, five-star hotel, I look down at that eternal lifeline, the Nile River, from my window. And it’s only after my eyes and mind have adjusted to the spectacular blur of people, luxury cars, mopeds and the occasional donkey cart, that I spy the city’s true inhabitants. There, beyond the smog, beyond the desert
sand in the air, I see them. Three Pyramids of Giza hover on the horizon, as they have done since their inception more than 4500 years ago.
It’s always astonishing to realise that the Pyramids sit on the edge of the city which has grown at its feet, and my guide Lamia and I toast them with cold mango juice and spiced meats, while the rice, with Egypt’s slapstick sense of humour, is served as a pyramid, mimicking the real ones in front of us. Yet beyond the last of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, we journey even further back to the ancient burial complex of Saqqara, home to the world’s oldest stone building, the step pyramid of Djoser, which has crouched here since the 27th century BC. The land’s history is vast and complex, dotted with gods and heroes passing through ancient history to Greek and Roman occupation, and Lamia sails through it like one born to it – which, of course, she is.
“There, beyond the smog, beyond the desert sand in the air, I see them. Three Pyramids of Giza hover on the horizon, as they have done since their inception over 4500 years ago”
With a change of step, she leads me into medieval times, of caravans and souqs, trading gold, spices, perfumes and weaves in the epicentre of old Cairo, Khan al-Khalili market, which dates back to the 14th century. Beside it runs the most beautiful street in the country, El Moezz, which stretches a kilometre through Islamic Cairo, rich with medieval palaces, mosques, ornate underground water cisterns and wikalas, or caravanserai – inns for travelling traders – all bound by gargantuan city walls and vast city gates that humble those walking through them.
I think, in a former life, Lamia was a trader: her haggling skills – on my behalf – are exceptional, even by Egyptian standards, and she works from some mental map that has the city’s best shopping committed to memory. My souvenir list is ticked; my bags are already full of traditional printed cloth, cushions and aromatic spices. The handmade leather bags will have to wait until next time.
It’s time to trade the modern luxury of the Four Seasons for our river yacht where we will spend the next three nights.
Berthed in Luxor, the Sun Sanctuary IV ticks all the boxes for chic, small-ship cruising, from the 1920s decor to the maximum of 36 guests.
At Luxor, I get a lesson in the rules of life and death. In sunrise and temples there is life; in sunset there is death and its eternal tombs. So it makes perfect sense that the riot of palaces and ceremonial grounds are on the eastern or right bank of the Nile, while the left bank is home to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried for 500 years, including its most famous resident, the boy King Tutankhamun.
For three days, we sail serenely between sandstone temples whose walls tell of great conquests; of dog-headed gods of judgement, lion-headed war goddess and handsome, virile, victorious pharaohs; of the fertility of the Nile, the glory of the sun, the blood of the vanquished.
Great deeds are balanced by the gentle rural scenery on the riverbanks – villagers working their green fields, children running to school – until Egypt’s most southerly city, Aswan, comes into view. We
trade small ships for even smaller boats, the picturesque feluccas (traditional wooden sailing boats) that skim between Aswan’s riverbound islands, and toast the impossibly romantic stories of the Aga Khan’s tomb with sundowners as the great African sun dips, blood-red, over the horizon.
A short flight covers the 300-kilometre distance between Aswan and Abu Simbel in the south, into the heart of Nubian Egypt. Its irresistible drawcards are the four colossal statues that guard the entrance of the Great Temple. Essentially, it’s a megalomaniacal fantasy of the very immodest Ramesses II – thought to have fathered 200 children – alleged warrior and successful public relations man, and his beautiful, beloved wife, Nefertiti, “for whose sake the very sun does shine.” Standing 20 meters high, we’re dwarfed by the statues of Ramesses II – just as he intended when he built them in 1264 BC.
Great hardship and prosperous abundance, love, loyalty, war and religion: the epics writ on Egypt’s temple walls and in its people’s memories and stories are as vast as the skies and deserts in which they’re set.
See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
l RECOMMENDED READING
A classic in its own right. The tranquillity of a cruise along the Nile is shattered by the discovery that Linnet Ridgeway has been shot through the head. She was young, stylish and beautiful, a girl who had everything – until she lost her life. Hercule Poirot recalls an earlier outburst by a fellow passenger: ‘I’d like to put my dear little pistol against her head and just press the trigger...”
tripfiction.com/books/death-on-the-nile/
“Its irresistible drawcards are the four colossal statues that guard the entrance of the Great Temple. Essentially, it’s a megalomaniacal fantasy of the very immodest Ramesses II”
Day 1 Cairo
A warm A&K welcome and transfer to your elegant hotel.
Stay: Four Seasons at Nile Plaza
Day 2
Cairo
This morning, walk through 7000 years of history at the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, including the treasures of Tutankhamun and the Mummy Room. Cairo has much to offer: ancient monuments, glittering mosques, imposing citadels, a labyrinthine bazaar and old Coptic churches. Design your own afternoon with a choice of one of the following activities: a tour on foot through Islamic Cairo and an adventure in the Khan El Khalili bazaar; or visit old Cairo including the Coptic Museum.
Stay: Four Seasons at Nile Plaza Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 3
Cairo
Visit the necropolis of Sakkara and the impressive museum of Imhotep. Continue on to the 4500-year-old Pyramids of Giza, built for Pharaohs Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus.
The Great Pyramid is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still in existence. Just to the east lies the legendary Sphinx. Continue to the Solar Boat Museum to view the reassembled funerary boat of King Cheops, one of the most important archaeological finds in Egypt since the Tomb of Tutankhamun.
Stay: Four Seasons at Nile Plaza Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 4 Cairo – Luxor
An early flight south to Luxor to board the stately Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, your luxury home afloat for the next four nights. Explore the temple of Karnak on the east bank before crossing the river to tour the Valley of the Kings and Queens, including a descent into Tutankhamun’s Tomb. Time also to visit spectacular Hatshepsut’s Temple.
Stay: Sanctuary Sun Boat IV Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Nile Cruise
Three days are spent on the Nile with daily forays in the company of your Egyptologist. Unique inclusions on this cruise are some of the more remote attractions north of Luxor: Qena, and the Temple of Hathor in Denderah. The Luxor Temple is another highlight, then travel south to the Pharaonic temple of Horus at Edfu and the temple of Kom Ombo. Arriving into Aswan, Egypt’s southernmost town, the afternoon is spent sailing amongst the islands in a traditional felucca, seeing Kitchener’s Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. The majestic Philae Temple is also visited. Stay: Sanctuary Sun Boat IV
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Day 8
Aswan
Before flying back to Cairo, visit one of Egypt’s most awe-inspiring sights – the colossal temples of
Abu Simbel.
Stay: Four Seasons at Nile Plaza
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch
Day 9
Depart Cairo
Bid farewell to Egypt as you depart from Cairo. Meals included: Breakfast
Cost:
From A$7265 per person, twin share. Solo traveller rate from A$10,195. This is a private journey that can be personalised to your specific requirements. Depending on your preferred dates and arrangements, final pricing will vary from low season to peak season. Itinerary departs on a Friday.
For a detailed version of the Luxury Travel magazine/ Abercrombie & Kent ‘Nile in Style’ itinerary, visit luxurytravelmag.com.au/ itineraries or call +61 3 9536 1800
Maui Jim got its start in 1980 as a small company selling sunglasses on the beach in Lahaina, Hawaii. Seeing a need in the market for technology that could combat intense glare and harmful UV while bringing the brilliant colours of the island to life, we engineered the revolutionary PolarizedPlus2® lens. Incorporated into seven new sunglass styles, Maui Jims Classic Collection was introduced. Maui Jim now offers over 125 styles of sunglasses, 100% of which are polarized and protect from 100% of UVA and UVB rays.
Valued from A$289. (Total prize pool A$4248)
The ghosts are so restless in these parts that the eyes on the faces of the paintings and on the old black-and-white photographs in the historic dining halls follow me as I walk round each room. At breakfast, as I look outside across manicured gardens to paddocks where horses feed, silent, smiling butlers in pristine suits serve me hot tea and toast. Sometimes I’m not sure if they’re even real themselves; they look trapped in a different era. But then, centuries of Spanish colonists in the haciendas that surround Ecuador’s most-famed city, Quito, have left generations of spirits. In one hacienda, I even sleep in the bedroom that was once used by the most famous South American of them all, Simon Bolivar, who liberated Ecuador from the Spanish.
Though, truth be told, ghosts are really just a small part of what makes this place seem so otherworldly. Up here, at these lofty altitudes, wispy clouds drift right through you as you go about your day. When they lift and the sun shines with a force you can only feel this high above sea level, huge, white snow-covered mountains in the sky reveal themselves, then disappear just as quickly amongst the mist.
But most travellers will miss all this in their haste to visit Ecuador’s most famous attraction, the Galapagos. What they’ll miss provides the best insight into life as it has been in the centuries since the Spanish first conquered Ecuador. You’ll feel the homesick pangs of Spaniards here in these grand haciendas, trying desperately to replicate the grandeur of life back home in Europe.
That all these luxurious haciendas can be accessed along one of the most scenically spectacular strips of mountains anywhere outside the Himalayas comes as quite a surprise to travellers. Dubbed the ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’, there are nine mountains more than 5000 metres high along a 300 kilometre strip
between the eastern and western cordilleras of the Andes. And just north of here too, Ecuadorians live much as they always have in tiny villages sprinkled in amongst the Andes’ folds.
Though many of those who come here do so to climb these mountains, there’s just as much here for the luxury traveller who’d rather sip wine with a view than risk life and limb getting to the top. There are culinary and cultural pleasures all across this lofted region. Just off the main highway, I find towns in the valleys of mighty snowclad peaks where the streets are still cobbled and old ladies carry sacks of produce on their heads, while the men sell fruit and vegetables from carts. Here, shrines to Jesus take pride of place and old men gather on benches in town squares in suits to read the newspaper, fedoras blocking their faces from the sun.
Around here, locals worship the volcanoes that dominate their landscape. Rather than fear these mountains (and one, Cotopaxi, the world’s tallest active volcano, began erupting last year after 75 years of slumber), locals harness the energy they believe these ancient peaks possess.
On a hillside overlooking a dormant volcano and the town of Otavalo, I stay in wellness and
yoga retreat My SachaJi, whose name means ‘Beloved Mountain’ in the local dialect. In the evening I sit beside a fire pit watching the sun set over the mountains and the volcanic lake, San Pablo. The retreat was designed in consultation with a feng shui expert to ensure every room channels the energy of the extinct volcanoes that surround it.
Just south of here, I bathe in volcanically heated waters in a hidden valley of the Andes at Papallacta Hot Springs. Among mist rising from the naturally heated waters, I can see the 5897 metre Cotopaxi above the clouds, its snowy upper ridge shiny and smooth like the top of a meringue. The hot springs also contain the best day spa in the region.
One day I venture into Cotopaxi National Park, where hawks and condors circle above me. Cotopaxi surges out from a flat plateau, and a constant stream of white-grey gas rises from its peak. Up here I walk around volcanic lakes, dodging mud flows and gigantic stones from eruptions centuries before. Another day I take a horse ride through the cloud forest just below the mountains, riding horses dubbed criollos parametros – they’re tiny but sturdy mounts
Clockwise from left: My SachaJi Wellness Retreat; mountain range in the 'Avenue of the Volcanoes'; textile market in Otavalo; volcanic lakes.
“Overlooking a dormant volcano and the town of Otavalo I stay in wellness and yoga retreat My SachaJi, whose name means ‘Beloved Mountain’ in local dialect”
Infact, we’ve been voted the number one hotel in Palm Cove and one of the top five hotels in Australia by Tripadvisor.
But that’s not surprising, because Alamanda at Palm Cove is one of the only places in Far North Queensland to offer direct beach access, as well as luxurious beachside suites, the critically acclaimed Nu Nu restaurant and our multi-award winning day spa. And if that’s not enough, we also cater for families with extra-large apartments, a family pool zone and games room.
So no need to search TripAdvisor to find the perfect Palm Cove luxury accommodation, come straight to us.
Book at palmcove@alamandapalmcove.com.au or call 07 4055 3000
www.lancemore.com.au/alamanda
comes to
we’re way out in front.
that have adapted to the tough conditions of the volcanic plateaus. We ride between haciendas, among deer and wild horses and Chuquiragua (mountaineer’s flower).
Yet, despite the spectacular nature of the surrounding landscape, it’s the luxuries of hacienda life that shine through in these mountains outside Quito. Meals are served by waiters in tailored suits in the four-centuries-old grandiosity of haciendas such as La Cienega –built in 1580 next to courtyards where gigantic Catholic crosses were erected beside exquisitely manicured rose gardens and private chapels. At Le Cienega, you can stay in the stately suite of the German naturalist, Baron Von Humboldt,
From left: La Cienaga hacienda; Hot tub at My Sachaji.
l RECOMMENDED READING
THE AMNESIA CLINIC by James Scudamore
Anti, a quiet English boy living in Quito, Ecuador, strikes up a friendship with flamboyant classmate Fabián, who is everything Anti isn't: handsome, athletic and popular. What's more, he lives with his rakish Uncle Suarez, while Anti is stuck in the dull ex-pat world inhabited by his parents. Suarez, a storyteller par excellence, infects the boys with his passion for outlandish tales, and before long their relationship becomes one conducted entirely through the telling of tales. With confused emotions and reality losing its tenuous grip, the boys embark on a quixotic voyage across Ecuador in search of an 'Amnesia Clinic' that may, or may not exist. tripfiction.com/books/the-amnesia-clinic/
who coined the phrase ‘Avenue of the Volcanoes’ in 1802. Or at the 16th-Century hotel, Hacienda Zuleta, you can eat organic vegetables from the garden with homemade Ecuadorian cheese made from the milk of hacienda’s own dairy cows, from recipes handed down through generations of Ecuadorian chefs.
And in the evening, after the sun dips and the temperatures drop to a chill, enormous log fires are lit by butlers, bottles of fine Argentinian and Chilean malbecs are downed, and the ghosts of the long-gone conquerors come to share the old-world ambience of a cultured life in some of the highest mountains of South America.
Chimu Adventures’ six-day Haciendas of Ecuador tour starts from A$2800 per person (excluding airfares), chimuadventures.com/en-us/tour/ haciendas-of-ecuador
The writer travelled courtesy of Chimu Adventures.
See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
SEEING CUBA BEFORE THE COMMUNIST ISLAND NATION IS TRANSFORMED BY THE IMMINENT INFLUX OF TOURISTS PRESENTS A SPECIAL PROBLEM FOR LUXURY TRAVELLERS: THERE ARE LIMITED HIGH-END HOTELS. Katie Milton TELLS YOU HOW TO VISIT CUBA NOW IN STYLE.
Relaxed travel and trade restrictions between Cuba and the United States over the past two years have resulted in fervent interest in the previously isolated Caribbean island. While the main beneficiaries of the agreement have been American travellers, the launch of regularly scheduled commercial flights between the two countries is a reward reaped by all international tourists looking to tick Cuba off their bucket list.
But despite the increasing ease of travel there remains limited luxury resort and hotel offerings throughout the country. So, how can you travel to Cuba in style?
In late 2016, luxury cruise lines including North American cruise operator Regent Seven Seas and the French brand Ponant, received approval to offer voyages to Cuba. The resultant itineraries are a combination of offshore excursions that promise travellers an “authentic Cuban experience” from an all-inclusive luxury setting on board. Premier charter yacht company The Moorings has also launched an all-inclusive itinerary that will host up to 10 guests on a 58-foot sail catamaran, taking them from Marina Hemingway in Havana to Gaviota Marina in Varadero.
For land-based experiences, luxury travel company Abercrombie & Kent has launched five distinct Cuba itineraries that see travellers accompanied by an expert local guide as they experience the cities through intimate resident encounters and informative tours.
And while Airbnb has been operating high-end self-contained rentals in the country since 2014, this year heralds the arrival of luxury hotels in Cuba. Among the first of the five-star properties to open will be the luxurious Gran Hotel Manzana Kempinski La Habana, scheduled for completion in the coming months. Housed in the 20th-Century building Manzana de Gómez, the 246-room property is in the heart of old Havana and will feature a specialty cigar lounge and rooftop pool with spectacular views over the city.
Chapel St, South Yarra
Chapel Street, South Yarra, has for years been a hotspot for fashion and shopping. There’s plenty of car parking in the area, South Yarra train station is right near the corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street, and trams also criss-cross the area. Shopping now extends north of Toorak Road, where you’ll find the Yarra Lane precinct – home to the Olsen Hotel, Le Louvre haute couture, local brunch hotspot Two Birds One Stone, macaron magnate Adriano Zumbo’s patisserie, and craft beer and cider specialists Tru Bru. The Como Centre on the southeastern corner of Toorak Road and Chapel Street is home to Napoleon Perdis cosmetics, and the arthouse Como Cinema is here too. Country Road’s megastore (women’s, men’s
and kids’ clothing, and homewares too) anchors the south-western corner of this intersection. Across the road is bright and bold Finnish design house Marimekko, where you can buy iconic fabric straight from the bolt, or browse an eye-popping range of clothes and homewares. Further up the road in the historic Jam Factory are Top Shop’s flagship stores for men and women, and next door is American homewares retailer West Elm. Australian fashion designers are also well represented on Chapel Street, from the whimsical Alannah Hill to rascally Honor
Among Thieves, Scanlan & Theodore, LIFEwithBIRD, Alice McCall, Arthur Galan, Gorman, Saba, Ksubi, Sass & Bide and the sustainably elegant Cylk. Phew!
Of course it doesn’t all end there. Shopping on Chapel Street extends right through to Prahran and Windsor, where you’ll find all manner of new and vintage stores in a range of architecturally interesting buildings. Chapel Street still pumps
By Dale Campisi
at night too with restaurants and bars aplenty. The iconic Chasers nightclub reinvents itself every Saturday night with a dance extravaganza called Poof Doof.
l BEST FOR THE SARTORIAL SHOPPER CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY
Level 1, 2 Somerset Pl, Melbourne (03) 9670 4405
captainsofindustry.com.au
Open Sat–Thurs 9am–5pm, Fri 9am–11pm
Get a haircut, get fitted for a pair of shoes, or sit down for a coffee and a gourmet sandwich and stare across the street at the GPO. Bespoke clothing ain’t cheap, nor is it easily attainable (the waiting list for shoes often exceeds six months) but, as my mother always says, you get what you pay for. There’s a slick range of hair products available at the front counter, and at Christmas time you’ll find jams and pickles, courtesy of some of the captains’ mums.
l BEST FOR COCKTAIL HOUR BAR AMERICANO
20 Presgrave Pl, Melbourne baramericano.com
Open Mon–Sat 5pm–1am
Melbourne’s bar scene is sophisticated and complex, perhaps best illustrated by this little hole in the wall. It’s certainly Melbourne’s smallest bar, with standing room only for about a dozen people. This means you’ll probably only stay for one or two cocktails. The cocktail list is as small as the bar, but that just means the quality is distilled.
Try the Negroni – the bartender’s drink is always a measure of quality, and it won’t disappoint. Note: no bookings, no wi-fi, no pictures.
l BEST FOR CONNOISSEURS OF COFFEE SEVEN SEEDS
114 Berkeley St, Carlton (03) 9347 8664 sevenseeds.com.au
Open Mon–Sat 7am–5pm, Sun 8am–5pm
Seven Seeds is a giant on the Melbourne cafe scene, and this
warehouse cafe is also home to the brand’s roastery. Coffee is made on La Marzocco
Strada espresso machines, as well as pourover, Aeropressed and coldbrewed. Numerous varieties are available (for home use too). Cupping (tasting) sessions (A$4) are held at 9am on Fridays. Sessions last one hour and all proceeds go to charity. Breakfast (pancake stacks, baked eggs) is great here, among the hubbub of coffee lovers.
l BEST FOR
637–641 Chapel St, South Yarra (03) 9040 1222 artserieshotels.com.au/Olsen
The five-star full-service Olsen Hotel on Chapel Street is part of the acclaimed Art Series, and features the work of Archibald Prize–winning artist John Olsen throughout. Inspired by the artist from tip to toe, the hotel has 229 suites with all the five-star hotel services you expect, as well as bicycle, scooter and car hire to get you around South Yarra and beyond. There’s also a day spa and a hair salon, as well as the all-occasion seasonal-focused Spoonbill restaurant.
The service at the Olsen is impeccable, and the staff will open the door to the neighbourhood with their impressive local knowledge.
l BEST FOR FOODIES
74 Glen Eira Rd, Ripponlea (03) 9350 0111 attica.com.au
In Ripponlea, seven kilometres south of the CBD, you’ll find in Attica, arguably the best table in Australia, let alone Melbourne. The restaurant was listed No. 33 of the World’s 50 Best Restaurants last year – the list’s
only Australian entrant.
Head chef and owner Ben Shewry offers an extended tasting menu for A$250 per person, with the option to match wines for an additional A$175. Shewry’s thoughtful menu features dishes like Gazza’s Vegemite pie, salted red kangaroo and bunya bunya, and whipped emu egg with sugar bag. There’s a completely vegetarian tasting menu too.
Shewry’s dishes are modern
and balanced, and he draws inspiration from his childhood in New Zealand as well as his environment in Australia.
Attica is such a hotspot, bookings are released on a month-to-month basis, three months in advance (meaning, if you’re ready to book now, the earliest you’ll get a table is June this year). The restaurant also has a private dining space for up to 12 people.
l BEST FOR ART ADMIRERS SOPHIE GANNON GALLERY
2 Albert St, Richmond (03) 9421 0857
sophiegannongallery.com.au
Occupying an unassuming corner block in Richmond’s art precinct, Sophie Gannon Gallery doesn’t look much from the exterior. However, behind the brick walls and industrial signage lays one of Australia’s premium contemporary galleries. Established by Melbourne art dealer Sophie Gannon in 2006, the commercial space began with a stable
of six and now represents 27 leading established and emerging Australian and New Zealand artists working across painting, sculpture, installation, photography and ceramics. High-profile names like 2001 Archibald Prize winner Nicholas Harding have been with Gannon from the start, while the gallery has expanded to include Melbourne jeweller, taxidermist and artist Julia deVille, and the velvet paintings of tattooist and artist Leslie Rice. Always striving to strike the balance between commercial and critical success, this is one Australian gallery
that maintains a diverse stable of artists and a consistent exhibition program.
l BEST FOR GOURMET EXPLORERS PROGRESSIVE DEGUSTATION (03) 9663 3358
hiddensecretstours.com
Overwhelmed by choice in Melbourne? Then take a progressive degustation with Hidden Secrets Tours to get the inside word on the city’s food and wine scene.
These three-hour small group tours of between just three and eight guests (including your
guide) visit three stalwart city restaurants and bars. Each is uniquely Melbourne, and provides three food and wine “flights” – tapas-sized dishes matched with wine, beer and even sake.
It’s just a short walk between venues, during which time your guide can impart their knowledge of the city’s architecture and history or hot tips on where to grab a late-night gelato, the breakfast of your dreams or hit the pavement for your morning run. Prices start from A$170 per person.
WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MAINSTREAM, PREMIUM AND LUXURY OCEAN CRUISING? David McGonigal HELPS YOU CHART YOUR COURSE.
“Your keycard unlocks the chance to escape the crowds and queues, find some peace and quiet, and dine in your own private restaurant ”
Back in the old days sorting out the differences in cruising was easy. Either your servant carried your steamer trunks to your suite or you were shovelling coal into the boiler of the African Queen with Humphrey Bogart.
Today, the introduction of experiential cruises means you can spend about $30,000 per person for a two-week cruise to the North Pole on a Russian nuclear icebreaker that is comfortable but not luxurious. That amount would buy you absolute luxury in lower latitudes.
To understand top-end cruising, we need to distinguish between mainstream, premium and luxury ocean cruises – and premium areas aboard mainstream cruise ships.
In mainstream cruising, bigger ships have become destinations in their own right. They are great for family holidays and the fares can be very reasonable but expect to pay for anything that
can be classified as an extra. It’s well-run, assembly-line cruising and the food is mass produced unless you pay extra to dine at the onboard signature restaurants. Think fun rather than sophisticated.
Premium cruise lines can be a significant step up from mainstream. They cater for more mature travellers but still welcome families. The atmosphere is more refined with additional space although the ships still tend to be mid-sized to large. Cabins may not be much larger, but are better equipped – and there are still likely to be inside cabins with no view available for a cheaper fare. The food will be better but you’ll still be paying for drinks. There are likely to be more quiet zones or adult-only areas.
A recent development in cruising is, in fact, a step back to a shipboard class system. It was only in the 1970s that one-class cruising was introduced. Now you may be offered a premium-class
section on a mainstream vessel, effectively a ship within a ship. Your keycard unlocks the chance to escape the crowds and queues, find some peace and quiet, and dine in a private restaurant.
Luxury cruise lines are the five-star boutique resorts of the sea. None are larger than mid-sized and some may carry only 100 guests. The passenger-to-crew ratio ensures attentive service. Even lower category cabins will be spacious with designer toiletries and you can expect drinks and many services to be included in your fare. The food will likely match the best resorts. Expect a sense of space and a lack of crowds, even when embarking and disembarking. While there may be entertainment on board you’ll also find experts on the places you’ll be visiting.
Here’s a sample of the luxury cruise lines and their vessels that visit Australia.
Crystal Cruises operates Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity – both around 1000 passengers – plus the new 62-passenger Crystal Esprit yacht and five river vessels in Europe. Crystal is regularly voted the best cruise line in the world and it’s easy to see why. There’s lots of space, the service is excellent and the food superb, especially in Nobu’s Silk Road Restaurant. The two aforementioned ships will be in Australia over the next two summers. crystalcruises.com
Ponant operates four ships carrying up to 226 passengers each (L’Austral, Le Boreal, Le Lyrial, Le Soleal) and the 32-stateroom sailing vessel, Le Ponant. Ponant recently announced plans to add four new ships over the next few years. Fine dining, stylish decor and French sophistication match the exotic and adventurous destinations Ponant visits. The French line has a strong Australian presence. L’Austral will be visiting Australia this summer and next. au.ponant.com
Regent Seven Seas Cruises (RSSC) has the 700-passenger Seven Seas Explorer, Seven Seas Mariner and Seven Seas Voyager as well as the 490-passenger Seven Seas Navigator. The service and cuisine are wonderful and there’s an atmosphere of relaxed luxury on board. RSSC boasts an impressive array of inclusions within the cost of the voyage: free WiFi, unlimited shore excursions, fine wines and premium spirits, and gratuities. Voyager and Navigator are regular visitors to Australia. rssc.com
Seabourn Cruise Line has phased out its original vessels and brought three newer, larger ships online with another to come. The fleet now includes the Odyssey, Sojourn and Quest as well as Encore, which arrived early this year and headed
Clockwise from top left: Guests partaking in water activities on a Seabourn cruise; The Seabourn Veranda; the SeaDream crew serving up delicacies for their guests.
Opposite page from left: The library onboard SeaDream's yachts; Silversea's Silver Spirit in Santorini; starlit movies on board SeaDream.
“Luxury cruise lines are the five-star boutique resorts of the sea”
straight for Australia. Seabourn is a leader in refined luxury cruising and offers some very creative itineraries. Its ships carry between 450 and 600 passengers. seabourn.com
Seadream Yacht Club operates twin megayachts, SeaDream I and II. Each carry just 112 passengers and are served by a crew of 95. This really is luxury small-ship cruising as the ships are small enough to go places larger ships can’t and the crew have time to make you feel special. seadream.com
Silversea Cruises has an enviable reputation for its luxurious ships and a very high standard of service on board. The cruise fleet of five vessels (Silver Cloud, Silver Wind, Silver Shadow, Silver Whisper and Silver Spirit) will be joined by Silver Muse in 2017. All suites and butler service ensure luxury without excessive formality. silversea.com
See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
Seabourn’s newest luxury cruise ship, Seabourn Encore, has completed its inaugural 10-day Gems of the Java Sea cruise to Indonesia and is scheduled to make nine maiden calls at Australian ports between January 2017 and March 2017. The 600-guest ship is the latest addition to the luxury cruise line’s small-ship fleet, designed by hospitality designer Adam D. Tihany. The ship maintains the line’s high ratio of space per guest with every suite featuring a private balcony. Other spaces include The Retreat, a dedicated relaxation space which includes Seabourn’s first dedicated sushi restaurant; private cabanas designed as private living rooms; a menu created in partnership with American chef Thomas Keller (the man behind a trio of Michelin-starred restaurants), and two Grand Wintergarden Suites each featuring a private glass solarium. Tickets are now on sale for the maiden season of Seabourn Encore’s yet-to-be-debuted sister ship, Seabourn Ovation The ultra-luxury ship is set to cruise throughout Northern Europe, the United Kingdom and the Mediterranean between May and November 2018. seabourn.com
Luxury cruise line Silversea is set to debut its new flagship luxury small-ship, Silver Muse in April 2017. The ninth and smallest ship in the Silversea fleet will host just 596 guests, meaning a higher space-to-guest ratio than ever before. The ship boasts the fleets’ highest number of large all-suite accommodation options, almost all with a private verandah. Features include a personal butler service, Pratesi bed linen, Bvlgari bath amenities and a walk-in wardrobe. Guests can choose from eight dining destinations including seafood and grill, Asian fusion, French and Italian cuisine. On board facilities include a pool deck, fitness centre and spa as well as a Connoisseur’s Corner stocked with Cognac and evening shows in L’Opera theatre. Departing from Monte Carlo, Silver Muse’s inaugural season will be spent cruising the Mediterranean, its combined itineraries visiting a total of 52 UNESCO World Heritage sites. silversea.com
An adventure on the TRUE NORTH is one of Australia’s most revered holidays! Bigger ships cannot go where we go! Extended periods at sea are specifically excluded and daily activities can include scenic walks, fishing, snorkelling, diving, scenic flights in the ship’s helicopter and cultural events. We deploy comfortable expedition boats (not rubber boats) and discover wilderness in small groups. An AUSTRALIAN crew uniquely chaperones every experience. Beware of imitations and discover for yourself why our guests consistently remark “that’s the best holiday I have ever had!”
Book now to experience one of Australia’s most exclusive holidays!
Telephone: ( + 61 8) 9192 1829
Email: cruise@northstarcruises.com.au
Website: www.northstarcruises.com.au
Scheduled to launch in June 2017, the Twilight Express Mizukaze is the latest luxury rail offering in Japan. Carrying on the tradition of the original Twilight Express that was discontinued in 2015, the 10-coach sleeper train will offer four one-way overnight trips, and one three-day/two-night roundtrip journey throughout western Japan. Itineraries will see the train wind along the Seto Inland Sea and visit Osaka and Kyoto with sightseeing stops at art museums and historical sites as well as special guest tours and lectures. With an exterior designed to reflect the surrounding landscape, the Twilight Express features two observation cars, a lounge car, and a dining car serving Japanese cuisine planned by food columnist Takeshi Kadokami and prepared by top chefs Yoshihiro Murata and Hajime Yoneda. Rates start from ¥270,000 (about A$3137) per person for an overnight journey. Tickets for the Twilight Express can only be purchased in Japan and there is no English-language speaking service on board. twilightexpress-mizukaze.jp/en
SUPERIOR CABINS
European rail company
Golden Eagle Luxury
Trains is set to debut its new Superior Deluxe Cabins on board the Golden Eagle Danube Express Balkan Odyssey journey departing in July 2017. These cabins will become the top tier of accommodation on board with only four cabins available per departure. Features include a full-length sofa, an additional two chairs and two windows, one of which can be opened, and the only king size bed on board. Rates start from US$17,595 (about A$23,206) per person, twin share or US$29,595 (about A$39,012) for a single cabin. goldeneagleluxurytrains.com
Emirates has released a range of products available to passengers in First and Business Class cabins. Those flying First Class will receive specially designed moisturising loungewear, said to release nutrient-rich sea kelp to keep the skin hydrated throughout the flight. Made with microcapsule technology, the Hydra Active loungewear is re-washable up to 10 times and comes with matching slippers and an eye mask.
A range of Bulgari amenity kits will also be available to both First and Business Class passengers inclusive of the luxury fragrance Eau Parfumée au Thé Noir Eight fine-leather kits have been designed for First Class passengers and come in charcoal and pale grey.
Travellers will also find a new range of products by Irish skincare brand VOYA in selected First and Business Class lounges and aircraft bathrooms. The products are made from organic seaweed hand-harvested in Sligo, Ireland and come in three fragrances – rosemary and mint, lavender and rosemary, and lime and mandarin. emirates.com
WE SHOW YOU HOW TO FLY FLAT ON POINTS + HIGH FLYER AIRLINE AND LOUNGE REVIEWS OF CATHAY PACIFIC, QANTAS & VIETNAM AIRLINES + ALL THE LATEST NEWS ON PREMIUM AIRLINE OFFERINGS
DRINKS
British Airways has released its own brand of gin available exclusively to the airline’s First Class customers. Blended by award-winning gin tailor Cambridge Distillery, the spirit has been distilled with a mixture of basil, rosemary and thyme; the botanicals grown and collected in the tailor’s personal garden. The bottles are hand-sealed by wax and are served only from the bar in the Concorde Room at Heathrow Airport. britishairways.com
Qantas has announced the first direct link between Australia and Europe with the launch of their non-stop Dreamliner flight from Perth to London taking flight in March 2018.
From 28 March, Vietnam Airlines will operate direct flights between Sydney and Hanoi. The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner will depart Sydney at 15:15 every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday, with a flight time of nine hours and 35 minutes. The aircraft has 28 lie-flat Business Class seats in pairs or single seating with direct aisle access for every passenger. vietnamairlines.com
LATAM Airlines has announced its longest non-stop flight with a new route between Santiago and Melbourne. Set to launch in October, the 15-hour leg will operate three times per week, making LATAM the only airline to fly direct between Melbourne and Latin America. A Boeing 787-9 aircraft, offering 30 180-degree lie-flat seats in Premium Business class, will operate the service. latam.com
Qatar Airways has opened its first Business and First Class lounge in Terminal 1 of Paris’ Charles de Gaulle Airport. The lounge, spanning 1000 square metres, accommodates more than 200 guests and features two roof terraces with views of the Eiffel Tower. Shower facilities, a brassiere and deli, and a barista station add to the lounge's appeal. This is the airline’s third international lounge and will be open to Qatar Airways’ First and Business Class passengers, and OneWorld members. qatarairways.com
Each issue we flight test airline loyalty programs on a specified route, flying business class on points. This issue, we examine the best way to travel from Sydney to Bali and lie flat using points. We compare the frequent flyer points needed on several airline loyalty programs.
Private jet company Crystal AirCruises has partnered with ultra-luxury hotel group The Peninsula Hotels for its maiden journey in August. The Peninsula Grand Inaugural Crystal AirCruise is a 27-day itinerary that will begin in New York and transport guests for overnight stays in each of the 10 Peninsula Hotels spread across the United States, Asia and Europe. Bespoke experiences en route include a private dinner party on the Great Wall of China, a performance of the ancient art of Kabuki in Tokyo, and a tour through the Champagne region in the north-east of France. The experience on board the Boeing 777-200LR will be just as luxurious with a butler and concierge team, separate dining area and bar, flat-beds and Michelin-inspired cuisine prepared by an in-flight chef. The journey departs on 31 August 2017 and is priced from A$159,000 per person. crystalcruises.com/aircruises
Abercrombie & Kent has teamed up with the New York Times to deliver an exclusive 26-day private skies itinerary, Cultures in Transformation. Just 50 guests will travel from the Big Apple to Cuba, Colombia, Chile, Samoa, Australia, Myanmar, Iran, Morocco and Iceland on the chartered Boeing 757. Highlights include a private dinner in Bogota’s Salt Cathedral, a stay at A&K’s luxury Desert Camp in the Sahara, and a reception with a Nobel Laureate’s assistant. Guests will meet on-the-ground Times journalists at select destinations and gain expert insights into each country’s political, social and environmental climate. Nights will be spent in a selection of experiential luxury properties or travelling in lie-flat comfort on board the spacious charter. The tour departs on 8 February, 2018 and prices start from US$135,000 (about A$178,366) per person, twin share. abercrombiekent.com/private-jet/new-york-times
I chose the muesli, some fruit and a blueberry muffin, all of which were excellent quality, and a nearby barista made me a perfect flat white.
The Dining Room provides heartier fare, with an extensive a la carte menu and waiter service at tables for two and four as well as booth seating.
AIRLINE: CATHAY PACIFIC
LOUNGE CLASS: THE PIER, FIRST CLASS
AIRPORT: HONG KONG INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
REVIEWED BY: CHRIS FRAME
The Pier is under the main concourse with entry via escalators that descend below a large backlit sign. Once in the foyer, two friendly staff members are on hand to welcome me to the lounge. I am offered a tour of the facilities, but opt to explore at my own leisure.
The overall feeling is akin to that of a five-star hotel club. There space is bright, thanks to the use of mirrors and light tiling on the walls, but it’s not overpowering. This is juxtaposed with dark hues in the furniture, which creates a warm and friendly yet exclusive feel.
Along the forward wall, large windows overlook the apron. Unlike many airport lounges, The Pier’s location below the main concourse provides the unique view of looking up at awaiting aircraft. The sight of Cathay’s fleet at the windows is impressive.
Complimentary WiFi is available throughout the lounge and the signal is strong. It was fast and worked well during my visit. The network is password protected, with
details available via discreet signs throughout the lounge as well as at the concierge desk.
The Pier offers a wide selection of reading material. This includes the popular Hong Kong paper, The Standard, as well as a number of international publications that complement Cathay Pacific’s route map. There were also magazines and a selection of books to read.
A business centre provides a private and quiet environment for work, with iMac computers and phone, fax and copying facilities available.
The Pier is set up to allow for working throughout the lounge. As such, there are ample power connections. These come in the British-style 220 volt power sockets used throughout Hong Kong. I had my own adaptor, however, these could also be loaned from the lounge staff if needed.
The Pantry is an alfresco buffetstyle eatery. Here, the food offering changes depending on the time of day. As my flight was an early morning departure, breakfast was on offer and included cereals, muesli, fruit, muffins, toast and even cakes.
It isn’t hard to find a drink at The Pier as there are several bars scattered about the lounge. Despite an early morning flight, I was on London time, so enjoyed a glass of Veuve Clicquot, although Möet & Chandon and The Peninsular Brut NV were also offered.
Several help-yourself drinks fridges provide a wide range of choices of beers and soft drinks and nearby, a bar service offers a range of spirits and cocktails. Choices include Malibu Coconut Rum, Kahlua, Baileys, Smirnoff and Midori. It is here that you’ll also find Hennessy VSOP brandy and Chivas Regal 12-year-old whisky.
The Retreat consists of 12 nap rooms. These areas include a bed with pillow and overhead reading lamp, and ample space to set up your laptop if you’re looking for a quite place to work in private.
Another delight here is the view.
Large windows offer a direct line of sight to the awaiting aircraft, however, if you want to sleep you can lower the block out blinds. There are also shower suites with large rainforest showers.
Throughout the lounge, LED screens show Cathay Pacific, Cathay Dragon and One World carrier departure details. There are no standard boarding calls, with flights called only if there are changes to departure times or gates.
This lounge is really designed for business travellers who frequently travel on Cathay Pacific. As such, it doesn’t have a strong kids offering. Hong Kong International Airport has a wide variety of entertainment options, so if you’re travelling with children the lounge is probably a shower and snack stop before heading back into the terminal to keep the kids entertained.
The overall feel of the lounge. It’s welcoming and warm, yet secluded and sophisticated. It feels exclusive, without being snobby. The designers have managed to find that perfect balance between function and form. Plus the view of the aircraft is a real bonus.
AIRLINE: VIETNAM AIRLINES
FLIGHT NUMBER: HVN30
AIRCRAFT: BOEING 787-9 DREAMLINER
ROUTE: FRANKFURT TO HO CHI MINH
SEATING: BUSINESS CLASS
FLIGHT TIME: 11 HOURS, 10 MINUTES
SKYTRAX AIRLINE STAR RATING: 4 STARS
REVIEWED BY: GARY ALLEN
The business class seats were set in a 1-2-1 configuration, so there was no need to step over anyone to access the aisle. The seats recline to become completely flat beds, with plenty of length for taller passengers. The décor throughout the cabin was pleasantly neutral, with soft grey seat backs, beige upholstery and cream coloured pillows and blankets. If you can, select a seat in the front row, as they have a great flat top area where you can access and organise your belongings.
Check-in was fast and easy without any waiting in line. The fact that I was almost four hours early for my flight after my transfer from another German city probably contributed to the ease.
The Sky Lounge in Frankfurt was fairly standard as far as business lounges go. While there was little in the way of entermainment, the amenities were adequate. There were some German foods available, including wursts and big doughy pretzels, as well as German beers. There were also international food and beverage options including sandwiches, wine and liquor. The lounge had a lovely quiet room, and I suggest heading there straight away, as there are just six lounges that fill up fast.
The service on board was exceptional. The staff members were never without a smile and seemed happy to go out of their way to help.
Rather than the standard champagne to kick off the flight, there was a selection of signature Vietnamese cocktails including Hello Vietnam, Red River or Saigon Sunlight. The food menu offered two German dishes and two stirfries. I opted for one of the German meals, the roast goose with potato dumplings and all the fixings, which was delicious.
The clever configuration of the chairs allows for more privacy and creates the impression of extra personal space.
The amenities kit was uninspiring, with only the usual basics included.
There were no pyjamas offered on this flight.
The TV screens were quite large and the entertainment system contained an adequate amount of new movies and TV shows.
The noise-cancelling headphones were good quality and quite comfortable.
Bathrooms were clean and fresh, with standard amenities.
There’s a 30-kilogram allowance for checked luggage.
The Lotusmiles program allows guests to accumulate bonus miles that can be used for tickets, upgrades and excess baggage. Membership entitles you to priority checkin, preferred seating, extra baggage, access to business lounges and bonus miles on your birthday.
The seats were a little narrow –some extra width would make them more comfortable.
vietnamairlines.com
The A330-300 Business Suites are in a 1-2-1 layout with lie-flat seats. Each seat has direct aisle access and the paired seating has an immovable partition in between, which is great for privacy if you’re flying alone and for sleeping (especially on a night flight like this one). Qantas just does it so right. Everything is spacious and engineered to make the whole journey seamless and comfortable.
We came to Singapore on a connecting flight from Europe so checking in was no issue.
Travellers flying Business Class can access the Qantas Lounge in Terminal 1 of Singapore Changi Airport. Among the dinner offerings was seafood and Hokkien noodles, and grilled barramundi with mixed leaf and tomato salad.
Like always, the Qantas service was of an excellent standard. We were greeted by name and served a drink before take-off.
This was a late flight and I fell asleep almost immediately after take-off and missed the meal service. On Business Class international flights
Qantas offers guests a selection of small dishes and main plates from a seasonal menu designed by Neil Perry. Menu items include signature dishes from Perry’s Rockpool restaurants such as prawn oil pasta with crabmeat and roasted cherry tomatoes.
There was plenty of room to stretch my legs in the spacious Business Class seats. The console next to my
AIRLINE: QANTAS
FLIGHT NUMBER: QF6
AIRCRAFT: AIRBUS 330-300
ROUTE: SINGAPORE TO SYDNEY
SEATING: BUSINESS CLASS
FLIGHT TIME: 8 HOURS, 5 MINUTES
SKYTRAX AIRLINE STAR RATING: 4 STARS
REVIEWED BY: GARY ALLEN
seat had deep pockets for storage and there was extra space under the centre console for my shoes.
The Jack Spade kit bag included an Aspar orange scented hand cream, lip balm, hydrating face moisturiser, eye mask, socks and a toothbrush.
Yes, the signature grey Qantas pyjamas with the kangaroo logo.
I was too tired to watch any movies but hundreds of the latest films, TV programs, music and games were available via the 12.1-inch touchscreen.
Perfectly snug noise-cancelling headphones.
The bathroom was always clean and fresh throughout the flight.
In Business Class adult passengers can take up to 40 kilograms of baggage.
The Qantas Frequent Flyer rewards program gives access to the OneWorld alliance including airlines such as Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, British Airways and more. Travellers accumulate points on any flight booked with Qantas or any OneWorld partner and can spend the points they’ve earned at the online Qantas store, on flights or at hotels. Points can also be accrued and used to move through the membership tiers including privileges such as priority seating and lounge access. qantas.com.au
CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK IS A HIGHLIGHT OF NEPAL’S TOURIST TRAIL, AND WHEN Nina Karnikowski’s VISIT UNFOLDED TO INCLUDE SHOWER-BYELEPHANT, SHE KNEW SHE WAS IN FOR AN UNFORGETTABLE ADVENTURE.
Her thick, bristled trunk bends backwards like a charmed snake, hesitating only a moment before emptying an arc of cool water over my body. It’s rather a strong spurt, and my thighs instantly grip a little tighter around the gentle giant’s torso, before her trunk swings back down to gather his next load. I’ve had interesting bathing experiences before; beneath waterfalls and in sea trenches and alfresco thermal baths. But being squirted clean by an elephant in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park, in the foothills of the Himalayas, really does take the cake.
Barahi Jungle Lodge owns four healthy female Asiatic elephants. From our perch on their wide backs and accompanied by Barahi’s resident naturalists, we explored the vine-choked sal forest, peppered with
spotted deer, and the vast plains of towering phanta grass. We spied six greater one-horned rhinos (the largest of the rhino species) squelching through the mud by the riverbank and couldn’t believe our luck.
Having such a prosperous safari experience on our first day, however, spoils us a bit. The next morning we head out with high expectations. And although the wildflowers, birds (there are 544 species flitting through the park) and soundtrack of cicadas are captivating, we don’t see much more than a tiger print in the moist dirt.
The upside of the lack of activity, of course, is more time lazing by Barahi’s large kidney-shaped pool. We float in the water, shaded by overhanging frangipani trees, sipping iced sparkling water and gazing over the river to the jungle beyond.
Aside from being the land of rhinos and
tigers and bears, Chitwan has also been home to the indigenous Tharu community for centuries. We have the privilege of meeting them, too, and get a taste of traditional life.
In between these activities, we duck off for treatments at Barahi’s spa or head back to our rooms. Barahi has 34 boutique cottages (29 individual and six interconnecting deluxe) scattered along the river, and one extra-luxurious family suite. The architecture blends seamlessly with the jungle, using local bamboo, wood and thatched roofs.
As the sun starts to drop low in the sky, we take a canoe safari along the river. Our naturalist pushes his paddle through the sun-spangled water, and we wave lazily to the villagers gathering grasses on the riverbank. We shake off our stupor rather quickly, though, when we spy our first crocodile.
It’s a sight that’s almost as thrilling as the small alfresco bar we pull up to, at the point where the Rapti and Narayani rivers unite. We happily sip our drinks and munch grilled chicken skewers as we watch the setting sun streak the sky apricot and lavender. It’s a moment that’s hard to top, until we arrive back at the lodge where a feast awaits. We devour it all, vowing that we will be back to Chitwan soon. To glimpse a tiger. To further explore these luscious forests. And, most importantly, to take another elephant shower.
One September, the writer and explorer Peter Matthiessen set out with field biologist George Schaller to journey 250 miles through the Himalayas to the Crystal Mountain on the Tibetan plateau. They wanted to study the wild blue sheep, the bharal, but also hoped to see the snow leopard, a creature so rarely spotted as to be nearly mythical. The Snow Leopard is not only an exquisite book of natural history but an extraordinary account of an inner journey; a ‘true pilgrimage, a journey of the heart. tripfiction.com/books/the-snow-leopard/
LOCATED IN THE SABI SAND GAME RESERVE, ULUSABA IS RENOWNED FOR COMBINING LUXURY WITH AN UNRIVALLED SAFARI EXPERIENCE. AS Heléne Ramackers DISCOVERS, OWNER SIR RICHARD BRANSON CERTAINLY KNOWS THE HOSPITALITY GAME.
Adistress call cuts through the crisp morning air, followed by a spit and a snarl. Our ranger manoeuvres around the corner to see what is making this commotion. Could it be a hyena or some other animal in trouble? We soon see her perched on a termite mound in the shade of a tree – the most beautiful leopard. “Why the distress call?” I ask. It seems as though the lady in question is calling for her one remaining cub, while at the same time gesticulating that no-one is to encroach on her territory. She will find her cub if it’s the last thing she does and scampers off in her search for him.
We arrived at Ulusaba the previous day and we’ve already had the most phenomenal experience. Whether you arrive by vehicle or by air, the reception area is situated at the Ulusaba airstrip where you are warmly welcomed by staff. Chilled champagne is served on arrival and should you prefer something non-alcoholic, they have that too.
Our ranger is Philip Andrew and our tracker is David Noguyela. We are transported to Rock Lodge in the Ulusaba safari vehicle and, up on the hill, we take in the breathtaking vistas that unfold in front of us.
Makwela Dusk is our domicile for the duration of our stay and it is luxurious to say the least. The size of an apartment (125 square metres), this opulent suite is built on two levels with the master bedroom located upstairs, while the kids have their own wing on ground level with a stylish fold-out sleeper couch.
The furnishings are lush, with the finest linen adorning the canopied, oversized four-poster bed. The white bedding is offset by accessories in shades of mustard – cushions prettify the headboard and a throw at the foot of the bed is at hand to ward off the cold.
The bathroom is the epitome of lavishness – free-standing bath, double vanities and a shower big enough for two. A beautiful beaded chandelier is suspended over the bath, creating an atmosphere of calm and elegance.
The lounge area features comfortable couches and furnishings that blend in with the surroundings. A favourite is the infinity
plunge pool and the outdoor shower. Don’t be surprised if an animal pops round for a drink out of the pool or, as our luck would have it, an elephant browses the leafy trees. Here you can sit for hours watching the wildlife pass by, G&T in hand.
Animal sightings are incredible at Ulusaba. On our morning game drive, we saw two lionesses and their sub-adult cubs walking towards us. We found them later in the evening in the same spot, getting more active and stretching their jaws.
Cheetahs are known for being the fastest land animal, but they are very nervous eaters. We witnessed a cheetah on her kill in the late afternoon and as she glanced upwards from her meal, two hyenas approached her. Instead of putting up a fight, she simply hissed and abandoned her kill. While she had been eating quite elegantly, these notorious scavengers devoured the entire kill.
On one of our morning drives, we saw the famous Dayone leopard walking to the dam for a drink. He stopped along the way to scent-mark - being able to follow him was such a privilege.
Another marvellous aspect of staying at Ulusaba is the cuisine. Your day kicks off with pre-game-drive pastries and a beverage, followed by rusks, tea, coffee, hot chocolate or some Amarula on your drive stop. Back at Ulusaba, it’s time for breakfast and they really make sure this is one of the most important meals of your day. Lunch is served on the veranda overlooking the savannah and then you are tempted with high tea before departing on your evening game drive. Sundowners and snacks form part of your game drive and dinner is a gastronomic feast, with flavours of Africa incorporated into the menu by head chef Shane Johnson. Add the fact that the contents of your
minibar is included in your accommodation package and the only fatality you might suffer at Ulusaba is overindulgence!
It’s evident that when Sir Richard Branson stumbled upon this jewel in the Sabi Sand, encompassing 33,000 acres of open bush, he knew he had found something special.
Room rates start from ZAR15,300 (approximately A$1494) per night, inclusive of accommodation, meals, drinks and game drives.
virginlimitededition.com/en/ulusaba
The writer stayed at Ulusaba courtesy of Virgin Limited Edition.
See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
l RECOMMENDED READING
ABSOLUTION
by Patrick Flanery
In her garden, ensconced in the lush vegetation of the Western Cape, Clare Wald, world-renowned author, mother, critic, takes up her pen and confronts her life. Sam Leroux has returned to South Africa to embark upon a project that will establish his reputation – he is to write Clare’s biography. But how honest is she prepared to be? As Sam and Clare turn over the events of her life, she begins to seek reconciliation, absolution. Absolution shines light on contemporary South Africa and the long dark shadow of Apartheid, the elusive nature of truth and self-perception and the mysterious alchemy of the creative process. It is a debut of extraordinary strength and power. tripfiction.com/books/absolution/
Journey to islands where the interiors are often largely unexplored, matted by dense jungle and volcanic outcrops. Follow the paths of French impressionist, Paul Gauguin and Moby Dick author Herman Melville on a 14-day cruise as it links the remote Marquesas and Tuamotus with Tahiti and provides one of the few remaining authentic cargo ship experiences.
Aranui 5 offers a window into the lives of local villages as it delivers essential goods during the 3,000 km journey from Papeete. Be part of this exceptional adventure.
Highlights:
14 day cruise with all meals (French and Polynesian), onshore picnics and BBQs included Cruise to nine islands with 17 ports of call
Maximum 254 passengers
All exterior cabins, over half with balconies
Guided excursions to archeological and cultural sites, ancient tikis, local villages and historic churches
For further information
e: info@aranuicruises.com.au
p: (+61) 3 9449 3778
www.aranuicruises.com.au
Local multi-lingual tour guides (English, French and German)
Visit Paul Gauguin and Jacques Brel museums (entrance fee additional)
4WD sightseeing tour and hikes
Meet local artisans; visit handicraft studios and a working pearl farm
Traditional dance performances
Optional activities: fishing, spa treatments, horse riding, swimming with sharks & rays.
Sri Lankan hotel group Resplendent Ceylon will unveil its newest property, a luxurious tented lodge, later this year. Wild Coast Tented Lodge will be on a remote beach on the edge of the leopard hotspot Yala National Park in southeastern Sri Lanka. The lodge will consist of 28 air-conditioned, 52-square-metre “cocoons”, which are designed to resemble the boulders and rocks that are scattered across the surrounding landscape. The overall structure of the camp has been cleverly designed, with the cocoons spread out in the shape of a leopard’s paw. Guests can choose to stay in beachfacing suites, which each come with their own plunge pool, or they can opt for a suite overlooking one of the lodge’s five watering holes, where there is the potential for sightings of the local wildlife. Families are accommodated separately in a Family Cluster, which features a play area and adjoining children’s “urchin” tents. The lodge’s amenities will include a bambooclad bar and restaurant, a spa, a dive centre and a library which doubles as an educational centre, providing guests with information about the park’s wildlife. Prices for accommodation will be released later this year. resplendentceylon.com/wildcoastlodge-yala
Alila Jabal Akhdar Hotel in Oman is making the most of its unique location overlooking a dramatic gorge and mountain range, introducing an adrenaline-pumping climbing route called the Via Ferrata Cave Affair. The thrilling route sees participants crossing a 20-metre high rope over a cave mouth, traversing a canyon and ascending a steep gully. These high-intensity activities are interspersed with some more relaxing sections of gentle hiking, with commentary on the local region provided by expert guides. Guests must complete an Adventure Trek introduction to assess their fitness level prior to taking on the Cave Affair, as there is no way of turning back mid-way through the hike. The two-hour trek is priced at OMR35 (about A$120) per person alilahotels.com/jabalakhdar
Luxury tour company &Beyond is offering guests a new way to travel on their African safari, with Private Jet Expeditions launching in February 2017. The guided journeys provide guests with complete privacy and convenience during their travel, including access to private terminals, customs and baggage claim facilities. The expeditions also offer an opportunity to see the behind-the-scenes of conservation efforts, allowing guests to engage with experts involved in various wildlife protection projects. The most comprehensive itinerary is the 19-day Africa and Beyond trip, which takes guests on a journey throughout East and Southern Africa. Available for a maximum of 12 guests, prices start from US$116,500 (about A$154,288) per person. A shorter 15-day tour of Southern Africa is available for a maximum of six guests at a cost of US$75,000 (about A$99,334) per person. andbeyond.com/ expeditions/private-jet-expeditions
l WILDLIFE OUTREACH
Along-standing collaboration between luxury expedition specialists Abercrombie & Kent and the Elephant Outreach Program in Botswana has relaunched following a forced hiatus. The education program aims to bridge the gap between local children and the region’s native elephants. Many of the villagers in the area hold deeply negative attitudes towards elephants and other local wildlife, having witnessed them injure family members, destroy crops and damage property. The outreach program offers local children the chance to stay at Sanctuary Stanley’s Camp and interact with the elephants and other wildlife, in order to increase understanding and respect for the mammals and encourage peaceful cohabitation. The program resumed in December 2016 following a three-year hiatus brought on by flooding and an extensive camp renovation. abercrombiekent.com
Australian-based tour company Travel & Taste are leading a luxury 10-day journey through five of India’s most notable cities. Beginning and ending in Delhi, guests will be immersed in the sights and sounds of the New City and the Old City, from the 300-year-old Chandni Chowk market to the Presidential Palace and the soaring Qutub Minar. Guests continue on to Agra for a stop at the Taj Mahal, followed by time in Jaipur, Bikaner and Jaisalmer before spending the final night at the five-star Hotel Piccadili in Delhi. Highlights of the Magical India Tour include an overnight stay at the historic Laxmi Niwas Palace in Bikaner, a sunset spent in the sand dunes of Jaisalmer and an elephant ride to the Amber Fort entrance. The tour departs on 6 March 2017 and includes international flights from Sydney or Melbourne, all transfers and sightseeing excursions, and eight nights’ accommodation. The rate for the five-star hotel option is A$2599 per person, twin share. travelandtaste.com.au
Led by renowned Australian landscape painter Idris Murphy, the Luxury Art Expedition will see guests journey through Australia’s remote Northern Territory and stay at the prized Luxury Lodges of Australia property, Bamurru Plains. Guests of this 10-day art expedition will have the opportunity to participate in onlocation painting and sketching classes with Murphy (whose works are held in public collections across Australia), guided day tours through catacombs and rock shelters in Arnhem Land, and marvel at the landscape from above on a private charter flight to Bamurru Plains. The tour begins and finishes in Darwin, with additional activities like gourmet dining experiences and a treetop sleep out available at an additional cost. The tour is by request only and priced at A$14,980 per person, inclusive of nine nights’ accommodation, all transfers and three meals a day for eight days. arttraveladventures.com.au
COMO Uma Bhutan has launched its first six-night helicopter adventure through the Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan. The Scenic Heli-Adventure will take guests between the brand’s two Bhutan properties COMO Uma Paro and COMO Uma Punakha, and includes a personal guide and daily excursions through the trails of the region with visits to local temples and villages. Highlights include two guided helicopter trips, the first above the tropical Laya Valley and
the second to the near-inaccessible Labatama Valley. Here guests will disembark for spectacular views of the Utsho Tsho (turquoise lake) and continue on a hike through the nomadic yak-herding lands. The final two nights will be spent at COMO Uma Paro and include a complimentary body treatment or yoga session. Rates start from US$27,397 (about A$35,922) per package, twin share. comohotels.com/umapunakha/ offers/scenic-heli-adventure
For luxury travellers looking for a quick and fun way to capture holiday moments, German manufacturer Leica has released its first instant camera, the Leica SOFORT. With styling in mint, orange or white, and featuring the signature red Leica logo, the SOFORT shoots in eight modes including self-timer and selfportrait. The instant film comes in packs of 10 exposures in either colour or black and white, and there is a range of accessories available. The Leica SOFORT retails for A$399. leica-store.com.au
Under its B&O PLAY brand, Bang & Olufsen has launched new wireless noise-cancelling headphones. The Beoplay H9 headphones feature active noise cancellation in a comfortable over-ear style. The ear cushions include adaptive memory foam covered with soft lambskin, and the right ear cup features an intuitive touch interface for control of volume, tracks, noise cancelling and answering calls. The H9 battery lasts for up to 14 hours of music (ideal for long flights) and comes with a backup audio cord should you get caught without juice. Available in black or argilla grey, the headphones retail for A$799. beostore.com.au/Products/Headphones/H9-1
Rangefinder camera buffs will delight in the announcement of a new release in Leica’s popular M-System. The M10 is a 24-megapixel rangefinder with interchangeable lenses, and the first M-Camera with integrated WLAN connectivity, allowing photographers to remotely control from – and wirelessly transfer pictures to – Apple devices. With a sleek, compact design, harking back to the analogue M-Models, the M10 is the series’ slimmest digital camera – ideal for your carry-on! The Leica M10 retails from A$9700 and comes in a black or silverchrome finish. leica-store.com.au
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If you were inspired by our Sweet Spot cover story on page 26 you can see more spectacular destination and accommodation images on our website.
Australian couple Dan and Natasha Dimmock left the rat race and relocated their family to Fiji where they now own and operate a boutique luxury island getaway, The Remote Resort.
Visit our Pinterest board for travel destinations inspiration. Visit boards such as Island Escapes to see our favourite exotic getaways from around the world.
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"To call it an ocean view doesn’t cut it; the rooms at Cocoa Island are in the ocean. One need only stretch out of bed and amble down a short stairway to float in the warm water below," writes travel journalist Tim Grey on @comohotels #Maldives property COMO Cocoa Island.
Our staff writer
viewed the exclusive Chairman's Villas at the new #CrownPerth by @CrownResorts. Read the story on page 16.
@roslyn_jolly_travelwriter visited @ayanaresort in #Bali for its 20th birthday. Read about her stay on page 152.
Our Associate Publisher Leonard travelled on the @Qantas Antarctic Scenic Flight, a one day, business class fly-over that included a meet and greet with Antarctic explorers.
Katie Milton
HERE’S HOW TO GAIN VIP ACCESS TO THE WORLD’S BEST SPORTING AND CULTURAL EVENTS.
The Masters Tournament is one of four major men’s golf championships held annually, with the final round taking place on the second Sunday in April. While other golf championships change locations each year, the Masters Tournament is always held at the prestigious Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, USA. Sport and entertainment hospitality company Premier Bucket List has
partnered with a number of PGA Pros and past Masters players to help deliver what promises to be an unforgettable VIP experience. Guests will rub shoulders with professional golfers Bobby Schaeffer, Bill McKinney and Sam Randolph at a Welcome to Masters cocktail reception on Friday night, “watch the Masters live on Saturday and Sunday and, if desired, play a few rounds of golf during the trip.
When: 7-9 April 2017
Where: Augusta National Golf Club, Georgia, USA
Price: US$6250 (about A$8322) for the weekend package Package Includes: Three nights’ accommodation in a private home with maid service; access to golf courses, clubhouses, restaurants and bar facilities at local Country Clubs; Welcome to the Masters dinner party with Bobby Schaefer, Bill McKinney and Sam Randolph; badges to attend Round three on Saturday and the Final Round on Sunday. premierbucketlist.com/2017-masters/
SPECTATORS
Dating back to 1925, the annual Monaco Grand Prix is widely considered to be not only the most prestigious event on the Formula 1 calendar, but also the most glamorous. Three practice races over the weekend lead up to the main event, which takes place on Sunday, 28 May 2017. Competition for the best vantage point for Sunday’s race is fierce, with the most sought-after position being the exclusive Formula One Paddock Club, which
has the best views of the start and finish straight. Grand Prix Events offer a range of VIP itineraries for racing enthusiasts, the most exclusive being the customisable Ultimate VIP Package. This includes five-star accommodation and a number of exclusive events, along with entry to the coveted Formula One Paddock Club for Sunday’s race. Optional extras include entry to the Amber Lounge for a VIP nightlife experience and a transfer upgrade from a Mercedes S-Class to a helicopter.
When: 26-28 May 2017
Where: Circuit de Monaco, Monte Carlo
Price: From €11,365 (about A$16,088)
Package Includes: Four nights’ luxury accommodation; roundtrip airport transfers in a Mercedes S-Class; drinks with F1 legends followed by a yacht cocktail party; all inclusive access to VIP trackside yacht for Saturday’s race; access to the Formula One Paddock Club with open bar and gourmet lunch for Sunday’s race. Packages are customisable, with the option to add nights onto your accommodation, add event tickets such as Amber Lounge or upgrade your transfer to a helicopter. grandprixevents.com/f1races/monaco/the-ultimatepackage
The Melbourne Fashion Festival is Australia’s largest consumer fashion event, showcasing readyto-wear styles from the country’s hottest designers as well as a program of beauty workshops, industry seminars and live entertainment. This year will see the festival extended from a week to 18 days, after record attendance numbers in 2016. Virgin Australia is offering fashion lovers a number of VIP packages, which include domestic flights, luxury accommodation, gift bags and access to industry after parties.
When: 1-19 March 2017
Where: Multiple venues in Melbourne, Australia
Price: From A$939 for the Fashionable Weekend Getaway and from A$973 for Ultimate Fashion Experience.
Packages: Fashionable Weekend Getaway includes: return domestic airfares; two nights’ five-star accommodation; Premium Runway 4 and Menswear Runway ticket; arrival drink; gift bag at Premium Runway 4 show; entry to Menswear Runway After Party. Ultimate Fashion Experience includes: return domestic airfares; 2 nights’ threestar accommodation; Premium Runway 3 and VA Grand Showcase ticket plus an arrival drink and gift bag at both shows. travel.virginaustralia.com/au/ events/VAMFF
My thoughts on the shoppersalesperson relationship have always been a bit like Patrick Swayze’s in Dirty Dancing: “This is my dance space. This is your dance space. I don't go into yours, you don't go into mine.” Meaning, if I need your help, I’ll invite you to cha-cha. Otherwise, please do not offer any unsolicited advice or not-so-casually trail five feet behind me as I shop.
Until, that was, I started to look for a new leather jacket. I searched for two seasons and continuously came up short while zig-zagging through stores defeated and depleted. It was time to enlist the help of a personal shopper at Paris’s famed department store, Galeries Lafayette.
Such a VIP experience is exclusive in that it’s necessary to book in advance and often reserved for the likes of Saudi princesses, but otherwise the service is free of charge. Of course, when you’re being welcomed into a 400-square-metre space on the top floor of a store more than 120 years old and decorated with sculptures worth thousands of euros, it’s understood that you’ll drop as much on a new wardrobe — or, so I was told, “at least between €500 and €800.”
Prior to my appointment, which I made by completing a brief form on their website, I received a phone call from a stylist named Isabelle who I’d be meeting the following day. She asked me for my size and about the sort of brands I like to wear, and requested a photo.
“I’ll use it to create your file and shop appropriately,” she said. “Meet me inside by the private entrance to the store on rue de
Mogador. I’ll be next to the Hermés jewellery department.”
Fabulous! I thought. Would there be champagne? Caviar? Truffles?
The next day, my anticipation escalated as I was whisked through the frenetic ground floor by a crew of staff dressed in black. Led by Isabelle, a petite French woman with thick red glasses and an Anna Wintour-style brown bob, we walked under the magnificent 43-metre stained glass dome inaugurated in 1912. The store’s opulence remains intact as also evidenced by the art nouveau ironwork on the circular balconies and the last remaining staircase and elevator, which were based on the designs of the Opera House just a few blocks away. I’d be getting a private ride to the sixth floor with the store’s manager who greets all VIP guests.
Immediately upon entering La Suite, as it’s known, all was calm. Gone were the sounds of
hangers sliding against metal, tourists chattering or heels clacking on the floors. Here, inside Paris’s largest space for private shopping, it was just me and life’s little luxuries: huge windows providing views of Sacre Coeur, vases overflowing with fresh red roses and pink orchids, a massage room, a library of fashion books, and several private dressing salons – some of which were bigger than my entire apartment. A green, beaded necklace-like sculpture by artist JeanMichel Othoniel hung from the ceiling, as the contemporary Galerie Perrotin is responsible for filling La Suite with rotating artwork, all of which is, of course, for sale.
Isabelle set me up in the romance room, which meant that the 18-or-so leather jackets she had pulled stood out in striking contrast to the lacy pastel lingerie by British label Olivia von Halle and paisley-packaged soaps by the American beauty brand Fresh. On a low ta-
ble in front of the velvet couch sat a bottle of Evian water and a tray of macarons from Pierre Hermé. Eager to Instagram the splendour of this set-up, I went to reach for my phone only to realise it was in the pocket of my coat, which had been hung up without my realising.
Isabelle, who’s been a personal shopper with Galeries Lafayette for more than 20 years, got right to it by helping me into the first jacket: a feminine and flirty Ted Baker with gold zippers and a waist-hugging peplum for €425. It quickly became an early contender. Then there was a collarless, studded number from Pablo for €495, followed by an olive green jacket (matching my eyes) from Salsa, a French brand I wasn’t familiar with. And, while I liked the red quilted lining of the €655 Kooples coat, the silver flower studs seemed too kitschy.
“You mentioned liking flair,” said Isabelle. “And although you said you don’t normally wear Sandro, I pulled this one with…”
Fringe. She had me at fringe.
The size was a bit tight, but style-wise it was love at first wear. With that, one of the junior stylists disappeared to fetch a bigger size, while I slipped into a €1125 metallic silver motorcycle option from French brand Iro. I love shine and shimmer, but I couldn’t stop thinking about the fringe.
In the meantime, I snacked on a passionfruit macaron, followed by salted caramel, and tried on a few of the outfits Isabelle pulled so I could
get a sense for how the jacket might look with various wardrobe items: jeans or a dress; boots or heels; a bulky sweater or a light blouse.
The next size arrived, but my inability to raise or cross my arms meant the sweet style assistant would be heading back down to the floor a second time for a replacement.
At this point, my prior qualms with personal assistance shopping had shifted. It was quite nice to have someone help with the heavy lifting. Plus, at no point during my time with Isabelle did I wonder if she had missed something I might have found myself.
By the time the right size arrived, I was sold – on the experience and the €395 jacket. The only problem? The sleeves were just a touch too long. Before I could say as much, Isabelle was on the phone with the tailoring department and within what felt like seconds, someone had arrived to measure them. For only €20 (with my Galeries Lafayette loyalty card), the sleeves would be altered in a week.
Giddy with delight, and on a sugar high from three too many macarons, I handed it over to the seamstress while Isabelle jotted down the outcome of my appointment in my file. After bringing the tags to La Suite’s private register to pay, I thanked her and left having realised nobody puts a personal shopper in a corner.
or on any of the journeys you have read about in this issue?
WE SET EXPERT GOLF WRITER Henry Peters THE TASK OF HUNTING DOWN THE ULTIMATE HOLIDAYS FOR GOLFERS. HERE’S HIS LIST OF FIVE.
Premier Golf Tours is known for its highend trips to Japan but it’s now offering tours to one of the world’s hottest golf destinations – Tasmania’s King Island –hosted by professional golfer and eighttime winner in Australia and Japan, Paul Sheehan.
Cape Wickham Golf Course, on King Island’s north coast, opened in late 2015 and within three months was voted by Golf Digest as the world’s 24th greatest course.
Set against the backdrop of the Bass Strait as well as Australia’s tallest lighthouse, Cape Wickham features 11 holes right by the ocean.
On the island’s southwest coast, beside the main township of Currie, Ocean Dunes hasn’t enjoyed the same fanfare but its superb series of seaside holes has prompted some golf pundits to rate it an equal of Cape Wickham.
Tour guests who join Premier Golf Tours’ King Island trip from March 23 to 25 will have the chance to play with Sheehan, enjoy complimentary lessons from Sheehan and one other PGA professional, and experience a free Callaway fitting session.
Rates from A$1655 per person premiergolftours.com
No place is more synonymous with golf than the small Scottish seaside town of St Andrews. Its famed Old Course, nearby Carnoustie Golf Links and Kingsbarns Golf Links have joined forces to offer fanatics the golf tour-of-a-lifetime.
St Andrews stages golf’s oldest major championship – The Open – every five years while Carnoustie will host its eighth Open next year. And together with Kingsbarns – less than 15 minutes’ drive from St Andrews – the courses host the annual European Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.
Signature Golf’s St Andrews ‘Home of Golf’ Scotland Experience not only takes you to this treasured trio of courses but features six nights at The Fairmont Resort in St Andrews Bay as well as guaranteed rounds at St Andrews’ Duke’s and Castle courses and The Fairmont Resort’s Torrance Course.
Airport and golf course chauffeur transfers in a luxury Mercedes minibus ensure comfort, but if that’s not enough, you can upgrade to daily helicopter transfers.
Rates start from US$4695 (about A$6202) per person. signaturegolfuk.com
There isn’t a hotter golf ticket around than guaranteed entry to weekend play at the US Masters at Augusta National Golf Club.
Getting past security at the year’s first men’s major, to be held in April 2017, will cost you a proverbial arm and leg but Premier Golf Tours’ 'Augusta Golfing Experience’ has so many add-ons that the expense is no deterrent.
Tour participants gain entry to the Masters’ annual Par-3 Tournament and the third and fourth rounds of the tournament. Tee times at three leading private golf clubs in the Augusta area accompanied by a pro golfer are also included.
Guests have the choice of staying eight nights in private housing or seven nights at a choice of two Augusta hotels, while the tour itself can be tailored for each individual.
Private guests have access to a personal chef and maid while all tour members are invited to catered events with guest speakers at Elite Host House, 200 metres from Augusta National.
Rates start from US$10,000 (about A$13,213) per person, twin share. premiergolftours.com
From top: Golf course at Four Seasons Resort, Hualali, Hawaii; Golfing at Four Seasons Resort, Hualali, Hawaii.
Opposite page: Kingsbarns Golf Links.
If playing a world-class golf course built on volcanic lava and experiencing all the luxuries of a five-star oceanfront resort sounds like a relaxing getaway, don’t look past Hawaii’s Four Seasons Resort Hualalai.
The 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed Hualalai Golf Course offers spectacular panoramic Pacific Ocean views and its wide fairways and massive greens make it fun for beginners right through to professionals.
And golf is only a fraction of the excitement at Hualalai, which has its own health spa, three restaurants, two lounges and a seemingly endless list of children’s activities.
Hotel guests can savour oceanview suites and villas or guest rooms featuring outdoor lava-rock garden showers.
The resort has seven swimming pools including the Kings’ Pond and Ocean Pool, which have each been carved out of lava rock.
Rates start from US$735 (about A$971) per night for two adults. The 18-hole green fee during peak times is US$295 (about A$385). fourseasons.com/hualalai/
Perched hundreds of feet above Bulgaria’s Black Sea coastline, Thracian Cliffs’ Gary Player-designed Signature Course could be the most spectacular golf layout in the world. Sea views dominate every single hole, a claim many of the other great coastal courses, including California’s Pebble Beach and Cypress Point, can’t make.
Thracian Cliffs opened in 2011 and quickly earned critical acclaim, hosting the European Tour’s World Match Play Championship in 2014.
The 210-metre, par-three sixth hole is unforgettable, with a 40-metre drop to a green on a cliff’s edge.
Away from the course, the ultimate nongolf perk is access to Thracian Cliffs’ very own Argata Beach, open only to local homeowners and resort guests.
Room rates start from €103 (about A$146) per night for two adults. The 18-hole green fee is €99 (about A$139) for hotel guests and €129 (about $181) for non-guests. thraciancliffs.comOrerspictus ea coruptaquam See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
THE CAPE TO CAPE TRACK IN AUSTRALIA’S MARGARET RIVER REGION ENCOMPASSES A SPECTACULAR RANGE OF NATURAL LANDSCAPES . Tessa Gallagher TOOK IN THE HIGHLIGHTS OF THE 135-KILOMETRE STRETCH OVER FOUR MEMORABLE DAYS.
The Margaret River region in Western Australian is renowned for its waves and wine, as well as its stunning natural landscapes. The coastline is reminiscent of the Mediterranean, with turquoise oceans, white sandy beaches, sweeping vistas, coastal cliffs, fascinating caves and towering karri forests.
It is this special pocket in the southwest corner of Western Australia that has attracted surfers, foodies, beach lovers, wine connoisseurs and those wanting to escape the hustle and bustle of city life, each enjoying their own piece of ‘Margie’s magic.’
The area also has one of the most incredible walks in Australia – the Cape to Cape track – which starts three hours south of Perth at the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse and runs along the spine of the LeeuwinNaturaliste Ridge, ending 135 kilometres south at the Cape Leeuwin Lighthouse.
Walk into Luxury’s four-day Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk last year became the state’s first inclusion on the exclusive Great Walks of Australia list. It seems the rest of Australia is starting to appreciate what West Australians have always known – this track is truly something special.
Having fallen in love with the Cape to Cape, Walk into Luxury owner Nikki King decided to up the ante and design an adventure that would allow guests to experience the track in complete style. The fourday walk involves the best chunks of the track, with luxury accommodation, postwalk massages, gourmet breakfasts, sumptuous picnic lunches and some memorable meals at the region’s best restaurants. It is a luxurious experience that wouldn’t look out of place on a travel bucket list.
Driving into Injidup Spa Retreat on a crisp and sunny Sunday morning is like entering some kind of dream world. A member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World, Injidup is an intimate coastal retreat that promises tranquillity, indulgence and fabulous ocean views, and more than delivers it. There are only 10 villas here –all with their own plunge pool and decked terrace – which look out onto breathtaking
180-degree Indian Ocean views. There’s a kitchen, two bedrooms (each with an enormous ensuite), heated flooring, an open eco-fireplace and spectacular floorto-ceiling windows.
A Walk into Luxury backpack greets me in my room, a sign of the attention to detail that lies ahead. It comes with a refrigerated cooling section at the front, a hint of our epic picnic lunches to come. The water bottle, sunscreen, wet wipes, Bandaids and itinerary that come tucked inside the backpack become my lifeline for the somewhat gentle introduction to the hike – a five-kilometre walk from the stunning Smiths Beach back to our luxury digs.
I join my three fellow walkers for spectacular clifftop sunset drinks that night, although I’m not alone in my desire to get to bed early with the promise of so much to see, do and eat over the next few days.
After waking to the blissful sounds of waves crashing on Injidup beach, I tuck into the gourmet breakfast hamper (all locally sourced produce) before meeting our driver and knowledgeable guides, Dean and Diane, at 8am for our drive to
Clockwise, from top: Taking in the views on the Cape to Cape walk; drinks along the way a gourmet spread of fruit and cheese.
Opposite, from top: Injidup Spa Retreat, champagne by the splash pool at Injidup Spa Retreat.
Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse. The Walk into Luxury team have chosen the best and most diverse parts of the walk for our four days and today, we’re conquering the 14-kilometre track to Yallingup.
The first three kilometres are all boardwalk and the track slopes gently down to Sugarloaf Rock but things get a bit tougher as we cruise past Three Bears surf break and to the beach before heading inland on a 4WD track and then hitting Yallingup beach. While the walking can be intense in some parts, Dean and Diane make sure it’s never too strenuous or too easy. We stop plenty of times, often to check out the wildflowers and native animals, take snaps of the spectacular scenery or chow down on our gourmet provisions courtesy of local gourmet deli, Lamont’s.
I have my neck craned towards the coastline for most of the walk, such is its awesome beauty, and a few hours later, we’re in awe at the distance we’ve covered, all without seeing more than a handful of other hikers.
I can’t resist a post-hike nap back at Injidup before we’re taken to Ngilgi
“Driving into Injidup Spa Retreat on a crisp and sunny Sunday morning is like entering some kind of dream world”
Cave for a private tour and eerily beautiful didgeridoo performance, a standout memory from the trip. A four-course dinner with matched wine at one of the best restaurants in the south west, Cape Lodge, is the perfect ending to an incredible day. I devour a meal of zucchini flowers, Exmouth goldband snapper, pork belly and a chocolate emulsion that has me practically rolling out of the restaurant.
Not surprisingly, the next day brings a new appetite and after a bowl of local granola and yoghurt enjoyed in the morning sunshine, we’re transferred to Redgate Beach for our stunning walk to Boranup – a 14-kilometre track that takes in the majestic sights of Bob’s Hollow, Contos Beach and the towering karri and jarrah trees of Boranup forest. Lunch today comes courtesy of Blue Ginger Foods and when we (frequently) stop to snack and take photos, Dean and Diane talk passionately about the landscape and history of the area, never tired of being peppered with questions. I’m definitely a little stiff and sore by the end of the day but so high on natural beauty and endorphins, that I can’t wipe the smile off my face. I’m grateful not to have to leave Injidup tonight but instead mosey down to reception where a
local chef cooks us up a gourmet barbecue feast, chock full of local produce. Sore calf muscles wake me up the next morning but it’s the last day and we only have a measly (in comparison!) eight kilometres to hike. Another delicious breakfast gets polished off before we’re driven to Moses Rock for our walk to the Wilyabrup sea cliffs. It is a track that rises high over several large limestone headlands before heading up on to the stunning sea cliffs that form the famous climbing buttresses of Wilyabrup cliffs. Four days in and I still can’t get over the wide variety of terrain we’ve covered – limestone cliffs, caves, coastal bushland, forest and beaches. It is a truly spectacular hike and I feel privileged to have experienced it.
A four-course lunch with matched wine at the award-winning Wills Domain Winery seems a fitting way to end this adventure and we toast an incredible few days over pickled seaweed, grilled marron, short rib and cider-poached apples.
The writer travelled as a guest of Walk into Luxury.
The Walk into Luxury four-day Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk is designed so that any reasonably fit and healthy person can complete the sections each day, which average between six and 14 kilometres.
The Cape to Cape track is lovely all year round, but the weather is generally cool and wet in winter (June-August) and hot and dry in summer (December-February). For wildlife enthusiasts, Humpback and Southern Right whales migrate along the coast from June to November and dolphins are spotted year round, along with an array of birds. Wildflowers are plentiful in the spring time. Loose-fitting clothing is recommended for each day of the walk, for protection from both the sun and from stray branches and scrub. Sturdy hiking shoes and socks are essential.
Walk into Luxury’s four-day Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk commences on Sundays with weekly departures between February and June, and September and November. Private walk options are available year round.
For the four-day Margaret River Cape to Cape Walk, rates start from A$2490 per person twin share/A$2890 single share and include accommodation, meals and drinks (including alcohol), feature experiences and a custom backpack. Flights and transfers are not included. walkintoluxury.com.au
“I have my neck craned towards the coast line for most of the walk, such is its awesome beauty”
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“See that commotion on the water at about two o’clock? I reckon you throw it in over there.”
I can just see where my guide is pointing. I draw my lure back over my shoulder and load up for a big cast. Whoosh! Off it goes, high and far, and lands with a big splash right where he’d said. Two turns of the reel and bam. “I’m on,” I yell, and so it begins. This is man versus fish, and it comes with an incredible adrenaline rush. At almost the same time, my boat mate Gary’s rod flexes and we are each fighting a beast of a fish – the giant trevally – and it’s guaranteed to be a serious fight.
I’m on a fishing trip with a few friends and their sons, operated by Far North Sport Fishing. We’re here to share a few beers, laughs and fishing stories. We depart Cairns on a 7am flight to Lizard Island, 240 kilometres to the north, where our limousine lies in wait off the beach. The Black Magic is a 40-foot game fishing boat that will take us to the “mothership”, the 70-foot Blue Martini, awaiting us anchored in Princess Charlotte Bay.
It’s going to take us most of the day to get to the Blue Martini and we’ll be making a few designated fishing stops along the way. Adam and Sam are our crew and guides for this leg of the voyage and the boys run a tight boat, encouraging us and correcting our technique when needed. They’re quick to re-bait our lines or get a fish off our line and back in the water. We have a great first day of fishing with catches ranging from three to 15 kilograms. We’re rewarded with red emperors, queen fish, cobia and a few sharks. We only keep what we’ll be eating; everything else is catch and release.
The Blue Martini is ultra-comfortable, and with six of us, plus the crew, there is plenty of room to move around. Large covered decks and a very comfortable air-conditioned common area with an open-plan kitchen make it seem like a floating apartment. It has two
GaryAllen HEADS TO FAR NORTH QUEENSLAND WITH FRIENDS IN SEARCH OF THE ULTIMATE CATCH.
suites with full-size beds and shower ensuites, and two other rooms with twin beds sharing a bathroom and shower.
After a delicious dinner on our first evening on board, complete with wine and an amazing chocolate rum cake, everyone heads to bed to get ready for tomorrow’s 6am start. We wake up to a beautiful calm morning with the sun just showing some light and have a quick breakfast – it’s time for barramundi.
With cool temperatures and the sun just up, it’s incredibly peaceful and serene, perfect fishing weather. The golden reflection off the water is beautiful. The Blue Martini slowly meanders up the 20-metre wide, mangrove-lined river. Dave points out the barra hiding spots: “If I were a big barra, that’s where I’d hide.” Two lures quickly splash next to where he points. No hits. They are elusive and not an easy catch, but that’s why people want to hook them.
The mud crabs up here are a special treat.
We set the traps from the tenders and drive around to drop them off in the murky shallows. The first day we catch 12 big angry crabs –thankfully, our guides do the tying up once the crabs are shaken out of the nets. A different Dave, our chef, makes up a chilli sauce and cooks the crabs for us before serving them on a big platter. We strip down into our swimmers and stand on the deck with the warm water running over our feet as we devour the succulent crustaceans.
Chef Dave continues his streak of amazing meals. Everyone asks for a fish dinner and he kindly obliges. He makes us gourmet canapes, a cheese and prosciutto platter, ceviche with coconut milk, lime and coriander, and a sashimi
platter of fresh mackerel. A small spaghetti dish follows with smoked salmon, garlic and chilli. It’s all delicious. Next comes the three different types of fish we had caught, served with three different Asian dipping sauces and accompanied by fresh steamed vegetables. Dessert is poached pears and salted caramel ice cream drizzled with more caramel. These meals are on par with some of the best restaurants in Sydney.
One day, we head out to the continental shelf. It’s an hour’s drive for us out to the deep blue abyss where the waters run 1500 metres deep. The fish are bigger and ‘badder’ out here. We have perfect weather, a calm ocean and everyone is feeling good. We’ve just put four lines out and within 10 minutes one of them starts sing-
“We have a great first day of fishing with catches ranging from three to 15 kilograms. We’re rewarded with red emperors, queen fish, cobia and a few sharks”
ing. Then bang, another goes, and then another. “Good morning guys, who wants to fish? Let’s go!!” Adam exclaims, and it’s game on. The grunting and pulling begins. It’s me against whatever beast of a fish is on the other end of my line. Everyone on board is fired up, cheering each other on, hoping to bring in the catch of the day.
Each day on board the Blue Martini we head out for an early morning fish, then back for a second breakfast and a break before lunch. Then we head back out again in the afternoon for more fishing. Russ, the captain, is always flexible so if we want to go out earlier or later, it can be accommodated. The guides are incredible. They’re real professionals and are constantly working whether it’s cleaning up, straightening up or gearing up. They truly want us to catch fish and are sincerely disappointed when a fish gets away. They are patient and always ready to teach and answer our questions.
This is a truly luxurious fishing trip. The gear is exceptional, from the reels and rods to the boats. By the trip’s end we’ve all caught so many different fish, and it really is something special
to be up in this beautiful part of Australia. It feels so wild, with not another person or boat in sight, and being able to share it with a group of friends is especially memorable. Each of us gets sent home with a vacuum-sealed packet of our beautifully filleted fish, frozen and ready to treat our families. My family enjoyed the take-aways as much as I enjoyed catching them.
The Remote Barra Expedition is a six-night experience operating from late February through to April. Rates start from A$1250 per person, per day, based on six people. The price includes Shimano sport fishing tackle, custombuilt rods, all lures, meals and non-alcoholic beverages. A 90-minute helicopter transfer from Port Douglas is available for A$780 per person each way. farnorthsportsfishing.com
The writer travelled courtesy of Far North Sport Fishing.
Trust me, you don’t want to get upgraded out here. The term might conjure thoughts of suite or airline seat elevation, but when it comes to fishing terminology, an upgrade means the fish you’ve been grappling with for a solid five minutes has just been eaten by a much bigger fish that’s now pulling your line like a roped bull. Nine times out of ten it’s a really big shark! It’s fun and a good fight, and if you can, bring it up to take a look, but it also means the line needs to be cut and you’ve lost your catch.
“Large covered decks and a very comfortable air-conditioned common area with open plan kitchen make [the Blue Martini] seem like a floating apartment”See more images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
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BOOST THE LUXE FACTOR OF YOUR NEXT AUSTRALIAN SNOW HOLIDAY BY RENTING A SKI-IN/SKI-OUT CHALET. Jennifer Ennion EXPLAINS HOW.
Spa baths, stone fireplaces, plush rugs, snow on your doorstep –and the best bit? You don't have to share it with hordes of other snow bunnies. Renting your own ski-in/ ski-out chalet also means there's no traipsing down icy pathways to the chairlift every morning, and you can forget about having to drive in snowy conditions and pull on ski boots in parking lots. Many chalets also come with private saunas, modern kitchens and plenty of space to spread out, making them a cut above your average hotel room. Hiring a chalet is easy, too. Specialist websites and reservation teams take care of the hard work so all you have to do is find the right place (and resort) to suit your snow-holiday style. To help you get started, here's our pick of the very best ski-in/ski-out chalets in Australia.
It's one of Australia's most luxurious ski-in/ ski-out chalets, with stunning views across Delatite Valley and a snowball's throw from a chairlift. AMO Lodge, in Victoria's Mt Buller, has it all: stylish kitchen, comfortable lounge, open fireplace and chic furnishings. If you're after Scandinavian luxe, AMO Lodge does it well. Think leather armchairs, cowhide rugs, reading nooks, deer-antler chandeliers, and a beautiful stone and timber facade that will impress upon arrival. The chalet comfortably caters for 12 guests, with six bedrooms (each with an ensuite and one with a spa bath), a sauna, three TV areas, and one car space. It's also close to top restaurants, bars and the ski school. Simply click into your skis and start your day schussing down the intermediate Shakey Knees run to explore the resort's northern slopes.
Rates*: There's a flat winter rate of A$3200 per night with a five-night minimum (plus a A$500 cleaning fee).
How to book: Check availability via amolodge.com.au. For more information about the resort, visit mtbuller.com.au
The Blowhard Hotham Heights Chalet, smack bang on Basin ski run and next to Village Chair is touted as a “resort within a resort”. This architecturally designed chalet caters for 12 people over multiple split levels, meaning there is plenty of space to enjoy time out from the rest of your ski crew. There are four bedrooms (three with spa baths), five living areas and a large kitchen as well as a media room (which has been recently updated), sauna, stone fireplace and undercover parking. The Hotham is the only chalet in the resort with a sundeck, and even has a 'sky bar' – perfect for après sessions.
Rates*: Prices start from A$3812 for two nights during low season and A$5444 during peak season.
How to book: Visit hothamholidays.com.au or call 1800 468 426. Learn more about the resort at mthotham.com.au
When it comes to ski-in/ski-out, the village of Falls Creek has it covered. Frueauf Village, in the heart of the resort, has great entry-level luxury chalets where you can start your days skiing along Ory's Trail. Inverno Neve is the cream of the crop, with a cosy atmosphere, alpine-themed art and a gas fireplace. Comprising two apartments, linked via an internal staircase, Inverno Neve sleeps up to 14 people. There are five bedrooms, three bathrooms, two saunas and two outdoor hot tubs. There are also two full kitchens (with espresso machines)
“ Spa baths, stone fireplaces, plush rugs, snow on your doorstep – and the best bit? You don't have to share it ”
and guests receive a breakfast hamper of local gourmet goodies, including Milawa bread and Myrtleford hand-churned butter. One of the standout features of village chalets is the on-site Milch Cafe. Head there for breakfast, lunch, après cocktails or dinner (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free dishes are available).
Rates: Prices start from A$2852 for two nights in low season and A$6130 during high season.
How to book: Book a Frueauf Village chalet as early as possible by visiting fvfallscreek.com.au or skifalls.com.au, or call 1300 300 709.
Forget the drive from Jindabyne every morning and reserve a prime position at Thredbo Alpine Village. For ski-in/ski-out accommodation, you can't look past the Crackenback Ridge chalets running along the edge of Thredbo's most popular slope, the Supertrail. The pick of the bunch is 4 Bed Slope Side, which sleeps up to eight people, has four bathrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, an open-plan living area, and two car spaces. Keep warm beside the gas fireplace, and rest weary thighs in the steam room and large Jacuzzi that overlooks the slopes. There is also a balcony with a barbecue for those bluebird days, and when you want a night off from cooking, you're just five minutes' walk from the resort's best restaurants.
Rates: A two-night stay during low season costs A$2540 while two nights during peak is A$5030.
How to book: Make a reservation with Thredbo's on-snow specialists via skiinskiout.com.au. For more information about the resort, visit thredbo.com.au
“Forget the drive from Jindabyne every morning and reserve a prime position at Thredbo Alpine Village”
FOLLOWING THE FOOTSTEPS OF MANY A CELEBRITY, Susan Borham CHECKED IN TO NEW YORK CITY’S CROSBY STREET HOTEL. HERE SHE EXPLAINS THE HOTEL’S A-LIST APPEAL.
What better way to choose a hotel than to find out where the rich and famous stay? After all, with money no object, their time so precious and the best advice money can buy on hand, following their lead can’t be a bad idea.
New York City’s Crosby Street Hotel is a favourite with celebrities visiting the Big Apple. Here’s the run down on the Soho hotspot.
The Crosby Street Hotel has been a magnet to A-listers for a while now. Daniel Craig and Rachel Weisz, Jude Law, Penelope Cruz, Richard Gere, Liv Tyler, Carey Mulligan and Alexa Chung have all been spotted there. Demi Moore reportedly holed up at the Soho site when her marriage to Ashton Kutcher ended.
One Australian journalist reported having seen, during her weeklong stay at the hotel: Halle Berry passing through the lobby on her
way from one of the hotel’s downstairs function rooms; Daniel Day-Lewis hurrying up to his suite; and Meg Ryan hunched over her laptop in the lobby. Sienna Miller and high-profile magazine editor Tina Brown have stayed here; Brown hosted a screening in the private cinema. And Kate Winslet and former husband Sam Mendes are known to recommend the Crosby to out-of-town friends. Meanwhile, Australian high-profile design media editors Neale Whitaker and David Clark are said to rarely stay elsewhere when in New York.
Crosby Street Hotel is in Soho in the heart of downtown New York. It’s set among quiet cobblestoned streets and 19th-Century warehouse buildings, and surrounded by the loft apartments of New York’s wealthier residents. (Samuel L. Jackson’s apartment is across the road.)
A quick walk away is Balthazar, the French-style brassiere that has attracted Hollywood stars for more than a decade. It’s close to Elizabeth Street, where you’ll find New York’s most interesting boutiques while Bloomingdales is a very short walk out of the back door. In between the famous Prince and Spring streets, the hotel is also on the doorstep of some of Manhattan’s most exciting bars, restaurants, cafés and galleries.
There are 86 high-ceilinged, light-filled rooms and suites across 11 floors, all with floor-to-ceiling warehouse-style windows; those on the upper floor revealing breathtaking views across Manhattan. Decorated by celebrated British hotel designer (and co-owner of Firmdale, Crosby Street Hotel’s parent company) Kit Kemp, each room has been designed individually, meaning each time you stay, it
Left: Crosby Street Hotel lobby.
will be a fresh experience. Kemp’s extraordinary design talent is one of the key attractions of the hotel. She astonishes fans by masterfully pulling together colours, patterns and objects that really shouldn’t go together.
This hotel is a magnet to movie stars and highprofile media types who are often spotted milling around its public areas. But, perhaps because the owners are British, or maybe because it serves an exceptional all-day British afternoon tea, the hotel tends to attract a lot of Manhattan’s Brit expats as well as a notable preponderance of British stars among its celebrity clientele.
Suite guests are treated to: in-suite check-in, pressing upon arrival, unpacking service on arrival or packing service on departure, fresh flowers in suite, complimentary international newspapers daily, mineral water on evening turndown and a complimentary shoeshine service.
There's a private cinema in the hotel and guests can purchase a surprisingly inexpensive dinner and movie package on Sunday evenings. But the real attraction of the cinema is that it brings in the A-listers who come for private screenings. Lindsay Lohan and Emma Stone have been seen there.
The drawing room, on the ground floor next to the lobby, has books and magazines to read, and an honour system for guests helping themselves to drinks throughout the day.
The Crosby Bar, an airy, spacious, long room with high ceilings, oak floors and tall windows, is open all day. It offers breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner, cocktails and an all-day afternoon tea in the old British tradition (also served on the outdoor terrace in warmer weather).
There’s a kitchen garden on the hotel's 12thfloor rooftop supplying the hotel with fresh, seasonal produce such as melons, blueberries, tomatoes and herbs, and there’s a Tudor-style chicken coop with four residents.
Crosby Street Hotel offers: a children's menu, blu-rays and popcorn, board games, connecting rooms, baby cots, sofa and rollaway beds, children's bathrobes and toiletries, and high chairs.
Rates at Crosby Street Hotel start from US$595 (about A$780) per night. firmdalehotels.com/ hotels/new-york/crosby-street-hotel/
Baden-Baden is a German spa town on the border of the Black Forest. With its quaint village vibe, Baden-Baden is home to shops, restaurants and pubs, verdant parks and gardens, 2000-year-old Roman bath ruins and salt-rich thermal hot springs. A long-time favourite of European royalty (and nowadays celebrity travellers) visitors still flock to BadenBaden to experience its cleansing waters.
The grand dame of the area’s spa properties is the 140-year-old Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa, and it is the place to stay for a luxury BadenBaden spa getaway. The flagship property of the Oetker Collection, Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa promises “urban life in the countryside”. If the original Brenners hotel is the matriarch of the property, then Villa Stephanie, where I am staying, is the golden child. Housed in a mansion that was originally built as a royal residence in 1890, Villa Stephanie was launched in 2015 as a space solely devoted to delivering high quality spa experiences.
The five-storey villa is home to the Brenners Park spa, and has just 15 expansive and beautifully detailed guestrooms. It has more of a boutique feel than the Brenners hotel, as it is separate from the main building, connected only by underground and above ground hallways. The rooms adopt a more contemporary design than those of the Brenners hotel (which are of a more classical European look). They also offer a way to achieve a complete digital detox – they are free of ‘e-smog’ (electro-magnetic fields generated by electrical devices) thanks to a small switch that engages copper plates within the walls to block high-frequency signals including WiFi. Here you can take a spa treatment in a private spa suite, and there’s also a styling lounge, a 500-square-metre sauna, plunge pool, state-of-the-art gym, a hammam and separate women-only sauna.
Upon entry to the villa, I’m standing in an intimate sitting room with its own small front desk, lounges, chairs and a fireplace. Fabian Nusser is the manager here. He’s so proud of his Villa Stephanie, and he should be. It’s not
possible to fault any of the Villa Stephanie staff, who are eager to provide guests with the very best of service at all times; the exclusivity of the villa allowing for a much more personal connection between staff and guest than I’ve experienced at other properties.
Connected to Villa Stephanie is Haus Julius, a 1700-square-metre mansion that exclusively addresses the medical needs of Brenners and Villa Stephanie guests. Services include aesthetic medical and dental care, naturopathy, obstetrics and gynaecology. Haus Julius also has a team of physiotherapists and nutritionists available to work with guests on health goals, providing individually tailored programs and menus.
As far as dining is concerned, breakfast is generally served at Salon Lichtental in the main hotel, although if you prefer, you can choose to have your breakfast in your room or the Villa Stephanie lounge room. In 2012, Paul Stradner was appointed head chef of Brenners Park-Restaurant and was awarded his first Michelin star the same year. He has since been awarded a second, making him one
of the youngest chefs in Germany with two stars. Here he serves modern takes on classic dishes. Other dining options include the Wintergarten overlooking the park and serving dishes using local Black Forest ingredients. As well as the restaurant Rive Gauche, located a short stroll through the park which serves up Mediterranean fare.
After eating so much delicious food, I was able to take advantage of the Black Forest area for some much-needed exercise. I took a guided hike up to a scenic outlook – my visit was in early December and I was greeted with clear blue skies. Later that day I was met by Klaus from Rent-a-Sportsman, a Baden-Baden native who took me on a two-hour bike ride on scenic and undulating trails and roads while he told me all about growing up in the area and pointed out landmarks. After my ride I had a traditional hammam with legendary Brenners masseur Othman Challouf. The treatment was revitalising and Othman masterfully scrubbed and massaged out the soreness. I left Villa Stephanie – after all the spa treatments, good food and exercise – a happy man.
Rates at Villa Stephanie start from €550 (about A$769) per night. Prices for individual treatments vary, with a combined body analysis and training consultation costing €150 (about A$210) and full-board tailored menus costing €180 (about A$252) per day.
Rates at Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa start from €390 (about A$545) per night including access to the Brenners Spa with Saunarium, Fitness Centre and Roman style indoor pool. brenners.com/eng/home/
“It’s not possible to fault any of the Villa Stephanie staff, who are eager to provide guests with the very best of service at all times”
TWENTY YEARS YOUNG, BALI’S AYANA RESORT AND SPA, ALONG WITH ITS SISTER SITE, RIMBA, CONTINUES TO RAISE THE
Ared flower detaches itself from the shrubbery, grows wings, and lazily flits away.
It’s a magical moment, and not much less so when I realise what I’m actually looking at – a small, blood-red dragonfly, one of many camouflaged among the profusion of blossoms. More dragonflies share the sky with tiny swallow-like birds that soar, float and dive at eye-level as I lie in a bath of frangipanis and rose petals at the rooftop spa. It’s as if their movements have been choreographed in time with the calming piano and flute music that plays in the background.
These magic moments are in keeping with Ayana’s name, which comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘place of refuge’. According to the resort’s founder and owner Rudy Suliawan, Ayana also means a peaceful and harmonious place with lots of animals and an abundance of vegetation. Rimba, the name of the neighbouring sister-resort, which shares Ayana’s facilities, is the Indonesian word for ‘forest’.
November 2016 marked Ayana’s 20th birthday, and I was lucky enough to be there to share in the celebrations. As I heard the story of how the resort came to be built, I was impressed by the visionary nature of the enterprise. Drawn by the incomparable sunsets and the refreshing sea breeze, Suliawan and his team took an area of wilderness without roads, bridges, electricity or water supply, and turned it into a pleasure palace with amenities to satisfy the most sophisticated traveller, yet without sacrificing the feeling of a natural paradise.
While Ayana and Rimba function as two parts of an integrated resort, there are significant differences in atmosphere between the two locations. Ayana stands proudly on
its cliff top, with uninterrupted views over the Indian Ocean. The rooms have traditional Balinese accents of carved wood. Here you’ll also find the Ayana Villas, leafy one-, two- or three-bedroom retreats, each with a private plunge pool. In contrast, Rimba nestles retiringly into the forest, and its design is more casual, with great use made of repurposed maritime timbers and quirky modern artworks.
One thing that was clear from the 20th birthday celebrations was that the Ayana brand continues to expand and evolve. December’s unveiling of 120 new rooms at Rimba made the Ayana-Rimba complex the largest resort in Bali. Yet the whole place has been so cleverly designed that its size is never oppressive. Instead, you find there are always new corners and angles to discover; little gardens, bridges and terraces, which break up the space and remove any sense of sameness.
Take the swimming pools. There are 11 of them (not counting the private villa pools), and each has a different appeal. There’s the opulent main pool with its imposing dragon
“These magic moments are in keeping with Ayana’s name, which comes from a Sanskrit word meaning ‘place of refuge’”Above: Meditation at Ayana's Kubu beach. Opposite page, clockwise from top left: Terrace Suite bedroom; a Diamond Miracle Treatment at Spa on the Rocks; the Aquatonic Pool at the resort's Thalasso spa; Ocean Suite bathroom.
statues, the secluded and luxuriantly planted two-tier river pool, the lower pool with its waterfall, and the sand-fringed ocean pool. Because of the resort’s proximity to and height above the Indian Ocean, the architects have been able to make exceptional use of the infinity concept, with a number of swimming pools visually merging into the turquoise expanse of ocean.
Completely seduced by these gorgeous pools, I never make it to the guests-only Kubu Beach. As a spoilt Sydney-sider, I figure that, while I can always get to a world-class beach, I can’t always swim in a luxury pool. But if –when – I return to Ayana, I’ll definitely want to experience the new 1960s-styled beach club scheduled to open in late March. Retrothemed club facilities on a private beach by the Indian Ocean? You couldn’t keep me away.
One thing I did get to experience this time was the aquatonic pool at Ayana’s Thermes Marins Spa. Over two hours, I made my way around its 60 water jets, which provide hydromassage of varying degrees of intensity. The strongest jets are pretty brutal, but I dis-
covered it was surprisingly enjoyable being pushed and pummelled so strenuously by an element rather than a person. This treatment is great for circulation and lymphatic drainage, and it’s a lot of fun doing the circuit with friends. (The expressions on their faces will warn you when the really strong jets are coming up!)
A more serene spa option would be a session at Ayana’s premier wellness facility, Spa on the Rocks. These over-water villas, built in traditional Balinese style, enable guests to enjoy exquisite spa services in a fully natural setting, surrounded by the Indian Ocean. The premium item on the menu is the Diamond Miracle body and face treatment, described by Ayana staff as ‘two-and-a-half hours of float-away bliss’.
And what about the famous sunsets that led to the resort being sited here in the first place? The best place to see them is from the ocean-edge Rock Bar, a Bali icon and, according to CNN, one of the world’s Top 30 hotel bars. Seats on the VIP Round Deck provide the most perfect views and are only available to Ayana
Villa guests. Enjoy the DJ’s music selection (definitely a cut or two above the usual hotel bar music), cool cocktails and the view of a lifetime.
Ayana is an Indonesian-owned resort, and I think that shows in the sense of pride and belonging radiated by the people who work there. There are also some unusual benefits in having a genuine local connection. Ayana’s Director of Public Relations, Lindsay Kinniburgh, casually mentions that her team often makes use of ‘rain-stoppers’ to ensure that weddings and other special occasions aren’t spoiled by the weather. I wonder if rain-stoppers are some sort of physical barrier or perhaps an advanced electromagnetic technology. No, it turns out that rain-stoppers are local Balinese people gifted in traditional knowledge of natural energy fields, who have the ability to stop rain falling for designated periods of time. Lindsay shrugs away my Western scepticism. "It always works", she says, "but you need to know the right people to call."
More magic. After a couple of days at Ayana, I believe her.
Rates at Ayana Resort and Spa Bali start from A$401 per night for room only, suites from A$706 per night. Rates at Rimba Jimbaran Bali start from A$247 per night for room only, suites from A$571 per night. Villas at Ayana with private plunge pool and 24hour personalised butler service start from A$1127 per night. ayana.com
THIS SLICK NEW BOUTIQUE PROPERTY IN BALI EFFORTLESSLY BLENDS DESIGN, ART, MUSIC AND LUXURY, WRITES Grace Smith .
Just around the corner from the crowded, tourist-clogged streets of Bali’s Kuta Beach, lies the lesser-known coastal village of Canggu, a secluded surfer’s hamlet favoured for its challenging waves and sophisticated dining and cultural scene. It is here that Australian couple George Gorrow and Cisco Tschurtschenthaler, in collaboration with architect Rieky Sunur, have opened The Slow; an immersive resort concept blending boutique interiors, art, fashion and music.
The design places an emphasis on raw materials, including exposed concrete brickwork, wooden partitions made from native timber, and locally sourced stone floors. The almost industrial architecture is juxtaposed with striking contemporary pieces from Gorrow and Tschurtschenthaler’s photography-heavy personal art collection, which includes international established and emerging artists, many of whom are personal friends of the couple.
In fitting with the resort’s location, an underlying theme of contemporary surf culture permeates the art collection, with striking underwater and beachside imagery such
as “Shark Boy” by Australian photographer Greg Nagel, curated throughout the property. Interspersed with these contemporary photographic pieces are more abstract works, including the polymorphic drawings of Brooklyn-based artist Rostarr, which greet guests in the property’s entryway. Each guest room contains a unique collection of images, curated to represent a particular period in the lives of the owners, many reflecting the modern surf theme, while others feature experimental pop art, architectural shots and even rock-and-roll photography.
The extensive collection spills out from the 12 guest rooms into Room 13, a dedicated gallery space where guests can view some of the property’s larger and more striking pieces while sipping a freshly roasted Balinese coffee from the gallery’s barista bar. Fans of the fashion label Ksubi may also find something of interest next door in
Room 14 where men’s lifestyle brand NON-TYPE is housed. The brand is the result of a collaboration between Gorrow and Gareth Moody; two of the three co-founders of Ksubi.
It is not only the interiors that are curated at The Slow, with audio by Reverberation Radio playing lost-gem tracks from across the decades throughout the venue. Guests’ tastebuds are also well catered for, with Eat and Drink serving up meals and tea infusions, juice extractions and inventive cocktails made from specialty spirits.
GRACE SMITHClockwise from left: Boutique furnishings in the Pool Suite; suites feature locally sourced stone floors and native timber panelling; bottled ice tea infusion; bathroom with rain shower and a view of the lush green garden; burger at Eat and Drink.
l STAY HERE
Room rates start from IDR1,800,000 (about A$178) per night. theslow.id
LOCATED IN NEW YORK CITY’S UPPER EAST SIDE, THE SURREY IS AN EXTENSION OF THE ICONIC ART AND DESIGN SPACES IN ITS PROXIMITY. BY Susan Borham
In an elegant building, on a quiet, residential side street, The Surrey is tucked away from the tourist masses of New York City. Yet, set in the heart of the posh Upper East Side (where upper-class families – including the oil-rich Rockefellers, the Roosevelts and the Kennedys, and the Whitneys of thoroughbred racing fame – have made residences for generations), the hotel is just steps away from Central Park and the stylish Madison Avenue, and close to Fifth Avenue’s ‘Museum Mile’, a line up of the world’s greatest cultural institutions.
When you’ve chosen The Surrey for its connection to art and design, you’ll want to walk to the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Metropolitan Museum of Art and The Cloisters, the Frick Collection, the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, the Gagosian Gallery and more. The American Museum of Natural History is within walking distance too, and if you like walking the streets of New York, you’re not that far from midtown shopping like Barneys, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue.
In keeping with its residential location, The Surrey has the atmosphere of an affluent Art Deco townhouse – grand, gracious and glamorous. The rooms start at classic salons with fireplaces and continue with standard, penthouse and presidential suites.
The building started life as a modest but comfortable and lovely all-suite residential hotel in 1926. Upper East Siders might hole up there for a while after a divorce or put up long-stay relatives somewhere close to their own homes. At various times John F. Kennedy, Bette Davis and Claudette Colbert were residents of The Surrey. It re-opened in 2009 in its current, glamorous incarnation after what was reported to have been a $60 million reinvention to help the hotel compete with other luxury options in the area like The Carlyle, The Mark and Hotel Plaza Athénée.
Today salons range from 31 to 53 square meters with bathrooms that feature oversized glassenclosed showers, Waterworks fixtures, speakers (so you can listen to the TV in the bathroom) and amenities by Diptyque. Some salons have fireplaces and private terraces. The suites start from 183 square metres with separate living, dining,
and kitchen areas. Both salon and suite guests are granted access to the hotel’s private roof garden. With 190 rooms, the hotel is considered boutique by New York standards. The lobby is fittingly intimate in scale. And the acclaimed Café Boulud downstairs will do room service if requested. You can also request a bartender to come up and mix your drinks in your room and there’s a free coffee and tea service in the lobby each morning.
When The Surrey reopened in 2009, its designers had drawn upon its residential neighbourhood, its previous life as a residential hotel and its proximity to New York’s most important art venues to create an identity that was all about staying in the grand Upper East Side home of a billionaire New York art collector. To do this, the refurbished hotel featured more than 30 serious contemporary works, starting with the Jenny Holzers behind the check-in desk and Chuck Close’s tapestry portrait of supermodel Kate Moss by the elevators. Other important works in the collection include those by Richard Serra and William Kentridge.
More recently, The Surrey has introduced an Art Expert in Residence – art historian Natasha
Schlesinger – who is tasked with extending the scope of the collection.
Described as an Upper East Side treasure, Café Boulud is a more relaxed version of uber-chef Daniel Boulud’s famous flagship restaurant, Daniel. The haute nouvelle French cuisine at Café Boulud is as stylish as its location and tends to attract as many locals as hotel guests, along with the rich and famous.
Bar Pleiades, another Boulud entity and also just off The Surrey’s lobby, has an extensive wine list and has its nibbles supplied by Café Boulud. Guests interested in art and design can sit back in the Coco Chanel-inspired Art Deco bar and admire the William Kentridge and Richard Serra paintings on the walls. Les Pleiades, the legendary art world watering hole, once occupied the space where this bar is now.
Rates at The Surrey start from US$418.50 (about A$544) per night. thesurrey.com
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The Lotte New York Palace, in Midtown East on Madison Avenue, is where the suited New Yorkers come to work in the high-rises that dominate the district. ‘Dull by day and dead by night’ was a phrase once used to describe the district, but that’s slowly changing with a proliferation of bars and fine-dining restaurants that bring some life to the nights. For visitors to New York, however, the attractions by day include famous skyscrapers the Chrysler Building and the Empire State Building, Grand Central Station and a lot of inexpensive food options including Japanese, Turkish, Chinese, Mexican, Italian and Indian.
Lotte New York Palace is a great place to stay for designer shopping. Nearby Fifth Avenue is home to shopping icons like Saks Fifth Avenue and Tiffany & Co., along with high-end fashion labels like Gucci and Versace. Just along Madison Avenue there are dozens of designer boutiques. The Museum of Modern Art is within walking distance. A somewhat longer walk away is the bustling entertainment and shopping hub of Times Square and the Broadway Theatre District.
Lotte New York Palace features 909 rooms; 176 of these are located in The Towers, the exclusive space occupying the top 14 floors of the 55-storey hotel. The main hotel’s Villard Mansion was built as an opulent private apartment complex in 1882 and now sits alongside The Towers. The Madison Avenue Courtyard that is the entryway to both buildings is a grand and dramatic entrance to the hotel’s spectacular and opulent lobby.
Luxury travellers will want to stay in the exclusive and spacious guestrooms of The Towers. With breathtaking, sweeping views of the city, The Towers are entirely private, with separate check-in
and dedicated concierge, a separate elevator bank, and generous marble baths, nightly turndown service, free WiFi and butlers.
The Towers rooms and suites are said to be among New York City’s most spacious accommodations, with state-of-the-art technology, and many rooms have stunning views over St Patrick's Cathedral and the city skyline.
The breakfast options at Lotte New York Palace include the Villard Restaurant, offering guests and locals a full a la carte breakfast menu, described as New American fare. Pomme Palais, a bakery just off the lobby, offers sit-down or onthe-go espresso coffee, pastries, macarons, éclairs and fruit tarts.
The Villard Gold Room Bar is open daily, serving handcrafted cocktails, local beer and fine wine by the glass.
Rates start from US$369 (about A$483) for a Superior Room. lottenypalace.com
MIDTOWN IS EVOLVING AND LOTTE NEW YORK PALACE IS A STALWART OF THE CITY’S MOST ICONIC DISTRICT, WRITES Susan Borham .
IT’S ONE OF THE WORLD’S MOST APPLAUDED HOTEL AND RESORT BRANDS, AND FOR GOOD REASON. AS Natasha Dragun WRITES, FOUR SEASONS NOT ONLY DELIVERS EXCEPTIONAL ACCOMMODATION AROUND THE GLOBE, BUT ALSO EXTRAORDINARY IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCES.
It’s early morning in Bali, and the banks of the Indonesian island’s Ayung River are already busy. Having finished a picnic breakfast overlooking the jungle-laced water, I am whisked off to a nearby farm where I’m invited to help locals plant rice as the sun dances over terraced fields of emerald green. It’s one of those moments that most travellers only dream of – it’s not every day that you have the opportunity to enjoy such immersive cultural experiences, after all. My day doesn’t end there either: after a farmer lops the top off a coconut for me to drink, I’m treated to a traditional bathing ritual including a remarkably gentle exfoliation using river stones, followed by an authentic farmers’ lunch of nasi campur (rice with meat, vegetables and egg). The outing is just one of the many ‘Extraordinary Experiences’ on offer at Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts properties across the globe. And it’s a day I won’t forget in a hurry.
At a time when luxury hotels and resorts open on an increasingly frequent basis, the Four Seasons brand continues to stand out thanks, in part, to these bespoke and impeccably curated guest experiences. The concept of offering guests encounters that extend beyond the walls of their room or the property is not new, and indeed the Four Seasons is not alone in doing this. But it is a global leader when it comes to opportunities that offer real insider value; providing exclusive and personalised moments.
The company now offers more than 40 different ‘Extraordinary Experiences’ around the world. In addition to spending a day with rice farmers in Bali, guests can see a private performance in Prague’s Opera House, perhaps, or a one-onone ice-skating lesson in Saint Petersburg taught by a former Olympian. In Mexico, you can travel by helicopter to the Jose Cuervo distillery for a glimpse into the art of tequila making, while in Bora Bora you can plant an underwater coral garden to help preserve the reef.
The immersive opportunities certainly don’t come at the expense of luxury, albeit understated and with a sense of place rather than extravagant and overworked. From Thailand to Hungary, the group has won countless awards for its commitment to architecture and design, bringing on board a host of talented creatives to craft guest spaces, not in the
least Bill Bensley. The Bangkok-based interior designer has contributed to a number of the group’s most applauded properties, including the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle in Chiang Rai, which consistently takes home accolades for its effortless union of style and sustainability in northern Thailand.
It’s a far cry from the Canadian company’s 1961 debut: a modest motor hotel in downtown Toronto. But even back then, founder Isadore Sharp had visions of creating a hospitality brand dedicated to offering customers the highest standards and distinctive service. The son of Polish immigrants, Sharp had no real experience in the industry, but from the very beginning he took steps to set the brand apart from others. “Early in the company’s history we decided to focus on redefining luxury as service, and that became our strategic edge,” explains Sharp. “To deliver on that promise, we realised we needed to harness the ‘best of the best’ – employees who are dedicated, committed and inspired to deliver great service.”
As it expanded, Four Seasons became the first hotel company in North America to introduce now-standard items such as bath amenities, robes and hair dryers. It was also the first to provide European-style concierge services and
24/7 in-room dining. Twice-daily housekeeping, one-hour pressing and round-the-clock laundry and dry cleaning service are additional guest services introduced by Four Seasons before other luxury hotel operators.
From the outset, Sharp has always maintained a strong corporate social responsibility program, which today includes everything from charitable donations to initiatives to reduce the carbon footprint of hotels to wildlife conservation in the destinations it calls home.
More than five decades down the track, the company currently manages 104 hotels, resorts and residences in 43 countries. And while its pace of development is not as brisk as other international hotel groups (which is not necessarily a bad thing), there are no signs of slowing down either – in fact, Four Seasons has more than 50 projects in the pipeline. In 2016 alone, the brand added nine hotels to its global portfolio, from an all-suite hotel in Jakarta’s financial district to a downtown New York retreat with a Wolfgang Puck restaurant; from a light-filled spa oasis in Hawaii to a revamped seaside resort in Hoi An, Vietnam.
It also introduced the company’s first private island experience: the Four Seasons Maldives
Private Island at Voavah, Baa Atoll, its third resort in the Maldives. Located in a UNESCOprotected marine environment, the retreat has just 10 bedrooms, all overlooking the Baa Atoll Biosphere Reserve. Voavah days revolve around white powder sands and a crystal-clear lagoon where you can swim with reef sharks and a kaleidoscope of fish and turtles.
Openings in 2017 include the Four Seasons Tianjin, the group’s ninth hotel in China, as well as Ten Trinity Square in London. Located in the 1922 headquarters of the Port of London Authority, the intimate property features 100 rooms, not to mention the first UK restaurant by Chef Anne-Sophie Pic – the only current French female chef to be awarded three Michelin stars.
Distinctive culinary experiences have always been at the forefront of the Four Seasons ethos, and the company now holds more than a dozen Michelin stars across its properties. But in 2015 it took its global dining experiences up a notch with the launch of the Four Seasons Private Jet Offering an unparalleled way to see the world, the jet takes up to 52 guests on bespoke journeys around the world, opening doors to once-in-a-lifetime experiences
and memorable destinations (up to 10 different countries) while staying exclusively at Four Seasons hotels and resorts.
This year, the ‘Culinary Discoveries’ (27 May – 14 June 2017) journey has been developed in partnership with one of the world’s top restaurants, Noma in Copenhagen, with the goal of tracking the evolution of food, culture and creativity across Asia and Europe. Highlights include a private dinner at Tokyo’s Michelinstarred restaurant L'Effervescence, meeting Tenuta di Valgiano wine makers in Florence, and foraging with Noma’s René Redzepi in the Danish capital. The ‘International Intrigue’ journey (3-26 September 2017) sees guests jet from Seattle to the Maldives and Tanzania, among other destinations.
Regardless of where you fly, you’re guaranteed the unparalleled style and service that the Four Seasons brand has become known for – in a sky-high setting.
fourseasons.com
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“Four Seasons became the first hotel company in North America to introduce now-standard items such as bath amenities, robes and hair dryers”
Located in New York City’s trendy SoHo district, boutique hotel 11 Howard is an urban oasis of Scandinavian minimalism designed by Danish firm Space Copenhagen in collaboration with creative director, Anda Andrei. Guests observing the hotel’s bleached wooden floors, neutral colour palette and textured gold accents would never guess the building started life as a humble post office more than a century ago. It even had a brief stint as a Holiday Inn before finally being transformed into its current state by developer Aby Rosen.
Unsurprisingly for a NYC hotel, standard rooms at 11 Howard are on the slightly smaller side, however, the Terrace Suite – with 576 square metres of living space and soaring nine-foot ceilings – offers guests a capacious refuge from the crowded city below. Light and airy, the Suite consists of a bedroom with a king bed and master bathroom as well as a guest bathroom, living room, work area, full kitchen and dining room for eight. As the name suggests, there is also a large wrap-around terrace with views across the city.
A pair of French doors open out onto the private rooftop balcony, where guests may choose to dine at the 10-seat table or take in the views on the large corner lounge.
The suite’s interior furnishings have a strong Danish influence, with natural bamboo rugs and custom-crafted furniture, while the walls are adorned with ceramic sculptures by Taiwanese artist Katie Yang. The marble bathroom is offset with brass features and stocked with Grown Alchemist organic bath products.
Just a short walk from Chinatown and Tribeca, 11 Howard offers a serene vantage point from which to explore bustling downtown New York. The hotel also donates a percentage of the revenue from each stay to a number of non-profit groups including Global Poverty Project and Conscious Commerce.
GRACE SMITHRates for the Terrace Suite start from US$2625 (about A$3433) per night. 11howard.com
Suite: Executive Grand Harbour View Suite
Size: 83 square metres
Price: from around A$700 per night during low season, A$800 during high season
Website: shangri-la.com/sydney
Review by: Gary Allen
Situated above The Rocks with spectacular views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Opera House, the Shangri-La Sydney is in the perfect location to enjoy all the city has to offer. A stone’s throw from ferries and trains, the Museum of Contemporary Art, weekend markets and plenty of shopping and eating options, it’s the perfect spot for a long visit or even just a weekend getaway (don’t forget to request late checkout on Sunday).
The Executive Grand Harbour View Suites have harbour views and each offers 83 square metres of space comprising a bedroom and separate lounge room and a spacious marble-clad bathroom (also with views).
The breakfast is in the buffet category and you’ll find plenty of the usual hotel buffet fare. We discovered the manual oat mill where you can press your own fresh oats with a jug of warm milk and honey. It was so good that we later purchased one online for our home. The weekends can be very crowded so if you’re staying on the club level, the club lounge is the way to go. It offers a smaller buffet, but an amazing view and it’s quiet – perfect for a lazy Sunday morning breakfast with the papers.
With two excellent dining options, your selection will depend on your
mood. Altitude Restaurant is the perfect place for a romantic fine-dining dinner. Located on level 36 with views of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and Sydney Opera House as well as ferry traffic coming and going, it’s an amazing experience. Chef Ricardo Ferreira has created a new menu with an emphasis on biodynamic principles. For a more casual dinner with an Asian street-vibe head downstairs to Café Mix. There, chef Bo Sorenson creates Asian treats with a twist.
Everyone can use a little alignment. Chi, The Spa, has a 90-minute chakra cleansing massage to balance your energy channels and knead the knots out of your body. It’s a gentle, calming massage with healing crystals placed
along different areas of your body. The spa is stocked with products from Australian brand Sodashi.
I love a large bathtub with a view, and the unobstructed city and harbour vistas in my sights while relaxing in a hot bath were pure indulgence. Magnificent!
The buffet breakfast downstairs is a little bit of a letdown especially if you’ve dined at Altitude the night before. While the food is delicious, the space feels crowded and has limited natural light and low ceilings. On weekends, prepare for possible queues. Here’s where you’ll be happy to have access to the Club Lounge.
The highest room category is the Royal Suite. The one-bedroom suite has a separate kitchenette, a dining room and a study. It’s 242 square metres of luxury.
Enjoy the sunset over the harbour while you try the new cocktail experience at Blu Bar on 36. With plush chairs and lounges, and floor-to-ceiling windows, this New York-inspired lounge is the perfect place to kick-off your night. After that, head next door to Altitude for dinner with those same amazing views only all lit up. You will be glad you started early as the bar will be full by the time you’re ordering dessert.
Suite: Andaz Suite
Size: 125 square metres
Price: from Y192,500 (about A$2217) per night excluding services charges and taxes
Website: tokyo.andaz.hyatt.com
Review by: Gary Allen
At 125 square metres, the Andaz Tokyo Toranomon Hills’ Andaz Suite offers two king beds and separate sitting and work areas. The décor in the suite, and throughout the hotel, is inspired by the traditional Japanese ryokan. The walls in the room and hallways are made to look like the rice paper walls found in traditional Japanese inns. The Andaz lounge where check-in takes place has 24-hour complimentary snacks and drinks along with a wine and nibbles hour every evening. Tables made from large timber slabs invite communal conversation with other guests.
Both the food and service at breakfast are amazing. Wait staff always offered an extra hand if you were carrying food from the buffet back to your table and were attentive to coffee refills. The pottery cups and saucers were beautiful with a traditional Japanese design. The buffet was plentiful and had a large miso station with a variety of toppings. The warm bread pudding was a standout.
There are five dining options from casual cafe to rooftop bar. We dined at the Andaz Tavern on the 51st floor. Chef Gregor Streun serves countryside European fare while you take in views of the city from the three-metre-high windows. We dined on Japanese tenderloin, foie gras, truffle, potato puree and crispy Brussel sprouts, all paired with beautiful wines and a cheese platter for dessert.
A spacious 1350-square-metre spa and fitness facility is located on the 37th floor overlooking the Imperial Palace. There is a 20-metre swimming pool, a whirlpool and a carbonated bath (a bit like soaking in a glass of champagne). There are also five spa treatment rooms and a state-of-the-art fitness room with incredible views. The spa treatments take on a personal apothecary approach by combining fruits, herbs, minerals and oils for treatments tailored to each guest.
The floor-to-ceiling windows in the Andaz Suite reveal seemingly neverending views, and you won’t tire of gazing out at the Tokyo skyline, harbour and Tokyo Tower. The deep onsen-style bath and luxury oversized bath products were a welcome indulgence at the end of a long day of sightseeing.
Smokers at the Rooftop Bar, located on the 52nd floor, kept me from wanting to spend too much time there, even though it was a stunning spot.
Take it to another level by booking the Andaz Sky Suite, which at 210 square metres offers 180-degree views of Tokyo Bay and Tokyo Tower.
If you don't mind the smokers try out the Rooftop Bar at sunset for the signature award-winning cocktails, many infused with fruit teas.
Suite: Mandarin Suite
Size: 100 square metres
Price: from Y130,000 (about A$1508) per night excluding services charges and taxes
Website: mandarinoriental.com/tokyo/
Review by: Gary Allen
The Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is in a great location in Nihonbashi, eight minutes from Tokyo Station and a quick walk to the famous Mitsukoshi department store. The lobby is on the 38th floor of a breathtaking high-rise building. The hotel has a contemporary and spacious design with floor-toceiling views of the city below, and stunning artwork and sculptures throughout.
The service at the Mandarin Oriental is exceptional. On our first day, one of the reception staff members actually walked us to the train station below the hotel and showed us how to purchase our train pass on the automated machine.
The 100-square-metre Mandarin Suites with city views feature the same contemporary designs throughout the master bedroom and living room. There’s a guest powder room as well as a walk-in rain shower and stand-alone tub in the master ensuite.
There are two restaurants open for breakfast. The elegant Oriental Lounge has a lovely set breakfast menu and is a quiet option, good for enjoying the morning paper along with the stunning view. If you have the appetite of a shogun, head to K’Shiki for the buffet breakfast where you will be spoiled for choice, whether you’re in the mood for traditional Japanese, European or American-style dining. The sautéed mushrooms and thin crispy bacon were addictive, and the congee was some of the best I have ever had. There is also an à la carte menu. By day two we were welcomed by name and staff had remembered our coffee and tea preferences.
With 12 dining options it’s hard to choose, but the intimate eightperson sushi bar at Sushi Sora (sora meaning sky in Japanese) was a deliciously unique experience. This is traditional edomae-style sushi, and there are no freezers, only the freshest seasonal fish is brought in each day. Located on the 38th floor, with stunning views of the Tokyo Skytree and a dining counter cut from a 350-year-old Japanese cypress, there are two chefs catering to just eight guests. This was definitely the finest sushi I have ever tasted, with the fatty tuna literally melting in my mouth. And if you enjoy sake, the sommelier will match your sushi courses with options from their extensive sake menu.
During our two weeks in Japan we enjoyed many onsen baths, but none as spectacular as those at the Mandarin Oriental. The spa
offers numerous treatments, but we were happy to enjoy the soaking pools, amethyst crystal steam room, and the sky-view sauna – with the most amazing view of any sauna I have experienced. Don’t forget to check out the fitness room where you’ll find more views to die for as well as delicious healthy house-made granola bars and fresh green juice.
The wow factor here was the jawdropping views. I loved changing into the traditional Yukata (casual kimono) and making a beautiful cup of tea every afternoon when we came back from a full day of walking, then gazing out of the window toward Mount Fuji as the day turned into night before heading out again.
The best suite in the hotel is the Presidential Suite, which can ac-
commodate two people in 250 square metres and features floorto-ceiling windows, a spa bathroom with Jacuzzi, dining room for eight people, separate study, living room and pantry. Rates are available on request.
If you have time, try to see an opening ceremony at Mitsukoshi department store – a daily tradition. Also, make sure you try some of the delicious Kyoho mountain grapes available at the specialty produce shop downstairs. I’m still craving them months later.
Suite: Opera Suite
Size: 84 square metres
Price: from €613 (about A$874) per night
Website: sofitel.com/gb/hotel-5706-sofitel-fiji-resort-and-spa/index
Review by: Kelly Jane
GabrielThe five-star, family friendly Sofitel Fiji Resort and Spa is located on Denarau Island overlooking the shores of Nadi Bay and about half a kilometre from Port Denarau Marina, which makes it a perfect base if you’re planning day trips to the outer island. The Opera Suite, spanning 84 square metres, offers guests spectacular oceanfront views and an outdoor balcony to admire them from. Guests staying in the suite are
granted complimentary access to the adults-only Waitui Beach Club and a dedicated check-in service.
As this is a very family friendly resort, breakfast can be a little chaotic. I highly recommend joining the Waitui Beach Club where you can enjoy a lovely, quiet outdoor breakfast with beautiful healthy options, great coffee, and friendly Fijian hospitality.
The resort has five on-site restaurants, which means there really is something for everyone. Lagoon Restaurant, open for all-day dining, with a separate children’s selection; Salt Restaurant serves up international cuisine in an oceanfront location; for light snacks and café-style breakfasts there is the French café La Parisienne or try the adults-only Waitui Beach Club for a menu of healthy tapas dishes and cocktails at sunset. The signature V Restaurant caters to guests searching for a fine dining experience with a menu that showcases local produce alongside imported delicacies.
While we did not have any spa treatments during our stay, the
Mandara Spa offers guests a range of signature treatments that each begin with a floral wash ritual meant to symbolically wash away stresses and prepare you for total relaxation.
The lagoon pool, which stretches the entire length of the resort, is perfect for families with young children. The kids will absolutely love the pool and its waterslides, and The Turtle Club, where activities like hat weaving, face painting and beach treasure jewellery workshops are offered daily.
As with many larger resorts, finding a free sun lounger during the school holidays was quite difficult.
The resort has two Imperial Suites. At 106 square metres each, they are the largest and most luxurious accommodation option and feature oceanfront views and a private outdoor terrace with a Jacuzzi.
If you are not travelling with children make sure to join the Waitui Beach Club. It’s a great place to escape and enjoy the quiet pool, sun lounge and delicious restaurant with a poolside bar. If you do have young children, think about visiting outside of peak holiday time, or be prepared for happy chaos.
Suite: Penthouse Suite
Size: 286 square metres plus 90 square metres of balcony space
Price: from NZ$10,000 (about A$9509) per night.
Website: pullmanauckland.co.nz
Review by: Kelly Jane Gabriel
The celebrities’ choice when visiting Auckland, the two-storey Penthouse Suite is pretty hard to beat. Floor-to-ceiling windows throughout overlook the harbour and city, and a stay here includes butler service, a stocked fridge, VIP transfers with a discreet en-
trance, and a large kitchen for your private chef. The open-plan suite is decorated with artwork by New Zealand artists (that can be swapped out depending on your preference), and has two large master bedrooms and an attached apartment perfect for a nanny, security or other staff.
If you have decided not to have breakfast in your suite, head down to the main level and enjoy selections from several buffet stations. My favourite was the “fit” section, which offered healthy choices such as green smoothies, goji berries, muesli, salmon, nuts and seeds, and juice shots.
Dining at Tapestry under chef Yannick Cayrol’s influence encompasses dishes with Spanish and Latin flavours made from New Zealand’s finest produce. The fish Kokoda with coconut, onion, chili and lime
was an explosion of flavour and was perfect followed by the New Zealand Angus beef ribs in coconut stew, lime, chili, rice noodles and caramelised peanuts.
I’m always happy to see Sodashi products on the spa menu, and thoroughly enjoyed my pure radiance facial. The products are naturally sourced and chemical free, and the treatment included a lot of facial massage, which I loved.
Everything in the Penthouse Suite is worthy of a “wow”, but sitting
outside on the balcony enjoying the views in the fresh New Zealand air was an unforgettable part of my stay.
This is the highest category available at the hotel.
The Penthouse Suite is incredibly exclusive and is available by invitation only, so you will need pre-approval by the general manager. But hey, you are sleeping in the same bed that Madonna, Miley Cyrus and Justin Bieber have all slept in after all.
The Sofitel Auckland Viaduct Harbour Hotel is set on the water on Auckland’s Waitematā Harbour, a great location in the heart of the city and adjacent to Wynyard Quarter. The clean contemporary design is complimented by the Māori artwork and plentiful natural light. There are several intimate seating areas and water features throughout.
Breakfast is served at the hotel’s Lava Dining restaurant and has excellent buffet and cookedto-order options. The service is friendly – a healthy juice shot was brought over when I placed my coffee order. There were plenty of
Suite: Junior Suite
Size: 52 square metres
Price: Rates from A$440 per night
Website: sofitel.com/gb/hotel-8577-sofitel-auckland-viaduct-harbour/
Review by: Kelly Jane Gabriel
healthy choices including a delicious homemade muesli and wonderful congee.
21 Viaduct Café is a casual place to grab a coffee or small bite to eat. It has a nice ambiance with large windows overlooking the harbour. There is also Sabrage Bar, an intimate space to grab a pre-dinner cocktail. The standout, however, is
Lava Dining’s dinner service. With its backlit marble interiors casting an amber glow, chef Sebastian Hindrichs delivers a regional menu with a French influence. We enjoyed a spectacular dinner of Bluff oysters, king salmon, wild venison, and crème caramel.
Open from 10am to 8pm, the hotel’s award-winning SoSpa uses
products by French brand Themae and local brand Plantogen.
While some Junior Suites have standard city views, the internally facing suites look out over the hotel’s internal water feature.
The Deluxe Suite is slightly larger than the Junior Suite at 63 square metres, and boasts a separate lounge room, a Nespresso machine and a marble bathroom complete with deep soaking bath and separate shower.
If given the opportunity, book a waterview Junior Suite.
Suite: Executive Suite 2 Bedroom
Size: 60 square metres
Price: Rates start from NZ$489 per night (about A$450)
Website: qthotelsandresorts.com/wellington
Review by: Beatrice Spence
Location, location, location. The hotel is just across the road from Wellington’s harbour and the world-class Te Papa Museum. The waterfront precinct is at your doorstep and is easy walking distance to great shopping (think New Zealand designer Kate Sylvester), art galleries, cafés and bars.
Originally located on Wellington’s waterfront when Chris Parkin bought it in 1990, QT Museum Wellington faced demolition two years later to make way for the Te Papa Museum. Parkin instead, took the adventurous step of having the 3000-tonne hotel moved on a train track system 120 metres down the road; a feat watched by a local crowd of more than 1000 people.
The hotel restaurant offers both light and full buffet breakfast. If you are keen to grab a coffee and croissant on your way out the door, stop by the Lobby café and bar.
French restaurant, Hippopotamus, is on the top floor of the hotel and looks across Wellington Harbour. The restaurant’s afternoon high tea won
the Global Dilmah High Tea Challenge in 2015 for its service featuring delicate amusebouches and mini sandwiches. Hippopotamus holds a hat from New Zealand's Cuisine Good Food Awards. In-room dining is also available.
There is everything you need for a relaxing weekend with gymnasium, swimming pool, sauna and spa all on site.
QT Museum Wellington is a boutique luxury hotel with a beating heart. It’s the place to go to mark special events: engagements, anniversaries, date nights and the like.
Formerly the Museum Art Hotel, the property was acquired by the Australian-owned QT Hotels & Resorts in June 2015 and, with Parkin’s eclectic art collection (which will stay in the hotel for the next two years) and boutique furnishings, it seems an ideal fit. The hotel lobby features large contemporary paintings, luxurious motorbikes, quirky chandeliers and gold accents.
For me the hotel was perfect. I loved its uniqueness and
theatrical character combined with luxury and elegance. However, if clean minimalism is your thing this may not be top of your list.
For an upgrade try the 120 square metre two-bedroom Wellington Suite Penthouse.
If you have the opportunity, book the elegantly appointed Le Salon for private dining.
FASHION, FOOD, CULTURE AND ART DE VIVRE. ALL UNDER ONE ROOF
Les Galeries Lafayette, the famous department store in Paris, is located in the very heart of the city. The flagship store on Boulevard Haussmann is home not only to the largest fashion collections in the world, but also interior design and gourmet food. The store provides over 70 000 m2 of shopping space, stocking more than 3 500 brands from around the world.
Enjoy Le Concierge, a private lounge dedicated to our English-speaking customers. Located on the 2nd floor of the main store, Le Concierge offers many high quality services to make your shopping experience unique. On the 7th floor, you can look out over an amazing view at La Terrasse while drinking a glass of Champagne in the Ice cube bar.
THIS ISSUE : CULINARY TRAVELS IN SOUTH KOREA / GLOBAL KITCHEN –RECIPES FROM MEXICO / EPICUREAN TRAVELS WITH THE LATEST NEWS FROM THE WORLD OF FINE FOOD AND DRINK / THE NEW FERRARI GTC4LUSSO / CELEBRITY TRAVELLER : CATE BLANCHETT ON HER TRAVEL EXPERIENCES
page
We’ve been asking luxury hotels, resorts, tour operators, cruise lines, rail companies and more to share with our readers the one fabulous thing about their product that they really want Australian luxury travellers to know about.
@visit.dubai: the city is ever evolving
@saffirefreycinet: the new Tasmanian Devil complimentary experience as part of our save the devil campaign
@mondrianhotels: LA –the hotel’s Skybar with its stunning view of #LosAngeles
@intercontinentalsydney: club InterContinental, for fabulous views and personal service!
@bhutantourism: it’s the happiest place on earth.
@elementsofbyron: the introduction of a heritage train line between the property and #ByronBay in the new year
@oceaniacruises: the finest cuisine at sea!
@vegas: the amazing luxury product offering in the entertainment capital of the world
TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE TO KNOW IN LUXURY TRAVEL, FOLLOW US ON:
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Alyssa Govindan PROVIDES A DELICIOUS OVERVIEW OF SOUTH KOREAN FOODIE HUB, JEONJU.
In 2004, South Korea joined France, Germany, Japan and Spain in the super high-speed train era. Since then, Koreans have been able to travel virtually anywhere in their country in under three hours. Their express rail network operates at speeds of up to 300 kilometres per hour and can traverse the 194 kilometres between the heart of Seoul and centrally located Jeonju with a comfortable, scenic rail journey of just 90 minutes.
As the birthplace of the eminent Korean dish Bibimbap and home to hundreds of vibrant hanok (traditional Korean houses), the town of Jeonju is all about tradition and culture. A consistently rising food scene and a dedication to preserving some of Korea’s best national dishes resulted in Jeonju being named a City of Gastronomy by UNESCO in 2012. Today the city is a hotspot for Korean travellers, but is sure to pick up popularity among foreigners in the years to come for its extraordinary food scene and rich historical and cultural offerings.
With slanted tiled roofs and wooden doors, the village of Hanok Maeul has one of the largest collections of hanok in all of South Korea. It lies in the heart of Jeonju and is the place to stay. Traditional style is to sleep on a mat on the floor and the method of ondol (underfloor heating system) aids a comfortable sleep. Most hanok have been transformed into guesthouses, galleries or teahouses.
At the heart of the village is Gyeonggijeon, a historical site that was built in 1410 for Yi Seong-gye, the first king of the long-reigning Joseon Dynasty. His portrait and memorial tablet are protected here. Part of the structure was destroyed during the Imjin War and rebuilt in 1614. The shrine is representative of Confucian rituals, making it both an educational and spiritual experience.
The vibrant, contemporary and traditional food culture is the biggest drawcard for many visitors to Jeonju. Bibimbap, a dish of vegeta-
“As the birthplace of the eminent Korean dish Bibimbap and home to hundreds of vibrant hanok (traditional Korean houses), the town of Jeonju is all about tradition and culture”
bles, chilli paste and egg on a base of rice, has recently been gaining popularity around the world. Since the town of Jeonju is the birthplace of this dish, it holds its standards quite high. Ingredients are sourced locally due to the city’s ability to produce abundant crops. Jeonju’s bibimbap is credited with being flawlessly balanced, creating an array of flavours and textures in each bite without overshadowing the true masterpieces of the dish. It also includes Hwang Po Mook (a bean sprout jelly), an ingredient unique to Jeonju.
While bibimbap takes the cake in Jeonju, there are other street foods that make the city all that it is. Hanok Maeul is arguably home to the best street food in the city. Hatteok is a particular favourite. This fluffy pancake comes in a variety of flavours such as soymilk and cream cheese. Squid skewers are up for grabs at many street carts within the village. Grilled or fried, and sometimes smothered in a glowing red marinade, these can be the perfect on-the-go snack or late-night eat. Makgeolli (rice wine) is the drink of choice for most. Kettles filled with the glorious, milky goodness arrive at the table followed by side dishes that come complimentary in most cases.
Gogung Founded in 1996, this restaurant serves bibimbap in the most traditional way. It was so successful that a sister restaurant opened in Seoul with ingredients imported from Jeonju. Gajokhoegwan. Centrally located, this bibimbap restaurant serves delectable side dishes or banchan. You can watch your dish being assembled in the kitchen from the open-plan dining area.
Hanok Hotel Hagindang , built in 1908 by a wealthy landlord from the Joseon Dynasty, is the oldest house in the village. Set in beautiful gardens, it offers Korean breakfast.
Cho Ga Jib is a hanok guesthouse that is 100 years old, and is the only thatchedroof house left in the village.
See images from this story at luxurytravelmag.com.au
l RECOMMENDED READING
Clockwise, from left: traditional hanok house; Makgeolli (rice wine) is a popular South Korean drink; bibimbap with side dishes; a girl in traditional dress.
Uncle Hong-do arrives in Vermont from Korea to see the sister he has never met, a concert violinist long settled in America. His colourful visit turns his teenage niece Anna’s world upside down, disrupting her cosy existence with his eccentric customs, forcing into it a fresh and intriguing tang of Korea. Then, too soon, he returns to Seoul. When Anna leaves for the orient many years later to uncover her family’s elusive history, her departure stirs up vivid, shocking memories for her mother, of her gilded childhood in Korea and the story of her noble clan’s fall from power. tripfiction.com/books/one-thousand-chestnut-trees/
“Jeonju’s bibimbap is credited with being flawlessly balanced, creating an array of flavours and textures in each bite without overshadowing the true masterpieces of the dish”SUSAN BORHAM SUSAN BORHAM SOUTH KOREA TOURISM SOUTH KOREA TOURISM
CHEF PAUL WILSON IS AN EXPERT IN LATIN FOOD CULTURES, AND IN HIS LATEST COOKBOOK TAQUERIA, HE SHARES MORE THAN 80 VIBRANT AND FLAVOURFUL MEXICAN DISHES AND ACCOMPANIMENTS INCLUDING MOLES, SALSAS AND TACOS. WE’VE COMPILED SOME OF HIS RECIPES HERE FOR A DELICIOUS MEXICAN FEAST, COMPLETE WITH A MARGARITA.
MAKES 500 ML (17 FL OZ/2 CUPS) PICKLING SOLUTION
“Idiscovered these pickles while preparing a traditional Yucatán dish called cochinita pibil. The pickles are so versatile for both meat and seafood cooking. They are a great cooling agent and an attractive accompaniment for spicy dishes, barbecues and cured meats. The solution can be used to pickle a variety of vegetables, fruit and chillies as well as for a light dressing for salads,” says Wilson.
INGREDIENTS
2 cloves
¼ teaspoon whole black peppercorns
¼ teaspoon cumin seeds
250 ml cider vinegar
220 g sugar
zest and juice of 2 oranges
2 garlic cloves, smashed
½ teaspoon dried oregano
1 cinnamon stick
salt
ice cubes
small red onions, halved, quartered or sliced heirloom radishes, thinly sliced heirloom carrots, thinly sliced jalapeños, thinly sliced nectarines, thinly sliced peeled cherry tomatoesate
Dry-fry the cloves, peppercorns and cumin seeds in a small frying pan over low heat, until fragrant, then grind to a fine powder in a pestle and mortar. Meanwhile, combine the vinegar and sugar in a small saucepan and gently simmer, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Add the orange zest and juice, garlic, oregano, cinnamon and ground spices and set aside to cool. To prepare your vegetables or fruit for pickling, place them in a bowl and sprinkle generously with salt (you will need 2 tablespoons of salt for every 500 g of veg. Cover with ice cubes and leave to brine for 1 hour, then drain and rinse briefly in cold water. Return the pickling liquid to the boil and pour over the brined vegetables or fruit to cover. Allow to cool before storing in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.
GUACAMOLE WITH BACON & CHICHARRONES
SERVES EIGHT
James has worked as a sommelier in Sydney restaurants for more than 10 years, including Jimmy Liks, The Apollo and Rockpool Bar and Grill. He is currently the general manager at World Wine Estates.
l drink
Marlborough, New Zealand
RRP A$25
“I would suggest a Riesling, with a touch of residual sugar here. The sweetness helps bring out the flavour in the core ingredients, while also working to compliment and balance the range of spices.”
Bacon & Chicharrones Topping
3 tablespoons sunflower oil
400 g lardons or kaiserfleisch
150 g pepitas (pumpkin seeds)
‘
You had me at bacon’, is most people’s reaction to anything with a bacon topping. Here I’ve added another Mexican staple, the porky and now fashionable chicharrones – pork skin strips that have been boiled and dried, then fried to a prawn cracker–like texture. As these are very challenging to master at home (especially if you value a clean kitchen and an unblemished complexion) it’s perfectly acceptable to use the pre-cooked ones available in good Latin food stores, or even pork scratchings instead,” says Wilson.
INGREDIENTS
500 g (about 2–3) ripe
Hass avocados
juice of 2 limes
2 tablespoons avocado oil
2 teaspoons ground cumin
½ teaspoon ground allspice
pinch of sea salt
250 g cherry tomatoes, halved and roughly chopped
2 red onions, finely chopped
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
1 bunch coriander leaves, chopped
200 g cooked chicharrones or pork scratchings
200 g finely shredded green apple
100 g pomegranate seeds
200 ml Pomegranate mojo*
75 g salted ricotta, chopped
Cut the avocados in half lengthways, remove the stones and scoop out the flesh using a large spoon.
Arrange the avocados in an attractive mixing bowl.
Begin to crush the avocados with a large fork, adding the lime juice and avocado oil to moisten. Season with the cumin, allspice and salt, then stir in the remaining ingredients gradually, taking care not to overmix.
Cover and refrigerate for up to 30 minutes to allow the flavours to develop.
For the topping, heat the oil in a wide pan. Add the lardons and fry for 5 minutes on each side until crispy. Remove the lardons from the pan, season lightly with salt and leave to drain on paper towel.
Add the pepitas to the pan, reduce the heat to low and cook for 2–3 minutes or until lightly golden. Transfer to paper towel to drain. Serve the guacamole in individual bowls. Top with the crispy lardons, pepitas, chicharrones, apple, pomegranate seeds, generous spoonfuls of pomegranate mojo and a good sprinkle of chopped salted ricotta. Serve with blue corn (tortilla) chips.
TIP: Instead of bacon, try grilling slices of prosciutto or guanciale till crisp, then drain on paper towel and chop or crumble into shards before sprinkling over the guacamole.
l drink
DOMAINE NATURALISTE FLORIS CHARDONNAY
Margaret River, WA RRP A$28
“A leaner Chardonnay would work very well here. The natural acidity provides freshness to help cut through the fattier elements, while the nutty complexity and minerality will work nicely with the savoury ingredients.”
SERVES SIX
“Taking the tostadas of the Baja coast as inspiration, these backyard barbecue tostadas are great with all types of barbecue toppings – grilled meats, flavoursome cheeses and, of course, great seafood,” says Wilson.
Wood-Grilled Vegetables
3 red capsicumS
3 red onions, unpeeled and quartered with roots attached olive oil for drizzling
sea salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
2 green zucchinis, cut lengthways into 1 cm thick slices
200 ml sherry vinegar
200 g sugar
1 large handful oregano leaves, roughly chopped
Tostadas
6 small tortillas
100 ml sunflower oil for frying sea salt to taste
Tuna
large pinch of ground cumin large pinch of smoked paprika
large pinch of salt
3 x 200 g (7 oz) albacore or yellow fin tuna steaks
100 ml (3½ fl oz) extra-virgin olive oil
juice of 2 limes
2 garlic cloves, crushed
Garnish
300 ml of either Veracruz sauce, Sesame pipian or Jalapeño & lime
crema
2 avocados, sliced
1 small handful oregano leaves
1 small handful basil or flat-leaf
(Italian) parsley
2 jalapeños, thinly sliced
*A recipe for pomegranate mojo can be found on page 28 of Taqueria.
Preheat a wood or coal barbecue until the coals have a thin coating of grey ash. Add presoaked aromatic wood, such as mallee oak, hickory or ironbark. Alternatively, if using a gas barbecue, soak smaller wood chips and place them in a smoking box on your barbecue.
To prepare the wood-grilled vegetables, grill the capsicums, turning occasionally, until they are blackened all over and beginning to soften. Transfer to a bowl, cover with plastic wrap and set aside to steam and cool slightly for 10 minutes.
Toss the onion in olive oil and season with salt and pepper and grill, turning occasionally, for 5–10 minutes, until softened and lightly charred all over. Drizzle the zucchini with oil and season with salt and pepper. Grill for 1–2 minutes on each side, until just cooked and lightly charred. Transfer the onion and zucchini to a tray and set aside to cool.
Meanwhile combine the vinegar, sugar and oregano in a small saucepan over low heat, stirring occasionally, until the sugar dissolves. Increase the heat and simmer until reduced to a rich coating consistency. Set aside to cool.
Once cooled, peel the onions and trim off the root. Separate the onion layers and cut each layer in half into neat petal-shaped pieces. Slice the zucchini to make neat ribbons. Peel and seed the capsicums and slice lengthways into neat strips. Pour the marinade over the vegetables, season with salt and
drizzle with olive oil.
To prepare the tostadas, heat the oil in a large frying pan over medium–high heat. Shallow-fry the tortillas in batches for 1 minute on each side, or until crisp and golden. Transfer to paper towel to drain. Lightly season with salt.
To prepare the tuna, combine the spices and salt in a small bowl then season the fish liberally on both sides. Combine the oil, lime and garlic in a
medium bowl. Dip the tuna steaks into the oil and lime mixture and grill for 2 minutes on each side, turning every minute, until seared. For a more wellcooked tuna portion, finish in the oven or on a cooler part of the barbecue. Cut into thin slices.
To assemble, spread the tostadas with your chosen sauce, arrange the vegetables, tuna and avocado slices attractively on top and scatter with herbs and jalapeño.
l drink
WINES BY KT ROSA
Clare Valley, SA RRP A$25
“Australian rosé provides just enough weight of fruit and sweetness to match the grilled flavours in this dish, whilst the delicate nature of the rosé’s perfumed notes work beautifully with the seared Tuna.”
INGREDIENTS
2 x 125 g duck breasts
50 g Latin spice rub
1 tablespoon olive oil
‘
Pico de gallo’, meaning ‘rooster’s beak’, is certainly one of the most popular salsas in Mexico. Made up of red onion, tomatoes, serrano chilli, coriander and lime juice, it’s a celebration of all the flavours we love, and refreshes with every bite. I came across a few riffs on this great salsa on my travels – some with orange, some with jicama, some with tomatillo – what I learnt was that the most important element is the uniform size of the salsa and the balance of acid to natural sweetness,” says Wilson.
1 teaspoon cumin seeds
50 ml sherry vinegar
50 ml agave syrup
12 homemade masa flour
tortillas or store-bought tortillas
Nectarine Pico de Gallo
½ red onion, finely diced juice of 2 limes
1 jalapeño, finely chopped
½ bunch basil, finely chopped
½ bunch coriander leaves, finely chopped
½ bunch chives, finely chopped
2 nectarines, finely chopped pinch of salt
Score the skin of each duck breast diagonally six times with a sharp knife and coat evenly in the spice rub. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan over medium heat, add the cumin seeds and duck breasts, skin side down, and cook gently for 5 minutes, or until the duck skin begins to colour. Turn the duck breasts over, add the sherry vinegar and agave syrup and cook for a further 2 minutes, basting occasionally with the oils in the pan. Remove the duck from the pan and transfer to a chopping board. Cover with foil and leave to rest for at least 4 minutes.
Mornington Peninsula, VIC
RRP A$30
“I would go with a classic Duck & Pinot match here, taking in to consideration the fresh herbaceousness of that Nectarine Pico de Gallo, a lighter style from Mornington with good natural acid and purity of fruit would work very well.”
Heat a medium non-stick frying pan over high heat. Lightly spray with oil and briefly fry the tortillas to warm them. Stack the tortillas, wrap them in a warm damp tea towel or taco holder and set aside to keep warm.
To make the salsa, combine all the ingredients in a bowl and mix together well.
Cut the rested duck into thick diagonal slices. To serve, arrange the warm tortillas onto serving plates and top with the duck and lashings of the nectarine pico de gallo.
ometimes all you need is a margarita and this watermelon-based version is a great summer alternative to the classic citrus-based drink. It’s a refreshingly sweet, but not too sweet, drink with the bitter lemon balancing the sweetness without overpowering the delicate flavour of the melon. This recipe needs to be started a couple of days in advance to give the tequila and watermelon time to infuse,” says Wilson.
INGREDIENTS
125 ml watermelon-infused tequila
150 g crushed ice
60 ml bitter lemon
30 ml Cointreau
3–4 cubes tequila-marinated watermelon (reserved from the watermelon-infused tequila, see below)
small watermelon wedges to garnish
Watermelon-Infused Tequila
750 ml (25½ fl oz/3 cups)
blanco tequila
1 kg (2 lb 3 oz) seedless watermelon, cubed
To make the watermelon-infused tequila, pour the tequila into a 2 litre jar with a lid. Top up with watermelon cubes. Seal and set aside, gently shaking occasionally, for at least 2 days or up to a week. Strain, returning the liquid to the original bottle. Reserve the tequila-infused watermelon for making the cocktail.
Combine the watermeloninfused tequila with crushed ice, bitter lemon, Cointreau and marinated watermelon in a blender and process until smooth. Pour into chilled margarita glasses and garnish with the watermelon wedges.
The Culinary Institute of America (CIA) has partnered with the ancient Castello di Ugento in Puglia, southern Italy to launch an immersive Italian cookery school directed by distinguished Italian chef Odette Fada. The culinary project opened in January, with Chef Fada instructing students in the art of Italian cooking, focussing on the cuisine of the local region. Guests at the Castello’s luxury hotel in Puglia, which will open in June, will also be able to attend the classes, where they will learn how to make local specialties using fresh seasonal ingredients purchased from the village markets. Local nonnas will also teach at the Castello, sharing family recipes passed down over generations. Classes are priced at €150 (about A$210) and include a tasting meal after the lesson. castellodiugento.com
Fairmont has released a range of bespoke barware products, allowing guests to recreate the luxury hotel brand’s cocktails at home. The range includes the Birdy shaker, Classics Perfected signature Schott Zwiesel crystal glassware, small-batch Bittered Sling bitters and other premium products. fairmontstore.com
Wild Bush Luxury has announced a new food safari package to be hosted by two-hat chef, James Viles. The Wild Tastes of the Top End safari at Bamurru Plains in the Northern Territory will combine adventure and indulgence, as well as highlight the importance and benefits of eating local seasonal produce. The four-day program will see guests sampling dishes that showcase native foods such as catfish, spanner crab and wild rice, as well as taking part in guided wildlife and safari experiences. Prices start from A$3490 per person, based on a twin share. bamurruplains.com
Just 90 minutes north of San Francisco, SingleThread is Sonoma County’s newest winecounty homestay. The farm-driven restaurant and lodging, which opened in November 2016, is the vision of husband-and-wife team, Kyle and Katina Connaughton. A chef by trade, Kyle has drawn on his experience in fine-dining restaurants such as Heston Blumenthal’s three-Michelin starred Fat Duck.
The five-acre property consists of a greenhouse, heirloom fruit orchard, chicken coops, olive trees, beehives and a cattle paddock surrounded by a variety of wine vineyards; the resulting produce used to supply the restaurant kitchen. Diners have a choice of three 11-course tasting menus that fuse Japanese flavours with seasonal produce and come with paired wines. For those who wish to stay overnight there are five luxury guestrooms above the restaurant. singlethreadfarms.com
Ralph Lauren has launched its first dining destination in London with Ralph’s Coffee and Bar opening in Mayfair earlier this year. The venue reflects the brand’s signature equestrian aesthetic, with saddle leather banquettes, a brasstopped bar and walls made of dark wood panelling and green billiard cloth. The cocktail list features old-school favourites such as a Gimlet and Ridgway Magarita, while the coffee bar will serve an organic custom blend by La Colombe. ralphlauren.co.uk
Four Seasons has teamed up with René Redzepi, chef and owner of twoMichelin star restaurant Noma, for Culinary Discoveries, a 19-day private jet experience. Following Redzepi’s curated itinerary, the journey will take guests from Seoul to Tokyo, Hong Kong, Chiang Mai, Mumbai, Florence, Lisbon, and Copenhagen with the final stop in the haute cuisine hotspot of Paris.
Guests will be transported from city to city on board Four Seasons’ private Boeing 757 and enjoy the comforts of leather flat-bed seats handcrafted in Italy, a first-class menu created by an on-board Four Seasons Executive Chef, and Four Seasons concierge service. Upon arrival in each destination guests will check-in to their Four Seasons accommodation and embark on a tailored schedule of cultural and culinary activities hosted by local chefs, farmers and artisans. Highlights include a foraging expedition with Michelin-star chef Namae Shinobu in Tokyo, a private dinner in the home of farm-to-table chef Jong-Kuk Lee in Seoul, sword fighting classes with sword artist Tetsuro Shimaguchi in Tokyo, and a cocktail hour sail through Hong Kong’s harbour in a traditional redsail junk boat.
The tour departs 27 May 2017 with rates starting at US$135,000 (about A$177,000). The single supplement is US$12,000 (about A$15,686).
privatejet.fourseasons.com/fs/culinarydiscoveries
Designing a new Ferrari is never an easy task but coming up with a replacement for the FF must have been especially taxing. Why? Because it has to satisfy the demands of the brand’s most discerning clientele. Not only do they expect Ferrari’s trademark blistering performance, but they also want a car that can comfortably house four adults plus their luggage while still being head-turningly stunning.
ankfully, the GTC4Lusso ticks all of these boxes. It’s frighteningly quick (0 to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds), unexpectedly practical (800 litres of luggage space) and seductively stylish (unlike its predecessor whose design was sometimes unflatteringly compared to that of a bread van). Under the bonnet it’s Ferrari’s most technologically advanced car yet, with four-wheel drive, fourwheel steering and slip-slide control.
Inside it’s an oasis of hand-stitched caramel leather and beautifully crafted black and silver switchgear.
ere’s a new 26-centimetre touch-sensitive multi-function display plus an optional HD passenger screen with stats including the G-forces while cornering. e wraparound front seats are reassuringly supportive but the biggest surprise is the accommodation in the back. So often the rear seats of a supercar are a cramped and claustrophobic prospect for anyone taller than an Ewok.
e GTC4Lusso, on the other hand, can accommodate two full-sized grown-ups with lavish amounts of headroom and leg space. ere are even cup holders.
So on paper, at least, it would seem that Ferrari has achieved the impossible – built a car that’s as happy delivering the kids to school as it is roaring up a snowy mountain pass or hurtling down a German autobahn. But what’s it like to drive?
Push the red starter button and the 6.3-litre naturally aspirated V12 engine fires up with a reassuring bark. Leave the seven-speed dual clutch gearbox in automatic and the car in “comfort” mode and it drives like a family
GTC4LUSSO IS THE BRAND’S MOST VERSATILE CAR YET, WRITES Rob McFarland.
sedan. e ride is refined, easily absorbing bumps and ruts, there’s minimal road noise and, thanks to a two-stage exhaust, there’s nothing more than a background purr from the engine.
Drop the kids off, change the gearbox to manual and flick the car into “sport” mode and things get interesting. Eighty per cent of the engine’s torque is available below 2000 rpm so even a tentative tap on the accelerator sends you hurtling towards the horizon with the ferocity of a slingshot. e car’s advanced four-wheel drive and four-wheel steering systems dynamically send power to the wheels that need it giving the GTC4Lusso an agility and cornering prowess that belies its 1920kg kerb weight.
At higher revs the exhaust note changes too. Gone is the don’t-wake-the-neighbours muted gurgle, replaced by an all-out bellow that rises into a glorious banshee-like scream at 8000 rpm.
As for the design, the GTC4Lusso looks lower, wider and more muscular than the FF. e “shooting brake” rounded rear is still there but the overall
package is sexier and sportier than its predecessor with more of that head-turning appeal that’s such an important part of Ferrari’s DNA.
In summary, Ferrari has succeeded in creating the brand’s most versatile car yet – a family-friendly grand tourer with 458 Italia-like performance that’s as comfortable delivering four people to the golf course as it is on the race track. Bravo.
Price: From A$578,888 plus on-road costs
Engine: 6.3-litre V12 petrol
Power: 507kW at 8000 rpm
Torque: 697Nm at 5750 rpm
Transmission: Seven-speed dual-clutch automatic with all-wheel drive
Acceleration: 0 to 100km/h in 3.4 seconds
Top speed: 335km/h
Weight: 1920kg
Economy: 15L/100km
THE NEW FERRARI GTC4LUSSO
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GORGEOUS, CLASSY AND INCREDIBLY TALENTED – TWO-TIME ACADEMY AWARD WINNER CATE BLANCHETT HAS TRAVERSED THE GLOBE DURING A LENGTHY CAREER AS A TRUE STAR OF THE SILVER SCREEN, AS LUXURY TRAVEL DISCOVERS.
Like many young Australians, you went travelling before you began your studies – an acting degree at the National Institute of Dramatic Art (NIDA). What did you learn from your first solo journey overseas?
Learn to love the unexpected. I remember years ago I climbed Ararat, the highest mountain in Turkey. I was 18, it was sunrise, and I could just see the light beginning to come in. I love that, standing on a precipice looking out on the horizon, or when you’re in the country and the hills just roll and roll and roll.
You’ve filmed in numerous destinations across the globe. Can you describe a standout memory?
I was in a hotel in Cairo back when I was very young – a real fleapit, where they printed money and forged passports in the lobby! Some random Scottish guy came up to me wanting English-speaking extras for a film that was shooting nearby. I’d be paid five Egyptian pounds and a falafel. I went along and there was a guy with a megaphone like something
straight out of a silent movie, but it was so hot I ended up leaving quite quickly.
Where has your role as Global Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency taken you?
I work with the UNHCR (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees), which deals with providing shelter, safe passage and education for refugees. I’ve been to Jordan, Lebanon, Syria; but it’s not just about the Middle East. ere are forgotten communities of refugees – many of them children – in places like South Sudan, Central Africa and Nigeria that I hope to one day visit too.
How does travelling with children affect your travel choices?
I have no desire to have someone else raise my children, so that sometimes prevents me from picking and choosing projects at will. Generally, we’re happy wherever we are as long as we’re together. My husband and kids are used to travelling and we can enjoy living in London, in Rome,
in New York, or anywhere we might be working. It’s the close feeling you have as a family that is the most important thing in life, not where you happen to reside. But as much as we love Sydney, and I wanted our kids to get to know their mother’s Australian culture, it’s always interesting to be exposed to other cultures.
What is your one luxury travel item?
When I’m travelling I try to protect my skin from dehydration as much as possible. I like to decant some SK-II Facial Treatment Essence into a little spray bottle and spritz my skin regularly when I fly.
Any destinations on the travel bucket list?
e Antarctic and Greenland are definitely on my bucket list, and I’d really like to live in Iceland; firstly, because I believe in fairytales, and secondly because I love the lava fields. But I would have to consult with my family –moving to Iceland is not the kind of decision you make on your own!
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