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HOLIDAYS

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08.05.2016

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DREAM destinations 8 pages of inspirational getaways to indulge your love of luxury

studying the classics

playgrounds in paradise

india will knock you for six

Italy or Greece? We take a look at these jewels of the Med | p3

How upmarket resorts are catering for children | p6

Cricket legend David Gower hosts this winter’s supporter tour | p7

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@ITCLuxuryTravel itcluxurytravel.co.uk 01244 355526

2 / on the horizon

W h at ’s ne w We reveal the latest resorts designed to take luxury to the next level hollywood style on the waterfront The Faena Hotel Miami Beach is one of the most ambitious tourism projects to open in decades. The 169-room property has been designed by The Great Gatsby director Baz Luhrmann and his wife, the designer Catherine Martin, using the movie as inspiration. There are extraordinary artworks throughout the public spaces, including Damien Hirst’s Gone But Not Forgotten, the gilded skeleton of a woolly mammoth, which overlooks the pool.

Dining is as theatrical as the decor. The Los Fuegos restaurant, by the celebrated South American chef Francis Mallmann, features his live-fire concept with chefs cooking over roaring flames. The South American theme continues in the spa, where lapis lazuli from Chile, Brazilian rose stones and sound bowls are incorporated into treatments. Faena Forum, the hotel’s groundbreaking cultural centre, is due to open later this year.

A week costs from £1,899pp, B&B, including flights.

08.05.2016 / 3 Alain Schroeder/Getty Images

rainforest-meets-riviera chic

Heavenly vista: blue-domed churches line the hills of Santorini

Langkawi is the favoured weekend bolthole of Malaysia’s elite and home to two of Asia’s best hotels, the Four Seasons and the Datai.

After more than a decade, the duo finally has competition in the form of the all-suite St Regis resort, one of the year’s most eagerly anticipated openings. The vast property beats its rivals on location, with a secluded rainforest-meets-riviera setting on Langkawi’s southern tip. Suites overlook a private stretch of white-sand beach, with a backdrop of lush jungle and views over the Straits of Malacca. St Regis is known for impeccable service and exceptional dining experiences and its Langkawi resort has six restaurants, including Kayuputi, a vintage beach house serving Asian-influenced haute cuisine and L’Orangerie, which serves French and Asian fusion dishes. For perfect relaxation, take in the breathtaking views of the Andaman Sea from an infinity pool surrounded by tropical palms. Just beyond lies a vast private swimming lagoon where guests can take a kayak to an exclusive island for a private picnic, while the Iridium Spa provides a journey for the senses, with eight treatment suites offering modern and traditional healing rituals.

INDULGENCE to infinity and beyond starchitect plots up on anguilla Shoal Bay on Anguilla is regularly voted one of the world’s best beaches and now you can wake up to its two miles of pink-hued sand and turquoise waters. Designed by Lane Pettigrew, the architect behind classic Caribbean properties such as The Crane, on Barbados, Zemi Beach House is the first resort to be built on Shoal Bay East and the first new-build hotel to open on the island for six years. All rooms have oceanfront balconies or terraces to make the most of the postcard views, and there is a five-room spa, housed in a 300-year-old Thai mansion transported to the island in the 1980s, which offers treatments inspired by the Taino Indians, Anguilla’s original inhabitants.

A week costs from £2,279pp, B&B, including flights and transfers.

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For more information on any of these packages, visit itcluxurytravel.co.uk or call 01244 355526

Luxury continues to redefine the image of the all-inclusive resort. OZEN by Atmosphere, which launches in the Maldives in July, promises to raise the bar to another level of indulgence.

Guests can enjoy a free dive experience, free sunset fishing excursion or free personalised treatment at the sumptuous Elena spa, or pamper themselves with beauty products from luxury brands such as Asprey Purple Water and Natura Bissé. As well as offering complimentary cuisine from around the world, guests can dine out at M6m, an underwater steak and lobster restaurant, offering an unforgettable experience beneath the waves. All 90 rooms have private infinity pools, while some villas come with glass floors over the ocean. The resort is on South Male atoll, a short, luxury speedboat ride from the airport, ensuring you arrive in style.

A week costs from £2,569pp, all inclusive.

Spoilt for choice Sun-drenched piazzas, breathtaking sea views and world-class food… Italy and Greece offer the best of the Med. Which will you pick?

GRANDE DAME HOTELS

BATTLE OF THE BEACHES

Italy: The Aga Khan fell for the jade-green waters and powder-soft sands of the Costa Smeralda back in the Sixties and turned it into an A-list playground. Since then, this 34-mile slice of Sardinia has never looked back and now attract stars such as Tom Cruise and Rihanna. The Cervo Hotel (from £1,095pp, B&B) is in the thick of the action, overlooking Porto Cervo Piazzetta, but somehow remains affordable.

Greece: If you rate simplicity over sophistication, Halkidiki, south east of Greece’s second city Thessaloniki, is a shot of pure tranquillity. Surrounded by traditional villages and fronted by sheltered bays with golden sands, Sani Beach (from £665pp, half-board) epitomises the area’s appeal, set in a 1,000-acre ecological reserve overlooking a shimmering Aegean.

HOLIDAY ON A PLATE

Italy: Take Tuscany’s irresistible cucina, a 11th-century walled hamlet that has been turned into a sophisticated hideaway hotel, and add the UK’s arguably most famous chef, Gordon Ramsay, and you have the recipe for the perfect foodie escape. One look at its menus and you’ll be grateful that

Naples, oozes old-school glamour. Browse the fashion boutiques or take a boat trip to its famous Blue Grotto. Stay at the Capri Palace (£1,479pp, B&B), home to a worldclass spa (Gwyneth Paltrow is a fan) and the two Michelin-starred L’Olivo.

Greece: Crete’s heritage stretches back 4,000 years to the Minoans and the evocative ruins of the Palace of Knossos. It also ticks those other essential tourist boxes: beaches that stretch for miles, traditional towns and incredible food. Stay at Daios Cove (£1,135pp, B&B), where the hillside villas have top-notch sea views.

Views to dine for: Le Sirenuse in Positano, Italy

Castel Monastero (from £1,215pp, B&B) also has a fancy gym, three pools and hiking opportunities in the Ombrone valley to burn off the calories.

Greece: Chef Nobu Matsuhisa runs some of the world’s most glamorous restaurants.

In 2004, he arrived on Mykonos and knew its white cubist houses were the perfect architectural expression of his new-style Japanese cooking. He opened Matsuhisa Mykonos that summer, which remains one of the Mediterranean’s coolest summer restaurants. Last year, the island’s gourmet credentials were given another boost with the opening of Ling Ling by Hakkasan. The recently renovated Santa Marina (from £1,299pp, B&B) makes a great base.

ICONIC ISLANDS

Italy: Capri, the flower-strewn, lemonscented limestone outcrop in the Bay of

Italy: Greta Garbo adored the belle-époque theatricality of the views from the Grand Hotel Tremezzo (from £1,365pp, B&B).

Soaking in your private rooftop spa bath overlooking Lake Como and the Grigne mountains, you’ll be equally impressed.

Greece: Next door to the Parthenon and with views of the Acropolis from its roof garden restaurant, the Hotel Grande Bretagne (from £1,379pp, B&B) is pretty special, particularly since its neoclassical interiors had a £100m renovation in 2006.

SCENE STEALERS

Italy: The drama of the Amalfi Coast made it the perfect setting for Patricia Highsmith’s thriller The Talented Mr Ripley. The best place to appreciate its breathtaking vistas is from the terrace of the familyrun Le Sirenuse (from £1,215pp, B&B), an 8th-century palazzo in Positano. It overlooks the town’s duomo and the pastel houses clinging to the cliff side.

Greece: Even Angelina Jolie was upstaged

by Santorini’s beauty in the second instalment of her Lara Croft movies. Its opening shot is of the whitewashed village of Oia. The scene you will want to capture on film though, is sunset over its caldera, so stay at the chic and recently revamped Grace Santorini (from £1,345pp, B&B).

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All prices are for a week and include flights and transfers. For more information, visit itcluxurytravel.co.uk

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4 / c a r i b b e a n h i d e away s Giovanni Simeone/SIME/4Corners

La belle vie: getting sand in your croissant is all you need worry about on Gallic Guadeloupe’s sandy side — just sit back and relax

Islands of discovery Look beyond the brochure big-hitters to seek out lush rainforest, chic eco-lodges and unspoilt beaches. There’s a holiday to suit all tastes, says Lydia Davenport

T

here are the Caribbean classics — those famous big islands that you can fly straight into and spend a wonderful week lounging under a palm tree or exploring in the safety of a group tour. Then there are the offbeat islands. Sure, they might require a bit more effort to get to, but if your idea of heaven is a natural paradise, away from other tourists, these are the islands to aim for. We’ve found five often overlooked but captivating corners of the Caribbean to whet your appetite — one for every taste and budget.

The wild one: Dominica

Loved by trekkers and naturalists but bypassed by almost everybody else, Dominica is blessed with a Jurassic Park landscape of thick rainforest, brightly coloured birds and underwater volcanoes. It’s also twice the size of Barbados, but sees just a fraction of the tourists, so you’re likely to have all

this nature to yourself. Instead of sprawling hotels, you’ll stay in small, eco-chic lodges, where you might spot rare parrots, iguanas and hummingbirds from your balcony. If you’re looking for an experience beyond the beach, head inland to go swimming beneath waterfalls, trekking through gorges or soaking in hot springs. Meanwhile, just offshore an underwater world awaits —

For an experience beyond the beach, head inland to go swimming beneath waterfalls, trekking through gorges or soaking in hot springs snorkel with turtles or go in search of whales — the seas around Dominica are one of the best places in the Caribbean to see them.

Seven nights at the Fort Young Hotel costs from £1,259pp, room-only, including flights and transfers (westernoriental.com, 020 3588 2974).

08.05.2016 / 5 Peter Phipp/Getty Images

The beachy one: Anguilla

The Caribbean is brimming with beautiful beaches, of course, but Anguilla should scoop a prize for its stunning sands. This island is seriously small — just three miles wide — which means you’re rarely more than a few minutes’ walk from a gorgeous swathe. This little jewel has also escaped overdevelopment, so there are no mega hotels lining the ocean to spoil your view.

You could argue that there isn’t much to do — there are no jungles, major towns or mountains to explore — but who cares when you can spend your stay lounging at the water’s edge, soaking up the sun? Which beach? Start with Shoal Bay East for beach bars, Rendezvous Bay for walks and stop

by Scilly Cay for a crayfish lunch. Did we mention that this island is perfectly peaceful, too? No motorised watersports, no pumping parties… no problems.

Seven nights at the Viceroy Anguilla costs from £2,165pp, room-only, including flights and transfers (itcluxurytravel.co.uk, 01244 355526).

The lively one: St Kitts

While most folk looking for sun, fun and rum might settle for an all-inclusive resort with an entertainment schedule, those looking for something a little more authentic should try St Kitts. Rum shacks line the beaches on this low-key little island, and there’s almost always a party starting at Frigate Bay South, where locals mix with tourists to sip and dip. On the days you rise early, there are rainforest hikes, a perfectly preserved fortress and the ramshackle capital of Basseterre to explore. And when you don’t, a silky stretch of sand and a glass of something cold are never far away. The best beaches line the panhandle protruding from the south of the island — try South Friar’s and Sand Bank Bay. Seven nights at Belle Mont Farm, Kittitian Hill, costs from £3,355pp, full-board, including drinks, private pool, flights and transfers (itcluxurytravel.co.uk, 01244 355526).

The French one: Guadeloupe

St Barths has the monopoly on fabulous Gallic glamour, but Guadeloupe epitomises that understated offbeat chic that the French have mastered. It’s the sort of place where you’re more likely to start the day

Get wet, go wild: clockwise, from above, hanging tough in St Kitts; diving in Dominica’s Soufriere Scotts Head Marine Reserve; Cove Bay beach, Anguilla

with croissants on the beach rather than hash browns at the buffet breakfast — most of the hotels here are small and independent. Guadeloupe is an island of two halves. The itchy-footed should head for Basse Terre, on the green, mountainous side, where there’s a volcano and rainforests to trek, waterfalls to swim in and mangrove swamps to explore — while lazier souls can relax on the beaches of Grand Terre, Guadeloupe’s sandier, flatter half. Of course, everyone will appreciate the rum shacks, crepe stalls and creole curries. Our advice?

Split your stay between the two sides and you’ll have the best of both worlds.

Seven nights at the Langley Hotel Fort Royal costs from £1,365pp, B&B, including flights a nd t ra n s fer s ( we s ter nor ienta l . c om , 020 3588 2974).

The luxurious one: Moskito Island

If your idea of luxury combines sustainability with five-star service and blissful peace and quiet, then Richard Branson’s new ecoresort is a dream come true. Moskito Island lies just a hop across the water from Necker Island, Branson’s home in the British Virgin Islands. Powered by wind and solar energy, the resort has all the luxury living you’d expect from Branson — bespoke menus, freshwater infinity pools and a swim-up bar. And with just 11 rooms across three villas, you’ll never be arguing over a sun lounger. The downside? Moskito Island is only available for exclusive use, so you may need a quiet word with your bank manager.

Moskito Island costs £255,000 for 22 people (£11,589pp), all-inclusive, including flights (itcluxurytravel.co.uk, 01244 355526).

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6 / all out for fun

You’ll be bowled over

Aleksandar Nakic/Getty Images

Paradise – and the kids can come too Once the preserve of honeymooning couples, luxury resorts are going family-friendly, with five-star thrills to keep children entertained, says Ruby Carter

arenthood used to mean giving up a good night’s sleep, the sports car and any hope of a posh holiday. In the case of travel, at least, things are looking up.

Luxury hotels no longer regard children as they might an unclipped hand grenade. Interconnecting rooms, excellent childcare and child-friendly mealtimes are now standard for a growing band of top-class hotels. Now, it’s kids’ clubs that are being reinvented, with activities and adventures so good, the adults want to join in too.

Many hotels are forming alliances with the world’s leading sports clubs and stars to provide expert coaching in all sorts of activities. Forte Village (from £5,249 per family, half-board), in Sardinia, has one of the most impressive sports set-ups for families, offering tuition in everything from cycling and tennis to netball and cricket. It also has a Chelsea football academy, where 4- to 14-year-olds learn tactics and techniques from former CFC players, such as Tore Andre Flo; and a rugby academy where former internationals such as Martin Johnson take boys and girls through tackles and scrums. Mum and dad get a look in too, as the week’s training concludes with a barbecue and awards ceremony.

The new wave of kids’ clubs are not just about physical exercise — youngsters are also given plenty of scope for artistic expression. One of the most ambitious programmes is at the Princesa Yaiza Suite Hotel Resort, in Lanzarote (from £3,425 per family, B&B), which has a striking 1,200-seat amphitheatre that holds daily shows for budding performers during the summer season. The stage is part of Kikoland, a huge entertainment park with pools,

08.05.2016 / 7

In the presence of giants: Himalayan foothills loom in the distance beyond the boundary at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Stadium, in Dharamsala, India

David Gower will be welcoming cricket fans on this winter’s tour of India. The former England captain and batsman tells us what to expect outside the day’s play All together now: there’s more to do than simply sunbathe at resorts that put the family first

tennis and basketball courts, climbing walls and a football pitch where families have the option to play together.

The Martinhal Sagres (from £3,539 per family, B&B), on Portugal’s Algarve coast, recognises that families still treasure a shared experience. The resort offers joint sessions for surfing, biking and fishing, and its indulgent spa has treatments for the whole family, including children’s manicures and teenage facials as well as a full range of wraps, slaps, rubs and scrubs for grown-ups.

Subsix, in the Maldives, is an underwater chillout lounge where kids can hang out with a marine biologist Like the Martinhal Sagres, the Almyra (from £2,799 per family, half-board), in Paphos, Cyprus, takes a thoughtful approach to family holidays. Both hotels offer the Baby Go Lightly service that lets parents pre-book everything from potties to Harry Potter storybooks to be waiting in their room on arrival, perfect for taking the stress out of unpacking.

Increasingly, parents are looking for five-star hotels that help children make a connection with nature or gain an insight into other cultures. The Maldives were once seen as the preserve of honeymooners, but now the archipelago

actively courts families, providing a secure environment with safe, shallow swimming conditions. PER AQUUM Niyama (from £7,639 per family, half-board), has Subsix, a chillout lounge sunk six metres underwater and 500 metres out to sea. It doubles as a classroom, allowing youngsters to experience the Maldives’ incredible aquatic world with a marine biologist, without having to snorkel or dive.

Mauritius, probably the Indian Ocean’s most child-friendly island, has its low season between June and September — despite the warm, dry weather — so makes a perfect destination for the school holidays.

Most of the hotels have invested in children’s facilities — for example, the Residence Mauritius (from £4,855 per family, half-board) keeps its kids’ club open from 9am until 10pm daily and offers cooking classes with the resort’s chefs.

Looking for adventure? Vietnam has your child’s inner Indiana Jones covered. The Hyatt Regency Danang Resort and Spa (from £5,179 per family, B&B) brings ancient history alive for kids with tours to sites such as the My Son ruins, the country’s religious and political capital from the 4th to the 13th centuries.

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Prices are for a family of three during school summer holidays and include flights and transfers. To find out more, visit itcluxurytravel.co.uk

When did you first start hosting supporter tours?

When I was still playing for England, but my involvement was limited. Touring the West Indies in the mid-1980s, you had enough on your mind playing cricket, but I suppose the throwaway line is that you used to have more time off because the games finished quickly.

How do you interact with the guests?

Mainly through question-and-answer sessions. Most people are there primarily to watch the cricket, so there are strong opinions. If England are doing well people are happy; if we’re losing they want to know why. Former professionals give balance, insight — and humour.

How else can guests enjoy your company?

ambience are out of this world. I remember staying at a hotel in Mumbai in 1979 — if you ordered a cup of tea you had to set aside half a day before it arrived, and a phone call to the UK would take all day. Now, if you want a cup of tea it will be with you in minutes.

And it’s mobile-friendly, too; India is incredibly technologically savvy.

What else will there be to do on these holidays?

Every part of India is steeped in fascinating history. We don’t yet know which cities the Tests will be played in, but if you’re on a tour there will be trips to palaces, forts and other places of cultural interest. Or if you really want to

Getty Images; Shutterstock

Touring the Caribbean last year, we ended up playing beach cricket. It was very relaxed and yes, people got me out — it happens to all of us.

experience life in an Indian city, jump in a tuk-tuk.

How do you spend your time between Tests?

There are some fabulous tiger reserves that are well worth a visit. I once visited Ranthambore National Park and we were out in jeeps every day looking for tigers.

On an earlier tour I stayed in a tented camp in Khana Tiger Reserve, right in the middle of India, where they take you out at dawn. Once we’d tracked a tiger, we switched to looking for elephants.

What’s your favourite moment from hosting a cricket tour?

There was a great party in Antigua a few years ago with a band that included West Indian cricketing legends Curtly Ambrose on bass and Richie Richardson on the guitar. The crowd loved it.

What makes watching Test cricket in India so special?

The atmosphere. The noise makes the hair stand up on the back of your neck.

If you’re intimidated by it, you’re in the wrong job. The Indians have an unbridled enthusiasm for cricket.

Is there much of a social side on these breaks?

Yes, there are get-togethers most evenings, and areas of the hotels are used for private parties. Everyone wants to have a good time and you can be as much a part of it as you want. You can dip in and out — it’s up to you.

Will there be much time for sightseeing?

Plenty. There’s a minimum of three days between Tests — more if matches finish early. Tour operators such as ITC Sports Travel always make sure there’s something going on.

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What are the hotels like in India?

The comfort levels and service are extraordinary. The food, drink and

David Gower captained the England cricket team in the 1980s and was renowned for his graceful batting style and blond locks. Since hanging up his bat, he’s enjoyed a new career as a host and commentator on holidays for cricket fans.

Time to reflect: see the Taj Mahal on a guided tour

ITC Sports Travel has supporters’ tours of the India v England Test Match series, from November 1 to December 31, 2016, and the West Indies v England one-day international series, from February 1 to March 31, 2017. For more information, call 01244 355529 or visit itcsports.co.uk