ISSUE 49 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
NEW ZEALAND Wine Regions
Lots to do in SYDNEY
ASIA
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THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
Welcome to NIUE
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ISSUE 49 AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2017
Let’s Travel
Beijing India Phuket Silk Road Nepal Hong Kong
contents 5 ASIA
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41 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 59 AUSTRALIA 69 PACIFIC ISLANDS 77 NEW ZEALAND 83 CRUISING 93 BUSINESS SECTION
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2 www.letstravelmag.com Contents
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Asia Beijing 6 India 14 Thailand 20 The Silk Road 26 Nepal 32 Hong Kong 36
The Bell Pool Villa Resort, Kamala Beach
The Bell Pool Villa Resort, Kamala Beach
T
he balmy, breezy island of Phuket has become the epitome of the Thai beach holiday destination. Attracting visitors from all over the world, the 576 km2 island is much more than the rowdy and rambunctious Bangla Road on Patong Beach that seems to feature loud on many travel sites. The international airport on the island (code: HKT) is a convenient gateway to not only the island itself, but to the neighbouring attractions and resorts located on the coastal strip of Khao Lak to the north and the delightful islands like Ko Yao Yai and Phi Phi to the east.
Virtually the entire coastline of the island is dotted with resorts and hotels, all strategically located to take advantage of the beaches and sweeping seascapes, and is now a far cry from the sleepy, remote locale that so attracted the early travellers when it was ‘discovered’ by the first backpackers and hippies nearly fifty years ago. Further romanticised by movies like Leonardo DiCaprio’s ‘The Beach’ in 2000, filmed on Koh Phi Phi, the location gained an almost mythical status despite the tribulations endured by our cinematic heartthrob.
Asia, Thailand www.letstravelmag.com 21
Asia, China www.letstravelmag.com 27
Asia, Hong Kong www.letstravelmag.com 37
United States of America Atlanta, Georgia 42 Portland, Oregon 48 Colorado Springs 52
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 41
Destination Atlanta, Georgia
42 www.letstravelmag.com U.S.A., Atlanta, Georgia
Destination Colorado Springs
Colorado Springs… Top 10 Things To Do Founded as a resort town in 1871, Colorado’s second largest city has drawn travellers from around the world for decades, offering unrivalled natural beauty, endless blue skies, a mild climate and more than 55 man-made and natural attractions. Home to iconic landmarks such as Pikes Peak – America’s Mountain, Garden of the Gods Park, the Colorado Springs Olympic Training Center and U.S. Air Force Academy, the city and surrounding region is a popular destination for families, outdoor enthusiasts and couples.
52 www.letstravelmag.com U.S.A., Colorado
Australia Noosa 60 Sydney 64
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 59
Destination Noosa, Australia
They wear clothes looser in Noosa! By Nadia Ansell
When you get asked, on the coldest day of the year, if you would mind travelling to the Sunshine Coast you automatically say “Yes” without waiting to find out what they want you to do. You don’t even care if it’s legal or not, but when you are then informed you will be attending a Food and Wine Festival you realise all your Christmases have come at once!
60 www.letstravelmag.com Australia, Noosa
Destination Sydney, Australia
64 www.letstravelmag.com Australia, Sydney
Pacific Islands Niue 70
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 69
Destination Niue
A Hard Tale To Tell Words & images by Gayle Dickson
Let me explain‌this isn’t hard to tell from the point of view of finding sufficient inspiration; the hard part is sharing this unique and beautiful experience with you all for fear that too many of you will want to venture along the same paths I did!
Coves are plentiful and beautiful
70 www.letstravelmag.com Pacific Islands, Niue
New Zealand Winery Tour of New Zealand 78
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 77
Destination New Zealand
Grape Expectations By Winsor Dobbin
Spurred by a worldwide thirst for the zingy, refreshing taste of Marlborough sauvignon blanc, interest in New Zealand wine just keeps growing. Chris McLennan
Gimblett Gravels Vineyard, Hawke's Bay
78 www.letstravelmag.com New Zealand, New Zealand Wine Tour
Cruising Celebrity Cruises 84 MSC Cruises 86 Princess Cruises 90
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 83
MSC Splendida set to Blossom Next May, just in time for Japan’s famous cherry blossom season, MSC Splendida will set sail on a nine-night round-trip from Yokohama, taking in some of the Japan’s most beautiful natural, historic and contemporary sights.
86 www.letstravelmag.com Cruising, MSC Cruises
Business Section Airport Focus...DFW 94 Changi Airport 100 Sichuan Airlines 102 Singapore Airlines 104 Radisson Melbourne 108 Hilton Hotels 110 Hotel Harry, Sydney 112 Como Hotels and Resorts 114
ds)
ite ntil nal nz.
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 93 New Caledonia
Airport Focus: Dallas Fort Worth (DFW)
Key DFW Facts: • DFW Airport is the third busiest airport in the world in terms of flight operations • DFW Airport is fast becoming recognised as a pre-eminent global superhub and a key entry point into the United States, with outstanding connectivity to Latin America, Europe and Asia • DFW Airport is conveniently located within four hours or less of all major U.S. cities • Focused on providing the best possible customer experience, DFW Airport is upgrading its four original terminals with a $2.69 billion (USD) Terminal Renewal and Improvement Program (TRIP) • DFW Airport hosts over 175,000 passengers per day (over 65 million per year)
94 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Airport Focus: DFW
Sichuan Airlines Auckland Airport recently welcomed the first Sichuan Airlines flight direct from Chengdu, China. The new 13-hour direct service provides a seventh direct connection from Auckland Airport to a major Chinese city, and is the first to connect New Zealand directly to southwest China.
Dufu
102 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Sichuan Airlines
Singapore Airlines By Tim Roxborogh
Premium Economy Class
I still get excited by international flights…even as a travel writer. There must be something so deeply ingrained in me from childhood, that dark emotion of envy anytime my family dragged me to an airport to pick people up or drop them off that I can’t quite shake. Why couldn’t it be me on that plane? As an expat family living in Malaysia in the 80s, we always seemed to be at the airport, though seldom for ourselves. Envy and jealousy are, of course, unbecoming. That said, in a positive sense I feel all that youthful airport to-ing and fro-ing has made the adult version of me appreciate every international flight I board. Especially (extra especially) if it involves Singapore Airlines! My first time with Singapore Airlines was 21 years ago and I’d never had a personal screen on a plane before. What’s a prerequisite
Economy Class
104 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Singapore Airlines
Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne Chocoholics can take their love for chocolate to a whole new level with the launch of Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Chocolate Winter Escape Package where they can stay in a unique chocolate-themed hotel room. Located in the heart of Melbourne’s CBD, Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens have partnered with Ganache Chocolate to create an indulgent chocolate-themed hotel room that has all the ingredients to give its guests sweet dreams while warming up in style over winter. The four-and-a-half-star hotel, in conjunction with Melbourne-based Company, Ganache Chocolate, is getting seriously creative to make every chocolate lover’s dream come true. Upon entering the hotel guests will find themselves in chocolate heaven with an elegant chocolate sculpture and chocolate tree to welcome them at reception. When guests make their way to the exclusive chocolate hotel room they will be in for a real treat as the room is dedicated to chocolate. Think of your typical hotel amenities, but made of chocolate photo frames, books, candles and other unique creations all made of chocolate, plus a tray of chocolate treats like mugs of silky hot chocolate upon arrival and chocolate take home gifts. With faux fur rugs, cushions and twinkling lights this decadent winter haven at Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens will be an irresistible delight available until August 31, 2017. The Chocolate Winter Escape Package starts from only $279.00 per night and includes: • Overnight accommodation for two in the exclusive Chocolatethemed room • Room service breakfast for two • Welcome hot chocolate on arrival with chocolate amenity • Overnight valet parking • Ganache Chocolate take home gift plus other treats available for sale “Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens Melbourne is delighted to have
partnered with Ganache Chocolate on this delectable winter escape. Chocolate is one of those treats that make you think of comfort and that’s exactly the feel we wanted to create
108 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Radisson on Flagstaff, Melbourne
for guests”, said Clinton Farley, General Manager of Radisson on Flagstaff Gardens. The room has been collaboratively designed to showcase the latest