ISSUE 54 JUNE/JULY 2018 ISSUE 54 JUNE/JULY 2018
New Caledonia C’est Magnifique
THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
CRUISING
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771176
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$9.95 inc GST
The Islands of The U.S.A. Queenstown Not Just Adventure
Seabourn AP Touring Travelmarvel Tauck Cruises Scenic Cruises Carnival Cruises Windstar Cruises Holland America line
contents 9 CRUISING
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35 AUSTRALIA 47 NEW ZEALAND 59 UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 69 ASIA 79 PACIFIC ISLANDS 93 BEYOND 111
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BUSINESS SECTION
Cruising Tauck Cruises 10 Windstar Cruises 14 Holland America Line 18 Scenic Luxury Cruises 21 APT Touring 22 Carnival Cruises 26 Travelmarvel 28 Seabourn 32
Carnival Cruises Seeking Funseekers Fun! Such a little word, but it means so much. Carnival has been living and breathing fun for 45 years and they know it means something different to every guest. It’s not just a stunning view…a delicious meal…or top-class entertainment. It’s a mix of all of these. Whatever fun means to you, we hope you’ll find it on board a Carnival Cruise.
26 www.letstravelmag.com Cruising, Carnival Cruises
Australia Bendigo, Victoria 36 Barossa Valley 40 The Langham, Melbourne 44
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 35
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The Langham, Melbourne has the highest service staff-to-guest ratio of any 5-star hotel in Melbourne including three full time concierges and a team of Service Stylists who provide an extra level of personal, unobtrusive service.
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The Langham, Melbourne will debut its expanded and enhanced ballroom overlooking the city’s Yarra River in February 2019. The hotel’s event spaces will be expanded to include a five section, versatile ballroom that can accommodate up to 630 guests and showcase stunning views of the Yarra River.
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The hotel’s housekeeping team pride themselves on their attention to detail. For example, during the hotel’s nightly turn-down service (one of the only hotels in Melbourne to offer this service) for guests staying on their own the housekeeper will place a bottle of water on the side of the bed the guest sleeps on based on which side the guest slept on the previous night’s stay.
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In 2017, The Langham, Melbourne donated over 1.4 tonnes of used guest soap to Soap Aid, a global charity that helps save lives by re-purposing 15,000 soaps and distributing to disadvantaged communities in Australia and overseas. The Langham, Melbourne’s Aria Lounge has served over 50,000 high teas for children and their families over the past 7 years. The hotel has just launched its newest Afternoon Tea with Wedgwood. The new menu features delicate sandwiches, more savoury dishes than ever before, including forest mushroom and truffled parsnip cream pie, raspberry crunch semi-freddo, pink Champagne macarons, chocolate ganache tart, Vittoria coffee and Belgian chocolate eclairs plus traditional buttermilk scones with plenty of fresh cream and house-made jam.
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Australia, The Langham, Melbourne www.letstravelmag.com 45
New Zealand Hawke’s Bay 48 Wyndham Garden Hotel 52 Queenstown 54
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 47
The Rees Hotel and Residences
eatery in Church St; and new Chinese Cody’s. Fat Badger’s Pizza wins the award for the wackiest eatery name. Out in the vineyards, Amisfield is the closest winery to Queenstown and its bistro and grill features a ‘Trust the Chef’ menu, which comprises a selection of dishes prepared from the best and freshest local ingredients. Winery Restaurant at Mt Difficulty offers great views along
with al fresco dining and wine tasting while Gibbston Valley winery and Shaky Bridge Vineyard Café are other popular lunch destinations. The Winery, in the centre of town, offers over 80 New Zealand wines by the taste, half or full glass and 800+ wines by the bottle, while the rustic and atmospheric Cardrona Pub, high in the hills, is a must for a cleansing ale in the beer garden.
The entire region offers spectacular views
58 www.letstravelmag.com New Zealand, Queenstown
facts: Getting there: Air New Zealand flies direct to Queenstown from major New Zealand and Australian cities and adds extra flights for the ski season. It also has a wide range of Queenstown packages. www.airnewzealand.co.nz Staying there: The Rees Hotel and Residences, one of Queenstown’s favourite luxury hostelries, is a perfect choice for those who want peace and quiet with all the action on their doorstep. With dramatic lake and mountain views, the five-star boutique hotel is a waterfront stroll away from Queenstown’s central precinct – and offers a regular shuttle service. The Rees has 60 hotel rooms and 90 apartments, all with private balconies. It recently launched three-bedroom luxury apartments overlooking the lake along with a range of unique experiences that can be combined to create the perfect weekend for any wine and food aficionado – including helicopter flights with The Helicopter Line – and a personal butler at your call. 377 Frankton Road, Queenstown. +64 3 450 1100 www.therees.co.nz
United States of America Karmel Shuttles 60 Islands of the U.S.A. 62
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 59
Key West Office of Tourism - Rob O'Neal
The Florida Keys
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o cross the bridge, or put an oar in the water for all of them would take ages, so we’ve culled the crop for our readers, selecting our most-pleasing pick of Islands on offer in America. Life jackets for the ‘crossing’ to our top-pick islands are, optional. “You’re giving us, the entire island?” Yes, it’s true, some of the USA’s best-loved islands were gifts from very generous, and very well-heeled Americans. And never wanting to look a gift-island in the mouth, we’ve highlighted two special ones for you: Santa Catalina Island, CA: Imagine having your own private island off the California coast. Ok, so its only 28 miles (45 kilometres) long, and eight miles (12.8 kilometres) wide, but beggars can’t be choosers. That’s about 75 square miles (194.2 square kilometres) of playground. The Island was once the sole property of the Wrigley chewing gum family fortune, and was purchased as a hideaway for the gum-grinding firm’s founder. For years the island has been the getaway of writers, moguls and movie stars galore. The rich and famous love the place for avoiding the limelight such as the American western novelist Zane Grey, who built a pueblo style house here in 1925. Norma Jean Baker, aged 16 also lived in Avalon during WWII for a year, married to James Dougherty. Aged 17, she started work in an aeroplane factory and later found fame and a new name… Marilyn Monroe. Today the island is mostly administered by Catalina Island Conservancy, a small token of the previous owner’s appreciation to the American people for chewing all that gum. Movies are filmed here, golf carts and bikes are the way to get about and the island boasts a lovable herd of about 150 bison, abandoned on the isle after the filming of a 1925 Zane Grey western flick. The island also boasts a casino and two deep-water harbours. Daily ferry services take visitors back and forth by fast catamarans. Staying overnight is popular, as the bed and breakfast establishments along the Avalon waterfront are fabulous, or pitch a tent and do some island adventure camping instead.
U.S.A. - American Islands www.letstravelmag.com 63
Asia The Caravelle, Saigon 70 Manila, Philippines 74
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 69
The one event that did rather sour Caravelle’s otherwise languorous, laid back atmosphere came on the morning of August 25, 1964. At around 11:30 am a bomb exploded in room 514, on a floor occupied mostly by foreign journalists, who were fortunately all out on assignment. Nine rooms were damaged, windows were blown out of several cars parked in the street, and a number of people were injured. Luckily no one was killed. Following the Liberation of Saigon in 1975, the hotel was taken over and operated by the government and renamed the Doc Lap (Independence) Hotel. So it remained until 1998, when the Caravelle name was relaunched, and what has once again become widely regarded as the city’s finest hotel was reopened. Still, as before, intimate, welcoming and mercifully free of pretentiousness.
1990s
2000s The original 10 storey building is now adjoined to a smart 24 storey tower that forms the bulk of the new property. Developers with less foresight might have been tempted to tear down the original and start from scratch. But somehow it seems unthinkable that those strikingly curved, balconied corners that have for almost half a century occupied one side of the city’s most picturesque squares, should be lost. The immediate views from that rooftop institution so beloved by foreign correspondents, and now called Saigon Saigon Rooftop Bar, have changed little since 1959. www.caravellehotel.com
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Pacific Islands New Caledonia 80 Tahiti 86 Samoa 90
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 79
Îlot Maître - L'escapade sunset dinner
For those who like a hands-on experience, the Aquarium even offers animal encounters, where you can assist with fish and turtle feeding. Bookings are required in advance, through the Aquarium website - www.aquarium.nc/en New Caledonia’s lagoon is also the ideal swimming spot for kids. The waters, especially around Anse Vata and Lemon Bay, are quite calm and safe to swim in. Even the lagoon waters around the islets of Noumea’s shores are perfect for young swimmers. Spend the afternoon snorkelling in the seawaters around Île aux Canards (Duck Island), Îlot Maître (Maitre Island) or Amédée Islet (Amedee Island). It is guaranteed kids will want to spend more time below the water than above, as they take in a myriad corals, sea life and more. If they’re lucky, they may even spot turtles, dolphins and friendly dugongs; the lagoon serves as a nesting site for these species. There
Aquarium des Lagoons
are endless amounts of underwater discoveries to be had. Foodies: Excite your taste buds and enjoy a fresh-cooked meal or ice-cold drink at one of Noumea’s many waterfront restaurants and bars. With the lagoon such a central part of life in New Caledonia, it should come as no surprise that fresh, delicious seafood is a must-try during a trip to the island. Try Le Roof restaurant on Anse Vata. Not only does it serve delicious dishes featuring local-caught seafood including mahi-mahi fish, scallops, prawns,
82 www.letstravelmag.com Pacific Islands, New Caledonia
Beyond European Festivals 94 Rocky Mountaineer 100 Tanzania 104 Back-Roads Touring 106 Chile 108 Finland 110
Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 93
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he distinguished hotel property group is pleased to announce its acquisition of Serengeti Explorer Camp – a majestic camp that changes location within Serengeti National Park twice a year, following the masses of wildebeest and other animals. From April this year, Newmark has officially taken over the ownership and management of this world-class camp, adding to its portfolio of top-end hotels, reserves, residences and lodges in Africa. Comments Neil Markovitz, Founder and Managing Director of Newmark: “Welcoming Serengeti Explorer Camp to the Newmark portfolio is a tremendous milestone. Everything about this property – the setting, the experience and the accommodation is truly remarkable.” Serengeti Explorer Camp comprises 12 spacious and incredibly private tents, each offering top-end “glamping” accommodation, which is ideally suited to couples and families. To mark the beginning of a new chapter, Newmark will be carrying out a soft refurbishment on the existing accommodation by introducing new décor and fittings, taking the property to even greater heights. The gentle overhaul, which is set to be complete by July, will include the introduction of neutral tones, wooden features and Africaninspired patterns which perfectly complement the camp’s striking surroundings in each of its two locations. From 15 December to 31 March, the camp is located in the Ndutu region on the park’s border, near to the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. From 1 June to 31 October, the camp is situated in the Lobo region in the northern part of the park, closer to the Kenyan border. Given the migratory nature of Serengeti Explorer Camp, it allows for unmatched game viewing opportunities, which can be enjoyed by safari vehicle or by hot air balloon. Ensuring that children have an equally thrilling experience at the camp, the Rafiki Explorer Club is offered as an added value to families travelling with children aged six to 15.
Mr. Markovitz concludes: “I can confidently say that a visit to Serengeti Explorer Camp will be a once-in-a-lifetime experience. As we eagerly anticipate the arrival of guests from around the world, we also look to the future and envision spectacular opportunities for our guests to experience Tanzania’s diversity by combining a visit to Serengeti Explorer Camp with a trip to our chic island destination, Chuini Zanzibar Beach Lodge. We take pride in offering guests a premier experience at each of our properties and are excited to do so with greater reach in eastern Africa.” www.newmarkhotels.com
facts: Serengeti National Park spans a large region of Tanzania and is a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is contiguous with the Masai Mara in Kenya. The Serengeti migration area, is where over one million white-bearded wildebeest and other species migrate from Masai Mara in Kenya to Serengeti in Tanzania on an annual basis. This area comprises of Serengeti National Park, in Tanzania and Masai Mara Game Reserve, in Kenya, among other game reserves and conservation areas. Serengeti Explorer Camp is open for reservations. The Camp is not operational during the months of April, May and November, as well as early December.
Beyond, Tanzania www.letstravelmag.com 105
Business Section Travel Insurance World Expeditions Air Tahiti Nui Air Vanuatu Philippine Airlines New Products Echidna Tours Corporate Cabs
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Australia, Hamilton Island www.letstravelmag.com 111 New Caledonia
Corporate Cabs reveals smart new luxury car It will be the same professionally driven service, just in a slick new luxury car. Corporate Cabs has launched its new fleet car, the Skoda Superb, which is being renamed the Skoda Superb Corporate edition for the New Zealand market in honour of the sheer number of the distinctive cars.
All the new Skoda’s are white, as the Corporate Cabs Holden’s were, and by the time the whole fleet across the country has been replaced in the coming years there will be 400 of them on the road. Corporate Cabs Chief Executive, Colin Samson, says that with Holden no longer having a suitable car it was not only necessary, but timely, to look at a new car. “It’s been an extensive process to make sure it was a car with all the benefits that our customers, as well as owner-operators, have come to expect and enjoy. “The Skoda Superb Corporate matches the luxury and space of our current car, including the leg room, head room and boot space, as well as looking really smart and having clean lines to give our 25-year-old brand a lift.” “We pride ourselves on the top-notch standard of our service – our drivers are courteous, knowledgeable and we’re always consistent - and the new car reinforces our ‘professionally driven’ motto,” says Mr. Samson. The first Corporate Cabs owner-operator to order one of the new cars is seven-year veteran Sonny Apanui. He and Corporate Cabs marked the occasion with a ceremony by a local kaumatua, to bless the next stage of his journey with the Skoda Superb Corporate. “I was due to replace my car, and I thought…Why not? One of our major points of difference at Corporate Cabs is the size of the car, especially for luggage, and the Skoda Superb Corporate is perfect for that,” he says. “Not only that, but it is a truly luxury vehicle, the technology is amazing and it’s really efficient, cutting down on fuel costs for me.”
Mr. Samson says the existing Corporate Cabs will be replaced with the new car as they come up for renewal with each owner-operator, but some are choosing to renew sooner so they can get out on the road in the new Skoda Superb Corporate.
Following the ceremony, held at Giltrap Skoda in Newmarket, customers and drivers had the chance to examine the car in ‘taxi mode’ and share morning tea before Mr. Apanui took to the road and began his workday. Skoda New Zealand General Manager, Greg Leet, says the exclusive arrangement to have the Skoda Superb Corporate as the new Corporate Cabs fleet car reflects the alignment of the brands. “They are the premium taxi service in the country, and obviously we want people to experience the luxury edition of this car, but it’s about more than that as we share the same commitment and values with regard to professional service,” he says.
128 www.letstravelmag.com Business, Corporate Cabs
Key Skoda Superb Corporate technical and safety specifications: • Power output – 162 kW at 4500 – 6200 rpm • Fuel economy – 6.5 litres/100km • Multifunction camera for lane assist and blind spot detection • Radar scanning of space in front of car • Triple-zone Climatronic independent air conditioning.