ISSUE 33 DECEMBER-JANUARY 2014/15
ISSUE 33 DECEMBER-JANUARY 2014/15
Let’s Travel THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
Oman Opulence
THE MAGAZINE FOR CORPORATE AND LEISURE TRAVELLERS
Hiking Switzerland Cycling in France Castro’s Cuba Thailand’s Top 10 Resorts
9
771176
461001
$9.95 inc GST
Enter our Ultimate Anaheim Competition
valued at over NZ$10,000
ASIA | THAILAND 23
www.letstravelmag.com
22
www.letstravelmag.com
ASIA | THAILAND
1. The Sarojin
Thai-riffic Resorts It’s a delightful argument to have. Name your favourite Thai luxury resort. Okay, maybe your two favourites. Thailand occupies a rare place in the world of hospitality. Multi-stellar hotels and resorts of staggering design and over-the-top luxury with exquisite dining and impeccable service at prices you would pay for a 3.5 star doss house in Europe or Australia. The choice is similarly bewildering, so we tried to demystify the process a little. We locked some of the most widely travelled writers and journalists in a room (okay, a bar) with the orders not to come out until there was a verdict. It was a long rowdy night, lubricated with lots of fine wine but the votes are in. Sure it was highly subjective and emotionally charged, but here is the proclamation.
Our thanks to the panel, which was made up of some of Australia’s finest travel writers: Winsor Dobbin, John Borthwick, Roderick Eime, Briar Jensen, Lara Dunstan, Emma Gardiner, Caroline Gladstone, Gary Walsh, Bev Malzard, Sally Hammond and Julie Miller
Veranda Resort and Spa Hua Hin Cha Am Beach – MGallery Collection
I
t just came up time and time again and no-one could find a reason to say ‘no’. Maybe it was the ‘no children under 10’ rule? The Sarojin is beautifully set on an 11-kilometre stretch of secluded white sand beach in Khao Lak, 55 minutes by road north of Phuket International Airport. It is surrounded by five spectacular national parks and the world-famous dive sites of the Similan and Surin Islands. Designed in a contemporary Asian style, the five-star resort’s 56 deluxe residences are camouflaged within four hectares of tropical grounds leading directly to the beachfront. Couples can enjoy a beautiful and meaningful experience, with a direct appreciation of traditional Thai
customs as they celebrate their union with a personal spiritual blessing from a Buddhist monk. It’s no surprise to learn that The Sarojin receives continual recognition in prestigious awards. In 2013 Wine Spectator gave it the Award of Excellence for the sixth consecutive year and was named Best Honeymoon Experience Winner in the WTM Travel & Amadeus Travel Experience Awards. The Sarojin also featured in UK Travel Weekly’s Best Boutique Hotels Top 10. This acclaimed property appeared in several ‘Best of’ lists in 2013 including Condé Nast Traveller UK Readers’ Travel Awards, World Luxury Hotel Spa Awards, Trip Advisors’ Best Incredible Hotel Pools and World Travel Awards. ➜ www.sarojin.com
2. Rayavadee at Ao Nang
www.letstravelmag.com
24
➜ www.rayavadee.com
ASIA | THAILAND 25
3. Indigo Pearl
J
ust behind the sweeping beach at Nai Yang and close to Phuket’s only national park, Indigo Pearl is a tremendous spot to wind down for a few days. It is a modernist resort from design maestro Bill Bensley, who has drawn on the island’s tin mining history for his inspiration; creating a self-contained resort with industrial installations combined with greenery, three pools (two for adults only), a large range of food and beverage options and a luxurious spa. There is also an excellent and very professionally equipped, Thai cooking school on site. Awarded ‘Asia’s Leading Design Hotel’ at the 2012 World Travel Awards, the Indigo Pearl is situated within its own tropical gardens where lush lagoons juxtapose post-modern art. The property is located on Phuket’s sheltered northern shore, an easy 10 minutes from Phuket International Airport. The ‘all villa and suite’ property also offers eight restaurants and bars, a private beach club, library, tennis courts, ‘TinBox’ kids’ club, award-winning COQOON Spa, and conference facilities. A host of leisure facilities both on land and sea can also be arranged. Opened in 2007, the luxury resort is ever evolving and in December 2011, Indigo Pearl unveiled new individually designed, private pool villas – including the largest villa on the island – setting a new benchmark for accommodation in Phuket. Raw beauty. Bold designs. Luxury unhindered.
➜ www.indigo-pearl.com
4. The Four Seasons Koh Samui
P
erched high on a Koh Samui jungle hillside and looking out on “creation” in the form of a glorious Gulf of Thailand morning, birdsong, prolific greenery, a private beach, breakfast with serenity and, later, dinner with a splash of Thai folk dance. Yes, pretty much the package that you might dream of for a Thai island holiday. Not cheap of course, but then again there are no next-door yahoos or bucket-skulling boozers jamming your airwaves. Throw in a taster lesson in Muay Thai boxing, a few hours on that white sand beach and then a name-your-poison sundowner, and there’s not much that touches time out of time here. (Except perhaps some of the best Thai food in the world at the Spice Market in the Four Seasons’ Bangkok mothership.) At Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui, each spa treatment begins with the ceremonial striking of a special bowl, creating vibrations that bring the guest into a relaxed and meditative state; after the treatment, another bowl is similarly sounded to gently prepare the body and mind to leave the spa.
Based on the theory that the body is influenced by the earth’s gravity and that the water in our cells vibrates at frequencies in relation to the earth, the concept of “singing” bowls has been applied by diverse groups from NASA astronauts to Olympic athletes. As different bowls made of iron, copper, zinc, gold, silver, lead or mercury are struck, the sound corresponds to different chakras, or specific zones of the body such as the heart, navel or crown. With 88 pools and a private beach, water is an important feature at Four Seasons Resort Koh Samui. Each villa includes chic al fresco living spaces with a private infinity pool; what could be more natural than using water as a gentle wake up call to ease guests into a new day on the island? Monkey water spouts at each pool start splashing at 9 a.m., slowly drawing guests from slumber to awakening the perfect way to start the day. ➜ www.fourseasons.com/kohsamui
www.letstravelmag.com
ASIA | THAILAND
S
et among the craggy limestone cliffs and tropical rainforest of Krabi province in Southern Thailand, the Rayavadee is not only very beautiful and secluded, it’s also quite unusual in the sense that it has 98 luxurious pavilions and four beachfront villas, has its own private beach (as well as beachfront access to the public beach) and is only accessible by boat. On the edge of Krabi’s National Marine Park at the heart of the stunning Phra Nang Peninsula, Rayavadee is an award-winning, environmentally conscious resort perfectly located among lush foliage and the emerald waters of the Andaman Sea. In 2012, The ‘Terrace Pavilions’ were opened, offering spacious, two-storey accommodation, each covering a generous 115 m2 and located on the edge of the resort’s free form swimming pool. Situated at the western end of the resort, these modern and dramatic pavilions are only a two-minute walk from the popular Railay Beach. Dotted discreetly around the winding pathways, the pavilions offer privacy in an ideal setting with a dramatic backdrop of jungle-covered cliffs and swaying coconut palms. The one-bedroom Terrace Pavilions remain true to Rayavadee’s signature round, two-story ‘luxury- bungalow style; but with a contemporary take on the traditional design that features an open and airy ground floor living plan with tropical décor and glass doors that open onto a breezy terrace. The terrace is perfect for outdoor lounging and relaxation as well as for private barbecue dinners surrounded by lush palms and garden greenery. A Leading Hotel of the World property, Rayavadee boasts award-winning architecture, fine cuisine, a luxurious relaxation spa and its own fleet of speedboats for excursions to the surrounding islands.
5.
Chakrabongse Villas, Old Bangkok
www.letstravelmag.com
26
➜ www.thaivillas.com
ASIA | THAILAND
6. 137 Pillars, Chiang Mai
S
27
o called because of the number of teak pillars on which the house was built, the immaculately renovated structure now hosts the restaurant, bar and lounge of the property and transports guests back to a time of colonial opulence, when the ways of England were the ways of the world. Like so many grand old houses around the world, it nearly fell into total disrepair and locals were already calling it Baan Dam, or “black house”. In 2002, Bangkok-born Panida Wongphanlert was looking for a property in which to retire from the frenetic pace of Bangkok. She was shown many sites, but the black house kept haunting her. The restoration involved removing the house from its pillar foundation and building new, concrete ones. During this process odd relics kept appearing; an Edison light bulb, crockery fragments, ornate wooden carvings, bottles and even a bathtub. All of these curiosities are now displayed under the main house next to the gym in a kind of ad hoc museum. The 30 suites stand a respectful distance from the house and were all scratch-built. They range from the 20 entry-level Rajah Brooke Suites (at 70sqm) through the six East Borneo Suites (75sqm) to the premium two William Bain Terrace Suites (100sqm) and two Louis Leonowens Pool Suites (135sqm). All display exquisite décor including 400-thread count linen enveloping the four-poster beds and reams of Jim Thompson silk embellishing the walls and windows. Each suite has a private library, espresso machine and party-sized day bed on the balcony or veranda. The original house hosts The Dining Room, Drawing Room and Jack Bain’s Bar, named in deference to the last owner, whose prominent family preserved the house since the demise of The Company and all foreign traders in 1960, when Thai natural resources were nationalised. Swing by The Spa then take high tea in a wicker chair on the verandah before adjourning for dinner and exquisite contemporary Thai cuisine. Finish the day with a cognac and cigar.
itting in the spa bath on the deck of your suite, or lying in bed with the curtains open, the view to the amazing limestone rock formations - called karsts - takes your breath away. The suite is the ultimate room with a view. Everything about this resort, tucked away on a quiet beach, is superb from the serene spa to poolside cafe. Set in its own bay, with exceptionally spacious accommodation, exceptional views and an extensive range of facilities, the resort is an exclusive hideaway for couples and families. Lush tropical greenery, a 500m beachfront with superb views of verdant limestone formations and towering rocks define the sumptuous setting of this five-star resort. Retaining a traditional Thai architectural style and designed as a cluster of low-rise buildings and villas, the resort has 192 luxury garden view and ocean-facing rooms and private villas with total living space ranging from 72 to 399 square metres. All guestrooms have a furnished balcony or terrace and most room categories offer the option of a king-size bed or two double beds, which are ideal for families. Spa rooms and pool villas are opulent retreats offering spacious living area and, respectively, an outdoor Jacuzzi or a private pool. The beachfront villas feature an extensive terrace, lounging and dining areas, and luxurious amenities that provide all the comforts of home. The Club offers exclusive facilities and services including access to the private Club Lounge, with five meal presentations served daily, concierge services and complimentary wireless internet access.
➜ www.137pillarshouse.com
➜ www.centarahotelsresorts.com
7. The Centra Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi
S
www.letstravelmag.com
ASIA | THAILAND
I
n Bangkok, a former palace has added its own boutique accommodation. With absolute riverfront location this was where Prince Chula Chakrabongse, schooled in England and married to an English wife, and their family lived in the early 20th century and opposite Arun Wat. It proved the ideal location, just a short distance from the Grand Palace and its ceremonies. One of his descendants still lives in the main house and she has been responsible for bringing the family’s story to the world with her books. The property’s restaurant on the river’s edge serves royal family recipes and Chakrabongse Villas’ rooms show elegant restraint. As in the homes of more affluent Thais, the walls are Thai teak, the bedspreads…silk. A bathroom, lounge and dressing room completes the River View villa, along with a day bed and outdoor terrace from which to view the passing river entertainment. The Thai House is a traditional Ayutthaya–style teak house on stilts, situated in the main garden and rebuilt with modern facilities. The romantic, double room has a private veranda with day bed overlooking the Danny Lane sculpture pool and surrounded by trees and the sound of birds. Chinese Suite (highly recommended), comprising two double rooms, ensuite, living room and two private terraces is situated in a separate building overlooking the swimming pool and furnished with fine antique Chinese furniture and doors, modern prints and fabrics, the private seclusion of this suite is ideal for a family.
8. Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort, Chiang Rai
www.letstravelmag.com
28
➜ www.goldentriangle.anantara.com
ASIA | THAILAND 29
9. Anantara Rasananda, Koh Phangan
www.letstravelmag.com
ASIA | THAILAND
I
t might be well worn now and not too bright and shiny, but this property still has the warm patina of genuine hospitality. The exotic location at the junction of three countries is ripe for exploration and the property’s program to save and nurture elephants a true altruistic exercise. One of the stars of Thailand! Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp is ideally located at the convergence of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos, and is a Chiang Saen hotel near the northern city of Chiang Rai and its airport. The resort sits on a lush hillside on the Thailand side of the border, looking out over the romantic landscape that has been inspiring writers and artists for centuries. A true highlight of Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort is the renowned onsite Elephant Camp, which offers unforgettable adventures and experiences with a cast of gentle giants. Established in 2003, The Elephant Camp works alongside the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation to perform street rescues, provide employment and a comfortable lifestyle for elephants and their entire mahout families, and to participate in bigger picture projects. The camp supports more than 25 elephants and 60 people, and is proudly fully funded by Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas and guest donations. The combination of crisp Thai silks, teakwood floors and romantic terrazzo tubs big enough for two make Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp & Resort the perfect hotel in Chiang Rai. All rooms come equipped with spacious balconies, a king bed, down duvets and a superior range of amenities including bathrobes and leather compendium sets. The location in the heart of the Golden Triangle means stunning views across the Mekong River and out across the resort’s impeccable landscaped gardens.
G
lobally renowned for its famous “Full Moon” festivities, Koh Phangan is also home to isolated, tranquil hideaways and abundant natural beauty. Secluded on this idyllic island, Anantara Rasananda is an oasis of 64 villas and suites set along the pristine sands of Tong Nai Pan Noi beach on the northeast coast of Koh Phagnan. Tucked away in the gardens and sea, it may feel years away from the rest of the world but the resort is only a 30 minute speedboat ride from nearby Koh Samui. Anantara Rasananda is the ideal beach hideaway where romantic barefoot grandeur defines the ultimate tropical experience. Luxurious villas and suites blend effortlessly into breathtaking surrounds, each contemporary in design with private plunge pool and stunning sea views. An Ocean Pool Villa is Thai luxury at its finest with beachfront plunge pool, private courtyard and acres of space. Facilities include a beautiful beachfront infinity swimming pool and a world-class spa, where treatments incorporate ancient herbal remedies. There are also water sports in abundance including diving, snorkelling and sailing to nearby islands. Thai cookery classes teach you the secrets of delicious cuisine. In the evening, head to Bistro @ the Beach to dine alfresco under the stars while a blend of local techniques and Michelin trends combine to offer truly memorably dining. For post-dinner drinks, the Lounge is a cosy environment offering a connoisseurs’ collection of wines and champagnes. In-Villa dining is also available for those who want a home-away-from-home experience as well as Dining by Design at exotic beachfront locations with menus and wines tailored to your tastes.
ccor’s MGallery collection of memorable hotels is fronted by brand ambassador, Kristin Scott Thomas, the gorgeous Anglo-French actress who has more charm in her fingernail than most of us put together. She says the MGallery hotels are “a collection of strong personalities and sharp, strong styling but still elegant, like invitations to discover the new and the unexpected.” MGallery is Accor’s experiential brand where the French accommodation giant seeks to identify properties with original character and personality. Each hotel, states Accor, is inspired by one of the three themes of the Collection. Some hotels offer ”Heritage”, places filled with history; others reflect an aesthetic universe, a style, the “Signature” of a person who inspired their vision; still others promise a relaxing refuge, “Serenity”, in a natural or urban retreat. Located on the finest beachfront and situated in lush tropical Feng Shui gardens, the ‘Serenity’ label clearly applies to this resort. The Veranda Resort and Spa Hua Hin Cha Am Beach is a hip boutique retreat designed to inspire the eye and the soul. Contemporary Asian design and furnishings created by local craftsmen and generous modern amenities blend elegantly to deliver gentle comfort. 118 sleek open plan guest rooms, free form infinity pool, two restaurants, three bars, fitness centre, spa and state of the art conference and meeting rooms.
➜ www.phangan-rasananda.anantara.com
➜ www.mgallery.com
10. Veranda Resort and Spa Hua Hin Cha Am Beach – MGallery Collection
A