The last time I was in the Bahamas it was in March of 2011. I
went with some friends. We stayed at Atlantis but at The Cove which is considered 'adult only'. We saw no kids and drank rum punch all day. (Click here for blog from that trip!)
This time I went with my 2 year old and husband! A
completely different trip. We stayed at Atlantis for the first half of our trip and although I had been to the Atlantis before, I had
stuck to the adults only pool at the Cove. Now I was to venture to the kids
only areas. I thought I was prepared.
A bit of background is in order at this point. The
entire Atlantis Paradise Island Resort has over 3,600 guestrooms! It is broken up
into 6 areas:
Coral Towers
Royal Towers
Beach Tower
Harborside (
Residential-style villas)
The Reef (Virtuoso)
Pool at the Reef. One of many pools.
The Cove(Virtuoso)
The place is massive. No other place in the Caribbean really compares. It has tons of activities for both
adults (think Nobu, casino and nightclubs) and children (from dolphin encounters
to ‘splish splash’ areas for the little ones). The water park is amazing and guests have free access. There are over 20 restaurants.
Obviously this leads to a lot of crowds and add to it that you even have non-guest people that come for the day (from other hotels or cruises), you could wait quite a while to get on to some of the slides.
The Reef (where we stayed) was nice overall. It is discrete and quiet. You have a lot of kids at the hotel but it is well managed. I think the secrete here though is if you
want to stay at Atlantis and do a bit more luxury, you stay at the Cove
(remember…it's the Pool that’s adult only!) and just go to different pools.
You have to be very careful of what kind of room size you request and especially the view. Just look at the difference between these two:
One thing I noticed about the
Bahamas is that it is incredibly expensive. Insanely so. From a bottle of water to dinner or a simple pack of gum, everything is off the charts. There are some
meal packages that Atlantis offers and I would look into that if going again
with family. Just to give you an idea, WiFi was about $20 a day extra (a pet peeve of mine when hotels charge)
The service was very extreme. Some excellent, some horrible. You would have some wonderful people with the biggest smiles that could not do enough to help you whilst at times you would encounter some people that you knew did not want to be there.
The second half of our time in the Bahamas we stayed at the
One & Only Resort – Ocean Club. This is a lot more of how we like to travel
as we like quiet, understated luxury. I think if my daughter was older then
perhaps Atlantis would be perfect but even then, the two resorts are so close
that you can stay at One & Only and spend the day at the waterpark at
Atlantis.
Welcome to One & Only
It is very quiet but the good thing is they have two seperate pools. One for kids only and the other for adults. This makes it nice for parents with screaming kids as you don't really bother anyone. They also have a kids "fun zone" which is indoors (in case it gets too hot) with computers, crafts etc. The service was good and the rooms spacious with nice amenities. Although I would say that it is in need of a refurbishment soon given it's a bit old.
My kind of childcare
The interesting news is that there is a huge complex being
built in Nassau (so closer to the airport) where you will have 4 hotels in one
area. With over 400
hectares along the beach, Baha Mar will be home to:
Rosewood
SLS Hotel (originally the
Mondrian)
Grand Hyatt
The Baha Mar Casino &
Hotel (new concept)
It is slated to be open in December 2014. I’m looking
forward to this!
Check out the 2014 Virtuoso Best of the Best! This year's directory
brings a wealth of information on the more than 980 Virtuoso-preferred
hotels and resorts worldwide. You'll find tips from Virtuoso travel
advisors to help you make the most of your stay, along with details on
complimentary amenities like room upgrades, breakfast daily, resort
credits and more. Plus, be sure to check out our new Exceptional
Experiences throughout the directory, which your Virtuoso travel advisor
can custom design just for you.
See how Virtuoso can open doors for you - around the world! Explore your
world, your way, with exclusive amenities at all of the hotels and
resorts in this directory:
Navigate to any section of the world and read about Virtuoso's preferred hotels and resorts from Cape Town to Paris. Virtuoso can take you anywhere - in style.
Voted outstanding in select categories by Virtuoso travel advisors, take a look at these hotels are standouts this year and start planning your next luxury getaway.
The Virtuoso Hotels & Resorts Preview program welcomes seven extraordinary properties. Review the newest 'Best of the Best' in this issue.
These are just a few of the best parts of 2014's 'Best Of The Best'. Flip through for information, pictures and to get to know some of Virtuoso's finest properties, then contact Travelworld of Coronado to help plan your next vacation.
WOW! The Travelworld team was just in Las Vegas for Virtuoso's annual conference and there is no way to describe it. Over 4200 participants from nearly every corner of the globe. Our friend and editor of TravelPlus.com, James Shillinglaw, describes it best:
Those outside the travel industry who think travel agents are "dead" in
a world that is supposedly dominated by online travel companies should
spend a Thursday night in August at The Bank at Bellagio in Las Vegas.
During Virtuoso Travel Week, the annual meeting of the Virtuoso luxury travel network, which just celebrated its 25th
year, it’s become a tradition after a week of heavy meetings and
appointments for Virtuoso travel advisors and suppliers to gather on
Thursday after the closing gala dinner at The Bank nightclub to blow off
a little steam. And do they ever blow off steam!
The Bank is transformed into "Club V” (Club Virtuoso) with literally a
thousand or more people packed onto the dance floor. And many of them
are surprisingly young given the usual demographic at many travel agent
events. One of the highlights of the evening, however, is when Virtuoso
CEO Matthew Upchurch gets up on a raised platform to dance with Valerie
Wilson, a veteran Virtuoso member and owner of Valerie Wilson Travel in
New York. Upchurch himself then leads the festivities into the wee hours
of the night.
This year's Virtuoso Travel Week attracted more than 4,200
participants, including travel advisors, suppliers, media and other
guests (compared to roughly 3,800 last year). What's more important is
that 2,000 travel advisors attended, more than the number of suppliers
registered.
Last year Virtuoso changed the branding of its annual domestic
conference from Virtuoso Travel Mart as it tried to put more of a
consumer face on its activities in Vegas every August. The idea was to
create a "happening" like Fashion Week that will eventually be
recognized by consumer media and the outside world.
Last year I wrote that Virtuoso Travel Week was still a "work in
progress," which perhaps wasn't surprising given that it was the first
year with the new name and focus. This year roughly 15 consumer media
attended the event, so Virtuoso is continuing to build up its consumer
face. I'm just waiting for the day when the Bellagio fountain is lined
with TV cameras and crews eagerly awaiting news of the latest and most
innovative luxury travel products.
Nevertheless, Virtuoso's giant event this year truly emerged as a real
phenomenon, largely because it just keeps growing and getting busier
year over year. Virtuoso Travel Week is now the largest convention
hosted by Bellagio and the property makes a special effort to ensure
that its entire staff is on duty and ready to serve its Virtuoso guests.
Indeed, Virtuoso even released a video made by Bellagio showing just
how much preparation the resort puts into the event.
Last week Virtuoso Travel Week had not one but three keynote speakers
at its opening general session. In addition to Upchurch, the session
featured Simon Sinek, author of “Start with Why,” who first spoke to
Virtuoso in 2010; Ken Dychtwald, Ph.D, Age Wave president and CEO, who
spoke in 2006; and Lee Brower of Empowered Wealth, LLC, who for more
than 12 years has also served as an entrepreneurial coach for Strategic
Coach Inc.
Last year Virtuoso hosted its first celebrity guest, Francis Ford
Coppola, who regaled Virtuoso attendees with stories of his Godfather
movies, but also happened to be a preferred supplier who owns luxury
resorts in Belize. This year Virtuoso featured magician David
Copperfield, who is also effectively a Virtuoso preferred supplier as
well as owner of Musha Cay, the exclusive island resort in the Bahamas.
Not to disappoint the crowd, Copperfield also performed one of his
signature illusions on stage.
But the real heart of Virtuoso Travel Week remains its famed (some say
infamous) four-minute meetings, where every Virtuoso travel advisor can
meet virtually every Virtuoso preferred suppliers. Each travel advisor
and preferred supplier is scheduled for roughly 98 meetings per day for
four days. This "speed dating" has been a major part of Virtuoso Travel
Week since its inception, but now it has spilled over to encompass every
ballroom in the Bellagio and many of the hallways in the convention
center.
Row upon row of tables and chairs line every room and time clock
countdowns on the individual meetings are projected on giant screens on
the walls, as sharp tones indicate when meetings are about to come to an
end. It certainly is speed dating, though it often reminded me of a
giant bingo game, where the prize is matching a travel product to the
right customer through a Virtuoso travel advisor.
I sat in on an hour's worth of meetings, as I have in the past, and I
continue to be amazed about the process. The goal, however, is to build
relationships, however brief, which can result in connections over time,
so Virtuoso travel advisors can work more intimately with resorts,
destination companies, tour operators, cruise lines and other top
suppliers.
At just a little under 4,000 rooms and suites, the Bellagio can no
longer hold every Virtuoso attendee, so the conference has now spilled
over to the adjacent Vdara and Aria. Indeed, Upchurch told me he
believes at some point Virtuoso Travel Week will take up a good part of
the "campus" that links the Bellagio and City Center resorts.
And what of the annual tradition at The Bank? Well, I wouldn't be
surprised if next year Upchurch and Wilson will have to repeat their
dance performance at Hyde, Bellagio's other big nightclub, as well as
The Bank. In the end, the message is this: Travel agents are vibrant,
alive and dancing the night away at Bellagio!
James Shillinglaw is editor in chief and editorial director of travAlliancemedia, which publishes TravelPulse.com, Agent@Home magazine and Vacation Agent magazine.
Breckenridge is about a 2-hour drive from Denver. It is one of the
highest mountain towns in Colorado and has 155 trails. The skiing is
fantastic. It is the largest
historic district in Colorado but the apres skii is not as lively as
other areas like Vail or upscale like Aspen.
However, if you are a skiier, you are so tired at the end of the day that it's not that important anyway.
The best thing to do in the area is to rent a cabin or condo.. They Hyatt has excellent choices and is right off one of the lifts. The choice of good restaurants is a bit limited and there is nothing in terms of fancy places (think the opposite to Aspen), but the town is very quaint and very laid back.
CLIMATE: Winter Temperatures: 28 degrees daytime / 15 degrees night time
POPULATION: 3,535(as of 2013) TOWN SIZE: 7 miles long 2 miles wide APRES SKI: Don't expect much. You go here to ski. It has a few local and good restaurants but don't compare it to the likes of Aspen! LODGING: Hyatt Main Street Station - A Hyatt Residence Club
Great accommodations and location near town with walking distance to one of the main lifts.
Click here for some great pictures of our family holiday!
Cruise through the Danube Click here for photo journal
ITINERARY OF OUR CRUISE THROUGH THE DANUBE November 8th, BUDAPEST 3:00pm Embark ship - The Amacerto!
November 9th, BRATISLAVA, SLOVAKIA This
afternoon, arrive in Bratislava, capital of Slovakia. You have your
choice of two tours today. The first option is a walking tour of the
city’s major sites, including the Old Town Hall, the stunning Mirbach
Palace and gothic St. Martin’s Cathedral. In the alternative, choose a
“Communist History Tour” that includes architectural landmarks such as
the Radio Building, Liberty Square and the Soviet War Memorial. Late
tonight, the ship cruises to magnificent Vienna.
November 10th, VIENNA This
morning enjoy a guided tour of romantic Vienna that will include the
impressive Vienna Opera House, the majestic Ringstrasse and the historic
St. Stephen’s Cathedral. The afternoon is free to stroll along the
Kärtnerstrasse, or sample some of Vienna’s famous pastries in the
historic city center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In the alternative,
join an optional tour this afternoon to the Imperial Schönbrunn Palace
and Gardens, a famous example of baroque architecture. Tonight, enjoy an
optional Mozart and Strauss concert.
November 11th, DÜRNSTEIN – MELK Early
this morning reach the Wachau Valley for your walking tour of
Dürnstein, known as one of the prettiest towns along the Danube. Marvel
at the magnificent blue facade of the baroque Stiftskirche and see the
ruins of the castle where Richard the Lionheart, King of England, was
imprisoned in 1192. Your walking tour through medieval cobblestone
streets reveals 16th-century town houses and wine taverns. Your tour
also includes a wine tasting at a local vintner. This afternoon, you can
enjoy a guided bike tour from Dürnstein to Melk (capacity controlled).
The ship arrives in Melk late this afternoon, where you will tour the
spectacular Melk Abbey, one of Europe’s largest baroque monasteries.
Gaze at the famous library that inspired Umberto Eco while writing “The
Name of the Rose.” Afterwards, enjoy free time to explore Melk, one of
Europe’s great cultural heritage sites.
November 12th, LINZ – PASSAU, GERMANY This
morning the ship arrives in Linz, where you will have the choice of two
different excursions. The first choice is an optional excursion to
Salzburg, where you will take a walking tour of the historic center,
famous as the setting for the “Sound of Music” and as the birthplace of
Mozart. The tour includes a visit to the Mirabell Gardens, Salzburg
Cathedral, Mozart’s Square, and much more. In the alternative, remain on
the ship and cruise through scenic Upper Austria to Passau. Located
where the rivers Inn and Ilz join the Danube, this 2,000-year-old city
is noted for its Gothic and Italian baroque architecture. A walking tour
of Passau will take you along the cobblestone streets of Old Town where
you will see the city fortifications and St. Stephan’s Cathedral, home
to the largest cathedral organ in the world.
November 13th, REGENSBURG In
the early afternoon arrive in Regensburg, one of Germany’s best
preserved medieval cities and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You will
have your choice of three different tours here. The first is a guided
walking tour, in which you will see the city’s architectural highlights,
including the Old Town Hall and the Porta Praetoria — gates to an
ancient Roman fort built in 179 A.D. The next tour is an afternoon bike
ride to Walhalla, where you will visit the Walhalla temple which honors
distinguished Germans throughout history (capacity controlled). Your
third choice is a trip to the Audi Factory in Ingolstadt, where a member
of the Audi team will take you on a guided tour of the Audi Car Museum
or Factory Floor (subject to availability). Known for its distinctive
architecture, the museum features unique, high-tech exhibits on the
history of the car, combined with a fascinating look back at the 20th
century. The tour is capacity controlled.
November 14th, NUREMBERG Enjoy
a morning of scenic cruising through the Main-Danube Canal and relax
during a leisurely cruise through the beautiful Altmühl Valley. This
afternoon, you have a choice of two different excursions in Nuremberg,
capital of Franconia. On one tour, you will explore the medieval history
of Nuremberg, and see the 900-year-old ramparts that surround the city,
the Imperial Castle and Old Town Hall. The other tour will focus on
Nuremberg during World War II as the center of the Third Reich. Visit
the infamous Zeppelin field used to hold rallies and the Justice Palace
where the War Crimes Tribunal sat in 1946. November 15th, NUREMBERG Disembark
As a seasoned traveler does, it’s now become habit that I book my own vacations last minute! We were going on our 'babymoon' (an American tradition in which you take a trip in the 6th month of your pregnancy as a last 'hurrah' before the world as you know it ends when the baby arrives) and so we wanted something relatively close, adults only and romantic. We’d never been to St Lucia and had had some request about it so I looked into it.
There are 3 Virtuoso properties in St Lucia. Jade Mountain and Ladera Resort (on the West coast of the Island in Soufriere) and Cap Maison Resort & Spa which is on Gros Islet in the north (more developed in tourism) near the capital of Castries. * Both Ladera and Jade Mountain are known for their “3 walled bedroom” (meaning outdoor living) and the minimum age is 15…and Ladera is closed in September. Cap Maison had the TV’s and “walls” which we were trying to get away from and although gorgeous, we wanted to try something different. So off we went to Jade Mountain.
I’ll be brutally honest in saying that I didn’t give it much thought or investigation. It was starting to get cold in NY so we just wanted to get away. We booked our Jet Blue flight (one of the only direct ones) and off we went. A 5 hours flight later (oops, thought is was closer) we arrived (a bit longer than we thought but St Lucia is, after all, near Venezuela).
It was obvious from just the plane ride that St Lucia is a place to go on your honeymoon or with “that special someone” as the majority of visitors were couples. We went through immigration and got our luggage (all quite fast) and our driver from Jade Mt was there to pick us up. The drive to Jade Mountain Resort is no more than 20 miles but it takes about an hour to get there given the windy roads. Its actually a nice drive (albeit windy and hilly) but you get a sense of the place. You pass by fishing villages and small towns with multicolored houses and scenic views of the ocean and rain forests. Once you come to Soufriere, the fun starts. It’s about a 15 minute climb up to the hotel. You most likely wouldn’t be able to go without four-wheel drive and walking it would be an incredible work out. They don’t do much to fix the roads in order to keep it more private as the beaches and views from the area are incredible and would be filled with non-hotel visitors.
The area (which is that spot you reach after climbing that hill from Soufriere) is called Anse Chastanet and it encompasses 600 lush tropical acres bordering two soft sand beaches. It is St. Lucia's only resort property with the iconic view of both the Piti and Gros Piton mountains floating upon the Caribbean Sea.
Not only do you get a UNESCO World Heritage Site anchored by the twin peaks on land, the resort’s two crystal-clear bays are part of a designated marine reserve protecting miles of colorful coral reefs teeming with tropical fish.
The beach is known for excellent scuba diving and snorkeling and many of the reefs are accessible by simply swimming a few meters out from the beach.
The beach is part of the private resort owned by Russian-Canadian architect Nick Troubetzkoy. Troubetzkoy purchased Anse Chastanet in the 70’s and was determined to revolutionize conventional thinking as to what a hotel room should look like and why one hotel room should not be a cookie cutter duplicate of the next. Troubetzkoy’s love for large open spaces built in harmony with nature was first realized in his redesign of Anse Chastanet Resort, and now has reached a new level of sophistication in his creation of Jade Mountain…the more upscale of the two resorts.
When we arrived to the very top (Jade Mountain is at the top of the hill, Anse Chastanet is at the bottom) we were taking straight to our room. Now, I knew it would be open air living, but I really didn’t know what that meant or what to expect and hadn’t thought about the fact that this meant no AC. At first I thought I was going to have some sort of panic attack. Coming from the summer in NY, I could not fathom it and both my husband and I just looked at each other like a deer in headlights. Then came the news of no TV or electronics (ie Phones in the room) (although there is very fast WiFi which is free) . I thought I was hearing things. I just remember asking our Major Domo (aka Butler) where the “other wall” was.
You know what though? Best thing ever. The first day was a bit rough as I actually don’t remember the last time I was somewhere with no AC. Both of us were coughing up all the “gunk” (we kept kidding that we were allergic to nature) and by the end of the trip, I actually was fearing going back to AC filled, pollution based NYC. My skin was the best it had ever been, I think we actually lost weight from all the walking and fresh air, and even our eyes were clearer.
And when was the last time you saw stars? At night you could actually see the galaxy it was so clear. It did feel a bit as though we were in tree houses or the movie Avatar.
The food was obviously seafood based with a Caribbean (creole) twits. Not my absolute favorite but it’s a personal taste. They have an excellent 'sommelier 'at the main restaurant for Jade Mt whom was very knowledgeable and professional making the ambiance particularly upscale.
The spa at Jade Mountain, albeit small, was very comprehensive (from couples massages to pre-natal massages to facials). They have a gym as well (both spa and gym have AC) but you really don’t need to go at any point given the amount of walking you do!
Service was a bit disjointed. Your front of office staff was incredible (Manuel and Jeff particularly) and the butlers and some of the waiters at the Jade Mountain main restaurant (there is only one exclusively for Jade) were fantastic. But then you’d get some of the other staff that was not as “fantastic” and I think a lot of it had to do with the mixture of the two resorts.
Let me explain.
It took me a while to understand the relationship between the two resorts (Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain) but basically, as a guest of Jade Mountain – the more upscale, elite of the two - you can roam the entire area, eat wherever you want and enjoy all the activities and amenities both resorts have to offer. By the way, when I say “roam” I mean that very loosely as remember that the resorts are on a hill so you literally go up and down to get anywhere (like your room to the beach) which is an excellent work out (they do offer shuttles for the Jade Mountain guests but that’s no fun).
On paper, having the two resorts intertwined sounds like an excellent marriage. However, the demographics of the two resorts are completely different. Those staying at Jade Mountain and paying over $1500 a night are expecting the best (Note: we had a special travel agent rate, thank you Jade Mt!). They are high net-worth individuals and perhaps described best as “high maintenance” travelers. Point is, they are very different to those at Anse Chastanet paying $250 a night. You may see where this is going. When you are at the other restaurants or the beach, the staff doesn’t actually know whom you are so that may be where the issue lies.
This is my one main criticism.
However, to my grand delight, as we were walking up from the beach we literally ran into Parrot Cay’s (Virtuoso resort in Turk’s and Caicos) former General Manager whom was recently brought in as the new general manager of Jade Mountain and Anse Chastanet. I believe that he’ll have this issue resolved in no time at all.
The good thing is that most packages come with meals included as things are expensive on the resort.
I did leave the best for last though…the rooms are something out of this world. It is no surprise that they have won so many awards. Even the “Bachelor UK: was filmed here (and returning soon!). I can’t even begin to describe them and the pictures don’t do them justice so here is a short video we took.
So the question is: would I recommend Jade Mountain? If you want to get away from it all…pollution, AC, stress and revive and regenerate…then absolutely. If you are a honeymooner (or simply want to spend quality time with that special someone) then absolutely. Just make sure you are informed as to where you are going, how far, and what it entails.
The most surprising thing? The St Lucian’s love of country music and line dancing!!
Tips:
Take advantage of the activities such as climbing the Pitons or jungle biking (if that’s your thing), sunset sail or visiting Soufriere or the volcano (try to get a water taxi there so you avoid that steep hill road).
If you can afford it, make one of the transfers from the airport by helicopter. Its an 8 minute ride but well worth it to avoid the winding roads.
Take mosquito repellant and good sandals (not flimsy flip flops only!)
_____________________________________________________________________
* A fourth hotel was added to the Virtuoso collection after this trip. Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Hotel (use to be the Jalousie Plantation)
Where in the World... The Cove, Atlantis, Bahamas by: Tania Swasbrook
Only a 2 ½ hour flight from New York, The Bahamas is extremely simple to get to…and if booking during low season, inexpensive.
The most marketed and well known hotel is The Atlantis Resort and Casino where I just recently spent the weekend.
The entire Atlantis Paradise Island resort offers 3,614 guestrooms. Opened in 1998, the resort was created by South African hotel magnate Sol Kerzner. Located on Paradise Island, a 20 minute drive from the airport (which has recently gone under renovations), Atlantis first opened it Coral and Beach Towers under Trump Plaza and later changed it to Atlantis.
It is a massive resort. It caters to kids and adults. If you go with children, you don't have to worry about them because all the kids activities are supervised by trained professionals. There are an abundance of different water activities at “Aquaventure" which opend in 2008. The 141-acre (0.57 km2), 200 million gallon Aquaventure combines slides, lazy rivers, and rapids into one large waterscape. The centerpiece of the attraction is the Power Tower which contains four waterslides.
Yet this Bahamas resort has much more than just a water park. If you want to get up close and personal with marine wildlife, there are many instructional interactive activities. You can play with dolphins in shallow natural pools and learn about their habitats. They can also play with real tame California Sea Lions, touching, hugging them, and even kissing them on the nose. There are supervised underwater dives, educational experiences with marine life researchers.
For adults, there are also many different things to keep them entertained. There is a golf course, a span and more than 40 different lounges, bars and restaurants to choose from. In addition to this, there are an abundance of entertainment venues, including concerts, theater opportunities, and a 9,000 square foot Aura Night Club.
The Atlantis Hotel Bahamas also has a full service casino, with slots, card tables, and so much more. There is also an adults only pool area, where no one under 18 is allowed. Here you can rent your own private cabana, or sit by the pool on a bed. There are often live offers concerts & event (such as Taylor Swift or Jerry Seinfeld when I went).
They do have an "adult only" part to Atlantis which is where we stayed. Called The Cove, it's trendy and they have DJ's at the pool where you can drink and dance at some points.
Obviously if you are one to like solitude then this is not the place for you. But if you are looking for an easy place to get to where everyone in the family is entertained with elements of luxury, then this is definitely a good option.
We arrived in the mystical city of Muscat on our cruise, Silversea Cruises. The
port of Muscat has one of the most spectacular and diverse welcoming: the
contrast of the mountains with the clear water…the modern port with the
historical monuments.
The country itself is like that. Modern Oman was really born in 1970
when sultan Sa'id bin
Taimur, who had ruled since 1932, was overthrown by his son, Qabus ibn Sa'id
(also spelled Qaboos) who promised to establish a modern government and use
newfound oil wealth to aid the people of this very isolated state. Oman joined
the Arab League and the United Nations in 1971 and has never looked back.
One of the first
things you notice is how clean it is. It feels like it is a criminal offense to
litter and people actually get a ticket if they are driving a dirty car. The
loyalty to the Sultan is quite evident as is the pride of those that are
citizens of Oman (almost impossible to become one). Citizens are very well
taken care of and that is reflected on the way they take care of their country.
Don’t get me wrong –
it is not a “modern” country in what you may describe New York or even Dubai.
It is purposely taking its time to become ‘modern’ in that sense but it still
keeps its roots and history. As a tourist, you can feel and clearly see the
history and you definitely feel as if you are in the Middle East.
That being said, there
are pockets of extreme luxury such as The Chedi hotel in Oman. What an
incredible hotel…both modern and luxurious but encapsulating Oman perfectly.
With 156 rooms and
suites (and growing) it sits on the Gufl of Oman. A short drive from the
airport (or port) it has two swimming pools, a pristine private beach, spa and
almost all of the rooms have a scenic view of the Gulf or surrounding
mountains. Although there are impeccable standard rooms…we definitely recommend
getting the extra space for a bit more with the Deluxe Club rooms. The villas
are absolutely incredible and perfect for a family or a discerning couple.
Funnily enough, having
your honeymoon here would be ideal as you can do absolutely nothing other than
the beach, spa and wonderful food….or have a full day of exploring the nearby
mountains and regions.
We look forward to
going back to the Chedi Oman and thank Olga kindly for showing us around!
Hotel:Parrot Cay by COMO By: Tania Swasbrook Visit: 2011 | Romantic Getaway
Number of Rooms: 75 - Excellent Spa
" Luxury Private Island Resort"
Who knew that when we decided to go to Turks & Caicos Islands there would be so many options in terms of high end resorts! We’d been getting quite a few inquiries about the islands and none of us had ever been, so off we went!
A British Territory, Turks and Caicos has a population of about 36,000 inhabitants of which the majority live on Providenciales, the capital. There are more that 20 islands of which 8 are inhabited. One of these is called Parrot Cay - where we stayed.
Coming from NYC in to Providenciales is a bit of a shock to the system. The inhabitants don’t seem phased by much. We de-boarded the flight (one of only 3 at the entire international airport) and stood in line to go through immigration. That in itself might seem quite normal, except most of the people were outside whilst the immigration officers chatted away with the incoming passengers. When it was our turn they asked us about our flight, if we were hot, had we been here before etc…more out of curiosity and friendliness than anything else.
Once we were through and exited the airport our host from Parrot Cay welcomed us with water and lead us to the transfer. I was expecting to see a chauffeur and luxury car but instead we were welcomed by a hilarious local driver wearing a bright blue suite who took us, along with other passengers who had arrived in the same flight, to our van.
After a short 20 minute drive and a medley of local tunes, he dropped us off at Parrot Cay's private dock. (I later asked the general manager of Parrot Cay, Jeff, what the deal was regarding the transportation and he told me that the government had requested they use local services. What he said was that they looked at that as “an extension of the general travel. The true Parrot Cay experience actually begins when you get to the dock”)
Boy was he right! We all hopped on the private jet boat to take you to Parrot Cay and it seemed like as soon as it took off, everyone forgot about any sort of hassle they had traveling or in general. It took about 35 minutes to get to the island and the entire way it was one gorgeous island after another. I had never seen such amazing water. When we reached Parrot Cay our captain pointed out Donna Karans’s house and the rest of the private villas which were incredible.
We were meet by Jeff and his team who picked us up in the hotel carts (like golf carts) and took us to reception and a very lovely glass of champagne with fresh towel.
We were then escorted to our room after which we were able to wander the hotel to find the beach and bar (of course).
The next day Jeff took us around Parrot Cay to see the grounds and the private houses and villas. They are spectacular. Belonging to the likes of Donna Karan, Keith Richards and Christie Brinkley, they are all hidden amongst different parts of the island. Turks and Caicos is very flat. On Parrot Cay the highest points is actually the main house of the hotel!
The next few days were spent at the beach, at the pool or hanging out at the main house / library. The food was quite varied and fresh (albeit, I must admit, expensive). In the evenings, after a mandatory nap, we’d go to the spa and afterward dinner. The spa was amazing…with all sorts of treatments from Dr Perricone to Thai massages or special ‘baths’. It was the perfect get-away.
The last day we went back to Providenciales to visit the other high-end resorts which include the Amanyara , Gansevoort, Point Grace, Grace Bay Club and The Veranda Resort (all inclusive).
They are all on Providenciales and they all have their unique and special pluses…such as:
- Amanyara: stunning and perfect for
honeymoons. Farthest away from the rest of the resorts on Providenciales.
- Gansevoort: has a lot more activities and
considered a ‘hip’ hotel...catering both to families and those that want a cool party.
- Point Grace: a boutique and cozy hotel.
Smaller and more quaint.
- Grace Bay Club: It is bigger and has
more of a modern feel with large penthouses available and different types of
categories..from 'adults only' to the 'Estates'. Great for kids.
- Veranda Resort & Residences: an
all inclusive resort that feels like a village with the opportunity to actually
rent a 2 story house on the beach! Perfect for large groups and kids. (As of 2013 no longer Virtuoso)
It was a marvelous long weekend and the most incredible water I've ever seen in
my life. If what you are looking for is to get away to your own private island
with and amazing spa, service, the island feel and not an elevator or car in
site, Parrot Cay is the place to go. I'd
suggest getting a private transfer if possible and in your budget. I'd also
suggest leaving your phone behind as no doubt you'll lose it
given all your cares just float away!
When you choose Utah for your ski destination you are choosing it because you want to ski....not for the apres ski, parties or hot-new restaurants as you would Aspen or Verbier. So when we decided to give it a shot, we were a bit nervous.
Location: They say that Utah has the "best snow on earth" and we would have to agree! Not only that, but we were very happily surprised with their newest resort (by far one of the best), the St Regis.
Located at the heart of Deer Valley, it is a ski-in, ski-out resort with a private ski beach, split-level infinity swimming pool and hot tubs.
The spa: A Remede spa...it is incredible with amazing massages and tranquility areas.
The Bar/ Restaurant: The bar is pretty much the place to be around there and we were shocked to discover that the food overall in Deer Valley was excellent. The J&G Grill at the hotel (a Jean-Georges restaurant) was absolutely delicious with one of the best peppercorn steaks we've ever had.
The rooms: Typical St Regis luxury and we were lucky to have been upgraded to a suite that included its own kitchen.
In the mornings we'd simply pick up our skis at the ski valet and walked over to the main lift in Deer Valley. At the end of the day we'd just drop them back off!
The Skiing: l wouldn't say that Deer Valley is better than Aspen (although having no snowboarders really was a plus!)...but if you are really in the mood to hit some of the best snow and
stay in an amazing hotel, then you really should give it a try.
Kids: Absolutely. Although tends to be more upscale than catered to kids running wild...
Where in the World... Weekend at Le Manoir 2009 By: Tania Swasbrook
If you are ever in London and want to get away for the weekend, or want to experience phenomenal food and service, a weekend at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saison is the place for you.
About an hour North West from London, we drove up with our 2 dogs as they are dog friendly.
Created by celebrated chef Raymond BlancOBE,Belmond Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons (Belmond is the new name for Orient Express...which it changed in 2014) is renowned for offering one of Britain's finest gastronomic experiences.
Situated in the picturesque Oxfordshire village of Great Milton, it is also one of the country's most intimate and original hotels, with 32 individually designed guest rooms and suites.
The hotel was awarded two Michelin stars in 1985, just a year after opening, and, remarkably, has held them ever since.
Surrounded by lawns, flower borders and orchards, the luxury hotel enjoys an idyllic, typically English setting.
But beyond the eye-catching displays are vegetable and herb gardens that provide the kitchen—and its acclaimed Cookery School—with ultra-fresh, organic produce, ensuring the Michelin-star restaurant remains at the cutting edge of culinary excellence.
It's a beautiful hotel and you could even go from London for the day.
