The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs
The results of Condé Nast Traveler 2013 Readers’ Choice Awards are in. This year, the 26th annual Readers’ Choice Awards boasted its highest-ever participation with 79,268 readers casting 1.3 million votes. The result is a compilation of the best cities, islands, cruise lines, airlines, hotels and resorts in the world.
The #1 spot for Top Hotel & Resort in the World was a tie between The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs in Matauri Bay, New Zealand and La Residence in Franschhoek, South Africa.
Congratulations to all the winners of the 2013 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards including:
Top 100 Hotels & Resorts in the World: #1 The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, #7 One&Only The Palm Dubai, #22 (tied) Phinda Private Game Reserve, One&Only Palmilla, #63 Nayara Hotel Spa & Gardens, #75 Park Hyatt Dubai
Top Midsize-Ship Cruise Lines: #1 Crystal Cruises
Top Hotels in the Middle East: #1 Park Hyatt Dubai
Top Resorts in the Middle East: #1 One&Only The Palm Dubai, #2 Anantara Qasr Al Sarab, #5 One&Only Royal Mirage
Top Resorts in Central & South America: #1 Arenal Nayara Hotel & Gardens
Top Resorts in Baja, Mexico: #1 One&Only Palmilla
Top Hotels in Australia & the Pacific: #1 Park Hyatt Sydney
Top Hotels in the Atlantic: #2 One&Only Ocean Club, #4 Parrot Cay
Top Hotels in New England: #3 The Wauwinet, #7 White Elephant Hotel
Top Resorts & Safari Camps: #4 Phinda Private Game Reserve, #25 Lake Manyara Tree Lodge
Top Hotels in Chicago: #4 Park Hyatt Chicago
Top Hotels in Northern Europe: #5 Park Hyatt Hamburg
Top Hotels in South America: #4 Park Hyatt Palacio Duhau
Top Hotels in Washington, D.C: #5 Park Hyatt Washington, D.C.
Top Resorts in the Caribbean: #5 The Caves, #6 Hôtel Saint-Barth Isle de France, #10 Sugar Beach, A Viceroy Resort
Top Hotels in France & Monaco: #6 Park Hyatt Paris-Vedome, #18 Pavillon de la Reine
Top Hotels in Africa: #7 One&Only Cape Town
Top Hotels in Japan and South Korea: #7 Park Hyatt Seoul, #8 Park Hyatt Tokyo
Top Islands in the Caribbean: #7 St. Barths
Top Hotels in the Southwest: #8 Inn on the Alameda
Top Resorts in Europe: #10 Chewton Glen
Top Cities in the United States: #10 Napa
Top Hotels in Southeast Asia: #13 Park Hyatt Saigon
Top Resorts in Asia: #16 Anantara Golden Triangle Elephant Camp
Top Hotels in Central Europe: #17 Park Hyatt Zurich
Top Hotels in China: #29 Park Hyatt Shanghai, #37 Park Hyatt Beijing
For the complete list of 2013 Readers’ Choice winners, click here: http://www.cntraveler.com/readers-choice-awards
Tucked among towering palm trees are the luxurious villas of Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa. The beach hideaway features 64 villas and suites with private plunge pools. Days can be spent doing yoga by the beach, exploring Koh Phangan’s only seaview wine cellar, taking a Thai cooking class, or relaxing in the Anantara Spa.
Visit Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa
The first Anantara property in Dubai is set on a private beach and will feature 293 guest rooms and suites, clustered in units to maximize privacy, and direct access to the 118,400 square-foot lagoon pool. Accommodations also include 12 Beach Villas, 18 Over Water Villas, and three highly exclusive Royal Beach Villas. Six themed restaurants feature Middle Eastern, Australian, Asian, and Mediterranean cuisine.
Visit Anantara Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa
Opening December 2013
Anantara’s newest Phuket resort is situated on the northwest coast of Phuket on Layan Beach at the far end of Bang Tao Bay and offers panoramic views of the Andaman Sea. Amenities include a beachfront pool, a cliff-edge wedding chapel, library, Anantara Spa, and two all-day dining restaurants and bar. Though all Phuket beaches are public, the location of the property only allows beachgoers access through the resort, making it the most exclusive beach in Phuket.
Visit Anantara Phuket Layan Resort & Spa
Opening 2014
Located on an exclusive island just seven miles from downtown Doha, Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa will feature 141 rooms and private villas, a private marina, four swimming pools, and an extensive range of water sports surrounding it’s artificial reef. Guests will never be at a loss of things to do – from a spending the day on the golf course to a spa treatment (or two!) at the Anantara Spa.
Visit Anantara Doha Island Resort & Spa
Opening 2014
Anantara Emei Resort & Spa will be the first international hotel in the sacred UNESCO World Heritage Site at the foot of Mount Emei. Set among secluded sanctuaries, mystic temples, and natural hot springs, the 150-room resort combines this unique area’s natural charm with Anantara’s signature style. Guests can spend their days exploring the surrounding area, enjoying a tasting in the resort’s wine parlour, or lounging next to their villas private swimming pool.
Visit Anantara Emei Resort & Spa
Al Yamm
Inspired by traditional Arabic fishing and pearl diving villages, Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Yamm Villas consists of 21 one-bedroom beach style villas overlooking the dazzling Arabian Sea and nine one- and two-bedroom villas with private pools and views of the saltwater lagoon. Located on Abu Dhabi’s Sir Bani Yas Island, the property is a unique blend of diverse beaches and exotic wildlife. To make the most of the unique flora and fauna that can be spotted around the island, all guests of the villas receive a personal briefing from their own wildlife guide. Guests also have access to a wide array of adventures including a nature and wildlife drive, kayaking amongst the mangroves, horseback riding, scuba diving, and all offerings from Anantara’s other property on the Island, Desert Islands Resort & Spa.
Al Sahel
Opening late 2013
Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villas will feature 30 villas, each with private plunge pools, and is designed to be one of the few places in the region where guests can view free-roaming wildlife from their window. Located in the middle of the Arabian Wildlife Park, guests will see a new side of Abu Dhabi. Al Sahel is the perfect starting point for the next great adventure – whether embarking on an archeological site tour, taking a scenic seaplane flight, or setting sail on a romantic sunset cruise.
Visit Anantara Sir Bani Yas Island Al Sahel Villa Resort
New Year’s Eve is fast approaching, and with it, the inevitable New Year’s Day hangover. Instead of the usual sipping on Bloody Marys (or lying holed up in a dark room), here are six hangover cures that span the globe.
St. Barth
The folks at Sibarth have a St. Barth secret. Don’t go to sleep. Instead, wait until the bakery in St. Jean is opening and beg for a hot, buttery croissant at the side door. Eat it, then walk across to the beach and jump in the sea!
Cape Town
Chef Reuben Riffel of One&Only Cape Town gave us a recipe for a South African concoction – and it isn’t hair of the dog! Mix 1 cup chilled rooibos tea, ½ cup ginger ale, and 1 oz lemongrass syrup and top up with soda water and a dash of angostura bitters.
Santa Fe
Inn on the Alameda has the Southwestern way to start a rough day – a big old green chile cheeseburger! The fat of the burger is a classic method, and the green chile is the local wake up device.
Nantucket
The experts at Nantucket Island Resorts know that whether it’s July or January, nothing cures a hangover faster than a swim in Nantucket Sound followed by a trip to Brant Point Grill for a Lobster Bloody Mary for a little hair of the dog and some sustenance – the 18-inch skewer packed with lobster meat (plus lemons, olives, and heirloom tomatoes) will surely do the trick.
Thailand
If coffee is the cure, then surely the rarest and most expensive coffee in the world would be the best hangover cure! Anantara Golden Triangle has just that: Elephant Dung Coffee, or properly called Black Ivory Coffee. In short, an elephant eats a coffee bean, the coffee bean spends time in the elephants digestive system and then the elephant deposits the bean, which is picked out by the mahouts and their wives (thinking through this part will not help the hangover!). When roasted, the resulting beans sell for around $1,100 a kilogram with eight percent of all sales donated to the Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation. So helping out while helping yourself!
Maldives
If the epic scenery in the Maldives isn’t enough to cure any ailment, Naladhu’s own coconut grove provides its guests with fresh coconut water. Hydration is key to helping a hangover and often water is not enough. Coconut water however has natural electrolytes and more potassium than a banana!
At Sea
On Crystal Cruises, the best way to rid the body of toxins is to get an Elemis Cellutox Aroma Seaweed Wrap. The ingredients will detoxify, decongest, and stimulate the body systems with or without a full body massage.
We don’t often think about our impact on the environment – especially while we’re on vacation. But Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa makes the tourist-local interaction a positive one by incorporating environmental conservation practices into resort life. Conde Nast Traveler recently took notice and named Anantara Golden Triangle one of 15 winners of the World Savers Awards 2012 for its work with rescued elephants. The Elephant Camp at Anantara Golden Triangle has rescued more than 30 elephants and their mahouts (drivers) and seeks to further research in therapies for autism and elephant intelligence. They also provide a fun and informative experience for guests who get up close and personal with these gentle giants by learning how to drive and care for them.
The heat has us wanting to take a dip! Luckily Mr & Mrs Smith has given