May 15th, 2012
Spa: Anantara Spa at Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Maldives
Therapist: Ms. Yosita Tonak
Position: Senior Therapist
Q & A:
- What’s your specialty/signature in terms of your facials?
My favorite facial treatment is Anantara’s Signature Facial. The sixty-minute treatment combines the perfect blend of nourishing plant extracts and traditional Thai ingredients to treat and revitalize the skin. A gentle massage induces a deep state of relaxation, while an herbal mask restores the natural balance of the skin. This facial treatment is one of the most popular treatments in many of our spas.
What’s your overriding ethos when it comes to treating your clients?
For me the first and foremost aspect that defines a perfect spa experience is to understand my guests’ individual needs and comfort zone, as many of these personal preferences are not verbally communicated. It is about finding balance through communication, observation, and experience, from establishing the perfect room temperature to the preferred pressure applied to the face or back, to ensuring that guests emerge feeling recharged and invigorated, or totally soothed and relaxed, whatever their desired goal.
- Who are your celebrity clients?
Due to the exclusive nature of Anantara’s resorts in the Maldives I have been fortunate to meet and treat many celebrities and royalty, but my favorite guest by far is Wimbledon Champion, Roger Federer.
May 11th, 2012
The Professional Restaurant Recommender
Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa
Bangkok, Thailand
Name: Chettha Khambunditkul
Title: Streetwise Guru
Job: Also the Chief Concierge, Chettha has worked at the resort for 15 years and is always testing out new culinary recommendations. He has developed a Bangkok gastronomy hot list that is second to none, so guests can simply head straight for the best places instead of attempting to navigate the city’s overwhelming choices. Guests can even ask Chettha to accompany t hem on a tour to explore lesser known attractions in addition to famous sights.
Fun fact: As a local food connoisseur, Chettha knows where to find the best sois teeming with food stalls like the back of his hand, and he can easily help hungry guests find the tastiest roasted duck noodles, BBQ pork noodles, fish ball noodles, and spicy tom yum soups.
May 11th, 2012
The Wauwinet, White Elephant
Celebrate Nantucket Island’s rich literary past, present, and future at the island’s first Nantucket Book Festival, June 15 – 17. The weekend’s celebration will include panel discussions, readings for adults and children, pig roast at Cisco Brewery, and opportunities to meet notable authors in person, plus much more.
A handful of local Nantucket authors will be participating including Elin Handbrand, whose books are ideal beach reads, Nancy Thayer, author of 21 novels with her latest Heat Wave due out in June, and Nathaniel Philbrick, New York Times bestselling author of seagoing books.
Stroll down Broad Street and pop into Nantucket Bookworms to buy a book for your literary-themed weekend. (May we suggest Moby Dick?). Rest your head at The Wauwinet or at the White Elephant, both which offer cozy libraries – perfect for leafing through your new book, with a complimentary glass of port of sherry in hand.
To book overnight accommodations, visit www.nantucketislandresorts.com.
For more information about the Nantucket Book Festival, click here.
May 11th, 2012
Toothbrush? Check. Passport? Check. Pencil and Sketchbook? Double check.
In this recent USAToday article, Larry Bleiberg claims that a “growing number of travelers are using a pencil to capture vacation memories.” According to Gabriel Campanario, founder of UrbanSketchers.org, not only is sketching a great way to capture your memories, it also makes for a richer travel experience.
So, what are Gabriel’s top 10 cities to sketch? He names New York City, Seattle, Montreal, Norfolk, London, Venice, Barcelona, Istanbul, and Hong Kong as his favorites. Ready to head out and sketch? Well, Crystal Cruises will make a call in nine out of these 10 cities in the next year! Crystal will even help get you started at the on board Creative Learning Institute where their specially trained Odyssey Art at Sea instructor will give you some helpful tips. So grab your pencil, forgot the camera, and hop on Crystal Cruises for the richest travel experience.
May 8th, 2012
Its official, Nantucket’s cobblestoned Main Street has been named one of “America’s Greatest Main Streets” by Travel + Leisure! Located in the heart of the island, Nantucket’s Main Street runs from the center of the island right down to the busy Nantucket Harbor (once the whaling capital of the world). Lined with gorgeous elms, old fashioned lamp posts, benches, Greek revival buildings, and old-fashioned store fronts, the street is awash with New England charm. Best of all, there’s tons to do! The street is filled with chic boutiques, souvenir filled shops, art galleries, fantastic restaurants, and more. After a full day of shopping, rest your head at the new Inn at the White Elephant Village, opening this summer or one of the other iconic Nantucket hotels all walking distance from Main Street – Jared Coffin House, White Elephant Hotel, White Elephant Residences, or The Cottages at the Boat Basin. There’s no denying it, Nantucket’s Main Street really is one of America’s greatest!