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.
April 24th, 2012
Park Hyatt
- Rain or shine, this is one event that no one wants to miss. On April 26, 2012, as part of the 2012 Park Hyatt Masters of Food & Wine, Park Hyatt Seoul will be offering a Korean ethnic earthenware Onggi class followed by a reception and full course dinner with exclusive, locally-produced caviar and sturgeon complemented by an excellent wine selection.
Anantara
- Make downtime fun in Thailand with Anantara activities: chef-led Thai cooking class and market tours at Anantara Lawana on Koh Samui, 120 minutes of bliss with the Pearl of Andaman signature treatment at Anatara Phuket Villas’s Anantara Spa, a Floral Foot Ritual, Traditional Chinese Herbal Back Massage, and Pearl Facial.
Crystal Cruises
- Take advantage of a rainy day at sea to try an onboard enrichment program at Crystal’s Creative Learning Institute. Take a crash course in a foreign language with Berlitz, taste wine with the Society of Wine Educators, or create a work of art with Crystal’s Masterpeice Art Program, the most comprehensive art program at sea.
La Réserve Ramatuelle
- April marks the re-opening of La Réserve Ramatuelle. Dedicated to health, the hotel has indoor and outdoor fitness options that include an indoor pool and a fitness center with Technogym equiptment – guests can stay fit rain or shine! In April, La Réserve is offering the third night free for any reservation of two nights!
Geejam Hotel
- While it might be raining outside, at Geejam it’s always jammin’ no matter the weather. The hotel has its own recording studio where guests can learn the recording process and record a track on the mic.
Orient-Express
- Rain is a fact of life in Scotland; lucky for us, the Scots have had centuries to figure out how to make the best of it. Orient-Express’ The Royal Scotsman’s new season is sure to entertain during April showers with elegant Scottish dinners, breathtaking views, and the quiet comforts of private Edwardian-style carriages.
One&Only Ocean Club
Park Hyatt Tokyo
- Stay high and dry on the 41st floor while indulging in some sweet temptations. Every weekday afternoon, the Peak Lounge offers a tea plate and sweets buffet showcasing quintessential Japanese confections, such as warabi mochi sprinkled generously in sweet toasted kinako and a panna cotta accented with sakura sauce and macaron.
The Wauwinet
- Borrow The Wauwinet’s complimentary Hunter Boots to explore Nantucket on a rainy afternoon. Watch the storm roll into the bay or take a short walk to the Whaling Museum and check out the 46-foot skeleton of a sperm whale that washed ashore in 1998.
Le Pavillon des Lettres
- Take advantage of the rain and catch up on your reading. There’s no better place than the intimately luxurious Le Pavillon de Lettres, Paris’ first literary hotel. Guests can curl up by the fireplace or read from one of the hotel’s many iPads, loaded with international bestsellers, in the privacy of their rooms.
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
- Let the rain be your excuse to take a break from the outdoor activities available at the Victoria-Jungfrau and indulge in the signature treatment at the hotel’s ESPA Spa, the authentic Swiss Alpine herb poultice massage. The herbal foot ritual, full-body poultice massage, and relaxing head and scalp massage are guaranteed to relax you from head to toe.
Guinot
- When rain has one homebound, get that face ready for summer. Start with a gentle exfoliation with Gommage Grain d’Eclat, follow with quick swipe of refreshing Lotion Hydra Fraîcheur toner, and finish off with 10 minutes of the smooth and gentle Hydra Sensitive Face Mask (voted Best Overall Face Mask by NewBeauty).
ESPA
- Rainy days and Mondays get you down? Make the best of an April shower and take a “Spa-Cation” at the Peninsula Spa. This includes a 60-minute ESPA massage, a special lunch, and complimentary use of the pool and fitness center.
Inn on the Alameda
- Let it rain, let it rain!!! While rainfall in Santa Fe is negligible, when it does rain, it pours! Take shelter in the Inn’s cozy Agoyo Room and enjoy a Turquoise Margarita or a New Mexican wine while sitting in front of the roaring fire.
Shakti
- While April showers are nourishing the earth, Shakti guests can nourish their souls by sitting in meditation with Buddhist monks in a Sikkimese monastery, meeting with a real medicine man in a remote Ladakhi village house, or creating a bespoke itinerary featuring customized adventures.
Royal Mansour Marrakech
- April showers may be cold and dull, but traditional Moroccan hammams are not! At 27,000 square feet, Royal Mansour’s two-story spa features thirteen treatment rooms, a fitness center, gymnastics area, a salon, two hammams, and an indoor swimming pool. Try out their signature Slimming Body Massage to prepare for the summer ahead!
Nayara Hotel, Spa & Gardens
- A little rain never spoils the party in Costa Rica! Don’t fret – the almost-daily showers usually don’t last more than a few minutes, leaving just enough time to sample a sommelier-selected assortment of 33 South American wines and Latin American tapas at Nostalgia Wine Bar at Nayara, near the Arenal Volcano in the heart of the rainforest.
April 16th, 2012
Image courtesy of WakeUpWorld.com
Everyone seems to be talking about the new “Chocolate Diet”, including The New York Times. With a new study showing that people who eat chocolate frequently have lower body mass indexes than those who it less often, we’re all about indulging our sweet tooth – in moderation of course. Here are some of our favorite places to satisfy a chocolate craving and stay healthy.
Santa Fe, New Mexico
The sweetest way to satisfy a sweet tooth? A trip to the Santa Fe Chocolate Trail, of course! The Inn on the Alameda even offers a special “Check Into Chocolate” package. Designed to let you sample the unique hand-crafted delicacies created by the talented chocolatiers of the City Different, this tasty package won’t break the bank or your waistline. With rates starting at $340, this package includes:
- Two (2) nights in a traditional Queen or King Room or a Deluxe King accommodation
- Daily continental breakfast
- Daily afternoon wine hour
- Four (4) $10 gift certificates, one each to sample some of the individual creations found on the Chocolate Trail at Todos Santos, Kakawa Chocolate House, The Chocolatesmith, and C.G. Higgins
- Four (4) melt-in-your mouth bolitos, the signature chocolates from Señor Murphy, Santa Fe’s first local chocolatier, upon arrival
- One (1) $30 gift certificate to dine at the Chocolate Maven, purveyor of some of the tasty treats found in the Inn’s Breakfast of Enchantment, serving high tea Monday through Saturday from 3-5pm
London
Since November, London’s famed boutique hotel, The Halkin, offers Couture Chocolate Afternoon Tea. The concept was created by William Curley, four-time winner of ‘Britain’s Best Chocolatier,’ for The Halkin as part of the hotel’s 20th anniversary celebrations. The exclusive new menu gives traditional afternoon tea an unexpected twist and is to be found in the hotel’s newly-transformed lobby bar, the Assouline Culture Lounge, showcasing coffee table books from the renowned book publisher, Assouline. In addition to the English teatime classic of freshly-made scones with clotted cream and jams and a selection of sandwiches, guests can choose from William Curley’s à la carte selection, that includes a Chocolate Financier with Passion Fruit Curd and a Sea Salt Caramel and Raspberry Tart. Priced from £37.50 per person, the tea is available daily between 3 and 6pm.
Bangkok
Located on the ground floor of the newly opened Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa, Numero Uno is a chocolate lover’s paradise. The boutique features over 100 types of chocolate, mouthwatering cakes, and delectable pastries made from raw ingredients imported from Europe. Visitors can also enjoy rich coffees and a selection of indulgent hot chocolates. Deli-style sandwiches along with Asian and Western cuisine make Numero Uno a perfect place to stop for an afternoon snack or a late-night treat.
Nantucket, Massachusetts
Chef Fred Bisaillon, the Executive Chef at the White Elephant’s Brant Point Grill, has created a delicious and satisfying dessert. Using a decadent combination of rich dark chocolate and sweet fruit, the restaurant’s Cranberry, Pecan, and Orange Chocolate Clusters are easy to make and the perfect solution for a sweet tooth.
Recipe:
- 1 lb dark chocolate
- 1-1/2 cups pecan pieces
- 1 cup dried cranberries
- Zest of 2 oranges
Melt chocolate in a microwave safe bowl using 25-50% power, stirring every 25 seconds until melted but not burned. Remove from microwave and stir in cranberries and nuts, then orange zest. Using two spoons, drop spoonfuls onto a greased baking dish one at a time. Allow to rest in refrigerator until solid, about 15 minutes. Pull out pan and release clusters from it with thin knife or spatula.
On the Seven Seas
At least once on every sailing, Crystal Cruises hosts a special Chocolate Tea Time held in the charming sunlit Palm Court on both Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity. Guests can enjoy delicious savories and sweets accompanied with Might Leaf teas, the world’s finest whole tea leaf served in special silk pouches. Some of the chocolate temptations offered include Ganache cake, rings, and tartelettes; chocolate crème brûlée; chocolate éclairs; chocolate fudge cake; chocolate whiskey tart; chocolate pyramids and chocolate roulade. Yummm!
April 13th, 2012
Spring is here – time to start planning your summer travels! Check Vietnam off your bucket list, with many international air carriers now servicing select U.S. gateways with only one stop, Vietnam is now closer than you think. Check out Anantara’s first property in the country, Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa, located four hours outside of Ho Chi Minh City, for a visit to the rolling sand dunes and quaint fishing villages on the South China Sea coast.
The newly transformed Anantara Mui Ne Resort & Spa features 89 luxurious rooms, suites, and villas, five restaurants and bars, and fully-equipped fitness facilities. Located 120 miles from Ho Chi Minh City on the Southeast corner of Vietnam on the South China Sea, the resort offers a secluded escape in this coastal fishing village with a tropical landscape. The hotel’s design reflects its time and place in traditional Vietnamese style. Spectacular views of lush gardens, the infinity-edged swimming pool, freshwater lagoon, and the sea make this resort exceptionally peaceful and picturesque.
Known for its experiential approach to hospitality, Anantara offers guests opportunities to delve into the local culture both at the property and on excursions. Vietnamese culture is threaded throughout, from the locally-grown dragon fruit incorporated into spa treatments at the Anantara Spa to guests picking fresh vanilla from a local plantation to use in the resort’s cooking classes. Anantara’s signature private “Dining By Design” concept includes dinner for two prepared by a private chef on a traditional Thung fishing boat. During the day, guests can bask on pristine beaches lined with towering, desert-like sand dunes or venture out for a morning snorkel or sail. Golf lovers can practice their swings at the exclusive nearby Sea Links Golf and Country Club or at the Ocean Dunes Golf Club, named one of the “Best 500 Golf Holes in the World” by Golf Magazine.
The resort’s various dining options offer authentic Vietnamese cuisine as well as international favorites. Highlights include fresh seafood specialties, signature cocktails in locally-crafted Cham pottery mugs, and cool refreshments at the swim-up bar. At night, the bar evolves into a poolside torch-lit terrace complete with live entertainment. Bespoke opportunities abound in the form of a degustation menu in the chic Wine Room, whose menus expertly pair fine wines with specialty cheeses and charcuteries.
Anantara is offering a special Mui Ne Discovery Package that provides a 20% discount on accommodation in either a Deluxe Room or Pool Villa. Rates begin at $184 for a single and $159 for a double, before taxes and service charges, and include daily buffet breakfast for two, complimentary in-room cable Internet access and public area WiFi, and a half-day tour of Mui Ne. A minimum two-night stay is required (three-night stay in March and April). All rates are subject to 5% service charge and applicable 10% government tax. Offer valid through December 25, 2012.
March 29th, 2012
From September 12-16, 2012, the Thai seaside town of Hua Hin will be taken over by some friendly giants and royalty from around the world for annual King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament! For the 11th year in a row, Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas will host the event in an effort to raise money for their giant neighbors.
Transforming from a small two-day event to now one of Thailand’s major and internationally most loved events, elephant polo teams from all over the world will travel to Hua Hin to compete in the tournament, many of which have royal celebrity players. The event will also feature a grand opening parade in Hua Hin town center, a Tournament Draw & Cocktail Party at the Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa, a celebrity Grand Auction Gala dinner, and end of tournament celebrations on the field.
Fundraising from last year’s events has been donated to three projects in Thailand. The first is to continue to support research and clinics using elephants in therapy sessions for children in Thailand living with autism. In addition, the money raised has also been used to launch the first and only elephant hospital in southern Thailand, as a human-elephant conflict project between between Golden Triangle Asian Elephant Foundation (GTAEF) and the Elephant Conservation Network (ECN) charity who works in a wildlife reserve in Kanchanaburi.
For more information on this year’s King’s Cup Elephant Polo, please visit www.anantaraelephantpolo.com
March 20th, 2012
For the Balinese, March 23, 2012 marks the beginning of the New Year with the celebration of Nyepi, one of the most sacred holidays on the calendar. Nyepi is a day of silence, prohibitions, meditation, and prayer, and it is believed that one’s control of earthly senses will increase the quality of life for the year to come. The whole island of Bali falls quiet; nobody leaves their houses, lighting is kept low and everything closes (even the airport)! Experience this auspicious occasion at COMO Shambhala Estate or Anantara Seminyak Bali, where indulgence continues as usual, accompanied by some special Nyepi surprises.
On the eve of Nyepi, every village partakes in some sort of ceremonial procession. At COMO Shambhala Estate, spend New Year’s Eve, or ‘Ogoh Ogoh Night’, with a traditional Noise Parade, where participants will carry the Estate Ogoh Ogoh, a traditional Balinese effigy, through the grounds. Using Balinese cymbals and other instruments, the noise of the procession is meant to awaken and ward off evil spirits.
Before the entertainment begins at Anantara Seminyak, guests can help purify the hotel by playing tek-tekan with the Anantara team. Then, enjoy the traditional Ogoh Ogoh and Joged processions throughout the resort. The evening concludes with a traditional Balinese Beach BBQ featuring famous Balinese dishes, such as Chicken Betutu and Lawar. The resort is also offering a special package to celebrate the New Year. With rates starting at just $330, guests can receive two nights’ accommodations in a suite, daily breakfast for two at Wild Orchid restaurant, and a choice of one three-course lunch at Wild Orchid or one 90-minute massage for two at Anantara spa, per couple per stay.
The Day of Silence begins at sunrise on March 23rd and continues until sunrise the following morning. Whether one chooses to ‘do as the Balinese do’ or not, both resorts’ on-site restaurants, spas, and other services will remain open. Guests who do not partake in the traditional rituals are asked to stay on resort grounds so as not to disrupt the unique celebration of the Balinese people.
March 15th, 2012
With temperatures rising, spring is just around the corner and people are starting to lose those extra layers of clothing. While happy to put that winter coat back into storage, maybe you’re not quite ready for that itsy-bitsy bikini. Really, all that is needed is a little detox, so why not pick a spring break locale that will have you looking and feeling great!
Recently, the Huffington Post featured Tablet Hotels’ Top 10 Hotels for Detoxing – and our favorite from the list was Anantara Bophut Resort & Spa on Koh Samui in the Gulf of Thailand. Located on a tranquil stretch of sand on one of the most stunning islands in Southeast Asia, this resort is the ultimate place to recharge the body, mind, and soul. Get the heart rate up with yoga or Thai boxing classes, followed by unwind time at the Anantara Spa with their signature treatment, the Culture of Anantara, which includes 180 glorious minutes of massage given by two therapists who will be sure to work out any kinks before polishing and smoothing the skin with a clay sea salt scrub. The final stage of the treatment is a Mud Steam Bath, which will leave the skin looking and feeling better than ever.
March 1st, 2012
Vacations are usually a time for indulgence. A time when travelers don’t want to worry about how many calories are in that dessert, or when they’ll find time away from the rays to use the resort’s state-of-the-art gym. Instead, most days are spent horizontally on a beach with a good book. But what happens on that last day of vacation when the bikini fits a little snugger? Resorts are offering low-cal choices for holiday revelers, and at Anantara Seminyak Resort & Spa in Bali, guests can indulge in delicious, health conscious meals, like the Garden Vegetable Terrine featured on BeatMag.com. Of course, Thai BBQ is also an option for protein-seekers, there’s always a game of beach soccer or yoga to burn off those extra calories.
January 27th, 2012
Newly engaged Chrissy Teigen and John Legend; Anantara Kihavah Villas. Photos courtesy of gatagat.com; Anantara Resorts & Spas.
Of course you know that John Legend proposed to Chrissy Teigen in the Maldives, but do you know at what resort? It is no secret that the island nations of the Maldives, taking the #27 spot on The New York Times’ “45 Places to Go in 2012” list, is a hotbed for celebrities. But with over 80 different resorts throughout the necklace of islands, where are they all hiding?
Well, we’ve spotted supermodel Chrissy Teigen with R&B musician John Legend, soccer stud Cristiano Ronaldo, tennis champion Roger Federer, and British bombshell Jenny Frost all at the luxurious Anantara Kihavah Villas. Whether they spent their time relaxing on the white-sand beaches, picking up a few tips from a cooking class at Salt, sipping on some bubbly at the underwater restaurant, Sea, or popping the question à la John Legend, it is clear that this resort is hot on the celebrity circuit! Whether you are a star or starlet, or just like to pretend that you are, all guests of Anantara Kihavah Villas receive five-star treatment.