January 11th, 2012
Photo courtesy of worldtennismagazine.com
It’s that time of the year again… time for lists. To-do’s, resolutions, and the New York Times 45 Places to Go in 2012, of course. So, if you’re resolved to travel more this year, use this to check a few things off your list. Here are some of our favorites!
#3 Myanmar – After the release of Aung San Suu Kyi from 15 years of house arrest and the lifting of the boycott against the authoritarian regime that kept the country isolated, Myanmar is ready to share cultural treasures and deserted beaches. Experience the remarkable beauty, romance, and mystery of Myanmar aboard the luxurious Orient-Express’ “Road to Mandalay” as it cruises down the Ayeyarwady River.
#4 London – Between the Diamond Jubilee celebration of the Queen’s 60th year on the throne, the summer Olympic Games, and the 200th birthday of Charles Dickens, there is a bevy of reasons to visit London this year. For the ultimate posh location, we recommend the Metropolitan London with its incredible views of Hyde Park and award-winning Nobu restaurant. For a more sanctuary-like hotel, the 5-star Halkin in discreet Belgravia may be more up your alley.
#6 Tokyo – It’s no secret that Tokyo had a tough 2011, which is why there is no better time to travel there than 2012. Due to a decrease in tourism and business travel, rates are down without sacrificing luxury and attention to detail. Staying at the “Lost in Translation” Park Hyatt Tokyo is now better than ever.
#11 Moscow – For those who love history and art, this is the city to visit. Between the reopening of the extravagantly renovated Bolshoi Theater in October and the opening of the Russian Icon Museum, you will find no shortage of things to do here. Located just yards away from the Bolshoi Theater, the five-star Ararat Park Hyatt Moscow is in the prime location to explore this unique city.
#14 San Diego – If you’re looking for good times, good people, and great beer, San Diego should definitely be on your list of places to go this year. If you want to throw in a game of golf before or after your tastings, definitely stay at the Park Hyatt Aviara.
#27 Maldives – It seems that everyone is traveling to the Maldives now-a-days, and it’s no secret why. It’s necklace of 26 tropical atolls in the Indian Ocean make it a place where you can find something that everyone in the family wants to do – scuba dive, fish, surf, or just relax in the pristine sand. There are so many different resorts to choose from – here are our favorites: Park Hyatt Maldives, Anatara Dhigu Resorts & Spas, Anantara Veli Resorts & Spas, Anantara Kihavah Villas, Naladhu, and Cocoa Island.
If you like to “kill two birds with one stone”, you’ll need to check out Crystal Cruises. Their ships plan to drop anchor in each of these destinations in 2012: #1 Panama City; #22 Paraty, Brazil; and #36 Dubrovnik, Croatia.
November 24th, 2010
Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas has a diverse and educated staff at every property – many of whom also use the grounds to pursue their personal interests. In the Maldives, Lindsay Sullivan serves as resident marine scientist and loves being able to share her passion for the underwater world with guests.
Lindsay leads Anantara’s Dolphin Quest, guides snorkelling excursions, is the resident Dive Master, and has established a coral nursery to rehabilitate damaged pieces. She replants broken coral and stresses reef conservation to locals. In the future, she hopes to work as reef consultant and travel the world, though her first love is the beautiful dive spots in the Maldives.
November 18th, 2010
Who wants to pay for a to-go coffee every morning on vacation? When you’re only alternative is the less-than-appealing packets of instant coffee and powder creamers, what’s a traveler to do? A recent article from USA Today observed that hotels are offering a more sophisticated approach to our society’s caffeine addiction with in-room amenities that really make the cut. Stay at an Anantara Hotels, Resorts, & Spas properties in Bali, Thailand, the Maldives, or the UAE, and get the cream of the crop; all 12 have Nespresso machines in each room. Let the buzz begin!
November 12th, 2010
Ever wish for just one more day of vacation? Now take it – without paying for it – at any Anantara property worldwide. The Stay 4, Pay 3 deal is available for all bookings from now through December 19, 2010 for stays through April 30, 2011 (with one exception of Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa in the Maldives, where you’ll instead stay 8 and pay 7). The hardest part will be deciding if you would rather take an elephant ride to your massage following yoga at Anantara Golden Triangle or head to Anantara Dhigu for an accelerated ride on Mr. Cayago, the Lamborghini of water rockets, to cruise the lagoon (above, or under, water) at 13 mph.
All rates are subject to service charges and applicable government and local taxes and offer is subject to availability at each of the resorts. We wish you luck with this decision!
November 3rd, 2010
We are still following the wedding bell trail of Katy Perry and Russell Brand as they continue their nuptial celebration in another of our favorite locales, the Maldives. Unfortunately, it looks like the couple is off to a bumpy start with paparazzi stalking and spider bites as they island hop.
We suggest if the happy couple wants to lose the cameras, Anantara’s Naladhu offers the best retreat. The nineteen houses are on a private island in the South Malé Atoll and the resort is the most intimate of Anantara’s Maldives properties. After a few days of total privacy, the couple can add some adventure to the mix with Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa’s PADI Dive Center or on the resort’s Whale Submarine for an excursion 130 feet below the surface. (Guests can hop between all Anantara properties in the Maldives).
Given the lifestyle of the rich and famous leaves plenty of playtime, stick around until January for the opening of Anantara Kihavah Villas which will feature 82 spacious overwater and beachfront villas furnished with private pools, wooden sundecks, outdoor showers and over-sized bathtubs built for two. The resort’s signature restaurant, Sea.Salt.Fire.Ice, will feature a salt sommelier and, the best yet, the restaurant and wine cellar are underwater. (reword, sounds funny)
There’s a reason the Maldives is the spot for matrimony merriment.
September 17th, 2010
You could call Christopher Hogan a big fan of Anantara. And we’re pretty pumped because we are a fan of his work, too! We recently posted about his original artwork for three different Thai wines inspired by Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa. Now Mr. Hogan is heading to his next post, the Maldives, for the month of October! Mr. Hogan plans to rotate between the tranquil Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa, Anantara Veli Resort & Spa, both in the South Male Atoll, and the luxurious and isolated Naladhu, which translates to ‘beautiful island.’ In a part of the world where everything is breathtaking, it takes a special site to be given such an honor!
Hailing from Australia, Mr. Hogan will spend the month working on his signature aboriginal art. While we think the beaches and spa treatments could pose a distraction, the serenity and peaceful vibe that is synonymous with Anantara Hotels, Resorts & Spas should be just the thing to get those creative juices flowing. We can’t wait to post the results!
March 19th, 2010
The high season for weddings has begun! Below find a round-up of honeymoon packages to suit all kinds of couples, from the couple who wants to just do nothing together to the couple that wants to do everything together.
For the laidback couple: beach time
Riviera Maya, Mexico
Rosewood Mayakoba knows that running around town to pick up save the dates, sample wedding cakes and find the perfect dress is hard work, even with the help of a great wedding planner or maid of honor so the five-night “Honeymoon Mayan Romance” package begins with top-shelf tequila upon arrival, and is all about chilling out. Take a Tantric Yoga class and enjoy a Moonlight Massage for two on your suite terrace. Glory in your private plunge pool and butler and end the day in an Aroma Bath with champagne and chocolate. You’ll also get a Couple’s Massage instruction session with 30 minutes of “alone time.” Let stress slip away at this gorgeous resort, nestled between the Yucatán jungle and Caribbean Sea that marries high design with serious luxury. Rates start at $1152 per night.
Visit www.rosewoodmayakoba.com or 888-ROSEWOOD for more details.
Maldives
At Naladhu, the Island Romance package begins before you even reach the property. A speedboat will meet you as you leave the airport to take you directly to this Maldivian island resort. A House Master will lead you to your private house, where Champagne cocktails and fruit are waiting. Spend the day by the pool or snorkeling in the reef then relax with a complimentary coconut milk bath for two. As if that wasn’t enough, chocolate cake to share is included! Nightly rates for the Island Romance package begin at $1,475 per night with a four-night minimum (rate excludes service charge and Maldivian government bed tax).
For the stress-crazed couple: inner peace
Bali
Begin your journey together in Bali’s spiritual heartland, at the COMO Shambhala Estate, with a Wellness Program tailored to your needs. Give your marriage the brightest possible beginning by learning how to stress-battling techniques based on the philosophies of Yoga, Chi Kung and Tai Chi. Then let the experts in holistic healthcare go to work using massage, acupuncture, Ayurvedic therapy and hydrotherapy (using water from the Estate’s sacred, mineral-rich spring). Rates begin at $2,100 for a three night Stress Management program in a Garden Room. Visit http://www.cse.como.bz/rates-2010 for more details.
Turks & Caicos
Stay at Parrot Cay and simply ‘be’ as a couple in one of the few pristine places in the Caribbean: a 1,000-acre private island where the spacious, teak-filled bedrooms spill out onto a mile of powder soft beach. Recover from the pre-wedding jitters with complimentary extras like Pilates and yoga classes and use of windsurf boards and catamarans. A seven-night Parrot Cay Honeymoon also includes 60-minute couples massage, a candlelit dinner in the COMO Shambhala Cottage and a bottle of champagne on arrival. (BONUS: The COMO Shambhala Stress Management program is available here as well!) Rates start at $6,012 per couple.
For the classic couple: New England whimsy
Nantucket, Massachusetts
The Wauwinet, a natural, stunning waterfront setting in Nantucket, is perfect for the couple that doesn’t want to go stray too far from home. Newlyweds can stay at one of the Wauwinet’s charming garden cottages, just slightly removed from the main buildings. Arrive at the hotel via the Wauwinet Lady, the hotel’s private charter, then indulge in couples treatments at The Spa by the Sea. With Nantucket Island Resort’s Hot Dates, Cool Rates promotion, rates at the Wauwinet start at $225 for 2010.
For the foodie couple: Southwest seasoning
Santa Fe, New Mexico
Stay at the Inn on the Alameda and explore our oldest capital city’s culinary and cultural delights for your honeymoon. With the Taste the City Different package, couples can take a three-hour walking tour around beautiful and historic Santa Fe with a chef guide to introduce you to the city’s most unique dining destinations. The next day, see who’s got better mincing skills with a cooking class and lunch to follow. When you’ve had your fill, the hotel’s Kiva fireplaces, triple-sheeted beds, and afternoon wine and cheese will be waiting. Don’t forget to bring home those authentic Southwestern recipes ‘por dos.’ Rates begin at $675 for a three-night package.
For the adventurous couple: exotic escapades
Bhutan
Honeymoon in the largely unspoiled kingdom of Bhutan, and participate in adventurous activities that include rafting, archery, camping and fly-fishing at Uma Paro. Then hit the road with biking and trekking courses that visit local monasteries and villages for a slice of culture. And don’t forget, the Bhutanese measure their wealth in Gross National Happiness, so the joy of recently married duos will certainly spike that statistic! Stay in a Como Suite and you’ll have a stunning 180 degree view of the Paro Valley. Rates start at $595 per night.
Chiang Saen, Thailand
High in the rolling hills of Thailand’s north, Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa is the perfect locale for the adventurous honeymooners to hang their hats before setting off for an unforgettable adventure. Never a dull moment at the resort, couples can learn to ride, bathe, and feed Thai Asian elephants at the on-site elephant camp. Choose the Mahout Discovery package for a three-day intensive mahout training course and learn all the sublties of elephant driving, or partake on a tri-country expedition on the Mekong through northern Thailand, Laos, and Burma, with the Three Country Discovery package. Nightly rates for the Mahout Discovery package begin at $480 for a Deluxe Room, double occupancy, and at $682 for a Deluxe Room, double occupancy, for the Three Country Discovery package. Certain restrictions and conditions apply. Please refer to the package links for details.
For the couple who wants it all: beach, adventure, culture
Changlang Beach, Trang, Thailand
Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa in Thailand will satisfy the couple looking for an unforgettably full cultural experience. Try pretty much every water sport imaginable, from sailing, snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, waterskiing, to even swimming with sea cows! Need something to hang beside the marriage certificate? Get scuba-certified on site with the resorts 5-star PADI scuba diving center. And you both can learn how to prepare a full Thai meal with staff-led cooking classes. More creative couples can partake in the art of Kae-Sa-Luk, Thai fruit and vegetable carving. Book your stay online 40 days in advance between now and December 20, and receive 20% off and daily breakfast buffet for two with the Early Bird Bonus special package. Nightly rates begin at $270 for a Deluxe Garden Terrace room.
October 21st, 2009
LOVE to get away? In 2010, Valentine’s Day and President’s Day coincide, so take your partner or your posse on a trip without using all of your vacation days! It’s never to early to start planning a “True Love Tryst” or a “Singles Escape!”
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April 22nd, 2009
Supermodel Kate Moss paid a visit to Maldivian luxury resort, Naladhu, this past week, and what did she think of her holiday? Loved it! In fact, she told a staffer that it was her best holiday ever.
The 19 individually decorated private villas are hotter than ever, attracting celebrities and star gazers alike to the pristine, white sand beaches of Velighandu Huraa island. What would a private house with an outdoor bath, infinity pool, Wi-Fi, Bose home theater system, and view of the Indian Ocean cost? $2,420 per night from now until December. The cost of seeing Kate Moss on the beach? Priceless.
May 19th, 2008
What’s hot weather without the beach? Three months of packed public transportation, overcrowded highways, and dripping air conditioners, that’s what. So beat the heat by heading for the coast and finding some surprisingly good deals in a few of the world’s most popular vacation spots.
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