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.
January 17th, 2012
Photo courtesy of huffingtonpost.com
Sailors in the Volvo Ocean Race have had quite the adventurous couple of months. After departing from their starting port in Alicante, Spain in October, they braved the treacherous Atlantic to Cape Town, Africa, narrowly avoiding potential pirate attacks in the Straight of Hormuz. From Cape Town, they set sail to Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates where they arrived last Thursday to the welcoming music of Coldplay.
After several in-port races in Abu Dhabi, the boats embarked on the next leg of their journey to Sanya, China, where they can expect some surprises in the water. While sailing the Malacca Straights, the second busiest shipping channel in the world, they need to be on the lookout for logs and other debris in the water that have the potential to cause disaster.
After Sanya, they will set sail for Auckland, Australia; Itajai, Brazil; Miami, USA; Lisbon, Portugal; Lorient, France, and finally, Galway, Ireland. After approximately nine months of racing and 39,270 nautical miles, there will only be one champion in Galway. We can’t wait to find out who!
For the most up-to-date information and updates on the race, visit www.volvooceanrace.com.
December 15th, 2011
Red Fort in New Delhi (new-delhi-tour-india.blogspot.com)
Happy, Happy birthday to the city of New Delhi today! The foundation of the city was laid on December 15, 1911 by King George V and Queen Mary. Since that date, it has become one of the fastest growing cities in the world with a population of 19 million!
Stop by to give your best wishes and see how well it’s aged with Banyan Tours & Travels. The bespoke tour company can arrange an itinerary to see the city’s sights and many cultural offerings! Here’s to another prosperous 100!
November 15th, 2011
Every November, Thailand celebrates Loi Krathong, or the Festival of Lights. During the festival, elaborate floats line the waterways and fireworks and paper lanterns illuminate the night sky. The release of lanterns into the night sky is thought to cast away grief and misfortune. Like blowing out the candles on a birthday cake, releasing a lantern is also an opportunity to make a wish. While lanterns are released all year round for various celebrations, this spectacular nationwide festival occurs on the full moon of the 12th month in the traditional Thai lunar calendar (in the Western calendar, it usually falls in November). This year, Loi Krathong took place on November 10, but don’t worry, it’s not too late to release your own lantern! Click here to take part in the Loi Krathong celebration!
November 10th, 2011
Well, today we found him at the “top of Europe”, at Jungfraujoch’s Sphinx Observatory, located 11,745 feet above sea level in the Swiss Alps. Most well-known for as the setting for the 1969 James Bond film, “On Her Majesty’s Secret Service”, Mr. Lauer arrived by train to the highest railway station in Europe this morning.
Accessible only by cable car, the Swiss Alps are an outdoor sports enthusiasts’ dream come true. The majestic mountain peaks offer the world’s best Alpine skiing and snowboarding, as well as some incredible lower altitude activities on the crystal clear mountain lakes, such as boating and ice skating. Besides the vast array of activities available in the Alps, it is also incredible just to sit with a glass of champagne and enjoy the extraordinary scenery. From the glittering snow-capped peaks to the impossibly blue lakes, it is a sight to be seen at least once in a lifetime.
The Alps stretch through France, Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Austria, and Slovenia; but we found Mr. Lauer in Interlaken, Switzerland, the home of the beautiful Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa.
Read more about Matt’s Swiss adventures here and be sure to stay tuned to see where Matt will be tomorrow!
November 10th, 2011
When most people think of the Maldives, they think of powdery beaches, deserted pearl-strung islands, and world-famous diving, but that’s not all – the pristine and virtually untouched open water is home to some extraordinary big game fish. From now through November 13, the Maldives Game Fishing Association (MGFA) is holding the first ever Maldives Game Fishing Challenge. In this “tag and release” tournament, competitors bait their lines in hopes of landing Marlin, Sailfish, Wahoo, Yellowfin, Big Eye, and Dog Tooth Tuna. In addition to supporting sustainable recreational fishing methods, scientists are present at the tournament to tag the caught fish for research and conservation purposes.
November 9th, 2011
With temperatures dipping below freezing and a snowstorm in October, it’s no secret that winter came much too soon. While we can’t control the weather, we can certainly run from it! Ditch the snow boots, pack your warm weather gear and escape with top luxury line, Crystal Cruises, instead.
Voted World’s Best more than any other cruise line in history, Crystal Cruises offers a diverse collection of itineraries exploring the Panama Canal, South America, Caribbean, and the Pacific Coast. Book before December 31, 2011 and receive up to $4,000 per couple in additional savings! But hurry, Crystal Cruises’ Book Now Fares don’t last forever.
Other exclusive offers, available for a limited time, include 2-for-1 fares, special savings for repeat Crystal Society guests, families and friends traveling together, new-to-Crystal savings, early full payment savings, and generous savings for back-to-back combination cruises. So, pull out your bathing suits and sun block, put away your hats and gloves, and book now to save!
November 2nd, 2011
Alice Marshall Public Relations is thrilled to announce its representation of the One&Only Resort collection. Set in some of the most beautiful locales in the world, each award-winning resort offers guests a distinctive style, genuine hospitality and lively energy that is unrivaled. Properties include One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives; One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritius; One&Only Royal Mirage in Dubai; One&Only Ocean Club in The Bahamas, One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos, Mexico; One&Only Cape Town, South Africa and One&Only The Palm, Dubai which opened in November 2010.
As an authority on luxury hotels and goods for over 20-years, AMPR is adept at identifying trends and reporting news from their clients in a carefully crafted and nuanced way. From high-end hotels to exceptional cruises, trains, exotic spas and lavish products, One&Only Resorts joins an exemplary roster of AMPR clientele bursting with exciting and original content.
To kick-off the holiday season, we would like to share with you our One&Only Gift Guide. From a mouth-watering cookbook by South African chef Reuben Riffel to a Physique57® Fitness Retreat, One&Only has your gift wrapped up.
Your One&Only Gift Guide
- Instead of the traditional gift of wine, One&Only Palmilla’s sommelier Manuel Arteaga recommends gifting a bottle of Mezcal from his four favorite artisanal producers: Pierde Almas, Alipuz, Ilegal Mezcal, or Los Danzantes. Often touted as ‘the new tequila,’ mezcal is distilled from the agave (like tequila) and has a distinctive smokiness – perfect to warm up a winter-chilled body. For the ultimate Mezcal Tasting Experience, guests at One&Only Palmilla can schedule a private tasting with Manuel and learn about the production process, regions, and categories, followed by a tasting of seven mescals at the Agua bar. $55 per person.
- For the fitness buff, pair Physique 57®’s new book, The Physique 57® Solution: The Groundbreaking 2-Week Plan for a Lean, Beautiful Body in stores nationwide on January 4th, with the promise of a stay at One&Only Ocean Club during one of their 4-night Physique57® Fitness Retreats. Guests enjoy two daily classes with Physique 57® instructors, use of a Balinese-style spa, nutritional cuisine by Michelin-starred chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten, all in a Bahamian paradise. Retreats are scheduled for December 4-8, 2011, January 12-16, 2012, May 3-7, 2012, September 20-24, 2012, and December 2-6, 2012.
- For the chef, One&Only Cape Town’s Reuben Riffel’s new cookbook Reuben Cooks Local, takes home chefs on a journey through one of South Africa’s most well-loved culinary repertoires from his celebrated city bistro. Filled with over 230 pages of recipes and tempting images, readers also learn what inspired this chef and his rise through the South African restaurant ranks.
- Cape Town-bound spa-goers will swoon over ‘The Essence of Africa’ at One&Only Cape Town’s award-winning spa. The new therapy combines traditional African massage tools, such as the ‘Eucalyptus wooden rungu,’ and age old healing ingredients such as Baobab tree oil and Rooibos herbs from the bush to lift the senses, improve skin elasticity, and reduce stress. If you can’t make it to South Africa, try gifting some new in-room bath and body products by South African Charlotte Rhys, just out with her new line of men’s amenities in time for the holidays.
- For the music buff, give the gift of three nights at One&Only Ocean Club during December 7-13 and get VIP tickets to hear country sensation Brad Paisley perform live at the Grand Ballroom at Atlantis, Paradise Island, on Saturday, December 10 at 9:30pm. (Book by December 5.)
October 26th, 2011
Diwali, also known as Deepavali or Devali, is a holiday observed by Hindus, Sikhs, and Jains. Known as the “festival of lights,” Diwali is celebrated between mid-October and mid-November every year, as it is based on the luni-solar Hindu calendar. It is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Mauritius, Guyana, Trinidad & Tobago, Suriname, Malaysia, Singapore, and Fiji, but it is celebrated all over the world. While the story behind Diwali varies from region to region, as do the celebrations (which may include the lighting of small clay lamps filled with oil to signify the triumph of good over evil, but can also involve fireworks, sharing sweets, and many other traditions and forms of worship) the fundamental meaning behind the holiday remains the same – to celebrate the victory of good over evil, to rejoice in the inner light (known as Atman), and to celebrate the reality in all things (Brahman).
For our friends who celebrate Diwali, we wish you a very happy holiday!
June 30th, 2011
Fashion icon Donna Karan unveils some of her travel tips and secrets in an interview on Saks Point of View. We’re not surprised that this chicster favors COMO Hotels and Resorts properties. She loves water and nature, which she finds at her home on Parrot Cay, and her most memorable summer vacation involved a yoga retreat in Bali at COMO Shambhala Estate. There are also useful tips on what to wear and how to pack. We wish we could travel like Donna…