February 17th, 2011
The Rubin Museum of Art in New York City is inviting families to create their own Himalayan towns and stupas this Saturday with clay, fabric, and mixed media. The museum will provide photographs of Himalayan villages, tents, temples, and stupas, but then it’s all up to the imagination! Get those creative juices flowing!
Or make the picture a reality on a family trip with Shakti. Customize an itinerary based on your families interests in three distinct regions of India’s North: Kuamaon in Uttarakhand; the tiny state of Sikkim, and Ladakh, in Jammu-Kashmir. Ideal for active and engaging family travel, guides will lead travelers on daily walks and exploration of temples and monasteries. In Ladakh, adventurous types can try their hand at rafting down the Indus River, camping out under the stars, or riding an indigenious Bactrian camel through the Nubra. You might need a few more supplies, but we’re certain the personal treks will leave all ages inspired.
January 19th, 2011
Anantara Phuket Villas was sad to say goodbye to Real Madrid’s all time top goal scorer, Raúl González Blanco, and his family, after their recent visit. A three-time winner of the UEFA Champions League, Raúl has long been the competition’s striker (he left Real Madrid in 2010 to join German Club Schalke 04 after having scored 323 goals in 741 appearances for the team).
The villas have become a celebrity haven since opening in 2008. Past all-stars also include, Kevin Spacey, Kate Moss, and Naomi Campbell.
January 17th, 2011
Man and beast have always had a special bond, but at the Elephant Camp at Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in Chiang Saen, Thailand, the two have collided to form a unique (and melodic) pair. Mahout ‘Khun Lord’ has a special technique of handling the gentle giants through song, as he begins training elephant calves when they are between two- and three-years-old and have an uncanny ability to learn commands. Khun Lord, however, discovered that the little guys responded even better to song. While the other mahouts stared, he continued to sing his lullabies – and he thinks the melodies sunk into his elephant, Lychee, subconscious as she slept.
The results: a very well trained elephant and a bond between the pair that you have to see to believe… and maybe to fully grasp. Encore!
December 23rd, 2010
Anantara’s artist-in-residence Christopher Hogan led local orphans in arts and crafts lessons this week at Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa in the Maldives. As part of the company’s ongoing collaboration with the local community, ten children created works that will be sold at the resort over the holidays. All profits will be donated to the Children’s House, the best kind of souvenir!
December 22nd, 2010
While headlines may be predicting doomsday airline fee hikes for 2011, Continental Airlines is bucking the trend and will be offering great rates to Albuquerque all year! As long as tickets are booked at least two weeks in advance, one way tickets are $99 for all travel (no blackout dates!) through November 3, 2011.
Visit the city with 300-days of annual sunshine and some 30 events and festivals annually and catch the view from Hotel Parq Central’s rooftop Apothecary Lounge. Or plan ahead (New Year’s resolution!) and experience the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, to be held October 1-9, 2011, known as the world’s most photographed event!
December 10th, 2010
When planning a vacation, it’s sometimes hard to know if you’re really getting the best deal or seeing the most authentic ‘non-tourist’ spots. It’s even more difficult when traveling to a destination for the first time! If India is on your must-see list (for the first time, or a return trip), don’t board the plane without consulting with Lucy Davison of Banyan Tours & Travels.
Not only does Lucy have clout with India’s top hotels—translating into superior availability during peak travel times—but she has personally selected the best rooms in the palace hotels and will reserve only those rooms for her clients. Her goal is to bring clients into cultural moments ordinarily off-limits to travelers—weddings, school speech days, obscure festivals with costumed cows—and loves to arrange surprises based around her clients’ personal interests: a private Sufi music performance for an aficionado, for instance.
December 2nd, 2010
Been there and done that? This spring, embark on a fun and cultural five-night family-friendly getaway in the charming region of Provence.
Where: The refined rustic Hotel Crillon le Brave is one of France’s most notable boutique hotels. Just 90 minutes North of Marseille, it consists of seven beautifully restored stone houses dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, which are linked by bridges, cobblestone walkways and hidden courtyards. Families who book the package receive spacious accommodations in a two-bedroom Junior Suite.
What’s Included:
Fun for the Little Ones:
- Learn to speak French with entertaining lessons and games.
- Throw on a chef hat and make signature French desserts. Think chocolate mousse, crêpes and rice pudding!
- See how baguettes and croissants are made at a local boulangerie and how olive oil is bottled at a nearby mill.
- Discover the village of Crillon le Brave with a treasure hunt!
Fun for the Grown-ups:
- Do you speak perfectly incomprehensible “franglais”? Surprise everyone by coming home able to parlez francais like the locals with our vacation-friendly French lessons.
- Sip exquisite wines from the Rhône Valley, paired with savory regional cheeses.
- Unwind with body therapies at the open-air spa (additional fee).
Fun Times Together:
- Experience an authentic Provençal BBQ and participate in a petanque competition (one of Europe’s most popular outdoor games).
- Relax with a pizza and movie night – soda for the kids and wine for the adults!
- Play tennis on the nearby court or bicycle through the historic cobblestone streets.
Don’t miss: Kayaking on the Sorgue River, horseback riding around Mont Ventoux, or teeing off on one of the most scenic golf courses imaginable.
When: April 17- 22 and April 25 – 29, 2011
Rate: The five-night package costs €2,290 for a family of four.
How to Book: Click here to place a reservation or call +33 (0)4 90 65 61 61.
December 2nd, 2010
Shakti offers private, guided walking tours through three distinct regions of the Indian Himalayas
Travelers to India know well the guidebook “circuit” of Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, and Mumbai, staying in familiar five-star hotels and barreling from one destination to the other by car or train. What is missing from these itineraries is a chance to comfortably see the most remote and staggeringly beautiful Himalayan region of India’s North. It’s now possible to do that with Shakti, which offers transformative village-to-village walking experiences in three distinct awe-inspiring regions: Sikkim, Kumaon, and Ladakh. Guests overnight in village houses that have been adapted for Western comforts, sleeping under Egyptian cotton sheets, wrapped in cozy wool throws, and enjoying delicious, freshly prepared meals from a personal chef. While all the modern conveniences are in place, the real luxury is in the very simplicity of these experiences and the chance to engage with the homeowners, monks, and other village locals. Take advantage of the opportunity to unplug from the technological matrix and relish the downtime to read and meditate.
The expertly guided journeys, tailored to the individual or group, are offered in:
Sikkim: breathtaking virgin forests aflutter with prayer flags, colorful monasteries, and the hulking presence of Mt. Kanchenjunga, the world’s third highest mountain. Orchids, anyone? Sikkim is home to over 400 species. 4-night stays start at $1,880 per person, based on two to three adults.
October 1 – April 30
Kumaon: stunning views that include the snow-tipped twin peaks of Nanda Devi, India’s second highest mountain. Walk through forests of grey pine, cedar, and rhododendron, and pass through villages and by small shrines to Hindu gods. 3-night stays start at $1,245 per person, based on two to three adults.
October 1 – April 30
Ladakh: known as ‘Little Tibet,’ a bastion of Buddhist calm amidst a dramatic moon-like landscape. Stay in village houses, camp out under stars, learn local customs, and experience Himalayan mountain life up close and first hand. 7-night stays start at $3,535 per person, based on two to three adults.
May 15 – September 30
Rafting through the Shayok River valley is also available as a three-day, two-night camping expedition that can be added on to the Ladakh village experience (August – September only).
Prices for the Shakti village experiences are inclusive of all taxes, accommodations, meals and beverages, activities, English-speaking, well-educated local guides, porters, a private chef, and vehicles when necessary. Prices depend upon the specific itinerary and number of travelers in the group; flights are not included.
Additionally, Shakti runs a four-room hotel, Shakti 360˚ Leti, at 8,000 feet in the Kumaoni foothills surrounded by rhododendron forests, soaring vistas and snow-capped peaks. The region is so remote that guests must hike the final 90-minutes to reach the hotel. Shakti 360˚ Leti is available to guests from October 1 – April 30. There is no Internet, no cell coverage, and only solar power — a real opportunity to unplug and reconnect with nature. A minimum stay of three nights is required for Shakti 360˚ Leti, and a 3-night, 4-day package starts at $1,825 per adult, based on double occupancy. Rates include accommodations, all meals and beverages, activities, English-speaking guide and porters, and all taxes, and return transfers between Shakti Kumaon Village Experience and Shakti 360˚ Leti. Flights are not included.
See more of India with Shakti’s sister company, Banyan Tours & Travels, that can arrange onward travel throughout the rest of India and Sri Lanka, with their expert consultants and travel specialists making every effort to customize the itinerary to a traveler’s specific interests.
Founded by visionary and seasoned traveler, Mr. Jamshyd Sethna, Shakti was created from Sethna’s passion to share his beloved Himalayas with travelers looking for authenticity within luxury. With his love for nature and the mountains, Sethna created an experience far beyond the luxury hotel circuit, finally making it possible for travelers to venture into unexplored territory in total comfort. He is also the owner and founder of Banyan Tours & Travels.
November 23rd, 2010
While the holiday season might mean last minute shopping trips and extended family gatherings for some, see how some of the Swiss will be celebrating for a lesson in true holiday R&R.
Where: Palace Luzerne, Switzerland
What: Another reason to move to Switzerland
Why: Swiss hospitality is extending its courtesies to local parents this Holiday season. The Goose ‘n Wellness package will pick-up Swiss moms or dads in a limousine for a day of spa pampering with an evening make-over for mothers and a ‘manly’ manicure for fathers, while hotel chefs prepare a traditional Holiday meal including roasted goose, mashed potatoes, and red cabbage. When ready to return home (we think it could be hard), the limousine will take refreshed parents home with the perfectly prepared meal back to an awaiting family.
When: December 24-26. 579 Swiss Francs per mother including wellness treatment, glass of champagne and Christmas dinner for four.
November 5th, 2010
image from: belgravecoop.org.uk
While Americans are counting down the days till turkey time, people on the other side of the globe are celebrating their blessings and harvest today with the Diwali festival. Dawali is an official holiday in India, Nepal, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, Mauritius, Malaysia, Singapore, Sri Lanka, Myanmar, Fiji , and Suriname. The annual holiday gives a chance to spend time with family and friends and give thanks. Much like Thanksgiving, the origins of the holiday are believed to be a celebration for a successful harvest.
The festival begins at sunrise with family reunions and the swapping of treats, and continues throughout the day as families perform traditional games and activities together. Another traditional custom is the placement of lights outside of houses, which has gotten more elaborate over the years – much like the Macy’s Day Parade floats!