June 17th, 2010
The sought-after slim physique of the French certainly can’t be courtesy of buttery croissants or sumptuous cream sauces. Parisians spend their lives walking, an underrated way to burn off those Ladurée macarons. This September, La Réserve Ramatuelle is offering two boot camps with a French twist for those wanting to shed some pounds commes les françaises. Set in a sundrenched hillside near St. Tropez with views over the cobalt Mediterranean Sea, La Réserve is the ideal spot for hiking through the Côte d’Azur countryside.
The Boot Camp is a five-day (four-night) program. Upon arrival, each boot camper will get a medical assessment to measure physical aptitude. The next day, after an hour-long yoga session and a healthy breakfast, a guide will lead the way on a fast-paced walk through the countryside and along the coast. While the hilly terrain is sure to raise heart rates, the pace and distance of these walks are determined on an individual basis. After the walks, guests can relax for the rest of the day at the spa, enjoying a program of treatments such as balneotherapy, body wraps, or the La Réserve Better Aging body treatment. While strenuous, this boot camp is hardly roughing it; walks through the Mediterranean countryside, spa treatments, and delicious (and healthy) local flavors cooked up by Chef Eric Canino. Designed for groups of 4-8 people, it’s the perfect opportunity to take along some friends.
Example of a typical day’s activities – day 1
6:30am Yoga session (1 hour)
7:30am Breakfast
8:30am Leave for walk
1pm Lunch at the hotel
2:30pm Balneotherapy
3pm Body Wrap
3:30pm Jet shower
4pm La Réserve Better Aging body treatment (50 minutes)
6:30pm Relaxation session (1 hour)
Dates:
Wednesday September 15-Sunday September 19
Monday September 27-Friday September 31
Price: €3600, accommodation in a Deluxe room and full board
March 31st, 2010
Worried about dining out and sabotaging that Spring Break-ready bikini body? Order up from La Réserve Geneva’s new Café Lauren menu for a fresh take on lean, flavorful cuisine.
Located at the heart of La Reserve Geneva’s established SPA restaurant and named for the La Réserve Collection owner Michel Reybier’s first granddaughter, Café Lauren connotes youth, freshness, and femininity. Eric Canino, the resident chef of sister property La Réserve Ramatuelle, brings his concept of light, balanced cuisine to the new menus, now offering breakfast, lunch, and dinner.
Complete the wellness regimen by booking a stay in a Lake Suite for majestic views of the Lake Geneva shores. Then spend an afternoon indulging in a signature La Prairie and Cinq Mondes facial treatment at the 21,527-square-foot spa.
February 25th, 2010
Who can resist a dark chocolate bunny or a colorful row of marshmallow peeps? Escape from the Jelly Belly and those sugary Easter basket temptations by stealing away to COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali for a wholesome, healthful, three-night retreat. Guests will enjoy complimentary nutritious breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and Easter Brunch (excluding some beverages).
Then achieve total health with a holistic Wellness Consultation and 60-minute massage (your choice of treatment!). Feeling rejuvenated, set out for Ubud to explore Bali’s rich Hindu culture and dramatic landscape.
Rates start from $1,440 for a Garden Room (subject to 21% government tax and service charge), valid from March 26-April 7 and must include a stay over April 2. Package is also available in a 5-to-7-night program.
Package includes:
- Three nights of accommodation
- Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
- Easter Brunch
- Wellness Consultation
- 60-minute massage
- Return airport transfers
- One-time drop off and pick up service to sister property in Ubud
- Personal assistant services
- Participation in daily schedule of Estate’s Easter activities
- Use of steam room, sauna, and 25-meter lap pool
January 12th, 2010
Picture a countryside trek, the soft tramp of feet on earth, and the quiet rustling of stately pines. Tune-in to nature’s soundtrack in 2010 as Uma Paro expands its Adventure Retreat series to include a new ultra-relaxing itinerary – Bhutan & the Bumdra Monastery Camp (May 17—24 and November 1—13). Guests will spend the seven-night trip immersed in the Himalaya’s Buddhist culture, culminating in an overnight campout high above the Tiger’s Nest Monastery.
Looking for more of an adrenaline rush? Dabble in all your favorite outdoor extracurriculars with the Multi-Activity Adventure in the Kingdom of Bhutan (July 6—13 and August 31—September 6) featuring rafting, biking, archery, camping, and fly-fishing.
Die-hard nature lover? Book the Flowers & Monasteries of Central & Western Bhutan (July 6—13 and August 31—September 6) trek to catch a glimpse of the Bhutanese conservation efforts: some 770 species of birds, 50 species of rhododendron, and a dazzling selection of medicinal plants and orchids dot the landscape.
There is truly an adventure for everyone – from shopaholics and photographers, to festival-goers and hardcore-hikers. Check out the eight other available retreats here.
Note: Rates for the adventure retreats range from $3,197—$5,260 for single occupancy. Group size minimum is 3, maximum is 12. All rates include seven, ten, or twelve nights of accommodation at a combination of Uma Paro and other tourist standard hotels or camps previously set up for trekking adventures.
November 6th, 2009
It’s that time of the year: the leaves are gone, and Starbucks has the gall to bring out its holiday cups. So, at the risk of getting ahead of ourselves, we wanted to send out two new deals for the Caribbean and Mexico for early 2010 (!) escapes.
On the Riviera Maya, Rosewood Mayakobá just announced its ‘5 for 4’ offer for stays from January 3 through May 10, 2010. This is available for all room categories. The fifth (consecutive) night is complimentary, and the only blackout date is March 3 to 7, 2010. The resort just won a Five Diamond Award for 2010, on top of a slew of others, but the real reason to go is the tequila library.
More details and reservations here or call 888-ROSEWOOD
In Turks & Caicos, Parrot Cay has several new offers for stays from January 10 through September 8, 2010: ‘7 for 5,’ ‘4 for 3,’ and then 25% off of any of its packages. These are applicable to all room categories. Its packages include the Stress Management Program and the Ayurvedic Program at the COMO Shambhala Retreat, the all-inclusive Sun and Seclusion, and then the new Babymoon and Romantic Runaway packages.
More details and reservations here or call 649-946-7788
After last winter, we are resolved to build in some warm sun & turquoise water getaways this year. After all, the Starbucks Pumpkin Spice Latte only gets you so far.
October 23rd, 2009
Beach at Parrot Cay
Not to make light of Eric Clapton’s famous rehab center, Crossroads, in Antigua, but the Caribbean beaches really do seem like the place that rock stars go to detox. Or at least sleep…
Case in point: Bono and the rest of the U2 crew just returned from Rosewood Mayakobá, where they took a few days’ breather from their concert tour (next stop: Pasadena on Sunday, October 25; the concert will be streaming live on YouTube). Paul McCartney was there last winter, no doubt taking a well-deserved break. It’s Friday, so we can’t think of a good “When I’m Sixty-Four” joke to insert here…there has to be one.
If you’re more a Stones person than a Beatles person, it’s worth noting that Keith Richards regularly appears at Parrot Cay, where he owns a villa, to soak up the Vitamin D and all those healthful effects of the salty ocean. Sometimes his assistant comes too, with her dog named Ruby Tuesday.
September 21st, 2009
There’s a new chill to the wind, with autumn just around the corner, but you can still work up a sweat with these three heart-pumping fitness programs from Crystal Cruises, Anantara Resorts & Spas and COMO Hotels.
Crystal Cruises: Illustrating its commitment to offering innovative wellness programs, luxury specialist Crystal Cruises is introducing Nordic Walking, fitness walking with lightweight poles, aboard its ships. Through an exclusive new partnership with LEKI USA, a leading manufacturer of skiing, trekking and Nordic Walking Poles, Crystal continues to break new ground in fitness options at sea. Specifically designed to engage the entire body, the Nordic Walking poles will be available complimentarily to guests aboard Crystal Symphony and Crystal Serenity this October. Nordic Walking Poles specialist Rick Deutsch will be on board Crystal Serenity’s October 8 cruise from Athens to Venice, and Crystal Sympony’s October 19 cruise from New York to Montreal to teach the opening classes and train the ships’ fitness instructors, who will lead demonstrations on following voyages.
Anantara Madives: Surf’s up dude! Hang ten and conquer the wild waves with the Anantara Madives’ 5-star service ‘Ticket to Ride’ program. Anantara Resorts & Spas has partnered with the award winning Australian company Tropic Surf to offer an unforgettable experience for all – from beginners, to intermediate and advanced surfers. Your surf-pass entitles you to quite the package: two dhoni boat transfers per day to your designated surfing area, as well as expert guides, board valet, surf reports, movie and information nights, and more. The lessons are intimate, too – only eight surfers are permitted to book the program at any one time to ensure personal, one-on-one coaching and safe, un-crowded seas. Make sure to book in advance to save. Depending on which program you choose, costs can range from $175-$990 for prepaid bookings prior to your arrival, and from $195-$1,120 for payments at the resort.
COMO Hotels: COMO Hotels’ exclusive, luxurious, and life-changing yoga retreats are taught by top yogis in unbelievable settings. Judy Krupp, who led a retreat at Uma Paro in July, was the returning guru this year, joined by newcomers Elena Brower and Sarah Powers. The workshops provide nearly five hours of daily practice with the masters and are held at COMO Shambhala Estate in Bali, Parrot Cay in Bali, and Uma Paro in Bhutan. Students at all levels have unparalleled access to these yoga rock stars, as well as to the renowned COMO Shambhala Retreat spas. The weeklong programs include six nights accommodation, most meals, and airport transfers. Single occupancy rates start at $5,681 at Parrot Cay, $3,515 at The Estate, $4,668 at Uma Paro; and double occupancy rates begin at $8,669 at Parrot Cay, and $7,056 at Uma Paro. All three properties offer daily yoga classes, as do most other COMO Hotels including Cocoa Island in the Maldives, and Uma Ubud, also in Bali. Daily Pilates classes are also offered at COMO Shambhala Estate and Parrot Cay.
July 15th, 2009
Talk about Pilates in paradise – from November 8-14, Parrot Cay will be hosting its first Pilates retreat conducted by the resort’s own Resident Teacher, Lynda Lippin. It was planned in response to a growing demand from guests who have had the opportunity to work with Lynda over the past year and a half. Offering 16 hours of Pilates classes over the five-day period, the retreat is an opportunity to address stress areas of the body under Lynda’s expert tutelage. She has been practicing Pilates for over 20 years and teaching for 18. She trained under Romana Krfzanowska, Kathy Grant, and Eve Gentry, among others. Lippin owned and operated award-winning Pilates studios in the US, trains new Pilates teachers for the Pilates Physical Mind® Institute, and is also an accomplished fitness trainer, certified by the American Council on Exercise®. She has a strong background in sports-specific training as well as rehabilitative exercise.
Strength Without Struggle
A six-night Pilates Retreat with Lynda Lippin, November 8-14, 2009
INCLUSIONS:
- Six nights accommodation
- Full Americ an breakfast daily, lunch, and dinner
- 16 hours of group Pilates and one private evaluation session
- Return airport transfers
Costs from $6,026 (single occupancy) or $9,014 (double occupancy)
June 17th, 2009
NTPL/David Levenson
To truly understand any locale, one must walk it. Whether you stroll, jog, hike, or simply meander, walking is the best way to soak up a new destination (not to mention it works to reduce our carbon footprint!). Through foot-guided tours, one can experience a location’s rare wildlife, spectacular views, geological marvels, and historical landmarks. So this summer ditch the car and grab some sneaks and enjoy some of the National Trust’s gorgeous walkways as a member of The Royal Oak Foundation.
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June 12th, 2009
Besides the weather, we’d like to think the party went off without a hitch. Wednesday night at the swanky midtown leisure palace, the Core Club, AMPR and their 100 closest friends toasted Park Hyatt hotels. While the terrace was unused (except for a rumored impromptu after-party) the chic space buzzed with chatter about recent openings, upcoming plans, and all things travel.
Sommelier Marcelo Rebole from Palacio Duhau – Park Hyatt Buenos Aires kept the Malbec flowing, while Master Sommelier Fernando Beteta from NoMI at Park Hyatt Chicago topped off the champagne flutes. “On the wagon” guests got a boost from the beautiful Brazilian nutritionist, Patricia Teixeira, enlisted by Park Hyatt this year to help launch its Healthy Living menu. Teixeira brings to Park Hyatt her experience as a sports nutritionist for Real Madrid during the Beckham era (we tried to abstain from asking about his personal habits!). The eleven General Managers who flew in from around the world were probably fiending for a bit of her Anti-Jeg Lag drink. But from Shanghai to Tokyo and Zurich, they kept their cool and worked the room in top form, keeping the media on their toes.
See you next year!
