A camp like no other with Four Seasons
Transcription
A camp like no other with Four Seasons
A camp like no other with Four Seasons * If you yearn for adventure, and want to discover the mysteries of Asia’s Golden Triangle, the Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle is a one-of-a-kind experience for active adults, located in the middle of the bamboo jungles of northern Thailand. Exotic activities await you from the moment you arrive in a traditional long-tail boat. All-inclusive three- or four-night adventures cover every detail, from elephant mahout training to Golden Triangle excursions, from formal campfire dinners to riverside drinks in the stilt-top bar. Dinner is an event at the Camp, too. It may be a barbecue under the stars, a five-course formal meal, or a dinner by campfire at Elephant Camp. For excursions, gourmet picnic baskets are served, complete with folding camp table, stools and linen napkins. The tented camp has a landscaped pool and a spa with double treatment rooms, spa beds and a bathtub/shower area, where guests can enjoy Thai massages and private yoga classes. The 15 tented guest rooms offer the usual Four Seasons luxury, right down to the copper bathtubs, handcrafted furnishings and outdoor decks overlooking the Ruak River. For more information, see www.fourseasons.com/goldentriangle 10 * On a mountain high in Austria The Austrian National Tourist Office has just released Destination Austria 2007, its most comprehensive holiday guide. It includes transportation, accommodation, cuisine and a listing of major events and festivals. It also has details on skiing, travel tips and a web directory for more research. Whether you're looking for the perfect skiing holiday, a leisurely cruise along the Danube, or a magical Christmas experience, a listing of 100 Australian and New Zealand travel companies helps you with flights, packages throughout the country, walking and cycling tours, musical and cultural tours, rail travel, Danube cruises and more. Austria has never been more popular among Australians, who last year flocked there in record numbers, especially to Vienna, Salzburg and the Olympic city of Innsbruck. Aussies now rank among the top 10 international visitors, despite the distance – testament to Austria's huge appeal to visitors. For more information, or to order a free copy of the brochure, call (02) 9299 3621 or visit www.austria.info/au Indian safari Bandhavgarh National Park in central India is home to one of the country’s highest density tiger populations. To see these fierce but fascinating cats close up, head to one of the region’s newly-opened safari lodges. Mahua Kothi, run by Conservation Corporation Africa (CC Africa) and Taj Hotels Resorts and Palaces, provides guests with the ultimate wildlife experience based on CC Africa’s sustainable ecotourism model and Taj Hotel's legendary style. The 16-hectare grounds of Mahua Kothi feature 12 luxurious jungle suites that combine traditional decor with the latest mod-cons. Located in the province of Madhya Pradesh, Bandhavgarh National Park features tropical forests, steep rocky hills, flat grasslands in the valleys below, dense jungle, a 2000-year-old fort, and a 10thcentury statue of Lord Vishnu. Safaris are led by CC Africa’s trained naturalists in open 4WD vehicles. Apart from seeing the Bengal tiger, guests can also spot leopards, chitals (spotted deer), Indian wild dogs, jungle cats, wild boars, sloth bears, nilgais and civets. For more information go to www.ccafrica.com and www.tajhotels.com 12 The perfect getaway in Mexico * It isn't the place you'd stumble on by chance: Verana is on a hilltop in the Mexican jungle, reached only by boat, mule and on foot. Now in its seventh season, the eight-room boutique hotel is still enchanting guests with its spirit of tranquillity and the contrast between its chic yet rough-hewn design and the untamed nature that lies around it. Verana also offers regional cooking with a global twist. At night from the bar or terrace restaurant, lit only by candles, the open kitchen is run by chef Fabian Huerta who whips up dishes such as coconut shrimp with curry sauce and ginger mash; and panacotta decorated with mint and passionfruit coulis. The bar serves Mexican, French and Italian wines as well as top-shelf tequila. Verana is a 45-minute drive from Puerto Vallarta on the coast of southwest Mexico, and is open from 1 November to 5 June. For more information, go to www.verana.com 13 Foodies gather on Hamilton Island Some of Australia’s most acclaimed chefs and winemakers will share their secrets at the annual Great Barrier Feast on Hamilton Island over the Queen’s Birthday long weekend on 8-11 June. The host, Curtis Stone, star of ABC-TV’s Surfing the Menu, will be joined by celebrity chefs Tobie Puttock of Restaurant Fifteen in Melbourne, Jimmy Shu from Hanuman in Darwin, and Frank Camorra from Melbourne’s MoVida. Wine enthusiasts will be able to blend their own wine, under the watchful eye of an expert winemaker from New Zealand’s Dog Point vineyard, as well as attending workshops on compiling a cellar and the secrets of balancing the tastes of wine and food. The Great Barrier Feast kicks off in style on 8 June with a cocktail party, and continues with cooking classes and tastings, lunches and dinners, and the Great Chefs’ Dinner. All-inclusive packages for the Great Barrier Feast start from $1986 per person twin share. For more information, visit www.hamiltonisland.com.au or call 137 333. * Mesmerised in the Maldives Thailand’s Anantara Resorts has expanded internationally, with the opening of its first property in the archipelago of the Maldives. This five-star boutique resort is surrounded by tropical gardens on Dhigufinolhu Island on the South Male Atoll, just 30 kilometres from the Maldivian capital of Male. The resort has 70 beachfront villas and 40 over-water suites, all set around a private lagoon. The villas are elegantly furnished in soft beige tones with aqua accents to reflect the Indian Ocean waters. Suites are fitted in warmer accents of orange and red to complement the cooler colours of the sea. The focal point of each room is the king-sized bed, which is draped with a net canopy and is positioned to take in the ocean views. In the bathrooms, infinity-edge bathtubs are positioned to look out at the mesmerising waters through expansive windows. The resort’s restaurants include the Maldives’ first Thai restaurant, Baan Huraa. At the Anantara Cooking School, its culinary team will demonstrate Thai, Indian and Italian delicacies. Other activities at Anantara Resort Maldives include diving, snorkelling, fishing and kayaking. Phone +96 664 4100 or visit www.anantara.com for more information. 14 ON THE MAP AND OFF THE CHARTS LUXURY GOES EXPLORING... IN EUROPE World’s Best Cruise Line Voted #1 Large-Ship Cruise Line Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards 2006 Europe is like a magnet, drawing us ever closer to its beautiful scenery, its rich heritage and intriguing cultural diversity. For even the most sophisticated traveller, there are always new visions and vistas to surprise and delight. Especially when seen from a more intimate perspective, aboard the small ships of Regent Seven Seas Cruises. And because of their size, our ships can sail beyond the confines of conventional tourism for more meaningful cultural encounters, more insight along with the sites. Come explore Europe with Regent. For further information, reservations and colour brochures call Wiltrans Australia 1800 251 174 (Au) or 0800 446 376 (NZ) Tokoriki Island Resort – Fiji Special From $2599* Ex Brisbane For travel Ex Sydney add $55* & Ex Melbourne add $171* Includes return economy class airfares including all airfare related taxes, 6 nights at Tokoriki Island Resort in a deluxe beach bure, one-way FREE helicopter transfers & one-way launch transfers. Contact Coral Seas on 02 8236 9900 or outside Sydney on 1800 641 803 or email [email protected] * Prices are per person twin share and subject to change without notice. Flights are subject to limited availability and subject to strict payment conditions. Valid for travel from 15 Nov – 15 Dec 07 and 15 Jan – 31 Mar 08 inclusive. Over night stay in Nadi may be required to meet flight connections at additional costs. EXPLORE www.tokoriki.com The Dolce Vita with Baglioni Hotels * Baglioni Hotels has announced the opening of a new hotel in the Hungarian capital, Budapest, adding to its collection of luxury European hotels. The Carlton Hotel Baglioni in Milan also boasts a new Guerlain Luxury Spa. Baglioni has also established an initiative for women travelling by themselves, offering in-room check-in, free-of-charge room service, complimentary make-up boxes and more. Baglioni's 13 luxurious hotels include those on Via Veneto in Rome, Via della Spiga in Milan, and the Piazza della Signoria in Florence. The Luna Hotel Baglioni in Venice is set in a medieval palace, with antique furniture, stunning frescoes and waterfront views. Its London property is close to Kensington Palace and has views over Hyde Park. To enjoy several destinations, Baglioni offers a six-day tour of Italian cities, showcasing the best of local hospitality and lifestyle. For more information, go to www.baglionihotels.com or call Leading Hotels of the World on (02) 9377 8444 or visit www.lhw.com * 18 Say "I Do" with Marry Me Abroad Marry Me Abroad had a bumper year in 2006, with almost three times as many couples getting married in Italy alone than in the previous year. Clients are now opting for more remote locations such as Sicily and the Aeolian Islands, where they can enjoy breathtaking scenery without the tourist masses. The company also notched up a record time for planning a wedding in Italy: six days! Even so, the Australian couple married happily and easily, stress-free and with all the trimmings. Marry Me Abroad now organises weddings in Greece, including the spectacular island of Santorini, and in France, where venues include Paris and the wine valleys of Bordeaux. In 2007, the company is offering great new musical ideas to make events even more personal. Professional music groups will have guests dancing to the rhythm of jazz, Latin, gypsy and the tarantella. For more information, go to www.marrymeabroad.com or toll-free 1300 553 573. Go wild in the Kimberley Kimberley Wild Expeditions offers a new range of 4WD day trips and overnight safaris, letting travellers encounter wildlife, explore ancient landscapes, relax by idyllic waterholes, sleep under starry skies and experience all the magic of the Kimberley region. The two-day Cape Leveque Indigenous Experience includes visits to Aboriginal communities and a bush tucker tour (from $439 per person), a four-day Kimberley Gorges Safari (from $849 per person), and a one-day Geike Gorge Experience (from $219 per person) that includes an Aboriginal heritage cruise. Kimberley Wild Expeditions is based in Broome, WA. For more details, visit www.kimberleywild.com.au or phone (08) 9193 7778. discover the magic of Rarotonga PO Box 121 Rarotonga Cook Islands P: (+682) 25435 F: (+682) 25475 E: [email protected] www.edgewater.co.ck Romania – Europe's best-kept secret Adventure Associates, one of the first tour operators to explore Romania, offers a spectacular tour in August. Since joining the European Union, Romania is being discovered by visitors in search of 'undiscovered' attractions. Romania has six World Heritage-listed sites, with a further 15 on a shortlist. This includes the 800-year-old town of Sibiu, which is currently the 2007 European Capital of Culture. Romania is famous for being the home base of Count Dracula, also known as Vlad the Impaler, a 15th-century ruler who came from the region known as Transylvania. The tour visits many medieval cities and castles, blending Latin-based culture from central Europe with Byzantine-Orthodox traditions from south-eastern Europe. Romania reveals a country abundant in magnificent architecture, unspoiled villages, and great swathes of forest, as well as numerous rivers such a the mighty Danube. Adventure Associates' 23-day tour departs on 8 August 2007. For more information, call 1800 222 141 or go to www.adventureassociates.com * Walking the Walk Walking holidays should offer as many comforts as possible so Auswalk, which runs 25 tours, features excellent accommodation and fine dining. Best of all, heavy luggage is moved ahead each day to the next overnight stop. Auswalk’s latest treks can be started on any day, with prices ranging from $995 per person for a five-day tour to $1850 per person for a nine-day trip. Tours can include walks in the rainforests of Lamington National Park south of Brisbane, and alpine and coastal walks in NSW and Victoria. Guided group tours are available in five states, and depart from major airports. As well as high-standard dining and accommodation, each walk has two guides and caters to different walker abilities. A new tour is the Great Ocean Walk in Victoria, following the spectacular coastal land strip only recently opened to the public. For more information, go to www.auswalk.com.au or phone (03) 5356 4971. 20 A Winter’s Embrace Enjoy the lovely sunny days and gloriously mild nights for which the Gold Coast is renowned - all year round! $995 per room for a 2 night stay Based on single or twin share. Subject to availability Valid for 2 night stays until 30 September 07 Prices shown in Australian dollars inclusive of tax For more information on rates for other room types or additional nights’ stay, please contact our Reservations Team on 617 5509 8000 or Toll Free (Australia) 1800 098 000 [email protected] Sea World Drive, Main Beach 4217 www.palazzoversace.com 020797 Two nights’ accommodation in a Superior Room Daily buffet breakfast for 2 in Il Barocco Two luxurious Palazzo Versace bath robes and an indulgent bath bliss treatment * The Great Australian Cattle Drive saddles up This icon of the outback is gearing up for what will be an incredible adventure, driving cattle through the heart of Australia. This year’s drive, the third, will trot off from Anna Creek Station at William Creek on 21 May, with 500 cattle to be driven by 150 horses, a team of drovers and over 300 guest drovers, arriving in Marree on 10 June. Visitors, most from overseas, will experience the splendour and romance of the pioneering cattle drive days, but won’t be roughing it like the drovers of days gone by. The tents are carpeted and riders will be able to have a hot shower and a cold beer after spending the day in the saddle. This really is an incredible experience, riding a horse through the ruggedly beautiful outback, with nothing but the eons-old landscape between you and the horizon, every way you turn. Find out more by visiting www.cattledrive.com.au 22 Pamper yourself with Constance Hotels The Constance Lémuria Resort of Praslin in the Seychelles recently launched its new Le Spa de Constance. Set within swaying palms and bamboo plantations, the spa offers total relaxation for guests. Body and facial treatments use Shiseido products, and a range of therapies include Thai and Indian Ayuverdic massages. At the resort’s state-of-the-art gym, personal consultants are on hand. A sauna, Jacuzzi, plunge pool and hydrotherapy room also contribute to the feeling of overall wellbeing, along with a menu offering light, nutritious and well-balanced meals. * The resort has 96 suites and nine villas, as well as an 18-hole championship golf course. For more information, see www.hotelsconstance.com Ski Avis in the USA and Canada. )\TPSVIXLIKVIEXWRS[½IPHWSJ'EREHESVXLI97% Avis has the vehicle to help you make the most of your ski holiday ...and all at competitive rates. So whether you’re into “cross country”,“downhill” or simply ±ETVIWWOM²%ZMWKMZIW]SYXLI¾I\MFMPMX]]SYRIIHXSIRNS] ]SYVXMQISRXLI½IPHWXSXLIQE\ 'SRXEGX%ZMWSRSV]SYVPSGEP%*8%0MGIRWIH8VEZIP%KIRX CT5983 Born to be wild in America with Elite Two unforgettable tours in the USA run by Elite Special Event Tours will appeal to those who love pop culture, rock music and leather jackets. Motorbike riders who dream of cruising on highways and byways can join a 17-day journey that departs Sydney on 31 July to Los Angeles. During a 9000-kilometres round trip, the 17-day ride goes from California to South Dakota, travelling along parts of Route 66 to the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas, the Grand Canyon, Cheyenne, and the Black Hills. Riders then head to Sturgis South Dakota, the mecca of motorcycling, to see the action-packed Sturgis Rally. The five-day rally stopover lets riders watch the action on Thunder Road, followed by trips out to Deadwood, Custer State Park, the Crazy Horse Memorial and Mount Rushmore. Meanwhile, you can be in Memphis at the 30th anniversary of the death of Elvis Presley in August. A 13-day tour departing Sydney on 7 August includes a visit to Disneyland in LA, the Country Music Hall of Fame in Nashville, and all The King’s hotspots in Memphis. The highlight of the tour is the candlelight vigil at Graceland. For more information, visit Harvey World Travel at www.harveyworld.com.au or phone 132 757. Alternatively, contact Elite Special Event Tours on 1300 884 891 or go to www.eliteset.com.au * Travel Europe and America with Brennan Fancy being served tea by the Duke and Duchess of Roxburghe’s butler in their historic Scottish castle? This is one of the highlights in the latest range of journeys by Brennan Vacations’ Select Journeys. Its latest Europe brochure features 24 upmarket itineraries, extending from the United Kingdom to Spain and Eastern Europe, as well as selected European and Egyptian river cruises with sister-company Avalon Waterways. Brennan’s new USA and Canada Select Journeys program takes travellers to inspirational destinations such as Alaska, New England, Yellowstone National Park, Mexico and the Canadian Rockies. For more details, visit www.brennanvacations.com.au 26 Leading Hotels leading the way in 2007 The Leading Hotels of the World has released the 2007 edition of its annual directory, with updated information on its 432 members in 79 countries, including several new and emerging destinations in Eastern Europe, the Middle East and the Caribbean. Eighteen new Leading Hotels are featured, along with 24 new Leading Small Hotels. The collection of Leading Spas also continues to flourish, with the inclusion of 94 members in 36 countries in the directory. Indeed, an independent 2007 Leading Spas Directory, with expanded details on each spa and its services, has just been released. For information and reservations, visit www.lhw.com or phone (02) 9377 8444 or toll free 1800 222 033. Anyone for tennis with Tempo? Tempo Holidays has secured exclusive reserved seats for the 2007 Wimbledon Championships on 25 June to 8 July. These packages, which includes accommodation at the four-star Hilton Kensington, range from $808 per person twin share to $14,995 per person for finals. The three-day Wimbledon Experience package is priced from $808 per person twin share and the four-day Wimbledon Championships Tour is from $3988 per person. Both include admission to the Championship Club, and complimentary tea, coffee and pastries. The Championships Tour also offers buffet lunch on both days at the club. The two Finals packages include membership to the exclusive Gatsby Club for two days, which offers cocktails and canapé, à la carte lunch, afternoon tea, and complimentary bar. For more information, visit www.tempoholidays.com or phone 1300 558 987. 28 Green with Envy in Wales With the biennial Ryder Cup to be played in Wales in 2010, many golf players from around the world have been keen to discover this challenging course. Meanwhile, three Welsh golf courses (Royal Porthcawl, Royal St David's and Aberdovey) have also made it into the world's top 100, according to the US publication, Golf Digest. * * Among the attractions of Wales' golf courses are its stunning backdrops of sea and mountain, and its great value for money. After a day's golfing, players can retire to a luxurious country hotel or cosy inn, or choose a golfing resort complete with health spa and saunas. Last Minute Travel, anyone? With a revamp of the travel website, Last Minute, the site now offers a wider range of holiday and lifestyle products. It has increased the number of holiday offers onsite by 40 per cent and the number of hotel properties by 20 per cent, giving visitors more choice when booking their next trip. The website has also introduced a newsletter, Room Service, to showcase hotel deals and special offers. Last Minute now operates in 15 countries and has 13 million subscribers around the world, including 330,000 in Australia. Go to www.lastminute.com.au A Wales Golf Guide by the Visit Wales website outlines all the country's courses, plus information on sightseeing, accommodation and more. Contact Visit Britain on 1300 858 589 or go to www.visitwales.com or www.golfasitshouldbe.com Abercrombie & Kent goes fishing Abercrombie & Kent has introduced a new addition to its travel portfolio – the extreme fly-fishing and ecotourism adventure among the wilderness regions of Chilean Patagonia. A week-long voyage aboard the lavish cruise vessel Atmosphere lets guests go fly-fishing and whale watching. For high-adrenaline adventure, the vessel is equipped with a sixpassenger Bell 407 helicopter, six jet boats, six Zodiacs and a Zodiac Hurricane 920 rigid inflatable boat. Wildlife experts use sophisticated observation equipment allowing for spectacular bird and whale-watching, while current research of marine mammals also takes place. Guests can enjoy Abercrombie & Kent’s signature style with an indulgent massage, rejuvenating spa service and sauna. Savour culinary delights of traditional Chilean cuisine as well as wine tasting events. Expeditions run from October to April. Prices for non-fishing guests start at about $13,000 per person twin share including all meals, drinks and ecotours. For more information, go to www.abercrombiekent.com.au or phone 1300 851 800. 30 Plunge into Paradise The Aitutaki Lagoon Resort & Spa offers guests the Cook Islands’ only private island resort, exclusive Overwater Bungalows, and the only resort located directly on world-famous Aitutaki Lagoon. Panoramic views of the world’s most beautiful lagoon from the resort’s private island, Motu Akitua, will leave you breathless. The resort also offers broad, fine sand beaches the colour of champagne, prompting the renowned Conde Nast Traveler magazine to showcase the resort on its cover as “the resort on the beach”. At this tranquil romantic retreat, feel free to laze in a beach hammock, slip into the luminous lagoon, ease into a soothing massage at SpaPolynesia. Supremely relaxed, sit back with a sunset cocktail at the Flying Boat Beach Bar & Grill and gaze out together across the mesmerizing lagoon as the moon and stars come out to play. The ultimate luxury ~ privacy. Alluring Aitutaki awaits you. Akitua Island, Aitutaki, Cook Islands Phone: (+682) 31 203 Fax: 31 202 [email protected] www.aitutakilagoonresort.com Aro’a Beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands Phone: (+682) 25 800 Fax: 25 799 [email protected] www.therarotongan.com SISTER RESORTS • THE AITUTAKI LAGOON RESORT & SPA • THE RAROTONGAN BEACH RESORT & SPA * Say "Bonjour" with Renaissance Tours If you want to improve your French and experience the country’s culture, Renaissance Tours might have just the ticket for you. It runs two-week language programs catering to all levels of proficiency in southern Burgundy. The program is led by former ABC foreign correspondent John Lombard and his wife Jean, who live near the town of Cluny. After morning lessons, travellers can explore the village, then take day trips further afield to chateaux and wineries. The program on 2-16 June costs from $4850, and includes language tuition, excursions, and breakfast and main meal daily. For more information, phone 1300 727 095 or visit www.renaissancetours.com.au. 32 8HERETIMESTANDSSTILL 4ERENITYSURROUNDSYOU AND1ARADISEISYOURSTOEXPLORE /ESTLEDONTHEEDGEOFARAINFORESTRICHWITHWATERFALLSANDPALMFRINGEDPRIVATE BEACHESTHISEXCLUSIVERESORTHASONLYENCHANTING'IJIANSTYLEBURESANDGRAND VILLASONACRESOFTROPICALHEAVEN#REATHTAKINGLUXURYPEACEFULSECLUSION ANIMPRESSIVERANGEOFACTIVITIESANDASPECTACULARFULLSERVICESPAMAKE/AMALE IRRESISTIBLE*NDULGEINSUCCULENTTROPICALCUISINETHAT¡SBOTHDELICIOUSANDHEALTHY INANENVIRONMENTTHATNURTURESBODYMINDANDSPIRIT 5HEWORLDCLASS/AMALE4PA4ANCTUARYISTHEULTIMATEVENUEFORCALMING RELAXATIONANDREJUVENATIONOFMINDBODYANDSPIRIT#UILTONAVOLCANICCLIFFTHE SPAFEATURESWALLSOFGLASSTHATREVEALTHE,ORO4EAANDTHEBLOWHOLE/AMALE¡S OWNNATURALWONDER1REPARETOBEPAMPEREDANDEXPERIENCETRUEBLISS/AMALE 5HEULTIMATEINPRIVACYROMANCEREJUVENATIONANDADVENTURE 4PAIN'IJI-UXURY4PA'INDER 6LTIMATE)ONEYMOON4UITEIN'IJIINTHE8ORLD.ODERN#RIDE 'IJI&XCELLENCEIN5OURISM"WARDFOR#EST%ELUXE"CCOMMODATIONS #EST4PA.OST4PECTACULAR4ETTING7ACATION5RAVEL.AGAZINE RESERVATIONS!NAMALERESORTCOM WWWNAMALERESORTCOM Be well looked after at the Duxton Wellington Wellington is a city with plenty of attractions, brilliant events like WOW (World of Wearable Art) and some of the best cafes and restaurants around. The Duxton Hotel Wellington is centrally located, allowing guests to spend every minute enjoying the city and none wasted in traffic. It’s a short walk to the magnificent national museum called Te Papa, the waterfront and the lively shopping and entertainment precincts. The Duxton has 192 deluxe rooms and suites, each with movies on demand, a writing desk, broadband Internet access and a luxurious marble bathroom. Club Rooms and Suites are perfect for businesspeople, giving access to the Club Lounge on the top floor. The views from here are stunning. Sit up high over Wellington and tuck into a gourmet continental breakfast with coffee of choice, fresh juice or a pot of tea. The Grill is a vibrant restaurant for dinner, with eye-catching design and award-winning cuisine, while the Bar is the place for either a cosmopolitan or a cappuccino – depending on your mood! Or just relax with room service. The Duxton Hotel Wellington is also well-equipped for business meetings, with 12 conference rooms and a can-do attitude. For more information, phone 1800 144 497 in Australia or 0800 655 555 in New Zealand; or visit www.duxton.com. The group also has properties in Auckland, Rotorua, Perth and Saigon.