Holidays for Couple February 2016

Resort REPORT
Planning a luxury holiday soon? Then check out the latest glamorous resort and
hotel openings from Saigon,Yunan, Beijing, Lombok, Bintan and Botswana.
ITALIAN STYLE IN THE ORIENT
If you're travelling to Ho Chi Minh City any time soon, check out
the brand new Reverie Saigon Hotel located in the 39-storey
Times Square building in the heart of the city. We mentioned the
upcoming opening in our last issue and here it is in all its glory.
While the exterior exudes sleek contemporary appeal, the
interior is an exploration of Italian extravagance, from rooms and
suites individually appointed by the finest Italian decorators to
public spaces both dazzling and whimsical. The result is splendid
and unique to this city once known as the Pearl of the Orient.
With furnishings that pander to aristocratic yearnings, linens
of soaring thread count and walls of textured Italian silk, the
rooms and suites take to the Saigon stage as the most expansive
accommodation available in the city.
Three of the hotel’s restaurants – The Royal Pavilion (Chinese),
R&J (Italian) and Café Cardinal (French) – are destinations in
their own right, each a captivating work of elegance, each driven
by lofty culinary ambitions. See more at thereveriesaigon.com
holidaysforcouples.travel
RESORT REPORT
YIN AND YANG
Near to Beijing’s cultural gems of the Forbidden City and Tiananmen
Square and situated on Weijia Hutong within Beijing’s winding,
traditional hutong is an enchanting collection of luxury residences
called Cours et Pavillons – an intimate hotel of just seven rooms
across two traditional courtyards opened earlier this year. Being a
guest in this enchanting hotel where the grounds are temple-like
and the interiors are dotted with antiques from the Ming and Qing
Dynasties gives a glimpse into China’s past and is the perfect place
to experience Chinese communities first-hand. Here old and new
combine in perfect harmony to offer guests old-world charm and
grace but with all modern conveniences. This could be the city’s most
exquisite place to rest your head! slh.com/hotels/cours-et-pavillons
HYLANDIA BY SHANGRI-LA OPENS IN ONE OF
CHINA'S MOST CAPTIVATING REGIONS
Renowned for mystical snow-capped mountains, deep gorges,
shimmering lakes and vast grasslands, Diqing, the only Tibetan
autonomous prefecture in Yunnan, has for centuries inspired
explorers seeking the paradise rumoured to be found deep within
the Snow Mountains. Now modern day seekers can journey here
and stay in luxurious style at the new Hylandia by Shangri-La, a highaltitude interpretation of the caravansaries once found along the
Silk Road, with exotic courtyards, gardens, lounges and restaurants.
The hotel is located in the centre of Shangri-La City, just a 10-minute
drive from the airport. Upon arrival, guests are greeted by a bellman
in a handsome Khampa uniform and escorted along colonnades, past
a tranquil water pond dotted with copper lotus flowers and into a
double-height lobby vestibule. The play of light from the skylight above
a second interior water feature dazzles, creating positive and negative
space as light dances through etched ceiling panels and decorative
pillars framing the main lobby ahead. Opened in early August, this
beautiful property is eager to welcome experiential travellers and
help them to discover another Shangri-La. shangri-la.com
holidaysforcouples.travel
RESORT REPORT
THE EAGLE FLIES AGAIN
Perched on a private island
encircled by some of the deepest
stretches of the Okavango Delta,
one of the world's largest inland
water systems and a UNESCO
World Heritage Site, Belmond Eagle
Island Lodge Botswana reopens in
November this year following an
almost total rebuild. Each of the12
Deluxe Tented Rooms is 82 squaremetres in size and boasts its own
plunge pool and outdoor deck. They
also feature a luxurious bathroom
with a large bathtub, a double vanity
unit and a walk in wardrobe, as well
as a walled outdoor shower with a
window looking onto the delta.
No other lodge in Africa offers such
a water-focused safari experience,
with activities including motorboat
safaris, barge cruises and mekoro (a
local canoe) safaris, as well as walking
and air safaris in a private helicopter.
Accommodation is fully inclusive,
including all meals, safari activities
and alcohol. To book or for more
information, call 1800 217 568 or
visit belmond.com.
DISCOVER HIDDEN SECRETS IN PARADISE
The 7 Secrets Resort & Wellness Retreat in beautiful
Lombok is opening its doors in December this
year, ready to welcome pampered guests to a new
world of island luxury. Located on Nipah Bay with its
spectacular white sand beach and surrounded by a
lush tropical landscape, this new SLH resort is set to
wow its guests with its alluring location and utmost
attention to detail.
Enjoy a Jacuzzi on your terrace after a gourmet
Michelin-starred dinner; head to the Spa for an
amazing spa ritual; enjoy a game of golf at one of the
two nearby clubs; take to the skies in a helicopter
for a birds-eye view of Gunung Rinjani Volcano. Or
take to the sea and charter a luxury catamaran for a
sailing trip around Lombok’s exotic islets. There's no
shortage of adventure and pampering opportunities
here! 7secretsresorts.com
RESORT REPORT
THE SANCHAYA BINTAN
It hasn't been open for a year yet but The Sanchaya, on Indonesia’s Bintan
Island, is already winning awards for its architecture and interior design.
P49 Deesign and Associates, the team behind The Sanchaya’s immaculate
architectural and interior design that captures the essence of the Orient
but with european refinement, recently clinched the International Hotel
and Property Award 2015 in the under 50 rooms global category.
what you get in the Maldives. The estate is home to 21 villas and nine suites,
a clubhouse, two restaurants and 24-hour in-villa dining, a bar, wine cellar,
wine, cheese and cigar lounge, function space, 50-metre infinity pool, spa,
fitness centre, beachside yoga pavilion and croquet lawn. Each villa and suite
is adorned with rare art and furnishings that offer glimpses into the rich
history and culture of the South East Asian region’s countries.
The sprawling 9.6-hectare Sanchaya estate overlooks prime yet secluded
Lagoi Bay beachfront on the island’s north-east, a mere 45-minute ferry
ride from Singapore’s Tana Merah Ferry Terminal. Home to dolphins and
turtles, the bay’s powder white sands and turquoise waters are akin to
The Sanchaya is the only property on Bintan with its own VIP lounge in
Bandar Bentan Telani Ferry Terminal, specially created to ensure guests
enjoy a seamless arrival and departure experience. The estate’s ‘artisans’
handle express immigration and customs clearance. thesanchaya.com
holidaysforcouples.travel