The bustling Taiwanese capital of Taipei’s best-kept secret in chic accommodation isn’t even in Taipei. But close enough for conducting business when you’re in town. Villa 32, a spa-themed little boutique hotel outside the city, not too far from the airport, offers tranquility near the Beito hot springs.

Villa 32 is surrounded by its crisp, clear air, white clouds, stone-grey walls, lushes of greens, blooming flowers, and soothing hot springs, Villa 32 has preserved the last piece of leisurable tone in this urban bustle.

Source: Enchanting Eden

In the notoriously competitive world of high-end luxury hotels, there aren’t that many new players, at least not in the sense of a new luxury brand that is going international and expanding across the world. Luxury hotel guests are famously fickle and vehemently brand loyal. One such newcomer is the St. Regis, an expansion that’s been riding on the strength of the original St. Regis New York, and now… proudly available in the world’s major cosmopolitan cities.

Here’s a look at the excellent St. Regis Singapore, the lion city’s latest luxury entrant that has quickly become a permanent fixture on the social agendas of the creme de la creme of Singapore’s high society, and address of choice for discerning global business travelers.

The hotel’s hallway walls are covered in hand-painted chartreuse silk with delicate sparrows balanced on branches. Guest rooms open to a vestibule covered in burled, polished walnut, succeeded by marble and then a plush carpet. The interior is elegant, classic furnishings, a giant flat-screen on the wall in front of a super comfortable bed with a quilted leather headboard. Lighting and blinds controlled electronically. Remede bathroom amenities. In short, a blissful hotel experience.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Mexico has been developing its modern tourism for a good few decades, securely placing itself as among the world’s most formidable travel destinations. The lessons Mexico has learned from the inception of building cookie-cutter highrise hotels with little character in Cancun and Acapulco, in the 1960s and 1970s, has now evolved into a new approach.

Hotels, and notably the resorts, that are more eco-oriented, place-specific, with a more distinctive cultural and design statement. The end result are hotels that are generally low-rise, have fewer rooms, and blend in with their immediate environment.

Riviera Maya, a resort development south of Cancun, along Mexico’s Caribbean coast is one case in point. And the chic Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya exemplifies this new breed of hotels impeccably.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Mexico has been developing its modern tourism for a good few decades, securely placing itself as among the world’s most formidable travel destinations. The lessons Mexico has learned from the inception of building cookie-cutter highrise hotels with little character in Cancun and Acapulco, in the 1960s and 1970s, has now evolved into a new approach.

Hotels, and notably the resorts, that are more eco-oriented, place-specific, with a more distinctive cultural and design statement. The end result are hotels that are generally low-rise, have fewer rooms, and blend in with their immediate environment.

Riviera Maya, a resort development south of Cancun, along Mexico’s Caribbean coast is one case in point. And the chic Mandarin Oriental Riviera Maya exemplifies this new breed of hotels impeccably.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Color me gorgeous! These seeems to be the mantra that drives the design philosophy of The G boutique hotel in Galway, Ireland. Goes to show how far hotels will go – anywhere on the planet – to make a design statement. The G is not timid in showing its true colors, making it the obvious choice for the hippest spot in town.

The may be name minimalist, but the decor is anything but. This 5-star hotel in Galway on Ireland’s Atlantic coast, gets its flamboyant look from milliner Philip Treacy. Yes, you heard it right, it’s probably the most uncommon hotel design, coming from a designer who focuses on creating head-turning pieces, literally.

While the exterior is nothing to write home about, Treacy’s move from headgear to hotel interiors is definitely eye-catching. In particular, the creamy Grand Salon, which is lit by 300 of Tom Dixon’s mirror balls, and Gerry’s Bar, signified by a neon sign that reads “This Must Be The Place”. New Irish boutique chain Monogram Hotels is behind The G, and also has The D outside Dublin in its portfolio.

In the hospitality world, there are some hotel companies that make such a compelling brand statement, with each of their properties, in perfect sync with the natural environment they are in and the local communities whose lives they touch and change. Creating place and culture-specific hotel experience long before it became a trend. Such is the Singapore-based Amanresorts. Since opening its first, Amanpuri in Phuket, Thailand some 20 years ago, Amanresorts has not waded from its passion to create the most unique stay experiences.

Aman-i-Khás in India’s Ranthambhore National Park, is no different.

Aman-i-Khás is a luxury tented wilderness camp near Ranthambhore National Park, India. Its name means peace (“aman” in Sanskrit) and special (“khas” in Hindi).  Set in an incredible natural setting, remote and secluded, Aman-i-Khas is a true haven of tranquility, offering its guests exceptional comfort in a pristine wilderness setting. The camp is open between October and April, which is the best time to visit the park.

There are luxurious and comfortable 13 tents, of which10 are for guests. The remaining 3 are a tent each for lounging, spa treatments and dining, which serves Indian and Western cuisine made from ingredients grown in the resort’s organic gardens. Each tent is huge covering a 108 sqm. area. They are the genuine articles, made with thick, water-proof canvas and divided into three separate sections for eating, bathing and dressing. Laundry, doctor on call, foreign exchange, and travel desk are some of the other services that are provided by the resort.

Aman-i-Khás offers morning and afternoon safaris in open top jeeps within Ranthambhore as well as camel treks and nature walks in the surrounding villages and countryside.

]]> http://uniquetraveldestinations.net/2009/10/aman-i-khas-glamping-par-excellence/feed/ 0 http://uniquetraveldestinations.net/2009/10/prepare-for-cold-season-at-the-sha-wellness-clinic/ http://uniquetraveldestinations.net/2009/10/prepare-for-cold-season-at-the-sha-wellness-clinic/#comments Wed, 14 Oct 2009 22:07:17 +0000 Admin http://uniquetraveldestinations.net/?p=5573 El Albir, Spain – September 30, 2009 – Flu season is upon us and the best way to ward off a nasty cold this winter is to maintain a healthy lifestyle year round. In an effort to help combat pesky germs and infectious diseases, SHA Wellness Clinic has announced its Healthy Winter Program. This 5-night package is designed to help guests achieve their strongest possible immune system. The Healthy Winter Program package is available from October 1^st until December 20^th 2009 at the rate of 1,699 Euros per person based on double occupancy.

Included in the package is a general check-up, a natural health consultation and an aesthetic consultation with the resident medical officers along with the option of a personalized meal plan on SHA’s gourmet macrobiotic cuisine. In addition to daily activities at the SHA Life Learning Center (yoga, tai chi, shiatsu, cooking classes, macrobiotics lectures, etc.), the package rate includes several private activities. Through the understanding that wellbeing is achieved by the nurture of both mental and physical health, guests receive 1 natural therapeutic treatment (shiatsu, Reiki, acupuncture or deep tissue), 1 moisturizing facial treatment, 1 seaweed body wrap, 1 oxygen therapy session and 1session in the salt water flotarium.

Located in El Albir, on the side of the Sierra Helada overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on Spain’s eastern coast, SHA Wellness Clinic is the world’s first luxury macrobiotic retreat. It is supervised by a team of internationally renowned experts led by the esteemed Michio Kushi, who is widely recognized as the father of modern macrobiotics. SHA is spread out over 25 thousand square meters and is composed of 5 architecturally-stunning independent structures interconnected by bridges and housing 93 suites. The SHA Wellness Clinic is devoted to significantly improving and prolonging health, happiness and wellbeing by fusing ancient oriental disciplines and revolutionary western techniques.

Press Contact:
Suzanne Snart Public Relations   Tel: +1 201-262-2434   email: SnartPR@aol.com

Environmentalist Steve Hill (left) and Managing Director Marc Aeberhard (right)

Seychelles — October 14 2009 - Over the past 11 years, Frégate Island Private has proven itself to be one of the hotel industry’s foremost entities in ecological reform. This past September, Frégate Island Private crossed yet another milestone when it planted the 100,000th tree in its endemic hardwood program. This major step is yet another achievement for Frégate’s reforestation efforts. In addition to the endemic hardwood program, Frégate Island Private plants two trees for every guest who arrives at the resort. This is one of the many facets of a concerted effort to become a carbon neutral enterprise.

Giant Seychelles tortoise

Your own private haven of tranquility

Sumptuous luxury to complement the lush natural surroundings

When the Seychelles was colonized, much of the natural forestation was destroyed and coconut trees were planted in their place. Frégate Island Private has boldly led a campaign to replenish their island’s supply of natural trees and is well on its way to becoming the largest nursery of hardwood trees in the Indian Ocean. The 100,000th tree planted was an endemic Ficus tree, a genus that prospers in the rocky underground of the Seychelles islands. The Ficus grows at a remarkable rate and can reach heights up to 50 – 65 feet. Reforestation is but one of the many conservation practices executed at Frégate Island Private. With buildings and infrastructure occupying only 5% of the island, the remaining 95% is in a restored natural state which has allowed for several endemic species of wildlife and flora to avoid extinction.

Exclusivity in every respect is the maxim of Frégate Island and the preservation and protection of the island’s unique flora and fauna is one of its proudest achievements. With 16 villas, only a selected number of guests have the prestige to fulfill their dream of a stay in paradise. The island remains private to Frégate guests only, making it an ideal refuge for the discerning traveler, ensuring the rare feeling of a truly tropical island paradise.

El Albir, Spain

“Now in its seventh year, our Readers’ Choice Awards are without question the global spa industry’s premier award program – our industry’s answer to the Academy Awards,” said SpaFinder Inc. President, Susie Ellis. “And now that there are roughly 15,000 resort, hotel and destination spas operating worldwide, for SHA Wellness Clinic to be singled out by our readers represents an extraordinary honor.”

Visit Spafinder.com for a Complete List of 2009 Winners
A complete list of Readers’ Choice Award winners will be featured in SpaFinder’s 2010 Global Spa and Wellness Directory, the definitive guide to spa and wellness destinations worldwide – and can also be viewed at:
http://www.spafinder.com/spaguide/readerschoice/2009.jsp

About SHA Wellness Clinic: Located in El Albir, on the side of the Sierra Helada overlooking the Mediterranean Sea on Spain’s eastern coast, The SHA Wellness Clinic is the world’s first luxury macrobiotic retreat. It is supervised by a team of internationally renowned experts led by the esteemed Michio Kushi, who is widely recognized as the father of modern macrobiotics. SHA is spread out over 25 thousand square meters and is composed of 5 architecturally-stunning independent structures interconnected by bridges and housing 93 suites. The SHA Wellness Clinic is devoted to significantly improving and prolonging health, happiness and wellbeing by fusing ancient oriental disciplines and revolutionary western techniques.

About SpaFinder, Inc.: The world’s largest spa media, marketing and gifting company, SpaFinder, Inc. connects millions of wellness-focused consumers with thousands of spas worldwide. SpaFinder’s media properties include the award-winning Spafinder.com, the Spa Enthusiast newsletter and the annual Global Spa and Wellness Directory. SpaFinder and its new gift division, Salon Wish, offer spa gift certificates and cards that are redeemable at a combined network of over 9,000 spas and salons worldwide and are available at thousands of retail outlets. The company’s technology division innovates new solutions that help spas build and streamline their businesses, including the popular SpaBooker online booking system. SpaFinder Europe and SpaFinder Japan offer regional spa marketing and gifting programs, including localized, native-language websites. Founded in 1986, the privately held company is headquartered in Manhattan.

Press Contact:
Suzanne Snart Public Relations   Tel: +1 201-262-2434   email: SnartPR@aol.com

A resort grand in concept, but gracefully executed with a special sensitivity to it’s unique ocean-front setting, the Four Seasons Maui at Wailea enjoys a casual elegance and open, airy design where indoors and out flow together perfectly.

The 14-court Wailea Tennis Centre is nearby, as well as two floodlit hotel courts. Golfers have the superb Wailea Golf Club a 2-minute drive from the resort, with preferred tee times and rates for Four Seasons guests.

Sparkling pools, cascading waterfalls and fountains create a magical world of water throughout the grounds. There is a huge formal pool with whirlpools and private cabanas, an enchanting free-form tropical pool with an adjacent children’s area, and a beach pavilion provides equipment and instruction for a variety of ocean pursuits including snorkel and scuba diving, sailing and wind surfing. In the formal gardens is a croquet lawn and putting green, and the Spa is exceptional and offers total relaxation and rejuvenation in a perfect setting.

Four Seasons guest rooms and suites each have private lanai, guest robes, cable television and dvd player, coffee maker, and minibar.

A resort proud of its personal attention to every need, the service here is impeccable and a testament to Four Seasons hospitality.

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