A Luxury Travel Blog

The 276-room Sofitel Phokreethra Krabi opened this month. It can be found on the white sands of Klong Muang Beach, on the Adaman Sea, a short distance from Ao Nang. Three restaurants, five bars, a 7,000 square metre swimming pool, fitness centre, Turkish bath, spa, childrens playground and conference facilities for up to 350 delegates are just some of the amenities available.

Investigations into the murder of the Russian spy Alexander Litvinenko have this evening  led Scotland Yard to  London’s Sheraton Park Lane Hotel. Traces of radioactive polonium 210 – the substance thought to have killed Mr. Litvenko – have been found at a number of addresses in London, and the Sheraton Park Lane has been the latest place apparently warranting further examination. The plot thickens…

A new luxury cruise service between Dubai and Karachi has begun this month.   The service, provided by Gulf Dream Cruise, offers fun and entertainment much like any other cruise ship, and is not designed to be simply an alternative means of transport. It takes five days for a round trip and the ship has a theatre, games, other entertainment facilities and restaurants with a 400-strong crew and a capacity for up to 1,250 passengers.   The cruises  are currently  seasonal (November to February).

A beacon of luxurious hospitality in New York, London and Dubai…

According to Travel Daily News, Ms. Anne Biging, MD  of Healing Hotels of the World:

Today’s  spa-savvy clients are interested in more than the latest wrap. A growing band of spa aficionados are recognising that beauty isn’t skin deep and they are leading the trend in seeking ‘health for life’ spas. For the past few years, we have witnessed the pioneering of the medical spa. This trend will grow but will also encompass spas for mind, body and spirit. The really leading-edge spas are focusing on providing clients with wisdom as well as luxury. It’s the wisdom of understanding yourself on many levels, then learning how to maintain this understanding,” she said. Spas will provide centres for developing spiritual, emotional and physical health where clients will learn to take responsibility for their well-being.

What’s your take on Ms. Biging’s predictions?

COMO Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri in Bali was voted ‘Spa Retreat of the Year’ in the 2006 Baccarat AsiaSpa Awards. The flagship of the Singapore-based COMO Hotels and Resorts was nominated by a panel of 26 Asia-based spa experts for the prestigious annual awards conducted by AsiaSpa Magazine.

The high-end hotel and residence brand of W Hotels looks set to enter the Thai market. W Retreat & Residences-Koh Samui  will consist of 70 villas, plus 20 residential villas available for purchase. An agreement between W’s parent company, Starwood Hotels & Resorts and Amburaya Resorts, will see the latter manage the resort when it opens in late 2008.

Three of the top names in golf, Tiger Woods, Ernie Els and Tavistock Group have partnered together to create Albany Golf & Beach Club,  destined to become one of the world’s finest resort communities that will feature the highest level of luxury, quality and amenities within an oceanfront club community. It will be just seven minutes drive from Nassau’s Lynden Pindling International Airport on the southwestern corner of New Providence.

For the seventh consecutive year, Europa, the luxury Hapag-Lloyd Cruises flagship, attained the highest scores in the most categories to top the list in Berlitz Publishing’s annual cruising guide: Complete Guide to Cruising & Cruise Ships 2007, due in bookstores this month. The book carries a retail price of $24.95.

Avoid the crowds and enjoy holiday shopping Downtown with the Hotel Santa Barbara Shoppers Package. What better way to unwind than by visiting this beautiful hotel, just steps from  the open air mall of Paseo Nuevo and numerous other specialty boutiques. Package prices start from $259 and  include Continental breakfast, a bottle of wine, chocolates and one or two other perks.

Enjoy 15% off the Best Available Rate from now through to 24th  February 2007, with select Kimpton Hotels.  Participating hotels are in Alexandria, Boston, Cambridge, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, New York, Portland, Salt Lake City, San Diego, San Francisco, Scottsdale, Seattle,  Silicon Valley, Vancouver  and Washington DC.

Based in Sacramento, CA this luxury hotel has been designed exclusively for dogs and cats… includes aquaria for cats, and webcams for suites so owners can check up on their loved ones… whatever next?!

Hotel  Marqués de Riscal has already made headlines for its stunning Frank Gehry architecture, and it was once again in the news recently as Spain’s head of state attended its unveiling.   Situated in a winery just outside the Basque village of Elciego, it is to be found in Spain’s Rioja wine-growing  region. With spectacular homes in Madrid and Mallorca, King Juan Carlos is accustomed to spending his time in breathtaking environments but must nevertheless have also been impressed by this beautiful location.

Golden Tulip Hospitality has entered into its first agreement in Bulgaria  with the Golden Tulip Varna. The hotel can be found at the heart of Bulgaria’s fastest growing city, Varna,  a harbour to the Black Sea. A short stroll from the Assumption Cathedral and just 20 minutes from Varna Airport, this stylish hotel has 90 rooms including 4 standard suites and 1 deluxe suite. With well-equpped conference facilities, the hotel is likely to be popular with business users.

After a one-week hiatus – catching up on work since my last trip, and promoting our latest project, Aardvark Map (which, incidentally, has already been used to create over 1,500 custom maps for  websites all over the world  in its first two weeks, so you could say the promotion has been effective!) – I’m back to full blogging action tomorrow.   There’s loads to catch up on and so I’ll be posting furiously in the run up to Christmas.   Keep checking back for the latest offers and news from the world of luxury travel!

Save 35% at La Costa Resort & Spa in Carlsbad, CA with the Holiday Traditions Package, featuring accommodation, daily breakfast, complimentary half-day Kidtopia registration and more, with rates from just $335 per night (plus taxes and $20 daily resort charge). A great place to enjoy a unique and magical holiday vacation experience!