A Luxury Travel Blog

Our latest interview is with Suzanne Aaronson, Editor-in-Chief and Founder of Suzanne’s Files, a leading quality lifestyle resource. Suzanne’s Files provides expert picks on under-the-radar getaways, hidden gems, wow services, truly unique gifts, lifetime experiences, and niche experts around the world.

What is it that you do exactly?

Everyday is different – that’s for sure! Throughout everyday there is a mix of our insiders, people I meet, things I read that help keep me and our team well informed about special finds all over the world. My days are mixed with business meetings and “checking things out” time. The mix is perfect for me!

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Everyone I know, almost everyone I meet is interested in Suzanne’s Files – super flattering. People are so curious how they can tap the ever-growing site; the way it can help them navigate through the noise out there- the clutter. The time-saving benefits they get from the e-Newsletters; the insight and personal voice is like a friend would tell you!

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

Little Kulala Lodge, Namibia: an intimate desert retreat on a private Namibian wilderness reserve. It felt like Fred Flintstone’s house meets chic stylish.  A real wow when you can sleep under the stars on your rooftop.

St. Regis in Singapore: imagine the most well serviced and most eclectically designed city hotel – now multiply by 2!

Cap Estel, Eze, Cote D’Azur, France: exactly what the Med should be. Surrounded by the sparkling sea, provided with great sporty activities on property.

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

Hmmm… that’s a fun question! So, I’d have to say when I was 16 years old, out to dinner in New York at a great Indian restaurant and I saw Bill Cosby (whom I grew up watching of course and adored). I walked over to him and said hi and asked if I could have a hug.  He hugged me tight!

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

I like to keep celebrities’ anonymity as there are quite a few that tap me for my suggestions of wonderful experiences to have, places to visit and go… I’ll share one non-work related story which is that years ago Christy Turlington entered the same elevator I was in in NYC.  She turned to me and complimented my jacket – which I had designed myself from an old military jacket I bought in a Washington DC thrift store.  I felt very stylish to say the least…

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

No question – these places: Atacama Desert in Chile, Mozambique, Madagascar, Wild Fitness bootcamp in Kenya, Croatian Coast, Tokyo….and I’d like to learn how to video document to better share my perceptions and finds via the web.

Thank you, Suzanne, for a great interview. And apologies on me having to be chased to get it published… it’s been a busy time here at A Luxury Travel Blog!

The Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort in Costa Adeje, in Southern Tenerife, will join the initiative that WWF has launched to expose climate change. The initiative consists of switching off the lights in as many places on the planet as possible between 20.30 and 21.30 on the 28th March 2009. The Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort will switch off the lights in all the á la carte restaurants, all swimming pools which will be plunged into darkness and all the public areas of its new Spa. In addition to this, the hotel will also invite all its guests to illuminate their rooms with candlelight, thereby contributing to this initiative. The Gran Hotel Bahía del Duque Resort is so far the only Canarian Company that has joined this movement, which expects the involvement of over one billion people.

New Zealand Luxury member property, Ridge Country Retreat & Spa has recently upsized its luxury accommodation to better serve its growing boutique business conference and personal retreat markets. Six new spacious stand-alone suites when added to the five existing lodge suites now provide eleven suites in total which can exclusively accommodate up to 22 people a night. The lodge also has three separate conference and meeting areas to cater for a wide range of meeting and retreat options.

The six brand new villas were designed with space in mind and all feature spectacular mountain and sunset views. Each villa suite boasts both a super king and a queen bed as standard. Spacious en suites also include their own indoor designer bath and oversized shower together with separate toilet facilities. An added bonus is a private outdoor relaxation bath located on each villa deck allowing guests to lie back and soak up both the lodge’s soothing geothermal waters and the superb mountain views in style.

Ridge Country Retreat and Spa is perched on top of a beautiful tree lined ridge just a short drive from New Zealand’s fastest growing city of Tauranga and the stunning beach resort of Mt Maunganui. The Bay of Plenty is blessed with abundant supplies of naturally heated water which the lodge have now harnessed to heat their private villa spa’s as well as the lodge lap pool for all guests to enjoy year round.

The new, modern and stylish 5 star Tala Bay Resort is located 15 minutes south of Aqaba with stunning views over the Red Sea.  Facilities are excellent with 5 swimming pools, 4 restaurants and 2 bars, plenty of aquatic activities, a private beach and an outdoor fitness area.  Enjoy all that Aqaba has to offer, including one of the world’s most beautiful diving sites, world-class coral reefs and the UNESCO world heritage site, the Red City of Petra.

I’ve just heard that the luxury cruise line Hebridean is cancelling all its international services with immediate effect.  The company’s largest vessel – the Hebriden Spirit which travelled worldwide – has been sold, and it appears they are suffering the effects of the recession. They are left with just one ship – the Hebridean Princess – which operates in Scotland’s Western Isles. A statement on Hebridean’s website reads:

<blockquote>The line is in course of contacting all customers booked on future programmes of the vessel to offer a full refund or a transfer to a cruise aboard Hebridean Princess, the operation of which is not affected.</blockquote>

Business representatives can now convene in style at the Swissôtel Grand Efes, Izmir on the Turkish Aegean. The elegant hotel, a Leading Hotel of the World, celebrated its opening last year, and now the Grand Efes Convention Centre, within the hotel complex, has also opened for business. The centre is one of the largest and most modern in the region, and, in a very short time, has become the new venue of choice for international and local conventions, conferences and events. Among other things, BMW unveiled its new 7-Series there, and a few weeks ago, the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi and Turkish prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held summit talks there.

The Residence Tunis has recently added an 18 hole golf course to its five star resort. The course designed by the award winning course designer Robert Trent Jones II is situated close to the hotel grounds and boasts an idyllic setting between the sea and salt lake with a luxurious 4000 square metre Club House. The course is a par of 72 and is 6451 metres long.

The new golf course allows golfers from all over the world and of all standards to test their skills with an array of obstacles which have been specifically designed. The course which features magnificent view points over-looking the stunning Tunisian landscape is teaming with intricate fairways to push golfers to the limits. Robert Trent Jones II is famous for linking the pleasure of the game with its integration with the natural surroundings and special attention was given to the layout in order to respect the natural scenery and ecological constraints. The result is not only one of the most beautiful golf courses in the Mediterranean but also one of the most environmentally friendly.

After an invigorating round, players can relax and unwind in the luxury Club House. The restaurant and bar serves delicious cuisine from around the world and the swimming pool allows guests to cool down from the heat of the Mediterranean sun.

Fancy a taste of the tropical without leaving the UK? Between 22nd April and 17th May 2009, Thermae Bath Spa will play host to a Malaysian Spa Festival, with therapists from the award-winning Spa Village brand showcasing a selection of authentic treatments – ranging from a Chinese Pearl & Rice and ‘Egg Undulation’ Face Treatment to a traditional Malay massage.

All treatments have been chosen to best reflect the Spa Village philosophy to combine the therapeutic properties of natural local ingredients with the authentic healing rituals of the region. The Spa Village brand encompasses six award-winning properties including the private island Spa Village Pangkor Laut, Spa Village Tanjong Jara (2008 winner of ‘Conde Nast Traveller’s ‘Best spa in Asia and the Indian Subcontinent’), Spa Village Cameron Highlands, Spa Village Kuala Lumpur and the latest additions Spa Village Malacca in Malaysia’s UNESCO world heritage city and Spa Village Resort Tembok, on the quiet north coast of Bali.

During the Malaysian Spa Festival, a selection of Malaysian cuisine prepared by a Chef from Pangkor Laut Resort will also be available in the Springs Restaurant at the Thermae Bath Spa. And those inspired by the Spa Village treatments, will also have the opportunity to win a seven-night spa holiday for two to Malaysia, spending two-nights at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur and five-nights at Pangkor Laut Resort, flying with Lufthansa.

My husband and I were indeed fortunate and privileged to stay for three nights at Bushmans Kloof.  I had been hankering to stay there for many years as I had heard much about it and it certainly did not disappoint us in any way.  The beauty of the site is breathtaking – so tranquil and unspoilt but the quality of the staff, the service and attention to detail to ensure a happy stay is literally second to none.  Nothing is too much trouble for anyone.

Our Deluxe room (one of 6) that shared a beautiful outdoor pool with our neighbours was vast, had two bathrooms, lounge area and enormous private patio with dining table, chairs and settee. We were able to make use of the lounges in the Homestead which were well stocked with an extensive book and DVD library along with Internet access and were intrigued by all the Bushman artefacts in the Heritage Centre.  The gardeners were eloquent guides around the medicinal herb garden and also explained how most of the fruit and vegetables served by the excellent kitchen were grown organically in the walled garden despite regular raids by the resident troop of baboons.  Unfortunately time did not permit us to make use of the Spa.

We dined in three different venues during our stay – each magical in its setting but perhaps the greatest surprise was the drive out to Embers which is out in the reserve set high up amongst the rocks under the star-filled skies.  There we had a wonderful braai (barbecue) complete with an explanation of the stars we could see that night.  Every detail had been thought of for our delight and delectation from the gas flares in the rock to the rugs for our shoulders in case we felt cold.  The staff had set everything up during the day and nothing was too much trouble.

Chris Mare the Executive Chef very kindly gave us a tour of the kitchens and explained the ethos behind the cuisine at Bushmans Kloof where they use indigenous fynbos plants and herbs to create an imaginative contemporary Cape cuisine.  Chris is obviously a very talented young chef and is someone to watch in the future.  He also took us out to Kadora, meaning a Tinderbox of Stories, where guests can choose to dine at this secret dining location in the reserve with their own chef.  This is a wonderful spot deep in the reserve lit by candles and oil lamps making a very romantic setting. 

Each guest is allocated a Ranger who looks after them during their stay at Bushmans Kloof and is there to explain all the wild life, walking trails but in particular the art of the Bushmen.  Our Ranger, Regardt Boshoff was very knowledgeable and brought everything to life for us.  He explained how the more potent ochre and yellow colours had survived the test of time better than the black colours derived from charcoal and manganese dioxide along with the whites from clay as these had faded in most cases.  There was one spot however where he took us that was well protected and there we saw a magnificent black painting of a buffalo.

Considering that the tools used by the Bushmen to paint were twigs, grasses and feathers and that some of the art is over 10,000 years old, these paintings can only be described as remarkable.  Bushmans Kloof is fortunate to have over 130 pristine sites of rock art on the reserve making it one of the few places in the world to see such a diversity of these oldest recorded examples of human art.

Our stay at Bushmans Kloof was a pure delight.  We have been fortunate to stay at many very special places throughout the world but we both reluctantly left the reserve in the Cederberg mountains feeling refreshed and invigorated having been cosseted in a beautiful part of South Africa surrounded by majestic, wind sculpted reddish sandstone rock formations.  The Lodge is situated within the Cederberg Wilderness Area forming part of the Cape Floral Region which is a World Heritage Site.  It is also a member of Relais & Châteaux.

Iberostar Grand Hotel Anthelia has recently opened three Thai suites as part of its Thai Zen SPAce and thermal wellness centre. Based upon traditional Asian techniques, the Thai suites are the first of their kind in Spain. Three suites of almost 100 sq m each are equipped with a Jacuzzi, cromotherapy lighting, relaxing area, Chinese beds, treatment zone, separate shower and private changing room. The Thai suites exclusive menu offers a selection of massages, scrubs, wraps and facials. Massages start from £107 and include refreshments, feet flower bath and aromatherapy Jacuzzi.

The Asian spa operator Banyan Tree Spa has this month brought its award-winning Asian spa therapies to Brazil for the very first time, with the opening of Elements Spa By Banyan Tree at Tivoli São Paulo. Banyan Tree Spa now operates over 65 spas around the world under the Banyan Tree Spa, Angsana Spa and Elements Spa By Banyan Tree brands.

Located at Tivoli Ṣo Paulo РMofarrej in the cosmopolitan Brazilian city of Ṣo Paulo, Elements Spa By Banyan Tree occupies 660 square metres within the prestigious Tivoli Hotel. The urban day spa is the perfect sanctuary for the senses, featuring an extensive selection of Asian inspired spa treatments to rejuvenate the body, mind and soul. Its spa therapists are professionally trained at the Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Phuket, Thailand.

My name is Claes Bohlin and I am the owner and founder of Bohline Exclusive Villas which are a luxury villa rental company. I run this company together with my girlfriend Cecilia Lilja and we both have a burning desire for travels. Our main goal with the company is to offer our clients the best vacation ever while staying at a villa on a special destination. We have chosen to keep this company small because we like to offer the client a very personal service.

What is it that you do exactly?

I run the company Bohline Exclusive Villas and offer my clients the right villa for the right occasion. I also sell luxury services to the client as a supplement to the villa stay. When a client contacts me, I will take the time to listen to my client’s needs. Every client has very different needs and it’s very important to understand the client and what he wants during his vacation. Every little detail has to be right; the stay at the villa is important but it’s very important that the client will enjoy the activities and restaurants which he could visit on the destination.

What do you enjoy most about what you do?

Travel, travel, travel. To be able to travel very often in this job is a benefit which I love the most. I think my girlfriend agrees with that. I also like to arrange these amazing vacations for my clients and to see the results of a satisfied traveller when the client is back home and very pleased with everything. When the client says that the vacation was a memory for life, I’ll say mission completed.

What would you say are the 3 best places you’ve ever stayed?

This question is very hard because every destination is so different from one another. But first of all I have to say the Maldives. The Maldives was like a dream; I couldn’t imagine it could be so wonderful like it was when me and my girlfriend got off the little seaplane and got welcomed by the staff of the resort. The water had an amazing colour – it’s almost hard to desribe. The feeling of being so alone in the world and yet totally relaxed was great! If you like to relax and enjoy diving, this is the place for you to visit.

My second favourite place has to be St. Martin in the Caribbean. It was here I rented my first villa ever. This place has it all. If you love to go out for dinner to a gastronomic restaurant you will not be disappointed. The island has so many restaurants to choose from. Here you will find French and Italian cuisine. The island is also very famous for the low-flying aircraft which can be seen at Maho beach.

My third destination of choice has to be Bali because it has a wonderful nature if you visit the whole island. I would not recommend staying at the touristy parts like the big Kuta beach for example, but I recommend taking a cab and going for a visit around the whole island to see the small villages and local theatres. You are also able to watch the dophins in the sunrise at Lovina beach in the north. There is something magical about Bali.

What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?

This was an easy question for me. The restaurant was called La Gaiac and it was located on the island of St. Martin. Me and my family got seated on a rooftop which had about five different dinner tables. They played some classical music on the roof while we decided to have their tasting menu. The menu consisted of dishes like foie gras, lobster and many more delicious dishes. The service was excellent from the staff and the feeling of being seated on this rooftop and having this superb food together with your family was a memorable visit.

Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?

Most of our clients are rich but maybe not famous. They are often well educated, earn a good salary and love to travel to explore the world. If we have any celebrities as a client, we will do our best to keep their vacation with us as discrete as possible. This is very important for us. The celebrity wouldn’t have to think about whether the press will find out where they are going to vacation. By renting a villa you always seek privacy and a secluded destination to be sure that you could be relaxed during your vacation.

What currently ranks highest on your travel wishlist?

I often travel to ordinary places to enjoy the sun but I love to visit places like Tibet, the Inca Trail and Antarctica. These special destinations have something to offer me. To go there with my camera and take some wonderful footage would be my next goal. Every destination has something very special to offer – that’s why I love to travel and have the chance to provide my clients with the perfect tailormade vacation!

Thank you, Claes. We wish you continued success at Bohline Exclusive Villas.

Jet Luxury Resorts is an exclusive collection of 4 and 5 star condo  hotel and residence hotel properties.  Jet Luxury is the only premiere national condo hotel management company with rooms at the St. Regis and The Limelight Lodge in Aspen, at The St. Regis in New York and at the Platinum Hotel and Spa, The Signature MGM, and Palms Place in Las Vegas. Jet Luxury is also at The Ala Moana Hotel in Hawaii and the  Buena Vista Villas in Costa Rica.

A VIP stay within already VIP properties, Jet offers private 24 hour concierge service and unparalleled customer service.  And, by independently maintaining and renting these luxury suites, Jet Luxury is able to provide significantly affordable rates.

Enjoy a Shiraz wine tasting experience with an overnight package for two at Château Élan. This second class in an ongoing series includes Friday night wine tasting of national and international Shiraz wines with winemaker Peter Kasprzak. The price of this package is just $199 + tax. Go to this page for further details.

There are few places on earth that are as romantic and steeped in mystical spirituality as Bali. Known to some as The Morning of the World, and to many as The Island of the Gods, it is no small wonder that literally thousands of couples pledge or renew their wedding vows in Bali. And there are few more romantic, luxurious, more private and convenient wedding venues than the five villas that make up the beachfront Pantai Lima estate on the island’s west coast.

This exclusive estate of super luxury villas built right on the Bali beachfront at Pererenan, an unspoiled fishing community, a short drive north of Seminyak, Bali’s centre of sophisticated shopping, restaurants and nightlife. Each of the five luxury villas – Waringin, Melissa, Sound of the Sea, Ambra, and Mary – is individually architecturally-designed and completely different from one another. Four of the five villas are more than large enough to cater for a memorable multi-course wedding banquet for 60 guests, or as many as 200 to enjoy canapés, cocktails and Champagne. And the Villa Mary grounds are so spacious that as many as 250 can comfortably enjoy a sit-down dinner.

United Mileage Plus members earn double miles when staying at participating Hyatt hotels in Europe, Africa, the Middle East and Asia Pacific between 15th March and 15th June 2009. You must mention the offer code UA309 when booking and provide your Mileage Plus membership number at check-in.