A Luxury Travel Blog

The Doyle Collection is pleased to announce that following an extensive renovation, The Normandy Hotel has reopened its doors for trading with a chic and contemporary new look. Set in the heart of Washington’s prestigious Kalorama neighborhood, The Normandy Hotel, a boutique property, features 75 guestrooms in an intimate and luxurious setting. Located at 2118 Wyoming Avenue in Northwest Washington,  the hotel  is a haven of comfort and convenience for business and leisure travelers. The hotel’s sophisticated design draws inspiration from its location in Kalorama, which literally means “fine view” in Greek. Chic design details and global upscale brands such as B&B Italia, George Smith Furniture, Porta Romana, and GP & J Baker add a contemporary and sophisticated edge.

The Great European Sale from The Leading Hotels of the World is a continent-wide promotion that has vacationers reaching for their passports and deciding between a visit to the Spanish Steps, surfing in Biarritz or sunbathing on the island of Crete. The program, valid for travel between 1st May  and 30th September  2009, offers savings of up to 30% off rack rates at nearly 60 participating hotels.

Chocolate lovers’ wildest fantasies are now coming true with the launch of the largest chocolate waterfall in the world.   Made from 400kg of chocolate descending in a mere five seconds and 4.5m wide, the new sweet attraction is part of Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate, the world’s first interactive chocolate exhibition on iconic Philip Island, 90 minutes south of Melbourne. In addition, Panny’s Amazing World of Chocolate features a Chocolate Art Gallery, including a two-metre chocolate statue of Michelangelo’s David and a chocolate painted version of Edward Munch’s expressionist piece The Scream, as well as a 4.8m village coming complete with buildings, street houses and landscaping, all constructed out of chocolate.

Chocoholics will also be able to savour a multitude of quirky sweet treats such as Vegemite (the Australian version of marmite), Wasabi and Cola flavoured chocolate delights, while those interested in the processes of chocolate making, an educational exhibition on cocoa plantations and trees; a demonstration on the whole deliciously sinful process is also on show.

According to Greek Mythology, Elysium was an ancient paradise exclusively designated to heroes who had been granted immortality by the gods. The Elysium Resort & Spa – which opens next month – cannot guarantee its guests such longevity. However the hotel does aim to recreate Homer’s view of Elysium as ‘a land of perfect happiness’. Situated 9km from Rhodes Town on the northeast coast of the island, the five-star Elysium features a contemporary architectural design and a beachfront spanning 400 metres. Accommodation is spread across three buildings, with all but nine of the 332 guestrooms offering views of the ocean. Rooms range from standard doubles to two Presidential suites, each of which comprise two bedrooms, a living room, dining table and kitchenette.   The hotel’s leisure facilities include three outdoor swimming pools, a state-of-the -art spa with 12 treatment rooms, fitness centre and tennis court – watersports and an 18-hole golf course are also nearby.

There’s  a limited-time offer from Desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, California – a lush oasis in the Coachella Valley.   Guests booking before 10th March  2009 get a starting rate of $199/night (which is about 15% off regular rates), plus 25% off all on-property dining, golf, and spa. The resort’s dining and facilities are among the best in the country, and the spa was last year named to Condé Nast Traveler’s Hot List as among the best in the world. This offer isn’t publicized on the hotel’s website; it’s available at spagolfdine.com

Approximately 6 weeks ago, I revealed that I had created an account for this blog on Twitter.   Back then I was highly sceptical about it all but, the more I learn about it, the more I ‘get’ it.   For now, I primarily use that Twitter account for directly posting blog posts via Twitterfeed  but, to my amazement, you are still following in your masses.   In fact, as I type, the number of followers is currently at 999.   So… who’s going to be number 1,000?

The much loved luxury Orient Express resort of Jimbaran Puri is set to open 22 new luxury pool villas next month. Each spacious villa will have its own swimming pool, and hard wood deck where spa treatments can be enjoyed. All villas are set amidst a traditional Balinese garden courtyard, with separate bed and living rooms, and personal, unobtrusive butler service. Villa guests will enjoy all of the facilities that are provided at the hotel. The villas are an exceptional choice for those seeking the luxury of space, privacy, style and comfort in a property on Bali’s beachfront.

I am just back from a one-week stay with my family at the fabulous  Royal Garden Villas  situated on the  outskirts of Adeje, Tenerife. Even before our visit, I knew this place would be special; afterall, you don’t achieve a  #1 Tripadvisor status across the entire island  without good reason.   The property is owned by Don José Fernando Cabrera (President of ASHOTEL and Vice President of Tenerife Tourism Corporation) and Doña Maria Lozada (an interior designer and architect) who had already launched two previous resorts  under the umbrella   of Grupo Golf Resort.  

We stayed in one of the 28 villas here –  the two-bedoomed Villa Coral, one floor below the reception level –  and our “room” had views over the Golf Costa Adeje’s two-tiered  driving range towards El Teide, Europe’s highest mountain.   To the right we also had views out to  the Atlantic.  To call it a room is an injustice; our accommodation consisted of an entranceway with a fountain, and a twin and master double bedroom to the left, each with their own bathrooms with gala hydromassage showers. To the right was an open-plan living area and fully equipped kitchen (including fridge, dishwasher, etc.), as well as a small utility room with washing machine and dryer – a rare addition but one that is so useful for young families!

Both the master bedroom and the living room led out to a very spacious balcony with a swimming pool (which our children of course loved!) long enough to do a few lengths in (certainly more than the plunge pools which the one-bedroom villas offer) and ample space for eating outside, sunbathing and just generally relaxing – all to a beautiful backdrop of Teide.

On the same level as our villa was the spa – with its splended doorway  recovered from a temple in Thailand opening to a haven of tranquillity  -  and a gym.   I had a relaxing massage in the spa which provided a welcome relief for my rather weary body (I’m one third of the way into a marathon training programme) and my wife a manicure. As well as the treatment rooms, the spa has a hydro-massage pool as its centrepiece.  

The  resort also has its own restaurant – Restaurant Jardin – led by Victor Rocha.   Tenerife is yet to have its first Michelin-starred restaurant but this place is sure to be a contender in that quest. Despite not being very able at it, we enjoyed ‘the aromas game’ over dinner; a tasting menu where, for each course, we were presented with three different scents in small bottles and were to try and deduce which scent had been used for each dish.   Sounds easy enough, but it wasn’t, but nevertheless a lot of fun – with exquisite food.

Although there is significant development going on on the island (as there has been for decades), Royal Garden Villas is somewhat protected from this by being flanked on either side by the golf course, making this an ideal place to stay if you’re a keen golfer.   Additional sporting facilities on the doorstep of RGV  include Tenerife Top Training  which opened in October 2008  with an AthleticAquaCenter, hydrodynamic flume, football pitches and facilities for tennis and squash.

There is also lots to enjoy in the immediate  area, whether it be  taking advantage  of the golf facilities, visiting the twice-weekly market in Costa Adeje, relaxing on one of the nearby  beaches, going on a whale watching trip from Los Cristianos (a highlight for us) or simply watching the sunset  in La Caleta. A little further afield, attractions include Teide National Park and the well-advertised  Loro Parque.

But why venture so far when you’re staying at  a haven of tranquillity such as Royal Garden Villas?   One of the things that really struck me about this  place is its peacefulness, from the moment we arrived to the day we departed.   Such is the design of the resort that you rarely see other guests apart from at breakfast. The main pool area near reception was invariably deserted  despite full occupancy, perhaps because each villa has its own pool, and reception itself  is sometimes bypassed by guests because they can leave the complex via the car park on the lowermost floor.   Similarly, we rarely saw guests at the spa. It’s this utter peace and quiet, attention to detail of both the staff and the design and furnishings  that has justly earned Royal Garden Villas repeated praise since its opening in September 2006. Long may  those  glowing Tripadvisor reviews  continue.

Swinton Park, the luxury castle hotel in the Yorkshire Dales, has just been awarded the coveted Green Tourism Business Scheme award. The scheme is the largest green accreditation scheme in the world and the only one currently recognised by the VisitBritain tourism authority.   In order to qualify for this rating, the hotel had to demonstrate a commitment to sustainability, managing waste and energy consumption, reducing its carbon footprint and promoting an awareness of the environment and the community. It follows a committed level of environmental investment and training at the hotel over the last three years.

Virgin Limited Edition, Sir Richard Branson’s privately owned collection of award-winning luxury retreats, now has a special ‘Honeymoon’ offer for newlyweds when they book to stay at Kasbah Tamadot – a stunning Moroccan retreat set at the foothills of the Atlas Mountains.

Guests celebrating their honeymoon can truly relax in a luxurious and romantic setting after their big day. Included in the year round offer is four nights’ accommodation, daily breakfast, one private dinner for two in one of Kasbah Tamadot’s romantic locations, three dinners – a three course meal from the à la carte menu including a bottle of house wine. In addition to this, the happy couple will also receive complimentary space-available upgrade on check in, a bottle of house Champagne on arrival, a traditional Hammam spa treatment each and private return road transfers from Marrakech to Kasbah Tamadot. Rates start from €2,130.

Set in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve in South Africa, Ulusaba brings the thrill of adventure and safari traditions of Africa to life in an exclusive and luxurious setting. With over 13,500 hectares of unspoilt, game-rich bush, guests can enjoy twice-daily game drives and safari walks tracking the ‘Big Five’. Guests staying at Ulusaba between now and the end of April 2009 can take advantage of the ‘4 nights for the price of 3′ offer, or for those wishing to stay longer ‘5 for 4′, or if they wish to stay even longer the ‘7 for 5′ offer. Rates start from ZAR 4,600 per person per night based on double occupancy.

Looking neat and wrinkle-free while travelling is easier than ever with a little help from Rowenta.   This month, the brand introduces the First Class Travel Iron – a compact, high performance product with the technology of Rowenta’s full-size iron including vertical steam, a burst of steam and a precision tip.   This must-have accessory comes with a zippered travel pouch that can hold a warm iron – ideal for quick packing! Small but mighty, the iron weighs in at 1.65 pounds and folds to just 7.8 inches.

The Gran Hotel Bahia del Duque, in Costa Adeje, in Southern Tenerife has a reputation for its luxurious and high quality services. This time, it has created a special Father’s Day (19th March 2009) holiday package.

On this holiday the family will enjoy a day sailing around the area of Costa Adeje where they will be able to fish, scuba dive or snorkel. After that, the parents will be welcomed by the staff of the spa who will offer them the Muscle Soother massage to relax them. Also, two cigar experts will offer a cigar tasting for “Dad” with the best and more exclusives cigars in the world.

The accommodation will be in a suite in one of the most exclusive area of the resort, Casas Ducales, where they will enjoy a private lounge for breakfast, a butler and a separate reception area.

Reef is a  new luxury hideaway set in three acres of exotic tropical gardens, just 45mins south of Colombo, Sri Lanka on the beach. With their 65m sandy beachfront, all weather tennis court, large swimming pool, lush tropical gardens, huge lily ponds, garden pavilions and gourmet kitchens, Reef sets a new benchmark for luxury accommodation in Sri Lanka. To maintain the romance and privacy, there are just seven exclusive and palatial suites; all are air-conditioned and feature unique antique romantic four-poster canopied beds giving a feeling of relaxed grandeur. They also have spacious shaded verandas for private dining and antique Indian swings, which overlook the lush gardens and views of the sparkling blue Indian Ocean.

The Setai, an intimate, serene oceanfront resort in the heart of South Beach, is set amid tropical gardens and sparkling pools overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Its 85 Studio Suites and 45 Suites were designed and equipped with thoughtful intention, to bear testament to the promise of making every stay an impeccable experience. Now you too can experience this idyllic oasis because there’s Winter Sale rates starting from $650 per night, based on double occupancy. The offer is available through The Leading Hotels of the World with the booking code L46 and is available until 31st March 2009.

Want to stay in a luxury country house hotel, but pay less? Want to feast on Michelin-star cuisine and award-winning wine, but on a budget? Well you still can at Holbeck Ghyll Country House Hotel  near Windermere. The hotel is offering a brand new ‘Take Away Menu’ from its Michelin-star kitchen for guests staying in the on-site self-catering accommodation. Recently awarded its Michelin-star status for the tenth consecutive year and in celebration of this and the new self-catering cottages, Holbeck Ghyll has created a take away menu for those wanting to indulge in this gastronomic experience without a hefty price tag!

Only available to residents of Holbeck Ghyll, prices start from £17.50 for a main meal and £9.50 for dessert with free delivery and a complimentary movie for the perfect night in. For even better value, order the two-course menu for two people for a special rate of £49.95. The menu includes a variety of tasty dishes such as Beef Bourguignon, Baked Fresh Fish Pie and Truffled Pasta.