A Luxury Travel Blog

Taiwanese national carrier, China Airlines and its subsidiary, Mandarin Airlines, have announced plans to fly a larger aircraft between Taipei and mainland China. This move follows growing demand from travellers seeking more cross-strait flights.

China Airlines and Mandarin Airlines will now fly an Airbus A330-300 on all flights from Taoyuan International Airport to Xian, Shenyang, Changsha and Zhengzhou in China. This increased capacity will present further opportunities for UK tourists to enjoy twin holidays between the two destinations in Asia.

As well as providing a fascinating insight into two Asian cultures, travellers will also have the chance to explore the connection between Taiwan’s National Palace Museum and China’s Forbidden City. The National Palace Museum is home to 650,000 treasures and is regularly voted one of the best museums in the world. Many of the museum’s Chinese relics were originally from China’s Forbidden City and were moved to Taiwan when the Kuomintang lost the civil war to the communists in 1949.

A new cable car line has launched near one of Taiwan’s most popular leisure destinations, Sun Moon Lake, to offer grand views over the island’s largest natural lake and surrounding mountain scenery.

The 1.8 kilometre-long ‘Sun Moon Lake Ropeway’ is elevated 150 metres over the surface of Sun Moon Lake. It will connect the Sun Moon Lake Activity Center, which is home to over 50 species of rare butterflies, with the Aboriginal Culture Village – a popular theme park that celebrates the cultures of local indigenous people.

Sun Moon Lake is a popular tourist attraction where visitors can tour a number of fascinating temples and picturesque pavilions. The lake is also ideally suited for a variety of outdoor activities including boating, canoeing, hiking and cycling. Its name is derived from its unusual shape, which is similar to the Chinese characters for sun and moon.

The ACI annual Airport Service Quality (ASQ) Award has been won by Incheon International Airport once again and voted the world’s best airport for 5 consecutive years. Repeating its first place finish in the previous years, Incheon International Airport (IIAC) once again scored the highest marks in the ACI’s ASQ survey in three categories to become the Best Airport Worldwide, Best Airport in Asia-Pacific and also Best Airport with annual passenger traffic between 25 and 40 million.

The rankings are based on 250,000 questionnaires asking passengers to rate the service quality of 34 airport service factors.  Receiving an outstanding score of 4.99 points with 5 denoting a perfect score, Incheon International Airport garnered the top spot with the highest points ever awarded in the survey’s history.

Incheon International Airport successfully completed the second phase of its construction project by building a new concourse and adding 3 runways in 2008.

A gleaming monster is cruising the waters of New York Harbour. Each day, the great white (and blue and green) Shark carries off hordes of giddy, screaming people, young and old. Lurking in plain sight, the Shark is capable of bringing grown men to tears – tears of laughter that is.

Step aboard the Shark Speedboat and take a tour with teeth! The 30-minute thrill ride speeds around the horn of southern Manhattan giving riders a rush of wind and splashing water.

Passengers breeze by The Statue of Liberty, stop for a photo opp and zip by again to catch once-in-a-lifetime views of famed landmarks including the historic Battery Park, the World Financial Center and Ellis Island, the gateway to America for millions of immigrants.

The splashy tour features music and fun for up to 135 passengers. Student and corporate groups welcome.

Asia’s only African safari resort has opened in Hsinchu County to offer visitors a unique African experience in north west Taiwan. The Leofoo Resort Guanshi boasts African-themed rooms and the opportunity for guests to get up close and personal with a variety of wild animals.

The Leofoo Resort Guanshi has a total of 164 rooms that can accommodate two-six people. All rooms have been decorated in the style of an African hunting lodge and feature floor-to-ceiling windows offering unobstructed views of free-roaming African animals, including giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, ostriches and ring-tailed lemurs amongst others.

Guests can also enjoy organised tours to the nearby Leofoo Village Theme Park, as well as to the surrounding natural environment and local cultural sites in Hsinchu County. Prices start from NT$6,800 per night based on double occupancy.

Explore Ningaloo Reef, the largest fringing reef in the world, in luxury aboard Sail Ningaloo’s beautifully appointed 51 foot catamaran, ‘Shore Thing’. New operator Sail Ningaloo is offering three, five and nine-day live aboard tours in the pristine waters of Ningaloo Reef from March until October. Guests can spend their days kayaking, snorkelling or diving amongst the tropical fish, whales, dolphins and turtles in the area. From November to February Shore Thing will be based in Perth, offering a number of one and three day trips along the sunset coast and Rottnest Island. Maximum 10 guests. Prices start from $1,260 for a three day ‘Coral Garden Spectacular’ Tour, exploring the best of the southern Ningaloo Reef Marine Park. The cost includes all meals, soft drinks, snorkelling and kayaking equipment and reef interpretation tours.

Guests taking advantage of Swissôtel Hotels & Resorts Finest Clubs Package can now gain admission to top clubs. The first hotels in the international hotel chain to offer this exclusive package are Swissôtel Berlin, Swissôtel The Bosphorus in Istanbul and Swissôtel Grand Shanghai; other hotels are to follow shortly. The package was created especially for guests who enjoy clubbing and who seek entertainment in the pulsing great cities of the world.

The World’s Finest Clubs confers the World’s Finest Clubs Award on the world’s most exclusive clubs and includes them in the Finest Clubs Network. The clubs are distinguished by their unique architecture and stunning interiors, great atmosphere, exclusive admission criteria, and high VIP and entertainment standards for a discerning clientele.

Along with admission to a select club and a welcome drink, the package includes breakfast at all hours of the day or night, champagne or a cocktail at the hotel bar and the Finest Clubs magazine in guest rooms. Table reservations and limousine transfer to and from the club are also available for an additional charge. This offer is available until the end of December 2010.

A weekly pick of luxury travel links for your perusal…

• Enriching lives through distinctive journeys: Big Five
• Luxury in the Lake District from Kendal Cottages
• Untamed wilderness from the Botswana Tourist Board
• See the exclusive  La Posada Villas with pools

A new boutique holiday cottage has just opened in Dartmoor National Park, Devon. With Molton Brown cosmetics, beautiful decor and the option of a private chef, Moorland View offers “wall-to-wall luxury.” It’s made for lovebirds: romantic touches include a log fire, scented candles and a vintage copper bath for two. Complimentary membership of Bovey Castle country club, with its pool, gym, golf course and spa, is included. The cottage is in the peaceful 13th century thatched village of North Bovey, one of England’s prettiest old villages, which has a fantastic pub, medieval church and beautiful local walks. To really be swept off your feet, you can book a hot air balloon ride from the garden (well, a field very close by). The two Michelin-starred restaurant Gidleigh Park is close by, and the beaches of the South Hams aren’t far.

There’s a new website just launched called The Luxury Travel Bible. Created by a team led by respected Australian travel editor Hilary Doling, the website is aimed at a sophisticated audience who is looking to make informed choices. The site includes destination articles, hotel reports, news, views and a wealth of other behind-the-scenes information and first-hand accounts from the people designing and creating some of the most luxurious hotels and resorts in the world.

The Rocco Forte Collection – which currently has 13 luxury hotels in major cities across Europe –  has revealed that its first property in the Middle East will open in Abu Dhabi this Autumn. It will be followed by a 146-bedroom property opening in Jeddah in 2011, a 90 All-suite Golf, Spa & Villa Resort in Marrakech in 2011 and a 275 bedroom property in Cairo in 2013.

Aria, the luxury hotel and casino in Las Vegas infuses guestroom corridors with natural light and provides each of the over 4,000 guest rooms – including the 568 suites, of course – with floor-to-ceiling windows offering stellar views of the local skyline or surrounding mountains. The most advanced guestroom technology allows you to personalize the lighting, temperature, and music to your taste. At the end of your evening, bedside technology will allow you to close the blinds, draw the drapes, dim the lights and power down your flat-screen television without having to leave the comfort of the luxurious custom bed linens.

Should you wish a bit of privacy, accommodation in one of the Aria Sky Suites includes a private alternative-fuel limousine from the airport to a private lobby for your check in and registration. After an arrival drink and hors d’oeuvres, take a private elevator to your one of a kind accommodation.

To beat the Las Vegas sun, umbrellas are set up throughout the pool deck for shade, but for the ultimate, request one of Aria’s lavish cabanas, complete with attentive service and exclusivity. Guests lounging poolside can opt for al fresco dining from the and Breeze Café and Pool Bar’s extensive and innovative menu.

Le Caprice opened its New York outpost in October 2009, under the guidance and direction of Executive Chef, Michael Hartnell. At only 28 years old, Michael has proven tremendous talent to the culinary community by re-creating signature Le Caprice classics such as the Thai-baked sea bass and crispy duck salad, whilst incorporating popular additions to the menu based on seasonal ingredients. The celebrated menu now offers innovative international fare with British and American influences. Hartnell brings his extensive experience working with Italian and Mediterranean-inspired dishes to the table at Le Caprice New York, where offerings such as Nantucket Bay scallops in sunchoke puree and a surprisingly light lobster and avocado salad have met resounding applause.

Michael was previously Head Chef at the modern Italian brasserie, Daphne’s, in London. His first role with Caprice Holdings was at The Ivy from 1996 to 1998, where Michael served as Chef Apprentice.

Qatar Airways, the 5-star airline, offers a private premium terminal for its First and Business class passengers at its hub at Doha International Airport. Qatar Airways’ Premium Terminal offers fine dining with specially selected wines and champagnes, some exclusive to Qatar Airways. Business travelers may utilize free wireless internet as well as meeting rooms that can be used for phone or video conferences, or even a simple face-to-face meeting. The center is staffed 24 hours a day with staff ready to provide assistance.

The Premium Terminal offers an extensive duty free shop featuring everything from electronics and clothing to fragrances and spirits. A multi-lingual staff is available to help you find that perfect gift for someone at home…or something for yourself. As long as you’re taking care of yourself, the Premium Terminal Spa offers full facilities to indulge prior to or between your Qatar Airways flights. The spa offers facials, massages and other treatments provided by professionals. If those aren’t for you, perhaps a Jacuzzi is just the way to unwind before your flight.

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts‘ first hotel in Turkey, the Shangri-La Hotel, Istanbul is set to  open in April 2012. The hotel will be located between the Dolmabahce and the Maritime Museum on the European coast of the Bosphorus Straits, the 30km stretch of water separating Europe and Asia. Set within the Besiktas district, the shopping and transport hub of Istanbul, the hotel will be near the city’s financial district and the Istanbul Convention and Exhibition Centre. The neighborhood surrounding the hotel is home to many historical and cultural sites including: the Istanbul Concert Hall, the Ataturk Culture Centre, the newly restored Akaretler complex of neoclassical buildings, palaces from the Ottoman Empire period, and several theaters.

The hotel will be a five-minute walk from the Dolmabahce Palace, the former center of the Ottoman Empire and home to six sultans, which is now a national heritage museum. Also within easy reach is the Nisantasi neighborhood known for its restaurants, cafes and bars and the prestigious Macka luxury shopping area. Guests will be able to reach Sultanahmet, the historic centre of the city that lies across the Golden Horn, within 15 minutes by public transport.

The Taj Cape Town has been called the city’s oldest new hotel because of the two historic buildings it occupies, but its location in the heart of the city is also what sets it apart.  It is housed in the Board of Executors (1896) and the original South African Reserve Bank (1932) buildings. And now seventeen new storeys have been added, offering panoramic views of the city and Table Mountain.

The 177-room hotel is set in a precinct steeped in history, from the
neighbouring Slave Lodge to St. George’s Cathedral, where Nobel Laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu stood against apartheid. The heart of Cape Town with its art, culture, cuisine and entertainment is on the doorstep.

If you really want to splurge, go for the top floor where you’ll find a two-bedroom, split-level Presidential Suite with its own massage and steam rooms, fully equipped kitchen, office, gym and an expansive top-floor deck for outdoor entertainment.