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Luxury is always the perfect touch to add to any vacation. Whether you’re on your honeymoon or simply like to splurge and enjoy stress-free, exclusive holidays, you can only bet on the best; the best hotels, best restaurants, best shopping, and more. Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the ideal destination to indulge in all that lavishness with countless opportunities for you to discover the grandeur of this capital city.
The best luxury hotels in Buenos Aires
There are so many hotel choices in Buenos Aires that it can make the decision difficult, but only a few can be afforded the ultimate luxury quality. From ostentatious interiors and state-of-the-art amenities to magnificent guestrooms and flawless, professional service, here are some Buenos Aires hotels that actually make the cut and deserve their spot in the true luxury category.
Home to grandiose mansions, impeccably-kept gardens, and designers’ stores, the Recoleta district is where the elegant Porteño elite gather, and where the best hotels of Buenos Aires can be found. The iconic 5-star Alvear Palace Hotel is arguably the most exclusive hotel in town, and maybe in the world. Glittering chandeliers hanging from the ceiling, marble bathrooms, and silk linens are combined with the latest modern amenities, from personal butler services to touch screen telephones in each guestroom.
Another 5-star option in Recoleta, the Park Hyatt, is housed in one of Buenos Aires’ oldest French neo-classical buildings from the 19th Century. Everything simply exudes luxury in this private mansion, where guests are treated like royalty. Recoleta is also the home of luxurious boutique hotels that can be found virtually at every corner.
The most exclusive shopping in Buenos Aires
Strolling down the streets of Recoleta and some of Buenos Aires’ most exclusive neighborhoods, there is very little chance that you’ll be able to resist temptation and not enter in its myriad designers’ stores. This is the ideal spot to splurge in an afternoon of shopping and let yourself get pampered while you spend your money. Famous Italian and French luxury labels feature their collections here, but also new, fashionable designers, either local or international, have settled in the old-fashioned district.
And what makes it even more special is that everything here is quite affordable. You’ll end up with unique pieces without having to spend thousands of dollars. Some examples of great shops are Rossi y Caruso (Posadas 1387), great for leather goods; Tramando (Rodriguez Peña 1973), owned by the nationally recognized and eccentric designer Martin Churba; or Min Agostini (Libertad 1532), for ultra-feminine and futuristic women clothing. These are only a few, and a lot more await to be discovered!
Even the dreaded, crowded shopping malls are now must-sees as several international designers such as Paula Cahen d’Anvers on Posadas and Marcelo Senra in the chic Palermo district have chosen to open their doors in more accessible areas.
Gastronomic adventures in Buenos Aires
After a long day of shopping and sight-seeing, it’s time to put on your party outfit to sit at one of the most exclusive tables of the city before a night out in buzzing Buenos Aires. Amateurs of French cuisine cannot do without a stop at La Bourgogne, the freshly opened, upscale restaurant of the Alvear Palace Hotel.
Various celebrity chefs such as Francis Mallmann and Massey are also part of Buenos Aires’ dining scene with Patagonia Sur for the first, and the Massey on Calle Arce for the second one. Serving expertly prepared traditional and international gastronomy in an elegant setting, these restaurants are among the best in town. And the ideal place to refuel before hitting the opera at the world famous Teatro Colon – named one of the top 5 opera houses of the world for its perfect acoustic and lavish décor.
This is the newest of the new breed, it only opened earlier this month. You’d be forgiven for not knowing about it – the truth is you could be in the hotel and walk past the Urban Escape and barely notice it. The reception is perversely plain. There’s a bowl of green apples and a lagoon-blue rug, otherwise think oyster – also known as beige outside interior-design circles. There’s no sauna, no swimming pool, no steam room – there’s not even a relaxation area. It just has six treatment rooms, two of which are doubles and have steam showers (no need for the smelling salts – I think I can contain my excitement). So why am I raving about this new spa? Simply because the treatments are fantastic. The company runs some of the world’s best spas including Parrot Cay in the Caribbean and Como Shambhala Estate in Bali and its legion of celebrity fans run from Demi Moore to Daniel Craig. The idea is that The Met will provide an urban lifesaver for Como’s British fans in between long-haul jaunts. The therapists are excellent (it’s the only spa in the UK offering Dr Perricone facials – his skincare range is huge in America and one of the best I’ve ever tried) and, better still, the lack of facilities means the prices are very agreeable. A 60-minute facial or a 60-minute massage is from £90, that’s at least £30 cheaper than some of its rivals – and the quality of the therapists is way above that in most of the other hotels.
There’s not a spa like this in London. It is extraordinary. You get the impression that the owners will be very angry indeed if they haven’t spent as much as humanly possible on creating the ultimate pamper palace – even the changing rooms are lavish, with gorgeous cream leather (it’s like undressing in a Ferrari… not that I ever have). The thermal suite with its ampitheatre-style glass sauna and super-cool swimming pool is the sexiest in the capital. The only annoying thing is you have to pay to use it – even if you have booked a treatment – and it’s £95 for three hours. I know a couple who forked out and found themselves in the company of a nanny and two noisy children. How they laughed… The relaxation room is beautiful, with a suspended fake fire as its centrepiece and gauze drapes between sleep pods to create a lush sense of privacy. Disappointingly, my treatments were not very good (the pedicurist cut my big toe while filing my nails, the facial was not well designed) but where it scores highly is with its medical programme. This is the core of the Espa Life concept, which the company is rolling out at the moment. London was the first, one has recently opened at Gleneagles too, Marrakesh is next. The team is headed by The Gatekeeper – the very Tinker-Tailor title given to its excellent naturopath Hannah Yang. She oversees an integrated wellness team, from fitness trainers to ex-NHS physiotherapists, that work together to correct your health issues. This is a very interesting idea, I’ll be keen to see how it fares. It’ll also be interesting to see what happens about Lafico of Libya’s 33% stake in the hotel.
There’s the glamour of watching the Eurostar trains depart to points east while sipping champagne in the bar or the chance to laze by a truly glorious (if small) pool (actually I had to share the pool with a family, although I thought the kids were sweet, guess not everyone might agree). The pool, like the heat experiences are in what was formerly the hotel’s steam kitchen – a neat touch – and it still sports the original stunning Victorian tiled walls and brick archways. It’s a lovely space. The signature treatments are thoughtfully themed around journeys to Africa, India, Indonesia and beyond. The music played is from the country that inspired your massage and, when your treatment finishes, you get a post-pampering treat that is also from that country. The relaxation area needs work, it’s not that relaxing at the moment, feels a little bit like a dentist’s waiting room and the changing rooms could use their space better (there is a ridiculous amount of room given over to hair care – four blowdrying stations and yet not one private undressing cubicle). That said, the overall experience is very enjoyable.
First a confession: I love the Connaught anyway. Any hotel where the reception staff say things like “May I trouble you for your credit card,” gets my vote. It is delightfully mannered and has been beautifully updated in the past couple of years. Among those renovations is the introduction of a spa. It’s dinky but adorable and managed by Amanresorts, so utterly top-notch to boot. The discreet design (honey oak, dove grey Portland stone, virginal marble, white wicker furniture, Thai silks) makes the most of its relatively small basement space and clever lighting of the latticework in the tiny pool gives the illusion of sunshine streaming through. It’s perfect for watsu (water shiatsu), which is my favourite treatment (the therapist stretches and bends your floating limbs so that you feel as flexible as Darcey Bussell). This is the only place in London that offers watsu. It’s not cheap (£140 for 75 minutes) but it is incredibly relaxing and a great way to overcome jetlag. The therapists are impressive and the Sodashi products are some of the most effective organic creams on the market. If only you didn’t hear the distant rumble of Tube trains on the massage beds.
Four Seasons spas are usually fabulous. I really rate those in Hampshire and Paris and was eagerly awaiting the opening of this one. A rooftop retreat with 360-degree panoramas over the Thames, Hyde Park and the Houses of Parliament sounds brilliant but somehow it fails to deliver. The fact is that you can’t make the most of those amazing cityscapes during your treatment because your eyes are closed and, ridiculously, the relaxation pods don’t have windows. The sauna is a little pokey though it does have a glass wall with those killer views and the cafe, which overlooks the river, is too bright for post-treatment complexions, a little cold and sterile and shared with “normal” guests so you feel a little self-conscious in a robe. It’s not a place to linger but this is the only spa in London offering Omorovicza facials, which are very good.
The main building has all the charm of a four-star conference hotel, you’ll feel underdressed without a name tag and a degree in double glazing. Fortunately, the downstairs spa is a much more glamorous affair, with twinkling sculptures and a very pretty pool. I think Mandarin Oriental was the first hotelier to introduce the concept of booking time rather than individual treatments but it’s always worth pinching the opposition’s good ideas so they offer that option here. It feels so indulgent to mix and match your favourite bits from facials and massages as the mood takes rather than settling for just one and the therapists here are very able so it works well. You can, of course, book standalone facials and massages if you prefer. It was a lovely day when I visited so I decided to have a coffee al fresco. Big mistake, I was instantly aware of the property’s proximity to Heathrow. On the plus side, that’s great news if you’re a planespotting spa princess.
When it comes to the festive season, it seems that Hotel Métropole Monte-Carlo love to celebrate in style. From 25th November 2011 until 6th January 2012, “Miss Rose”, the hotel’s very talented in-house stylist and florist will create a “Christmas in Wonderland” theme a tribute to Lewis Carroll’s “Alice in Wonderland”, in all public areas of the hotel, including the buzzing bar. Even the Restaurant Joël Robuchon Monte-Carlo, and Yoshi, Joël Robuchon’s first Japanese restaurant are set to be transformed.
A huge Christmas tree decorated in powder pinks and lime greens and adorned with golden touches, rock candies, giant biscuits and pocket watches, will greet the guests when they enter the lobby. Head Pastry Chef Patrick Mesiano will create a series of miniature Yule logs, including the “Wonderland log”, as well as delicacies to be enjoyed by both adults and younger guests during the Mad Hatter’s favourite hour of the day “Tea Time in Wonderland”. Other delightful touches will include a selection of Christmas in Wonderland-inspired cocktails, created by Head Barman Eddy Montana, including the “Tiger Lily” mocktail for younger guests to enjoy.
We’ve touched on the much-debated subject of hotel reviews on this blog before. Whether you like them or loathe them, it seems they are here to stay. And, since it’s Friday, here’s a light-hearted look from comedian Michael McIntyre about them:
Merano is a quaint village perched at the base of the Alps in Alto Adige in the north of Italy. Here the air is smooth and clean and the scenery is breathtaking. Well known to high-end German and Swiss tourists, Merano has not really been discovered by Americans or the British. This is where the Austro-Hungarian Hapsburg Empire nobility had their second homes. This is also the region that made the wine for the Hapsburg Court. In Merano you can taste wine with the makers, have a late night snack with the chef, and spend the day skiing with a count without knowing it. As a high-end luxury vacation spot for generations, Merano and the surrounding region really understand the meaning of luxury.
South Tyrol is an exclusive tourist destination for Germans, Swiss and Austrians in summer. This is both positive and negative. On the positive side the region is set up for tourists with 5-star restaurants, spas, botanical gardens, castle tours and many excellent places to stay. On the negative side, it can be a bit crowded during the summer vacation season. Biking and hiking are very popular here and a wine/ bike enthusiast is in heaven.
The small town of Merano is picture perfect and idyllic. There is a beautiful small town square where you enjoy the sunshine while sitting in front of the ancient church. Many excellent spas also call Merano home. The public spa is one of the best town spas in Europe. Co-ed and nude it offers at least half a dozen different types of saunas and steam rooms. There is also an ice room and an ultra hot communal sauna that is run by a sauna master. Outside (with clothes back on) there are lovely pools, plenty of grass to lounge on and children playing in the water and the sunshine.
In the town itself there are many amazing restaurants. Merano cuisine includes both traditional Austrian and Italian foods. Prior to 1918 this area was part of Austria and the people still consider themselves Austrian rather than Italian. However, the rich mixture of cuisines and cultures gives a tourist a little bit of both. As an English-speaking tourist you will want to brush up on your German or Italian. However, there is some English spoken and the chefs commonly come out and spend time talking and socializing with the guests. Compared to the more tourist-ridden sections of Italy the atmosphere is casual, elegant and intimate.
The wines around Merano are grown according to traditional agricultural methods. This in not vino monoculture. Apples (hence the grappa) and other fruits are grown in the valleys, while the vineyards climb the surrounding hillsides especially those with southern exposures. The region’s latitude also gives the wines that special something provided by the precarious knife’s edge of growing conditions.
Hiking buffs and wine aficionados should seek out Reinhold Messner’s Castle Juval located a short distance outside of Merano. Messner’s Castel Juval, museum, and residence are at the very top of the sheer cliffs where Martin Aurich grows the grapes for Unterortl wines. Many hiking enthusiasts come every day to pay homage to Messner. Considered by many to be the best climber of all time, Messner was the first to climb Everest without using supplemental oxygen and the first to climb all 14 mountains higher than 8,000 meters. Messner’s fans walk or drive past the small winery of Tenuta Unterortl without knowing they are passing another maverick in the field of wine.
While visiting Castel Juval it is well worth your time to visit the winery, have lunch at the small cafe Schlosswírt farther up the mountain and then take a small hike up to Messner’s museum to take in the breathtaking scenery of the valley and the Dolomite peaks. A walking path near the cafe runs along a small ancient spring filled aqueduct, called a ‘waale.’ Schlosswírt also offers a few rooms if you wish to spend the night. The cafe serves Unterortl wines by the glass so you can taste them paired with food before buying. An added bonus is the scenic outdoor patio with a small playground for children.
Martin Aurich and his wife Gisela founded Unterortl in 1992. They were already living in South Tyrol when they were introduced to Messner through a neighbor. At the time Messner was looking for someone to manage the apple fields surrounding Castel Juval. Martin, who was working in Lana producing juices and marmalades, was a perfect candidate for the apples. However, he had a different vision for the steep hillsides of Castel Juval. Martin, who is from Berlin, was trained in wine, beer and distillates at the Geisenheim in Germany and vines, not apples, were his passion. During the late 80’s he was involved with the Laimburg Institute of South Tyrol and it was here that he honed his skills and developed his ideas while conducting experiments in micro vinification. Aurich saw the steep cliffs, the southern exposures and the unique soil and he knew that Messner’s land was perfect for producing top quality Pinot Blanc (bianco). He explained his ideas to Messner and in Messner he found a kindred spirit. Both men are risk takers, purists and perfectionists. Martin and Gisela started with one hectar of grapes in 1992. The house was built in 1994. Slowly but surely the apple orchards were replaced with grape vines. The dizzying elevation of 600-850 meters with vines marching across slopes as steep as 45% produces an ideal microclimate for growing Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc and Riesling. The terroir has been cultivated for at least the last 500 years and Iron Age remains have also been found here. The soil composition is mostly porphyry and granite and it is substantially unique in that it contains no calcium. Martin and Gisela have matched the special terrior with equally individualistic choices. They have chosen to stay on the cutting edge of wine production since Unterortl’s inception. For example, in laying out the vineyards Martin chose to run many of the fields vertically rather than horizontally. This gives the grapes more light, drainage and air. This is strictly against tradition and many people thought he was nuts. His idea has paid off handsomely producing some of the healthiest vines in the valley. Some other experiments include the introduction of screw caps and using only stainless steel tanks. Aurich is also the first to release Riesling two years after harvest. Other producers will tell you their Rieslings are best 14 months later and that they would prefer to exclusively use screw caps but Aurich is enough of a risk taker and individualist to actually do these things. Martin will admit that not all of his experiments have paid off but from the depth and character of the wines it is clear that he is right a great deal more often than he is wrong.
The unique location means that all facets of viticulture at Castel Juval are painstaking and preformed manually. Martin and Gisela have tended each vine as if it were a child. The end results are fantastically complex Rieslings and Pinots. There are smoky overtones and mineral flavors mixed with the scents of pears and apples. The Rieslings are dry, with high acidity, mineral complexity and rounded elegance. Due to the small production and painstaking viticulture Castel Juval wines do not come easily nor are they inexpensive. Like many things rare and wonderful you have to work for them. Currently they are not distributed in the United States. The best way to secure them is to contact Unterortl directly and have them shipped or to buy and drink them in Italy, Switzerland, Germany or Austria. Also be aware that Martin usually sells out completely. Unterortl has also started seriously making grappa. If the sparkle in Martin’s eye is any indication it’s his intention to make some of the best grappa Italy has ever seen.
The wines of Tenuta Hofstatter are also outstanding. Located along the wine road of Termeno, Hofstatter’s tasting room is open to the public and English is spoken. Hofstatter wines are planted around the majestic manor houses of Oberyngram and Unteryngram. Hofstatter is particular known for their red Cuvee “Yngram”. The Yngram estate itself includes several farmhouses and a medieval church dedicated to St. Michael. Hofsatter also grows syrah, petit verdot and merlot grapes. Hofstatter was one of the first to vary the types of wines grown in the Adige Valley. Hostatter Gerwurztraminer Kolbenhof has received many awards and their wines are available in the US. Talking with the owner was fascinating because he was really interested in talking about the market dynamics of wine production and wine selling. A sophisticated businessman, we discussed the global market of wine and how tastes and fashions are constantly shifting much faster than the vines can grow. He talked about the inevitable power of large markets and how they can dictate and dominate the kinds of wines and spirits that are made all over the world.
For the more geeky scientific winos out there, there is the Laimburg Institute. Laimburg is dedicated to helping the farmers of the region with scientific agricultural support such as soil testing. In addition to the labs, Laimburg also produces wines and it has one of the most breathtaking cellars ever built blasted out of living rock. Again, English is spoken, the cellars can be toured and the wines are fantastic. Aromatic salts and herbs sold at the small store are not to be missed. These are but a glimpse of the wine culture that is Alto Adige. A small but complete guide to the region’s wines in English is available through Alto Adige Wines entitled “Alto Adige Wine Country”. Thomas Vaterlaus is the author, with an English translation by Philip Isenberg.
Take a day or two to bike or drive over to the Alps to Tirano in Lombardy. Absolutely breathtaking scenery will surround you on all sides during the journey and on the other end you will find the cellars and family villa of Conti Sertoli Salis.
Visiting the winery and the Palazzo of Sertoli Salis is a unique experience. Set in the small town of Tirano you can also easily take the train here from Milan. The town sits at the mouth of the Alps. The Count’s family villa is right in town and it is a wonderful example of another era. The tasting room and old cellars are on the grounds and a small cafe set next to the villa allows you to taste all the wines and enjoy a snack. The villa is being refurbished and for a small fee you can tour most of the villa and gardens. The Palazzo itself is worth the train ride from Milan. Unlike many castles that are open for viewing, the scale of this Palazzo is authentic and accessible. The central placement in the town and the layout are traditional and these types of fine old palace town homes are found throughout Italy. Most of these town homes are still privately held and are closed to the public. You are likely not to even notice their entrances among the streets of Milan, Rome, Venice or Florence. Unless you have friends who own one of these beautiful homes, the Palazzo Sertoli Salis is probably as close as you will get to experiencing how the elite in Italy have lived for generations. The facade of the Palazzo Sertoli Salis dates to the late 16th Century while the entrance is based upon a design by the Baroque architect Vignola.
This winery is adjusting into the change from their old oenologist Claudio Introini to Vittorio Fiore. Conti Sertoli Salis, as the name suggests are wines produced by a Count, or at least they were. The last Count had a vision to revive the wine making of his ancestors and it became his all consuming passion until his death a few years ago. The history of wine making for Sertoli Salis extends back for generations into the mythical past as surely as their ancient cellar winds into the deep earth. Sertoli Salis’ Sforzato Canua is an outstanding wine and a testament to the prior Count’s dedication. Redolent of chocolate, berries and spices this intense yet delicate wine has consistently received high praise from Rosso and other critics.
The town of Merano is surrounded by some of the best skiing available in Europe. A short drive from Merano is a very unique ski experience among dozens of fine accommodations. During the winter season Vigilius Mountain Resort is perched on an otherwise private ski mountain that has a few privately owned cabins that have been handed down for generations. The resort and the mountain are only available via cable car. The resort is modern in style and fabulous. Red leather seats punctuate open spaces dedicated to the beauty of raw wood and chiseled stone. Vigilius is open both in summer and in winter.
Staying at the Vigilius does not limit your South Tyrol ski experience to one mountain. On the contrary, the resort has a unique ski program that offers guided ski excursions three days a week to the best skiing venues in the region. The trips take you to the best of Sellaronda, the nearby ski resort in Ultenatl and Schwemmalm, Merano 2000 and Pfelders. Guides are available for all levels of skiers. The emphasis is on great skiing, convenience and access. The guides are also ski instructors so the small groups are also a great way to improve your technique while you enjoy the best slopes in the world.
Eccentric London hotelier and acclaimed interior-designer David Carter has commissioned bespoke, hand-crafted beds to add the finishing touch to his theatrical 18th Century townhouse.
The decadent 40 Winks, dubbed the “world’s most beautiful small hotel” by German Vogue, is located in trendy East London and is a favourite for fashion and lifestyle shoots. Last year Mr Carter completed his imaginarium-come-home’s two guest bedrooms, opening them up to his bustling flow of exclusive visitors. 40 Winks is now the world’s first hotel to offer guests the luxurious Marshall & Stewart sleep experience.
David Carter said “40 Winks is not a conventional hotel. What we offer is an ambiance that guests can slip in to, and a place where they can disappear from the real world. Having a fantastic night’s sleep is an essential element of this experience, and we spent a long time searching for the perfect bed.
“I was so excited to discover a British company making some of the finest beds in the world that I was delighted to commission them for 40 Winks. My guests can now enjoy a level of luxury and comfort that is unparalleled.”
Mr Carter, who was keen to work with a British bed brand, approached Marshall & Stewart earlier this year to design and build the beds incorporating his choice of fabrics and upholstery.
They were unveiled at the hotel this month enabling guests at the glamorous residence to experience an exceptional night’s sleep in the finest of surroundings. The innovative beds are part of the Marshall & Stewart Diamond Collection launched in June 2011. Each is handmade in the UK using traditional techniques and a progressive spring system surrounded by layers of the finest natural material to create a sanctuary for restorative sleep.
An exclusive stay package is now offered at the most luxurious private residence in Florence, with “no queues” entrance tickets to the exhibition “Money and Beauty. Bankers, Botticelli and the Bonfire of the Vanities”.
Experience the most topical art exhibition in Florence through the masterpieces by Botticelli, Filippo Lippi, Beato Angelico, Paolo Uccello, Donatello, Antonio del Pollaiolo, and other great Renaissance artists. The exhibition that takes place at Palazzo Strozzi from 17th September 2011 until 22nd January 2012, shows how the birth and development of the modern banking system is linked to the most important artistic flowering in the history of the Western world.
For such a charming journey inside the world of art and culture, Relais Santa Croce has created the exclusive experience called “Money and Beauty… the Bonfire of the Vanities”.
The package, valid from 17th September to 28th December 2011 (minimum stay required 2 nights) includes:
· Accommodation in the room type of your choice
· A rich buffet breakfast
· As a welcome gift: the charming catalogue of the Michael Rogatchi’s exhibition, until December by the Relais Santa Croce, and a high-quality catalogue of the event at Palazzo Strozzi
· Entrance tickets with “no queues” to the exhibition “Money and Beauty. Bankers, Botticelli and the Bonfire of Vanities”
For this impossible-to-miss date with The Art, Relais Santa Croce is the perfect choice to fully enjoy a stay in Florence, combining the intimacy that only a palace of the 18th century can give, together with the excellent gastronomical offer of the Hotel’s Restaurant, Guelfi e Ghibellini, that proposes regional, seasonal and innovative menus. You will also have the possibility to taste the menu of Enoteca Pinchiorri, 3 Michelin-star restaurant, located at the entrance of Relais Santa Croce.
And for those who would like to continue the artistic tour of the town, Relais Santa Croce re-confirms itself as a great choice thanks to its central position, a few minutes’ walk from the main places of interest, among which are Basilica di Santa Croce, Piazza della Signoria, Galleria degli Uffizi, Piazza del Duomo, Ponte Vecchio.
Relais Santa Croce belongs to Gruppo Baglioni Hotels, that today includes 9 facilities in Italy (Milan, Venice, Florence, Punta Ala, Rome), France (Aix-en-Provence, Champillon-Epernay, Saint Paul de Vence) and UK (London).
When it comes to luxury, private villa holidays are difficult to beat. Imagine yourself lounging by the fountain in the courtyard of your Marrakesh riad… or skiing directly into your chalet in the Alps.
Though the global economy remains in a tumultuous state, luxury travel seems to have escaped the brunt of the beating, and things are still looking rosy for 2012. Villa holidays appeal to more than simply the luxury crowd, as sometimes a self-catered holiday home can be a better value for groups than an all-inclusive hotel. What lies ahead for the villa rental industry?
For 2012, we predict that Europe will remain the most popular place for villa rental, though the number of properties and interest in Asia will continue to grow. The desire for unique itineraries will lead to a higher demand for concierge services and bespoke travel planning. Properties at the ultra-high-end and mid-range will continue to appeal to both extremely wealthy and mid-range travellers.
The ILTM Global Trends Report highlighted some themes which seem likely to continue next year, including a desire for privacy and discretion, the popularity of open-range tours through wilderness, increased interest in off-the-beaten-track and undiscovered places, greater contact with locals, and eco-friendly, socially conscious travel. Other trends include an increase in personalized, bespoke itineraries, the allure of emerging destinations, and the appeal of travel which is a good value for the money spent.
This bodes well for the villa rental industry, as holiday rental properties serve as the perfect answer for vacationers looking for privacy, exclusivity, and intimacy. Many short-let properties come fully staffed, with concierge services available to carry out a traveller’s every desire. For holidaymakers in search of a good value, a holiday rental can help them avoid some of the usual fees associated with hotel stay, such as expensive meals and per-night rental as opposed to weekly rental charges. Villa and chalet rental is becoming so popular that this year has seen a rise in owners buying properties specifically for the purpose of renting them out during peak seasons.
Award-winning London-based travel agency Black Tomato always has a finger on the pulse of the travel industry, and Tom Marchant, co-founder, names the fishing village and beaches of Pipa in northeast Brazil and the Riviera Maya in Mexico as hot spots for 2012. Alice Agar of Sally & Alice, a bespoke tour operator, predicts that South Africa and Sri Lanka will be at the top of everyone’s to-go list next year. “With the South African rand creeping back up to 12 to the pound, and the mercury creeping back up to high 20s, South Africa is not only a very affordable holiday destination but a sunny one too,” says Agar.
According to the ILTM research, the Asia/Pacific area is extremely hot in more ways than one, particularly East/Southeast Asia, with China, India, the Maldives, Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and Myanmar being name-checked most often. Singapore is set to rise up as one of the top growing destinations, which is no surprise given its convenient location and unique allure as an ultra-modern metropolis that boasts strong ties to Chinese, Malay, and Indian food and culture.
After Asia, Europe is the second fastest growing region for luxury travel. While France, Italy, and Spain have always been top destinations for villas, the popularity of Scandinavia and Eastern Europe is on the rise. Short-let property in London will be in high demand during the 2012 Summer Olympics, and Munich is increasing in popularity.
Middle Eastern destinations like Jordan, Morocco, and Oman are drawing in tourists by offering luxury accommodation, a high quality of service, and the very best retail opportunities. It is the third-fastest growing location, and construction of new villas is on the rise as many visitors to the Middle East are drawn by the promise of privacy.
China is making waves as outbound travel opens up, and as the country with the third-largest amount of millionaire households, it is an important market for luxury travel and goods. Popular trends in Chinese outbound travel are group tours and all-inclusive packages, with individual planning at a minimum. Villa companies will need to appeal directly to their potential customers with Chinese-friendly marketing tools and amenities if they hope to capture the Chinese market.
One of the villa rental industry’s greatest strengths is the range of properties offered. For the ultra-wealthy, the crème de la crème of luxury properties will always be within reach, and these villas will be largely unaffected by global financial troubles. The mid-priced properties remain good values for travellers hoping to save on hotel bills while on vacation.
Trends from the past year seem set to continue with exciting new places popping up on our radar. Look out for eco-friendly destinations and don’t forget to have a go at creating the unique vacation of your dreams with a bespoke itinerary, as personalization is the key to a truly memorable vacation. 2012 is set to be another exciting year for the villa rental industry… we can’t wait to see what’s in store.
Jordan is an often forgotten about destination in the Middle East. However this hidden gem offers a range of unique experiences that will make your trip one to remember. We have included some of the country’s highlights below;
The Treasury, Petra
One of Jordan’s most famous experiences is the tour of the Treasury. The building also known as the Al Khazneh, is carved out of a sandstone rock face. Its style is reminiscent of classical Greek-influenced architecture.
To get to The Treasury you will be guided through the Siq, a narrow gorge of over 1 kilometre in length. The path is flanked on each side by 80 metre cliffs and builds expectation for the great experience you are about to have.
The Treasury has featured in many films and is famous for being the home of the Holy Grail in the Harrison Ford movie “Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade”.
Tip: While you are at The Treasury we would recommend you also explore the Monastery, another great piece of architecture that is frequently confused for the Al Khazneh.
Star Gazing, Aqaba & Tala Bay
While you can try to see stars on a clear night in the UK, Jordan offers amazing star gazing opportunities. Without the city lights you are able to see numerous constellations including the famous Milky Way. During July and August there is an annual meteor shower with an average of 60 meteors per hour. That is something you definitely would not want to miss while on your trip.
Wadi Rum
The Wadi Rum desert, also known as “The Valley of the Moon”, is one of the most impressive desert landscapes on the globe. One of the rock formations found in the area is called “The Seven Pillars of Wisdom” in memory of T. E. Lawrence, a British officer who fought in the area.
Tip: Take a jeep tour of the area just before night fall and watch the beautiful sunset. We recommend watching the sun fall with a traditional cup of Bedouin tea.
Jean-Christophe Nager is the General Manager of The Pavilions, Phuket, a 5-star luxury resort built on a hill-top on the delightful island of Phuket. A Swiss national with more than 25 years’ experience in the hospitality industry, Jean-Christophe (JC) graduated from Collège St-Michel, Fribourg, in Switzerland in 1978 and studied photography in Montreal, Canada for a year before returning home to join the Lausanne Hotel Management School until 1984. His enthusiasm for travel led him to work in prestigious hotels and resorts in various countries in Asia, Europe and the Caribbean before joining The Pavilions in 2009. JC lives in Phuket with his wife and enjoys watersports and tennis.
What is it that you do exactly?
I am here to create and fulfil dreams and souvenirs, for our guests planning their holidays, looking at the website, looking for a relaxing time together. Souvenirs as our aim is that that they will leave with fond memories of their stay, tell everyone around them and return. To do that I need to orchestrate that every aspect of our guests’ experience runs flawlessly like in a movie plus add some wow factor and a genuine care from the team.
What do you enjoy most about what you do?
Developing new things, services, products, concepts. They can be major undertakings or small details added to an existing service. These little things make a difference at the end of a stay and there is nothing that is more heartwarming than a fond farewell to an appreciative and happy guest.
What would you say are the three best places you’ve ever stayed?
About 20 years ago on a break from buzzing Hong Kong to Boracay in the Philippines – in those days there was no electricity on the island. To see the chambermaid setting a petrol lamp on the porch of the bungalow at turn down illustrated a magic moment and set the tone for a few days out of time.
A safari in the Okavango Delta in Botswana in several tented camps left unforgettable memories with a sense of being within the animal kingdom with elephants grazing around the tent at night and lion roars in the not-too-far distance!
A trip to Venice a few years ago in a quiet period of the year. There is magic in the place and wherever you look, something to catch your eye. Plus the inimitable Italian flair and style for a certain art de vivre. A Campari soda or an espresso never taste better than on a terrace of a piazza in Venice.
What’s been your most memorable dining experience to date?
When I was studying at hotel school I had the chance to dine at Girardet, a famous 3 Michelin star restaurant in Switzerland. That evening was perfection from beginning to end and rests engraved on my mind as what hospitality, creativity, attention to detail all carefully thought through was all about to make for unforgettable experiences. It was an inspiration especially at the beginning of my career as a hotelier.
Have you rubbed shoulders with the rich and famous, either through your work or your travels?
Some members of the British Royal family used to holiday in a resort on a small island off Antigua in the Caribbean and afterwards I had the opportunity to welcome guests from the British jetset, wanting to stay at the same place. More recently in the Maldives we would host some well-known people from the music and fashion industry. Another person who stayed with us was a famous entrepreneur in the airline industry, who also happened to own an island amongst other business ventures. Most if not all were down to earth, appreciative of the care provided by the team and a pleasure to have as guests.
What currently ranks highest on your travel wish list?
I always try to discover new places in the region where I work. After Northern Thailand and the temples of Angkor in Cambodia, Australia and perhaps Tibet are next on the list. A cruise on a sailboat with friends in the Andaman Sea is also in planning.
It was a great pleasure to meet you, JC. Thank you for your time in answering our questions and best of luck with fulfilling your travel wish list. Our regular readers may remember that we ran a special feature about the Passions Programme at The Pavilions recently.
Are you keen on living in the lap of luxury, well who isn’t? Like most of us you may be tightening your belt so much that you don’t think you can afford a four or five star break. To show you that you still can enjoy that bit of luxury, we have put together a few tips on where and how to find the best deals all year round.
Get ready to pack those bags and experience the style and glamour that you deserve.
Luxury market recovery
We have all felt the effects of the recession, but the luxury travel sector was hit especially hard – which makes sense, when you have less money you scale down your plans. Even though the market has been recovering we are seeing some great available savings for luxury hotels as the sector continues to recuperate.
Where to book?
Some of the best prices can be found in areas that have had new hotels come online. When a destination adds new hotel rooms or hotels, more often than not they need help filling those rooms with travellers. So, they will turn to travel sites to help them do so – at deeply discounted prices. Recently, this trend is taking place in Las Vegas which expanded rapidly over the past few years and Vancouver, where plenty of new rooms were built for the Olympics. We also predict that London is likely to follow a similar pattern just before and after the Olympics in 2012 as they’ve already added thousands of room and plan to add thousands more. So, be sure to pay attention when a city opens a new hotel or where new hotels might be being built.
How to book?
There are a number of ways to book a hotel room that include booking over the phone or through a travel agent, but the age of the internet has changed that. Nowadays, a lot of us book all travel arrangements online and use a variety of different websites to do that. One of the newest models for booking luxury holidays online, sometimes referred to as ‘secret hotels’ or ‘Hot Rates’, offers 4-star hotels at 2-star prices. With this model you book a room without knowing the hotel’s name. Everything else, such as amenities, star rating, approximate location and user recommendations are disclosed. It is a way for hotels to sell hotel rooms that would otherwise remain unsold and offer a deep discount without alienating their existing customers. The best savings can be found 2-4 weeks before travel at larger city destinations, but sometimes great deals will be available even few months out. Definitely worth a try the next time you are planning your next city break.
When to book?
We all know that avoiding ‘peak season’ can help us save money, but often we don’t realize how much. Holding travel plans from the popular vacation months of August/September to the less popular month of October can help keep hundreds in your pocket. For example we are currently seeing some fantastic deals on four star hotels in Berlin (£37 a night) around that time.
Also, cities that rely on a lot of business travellers often offer big discounts when these travellers are not working – therefore places like Paris, Toronto and Chicago tend to have great deals over the holidays that happen throughout the year. So, by picking those time periods to visit these big cities, you might be able to hit some of the biggest sales of the year and instead of giving your money to hotels – give it to the department stores.
Have a good trip!
Fulvia Montresor is Senior Director at Hotwire.com.
1. Preheat the oven to 180 deg C.
2. Peel and slice the eggplant, so the slices are a quarter of an inch thick. Beat 3 eggs and the half cup of milk in a deep bowl. Coat the eggplant in the flour, and then dip it in the egg-milk mixture, followed by coating it in bread crumbs. Place the coated eggplant in the refrigerator for 30 minutes.
3. Meanwhile, mix the ricotta cheese, with half the shredded mozzarella, all the parmesan cheese and the remaining 2, lightly beaten, eggs.
4. Refrigerate the cheese mix.
5. Heat the olive oil in a frying pan. Cook the eggplant slices until golden brown, about 3 minutes each side and drain on kitchen paper towel.
6. Place 2 cups of tomato sauce to a 2-litre casserole dish, then add a layer of eggplant, followed by a layer of the cheese mixture, then eggplant again and the remaining 3 cups of tomato sauce. Top with the remainder of the shredded mozzarella that has been left to one side.
7. Place the casserole dish in the centre of the oven and bake for about 40 minutes.
8. Allow the lasagne to cool for 15 minutes before serving.
Thank you to Martin Wagner, Head Chef at The Cambrian, Adelboden in the Swiss Alps, for the recipe.
I’ve just received my ‘invitation’ to a Champagne Dinner at The Ritz together with Dom Pérignon on 24th November 2011. In honour of this special occasion, the hotel’s Executive Chef John Williams has created a remarkable menu, paired with some of the finest offerings from Champagne Dom Pérignon. The dinner will be held in the magnificent 18th Century surroundings of William Kent House, commencing with a Champagne and canapé reception in The Marie Antoinette Suite and followed by dinner in The William Kent Room.
Mr Richard Geoffroy, Chef de Cave at Dom Pérignon since 1996, will be on hand to advise how best to appreciate the differing styles of the wines which, combined with the culinary expertise of the Chef’s menu, promises a unique and memorable dining experience.
Cornet of Smoked Salmon Moscovite
Goats Cheese Pin Wheel with Black Olive
Foie Gras bon bon
Brioche Pizza with Truffle
Dom Pérignon 2002
Sauté of Goose Liver and Smoked Eel
with Green Apple and Radish
and Seaweed Brioche
Dom Pérignon 2002
Confit of Turbot, Hazelnut Butter and Braised Oxtail
Dom Pérignon OE 1996
Bresse Chicken Champenoise
Dom Pérignon Rosé 2000
Pear William, Caramelised Wafer
with Prune and Armagnac Cream
Dom Pérignon 2000
So… “will I be accepting the ‘invitation’?”, I hear you ask. Alas no… at £395 per person, it’s just a little out of my budget. But I’m sharing it nevertheless with the rest of you.
A Luxury Travel Blog has teamed up with the luxury travel site Voyage Privé to bring you an amazing competition. One lucky entrant will win a whopping £1,000 holiday voucher to spend on a luxury holiday of their choice. Voyage Privé is a luxury travel club that scours the globe to bring its members unforgettable getaways, at unbelievable prices. To be in with a chance of winning the competition, all you have to do is sign up using this link on the Voyage Privé website.
Please let me get some adjectives out of the way before I go on to give you a more factual report of staying at The Pavilions in Phuket. Amazing, wonderful, fun, incredible, entertaining, educational, friendly, interesting, luxurious, impeccable, beautiful, spacious, different, comfortable, exciting, relaxing. Are you getting the gist of it yet?
The Pavilions is a 5-star boutique hotel that’s a member of the Relais & Châteaux association of luxury hotels and gourmet restaurants worldwide. It has 48 private pool villas with ocean views or hillside panoramas. It’s built on a steep hillside but there’s no problem in getting around. They have plenty of electric buggies (just phone guest services and ask for one) and for the newer hillside villas there’s even a cable car which you can summon at the press of a button. The cable car isn’t anything scary, it’s just a walk-in-walk-out cabin that takes you up or down to wherever you want to go.
We found it a great advantage to be on higher ground at The Pavilions rather than a sea-level resort, because we benefited from the cool sea breezes despite the tropical humidity lower down. The ambient temperature was so comfortable we didn’t even bother with the air conditioner most of the time, even though it was a fairly hot time of year in Phuket. If you’re a beach person, don’t worry because The Pavilions offers a free shuttle service to and from their own private beach just five minutes’ drive away. You can enjoy the best of both worlds this way.
We had an ocean view villa and even though we had the opportunity to look around the other Pavilions properties, which included penthouses, three-bedroom villas and very stylish newer villas, I liked ‘our’ place the best. I don’t want to tell you that Villa 9 is the very best because I’d prefer to keep that as an insider secret.
The Pavilions is primarily a resort for couples. It’s about romance and passion. Children aren’t allowed. (Yippee!)
Passion lies at the heart of what The Pavilions offers. Perhaps you’re passionate about art, music, dance or adventure. There really is something for everyone here. You can create your own perfume with guidance from a Master, ride on an elephant, have a chocolate spa treatment, learn yoga, indulge in body painting, or even learn about primordial sound meditation. The resort has Masters in all of these activities.
Have you ever snorted chocolate? Apparently it’s legal. Master chocolatier Laurent Bernard fed us with some wonderful chocolates, which he’d made himself, and then invited us to try sniffing chocolate. Now that sounds weird, doesn’t it? What you do is to put a little bit of cocoa powder blended with another flavour, such as raspberry or ginger, onto a special gadget that fires it up both nostrils (sniff hard for the full experience!) and having sniffed it, you can taste the chocolate. It was fun but also demonstrates how much your sense of smell is related to your sense of taste. Magnifique!
The food at The Pavilions was always excellent. And I didn’t complain about the fact that they had Champagne on the breakfast menu. Ooh, such decadence. I loved it! I hadn’t realised before how a glass of fizz along with the Eggs Benedict could set you up for the day. Chef Alec Lomas, a Californian and an honours graduate of Vancouver’s Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts, is very interested in organic foods. That’s his passion. There’s some controversy around whether organics are better for you and if they really taste better. I won’t go into that argument here. Suffice to say that I ate and enjoyed more food at The Pavilions than I normally would when visiting any restaurant.
The 360° Bar at the top of the hill is a wonderful place. As the name implies, it offers a panoramic view of the hills and valleys of the island of Phuket to the north, east and south and of the sea to the west – which makes it the perfect place to view the glorious sunsets over the Andaman Sea. What the name doesn’t reveal is that you can also order delicious bar meals and tapas from the kitchen and grill, as well as some of the most sensational cocktails around. Both of us loved the Hex Appeal, flavoured with a fiery blend of kaffir lime and chilli. We also tried tequila shooters with chocolate. Hmm, I’ll try just about anything once. As was the case throughout the resort, the staff were very friendly as well as being efficient. They were fun people to be around and this added to the ambience.
The main restaurant is housed in The Pavilions’ Plantation Club. This is perhaps the true heart of the resort as it also houses a colonial-style bar – with complimentary English-style high tea every afternoon – and a library where you can borrow books, CDs and DVDs to enjoy in your villa, or surf the Web (although you can do that in your villa too – there’s free WiFi in all of them). The dining room has views over the hills of central Phuket and Layan Bay. The large floor-to-ceiling windows are actually French windows and can be drawn fully back, so diners don’t have to choose between outdoor and indoor seating – they can have the benefits of both at the same time!
The Plantation Club also has an outdoor stage, located in easy view of both the restaurant dining room and the terrace below, and this was the setting for some amazing entertainment in the evenings too. On the evening of our first full day there, two Chinese drummers held all of us diners enthralled by a dazzling performance of perfectly synchronised rhythms. They were then joined by a Chinese orchestra who serenaded us beautifully through dinner. I’d expected the drummers would be men, but to my slight surprise one of them was a very talented young lady, Cheryl, who for me was the star of the show. You can see her below – she’s in blue, between Tat-Leong Sweeting (PR guru for The Pavilions, in green) and Jean-Christophe Nager (General Manager of The Pavilions).
Afterwards, two Cantonese opera singers sang a famous duet, “The Parting Song of Love”, between a Chinese princess and a warrior from a barbarian state who had rescued her from drowning. The couple fell in love and married, but the princess was forced to leave her husband after the Emperor threatened war with the barbarian state if she did not return to China. Sad, but very beautiful – as were the elaborate costumes and make-up, which we were told took two-and-a-half hours to put on.
We also watched and listened to some flamenco performers – two dancers and a guitarist – the following evening and that was a lot of fun too. A big cultural contrast from the previous evening’s entertainment, but every bit as enthralling!
It was particularly good to be able to have the opportunity to meet and talk with these entertainers after they’d done their performances. And, of course, the entertainment is all linked to the Passions programme, so you can be taught by them too if music and dance are passions of yours.
There are several ways to enjoy Passions at The Pavilions, by joining one of the pre-arranged Passions weekends, or by arranging a corporate event, or even by arranging your own bespoke Passions programme according to your interests.
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Excursionist.com is a new members only site that connects travelers with their passions by providing a menu of curated and expert-led trips around the world. Excursionist offers hundreds of once-in-a-lifetime experiences across 40 passion areas, making it easier than ever to plan unique excursions based on your personal interests. Whether you want to trek across Greenland with a world-record holding polar explorer, access a rarely opened tomb in Egypt, or visit a community project in Cambodia, Excursionist offers amazing experiences to suit any passion.
Luxury is always the perfect touch to add to any vacation. Whether you’re on your honeymoon or simply like to splurge and enjoy stress-free, exclusive holidays, you can only bet on the best; the best hotels, best restaurants, best shopping, and more. Buenos Aires, Argentina, is the ideal destination to indulge in all that lavishness with countless opportunities for you to discover the grandeur of this capital city.
London is awash with new spas so here’s a round up of the best places to go to get naked and… relax.
Eccentric London hotelier and acclaimed interior-designer David Carter has commissioned bespoke, hand-crafted beds to add the finishing touch to his theatrical 18th Century townhouse.
An exclusive stay package is now offered at the most luxurious private residence in Florence, with “no queues” entrance tickets to the exhibition “Money and Beauty. Bankers, Botticelli and the Bonfire of the Vanities”.
When it comes to luxury, private villa holidays are difficult to beat. Imagine yourself lounging by the fountain in the courtyard of your Marrakesh riad… or skiing directly into your chalet in the Alps.
Jordan is an often forgotten about destination in the Middle East. However this hidden gem offers a range of unique experiences that will make your trip one to remember. We have included some of the country’s highlights below;
Jean-Christophe Nager is the General Manager of 
Are you keen on living in the lap of luxury, well who isn’t? Like most of us you may be tightening your belt so much that you don’t think you can afford a four or five star break. To show you that you still can enjoy that bit of luxury, we have put together a few tips on where and how to find the best deals all year round.
Ingredients:
I’ve just received my ‘invitation’ to a Champagne Dinner at The Ritz together with Dom Pérignon on 24th November 2011. In honour of this special occasion, the hotel’s Executive Chef John Williams has created a remarkable menu, paired with some of the finest offerings from Champagne Dom Pérignon. The dinner will be held in the magnificent 18th Century surroundings of William Kent House, commencing with a Champagne and canapé reception in The Marie Antoinette Suite and followed by dinner in The William Kent Room.
A Luxury Travel Blog has teamed up with the luxury travel site Voyage Privé to bring you an amazing competition. One lucky entrant will win a whopping £1,000 holiday voucher to spend on a luxury holiday of their choice. Voyage Privé is a luxury travel club that scours the globe to bring its members unforgettable getaways, at unbelievable prices. To be in with a chance of winning the competition, all you have to do is sign up using 
