Peru is a place of pilgrimages, moody mountain tops and an age-old sense of culture and history that is just begging to be explored. The eco-luxe Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel offers a welcome retreat from which to explore the ancient history of the cloud-swept Andes mountains. It’s the place to be if you want to reconnect with your ancestors, feel at one with nature and just get away from a fast-paced lifestyle.
85 cottage and villages are set against the side of a misty mountain, reminiscent of an Andean Village. Whitewashed and made out of natural materials the villages and cottages offer understated luxury and coziness, wrapped up with alpaca blankets and warmed by log fires. They offer outdoor showers for a fresh and brisk morning wake up call. Butler services are available at the plush villas, which are perfect for private honeymoons and romantic getaways.
That’s the lux part; on the eco side of things the hotel has planted a rainforest to offset its carbon footprint you can enjoy a great stay with a conscience too. It’s surrounded by lush rainforest and is home to over 372 species of wild orchids in a tangle of private garden and natural rainforests. Stay a while and enjoy some bird and butterfly spotting in magnificent and untouched surroundings.
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel offers the full treatment and you can unwind with local coca-leaf inspired treats for body and mind and breathe easy after a session in the eucalyptus infused UNU spa.
The good news is you can take the family. It’s an active holiday too if you want it to be with hikes and walking trails in abundance through the lush mountain and rainforest vegetation or the plush gardens. And, for the evenings off, there are nannies and babysitters to take the kids off your hands.
In light of this week’s Big News, we were inspired to bring you the most stylish and happening places to stay in the Big Apple. Here are our top picks from one of the fashion capitals of the world…
Soho House New York
This swanky Manhattan hotel and private club offers stylish and fashionable sojourn, ideal for shopping trips and leisure visits to the big city. The hotel offers six storeys of hip décor and design across suites that range from 325 to 950 square feet. It’s all in the name of fun here, the suites range from the lesser “Playpen” to the palatially sized and appointed “Playground”, and decorated in the same trendy and cheeky taste.
Crosby New York
A fusion hotel of the highest caliber, Crosby combines the bright and colorful touches of 1960s Soho Art with modern features and contemporary comforts. It’s a celebration of texture and color, complete with a private 99-seater theater that’s completely orange.
Called “subtle and sexy” (although the subtlety’s obviously not referring to the theater), the hotel offers large open windows that bring you intimate views of this shopping Mecca. In true fusion style you can enjoy cocktails at the trendy bar as well as a classic High tea.
The Peninsula New York
This must be it: the height of all New York skyscraper sophistication. Located in the middle of Manhattan’s business and shopping hub, the Peninsula offers snappy old school service and opulent luxury.
It’s classic Art Noveau throughout, complete with crystal chandeliers, white marble and Oriental rugs. The hotel offers luxury features like flat screen TVs in the bathrooms, silent fax machine and feather duvets. Soak up stylish 1930s Shanghai atmosphere at the rooftop Salon de Ning or savor a fine coffee in the Gotham Lounge. Oh, and did we mention the views?
The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr stands like a futuristic monolith in the trendy city of Abu Dhabi. A glass and steel structure of epic proportions, it lights up the night sky with modernity every night.
The hotel is situated on the beachfront and shares elegant space, being opposite the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi. The décor is both chic and comfortable, what you’d expect from a luxury city hotel that attracts bot the discerning traveler and travelling the business person.
Everything about it is vast, from the large and spacious lobby to the elegantly appointed suites and luxury rooms and oversized bath tubs. Natural light is left to work its magic and the atmosphere is both classy and warm. Most rooms offer opulent views of the city skyline or the beach and large, open windows.
It’s every business person’s corporate dream, of course, your office away from the office- and so much more. The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr offers both executive boardrooms and conference rooms, meeting rooms and Tech butler and secretarial services. High speed internet is part of the package.
On the culinary side of things there are five superb restaurants to choose from with a selection of tastes for every palette. The Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s top picks include Marco Pierre White’s Steakhouse and Grill and Elements, a more contemporary experience. Chocolate connoisseurs can eat their hearts out at an eatery designed for just that- a place aptly named the Chocolate Factory. Only the trendiest cocktails are served at the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr’s bar the Chameleon and you can keep fit at the local gym and fitness center.
The service is slick and sophisticated too. From the front desk to the express check in and private secretarial services, everything about it is bigger and better than what you’d expect.
This is a designer hotel with a difference. Even though it’s set on idyllic white sandy beaches (16-kilometers of them to be exact), it’s much more refined than your average island resort. They’ve kept it cool and white but jazzed it up with contemporary contrasting colors for bold injections of energy- just what you need to refresh yourself after a few hours under the Mediterranean sun.
It has the dramatic backdrop of the Troodos Mountains in its shadow and the endless waters of the Mediterranean in front of it, and is truly a lovers’ paradise.
Surprisingly, it’s well priced for what it offers and it’s also the largest resort on the island of Cyprus. The hotel underwent a multi-million Euro renovation in 2005 and it’s money well spent. Traditional textures dominate and you can expect hints of Cypriot lace and filigree touches against the cool white marble.
For fun there’s a well-kitted out fitness and health center, if you need to get physical. Otherwise, it’s sun, sand and golden tans. The luxury spa offers massage and wellness therapies al fresco, if you need a little nudge here or there to get you into full relaxation mode. When it comes to dining you can look forward to the eclectic menu of Caprice Restaurant that offers a fresh selection from the sea and the land, as well as the essential ocean vibe.
If you’re into history there are also sights to see and you can explore the remains of ancient architecture on lazy afternoons. Check out the Curium Amphitheatre, a Greco-Roman theater that was built around the 2nd century BC or visit Kolossi Castle which dates back to the 13th century.
Londa Hotels is about 50-minutes’ drive from the island’s capital Nicosia. It’s 40-minutes from Larnaca International Airport and 45-minutes from Paphos International Airport.
We all love sparkling waters and golden beaches, but when you can get under the water and experience beauty on another level, it’s all the more rewarding. Here’s where we recommend you inspect the beauty that lurks beneath the surface.
Lizard Island – Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Our top pick is the super-sumptuous Lizard Island on the northeastern Great Barrier Reef of Australia.
It’s a complete splurge but when you consider there’s 24 private beaches at your disposal and wellness treatments somewhere called the Azure Spa, it’s worth a visit. 40 villas encompass complete luxury and for true extravagance, the Pavillion suite offers you a 270 degree panoramic view of the Coral Sea, complete with private pool for the ultimate sundowner experience.
Treat yourself with the Cooling Hot Stone Body-Facial and delve into the deep of the Great Barrier Reef with diving, snorkelling and reef fishing that will take your breath away.
Kamalame Cay – Bahamas
Exclusivity comes with the booking confirmation here- a private island with 96-acres to explore…better make that a long stay booking.
Exclusive and elegant, these suites are decked out with private patios, oversized bath tubs and endless ocean views.
Kamalame Bay is home to the third largest barrier reef in the world and the best spots to enjoy sundowner cocktails. In addition to diving and snorkeling, the resort also offers bone fishing and windsurfing. The experience goes skin deep too with Seaweed Botanical Wraps to get your body ready for the beach.
Pimalai Resort and Spa- Thailand
If you want your underwater order served with rainforest on the side, then the private island of Koh Lanta Yai should be on your destination wish list. The crystal clear waters of the Andaman Sea are flanked by lush rainforests that bespeak adventure. Get taken away by a bevvy of water sports and activities like sailing, snorkeling, windsurfing and diving, or do something complete different, but equally exotic with elephant rides on the beach.
Fusion food and specialty Thai cuisine is on the menu at two top class restaurants. Yum.
