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On WOWtraveler.net This Month Mary Gostelow's Top 10 hotels and resorts where it is great to Pop The Question. Also, read exclusively Insider ideas from WOWtraveler's Bernie Jenneskens, Moscow-based travel consultant; Mark Murphy, publisher of WOWtraveler's partner trade magazines Modern Agent and Agent at Home; Gerhard Petrowitsch, Hong Kong-based publisher of eHotelier.com information service; Dallas-based travel professional Rudi Steele. Here, in WOWtraveler Confidential, below, you will find are BIG ISLAND, HAWAII - BRITISH COLUMBIA - NEW YORK - PRIVATE JETS - ENGLAND - MALDIVES - CRYSTAL CRUISES - HONG KONG - TEST DRIVE A LUXURY CRUISE SHIP: Three-Night Cruise on Crystal Symphony Rare Offer.
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Big Island, Hawaii
Hawaii's Big Island, and my first visit. We flew over the west side, over a terrain composed entirely of dark chocolate-colored lava nuggets, anything from small pebble-size to giant rocks. Nestled close to the coast were splashes of vivid green grass inset with sandy bunkers, the well-watered golf courses.
Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, to give it its full name, is not the typical Hawaiian seaside resort, namely C- or E-shaped buildings, with several floors and their arms reaching out to the ocean. Before this one was finished, the owners, Kajima, said pull it down, start again, so now here you have free-standing two-floor wood villas that reminded me of Four Seasons Chiang Mai. This place is, indeed, understated. The wood is unpainted, the cabanas around the main pool are beige - even the guests (typically slim, active, looking successful, often one or other of the pair pushing a baby in a jogging buggy) wear white, beige, occasionally black. No-one seems to be alone, here.
The 865 acres include the 18-hole Jack Nicklaus course (celebrity chef Alan Wong runs the Grille by the 18th hole). The resort itself has 243 rooms, 600 employees, plus those for sports and grounds. There are eight tennis courts, a total of four pools, four gyms (one of which is outside) and no fewer than 14 bikes for spinning classes, with more brought in at busy holiday periods. There is also one astronomer, working Saturday nights in the Grill.
Room 2412, upper level by the pool, had slate floor tiles with a green and yellow carpet, cream walls, a half-tester bed, bamboo furnishings, a walk-in closet with yukata and terry robes, tea and coffee and a safe. The covered terrace had neutral-colored furniture, and a beige rack for wet sports clothes. Fabulous breakfast buffet, with some tables for 12 or more as increasingly people come with grandparents, friends, others. Those who then lie by the pool are offered cucumber slices for eyes, and fruit kebabs. Kids have their own club, as do teenagers. Adults have so many classes, from pilates through that spinning to yoga, they probably need to go to the spa to recuperate. You can climb the onsite mock-rock wall - or, an hour away, the very-real Hualalai volcano. Gosh, they have swimming in a lava pool with over four thousand exotic fish, surfing, keiki canoeing, even Iron Man here, so who has time for ukulele lessons or hanging out in the Hualalai Trading Co general store?
Happy memories, dinner right on the sandy beach at Pahu i'a, named for the filled aquarium that greets you; the immaculate undergrowth and bright flowers around the buildings; a fabulous and long, uninterrupted night's sleep, and one of the most energetic and approachable female general managers in the business, former French teacher Kathleen Horrigan. Next time I shall take my husband.
AND
This is the month for romance, as you will see from my top ten list. I suggest proposals in a tea plantation in central Sri Lanka, or at the top off the world's tallest hotel in Shanghai, and many more.Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Ka'upulehu, Big Island, United States
See other hotels in Big Island (4)
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British Columbia
The Fairmont group seems to be targeting women. February 5-12 is a week-long Women On The Edge package at Fairmont Chateau Whistler, in Whistler BC. You have skiing, snowboarding and on the Saturday there is a wine discovery tasting (I think I might add in an orange and green tea wrap in the resort's Vida spa). The club lounge is on the eighth floor: I stayed in a club suite, 956, which was memorable for its two-way gas-fuelled log fire and the views of Blackcomb Mountain. And for those who cannot have enough of women-only ideas, think about the ultimate pyjama party across on Vancouver Island at the Fairmont Empress, the weekend of February 19th - I think I might actually escape the sorority, and enjoy a fabulous martini sitting in a wicker rocker on the verandah there, and subsequently retreat to room 834, which has a tiny turret parlor and an ultra sexy bathroom.
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New York
As the dollar moved one way, the numbers of foreigners rushing to New York to shop moved the other way (namely up). During New York Fashion Week, February 4-11, the Mandarin Oriental even offers a MO-Chic shopping package which includes a chauffeured limo and a full day shopping with Kathleen Beckett, formerly with Vogue. You also get two hours in the spa (see last month's Top 10 Spas, archived on WOWtraveler.net Top 10 List. My favorite bedrooms at the hotel are any in the 16 series, on the 38th to 54th floors, for superb views over Central Park. Also, any Friday and Saturday through February, when shopping is over head downtown to the Ritz-Carlton Battery Park for the chocolate buffet in the Rise bar, on the 14th floor. This promises to be so popular that there will be three sittings, at seven and nine pm and at 10.30pm. I really enjoyed the Liberty Suite 417 when I stayed there: I had an uninterrupted view of the Statue of Liberty, and I also remember the toilet, one of those Japanese computerized things.Mandarin Oriental, New York, New York, United States
See other hotels in New York (34)
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Private Jets
Germans and Swiss are able to rush over for New York shopping via private jet - well sort of. SWISS, the successor to the much-missed Swissair, has joined Lufthansa in offering scheduled private jet service from their home countries to New York Newark airport. The B737s, set with 52 lie-flat Business seats, are operated on the airlines' behalf by PrivatAir. (This private jet business is really hotting up. NetJets, which is ultimately owned by Warren Buffett, has just appointed a really food-savvy director cabin services, Stephen White, who should elevate inflight food up to the wow level.)
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England
WOWculinary is not, of course, only about Michelin three-star. French bistros retain a grand following, in many lands. If, for instance, you have never experienced one of the Hotel du Vin hotels in England, think of a bistro with rooms, and everything is the best. The bistro's menu favors versions of steak and fries, and best baguette and great winelists, with friendly and professional service that is truly rare in England (the secret is that the Hotel du Vin concept attracts young Europeans keen to perfect their English). And the rooms are always spectacular, with plain colors, enormous beds with fluffy linens, and bathrooms that specialize in walk-through showers. The latest Hotel du Vin opens in Henley-on-Thames this month. It is a conversion of the former Brakspear's brewery that goes back to the 18th century. It has 42 rooms and most desirable will probably be the three top-floor suites, which each have a second bathtub, outside on private balconies that have uninterrupted views of the River Thames. The hotel, handy for Heathrow, Oxford, and right on site during the annual Henley Regatta every June, is run by General Manager Matt Callard.
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Maldives
Handy for nothing but getting away from it all - why not think about Soneva Fushi, in the Maldives, right now? Barefoot, back to nature, lovely employees, your own bicycle, lunches in the organic garden, dinners on the beach (a favorite villa is number two, for sunrise views, your own pool)?Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, Baa Atoll, Maldives
See other hotels in Baa Atoll (2)
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Crystal Cruises
Looking ahead to March, Crystal Cruises are offering pre- and post-cruise ideas to go with their Asian cruises. These include eight days in Tibet, with flights over the Himalayas and a visit to the Dalai Lama's former home, the Potala Palace. You can also cruise through the Three Gorges and/or visit the Terracotta Warriors at Xi'an.
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Hong Kong
Another add-on is transport to or from the Peninsula, Hong Kong, either in a hotel Rolls-Royce (one is a 1934 Rolls-Royce Phantom II) or by helicopter, landing on the hotel's own 28th floor rooftop. Now that is a wow way to travel!
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Test Drive a Luxury Cruise Ship
Three-Night Cruise on Crystal Symphony Rare Offer:
Not sure if a top-notch luxury cruise is right for you, and a little skittish about committing to a week or two or three aboard a floating palace? Or just curious about trying a different approach to luxury cruising than your usual choice and thinking about taking a last-minute getaway? Crystal Cruises and the Virtuoso luxury travel network have a creative solution for you - a three-night roundtrip cruise from Fort Lauderdale in March 2005 on the newly refurbished 50,000-ton, 940-guest Crystal Symphony. This sampler voyage features no distracting ports of call, just three nights and two days of sailing the Caribbean and exploring the intricacies of living life in the lap of luxury. Better yet, prices start at $650 per person (double occupancy).
On this test drive, departing March 10, 2005, you will have plenty of time to check out the $12 million upgrade the Crystal Symphony has just completed. Pamper yourself in the completely new Feng Shui-designed spa and fitness center. Expand your tech knowledge base in the newly enlarged Computer University@Sea. Tempt your palate in the beautifully refurbished Crystal Dining Room. More than 750 shipyard workers, contractors and designers from around the world just recently completed the ship's meticulous upgrade, and you can be among the first to give it the white-glove treatment. Crystal Symphony's renowned status continues to shine with its 2004 Condé Nast Traveler "World's Best Mid-Sized Ship" award. For the ship's refurbishment, only the finest fabrics and stylish accouterments from prestigious design houses were utilized, including furniture from Andrew Martin, Cabas and Battaglia; fabrics from Pierre Frey and Rubelli; lighting from Porto Romana; and carpets from Brintons.
No chance of getting bored on this mini-voyage. Consider complimentary golf, yoga or Pilates instruction. Try your luck at the only Caesars Palace at sea. Check out the innovative Creative Learning Institute, offering progressive curriculums in the arts, finance, wellness, lifestyle, and food and wine. Or simply lounge on the ship's expansive decks, with two pools.
This rare cruise ship test drive may only be reserved with our exclusive WOW Travel Consultant, Elite Travel by Stacy, part of the Virtuoso network of 6,000 luxury travel consultants, Crystal Cruises' top source of travel agency sales. To reserve this cruise or request additional information, contact Bridget@WOWtraveler.net or call 1 (416) 488 0121. Space is limited.
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On WOWtraveler.net Next Month
Mary Gostelow's Top Ten:
Top 10 places to which to take your grandmother
WOW Insiders:
- Ron Andruff, former ice hockey star turned dot.commer
- Bill Boggs, writer and television host
- Varun Sharma, president/CEO, The Luxury Travel Show
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