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Inside WOW Confidential This Month Six Senses in the Maldives - Tokyo - New York - Athens - French Trains - Silversea'
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Six Senses in the Maldives
Soneva Fushi, which occupies the whole of the 100-acre Kunfunadhoo Island, is a regular hideout of billionaires who want to retreat to nature. They arrive by seaplane to Soneva Fushi International Airport (a 10 square metre pontoon), and a boat takes them a further five minutes to to the beach. On the boat, shoes are removed, put in labelled bags and not returned until departure. This is no-shoe island as well as no motor vehicles. Every one of the 65 rush-roofed villas comes with a pair of deliberately-ancient black bicycles (repeat guests have initials on theirs). Villas are air-conditioned, with outdoor bathrooms, secluded gardens surrounded by lush vegetation. I could swim nude in the private 10-metre pool of villa 62, looking out across the empty beach at brilliant turquoise water. Once a week the oh-so-English gm, Charles Morris, holds a cocktail barbeque on a sand-only atoll a short boat ride away (this may be the only time you ever see some guests). Another not-to-miss special is lunch in the organic vegetable garden. The spa has a resident Ayurvedic doctor.
From Soneva Fushi, fly south to Soneva Gili International Airport – same arrival procedure, though from here you can go directly to Male International Airport by speed motor launch. This is high-tech retreat. Soneva Gili's 44 villas here are all pristinely-bleached natural wood. They are built on stilts above the water, mostly attached by long boardwalks. For real exclusivity, choose one of the seven that stand alone, like private islands (you have your own motor boat to get to land – mine was called Ever Soneva So Knackered). Villa 6, one of these exclusives, had a window in the spacious parlor floor to look down to exotic fish swimming below. I had an air-conditioned bedroom, but could have slept upstairs, beneath the stars, as alternative. There was an outdoor shower, a private sundeck with steps down into the water, and the kitchenette had a professional wine refrigerator with enticing Champagnes (reminder – no alcohol can be brought into the Maldives, and bottles are taken off you on arrival at the airport, but the islands serve the best). The bikes here are white, I could wear shoes, and the spa here has windows beneath the treatment tables so you do more fish-watching. My indispensible Man Friday, Fathuy, asked where I wanted to dine. They will set up wherever. Gm is Australian Garry Snodgrass. www.sixsenses.comSoneva Fushi by Six Senses, Baa Atoll, Maldives
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Tokyo
I went cycling also in Tokyo, this last week - we took two of the peppermint-colored Italian bikes from the Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi and cycled round part of the Imperial Palace Gardens (it is perfectly safe, you use the sidewalk-pavements). Designed by the hip Canadian pair Yabu Pushelberg, this is Four Seasons one step on from the San Francisco property. Here the features include sleek grey window blinds, Vuitton-type stitched leather desk top and bedhead and Alessi kettles. Bedrooms only go up to the 7th floor, and my favorites are - 14 one-room corner suites that give views down to Pacific Century Place Garden as well as the multi-tracked Tokyo station (rail fanatics should ask for rooms that only face the tracks) Service blends the best of Japanese detail with Four Seasons quality which results in - perfection. GM is Tracy Mercer. www.fourseasons.com
We dined with friends in the brilliant, eventful Casita, owned by lively entrepreneur Shigeru Takahashi. The chilled bottle of Veuve Clicquot somehow had our names incorporated into the label, I managed to sabre it first time, our table places were marked by napkins embroidered with our names, and personally-written name cards with our company logos, correct font, on the reverse. After our main course, we were invited to an adjacent room where we were shown a full-wall video of the evening that we had not realised was being shot... at dessert, on the balcony, a storm of fresh rose petals rained down, fireworks intermittently flared, we were given our napkins and videos as we left and, back in the room at the Four Seasons, there was the Veuve Clicquot label, laminated, and the cork, already made into a keyring. Casita Resort Restaurant, tel: +81-3 5484 3190.Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Marunouchi, Tokyo, Japan
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Athens
Athens has plenty of available space until the beginning of August, says Michael Koth, GM of the statuesque Athenaeum InterContinental, the nearest WOW hotel to the Acropolis. One of the other pluses here is the outstanding art displayed, with hundreds of pieces belonging to the hotel’s conceptor. Dakis Joannou - others can be seen in the Monument to Now art show, part of the Culture Happening that runs from June 22 through to the end of the year at Nea Ionia, in the north of the city (concierge Manos Skoulikaris can arrange transport). I would definitely choose an Acropolis-facing club room, for access to the elegant and art-filled club lounge on the 8th floor. www.intercontinental.comAthenaeum InterContinental Athens, Athens, Greece
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French Trains
Explore France in ultimate style - in a luxury 2-carriage rain. French Rail Cruises offers such itineraries as 3-night Castles and Vineyards, includes Chambord and Chenonceau chateaux, and private dinner with the Camus family. 22 passengers maximum. The all-inclusive trip Paris-includes lunches and all drinks onboard; dinner, bed and breakfast in Relais-type hotels and ground arrangements.
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Silversea
Silversea is celebrating its 10th anniversary with lots of special cruises. Silver Cloud sails London-Southampton UK August 15-30, hosted by founding md Aris Zarpanely and the first female Speaker of the UK House of Commons, Betty Boothroyd. The trip takes in a fado evening in the 16th century Convento do Beato in Lisbon. I was actually on Silver Shadow this last month, from Tianjin to Tokyo. The ship was completely full and over 90 per cent were repeats. And the crew coped marvellously when, faced with eight-metre waves, we stayed in port and disembarkation/embarkation plans had drastically to be altered - well done! www.silversea.com
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