Kiwi Curated
Wild Ways of Getting to Your Hotel
by Kim BudziakBe it yacht, zipline or helicopter, these wild ways of getting to your next hotel underscore a sense of adventure in that old adage, “It’s the journey, not the destination.”
Wild Ways of Getting to Your Hotel
After a luxury car transfer whisks you from your port of arrival to the edge of the Venetian Lagoon—as though out of a scene in Casino Royale—you’ll coast by private water taxi to the canal entrance of the city’s own Hotel Metropole. Here, overlooking Bacino di San Marco, you can enjoy the City of Romance, the opulent décor and rich textiles of the hotel, and the Italian Michelin Star dining of The Met Restaurant before departing in equally elegant fashion.
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Whether docking or departing, yachts and other vessels ranging in size from 60 to 300 feet are welcome to pull up to the Kimpton EPIC Hotel in downtown Miami. Leave it to the hotel’s capable concierge to handle the arrangements, so you can kick back and enjoy the spa, look out over Biscayne Bay and indulge in the signature nightlife of the Magic City.
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When your hotel has a landing pad at 960 feet about sea level, you can practically glide to your suite. Entrust your luggage to the team at Six Senses Zighy Bay as you paraglide over the Gulf of Oman and Musandam Peninsula, then climb towards the Al Hajar mountains. Once you’re settled in your villa, take a dip in the pool or a sunset cruise to figuratively come back down to earth.
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Roll up to your stay at the Taj Falaknuma Palace the way royalty has done for ages: in a horse-drawn carriage. The grand entrance starts with a luxury car that brings you from the airport to the palace gates. Once you arrive at the beautifully-restored grand staircase, you’ll be showered in flower petals on your way to check-in. Once you’re settled in to your room, tour the grounds and gardens or enjoy traditional Indian fare at Adá.
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Beautiful but complicated reefs off the northeast coast of Taveuni make arriving at Laucala Island by private plane not just the wise choice, but the first step in setting the tone for your ultimate private getaway. Check into your Fijian villa, complete with gardens, outdoor pavilion, swimming pool and yoga deck before heading over to the equestrian centre for a sunset ride.
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While arriving by PeruRail is certainly an option, what better way to kick off your visit to the Urubamba Valley than by trekking Machu Picchu to the Belmond Sanctuary Lodge? Once you’ve checked into your mountain-view room, you can gaze up to the ancient Incan citadel at 2,400 meters above sea level and order room service smack dab in the middle of the Peruvian Andes. Double your awe as you enjoy an Incan massage with a world of wonder at your feet.
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The only entrance that could top pulling up to The Peninsula Hong Kong in one of the hotel’s 14 Rolls Royce Phantoms is arriving overhead via its helicopter shuttle service. The helipad not only offers to- and from-airport service but will drop off guests around Hong Kong as well. Check into a freshly renovated room in The Peninsula Tower where you can debate whether to do more of the city’s famous shopping or “flight-seeing.”
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Zoom over the rapid waters and lush natural landscape of a 400-acre wildlife corridor as you zipline into your luxury tented camp at Bensley Collection – Shinta Mani Wild. Located in a river valley between three of Cambodia’s oldest parks, you’ll have every opportunity to enjoy the wilderness at your doorstep, including a river-view bathtub at camp and an expedition boat that hops from waterfall to waterfall.
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Were it not for the rolling Utah mountains, you might swear you were in the middle of a scene from “The Grand Budapest Hotel.” The St. Regis Deer Valley has a similar charm thanks to its slope-side funicular tram connecting the upper and lower resort buildings. Guests can head to the reservation desk from the tram terminal or opt to ski-in for check-in. After a day on the slopes, find an après-ski seat with a view of Jordanelle Lake State Park (not hard, since it surrounds the resort) and follow up with a soak in the hot tub.
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Fly into Moremi Wildlife Reserve from Maun and land in Botswana’s stretching savannah landscape in an agile single-engine Cessna plane. Once you step out of the aircraft, you’ll be hit with some of Belmond Khwai River Lodge’s most spectacular scenes: wild animals passing through, thunderous rain, painterly sunsets and glimmering night skies. Chase the adventure of days spent on safari with a bottle of South African wine.
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Arriving by helicopter transfer to Helena Bay Lodge comes with an incredible sightseeing perk: if you want to do a next-day tour, your pilot will stay at the property overnight to fly you over the property’s two miles of coastline and more incredible New Zealand scenery, at your convenience. Back at ground-level, you’ll have nature on display, with native birds, dolphins and whales showing off in front of your villa.
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