The luxury travel & lifestyle magazine Issue 1 | 2018
Sponsored by Simply Casino
REDISCOVER EUROPE From the colourful & vibrant city of Amsterdam to the old-world charms of Prague
STARK CONTRASTS Travel East to Asia a land as old as time juxtaposed against a new and modern world
BEYOND BLUE Discover what hidden treasures the Indian Ocean has to offer 1
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MANERO FLYBACK AUTOMATIC | 18K ROSE GOLD
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CONTENTS Travel Trends for the Year Ahead ................................8
SAFARI BREAKS .............................. 117
CITY BREAKS .......................................... 15
A Room with a View ................................................118
Amsterdam ...............................................................16 Introducing the New European Capitals of Culture...24 The Pride of Paris ......................................................28 Prague - A City of Spires............................................34
Travel News - Luxury Camps & Safaris ..................124 Where To Go as a Solo Traveller..............................129 Livingstone, Zambia................................................132
Bucket List - 3 Great Cities .......................................40
ASIA BREAKS ..................................... 139
Burk Al Arab .............................................................42
Bangkok’s Best Kept Secret .....................................140
Paris - The City of Lights...........................................48
Asia’s Enchanting Temples ......................................144
Barcelona at a Glance ................................................55
Komodo, Indonesia ..................................................152
ABoard the Orient Express ........................................56
Bulgari Resort Bali - Luxury Included.....................156
BEACH BREAKS .................................... 61 The Indian Ocean ......................................................62 To Be Beside, Above & Below the Sea........................70 Mauritius - The star of the Indian Ocean ..................76 Stay Beach Beautiful..................................................81 Travel News - New Hotel / Resort Openings .............83
CRUISE BREAKS ............................. 163 Silversea Couture Collection ....................................164 Travel News - Cruise News ......................................171 The World - Luxury Residences at Sea ...................172
Sandals Resorts - Adults Only ...................................90
FAMILY BREAKS .............................. 177
Colourful Cuba ........................................................106
Family Fun Hotels ...................................................178
Know Your Limit .....................................................111
Family Safari Adventure .........................................186
Turks & Caicos - A Timeless Destination.................112
Forte Village - The Best Family Resort ....................190 7
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TRAVEL TRENDS FOR THE YEAR AHEAD The rise in online travel companies such as TripAdvisor, Expedia and Orbitz has changed the face of travel, now all one requires is an internet connection and at the click of a button we can search the internet for that perfect holiday or city break, research it, book it and pay for it all in a matter of seconds and from the comfort of our living rooms. But has removing the travel agent really made our holiday experiences better?
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ome would say no, and this is why today vacation planning is changing and travel advisers are once again in high demand. Sick of reading about other people’s experiences and hang up’s travellers today want trusted and reliable resources to curate extraordinary vacations, plus in most cases travel advisers are privy to the hottest new properties, up-and-coming destinations around the globe and the latest travel trends. In short travel adviser is not a thing of the past, but rather a facilitator to unique and rewarding travel experiences. With this in mind, we highlight the hottest new travel trends to watch out for in 2018, according to some of the world’s leading luxury travel experts.
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Multigenerational Vacations Traveling around the world with parents, siblings, kids, grandkids, and assorted family members is a way of enriching a shared travel experience and reconnecting with one another. “Skip-gen� another industry term being buffeted around is also set to be a holiday trend for the coming years it involves grandparents, the baby boomers taking grandchildren on epic holidays often to mark milestones in life whilst leaving parents behind.
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Millennial cruises Years ago taking a cruise was what people of retirement age anyone under the age of 60 wouldn’t have been seen dead on a cruise ship, but today the millennial pound is strong and cruise companies are falling over themselves to attract this young group of people – after all from a financial point of view this makes complete sense hook um whilst their young and benefit from years of repeat business! U by Uniworld (www.ubyuniworld.com) has announced it will be launching the “first all-millennial cruise line”with amenities and services geared strictly toward 21- to 45-year-olds. Focused on experiential travel, Uniworld has modernised two l20- passenger ships aptly named A and B and described as boutique hotels on water, with craft coffees, rooftop lounges, yoga studios, nightclubs, and of course free wifi is set to cruise some of Europe’s most hip waterways with destination trips through Paris, Germany the Danube and Amsterdam.
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transforMational traVel An upgrade to the travel trend of “experiential travel” transformational travel is billed as pushing the boundaries of our comfort zones and fundamentally changing our perception of ourselves, our place in the world and those who inhibit it in a nutshell it is a travel experience that empowers people to make meaningful, lasting changes in their life but seeking out and understanding other cultures and transferring them into their present way of life. Leading this new trend is the newly formed Transformational Travel Collaborative or TTC, (www.transformational.travel) an organization that encourages both travellers billed as Hero’s and travel outfitters, Heralds, with tools to encourage personal and professional growth. From 2018 adventures to far flung destinations such as Patagonia or Machu Picchu or adventures discovering the worlds Dolomites will be unveiled. Other travel companies leading the way in this new travel trend are Natural Habitat Adventures (www.nathab.com), Pure Life Experiences (www.purelifeexperiences.com ) and Butterfield & Robinson (www.butterfield.com). sustainable tourisM Sustainability has been a buzzword across all industries for a few years now. When people think about sustainability in travel they often only think about the green footprint aspect, but actually it goes much deeper than that it is exploration supporting the protection of cultural and natural heritage, along with natural wonders of the world Endangered destinations are also seeing a surge. The polar regions of Antarctica and the Arctic are facing climate change threats as are Australia’s Great Barrier Reef - yet their fragile shift means more people want to visit before it is too late - highlighting the catch-22 of this particular tourism trend. 12 millionaire escapes
breakup breaks Celebrations such as honeymoons, weddings and anniversaries have traditionally been times that people have marked with travel. Now, more travel agencies and resorts are seeing people planning trips, especially wellness breaks, during times of grief, after a divorce, or when children leave home. “At least a third of our guests visit when they are going through a difficult situation,” says Alejandro Bataller Pineda, vice president of SHA Wellness Clinic in Alicante (shawellnessclinic.com). “It might be due to a breakup or a situation that creates stress or anxiety.” More, it seems, are tapping into the transformative power of travel to help them through difficult times.
extreMe trips Bored with lying on a beach soaking up the sun’s rays, todays travellers is seeking adventure and adrenaline fuelled experiences ones that preferably will also look good on the pages of Instagram! Think Scad diving into a cooling water tower in Soweto, South Africa, Bungee jumping into an active volcano in Chile or kayaking on the White Nile.
many unique and affordable trips with over 1200 itineraries to all seven continents. Geographic Expedition (www.geoex.com) offers a portfolio of adventurous overland tours, treks, walks, and expeditionary voyages to the world’s most astonishing places and Intrepid Travel (www.intrepidtravel.com) who focus on taking small groups of travellers off the beaten track to more than 90 destinations around the globe.
One of the fastest growing segments of the travel industry today, extreme tourism analyst forecast the global adventure tourism market to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 45.99% until 2020. There are several travel companies leading the way in this industry G Adventures one of the top adventure travel companies for more than 25 years (www.gadventures.com) offers 13
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CITY BREAKS Be it a vibrant, lively metropolis, or an awe-inspiring city full of cultural heritage, Millionaire Escapes city breaks are a great way to explore new exciting destinations.
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AMSTERDAM Colourful, quirky and charming. Amsterdam has it all!
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msterdam is one of the world’s most appealing and offbeat metropolises in the world. Built on a latticework of canals that cover over 60 miles Amsterdam is lovingly known as the City of Canals.
With building dating back as far as18th century or earlier, Amsterdam is one of Europe’s best preserved cities— the centre has barely changed since Rembrandt’s time. Yet it’s no mere museum piece, alongside the historic monuments and Old Masters, the city is a modern capital with all the trappings a traveller could want and while many young people visit Amsterdam for the marijuana scene - and perhaps to peek at the legal prostitutes in the Red Light District, the city has so much more to offer including a wide range of hotels, innovative restaurants, and stylish shopping. There’s no bad time to visit the Dutch capital, but in general, May through October is the main travel season, when temperatures are warmest. Crowds peak in July and August. The other top time for a trip to Amsterdam is tulip season: The city bursts into bloom as early as March, and the plumage can extend into May. Admiring Art & AttrActions You can’t walk a kilometre without bumping into a masterpiece in the city. The Van Gogh Museum hangs the world’s largest collection by tortured native son Vincent. A few blocks away, Vermeers, Rembrandts and other Golden Age treasures fill the glorious Rijksmuseum. The Museum het Rembrandthuis offers more of Rembrandt via his etching-packed studio, while the Stedelijk Museum counts Matisses and Mondrians among its modern stock. And for blockbuster displays, the Hermitage Amsterdam delivers: the outpost of Russia’s State Hermitage Museum sifts through its three-million-piece home trove to mount mega exhibitions. 16 millionaire escapes
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Some tourists think Amsterdam is a city of sin, but in truth it is a city of freedom
John Green
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Any visit to Amsterdam would not be incomplete without booking a tour at the Anne Frank House. The story of this tragic Jewish teen diary-keeper who hid with her family in a secret annexe for years, only to be murdered in the hellish camps, became a symbol of the Holocaust, and the tour is a powerful experience. getting Around Two-wheeling is a way of life here. It’s how Amsterdammers commute to work, go to the shop, and meet a date for dinner. Abundant bike-rental shops make it easy to gear up and take a spin. If locals aren’t on a bike, they may well be on the water. With its canals and massive harbour, this city reclaimed from the sea offers countless opportunities to drift. Hop aboard a canal boat (preferably an open-air one) or one of the free ferries behind Centraal Station, or rent your own for a wind-in-your-hair ride. red Light district Beyond its salacious reputation and red-lit brothels, Amsterdam’s Red Light District (De Wallen) has some of the
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city’s prettiest canals, excellent bars, welcoming restaurants, and plenty of shopping. Its winding cobblestone streets and narrow alleys tell fascinating stories of the city’s character, both richly historic and somewhat seedy.
the old spirit of the city. The Red Light District Amsterdam has beautiful 17th-century architecture, narrows canals and old bridges that give it an enchanting character.
While this controversial neighbourhood - one of amsterdam’s oldest - might not be for everyone, the Red Light district does give an insight into the world’s oldest profession. The Red Light district was originally the place that sailors would visit in between their long journeys across the oceans. Back then it was a disreputable and crime-ridden neighbourhood, but nowadays it is a safe and iconic landmark that captures
Of course famous for its window displays where the working girls try to appeal to passersby. The Red Light district is also home to red Light Secrets, one of the only museums of prostitution in the world, here travellers can learn more about the history of the oldest profession in the world, have a chance to sit behind one of the windows to take pictures and experience a day in the life of a working girl.
In addition to sexual side the Red Light District is also famous for its coffeeshops, which are Dutch cannabis shops were weed, hash and marijuana are sold and consumed. While smoking pot is illegal in the Netherlands, it is widely tolerated, and you may purchase or possess up to five grams. You may be surprised that this carnivalesque neighbourhood is also where families, young couples, and senior citizens reside and socialize. cLogs, tuLips & WindmiLLs When people think of Amsterdam Cheese, clogs, windmills, and, of course, tulips are among the recognisable icons. Every March the fields just outside Amsterdam turn from sandy patches into carpets of lime green sprouts as the first signs of spring emerge. By the time the season is in full swing, the area is swathed in red, pink, purple, orange and yellow blooms, a wonderus sight and smell. The famous Keukenhof Gardens arguably one of the world’s most spectacular planned gardens, in Lisse, South Holland, showcases seven million blooming bulbs on its grounds and countless other floral displays in many indoor pavilions. Open for only two months a year, the gardens are a huge tourist draw for Amsterdam and the Netherlands. For those looking to discover a bit of nostalgia the Clara Maria’s cheese farm and clog factory, and Museum De Cruquius located in the Dutch countryside of Beemster is an historic 160-year-old barn has been charmingly transformed into this wooden-shoe factory and the cheese-making room. Just outside the city, there’s the Zaanse Schansmuseum, detailing the history and symbolism of the clog, and other traditional crafts, and you can find flavourful cheeses at the smart Reypenaer tasting room.
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FACT FILE AmsterdAm is Best for... COuPLES: Cycle along the canal and enjoy a cosy evening in a traditional brown café. HISTORY LOVERS: Learn more about Amsterdam’s rich past at the Rijksmuseum. BARGAIN HuNTERS: Pick up trinkets and vintage clothing at one of Amsterdam’s canal-side markets. eVents: HIGH FASHION: Young and upcoming designers showcase their work every January at Amsterdam International Fashion Week. You can expect fashion-themed museum exhibits, art exhibitions and lots of parties. CELEBRATION TIME: the Netherlands gets into party mode on Konigsdag, the day after King Willem Alexander’s birthday in April. It’s particularly popular in Amsterdam, when an estimated 750,000 people travel to the city for a big open-air celebration.
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MuSICAL SPECTACuLAR: August’s Grachtenfestival features 10 days of jazz, blues and classical music. Enjoy a grand performance at a concert hall, or alternatively, a cosy blues jam in a local resident’s garden. VAN GOGH IN BLOOM: See a spectacular annual display of millions of tulips and other pretty flowers at Keukenhof, the largest flower garden in the world. Open from March to May, the colourful 32-hectare gardens will share the inspiration of Vincent Van Gogh’s life and works, 125 years after his death. WeAther And cLimAte: Temperature: 5-21 °C With the weather hovering in the mid-teens (°C) between March and May, spring is a great time to explore Amsterdam’s cosy cafés. Summer is always a popular time to visit the city, thanks to warm highs of 21, and up to 11 hours of sunshine a day. Book your holiday for autumn or winter to take advantage of fewer crowds, or to enjoy the city’s legendary Christmas markets.
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AMSTERDAM HOTEL DEALS With sun-dappled canals and a lively bar and club scene, it’s one of the most popular destinations in Europe. Amsterdam caters to all and offers a wide-ranging selection of luxury & boutique hotels Here ME presents a selection and to discover more visit: www.millionaireescapes.com Kimpton de Witt wwwww Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam 5-star hotel. They provide excellent service, a great value, and have awesome reviews from Booking.com guests. They might pay Booking.com a little more to be in this program. Kimpton De Witt Amsterdam is located 219 yards from Beurs van Berlage and 547 yards from Dam Square.
BooKing informAtion puLLitZer AmsterdAm wwwww Pulitzer Amsterdam is located in Amsterdam, 300 m from Anne Frank House and 0.6 km from Dam Square. Guests can enjoy the on-site restaurant. Every room is fitted with a flat-screen TV. All rooms include a private bathroom. For your comfort, you will find bathrobes, slippers and free toiletries.
BooKing informAtion conserVAtorium hoteL wwwww Located in the Museum Square district, the true heart of the city, the Conservatorium is an architectural masterpiece that combines a landmark heritage building with graceful, contemporary design. Guests enjoy a selection of restaurants, a bar, lounge and the 1,000 sq m Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Centre
BooKing informAtion AndAZ AmsterdAm prinsengrAcht wwwww In the heart of the canal belt, the lifestyle hotel Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht has elegant designer rooms with free Wi-Fi. The Jordaan area and Negen Straatjes area are a 15-minute walk from the property. All rooms at Andaz Amsterdam Prinsengracht are individually decorated and designed by Marcel Wanders.
BooKing informAtion sofiteL Legend the grAnd AmsterdAm wwwww This 5-star hotel in the heart of Amsterdam offers luxurious rooms and facilities just 5 minutes from Dam Square. It features a top-level restaurant, and a spa with an indoor pool area. The Sofitel Legend The Grand Amsterdam has well-kept rooms and suites with modern bathrooms and a rain shower.
BooKing informAtion the dyLAn AmsterdAm wwwww The Dylan Amsterdam is located in Amsterdam, just 600 m from Anne Frank House. The hotel has a terrace and views of the garden, and guests can enjoy a meal at the restaurant. A flat-screen TVwith cable channels, as well as an iPod docking station are provided. Some accommodations feature a sitting area.
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THE PRIDE OF PARIS
The ideal romantic getaway
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It established a reputation for understated opulence and exemplary service, and today these are still the qualities that enable the George V to consistently head any list of world class destination hotels, and continue to be the home-away from-home for many of the world’s most famous people.
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ocated just steps away from the champs-elysees, the George V hotel in Paris is steeped in history, since its inauguration in the 1920s, it has become a true icon of the city of Light. designed by Richard Martinet the George V hotel was named in tribute to the reigning king of england and can only be described as the epitome of luxury.
after four decades of service in october 1997, the George V hotel closed its doors as part of an exhaustive renovation and rebranding project under the watchful eyes of its new owners Prince alwaleed Bin talal Bin abdulaziz al Saud of Saudi arabia, who reportedly spent $167 million to acquire the property from the London-based Granada Group, and $125 million more on rebuilding and design. the project was steered by the construction giant Bouygues, the same firm that 30 millionaire escapes
refurbished the Louvre and more than 1,100 artisans and workmen were involved in the renovation, in december of 1999 the rebranded Four Seasons Hotel George V Paris was opened. this incredible eight-story landmark building sparkles with period architectural details, lavish interior and exterior spaces and offers some of the city’s finest dining. the art deco gates and medallions over the glass entrance doors of the George V have been replaced and now look as they did in 1928, when the historic hotel opened. the long, narrow gallery once again has a 500-square-foot Savonnerie carpet, three Murano crystal chandeliers and a 17th-century Flemish tapestry. Its tall windows look out onto the interior courtyard, with its restored iron-grille balconies and replicated royal-blue awnings. even the 16 planted magnolia trees were nurtured through the twoyear renovation period. the renovation
not only restored the original art deco design and facade, but it provided state-of-the-art infrastructure and contemporary amenities. Guests will find the spirit of the old George V in the well-dressed guests who meet for afternoon tea and drinks in La Galerie, toting Ferragamo and Fendi shopping bags from the neighbourhood fashion houses. they can also see the new Four Seasons appeal in energetic young couples in casual dress working out in the health club, business travellers plugging in their laptops and families with well-behaved youngsters. Part of the reason for the hotel’s tremendous appeal is its location. Situated within the triangle d’or Paris’ Golden triangle the Four seasons George V hotel is a stone’s throw from the most exclusive areas of Paris, like the avenue Montaigne and the Rue Saint-Honoré and some of the city’s most famous architectural treasures.
Accommodation the hotel’s original 300 rooms were reduced to 245 rooms and suites, during the refurbishment with the 184 rooms divided into three classes: Superior, deluxe and Premier. the 61 suites and apartments; 30 with private terraces, are in nine categories: executive Suite, one- Bedroom Superior and deluxe Suites, duplex apartment, two-Bedroom Superior and deluxe Suites, Specialty Suites, and Presidential and Royal Suites. Rooms are a generous 450 to 600 square feet, and suites range from 750 to 1,660 square feet. each room or suite is coordinated around one of three colour schemes; buttercup yellow, celadon green or lavender blue, which is echoed in the walls, carpets, damask bedspread, fabrics, and even in
the classically French-style Louis XVI or empire painted wooden cabinets and consoles that hold the tV, VcR, cd and video game station. Rooms also feature a desk with three telephone lines, including a data port for modems, a separate fax line and voice mail. every room has a computer keyboard that, with the television monitor, provides high-speed Internet access. Spacious bathrooms are fashioned in Four Seasons’ signature beige marble, with sink top and design details that echo each room’s dominant colour. Large separate showers, deep bathtubs, separate toilet stalls, thick terry robes and oversize towels, hair dryers and Bulgari toiletries all serve to provide the bathroom luxury to which veteran Four Seasons guests are accustomed.
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Dining
the Four Seasons’ world-renowned restaurant Le cinq is among the city’s most elegant dining rooms and has been awarded a coveted two Michelin stars. Boasting beautiful views of the hotel’s courtyard, with its crystal chandelier, marble columns and palm trees, it is an elegant setting for breakfast, lunch and dinner. the executive chef, Philippe Legendre, came from the Michelin three-star rated taillevent. the La Galerie Lounge is the heart and soul of the Hotel, La Galerie showcases beautiful Flemish tapestries, 19th-century paintings and furniture, as well as many exquisite objets d’art. the atmosphere is of elegance and genuine peace, highlighted by the pianist. this is the best spot for people-watching, intimate conversation and light fair. 32 millionaire escapes
BOOKING INFORMATION
The Spa For the ultimate in pampering and luxury, an elaborate health club includes a 30 x 17-foot blue mosaictile swimming pool, whirlpool, saunas and steam rooms, with fitness instructors and the latest training equipment. The full-service spa offers various massage therapies, facials, body treatments and double massage rooms for honeymooners, and was voted ‘Best Hotel Spa in europe’ in 2010 by travel and Leisure for the fourth consecutive year.
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BURJ AL ARAB The distinctive sail-shaped silhouette of Burj Al Arab is more than just a stunning landmark: it’s a symbol of modern Dubai.
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his magnificent seven-star hotel took five years to construct, with it striking gigantic white sail standing proud off the shore of Dubai it reflect the vision of the young team of designers who refused to compromise on any part of the hotel’s design to ensure that the project pushed the boundaries of design. The Burj Al-Arab was envisaged by Dubai’s crown prince, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, as a means of diversifying the country’s economy away from oil into tourism. The Sheikh dreamt of a luxury hotel that would put Dubai on the world map, and surprised many by choosing a relatively inexperienced British firm to supply the design. The Sheikh employed the architect Tom Wright of Atkins and Canadian engineer Rick Gregory also of WS Atkins who were tasked to create an iconic or symbolic statement for Dubai; similar to that of Sydney with its Opera House, London with Big Ben, or Paris with the Eiffel 42 millionaire escapes
Tower. The building needed to be a building that would become synonymous with the name of the Dubai. Construction of the 321m (1,053 ft) building began in 1994 the design team wanted the structure to rise into the sky on an island, giving it the illusion of being at sea. Their refusal to compromise on this element of the design led to the construction of a low-rise, artificial island from concrete cubes on an island of reclaimed land known locally as Chicago Beach this was connected to the mainland by a private curving bridge. The shape of the structure is designed to mimic the sail of a ship. The building’s layout is organized around two blocks forming a V shape enclosing a main courtyard. Two steel arches, separated from the main structure, give the Burj Al Arab its characteristic form. The facade is covered with two layers of canvas, separated 60 cm from each other, in order to isolate the excessive heat and sunlight.
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With the construction coming together and the hotel scheduled to open before the Millennium Tom Wright’s extraordinary designs was to go one step further– crowning the hotel is an enormous “floating” restaurant The Al Muntaha (“The Highest”)which is suspended 200 meters above the sea, projecting itself 30 meters on each side of the central column. The idea of the design is to give diners the feeling that they are dining in the air, with an uninterrupted view of the surroundings. While the exterior design is remarkable for its sculptural form and its elegant and iconic form, its interior design is opulent, palatial, eclectic and baroque. Its interior design was carried out by Chinese designer Khuan Chew, famous decorator of great hotels in the world. The concept was based on the four elements of the ancient world: water, fire, wind and earth. Water is present in aquariums and fountains at various points in the hotel. Earth is represented by 24,000 m2 of marble and precious stones used. The air is represented in the steam that rises from the fountains, and the fire in another fountain at the entrance of the hotel where water is about ignited. The golden colour throughout is not gold painting. “Here, all that glitters is gold”. Throughout the hotel 2,000 m2 of gold foil was used. 44 millionaire escapes
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FACT FILE • This is the tallest operating hotel building in the world (not counting mixed-use buildings like Jin Mao Tower in Shanghai or the unfinished Ryugyong Hotel in Pyongyang, North Korea). • All of the hotel’s 202 rooms are two-storey suites, ranging in size from 170 square metres (1,830 square feet) to 780 square metres (8,396 square feet). • The atrium is 180 metres high, one of the tallest in the world. • The Al Muntaha restaurant is located 200 metres above the Persian Gulf, offering great views of Dubai. It is accessed by a panoramic elevator. • The hotel features a total of eight restaurants and bars. • The building’s design is influenced by the profile of an Arabian sailing ship. • The building’s external lighting schemes, from white light to a multicolored one, change from one to another every 30 minutes expressing the evening’s progress.
Yet for all the wonder this stunning architecture it’s the service within that really makes the Burj Al Arab so extraordinary. Repeatedly voted the world’s most luxurious hotel, this magnificent destination offers you the finest service and facilities throughout – right down to an optional chauffeur-driven Rolls Royce. Burj Al Arab suite-only accommodation offers discreet check-in within your rooms, a private reception on every floor and a host of personal butlers, each a warm messenger of our unparalleled hospitality. The nine signature restaurants and bars, dining is about far more than food and specialise in bringing together every element to ensure your experience is exceptional from authentic Arabic cuisine to Far East Asian and Modern European dishes, we’ve sourced ingredients from around the globe to create a dining experience fit for the world’s most luxurious hotel.
• Burj Al Arab is the world’s tallest structure with a membrane facade. • A 24 meter (79 feet) wide helipad projects from the building 210 meters above the ground. • “Burj” is Arabic for “Tower”. • The “Assawan Spa” is situated on the 18th flooor.
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BOOKING INFORMATION
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All aboard the world’s greatest journey
THE ORIENT EXPRESS There’s an old Chinese proverb that says ‘the journey is the reward’ which is not always easy to appreciate in these poor speedy boarding, no frills airline days, but if you let the train take the strain you’ll rediscover the art of luxury travel.
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ynonymous with luxury rail travel is of course the orient Express - the very name carries an aura of glamour and mystery. Van Helsing rode it to his battle with Dracula, James Bond romanced a beautiful Russian aboard it and Agatha Christie set one of the bestknown murders in literary history aboard it. Founded by Georges nagelmackers in 1876, the original orient Express was a byword for luxurious, romantic and mysterious long-distance international train travel qualities it still retains today. The service ran between Paris and Istanbul providing luxury sleeping and dining car services something unheard of at that time, soap was placed by the washbasins and exquisite wines and cuisine were available, it was these luxuries that attracted it as a favoured method of travel for kings, celebrities and criminals alike. The onset of World War I in 1914 saw the orient Express services temporarily suspended until the end of hostilities in 1918, when in 1919 the opening of the simplon Tunnel allowed the introduction of a more southerly route via milan, Venice and Trieste. With more twists and turns that an Agatha Christie novel, the orient-Express service continued to run, but on the 12th December 2009, Euronight train number 469 ‘orient Express’ left Strasbourg for its final overnight run to Vienna, and on 13th December the celebrated name ‘orient Express’ disappeared forever from the official European timetables after 126 years of service.
But how can that be you wonder there is still an orient Express train service? Well today the orient Express is in fact the privately run ‘Venice simplon orient Express’ (VsoE), who also operate the equally luxurious Eastern & oriental Express from singapore to Bangkok, the Royal scotsman cruise train and the PeruRail trains to machu Picchu. For a train steeped in history, classic routes on the Venice simplon-orient-Express take in such fabled European cities as London, Paris, Venice, Berlin, Prague and Vienna roughly once a week between march & november, but it also runs occasional trips to Rome, Krakow, Budapest and even Istanbul (once a year, in August).
The classic journey from London to Venice ( or vice versa) takes 24 hours and costs around £1,920 per person based on two sharing a double cabin and includes all table d’hote meals one way. A classic one night journey from London to Venice, in a Grand suite is priced at £5,500 per person. The sleeping cars have 1 and 2 bedroom compartments that convert into a private sitting room for daytime use. The carriages are adorned with authentic period features like Lailique Crystals and Chinese art and there is also a bar, complete with a grand piano to add that touch of nostalgia The Venice simplon orient Express is actually two trains, a historic chocolate-and-cream British Pullman train which departs from London to Folkestone and a Continental royalblue train with brass insignia of classic 1920s sleeping cars, from Calais to Paris & Venice. Although it is a ‘resumption’ of the orient Express more in spirit than in terms of historical accuracy (for example, there were no bar cars with pianos in the 1930s!), the VsoE has superblyrestored pre-war carriages, top-class food and service, and it has now become an institution in its own right epitomising the opulence and elegance of the Golden Age of travel. 57
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“Trains are wonderful… to travel by train is to see nature and human beings, towns… and rivers, in fact, to see life’ – AGATHA CHRIsTIE 2018 VENICE SIMPLON ORIENT EXPRESS SPECIAL OFFER 5 night / 6 day Venice simplon orient Express holiday includes First Class rail from London to Venice with an overnight stay with bed and breakfast in a deluxe lake view room at the Grand Hotel suisse majestic (4 star superior) in montreux and 3 nights’ bed and breakfast in a twin/double room at the Hotel Ai mori d’oriente (4 star) in Venice and a journey on the legendary Venice simplon orient Express from Venice to London. Costs from £2,650 per person based on 2 people travelling together. Availability: (2018) 31st march, 10th April, 14th April & 21st April Booking Information: orient-Express uK reservations www.vsoe.com | www.belmond.com
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Discover some of the world’s most exciting cities on one of these breath-taking train journey
IconIc TraIn Journeys The Blue Train, SouTh africa
The DanuBe expreSS
caTheDralS expreSS
The TranS-SiBerian expreSS
linking africa’s vast south to north from the cape to cairo, travel in unparalleled luxury past awe-inspiring mountain ranges, desert landscapes and untamed savannah grasslands teeming with wildlife.
Discover the treasures of eastern europe aboard an intimate oldfashioned luxurious private hotel train. The list of destinations in the three itineraries is a Baedeker in itself, redolent of european history – including prague, Vienna, Berlin, Belgrade, Sarajevo & Trieste.
evoke memories of a bygone age of steam travel. Take in some of england’s greatest cities and cathedrals from canterbury, York, Salisbury, chester, Winchester and many others while savouring the sites of the great British countryside.
The ultimate for lovers of epic train journeys, this hotel on wheels weaves it way across russia through Mongolia and china, crossing eight time zones and capturing the sights of the great steppe, the Gobi Desert or the Great Wall of china. 59
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60 millionaire escapes
BEACH BREAKS From secluded shoreline resorts to coastal retreats here at Millionaire Escapes we offer a stunning selection of some the most stylish and finest luxury beach resorts to be found.
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68 millionaire escapes
Life is not about what you see, it’s about what you feel...
For reservations, contact: + 91 124 4511000 Reservations@soneva.com Maldives | Thailand soneva.com
Inspiring a lifetime of rare experiences 69
millionaire escapes - Beach Breaks
To be beside, above & below The sea...
70 millionaire escapes
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millionaire escapes - Beach Breaks
Barefoot luxury meets unpretentious style at the six-star Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Awarded ‘The Best Water Villas in the World’, ‘The Best Suites in the World’ and ‘Best Spa Resort in the Maldives’, this spectacular resort is an oasis of luxury, where you enjoy not merely 1, but 2 palm-fringed tropical islands.
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pread over two stunning islands Rangalifinolhu and Rangali, which is inked by a 500m footbridge, the sensational five-star resort of the Conrad Maldives Rangali Island is surrounded by crystal clear waters and lays beautifully positioned in the South Ari Atoll an area filled with stunning coral reefs. The resort boasts several different villa types all lavish and offering beautiful views of the Maldivian lagoon and Indian Ocean.
The villas Beach Villa - offers an impressive 150sqm of accommodation space and is located on the ocean front, offering superb views of the Indian Ocean lagoons. All Beach Villas feature a private terrace and a refreshing outdoor garden-bathroom. Water Villa - offers 74sqm of accommodation space and is built on stilts over the beautiful Maldivian lagoon, ensuring intimate views across the Indian Ocean.
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Deluxe Beach Villa - offers 300sqm of airy accommodation space that is enhanced by the floor-to-ceiling windows on all four sides. The Deluxe Beach Villa features a private garden, an open-air bathroom and a plunge pool in a location that is just steps away from the ivory sand beach. Junior Beach Suite - offers a spacious living room, plus a private plunge pool and a private garden area.
you with its sumptuous interior and fine features, including a bathtub with views across the Indian Ocean. premier Water Suite - is a lavishly appointed haven for larger groups with its two bedrooms, set in a location about the sparkling Indian Ocean. premier Water Villa - offers 119sqm of accommodation space, with floor-toceiling windows designed to enhance the
airy atmosphere. The Premier Water Villa includes a separate living room, a dining area and a work area, plus a Jacuzzi and a dedicated Villa host. SunSet Water Villa - offers 360sqm of accommodation space and includes a private sundeck, infinity pool, Jacuzzi and butler service to enhance the luxurious atmosphere. All Sunset Water Villas are positioned to enjoy a breath-taking sunset each evening.
Beach Suite - combines two Beach Villas, with their tropical gardens and outdoor bathrooms, for an extended living space Superior Water Villa - offers 74sqm of accommodation space and is positioned on stilts over the Maldivian lagoon. Upgraded amenities include a DVD/CD Player and coffee and tea making facilities. Deluxe Water Villa - offers 115sqm of accommodation space and impressive amenities, including airconditioning, a full-size fridge and highspeed internet access retreat Water Villa - offers 150sqm of accommodation space and has been designed to relax and refresh
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