Film is on the rocks

Actor  and producer Tilda Swinton is a great fan of Six Senses so it is no surprise that she and Apichatpong Weerasethakul, filmmaker and Winner of the 2010 Palme d'Or will curate the inaugural Film on the Rocks at  Six Senses Yao Noi Beyond Phuket this December. The films will be screened on the rocks of Phang Nga Bay, under the stars., so it is fitting that the theme is 'Evolve Back to Nature'. Guest and film personalities will mix with local villagers and sea gypsies of Yao Noi to exchange ideas and conversation. TLTB  love the idea of gypsies and movieland meeting and exchanging  ideas. ..  In addition, Film on the Rocks will be hosting residencies each year at Six Senses Yao Noi.  This year, emerging filmmakers will be chosen by Mr. Weerasethakul and their works will be premiered at Film on the Rocks.

Sounds like an event not to be missed, so don't.

Six Senses pioneered the idea of intelligent luxury and environmentally sustainable eco-tourism.  It also continues to support cultural exchanges of this kind at its properties worldwide. Film on the Rocks runs from December 16-20 2011  www.sixsenses.com   Six sense is recommended by The Luxury Travel Bible

The Datai Langkawi in new hands

The Luxury Travel Bible has long been a fan of The Datai Langkawi, ever since it first opened in fact. The villas and rooms, tiered down the hillside to the edge of a perfect white beach, are as stylish as ever; so it is good to see that the resort will be in safe hands with the announcement that Archipelago Hotels & Resorts is taking over management of the iconic property. The new luxury management company now has a portfolio that includes The Datai Langkawi, The Club at Saujana Resort (both members of Leading Hotels of the World) and The Carcosa Seri Negara. We look forward to more additions soon.

www.thedatai.com.my/,  www.shr.my/,  www.llhw.com

Gourmet Relais & Chateaux getaway

The Luxury Travel Bible are great fans of Relais & Châteaux, particularly the member properties in Australia and New Zealand, so we like the look of R&C's new Gourmet Getaway package. In Australia the world-renowned Tetsuya Wakuda and Jacques Reymond are classed as 'Grands Chef' of Relais & Châteaux, while New Zealand's fresh produce is served at R&C's NZ member lodges by chefs such as Dale Gartland at Matakauri Lodge, Jimmy McIntyre at Otahuna Lodge and James Stapley at Whare Kea Lodge (TLTB sampled his sublime food last week, much of which is sourced from his own small farm and we recommend it highly). All these delights can be sampled on the Gourmet Getaway package for AU$1200 a night per couple. Available until 31 August 2011, the package includes a luxury suite, degustation dinner and breakfast for two .www.relaischateaux.com

A hundred acre woods playroom.

Children will love the athenaeum's new pop-up playroom for the British school summer holidays. Created by Disney, the first time the company has worked with a UK hotel to create a 'Disney experience', the playroom is packed with toys, Lego Duplo, crafts and games all featuring Pooh and his friends. The room also houses giant Winnie the Pooh characters and a one hundred-acre wood style table and chairs. Every weekend the kids' concierge will host a honey-flavoured 'High-Tea' made using Regent's Park bees' honey (or should that be 'hunny' as Pooh would say) in the Playroom for children and their parents. The hotel's nannies can be booked to watch the children in the playroom if the parents wish to sneak off to enjoy the spa, afternoon tea or the attractions of London for a couple of hours. In conjunction with the themed playroom the hotel has launched honey-themed family picnic hampers which can be enjoyed in one of the nearby Royal parks. The hampers include delicious honey roasted ham sandwiches, and  honey cheesecake and comes with a Winnie The Pooh teddy bear and sticker book. SB Luxury Links:www.athenaeumhotel.com www.disney.co.uk

A new sleek new hotel

The new Hotel Lone, the first Design Hotels member in Croatia, opened yesterday in the Mediterranean town of Rovinj, in the exclusive Monte Mulini neighbourhood. The 248-room hotel has been built to resemble a white ocean liner floating along the hillside. As you would expect with a Design Hotels member, Hotel Lone is design-focused with minimalist curves, designed by Croatian architect Silvije Novak of 3LHD. The hotel's 'Y-Shaped' design has been created to give each of the room either sea or park views. The interior design shows respect for the environment with the integration of the location into the hotel through the use of large glass walls and mirrors.

Each of Hotel Lone's seven restaurants and bars have a different concept and cuisine and the Wellness Center's eight treatment rooms offers a variety of treatments including facial and body treatments, massages, invigorating baths and sauna with scented steam, Finnish, Turkish, salt and infrared sauna options.

Luxury Link: www.designhotels.com/lone

 

four-legged friendly luxury

Travellers who love luxury and who also love their four legged friends will love 'Chien Bleu', which is devoted to fine accommodation that also satisfies guests of the canine variety.

This new holiday company has tested its entire portfolio with their pups in tow and only accommodation meeting their dog-friendly criteria receives the 'Paw of Approval'.

'Chien Bleu' was created by Erin Boyd and is named after her yellow labrador, Blue. Erin noticed that many people love to travel with their dogs and the only available resource to find dog-friendly hotels came from other dogs who had already said there. Erin saw that there was a gap in the market so embarked on 18 months of research, testing and travelling to create the company.

During 2011 'Chien Bleu' is focusing on hotels in the UK, with 30 hotels already being picked out as their favourites. There are plans for a worldwide brochure in the future. 'Chien Bleu' launches August 2nd.

 

Luxury Link: www.chienbleutravel.com/

Champagne on Ice

The Luxury Travel Bible always like anything that combines champagne and skiing so we are looking forward to 'Clicquot in the Snow for 2011'. This celebration of Veuve Clicquot champagne and après ski will take over Thredbo Village, NSW, Australia from August 1-7 2011. The entire village will turn 'Clicquot yellow', with bars and clubs decked out in exclusive Clicquot décor and hosting Veuve Clicquot inspired events for guests to enjoy. Events include Clicquot On Piste Brunch Sessions, a Celebrity Tube-A-Thon, Degustation Dinners, a pop-up Clicquot Ice Bar and a  Clicquot Snow Picnic. The week concludes with the Clicquot Classic Ski Race for skiers and snowboarders. 'Clicquot in the Snow' began in Aspen in 2007 and continues to grow each year. 'Clicquot in the Snow Thredbo' will be held August 1 - 7 2011.  To purchase tickets to any of the Clicquot in the Snow 2011 experiences visit www.thredbo.com.au

A hotel group's use of social media

How many of us can claim they have a hotel room named after them? Hugh Hefner can. Barbie can. John Lennon can. Vera Wang can. But now, thanks to NH Hotels, this is no longer only reserved for celebrities.NH Hotels are running a competition, via Facebook, for fans to name their own room in one of their favourite 400 plus hotels in 24 countries worldwide. Not only will their name appear on the door of the room you will also be entered into a competition to win a trip to visit your room in person.Name your room via NH Hotels' Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/NHHoteles  Good Luck!

The Luxury Travel Bible loves this entertaining embrace of social media by a hotel group. SB

Luxury Link: www.nh-hotels.com

A grand Italian suite

And the newly unveiled the Ludovisi Suite in the Regina Hotel Baglioni is certainly that. Black Marquina marble alternating with white Carrara marble decorates the Art Dèco floors, pure silk tapestries featuring creamy cappuccino colours decorate the walls. Louis XVI antique furniture is scattered artfully about the vast living area, three bedrooms and four bathrooms. The word 'sumptuous' springs to mind. Surrounded by a terrace overlooking the Via Veneto, the Ludovisi Suite has unparalleled views over the rooftops and monuments of the Eternal City. Aromatic plants such as lavender, myrtle, rosemary and lemon have been selected to recreate a typical Mediterranean garden atmosphere.
If that isn't enough for you, guests of Ludovisi Suite may also have exclusive use of Regina Hotel Baglioni's private roof top terraces. Oh and did we mention the private elevator to the 7th floor? In fact if you want complete privacy you can reserve the whole of the 7th ' In this way the floor can have increased security ,' says the hotel, 'which makes it the ideal solution for diplomatic stays'. Or indeed visiting film stars and their entourages. HD
Luxury Link: www.baglionihotels.com

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A golden key for The Observatory Hotel

We don't need an accolade to tell us that Michael D Anderson is one of the world's best concierges, we already know. The Luxury Travel Bible reckons Michael could find a needle in a haystack when there isn't a farm in sight AND have it gold plated for us. However we're pleased to see that we aren't the only ones who think so. Anderson, Chief Concierge at The Observatory Hotel Sydney has just been awarded the prestigious role of President of Les Clefs d'Or. a  role conferred by election.  Ralf Bruegger, General Manager of The Observatory says, "We are incredibly proud that Michael is thought of so highly by his colleagues which is a great honour for Michael and also bestows this great honour on our hotel... Michael delivers what computers cannot. He can find you a doctor in the middle of the night, fill your bathtub with vintage Dom Perignon or obtain a sought after seat at the latest restaurant to open." The Observatory is part of the Orient-Express group.

Anderson is just one of 36 members admitted to the esteemed Les Clefs d'Or in Australia. Congratulations.

www.observatoryhotel.com.au

Five star hotel for Sydney

A day spa with 16 private rooms and a hamman will be the luxurious centre piece of the first new five star hotel built in Sydney since the city hosted the Olympics. On the edge of Darling Harbour in Piedmont, next to the existing Star City complex, The Darling will be part of the new Star development. The new hotel will include 171 rooms and suites and The Luxury Travel Bible will be heading for the top floors where the two-bedroom penthouse suites will be found. The suites, created by LA designer Lawrence Lee, will feature floor-to-ceiling Sydney harbour views, bespoke furniture, fireplaces, media rooms, butler service and a private VIP arrival. The hotel opens in October but bookings open next month (August). Watch this space.

www.futurestar.com.au

Cruise Europe in style

Italian cruise line MSC Cruises is looking forward to officially welcoming its 12th (and grandest) ship, MSC Divina to its fleet on May 26, 2012 in Marseille, France. The ship's godmother, legendary screen actress Sophia Loren is expected to do the honours with a traditional champagne christening. After Divina's maiden voyage in June from Venice to Greece, Turkey and Croatia, she will continue to offer year-round cruising of the Mediterranean and Europe. Following in the footsteps of sister ships MSC Fantasia and MSC Splendida, pride of the place on the new ship will be the Yacht Club which will provide exclusive VIP/rock star status on the ship's foredeck.   MSC Divina will offer the largest number of rooms in this elite category. The beauty of being a Yacht Club guest is that you can enjoy the more private upscale experience familiar with luxury small ship cruising as well as enjoying the wider range of amenities of a larger ship. It's a ship within a ship, so to speak.

All the finely furnished designer suites feature marble bathrooms, premium cotton linens, widescreen TVs, Nintendo Wii console, mini bar and more. Yacht Club facilities also include private lounge, pool and sun deck, priority check-in/check-out, exclusive spa services, complimentary wines, and spirits and specialty coffees, a fine dining restaurant and 24-hour butler service. We say cheers to that! www.mscyachtclub.com/ ; www.msccruisees.com.au/

Play and Stay

It's perfect for those times when you're stuck in the airport lounge, delayed again...there are a lot of booking apps around but our friends at Mr and Mrs Smith have gone one better with their new Plan and Play app. The free app allows you to 'plan'  a trip by booking accommodation but we like the irreverent 'play' section with gadgets and games to while away the hours in transit  or if  your trip is plagued by wet weather.  What else would you do during a romantic weekend away right? At this juncture we should point out the nature of the games. Our favourites are Truth or Dare (just set the slider to suit how risqué you want the questions to be) and How to (...mix a mini-bar cocktail, play strip poker, plan a romantic picnic). Naughty, but nice.

http://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/mr-mrs-smith-plan-and-play/id445834586?mt=8

SWISS airline apps-up

Airlines continue to take off when it comes to technology. Now SWISS has introduced new apps embracing the Android and Nokia smartphone. Adding these to apps already offered for the BlackBerry, iPhone and Windows Phone 7 makes SWISS is one of the most 'apped-up' airlines in the sky. SWISS now offers apps for most smart mobile phones. Customers can obtain flight info, book tickets and call up a mobile boarding pass. With the iPhone and the Android the boarding pass can be received by the app directly as soon as the customer has checked in, and can be called up again by simply shaking the phone. Just shake and go. Free app downloads are available at www.swiss.com/mobile

It is all about the bed

Apparently Oprah Winfrey once asked Julia Roberts what her favourite thing to sleep in was. Julia replied, "A Four Seasons bed." Oprah enthusiastically agreed exclaiming, "The Four Seasons bed is the only bed better than my own". Now Four Seasons Sydney is capitalising on the quote and offering a 'Celebrity Bed' package, available from $AUD3,500. The package includes overnight accommodation in a premier room, a bottle of Champagne on arrival, breakfast for two in Kable's, complimentary internet and ... here's where the price tag comes from ... home delivery of your very own  king size Four Seasons bed. The mattress is manufactured by Sealy exclusively for Four Seasons Hotel Sydney, and the beds have endless comfort layers and that buzz word 'posturepedic' support to lure you into dreamy slumber.  The bad news is that the bed is only delivered free in the Sydney metropolitan area, so international guests will have to think twice before taking up the package - it will never fit in the hand luggage.  For more information and reservations visit www.fourseasons.com/sydney

Posted 5/7/11

Peru's Belle Epoque hotel

There is a new boutique luxury hotel ear marked for Lima, which is good news since Lima is not a city known for its boutique offerings. Andean Experience is restoring a mansion in the bohemian coastal district of Barranco in the Peruvian capital to be opened in 2012. The aptly named Hotel Barranco will feature 18 suites, a private Spa and a signature restaurant by Rafael Osterling, one of Peru's internationally recognised chefs. The 1914 Belle Epoque mansion was a former summer residence for the politically powerful Bedoya family during the Leguia Presidency. It is built in the style of style of French architect Jean Claude Sahut, who designed many important buildings in Lima such as the Presidential Palace and Colon Theatre. The Hotel will be operated by the Andean Experience Company who own and manage Titilaka, a five-star lodge located on a private peninsular on the shores of Lake Titicaca in Puno. http://www.hotelbarrenco.pe.

Anyone for Tennis?

Wimbledon kicks off today and The Luxury Travel Bible is stocking up on the strawberries and cream. If the two weeks of high-class tennis leave you feeling inspired, look ahead to the Marbella Masters tournament (25th - 27th August 2011). The tournament is held at the Puente Romano Tennis Club, a member of the ATP, and some of the biggest names in tennis are heading to Spain to compete including Bjorn Borg, Pat Cash, Yevgeny Kafelnikov and Mansour Bahrami with more to be announced.
The legendary, eleven times Grand Slam title winner Borg may have an advantage as he is already familiar with these clay courts after managing the club when it first opened in 1979. Borg says; "I am really looking forward to returning to Puente Romano Tennis Club where l have many friends and great memories."
Guests of Hotel Puente Romano and its sister property Marbella Club Hotel Golf Resort & Spa will receive preferential entrance to the tournament as part of the 'Marbella Masters tennis experience'. www.marbellaclub.com www.marbellamasters.es