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