Two Seasons Hotel Boracay: From East to West, The Perfect Place for a Rendevous in Paradise
January 23, 2009 by Si Si for TravelBig
Filed under Award-Winning Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Hot Destinations, Vacations
Meet Me at the Two Seasons Sky Bar for a Patron Cocktail
Take Over-Extended Manhattan Exec A, who loves spending her holidays slowly parboiling in SPF 8 by the sea. Take one long-distance Laguna Beach Boyfriend B, who can do that almost all year round and prefers a frenzied holiday of soft adventure. Put them together to decide their first winter getaway. Let’s gloss over the inglorious argument and move on to the glorious compromise: the gorgeous new Two Seasons Boracay.
With its convulsive and rugged coastline - a thousand islands spraying from it like a meteor trail - The Philippine Islands offer a dizzying combination of history and sun-drenched beaches. The jewel in this archipelago crown is certainly Boracay, with its unrivaled Pacific setting. The Two Seasons is located in the heart of the more upscale Station 1, far from the island’s bustling charming side streets.
Yes, there are other beaches where you can stretch out in golden, bone warming heat and swim in healing saltwater sea that feels as sweet as a baby’s kiss. There may even be bars with the same sexy Polynesian architecture, delicious Patron Mojitos and captivating views as The Two Seasons Bar Lo. But there’s nowhere else you can spend a lazy afternoon and watch your boyfriend play EVERY water sport under the sun: para-sailing, scuba diving, kite sailing, snorkeling, jet ski, wake boarding etc… all the the relaxed atmosphere of The Two Seasons prime time spot on the beach. Hey, you got points for going sailing that day…
The Two Seasons is built on exceptional client care and guest relations. The management has paid close consideration to the guest-to-staff ratio. You’ll find yourself hard pressed waiting for any service longer than five minutes - weather it’s a second cocktail or house keeping attention. The staff is friendly, upbeat and professional - unlike service in the rowdier hotels in the down trade Station 3.
Sip a cocktail at the bar, then dip into the crystalline, body temperature waters for the full Two Seasons experience. Explore nearby coves and whisper-silent private inlets, from where the gentlest of swims unveils a jaw-dropping view of the island’s landscape. Venture up to the Two Seasons’ vibrant SkyBar for the best panoramic Mai Tai-hued sunsets in the Pacific.
You need a devil-may-care attitude and a crate of St Tropez not to feel self-conscious in Miami Beach, but in Boracay there’s no such thing as judgmental. If you can afford to be there you’ve earned it and the cabana boys dispense towels and sunbeds on a first-come-first-served basis to everyone regardless of how many entries in the Rock And Roll Hall of Fame they have.
It’s 6 AM. The ocean is a mirror, perfectly reflecting the sun rising over the Sulu Sea. The white, palm-fringed beach stretches out of sight and I shift contentedly in my cabana. I marvel at the palate of rosy natural hues and warm tones that grace this unique property. I was given a set of nail polishes when I was 14. In varying shades of coral, they were named after exotic island destinations: Bora Bora, Boracay and St. Barts. Boracay was the pinkest and prettiest of them all and in my mind became synonymous with glamour.
Our routine of morning swims and days spent reading and chatting by the pool makes the week fly by. Suntanned and happy, I think I’ve proven the merit in my method of choosing holiday destinations. Bora Bora and St. Barts are calling …
Yes, The Two Seasons delivers above and beyond in the most vital categories - prime beach location, gracious hospitality, beautifully appointed suites, cabana massages and great amenities. But how to satisfy that ravenous water-logged, sun-kissed hunger? Is the Two Seasons kitchen up to snuff? The short answer is, most definitely.
The traditional pan-fried fish breakfast is a perfect ten - crunch, spicy and aromatic. Savory prawns are plump, gorgeous and simply fabulous. My dinner entree of roast pork so perfectly cooked and the flavors so well married that I considered suggesting the dish be renamed, “Sexy Loins.” It was seriously awesome. The pork was infused with a grilled and smoky flavor. What a dish.
A Two Seasons highlight not to be missed is the out-of-this-world massage treatments by senior therapist Miss Flor. She is a one-stop passport to bliss and a great asset to this stunning new hotel.
Super Model Island: Canouan is to the Caribbean what Gisele Bunchen is to the Runway
August 13, 2008 by TravelBig Admin
Filed under Award-Winning Hotels, Featured, Luxury Hotels
Raffles Resort Canouan Island
I’ve recently met paradise, and her name is Canouan. She’s a beguiling mix of shy, coltish lapping waves and bold constructions of coral. This svelte island has the leggiest stretches of peppermint sand I’ve ever seen. The island produces nothing, no jostling of industry or agriculture - just an evergreen kiss of land on sea.
Raffles Resort Canouan Island Opens with a Bang: The first thing to know about staying at RRCI is that everybody - even those who quite like you - will hate you for it. Reason enough to book straight away. You might as well announce you’re also being treated to a midnight , in-suite couples massage with Jude Law. But when you’re dining at RRCI’s La Piazza watching a tangerine sunset, it’s hard to recall the rest of the world even exists, much less fret over what it might think.
RRCI has some of the most appealing topography as well as an impressive standard of sustainable tourism. The site boasts stunning vistas, creamy pink beaches and coral waters. Guests stay in nothing so conventional as a room. Dotted around the hillside, pastel villas give privacy and uninterrupted views. This is a resplendent resort of icing-sugar sand and champagne-laden speedboats; where delectable handmade chocolates magically appear in your bedroom and everyone looks as sun-kissed and sleek as if they’ve just returned from their last holiday. We love the private pools that come with the gorgeous villas:
Squeals from the 18th Hole: Even the most staid gentleman golfer has squealed with delight at the dramatic coastline view. If you want to see a grown man gasp, take your stoic to Trump International Golf Club at Raffles and watch his jaw drop.
Island hopping is the ultimate way to see the Grenadines. And if you can’t tell your sheets from your slips, a professional Raffles crew is at the ready. Captains Phil and Nicola Jones, a lovely Scottish couple introduced me to snorkeling, where I saw luminous parrotfish, trigger fish and swarms of angelfish.
Ooh-La-La-Amrita Spa: Raffles Amrita Spa massages the soul with relaxing treatments, whether physical (aromatherapy, deep tissue) or mental (yoga, meditation). The spa features 11 thatched-roof, palapa spa suites scattered along a hillside. Two over-water treatment suites feature glass bottoms looking down on a turquoise sea, only accessible by boat.
The Trump Effect: The Donald, renowned for his luxury brand of residential real estate, makes his first venture into the Caribbean this year with the Trump Island Villas on the RRCI site. Priced between $1-2.5 million USD, the three-acre lot choices include 18 Monte Carlo Villas in a gated community surrounding the Trump Club Privee Casino and 20 Marine Villas with individual boat slips surrounding a 30-slip marina.
How to Canouan:
• Leave status handbags at home - a basket is much chicer, especially if it’s Gucci.
• High marks for linen shirts. Minus points for mobile phones at dinner.
• Sarongs are good - especially Versace, and especially on men. Take tailored shorts as well - sarongs are no good for climbing into speedboats.
• You’ll need at least three bikinis: a designer for sailing, a stay-put number for swimming, and a strapless ditty for sunbathing.
• Many female guests look like Luxury Spa Finder models, so to avoid feeling frumpy and silently mortified over dinner, pack a silk cocktail dress.
• Don’t forget to pop into Hermes for monogrammed snorkel and flippers.
To Book this trip visit www.rafflescanouan.com
Anna Kournikova: Tennis Star Lives At the Top of Her Game in Miami
August 13, 2008 by TravelBig Admin
Filed under Award-Winning Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Luxury Hotels, South Beach Miami
A Place Where Sun-Kissed Divas
Don’t Have to Worry About Bronzer Application
Miami resident, tennis bombshell and K-Swiss fashionista Anna Kournikova loves her South Beach lifestyle. She ran the Nautica South Beach Triathlon as part of a HOTTIE celebrity relay team that included Olympian Dana Torres (swimming) and model/triathlete Katya Myers (biking). Kournikova and boyfriend Enrique Iglesias obviously thrive in the sunny climate of SoBe:
“I just love the area and the water and the weather and the people. I travel so much for work that when I come home, it’s like I am on vacation. I like the relaxed lifestyle and being able to wear flip-flops and shorts. In a city like New York you can’t go outside and relax, and I don’t have time to worry about how I look. And I like that it’s a small community. I just like everything about it.
The Perfect Weekend Itinerary
Blink your eyes, the saying goes, and Miami changes yet again. Yesterday’s dollar store pedestrian mall becomes today’s concourse for Parisian perfumeries. The international crowd’s moved in, the city has reinvented itself, and it’s the season for a new wave of galleries and hipster haunts.
The Shore Club in South Beach
Five Things You Must Do:
1. Sip a sidecar at the freshly minted and restored Art Moderne jewel, the luxurious South Beach Ritz Carlton. Since its inauguration, the SBRC’s enjoyed the instantly smitten loyalty of socialites and starlets alike. 1 Lincoln Road (305) 793-8268
2. Make an appointment to view the renowned Margulies Collection of contemporary art. 591 NW 27th Street 305-576-1051
3. Check out Art Basel Miami Beach in December. This is an A-List affair. www.artbaselmiamibeach.com
4. Spend a highbrow afternoon at the austere Wolfsonian Museum. The collection explores the persuasive power of design in the modern world, giving Miami a cultural oasis of international importance. 1001 Washington Avenue (305) 535-2626
5. Meet up with friends at the Shore Club. With such asset franchises on site as Oribe and Nobu, the hotel rivals The Delano as the name-dropper’s destination du jour. 1901 Collins Avenue (305) 695-3100
Where to Find Your Dream Ottoman:
The Miami Design District occupies an 18-block area centered at Northeast Second Avenue. Alongside 125 high-end showrooms, the drowsy 1930s factories now house vibrant galleries, restaurants, and clubs. When galleries hold opening receptions, the area explodes into a sophisticated block party. Holly Hunt is a chic 25,000-square-foot mecca of contemporary home furnishings by the likes of Christian Liaigre and Rose Tarlow. Kevin Bruk Gallery has an impressive mix of blue chip such as Ed Ruscha.
To Book this Trip visit the official tourism site for Miami.
Hot Scots: Gordon Ramsay, Ewan McGregor and Tilda Swinton
August 12, 2008 by Josh
Filed under Award-Winning Hotels, Featured, Hot Destinations, Luxury Hotels, Top Chefs
Are Scottish Hotties Reason Enough to Visit Scotland?
TravelBIG says, “Hell Ya!”
A Perennial Destination: Edinburgh
All year round, Edinburgh offers a luminous cultural calendar complimented by scenic splendor. Teeming with history, this cultured city is now the hot weekend haunt for trend-spotters and bar-hoppers.
Edinburgh is a pocket-sized gem of a city. Built on a series of volcanic hills, the city’s spectacular architecture dates back to the 12th century. Perched at the most prestigious address in Edinburgh, the five-star Balmoral Hotel is a noble blend of charming Scottish Baronial dwelling and stately international landmark.
The Balmoral Hotel Exterior
A mere twenty minutes into my stay at the Balmoral, I experience bliss in the form of the perfect scone. High tea is serious business at this property, with every ritual lovingly observed. It’s right in the middle of the action, yet with suites so inviting, it’s hard to imaging venturing out.
The Balmoral Hotel, 1 Princes Street, +44 131 556 2414, www.thebalmoralhotel.com
Stunning Views from a Suite at the Balmoral Hotel
A short walk from The Balmoral, dinner at the Fourth Floor Restaurant at Harvey Nichols is a must. The long balcony allows for striking views of Edinburgh Castle and The Firth of Forth. Customized non-reflective floor-to-ceiling glass affords diners unimpeded after dark views.
Lively Upscale Dining at Harvey Nichols
Proud Scot and Oscar Winner Tilda Swinton
Rolling in the Isles
The soothing tranquility I find on the ferry to the Isle of Skye verges on therapeutic.
I’ve a Viking’s vastness, sea lochs and anchorages to myself - try finding that on the Med, with its over-stuffed Speedos and hot cross buns. Hushed majesty at every turn, neither a house nor human to interrupt the beauty.
There’s no need to request a room with a view at Toravaig House: open any window and behold an epic landscape of ice silver seas. I can’t recommend Toravaig’s Iona Restaurant more highly. After a walk in the twilight air, I savoured the chef’s filet of salmon with herb crust, served on brandied fennel with a caramel sauce.
Blissful Beauty in the Isle of Skye
Scotland’s true treasure lies in its people. I enjoyed the loveliest reception from Lord and Lady Macdonald at their ancestral home, Kinloch Lodge. Godfrey Macdonald, High Chief of Clan Donald, runs it as an intimate, personal hotel - adding a new building in 1998, whose highlight is an open concept pro kitchen, dining room and lecture hall. This is where Lady Macdonald holds court over her massively popular cooking “experiences”. Part demonstration, part Ealing comedy, Lady Macdonald’s vivacious narratives are as addictive as her sweets and as treasured as her techniques. An award-winning author of more than a dozen cookbooks, she’s produced the most delicious food seasonal to Scotland for twenty years.
Lady Claire Macdonald
Lady Macdonald is not a fan of North America’s “supermarket” mentality and low-fat obsession. “I say eat fat, cheese, cream! Just not three times a day,” she chides. Claire Macdonald is to food enthusiasm what Hugh Hefner is to lingerie enthusiasm. It borders on naughty. A true sensualist, the lady slips me a candied orange peel with a wink. “This will blossom in your mouth, you’ll feel like Botticelli’s Venus,” she teases. I blush, the savoury rind blooms, and the lady of the manor conquers another palate.
Toravaig House Hotel, 01471 820200, www.skyehotel.co.uk
Kinloch Lodge , 01471 833333, www.kinloch-lodge.co.uk
Gordon Ramsay, The Ultimate Hot Scot Chef
For more Scottish Hottie News and contests visit www.dateahotscot.com
And your ultimate guide to visiting Scotland is www.visitscotland.com
Catch Me If You Can: Hollywood Loves Quebec City
July 21, 2008 by TravelBig Admin
Filed under Award-Winning Hotels, Boutique Hotels, Luxury Hotels, Set-Jetting is the New Jet-Setting
Catch Me If You Can exceeds the stylistic and thematic ambition of Minority Report. The film is not merely a glib look at a real man’s life filtered through the forgiving, kaleidoscopic lens of Hollywood. It’s an enduring and evocative portrait of one man’s unique gift in a time that precedes the casual technicalities of modern police procedure.
Spielberg’s exhilarating pursuit that ennobles our own idiosyncratic search for identity amongst our peers. From the stylish credits and John Williams’ jazzy score, the incredible story of opportunist con artist Frank Abagnale Jr (Leonardo DiCaprio) bounces along at a fast-pace and with a Spielbergian theme of distant fathers.
Ricocheting around the USA from ‘Florida’ to ‘Louisiana’, the movie was shot largely around Los Angeles, and in Quebec (the ‘French’ scenes).
Montreal and Quebec stood in for ‘France’. Place Royale, Quebec City, with Notre Dame des Victoires in the background, stood in for the square of ‘Montrichard’ where Abagnale is arrested.
Auberge Sainte Antoine: The Most Romantic Hotel in Quebec City
The Perfect Place to Pop the Question…
Auberge Saint-Antoine, in the cradle of Old Québec City, sits on a property dating back to the 1600s. Owned by the prominent Price family, this hotel perfectly blends Old World charm with 21st century luxury.
Why the concept’s so fresh: If you’ve ever fantasized about sleeping in the Smithsonian, you’ll love waking up in your suite. With a Chinese porcelain fragment embedded in your night table, you’re the Indiana Jones of Le Petit Champlain. Each guest floor is dedicated to one of the original owners of the property, and each room is named after an artifact from that period. In 2002, Saint-Antoine underwent a $16 Million expansion that uncovered priceless historical artifacts. Over 5000 objects found on the archaeological site were restored by the Centre de conservation du Québec, and more than 250 of these significant finds contribute to owner Llewellyn Price’s boutique hotel-meets-Musee des Beaux-Arts concept. Saint-Antoine honours its distinct history by showcasing relics in stunning museum vitrines throughout the hotel.
Why you’ll never leave your room: You’ll lather up like a rock star in the Olympic-sized deep soak bath, acoustics blazing on the in-suite Bose sound system. With a true snuggle bunny’s bed of luxury linens, goose down duvets and pillows - a Cinderella sleep is guaranteed. Many suites boast private terraces and fireplaces. All suites feature dramatic throw-open windows, high speed Internet, heated bathroom floors and no-fog mirrors.
Where to pop the question: After sampling Chef Francois Blais’ rustic take on traditional French Canadian cuisine, coax your beloved to the secluded vaulted study next to the elegant bar. There’s a perfect romantic symmetry to this space. If you need a little roar in your arsenal for the night, I can attest that Blais’ wild boar delicacy is the most exquisite game I’ve tasted in Canada.
Most Explosive Architectural Feature: The conservation of a 17th Century cannon battery that slopes through the lobby.
8 Rue Sainte-Antoine, Québec City 1-888-692-2211
Hollywood Hits the Mandarin Oriental to Celebrate the Blockbuster of the Year
July 15, 2008 by TravelBig Admin
Filed under A-List Hotels, Award-Winning Hotels, Culinary Festivals, Hollywood Premiere Venues, Hot Destinations, Luxury Hotels
The Perfect Hotel Ballroom for the Hottest Celebrity-Studded
After Party of the Summer
The Dark Knight reached a critical mass of buzz this year. Stars Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman, and Batman himself, Christian Bale, gathered Monday night for the film’s official premiere, with a screening at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square and an after-party for 600 atop the Mandarin Oriental New York.
The only Imax theater in Manhattan, where overwhelming demand prompted the theater to offer midnight, 3 a.m. and even 6 a.m. screenings the night before its official release, Lincoln Square was a natural choice for the movie, which was filmed with Imax cameras. Before the screening got underway, film composers Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard treated guests to a live performance featuring musicians playing down the theater aisles and a brief light show choreographed to the film’s score.
When the curtain closed on the 152-minute movie, it was time for the after-party. Warner Brothers’ Bonnie Horton, Chad Hudson, Courtney Saylor, and Troy Williams oversaw the event and enlisted Wendy Creed Productions to recreate the sinister tone of the film on the 36th floor of the Mandarin Oriental. Guests departed Lincoln Square in school buses (a reference to the film), and traveled nine blocks down Broadway, where the bat signal beckoned buses to the black carpet stretched out in front of the hotel.
Celebrities love to party at the top of the Mandarin Oriental New York.
To Book a Stay visit www.mandarinoriental.com
