First Look: Caesars' Octavius Tower in Las Vegas

Caesars’ Octavius Tower in its Las Vegas casino is fairly new—only a few months old—but the “hotel within a hotel” seems to balance classic Vegas extravagance and modern style with admirable skill.

I arrived at Caesars for the annual US Airways Vacations Las Vegas Scavenger Hunt after a delayed flight, so I haven’t had a chance to properly explore all that the tower has to offer, but it’s already made a good impression: Instead of just an armchair, the room has a full curving sofa so that guests at the hotel can invite up guests of their own. The bathroom is huge and has a Jacuzzi tub (will try that as soon as possible), and the towels are some of the softest I’ve ever felt. The desk has a built-in power strip with USB ports for charging various peripherals—a nice touch for working guests. Good to know: Internet access in the rooms is $14 per day per item (that is to say, a laptop and an iPod Touch can’t share a signal), and the cost goes up if you want to take the items out of the rooms.

Downstairs, I met my group at Old Homestead Steakhouse, and due to the late arrival missed the main portion of the meal. Instead, I was served a sampler of what the steakhouse has to offer: fork-tender lamb, a rich porterhouse and delicate fillets of Dover sole that just melted in my mouth. Oh, yes, and the broccoli, which I would ordinarily avoid like…well, like broccoli, was served in a cheddar cheese cream sauce so rich that I may just be tempted to eat my vegetables if I can have more of it. A selection of desserts was also brought out, and while I may lose my New York street cred if I say the cheesecake was magnificent (it was), it’s safe to say that the chocolate chip cookie cooked in a cast-iron skillet and served with ice cream was a lovely experience.  

The steakhouse is just across the hall from a big sign that says NOBU—but it’s not referring to a new restaurant. Instead, chef Nobuyuki “Nobu” Matsuhisa is partnering with longtime partners Meir Teper and actor Robert De Niro to launch a new tower at Caesars’s Centurion Tower. The new tower should open late this year.  

Virtuoso Members Shine in Shanghai!

A whirlwind week in China has ended, I'm comfortable sitting at home with my laptop is, well of course, on my lap, and it's time to catch you up on Virtuoso Chairman's Event 3 days in Shanghai.

I already mentioned our arrival at the Ritz-Carlton, the wall of applause as we entered, the breathtaking and well-appointed rooms. I forgot to add when our luggage arrived in our room, each piece had an engraved silver Ritz-Carlton luggage tag attached personalized with our name.

I prefer being on the Puxi side of Shanghai for several reasons, accessibility to my favorite shops and markets, walking along the Bund, enjoying the view of the skyscrapers on the Pudong side with their lighted exterior decor at night, and being closer to the actual city center of Shanghai. Holding that bias, I still delighted in everything about the Ritz-Carlton Pudong - the contemporary yet classic feel of the rooms, the steeping tub that affords a skyline view of the Puxi side, the double-headed shower that allows you to use both the handheld and rain shower head in tandem, the French press coffee pot, bedside room controls, phenomenonal service without the obsequious aftertaste, and food equal to the best privately owned, trendy hideaway.

An editorial correction: I mentioned we dined at Flair but spelled it Flare. Personally, I suggest they rename the restaurant Flair Flare because it is both stylish and eye-catching!

Thursday, October 20 presented us with options for tours such as the Back to the Future tour of the French concession led by W. Patrick Cranley, the Yu Yuan Garden and Old Town area led by my dear friend, Gerald Hatherly of A&K, a tour of the Jewish section (Did you know Shanghai was one of only a handful of places that did NOT have immigration restrictions?).  We lunched at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel and had a sumptuous food-station buffet dinner at the swank Park Hyatt Shanghai. The Park Hyatt Shanghai, the tallest hotel in the world, entertained us in their private dining venue on the 93rd floor.

Friday began with gray clouds and a few sprinkles that morphed into a lovely puffed-cloud, blue sky day. We spent the morning in an area on the outskirts of Shanghai, Zhujiajiao, a village whose roots go back hundreds of years. Many of the century old buildings house art galleries, craft stores, shops, and museums. Often called the Venice of Shanghai, Zhujiojiao is also famous for its system of canals. Before boarding a boat for a ride in the canal, you can purchase a small koi fish to release in the river and that is supposed to bring good luck. This is actually a great business model: The vendor catches the fish in the river, sells it for RMB 5 to us, we release it in the river, and the vendor catches it again! Gotta love the entrepreneurial spirit!

If it's noontime, we must be lunching somewhere wonderful, right? Friday's luncheon at the Grand Hyatt, was nothing less than mesmerizing. Before the meal we enjoyed apertifs, champagne, hors d'ouevres, and opera, arias sung by a tenor whose voice rivaled Andrea Bocelli. Staying with the Italian theme, our meal was a contemporary Italian dream.

Friday night, our final evening, found us all decked out in our custom-made black velvet Mandarin styled jackets. Before arriving in China, we sent our measurements to Virtuoso and included our choice for the lining color. Upon arriving at the Ritz-Carlton Pudong, we had a final fitting of our jackets and proudly wore them for our final Gala dinner, which was held at the Peninsula Shanghai on the Bund. I had the good fortune to stay at that uber sophisticated property last month and was eager to return. After an elegant cocktail hour, our hosts ushered us into the ballroom set with four long banquet tables adorned with silver candelabra, beautiful china, and both Western silverware and silver inlaid ebony chopsticks. Our multi-course meal was an example of the best of contemporary Chinese cuisine, and dessert - glad you asked! Dessert, held in the lounge area of the 13th floor, featured desserts of the future, yummy treats interspersed in a setting of a futuristic chemistry lab! Only the iconic Peninsula group could be so creative!

We reluctantly bid farewell to the Ritz-Carlton Pudong on Saturday morning and headed to the Shanghai Pudong Airport. Our final China treat was a ride on the famouse Maglev, the world's fastest highspeed magnetic levitation train. Reaching a speed of 431 km/h, we traversed the 30 km route in just over 7 minutes.

The takeaway: Plan a visit to China today! Enjoy a mix of the "lure of the past" and feel the "impact of the future" in today's China. This is not your mother's China nor the China many of thousands of people dressed alike in  drab uniforms black, gray, or blue. China is vibrant and exciting, a hotbed of creativity and design, a forward thinking and acting country that today honors its rich history.

PS. Many of you know I've been very critical of the service I've received on international flights. Now hear this: the flight crews on United, both directions, was excellent. Maybe there is hope that we haven't lost sight of true customer care!

What do you see when I say Aman and Opposite?

For the answer to my question, read today’s blog post!

Okay, so where was I in describing the 2011 Virtuoso Chairman’s Event when my eyes slammed shut last night? Right, now I remember. We had the opening meeting, an event so positive that we all kept discussing it on our ride to Opposite House, a unique hotel in the Chaoyang District. It sits among shops that are the originals that are copied in the Pearl Market and Silk Market . Opposite House, owned by Swire, the largest Coca Cola bottler next to Coke itself and owner of Cathay Pacific and a myriad of other recognizable named companies. Opposite House’s name derives from the placement of houses in a hutong

 

Entering Opposite House is walking into an organic piece of art! Reclaimed wood floors, native sandstone walls, rooms on the perimeter of a soaring roof high lobby that features two ribbons of woven stainless steel suspended from the center of the ceiling. Anthony Ross, Area GM, and his staff converted the lobby area into a contemporary dining venue and he hosted a most amazing contemporary Chinese luncheon. Service by servers dressed in eggplant tops and ballooning black jumpers was impeccable and the food (things I recognized and those that were a mystery to me) was a foodie’s delight! Meg Maggio, owner of the art gallery, Pekin Fine Arts, described the art scene and private art tour options available in Beijing. Meg, originally from Boston, practiced law in Beijing before turning her passion for collecting art into a full-time vocation.

 
The site inspection at Opposite House was no less spectacular than the meal and, I might add, cleverly tucked between the main course and dessert! Rooms and suites, 99 in total, are minimalist yet warm and inviting. Sweeping floor to ceiling windows provide a meld of inside and outside with electrically operated black-out shades ensure a good night’s sleep. A lower level restaurant and bar cleverly use the diffused light offered by the main structure and even provide light to the subterranean and spectacularly unique swimming pool. Can you tell I was impressed by this property? Who wouldn’t be?

 

We returned to Raffles with just enough time to layer up for our ride to the Summer Palace. Raffles, an iconic property, in the center of everything and a short walk to the Forbidden City and Tiananmen Square, has a historic presence in Beijing. As Diane Baker, Raffles VP, described this property and the other unique properties in the Raffles group, as offering emotional luxury. How true! Scattered around the property are photos that provide a history of Beijing in the 20th century and all photos were taken on site!

 
We had a police escort on our drive to the Summer Palace, a replica of the West Lake area of Hangzhou (which I had the joy and privilege of visiting on a trip to China last month with Imperial Tours). We arrived in record time, actually ahead of schedule, and only Aman, who operates a hotel adjacent to the Summer Palace, could host this event and make it look effortless! We gathered at the edge of the lake and slowly watched the sun set. We also had a demonstration of a man practicing calligraphy on the pathway, using only a long handled brush and water, as his medium of choice. Just in front of the setting sun stood the famous bridge, 17 steps so at the top the emperor could be at 9, a number associated with the emperor and meaning longlasting.

 

After the sun had set we strolled through the grounds of the Summer Palace and came to an area cordoned off just for us Virtuosos. We then spent a fascinating couple of hours dining our way around a small lake while being entertained by traditional dance, chamber music, ancient Chinese music, dancers with swirling fabric, all accompanied by dramatic changes in the hues of the lighting. It was one of those evenings that I wanted to capture in my heart and mind to adequately describe it to you AND to my grandchildren. I can hear myself telling them about it when they are old enough to understand the rare opportunity their grandma experienced. In fact, someday they will probably say, “Grandma’s on her reminiscing roll again! Let her roll!”

 
Appropriately clad for an outdoor event (layers and more layers), I was still grateful to move indoors for the site inspection of the Aman Summer Palace. Having been newly baptized as an Aman junkie after my stay last month at Amanfayun, I was equally impressed with this property…and the warmth, too! Dessert, along with painting and craft demonstrations, was provided in the main hall before we reluctantly boarded our coaches for our ride back to the city.

 

This morning provided a very special shopping opportunity because Nancy Kim, Managing Director of Imperial Tours, assembled a group a vendors, offering us a chance to purchase some select items of clothing, jewelry and décor. You know, of course, that I had to purchase a few baubles, right?

 
Now we’re off to a luncheon ON the Great Wall of China, hosted by St. Regis hotels. Stay tuned!

Ready, set, shop, sight-see, dine and dance!

At 7:59 AM on Tuesday, October 19 the athletes had finished stretching, their muscles tensed, eyes focused awaiting the beginning of the race to the Presidential Suite at Raffles Hotel.  Perhaps I am exaggerating a bit…what I am describing was our anticipation of the beginning of the Virtuoso Shopping Bazaar, a display of unique items procured by Nancy Kim, Managing Director of Imperial Tours, and presented in a boutique setting in the Presidential Suite . Jewelry, clothing, cashmeres, private blend teas, and Tibetan ethnic goods were scooped up with enthusiasm and, as we boarded the motor coaches for our lunch on the Great Wall, we modeled some of our purchases.

An expert in the history and construction of the Great Wall was aboard each of the 4 motor coaches. David Spindler, our Guru of all things Great Wall, shared many details that fascinated me. A “great wall” actually is defined as a non-enclosed wall (like city walls in Xi’an or Dubrovnik) with a minimum defined thickness, height and length. China’s Great Wall is a series of walls joined together. The fired brick construction was see at locations near Beijing are the newest construction. Some of the oldest and still standing parts are actually tamped dirt.

There are certain areas round Beijing where the Wall has been restored and those locales are tourist friendly. This visit to the wall was my 3rd and the takeaway is that where you visit the wall matters. My first time I was in a sea of tourists. The second time, in 2008 with Gerald Hatherly of A&K Hong Kong, we went about an hour outside of the city center to an area that felt quiet and serene. This time, because of the large size of our group, we visited an area that was more populated than visit #2 and much better than my first Great Wall experience. I sound like I’m telling a spin-off of Goldilocks and the three bears, don’t I?

St. Regis Hotels hosted our Great Wall experience, an event that began with champagne on a terrace. Next we watched 7 young women in red, skintight costumes combine drumming and dancing in a chorus line type act. The main wow was our sit-down luncheon  on the Great Wall, highlighted by a menu of delicious courses served by scores of waiters who served all the tables simultaneously. One of our luncheon companions was William Lindsay, noted conservationist and Great Wall advocate. A lovely singer serenaded us with ballads and jazz favorites of the 1930′s.

Greg Nacco, Julie Nacco, and Kimberly Wilson Wetty were brave souls who actually ran a length of the Great Wall. Nancy Stein, of Aldine Travel in St. Louis, had a different Great Wall run, one of bad luck. Reaching the last step of the Wall returning to our motor coaches, Nancy’s foot rolled desiring in a broken bone. I hope your foot heals quickly, Nancy!

We made it back to Raffles in time to rest and change into our “party fashions” and to make the mental shift from the “lure of the past” to “the impact of the future” (the theme of our journey to China) as we made our way to the Water Cube, the 2008 Olympics swimming venue. Shangri-La Hotels hosted our evening, which began with a red carpet walk alongside an outside wall of the cube and led us indoors and up an escalator to what was normally the tennis courts but now transformed into a heavenly room dotted with sprays of blue hydrangeas. Liquid refreshment was served from a magnificently carved circular ice bar. I easy found my way to our assigned table and I had wonderful dinner partners including Priscilla Alexander and Tova Fink of Protravel International, Inc, Marina Linhares and Tomas Perez of Teresa Perez Tours in Sao Paulo, Brazil; Angie Goiricuria,Virtuoso’s Vice President of Alliances; Nancy Kim, Managing Director of Imperial Tours; and, our table host Wolfgang Krueger, GM of the Shangri-La Tokyo.

Needless to say the food was deliciously exquisite! Greg Dogan, President and CEO of Shangril-La Hotels welcomed us and Matthew Upchurch responded with gratitude to Greg’s welcome. If we felt we had overeaten,  we had the opportunity to dance off the calories as Beijing’s most popular DJ and a bevy of 1980′s clad disco dancers entertained us and helped remove any shyness about dancying! Matthew  Upchurch, Virtuoso’s CEO, and dance afficianado, was among the first on the dance floor followed quickly by Valerie Wilson and Rosie Goldberger. A personal highlight was watching the Chinese government officials dancing with the advisors. Proving the “Dancing with the Stars” element of the evening, I took a photo of the Vice Chairman of the Tourism Adminsitration with Kimberly Wilson Wetty and an Elton John wannabe!

What a day–a day of contrasts, elegance, and history. We truly spanned the centuries from the lure of the past to the pulsating contemporary feel of today’s Beijing. Having traveled all those years in one day, I was exhausted and ready for a good night’s rest. Sweet dreams!

 

If it’s Wednesday, it must be Beijing or is it Shanghai?

Wednesday, often called Hump Day, marked the last day in  Beijing and our first day in Shanghai. We squeezed in one more bit of sightseeing Wednesday morning in Beijing. We went to the Hutong area, one of Beijing’s last and oldest neighborhoods. A hutong is traditionally described as a quadrangle of houses with the main house in the North. North is a very important concept to the Chinese and many historic areas are on a North-South line. When the Communists took over, they changed the main emphasis to East-West. They built a broad, multi-lane road that runs for 30 miles on an East-West axis. In fact, Raffles Hotel sits on that boulevard. While the government felt the change was important, people still held to the North-South concept. The government has relented and when they built the two main structures for the 2008 Olympics, the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube, they built them on a North-South line. The government now claims to be the custodian of the traditional China.

Our visit to the hutong began was a leisurely stroll through a market area and we were guided by Lijia Zhang, noted author and lecturer. Our next activity was a ride through the hutong area in rickshaws. We stopped along the way to admire the scenery and we spent some time in a park where our senses were bombarded by so many interesting sights and sounds–senior citizens exercizing, a man practicing calligraphy on the ground using a long brush and water, heated games of table tennis, grandparents and grandchildren playing together, and myriad of bicycles parked while people visited.

After a stop at the Westin Beijing to “test their plumbing” (one does NOT want to use the public restrooms, if possible!), we headed to the domestic terminal at the airport. We were escorted through the maze of people and queues and found our way to our gate for our flight to Shanghai. One last bit of elan, Imperial Tours had ordered each of us a takeout lunch of chicken and caesar salad to be delivered to the airport from one of their favorite delis.

The flight was uneventful (a good thing) and when we landed in Shanghai, we were greeted by our hosts for the second part of our journey, Patrick MacLeod and Gerald Hatherly and the staff of A&K. Once on our way in our motorcoaches, our guide gave us a brief history of Shanghai, often called “Paris of the East.” I love Shanghai! Michael and I have talked about renting a place for a month at some future day so we can fully embrace this city.

We exited the motorcoach and were surrounded by applause from the staff of the Ritz Carlton Pudong, who lined the way inside. They provided a lovely aperitif, we picked up our custom-made black velvet Mao jackets with brightly colored lining and headed to our rooms. My girlfriend, Sam, audibly gasped as we entered our room. “Oh my God,” she said, “this is wonderful!” The girl has good taste because recently Conde Nast Traveler rated the Ritz Carlton Pudong as the best hotel in the world!

Quick wardrobe change again and, voila, time to go to Flare, the loft-style restaurant and night club on the 58th floor. Food, food and more food–all of various Asian countries–was provided and we were entertained by a trio of female violinists playing pulsating and lively music.

Next stop was back to our suites and the oh so comfy Ritz Carlton beds. We are most definitely in Shanghai!

Blogging From the 2011 Virtuoso Chairman’s Event in China

Hi, I’m back! It’s me, Barbara King, for twitter followers it’s @travelingking1, and my regular blog is www.travelingking.net, or you can follow me on our website, www.greatgetaways.travel. Last year I blogged my way through the Virtuoso Chairman’s event in Kenya. This year I have the honor of sharing the Virtuoso Chairman’s Event 2011 in Beijing and Shanghai.
 
The prequel: Along with my guest, Ms. Sam Wehunt, I arrived in Beijing on Saturday afternoon after a 12 ½ hour flight from SFO. Greeted by an airport butler, we were taken to China World Summit Wing Hotel, and we enjoyed a lovely night’s sleep followed by a private and very tasty breakfast hosted by the hotel for Virtuoso event attendees. Next, Nancy Kim, managing partner of Imperial Tours, took 37 of us on a fast-paced shopping tour. First stop was the Pearl Market and we all appreciated Nancy’s expert assistance in bargaining. Imperial Tours takes no commission from shop vendors so the original asking price is significantly lower than the average tourist is quoted.
 
Next, we strolled through the Antique Market and our tired feet and burning credit cards enjoyed a wonderful respite at the Park Hyatt Beijing. A “OMG” (oh my God, for those not Facebook or texting inclined) lunch was followed by a site inspection of their “contemporary feel” rooms. Many of us were ready to be dropped off at Raffles, our home for 3 nights of the Chairman’s event, while the veteran shoppers continued on to the Silk Market.
 
Virtuoso Chairman’s Event: The opening – Last night, Raffles hosted us at the Opening Cocktail Reception. Signing the guest book in traditional Chinese inkstone, ink and brush, we were escorted inside by beautifully gowned hostesses. Food stations offered dim sum, Peking duck, succulent crispy pork, a variety of fresh, cold noodle salads, and passed hors d’ouevers of pate, shrimp, and ,and, and….It was so fun to see friends I had shared previous Chairman’s events as well as connect with “first timers”, those new to the event. I remember the first time I “qualified” for a Chairman’s event, 2008 in India, and how overwhelming it felt and yet totally wonderful. Now I feel like I am attending a family reunion with family members who all get along! While we see each other at Travel Mart every year, we are so busy interacting with vendors we don’t get to spend much time networking among ourselves.
 
This morning began with a complete breakfast buffet followed by a meeting for members and activities for guests. The theme was summed up by Guy Rubin, Managing Partner (along with Nancy Kim) of Imperial Tours and our Beijing host, “China-the lure of the past and the impact on our future.” Speakers included the Vice Chairman of the China Tourism Administration; Lijia Xhang, noted author; David Ben Kay, who cemented the relationship between China and Microsoft, now owner of a gallery and art incubator; and two college students, Shuai Yang-age 22 and an undergrad at Communications University, and Yan Wanqiu-a 27 year old grad student at Remnin University.

Focus on our industry came from Guy Rubin’s talk focused on the importance of China in the travel world as well as the great value offered in China. Patrick Macleod, Managing Director of A&K Hong Kong, focused on the new opportunities and new cities to visit in China. Virtuoso’s CEO, Matthew Upchurch, reminded us of the immense effect our industry, in total, has on the world GDP and David Kolner and Scott Ahlsmith, of 23 Touchpoints, showed how mining our data offered valuable insights into the profile of the Virtuoso traveler who visits China.
 
The takeaway message from this morning is that China is growing and changing. It is an exciting source of fresh ideas, possibilities and new solutions. What impressed me was the fact a person who visits China is likely to return at least twice more. This journey is my 4th visit to China and I already am mentally planning my next China itinerary!
 

I know this was a more “reporting of the facts” kind of blog post today-short on clever, long on details. That’s the price I pay for blogging while exhausted AND there are two more wonderful experiences to describe from today, lunch at Opposite House Hotel and Aman’s dinner at the Summer Palace. Alas, those will wait until tomorrow when, hopefully, I will be less prone to crashing my head onto the keyboard of my laptop. I’m so tired that almost every other word is misspelled, or is it Miss Spelled, or is it…oh who cares, that’s it for tonight!

Barbara S King   l   Co-President   l    www.greatgetaways.travel  l   913.338.2244   l    Virtuoso Member
 

Just Back: Southern Madagascar

Kiki Venencie and Kate Koziol at Satrana Lodge

Madagascar may be known for its beaches, but visiting the spiny forest, high plateaus and cloud forests puts travelers in touch with sights not seen anywhere else in the world.  Madagascar is a haven for the nature-lover, an incredible biodiversity trip for any well-seasoned traveler and well suited for couples or small groups.  Activities can be adjusted to meet any fitness levels to range from city tours to strenuous hiking.  The country has just expanded into the luxury market and my July trip, planned by Thecla Vis of Atlas Travel International, in conjunction with Madagascar tour specialist Cortez USA, brought me close to the flora and fauna, but still comfortably resting poolside by afternoon. 

Traveling from the capital of Antananarivo in Central Madagascar on Air Madagascar to Tulear on the southwest coast of the island got me into the countryside quickly.  Both airports are easy to navigate but leave plenty of time to allow for congestion clearing security and checking in.  Atlas Travel International had arranged for a driver to pick me up upon landing in Tulear and escort me on my week-long drive back to the capital stopping in Isalo National Park, Ranomofana National Park and overnight the market town of Antsirabe.

My guide, 10-year Cortez veteran Ramiandrisoa Parson, was both charming and knowledgeable and has accompanied professional photographers on prior trips, so he was not only well versed in the sites, he pointed out interesting impromptu photos to take.  With stops at markets and villages along the way, we explored everyday Malagasy life and local craftsmen including woodcarvers, silk weavers, paper production and horn carvers.  Parson was an excellent interpreter, speaking Malagasy, French and English, and he arranged local guides at each stop. 
 

Centrest Restaurant

I spent my first night in Antananarivo at Hotel La Varangue, a sweet bit of French countryside tucked along a walled cobbled street.   Try the Zebu filet with Fois Gras and the flaming Chocolate Explosion at the top-rated onsite Restaurant la Varangue.  The eclectic lobby bar and surroundings feature an extensive collection or musical instruments, clocks, vintage microscopes and vast assortment of other paraphernalia, plus a large rhum bar, with dozens of locally-produced spirits in flavors such as vanilla, cinnamon and pineapple.

Tucked into the rocky outcroppings at the outskirts of Isalo National Park, Satrana Lodge blends seamlessly into the hillside.  This luxury tented camp opened in 2008 and is a charming oasis in this dry tropical forest.  These spacious tents included sizable front decks providing wonderful sunrise and sunset views.   The three course lunches and dinners will leave any traveler well satiated and the dining room sits just off the pool and patio with sweeping views of nearby mountains.  Satrana Lodge is run by Thierry Venencie, a highly capable general manager and his attentive and friendly staff.  My room 114, was a short stroll down a landscaped walkway and was very spacious with dark wood furniture including king sized bed, desk and armoire, and the poured cement floor bathroom had double sinks, a zero entry shower and an enclosed outdoor shower as well.  The aluminum accents throughout the room added a cool touch to a well appointed room.

The nearby terrain was dotted with Baobab trees, palm trees, and make for wonderful canyon waterfall hikes and bluff top treks.  The required guides for these trips can be arranged though the local park office in Ranohira and my guide Juelle, a 25 year veteran of the terrain, was well versed in botany, tribal history and geology.  The hike to the Piscine Naturelle, a lovely oasis in the sandstone mountains, and the troops of lemurs in the near the entrance of Canyon Namaza were the highlights of the area.  Stop in the nearby town of Ilakaka, known for its newly-discovered sapphires.  The local river juxtaposes villagers panning for sapphires and those doing laundry.
 

Couleur Cafe

The drive to Ranomafana included a stop at Ambalavao to walk the regional zebu market amongst hundreds of buyers, sellers and at least 1,000 of the surprisingly docile zebu.  The Centrest Hotel in Ranomafana National Park, is a perfectly suitable hotel, although the luxury spot in the area is the Setam Lodge just up the road.  The Centrest dining room had open air seating overlooking the cloud forest and indoor seating.  Hikes into the park can be strenuous, covering rain-slicked steep inclines, but a few senior citizens made the trek and I think it was well worth it.  My guide Tao had vast knowledge of the area and his lemur-spotting partner guided us to the best spots, including seeing the nearly extinct Golden Bamboo Lemur.  I had a chance to stop by Centre ValBio, a research facility run by noted scientist Dr. Patricia Wright. 

On our way to Antsirabe, we stopped in the woodcarver village of Ambositra.  The hand carved work and wood inlay is incredible and ongoing demonstrations of their expertise are available.  The Couleur Café in Antsirabe has five cottages set in a walled garden and was a pleasant way to wrap up a trip to Madagascar.  Like many properties, there is no central heat, but the fireplace warms the room nicely.  The family style dining room with one large table for guests to share makes for interesting dinner conversation.  The city’s countless rickshaws, known locally as pousse-pousse, transport locals and tourists and make navigating this bustling town easier than driving.  The extensive Saturday markets had food stalls and regionally made handicrafts and is worth the trip.
 

Notes on Prague and Munich

Before returning to the USA from Europe, I had the opportunity to visit Munich and Prague. I had been to both cities, but had not returned in quite some time. Here are my notes from the trip, and information I thought would be helpful for you and your clients:

Munich: I flew into MUC airport, which is ultra-modern, efficient, well laid out. The airport is quite a distance from downtown Munich. A taxi is usualy the quickest way in, but the cost is about $100, (around 65E). There is frequent bus service to the main train station (Hauptbanhof) which is the hub for subway, metro, and local transportation. From the train station, take a taxi to your hotel/destination. Munich is a fantastic city, well worth a visit. It is also a great 'base camp' from which to explore the area, visiting places such as Salzburg (less than one hour by train), the castles in the Bavaria region, and charming villages at the foot of the Alps. Munich is a great city for walking, but spread out over various neighborhoods on both sides of the Isar river. My advice is to use the great U-bahn (subway) system. Buy a one day unlimited card for 5 Euro, good for 24 hours on the entire system within the central zone of Munich, where most of the main attractions are. Munich has a long tradition of art, and there are over twenty world-class art museums. A few favorites: For Modern art and design - the Pinakothek der Moderne and Neue Pinakothek; for Classic art of the 16-17-18th centuries, the Alte Pinakothek is a good bet; for Art Nouveau lovers, visit the Villa Stuck interiors, now open to the public; for fans of Roman and Greek art, the Glyptothek is a great option; and for enthusiasts of over-the-top Baroque architecture, my favorite church by far is the Asam church, near the town hall, a small jewel that must be seen to be believed. If you have time, visit the royal apartments at the Residenz, which go on for miles (or so it seems!).

I visited the Rocco Forte Charles Hotel, which is located two blocks from main train station and across from a beautiful park that used to be the botanical gardens of Munich. This is a new hotel, now four years old, which has redefined luxury in Munich for several reasons: first, it offers the largest sleeping rooms in the entry level category (smallest room is 400 sq feet); secondly it has a superb spa/gym/pool area which are a welcome oasis after a day of sightseeing; the restaurant Davvero is excellent and the breakfast buffet will blow you away, but most of all - what impresses is the staff: helpful, caring, efficient, on top of things. I visited various rooms categories. MY favorite were the rooms facing the park, with direct views of beautiful trees right across the street. The hotel has an entire floor of suites, many with terraces with amazing views. Note - the suites connect, so if you have a family this may be a good option to offer. Contacts on property are Sarah Drecoll at sdrecoll@roccofortecollection.com or Holger Flory, Director of sales at hflory@roccofortecollection.com both very supportive of our network.

From Munich I went to Prague, my last stop on the continent. In my humble opinion, Prague is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe, right up there with Paris and Venice. Prague was not bombed during WWII, so the quality and quantity of original, spectacular architecture from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque and Art Nouveau periods is without peer. For lovers of art and architecture, Prague is Mecca. The setting of the city is also magical. The Vltava river runs through Prague and cuts the city into left bank (Mala Strana, Hradcany areas) and right bank (Stare Mesto and the 'New City"). There are endless sites to see on both sides. My advice is to stay on one side one day, switch to the other another day, to avoid going back and forth. The metro is not very developed in Prague and not convenient to most tourist sites, so my advice is to get an unlimited tram ticket (buy at any Tabak shop) for 100 Crowns, about $6.25. This is the best and cheapest way to get around, and trams are very frequent. On the 'left bank' do not miss Prague Castle (especially the church of St Vitus), Strahov Monastery (do not miss the historical libraries, now re-opened to the public and more beautiful than ever) and St Nicholas church (buy a ticket to see the church from the upper gallery for a superb,closer view of the painted ceilings). On the 'right bank' you should see the Old Town Square (wait for the hour to strike in front of the astronomical clock, an event in an of itself), Municipal building (a landmark of Art Nouveau - buy tickets early in the morning for the guided/timed visits to see all the stunning interiors - sells out daily), and of course the Charles Bridge, which connects both sides of Prague with a series of great sculptures on either side of the bridge.

In Prague, I visited the Mandarin Oriental Prague Hotel. This is a beautiful, iconic hotel, offering 99 rooms inside the walls of a 14th century monastery. The hotel's structure was added on over the centuries, so you have a renaissance wing, a baroque wing, and a more modern wing recently added before the opening. The hotel is an oasis of calm within the walls of the monastery. You walk in and immediately greeted by the friendly staff. There is no lobby per se- just a check-in desk and a bar to the left, famous for the best martinis in Prague. The feeling is upscale, relaxed, intimate, cozy. Dining is either inside the beautiful restaurant with high ceilings, or outside on the terrace in the entry courtyard of the hotel. The hotel took 3.5 years to build as all the various buildings had to be connected and harmonized, The halls are a simple white, with high ceilings. My favorite rooms were the Baroque wing or Renaissance wing, for their high ceilings and spacious feeling. There are also rooms over the spa (Spa wing) or in the new Modern Wing, overloooking a garden. For your top clients, book the stunnning Presidential suite, with a terrace overlooking the castle. Overall, I was impressed with the appointments and the service at the hotel. Contact Gabriela Markova who is the director of sales at gmarkova@mohg.com so she can help you find the right room for your clients. Gabriela can also give you great restaurant recommendations. While in Prague, I had dinner with Jana Frintova and her son Jakub, who run Patriot Travels Prague, the destination specialist. Jana is a gem of a resource, and knows everyone in the city (or so it seems!). Jana can make special arrangements for your clients with private visits, arrange special events, get concert and opera tickets, and also arrange visits outside Prague to castles, Unesco world heritage sites, palaces, and much more. A last word of advice on Prague - Prague is more expensive than Germany. The exchange rate is 16Crowns to 1USD and the money goes like water! Meals, site tickets, etc can be expensive compared to other parts of Europe. But- Prague is well worth the investment. Truly, the best thing to do in Prague is just to walk around, take in all the architecture of the city, and watch the sunset or sunrise from the Charles Bridge.

Paradise Found at Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa – Maldives

I do not often write about individual hotels except when I discover something exceedingly exceptional.  Recent examples I’ve been privileged to herald include The Upper House in Hong Kong, Fullerton Bay in Singapore, The Crosby Street Hotel in New York City, and Grace Bay in the Turks & Caicos.  Now I add another one to the list – Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa, perched on the southernmost tip of the Maldives.
 

Stunning & Spectacular Location

Nestled 75 miles south of the equator on Villingili Island on the Addu Atoll, this 132 all-villa resort will celebrate its second anniversary on July 26.  With the choice of many major luxury hotel brands in the Maldives, how do you decide which resort to select?  After all, glorious sandy beaches, shimmering turquoise water, impeccable service and superb watersports are in abundance!  Often, the Maldives is associated with romantic getaways; however, if you are seeking a luxurious tropical resort that is truly family friendly, Shangri-La has perfected that with the Villingili Resort and Spa. 
 

All Villas, All Luxury

Fabulous accommodations include Water Villas, Tree Villas, the Pearl Suite (a fabulous secluded water villa), Presidential Suite and 10 wonderful two-bed room villas ideal for families, each with a private beach and swimming pool.  All accommodations are fully air conditioned and feature a comfortable layout, spacious bathrooms with separate shower and toilet stalls, outdoor showers, and large relaxing tubs.  Particularly eco-friendly, all villas are fitted with solar panels to generate hot water.  Service is unobtrusive, and your personal villa host (called by a pre-programmed mobile phone) looks after all your needs from restaurant reservations to activities.  Like all Shangri- La properties, the resort offers complimentary high speed Internet access for those of us who wish to remain connected to the outside world!
 

Active Pursuits – On Land & In Water

The location lends itself to lovers of outdoor activity – from all the traditional motorized and non-motorized watersports to a fully-equipped health club and tennis courts, run by staff who willingly workout with you or hit some balls for fun!  The coral reef is world-renowned so snorkeling is big even for non-swimmers (unlike many coral reefs, where non-swimmers are turned away).  There’s biking around the resort, lunching on a yacht on the equator, traditional Maldivian night fishing expeditions, and spectacular jungle and wildlife tours, run by the resort’s in-house eco-center.  Diving is a huge passion in the Maldives.  The resort has its own dive centre, and boasts the only decompression centre on the Atoll, which serves the entire community.  On my recent visit, my three boys(ages 15, 12 and 10) were captivated by the diving opportunities; they took a five-day intense diving course with 18 hours of diving instruction and are now Open Water certified (10 is the minimum age for this course)!  And, there is more coming with a nine-hole golf course to be completed in December. 
 

Soothing Spa Indulgence

Overlooking the ocean, the CHI spa features 11 treatment rooms (including several ideal for couples), yoga and an extensive menu of treatments and wellness programs.  To keep spa standards at optimum levels, all the therapists are required to participate in Shangri-La’s own spa training school in the Philippines ensuring the highest levels of professionalism and service delivery. 
 

Gastronomic Excellence

There are three different onsite food and beverage locations plus “Dine by Design” (personalized in-villa dining), beach barbecues and a themed jungle dinner experience.  Local produce is central to the menu offerings; the chef has even cultivated his own walled ‘Chef’s Garden.’
 

A Gracious & Dedicated Team

Operationally, this resort works like clockwork.  Led by General Manager Jens Moesker, who arrived at the resort two years before it opened, the resort has 600 associates, 58 percent of whom are locals from the surrounding islands.  The resort has successfully created one of the friendliest cultures you can imagine so employee retention is very high.  Many of the staff have been with the resort since before it opened, and they are all well-trained, detail-oriented, and extremely gracious. 
 

Committed To The Community

Shangri-La has done much more for the local economy than develop and train a local workforce.  As part of its commitment to the local community, Shangri-La created a cooperative with the farmers of Addu Atoll, whereby the farmers supply the resort with 38 varieties of fruit and vegetables.  In 2010, the farmers delivered 73,000 kilograms of produce!  In addition to supporting local economic development, this program has two main goals – offering guests fresh quality produce and minimizing the release of carbon resulting from flying in fruits and vegetables from around the world.  As my oldest son aptly put it – “Mr. Moesker is not just running a resort, he’s running a small nation!”
 

Getting There Is Worth It

Getting to Villingili from the United States is definitely “long-haul” but the experience is made easier with direct Singapore Airlines all-business class daily service from Newark to Singapore (17 hours).  The renowned Singapore Airlines service, coupled with just 100 passengers on the flight, makes this by far the most comfortable way to travel. 

Spending a few days in Singapore is a great way to recover.  This is definitely a city to visit – it has completely reinvented itself in the past few years.  After a few days respite in Singapore, you can fly Singapore Airlines to Male in the Maldives (just over four hours).  Upon arrival, you will be met by uniformed Shangri-La staff who assist you in clearing customs and immigration before transferring you to Maldivian Airlines for the one-hour flight to Gan.  Onboard, you will even be presented with a certificate as you cross the equator!  Once in Gan, you’ll again be greeted by uniformed Shangri-La staff, taken on a short bus ride to the jetty, and then a 20-minute speedboat ride to the resort.

Alternatively, combine a trip to the Maldives with a visit to the south of India and fly from Trivandrum in Kerala direct to Male and onward.  From many U.S. gateways, the third alternative is British Airways via London and then direct to the Maldives on recently introduced service.

If you’re interested in planning a trip to the Maldives, I suggest you contact our client Greaves Tours – http://www.greavesindia.com/maldives-resort-collection. 

 

In Closing

It is hard to imagine a more professionally run resort.  Like many Shangri – La properties, this one is 70 percent owned by the company, which fully embraces local customs and the community.  Often, one might regard Shangri-La for large city centre hotels or boutique properties like the stunning Shangri-La Tokyo, but the Maldives property is proof of what the hotel company is doing with luxury resort development.  Shangri-La presently operates 10 resorts in the group – two in the Philippines, four in Malaysia, one in Singapore, one in Muscat, one in Fiji, and of course, one in the Maldives.

Created on a deserted island from scratch, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and Spa is a dreamy vacation getaway that is one of the few places I can confidently say allows the ‘globe-trotting road warrior’ in myself to actually relax. 


About the author:  Peter J. Bates, CTC, is President and Founder of Strategic Vision (www.strategicvision.org), a global communications consultancy offering a range of sales, marketing and public relations services for organizations in the luxury lifestyle, travel, hospitality and event industries.  Follow him on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/peterjbates and become a fan of Strategic Vision on Facebook.
 

Johannesburg Airport's First-Class Cycad Lounge

During our lengthy layover in Johannesburg between our South African Airways flights from Dar es Salaam and New York, SAA gave us a chance to try out the Cycad lounge in the O.R. Tambo International Airport, which is normally reserved for first class customers (SAA uses a two-class system on most of its flights, but recognizes connecting passengers flying first class on codeshare flights), Voyager Lifetime Platinum and Platinum members.

Unlike the business-class Baobab lounge, which is long and very spacious, the smaller Cycad lounge is smaller and much more intimate. Most of the spaces are circular, and the curved walls offer a sense of privacy—it’s hard to see an awful lot of space at once, so there’s no overwhelming sense of being in a huge, cavernous room. Also, as the space is designed for fewer people, the lounge seems much quieter than Baobab, though that could also be due to the walls enclosing more of the space.

The Baobab lounge has cold snack bar with wraps and sandwiches, but Cycad has a full restaurant where guests can have a multi-course meal (or several) throughout the day. While we got work done in the business center (flat-screen computers on a circular table against the wall, with two small meeting rooms off to the side), the staff kept coming by to see if we wanted them to bring us any drinks or snacks. When we did get a pre-flight light meal, the seafood soup and grilled cheese (and ham and tomato) sandwich got high marks. (They were out of the lamb shank, alas, or I’m sure one of us would have tried that.)

In addition to showers (which seem to be much like those in Baobab), the lounge also has “snooze rooms” for those who need a nap before their flight.

If your clients have any kind of layover in Johannesburg, see if you can book them into Cycad. There's nothing wrong with Baobab, of course, but those extra little touches can make a world of difference.