The Region’s BiggesT LuxuRy TRaveL Magazine

issue one hundred and one | september 2016 Complimentary Copy

Travel
sanctity
Thailand
in
Beauty, spirit and wellness
upon a luxury island

JAPAN
Ancient culture and neon-lit
quirkiness collide, as first
Produced in International Media Production Zone

impressions get rewritten...

MONACO
From Michelin stars to gleaming
supercars: how Monte Carlo sets
the tone for fashion and finesse

MALTA
A compact (now classy)
feast of pretty cities, ornate
heritage and hypnotic waters
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 September 2016
World Traveller

Editor’s
Managing Director
Victoria Thatcher
Note
Editorial Director Issue one hundred and one
September 2016
John Thatcher
If your favourite coffee shop is getting overcrowded, traffic jams
Group Commercial Director
dominate your route home, and even your headphones can’t keep
David Wade
at bay the background noise society loves to crank out, we’ve
Editor a collection of cures to provide some peace of mind. Life in a
Chris Ujma pulsating GCC city can be exhilarating, but it is wide-eyed travel
(with all its wonder) that provides the ultimate recharge to confront
Sub-Editor
the hustle and bustle with a smile.
Emma Laurence
Contributing Editor September is the ideal time to eye a short break. Stylish Phuket,
Hayley Skirka sophisticated Monaco, reinvented Malta, captivating Lisbon and
stunning Zanzibar are among the places to catch our attention
Art Director
this time around, as well as a tempting trio of thermal spas,
Andy Knappett
fuelled by toasty natural springs. (If you can’t quite leave behind the
Designer vibrancy – but fancy unfamiliar new everything – we have Japan).
Emi Dixon
You’re certain to be inspired by one of these places, hunting for your
Illustrator
passport and booking the next plane out... Though if your flight
Andrew Thorpe
is some weeks away, it’s a holiday to daydream about until that
Sales Manager cappuccino is finally ready, or the traffic lights have turned green.
Lisa Price
lisa@hotmediapublishing.com
+971 4 375 3608
Production Manager
Chris Ujma
Muthu Kumar
christopher@hotmediapublishing.com

@wt_magazine

Cover: ‘Shutter Island’,

Thailand

Jun-Dec 2015 | 22,984 | BPA Consumer Audit

Reproduction in whole or in part without

written permission from HOT Media Publishing
is strictly prohibited. All prices mentioned are
correct at time of press but may change. HOT
Media Publishing does not accept liability
for omissions or errors in World Traveller.

Tel: 00971 4 364 2876

Fax: 00971 4 369 7494

3
Take a flight
of fame to Los Angeles
Fly daily to Los Angeles. Strut down the bustling Hollywood Boulevard,
go behind the scenes in the world – famous Universal Studios, or enjoy
luxury shopping with a view of the beach at Santa Monica Place.

Book your tickets now by visiting:

Any Qatar Airways sales office Your preferred travel agency

qatarairways.com
 September 2016
World Traveller

Contents

The Sections Check In

8
Be Here Now
Tuck into a wholesome cake while gazing at a
gorgeous Mid-Autumn Festival moon, or catch the
dying embers of European summer by Lake Como
Check In
News and inspiration from
around the world 13
Globetrotter
Three places to find a private tropical-island
hideaway, eco luxury and boutique bliss in Quito,
and why Sri Lanka is a destination on the rise

22
Chef’s Top Tables
Destinations Munich-based Michael Hüsken recommends his
In-depth travel features to fine-dining haunts from around the globe
fuel your wanderlust
24
Spotlight On: Zanzibar
One of Tanzania’s treasures, this island has
places on each coast vying for our spotlight

Weekends
26
Style & Wellness
Everything you need to know Spa news, travel accessories and fashion; make
about short-haul escapes your upcoming excursion that bit more stylish

5
Welcome
Contents

Destinations Weekends
38
At First Sight
66
One Weekend For All: Lisbon
Surrender your senses and sensibilities for This fabled city is an achingly
a trip to Japan, where first impressions are beautiful European hub of culture, art,
not always as they seem... architecture and cuisine... something for
everyone indeed
44
Malta Tease 68
This is not your archipelago of the 1970s 48-Hour Foodie
– upmarket and ambitious Malta has been A duo of days in Ras al-Khaimah to
reinvented and repackaged with fresh appeal tour the various feasts doesn’t seem an
immediately obvious weekend choice,
50 but trust us, it’s worthwhile
Graceful
Sophistication has a permanent home in
Monaco, where glamour aligns with grandeur:
69
Staycations
from dining, hotels and spas to couture garb Four hotels that prove there’s no need to
leave the GCC to get away from it all
56
Beauty And The East 70
Phuket is not only for honeymooners: beyond Great Escapes: Bliss On The Beach
romance, the party-ready Thai island beckons It’s location, location, location for this
female travellers with natural splendour, cluster of hotels who’ve access to the Holy
stylish resorts and beauty boutiques Grail of relaxation – the private beach

6
 feeling like a VIP
that’s Kilban’s
marhaba effect
The difference is the staff. So caring.
I’m just an ordinary traveller but
marhaba makes me feel like a VIP.
With people like this, there is only
one way you can go—up, up and up!
Kilban

Breeze through all the airport formalities with our meet &
greet services in Dubai and Bahrain.

Whether you’re arriving, departing or transferring,

marhaba meet & greet makes your time at the airport
something to look forward to.

You can also relax in style, no matter what your airline or

class of travel, at our lounges in Dubai and Bahrain.

Find your marhaba effect at marhabaservices.com

meet & greet | family packages | marhaba lounge | citystop | transfer service
Check In
Be Here Now

Be
Here Now
Beijing, China
The arrival of the auspicious Mid-Autumn
Festival means paper lanterns and (once-
rebellious) mooncake galore, as China
casts a collective gaze to the night sky. This
year, the Chinese calendar’s eighth month
falls in September, with day 15 marking
the beginning of a week-long indulgence
of lunar worship, festivity and feast. See
the celestial body poised over Shanghai
from atop the 468m-tall Oriental Pearl
TV Tower, take a night cruise on the Pearl
River in Guangzhou, or simply zou yueliang
(moonwalk) with friends – there are many
ways to witness the natural beauty. Our
advice is to admire the moon’s reflection in
the lake of Beijing’s Beihai Park, as ancient
emperors once did. Who knows, you might
just be moved to compose a ‘quiet night
thought’ about the moon, in the style of a
true Tang Dynasty poet.

8
September
April 2016
2015
World Traveller

9
Check In
Be Here Now

Lake Como, Italy

Autumn may be drawing in, but there
are still lashings of sunshine beating
down on this corner of northern Italy,
with its pleasant Mediterranean climate
and famed horseshoe-shaped, pristine lake.
The area is as glamorous as it is gorgeous,
and for the luxury traveller chasing
those last embers of summer, there’s an
abundance of relaxation to unwrap in this
picturesque region. There’s a plethora
of grand hotels, too: visit in September
and you’ll be one of the first guests at
the hotly anticipated il Sereno Lago di
Como – a boutique seasonal hotel that sits
resplendently on the shoreside, awaiting
visitors arriving across the waters by
a traditional handcrafted vaporina.

10
September 2016
World Traveller

11
 September 2016
World Traveller

Globetrotter
Here’s what’s hot in travel
this month…

New Arrival
Il Sereno Lago di Como, Italy
If it’s good enough for George Clooney, of exclusive modernity. In the lobby, a botanist Patrick Blanc, heaves spectacularly
Donatella Versace and Robert DeNiro then dramatic entrance in the form of a 22ft-tall with over 2,000 individual plants.
it’s good enough for Sereno Hotels. Lake walnut-wood staircase shrouded by copper No trip to Lake Como would be complete
Como’s newest addition has arrived and pipes welcomes guests, and the 37 suites without a spin on the lake itself, of course
it’s definitely the cool kid on the block. and villas are just as impressive. – and at Il Sereno, there’s not one but two
Perched on the edge of a cliff in the tiny The sleek terrace, decked out with plush wooden James Bond-style motorboats
town of Torno, this is Lake Como for couches and nest chairs, offers perfect just waiting for you to play with them.
millennials. With cutting-edge design by views in all directions – ideal for sipping a Surrounded by roaming mountains
Milan-based Patricia Urquilla, the almost sundowner on while behind you Le Miroir dotted with pretty villages, the newest
all-Italian furnishings fuse elements Vert du Lac, one of two vertical gardens addition to the 28-mile-long Lake Como
of Italy’s fashion capital with a sense created for the property by world-class is definitely one for those in the know.

13
Check In
Globetrotter

Le Corbusier, Menace (1938) © Landau

Fine Art, Switzerland and Canada

Culture
Grand Palais
From 10 to 18 September, art lovers from
across the world will descend upon France’s
capital for the Biennale des Antiquaires.
Celebrating the quintessence of French art
de vivre, the revamped fair will now be an
annual event and, this year, will host 123
exhibitors from 14 countries showcasing
furniture, textiles, watchmaking, painting
Ecuador
and ancient artefacts in Europe’s most
romantic city. biennale-paris.com/en
Unwind in the height of eco luxury by the beach
or enjoy boutique elegance in vibrant Quito
Finch Bay Eco Hotel Casa Gangotena
What to expect? Recently refurbished What to expect? One for old-world
by Julio Vinuezza, Ecuador’s leading romantics, this restored former historic
interior designer, this stalwart is as far mansion is nestled in the heart of Quito and
from the typical eco-hotel image as you is the perfect spot to witness firsthand the
can imagine. Playful, island-inspired spruced-up delights of Ecuador’s capital.
textiles, coloured pallet mirrors and an From painted tin ceilings to handsome
essence of upmarket expedition chic await, aedicules and stucco architecture, this
all surrounded by sandy beaches and former private mansion opened as a hotel
azure-blue waters. in 2011 and has been touted as the best
Where is it? Tucked away on the hotel in all of South America.
southernmost point of Santa Cruz Island Where is it? In the heart of Ecuador’s
and the only beachfront hotel in the capital, admire the intriguing city views
Galapagos Islands, this stunning enclave from the hotel’s third-floor terrace. Spires
is located on a beachfront cove with and bell towers of the Old Town flanked
Food For Thought gorgeous views over the Pacific Ocean. by the Panecillo hillside and the Pichincha
Taste Malaysia Go snorkelling, swim with seals, take Volcano make for truly epic viewing.
Now in its fifth year, Taste MIGF is a sneaky a hike over the surrounding volcanic hills Must-do? Quiteños love a good afternoon
peek ahead to the Malaysian International or simply relax on the beach with the tea and at Casa Gangotena, it’s a daily
Gastronomy Festival. Get your gastro dollars iguanas for company. tradition. Freshly brewed coffee and five
and head to Berjaya Times Square Hotel Must-do? Set sail on the Sea Lion, the varieties of tea made with fresh herbs
to tuck into samples from 30 of Malaysia’s resort’s very own yacht, for a magical from the hotel garden are served on the
best restaurants, then pick up some tasty day exploring the islands. Sea lions, blue- terrace, where you can enjoy a plethora
souvenirs from Epicure International footed boobies and marine iguanas are of scones, empanadas and pasties in one
Gourmet Village to recreate some of the just a few of the incredible species waiting of the prettiest patios we’ve ever seen.
meals for yourself back home. tastemigf.com to be discovered. finchbayhotel.com casagangotena.com

14
Check In
Globetrotter

Three Ways To...

Cast away on a tropical island
Make like Richard Branson and pitch up on your own private island. Play castaway as life
slows down and your only neighbours are the swaying palm trees and some exotic wildlife

Coral Caye, Belize Song Saa, Cambodia North Island, Seychelles

Two acres of private, palm Owned by an Australian Hop aboard a helicopter and
tree-lined paradise is yours husband-and-wife team, this whiz across to North Island,
to explore, just behind the place isn’t just a luxury resort, just 10 minutes from Mahé,
world-famous Belize Barrier it’s also the home of the Song where an exclusive colonial
Reef. Spend afternoons Saa Foundation – an initiative paradise of traditional villas
snorkelling in the lapping that has created Cambodia’s constructed from local timber,
waters around the island, first dedicated marine reserve complete with private plunge
enjoy an alfresco massage and supports local communities pools and beautiful driftwood
– after all, there’s no-one across the Kingdom’s islands. sculptures, awaits. Book the
else here – then bed down Located in the untouched Koh entire island and let your private
in a rustic-styled cottage as Rong Archipelago, the two butler take care of your every
the sounds of the Caribbean private islands are intimate, need in this picture-perfect
Sea lull you to sleep. luxurious and absolutely tropical-island hideaway.
thefamilycoppolaresorts.com stunning. songsaa.com north-island.com

16
 September 2016
World Traveller

Eid Celebrations
September will see people around
the world celebrate Eid al-Adha,
one of the two most important
dates in the Muslim calendar. A
time for families, gatherings and
social events, it’s a public holiday
across the Middle East
At the Marriott Marquis City Center Doha
Hotel, there’s a whole host of ways to mark
the occasion. Experience a Royal Bath in
the Saray Spa, where you’ll be pampered
with a private Moroccan hammam, drawing
on centuries-old traditions. Or try the
invigorating Saray Oud Signature Package,
where Dead Sea minerals and the scent of
Arabian oud combine to melt away your
stress. Located right beside City Center
Mall, you’re also perfectly placed for some
great Eid shopping.

Insider
A world of pure imagination
Dubai’s newest record-breaking attraction,
IMG Worlds of Adventure, opens on
31 August, with over 20 indoor rides and
attractions including live shows and a 5D
cinema experience. The likes of Marvel and
Cartoon Network have the superhero angle
covered while the Lost Valley Dinosaur
Adventure is like something straight out
of Jurassic Park. imgworlds.com Going Up In The World
The Teardrop Island
Where? Sri Lanka temples and UNESCO World Heritage
Why? Kissed by tropical seas, the teardrop- sites? Check. Verdant tea plantations
shaped island of Sri Lanka has seen a steady and lush rainforests? Check. Pristine
growth in tourists this year and the rise white beaches with surfer-friendly
App is set to continue. Luxury hotel operators waves? Check. One thing is certain;
Route master are getting in on the act and new resorts you’ll never be bored.
Create a digital journal of your travels, great are popping up all over the country. And Where to stay? Having opened its first
and small, with the LiveTrekker app (free with endless beaches, lush rainforests, luxury resort in the country in January,
on iOS and Android). It tracks you as you ancient ruins, crashing surf and world- Anantara’s Kalutara Resort will open
go, marking a red line on a map following famous tea, it’s not hard to see why. on 1 September. Just an hour’s drive
the exact path you take. It also monitors What? Few places in the world can lay from Colombo, the resort boasts detailed
your speed and altitude, making it great for claim to having quite so many things craftsmanship, breathtaking views and
adventure travellers, though it’s just as fun packed into such a small space. Just oodles of indulgent comforts, nestled in
for looking back at your route around a city. 65,000 sq km in size, this island nation an exotic locale. Check in here if you want
You can add pictures, video, audio and text truly has something for everyone. Safari secluded beach luxury with plenty of nearby
along the way – it’s the travel diary for today. tours in national parks? Check. Ancient adventure. kalutara.anantara.com

17
Check In
My City

MY CITY

Valencia, Spain

Adriana Iglesias Valencia’s most recognisable symbols – a to snack on for the rest of the day – you’ll
The fashion designer futuristic white building designed by avant- find the prices are just as tasty.
and founder of her garde local architect Santiago Calatrava. It I always spoil myself with a special candle
eponymous label is boasts L’Oceanogràfic, Europe’s largest or perfume in Linda Vuela a Río. Should
passionate about aquarium, and kids’ favourite Bioparc you want a jewel that captures the essence
the City of Valour Valencia, a safari park in the heart of the and the art of the Mediterranean, visit the
city that’s dedicated to conservation. magical Vicente Gracia. The building,
After living in Valencia I understand why On a walk, admire the contemporary constructed in 1898, is one of the few
the Romans chose this city to retire to once buildings of Modernista architecture, or examples of Neomozarab architecture in the
they were done conquering the world. The stroll the old city from Plaza de la Virgen area, and was inspired by the Alhambra.
third-largest city in Spain is a magnificent to Calle de los Caballeros – where the As I love Japanese food, my favoured
place, content for Madrid and Barcelona to famous El Carmen quarter starts. Head places to eat are Komori at the Westin
grab headlines while it gets on with being south from Plaza del Negrito and you will Hotel and Nozomi Sushi Bar, but I also
a wonderfully livable city with thriving reach La Lonja de la Seda, the old silk recommend La Duna, where you can tuck
cultural, culinary and nightlife scenes. market and one of the greatest examples into the best paella right on the beach.
Surrounded by fertile farmland, Valencia of medieval European architecture. Make the trip to Albufera Natural
is a truly healthy place to be – you begin In front of La Lonja, the huge art-nouveau Park and take a boat ride around lakes
the day with freshly squeezed orange juice Mercado Central building houses one of and rivers to see the local birds, in a place
or horchata, a milky drink made from tiger Spain’s largest indoor markets. The ancient, that feels more deep-south America than
nuts (which are only found here). Take beautifully designed Mercat Central Spain. Or I like to run or cycle through
a table outside Horchateria el Siglo, de Valencia is typical of great Valencian Turia Gardens, a superb green ribbon of
in the centre of town, and people-watch. architecture: elegant and elaborate, yet park. You can use it year-round because the
The City of Arts and Sciences is utilitarian at the same time. Grab a few weather here is fantastic! Like the latter-day
Spain’s most visited museum, and one of bags of fresh, locally farmed fruit and nuts Romans, I have made Valencia my home.

18
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Check In
Ask The Expert

Clockwise from left: Oia

village in Santorini; Shangri-
La’s Villingi Resort and Spa;
The Peninsula Manila

Ask the Resort and Spa is a fantastic complement

to The Peninsula, and combined they offer
at the Four Seasons Hotel Alexandria
at San Stefano caters to all your worldly

EXPERT
the perfect long break. If Asia is too far to needs, too, with good sun and amazing
travel, try a weekend in Jordan. Fly into seafood. A place synonymous with summer
Queen Alia International Airport, drive sun is the wonderful city of Beirut and the
Rob Arrow is head of product to the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead amazing beaches of south Lebanon. With
at dnata Travel and a self- Sea, roll out the towel and relax. Take the beach clubs open until late September,
confessed hotel geek. With over in some mud-bath treatments, have a there are lots of places to escape to, and
a decade of experience in the sumptuous dinner, wake up and repeat, with the new Kempinski Summerland
luxury travel industry, Rob loves before the evening transfer back to the Hotel and Resort opening this month,
nothing more than talking hotels airport for your flight home – it’s a mini you can have the ultimate indulgent
and discovering destinations. spa break, and 24 hours of sheer luxury. experience in the only luxury resort in the
His favourite country is Lebanon, Locally, a place oft neglected is Bahrain, city, watching the late-summer sun set over
his beloved city is Melbourne, and which has the GCC vibe but a slower pace, the Med while sipping cocktails on the jetty
his dream is to own a boutique with everything in close proximity. The bar or dipping your toes in the warm surf.
retreat in the Italian Alps Four Seasons Hotel Bahrain Bay Moving south, head to Sri Lanka as the
has a huge spa, indoor and outdoor pools, weather gets drier – here you can enjoy a
Q. With short breaks on the mind, treatments to pamper you all weekend, direct flight to Shangri-La’s Hambantota
which destinations would you and cuisine by Wolfgang Puck to feast on, Resort and Spa, and check into the
recommend to give travellers once you’re finished with all that wellness. first fly-in-and-flop resort in the country,
a much-needed energy boost? Bahrain is a bite-sized boost of energy. offering everything you might need in Sri
A. You can get a kick-start at a recent Lanka in one uber-luxurious resort. Play
discovery of mine, The Peninsula Q. Where are the best places to golf, spa, and enjoy learning about local Sri
Manila, in the Philippines. What an take in that precious last slice of Lankan customs and even the ecology of
amazing place: just a flight away and a summer sun? the island. Not far away you can travel to
weekend destination in itself. Checking into A. It’s not too late to get a little bit of last- the Maldives, where a sparkling selection
The Peninsula is an atmospheric experience, minute sun and, being in the GCC, there are of hotels await. There are fantastic deals
with a huge sun on the ceiling, energetic a number of destinations within an easy to unearth as it’s still not high season;
music in the lobby and some of the most five-hour reach. If we look to the warm, Shangri-La’s Villingili Resort and
sought-after seats in the city – all of which salty waters of the Med, before they close Spa is amazing, with offers including
make this a most coveted address. The staff, for another year there are the Greek islands flights to the resort, while Four Seasons
the spa and the pool all add to a memorable of Mykonos and Santorini, or even one Resort Maldives at Landaa Giraavaru
stay, and with its proximity to some of the of the wonderful resorts within driving is one of my favourite in the world: a lovely
best shopping, it’s a great place from which distance of Athens. The Romanos, place to escape to peace and quiet.
to begin exploring. While in this nation, a Luxury Collection Resort, Costa To book any of these amazing hotels,
fly on to Boracay for a top-up of fun with Navarino is one of these, and is perfect for please log onto dnatatravel.com, visit
some luxury, too. Shangri-La’s Boracay catching the last of the sun. A long weekend a dnata outlet or call +971 4 316 6666

20
Check In
Chef’s Top Tables

Clockwise from left: Tantris;

Reinstoff; Luce d’Oro; Reinstoff

Tantris, Munich, Germany HIX Mayfair at Brown’s Hotel,

Chef’s Order: The eight-course menu
recommended by Hans Haas
London, UK
Order: Reg Johnson’s flamed corn-
TOP TABLES The interior of this restaurant is unique.
With the fluffy orange wallpaper and old-
fed duck with Temperley’s cherries
In the heart of Mayfair, HIX specialises in
fashioned architecture, you feel like you’re fine British cooking, using only carefully
Michael Hüsken – executive (back) in the 1970s. The food is always just sourced local seasonal ingredients.
chef at Sophia’s Restaurant & excellent. Master of simplicity Hans Haas Executive chef Lee Kebble offers a creative
Bar in The Charles Hotel, Munich prepares his perfectly flavoured dishes menu at night and for lunch I’d recommend
– shares with us his must-visit naturally and simply, but with his signature the daily-changing lunch-trolley options.
dining enclaves handwriting. And sommelier Justin always It’s the perfect place for a post-shopping
serves the best choice of grape. lunch or a special occasion in the evening.

22
 September 2016
World Traveller

Bo Innovation, Hong Kong Reinstoff, Berlin, Germany Luce d’Oro, Elmau, Germany
Order: The unforgettable Order: If you love regional Order: Choose from two menus
Chef’s Table menu produce, choose the Nearby Menu – every course is a highlight
Alvin’s X-treme Chinese cuisine breaks Chef Daniel Achilles presents a light and The golden lights shimmering on red walls
down traditional Chinese food to its essence modern cuisine with an elegant, refreshing, and the wood fire at Luce d’Oro produce
and uses it to create new interpretations often vegetal touch. His two menus, Nearby a warm atmosphere with a certain hint
in modern forms. Sitting at the chef’s table and Far Away, reflect his desire for culinary of luxury. Chef Mario Paecke offers two
to watch them prepare your food is a real freedom, using produce from Germany. different menus, both characterised
unique experience, especially because they The industrial architecture of the historic by masterful precision. The service is
explain everything they are doing and tell Edison courtyards, in the heart of Berlin, attentive, competent and courteous, and
you from which typical Chinese dish they makes Reinstoff one of the most exciting the sommelier, Helene Krebs, always has
got the idea for the course in question. restaurants in the German capital. great recommendations.

23
Check In
Spotlight On

Spotlight On
Zanzibar
Tanzania’s stunning island of
Unguja is a mix of culture,
boutique hotels and
adventure – both on land
and ocean-deep

Eat and Drink See and Do Stay

Lukmaan Stone Town Baraza Resort and Spa
This Stone Town icon on New Mkunazini Complex streets make this old part of On the south-east coast, this most exclusive
Road is chaotic, traditional and always Zanzibar City tricky to navigate, but resort is considered one of Africa’s best:
recommended. It’s one of the best places immensely fun. The fabric of this coastal a blend of cultural styles and beautiful
on the west coast to tuck into the Zanzibar trading town is woven by historic influences antiques, replete with luxurious oceanfront
staple of rich octopus curry, and with from Africa, the Arab region and India. and Presidential villas, the Frangipani Spa,
tempting aromas of stews and platters, this Stroll jumbled passageways past Swahili plus access to a pristine stretch of beach.
is the place for a plateful of authentic fare. houses, bustling bazaars, mansions with
ornate balconies and quaint courtyards, Zanzibar Serena Inn
Bausinga then take a breather on the serene seafront. Travellers choosing enchanting Stone Town
Beside the beach in Paje, this eatery opens as their base should elect for this Small
late and its cuisine is fully endorsed by Cheetah’s Rock Luxury Hotels of the World member. Select
the locals. It’s described as Swahili food A wildlife interaction with a difference: a suite to secure high ceilings, shuttered
with a western twist: coconut, cinnamon come eye to eye with rescued animals like windows, carved furniture, a free-standing
and cardamom flavours, fresh ingredients, Aslan the white lion, Chaka the zebra and hammock and a net-draped four-poster bed.
vegetarian options and a laid-back vibe. Tyson the cheetah. Adept guides impart
zoological expertise, and guest numbers are
The Rock limited to ensure a more personal visit. • Don’t miss
Fine fare, high on a jagged Indian Ocean A tour along the nature trails of Jozani
outcrop off the shore of Michanwi Pingwe. Diving in Nungwi Forest Reserve in the heart of the island
Opt for The Rock Special: lobster, cigal, Neighbouring Pemba attracts divers, yet ensures sightings of the unique Red
jumbo prawns, fish fillet and calamari, Unguja’s northern tip is on the doorstep of Colobus Monkey species, as well as
all prepared on the grill. Get there by foot the crystal waters. Ripe for exploring are its antelopes, chameleons, birds, butterflies
during low tide but for extra character, gentle locales and the deep waters of Leven and more. Early risers are rewarded with
arrive by boat once the waves have rolled in. Bank reef – a gem for the experienced. seeing the wildlife at its liveliest.

24
 September 2016
World Traveller Promotion

Down-tempo
Dining
Go back to basics at Traiteur
with a chilled-out experience
that’s right on the creekfront

A
s funky house music plays in
the background, blonde-haired
Chef Dennis chats nonchalantly
to us about his love for wakeboarding.
Smiling servers buzz from table to table,
taking their cue from chirpy restaurant
manager Sid Mittra.
There’s such a lack of pomposity that it’s
hard to believe we’re seated in what was
previously one of the city’s premium fine-
dining restaurants. Recently, the award-
winning Traiteur has undergone a bit of a
reinvention, being gorgeously overhauled
and bringing it bang up to date.
The beautiful wooden geometric wall,
peppered with slits of diffused light,
creates a warm welcome in keeping with
the friendly staff, while the gleaming cleansing the palate before sinking your Opt to sit outside on the huge terrace
arched wooden panels create a cocoon-like teeth into the puffed capsule atop each for dinner with a view, right on the Dubai
effect, perfect for unwinding in. Dark wood glass, filled with deliciously fresh tuna Creek front. Or head outside after you’ve
furniture hints at an air of fine dining, a and topped with lychee espuma. Expect eaten to enjoy a beverage from the carefully
spell that’s soon forgotten thanks to the plenty of interaction as you eat, with the selected menu, matched with a sunset
buzz from the signature show kitchen. chefs delivering their creations from the to remember and chill-out tunes. With a
When it comes to the menu, it’s a back- kitchen to your table – after all, who menu that’s set to change with the seasons,
to-basics affair where the focus is clearly better to ask about your food than the Traiteur is a relaxed fusion of quality
quality over quantity. If you’re a stickler person who made it? ingredients and classic French cooking
for tradition, opt for one of Traiteur’s When it comes to mains, the Peri Peri served with a side of passion.
long-famed classics – the Rossini is Meagre is a must-try – beautifully presented
legendary. Or, mix it up a little with the sea bass paired with an entirely delicious Must-Try:
Be Social options, ideal for sharing. With spicy sauce. Elsewhere, the wild salmon Friday brunch is something you must
presentation that is second to none, try served with Japanese mayo has a texture experience. With stunning creek views,
the Spring Foliage, which looks exactly that’s truly unforgettable. a fantastic DJ, delicious French-inspired
like a miniature vegetable garden – right Be sure to leave room for The End – you’ll fare and free-flowing beverages, it’s the
down to the soil (or cream cheese topped regret not trying the giant profiterole, which place to escape the world on the weekend.
with blackened breadcrumbs) – it’s the comes with accompanying melted chocolate Dhs495 with soft drinks; Dhs695 with
cutest salad we’ve ever seen. Did someone sauce that the chef will smother over your sparkling grape; Dhs775 with premium
say shots? The shrimp tartare comes dessert. And try not to think of freshly bubbles. Fridays, 12.30pm-4pm.
served in four shot glasses, each filled baked cakes wafting from a kitchen with For reservations call +971 4 602 1814 or
with tangy vinaigrette, perfect for just one bite of the bourbon-vanilla tarte. email restaurants.dubai@hyatt.com

25
Check In
Style & Wellness

Style
Wellness
&
What to pack
for...
Fashion Week 1. 2.

in Paris

1. Gold-plated Swarovski-
crystal ring, USD530,
Gucci at Net-A-Porter
2. O’Malley glasses with
clip-on UV lenses, USD555,
Oliver Peoples at Mr Porter
3. Leather wallet, USD295,
Dolce & Gabbana at Mr Porter
4. Tulip-print leather iPhone 6
case, USD185, Dolce & Gabbana
at Net-A-Porter
5. Gold-plated bead and
crystal necklace, USD405,
Etro at Net-A-Porter
6. Xiamen suede and jacquard 3.
sandals, USD795, Paul Andrew
at Net-A-Porter
7. Tulip-print silk scarf,
USD225, Dolce & Gabbana
at Net-A-Porter
4.
8. CM gold-plated watch,
USD380, Larsson &
Jennings at Net-A-Porter
9. Philip Kingsley PK Prep
Polishing Balm, USD33
at Net-A-Porter
10. Philip Kingsley PK Prep
Perfecting Spray, USD33
at Net-A-Porter

7.

6.
6.

26
 September 2016
World Traveller

The
Style-Savvy
Local
You can trust Dubai-based
designer Jelena Jakovljevic
Bin Drai to know the ‘it’ places
to eat, shop and be seen while
in Novi Sad, Serbia
Serbia’s second-largest city is a beautiful,
natural place to visit, filled with rich
culture, museums and events, such as the
world-renowned EXIT music festival and
Festival Uličnih Svirača (in September).
Fashion is a big part of my life, so it’s
hard to choose my favourite store, but if
I’m looking for something extravagant
to wear, I shop at Mihano Momosa
(mihanomomosa.com). For some relaxation
time, head to the beach – I suggest Strand
5. (visitnovisad.rs), one of Serbia’s most
beautiful rivers and very popular among
the locals. My favourite childhood spot
there was Kupalište Tisa (serbia.com),
which is on the Tisa river between my
village, Zabalj, and Zrenjanin, around
35km from Novi Sad. I like walking
with my family along one of the oldest
streets in the city, Dunavska Street
(visitnovisad.rs), which has many cafés
and restaurants to choose from. When
it comes to food, if you’re a fan of fish as
I am, you won’t regret a visit to Carda
Aqua Doria (carda.rs). I love to frequent
Salaš 137 (salas137.rs) at Čenej with my
family and close friends, as it has a lovely
aura and delicious cuisine (there’s also
a farm where kids can ride ponies). After
a long day of walking, there’s nothing
better than relaxing at Hotel Park Novi
Sad (hotelparkns.com). However, I would
also recommend finding one of many
Serbian apartments on Airbnb – there
are some beautifully designed abodes
available, and many located in the centre
of town. Although I was raised in Zabalj,
I consider Novi Sad a second home –
visit once and you will, too.
9. 10.
8. Jelena Jakovljevic Bin Drai is the founder
and designer of fashion label Jelena Bin
Drai. Find out more at jelenabindrai.com

27
Check In
Style & Wellness

The Spa You Need

Thermal Therapy
When it comes to wellness, ‘natural’ often provides the best recourse,
and there’s little better than sliding into a toasty hot spring to soothe
the skin and address ailments. This destination trio leaves nature
untampered and untamed, to bestow its unlimited benefits

I’m looking for...

A breathtaking natural wonder Gods & gushing water Famous baths & bountiful views
Blue Lagoon, Iceland Terme di Saturnia, Sardinia, Italy Takaragawa Onsen, Japan
This lava-field-located geothermal is as Setting aside the resort’s fine cuisine, The alkaline waters of this traditional
refreshing on the eyes as on the muscles, signature spa, 18-hole golf course and onsen are considered one of the country’s
though guests are required to prebook stunning suites, the exceptional thermal treasures, and the spring source is found in
to savour a spa break in the heart of the spring here bubbles with history. It’s named the valley of Minakami. This characterful
Reykjanes Peninsula. The freshwater/ after Saturn, the god whose tempestuous (not gleaming) wooden lodging sits beside
seawater mix originates 2,000m below flash of lightning caused sulphurous warm a babbling Takaraga stream, where a
Earth’s surface, and is harnessed to water to gush from a volcano crater. In the number of rotenburo have been designated
provide energy for nearby communities. present day, the pure spring water flows at as mixed or female-only, for all measures
But what can it do for you? The mix of algae, 500 litres a second through Monte Amiata’s of shyness. Soak in the healing waters and
minerals and silica achieves plenty (those limestone. The pool simmers at 37°C soak in the sights of pine trees and hills
with psoriasis see a marked improvement), – take a dip in the gas- and mineral-salt- (through the steam). Better yet, it’s the
while Blue Lagoon Clinic is also on hand infused water to soothe muscular, skin and closest of its kind to Tokyo: head to Jomo-
for an all-round spa experience. It’s silica respiratory worries. It’s therapeutic luxury Kogen on the bullet train then get collected
combined with sunlight that gives the blue in the magical Maremma region of from the station, for bliss away from neon
hue, by the way. bluelagoon.com southern Tuscany. termedisaturnia.it city frenzy. takaragawa.com

28
A NEW PERSPECTIVE. A NEW EXPERIENCE.
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Check In
dnata Offers

WORLD TRAVELLER

Reader
Offers

A UK B France Hungary Jordan

ME London The Westin Paris Buddha Bar Hotel Crowne Plaza Jordan –
4 nights from USD657 – Vendôme Budapest Klotild Palace Dead Sea Resort & Spa
per person 4 nights from USD752 4 nights from USD363 2 nights from USD291
Special offer: Stay 3 nights per person per person per person
and receive the fourth night free Special offer: Special offer: Special offer:
Includes: Stay in an Auro 15% discount on room rates Complimentary room upgrade 20% discount on the
room with breakfast Includes: Stay in a Superior to next room category spa list at Sohum Spa
Middle Eastern Guest Special: Room with breakfast daily Includes: Stay in a Superior Includes: 2 nights’ stay in a
VIP shopping package incl. VIP and return airport transfers Room with breakfast daily Standard Room with breakfast
lounge access, Arabic-speaking Validity: Now ’til 18 Sep 2016 and return airport transfers and return airport transfers
concierge, halal food on request Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016
Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 Going to Paris for The Louvre
(book by 17 Sep) and the Eiffel Tower? They’re Modern majesty in the city, with A spa on the fringe of what
right on the doorstep of this Asian-colonial style laced into is perhaps history’s greatest
A specially tailored UK stay. hotel. C’est magnifique. 100-year-old Klotild Palace. Sea for healing? Priceless.

30
 September 2016
World Traveller

A
B C
I

E
D

How to book

H By calling dnata on
K +971 4 316 6666
G L visiting a dnata outlet
or logging on to
dnatatravel.com
F
On the same site you can
also sign up to dnata’s
newsletter and receive
J
more offers direct to
your inbox. T&C apply.

E Azerbaijan F Seychelles Sri Lanka H Thailand

Baku Tour Hilton Labriz, Mahe Shangri-La’s Hambantota Sofitel Bangkok
3 nights from USD528 4 nights from USD1,034 Resort & Spa, Colombo Sukhumvit
per person per person 3 nights from USD472 3 nights from USD242
Includes: 3 nights’ stay Special offer: Stay 3 nights per person per person
in Central Park Hotel or and receive an additional Special offer: 50% discount on Special offer: Stay 2 nights
similar, breakfast daily, night free and complimentary room rate and complimentary and receive an additional night
private return airport upgrade to half board upgrade to half board free, plus complimentary late
transfers, private city tour of Includes: Stay in a King Includes: Stay in a Deluxe check-out until 4pm
Baku, private tour of Gobustan Garden Villa with breakfast Room with breakfast daily Includes: Stay in a Luxury Park
and private tour of Absheron daily, return boat transfers to and return airport transfers View Room with breakfast daily
Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 Silhouette Island and return Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 and return airport transfers
airport transfers in Mahe Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016
The Republic is an emerging Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 One of the isle’s latest high-end
tourism gem – especially its additions: a haven of relaxation An upscale high-rise hotel with
capital, beside the Caspian Sea. Hilton luxury, on the beachfront. where time stands still. social hubbub in easy reach.

31
Check In
dnata Offers

Wengener Hof, Wengen Banyan Tree Phuket

Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur

dnata’s
FANTASTIC FOUR
Call It ‘Home’
Jetting to these destinations? Be assured a stylish stay
To book, visit a dnata outlet, call +971 4 316 6666
or log on to dnatatravel.com

I J K L

Switzerland Maldives Thailand Malaysia

Wengener Hof, Wengen Sun Siyam Iru Fushi Banyan Tree Phuket Ritz-Carlton Kuala Lumpur
5 nights from USD3,145 4 nights from USD918 3 nights from USD503 3 nights from USD246
per person per person per person per person
Special offer: 10% discount on Special offer: 40% discount Special offer: 25% discount Special offer: 25% discount on
room rate and complimentary on room rate, stay 3 nights and on room rate, 20% discount on room rate with complimentary
upgrade to next room category receive an additional night free, food and beverage outlets and early check-in and late check-
Includes: Stay in a Standard plus 2 children under 12 years spa treatments, plus 2 children out. For 5 nights or more, book
Side Room with breakfast daily stay, play and eat for free under 12 years eat for free 2 deluxe rooms and receive an
and return airport transfers Includes: Stay in a Deluxe Includes: Stay in a Banyan upgrade to a 3-bedroom suite
Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 Beach Villa with breakfast daily Pool Villa with breakfast daily Includes: Stay in a Deluxe
and return domestic flights and return airport transfers Room with breakfast, butler
At the foot of Jungfrau mountain, Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 service and airport transfers
you’re assured peace in Wengen Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016
– it’s a car-free area. The hotel With 52 acres of bliss in the The hotel offers serenity in
has plenty to fill the void, from Noonu Atoll, guests are assured sophisticated Bang Tao Bay. One A shopper’s paradise within KL’s
scrumptious dining options to lush tropical flora and crisp of the best Trees in Banyan’s Golden Triangle that will please
excursions to the ‘Top of Europe’. white-sand beaches. pretty little forest of properties. haute-hospitality lovers, too.

32
 READY FOR SOME FUN UNDER THE SUN?

EARLY BOOKING
OFFER
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BEFORE DEPARTURE

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Kani 4 MALDIVES Phuket 4 THAILAND

Heavenly island in the Maldives where you’ll be able to explore Choose Phuket and plunge into the Thai culture! In this family friendly
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Bali 4 INDONESIA La Pointe aux Canonniers 4 MAURITIUS

Resort located on an Island with a unique Balinese atmosphere. At the heart of 19 hectares of topical garden, white crystal water and
Ideal for families and couples alike, and a golfers’ paradise. golden beaches, La Pointe is the dream destination for families and
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Visit your nearest travel agent. * Terms and conditions apply. Please enquire.

Email us at contactcentre@dnata.com
call +971 4 316 6666
Destinations
Iconic Los
Shanghai
Angeles

Los
Iconic

Angeles
‘Icons of LA’ could easily be a compilation of celebrity
faces – it’s the town where fame and fortunes are made.
Can’t quite attain such heights on a short holiday?
Content yourself with making travel memories instead

Hollywood Hills
The sign posted high on the Santa Monica
mountains is a globally recognised sight,
and by traversing the Runyon Canyon trail
visitors can gain a spectacular vantage
of the 14m-tall letters. It might just tempt
you to swap your bespoke boulevard-ready
shoes for a pair of hiking boots, as there
are plenty of great hikes around LA such as
Griffith Park, Eaton Canyon, Will Rogers
State Park, and Escondido Canyon and Falls.
The origins of the sign, by the way, date
back to 1923 – it was an advertisement for
a local real-estate development.

34
 September
November 2016
2015
World Traveller

Five-Star & Stripes

On launch, Los Angeles represented
a glitzy addition to the Qatar Airways
route map, but it is by no means the
only way to travel directly from Doha
to North America. LA is accompanied
by Boston, Houston, Atlanta, New
York, Miami, Chicago, Washington,
Philadelphia and Dallas/Fort Worth
on the Qatari flag carrier’s whopping
destination list – they’ve got every
US coast covered. It’s luxury all the
way, too, from the comfort of stylish
Hamad International Airport to
the award-winning onboard
Business Class experience.
qatarairways.com

35
Destinations
Iconic Los Angeles

Walt Disney or world music, as well as

Concert Hall smooth notes of jazz. It
Legendary architect Frank was built as a devotion by
Gehry dreamt up this Walt Disney to the arts,
curvaceous wonder, located and matte was added to
downtown on South Grand the original stainless-steel
Avenue. The acoustically outer layer after it became
sophisticated home of the a bit too reflective for the
LA Philharmonic regularly neighbours’ liking. Check out
reverberates to the sounds forthcoming performances at
of classical, contemporary laphil.com/tickets/calendar

Santa Monica Pier prevailed through the worst before slurping a Soda Jerk
Standing proud at the end of mother nature has thrown milkshake or chomping on
Colorado Avenue, the pier is its way, and it’s the ideal Bubba Gump’s shrimp (as we
where fun and entertainment place to head when she’s on wouldn’t want you feeling
reside – and this 9 September her best behaviour. Ride the queasy). There are more
marks the 107th anniversary carousel and ferris wheel placid activites here, too, like
of its opening day. It has and try the trapeze school the aquarium and an arcade.

36
 September 2016
World Traveller

Venice Beach
Yes, Hollywood’s Walk of Fame
has been put aside (head there
for a quick look at the famous
hands and feet cast outside
TCL Chinese Theatre, before
escaping quick smart from the
tourist hordes) in favour of this
stretch of natural serenity. The
Boardwalk promenade is built
for a day of slinking in and out
of shops while navigating
through the peppering of
bodybuilders and street
performers. September (through
to October) is the best time to
surf in SoCal, and the Santa
Ana winds should rasp up
some enviable waves to please
boarders along this North
Atlantic shoreline.

37
Destinations
Japan

at
FIRSt
SIGHt
How much weird and wonderful can you fit into
one fortnight? Liz Edwards makes an eye-
opening virgin trip round Japan’s hits

38
September 2016
World Traveller

39
Destinations
Japan

Opening pages: Kiyomizu-dera

temple at sunset. These pages,
clockwise from left: Senso-ji
temple in Asakusa; morning
mist in Kyoto; urban Tokyo;
Japanese lanterns at Senso-ji
temple; Asakusa at night. Next
pages: Tokyo Tower at Sunset.

W hat a disappointment. There we are, fresh

off the plane from England, relishing
the unfamiliar: the hygiene-masked
immigration official. The three types of ladies’ loo (squat,
regular and starship-control-panel). The airport signs
for a capsule hotel and a pet hotel. Then the shoulder-
drooping, plug-pulling realisation as our Tokyo-bound
minibus pulls out of the car park: in Japan, they drive
on the left. And on regular M1-motorway-alike roads,
too. It’s so normal, it feels downright bizarre.
It’s just possible that in my fevered excitement at the
prospect of finally making it to a country I’ve spent
years dreaming of, I’ve rather focused on the alien and
the exotic – the high-tech, maelstrom cities, the hushed
temples, the point-and-guess food – and overlooked the
fact that Japan is not actually another planet. Our two-
year-old son sums it up. Pre-departure, having cottoned
on to our impending adventure, he asks repeatedly,
‘Shall we go Japan?’ Then throughout our fortnight
there, he continues asking exactly the same thing, as
if the strange and fascinating, but totally doable places
we’re rattling through (the classic first-timer’s Tokyo-
Kyoto combo, with diversions to seaside Miyajima and
hot-springy Hakone) can’t possibly be the off-the-scale
experience he’s been primed for.
Not, I should point out, that any of this adds up to an
anticlimax. Japan is fabulous, surpassing expectations
I didn’t realise I had. Our first few days in Tokyo bring
us plenty of weird (department-store apples so perfect
they’re USD25 a pop, say) and wonderful (the subway-
carriage info panels that show not only which stop is
next, but which way the exits and interchanges will
be). We fling ourselves into the perma-rush hour of
Shinjuku station (like Piccadilly Circus, cubed) and

40
September 2016
World Traveller

41
Destinations
Japan

decompress in the Hamarikyu Gardens. footwear (though try telling a toddler to put on special
A former royal hunting ground by Tokyo Bay, it’s loo slippers). And the food is amazing: dinner is an
a neatly lawned oasis of squawking birds, tittering exquisite kaiseki procession of translucent sashimi, hot-
grannies and butterfly-tickled wildflower banks, stone beef and the local speciality eel nigiri. We even
surrounded by glinting skyscrapers. We jump in and opt for Japanese breakfast: rice, omelette, miso, fish.
out of cabs with their white-gloved drivers and doily- Maybe this is the new normal.
covered seats. One day, we breakfast on impeccably Of course this going-native foodie-traveller smugness
fresh sushi in the streets around Tsukiji, the world’s is almost immediately undone when we arrive in
biggest fish market, famous for its dawn tuna auctions. Kyoto late, and complete a sweep of a Family Mart
Then we lunch on USD3 ramen in Asakusa, its knick- convenience store. We’re self-catering in a traditional
knacky lanes as chilled as the vermilion Senso-ji temple machiya townhouse (so neatly minimal, it makes your
nearby is thronged. Our winning dinner is among the average Scandi interior look cluttered) – and duly ignore
pubbish izakayas we find under the railway arches in the bargain onigiri rice parcels in favour of breakfast
buzzy Shinbashi. Perching on a crate, with Yebisus pastries, a pint of milk and cheesy dough balls. We
and a plate of juicy grill-your-own meat, we watch compensate by browsing the fish-gill sake garnishes and
tie-loosened salarymen reel in and out of the next-door eel-spine snacks the next day in Nishiki Food Market,
‘encounter lounge’, wondering if it’s quite as seedy building up to a full-on shopping spree along arcaded
as it sounds. Our jet lag retreats, our city-navigating
confidence improves, and we struggle to remember
how unimaginable it all seemed just a few days back. Each day brings both
The next morning, we’re whizzing over the tops of
those Shinbashi arches in a shinkansen bullet train.
unexpected novelty and the
Now, these machines make up for the culture shrug unexpectedly familiar
of Japan’s roads. Not just with their phenomenal
punctuality, efficiency and cleanliness, but the staff Teramachi Street, in stores selling gorgeous stationery,
– bowing conductors with jaunty caps, spruce neck- woodblock prints and colourful manga comics.
scarfed snack-trolley ladies – and the English tannoy Kyoto feels busy, but balanced – for every clinking
announcements that are both helpful and audible. Five game parlour and flashing karaoke bar, there are a
hours whizz by as quickly as the mountains outside dozen temples and shrines. Holding their own among
the window, and soon we’re stepping from a ferry onto residential buildings, on neon-bright thoroughfares
Miyajima island, out west on the Seto Inland Sea. and in Kyoto’s quieter reaches, hundreds of holy places
Most people come to Miyajima for the 12th-century act like the spiritual equivalent of a green lung. In the
waterside Itsukushima shrine and its much-snapped contemplative stillness of Zuihou temple’s precise rock-
rust-red torii gate, apparently floating just offshore. and-stone Zen garden, I’m taken aback – only now does
At the edge of the island’s single town, beyond its few the term ‘Zen’ really start to mean something.
low-rise streets and one high-rise pagoda, it really is And so it goes on, each day bringing a combination
an enchanting place – especially when the day trippers of unexpected novelty and the unexpectedly familiar.
leave, and it’s just us and the roaming deer. People In lakes-and-mountains Hakone, our last stop en route
come for the change of pace, too, and we’re all for that, back to Tokyo, we find we ourselves are the oddities,
taking the cable car over maples and chestnuts to the the only westerners going pink in our ryokan’s onsen
top of temple-strewn Mount Misen, and following the baths. But the strangest moment of all occurs in a Tokyo
forest path back down. But half the fun for us is our sidestreet. There, among the cat cafés and fancy-dress
first experience of a ryokan: the tatami-mat room, the shops, we bump into my husband’s cousin. We’re
cupboard-stored futons, the cotton yukata robes. I’m all speechless, except my son. ‘Shall we go Japan?’
relieved to find that the walls are not, as I’d imagined, Inspired to travel? To book a trip call +971 4 316 6666,
made of paper, and soon adjust to the room-specific or log onto dnatatravel.com

42
September 2016
World Traveller

43
Destinations
Malta

T E A S E M A L T A
The island that so seduced 1970s
sunseekers slowly lost its edge to
sexier new Med idylls. But it’s back,
rejuvenated – and as Dana Facaros
discovered, it’s hot stuff indeed

44
September 2016
World Traveller

45
Destinations
Malta

‘Y ou’re going where?’ was my friends’ reaction

when I told them I was heading to Malta for
a blast of spring sun. They know I love the
Mediterranean, but they were incredulous. Wasn’t Malta
all hideous high-rises? French fries with everything?
else.” The buses weren’t the only change. I stopped
on the new bridge over the yawningly deep moat
before the City Gate. The main entrance into Valletta’s
girdle of walls, it had been an understatement before;
now, it looked like the building site for the palace of
English spoken everywhere? Okay, I couldn’t tell them a Mesopotamian warlord, cut from giant blocks of
that Malta was none of those things – it was certainly limestone, with massive ramp stairways for processions
some of them, when I last visited in 1980 to write a of booty-bearers.
guidebook. Flat-pack accommodation? Most certainly. If I’d been keeping up with the latest news from
British fry-ups? A sizzling ‘yes’. Malta, I’d have known that this was architect Renzo
Yet, all that time ago, I recall I’d come away in love (‘The Shard’) Piano’s slick, minimalist City Gate and
with another side of this biscuit-dry island: a canvas Parliament project. Set on stilts, the new Parliament
of wildflower fields and ancient standing stones, building has a textured façade made from sharp laser-
baroque towns of chiselled façades and food that was cut, pi-shaped stone panels, designed to admit sunlight
simple and delicious. Having been to Greece so many but not solar radiation, which inspired a local wag to
times in the intervening years, I fancied a change, rename it the ‘cheese grater’. Next to it are the ruins of
and the memory was enough last year to beckon me the beloved Royal Opera House, bombed in World War
back for a fresh view. II, now reimagined by Piano as an outdoor theatre.
What I hadn’t reckoned with, 35 years on, was this: The whole city seemed to have undergone a mass
Malta’s gone upmarket. Stylish. Creatively ambitious. primping. The ornate inns of the knights and the
Such was the impression on checking in at my base in palazzi looked scrubbed and repaired (many had
the capital, Valletta. There was nothing flat-pack about suffered bomb damage in Malta’s second Great Siege
the 17th-century Palazzo Prince d’Orange, a hotel of
honeystone walls, antiques and wrought-iron beds.
Dropping my bags, I took a peek. The chandeliered
Lined with golden limestone
piano nobile lounge with its book-filled mezzanine palaces, Valletta looks like
looked like a film set. Later I learnt that Daniel Craig
and Eric Bana had been here, filming a scene for
a baroque San Francisco
Spielberg’s 2005 movie Munich. in World War II), their glassed-in wooden balconies
I stepped out into the sunshine. It was heady shining with fresh coats of green or blue paint. St
walking in Malta’s capital again after so many years, George’s Square, once a dingy car park in front of the
trying to remember what was where. The city was sumptuous Grand Master’s Palace, has been restored to
founded in the 1570s by the Knights of St John, having its former beauty, complete with a high-tech fountain
survived an Ottoman siege so barbaric that human spouting directly out of the pavement that creates
heads were used as cannonballs. Valletta, a so-called a mirror of water. Children took off their shoes to
‘city built by gentlemen for gentlemen’, spills over a scamper through it, kicking up diamond sprays.
steep, narrow peninsula. Lined with golden limestone A busker on an upright piano watched them and
palaces, its grid of roller-coaster streets looks like launched into a jaunty rendition of Summertime.
a baroque San Francisco. The Co-Cathedral of St John, built by the knights (who
I paused in the leafy, arcaded Upper Barrakka melted down Turkish cannons to make the bells), was
Gardens, spellbound by the views over one of the best also undergoing a spit and polish: inside, everything is
natural harbours in the Med. The 1565 siege was fought insanely opulent, painted or slathered in marbles and
under the massive walls and forts on the opposite shore. gilded curlicues. The floor is carpeted with red, silver,
But it was hard to imagine even raising your voice there gold and black marble-inlaid coats of arms, pouting putti
now, especially on a sunny morning, when the Grand and Halloween skulls over 370-odd knights’ tombs.
Harbour takes on a preternatural stillness, illuminated The best work is the dark, riveting Beheading Of John
in the clearest light that seems to pick out every detail. The Baptist by Caravaggio, who escaped to Malta after
At the garden kiosk I bought postcards of the murdering a man in Rome. The art-loving Grand Master
charmingly old-fashioned green, red and yellow buses ordained him a knight, and in gratitude Caravaggio left
that had been my mode of transport in 1980. “Are they him his only signed painting, the signature scrawled in
still running?” I asked the kiosk lady, hopefully. She the saint’s oozing blood. But soon the artist was back to
sighed and shook her head. “The EU said they polluted his old ways, seriously wounding a knight, then fleeing
too much. Now we have modern buses like everyone prison again; in two years, aged 38, he would be dead.

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Malta

The Knights of St John may have been aristocratic you’d see was rabbit, usually ‘in brown sauce’. But
warrior-medical monks, operating the biggest hospital there wasn’t a trace of rabbit on Tarragon’s menu
in the Med, but they had a light side: the next day now. Instead, we had exquisite seafood, served with
I entered the tiny baroque Manoel Theatre, built by a theatrical flair: smoked tuna and oysters, chilled in
Grand Master in 1731 to provide ‘honest entertainment’ liquid nitrogen; grilled barracuda and roast vegetables,
to the music-mad Maltese. Today it’s one of the world’s drizzled in olive oil. Part of Malta’s new cultural
oldest active theatres and the lady who runs the tour appeal is a revival and modernisation of the country’s
let me try out the original thunder-and-rain machines. cuisine, with its unique Arabic, Italian and even British
I was surprised to learn that several of the knights were influences – hence the delicious mushy-pea filling in
castrati. ‘Well, they wouldn’t let women sing, would pastizzi, Malta’s addictive flaky pastries.
they?’ she said. Nadine and Jules recommended an early boat tour
My second day in Malta coincided with the last day of the Blue Grotto, so off I went the next morning.
two French friends were spending on the island. Keen Motoring there drove home just how much Malta
divers, Nadine and Jules were here for the wrecks: epitomises ‘small is beautiful’: within 20 minutes of
“We come every year,” said Nadine. Malta’s waters are leaving Valletta and the traffic-clogged conurbation
rich in plane and shipwrecks, many of them scuttled around the Grand Harbour, I was looking down at
on purpose to attract marine life – and divers. They the sheer cliffs and tremendous soaring arch of the
invited me to meet for drinks at their hotel by Golden Blue Grotto. In the gentle light of a fresh day they
Sands Beach in St Paul’s Bay. We sat on the terrace radiated that unreal transcendence that occurs when
just steps above the sands, framed by a rugged, baked, pale limestone meets deep Mediterranean blue. In
crumbly headland. It was laid-back and utterly idyllic; the distance, the uninhabited islet of Filfla, Malta’s
the colours rich, the jazz soft, the last bathers gathering southernmost point, resembled a giant hat tossed
their things in slow motion, reluctant for the day to end. from the shore, floating away to Africa.
They had booked dinner at Tarragon, their favourite The captain took us around the headland, where
restaurant. Back in 1980 the food, while good and we were dwarfed by the natural flying buttress of the
filling, was not really one of Malta’s selling points. arch. The shimmering jewel colours of the sea were
Besides fries with everything, the only local dish hypnotic. Purple coral clung to the rock; schools of

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Opening pages: The Blue

silvery fish darted in the transparent water; a milky- delicate pink and purple wildflowers growing in dainty
Grotto. Previous page: Pretty white jellyfish pirouetted like a prima ballerina under arabesques out of fissures in the deeply weathered
streets in Valletta and Mdina.
These pages, clockwise from the boat. From here it was a short drive to the Dingli stones. With its five apses, originally covered with
top left: Marsaxlokk harbour; Cliffs. Flat-roofed cubic buildings and low-stone-walled corbelled domes, Ggantija resembles a chubby human
a Mdina phone box; the
Valletta skyline; a traditional fields covered the countryside, dotted with intense red body. The famous Fat Ladies – beautiful carved figures
fishing boat; cannons in the patches of poppies, as if the sky had planted lipstick of Neolithic divinities found on the sites – could pass for
Upper Barrakka Gardens
kisses on the land. I wandered amid the prehistoric sculptures by Botero. Maybe it’s something in the DNA
‘cart ruts’: parallel grooves cut into the bedrock that – even the Maltese joke about generous portions.
went every which way, even straight to the cliff’s My own Maltese ‘feast’ was dwindling, but there were
edge. The most sliced-up area is called Clapham some sumptuous treats left: I stayed at the Xara Palace,
Junction. Nobody knows the whats or whys, or even a boutique hotel in a 17th-century baroque palace in
how they were made. Prehistoric tools of granite Mdina, Malta’s ancient hilltop capital. Peace pervaded
(imported from far beyond Malta) were discovered everything, so after dinner on the last night I took a
nearby, adding to the mystery. stroll and realised why Mdina is called ‘the silent city’.
The ferry to Malta’s little sister Gozo departs on its Where the streetlight splashed the shadows of the
20-minute voyage from near here. I arrived to find narrow lanes, the walls shone like amber. Insanely
it less built-up, every bend in the road revealing ornate doorknockers and secret gardens marked the
stunning views over green fields, vines and olive palaces. From the ramparts I could see the Rotunda
groves, many hedged in prickly pear. Villages lined of Mosta, topped with Malta’s largest dome, festooned
ridges, piled under churches with prominent domes with lights like a Christmas bauble under a nearly full
standing proud on the horizon. moon. Only twice was the silence broken, by the ringing
Ggantija, the wreck I was keen to visit on Gozo, was of an old-fashioned telephone and clip-clopping of a
far, far older than those that attracted Nadine and faraway horse. And to think my friends had worried
Jules: one of the two megalithic temples at Ggantija that this island was a flat-pack hotel hell. Right here,
was built 5,600 years ago, pre-dating Stonehenge and right now, I couldn’t have been closer to heaven.
Egypt’s pyramids, making it one of the oldest free- Inspired to travel? To book a trip call +971 4 316 6666,
standing structures in the world. It was a picture, with or log onto dnatatravel.com

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Destinations
Monaco

GR ACEF U L
Sophistication, elegance, Michelin stars and
supercars; the cream of society assemble in the
regal Principality of Monaco, writes Chris Ujma

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Monaco

T here is timelessness to Monaco’s

arguably most famous former
resident. Straight from the
silver screen and into her real-life fairy
tale, Grace Kelly – she of enduring style
beloved upon sizeable yachts, not love
locks. It is around the harbour in which
these boating titans are berthed that the
grandstand for the annual Formula 1 Grand
Prix is assembled – later, when being
– became Princess of Monaco in 1956, chauffeured around the streets, you get a
and though the late star was by no means sense for the hairpin bends and breathe-in
the instigator of splendour here, she tightness that the highly tuned drivers have
embodies the aura of affluence. Similarly to navigate on race day (albeit at 209km/h).
timeless is the unspoken understanding When finally making a beeline to said
of sartorial standards and decorum that iconic ‘Place’, there are two ways to arrive.
silently emits from the Monte-Carlo district The more ‘look-at-me’ route is Avenue
outwards; when everyone is dressed to de Monte-Carlo, where sports cars slink
impress, elegance becomes normality. single-file around the bend, pausing (almost
Sophistication is effortless, not striven, deliberately…) long enough for gawping
and the air swirls with assumed success smartphone cameras, then purring past
– identifiers are not societal but literal the corner stores of Gucci and Van Cleef
labels, hand-sewn into couture. & Arpels. Alternatively, on foot you can
Monaco feels like Mont Agel stood resolute stealth in the back way along Avenue de
and the high-rise buildings, streets and la Costa. You’ll pass by ladies of leisure
boutiques were poured down the slopes in their oversized sunglasses (and the
from above, settling into the available requisite high-society accessories: haute
spaces within the rock (with Monte-Carlo horology creation; designer handbag; pint-
Golf Club placed 900m above sea level on sized pooch), tucking in around the back of
the mountain, in 1911). It’s a seven-hour Les Pavillons Monte-Carlo, a ‘temporary’
flight from Dubai (time that melts away creation in Boulingrins Gardens (for
on board a Wi-Fi-enabled Emirates flight),
followed by a 45-minute scoot from Nice On arrival, drink in
Côte d’Azur Airport through mountain
roads. The place is French-but-not-French,
astounding balcony-
and Italian is widely spoken: the House made views across
of Grimaldi lineage dates back over 700
years, and Monaco achieved autonomy
Port Hercules
in 1861 when it relinquished half of its the high-end boutiques of Chanel, Saint
territory to France in exchange for cash Laurent, Chopard et al) while the palatial
and independence – a move that gave away Hôtel de Paris undergoes restoration.
natural resources, but inspired the need for Place du Casino is cosily contained on
a new revenue stream. They turned their three sides: when standing front-face to
attention to tourism and entertainment. the belle époque-styled Opéra de Monte-
On arrival, the first inclination for the Carlo, the quaint Café de Paris sits on the
visitor is to make their way to Place du left (the perfect spot to people-watch, and
Casino, a Square that is the heart of the where well-dressed professionals clamour
Monte-Carlo district, and is a magnet for for a lunchtime table), with Hôtel de Paris
tourists and Monégasques. Actually, call on the right. The inner architecture of the
it the second urge: the actual first is to opera house is wondrous; the venue was
drink in astounding balcony-made views a resplendent injection of culture devised
across glittering Port Hercules, which is by Prince Charles III of Monaco in the
watched over by 18th-century Fort Antoine 1870s, designed by Charles Garnier, and
in Monaco-Ville ward on the far side. Every subsequently renovated in 2004. In the
property in Monaco is seemingly angled original intricate décor (loyally maintained
toward this watery focal point, where even by chief architect Alain-Charles Perrot
adoration takes on new realms: oligarchs during restoration) are three types of gold,
prove undying love with names of their generous use of the lyre symbol and large

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Opening pages: Monaco’s

stunning coastline. This page:
A street scene. Next pages,
clockwise from top left: A
royal guard at Palais du Prince;
one of many domed roofs;
homes built along the cliff’s
edge; cacti at Jardin Exotique;
the view from Jardin Exotique

windows overlooking the sea – enough

distraction to forgive observers for casting
their eye ceilingwards, as opposed to
toward the world-class avant-garde acts
occupying the stage.
From the main square, a stroll south
along Boulevard Louis II (which becomes
Avenue JF Kennedy) takes you back past
the harbour at street level, continuing on
past the pretty Church of Sainte Dévote
and heading towards Fontvieille; tourism-
wise, the southernmost ward is in the
gravitational orbit of the Palace of Monaco
and its stunning panoramas. The tree-
lined streets at this end of town are more
bustling, and it’s home to more affordable
shops and cafés (with red-clothed pavement
tables at which to sip a cup of restretto).
Should you ascend levels to reach vantage
points such as Esplanade Rainier III,
you’ll do so helped by the height of civility:
escalators ferry civilians up the incline.
Though opulence clearly abounds, there is
no velvet rope around the spotless streets
of this microstate: they’re walkable for all
soles, not paved with gold (even if they often
do lead to the doors of a luxury boutique).
For those who lack a homing-pigeon sense
of direction, pocket-sized Monaco is
easy to get to grips with; there are plenty
of enveloping corners, but it’s easy to
reacquire your bearings.
At least every 50 paces there’s a detail
to stoke inquisitiveness and plenty of
establishments you’ll lay eyes upon belong
to Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer
(or Monte-Carlo SBM), which presides
over the lion’s share of the entertainment,
hospitality, fine-dining and wellness
options in Monaco. SBM laid the foundation
for Monte-Carlo’s status as a destination
colossus – among the jewels in its case
are the breathtaking Salle Garnier and
Salle des Etoiles concert halls, the sea-
facing Thermes Marins spa and fitness
address, and properties such as Villa Vigie
(the former residence of Karl Lagerfeld),
the awe-inspiring Hôtel de Paris and the
160-year-old Hôtel Hermitage. The latter
is a notable local legend: a resplendent
example of nonpareil standards. It houses
a hallway designed by Gustav Eiffel, where
guests can enjoy breakfast under the glass

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Monaco

dome he also dreamt up; assistance comes setting in which to savour a famed, lighter- AS Monaco FC; as of 2016, 15 Michelin-star
from smartly dressed door staff in top hats, than-air almond soufflé. At Monte-Carlo enclaves; a cliffside botanical garden; and
sliding bespoke luggage into equally bespoke Bay Hotel & Resort, Blue Bay warrants museums respectively dedicated to stamps,
vehicles; in the abodes, the acclaimed similar plaudits: Marcel Ravin used local oceanography, local heritage, prehistoric
Diamond Suites are the pinnacle of luxury, Mediterranean and exotic Caribbean anthropology and the Prince’s vintage-car
with private access and stunning views of flavours to secure a place among Monaco’s collection. Another SBM asset, Jimmy’z
the Mediterranean Sea. Hôtel Hermitage is Michelin-star elite. Come nightfall, should Sporting Monte-Carlo, attracts the night
history, poetry and romance, encapsulated the soundtrack of blinging slot machines owls – the rich and famous after a slice of
in a property that has even bottled its own not be to your taste in glitzy Place du the club’s self-styled ‘haute-couture electro’.
signature scent. Casino, back at Hôtel Hermitage there’s In this playground of the elite, the refined
Of Monaco’s 37,000 population, 30% are let their hair down with acts of wealth,
said to be millionaires, and refined palates
are catered to here: jet in for a long weekend
It’s beautiful to behold not gaudy wildness (if there is hedonism,
it is neatly concealed). Monaco takes itself
and you’ll dine heartily with every meal of such sobriety; all chic, seriously, and it is beautiful to behold
the day. For example, Hermitage is home to
one such culinary highlight – Le Vistamar
no kitsch such sobriety; all chic, no kitsch, you
feel compelled to respectfully rise to the
and terrace – perfect for first-night dinner. a quieter place to end the evening: on the occasion. As a destination, it evoked in me
Brunch the following day should be terrace of Le Crystal with an aperitif. If the the Hardy Amies quote: “A man should
savoured at Monte-Carlo Beach Hotel’s Elsa, temperature dips they’ll issue a blanket, and look as if he had bought his clothes with
devised by chef Paolo Sari. Dining theatre the noise level in the streets below certainly intelligence, put them on with care, and
takes many forms here. Synchronised dips (save for the occasional throaty echo then forgotten all about them.” Centuries
waiters lift glass plate-covers to reveal of a passing supercar). ago, the Rock of Monaco was strategically
the 100% organic fare underneath – drama Monaco may only clock in at 2.2 sq km, chosen for its ability to protect. Now, the
matched by the breathtaking surroundings, but its footprint is comprehensive: a Principality assumes responsibility as
where upon a sun-soaked terrace you’re characterful high-end shopping centre – Le a guardian itself – of taste, class, and the
serenaded by the gentle cush of waves Métropole – with its chandeliers, wrought- finer things in life.
against the walls below, and protected by iron railings and marble staircases; a Inspired to travel? To book a trip, call +971 4
a mountainous backdrop. It’s the perfect football stadium for the hometown team 316 6666, or log onto dnatatravel.com

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Destinations
Thailand

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World Traveller

Beauty
East
& the

Katie Glass and her pal Zara mix health and

hedonism on holiday in Phuket – the luxury
destination that’s alluring a solely female demographic

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Thailand

A cork pops and music streams out

of our villa and over me as I float
belly-up in our private pool, deep
in post-massage bliss. Inside, rose petals
decorate the bathtub. The steam room is
on ‘full’. Beneath our deck, the Andaman
Sea shivers in the evening light.
Then the romance of the moment is
punctured by a scream – Cyndi Lauper
being turned up a notch on the stereo, and
a figure dive-bombing into the pool. “I bet
this is how Kate and Stella do holidays!”
yells Zara, who’s jumped in. You see, I’m
not sharing this ‘honeymoon’ moment with
a lover. Instead, I’ve gone on holiday with
my best friend.
As girlie holiday destinations go, Thailand
might not seem an obvious choice. It doesn’t
have the party reputation of Ibiza, the cool
appeal of New York, or even the sun, sea and
sangria potential of Marbella. If anything,
Thailand – and Phuket in particular –
conjures up an image of honeymooners,
backpackers or, worse, middle-aged men
seeking a different kind of loving.
But look closer at the sun-worshippers
in those beachside cabanas and you’ll find
an altogether more glamorous breed of
holidaymaker. Kate Moss has spent New
Year on the island with Naomi Campbell;
Kim Kardashian went with her whole
Amazonian clan: her mother and sisters
Kylie, Kendall and Khloé; Rihanna, too, took
a break in Phuket during her world tour.
So Zara and I were definitely up for a girlie
holiday here. Thailand is changing.
Admittedly, the first hotel we checked in
at, The Naka Island, was probably intended
for honeymooners – a private-island resort
reached by speedboat, out across clear blue
seas, where isles float like blossoming green
clouds. Stepping off the boat onto an empty
white-sand beach, we were presented with
fresh jasmine wrist garlands and invited to
ceremoniously bang a gong and welcome in
‘our new life together’. We giggled all the
way to our hotel villa, unsure what hotel
staff made of us.
We needn’t have worried. While in some
island idylls – say, the Caribbean or the
Maldives – it might be awkward to land
with your best friend in a lovers’ paradise,
in Thailand they go in for romance-lite. It’s
not about formal candlelit dinners, beach
weddings or some lovey-dovey ritual,
rather couples just enjoying the laid-back
vibe. The villa, stacked with fruit platters,
Ferrero Rocher, a spa menu and an iPod
pre-programmed with Bob Marley, was
far better to share with a girlfriend. We
lounged in our private sala – a little open-
roofed wooden outhouse overlooking the
beach – sharing gossip from a magazine,
delighted to be saved from socialising
around a hotel pool packed with a crowd
of other tourists. And it was definitely
a bonus when confronting a breakfast
banquet complete with pastries, churros
and sushi not to be worried about your
partner thinking you’re a pig.

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Previous pages: A
fisherwoman in Krabi.
These pages, clockwise from
left: A roadside stall in Patong;
an elephant in the jungle;
The Naka Island beachfront
spa. Next pages: Baba Nest.
Closing pages, clockwise
from top left: A seafood stand
on Rawai Beach; Laem Singh
headland; a Royal Horizon
Pool Villa at The Naka Island

For women, Thailand’s greatest advantage Cape Panwa peninsula, this rooftop bar is
over other destinations is how safe it feels. bounded by a wraparound infinity pool,
We were travelling alone and didn’t think creating the illusion of hovering between
twice about going out at night; we weren’t sea and sky. We felt as if we were floating as
hassled once. On our first night we ventured we sat on cushions around a sunken table.
to the frantic Bangla Road in the heart of Since I’ve already revealed this was a girls’
Patong. The Soho of Phuket, this notorious holiday, I may as well admit to our ‘girlie’
party area is a strip of hectic seafront on the behaviour. Having massively overpacked,
west coast. We prepared for sleaze but were we’d arrived with a family-sized suitcase
surprised to find the domestic and quirky each, plus hand luggage, with Zara also,
existing comfortably side by side in an inexplicably, carrying a fur coat. We needn’t
amusing and utterly non-threatening way. have bothered – shopping in Thailand is
Zara and I stifled laughs at the live bands phenomenally cheap and we made the most
playing hideously hilarious country-music of it. At the Talad Tai Rot night market, we
covers and teens rocking out in AC/DC loaded up on tie-dye then killed the hippy
T-shirts at heavy-metal bars. Among the vibe by buying rip-off designer sunglasses
less salubrious joints we found families, and bags – something you couldn’t dream
street entertainers, ice-cream shops, of doing on a shopping trip to New York.
fish pedicures, beauty salons (more on And when we weren’t shopping, we
which later) and, inexplicably, groups of were at the spa – in Thailand, people have
women playing Connect Four. If you’re a massages like they do Starbucks elsewhere.
girl with, say, a penchant for retro drinks, You can’t walk down any little street
there’s a place for you, too. The White without finding a group of women in silk
Box restaurant on nearby Kalim Beach is uniforms calling you inside for a body scrub.
a pale, glassy cube with blue neon lights Of course, we obliged. Nearly all the salons
and a deck perched over the sea, where have Wi-Fi, so we sat instagramming our
waitresses in nautical uniforms serve holiday while getting our pedicures done.
drinks to Argentinian lounge music. “It’s We were in seventh heaven to find
like Marbella – but better,” tittered Zara. prices so low. Had we gone to New York or
Thailand has sophisticated offerings for Ibiza, we’d have paid USD150 for a decent
girls on tour, too. You can avoid Patong massage. In Thailand, they set us back about
altogether and instead head to the exclusive USD13. In W’s Nail Spa in Phuket Town,
Baba Nest, which looks like an Asian we had super-cool manicures administered
Shoreditch House. High on the southern by a flamboyant technician who had done

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Thailand

Baba Nest is bounded by a

wraparound infinity pool,
creating the illusion of
hovering between sea and
sky. We felt as if we were
floating on cushions

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Thailand

Rihanna’s nails on her last trip. At Central a unique ‘active cleanse’ programme where On our last day, we hiked up into the
Festival, one of the island’s largest malls, you can choose between an extreme juice- Nakkerd Hills to see the 45m-high white
I had a full head of hair extensions fitted only diet or a buffet of raw vegan foods. marble Big Buddha, near Chalong Bay – so
for an outrageously low fee – so reasonable On site, we had an open-air ice bath, sauna big it’s visible all across southern Phuket.
(for such a good job), in fact, that the woman and private pool, but there would also be Buddhist monks in orange robes meditated
from the UK in the next chair confessed trips out for Muay Thai training, hot yoga, on the mountaintop. Monkeys jumped
she came to Phuket twice a year just to get circuits on the beach, mountain hikes, between trees hung with bells. It may have
hers done. Waxing, however, wasn’t such a meditation and raw-food cookery classes. a touristy vibe, with shops selling trinkets,
success. The naturally hair-free Thai girls but the undercurrent was quietly spiritual.
seemed so baffled by my leg stubble, it took Of course girls will love Thailand, where
more than two hours and was agonising. Phuket is the spiritual even the written language looks like cake
We spent 10 days in Phuket like this,
having beauty treatments and trying not
home of the detox, and decoration. It’s somewhere you can detox
and retox and, most importantly, relax in
to overindulge on the cheap and delicious one of the best places peace. Phuket’s also proud of its feminist
curries. But it wasn’t long before we realised
we’d become Buddha-shaped. It was time
in the world to do so past. At Amphoe Thalang, the Two
Heroines Monument remembers sisters
to try another girlie Thai tradition. Phuket Thao Thep Kasattri and Thao Sri Sunthon,
is the spiritual home of the detox, and one of Our fellow ‘cleansers’ were an eclectic mix who helped defeat Burmese invaders in 1785
the best places in the world to do so, in one of Australians, Brits, Hong Kong expats by disguising local women as male soldiers,
of its many yoga and wellbeing centres. We and Koreans. We started each morning thereby convincing Burma’s army that
took up residence at Phuket Cleanse, hidden with shots of spirulina. On day three I Phuket’s military manpower had increased
down a leafy backstreet in Rawai, a short skipped down to breakfast and whispered overnight. My enduring memory, though, is
walk away from stunning Nai Harn Beach, smugly across the table to Zara, “I’ve lost of girls giggling outside beauty parlours. I’ll
and just a 15-minute drive from Phuket four pounds!” She shrieked loudly in the just remember to take an epilator next time.
Town. Run by eccentric American hippies otherwise serene room, turning heads, “I’ve Inspired to travel? To book a trip call +971 4
Mel and Stanton, the retreat runs lost seven!” 316 6666, or log onto dnatatravel.com

62
September 2016
World Traveller

63
Weekends
Weekends Opener

Weekends
Two days is still plenty of time to travel

66 One Weekend For All: Lisbon

68 48-Hour Foodie: Ras al-Khaimah
69 Staycations
70 Great Escapes: Beachfront Bliss
74 Reader Offers

64
 September 2016
World Traveller

Paradise
Found
Make memories in
ancient Kalutara

H
aving opened its doors on the first
of the month, Anantara’s Kalutara
Resort ticks all the luxury boxes,
then adds a few more and ticks them, too.
Superbly located under two hour’s
drive from Colombo Airport, Kalutara is
the perfect base for a short break in the
teardrop island of Sri Lanka. Nestled into
the ruggedly beautiful southwest coast
and set among tropical gardens, every one
of the 141 rooms, suites and pool villas is
beautifully designed. Interiors are a fusion
of local charm and intricate craftsmanship
combined with contemporary furnishings
and accented by stunning views. Take
your pick from breathtaking scenes of the
Indian Ocean or the Kalu Ganga River,
perfectly framed by swaying coconut
palms. For true indulgence, check into With wellness concepts at its very core, boat or soak up the romance of a sunset
one of the spaciously appointed villas, Anantara knows how to spa and Kalutara river cruise. Relax into authentic luxury at
where you can relax in your own private is no exception. Restore harmony in body, Anantara Kalutara on Sri Lanka’s imposing
plunge pool and pretty garden terrace. mind and spirit by checking into an oasis southwest coastline and rest assured you’ll
Dining options abound, and rightly so of tranquillity where holistic Ayurvedic be returning home with tales of indulgence
– Sri Lanka is as famed for its cuisine as rituals, time-honoured treatments and and memories that will stay with you for
it is for its tea. Local delicacies are served ancient therapies await. Afterwards, a long time to come.
in Spice Traders alongside a culinary prolong your Zen with a yoga session
showcase of the best pan-Asian cuisine, on the pavilion. Open Now
while all-day dining at Olu offers live Spend your days swimming, sunbathing Be among the first to stay at Anantara
cooking stations and international food and basking in the resort’s exotic beauty Kalutara Resort and experience the warmth
under a lofty ceiling. Sample authentic or head out to discover more with scenic of Sri Lankan hospitality combined with
Italian cuisine crafted with passion at helicopter flights that reveal a bird’s eye Anantara’s signature service.
Acquolina, then head on over to The view of Kalutara’s exotic beauty. Guests For reservations email kalutara.resort@
Upper Deck, perfect for sundowners can opt to head out for a picnic beside a anantara.com, call +94 11 468 9689 or head
with a view to remember. waterfall, go river fishing on a traditional online to kalutara.anantara.com

65
Weekends
Lisbon For All...

One Weekend Clockwise from below:

Trams on Rua da Conceição;

For All In...

Palácio da Pena; pasteles
de nata; Mosteiro dos
Jerónimos Cathedral;

lisbon
rooftop views in Alfama

Year-round fine weather, soulful music,

charming cafés and a sumptuous dose
of culture: there’s plenty to love about
the Portuguese capital

The romantic one The family-friendly one

If hand-in-hand strolls are on Say hola to a view of the city
your agenda, Bairro Alto that will make the entire
Hotel in Chiado is centrally family say ‘wow’ by riding the
located and, ideal address Telecabine cable car. It glides
aside, has a rooftop bar with over the park area, estuary
a breathtaking view. For lunch, and by the 145m-tall Vasco da
Darwin’s Café is a stunning, Gama Tower for 20 minutes
colourful homage to the famed of total awe. The Sintra Toy
biologist, where views of the Museum has a more direct
Tagus River compete with childlike appeal. An immense
original drawings from Charles’ collection of 60,000 figures
own hand. Munch on affordable come to life (metaphorically)
fare while contemplating the to inspire the inner child of
millions of years of evolutionary every guest. Curious minds
fate that transpired, allowing will delight at the 8,000 aquatic
your love to bloom… Remaining species of marine life at the
with the admiration of nature, Oceanário de Lisboa, from
take a cruise in the Bay of toothy, menacing sharks to
Setubal – also known as the uttlerly cute sea otters. Parque
Bay of the Dolphins – where das Nações, meanwhile, is
Flipper and friends frolic, hunt ideal for the restless with bikes
and socialise. Lisbon’s pop-up- for hire, bowling, the Parque
book quality is apparent with do Gil playground and much
the views from Miradouro more. When hunger strikes,
Senhora do Monte, while Pregos da Peixaria is
old-fashioned romance takes a trendy seafood place with
shape with a horse-drawn fresh catches and tasty sushi,
carriage ride through Pena and is also (surprisingly) a
Park. The opportunity to watch great place for prego – a meat
the likes of Madama Butterfly at sandwich with a dash of
TNSC (or São Carlos Theatre) mustard. Getting to pick your
won’t occur until October, but fish from the tank will please
opposite the intricately designed your own tiddlers no end. Don’t
opera house is Belcanto. depart Lisbon without treating
With its two Michelin stars, the kids to the proclaimed
storytelling cuisine and elegant, ‘best ice cream in the world’,
industrial/Parisian-chic décor, following a tradition that dates
this is a sumptuous setting for back to 1949, with a visit to
a memorable candelit dinner. a Santini dessert parlour.

66
 september 2016
World Traveller

Did You Ask A

Know? local
• There’s been a noticeable “Start the day with a delicious
upsurge in new hotels croissant from Pastelaria
opening in the past year. Careca in Restelo, before taking
Fresh-faced LX Boutique a stroll along the river line in
Hotel and stylish Porto Bay Patrao dos Descobrimentos and
Liberdade lead the charge, Palacio de Belem. (I urge art
with the latter located a lovers to see which exhibit is
mere 60m from Portugal’s showing at nearby CCB.) Lunch
most luxurious shopping in Alfama at one of many great
avenue. This clutch of unique traditional restaurants. Also,
properties have enriched take time to stop at Miradouro
an already accomplished da Graça with its gorgeous
hospitality scene, whereby skyline view, before visiting
established favourites such Avenida da Liberdade (for its
as the elegant Olissippo high couture). End an afternoon
Lapa Palace Hotel and the with sunset at Terreiro do Paço,
Corinthia Hotel Lisbon to watch the 25 de Abril Bridge
provide stunning views and light up at dusk.”
impeccable levels of service. - Catarina CR

The adventurous one The restful one

Looking for hours on the open There’s nothing like a spot of
ocean? Book some tailored retail therapy to soothe the soul.
time aboard a boat skippered Avenida da Liberdade, Rua
by the Spica Sailing Team, Castilho, Chiado and Rua
whose crew guarantee a party da Escola Politécnica are
atmosphere. Burst out of indoor within a relatively new area of
galleries for a fascinating four- boutiques and indoor markets
hour Street Art Tour led in which to seek those pick-me-
by Vasco T Rodrigues (who is up purchases. There’s plenty
arguably Portugal’s foremost to choose from: standouts for
graffiti and urban-culture the men are Rosa & Teixeira
expert), or instead opt for and Oficina Mustra, while
a Lisbon Surf Tour, which Stivali provides sleek offerings
includes equipment hire and for the ladies. Altis Belém
surfing the waves off Guincho Hotel & Spa is a luxury base
or at Costa de Caparica. Trade away from the city centre for
balancing on your own two legs some peace, quiet and a dose
for those of a Lusitano horse; of wellness. On the culture
there are local riding tours, trail, Museu Berardo is a
and even sessions on horseback contemporary-art treasure
in Cascai (on the grounds of trove. The museum is settled in
Quinta da Marinho Resort). the same area as the UNESCO-
For a high-altitude adventure, listed and fantastical Mosteiro
the Sintra Natural Park dos Jerónimos Cathedral – it
has excellent rock-climbing was commissioned to celebrate
opportunities. Back in the city, Vasco da Gama’s 1498 discovery
internationally renowned venue of a sea route to India. Take time
Lux is a nightclub partly owned to sink teeth into a pastry called
by John Malkovich. Expect pastel de nata from the vendors
a queue to get into this ice-cool here, too. Top up inner peace
venue (it’s a known ‘name’ of at the award-winning spa of
Lisbon nightlife). This last tip the Four Seasons Hotel Ritz
slightly cheats: Lisbon acts as Lisbon: think heated limestone
the starting point for a fantastic floors, sauna and steam
four-day Motorbike Tour of rooms. PS Don’t forget the
southern Portugal, taking in Estoril, Cascais and Oeiras
green valleys, wide plains and coastline, and its unspolit
plenty of Portuguese cuisine. beaches: rugged and pretty.

67
Weekends
48-Hour Foodie

48-Hour Foodie
Ras al-Khaimah
The UAE’s northernmost emirate, with its white beaches,
high mountain ranges and rolling waves, isn’t just the gateway
to the Musandam peninsula – it’s also a great spot for foodies,
especially those with a penchant for fresh seafood

DAY ONE DAY TWO

Breakfast Breakfast
Get your trip off to a great start with the breakfast spread at Seven Head to Al Marjan Island Resort and Spa for breakfast by the
Heights in Rixos Bab Al Bahr. Whether you want fresh fruit and sea. Take a pew on the terrace and dine beachside, or head indoors,
creamy yoghurt, deliciously buttery pancakes, eggs and sausage or where colourful Arabian-inspired artwork pairs well with marine-
even Chinese-style noodles, you’ll find it all here. The décor hints coloured furniture. Take your pick from a huge variety of breakfast
at Arabian traditions and the alfresco terrace, surrounded by pools dishes including eggs whichever way you desire. We recommend
of water, makes for a lovely spot to enjoy your morning coffee. It’s the shakshouka, where eggs are cooked sunny-side up and served
among the reasons this hotel gets booked up so quickly, and is a in a skillet of tasty tomato and pepper sauce: truly delicious.
worthy breakfast stop for the day tripper. babalbahr.rixos.com marjanislandresort.com/dining

Lunch Lunch
You’d be forgiven for driving past Al Moohit on Al Khor Road For those craving a taste of home, The Village English Pub
– the faded red carpet leading to a door marked with a chef’s hat- at Al Hamra offers a wonderful traditional lunch. This ‘local’ is a
wearing cartoon fish is certainly quirky. But don’t. Inside, once you tribute to all things England, expect dark wood tables and racing-
get past the colourful waves painted on the walls and the bright green quilted seats. The atmosphere is cosy, the staff are friendly
purple and green place mats, you’ll find some of the best seafood and the food is definitely comforting. Try the English Club House
around. Choose from the well-stocked fresh fish counter or go for sandwich or go all traditional with a tasty portion of Blighty’s
the seafood platter – packed with prawns, fish fillets, calamari and famous fish and chips – scrumptious British-style pub grub,
mussels, it’s perfect for sharing. Facebook: Al-moohit-restaurant guaranteed. alhamravillage.com/dine/english-pub.html

Dinner Dinner
For delicious fare with a strong Mediterranean vibe, try Basilico To truly round off your Ras al-Khaimah weekend in style, dinner
at The Cove Rotana Resort – our favourite of their six culinary at Al Waha in the Banyan Tree Al Wadi is a must. The restaurant
venues. Dining in this scenic spot, which comes with gorgeous name means ‘oasis’ in Arabic and, set amid rolling sand dunes, it
sunset views, you’ll feel like you’re a million miles from the city, lives up to its moniker. New chef de cuisine Tamer Alnoty serves a
in an idyllic location. There’s something for everyone with a great fantastic array of Middle Eastern cuisine, taking influences from
selection of risottos, pizzas, salads, soups and seafood. Try the Greece, Italy, Asia and beyond. Beautifully plated, we recommend
grilled sea bass, crusted with garlic and veal bacon, and leave room the couer de saumon fumé to start, followed by freshly caught
for dessert – the potted chocolate cheesecake hits all the right seafood, all enjoyed under the twinkling desert skies.
sweet notes. rotana.com/rotanahotelandresorts/rasalkhaimah banyantree.com/en/em-uae-al-wadi/al-waha

68
 September 2016
World Traveller

Staycations
Desirable hotel hot spots on the
GCC doorstep, for a relaxing
weekend escape

Kempinski Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton, Al Faisaliah The Regency

Palm Jumeirah Doha Hotel & Suites Kuwait
Refined Residences Arabian Opulence Saudi Sophistication The Most On The Coast
kempinski.com/en/dubai/ ritzcarlton.com/en/hotels/ lhw.com/hotel/al-faisaliah- theregencykuwait.com
palm-jumeirah/ qatar/doha hotel-riyadh-saudi-arabia

Location Location Location Location

Dubai Qatar Saudi Arabia Kuwait
On the Palm’s secluded west Upon an island parcel on the On King Fahd Road – the same 15km away from the city centre,
crescent: remote, yet with direct fringe of The Pearl, assuring street as the Sky Bridge and it’s on the shoreline right on the
access to Sheikh Zayed Road stunning Arabian Gulf views four malls (one right next door) edge of Kuwait Bay

In a nutshell In a nutshell In a nutshell In a nutshell

An all-suite resort with One of the most elegant Al Faisaliah Hotel has 224 Gourmet dining, stylish living
European styling and a palatial properties in the Qatari capital, rooms and five-star luxury; Al spaces, stunning surrounds
aura, set in five acres of and a highlight of the ‘Lion and Faisaliah Suites is Riyadh’s only and an ideal location for local
stunning grounds. A city escape Crown’ brand’s global portfolio dedicated luxury-suite property exploration. True elegance

On-site highlight On-site highlight On-site highlight On-site highlight

Its 500m-long private beach: The Spa seals the deal. Aqua and With its shimmering crystals, An abundance of water: two
overlook the azure lagoon while fitness facilities appeal to the soothing waterfalls, lounges and beaches, five freshwater
lounging in a cabana. GCC active; those seeking wellness a hammam, Al Faisaliah Spa by swimming pools and an infinity
residents can avail the Beach are treated to ‘traditional Arabic ESPA is a haven of relaxation... pool. The Ladies Lounge gives
Club, with an array of privileges principles, Asian traditions and but sorry gentlemen, this retreat exclusive access to a private
and choice of memberships progressive European concepts’ only caters to the ladies pool, beach and indoor lounge

Selected suite Selected suite Selected suite Selected suite

Suite? Try a hotel penthouse. The Grand Amiri is a space Take a private elevator to the A living area, dining room for
The Superior four-bedroom filled with huge bedrooms, a Royal Penthouse Suite, which eight, hand-carved bed and
version has three king rooms luxurious living room, Jacuzzi spans the fourth and fifth floors. floor-to-ceiling Arabian Gulf
and a twin, plus terraces with and marble bathrooms, plus a Avail the personal butler, and views: the Abdul Razzaq Suite is
views of the Dubai cityscape balcony with Doha vistas never leave the suite... named after the hotel’s founder

Cuisine Cuisine Cuisine Cuisine

For alfresco, the Beach BBQ hits Elegant La Mer on the 23rd floor The Globe is a sight to behold, Sample High Tea in the ornate
the spot. Refined dining comes is fine-dining seafood fare with with panoramas from within the marble lobby with its glass
in the shape of Brunello, with its a reputation that’s hard to rival. spectacular golden sphere atop atrium, plus attend the famed
‘seasonal menus; hymns to Italy’ For Italian, opt for Porcini the Al Faisaliah Tower Friday Brunch at Silk Road

69
Weekends
Great Escapes

GREAT ESCAPES
bliss on
the beach
A look at four properties within weekend
reach that are each blessed with an
exquisite parcel of sand

70
 September 2016
World Traveller

1. 2.

1.
Meeru Island Resort
& Spa, Maldives
As the solitary property here,
guests are assured every inch
of beach that fringes the island
is theirs to tread. These soft,
white sands long to be padded
upon, from the chalet-style
bungalows on the northern tip
and back – the island itself is
only 1200m by 350m. Daydream
away of tranquillity, and a
calming turquoise lagoon...

2.
Sheraton Grand Doha
Resort & Hotel, Qatar
3. The pyramidal luxe high-rise is
located on the shores of West
Bay, right on the corner of the
yawning Doha Corniche. Haute
waterfront suites overlooking
Gulf Bay are a highlight, but
this is the ideal location to
be close to the beach and
within easy reach of the city
centre, with a skyline backdrop.
Outside guests who fancy a
day of leisurely sunsoaking are
welcome, too, by obtaining a
Day Pass/Beach Access.

3.
Jumeirah Beach
Hotel, Dubai
The multi-award-winning Dubai
icon boasts plenty of desirable
features, from suites with ocean
views to those granting direct
access to the ever-popular
Wild Wadi Water Park – a real
draw for visiting families. But
one of its main assets is a great
4.
stretch of private beach that
shapes along the Arabian Gulf.
The wave-shaped hotel is mere
footsteps away from real swells.

4.
The H Resort Beau
Vallon Beach,
Seychelles
The island of Mahé provides
the setting for H’s exquisite
boutique property. Elegantly
designed suites and villas boast
day beds inside and out, while
some feature private pools, too.
But tough though they are to
vacate, the Beau Vallon Beach
is a naturally beautiful amenity
you’ll instantly adore.

71
Weekends
Abu Dhabi

City of
Symphony
Orchestral movements bring
the emotion of the silver screen
to life in rousing fashion

W
hat shall it be: a night at the music from blockbuster film Star Trek Into entertainment and cultural offerings
movies or a cultured date Darkness, as well as an exciting world taking place in Abu Dhabi this autumn,
with the orchestra? Why premiere from the award-winning composer visit tcaabudhabi.ae
not experience both. The National James Griffiths, Starlight Horizon. There’ll
Symphony Orchestra (NSO) presents be a special arrangement of classics from Stay here
A Night At The Movies... EXTREME! the Cartoon Network, too, featuring the Eastern Mangroves Hotel & Spa
at the resplendent Emirates Palace Emirati cartoon character Mansour. The by Anantara is not merely a haven of
Auditorium on 30 September. musical spectacular culminates with the hospitality – it’s an integrated hotel,
Ever popular with audiences young choral theme Ode To Joy from Beethoven’s marina, retail and residential destination.
and old alike, this year’s movie night Ninth Symphony – an epic piece performed While it invokes traditional Arabian design
will raise the curtain on the orchestra’s with the full might of the 100-voice NSO elements, Anantara’s majestic property also
fifth annual season and follows its recent Symphony Chorus, alongside guest soloists. brings a taste of the exotic to Abu Dhabi.
acclaimed performances accompanying The night will cap a month that is chock- As its name suggests, the hotel overlooks
both classical maestro Andrea Bocelli full of fascinating events, as the Abu Dhabi the fascinating Eastern Mangrove Lagoon
and Disney’s Frozen. Proceedings will Summer Season enters its final flourish National Park, a slice of nature in a bustling
be conducted by music director Andrew with various comedy stylings, as well as emirate. The hotel is an urban sanctuary
Berryman, and the concert promises an The District programme, designed to imbibe itself, with 222 rooms and suites crowned
array of tantalising movie-themed treats 14- to 22-year-olds with new skills, support by the Royal Mangroves Residence,
to excite the musical palate. and guidance. Everything is in place this complete with private entrance and rooftop
The NSO has delved into its music box September for memories to be made (and pool. There’s also the Kasara Club Floor and
to bring to life treasures from Disney’s family time to be shared) in the UAE capital. lounges, three dining enclaves, an infinity
Fantasia, with extracts from Stravinsky’s Tickets for A Night At The Movies... pool and, of course, the famed Anantara Spa
amazing The Firebird. And, staying on EXTREME! are available at ticketmaster. – all set against an utterly serene backdrop,
trend, attendees will also be treated to ae; to explore the full range of no less. abu-dhabi.anantara.com

72
 WHERE
COULD
YOU BE?
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than you think with
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Weekends
dnata Offers

WORLD TRAVELLER

Weekend Reader Offers To book, call +971 4 316 6666, visit a

dnata outlet or log on to dnatatravel.com

Jumeirah At Etihad Towers Grand Millennium Al Wahda

The Ritz-Carlton DIFC Marriott Marquis City Center Doha Hotel

Four Seasons Bahrain Bay

Qatar until 4pm, and 30% discount

Marriott Marquis City on food and beverages
Center Doha Hotel Includes: Stay in a Deluxe
1 night from USD86 per person Room with breakfast
Special offer: Special Eid Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016
al-Adha offer
Includes: Stay in a Deluxe Anantara The Palm
Room with breakfast 1 night from USD137
DAMAC Maison Canal Views
Validity: 3-17 Sep 2016 per person*
Special offer: 20%
UAE discount on room rate The Ritz-Carlton DIFC Bahrain
Jumeirah At Includes: Stay in a 2 nights from USD229 Four Seasons
Etihad Towers Premier Lagoon View per person* Bahrain Bay
1 night from USD69 per person* Room with breakfast Special offer: 10% discount 1 night from USD196
Special offer: Late check-out Validity: Now ’til 6 Oct 2016 on room rate, complimentary per person*
until 2pm and guaranteed upgrade to an Executive Suite, Special offer: Summer
interconnecting rooms DAMAC Maison 2 children below 12 years promotional rates
Includes: Stay in a Deluxe Canal Views stay and eat for free when Includes: Stay in a Superior
Room with breakfast 1 night from USD61 accompanied by at least 1 paying Room with breakfast
Validity: Now ’til 17 Sep 2016 per person* adult, 20% discount on food Validity: Now ’til 15 Sep 2016
Special offer: Summer and beverages in selected
Grand Millennium promotional rates restaurants, and 25% discount
Al Wahda Includes: Stay in a on selected spa treatments
1 night from USD41 per person* Deluxe Downtown View Includes: Stay in a Junior
Special offer: 25% discount Room with breakfast Suite with breakfast *Rates may vary during the Eid
on room rate, late check-out Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 Validity: Now ’til 30 Sep 2016 period from 8 to 16 Sep 2016

74
 September 2016
World Traveller

WIN!
An appealing stay at the
luxury Banana Island
Resort Doha by Anantara
Arabian style with signature
Anantara touches, 800m of
private beach, a dedicated
Balance Wellness Centre – the
only one of its kind in the Middle
East – and eight mouthwatering
dining options. Yes, this resort
is a masterpiece, set upon a
distinctive crescent-shaped
island in the Arabian Gulf, only
25 minutes by luxury ferry from
downtown Doha. For the chance
to win two nights in a premier
room (including breakfast) for
two people, just complete this
hotel-themed statement:

Banana Island Resort Doha

is shaped like a...

A) Triangle
B) Crescent
C) Heart

Email your answer to easywin@

hotmediapublishing.com by
30 September 2016.
Flights to Doha not included in the prize.
Stay not available during public holidays and
weekends; advanced booking must be made.
Valid for 6 months from closing date.

75
Weekends
Suite Dreams

Suite
Dreams

What:
Golden Gate View Suite
Where:
Cavallo Point – the
Lodge at the Golden Gate,
San Francisco
About:
At the turn of the last century,
Cavallo Point – the Lodge at the
Golden Gate served as a home
for army personnel, due to its
convenient position at the mouth
of San Francisco Bay. Now
it serves as one of America’s
most charming hotels, with 74
newly constructed rooms and
suites added to the wonderfully
characterful rooms that housed
the military staff. Among those
new is the Golden Gate View
Suite, where design highlights
include a two-sided fireplace
– perfect for those chilly San
Francisco dawns. But the star
of the show is of course the
Golden Gate Bridge, a moniker
that sounds a great deal more
alluring than International
Orange Gate Bridge (how it
would be known if its true
colour were referenced).
Each day this wonderful suite
provides the perfect vantage
point to see the iconic landmark
gradually reveal its full glory.
Low-hanging fog shrouds the
bridge for much of the morning,
with just a burst of orange above
the clouds offering a tantalising
hint of what lies beneath.
Slowly, the fog dissipates and
the bridge stands fully exposed,
resplendent in the San Francisco
sun. An icon of America
observed without even having
to open your door.
Cavallo Point – the Lodge at
the Golden Gate is a member
of the Preferred Hotels &
Resorts LVX Collection

76
 Spend your summer in Abu Dhabi with superb
entertainment across the emirate for all the
family including live concerts, amazing theatre
shows, great comedy and your favourite kids'
characters live on stage!

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KEY MAP Official Hotel Official Event Partners Official TV Official Media Official Airline Organised by
Partner Partner Partner Partner
Abu Dhabi
Al Ain
Al Gharbia
 JW MARRIOT T® MARQUIS DUBAI

Destination of Exceptional Taste.

Experience a world of choice with authentic flavors
at a myriad of award-winning restaurants and lounges.

PERUVIAN FOOD & DRINKS TO SHARE

Sheikh Zayed Road, Business Bay, PO Box 121000, Dubai, UAE | T +971 4 414 0000, F +971 4 414 0001 | jwmarriottmarquisdubai.com
JW Marriott Marquis Dubai | @JWDubaiMarquis | JWMarriottMarquisDubai