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50 Indulgent Spas
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By: Judy Chapman, Issue 36 – Spring 2008
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( Spas, Switzerland - Hong Kong - India - UK - Thailand - Carribean - Italy - Philippines - Bali - Australia - Kerela - United States - Maldives - Indonesia - France - Czech Republic - China - Dubai - Seychelles. )
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WE TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THE PLANET’S MOST UNASHAMEDLY OPULENT PALACES OF PAMPERING, PREENING AND SHEER INDULGENCE
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Stillness. Silence and self-indulgence. Today’s spas offer so much more than a massage. What makes a stand out spa is also its architecture, eco-facilities and unique approach to treatments, as well as authentic holistic, detox and medical facilities. Torn between what spa to choose? Luxury Travel Magazine presents 50 of the world’s finest.
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INDULGENT HOTEL SPAS
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The Dolder Grand Spa, Zurich, Switzerland
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Zurich’s newest spa at the historical hotel overlooking the Alps is designed by spa expert, Sylvia Sepielli and is home to a stunning Aqua Zone. Europe-meets-Japan with heated pebbled floors, outdoor whirlpools and steam baths. Added to this a menu of world-class anti-aging and health prevention programmes.
www.thedoldergrand.com
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The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong
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A sensual world lies inside this 1930’s Shanghai style spa featuring exotic Eastern treatments and the city’s only dedicated Ayurvedic suite. Cashed up? Stay overnight in ‘The Mandarin Suite’, equipped with your own steam room and oversized tub with hydrotherapy jets overlooking Hong Kong’s skyline.
www.mandarinoriental.com
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Taj Lake Palace, Udaivillas, India
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Immerse in the mystical atmosphere of ancient India inside opulent spa suites and indulge in time-honoured treatments infused with local oils, spices and herbs. The adjoining Lake Palace Pool is the place to cool down after a session in the mosaic-tiled steam room.
www.tajhotels.com
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The Oberoi Spa Udaivillas, Udaipur, India
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Warm sesame oil, milk & rose baths and herbal Sandalwood scrubs. For total indulgence take treatments in opulent spa suites with views across Rajasthan’s Lake Pichola and City Palace. Recommended is the three-hour ‘Royal Treasures’ ritual that includes a signature Oberoi massage.
www.oberoihotels.com
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Mandarin Oriental, London
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Still ranked as London’s best for its luxury glamour and treatments. Where better to hide away from the world than on the ground floor of this distinguished hotel? Stillness is all yours when inside the Amethyst Crystal Steam room. Don’t miss a session with the terrific Chinese doctor.
www.mandarinoriental.com
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The Peninsula, Bangkok
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Quiet and nurturing describes the loveliest hotel spa where Thai-colonial treatment rooms feature the most luxurious massage beds in town. Book the River Suite and ‘Freedom of Mind’ journey created by spa manager Richard Williams who delivers a joy- inducing visualisation before therapists bestow a holistic massage. We also adore the Peninsula Hong Kong spa (pictured) for its sheer style.
www.peninsula.com
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Como Shambhala, Parrot Cay, Carribean
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Where well-heeled yogi’s like to stretch their limbs against the Carribean sun. Attracts the Who’s Who of celebrities. The secluded island is also home to the region’s most gorgeous Como Shambhala spa where therapists deliver Asian-inspired holistic experiences.
www.parrotcay.como.bz
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INDULGENT DETOX SPAS
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Espace Henri Chenot at Palace Merano, Dolomites, Italy
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Where folk like Princess Caroline and John Galliano head for regeneration. Set in a grand old hotel, the entire building is now devoted wholly to wellness (there are no hotel guests) with a team of expert doctors, nutritionists and therapists at your beck and call. Nutritious cuisine and cutting-edge diagnostics.
www.palace.it
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Puriti Programme, Four Seasons Resort, Koh Samui
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The Lamborghini of cleansing retreats, stay in lush hillside villas and purify on shakes, juices, herbal supplements, yoga and spa treatments. Once you’ve had a taste of ‘detox in luxury’ however, its like flying business class – its very hard to go back to anything less.
www.fourseasons.com
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The Farm At San Benito, Philippines
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Recently taken over by the Alila Hotels and Resorts, expect upgraded accommodation and top notch spa facilities yet with the ‘food as thy medicine’ philosophy still in tact. The Farm is well-regarded for its organic raw food cuisine, lectures, medical facilities and health practitioners.
www.alilahotels.com
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Kamalaya, Koh Samui, Thailand
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Self-worship your body on nutritional cuisine, cleansing juices and therapeutic spa treatments at this gorgeous sanctuary. Considered the next generation of health retreats, Chinese doctors, health practitioners and healers work efficiently to achieve guest’s wellbeing at a cellular level. Cures include infrared sauna and colon hydrotherapy.
www.kamalaya.com
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Como Shambhala Estate, Bali
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Purify your soul amid untouched forest and sacred rivers where accommodation is villa style and facilities are world class. Popular are the Cleansing Programmes that work on the lymphatic system, liver, kidney and skin. Tailor-made packages comprise health consultations, colonic hydrotherapy and prescribed herbal cleansers.
www.comoshambhala.bz
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INDULGENT YOGA SPA DESTINATIONS
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Gaia Retreat, Australia
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Spending time at this eco-chic retreat feels restorative. Stay in rustic but well- appointed cabins and embark on yoga sessions led by Byron’s elite instructors. In-between, splurge on holistic spa treatments in the Amala Spa, delivered by quality healers and masters.
www.gaiaretreat.com.au
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Shreyas Retreat, Bangalore, India
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Self-indulgence is also about giving back and here guests are invited to help cook and serve food to the local community and work in the Permaculture gardens. The brainchild of investment banker turned soul searcher, Pawan Malik, accommodation is pavilion-style with five-star facilities, organic food and daily yoga.
www.shreyasretreat.com
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INDULGENT AYURVEDIC SPAS
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Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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The Mandarin Oriental’s first Destination Spa is also home to the world’s luxurious Ayurvedic destination. Check in for stress management, rejuvenation and weight-loss programmes that include traditional and science-based diagnostics. Awe-inspiring is the adjoining Mandalay Palace spa where treatments are inspired by ceremonies culled from Northern Thailand, India and Burma.
www.mandarinoriental.com
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Kalari Kovilakom, Kerala
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Located at the Annamalai foothills in Kerala, this restored ancient palace is the ideal backdrop to take week and month-long Ayurvedic sabbaticals. On offer are weight-loss, de-stress, detox and panchakarma packages - all monitored by top-class Ayurvedic physicians.
www.kalarikovilakom.com
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SUITESINDIGENOUS RITUALS
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Gwinganna Signature Spa Ritual
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Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat, Australia Smudge stick ceremonies and Tibetan chimes, Japanese tea ceremonies and tarot card reading. Listen to the sound of live didgeridoo as you are lathered in organic clays and oils during the four-hour hedonistic journey offered in a temple-like spa suite overlooking a spring-fed billabong.
www.gwinganna.com
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‘Himalayan Tsangpo Ritual’, Chi Spa, Shangri-la, Bangkok
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Based on the Sowa Rigpa 1500 year-old Himalayan healing traditions, this sacred experience is bestowed in a cave-like spa suite. The treatment includes a Himalayan salt scrub performed on a heated stone slab, generous head and shoulder massage and a soak in the Blue Moon Spring Bath reminiscent of Himalayan moon-lit rivers.
www.shangri-la.com/en/corporate/chi
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INDULGENT SPA
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VIP Suite, The Spa, Mandarin Oriental, New York
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Do you seek an over-the-top spa experience for yourself and a loved one? Book the 650-square-foot VIP Spa Suite, the first of its kind in New York. Features include a fireplace, dual massage beds, private steam room plus an elevated tub overlooking Manhattan’s skyline.
www.mandarinoriental.com
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The Private Reserve, Soneva Gili, Maldives
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Go all out and stay in the largest over-water eco-villa in the world fitted out with spa, steam room, yoga space & gym. Picture open-air walkways and 360 degrees of tranquil sea. Only accessed by boat, skilled therapists float their way to you – literally!
www.sixsenses.com
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Spa Cottages, I.Sawan Grand Hyatt, Bangkok
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Call ahead and the mini-bar and in-room dining will be customized with organic and herbal options. Order yoga instructors – yoga mats and wellbeing DVDs provided. Each of these all-encompassing spa cottages boast its own treatment area and steam shower.
www.isawan.hyatt.com
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INDULGENT RESORT SPAS
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Bulgari Resort, Bali
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Where Italy meets Bali. We can’t recommend this spa highly enough for its stunning villas and impeccable service. Entrance through a traditional Joglo façade leads you to spa villas resting on a cliff where the sounds of waves make the ultimate spa music.
Treatments by ESPA are flawless.
www.bulgarihotels.com
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Four Seasons, Chiang Mai, Thailand
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Consistently rates among the world’s top destinations for its calming mountain views and atmosphere. The spa features seven lush villas with oversized bath tubs, steam rooms and relaxation areas. Creative treatments by Thai brand, Ytsara, are organic and deliciously fragrant.
www.fourseasons.com
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INDULGENT ECO-SPAS
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Nihiwatu, Sumba Island, Indonesia
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A soulful eco-resort with luxurious beachfront bungalows and Jungle Spa with a menu of wellness and beauty treatments, yoga studio and infinity pool. However, it’s the ‘Sumba Foundation’, set up by the owners to help alleviate poverty in nearby villages, where guests can also get involved, that makes this one a stand out.
www.nihiwatu.com
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Themae, Paris
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Not far from The Louvre, creators have blended Japanese zen with the warmth from Morocco. Picture rendered walls, candle-lit corridors and harmonious colours. Treatments are called ‘ceremonies’ and there’s a focus on tea-based rituals. Sumptuous is the ‘Hammam Ritual’ where you are lathered in black olive soap upon a heated marble slab.
www.themae.fr
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Le Mosquee, Paris, France
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Indulgence doesn’t always need to cost a fortune. Located in the Latin quarter, the white domed building is France’s oldest place of Islamic worship and houses a traditional Hammam. Move through several steamy chambers that feature high ceilings and rose coloured marble pillars. Moroccan women deliver affordable massages and black olive ‘gommage’ scrubs. Entrance is around AUD$40. Stay all day.
www.la-mosquee.com
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Cornelia Day Resort, New York
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Considered Gotham city’s most elite sanctuary, a two-storey 22,000 square foot spa featuring Moroccan tiles and a rooftop garden. The spa’s crowning glory is a Watsu pool to float and dream about underneath the stars. Equally alluring are facials given with rubies and emeralds.
www.cornelia.com
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Aurora Spa Retreat, Melbourne
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It’s all warm and dreamy inside this luxe facility located in the heart of St. Kilda. Popular is the soothing two-hour ‘Pregnancy Retreat’ that comprises a one-hour Pregnancy Massage, Express Facial and a Guided Meditation Wrap, performed in a comfy recliner for mothers-to-be.
www.aurorasparetreat.com
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INDULGENT DAY SPAS
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Kirana Spa, Bali
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Considered the most stunning day destination in South East Asia with its soothing architecture of all-white stone villas overlooking the pristine jungles. Feeling extravagant? Book the four-hour programme at the President Villa fitted out with a herbal mist sauna, dry sauna, pool and daybed.
www.kiranaspa.com
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INDULGENT DAY ARCHITECTURE
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Therme Vals, Switzerland
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Where centuries-old thermal springs meet sensual modern design. Created from 60,000 slabs of Valser Quartzie local stone, this spa has been referred to as a ‘lesson in courage and aesthetics’. Six stunning pools are fed by spring water flowing from Saint Peters spring. Treatments include Ayurvedic, stone and lymphatic massages.
www.therme-vals.ch
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Tschuggen Bergoase, Arosa, Switzerland
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Accessed via a glass bridge, this granite stone spa spreads across four floors and is considered one of the world’s most innovative spa concepts. First class offerings include wellness and medi-spa treatments, kniepp, heat and water facilities. Unique is the ‘Arosa Mountain Grotto’ where guests pass through a rain curtain into seasonal therapy rooms.
www.tschuggen.ch
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Fontaverde, Tuscany, Italy
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Located amid the Sienese landscape this former Medici hunting lodge, home to natural thermal waters, now houses contemporary wellness, medical and beauty facilities. Take rejuvenating dips in the therapeutic swimming pools and dine on fresh Tuscan cuisine. Don’t miss a session with the great Indian masseur ‘Dipu’.
www.fonteverdespa.com
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The Barai, Hua Hin, Thailand
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Inspired by the rich traditions and glorious temples of South East Asia’s past including the Angkor Wat, this sacred spa offers a journey like no other. Departure is through a stunning zen tranquility courtyard. Even better stay in an adjoining residential suite
equipped with your own steam room and treatment area.
www.thebarai.com
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The Mandarin Oriental, Prague
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Built inside a former renaissance chapel it is little wonder the atmosphere here feels hushed and sacred. Sample indigenous Czech experiences like the ‘Barley Ritual’ inspired by the tradition of monks brewing beer in monasteries. There’s private access for hotel guests and a Monastery Lounge where afternoon tea is served daily.
www.mandarinoriental.com
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INDULGENT ISLAND SPAS
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One&Only Reethi Rah, Maldives
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Since when did island spas become so wellness focused? Arguably one of the most heavenly spas in the world, ‘Wellness Journey’ are designed to keep guests toned, cleansed and rejuvenated. As well, divine ESPA facials and scrubs are made from exquisite aromatic oils.
www.oneandonlyresorts.com
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Banyan Tree Spa, Phuket, Thailand
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The Banyan Tree’s flagship spa is still a hot favourite for spa-goers, perhaps due to the luxe architecture and treatments to boot. New is the ‘Master Therapist Programme’, 120-minute sessions performed by an elite group of therapists renowned for their experience and intuitive sense of touch.
www.banyantreespa.com
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MOST INDULGENT VIEWS
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Anantara Spa, Commune by The Great Wall Kempinski, Beijing
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We couldn’t think of a more incredible backdrop to sample Chinese massages and rituals originating from the Qing Dynasty. The hotel offers contemporary-Chinese style villas overlooking the Shuiguan Valley while from the spa, views to the Great Wall are all yours.
www.spa.anantara.com
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INDULGENT BATH TUBS
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Maya Ubud Resort and Spa, Bali
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Talk about a luxurious soak in a tub. Wallow in herbal and floral waters in oversized tubs hanging on the edge of the sacred Petanu River in open-air pavilions. There’s nothing but greenery and the sound of the water flowing by. Therapists here are some of Bali’s best.
www.mayaubud.com
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MOST INDULGENT COMMUNAL SPA
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The Miami Standard, Miami, United States
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Inspired by the Roman, Turkish and Russians bathing traditions, Miami’s hottest boutique hotel (see picture over page) offers the most playful spa on the planet. Slather coloured clays on yourself and others at one of the DIY stations or immerse yourself in the range of watery experiences that include a Mud Lounge, Turkish Hammam and Aroma Steam room.
www.standardhotels.com
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INDULGENT BOUTIQUE SPA
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Raes, Byron Bay
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Small is beautiful inside this pearl walled cave-like haven located on the ground floor of the boutique hotel that attracts the likes of Baz Lurman and Elle Mcpherson. Therapists deliver exceptional healing, in particular, Spa Manager’s Marionne De Candida’s off-the-menu Reiki-infused facials.
www.raes.com.au
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MOST INDULGENT SPA POOL
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Fuchun Resort, China
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The centerpiece of this swanky golf resort and spa, situated three hours from Shanghai, is the staggeringly beautiful waveless swimming pool that offers picturesque views over bamboo forests, mountains and lakes. The spa offers creative 100% organic Tibetan and Chinese therapies.
www.fuchunresort.com
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MOST INDULGENT HAMMAM
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One&Only Royal Mirage, Dubai
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Recall ancient water rituals of the exotic East as you steam and scrub with Moroccan black soap inside this domed chamber ‘Oriental Hammam’ where ornate tiles and carved arches create a spirit-filled atmosphere. Treatments made from rosewater and honey are sumptuous.
www.oneandonlyresorts.com
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MOST INDULGENT YOGA EXPERIENCE
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Amanbagh, India
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Enlightenment is only a few breaths away when you request a yoga session at the medieval Bhangarh fort, considered one of the top heritage sites in India. Alternatively trek uphill to a yoga platform overlooking the tranquil Somsagra Lake where breakfast will be served afterwards in a nearby ancient temple.
www.amanresorts.com
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INDULGENT SPA PAMPERING
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‘Completely Caviar Ritual’ at Aquum Spa at Labriz, Seychelles
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Massive boulders emerging from the forest nearby white sand beaches make a wondrous backdrop for this sea- inspired treatment. Starts with a head-to-toe caviar and pearl body cleanse. Includes a rich anti-ageing mask and caviar manicure, pedicure and plumping Caviar facial.
www.labriz-seychelles.com
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‘Oriental Jade Massage’ Four Seasons Hotel, Hong Kong
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An elaborate three-hour ritual that comprises a detoxifying bath, oriental foot-massage and full-body Gua Sha massage where pieces of jade are smoothed across the skin to energize. Concludes with a mind-soothing oriental head massage.
www.fourseasons.com
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Anantara Spa, Bali
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While the newly opened rooftop spa at this boutique hotel offers downright good reflexology sessions, it’s ‘The South Sea Pearl Mystic Treatment’ valued between $200 and USD$5,000 and beyond that is possibly the world’s most expensive treatment. Includes a therapeutic pearl powder massage, facial and choice of lustrous South Sea Pearls to take home.
www.anantara.com
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‘Vinotherapie Cure’ at Les Sources de Caudalie Vinotherapie Spa, France
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Fancy being scrubbed with crushed grapes whilst staying overnight in a Chateau in a vineyard? This antioxidant-rich therapy draws upon the virtues of the surrounding landscape and includes a Honey & Wine Wrap, red wine bath and glass of Merlot. Bon Appetit!
www.sources-caudalie.com
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‘Marie Antoinette Facial’ at The Four Seasons George V, Paris
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Decadence is all yours inside the Louis XVIth style spa where guests are cocooned in warmth as thick orange blossom- scented creams, scrubs and mists are applied, complete with a fragrant Jasmine hair mask. Afterwards, orange blossom tea and macaroons are served – apparently the Queen’s favourite.
www.fourseasons.com
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‘Royal Trisara Six-hand Massage’, Trisara, Phuket, Thailand
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Life feels like a dream because you are at the mercy of not one but three... count them, three therapists massaging your feet, head and lower body in perfect synchronicity. The treatment also Includes a Thai acupressure massage, herbal hot compress and Shirodhara. The finale, a scalp massage made from warm coconut oil will leave you begging for more.
www.trisara.com
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WILD AT HEART
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Animal life abounds on these wildlife islands.
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Galapagos Islands, Ecuador
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The islands that inspired Darwin’s theory of evolution seem like another planet, chock full of astonishing plant, animal and sea life found nowhere else. A boat tour is the only way to see these half-dozen islands, with an expert on-board naturalist guide.
www.abercrombiekent.com
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Madagascar
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The land that time forgot, off on its own evolutionary tangent for the last 160 million years, now an open-air zoo with a potent tribal culture that makes this a destination for the connoisseur. Stay at: Anjajavy L’Hotel, this Relais & Chateaux property brings a silk touch to a sublime coastal wilderness on the Mozambique Channel.
www.anjajavy.com
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South Georgia
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Majestic, mountainous and stark, this stunning sub-Antarctic island is an ark for penguins and seals in the southern oceans.
www.auroraexpeditions.com.au
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Rock Islands, Palau
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Palau’s crowning glory – 200 jungly limestone knobs crowded into the coral sea with some of the best diving on the planet, and heaven on earth for the sea kayaker. Camp out on beaches. www.samstours.com
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CELEBRITY CHOICES
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These resorts are star-studded favourites for escaping the paparazzi.
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Parrot Cay, Turks and Caicos
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Sun-soaked, vanilla-toned celeb hideaway and the jewel in the crown of the COMO group has become a favourite destination for honeymooning A-listers. Small dogs (12 kg max) welcome.
www.parrotcay.como.bz
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Cotton House, Mustique
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The only hotel on the island of Mustique, the Tiffany’s of tropical real estate, the cool and breezy Cotton House is the social hub for the astonishingly famous people who kick back on this 4.5 square kilometre chunk of Caribbean heaven.
www.cottonhouse.net
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Rock House, Harbour Island, Bahamas
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Lavishly renovated by the architectural design team that sculpted Gianni Versace’s Miami mansion, this nine-room bolthole overlooking one of the world’s most beautiful beaches marries chic urban aesthetics with plantation house graces and pulls in a starry crowd including Elle Macpherson.
www.rockhousebahamas.com
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Conrad Maldives Rangali Island
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Two private islands joined by a footbridge across a Windex-blue lagoon with views, sumptuous villas, fixtures and fittings all wearing the ‘Made in Heaven’ tag draws media stars and moguls alike. http://conradhotels1.hilton.com/en/ch/hotels/index.do?ctyhocn=MLEHICI
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PRIVATE ISLANDS
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The ultimate getaways are those where no one can disturb you.
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Dolphin Island, Fiji
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There’s just one bure with room for four, and another for dining and lounging at this coral-ringed castaway paradise just off the northeast coast of Viti Levu, where turquoise seas and swooning palms are part of every backdrop.
www.dolphinislandfiji.com
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Taprobane, Sri Lanka
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Fantasy rules at this neo-Palladian mansion which was sculpted in the 1920s by a self-styled count and is now a luxury five-bedroom haven with romance at every turn, accessible only by wading from the mainland beach.
www.taprobaneisland.com
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Necker Island, Caribbean
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Sir Richard Branson’s personal slice of Caribbean heaven, a series of cliff hanging villas with private pools, much favoured by Mick, Oprah and other assorted glitterati of the music and movie worlds.
www.neckerisland.com
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Île de Chantemesle, France
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Just 45 kilometres from Paris, this island on the river Seine has two villas that sleep up to 12, an orchard, a tennis court, a swimming pool, a farmyard, and two motorboats for puttering about in the country where Claude Monet painted water lilies.
www.vladi-private-islands.de
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Isla de sa Ferradura, Spain
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The European pleasure island par excellence, this rocky six-hectare islet off the coast of Ibiza features a sprawling hacienda with seven suites, a cinema, tropical saltwater swimming pool complete with a seven-metre waterfall, a spa, miscellaneous jeeps, golf buggies, jet skis and a beach bar.
www.islaferradura.com
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Musha Cay and the Islands of Copperfield Bay, Bahamas
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Magic man David Copperfield conjures up a sublime experience for up to 24 guests aboard his private island, but note the US$325,000 per-week price tag does not include phone calls.
www.mushacay.com
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FAMILY STAYS
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The perfect resorts to please kids and parents alike.
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Castaway Island, Fiji
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The relaxed pace of this Fijian island resort has made it a family favourite.
www.castawayisland.com
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Jean-Michel Cousteau Fiji Islands Resort
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One of Fiji’s finest resorts where the smallest Nemo fan can experience a real-life reef adventure they’ll talk about forever.
www.fijiresort.com
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Four Seasons Maldives at Kuda Huraa
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A traditional Maldivian-style village resort with your own coral atoll to explore.
www.fourseasons.com/maldives
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Half Moon, Jamaica
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Whether it’s a massage, golf, horse riding on the beach, or swimming with dolphins, the activities at this Montego Bay resort are unparalleled.
www.halfmoon.com
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Hilton Waikoloa Village, Hawaii
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This water-themed Hawaiian resort on the Big Island is child/parent heaven.
www.hiltonwaikoloavillage.com
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Luxury also loves:
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Yasawa Island Resort & Spa, Fiji
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Atlantis Paradise Island, Bahamas
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NATURAL WONDERS
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The sheer beauty of the landscape takes your breath away.
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Capri, Italy
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Get used to sighing, because that’s what you’ll do on this tiny knob of limestone off the coast of Naples. White villas, vertiginous cliffs and lanes threaded with bougainvillea constitute the décor and Hollywood, Victorian royalty and the Roman Empire have contributed to the clientele. Stay at: Capri Palace is elegant, classical and Capri’s finest. www.capripalace.com. Grand Hotel Quisisana is a family-owned, 150-year-old beauty with luxurious rooms.
www.quisisana.com
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Tanna, Vanuatu
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This popular outer island is famous as the home of Mount Yasur, a spitting cauldron of fiery magma and the most accessible live crater on earth. Stay at: White Grass Ocean Resort has local-style bungalows with Western-style comforts, set in a pretty garden by a beach.
www.whitegrassvanuatu.com.vu
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Fernando de Noronha, Brazil
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A drowned volcanic mountain ringed with golden beaches, and a perfect template for playing out castaway fantasies. Stay at: Pousada Maravilhahas luxury pavilions scattered among lush tropical gardens beside an ocean beach.
www.pousadamaravilha.com.br
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Kauai, Hawaii
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The book of earthly wonders – rainforests, soaring cliffs hung with rainbows, mountains, luscious valleys, and heavenly beaches – and no building taller than a coconut tree. Stay at: Grand Hyatt Kauai Resort & Spas an Art Deco classic with plantation style in a pristine location.
www.kauai.hyatt.com
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BOOK ISLANDS
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Read the novel , see the original.
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Cephalonia/Kefalonia, Greece
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Largest of the Ionian islands, and a rare treasure – a Greek island not overrun by tourists. The setting for Louis de Bernières Captain Corelli’s Mandolin. Stay at: White Rocks Hotel and Bungalowsis a tranquil resort-style hotel with splashy, dashy colours.
www.whiterocks.gr
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Sardinia, Italy
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Macho Italian with infinite charisma and dazzling good looks, where oil wealth rubs shoulders with rustic, the inspiration for DH Lawrence’s Sea and Sardinia.
Stay at: Hotel Cala di Volpeis a rambling portside feast of terraces, arches and gardens that takes its cues from a Sardinian fishing village.
www.starwoodhotels.com
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ROMANTIC RETREATS
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Some island resorts are just made for two.
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Tanjung Rhu Resort Langkawi, Malaysia
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Surrounded by lush forests and sugar-fine sandy beaches, time will pass at a luxurious pace at this enchanting tropical resort on Malaysia’s mysterious Langkawi Island.
www.tanjungrhu.com.my
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Indigo Bay Island Resort & Spa, Bazaruto Island, Mozambique
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Laid back luxury with an African accent and a boatload of aquatic activities gives romance a steroidal shot. Go for the luxury villas.
www.indigobayresort.com
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The Palms, Zanzibar
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Gorgeous, plush six-villa resort with imagination at full throttle, silk-draped, four poster Zanzibar beds and all the accoutrements for the well-heeled romantic.
www.palms-zanzibar.com
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Le Taha’a Island Resort & Spa, French Polynesia
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A bespoke resort for the extravagantly well-heeled escapist, this is the only property in French Polynesia to wear the fleur-de-lys of Relais & Chateaux.
www.letahaa.com
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TROPICAL PARADISE
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Think island; think palm trees, soft sand and brochure-blue water. These places will deliver.
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Fiji
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For Australian’s wanting to escape their own shores, Fiji is our nearest tropical paradise. Many of us have a warm fuzzy feeling when it comes to Fiji, not least because the Fijians themselves are some of the friendliest people on the planet. Add to this the an archipelago of over 333 islands with that tropical feel and you wonder why we aren’t all rushing to get on a plane right now. If you want Laid Back, capital L, capital B, then Fiji is the place for you. Stay at: Moorea Pearl Resort & Spa, overwater and beachside bungalows encircling a white sand beach.
www.pearlresorts.com/moorea
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Bora Bora, French Polynesia
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If the world has an erogenous zone, it’s Bora Bora. Better still, this leaping green peak girdled by a necklace of coral atolls has spawned the sybarite’s favourite marine species – the over- water bungalow – and raised it to a state of perfection. Stay at: Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa, a member of the glossy Orient-Express stable, with food and service well above average. www.boraboralagoon.com. St. Regis Bora Bora Resort, French Polynesia, one to sigh over, the most luxurious over-water bungalows south of the equator, each big and beautiful to behold, from Starwood stable’s premier league.
www.boraboranui.com
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Maldives
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Small but exquisitely formed, these 1,200 brittle gems are scattered across a peacock-blue sea off the south-west coast of India and fecund with fishy life. The Maldive template of white sand, coconut palms and teeming coral sea repeats endlessly, but it is their resorts that make the difference. Stay at: Soneva Gili by Six Senses, 44 thatch-roof over-water bungalows, each a haven of sun decks. www.sixsenses.com/soneva-gili. Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Small, sensuous, refined and drop dead gorgeous, with one of the largest of all Maldives lagoons on its doorstep.
www.tajhotels.com
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St Barths, French West Indies
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Casual elegance is the prevailing mood at this Caribbean playground, a favourite sandpit for megastars and moguls with 22 postcard-perfect beaches. Stay at: Eden Rock Hotel, perfectly poised hotel and ground zero for the style conscious. www.edenrockhotel.com. Le Toiny, consummate luxury is the theme song at this elegant and very private $2,500-a-night retreat.
www.letoiny.com
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Seychelles
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Latest hotspot to appear on the radar, these 115 islands blends and like raw silk, teeming coral reefs, rampant tropical greenery and a sexy Creole accent – plus a clutch of ultra-luxe resorts. Stay at: Denis Island, 25 shaggy bungalows, each with palatial rooms that dwarf the gauze-wrapped four-poster beds, and private sea- facing verandahs shaded by flowering casuarina trees. www.denisisland.com. Frégate Island, 16 native mahogany villas scattered among the flora on this delectable private island elevate relaxation to an art form.
www.fregate.com
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Luxury also loves:
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Naiade Resorts, Mauritius
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Elegant Resorts
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IN AUSTRALIA
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NATURE-LOVERS PARADISE
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Hike, climb and then relax.
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Tasmania
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Australia’s cool climate wonderland dishes up an adventure almanac that throws down the gauntlet to legs and lungs. Watch for the opening of Saffireat Freycinet in late 2009.
Stay at: Freycinet Lodge, 60 cosy cabins that all but melt into the vegetation at the base of The Hazards. www.freycinetlodge.com.au. Cradle Mountain Lodge, a loose array of timber cabins set beside a frisky mountain stream offers a window on a wild world.
www.cradlemountainlodge.com.au
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Lord Howe Island, NSW
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Small and perfectly formed, Australia’s treasure island is a biological ark, packed with sights and adventures that will leave you breathless. Stay at: Arajilla Retreat, a smart and sassy synthesis of Thai, barefoot and tropical, enclosed by a lush forest of Kentia Palms pierced by arrows of sunlight. www.arajilla.com.au. Capella Lodge, set against the looming buttresses of Mount Lidgbird, this smart lodge elevates breezy, beachhouse living to an art form.
www.lordhowe.com
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Fraser Island, QLD
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World’s largest sand island, amply furnished with wildflower heaths, 40 freshwater lakes trimmed with paperbarks, flourishing birdlife, dark stands of rainforest, towering sand dunes, multicoloured sand cliffs and World Heritage status. Stay at: Kingfisher Bay Resort, good looks, comfort and eco-consciousness make this a standard bearer for environmental tourism.
www.kingfisherbay.com
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FIVE-STAR STYLE
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Island Paradises don’t have to be basic.
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Hayman, QLD
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Arrive by helicopter, seaplane or speedboat to this internationally-acclaimed resort in the Whitsundays.
www.hayman.com.au
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Lizard Island, QLD
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The scenery, the beach, the rooms, the food, the heat – everything here wears the ‘Made in Paradise’ brand name. Sunset Point Villas have the view but it’s a clean, cool, Scandinavian- styled Anchor Bay Suite you want. Swim, snorkel, sail and spend the afternoon on the day bed eating figs and mangoes.
www.lizardisland.com.au
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Orpheus Island, QLD
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With no TV or phones, this adults-only resort is the ideal place to leave the world behind while still enjoying first-class comforts, service and dining.
www.orpheus.com.au
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SANDY FOOTPRINTS
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Some Australian islands are made for designer thongs or nothing on the feet at all.
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Bedarra Island, QLD
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Small and supremely relaxed tropical resort where shoes and inhibitions are banned. Just 16 villas with polished timber floors and cane furniture snuggled into a rainforest, and an all-inclusive tariff.
www.bedarraisland.com
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Wilson Island, QLD
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An important breeding ground for turtles and rare birds means a maximum of only 12 guests can enjoy this paradise staying in luxury tented accommodation.
www.wilsonisland.com
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Paradise Bay Eco Bay, QLD
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Relax and enjoy this luxury eco-resort, where there are no kids and only 16 guests at any time enjoying the gourmet food and sun-kissed afternoons on the private yacht.
www.paradisebay.com.au
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Luxury also loves:
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Peppers Palm Bay
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FAMILY FUN
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The children can take the bucket and spade.
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Hamilton Island, QLD
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The refurbished Reef Hoteloffers spacious accommodation. The pick are the Coral Sea View rooms overlooking the Whitsunday Passage.
www.hamiltonisland.com.au
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Moreton Island, QLD
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Only guests at the luxurious Tangalooma Island Resort, can feed the island’s bottlenose dolphins.
www.tangalooma.com
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Dunk Island, QLD
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A long list of activities and child-friendly services make this Queensland rainforest island resort a winner.
www.dunk-island.com
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Luxury also loves:
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Fitzroy Island
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Couran Cove Island Resort, South Stradbroke Island
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ANIMAL MAGNETISM
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Kangaroo Island, SA
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Much of this South Australian refuge has been preserved as a natural wildlife sanctuary.
Stay at:
Southern Ocean Lodge, a 21-suite designer retreat with sublime views.
www.southernoceanlodge.com.
LifeTime Private Retreats, individual and private luxury homes with resort-style services.
www.life-time.com.au
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Heron Island, NSW
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A true coral cay on the Great Barrier Reef. Go for turtle hatching season or to explore the reef at any time. Stay at: Voyages Heron Island, azure waters and colourful reefs are just steps away from your spacious deluxe accommodation.
www.heronisland.com
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Christmas Island
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On land and sea this is a major migrating port for an abundance of rare creatures great and small. The crab migration is the most impressive of all. Stay at: The Sanctuary, a two-bedroom private retreat with its own lap pool.
www.christmas.net.au
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HEART BREAKS
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The perfect romantic escapes.
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Qualia, QLD
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Breaks new ground for luxury Queensland island resorts with 60 one-bedroom guest pavilions here in glass, Australian hard-woods and Bowen granite, tucked among the eucalypts.
www.qualia.com.au
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Haggerstone Island, QLD
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Anchored just off the coast and 600 kilometres north of Cairns, Haggerstone has just three breezy Thai-style pavilions perfectly adapted to castaway living among uninhabited coral-rimmed islands that only a privileged few will ever see.
www.haggerstoneisland.com
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PRIVATE STYLE
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Rental properties for ultimate privacy.
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Double Island, QLD
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A hump of forested rock off Queensland’s Palm Cove, Australia’s most exclusive rental property takes the blowtorch to your fantasies with its Zen garden, 25m pool, adult playrooms and guest villas with every last luxury.
www.doubleisland.com.au
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Bedarra Beach House, QLD
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Pavilion-style house nestled into a forested hillside with million-dollar views and easy beach access is the perfect bolthole for the escapist beachcomber keen to whip up a fishy feast in the granite-plated kitchen.
www.bedarrabeachhouse.com.au
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Tanjung Sari Dangar Island, NSW
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Three-bedroom Balinese style villa brings a castaway holiday within easy reach of Sydney. Bask in the poolside gazebo, and mosey over to the general store for espresso and a chat with some of the characters who call the island home.
www.stayz.com.au/10721
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Lotus House on Magnetic Island, QLD
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With the calm, clear waters of Horseshoe Bay just beyond the front lawn, a temperature-controlled pool, two king-size bedrooms and heaps of downtime space, this palmy hideaway is an ideal base for exploring Magnetic Island.
www.lotusonmagnetic.com
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Sunset Point Hamilton Island, QLD
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Luxury, three-bedroom villas have every last leisure option covered with a pool, tennis court, and billiard room and seamless blend of indoor and outdoor areas, plus the bonus of easy access via Hamilton’s jet airport.
www.hamiltonislandluxuryhomes.com.au
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AUSTRALIAN CRUISING
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Take to the water for a different island view.
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Whitsunday Islands
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The slick new MV Fantasea Ammari explores the reefs and islands over three nights.
fantaseaammari.com
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Great Barrier Reef Islands
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Coral Princess Cruises offers three, four and seven-night small expedition-style cruises around the islands including Lizard.
www.coralprincess.com.au
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Torres Strait Islands
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Cruise the Great Barrier Reef and north as far as Thursday Island and Poruma in superb comfort onboard the expedition ship Orion. Satisfy your explorer’s appetite with a gourmet meal on this gastronomic cruise.
www.orionexpeditions.com
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