Lifestyle and Adventure
The Upper House
When in Hong Kong one really needn’t look further than a stay at The Upper House.
For one, though its location is smack in the centre of the city, sitting amongst Shangri-La, The Conrad and Marriot Hotels, its discretion as a five-star luxury living abode is its allurement.
Just as you enter its lobby, one isn’t really there until they’ve gone up the stair-way of The Upper House. Call it Feng Shui, but The Upper House wants its guests to feel as if they’ve been transported to a...
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Featuring Sir Bani Yas Island: an eco-Wildlife Safari on the...
Beginning when this 87-sq-km desert island was originally Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan’s private retreat. The founder and first ruler of the United Arab Emirates was given a bevy of exotic animals as gifts when exploring Africa as a young royal. After this, he took an interest and started collecting exotic species now thriving on the island's huge wildlife. Sheik Zayed’s initiative was to save a native species that had teetered on the brink of extinction; the Arabian oryx. Officially declared extinct in the wild in the late 1960s, it’s plight moved the animal-loving emir to begin developing Sir Bani Yas as a place to protect it. "The oryx is the main reason the island is the way it is today," says Matt Bottomer, an adventure guide who familiarizes visitors staying on Sir Bani Yas with its many resident creatures. "Sheikh Zayed searched the world to see if there were any oryx in captivity. "He found a handful and started a breeding program here."
Review of The Peninsula Hong Kong’s Symphony of Lights
It is its heritage and ability to intertwine its own story with the story of Hong Kong through curated experiences that would make any fortunate guest feel a sense of euphoria. One such experience that is relatively new to its offering is their luxurious private charter experience better known as The Symphony of Lights. Expect to be greeted at the main lobby where a brief introduction on the evening’s itinerary is given before being privately whisked off to the docking harbour to aboard the Peninsula Yacht. Once on board it’s off to Victoria Harbour to witness a magnificent sensory experience showcasing Hong Kong’s skyline and ultimately the more creative side of the city through this spectacle of an installation. Of course, it wouldn’t be replete without onboard canapes and champagne - but of course should you have a special request there is nothing that the Peninsula can’t do if only to please its guests for the sake of wanting to leave behind an intimate memory of enjoyment.
The best hotels and restaurants of 2017: the places you...
We are bringing to you a series of posts rounding up the whirlwind that has been 2017. Whether it is beauty products, restaurants, hotels or film & TV, we bring you our favourites from the past 12 months. The best hotels that we have chosen to share with you are a wide variety, from a stunning picturesque property with sprawling gardens, to a treehouse in Sweden. We have got our 3 favourites that we think you will love, for their sheer luxury and unique features.
Featuring Gili Lankanfushi – a sanctuary hidden from the world
This is a sanctuary hidden from the world, where you are invited to literally kick your shoes off and let go of any stresses or worries of the world. Their ‘no news, no shoes’ ethos means that your footwear is placed in a little canvas bag during the short 20-minute boat ride to the resort, allowing you to just be casual and comfortable your entire stay.
Review of Visit the Residence: The perfect family getaway in the...
We returned home feeling completely rejuvenated and relaxed. From the mesmerizing colour of the water to the mouth-watering local cuisine, everything oozed luxury. For the first part of our trip, we stayed at The Residence, an exclusive and secluded retreat of unparalleled beauty in Falhumaafushi, a pristine island located in Huvadhoo Atoll one of the largest and deepest atolls in the world. After a 10-hour flight with our little boy, we were greeted by a representative from the Residence who took our luggage away for us and escorted us to the air-conditioned lounge. The hotel is located 242 miles south of Male International Airport, so after a cold drink, we boarded the scenic 55-minute flight to Kooddoo airport. This was then followed by a short mini-bus ride and speedboat direct to the resort.
Review of Head to a London ski lodge as winter is approaching...
Booking flights, looking forward to seeing family again, imagining mulled wine in front of the fireplace, or London's glittering Christmas market lights and cosy pubs...
Featuring Polo’s most prolific philanthropist Nic Roldan, sits down...
We caught up with the champion polo player to discuss the highs and lows of playing polo professionally and the impact it has on family life, as well as getting Nic’s best tips for polo amateurs. Growing up on a farm with horses is what inspired Nic Roldan to get into polo, and claims that his father being a polo player isn’t the main reason he got into the sport, he always had an interest in the speed and intensity of the game along with his love for horses. Being a professional sportsman can be stressful for anyone, but ‘polo has more highs than lows’ as Nic gets to play the sport he loves and is around horses constantly, all whilst travelling the world and visiting beautiful countries. According to Nic, the lows are ‘the same as any sport, it’s a very cut throat, competitive and intense sport.’ The sport also requires a huge amount of investment in the horses which can be incredibly stressful and unlike most other sports. However ‘it is tough to say there are any other lows when you get to do what you love to do as a career, what could be better?’
Featuring The Best Concierge Doctor Service in London
Whilst typing up the consultation notes from my last patient in Harley Street, I receive a phone call from a sixty-year-old gentleman, on business in the UK from the USA for two days. He’s staying at arguably the most luxurious hotel in the capital and has been vomiting the moment he disembarked from his private jet the previous day...
Review of Health and wellness at the Corinthia Hotel in London
The attention to detail throughout this world-class hotel is second to none. We visited to try out their new health and wellbeing package, The Brain Power Package, which promised to leave us feeling refreshed. As soon as we arrived, the doorman was already at our service, ready to whisk us into the hotel’s lobby. The first thing we noticed? Every member of staff that we met always introduced themselves first, which signifies the establishment’s friendliness and approachability. We checked ourselves in with ease as our concierge led us straight to our room via the lobby’s set of lifts (note, there are quite a few ways to get to your room via the different lifts) and then proceeded to give us a little tour of the room, which was indeed, spacious, temperature-controlled and utterly refreshing. If you are travelling with little ones, The Corinthia Hotel is nothing short of accommodating. We travelled with our 5-month old son and to our delight, a beautifully laden-out cot was prepared with the little one’s own amenities including a set of Burt’s Bees toiletries, blanket, stuffed toy elephant and a set of robe and slippers.
Featuring Bayerischer Hof: A most luxurious hotel in Munich
With the hotel’s proximity being smack in the centre of the city as well as being a historical piece of the past, this five-star hotel – as we have witnessed – lives up to its high expectations. Bayerischer Hof has everything one can ask for – style, high-speed wifi, fine dining options, an outdoor sky pool, sky roof and bar with literally the best views of Munich and perhaps the only hotel that offers such expansive picture-perfect views, attention to detail and above all, hospitable staff who are at the ready when attending to a guests needs. Staying at the Bayerischer Hof is like being a part of history that dates back to the 1800’s. It was during that time when the hotel, which belonged to Anton Von Maffei, a revered railway pioneer of Bavaria at the time, commissioned the architect, Friedrich von Gärtner, to build the hotel. When Maffei passed away, a man known as Herrmann Volkhardt bought the hotel and further expanded the property. Perhaps the most interesting fact and what makes the Bayerischer Hof a true historical landmark is that when the hotel was almost completely destroyed during the war in 1944, only the hall of the mirrors was left unharmed (you can still find the original mirrors in the hall of the hotel today).
Featuring 5 Reasons Why You Need to Live on the French Riviera
For those not born and bred here, it all started at the end of the 18th Century, with Brits escaping the winter by sojourning on the southeastern Mediterranean coastline and hinterland. Soon the railway arrived and others followed suit. The ‘French Riviera’ was born and became the haunt of aristocrats, writers, artists, and anyone who wanted to see and be seen.
Featuring Luxurious private cinemas in hotels around the world
Why not try an evening with the stars on for size. But if watching a flick in your local multiplex holds little appeal, panic not. The Sybarite has the low-down in on the hottest hotel cinemas around the world. Popcorn at the ready…