Travel
6 top honeymoon destinations
The dress has been revealed, the cake has been cut, and 1.9 billion people watched as Harry and Meghan tied the knot on the 19th May.
Amongst other unconventional choices from the couple is their announcement that they intend to defer the all-important and anticipated honeymoon, instead preferring to return to work directly after the wedding.
Although some claim to already know where the couple will honeymoon, nothing has been announced yet. That gives the rest of us the chance for some healthy speculation on where in the world...
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Featuring Roman luxury | discover ancient origins within a...
It was my first time in the city (can you tell?), and beyond my girlish squeals of glee and excitement driving through the beautiful city at night, we stopped just in front of the Colosseum at the Palazzo Manfredi, where later we spent two wonderful evenings. This charming 17th century palace was built metres away from the Colosseum and a training school for gladiators of ancient Rome. The beautiful building of the Palazzo Manfredi began life in the 17th century as the villa of the Evangelisti family, designed by architect Giovanni Battista Mola. It then passed to the Venerabile Confraternita della Ss Trinità dei Pellegrini e dei Convalescenti (Venerable Fraternity of the Holy Trinity of Pilgrims and Convalescents), as commemorated by the two stones on the façade. In 2002, the villa was purchased by Count Goffredo Manfredi, one of Italy’s most famous entrepreneurs and construction magnates, and thanks to him, Palazzo Manfredi, our superb luxury hotel, was born.
Review of The Upper House – the definitive luxury living hotel in...
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 home away from home where luxury living is waiting to greet you at the very top. Rather than the typical check-in of entering through the hotel’s doors towards the concierge desk, The Upper House takes it to another notch. As in, one needn’t go through the check-in process. All one need do is head straight to their rooms whilst its staff takes care of everything else.
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.
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 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 Luxurious shoot-friendly countryside stays in the UK
Where guests can savour home-grown produce, drink local ciders or fine wines and relax in utmost tranquillity. Set within the most inspiring landscapes, these inns offer a wealth of country sporting activities, all dog friendly and are situated near the UK’s leading shooting schools.
Featuring The ultimate indoor outdoor living luxury
Mud, musty tents, cold weather, cooking on rusty gas stoves, sweaty sleeping bags...needless to say, camping has never held much appeal here at The Sybarite. Until that is, we became acquainted with the Autonomous Tent - a stunning semi-permanent structure designed by fabulous architects such as Patricia DiMario and Harry Gesner (whose famous Cooper Wave House design inspired the Sydney Opera House). The exquisitely-designed yet sustainable solar powered tent (although to call it a tent is akin to calling champagne a fizzy drink - a major understatement) can be enjoyed anywhere, all year round without detriment to our planet's ecosystems. The tent comes in two sizes: $100,000 for the smaller, 700-square-foot Cocoon version and $200,000 for the 1,000-square-foot, two bedroom Tipi. The latter is more able to withstand heavy winds and snow, owing to it being constructed from either sturdy steel/aluminium tubes or laminated beams that are made out of hi-tech, rot, and mildew-resistant fabrics.
Featuring ConnectJets introduces the new Avanti Evo
Avanti EVO blends the very best of Italian style and craftsmanship to create an aircraft that stands alone for its values. With greater range, faster climb, reduced fuel costs, a lower noise footprint, added safety systems, and a luxurious bespoke cabin, the Avanti EVO is another step forward. With a maximum speed of 402kts (463mph, 745kmh) and improved climb performance to its ceiling of 41,000ft, Avanti EVO is even better for you and your passengers. Turboprop power means reduced fuel, maintenance, and training costs, while the bespoke cabin is just the cherry on top! The stand-up cabin height of 5ft 9in (1.75m) and width of 6ft 1in (1.85m) is the biggest in class, roomier than some other luxury jets, and with a restroom as standard. Able to carry up to 9 passengers on 5 different floorplans, the volume of 375ft3 (12.88m3) means the most space per seat in class, appointed with the finest Poltrona Frau leather, this can be tailored to your choice in colour. Meanwhile, a generous baggage compartment measures 44.15ft3 (1.25m3), and can accommodate golf bags or skis.
Featuring Exploring Edinburgh: Gear up for Fringe Festival with...
The renowned annual arts festival from 5-29 August 2016. However, while the world's largest arts festival will dominate the headlines in August, there’s plenty of other things that the beautiful city has on offer. Here’s The Sybarite's low-down on the 10 essential Edinburgh experiences. How many can you tick off?
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