New to Kenya’s bespoke safari scene is the much-anticipated Angama Mara. Meaning ‘to be suspended in mid-air’ in Swahili, it is the only luxury lodge on the Great Rift Valley Escarpment to house 30 tented suites crafted by the Nairobi’s finest tent maker.
KENYA
Wildest Dreams
New to Kenya’s bespoke safari scene is the much-anticipated Angama Mara. Meaning ‘to be suspended in mid-air’ in Swahili, it is the only luxury lodge on the Great Rift Valley Escarpment to house 30 tented suites crafted by the Nairobi’s finest tent maker. The industry-first 33ft wide floor-to-ceiling windows and binoculars in each tent make it possible to view wildlife across the Maasai Mara 300 metres below, where the ‘Big Five’ of African elephants, buffalos, leopards, lions and rhinoceros roam. Bespoke Safari tours accompanied by knowledgeable guides take place alongside hot-air ballooning and community visits. www.angama.com
ASWAN
Cruise Control
Luxury travel need not be stationary, as proven by the Oberoi Group’s latest Nile cruiser, The Oberoi Philae. Sumptuously appointed, the 22 spacious cabins and suites offer large French windows that look out to breathtaking views of the River Nile as it sails between Aswan and Luxor, Egypt. With a temperaturecontrolled swimming pool, chic bar and cigar lounge and 24-hour gym, the cruiser comprises a wide range of fun recreation and entertainment options on the go. www.oberoihotels.com
SIEM RIEP
Private Getaway
The latest addition to Zannier Hotels, a family-owned luxury hotel group, Phum Baitang comprises 45 private villas designed to resemble Cambodian houses that are set amongst swaying plantations of verdant lemongrass. There are two locally inspired restaurants, and the Temple Spa, offering a sanctuary within the resort oasis, complete with seven treatment rooms, sauna, steam room, relaxation area as well as a yoga pavilion. The perfect place to recharge after a day exploring the famous temples of Angkor. www.phumbaitang.com
RIO DE JANEIRO
Cultural Club
Marking AccorHotels’ expansion into Brazil is MGallery by Sofitel’s recent management of Hotel Santa Teresa, an exquisite property located in a city with eclectic culture and a bohemian edge in its architecture, museums and local fashion village. In a bid to attract sustainable and cultural tourism to the surrounding neighbourhood, the hotel has gone through a 10-year restoration to its 44 rooms and suites. Recognised with five forks by Michelin Brazil 2015, the hotel’s Brazilian restaurant, the Térèze, offers contemporary cuisine and a panoramic view of Baía de Guanabara. santa-teresa-hotel.com
DUBAI
Party Trifecta
Jetsetters have another destination to look forward to as Desert Palm Per Aquum unveils its three-bedroom Villa Layali. On top of a private entrance of a winding Jordanian stone pathway surrounded by water features and manicured hedges, the villa features a large courtyard and a glass-enclosed Great Room overlooking the superb view of the championship polo field. Bedrooms feature plush beds, refined linens and a menu of pillows and ceiling mounted Bose speakers to ensure deep sleep. www.peraquum.com
BALI
Indo Chic
Brainchild of the award-winning PTT Family, Katamama marries contemporary brand aesthetics with Indonesia’s rich culture. The 58-suite boutique property, located in a neighbourhood emerging as the region’s creative hub, features collaborations with international mixology and culinary brands, including Akademi and MoVida restaurants. Spreading across the beachfront, the hotel is a nod to Southeast Asian roots with exteriors of Balinese bricks, teak, handmade tiles from Java and terrazzo made on-site. www.katamama.com
KOH SAMUI
Island Life
Spanning across a tranquil stretch of Chaweng Beach in Koh Samui, Novotel Samui Resort Chaweng features 183 beachfront and garden rooms with spacious interiors and large balconies. Located five minutes away from the island’s shopping centre and exciting nightlife, the hotel features three unique restaurants and bars offering a wide range of international flavours framed by gorgeous views of the beach and sunset. www.accorhotels.com
FLORIDA
Where the Heart is
Nestled in The Breakers Palm Beach (renowned for featuring on America’s National Register of Historic Places), Flagler Club has been reimagined into an ultra-luxurious 25-bedroom boutique hotel-within-a hotel. Inheriting the Breakers’ casual elegance, guest rooms now boast a stylish contemporary aesthetic featuring a palette of off-white, blues, beiges and browns, while the Private Club Lounge and Terrace designed by Adam D. Tihany exude a warm ambience to give travellers a taste of home. www.thebreakers.com
SAN JOSÉ
Into the Woods
An authentic expression of its tranquil mountaintop setting and rich local culture, Hacienda AltaGracia offers 50 hacienda-style casitas with lush terraces and stunning window walls that bring the surrounding San Isidro Valley and mountains indoors, while the interiors are decorated with handcrafted Costa Rican artwork. The resort offers wildlife refuge excursions, flight tours and coffee planting, and a special highlight is the equestrian programme featuring breed horses for all levels across 28 oversized indoor stables. altagracia.aubergeresorts.com
PUNE
Comfort Defined
Situated on Mangaldas Road, the city’s commercial, residential and entertainment centre stage, Conrad Pune is set to be the most coveted address for luxury travellers combining business and pleasure. In addition to the brand’s signature amenities, plush bedding, walk-in showers and soak tubs, the property’s 310 rooms offer comfort and convenience with the latest in-room technology, including self-adjusting luminance to daylight levels and motion activated air-conditioning. www.conradpune.com
MO ZAMBIQUE
Water Element
Located in a marine conservation area alongside a permanent deep-water channel, andBeyond Benguerra Island offers guests an immersive taste of island life. Designed to look out to the breathtaking waterscape, the property’s 13 thatched casinhas and cabanas each feature their own private deck and direct access to the beach. A nod to Mozambique’s Portuguese heritage, the interiors are light and airy with elegant tiled flooring and posted beds. Adventure-seekers can snorkel, fish and take sunset cruises. www.andbeyond.com
