Hideaways for your next stay
BALI - Surf’s Up
Opened in October, Suarga Padang Padang by Peppers encapsulates all the ideals of a dream vacation: aquamarine seas, powdery white sand beaches and distinctive rock formations. Located along the island’s provocative southern peninsula, at the heart of the country’s surf breaks, the boutique resort is lined with 36 rooms, pavilions and villas and is founded upon sustainable concepts of environment, social and economy. Spa and wedding facilities also opened at the end of 2015.
http://www.suargapadangpadang.com
Phu Ket - Local Flavours
Nestled in lush woodlands overlooking the Andaman Sea, Keemala offers a retreat from everyday life in an evergreen wonderland. Mala Spa offers sensory voyages in eight treatment rooms with a diverse menu of holistic treatments using ancient and modern techniques and organic products. Guests can immerse themselves in four Holistic Living Retreats designed to purify, energise, unwind and rejuvenate, which can also be personalised.
Dhaka - Art Explosion
Boasting the brand’s artistic flare is the new Le Méridien Dhaka, Bangladesh, a property parked against the Buriganga River and features Dhaka-inspired art installations in almost every one of its 304 rooms, six F&B outlets, spa, health club, nine meeting rooms and two grand ballrooms. Complementing the art are statement-making pieces like floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and a large communal table of wood and metal in the ground floor lounge bar.
Phnom Penh - Blast from the Past
The latest addition to Worldhotels is Sokha Phnom Penh hotel & Residence. Strategically located on Chroy Changvar peninsula opposite to the Royal Palace and a stone’s throw away from Wat Phnom, National Museum and Phsar Thmey (or Central market), the 523-room hotel features bright creams and warm tones, an extension of the surrounding footprints that shaped Phnom Penh’s colonial era.
Seoul - Seoul Food
The 317-room Four Seasons hotel Seoul in the capital’s Central Business District features seven restaurants, a three-storey spa and fitness complex and unobstructed views of Gyeongbok Palace as well as the landmark N Seoul Tower from selected suites. A modern reflection of Korean tradition, the property is dotted with 160 contemporary works of art to feed the soul.
EvIan-Les-BaIns - French Fare
Towering over Lake Geneva and a mere 580km from Paris, the refurbished evian Resort retains much of the old property’s French intimacy and is an extension of the surrounding serenity of the Swiss Alps, lake region and the town of Lausanne. Interior design architect François Champsaur and François Chatillon blend heritage and contemporary elegance with neo-Baroque frescos, precious wooden furniture and floor-to-ceiling windows.
Tang Shan - Rising Phoenix
A hidden historical gem with lush parks and culture just a two-hour ride away from Beijing is the new Shangri-La hotel tangshan. Using its surroundings as inspiration, the property doubles as a gallery for custom pieces including crystal chandeliers, embossed metal artwork and marble and wood carvings. Outside the 301-room hotel are Tangshan’s UNESCO-listed Eastern Qing Tombs and other renowned Chinese landmarks famous for Ping Opera, shadow play and Laoting drums.
Taipei - Ticking the Boxes
Marriott International debuts in Taiwan with the 320-room taipei Marriott hotel in the capital, breaking records in the city: it’s the closest five-star property to the National Palace Museum and also houses the largest hotel ballroom with a rooftop garden and chapel. Under its roof are five restaurants serving an international selection of cuisines, a 32,300sqft convention centre and a fully equipped health club on the 19th floor.
Athens - Brighter Days
Despite the city’s economic challenges, the fun continues at AthensWas. Reminiscent of the capital in the 1950s to 70s, it tips its hat to the city’s impeccable architectural credentials. The property is a modern celebration of Greek design with large, light- filled spaces; contemporary furniture by masters Le Corbusier, Ettore Sottsass and Michael Graves. Its rooftop restaurant boasts views of the Acropolis, Parthenon, Temple of Olympian Zeus and the old Olympic stadium.
Colombo - Grand Dame
More than 150 years after its debut on the shores of the Indian Ocean, the galle Face hotel has emerged from a restoration project of almost three years to feature a new North Wing that has 72 rooms and suites, restaurants and bars, lobby, ballrooms and executive lounge, following the revamped South Wing in 2006. Arguably the oldest operating hotel east of the Suez, the property is redressed in striking new interiors and classic mahogany furnishings.
Nha Trang - Spa in One
A new addition to Asia’s first all-spa inclusive Fusion Resorts, Fusion nha trang’s 72 luxurious suites sprawl across 13.6 hectares on a 12-metre- high sand dune atop the pristine coastline of Cam Ranh-Nha Trang. Worth mentioning are its Chic Suites and Spa Suites, which offer uninterrupted 180-degree ocean views with the added comfort of lounge or dedicated spa room; while double pool villas house private swimming pools and an open garden space ideal for families.
