Another Incredible Virtuoso Travel Week

4000 talented travel consultants, suppliers and press converge in Las Vegas one week each year to connect, learn and enhance their clients’ travel experience. The energy and passion for this travel connection is immense. Classes are offered by the top travel experts in the business- highlighted by Helen Nodland, and the always delightful Ann Scully. An active network called VAST offers an all day exposition to better learn about the latest and greatest offerings in the active travel industry.
We meet hotel General Managers, heads of hotel marketing, destination management companies, tour operators, safari operators, airline representatives, destination wedding suppliers, and sales directors from all over the world – 396 meetings over a four day period. We meet before the general meetings, at specialized luncheons, cocktail parties and dinners, in addition to the 396 presentations. By the time the week is over, I can say I am thoroughly ensconced in travel information. I came home energized, inspired, armed with the best information and fabulous new connections to enable me to make my clients dreams come true.

My Onsite Dinner Hosts – IC Bellagio

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Highlights from Pure: Tiger Blue -cruising the Indonesian Islands


Image courtesy of Tiger Blue

Highlights of PURE: Song Saa – Over The Water Bungalow

Image courtesy of Song Saa

Highlights of PURE: Tiger Blue Luxury Cruising in Indonesia

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My visit to Vicente’s

One of my favorite summer trips is a visit to one of my oldest friends, and longest running clients, Vicente Wolf. His house in Montauk looks like it is right out of a magazine, and it is! It has been been published many times.
Vicente is one of the top designers in the world.  A genius with spatial design, he holds licences in accessory , fabric , lamp , flatwear, crystal , and furniture design.  ! He is also a well established photographer, and has published three books incorporating travel with design.
He travels during the year on an extensive round the world exploration, photographing the destinations he is visiting. He is also busy buying for his shop, VW Home and for personal clients. From antiquing in Bali, India, Papua New Guinea, trekking in Iryan Jaya to boating up a river by himself in Borneo, he has done it all
Many of these destinations are highlighted in his books: Learning to See, Crossing Boundaries, and Lifting the Curtain on Design. He is endlessly fascinated with tribal cultures, local handicrafts, tribal art and extreme exotic locations.
The harder to reach, the better.  It is about learning and experiencing new cultures, pushing the envelope and at the same time escape, says Vicente

Favorite destinations: Bali

Welcome To Atlanta’s New Internatio​nal Terminal

I just received this from Delta concerning their exciting new terminal:

On May 16th, the Maynard H. Jackson Jr. International Terminal will open at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL). This state-of-the-art, LEED-certified terminal will accommodate more passengers and make international travel a breeze.

Most international flights will arrive at Concourses E or F, although some international flights from “pre-cleared” countries will arrive on Concourses T through D.

If Atlanta is your final destination:
You will proceed through Passport Control and claim your baggage at the new international terminal.
You will no longer need to recheck your baggage upon exiting Customs.
There is a passenger pickup area and ground transportation center at the new international terminal.
From the international terminal, complimentary shuttles are available to both the domestic terminal which includes MARTA, as well as to the rental car center.
Since you are departing Atlanta prior to the new terminal’s opening and returning after its opening, please note the following:
If you parked at the domestic terminal and your flight arrives at the international terminal, you may take the complimentary shuttle bus to the domestic terminal.
If someone is picking you up at the airport, please let him or her know you will arrive at the new international terminal, which is accessible from Interstate 75.
Please visit delta.com for more information about the international terminal.

Trip Report Bali, Koh Samui 2010

 
 

I have pictures of every property, so if you need to see, just email me and I will send them over.

May 26th Singapore Raffles Hotel One of my favorite hotels in the world. Still gorgeous. Amazing gardens in the middle of Singapore. Rooms have 14F ceilings, old colonial feeling, white walls with dark wood floors. Favorite area is Palm Court suites- Sitting room separated by a wall with open windows. Bathrooms: double sinks in separate area. Be sure to see the Raffles Museum. Outdoor Mall is attached to the property.  

May 27th

  Carolyn Tyler’s FAB villa near Ubud

Carolyn Tyler’s Villa. Not completed, but will have  two pools, a second house on property, staff, and 4 bedrooms in the main house.  Property is beautiful. Gardens are

Complete. River running along the front of the property. Will be a great rental villa.

May 28th

Hotels visited:

Viceroy- 5* property, large villa like rooms with plunge pools, heli pad, Near Ubud, on Ayung river, view of grass rooftops of the villas

Amandari the queen in Ubud, glamorous, rooms are large, bright and perfect with plunge pools, restaurant is divine. Spa is small but good. Amandari Pool on a rainy day

 Chedi Club moderate alternative in Ubud, rooms were beautifully done, big, property has gorgeous gardens, Spa.

 Uma- another good moderate property, health oriented, rooms newly done very bright, pleasant, baths beautiful Spa

Begawan Giri, 4-5 bedroom villas that one shares with others, amazing gardens, situated in the Ayung valley looking down into the gorge. Stunning

Ubud Hanging Gardens about 20 minutes north of Ubud. Perched on a very steep mountain, so steep it has 2 funiculars( trains). Good for honeymooners who want to chill. Beautiful views. Moderate alternative. I liked it. Orient Express Hotel

Four Seasons Sayan – stayed there lively, beautiful. You descend to the entrance for you villa. 5* all the way , service is terrific. Restaurant and bar have stunning views of the river, rooms are large as are bathrooms. Very private.  Spa is beautiful. May 29th Four Seasons Sayan Fab suite

Bali  West coast and beaches

Hotel Tugu Dramatic lobby. Done by a collector of Indonesian, and Chinese Antiques.

Pieces everywhere. Rooms were a little dark, bathrooms were small, little room for toiletries on sinks. On the beach, you know you are in Bali, good moderate alternative for beach  on west coast. Near canguu. Cooking school is outstanding.

Bali Homes Management– visited two villas both reasonable – one near Ubud, other on the water near Sanur. Very good rates.

Legian Club Seminyak – on west side of  Bali, across street from the beach. Attached to Legian. 5* resort. Club has access to all Legian facilities. Another moderate alternative

Rooms were beautifully decorated. Clean and contempory.

Oberoi recently  renovated. Good alternative on the beach side of Bali. Great restaurant big beautiful pool, gorgeous gardens, service excellent. Near the hot restaurant KU DE TA. In Canguu.

Intercontinental Jimbaran Huge hotel, people milling everywhere. Looked like a convention facility to me. You could be anywhere, nothing special about the rooms.

St. Regis Nusa Dua, Nusa Dua is not Bali to me, but it certainly has a lot going on lately.

Lot’s of convention doings. Everyone on our flight seemed to be going to Nusa Dua.

The St. Regis came highly recommended by clients, They loved the rooms , dining and public areas. Brand new.

 Four Seasons Jimbaran. Still the queen in my book. Service is impeccable, villas have the perfect size plunge pools. Living area is open, and the bedroom is closed for airconditioning.  Gift shop is the best. Three restaurants PG/s by the water, the facility by the pool, and an Indonesian restaurant/cooking school. Spa is one of the best on the Island.

Four Seasons Jimbaran View and Plunge Pool- Feels like I'm home when there!

 

 

                      

Koh Samui

Visited:

Six Senses more oriented to the health crowd- rooms were small, but it was crowded, so someone loves it. Restaurant was delightful. Probably would not be my first choice

 

Napasai fabulous moderate alternative and a happy surprise. Jeremie, the GM, recently came from Le Residence in Laos. He is passionate about this property. You will get great service. The pool is gorgeous, he has made a huge beach out of thin air. I hear the largest on the Island. Rooms are smallish compared to FS, but there is a big  price difference. They are newly done, and very very comfortable. Redoing the Spa.

Pool at Napasai on Koh Samui  An Orient Express Hotel. 

Stayed at Four Seasons Koh Samui by far the most glamorous property on the island. No comparison if you have high end clients or honeymooners. Fabulous and beautiful. Service as with all FS impeccable, Everyone, says hello and wants you to be SO happy. Spa is expensive but awesome. Views  from the property are spectacular.  Not opened yet the W, and Banyan Tree both supposed to be wonderful.

 

Four Seasons Koh Samui Plunge Pool- Amazing view!

More pictures from Asia!

Exquisite Asian Flowers!

The flowers here are so exquisite that I am thinking of planning a Garden Tour!  Let me know if you are interested.

More on the magnificent Balinese hotels …

In spite of the ever growing traffic, and development, Bali still has that indefinable magic. The Balinese are still so happy to see us, the hotels are still amazing, the temples are still thriving, great restaurants are growing in number. Craftsmanship is incredible. Bali is one of the best places in the world to shop. For five star hotels, Amandari, Amankila, Amanusa, Four Seasons Sayan, Jimbaran and Bulgari are going strong. The most pleasant surprise was the Bulgari Uluwatu. Very glamorous really beautiful hotel. The bathtub was bigger than most hotel’s plunge pools. In the more moderate range was the Chedi Club- delightful, Uma- with a more health oriented clientel in Ubud, and the Legian Club in Seminyak. In a differnet category, the Tugu- chock full of antiques and more traditional, in Canguu.
I hated to leave.

Bali – Carolyn Tyler’s stunning villa!

Having Breakfast  at Carolyn Tyler’s stunning villa. Tomato cheese omelet, and a gorgeous plate of local fruit- mangosteen, papaya, mango, and passion fruit. Watching the rain and birds on the wide veranda. A villager is putting out offerings on the steps down by the river.  Breeze wafting by. Just heaven.  Starting my day of hotel site inspections. Some exciting new ones and some old favorite.

Bali

Day one in Bali. started with Carolyn Tyler’s stunnig villa (http://www.carolyntyler.com/). It will sleep 10 and is gorgeous! Not quick finished yet. In the Ubud (http://www.indo.com/active/ubud.html) area. I also check out the Viceroy http://www.viceroybali.com/en/introduction.php with it’s helicopter pad. The rooms were built on the side of a ravine and divine. Hugs suites, five star all the way. Next was one of my favorites, the Amandari http://www.amanresorts.com/amandari/home.aspx. To me one of the grand dames of Bali, it is still in pristine condition, service is impeccable, and the suites are so beautiful. We had lunch there, the chef is from Salt Lake city, and it was as good as any I have had on Bali. A definate 5* hotel always. They have some very good packages which are a good value. Both the Viceroy and Amandari are Virtuoso and have some great amenities. Another nice surprise was the Uma http://www.uma.ubud.como.bz/. Very good value, aims toward a more holistic stay. Beautiful rooms and gardens. Farther out from Ubud was Ubud Hanging Gardens http://www.ubudhanginggardens.com/web/pubu/ubud_hanging_gardens.jsp by Orient Express Hotels. Literally built on the side of a mountain, it even has 2 funiculars. The setting is absolutely amazing. Vistas are delightful. Rooms were large and grand. Service was the friendliest I have seen anywhere. They have 7 shuttles into Ubud everyday. 30 minutes from Ubud. They offer lots of interesting activities. such as cooking classes, painting classes, activities for children, etc. The best surprise was the Chedi Club http://www.ghmhotels.com/. Built by the leading architect of Indonesia for his family compound. Loaded with private art and antiques. Villas are roomy , bright and beautiful AND a very good value for pricing. They also offer some great packages. Near to Ubud.
Four Seasons Sayan  http://www.fourseasons.com/sayan/. Dramatic, stunning property. One walks out toward to  what looks like a large disk which is a pond on top of the building. the lower circles are reception and bars,a nd dining. The views are incredible of the valley!! Amazing service. Truly 5*. Everyone greeted me by name. the room have their own plunge pool huge and dramatic. I want to go back!!
Today Hotel Tugu, Oberoi, legian Club, Intercontintal then Four seasons Jimbaran YAY!!

Singapore!

Sitting in my suite at Raffles hotel in Singapore (http://www.raffles.com/en_ra/property/rhs). We were met at the PLANE by a Raffles rep and he went ahead and started sorting out the luggage. They sent the Bentley for us so we really felt like movie stars! Having coffee, they send when you get your wake up call. Going to go out and take some shops of this grand dame!! The fragrance of Frangipani is everywhere, and the buffet breakfast is out of this world. The very best pleace to start a long trip to Asia. Getting on our Singapore air flight theis afternoon for Bali.