Superb attention to detail. Saxon Hotel
Saxon Hotel
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Superb attention to detail. Saxon Hotel
Category Archives: Weddings
Saxon Hotel – Top Choice in Johannesburg
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The Saxon Hotel- Top Choice in Johannesburg.
The Saxon Hotel in Johannesburg never fails to please. Impeccable service and an a superb decor- tastefully furnished with African artifacts throughout the hotel.
Lobby of the Saxon Hotel.
Guests experience a great sense of place. Located in the tranquil, tree-lined suburb of Sandhurst, within minutes of Johannesburg’s world-class shopping and business hub, the Saxon the Saxon treats you to personalised, discreet service and unparalleled South African hospitality. Room categories are all suites, either in the hotel or in the adjacent villas. Butler service is provided for all.
The Saxon is a luxurious private retreat, set on ten acres of landscaped gardens. The Saxon entrance exudes an air of quiet majesty with its sweeping feature staircase and spectacular ostrich egg chandelier. The neutral shades of the interior reflect the tones and textures of Africa. Nelson Mandela wrote much of his memoir at the Saxon.
Round Hill -Jewel in the Caribbean Crown
Sumptuous gardens in Round Hill
Created in 1953 by Jamaica-born entrepreneur John Pringle,Round Hill been a favorite of celebrities for years. JFK and Jackie honeymooned in Villa 10. Oscar Hammerstein was the first owner of Villa 12. Alfred Hitchcock, Bing Crosby, and Adele Astaire were regulars—as were Bill and Babe Paley. Beyond that, Noël Coward, who was a frequent visitor, stayed in Villa 3.
Cottage owner, Ralph Lauren did a major renovation on the ocean front rooms.
RH is located on a 100-acre peninsula that was originally a sugar plantation. The cottages are built on the round hills, sloping down to the water . The British claimed Jamaica in 1629, the infuluence of their best traditions still remain.
With a year round temperate climate and nonstop access from most east coast airports, Jamaica is a perfect destination.
Unique to Round Hill, 27 private cottages combined with 37 sumptuous guest rooms offer a wide range of accommodation options. For weddings,the RH cottages, allow families and friends easy access for private celebrations, mingling with hotel rooms for group gatherings. It’s Old World Glamour affords one a delightful Colonial Caribbean sense of place.
At Round Hill the words past and present coexist not merely peacefully, but joyfully.
Hotels We Loved in Morocco
So many divine, exotic, stunning hotels, in Morocco. Marrakech alone has 6 prime properties: Royal Mansour, La Mamounia, Villa des Orangers, Amanjena, Four Seasons Marrakech, and Mandarin Oriental Marrakech. My absolute favorites are Mandarin Oriental Marrakech, then Villa des Orangers, then La Mamounia.
Enormous Pool Villa Mandarin Oriental Marrakech. Absolutely stunning. They even have a heated tub!
Mandarin Oriental Marrakech
Royal Mansour is the ultimate resort in Marrakech.
Interior Courtyard at charming Palais Amani in Fes -a Relais & Chateaux property.
Fes boasts Riad Fes and Palais Amani, the grand Dame, Palais Jamais is under extensive renovation till end of 2017. Another must stay is near the desert, Dar Ahlam. Incredibly beautiful and the food is out of this world!
A Foray into the Moroccan Desert
I can check camel riding off my list
What an adventure! The utter silence! The serenity of the sand. Luxurious tented camps that had all possible comforts. I can check camel riding off the list. We hiked up to the highest dune on our vicinity. We watched a sunset and then the next morning rode to watch the sunrise. We had dinner in the main tent, entertained by a group of local musicians. Fun to listen to indigenous music. The fabulous food that comes from an isolated kitchen always amazes me. Wine was flowing- couldn’t have asked for more.
Le Souk Fes
The markets of Fes are thriving pulsing, filled with energy. Every possible craft, clothing, fruit, flower, meat, vegetable, spice, sweet, one can imagine, is there. Always interesting. 
Morocco: Exotic, Elegant- The Magic Continues!
Garden by the Royal Palace Fes
Riad Fes – Relais&Chateaux hotel in Fes
I am traveling with Michael Diamond of highly touted Heritage Tours Morocco. They manage to ferret out all the divine behind the scenes restaurants, Riads, shops and sights that are a must see. Riads are homes with a central courtyard.
Fes, considered the cultural center of Morocco was a pleasant surprise. Heavily influenced by the French occupation from 1912 -1956, the city is filled with gardens. French is spoken liberally. Restaurants seem to have a strong French flavor. Part of the must see adventure is the Souk ( Market)
Tiger’s Nest : the Goal
Tigers Nest Monastery
Taktsang (Tigers Nest) Monastery
Perched 3,000 feet above Bhutan on the side of a sheer rock cliff, Tiger’s Nest is one of the most popular pilmagrages in Bhutan.
Padmasambhava, popularly known as Guru Rinpoche visited and sanctified Bhutan in the 8th century. Legend has it that Guru Rinpoche flew to this site on a tigress’ back to subdue a local demon.
Our eminently able &Beyond guide, Tashi Grugg, had us start the climb early in the morning. He has done the climb over 100 times. Sheesh!
That TINY white dot in the background is our goal.
We started in a cool lovely pine forest, gentle slope that changed to straight up quickly.
Native flowers along the way. I was stoping to take pics to catch a breath!! Puff puff!
View down from the trail
Our able &Beyond guide, Tashi
Our driver, Yeshi, who literally held an umbrella over our heads on the trek up to keep us cool. I felt like a Maharani.
We actually made it!! 18,600 steps, 8miles It took us 5 hours up and down.
Top hotel choice for Delhi- The Lodhi. WOW!
Deluxe Suite with balcony-Lodhi Delhi
I am in Delhi with &Beyond India. Hard to beat &Beyond India’s accomplishments. A complete service, travel company with personal connections that enable you to experience your every travel wish.
Because the Oberoi is closed for renovation, they suggested the Lodhi. And what a spectacular suggestion it was!
Service is above any standard I have seen, sleek elegant rooms, amazing Spa, two restaurants- On the Waterfront, is one of the top in the city. A completely divine hotel.
Delhi is a beautiful vibrant city, full of countless historic sightseeing and shopping options but all I want to do is hang out at this beautiful hotel!
Lindblad Expeditions- Cruising on a Different Level.
Lindblad Sea Bird
Intrepid explorers getting ready for an interesting hike.
Tricia -Tree hugging Pacific NW Style
Amazing Sea Lions encounter!
Returning from another exciting adventure
Linblad is not about the hardware on board the ship. They want their guests to have the most amazing experience possible. They do not expect for you to stay in your room, they want you out and seeing all the destination has to offer.
Their staff is considered the top in their respective fields- the cream of the crop. Even better, they don’t take themselves seriously. They are very earnest in being sure you see, taste, smell and absorb the world around you. When you experience a cruise on Lindblad, you are going to get the best possible information, service, attention and experience. And the food is incredible too! I found the cruise exciting, extremely informative and most importantly tons of fun.
British Countryside Sights
So many wonderful destination choices in the British countryside. Oxford, the Cotswolds,
Chiltern valley, Windsor Castle, Blenheim Palace, Bath, Stonehenge, Highclere Castle, the list goes on and on. We chose to stay in the country at Cliveden House and we based our exploration there. Spring is just about to bloom and the countryside is glorius!!
Milestone Hotel- British to the Bone
Swan at Kensington Palace
Situated across from Kensington Palace, the Milestone is a delightful surprise. British to the hilt the general feeling is warm and cozy. The staff is the most genuine I have encountered- from the doorman to the butler to the very charming GM, Andrew Pike. One feels quite at home at the Milestone.
&Beyond Grumeti River Camp
&Beyond Grumeti River Camp provides a private Serengeti experience with exclusive game viewing in some of the most secluded parts of Africa’s most famous game reserve. The Grumeti Reserve is located in the remote Western Corridor of the Serengeti. Its rustic yet sophisticated safari tents are tucked into the shade of an evergreen forest on the banks of a tributary of the famous Grumeti River. The staff was superb: very warm and welcoming. Food again was outstanding We had some of the best wines selections there. 
Welcome song from Grumeti River camp.
Wake up calls come with a Cheerie “Jambo” and tray of coffee with biscuits.
Big Sky Serengeti
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Magnificent Serengeti Game
It is easy to become caught up in the complexity of Africa: the history, the people, the camps, the tribes. To me, the magic of the continent is the interaction of the animals. Everyday is a new discovery.
&Beyond Serengeti Under Canvas Camp- following the Migration
Limited to Tanzania and Kenya, the Great Migration is a movement of millions of Serengeti’s wildebeest, accompanied by smaller numbers of Zebra, grant’s and Thompson gazelles, Eiland, and Impala. They move in an annual pattern constantly following the rains, seeking fresh grazing. This November, the migration was near the &beyond Serengeti Under Canvas Camp. Because they are mobile, the camp can move with the migration.
Lions in the tree!
Lake Manyara Tree Lion
A new experience to watch a lion leap into the tree
Travel is more than a destination in mind…
It is discovering a place in your heart you’ve never been before.
Anon.
Tswalu Kalahari -South Africa
Top notch guide Warren and our tracker, Jackson
A few of the details that make Tswalu Kalahari so special are the shuttle flights: private jets like the Pilatus PC-12, the lounge for your transfer -Fireblade – is in a class all it’s own with day rooms a massage therapist, and private chef on call. Offering a small number of cottages on property, the resort suits both families and honeymooners. Most especially the best offering is the private vehicle , guide and tracker for each set of guests. If you booked singly or came with 4 friends, you get you own land rover, guide and tracker. That is the height of luxury on safari! They dedicate up to 9 vehicles, guides and trackers for their guests. The reserve is so large, you never seem to see more than one other vehicle when one is out on a game drive. Our guide, Warren, knew that reserve like the back of his hand. He even found a pack of wild dogs in a impossible to find location!! Wild dogs!! What a thrill!!! My first sighting in all my years of safari tracking.
Guides and trackers focus on what a guest wants to see, ie birds or predators- or both!! You see it all!!!
ultimate luxury – private vehicle, guide and tracker
Rooftop Pool Ritz Carlton Santiago
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Ritz Carlton Santiago – traditional luxury
The usual tip top service, Ritz Carlton Santiago has lived up to it’s considerable reputation. Rooms are impeccable, beds are like sleeping on a cloud.
Off to Chile -flying the Divine Dreamliner on LAN
Probably the most comfortable sleep on a plane in a long while. LAN offers a comforter inside a sheet- sort of like a sleeping bag. So you lie on the comforter under the sheet. The lighting is unusual prevelant pinks and blues and i am told the humidity is pumped up so one sleeps more comfortably. I did not wake up till 20 minutes before we landed in Santiago. We hardly felt the take off and landing. Huge plane! 
We are guests of LAN Airlines, Ritz Carlton, A&K Chile and Explora Atacama. It is such a privilege to learn about new travel options.
Finest hotel in China – Peninsula Shanghai
Spectacular flowers everywhere is just one small detail in the scheme of things at the formidable Peninsula Shanghai. Situated on the Bund, this hotel aims to please. They offer an airport pickup in their fabulous Rolls Royce, and the service just gets better from there. Large, spacious, comfortable rooms face the river and the colorful Pudong area across the street. The bathroom has a button the dims the lights slowly as soft music comes up and water fills the bathtub. Just incredible. Returning to the Peninsula Shanghai is a must.
Premier Room – Rosewood Beijing
Images courtesy of Rosewood Beijing
I had the privilege of serving on the Virtuoso Preview Board of Advisors for Rosewood Beijing, so I was well briefed with the passion of the staff. They left no stone unturned in their focus on making all guests feel welcome. When I visited Beijing and saw the hotel in actuality, I was blown away. I met the GM Marc Brugger, and Head of Sales David Campbell. William Liu, Beijing head of Sales and Lori Zhang kindly showed me around. An exciting project, I caught the passion of the staff and loved the decor. Completely pleasant, the rooms evoke a wonderful sense of place and relaxation. Can’t wait to get back and sample the Peking Duck specialty in one of the restaurants, A Country Kitchen. You can read about the hotel in this issue of Virtuoso Life.
Best Breakfast -St Regis Beijing
The most amazing, extensive breakfast I have ever experienced was at the St Regis Beijing. Wow!
St. Regis Beijing
Host to kings, princes, presidents and CEO’s, the St Regis Beijing lives up to it’s reputation. In a perfect central location on Embassy Row, we could walk to the Silk Market and one of the most luxurious underground malls I have ever seen. Every designer you could possibly think of, was represented. Beijing is the cultural capital of China, and getting to the sites and museums was an easy jump- mostly by car. The city is enormous.
Drama in the Entry – Amanoi, Vietnam
Feast for your eyes wherever you turn.
Small details, beautifully placed- Amanoi, Vietnam
Devil’s in the details.
Yoga Pavillion Amanoi – Vietnam
Also great for a wedding celebration!!
Plunge Pool at Villa 2 Amanoi -Vietnam
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Corner Dining Amanoi – Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
Corner Dining
Villa 2 Amanoi- Vinh Hy Bay, Vietnam
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Aman heaven again- Amanoi Vinh Hy, Vietnam
Aman heaven again. And you will be too!
Aman is a Sanskrit-derived word for peace and Noi means “place”
This property personifies that ethic.
With the launch of Amanoi, Amanresorts adds Vietnam to its Southeast Asian circuit, with Amanpuri in Thailand, Amantaka in Laos and Amansara in Cambodia already on everyone’s must travel list
Impossible to describe the serenity, sense of place, and spectacular decor.
A fabulous spot to wind down after a tour of SE Asia, Amanoi is perfect for a honeymoon and divine for a destination wedding.
The designer, Jean-Michel Gathy also did the spectacular Amanyara in Turks &Caicos
Not a “palm tree” resort. Amanoi is set on the coast in beautiful Vinh Hy Bay in the middle of the Nui Chua National park. Vegetation is subtropical, and incredible rock formations are everywhere. There is a wonderful beach with unusual shells and a darling fishing village on the other side of Vinh Hy bay. Landing in Na Trang, the drive is about an hour and 15minutes on an amazing coastal drive. The good news is that the car has WIFI so you can catch up on emails or track your progress on google maps.
Food was fabulous. Beef was flown in from Australia, all vegetables and fruits are local and organic, seafood was right out of the local waters. Couldn’t be more fresh.
I want to move into our villa- it is that comfortable. The beyond fab Spa has the only Pilates equipment and set up in Vietnam. They also boast hydrotherapy equipment.
Sea View Villa – Nam Hai Hoi An, Vietnam
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Our view from the Nam Hai – Hoi An Vietnam
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Main Lodge- Nam Hai, Hoi An Vietnam
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Nam Hai- Hoi An Vietnam
Some of the best food we encountered was in Vietnam. Fresh and vibrant. one of the best restaurants was at the Nam Hai. Near Danang, an elegant, glamorous addition to the middle coast of Vietnam. Gorgeous pool and public areas! Service was wonderful.
Beware if you are not happy with lots of steps. The elegant villa is set as rectangle facing the sea- with a step down from the entry area, a step down beside the bed then another step to the living room. steps are lit but you want to be cautious.
Innovative and beautiful. It is the place to be in Hoi An Vietnam.
Cool Hotel in Hong Kong- Upper House
Upper House – COOL hotel in Hong Kong Central.
There is a special type of client looking for cool new slick spaces – You know who you are.
Upper House is going to fill the bill in Hong Kong. Minimal, contemporary, intime and totally cool.
Three room types: Peak view 70 CM/Harbor view 70CM and harbor or peak view suite 80CM
A great addition to the services of Upper House is that they allow early arrivals. So if your flight arrives in the morning, they will move you right into your room. They check you in there. No lines -No waiting. 
Upper House’s restaurant is Café Gray Deluxe, a 21st century ‘grand café’, located on the 49th floor overlooking Victoria Harbor, marks the return to Hong Kong of Chef Gray Kunz and his cuisine – a unique style of European classics and signature dishes from a lifetime leading the very finest kitchens in Europe, Asia and America.
Hotel facts:
The hotel’s 117 rooms (including 21 suites and 2 penthouses) start at 730sq ft – the largest in Hong Kong. They feature wonderfully spacious bathrooms and dressing areas, and offer either scenic harbor or island views. Calming and contemporary, the rooms are designed to provide a sense of relaxation, warmth and understated luxury. Room features Luxury down bedding Complimentary in-room bar Dual temperature wine fridge Complimentary espresso machine and selection of teas and infusions LCD TV with 2.1 surround sound with simple connectivity for PC, camcorder and MP3 Interactive hotel information, music and games via in room iTouch Complimentary wired and wireless high speed internet access Spacious bathrooms with TV, dressing area, walk-in rain shower and limestone clad bath
Chi Lin Gardens -Hong Kong
We are looking for new sites in Hong Kong and my friend Devin suggested we see Chi Lin Nunnery and Gardens. Just opened a year ago, the gardens are a beautiful depiction of a Tang Dynasty garden and has amazing replicas of Tang Dynasty structures, built in teak wood. A beautiful oasis smack in the middle of Kowloon. If you are in Hong Kong, you should add it to your list.
Spectacular FS Club Lounge – Hong Kong
Situated on the top floor of FS Hong Kong, the Club lounge serves breakfast privately in the morning and drinks and snacks/drinks all day. Complimentary to all suites.
Four Seasons Hong Kong – one of the Best!
View from my room
Four Seasons Hong Kong
Opened in 2009 with not one but two Michelin rated restaurants, the Four Seasons Hong Kong lives up to it’s impeccable reputation. An example of attention to detail: we arrived at midnight and found in our room a mound of finger sandwiches with a card saying “in anticipation of your late arrival we prepared a light snack for you”. I left my camera on the desk and when I returned, the cleaning service had left a packed lense cleaning cloth. Everyone seemed to know our name. Adapters in each nightstand. Little details that mount to flawless service. At 399 rooms, 54 of them suites, the hotel did not come off as a large hotel, there was a sense of space and peace. Located on the Central side of HKG the location was convenient and easy to reach for walking. We sampled their amazing Cantonese Restaurant, Lung King Heen and agreed it deserved it’s stars. The hotel has 2 pools and a club level on the top(45th) floor- Club lounge is open to all who book a suite.
Dock entry to LPI- a little bit of heaven
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Situated on 5.5 Acres of private island, in the lower Florida Keys. It is about 40 minutes from Key West Airport. You are taken to their main admission Lodge, then transferred by boat to the Island. It is a favored enclave for luxury travelers. 15 thatched roof bungalows, featuring 30 suites-ranging from 550 SF to 1000SF -offer ultimate privacy and romance. The island is never inhabited by more than 60 guests.
View from Little Palm Island
Sunsets from the Keys are dynamite!
Sitting at the bar with a nice glass of champagne- ahhhh…
Another Small Resort Gem- Little Palm Island
Easy jump to paradise
The flight from Atlanta took an hour and a half. Poof! Before I knew it, I had landed in another bit of paradise. Tropical bungalows, recently updated with a Caribbean Colonial feel- lots of shutters – were a haven. Breezes blowing, palm fronds moving gently in the wind, I couldn’t believe how quickly one could just stop, kick back and relax.
Spaghetti with Pomodoro Sauce – just like my Sicilian Grandmother’s
There is no denying that the cuisine of Dubrovnik is heavily influenced by their Italian neighbors across the Adriatic. I was pleasantly surprised at the level of Croatian cuisine. A beautiful influence of Italian mixed with their proximity to the sea makes for a high level of quality and innovative offerings.
Dispatches from the Road 