I am attending Intenational Luxury Travel Mart in Cannes this week and I decided to come in early to check out some highly regarded properties on the Cote D’Azur in France.
My first stay was at Cap Estel and it turned out to be as wonderful as all the feedback I had received from clients.
It is located below Eze on the edge of the water. The views of course are of the sea the rocky cliffs of Eze plunge straight down to the water, and the gardens are impeccable. Cap Estel was a large villa that was completely renovated into a very comfortable small hotel. It retains the intime homelike feeling. It has sea view rooms and many suites ending with 2 four bedroom suites that would be perfect for a family. It is also perfect for a small wedding. The grounds are perfect for a ceremony and there are several places for cocktail receptions. The pool is an infinity edge and the views are to die for. Rooms are bright white with complimentary color highlights. Bathrooms are also large and bright and have a heated floor. Service was very attentive and pleasant. I will be happy to return there. I am enclosing some pictures of the property.
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I found the rooms at Las Alamandas to be bright, spacious, and authentically Mexican. I felt a great sense of place staying there. Renovations had been done recently and everything was light and very colorful. There is a choice of 30 pillows, and the linens were quite fine. Most of the rooms have jacuzzis, some have
private plunge pools. All are either oceanfront or ocean view. All the bathrooms have been recently renovated.
The only drawback is the 2 hour drive fro PV to the property, but the owner is exploring the air shuttle service from PV airport, and the transfer would be 30 minutes.
I was perfectly happy with my very comfortable, warm happy family stay at the Portman Ritz Carlton. I could not imagine how anything could be better in Shanghai. Then we moved over to experience the other Ritz Carlton-on Pudong.
I have to say, I am dazzled by the brand new- one year old Ritz Carlton Pudong. It is a completely different hotel style, very sophisticated, slick, and glamorous- heavy Deco influence. The rooms are either River/ Bund view or City view. Not a bad view in the place. Enormous 24 Hour gym, fabulous spa, the Club level is a must book. Contemporary Art is everywhere. It is bright, and most welcoming. The staff is typical Ritz Carlton- state of art drop at your feet, nothing is more important than your every wish, everyone calls you by name -awesome. I had a Bund view room. Floor to ceiling windows bed facing the city, 51st floor amazing view, especially at night. The Bund is a line of historic British buildings built in the early 1800’s that line the river and then eastern Shanghai grows out beyond. All those skyscrapers lit at night- fab.
They hotel has a new very hot and trendy spot on top of the building called Flair. Jaw dropping views of the city from the 54th floor. I am told reserving a table goes for $400- and there is a line to get in!
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A quick word about the company that put together our trip: Africa Inscribed. New on the Luxury Safari scene, AI is gaining a well deserved outstanding reputation. The two owners, Dylan Harriss and Gavin Ford are working night and day to make our Safari Clients happy campers. They constantly travel to camps around Africa. We were most fortunate to have Gavin guide our trip, one of the top guides in all of Africa. His depth of knowledge and charisma made our trip unforgettable. Bravo to AI. I look forward to working with them again very soon. Outstanding job Dylan and Gavin. We all thank you both.
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It is always wonderful to get to the city and see old friends. I also have had the pleasure of visiting with clients and firming up future travel plans. I am staying with a friend and last night he had a most delightful dinner party for a friend visiting from Indonesia, Jerome Abel. He just opened a very successful gallery showing at Ralph Pucci Gallery the night before. In attendance were some of my most favorite clients, Preston and Theo, Jerome, Matthew, Vicente, and Ralph Pucci himself-wow! I was in high cotton! The table was beautifully set and the evening was filled with laughter.
Today I had lunch with an old friend, Jerry Rose, who has emerged with a stunning event planning business-of course, Jerry Rose. His
partner John Simodis was a pleasure to meet and I look forward to
working on some new trips for them. Check out Jerry’s new website:
JerryRose.com. Tonight more visits with old friends Jose Nunez and
Aliye Simavi-I really miss Fred. And another of my favorite clients the Redleafs.
It is always wonderful to get to the city and see old friends. I also have had the pleasure of visiting with clients and firming up future travel plans. I am staying with a friend and last night he had a most delightful dinner party for a friend visiting from Indonesia, Jerome Abel. He just opened a very successful gallery showing at Ralph Pucci Gallery the night before. In attendance were some of my most favorite clients, Preston and Theo, Jerome, Matthew, Vicente, and Ralph Pucci himself-wow! I was in high cotton! The table was beautifully set and the evening was filled with laughter.
Today I had lunch with an old friend, Jerry Rose, who has emerged with a stunning event planning business-of course, Jerry Rose. His
partner John Simodis was a pleasure to meet and I look forward to
working on some new trips for them. Check out Jerry’s new website:
JerryRose.com. Tonight more visits with old friends Jose Nunez and
Aliye Simavi-I really miss Fred. And another of my favorite clients the Redleafs.
Day 2, we got up early and flew a charter to the chulyu hills. Our destination camp is the fabulous Ol Donyo Waus. Charters are so much fun,because you can really see the landscape. As we were flying into the grass land g strip, I saw elephants, giraffe, zebra, impala, grant and thompson antelope. My biggest surprise wS that the landscape was so green! The area had just had rains and I have never seen such green. The trees and grasslands were amazing. I am sitting by the pool looking at elephants with a giraffe in the background, drinking from the pond below. Welcome to Africa!
Ol Donyo Waus is one of the five star camps I have been wanting to see, and it met all my expectations. The accommodations are top notch. Beautifully designed, the attention to detail is amazing. They have 10 villas- one is a two bedroom for families. Almost all have plunge pools, all have stunning views of Mt. Killimanjaro when he wants to show himself.
Activities include horseback riding, mountain bike riding, hiking, they offer a trek with with the resident bloodhounds( tracking pouchers)and of course games drives morning and evening. After our afternoon game drive, we had “Sundowners” and watched the sunset on the plains.
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Catherine Whitworth CTA
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Catherine Whitworth CTA
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Catherine Whitworth CTA
An independent associate of Sterling Brownell Travel
catherinewhit@sterlingtvl.com
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!
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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!
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!!
Dispatches from the Road 