Innholdsfortegnelse for Sep/Nov 2021 i DestinAsian

A Parisian retail institution for more than a century, Right Bank department store La Samaritaine has emerged from a 16-year redevelopment as Samaritaine Paris Pont-Neuf, reclaiming its place among the French capital’s most sophisticated shopping destinations. Founded in 1870 and now majority-owned by French luxury conglomerate LVMH, the historic landmark (which comprises several buildings) has seen its original art deco and art nouveau elements restored, while a new structure on Rue de Rivoli sports a wavy glass facade by Pritzker Prize–winning Japanese architecture firm Sanaa. Inside, visitors will find four floors dedicated to luxury fashion, jewelry, and watches, a dozen restaurants, and what is billed as Europe’s largest beauty floor; the main building’s glass-roofed atrium, with its grand central staircase, ironwork balustrades, and Belle Époque peacock frescoes, is an attraction…

With a superb location on Chaweng Beach, Centara Reserve Samui is the completely reimagined and upgraded former Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui, whose celebrated colonial design aesthetic has been integrated with the new property’s contemporary flair. The 184 brand-new rooms, pool suites, and beachfront pool villas are the epitome of sophisticated island living, with a dedicated Reserve Host on hand to look after the needs of suite and villa guests. Six restaurants and bars (including Sa-Nga for Thai tapas and Salt Society for beachside seafood and cocktails) plus several swimming pools and a serene spa round out the resort’s amenities. The prize is for three nights in a Deluxe Garden room inclusive of daily breakfast for two, valid for stays between January 5, 2022, and November 30, 2022. For print…

Tucked away on a lush, secluded hillside that steps down to Jimbaran Bay, Raffles’ second property in Indonesia has just 32 private pool villas overlooking the Indian Ocean, promising guests plenty of of serenity, five-star comfort, and time-honored tradition in elegant surroundings. Travelers can reach Raffles Bali via a half-hour private limousine transfer from Ngurah Rai International Airport, and choose from five types of private pool villas, ranging from the 470-square-meter Ocean Pool Villas to the two-bedroom Raffles Presidential Villa. Flooded with natural light, the generously sized villas feature contemporary Balinese-inspired interiors and plenty of local touches: batik tapestries displayed behind the king-size beds were handmade by local craftsmen, while rustic rattan furniture adorns the bedrooms, living rooms, and private gardens. All accommodations are equipped with indoor and outdoor showers,…

Taking its name after the traditional Thai floral garland draped over guests as a sign of welcome and respect, Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok offers design-savvy travelers a home in the buzzing Langsuan neighborhood downtown. Centrally located with easy access to prime districts such as Sukhumvit and Silom, the highrise property is just a short walk from Lumphini Park. Its elegant interiors by P49 Design exude a contemporary flair through a soothing palette of warm, organic materials; local crafts, handmade textiles, and whimsical pieces by Thai artists adorn both the public areas and private spaces. The design of Kimpton Maa-Lai’s 362 rooms, suites, and serviced residences was inspired by the energy and creativity of the Thai capital. Guest quarters are generously proportioned (entry-level Deluxe Rooms measure in at 48 square meters), and…

Punctuated by dramatic art installations—look out for the abstract water dragon suspended above the Living Room dining area—the 222-room Park Hyatt Bangkok provides a welcome refuge from the bustle of downtown Bangkok from its perch on the top 27 floors of the sinuous Central Embassy tower in Phloen Chit. The design, by Yabu Pushelberg, is the epitome of understated luxury, with neutral colors and natural materials bathed in light from floor-to-ceiling windows. The concierge service is top-notch, as are the dining options. There’s the Embassy Room for modern European flavors, international and Thai comfort food at the Living Room, and, spanning the hotel’s uppermost floors, the Penthouse Bar + Grill, a Manhattan–inspired collection of six venues (all designed by New York firm AvroKo) comprising The Grill, Chef’s Table, The Cocktail…

Though it’s just a half-hour drive from downtown Da Nang, InterContinental’s flagship property in Vietnam is another world entirely—a tropical haven where natural beauty, vibrant culture, and fascinating history all share the spotlight. The surroundings are postcard-perfect: backed by the lush slopes of the Son Tra Peninsula nature reserve, the resort cascades down a hillside to a glittering blue cove fringed by a 700-meter-long private beach. Just as appealing are the architecture and interior design, both the work of Bangkok-based starchitect Bill Bensley. From the ocean-view rooms and terrace suites to the exquisite villas and penthouse, the accommodations are done up in a whimsical Modern Vietnamese style that mixes handpicked artifacts with an evocative palette of colors and textures, while oversize beds and lavish bathroom amenities ensure supreme comfort. While…

Not so long ago, the notion of space tourism was the stuff of science fiction. That changed on April 28, 2001, when a 60-year-old American multimillionaire named Dennis Tito blasted off in a Russian Soyuz rocket bound for the International Space Station (ISS), where he would spend eight days and orbit the earth 128 times. The trip cost Tito US$20 million, but it secured his place in history as the world’s first space tourist. Fast forward 20 years, and the final frontier seems that much closer for thrill-seeking private citizens, providing they have the money to get themselves there. Sir Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic recently reopened ticket sales for its suborbital rocket-plane flights at a starting price of $450,000 a seat, while tickets to the edge of space with Jeff…

Studded with icebergs that calve from one of the fastest moving glaciers on the planet, western Greenland’s Ilulissat Icefjord has long been a magnet for tourists and climate researchers alike. Now, there’s a new reason to visit this UNESCO World Heritage site: the Ilulissat Icefjord Centre, a boomerang-shaped venue that overlooks the head of its namesake fjord and the frigid waters of Disko Bay beyond. Inside, a multimedia exhibition called “The Story of Ice” provides an immersion into the science, anthropology, and environmental impact of ice, with various artifacts and projections displayed within hand-blown glass “ice prisms.” Elsewhere, an audio installation features the sounds of shifting ice transmitted from research stations across Greenland, while the building’s curving roof doubles as an observation deck where visitors can bask in the otherworldly…

If the lobby is the first chapter in the story of your experience at a hotel, than this one is an undeniable page-turner. Perched on a limestone cliff in Nusa Dua overlooking the blue expanse of the Indian Ocean, the vast pendopo-style lobby of The Apurva Kempinski Bali is a remarkable space capped by a stepped copper-sheathed ceiling (an allusion to Mount Meru, the sacred mountain of Hindu cosmology) and anchored by four eight-meter-tall pavilions paneled in intricately carved woodwork, the labor of hundreds of Javanese craftsmen. Additional eye candy comes in the form of shimmering Mongolian marble floors, miniature terra-cotta temples, and a grand 250-step staircase that leads down to the resort’s beach-level grounds. The sea views are equally arresting, especially from the privacy of one of the suites…

As grand as its name implies, this sprawling beachfront resort encompasses more than 17 hectares of lush tropical gardens, cascading waterfalls, and lily-filled lagoons in southern Bali’s exclusive Nusa Dua enclave. If the grounds recall the fabled Balinese water palaces of old, Grand Hyatt Bali’s airy 636 guest rooms reflect a more contemporary island style, with platform beds, marble and teak floors, and specially commissioned fabrics by local artisans. Arranged in four village-inspired clusters, each room has its own private balcony with ocean, lagoon, or garden views, as well as an alcove area with a daybed for lounging that can be converted into a sleeping bay for children. Like a world unto itself, Grand Hyatt Bali features five swimming pools, three floodlit tennis courts, an expansive fitness center, 24 luxurious…

While its prime location at the tranquil southern end of Chaweng Beach remains as alluring as ever, the former Centara Grand Beach Resort Samui has been totally reimagined and upgraded as the debut property of the Centara Reserve brand, a new collection of luxury hotels from Thailand’s Centara Hotels & Resorts that is committed to delivering a highly personalized experience. Still distinguished by the classic colonial-inspired facade of its predecessor, Centara Reserve Samui has been transformed by the stylish AvroKO group into a contemporary haven of 184 redesigned rooms, pool suites, and beachfront pool villas that blend contemporary comfort with Thai design elements. There is a story behind every detail, providing guests with an immersive experience that invites them to write stories of their own. There are no less than…

Vietnamese heritage meets minimalist modernity at Regent Phu Quoc, an allsuite and villa resort that debuts on the shores of Vietnam’s largest island in January 2022. Set against the serene waterfront backdrop of Long Beach, the property reflects Phu Quoc’s tropical abundance and tranquil surroundings in its thoughtful design by Bangkok-based BLINK Design Group, who have combined rich tones, warm woods, and stone textures to create calming interiors that exude a sense of understated luxury. Accommodation options range from one-bedroom Garden Suites with their own plunge pools to Sky Pool Villas situated high in the resort’s Sky Wing, which affords stunning Gulf of Thailand views. For families, there are villas with two to seven bedrooms—some on the beach, others nestled above the resort’s lagoons. Apart from complimentary pressing and laundry…

“IF THERE WERE A THAI WITNESS-PROTECTION PROGRAM FOR NATURAL LANDSCAPES AND UNAFFECTED LOCALS, IT WOULD BE SET ON THE SHORES OF TRANG.”Christopher R. Coxin “Natural Selection,” December 2009 BALI, INDONESIA “There are certain places that we keep, in our hearts or imaginations, as shrines of a kind, or inner talismans; protective deities, you could say, that watch over some of our better and more private hopes. Bali is close to the center of any such inner topography, a place that has long been a byword for all we would not expect to find in the real world. I remember, from the first of my several trips there, feeling as if I’d walked into a canvas (by Gauguin, perhaps): the bare-shouldered old ladies in their sumptuous silks walking to the temple…

Introducing V Villas Phuket The newest outpost of Accor’s MGallery Hotel Collection in Thailand has just made its debut on the country’s favorite holiday island. Perched on a verdant hillside above Ao Yon Beach, V Villas Phuket – MGallery has just 19 pool villas in one-, three and four-bedroom configurations. Each one is flooded with natural light from the floor-to-ceiling windows and features expansive wooden decks so guests can make the most of cooling sea breezes and ocean views. Another perk? Butler service at all hours of the day. Travelers who stay longer will also benefit from major savings. Those bedding down seven nights will be rewarded with a 20 percent discount, which increases to 25 percent for 10-night sojourns and 30 percent for stays longer than 14 nights. Rates…

Occupying a handsome two-story mansion built a century ago as Chiang Mai’s British Consulate, The Service 1921 Restaurant and Bar at the Anantara Chiang Mai Resort has launched a new menu that’s as head-turning as its moody spy-themed decor. Chefs here are cooking up cannabis-infused dishes to showcase the dietary benefits of fresh marijuana leaves (recently decriminalized in Thailand), which have none of the mind-altering effects of the dried buds. Diners will find the ingredient in dipping sauces and a shiitake mushroom soup, flash-fried till crispy to complement battered seabass, and blended with teas and juices to create thirst-quenching drinks. All told, it’s the balance of flavors — not the cannabinoids — that will keep patrons wanting more (service1921.com).…

First established in 1976 to mark the 50th anniversary of the Rolex Oyster (the world’s first waterproof wristwatch), the prestigious Rolex Awards for Enterprise recognize pioneers working on projects that expand our knowledge of the world, protect the environment, and improve human well-being. Although initially intended to be a once-off celebration, the initiative drew so much international interest that Rolex transformed it into an ongoing program that has since supported 155 laureates whose endeavors have made a significant contribution worldwide to improving life and protecting our planet. Today it serves as one of the three pillars of Rolex’s Perpetual Planet initiative, which also embraces an enhanced partnership with the National Geographic Society as well as support of legendary oceanographer Sylvia Earle’s Mission Blue, a nonprofit that helps to establish protected…

As the morning mist settles and a soft outline forms around the distant summit of Mount Agung, a farmer in a conical hat peddles his bicycle down a trail that meanders past fields sown with cassava and corn. Ducks peck at the earth in search of worms and snails, and glints of sunlight refract off waterlogged rice paddies before cascading into rays. I’m at Subak Uma Lambing, a vast green carpet of agricultural land to the southwest of Ubud, Bali’s spiritual capital. Home to a community of 250 farming families, the subak — the term refers to the water-sharing collectives that underpin the island’s ancient irrigation system — is also the base for an ambitious social enterprise called The Astungkara Way, which champions regenerative farming while giving visitors an opportunity…

Nine flamboyantly landscaped hectares on the shores of Nusa Dua set the stage for one of Bali’s most opulent resorts. With a turquoise lagoon pool at its heart, St. Regis Bali dazzles from the moment guests step into its airy, chandelier-hung lobby, which is flanked by 81 elegantly appointed suites (some of which have private pools). Even more compelling are the resort’s two dozen villas, especially since a recent redesign added advanced entertainment systems, carefully crafted artwork, and a warmer residential feel. The distinctive Lagoon Villas feature direct access to the central lagoon from their terraces, while the beachfront Strand Villas come with uninterrupted ocean views. Whatever the room category, all guests can look forward to complimentary airport transfers and — for the utmost in personalized attention — round-the-clock butler…

If the location of the latest boutique property from Capella Hotels & Resorts is beguiling, so too are its interiors. Situated on a tree-lined boulevard in the former French Quarter of the Vietnamese capital, Capella Hanoi is just a short stroll from the Hanoi Opera House, a colonial-era landmark that has inspired the hotel’s design concept. Though the building is newly constructed, Bangkok-based architect Bill Bensley has imbued it with art nouveau and art deco flourishes to capture the feel of a petite auberge (small inn) where opera singers, composers, and artists would have mingled had it existed during the heady days of the 1920s. The 47 rooms and suites at Capella Hanoi have been individually styled by Bensley himself. His whimsical touch is evident in elements such as original…

Vietnam’s largest island may have no shortage of places to stay these days, but for spectacular sunset views and laidback luxury at its finest, InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort offers an unparalleled experience. Situated at the southern end of Phu Quoc’s most famous stretch of sand, the resort’s setting will enthral families and couples alike, with landscaped gardens and lagoons backed by vivid green mountains and fronted by the sparkling waters of the Gulf of Thailand. Accommodation comes in the form of 459 rooms, suites, and beachfront villas, all featuring deep bathtubs, Vietnamese silk accents, walk-in rain showers, floor-to-ceiling windows, and spacious balconies or terraces. Guests of all ages will be spoilt for choice by the recreational facilities. Expect four swimming pools, a games room and 24-hour fitness center,…