Luxury Resort Hotels Tips

Bermuda Luxury Resort Hotel: The Reefs

The Reefs, open since 1947, has just 65 guest rooms and suites, including seven cottages with outdoor jacuzzis and an infinity pool. It made Forbes Traveler “World's Very Best Hotels and Resorts” list in 2007, but that's just one of many accolades the property has received. The Reefs has the highest repeat visitor rates of all the luxury hotels on Bermuda and many credit the outstanding staff and service for this.

Dining
Coconuts, according to Frommers, is described as such: “no finer or more romantic spot in Bermuda for an alfresco sunset dinner than this beach terrace.” Palm trees grow up through the floor and poke out through the roof. You can have dinner on the beach, too. Dinner is served beneath the stars, complete with tiki torches and the rhythm of the waves. Wherever you dine, you can get the “water menu,” with bottled water from New York, France, Scotland, Italy and Fiji.

Spa
La Serena specializes in Thai massage. Beyond massage, La Serena offers a full menu of luxury spa services ranging from reflexology to facials. Pedicures and manicures use paraffin wax and Gehwol products, known internationally for their herbal ingredients.

Deluxe Touch
Stay in one of the Point Suites (680 sq. ft.), located at the tip of the property jutting out over the ocean with stunning views. There's an attached sitting room opening onto a patio with a private hot tub. Bathrooms include a large jacuzzi and separate rainwater showers.

Details
56 South Shore Road
Southampton, Bermuda SN02
Tel: 800 742 2008 (toll-free)
Tel: 441 238 0222

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Australia Luxury Resort Hotel: The Hayman

The Hayman is Australia's most celebrated private island destination, beautifully situated in the magnificent Great Barrier Reef and presenting an array of unique and memorable resort and Reef experiences.

Surrounded by coral-fringed beaches and waters of the Coral Sea on the southwestern side of the island, Hayman offers 228 guest rooms, suites, penthouses and a beach villa. The accommodations, restaurants, guest service areas, marine facilities and operational plan were created to blend in with the natural beauty of the surroundings. No part of the resort is higher than four stories and shady ponds and gentle waterfalls thread their way among beautiful gardens, spacious walkways and open air lanais.

A Hayman team member will greet you on arrival at Great Barrier Reef Airport and arranges for the transfer of guest luggage from flights to the connecting launch, seaplane and helicopter transfers to Hayman. On arrival at Hayman, the luggage will be delivered directly to the guest room, suite, villa or penthouse.

Dining
La Fontaine, with Louis XVI furnishings, Waterford crystal chandeliers and a magnificent central limestone fountain makes for a gorgeous dining setting. Modern European cuisine is served, using local and international produce. The La Fontaine wine cellar offers more 750 vintages from the world's premier vineyards. Make sure to try the weekly Chef's Table, when you can go behind the scenes into the main kitchen for a six-course banquet with matching wines and includes a visit to the La Fontaine wine cellar and chocolate room.

Spa
Spa Chakra Hayman is part of Guerlain-Spa Chakra Alliance - a luxury spa network created by Spa Chakra Inc. and Guerlain Paris. It has received a number of prestigious awards, including the UK Conde Nast Readers' Spa Awards in 2007. The spa offers an exclusive selection of personally-tailored beauty and well-being programs designed to restore wellness and balance.

Deluxe Touch
Instead of flying to the island, take the one-hour luxury launch from the mainland. Hayman operates a fleet of white cruisers, beautifully appointed and provide a unique start and finale to your vacation. During the launch crossing of the Whitsunday Passage from Great Barrier Reef Airport to Hayman, refreshments are served and all check-in formalities are completed enabling guests to be personally escorted to their room directly upon arrival at the island.

Details
Hayman
Great Barrier Reef
Queensland 4801 Australia
Tel: 61-7 4940 1234

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United States Luxury Resort Hotel: The Halekulani

The Halekulani, located on a gorgeous Waikiki beach, has gone through a few changes over its 100-year-old history, but luxury is still its middle name. Featured on the 2007 Condé Nast Traveler Gold List, basic amenities include access to local attractions, but you'll probably never want to leave the property.

After 100 years in this prime beachfront spot, the hotel has grown to 455 rooms, but it still manages to feel like the most intimate, peaceful hotel on the island. There's an excellent spa offering lavender-orchid body wraps and hibiscus-infused scalp massage and a special Vera Wang–designed honeymoon suite. Those are some of the top-notch features, but even basic amenities are pretty lavish. For instance, all Halekulani guests have VIP access to some of Honolulu's top cultural attractions, like the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra and Shangri La, the Doris Duke estate. And everyone has access to the attentive service, the beach and the superb swimming pool with mosaic tiles showcasing an enormous orchid. The rooms, all outfitted in soothing blue and cream tones, have large lanais for taking in the ocean view. Be sure to pick up the wonderful body products scented with maile, a fragrant Hawaiian vine, at the on-site spa boutique.

Dining
La Mer is Hawaii's only Five Diamond restaurant that features neoclassic French cuisine. Indigenous ingredients are used in dishes inspired by flavors from the south of France. Of course, the stunning view doesn't hurt either.

Spa
SpaHalekulani uses the healing cultures of the Pacific Islands and uses an exclusive line of bath and body products, inspired by the land and sea of Polynesia. Maile, SpaHalekulani's signature scent, was created with respect to the rich culture of Hawaii. Historically, it has been used by royalty and today, many wear use it for special occasions.

Deluxe Touch
Why not stay in the amazing Vera Wang suite? The one-bedroom suite, more than 2,000 square feet in size, was designed by Wang. It includes a selection of Vera Wang beauty products, private butler service, a signature cocktail menu designed by Dale DeGroff and Vera Wang and “Vera's favorites” movie library. Try the 24-hour private fine dining services, with meals served en-suite or on the oceanfront private lanai, all served on exclusive Vera Wang china and tableware.

Details
2199 Kalia Road
Honolulu , Hawaii 96815-1988
Tel: (808) 923-2311

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Southern Thailand Luxury Resort Hotel: Rayavadee

Rayavadee is located on Krabi's secluded Phra Nang headland in Southern Thailand and accessible only by boat. It is 15 minutes from Krabi town or a two-hour drive from Phuket. Krabi is a magical place of towering limestone cliffs, rich green vegetation, white sandy beaches and inviting offshore islands surrounded by the clear waters of the Andaman Sea. The resort is a member of the Leading Hotels of the World.

Dining
Walk down to the Phra Nang Beach and enjoy dinner by the sea at Krua Phra Nang. Traditional Thai food features fresh lobster, squid and assorted fish.

Spa
Rayavadee Spa offers an extensive range of treatments, from facials, exfoliating body scrubs, body boosters, massages, hands and feet spa programs and hair treatments.

Deluxe Touch
Stay in a hydro-pool pavilion, where you'll have your own fresh-water hydro-pool situated in a spectacular enclosed tropical garden with umbrella-shaded dining table and private BBQ terrace.

Details
214 Moo 2, Tambol Aonang
Amphur Muang, Krabi 81000, Thailand

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Bangkok, Thailand Luxury Resort Hotel: Banyan Tree Bangkok

Banyan Tree properties are always highly regarded and the Banyan Tree Bangkok is no exception. Located in the heart of Bangkok's business and embassy district, you have easy access to downtown shopping and attractions. However, once inside the doors of the resort, you'll feel as though you have escaped from the rest of the world.

Dining
Vertigo, aptly named, is 61 floors above the streets of Bangkok. The open-air rooftop spot is breathtaking. Try BBQ items such as red mullet en papillote with thyme or grilled oysters with parmesan cheese.

Spa
Banyan Tree Spa draws on Asian traditions that date back centuries. Massage treatments are based on evolving techniques that have passed through the hands of many generations. Health and beauty remedies make use of aromatic oils, herbs and spices with ancient healing powers. For an over-the-top day, try the seven-hour “Banyan Day,” which includes various treatments and spa lunch.

Deluxe Touch
Stay in a Spa suite, where perks include your own spa treatment room, so you can enjoy your favorite treatments in your own suite. You have a choice of bath salts, scrubs, essential oils and scented incense. A daily deluxe fruit basket and chocolates at bedtime are also included.

Details
21/100 South Sathon Road
Sathon, Bangkok 10120
Thailand
Tel: +66 2 679 1200

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