If this were a beauty competition, it’d be hard to choose the most stunning out of these five knockouts.
a maldives moment
After hopping on a 55-minute flight from Male International Airport (MLE) to Kaadedhdhoo Airport (KDM) and then taking a 30-minute boat ride to a secluded island, your clients will arrive at Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort in the Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll. At this beachfront property, which opened its doors in August, it’s all about the sumptuous villa accommodations. Think outdoor rainshowers, private infinity pools, private lagoon or beach access, decks with hammocks and sunbeds, and garden areas, with varying in-villa amenities depending on which villa your client chooses. There are twenty-four 2,271-sq.-ft. Beach Pool Villas, seven 3,035-sq.-ft., 2-bedroom Pool Villas, twenty-one 2,422-sq.-ft. Ocean Pool Villas, and a 6,458-sq.-ft. Presidential Villa, as well as 1- and 2-bedroom Lagoon Pool Villas that can connect to create a 3-bedroom Family Villa. The allure of the stunning surroundings, however, will push guests to explore, whether it be to discover the sea life along the island’s surrounding coral reefs set in the turquoise waters off the resort—the resort offers a dive center—or to spot turtles, eagle rays and dolphins. Of course, paradise is not complete without some time at the onsite Navasana Spa, offering treatments that incorporate green tea and coconut within five treatment rooms; there’s also a hydrotherapy facility and relaxation lounges so guests can while away a leisurely afternoon. Villa accommodations are made for in-room dining—although there are two restaurants on site, as well as poolside dining—or guests can even dine on the beach. For most of December, February and March, rates start at $765 for a Beach Pool Villa; in January starting rates for this type of accommodation fluctuate from $765 to $1,156.
postcard from bali
Your clients will stumble into paradise when they book a stay at the 240-room Alila Seminyak, located on Bali’s southwest coast and cocooned along the region’s pristine beaches. Embraced by shimmering pools and vertical gardens, the resort, which opened this month, offers eight types of accommodations, ranging from the Superior Room to the 8,729-sq.-ft. Alila Penthouse. From the 3-bedroom penthouse’s sundeck and spacious terrace, guests will get a bird’s-eye view of the ocean and island. Within, guests will have access to a living room, a dining room, and a kitchen. That said, no matter which guestroom your client chooses they are sure to be knocked off their feet, because the contemporary decor is nothing short of stunning. The elite set will love that the resort is located on the trendy side of Seminyak, with its high-end designer boutiques, art and antique galleries, nightspots and chic cafes, and they’ll love getting pampered at the onsite Spa Alila, offering Asian-inspired spa therapies. Wining and dining takes place at the beachfront restaurant and beach bar, and the Leisure Concierge can create an experience tailor-made for your clients who want to discover the destination—they can visit everything from the Uluwatu Temple in the south and Tanah Lot Temple to the north, to the beautiful rice terraces. To celebrate Alila Seminyak’s opening, the resort is offering a meaningful Gift to Share program that funds educational aid for two neighboring elementary schools and social assistance for the Anak-Anak Harapan Children’s Home. For every two nights booked, your clients will enjoy a complimentary night’s stay, a gift from the resort which they may in turn share by donating $50 or a generous amount of their choice to support the community causes. Room rates through Dec. 19 start at $265.
rendezvous in myanmar
This month saw the opening of the Sanctum Inle Resort in Myanmar, where restaurants are named The Refectory and The Cloister Bar; guestrooms are categorized into Cloister Classic, Cloister Deluxe, Provost Jr. Suite and Abbey Suite; and the 6-treatment room spa has been baptized The Sanctuary Spa. You get the picture—here, Spanish-style arches, minimalistic (but modern) room decor, and cloisters reference the monastic life, “opening the door,” as press materials state, “on a more contemplative experience of travel.” In this off-the-beaten-path location—Inle Lake is the country’s second largest lake—guests will discover the wonders of Myanmar via eight tours the resort team has developed, ranging from a half-day cycling excursion to the Red Mountain Estate winery to a full-day trip to the ancient temples of Kakku. Recommend, too, that guests peak into The Workshop Boutique, which carries a variety of handicrafts, including silk and lotus weaving native to the area. Rates with daily breakfast start at $484 for a Cloister Classic during high season (October through Dec. 23); those same starting rates go up to $492 during peak season Dec. 24 to Jan. 2. Although if clients want views of the lake, then recommend the Provost Jr. Suite or the Abbey Suite ($604 and $864 during high season, respectively). For those yearning for a mountain view, recommend the Sanctuary Suite at a rate of $1,724 during high season.
meet me in sri lanka
Set to open next month is the stunning Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort, part of the Anantara collection of sublime properties. The resort, located on a 42-acre coconut plantation that hugs a secluded Indian Ocean beachfront in Sri Lanka’s southern coast, offers travelers an idyllic spot to get away from it all and reconnect with nature. Among its 152 rooms are 32 spacious 1- and 2-bedroom villas with private plunge pools, comfy loungers made for gazing out at paradise or dining under the stars, hand-woven custom-made Sri Lankan furnishings, and a Bose sound system; 2-bedroom options throw in an indoor dining room and pantry. Sprinkled around the resort are six restaurant, bar and lounge venues offering Sri Lankan, Middle Eastern and Asian specialties, as well as other international cuisines; tennis and badminton courts; and a pool with a poolside bar. The property enchants with its Dining by Design, in which clients can choose from a choice of connoisseur menus and picturesque settings, complemented by the services of a personal chef and villa host. Other delights include the famed 8-treatment room Anantara Spa, with Ayurvedic and reflexology treatments; Spice Spoons Sri Lankan cooking classes; kids and teens clubs; yoga, meditation, Pilates and tai chi classes; and a library, as well as bicycles and tuk-tuks made for exploring the area. And guests will definitely want to explore, as the resort is 30 minutes away from Rekawa, a turtle conservation project and the rock temples of Mulkirigala, and about an hour or so from area national parks. Starting rate (bed & breakfast inclusive) is $250.
jetting to japan
Early next year your clients will be able to feast their eyes on a new Aman property, the Amanemu, perched on the shores of Japan’s Ago Bay, or “Bay of Pearls,” a blue expanse that’s home to drifting oyster rafts and a speckling of verdant islets. The resort, which is set in Ise Shima National Park on Japan’s Kii Peninsula, celebrates Japan’s ancient onsen tradition with 24 suites and four 2-bedroom villas that each have their own onsen. The Aman Spa, too, weaves this tradition into its facility with two expansive onsen bathing pavilions, as well as a watsu pool. Amanemu, whose accommodations feature minimalist decor and feature spacious terraces with views of the bay, will offer bespoke Aman Journeys that seek out the region’s cultural traditions and top-of-the-line experiences, such as the UNESCO-protected pilgrimage routes of Kumano Kodo and Ise-Jingu, Japan’s most
sacred Shinto shrine. As of press time, rates were not available.
contact information
Alila Seminyak: alilahotels.com/seminyak
Amanemu: aman.com/resorts/amanemu
Anantara Peace Haven Tangalle Resort: tangalle.anantara.com
Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort: outrigger.com or outriggeragent.com
Sanctum Inle Resort: sanctum-inle-resort.com
