Ultra-luxurious Viceroy Bali Resort

The ultra-luxury Viceroy Bali resort and spa consists of 25-villas majestically situated on a secluded ridge of the Petanu River gorge along Bali’s “Valley of the Kings,” an appellation given by locals for the generations of Balinese royalty who have resided in nearby villages. The resort is also well known by sophisticated international travelers as one of the world’s secret tropical hideaways and respected by its many repeat guests as a destination that places emphasis on the best of privacy and comfort.

Villas are generously appointed with the latest electronic amenities, espresso machines, king size beds, as well as private pools and relaxing outdoor spaces each with stunning valley views. Guests also appreciate the impeccable service and standards and peerless public facilities including the feted restaurant and bar, Cascades, and opulent spa and beauty center, Lembah, both with breathtaking vistas.

In addition, the property offers its guests a complete and modern gymnasium, valley-top infinity pool and library with a yoga pavilion and tennis center scheduled for completion by late 2011. The Viceroy Bali is located within minutes from Ubud, one of S.E Asia’s most charming villages, with its leisurely pace and eccentric air, bric-a-brac shops, curious galleries and quaint restaurants. Ensuring the guest experience goes without fault, the resort is meticulously presided over by an Australian family who understand the many needs of its international guests.

Nightly rates start at $394, visit Viceroy Bali Resort here.

A faraway island fantasy in the Maldives

An island retreat unlike no other, with sugar-sand beaches, turquoise-blue waters stretching as far as the eye can see, and no sounds save for the gentle lapping of water at your feet… everyday realities at Velassaru Maldives. The 128 room hotel is inspired by local architecture, with minimal chic revealed in teak, stone and thatch, mixed with simple hues of bright green, vivid turquoise, and refreshing yellow. The rooms feature high vaulted ceiling and panoramic wall invoking a sense of space.

The Maldives is, without a doubt, a magical place, and here, water bungalows, villas, and suites perch above the lagoon or rest on countless grains of sand that combine to form a soft surface upon which to seek solace. Open-plan, minimalist design gives way to seascapes of the Indian Ocean. And who could say no to uninterrupted romance for the entire night on your private villa’s terrace?

Dining here is a stylish pursuit, with five dining venues and two awe-inspiring bars, exuding imaginative texture and style. Dine beachfront, at the edge of the lagoon, under candlelight or starlight, all a truly mesmerizing experience.

Prices start at $475USD per villa per night, minimum 4 nights stay booked from here.

Photos: Courtesy of Velassaru Maldives

Pristine retreat on the Ooigawa River

HOSHINOYA Kyoto brings its mingling of modernity and antiquity to Arashiyama, Kyoto’s most pristine retreat. Here, the authentic Ryokan experience is complemented with a discerning eye for design, structure, and most of all, comfort. Here in Kyoto Japan, if culture doesn’t actually grow on trees, it certainly is made of them. Dark, rich wood is the substrate of choice when building traditional Ryokans (secluded Japanese retreats), creating a habitat that blends easily with the surrounding natural flora.

Twenty-five guestrooms look out to the Ooigawa River and groves of gnarled trees and shrubs, all in vibrant shades of green, red or brown — depending on the season. Rooms are decorated in 17th-century the Sukiya style, and dressed in Japanese paper patterning. Low benches and various local antiques add essential character to these otherwise minimal spaces.

Carefully considered breakfast is served in the comfort of your room in American, Continental or Japanese style. Dinner is modern Japanese, and leverages seasonal ingredients from the surrounding wilds. After any meal, its best practice to retire and digest in either the modern library or traditional water garden. Of course, while in Kyoto, it’s critical to get outside the confines of your home away from home. Bamboo forests, Rickshaw tours and garden Kimono walks all wait just down the misty path from HOSHINOYA Kyoto.

To stay at this fabulous retreat, at a nightly rate of $767 USD, click here.

Get swept away to the Maldives

Overwater villas and underwater dining are just a few of the luxuries that make up Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives, a secluded island retreat where a world of splendor awaits your every demand. Regardless of your preference for overwater accommodations, or those directly on the seemingly infinite white powder beach, you will always be just steps from the coolness of H2O. If you hop into the plunge pool in your overwater villa, you will be in the water, that’s again surrounded by water. In fact, every room offers a plunge pool.

A haven of pool villas, Anantara Kihavah Villas Maldives offers the ultimate in privacy and luxury, your own sanctuary within a sanctuary. Expansive space opens onto brilliant tropical nature, with private pools, high ceilings, timber interiors and marble floors. Flavors of culinary art and wine served amidst a panorama of aquatic life in the world’s only underwater restaurant and wine cellar. The luxury resort features 74 one-bedroom villas and four two-bedroom suites.

Enjoy idyllic sunsets from your hammock or dining pavilion by the pool. There is also a swim-up bar, six overwater spa suites, exotic cooking classes, tennis courts, yoga facilities, a dive center and marine lab, plus world-class big game fishing trips. If you do indeed need a break from all this amazement, then you’d better close your eyes and head off to bed. Dreams may be closer to reality!

For an incredible trip of a lifetime to the Maldives, visit Anantara Kihavah Villas website here.

Retreat to the Ayada Maldives

Ayada Maldives is a brand new awe-inspiring destination comprising an opulent 112 villa resort located on the 150,000 square meter paradise island of Maguhdhuvaa in the stunning Gaafu Dhaalu Atoll due to open in November 2011.

From the moment you arrive on the luxury resort’s delicate, powder white sands you will be immersed in a fantasy of luxury, quality and style unique only to Ayada Maldives. Delight in the impeccable service and superb amenities of the seven indulgent restaurants, bars and cafes offering world-class cuisine to tantalize taste buds, the extensive 3,500 square meter AySpa Spa & Health Club by ESPA will take you to a blissful level of relaxation. Ayada further includes a kids’ club, scuba diving center and an array of water sports.

The luxury Maldives resort with natural beauty at its heart where you can truly discover the exceptional. From unique experiences of snorkeling and diving in one of the most unspoiled locations in the world to simply relaxing and relishing the views of the azure Indian Ocean from your private pool and terrace.

Be prepared to forget all your cares and pamper yourself with all that Ayada Maldives has to offer, since Ayada Maldives is here to turn your vacation into an unforgettable experience by attending to your personal wishes and needs. Indulge on a journey that will show you a truly inspiring world that you will not so easily forget.

Rates range from approximately 1,150.00-1,600 per night with a four night minimum for two people including half board meal. Visit the website of Ayada Maldives here.

Retreat to the Indian Himalayas

Inspired by the incomparable scenery of the Indian Himalaya Mountains, the Shatki 360 Leti resort was founded in 2004. The mountain hut was founded by Jamshyd Sethna, a travel professional from Bombay, India. Indian firm Studio Mumbai completed the resort, which is located 7,700 feet (2,300 meters) above sea level perched in the foothills of the Himalayas. The site is a two hour walk [9 km] from the nearest motorable road and is accessed by a narrow footpath carved into the mountainside, part of a network of trails used by local villagers for daily travel and transport. The trail culminates at the central dining structure built on a plateau, around which four guest dwellings are discreetly set into existing agricultural terraces.

The architecture is both timeless and contemporary, constructed primarily of local natural stone. Glazed walls framed in teakwood have been introduced to let in natural light and to visually connect the guests to the surrounding landscape. From the bedrooms, you have a magnificent panoramic view over the mountains. Due to the remoteness of the place, there is there no electricity. The hotel is supplied with energy by solar systems. Far away from civilization and commerce, one can enjoy the almost untouched landscape and Buddhist culture. The best time to go is from October to May. A 3 night, 4 day package from 1,916 USD per adult is based on two sharing including accommodation in a private cottage, fully inclusive. Via

Book an incredible vacation stay from here.

Retreat to the remote island of Koh Kood

Just off the eastern coast of Thailand, Soneva Kiri by Six Senses is a remote island of jungle and beach. Koh Kood is one of Thailand’s largest yet most uninhabited islands, known for its pure waterfalls, crystal clear waters and traditional village life. The resort comprises of 42 pool villas along the beach front and on the hillside, overlooking the Gulf of Thailand. Each pool villa occupies a footprint of between 400 square metres (4,300 square feet) and 770 square metres (8,300 square feet), with living areas and bedrooms surrounded by water features. Several villas feature private spa suites. All villas offer personal butler service.

There are 3 restaurants, with the fine dining restaurant sitting on the ridge of a hill, facing west where spectacular sunsets over the Gulf of Thailand can be observed. In addition to many leisure facilities, the resort features a Six Senses Spa village and a Den that looks as though it sprung from the ground just for kids. The dining experience at the resort can be very romantic, including the exclusive suspended treetop dining pod with a mid-air waiter on a zip line as well as intimate moonlit dinners on a private beach.

Soneva Kiri is developed with the principles of ecologically sustainable design and materials selection, and with construction methods adapted to protect the environment. Personal electric carts and bicycles are the mode of transport within the resort. The simple sophistication of the villas is enhanced by continually embracing innovations that result in the creation of unique experiences.

Visit this exclusive and luxurious resort here.

Fabulous island getaway to Seychelles

Desroches Island is the perfect tropical island paradise, standing majestically on a submerged atoll, 230 kilometres southwest of Mahé and is the most eastern island in the Amirantes group. It is 6km long and 1.5km wide at its widest point.

The lovely coral Desroches Island is surrounded by 14kms of white sand beaches and claims one of the finest coconut groves in the Seychelles. Circled by approximately 70kms of reef just waiting to be explored, the island drops some 2000 metres into the clear blue waters teeming with abundant fish life.

With just 20 beautifully furnished junior-style suites and 26 Luxury Beach Villas, the hotel nestles comfortably into natural surroundings. The low-key colonial style suites are scattered through palm groves and vibrantly colorful gardens, and all are just a few meters from the west-facing beach. Each air-conditioned suite offers privacy with its own veranda while the hotel also offers in-room dining or private dinners on the beach.

The Luxury four-bedroomed Villas are situated on the pristine north-west facing beaches, surrounded by dense, green foliage. These modern, luxurious villas offer an exclusive and private experience for families and friends, each with its own private pool.

Visit the beautiful and exclusive Deroches Island Resort here.

Sensational luxury retreat in the Maldives

Set within its very own lagoon, Huvafen Fushi Hotel is a naturalist’s wonderland where the stunning environment, above and below the waterline, is an attraction in itself. The luxury hotel is a sophisticated island retreat set in the North Malé Atoll, Maldives with a stunning beach and thatched villas over the water, pools, bars and a host of daily diversions.

The Beach, lagoon and ocean bungalows at Huvafen Fushi Hotel have private courtyards or decks, plunge pools, waterfall showers and outdoor dining areas. Some have glass floors to view the exquisite marine life. The Ocean Pavilions deliver the ultimate privacy with designer furniture, an infinity pool and a butler.

A visit to Lime Spa is a must, with its two glass-walled, underwater treatment rooms with the most beautiful views of the multi-colored marine life passing by. In contrast, Vinum is an underground wine cellar, the perfect spot for an aperitif before dining in Fogliani’s pizzeria or in Raw, Huvafen Fushi Hotel’s specialist spa restaurant for exquisite flavors with a healthy emphasis.

Huvafen Fushi brings its visitors to the island either by speedboat or seaplane. You must then choose one of 43 land-based or over-water bungalows. Each one is decorated combining a minimalist contemporary design with Maldivian style; and each comes with its own pool or fresh water plunge pool, plasma screen TV and Bose Surround Sound system. Taking in views of the dazzling Indian Ocean, both above and below the waterline, it is the first hotel in the world to boast an underwater spa. There is also a yoga pavilion, butler service, three restaurants and just about any water sport imaginable. Huvafen Fushi means Dream Island – sounds like paradise to us, what do you think?

Visit this spectacular resort by Per Aquum here.

Extravagant island retreat with breathtaking views

As St. Lucia’s most luxurious resort, Jade Mountain is architecturally astounding and blessed with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea. Jade Mountain has been voted as number one in the Caribbean and Number 3 worldwide in a Travel & Leisure magazine poll. Jade Mountain is a curvy spider web of zigzagging stone walkways, sculpture-topped stone pillars and cascading koi pools.

One can expect grand sweeping spaces where your bedroom, living environment and extravagantly sized private infinity pool glide into one another to form an amazing plateau floating in space. With the 4th wall missing entirely in each of the 29 handcrafted sanctuaries, architect/owner Nick Troubetzkoy has created a stage-like setting from which to embrace the mind-blowing Piton Mountains and the shimmering Caribbean Sea – a view you are not likely to ever forget.

This beautiful slice of heaven does not come cheap, rates will run you from $950 – $2,680 per day, but this will be a dream vacation you will never forget, from here.