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November 16, 2016

Amanpulo on Pamilican Island

Amanpulo on Pamilican Island The Philippines is home to thousands of stunning islands, one of which is Pamilican Island, which can be found in the Cuyo Archipelago, just north of the famous Palawan Island. Situated on Pamilican Island is Amanpulo, a private island resort that is considered to be the most exclusive in the country, making for a perfectly decadent tropical getaway.

Casitas and Villas
When it comes to guest accommodation, Amanpulo is home to 40 casitas and 11 villas. The casitas enjoy direct beach access, and are designed with an open-plan aspect, offering views of either the sparkling sea from the hillside, or the lush forest canopy. With private plunge pools, secluded hammocks and large wooden decks from which to take in the spectacular surroundings, the casitas guarantee an enjoyable stay. The villas are each arranged around a large private outdoor swimming pool, with separate lounging and dining areas, as well as private bedroom pavilions. Those who stay in a villa also enjoy the luxury of a private club car, which makes for an ideal way to explore the rest of the island independently.

Dining
Rather than offering a plethora of less-than-average dining options, Amanpulo places its focus on locally caught seafood and vegetables grown on the island, all of which are served from both the Beach Club to the Clubhouse Restaurant to private beach barbecues. For guests who want to be more involved in the dining experience, the resort is more than happy for visitors to pick their own ingredients from the island’s organic garden, from which the chefs will then create a stunning custom dish.

The Best Resort Spa in the Philippines
Voted this year as the Best Resort Spa in the Philippines by the World Spa Awards, Amanpulo’s spa is a large sanctuary set above the treetops on the hillside, with panoramic views of the water below. The inter-connected pavilions are where you will go to enjoy a treatment, with the Hilot treatment being a great one to try, as this makes use of local products and techniques to re-balance areas of tension. In addition to their extensive treatment menu, the spa also boasts a gym with floor-to-ceiling windows, so that you can still enjoy the view, and a yoga and pilates studio, along with professional instructors.

Activities
There is a wide range of activities on offer at Amanpulo, both on land as well as in the water. From scuba diving to windsurfing, the aquatic activities available will suit guests of all ability levels. Out of the water, there are tennis courts and bicycles to keep you active, the latter of which you can use to explore the island. There are also organized nature walks that you can take part in to learn more about the island’s native plants, and, at night, be sure to spend some time with the resort’s refracting telescope, as this will make you feel closer to the stars than ever before.

There may be plenty of resorts to choose from in the Philippines, but none of them can offer quite the experience that Amanpulo does. From the second you arrive on the island’s private airstrip, you will be enveloped in a sense of exclusivity and luxury that guarantees nothing but an unforgettable vacation.

Travel |

May 13, 2016

| OROGOLD

Five Stars in London

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London’s luxury hotels stand out from those in other cities around the world, and this is because they are each embedded with such a deep sense of history and tradition, with many of them retaining characteristic features that date back to their Victorian and Edwardian days. From the townhouses of Brown’s to the historic Art Deco architecture of The Dorchester, these are some of the finest hotels in London.

Brown’s Hotel
Consisting of 11 townhouses just off Piccadilly, Brown’s Hotel was founded over 175 years ago, and has quite the unique history. Not only was it where Rudyard Kipling completed the Jungle Book, and where Agatha Christie spent many nights, but it was also from here that Alexander Graham Bell made the world’s first ever phone call. The hotel was renovated in 2005, but has retained many of its original features, but updated this with modern amenities, such as the interactive entertainment in each of the guest rooms and the plush marble bathrooms. When it comes to dining, guests have the option of the traditional tea room, or the hotel’s innovative British restaurant, complete with cocktail bar.

The Dorchester
The Dorchester’s Art-Deco building dates all the way back to 1931 and is situated on Park Lane, one of the most prestigious addresses in London. Each guest room is tastefully luxurious, filled with fabrics that have been specially commissioned, one-of-a-kind antique furniture pieces and the most comfortable of beds. When it comes to their dining options, the Dorchester is home to the only restaurant in the country that holds three Michelin stars, with its French cuisine promising to be some of the best you have ever tasted. The Dorchester Spa is another highlight of the hotel, and their range of treatments are beautifully rounded off with a visit to the Spatisserie for a glass of vintage champagne.

The Savoy
A world famous hotel, the Savoy has had a variety of influences over time, from English Edwardian touches to Art Deco flare, and it has managed to retain and combine these in a truly unique way. The hotel’s rooms and suites offer views out across some of the most famous of London landmarks, but it is the dining options that really set The Savoy apart from its competition. The hotel has always placed an emphasis on fine dining, ever since world-class chef Auguste Escoffier first set this standard in 1889. Gordon Ramsay’s Savoy Grill is one of the most popular restaurants at the Savoy, featuring a British grill menu with some French influences. Kaspar’s Seafood Bar and Grill is where guests go when they are after something slightly more informal, while those who want a sense of tradition, as well as one of the best roast dinners they will have ever tasted, head to Simpson’s in the Strand and the Knight’s Bar. The Savoy is also home to the American Bar, the oldest cocktail bar in the city, and is constantly pushing boundaries when it comes to innovations in mixology.

London is home to hotels that are not only some of the finest in the country, but also in the world, offering a level of high-class luxury that simply cannot be experienced elsewhere. With their history, tradition and thoughtful personal touches, you definitely will not go wrong by choosing one of these five-star hotels to stay at.

Travel |

January 29, 2016

| OROGOLD

Most Unbelievable Hotels

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The hotel industry is extremely competitive, meaning that hotels always need to ensure that they stay one step ahead of the competition. From a St. Lucian resort situated on a volcanic cliff, overlooking the Caribbean Sea, to a Bolivian hotel constructed entirely from salt, these unbelievable hotels are most definitely a cut above the rest.

Ladera Resort, St. Lucia
The Ladera Resort in St. Lucia enjoys quite a unique location – it is sat atop a volcanic cliff, enjoying panoramic views of the Caribbean Sea, making it, without a doubt, one of the most stunning hotels on the island. It is the only resort in St. Lucia to be situated directly on a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and each of the villas features only three walls to allow the unbelievable beauty of this island paradise to flood into your room. With four poster beds created from tropical hardwoods to private plunge pools complete with a wooden swing set hanging above the aquamarine water, this incredible resort offers a level of luxury that is hard to beat.

Palacio de Sal, Uyuni, Bolivia
Situated on the salt flat of Uyuni, the largest, and most picturesque, salt flat in the world, Palacio de Sal is a hotel that is, quite appropriately, made entirely of salt. Around 1 million salt blocks, each measuring around 35 cm, were used to construct the hotel, used for everything from the walls to the ceilings to the beds to the furniture. The hotel boasts 16 luxurious bedrooms, each with their own private bathroom and central heating, as well as a beautiful lobby, a bar, and a restaurant that serves up some of the tastiest dishes in the country. The hotel also has a variety of whirlpool baths, a saltwater swimming pool, a dry sauna and a steam room, ensuring that there are plenty of opportunities for guests to relax.

Katikies Hotel, Santorini, Greece
The Katikies Hotel in Santorini has won numerous awards over the years, and it is not hard to see why. Consisting of a complex of bridges, whitewashed cubist cottages and infinity pools, with stunning views out across the Aegean Sea, this luxury boutique hotel is one of the most revered in the country. Guests enjoy majestic views of Santorini’s caldera, a significant volcanic feature, from just about every place on the property, giving the resort quite an otherworldly feel. The hotel’s restaurants serve up fresh and authentic Mediterranean dishes, creating menus that change seasonally, and there is also a daily champagne breakfast served on the gorgeous veranda, ensuring that your day starts off absolutely perfectly!

There is no denying that each of these hotels are unbelievable in their own way, whether it be due to their location or to the way in which they have been constructed. These hotels are all world famous, and although their surrounding areas might get extremely busy during peak travel times, they are still able to offer privacy, exclusivity and the ultimate in luxury accommodation.