Tag: travel bucket list

Best Heritage Hotels of Asia

Many of Asia’s most beautiful heritage hotels emerged during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Here, we take a travel through time to explore the top 2 of the region’s most stately places to rest your head:

Raffles Singapore

Originally opened in 1887 by the four brothers, the hotel has welcomed every manner of celebrity and diplomat over the years. It’s so rooted in Singapore history that the government declared the building a protected National Monument in 1987. From gleaming wooden floors to open courtyard gardens, luxurious afternoon tea sets and spacious suites, the hotel has long been associated with old-world comforts. This year, international architecture firm Aedas is leading the ultra-sensitive renovation project. The plan aims to re-imagine the social areas and dining experiences, refresh suites with updated technology and incorporate long overdue amenities — such as soundproof bedroom windows — while retaining the building’s beautiful old bones.

The Peninsula, Hong Kong

If the fleet of custom “Peninsula Green” Rolls-Royces in the driveway and white-capped pageboys standing guard by the door are any indication, The Peninsula has long been a top meeting place for Hong Kong’s upper crust.  It’s also one of the oldest hotels in the territory. The Pen, as it’s nicknamed, opened in 1928, overlooking Victoria Harbour from its prestigious plot in Tsim Sha Tsui. Around the property, Old World charm meets avant-garde atmosphere. The guestrooms have a more modern feel, thanks to a round of renovations completed in 2012. However, certain corners still feel like they’ve been locked in time. The high ceilings and French atmosphere come with grand chandeliers, leisurely lunches and white-gloved service.

Likewise, the ornate Lobby Lounge serves elegant afternoon tea sets soundtracked by a live string quartet, while Spring Moon has been a bastion of Cantonese fine-dining since it opened in 1986.

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Britain’s Best Hidden Paradise: The Scilly Isles

The Scilly Isles are a little cluster of islands off the tip of Cornwall and they are truly astonishing. There are five inhabited islands and they are like little English villages stranded out in the ocean. They’re the kinds of places where everybody knows everybody but it rarely feels claustrophobic. There is plenty of room, the opposite of crowded beaches full of colorful umbrellas and loud boomboxes.  You could hike for miles and not see another person. They boast Britain’s most beautiful white sand beaches, miles of walking trails through gorgeous forest, and best of all, though strange, its own climate. With daytime highs barely reaching 57°F and rarely dipping below 50°F at night in the fall, it’s a welcome escape from Britain’s hot, muggy weather if you’re visiting that time of year. With such a comfortable temperature, you’d be a fool not to take advantage of the many shore-side restaurants and coffee shops.  Take a seat, relax, slow down to the pace of the locals, and watch the waves crash and the ships tug by while partaking in some fresh-caught fish and seafood. At Adam’s Fish & Chips, the only diner, it’s Adam himself who will catch your dinner from the ocean and then prepare it in the kitchen: pollock and lobster tails fresh from the ocean.

Though the islands aren’t easy to reach, even for the Brits, that’s part of the appeal, and the journey is an adventure in itself. From London, you take the sleeper train then transfer by bus to a nearby airport where a twice-daily helicopter and a fleet of tiny planes serve the islands. An added bonus- from the air, the islands are tantalizing.

Slow travel is the name of the game here, as even getting between the islands isn’t as simple as hopping on the next boat. Times and pick-up locations are dictated by the tides.  While the Scilly Isles might be hard to get to, it seems they’re equally hard to leave.

 

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The Top 10 Ultimate Bucket List

What’s on your travel bucket list? Antarctic Expeditions? Sailing Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands?  What made the cut?? We have compiled the ultimate Top 10 travel bucket list for any willing globetrotter. One could consider themselves lucky to do even one of the trips on this list.  Have you done any?

  1. Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Nestled far away from bustling Guatemala City, Lake Atitlan in the Guatemala Highlands of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range is a majestic place where you can relax and be immersed in your natural surroundings. Consider staying at Casa Palopo, where you’ll have sweeping views of the lake and the volcanoes. Don’t forget to bring home plenty of the beautiful textiles from the local markets.

  1. Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Take the flight into St. Thomas and then hop on the ferry over to the idyllic island of Tortola. Book a stay through Airbnb with a group of friends, rent a car so you can get around the island with ease, and enjoy sunshine, sparkling blue waters, and forget about the struggles of life until it’s time to check in for your return flight.  Truly paradise!

  1. Jackson Hole, Wyoming

Head to Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming for some of the most spectacular natural settings in America.  Camping will be your best, most affordable bet, but you had better start booking a campsite now.

  1. Santiago, Chile

Travelers have often overlooked Chile’s capital city in favor of more popular South American cities like Lima or Cartagena but the city is attracting more world-class chefs than ever, and has more and more design-centric boutiques and breathtaking views of the surrounding Andes.

  1. Lofoten Islands, Norway

Thanks to budget airlines like Norwegian Air, getting to Norway is more affordable than ever. Make the journey to the Lofoten Islands, north of the Arctic Circle, and stay in a fisherman’s cottage for a few days of majestic landscapes, tasty fresh fish, and more.

  1. Isla Holbox, Mexico

This under-the-radar island off the Yucatan Peninsula is a must this year. Stay at Casa Las Tortugas (super affordable), and unwind on the beach for a few days of good food, yoga, and sunshine.

  1. Chefchaouen, Morocco

Make the trek to the majestic Blue City of Morocco, Chefchaouen. Situated in the Rif Mountains, Chefchaouen was painted blue by Jewish refugees in the 1930s and has stayed that way ever since. It’s no wonder Instagrammers are flocking to this blue gem.

  1. Kyoto, Japan

As one of the best-preserved cities in Japan, Kyoto is home to hundreds of Shinto shrines and thousands of Buddhist temples. Spend a few days in Tokyo and then head to Japan’s imperial capital.

  1. Bocas Del Toro, Panamá

An archipelago made up of nine islands, Bocas Del Toro is a true sanctuary. Full of tropical rain forest, empty beaches, and beautiful coral reefs, this rugged retreat is a great place to escape from it all. Stay at the stylish Sarani Resort, and spend your days eating the fresh local catch and enjoying the area’s natural wonders.

  1. Jaipur, India

You’ll want to head to the Pink City — widely thought of as one of the most beautiful places in the world — with an empty suitcase and a full wallet. The goods and textiles are all still made by hand. How much is it to check 10 suitcases full of handmade Indian goodies?

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