Queensland’s Premier Gold Coast Luxury Retreat

Ruffles Lodge is located in the beautiful Gold Coast Hinterland midway between the coast and the mountains. Ruffles Lodge is a luxurious retreat that offers fine dining and a cellar with a large collection of Australian boutique wines. Only a pleasant drive to Tamborine Mountain, Springbrook and Lamington national parks with the rainforest areas of Binna Burra and O’Reillys. The local vineyards and wineries make for an interesting tour in the mountains and surrounding areas.

The three villas are totally separate from the main lodge. Villas One and Two are separated by a porch, and Villa Three stands alone. All have 180-degree views across the rural land of the Gold Coast Hinterland, to the Broadwater and ocean beyond. The “Chums” are the only two storey accommodation at Ruffles and are affectionately known as “Chums’ Up” and “Down”. The Executive Suite is situated at the northern end of the Lodge with spectacular views from the living room to the coast and a northerly aspect across the valley from the spacious bedroom. The suite also has its own private garden.

Ruffles Lodge certainly has the perfect location to give the guests a memorable experience with three dining areas each able to meet the mood of the particular day. Prior to dinner guests gather in the lounge for pre-dinner drinks and canapés. When dining at Ruffles Lodge, it is your choice to either join others or have your own table in the dining room, alternatively you may want a romantic candlelit dinner by the pool or terrace.

Most Popular Sunset Beach Resort In Indonesia

This village-style hideaway is situated on the popular Sunset Beach, amidst landscaped gardens, housing lotus ponds and towering palm trees. The hotel features spacious and well-equipped guestrooms that enjoy garden views and are classically adorned in a traditional Balinese style.

The expansive swimming pool is a great place to escape the midday sun and enjoy a drink under the shade of the Seruni Sunken Pool Bar, before taking part in the complimentary surf lesson provided by the hotel. The fully equipped fitness centre and tennis court offer some room for exercise if lounging in the sun begins to tire. The hotel boasts a Mandara Spa, featuring an array of sensory delights, including traditional Balinese massage and exotic body scrubs. The Sunset Bar offers guests the chance to enjoy a legendary Bali sunset before an ocean setting before venturing into the Bella Rosa restaurant for some scrumptious Italian fare and a chilled glass of wine.

Mar Brasil Hotel

The Mar Brasil Hotel is located in a peaceful area of the Farol de Itapuã Beach, offering executive suites equipped with balcony, air conditioning, free internet connection and American kitchen.

The outdoor swimming pools from the Mar Brasil Hotel are a great spot for you and your family to relax and enjoy the sun during your stay in Salvador.

The hotel also provides a restaurant, room service, massages, a business center and parking lots.

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Three Best Indonesian Holiday Places

Diving

Shipwrecks, underwater volcanoes and encounters with hammerhead sharks await divers who travel to the Sangihe-Talaud archipelago, near Sulawesi. Hayes & Jarvis (tel: 0870 8989890) offer a diving trip which incorporates staying aboard a yacht, the SY Crescent. The 10-day trip starts at pounds 1,596 per person based on two sharing a standard cabin. This includes flights, transfers and full-board accommodation while at sea. Three dives per day are part of the package.

Bali by bike

The Imaginative Traveller (tel: 0181-742 8612) offers the energetic the chance to tour Bali by bicycle. The back roads of Bali will allow you to come face to face with unspoilt local culture as you meander past rural villages and endless rice terraces. Visits to hot springs and a climb up the active volcano of Mount Batur are part of the itinerary. The 15- day tour starts from Ubud and costs pounds 450 per person, including bikes. Return flights, transfers to Ubud and meals all cost extra.

Luxury stays

The Swimming Pool is saltwater, with a salinity approximately 1/7th of sea water. Together with Damai Lovina Villa’s cozy little pool bar, it is naturally a spot where the guests congregate after an active day.

Damai’s ‘Bale’ is the cozy little pavilion in the middle of the gardens, where the guest can sit and read, have a massage, or just enjoy the gamelan-music in the distance and enjoy the sunset. The pavilion is surrounded by a small moat filled with exotic fish.

Spa dan Beauty Treatments are done by Damai Lovina Villa’s team of five dedicated and innovative massage and beauty-therapists.

The World Beyond Ordinary In Russian Cruises

Many of Russia’s greatest cities, ancient and modern, stand on the banks of a waterway crossing Eurasia from North to South, connecting the Baltic and the Black seas. The fabled Volga River and a network of men-made canals make up large part of this waterway. These intricate network of rivers spans the entire western Russia.

These rivers are wide enough to allow small, elegant cruise ships carrying about 200 passengers and 100 crew members each to travel from Moscow to St Petersburg stopping at some of the Russia’s most incredible destinations, like Yaroslavl, the ancient Russian capital destroyed by the Mongols, or Kizhi Island – home of an amazing wooden Transfiguration Cathedral.

When it comes to Russian River Cruises, “Travel All Russia” offers the best blend of quality, service and price. Our specialists will help you choose a perfect ship and to arrange cruise extensions, if you would like to spend few extra days in Moscow or St Petersburg. And, of course, we will take care of your visa to Russia. We welcome you to explore the world beyond ordinary – to travel across Russia by river cruise!

Superb Location In The Heart of Auckland | Stamford Plaza Hotel

Stamford Plaza Auckland has something for everyone, ranging from late afternoon tea in the Lobby Lounge to an intimate dinner for two in the Brasserie, or a glamorous banquet for 250 in the Stamford Ballroom. Lunch at the popular Patisserie on Albert or order a light meal in the Polo Bar while listening to live entertainment, six nights a week. Enjoy Winston’s Cigar Lounge and Yanrepe Champagne Bar. Stamford Plaza also offers a well-equipped fitness centre, sauna and heated rooftop pool.

Located on Level 11 is the recreation centre complete with indoor heated swimming pool, whirlpool spa, sauna and state of the art gymnasium – you will enjoy the stunning views over the cityscape and Waitemata Harbour. Open seven days.

Four restaurants to enhance your stay! Knights On Albert is your all day dining Auckland restaurant in a contemporary setting overlooking Knights Lobby Bar. Kabuki is the elegant and theatrical Teppanyaki restaurant, for modern Thai cuisine – Grasshopper and Sansui for traditional Japanese cuisine.

Four restaurants to enhance your stay at Stamford Plaza Auckland! Knights On Albert is your all day dining Auckland restaurant in a contemporary setting overlooking Knights Lobby Bar. Kabuki is the elegant and theatrical Auckland Teppanyaki restaurant, for modern Thai cuisine – Grasshopper and Sansui for traditional Japanese cuisine.

Paradise Palms Resort & Country Club | Crains Beeches

From its idyllic setting just 20 minutes north of Cairns at the base of rainforest clad mountains, Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club invites discerning guests to participate in a truly special visitor experience.

Everything associated with Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is world-class from its master-planned golf course to its prestigious clubhouse and new 96 room resort which opened in February 2009, offering a variety of accommodation styles from self-catering apartments to spacious hotel rooms.

Paradise Palms 4.5 star resort is operated by Vision Hotels and Resorts is a brand name synonymous with distinctive service and quality facilities based on the award-winning formula of its sister property, The Lakes Cairns Resort and Spa.

When it comes to golf, Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is Tropical North Queensland’s most admired and challenging course as much for the immaculate greens and fairways as its idyllic setting with sea views, cooling breezes and picturesque landscape. Paradise Palms Country Club enjoys consistent ranking in Australia’s Top 100 courses (Australian Golf Digest).

A visit to Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is not just about the golf with opportunities to experience delicious food in the Clubhouse’s signature restaurant, a refreshing drink at the bar or an invigorating work out and swim.

Not surprisingly, Paradise Palms Resort and Country Club is a popular venue for weddings, exhibitions, corporate meetings and special occasions. The friendly and experienced team can coordinate all and any number of events from intimate gatherings to large scale affairs.

The recreation facilities at Paradise Palms Resort & Country Club near Palm Cove are extensive, have been significantly expanded within the last 12 months, and include

18 Hole Championship Golf Course, New Fifty Nine Restaurant & Bar, Conference & Meeting Facilities, Resort Swimming Pool (Paradise Palms Resort has a lagoon style swimming pool for exclusive guests of the resort).

Children’s Adventure Park

An innovative Children’s Adventure Playground is due to open in late 2009/ early 2010 and will include 2 acres of playground surrounded by a Putt Putt course, and swimming pool with waterslides and kids water features. The park is accessed by a kiosk and cafe which serves light snacks and refreshments.

Fitness Centre

A full service fitness centre is due to open in late 2009 / early 2010 and will be accessible by both resort guests and the public. Charges will apply and details will be advised at a later date.

Red’s Day Spa & Salon

Award winning Reds day spa & salon is operating at Paradise Palms and bookings in advance are essential. Reds has another salon and spa at sister property The Lakes Cairns Resort & Spa.

Reds salons have won most of the worlds top hairdressing awards, including L’Oreal colour trophy and Schwarzkopf hairdresser of the year and were named a finalist in Australia’s Best New Salon Awards when it opened in 2000.

Reds proudly recognise their professional team of Spa Therapists, all highly trained in Dermalogica Skin and Body Care. The team travel regularly to the Dermal Institutes within Australia to advance their knowledge and skills to provide you with the most up to date treatments. Their extensive menu for both men and women provides a choice of Spa, Body and Face Treatments.

For more resorts and hotels reviews visit hubresorts.com

Beautiful Exotic By Nature | Tanjong Jara Resort, Malaysia

Discover how Malay kings once crafted their palaces. Fronted by an emerald sea glittering with diamonds of light, shaded by tall palms rustling in the breeze, attended to by people steeped in traditions as timeless as the land.Located on the East Coast of Peninsular Malaysia, Tanjong Jara Resort is a sanctuary of luxury and well-being steeped in age-old Malay traditions. Designed to reflect the elegance and grandeur of 17th century Malay palaces, Tanjong Jara is a 99-room resort with an authentic taste of the region’s spirit and an enduring embodiment of the gentle Malay art of service and hospitality.

The philosophy of the Resort is as unique as the Resort itself. Based on the Malay concept of Sucimurni, which emphasises purity of spirit, health and well-being, Tanjong Jara encourages true rejuvenation of both body and spirit.Tanjong Jara is an opportunity to withdraw from the pressures of this ever-changing world by offering you a chance to immerse yourself in a place of serenity and beauty. Authentic in architecture and attitude, always warm and welcoming, it is an environment to let go, to relax deeply and take time to rediscover yourself, your family or your friends; all this whilst staff members drawn from the local villages truly live the age old legacy of Malaysian warmth and hospitality.At Tanjong Jara you can choose from a wide variety of possible experiences – lazy and languid, energetic and outdoors, indulgent and regenerative, cultural and enlightening – it is your choice whether you fold them into a single visit, or you craft each visit differently to meet your needs.

Get more details on different resorts and hotels visit hubresorts.com

The Most Chic Holiday Centre | Shangri-La Hotel Beijing

The award-winning Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing is a landmark in the western part of the city, close to the financial district, Summer Palace, State Guesthouse, the Beijing Exhibition Hall, Beijing Zoo and 35 kilometers from Beijing Capital Airport. This renowned hotel in Beijing benefits greatly from its location and fine reputation earned over years of fine service to be regarded as a number one choice of business and leisure travelers to Beijing.

The hotel comprises the  24-storey 528-room Garden Wing and the recently opened, 142-room Valley Wing. The Valley Wing includes the Blu Lobster restaurant (a contemporary restaurant and lounge), a new, state-of-the-art health club which includes a 25-meter heated indoor swimming pool, and a rooftop garden.

The new wing is also home of one of the most luxurious spa facilities in Beijing: Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La. The function spaces feature an expansive Grand Ballroom and 13 elegant multi-purpose function rooms, making the Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing a premier location for conventions and events.

The River Dragon, a 38-person touring boat, moors at the Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing. From April to November, the boat offers 4 cruises daily to the spectacular Summer Palace, including a guided tour.

Exclusive to the Shangri-La Hotel, Beijing, the boat trip recreates the imperial route that many past Chinese Emperors and Empresses enjoyed. The one-hour ride on the Kun Yu River offers views of old bridges, temples and traditional Chinese courtyard houses on the riverbanks. In today’s modern Beijing, the tour showcases a slice of Beijing local life that appears virtually frozen in time.

The River Dragon is available for special charter, lunch/ dinner cruises and cocktail receptions. Chartered tours can also include an on-board calligraphy class, a traditional Chinese tea ceremony, a private concert featuring traditional Chinese musical instruments, or other authentic cultural offerings.

Hotel Trends: Like staying in the house of a very rich friend

If you want to find out how hotels are going to look five years from now you should go to Bali. The paradise island is the world’s trend-lab for luxury hotels, and here you find the properties that have inspired dozens of famous hotels all over the world, with their trademark serene pampering that so many resorts have tried to imitate. And for once it is less expensive to try the original than the copy: these heavenly properties are often surprisingly affordable.

One of these dream hotels is The Damai in Northern Bali. For a decade this refined little boutique retreat has been the well-kept secret of a crowd of foodie followers, returning year after year to experience the resort’s understated luxury, fantastic views and exquisite food. The resort’s new pool villas, however, can’t really be called understated: huge, sprawling rooms in a dramatic decor, filled with collections of antiques, ethnographical and artifacts from the islands rich heritage. Most furniture and lighting has been custom designed for the property and some of the artwork gracing the walls could just as well be found hanging on the walls of a museum. The style is highly eclectic and personal and gives you the experience of staying in a private house rather than in a hotel room. A private house that belongs to someone with a world-class staff of cooks and butlers available on call, round the clock.

The interiors are designed by the hotel’s owner, Nils Normann with the hotel photography/styling team of Jacob Termansen and Pia Marie Molbech. The pair has travelled extensively to the choicest hotels and most luxurious private estates in both the Western and Eastern hemispheres, and together with hotelier Nils Normann they have created an experience as far from the cookie-cutter chain hotel as you can possibly get, and also very, very different from the many me-too modernist villas that has been cropping up all over Asia.

”We definitely try to give the guest a highly personal experience where they feel like they are living in a private home while travelling,” says hotelier Nils Normann.  ”We have tried to make the villas entertaining, with flamboyant use of color and material and little details you won’t discover right away, like a hidden sculpture in the garden or a panel of buddhas high up under the ceiling. And then we have features only few private homes can offer, like 24 hour butler service and our Mandi’s, which are baths, where our spa therapists will give you a pampering treatment in your own bathroom.” So, will all hotels be like this soon? This reviewer is crossing fingers.

By Sarah Muzzammil