Category: Beaches

Best ways to spend a Bali holiday

Exotic Bali consistently receives plaudits as one of the world’s favourite island destinations, and for good reason. The beautiful island lies just south of the equator and is home to majestic mountains, lush rainforest, and amazingly friendly people. The Indonesian island offers cultural attractions and spectacular scenery that cannot be duplicated anywhere on earth. With so much to see and do in Bali, visitors with limited time there must plan their Bali holidays strategically.

Bali: A Cultural Smorgasbord
While the Kuta region of Bali provides some lively tourist action with its assortment of shops and restaurants, Bali’s Ubud region is commonly known as the island’s cultural capital. Ubud located in central Bali is famous for its performing arts. Unique cultural dances of the Balinese are both expressive and beautifully performed. Traditionally, Balinese dancers performed for a variety of occasions to include social events and ceremonies. Today, they adapt their storytelling dances for tourist audiences. To make the most of their Bali holidays, visitors often pair Balinese dance shows with amazing dinners like the tasty culinary fare found at Café Lotus. This restaurant features a wide range of Indonesian and Western-styled entrées likely to please the entire dinner party.

The Traditional Dress of a Balinese Dancer

Bali is known as the “Island of Love,” and its one-of-a-kind scenery makes it an exquisite place for wedding parties. The Tegenungan waterfall is a great place to visit while on a Bali honeymoon. The free flowing waterfall surrounded by lush tropical foliage drops into an aquamarine lagoon making it the perfect photo opportunity for couples on a Bali honeymoon.

Tegenungan

Agriculture is a huge part of the Bali culture, and the way Balinese farmers cultivate their rice fields exhibits this fact. The rice terraces of Jatiwulih in western Bali are a tribute to excellent farming techniques united with a keen sense of environmental stewardship. For instance, local Jatiwulih farmers designed and constructed a communal water system to irrigate the verdant rice fields contoured to prevent soil erosion.

Bali Rice Terraces

Bali Adventure Holiday
One of the best ways to see Bali up close and personal is by bike. Mountain biking tours are available for couples who want to take an authentic journey of the island while on their Bali honeymoon. These adventure tours are not for the faint of heart. However, those up to the physical challenge may see stunning views of the Bali countryside, rice fields, and quaint villages.

No Bali holiday would be complete without a visit to one of its breathtaking beaches, and there are many from which to choose. The island uniquely is home to white, black, and golden sand beaches. The quintessentially tropical, white sand beaches are by far the most popular ones visited by those on their Bali holiday. However, the black sand beaches offer a rare contrast set against the backdrop of a turquoise ocean. Additionally, the Nusa Dua region provides visitors an ideal snorkelling spot. Nusa Dua is also known for its ultra luxury accommodations that have the relaxing amenities required by visitors maximising their time while in Bali.

A Bali Beach

Lorraine Kelly Visits India – Read our exclusive Q&A about her travels

The wonderful Lorraine Kelly recently travelled with Western & Oriental to India, spotting tigers and visiting the unspoilt and majestic Western Ghats. We were able to catch up with Lorraine and ask her about the sorts of holidays that she enjoys. Read our Q&A with Lorraine Kelly below:

 What elements of a holiday score highly with you?

I love a holiday where I feel I really get a sense of the place I am visiting – the culture, food and the people. I love to see all the sights and I always read as much as possible before hand.

Enjoying a refreshment before the game drive

Do you prefer to have a multi-centre holiday combining wildlife/adventures with city and beaches or are you more of a fly and flop traveller?

I am not at all a fly and flop holidaymaker. Although it would be relaxing for a day or two, I would soon get a bit bored just lounging around on the beach or by the pool.

Royal Bengal Tiger

What attracted you to India’s wildlife experiences and did you see the animals you hoped to?

I love combining holidays like wildlife safaris and adventures with a city and beaches.

Searching for the Bengal Tiger

Sunset at the Gateway of India in Mumbai

Any unexpected wildlife sightings?

I love India, my brother has worked in Mumbai and I had such a terrific visit there two years ago. It’s an incredible city.  I really wanted to come back to India to see tigers in the wild. We were lucky enough to see three wild tigers. It was an experience I will never forget, truly incredible.

On the lookout for the tigers

Tea plantations in the Western Ghats

You travelled to the little known Western Ghats, what attracted you to that area and did it match your expectations?

I was intrigued by the Western Ghats because it is a part of the world that is known as the Scotland  of India. I can see what they mean. It’s green, misty and magical. The scenery is glorious and I felt very much at home.

The pool with panoramic views at Vivanta by Taj at Madikeri

You stayed at the new Vivanta by Madikeri at Coorg – did you take advantage of the spa and have any Ayurvedic massages? Or did you enjoy the great views, do any walks or other activities?

The new Vivanta by Taj Madikeri, Coorg is a beautiful retreat. It has been so cleverly designed to blend in with the scenery and it is such a relaxing haven as well as being a place where you are thoroughly spoiled.

The first thing we did was a nature walk after the car journey, which was fascinating and gave a real insight into the area. The views, especially from the infinity pools are stunning and the food, especially local Coorg cuisine was fantastic. I needed those nature walks and swims to work it off.

There’s also a spa where you can can Ayurvedic massages and treatments specially designed just for you.

A room with a view at Vivanta by Taj at Madikeri, Coorg

Where would you like to go next – any dream destinations?

I’d love to go to Antarctica and to Vladivostok and I am hoping to visit New Zealand.

Thank you for your time Lorraine! To read the full article about Lorraine’s search for the Bengal Tiger click here.

Why Martinhal is the perfect place for a luxury family holiday

Following an unforgettable week in Portugal with her young family, Western & Oriental’s Claire Watling explains why that when it comes to trouble-free luxury family holidays, Martinhal is hard to beat…

“After a long, long saga of changing nappies, weaning, teething, walking then finally tantrums within the Watling family, we decided that we all needed a holiday. It didn’t take long for us to realise that this holiday was going to be quite different to our last (our honeymoon in the Maldives, which seemed a lifetime away).  However, I knew that there were a few things that would make the holiday enjoyable for the whole family and our lives much easier.

To start with, there was no way I wanted to fly for over 4 hours with a 19-month-year-old on my lap. She doesn’t sit still for 5 minutes at home so why should she on a plane?  We decided on Portugal; 2 and a half hours from London and plenty of airlines flying out at different times of the day so that we could choose one that fit our routine. We also didn’t want it to be too hot and Portgual had perfect weather in May.

Try to minimise flight time when flying with young kids

Next was location. We wanted to be close to a village so we could go for a walk in the afternoon or evening, it also needed to be pretty and not too far from the airport. The Martinhal Beach Resort in the Western Algarve fitted these requirements perfectly. It’s 1 and half hours from the airport (forward facing car seats included in the transfers) and only 15 minutes along the beach from the historic town of Sagres.

Marching on the beach

Set within a national park area, the Martinhal is surrounded by rolling wild grasses and c0lourful flowers. Walks, mountain biking and marine excursions can be arranged from the hotel for those who are in need of activity.

I realised that, for best part of a year, my little one had had her own room -she was used to that and certainly so were we.  However, with its 1-3 bedroom houses, this really was a home from home where we never had to compromise on our child’s comfort. Each house has its own living room and full kitchen (including washing machine, fridge, oven, microwave) meaning you can be flexible when it comes to the needs of a young child. We ate breakfast early in the kitchen if she woke before 8 and were able to keep snacks, milk etc. in the fridge. The supermarket stocked everything we needed: nappies, wipes, swim nappies, milk and all the essential food items.

A home from home ensures comfort and convenience

If the little one was having an “off” day we would have lunch in our house while she napped in peace. We could still use the balconies and living room in the day and night without disturbing her. I wondered how she would sleep in a strange bed in new surroundings but I needn’t have worried.  All the bedrooms have black out blinds so she didn’t wake too early, and we had a few lie ins past 8 o’clock!

We also made sure there was a stairgate and highchair in the house (complimentary), a godsend at home. We didn’t bother with the door jam, changing mat or steriliser but these can all be provided.

Great facilities were a must and the Martinhal has these in spades,  including 5 swimming pools, tennis courts, a fantastic beach, village square with supermarket, a kids club and creche, 3 restaurants and something that a working mum always needs – a spa!

Excellent facilities are a must

There were two main pools we used most days: one down by the beach which featured a massive sand play area, and one nearer to the village which was partly under cover – ideal for some respite from the sun. The sandy beach is renowned for windsurfing and it can get quite breezy in the summer months but for us it was perfect. What more can a child want than a bucket and spade and to run in and out if the sea!

The eating habits of young ones are predictably unpredictable so flexible dining options are always welcome. We loved eating out at O Dunas restaurant where dinner started at 5pm, which was extremely convenient if we needed an early night. The Italian restaurant in the village square is fantastic for those special occasions when the kids are with the babysitter. The food was delicious, excellent value for money and they even offer takeaway. Children are well catered for in the main restaurant with their own plastic beakers, plates, spoons and forks. They have 3 sizes of high chair and in high season they even have a kids club member on hand to entertain them whilst you are finishing your breakfast.

A wide choice of dining options allows more flexibility

Of course, you’ll want some assistance in keeping the kids occupied, and although we didn’t use the kids club at the Martinhal due to wanting to spend as much time as possible together as a family, the range of facilities on offer was fantastic. The baby room was filled with baby gyms, soft matting etc. while the the toddler room was massive with fantastic role play toys. The kids club was chargeable and all the activities was tailored to the children’s ages. Toddlers at Raposinhos can try their hand at face painting or join an outdoor treasure hunt. There is also a Blue Room which offers table tennis, pool, computers and movie screenings. There is also creatively designed children’s playground featuring a helicopter as its centerpiece!

Keep the young ones busy with a kids club

Older kids can join the Explorers and Adventure Club where among other things they can learn to windsurf, go dolphin watching and take a junior lifeguard course. The Martinhal also features football and tennis academies where kids can hone their sporting skills or learn new techniques from fully trained instructors.

The kids shouldn’t be the only ones getting pampered on a family holiday and it’s important to allow some quality time for yourself. If there was one thing I was looking forward to most it was a massage and facial in the spa –  something I would never be able to fit in at home. The spa was lovely,  a wonderful oasis of calm with a tranquil chill-out area to relax in before and after my treatments. My last massage was on the day before we came home, it was so pleasant to be able to gather my thoughts and reflect on what a wonderful holiday we’d had.

Don't forget to treat yourself to some "me time"

The past 19 months had been a rollercoaster but now we were relaxed, rested and looking forward to the next 19 months. I have a feeling we’ll be back to the Martinhal again… it’s exactly what we wanted and needed. An amazing, memorable luxury family holiday.”

New Viral Virgin Atlantic Advert Celebrates Staff [VIDEO]

Virgin Atlantic has launched a new TV advert, highlighting the “amazing skills of the airline’s staff”. Virgin’s latest advert, named ‘Flying in the face of ordinary’,  starts like a movie, with an impressive voice over saying, “they were born different”, before going into a story based on the lives of actual Virgin Atlantic employees with the lives of gifted children who were born with special skills and how they used these talents to become outstanding employees at Virgin Atlantic.

Top Diving Spots in the World

Our team of luxury travel specialists have have put together a collection of the best diving spots in the world. Whether you want to swim amongst sharks, see manta rays in their natural environment, get up close and personal with coral or just lie back and enjoy drift diving, take a look below to find your perfect diving holiday destination.

Maldives

The Maldives are renowned as a diving destination because of the sheer variety of species you can spot. If you are a keen diver, Maldives holidays allow you to be able to swim amongst manta rays, turtles, parrot fish, snappers, sweetlips, grouper, bat fish, whale sharks and barracudas, not to mention vibrantly coloured sponges. There are also fascinating caves and caverns to explore at Fotteyo Kandu and Banana Reef. You can also experience drift diving, letting the current that sweeps through the chain of islands carry you along.

A diver sizes up to a whale shark in the Maldives

 South Africa

Kwazulu-Natal is the ultimate destination for diving in Africa. Divers could experience the rush of spotting anything from tiger, whale or spotted sand sharks, not to mention manta rays and one of many of Aliwal Shoals’ resident bottle-nose dolphins. Sodwana Bay is home to over a thousand species of tropical fish, as well as sea turtles and a plethora of sharks, attracted by the migration of millions of sardines – an unmistakably once-in-a-lifetime experience!

A sea turtle swimming near Gili Meno Island

Bali & Lombok

The Gili Islands have a renowned reputation for being the turtle capital, such as green and hawksbill turtles, but there is a lot more to discover here. With over twenty dive sits to explore, from underwater canyons and walls, as well as cuttle fish, lion fish, bump head parrot fish, blue ringed octopus and frogfish, as well as white tipped sharks. While on your Bali holiday, we also recommend that you head to Manta Point to see the gently sloping reef covered in corals, reef sharks, octopus and, of course, manta rays!

Mexico

Experience the fantastic feeling of drift diving in the Gulf Stream, a powerful Atlantic current. If you want to see hammerhead sharks, head to El Bajo and for grey whales, Magdalena Bay is for you. A wonderful experience can be found at Los Isoltes, where captivating Californian sea lions will be curious enough to approach you underwater.

Egypt

Not many people know this when they are on their Egypt holiday, but Egypt is home to one of the most renowned wreck dives on the planet. In 1941 the British SS Thistlegorm sunk in the Red Sea on its voyage transporting supplies to soldiers stationed in Alexandria. Sitting on the ocean floor are rifles, jeeps, radios and boots, as well as the ship. The hole left by the German bomb is visible! To add to the drama, look out for crocodile fish! Also on the Sinai Peninsula is Ras Mohammed National Park with the stunning Yolanda and Shark Reefs.

Underwater photography in the Red Sea

A green turtle swimming at Sipadan Island, Malaysia

Malaysia

The Sabah province is Malaysia’s diving haven. Head to Sipadan Island to see green and hawksbill turtles; there is even a turtle tomb, 22m underwater. Highlights include facing down a school of barracuda and the renowned Drop Off, where the ocean floor dramatically drops 600m! Malaysia holidays will also give you the chance to encounter hammerhead sharks at Layang Layang, whilst admiring its beautiful coral.

Thailand

In the Andaman Sea lie the paradise islands named Surin and Similan, where divers are likely to spot magical manta rays and leopard sharks. Close-by is Richelieu Rock, the place to head to if you fancy swimming alongside a whale shark. These gentle giants are like gold dust, yet sightings here are common. The rock is coral-encrusted, with glistening giant trevallies and dogtooth tuna whizzing past – a gem of a dive!

Turquoise waters at Surin Island National Park, Thailand

Costa Rica

Cocos Island, a marine national park, is a world-renowned diving site. Set in the Golden Triangle and 300 miles from mainland, it takes commitment to visit but is well worth it! Divers will find over twenty sites to dive, from never-ending vertical walls to drift diving spots. Magnificent silvertip, hammerhead and guitar sharks, manta rays, eels and can all be found here, as well as deep sea creatures such as red-lipped Cocos batfish!

Divers exploring Providenciales reef, Turks & Caicos

Turks & Caicos

Famous for being the third largest reef on the planet, the Turks & Caicos islands are a fantastic diving destination. With a 7,000ft drop in its ocean bed, wall diving here is incredible. The walls are covered in colourful corals and sponges. Providenciales, Grand Turk and Salt Cay host the top diving spots, with great visibility so you can spot the marine life.

Myanmar (Burma)

Diving in Myanmar’s waters near secluded islands feels delightfully off the beaten track. Divers could be swimming amongst dogtooth tuna, manta rays and unicorn fish. At Shark Cave you will also find grey reef sharks as well as yellow sponges and corals. Added to this there is a plethora of crustaceans, varying from lobster to shrimp and crab, alongside fascinating octopus and cuttlefish. Explore Black and Tower Rocks’ steep walls and submerged boulders too!

To see and experience some of these amazing diving spots, speak with our travel specialists on 020 7666 1234 and let us tailor-make your next luxury holiday.

Strictly Come Dancings Bruno Tonioli’s Perfect Holiday with Western & Oriental

On the day his book, My Story, launches our favourite Strictly Come Dancing judge Bruno Tonioli tells us about what makes his perfect holiday.

Freshly tanned, having just returned from a holiday in Mauritius with Western & Oriental and with his autobiography My Story hitting the shelves this week, we caught up with Strictly judge Bruno.  Just a few weeks ago Bruno was kicking back at one of our favourite spots in Mauritius, taking some time out before the launch of his book and before he jumps back onto the crazy schedule of appearing on Strictly and it’s US equivalent in Los Angeles – Dancing with the Stars.

Bruno stayed at the dreamy Lux* Le Morne in Mauritius where he indulged in his love of tropical islands and understated luxury.

What elements of a holiday score highly with you?

Although I spend much of the year jumping on planes between London and Los Angeles I only jet off for a holiday twice a year – at Christmas and in August normally. So I absolutely love arriving somewhere knowing I have more than a few days there. To wake up in a tropical place where I can crawl to a white sand beach backed by palm trees, eat good food and have everything available in a relaxed setting is my idea of a holiday. Lux* Le Morne was perfect and I will definitely be returning. It ticked so many boxes – the service was spot on, I don’t like being fussed over and for me a hotel that looks after you without you actually noticing that you are being looked after, gets my vote. I enjoyed the layout of the hotel – it provided privacy and peace yet offered access to facilities I enjoy – a gym for my morning work out, free WIFI (this alone gives a hotel six stars in my book. It is outrageous that any hotels still have the cheek to charge!), a huge wide screen TV in my room, professional and friendly staff and treats such as massages.

The dreamy Lux Le Morne in Mauritius

White sand beach backed by palm trees

As a man who divides his time between London and LA do you have any tips to minimise jet lag?

Not new advice but one that works for me – as soon as you take off adjust your watch to the time of your destination. When I am flying west (to LA) I prefer a day flight and to sleep on arrival. Flying east I find a night flight works better and sleep all the way from Los Angeles to London.

Where would you like to go next – any dream destinations?

I have always fancied the South Pacific – Bora Bora, Tahiti, Hawaii (Len tells me it is lovely) with a stop off to look around New Zealand perhaps.

When you crave a bit of culture where do you head?

For city buzz I am lucky in that I get to call London my home and LA my second home. I don’t think you can beat London for culture and shopping.  However Bologna, the area I am from in Northern Italy and Paris are rich in culture and places I love to spend time. To indulge my love of food and history it has to be Scilly – the Grand Hotel Taormina is one of my absolute favourites – the location is spectacular and it is another place that gets the balance of great service with a really relaxed welcoming feeling just right.

Bruno Tonioli - My Story

Bruno Tonioli’s new book My Story is out today, published by Headline with a RRP of £20.

Unforgettable Bequia Beach Hotel for the last ‘hoorah’

Thank you to Kate Land, one of Western & Orientals’ clients,  for sending us this fantastic blog about her holiday to the 4* Bequia Beach Hotel in St. Vincent & Grenadines.

We went to Bequia Beach Hotel for a last ‘hoorah’ before our baby arrives in September 2012, and it was just what we needed! A very relaxed, fun, and beautiful place.

We had breakfast every morning looking out at the lovely Friendship Bay, where we also enjoyed snorkelling – right in front of our beach front suite at the 4* Bequia Beach Hotel. There are some reefs on either side of the bay, and we got to see lots of fish, crabs, eels and coral.

The Lovely Friendship Bay

We also loved Princess Margaret Beach that was a short taxi ride away. The water on this side of the island was calmer because it faces the Caribbean rather than the Atlantic. And right on the beach is Jack’s Bar, which does a great BBQ with a couple of guys covering some classic tunes.

A highlight of our trip was a visit to the turtle sanctury and Firefly Hotel. These are at the North end of the island (but again, only a short ride away), and the Firefly grows a lot of the produce that they cook in their restaurant.

We took a tour of the grounds with their very informative gardener, and we got to eat mangoes off the tree, and drink fresh coconut water, and fill up our bag with waxed apples. But we still had room for an awesome lunch afterwards. At this point the heavens opened, but that didn’t matter – we looked out on the rain from the comfort of the restaurant before heading back to our lovely beach hotel for a swim in the pool (and more food!).

Relaxing at the pool

Lovely Beach Hotel & Pool

All the restaurants we went to were excellent – and a lot of them also cook BBQ buffets on one night of the week, with some sort of live music playing in the background. And The Frangipani in Port Elizabeth put on a great spread, with an awesome steel band – very Caribbean!

Bequia Beach Hotel Restaurant

But one of our favourite afternoons was when we went to watch a cricket match in town – we’d made friends with our taxi driver, who was playing that afternoon and had invited us a long. There was a local league, with 8 teams from Bequia alone (not bad for such a small island!), but this time, one of them was playing a team from another island. It was a great atmosphere (Bequia won!), and a nice thing to do on a lazy afternoon with a few beers.

Bequia Stadium Bleachers

Cricket Match in Bequia

The pizza from the local ‘Pizza Hut’ wasn’t bad either!

Local Pizza Hut

Bequia Beach Hotel gave us an unforgettable holiday, and surpassed all expectations. We can’t wait to return one day, with our expanded family.

Kool & The Gang Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of Pine Cliffs Resort

They’ve sold over 70 million records world wide, won two Grammy awards, provided the soundtrack to the 60s and 70s – and now they’re set to bring some R&B funk to 4+* Sheraton Algarve & 4+* Pine Cliffs Resort in Portugal.

Kool & the Gang are headlining the resort’s fun-packed summer gala, and are sure to get every guest dancing with their floor-filling hits such as ‘Celebration’, ‘Ladies Night’ and ‘Summer Madness’. All generations know and love their music, so the whole family will enjoy this ultimate summer holiday gala. The band formed in 1964 and went through several musical stages, progressing though jazz, soul, R&B, and electro-pop. However their iconic uplifting sound and party spirit has never wavered, as was demonstrated when the band performed on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno last month. Audiences have always loved Kool & The Gang as they always bring the party and leave you feeling both Kool, and part of the Gang!

In fact  the whole evening taking place on 3^rd August at Sheraton Algarve is a celebration as it’s the resort’s 20^th anniversary. To mark the occasion they’re really laying on the extravagance with a gourmet dinner for guests by Chef Fabien Martinez, welcome cocktails and an after-party. It really is shaping up to be Portugal’s event of the year – don’t miss your chance to ‘Get Down On It’!

Kool & The Gang - Pine Cliffs Resort Summer Gala 2012