TravelStream™ news feed for member rueng84 on TravelPod's free travel blogs service http://www.travelpod.com/syndication/rss/rueng84 en-us Copyright ©2009 TravelPod.com Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:09:15 -0400 http://www.travelpod.com http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/6/1216980420/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/6/1216980420/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/6/1216980420/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 06:09:15 -0400 Anantara Phuket Resort & Spa

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Phuket, Thailand

Anantara's collection of 83 villas - each with their own private pool - is framed by magnificent Bill Bensley-designed gardens with enchanting paths meandering down to the sea. Reminiscent of a southern Thai village, each villa boasts a spacious living area, colourful silks, prized Thai furniture, and a beautiful bathroom featuring an Anantara signature outdoor 'made for two' terrazzo tub that seamlessly blends with the private pool.

Away from the resort, Anantara will give guests the opportunity to explore the vibrancy of southern Thailand and see Phuket through new eyes with a wide range of cultural experiences. Stepping out on to the soft sand beach overlooking the dazzling blue waters of the Andaman Sea, guests can sit and watch the fishing boats bringing home the day's haul. In the restaurant, diners can relish fine cuisine from Thailand and around the world and then next morning take a cookery class to learn how it is made.

A diving expedition to the Similan Island reveals the cacophony of colours and shapes beneath the water with world-famous coral reefs. Phang Nga Bay offers stunning views of limestone cliffs that float above the calm waters of uninhabited bays and unspoiled sand - ideal for a castaway picnic.

At the end of the day, adjourn to one of the stylish, high concept dining areas. The beach restaurant features terraced seating and an ultra-chic ambiance. The signature restaurant boasts state-of-the-art lighting and contemporary indoor and al fresco dining. For Thai and European tapas, the bar is the place to be. Let our resident Wine Guru help you select the perfect vintage from the Private Wine Cellar - heaven on earth for the wine connoisseur.

Discovery, adventure, culture, luxury - this is what defines the unique experience that is Anantara. But it isn't just about discovering the place. At Anantara, guests can discover something about themselves too.

The acclaimed spa at Anantara Phuket is the perfect sanctuary for a journey to inner harmony. Through age-old massage techniques, aromatic elixirs made with indigenous ingredients and in an environment of complete serenity, our therapists can guide clients to a genuine sense of physical and spiritual renewal.
If guests want to leave the luxury of their own private pool, they can head to the lifestyle swimming pool which features a series of water terraces of differing depths, stylish fountain effects and in-built loungers. Nearby, guests can relax in the chill out areas featuring oversized day beds, divine cocktails created by the resident 'Mixologist', and the latest lounge mood music. For those who want to be more active, three tennis courts fitted with night-playing technology and a fully-equipped fitness centre and health club are also available.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/5/1216979040/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/5/1216979040/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/5/1216979040/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:46:57 -0400 Anantara Koh Samui Resort & Spa

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Surat Thani, Thailand

Opened in November 2004 on the Thai island of Koh Samui, the Anantara is a boutique-sized resort of just 106 rooms and suites, all of which look out over the azure-waters and white sands of Bophut Bay towards the island of Koh Phangan.

Anantara Resort, set on 11 acres of beachfront land next to the laid-back haven of Fisherman's Village on the north coast of Samui is less than 10-minutes' drive from the airport.

Rooms and suites are housed in a low-rise horseshoe-shaped building, so that all look onto the resort's central garden and beach. Each room features Anantara's signature 'made for two' terrazzo bathtub, which can open up into the bedroom via sliding fluted glass doors; a spacious balcony with inbuilt sofa; ceiling fan and the prerequisite air-conditioning.

Twenty-four double-bay suites offer the luxury of additional space and can easily sleep two adults and two children. For the ultimate experience, there are six Anantara Royal Suites adjacent to the resort's sea-frontage, offering spectacular views over the bay. The two ground floor Anantara Royal Suites also have their own private terrace and plunge pool.

Recognising that many guests want to stay connected on their holidays, the resort offers wireless high-speed internet access in its library, lobby, restaurants and suites. All rooms also have data ports at their desks.

Other facilities include a dramatic 30-metre infinity-edge swimming pool overlooking the beach, tennis courts, a fitness centre, 130-capacity ballroom for meetings or weddings and a children's club. The plethora of recreational pursuits available for guests include Thai cooking classes, guided mountain bike tours, yoga classes, deep sea fishing excursions and snorkelling trips.

At the Anantara Spa, world-class health and beauty treatments are delivered in private pavilions set in their own walled courtyard. Set within 3,100 square metres of landscaped grounds, the six treatment suites are individually encased in glass with a mirrored back wall, designed to accentuate the feeling of floating. Ambient lighting and funky butterfly-style roofs lend an emphatic dimension to the design. These sensual suites also feature alfresco showers and terrazzo bathtubs, all made for two. There is also a separate beauty salon and herbal steam room in the Spa.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/4/1216977600/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/4/1216977600/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/4/1216977600/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:25:08 -0400 Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa

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Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand

The 187-room Anantara Resort Hua Hin is a distinctive Thai village-style property located on the sunrise coast of the Gulf of Thailand, around 220 kms south of Bangkok. Hidden amidst 14 acres of luxuriantly landscaped gardens and lagoon pools, the picturesque resort enjoys a beachfront location at the quiet end of Hua Hin's long sandy beach.

The vision for the Anantara Resort Hua Hin was to create uniquely Thai resort and spa with the timeless appeal of classic Thai architecture and landscaping.

A three-metre high terracotta wall cleverly cocoons the resort from the hustle and bustle of town. As you make your way along the landscaped driveway, a sense of clam descends. The sense of arrival is heightened as you admire a decorative wall adorned with a parade of elephants. A cool breeze drifting in from the beach floats through the open-air Lobby with the strains of a melodic Thai tune lingering. Polished timber floors and Thai-style salas (pavilions) heighten the ambience of an intimate tropical hideaway.

Echoing Hua Hin's mainly provincial, primary low-rise landscape, the Anantara comprises a collection of 21 two-storey structures interspersed with meandering gecko-stamped pathways, tranquil lotus blossom and lily-filled lagoon ponds, and delightful sculptures that surprise you, nestled into the shrubbery.

All garden and sea-view rooms and suites feature private balconies or terraces. The resort's enclave of spacious lagoon suites feature Anantara's signature deep terrazzo bathtubs 'made for two' set in open-plan bathrooms that extend into the expansive bedrooms individually decorated with Thai artifacts and beyond this to balconies featuring built-in sofas and apace enough to dine.

Whether holidaying with family, or enjoying an intimate escape for two, the Anantara offers a range of facilities and activities to suite every traveller. For the ultimate in relaxation and rejuvenation, book a massage, health or beauty treatment at the stunningly sensual Anantara Spa

For those with more energy to burn, visit the resort's fitness centre or tennis courts. The resort also has links to five championship golf courses all within a short drive of the resort and a resident golf professional. Thai cooking classes, excursions to Hua Hin's nature-based attractions and an array of water sports are amongst the recreational pursuits available.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/3/1216976580/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/3/1216976580/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/3/1216976580/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 05:07:40 -0400 Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa

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Chiang Rai, Thailand

In northern Thailand, a luxurious hilltop retreat features stunning views of not one, but three countries. The five-star Anantara Resort Golden Triangle which opened in October 2003 is located close to the historic town of Chiang Saen in the heart of northern Thailand's hill-tribe country where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand converge.

The resort is positioned hugging a hill ridge with views looking down over a jungle canopy to the Mekong River and up to the rolling, green hills of Laos.

All 77 rooms and suites feature large balconies with in-built sofas and space for private dining. Signature terrazzo bathtubs large enough for two people are the central feature of the bathrooms designed in a 'flow-through' style enabling them to be opened up to or closed off from the bedrooms with sliding fluted-glass doors.

Guest facilities include an infinity-edge swimming pool which is surrounded by a multi-tiered pool deck and flowered gardens and set into the hillside behind the resort to capture the views over the Mekong valley below.

A fully equipped gymnasium, indoor squash court and outdoor tennis court provide a wide choice of pursuits for active guests, while those more inclined to relaxation may choose to indulge in an array of pampering treatments at the Anantara Spa. This exclusive facility features a hair and beauty salon and five treatment rooms, each with a herbal steam room and a private alfresco deck with either a muslin-draped soaking tub or Thai massage platform.

An undisputed highlight of a guest's stay would have to be a visit to the elephant camp. Set within the resort's lush bamboo forest, the camp is home to thirty elephants. The animals are cared for by their local mahouts (drivers) and English-born resident Director of Elephants, John Roberts who is also a qualified mahout himself. On an on-going basis, Roberts works closely with the Thai government's Elephant Conservation Centre in Lampang (located 600km north of the Thai capital Bangkok) to develop Anantara's camp as an elephant sanctuary.

Guests are also offered the rare opportunity to learn to 'drive' an elephant by choosing to undertake a unique three-day mahout training course. As well as learning the mahout commands and some log rolling skills, guests can take their pachyderm charge bathing, partake in mahout camp life and gain a greater understanding of their three-tonne mount from Roberts.
]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/2/1216972440/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/2/1216972440/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/2/1216972440/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:55:52 -0400 Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort & Spa

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Bali, Indonesia

Anantara Resorts is a luxurious boutique property on a prime beachfront location in the chic resort area of Seminyak, Bali. Anantara Resort Seminyak, with a total of just 59 luxurious suites, is a comfortable 30 minute drive from the international airport.

Designed to complement the breathtaking panorama of the Indian Ocean, Anantara Resort Seminyak will reflect the lifestyle and culture of the stylish surrounds of Seminyak. The design of the 59 all-suite resort is contemporary, using extensive glass panelling to bring the vast waterscape of Seminyak Beach into the interiors and emphasize a natural ambience and fluidity with nature.

Each spacious suite in the five-story resort, all with an average of 70 to 80 sq metres, has an ocean view which accentuates a breezy and relaxed atmosphere. Anantara Resort Seminyak affords every modern convenience expected by luxury travellers, whilst ensuring absolute serenity in one of the world's top island destinations.

To further indulge in the beautiful surrounds, the resort has a stylish rooftop bar with languorous settees and oversized cushions available for guests to "chill out" and soak in the famous Balinese sunsets. Serving up new world and Asian fare, and overlooking the wide expanses of beach below, the rooftop is set to be one of Bali's premier entertainment and dining venues.

Further features at the boutique resort include an infinity-edge pool overlooking the ocean vista, a first-class fitness facility and Bali's first Anantara Spa, Asia's foremost. Using Balinese design and décor, the Anantara Spa's earthen tone interiors will contrast with the calming seascape exterior to reflect the harmony and interdependence of land and water. Consisting of four doubles suites and eight treatment beds, each spa room is equipped with private Jacuzzi and ocean views.

]]> http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/1/1216970400/tpod.html http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/1/1216970400/tpod.html#comments Travel Blogs http://www.travelpod.com/travel-blog-entries/rueng84/1/1216970400/tpod.html Fri, 25 Jul 2008 03:24:11 -0400 Anantara Maldives Resort & Spa

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Maldives, Maldives

An idyllic island set in a private lagoon. This paradise is located in the South Male Atoll, just 35 minutes by private speedboat from Male International Airport. Anantara Resort Maldives offers a uniquely Maldivian island experience providing intimate luxury and style.

Set in the idyllic archipelago of the Maldives, the Anantara Resort could not have a more fitting name. Taken from a Sanskrit word that means 'borderless waters', Anantara Maldives is surrounded by the sparkling turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean, offering an endless horizon of aquatic allure.

The resort is a luxurious five-star boutique hideaway spread across five acres of tropical terrain on Dhigufinolhu (island) on the South Male Atoll and is conveniently located only 30 kms from the Maldivian capital of Male.

The resort has 68 deluxe beachfront villas, two deluxe beachfront pool villas, 38 deluxe over water suites and two deluxe over-water pool suites all set around a natural, private lagoon. The villas range from 120sq metres and 165 sq metres in size.

Each deluxe beachfront villa is elegantly furnished in soft beige tones with accents of colours from turquoise to cobalt blue that mirror the vibrancy of the surrounding natural environment; from the pristine sand to the invitingly warm waters of the sea just footsteps away from every villa.

King size beds are positioned to take advantage of the mesmerising ocean view with distinctive floor-to-ceiling timber-framed glass doors and decorative furnishings include a four-poster, canopied daybed and John Underwood ceiling fans.

Anantara island life can be as restful or as invigorating as you choose. The resort offers a range of daily excursions and activities including diving on the house wreck, snorkelling, fishing, kayaking, island picnics and general touring around Male. One unique offering is the Anantara Cooking School. Here the resort's culinary team will share some tricks of the trade and demonstrate how to create some tempting Thai, Indian and Italian delicacies.

Other recreational facilities include a fully equipped gymnasium, outdoor tennis courts, an infinity-edge freshwater swimming pool and the highly-acclaimed Anantara Spa.

In a tranquil beach setting, the Spa features nine treatment suites, each with specially constructed glass panel to enable guests to view the vibrant marine life beneath the azure waters. In addition to an Ayervedic room and one for Indian mud therapy, the Spa offers an indulgent menu of treatments and therapies using only the finest and freshest of natural elixirs and oils.
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