Travel Bulletin Luxury Supplement 2014

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All About

Luxury August 2014

Your one-stop guide to all the latest news and developments in Luxury Holidays

Produced by

www.travelbulletin.co.uk

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Columbia Beach Resort A 5 star resort that is an oasis of luxury in a peaceful location on Pissouri Bay and is very popular with our discerning guests.

Prestige Holidays have two great offers for holidays started & completed between 15 Aug - 31 Oct when booked by 31 Aug: Book a Junior Suite for 7 nights or more and receive one night free, saving at least ÂŁ100 per person. OR Book 5 nights or more in an Executive Suite and receive complimentary half board, saving ÂŁ255 per person per week.

Love to Shop vouchers for each booking made.

More affordable luxury holidays from your local airport.

Prestige Holidays on 01425 480400 www.prestigeholidays.co.uk

All about

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LUXURY

he luxury market is a dynamic arena these days, so it seems, and what clients expect from their luxury holidays is changing all the time. Small Luxury Hotels of the World recently conducted a survey of 13,000 of its customers worldwide and the results are very surprising, an indication of exactly how much the market has transformed.

The full story on the survey results is in our What’s new section on pages 4 and 5, which is a must read for agents keen to boost their luxury hotel bookings.

Operators in general are reporting a good year, and upmarket operator Prestige Holidays have said that it’s very much “business as usual”.

General manager David Skillicorn says they have noticed an increase in demand for experiential holidays.

“Pre-bookings for 2015 summer holidays are up massively. In particular, experiential packages such as our bear watching Canadian tour. While they may not come under a traditional ‘luxury’ banner’, they’re not cheap. Some people know what they want and will pay for it. A perfect example is our nine-day tour to Bosnia and Croatia escorted by journalist Martin Bell OBE. “We’ve run it twice so far and it’s sold out quickly. We are currently planning the third and are looking to run other special tours in the future.”

Skillicorn says Prestige has also seen an increase in demand for Sicily. “The Italian island seems to be popular with our four and five star clients looking for something different. These aren’t what we class as holidaymakers – they are travellers looking for experience and adventure, and willing to pay for it.”

So, with some input from luxury specialists, we have put together this All About Luxury Holidays supplement.

The features include a focus on luxury Caribbean style, with a look at what your clients can come to expect from luxury on the smaller islands versus the bigger islands in the region.

Our UK holiday features looks at the domestic market, from the city to the countryside and the coast.

The escorted tours feature includes recommendations from the experts on the best-available tours by road, rail and sea.

Finally, Holidays for less than... features a collection of some of the best luxury escapes on the market at the moment.

So, I hope you enjoy reading this supplement and offers some inspiration for your clients looking for a luxury escape over the next year.

Angela Cronin Supplements editor Published by

or

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Lower Ground Floor, University House, 11-13 Lower Grosvenor Place, London SW1W 0EX Tel: 020-7834 6661

All About Luxury Holidays

Publisher: Jeanette Ratcliffe Written and researched by: Angela Cronin Email: angelacronin2003@yahoo.co.uk Design/Layout: Ranganath GS & Prashanth AP Printed by: Buxton Press Cover Picture: The Per Aquum resort of Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives ISSN: 0956-2419

CONTENTS

What’s new - 4

Caribbean - 6

Luxury in the UK - 10

Escorted tours - 12

Holidays for less than... - 15

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The Tiger’s Nest temple, which sits on top of a cliff 900 metres above the valley floor, is a feature of Insight Vacations’ new tour of Bhutan

What’s new

Who would have thought that what makes a client chose a luxury hotel is whether they have free wifi or not? Maybe, those wealthy clients are not as hard to please as you thought they would be

L

uxury is a very subjective concept. One person’s concept of luxury could be to have 24hour butler service, while another person’s idea of luxury could be all about the exclusiveness of the experience.

Small Luxury Hotels of the World has conducted a survey of 13,000 of its customers worldwide and the results are very interesting.

Free wifi is more favourable than a free breakfast with clients who opt to stay in luxury hotels, apparently, with 53.1% of respondents preferring free wifi access over complimentary breakfast.

The poll also identified Italy as the

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most luxurious holiday destination, Chanel as the most popular luxury brand and Nespresso/ coffee machines being the most favourite inroom accessory, followed by an iPod-docking system.

In the minibar, UK respondents opted for Bombay Sapphire, while when picking one hotel attribute over another, most markets chose a Michelin-star restaurant over a roof top bar.

Ultimately, when picking a luxury hotel, the most important characteristic was ‘character/charm’ selected by 59.6% of all respondents, followed by five-star facilities.

Fascinating results, which help

hotels and tour operators to understand exactly what their customers are looking for.

We catch up with luxury operators and hotel groups to find out about their plans for 2015.

Sovereign

The luxury operator has introduced 16 properties in Greece, Cyprus, Gran Canaria, Portugal, Italy, Dubai and Barbados and a new destination to its 2015 brochure, which features 220 properties in 19 destinations worldwide.

The new destination is Ras Al Khaimah, one of the seven emirates that make up United Arab Emirates.

All About Luxury Holidays

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Less than an hour’s drive from Dubai airport, it oers beach, desert and mountains and to capture this variety of holiday experiences, Sovereign is featuring the Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah, Banyan Tree Ras Al Khaimah Beach and Hilton Al Hamra Beach and Golf Resort.

Prices for seven nights’ bed and breakfast at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah lead in at £1,029 per person, based on 11 May 2015 departure and include ights and transfers.

Meanwhile, new hotels include the Ikos Oceania in Halkidiki, Greece, the Olympic Lagoon Resort in Paphos, Cyprus, the Columbia Beach Resort in Cyprus and the Sheraton La Caleta Resort and Spa in Tenerife. sovereign.com

Insight Vacations

The escorted tours specialist has recently added the landlocked southeast Asian country of Bhutan to its collection of worldwide itineraries.

This 11-day Bhutan-Dragon Kingdom premium tour visits the famous Tiger’s Nest temple, which sits on top of a cli 900 metres above the valley oor, and the 7th-century Kyichu Lhakhang temple, as well as oering guests the chance to try a Bhutanese cooking class with a local chef and a Himalayan celebration dinner.

Accommodation includes the ďŹ ve-star Zhiwa Ling Hotel and an overnight stay at the luxurious Taj Tashi in the Thimphu Valley.

Prices start at £4,475 per person and includes return ights, transfers, 10 nights’ accommodation with breakfast, travel in modern and air-conditioned luxury touring coaches and the services of a tour director throughout. insightvacations.com

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Holidays from

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Classic Collection Holidays The luxury operator has teamed up with Bookajet so it can now oer clients travel via private jet.

The executive jets can seat between four and 14 passengers, with an eight-seater jet from a London Airport to Palma in Majorca costing from ÂŁ2,500 per person return. classic-collection.co.uk

Caesars Entertainment A new hotel has opened on the Strip in Las Vegas.

Owned and operated by Caesars Entertainment, the Cromwell features 188 rooms and suites, a casino, hotel lobby bar, lounge, restaurant by Giada De Laurentiis and beach and nightlife venues by Victor Drai two lower-level main pools, 40 poolside day beds, 9 VIP Bunglalows, 15 cabanas with private pools, two full bars and a DJ booth.

Meanwhile, Caesars Entertainment is launching a new brand and website that will make a collection of nearly 2,000 luxury suites and villas across the entire Las Vegas portfolio of resorts available to the general consumer.

The Anthology Suites will include villas and suites at The Cromwell, Harrah’s, Flamingo, Planet Hollywood, Rio, Bally’s, Caesars Palace and Nobu Hotel.

Guests will beneďŹ t from VIP check-in and Total Rewards Diamond queuing at locations throughout all Caesars Entertainment Las Vegas resorts. Select rooms will also include complementary limo transportation from the airport and 24hour butler service. caesars.com. n

All About Luxury Holidays

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Caribbean

The big question The beauty of the Caribbean is the variety of holiday experiences it can offer, but does the size of an island determine the luxury that it can offer?

Holiday like a Hollywood A-lister and spend a week at Sugar Beach in St Lucia

R

esorts in the Caribbean know a thing or two about the luxury market, and it seems, they are always looking for new ways to improve what they do.

But does luxury mean different things depending on whether you are staying in one of the bigger islands, such as the Dominican Republic or Cuba, or one of the smaller islands in the BVIs? The larger islands often have bigger resorts with more facilities to choose from, while the smaller islands can cater for those who want that paradise-lost feel.

Here is a selection of small vs big island ideas from the operators who know the Caribbean inside out.

Small islands

The island: St Lucia

The hotel: Sugar Beach, a Viceroy Resort

The L (luxury) factor: This hotel is situated directly between the Piton mountains, so the views alone are luxurious before we event start getting down to the nitty-gritty of the resort itself, and offers amazing service and facilities. The accommodation is pretty impressive and spacious, all with impressive views of either the Pitons or the sea.

The private residences have infinity pools and gardens.

Anything else? The resort is popular with big hitters from Hollywood; in fact, Matt Damon hired out the whole resort for his wedding – wow! So if you feel like living it up as if you were

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an A-list movie star, then take advantage of the hotel’s yacht or speed boat, and arrive in style.

How much? Hayes and Jarvis offers seven nights’, room-only trip to Sugar Beach with prices from £1,799 per person, including flights and transfers.

To book: hayesandjarvis.co.uk

The island: the family-owned Bahamian island of Kamalame Cay, which is located off the northeast coast of Andros is the largest island of the Bahamas, and the fifth largest in the West Indies. The region is

renowned for its spectacular snorkelling, diving, fishing and untouched beaches and worldrenowned bonefishing. And with a population of just 6,000 it’s the least densely populated of all the Bahamian islands.

The hotel: Kamalame Cay is a private island resort near Staniard Creek that is only accessible by private ferry or seaplane. Its accommodation is tucked into 96 acres of swaying palms and flowering tropical foliage fringed by three miles of white, sandy beaches.

The L factor: its pure paradise-lost

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Caribbean feel isolation from the outside world, its stunning tropical surroundings and its plethora of pastimes for guests, from spa programmes to world-class diving, snorkelling, fishing and sporting excursions.

Anything else? The icing on Kamalame’s cake is its underwater spa.

How much? Abercrombie and Kent offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast in Angler’s Nest Room leading in at £2,165 per person including return flights to Nassau, return charter flights to Andros Town, taxi and boat to the island.

To book: turquoiseholidays.co.uk

The island: there are 360 islands that make up the Exumas, but one in particular that ticks the luxury box is Great Exuma.

The hotel: Sandals Emerald Bay Golf, Tennis and Spa Resort, set on a white, sandy beach in Great Exuma. The luxury property has 245 oceanview and oceanfront rooms and suites.

There are seven restaurants and bars, a zero-entry pool with poolside butler service, unlimited land and watersports, a Red Lane Spa, an 18-

hole Greg Norman-designed championship golf course, full-service marina and six tennis courts all lit for night play.

The L factor: well, everything about this resort screams luxury, from the spa to the food, the sports facilities to the marina, but the icing on the cake there is concierge and butler service for all of the 245 oceanfront accommodations, which are just feet away from the resort’s white sandy beach.

Anything else? The Exuma Cays Ocean Safari from Island Routes Caribbean Adventures Tours gives guests the chance to see the Bahamas’ big five; sharks, stingrays, starfish, swimming pigs and the endangered Bahamian rock iguana, on a half-day ocean safari on a speed boat through more than 70 little islands, cays and coves.

How much? Seven nights’ all-inclusive costs from £2,145 per person and includes flights and transfers.

To book: sellingsandals.co.uk The island: Grenada The hotel: Mount Cinnamon Resort and Beach Club

The L factor: it has to be the location, the intimacy of the resort and the accommodation, of which there are 22 villas all located on a lush hill overlooking Grand Anse Beach.

Anything else? Traditional Grenadian masterclasses are available at the resort’s sister 17th-century working plantation, Mount Edgecombe, which supplies Mount Cinnamon with many of its spices, fruit and veg. Guests can head over there to learn how to cook local dishes.

How much? Caribtours offers seven nights from £3,995 per family, based on two adults and two children sharing a one-bedroom pool/oceanview suite including breakfast, flights and transfers.

To book: caribtours.co.uk

British Virgin Islands

The island: Virgin Gorda, the British Virgin Islands The hotel: Oil Nut Bay is nestled on a private peninsula of the eastern tip of Virgin Gorda.

The L factor: Oil Nut Bay’s location on a private peninsula gives it that exclusive feel and its accommodation really puts the l in luxury as the villas

Sandals Emerald Bay Golf, Tennis and Spa Resort, set on a white, sandy beach in Great Exuma

All About Luxury Holidays

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Big island luxury at the Hard Rock Punta Cana resort on the island of Dominican Republic.

have private entrances, infinity pools with breathtaking views, expansive outdoor living space and top-of-therange kitchen facilities. And not many resorts can brag about THEIR marina.

There’s also a wellness studio, beach club facilities including three pools and restaurant, water-sports, Nut House kids’ club and nature centre, and guests at a resort of this calibre would expect a personal concierge service – and of course there is one.

How much? Turquoise Holidays offers seven nights’ B&B from £2,099 per person including boat transfers and all flights.

To book: turquoiseholidays.co.uk

Big islands

The island: Cuba The hotel: Hotel Saratoga in Havana The L factor: a modern-day haunt of the very rich and extraordinarily famous, most recently frequented by Beyonce and Jay-Z, Hotel Saratoga dates back to 1879 and is an exclusive retreat in the heart of Old Havana.

Anything else? This elegant five-star hotel has stunning views across Havana from the rooftop pool, which makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a glass of champagne as the sun sets over this fascinating capital city.

How much? Hayes and Jarvis offers seven nights’ B&B from £995 per 8

person, including return flights.

To book: hayesandjarvis.co.uk

The island: Travel 2 product manager Kevin Coles recommends the Dominican Republic as “it is widely regarded as having one of the most diverse landscapes. From the historical, warm and vibrant city of Santo Domingo to lush tropical jungles and 250 miles of some of the world’s top beaches, there’s plenty for visitors to do. The island is home to an abundance of magnificent resorts and hotels too”.

The hotel: Travel 2’s Coles recommends Hard Rock Punta Cana.

“The Hard Rock Punta Cana resort is one of the largest on the island. The resort offers guests an array of facilities and the majority of these are included within their all-inclusive programme.

“For those activities of facilities not included, the hotel gives guests up to $2,500 of credit to spend in resort.

This can be used on anything from a round of golf on the Jack Nicklaus course, to room upgrades and fine dining and wines,” adds Coles.

The resort has 15 swimming pools, so there is plenty of space for guests, especially those looking for a bit of seclusion. There are plenty of dining options, including ice cream parlours

and coffee shops, most of which are included at no extra charges. For the kids there is a full arcade with all the latest games.

“The accommodation options for guests are spacious and the Rock Spa is available for guests and treatments that can be booked using resort credits.”

The L factor: Coles recommends booking a Rock Star Suite as “guests will have their own butler on call 24 hours a day. The hotel will provide a luggage packing and unpacking service, complimentary ironing, couples massage and VIP private check in. At check in, guests will receive a code to download playlists directly to their room. Guests can even have an electric Fender guitar delivered to their room should they wish to practice their guitar skills in private.

Anything else? The hotel is perfect for families with children, who want luxury – and choice in equal measure.

With four kids pools, including log flume waterslides and a mini golf course, there’s plenty to keep the younger family members busy during the holiday.

How much? Travel 2 features seven nights’ all-inclusive from £1,369 per person including flights and transfers.

To book: travel2.com

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(1) Ponant bonus fare based on two people sharing a cabin, excluding pre/post transport, port and security taxes. Ponant bonus fare is susceptible to change depending on the availability at the moment of the reservation. More informations at www.ponant.com Photo Credits : © Compagnie du Ponant, Istockphoto.

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Luxury Cruising by Compagnie du Ponant

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The 132-cabin, 5-star yacht LE SOLÉAL reaches some of the Mediterranean’s best kept secrets whilst treating guests to unrivalled passenger service, the finest cuisine and a bilingual crew ready to tend to your every need. Discover the treasures of the World by sea.

Summer 2014 - 13 departures from € 1250(1)

Start your journey on ponant.com

Contact your travel agency or call our UK call centre

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Luxury in the UK

Domestic bliss

The Chewton Glen Hotel on the edge of the New Forest has recently introduced luxury treehouse suites

Great summers over recent years, and a fantastic array of luxury hotels make holidaying in the UK a very popular option with clients who have a bit of money to spend

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he domestic market is performing well with demand for luxury short breaks strong and agents can play a key role in matching their clients’ luxury tastes to the right UK hotel, according to operators.

Graham Balmforth, national sales manager at SuperBreak, says: “Special occasions such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries and the like drive the luxury market as customers look for that extra something special to do.

“We find that more and more people are looking for a reason to travel and are buying more with their breaks. It is now possible to add a host of treats such as afternoon tea, spa treatments, museum and exhibition tickets, dining experiences and so much more.”

Luxury properties and experiences 10

can be found throughout the UK, and in this feature, domestic operators have told us their favourite destinations for city, countryside and coastal escapes.

In the city

The hotel: The Lowry Location: Manchester What’s the L factor? Named after one of England’s most prolific artist, The Lowry was Manchester’s first five-star hotel, and is part of the Rocco Forte stable of luxury hotels. The Lowry likes to lay claim to having Greater Manchester’s most lavish hotel room, the Charles Forte penthouse suite.

The suite has a dressing room, a huge bathroom and large walk-in wardrobe, while the spacious reception lounge has a plasma screen television and grand

piano with a separate area for dining. A butler and private chef are also on call along with a bath butler to deliver a selection of bath goodies to the room.

Private in-room beauty treatments are also available, as well as personal shoppers and fitness trainers.

Who would it appeal to? Couples looking for a chic city break, business travellers, or families visiting the city to watch Manchester City or Manchester United.

How much? Rates from £150 a night.

To book: roccofortehotels.com

The hotel: Town Hall Hotel, London What’s the L factor? Located in the imposing Town Hall building in Bethnal Green, the Town Hall Hotel is a Design Hotel that features many local and international artists.

The hotel’s basement houses the pool and gym and the pool area was designed in shades of white marble with touches of brass to recall the elegance and charm of a traditional spa.

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Luxury in the UK The flagship suite, the De Montfort, has triple height ceilings, huge arched windows with original stained glass with two statues by famous sculptor Henry Poole. The space has been divided by glass partitions, which make the maximum use of natural lighting. The hotel’s Peg and Patriot bar has a pioneering mixologist Matt Whiley, who distils spirits for all cocktails in-house.

Who would it appeal to? Those looking to experience the artistic East End of London.

How much? From £172 per night To book: townhallhotel.com

In the countryside

The hotel: Cromlix, Dunblane.

What’s the L factor? Located in the stunning Scottish countryside, this boutique, luxury five-star hotel is owned

by Wimbledon champion Andy Murray and is just a short drive from the Ryder Cup venue of Gleneagles.

The hotel has 15 rooms, each with their own individual design and character, along with views of the Cromlix Hotel’s grounds.

There’s a library with a billiard table, a whisky room, a bar and drawing rooms.

Various activities are available to guests on the estate, including a tennis court, fishing on the loch, archery, falconry display, outdoor garden games and in room spa treatments. The Cromlix is also home to Albert and Michel Roux Jr’s sixth Scottish Chez Roux establishment.

Who would it appeal to? Ideal for clients wanting something a little different with the opportunity to do a range of activities in a wonderful setting.

Price: From £125 per person per night including breakfast.

To book: superbreak.co.uk The hotel: Chewton Glen Hotel and Spa in the New Forest, Hampshire.

What’s the L factor? Chewton Glen is a privately owned luxury country-house hotel and spa located in 130 acres of picturesque grounds on the edge of the historic New Forest National Park.

The hotel has recently introduced luxury treehouses suites built high in the trees in a secluded valley inside the hotel’s grounds. The suites have balconies

All About Luxury Holidays

The Charles Forte penthouse suite at Manchester’s Lowry Hotel

and huge windows offering views through the canopy to the valley beyond.

Guests can enjoy the seclusion of the treehouse suite without having to venture outside as food and spa treatments can be brought to the tree houses.

Who would it appeal to? Families wanting a ‘get-away-from-it-all’ style break in the English countryside.

How much? Rates from £325.

Website: chewtonglen.com

By the coast

The hotel: Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Spa. What’s the L factor? Recently selected

by The Sunday Times Travel as one of the top 10 coastal hotels in the UK and Ireland, the Christchurch Harbour Hotel and Spa is the ideal hotel for a relaxing retreat. The hotel boasts breathtaking views across the harbour, and it also has a spa, which includes a pool, areas for relaxation, a hydrotherapy pool, sauna, crystal steam room, salt grotto, gymnasium, five treatment rooms and a rest and refresh area.

The on-site restaurant The Jetty is run

by Michelin-starred chef, Alex Aitkin and the restaurant has walks of glass, that

allow diners the chance to enjoy views over the Mudeford estuary.

Who would it appeal to? Spa lovers or fine diners who have a love of good food.

How much? Prices from £72 per person per night including breakfast.

This price is available from Monday to Thursday in October.

To book: superbreak.co.uk

The hotel: The Cary Arms, Babbacombe Bay, Devon.

What’s the L factor? This boutique inn has eight bedrooms all with views across the bay. There are also four converted fishermen cottages all with cosy fireplaces and their own gardens with sweeping sea-views. The hotel boasts plenty of coastal character with echoes of New England that captures the essence of seaside living.

Who would it appeal to and why? Both couples, who can check into the hotel’s eight rooms, or families who can enjoy the space of the fishermen cottages.

How much? Rooms start from £155 for a deluxe and £195 for a luxury, including breakfast. The five-room Rose cottage costs from £1,650 for one week.

To book: caryarms.co.uk n 11

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Escorted tours

Time to tour

By road, by rail or by sea, there’s a plethora of escorted tours to choose from, whatever your favoured mode of transport might be

E

xperential tours are where it’s at these days, with more and more Brits wanting to get under the skin of a country rather than just scratch the service.

With an escorted tour, your clients are guaranteed to come back from their holiday, bursting with knowledge and first-hand experience of the country they have visited as a result of the experiences specialists now offer, and the extremely knowledgable guides on these tours.

We talk to the experts to find out what tours are available for those who want to travel by road, rail or sea.

By rail

The tour: the 10-day Palace on Wheels luxury tour Where does it go? After a one-night homestay in Delhi, then it’s time to hop on the luxurious Palace on Wheels for six 12

Insight Vacations' Italian Vogue tour takes in the must-see destination of Venice

nights for an adventure through India. First stop is Jaipur, known as the pink city because of the colour of the stone used to make the city’s breathtakingly beautiful buildings.

The train then heads off to Ranthambhore National Park for some tiger spotting. The park is one of the best places in the world to see these majestic predators in the wild.

Udaipur, the city of lakes, is the next stop on the journey followed by Jaisalmer. Like an oasis, Jaisalmer is in the centre of the Great Thar desert, so this is the perfect opportunity to make like the locals and jump on a camel to explore the sand dunes. The spectacular blue city of Jodhpur follows, aptly named due to the vivid blue-painted houses around the stunning, Mehrangarh Fort.

As the journey comes to an end, the Palace on Wheels calls in at Bharatput for a visit to the national bird sanctuary before finally arriving at Agra for the ultimate photo opportunity outside the iconic Taj Mahal. Then it’s back to Delhi for two days of sightseeing before the flight home.

What’s the L factor? The Palace on Wheels has been rated as one of the 10 best luxury train journeys in the world. It once carried the rulers of Indian states and British leaders, and was brought back to life in August 2009 after a full refurb.

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Escorted tours The cabins all have their own en-suite facilities and liveried attendants, and a new spa saloon has been recently introduced offering aryuvedic massages.

Authentic experiences along the way?

Every stop along this luxury trip is filled with cultural and authentic experiences, from visiting the City Palace and the Jagdish to taking a boat ride on Lake Pichola, exploring the sand dunes and taking a camel ride.

How much? This 10-day tour costs from £3,279 per person, including flights.

To book: agents.kuoni.co.uk

The tour: the four-day Tren Crucero Guayaquil to Quito journey in Ecuador.

Where does it go? The Tren Crucero ride through the Andes of Ecuador, covering a vast array of landscapes, from moorlands through to cloud forests, to tropical coastal landscapes and spectacular mountain terrain. The train ride travels through the Avenue of Volcanoes, home to more than 10 volcanoes, some of which are still active.

What gives it the L factor? The luxury of access to Andean and coastal indigenous communities, where visitors can witness their traditional way of life.

Authentic experiences along the way? Yes, plenty. The exclusivity and authenticity comes with giving passengers the chance to get close to the scattered communities of the different regions as the train journeys across the plains of the interior, through the Andes to the coast.

How much? Prices start at £824 per person, sharing a double room on board. The price includes excursions, hotel accommodation with full board and tour guides.

To book: luxurytrainclub.com/ trains/tren-crucero-ecuador

introduced a 14-day Exquisite China tour, which is new for 2015 and will feature in the Exclusive Collection, a rebrand of the specialist’s Deluxe Tours.

Where does it go? Beijing, Xian, Chengdu, a cruise down the Yangtze and Shanghai.

What gives it the L factor? Wendy Wu offers experiences that money can’t buy, such as champagne on the lesserknown Huanghuacheng section of the Great Wall, the chance to try your hand at calligraphy with a learned scholar, or create exquisite dumplings with renowned chefs. Then there’s private

viewings of the Terracotta Warriors and the giant pandas, an evening at the Sichuan opera, a Yangtze river cruise to the dramatic gorges, a visit the Shanghai Financial Centre viewing platform or maybe a cocktail on bar M on the Bund with stunning views of the Pudong skyline.

Authentic experiences along the way?

Perhaps less authentic and more exclusive, this tour gives guests an insight into some of the China’s longestheld traditions.

How much? From £3,990 on a fully inclusive basis including international

By road

The tour: Wendy Wu has

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Visit the Terracotta Warriors in Xian on Wendy Wu’s Exquisite China tour

flights, transportation, touring with guides, meals, accommodation, all activities and entrance fees.

To book: wendywutours.co.uk

The tour: Italian Vogue by Insight Vacations.

Where does it go? Rome, Capri, Florence, Viareggio, and Venice.

What gives it the L factor? Well, there’s plenty on this tour that gives it the L factor including VIP entrance to the Vatican Museum to explore parts of the Vatican the public doesn’t usually get to stay.

In Florence, guests will be treated to a four-course menu that pays homage to the home of Italian Cooking, and in Venice, there’s a celebration dinner held at a historic restaurant behind St Mark’s Square.

An all-out glamorous cruise to the isle of Capri is also one of the highlights. And, of course, a luxury tour of this nature wouldn’t be complete without overnight accommodation in five-star hotels, such as the Capri Palace and Bauer’s L’Hotel which features chandeliers, Art Deco furnishings and hand woven Venetian fabrics.

Authentic experiences along the way? Guests get taken on a private guided tour of the buried town of Pompeii, visit the ancient wine growing estate of the Mazzei family in the Chianti Hills to sample the famous regional wines and pop into an artisan showroom and workshop to see master craftsmen honouring age-old Venetian crafts.

How much? Prices lead in at £4,135 per person including return flights, 10 nights’ B&B, sightseeing and the services of a professional tour director.

To book: insightvacations.com

The tour: the nine-day Best of Morocco Tour with Trafalgar Tours.

Where does it go? The tour starts off in Casablanca before hitting the road and heading to the capital Rabat for a tour of the city taking in the grand 17th-century palace and the 12thcentury mosque.

Then it’s off to the imperial city of Meknes for a trip to Bab el-Mansour, one of the most impressive monumental gateways in North Africa, before an overnight stay in Fez, the country’s oldest imperial city.

From Fez, the tour follows the old caravan trail south across the High Atlas mountain ranges to the edge of the Sahara, continuing on to the Todra Gorge and on to Ouarazate for an overnight stay exploring the kasbahs that are thousands of years old, and have provided the backdrop to many a blockbuster film. The journey then passes through the Tizi-n-Tichka Pass to its final destination of Marrakech for two days exploring the city’s souk.

What gives it the L factor? Travelling in style in a luxury, airconditioned coach with first-class accommodation all the way.

Authentic experiences along the way? Strolling around the kasbahs of Ouarazate and haggling with the market traders in Marrakech.

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How much? Prices start at £1,250 and include transfers, eight nights’ B&B, sightseeing and the services of a professional travel director throughout.

To book: trafalgar.com

By ship

The tour: the 21-day Epic Antarctica voyage with Quark Expeditions Where does it go? This icy adventure starts off at Ushuaia in Argentina before embarking on the Ocean Diamond to set sail for the Falkland Islands to spend two days exploring by Zodiac excursions and daily landings. The Ocean Diamond is Quark’s modern, super yacht, and the largest of its small ships.

South Georgia is the next stop on this adventure, which was a whaling and sealing metropolis in its heyday, before sailing on to the South Shetland, and crossing the Antarctic Circle which is a momentous occasion. The cruise continues northbound along the peninsula before spending some more frozen days crossing the Drake Passage for more wildlife encounters.

The voyage ends with a return to Ushuaia.

What gives it the L factor? This really is one of those trips where the luxury factor is more about the exclusiveness of the experience, and the Antarctic is definitely one of the regions that is well off-the-beaten track.

Authentic experiences along the way? Plenty. There’s the chance to see 30 species of breeding birds, including four species of penguin in South Georgia, often referred to as “the Galapagos of the South”. Cruisers get the chance to follow in the footsteps of Sir Ernest Shackleton’s perilous voyages on South Georgia and pause for a moment at his graveside; learn about Antarctica’s unique geology, history and wildlife with an expert team of lecturers; and meet the locals of the quaint, British town of Port Stanley in the Falkland Islands.

Passengers can also try their hand at camping in Antarctic conditions and kayaking.

How much? Prices lead in at £11,833 based on a January 29 departure. International flights are not included.

To book: quarkexpeditions.co.uk ■

Trafalgar Tours' Best of Morocco journey starts in Casablanca, home to Mosque Hassan II, one of the largest mosques in the world

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Luxury packages

Holidays for less than Silversea Discoverer calls in at the island of Koror in the South Pacific

From chilling out on the white, sandy beaches of a luxury, all-inclusive resort in the Maldives to going on an explorer voyage of islands in the South Pacific, here is a collection of some of the best luxury packages around at the moment £2,000

Kuoni has seven nights’ B&B in a deluxe bungalow at the five-star Velassaru Maldives.

How much? Prices lead in at £1,348 per person, based on two sharing, including flights with SriLankan Airlines and transfers.

To book: agents.kuoni.co.uk ITC Luxury Travel is offering seven nights’ B&B at the luxury Sani Resort in Haldikiki, Greece How much? Prices are from £1,075 per person based on two adults sharing a junior suite with a marina view and including flights and transfers for departures on 17 October.

To book: itcluxurytravel.co.uk

£3,000

Hayes and Jarvis has a week’s allinclusive at the five-star Constance Moofushi Resort in the Maldives.

How much? Prices start at £2,499 per person, including savings of £1,006 per person. Flights and transfers feature and the price is based on 4 September departure.

To book: hayesandjarvis.co.uk Kuoni is featuring five nights’ B&B in a king hillside villa at the Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort and Spa, Seychelles.

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How much? Prices lead in at £2,060 per person, including flights with Emirates and group transfers in resort.

To book: agents.kuoni.co.uk

If Only offers a seven-night couples package to Shangri-La Villingili Resort and Spa in the Maldives, which includes half-board accommodation in a pool villa, a special honeymoon bath, a romantic dinner and a couples spa treatment. The resort has its own atoll and is the only hotel in the Maldives to have a golf course. It also offers cultural programmes and boasts its own private air terminal.

How much? Prices lead in at £2,869 per person and include flights with Emirates, half-board and boat transfers.

To book: agents.ifonly.net

£5,000

Carrier is offering savings of up £1,770 per couple on a seven-night, half-board break at the St Regis Mauritius Resort.

How much? Prices lead in at £3,375 per person based on two adults sharing an ocean view deluxe room, including World Traveller flights with British Airways and private transfers. The offer is valid for travel 11 October-12 December 2014.

To book: carrier.co.uk

£10,000

Silversea has a 17-day voyage from Honiara, Solomon Islands to Koror, Palau in the South Pacific on board the new Silversea Discoverer. The voyage departs on 21 February 2015.

How much? Prices lead in at £9,950 per person and are based on a double occupancy of an Explorer Suite in combination with the Silversea Economy Air Programme.

To book: silversea.com Luxury safari operator Scenic Air Safari has a 16-day Air Safari About Africa which takes guests on a journey through the heart of Africa on a luxury Cessna Grand Caravan aircraft.

The itinerary takes in the Serengeti National Park in Tanzania, the Mahala Mountains, Lake Tanganyika, Likoma Island in Lake Malawi, the Lower Zambezi National Park, the Chobe River and the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the Zambia side of the Victoria Falls.

How much? Prices lead in at £10,128 per person and includes accommodation on a mixed-board basis, all park entry fees, some activities and transfers. International flights are not included.

To book: severin-travel.com ■

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