Monique De Caro – Page 4 – STAGING

n’Kwazi Lodge, Namibia – A natural paradise on the Okavango, responsible travelling and social commitment (+ video)

Africa, Namibia, social commitment 2. June 2015 0 Comments

Travelling, getting to know the country and its people and making a difference

During our tour of Namibia we got to know this beautiful lodge in the north and also learned a lot about the local people.

The n’Kwazi Lodge & Camping Site opened its doors in 1995 and is located about 20 km east of Rundu, tucked away among the lush riverine vegetation on the banks of the Okavango River. This family-run lodge is not only a comfortable and an affordable stopover when travelling in the Zambezi region, formerly known as the Caprivi Strip, or to Botswana, but the owners Valerie, Pieter and Wynand Peypers also like to promote responsible travelling. They are involved in many development and educational projects that support the local community. We were totally impressed with their great work!

You can stay in one of eighteen environment friendly bungalows or you can overnight in the camping area. Facilities include a restaurant, a bar, a comfortable lounge and a pool.

There also live a few horses at the lodge that guests formerly could ride.

Since the Okavango floods from time to time, the bottom part of the lodge has been raised and the restaurant and bar are now sunk slightly into the ground. Work is already in progress to fulfil a dream of the owners, namely to build the restaurant right on the river on a platform.

The lodge is known for its excellent cuisine! During the evening a delicious buffet is served in the semi-open air restaurant in an intimate and relaxed atmosphere. Local family style food is served in many pots and pans around the open fire. The same applies to the delicious breakfast.

Environment friendly bungalows

The lodge has eighteen trendy bungalows each with its own bathroom, veranda and mosquito net. Thirteen of the bungalows have a clear view of the Okavango River with Angola on the other side. The other five bungalows have beautiful garden views. Electricity is only provided for four hours a day, from 6pm – 10pm. During the remaining hours of the day there are solar lamps available. Wi-Fi, also on solar power, is only available at the bar.

The nights here are quite cool. Since there are no window panes, but only gauze in the large windows, we recommend warm clothes for the nights.

Activities

There are boat, hiking and bird tours on offer as well as tours to the local villages. Traditional dances are performed for 10 or more overnight guests.

Mayana Mpora Foundation

With the Community Trails project of the Mayana Mpora Foundation, which was launched in 2002, the local communities are supported. They should also benefit from tourism in the region. At the same time you as a traveller, can get to know the locals a little better. With a guide from the lodge one can for example do Village Walks for N$ 50. The proceeds go entirely to the local villages.

Some of the other projects include community dance performances for the guests of the lodge (the proceeds go entirely to the participants), sponsor programs for secondary students, a sewing group, a garden project, the building and maintenance of an orphanage, a nursery school as well as a sports and community centre.

Village Walk

Info-Flyer

Marcus is a very dedicated staff member, whose whole heart is in the community projects. With the Village Walks, he tries to give visitors glimpses into the lives of the local people.

The locals do not have it easy as poverty and unemployment are huge problems.

Five people will for example live in a small house, sleeping three together in a bed and two in front of the bed on the ground.

Their daily diet is simple and sometimes consists of only one meal. Normally they do not have breakfast. The earth in the Mayana region consists mainly of barren sand, but millet and pumpkin can for example be planted.

The children fish, with worms that they breed themselves, small fish in the river, which are then dried.

Water needs to be fetched on a daily basis from a river that is up to ten kilometres away. It remains the work of the women and younger children and a water container can weigh up to 20 kilos. Therefore Wynand’s current project and labour of love, is to build wells in the local villages.

A nice gift to take a long when visiting one of the local villages is for example, T-shirts, children’s toys, pencils and school supplies.

n’Kwazi-Pre-Primary School

Education is important. Currently there are about fifty three children between the ages of five and six in n’Kwazi Pre-Primary School. They are not only taught knowledge, but also hygiene. Thus, every morning at school, each child can first shower and brush their teeth. This privately run school is entirely funded by voluntary contributions. Info-Flyer

You can help!

In order to continue to carry through with all these projects, the Peypers need support. You can help by participating in any of the various activities in the Mayana area, by volunteering, by visiting n’Kwazi Lodge and of course, by making a donation. For example, 6-18 EUR will pay for a full academic year for a child in one of the fourteen schools. Each and every donation entirely goes directly to one of these projects. Not only financial contributions count. Even children’s toys, Christmas decorations, clothing or sports equipment donations are more than welcome. Info-Flyer

We were able to see for ourselves, what has already been achieved here with donations and a lot of work. Even a little, can help a lot here!

For more information, please visit: nkwazi-communitytrails.com

You can also read more on Ingrid Poike’s blog. She is a dedicated pensioner from Chemnitz and has taken care of the Mayana project for many years with all her heart and soul. You can also direct your donations to her. She flies to Namibia twice a year and to help to n’Kwazi. She buys school uniforms, textbooks, dictionaries, school supplies, food and also hosts children’s parties for the kids, all locally. Furthermore, she pays tuition fees for students from the 8th to 12th grade, boarding school fees and examination fees for the 10th and 12th grade students, all from the voluntary financial contributions.

Currently, 5 solar cookers, sponsored by the Rotary Club Stollberg / Erzgebirge, have already been built-in in the Pre-Primary School, in the Mayana Primary School and in the Kayengona Combined School. Thereby cooking is done much faster and no more wood has to be burned.

Spendenkonto
Mayana Mpora Foundation
Bank Windhoek
Branch Rundu, Branch Code 483173, P.O. BOX 1623
Account Nr.: 8000537219
Swift Code: BWLINANXXXX
Verwendungszweck: Pre-School, Students, Orphans or common Mayana Mpora

You can contact Ingrid directly via e-mail for the German account details.

Conclusion

We really enjoyed it here and could have stayed longer! We especially enjoyed the quietness, the exquisite landscape, the nice people, the beautifully laid out lodge and of course, the commitment of the owners and the numerous aid projects, made a deep impression on us. It was great to get to know more about the local people and to be able to contribute something to the improvement of their lives. We also prefer making a donation, when we know where it goes and that it also gets there!

Information

Air temperature: 0 – 35 degrees Celsius
When to go: May to September. Rainy season is from January to March. The end of April/May is perfect weather wise.
Price: From 35 EUR per person / night (double room) including Dinner, Bed & Breakfast 7 EUR at the campsite
Board: Dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Overall rating: ******
Special features: beautiful scenery, very friendly owners & staff, beautiful bungalows, delicious food, wonderful atmosphere to relax in, great aid projects
Tip: The lodge is located in a high-risk malaria area and we highly recommend malarial prophylaxis and the use of mosquito repellent.

n’Kwazi Lodge & Camping Site
PO Box 1623
Rundu, Namibia
International +264 81 242 4897 / +264 81 239 0633 / +264 81 718 5371
Inside Namibia 081 242 4897 / 081 239 0633 / 081 718 5371
reservations@nkwazilodge.com
www.nkwazilodge.com
www.facebook.com/nkwazilodgerundu

We would be so pleased if you now also feel like visiting the lodge or even supporting the work of the Peypers family and Ingrid Poike.

Note: During our stay we were partially supported by the n’Kwazi Lodge. The opinions expressed in the article are as always our own – 100 percent!

OKONJIMA Lodge, Namibia – Luxus lodge & genuine animal protection for large carnivores (+ videos)

Africa, animal welfare, Honeymoon, Honeymoon, Interviews, Namibia, social commitment, Video, Videos 31. May 2015 0 Comments

A paradise for nature lovers, animal lovers, romantics, honeymooners and large carnivores in the OKONJIMA Nature Reserve

Situated halfway between the capital Windhoek and the Etosha National Park, the OKONJIMA Game Reserve is situated amidst the Omboroko Mountains on the Waterberg Plateau, near Otjiwarongo. OKONJIMA (a Herero name meaning “Place of the baboons”) is not just simply a luxury lodge but also the home of the non-profit organization “AfriCat Foundation & Carnivore Care Center”.

The trip through the reserve is thus already a wonderful experience. Here you can already meet the first wild animals.

The former cattle farm of the Brahman cattle breeding is a family-run business. In 1993 the cattle was sold, the Hanssen’s farm house was rebuilt into a lodge and the cattle farm turned into a nature protection project. Wayne, Donna and Rosalea Hanssen bought the farm from their parents and are now living there.

The unconventional concept of the lodge offers a broad range of options and is in our opinion unique. You can stay in the family-friendly Plains Camp, in the wonderful Chalets in the Luxury Bush Camp, in the luxurious Private Bush Suite, in the Grand African Villa or on the Campsite.

With the “AfriCat-Foundation” family Hanssen has set herself the task to protect and rehabilitate the endangered large carnivores such as cheetahs, leopards and lions. Today the 20.000ha nature reserve is the home of numerous cheetahs, leopards, lions, caracals, wild dogs and hyenas. Since 1993 more than 1,000 big cats have been saved and caretaken by AfriCat, 86% of those have been released back into the wild.

The extraordinary design and the lovingly styled interior of the lodge have been created by the family Hanssen and by Shanna. Everything is being designed, created and produced by the OKONJIMA team or ordered in Windhoek. Terrific!

Interview with Manager Shanna Rae Groenewald

We talked to Shanna, the wonderful manager of Okonjima. She elaborately imparts the visitors her knowledge about the beautiful big cats and the vision of AfriCat and Okonjima in a very passionate way. Apart from this she plans individual and dreamlike bush weddings and loves to photograph them herself.

Private Bush Suite

The Private Bush Suite is really stunning and just perfect for a romantic stay for two or with the family, for the honeymoon or the wedding. You have a lot of privacy and pure luxury here!

In the two luxurious bedrooms there is space for four persons. There is a bedroom with sunrise view and one with sunset view, a living room with chimney, a bathroom with a bath tub, an indoor and an outdoor shower, several terraces, a pool, a fireplace and an own waterhole where you can observe the wild animals.

After arriving at the Bush Suite we were heartily welcomed by Claudia and we were directly visited by giraffes, kudus, impalas and wart hogs.

The special extra: An own cook, an own guide with safari jeep and a maid who practically anticipate your every wish belong to the suite. All activities and meal times are being adjusted to your wishes. Where else can you have such a luxury? Simply magnificent!

Bush-Suite Team: Mike (guide), Claudia (the good soul) & Christopher (cook)

There is sufficient bird food in the villa for feeding the birds.

Especially in the evening it is dreamily romantic with your own fireplace, the chimney in the living-room and the extremely delicious three course menu made by your own cook. We can hardly imagine something more romantic than sitting nearby the fireplace in the evening and observing the animals pass by the water hole.

All drinks are included. The villa has a kitchen with a well stocked fridge and all kinds of wines and soft drinks.

One cannot awake in a more pleasant manner. And if you want to, you can sleep with open walls, the way we used to do. We loved it! It got a bit chilly in the night but therefore there were enough warm blankets to cover yourself with. For this view and this sunrise we loved getting up early to see animals or to make an exciting game drive.

Grand African Villa

The villa for families or groups is bigger than the Bush Suite but just as stylish though. Over 10 persons can stay here. The family villa is the only one which is situated in the middle of the reserve. It may happen that the large carnivores walk by your place.

Luxury Bush Camp

The Bush Camp consists of eight unique chalets with thatched roofs in African style and a wedding suite. This was being renovated and extended. Pictures will follow soon.

Plains Camp

In 2014 the former Main Camp, that used to be the farm house, was extended and the old barn was transformed into the main sector of the Plains Camp.

This family-friendly camp consists of 6 to 10 comfortable en-suite double rooms with garden view and 10 new, spacious rooms with mountain or bush view. The lapa design mirrors with its elaborate details the story of the farm. And super personal: There are pictures of all employees and family members on the walls! There is also a cozy lounge area, a restaurant, a souvenir shop and the pool of the camp – this was formerly the farm’s water cistern.

Activities

Africat Foundation and Carnivore Care Center, game driving by day and by night, leopard and cheetah tracking (by tracking devices), hiking with and without a guide, Bushman Trail, photography, birding, observing nocturnal animals, and so on.

You will find the complete activity program here.

Tracking cheetahs and leopards with the passionate guides is a truly unique experience! Thanks to direction-finding transmitters you can get really close to the animals and above all, you can find them. Our guide Mike was really awesome and he was engaged with his heart and soul for the matter. You could feel his deep love for the animals and it was all a huge fun with him!

The following species belong to the carnivores: leopard, cheetah, caracal, small-spotted and large-spotted genets, spotted hyenas, wild dogs, aardwolves, bat-eared foxes, ratels, zorillas, slender, zebra and dwarf mangooses, red meerkats …

But you can also find other animal species: antelopes (kudu, orxy, eland, impala, red hartebeest, steinbock, blue wildebeest, springbok, duiker, Kirk’s dik-dik, porcupine, warthog, pangolin, giraffe, aardvark, Hartmann’s mountain zebra, Burchell’s zebra, cape baboon, dassie, spring, bush and Jameson’s red rock hare, dassie rat, real ground squirrel, dormice, bats, turtles,… and more than 250 bird species.

AfriCat Foundation

True to the motto „Conservation through Education“ AfriCat dedicates itself to the protection and preservation of the carnivores in Namibia.

Carnivores are an important part of the ecosystem and also an important economic factor for the tourism. By informing and educating the local farmers and cattle drovers the foundation asks for more understanding, in order to weaken the conflict between man and carnivores – understanding prevents destruction! An awesome and absolutely impressive project!

OKONJIMA supports R.E.S.T. (Rare and Endangered Species Trust) and the Perivoli-Okonjima Country School because children are the future in a more sympathetic cohabitation of man and animals.

Further information from the passionate and truly engaged manager Shanna:

Do you want to help? Such a foundation is very costly. With a donation you can help the AfriCat Foundation with its great work. For 240,- EUR per year you can for example adopt a cheetah. Adopt a carnivore here!

We love Okonjima!

We are still highly impressed by our stay in this unbelievable and fascinating dream lodge. The stylish and cozy atmosphere, the extraordinary design, the passion and heartiness of the staff and the love for the beautiful carnivores and other animals struck you in an unspeakable way. We have met here only people who inspired us, who work devotedly and who want to achieve very much.

Perfect for:

Nature and animal lovers
There is no better place in Namibia where you can observe cheetahs and leopards. We were overwhelmed by the number of wild animals that you can observe from the next nearness.

Romantics & honeymooners
There is hardly anything more romantic than the Bush Suite with its fireplace, the chimney and the great view. The wonderful atmosphere, the heartiness and the feeling of being pampered the whole day by the team are the absolutely perfect frame for a dreamlike and romantic time for two. Awakening in the morning with open tent walls and the incredibly beautiful sunrise is an absolute dream!

Wedding
Manager Shanna organizes a customized dream (bush) wedding for the couple. There are not too many weddings being held here. Big weddings just once a year. A legally recognized ceremony is pretty effortful in Namibia, but it is possible. Easier is a symbolic ceremony. But if you wish, Shanna takes care of the paperwork. We would also like to get married here again! This vastness, the wild animals and the nice people can make this day nothing but perfect.

Okonjima Brochure
AfriCat Flyer

Air temperature: -1 – 40 degrees
Water temperature: 12 – 14 degrees
Best travel period: May – September (rainy period January to March), End of April and May is the best weather. Best time for safaris: September-October (end of the dry period)
Price: from 175 – 380 EUR/night for a double room in Plains Camp, from 535 EUR/night for a Bush Camp Chalet, from 915 EUR/night for the Private Bush Suite including full board, guide, cook and maid.
Catering: self-catering on the Campsite, for all other half board, full board or dinner, Bed & Breakfast incl. soft drinks and wines
Total ranking: ******
Specialties: Absolutely unique design and concept, wonderful nature, innumerable wild animals, romantic and relaxing atmosphere, super friendly staff, super interesting game drives with leopard and cheetah tracking, great animal preservation project.

Okonjima is situated in a malaria-free and ebola-free area!

PO Box 793, Otjiwarongo, Namibia
info@okonjimalodge.com

Tel. +26 67 687032/3/4 or +264 81 142 1195
Fax +264 67 687051

www.okonjima.com
www.africat.org

The World Travel Award for 2004
The Amarula Africa Award 2003
The Silver Otter Award 2002 – UK, 2^nd place
The WWF Green Trust Award 2000
The Genesis Award 1997 – Discovery Channel, BBC

Note: Many thanks to OKONJIMA for upgrading us into the Private Bush Suite. The views expressed in this article are, as always – our own! To 100%!

We are looking forward to your comments and we hope you feel now inspired to visit the Lodge or to support AfriCat with their precious work!

Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge, Namibia – Ecotourism, romantic & pure wilderness (+ video)

Africa, Namibia, social commitment, Sustainable Tourism 30. May 2015 0 Comments

Wild romantic and unique wilderness in Zambezi

The Zambezi region (former Caprivi Strip) is one of the most fascinating places in Namibia. The tropical and wild Africa! Here it can happen that an elephant comes across the way! Unfortunately we have not met any but instead we have seen cattles and zebras.

The lodge is situated at about 480 km from Rundu, 75 km from Kongola and 130 km from Katima Mulilo. From Kongola you drive about 75 km on C46 in the direction of Sangwali. Up to this point the tarred roads are well constructed. Sangwali is still a very authentic African village with thatched round houses.

From the village you drive another 10 km to the lodge. This route is the pure adventure! 4×4 is a prerequisite! But please believe us, if you do not have a 4×4 car, it is better to have someone pick you up in Sangwali.

The Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge has a remote location on the isle Lupala on the riverside of one of the four channels of the Kwando Linyanti River System and is the only lodge that is situated in the very middle of the Linyanti Swamps and less than 300 m from the Nkasa Lupala National Park (former Mamili National Park). The islands Lupala and Nkasa have also lent their names to the lodge.

This unique Namibian marshland paradise is in the eastern part of the Zambezi region. You partly feel like being in the Okavango Delta.

For adventure seekers and people looking for a unique experience in the wilderness this lodge is an absolute Must.

The Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge is a joint venture between the managers of the lodge, the Italian family Micheletti and the Wuparo Conservancy. This joint venture is part of the successful and award-winning „Namibian Conservancy Program”.

The Wuparo Conservancy was founded under an ecotourism project by the Namibian environmental programme by the Mayeyi Traditional Authority with private participation of the family Micheletti. Together they aim at protecting the nature and fostering the well-being of the people in that region. A part of the revenues of the lodge are being transferred to the Wuparo Conservancy.

95 % of the employees of the lodge come from the community. Once 9 employees have now become 23. By this for sure the life in the villages is also improving. Within the frame of the non-governmental organization IRDNC (Integrated Rural Development and Nature Conservation) the inhabitants of the region ensure the wildlife protection. They intend to prevent poaching and illegal hunts.

The managers of the lodge, the brothers Simone, Alessandro and Ruggero Micheletti want to offer their guests since July 2011 a special wilderness adventure and unique experiences and at the same time to ensure also a reasonable and ecofriendly tourism management. The three of them are real visionaries with passion, sensitivity and love for nature, animals and humans. Absolutely impressive! Further information >>

Interview mit manager Alessandro Micheletti

We talked to manager Alessandro. In this video he tells us about his vision and the wonderful lodge. A great man with great opinions!

Gentle Tourism

The whole lodge was built according to the ecologic perspective and is fully energy autonomous. The energy is being generated by solar radiation and also the water is being heated by the sun. Warm water is only available in the evening and light comes from solar or LED lamps. Also the paths betweens tents and the main building stayed natural.

The main area of the lodge was built in an ecofriendly and sustainable way (no concrete) on wood platforms. This main area consists of a dining area, a lounge and a bar. Here you can finish out the day with a sundowner. There is also a little pool here for freshing up.

From the wonderful wood terraces with fireplace and viewing deck you have a breath-taking view on the laguna where there are often elephants. In September and October you can see here over 200 elephants! We were there in May and to that time all of them had already migrated to Botswana. But nevertheless it is just wonderful here, especially the pure wilderness!

In the evening you can enjoy here the slightly Italian inspired food at the family table. Who wants to, can sit here with all other guests (including the manager and his son) and review the high points of the day. A really great thing which made our visit here even more interesting and personal. Especially beautiful is the fire that is burning in the evenings.

The main area and the tents fit in perfectly with the natural surroundings. By this the lodge is a prime example for sustainable building and sensible sustainable tourism, not only in that region, but for whole Namibia.

Glamping

The 10 simple but though luxurious tents are built with steel, canvas and wood on stilts. There are 8 luxury tents, a honeymooner’s tent and a family tent. They all have glass doors, a little deck for fantastic animal viewing and an own bathroom. Glamping (Glamourous Camping) in the wilderness!

The tent for the honeymooners has a wonderful open air bath tub.

Be a guest of the wild animals

For the animals there are no limitations or fences. They can walk freely from the national park to the lodge. And also to Botswana, Namibia, Angola and Sambia of course. So there are numerous exciting encounters with the wild animals. Therefore a guide has to bring you to your tent after dinner.

You can observe here elephants, hippos, a huge buffalo cattle, two lion prides, hyenas, antelopes, kudus, … and up to 400 bird species.

Game Drives and more

Depending to the season there are different activities, for example game drives in the Nkasa Lupala National Park, hikes, boat tours and village tours. Then you can see with a little luck lions, elephants, buffalos, leopards, antelopes, duikers, gnus, hippos and warthogs. Night game drives are being made during the dry winter months.

A combination of game drive and boats tour is also great. The drive through the swamps, savannah and grass landscapes and the huge Kwando Linyanti river system takes including lunch about 5 hours. The drive with our guide Gini was super interesting!

We love Nkasa Lupala!

For adventurers, romantics, animal and nature lovers this lodge is just perfect. The nature is breath-takingly beautiful and here is a very special atmosphere. The remote position of the lodge gives the feeling of being in the wilderness. And if you are there at the right time of the year (September/October) you can see the elephants from the decks. Also for the honeymoon or for a romantic bush wedding this is a very special place! We enjoyed here a lot the atmosphere, the people, the nature and the animals! This place will always stay in our memories an in our hearts!

Air temperature: -1 – 40 degrees
Best travel period: May – September (rainy period January to March), end of April and May is the best weather. Best time for safaris and elephant watching: September-October (end of the dry period)
Price: from 136 EUR per night incl. dinner, Bed & Breakfast
Total ranking: ******
Specialties: Sustainable tourism with a heart and passion for animals, nature and humans, breath-taking landscape, animals can walk around through the lodge, very personal and warm-hearted atmosphere, great tents, great food
Our tip: We recommend you malaria prophylaxis and enough mosquito repellents because the lodge is situated in malaria high risk area.

Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge – Booklet

Nkasa Lupala Tented Lodge
Nkasa Lupala NP
11km South of Sangwali
GPS: S18 19.766 E23 40.324
East Caprivi – Namibia

Tel: +264 81 1477798
Fax 0886509335
info@nkasalupalalodge.com
www.nkasalupalalodge.com

Eco Awards Namibia – 5 of 5 Eco Flowers
Award of Excellence 2014
Conservancy Tourism Award 2011

Note: During our stay we have been partly supported by the Nkasa Lupala Lodge. The views expressed in this article are, as always – our own! To 100%!

Exclusive interview with the “Pimalai Resort & Spa” – travel tips for Ko Lanta

Interviews, Koh Lanta, Thailand 4. February 2015 0 Comments

Tiratas Pongsurayamas from the “Pimalai Resort & Spa” gives us a a few travel tips for the amazing island Ko Lanta. Find our full post about this outstanding boutique hotel here.

1. What do you think is very special about your beautiful hotel Pimalai?
Exceptional service + Breathtaking location – where the lush tropical rainforest meets the sea! By far, the best location on the island and close to the best in Krabi Province.

2. What is the best time to come? Perhaps even outside of november to march?
We would say all year round as we are confident the difference beauty on each season would impressed our guest

3. Do you have any special offers, also for the honeymoon?
For those honeymooner who stay with minimum of 3 nights would receive a floral bed decoration and a bottle of sparkling wine to celebrate their occasion.

4. Do you have special tips about discovering the island Koh Lanta?
Do not miss those beautiful small unspoiled islands & limestone cliffs close by such as Koh Kradan , Koh Ngai, Koh Muk, Koh Haa and Koh Rok offering a great choice for snorkeling day trips.

5. Can the visitor find elephants on Koh Lanta, which are treated elephant-friendly?
Yes there are elephants camp near by national park where they live & treat in the nature environment.

6. Why is you hotel a great location for a wedding?
Beautiful relatively unspoiled island of Koh Lanta offering beautiful beaches, lush tropical rainforests create a perfect venue for wedding also Kantiang beach included in the list of the world’s best beaches – UK Sunday Times 2009.

Best Regards,

Tiratas Pongsurayamas
Junior Director Of Sales

Pimalai Resort & Spa
99 Moo 5, Ba Kan Tiang Beach
Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 75 607 999
Fax: +66 (0) 75 607 998
Email: reservation@pimalai.com
www.pimalai.com

Our Tip for Experiencing Nature in the Everglades: Buffalo Tiger’s Airboat Rides

Florida, Miami, North America, Video 23. January 2015 0 Comments

An airboat tour of and with the Miccosukee Indians

If you’re in Miami, you have to go to the Everglades! In our search for a special & animal friendly tour, we discovered Buffalo Tiger’s Airboat Tours.

From Miami, the trip takes about 40 -60 minutes, depending on the traffic. One must not be put off, when you pass by a variety of very touristic operators, such as Gator Park and Everglades Safari Park. Eventually one discovers Buffalo Tiger’s Airboat Tours on the right side.

The trip is worth it!

Buffalo Tiger’s is a traditional family operated business in the Miccosukee Tribe’s Reservation. They have been conducting tours, to share the beauty of the Everglades with people, for over 20 years. It was founded by the leader of the Buffalo Tiger Family, William Buffalo Tiger (1920-2015). In 1980 he began conducting tours with hovercraft through the Everglades. Ever since then, guided by natives, you can experience and observe the alligators in their natural habitat.

The River of Grass

The Airboat was not crowded, as is the case with other operators. We were only 6 people, including the two of us. The rapid ride on the airboat through the Everglades is loads of fun. Tip: Sit at the front. There you get to experience the ride even more intensely.

We had a very nice native guide named Fabian, who gladly answered all our questions. He even imitated the sound made by the alligator’s mother, which in turn lured them to the boat. You could absolutely see how at ease he was with the animals. Very impressive indeed!

The alligators came so close to the boat, we even could have touched them. They seemed very loving, especially when you consider how dangerous they can be. Really exciting!

During the tour you also get a glimpse into the life of a former Indian village.

Price: $ 27.50 per person
Children 6-10 years: $ 13.75
Children under 5: free

For a 45-minute ride to the different alligator spots and the excursion into the native Indian lifestyle, this price is really ok! Tip: Private tours are also offered.

Buffalo Tiger FL Everglades Airboat Rides
29701 SW 8th St, West Miami, FL, United States
+1.305-559-5250
buffalotigerairboats@gmail.com
www.buffalotigersflevergladesairboattours.com

The Gardens Hotel – a luxurious tropical garden paradise and one of the most romantic B & Bs in Key West

Bed & Breakfast, Florida, Honeymoon, Honeymoon, Key West, North America 14. January 2015 0 Comments

Romantic boutique hotel with unique charm

This award-winning B & B is set in a tropical garden, tucked away in a side street, not far from the bustling Duval Street, in the heart of Key West. The main building, with its comfortable leather sofas, piano room, wine bar, expansive outdoor verandah including cats, is reminiscent of the historic, great plantation houses of the south.

Kate Miano and her staff really look after their guests and gladly give tips on what to do in your free time and they also help with making the necessary reservations.

Rooms

Accommodation at The Gardens Hotel is unique. Each of the 16 rooms is individually decorated in colonial plantation style. They all have private entrances, outdoor verandahs and most have jacuzzi baths. The cosy rooms are set in the tropical gardens amidst orchids, bamboos, fountains, sculptures and a bird aviary. Guests can choose among Kate’s Secret Garden Cottage (only available for a limited time and minimum stay requirements apply), the Master Suite, the Historic Rooms, the Garden Rooms, the Courtyard Rooms, the Eyebrow Cottage and the Carriage House Front Room or the Tree Top Room (with own private balcony) where we stayed.

Pool

One can spend many hours simply relaxing on one of the cool lilos (to the right in the picture) in this great new lagoon style swimming pool with its own bar. Relaxation pure!

Frühstück

Breakfast is enjoyed at the poolside and with coffee, juice, croissants, bagels, cereal, cookies, fruits and eggs with bacon and cheese on offer, it leaves nothing to be desired.

d’vine Wine Gallery

The especially imported from Italy “d’vine Wine Gallery” and the Jazz on Sunday evenings attract both visitors and locals. At the wine bar, you can choose from countless wines and with your key card, you can try any of the wines, whenever you feel like it. It is really cool!

What to Do

Beach

Sightseeing

Shopping

The most famous shopping street, is of course, Duval Street.

You should also make time to take a detour into the one of the many side streets. We discovered the sweet little boutique “Wanderlust” at Petronia Street Nr. 310 and what a gem. Here you will find uniquely designed, chic fashion at very reasonable prices. The designer, who runs the shop herself, is also very nice.

Mallory Square

Passing along the colorful and quaint little shops, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll to Mallory Square and once there, enjoy the exceptionally beautiful sunset along with the jugglers and musicians.

What to eat

Santiago’s Bodega, 207 Petronia Street, Key West (Spanish tapas restaurant)

Blue Heaven, 729 Thomas Street, Key West (al fresco dining with live music – American, Caribbean and vegetarian cuisine)

Rooms: 16 (reservations are made far in advance, so book as quickly as possible to avoid disappointment)
Check-in/Check-out: 15H00 /12H00
Air Temperature: 24 – 32 degrees Celsius during the day and at night 15 – 24 degrees Celsius
Water Temperature: 21 – 30 degrees Celsius
When to go: All year round, hurricane season is from June to November.
Price: From $ 165 per person sharing per night including breakfast
Transportation: About 8km from Key West International Airport or by car, about 4 hours from Miami
Features: 16 years and older welcome, great lagoon pool, beautiful colonial style rooms, wine on “tap”, wonderful service, large, tropical garden
Perfect for: Discerning travelers, couples, honeymooners, connoisseurs and nature lovers

The Gardens Hotel
526 Angela Street
Key West, Florida 33040
T: (800)526-2664 or (305)294-2661
Email reservations@gardenshotel.com
www.gardenshotel.com
Facebook

“The Prettiest Hotel in Key West” New York Times
#5 of 94 B&Bs in Key West Tripadvisor
Featured in “1,000 Places to See Before You Die”
Top 50 Small Hotels Condé Nast Traveler
Best in the World Top Hotels, Conde Nast Traveler Readers Choice Award, 2013
2014 Certificate of Excellence Tripadvisor
Best Hidden Gem, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 Travelers Choice Award
Fodor’s Choice 2012
Readers’ Choice Awards, Condé Nast Traveler, 2010

Our tips for a romantic holiday in Miami and the Florida Keys (+ Video)

Florida, Hotels, Hotels, Key West, Miami, North America, Video, Videos 6. January 2015 0 Comments

Florida Road Trip in Pictures: From Miami to Key West

The end of October / beginning of November 2014 we went to Miami. Be inspired by our pictures and just maybe, there are a few tips for you.

There are indeed divided opinions about Miami and Key West. But we found it really cool and also really romantic! The combination of beach, shopping, great hotels, delicious food and party is simply unbeatable. A longer trip is also worthwhile, because in the tropical Florida Keys, there are so much to discover. And you should also visit the vibrant Key West, a haven for artists, for more than just one day!

Miami

We can recommend all the following hotels without exception. But we most recommend the “The Raleigh Hotel” and the “Soho Beach House” in Miami and then “The Gardens Hotel” in Key West. They are all wonderful hotels with lots of charm, great service and marvellous romantic flair.

The Raleigh Hotel
Art Deco at its best! You will be familiar with The Raleigh with its historic Art Deco design from the earlier films of Ester Williams. The extraordinary pool was then made famous and it is certainly still one of the nicest pools in Miami. The atmosphere in this hotel is very laid back. You will simply feel at home! The restaurant Michael Schwartz right at the pool under the tropical trees is very romantic, especially in the evening. You almost feel like you are in Thailand. It is very quiet here, although it is right in the middle of everything. Ocean Drive can be reached in about 20 minutes on foot and the shopping mile, Lincoln Road, is only 2 blocks away.

The Spa at The Setai
You can get wonderful massages and so much more in the Balinese oriented Spa at The Setai Hotel. Then you can spend the rest of the day at their pool and beach. (Review)

Buffalo Tiger´s Airboat Rides, Everglades
On Highway 41, about a 50 minute drive from Miami Beach, past some tourist attractions such as the Gator Park, you’ll find the insider tip, Buffalo Tiger’s Airboat Tours. The tours are led by Florida’s indigenous people, the Miccosukee Indians. The tours are very authentic and takes place in small groups, so you can get close to the alligators. Our guide was even able to imitate the sounds of the alligator mother and so attracted the alligators.

Islamorada

Cheeca Lodge & Spa
The hotel in Islamorada was also really nice. Unfortunately, our stay here were far too short. It is definitely worthwhile to stay longer, especially with the many recreational and leisure facilities, such as sunrise yoga on the beach and deep-sea fishing, that we can highly recommend.

Mangrove Mike’s Cafe
As breakfast in the hotels is usually not included, you can have an awesome breakfast at Mangrovr Mike’s Café in Islamorada for example!

Overseas Highway
US Highway 1 – the extraordinary way to the Keys

Marathon

Tranquility Bay Beachfront Hotel & Resort
This 4-star colonial style hotel in Marathon consists of individual beach houses with up to 2-3 bedrooms over 2 floors. It is very romantic here with a cocktail on the beach at sunset. As it is more family oriented, breakfast is unfortunately, not served, as most beach houses have their own kitchen. Luckily you can also have a delicious breakfast elsewhere. Our tip: The Stuffed Pig.

Keys Fisheries Market & Marina
Best fresh fish straight from the sea to enjoy while watching the sunset. The Gourmet tip in the Middle Keys. Super tasty and very fresh! The coconut shrimp are to die for!

Big Pine Key

Bahia Honda State Park
With award-winning beaches and the historic Seven Miles Bridge, Bahia Honda State Park is a true island paradise in the Florida Keys. The park covers about 500 hectares and with the offshore island, it offers the perfect getaway for swimming and snorkeling. Personally, we liked Sandspur Beach (turn left) the most. And the beach is absolutely not crowded, not even on weekends. With Looe Key Snorkeling Tours you can also take snorkeling tours to the third largest reef in the world. For the beach, you can also rent the snorkeling equipment directly in the park (turn right).

Key West

The Gardens Hotel (Review)
(“The Prettiest Hotel in Key West”, “Best in the World Best Hotels”, “Condé Nast Traveler Top 50 Small Hotels” etc.) This award-winning and romantic B & B “The Gardens Hotel” is set in a tropical garden paradise, tucked away in a side street, not far from Duval Street, and thus in the center of Key West. Passing along the colorful and quaint little shops, you can enjoy a leisurely stroll to Mallory Square and once there, enjoy the exceptionally beautiful sunset with many others.

Each room is individually decorated in colonial plantation style, has a private entrance, most have jacuzzi baths and is surrounded by tropical plants. The warm lagoon pool with its awesome lilos to simply float and relax in, is especially nice. And for that cozy glass of wine in the evening, there is the D’Vine Wine Gallery. Here you can choose from countless wines and with your key card, you can try any of the wines, whenever you feel like it. It is really cool!

Back to Miami

Soho Beach House (Review)
The private club hotel for artists, partygoers, creatives and celebrities with the Soho House typical vintage style, with elements of Art Deco and the Cuban 1940’s look, is of course open to normal hotel guests and impresses with its individual charm and great atmosphere. It is a bit remote from the bustle of South Beach at Mid Beach and so peace and privacy are guaranteed. The pool, the interior, the relaxed atmosphere, the on-site bar in the bedrooms, the rooftop pool, the restaurant Cecconi’s, the Cowshed Spa, the retro chairs on the beach, the daily changing sports facilities and the absolutely perfect service are truly exceptional! Tip: Absolutely perfect for honeymooners and / or the wedding!

Further information

When to go
All year round, except June-September (more rainy days and hurricane season)

Mietwagen
We can highly recommend Hertz for renting a car. As an ADAC member, there is an even lower price on the ADAC website than at Hertz itself. Check in and out is super fast. If you’re in the Hertz Gold Club, there is even an upgrade. We only paid 28 EUR per day for the chic Chevrolet Tahoe.

Hotels

The Raleigh Hotel/Miami Beach
(Chic art deco hotel with historical flair)
1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.raleighhotel.com

Soho Beach House/Miami Beach
(Private club hotel in the cozy art deco / vintage style)
4385 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140, www.sohobeachhouse.com

The Gardens Hotel/Key West
(The hidden romantic secret in Key West)
The Gardens Hotel, 526 Angela Street, Key West, FL 33040
www.gardenshotel.com

More hotel tips:
The Moorings Village & Spa/Islamorada, www.themooringsvillage.com (#10 Hotel in Florida by Condé Nast)
Little Palm Island Resort & Spa/Little Torch Key, www.littlepalmisland.com (a private little paradise, incredibly beautiful and for weddings definitely a dream!)
Southernmost on the Beach/Key West, 508 South Street, Key West,
www.southernmostresorts.com (sun and beach at the southernmost end of Key West, one of the top ten romantic hotels in the US)
The Southernmost House/Key West,
www.southernmosthouse.com (historic B & B directly opposite the Southernmost on the Beach with a romantic oceanfront pool)

Spa

The Spa at The Setai/Miami Beach
(brilliant massage in the Balinese style)
2001 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.thesetaihotel.com/spa

Leisure

Buffalo Tiger´s Airboat Rides/Everglades
29701 Southwest 8th Street, Miami, FL 33194,
www.buffalotigersflevergladesairboattours.com

Bahia Honda State Park/Big Pine Key
(beautiful beaches to relax and snorkel)
36850 Overseas Highway, Big Pine Key, FL 33043, www.bahiahondapark.com

Key West Reef Snorkeling/Key West
(Diving and snorkeling excursions to the only living coral reef in North America)
Sunset Watersports, www.sunsetwatersports.info

Food

Cecconi´s Restaurant | Soho Beach House
(delicious Italian food in beautiful fairy-light ambiance, at moderate prices)
4385 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33140, www.cecconismiamibeach.com

Restaurant Michael Schwartz | The Raleigh Hotel
(romantic open-air restaurant with excellent cuisine right at the pool)
1775 Collins Avenue, Miami Beach, FL 33139, www.raleighhotel.com

Keys Fisheries Market & Marina/Marathon
(freshly caught fish right at the sea)
3502 Gulfview Avenue, Marathon, FL 33050, www.keysfisheries.com

Mangrove Mike’s Cafe/Islamorada
(perfect for the original American Breakfast)
82200 Overseas Hwy, Islamorada, FL 33036,
www.mangrovemikescafeandcatering.com

Blue Heaven/Key West
(the insider tip in Key West with delicious fish dishes and live music)
729 Thomas St., Key West, fl 33040, www.blueheavenkw.com

Shopping

Sawgrass Mills
(north, almost in Fort Lauderdale, but worth it!)
12472-12680 West Sunrise Boulevard, Sunrise, FL 33323,
www.simon.com/mall/sawgrass-mills

More cool tips can be found at Condé Nast Traveller.

On entering the country

Esta Form
(cool website with tips on completing the online ESTA form before traveling to the US) www.estaformular.org

Surely there are many more tips for Miami and the Florida Keys. If you still have any, please let us know!

Our research in Miami and Key West were fully self-financed and not supported by any tourist service providers.

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Soho Beach House Miami – Art Deco meets Vintage Style

Florida, Miami, North America 15. November 2014 0 Comments

Welcome to Miami – to the private club hotel for artists, party people, creatives & celebs

The Soho Beach House is a private club hotel for Soho House members. Nevertheless, one can also as a normal hotel guest, be part of this exclusive club for the duration of your stay, as a Soho House Seven member.

However, there are a few club rules that you need to consider: no photos and no cell phones are allowed in the public areas, as the privacy of the club members and celebrities is to be respected. Casual cool style is welcomed and true to the hotel’s “flip-flop glamour” motto, suits are not welcome.

The first Soho House was opened in Soho, London in 1995 as a private club for elite members of the entertainment and creative industries. To date, other houses have also been opened in Berlin, Chicago, Toronto, West Hollywood, New York and Miami. Each house is unique and reflects its own history and personality.

From the outside, Soho Beach House looks just like a normal high-rise hotel building. Still, this 15-storey, white, art deco building with its slim silhouette and 50 rooms with protruding balconies, is different indeed. In contrast to the art deco exterior, the vintage interior is incredibly cozy.

Cuban vintage glamour meets contemporary chic

The luxurious Soho Beach House originated in 2010 from the former Sovereign Hotel that was built in 1941. It is situated 20 blocks from South Beach on Collins Avenue, in a quiet corner of Mid-Beach and combines typical Soho House vintage style with elements of art deco and the 1940’s Cuban look.

A proper home from home

The Soho Beach House relaxed, bohemian atmosphere has now been attracting A-list celebrities, discerning locals and sophisticated tourists to relax, stay, eat and network, since 2010. There are two restaurants, the Italian restaurant, Cecconi’s and the rooftop restaurant, Ocho, a tiki bar, two pools, a small infinity pool on the first floor and a rooftop pool on the 8th floor, a small in-house cinema, a library, the famous Cowshed Spa on 2 floors with its hair salon with old barber chairs from New York and a private beach with umbrellas in the 1940’s style, retro beach chairs and its own red retro cool box.

The unique design with its Cuban and South American influences comes from London-based designer Martin Brudnizki. From the art deco lobby, the Cuban inspired Club Bar, to the hotel rooms with patterned tiled floors, turquoise walls, jute rugs, vintage furniture, chandeliers, repurposed lamps, exposed ceiling beams and leather club chairs from France, he managed to create a retro-modern feel, which is very cozy and unique.

In addition, you will find vintage pieces from antique dealers on the West Coast in the suites, wood from Wyoming and countless, comfortable couches and armchairs spread out all over the hotel. In the suites, there are even couches on the huge balconies.

In every corner and on every floor you will find something cool. Everything has been well designed into every last corner.

Bayside Bedrooms

There are Side, Bayside and Beachside bedrooms to choose from. The Beachside bedrooms on the upper floors have balconies and free-standing bathtubs and they are of course, the coolest rooms. The Bayside bedrooms also have a lot of charm. The decor is simply very tasteful and extraordinary. The bed is big enough for 3 people and is comfortably soft. And of course, having your own bar, is always a hit.

Having a drink while getting ready

You can also order the private bartender service for your room, the bartender will mix you a drink, while you get ready for the evening’s party.

A huge selection of high quality Cowshed body- and skincare products are available

Cecconi´s

This modern day classic Italian restaurant “Cecconi´s” that originated in Venice, serves a delicious breakfast and also lunch and dinner at reasonable prices. As it is very popular and open to the public, it is best to book a table in advance.

Pool and Tiki Bar

Rooftop with Taqueria and Pool

Beach

Screening Room

The in-house cinema can also be booked privately.

Eat Drink Nap

“Eat Drink Nap” is a cool book that shows you how to take a slice of Soho style home with you. Packed with design tips, recipes and more, the experts share their secrets for contemporary living the Soho House way. Highly recommended!

Lush palm trees, brilliant light and turquoise sea

Miami, the city of eternal summer, art-deco, excessive nightlife, shopping malls and endless beaches. The perfect combination to relax, shop and party.

The white, modern designer hotels in Miami did not appeal to us as much as the charming, characterful gems and the Soho Beach House is definitely one of them. It oozes charm, has unique character and captivates with vintage design at its best. Those with the necessary means should definitely choose one of the Beachside bedrooms with soaking tub and stunning ocean views.

Best would be, not to go home at all! The service is excellent! One could definitely also host the most wonderful wedding here. We found Soho Beach House simply impressive and we are still in love with it.

Rooms: 50
Check-in /Check-out Time: 15H00 / 12H00
Air Temperature: 24 – 32 degrees Celsius during the day, at night 15-24 degrees Celsius
Water Temperature: 21 – 30 degrees Celsius.
When to go: All year round, hurricane season from June to November
Price: Starting at 300 EUR per person per night
Transportation: Just 20 minutes by car from Miami International Airport, Valet parking at the hotel is available @ $ 39 per day
Special features: Stunning vintage design, perfect service, privacy, beautiful private beach with its own cool box, brilliant suites with unbelievable ocean views, first class Italian restaurant Cecconi’s
Perfect for: Artists, people seeking peace and quiet, discerning travelers, couples, honeymooners, party lovers

Soho Beach House Miami
4385 Collins Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33140
T: +1 (786) 507 7900
reservations@sohobeachhouse.com
www.sohobeachhouse.com

Top 100 Honeymoon Destinations in the World ( BridesMagazine.co.uk)
THE HOT LIST 2011 (Condé Nast Traveller)

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Rayavadee – a jungle dream amidst rocks and 3 beautiful beaches in Krabi (+ video)

Asia, Krabi, LHW, Thailand, Wedding 21. May 2014 0 Comments

The 5-star paradise resort with 3 beaches for people in love, beach lovers and rock climbers

The Rayavadee on the Railey peninsula in the Krabi province, Thailand, has been on our wish list for a long time. The pictures on the website are absolutely stunning. We always wanted to stay at the Rayavadee and this year, it finally was time. It was fantastic. We still longingly think back to the wonderful time we had. We will cherish this hotel forever.

Krabi is one of the most beautiful areas in southern Thailand and the Rayavadee is certainly the nicest hotel there. There are lush tropical vegetation and colorful flowers everywhere with impressive limestone cliffs and many beautiful beaches and small islands to explore. The Rayavadee is located approximately 180 km from Phuket and 25 km from Krabi Airport. It is set in a 0.5-hectare nature reserve, the Krabi Marine National Park and is surrounded by lush jungle gardens and the turquoise Andaman Sea.

This luxury beach and spa resort is part of the “Leading Hotels of the World” and can only be reached by water. You will be picked up by the hotel’s shuttle service, a high-speed yacht with the finest leather, at the Krabi Pier and brought to Nammao Beach in Railey West. If it is low tide, you will be driven to the shore from the boat by tractor. So cool!

You are welcomed at the resort with a delicious ice cocktail in the lobby. It is immediately pointed out, that you are living with wild animals and you should please refrain from feeding them. If you’re lucky, one or the other monkey might just cross your path or otherwise you can observe them in the trees.

The absolute highlight is that the resort is surrounded by 3 beaches. “Phra Nang Beach” in the south is known as the most beautiful beach in Krabi. TripAdvisor again listed it among the top 10 beaches in Asia in 2013. Railey Beach is wonderful for swimming, the scenery is breathtaking and therefore, it is also very popular with tourists. Last but not least, there is Nammao Beach in Railey West. Although it is not suitable for swimming, it is the climbing mecca for rock climbers from around the world. So depending on when it is high or low tide, you are spoilt for choice.

Luxury pavillons

You can stay in one of 98 luxury pavilions spread out in the vast tropical gardens between coconut trees and fish ponds. They are round, built from natural wood with thatched roofs and fit perfectly into the natural surroundings. You can tell that much emphasis has been placed on sustainability and that no overexploitation took place.

All pavilions have 2 floors with a living room on the lower floor and a bedroom with a large bathroom on the upper floor.

The Spa Pavilions have a private garden and an outdoor jacuzzzi and the Hydro Pool Pavilion a private garden and a hydro pool. There are also 4 huge beach villas and the Family Pavilions which all have an additional bedroom.

We stayed in a chic 70 square metre Deluxe Pavilion with an outdoor terrace. It is so spacious that 3 people could easily stay here. You immediately feel right at home in the pavilion with its stylish tropical and also very artistic decor with lots of bamboo, polished wood, richly coloured fabrics and handcrafted details. The bathroom with freestanding tub is well designed and offers a selection of care products, including mosquito repellent.

In the morning you can watch the squirrels from your bed.

Tip: The 24-hour room service is highly recommended. In the evening, it is so romantic to have dinner in front of your pavilion in the middle of the jungle. The food is great and affordable.

Pool

The gigantic pool is set in the most wonderful location between the century-old rock formations and the beach. From the beach you can jump into the pool and from the pool into the ocean. Simply awesome! The view is incredibly beautiful. It feels as if you are in the movie Avatar. To us, it was the most beautiful pool ever!

The resort hosts intimate get-togethers with cocktails, canapés and live music, so that the hotel guests can get to know each other and can ask the staff questions.

The “Raitalay Terrace”, one of 4 restaurants, is located directly on the beach, has fantastic romantic views and specializes in Mediterranean and international cuisine. Conveniently, they will also serve you snacks at the pool.

Breakfast

Breakfast is served in “Raya Dining” at the foot of the huge cliffs on Nammao Beach. In the morning, you will also find monkeys here playing on the roofs.

Strand

Railey Beach

Although Railey Beach is open to the public and during the day many tourists are brought here with long tail boats, it is not as crowded as one might fear. It is more crowded during high season on Usedom. This did not bother us at all, as you are almost alone in the evening again.

There is a small shopping street, further down the beach

Phra Nang Beach

The infamous restaurant “The Grotto” is located on Phra Nang beach. It is one of the most famous restaurants in Thailand and situated in a grotto-like cave. The resort’s Thai restaurant “Krua Phranang” is also situated here. Both restaurants are located directly on the beach and have wonderful views of the ocean, the cliffs and the islands. Here you can enjoy the sunset.

Princess Cave

The “Cave of the Sea Princess” is a pilgrimage site for fishermen and perfect for rock climbers.

Monkeys

In the morning, you see these cute monkeys as you walk along the pathway leading from Nammao Beach to Phra Nang Beach. They live in the rocks and opportunistically, hope to grab something to eat from the tourists. Thus, they sit in the lianas, almost right in your face.

Spa

Unfortunately, we did not visit the spa, but it should be great. In a serene atmosphere, you can choose from aromatherapy, body treatments, facials, hot stone treatments, massages, reflexology, peelings, wraps and of course, Thai massages.

Honeymoon

This resort is the perfect destination for honeymooners with its stunning natural beauty. The tropical serenity, the beautiful surroundings, attentive service and the extensive gardens with plenty of privacy are just awesome and incredibly relaxing. For your honeymoon you should also indulge in booking one of the Spa Pavilions with a private garden and an outdoor jacuzzi or a Hydro Pool Pavilion with a private garden and a hydro pool. This way, your complete privacy is guaranteed.

Wedding

The Rayavadee Resort also hosts beautiful weddings. Unfortunately, for us, the beaches are simply too crowded for a wedding ceremony. In our opinion, the Pimalai Resort & Spa on Koh Lanta is definitely a better choice when it comes to that.

Tips

In the evening
In the evenings, it is very quiet here. So, it is definitely not the place to be, if you are looking for a party. Except for having dinner and walking on the beach, there is not much to do here. Rayavadee is more a resort where you can completely relax and get away from it all.

Massages
At Phra Nang Beach, you can enjoy a massage for only 5 EUR amongst the trees at the end of the beach. We can recommend the Sand & Sea Spa at Railey Beach. Very good Thai massage, beautiful open-air location and good prices.

Rock climbing
On the walkway on Nammao Beach you can climb to the viewpoint secured by ropes. The ascent takes about half an hour.

Air temperature: 25 – 35 degrees Celsius during the day, at night 20-25 degrees Celsius
Water temperature: 28 degrees Celsius
Best time to go: Early December to mid April
Price: From 303 EUR per night
Special Honeymoon Offer: Welcome cocktail, fresh fruit in your pavilion on a daily basis, a bottle of champagne and flowers on arrival, daily afternoon tea in the Raya Lounge, a 75-minute couple’s massage at the Rayavadee Spa, all included, when staying a minimum of 4 nights.
Transportation: 25 minutes from Krabi Airport, 2 ½ hours from Phuket Airport
Special features: 3 beaches, gigantic pool area with an impressive cliff background, right on the beach, fine dining, great spa
Perfect for: couples, families, honeymooners, a diving holiday, beach lovers, rock climbers

Rayavadee
214 Moo 2, Tambon Ao-Nang, Amphur Muang
Krabi 81000, Thailand
Tel : (66-75) 620 740 – 3
Fax : (66-75) 620 630
E-mail: reservation@rayavadee.com
www.rayavadee.com

Factsheet(English)

Member of “The Leading Hotels of the World”

UK Tatler Travel Guide’s ‘101 Best Hotels in The World’ 2014 & 2013

Winner of Trip Advisor 2013 ‘Certificate of Excellence’

Winner of Trip Advisor 2012 Traveler’s Choice Awards ‘Top 25 Luxury Thai Hotels’

Nominated for Travel & Leisure’s ‘World’s Best Hotels’ Reader’s Choice Awards, 2012

Conde Nast Traveler’s Annual ‘Gold List – World’s Best Places to Stay in the World’ 2010

Excellence Award for ‘Best Hotel Project in Southeast Asia’ – ASEAN Association

Recipient of ‘The Royal Gold Medal for Environmentally – Conscious Architecture’ – Association of Siamese Architects

On our trip to Thailand we also visited the Anantara Riverside Resort & Spa in Bangkok and the Pimalai Resort & Spa in Koh Lanta. We are happy to recommend each of the three hotels we visited as each hotel is unique in its own way.

MerkenMerken

Pimalai Resort & Spa, Thailand – the luxurious Boutique Hotel on the island Koh Lanta

Asia, Honeymoon, Koh Lanta, SLH, Thailand, Videos 22. March 2014 0 Comments

The perfect hotel for couples, a romantic beach wedding or heavenly honeymoons

Koh Lanta – one of the hidden treasures of Thailand and one of the most beautiful honeymoon spots of the country. We visited in February the breath-taking tropical island off the coast of Krabi in the Andaman Sea.

After a flight of one hour and a half from Bangkok, another 50 minutes by taxi and another 45 minutes by speedboat southbound you arrive at the remote Ba Kan Tiang Bay. It is seen from afar the beautiful villas that are embedded in the rain forest and spread over the rolling hills. Welcome to Paradise!

The five star Hotel Pimalai Resort & Spa was built in 2001 and it belongs to the „Small Luxury Hotels of the World”. It is the most luxurious resort of the island and it is located at a nearly 900m long brightly white sandy beach with turquoise waters. The old Sanskrit words Pimon and Alai, that make up the hotel’s name mean: place of purity, on a little place in heaven. Here you can enjoy the life under coco palms and in lush tropical vegetation on a nearly untouched island.

Rooms

The resort has 121 rooms, suites and villas and is separated into two parts by a rarely trafficked street. The Deluxe rooms, the suites and the beach villas are located on the lower part. The upper part (comfortably accessible by buggy) is reserved for the pool villas.

We stayed in a spacious 48sq Deluxe room with balcony. The rooms are furnished in Thai style with a lot of teak and bamboo and they are spread into two-storied units. From the balcony we had a good ocean view including the sunset.

The 70sq Bayfront Deluxe Rooms near the beach offer a great view from the balcony and the bathroom over the bay. The Pavilion Suites (110sq) with their living room and bedroom have a terrace and a private garden with open air shower.

Perfect for the honeymoon: The spacious One-Bedroom-Pool-Villas (204 sq) with gorgeous sea view which are located further up the hills. They have a separate living room, kitchen unit, outdoor Thai Sala and a terrace. The highlight is the 22sq swimming pool. By their sloping site (60m over sea level) they offer a spectacular view over the Andaman Sea.

Pools

Next to the nearly unspoiled beach the hotel has two spectacular infinity pool and a whirl pool. We loved the infinity pool high up near the Seven Seas Restaurant! You can have yourself brought there by buggy and then you can stay the whole day and relax. The view is just breath-taking. With a cocktail in your hand you can admire the sunset in a very romantic way.

Restaurants

You can have yourself culinarily got spoiled in five restaurants and four bars. Each restaurant has its own style and an incomparable ambience. The main restaurant „Baan Pimalai“ serves Thai and international specialties. In the „Spice´n Rice“ restaurant you can have breakfast and in the evening you can get everything from Pad Thai to Fried Rice in a relaxed and romantic atmosphere. Far up over the bay in „The Seven Seas Restaurant & Wine Lounge“ with spectacular view you can have international cuisine and noble wines. In the „Rak Talay Beach Bar“, the beach restaurant you can sit snuggly with your feet in the sand. The food is delicious!

Wedding

Nearly every day you can see a wedding at the beach. Everything is being lovingly and individually prepared for the couple according their wishes. From fresh and casual to exclusive and elegant with an own banquet table on the beach. Of course there are some hotel guests and tourists at the beach, but the area is being spaciously enclosed so that you have your own private atmosphere. The marriage ceremony at the beach (Buddhist or Christian) takes place in the evening at sunset. If we had not married on the Seychelles, this hotel would have probably been our alternative choice for Thailand. The isle and the hotel are just perfect for marriages. A nearly deserted beach, wonderful nature and a lot of privacy. And in the Seven Seas Restaurant high up the hills with great bay view you can spend a wonderful evening with your guests.

Spa

You can spend relaxing moments in the rewarded Pimalai Spa, which is located in the middle of an exotic garden in the jungle. In the pretty thatched roofed pavilions made of teak, bamboo and boulder you can have aroma therapies and other relaxing wellness applications. We had the Pimalai Signature Massage, which is a picture-perfect dream, rally wonderfully relaxing! Besides there is a fitness center, tennis courts, beach volley, wind surfing, sail boats, canoe, bike rentals and a PADI dive school (from November to April).

Tipps

Shopping and Thai-Food
In the main village Saladan, in the north of the island, there are Thai restaurants and numerous shops that invite you to stay.

Bar
At the beach you can walk to some relaxing restaurants and bars. The “Why Not Bar” directly at the beach offers delicious cocktails, fire shows and live music. The employees are good humored, cool guys. This is already worth the fun! And who can sing, can rock the bar together with the band.

And when you go the other direction you can have a cosy evening in the “Same same but different”.

Nature
In the Ease of the island there are vast mangrove forests which can be visited by kayak, by longtail boat or in a tour. Take some bananas and feed the monkeys. They come and get them in your boat. But you’d better stay away from the restaurant “Thung Yen Pheng Sea Food”. It is great with its fresh fish but we have had an upset stomach. But by this we could experience the exquisite medical service at the hotel. The nurse (24h service) has taken good care of us and did a perfect job. We received medicine and the next day we felt a lot better.

Snorkeling and diving
The offshore islands offer perfect snorkeling and diving areals. Some day trips are being offered, so that you can discover the islands around Koh Lanta.

Transfer
If you stay for at least three night the transfer from the airport is included.

Recommendation
It is better you stay 5-7 nights so that you can better discover the island. Once you setteled down, you do not want to leave any more!

Koh Lanta Pocket Guide

Air temperature: 25 – 35 degrees, at night 20 – 25 degrees
Water temperature: 28 degrees
Best travel period: Beginning of December to mid of April
Price: from 149 EUR/night
Honeymoon offer: Flower decoration on the bed, wedding cake and a bottle of wine (at least 3 nights)
Transfer: from the airport (70 km distance) to Baan Huahin Pier 50 min, from the pier to the resort ca. 45 min with the speed boat, from May to October overland transport with two ferry trips.
Total ranking: *****
Specialties: Enjoying the sunset over the bay in your own pool or in the Seven Seas Infinity pool | unique location | great beach at low and high tide | the most beautiful hotel of the island Insel | luxury, elegance and friendly service
Perfect for: Couples, wedding, honeymoon, diving and beach holidays

Pimalai Resort & Spa
99 Moo 5, Ba Kan Tiang Beach
Koh Lanta, Krabi 81150, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 75 607 999
Fax: +66 (0) 75 607 998
Email: reservation@pimalai.com
www.pimalai.com

50 best wedding destination by Independent (UK)
Small Luxury Hotels of the World
Best scenic view (Pool Villa) Luxury Hotel Awards 2010

It’s the location that makes this resort special… Conde Nast Traveller (UK)

Our tip for Mauritius: Swimming with Dolphins in the Ocean & Mauritian BBQ (+ Video)

Indian Ocean, Mauritius, Videos 6. January 2014 0 Comments

Snorkeling, Speedboat Tour & Dolphin Watching with Adrien’s dream

Who has not dreamed of swimming with dolphins? I have most definitely! However, I am not a fan of these parks where dolphins are being held in captivity. Even better that with Adrien’s dream in Flic en Flac, one can observe the dolphins in their natural habitat and can even swim with them.

As we stayed in the north in the beautiful Hotel Angsana Balaclava, our day started early in the morning at 6 when a driver from Solis, our travel agency in Mauritius, picked us up. On the way to Flic en Flac we were able to enjoy the delicious brunch that the hotel packed for us. Thanks again to Kiran!

To get up at 5.30 when you are on holiday is inhumane, but the beautiful sunrise totally made up for it. The earlier you get started, the better your chance of seeing dolphins. The trip to Flic en Flac takes about forty five minutes. As you have to drive through Port Louis, where there always is a lot of traffic, it may take a little longer.

Tour: The Dolphin Expedition (2 hours)

The tour to the dolphins started at 7. The meeting place is the Fish Landing Station of Flic en Flac, the beach between Klondike and Villa Caroline Hotel. From there we went out into the ocean with our cheerful guides.

They send a few scouts boats out beforehand, that then tell the guides exactly where the dolphins are. In the mornings you will find the dolphins mostly in Point Moyenne, Tamarin Bay or Black River Bay. From there they swim out to sea. So off we went in search of the dolphins.

All of a sudden, there they were: a group of about 70 smaller dolphins. What an amazing experience to be so close to these wonderful mammals.

And then we had to get into the water…

Who dares?

We had to jump off the boat into the water and swim with the dolphins. Easier said than done! To get into the water is still ok. But where are the dolphins? Luckily, Stefano, a really great guide, was with us. He swam towards us, took me on the one and another man on the other hand and simply pulled us with him. Suddenly we were at least three times as fast. Stefano swam like a dolphin. And then we were right in the middle of the dolphins. They swam under and around us. What a great and exciting feeling!

Then we went back to the boat. The boat overtook the dolphins and we jumped back into the water in front of them.

Guide Stefano took this picture with my camera on a dive with the dolphins. Merci!

At the end of the tour we were served a light breakfast as refreshment on the boat.

After the 2 hour dolphin tour we changed boats. Next, we went by speedboat to Le Mourne and Crystal Rock.

Tour: The Crystal Dream (6-hours with BBQ Lunch)

Crystal Rock or “The Eiffel Tower of Mauritius” according to our guide

Here we took a break and did some wonderful snorkeling in the crystal clear waters. Once again, Stefano was worth his weight in gold and showed us all the best spots.

Benitier Island

At the end of the journey, we arrived at Benitier Island, a small, lonely, wild, romantic island off the west coast of Mauritius, where the guides prepared a mouthwatering meal.

BBQ: Marinated chicken skewers, shrimp skewers, marinated sea bream fillet with garlic & herbs, sautéed rice, pawpaw salad, carrot & cabbage salad, garlic bread and for dessert: grilled banana with coconut flakes.

Yummy!

Stefano our cool guide

We had a great, eventful day and were driven back to the hotel exhausted, but happy.

The experienced and humorous guides from Adrien’s Dream were amazing! It was great fun. We can highly recommend the tours with these guys. Although you have to get up early, it is worth it!

The good news: Adrien’s Dream strictly adheres to the regulations of the Dolphin Watching Guideline from MMCS & MTA.

www.adriensdream.com

Honeymoon in the Angsana Balaclava in Mauritius – the enchanting jewel in the Indian Ocean

Honeymoon, Hotels, Indian Ocean, Mauritius, Spa, Top 20 Honeymoon Collection, Video 31. October 2013 0 Comments

…respectively our second honeymoon and our first wedding anniversary

The romantic and exclusive 5-star luxury oasis for couples and honeymooners in Mauritius

As last year we married in the Seychelles, the first wedding anniversary had to be something special and comparable, too. After some searching I easily found something in Mauritius. This isle is increasingly popular among honeymooners.

So we decided to spend our second honeymoon in the Angsana Balaclava Mauritius, a dreamlike hotel with lots of private atmosphere which is ideal for couples and just weds.

The new 5-star boutique hotel of the Angsana Hotels & Resorts and the renowned Banyan Tree Group is located at the white beach of Baie aux Tortes, which could just as easily be the picture on a post card. This beach is in the north-west of the island and is located at a distance of only 15minutes by car from the capital Port Louis. It has been opened only in the year 2011.

The unique architecture of the hotel with the thatched roofs, rattan walls, teak wood furniture, local art and the stone floors is characterized by Asian, Oriental and African influences. The romantic atmosphere with the tropical, wonderful trees and plants and the harmonic design that lets all elements perfectly merge, ensure a wonderful calming and relaxing atmosphere.

The motto of the hotel is “your home away from home”. And we have really felt that. The employees were super friendly and very attentive. They are really trying to answer one’s wishes and they give great words of advice for expeditions, etc. We received the best advices by Kiran (at the front desk). He was really incredibly zealous and he knows his stuff!

Infinity sport pool and the seawater laguna pool

The hotel has 52 generously and luxuriously equipped suites and villas. So you have lots of private atmosphere! The suites are spread into three-level buildings all over the tropical gardens or directly at the beach. All of them are equipped with a king size bed, a bathroom with separate shower, bathrobes and slipper shoes, hairdryer, telephone, WiFi, TV, DVD-/CD player, mini bar, Nespresso machine, safe, air condition, balcony or terrace.

Garden Suite: ca. 72 m², with combined living room / bedroom.

Spa Suite: ca. 84 m², terrace or balcony with private swimming pool (ca. 13 m²). Dairy spa treatments are included (unfortunately not combinable with the honeymoon offers).

Beach Front Suite: ca. 180 m² (ground floor villas), respectively ca. 125 m² (villas on the first floor). Separate living room, bathroom with a bathtub made of natural rock with a marvelous sea view, steam bath. The ground floor villas have a terrace, a private swimming pool (ca. 52 m²), a Jacuzzi and direct beach access. The villas on the first floor have a balcony and a private swimming pool (ca. 25 m²).

We stayed at one of the Beach Front Suites (also called Ocean View Suite) on the first floor. Many thanks to the Angsana Balaclava for the upgrade! We really enjoyed our stay! The suite is a dream!

Ocean View Suite on the first floor with absolute private atmosphere and a great Infinity Pool

An oasis to relax in with a spectacular view of the sunset.

Beach Front Suite with direct beach access and jacuzzi.

Imperial Villa: ca. 770 m², 3 bedrooms spread over the two stories, with an own swimming pool, living and dining room with a little kitchen, with a veranda and sea view.

I shall now turn to the food: We have never ever in our lives eaten so well and so much. You just had to eat so much because it was simply too yummy! The choice of food for breakfast and dinner was awesome. The hotel has two restaurants, the Restaurant Oryza for breakfast and dinner and the the Passion Grill & Bar at the seawater pool for lunch.

In the Oryza the gifted Balinese chef Nyoman Suardi N. spoils his guests with an exotic Asian fusion cuisine, tempting international and European food, an authentic Creole and spicy Indian cuisine. You can choose every evening from the 4 starters, 4 main dishes and 4 desserts. Many times we would have liked to try every one of them. Really, one is spoilt for choice.

You can also order your meals in your suite or you can have a romantic dinner at the beach, at the pool or on the footbridge of the resort.

I love the Creole chicken curry. I am confident to publish the recipe soon here.

The Sylea Bar and Lounge offers exotic cocktails and little snacks.

An absolute highlight of the hotel is the exclusive and prizewinning Angsana Spa with 9 Spa pavilions. Here they offer Asian treatments with hydrothermal applications like e.g. Ayurveda, Rainmist, Hamam or steam treatments. The professional therapists enjoyed the famous education at the Banyan Tree Spa Academy in Thailand. We had a great Javanese massage and afterwards we were wonderfully relaxed and tousled. 🙂

There is also a Vitality Pool with loungers, Hamam, steam bath, the possibility for yoga and meditation and a beauty shop at your disposal.

For our wedding anniversary we chose the In-Room Dining and we ordered our breakfast in bed. Like this we could enjoy the view and we were all alone.

A great surprise from the hotel: In the evening we were spoilt with a great little wedding cake!

After the honeymoon dinner at the swimming pool or under the pavilion the bathtub and the bed are lovingly prepared with petals. These all are lovely little things that make your holiday something very special.

The great things from your suite can be bought in the Gallery.

The hotel also offers water sports like snorkeling, diving, windsurfing, water skiing, sea angling, excursions by glass bottom boat and sailing. An excursion by glass bottom boat to a beautiful riff is especially interesting when the water from the river has been washed to the beach. This happens once in a while, but you can enjoy the time at the beach in spite of that.

As contribution to nature conservation the hotel has an own laboratory for the conservation of the corals and of the eco-system. Among the activities of the laboratory there is laboratory works, planting of corals and guided snorkeling tours.

Every single employee and waiter was super friendly and incredibly attentive. Here you are really spoilt and you can relax at the best. In our opinion this was the best service from all hotels we have ever stayed at. No desire remains open. For the honeymoon, a romantic holiday for two or just to take a break from everyday life and relax – this is the perfect hotel! We can warmly recommend it!

And here you can also wonderfully get married. The wedding ceremony takes place either in the garden of the Imperial Villa or on a wonderful spot at the dreamlike beach.

Air temperature: 15 – 36 degrees
Water temperature: 23 – 30 degrees
Best time to come: November – April
Prices: 50% discount for the newlyweds (up to 12 months after the wedding), fruit basket, wine, honeymoon dinner
Board: half board with breakfast buffet and A-la-Carte dinner
Overall evaluation: *****
Special features: excellent service | romantic & relaxing atmosphere | wonderful suites with own swimming pools

The General Manager Pascal Prigent gives us a little insight into the special features of the Hotel Angsana Balaclava:

Angsana Balaclava
Turtle Bay, Balaclava,
Republic of Mauritius
TEL +230 204 1888
FAX +230 204 1862
E-MAIL balaclava@angsana.com
http://www.angsana.com

Fact Sheet (englisch)

MerkenMerken

Exclusive interview with the Angsana Balaclava Mauritius & General Manager Pascal Prigent

Honeymoon, Indian Ocean, Mauritius, Video 30. October 2013 0 Comments

The General Manager Pascal Prigent gives us a little insight into the special features of the Hotel Angsana Balaclava:

Olivier Cerdor, Assistant Front Office Manager of Angsana Balaclava:

1. When is the most beautiful time to visit Mauritius and your hotel?
There are only two seasons in Mauritius, summer from November to April and winter from May to October. Weather condition is at its best from November to April.

Wann ist die beste Zeit, um Mauritius und Ihr Hotel zu besuchen?
Auf Mauritius gibt es nur zwei Saisons. Die Sommersaison dauert von November bis April an und die Wintersaison von Mai bis Oktober. Die Wetterverhältnisse sind am besten von November bis April.

2. When are less tourists on the island?
There are less tourists from June through to September (low season). The occupancy usual picks up as of mid-September (high season) through to April.

Wann sind weniger Touristen auf der Insel?
Von Juni bis September sind weniger Touristen auf der Insel (Nebensaison). Die Hochsaison dauert von Mitte September bis April an und bringt zahlreiche Touristen mit sich.

3. What is the best time to come?
Considering that Tourist come to Mauritius for its beautiful sea and sun, it is recommended that one travels between January to June.

Wann ist die beste Reisezeit?
Wenn man bedenkt, dass Touristen nach Mauritius kommen, um das Meer und den Strand zu genießen, wird empfohlen, zwischen Januar und Juni anzureisen.

4. Do you have any special offers?
Yes depending on the season – for example Honeymoon offers during low season.

Haben Sie Sonderangebote?
Ja, in Abhängigkeit von der Saison – beispielsweise Flitterwochenangebote in der Nebensaison.

5. What options have the guests, if it is not possible to swim at the hotel beach because of the brown dirty water?
Normally the water is clear and our guests can enjoy a nice swim. The dirty water was due to the formation of an anti-cyclone. However if our guests want to enjoy other beaches, we do recommend going to Grand- Bay and Pereybere beach which is up north of the island and only 15-20mins away from the hotel by car.

Welche Optionen haben Gäste, falls es nicht möglich sein sollte, am hoteleigenen Strand zu schwimmen wegen des schmutzigen Wassers?
Im Normalfall ist das Wasser sauber, so dass die Gäste das Schwimmen unbekümmert genießen können. Das schmutzige Wasser war die Folge eines Wirbelsturms. Wenn unsere Gäste jedoch andere Strände besuchen möchten, empfehlen wir den Grand- Bay und den Pereybere Strand, die sich im Norden der Insel befinden und in etwa 15-20 min vom Hotel mit dem Auto angefahren werden können.

Kind Regards,

Olivier Cerdor
Assistant Front Office Manager|

Find here our post about this beautiful hotel.

25hours Hotel Number One – the joyous and colorful Boutique Design Hotel in “retro” look

Europe, Germany 24. October 2013 0 Comments

The hip Design Hotel in western Hamburg

The affordable Design Hotel 25hours Number One in Hamburg Ottensen is a hotel in joyous retro design mixture – its rooms have vinyl wallpaper, exposed concrete or also playful romantic look.

moniquedecaro_25hours

At the 24 hours reception in fresh disco look you will be warmly received with a cool welcome drink (Astra). Each one of the 128 rooms has a clear, straightforward style with furniture that is individually designed by young designers. These are perfectly combined with real design classics.

moniquedecaro_25hours

The 30m² XL room in „retro“ look of the 60s and 70s offers clear structures and a king size bed, bathroom with shower and WC, sat-TV, desk with ISDN and telephone, an iHome clock radio and a docking station for your iPod. A free access to WLAN network is also available.

moniquedecaro_25hours

The funny door plates are a great idea. 🙂

moniquedecaro_25hours

A great highlight is the „living-room“, where you can see movies every day. Also very cool are the roof terrace and the stylish dining-room. Here you will experience a really cozy atmosphere inviting you to relax.

moniquedecaro_25hours

All in all we have felt very much at home here! The room was huge and the furnishing had great colors and was stylish and comfortable. And the breakfast was very good with its warm bread rolls, the huge choice of different coffee types and the stylish ambiance. And our little Leo was allowed to sit comfortably next to us.

Only the parking situation was a bit annoying. The parking in front of the hotel is free, but there it is hard to get a parking lot. But this seems to be the order of the day in Hamburg. 😉

Prices:
Room category M from 97,14 Euro
Room category L from 107,14 Euro
Room category XL from 118,21 Euro
Studio and XL-Family from 138,21 Euro

Extras:
– Parking (upon availability) free of charge
– Free of charge WiFi
– Bike rental (upon availability) free of charge
– Use of our 25hours MINI Cooper (upon availability) free of charge
– Welcome drink upon Check-In free of charge
– Daily newspaper at breakfast free of charge
– Use of the gym (4th floor) free of charge
– Breakfast € 14.00 per person / day (breakfast free of charge for children under 12 years)
– Astra Gents Handbag (6 bottles of beer) for only € 9.50 (at reception)
– use of the nearby Gastwerk SPA for € 10.00 / day (treatments are charged separately)
– Pets € 15.00 per night
– Hamburg CARD 3 days 1 person € 20.90 / Group of 2–5 € 35.90
– Holmes Place day ticket € 15.00 per person / day

Location: In Western Hamburg. 10 km from the airport Fuhlbüttel, 3km from the booth, 5 km to the inner city and the shopping malls, 5 km to the main railway station, 1km to the station Altona and the Elbe
Specials: Design Hotels-Club members receive an upgrade, free WLAN, Late check-out and breakfast
Dogs: allowed

25hours Hotel Number One
Paul-Dessau-Straße 2
22761 Hamburg
Tel: +49 (40) 85 50 70
Fax: +49 (40) 85 50 71 00
E-Mail: number-one@25hours-hotels.com
http://www.25hours-hotels.com/no1/

Design Hotels

Factory Hotel Münster – A Design Hotel with industrial charms

Hotels 16. September 2013 0 Comments

Münster – the city of bicycles

But not only! 🙂 There are also some very trendy hotels. The Factory Hotel Münster – member of Design Hotels – is a great combination of historical and modern architecture. Industrial elements with lots of concrete, cement and bricks are being skillfully combined with modern equipment. The result: A highly designed and very cosy and comfortable living.

The hotel is situated on the former Germania Brewery location in Münster. Therefore the whole area of the former brewery has been fully redesigned. The landmarked main building and a little sea are the center points of this new quarter that offers a lot of entertainment and comfort with ist numerous restaurants, clubs and great events for wonderful evenings. The hotel is nearby the city center and yet very quiet.

The design hotel with 128 standard rooms and 16 suites is centrally located and yet away from the loud places, so that you can sleep quietly. All rooms are modernly designed with haptic elements like for example wood and concrete. They offer a loft-like but though cosy atmosphere, a balcony, a spacious bathroom, a Fatboy bean bag, a working area and free WLAN. The corporate design of the hotel and the graphical design of the destination boards within the building are also supercool: EAT/SLEEP/DRINK/DANCE/MEET

The hotel has also conference rooms, a 3,500 square meters fitness center with swimming pool, rooftop garden and spa (which unfortunately we have not visited). The hotel restaurant “Eat” offers the whole day upscale cuisine with traditional German and Austrian food. Spanish food is offered in the “La Tapia” restaurant. And the bar “Tide” is inviting to cosy chillouts.

The breakfast was extremely diverse and very attractively presented. All your wishes come true here, as you can find everything you may imagine. You sit in a huge loft-like hall with a high ceiling that yet appears very comfortable due to the beautiful equipment.

Unfortunately we spent only one night in this hotel so that we could not discover everything it can offer. For sure it would be worth it to spend some more nights there…

Price: from 89,- EUR
Location: in the northern part of the city, 2 km from the city center and 5 minutes from the highway
Specials: Design Hotels club members can get an Early Check-in, a Late Check-out & breakfast
Dogs: allowed (as recently we have become proud dog parents 🙂 )

Factory Hotel
An der Germania Brauerei 5
48159 Münster

Telefon: +49(0)251 4188-0
Fax: +49(0)251 4188-999
mail@factoryhotel.de
http://www.factoryhotel-muenster.de/en/

Design Hotels

Castle Münchhausen in Aerzen – a romantic Renaissance castle with perfect service

Europe, Germany, Honeymoon, Hotels, Restaurants, Spa, Wedding 19. August 2013 0 Comments

A very special five-star hotel with outstanding cuisine and historical ambience

We visited this marvelous Renaissance castle in the wonderful Weser hill country in July. The huge château park with the wonderful sea terrace is a dream and takes you back to days long gone. The castle offers two 18-hole golf course, a driving range and a wide spa and wellness area with swimming pool, aroma steam bath, tepidarium and Finnish sauna.

68 rooms and suites are divided between the main building and the nearby historical barn. All of them are of course generously designed and stylishly furnished. We stayed in one of the fashionable and more modern rooms in the Zehntscheune. The rooms of the main biding are designed in a more historical manner.

The most extraordinary features are the hospitality, the very personal service of the house and the historical ambience.

The breakfast was amazing! It is being presented in a very special manner and is very diverse with for example home-made jam. We have been really very delighted by the breakfast. And for us very important: The late riser breakfast can be taken until 12 o’clock! 🙂

Unfortunately we have not been able to use the spa area with its very generous swimming pool for a long time, but it is really gorgeous and flooded with light through the huge glass ceiling.

So anyone in search of a romantic and historic ambience with perfect service has come tot he right place here. We have very much enjoyed our stay here.

Recommendation: In this castle hotel you can also have a wonderful wedding party. The wedding planner tries hard to answer one’s wishes and to prepare the most beautiful day in your life. The service is exceptional and leaves nothing to be desired. And best of all: The guests can conveniently relax in one of the in-house hotel rooms after a successful and unforgettable celebration.

Schloss Münchhausen
Schwöbber 9
31855 Aerzen
Telephone: +49 (0)5154 70600
info@schlosshotel-muenchhausen.com
www.schlosshotel-muenchhausen.com

Feine Privat Hotels

MerkenMerken

The unsicht-Bar in Cologne – Dinner in the Dark – an intense 4 senses experience

Europe, Germany 17. July 2013 0 Comments

Tasting! Smelling! Feeling! Hearing!

Well, we have now dared to eat fully blind in the dark, which is definitively a very stark experience. But it really works better than one might assume. We had feared that we would have to eat with the fingers – as how should you know when your plate is empty?! Or you end up being fully stained?

The location of the unsicht-Bar is the restaurant Mehring and the Dinner in the Dark is a 4 course menu including an aperitif. So at the beginning aou get a really nice welcoming and a delicious drink. 🙂

This door leads into the darkness. No, not quite. As now the candles are still lit.

As soon as the guests have been brought their drinks, Arthur (the blind waiter) encourages us to blow out the candles. And then it gets dark. Really dark! Actually you have never experiences such deep darkness before (except you have been in the Dunkelmuseum in Frankfurt – this is also absolutely worth an experience!)

What follows is the first course. Arthur places the plates with ease in front of us and explains us by means of clock times where is what on our plates. Unfortunately I have had a look at the website before and had seen the menu. It might have been even more interesting not to know in advance what is being served. But everything tastes exactly as it should. The first course was a salad with really delicios dressing and salmon. But though I could not tell what kind of salad it was…?!

And you can feel everything quite well with your knife. So it is not necessary to recheck with your fingers.

The second course is a delicate tarragon zucchini soup. But if I had not read before the menu, I would not have recognized this very special condiment.

And just the same way it was in the Dunkelmuseum (where you blindly walk in a reconstructed city and notice for the first time how loud the traffic is) now I also find it extremely loud in the restaurant. If you cannot see anything, you seem to hear better… Somehow very tiring…
The route to the toilet is also an experience. Holding on to Arthur’s shoulder I went in polonaise march through the double door and then again into the light.

He is running at breath-taking peed through the darkness… This is awesome… And when you nearly stumble because you can hardly keep up with him, he says: “I feel already like a turtle!” Very funny…

The third course ist he main course. Afterwards Arthur asks the guests, what they think that they have had. “Chicken”. “Pork”. „Dog“. Arthur: “Pork-dog?“ 🙂 Well, I had chicken, mushrooms, onions, celeries, beans and roast potatoes. Sometimes a bean stray my cheek, but apart from that everything worked surprisingly well. And it was easier as I thought. It’s a pity I could not see what I was eating.

After a little pause the fourth course was served…

Arthur: You can have afters at home, here you will have a dessert.”

Nach einer erneuten kleinen Pause gab es dann den vierten Gang …

…well, the dessert. Delicious banana quark with grapes and roast muesli. After that you are really stuffed. At for the last part o fit I found it quieter again.

Once you are outside again, you get to know what you have actually eaten.

It was really scrummy, funny and a very recommendable experience. When you come back to light, you are just happy that you can see again – or happy that you can see at all! Really enviable the way Arthur has become able to accept his blindness with humor and ease…

unsicht-Bar
Gaststätte Mehring
Luxemburger Str. 319a
(Ecke Klettenberggürtel)
50939 Köln
Telephone: 0221 374312
dunkeldinner@unsicht-bar-koeln.de
www.unsicht-bar-koeln.de

There is also an unsicht-Bar in Berlin and in Hamburg. And the Blindwalk through Cologne is for sure also interesting!

P.S. Thank you very much to all my colleagues for this supercool wedding present! 🙂

Dream Wedding in the Seychelles – exceptional and simply unforgettable (+ video)

Africa, Indian Ocean, Seychelles, Video, Wedding 29. April 2013 0 Comments

wedding-seychelles-beach-beautiful-places-moniquedecaro

For everybody who can imagine, and who has the same dream, but who doesn’t dare – or just as an inspiration – I would like to tell you about our dream wedding in the Seychelles at the wonderful and famous beach Anse Source d’Argent in La Digue.

It has always been our dream to marry at the beach. Luckily, for both of us! And now our dream has come true! We could choose between Thailand (a lot of complicated paperwork), the Maldives (the marriage is legally not recognized), Mauritius (the marriage is legally recognized but much too touristic) and the Seychelles (passport and birth certificate, the marriage is legally recognized). So the Seychelles should be the location of our wedding.

Well, the travel is rather exhausting. 4 hours flight to Abu Dhabi, then further 6 hours flight to Mahé in the Seychelles. (I booked the flight half a year before directly on the website of the airline.)

From Mahé we took a little cute airplane from Air Seychelles to the isle of Praslin. Sometimes in the cockpit a window opened during the flight, but this did not disturb the pilots at all. Fresh air does not harm. So they closed the window again and flight on! Flight time: ca. 20-30 min.

Oh yes, the wedding dress. Actually it is not allowed to take it in your hand luggage. Of course I did it nonetheless. During the check-in luckily nobody has paid attention to the garment bag. And then, as I had expected, the stewardess has turned a blind eye and I always had a good space for the dress. In the second airplane there was an extra wardrobe for the wedding dresses. Like this I did not even have to iron the dress at the hotel, everything was still perfect.

At Praslin we have been brought by private transfer to the other side of the island to the landing stage for boats. Like this you can already get some impressions of the landscape and can have a chat with the local driver in order to get some tips. By the way all the transfers have worked out just fine. Driving time: ca. 15-20 min.

The last tour was the boats trip from Praslin with wonderful sunset to La Digue. Driving time: ca. 15 min.

After what had seems like 24hours trip we finally reached the hotel. And that was worth the effort! Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie is the perfect hotel for the wedding dream. Wonderfully romantic, super personal and just made to feel comfy. The hotel itself does not plan weddings. This is made by Mason´s Travel on the island.

And here we are at the wonderful powder beach known from the Bacardi commercial on TV, called Anse Source d’Argent. On the picture you can see the actual location of the beach wedding ceremony. But unfortunately it is located directly at the entry to the beach where a lot of tourists stray along the whole day. And the location is not directly at the beach, but in a fixed pavilion. For those who like it… But this place was not for us. So I had already booked before an extra white pavilion. Like this we could choose our favorite place at the beach. As it is necessary to arrive at least 3 days before the ceremony on the island, you have enough time. We chose this place:

Of course one must also have a talent for luck so that there is no ebb when the ceremony takes place. Then our ceremony would also have taken place at one of the tourist places. But we were lucky.

And another tip: Normally ceremonies take place at 11 in the morning or at 1 in the afternoon. But then there is a lot of activity at the beach. So this is why we wanted our wedding to take place at 4 in the afternoon. First of all there are nearly no tourists at the beach, secondly you have a great sunset and thirdly you can sleep in and have a relaxed breakfast. This has also gone right.

In the morning of the wedding day the room maid has decorated everything very lovingly with flowers. In the evening a champagne bottle and a fruit plate were waiting for us, even though we have not had the honeymoon package. Really great!

At twelve noon the hair styling and makeup started. The stylist was booked by Mason´s Travel. You cannot choose yourself the stylist, so you will have to have faith. The same for the bridal bouquet. I chose from a few options by email my favorite bridal bouquet. It should look similar then. But you cannot choose it exactly the same. And in the end my bridal bouquet was just perfect. A thousand times more beautiful then on the pictures. White beautiful franchipani flowers!

During the time when I was being styled, Marcus could relax at the pool.

Then at 3 a.m. we drove by ox cart to the beach. By bike it takes about half an hour to the beach. By ox cart it takes nearly one hour.

We owe this wonderful ox cart to Danny from Mason´s Travel. A well tempered, cuddly guy, with the heart at the right place. He made our dream at the dream beach come true.

Nel mio cuore per sempre

From left to right: Our marriage witness Solange, the civil registrar, us and Danny, our best man.

As we were all alone there, we could choose two marriage witnesses. We chose two great employees from Mason´s Travel. But we could have equally well picked the driver of the ox cart.

Normally the ceremony takes about 20 min, but our ceremony took about 50 min. No mass-processing and absolutely personal. After that we had a photo shoot with our photographer Laurent. Unfortunately there was not very much time left because the sunset is at 5:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. And then the sun sets.

The wonderful pictures were taken by the French photographer Laurent Levy. He lives at Praslin, the neighbor island of La Digue. I am more than happy that I found him while researching the internet. By the way it was him who suggested a ceremony at 4 p.m. because of the much better light.

These Polaroids that were taken by Laurent were sent to our families by cheap island post and like this they got to know about our secret wedding.

In the evening we had a wonderful candle light dinner at the Hotel Le Domaine. The place and the menu can be chosen one day before. We chose a quiet, isolated place in the beach sand near the water. We could also have chosen a place next to the pool. Nearly the whole personnel has congratulated us during that evening. The service is very personal and it does not seem hypocritical, but it comes from the heart. You simply feely so comfy.

La Digue is in our opinion the perfect place for a wedding. You feel like in a different world. Our dreamlike beach wedding will always be unforgettable for us. We can only warmly recommend to every couple to flee from the whole wedding and family stress at home and to have a dreamlike wedding on this dreamlike island. For us it was just absolutely perfect and incredibly romantic!

Here is a little excerpt from our wedding video. It was made by Veronique, the video partner of our photographer Laurent. Wonderful, we think!

We spent the honeymoon on the dreamlike island Silhouette in Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa. The perfect place for Trash the Dress! Afterwards the dress was clean again.

And now some further information:

Voyage planning: Whether the wonderful honeymoon or the unforgettable dream wedding at the beach – I help you with the travel planning and travel bookings! Just write me an e-mail with your ideas and we’ll find the perfect trip for you!

Wedding package: Coordination, ceremony and apostille, beach wedding (at the hotel or Anse Source D’Argent or Anse Severe), ride by ox cart decorated with local flowers, palm leaves, table decoration, bottle of champagne and wedding cake, wedding bouquet, makeup and hair styling, pavilion at the beach with stakes and white canvas.

Wedding photographer: Laurent Levy, Praslin
Laurent is super congenial, absolutely professional and really relaxed.

Wedding bag: handmade and with individual printed photo by Angee W

Wedding shoes: Vintage Inspired Shoes from Ruche

Shoe Clips: Mignonne Handmade Etsy

Best travel time: november and around november
In Mahé and Silhouette it is raining the most often. During our 2 weeks journey we have had only one rainy day in Silhouette.

Let’s Get Married!

Maybe your wedding dream on an island at the beach will also come true. We wish it for you! If you have any questions, you are welcome to ask us!

All the best,
Monique & Marcus

Alte Mühle Thomas Höreth – always worth a visit – Part 2

Europe, Germany, Hotels 29. April 2013 0 Comments

muehle-hoereth-beautiful-places-moniquedecaro

Yesterday it attracted us again to the rustic old mill at the Moselle. Here you always feel comfortable, secure and well cared for, so that you love to visit it again and again.

Doesn’t it look like an enchanted fairytale castle?! 🙂

Thomas Höreth and his wife Gudrun have invested so much love and effort into the renovation of the old mill from the 11^th century and have created something wonderful.

As always the restaurant was very well frequented and we were glad to find a nice place in a quiet and cosy corner.

And again we discovered a lot of lovingly created details such as a book to browse on every table.

Even the menu is funny and written in a very personal way. Funny anecdotes and nice quotes provide much food for thought or bring a smile upon your face.

The classic for 25 years: Home-made poppy ice cream with hot plums.

Have an envious glance at this apple pie!

Who wants a special marriage ceremony and likes romantic and quaint atmosphere can get married in the fountain cellar.

Before you find the right one, you can have a lot of fun with the wrong ones… We mean of course the wine!

In the little store you will find excellent wine by Thomas Höreth to take away. And the “Take-away wine” can also be purchased online here.

… Kindly note the cute squirrel!

Part 1 – Here you can read our report about a romantic night for two in the private hotel of the old Mill.

The report about the vineyard kitchen with regional fresh cuisine will follow in short in Part 3. 😉

Alte Mühle Thomas Höreth
Mühlental 17
56330 Kobern-Gondorf
Tel: 02607 6474
info@thomas-hoereth.de
www.thomas-hoereth.de

Opening hours // Reservation is kindly requested.
Monday to Friday 5pm to 12pm
Saturday, Sunday, holidays 12am to 12 pm

Recommended in Guide Germany 1998 – 2013

Gold Award – Riesling Mosel, Niederfell, late vintage off-dry, 2007

Gold Award – Weißer Burgunder, Mosel Winningen, quality wine dry, 2010

Silber Award – Riesling Mosel, Niederfell, Kabinett dry, 2010

Ca Maria Adele – one of the most romantic Boutique-Hotels of Venice

Europe, Honeymoon, Hotels 21. March 2013 0 Comments

Luxury, Romance and a lot of flair!

With the desire to spend some outstandingly romantic and classy days with Marcus in Venice I combed through the world wide web. Via websites as Tripadvisor or Mr. und Mrs. Smith I found the „Ca Maria Adele“, declared as the „most romantic and most luxurious hotel in europe“.

No need to keep you in suspense for any longer: You see it at a glance on these dreamlike pictures that I have taken in these happy days! The Ca Maria Adele fulfilled all our desires!

In this quiet quarter Dorsoduro, opposite of the Marcus-Square, the little intimate hotel lies in a palazzo of the 16^th century. Named after a neighbouring majestic church, the Ca Maria Adele adjoints the Canale della Salute. It can be reached quite quickly by travelling with the Vaporetto (1 stop: Salute) or, like us, with the Traghetto (5 min from the Marcus-Square, Traghetto Stops: Santa Maria del Giglio after Santa Maria della Salute).

The Vaporetto is a waterbus. A one-way-ticket, no matter how far, costs 7,- EUR. The Traghetto is a kind of gondola, that brings you from one canal bank to the other side of the canal at certain places. This way you can enjoy a gondola journey the cheapest way (One-way-ticket 2,- EUR).

The twelve rooms of the hotel are furbished in a very individual an enchanting style. Ancient furniture decorate the common rooms as the terrace, the lounge, the breakfastroom and the reception. A stunning and subtile stylistic accord between the several rooms of the hotel as well as the finest details.

The welcome could not be any better: Affectionate, in german and with an outstanding welcome-cocktail. Our highlight: without extra costs we received an upgrade of the concept-room „Sala del Doge“, with a wonderful view on the church Santa Maria Adele and the Canale della Salute. You could not stop looking about all these charming details of the furbishment: at every glance a luscious royal red, golden embellishments and a very comfortable furnishment! A feudal nest with an own whirlpool for romantic hours to spend after an adventurous day in historical Venice.

For dinner we were recommended to have it in the Hotel “Avogaria”, a restaurant of higher price range. (appetizer, main course, dessert, including water and Aperol Sprizz for two persons 80-100 EUR)

In the morning you can have your breakfast in bed, in the breakfast room or in the lounge or on the terrace. We did not thought about it for long and enjoyed our meal in bed!

And how thoughtful: Here you can have your breakfast until 12 o’ clock am.

All in all we had a stay in Venice like in a storybook! So pittoresque and romantic with original venetian flair! The hotel as well as the restaurant, including the service and its location, all of it is highly recommended!

Ca Maria Adele – il mio preferito!

duration of our stay: 1 night
prices in march: 440 € on saturdays, 230 € (Double) on sundays
general evaluation: *****
characteristics: breakfast until 12 o’clock am | very personal service | extraordinary design and furbishment

CA MARIA ADELE
Dorsoduro 111
30123 – Venezia
Italia

T 0039 041 52 03078
F 0039 041 52 89013

i nfo@camariaadele.it
http://www.camariaadele.it

2012 Luxury Boutique Hotel Award Winner by World Luxury Hotels Awards

2011 Award Winner as Most Romantic Hotel in Europe by Condé Nast Johansens

Eden Rock Spa – an Oasis of Relaxation in the “Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie” 

Indian Ocean, Seychelles, Spa 26. January 2013 0 Comments

Airy Spa surrounded by granite rocks on La Digue

“Eden Rock Wellness Centre & Spa” is located in the middle of the jungle on a peak surrounded by the massive granite rocks of La Digue and offers stunning views of the Indian Ocean.

Eden Rock spa signature by night

Calm your mind, body and spirit with a 15 minutes session whirlpool followed by a foot massage to alleviate stiffness and relax in a pure, zen atmosphere. Then, restore your body and release chronic tensions with one of our 60 minutes body massage, to choose from our collection. To end up the comprehensive spa experience, a light mezze-style romantic dinner with Champagne is served by the side of our lounge area, under the stars.

“LANMOUR HONEYMOON” TREATMENT (180min)

A treatment for two…

An intimate therapy in the privacy of our hedonistic couple’s room. Enjoy a rejuvenating massage with a passionflower, ginger and lime scrub, followed by a coconut oil wrap infused with the oil of love – the rose. You are then coated with cooling yogurt and vanilla. Then relax in an Ylang Ylang and hibiscus flower bath, while sipping champagne and nibbling on fresh fruit and chocolates.

When we were there in 2012, “Nourished by Nature” products were used. Today, they use products from the famous spa brand “Germaine de Capuccini”.

The 3 double massage rooms are open-plan, so that one is almost outdoors and can listen to the birds’ twittering.

Massages are inspired by worldwide traditions and rituals and should help to regenerate body and soul. We found our Swedish massage very relaxing and immediately booked another one.

Double massage rooms
Jacuzzi
Hammam
Manicures and pedicures
Shower area
Lounge area

Spa Menu (2012)
Prices: Medium – High-end (eg 60 min massage – about 63 EUR)

Highs	Lows	Tips
great spa with open-air suites and stunning views of the ocean pure relaxation in the middle of the jungle surrounded by granite rocks great spa packages (also for 3 or 5 days) Couples suites	A bit chilly with the fan directly above the massage table	Book in advance In Villa Tchaba Bath (Bath in your own villa with flower petals and great bath products)

Eden Rock Wellness Centre & Spa
at the Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie
Anse Sévère, La Digue, Seychelles
Tel : (00248) 429 99 99
Fax : (00248) 4 29 98 88
reservations@orangeraie.sc
www.orangeraie.sc/content/spa

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa – paradisiac holidays on Silhouette Island

Honeymoon, Honeymoon, Hotels, Hotels, Indian Ocean, Indischer Ozean, Seychellen, Seychelles, Spa, Top 20 Honeymoon Collection, Wedding 8. October 2012 0 Comments

The luxurious Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa is located on the third largest island of the Seychelles, only 30 min away from Mahé. Not only the virgin rainforest with its intact nature and a huge biodiversity impresses the visitor but also the Mount Dauban with a height of 780 metres.

The paradisiac resort counting 111 villas is surrounded by the virgin soil of the Marine National Park, one of the protective area with the highest diversity of species in the Indian Ocean. Being located at a breathtaking white sand beach, it will make your dreams come true.

After having married on La Digue we spent our honeymoon in the Hilton Hotel. We had chosen the Deluxe Beachfront Pool Villa (185 qm) with its impressing and fantastic private pool measuring 3 x 6 metres. The villa is located right next to an idyllic beach where a separated section of it is available for private use. The sense of Robinson Crusoe life style that you get there is gorgeous! This is a place for people who really enjoy absolute privacy!

A dreamlike paradise – only a few footsteps away from the beach – exactly what you are looking for as a romance seeking couple!

As we got to know it is better not to dispense with a villa with pool and beach nearby. Because of a water damage in our first night (yes, unbelievable but shall be forgiven!) we had to spend the first night in one of the garden mansions. They are also beautifully made up and furbished but do not have any protection means against mosquitos, like a net around the bed, and they have an outdoor-shower embedded in concrete, that severely disturb the outer appearance and style. In addition to this the garden mansions are set up very tightly next to each other. For honeymoon we do absolutely recommend to book a Beachfront Pool Villa.

The luxury bath with its huge bath tub and its double shower fulfil all desires you can have regarding a bathroom.

The breakfast in the villa is also very worthy to be recommended. We chose a champagne-breakfast and got two huge tablets with the most delicious goodies you can imagine. That can be enjoyed in a perfectly sound atmosphere of your own pavilion of the villa. Of course it requires extra expenses but it is absolutely worthworthy its costs.

The Hilton Hotel offers several hiking and climbing tours. With a small group of people we went to the other side of the island and explored further celestial beaches. Equipped with enough water, these journeys are an interesting and successful alternation on your holiday agenda. Bikes can also be borrowed for longer distances.

Of course, the Indian Ocean also invites you for snorkelling, diving and sailing. Therefore it is always worthy to have an underwater-camera with you! These underwater-images were shot with an one-way disposable camera. With these cameras you can create really cool retro-style-photographs!

On the Hilton resort area there are seven restaurants and bars. You make a choice for a restaurant during the day and book seats via phonecall. Only in the main restaurant you can have a meal from the buffet without reservation.

The “Grann Kaz” offers a traditional Seychelles’ Feeling and a romantic atmosphere with its delicious Creole cuisine in a huge range of perfect arrangements and combinations. Also the japanese restaurant of the Hilton resort – the “Sakura“ – has a great ambience and outstanding native food.

The Silhouette Spa is definitely one of the musts on your agenda! It is directly constructed into the rocks and its style goes perfectly along with the surrounding nature. The fantastic ambience in the rainforest could not be any better for your recreation and the wonderful section of the beach in front of the spa really invites you for a romantic walk! The masseurs are outstandingly friendly and the professional massages can be enjoyed very well as a couple.

The Hilton Silhouette Spa really offers a lot! On the day of return we did unfortunately not have the opportunity for a Late Check-Out so that we spend the wating time at the pool of the Spa.

The staff of the Hilton Hotel was in fact a bit more reserved and not as personal as in the romantic Hotel Le Domaine de L`Orangeraie, but generally the Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa could definitely compete with Le Domaine. The paradisiac landscape and the private pool and the own private section of the beach will always be a delightful memory to us!

temp. air: 24 – 30 degrees
temp. water: 25 – 27 degrees
best travelling time: october – novembre
price: special honeymoon-offer: ca. 50% the hotel-costs of the bride. Canapés & 1 glass of champagne on arrival, 1 full fruit bowl in the room, 1 pareo and 1 shirt as well as an romantic bathroom-ceremony (at least 5 nights, also valid for 5 year and following marriage jubilees)
general evaluation: *****
special characteristics: a lot of privacy | private section of the beach| private pool | luxury bathroom

Hilton Seychelles Labriz Resort & Spa
Silhouette Island, PO Box 69
Mahé, Seychelles
Telefon 248 4293949
sezlb.info@hilton.com
http://hiltonseychelleslabriz.com

World Travel Awards 2013 Seychelles´Leading Resort

World Travel Awards 2013 Seychelles´Leading Spa Resort

Seychelles Leading Resort’ at the 2012 World Travel Awards
BEST RESORT IN AFRICA voted by Global Traveler readers

Le Domaine de L’Orangerie – the Seychelles romantic pearl!

Africa, Honeymoon, Hotels, Indian Ocean, Seychelles, Spa, Wedding 5. October 2012 0 Comments

La Digue`s best and most romantic hotel!

After 10 hours flight to Mahe, 20 minutes flight with Air Seychelles to Praslin and a 15 minutes ferry trip, Marcus and I finally arrived in heavenly La Digue. Pu!

In the little harbor town „La Passe“ hotel stuff drove us via little golf carts to the hotel. The hotel „Le Domaine“ is in the North of the island and with its 45 guestrooms a lovely place to relax. Refreshing tissue, a cold drink and warm hotel personnel sweetened our arrival.

The personnel is a true enrichment fort the hotel and especially fort the guests: everybody is very nice and makes every effort to make the guests´ dreams come true. You can recognize that they love their job (that wasn`t the case at our second hotel „Hilton Labriz“). At Le Domaine you feel at home immediately. All the waiters are little talented linguists. Sometimes the personnel even danced while working – very pleasant. The relaxed personnel create the right atmosphere.

The hotel has a beautiful beach. But La Digue is he island where the legendary Barcadi clip was made, so you definitely has to take a 20-30 minutes trip by bike to the famous Bacardi-beach „Anse Source d´Argent“! You can rent bikes at the hotel for free. So you can drive around and experience the normal life of the locals. There are almost no cars at La Digue.

Dream beach “Anse Source d´Argent”

Great Lounge area at the Pool

Our sleeping and relaxing place was „Villas de Charme“ with terrace, outdoor pool and a spectacular sea view. If you book an upgrade the “Villas de Charme Elegance” also have an outdoor-jacuzzi. And to pretend to much walking, they drive you around with little electric cars.

Villas de Charme are lovely tree houses in African/Asiatic style with much privacy. They are built into the edge of the rainforest. Everything is arranged generously so that you don´t even recognize your neighbors.

The outdoor pool, the villa, the terrace, the bed with mosquito net, the turndown service with goodnight snack, the lovely little gifts and attention for detail – everything unique.

Thanks to special light arrangements – a wonderful romantic atmosphere comes up at night.

The great outdoor pool with shower!

View from “Villa de Charme” 211

„Rock Eden Spa” is a wellness center that belongs to the hotel. It has a breathtaking sea view surrounded by La Digue´s granite rocks. The massages were super relaxing and very pleasant. The products they use are based on natural substances. The ventilator was a bit cold but anyway Der „Rock Eden Spa” is definitely recommendable.

At night everything is lighted by candles and torches. Annoying animation doesn´t exist. Just a wonderful calm unique atmosphere, some good singers or entertaining creole dancers.

These cute little birds were our all morning breakfast guests. Other guests were annoyed but we loved them !

The hotel offers great and very varied food! We were impressed especially by the Creolic kitchen. The „Red Snapper“ was a stranger to us, but now we can just recommend him – yummi, yummi! 🙂

10 /10.30 was breakfast time, 7 am – time for dinner. Every time ate we had a wonderful view to the Indian Ocean. Also it was possible to book a romantic dinner at the beach or at the pool.

The climate was wonderful, sometimes a little rainy in the morning or evening. During the day there is sunshine at 30° and around 25 °degrees at night. The locals’ recommendation is to visit the island in November.

Like I already said – the hotel service was unbeatable. Also the bottle of wine – you didn´t finish the night before, you can get back the next evening – that make the hotel simpatico and saves money ;). Le Domaine is very unique and a heavenly dream – a true romantic pearl. It was the most beautiful hotel on our journeys so far. I think this is the place where paradise is at home. La Digue, Le Domaine – we will definitely come back!

P.S. We had our dream marriage at the beach Anse Source d’Argent.

Air: 24 – 30 degrees
Water: 25 – 27 degrees
Best time to travel: October – November
Price: 6 = 7 Honeymoon-offer: 1 fruit basket at your room, 1 glass of Champagner, a 30- minute Manicure or Pedicure for the bride and a romantic candle-light-dinner.
Overall evaluation: *****
Specials: outstanding personal service | romantic atmosphere | most beautiful hotel on the island

Le Domaine de L’Orangeraie
Anse Sévère, La Digue, Seychelles
Tel : (00248) 4299 999
Fax : (00248) 4299 888
reservations@orangeraie.sc
www.orangeraie.sc

CONDE NAST TRAVELLER December 2011 – Lesser Spotted Seychelles :

« A very smart mini-resort »

CONDE NAST TRAVELLER December 2011 – Le Domaine’s Restaurant :

« The best place to eat on the island »

CONDE NAST TRAVELLER December 2011 – Lesser Spotted Seychelles :

« Excellent spa »

TRAVELMAG South Africa April 2011 – « Paradise at its best »

LE FIGARO February 2011 – Style & Vous : « Hôtel étonnant »

CLASS & RELAX Luxury Travel, Art and Lifestyle February 2011 –

« Combining elegance and zen refinement »

THE SUNDAY TIMES TRAVEL April 2010 – Seychelles : Where to stay :

« Best for Traditionalists »

ELLE MAGAZINE February 2010 – Top 10 des lunes de miel :

« Le 7ème Ciel aux Seychelles »

The Place Cagliari – the special B&B in the capital of Sardinia

Hotels 10. September 2012 0 Comments

Our trip to Sardinia brought us of course to its capital city, Cagliari, that we wanted to explore. In the course of this we discovered a very special beauty spot: The Bed & Breakfast „The Place Cagliari“ in “Art-déco” style with only 6 rooms has fully convinced us with its stylish interior. The building is centrally located in the Centro Storico in a little side-street called Via Sant’Efisio.The special feature of this Bed & Breakfast: The Suite Regina has its own private sauna in the room! For 125,- EUR per night this seems to us an absolutely affordable luxury that you can allow to yourself with a good conscience. Apart from this you will find there a ball-and-claw bath, a gorgeously equipped room in warm earth colors and – upon request – a delicious breakfast in bed that ensures a great start into the day.

Duration of the stay: 1 night
Price in september: 125,- per night
Overall evaluation: *****
Special features: private sauna in the room | breakfast in bed | central location

The Place Cagliari
Via S.Efisio 59/61-Cagliari
Tel.070.680165
Cell. 328.3193258
Fax.070.7962056
email: info@theplacecagliari.com
http://www.theplacecagliari.com

Alte Mühle Thomas Höreth – exquisit wines and vineyard romanticism at the Moselle – Part 1

Europe, Germany, Hotels 2. November 2011 0 Comments

30 years ago Thomas Höreth and his wife Gudrun have invested so much love and effort into the renovation of the old mill from the 11^th century into a hotel and restaurant. The winding, with oleander overgrown half-timbered houses and the rustic cobbled streets take you with their wild, romantic flair back to times long gone. In several little houses you will find the differently furnished rooms. We stayed in the Fountain room – here classic and modern elements are being combined in a very intriguing manner.

The bathroom is kept in elegant black and gold. A huge golden Baroque mirror and a spacious shower at ground level with stone tiles make up the tasteful ambience of the bathroom.

The little details such as reading glasses and book add up to the very special atmosphere of this hotel.

A walk up to the steep terrace vineyards with view on the Oder castle is worth it. Having reached the top, you can reward yourself in the restaurant with a glass of wine. 🙂

The ambience in the restaurant is rustic, romantic and with is lovingly designed details very cozy. Here the numerous and excellent own wines of Thomas Höreth are being served.

Pumpkin cream soup refined with orange and ginger as well as a mini pumpkin pie – simply delicious!

Home-made poppy ice cream with hot plums – super tasty!

The breakfast area of the hotel has been designed with a great attention to the detail. An own little house, furnished in great cottage style. The service was unique. Here every little desire is read fromyour eyes.

Duration of our stay: one night
Price: from 210 EUR (double room)
Overall evaluation: *****
Special features: very rustic, cozy ambience | very friendly service

Alte Mühle Thomas Höreth
Mühlental 17
56330 Kobern-Gondorf
Tel: 02607 / 6474
info@thomas-hoereth.de
http://www.thomashoereth.de

Opening hours // Reservation is kindly requested.
Monday to Friday 5 pm to 12 pm
Saturday, Sunday, holidays 12 am to 12 pm

Here you can order from home Höreth´s wines.

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