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LOOKING FOR THE MOST INCREDIBLE TRAVEL EXPERIENCES AROUND THE GLOBE? WELL, STOP

SEARCHING. TOP 20 FOR 2020 WE’VE COME UP WITH 20 MUST-DO TRIPS FOR LUXURY TRAVELLERS IN 2020 (AND BEYOND). 20TRIPS Photo: Michel Christopher FOR 2020 LUXURY ESCAPES / ISSUE NO . 05 / 27 ULTRA INDULGENCE TIME TO CHARTER

LIVE THE Fancy sitting in an oversized jacuzzi cruising HIGH LIFE IN VEGAS the Mediterranean on a luxury super yacht that has never been chartered? Samurai If it’s bling you’re after this experience will (pictured on the cover) is a two-year-old deliver in spades. The aptly named Want the 60-metre luxury yacht built by premium World experience will set you back a cool yacht builder Alia in Turkey. This Australian A$665,000, and see you arrive in Las Vegas winter is the first time it will be available for via private jet where your presidential suite charter. Onboard is all sleek, stylish interiors, (as pictured below) at the Venetian Resort reminiscent of a five-star boutique hotel. (venetian.com) awaits. Along with a private There are six cabins, including the owner’s butler and fully stocked bar, you’ll also find suite that has floor-to-ceiling windows, a a magnum of Moët & Chandon encrusted in huge ‘beach club’ with fold-down swim red Swarovski crystals. Oh, and a replica of the platform and a gym. There’s also a 12.5-metre resort’s signature armillary sphere, handcrafted chase boat with barbecue on board, and 15 from artisan chocolate, atop a cake adorned crew to tend to your every need. with a 2.5-carat ruby and diamond necklace and matching 2.47-carat Burma ruby and Rates range from A$680,000 to $710,000 diamond ring. There’s also a two-tiered red for a week depending on the season. velvet cake topped with a 5.5-carat diamond bracelet from Bellusso Jewellers and an in-suite four-course dinner prepared by the chef. Even your food and drinks will be precious, with gold-flecked cocktails and gold-dusted chicken and waffles being served. TOP 20 FOR 2020

DIAMONDS ARE FOREVER

With the Casino de Monte-Carlo used in two James Bond movies, it’s only fitting the almost neighbouring ultra-luxurious Hotel Metropole Monte-Carlo would create a luxury travel package, including a private tour of the casino. The hotel’s aptly named ‘GoldenEye’ Experience begins by taking to the sky in a helicopter before lunch at the hotel’s Michelin-starred Japanese restaurant Yoshi. After lunch, cruise in an Aston Martin along the French Riviera before a couples in-room massage. In the NEED FOR SPEED a hundred in a flash, driving hairpin bends and fast straights. evening a butler delivers a complimentary tuxedo and evening Three available routes could see you hugging the Mediterranean gown, and you’ll dine on the terrace of the Suite Carré d’Or on STRAP YOURSELF IN to the small town of Sitges; driving the historic Penedès region, the top floor of the hotel. When you’re ready to retire for the which is famous for its vineyards; or travelling the twisting roads night (after your personalised tour of the casino), your suite Can you picture yourself in a Ferrari cruising the streets of Catalonia? of the inland hills to the Monserrat mountain range, where you awaits scattered in petals with a bottle of Bollinger on ice. Drive Me Barcelona (drivemebarcelona.com) offers luxury driving can enjoy breathtaking views of Spain’s northeast. experiences in supercars (there are Porsches and Lamborghinis Prices start at A$17,900 per night. too) led by professional instructors. Zoom from zero to Prices start at A$2,100.

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INTO THE WILD

If you can’t ‘bear’ to wait for a close wildlife encounter, you’re in luck in the remote Tofino district on Vancouver Island, off Canada’s west coast, which has the highest density of black bears in North America. Stay in one of the 25 luxury tents at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort (wildretreat. com), a five-star eco-safari property named after the UNESCO Clayoquot Sound it sits on. The entire area is a biosphere reserve with some of the world’s last remaining ancient temperate rainforest. Head out on a short boat trip during low tide when black bears can almost always be seen flipping rocks along remote foreshore in search of food. You’ll also find cougars, American minks and grey wolves. Access is only by seaplane, chopper or boat.

A stay at the 242-hectare resort ranges from A$5,900 to A$8,000 for three nights.

THE ULTIMATE GLAMPER can tour inside the Amundsen–Scott station. Outside the station, take photos at the Ceremonial South Pole – a mirror ball TOP 20 FOR 2020 SLUMBER FAR SOUTH surrounded by the flags of the Antarctic Treaty nations – and the Geographic South Pole. Back at Three Glaciers Retreat, days can If this isn’t one to tick off the bucket list, then we don’t know be spent skiing endless expanses of untracked powder, riding what is. A stay at the new Three Glaciers Retreat (antarctic- snowmobiles below stunning cliffs and into secluded valleys, logistics.com), as pictured on page 27, based in the Ellsworth and crossing glaciers to ice falls aboard Tucker Sno-Cats. At night, Mountains in Antarctica, includes a night sleeping at the South curl up in your double-walled, heated tent, pull all the shades to TOP 20 FOR 2020 TOP Pole. During your stay at the southernmost point on earth block out the 24-hour sunshine and dream of endless white. there’ll be a champagne toast and a special celebration meal, as well as a certificate commemorating your trip. If staff members Prices start at around A$95,000 a person; private group from the United States Antarctic Program are available, guests bookings are also available.

GLAMPING GOALS

These luxury tents in India’s north are the epitome of glamping. The ten soaring structures at Aman-i-Khas (aman.com) are set amongst dhok trees and brushwood on the fringes of Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan. All have king-size or twin beds, daybeds, twin writing desks, dressing and living areas, and a dedicated personal butler. Head out on the daily jeep safaris in search of the elusive Bengal tiger or stay at the resort and have an Ayurveda treatment in the spa tent, WHALE OF A TIME close with the marine mammals in Tonga and Tahiti. In Tonga, drawing on India’s 5,000-year-old it’s all about beach bungalows overlooking whale nurseries, ancient healing system. There’s something magnificent and humbling about while in Tahiti the focus is on luxury catamarans and liveaboard swimming with whales, and the South Pacific has to be boats to increase your humpback interaction. In this part of the Prices start at about A$2,200 one of the best places to do it. Majestic Whale Encounters world, the whale season lasts from August to October. per night including all meals (majesticwhaleencounters.com.au) will take care of everything, and laundry. from flights to accommodation, so you can focus of getting up Prices range from A$4,750 to A$5,600 per person, twin share.

30 \ LUXURY ESCAPES \ ISSUE NO . 05 LUXURY ESCAPES / ISSUE NO . 05 / 31 THE HIGH-FLYERS EYE ON THE ICONS per person. If you prefer to fly your own chopper, a scenic flight with Orbic Air (orbicair.com) in Los Angeles includes HEAD IN THE CLOUDS Fancy a flight over some of North America’s most famous an opportunity to take the controls as you zip over the sites? A trip with San Francisco Helicopters (sfhelicopters. downtown skyline, Staples Center, Dodger Stadium Alaska’s Ultima Thule Lodge com) will see you doing just that. Cruise above Alcatraz and and the Hollywood sign. Stress not – there’s on-ground (ultimathulelodge.com) has launched an the Golden Gate Bridge (as below) then land in Sonoma instruction beforehand. exclusive experience for 2020 that gives you Valley wine country for a VIP vineyard tour, including tastings access to its bush airplanes and pilots for and food pairings. Limited to six people, it’s priced at A$680 Prices start at A$675 for two people. bespoke trips across the wilderness of the vast Wrangell–St Elias National Park. Want to go glacier hiking in areas only accessible by air? No problem. Land in a place so remote it’s unnamed? Sure.

Available from May to September, the lodge hosts private groups of up to eight people for A$36,900 a night. TOP 20 FOR 2020

TRAIN BUFFS

TAKE OVER THE TRACKS

Gather the family or your favourite group of friends because we’ve found the ultimate journey. Golden Eagle (goldeneagleluxurytrains.com), a leading operator of luxury rail tours, is now offering exclusive Russian charters aboard its flagship hotel on wheels for groups of up to 40 guests. It gets better – departures and destinations are flexible so you can choose an itinerary to suit, whether meandering from Moscow to St Petersburg over two days SOARING THROUGH SUNRISE Inthar fisherman row canoes with one leg, boats laden or opting for a longer journey west towards Lake Baikal. with produce make their way to the markets through a On board you get ensuite cabins, fine dining, fully guided If you’ve ever been in a hot air balloon you’ll know it’s an maze of green canals, and see the many little villages on sightseeing, and activities such as vodka tastings and experience that can be a bit of a ‘procession in the sky’. At the edges of the lake. Your journey with Balloons over Russian language lessons. Have a celebratory dinner in Inle Lake, Myanmar, however, it’s a far more intimate affair, Bagan (balloonsoverbagan.com) ends with breakfast with the restaurant car or relax in the lounge car, where there’s where you’ll find you’re likely to be the only ones in the air! the Shan people in a traditional village. a bar and piano. Rather than a sweeping view of a vast landscape like many trips, you’ll experience a day in the life of the locals watching Prices start at A$515 per person. Journeys start at A$256,000 for 40 people.

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FRENCH PERFECTION

If you had one choice of restaurant to dine at before you died, surely this has to be it. The newly renovated Le Jules Verne in the Eiffel Tower is accessed by a private elevator inside the south pillar. All its furniture, from the silver-and-pearl-coated oak tables on sculpted bases inspired by 1930s jewellery, to the 2,500 white-gold leaves on the handmade mirrors, is bespoke. Food is served on plates engraved with an extract from Jules Verne’s Extraordinary Voyages series. Located 125 metres above Paris, the restaurant encompasses three dining rooms offering unobstructed views of the Champ de Mars, Quai Branly and Trocadéro, and the menu has been carefully curated to “be a culinary expression of the tower’s perfect combination of strength and femininity, the beautiful and the delicious”, according to chef Frédéric Anton. This is fine dining at its best, and it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

THE CULTURED Prices range from A$170 to A$640.

WALK-ON ROLE TOP 20 FOR 2020 Ever wanted to appear on stage at the Sydney Opera House? Well, you’ll have to get in quick. For the month of THE HEIGHT OF LUXURY January you can have a walk-on role with Opera Australia (culturalattractionsofaustralia.com) in your own handmade What could be better than having a glass of wine in hand while costume. On the night of your performance, you’ll enter the eating gourmet delights among some of the most stunning natural Sydney Opera House via the stage door and report to hair and scenery in the world? Tasman Helicopters (tasmanhelicopters. TOP 20 FOR 2020 TOP make-up to have your show face applied. Then you’ll mount the co.nz) will whisk you to a mountain peak in a national park on New stairs to the stage to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience, Zealand’s South Island, where an award-winning chef will prepare while someone you love watches from the auditorium. a five-course lunch showcasing the finest regional produce – think Marlborough Sounds salmon with apple remoulade and snow The experience costs A$4,999 including a ticket peas followed by wild venison fillet with cucumber paper, mustard for one guest. leaf and red currant gel – matched to local wines. Lunch is followed by a scenic flight over the region, includingLord of the Rings filming locations.

HIT A HIGH NOTE Prices start at about A$3,800.

If there was ever a fitting place to have your own piece of music composed, it’d be Vienna in 2020 during the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth. While the composer wasn’t born in Austria, he spent most of his life there and it’s where he’s buried. In times gone by, wealthy nobles ordered melodies exclusively written for them, and the tradition is experiencing a renaissance at the Hotel Imperial (imperialvienna.com) where a note- perfect representation of your personality is created for you. In consultation with the composer, you can find your very own combination of archetypes – all in the historical ambience of the hotel – before members of the Vienna Philharmonic or Vienna Symphony Orchestra record the song.

The A$40,500 package includes a two-night stay.

34 \ LUXURY ESCAPES \ ISSUE NO . 05 LUXURY ESCAPES / ISSUE NO . 05 / 35 OCEAN BOUND the comfort of retractable glass balconies that make you feel as STARS IN YOUR EYES though you are hovering above the water. Otherwise stand on the WINTER WONDERLAND bow of the ship and be even closer to the action than the captain, MINGLE WITH MOVIE STARS or jump aboard Zodiacs to take an even closer peek. There are three Want to experience Antarctica in the comfort of a five-star restaurants on board, as well as a spa and sauna with ocean views. For those who love to follow the stars, and want to be treated expedition ship? Jump on board Hapag-Lloyd’s new Hanesatic like one, Hotel Barrière (hotelsbarriere.com) in the French Inspiration (hl-cruises.com) and explore this icy continent from Prices start at about A$19,000 a person. seaside resort of Deauville offers an exclusive experience during one of Europe’s biggest film events devoted to US cinema. Held in September since 1975, the Deauville American Film Festival has hosted the likes of Johnny Depp, Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas, Nicolas Cage, Cate Blanchett, Clint Eastwood and Harrison Ford, to name but a few. Stay at Hotel Barrière and you’ll be given VIP passes to screenings and have special access to the red carpet. Get in quick, because it sells out every year. Photo: Sandrine Boyer Engel Prices start at A$780 for a double room per night. TOP 20 FOR 2020 TOP 20 FOR 2020 TOP

FOR THE FIT

ON YOUR BIKE

You’d want some kilometres under your belt to prepare for this epic once-in-a-lifetime trip that promises to be as much a cultural experience as a cycling one. In a first-of-its-kind departure, Ride & Seek Bicycle Adventures (rideandseek.com) is offering a 12-day Maori New Zealand tour, covering 2,000-plus kilometres on both the North and South islands. It starts in Auckland, takes in the thermal wonderland and Maori cultural centre of Rotorua and the country’s capital LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION yourself surrounded by the stars of Parenthood. The package Wellington, before finishing in Queenstown. Pedal up includes gourmet meals prepared by Universal’s executive active volcanos, along rolling coastlines and through Picture yourself on the film set of a blockbuster movie chef and served in the private VIP dining room, escorted World Heritage-listed national parks. or television series? Join a VIP Experience at Hollywood’s express access to rides, and the best seats in the house in Universal Studios (universalstudioshollywood.com) and you’ll all the shows. The tour takes place in February and starts get to do just that. Sit at the dining table from the popular at roughly A$7,800. series Will & Grace or curl up on the couch and imagine Prices start from about A$600 a person.

36 \ LUXURY ESCAPES \ ISSUE NO . 05 LUXURY ESCAPES / ISSUE NO . 05 / 37 WINTER ––– Seeing the Northern Lights is one of the great travel Explore Norway OCTOBER  FEBRUARY: experiences. Join us as we guide you on an exciting winter ARCTIC WINTER Arctic adventure with our eyes turned towards the skies. AND NORTHERN Highlights 1 History, art and nature in Bergen 9 Northern Lights Promise 2 The Art Nouveau beauty Discover our exciting LIGHTS EXPEDITION of Ålesund with the experts optional excursions at 3 Viking history at Sandnessjøen hurtigruten.com.au/excursions 4 Lofoten’s dramatic scenery 5 North Cape – edge of the world Price from $ 4,499 pp 6 The Northern Lights NOTE: The ‘from’ price shown is in AU per person twin share in an Inside Cabin. Hurtigruten has a fl exible Cathedral at Alta pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled 7 Raw and powerful beauty and subject to availability. Prices may change at any time before departure date, the applicable price will near Narvik be quoted at the time of booking. 8 Norway’s longest fjord Read about our Northern Lights Promise – Sognefjord at hurtigruten.com.au

––– Embark on an unforgettable expedition cruise to deep SUMMER ords, colourful ˆshing villages and remote natural beauty. FJORDS MAY  SEPTEMBER: AND Highlights

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SPRING ––– From pure white Arctic snow, to the glow of the Northern MARCH  APRIL: Lights, to the awakening of spring in the ords, this journey WHITE WINTER o‡ers spectacular Norway at its best. EXPEDITION Highlights 1 History, art and nature in Bergen 9 Northern Lights Promise 2 Powerful glaciers in Fjærland Discover our exciting 3 Art Nouveau elegance optional excursions at in Ålesund hurtigruten.com.au/excursions New Expedition Cruises Norway Norway In 4 Cross the Arctic Circle 5 The remote beauty of Lofoten Price from $ 5,399 pp 6 Raw wilderness near Narvik NOTE: The ‘from’ price shown is in AU per person a Nutshell twin share in an Inside Cabin. Hurtigruten has a fl exible ––– With more than 125 years’ experience exploring Norway, 7 Rich history and amazing pricing system and all prices are capacity controlled nature in Tromsø and subject to availability. Prices may change at any this coastline is our home. Join us on our new Expedition time before departure date, the applicable price will Cruises and we’ll take you on an immersive, authentic voyage 8 The Northern Lights be quoted at the time of booking. one, two or three day Cathedral in Alta Read about our Northern Lights Promise TRIPS Oslo to bergen at hurtigruten.com.au to the heart of Norway. Our year-round voyages on our new via flåm and voss hybrid-powered expedition ­eet include nine handpicked, For an immersive Norway exclusive ports, and a passionate team of expedition experts add on coastal experience to help you explore this extraordinary coastline. go to hurtigruten.com.au call 1300 322 062 EMAIL [email protected]

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