Historic renovation of Wat Aruns famed pagoda completed

THE world-famous Temple of Dawn pagoda, also internationally known as Wat Arun, #Thailand will officially be reopened the end of this year after being closed to visitors for three years to undergo repairs and renovation along with other structures in the temple compound.  The 66.8-metre-high pagoda is the main feature of Wat Arun, which is decorated with seashells and bits of Chinese porcelain that glimmer in the sunshine. 

Under direction from Thailand’s Fine Arts Department, #WatArun started undergoing renovation over three years ago, specifically to secure the base of its majestic pagoda. 

It was initially envisioned by King Taksin the Great in 1768 after fighting his way out of Ayutthaya, when he arrived at this Buddhist temple just as dawn was breaking. He ordered the temple’s first renovation and renamed it Wat Chaeng, the Temple of Dawn. 

A 10-day long celebration of the completion of Wat Arun’s renovations will take place at the end of this year from 27 December through to 5 January, 2018. The festivities will include a tribute to King Taksin the Great, who ordered the previously mentioned restoration of the temple during his reign, along with ancient cultural and Thai dance performances. There will also be an exhibition on the temple’s history, showcasing the importance of its role in Thai society, highlighted by a display of award-winning photos of the temple taken over the years with the first images of Wat Arun dating back to 1865.

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Sleep with history

HOLIDAYMAKERS can plunge into the past with Tuscany Now & More, and have the chance to sleep with history, be it in a castle, a country residence, or an old farmhouse.  Guests can lay their heads in the homes of important historical figures and discover Italy’s history and heritage.

The agency has compiled a shortlist of some of their most historical properties:

The Historical Charm: Visentium – Steeped in history, there are stones in the walls of Visentium which were cut more than 3,000 years ago. 

The villa has a dining room for 20 and an arched loggia overlooking the swimming pool. The 10-bedroom property sleeps up to 18. From £4,784 a week.

Live like a king or queen in Castello di Tizzano – The historical home of an important Florentine family, the villa is surrounded by uninterrupted views of hills and Florence. It has a walled garden and a large swimming pool on a lower terrace with views of the Duomo. The nine-bedroom property sleeps up to 18 people. From £7,999 per week.

Villa Zambonina – Built in the early 17th century, Villa Zambonina is a manor house set on a farming estate close to Verona. The property is decorated with frescoes and trompe l’oeil paintings. It has 12 bedrooms and costs from £3,839 a week.

 www.tuscanynowandmore.com

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Luxury on the beach

SHANGRI-LA'S Le Touessrok Resort & Spa on the east coast of #Mauritius has unveiled three re-designed #luxury beach #villas.

Each three-bedroom villa comes with a swimming pool, a private chef preparing any meal to order in the on-site kitchen, and four butlers.

Guests have access to all of the hotel’s amenities, including two swimming pools, an 18-hole par 72 championship golf course, and spa.

The Beach Villa Mauritius package starts from £5,130 a night including tax.

www.shangri-la.com/mauritius 

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Say ‘I do’ at 450ft

IMAGINE saying ‘I do’ at 450 feet. From September, couples will be able to do just that on British Airways i360, the world's tallest moving observation tower opening this summer on Brighton beach.

The pod, which can hold up to 198 people for wedding ceremonies, provides 360o views across the ocean, Brighton, and the coast.

There is a Sky Bar, where guests can toast the bride and groom before descending to the beach building where celebrations can continue.

Wedding reception menus will use the local ingredients from the South Downs and Sussex region. For those wanting a more informal style celebration, British Airways i360 wedding packages include a BBQ and bowl food option … and there’ll be a wedding planner on hand to help with, er, wedding planning

Wedding reception packages start at £70 per person.

weddings@britishairwaysi360.com

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Gozo escapes

#GOZO – Malta’s little sister island – is a #holiday option for people in search of peace and quiet, and perhaps some rural hiking, swimming, and scuba-diving. 

A #self-catering accommodation option on Gozo could be a restored farmhouse. 

Doris and Julian Sultana who run Pergola Farmhouses have 11 of them in and around the village of Ix-Xaghra (pronounced Shara) on a hill in the north-east of the island and just a few miles from the its small capital town, Rabat.

Pergola Farmhouses was founded in 1995, when Doris took charge of the holiday bookings and managing the properties while her husband concentrated on renovating houses for the rental market.

There are 2, 3, 4, 5 & 6-bedroom houses, all of which have private swimming pools.

Ix-Xaghra is best known for its Neolithic sites – the Ggantija Temples date from BC3600, making them older than the Pyramids of Egypt – and it’s short drive to beaches, bays and coves. Nothing on the island is more than 20 minutes away by car.

https://govillasandcottages.co.uk/property/9077084077053077081061061/pergola-farmhouses-xaghra-marsalforn.html

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Hilltop luxury in Vietnam

THE Six Senses resort at Ninh Van Bay in #Vietnam has opened what it describes as its ‘most spectacular’ holiday #villa. The three-bedroom Hilltop Reserve has an 180-degree of the bay, Nha Trang city, and the adjacent mountains, plus a large climate-controlled infinity pool.

Its three bedrooms have beam ceilings and en suite bathrooms wooden bathtubs. The living room has a digital entertainment system featuring more than 200 movies.

In-house dining for six to ten guests can be provided by a resident chef, and a dedicated ‘guest experience maker’ is on call 24 hours a day.

The villa is accessible by an off-road buggy or a hike along a winding path through granite boulders and jungle.

Rates for the Hilltop Reserve start – based on occupancy of six adults – from US$2,800 (£1,800) to US$4,570 (£2,955) between shoulder and peak seasons, including daily breakfast, airport transfers, plus 10 percent value added tax and five percent resort service charge.

www.sixsenses.com 

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Book in for a star-gazing break

VISITORS to holiday cottages at Outchester and Ross near Bamburgh on the #Northumberland Coast this winter are in for a star-studded surprise. 

The owners have been fascinated by the array of stars visible in this part of coastal Northumberland for many years and are members of NASTRO (Northumberland Astronomical Society). As a bonus for their guests and for no extra charge, they have added a custom-built, star-gazing shelter, complete with sliding roof and a state-of-the-art 120mm Pro Refractor telescope.  Adults staying in the cottages can book their time slot and turn up to catch a glimpse of the heavens.

The telescope is so technically advanced that it can be programmed to look for a particular star or galaxy, and will automatically swivel to the optimum view point.

Because of the lack of light pollution in this part of Northumberland (Outchester and Ross are also in a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty), along with the #DarkSkyPark in West Northumberland, the area is considered one of the best places in England to spot the Milky Way, meteor showers, star clusters, and Orion. The Northumberland coast is also renowned as being one of the best spots outside Norway to see the #AuroraBorealis or Northern Lights.

If visitors prefer a less advanced telescope, two more telescopes are available, also at no extra charge. The 200mm Dobsonian and 60 Pentaflex telescopes are perfect for first time star gazers and relatively easy to use. 

There are 17 four- and five-star holiday properties in total at the coastal locations of Outchester and Ross, including the restored Ducket, a 65ft 18th century stone tower overlooking Holy Island. Three properties are dog-friendly. The cottages at Ross are walking distance of a beach where basking seals can sometimes be spotted. 

Outchester and Ross Cottages sleep from 2 – 6 people and prices range from £300 to £1,020 per property per week.

The owners also run Lindisfarne Oysters at Ross, where visitors can buy fresh oysters directly from the sea.

www.rosscottages.co.uk

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/24509941@N00/5738842577">JOH_9584</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Lagoon luxury

GILI LANKANFUSHI, named the Best Hotel in the World by TripAdvisor in the Traveller's Choice Awards 2015, has upgraded its Private Reserve – the world’s largest overwater villa – with the addition of a freshwater swimming pool, a library, and a study. 

Standing alone in lagoon, 540 yards from the #Maldives resort and accessible from the hotel only by boat, the three-bedroom villa guarantees maximum #luxury, privacy and seclusion.

It also has a spa with sauna and steam room, a cinema, a water slide from the top deck into the lagoon, a personal chef, and a wine cellar and bar.

The Private Reserve re-opens on November 15, when rental rates per night will range from US$11,000 to $23,630 (£7,100-£15,300) plus local government taxes … so start saving – very seriously – now!

www.gili-lankanfushi.com

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Take a dip on Aruba

#ARUBA is making a splash with its natural pool voted among the world's best. 

In a global TripAdvisor poll, the island’s conchi – the local word in the Dutch Caribbean island for its shell-shaped natural pool – was voted one of the 12 best locations in the world for #naturalswimming.

The pool is at the base of shore cliffs within the #ArikokNationalPark. Visitors reach it by crossing rocky ravines on foot or horseback.

www.aruba.com

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Island hide-aways

THE #MUSTIQUE COMPANY is flagging up holiday rental properties it says would suit couples and small families planning breaks on the privately-owned Caribbean #island …

Lavender Hill Cottage – At the northern tip of the island, this retreat is newly available for rental. It has colonial style interiors, an infinity pool, and unrivalled views.  

Samambaia – Set in tropical gardens, it has great views and an easy-going Caribbean feel.  

Messelia – Bright, breezy, and beachside, this recently refurbished house is in Britannia Bay.

Cotton Hill Residence – An opportunity to rent a private villa in the grounds of the Cotton House Hotel. It has a private pool … and a butler service.

Flights from London to Barbados are available from £520 per person return, with return flight transfers from Barbados to Mustique costing £350 per adult and £270 per child.

www.mustique-island.com

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/84108876@N00/4132507727">Macaroni Bay, Mustique</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Stay in a windmill

ONE OFF PLACES has added Windmill Hill, a converted windmill in the Alentejo region of #Portugal, to its portfolio. 

Set in a large walled garden and sleeping up to five in three bedrooms, it has a private pool and 360-degree views of the surrounding countryside, and offers privacy and seclusion. There are two kitchens – one indoors, one alfresco.

Shops and cafes are a short walk away, and it’s a 15-minute drive to the sea.

The Alentejo region in southern Portugal is rural, and rich in history, culture, archaeology, and nature. #Outdoor pursuits available include mountain biking, horse riding, water sports, paragliding, and hot air ballooning.

Rates: From £55 - £70 per night (minimum stay three nights).

www.oneoffplaces.co.uk

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Maldives luxury, from £6,000 a night

AMILLA FUSHI, the recently-opened luxury #islandresort in the #Maldives’ Baa Atoll, is taking bookings for its four-, six-, and eight-bedroom private beach residences. With several of its Lagoon, Ocean Lagoon, Ocean Reef, Beach, and Tree Houses offering a two-bedroom option, Amilla Fushi promises a unique holiday experience for families or groups of friends. The beach residences includes a single room for nannies or security, should they be part of the travelling party.

All are on the beachfront, giving direct access to a private stretch of white sandy beach and the crystal clear waters of the UNESCO Biosphere of #BaaAtoll. Framed by mature trees and vegetation for extra privacy and soundproofing, each has a swimming pool – the eight-bedroom option has two pools – Marantz sound systems, extensively equipped kitchens with Siemens appliances, BBQ areas, a play room, expansive living spaces, and a butler available 24 hours a day.

Amilla Fushi has two tennis, badminton, and beach volleyball courts. Tennis pros are available for coaching.

Rates start at £6,000 a night for Amilla’s four-bedroom beach residences, and £10,000 for the eight-bedroom house.

www.amilla.mv/amilla-fush 

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Picture Credit: www.amilla.mv, http://www.flickr.com/photos/86665756@N00/5047639305">Maldives</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)

Genoa’s palaces open their doors

LIGURIA'S historic city of #Genoa is to offer visitors exclusive access to its palaces from with a special 'Rolli' weekend (September 18-20). The 42 palaces in Genoa's centre – which are collectively known as the #PalazzideiRolli – will have their doors opened over the weekend. A ‘Rolli' weekend in May this year attracted 100,000 visitors in four days.

Special first time openings include the 14th century Palazzo Nicola Grimaldi, a private property usually closed to the public. Also opening to the public for the first time is Villa Pallavicino “delle Peschiere”. Built – like many of the palaces, in the 16th century – the house is one of the better preserved examples of Genoese villas with highlights including its terraced garden, a typical Genoese black and white mosaic flooring known as 'risseu', and fresco cycles.

www.visitgenoa.it/en/evento/rolli-days-september-2015

www.visitgenoa.it

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Picture Credit: "Palazzo Carrega-Cataldi 08" by Superchilum - Own work. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons - https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Palazzo_Carrega-Cataldi_08.JPG#/media/File:Palazzo_Carrega-Cataldi_08.JPG

Aruba in line for international award

#ARUBA is in line for another prestigious international award, recognizing its world-leading achievements in #sustainabletourism. The #Caribbean island is a finalist for the 2015 World Responsible Tourism Awards to be announced in London in November. This follows Aruba's success earlier this year when it took the winner's spot in the Destination Leadership category of the first National Geographic World Legacy Awards. This recognised its drive to be the world's first country to be free of fossil fuel.

Commenting on this year's entries, managing director of Responsible Tourism and founder of the awards, Justin Francis, said: 'In our entries this year, we've seen organizations clearly influenced by the work of our previous winners, for example, city tours run by homeless guides. It is our responsibility to find those inspirational people again.

'Looking at our hugely diverse list of finalists this year, I think we have found those people. The organizations in the list prove that responsible tourism is viable and can be successful in all types of tourism, from niche to mainstream. These organizations are the shining stars of responsible tourism.'

www.aruba.com

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/37022807@N00/381234724">Flamingo Ping, or Pink Flamingo?</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">(license)

Wolsey Lodges adds to its collection

NINE B&B properties – from Scotland to Cornwall – have been added to the Wolsey Lodge collection this year, with more in the pipeline. 

The properties include: two manor houses; a former residence of the 9th Duke of Athol; an original Somerset Long House; a former bakery; a rectory and a Victorian keeper's cottage; a Georgian Grade II listed townhouse; and an Edwardian country house. All have either en suite or private bathrooms.

‘Wolsey Lodges is the forerunner in terms of luxury B&B,’ says Robin Clough, chairman of the not-for-profit marketing organization. ‘We were founded almost 35 years ago and have long been one of the best-kept secrets of the travelling cognoscenti. We have always had the strong ethos that the welcome received by guests is one that a friend would receive, and a stay that charms and exceeds expectations.’

The group’s B&Bs are vetted and inspected carefully to ensure they meet exacting standards, says Mr Clough. ‘There has always been something rather special about the type of guest who enjoys staying at Wolsey Lodges and this takes Wolsey Lodges into a different league from most B&B organizations.

 www.wolseylodges.com

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Branson’s island offer

RICHARD BRANSON'S private island in the #BritishVirginIslands – #NeckerIsland – is his home and favourite hide-away, but he doesn't mind sharing … at a price! Individual rooms are available this summer and autumn as holiday lets.

Guests can also book a seven-night stay for the following dates:

August 8
September 5, 12, 19 and 26
October 17 and 24

Rates per couple start from USD $12,345 (£7,967) based on a three-night stay in a Great House room.

Guests can have tennis lessons with the resident pro.

www.virginlimitededition.com/necker-island

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Travel shorts …

TOP RATES: The world's most expensive hotel is in Utah, according to a survey by Luxury-Hotels.com. An average overnight stay at the The Amangiri Hotel in Canyon Point will cost guests $1,889 (£1,235) for the least expensive double room this summer. 

Taking the number two spot on the survey is the Hotel Cala di Volpe, Sardinia, where the average nightly rate is $1,789 (£1,168).

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Picture Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/58869428@N05/7658010434">Bryce Canyon Sunrise Point 2</a> via <a href="http://photopin.com">photopin</a> <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/">(license)