Thailand & Hong Kong: Last Minute Flight and Hotel Deal

Okay Angels, it's time to fly by the seat of your pants. This one's a bonafide winner. The price of a luxury vacation to Phuket and Hong Kong has been cut to $1599 -- that's over $1000 OFF regular rates. The offer includes 6-nights in 5-star hotels and flights on top-rated airline Cathay Pacific.

The new sale, launched on March 28th by Globotours, is significantly lower than similar luxury packages and includes valuable extras.

The offer includes:
- All flights on Cathay Pacific:
(LAX-Phuket, Phuket-Hong Kong and Hong Kong-LAX)
- Monday-Thursday departures April 29-June 14 or Aug. 16-30
- Three nights at the Banyan Tree Phuket
- Three nights at the Harbour Plaza Hong Kong
- 90-minute massage at the Banyan Tree
- Half-day Hong Kong Island tour
- Daily breakfast
- Airport transfers in Phuket and Hong Kong
- Hotel taxes and service charges

Plus, for all bookings made by Wednesday, April 8 - that's TOMORROW - A FREE air extension to Beijing can be added! I mean really... a shrinking economy has got to be good for something!
Banyan Tree Phuket Guestroom

In case you've been flying coach on Continental, Cathay Pacific is 1 of only 6 airlines to receive a 5-star ranking in the prestigious Skytrax survey (Holla at your Boeing). The Banyan Tree Phuket was also named a "Top 10 Asia Resort" by Conde Nast Traveler, "Best Overseas Resort" by Luxury Travel magazine, and "Top 5 Asian Props" by the world renowned Jaunt Magazine.
Harbour Plaza, Hong Kong

For more information and to book through Globotours: 800-988-4833. Agents are available 9AM-6PM PST. FYI - The reservation center is closed on Sundays.

Now make mama proud and please, stop 'plannning' to be spontaneous. It's... embarrassing.

Krabi, Thailand: Anantara's Yoga Wellness Retreat

Sing along with me... "Om-believable in every way..."

Anantara, taken from the Sanskrit word meaning 'without end,' symbolizes the sharing of water and heartfelt hospitality that is at the core of the Anantara experience. Located throughout Asia and the Middle East, Anantara Resorts and Spas is our latest luxury (for a reasonable price) find. With properties on Koh Samui, the Golden Triangle area in the country’s north, Maldives, Bali, Phuket, and, get this... Anantara Desert Islands Resort & Spa on the island of Sir Bani Yas off the coast of Abu Dhabi, it's that deliciously secret Yoga retreat you've been dreaming about.

Their property, on the shores of Changlang Beach along the Andaman coast of Thailand, is the newly opened Anantara Si Kao Resort & Spa and we've chosen to highlight because they're extending their “Wellness 360” program to include two different week-long retreats offered in October (plenty of time for you to start planning your trip now). Each retreat features instruction and consultations with leading experts in the fields of Pilates, yoga, dance, osteopathy, and Ayurveda. Participants will work with specialists to cultivate healthier choices to encourage balance of mind, body, and spirit that can be incorporated into a daily routine and practiced beyond the retreat. In addition to professional consultation and tailor-made exercise programs, guests will enjoy daily yoga, Pilates, and dance movement classes.

Included in the Wellness 360 Retreat package is one session with osteopath Dr. Geraldine van Boxmeer; an Ayurvedic consultation with renowned practitioner Kavitha Hulmani and resident naturopath Dr. Gopal; and a “wellness cuisine” cooking class with the resort’s resident chef, Kelly Brennan. One Anantara massage and an additional spa treatment of choice are also included in the package.

Wellness 360 Retreats will be held on the following dates:
October 5th to 12th
October 12th to 19th

Rates begin at $3,592 per person, which includes: seven night’s accommodations; round-trip airport transfers; all meals; daily classes, and selected therapies and consultations.

http://sikao.anantara.com/Si-Kao-Wellness-360-Retreat/default.aspx

Can I get an Om?

www.anantara.com

Bangkok, Thailand: The Metropolitan's Chic Bargain

While it may be the dead of winter, it’s summertime south of the equator, baby! So you know what that means? It may be brisk and windy outside, but somewhere on the planet the deals are hot, hot, hot. Like its counterpart in London, the Metropolitan Bangkok is cutting travelers a break. A City Room (normally $260 per night) can be had for just $99 per night – 62% off! Similar savings are on hand for a Studio Room, now $119 down from $300 (60% off), and a Metropolitan Room, now $150 down from $320 (53% off).

From the modernist façade to the staff’s Comme des Garçons uniforms and DJs spinning tracks at the trendy Met Bar, this is a hotel with serious style. The Metropolitan is ground zero in Bangkok, a sultry city that’s become a go-to spot for flocks of hip international travelers, Tucked away on South Sathorn Road in the city’s Central Business District, the hotel is minutes from the city’s main shopping areas and a 40-minute drive to the International Airport.

The offer, valid through the end of April, is subject to availability. Room reservations must be booked and fully paid seven days prior to arrival; while payment is non-refundable, it can be changed or revised subject to availability. To secure these rates, one must book for a minimum of two consecutive nights, and rates are room only (exclusive of breakfast) and subject to 10% service charge and 7% government tax. The offer cannot be combined with any other offer.

www.metropolitan.como.mz/bangkok

Sleep It Off: Top Four Art Hotels

ANATOLIAN HOUSES (CAPPADOCIA, TURKEY)

Imagine this. A hotel carved out of the soft stone of a mountainside. Now imagine lounging on a bear rug on top of these stones and taking in an ancient view. A luxurious new boutique hotel built by the villagers in the Turkish mountains of Cappadocia, Anatolian Houses, contain spectacular pillars and minaret-like forms like nothing you've ever seen. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, this hotel was constructed within five different cave formations. Each suite represents a different historical era and the themed furniture artwork in each suite is individually chosen.

Rates begin at $300
www.anatolianhouses.com

MARQUES DE RISCAL (SPAIN)

One of Frank O. Gehry's architectural masterpieces, Hotel Marqués De Riscal comes in after Bilbao's Guggenheim. Located in Spain's beautiful Rioja wine country, it's a work of modern art complete with Gehry's signature metal sculptures twisting around the exterior and surrounding vineyards. An ancient wine cellar also serves as banqueting space (hint hint....perfect for weddings or a renewal of your vows)

Rates start at $953 per night when booked on:
www.kiwicollection.com

HOTEL OF MODERN ART - HOMA LIBRE (CHINA)

Whether you agree with China's politics or not, this hotel is a tremendous piece of art on it's own and certainly worth mentioning. HOMA Libre - The Hotel of Modern Art - is home to Asia's largest art studio and the leading collection of contemporary Asian art. Not far from Yangshou, Hotel of Modern Art – HOMA Libre is located within the Yuzi Paradise private park. In addition to greeting your inner-artist with Chinese calligraphy classes, you can take a private gondolier that will guide you down the Yulong River on a two-seat bamboo raft. The only Chinese property that's part of the prestigious Relais Chateaux alliance, not to be missed... dinner in the impressive cathedral-sized cave.

Rates range from $297 to $1143
www.kiwicollection.com

INDIGO PEARL (PHUKET, THAILAND)

The Indigo Pearl resort was inspired by the city’s tin-mining past, a post-modern interpretation of a Thai factory by Bensley Design Studios, the hot design group known for creating some of Asia's most interesting design hotels, including the Udaivilas, Udaipur (India) mentioned in the post below. Modern sculpture and industrial art mix past with present. High design aesthetics + nature = excellence in destination travel. Unusual chandeliers light up the hallways leading to rooms, villas, and pool pavilions where surreal design is married with deluxe amenities.

Rates begin at $260
www.indigo-pearl.com