Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa Maldives Takes Away The 2014 Travelers' Choice Award For Top All-Inclusive Resort

Centara Hotels & Resorts group is proud to announce its recent success at the Traveler's Choice Awards, where its Grand Island Resort & Spa was recognized as Top All Inclusive Resort.

“We've worked hard to make the Grand Island Resort & Spa live up to visitor's expectations when they come to the Maldives, and I'm happy that the Travelers' Choice Awards have recognized the unique qualities of the resort,” Mr Voytek Klasicki, Centara's Area General Manager commented. The awards, one of the travel and tourism industry's most prestigious, are based on millions of reviews created by savvy and experienced TripAdvisor travelers and so accurately reflect the appeal that the Grand Island Resort & Spa has for its guests.

The popularity of holiday in the Maldives is growing, and it's easy to see the perennial appeal. With dazzling sand beaches, and crystal-clear turquoise waters, this Indian ocean destination is viewed by many as the quintessential tropical get-away.

The Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa is located in the South Ari Atoll, and was conceived by Thailand’s Centara Hotels & Resorts as a priority when it came to opening the group's first overseas property. The South Ari Atoll is a haven for marine life and offers resort guests an unmatched chance to get up close and personal with manta rays, reef sharks and colourful fish, while for divers the resort is in close proximity to famous sites such as Broken Rock, Kudarah Thila and 5 Rocks.

Surround by a glorious white sandy beach and the only Resort in the Maldives designed in a colonial style with whitewashed timber buildings and meandering boardwalks, the Centara Grand Island Resort & Spa offers both stunning beachside and over-water accommodation, and in a relatively short time it has gained considerable market share.

Mr. Klasicki went on to say that he is not surprised that reviews and opinions from Trip Advisor have been so positive, given the resort represents the ultimate in all-inclusive experiences and is truly unique in its totally immersive appeal. One of the truly innovative ways in which the Resort manages to be so relaxing is its 'cash-free policy' in which guests enjoying the “Ultimate All Inclusive” programme will find everything they desire already paid for – including champagne breakfasts, a choice of three lunch and dinner venues with themed international buffets and an open bar service which provides a scintillating array of cocktails, beers, wines and spirits.

Adding further, he sums up the Resort experience as a total experience for all the senses. We have a totally unrestricted dining concept so guests may book a table to dine in any or our specialty restaurants as often as they like. When it comes to leisure, we’ve included both non-motorised and a selection of motorized water sports as well as 5 excursions during the guests’ stay comprising of whale shark snorkeling, sunset cruises, local island visits, night fishing, and boats for snorkeling on other reefs. Other benefits such as in room mini bar, wifi, tennis and gym are also included. The cherry on our ‘Ultimate All Inclusive cake’ is that each and every guests can also enjoy a daily spa treatment in our SPA Cenvaree and this is something that no other resort in Maldives can boast.

The Grand Island Resort & Spa has a choice of 112 suites and villas suitable for individual travellers, honeymoon couples and family groups, all ranging from 76 to 146 square metres. One truly distinctive feature of the Resort is that it offers guests access to the Club - a "resort within a resort" accommodation experience.

All guest suites have bedroom and living room, a generous private terrace, and all of the amenities travelers expect from a premier beach resort including satellite TV and high-speed internet access. Guests opting for the Club level of accommodation also have access to the exclusive Club Lounge with private pool area and complimentary breakfasts, snacks, cocktails and dinner. The Club also serves premium wines and beverages and what’s more we provide an upgraded mini bar and will take care of the guests laundry.

The resort also is unusual in that it features a variety of dining options, including the all-day venue Reef, authentic Suan Bua and Azzuri Mare Italian & Seafood restaurant, plus the Aqua and Coral Bars for nightly entertainment. For those seeking day-time activity, the Resort offers recreation options, sports and fitness facilities and a professionally-managed Kids’ Club, while those looking to relax are welcome at Spa Cenvaree, The resort is easily accessible from Male International Airport or from the recently-opened Maamagili Airport, handily located close to the Resort in the South Ari Atoll.

Centara Hotels & Resorts is Thailand’s leading operator of hotels, with 48 deluxe and first-class properties covering all the major tourist destinations in the Kingdom.

A further 26 resorts in Maldives, Vietnam, Bali, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Qatar, Laos and Oman brings the present total to 74 properties. Brands and properties within Centara ensure that specific categories such as couples, families, individuals, and meetings and incentives groups will all find a hotel or resort that is appropriate to their needs. Centara operates 30 branches of Spa Cenvaree, one of Thailand’s most luxurious and innovative spa brands, together with 7 branches of the value brand Cense by Spa Cenvaree, which provides core spa services for busy travellers. The company’s Kids’ Club is available at all the family-friendly resorts to ensure that the youngsters and teens have their own leisure zone. Centara also operates three state-of-the-art convention centres in Bangkok, and two in northeastern Thailand, one being located in Udon Thani and the other in Khon Kaen. The latest Centara brand is named COSI Hotels, an affordable lifestyle brand designed for travellers who predominantly make their bookings via the internet and who want comfort and convenience at affordable prices; the brand is under development with the first property due to open in 2016.

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Hot Destinations To Watch For 2015

As the end of the year approaches, travel plans for 2015 are afoot. But with so many countries to choose from, where should you pick? Looking at the major events, trends and political changes around the world, our top five predictions for 2015 are Sri Lanka, Romania, Vietnam, Colombia and Oman. Here’s why you should put these on your list.

Sri Lanka

For a relatively small country, there is a lot on offer in Sri Lanka. The country is excellent value for money and there are hotels to suit every taste and budget. There is a fascinating cultural heritage as well as wildlife, colonial towns and tropical beaches. With new hotels being built on the island’s east coast, and improvements to the infrastructure on the island’s southern and eastern coasts, as well as political stability, its popularity looks set to remain.

Oman

Combining breathtaking landscapes with a fascinating culture, Oman is perhaps the least known destination in the Middle East. But with the recent visit of Prince Harry, and new luxury hotels opening up, this looks set to change. From magnificent forts and palaces to rolling sand dunes and mountain ranges interspersed with lush wadis, Oman has a lot to offer with a relatively short flight time and minimal jet lag. The guaranteed sunshine during the British winter makes it a great destination for a New Year break.

Vietnam

As tourists are familiar with Thailand and all that it offers, increasing numbers are looking to explore elsewhere in the region. Vietnam has an interesting history and culture and is seeing more investment in its infrastructure, with the launch of an additional direct flight from London next summer and new hotels opening. As the trend for experiential holidays continues to develop, cookery schools are popular with guests wanting to learn how to recreate their favourite dishes.

Colombia

As Latin American countries continue to soar in popularity, travellers are looking for lesser explored destinations for their holidays. Still largely untouched by mass tourism, Colombia is fast becoming popular. From Andean peaks and the lush Amazon basin, to tropical coastline and unspoilt beaches, there is a diverse mix of landscapes, colonial heritage and interesting towns and cities.

Romania

Not many people know that the Prince of Wales owns a collection of houses in Transylvania, which he bought to help to preserve the cultural heritage of this little known part of Europe. Available for tourists to stay in, the houses give a unique glimpse into life in an 18th century Saxon village. The country has a wealth of sights to explore, including painted monasteries, dramatic castles and palaces, medieval towns and beautiful scenery.

Contributed by Katie Parsons, PR Manager at Cox & Kings. www.aluxuryblog.com

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6 Of The Best… Places To Sleep Under The Stars

Living in London, surrounded by artificial light at all hours, it is easy to forget the beauty of the stars above us. But Professor Brian Cox has been doing his best to inspire Britain to look at the night sky and newspapers are filled with stories of magnificent northern lights, leaving me to wonder where are the best places to go to sleep under beautiful starry skies…

1. Baines Camp, Okavango delta, Botswana

Not only does Baines Camp, deep in the wilderness of the Okavango delta, offer superb wildlife viewing, it also has luxurious four poster beds that can be rolled out on to the deck of their stilted suite to sleep under the starry African sky. Drifting off to the sounds of the bush is an unforgettable experience – although it’s reassuring to know you can wheel the bed back inside if something goes bump in the night.

2. Tented camp near Merzouga, Morocco

To get more than a glimpse of the fabled Sahara, try sleeping out under the desert night sky near Merzouga. Sipping a hot mint tea not far from where the camel trains left on their 52-day journey to Timbuktu makes for a truly atmospheric and unforgettable night. The view out across that vast expanse of nothing, illuminated by the stars, is magical.

3. Swag on Blue Mountains Private Safari, New South Wales, Australia

A far cry from the jolly swagman’s bed roll in Waltzing Matilda, in the Blue Mountains, try sleeping under the stars in a luxury swag with soft pillows and duvets amid eucalypt and casuarina trees. The camp’s isolation means there’s no light pollution to obscure the southern night sky, which stretches as far as you can see above your open-air bed. It’s hard to believe there can be so many stars.

4. Galapagos Safari Camp, Santa Cruz Island

Staying on the Galapagos Islands, 1,000km off Ecuador’s coast means you can come face to face with some remarkable wildlife by day, but also spectacular starry skies at night. From the comfort of the luxury tents at the Galapagos Safari Camp in the remote highlands of Santa Cruz, you can see the equatorial skies with constellations from both northern and southern hemispheres.

5. Baghvan Lodge, Pench National Park, India

Once you commit to your butler in the morning that you want to try the sleepout, you have set yourself up for one of the most exciting night’s sleeps you’ll ever have. Up on the rooftop platform, wrapped in a duvet and protected by a mosquito net, you become engulfed by the sounds of the forest all around and the starry sky above.

6. 1000 Nights Camp, Wahiba Sands, Oman

Travelling deep into the vast Wahiba Sands in Oman, rediscover the beauty of the night sky at the 1000 Nights Camp, laid out in a spectacular setting among dunes and cineraria trees. Although the nights can be cold, it is well worth staying up after sunset when the Arabian sky bursts into light with thousands of stars, miles from any skyscraper or streetlight.

Contributed by Katie Parsons, PR Manager at Cox & Kings. aluxurytravelblog.com

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6 Of The Best Adventure Destinations In the World

Adventure holidays no longer have to be the exclusive domain of the intrepid, young, single traveler, ready to rough it in the world’s most remote places. Many couples and families like a bit of an adrenaline rush too. Here are just some ideas for those who would like to inject a spot of action into their travels, whilst not losing out on comfort and luxury.

Costa Rica

With more protected land than any other country in the world, more bird species than the whole of North America, more butterflies than Africa and beaches on tow oceans, Costa Rica could have been put on the planet as a living classroom for natural history. A two-week trip could encompass Pacific rainforests, nights in a jungle loge, an exhilarating river-rafting trip, the impressively active Arenal volcano and the cloud forest of Monteverde where you can test your nerve on a canopy walkway high in treetops. And there’s a final wind-down at a beachfront hotel on the Pacific coast, with swimming, surfing, horse-riding and turtle watching on the menu.

Morocco

First to Marrakech and ‘the biggest circus in the world’ on Djemma El Fna, the main square, with its daily show of juggles, acrobats, snake charmers and drummers. From there, drive to the exotic south, to Ouarzazate, the gate to the desert. You can then drive by 4WD through the palm groves of the Draa valley, visiting the kasbahs of ancient warlords who guarded the caravan routes through the Atlas Mountains, before spending the final few days on the beach of Essaouria.

Nepal

Why not give skiing miss this year and go trekking, white-water rafting and elephant riding in the world’s greatest adventure playground? On trek in the Himalayan foothills, you can either camp o stay in warm, comfortable lodges if the rigours of life under canvas do not appeal, before running the rapids of the beautiful Seti River down to the Royal Chitwan National Park. Here you stay in lodges built on stilts, track one-horned rhinoceros and Royal Bengal tiger through the lowland jungles of this spectacular wildlife, and even get to wash your own elephant at the end of the day – animal therapy at its very best!

Thailand

A mixed bag of exotic pleasures, starting with the high-octane capital of Bangkok. After doing the hot rounds of historical sights, including the Grand Palace, a walled, magical inner city filled with a fantasia of murals, ceramics, gold-leaf and mother-of-pearl topped by dreaming spires, there’s also time for hair-raising jaunts by tuk-tuk and longtail boats. From there we would recommend heading north to Chiang Mai and up to Chiang Rai, gateway to the so-called Golden Triangle, an elephant camp and visit exotic hill tribes before spending time on once of Thailand’s fabulous beaches.

Oman

Arguably the most interesting of the Middle East destinations and ideal for couples and families who would like to inject a measure of education into their holidays. As well as beach, Oman reveals a rich seam of history, markets unchanged since Biblical times, nights in the desert with adventures ranging from dune bashing to camel rides and spectacular mountain scenery.

Peru

Woven into its geography of coastal desert, a backbone of soaring Andean peaks and Amazonian jungle are fabled archaeological sites, a vibrant Indian culture and a veneer of Spanish colonialism. Plus there’s Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world with its unique Uros islands made form floating reeds, the Inca capital of Cuzco and the classic trek to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas, past waterfalls, ruins and cloud forest. Or you can take the train for ease and speed. We would also recommend, if time permits, adding a cruise of the Galapagos Islands, Darwin’s ‘Living Laboratory’.

Conributed by Nick Van Gruisen, Managing Director of The Ultimate Travel Company. www.aluxurytravelblog.com

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