Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2008 - (Page 40) OPEN SPACES and raw materials bring the outdoors in on Medjumbe Private Island (loft shown, left). THE NAM HAI’s Spa Villas look out at a tranquil lotus pond (below). one- to five-bedroom pool villas. Two-bedroom pool villas are the most popular pick (they’re a great choice for families), but we love the palatial five-bedroom pool villas for their beachfront location, private butler service (offered in all pool villas) and grassy open areas that are ideal for a beach barbecue with family and friends. (Pool villa number 1010 is said to have the best ocean views of all.) Assistant Sales Manager Pham Ngoc Thuan (sales2@thenamhai.com; 84-8-520-2004) assists luxury travel advisors with bookings. Pre-arrival notes: Vietnamese law heavily restricts the use of private, personal helicopters. Arrange for your clients to fly—via commercial or private jet—into Danang International Airport, approximately 18 miles away, with a private transfer to the hotel in a limo or luxury SUV. Plan ahead when it comes to leisure activities, particularly a visit to the spa, which comprises eight Spa Villas built around a tranquil lotus pond. Spa Man- ager May Yen (spa@thenamhai. com; 84-0510-940-000, ext. 7700), who, along with her staff, is happy to offer expertise and booking assistance, says it’s best to reserve spa treatment times when your clients’ accommoda- tions are booked. Tip: We hear that Ms. Ketut Warini is among the most in-demand massage therapists, particularly for the Nam Hai Massage. Luxury travel advisors also may contact Assistant Front Office Manager and Concierge Pham Ba Hoa (afomcon@thena mhai.com; 84-0510-940-000), who can assistance with on- and off-site activities—an excursion into the ancient town of Hoian to peruse its souvenir and tailor shops—and dining. Insiders recommend an 8 p.m. reservation at the resort’s outdoor restaurant, when the weather is at its mildest and most comfortable. Try the tuna sashimi or the tandoorcooked tikka prawns with spiced dhal fritta, cucumber salad and minted yogurt. Regular wine dinners also are a popular draw. Book three months in advance for a stay during peak season, from December 24 through January 10. Sending a VIP to The Nam Hai? Let General Manager Wayne Duberly (gm@ thenamhai.com; 84-0510-940000) know. On southwestern St. Lucia, Ladera (www.ladera.com), which serious Superman II fans will recognize as the resort to which the high-flying hero (the late Christopher Reeve) flew to fetch a perfect flower for his beloved Lois Lane, perches among the island’s famous Piton Mountains with limitless views of the Caribbean Sea below. As there are just six villas and 21 suites here, booking is pretty simple: All rooms have the same, unobstructed views of the water and the Pitons. If your clients are in the market for the best accommodations, opt for one of the villas. If they’re traveling with family or multiple companions, choose a two-bedroom villa. Dream Suites are the most commonly requested of all. Guests staying in these suites for five nights or more receive Ladera’s Above and Beyond Welcome 40 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | January 2008 http://www.ladera.com
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