Luxury Travel Advisor - January 2008 - (Page 47) BANYAN TREE PHUKET’s opulent spa comprises 12 Thai-style treat- ment pavilions (above); seven pavilions feature side-by-side beds. Some pavilions overlook the spa’s pool (left). Thai-style house, it features 14 treatment rooms, including eight doubles, three Deluxe Suites, the Oriental Suite and the Water Suite, each with its own shower and steam room. Our sources tell us the spa’s Essential Oil Massage with Ms. Naleerat is without a doubt the most requested service—that’s no surprise, given its pairing of Thai and European massages by way of long strokes with varying degrees of pressure and stretching. The Ayurvedic Penthouse opened in November, with four luxury suites and one meditation room. An ancient system of health care, Ayurveda promotes health and beauty of the body, mind and spirit. Penthouse treatments begin with a private consultation—body type assessments, pulse diagnosis and recommendations for a healthier diet and lifestyle—with an Ayurvedic practitioner from India. So far, the most popular Ayurvedic treatment is the Keraleeya Abhyangam, a distinctive and synchronized massage with two therapists who use harmonious strokes, rhythm, speed and pressure from head to toe to achieve physical, mental and spiritual well-being. By the way, we loved our complimentary Time Out with a Yogic Life Style Trainer that’s only made available to Ayurvedic guests. The spa’s director, Nartudee Bridi (nartrudn@ mohg.com), highly recommends booking all treatment ahead of time. Naturally, your clients deserve to continue down a pampering path when it comes to overnight stays in Bangkok, so reserve any one of the hotel’s 38 butler-serviced suites. The best fit-for-royalty suite is the 3,000-square-foot, two-bedroom Oriental Suite, but other suites to consider are any one of the four Authors’ Suites that measure at about 1,100 square feet. Tips for booking: The Joseph Conrad suite is the hotel’s only accommodation with a terrace; the newest rooms are in the Garden Wing and feature some of the best river views. All accommodations can be booked over the GDS. The VIP contact is Assistant Front Office Manager Khun Mayuree Laolugsanalerd (mayureel@ mohg.com). Luxury transpor- tation is a snap for this hotel, considering its fleet of 22 BMWs. Contact Chief Concierge Khun Chaba (orbkk-chiefconcierge@ mohg.com) to arrange it. The Shangri-La Singapore Hotel’s (www.shangri-la.com) small but sensational spa may have just two treatment rooms, but the list is long for tactile treats—advance bookings are a must. Tip: Nearly a third of the spa menu’s services can be enjoyed en-suite. Your clients will love the Shang Ambassador, particularly with Wendy Ho. A signature treatment, it combines a caviar facial, rose Profyr stone massage (70 percent of the stone’s components are crystal, traditionally used for energy balancing), chamomile body scrub and foot ritual using Kerstin Florian products. Along with a great fitness club, there’s an array of serene relaxation areas. Health Club Manager Ravi Maniam (ravi.maniam@shangrila.com) will happily look after your VIPs. Royals, heads of state and celebs routinely request the hotel’s premier accommodations in the Valley Wing (which can be sealed off for security purposes), with its own driveway entrance and lobby. Best to book is the 3,500-squarefoot Shangri-La Suite. Featuring private elevator access and a lovely balcony overlooking the property’s famous gardens, this two-bedroom suite boasts a living room, study, formal dining room adjacent to a kitchenette and its own gym. This suite, as well as all Valley Wing suites, is butlerserviced around the clock. All are bookable over the GDS. Contact Senior Sales Manager Ms. Long Lee Wah (leewah. long@shangri-la.com) or Chief Concierge M. Karikalan (kari kalan.m@shangri-la.com) on behalf of your VIPs. With their own counter at Changi Airport’s Arrival Hall, the hotel’s Airport Concierges provide exceptionally luxurious, quick and private service between the hotel and airport. We motored throughout the city and Sentosa Island via a Mercedes with James Bala. A preferred Valley Wing driver, he led us to out-of-the-way shops in and around Arab Street for unusual (and, on our own, undiscoverable) antiques and jewelry. www.luxuryta.com January 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 47 http://www.shangri-la.com http://www.luxuryta.com
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