Luxury Travel Advisor - February 2008 - (Page 10) BRAID HOUSE ROOMS bear contemporary décor. Scotland, attracts guests from outside the hotel; reservations should be made months in advance by calling resort sales (866-881-9525). In March (about a month behind schedule) Gleneagles will unveil its new 20-treatment-room spa, featuring such services as massages, facials and wraps using ESPA products. Insiders suspect a popular treatment will be the hot stone massage (request services by Nicola Coffield). It is recommended that treatments be booked ahead of arrival via resort sales. The spa also will feature a café and juice bar, sauna and steam rooms, a vitality pool and relaxation rooms. There are no spa suites, but many rooms will have private bathrooms. While adults try their hand at clay pigeon shooting, dog training or rabbit hunting, kids can take part in Gleneagles’ extensive year-round children’s program, which includes such activities as junior golf lessons and archery, as well as the new Teen Zone, featuring Sony PlayStations, PSPs, foosball, a pool table and the new playroom, where younger children can play in the sand pit or sit in the story-telling corner. With all Gleneagles has to offer, plus its stunning grounds, many are quick to suggest the property as a wedding destination, but management prefers the hotel, with its outstanding hospitality and comfortable accommodations, be known as a honeymoon destination. There isn’t a specific coordinator for such occasions, so it’s best to contact resort sales to set up special touches like in-suite flower arrangements or a welcome bottle of wine. Insider Tip: With its close proximity to Edinburgh and Glasgow, arrange a chauffeured car or car rental for Gleneagles’ guests to explore one or both cities, Edinburgh for history buffs and Glasgow for shopping trips. Gleneagles’ resort sales will be able to assist with any transfer needs. We chose to explore Edinburgh. Our driver dropped us off at Wagner’s Square, a perfect spot to begin exploring the city, as it places visitors right in the center of some of Edinburgh’s more famed attractions, including the shopping mecca of Princes Street, Edinburgh Castle and the “Winter Wonderland” that appears in the Princes Street Gardens around Christmastime. (Tip: The holidays are a particularly wonderful time to visit Scotland’s capital city, as Edinburgh is rife with Christmas markets, light displays and, come New Year’s, its famous Hogmanay celebration.) Edinburgh Castle is accessible by foot after climbing a somewhat steep hill; for less active clients, suggest a taxi or one of the city’s many hop-on/hop-off tour buses. From the top, clients can snap pictures of the stunning views of the city; inside the castle walls, suggest a visit to the Scottish National War Memorial in the castle’s Crown Square, where clients can check for their surnames in the books of the deceased. Another must-visit is Rose Street, an almost purely pedestrian road lined with pubs and restaurants. We chose to take in some light bites and native ale at The Kenilworth (152-154 Rose Street; 44-1-312-261-773), a structure that’s been in place since the early 1700s. Service is a little slow, but the cheddar and chutney sandwich is highly recommended. Later on, a visit to David Bann (www.davidbann.com) shows us that Scotland isn’t all about haggis. The strictly vegetarian restaurant is a trendy spot off the Royal Mile. Though you might not need a reservation, the restaurant on Monday night filled up pretty quickly, suggesting it would be wise to call ahead on the weekends. ADVISOR INSIGHT: The Royal Mile, the strip everyone knows for its proliferation of Scottish tchotchkes and pubs, is right outside of Edinburgh Castle. “My favorite [Royal Mile pub] is The Witchery,” says Mary Todt, a SCOTS (Specialist Counselor On Travel to Scotland) master at Colpitts Travel, a virtual agency based in Middletown, NJ. “It’s very high up on the Royal Mile, down a little alley. The first room is a little pub where the tables are too close together, but if you go a few steps farther, you’ll be in the secret garden.” She continues, “It’s just so wonderful and romantic, there are columns everywhere so you don’t feel like you’re sitting next to anyone.” Meanwhile, down the hill is The Scotsman hotel, which offers up an authentic Scottish vibe. “It’s the place to stay [in Edinburgh],” says Todt. “It’s a funky hotel, a newspaper used to operate out of there and the hotel is kind of quirky.” Rooms have a turntable outside the door so guests don’t have to greet room service. On the way into Edinburgh, clients must pass Stirling Castle, a structure similar to Edinburgh Castle that is surrounded by some of Scotland’s most important landmarks, like Stirling Bridge. Another castle day-trip Todt recommends is Crathes Castle, in Aberdeenshire, about 90 minutes from Gleneagles. She considers Crathes the best to visit because of its six gardens that lead into one another, with each featuring a different color. (Tip: June is the best time to visit.) If clients wish to venture further out to the Scottish Highlands, Todt recommends stopping at Glencove, to the west of Gleneagles. “It’s a marvelously atmospheric glen, whether you go in rain or shine,” she says. “It’s the beginning of the Highlands and there are streams and waterfalls every way you look.” 10 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | February 2008 http://www.davidbann.com
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