Luxury Travel Advisor - February 2008 - (Page 9) GLENEAGLES’ bucolic country set- ting is ideal for a vacation laden with outdoor sports and R&R. they are the largest and possess the best views of the estate, which vary by the golf grounds, gardens, tennis courts and nearby Ochil Hills, depending on the location of the room. Tip: Weekends are especially busy throughout the year and peak times also include Christmas, New Year’s, Easter and school holidays. General Manager Bernard Murphy (44-1-764-662-231) can assist with special requests; for VIPs, contact Sales Manager Karoline Karlsson (866-463-8734). Gleneagles is relatively secluded; it’s about an hour’s drive from either Edinburgh or Glasgow airports. As such, the hotel offers a slew of activities for guests to occupy their time onsite, the most popular of which is certainly its three golf courses, which are open year-round. During our stay, we did so much, but took part in only a fraction of the activities Gleneagles offers, which include clay pigeon shooting, off-road driving, horseback riding and golfing. (Gleneagles will host the Ryder Cup in 2014.) We highly recommend taking part in a falconry hunt. (Tip: Request William as your clients’ guide; he will fill the entire three-hour excursion with fascinating facts they never knew about birds of prey.) All activities can be set up through resort sales (866-881-9525). Eating is as much a sport as anything at Gleneagles. The breakfast buffet at The Strathearn Restaurant is a must, offering up tailor-made omelets, classic Scottish haggis and an array of pastries, yogurt and cereal. The vibe during breakfast is relaxed and casual; dinner attire at The Strathearn, however, tends to be “smart casual.” Deseo (which in Spanish means “desire”) is the hotel’s newest restaurant, offering a Mediterranean food hall that will cater to your clients’ every whim; the menu even notes that substitutions are welcome. The night we dined here happened to be our guest’s birthday; one phone call prior to our arrival and the hospitality that Gleneagles’ staff is known for was taken to another level. We were greeted with champagne, given a complimentary slice of cake complete with a candle and told “happy birthday” by nearly everyone we encountered that evening. We even came back to our room to find a gift from Guest Relations Manager Iris Marhencke (iris.marhencke@gleneagles.com; 44-1-764662-231). Andrew Fairlie, the only two-Michelin-star restaurant in SHOOTING SCHOOL is among Gleneagles’ popular activities. ESTATE SUITES are outfitted with home-like furnishings (sitting room shown). www.luxuryta.com February 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 9 http://www.luxuryta.com
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