Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008 - (Page 60)

THE PULSE private guided travel W HOTELS: National Geographic Adventure Best Travel Companies on Earth 2008 Hip in Istanbul & Doha W Hotels (www.whotels.com) is set to open the doors to two of its five new properties in Europe and the Middle East: Istanbul and Qatar. The others will open in Dubai, Athens and Barcelona. The 137-room W Istanbul opens this month as part of the mixed-use redevelopment of the landmark Akaretler Row Houses in the heart of Besiktas. Constructed by Sultan Abdülaziz in the l870s to house Dolmabahçe Palace workers, the row houses have remained a symbol of the magnificence and decadence of the 19th-century Ottoman Empire. Accommodations will include simplex and duplex suites, many with their own private gardens, balconies and terraces. The best suite in the house will be the 1,830-squarefoot E WOW Duplex, with a terrace overlooking the Bosphorus (the strait between the Black Sea and the Sea of Marmara). Features include a kitchenette, a dining table for 10, a bar and an oversized Jacuzzi soaking tub in the master bath. The über-tech-friendly hotel will offer electronic check-in, iPod docking stations, IP telephones and interactive televisions in its rooms to complete Wi-Fi access Along with W’s signature Living Room, where guests and locals alike can socialize, the property will feature Jean-George Vongerichten’s Spice Market restaurant overlooking the Bosphorus, as well as a Sweat Gym and three spa treatment rooms (products are by Estée Lauder). For VIPs, contact General Manager Goktug Ozdemir (goktugozdemir@whotels. com; 90-212-327-9116). Set to open in June, the W Doha Hotel & Private guide & vehicle per couple India China Costa Rica Peru Morocco Egypt Kenya 6 days from $1332 6 days from $1307 6 days from $924 5 days from $1880 6 days from $1384 9 days from $1607 6 days from $1608 W DOHA will be home to 445 sleek guest rooms, suites and apartments (both photos). Customized Luxury Tours 24/7 Local Client Support 10% Commission K ensi ng ton Tou r s.c om Toll-Fr ee (8 6 6) 4 45 -8978 Residences, in the West Bay area of the city on the Qatar peninsula, will feature 445 guest rooms, suites and apartments (from studios to two bedrooms). This hotel is also tricked out with the latest high-tech amenities. Its E WOW Suite lives up to its name; along with the usual impressive bells and whistles we expect from W, this 3,444-square-foot, one-bedroom beauty overlooking the sea comes with a fully equipped kitchen, a meeting/dining room with a table for eight, a massage room, a pool table and an aquarium. A connecting guest room easily converts the suite to a two-bedroom abode. Along with its own Living Room, the property will feature several dining spots, including Market and Spice Market from Vongerichten, La Maison du Caviar and three lounges, including the poolside shisha lounge overlooking the Arabian Gulf. Top-drawer pleasures include a Bliss Spa and Sweat Gym. For VIPs, contact Director of Marketing Marta Andreeva (marta.andreeva@whotels; 974-499-6536). —Lauren Price 60 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | April 2008 http://kensingtontours.com http://www.whotels.com http://kensingtontours.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter London DESTINATIONS India Greece HOTELS Golf Royal Hideaway Playacar Chateau Marmont SPAS Hawaiin Spas Southeast Asia CRUISES: Antarctica Cover Story: Rocket man The Pulse Traveling Gourmet Jetset Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - April 2008

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