Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008 - (Page 12)

Unobstructed views from the GRAND WAILEA NAPUA GRAND SUITE (above) look down on the manicured lawns and sea in the distance. GRAND WAILEA’S HUMUHUMUNUKUNUKUAPUA’A (left) is a romantic dinner dream come true. In January 2007, the resort opened its exclusive Napua Tower, a private club area situated in the heart of the hotel. Napua Tower features dedicated checkin and concierge services, as well as larger upgraded guest rooms, daily continental breakfast and afternoon cocktails and hors d’oeuvres. We hear the tower’s two 5,500-square-foot Grand Suites often are occupied by Alist guests. Connecting rooms are available throughout the resort, perfect for families. If clients are traveling with kids who love to swim, ask for a ground-floor room in the Lagoon wing, which is steps from the pool area. Because of the resort’s size and offerings, we say it’s best to contact Michelle Perkins (rooms@ gwrmail.com; 800-888-6100) in reservations or Patrick Ornellas (patrick.ornellas@grandwailea. com; 866-702-9182) in the sales office to make sure your clients are paired with the most appropriate accommodations. The resort’s activity pool complex is the ultimate playground for kids—there’s a lazy river and a Tarzan-style rope swing—but we found our own bliss in the 50,000-square-foot Spa Grande, the largest in Hawaii. We arrived for our treatment early in order to try out the spa’s Termé, which staff describe as “East meets West meets Hawaii.” Termé facilities include a Roman tub, saunas, cascading waterfalls, Swiss jet showers, a Japanese furo and five specialty baths; each spa guest is also treated to a complimentary loofah scrub in the Termé prior to his or her treatment. During our relaxing couple’s massage, our massage therapists, April Lawrence and Laurie Noble, took great care in explaining each step and left us feeling completely invigorated. Insiders say Miryam Litch, who has mastered the Lomi Lomi technique, is among the spa’s most popular massage therapists, and that for skincare services, Betty Schneider can’t be beat. Book spa treatments through the spa’s reservations staff (spa@grandwailea.com; 808-8751234) or, ideally, when the room reservation is made. When it comes to romantic dining, the resort’s oceanfront restaurant Humuhumunukunukuapua’a (Humu for short), which sits atop a placid lagoon, is simply unrivaled. Aim for seating at Table 70, a.k.a. “the table under the stars,” which is separated from the thatch-roof main dining room via a short boardwalk. Our reservation coincided with the sunset, an unspeakably romantic backdrop for the six-course tast- ing menu prepared specially by Chef Mike Lofaro. Table 70 sets the stage for the ultimate dinner a deux but can comfortably accommodate larger parties as well. Book Table 70 as far in advance as possible, as restaurant staff told us that the table is in high demand for marriage proposals and the occasional celebrity (Michael Jordan among them). Ask Napua Tower Manager and Concierge Linda Loustau-Barut (linda.loustau-barut@grand wailea.com) to handle reservations. She also can assist with car rentals and provide directions for day trips around the island. Tip: If your clients plan to tackle the drive to Hana, suggest they do so in a rented convertible for the best views, making sure to pick up homemade treats like banana bread and macadamia brownies from roadside stands along the way. The highlight of our Hana excursion was a stop at Waianapanapa State Park, known for its black-sand beach and freshwater caves. There, a group of teenage locals awed us and other spectators with their daring high-diving display. Suggest that clients 12 LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR | August 2008

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Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Maui Dubai Cape Town The Capella Resort and Spa, at Pedregal Cabo San Lucas Ritz-Carlton Cancun Presidential Suites The Palazzo, Las Vegas The Water Club Arrabelle at Vail Square Ferntree The Spa at Half Moon Fall Foliage Cruises New England Strong Travel On the Horizon: Luxury Travel Expo The Pulse Traveling Shopper Leaders Speak Sightings Source List

Luxury Travel Advisor - August 2008

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