Luxury Travel Advisor - September 2008 - (Page 17)

THE VIEW FROM the Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai’s outdoor pool (here and left). a two-bedroom suite. The hotel had not yet opened its Premier Rooms and Premier, Deluxe and Presidential Suites so we didn’t get a glimpse of those; we can reveal, however, that all accommodations will have floor-to-ceiling windows. The hotel’s San-Qi restaurant, which offers three menus of different Asian cuisines, is already causing a buzz in Bombay. Downstairs, Chinese and Indian dishes are prepared in open kitchens, while the upper level is devoted to Japanese food, with a sushi bar, teppanyaki table and robata grill. Patrons can sit at counters at any of the cooking stations or at tables, and there’s a chef ’s table in front of the kitchen on the first floor. We always consider it a treat when an urban hotel sports an outdoor pool; the Four Seasons Mumbai’s pool deck actually had a Beverly Hills vibe, thanks to the L-shaped infinity pool that’s inset with a square wading pool and flanked by posh chaise lounges shaded by trellises. During our swim, a pool attendant set out cold washcloths, glasses of water and spritz bottles for us. The hotel’s spa doesn’t open until the end of this month; however, Spa Director Andrea Meier (andrea.meier@ fourseasons.com) can be contacted for details and to schedule appointments for your clients. The Four Seasons’ head concierge, Harishchandra Sompura (concierge.mumbai@fourseasons. com), can book excursions by private jet to Agra, Rajasthan, wine country or tea estates, as well as tee times at the Bombay Presidency golf course. The luxury travel advisor liaison here is the director of sales, Ranjeet Khare (ranjeet. khare@fourseasons.com). Contact Hotel Manager Uday Rao (uday.rao@fourseasons.com) for your ultra-VIPs. After a few days, we flew to Kochi (the setting of Arundhati Roy’s best-selling novel, The God of Small Things), where we stayed at the Taj Malabar Cochin (www.tajhotels.com/co chin). This resort feels every bit the tropical getaway, even though it sits beside a harbor that’s been a commercial hub for more than five centuries. It’s no wonder Kochi has earned the nickname, “Queen of the Arabian Sea.” On the hotel grounds, mango trees are everywhere. The seaside infinity-edge pool is bordered by palm trees and elephant sculptures, with a villa next to the pool housing the spa. Spa Director Prakash Nair (nair. prakash@tajhotels.com) will help your clients choose and schedule treatments. The Taj Malabar comprises a Heritage Wing, built in 1935 as a lodge for the sea trade, and a Tower Wing added in the 1980s. Opt for the Heritage Wing, since it has more character. The public areas, including the hotel lobby, of the Heritage Wing have a colonial ambiance compared to the more contemporary styling in the Tower: Think lots of wood versus glossy marble-like surfaces. Insider Secret: The Superior Rooms here are larger than those in the Tower. The best rooms in the Heritage Wing are the Sea Views Nos. 112 to 118. Note: A good number of rooms in both wings have twin beds, so be sure to specify if your clients want a room with one larger bed. We got a peek at the Malabar Suite in the Heritage Wing, www.luxuryta.com September 2008 | LUXURY TRAVEL ADVISOR 17 http://www.tajhotels.com/cochin http://www.tajhotels.com/cochin http://www.luxuryta.com

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Luxury Travel Advisor - September 2008 Contents Publisher's Letter Editor's Letter Provence India Alvear Palace Hotel Oceana Santa Monica English Country Houses Chewton Glen Summer Lodge Chilston Park Hotel Trump International Hotel & Tower Chicago Park Hyatt Milan Intercontinental Montelucia Jackson Hole World Cruises French Riveria Spas Voluntourism Vacations Signature Travel Network The Pulse Profile Luxury Travel Expo Sightings Source List Leaders Speak

Luxury Travel Advisor - September 2008

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