Virtuoso Best of the Best 2009 - (Page 30) FRégATE ISLAnD pRIVATE Frégate Island, Seychelles At Frégate Island Private, it’s impossible not to feel at one with the heavenly nature that surrounds you. At four degrees south of the equator, the island is a vision of giant granite boulders, powdery white-sand beaches and some of the world’s rarest flora and fauna, including over 600 Aldabra Giant Tortoises. The resort restricts itself to a selected number of guests at a time, thereby lessening its impact on the local environment. Practically everything is homegrown here, from the ingredients used in your spa treatments to the water you drink and the fruits, vegetables and herbs you’ll eat at the Plantation House restaurant. DISTAnCE FROM SEyChELLES AIRpORT (SEz): VIRTuOSO AMEnITy EUR100 (approx. US $140) spa credit per person and complimentary snorkeling excursion (weather permitting). In ThE KnOW Wake your partner early and call dibs on the island’s “do-not-disturb” private beach for couples. 30 AF R ICA & M ID D LE E AST 31 mi/50 km nORTh ISLAnD LODgE North Island, Seychelles Vacationing at the North Island Lodge is a lot like sailing away aboard Noah’s Ark. The lodge is the result of an ambitious conservation project, aiming to restore the natural habitat and wildlife of this fertile paradise. Each villa in the lodge was handcrafted by Seychellois and African craftsmen from wood, local-hewn stone and glass, and each blends seamlessly into its natural environment. Island activity focuses around the openair Piazza, where you may plan your excursions: to the spa for holistic treatments, on island hikes, into the ocean for game fishing or to the “no-menu” dining room, where the chef creates whatever you’re craving. DISTAnCE FROM SEyChELLES AIRpORT (SEz): VIRTuOSO AMEnITy One 30-minute massage per person in spa or in-villa. In ThE KnOW During your dive experience, a second divemaster acts as photographer to take pictures for your keepsake CD to take home. 20 mi/32 km OnE&OnLy LE SAInT géRAn Pointe de Flacq, Mauritius One&Only Le Saint Géran is one of those rare places you’ll find yourself daydreaming about long after your return home. So it’s little wonder romantics and globetrotting families return time and time again to this haven of tranquility, set on a private peninsula in sun-splashed Mauritius. Every suite has a striking view of the vast Indian Ocean. Indulgences are many, from the sublime spa to dining based on the renowned cuisine of Alain ducasse and Vineet Bhatia. Active types tee off on the Gary Player nine-hole course or hit the lagoon for snorkeling, windsurfing and wakeboarding. DISTAnCE FROM MAuRITIuS AIRpORT (MRu): VIRTuOSO AMEnITy Two 50-minute massages per couple. In ThE KnOW The resort’s 17-foot-tall bejeweled tipi by “Bohemian chic” designer Alice Temperley is available for spa treatments or private dinners. 60 minutes
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