Recommend December 2012 - (Page 30)

asia south pacific FOR ASIA AND THE SOUTH PACIFIC, 2012 WAS A VINTAGE YEAR New destinations emerged while others kept their solid footing. sergio ortiz The last 12 months were ﬁlled with momentous happenings, especially in the thrilling and exotic Asian and South Paciﬁc destinations. Glancing over the shoulder at the year behind, new and stirring locales stood out, and all indications are that these destinations will continue to make an impact in the coming years, while at the same time proven standbys retain their formidable and popular grip. It’s not surprising that Myanmar and Bhutan stepped into the limelight to become something of the ﬂavors of the year because, by and large, their remote mysteriousness alone has traditionally been a powerful lure for those wishing to peek into their isolated beauty. Meantime, India, China, Japan, New Zealand and Fiji—proven and proﬁtable popular vacation spots—kept their solid footing among the most visited spots in the world. india As described in our October 2012 issue, in the Best of India at ITC Hotels article, India pulled all the stops regarding new tourist accommodations, most notably by ITC Hotels—properties that according to writer Sarah Muñoz, solidiﬁed their presence in the country. K. Chiranjeevi, India’s tourism minister, launched a campaign to promote India under the slogan “Find What You Seek.” The ambitious campaign aims to lure travelers in unprecedented numbers. “Tourists from the world over can ﬁnd the destination or product of desire in India,” he says. “[India] offers everything, let it be heritage sites, ancient forts, beaches, backwaters, lakes, 30 december 2012 mountains, adventure, wildlife, culture, festivals, medical, wellness, religion or shopping. That’s why you’ll ﬁnd what you seek in India.” Along with the new campaign, 2012 will be remembered as the year when the country began seeing the results of a massive 2-year hotel building binge. New properties on the Indian landscape run the gamut from restored properties to brand-new entities sure to leave an imprint on visitors to the subcontinent. Among the most notable 2012 developments is Ishavilas (ishavilasgoa.com) in Goa, a full-service boutique luxury palace in Siolim full of gold-braided cushions, antiques and eccentric objets d’art that presents a bafﬂing choice for visitors: the majestic and thoroughly Indian Peacock Room, the modern Terrace Suite or a quaint Oriental Cottage, all featuring ﬁne al fresco dining, gardens and pools. Lacking nothing in modern comfort, The Ranvas (jodhana heritage.com) in Jodphur, built only two years ago, underwent an impressive facelift in 2012. The Ranvas is a restored 18th century estate built as a retreat for the wives of a Maharajah. It’s made up of 10 individual properties known as havelis that reﬂect its ancient heritage. The havelis each have three rooms with private courtyards and seem custom-made for romance. Travelers wishing a taste of Indian nomadic life would do well to consider the newly opened Rasa Resort (rasaresorts.in) in the outskirts of Jaipur, India’s so-called “Pink City.” The property consists of 40 futuristic white tents set against the backdrop recommend.com MG TOUR COMPANY Tiger’s Nest Monastery in Bhutan. http://www.ishavilasgoa.com http://www.jodhanaheritage.com http://www.rasaresorts.in http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend December 2012

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: Indie Boutique Hotels & Resorts
Tour Talk: Apple Vacations
16th Annual Recommend Readers' Choice Awards Winners
Cruising 2012
North American Splendor
Tantalizing Tallahassee
New Beginnings
Hard Rock Hotel Cancun
For Asia and the South Pacific, 2012 was a Vintage Year
Europe Always Astounds
Six 2012 Trends That are Here to Stay
Africa Rising
Checking-in to Latin America

Recommend December 2012