Recommend October 2013 - (Page 36)

Greaves Tours offers an extensive list of itineraries to India’s myriad destinations. new greaves tour Touring Asia in luxury is one of the more unforgettable experiences for travelers. The sites, cities, richness and the continent’s striking characteristics alone will form indelible memories for years to come—and if done in style, comfort and lavishness, few experiences can hold a candle to such trips. If India is the destination of choice and pampering is on a wish list, Greaves Tours offers both. Ian Cambata, director, says that travel agents should bear in mind that booking clients to the Indian subcontinent is not a simple matter. “It is a complex destination,” he adds. “Besides, it is deceivingly large, making it impossible to see [all the worthwhile sites] in a single visit.” To facilitate matters, Greaves Tours schedules 3-way conference calls between agents, clients and its own highly qualiﬁed representatives. “We act as agents [of the travel agent],” Cambata explains. “Our policy is not to mention Greaves during the conferences, but instead answer questions that arise from the travel agent or the client. Our goals are to educate the client and close the sale.” Although Greaves ventures into all corners of the Indian subcontinent, its specialty is to show the destination as a singular spot that Cambata says offers “unimaginable experiences.” One of the company’s newest trips to India is the 10-day Contemporary India – A World of Art. Travelers will meet with experts to discuss artists, examine new pieces, and get a full introduction to how Indian art has changed over the years, from original miniature paintings to today’s contemporary masterpieces. Highlights of the art journey, which takes travelers to Delhi, Agra, Jaipur and Mumbai, include a visit to the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi; a day with an art expert who will trace the historical development and evolution of the various schools of modern Indian art while travelers tour prominent art galleries in New Delhi; an afternoon in Jaipur with a master artist of miniature paintings to learn about this incredible example of Rajasthani art; and specialist guided visits to explore works of internationally renowned artists in Mumbai. Priced from $5,577 pp dbl. (800) 318-7801; greavesindia.com 36 october 2013 34-57 AS Hotels.indd 36 They’ll get tailor-made traditional Chinese outﬁts and get a private tour of the city’s ﬁnest heritage buildings while cruising in the hotel’s Rolls-Royce Phantom limousines. Other top-tier brands stick to more traditional methods, but what remains constant is the luxury that embellishes some of Asia’s elite properties. Here’s a sampling of enthralling sanctuaries. malaysia According to Tan Kok Liang, v.p. of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents, “Tourism is expected to keep increasing due to the strong economic growth in the region, the good mix of heritage sites, beautiful beaches, diverse cultural attractions and good infrastructure. The Malaysia service industry is one of the best and friendliest in the world where luxury tourism, of course, plays an important part.” And when it comes to luxury tourism, one of the best bets in the country is The Datai Langkawi, which sits on a numinous island offshore Kedah State—where the Strait of Malacca joins the Indian Ocean, a stone’s throw from the Malaysia-Thailand border on the Andaman Sea. The property is surrounded by dense rainforests and lined with white beaches and sapphire waters. It’s ideal for those who come seeking a nature getaway, to enjoy aquatic sports, or merely to bask in solitude surrounded by luxury. New to the property are 14 Beach Villas located just steps from the Andaman Sea and which range in size from 2,300 sq. ft. for a 1-bedroom villa to the whopping 5,100-sq.-ft., 2-bedroom master villa (from about $3,100 per night dbl). Elegantly appointed, each villa incorporates an open-plan design with raked timber ceilings that allow the sea breeze to ﬂow in freely and there are expansive views of the sea from everywhere in the room. The living areas link effortlessly with a secluded, fully enclosed verdant garden that hosts a rainshower and a 32-ft. private pool. A perfect complement to the luxurious villas is The Spa at the Datai, a Malay jewel hidden under a rainforest canopy. It’s a 4-pavilion facility that includes a selection of Balinese and Malaysian specialties. Golfers, meanwhile, will enjoy the Datai Bay Golf Course, a championship 18-hole challenge designed by Ernie Els that was unveiled in August. Also in Langkawi, the Seri Chenang Resort Villas, a luxury boutique resort that opened this past May, lies isolated from civilization by lush rainforests at the edge of Chenang Beach while the Machinkang mountain range gives it a dramatic backdrop certain to astound. continued on page 54 recommend.com 9/24/13 8:03 AM http://www.greavesindia.com http://www.recommend.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2013

Editor's Notes
Hotel Desk: COMO Hotels and Resorts
Tour Talk: Emirates Vacations
Hail Caesars!
Wine Country + San Francisco: A Perfect Pairing
A Vintage Stay in Mexico
Lais-Back Luxury at La Casa Que Canta, Zihuatanejo
Asia Raises the Bar on Luxury
Guadeloupe islands Travel Planner
Royal Princess
Cunard's Queen Elizabeth
Seaside Swells: Brazil + Uruguay
Moroccan Splendor
Regent Palms Turks & Caicos
It Takes A Villa

Recommend October 2013