Recommend October 2011 - (Page 29)

it’s the good life at THE continued from page 26 LEELA KOVALAM BEACH rejuvenating tradition of Ayurveda, this is also India, the traditional home of yoga, an integral part of the Ayurvedic path to good health. It is said to sharpen the intellect and aid in concentration, as well as steady the emotions and encourage caring concern for others. Thus, it’s no surprise that The Leela Kovalam has a variety of yoga programs and packages for everyone from beginners to advanced. All the yoga classes can be integrated into an Ayurvedic program and experienced at Divya, with its own expansive and beautiful open-air yoga room. For a less-intense spa experience—or rather a more conventional and self-indulgent spa experience—the Leela also has an international spa, THE SPA. There, clients can choose from a variety of massages, body polishes, scrubs and other goodies. The signature treatment is the 90-minute Indian Magic, in which the therapist uses specialized oils blended with aswagandha, bala root and araku herbs, which help rejuvenate both aching muscles and tired minds. the club THE SPA is located at The Club, a resort within a resort, if you will, and our home away from home during our stay. The lobby alone is a gorgeous venue with beautiful views of the sea with plush couches surrounded by rich, wood-beamed ceilings and elegant modern architecture, all complemented by a welcome drink upon check-in. The Club accommodations have a balcony opening up to the sea and delightful European goose down pillows. Of course, if goose down is not your client’s thing, they can choose from 11 different types of pillows by reviewing the “pillow menu” and asking the butler assigned to their room to assist them. Another must for whiling away the afternoon is the inﬁnity pool at The Club—the main resort area has one, as well—with the sea as a backdrop. Right next to the pool is alfresco dining at The Cafe, the exclusive restaurant at The Club where there is an indoor dining area as well as patio dining, with a varied menu, as well as speciﬁc cuisine created by the Ayurvedic doctor. In fact, when guests come for an Ayurvedic program—which requires one to eat a certain way for therapeutic reasons—they can take all their meals here or take advantage of the other venues at the resort, such as The Terrace restaurant, with multi-cuisine choices or the beachside Tides restaurant. But beyond the intense Ayurvedic programs, the array of cuisine and the delightful accommodations, this Leela property astounds because it’s absolutely gorgeous. “Sixty percent of the property is landscaping,” says general manager N.C. Somaiah. “Our chairman is an ardent gardener and the property is an ecological paradise. Sting stayed here recently and planted a coconut tree.” And speaking of celebrities, “Richard Branson stayed here and told us it was the most pampered holiday of his life, and, of course, the Prime Minister of India stayed with us recently.” Not a bad crowd to be rubbing shoulders with on your client’s next upscale vacation. Starting rates for October-December are approximately $275 plus taxes. offsite delights Located a short distance from the Trivandrum International Airport, the resort is also close to many area attractions, including the beautiful backwaters of Kerala. The backwaters are a maze of lagoons, lakes, canals and estuaries that you can ply via country canoes or traditional houseboats. There are also village visits and the opportunity to view coconut plantations, lush paddy ﬁelds, birds and other wildlife. This can be done at night or guests can take a boat ride at sunset—a backwaters experience is a must. As we mentioned before, the culture in the south of India is very different from the north and the best way to savor it is to book with the venerable luxury tour operator Cox & Kings. They will take care of everything from airport transfers and supplying knowledgeable local guides to helping clients explore local attractions such as the Veli tourist village, Napier Museum, Sri Padmanabhswamy Temple and local art galleries, all of which will give your clients a wonderful and rich taste of the area’s culture and history. ■ Archived related articles (available on recommend.com): Spiritual India (July 2011) contact information Cox & Kings: vipul.kapur@coxandkings.com; coxandkingsusa.com India Ministry of Tourism: incredibleindia.org The Leela Kovalam Beach: theleela.com october 2011 29 http://www.recommend.com http://www.coxandkingsusa.com http://www.incredibleindia.org http://www.theleela.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend October 2011

Editor's Notes/Agent Speak
Hotel Desk: Coworth Park, London
Tour Talk: Cox & Kings
Paws Up Ups "Glamping" to New Heights
"Alpine" Adventure at Four Seasons Resort Vail
Hotel Beaux Arts Miami
Out & About in New York City
Adventures on Hayman Island
It's the Good Life at The Leela Kovalam Beach
Peninsula Shanghai & Hong Kong
Silversea's Silver Spirit
Thailand Travel Planner
Luxury in the Wilderness, by Best of Patagonia
Savoring St. Vincent & the Grenadines
CuisinArt Resort & Spa, Anguilla
Luxurious Egypt
A Good Turn for Bern, Switzerland
Mexico's Luxury Trail

Recommend October 2011