Travel/Starwood to Open Naka Island Resort in Phuket

The Naka Island, Starwood Hotels & Resorts’ newest Luxury Collection property in Asia, will open to the public on November 1st, 2011. Situated in the southernmost province just off the coast of Phuket in Thailand, The Naka Island is a private boutique resort on Naka Yai Island, comprising 67 villas fitted with tropical gardens and private plunge pools, along with a world-class spa facility.

Known as the Pearl of the Andaman, Phuket is Thailand’s largest island and one of Southeast Asia’s most highly-regarded destinations. Phuket FantaSea is just 28.0 km away from the Island and also offers exciting jungle experience. Apart from these attractions, Golfers have three wonderful courses to choose from: Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Blue Canyon Country Club, and Mission Hills Golf Course.

The island is located just 25 minutes from Phuket International Airport, including a five-minute ride by private speedboat. It is only 100 square kilometers in size – easily navigable on foot, or by bicycle, or by boat to the various beaches. Naka’s stunning natural environs are the recreational focal point of The Naka Island resort, with ample opportunities for hiking, biking, watersports, and snorkeling. Or, if relaxation is the priority, The Naka Island offers a spa and exclusive access to pristine sandy beaches.

The huge sized villas have private plunge pools, open air bathrooms, sala pavilion and large outdoor space. Each villa will also feature comprehensive library, indoor sound system and extravagant views over Phang Nga Bay and Phuket Island. The resort features different F&B outlets including Tonsai, an all-day dining restaurant in a casual seaside setting. Al fresco dining at My Grill, an open beachside grill house, which will offer seafood and steaks with a southern Thai influence. Or, guests will be able to enjoy a glass of wine from the extensive wine cellar at the Z Bar while they enjoy the colourful sunsets.

Each guest will be provided with an ‘Experienced Guide’ who will act as a concierge, guest relations officer and a personal butler who will take care of each and every need of the guests. This Experience Guide will book a dining reservation, will arrange for outing and sightseeing, will take you to the driving trips and will help you to explore the Island and other nearby places.

The Naka Island has the largest spa in the region that offers complete peace of mind, body and soul through their world class spa therapies. The Spa is bespoke for every individual guest at the Island.

 The resort opens for premier stays November 1st, so be the first to experience Naka Island in Phuket.
 [The Naka Island]

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The $500 million Italian designed floating resort

Amphibious 1000, Qatar's Italian designed Floating Resort (Images by Giancarlo Zema Design)

As envisioned by the Italian architectural firm Giancarlo Zema Design Group (GZDG), Amphibious 1000 is a US$500 million semi-submerged resort project planned for a protected marine area on the coast of Qatar. Reflecting its name, the resort is like a large aquatic creature stretching out into the sea. Divided into two sections of land and sea, the project includes residential buildings, offices, a central marine park, floating walkways and underwater marine galleries that all form a semi-circle around the central tower, which hosts a panoramic restaurant.

The elaborate sea section features four semi-submerged hotels resembling anchored super-yachts. Each hotel includes 75 luxury suites positioned around the perimeter of the building, with access to private terraces. Underwater passageways with views of the central marine park connect the hotel rooms and provide access to the activities zones. The resort's main lobby is centralized around an interactive sea life museum featuring water exhibitions galleries, large aquariums, and a glass passageway leading to the underwater observatory.

If you are tired of walking around the maze of floating walkways, electric vehicles can transport guests throughout the resort's facilities. You might also like to jump on board one of the 20-meter (65.6-foot) aluminum yachts, equipped with hydrogen engines and underwater viewing globes.
The resort also hosts 80 floating suites called "Jelly-fish," which feature underwater viewing decks looking out upon an artificial reef bed. These anchored hotel suites can accommodate up to six guests and feature five levels connected by a spiral staircase. 

A relaxation room sits at the very top of the suite at 5.6 meters (18.3 ft) above sea level. At 3.5 meters (11.5 ft) above sea level you will find the sleeping quarters and bathrooms, and at 1.4 meters (4.6 ft) the area is dedicated to daytime use with a kitchen and bathroom. Heading below deck and semi-submerged at 0.8 meters (2.6 ft) above sea level you will find further guest rooms and bathrooms. Whilst on the lowest level, at 3.00 meters (9.8 ft) below sea level, guests can enjoy their very own private aquarium lounge.
The Giancarlo Zema Design Group is based in Rome, Italy and specializes in the architectural design of semi-submerged structures, houseboats and yachts.

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Laucala Island, Fiji – Discover an Idyllic Private Island Resort Experience

Laucala Island is a perfect island escape, for those who seek the total luxury of privacy and space, relaxing ambience, enjoying culinary delicacies, yet being sportive active. Anything is possible on Laucala – playing a round of golf, cycling the island, game fishing, diving or sailing the turquoise waters or being pampered in the spa.

Proclaimed one of the hundred most beautiful hotels and resorts in the world by Hideaway Hotels, Laucala Island (pronounced Lothala) opened in 2009 to guests seeking the utmost discretion and privacy amid almost unimaginable tropical splendor. Redeveloped by its new owner Dietrich Red Bull Mateschitz at a staggering $30,000,000, the island boasts of outstanding service, delicious cuisine, a exquisite wine cellar, and a stunning atmosphere.

You can take a Beechcraft King Air B200 or your chartered flight or personal yacht. Once there you can roam around in the electric club car which is parked in a cute thatched roof garage that will take you all around the Hugh coconut plantation and tropical vegetation. Since the island is equipped for 25 residences for as many as 80 guests privacy is guaranteed. The island also provides for a destination dining option where a staff of six trained professionals serves you a gourmet meal.

For absolute privacy, the expansive Hilltop Residence sits 360 feet above sea level, with three interlinked villas, two swimming pools, kitchen, and library. It’s an indulgent $26,000 per night. All residences include premium fittings and amenities. Hand-carved stone and timber bathtubs, both indoors and outdoors, Villeroy and Bosch bathroom fittings, iPod docks and Bose entertainment systems ensure guest comfort. In-room fridges and bars are stocked with premium wines and spirits, while freshly squeezed fruit juices and snacks are replenished throughout the day. Prefer not to be disturbed? Simply roll the red coconut in front of your villa gates and your privacy is assured.

Of course, which South Pacific resort doesn’t include an overwater accommodation? Laucala Island has it covered with its own version: a two-bedroom overwater residence, which appears to float above the emerald-green lagoon. The residence sports a terrace that ranges across several levels over the lagoon along with a private pool, which has been carved directly into the shore rocks.

With five separate restaurants and bars on the island, dining and entertainment are a treat. The Plantation House, the island’s fine-dining restaurant, is a mansion fashioned in its original colonial style. We hear the degustation dinner is a must-try. The 80-seat restaurant also has a private room with space for 50 guests. For a true alfresco experience, the Seagrass Lounge offers cuisine with a slight Asian touch. This being a private island, guests can also opt to have a dinner prepared for them and served directly on the beach.

Activities abound at Laucala, none more than golf. David McLay Kidd, of Bandon Dunes in Oregon fame, designed the par-72 layout, whose par-5 12th is considered the signature hole with the green extending onto the beach (high tide will mean wet feet!). Other activities at Laucala include horseback riding on the beach or a visit to a traditional Fijian village (complete with a bure kalou or temple), which was replicated on the island. A private sunset sail on the island’s yacht can also be arranged, as can an aerial tour of the island.

Laucala is destined to bask on many future best of lists. The island may be the one place that actually deserves to be called heaven on earth.

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Travel/Poseidon Undersea Resort – Explore The Fiji’s Mystery

Poseidon Undersea Resort is the first seaflor resort in the world and the only place where you can spend a few days 40 feet under water in unprecedented luxury. Resort is situated in crystal clear water of of a 5.000 acre Fiji lagoon and is accessible only by elevator. From early 2010 adventure travelers and undersea enthusiasts have the opportunity to stay there for one week long, enjoying two nights underwater or four nights in its remarkable beachfront and over-water bungalows.

Poseidon Mystery Island offers three types of plush accommodations that each guest will experience during their stay: one above ground with a private beach, one over the water, and one below the ocean’s surface.  Accommodation units consisting of 24 spectacular suites and one luxury apartment (12 meters under the sea), and 48 magnificent bungalows (locally knows as bures). Guests will have the opportunity to explore each comfortable, intimate word during their stay, with access to facilities in each area.

Each room has a double bed and, of course, the huge windows of acrylic plastic, which fades into the ceiling. The crystal clear blue water, colorful inhabitants of the ocean, which can be fed directly from the rooms with a special remote control, simply breathtaking. All guests can use the submarine or a special tunnel from the beach to get into restaurant, bar or spa-room.

Adventure on Poseidon Mystery Island costs $15,000 per person when sharing a room for seven days and six nights ($30,000 per couple, per week). All inclusive price includes: transportation from and Nadi (International Aerport on Fiji) to the resort, four nights in a luxury beach or over-water villa, two nights in a luxury undersea suite, diving onboard a luxury expedition submarine outside the lagoon, wine tasting classes and more.

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