10 resorts for every type of traveler
From hotels situated in billion-year-old landscapes to the snowiest ski resort in the world, these places prove that the resort experience is so much more than lounging by the pool with masses of other sunburned tourists.
1. Best foodie resort: Meadowood, California
Located in a private 100-hectare estate in Napa Valley, Meadowood is mostly known for its Michelin three-star restaurant simply called The Restaurant.
Each dish at The Restaurant is a tribute to the Napa Valley region. Chef Christopher Kostow cooks with ingredients from Napa Valley's terroir. This includes curing Wagyu beef with pine needles from the Meadowood property, and sourcing fresh produce from its garden.
Meadowood takes its wine seriously as well. On top of maintaining an 11,000-bottle cellar, the property's owners also founded the exclusive Napa Valley Reserve.
Located near the entrance of Meadowood, this wine club is said to entertain only 500 members around the world, including Tom Cruise, the Beckhams, Robert Redford, several U.S. ambassadors and captains of industry.
Facilities such as tennis courts, croquet courts, golf courses, hiking trails and a swimming pool complete the country club experience.
900 Meadowood Lane, St. Helena, California, United States; +1 (800) 458 8080; www.meadowood.com. Rooms cost US$575-2,550 per night.
2. Best ecological resort: Cousine Island, Seychelles
At Cousine Island, "eco" is taken so seriously that guests are requested to plant trees and assist the island ecologists to monitor wildlife.
The 25-hectare island, situated 1,600 kilometers east of Kenya, is one of the few islands in the world that are free from alien mammals (apart from humans, that is.) The island has four villas that can accommodate a maximum of 10 people at one time "to minimize human impact."
Endemic plants take up 95 percent of the island's vegetation. With carbon footprint kept to a minimum, it’s little wonder that the resort frequently wins green tourism awards.
There’s more to visiting the island than walking around on tiptoe and staring at birds through binoculars. Cousine Island also offers standard resort activities such as a spa, deep sea fishing and a host of water sports.
Cousine Island, Victoria, Mahe, +248 321107, www.cousineisland.com. Individual villa rental costs €1,200 (US$1,720) per night, and the entire island can be rented for €4,500. Funds generated from tourism are used to finance the island’s conservation work.
3. Best golf resort: The Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, New Zealand
It’s won awards for its hotel, its dining and its spa. But most travelers love Kauri Cliffs for its seaside golf course.
Kauri Cliffs' par-72 golf course meanders through forests, marshes and farmland. Most of the holes overlook the Pacific Ocean, six of which are alongside sheer cliffs.
The pace of play is reportedly an issue, because golfers can't stop gawping at their surroundings.
Visitors who don’t like golf will appreciate the pleasant diversions back at the lodge. There’s an award-winning spa that is accessible by a road that winds through a totara tree forest.
The property has three private beaches, one of which is covered with pink sand. There are infinity pools, tennis courts, mountain bike courses, and even opportunities for game hunting.
And don't worry about having to share the facilities with the masses. The Lodge only has 22 guest suites and two owner's cottages, so guests will have hundreds of hectares to themselves.
Matauri Bay Road, Matauri Bay, Northland, New Zealand, +64 9 407 0010, www.kauricliffs.com. Rooms range from US$212-283 a night. Reservations can be made here.
4. Best beach resort: Esperanza Resort, Mexico
Proximity to the sea is what Esperanza Resort sells, and they lay it on thick. The resort is perched at the tip of the Baja Peninsula overlooking the Sea of Cortez, and each of the hotel’s 57 rooms and 60 villas overlooks the ocean.
Many rooms afford views of humpback whales in migration in the winter. Their oceanfront restaurant serves fresh catch from the sea.
Each Wednesday, executive chef Gonzalo Cerda cooks Argentinean barbecue on the beach for guests with tiki torches, a bonfire and millions of stars as backdrop.
The genuine concern and care of the staff at Esperanza Resort is frequently commented on by guests.
7 Carretera Transpeninsular, Punta Ballena, Los Cabos, Baja California Sur, Mexico, +52 624 145 6400, www.esperanzaresort.com. Rooms start at US$595 per night.
5. Best spa resort: Pangkor Laut, Malaysia
Destination spas don’t come better than the spa village at Pangkor Laut. Treatments are administered to each guest in private spa pavilions.
Treatments from China, Japan, India, Thailand, Bali and Malaysia are on the menu, including a "Chinese Foot Pounding" enjoyed by concubines in ancient China, and treatments for couples inspired by ancient Malay wedding rituals.
Guests with cash to burn might want to splurge on a full day at the Belian Spa Pavilion, which is a private compound complete with an outdoor whirlpool, a yoga pavilion, a nap gazebo and a steam room.
With a spa this lavish, it’s little wonder that celebs such as Keira Knightley, Jimmy Choo, Elle Macpherson, Martha Stewart and Rubens Barrichello all turn to Pangkor Laut for their downtime.
Pangkor Laut Island, 32200 Lumut, Perak, Malaysia, +60 5 699 1100, www.pangkorlautresort.com. Villas start at US$350 a night. For reservations, contact YTL Travel Center at +60 3 2783 1000 or email travelcentre@ytlhotels.com.my.
