Five places to dine in Negril, Jamaica
PHOTO: Yum! Jerk chicken at the Rockhouse Restaurant in Negril. (Courtesy Flickr/Crl Mikoy)
Jamaica is well-known as a tropical paradise thanks to its miles of pristine white beaches, crystal blue waters and striking cliffs. In recent years, great hotels have established resorts along its beaches, such as Couples Resorts, that provide just about anything a person could want from leisure activities to fine dining.
Given the options, vacationers may find it hard to tear themselves away from the host of restaurants available on-site, but those who do venture past the confines of the resort will be rewarded with delicious, local cuisine and warm hospitality. Next time you’re in Negril, here are five spots you can’t afford to miss:
Zimbali’s Mountain Cooking Studio. A short drive from Negril, Zimbali’s Mountain Cooking Studio is a must-visit for foodies. This restaurant is a part of the Zimbali Retreats, a small hotel that is located on an organic farm. As such, the restaurant’s menu draws heavily from the fruits and vegetables the farm produces. Guests are greeted with a glass of fresh-pressed juice and are taken on a tour of the farm before heading back to the studio for a cooking demonstration and a meal they won’t soon forget.
Niah’s Patties. Experience some Jamaican street food at its finest at Niah’s Patties. These made-to-order meat pies (think empanada with a flaky crust) take this local delicacy to new heights with fillings such as lobster, Italian, red bean and the traditional beef. But don’t go expecting a sit-down meal with a tablecloth—Niah’s is a walkup stand just off the beach. And don’t forget to bring your own drinks.
Fireman’s Lobster Pit. Located in the Boardwalk Village, the Fireman’s Lobster Pit is known, not surprisingly, for having some of the best lobster (and crab) around. Diners can select their lobster from the traps that float just offshore and relax with a cocktail at a nearby bar or with a walk on the beach while their dinner simmers. Head back about an hour later and be bowled over by a generous portion with Fireman’s unique garlic and ginger butter sauce for dipping. Don’t want to leave your spot on the beach? You’re in luck, because Fireman delivers anywhere along Negril’s Seven Mile Beach.
Ivan’s Bar and Restaurant. Perched on Negril’s limestone cliffs, Ivan’s offers its guests a spectacular and romantic oceanfront dinner setting. Prior to 5 p.m., the restaurant offers only private dining but it opens to the public after 5 p.m., providing dinner guests with fresh international and Jamaican cuisine and a stunning view of the crashing waves down below. It should be noted that children under 15 are not allowed with the exception of special occasions.
Rockhouse Restaurant. Known for its new Caribbean cuisine, which melds local, tropical flavors into lighter fare than its more traditional cousin, Rockhouse is one of Negril’s top fine-dining options. Guests can enjoy coconut chicken, crispy whole snapper and sorrel marinated pork from their perch on the volcanic rocks above Pristine Cove. http://www.travelpulse.com/
Airline & Travel Weekly News Briefs
Around the world in 245 days on the Ultimate World Cruise
Many of us dream about packing it all in to head off a globetrotting adventure but frankly, the backpacking lifestyle isn’t for everyone. But forget grimy hostels, questionable street food and overnight bus journeys – imagine seeing the world from a luxury cruise ship on a one-of-a-kind “gap year”. The Ultimate World Cruise, run by cruise line Viking, promises just that. On 31 August 2019, up to 930 guests will board the Viking Sun at Port London Greenwich for an epic odyssey lasting the better part of a year… [read more]
Luxury trips are becoming popular among millennials
After Baby Generation and Boomers X, Millennials will be the next big key market and the biggest generation for international travel. Born between 1980 and 2000, they’re technology-savvy, educated and raised with internet and digital communication. Millennials love going on city trips, and are prepared to spend big on travelling, with 1 in 2 of all luxury trips being created by millennials now. These are the findings of The Global World Travel Monitor… [read more]
Southwest adds free in-flight text messaging
Southwest Airlines passengers can text for free via iMessage or WhatsApp. To access other entertainment options, travelers must download the Southwest app. [read more]
Inside Madrid’s newest luxury hotel: The Gran Hotel Inglés
Madrid’s newest luxury hotel is actually one of the city’s oldest. The Gran Hotel Inglés originally opened in December 1886 and was unique in the city for having an elevator, a bathroom on each floor, modern lighting and steam heating. Thanks to those amenities, the hotel was a favorite of illustrious authors, artists and, yes, bullfighters. These days, travelers can find more modern creature comforts, but the same spirit of luxury living on in this historic property… [read more]
Another European airline has gone bust – so who’s next?
More airlines are likely to succumb to the same fate as Cobalt Air this winter, leaving holidaymakers stranded, as carriers feel the pinch of rising oil prices and competitive fare pricing. This is the warning from aviation expert John Strickland in the wake of the collapse of another airline, after the Cypriot operator suspended all its services with immediate effect… [read more]
The Peninsula Hong Kong sets sail with launch of luxury yacht
First, it brought a fleet of 14 Peninsula Green Rolls-Royce Phantoms to the streets of Hong Kong. Then it took to the skies with a customised helicopter. Now The Peninsula Hong Kong has decided to conquer the seas by launching a brand new yacht, making it the first luxury hotel group in the city to offer three different forms of transport for its guests… [read more]
New fresh and unique Paris experiences
I’ll admit, I grew a bit bored of Paris after visiting a few times for fun over the years and a couple of times for work in my past career. However, recently I gained a renewed passion for the city after having some fresh, unique endeavors. Whether you’re a first-time visitor or a seasoned Paris pro, these exclusive experiences will open your eyes to a different side of Paris and awaken your love for the City of Lights.
A private, behind-the-scenes look at a French bakery
Visit early in the morning while the bakers are still preparing their creations for the day. See the inner workings of a French bakery. Listen to the experts explain the history of the baguette. Watch the day’s baguettes and pastries in the making. And of course, taste, taste, taste! Just be sure you are visiting a boulangerie – i.e. a French bakery abiding by the 1993 French Bread Law (which specifies the weight, length, and ingredients a bakery must follow for their bread to be considered truly French).
Unlock secret rooms at Versailles
You may have visited Versailles in the past, but have you had an exclusive tour of rooms not open to the general public? Arrange for a private security guard to unlock hidden rooms at Versailles while a Versailles historian tells you stories about how the rooms came to be, who used the rooms, and fascinating, old stories about what transpired in those rooms… all while soaking in the sumptuous design and decor. Imagine seeing Marie Antoinette’s bathroom, the apartment of Louis XV’s mistress Madame de Pompadour, and part of The Royal Opera of Versailles. Just exquisite!
Making the macaron
When you’re ready to take another lesson, dive into baking the ever-favorite macaron. Chef Marthe will welcome you to her Parisian apartment, where she will give you a fun morning/afternoon of baking those delectable bites. She’ll walk you through the steps and then you’ll get to create and eat your own creations. This is another great one for family members of all ages or food-focused friends interested in a few hours of fun.
Composing your own French fragrance
Learn the secrets of French fragrances by creating your own. A private, perfume-making experience in Paris with a special perfumer Molinard over a glass of Champagne is a fab way to spend the morning. Take in the aromas of over 100 scents, identify the ones which are most attractive to you, and learn how to blend them to create a layered fragrance with more depth than if you were to try to mix these together on your own at home.
Not your typical walk through Palais Garnier
See the depths of Palais Garnier (l’Opera) through a truly back-stage and private tour. With a Palais Garnier expert, stroll through some areas open to the public (like the Chagall-painted ceiling of the auditorium); as well as areas not typically traversed by the general public (like the actual backstage and basement of the theater which houses extensive and large set change wheels and ropes).
Through this tour you’ll discover more about the thinking behind the architecture and hear about its fascinating history than you could imagine. Perhaps most captivating is seeing the underground water tank which inspired Gaston Leroux’s The Phantom of the Opera. You’ll leave wondering… could there really be a phantom?
By Tisha Neufville from neufvilletravel.com/
Will the Nairobi Attacks Dent Kenya’s Tourism Boom?
Tourism operators in Kenya are hopeful that this week’s terror attacks in Nairobi will have little impact on the country’s all-important tourism industry — but successive attacks in the past few years are causing new anxieties. The Tuesday attacks in the capital city saw gunmen from the Al-Qaeda-linked terror group al-Shabab breach security gates at an upscale hotel complex in the Westlands district of the city. One of the key targets was the DusitD2 boutique hotel and adjoining restaurants. At least one Briton and one American have been confirmed dead, with dozens of locals and foreigners wounded.
New luxury destinations to add to your travel plans in 2019
The world is your oyster, so goes the famous line in Shakespeare’s play The Merry Wives of Windsor. Thanks to numerous technological advancements in the travel industry, today’s well-heeled travellers and jet setters in search of discovery and adventure have access to a plethora of options at their fingertips. But with so many places to explore, finding one to that suits your personal preferences can feel daunting especially if one is always strapped for time. For those in search of a northern star to guide their way to that next fabulous holiday, the travel specialists over at luxury travel operator Scott Dunn have devised a new list of upcoming traveling trends and luxury destinations catering to Southeast Asia-based travellers.
The cheapest cities to book a five-star hotel
Antalya in Turkey is the cheapest city in the world for five-star accommodation, according to new research. The cheapest top-tier hotel in the coastal destination costs from just $39.62 (£31) per night, according to online travel agent Globehunters, which compared over 170 destinations around the world using data from Price of Travel to compile its five-star index.
Google Maps’ ‘incorrect’ outback travel times could be deterring tourists, businesses say
Business owners in Queensland’s south-west say travel times on Google Maps are inaccurate and could be deterring tourists from making the trip to the bush after discovering significant discrepancies between actual travel times and those listed on Google Maps. Ian Simpson, who runs the Windorah Western Star Hotel, said the road to Birdsville from Windorah was estimated to be close to 11 hours by Google Maps last week.
Ultimate Fitness Cruise Launching in 2019
For travelers who love working out, the world’s ultimate fitness cruise will launch in 2019.
The WOD on the Waves voyage on Royal Caribbean International’s Mariner of the Seas will sail from Miami to the Bahamas between January 21-25, 2019, and feature fitness enthusiasts, health and wellness experts, and some of the top athletes in the world.
The four-night, five-day WOD on the Waves cruise will offer passengers daily fitness classes led by athletes, coaches, and trainers; workshops on elite nutrition and training strategies; athlete-curated meals; costume theme nights; and entertainment and shore excursions starring the athletes.
Passengers on the Mariner of the Seas will enjoy the results of a $120 million series of upgrades which introduced new experiences and venues. The ship also features ample dining options including sushi, hibachi, Italian, bar offerings and the new tiki-chic Bamboo Room.
The voyage will boast a range of activities for fitness freaks, such as rock climbing, ice skating, surfing, the Sky Pad bungee trampoline experience, an Escape Room adventure and glow-in-the-dark laser tag.
Airline & Travel Weekly News Briefs
Visiting the Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef is one of the world’s most amazing sights. James Litston looks at how to visit – and help protect – this natural wonder. Among the Grand Canyon, Himalayas and other world icons visible from space, only one – Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – has the distinction of being alive… [read more]
2018 fares lowest in 9 years
Data from Airlines for America and the US Department of Transportation show that passengers paid less for air travel in 2018 than they have in the previous nine years. The average domestic round-trip fare in 2018 was $338, excluding ancillary fees, and $360 with the fees included. [read more]
The top trends in luxury cruising for 2019
As the year draws to a close, Luxury Travel Advisor looks ahead to 2019 and beyond for the hottest trends in luxury cruising. Based on feedback from luxury travel advisors, the latest research, supplier developments and our own perceptions of the luxury cruise seascape, here are top trends expected for the new year… [read more]
Incredible places around the world where visitors are forbidden
In spite of globalisation, technology, and advances in transportation, there are still places in the world you simply can’t visit. While some of us are fixated on space exploration and colonising Mars, the truth is that some parts of our planet are still practically untouched or have even been forgotten… [read more]
A look at the Titanic II which will set sail in 2022
The Titanic II will make its maiden voyage from Dubai to Southampton in 2022, after which it will re-enact the exact same travel plan as the original ship, sailing from Southampton to New York, hopefully bypassing icebergs and avoiding a movie-inspiring sinking… [read more]
Cruise ship captain seen drinking on the day he slammed vessel into U.S. navy pier, company admits
The captain of a cruise ship that hit a U.S. Navy pier in Guam in December was seen drinking alcohol on the day of the crash, shipping company Mitsui O.S.K. Passenger Line said. Mitsui said Tuesday the company had suspended the captain of the M/S Nippon Maru for violating company rules that prohibit drinking alcohol four hours before a shift.
Japan has the world’s most powerful passport while the UK and USA drop to joint sixth place
Japan has entered 2019 with the world’s most powerful passport, a new global ranking has revealed. Citizens of Japan can visit 190 countries around the world visa-free. The Singaporean and South Korean passports are in joint second place on 189 countries. However, both the UK and USA passports have dropped down the ranking from fifth in 2018 and are both in sixth place now on 185 countries.
Dubai set to get another ‘super tall tower’
The city of skyscrapers, Dubai, is set to get another ‘super tall tower’. DMCC, the world’s flagship Free Zone and Government of Dubai Authority, and master developer of Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), announced today that it has awarded a contract to BESIX, through its Dubai-based entity Belhasa Six Construct, to build the first super tall tower in its Uptown Dubai district, according to a statement issued today. Named ‘Uptown Tower’, the 78-storey building provides breath-taking views of Dubai’s waterfront and iconic skyline. Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, Uptown Tower replicates the brilliance of diamonds through its faceted glass façade that illuminates the interior spaces with natural light while filtering out harsh glare.
Rahaf al-Qunun: Saudi woman ends airport hotel standoff
An 18-year-old Saudi woman who fled her family at the weekend has left Bangkok airport “under the care” of the UN refugee agency, the head of Thailand’s immigration police says. Thai immigration officials had tried to return Rahaf Mohammed al-Qunun, 18, to Kuwait, where her family is. But she refused to board a flight on Monday and barricaded herself into her airport hotel room. She said she feared her family would kill her as she had renounced Islam.
Where to unwind in the Sunshine State
Whilst many holidays to Florida consist of adrenaline pumping adventures, there are plenty of ways to switch-off, unwind and relax. From massages on the beach, to floating down a real lazy river, here is VISIT FLORIDA’s top five ways to de-stress:
Tiki Beach massage on Anna Maria Island
White sand, clear blue water and the sound of crashing waves, set the scene for a relaxing aromatherapy massage with Sea-renity Spa, on Anna Maria Island. Just head for the tiki hut on Bradenton Beach for a private or couples’ massage. Massage lessons are also available. Top tip – book for sunset!
Float along a real lazy river in Marion County
Let your troubles float away on Rainbow River, located just an hour and a half drive east of Orlando. Rent a “tube” from Rainbow River State Park to begin your two-hour float along the clear spring-fed river, spotting wildlife along the way. A convenient tram service will then take you and your tube back to where you started.
Make s’mores around a firepit on Clearwater Beach
Spend an evening on the beach, around a cosy firepit at the Sandpearl Resort on Clearwater Beach. Collect your DIY s’mores kit from the hotel and head for the beach, to enjoy sunset, food and beverage service, and the USA’s most popular fireside sticky treat, s’mores – marshmallow and chocolate sandwiched between a biscuit (basically, a melted Wagonwheel).
Beach yoga in Fort Lauderdale
Start your day the right way at the W Hotel in Fort Lauderdale, with a sunrise yoga flow class on the beach. The ultra-chic hotel offers beachside yoga four times a week and provides yoga mats, towels and refreshments. The hotel offers complimentary fitness classes for all hotel guests.
Evening paddle tours in the Keys
See the Florida Keys in a whole new light on a night-time eco tour with Aquaholic Adventures. Kayaks and Stand Up Paddleboards are fitted with LED lights, helping you see through the water, as you gently paddle through the mangroves in search of birds and sea life. Sunset tours are also available.
By Paul Johnson and VISIT FLORIDA
The most family friendly beach holiday destinations in Europe
The numbers are in. As millions of families begin planning and booking their holidays for the year ahead, a study by On the Beach, the UK’s leading beach holiday specialist, has calculated and ranked Europe’s top 50 family beach holidays destinations – according to the criteria that matter most to parents.
The Family Beach Index, which lists Europe’s most family friendly beach destinations, places the Greek island of Crete in the top spot.
The online travel agent compared Europe’s top beach destinations across ten countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Spain and Turkey), looking at five criteria – each listed by parents as important considerations when choosing their family holiday destination.
Combined and weighted to calculate an overall score out of 100, the five Family Beach Index criteria were:
Average temperature
Average sea temperature
Family friendly attractions (waterparks and theme parks)
Flight duration
Average cost for a family of four during 2018
The study was conducted by On the Beach to help families find their perfect beach break and the sun-kissed Greek island of Crete – which welcomes more than four million visitors to its shores each year – grabbed the top spot with an index score of 85.2 (out of 100). Crete boasts the highest number of family-friendly water and theme parks (10) out of all destinations in the study, and enjoys average temperatures of 24 degrees C during the summer months.
Taking second place behind Crete – and topping the long list of Spanish destinations featuring in the top 50 – the Costa Blanca region is named the second most family friendly beach destination in Europe, with an index score of 84.3, due to its short flight duration from the UK, warm sea and air temperatures, and large number of water and theme parks (seven).
The ever-popular holiday island of Cyprus takes third place, with an index score of 83.2. Despite having a longer flight time, the Eastern Mediterranean island scores highly for its warm sea temperatures, numerous water and amusement parks, and the low average cost of a family holiday.
Named the overall best value destination and the hot spot with the shortest flight duration, Spain prevails once again, with the Costa Brava grabbing fourth place (with an index score of 82.9), followed by the Costa Dorada region in fifth, also scoring high points for its how average holiday price and short flight duration, giving it an index score of 82.8. In total, 16 Spanish beach destinations feature in the Family Beach Index top 50.
Top 10 most family friendly beach holiday destinations
Crete: 85.2
Costa Blanca: 84.3
Cyprus: 83.2
Costa Brava: 82.9
Costa Dorada: 82.8
Majorca: 82.6
Malta: 81.9
Corfu: 80.6
Sardinia: 82.6
Costa De la luz: 80.5
Along with the overall destination scores, the Family Beach Index allows families to sort destinations according to the criteria that matters most to them – whether that’s hot weather, warm seas or a shorter flight, often sought by those with younger children.
Best by category – average temperatures
Destinations across Turkey grabbed the top spots in the average temperature category, with Gumbet, Belek and Bodrum all enjoying averages of 25 degrees during the summer months.
The Turkish resort of Alanya ties fourth spot, alongside the Spanish Mainland region of the Costa Blanca, with both destinations averaging temperatures of 24.5 degrees between May and October.
Best by category – average sea temperatures
For those looking for warmer sea temperatures, perfect for swimming with younger children, resorts across Turkey also score highly, with Antalya, Alanya, Belek and Side all enjoying averages of 25 degrees. Cyprus is named fifth best destination to visit in terms of comfortable swimming, with an average sea temperature of 24.5 degrees.
Best by category – number of water parks and amusement parks
Crete, Greece’s largest island, comes out top with 10 parks, including the ever-popular WaterCity, the largest Waterpark in Crete, located in the beautiful Anopolis Mountains.
Cyprus grabs second place with nine attractions, including the award-winning Fasouri Watermania Water Park in Limassol, which is home to 30 attractions, three restaurants and 2,000 sun beds.
Popular regions across Mainland Spain also offer a variety of park options for families, with the Costa Blanca, Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada all having seven water or amusement parks. Sardinia, Italy’s largest island, the ever-popular Portuguese region of the Algarve, and Tenerife are also home to seven parks.
Best by category – flight duration from the UK
Avoiding longer flights is top of many families’ lists when planning their break in the sun, so for those looking to enjoy a beach break with limited travel time, the Costa Brava and the Costa Dorada regions of Spain both average flight times of under two hours and five minutes from the UK.
The sun-kissed Balearic island of Majorca is also a great choice for families looking for a destination closer to home, with an average flight time of 2 hours and 25 minutes.
The Costa de la Luz region of Spain, with its sleepy villages and uncrowded beaches, is also perfect for families looking to reach their resort in super quick time, with an average flight time of just 2 hours and 30 minutes. Ibiza and Sardinia average the same journey time.
Best by category – cheapest holiday prices (for a family of four)
In a survey of 1,000 British families, overall value for money was the number one consideration when choosing a family holiday destination for more than half (54%) of parents. When it comes to the lowest cost holiday destinations, breaks to the lesser known Canary Island of La Palma offers the very best value for money for families looking to grab a bargain summer holiday, followed by the Costa Calida and the Costa Brava on the Spanish mainland.
The beautiful Greek island of Kefalonia is named the fourth best value holiday destination for families, followed by the Algarve.
By On the Beach
A guide to Catalonia
Located in the far north east of Spain, Catalonia is the country’s second most populated autonomous community with a staggering 7.5 million people living inside its borders. Its populace even accounts for over 16% of Spain’s total population. Catalonia’s history and culture are regarded extremely important to those that live within the region, and many appreciate if those visiting are familiar with some of the things that make up part of Catalonia’s identity.
A brief history of Catalonia
The first use of the term ‘Catalonia’ was in the 12th century, and after the fall of Charlemagne in this era, Catalonia united with the neighbouring Kingdom of Aragon. It was still part of the Kingdom of Aragon when Spain became unified following the marriage of Isabella and Ferdinand, but it operated as a separate region with its own language and laws.
However, when Catalonia chose to support the Habsburgs instead of the Spanish in the War of Spanish Succession, King Philip V banned the Catalan language and culture upon his victory. Such was seen as justified punishment for choosing not to support him in the war.
In the 19th century, nationalist sentiment grew in Catalonia and more than a decade later Catalonia was finally recognised as semi- autonomous. This however was short lived. During the Spanish civil war in 1936, the region supported the loosing Republican side. After Franco’s victory, the same suppression of Catalonia took place.
Following the defeats of Hitler and Mussolini, Franco lessened the suppression of Catalonia in fear that he would lose his power in an uprising. After his death in the 1970’s, the country transitioned to a democracy allowing freedom of cultural expression. Since then, the people of Catalonia have been trying to strengthen the Catalan culture and language once again.
The current independence movement started in the early 2010s, its supporters claiming that while Catalonia supports the rest of the country economically, the Catalan culture is still not recognised enough by Spain. This sentiment led to the referendum vote in 2017, an illegal vote which resulted in many political leaders being arrested. These political leaders are awaiting trial in prison but protests continue in support of regional independence.
Catalan traditions
Tìo de Nadal
A festive log with a funny face. From December 13th up until Christmas day, children ‘feed’ the Tìo with dried fruit and berries. Then on the 25th, they beat the log with a stick singing and encouraging it to ‘poop’ presents. This is how children receive their presents on Christmas day.
Caganer
Typically, the Caganer (a figurine squatting and defecating) is hidden in the nativity scene waiting for children to find it.
La Castanyada
Occurring from 31st October-1st November, this festival marks the end of summer and the beginning of the colder months. Traditionally, warm chestnuts are eaten along with panellets (marzipan tasting almond pastries usually covered in pine nuts). During La Castanyada, All Saints Day is celebrated commemorating loved ones who have passed away.
Important dates and events
La Merce
La Merce celebrates the feast day of Our Lady of Mercy on September 24th. It lasts a whole weekend and consists of other Catalan traditions like Correfoc (a fire run), Sardana(a traditional dance), Gegants (papier maché giants) and Castellers (human towers).
September 11th
This day marks the defeat of Barcelona during the 1714 War of Spanish Succession. It is now known as Catalonia Independence Day.
Sant Jordi
On April 23rd, the day Sant Jordi (the patron saint of Catalonia) died, locals exchange books and roses.
Sant Joan
Sant Joan is also an important figure in Catalonia who is celebrated on June 23rd. Celebrations include fireworks, bonfires, and a warm welcome to the sunny season in Catalonia.
Food and drink
The staple dish of the Catalan region is pan con tomate, toasted bread with tomato, salt, and oil. This is one of the region’s most simple dishes, but also one of the most delicious. Other traditional dishes include rovellos (big mushrooms with a red and orange colour), esqueixada (cod fish with vegetable salad, olive oil, and vinegar), and butifarra (spicy sausage). Dessert wise, crema catalana – a traditional crème brulee- is often enjoyed.
Traditionally, escudella (a stew with vegetables and meat) is served on Christmas day, while canelons (pasta rolls stuffed with leftover cheese and meat from the previous day) are eaten on December 26th.
From November to April, calçotada (similar to onions that are peeled and eaten with salvitxada sauce) are also eaten.
Some typical regional sauces are garlic mayonnaise (allioli) and romesco, a spicy sauce with tomatoes, peppers, garlic, and olive oil.
Cava, Catalonia’s version of champagne, can also be traced back to the region, as well as Moscatell, a sweet wine served during the colder months and especially during La Castanyada.
Catalan language
With more than 9 million native speakers of the language, here are few essential Catalan phrases to use during your stay.
- Hello – Hola ‘ohh-lah’
- Goodbye – Adéu ‘ah- day- oo’
- Good Morning- Bon Dia ‘bon dee-ah’
- Good Afternoon – Bona Tarda ‘bon-ah tar-dah’
- Goodnight – Bona nit ‘bon- ah neet’
- How are you? Com estàs? ‘cohm eh-stas’
- Please. Si us plau ‘see ooh-s plough’
- Thank you! Merci! ‘mer-see’
- You’re welcome. De res. ‘dah ress’
- I’m sorry. Ho sento ‘oo sen-two’
- Do you speak English? Parles angles? ‘par-less ang-less’
- Street. Carrer. ‘Kah-rerr’
- Cheers! Salut! ‘sah- loot’
By Sandra Roig from apartmentbarcelona.com
Art Basel Miami 2018
Every December the international art scene heats up in Miami with the world famous art fair Art Basel. Known as part of the Swiss art fair which takes place every June in Basel, Switzerland. Thousands of artists, gallery owners, art collectors, and celebrities arrive in southern Florida’s most exciting city to view art, people watch, drink cocktails and party till dawn.
If you have never been to an art fair before it’s like any other trade show with booths and products for sale. The products are shipped from galleries all over the world and the products they do bring they hope will guarantee a hefty profit. Prices do vary from the various shows and galleries.
Art Basel has many other compelling and impressive satellite shows happening the same week like Art Miami, Context, Scope, Aqua, and Nada just to name a few. They stretch all the way from neighborhoods such as South Beach to Wynwood. One can immerse themselves in a sea of art from classic to provocative. This year photography has a significant and growing presence. Art Basel and its satellite shows are the place to acquire emerging, cutting-edge modern and contemporary works of art from the 20th and 21st centuries. Here is a small selection from the shows.
Holidaymakers flee £3,000-per-night luxury Maldives hotel after devastating fire
One of the top luxury resorts in the Maldives has been hit by a devastating fire which tore through the property on Wednesday night. Seven overwater villas and one of the restaurants at Gili Lankanfushi – an exclusive private island resort in the North Malé Atoll, which is rated number one in the country on TripAdvisor – were destroyed in a blaze that raged for six hours before firefighters were able to bring it under control.
15 new restaurants to try in 2019
From Miami to Tokyo and Brisbane to New Delhi, some of the world’s hottest new restaurants in the coolest locations will have global gastronomes salivating as they add them to their culinary bucket lists for 2019. While a number of the chefs behind them are genuine Michelin-starred legends, others are exciting upstarts doing things their way.
The Rise Of Millionaire Tourism
My greatest experience was standing in the Makgadikgadi salt pan in Botswana, which, as far as you can see in all directions is absolutely flat and white. Then the sun goes down. All of us have seen beautiful sunsets, and then there’s the glow and all of us have seen that. But then, there’s a kind of… grey pause. And then, the real sunset begins. It lasts for 35-40 minutes. The entire sky starts changing color and then the sun is long gone. But the sky lights up with all these fabulous colors that keep shifting all the way around you. We watched it every night,” says Christopher Beach, an American tourist describing a moment on his R3 million ($208,700) tour around southern Africa in May 2018.
The world’s first plastic-free flight is here – but will other airlines follow?
The world’s first plastic-free flight took to the skies just after Christmas, operated by a Portuguese airline that says it can “no longer ignore” the impact the single-use material has on the environment. Hi Fly, a company that wet leases aircraft in Portugal and Malta, replaced plastic cutlery and containers with bamboo and compostable alternatives crafted from recycled material. The flight took passengers from the carrier’s headquarters in Lisbon to Brazil on an Airbus A340 on Boxing Day and is the first of three more test flights to follow, all carrying a total of 700 travellers.
Key trends that are changing luxury travel
The interests of affluent travelers are evolving and shaking up the luxury travel sector. A niche that was once defined by the high thread count of linens, upscale toiletries, and beautiful decor, is now focused on buzzwords like “off the beaten path” and “immersive.”
“I count five huge, revolutionary ideas that are rocking luxury to its core,” wrote Babs Harrison, who has 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry, and is currently the managing director of Phoenix-based Babs Harrison and Partners.
Transformational experiences
“Butler service alone is not good enough,” said Harrison. “The traveler wants to emerge changed and better.” Transformative travel has become a prominent demand from today’s high-end consumers; they want travel that fosters life-changing experiences and meaningful connections.
As Tina Edmundson, Marriott’s global brand officer and luxury portfolio leader, told Skift “the reality is that today’s luxury is adding this notion of personal development and transformation as part of their repertoire and part of what they want to accomplish. Travel is an important conduit for achieving that.”
Personalized itineraries
Curating itineraries based on a deep knowledge of clients and their interests is increasingly important as travelers move away from cookie-cutter experiences. Many tour operators offer completely customized, bespoke trips, in addition to guided vacations. Preferences like small intimate inns or luxe hotels, fine dining or the most local eateries, and sightseeing interests can be factored into planning to create truly unique trips for clients.
Authentic local interaction
Authenticity can be seen as an extension of what is local to a destination. Instead of tourist traps that congregate overwhelming number of visitors, luxury travelers want to focus on smaller, more intimate experiences that are special to that locale.
“Make it personal, that’s key to any experience that matters, and make it local, too — tightly enmeshed with the location of the property. Wouldn’t you want an experience with a Native American healer on the Navajo Nation in northern Arizona and New Mexico? That’s something to talk about, post about, and brag about on social media,” Harrison suggests.
Reshaping bucket lists
Considering growing global concerns from geopolitical concerns to climate change, luxury travelers are changing their bucket lists to include experiences that need to be had today, because next year they may not be an option.
For example, fears of global warming have some trekking to Antarctica now, so it can be seen in all its splendor; or as Harrison points out, guests are streaming to Africa precisely because seeing the Big Five has long been on their personal to-do list — and now they fear the opportunity to do this may be shrinking. Other places like Cuba, which is seen by many as a “visit while you can” opportunity, are gaining in popularity.
Instagrammable moments
Social media is getting more enmeshed in travel as consumers “crave images of their travels that they can share with friends and relatives, perhaps via social media,” Harrison said. They also want to boast about exclusive experiences, from people to places, they have access to that others may not.
“What can you suggest that is special but still encapsulates the unique guest experience? That is no easy feat, but high-end guests don’t want to share the very same image of themselves in front of the Eiffel Tower that already appeared 10,000 times on Facebook today,” she said.
Holistic health at the foothills of the Himalayas in India
A hotel in the foothills of the Himalayas is committed to putting guests on the path to holistic health.
To think of luxury in the north of India is to think most likely, of mirrored palaces turned five-star hotels, and of gilded portraits of maharajas hanging above carved beds. For decades, Indian hotels have catered to—and been steeped in—a sentimental desire for the opulence of a bygone era. But nostalgia is a risky thing if it ignores environment and community, and in recent years there has been a growing movement in Indian hospitality, one that rejects unbridled extravagance in favor of restrained well-being.
At the forefront of this is Veer Singh, the 33-year-old founder of Vana Malsi Estate in Dehradun, an hour’s flight from Delhi. His father, Analjit, runs several health-focused companies, and his grandfather Bhai Mohan helmed the mammoth pharma company Ranbaxy, so it should come as no surprise that Singh’s interest is wellness. Singh spent five years and $55 million turning a 21-acre family estate in the Himalayan foothills, mostly a mango and lychee orchard, into a LEED Platinum wellness resort that opened in 2014.
One of chef Kuntal Kumar’s dishes.
Between Dehradun’s miniature airport and Vana Malsi, the road is narrow and steep, snaking up past small villages, jade-green fields, and rocky gorges. The car pushes through the traffic of Dehradun, a once sleepy area that is now a hive of industry. Down a side street, Vana’s tall gates slide open and the world goes silent. There is noticeable attention to detail, from the landscaped stone pathways to the simple receiving room where guests are wished a productive stay. Productive. The word lingers. It’s a signal: This is no ordinary vacation, aimless and indolent. There is a purpose to one’s time here.
Vana differs from its luxury brethren, most obviously in the way it looks nothing like any other Indian hotel in its class. Spanish architects Antoni and Bartomeu Esteva, a father-and-son team, created a complex of linear buildings in neutral desert-sand and cream tones, from the kila, a soaring, cathedral-like space that contains two restaurants, a shop, and a library, to a domed pavilion, where Vana’s resident flautist plays three times a day. The 82 guest rooms and suites are modern, with contemporary furniture and art produced by local artists using indigenous materials.
The atmosphere is reminiscent of a Swiss spa, more Therme Vals than Taj Mahal. The first thing guests do on arrival is meet with one of Vana’s wellness consultants, who crafts a customized agenda. And thus begins the time of being productive. Each morning, early risers walk a leafy path to the yoga pavilion for a gentle yet thorough Surya Namaskar. Breakfast, a vast smorgasbord of fruit, nuts, pastries, and saffron yogurt, is served in Vana’s main restaurant, Salana, with the sun rising over the mountains.
A word about the food: Chef Kuntal Kumar has created a menu whose imagination is undeterred by the calorie count listed discreetly next to each dish. Whether it is fresh paneer rolled in dry mint or homemade coconut ice cream, there’s no compromise between health and flavor.
In the Tibetan Healing Center, a set of cool, cave-like rooms, a young woman murmurs a low chant and begins a Ku Nye massage with dhugs, tiny, heated compresses tapped all over the body with a lulling, hypnotic rhythm. Afternoons are spent by the pool. Once the sun has retreated a bit, it’s time to wander over to the Ayurvedic center, where Maya, a muscular woman from Kerala, wrings out knots with the help of herb-filled poultices that fill the room with a vegetal fragrance.
Time takes on its own quality at Vana. But what stays is this: On my last evening, during a discussion facilitated by a speaker from the U.S., Veer Singh himself slips into the room. He’s slim, bearded, and scholarly-looking. At the end he talks about his search for what he considers a meaningful life with a seeming desire to communicate his love for the living world into everyone’s hearts.
The next day, like all departing guests, I am asked to tie a red string around a wrought iron mandala in the receiving room. It is mere ritual, but like all rituals, it contains a glimmer of resolution, of purpose. To live in a better, quieter way, and perhaps, someday, to return.
Photos: Courtesy Vana Malsi Estate. Rooms from $375; Mussoorie Rd., Dehradun, Uttarakhand; 91-135/391-1111; vana.co.in.
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