There is no need to wait for the world to open before planning your trip. Do it now — Options suggests everything from virtual tours, to award-winning places and countries that plan to open with safety measures in place
Monaco from home
Monaco’s Tourist and Convention Authority has unveiled a slick new video series, titled Monaco From Home — A small country that resonates all over the planet.
Celebrating the principality’s global appeal and relationships with countries across the world, the series highlights its close links to 10 countries like Germany, Russia, Australia, America, Italy and Singapore.
Each country is represented by a personality or theme linking it with Monaco. In Singapore, 26-year-old motor racing driver Andrew Tang is featured, taking viewers on its F1 track as he shares how Monaco inspired his racing journey.
The campaign is social media-driven and publicised across Visit Monaco offices’ Facebook and Instagram social media channels.
Travel in style
Luxury hotels and resorts group Aman’s new partnership with Luggage Free ensures its resort guests enjoy relaxing and seamless journeys throughout.
Luggage Free offers up some 15 years of experience as a leading specialty shipping provider. Its reach spans over 110 countries, covering every location in the Aman portfolio.
Along with handling luggage of all shapes and sizes, key possessions like golf clubs, skis, snowboards and bicycles can also be transported. Items can also be collected from pro-shops and ski-lodges. There is also complimentary real-time tracking and guaranteed on-time delivery.
Rainbow luxury
In this year’s Luxury Lifestyle Awards — which is headquartered in New York —Rainbow Hill Golf Club has been named the Best Luxury Golf Club in Indonesia.
Rainbow Hills offers a scenic 27-hole mountain course layout designed by the renowned J Michael Poellot Golf Design Group (JMP), and is set within the East Bogor highlands near Sentul City.
The club was founded in 1995, the year when the first two courses were opened. The 3,096-metre Mountain Course and 3,193-metre Forest Course have 18 holes routed through de- forested mountains. In 2015, the nine-hole, 3,172 metre Stone Hills Course was opened.
Orient’s new routes
The legendary Venice Simplon-Orient-Express train is offering new Grand Tour routes across Eu- rope which traverse Italy, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands.
New boarding points for the luxuriant train with its elegant art-deco 1920s carriages include Rome, Florence, Geneva, Brussels and Amsterdam.
Guests can now select from a number of different new journeys including the option to stay overnight at Villa San Michele, A Belmond Hotel, Florence, or Castello di Casole, A Belmond Hotel, Tuscany on the Florence route to Paris.
Six senses alive
Six Senses Con Dao, nestled in a protected national marine park in Vietnam, is offering new packages for a secluded yet luxuriant travel experience.
A three-night private travel package includes a round-trip Legacy 600 aircraft from Tan Son Nhat airport in Ho Chi Minh City, as well as accommodation at a four-bedroom residence with private infinity pool, and all meals and drinks (except premium wines).
Guests can also enjoy Ayurveda rejuvenating treatments at an outdoor pavilion, as well as island hopping on a private boat, with beach picnic, fishing and snorkelling. Tours of Con Dao and forest trekking to a hidden lighthouse are also popular.
Breathe Chiva-Som
At Thailand’s Chiva-Som Hua Hin, head of naturopathy Dr Tal Friedman offers wellness tips to protect against air pollution.
He notes that the air we breathe is full of particulate matter (PM) like chemicals, soil, smoke, dust or allergens. To safe-guard one’s health, ensure clean air filters at home and at work. Get some household plants too, as some studies have found they are able to accumulate PM.
Dr Friedman also advises avoiding fragranced products like air fresheners, and laundry detergents, as they contain volatile organic compounds which can irritate the eyes, nose, throat and lungs. Finally, eating broccoli can help the body fight inflammation and expel pollutants.
