@DEAR NAME@ The start of 2009 brings a year full of promise and wanderlust and the Quintessentially Travel team are here to fulfil your every travel request. To kickstart your year, Quintessentially Travel has gathered a host of fabulous suggestions for your holidays around the globe. If there is nothing to your liking listed below, please call or e-mail us and we’ll craft ideas especially for you. A very happy New Year to you all and may January 2009 be truly wonderful! Chinese New Year with Amanresorts, Bali Discover the diversity and cultural spirit of Bali with Amanresorts’ three island hideaways – Amandari, Amankila and Amanusa. Over the Chinese New Year vacation, enjoy the unique setting of each resort at an exclusive rate which is available with complimentary breakfast. Amandari is located in Bali’s arts capital of Ubud and is a window into the soul of traditional Bali. Amankila is perched on a cliff facing the Lombok Strait in East Bali and Amanusa is nestled in a lush garden on Bali’s southern peninsula overlooking the Indian Ocean. RATES From USD 640 per night (inclusive of airport transfers and breakfast) Rates are valid from Friday 23rd January to Sunday 1st February 2009 and apply only to residents of China. Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore and Taiwan. Rates are subject to service charge and tax. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Escape to Necker Island, Caribbean Necker, Sir Richard Branson’s private paradise sits in turquoise waters, and is fringed by beautiful white sandy beaches. With a maximum capacity of 28 guests, you can hire the island exclusively and get away from it all while you party with your friends and family! This private island escape is tailored specifically to your needs. Hire Necker Island for a minimum of 3 nights (offer ends Saturday 28th February 2009 - limited gaps are available in January and February). You could also spend some time together with loved ones over the Easter holidays from Sunday 5th April to Saturday 18th April 2009. RATES USD 51,000 per night, inclusive of all food and drinks, including fine wine and Champagne, return transfers by private jet, 60 staff, and plenty of activities to entertain you all! For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Villa Nina, Eden Rock, St Barths – Six Star Ultra Luxe Villa Nina occupies approximately 6,000 square-feet of total developed space with two large, well-appointed bedrooms and a beautiful Valcucine kitchen and bar with a separate dining area. The master bedroom suite offers his and her walk-in dressing rooms with bathrooms tiled in white gold and come with double cascade showers and plunge pools. Villa Nina’s oversized doors and windows open directly onto St Jean beach. Two pools overlook the turquoise waters of the bay and the comfy king-sized loungers scattered around the villa’s several terraces are perfect for soaking up the sun. Guests may choose to dine in the villa, or at the Eden Rock's restaurants. Also and if you wish, you can host private dinner parties in Villa Nina with cuisine prepared by Eden Rock’s famous young French chef, Jean-Claude Dufour. You can take advantage of the butler service, your own Mini Cooper, a VIP greeting service in Anguilla or St Martin and an in-villa art gallery which exhibits a changing mix of original contemporary paintings, lithographs and photographs. RATES The daily rate is EUR 9,000 with a 5 night minimum stay for Quintessentially members. They normally request a minimum stay of 7 nights. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Sexy Miami, USA Miami – home to the beautiful people, long stretches of white sand beach and a pulsating nightlife. Spend your next Christmas and New Year holiday in the heart of it all at Villa Helena, a stunning four bedroom home only five minutes from South Beach. The beautiful white stucco exterior and its clean lines make Villa Helena a spectacular retreat from the hustle and bustle of Miami. Villa Helen’s interiors include beautiful bedroom terraces, a spacious living room, two dining rooms, marble floors, hand-crafted chandeliers and all the modern luxuries one can think of. Outside, Villa Helena boasts a private courtyard, relaxing pool, Jacuzzi and a barbeque – the perfect setting for a group of friends or family looking to combine the best of urban and elegant Miami. Villa Helena offers exceptional levels VIP service which includes chauffeured limousine collection and delivery service, a welcome bottle of Champagne and myriad canapés, housekeeping, bellman at arrival and departure, unpacking service, daily fresh fruit and flowers, Egyptian cotton bed linen and a full range of BVLGARI bath products and much more. Quintessentially members who book before Tuesday 31st March will be eligible to access "the stay for 10 nights, pay for 8” offer." For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Okavango Horse Safari Okavango is a vast inland delta, one of Southern Africa's most enigmatic river systems, and lies like an emerald jewel on the edge of the great Kalahari desert - an astonishing maze of papyrus lined waterways, meadows and woodland rich in birdlife and game. On horseback, you can venture further into the delta and get closer to wildlife than you could on foot. Imagine yourself mounted high above the long grass and reeds watching great herds of zebra, wildebeest and lechwe as they move across golden floodplains. Cantering alongside giraffe is an experience you will never forget and the only sounds you will hear, as the wind soughs through the long grass and rattles the palms, are the fish eagle's haunting cry, the splash of a disappearing crocodile and the faraway drumming of hooves. As the blood red sun drops into the black of night, the hyena’s cackle and the lion's roar will accompany your fireside reverie. This is as close to nature as you will ever get. Okavango horse safari operates throughout the year and there are set departure dates. The price varies dependent on season. RATES The price per person per day starts at USD 400 and is fully inclusive. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Four Seasons Seychelles. Indian Ocean The Four Seasons Hotel group have recently opened their newest property in the Seychelles. The brilliantly green coastline reveals tree-house villas perched on a jungle hillside. Revel here with barefoot ease and be serenaded by tropical birdsong while you take the scent of cinnamon trees and frangipani in. Lounge by your plunge pool, then stroll along the powder-fine beach. Stay 5 consecutive nights and receive a complimentary 6th and 7th night valid for Garden View, Ocean View and Hilltop Ocean View Villas. The bonus offer multiplies – if you book 10 consecutive paying nights, you will receive 4 additional complimentary nights (pay 10 nights / stay 14 nights). Daily breakfast for up to 2 adults will be included in the complimentary nights offer. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Ibiza 2009 Casa Flores is arguably one of the most brilliant villas on the island and has just reserved, for Quintessentially Travel, the last two weeks of the prime holiday season from the Saturday 1st to Saturday 15th August 2009. This stunning villa is in the north of the island within close proximity to San Carlos. With the most divine sea views and country chic interiors, this villa is perfect for ten people – forming the perfect family get away. You will also receive chef and full maid service. RATES EUR 29,000 per week. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Special offers at The Sarojin You can now explore Khao Lak in Thailand for less whilst staying at the stunning Sarojin. Make the most of this fantastic offer below and you will soon be unwinding in one of the pool residences or soaking up the sun on the expansive white sandy beach. If you fancy something a little more active you will also have your own “imaginer” on hand, who can arrange treks, elephant riding, kayaking, diving and lots more in nearby Khao Lak and Khao Sok National Parks. The choice is yours. Until Wednesday 19th April 2009 Stay in a Sarojin Suite for 2 nights and enjoy an additional 1 night free or stay 4 nights and receive an additional 2 nights free. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Luxury in Verbier – Victoria & Valentine As you pull up outside this chalet, a glass of vintage Champagne and a roaring fire awaits you inside while your chef busily prepares your evening meal. These are just some of the delights that can be offered by Bramble Ski. In the exclusive Victoria and Valentine complex, Bramble Ski operates two properties for 7 to 9 people. Guests will all have access to the luxury spa area which contains a swimming pool, sauna, gym and hammam (steam room). A Bramble in-house instructor team is also on hand to answer your questions about the ski activities which you will participate in. Bramble Ski combine the highest levels of customer service, fine cuisine and world class properties with two days of complimentary guiding and ski instruction from a team of highly qualified ski instructors. They believe that your experience on the mountain is as important as your experience in one of their wonderful properties. Bramble Ski also operates eight other luxury apartments and chalets suiting all group sizes in the world renowned Swiss resort of Verbier. RATES Quintessentially members receive two additional complimentary days (4 in total) from one of the in-house private ski instructors (1 instructor per chalet). Their Victoria and Valentine apartments are all rented on an exclusive basis - catered or self catered. Catered prices range from GBP 6,000 per week to GBP 18,750 per week. Available throughout the season but with limited availability. For more information, or to book this please contact travel@quintessentially.com. Quintessentially Travel Diaries – The Bahamas Each month, one of our travel experts gives you the low down on their recent adventures. This month, Dani Burke, our London travel consultant, tells us about her week in the Bahamas. My trip to the Bahamas in June began with a 10 hour flight to Nassau in Club Class with BA. It was a great service and we landed feeling refreshed and relaxed, and were whisked through Customs easily. We were staying at the new Cove Atlantis, which combines imposing surroundings with stunning accommodation; it feels like a boutique hotel, despite its 600 suites. It has a perfect ocean front setting, with all the facilities you’d want nearby, including Cain, a chic, adult-only pool with luxurious private cabanas and great music and a Miami vibe. For a completely different experience, the One&Only Ocean Club is a haven of calm, beginning with the exquisitely manicured gardens. The tastefully decorated Balinese-style villas offer unbeatable privacy, and children are well catered for with their own well-equipped play house. Trying a delicious cocktail in the hotel’s beachfront bar rounds off a great day in this wonderfully comfortable place. From glamorous Paradise Island, I then travelled to the beautiful Four Seasons Resort Great Exuma. Landscaped pathways connect the rooms to the main building, white sand beaches and swimming pools. All rooms and suites have private terraces or balconies and the Royal Beachfront Villa with its private pool and peaceful patio courtyard is perfect for al fresco dining, relaxing or entertaining. As with all Four Seasons, the standards are impeccably high. From here we went on a fantastic boat trip to Stocking Island, spending the day swimming, snorkeling and sampling some delicious, and popular, Bahama Mama cocktails. After a breathtaking flight over the Exumas in your own 6 seated plane, we arrived at Andros airport and were whisked away for the short sea crossing to Kamalame Cay. This private Robinson Crusoe-style island has just 19 rooms and suites & 1 four bedroom villa. I stayed in the stunning honeymoon suite, which boasta amazing views. Kamalame Cay is the perfect island to escape & unwind; the atmosphere is relaxed, and, as the resort is all inclusive, everything you want is on hand. Pretty Harbour Island was our next port of call. After a short journey, we arrived at Coral Sands & Pink Sands, which boasts a fabulous pink sand beach. Rooms at Coral Sands are colonial in style whilst Pink Sands has more of a contemporary feel. The two-bedroom Beach House at Coral Sands, designed by Barbara Hulanicki, is the perfect place for a relaxing break. If you can bear to tear yourself away from the beach, Harbour Island itself has a variety of beguiling shops and restaurants.