QUINTESSENTIALLY | Insider | Travel

There are few cities in England that offer a combination of awe-inspiring surroundings, world-class culture and history, stunning food and drink and a legendary nightlife scene, but Newcastle-upon-Tyne offers all of them, amongst much else. Everyone knows the iconography of the city, from the imposing Tyne Bridge to the architectural spectacle that is Grey Street (voted Britain’s favourite street). Yet there’s so much more to it than the obvious highlights, whether you want to visit some of the country’s most striking art galleries or stay at some of the most luxurious boutique hotels in the North-East.

Ever since Gateshead welcomed the Baltic Centre and Sage concert hall, to say nothing of the ambitious Millennium Bridge spanning the Tyne between Gateshead and Newcastle, there has been a seismic shift in how the city regards itself. Yes there’s still the Bigg Market, rammed to the hilt every weekend with stag parties and revellers, but you’re just as likely to find upmarket wine bars off Grey Street or some of the country’s most characterful pubs, where good cheer and great beer go hand-in-hand.

The city isn’t short of great hotels, but two of the best are undeniably the Malmaison and the Hotel du Vin. The Malmaison is set in a stunning location adjacent to the river, a short walk from the centre of town and literally seconds from the ‘hip’ bars that populate the Quayside. In a former warehouse, the rooms have been sympathetically restored to offer all the mod cons that you’d expect (flat screen TVs, rainfall showers, Egyptian cotton linen) but with a sense of humour as well, from the lifts that speak to you in French (!) to the hearty brasserie fare served up in the restaurant that makes ample use of local ingredients; unpretentious and very enjoyable dishes.

The Hotel du Vin, by way of contrast, is catered towards visitors who want a quirkier but slightly more grown-up experience. If you’re into wine, this place will be a joy to spend time in, from the rooms named after various producers to the impressive cellar that can be sampled either in the restaurant or the excellent bar. Again, the conversion from a former industrial building allows for all kind of fun design touches, such as rooms that incorporate the shower and bath into the bedroom itself; ideal for a romantic couple wanting to spend some quality time together.

On the other side of town, Jesmond is commonly regarded as the city’s ‘posh’ area, with chi-chi bars and coffee shops catering to a mixture of young professionals, students and the city’s well-heeled. Many flock to the highly acclaimed Jesmond Dene House, which beautifully conveys an air of country refinement while set just outside the city centre. The highly acclaimed restaurant, which boasts 3 AA rosettes, specialises in high quality cuisine that combines European and British influences, but in an accessible and pleasant way. Menus range from seriously high-class gastronomic tasting options in the evening to a more straightforward but no less enjoyable Sunday lunch set menu, where carnivores will appreciate the suitably hearty roast beef washed down with one of the excellent wines that the knowledgeable sommelier can point you towards.

There’s a huge amount to Newcastle – indeed, with the small but perfectly formed historic city of Durham a few miles down the road, it’s the ideal base for a weekend away. So throw away your preconceptions of Viz and ‘the Toon Army’, and prepare to enjoy yourself in one of Britain’s most interesting destinations.

Malmaison, 104 Quayside, NE1. www.malmaison-newcastle.com

Hotel du Vin, Allan House, City Road, NE1 www.hotelduvin.com/hotels/newcastle

Jesmond Dene House, Jesmond Dene Rd, NE2 www.jesmonddenehouse.co.uk

Quintessentially travelled from London King’s Cross to Newcastle by rail with East Coast Trains: advance return fares, booked online, start from £24 Standard Class or £86 First Class: book via www.eastcoast.co.uk, call 08457 225225 or visit any staffed station.

The indisputable highlight of my autumn has been escaping Hong Kong for less polluted and sunnier climes, where I found the perfect restorative retreat at Karma Kandara in Bali.

Working with the philosophy that balance is the ultimate state of being, Karma brings together a first-rate spa, spacious private pool villas, a seriously hip beach club and delicious dining options for an extremely relaxing and escapist one-stop retreat. It’s the kind of place you could bring your girlfriends for a ‘Moet & Manicure’ spa weekend, gather your friends and family and get hitched on the beach, or visit with your nearest-and-dearest for some quality romance time.

The hotel’s holistic theme is reflected in the spa menu, which not only offers divine massages (I loved the Karma rubdown) but also body scrubs, wraps and steams. The detox body scrub consisted of a brisk rubdown using home-grown and handmade organic products infused with salt that left my skin feeling, forgive the cliché, baby soft. The spa also specialises in more unusual alternative therapies – for example, Craniosacral, Reiki or Zen facials.

The weekend I was there, celebrity facialist Fumi Yamamoto was staying at the resort and leading a three-day Zen Facial Retreat. Fumi’s training in Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shiatsu and Reflexology meant the facial included a foot massage and stomach diagnostic session. This kind of attitude – that a holistic approach is better for us all – is something that Karma embraces thoroughly and lends the resort a completely unpretentious, friendly and chilled-out vibe where you’re welcome to wine and dine as well as spa and relax.

Pampering aside, Nammos, Karma’s private beach club, attracts an unsurprisingly good-looking crowd of 30-something Europeans sipping on chilled cocktails, nibbling tapas and listening to the DJ’s sundown set. The beach is accessible by an inclinator down a 150m cliff face and offers spectacular views of the Indian Ocean beyond – in fact, the whole resort is built facing the ocean on Bali’s southernmost peninsula with the spa, restaurant and Grand Cliff Residences in prime position to take advantage of the amazing views. The beach looks rocky but don’t be fooled: the rocks are actually large slabs of granite that have been polished smooth over time and act as ad-hoc aqua sunbeds.

As for the villas themselves – well, what more is there to say than the luxury of having your own pool, daybeds, sun loungers and outdoor dining area is the perfect compliment to what’s already the epitome of the charming villa. The décor is, not surprisingly, unpretentious and fuses Balinese design with contemporary finishes – rainforest showers, outdoor daybeds and the warm colours you’d expect on this tropical island. Look out for the monkeys swinging through the trees, limbering across the pool area as if they own the place.

di Mare, which is their main restaurant, serves breakfast lunch and dinner and boasts some of the best sea views in the hotel. Light bites, fresh salads and seafood are served up alongside home baked bread and a smashing wine list. Also in stiff competition for ‘best view’ is the spa – check out the outdoor Jacuzzi and spa rooms where you can hear the crashing of the waves whilst enjoying a traditional Balinese rubdown.

Karma Kandara, Jalan Villa Kandara Banjar Wijaya Kusuma Ungasan, Bali, 80362 Indonesia

T: +62 361 848 2200

In all the millions of words written about Dubai since it became one of the world’s most talked about and exciting cities, the comparison that seems the most obvious is with Las Vegas. Both saw obscure desert settlements turn into temples to commerce, innovation and a peculiar kind of style that can both enthrall and repel. Both cities have a real love-it or loathe-it quality to them. The key difference, of course, is that Las Vegas is now sufficiently established for most visitors to know exactly what they’re going to get. Dubai, by way of contrast, is still very much an evolving city, where a new visit will bring a host of new buildings, including many of the world’s set-piece new hotels and restaurants. When Giorgio Armani wants to open his first hotel, or Gary Rhodes wants to launch a new high-class yet casual grill, Dubai is the place that they want to do it.

I headed to Dubai over the Ramadan period in early September. This is both a challenging and exciting time to see the city; challenging, because the 40+ degree heat is coupled with all eating and drinking in public being forbidden between the hours of sunrise and sunset, but exciting because it gives all visitors an opportunity to participate in the iftar ceremony at sunset, when Muslims break their fast with a lavish and celebratory meal. More prosaically, it means that hotel prices are at their most competitive, meaning that visitors can experience five or even seven star luxury at rates that would be virtually impossible at other times of the year.

I stayed at the Shangri-La hotel, situated near to the Burj Khalifa, currently the world’s tallest building, and the near-legendary Dubai Mall. If you are an aficionado of luxury hotels, Dubai is likely to be an unmissable opportunity. If you spent one night apiece in all of the city’s five star luxury destinations, it would be the best part of two months before you had exhausted your options. The Shangri-La is an excellent example of the high standards of accommodation that the city offers, with every room offering mod cons including decadently comfortable beds and deep-soak baths. Part of a Far Eastern chain, it offers high quality dining in a wide range of bars and restaurants, including modern Cantonese cooking in Shang Palace and traditional Arabian cuisine at Marrakech, which has a Moroccan theme and offers dishes as eclectic as tagines and, for the intrepid, lamb’s brains.

If you are a gourmand, Dubai offers a huge amount of choice. Many of the world’s greatest chefs, including Gordon Ramsay and Pierre Gagnaire, have outposts here, and the high-class surroundings that these restaurants are located in are more than matched by the excellent cooking. A visit to Gary Rhodes’ brand new Twenty Ten at Le Royal Meriden Beach Resort offered Rhodes’ trademark spin on English brasserie staples, whether it was lobster bisque, steak ‘n’ chips (where the beef is Wagyu, the chips are triple cooked, and you’re gently suggested towards foie gras and snails as accompaniments) or a gloriously deconstructed banana and chocolate pudding. If you’re after something more European, the fine dining Ristorante at the Armani Hotel shows that Signor Giorgio is as serious about food as he is about fashion, with an eclectic and well chosen menu of Italian favourites. The highlight for me was a perfectly cooked and presented tenderloin of veal with foie gras. Although the UAE is of course a dry country, alcohol is readily available in hotel bars and restaurants (where most serious socialising takes place), which means that the wine lists and cocktail selections are every bit as impressive as in any other major city. Prices, as you would expect, are not cheap, however, so a certain level of discretion is recommended unless you have the bank account of an Arab sheikh.

There’s plenty more weird and wonderful things to do on a trip here, whether it’s visiting an unusual but amusing ‘fish spa’ at the Wild Wadi Water Park (which also boasts a frankly terrifying 150-foot water slide, the so-called ‘Jumeirah Sceirah’) or checking out the world’s largest indoor aquarium at the lavish Dubai Mall, itself host to virtually every major store and brand name you can think of. If you’re looking for culture, heritage or history you’re in the wrong place. But if you’re after a genuinely eye-opening look at what the world is going to be like later this century, Dubai is the place to be.

For more information about Dubai call Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing on + 44 (0)20 7321 6110 or visit www.dubaitourism.ae.

3 nights B&B at Shangri-La Hotel including economy flights with Virgin Atlantic from GBP 839 per person. Valid for departures 21 Oct – 8 Dec 2010. Call + 44 (0) 845 050 5871 or visit www.trailfinders.com.

Virgin Atlantic flies from London Heathrow to Dubai daily. Fares start from GBP 357 including taxes and can be booked online at www.virginatlantic.com or by calling reservations on + 44 (0) 8448 747 747

Half day city tour from GBP 25 per adult / GBP 12 per child. Al Abjar Tourism Adventures: info@abjartourism.ae or www.abjartourism.com.

There seems to be a new maxim on London’s restaurant scene: open it, watch it become a success, and then open a branch in Canary Wharf. From being a comparatively unfulfilling area for gourmands, Canary Wharf is now bursting with superior-quality places for all appetites and inclinations. Camino, which originally opened to great acclaim and success in King’s Cross, has now set out its stall in a strikingly inviting location by the Thames, offering the high-quality combination of superb cooking and great drinks that made its other restaurant a haven for those who like to venture through Spain’s rich culinary landscape.

If you’re dining in the restaurant, your best bet is to start off with a sharing platter, ‘un poco de todo’, which translates to ‘a little bit of everything’. This could include such delights as chorizo, tomato bread, delicious ham croquettes and langoustines, or a vegetarian option that features the most delicious smoked green peppers with sea salt that you can imagine having. Appetites whet, it’s your choice as to whether you stick with the ‘lighter’ options of cured meats and vegetable stews, or opt for the blow-out dishes like black pig shoulder blade (for the truly hard core) and marinated Basque-style rib-eye steak. The truly carnivorous can even treat themselves to a ‘parrillada mixta’, which includes virtually every kind of meat known to man, served up with Navarran red peppers.

Of course Camino became famous for its drink as much as its food, and the range on offer here doesn’t disappoint. The wine list includes both sensibly priced and eclectic Spanish wines from all over the country, including a good selection by the bottle and carafe, and ‘Los Canones
Grandes’, or ‘The Big Guns’, which allow the oenophile to sample some seriously high-class Spanish wine at more than reasonable prices. A favourite from this list was the Torre Silo Crianza, Cillar de Silos 2006, which was a deserved winner at the New Wave Spanish Wine Awards this year, combining a fine, ripe aroma with a deliciously clean and rich aftertaste.

The cocktails, dessert wines and brandies offer a wide number of intriguing gems, and make a perfect counterpoint to the beguiling variety of decadent desserts on offer, of which the ‘crema Catalana’, Catalan burnt custard cream, and the ‘pastel de chocolate’, hot chocolate pudding with ginger ice cream, were our favourites. But the beauty of Camino is that you’re perfectly at leisure to have as much or as little as you wish, whether you want a full-on Spanish tasting extravaganza or a light bite and a glass of wine. This is a splendid place which will appeal to gourmands Londonwide and hopefully continue the renaissance of Canary Wharf as a culinary destination.

28 Westferry Circus, London E14

Spas are an inevitable feature of fine hotels these days. No longer content with a comfortable bed and a massage, discerning travelers the world over want more from their accommodation. Much more. And so, it was with absolute delight that I recently experienced the Malo Spa at the Corinthia Hotel in Lisbon.

Sweeping marble floors, elegant outdoor dining terraces and velvet seating abound in the Corinthia, though the heart within Lisbon’s business district, is the 3000 square metres of spa heaven on the second floor of the hotel. Those with a strict adherence to holistic treatments will be impossibly impressed with the endless equipment that fills each treatment room (though a classic Ayurvedic massage is of course on offer). Founded by dental King Dr. Paulo Malo (the man responsible for pioneering modern dental implants) the Malo Spa is an extension of his belief in “medical spas.” As a result, his marriage of both medical and aesthetic ‘health and wellness’ offers everything from face radiofrequency treatment to Botox, a classic Clarins facial to manicures and pedicures: this is literally the place to have a head-to-toe make over from inside and out; the extent to which you make over, of course, depends on you. Though not quite interested in surgery or injections just yet, I was fascinated at the way such treatments are offered in the most luxurious and tranquil of spaces, with expert medical staff on hand when needed. It is easy to see why Dr. Malo’s spas and clinics are dominating the way they do (his largest is the biggest in the world, set within the four walls of Macao’s Venetian Hotel). His firm belief that spas should offer “more than just silly oils” will appeal to those wanting sumptuous surroundings in which to relax and rejuvenate after treatments, though those wanting a good old fashioned massage won‘t leave disappointed.

Viktor, a gorgeous-looking therapist, gave me an award-winning massage, though the real highlight had to be a capsule massage which incorporated water jets pulsing my whole body on a vibrating plate. Futuristic it may sound and initially intimidating it certainly was, but the effects were incredible. I felt utterly relaxed, my skin more supple, and the heady aroma of lemon oil refreshed me completely. Unlike so many wellness spas, the Malo offers delicious food and wine at any time of day and has all the essentials of a slick gym and sleek swimming pool. The sheer size of the spa places it in a league of its own (none of those claustrophobia inducing, terribly narrow treatment rooms) as does the range of services.

After hours of treatments, I felt one more would transfigure me from relaxed to comatose. As such, I floated into the lift, sailed up to my suite on the 23rd floor, and collapsed into a warm bath in my divine room. Water filled the deep ceramic tub in less than four minutes, a firm nod to the efficiency and luxury of the Corinthia. Lisbon called my name from outside the room so I willed myself to get ready for dinner. I headed out to the recently renovated, utterly fabulous restaurants of the city’s dock area, but inside, all I could think about was getting back later and crawling into that seductive bed to thoroughly enjoy my newly found state of Nirvana.

Av. Dos Combatentes, 43
1600-042 Lisboa

www.maloclinicspa.com
www.corinthia.com

The first Aman resort in Europe – Le Mélézin – opened in Courchevel in 1992 with the intention of combining an unrivalled ski experience with the classic traditions of the finest French manor. As Courchevel is part of ‘Les Trois Vallees’ area, visitors to the resort have immediate access to 600km of ski slopes all of which are well linked and maintained and offer a variety of alternative activities, including heli-skiing, snowmobiling and snowshoeing.

Le Mélézin resort is a luxurious après-ski home located directly on the Bellecôte piste, allowing easy ski-in and ski-out access to the resort whilst standing approximately 200 metres from the village centre and its wide-ranging facilities.

The Mélézin lodges premier position above the village of Courchevel 1850 gives it scenic vistas all the way from the French to the Swiss Alps. These picturesque views are captured beautifully by floor-to-ceiling windows in all the lounges, bedrooms and bathrooms.

Le Mélézin does not look or feel like a typical ski hotel. Its design is modern and luxurious, with inspiration taken from a vision of a medieval fortress and from traditional skiing chalets. Its snug spaces, handsome colours and textures – ranging from the oiled beauty of exotic timber to parched leather evoke the cosy, warm feeling of a ski chalet, whilst preserving the typical low-key approach established in all Aman resorts.

This hotel provides an appealing and sophisticated alternative to the “ski-all-day, out-all-night” ski break. With all the luxury of a Capri stone Turkish bath, a spa that offers the finest treatments, a small gym and an indoor pool, the Mélézin is a soothing and secure environment, which proves that good design can create an atmosphere of peace and relaxation.

The outdoor terrace provides the perfect place to enjoy the midday sun over lunch, afternoon tea, or simply a snack. In the evening, the oak-beamed, candlelit Dining room, with its engravings and frescoes, constitutes a sumptuous haven where guests can choose from traditional French Cuisine and authentic Thai dishes.

Along with the sensational views, the bronze sculptures of wild birds on the mezzanine add a rural French flavour and enhance the warm and inviting mood captured by Le Mélézin.

Courchevel is easily accessible by a variety of transport routes. It is possible to drive from Geneva, which is 140km north of Courchevel or from Lyon, which is approximately 200km to the west. The fast TGV train from Paris to Moûtiers-Salins takes four hours, followed by a 40-minute drive to the resort. Finally, the Altiport, 10 minutes from Le Mélézin, handles private charters by helicopter.

Go to www.amanresorts.com/

Mae West once said, ‘I’m easily satisfied. I only want the best.’ This maxim appears to hold true for Exclusive Hotels, a small but perfectly formed group of luxury hotels (and winner of 2009’s AA Small Hotel Group) in locations ranging from Hampshire to Sussex, where the emphasis is on allowing guests to enjoy themselves in unpretentious but beautifully presented surroundings. Unlike many ‘country house hotels’, where chintz and expensive extras soon take away the pleasure of a stay, the idea here is that guests can relax and feel at home immediately.

Nowhere is this more the case than one of the jewels of the crown in the collection, the Manor House. Set in the beautifully preserved Wiltshire village of Castle Combe, where remarkably little has been changed over the past centuries (no TV aerials or ‘For Sale’ signs here, let alone anything more unbecoming), the hotel occupies the manor house itself, which originally dates from the 14^th century, as well as, charmingly, a row of cottages leading into the villages. Many of these are now used for guest accommodation, and they represent a charming synergy of the old and new; four poster beds and antique furniture jostle for space with infinity baths and flat screen TVs. It’s hard to imagine even the most devoted sybarite being disappointed by the luxurious accommodation.

The hotel is rightly famous for its Michelin-starred Bybrook Restaurant, under the capable command of Richard Davies, whose previous berths include Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea and The Vineyard at Stockcross. With a pedigree like that, you know what to expect; dishes that combine European sophistication with carefully sourced ingredients and exquisitely accomplished cooking. Highlights of the tasting menu, the so-called ‘Menu Prestige’, included a delectable starter of hand dived scallops with butternut squash and chorizo, steamed fillet of turbot and a main course of beautifully tender and rich lamb, which my guest, an avowed vegetarian, insisted on sampling, and pronounced it exquisite.  As you’d expect from a restaurant that has been recognised by the AA Notable Wine Lists, the selection of wines on offer, either by the glass or bottle, is both eclectic and deeply satisfying, with the sommelier on hand to offer expert guidance whatever your budget.

However, there’s more to the hotel than just lavish bedrooms and equally lavish dinners. The afternoon tea is widely acknowledged to be a thing of beauty and wonder, and indeed the prestigious and highly demanding Tea Guild pronounced it the best country house afternoon tea award this year – with 15 varieties of loose leaf tea on offer, it’s an authoritative selection. And the ever-popular monthly ‘Ladies Lunch’ sessions, with the next being held on 6^th December, offer a four course lunch along with coffee and a glass of wine, as well as the chance to try your hand at Christmas floral decorating, for a bargain £33.

To say any more about this wonderful destination would be to gild the lily, but it’s likely that if Mae had been alive today, she might have followed in the footsteps of her fellow Hollywood stars Michael Douglas and Gwyneth Paltrow and found her way to Castle Combe. She’s unlikely to have been disappointed.

Manor House Hotel, Castle Combe, nr Bath. www.manorhouse.co.uk

Quintessentially travelled with First Great Western Trains. For the best deals, book up to 12 weeks in advance on the website www.firstgreatwestern.co.uk or contact customer services on + 44 (0)8547 000 125.

When city living gets too much, this is the place that Kate Moss checks in to. A tiny speck of untouched paradise with only 19 colonial-style houses, Naladhu has to be one of the chicest private escapes in the world. You could call it the Hamptons of the Maldives.

Opt for an Ocean House on the exposed side of the island – these have huge decks with traditional Maldivian swing-beds protruding over the dramatic booming, foaming ocean surf. Each house is kitted out with the usual state-of-the-art gizmos, a Lavazzo coffee machine and a walk-in wardrobe. The décor is old-school: ornate rugs, antique maps, wicker chairs and a giant teak sleigh bed. Best of all is the genius bathroom set-up: think spa garden. Oversized stone baths are set at eye level with your infinity pool with nothing between you and the vast ancient blue beyond but a single pane of glass. Occasionally, you’ll spot Naladhu’s private yacht or a traditional dhoni letting down its sail on the horizon, but otherwise, it’s just you and your other half. Your house master will make an appearance when and how you need him.

Meals are served in a palm-shrouded area just off the beach called the Living Room, which really does feel like a second home, with chessboards and cushions strewn about and a long glittering lap pool. Naladhu’s South African managers Chris and Elmine can be found here most mornings, barefoot in linens, setting a thoroughly relaxed and loved-up tone.

A visit to Naladhu’s world-renowned over-water spa is a must. Recently nominated Quintessentially Retreat Spa of the Year, it has thatched therapy rooms perched on stilts above the crystal-clear lagoon. Viewing panels are set in the floor so you needn’t miss out on a moment of the subterranean action while Thai therapists scrub and pummel you. After all, you never know what you might see; the colourful coral kaleidoscope of sea stars, unicorn fish, butterfly fish, stingrays and black tip reef sharks changes every few seconds.

Should, God forbid, a spot of desert-island ennui set in, worry not. Naladhu’s sister islands, Dhigu and Veli – also owned by Anantara, though a little friendlier on the wallet – are a short kayak ride away, providing further swaying palm trees, baby-soft sand, agar-coloured waves and a lagoon festooned with effervescent coral, as well as a plethora of watersports. We recommend you try ‘sea bobbing’ which involves clinging onto battery-powered ‘rockets’ that propel you along like dolphins at speeds of up to 20kmph. Ducking and weaving around the lagoon is pure Childs play. There’s also a cargo wreck you can explore on a night dive, that is, if you you’re not too full from dinner. There are five restaurants to choose from, serving everything from teppanyaki to tagines with some of the best wine lists in the Maldives. What’s really wonderful is that venturing over to one of these restaurants from your palatial love-nest on Naladhu gives you the feeling of having a night out. If you only make it to one of them, choose Baan Huraa, a traditional Thai restaurant set over dark crashing waves connected to Naladhu via a long wooden walkway, where dark-eyed waitresses deliver dish after dish of fragrant spicy delicacies, then weave origami birds at the table while you pay your bill.

News just in…
Q Insider has just got word that Anantara is further shrugging off aspersions that the Maldives will soon be below sea level, and is throwing open the doors to a brand-new resort in the Baa atoll in January 2011. We’ve heard the main restaurant, ‘Sea’, and the wine cellar have been built under water mind you – just in case. Thirty-five minutes by seaplane from Male, Anantara Kihavah is set to be the hippest place to down towels next year. Watch this space.

www.naladhu.com
www.anantara.com

At the Amanyara Spa, their sole tools are knowledge, the power of nature, their hands and hearts. It could be fair to say the road to enlightenment is easier than we thought…

Amanyara Resort and Spa in the Turks and Caicos Islands, a private and exclusive hideaway in the turquoise Atlantic Ocean.

The Spa’s philosophy is a fusion of traditional eastern healing therapies and contemporary spa treatments. In order to provide a truly holistic approach to well-being, they aim to balance physical, emotional, mental and spiritual forces within. The team of spa therapists work with ‘compassion’ and ‘intuition’ so that each treatment becomes a highly personalised, truly bespoke experience.

Their signature treatment is Thai massage – a rhythmic oil-free rub-down that’s been practiced by Buddhist monks for over 2500 years. The therapists, clothed in Thai pajamas, use a combination of gentle yoga stretches and pressure point massage which helps stimulate the body’s natural healing by unleashing the flow of blocked energy, making the recipient feel – well, you guessed it – instantly calmer.

Serenity Villa also offers yoga, meditation and Pilates in order to fully complete the holistic approach of maintaining the balance of both the non-physical and physical fields. The belief at Amanyara is that once harmony is realised, guests will be centered and at ease. Inner balance, peacefulness and joy – states of mind that are so close, but often so difficult to achieve – is what Amanyara aims to encourage in their guests.

Amanyara
Providenciales, Turks and Caicos Islands
British West Indies

Tel (1) 649 941 8133
Fax (1) 649 941 8132
Email amanyara@amanresorts.com