TRAVEL NEWS + DEALS
HK views, evocative walks and a good night's rest in Bali
Stretch out in a Hong Kong penthouse, take in the Wanchai sights on an audio tour, and then enjoy some laboratory-condition sleep in Ubud, Bali.
Hong Kong view from the top
Lanson Place Causeway Bay Hong Kong (lansonplace.com/causewaybay/) has rolled out spacious Penthouses on its 27th and 28th floors serving up views over the city and calming uncluttered space hugely welcoming of light. Kitted out in tasteful cream furnishings, pale wood floors and pastel rugs and everything you need for an extended stay, the spaces run from 900sq ft (one bedroom) to 1,500sq ft and 2,000sq ft (two bedrooms). Penthouse 2801 is a 1,500sq ft corner space with a good-stretch living room and four-seater dining looking over the Sports Stadium nestled in green hills. Soft lighting etches out the beds underfoot and pale blue accents run from the cushions to small paintings. The space is zen in its simplicity and clean cream lines. Expect two kinds of USB sockets married with three-pin plug points in the bedrooms and in the dataport on the work desk. Find a microwave, Nespresso, a small electric cooking range, a dishwasher, full size fridge (with decent freezer), washing machine, and cooking utensils. The two bedrooms come with en suite bathrooms with rainshowers (one with a soaking tub). The larger 2,000sq ft unit 2803 at the other corner has a soaking tub with a window view.
The Hari Hong Kong (above left, www.thehari.com) not only offers vast views of its historic Wanchai District but is keen for guests to immerse themselves in a bit of local lore. What better than to combine a special one night room package for two at HK$1,800 with breakfast and an intriguing audio tour? Included in this engaging circuit is a meal on a sampan, the Noon Day gun, and a look at 'villain beating' practised by wizened ladies under a bridge to cast out bad luck and to harry tormentors. Also enjoy a private local family dinner, a hidden art collection, and a visit to a restored 1960s tenement block now a creative hub. The icing on the cake is Hari CEO and founder Dr Aron Harilela's account of his childhood memories and love of art. Tune in. Meanwhile, closer to the tropics, the 4.7 hectare Mandai Rainforest Resort by Banyan Tree (above right) opens April 2025 in Singapore's Mandai Wildlife Reserve with access to the Night Safari and the zoo.
Now Bali welcomes sleepyheads
For peripatetics racked by sleepess nights as they jet from New York to Singapore and Tokyo, a soothing 'Art of Slumber' package from Tanah Gajah (www.tanahgajahubud.com), a Resort by Hadiprana, Ubud, up in the cool hill country of central Bali. If you're in need of laboratory conditions to switch off, this may be it. Apart from sleeping blissfully in a charming boutique resort spread over acres of verdant rice paddy dotted with stone Ganesha statues, there's a 90-minute massage combining shiatsu with Balinese, Thai and Swedish techniques. Then head for a 'Melukat' cleansing ritual that restores calm and declutters the mind before sampling a melatonin-boosting three-course dinner. Back at your private villa find a special music selection and chamomille-infused tea with pandan and ginger. Start the enxt day with a spot of yoga. Priced at US$2,140 for two over two nights (till 31 March 2025).
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On 1 September 2023 Bhutan (above left, bhutan.travel/) brought the daily Sustainable Development Fee (SDF) down to US$100. The levy is valid until September 2027. Young children get special concessions too. In early 2023 the government opted to drop all-inclusive tour fees (US$250) and began charging a flat US$200 per head for foreigners (with a special Rs1,200 rate for Indians). The freebie was over. Hotels and tour operators complained that this was killing tourism as foreigners now had to pay the $200 personal fee and fork out separately for hotels, transport, and meals. This resulted in the cut. Indians don't require a Bhutan visa. Maldivians and Bangladeshis are also exempt from visas. Coming on the heels of Janu Tokyo in March 2024, Aman announces the arrival of Janu Dubai in 2027 (above right). The green-feel nature-leaning Janu Dubai will offer 150 keys (including some for exclusive residences) and a members' club. Expect the usual thoughtful wellness escape, fitness, fine dining and event space in a designer escape.
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