Travel

The Maldives is one of those heavenly destinations, where every single photo captured evokes luxury, beauty, and romance. Jumeirah Dhevanafushi encompasses this picturesque image throughout their resort, creating a honeymooners’s paradise with a private island vibe.  As soon as we stepped off the speedboat and entered the resort, the attentive and personalised service began. We were led to a gigantic beach villa complete with a hidden private swimming pool and one of the biggest bathtubs I’ve ever seen.  The island is small and simple to navigate with the beach only a few steps from your back door, and breakfast a short stroll away.  We spent days swimming along the fine white sand beach, gazing at a clear blue expanse and excitedly engaging with the incredible marine life. Snorkelling is well guided, with their house reef only a short swim away, and easily done even by the most novice swimmers.  The dining options are decadent and beautiful with beachfront relaxed tables, and a modern over the water venue located near the water villas.  For an unforgettable evening, The Sunken Dig was truly unique with a private table dug into the beach, adorned with an abundance of candles, flowers, and mouthwatering fare.  If you are lucky enough to catch the full moon, you will have one of the most beautiful views in the world.  What I loved most about Dhevanafushi was the fact that although the island is small we often felt alone, making the experience intimate and tranquil.  Truly an amazing place to escape city noise and enjoy a slice of five star barefoot luxury. 

When I travel, I find the journey is just as important as the trip itself. The anticipation before you arrive and the sheer excitement of descending into your destination is a huge part of visiting another part of the world. Dan and I planned our trip to the Maldives in celebration of not one but two special occasions, so when we found out Cathay Pacific offered the only direct flight from Hong Kong to Male, we knew it was the only option if we wanted comfort and luxury. We arrived early for check-in eager to start our trip and we melted into vacation mode the minute we set foot in Cathay Pacific’s The Pier Business Class Lounge. The vast space features modern, minimal design and enough relaxing corners for you to enjoy a glass of wine or read a book in peace. As it was Dan’s birthday we toasted our trip at the fully stocked bar with two glasses of champagne and started to revel in the calming atmosphere. We indulged in steaming hot bowls of soup and wontons from the nostalgic noodle bar, lounged while gazing at airplanes taking flight in the tranquil Relaxation Room, and finished with cups of fragrant coffee and conversation in the inviting lounge area. Time passed quickly and before we knew it, we were boarding our flight for Male. We were grateful to be comfortably settled in our Business Class seats where we could sit side by side but still have a sense of privacy and serenity. The staff were welcoming and attentive, greeting us by name and quickly learning our preferences ensuring personal service throughout the flight. We sipped wine and chatted during the mouthwatering tablecloth dinner service before fully reclining in the cozy seats and enjoying the varied and extensive in-flight entertainment on offer. I loved the little details that made their business class unique, such as double sided cotton blankets that were soft and luxurious, as well as the natural and fragrant Jurlique products ensuring moisture for my flight parched skin. We arrived in Male refreshed, rested, and content, starting our vacation on a very good note. I can’t think of a better way to have commenced our Maldives getaway.  

We have a beach addicted little family, always pining for the next white sand beach, so when a string of well traveled friends started recommending Palawan we knew it would be our next stop. Club Paradise, located on a private island in Coron, is only a short boat ride from Busuanga Airport and offers all that would dream of for an idyllic beach getaway. Our jaws dropped as the boat approached their white sand shores, slowly gliding through the sparkling gemstone turquoise waters. The beach villas are an amiable combination of luxury and rustic charm, giving you plenty of privacy and prime location. The children waded confidently into the calm and clear waters and spent hours building lofty sand castles on the pristine white sand beach. We enjoyed leisurely lunches at the beachfront restaurant tasting fresh local seafood and mouthwatering Filipino flavors. Evenings were spent lazing at the inviting and charming bar, where we caught numerous postcard worthy sunsets and cooled down with refreshing cocktails. One of the highlights was an impressive private boat trip to a neighboring island where we enjoyed a blissful and unforgettable dinner. If an island escape is your dream holiday then this is a must visit. For both romantic weekends or a family vacation, you will be able to experience an ample dose of paradise. 

Over Christmas we embarked on our first long haul flight with both children and surprisingly survived the experience without any disasters.  Any parent of babies and toddlers knows how daunting flying can be, and crossing time zones while trying to convince your children a seat is a bed can almost be impossible.  Lucky for us Turkish Airlines allowed us not only a smooth journey, but an enjoyable one.  Their business class is arguably the most child friendly in the business with accommodating staff, welcome packets that include children’s headphones, and plenty of space in your bulkhead seat if you have an infant in your lap.  To top it off they offer very competitive rates so you don’t feel guilty about buying your child that coveted seat and indulging as a family.  The lie down beds are artfully set up with cushions and a duvet so all of us snuggled up and slept through the majority of the HK to Istanbul leg.  Although you have a short layover in Istanbul, there’s no better sanctuary than the Turkish Airlines lounge.  We gorged on mouthwatering authentic fare and lounged in the comfortable sofas.  The coffee was some of the best I’ve ever tasted and the children were occupied in the fully equipped kids club.  I also cannot fault the delicious meals served onboard our flights either with an relaxing candlelit dinner service, fresh juices and teas, and amazing Turkish flavours.  What a comfortable and luxurious way to travel from Hong Kong to Europe. 

Our first stop on the stunning and tranquil island of Koh Samui.  Renaissance, located on an enviable beachfront location, is a welcoming and luxurious spot complete with pool villas, five star facilities, and friendly service.  We felt instantly at home in their two bed pool villa which was only steps away from the white sand and crystal waters.  This was the first beach vacation since our little River a.k.a. The Destructor has been walking so we had plenty of fun watching him discover and eat sand.  We found a little hidden area neatly tucked away from the main pool and set up a little camp for us and the kids. Weirdly enough, nobody seemed to walk by and it felt as if we were on our own serene, private island. Ever overcame her fear of oceans due to the inviting calm water, and was able to wade out by herself and engage in her favourite activity of collecting clams and shells.  When they they were drowsy from the sun, we were still right beside our villa so the kids went in for nap time while we enjoyed an ice cold beer on the breezy terrace.  Our small yet refreshing pool was Ever’s sanctuary and allowed me to sunbathe while she paddled around.  

This Renaissance was slightly quieter and more intimate than others we’ve stayed and we actually preferred it this way.  The service was incredibly personable and the restaurants never felt crowded.  We had privacy in our villa but moved down to the beach for sunsets drinks and to join the weekly seafood BBQ.  The selection of food was fresh and plentiful with something for everyone.  The best part was the incredible fire show that both kids enjoyed.  We were even shocked to silence by the impressive finale.  

I couldn’t recommend Renaissance Koh Samui‘s pool villas more for families traveling with children.  There’s so much space and if you don’t have childcare you won’t get cabin fever as there’s so much to do as a family only steps away from your room.  

Abaca Boutique Resort, located in beautiful and relaxing Cebu, is one of our favourite family stays to date.  The small and intimate resort has very limited rooms and gives complete privacy to their guests.  Our pool villa was rustic, luxurious, and spacious and we felt we had most of the facilities all to ourselves during our stay.  The part that sets Abaca apart from other resorts is their personalized service, where each member of staff go the extra mile to meet your needs, remember your preferences, and make you feel right at home. It’s impossible not to love the food served, both in their restaurant and during any room service meal.  We indulged in decadent breakfasts in bed and romantic meals with a sunset view.  Their huge pool, kids club, and nanny quarters are invaluable to families with little ones and the chef even offered to make our kids any home comfort food even if it was off the menu.  The convenient Mactan location and resident car and driver means you can explore the city easily and they are more than happy to arrange any activities you are curious to try.  A stunning, private resort which would suit an idyllic honeymoon as well as a family getaway.

 

 

Luxurious, stunning, and insanely child friendly is how I would describe the Shangri-La Mactan.  With an abundance of facilities, decadent rooms with a view, and tempting eateries, you pretty much never have to leave.  The kids loved the private beach complete with clear blue waters, plenty of sea life, clean sand, and exciting water sports.  The abundant pools featured shallow ends and impressive fountains and slides for all ages.  Even if the rain hits there are spacious indoor play areas to keep the little ones busy. We loved indulging in chocolate themed afternoon teas, and spent long evenings gorging on seafood at Cowrie Cove and sipping cocktails at the oceanfront bar.  We felt spoilt every step of the way and were so happy to keep the whole crew occupied. Ideal for families looking for an escape.

 

 

I really have to say, Singapore is one of the most child friendly cities on the planet, and Sentosa is akin to a children’s theme park at the heart of this beautiful, lively, and very clean island. Capella is situated right at the entrance of Sentosa, a luxurious boutique oasis, if you are looking for only the best for your family. From the moment you arrive at the delicate and grand colonial building the attentive staff are at your disposal. The historic building is fused with modern addditions to create the stunning resort, complete with decadent private pool villas, suites boasting ocean views, and three lagoon pools. The limited number of rooms means the atmosphere is always tranquil and you’ll never feel crowded or wait for service. We loved their inviting restaurants with the mouthwatering Peking Duck at Cassia being one of the most delicious dishes we sampled during our trip. Don’t miss their luxurious breakfast service and grab an outdoor table if you want to liase with one of the famous resident peacocks. I honestly can’t recommend Capella Singapore more if you want a romantic getaway or an escape from the city with your family. Not only does the city make a fantastic getaway, it also makes for a great place to live. With so much to see and do, it really is no surprise why so many choose to relocate here to somewhere like the Piermont Grand Location.

Nestled at the heart of Ubud’s vibrant green jungle is Kupu Kupu Barong, a serene and luxurious sanctuary featuring awe inspiring natural views, dreamy romantic sunsets, spacious and elegant suites, and a tranquil semi outdoor spa.   Our split level, two bedroom villa was one of the biggest we’ve seen, complete with a generous pool, gigantic marble bathtub, floor to ceiling windows in the bedrooms, and decadent decor fit for a king.  We loved romantic evenings on our terrace and couldn’t fault the stunning private BBQ with insanely fresh seafood and impressively discreet service.  After a long day of exploring the local area we could resist a relaxing massage in their unique and rustic spa.  The beds are gently perched at the edge of the resort offering teetering views of Ubuds lush greenery and a refreshing, clean breeze.  A truly amazing spot to experience an authentic yet decadent Ubud stay.