AMPR JUNE NEWSLETTER

June 1st, 2019


andBeyond Trans-Himalayan Wildlife Journey

What’s New?

Lions and Tigers and Bears: andBeyond’s newest small group journey takes travelers high into the Indian Himalayas on the Trans-Himalayan Wildlife Journey. The trip explores the remote region of Ladakh, where guests visit local villages, as well as one of the oldest Buddhist monasteries in India. Travelers will have the opportunity to track elusive wildlife such as the Himalayan brown bear, Eurasian lynx, Himalayan wolves, ibex, and golden eagles under the guidance of passionate naturalist Surya Ramachandran. The journey’s first departure will set off into the high-altitude desert on July 10.

A Classical Cruise: Setting sail fall 2020, PONANT will launch a brand-new nine-day/eight-night itinerary from eastern Canada into northern New England, hosted by Boston Pops Conductor Keith Lockhart. Aboard Le Champlain, guests will sail from Montreal to Boston on the Celebrating American Composers with the Conductor of Boston Pops itinerary, which departs October 19-27, 2020. Highlights include a series of concerts on the ship, as well as a private performance in Quebec’s Musée de l’Amérique francophone, which showcases the music of Debussy, Ravel, and Faure. Guests will also have the opportunity to dine with the musicians, explore the 18th-century Fortress of Louisberg in Quebec, and visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Lunenburg in Nova Scotia.

Opt Outside: It’s rooftop season in New York, and The Chatwal has you covered for all of your al fresco dining needs. The 14 signature terrace suites are the perfect setting for a leisurely breakfat, a new Broadway-themed afternoon tea inspired by family-favorites Aladdin, The Lion King, and Frozen, or a customizable s’mores kit for camp-outs. Each spacious terrace is equipped to host small dinner parties and celebrations, complete with 24-hour room service from the Lambs Club curated by Chef Geoffrey Zakarian.

Great Scott! The luxury sleeper train Belmond Royal Scotsman now takes guests off the rails with bespoke excursions that are tailored to each traveler’s preferences. Guests can choose from a range of activities including stargazing in the Cairngorms, which boasts some of the darkest skies in Europe; hiking the gorges of Aviemore; canoeing on Loch Ness; clay pigeon shooting at Rothiemurchus Estate; or teeing off for golf at some of the country’s most famous links courses.

Two if by Land, Three if by Sea: The White Elephant on Nantucket is partnering with Mandarin Oriental, Boston to offer guests a New England vacation experience with three nights on the island and two nights under the city lights. The package includes experiences such as a sailing tour around Nantucket, tickets to the Whaling Museum, and a gift card to Lily Pulitzer so guests can outfit themselves in the unofficial wardrobe of summer in New England.

Summer in the Med: Almanac Barcelona has partnered with famous local gelateria Rocambolesc, the brainchild of acclaimed pastry chef Jordi Roca, for a pop-up at its rooftop terrace, Azimuth. Guests can now enjoy the inventive flavors of Rocambolesc, including carrot and mandarin, and toppings like cotton candy and physalis. With 360-views of the city and coral cocoon-shaped sofas and lounge chairs, Azimuth is a favorite for both visitors and locals who want to soak up the Mediterranean sun – now with a cool, tasty treat.

Wine Down: 1881, Napa Valley’s first wine history museum and tasting salon, will open this summer. Housed in a landmark Victorian home and named for the year it was built, the museum features a collection of winemaking artifacts such as decanters, vineyard tools, and labels from the 18th and 19th centuries. Tasting experiences forge unique relationships among varietals. For example, the “Is it Cool to Be Hot or Hot to Be Cool” features a sampling of wines from the coldest growing regions in Napa paired with wines from significantly warmer areas.

Shaken, Not Stirred: Jamaica’s GoldenEye will offer new complimentary experiences this summer, including guided snorkeling excursions through the turquoise Oracabessa Bay, home to 2,000 pieces of coral with shades of red, pink, yellow, and orange; guided meditation with singing bowls; and visits to nearby Firefly, Noel Coward’s hilltop home rumored to have been Captain Morgan’s lookout.

Satisfy Wanderlust with Wanderlist: Virtuoso’s Wanderlist offers the ultimate in trip planning. The online tool builds a roadmap for future vacation ideas and iteniaries via a Pinterest-like interface that keeps track of your destination wish list. The Netflix-style portal allows users to explore more than 160 places and 1,500 experiences tailored to specific interests. Since Wanderlist allows people to plan ahead for travel, the service saves both time and money, sometime as much as 25 percent.

Summer Destination: Barcelona, Spain



Almanac Barcelona

Welcoming more than eight million visitors each year, Barcelona was just named one of the top 10 most popular travel destinations for summer 2019 by leading luxury travel network Virtuoso. The city is home to the most famous examples of modernist architecture. Explore the Eixample district, which was designed as an extension of the historic old town as the city’s population swelled in the 19th century. Visitors can stroll along the grid-like streets, visiting Antoni Gaudi’s masterpieces of Casa Batllo, La Pedrera, and the Basilica de la Sagrada Familia, as well as the art-nouveau complex of Hospital de la Santa Creu. Though often overlooked by mainstream tours, make sure to stop by Casa Amatller, an emblem of modernist architecture originally designed for chocolatier Antoni Amatller, and enjoy a tour and tasting of the famous sweets. Take in uninterrupted views over the district with a cocktail in hand at Almanac Barcelona’s rooftop bar, Azimuth. The 91-room hotel is the work of local studio Office of Architecture, who combined two 18th century and 20th century buildings; and Jaime Beriestain, who brought his signature touch to the contemporary interiors.

To Infinity and Beyond


andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge

The Apollo 11 Moon landing on July 20, 1969 was one giant leap for mankind. This year, hotels and cities will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first lunar exploration with a host of events and offerings. In Brazil, travelers can venture into the rainforest to encounter one of nature’s most magical phenomenal, the moonbow, with Belmond Hotel das Cataratas. As the only hotel located inside the Iguassu National Park, guests enjoy exclusive access to Iguassu Falls after the park closes. Set out at dusk with resident biologist Wilson Fernandes on an exclusive guided walking tour to witness the lunar rainbow, only appearing as the moon hits the mist from the falls. Following the re-opening of andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge in Namibia in October 2019, visitors are invited to join the lodge’s resident astronomer in the on-site observatory to moon-gaze in Africa’s only International Dark Sky Reserve – one of the darkest most protected skies in the world. For an artistic take on the race to space, visit California’s wine country for the 14th annual Festival Napa Valley, July 12-21. The year’s event will pay tribute to man’s first step on the moon with more than 60 themed concerts and events celebrating innovation and exploration, such as an orchestra performance of the score to Star Wars: A New Hope and a film screening of the Apollo 11 documentary.

Sleep with the Fishes

Solage, an Auberge Resort

From spa treatments that immerse you in water, to therapies inspired by the sea, here’s a round-up of experiences to get your H2O glow: With Sugar Beach’s Sulphur Seduction experience, bathe in the black waters of St. Lucia’s natural springs, which flow from the heart of the volcano, and rinse in the 50-foot Toraille Waterfall, where the pressure of the water mimics a massage. Among the treatment’s benefits are increased circulation and metabolism. Floating meditation is also available for those looking to ease muscle and joint pain and assist with sleep-related issues. The new Shou Sugi Ban House in the Hamptons offers zero gravity tubs where guests can enjoy floating sessions that incorporate oils, clays, and dried and fresh plants for holistic results. While at Napa Valley’s Solage, the Aqua Vibrations is an evening meditation where spa-goers are partially submerged in the open-air geothermal mineral pool. For treatments inspired by water, visit The Christopher in St. Barths for the lomilomi massage, which replicate the movements of the waves by combining light stretching, kneading and acupressure; and during the Oceanica Body Retreat at Belmond Cap Juluca in Anguilla, guests will be scrubbed with salt sourced from the ocean.

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