AMPR JULY NEWSLETTER

July 1st, 2019


Costa Rica’s Nayara Tented Camp will open in December 2019.

(Water) Current Events
A sprinkling of “what’s new” in the water world of luxury hospitality:

July 1 marks the opening of Waldorf Astoria’s first post in the Maldives, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi. The property is a water-lover’s paradise, with 122 villas on the sea – 39 beach, 24 reef, and 56 overwater. In addition, there are two Stella Maris Ocean Villas, which are one-bedroom duplex accommodations that are accessible by a traditional boat called a dhoni. The most indulgent option is the Ithaafushi Private Island, which combines a two-bedroom overwater villa, a three-bedroom beach villa, two pools for adults and one for kids, an overwater spa and wellness center, an entertainment center with cinema, and a dedicated team of chefs.

La Réserve Ramatuelle opened for the season on April 18 and introduced a new beach club on St. Tropez’s famous Pampelonne Beach. Designed by Philipe Starck, La Réserve à La Plage includes 75 sunbeds and a 120-seat beachfront restaurant overseen by the resort’s Michelin-starred chef.

Nantucket’s Wauwinet and Serena & Lily have partnered to present The Anchorage House by Serena & Lily. Opened on June 1, the redesigned three-bedroom guest cottage is located on the northeast end of the island between two private beaches – one on the Atlantic Ocean and one on the Bay. Evoking the feeling of a private beach house, the cottage features a palette of navy and golden-sand hues, as well as woven basket textures that embrace the home’s coastal charm.

Ponant’s newest vessel, Le Dumont-d’Urville, will make her debut on August 7 with an eight-night sailing called the Historic Cities of the Baltic Sea. The fourth vessel in the Ponant Explorer series, the yacht-like ship will be outfitted with the Blue Eye Lounge – an underwater lounge with the feel of a submarine. The multi-sensory experience allows guests to see sea life through the whale-eye shaped portholes; while the seats and floor move in unison with the sounds of the water.

Sea turtle nesting season runs from June through September, and guests of Belmond Jimbaran Puri can provide hands-on help to ensure their safe journey into the ocean. Nature-lovers will adopt and name the turtles, visit the Turtle Conservation and Education Centre in Serangan to learn more about the protection of these endangered animals, and then give the newly hatched babies a helping hand into the sea.

Wombat Charter Tours in Napa Valley now offers small-boat sunset tours and cruises of the lower Napa River and the surrounding southern wetlands of the Napa-Sonoma Marsh Wildlife Preserve, as well as guided fishing charter excursions complete with gear and expert guidance.

When andBeyond Sossusvlei Desert Lodge reopens in the Namib Desert in October 2019, its water recycling system will recycle more than 26,417 gallons of grey water a month. By bottling water on site and using recyclable glass bottles, the lodge saves a significant amount of CO² per month, absorbing the carbon footprint of the delivery truck used to bring in bottled water and eliminating more than 45,000 plastic water bottles. The brand aims to install a water bottling plant at 100% of their lodges by 2020.

Nayara Tented Camp will open in December 2019 as one of the first luxury camps in Central America – complete with seven interconnecting, private hot springs dotted around two acres of rainforest at the peak of the mountain.

You’re Gonna Need a Bigger Boat

Stay dry high above the trees when you dine at Terra at the new Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi.

Is there any better way to spend summer than on a boat? This July, get “rowed over” by these aquatic offerings, with by-the-sea properties that invite guests to shun their inner landlubber and get on the water.

The Coast(est) with the Most(est): A trip to the Mediterranean isn’t complete without a visit to the Amalfi Coast, and Belmond makes getting there a (sea)breeze. See the famous Italian villages when you stay at Belmond Villa Margherita and Belmond Hotel Caruso, as both offer guests a complimentary boat ride to the Amalfi Coast.

Lake Life: Set on the shores of Lac Léman (Lake Geneva), La Réserve Geneva makes it easy for guests to get to and from the city center on the hotel’s private – and super chic – Venetian Motoscafo boat. After a quick, 15-minute ride, guests can visit the art gallery neighborhood, stroll through trendy Quartier des Bains, enjoy a cappuccino on the terrace of the iconic café Clémence, and shop in the town of Bon Génie.

Elite Fleet: Nantucket’s White Elephant has teamed up with Barton & Gray Mariners Club to offer the White Elephant/Barton & Gray Hinckley, which guests can charter for half- or full-day private cruises. The 36-foot classic yacht, named “True Blue III,” is clad in navy, white, and elephant-printed fabric, mirroring the interior design of the White Elephant. Barton & Gray is a member-only yacht service, but guests of Nantucket Island Resorts also have the rare opportunity to charter their full fleet.

An Offer You Can’t Refuse: Depart from Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea and cruise by the famed Isola Bella and Giardini Naxos – make sure to spot the railway station made famous in the third episode of The Godfather – before continuing onto the small fishing village of Acitrezza for a peek into the world of master ship making with a tour of the Rodolico family boatyard. The final stop is Catania, Sicily’s second largest city, for a whirlwind walk through the lively La Pescheria fish market and an Italian lunch with Rosalba Cutore and her family, longtime friends of the Trewhella’s, whose villa became Belmond Villa Sant’Andrea.

One fish, two fish: As part of the hotel’s efforts to preserve the fragile ecosystems of Trancoso’s beaches and marine life, UXUA Casa Hotel & Spa completely finances the Trancoso Fisherman’s Association – a collective of 10 fishing boats and over 100 fishermen committed to using traditional net-less and pole-less fishing practices. Guests can learn to fish with a member of the Fisherman’s Association and have their catch prepared at the hotel by Chef Bernardo Silva.

Eat Your Pie in the Sky: Now that it’s open, Waldorf Astoria Maldives Ithaafushi’s 11 specialty-concept dining venues offer the largest culinary selection in the Maldives. The highlight is Terra: seven private dining pods on a treetop overlooking the Indian Ocean. Six can accommodate couples, and one is designed for a group of four diners. The restaurant will feature a multi-course meal with wine pairings.

Under the Sea: GoldenEye in Jamaica offers daily complimentary glass bottom boat rides to explore Ian Fleming’s beloved reef and learn about the property’s efforts to preserve the coral.

Hang 10…


Where there’s a will, there’s a way—to surf

Just one year from now, surfing will be a part of the 2020 Olympics in Japan for the first time ever. With Park Hyatt Tokyo as your home base, you’re sure to get stoked watching the top surfers in the world rip through the breaks at Shidashita Beach, 40 miles east of downtown and the site of the Olympic competition. To some, Japan may seem like an under-the-radar surf spot. Below are four other places where you might not expect to be able to ride the waves – check them out to have a swell time.

Barcelona: Sagrada Familia. Salsa. Siesta. And Surfing. The closest surfing spot in Barcelona is just a 15-minute walk away from Las Ramblas. Avoid the crowds and head to the open seas. The waves at Barceloneta are long and perfect for beginners, as the shifting sandbars cause them to break both to the right and the left. Nearby, in the Eixample district, Almanac Barcelona’s concierge can arrange for your own surf board to be shipped from (and back) home; or the hotel can book a rental ready to be picked up right on the beach at the Barceloneta.

Charleston: For those who don’t want to get caught up with the kooks in California, Charleston’s break is consistently named one of the top spots on the East Coast. Or, more accurately, Folly Beach, which is just 12 miles south of the Holy City. The waves are 20- to 30-percent bigger than other beaches in the area, but Folly is still known as a good place for beginners (a.k.a. groms) and more seasoned salts who want to perfect their form. After a day of wiping out and getting caught on the inside, Belmond Charleston Place offers the ultimate in après surf—be it a relaxing spa experience or a much-deserved Southern meal.

New York City: It’s the most densely populated area in the U.S., but surfing in New York City is alive and well. (If you don’t trust us, check out the @nysea Instagram account ­– the handle is a wonderful play on words, and the surf photos will get you stoked.) Among the popular subway-accessible spots is Rockaway Peninsula, just 18 miles from Chatwal, New York’s prime Midtown Manhattan location. For visitors with a bit less time on their hands, a 20-minute walk due west of Chatwal will lead you to Manhattan Kayak Co. on the Hudson River, which rents out kayaks and stand up paddleboards.

Nantucket: Surfing in Nantucket? ACK-tually, yes! Nantucket offers one of the most consistent breaks in the northeast, as the island is all sand and sandbars. And with increased JetBlue flights from Westchester and LaGuardia this summer, the Grey Lady is closer than ever. Two of the more popular beaches is Surfside and Nobadeer, where big breaks can attract big crowds. For more info on where to go – and how to book surf lessons – check with the concierge at Nantucket Island Resorts.

…But Stay Out of the Shark Tank


Dine anywhere, at any time, at Viceroy Rivera Maya

Everyone who has a television knows that Shark Week is coming. The annual Discovery Channel series premieres July 28, and watching even an hour of programming is enough to make you a landlubber forever. (For an even more frightful experience, follow @MaryLeeShark on Twitter to re-live the adventures of Mary Lee, a shark tagged off the coast of Cape Cod in 2012). If you love the sea but are fearful of being turned into shark bait – the chant, “Fish are friends, not food” doesn’t apply in the real world – waterfront dining is the perfect compromise. So, if “everybody out of the water” is your mantra right now, check out these seaside dining destinations:

Cork: Overlooking the River Weir below, the recently renovated River Club Terrace in Cork, Ireland has been transformed into an urban hideaway, decorated with tropical ferns and hanging pink blossoms made for Instagram.

St. Barth: Located above the rocky shoreline of the sought-after neighborhood of Pointe Milou (home to the raucous Le Ti Saint Barth and some of the poshest villas on the island), The Christopher has long been a refuge for those in-the-know, as it’s famed for its understated elegance. The refreshed Christo Lounge Restaurant by Chef Nicolas Tissier is situated on the cliff overlooking the Carribbean Sea, featuring a healthy concept menu focusing on organic meats and vegetables. Its sunset lounge Mango Beach Club provides a prime spot to watch the sun go down while drinking a traditional Planteur or Ti Punch, both island favorites.

Venice: Looking out over the Guidecca Canal, with St. Mark’s Basilica in the distance, Cip’s Club at Belmond Hotel Cipriani is a favorite among guests and locals alike for an aperitivo and traditional Venetian fare. Hotel Cipriani is welcome respite from the crowds in Venice, as guests arrive via the hotel’s private dock before weaving through the property’s gardens and onto the floating terrace. Make sure to have a Bellini (or two) – Venice’s signature cocktail was invented by Giuseppe Cipriani, founder of Belmond Hotel Cipriani, in 1948. For a fine-dining affair, the canal-side Michelin-starred Oro Restaurant offers just 41 seats and inventive Italian cuisine with locally sourced ingredients from the hotel’s own farm and nearby islands.

Nantucket: Topper’s, the restaurant at The Wauwinet on Nantucket, is best reached by boat. If you book brunch or dinner at the hotel, visitors can take the complimentary hour boat ride across the bay, departing from the White Elephant.

Jamaica: GoldenEye’s Gazebo is a sight to behold. Built in an airy treehouse style, the restaurant overlooks Low Cay Beach and the Lagoon. Serving up local favorites like Butter Lion Fish, the restaurant also sources produce from the hotel’s 2,500-acre farm, Pantrepant, which is located in the heart of Jamaica.

Anguilla: Guests can swim to breakfast at Belmond Cap Juluca from their beachfront suite directly over to the waterfront eatery Cip’s by Cipriani, where they will be met at the water’s edge with a fresh robe and fruit juice in hand.

Mexico: Viceroy Riviera Maya allows guests to ‘dine anywhere, anytime’ – from the poolside to the ocean pier – with a personalized menu to suit their occasion, tastes, and setting.

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