Four Seasons Macau brings “boutique” to Asia’s gaming hotspot

As Asia’s fast-growing gambling mecca Macau has it all: slick casinos, high-rollers, designer labels, jaw-dropping shows, chic restaurants and huge hotel complexes. In this city of superlatives however, something has been missing: the “boutique” factor. Large-scale, Vegas-esq experiences are easy to come by in Macau, but the more individual and unique factor is harder to find.

Opening on the Cotai Strip in August of this year, the Four Seasons Macau, is doing its best to fill this void. It has brought the promise of something different and more personalised, which is a breath of fresh air for the traveller seeking quiet, comfort and personalised service.

Granted, with 360 rooms the Four Seasons Macau hardly conforms with the traditional perception of boutique, but when compared with behemoths such as the neighbouring Venetian (3,000 rooms) and soon the to be completed Sheraton opposite (some 4,000 rooms) the hotel feels it. The design – contemporary mixed with colonial accents and hints of the orient – brings a unique edge and antique pieces of furniture, sourced from local markets and antique shops, add to the hotel’s individuality.

Service reigns supreme here; staff are, without exception, friendly, polite and attentive. Your name will be remembered and your quirks indulged. As one Four Seasons restaurant manager underlined, the hotel is geared towards the discerning traveller seeking a haven of calm and top-notch service. Where many hotels in Macau compete on price, the Four Seasons seeks to differentiate itself by offering the best standard of hospitality.

Rooms are spacious and comfortable. They come kitted out with a 42″ plasma screen, WiFi (at an additional cost), vast marble bathrooms with walk-in rain showers, L’Occitane products and deep bathtubs. Don’t expect fantastic views, the Cotai Strip is still an eyesore of a building site, instead sink into the big bath and watch TV whilst sipping on something brought up to you by room service.

Guests seeking further peace and quiet should beat a retreat to Windows, which feels more like a country club than a bar / restaurant. Its leather wingback chairs, fireplace and big open-air verandah make it a great spot to enjoy a newspaper and afternoon tea far away from the hustle and bustle of the casino floors.

When it comes to eating, the hotel has a Cantonese restaurant, Zi Yat Heen, as well Belcanção, an extravagant international buffet bulging with European favourites and dim sum. The hotel’s most hyped destination though has to be Bar Azul, a stylish spot with moody blue lighting and a slick bar serving wine, cocktails, champagne and fantastic complimentary canapés.

Visitors seeking retail therapy can sleep easy knowing that the new Shoppes at Four Seasons, Macau’s first luxury mall, is just metres away. Guests after glitz and glamour have the Venetian’s gaming floor on their doorstep, plus Cirque du Soleil’s impressive US$150 million production, ZAIA, close at hand (the hotel concierge can arrange tickets or you can book online).

The Four Seasons also offers guests a big outdoor pool complex, plus a spa and fitness facilities.

For more information visit www.fourseasons.com/macau. Room rates start at HKD/MOP 2,700 per night.

Four Seasons Hotel, Macao, Cotai Strip: Estrada da Baía de N. Senhora da Esperança, S/N, Taipa, Macau; Tel. +853 2881 8888; Fax. +853 2881 8899.

To explore more hot hotels click here and to read more hotel reviews click here.

W Hotel brings “non-traditional luxury” to Hong Kong

W Hotel, new kid on the Hong Kong hotel block, is injecting some serious style into West Kowloon. With its breed of non-traditional luxury it’s helping to rejuvenate and glam up this burgeoning area. The hotel opens into Elements mall, the city’s newest, and sits next to the ICC, which will be Hong Kong’s tallest building upon its completion in 2010.

The hotel aims to create a nature-inspired oasis within Hong Kong’s urban jungle. Treelike columns rise up through the hotel lobby and bar, their branches twinkling with fairylights when darkness falls. The 393 guest rooms, designed by Australian firm g+a and Japanese firm Glamorous, are adorned with pretty butterfly motifs or a more masculine wood, fire, earth and metal theme. Even waiting for a lift on the guest floors will leave you feeling like Alice in Wonderland amid large bookshelves.

W Hong Kong’s commercial waterfront location makes for some fantastic, if somewhat gritty, views. No kicking back and enjoying the light show from these rooms: W guests can soak-up refreshingly different vistas from the traditional harbourside hotels – think docks and cargo ships rather than luxury cruiseliners and yachts – that cleverly offset the whimsical design theme of the hotel’s interior.

The hotel’s pool, with its views across the whole of the island, is the exception to this rule. When it is finished this will be one of the city’s hottest spots – Hong Kong’s highest pool (up on the 76th floor) with a cocktail bar and jacuzzi to boot. Just two floors below is Hong Kong’s new Bliss spa, fresh from New York – a haven of tension-fighting treatments such as the Ginger Rub and Triple Oxygen Facial.

Another soon-to-be hotspot is Kitchen, one of the hotel’s two restaurants. The chef’s table is a nice touch; solo guests can mix and mingle with each other over dinner without the embarrassment of formal introductions or pre-arranged dinner dates. For more reticent guests, there’s always the distraction of the restaurant’s open kitchen at hand to provide food for thought or topics of conversation. Expect to pay around HKD 450 for three courses (excluding drinks).

All W Hong Kong guests can rest easy knowing the brand’s signature Whatever/Whenever attitude applies – from the moment you arrive in the lobby to the time you check out you can have whatever you want, whenever you want it (so long as it’s legal apparently). Sounds good to us.

W Hong Kong:

1 Austin Road West, Kowloon Station, Hong Kong; Tel: +852 3717 2222; Fax: +852 3717 2888.

For directions and reservations call +852 2317 3303 or visit whotels.com/hongkong.

Aman opens doors to Beijing’s Summer Palace

Aman, the luxury hotel group, has opened its first Chinese property in one of the world’s most famous landmarks: Beijing’s Summer Palace.

The Aman at Summer Palace, Beijing, offers its guests 5* lodging steps away from the East Gate of this UNESCO World Heritage Site and the stunning Kunming Lake. It is also just 15km from the Forbidden City.

The hotel spreads across a series of historical buildings, gardens and courtyards. Some of the original rooms housed guests of the Empress Dowager Cixi, China’s de facto ruler from 1861 to 1908.

Rooms and suites reflect traditional Chinese architecture and use authentic layouts, materials and fabrics. The hotel is small; just 18 rooms and 25 suites decorated with Ming-style furniture.

Guests can take advantage of the hotel’s bars and restaurants, plus its spa, fitness facilities, library and boutique.

Rates start from USD 480 per night.

Photos courtesy of www.amanresorts.com

Villa Jacaranda: Gorgeous hotel in Varkala, Kerala

A friend emailed me asking for advice for an upcoming trip to Kerala. Responding to her brought back so many memories of an amazing month there and it’s funny what immediately came back to mind and what I had to battle to remember.

One of the definite highlights was staying at the Villa Jacaranda in Varkala. The villa is just a short walk to dramatic cliffs that overlook the Arabian Sea.

The hotel is undeniably romantic. There are four rooms, one with an incredible roof terrace the others with private verandas, and each boasting the kind of detail that will make you want to return again and again. At sunset garlands of fresh, fragrant jasmine are draped on your private veranda; sheets are hand embroidered with pretty designs; and breakfast is served in privacy either in your room or on your private terrace.

The villa’s garden is painstakingly cared for: exotic trees scent the air and their flowers blow across into the small lily pond.

Ayurvedic massage can be arranged by experienced practitioners at a cost of about 500 rupees (US$10/£6) for an hour.

This place is a delight. Don’t miss out if you’re heading to Kerala on your travels.

Villa Jacaranda

Rooms from 4,000 rupees (US$80/£47) per night + 15% tax.

Temple Road West, Varkala, 695141, Kerala, India; Tel: +91 470 2610296; Email: infojacaranda@gmail.com; Website: www.villa-jacaranda.biz.

Photography © Emma Torry.

China’s Top Ten Hot Spring Resorts

By Stephan Larose for ChinaTravel.net

China’s hot spring resorts are one of its best kept secrets. We’re talking hot springs in tropical caves, exfoliating fish therapy, Himalayan hot springs, and springs next to China’s best golf. So, if dipping in warm, mineral-rich waters by temples and beaches sounds good to you, read on for the lowdown on China’s top ten spas, with hotel and attraction info to boot. Enjoy!

1. Jiuhua Spa and Resort

(four stars, Tel: 010-6178-2288)

Formerly the private retreat of emperors, the Jiuhua Spa and Resort is one of the most popular hot spring spa destinations in the country, and it’s open to all. Limpid pools fed by springs 1,230 meters underground emerge at a tension-melting 40°C. Untainted by the sulfurous odor common to most hot springs, Jiuhua’s spring water has a slight yellowish tint, owing to micro-elements such as strontium, lithium, and metasilicic acid, earning it an emperor’s epithet as “a basin of Golden Water.”

Guests of this elegant four-star resort have a wealth of hot spring pools to choose from. The resort’s two sections comprise 40 pools offering 21 distinct therapeutic applications including mud baths, herbal baths, an Egyptian-themed pool, a foot massage pool, a lotus pool, and a medical stone sauna. Those with tired muscles after treks along the Great Wall, exploring the nearby Ming Tombs, or hiking in Python Mountain National Park next door will be rewarded with head-to-toe relaxation as well as therapeutic benefits for a host of ailments including rheumatic arthritis, sciatic nerve pain, lumbar muscle strain, eczema and hypertension.

The resort also features a host of recreational and therapeutic facilities. Hydrotherapy, salt baths, massage services, Thai spas and skin care treatments revitalize and rejuvenate while bowling alleys, bumper cars, swimming pools, satellite TV, archery and nearby attractions entertain and invigorate.

2. Crown Spa Resort Hainan

(five stars, Tel: 86-898-6596 6888, Email: sales@crownsparesorthainan.com)

Hainan is the place in China for sun-worshippers looking to bronze their bodies, and just 15 minutes after exiting Haikou’s Meilan International Airport, you could be strolling along endless stretches of gorgeous private beach or taking a dip in what the Guiness Book of World Records describes as the “largest indoor hot spring in the world.”

Surrounded by lush Thai, Balinese and Caribbean gardens, the Crown Spa Resort Hainan (Hainan Huangguan Binhai Wenquan Jiudian) is a European-style leisure palace overlooking the South China Sea and boasting myriad exclusive spa and beauty treatments.

It’s hard work living it up, but after a day’s frolicking in the waves or taking advantage of this Haikou resort’s luxury yachts, jet skis, windsurfing, parasailing or nearby golf course, you’re bound to need some of the Crown’s propriety spa treatments. The luxurious, five-story Tea Tree Spa complex is fed by natural mineral hot springs and houses meditation decks, garden pavilions, massage rooms and treatment suites.

And you won’t want to miss the signature fish therapy—it’s the most organic exfoliation there is. Just sit back and close your eyes and let the fish stimulate your nerves and nibble the bacteria from your skin. If you can’t handle being kissed by fishes, there’s always the exercise pool, Jacuzzi hot tubs, steam rooms, Thai massage and aromatherapy to unwind with.

3. Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort

(four stars, Tel: 0760-668-3888, Email: zshsr@zshs.com)

Probably the best-known hot spring resort in China, the Zhongshan Hot Spring Resort has played host to China’s most revered heads of state, Jiang Zemin and Deng Xiaoping, and is situated near a town named after the founder of the modern Chinese nation — Sun Zhongshan, known in the West as Sun Yat Sen. This four-star resort features over 30 hot springs and is also handy to the best golf in the country. What better way to justify an extended dip in warm, mineral-rich waters than by spending the day putting for birdies at a par 71, Palmer-designed, 18-hole golf course or a Nicklaus-designed 18-hole course at par 72? Talk about living the good life!

Zhongshan’s mountains are dotted by numerous hot springs, one of which feeds the resort’s massive 30,000 square meter outdoor spa. Once done mollifying muscles, dissolving stress and achieving Zen-like inner peace, guests can zip over to the seaside resort city of Zhuhai, just a 15-minute drive away, to soak up some rays, or train their newfound Zen focusing skills on the resort’s shooting range.

4. Jinshan Hot Spring Holiday Resort

(five stars, Tel: 0750-728-1188)

Situated by Naji, Enping County, Guangdong, this sprawling holiday village taps an incredible 300 hot spring sources to bring you some of the most mineral rich water in China. Endowed with approximately 35 grams of healing micro-elements per liter, the waters here are renowned for therapeutic benefits that combat everything from rheumatism to skin diseases to cardiovascular afflictions.

Luxurious condominiums surrounded by green hills, flowers and elegant gardens guarantee that guests of this leafy oasis get some much-deserved respite from the hustle and bustle of daily life. The place is well suited for businesspeople conducting tense negotiations; the well-equipped international conference center ensures presentations go smoothly. The rewards are obvious, even if things don’t go as planned: Everyone wakes up fresh the next day after spending the evening hours luxuriating in this Jinshan resort’s 28 Japanese-style hot spring pools, which are divided into high, mid and cool temperatures.

5. Hailuogou Hot Spring (Conch Gully Hot Spring)

(Tel of Hailuogou Scenic Area Management Committee: 0836-326-6203) Hailuogou Changzheng Hotel (Tel: 0836-326-6608)

Western Sichuan’s Gongga mountain is the scene for some of the hardiest, most majestic landscapes in China and include Hailuogou National Park, site of China’s biggest glacier park. Rivaling any North American glacier park in size, the area is renowned as a place where you can see all four seasons in the same day.

If you love rustic, outdoor springs, rugged mountain views and chances to catch snowflakes on your tongue while dipping in hot spring water, Hailuogou is the place for you. Mineral-rich, therapeutic spring waters gush out at toasty temperatures ranging from 50° to 92°C and are said to be effective in combating diabetes, neuralgia and arthritis. And that’s not to mention the obvious psychological benefits reaped by lounging in extreme comfort in a gorgeous setting.

After a day of hiking the verdant forests on the slopes of Mt. Gonggar, trekking across icy fields, listening to thunderous avalanches, skipping across the Conch Gully’s milky rivers, and dipping in the hot springs, the four-star Hailuogou Changzheng Hotel, with its dedications to the Long March and ethnic Tibetan décor, offers a little comfort, luxury and plenty of atmosphere in which to spend the remains of the day.

6. E’mei Lingxiu Hot Spring / Lingxiu Hot Spring

(Tel: 0833-559-2777)

Li Bai is one of China’s most celebrated poets, and when he took in Emei Shan’s (Mt. Emei) temple-studded peaks and mist-shrouded valleys, he found no shortage of inspiration for his superlative stanzas. Of all the mountains in the Shu kingdom, “Mount Emei stands above them all,” he wrote. A setting for scenes from the legendary Monkey King’s journey to the West, this magnificent landscape now serves as backdrop for bathers in Lingxiu Hot Spring’s pellucid pools.

Claims abound of the water’s therapeutic benefits. Sourced 3,000 meters underground, the springs are said to be helpful in combating diseases affecting digestive, neural, respiratory, vasomotor and cardiovascular systems. High concentrations of radon and huge volumes of water ensure that everyone gets in on the therapeutic action.

The five-star Emei Hot Spring Resort is ideally located to take advantage of this and the other hot springs in the area. You’ll need the fine dining and creature comforts because every day in this area is guaranteed to be a full one. Whether you decide to make the climb to Golden Peak Temple, or run the monkey-ruled trails to other historical and natural points of interest, there’ll be no shortage of opportunities to pump those thighs until they’re screaming for a little hot spring love.

7. Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort

(Tel for Lhasa tourism bureau: 0891-634-2884)

Want to lounge around in a warm, waterfall-fed pool at the roof of the world? Then look no further than the Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort. Perched at a lofty 4,300 meters and nestled in the majestic slopes of the Himalayas, the Tibetan Dezong Hot Spring Resort offers visitors an experience that is simply incomparable. Is there anywhere else you can bathe in curative, calcite and tussilago-infused waters while gazing upon the most rugged, photogenic landscapes on the planet?

The Dezong Hot Springs are arranged in simple, rustic fashion, divided into a men’s pool, above, and a women’s pool, below. 40° C, jade-colored spring waters cascade 20 meters into the resort’s pools.

Once you’ve had enough (if there is such a thing), other worthy attractions are within reach (if you’re driving), such as the Zhigongi and Dezong Temples, and Tianzangtai, while Nam-tso Lake (Namu Lake in Tibetan); Potala Palace, Bakuo Street and Dazhao Temple are further off. Accommodations are somewhat limited, but the five-star Yaluzangbu hotel features creature comforts and cars for hire for the drive to the springs 170 kilometers away.

8. Tibetan Paillong Hot Spring

(Tel of Linzhi tourism bureau: 0894-582-2469)

About 40 kilometers down state highway 318 from the four-star Linzhi Fujian Hotel, Paillong Sulfur Hot Spring, near Pailong village, flows from the holy Brahmaputra river at a steamy 45-60 degrees centigrade. Extremely simple, and practically unknown, Paillong consists of just one small stone and brick pool. One of Tibet’s best kept secrets, you’re not likely to see crowds here.

The water issues directly into the pool from the rock, all you need do is let the water flow over your body and let the spring vapors clear your lungs and skin. Just sit and let your ego dissipate. Then, turn your gaze upon the verdant river valley below. Radiant organic energy illuminates your mind, revealing the universe in measureless fractals…. Dizzy yet? Do remember to breathe slowly as you slip into the infinite…

9. Jinping Mengla Hot Spring

(Tel of Gejiu Tourism Bureau: 0873-212-5699)

Yunnan’s jungle-covered karst towers jut out of tropical forests and stand like unearthly sentinels keeping watch over otherworldly landscapes. Awe-inspiring and oft photographed to be sure, Yunnan’s got something for hot springs lovers too: the Jinping Mengla Hot Spring.

Gushing forth from caves in southern Yunnan, 50-60 degree centigrade waters flush with curative elements stream over colorful rocks. Lying in the bubbling baths, visitors will find several “masseuse rocks.” Muscles are naturally kneaded as water flows provide movement and shallow pebble beds provide texture and traction.

Beauty abounds in these lush forests: You’ll find ravines, waterfalls, mirror-like lakes, karst landforms and jutting green mountains. The four-star Century Plaza Gejiu (0873-216-8888) is just seven kilometers from the hot spring.

10. Guangdong Conghua Hot Spring

(Tel: 020-8333-9933-2266)

Guangdong province’s Conghua Hot Spring Scenic Area was originally built in the Ming and Qing Dynasties. 75 kilometers from Guangzhou, it is now a nationally renowned tourist attraction and health resort. Warm water enriched with ten kinds of minerals bubbles to the surface at 12 different springs, ranging between 30 to 71°C.

A large area replete with historical landmarks such as the Bi Lang Bridge, Di Cui Pavilion and Tao Ran Hall, the springs are surrounded by waterfalls, slow-moving rivers, and tranquil forests. Try the Guangdong Hot Spring Hotel, a sprawling property comprising over 40 buildings set lakeside amidst pine forests with hot spring water piped into rooms. You’ll find everything from villas to presidential suites, along with squash courts, bowling alleys and a host of mountain trails to keep you busy when you’re not lounging in the springs.

Hainan Beach by fedfil via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Lake Nam-tso by poorfish via Flickr (Creative Commons)

SiChuan – Hailuogou by auws via Flickr (Creative Commons)

Shot of the Day: Antigua, Guatemala

Volcano and Arch by David A G Wilson has given us itchy feet today.

If you’re lucky enough to have a trip to Antigua in the pipeline you should check out the stunning Casa Encantada boutique hotel, which is right in the centre of this 16th century colonial town (and UNESCO World Heritage Site). Bag the rooftop suite for USD 195 per night and enjoy views across to the Agua volcano (pictured above). Caramba!

Finding Paradise in the Perhentian Islands

By Rachel Turner

Groggy with sleep, I pulled back the mosquito net from around my bed and headed to the bathroom for a shower. With my hand on the tap, I looked up at the ceiling. A scream caught in my throat as I grabbed a towel and rushed out of the wooden chalet into the early morning sun. I bounded down the stairs and headed toward the front desk to ask someone to remove the wine bottle-sized gecko from my bathroom. Before I made it though I was greeted by another lizard; this one as big as a toddler.

When I landed on Malaysia’s Perhentian Kecil (“Small Perhentian”), I was stunned. I didn’t believe that a place like this still existed. I thought finding such a sweet slice of paradise would require a mid-Pacific shipwreck. But there I was, a mere 19 kilometres from mainland Malaysia, toe deep in island clichés. The clear turquoise water quietly slurped at white beaches of sugar-fine sand. Tiny wooden chalets stood alert at the jungle’s edge, ready for lodgers. Lush green flora blanketed the soaring cliffs. Every sunset was postcard perfect, every day bright and hot. Save for my abnormally large lizard neighbours, the place was straight out of a fantasy.

Given that the island I was staying on was little more than sand and jungle, being entertained indoors was out of the question. I couldn’t wait to dive into the warm, clear water. Dive shops are littered all along Long Beach (the more populous of Kecil’s two beaches). They offer a variety of courses for beginners, as well as a ton of fun dives. Divers can swim through the Temple of the Sea, check out the coral garden at De Lagoon, or explore the sunken Sugar Ship Wreck. I was told that the water surrounding the island is home to barracudas, sea turtles, triggerfish, unicornfish, groupers, and the list goes on and on.

I’m more adept at skimming the surface and for RM 40 (US$11.50 / £6.50) I joined an all-day snorkelling tour. Bright and early, I boarded a boat with only three others. Our first stop was a coral garden where curious fish swam around me, brave ones nipping at my fingertips. Over the course of the afternoon we stopped at Shark Point, home to black tipped reef sharks, swam with sea turtles near Perhentian Besut, and stopped for lunch in a quaint fishing village. Before heading back to home base, we made a final stop on a deserted beach to soak up the sun.

My days spent in the Perhentians involved a lot of rest and relaxation. I swam, snorkelled, and strolled through the jungle. I popped down to the Bubu Long Beach Resort for a massage in a beachside cabana. I sipped fruity cocktails while watching the technicolour sunset. The island was without a serious party vibe. Pounding all-night discos were replaced with driftwood tables on the sand, lively conversation, and a few beers amongst new friends.

On Perhentian Kecil, most hotels and restaurants are scattered along Long Beach and Coral Bay, on the opposite site of the island. Long Beach, the livelier of the two, was where the majority of backpackers congregated. I checked out a few guesthouses and settled on the Panorama Chalets (http://malaysia-panorama.com), smack in the middle of the beach. For RM 100 (US$29 / £16), I secured a double room complete with air con and hot water… when the electricity was on (be sure to ask about electricity hours before checking into your hotel. Most places do not have 24-hour electricity). Movies are shown every night, and many room rates include free dinner from a fully-stocked restaurant.

Clean, clear air, peaceful solitude, and a pace just above a standstill drew me to Malaysia’s Perhentian Islands. Forgoing big-city conveniences like Internet cafes and roads made me not want to leave. While there, bright white sand, lush jungle, polychromatic coral, and a few abnormally large lizards surrounded me. By the time I left, I truly felt like I had got away from it all.

TRAVELLER’S CHECK

Getting There: If you are starting your journey from Kuala Lumpur, catch an Air Asia flight to Kota Bharu (www.airasia.com). From the airport, catch a taxi or bus to the ferry terminal in Kuala Besut. A taxi with air-con will cost around RM 70. From there, hop on a speed boat for a 45-minute ride to Perhentian Kecil. Boat tickets cost RM 60 each way, plus pay the extra RM 2 fee to be dropped off at Long Beach instead of at the jetty. A cheaper, slower ferry is also available.

Where to Stay: Panorama Chalet is located in the centre of Long Beach. Double rooms with air conditioning and attached bathroom cost RM 100. Opt for shared bath and fan-cooled rooms to cut down on costs. Visit their website for more information: http://malaysia-panorama.com. If you choose to stay on the opposite side of the island at Coral Bay, check out the Senja Bay Resort. Here a fan room will set you back RM 100. The views from this hotel are stunning, and the staff is friendly. Holiday packages and other rates can be found at www.senjabay.com

Where to Eat: Most restaurants on Kecil are attached to hotels. The Panorama Chalet restaurant serves up local Malay food as well as western favourites. For a meal that’s a little more up-market, check out the menu at Bubu Long Beach Resort.

Green China Travel Tips (Part I): ChinaTravel.net

By David Perry for ChinaTravel.net

What’s hot in world travel? Two things top the list: China and anything deemed “green,” from hardcore back-country ecotourism adventures to environmentally conscious luxury resort stays.

But mention “China” and “green” in the same breath, and most travelers are likely to look at you like you’ve been huffing diesel fumes. After all, the media is full of stories about the huge environmental costs of China’s breakneck economic growth. Most Westerners are more likely to think of dams, smog and booming megacities than pristine mountain streams, lush jungles and indigenous cultures living in balance with nature. And for many recently affluent Chinese travelers, the emphasis remains on mass tourism with a façade of luxury—if it’s not conspicuous, shiny and crowded, it often seems it’s not worth doing.

But that’s all changing, like everything in the world’s most dynamic country. And if China has anything in abundance, it’s surprises. For many newcomers to China travel, the biggest surprise might be the growth of green travel in the Middle Kingdom.

For some, “green travel” may mean trekking in remote regions of Yunnan, Sichuan and Tibet; others may prefer to pay a premium to stay in small eco-lodges or boutique hotels; still others may prefer the familiarity and comfort of conventional hotels but with an environmentally aware twist and easy access to nature reserves and parks. Regardless, the goal is a shared one: to protect and preserve the environment while enjoying the best it has to offer.

This doesn’t just mean saving rare species, either. In this age of global warming and rapid resource depletion, it means understanding how one person can affect the environment and everything in it, from the local to the global level—and accepting responsibility for helping to make things better.

With all that in mind, we’re debuting a series of green China features with a few tips for earth-friendly travel in China. In the near future, we’ll spotlight regions, destinations, resorts and hotels that get high marks for environmental friendliness. We’ll continue to do features on the subject, ranging from roughing it to luxury ecotourism, and we invite you to join the ongoing conversation in our new China Travel Environment and Ecology Forum. If you have your own recommendations, stories or photos, let us know!

Green Travel in China

Carbon-conscious conveyance

In this age of global warming, travelers are becoming increasingly aware of their “carbon footprint,” which is shorthand for the amount of CO2 and other greenhouse gasses emitted by burning fossil fuels that can be calculated as being your individual share.

One popular option is carbon offsetting. An easy-to-use carbon calculator can help you calculate the climate impact of your flights and other travel activities; you can then contribute to an organization dedicated to various emissions-reducing actions, from protecting rain forests and wetlands to planting new trees to developing new low-emissions technologies.

You can also calculate carbon offsets for any bus, car or train travel you do. Of course, students and budget travelers may not have the extra money to do so. Regardless, you can choose lower emitting options over higher ones—take a bus or train instead of splurging on a private car; walk or ride a bike instead of hopping in cab; plan your trip carefully in advance to minimize the chance of often costly (and energy-gobbling) last-minute travel changes. As a bonus, you get a much more up-close-and-personal look at China by traveling in slower and more old-fashioned ways, whether in big city Beijing or the laid-back countryside around Guilin or one of Yunnan’s top destinations.

In addition to carbon offsets, a number of travel businesses are experiencing something of a green awakening, making it easier for concerned consumers to act. For example, Chinese online travel giant Ctrip.com has recently made it possible to use accumulated travel points to help Shanghai Roots & Shoots plant more trees or to support environmental education in China by purchasing a reusable bag from GECKO.

Green hotels in China

If you’re in a big city, the idea of a “green hotel” might seem counterintuitive, but even in the heart of Shanghai or sprawling outskirts of Shenzhen, you’ll find accommodations that have gone green to one degree or another. International chains like Novotel, which recently teamed up with environmental certification organization Green Globe, are upgrading their facilities to save energy and reduce waste while maintaining high levels of quality and service, and for many first-time travelers to China, brand familiarity can be important. Novotel Peace Beijing and Novotel Atlantis Shanghai are good bets both for comfort and for you conscience. If an international chain isn’t your thing, the green trend meets the boutique hotel in hotels like China’s “first carbon-neutral hotel,” URBN Hotels (despite the plural, they only have one at present though more are planned across China). In addition to centrally located urban hotels, a number of green alternatives

Sure, purists may raise an eyebrow at the mention of “ecotourism” in connection with developments like the Interlaken Shenzhen, designed to evoke an alpine Swiss village on the outskirts of the booming city in a semi-tropical park-like development, or the gee-whiz futuristic design of a development like the “sustainable” five-star Songjiang Hotel outside of Shanghai (see illustration, slated to open in May 2009). But when it comes to the nurturing of an environmental consciousness in development-happy China, the thought does indeed count for quite a bit: awareness is the first step toward action, and an eco-friendly hotel, even if less crunchy granola (or stinky tofu, for that matter) than status-conscious arugula and latte, raises awareness in both consumers and businesses.

There are also an increasing number of green getaways suitable for a long weekend escape from China’s urban centers. If you’ve had enough of Shanghai, try Naked Retreats, which manages a selection of properties in the popular Moganshan area. Guangzhou boasts the Crosswaters Ecolodge and Spa in the bamboo forests of Nankunshan to the west of the city. The Beijing region offers unique options like the Beijing Crab Island Green Ecological Resort, which grows its own organic produce and seeks a high degree of sustainability, including the “coexistence of crops and crabs” as well as more mundane eco-goals like use of renewable energy and water reclamation.

Then there’s Chengdu with its proximity to the forests and mountains that are home to China’s poster animal for ecotourism, the giant panda. Because of the recent Sichuan earthquake, the situation in and around Chengdu will likely remain uncertain for several months—look for Sichuan updates on this site as well as more information on other popular ecotourism destinations throughout China, especially in the south and west, where remote and rugged lands have remained relatively untouched by development.

An Urban Oasis in Trendy Barcelona

Barcelona could well be Europe’s most tourist-friendly city. Beaches, shopping, world-class restaurants, a whole smorgasbord of architecture (from cutting-edge to Gothic, Roman to Catalan Art Nouveau) – and fantastic hotels.

The Prestige Paseo de Gracia is a haven of calm tucked behind a steel door on the Paseo de Gracia, Barcelona’s equivalent of Fifth Avenue or Bond Street. Discreet and stylish, the hotel has 45 rooms (including two suites: a ‘meeting suite’ and a ‘home suite’ with jacuzzi). All the rooms are decorated in a minimalist style, with Bang & Olufsen stereos and widescreen TVs. Some rooms have terraces.

The hotel has friendly staff, all English-speaking, and an “Ask Me” concierge service on hand. “Ask Me” staff can help secure reservations, provide you with a personal laptop for your stay and find out pretty much anything you need to know about the city.

The most striking thing about the Prestige Paseo de Gracia is the attention to detail. Like the handy suggestions folded into the breakfast menu, with tips on exhibitions and events in Barcelona. The candle and incense by the bathtub. The free minibar. The umbrella in the closet. It’s all here, you don’t even have to ask for it.

The hotel doesn’t have a spa, but there’s the ‘Zeroom’ on the first floor, a library-come-lounge where you can relax, work, have a drink, read the newspapers, or just sip coffee and watch the world go by on the buzzing Paseo de Gracia below. Most of the design objects in the hotel (vases, stereo systems, sofas) are also on sale.

The hotel is very well-situated, just a five minute walk from the Plaza Catalunya, a stone’s throw from Paseo de Gracia station, and close to many of Barcelona’s finest sights and restaurants. A great place to stay: whether you’re on business, a design fan, or just fancy a fun weekend in the Catalonian capital.

Prestige PASEOdeGRACIA: Paseo de Gracia 62, 08007, Barcelona

Rates from 170 EUR per room per night. Book online here. Web: http://www.prestigepaseodegracia.com/ Tel: +34 93.272.41.80 Email: paseodegracia@prestigehotels.com

Finding Shangri-la in Kota Kinabalu

I was warned against expecting too much from Kota Kinabalu. Borneo is reputed to be a paradise, and the state capital of Kota Kinabalu the thorn in its side. Three days, four tropical islands, too many Piña Coladas and a lot of sleep later it’s difficult to see KK as anything other than a diverse and grossly underrated paradise.

Arriving in daylight hours it’s easy to concur with the negative opinions: on first sight, the town of Kota Kinabalu is no beauty. Landing under the cover of darkness, whisked to a luxurious hotel, handed a cocktail, and surrounded by the sounds of the South China Sea is, however, an altogether different experience.

The hotel, The Tanjung Hotel Resort & Spa, was nothing like the rowdy resort I half expected. The bars and restaurants are airy and sophisticated, the rooms modern and supremely comfortable with amazing views across the sea to lush, tropical islands. The family crowds are easy to avoid – the pool area is vast with plenty of quiet corners, there’s a private beach and a brand new spa, Chi, which opened at the end of 2007.

A stone’s throw from The Tanjung Hotel is Tunku Abdul Rahan National Park, 49 square kilometers of coral reefs and paradise islands. Those in search of tranquillity and untouched sands should make a beeline for Sulug, where there are quiet beaches and good reef for snorkelling. Manukan is a great island for beaches, walking trails, outdoor barbeques and more snorkelling.

Fans of monitor lizards should head to Sapi, where dozens roam just behind the beach. Beach Bums Borneo operates speed boats to the islands hourly from The Tanjung Hotel’s jetty. A return journey costs 40 MYR.

In the other direction lies the impressive Mount Kinabalu (4,095m). Not only is it one of the world’s most important biological sites, but it also gives adventure junkies a run for their money. Intrepid hikers can opt to spend a day and a half (which includes a night on the mountain) scaling the summit. The Tanjung Hotel can help to make hiking arrangements.

If hotel dining isn’t your thing, or you just want to get out and explore, the town centre is only a few minutes from Tanjung in a taxi. Good options include the food stalls in Central Market and Sedco Square for cheap and delicious open air restaurants. For something more upmarket try The Mediterranean Bar and Restaurant at First Beach.

Those who really want to get away from it all, and have longer than just a couple of days, can try The Tanjung Hotel’s sister resort, Rasa Ria, The Manukan Island Resort or Gayana Eco Resort. For a relaxing, easy weekend though you can’t do better than The Tanjung Hotel Resort & Spa.