Top 10 Luxury Christmas Presents for Travellers

We’ve researched, mused over and debated dozens of travel products that would make the ultimate Christmas present. We’ve spoken to travellers from across the world to find out what their most coveted and most trusted travel products are, and here is iloho’s list of the top 10 luxury Christmas presents for travellers.

From decadent accessories to luxe luggage to services that will soothe travel aches and pains. These gift suggestions, whilst luxurious, are not meant to be wildly unobtainable or garishly ostentatious. They are things that real travellers really want, and they will all look fantastic under the tree!

1. Cashmere Travel Blanket

Give yourself an instant upgrade by travelling with a cashmere blanket. Forget about cashing in your hard-earned airmiles or grovelling to the check-in staff, instead wrap yourself in cashmere and make economy class feel like business and business feel like first. Frequent traveller, Katherine from London, says: “I was given a cashmere blanket by my boyfriend last year after months of grovelling. I travel a lot and if I’m stuck at an airport or have to fly long-haul it’s a little slice of luxury that makes life on the road a lot more comfortable.” We love Brora’s cashmere blankets (£329/$489), which measure 190 x 140cm and come in six different colours. Click here for more information.

2. Noise Cancelling Headphones

We all know silence is golden, but peace and quiet can be tough to achieve when engine roar and crying babies enter the equation. Noise cancelling headphones have changed the way some people travel; one Flyertalk.com member says: “The Bose QC2s I have had a huge impact on my comfort on flights. I even feel more rested when I use them.” Well, make way for the newBose QC3 headphones (£275/$349), which are more compact than their predecessors with the same level of performance. As well as drowning out surround sounds these headphones come with a detachable cord to connect MP3, DVD and CD players, or to plug into an in-flight entertainment system. It’s oh so quiet… Click here for more information.

3. Digital SLR

A top-of-the-range digital SLR consistently delivers rich, high-quality images, capturing your most incredible travel moments for years to come. SLR evangelists swear that the image quality is so far superior to standard compact cameras that once you start using one you will never go back (and that your travel photos will be the envy of all your friends). Nikon released theD90 digital SLR (£849.99/$999.95) in August of this year, which is successor to the popular D80 model. It is a high-end consumer camera with 12.3 megapixel resolution that, in the words of Hong Kong-based iloho user Gadgetlover, “is large enough to capture those great moments, but small enough to travel there with you.” Click here for more information.

4. Weekend Bag

A smart weekend bag amps up your travel style in an instant, and classic models will never go out of fashion; they are stylish and functional and make a fantastically indulgent Christmas present. Anna, an iloho user from Sydney, says of her new Italian suede weekend bag: “It’s definitely not a necessity, but it is beautiful and it makes me feel good when I travel.” We like the MulberryLarge Racing Clipper (£350/$625), which works well for both male and female travellers.

5. iPhone 3G

It’s slick and sexy and seriously functional. The iPhone combines three products in one — a 3G phone, widescreen iPod, and Internet device — perfect for travellers. Better still, the iPhone incorporates GPS technology and live tracking so you can forget all about cumbersome city maps. If you find yourself dying for a cappuccino in Rome you can search for “coffee” and the iPhone will show you every café nearby. There’s a host of travel applications you can download too, such as language translators, currency convertors and real-time flight tracking. For more information, and prices, click here.

 

It won’t be available for Christmas, but keep your eyes peeled for the launch of the nüvifone, a touchscreen device that combines a phone, mobile web-browser, and cutting-edge personal navigator, scheduled to hit the shelves in early 2009.

6. Travel Wallet

Digging out passports, hotel confirmations, e-tickets and addresses can be both tedious and time consuming when you are travelling. Make someone very happy by organising their trav-min with a chic travel wallet. Smythson has a great range of styles to suit men and women alike from £175/approx. $260. As 33-year old London-based lawyer Emily says, “When you’re travelling it’s essential to have everything in one place.” Visit smythson.comfor more information.

7. VIP Lounge Membership

It won’t breakdown, works in airports across the world and helps you escape the chaos of delays, cancellations and crowded departure floors no matter which airline you fly with and in what class of travel. For a frequent traveller VIP lounge membership makes a fantastic gift. Simbad, an iloho user in Hong Kong says: “Having lounge membership makes business travel much easier. I am on the road a lot with my job, and knowing that wherever I go I can always connect to WiFi, eat and drink at no extra cost and relax in peace and quiet before my flight is both practical and reassuring.” There are several VIP lounge programmes you can register with; one of the most popular is Priority Pass, which gives members access to 500 lounges in 90 countries worldwide and costs from $79/£55 per year. For more information click here.

8. Luxury travel pillow

For travellers who have problems sleeping on planes, trains or in hotel rooms a duck or goose down travel pillow will make a fantastic gift. There are a myriad of shapes and sizes, but this lightweight goose down travel pillow(from $24) compacts to a mere 5″ X 7.5″. For travellers looking for more support, the memory foam Komfort Kollar ($59.85/£40) is an excellent choice. Designed by a leading spinal surgeon the collar supports the head, neck and spine from every angle. Emma, 25, a frequent traveller from Macau says, “A good quality travel pillow is invaluable. When my flight is delayed and on long journeys my duck down pillow is worth its weight in gold.”

9. Games Set

Don’t know a Wii from a PS3? Don’t worry. What better way to while away a couple of hours of travel downtime than with a classic chess or backgammon set? Pickett, British luxury goods supplier, makes a great travel-friendly backgammon and chess set in leather with magnetic pigskin pieces (£399/$593). The company offers a bespoke service too so your backgammon / chess board can be customised to your exact specifications. Click here for more information.

10. Quintessentially Membership

What better present for the discerning jetsetter in your life than a whatever / wherever concierge service that’s accessible 24 hours a day, 365 days a year? The Quintessentially team is on hand for everything from solving pressing practical problems – such as organising a rescue mission for a member in a snowed under ski chalet – to making dinner reservations to booking and advising on incredible travel experiences, like an Indiana Jones-style adventure in Jordan, visiting the Cairo Museum afterhours with a leading Egyptologist, and touring the wine yards of Mendoza, Argentina in a classic rally car. The headaches involved in organising overseas business meetings, perfecting a romantic getaway and keeping everyone on a family holiday happy will become a thing of the past. For more information and membership costs in your region click here.

For tips on shopping around the world click here. To join iloho’s group “Shopaholics of the World Unite” 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.

Kōya-san, Japan’s Sacred Mountain

By Aaron Humphrey

In the forested mountains high above Kyoto, an enclave of temples and monasteries lies delicately arranged amongst the cedars. This is Koya-san (Mount Koya), home to Buddhist monks since the early ninth century and a serene retreat for devout pilgrims and curious travellers alike. As the centre of Japanese esoteric Shingon Buddhism, Mount Koya has seen the development of dozens of holy buildings over the centuries, and is now home to 120 temples; many of them are happy to host visitors for a night or two.

The journey from Kyoto takes about two hours, and as you pull further away from the city by train, the wait between stations grows longer. Time almost seems to go backwards, each station quieter than the last, as progressively smaller towns replace Kyoto’s sprawling suburbs and metropolis. Where the train tracks end, a red cable car awaits to take you on the final, scenic stretch up the mountain.

It’s best to book a temple stay ahead of time, and there are plenty to choose from, ranging in price from ¥10,000 – ¥20,000 (US$105-$210/£68-£135). Included in that price are two meals, dinner and breakfast, which are prepared by the monks. Meals consist of traditional vegetarian dishes, from nuts and lotus root to tofu soup and tempura leaves, the food is plentiful, and as delicious as it is unique. Sitting on tatami mats and sampling the food of Mount Koya ranks among the most memorable culinary experiences in a country bursting with them.

After dinner dusk begins to settle on Koya-san, casting an even more mysterious air to the sacred mountain, this is the perfect time to stroll through the cemetery, where thousands of graves and shrines fill the quiet, mossy forest. This is Japan’s largest graveyard, home to stone jizo statues and memorials of all sizes, centred around the mausoleum where the founder of Shingon lies, not dead, according to the faithful, but merely meditating for the arrival of the Buddha of the Future. Here, many hundreds of small lanterns glow a colour between red and ginger throughout the night. Some of them are said to have remained lit for over a millennium, part of Mount Koya’s timeless serenity.

Getting there: Travel by train to Gokurakubashi station at the bottom of Koya-san. From Gokurakubashi visitors take a cable car to the top of the mountain, which takes 5 minutes. For more detailed travel information, click here

Stay:

Many Buddhist monasteries on Koya-san function as hotels and provide traditional accommodation that includes an evening meal and breakfast. Try Shojoshin-in one of the oldest temples on Koya-san, which offers Japanese style guest rooms as well as a “hanare” (private guest residence with bathroom), Japanese-style gardens and a pond.

See:

Kongobuji temple: Koyasan Shingon Buddhism’s headquarters. The temple boasts a stone garden that is said to outshine many of Kyoto’s best.

Oku-no-In: the mausoleum of Kukai, the monk who first settled Koya-san, which is illuminated by thousands of lanterns.

Konpon Daito pagoda and the Garan temple: Garan Temple is one Mount Koya’s most sacred temples and was designed by Kukai. The Konpon Daito pagoda sits within the temple’s grounds and is said to represent both the central point Mount Koya and all of Japan.

Photos:

Lanterns #3 by mrlins via Flickr (Creative Commons).

Koyasan Mountain Rail by Sofia Brightsea via Flickr (Creative Commons).

koyasan – 高野山 by kanjiroushi via Flickr (Creative Commons).

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)

A Low-Key Getaway: Lopez Island, Washington, USA

By Ann Marie Svilar

Covering 29.5 square miles, Lopez Island, Washington is the first ferry stop in a cluster of islands called the San Juans, that rise from the Puget Sound and hug the Canadian border. Even during bustling tourist season Lopez Island will make you turn off the laptop and slow down. Wave to the blonde woman named Margie manning the ferry dock as you arrive. She will wave back. Waving is a tradition on this island; there is even a “Lopez wave” consisting of two fingers in a locked together peace sign.

As you make your first twists from the ferry dock, smell the dense trees and dried wild grass. Look for deer: there are many and they are domesticated enough to walk right up to you. Notice a Madrona tree with bark that looks like red peeling paper; scratch the trunk and it turns green. Look out for a Great Blue Heron, they are an elegant and common Lopez Island bird. You can find them almost anywhere in tidal lagoons along the seashore.

You’ll see that most people name their driveways after themselves or something original like Pterodactyl Lane, or Baroque ‘n Glass Lane. Mailboxes are painted with bald eagles and rich gardens are covered with tall fences to keep deer out. Some people live in make-shift buses, clusters of trailers, or in an A-Frame house. Stop by the Lopez Island Vineyards and pick up a bottle of Siegerrebe. Note that most streets don’t have yellow lines and traffic is minimal in any direction. Enjoy the quiet and keep going.

If you’re camping, Spencer Spit is the best place to stay. Located on the East side of the island, you can feel good karma there; the Spencer family sold the land to the state for much less than the private offers they received in order to make a state park that everyone could enjoy. Shirley (Spencer) Plummer is 87 years old, and recently became a great, great grandmother, she sits in her living room that overlooks Spencer Spit. It is a stretch of beach like no other, with driftwood, rocks and sand coming together into a single point that stares at Frost Island. The driftwood is easily made into forts. A muddy lagoon lines the spit to the North like a seam and smells as murky as it looks. Pitch your tent along the trees at the mouth of the spit; light a fire; cook some s’mores.

If you like beautiful beaches and down to earth people, you will love Lopez Island. It is a getaway in the simplest sense. Below are 7 things you should do whilst visiting the island.

Iceberg Point – Just past Agate Beach there is a small place to park and then walk into what looks like private residence. When you hit the tree line, turn right down a dirt path; walk through a gate and onto a maintained trail. After less than a mile the trees will open up to the most vast part of the Island; the unprotected South side. Your landscape will be big hills and rocks with tall grass that smells like dry summers. Your view will be of an ocean that seems to go on forever until you see the Olympic Peninsula and Olympic Mountains far in the distance.

Sharks Reef – My favourite spot on the island is Sharks Reef. The water here is treacherous because of undertow and sometimes you will see kayakers twirling and paddling their way through the narrow corridor that separates Lopez Island from San Juan Island. Large pieces of sea kelp that look like women with mermaid hair line the rocks. Here is where you see some of the best tide pools on the Island full of lipids’ and sea anemones.

Saturday Farmers Market – Farmers Markets are special no matter where you go. Lopez market’s charm lies in its small size. My favourite stall is Marianna’s clothing, made of scraps of recycled cloth. She also has a store in the main part of town called Okeydo. Also visit my parent’s booth at the market where they sell my brother’s photos every Saturday. Introduce yourself!

Horse Drawn Farms – This eco-friendly farm used to use horses to farm the land, but now they use oxen. Produce is pre-picked and you can just drive up, make your selection and leave money based on the honour system. It’s as simple and trusting as that.

Community Center – The centre hosts music and community theatre all year long. While you are there, walk North-east to the skate park where young kids are dropping into small half pipes.

The Bay Café – The Bay Café has the most expensive food on the island, averaging at around $20 a plate. But it also offers the most brilliant place to have dinner and watch the sunset as it lies down for the night behind Friday Harbour. The restaurant is run by two local men, with a lot of energy, who know how to bake an amazing cedar salmon. You’ll also be guaranteed great hospitality.

Lopez Island Kayaks – Being on an island is amazing enough, getting the chance to see it up close from the water is special too. Rent a kayak, get some advice on routes and get close to the water. If you time your float trip between April and October you may see big rusty-red Lion’s mane jellyfish as they make their way towards the beach at low tide.

TRAVELLER’S CHECK LIST

Getting there:

By ferry… Travel from Anacortes on the mainland to Lopez Island. The journey is approximately 85 miles and takes about 45 minutes. For pricing info and to buy tickets click here. On the ferry keep your eyes peeled for bald eagles, seals, otters and the occasional orca whale.

By plane… Kenmore Air fly direct from Seattle to Lopez Island daily. For more information on schedules, pricing and booking click here. The journey takes about 1hr 10 mins.

Where to stay:

1. Lopez Islander Resort; PO Box 459, Lopez Island, WA; desk@lopezislander.com
2. MacKaye Harbor Inn; 949 MacKaye Harbor Road Lopez Island, WA 98261; (888) 314-6140; innkeeper@mackayeharborinn.com. From USD 135 per night.
3. Edenwild; 1-800-606-0662; edenwild@rockisland.com. From USD 170 per night.
4. Lopez Lodge; Lopez Lodge, Lopez Island, WA 98261; (360) 468-2816; needle@rockisland.com. From USD 70 per night.

For information on camping on Lopez Island, click here

Where to eat:

1. Bay Café – about $30 a person. 9 Old Post Road Suite C, PO Box 692, Lopez, WA 98261; Tel: 360.468.3700
2. Love Dog Café – $10-$15 per person. 1 Village Center, PO Box 633, Lopez Island, WA 98261; Tel: 360.468.2150.
3. HollyB’s Bakery – $5 or less. Lopez Plz, Lopez Island, WA 98261; Tel: 360.468.2133.
4. Vortex – $10 per person for wraps and smoothies. Homestead Bldg C, Lopez Island, WA, 98261; Tel: 360.468.4740.
5. Isabel’s Espresso – $5 or less for espresso drinks. 308 Lopez Rd, Lopez Island, WA, 98261; Tel: 360.468.4114

What to see:

For general information about visit the Lopez Island visitors bureau online here

1. Iceburg Point and Sharks Reef: click here for a map of Lopez.
2. Saturday Farmer’s Market: Community Center.
3. Lopez Island Kayak: located at Marinas on Fisherman’s Bay 360-468-2847
4. Horse Drawn Farms: 2823 Port Stanley Road

Events:

1. Fourth of July on Lopez: fun run, parade, salmon bbq and fireworks
2. Tour de Lopez (bike tour): last Saturday of April
3. Lopez Farmer’s Market: May to Sept.
4. Artist’s Studio Tour: last weekend in August

For more information on Lopez Island events click here

All photographs ©David Svilar.

Karsts and rafts in Yangshuo, China

Top 10 Tips for a weekend break in Yangshuo, China – from how to avoid a hot air balloon crash to rafting the Yulong River.

Even at 500 metres in a faulty hot air balloon Yangshuo is a breathtaking place. At that nail-biting height the region’s famous limestone karsts look even more dramatic; their pointed peaks rising up from flat, green rice fields that spread out from the Li and Yulong rivers.

The town of Yangshuo was until recently a sleepy provincial village. Now it’s a bustling tourist hub that has seen phenomenal expansion. Visitors are drawn to the town by the busload, eager to soak up its stunning views and raft down rivers made famous through centuries of Chinese paintings and, more recently, scenes from The Painted Veil.

Parts of Yangshuo can feel a bit like a Chinese Disneyland, especially around West Street. If you’re prepared to go off-the-beaten track, and to spend just ¥100 a day on using a local guide, it’s easy to experience a Yangshuo that’s as far away from package tourism and flag-following lemmings as you can imagine.

TIP 1: The lovely Lilly

We used Lilly Lu for the two days that we were there. She speaks excellent English and can arrange everything from a hot air balloon rescue mission to airport transfers to lightshow tickets to unspoiled stretches of river to simple, but utterly delicious, local dining. Lilly has lived in Yangshuo and its nearby villages all her life. She’s an expert on what to do and can guide you to places that package tourists can only dream of. For Lilly’s contact details and more info on her tour and services, please leave us a comment with your email address at the bottom of this post.

TIP 2: Cycle far, far away

Get those legs pumping and be prepared to spend at least 2.5 – 3 hours in the saddle. Don’t fret: it’s flat and easy cycling along river banks and through stunning fields and tiny villages. Bike all the way up to the 400-year old Yulong Bridge and then have lunch. If you’re with Lilly she’ll show you where to go, but if you’re heading up alone make sure you go to the first restaurant downstream from the bridge. The food is fantastic – lots of fresh vegetables stir-fried with garlic, the delicious local specialty “beer fish” and local chicken dishes as well. Note: this is not for the squeamish… if you order fish or chicken you’ll see the cooks fetching live catfish from the river or live chickens from a hutch that they polish off in the kitchen and then gut. It’s really not that bad, and the end result is well worth any misgivings you might have about ending an innocent life!

TIP 3: When it comes to the rivers, don’t follow the crowds

The river trips in Yangshuo are one of the big highlights. At the weekend, especially if it’s a public holiday, hundreds of people flock to the water to ride on bamboo rafts and squirt each other with enormous water pistols. If throngs of over excited water rats don’t spell tranquility in your book, make sure you make the effort get away from the crowds.

For the Yulong River – bamboo rafts punted by boatmen – spend 3 hours in the saddle biking up to Yulong Bridge and escape the crowds. You’ll be rewarded with a 2 hour trip downstream in complete quiet and isolation as it only gets busy for the last 10 minutes (and there it’s phenomenonally busy). For the Li River – motorized bamboo rafts – hire a car for the day (only ¥300 – ¥550) and drive to XingPing Town. From there head upstream and you’ll be on more or less your own.

TIP 4: Get up early

Set your alarm for 6am and head to Moon Hill. This karst peak has a hole straight through it that makes for some seriously impressive photographs.

You can hike to the top of the peak up a concrete staircase. The steps are pretty steep and it can be hard going unless you’re a regular gym bunny. During the summer months the weather gets sticky at about 9am so it’s well worth rising early to beat the heat. Getting there before breakfast also means you’ll have Moon Hill entirely to yourself; we did and it was amazing.

Once you’re at the top you can scramble up a dirt track right to the top of the hole. The guides tell you to allow 1.5 hours for a round-trip. If you’re fit it’ll take more like 45 minutes.

TIP 5: Breakfast late

The tourist groups tend to leave Yangshuo after breakfast to go sightseeing. If you’re prepared to stick around you can wander the town’s pretty streets in relative peace. We headed in for breakfast at around 9:30 / 10am and everyone had left. After breakfast at Café Mimosa (16 Gui Hua Road) we spent a relaxed hour exploring old streets that are normally swarming with crowds.

TIP 6: Stay out of town

Daily bicycle rents are cheap (from ¥5 – ¥20 per day), as are taxis (from about ¥30 per trip), so it’s easy to travel in from a hotel that’s slightly out of town.

We stayed at the Li River Retreat, which was about a 10 minute bike ride from the centre of Yangshuo. The hotel has stunning, un-obscured views from its terraces and balconies. Almost all the rooms have private balconies and they’re clean and very reasonably priced (from ¥250 – ¥490 per night). Staff are friendly and can speak English. The Yangshuo Mountain Retreat also gets good reviews from friends who have stayed there (from HK$229 – HK$800 per night).

If you’re prepared to stay further outside Yangshuo, the new Hotel of Modern Art gets fantastic write ups (from ¥2080 per night). It’s the only hotel in China that’s a member of the prestigious Relais and Chateaux alliance.

TIP 7: Don’t hot air balloon unless you’re very brave

We had a bad experience. At 500m our pilot laughingly announced that we had a small problem. Pointing inside the balloon he told us to look up at the hole that had appeared in the silk. We didn’t think it was so funny and spent the 30 minutes it took for us to land in palpations of worry. Added to this terror was my

crippling fear of heights: I should never have got into that basket…

Other friends tell of a white-knuckle ride that involved crash landing in the trees on the side of a steep karst.

Although everyone in Yangshuo does their best to convince you that the balloon pilots are highly experienced, that it’s not dangerous and that there have never been any accidents don’t believe them. Hot air ballooning is by far and away the most expensive activity you can do in Yangshuo (¥700 – ¥900 per person for 70 minutes) and the local operators want your business.

TIP 8: Check out Fuli

This small town is home to families of fan makers. For centuries Fuli’s inhabitants have painted fans and scrolls depicting traditional scenes. They used to make fans for the queen of one of the Chinese dynasties.

If you want to buy scrolls or fans whilst you’re in Yangshuo it’s worth hiring a car and visiting Fuli as they’re about a third of the price and of a much higher quality than the ones selling in Yangshuo’s markets. Expect to pay about ¥200 for a big silk fan.

TIP 9: If you’re going for the weekend forget about Guilin

The boat trip down the Li River from Guilin to Yangshuo takes about six hours and you have to pack onto a big cruiser. If you’re only visiting for the weekend it makes far more sense to arrange for a car to pick you up from Guilin airport and drive you straight to Yangshuo that night. The stretches of river around Yangshuo are quieter and you can travel them on a traditional bamboo raft away from hordes of snap-happy tourists.

Guilin is also a city with 1.32 million inhabitants – it’s not the quaint town some brochures depict. If you’re in search of peace and quiet ditch the city and head straight for Yangshuo. Hotels can organise a car from the airport (¥380 one way, travel time 2 hours) as can Lilly.

TIP 10: Don’t go in a guided group to the light show

It’s not as complicated as people have you believe. If your hotel or guide organizes the tickets for you then arrange a driver and go on your own. You’ll save being herded about like cattle and will be able to escape the crowds and mayhem much more quickly. Tickets to the light show cost ¥180 per person.

All photos © Emma Torry / Bryony Greenwell

Good news for book worms

If you’re the type of traveller who packs more books than clothes into your suitcase, or if you like the thrill of vicarious travel then we’ve got some good news for you…

Amazon is launching a new service called Amazon Prime, which offers Amazon members FREE two-day shipping for one month on thousands of items.

If you cancel your subscription before your trial month is up then you can enjoy fast delivery without any annoying catches. You’ll just have to remember to set a reminder for yourself so you don’t get stung! Click here for details.

We’ll be signing up and have been looking for literary inspiration to get us going. So far we’ve got the following travel books on our list:

92 Acharnon Street by John Lucas: Written by a former poetry editor of New Statesman, 92 Acharnon Street won the The Dolman Best Travel Book Award 2008.

James Owen, reviewing 92 Acharnon Street on its publication for Telegraph Travel, said: “This is a portrait of Greece as it certainly was in the mid-1980s, and often still is now – noisy, dirty and on strike, in thrall to bureaucracy and political favouritism, a dark pall cast by the military dictatorship of the 1970s.

“Yet through it shines the redeeming generosity of the Greek temperament, one that approves with a wry smile the necessity of students cheating in exams because the teaching is so inadequate.”

The book is “the finest account of a love affair with Greece since Peter Levi’s The Hill of Kronos”.

Time Out Guide to Florence and Tuscany: As recommended by Harriet, one of iloho’s users, in her post about Tuscany, we want to check out the Time Out guide to Florence and Tuscany

Harriet says: “Take the Time Out guide if eating and drinking is one of your holiday priorities. I’ve used a lot of guidebooks in my time, and found that Time Out consistently has the best, most up-to-date restaurant listings. The places it recommends have always been excellent value for money and packed with locals. For sightseeing and history, I think the Footprint Travel Guides are really well written, but Footprint doesn’t cover as many destinations as the Rough Guide or Lonely Planet.”

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert: Having gone through a contentious divorce, a dodgy rebound romance and suffered with depression, Elizabeth Gilbert decided at the age of 34 to spend a year travelling through Italy, India and Indonesia. She says: “I wanted to explore one aspect of myself set against the backdrop of each country, in a place that has traditionally done that one thing very well,” she writes. “I wanted to explore the art of pleasure in Italy, the art of devotion in India and, in Indonesia, the art of balancing the two.”

The New York Times says: “If a more likable writer than Gilbert is currently in print, I haven’t found him or her.”

Celebrity fans of Eat, Pray, Love include Julia Roberts, Elle Macpherson, Sophie Dahl and Meg Ryan. We’re keen to try it for ourselves.

How To… Tip Around the World

By Nora Dunn

Whilst visiting Tokyo, you slip your taxi driver a small tip for taking you to your destination so promptly and courteously. Little did you know you just offended him beyond reproach. Or you get out of the cab in Mexico, only to find that you must have either over-tipped your driver or have entered the twilight zone because the serenade you are getting now seems a little over the top considering all you did was toss in the equivalent of an extra dollar or two. Or you walk out of a bar in Canada, wondering why the bartender ignored you for 10 minutes when you went to order your third drink – without tipping for any of them.

As with so many cultural idiosyncrasies around the world, tipping is a prevalent and ever-changing custom that differs as much with each country as the language or topography does. In North America, tipping is common, and in many cases downright expected. Servers and bartenders for example, often earn less than the minimum hourly wage, because it is expected that they will also earn tips that amount to 15%-20% of their customers’ bills. In other countries like Australia, tips are lovely but not expected; and the servers and bartenders are paid an hourly wage to reflect this.

So while abroad, who do you tip and how much? Here is a small collection of tipping practices around the world you can use as a guide.

NORTH AMERICA

Arguably, North American culture dictates more tipping than anywhere else in the world. Make sure you have some extra cash handy!

Canada

• Restaurants and Bars: 15% (Hint: If you’re at a bar, tip the bartender well on the first drink you order. You’ll get great service for the rest of the night, and if you tip really well on the first drink you aren’t necessarily expected to keep tipping on every drink thereafter. If you wait until the end of the night you may be the victim of bad service.)
• Taxi drivers: No set formula. Usually just round up the fare a few dollars.
• Spas: 10-15%
• Food delivery: $2-5, depending on the weather
• Coat Check: $1 per coat
• Hotel bellhop: $5-10
• Hotel chambermaids: $2-5/day

USA

• Restaurants: 18-20%
• Bars: 15%
• Taxi: 10-15% of fare
• Spas: 15%
• Food delivery: $2-5, depending on the weather
• Coat Check: $1 per coat
• Hotel bellhop: $5-10
• Hotel chambermaids: $2-5/day

ASIA

In many parts of Asia in general, tips are welcome but ones that are extravagant can be seen as an insult.

Singapore

• Restaurants & Bars: Generally no tips are required. Upscale dining will auto-gratuity 10%.
• Taxis: No tipping required
• Spas: $2-4 Singapore dollars (hand it directly to the staff who served you). This applies to shampoo person and manicurist, but strangely the hair stylist rarely gets tipped.
• Hotel service staff: $2S, however often you will see “no tipping required” signs so you can use your judgement depending on the quality of hotel you are staying at.

Hong Kong As above.

China Tipping policies are non-existent. Foreigners are generally charged more to begin with.

Japan Don’t.

LATIN AMERICA

Mexico Do! Tips are expected by pretty much everybody who services you in any way.

• Restaurants & Bars: 15%
• Taxis: Tipping is not necessary. Usually you have negotiated a flat fare that encompasses the tip.
• Spas: 10%

Brazil

• Restaurants & Bars: Look for the 10% service charge on the bill. If it’s not there, then tip 10%.
• Taxis: No tipping required, but it’s always nice to round up a bit if you can.
• Spa: 10%-15%
• Hotels: The service charge is usually included in the bill.
• Chambermaids: Only tip at luxury hotels: $1-$2

EUROPE

Germany

Germans are not big tippers in general, but tips are still welcome and, in some cases, expected.

Note: Look for the words “Trinkgeld Inbegriffen” on your bill… If you see them, it means that the service charge has been included already. No need to leave any extra!

• Restaurants & Bars: 10%
• Taxis: 10%
• Spas: €1-€2 will do for a hair stylist, and €1 for the shampoo technician. Tipping on other spa services depends on the cost and nature of the service; 10% is usually a safe bet.
• Hotel chambermaid: Only tip if you are happy with the service, and leave it in the room when you leave.
• Hotel bellhops: €2-€3

Switzerland Pretty much across the board, 15% tips are included in the bills. As in Germany, keep your eyes peeled for the words “Trinkgeld Inbegriffen” to make sure. If the service was outstanding and you want to tip more, then you can give up to 10% extra. Also if you plan to become a regular, this is a great idea!

France

• Restaurants & Bars: A service charge of 15% is usually included in the bill. You’ll know if the words “servis compris” appear.
• Taxis: Drivers don’t require or expect tips.
• Spas: Look for the service charge to be included in the bill. If it’s not, then 10%-15% will do, and only if you are happy with the service.

Italy

• Restaurants & Bars: Tips are not expected. There are often cover charges or bread charges, which take the place of general tipping practices. If you really wish you can leave a small amount at the table.

Again, and as with so many European destinations, a service charge may be included. “Servizio compreso” will be your hint.

United Kingdom

• Restaurants: Tipping is not necessarily expected, but is very welcome. 10%-15% will do. Unlike many other European destinations, service charges are rarely included in the bill.
• Bars: Don’t tip in cash. You can offer to buy the bartender a drink if you’re happy with the service. They’ll then add the price of half a pint on to your tab (sometimes they’ll pour the drink for themselves, but most times they’ll just keep the cash).
• Taxis: 10%

DOWN UNDER

Australia Tipping in Australia is almost non-existent. Generally speaking if you are happy with the service, nobody will say no or be offended that you want to give them money. They’re just not expecting tips – at least not from the locals!

• Restaurants & Bars: If you thought the service was great, you can tip up to 10%.

New Zealand No tips are required. Service charges are almost always included in the bill.

MISCELLANEOUS

Egypt Tips in Egypt are most certainly expected, but the amount is at your discretion. When in doubt, tip like you do at home.

Russia Restaurants & Bars: 10% Taxis: 5%-10%

This is by no means a comprehensive guide to tipping around the world. Within each country practices can vary, much less within each geographical region. So how can you best be sure you are following customs and not offending anybody by being stingy, while not getting pinned as a naïve tourist by over-tipping? Ask! Most people will be quite honest with you about standard tipping practices. And if you’re embarrassed about asking your potential tippee what to do, then ask at an information desk at the airport or your hotel.

Happy tipping!

Extra Tipping Resources:

Political Calculations This site includes a chart of all the countries mentioned above and more with general guidelines for tipping and cultural practices.

International Business Etiquette Internet Sourcebook Here you will find links to sites for business etiquette tips around the world – a very useful tool, even if you aren’t travelling for business.

Best Trip Choices A great resource for trip planning, from weather to ATM locations to travel insurance and more.