Features

High-class curiosities

31 Dec 2012 by ReggieHo
The word “resort” typically conjures up images of villas in neat rows and umbrella-topped cocktails. But the following selection of newly opened resorts go beyond the conventional and offer their guests intriguing dashes of eccentricity, either through their design features or the services they provide. NIYAMA When did it open? March 2012 Where is it? Dhaalu Atoll in the Maldives. How many rooms? There are 86 studios and pavilions, including beach studios with outdoor bathrooms and deluxe beach studios with a fibre-optic lit pool. Quirky feature: Dancing under the sea – In October 2012, Niyama opened the world’s first underwater club, Subsix (pictured below). It is only accessible by boat, located 500 metres offshore and six metres underwater. Above it is Edge restaurant, which has a staircase leading to the venue below. The club’s walls are floor-to-ceiling windows, allowing a full view of the tropical fish circling in the surrounding sea. There’s also a bar, Bose surround sound system and DJ booth which houses internationally renowned resident DJs. Fun fact: A coral regeneration programme is being implemented around Subsix, headed by the resident marine biologist, which guests can participate in by adopting a coral. http://niyama.peraquum.com W SINGAPORE – SENTOSA COVE When did it open? September 2012 Where is it? Sentosa, a resort island about 15 minutes from downtown Singapore. How many rooms? The resort has 240 sea- and marina-facing guestrooms including suites and one Extreme WOW Suite (W’s interpretation of the Presidential Suite). Quirky feature: Glow-in-the-dark pool bar – There’s a variety of fun and funky features at this Rockwell Group-designed property, from projections on waterfalls in the lobby to rock-shaped daybeds. But it’s the pool bar area that really catches your eye. A white “lighthouse” bar (pictured below) rises 12 metres over the the thirsty swimmers below. For those who prefer dry land, chairs are dotted along a deck that extends right into the pool water. At night, the whole area (including the chairs themselves) illuminates and gives off an otherworldly glow. W also has an innovative way of catering to those who want to escape the mingling WET-bar dwellers for a moment of peace and quiet. Head for the whisper booths – big rosewood helmets dangling from the ceiling by the Woobar – and slip your head into the padded vinyl interior. It’s the perfect place to go and think inside the box, or make a discreet phone call. Fun fact: The 1,300 sqm pool also has 24 built-in speakers underwater and there are private yacht berthing stations directly connected to the property. http://whotels.starwoodhotels.com TIGER'S NEST When did it open? December 2012 Where is it? Central Valais, at the heart of the Swiss Alps in the east of Les 4 Vallées. How many rooms? Five bedrooms spread across three floors. It is a private boutique chalet that comes with a host, chef, driver and ski concierge. Quirky feature: Yoga on top of the world – Just above the property and accessible via some stairs is the “on top of the world” yoga platform, that has been cut into the mountainside at an altitude of about 1,560 metres. With an inspirational view of the surrounding Matterhorn massif, guests can have private yoga sessions guided by experienced instructors familiar with a wide variety of disciplines. Choose from Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Yin or breathing and meditation-based yoga techniques, and centre yourself on the top of the world. Sessions cost between CHF80 (US$85) and CHF230 (US$246) per person, depending on the number of people taking part (one to four) or the length of the session (60-90 minutes). Fun fact: One of the bathrooms features a large skylight – revealed via remote control – that allows soakers in the freestanding two-person bathtub to view the starry night sky above. www.tigersnestlodge.com SOFITEL LEGEND OLD CATARACT ASWAN When did it open? In December 2011 it was reopened as a Sofitel Legend after a US$104.7 million refurbishment. Where is it? On the banks of the River Nile in Egypt’s Nubian Desert. How many rooms? There are now 138 rooms – 82 of which are suites – all housed in a striking Victorian-style property that sits on a shelf of pink granite. Quirky feature: A night with Churchill and Agatha – This property lends itself to legacy, having been situated along this historically significant river for over 100 years – and there’s some exceptional heritage to be experienced within its walls. The Sir Winston Churchill suite played host to its namesake – who had a passion for Egypt – on repeated occasions throughout his life. The celebrated British statesman first stayed at the property during its initial year of operation in 1902, when he attended the inauguration of the Aswan Dam. The elegant room features pieces from his art collection, as well as a magnificent balcony overlooking the Nile. The Agatha Christie suite, meanwhile, is where the Queen of Crime herself penned the novel Death on the Nile. Sofitel Old Cateract Egypt Winston Chruchill Fun fact: The property’s restaurant, 1902, played host to the inauguration festivities of the Aswan Dam. It features a 20-metre-high Arabian dome and the Qualaun Mausoleum. www.sofitel.com THE ALPINA GSTAAD When did it open? December 2012 Where is it? In the little town of Gstaad, Switzerland. How many rooms? The property has 56 rooms and suites, and is built in the traditional local style. It is the first completely new five-star hotel to open in this traditional Swiss village for more than 100 years. Quirky feature: Float in a room, swim in a cave – The Six Senses Spa contains a Flotation Room (thumbnail picture) which can be used by guests (at a rate of CHF200/US$213 per hour) to alleviate the burden of gravity on their bones, joints, body tissue and muscles. The sound-insulated room contains a floating, octagon-shaped private pool with a shallow depth of 35cm, containing a 25-30 per cent salt solution that is five times denser and more buoyant than the sea. Another unusual characteristic of this property is its indoor pool, which is surrounded by enormous, dimly lit boulders from the Swiss mountains to create an Alpine cave feel. Alpina Gstaad Switzerland pool Fun fact: The sensory exploration doesn’t end there – the indoor pool itself has a starry sky effect projected from under the water onto its surface by LED lights. www.thealpinagstaad.ch SIX SENSES LAAMU When did it open? April 2011 Where is it? Laamu Atoll in the Maldives. How many rooms? There are 97 beachfront or over-water villas, all made out of sustainable materials. Quirky feature: Wine tasting in an elevated glass box – The property’s comprehensive wine selection is housed in a rather unconventional “cellar” that can also cater to tasting sessions. The bottles are kept in shelves surrounding a two-level, 6.4-metre glass structure built over the sea. Inside the tower, named Altitude Bar, the bottom level is a delicatessen that becomes part of the daily lunch and dinner buffet, while the top level with a table and chairs is where private tastings can be arranged in this unique environment. Six Senses Laamu wine bar Fun fact: The resort also offers a Jungle Cinema experience, where films are projected onto a 3.5m x 2.7m screen in a clearing in the jungle. Here, you recline in the open air on sun loungers and are served popcorn, with drinks available. Screenings are on Wednesdays and Saturdays, but private viewings can also be arranged. www.sixsenses.com/sixsenseslaamu  
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