Gili Up, Ya’ll
I’m always on the lookout for a travel deal—particularly come Christmas and Chinese New Year when prices are sky-high. This one from Lightfoot Travel, a Hong Kong-based bespoke operator, features a stay at barefoot luxury retreat
Gili Lankanfushi in the Maldives. Twenty minutes from the airport, Gili is a pretty complex of overwater bungalows with a PADI diving school and all the usual watersports. Book a five-night getaway in a Villa Suite before December 7, and you’ll get 25 percent off online rates plus a few extra perks: daily breakfast and dinner, return speedboat transfer and waived tax and service charges.
Rates from $8,562 per night before discount. Travel period: Nov 7-Dec 27. Offer code “GLM-SP-LightfootNov-2014” via Lightfoot Travel, 2815-0068, www.lightfoottravel.com.
Warm up this winter at Gili LankafushiThree New Seasons
High-flying luxury brand the
Four Seasons has been busy the past few months with a string of openings in all corners of the world. A new branch in Moscow opened last month just steps from Red Square; followed on Nov 16 by a Dubai property that neighbors a 270-meter stretch of coastline. But the upcoming Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg, opening on Dec 1, looks the coolest: with great views of the trending South African city from the rooftop restaurant and panoramic elevators. The Africa-inspired rooms and suites have terraces overlooking elaborate gardens below. Best part? The weather is pretty much always nice in Jo-Burg, so you can go anytime!
Westcliff Johannesburg intro rate from $2,668 per night. www.fourseasons.com.
Introducing Four Seasons Hotel The Westcliff Johannesburg
Shilla Thrilla
For a winter weather retreat, skip the lazy beach breaks and take advantage of the mild winter and great outdoors of Jeju, South Korea’s popular vacation isle. The Shilla Jeju, a luxe resort overlooking Jungmum Beach, organizes a slew of offbeat outings. You can take to the hills with a Hullasan Mountain Trek, or go snowshoeing (no, seriously!) along Jeju’s famous craters. If you’d rather stick to the shoreline, then opt for a sunset yacht cruise with a seafood dinner, or a strawberry farm visit (the season starts in February). One of the coolest features at Shilla though is the Glamping Village, equipped with luxury tents, portable Galaxy tablets, Wi-Fi (naturally), and barbecued dinners prepared in private.
From $2,322 per night. 75 Jungmungwangwang-ro, 72beong-gil, Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do, Korea, (+82) 64-735-5114, www.shilla.net.
Shilla Jeju won't camp your style Psst… Daredevils, get excited: Australia just announced a kilometer-long (3,280 feet) “roller coaster zip line” that sounds crazy fun. The longest zipline in the world, the
TreeTop Crazy Rider literally spirals 18 meters above the ground, doing 360-degree loops through the Ourimbah State Forest in New South Wales. Rides from $567,
www.treetopcrazyrider.com.au.
Have a query you need answered or a travel tip you’re keen to share? Email me at [email protected] or tweet @KateSpringer, #hktravels.
