Check In
Spa expansion: The Thai village-style Anantara Resort & Spa in Hua Hin, which has just joined the Small Luxury Hotels group, has opened a new garden spa. Created by award-winning landscape architect Bill Bensley, who designed the gardens and spa at the Regent Chiang Mai, the Mandara Spa is set amid lotus-dotted lagoon pools and tropical foliage, and offers six suites, each with an individual garden courtyard featuring a deep terrazzo bath for two and dual alfresco 'rain showers', suspended in bronze birdcages.
Rooms are generally US$150 (HK$1,170) a night but two packages are available from January 15 to April 15: the four-day/three-night Spa Indulgence (from US$746) with one-hour treatments daily; or the six-day/five-night Sybaritic Spa (from US$1,855) with two hours of treatments every day, complimentary use of the watersports facilities, two yoga classes, and round-trip limousine transfers from Bangkok (two-and-a-half hours each way). You can choose from Thai herbal body scrubs and foot reflexology to deep tissue massage, and each package includes daily breakfast and a health-conscious dinner on the first night in the Ba'an Thalia Italian restaurant (the Sybaritic package includes a bottle of wine). Call [66 32] 520250 or visit www. anantara.com for more information.
Guiding light: Luxe City Guides: Bangkok is the first in a new series of laminated concertina guides that fold down to form one pocket-sized pamphlet. At $60 for technically one double-sided sheet, it seems pricey compared to, say, Lonely Planet's 128-page pocket-sized Bangkok Condensed guide at $135, but the publisher is aiming at those with more cash than dash: busy, but discerning travellers who want to know more about hip restaurants, trendy bars and the best spas and shops than tourist sites. Although written in an opinionated, slightly irritating voice that wavers between a Helen Fielding character ('sassypants', 'glamtastic', 'fabby', 'slutty') and Jamie Oliver ('crikey', 'howsaboutthatthen', 'choice mate', 'nuff said'), the pamphlet is an excellent distillation of the best to see, do and visit in Bangkok, and includes some truly useful information (Julie's Taxis with drivers who speak excellent English). It reads with authority, like a friend who has seen it/done it all, then skimmed off the highlights (although funky, cheap home furnishings store Propaganda is missing from the Siam Discovery Centre entry - a crime). If you're a Wallpaper* or Conde Nast Traveller reader, or aspire to be, this is a must. Available in major bookshops as well as Lane Crawford and GOD (tel: 9037 5701; www.luxecityguides.com). Look out for the Hong Kong edition in February, and Shanghai and Hanoi in August.
Winter warmer: Feeling the chill? Until March 31, Air Mauritius has a range of eight-day/six-night packages to Mauritius, largely ranging from $8,999 to $17,050 per person (based on twin share), although there's also a package at $47,900 staying in the Ocean Suite of the six-star Le Saint Geran (www.maurinet.com/stgeran.html). Prices include roundtrip economy flights, private car transfers and daily breakfast and dinner. Call 2526 3319 or 2522 1923 for details.
Lunar lie-in: From January 24 to February 9, the Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong is offering a special Chinese New Year room rate, with Peak View and Harbour View rooms at $1,200 and $1,500 respectively (consecutive nights available for $800 and $1,100). For details, call 2877 6666 or visit www.ritz-carlton.com.