Bambu Indah Hotel

Forget stained carpets, or cold marble floors, a vibrant blue pond ripples beneath the feet of guests at one rustic retreat in Bali. Holidaymakers wake up to a stunning underwater panorama in one of the most unique sleeping quarters in the world, in the Udang 'shrimp' House at Bambu Indah hotel in Bali.
But visitors mustn't be shy if they want to stay in the eco-friendly bolt-hole, as there is an abundance of fish swimming under the room - and perhaps peering up through the tempered glass floor. The room also boasts an open-air shower so guests can truly feel at one with nature.

They transformed the century old homes into guest houses using inspiration from the history of Indonesia, while adding the luxury and service of a boutique hotel. Bambu Indah, which means beautiful bamboo in Balinese, is minutes downriver from the town of Ubud, located amongst rice paddies and steep ravines in the central foothills of the Gianyar regency. The intimate hotel looks out at the stunning cascades of the Ayung River, a Hindu temple and multiple volcanic ridges surrounding Mount Batu Kau. Guests are led via stone paths from the bamboo-encased reception area to their special one-room cottages made of hand-carved teak.

The Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum

While Honolulu’s Bishop museum features several different exhibits ranging from Earth science to art, what really makes this museum unique is its collection of items of importance from the Hawai’ian people and their culture, which is unparalleled, and visiting the Bishop Museum means you are in Hawai’i, which is pretty excellent.

Los Roques Archipelago National Park

Los Roques archipelago is composed of 350 islands, cays, and islets. Some islands are large enough to use communities while some islets are so small, you can only fit a chair. Talk about a private beach!

Los Roques Archipelago National Park was created in 1972 to protect a marine ecosystem of exceptional beauty and ecological value dominated by coral reefs, mangroves, and seagrass beds. It is without a doubt one of the most beautiful natural areas of Venezuela. The park, located about 80 miles (128 km) north of the port of "La Guaira" in Caracas, covers 221,120 hectares (546 acres), making it the largest marine park in the Caribbean Sea.

The coral reefs host some of the most beautiful underwater fauna and flora of the Caribbean. The park has exceptionally beautiful beaches of white sand and multicolor, crystalline warm waters which make it a diving, sailing and fishing paradise.

Burano, Italy

Burano is Italy’s technicolor town, located in the same lagoon as Venice. According to When On Earth, fishermen decided to paint their houses with bright colors so that they would be easily distinguishable through the thick fog. Today, residents can’t paint their houses just any shade — if they want to repaint, they have to send a letter to the government, and officials will reply with a list of acceptable colors.

Sandals Grande St. Lucian

Ideally located on its very own peninsula, Sandals Grande St. Lucian is often described as the "closest vacation to a picture-perfect postcard." Cradled to the west by Rodney Bay - boasting the calmest waters in all of Saint Lucia - and to the east by the majestic Atlantic Ocean, this magnificent resort showcases awe-inspiring panoramic views that will linger in your heart forever. Volcanic mountains draped in blankets of green rise majestically from an impossibly clear blue sea. A sheltered mile-long beach extends an open invitation for days of endless water play. This is paradise as it was meant to be, full of natural beauty, rich in history, and resplendent in pure romance.

For a secluded, tranquil hideaway with unparalleled proximity to the beach, immerse yourself in the luxury of a beachfront Rondoval suite. Comprised of spacious, exquisite interiors with natural stone flooring and Roman soaking bathtubs perfect for two, these circular suites also offer unique outdoor opportunities on a private veranda, including alfresco dining, sunbathing and stargazing from your very own hammock, outdoor showers, and access to a private, refreshing pool and whirlpool. Secluded by lush, tropical greenery, these clandestine suites are the ultimate in luxury with extraordinary vistas of the famous Rodney Bay.

Apostle Islands

The Apostle Islands are a group of 22 islands in Lake Superior, off the Bayfield Peninsula in northern Wisconsin. The majority of the islands are located in Ashland County—only Sand, York, Eagle, and Raspberry Islands are located in Bayfield County. All the islands except for Madeline Island are part of the Apostle Islands National Lakeshore.

The islands are the spiritual home for the Lake Superior Chippewa. The islands were named the Apostle Islands by New France historian Pierre François Xavier de Charlevoix, who named them after the 12 apostles (for the 12 largest islands).

Some of the best sea caves of the Great Lakes are located on the shorelines of the Apostle Islands. Many of the best sea caves to visit are located at the following locations: Swallow Point on Sand Island, the North Shore of Devils Island, and near Squaw Bay on the mainland. Arches and delicate chambers are visible . During the winters, visitors can see frozen waterfalls and chambers filled with millions of delicate icicles.

Lizard Island

Australia's northern most resort, Lizard Island Reosrt is located right on the Great Barrier Reef, fringed with coral reefs and 24 powdery white beaches. Outstanding in every respect, the unique pleasures of Lizard Island have created an idyllic retreat known as 'one of one'. Spectacular diving and snorkelling opportunities abound, including the famous Cod Hole, where you'll come face to face with a massive, yet curious Potato Cod swimming right up to inspect you with child like curiosity. Discover secluded, pristine beaches by foot or by motorised dinghy with a gourmet picnic just for two. Try bushwalking, sailing, fishing, a glass bottom boat trip, or perhaps indulge in a pampering treatment at the luxurious Azure Spa. Dining is another of the many pleasures here. The menu, which changes daily, is fresh and creative, showcasing the finest local produce. Each of the 40 villas is elegant and spacious, with either ocean or beach views. All meals, beverages and many island activities are included.

Socotra

Socotra has been described as one of the most alien-looking place on Earth, and it’s not hard to see why. It is very isolated with a harsh, dry climate and as a result a third of its plant-life is found nowhere else, including the famous Dragon’s Blood Tree, a very-unnatural looking umbrella-shaped tree which produces red sap. There are also a large number of birds, spiders and other animals native to the island, and coral reefs around it which similarly have a large number of endemic (i.e. only found there) species. Socotra is considered the most biodiverse place in the Arabian sea, and is a World Heritage Site.

Chamarel Falls and the Colored Earth

The Seven Coloured Earths, a small region near the village of Chamarel, Mauritius, is a geological curiosity and a major tourist attraction of Mauritius. This relatively small area of about 7,500 square meters comprises of sand dunes of seven distinct colours (approximately red, brown, violet, green, blue, purple and yellow).

The sands were formed from the decomposition of volcanic rock (basalt) gullies into clay, further transformed into ferralitic soil by total hydrolysis (chemical break- down of minerals by water). The two main elements of the resulting soil, iron and aluminium, are responsible for red/anthracite and blue/purplish colours respectively. The different shades of colour are believed to be a consequence of the molten volcanic rock cooling down at different external temperatures.

An unusual property of the sands is that they settle in different layers even if mixed together that gives the dunes a surrealistic, striped colouring. This strange phenomenon can be observed even on a smaller scale, if one takes a handful of sands of different colours and mixes them together, they'll eventually separate into a layered spectrum. The cause of their consistent spontaneous separation is yet to be explained. Another interesting feature of Chamarel's Coloured Earths is that the dunes seemingly never erode, in spite of Mauritius' torrential, tropical rains.

Baobab Avenue

The amazing baobab (Adansonia) or monkey bread tree can grow up to nearly 100 feet (30 m) tall and 35 feet (11 m) wide. Their defining characteristic: their swollen trunk are actually water storage – the baobab tree can store as much as 31,700 gallon (120,000 l) of water to endure harsh drought conditions.

Baobab trees are native to Madagascar (it’s the country’s national tree!), mainland Africa, and Australia. A cluster of "the grandest of all" baobab trees (Adansonia grandidieri) can be found in the Baobab Avenue, near Morondava, in Madagascar.

Jalousie Plantation

Our luxury St Lucia resort is set within over 100 acres of lush rainforest on the site of an 18th Century sugar plantation, the lushly landscaped grounds sweep down to the stunning white sand Sugar Beach and the glimmering Caribbean Sea. The plantation's luxury villas and villa suites, and luxury Sugar Mill rooms boast elegant plantation styling, four-poster beds, luxurious Egyptian cotton linens, personalized butler service and every modern amenity for a pampering stay. Each of our St Lucia resort's villas and villa suites affords spectacular views of the Pitons or the Caribbean sea.

The indulgent, world-class Rainforest Spa, a full PADI dive facility, sumptuous waterfront dining, and chic bars and lounges ensure the quintessential St Lucia resort vacation experience, all close to the isle’s top tourist attractions.

Offering space enough for families and honeymooners alike, The Jalousie Plantation Sugar Beach, St Lucia is the premier choice among Soufriere hotels for discerning travelers seeking seclusion and tranquility amid unsurpassed natural beauty.

Golden Rock Inn

The hillside plantation inns in Nevis may lack in sand and sea, but they more than make up for it with lush tropical surroundings, luxurious pampering, fine dining and sweeping vistas of the coastline below. It’s a fine combination for romance, which was readily apparent to me when we stopped in for a quick visit to one such hillside plantation inn called The Golden Rock Inn.

A former sugar plantation dating back to 1801, The Golden Rock Inn extends across 100 acres of pristine Nevisian hillside in the Gingerland section of the island, so named for the crop that once sustained the area. It’s enough room for a sprawling mega-resort, but there are just seven cottages here, plus a fine restaurant, a spring-fed swimming pool, and one of the most special room accommodations in all of the Caribbean.

Six pastel cottages containing 11 rooms tucked into the sides of a lush green hill. Early mornings and cocktails taken at sunset on the terrace of the Golden Rock Inn are perfection. A generous panorama from the dining pavilion takes in the hills and the distant ocean.

W Retreat Koh Samui Lounge

What happens after beach blanket bingo? Welcome to not your ordinary Lounge. Watch the action unfold in the spirit of a literary salon, where you'll meet, greet, flirt, play, sip and savor in this modern playground that is electric eclectism perfected. If you’re up for watching the sun go down in a stunning display, settle into a chic lotus-shaped sunken seat, part of a spectacular circular water feature that puts you in the center of our panoramic views of the islands and seascape. Come alive when you light up your night on lounges and daybeds under over-scaled lamps, where you’re always close to the bar constructed of large, raw cut local quarry stone. Worked up an appetite? Kitchen Table is just downstairs. Work calling? WIRED Business Center is just upstairs. Sensualize. Romanticize. Maximize. Politicize. Socialize. Sensationalize. Play specially designed board games for hours of retro pleasure, or get a cyber-rush with complimentary High Speed Internet Access. Our Lounge is your living room. You won't want to miss a thing. And you won't have to.

Old San Juan

Old San Juan is located on a small and narrow island which lies in the north coast, about 35 miles (56 km) from the east end of Puerto Rico, and is united to the mainland of Puerto Rico by the three bridges. It is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the north and to the south by San Juan Bay or "Bahia de San Juan" which lies between the city and the mainland. On a bluff about 100 feet (30 m) high at the west end of the island and commanding the entrance to the harbor rise the battlements of Fort San Felipe del Morro, in which there is a lighthouse.

The "Caño de San Antonio" lies also in South Coast and extends to the Southeast where the island of Old San Juan connects to the mainland through Santurce by three bridges, "Puente Dos Hermanos" (Ave. Ashford), "Puente G. Esteves" (Ave. Ponce de León) and "Puente San Antonio" (Ave. Fernández Juncos).

The city is characterized by its narrow, blue cobblestone streets and flat-roofed brick and stone buildings dating back to the 16th and 17th century when Puerto Rico was a Spanish possession. Near Fort San Felipe del Morro is the Casa Blanca, a palace on land which belonged to the family of Ponce de Leon.

Secret Bay

‘Eco-Luxury’ is a slightly unusual concept and one that is gradually making its way to Caribbean shores. It wasn’t long ago when visitors to the islands simply fancied a holiday, basking in the sun on a white sandy beach, fringed with coconut palms, with the turquoise sea shimmering in the distance.

Known for more than just sun, sea and sand, the Caribbean is now attracting a new breed of tourists wanting to discover the natural wonders of the islands.

As word about its stunning natural beauty makes headlines around the world, Dominica has become one of the leading eco-destinations in the Caribbean. A haven for nature lovers, festooned with waterfalls, dense tropical rainforests, hot springs and rivers where peace and serenity abound. To add to the allure of this paradise island, a new sophisticated resort has emerged, combining eco-sensibility with unfettered luxury and
offering a unique experience for visitors to the island.

Perched on a hill-top with breathtaking views of the Caribbean Sea, Secret Bay is an archetype for self-indulgence at its best. The property consists of two high-end luxury villas and two bungalows surrounded by an oasis of tropical foliage, a wild orchid garden, secluded beaches, a mysterious sea-cave and the enchanting Cario River. Unique to this exclusive resort, is the Souce Shack –where the river meets the sea – there, you can unwind and enjoy homemade snacks and freshly prepared local juices made from seasonal vegetables and fruits grown right on the property.

Couples Resorts, Jamaica

Transform your next Jamaica vacation into a romantic getaway at one of our four all-inclusive resorts—where world-class amenities such as our superb spas blend effortlessly with the island's most idyllic beach settings and local charm.

We invite you to enjoy the finest cuisine prepared with fresh homegrown ingredients and tantalizing Caribbean spices. Dive into a paradise of water sports and activities from scuba diving to reef snorkeling. Our team of instructors is ready to help you perfect your game of tennis or golf with a lesson. And it wouldn't be a real Jamaica vacation without watching a sunset aboard a catamaran, tropical cocktail in hand.

Trunk Bay, St. John

St. John is home to beautiful beaches, bays and coves, and the Virgin Islands National Park. The park land was donated to the people of the United States by the Rockefeller family and opened in 1956. Hiking the forest, camping, and snorkeling are major attractions of this rugged, lush, green island.

St. John is a short ferry ride from Red Hook in St. Thomas. Boats usually leave on the hour ($5.00 US for adults) from early morning to 11:00 PM. Home to a couple of first class resorts and hotels, St. John also has many private villas for the vacationer, and camping is available in the Virgin Islands National Park. There are also quaint places to shop like Mongoose Junction and Wharfside Village in Cruz Bay, and lots of great places to eat.

Trunk Bay is the most famous beach on St. John and possibly the most famous beach in all the Caribbean.  It has perfect powdery white sand and an under water snorkel trail with plaques describing the various items that snorklers can see on the bottom.  No visit to St. John is complete without a visit to Trunk Bay.  Run by the National Park, there is a fee to access the beach from land, $4 for visitors over 16 years of age.

Boathouse on Orcas Island

A cozy vacation rental cabin right on the beach of a protected bay, one of the San Juan Island’s most beautiful waterfront settings. You’ll be able to step off your spacious deck onto Orcas’ finest no-bank, smooth pebble beach – you’re truly just a couple strides from high tide! Local artisans were commissioned to handcraft the interior in environmentally-friendly native materials including site-harvested cedar planking, spalted alder flooring, and the radiant-heated pebble bathroom floor.

Custom-made furniture includes a sculpted juniper driftwood bench, an alder blanket chest night stands, and a headboard made of teak reclaimed from an old boat. The cabin is a very intimate space richly detailed with reframed original doors, wrought-iron with beach stone door knobs and hooks, and aged rough-sawn millwork throughout.

The well-implemented kitchenette includes a custom-designed hutch of recycled Orcas wood and a striking countertop made of ironwood re-purposed from the old ferry landing. The bay-window dining nook provides dawn-to-dusk exciting views, a live-edge cedar dining table, and comfortable seating for up to 6 adults.There are water views from each bedroom, where you will experience the peaceful Island nights from the luxury of beds with pillow-top mattresses, down comforters, and high-count organic linens. A built-in “Captain’s bed” piled high with comfy pillows creates the intimacy of the 2nd bedroom area.

Included Amenities:
Deck with large picnic table
Hot tub at waters’ edge
Fire pit with seating (firewood included)
2-person kayak
Rowboat
Mooring buoy
Crab pot & cooker
Smoker/grill (Traeger)
Washer/dryer
Convection countertop oven

Espresso machine

One queen & one full bed
Pillow-top mattresses
Down pillows & quilts
Eco-friendly bamboo & cotton blankets/linens/towels
Terrycloth robes
All-natural soaps & cleaners
Wireless internet

Gardens by the Bay

Supertrees are tree-like structures that dominate the Gardens landscape with heights that range between 25 and 50 metres. They are vertical gardens that perform a multitude of functions, which include planting, shading and working as environmental engines for the gardens.
Construction as of July 2011

The Supertrees are home to enclaves of unique and exotic ferns, vines, orchids and also a vast collection of bromeliads such as Tillandsia, amongst other plants. They are fitted with environmental technologies that mimic the ecological function of trees – photovoltaic cells that harness solar energy which can be used for some of the functions of the Supertrees, such as lightings, just like how trees photosynthesize; collection of rainwater for use in irrigation and fountain displays, just like how trees absorb rainwater for growth. The Supertrees also serve air intake and exhaust functions as part of the Conservatories’ cooling systems.

There will also be an elevated walkway between some of the larger Supertrees for visitors to enjoy a breathtaking aerial view of the Gardens. A F&B outlet has also been planned atop the 50-metre Supertree. At night, the Supertrees come alive with lighting and project media.

Ithaa, Conrad Maldives Hotel

Situated 15 feet below the surface of the Indian Ocean, this is the only all-glass, undersea, aquarium style restaurant on the planet. Surrounded by the world famous Maldivian coral reef on all sides, dine while manta rays and other exotic, colourful marine life glide by. The restaurant only seats fourteen diners per service so is extremely exclusive. The food at the restaurant is as good as the surroundings serving a world-class fusion of Maldivian and Western cuisines. The restaurant is also famed for its champagne selection and cocktails and each diner is presented a genuine fresh pearl.