Bringing you the finest places around the world is what we love to do here at Upscale Living magazine. In keeping with this tradition, we are focusing on introducing you to accommodation establishments with a re-looked lease on life. Grab your travel diary as you want to get to these places as soon as possible!” Here are our suggestions for October travel.
andBeyond Phinda Mountain Lodge, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Kwazulu-Natal
Following a complete renovation and sporting a brand-new look, andBeyond’s flagship Phinda Mountain Lodge offers the ultimate experience, steeped in its Zulu heritage. Drawing inspiration mostly from the reserve’s collection of rare Vintage Zulu beadwork, the largest lodge at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve introduced blue to its color theme to reflect the close proximity of the Indian Ocean and nearby Sodwana Bay.
Further enhancing the lodge’s dramatic hilltop location, the lodge subtly opened up the guest areas with features such as a new bar stocked with artisanal spirits and South African wines, a dining room with a pizza oven, and an interactive cooking area ready to prepare the abundant produce of KwaZulu-Natal. The deck has also been extended to follow the contours of the land and to offer 180° views of the landscape, with an elevated walkway linking it to a brand-new rim-flow swimming pool, gym and a massage sala.
Guest suites also feature vintage Zulu beadwork to create bright accents throughout the rooms, along with freshly installed parquet flooring and handmade herringbone shower tiles to reflect the geometric designs of traditional basket ware. Each suite features a sunken lounge with a built-in sofa that has been positioned to enhance the view of the surrounding landscape.
With predators such as lion, leopard, and hyena frequently preferring to hunt in the dark, andBeyond has launched the andBeyond Night Eye Experience at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve, making use of infra-red technology to allow guests to see in the dark and unlock the mysteries of the African bush. Equipped with three separate screens, the safari vehicle ventures into the night with a guide, tracker, and cameraman to capture real-time footage of nocturnal wildlife. As an additional bonus, guests are provided with a short, high-quality video including some of the highlights of their night safari experience.
The pangolin, the world’s most poached and trafficked animal, is making a comeback at andBeyond Phinda Private Game Reserve. andBeyond has released a number of pangolins by the conservation team, retrieving them from poachers or illegal wildlife traffickers into the reserve and carefully monitoring the animals to ensure the success of their adaptation to their new habitat.
Raffles Singapore
Raffles Singapore is delighted to officially announce its highly anticipated reopening, heralding an exciting new chapter in the iconic property’s rich history and heritage. A flagship property within Accor, the world’s leading augmented hospitality group, Raffles Singapore is welcoming guests and visitors, following the iconic hotel’s careful and sensitive three-phased restoration, which began in February 2017.
“There are few hotels in the world whose names have become virtually synonymous with the cities in which they are located – and none more so than the Raffles Hotel in Singapore. The newly restored Raffles will provide an experience like no other,” said Christian Westbeld, General Manager, Raffles Singapore. “It is our wish and desire that our guests will continue to create treasured memories at the hotel while rediscovering what makes it so special – the distinctive architecture, heritage, and legendary service.”
The meticulous restoration led by acclaimed interior designer Alexandra Champalimaud was also supported by Aedas, a leading global architecture, and design firm. Together, the designers created a refreshed social haven that delivers a compelling mix of culture, beauty, and gentility. Exquisite new suite categories, vibrant lifestyle experiences, and exclusive dining concepts are designed for international visitors and Singaporeans to meet, stay, shop, dine and celebrate.
Discerning travelers can expect new levels of unrivaled comfort and inimitable service with enhanced suite experience, brought to life by the fabled Raffles Butlers while enjoying the new and re-imagined spaces at Raffles Singapore. The revitalized Raffles Singapore offers luxurious all-suite accommodations, with a total suite count increase from 103 to 115 suites.
Jeannette Ho, Vice President, Raffles Brand and Strategic Relationships, Raffles Hotels and Resorts, commented, “We are very pleased to be part of the reopening of the iconic Raffles Singapore officially returning to the city, refreshed, re-imagined and revitalized. This is where it all started and faithful to its roots, Raffles Singapore reinvents emotional luxury. As the hotel concludes its restoration and embarks on the next chapter, the return of this flagship property to Raffles Hotels & Resorts paves the way for the expansion of the brand as we deliver this same level of unparalleled service and sublime experiences to new destinations in cities such as Udaipur, London, and Boston.”
