MAGAZINETRAVELW

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Singapore S$8 Malaysia RM 20Thailand THB 200 Indonesia IDR 75,000 Vietnam VND 130,000 Hong Kong HK$ 48

MCI (P) 023/10/2016 KDN PPS 1858/2/2015(025588)

April/May 2017

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FEATURE CITADELS OF LUXURY

We long for magnificence, seeking it out in all we do and wherever we travel. Shared memories are among the greatest of these treasures–brushstrokes we cherish for a lifetime. What better backdrop for these moments than extraordinary villas? Sacred spaces we fill with experiences, moments we’ll undoubtedly weave into the fabric of our lives, at once legend and myth. Are you a king in search of a castle? Is a queen searching for her lair? Look no further. Find your sense of splendour here, be it an intimate celebration, family reunion or turning the page to a magnificent chapter in your story.

CITADELSOF LUXURYPerfect Villas for Every Season & Mood

By Laura A H Elliott & Christine Lee

This page, breathtaking luxury accommodations at Fern Close Opposite, Fern Close villa’s extravagant appointments

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FERN CLOSEBreathe in the exotic, Cape TownEase into luxury with adoring staff Ephraim and Catherine, a couple who reflect the villa’s unique personality and charm. Their warm welcome provides a perfect place to begin your vacation in storied Cape Town. Located at the end of a cul-de-sac and equipped with an ADT security system, Ephraim will drive you anywhere you wish to go. A stunning mountain view, poolside terrace and barbeque sit steps away from a veranda with an outdoor fireplace. The space feels like a living room and will not only help you unwind upon arrival but will undoubtedly be a touchstone for charting Cape Town fun as well as your future hopes and dreams. Guests will find the luxury accommodations equally breathtaking. A touch of the colonial and tribal flavour the appointments and furnishings throughout the estate. Light and airy, the villa is an invitation to expand the senses and awareness. It invites you to breathe in the exotic.Extravagant appointments include exquisite chandeliers, china and luxurious bedding will make anyone feel like a king or queen. For booking sjvillas.co.uk

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MELITINISweet like honey, Greece You’ll never tire of the views at Melitini and fully understand how it got its name sweet like honey in Greece. Gorgeous and expansive, the Aegean envelops you as it once had ancient explorers. The villa caters to an intimate experience for up to six people boasting three bedrooms featuring en-suite showers, balconies, an elegant family bathroom including a Jacuzzi . Its expansive ocean view outdoor terraces framed by French windows will give you the feeling of sailing rather than staying there. Overlooking Skopelos Town, on the island of Skopelos, the villa provides the perfect setting for a low-tempo holiday. The first-floor terrace provides an enchanting setting for many al fresco feasts or sunset cocktails. Explore the harbour, tavernas and shops of the village or take an excursion around the island to find your favourite of some seventy kilometres of beaches. Enjoy the adventure of hiking down to the sea or opting for the easily accessible. Hike to the summits of the local mountains, like Mount Delphi, and explore the many monasteries that dot the trails along the way. After touring, nourish your soul with a swim in the pool overlooking the ocean. For booking thethinkingtraveller.com

I FARAGLIONISea Stacks of CapriCoffee in one hand, Capri’s sea stacks in view, there’s no better way to wake up––on your own private terrace overlooking the Mediterranean. The villa sleeps eight and features a main house and annexe. Both are only steps away from the pool. Surprises abound inside the main house where natural rock has been allowed to enter into living spaces, becoming part of the villa’s architecture. The main house’s two bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms, one boasts an ocean view balcony. The annexe incorporates two separate bedrooms and a small kitchen. The vibe is comfortable and contemporary with a focus on the al fresco experience. Take your pick of adventures around the island. Sites to explore include the Grotto Azzurra, the infamous Blue Grotto, and

beautiful botanic gardens of Giardini de Augusto. After experiencing enchantment that is uniquely Capri, enjoy relaxation around the pool on the outdoor terrace where there is plenty of shaded spaces for party-goers. The staff is happy to help you host an elegant oceanside dinner on the terrace or streamline cocktails at a pool party. For booking dolcevitavillas.com

CAMPS BAY HOUSETwelve Apostles at Cape TownA short walk from Campus Bay and steps away from private, secluded Bakoven beach, your modern luxurious getaway greets you with unmatched views of the Twelve Apostles and Table Mountain. One of the best locations to take advantage of all that Cape Town has to offer, live large in seven bedrooms which can welcome up to fourteen guests. Take part in discovering the local Wine Route, golf courses and Robben Island. Adventurers might seek a tandem paraglide at Lion’s Head, take in a surfing lesson, or perhaps a Table Mountain hike that leads to your first abseil. Then again opting for a relaxed day at the cafes and shops of fashionable Campus Bay beach might be just what you need. Hard-won harmony has brought about a renaissance of culture and art that will inspire long after your last bag has been unpacked. When touring turns to partying you have it covered with an expansive kitchen and open floor plan that lets everyone in on the action. A tour guide, party planner––whatever you need will be organised for you, from cooks to bicycles. For booking sjvillas.co.uk

LEOBO PRIVATE RESERVEGet in the game, South AfricaThe Observatory, a secluded reserve in the northern mountains of South Africa is a funky call to the decadent. It sits on massive Leobo Private Reserve, a 20,000-acre estate that evokes a unique type of excitement. Accommodations for six include a children’s triple bunk room. An infinity pool wraps around The Observatory and its distinctive rooftop deck and jacuzzi provides endless views of the Savannah. You will only now discover the true meaning of star gazing and perhaps learn to wish on them as never

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Opposite, top row,inspired family gatherings at La Muse Du Bassin middle row, a view from Trulli Andrea; The ancient and primal at Trulli Andrea; Oasis on the island of Skopelos at Melitini, unmatched views at Campus Baybottom row, unique charm of Fern Close

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before. On staff, safari guides answer your call to the wild and help you discover Africa’s mysteries. Excursions include hippo camping, kayaking, fishing, skydiving, target shooting, heli-picnics, and fishing. No matter what you’ve come to master, the hunt of a perfect game photo, an ultimate quad bike safari, or the ability to be still, The Observatory––designed and built by award-winning architects Silvio Rech and Lesley Carstens––is your place to get in the game. Should you need it, the reserve’s eight other villas accommodate larger groups. You’ll talk about for Leobo Private Reserve for a lifetime. For booking sjvillas.co.uk

THE LODGEAfrican hotspot, Mozambique This ticket to paradise takes you to four separate luxury lodges with private plunge pools on the remote San Sebastian Peninsula, an ultimate escape only the massive Vilanculos Costal Wildlife Sanctuary can provide. An infinity pool and palapas frame the main lodge’s panoramic view of the Indian Ocean. The romance of porch swings and oversized everything, including furniture and living spaces, signal you’ve arrived. Everything becomes super-sized, including your desires. A full staff enjoys turning your whims into reality. With enough room for a posse, you have plenty to entertain including horseback riding, scuba diving and big game fishing to snorkelling, bird watching and island-hopping picnics. Private terraces equipped with rope-hung daybeds invite you to lounge in luxury and entertain in some of the unique spaces, including a dhow bar and open fire lounge areas. The owners enjoy showing guests around their area of Mozambique and are passionate about passing on their love for conservation and preservation. Not to worry, the resort comes complete with modern conveniences like air conditioning, wifi and satellite tv. For booking sjvillas.co.uk

THANDA ISLANDBeach house romance,Tanzania A light and airy Thanda Island beach

getaway is just the cure for the winter blues. Elegant touches give you a feeling of peace throughout the villa. A Steinway grand piano and indoor aquarium are some of the unique features that delight upon arrival. This is the place to get your water on. Sailboats are ready to take you on a sunset cruise. Gear up with on staff diving and snorkelling instructors. Or, hire the boatman on staff to help you land an exotic catch for dinner. You name the toy, the beach house has it––kayaks, stand up paddleboards, water skis, tubes, wakeboards, jet skis. And if you have to get out of the water for a while, consider playing a few games of tennis. The estate comes complete with a helicopter pad in case you long to make an aerial tour of Tanzania. When its time to rest for the day, guests will find their en suite luxurious king-sized bedrooms of their dreams. The villa includes two incredible traditional Tanzanian bandas that add a touch of the exotic to your adventure. For booking sjvillas.co.uk

THE PALM HOUSEFrangipani and fun, Koh Samui Complimentary flowers and fruit are part of the grand welcome for your friends and family at The Palm House, set to host twenty of your besties. The scent of frangipani over twelve acres of landscaped gardens heightens your sense of the exotic. It’s all about fun at The Palm House with twenty-five staff members ready to tailor-make a vacation of a lifetime, including two Thai chefs and one European chef, with 24-hour concierge services. Your vacation might begin with an invitation to join your friends on a Chinese junk for a sunset cruise. Or, surprise them with an elephant trekking tour. If playing around is your thing, there’s plenty of games to bond over like volleyball, badminton, and takaw. When your champions have won, take time to explore the lavish grounds and virtually private beachfront. If strolling leads to partying, relax at the beachfront black swimming pool and kick back at the pool house and order up a drink at the cocktail bar. An unreal blue sea provides the perfect selfie backdrop or destination wedding setting. For booking sjvillas.co.uk

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Opposite, from top,a funky call to the decadent at The Observatory; Leobo Private Reserve,life on the wild side at The Observatory

This page,The cure for the winter blues, Thanda Island Opposite, Thanda Island’s elegant, peaceful touches

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