Amanresorts is best known for aesthetically refined boutique hotels, but the company also operates boats of various kinds. The latest is Amandira, a traditional 170-foot, two-masted Indonesian sailing vessel — a type known as a phinisi — which now operates from Amanwana on the remote island of Moyo. The five cabins all come with living areas and spacious baths; two offer king-size beds. A dive master is among the crew of 14. Expeditions include a five- or seven-night cruise through Raja Ampat, one of the world’s most spectacular marine areas, with pristine coral reefs and superlative scuba diving. Amandira also cruises for seven nights through the Nusa Tenggara island chain, home of the ferocious Komodo dragon, which can grow to a length of 10 feet and a weight of up to 300 pounds.
This November will see the debut of the Faena Hotel Miami Beach, part of the astonishingly ambitious Faena District being constructed on either side of Collins Avenue from 32nd to 36th streets by Argentine hotelier and real estate developer Alan Faena. In addition to the 169-room property — created from the 1948 Saxony Hotel — the development will include an arts center, Faena Forum, designed by legendary Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas of OMA, and 44 lavish residences by Foster + Partners. Alan Faena’s first career was as a fashion designer, but in 2000, he teamed up with Philippe Starck and billionaire investor Leonard Blavatnik to develop the decaying docklands of Puerto Madero in Buenos Aires. There, the Faena Hotel opened in 2004.
His new project is a repeat performance on a grander scale. The Faena Miami will include a 15,000-square-foot spa, and Los Fuegos restaurant under the supervision of Argentine star chef Francis Mallmann. I have little doubt that it will be an instant hit with Hollywood’s A-list. Hideaway Report subscribers who prefer hotels on a more intimate scale may find themselves more at home at another Faena property nearby. Casa Claridge’s is a 50-room Mediterranean Revival-style inn created from the 1928 El Paraiso apartment building, a block back from the beach on Collins Avenue at 35th Street. The hotel lacks a pool, but it does offer style, serenity, a small restaurant and accommodations that range from $199 to $899 a night.
Sag Harbor provides a refuge for those who dislike the glitz and celebrity worship of neighboring East Hampton. A historic whaling town associated with many eminent painters and writers — including John Steinbeck, whose book “Travels with Charley: In Search of America” begins here — it is a laid-back place whose spirit is distinctly more democratic than plutocratic. Dating from 1846, The American Hotel has long been the place to stay — assuming you could secure one of its eight double rooms — and its restaurant’s wine list of more than 1,700 selections is a Long Island legend.
However, competition has now arrived in the form of the 67-room Baron’s Cove resort, which reopened for Memorial Day following a two-year refurbishment. Entrepreneur Curtis Bashaw established his reputation in Cape May, New Jersey, where his Congress Hall hotel and its Blue Pig Tavern have acquired a devoted following of New Yorkers more than willing to endure the three-hour drive from Manhattan. Baron’s Cove will doubtless replicate this success, not least because of another notable restaurant, overseen by well-known chef Matty Boudreau, who presents a classic all-American menu. Baron’s Cove is not on the beach, but a complimentary shuttle is provided, and amenities include an outdoor pool, tennis, spa services and a fitness studio with yoga classes.
The Seychelles archipelago is renowned for its idyllic private-island resorts. I already recommend three: North Island, Cousine Island and Fregate Island Private. In 2016, a new candidate for inclusion will be Six Senses Zil Pasyon, located on 650-acre Félicité Island a short helicopter flight from the international airport on Mahé. The resort will comprise 30 one- and two-bedroom villas, complementing 17 private residences. Six Senses properties are well-known for their exceptional spas, and Zil Pasyon is likely to be no exception. A steep, forested island that rises to 700 feet above sea level, Félicité offers the white-sand beaches flanked by massive granite boulders that are characteristic of the Seychelles. The surrounding waters provide world-class scuba diving.
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