Joost Heymeijer
Wolgan Valley Resort & Spa, Australia
Within seconds of our arrival at this resort three hours from Sydney, we were greeted by the delightful Dutch general manager, Joost Heymeijer. Later, enjoying lunch on the terrace, we watched Heymeijer hurry across the lawn to silence a mower until we had finished our meal. This reflexive consideration and attention to detail are the hallmarks of his style. Heymeijer also takes it upon himself to be host-in-chief, and he is present at every meal, eagerly chatting with guests and offering gracious suggestions for activities, or wines, that they might enjoy.
Cara Schwindt
Glitretind in Stein Eriksen Lodge, Utah
I have long enjoyed the Glitretind restaurant at the Stein Eriksen Lodge in Deer Valley. On a recent visit, however, the highlight of my evening was a discussion with sommelier Cara Schwindt. I was looking for a lighter red to go with a chicken main course, and a lively conversation ensued that began with New Zealand Pinot Noirs and expanded into a tour d’horizon of lesser-known reds from around the world. Schwindt was both accommodating and gently instructive. She clearly takes great pride in the restaurant’s 10,000-bottle cellar, and her work sets a standard that many aim for but few achieve.
Daniel Humm
Eleven Madison Park, New York City
Daniel Humm began by serving elevated brasserie-style food in an exceptionally splendid setting; his restaurant now provides one of the most refined culinary experiences in New York. The menu is presented as a simple grid of principal ingredients. Intelligent and articulate servers then explain in detail how dishes might be prepared and a balanced meal constructed. Highlights from a recent dinner included a sublime carpaccio of fresh fluke, succulent veal in a superb jus, and a beautiful presentation of blue cheese.
Deer Valley, Utah
The highlight of the lavish spa at Montage Deer Valley is a 1,300-square-foot enclave for couples that features two matching copper soaking tubs set in front of a crackling fire. Another standout is a gorgeous mosaic lap pool that offers sweeping views of the surrounding mountains. A panoply of alluring treatments includes the “Mountain Massage,” which employs custom-blended oils and fragrant warm towels, and a very relaxing “Gentlemen’s Hot-Towel Facial.”
Western Scotland
A 50-passenger luxury cruise ship known for its wonderful itineraries along the west coast of Scotland, the Hebridean Princess is a first-class country house hotel afloat, with the physical features and daily rhythms that you expect to find in such establishments. The cabins are cozy and comfortable, and the public areas, which include an intimate library and a cheerful conservatory filled with live plants, are warm and welcoming. The food is excellent, and the program of onshore excursions is impressive. Many of the guests are repeat passengers, including Britain’s royal family, who have twice in recent years chartered the Princess for their summer holiday.
Corsica, France
The Domaine de Murtoli recalls what the Mediterranean must have looked like when Homer wrote the “Odyssey.” Occupying 4,900 acres in southern Corsica near Sartène, this spectacular resort is comprised of renovated stone farmhouses scattered across an idyllic landscape carpeted with fragrant maquis, or bushes of wild herbs. Huge boulders stud the property, which is bordered by a private white-sand beach lapped by a sparkling blue sea.
Antigua
As you approach Jumby Bay on the private launch from Antigua, it is hard to miss the compelling sight of towering palms lining a confectioners’-sugar beach. It is even better once you get there. Several shady palapas are attended by a wonderful staff who supply towels, glasses of ice water and perhaps a signature cocktail from the well-appointed beach bar.
London
The Savoy is unique among London’s established grand hotels in affording a view of the Thames. Indeed, the panorama has long been considered one of the city’s finest, and has been painted by artists of the rank of Whistler and Monet. The hotel recently reopened after a $350 million reconstruction, and its 268 rooms and suites now reflect two contrasting threads of its history. Those facing the Strand have an art deco décor, while those overlooking the river are Edwardian in style. We opted for the latter, and before unpacking our bags, we flung open the drapes and spent several minutes in rapt contemplation. Below, a ceaseless flow of black taxis and red double-deckers surged along The Embankment, while a procession of ferries, pleasure craft and police launches scudded across the river’s choppy surface. To our left, Waterloo Bridge spanned the Thames to the floodlit National Theatre; while in the foreground, Cleopatra’s Needle, an Egyptian obelisk dating from the 15th century B.C., was silhouetted against the London Eye, a 443-foot-tall Ferris wheel erected to mark the beginning of the third millennium. And upriver, to our right, the face of Big Ben glowed above the Houses of Parliament. It was, we quickly decided, one of the great hotel views of the world.
Rosewood San Miguel de Allende
Mexico
San Miguel de Allende has long been a favorite destination of Harper members, owing to steep cobblestoned streets and grand 17th-century Spanish architecture, as well as to its numerous galleries and craft shops. January 2011 saw the debut of the 67-room Rosewood San Miguel de Allende, located about six or seven minutes’ walk south of the bustling main plaza in a quiet residential area. One of the preeminent virtues of the Rosewood is its tremendous sense of space. Extensive gardens surround the grand colonial-style structure, and located in a secluded corner of the property is a truly magnificent pool. (There is also a separate one for children nearby.) Sapphire-blue, surrounded by striking orange sun umbrellas and overlooked by spacious cabanas screened by billowing white drapes, it is a truly blissful refuge. On a warm, sunny day, I can think of few more delightful and indulgent places to lounge with a good book and a frosty margarita.
Shanghai, China
The Peninsula Shanghai opened in September 2009 — the first new building on The Bund in 60 years — and it is now unquestionably the city’s most prestigious address. Our sixth-floor suite provided an arresting view of the Huangpu River and the futuristic skyline of Pudong. Lacquered panels and framed calligraphy provided explicitly Chinese references, while glass-and-chrome tables and a black marble fireplace evoked Shanghai’s art deco heritage. The bedroom came with well-stocked bookshelves and a chaise longue on which to read in maximum comfort, while the state-of-the-art bath was equipped with spa mood lighting and a flat-screen television set into the wall over the tub. Ultimately, however, it was the extraordinary attention to detail that most impressed us — little touches, such as a large valet box with a pressure-activated notification light. This enables guests to have their shoes cleaned or to pick up laundry without having to answer the doorbell (which, as we all know, invariably rings halfway through a shower when you are covered in gel and shampoo from head to foot).
Belize
Located close to the Guatemala border two hours’ drive from Belize City, The Lodge at Chaa Creek is surrounded by a 300-acre estate that extends along a jungle ridge overlooking the Macal River. The 24-room property offers several types of accommodations, but those most suited to families are the Macal Cottage, the Orchard Villa or a pair of neighboring Garden Jacuzzi Suites. The grounds of the resort are frequented by troops of howler monkeys, and spectacular birds such as the Keel-billed Toucan are a frequent sight. Activities include nature hikes, with night walks especially popular with children (nocturnal sightings can include armadillos, ocelots and jaguarundis). Chaa Creek has more than 30 horses, and trails climb and dip through the forest, where monkeys and birds can be observed from horseback. The water of the Macal River is clean, clear and suitable for swimming. Chaa Creek is an idyllic place for a family vacation, not least because charming staff, excellent food and wine, and a small but sophisticated spa all help to keep the parents happy!
Scotland
Every evening without fail, The Torridon’s wood-paneled bar lured me for the difficult decision of which single malt to have before dinner (there are almost 400). Hosted and curated with great care by Colleen Calderwood, this bar is an advanced seminar on the fascinating world of single malts in all their variety. It is also a wonderful spot to meet fellow guests.
Bonito
St. Barths
Ensconced on a hill at the edge of the port capital of Gustavia, this irresistible place is all white inside, with an expansive lounge under a raftered hip-roof ceiling. Best of all is the large, semicircular open-air pavilion immediately adjacent to the bar. This is one of the best spots on St. Barths for gathering at the end of the day, catching up, sipping a refreshing cocktail — the planter’s punch is terrific — and gazing at the exceptional views over the town, its pretty harbor and the sun sinking into the Caribbean.
Chester, New York
All of the rooms at Glenmere are wonderful, but the baths in particular are extraordinary. Small symphonies of pale Carrara marble and blue-and-white china, they all have heated floors, painted porcelain sinks, spacious rainfall showers and deep soaking tubs well-provisioned with bath salts and a small rubber duck. Large decorative mirrors add a Moroccan flourish. The penthouse version includes a fireplace and a television.
Hangzhou, China
Topped by pagoda roofs and surrounded by nine acres of tranquil water gardens, the new Four Seasons Hangzhou seems quite understated at first glance. But step inside, and you are confronted by a dazzling interior that combines both Chinese and Western elements in a tour de force of contemporary design. The accommodations are appropriately restful, with wood- and-silk-paneled walls complemented by subdued shades of dove gray, pale yellow and cream. The public areas, however, are intended to amaze, and no expense seems to have been spared to create an overwhelming impression. The resort’s Chinese restaurant, Jin Sha, with its 11 private dining pavilions overlooking an artificial lake, contrives to be showstoppingly extravagant without ever lapsing into vulgarity. But nowhere is the opulence more astonishing than in the spa, with its huge indoor pool surrounded by pillow-strewn alcoves. The nine treatment rooms, each with a marble sunken tub and delicate pink lighting, are among the most lavish and exquisite I have ever seen.
Andrew Harper members have access to full travel-planning services through Andrew Harper Travel.
1 (800) 375-4685
Open M-F 8:30AM-5:30PM CT
