Monthly Archives: April 2023
Six Senses Con Dao
It was #ParentTrap again and this time we decided to try the beautiful Six Senses Con Dao. Getting to Vietnam from India does involve multiple flights but Vietnam Airlines has a lovely business class and in a few hours with a couple of change overs we were in Vietnam.
A good note is to organise the Visa from India itself. the additional amount that you pay in India to fast-track your immigration process is well worth it.
Entering in to Con Dao is almost like entering your own private paradise. We’d booked Ocean Front duplex Villas so the beach in front of our Villa was almost exclusively ours. The sea was gorgeous and warm and all the exhaustion from the trip just melted away.
Downstairs we had a fabulous bathtub overlooking the sea and upstairs was a lovely bedroom.
What I loved about Six Senses Con Dao, was that it was effortless for us to plan things to do together. There were so many activities they could plan with you , that spending time with our parents doing fun, interesting things was truly a blast!
So off we were to of a cookery class together- not realising that we were quite literally making our lunch and then eating it as well. There was the uproariously funny water aerobics we took part in and of course the exceptional Chef’s Table Dinner where they introduced us to their fabulous selection of wine.
But the piece d’ resistance was the sundowner and dinner they laid out for us on the last night on the beach- lighting it up with just candles.
The food in Vietnam is light and tasty and the chefs were wonderful working to try and capture all our tastes and likes.
Con Dao should definitely be on your list and you should only stay at Six Senses!
Cost-: $2500 /- approx for an Island Getaway which includes a daily buffet breakfast, round-trip airport transfers ,complimentary homemade ice-cream from 11:30 to 16:30 hrs, a bottle of champagne ,assorted macarons and chocolate dipped fruits, and a plate of savory amenity. ,complimentary minibar: daily replenished, local soft drinks & beers ,one Complimentary experience (once during the stay)
Best times to Travel-:From April to October, turtles nest on the beaches around the Islands.During February to July, the waters around Con Dao are at their clearest for diving, with visibility averaging around 70 to 100 feet. But I loved November to February where the weather is cool and comfortable.
Soneva Kiri
Going to Soneva had been a huge huge wish of mine and so when on one trip we could stay a few extra days that’s where we decided we’d go!
At the Bangkok airport , there’s a separate small counter for Soneva Kiri. Here they check you in and you’re escorted to a lounge. On this particular morning, there was no-one at the counter and it was rather stressful but the next time we took the same trip; they had someone waiting, so I’ll count the first one as an anomaly.
You then board a flight which is about an hour long and you reach a small strip of land converted into an airstrip. From there it’s a boat and you reach the fabulous Soneva Kiri.
The first time Aditya and I went to Soneva Kiri I have to admit it was glorious. The barefoot luxury was at its best and our Ms. Friday (our butler) was incredible. The room is huge and spacious; outside of which there is a glorious pool.You can wander further down into a little beach or you can take your own buggy (with your names) and wander towards the spa, the restaurant or even to just get ice cream.
The first time we traveled to Soneva was in 2018 and the 2nd was in 2022. In 2018 , to go to their private beach you’d take a long tailed boat and in a few minutes you’d e at this most gorgeous strip of land! Now in 2022 , they’ve created a small beach like area on the island itself which you can drive to. Personally I preferred 2018- both the beach and the experience. On both our trips we chose the all inclusive package. This allowed us to enjoy each of the different experiences offered without worrying about the additional cost.
The View is one of their most beautiful spaces. It has fine dining and incredible views. Eating there at sunset is truly memorable.
Cinema Paradiso is also exceptional. to watch films across a strip of water on a large screen is wonderful especially if you love films like Aditya and I do.
We paid only extra for the Treepod dining. The Treepod dining is a wonderful little table on the top of a tree The view is gorgeous, but the service is slow as the staff is quite literally swinging down. This makes the meal longer than necessary and once you tire of the view ; well all you have left is to wait.
Our Ms. Friday was always less than a phone call away and was unobtrusive and yet always available. This was very different on our 2022 trip though. This time our butler was loud, spent time complaining about himself and was an absolute nuisance. In fact if we wanted to do anything, we tried and avoided him as much as possible. And likewise , he avoided picking up our calls as well.
The resort has not aged well in the 4 years and the staff like our Mr. Friday are not doing anything to make the experience memorable. In fact, he has ensured I will never go back again. The rooms is 2022 are still gorgeous, but in 2 of the rooms we tried this time the air conditioning wasn’t working at all. Despite the staff ‘fixing’ the air conditioning in our final room (we had moved 3 rooms thus far), it barely worked and it didn’t help that this was summer.
The one experience however that we truly loved was the trip to Chef Benz for Thai food. This is an exceptional experience. You are taken by long tailed boat to the restaurant and fed till your hearts content. The food is fresh and delicious and thought we had the same experience twice; it was still exceptional!
Would I go back?
No. The butler this time was awful. He wouldn’t pick up calls, was uninterested and rude and had his own drama happening. Service in a hotel of this calibre is paramount and the service had just dropped. You are only as good as your last visit. And so despite the incredible views and the perfect location, the service just was such a let down. A shame, especially since I’d brought my parents to Soneva to show off what I had seen and experienced- ‘a little slice of heaven.’ Sad, that it takes just a lax attitude to destroy even paradise.
Cost-:$1300 upwards for Bed and Breakfast. All inclusive is additional.
Best times to Travel-October to February when the weather is cool
Emirates A380 First Class
There is a reason Emirates First Class is such a cut above the rest.
The cosy suites have large seats which convert into comfortable beds. Every seat has multiple charging points and are equipped with a fabulous treat tray and a small wet bar which holds cokes, sprites and waters. As you comfortably sit you are offered dates and coffee.
The vanity case is full of a luxury Byredo set, featuring a skincare collection made exclusively for flights. This allergy‑free collection hydrates and soothes your skin . And there’s lovely notebook and pen should you want to doodle about your journey or write something down.
As the plane takes off I loved putting a DND outside my cosy First class suite as I shut my door. Service in First class is as you would expect- polished, perfect and respectful. Items on the menu can be eaten at any time and at your convenience. I enjoyed a tub of pop corn while watching my iPad and topped it off with some ice cream!
As you get tired the crew will make up your bed so you can sleep. The mattress is comfortable and I was able to take a quick snooze before I decided on food. The entrees are plated perfectly and the choice is wonderful. Of course you can always order your own meal in advance if you prefer.
The shower and bathroom are glorious. Large and spacious with lots of mirrors and light. The crew set up the bath and shower for you and you can opt for when you wish to shower and someone will set you up. The Bvlgari amenities are perfect.
For my One and Only
It was Aditya’s birthday and we decided to go to a place Aditya had never been to- Mauritius. Now, I had been to Mauritius once briefly and it was a difficult trip. My Dad (Achan) had suffered a heart attack and I was entrusted with the responsibility of bringing him back home. Needless to say the trip, though in a glorious location was a frightening trip. Achan is great now (touch wood) but that was my only memory of Mauritius.
It’s time to make some new memories, we decided so off we went to Maurius and decided to stay at the One and Only St Geran. Air Mauritius had us there in a few hours and the resort is 60 mins away by car or a 15 minute helicopter ride away.
We arrived and because it was early, we were immediately ushered to a sumptuous breakfast, which we ate in the winter sun; albeit a bit exhausted. The room was ready almost immediately. The room size was large and comfortable. We had a beautiful sitting area and a nice sit out as well. We had chosen the Beach front suite which was absolutely perfect and we could just walk out of our room on to the cotton like sandy beach and in a few steps we were in the water.
What was also lovely and something I hadn’t seen before was that the beach chairs were all numbered so there was no confusion or needing to hold your beach chair which you often see at other properties. Each beach chair had it’s own private perfect view.
One and Only was very different from a lot of the other resorts we’ve stayed at in that its had a very quiet vibe. Describing it best I’d say it was laid-back luxury. Even it almost full occupancy, you barely saw anyone and it was a quiet , peaceful haven.
Mauritius was a lovely break for Aditya. He rested, relaxed and sun tanned. The hotel’s restaurants were a fun experience – Tapasake had fresh sushi and beautiful views and Prime had the most perfect cuts of meat. But what Aditya really loved was the swimming with the dolphin experience that we went to outside our resort!
Now the last time I was here I stayed at a suite at the Westin Mauritius Turtle Bay Resort and Spa and there we barely went by boat a distance of 5 minutes or less and we saw ten’s of dolphins. Like waves we couldn’t even differentiate the waves from the dolphins, there were so many and it was incredible.
This time it was a bit different though. We went by car for about 1 hr and then went on a boat and went about 30/35 minutes into the ocean and just as we were about to give up the most gorgeous set of gigantic dolphins swam right next to us. What was even nicer is that Aditya was able to swim next to them. They were playful and enjoyed swimming around him.A lot faster than him, they had every intention of playing with him. Aditya had the time of his life and easily one of his most memorable birthday’s.
In the evening, we had a magnificent private dinner on the beach front and enjoyed the calm that encompassed us as the waves lapped the shore.
All in all One & Only was the perfect calm in the middle of a hugely busy year and was exactly what we needed.
Cost-:Approximately $1500- $2000 approximately per night for a suite inclusive of breakfast.
Best times to Travel-:October on – it’s summer and just a glorious , glorious season!🙂 Remember this is in the southern hemisphere so May on , it’s winter and though the weather in the days is warm, the water is cold and the nights are chilly.
Travel with Divya 