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There can be many motivating factors for booking a holiday – the need to slow down and unwind or the desire to push yourself outside your comfort zone are just two examples. Sometimes it’s easy to find suitable accommodation using a shopping list of requirements: are the rooms big enough; is there a restaurant/pool/view; is it centrally located? But sometimes it’s looking for an option that’s a bit more memorable; unique; special. Maybe it’s for a special occasion such as a wedding or a honeymoon, but it could also be… “just because”.
That’s when personal travel managers can really demonstrate their worth. It’s their job to keep their ears to the ground, to ensure that they are always up to date with the latest exciting developments and upcoming trends in travel. And because they live and breathe travel, you’ll probably find their enthusiasm for finding you the perfect unique accommodation meets or even exceeds your own!
Here are a few of our favourite picks – some old favourites and a few new hotspots.
At 12,500 metres above sea level, Lake Titicaca is the largest lake in South America and straddles the border between Peru and Bolivia. At this altitude, the air is thin and the temperatures, especially at night, can get pretty chilly. Happily, you don’t have to snuggle up to an alpaca to keep warm: the luxurious Titicaca Lodge offers sensational views across the lake from each of its eighteen eco-friendly suites. It’s been decorated using local Andean textiles and artworks, but also offers luxuries like heated floors so you’ll stay warm and cosy while watching the sun rise over the water.
At the opposite geographical extreme, there are a number of underwater experiences dotted around the globe. The Maldives is a world leader in underwater experiences, ranging from luxury accommodation to an undersea spa, and even a fine dining restaurant located twenty feet beneath the surface of the Indian Ocean. It should be noted, however, that you could be in for an awkward moment, should you come eyeball to eyeball with the local inhabitants after ordering fish from the menu!
You don’t have to submerge yourself in order to have an up-close interaction with the local wildlife though. At Canada’s Churchill Wild you can hope for close encounters with Artic wildlife including polar bears and belugas, while at the oft-photographed Giraffe Manor in Kenya you may find yourself gazing upwards as you sip your cup of English breakfast tea. Meanwhile at Costa Rica’s Lapa Rios Eco Lodge it’s not uncommon to see monkeys, macaws, pumas, and toucans during your stay.
For flat-out, opulent luxury, there’s the Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi. It cost more than US$3 billion to build and offers you the opportunity to live like a Sultan. If you prefer your luxury to be a little more discreet, Arizona’s Boulders Resort and Spa sits nestled in to a spectacular twelve million-year-old rock formation in the Sonoran Desert, and although it’s a known hideaway for celebs and rich-listers, they pride themselves on their discretion so you’ll have to decide for yourself who’s hiding behind the sunglasses and extravagantly floppy hat.
TravelManagers’ personal travel managers are experts at seeking out unique and memorable holiday experiences that fit their clients’ needs and expectations perfectly. So if you’re looking for something a little outside the box, contact your local personal travel manager here.
We at Travel Managers Australia recognise the traditional owners of the country where we live and work. We recognise and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous people and their enduring cultures and connections to the land and waters of New South Wales.
