Welcome... Tel: (+44) Mob: (+44) Bon Voyage... Gill Jackson

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2 Welcome... Welcome to the latet iue of Embarque Travel regular travel magazine where I hope to entice you with the promie of guaranteed unhine, warm water and excellent uggetion for a well-earned break. Southern California i the potlight feature in thi iue and a detination I wa lucky to travel to a few year ago taying at three of the hotel mentioned - The Beverly Hill Hotel, Shutter and Ritz Carlton at Laguna Niguel, where the unet image below wa taken. By nature of the territory and in homage to the great American road tradition the review follow a trail between Lo Angele and San Diego in earch of the thrill and a few relaxing detour to ugget a facinating introduction to the delight of SoCal. Beat the queue with a VIP tour of a legendary tudio in Hollywood, chill out on the coat, take a jaunt into the deert in the foottep of ol blue eye and hopefully dicover what make Southern California uch an irreitible elf-drive experience! If you are thinking of detination cloer to home then there are review on the wonderful Bauer portfolio of hotel in Venice, three gem from the fabulou Oetker Collection and a quartet of Gran Melia hotel in Spain favourite citie and coatal location. For thoe looking for the ultimate private iland retreat I ugget four contender ranging from the Britih Virgin Iland to the Great Barrier Reef. Continuing the ubject of ideal tropical reort, the legendary Curtain Bluff on Antigua i howcaed on page14. For my regular cruiing feature we turn our eye away from the open ea with a look at luxury river cruiing, a hugely popular option epecially along the major waterway of Europe. Whether you are looking for a trip of a lifetime, a beach getaway, a luxury city break or jut new on ome of the world net hotel and reort I am ure thi iue will inpire you, o it back, have a read, and then give me a call to dicu your travel plan. Bon Voyage... Gill Jackon 17 Sandtock Road, Pocklington, Eat Yorkhire, YO42 2HN Tel: (+44) Mob: (+44) gill@embarquetravel.co.uk

3 Captivating moment in the heart of hitoric Athen. Marbella Club Hotel Golf Reort & Spa a glamorou today a it wa 60 year ago With breathtaking view of the Acropoli, the hitoric Hotel Grande Bretagne and the neighbouring boutique hotel King George hare an ideal location in the centre of Athen. Repreenting the abolute eence of the Luxury Collection brand, they have hoted a pantheon of celebritie and they offer unrivaled perpective of the city mythical hitory. Viit Europe mot hitoric capital thi ummer to avour the flavour and capture the finet cultural experience at the Athen & Epidauru Fetival. Thi great ummer fetival i celebrating it 56th eaon, hoting ome of the leading light of theatre, muic and dance. Starting in late April and ending in September, it i one of Europe finet cultural event. / The hotel i celebrating it 60th Anniverary with a year of fête, retro beach partie, gatronomic evening, art exhibition and continued enrichment. Recent refurbihment include the majetic beachfront Villa del Mar, the new Kid Club by Minimec and a refreh to the guetroom and uite. The hotel alo revamped the Grill Retaurant and the illutriou Champagne Room. The reort 47 luxury bedroom, 73 uite, 14 Andaluian- Style villa exude romance, with large terrace overlooking the colourful garden or ea. Gatronomy take center tage at ix retaurant and bar; particularly in ummer month at the hotel chiringuito, MC Beach. The Thalao Spa offer programme to rejuvenate after an invigorating day playing golf, hore riding or car racing at the Acari track. The award-winning One&Only Le Saint Géran in Mauritiu i a perfect family choice One&Only Le Saint Géran i the mot etablihed and ditinguihed luxury hotel in Mauritiu. Located on a private peninula, it i a truly ophiticated and elegant reort in a beautiful, natural etting. Once regarded a a couple retreat it i now very popular with familie a well. Interconnecting junior uite offer ideal accommodation and there i a lot of childfocued activitie including one of the iland' bet kid' club, a youth fitne programme with activitie from yoga to junior boxing and junior pa. There i even a dedicated healthy kid' club menu. The Canny Traveller...clever new technology for lot and found baggage It i everyone concern when travelling to keep an eye on the whereabout of one luggage. Well it eem that new innovation in mart technology may have made the proce of retrieval very much eaier thank to product like the tag-a-bag. Thi clever new luggage tag utilie mart technology to enable finder of miplaced item to ignal they have been found by imply touching the tag or canning the tag QR code with their mart phone. A imple 1-click procedure then relay the retrieval detail with exact global poition including addre and google map to the owner of the lot property. Additional peronal meaging will alo inform the finder of any potential reward for activating the tag o return of luggage can be eaily arranged. The tag alo allow uer to acce a hot of additional feature to improve the travel experience a well a earn reward whilt they travel...

4 Bauer Venezia A Paion for Venice Franceca Bortolotto Poati i a remarkable lady, who ha trived with great ucce for the lat 15 year to create a mot divere collection of fine accommodation within the centre of Venice. A Preident and CEO of BAUER Group he ha breathed new energy into a family hotel buine that date back to the late 19th century to create a portfolio of propertie that offer the viitor to Venice with plendid contrat both in tyle and location. Her firt tak wa a major $100 million refurbihment of the original Bauer- Grunwald Hotel cloe to St Mark Square. The reult wa the creation of Bauer L Hotel and Bauer Il Palazzo, two different propertie with two different entrance and two quite different mood. One i urban, a contemporary Art Deco temple, whilt the other, a veritable Venetian palace, i a ophiticated boutique hotel with ornate furnihing and a plendid Grand Canal frontage. No ooner had he completed thi grand enterprie that he then turned her eye acro the water to nearby Giudecca Iland where he purchaed a former convent, which wa converted into a 50-room boutique hotel. Like the nearby Cipriani, Bauer Palladio i a rare example of a Venetian reort including a generou 3-acre of garden and parkland. It i a retful anctuary that reflect the lower pace of Giudecca. Thi i a place where one can really ecape the frantic buzz of Venice. It wa alo the place that would bet benefit the iting of a world-cla 500 q. metre pa. In addition to the former convent further building were acquired on Giudecca including a 15th century private villa. Alo benefitting from open pace, Villa F offer the ultimate luxury. Appealing to thoe who probably are looking to tay in Venice for a longer period, thi gated reidence offer all the comfort and ervice of a 5-tar hotel within 11 beautifully retored apartment. It feature ome of the bet view of Venice, a meditation pool and 24-hour butler ervice. 4

5 BAUER L Hotel You can t mitake the BAUER L Hotel. It ditinctive 1940 facade with luminou Art Déco window i poied between land and ea, framed by the magnificent baroque church of San Moié and the butling Rio San Moié. Tatefully refurbihed, the BAUER L Hotel i famed for it large room and fine furnihing where fine Art Deco furniture live in harmony with modern culpture. BAUER il Palazzo BAUER Palladio Hotel & Spa On the bank of the fabled Grand Canal you can't help noticing a noble facade in gothic tyle: the BAUER Il Palazzo. Thi five-tar luxury cla hotel i located in an original Venetian houe from the 18th century and i often decribed a Venice' mot luxuriou hotel with 38 uite and 34 guet room. Acro the Grand Canal from Piazza San Marco i the iland of La Giudecca. Here, away from the madding crowd and touritic butle i one of Venice' mot unuual and ecret gem, BAUER Palladio Hotel & Spa. And, it' jut a hort, pictureque boat ride from the heart of the city. BAUER Palladio Hotel & Spa i an exciting, unique five-tar hotel concept. Thi handome building wa a ixteenthcentury convent deigned by the greatet Renaiance architect, Andrea Palladio. Villa F The excluive 16th century VILLA F offer 11 elf-contained luxuriou villa-like reidence, decorated with impeccable tyle. Each reidence feature living room pace and quaint kitchen that provide guet with a home away from home and allow them to experience Venice a a true Venetian. From it location on Venice' Giudecca, the Villa provide pectacular view of the bain of San Marco. 5

6 Three Pearl A Pari claic, pa heaven in Baden- Baden and a Moroccan palace Without doubt one of the world finet election of materpiece hotel, the eight very individual propertie of the Oetker Collection are one-of-a-kind experience that achieve the very pinnacle of hopitality and luxury within the true context of their uperb geographic location. Indeed, whether you are looking for the very bet addre in Pari, a palatial retreat in Marrakech or one of the mot famou pa hotel in Europe, then Oetker Collection bring all thi and much more to the table of the dicerning traveller. Palai Namakar The ultimate retreat in Marrakech Commanding more than 12 acre of pritine ecluion, tranquil lake and inpiring panorama, the Palai Namakar explore new dimenion in hopitality indulging guet with unrivalled pacioune, peronal freedom and majetic grandeur to create an undeniably unique experience. Netled between the Atla Mountain and the Djebilet Hill, the Palai Namakar hot guetroom, uite, villa and palace. The décor i a vibrant combination of Eatern-inpired architecture infuing Feng Shui principle with a contemporary interior deign. Almot all reidence offer either a private pool or an outdoor Jacuzzi, and the Palace offer up to 4 bedroom. From the French Riviera to the chic alpine reort of Courchevel, from the glitening Caribbean iland of St. Barth to a private iland Eco-retreat in the Seychelle, the pearl of the Oetker Collection are all unique gem on a necklace of hared excellence and management. It i a tory that i et to continue over the next decade a the family of Oetker Collection hotel look to add more propertie from acro Europe and worldwide...more pearl for a beautiful necklace. 6

7 Brenner Park-Hotel & Spa A unique urban oai, et in a prawling park Baden-Baden i Germany mot renowned wellne city, and thi hotel i an urban oai et in a private park. A favourite of dignitarie and celebritie, the hotel garnered international attention when U.S. Preident Barack Obama and twenty-five head of tate arrived for the 2009 NATO Summit. Perhap ome of thee overworked leader enjoyed a treatment at the medical pa that boat a team of German doctor, who overee everything from preventive check-up to nutrition coaching. There are alo two beauty pa pecialiing in Aian and South Pacific therapie. The Brenner Park-Retaurant et a romantic tone, with deep-red wall and glittering chandelier, but it' the one-michelintar food by head chef Paul Stradner that make it the area top-rated retaurant. Le Britol Pari 4 Michelin tar promie gatronomic delight Le Britol Pari i a unique place for it exemplary ervice and refinement. Located on the elegant rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, in the heart of the city art and fahion ditrict, thi palace ha welcomed guet ince 1925 and feature renovated room and uite that are decorated in 18th century French-tyle. Exceptional 3-tar Michelin cuiine i created by mater chef, Eric Frechon (pictured right), in the newly deigned retaurant, Epicure, which overlook the French garden. The luxury 1-tar Michelin braerie, 114 Faubourg offer an inviting atmophere. Le Jardin Françai welcome guet for afternoon tea, or le formal lunch and dinner. Le Bar du Britol i the new place to be een in Pari on evening. The wimming pool ha panoramic view of Pari rooftop and Spa Le Britol by La Prairie complete thi exceptional palace. 7

8 Belmond Hotel Caruo Belmond Creating exceptional experience worldwide The ultimate travel curator and connoieur, Belmond embrace a global collection of 45 iconic hotel, train and river cruie. Thi divere portfolio bring together ome of the world' mot thrilling journey and detination. Their great travel experience range from Belmond Hotel Cipriani in Venice to Rio' Belmond Copacabana Palace, from the Venice Simplon-Orient-Expre train to Belmond Grand Hotel Europe in St Peterburg. Explore the world of Belmond in the America, Europe, Africa and Aia including ome of their hotel ituated in remarkable location. Witne the awe-inpiring mountain-top pectacle of Machu Picchu from the cloe confine of Belmond Sanctuary Lodge. Stay within earhot of the mighty Iguau Fall at Belmond Hotel da Catarata. Explore the breathtaking complex of temple of the UNESCO World Heritage Site Angkor Wat from the unique Belmond La Reidence d'angkor. Great journey are at the heart of all their luxury experience, whether cruiing along the Ayeyarwady River in Myanmar or travelling by train from Singapore to Bangkok, or around their collection of ix Italian hotel. Guet are invited to experience exciting excurion when taying at a Belmond product. Witne the nocturnal life of the African buh at Belmond Khwai River Lodge with the Moonlight Safari. Mater the art of preparing and cooking Peruvian pecialtie uch a quinoa, tuber, alpaca meat with the cooking clae offered at Cuco' mot excluive hotel, Belmond Palacio Nazarena. Mater of the art of hopitality, Belmond i known for adding inpiration to celebratory occaion of every kind. Whatever the occaion, Belmond enure that you mark it in great tyle. You may be planning a lavih wedding or imply eeking a dicreet table for two. Embark with Belmond on the world mot celebrated train, Venice Simplon-Orient-Expre travelling acro Europe and enter a world of romance and adventure. Hot a lavih garden party on the leafy terrace of Hotel Ritz by Belmond in Madrid and mingle with Spain' ocial elite. Hot your dream detination wedding by the warm and and lapping wave of Baie Longue in St Martin. Belmond La Samanna offer an unbeatable romantic etting for wedding and honeymoon. Whether travelling on an iconic train or moving between landmark hotel, Belmond bring together great detination and exceptional ight. 8

9 Venice Simplon-Orient-Expre Belmond Hotel da Catarata Belmond Hotel Monaterio Belmond Road to Mandalay Belmond Safari 9

10 Gran Deign Grand city hotel and ophiticated reort Gran Meliá Palacio de Iora Spain remain by far the mot popular European detination from the UK. The lure of year round unhine and ambient temperature draw viitor to the Cota del Sol and further afield, epecially in winter, to the Canary Iland. The mainland alo reveal rich cultural treaure for thoe that viit her vibrant citie. Both Seville and Madrid offer ome of Europe mot dynamic comopolitan environment; a heady mix of tradition, hitory, muic and the Spanih love of tapa and noiy banter into the mall hour. Whether you are a un worhipper or a culture vulture we invite you to avour Spain at it very bet with a tay at one or more of their very finet hotel. Gran Meliá Hotel & Reort i the flaghip brand of Meliá Hotel International and their propertie are the definitive tatement of traditional luxury with avant-garde tyle. Gran Meliá Don Pepe, Marbella Iconic reort in the heart of Marbella Golden Mile One of the mot acclaimed reort in Southern Spain, the Gran Meliá Don Pepe ha redefined luxury and pampering, reaching out with pecial touche that are the hallmark of ophiticated hopitality. The luxury reort i located on Marbella' Golden Mile within a 5 minute drive of chic Puerto Banu. Experience an authentic gatronomical journey in which you can chooe among a temple of gourmet cuiine with 2 Michelin tar, five retaurant, two bar and elegant and excluive dining room. The Life & Sun excluive Health and Beauty Clinic at the Gran Meliá Don Pepe i a pace deigned for health, the purification and beauty of the body, and the balance of the mind. 10

11 RedLevel at Gran Meliá Palacio de Iora Reort, Tenerife Adult-only indulgence and pampering The exceptionally luxuriou Gran Meliá Palacio de Iora Reort i et amongt one of the mot beautiful location on Tenerife. With Mount Teide towering behind a a backdrop, the property boat uperb panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the iland of La Gomera. RedLevel, et in a eparate part of the reort, i deigned for adult only (over 18) and offer a choice of demi uite and magnificent villa. RedLevel guet enjoy excluive acce to the RedLevel Lounge, butler and concierge ervice, excluive acce to the RedLevel wimming pool, and preferential reervation for the reort a la carte retaurant. The tate of the art Yhi Spa and Health Club offer numerou health and well-being treatment and there i a variety of activitie and entertainment in the reort which RedLevel guet are welcome to enjoy. Gran Meliá Colón, Seville Hitorical feature and contemporary touche Renovated with a triking combination of art, colour and tyle, Gran Meliá Colón i located in the hitoric old quarter of Seville, in the heart of the hopping area, five minute walking ditance from the city mot important monument and attraction,including the world oldet bullfighting ring, La Maetranza, and five minute driving ditance from the World Trade Centre of La Cartuja. Gran Meliá Colón feature chic minimalit guetroom and uite with red and gold tone, award-winning contemporary furnihing that marry modern and traditional aethetic, and bold finihe to give the urrounding a ophiticated, Spanih atmophere. Each floor of the hotel celebrate a different Spanih artit, from El Greco to Goya. Gran Meliá Fénix, Madrid Old Madrileño charm with contemporary amenitie Jut three minute away from Calle Serrano, one of the bet hopping ditrict in Spain, and 10 minute away from world famou mueum, Gran Meliá Fénix it in a eemingly perfect pot in the middle of Madrid. An impreive lobby with marble floor, antique furniture, and a tained-gla dome ceiling define the tyle. Spaciou room are decorated in red and gold, flower abound, and the happening DRY Comopolitan Bar by Javier de la Muela extend onto a large terrace overlooking Plaza de Colón on the Catellana. Thee are only a few option that Meliá Hotel International put at your dipoal. With more than 350 hotel in 35 countrie and four continent, the Spanih hotel chain cater for all traveller under it eight brand: Meliá, Gran Meliá, ME by Meliá, Paradiu, INNSIDE, TRYP by Wyndham, Sol, and Club Meliá. 11

12 Languid day & mellow night Curtain Bluff, the legendary Caribbean reort that love to welcome back it guet. Curtain Bluff i a bit of a legend in international hotel circle. Dating back to the late 1950 it phenomenal potential wa noted on an aerial reconnaiance over outhern Antigua by American pilot, Howard Hulford, who potted a pectacular beach-flanked bluff. He liked it o much he built hi own private home here a well a an excluive hotel with jut enough accommodation for hi friend. Sadly, the familiar figure of the cigar-moking hot i no longer with u, but thankfully hi ublime hotel endure under the careful ownerhip of hi wife, Chelle. Indeed, over the decade thi clubby beachfront etate ha grown into a world-cla 72- room reort with a two-million-dollar pa, firt-rate porting facilitie and a gorgeou pool to go with it two gorgeou beache. And a if thi wa already a good thing, pretty much everything i included in the up-front price! The true eence of Curtain Bluff i underpinned by it long-erving team, who extend to their guet a warm welcome more akin to a peronal invitation to a tropical houe party. You may be drawn to Curtain Bluff for the firt time in the belief that you are taying at a mere 5-tar luxury reort but on returning it will feel like a econd home! Taking inpiration from both claic European and Caribbean cuiine, guet can avour culinary delight accompanied by fine wine* both at the courtyardtyle retaurant of the Etate Houe or at the Italian-inpired deck retaurant overlooking the water. *Curtain Bluff ha one of the bet wine cellar in the whole Caribbean. 12

13 Curtain Bluff continue to make the mot of it panoramic bluff etting. All 72 room and uite look out over the hotel' famou 'urf beach', a wide tretch of and buffeted by the contant wind blowing in from the outh-eat. There i a confidence and eae by which the clock tick at Curtain Bluff. Mellow evening are paed in good company up the hill at the Etate Houe and languid day are enjoyed at the pool or on the more tranquil bay beach. Of coure there will be thoe in earch of more energetic ditraction. Whilt the reort i already a firm family favourite, now children can take advantage of the CEEBEE club, a new kid camp enabling younger guet to make friend and experience the reort on their own term. Pro Tenni week at Curtain Bluff There are opportunitie for keen tenni player to polih up their game with pecial profeionally hoted tenni week. Both Tracy Autin and Annabel Croft are hoting eparate week. Curtain Bluff excellent port facilitie include 4 championhip all-weather court. Curtain Bluff ha extended the ummer opening period to 23rd Augut

14 Iland in the Sun The world finet private iland retreat Necker Iland Sir Richard Branon private iland paradie Necker, Sir Richard Branon private iland paradie, i ituated in the Britih Virgin Iland, a tunning and unpoilt area of the Caribbean. At 74 acre, Necker it in turquoie water urrounded by coral reef and fringed with beautiful white andy beache. Necker can become your own private hideaway; away from the tree and train of daily life. The iland can be hired excluively for group of up to 30 people, or if you're not looking to hire it excluively, you can till enjoy the Necker experience during Celebration Week when individual room can be booked by ingle or couple to enjoy our fabulou iland paradie houe party tyle. Look out for pecial Family Celebration week in Augut, or in half term during week commencing 18th and 25th October. One&Only Reethi Rah The mot excluive reort in the Maldive Surrounded by the crytal blue wonder of the Indian Ocean, thi uperb all-villa private iland Maldive reort offer an unrivalled level of tyle, choice and peronalied exploration. Sleek and pectacular, with unprecedented privacy, One&Only Reethi Rah inpire extraordinary journey for the oul. Set on one of the larget iland in North Male' Atoll, adorned with endle white and cove and turquoie bay, all villa enjoy beautiful ocean view and direct acce to the lagoon. One&Only Reethi Rah offer the ultimate holiday experience to thoe eeking the pinnacle of tropical Maldive luxury. Nowhere ele in the Maldive i there a reort with thi much pace and excluivity. 14

15 Main image: One&Only Hayman Iland One&Only Hayman Iland The wonder of the Great Barrier Reef Forming the northernmot iland of the Whitunday, o named by Captain Jame Cook in 1770, One&Only Hayman Iland, opening 01 July 2014, offer a frontrow eat to the Great Barrier Reef and a world of leiure and adventure. Be one of the firt to dicover thi mot excluive private iland retreat. Innovative cuiine in a variety of retaurant preent a range of culinary experience and the Great Barrier Reef provide the perfect etting for exciting activitie including diving, norkelling, fihing, ailing, kayaking, waterkiing and helicopter and eaplane adventure. Relax in the tranquillity of the One&Only Hayman Iland Spa, get active in the tate-of-the-art fitne centre, play a game of tenni or practice your golf wing on the driving range. The Naka Iland A Luxury Collection Reort & Spa, Phuket Netled among tunning beache, luh coconut grove, the emerald-green Andaman Sea and breathtaking idyllic landcape off the coat of Phuket, The Naka Iland i an excluive boutique reort, acceed by private peedboat. Tatefully decorated in claic Thai tyle, the 67 beautifully appointed villa offer private pool, a paciou outdoor area, ala and open-air bathroom, built from natural wood and oft tone. Netled in the verdant tropical landcape, ome with pectacular view over Phang Nga Bay, all villa provide a peaceful and ophiticated pace in an evocative etting. Dine at the two gourmet retaurant and indulge in oothing treatment at the Naka Iland pa with it vat array of treatment room. The dicreet taff will attend to your every need while you immere yourelf into a tate of wellbeing through their range of ignature treatment. 15

16 Luxury River Cruiing The World Bet River Cruie with Uniworld and Titan E very year, more and more dicerning Britih holidaymaker dicover the pleaure of river cruiing; of ettling back in luxuriou urrounding, appreciating the cultural plendour of countle iconic citie and the ever-changing cenic panorama that unfold. If you are inpired to join them, there can be no better introduction to thi tyle of holiday than a river cruie with Uniworld and Titan. Uniworld veel are, quite imply, the bet on European waterway - with unparalleled allincluive value, guaranteed river-view tateroom, exceptional fine dining and multi award-winning ervice, they really do offer a Six-Star Experience. And, with Titan unique, acclaimed VIP Home Departure Service tranferring you from your front door to the airport and back wherever you live in the UK, the picture of the perfect river cruie holiday i complete. Alternatively, if you are a river cruie veteran, try a holiday with Uniworld and Titan - you won t believe the difference, even to thoe river cruie operator who rate themelve five tar! The range of itinerarie i unmatched explore the wonder of the legendary Rhine, the mighty Danube, the charming Seine, the vineyard-fringed Douro and Rhône, the delight of Venice and Italy River Po, or a hot of other tunning waterway in Europe and Aia. 16

17 Outtanding All-Incluive Service No other river cruie company - depite their claim of allincluivene - pick you up and drop you off at your front door from any addre in mainland UK, and none come cloe to matching the elegance, opulence and amenitie of Uniworld veel, deigned by the acclaimed Red Carnation Hotel team. Plu, new for 2014, we are delighted to advie that our courteou and friendly airport repreentative will be on hand to greet you at London Heathrow or Gatwick airport prior to your outbound flight, further enhancing your travel experience. Door-to-door tranfer from any UK mainland addre at each end of your holiday Scheduled flight direct wherever poible with reputable airline All tranfer All airport and port taxe, ecurity charge, UK Air Paenger Duty and applicable fuel urcharge All-incluive cruiing All gratuitie on board and ahore Unlimited drink on board*, including ditinctive wine, beer, pirit, oft drink, peciality coffee, tea, bottled water All meal on board, including al freco dining on deck, early-rier breakfat, all-day bitro menu, Captain Welcome and Farewell Dinner All entertainment plu enlightening lecture on board Complimentary internet and Wi-Fi acce on board Shore excurion, with Englih-peaking local expert (Gentle Walking Tour available) Complimentary portable audio headet ytem on all hore excurion Complimentary ue of bicycle and Nordic walking tick * Doe not include premium wine and premium pirit European itinerarie only Home pick-up i currently unavailable from Scottih iland and Sark addree in which cae thoe reident are invited to nominate a mainland addre of their choice for holiday tranportation 17

18 Take it Eay Dicovering Southern California T here i o much to experience in California and o much territory to cover that it would be inappropriate to try and ee everything in one go. Intead, cut the tate in two halve, and then you have two facinating holiday adventure, each of which will keep you buy for a memorable two to three week holiday. Our firt intalment i the un-oaked South. There are four dynamic one need to aociate with Southern California - the Californian love-affair with car, a love of the beach, an obeion with outdoor activitie and the famou laid-back hopitality. Each Univeral Studio Hollywood VIP Experience 18

19 The Beverly Hill Hotel, Beverly Hill, Lo Angele The Pink Palace that lend it name to the LA chicet uburb Affectionately known a the Pink Palace, The Beverly Hill Hotel i famou for legendary ervice and legendary guet. Over the pat 100 year, Hollywood tar have enjoyed the timele glamour of thi dramatically beautiful etting, attracted by the relaxed reort-feel and eamle ervice. Located on Sunet Boulevard in the centre of Beverly Hill, the hotel i urrounded by 12 acre of luh, tropical garden and exotic flower. Remaining faithful to the original architecture and interior deign, the hotel ha been carefully renovated to preerve it upreme level of comfort and flair. Stay in tyle in a luxuriou room, paciou uite or opt for a ecluded private bungalow. By the palm-tree lined pool, complete with newly refurbihed private cabana, enjoy refrehing complimentary poolide mini ice-cream undae and mojito pop treat, or dine at the acclaimed Cabana Café. For the ultimate in relaxation, experience a revitaliing pa treatment at The Beverly Hill Hotel Spa by La Prairie. The famou Polo Lounge retaurant i the place to be in Beverly Hill, while Bar Nineteen12 i a mut for regular live muic and pectacular view of the colourful California unet. will be fundamental to your holiday. You will certainly need to rent a car to get around and you hould expect to tay in relaxed accommodation en-route. Indeed, ome of the claic hotel potlighted are famed for their relaxed tyle and undertated luxury. Where better to tart a tour of Southern California than Lo Angele, the City of Angel. It climate ha often been decribed a perfect and with good reaon. Mot day are unny and warm, with gentle ocean breeze in the ummer. The humidity i low with little rain. In fact it would be fair to ay that there are no unpleaant eaon. Covering an area 20 time the ize of Manhattan you can eaily devote a good week to unravelling the ight and taking in the comopolitan buzz. LA i the entertainment capital of the world, a cultural mecca boating more than 300 mueum. There are mut-ee tourit attraction like the iconic Chinee Theatre along with the Walk of Fame collection of tar (numbering 2,482, and growing by one or two a month), viit a working Hollywood film tudio (ee below), trut your tuff on the hip boardwalk of Venice Beach, hop until you drop on Rodeo and Ventura Boulevard, attend a muic concert, take in the city famou treet art...the lit goe on and on but with o Ever wanted to be treated like a movie tar? The Univeral Studio VIP Experience let you enjoy jut that. Thi unique experience include an extenive guided tour of the immene Univeral Studio Hollywood and it motion picture tudio with acce to area of the tudio lot that the general public never ee. Your VIP guide will alo ecort you to the Park mot popular ride and attraction, taking you in via pecial excluive VIP entrance. Afterward, enjoy time to explore the vat Park on your own, when you can kip the queue at every attraction, get the bet eat in the houe for every how, enjoy a deliciou gourmet lunch, and more. Included in the VIP Experience An excluive behind-the-cene experience led by a pecially trained guide. The opportunity to explore location and et cloed to the general public. Tour of our world-famou multi-tory prop warehoue, foley tage and other tudio facilitie. PLUS enjoy additional VIP privilege uch a: Front of Line acce to ALL Theme Park ride and attraction VIP reerved eating at ALL Theme Park how Gourmet Lunch, Valet Parking upon arrival and o much more! 19

20 Dicovering Southern California Shutter on the Beach Santa Monica Lo Angele favourite beachide hotel Located right on the beach, and with view over Santa Monica pier, Shutter feel very much like a grand private reidence. It eem to blend old and new with eae, juxtapoing dark wood floor and old leather ofa with light, whitewahed room uing and and ea colour to give you that beach houe informality. A eat in the hotel lobby i one of the mot ought after pot in Lo Angele. If you'd prefer, kip the and and oak in the un by the poolide where pectacular ocean view await you at the larget beachide pool deck in the city. Stylih and paciou guet room and uite have newly redeigned interior by the frehly appointed Obama White Houe deigner Michael Smith - undertated luxury with the feel of a private beach cottage. much to ee and do acro LA you might be wie to conider baing yourelf in not one but two key location - Beverly Hill and Santa Monica, home to two of LA mot cherihed hotel. Once LA i bottled it time to cruie. Perhap a jaunt up the rugged coat, pat the tar-tudded hideaway of Malibu Beach and the famou Heart Catle, to the elegant eaide community of Santa Barbara, one of the world prettiet coatal citie, with red-tiled roof, mountain backdrop and ea view that earn it the nickname of The American Riviera. Viit in October and you will dicover a month-long food and wine fetival, Epicure. And herein lie one of the region charm, the vineyard of Santa Barbara County, located le than an hour north from the city in the Santa Ynez Valley. Some reckon that the bet wine in USA are now being made here! Tucked in the hill behind Santa Barbara you will find another treaure, Belmond El Encanto. Originally opened in 1918 thi much-toried, iconic hotel ha hoted Hollywood luminarie going back to Silver Screen tar Clark Gable and Carole Lombard. Ecaping LA eem to have been a pre-requiite for the tar of the ilver creen and the emergence of the deert city of Palm Spring owe much to the patronage of how buine. Her mot famou reident, Frank Sinatra, pent 50 year of hi life enjoying the triking and contrating natural landcape, and it i not hard to appreciate hi enthuiam. Belmond El Encanto Santa Barbara Quinteential laid-back retreat in the hill of Santa Barbara Santa Barbara only Forbe Five-Star reort i an enchanting hideaway for thoe who cherih privacy and erenity. Belmond El Encanto it high in the hill amid luh garden, offering a dazzling view over Santa Barbara and the parkling ocean beyond. An icon ince the 1920, it original architectural feature have been lovingly brought back to life, while modern addition include an expanive outdoor wimming pool and beautiful boutique pa. True to it Californian root, thi i a luxury hotel that combine glamour with laid-back tyle. 20

21 Dicovering Southern California The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Orange County Sophiticated beach culture on the cliff top On a coatline famou for it beache, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel i ituated atop a one hundred fifty foot bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean midway between Lo Angele and San Diego. Dramatic cliff, ecluded inlet and dazzling unet enchant viitor to the reort and the adjacent Dana Point Harbour i convenient for croing to Catalina Iland, deep ea fihing expedition, jet kiing and wave running, ailing regatta or relaxed unet cocktail and dinner cruie. With balconie overlooking the ruggedly beautiful coatal landcape and luh garden, rambling walkway and intimate courtyard available for romantic troll, The Ritz- Carlton Laguna Niguel offer unparalleled ervice and quality while defining caual California elegance. The Ritz-Carlton Rancho Mirage Palm Spring Deert delight for the perfect ecape High mountain encircle on three ide giving way on the open ide to the great Colorado-Sonoran Deert. The climate i bone dry year round with a reputed 354 day of unhine. Today, Palm Spring i the recreational capital of Southern California, where the Great Outdoor i worhipped from the valley floor to the mountain top. Golfer will be poilt for choice with no le than 110 golf coure which, conidering we are talking about deert terrain hint at an extraordinary feat of irrigation! Turning outhward and back along the ocean, the ideal topover on the pictureque Pacific Coat Elegantly enveloped within the Santa Roa Mountain range, The Ritz- Carlton, Rancho Mirage i located on a 650-foot bluff overlooking world-famou Palm Spring and the pictureque Coachella Valley. Thi luxuriou Palm Spring hotel boating 244 guet room with 16 uite including paciou and private pa uite, i thoughtfully-deigned to complement it deert mountain location by featuring natural element of tone, wood and fire which reflect the local landcape, hue and regional urrounding. 21

22 Dicovering Southern California Highway to San Diego i Dana Point, where you will dicover one of the claic beach reort of Southern California, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel. On the way, you could top at Anaheim, the piritual home of Walt Diney and the location of the original reort. Sitting dramatically above the weeping beache of Orange County, The Ritz-Carlton Laguna Niguel i the perfect place to regard Californian beach culture. A word of warning though, there i a enible reaon why you ee o many urfer wearing wetuit and it ha more to do with the fact that the coatal Pacific current tend to run outhward from much chillier water! Notwithtanding, nearby Dana Point Harbour i an excellent place to pend a day ailing, viit Catalina Iland or wretle with ome deep ea fihing. Laguna Beach i alo worth viiting. Thi quirky, bohemian eaide community i full of retaurant, art gallerie, tudio and intereting boutique. At the end of the trail lie California econd larget and eldet city, San Diego, with a legacy tretching back to Spanih Colonial rule. It i alo the birthplace of all that i Californian. Many of it key attraction are within a hort ditance of the attractive and lively bay-front downtown ditrict. Mut do include the world-renowned San Diego Zoo, Spanih Colonial Balboa Park, Seaworld, the Galight Ditrict and even a viit to the venerable, but retired liner, Queen Mary in neighbouring Long Beach. Jump on an old Town Trolley for a city tour or take the Tijuana Trolley (and paport) for a day trip outh acro the border into Mexico! In thi road trip we have cruied along golden coat and into the deert, (hopefully with the hood down and the un at our back!). We have traced the foottep of the tar and chilled out like the local...to quote a ong title by the Wet Coat band, The Eagle, cruiing Southern California ure i a gloriou way to take it eay! Driving time and ditance Lo Angele to Santa Barbara Ditance Km Driving Time - 2 hour 15 minute Lo Angele to Palm Spring Ditance Km Driving Time - 2 hour 45 minute Lo Angele to Dana Point Ditance Km Driving Time - 2 hour 45 minute (quick route) Driving Time - 3 hour 45 minute (cenic coatal route) Dana Point to San Diego Ditance Km Driving Time - 1 hour 25 minute (1 hour 5 minute to Rancho Santa Fe) Rancho Valencia, Rancho Santa Fe, near San Diego Relai & Chateaux pedigree and relaxed Southern Californian living Blending luxury with the authentic pirit of relaxed Southern California living, Rancho Valencia welcome it guet with paion and grace. Near the chic beache of La Jolla and Del Mar, thi i an excluive and tranquil hideaway et among 18 hectare of rolling hill, orange grove and garden full of hibicu and cacti. Reminicent of Spanih-colonial hacienda, bungalow uite boat tunning craftmanhip including hand-painted tile work and cutom furnihing. With it world-renowned tenni program, innovative cuiine and rejuvenating pa, and year-round unny climate, Rancho Valencia i the perfect place to dicover thi beautiful San Diego region. 22

23 World New Town and country - The bet of both world with Capaldi in Marrakech Explore the Caribbean a you like it, aboard your own floating villa! With two privately owned Hotel in Morocco, Edward and Tara Lyle have created an enticing option to plit time between town and country on a trip to Marrakech. Why not pend a few day taking in the ight and ound of the ouk with the privilege of a ringide eat right in the middle of the Medina. Completely renovated, the 7 bedroom Riad Capaldi i unuual for it generou entertaining pace - the entire ground floor i given to a library, alon, dining room and pool. With all the hopping and the ight of the Red City completed then travel 45 minute to the foothill of the Atla Mountain to tay at The Capaldi, a luxury retreat et amid quiet olive grove. It i the perfect complement to a tay in the city for thoe looking to relax but the many activitie on offer in the urrounding countryide will alo appeal to the more adventurou. Necker Belle i a magnificent 32 metre catamaran, ailing tailor-made itinerarie for up to 12 guet. With paciou common area and four beautifully appointed cabin with enuite, he i perfectly deigned for fun and relaxation. So with the cool Caribbean ea a your playground, thi world cla uper yacht with it crew of even and fabulou Virgin ervice i a perfect choice for tropical cruiing. Day aboard Necker Belle will be pent enjoying the clear water of the Caribbean, whether anchored in a private cove, docked in a world famou marina, cutting up the ea on a pair of water-ki, trying your hand at game fihing or marvelling at the vibrant marine life with cuba tank trapped to your back. Thi i your chance to explore the Caribbean a you like it, aboard your own floating villa! Private pace at One Eleven, Bali One Eleven i an adult' only luxury abode of dicretion that infue an oai of calm and relaxation in the heart of fahionable Seminyak. It leek minimalit architecture tranlate a Japanee feel with the ue of natural wood and tone. Each of the paciou 9 triking villa i the philoophy of an idyllic life, one with plenty of pace for contemplation and nothing to ditract the eye or the mind - where all you ve got to do i oak in the big tub with the hi and her amenitie provided, unbathe by the pool, maybe relax in the big unny living room with a book before walking acro your lawn to your private, glaed-in gazebo for a pa treatment. (Why hare a hotel pa or a butler when you have your own?). 23

24 TAILOR-MADE HOLIDAYS F O R D I S C E R N I N G T R AV E L L E R S expert advice ince 1986 SHORT BREAK HOLIDAYS for dicerning traveller Kirker Holiday and Embarque Travel work together to create tailor-made holiday for dicerning traveller. We have elected ome of our favourite holiday below, but pleae peak to Gill at Embarque Travel for peronal recommendation and an itinerary tailored to your own peronal requirement. Price are per peron and include flight, return tranfer, accommodation with breakfat, Kirker Guide Note to retaurant, mueum and ighteeing and the ervice of the Kirker Concierge. Venice Venice walking tour only 15 for Tueday tay Ca Dei Conti **** Superior Formerly a patrician palace, the Ca Dei Conti i a familyrun, boutique hotel with jut 35 room and a mall terrace. It overlook a canal and i five minute walk from St. Mark Square. All bedroom are decorated in claic 18th Century tyle. 4 night for the price of 3 - price from 875, aving 125 Include Doge Palace, Accademia or Guggenheim ticket & water taxi tranfer Palma - Mallorca Palacio Ca Sa Galea ***** Deluxe Built in 1571, thi typically Mallorcan Palacio retain the feeling of taying in a grand private townhoue, and ha jut 12 individually furnihed bedroom. Antique furniture, dating back to the 17th and 18th centurie, i combined with contemporary painting and culpture. There i a mall indoor pool and gloriou rooftop un terrace with panoramic view of the Cathedral. The magnificent harbour, wonderful bar and retaurant and colourful marina are all within eay walking ditance. 5 night for the price of 4 for Sun-Thur tay - price from 1,049, aving 175 Thi i jut a mall election from the wide range of holiday that we offer. To peak to an expert or requet a brochure pleae call Gill at Embarque Travel on gill@embarquetravel.co.uk Fly Local - We can provide regional UK departure to your choen Kirker detination. Opera Ticket The Kirker Concierge i able to book ticket for your choen performance, or provide information on performance in many Kirker detination. helicopter tranfer Monaco Columbu **** Deluxe Located in the quiet harbour of Fontvielle, a five minute taxi ride from Caino Square, the Columbu hotel ha real ubtance to accompany it unquetionable tyle; the perfect bae for an unforgettable weekend. 4 night for the price of 3 until 11 July & from 25 Augut - 25 October - price from 738, aving night for the price of 2 from 1 November - 31 March - price from 458, aving 299 Include private car tranfer on arrival, departure tranfer by helicopter and entrance to a wide range of mueum and attraction.