“Falcons swooping in the Arabian sky, the beating of drums in the Maldives, listening to the crash and lull of waves in the Seychelles, then falling asleep during an open-air massage in Samui, Thailand” that’s my idea of getting away from it all, said longtime travelers and Malibu natives Larry and Laurie Weitz.
Their idea of travel is a clear departure from travel websites ranking conventional travel on sliding scales from miserable to marvelous.
The critical traveler is not swayed by mileage offers, two-for-one offers or low, nonrefundable rates on demand. They consider time precious and travel choices based on their personalized criteria; veteran travelers, they have more stamps in their passport than pages.
With that in mind, Banyan Tree Hotels and Resorts has curated 10 “sensory inspired” travel experiences based on touch, smell, sight, taste and sound. This sensory approach is wrapped around the theme “10 ways to enhance and awaken all five senses in 2015.” Should you see yourself in the exotic ingredients of Vietnam, reserve a suite in Central Vietnam at the Banyan Tree Lang Co.’s organic vegetable and herb garden. The garden products ultimately find their way onto the resort’s menu.
At the Banyan Tree Cabo Marques in Cabo San Lucas, restful fragrances from lavender to night queen are placed in villas nightly.
Touch-wise, the Royal Banyan Treatment in Samui offers a massage combining Asian and Western techniques, such as using a pouch dipped in warm sesame oil designed to “improve skin condition, firm facial muscles and leave spa guests with a glowing complexion.”
Timmy Woods, a Los Angeles-based handbag designer, spends at least a third of her life flying between LAX and inspirational spa outposts throughout Asia between business stops.
“I can appreciate putting your life on hold for a few days to regenerate. I’ve taken those detours to spas in sites off the beaten path. There’s no substitute for sensory experiences, especially when everything is planned in advance,” she said.
Escalating “curated” travel to an even higher altitude is the new category of private jet journeys by TCS World Travel. Their 2016 menu of “Select Escapes” is a turning point in customized travel. Plan a year in advance to organize these journeys, which stress comfort without compromise. Their new seat configuration aboard the Boeing 757-200ER aircraft features 180-degree flatbed seats customized for a maximum of 52 guests. Enhancing passengers’ information access is global WiFi connectivity, complimentary iPads, custom mood-lighting and on-demand flight entertainment. Add speakers from world-renowned organizations, in-flight menus designed by your flying executive chef, Bose noise-cancelling headsets and direct flights without layovers, luggage-handling and concierge style service, from takeoff to landing.
If you’re considering circumventing the globe, check out the TCS Timeless Treasures trip from March 19-April 11, 2016, embarking from Los Angeles with stops in Bora Bora, Tahiti, Sydney, Luang Prabang in Laos, Udaipur in India, Serengeti Plain or Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania, Capetown in South Africa, Sossusvlei in Namibia and Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, before touching down in Orlando, Fla. The cost of this magic carpet ride is $122,000 for a double, with an $11,000 single-occupancy supplement.
For those interested in this path, check it out at www. tcsworldtravel.com or call 800.454.4149.
Pam Price co-authored three editions of “100 Best Spas of the World.”
