Orient-Express

The Luxist Awards for the Best in Summer Travel

The Yachts of Seabourn's Fabled Far East Cruise

Now that summer is coming to a close, it is not too early to think about making travel plans for summer 2011.

Luxist readers nominated and voted for the destinations that they believe are the best-of-breed around the world. Below, are their favorite destinations within such categories as Best Adventure Getaway, Best Beach Hotel, Best International Summer Destination, Best Luxury Family Vacation and Best Summer Cruise.

Best Adventure Getaway
The first nominee offers an unforgettable trekking experience in Bhutan while the second offers an unparalleled safari in East Africa. The third nominee is located in one of the world's finest unspoiled havens, while the fourth features elephants in their natural habitat. The final nominee, located in the Montana Rockies, is known for its outdoor sports, from fishing to horseback riding.

Amankora Resort: Trekking in Bhutan
East African Safari with Abercrombie & Kent
Phinda Private Game Reserve
Savute Elephant Camp by Orient-Express
Montana's Triple Creek Ranch (Winner)

Best Beachside Hotel
The first nominee is where to go when in search of a peaceful sanctuary while the second nominee is a tropical haven with a relaxed pace. The third nominee is located in a secluded natural sanctuary while the fourth offers an award-winning beach. The last nominee offers a beachside location that is idyllic and unspoiled.

Amanpuri Resort, Phuket, Thailand
Four Seasons Resort, Bali at Jimbaran Bay
Four Seasons Costa Rica at Peninsula Papagayo
Grace Bay Club, Turks & Caicos (Winner)
The Oberoi, Mauritius

Best International Summer Destination
The first nominee is one of the world's most glamorous destinations while the second one was once the home of the Ottoman Sultans. The third nominee is the premier hot spot on the Amalfi Coast while the fourth offers chauffeured-driven tours of the Tuscan wine country. The final nominee offers a once-in-a-lifetime trip from Venice to Istanbul aboard one of the world's most luxurious trains.

Hotel Santa Caterina, Amalfi Coast
Kempinski's Ciragan Palace, Istanbul
San Pietro di Positano, Amalfi Coast (Winner)
Tuscany Wine Tours
Venice Simplon Orient-Express Train

Best Luxury Family Vacation
The first nominee offers a luxurious barge cruise through Burgandy while the second offers an armchair safari suitable for the whole family. The third nominee is where families go for Scottish outdoor pursuits from falconry to golf. The fourth nominee is considered to be the jewel of Maui while the final nominee is unplugged and unpretentious.

Abercrombie & Kent's River Barge Cruise in Burgundy
Ebony Lodge, Singita Game Reserves
Gleneagles, Scotland
Grand Wailea Resort Hotel, Maui
Kona Village Resort, Hawaii (Winner)

Best Summer Cruise
The first nominee offers an unforgettable cruise through the fabled Far East while the second nominee is the way to experience the Greek Isles and Turkey in complete luxury. The third nominee is an expedition to see the ice bears upclose while the fourth nominee takes its passengers down the Nile in style.

Fabled Far East Cruise by The Yachts of Seabourn
Greek Isles and Turkey Cruise by Sea Cloud Cruises (Winner)
Land of the Ice Bear Cruise by Lindblad Expeditions & National Geographic
Oberoi Zahra Luxury Nile Cruiser: Down the Nile in Style
Mediterreanean Luxury Cruise on Cunard's Queen Mary 2

Tags: Abercrombie Kent, Aman Resorts, awards-main, Cunard, four seasons hotel, Grace Bay Club, Grace Bay Resorts, Kona Village Resort, Lindblad Expeditions, luxist-awards, Oberoi, Orient-Express, Orient-expressHotels, San Pietro di Positano, Sea Cloud, summer travel, triple creek ranch

Savute Elephant Camp by Orient Express

by Carrie Coolidge (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Luxury Travel & Hotels

If you're looking to observe wildlife, there's no better destination that a place known as the elephant capital of the world-the Savute Channel of northern Botswana. Here, you'll find the Savute Elephant Camp, a Luxist nominee in the best adventure getaway category.

Nestled along the banks of the Savute in the midst of Chobe National Park, the camp is operated by Orient-Express and boasts some of the best safari opportunities in all of Africa. It's not uncommon to see prides of 40 lions lapping water from the channel, or to watch large herds of elephants grazing nearby. You'll also likely catch a glimpse of wild dogs, cheetahs, leopards and hyenas; during the summer months, Savute is also among the world's best bird-watching spots.

Gallery: Savute Elephant Camp in Botswana by Orient Express

The camp itself has an observation deck just 10 meters from the closest watering hole, a 20-meter swimming pool area right above the riverbed, an outdoor dining area with television and internet access, and even a same-day laundry service. The rooms are all luxury tents set on raised platforms, shielded by traditional African thatched roofs. Each includes a private deck, hammock, en suite bathroom, and air conditioning. Though sweeping views of local wildlife come with every room, Savute also offers a number of excursions in open jeeps to see ancient baobab trees or historic rock paintings.

Rates start at $545 per night, based on double occupancy, during the low season (November through March). Prices for the high season (June through October) start at $1,090.

Vote for the Adventure Getaway that you think is the best of breed. The winner will be announced on September 1st.

Tags: Awards-Main, Botswana, Chobe National Park, Luxist-Awards, Orient-Express, Savute, Savute Elephant Camp

Marù Spa at Bora Bora Lagoon: A French Polynesian Paradise

by Annie Scott (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spas

Marù Spa at Bora Bora Lagoon Resort & Spa, an Orient-Express hotel in the South Pacific's French Polynesia, has been nominated for a Readers' Choice Award for Best International Spa Retreat.

Located on an idyllic little motu (islet) called Toopua in the cobalt blue lagoon, Marù Spa is "the only treetop spa in Polynesia." Its wooden cabins fit elegantly into the lush greenery, waterfalls and lilies that surround it high up between two Banyan trees, tucked away from the over-the-water, pandanu-leaf-topped bungalows below. The resort was built in 1992 and is only accessible by boat. There are no roads or villages on the private isle of Toopua, just pristine beaches, blue water and an extraordinary hotel & spa.