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the middle east s biggest travel magazine january 2012 a ro tw ya o l r -ni ad gh iss t s on tay d at ub ai w in produced in international media production zone simon calder cycles his way round holland on your bike inside the finest rooms in the indian ocean carnival queen under the wraps of rio de janeiro s fantastic facelift why spain s `third city could be its finest valencia kenya on the trail of spectacular wildlife and luxe lodgings

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contents travel bites 05 check in we round up the latest travel news to put you in-the-know for 2012 kanoo world traveller january 2012 13 where to stay we head for la-la land for hotel stays of celebrity proportions 14 picture this take a look at this month s trio of eyeopening natural wonders 56 21 essential selection rob orchard delves in to the best rooms the indian ocean has to offer 66 visit tokyo jade bremner explores the weird and wonderful sights of japan s capital 68visit st petersburgh wrap up warm and make for this historic and beautiful russian city 71 competition win a welcome break at the new royal radisson hotel dubai 72suite dreams fancy spending the night in a missonidesigned suite ­ aboard a super-yacht 38 33 features 33holland simon calder takes a tiring bicycle tour via amsterdam kids and all 38rio de janeiro the brazilian capital is about to recieve a facelift ­ and become as beautiful as its people predicts adrian mourby 44 canary islands star-gazing trekking and building black sandcastles in la palma 48kenya laura binder goes wide-eyed at the natural wonders and sublime lodgings of africa 56valencia why the spanish city is stepping out of barcelona and madrid s shadows 44 48 on the cover masai warrior at sunset masai mara kenya photolibrary managing director victoria hazell-thatcher publishing director john thatcher advertisement director chris capstick chris@hotmediapublishing.com +971 4 369 0917 group editor laura binder laura@hotmediapublishing.com designers sarah boland adam sneade production manager haneef abdul group advertisement manager cat steele cat@hotmediapublishing.com +971 4 446 1558 reproduction in whole or in part without written permission from hot media publishing is strictly prohibited all prices mentioned are correct at time of press but may change hot media publishing does not accept liability for omissions or errors in kanoo world traveller jan-jun 2011 22,953 bpa consumer audit produced by hot media publishing fz llc january 2012 kanoo world traveller 3

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check in news be informed be inspired be there check in qatar the st regis doha this month we re waxing lyrical about an all-new and very beautiful hotel in qatar the much-anticipated st regis doha steeped in middle eastern grandeur the hotel s 336 rooms and sizeable spa make for a formidable venue overlooking the arabian gulf a location incidentally that lends itself perfectly to exploring the city s culturerich sights arts and culture connoisseurs will enjoy easy access to the katara cultural village and the nearby museum of islamic arts tells general manager tareq derbas for an authentic arabian market experience visit souq waqif located along the corniche it s home to many local restaurants art galleries and stores that sell handcrafted items souvenirs and garments if you prefer some time in the sun though the hotel s 160-metre stretch of beach it s dotted with private cabanas will certainly do the job but what of the hotel s interiors inside it s steeped in middle eastern mystique presenting seductive interiors inspired by the towering sand dunes and ancient architecture that surround the two towers of the hotel says derbas for the best views in the house we favour its second-floor rooms ­ each of which come with an open terrace plaudits also go to the st regis brand s famous butler service all our guests are provided with their own butler says derbas offering complimentary beverages unpacking and packing services and garment pressing what more could you need starwoodhotels.com january 2012 kanoo world traveller 5

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st barths my perfect trip st barths hot off the opening of the dubai outpost of celeb-favoured nightspot movida owner marc merran shares his favoured place to get away from it all st barths is the ultimate party island and a place i can t resist returning to ­ you can go nuts there depending on your mood my funniest travel memory is from a trip to st barths last year it was new year s eve and i had a headache so my wife gave me a sleeping tablet and i was fast asleep by five minutes past midnight the spot i would most recommend others to eat in when in st barth s is isola it s an italian restaurant that s just full of a-list stars and some of my great friends everytime i ve been it s been really great meeting new people ­ and the food is great too the island is 24/7 fun ­ there are 60 clubs and restaurants located in a small area so there s always somewhere to go ­ it s a real party island my best-kept secret from st barths is gouverneurs beach this is natural sunbathing ­ there aren t even any toilets there it s home to breathtaking views and simply stunning blue waters ­ it s one of the most beautiful places i ve been to my three must-have items when travelling have to be my ipad panama hat and sunglasses when i want to relax i also love making for the maldives ­ i love the simplicity of the food and the tranquillity there i enjoy the sun by day and chill and relax in the evenings and when it comes to the best travelling companions it has to be good friends ­ anywhere would be boring without them on the road to nowhere if the offer of getting away from it all ­ and we mean really getting away from it all ­ appeals the birth of two new eco-cottages known as croft 103 will be bliss personified a project brought to life by husband and wife team fiona and robbie mackay it s purely for couples located by a loch and promises luxury and privacy with an eco-friendly approach both buildings are a blend of stone glass and local wood which we milled ourselves says fiona mackay we wanted to create something completely bespoke individual architecturally beautiful and that would blend into the fantastic wild landscape when it comes to the location you ll need more than a good map to find it it s remote on the shore of loch eribol britain s deepest sea loch in front of the majestic ben hope navigates mackay it s truly untouched and idyllic with unspoilt panoramic views and nature in abundance ­ something happens when you get there your wee world changes and you never want to leave carbon negative wind turbinegenerated electricity and sheep s wool insulation makes each abode as guilt-free as it is luxe full glass frontages custom-made beds stone showers and huge tubs there is nothing to beat sitting in a piping hot solar bath under the stars watching the northern lights raves mackay neverwanttoleave.co.uk hot offers city slickers this month kanoo travel and american express vacations bring a trio of 5 day/4 night offers athens beyond ­ $640 this ancient city is chock full of sights and this tour takes you on sightseeing trips of athens argolis and three greek islands both by foot and by boat singapore ­ $530 from the land to the ocean this asian adventure shows you all sides of the city from architecture note city hall to beachlife sentosa island and wildlife singapore zoo kuala lumpur ­ $345 arrive at the capital of malaysia experience a familyfriendly day at genting outdoor theme park then drinkin a panoramic tour from southeast asia s tallest tower 6 january 2012 kanoo world traveller

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check in news global new hotels for 2012 the end of 2011 saw the once chedi phuket reopen as the surin phuket thesurinphuket.com set on one of the most popular thai islands the 108-cottage resort has had a facelift from paris architect and famed interior designer ed tuttle and the results are superb most of note are its more spacious more colourful rooms and all-new beach bar and chillout lounge it may be temporary but mexico s pop-up hotel is well worth an albeit fleeting visit papaya playa project papayaplayaproject.com sees 99 `eco-cabanas pictured dot a stretch of tulum beach until may 2012 essentially temporary beach huts they re nonetheless sure to attract more than your average backpacker thanks to their fluffy towels mosquito nets draped over beds and ocean-facing hammocks meanwhile the st regis bal harbour resort stregisbalharbour com opens january 19 on miami beach make a beeline for florida and you can meander to the famous south beach a great spot for peoplewatching and peruse the revered bal harbour shops ­ when you re not making the most of its slick interiors and headturning nine-acre oceanfront gardens of course in bahrain the spa at sofitel bahrain zallaq thalassa sea spa sofitel.com is now open making it the first to offer thalassotherapy in the gcc for spa-lovers it s bliss personified 2,000square metres two floors 14 treatment rooms and a menu that utilises natural sea products and myriad other features to boot january 2012 kanoo world traveller 7

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global new destinations for the new year looking for a new holiday spot for 2012 kwt brings you 10 of the world s top emerging destinations we bet you re yet to tick off your travel list 3 the falklands the falklands archipelago is formed by some 740 islands ­ and if you re yet to visit one add it to your wish list here falkland pebbles and even semi-precious stones can be found on its northern beaches while wild flora and fauna are set against mountainous backdrops and coastal stretches ­ a rambler s haven wildlife enthusiasts should make for its immaculate shores to spot myriad breeds of penguin ­ kings rockhopppers pictured right gentoo and magellanic among them ­ or hop aboard a boat tour to spy whales and dolphins for history-enthusiasts meanwhile the imminent 30th anniversary of the falklands war makes it a poignant time to peruse the numerous museums and sites dedicated to the 1982 conflict the falklands islands museum tops the tourist trail 4 uruguay of all of south america uruguay is unlikely to be your first port of call but it s slowly capturing travellers attention ­ and rightly so if the prospect of winter sun isn t enough to draw you here its party atmosphere certainly will its capital montevideo hosts the world s longest carnival a vibrant affair that goes strong for 40 days no less expect singing dancing and drumming on the streets brought to life with headturning outfits of glitter and feathers hugging impossibly gorgeous locals it begins and ends with a street parade ­ so try and arrange your trip to coincide with its beginning or tail end indeed it seems that montevideo has anticipated an influx of jet-setters with not one but two new five-star hotels the sofitel montevideo casino carrasco and spa and pestana montevideo hotel 1 northern portugal while you may have already visited portugal for its lust-worthy med cuisine not to mention fine grape it is the country s first official capital nestled in the north that s capturing globetrotters attention guimarães pictured opposite culture vultures in particular will love its history-rich land ­ so rich in fact that it scooped the title of the new european capital of culture a day-today exploration will reveal medieval streets and monuments that harbour tales of the past what s more you ll find yourself close to porto ­ portugal s second largest city and under unesco world heritage protection of its top sights the serralves museum of contemporary art is a must its modernist design of sharp white lines is well worth a snapshot what s more that mild med climate makes sightseeing a joy ­ break for a classic `pastel de nata a small custard tart 2 burma setting foot in to burma above is like stepping back in time and reemerging in ancient asia men wear skirt-like `longyi grand british mansions parade from a colonial era and women s faces are masked by traditional colourful make-up thanaka thankfully then aung san suu kyi the country s pro-democracy leader called for tourism to return and a multitude of operators make trips through its streets an easy one whether you re inclined to opt for a guided tour or not the most luxurious of the cruises ­ the road to mandalay river cruise by orient-express ­ is well worth forking out for you ll be whisked by boat from bagan ­ an ancient capital which appears at its best by dawn when a mist breaks over thousands of pagodas tiered towers yangon is also worth a trip for shwedagon paya alone 99 metres tall and decked in bright yellow gold 5 cambodia if there s one place to have surged up the new destinations chart in 2011 it s cambodia though some would argue it was a step behind vietnam the `kingdom of cambodia has responded to its surge 8 january 2012 kanoo world traveller

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check in news in popularity with a cluster of high-end resorts november saw phnom penh come to fruit in the form of colonial-style buildings bunched together amid tropical terrain just last month meanwhile we reported the emergence of song saa ­ cambodia s very first private-island resort where two sister islands on the previously untouched koh rong archipelago are now dotted with 27 villas which perch over either beach sea or fauna and all of which are decked out in stylish beach-inspired aesthetics with such lavish new haunts try not to fall prey to the temptation of staying put song saa s private butler service makes it all too easy to lounge around and make time for its original draw ­ the ancient ruins of angkor wat lake bled a glacial lake in a piercing blue hue and you ll be on a journey of spirals hair pin bends and even a figure-of-eight-loop 8 tanzania just last month tanzania rejoiced in a special anniversary ­ 50 years of independence ­ and it s a date that goes hand in hand with significant upgrades making travel in the country that bit easier the name of the game here is of course an exploration that marries wildlife-spotting with landscape to make your jaw drop serengeti one of the world s major wildlife reserves and ngorongoro the world s largest volcanic crater and home to the highest density of big game in africa are two esteemed safari spots where you can spy wild animals roaming the east african plains the big five are all but a guarantee tanzania is a destination for adventurers too ­ its rust/green terrain is the motherland of mt kilimanjaro offering challenging treks while for those after a more low-key pursuit the beaches of zanzibar are something else want an entirely new hotspot check in to the ocean retreat on the east coast an intimate resort for a maximum of 10 guests and where in season you can see whales and dolphins glide by your ocean-facing room 10 north-west india a sense of peace and calm seems to radiate over this region of india making it ideal for those after a cultural experience of a calmer ilk of the new elements to draw first-time visitors is its duronto express train which bridges the gap between amritsar and chandigahr and will take you between the two in a non-stop flurry of green and yellow its carriages are famously bright elsewhere kashmir is also calmer than in years gone by and well worth a visit not least for its many fine vistas 6 finland seeing the northern lights is an once-in-alifetime pursuit and one of finland s remotest snow-covered regions nellim has been tipped as the best spot from which to spy this year s aurora borealis in march 2012 nasa predicts it will be the best display in half a century set on the icy shore of lake inari to say that nellim is remote is an understatement its village is home to one store one coffee shop and a marina it s this sheer lack of pollution then that lends nellim sublime visibility for light-hunters there are more deluxe spots to stay close by though igloo village kakslauttanen boasts thermo-glass igloos while the ruka village hotel has hot tubs outside so you can gaze at the stars from a relaxing bubbling spot the snow bunnies among you will have plenty of opportunities to bounce around too this part of the world is a hotbed of ice-themed activities our favoured pick of which is chasing the lights by dog sled 9 tasmania wildlife luxurious cutting-edge resorts culture in abundance and pristine beaches are what s placed tasmania firmly on our radar this year whoever you travel with there ll be plenty to keep you occupied in this wild state of australia bush-walking is as authentic an ozzie experience as it gets while wild fishing and dolphin watching place you in catch-your-breath range to the island s wildlife the stunning landscape can be drunk-in from luxury haunts like saffire and the southern ocean lodge ­ but if you 7 the balkans slovenia montenegro and croatia s dalmation coast all top the highlights of this sight-rich destination for those after an altogether different sightseeing trip it s also an experience best savoured from a train cabin ­ after all its heritage rail which preserves railways of the past is a staple of the region the most notable example of which is sargan eight at mokra gora serbia regarded as one of europe s finest examples of railway engineering step aboard for a closer glimpse of the top sights we favour january 2012 kanoo world traveller 9

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check in news the new year brings a whole of host of events in which to partake ­ or simply sit back and enjoy the show what in the world 12-15 6 3 20 11 24-29 3 st kitts carnival is a great excuse for a party in the capital of basseterre where it seems the festive season just isn t long enough this colourful event brings lashings of party spirit in the form of infectiously fun parades no-holds-barred dancing and best of all the crowning of the carnival king and queen 12-15 snow arena polo world cup in austria brings the `sport of kings and an injection of glamour on to kitzbühel ski resort s blankets of snow where well-heeled spectators furs and all gather to watch six international teams compete 6 art in the windows takes hold of virtually every empty window in naples borgo sant eligio when it invites hundreds of artists to showcase their photos and paintings in shops and piazzas making a truly headturning stroll 20 semper opera ball is the highlight of every dresden-based socialite elegant ladies in floor-length gowns parade on the arms of tuxedo-clad men and while vip tables are available at a hefty price those on a budget can join a 10,000 strong throng who dance in the huge square outside 11 kukeri festival sees men draped in full sheepskins weird and wonderful masks and jingling copper belts ­ the norm at this time of year in bulgaria when the rural villages perform an ancient ceremony dances and songs galore to ward off evil 24-29 abu dhabi hsbc golf championship sees the true pros tee off on what is one of the biggest games on the pga european tour calendar four days 30,000 viewers and off-course entertainment make it a must-see event for golfing fans worldwide january 2012 kanoo world traveller 11

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check in where to stay los angeles start where to stay `la-la land the `city of angels whatever you call l.a one thing s for certain it s a seriously cool spot for a usa break downtown or hollywood la-style or themed high-end or boutique figueroa hotel figueroahotel.com its neon red sign in hollywoo style lettering makes this 19 hotel everything you d hop for from classic l.a inside meanwhile a moroccan them pervades from its colour pal to its lighting well-worn sto and fauna-flanked pool a gr spot to sup icy beverages laid back and very cool ndrian los angeles mondrianhotel.com g foot through this hotel s e mahogany doors makes eel like an instant celebrity ct from its interiors plush cs and bespoke furntiture s hangouts the open-air ace at skybar is a revered t it s got to be one of the est spots this side of town hip or classic offbeat or chic the standard downtown la standardhotels.com this place is so cool it almost hurts slick slightly `out there design features and a rooftop lounge gq described as `the best in the world hilton checkers los angeles hiltoncheckers.com this downtown haunt dates back to the 1920s promising guests an old school ambience with modern touches note its rooftop pool la sky boutique hotel skyhotella.com twenty-eight rooms a sea of sky blue hues hence the name and al fresco detailing throughout its lobby make this an eye-catching stopover le parc leparcsuites.com tucked away in a quiet spot of west hollywood this intimate hotel is about to emerge from a $5million makeover injecting yet more style into the area january 2012 kanoo world traveller 13

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