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Glamorous Tropical Retreat: Per Aquum Niyama Maldives

Per Aquum Niyama is located in the Dhaalu Atoll, a 40-minute seaplane flight from capital Malé. A deserted-island backdrop and vast views of the Indian Ocean set the stage for Per Aquum Niyama resort hotel's city-sleek retreat in the Maldives. This resort refines tropical island luxury, hitting the high notes with sophisticated dining, alluring beach bars (including under-sea DJ nights and dancing at submerged venue Subsix) and an emphasis on urban-inspired style.

Edge Lounge - Exclusive overwater dining with a stunning floating restaurant and chill-out lounge, only accessible by boat. Open-air canopied dining on a private jetty reveals panoramic views, while indoor dining with floor to ceiling windows creates a sense of the expanse of the outdoors. Dine on the daily catch, with a menu of modern cuisine and cooking styles which capture local flavours. Signature cocktails add an air of sophistication to evening dining in a chic haven of indulgence and originality.

Boasting a 24 hour spa and the world's first underwater nightclub, the luxurious NIYAMA Maldives Per AQUUM Resort sits on the private island of Olhuveli in Maldives.

86 Studios and Pavilions are on hand to provide guests with a wide variety of “slumber options.” Choose between Beach Studios, Beach Studios With Pools, Beach Pavilions, Water Studios, Deluxe Water Studios, and One- and Two Bedroom Water Pavilions.

Aerial Shot of 'The Crescent' - Five Over-Water Pavillions

Subsix - Immerse yourself in the surreal beauty of this underwater playground. Aqua adventures set against the colorful landscape of the Indian Ocean, 500 meters out in the ocean and six meters below the waterline. From private Champagne breakfasts, intimate sub-aquatic lunches, wedding blessings to wine tastings, themed evenings and club nights.

Underwater Art Exhibition at Subsix 'The Sinking World of Andreas Franke'

Tribal - An innovative campfire dining experience where tribal charm meets contemporary luxury with a futuristic, beach side feel. Outdoor grills conjure up a mesmerizing mix of tastes from South America, Africa and Asia with a menu that combines local inspiration and global flair. Live action adds a creative flavor with hot rock grills, Argentinian Asado woks and flaming open fires. An exotic a fresco dining stage is set for tribal gatherings with a dash of adventure and a pinch of fun.

Miami meets the Mediterranean at BLU, which offers relaxed family-style beachfront dining from day through to night. The large infinity pool with its dedicated children's swimming area offers fun for the whole tribe and the poolside ice cream parlour is packed with homemade treats including smoothies, sherbert and crepes. A 'Sunshine Thakuru' takes care of guests' every whim and poolside cabanas offer a private haven close to all the action.

Water babes will be in their element here. The Float center is the go-to place for PADI dives (including tailor-made courses for juniors), deep-sea fishing jaunts and a slew of sports in and on the water, including para-sailing, water-skiing, jet-skiing, snorkeling, kayaking and windsurfing. Catamaran sailing, windsurfing and kite-surfing lessons are available, if you want to brush up on your skills or are keen to try something new.

Subsix sits below sea level, 500 meters offshore. Guests are whisked by speedboat, then reach the underwater den (the first of its kind) down a three-story staircase. Mirrored floors and abstract chandeliers add a surreal sheen to the entrance way, and when inside guests are seated in sea anemone inspired chairs under thousands of ceiling-strung capiz shells. The weekly Glow Party and DJ nights are well attended, as are wine-tastings and marine biologist talks, but the wow-worthy views of parrot fish, moray eels and other exotic marine life are far more eye-catching than any dance-floor goings-on.

Fahrenheit - Rooftop bar with cool interior and outdoor deck with transparent walls which give a feeling of being suspended in nature. Bask in spectacular ocean and sunset views, taking in the surroundings while enjoying a specialty cocktail, as the mood changes with the day's light. Chilled out beats and live music come out to play as night falls.

Dune - chic beach hub bar for stylish poolside lounging with creative deli-style beach snacks, fresh pizzas, gourmet burgers and sandwiches and desserts. Enjoy refreshing drinks with fruity daiquiris or thirst quenching 'mocktails' during the day and a wide choice of special 'sundowner' cocktails as you watch the sun set over a paradise location.

One Bedroom Beach Pavilion Outdoor Shower

Images Sources: tripadvisor.com niyama.peraquum.com

Text Sources: tripadvisor.com smithhotels.com niyama.peraquum.com niyamamaldives.net

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Glamorous Tropical Retreat: Per Aquum Niyama Maldives

Crush of the Week: Four Seasons Hotel Florence

Crush Of The Week: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

Experience of a lifetime at the Alps' Premier 6 Star Luxury 'Chalet Zermatt Peak'

Beach, Maldives, Travel, Resort, Luxury, Honeymoon, VacationTrès Haute DivaAugust 26, 2015Maldives, Luxury Hotel, Dhaalu Atoll Maldives, Luxury Resort, Per Aquum Niyama, Subsix, Underwater Art Exhibition

Crush of the Week: Four Seasons Hotel Florence

The recipe for Renaissance-style romance begins with an intimate dinner on a fourth-floor private terrace on the Ponte Vecchio, Florence’s signature arch bridge. Four Seasons Hotel Firenze has secured exclusive access to the bridge’s only open-air terrace, tucked above the glittering jewelry boutique Dante Cardini. As the sun sets, savour unparalleled views of the Arno River before indulging in a four-course gourmet meal designed by Michelin-starred chef Vito Mollica and prepared on-site. Inspired by the many jewelry stores located along the Ponte Vecchio, Mollica’s decadent menu features an unexpected ingredient: gold. After dessert, shop for a stunning keepsake at Dante Cardini. Specially designed to complement this once-in-a-lifetime experience, the jeweler’s “Four Seasons” ring – with white gold, diamonds and a rose sapphire – is just one of the many dazzling pieces you’ll discover.

Or experience a romantic dinner on the Altana Terrace on the Hotel’s roof, with magnificent 360-degree views over Florence.

Four Seasons Hotel Firenze is a living museum of art history. The Hotel comprises two Renaissance palaces, whose previous residents include a Pope, an order of nuns and five centuries of Florentine nobility. Today, the Hotel’s colorful history unfolds through its ornately painted and crafted interiors, which have returned to their original beauty following seven years of painstaking restoration. Behind its classical but unassuming façade, the Hotel will offer its guests the rare opportunity to view 15th – 19th century art works in their original context. Frescoes, bas-reliefs, stuccoes and silk wallpapers have been carefully restored to reveal vivid detail dating back over five centuries. Original works of art and architectural detailing can also be found in several of the Hotel’s 116 bedrooms, suites and bathrooms.

The Four Seasons Firenze offers 758 square meters of frescoed rooms, perfect for banquets and parties, as well as wide outdoor spaces for exclusive events in the 4.5 acre garden. The main hotel banquet space is made from what was once the church of the convent. This room can host events for 150 seated guests.

Conventino Ballroom  Image: Studio Bonon Photography — Conventino Ballroom Image: Studio Bonon Photography

The ex-church of the Conventino has been brought back to its original design of the XIX century, with vaulted ceilings and frescoed walls, offering an inviting atmosphere for parties and galas. The Conventino offers the privacy of a hotel within a hotel.

Another large room is the Ballroom of the Palazzo Della Gherardesca, at the main floor of the palace, accessible from the grand staircase. For about three centuries the hall, decorated with frescoes of the seventeenth century, has been the official Ballroom of the Della Gherardesca family. Today it can host meetings up to 90 persons.

Gheradesca Ballroom  Image: thebecker.com — Gheradesca Ballroom Image: thebecker.com

During the eighteenth century the Della Gherardesca family commissioned a series of frescoes depicting the family’s history. These frescoes, which are in the Gallery and in the Ballroom of the family, were painted by artists of the late Baroque such as Vincenzo Meucci (1694-1766) and Giovanni Domenico Ferretti (1692-1768).

The opulent courtyard of the fifteenth century, today the hotel lobby, with its frescoes, bas-reliefs and stucco, is a clear example of the wealth glitz typical of Renaissance. The author of the courtyard’s bas-reliefs is Bertoldo di Giovanni, the protagonist of the late fifteenth century’s Florentine sculpture, assistant and co-operator of Donatello and teacher of Michelangelo with others. The 16th-century frescos and masks in the courtyard are an addition of the Medici period, executed by Flemish mannerist Jan van der Straet, also known as Giovanni Stradano.

Lobby during Christmas   Image:  Tripadvisor Traveller's Photo — Lobby during Christmas Image: Tripadvisor Traveller's Photo

At the heart of Four Seasons Hotel Firenze waits a delightful surprise: a hidden garden – the Giardino della Gherardesca – a sanctuary of giant shade trees, vast lawns and vibrant flowers. Though one of the largest Florentine gardens – measuring 4.5 hectares (11 acres) – this walled park has been kept private and unseen for hundreds of years.

Originally planted as a Renaissance garden in the 15th century, the Giardino has been restored to its 19th century design, presenting a showcase of rare and endangered botanical species. Amongst the most striking: Taxus Baccata, a decorative evergreen known as the longest living plant in Europe; and a Thuja tree, an aromatic conifer called the “tree of life” for its homeopathic properties.

The private Park Della Gherardesca offers a wide selection of functional lawns and private dining areas within its 11 acre gardens, a perfect location for outdoor wedding ceremonies, banqueting, and special events.

The 116 rooms and suites are different from each other; many have unique details such as original murals, friezes and bas-reliefs, skylights and extraordinary storied ceilings, monumental staircases and fireplaces. The rooms’ interiors were designed by architect Pierre-Yves Rochon in two main colors, yellow-clay and green-cypress, in honor of Tuscany; the suites have maintained the historical details and frescoes of that epoch.

The Villa is a quiet suite in the hotel garden. Made from the Conventino’s lemon-house, it includes a master bedroom, a living room, and an area devoted to a whirlpool bath, overlooking the private terrace. The sunlight floods through the full-length windows, offering a beautiful view over the surrounding private garden.

The central part of the Royal Suite Della Gherardesca is a long gallery with vaulted ceilings illuminated by five large windows that overlook the hotel park. The ceilings are beautifully frescoed and the floor is made of original Capodimonte ceramic of the eighteenth century, by Ignatius Chiaiese.

The suites have maintained the historical details and frescoes of that epoch. The main floor, in the Renaissance heart of the palace, is composed of eight suites: one of the most important is the Volterrano Suite with frescoes dating back to the nineteenth century and Chinese hand-painted wallpaper.

The theatricalism of the late Baroque is present in the precious decoration of the suites on the main floor. Commissioned in the early seventeenth century to Baldassarre Franceschini (1611-1689), known as "the Volterrano".

The Palagio is the main hotel restaurant. It is located in the Palazzo Della Gherardesca and overlooks the garden, where the terrace offers charming outdoor lunches and dinners. The main hall, which once was the palace’s stable, is decorated in light silver and lilac nuances and still keeps its original columns and vaulted ceiling, lit by six beautiful Murano chandeliers. Inside “Il Palagio”, the wine bar occupies a space delimited by fridge-window walls. It offers over 400 labels, including 50 wines by the glass. The Conventino, in turn, suggests La Magnolia, a small and intimate room for à la carte breakfast.

The Hall, built as a secondary courtyard inside the Palazzo Della Gherardesca, was considered unusual for its large internal space. Covered by an elegant glass pyramid from which a splendid wrought iron chandelier hangs down, the courtyard has become the Atrium Bar.

Image Sources & Rights: Four Seasons Firenze Trip Advisor Palazzo Scala Della Gherardesca StudioBonon Photography thebecker.com Trip Adviser Traveler Photos

Text Sources: Four Seasons Firenze Four Seasons Magazine Hotelllerieworld.com Palazzo Scala Della Gherardesca

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Crush Of The Week: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

The InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is a floating oasis in the South Pacific. It features all overwater bungalows with only three beachfront villas as the alternative. Found on the southeastern side of the coral reef, on Motu Piti Aau, these luxurious accommodations face the spectacular Mount Otemanu and boast incredible views of Bora Bora. Here, modern architecture flourishes with an authentic Polynesian design, accentuating a color palette that reflects the sapphire blue of the surrounding lagoon.

Designed with the utmost environmental sensitivity, the InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa is a sustainable sanctuary of which the exquisite Deep Ocean Spa is the centerpiece. The resort operates on revolutionary technology that draws seawater from the depths of the ocean and reuses it for electricity. Another unique facet is the resort's stunning overwater wedding chapel, which features an impressive glass aisle and large window that frames the remarkable mountainous view. Text Source: www.tahiti.com/hotels

Bora Bora and Surrounding Lagoon on Approach from the Air

Image Source: Google Images Image Rights: arikenken

InterContinental Bora Bora on Motu Piti Aau with view of Mount Otemanu

InterContinental Bora Bora Lagoon and view of Mount Otemanu

Snorkling on the Reef, The Wedding Chapel

Gourmet Experience at Le Corail Restaurant

Relaxing on Le Corail Deck, View of the Wedding Chapel

Overwater Wedding Chapel With Glass Bottom

Privacy and luxury... Relax in your private villa with views over the lagoon and beyond. All of our overwater villas have a spacious shadded terrace, sun lounges and a big private pontoon for sunbathing in front of the pristine waters of the lagoon. Enjoy viewing fishes from the living room lagoonscope. Your bedroom feature a glass wall in front of the bed!

The Views: Emerald view of the resort and beach, Sapphire view of the lagoon, Diamond view of the lagoon and the island of Bora Bora, Diamond Otemanu view of the lagoon and Otemanu montain, Diamond End Of Pontoon view of the lagoon and island with more privacy.

Deep Ocean Spa is the first thalassotherapy centre ever built in the South Pacific, as well as the only establishment in the world using the benefits of water drawn from the Pacific Ocean at depths of over 900 m, to administer care of unrivalled intensity.

Enjoying over thirty years research and experience in marine cosmetics, Algotherm has been able to complement the unique virtues of this exceptional sea water by combining them with products full of active marine ingredients.

Deep Ocean Spa offers areas for hydrotherapy, beauty care and gentle energy. There are also glass-floored overwater bungalows enabling you to admire the marine life during the sessions you choose, whether you are alone or a couple. We also find relaxation areas with an unobstructed view over the ocean, outdoor jacuzzi, steam baths and showers to awaken the senses, a fitness room, a tea lounge and a boutique.

Sands Bar and Restaurant
The Sands Restaurant is the epitome of island life: casual, breezy and situated on a private stretch of white sand beach. You'll find yourself dropping by for a light lunch, afternoon snacks or exotic fresh fruit cocktails with friends at the end of a day in the sun. You can see your Chef cooking for you with our show kitchen!

Reef Restaurant
Le Reef Restaurant interprets tropical Polynesian style with relaxed sophistication and fine gourmet cuisine. Breakfast is served early, and dinner features dishes such as the "Foie gras with pear Williams and hazelnuts, marmelade peach and pear with thyme" or the "Pan fried scallops, mouseline and pumpkin risotto, bacon emulsion" Eating on the terrace overlooking the lagoon and beach is delightful.

Le Corail Restaurant
Try the Gourmet experience of the resort in this air conditioning restaurant overlooking the lagoon with his unique panoramic view. Open for dinner only, you will be amazed by the local touch of the cuisine and the largest wine cellar of French Polynesia. The Corail is open Tuesday to Sunday from April until November each year.

Entertainment and Recreation: Fitness and aerobic room; Turkish bath; Outdoor pool; Tennis Courts; Scuba Diving; Shark & Ray feeding; Jet Ski Tours ; Helicopter tours; Para-sailing, Submarine tour; Live Entertainment.

Weddings: A Memorable Setting for your Unforgettable Day: Civil Ceremony - Beach Ceremony - Chapel Ceremony (polynesian typical, not religious) - Renewal of Vows.

Text Source: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

Image Source: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa on Flickr

All Image Rights: InterContinental Bora Bora Resort & Thalasso Spa

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Travel, Tahiti, Wedding, HoneymoonTrès Haute DivaApril 13, 2015Travel, Tahiti, Bora Bora, French Polynesia, Luxury Resort, Honeymoon, Destination Wedding, 5 star, Thalasso Spa

Experience of a lifetime at the Alps' Premier 6 Star Luxury 'Chalet Zermatt Peak'

After a picturesque journey via the Air Zermatt Helicopter or aboard the Matterhorn Glacier Express you will arrive in Zermatt, an idyllic mountain resort 1620m above sea level, which lies at the foot of the majestic Matterhorn. An area of outstanding natural beauty, world famous not only for its winter sports, mountaineering and extensive outdoor activities, but also for fine dining both on the mountain and in the village, Zermatt offers you the experience of a lifetime!

Situated in one of the world's most desirable and iconic locations, Chalet Zermatt Peak is the Alps' new premier chalet with panoramic views overZermatt and to the iconic Matterhorn. CZP is now available to rent as a 6* luxury catered chalet/boutique hotel with its own chalet manager, concierge, chalet hosts and gourmet chef, with 17 Gault-Millau points. Enjoy the breathtaking panoramic views over the village of Zermatt, of the surrounding mountains and to the iconic Matterhorn.

Chalet Zermatt Peak is a landmark chalet in one of the most desirable locations in the world. Set into the side of the mountain, it offers unrivalled panoramic views across the village and to the Matterhorn. No expense has been spared in creating Zermatt's ultimate and most luxurious chalet.

Chalet Zermatt Peak Jacuzzi and Lounge Area

Source: Chalet Zermatt Peak

Travel, Winter Vacation, Vacation, SkiingTrès Haute DivaJanuary 11, 2015Zermatt, Switzerland, Alps, Chalet, Luxury, 6 star Luxury Chalet, Chalet Zermatt Peak, Ski Vacation, Schweiz, Chalet Rental, Catered Chalet

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