travel • culture • style • adventure - hotel · pdf filepassporttravel •...

PASSPORTPASSPORTTRAVEL • CULTURE • STYLE • ADVENTURE • ROMANCE

THE SPA ISSUE!ARUBA • SINGAPORE • TULUM • SANTA FE • VERMONT • SIGHTSEEING IN STYLE & MORE!

Oct 2016 Cover_Passport Cover Mar 2011 9/14/16 4:50 PM

74 PASSPORT I OCTOBER 2016

One of the Whitsunday Islands near the Great Barrier Reef

Biz Feature SIGHTSEEING OCT 2016 _Lima APR-08.R5-2 10/18/16 5:35 PM Page 74

OCTOBER 2016 I PASSPORT 75

SIGHTSEEING

IN STYLE

SIGHTSEEING

IN STYLE by Jimmy Im



In 2009, I spent two weeks gallivanting around Australia where, amongmyriad attractions, the Great Barrier Reef fully seduced me. Off thecoast of Queensland, the 1,400-mile-long ecosystem comprising 2,900pristine, individual reefs is known to be the world’s largest coral reefsystem, an actual living, natural thing that can be seen entirely from

outer space. Visitors to the Great Barrier Reef don’t hesitate exploring thewaters, whether in glass-bottom and submersible boats or kayaks and scuba div-ing. At one point during my visit, I was asked if I wanted to hop on a helicop-ter to see the reef from above. I declined, believing the most practical way to seethe destination was to actually immerse myself in it completely. After all, thewhole point was being in the actual reef, right? Passing on the helicopter ride was one of the most regretful travel decisions

I’ve made. Seeing a rare and precious ecosystem in such a remote part of theworld from an aerial perspective can only be a divine moment that can’t be dupli-cated anywhere else on earth. Even though the Great Barrier Reef is largely vis-ited for its water activities, seeing it from above could have been a unique, breath-taking experience (and imagine the Instagram love!). To see the Great BarrierReef from the skies, absorbing the immense scope of the natural wonder wouldhave been exhilarating. If I have any reason to return, it’s to experience the topog-raphy of the magnificent network of reefs from above, like the thousands of visi-tors who do so every year. Helicopter rides over the attraction are a popular buck-et list activity within a bucket list (just getting to the reefs is an adventure in itself).

Sheraton Mirage Port Douglas Resort in Queensland (Port Douglas Road,Tel: 61-7-4099-5888. www.sheratonportdouglas.com), which just completeda $40 million renovation is meeting the demand of travelers who want to see thedestination by air. The resort launched airport transfer via helicopter to theirhelipad, and now the resort offers several helicopter tours in the area, includingtours to the Great Barrier Reef. Additionally, there is an increase in the number

sightseeing in style

of aircraft the destination now has within their inventory (in 20 years, the num-ber of helicopters have tripled). Great Barrier Reef helicopters have also seenan increase in popularity due to different tours that are now available, includingSandy Cay Escape which flies passengers to a private sand island on the GreatBarrier Reef with gourmet picnics. The Great Barrier Reef isn’t the only place where helicopter sightseeing is

in demand, and helicopters are not the only means of transportation to see theworld off foot. Sightseeing in moving vehicles, from trains to yachts, hasbecome the hottest way to tour the globe. The debut of new train journeys,hotels offering new ways to sightsee, and the return of glamour in travel havewarranted renewed interest in travel excursions. Sightseeing in hot-air balloons,helicopters, trains, and yachts is a multi-billion-dollar industry where both par-ties (companies and tourists) are rewarded. Here’s a look at various ways tosightsee in style in amazing places around the world.

HOT-AIR BALLOON Perhaps the oldest form of sightseeing in the skies, hot-air balloons tookflight in 1783 when the Montgolfier brothers who worked at a paper fac-tory sent a sheep, a duck, and a chicken on an eight-minute flight overFrance in their makeshift paper vessel. The hot-air balloon has sincebecome a gravity-defying (and retro) way to see vast landscapes from abird’s-eye view. It’s had such an impactful comeback that even Uberlaunched a service in China where users can book hot-air balloon rides (aservice that is expected to eventually roll out in the US). The million-dol-lar industry has done wonders for several businesses that rely on hot-airballoon tourism, and many destinations across the globe are specificallyknown for stunning rides. Enthusiasts book vacations in Albuquerque,New Mexico; Cappadocia, Turkey; Bagan, Myanmar; and the Serengeti to

View of Hawaii from a Helicopter



offers food delivery and pharmacy pick-up. The latest feature? Uber recent-ly partnered with Airbus for helicopters on demand. UberCopter in SãoPaulo, Brazil offers flights for as little as $20 a ride. Even before Uber cameup with this concept, Gotham Air took the Big Apple by its choppers, offer-ing shared helicopter flights from JFK and Newark International Airport toManhattan, not only cutting travel time from two hours to six minutes, butgiving passengers the exhilarating thrill of flying over Manhattan. Uber’s not the only business looking to the skies for profit. Start-up compa-

ny Chopper (www.flychopper.com) in Orlando offers on-demand helicopterrides in Orlando, West Palm Beach, and Miami, going to and from airports,resorts, and restaurants. Chopper offers affluent locals and tourists a way to getfrom point A to point B in style, and it’s creating more than 100 jobs in the state. While the helicopter-taxi concept may be a glimpse of the future, the helicop-

ter ride is a fancy sightseeing option from the past. Helicopter tourism is all the ragein metropolitan cities and vast country locations, and there’s a spike in demand(tour flights in Manhattan now leave 14 times every hour during the day). Helicop-ter tourism is responsible for 30 million tourism dollars in NYC alone. Among the popular places known for helicopter tours, Hawaii is the most

famous with flights over rain forests, beaches, cosmopolitan cities, small towns,volcanoes, and more. The new Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina (92-1001Olani Street, Tel: 808-679-0079. www.fourseasons.com), which opened this pastsummer, is the first hotel in the state to offer helicopter-ride airport pick-ups, whereguests marvel at breathtaking coastal views. Some of the best helicopter rides arein the Big Island, where helicopters ascend active and dormant volcanoes and even

Sightseeing in hot-air balloons, helicopters, trains, and yachts is a multi-billion-dollar industry where both parties (companies and tourists) are rewarded.


Pho

to: A

ndy

Dav

ey

take flight and check it off their “basket” list. There’s even a wholelifestyle around it, where hot-air ballooners celebrate all things balloon atfestivals like International Balloon Fiesta in Bristol, UK or Gulf CoastHot Air Balloon Festival in Alabama. And when does a wedding proposalnot happen in flight in a hot-air balloon while on vacation? Several new destinations are feeling the hot-air buzz, like the Atacama

Desert. For decades, San Pedro de Atacama has been known for its magnet-ic, starry night sky. Considered to have the clearest skies in the world dueto its little light pollution and elevation, the constellations are unreal. Peo-ple also keen to see the desert landscape by day, where visitors can takeflight to view the lay of the land before sunset. Launched in August 2016,Balloons Over Atacama by Eastern Safaris (www.easternsafaris.com)offers daily hot-air balloon rides to experience the desert’s spectaculartopography that sprawls with rugged canyons, geysers, volcanoes, saltlakes, and plenty of wildlife like flamingos. The flight lasts approximately45 minutes, and there’s no better way to see the unobstructed sunrise overthe desert landscape. LGBT travelers love the rustic-chic Alto Atacama(Camino Pukara, Suchor, Ayliu de Quitor, Tel: 56-229-12-3945.www.altoatacama.com), a terrific boutique hotel that recently underwentmajor renovations, including the expansion of their pampering spa. The bal-loon rides can be booked with Alto Atacama.

HELICOPTER While Uber (www.uber.com) takes over the globe with car services, it also

Balloons Over Atacama


Pho

to: B

elm

ond



venture to some waterfalls deep in the rain forest you can’t reach by foot. For a thrilling city adventure, take flight with Chicago Helicopter Expe-

rience (2420 South Halsted Street, Tel: 312-967-8687. www.chicagoheli-copterexperience.com) in Chicago. These unique choppers are virtually allwindow so you feel like you’re literally floating in the sky (many helicopterstake flight without doors!). It feels daredevil, but it’s safe and exciting.Halfway through the ride, the tour pauses at the John Hancock Tower, so closeyou can see the tourists inside taking photos of you. Talk about reaching greatheights! Book it with Ritz-Carlton Chicago (160 East Pearson Street atWater Tower Place, Tel: 312-266-1000. www.ritzcarltonchicago.com),which recently unveiled new suites and a brand-new Club Lounge. More hotels are offering helicopter tours than ever before, whether smart

packages or in-house choppers. Kimpton Hotel Marlowe (25 Edwin H LandBlvd., Cambridge, MA. Tel: 617-888-8000. www.hotelmarlowe.com) in part-nership with Kimpton Taconic Hotel (3835 Main Street, Tel: 802-362-0147.www.taconichotel.com) in Manchester, Vermont offered a package this pastfall where guests could book a chartered helicopter ride from one resort to theother to see the golden colors of New England’s fall foliage. Four Seasons LasVegas (3960 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Tel: 702-632-5212. www.foursea-sons.com/lasvegas) partnered with Maverick Tours for private helicopter ridesto remote locations in the Grand Canyon and Valley of Fire. Overseas, helicopters are in high demand, especially in simply sublime, rural

places like Evian, France. The century-old, five-star Hotel Royal, a member ofLuxury Hotels of the World (960 avenue d Leman, Tel: 800-745-8883.

www.evianresort.com), which just completed a massive, $100 million renova-tion, recently begun offering helicopter rides over the Alps. From the hotel’s pri-vate helipad, guests are mesmerized by the landscape and are dropped off in a gor-geous picnic area, surrounded by captivating views of Mont Blanc.

YACHTING AND BOATING As history proves, there’s nothing more glamorous than setting sail on ayacht. A typical day for a CEO, celebrity, or millionaire on vacationinvolves champers at sea, proving wealth brings the good life—and somestunning, seaside views to boot. Boating in America is highly lucrative. The US recreational boating industry

rakes in $35.9 billion annually, and boat sales are on the rise. According toNational Marine Manufacturers Association, an estimated 238,000 new power-boats were sold in 2015, an increase of 8.5 percent compared to 2014. Boat shar-ing is also starting to gain speed in the nautical market. Peer-to-peer boat rentalcompanies and boat clubs are becoming more popular, making boating moreaccessible (especially for millennials) with companies like Freedom Boat Cluband SailTime. Also, Discover Boating (www.discoverboating.com), a nationalcampaign to get people on the water has helped the nautical movement. In tradition of sumptuous living, sailing on a yacht is becoming a standard at

luxury hotels across the globe. More hotels and resorts are touting their own mas-terfully designed vessels to take guests out for a sail in beautiful destinations,where sightseeing the coast is as unforgettable experience.One of the gay-friendliest destinations in the world, San Francisco is

Ghoast Cheese Maker Full

Belmond Grand Hibernian Ireland Train



amazing gay-friendly vacation rentals

known for its bay, where traversing the waters is a must when visiting.While most travelers will cram into a touristy boat ride, the historic CasaMadrona (801 Bridgeway, Tel: 800-288-0502. www.casamadrona.com)in neighboring Sausalito is the best launching point for the serene waters.Sausalito is known for its sail culture, and plenty of private boats for hireawait. Casa Madrona has terrific ties with the best captains, and their exclu-sive partnership with Freda B (www.schoonerfredab.com), a massive,luxury schooner, is a privileged way to experience the bay. Food is served,views of the Golden Gate Bridge are up-close and personal and, best of all,you don’t have to share the boat with other visitors. In Venice, Italy, the entire city is a network of romantic canals where visitors

must cruise the waters to navigate. While historically the means of travel was ina gondola with a dapper boatman paddling away, most luxury resorts have takencanal cruising to a whole new level by featuring posh, private yachts for sightsee-ing. The historic The Gritti Place, a Luxury Collection Hotel (Campo SantaMaria del Giglio, Tel: 39-041-794611. www.thegrittiplace.com) is the granddame of the canals, where celebrities like Elizabeth Taylor and Angelina Joliehave made it their Venetian playground. The hotel recently debuted a private boat,Riva, costing half a million dollars, that tours the canals. Over in the Maldives, COMO Hotels and Resorts (www.comohotels.com)

recently introduced Cameron, the brand’s new 68-foot Hatteras yacht, which pro-vides seamless, luxury-drenched nautical access between COMO Cocoa Islandand COMO Maalifushi. The live aboard vessel, equipped with resident marinebiologist and surfing instructors, is available for multi-night itineraries whereguests can sleep under the stars. Meanwhile, Four Seasons (www.fourseasons.com) Maldives allows

passengers to stay aboard as long as they like with Four Seasons Explor-er, the first hotel-on-water concept where guests can embark on three-,four- and seven-night cruises aboard an elegant, three-deck catamaran.

TRAIN TRAVELNothing conjures centuries-old, stylish sightseeing like train travel. In the19th century, railways were the only way to travel between long-distancedestinations, where riders were awe-struck with immense landscapes, for-eign cultures and met likeminded travelers. Train travel (with luxurioussleeper compartments) is still popular today, and it’s considered the onlymeans to travel well through some exotic destinations like Mongolia, India,Switzerland, and Scandinavia. It’s even a rite of passage for college studentswho want to see Europe (Eurail), or check out the Pacific Coast Highway(via Amtrak).Now, luxurious train travel is making a solid comeback thanks to Bel-

mond (formerly Orient Express, which perfected luxury train travel).Belmond (www.belmond.com) recently debuted Belmond GrandHibernian in Ireland, the country’s first luxury touring train that featuresunforgettable land and train experiences. The journey, inaugurated inAugust, traverses the country’s very-green landscapes like in Cork,Kilarney, Galway, and Westport, with tours and activities that includebehind-the-scenes at Jameson’s Whiskey distillery, kissing the BlarneyStone, and private access to Blarney Castle Gardens. For those on a time-budget, the two-hour tour from Dublin to Belfast and Portrush take visi-tors to the magnificent Giant’s Causeway and Old Bushmills Distillery.The highlight, of course, is the comfortably elegant carriages that reflectthe colors of the tartan, two dining cars, an observation car, and well-appointed, decorative cabins. Come May 2017, Belmond will introduce Belmond Andean Explorer,

South America’s first luxury sleeper train that traverses the Peruvian Andes,from Cusco to Lake Titicaca and Arequipa. The Explorer will accommodate 68guests in refined, en-suite cabins and offer fresh, seasonal Peruvian menus cre-ated by the chefs at Belmond Hotel Monasterio in Cusco.

COMO Hotels Cameron Yacht

Biz Feature SIGHTSEEING OCT 2016 _Lima APR-08.R5-2 10/18/16 5:35 PM 9

travel • culture • style • adventure - hotel · pdf filepassporttravel •...

Documents