If you’re looking for some accommodation in Italy’s Lake District - you might want to take a look at Polidora bed and breakfast. It’s perfectly located in Cerro, on the eastern shore of Lake Maggiore, with beautiful views of Isola Madre, Isola Bella, Stresa, Pallanza and The Alps.
Accommodation includes two double bedrooms and a family suite, plus a covered, furnished arbor for relaxing in the shade.
Polidora incorporates a vast 17 acre garden which stretches over various terraces down to the lake. The garden offers numerous places to sit and ponder whilst taking in the spectacular lakeside views. If you are a plant enthusiast you might notice the broad selection of botanical specimens including azaleas and a swamp cypress grove on our private beach.
It is also well located for exploring the lakes, Milan and the nearby Alps - where fabulous Italian cuisine and energetic outdoor pursuits can be sampled.
A B & B service double starts at 120 euros.
If you want to combine quality gourmet cuisine with wonderful ranch vistas then a Ranch Rider break to Triple Creek resort ranch could be for you. Based in Montana - the resort offers excellent food, travel and stunning cabin accommodation.
The Triple Creek restaurant serves up a variety of food with various influences including French, Central American and other international flavours.
Signature dishes from executive chef Jacob Leatherman include Grilled Oregon Rabbit Loin with Marsala Jus and Pan Roasted Beef Tenderloin with Morel Mushroom Ragout.
According to Ranch Rider:
“Triple Creek’s state-of-the-art wine cellar houses more than 3,000 bottles representing 200 international wineries, from mature Bordeaux to classic vintages; and a recipient of the Wine Spectator 2005 and 2006 Award of Excellence, the cellar itself is every wine connoisseur’s dream.”
A 7 night stay including the Gourmet Getaway package with Ranch Rider costs from £2,399pp.
This price is based on two people sharing and includes accommodation, meals, all ranch based riding, tax, transfers and gratuities. Excludes international flight.
Whilst the myth of untouched Thai beaches persists - the reality is a little more prosaic. i.e you still get pretty beautiful remote and beautiful beaches (that’s a whole lot different from untouched).
Nonetheless, Koh Hipe comes pretty close to the perfect Thai coastal paradise of old. Turquoise waters surround this stunning island which is located in the Andaman Sea near the Malaysian border. Lipe Castaway which opened in November 2007 offers amazing views over the surrounding waters and includes:
• 10 traditional bungalows.
• Spa.
• Dive centre.
• Restaurant.
A nice touch is the environmentally friendly ethos i.e use of sustainable forests, natural ventilation, water heated by solar energy, and a sort of sea gypsy community (this involves the local sea community in the running of Lipe Castaway.)
The experience of Castaway offers privacy, snorkelling and diving in the surrounding Tarutao National Marine Park. If you really want to get away from it all you can try your luck on a supposedly uninhabited beach (personal cook, guide and canvas tent are included !!)
Lobster has to be one of the sweetest tasting shell fish there is. They usually come at a fairly tasty price to boot!
If you fancy catching your own lobster dinner you could try Handelsman Flink Spa Hotel which offers a Swedish based one night lobster safari from £215 ($430) per person, half board, based on two sharing and including the obligatory lobster supper.
Sweden’s Bohuslan coast provides the setting for the safari with most of the local gatronomy taken over by lobster dishes or what the locals call “black gold of the sea”.
The Handelsman Flink Spa Hotel is located an hour and half north of Gothenberg and offers the lobster safari in conjunction with sea kayaking and mountain biking.
The cuisine of southern Indian states such as Kerala and Tamil Nadu is much revered by Indians as well as tourists.
Experiencing the delights of southern Indian cuisine can begin with a tour of old Madras or Chennai as it is now known, which includes visits to the food market in Cochin, the spice plantation in Thekkady, and a day with Faiza Moosa an expert on Muslim cuisine in Tellicherry. For foodies this is a spice paradise!
As an added luxury you can take in an overnight cruise on a barge visiting the Meenakshi Temple in Mandurai before you head to bustling Delhi and Lucknow.
Western and Oriental Travel offer the 15 night Taste of India Tour from £4,000 ($8,000) full board, transfers and flights.
