Recent Member Comments: Las Alamandas, Rosewood Mayakoba and More

Las Alamandas

Las Alamandas

 

Las Alamandas, Mexico: “Our stay was absolutely wonderful. The property is right there with Il Pellicano, Le Sirenuse, and Inverlochy Castle. We loved it!”

Rosewood Mayakoba, Mexico: “This resort is so special and luxurious that even when something goes wrong, they go to extreme levels to make it right for you. We had a bad experience with room service breakfasts and they took all of them off our bill. This was much more than required.”

The Peninsula Beverly Hills, California: “Peninsula Bevery Hills is possibly the best hotel in terms of service that I have ever stayed at anywhere in the world. Everyone was friendly, efficient and went out of his or her way to make sure even the slightest request was taken care of. Simply outstanding.”

Caneel Bay, St. John: “One of our checked bags did not arrive on the Miami-to-St. Thomas flight with us, and the Caneel Bay staff person was SO helpful. She made a copy of the airline ‘lost luggage’ document, and when the bag did arrive, the staff picked it up and brought it to the resort. It was in our room when we came back from dinner!”

Hotel Le Toiny, St. Barths: “Privacy was amazing. Didn’t see anyone all week.”

The Greenwich Hotel, New York: “The Greenwich Hotel has a remarkable cosy-and-yet-opulent feel. The staff was gracious and helpful. And the view of NYC from our floor-to-ceiling window was amazing.”

Haymarket Hotel, London : “We LOVED the Haymarket – now have stayed there 5 times.”

Huka Lodge, New Zealand: “Huka Lodge continues to be the finest of them all. Although expensive, it is well worth the cost.”

Lapa Rios Ecolodge, Costa Rica: “Seems that they are trying scale back due to cost. To me, that is not Harper!”

Andrew Harper Website Improvements

Andrew Harper Website

We’ve made some changes to our website to help facilitate your travel planning. Thousands of pages of content are now organized under five primary categories:

HOTELS & VILLAS – Search all of our recommended hotels and villas by region and keyword. Enhance your search with filters such as award winners, family-friendly and hotels with exclusive member benefits. Premier members have access to pdf downloads of the Harper Collection.

HIDEAWAY REPORT – Access the latest issue, a 36-month archive and our daily-updated blog. Download full-color digital editions, as well as pdf versions of the print newsletter.

OUR TRAVEL EXPERTS – Contact the experts of our in-house travel consultancy and learn more about our esteemed corporate partners and destination specialists.

EXCLUSIVE OFFERS – Browse the latest offers, auctions and private sales from our recommended hotels, as well as upcoming Signature Tours.

MY MEMBERSHIP – Update your profile, consult the Member Forum or refer a friend for membership.

As always, please continue to send your thoughts, queries and recommendations to membership@andrewharper.com

Java and Bali: The Heart and Soul of Indonesia

java and indonesiaOriginally published in the October/November/December 2011 Andrew Harper Traveler

Indonesia seems to do things in superlatives. With more than 17,000 islands, the country is the world’s largest archipelago. More than 300 ethnic groups call Indonesia home, and the country boasts the greatest biodiversity on the planet after Brazil. Indonesia also is the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation. Yet, despite this diversity and almost overwhelming size, the heart and soul of Indonesia can be exemplified by two islands – Java and Bali – including Indonesia’s capital city of Jakarta.

With more than 138 million inhabitants, Java – one of Indonesia’s largest islands – is the most populated island in the world and home to more than half of Indonesia’s population. As the country’s most developed island, Java serves as Indonesia’s economic and political heart as well. Yet, with influences ranging from Hindu-Buddhist to Dutch colonialism, the island also claims some of the region’s most striking cultural sites. In fact, all of Indonesia’s cultural properties on the World Heritage List are found on Java. With a chain of volcanic mountains jutting into the skyline, Java’s natural setting is another enticement for visitors.

Jakarta, located on the northwestern coast of Java, is a pulsating metropolis. Home to almost 10 million people, the city has an energy all its own. Although the mix of crowds, smog and noise can overwhelm travelers initially, the colorful markets, vibrant streets and widespread friendliness make a visit to this eclectic city worthwhile.

In contrast to Java and Jakarta is Bali, Indonesia’s best-known and most-visited island, located just off Java’s southeastern coast. Bali is small – about 100 miles wide and 70 miles north to south. And, unlike the rest of Indonesia, its 3.9 million residents are mostly Hindu, not Muslim. Bali’s topography and size afford mornings perfect for climbing mist-covered volcanic peaks – such as the 10,300-foot Mount Agung, an active volcano – followed by afternoons lounging seaside on one of the island’s renowned white-sand beaches.

From relaxing retreats to bustling streets to standing amid volcanoes and Buddhist temples, Bali, Java and Jakarta capture the essence of Indonesia. Explore these destinations here, with exclusive insight provided by Mr. Harper himself, the Andrew Harper Travel Office, area Andrew Harper Alliance hotel partners and Andrew Harper members.

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Insiders' Chicago: From the Travel Office

Originally published in the October/November/December 2011 Andrew Harper Traveler

The shopping mecca of Michigan Avenue, the Art Institute of Chicago and the uber-crowded Taste of Chicago festival are some of the more well-known attractions the city offers. But there is so much else to enjoy in what Carl Sandburg dubbed the “City of Big Shoulders,” from touring hidden architectural gems and shopping independent designer boutiques to dining at locals’ favorite restaurants. The Andrew Harper Travel Office, along with a few of our Andrew Harper Alliance hotels, share tips and insiders’ secrets for getting the very most out of a visit to Chicago.

When are the best times to visit Chicago, and why?

Andrew Harper Travel Office: Joe Colucci recommends May, June, September and October for stellar weather and abundant street festivals. Music is offered year-round. The Chicago Blues Festival occurs in June, the Chicago Folk & Roots Festival is in July, and Millennium Park is home to a free classical series during the summer. September brings the Chicago Jazz Festival and two favorite foodie fests, the Windy City Wine Festival and Chicago Gourmet. December is great if you enjoy cold weather and holiday shopping, notes Jan Smart, adding, “The city is beautifully decorated in preparation for the holidays and Michigan Avenue is magnificent during the Christmas season.” Colucci adds that between Thanksgiving and Christmas Eve, Christkindlmarket transforms Daley Plaza into a German Christmas wonderland. Shoppers browse, snacking on authentic German food and drink. For sports fans, Megan Leininger says the best times to visit are when the Blackhawks, Bulls, Bears, Cubs and White Sox are playing home games at various Chicago venues that include historic Wrigley Field.

If you had only three days in Chicago, which sights and activities would make it onto your itinerary?

Andrew Harper Travel Office: Colucci suggests a Shoreline Sightseeing architectural cruise and two half-day trips to the Art Institute of Chicago, one to enjoy its masters’ collection and the second to explore The Modern Wing. A stroll down Michigan Avenue (the Magnificent Mile) and a stop at Millennium Park, “one of the city’s most gorgeous bits of urban planning,” also top his short list. While there, don’t miss the Cloud Gate sculpture, locally known as “The Bean,” a stunning site-specific work, says Colucci. Additional staff must-dos include visits to the family-friendly attractions at Navy Pier, the Shedd Aquarium, the 1,353-foothigh Skydeck Chicago and performances at the Chicago Shakespeare and Lyric Opera theaters.

How can architecture buffs best spend their time in Chicago?

Andrew Harper Travel Office: Shoreline Sightseeing tours, which depart from Navy Pier, offer a fun, relaxing way to learn about some of the city’s best architecture, from landmark skyscrapers to hidden gems, Colucci says, adding, “I’ve done four or five of these cruises and learn something new every time.” Joyce Jorden recommends the Chicago Architecture Foundation’s walking tours. Among more than a dozen tours are trips to see the Sheffield Historic District, Logan Square and Lincoln Park Zoo architecture. Colucci says Frank Lloyd Wright fans shouldn’t leave without visiting leafy Hyde Park and touring Robie House, a Wright-designed masterpiece.

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Looking Back on 2011: Highlights from a Year of Travel

View Highlights From a Year of Travel in a larger, interactive map

The new year brings a new search for travel recommendations. The best usually come from someone who has been there, experienced the culture and seen the sights.  This kind of unique travel insight is exactly what you will find on AndrewHarper.com and within the pages of the monthly Hideaway Report.

The range of destinations that Andrew Harper covered last year is quite remarkable.  Here are some selected highlights from 2011:

Africa

Asia/Pacific

Caribbean

Central/South America

Europe

North America

Don’t want to miss out on all of Mr. Harper’s 2012 adventures?  Download the complimentary January 2012 Grand Awards issue of the Hideaway Report and sign up for luxury travel news from Andrew Harper delivered directly to your inbox.


New Harper Member Forum

 

A much-improved update of the old model, the new Member Forum includes several additional features that should help you take advantage of the collective intelligence of Harper members, the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic travelers in the world. We now have dedicated forums for wine, cruises and Harper member benefits, as well as for queries for yours truly. Popular discussions and the latest comments have also been floated to the top of the page for easier viewing. Please click here to learn more.

 

November 2011 Hideaway Report Online: Panama and Deer Valley

 

EDITOR’S LETTER

The world is still a very big place. Despite half a lifetime of incessant travel, there are countries quite close to home that I haven’t visited in decades. Until recently, one such was Panama. A few months ago, however, I began to notice a trickle of articles in the travel press, all identifying

Panama as the new destination for sophisticated travelers. I tend to take such enthusiasm with a pinch of salt, as magazine editors are ever in need of the hot new place and are quite happy to invent one, should reality prove deficient. Still, an investigation was clearly overdue.

I began my trip in Panama City and was delighted to discover another excellent new hotel from Donald Trump. I then journeyed to the temperate highlands, where a growing ecotourism industry aims to compete with that of neighboring Costa Rica. Panama is blessed with both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, and I had high expectations of its new resorts. But as I report here, my experiences were decidedly mixed. At the end of a two-week trip, however, I came away favorably impressed. Predictably, the magazine hype is overblown; nonetheless, Panama is changing fast and mostly for the better.

Each winter, I take a ski vacation in the Rockies, and also in this issue, I describe my experiences in Deer Valley, Utah, where two fine new resorts are providing formidable competition for the established Harper favorites.

-A.H.

 

2011 Reader Survey

 

Dear Reader:

Each year at this time, we poll our sophisticated readers to determine their favorite hotels and resorts in the world. Thanks to your unique expertise and informed opinions, the coveted annual Reader Survey results have become a trusted measure of quality in the world of travel. The results of the survey will be published in the October issue of Andrew Harper’s Hideaway Report.

Click here to participate in this year’s survey before August 21, 2011, and you will be eligible to win a two-night getaway at Triple Creek Ranch.*

Whether you’ve been to a dozen destinations or only one, your responses are important to us — and to everybody who will benefit from your passion for travel!

Sincerely,

Andrew Harper

*The sweepstakes is open only to members of Andrew Harper and legal residents of the fifty (50) United States and the District of Columbia.

Sweepstakes Details

Prize includes a two-night stay at Triple Creek Ranch and Resort, a 2010 Readers’ Choice winner, including all meals and beverages.
Rules and Regulations»

 

 

 

 

Andrew Harper 2011 Grand Awards

Welcome back! Those of you returning from well-deserved holidays will find three publicly available featured articles from the Grand Awards Hideaway Report Online here. Feel free to forward to friends and neighbors (Harper members can access the full edition, once logged in to our website). This special issue features an array of large-format slideshows of our Grand Award winners, our restaurants of the year, a number of special recognition awards, some indelible travel memories and our annual round-up of “Faulty Towers” – hotels to avoid. Enjoy!