Dining in Stockholm

A lovely dining experience at Mathias Dahlgren food bar at the Grand Hôtel on Friday as a sequel to our wine tasting evening.



Here with Sonu Shivdasani of Soneva Resorts and
Fredrik Gyllenhammar at Mathias Dahlgren
food bar at the Grand Hôtel

 

Very nice and well educated Sommelier,
Johan Andersson at Mathias Dahlgren

 

 We tried some beautiful wines from Anne Gros:

 

Nuits-Saint Georges 2010

Mathias Dahlgren is a Swedish celebrity chef. He presents traditional Swedish fare in inspired fusion with world cooking. Not categorized as starters, main courses etc, dishes are moderately sized so that you are tempted to taste quite a few of them, and they can be enjoyed in any order, paired with great wines…

Saturday, more enjoyable dining in Stockholm’s Östermalm:



Here together with Fredrik and his daughter Sophia at Sturehof

Another lovely biodynamic wine is a Pinot Noir from New Zealand, Felton Road 2010 from Central Otago.

Meanwhile winter has touched Stockholm with a magic wand.

 

View yesterday from my flat.

In beautiful sunshine, it was  a sparkling 30 min walk to our Select Collection Spa for a massage.

I am blessed to have such wonderful therapists from around that world, who give such relaxing and rejuvenating massages. I need to be ready for the all-important ILTM: More about that later….

 

 

Football supporter...

Back from Thailand. Today I was at a special lunch in Stockholm arranged by DNA - a networking organization  that gives social and economic support to Djurgården Football.

Select  Collection sponsored  a prize announced at the lunch for their member of the year Anna Omstedt Lindgren. 

Anna receiving one of her prizes

The prize we donated was a lovely stay at Daios Cove on Crete, 7 nights in a one-bedroom pool villa. Daios Cove is  a beautiful resort that is built down a hillside above its own turquoise cove and beach.

A pool villa at Daios Cove

One of the founders of DNA in 2010 - also its managing director -  is a lovely friend of mine Tom Davidson.

Tom at the lunch at the Grand Hötel 

Football is not a new interest of mine. My first company Aktiv-Resor began with sport travel 30 years ago, and the  first trips I arranged were football training camps.

Since Djurgården has a full range of teams right down to the little football enthusiasts, I hope that one day we can help get young teams to the sun in the spring, as the football season starts so late in Sweden on account of the Nordic weather…

It’s the weather that makes Nordic people  travel so much!

All set for romance...

A new experience of romantic luxury is being introduced at Dinarobin, and we were the first “guinea pigs”… as happy as turtle doves. We spent the night at the spa to try out their new ultra-romantic package for two.

This is one of the most beautiful spas in the world, lush and tropical. Stunning Le Morne mountain rises up beside it, and the interior is warmly exotic and full of mystique.

 

Perfect for romance...

Adding to that, the romantic package includes:

1.       A wonderful couple’s massage

2.       A romantic dinner for two

 

The table was beautifully set – just for us

3.   And then at 8pm everyone else leaves, and you are on your own with your beloved in this exotic and romantic spa suite…

 

The spa suite where we spent the night in total privacy

Romance and style are something this hotel masters. At the new Beach Club we had another experience of this. It was a private evening organized by Jean Marc.

Capturing the magic of a tropical night – everyone was dressed in white...

 

Private beach party with Management...

 

...at the new Beachclub

 

Jean Marc with his beautiful wife Virginie 

 

The new Dinarobin GM Stuart

 

The evening ended with a lovely fire

 

Celebration of beauty, friendship and romance on a paradise island...

 

 

The most Royal of Palms

Royal Palm, Mauritius. The name evokes  the utmost in exclusivity and charm. Add to that arrival by helicopter and you fall deeply in love with this pride of the Beachcomber chain…

Our visit was a daytrip to have lunch with our cherished partners at Royal Palm.

Helitours are always exciting...
Jonatan & Louise ready to go

 

Leaving Dinarobin … fabulous sight!

Dinarobin and its famous beach
seen from the air

 

View from the helicopter as we head north

 

We passed over one of our new Beachcomber resorts Trou aux Biches – a totally recreated five star resort on the site of the original popular four star one. Trou aux Biches commands an attractive beach washed by sheltered waters – a lovely resort of luxury villas and suites.

 

Trou aux Biches and its palm lined beach
seen from our helicopter

 

 

And now we land, for lunch at Royal Palm.

Our excellent company over lunch GM Jacques Silvant and Deputy GM Stephane Sogliuzzo.

Lunch under the palms

 

Lovely Gazpacho

Main course - Sword fish

 

Time to get updated.

 

Kids Club - right size!

 

 

The Clarins spa at Royal Palm is a lavish facility, with sparkling, gushing water features and freeform pool with sundeck – along with sophisticated amenities for health and beauty.

 

A froth of water and palms -
Royal Palm's luxurious spa

 

And now for our return to Dinarobin - more water....

Good bye Royal Palm. Going back
in a speed boat …

 

Returning to Dinarobin - A lovely journey,
an exquisite hotel.

 

Many thanks Jacques and Stephane at Royal Palm – and Micheline, wish you could have been here too…

This wonderful Mauritius...

Inspired cuisine, sandy beaches, watersports, golf and tennis – and lovely friendly people. For Select Collection customers Mauritius also means luxurious accommodation and VIP treatment.

I have enjoyed all this and more at Dinarobin and Le Paradis the last few days. Here are a few glimpses of this wonderful life…

Great watersports!

 

Waterskiing at Le Paradis went very well for
me on Friday, although I haven't done it for
years... I will practice a bit more before
publishing any more pix :)

 

Great tennis...

 

...great tennis every day for me
in spectacular surroundings

 

 

Great accommodation! Lots of news in this area as Mauritius is investing more in top luxury accommodation…

 

New 4 bedroom villas at Dinarobin -
on a beautiful beach

 

Great seafood...

 

 

And great people...

 

One of the reasons we confidently recommend Mauritius for holidays is that we also have such special people looking after you at our hotels. And not only that –  we have Mautourco…

Mautourco are our people on the ground in Mauritius, who arrange all the transfers, VIP welcomes, and extra tours if you wish. They also help you if you have any problems. I always meet  with our vital contacts when I travel…with these wonderful people on Mauritius it is only a pleasure...

 

Special lunch with Mautourco on the beach
at Dinarobin

 

Jean Paul Poussin, the commercial manager
with Shalina Ruhee and Sonia Parmessur,
Commercial Executives at Mautourco

 

More about wonderful Mauritius - next blog...