Time for health

Koh Samui. A quiet arrival at the quaint airport, and a quiet time, investing in peace, health and knowledge. I am with Ulrika at destination spa Kamalaya. Here in this beautiful place by the sea, you enjoy healthy food and wonderful treatments, great for body and soul.

Arrival at this peaceful little airport

Kamalaya is on a lovely beach

 

Mystical ambience is part of the healing environment

Delicious healthy food

An abundance of all that is nourishing

Beautiful views from the resort

 

And lush tropical surroundings

We will also inspect some of our hotels on this picturesque island, as usual to stay on top of developments, so that our customers will know they are getting only the best.

 

Into the warmth

This is the time of year when staff meetings bring much needed warmth and good cheer. I have just met with my team from the Select Collection office in Finland for business with pleasure. The venue was a fashionable meeting place, the grillroom at Teatteri.

Happily together at Teatteri

 There we ate really well – including a starter of grilled scampi – “the best ever” my staff declared.  

Best ever...

Other courses included whitefish, lamb or beef – all really good and perfectly prepared.

Back at the office, my team in action again and ready to craft perfect holidays for their customers. Here are two of them …

Marita Aarnio

Arja Laukkarinen

The office in Helsinki has a central location at street level on fashionable Bulevardi, and is much admired for the lovely atmosphere and design, creating the mood to travel…

Items picked up in my travels

Exotic, inviting....

Welcome in to our lovely offices in Helsinki, Stockholm, Oslo, Stavanger and London to discuss how to get out of the cold and dark, and into the light and warmth,,,

One&Only Mary

Quality time in Stockholm with our wonderful Mary Bishara, the Director of Sales and Communications at One&Only The Palm. The venue was one of my best Stockholm tips, cosy Matbaren by Sweden’s celebrity chef Mathias Dahlgren.

At Matbaren with Mary together with Max and Neil
from Select Collection

Of course One&Only The Palm is also one of my hottest tips – one of my favourite properties world-wide. This is top luxury, nestled on one of the fronds of the astounding man-made Palm Island. Facing the glittering sci-fi landscapes of Dubai over the water, it is a serene hideaway with its own beach, beautiful architecture, quality all round and the ultimate in silken service.

I recommend it as a perfect, warm and pampering break from the cold weather of Northern Europe.

Far away from all our winter weather, One&Only The Palm

Relaxing by the pool.

Meanwhile, back to our pampering visit to Matbaren.

Matbaren (The Food Bar) is one of two restaurants by Matthias Dahlgren at The Grand Hôtel in Stockholm. Matbaren has one Michelin star, and Matsalen (The Dining Room) has two Michelin stars. Some of the evening's delights:

Herring - one of Mary's favourites

The cod was perfect

Apple and cloudberry crumble
with vanilla icecream 

Tonka icecream and cherry sorbet
 with buttermilk cream

Weekend in the Maldives

All the way to the Maldives for the weekend? Yes, my fantastic friend Sonja Catani has just returned from a weekend trip to Huvafen Fushi. Staying just three nights at this top luxury resort Sonja enjoyed four days in paradise...

Heavenly weekend

 

Leaving after an important lunch in Stockholm on Thursday, they were back on Tuesday morning to attend her daughter’s Christmas play.  Not at all stressed. Just relaxed and happy…

Sonja does record-breaking weekend trips often with her partner and has learnt the art of getting a long relaxing holiday out of a weekend. They call themselves Weekendhoppers.

We will share her weekend hopping secrets soon in a blog written just for us. Meanwhile look at this lovely picture and remember….

You too could be here for the weekend...

Water villa at Huvafen Fushi