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WHY? More than a hotel, this 60-acre resort, inspired by an ancient Lanna palace and grounds, is like a small city, with mod-cons-packed luxury villas overlooking paddy fields, a temple-like spa and even a crafts centre and cookery school.
WHERE? Chiang Mai in northern Thailand. Travel overnight from Bangkok aboard the opulent Eastern & Oriental Express and watch the landscape change from city sprawl to jungle from the comfort of the observation deck.
STAYING IN The jaw-dropping spa, modelled on a Mandalay palace, is a destination in itself and the treatments – including Ayurvedic, Thai and Western therapies – are second to none. Try a Watsu pool treatment, where you're guided through water by a masseur. It feels as if you're dancing on air. When you've been pampered to within an inch of your life, indulge your culinary senses at Le Grand Lanna, a tree-house-style Thai restaurant where branches weave between the tables, and even the humble chicken satay is raised to gastronomic heights.
OUT AND ABOUT Visit one of the local elephant sanctuaries, and take a ride upstream atop a majestic animal to a remote tribal village hidden in the lush jungle surroundings.
STYLE STEAL Combine highly polished dark-wood floorboards with creamy-white paints for the ultimate in colonial-style chic.
MORE INFO From £2,580 per person (with two people sharing). Based on 16 September 2008 departure. Includes: two nights (room only) at The Oriental Bangkok in a Superior River Wing room, one night (full board) in a State Cabin on the Eastern & Oriental Express, six nights (room only) at Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi in a Colonial room, return flight from London Heathrow (British Airways economy), one-way flight and private car transfers from Chiang Mai to Bangkok (Thai Airways). 01244 897515, elegantresorts.co.uk.

The Fairmont Chateau Whistler

We are delighted to be able to offer this fantastic 5-star hotel as part of the Powder White programme. Situated at the base of the Wizard chairlift which is 25 meters away, it is placed in the one true ski in/ski out position in Whistler/Blackcomb and yet merely a 5 minute stroll from the centre of the village.
As one of the premier hotels in this top resort, the Fairmont Chateau Whistler offers a discreet blend of elegance and luxurious facilities created to blend with the beautiful, natural alpine setting. Offering the very finest in service and quality, the Chateau has everything you would come to expect of a hotel of this standing.


Whistler truly is one of the most exciting and sought-after resorts in the world. With doorstep skiing which is so rarely found in North America, Whistler and Blackcombe combine to form the largest skiing area available in Canada and can boast an enviable average of 9.14 meters of snow a year.

With absolutely spectacular scenery, this attractively designed purpose-built pedestrianised village offers all the facilities and amenities one could wish for and the architecture is an attractive West Coast style with cobbled pathways. Eating is excellent and offers everything from continental to oriental cuisine. Activities include heli-skiing, sleigh rides, snow-shoeing, zip-trekking and snowmobiling. The apres ski is lively and varied and includes many different cocktail bars, pubs and clubs.

Access to Whistler and Blackcomb mountains is extremely straight-forward and the modern express lift system ensures maximum skiing time can be enjoyed by all. All in all, this is a fantastic resort for every level of skier and is a must for those who wish to visit North America for the first time as well as a necessity for those who wish to return year after year.

Luxury Villa

Majestic Maui
Located 750 feet above the deep blue waters of the Pacific Ocean, This luxurious home will have you in awe with its sweeping 180 degree panoramic ocean views, capturing the three islands which surround the beautiful valley Isle of Maui. Kaho'olawe, Lana'i and Moloka'i are breath-taking backdrops that set the tone for an unforgettable experience. This world class home pampers up to ten guest with four private suites furnished with unique pieces from throughout Asia and Hawaii. Outside is a free form lagoon pool with cascading water fall and large Jacuzzi for your relaxation or swing in the Hammock underneath the COCO palms. The choice is yours. We will be waiting for you...

YACHT HOLIDAYS

city-country Monaco Foster + Partners has designed a yacht club that features a nautical iconography, to be more precise – that of a luxury yacht. The stepped decks, aerodynamic perimeter, fully glazed facades, and – off course – flags on the back.The building is mainly used as a stage, simultaneously for yacht-races at the seaside and the famous F1 Grand-Prix at the roadside. The decks are further programmed from the lower level upwards with shops, a rowing club and sailing school, then a clubroom, bar and restaurant, further up a ballroom, and to finish an apartment for the club secretary together with a series of cabins for visiting guests.The iconography and function of the building is similar to the stacked-decks-pavilion that David Chipperfield designed for the America Cup, in the city of Valencia.Platinum, the world’s largest yacht, here in DubaiIronically the Yacht Club looks more like the traditional yacht, than the new yacht that Foster + Partnershas designed for YachtPlus, a company founded by some rich guys from the city of London that aims to provide a shared ownership of fully staffed and serviced yachts around the world. The Foster-designed yacht uses the bubble-design that Norman applies to all his buildings, eliminating a sun deck on the front of the boat, in favor of a very spacious interior.

Danimarka

Bilimadamlarının demokrasi, sosyal adalet ve barışçı atmosfer kriterlerini baz alarak yaptığı geniş çaplı bir araştırmada, dünyanın en mutlu ülkesinin Danimarka olduğu ortaya çıktı.
Amerikan hükümetinin finanse ettiği Dünya Değerleri Araştırması'nın sonuçlarına göre ABD sıralamada 16. oldu. Siyasi çalkantılarla boğuşan fakir ülke Zimbabve ise son sıraya yerleşti. Danimarka Krallığı, ya da kısaca Danimarka (Danimarkacada Danmark) Kuzey Avrupa'da İskandinavya'da başkenti Kopenhag (København) olan bir ülkedir. Danimarka anayasal bir monarşi olup, devlet başkanı 2'inci Margrethe'dır. Grönland ve Faroe Adaları da Danimarka'ya aittir. İzlanda ise 1944'e dek Danimarka'nın egemenliği altında kalmıştır.
Danimarka'nın büyük bir bölümü Jylland yarımadası üzerindedir. Başkent, Danimarka adalarının en büyüğü olan Sjaelland'ın üzerinde kurulmuştur. Sjaelland, dar bir boğaz olan Sont Boğazı ile İsveç'ten ayrılır. Ayrıca, (bir köprü ile Jylland'a bağlı olan) Fyn, Lolland, Falster, Langeland ve Baltık Denizi'ndeki Bornholm adaları da Danimarka'ya aittir. Ülkenin güney komşusu Almanya'dır.
Danimarka 1973'ten beri Avrupa Birliği üyesidir.


Danimarka'ya hakim olan ilk kavim 8.-11. yüzyıl hüküm süren Vikinglerdir. Savaşçı bir ulus olarak tanınan Vikingler batıda Britanya, İzlanda, Grönland ve hatta Kuzey Amerika'ya kadar ulaşarak sömürgeler kurdular. Doğuda ise Karadeniz ve Hazar Denizi kıyılarına kadar uzanan yerleşim birimleri kurmuşlardır. İngiltere'nin büyük bir bölümü bu dönemde Viking egemenliği altında kaldı.
İskandinavyalı Mavi Diş Harald 980 yılında ilk defa olarak Danimarka ve Norveç'i birleştirerek bir krallık kurmayı başardı. Ayrıca Alman misyonerlerin etkisiyle Hristiyanlığı kabul etti. 1363 yılında Danimarka kralı IV. Valdemar'ın kızı I. Margrete, Norveç kralı VI. Håkon'la evlenerek iki ülkeyi bir bayrak altında birleştirdi. 1397 yılında İsveç, Norveç, Danimarka ve sömürgeleri (Faroe Adaları, İzlanda, Grönland ve Finlandiya) birleşerek Kalmar Birliği adı altında büyük bir İskandinav İmparatorluğu haline geldiler.



Danimarka'nın tarihinde ilk defa Mavi Diş Harald tarafından kurulduğunu belgeleyen Jelling kayaları.



1521 yılında İsveç Kalmar Birliği'nden resmen ayrıldı. Bu arada İskandinav ülkeleri Martin Luther tarafından Almanya'da başlatılan Protestan Reformu ile sarsıldı. Danimarka ve Norveç 1821 yılına kadar Danimarka-Norveç adı altında birlikte hareket etmeye devam ettiler. 19. yüzyılın başlarında Danimarka Napolyon Savaşları'yla temelinden sarsıldı. Birleşik Krallık filosu 1801 yılında Kopenhag'a saldırdı. Danimarka'nın müttefiki olan Fransa savaşı kaybedince Danimarka 1814 yılında imzaladığı Kiel Antlaşması uyarınca savaşı kazanan tarafın üyesi olan İsveç'e Norveç'i bırakmak zorunda kaldı.
20. yüzyılın ilk yıllarında Danimarka'nın Karayiplerdeki sömürgeleri ABD'ye satıldı. Danimarka I. ve II. Dünya Savaşları'nda tarafsız kaldı. Ancak 9 Nisan 1940 tarihinde Nazi Almanyası tarafından işgal edildi. Buna karşılık Birleşik Krallık ordusu Faroe Adaları ve İzlanda'yı işgal etti. İzlanda 17 Haziran 1944 tarihinde bağımsızlığını ilan ederek Danimarka'dan ayrıldı. Faroe Adaları ise 1948'de Danimarka'ya geri verildi.
Dünya savaşlarından sonra Danimarka tarafsızlık siyasetine son verdi. 1945 yılında Birleşmiş Milletler'e üye oldu. 1949 yılında ise NATO'nun kurucu üyelerinden biri oldu. 1 Ocak 1973 tarihinde de Avrupa Birliği'ne katılan Danimarka bazı konularda Avrupa Birliği'nin dışında kalmayı tercih etmektedir. Örneğin 2000 yılında yapılan bir referandumun reddedilmesi üzerine Danimarka Avro Alanı dışında kalmayı yeğlemiştir.

Swissotel Beijing

Managed by Raffles International, Swissotel Beijing Caters to today's discerning modern business and leisure travelers. Situated in Beijing's rapidly developing commercial and diplomatic district, with easy access to the Forbidden City, the Wang Fujing Shopping District and other cultural highlights of Beijing.

Swissotel Beijing offers 430 guest rooms, a suite and office tower, three international restaurants, ball and function rooms, a business centre and a well equipped health club. Swissotel Beijing combines individual, modern and functional design with local character and renowned standards of Swiss hospitality, service efficiency and product quality.

Location

Swissotel Beijing is located on the east second ring road with direct access to Beijing subway and 30 minutes distance to Beijing International and Domestic Airport.

Rooms and Rates

Swissotel Beijing -- Discount Hotel Booking In BeijingSwissotel's 430 guest rooms and suites are elegantly decorated.

* Extensive workstations with broadband Internet access
* In-room laptop ¨C size electronic safes
* In-room fax machine upon request
* Non-smoking room floors
* Executive floor: personalized service, complimentary breakfast, afternoon tea and cocktails, butler service, private meeting rooms and private express check-in and check-out in our exclusive Executive Lounge.

Orfila Hotel Madrid

Hotel Orfila was opened in 1999 and it's located in Orfila Street (Alonso Martinez District), in a 19th Century mansion in the very centre of Madrid. Hotel Orfila is situated in a calm and selected residential area, in the cultural and business centre next to the famous Colon Square. This emblematic palace was home of an upper middle class family and hosted many theatre plays and performances.
Hotel Orfila has 32 rooms. It stands up because of its tasteful decoration, with époque furniture, painted wallpapers, bronze banisters and polychrome painted marble floors. It is the only hotel where decoration and distribution are different in every room. Furniture comes directly from many European countries.

Hotel Orfila is part of the select elite of Madrid luxury hotels. It is member of Relais Chateaux Association, one of the world's most prestigious hotel associations of the world and it was selected as "Most Execelent Charming Hotel" by Conde Nast Johanssen.

Meeting rooms: The three meeting rooms "Tragaluz", "Mirador" and "Laurel", with direct access to the garden, are perfect to organize your work meetings, receptions, meals, conferences and all kind of events.