An airline is experimenting with allowing people to resell their tickets up to three days before their flight.
23.10.2023 - 20:09 / forbes.com / Bora Bora / An Island
There are some places you go to and wonder, “who made this place?” Bora Bora is one such spot. The water is a constant celeste hue, the temperate seems 76 degrees every day, and Mount Otemanu, the skyscraper dormant volcano in the center of the island, is a stunning emerald backdrop for every photo. No wonder Bora Bora, part of the French Polynesia islands, is so fawned after. And, unlike other island destinations around the world, there’s now a strategic cap of how many people can visit a year. The place feels lost in the lucky kind of way, how one feels when there aren’t throngs of people fighting for a glimpse at a view or a chance at a photo. It’s hard not to feel gleefully isolated in your own found paradise in Bora Bora.
Of course, a good ‘ol volcano made Bora Bora. But one group also “made” Bora Bora from a luxury accommodations standpoint: the Four Seasons. The Bora Bora island region is now famed for its thatched roof overwater bungalows, and the Four Seasons counts no less than 108 at its resort, one of its jewel properties it manages amid its global collection of 126 properties.
The “bungalow strategy” is hardly a hard one to comprehend: There’s something about plopping into crystal warm water at sunrise right from a private deck that dazzles and delights anyone. Or maybe it is the sly joy in knowing it’s not anywhere you get to watch puffy white clouds brush Mount Otemanu from your giant indoor tub at twilight.
Beyond the bungalows, the grounds of this Four Seasons property are unmatched. (I visited several other properties in Bora Bora and stand confidently by this claim.) The fauna at this Four Seasons are meticulously manicured, from the plumeria to the oleander bushes, and I loved a daily stroll in the morning to hear the birds in the Polynesian chestnut trees and ocean waves lapping over the private beaches of the eight villas. There’s a beckoning swing you have to sit on that overlooks Mount
Otemanu nearby the reception hut. Towards the restaurants, a private sand dune, known as the Sunset Motu, is booked out weeks in advance for those seeking a truly private island dining experience, two palm trees and a canoe ride included.
Most notably on these Bora Bora grounds is the Four Season’s pristine Vaitea Lagoon Sanctuary which loops around the entire property via bridges and private beaches. The waterways offer glimpses of more than 100 fish species including cute clown fish and parrotfish that flap like birds through the water. Guests are welcome to view the sea life up close via snorkeling and can wander into the lagoon from a staircase near the back of the property. Thanks to the resort’s marine biology team from WiseOceans, the lagoons hold dozens of coral species that have been
An airline is experimenting with allowing people to resell their tickets up to three days before their flight.
A new exhibition featuring sustainable art will be opening at the Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, thanks to a new collaboration between the hotel, Artbooth Gallery, and a local artist.
It may not seem like it amid the inflated costs of living these days, but the median price of a gallon of gas in the U.S. has actually gone down since this time last year. According to AAA’s analysis, last week’s national average price at the pump fell nine cents from the week prior to hit $3.44 a gallon. That makes it 37 cents cheaper than last month and 32 cents less than it was during same week a year ago.
One of the best flight deals between the US and the South Pacific has just restarted for the first time since before the pandemic.
Four Seasons Hotel Abu Dhabi at Al Maryah Island, in collaboration with Artbooth Gallery, introduces the Sustainable Art Awareness Project, featuring a local artist who weaves eco-consciousness into her craft. The exhibition of artworks by the remarkable Lebanese-born Emirati artist Noura Ali Ramahi will be on display in public areas of the Hotel from November 8 to November 30, 2023.
My morning routine is how I set myself up for the day. I splash my face with water and will often use Oskia’s Super C Beauty Capsules. I’m a big fan of Augustinus Bader’s The Light Cream and then Merit’s Great Skin Instant Glow Serum, which is very subtle. I’m really into their makeup: they have this Bronze Balm in a stick and blushers that come in little jars that are easy to swipe on. I use RMS UnCoverup Concealer and Supergoop Glowscreen SPF 40. I have an orangy red lipstick from NARS called Heatwave that I’ll wear here and there. I was on a shoot recently and the makeup artist told me about using this Schwarzkopf Styling Gel on your brows — it’s the only thing that actually stays for me. Kure nail varnish has the best range of colors and is the most durable of all the natural products; I like Rose Milk.
While metropolises like New Delhi and Mumbai continue to be on the travel list, leisure destinations like Udaipur, Puri, Goa, Jaipur and Munnar are some of the top searched domestic destinations during the festive season (between November 10-14), according to Booking.com.
Bali is blessed with a full hand of beautiful beaches, but white sand isn't as common as you might think. Thanks to the island's volcanic past, most beaches are some variation of tan or gray, but they're still lovely places to relax.
A common alternative to doing all of the Thanksgiving cooking and cleanup at home is to take it on the road, choosing one of the many restaurants or resorts in the U.S. that feature traditional Thanksgiving menus. But another option is to combine the feast of the day and a travel destination outside of the U.S. at a time when prices are lower and crowds are fewer. These four locales provide exactly that.
It’s almost fondue season, and if you want a truly unique experience with the most scenic alpine backdrop, head to the Carlton Hotel St. Moritzto book lunch or dinner in one of their fondue gondolas. Starting this December 8, 2023 until the winter season ends, you can enjoy an intimate feast starring cheese plus a few other Swiss delicacies. Last year the gondolas were such a hit that the St Moritz hotel is bringing them back by popular demand. “Serving cheese fondue and other special menu items offers guests an experiential dining opportunity,” says Constanze Grossman, director of public relations at the Tschuggen Collection.
The Faroe Islands feature one of lushest, most dramatic landscapes on the planet.
The Four Seasons Resort The Nam Hai recently launched its Young Guardians of the Earth program. The new initiative by the leading eco-conscious wellness retreat in Vietnam aims to explore sustainability and science through hands-on composting and gardening experiences for both children and parents who are interested in getting back to the earth.