luxury

Travel: Movenpick Bangkok / August 8, 2017 by Jenn Chan

I was a water baby. Turn around at the beach and I was neck deep. Leave me to my own devices at home and I'd draw a bath. To this day I retreat to the water to recharge and refocus. That's why pools are so important to me! Mövenpick Bangkok has a really nice rooftop pool. Ultra comfortable chaise lounges sit in a specially designed area in 2 feet of water at the edge of the deep end. I posted up there for hours and hours and never once felt the scourge of FOMO; fear of missing out. Surrounded by lush greenery and a fully stocked bar there is no reason to leave. Ever.

The lobby of the Mövenpick screams luxury. The tiling is so intricate and time consuming that the average home owner or non-mega corporation hotel builder would have a hard time justifying the cost. Here's how the conversation with your contractor might go: "we can put the marble in a regular pattern and liven up the design through wood details on the walls and crown moulding OR we can lay it in a pattern undecipherable to anyone save for those well versed in the matrix and that'll run you around... 40-50 times more." Tough pill to swallow, but the end result speaks for itself. The folks at Mövenpick decided to do the kaleidoscope tile AND ornate wood work. Everywhere. It's truly a feast for the eyes!

A bedroom is only as good as its bed. That sounds obvious, right? Well it clearly isn't obvious to everyone because I've stayed in a lot of places where the TV was the big expenditure. Or the bed frame matched the end tables, which matched the wardrobe which matched the dressers which matched the coffee table which matched the... you get it. And then you spring onto the bed only to find a limp, lifeless spring mattress. Maybe a puff of dust flies up. Maybe bed bugs. Maybe it's a hide-a-bed couch and you wonder what you've done to your friend or family member to subject you to this torture. "Why is there a bar directly in my back?" you ask yourself as you re-examine your life choices. At Mövenpick they spend money to make money. This bed is money! Combine that with an amazing spa-like bathroom, meticulous cleanliness and modern conveniences and you've got a home away from home you may never want to leave!

What do humans need to live? If you thought to yourself "food and water" and neglected to think about sleep and oxygen you better take a sober second look at how you're living your life. While I didn't try the water, though I'm told locals drink it and live long lives, I can attest to the food; delicious! The included breakfast buffet has something for everyone and the food is very high quality and fresh. This is not a place that sees so few guests it keeps its ingredients frozen to avoid spoilage leaving you with a reheated burger that feels like an icicle in the middle or veggies that don't quite make that satisfying snap noise when you bite into them. Everything at Mövenpick is top shelf! The perfect combination of service, location, ambience and luxury make this hotel a perfect option whether you're visiting Bangkok long term or it's a pitstop on your way to the lush paradises of Thailand's north and south. Highly recommended!

Movenpick Bangkok Breakfast - Omelette Bar

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Travel: 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai, Thailand / July 13, 2017 by Jenn Chan

The Original 137 Pillars House, Chiang Mai

137 Pillars House Chiang Mai won Best Hotel in Asia from Travel & Leisure's in 2016. That is a big deal, really big! Travel & Leisure is the premiere publication for travel! It is not difficult to see why they won either. The service is excellent, the grounds are stunning and the location is prime.

The incredible service started even before we graced their grounds. 137 Pillars sent a car for us to our previous hotel. A car with leather, massage seats. Yes, that's right. JC also insisted I mention the cold towel and bottles of water they provided for the ride. Having stayed in a completely different part of Chiang Mai we were delighted to see a completely different, and significantly better, area we may never have had occasion to venture to. Nawarat Bridge is mere minutes walk away, it's beautiful, and the surrounding Ping River area is filled with shopping and great restaurants!

As we pulled through the gates past the unassuming, white outer walls we were floored by the elegance of the entryway and the floating reception area surrounded by water. As we were led to our villa the plush, tropical vegetation and its fragrant aroma makes you forget where you are. 137 Pillars House Chiang Mai is a self-contained, tropical oasis! The beauty of the grounds cannot be overemphasized! All 30 of their amazing villas face to the centre of the property where a Borneo Company house, built in 1889 and boasting 137 pillars to support it, stands in all of its teak splendour. Now a posh restaurant, gym and small museum it has been restored to its 19 century glory and is absolutely beautiful. They don't make them like that anymore.

I would live in our villa. Add a kitchen in the walk in closet and the suite would sell for $1 - 1.1 million dollars in my neighbourhood. And it would sell quickly! The claw foot tub in the elegant bathroom overlooks a romantic outdoor shower. The deck, complete with ultra comfortable rocking chair, has a nice view of the croquet course and refreshing ceiling fan hums away over the plush patio couch. The bed is like sleeping on a cloud and the air conditioning was quiet and strong. So necessary in Thailand!

Do you think 2016's best hotel in Asia has good food? Do you? Well it does.

Incredible food actually! We were delighted to indulge in one of the best meals of our nearly 2 month Southeast Asia adventure. We started with a lovely cheese platter; blue cheese, Brie, cheddar with plum and shallots. We also ordered the 137's chowder, assorted seafood in rich white and Truffle soup base. It was delicious and hearty and fresh as a sly comeback. Foie gras is French for fatty liver. It was very tender. Like Elvis belting out a love ballad tender. We paired everything with a Lindeman's Henry's Sons Vrut Cuvée which was the perfect compliment to the cheese platter and extended into the seafood chowder and Foie gras course seamlessly.

The main event was a Veal Angus Beef and some beautiful Lamb Chops. A filet mignon with a white truffle infused whipped potato and port wine beef jus. Picture mashed potatoes, fluffy piles of potato goodness, now add truffles and consider the awesomeness multiplies by 100. The lamb was very fresh and was amongst the best I've ever had. The dish disappeared quickly so I can only assume she concurred.

The service at 137 is top notch. The property is flawless, the pool is a perfect oasis and the food cannot be beaten! It is difficult to find a negative to 137. Out butler Toto was very helpful and a quick text answers all of our questions. It is amongst my favourite hotels of all time and you will not regret visiting!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

The Spa by Ivanka Trump / May 20, 2017 by Jenn Chan

The Spa by Ivanka Trump is a paradise! Full stop. I have been fortunate enough to indulge in a lot of spa experiences. As a child I got no less than 13 million massages. Yes, 13 million. My dear mother, now retired, was a physiotherapist/ gerontologist and was on the sidelines of every soccer game and in the stands of every hockey game. I think I had an abundance of testosterone, even as an 11-12 year old, because I play sports hard. I banged and crashed and ran and slid and didn't really give much regard for my health. As a result I had sprains and contusions and bumps and bruises and owies and booboos. My mom tended to them, but she didn't do so in an opulent room replete with crystal and candies and Jetson-esque jacuzzis. The couples massage room at the Spa is the nicest I have ever been in and I have been to five star resorts from Mexico to Hong Kong and a bunch of places in between.

Aside from the service, which is top notch, the Spa benefits from being almost brand new and from having no expense spared! We were welcomed with champagne cocktails and an Ipad. Tapping around on it we began to craft our own signature essential oil that would form the background of our experience. Calming, invigorating, rejuvenating or any feeling under the sun. I left the device in Jenn's hands as I relaxed and sipped my cocktail and the resulting line heavy scent suited me just fine. We were left in the room to relax in the jacuzzi and enjoy the atmosphere for 20 minutes before our masseurs returned to pleasure us. And a divine experience it was. I can't go into too much detail because I reached nirvana and left the physical realm, but I can confirm you want to visit. You just do.

Overall the experience was nothing short of amazing! The service was excellent, the atmosphere world class and the price point was a good value. As an added bonus they sent us home with the leftovers of our custom pine tree and ylang ylang essential oil and every time we open it we're transported back there and if we close our eyes it's like we never left!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Luxury Spa in Vancouver - CHI @ Shangri-la / May 9, 2016 by Jenn Chan

Have you ever noticed that the sales staff at Gucci or Prada are very knowledgeable and friendly? What about how much less scummy the salesmen at Audi or Porsche are compared to Big John's Used Car Emporium? Or how the wait staff at Black + Blue make the toddler serving you at McDonald's seem oafish and coarse? This is the main reason you head to the Chi Spa, in the beautiful Shangri-La Tower, instead of buying a Groupon for Big John's Massage Emporium; service, expertise and professionalism!

The lobby has a sleek, modern aesthetic and the receptionists are eager, genuinely eager, to provide you with refreshments and make you comfortable. Once whisked into the adjoining waiting room, with its deep, cushy seating, your experience begins. Snacks, teas and lovely flavoured waters are on hand buffet style and serene music fills the air. It would be easy to fall asleep during the few minutes while the staff put the finishing touches on your private massage room.

From there you enter a private suite that rivals, and easily eclipses, the size of most Vancouver condos. A private sitting room, rest room, large hot tub sit beside the gorgeous couples massage area. The masseuses took the time to ask us about our trouble areas and reasons to coming instead of diving right in and rubbing willy nilly. After 5 minutes I was as loose and relaxed as one can be and, after 10 minutes, fast asleep! It was the first time I had ever fallen asleep during a massage, but judging by the way my body felt when I woke up they spent the other hour and a half working intently on my lower back and right elbow as I had requested because they felt better than they had in years.

Elegance, luxury and practical pricing make the Chi Spa an excellent value for dollar! Access to the Shangri-La pool for the day, with its simple yet delicious café bar, and the state-of-the-art fitness facilities are the icing on the cake. Come for an exceptional massage and then revel in the sun poolside in one of the most central locations of Downtown Vancouver; come on I dare you!

Words: Scott Allan
Photos: Jenn Chan

Pueblo Bonito Pacifica - Los Cabos / March 21, 2016 by Jenn Chan

Immediately upon arriving at the luxurious Pueblo Bonito Pacifica a sense of calm quickly envelopes you. The spacious lobby, with its distinctive spa-like fragrance and serene, round wading pool mirrored by a large round skylight, is warm and inviting. It quickly becomes clear how Pacifica earned its 5-star rating as you are greeted by their warm, effusive staff. Each room boasts fantastic ocean views, are very well appointed and fully stocked with all the essentials. The view from the extremely comfortable deck chairs is nothing short of awe inspiring. Being lucky enough to watch the sunrise from the spacious patio will leave an indelible mark on you.

Each dish sampled at any of their 3 onsite restaurants exceeded expectations. From the New York steak or tuna tartare at Siempre to the divine nigiri and delicious sushi rolls at Pescados and even a simple ceviche poolside at Aire are all done with extra care and attention and with the highest quality ingredients. Top shelf liquor is included in the all inclusive price and a nice Crown Royal Whiskey neat was a welcomed treat after a long day of sun and sand.

One of the 2 pools at Pueblo Bonito Pacifica

The grounds are meticulously maintained and Pacifica boasts one the best swim-up bars in Mexico. The hot tub was kept at the perfect temperature and the fire pits proved to be a favourite meeting place for resort’s the well heeled guests. Calm permeates the grounds, relaxation ensues.

Perfectly rolled up towels on pool loungers

The Armonia spa is the heart of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica. As soon as you walk into the smartly decorated spa lobby you feel pampered. Low, tranquil music plays, friendly staff welcome you and large glass pitchers of iced tea are on hand as you hunker down into one of the very comfortable lobby chairs. The lobby is an oasis of unique, high-end beauty and health products and browsing them while you treatment room is prepared makes the time slip quickly away.

Once you pass the threshold of the gender-specific treatment area candlelight envelopes you and your eyes slowly adjust to the warm, castle-like ambience. The changing rooms are well appointed with beautiful private showers featuring rain shower heads and all the toiletries you would need to get back to the day. Around the next corner is a large jacuzzi tub, sauna and splash pool surrounded by Greek columns and beautiful art. Here you wait and loosen up for the massage or luxurious facial you have reserved with their wonderful staff.

Each treatment room is VIP and you will feel like a very important person. The staff are true professionals and I felt as loose and fluffy as a bright white cloud in the sky as I sauntered out a few hours later. Armonia is a true 5-star spa inside of a wonderful 5-star resort which will leave you feeling like $1,000,000.

Aerial of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica at Sunset

Balcony Views of Pueblo Bonito Pacifica at Night

Thank you so much Pueblo Bonito for hosting us in Los Cabos - we had an amazing time, and got our much needed R&R during our stay!

Words: Scott Allan
Photography: Jenn Chan