Space Goddess

Groucho Marx once said, “I don’t want to be a member of a club that would have me as a member!” Well, Groucho, I disagree! Once again, I’ve been included on a panel of travel experts for Forbestraveler.com. Here’s what Jeff Koyen of Forbes Traveler says about the list of the top 400 Hotels in the World and the people who chose them:

The world’s most distinguished travel experts pick the finest hotels

“A once-in-a-lifetime experience that sets a new standard for over-the-top luxurious hotels. This is a masterpiece. If you want to see what living like a billionaire is like—just once in your life—stay here.”

“In 35 years of hotel design and visiting, this is the best hotel experience I have ever had. Such a wonderful location and such wonderful service—it was a magical experience. I was heartbroken to leave.”

“Truly one of the most beautiful spots—and hotels—in the world. What more can I say?”

“These are just three of the many comments we collected from the Forbes Traveler 400 board of travel experts who determined the 2008/2009 list of the world’s top luxury hotels. You’re just dying to know which hotel they’re talking about, right? Well…to paraphrase the Bard, there’s the rub.

When we first published this groundbreaking list two years ago, we broke rank from the other travel magazines and websites that place great emphasis on mathematically ranking the best hotels in the world. Statistically speaking, the only way to make such a claim is to ask several thousand people for their opinions. The world’s best hotels, then, are often ranked by a sea of anonymous web surfers.

Turning to the crowd is good for certain tasks. When you can’t remember the capital of Belarus, ask everyone on the bus. Someone will probably remember it’s Minsk (a fifth-grader, no doubt). But when picking the right hotel means the difference between an unforgettable trip and an unforgiving spouse, shouldn’t you ask people who stay in luxury hotels once or twice a week—not once a year?

So, from a wide variety of industries, we assembled a board of 79  luxury-travel experts. Arianna Huffington is a renowned author, publisher and one-time California gubernatorial candidate; her fellow board member, Todd English, is a celebrity chef and restaurateur. Adam Tihany is a noted interior designer and architect who’s responsible for several high-profile hotels around the world; Tony Wheeler co-founded Lonely Planet, publisher of the eponymous guidebooks.

We were fortunate to have Erik Blachford, current CEO of TerraPass and former CEO of Expedia, opine alongside Peter Greenberg, noted travel writer and The Today Show’s travel editor. And if anyone knows about luxury hotels, it’s Matthew Upchurch, CEO of Virtuoso, a consortium of upscale travel agents, and Aaron Simpson, group CEO of Quintessentially, a global concierge service for discerning travelers.

We asked our board members to rate nearly 800 highly regarded four- and five-star hotels in seven categories. Because new hotels need time to find their rhythm, we omitted properties less than two years old; and, we didn’t include hotels that are undergoing major renovations. Our experts were promised anonymity so they could speak freely, and they had nothing to gain from any of the hotels they praised (or criticized). We then took the top-rated 400 and commissioned reviews from professional travel writers who have first-hand experience with the hotels (and did not receive complimentary stays during their visits).

The result is the Forbes Traveler 400, a rundown of the world’s best hotels, spread across six continents and presented geographically.”

I am honored to be a member of this panel! I hope you click on the link below to see the Forbes 400!

http://www.forbestraveler.com/forbes400/

Meet the other 78 members of this panel!

http://www.forbestraveler.com/forbes400/panel

Okay, I have no excuse for not blogging since we returned from our safari! Well, actually, I have several excuses but none are valid (except for the one about waiting for the stars to be aligned with the orbit of Jupiter—that, my friends, is a very valid reason!).

I will try to upload a movie I made of our safari to Botswana and Zambia. It was our 5th safari in 9 years and we loved every minute of it! Thank you, thank you, thank you to our friends at Wilderness Safaris! We had an amazing adventure! To whet your appetite: we saw a buffalo tree a lioness, a hyena stalk one of Legadema’s cubs (Legadema, a leopard,  is the star of a National Geographic film that chronicled her life), and two starry-eyed humans celebrate their 10th anniversary with a private candlelight dinner a deux at Vumbura Plains (that would be yours truly and Michael, of course!)

Next post I’ll update you on White Knight 2, the mother ship for Spaceship 2. She’ll be unveiled in 2 weeks to the press and I’ll see her a month from today. That reminds me, have you reserved a seat on Virgin Galactic, yet? What are you waiting for? Trust me, the stars have definitely aligned with Jupiter!

No matter what day you think it is, while reading this post, pretend today is June 8th! Unlike Toto, we didn’t hate our version of Oz! We loved our safari and the friends we made along the journey. Like Toto, we came back on June 8th to Kansas! I believe a well-balanced life of a traveler consists of planning glorious journeys, taking the journey, happily returning home, and, best of all, savoring the memories!

As soon as we get our photos together, I’ll post a link to the Picasa website to share with you!

Now, it’s Sunday,June 8th, in the late morning and in Mauritius it’s 9 hours ahead. My body is here in KC, but my body clock tells me I’m still many thousand miles East of here. Jet lag and all, it’s great to be home!

NOTE: For those of you who faithfully followed my directions in my original “pre-Safari” post back in May, bravo! I must admit that I am now totally confused because I am writing this and envisioning myself being back from our journey AND I haven’t yet left! Since I didn’t take my laptop with me, I pre-entered my posts as if we were communicating from Africa. Confused yet? I’m dizzy! I think I need a vacation!

Wednesday       June 04 2008 

Today you will be met by a Wilderness Safaris representative, who will transfer you to OR Tambo International Airport for your scheduled flight SA190 departing at 9:35am to Mauritius.

7:35am	Suggested check in time for flight SA190
9:35am	Estimated time of departure from OR Tambo International Airport

            

              

  The Oberoi Mauritius

The idyllic island of Mauritius with its unspoilt beaches and azure waters offers a unique experience of European, African and Asian cultures. The Oberoi captures the spirit of the island in a resort that combines its abundant natural beauty with refined luxury. The resort is located in 20 acres of beautiful sub-tropical gardens with a 600 meter oceanfront. Villas with private swimming pools and luxury pavilions offer panoramic views of the ocean. Every room features a romantic four-poster bed. Wooden slatted ceilings and wall-to-wall restful neutral tones contribute to a feeling of relaxed grandeur. Each bathroom has a separate shower stall and a sunken bath in palest marble overlooking an open-air walled garden.

The air-conditioned thatched Luxury Pavilion includes a spacious bedroom and sitting area with a choice of either a king-size bed or twin beds. Each Pavilion has a spacious terrace for private dining and overlooks the gardens and the Indian Ocean.

Tuesday       June 03 2008                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             

Today you will be assisted onto your helicopter transfer from Shumba Camp to Kafue Airstrip, for your light aircraft transfer to Lusaka Airport for your scheduled flight SA 63 departing at 1:50 PM to Johannesburg

 On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport off flight SA63 at 4:00 PM you will be met by a Wilderness Safaris representative, who will transfer you to Grace Hotel.

Grace in Rosebank is located in the heart of Rosebank and surrounded by boutiques, art galleries, art cinemas, high quality craft markets, restaurants and clubs. The hotel has 73 rooms in total comprising 60 double size or twin rooms, 10 one-bedroom suites and 3 one-bedroom penthouse suites. Each room has an en suite bathroom with bath and separate shower, mini-bar, satellite TV, wall safe, tea/coffee making facilities, hairdryer, air-conditioning and telephone. The suites each have a separate lounge and guest toilet and the penthouse suites are larger than normal suites, and have a private balcony.  Flavoursome cuisine is available in the hotel’s fourth-floor dining room, which opens onto a rooftop pool and terrace garden where one can enjoy light alfresco meals. Specially selected wines can be enjoyed from Vinothèque. The ground floor sitting room with its fascinating library and complimentary Café Complet, which offers tea and coffee with pastries and cakes, has a warm intimate ambience.  There is a heated outdoor rooftop lap pool as well as The Spa which offers a full compliment of treatments. Adjoining the ground floor is a business facility centre where all modern communication and presentation equipment is at hand, as well as secretarial services. Website:         www.thegrace.co.za

Saturday       May 31 2008 

Today you will be assisted to your scheduled road transfer from the River Club to Livingstone Airport. At Livingstone Airport, you will be assisted to your light aircraft transfer to Kafue Airstrip, for your helicopter transfer from Kafue Airstrip to Shumba Camp. Please note that in some instances you may experience a delay at Busanga airstrip & heli pad before your transfer to the lodge - this is due to the limited number of seats available on the helicoptorer. Depending on your transfer time to the lodge, wilderness Safaris will make the appropriate arrangements in terms of this connection - a ranger will accompany you at all times.     

At 22 500 sq km, Kafue National Park is one of the largest National Parks in Africa. In the extreme north of the Kafue lie the Busanga Plains – one of Zambia’s most significant wetland resources and one of the few areas in the world that remain untouched by development and human activity.  The Busanga Plains cover an area of approximately 750 sq km and Shumba Camp is located on the fringes of this wildlife paradise.  The Plains are home to thousands of red lechwe, ubiquitous puku, stately roan and sable as well as the diminutive oribi and duiker.  The Defassa waterbuck, herds of tsessebe, hartebeest, zebra and buffalo make for a full set of antelope. This wealth of game on the plains is also a big attraction for predators, including leopards, wild dogs, cheetah and prides of lion up to 20 strong. Shumba Bush Camp comprises six spacious luxury safari tents on raised platforms with breathtaking views of the surrounding plains. A maximum of 12 guests can be accommodated at any one time and great emphasis has been placed on the “guided” experience - being led by qualified, enthusiastic people with in-depth knowledge of the area and its wildlife. Guests have the option of game drives in and around the Plains and night drives provide the added excitement of the nocturnal wonders of the area. For those interested in birding, the Park boasts 491 species of birds, including endemics such as Chaplin’s Barbet.               

website:  www.wilderness-safaris.com

Thursday       May 29 2008 

Today you will be assisted to your light aircraft transfer from Kings Pool Camp to Kasane Airport - for customs and immigration purposes.

       

At Kasane Airport you will be assisted to your light aircraft transfer from Kasane Airport to Livingstone Airport for your scheduled road transfer to the River Club.

The River Club

The River Club is a sunlit bubble of comfort and hospitality that lies dreaming in dappled shade overlooking the Zambezi River, 18km upstream from the world-famousVictoria Falls. The River Club, with its Edwardian-style house and manicured lawns on the banks of the swift-flowing

Zambezi

River where hippo and crocodile float, seems to straddle the continents of Africa and

Europe. Its main area is a well-appointed residence, with a comfortable lounge, large dining room, impressive library and wide veranda on which breakfasts and teas are taken.  Lush gardens (where midday meals are often served) spread out beneath the trees and a croquet court is an ideal venue for a Pimm’s-soaked croquet game. The pool seems part of the river itself, a secluded deck with hammocks and loungers provide respite and beauty treatments are available in the calico ‘massage’ tent.  Ten luxury chalets are spread out amongst the riverine vegetation, comprising comfortable bedrooms and en-suite bathrooms, most being split-level. Their originality stems from the fact that one side is completely open to the river so that there is an uninterrupted vista of the

Zambezi and its far bank from both bed and bathtub. Each room looks west into glorious African sunsets best viewed from the privacy of a ball and claw bath, brim-full with bubbles. All have a concertina screen door or window which can be drawn across the front of the bedroom and/or bathroom.

Activities include sundowner cruises, fishing, visits to the Zambian side of the Victoria Falls, Simonga Village and Mosi-Oa-Tunya

National Park. Also on offer is a variety of adrenaline-loaded activities at extra cost such as: white water rafting, bungee jumping, abseiling, and helicopter flights over the Falls. Although The River Club is not a traditional safari camp, elephants can often be seen in the

Zambezi

National Park opposite and hippo are regularly seen and heard in the river itself. Game drives are also offered into the nearby

Mosi-oa-Tunya

National Park where there is an abundance of general game species like buffalo, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest and impala. There is rich bird life in the area, including several rarer species such as African Finfoot, Half-collared Kingfisher, African Skimmer (seasonal), Rock Pratincole (seasonal) and Collared Palm-Thrush. There are leisurely nature trails around the lodge, boat cruises and island walks and the

Zambezi

River offers ample fishing opportunities. Website:  www.riverclubzam.com

Tuesday       May 27 2008 

Today you will be assisted to your light aircraft transfer from Mombo Camp to Kings Pool Camp.

       

Accommodation has been reserved for you for 2 nights.  Accommodation Kings Pool Camp Room : 1 x Twin Tent Dates : Check in  :   May 27 2008   Check out:   May 29 2008 Included : All meals, daily activities, laundry and drinks (excluding premium import brands)

Kings Pool Camp is located in a private reserve in the Linyanti / Savuti Channel area in the northern part of Botswana, on the western boundary of Chobe National Park. The source of the Savuti Channel is within this private reserve. The camp overlooks the oxbow-shaped Kings Pool Lagoon and the Linyanti River to the north. The area has a large wildlife resource with a wide variety of species, but it is most noted for its very large Elephant populations, which during our winter months can reach enormous densities.  There are good populations of Impala, Lechwe, Kudu, Zebra, Giraffe, Sable, Waterbuck,

Buffalo and the smaller plains antelope. The major predators such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Hyena are regularly sighted.   The reed and papyrus swamps are ideal for numerous and diverse species of birds and are a magnet for wildlife in the dry winter months. Accommodation is in nine luxurious twin bedded tented rooms under cool thatch overlooking the Hippo filled lagoon in front of the camp. Each of the bedrooms has its own large bedroom area, lounge, private plunge pool and sala. Each en-suite bathroom has a double shower, double hand basin vanity area and a separate flush toilet. There is also an outdoor shower for those who prefer to be closer to

Africa. The main lounge, pub, curio shop and dining area are under thatch and there is a swimming pool built into the deck. The main area is linked to the bedrooms by a raised walkway. Activities include game drives in open 4×4 Land Rovers, night drives and guided walks.  Website: www.wilderness-safaris.com 

Sunday       May 25 2008 

Today you will be assisted to your light aircraft transfer from Vumbura Plains to Mombo Camp.

Mombo Camp

Mombo Camp is situated on Mombo Island, adjoining the northern tip of Chief’s Island, and is within the Moremi Game Reserve in northern Botswana. The camp offers abundant wonderful wildlife viewing, arguably, year round the best wildlife viewing in

Botswana. The highlight here is the concentrations of plains animals and all the predators – including the big cats! Lion sightings are particularly good. Mombo is built under the shade of some large shady trees and overlooks a wonderful floodplain that teems with wildlife. The camp has 9 comfortably furnished, luxurious tents, raised off the ground. The guest’s rooms and the walkways that connect the rooms to the living area are up to 2m off the ground, allowing animals to wander freely through and under the camp – but at the same time allowing for guest safety. The canvas rooms are spacious and well appointed and have en-suite facilities under canvas and an additional outdoor shower for those who enjoy a shower under the stars. The dining room, pub and living area overlook the open plain in front of the camp and there is a plunge pool. Activities at Mombo include morning and afternoon game drives in open 4×4 vehicles. The wildlife viewing in the area is excellent and guests can see lion, leopard, large herds of buffalo, cheetah, wild dog, elephant, rhino, hyaena, giraffe, wildebeest and zebra. Access into this area is only by aircraft. Website: www.mombo.co.za