Elite Traveler January-February 2015

elite traveler JAN/FEB 2015 ISSUE 1 81

The Brando FRENCH POLYNESIA 3

Marlon Brando fell in love with this tiny island atoll in French Polynesia after filming Mutiny on the Bounty here in 1962. He subsequently bought it to create a personal private retreat that would double as a conservation area. Now, the island of Tetiaroa has been revived as a resort with a refined, but relaxed, ethos and an eco slant, with guests encouraged to embrace the natural environment. Access to the island is from a private airfield only. Standout service Highly-trained staff who take pride in the details, offer exclusivity through money-can’t-buy experiences rather than meeting outlandish requests: arranging for guests to swim with the whales that migrate past Tetiaroa is one example. Special amenities Spa with a suite in the trees and dining overseen by Guy Martin from the Michelin-starred Le Grand Véfour in Paris. Number of rooms 35 thatched villas, elegantly decorated with natural materials and all with outdoor bathtubs. Room to book Number 113 – for transcendental sunrise moments. Who’s slept there Modern-day eco warrior (and Brando-phile) Leonardo DiCaprio; Barbara Streisand. Brando’s son Teihotu and granddaughter still live and work on the island. Contact General manager, Silvio Bion (silvio.bion@thebrando.com); thebrando.com; +689 40 866 366. Price From $3,711 per night (plus 14% tax), all-inclusive.

Aman Sveti Stefan MONTENEGRO 4

The UNESCO-protected, 15th-century village of Sveti Stefan has been beautifully restored by the Aman Group to create a refined escape fitting for a destination once used as the royal family’s getaway. The Montenegran coastline is rapidly developing as an oligarch’s playground – Sveti Stefan allows access to, and just enough of an escape from, the excesses. Standout service As well as proposals and special event dinners, the hotel recently arranged for a guest to trek the Tara River Canyon with their own guide, picnic and raft, and for another to spend time drinking and dining on garden-picked food with the Masanovics, a local winemaking family. Special amenities A new spa, surrounded by trees with rocky coastal views and nurturing treatments featuring local herbs; helicopter transfers; boat trips. Number of rooms 50 rooms and suites in the traditional, terracotta-roofed stone buildings, eight in the separate Villa Miločer on the mainland (attached by a walkway) and six spa cottages with Adriatic views. Room to book The Sveti Stefan suite, with its private swimming pool, sea views and cosy sitting room with fireplace for the cooler months. Who’s slept there The hotel has a privacy policy, but Novak Djokovic got married there last summer. Contact Maja Barba, reservation manager (mbarba@amanresorts. com); amanresorts.com; 00 800 2255 2626.

Price From $864, including return transfers from Tivat (half an hour’s drive away), but not service and tax.