Elite Traveler January-February 2018

INSPIRE TOP 100 HOTELS ASIA PACIFIC

elite traveler JAN/FEB 2018 75

TAJ LAKE PALACE UDAIPUR, INDIA

AMANOI NINH THUAN, VIETNAM

In the City of Lakes, Udaipur, it seems fitting to stay in an island palace on Lake Pichola, one of Rajasthan’s most beautiful lakes, as well as being the oldest (it was man-made in the 14th century) and among the largest in the city. Taj Lake Palace, built in 1747 for Maharana Jagat Singh II, was transformed into a hotel in the 1960s, and has since become world-famous for its ornate white-marble facade, reflection on the lake’s surface and backdrop of the Aravalli Hills (the James Bond film Octopussy was shot here). After arriving by speedboat, guests are given the royal treatment at Jiva Spa, the hotel’s elegant restaurants and cocktail bar, and opulently furnished guest rooms, of which the most covetable is the Grand Presidential Suite. Grand Presidential Suite from$16,900 per night. Contact the reservations team, reservations@tajhotels.com, +91 294 242 8800, taj.tajhotels.com

Perched on the cliffs overlooking the sheltered Vinh Hy Bay, this Aman property boasts seclusion as well as dramatic views. Designed by architect Jean-Michel Gathy, the resort harmoniously fuses contemporary style with traditional Vietnamese design through its minimalist, high-ceilinged open pavilions. A defining feature of the hotel is its two Spa Houses — the first of their kind in Asia —where you can stay in a villa with your own private spa comprising a double treatment room, contemporary hammam, swimming pool, steam room, plunge pool and Jacuzzi, plus an outdoor dining area and relaxation deck. If you can tear yourself away, dine on the terrace of the resort’s clifftop restaurant or on the sandy shores of Amanoi’s private beach. Spa House from$1,800 per night. Contact Nicolas Pillet, general manager, npillet@aman.com, +84 683 770 777, aman.com/resorts/amanoi

RAFFLES SINGAPORE SINGAPORE

THEOBEROI UDAIVILAS UDAIPUR, INDIA

TAJ FALAKNUMAPALACE HYDERABAD, INDIA

Home to what was once the residence of the richest man in the world— the vast and ornately decorated Nizam Suite—Taj Falaknuma Palace is astonishingly grandiose, from its 19th-century Italianate facade to its frescoed interiors. Look out for the world’s longest dining table (108ft) and library containing nearly 6,000 books. Guests in the Nizam Suite have the run of two floors, the service of a personal butler and exclusive access to Jiva Spa, which overlooks the gardens. The hotel’s restaurant collection combines Nizami culinary tradition with contemporary influence. Try Hyderabadi cuisine at Adaa and international plates at Celeste. NizamSuite from$11,534 per night. Contact Shilpa Rameja, director of sales andmarketing, shilpa. rameja@tajhotels.com, +91 406 629 8585, taj. tajhotels.com/en-in/taj-falaknuma-palace-hyderabad

As a National Heritage Monument and home to the iconic Long Bar (where the Singapore Sling was invented), Raffles is the Grande Dame of Singapore. Throughout its 130 years, the hotel has hosted countless famous names, from Rudyard Kipling to David Bowie and JohnWayne. The hotel began a sensitively phased restoration in early 2017, with completion due this year. While it’s the romance and heritage of this hotel that attract guests the most, Raffles also offers exclusive amenities such as Daimler and Bentley airport transfers and tours of the property with resident historian Leslie Danker, who has published a book on its history. Rudyard Kipling Suite from$5,540 per night. Contact

The beloved Oberoi Udaivilas sits on 50 acres of gardens alongside Lake Pichola, with a dramatic backdrop of the Aravalli Hills. Combining the romance of its palace-inspired design with the comfort of a luxury hotel, rooms are separated by courtyards, walkways, rippling fountains and reflective pools. Much of the focus is on the service here, with notable amenities including the attentive concierge, use of hotel car and helicopter transfers, plus a series of specially curated Oberoi Experiences; indulge in a gourmet lunch on Lake Pichola or set out on a private city tour by boat. Stay in the lavish two-bedroom Kohinoor Suite. Kohinoor Suite from $17,108 per night. Contact Amit Kaul, general manager, amit.kaul@oberoihotels. com, +91 294 243 3300, oberoihotels.com/udaipur

ChristianWestbeld, general manager, generalmanager.singapore@raffles.com, +65 633 718 86, raffles.com/singapore

Photos Gerry O’Leary, John W. McDermott, Oberoi Hotels & Resorts