Elite Traveler January-February 2018

INSPIRE TOP 100 HOTELS ASIA PACIFIC

SHANGRI-LA SINGAPORE SINGAPORE

AMANKILA BALI, INDONESIA

MANDARINORIENTAL, HONGKONG HONG KONG

Established in 1963, The Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong combines rare traditional Chinese art, works by contemporary masters and signature furnishings such as a three-ton Venetian chandelier. In addition to a three-story spa, the hotel is home to three Michelin-starred restaurants and boasts Asia’s largest collection of single malt whiskies. Countless dignitaries and celebrities have stayed in the suites, which command stunning views over Victoria Harbour and the city skyline. The two-bedroom Mandarin Suite is the most remarkable, with a balcony extending the full length of the suite on two sides. Mandarin Suite from $9,997 per night. Contact Man Tak Cheung, reservations manager, mohkg-reservations@mohg.com, +852 2522 0111, mandarinoriental.com/hongkong

Taking design inspiration from the island’s 19th-century Karangasem Palace, Amankila features 34 freestanding suites set on stilts amid the trees, with a striking three-tiered pool tumbling down the hillside toward the ocean. The covetable two-bedroomAmankila Suite pairs beachy furnishings such as a coconut-shell table and rattan chairs with luxurious amenities such as a private pool and an outdoor terrace where you can revel in views of Amuk Bay. Relish dishes incorporating locally sourced ingredients and Balinese culinary traditions in the ocean-view restaurant, indulge in Balinese spa therapies in the massage pavilion and use the resort as a base to explore the island’s ornate temples and emerald-green rice paddies. Amankila Suite from $3,200 per night. Contact Ernst Ludick, general manager, eludick@aman.com, +62 3634 1333, aman.com/resorts/amankila

The flagship and very first hotel of the Shangri-La chain, this palatial resort is made up of three towers: the Tower Wing, the Garden Wing and the Valley Wing. The Tower Wing has recently undergone a huge makeover, unveiling a luxurious new look in May 2017 — we love the magnificent ceilings complete with tree canopy art installation by Hirotoshi Sawada, vertical gardens and huge silkscreen tapestries. The resort offers a peaceful sanctuary from the buzz of Singapore, thanks to its 15 acres of lush tropical greenery housing waterfall gardens, koi ponds and an enormous collection of plants, flowers, and trees. Valley Wing Shangri-La Suite from $8,900 per night. Contact Iqah Rashid, travel and reservations advisor, reservations@sls.shangri-la.com, +65 6737 3644, shangri-la.com/singapore

One of the metropolis’s most iconic hotels, Waldorf Astoria Shanghai sits in the city’s central waterfront area, the Bund. The hotel brings its Baroque Revival architecture and heritage — the building was once home to the prominent Shanghai Club— together with contemporary design and luxurious amenities such Asia-Pacific’s first Waldorf Astoria Spa. You can revel in live jazz at the Long Bar (set in the resplendent former club); savor Chinese and European teas and pastries in the lavish Salon de Ville; and choose between the fine French fare of Pelham’s and the authentic Chinese cuisine of Wei Jing Ge. For panoramas of the sparkling night skyline, stay in the sumptuous Presidential Suite. Presidential Suite from$13,853 per night. Contact Kelly Wang, assistant reservations manager, kelly.wang@ waldorfastoria.com, +86 216 322 9988, waldorfastoria3.hilton.com WALDORF ASTORIA SHANGHAI ONTHE BUND SHANGHAI, CHINA

This five-star hotel sits within tranquil gardens on the shores of West Lake, a Unesco World Heritage site distinguished by its traditional architecture amid meandering streams and lagoons. Of the 78 guest rooms, five are suites and three are residential-style villas; many open onto terrace conservatories with views of the verdant surroundings. All interiors here blend Chinese tradition with chic design and state-of- the-art technology, but the Presidential Villa is set apart by its three floors and landscaped private garden. The restaurant Jin Sha, at the heart of the resort, serves Shanghainese, Cantonese and local cuisine overlooking the lake and gardens. Presidential Villa from$13,500 per night. Contact Sophie Yan, assistant reservationmanager, sophie.yan@fourseasons.com, +86 571 8113 5191, fourseasons.com/hangzhou FOUR SEASONS HOTEL HANGZHOUATWEST LAKE HANGZHOU, CHINA

QUALIA HAMILTON ISLAND, AUSTRALIA

Qualia has a sublime setting on Australia’s idyllic Whitsunday Islands, amid the turquoise waters of the Great Barrier Reef. The open-sided Long Pavilion is a focal point here, positioned high above the oceanfront for optimum views as you dine on modern Australian cuisine by the infinity pool. Pebble Beach, on the resort’s sheltered shores, offers a place to relax, dine and sip cocktails by the pool. From here, set out on a catamaran tour or head to the resort’s spa, which aims to capture the essence of Australia in its therapeutic treatments. Stay in the open-plan pavilion-style Beach House to savor the ocean views from your own sundeck and infinity pool. Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp are among the guests who have stayed here. Beach House from $3,450 per night. Contact guestservices@qualia.com.au, +61 749 489 222, qualia.com.au

Photos Ken Seet, Jason Loucas, Moeava de Rosemont