Elite Traveler July-August 2018

77 elite traveler JULY/AUG 2018

TY WARNER MANSION

LAS VENTANAS, A ROSEWOOD RESORT, LOS CABOS, MEXICO

One of the most expensive suites in the world, the Ty Warner Mansion certainly warrants the high price tag. Designed by legendary architect Jorge Torres, the 28,000-sq-ft, two-bedroom beachfront mansion has everything you could ever need: theater room, state-of-the-art gym, personal spa with complimentary treatments, a courtyard with one of the world’s largest 360-degree gardens complete with life-size chess pieces, plus three swimming pools including a glass-bottom pool and beachfront infinity pool, which is the setting for a remote- controlled firework display. Light up the sky over the Sea of Cortez with tequila in hand from the in-suite library that houses rare bottles including Clase Azul Ultra and Don Julio Real. From $35,000 per night. Contact Lauren Carr, director of sales and marketing, lauren.carr@ rosewoodhotels.com, +1 800 626 7466, rosewoodhotels.com

ROMANTIC POOL RESIDENCE VELAA PRIVATE ISLAND, MALDIVES If you’re looking for a honeymoon destination, anniversary celebration or just want to surprise your significant other, Velaa Private Island has just the thing. The Maldives is a pretty romantic place but this villa takes it up a notch. Suspended above the turquoise Indian Ocean, Romantic Pool Residence is only accessible by boat so absolute privacy is ensured, and with a live-in butler, kitchen, massage room, private spa, gym and large swimming pool, you might not even need that water taxi. For a truly memorable evening, arrange a decadent dinner on the dining gazebo, set on its own jetty over the water so you can watch the sunset while you dine on the catch of the day. From $8,000 per night. Contact Hassan Zahir,

BANYAN HI LL ESTATE FREGATE ISLAND PRIVATE, SEYCHELLES

reservations manager, hassan.zahir@ velaaisland.com, +960 656 5000, velaaprivateisland.com

More a cluster of gorgeous villas than a suite, Banyan Hill Estate’s main house has a huge living space, separate lounge and study plus a generous kitchen for the estate’s personal chef to create delicious cuisine using fresh, local produce. The main house opens onto a large terrace with a private pool, and the other villas each have a master bedroom opening onto a private veranda; the perfect choice for groups who still want privacy. The island itself is astonishingly beautiful with seven beaches (one for every day of the week), six miles of rain forest trails and rare wildlife. The resort’s conservation efforts are impressive—bred from a population of 150 tortoise 25 years ago, the current number of Giant Aldabra tortoises on the island is now over 3,000, and the SeychellesWhite Eye and SeychellesWarbler have been rescued from near extinction. From$11,375 per night. Contact Jan Höfner, reservations and sales coordinator, reservations@fregate.com, +24 846 701 00, fregate.com

Photos Don Riddle, Erhard Pfeiffer