Luxury Getaways

By Mary Gostelow

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Four Seasons Tented Camp Golden Triangle
Chiang Rai, Thailand

A 10-minute river trip in a teak long-tail boat brings you to this exotic jungle resort. Look out of one of the 15 tented villas and you can see three countries: Laos, Myanmar and Thailand. Tents come with wood floors and deck, air conditioning, modern plumbing and Wi-Fi. The all-inclusive program includes pre-dinner cocktails, perhaps in the wine cellar with GM Jason Friedman, who formerly ran a wine store in Manhattan. For a big treat, try the elephant program, where you get a blue mahout uniform and ride one of the resort’s six elephants. You even get to take it down into the Ruak River for its daily bath. Afterwards, recover with a massage in the spa set in the treetops.

66-53-910-200, fourseasons.com/goldentriangle

The Fairmont Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.

This 415-room hotel, run by GM George Terpilowski, is the ideal base for visiting the American capital. You are a 10-minute walk east of Georgetown and within half an hour of the Convention Center and all the Capitol, Mall and White House tourist sites. Among the 320 friendly employees, who speak 35 languages, is Manitoba-born Clarence McCleod, the concierge in the ninth-floor Gold Club lounge; he is the reason many guests return. Gold Club rooms offer free broadband, while the quietest rooms overlook the inner courtyard garden. The 170-square-metre gym has an indoor pool, and Juniper is a first-rate brasserie that attracts many local patrons with its fresh local produce.

202-429-2400, fairmont.com/washington

Old Course Hotel, Golf Resort & Spa
Saint Andrews, Scotland

The best suites at this 169-room hotel are those that overlook the famous Road Hole on the 17th fairway of the Old Course. GM Jonathan Stapleton and his concierges will closely attend to the needs of golfers, but even non-golfers have a great time here. Walk along the rugged North Sea coast or visit Saint Andrews, a university town steeped in history and romantic ruins and lined with cashmere and tartan stores. Enjoy the newly opened Kohler spa, named for the resort’s owners. Dining opportunities include home cooking and draft Celtic beer in the Jigger Inn – once the station master’s house when the railway ran through here – or modern Scottish fare in the Road Hole Grill and Bar.

44-1334-474371, oldcoursehotel.kohler.com

Write to us: letters@enroutemag.net

Mary Gostelow is the editor-in-chief of Wow Travel, the online magazine of www.kiwicollection.com. E-mail her at mgostelow@enroutemag.net.

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