Vacation Notes: Cuzco, Peru

Melissa@MachuPicchu Vacation Notes: Cuzco, Peru

Macchu Pichu, Peru

Cuzco, Peru is a short 1 hour flight from Lima, Peru’s chaotic capital. Breathing takes on a whole new meaning once you step foot onto Inca ground. The air is thin and the spirits are high – making this quaint, colonial city a must-see stop on any South American adventure.

EXPLORE:

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Plaza de Armas fountain and cathedral

Cuzco was once the capital of the mysterious Incas, the largest Empire in pre-Colombian America. In fact, the city was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983. You’ll want to head straight to Plaza de Armas – the epicenter of everything Cusco. Stop by the beautiful Spanish colonial Cathedral of Santo Domingo before a terrace lunch overlooking the Plaza fountain.

The majestic Inca site of Machu Picchu, located in the Sacred Valley, is the driving force of tourism in the area. If you are feeling adventurous, book an unforgettable 3 day hike along the Inca Trail. It was the most physically challenging, yet rewarding experience I’ve ever had. Once you reach “The Lost City of the Incas” check out the amazing stone sun dial.

DINE:

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The steep streets boast colonial charm

If you are feeling adventurous, guinea pig is a Peruvian delicacy available in most Andean restaurants. It didn’t feel right to eat my childhood pet, so I moseyed on over to Jack’s Café, a Cuzco staple and the only place where you can find a decent cup of black tea.

 

 

SHOP:

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Colourful markets in Cusco

The abundance of artisan crafts and wares will make you wish you left more room in your suitcase. Browse the colourful markets which have everything from authentic alpaca blankets and scarves to traditional worry dolls and wooden jewelry boxes.  The Barrio de San Blas is a great place to practice your bartering skills.

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Siren Diary: Visiting Paradise

Palmilla topi 1024x761 Siren Diary: Visiting Paradise

One of the gorgeous walkways at One&Only Palmilla, leading into Agua Bar (photos c/o David Hyde)

One&Only Palmilla is known as many things. A haven for celebrities, a world class place to swing your clubs, and home to one of Mexico’s most decadent spas. During a recent vacation in Los Cabos, one of Siren’s team found a few more reasons to love the glamorous property. Here is her A, B, C’s of her new pick for the ideal romantic getaway.

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The beautiful lanterns hanging above the bar at Agua

Atmospheric accents: On arrival at One&Only Palmilla it is immediately apparent that each element of the property has been carefully selected. Beautiful design details are everywhere, from the flower arrangements in the entrance to stunning sculptures tucked along the winding paths. One of the stand-outs is the incredible installment of colourful glass lanterns hanging over the bar.  They catch the light, and in the evening they fill the space with a multi-hued glow that adds magic to the surroundings. We left the resort with a plan to try and echo this gorgeous lighting design at home, even though we are sure we’d never be able to recreate it perfectly.

palmillabeach 300x213 Siren Diary: Visiting ParadiseBeach (Private, of course):  The beach at the resort is nothing short of spectacular. A private oasis for the property’s guests, it is found at the bottom of a winding stone staircase, which opens onto a cove of white sand strewn with private cabanas, hammocks and beach beds. The soothing sounds of the crashing surf and well-placed layout of secluded spaces ensure that no matter how many other guests are enjoying the beach, one always feels blissfully tranquil and alone.

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Delicious ceviche at Agua

Ceviche (and other assorted delicious dishes): While the property has several dining options,  the one we enjoyed lunch at on our escape to paradise was Agua, a sea-side restaurant with a “Mexiterranean” menu. After being meticulously positioned by the attentive staff so that we had the ideal amount of sun and shade, we looked over the menu. Of course we had to start with salsa and guacamole – the best we had during our entire stay in Mexico. Fresh ceviche followed this, as well as a perfectly topped vegetarian flatbread and a jumbo shrimp jambalaya. Every dish was beautifully presented and perfectly seasoned. We ate to near oblivion, while watching the paddle-boarders coast along the top of the Pacific and the pelicans dive and settle.  It was inarguably the perfect lunch.

One&Only Palmilla is one of those destinations that will be on our must-visit list no matter how many times we return. On each visit the A, B, C’s above, and all the other wonderful things about the property, will ensure a memorable escape to paradise.

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Vacation Notes: Verbier, Switzerland

verbier winter Vacation Notes:  Verbier, Switzerland

The village of Verbier is located at the heart of one of the biggest ski areas in the Swiss Alps. With its traditional wooden chalets- style buildings, visitors are transported to a picturesque alpine village.

For those looking for a holiday that keeps them active but at the same time offers incredible food and nightlife, all signs point to Verbier.

FITNESS

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Verbier's St Bernards with their trademark barrel

Staying active while in Verbier is not difficult. If skiing or snowboarding isn’t your thing there are numerous other activities to keep you busy. For adrenaline junkies, paragliding, ice climbing and tobogganing trips are one option. For an even more traditional experience, take an excursion with the St-Bernard dogs, the famous mascots of this stunning region.

 

FOOD

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View of Verbier from the restaurant La Marlenaz

Take a snow taxi 1895m up the mountain to the café-restaurant La Marlenaz which sits high above the twinkling lights of Verbier. The authentic menu offers meats, cheeses, produce and wines from nearby farms. Some amazing items on the menu include tomato infused cheese fondue and salmon rösti. What makes this meal even more memorable is how you get back down the mountain. Yes, you could take the snow taxi back but wouldn’t you rather toboggan down? Sleds and head-lamps are available if you feel up to it (I highly recommend this especially if you’re feeling tired after your big meal). If it’s a full moon there is no need for a lamp to guide you down the mountain trail.

FUN

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Farm Club Est. 1971

Aprés ski is an institution in the village of Verbier. Once the mountain closes, the bars and restaurants are flooded with people ready for some fun. There is no need to go home and change before you head out, most partygoers stay in their ski boots and jackets late into the night. For the ultimate après ski experience the notorious Farm Club (a favourite for European Royalty) is a must.

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Siren Diary: A Little Valentine’s Day Hanky Panky

Gansevoort Park Avenue NYC Rooftop Pool with Pinup Siren Diary: A Little Valentines Day Hanky Panky

Gansevoort Park Rooftop will be the perfect place to meet a new Valentine tonight.

It’s Valentine’s Day, love is in the air and Gansevoort Park Rooftop is inviting guests and NYC residents to get down and dirty with their weekly Office Hours…Extended happy hour series. Tonight they have added a V-Day twist to the celebration, one of our favourite undergarment brands, Hanky Panky, will be in the house. Ladies will enjoy complimentary Hanky Panky punch cocktail and can enter to win a dozen Hanky Panky thong roses. Whoever said chocolate and flowers were the way to a woman’s heart?

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Siren Diary: Hockey to Make you Feel at Home

GansevoortTC for Hockey Day Siren Diary: Hockey to Make you Feel at Home

Guests won't miss Hockey Day in Canada at Gansevoort Turks + Caicos

Tune into Hockey Day in Turks & Caicos

This Saturday marks one of the most anticipated dates on the Canadian calendar – Hockey Day in Canada. The head-to-head all-day hockey event will have Canadians glued to their TV sets – both in the country and around the world.

In the Turks & Caicos, guests of Gansevoort Turks + Caicos will celebrate the occasion by watching the live games on the resort’s beachfront big screen – ideal for Canadian tourists and ex-patriots who don’t want to miss out on their beloved sport. The resort’s Beach Bar will even be transformed to an “Ice Bar” serving Canadian favourites like poutine and buckets of ice cold beer. To top it all off, room rates are from US$750/night. Sounds pretty amazing to us, eh!

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Travel Twos-day (Tuesday, Part Two): Atlantis, Paradise Island

 

serpentslide 300x216 Travel Twos day (Tuesday, Part Two): Atlantis, Paradise Island

Atlantis, Paradise Island's Aquaventure

This just in! Atlantis, Paradise Island is offering a deal so sweet, we just had to share it. Although not an official Siren Travel Tuesday special, as it is available to the public and does not have a unique booking code, the package offers savings of up to 50 per cent and is a great way to book an escape to paradise!

Sun-seekers are encouraged to act fast, as the offer is only available for the next 72-hours.

The Atlantis “Sweetest Deal” Includes:

  • Room rates starting from US$199/per night
  • Up to a US$450 airfare credit
  • 3 day booking window is in effect. The deal must be booked by February 10th for travel between now and March 31st and from April 22nd to June 13th
  • Unlimited access to Aquaventure, the resort’s 141-acre waterscape with thrilling water slides and rides; and their marine habitat which has over 50,000 marine animals and is the largest open-air habitat in the world
  • Children (11 and under) always stay and play for free

Atlantis guests have access to a 141-acre tropical waterscape filled with wonders such as the world’s largest open-air marine habitat, the Caribbean’s largest waterpark and casino, endless sparkling pools and white-sand beaches. Don’t forget to indulge at restaurants run by some of the world’s most renowned celebrity chefs!

To book the package, and to see complete terms and details, please visit www.Atlantis.com

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Siren Favourite Things: Filmed On Location

 

 Siren Favourite Things: Filmed On LocationAs the 2012 Oscar buzz begins to fill the air, (only 19 days away!), here at Siren we began to ask some really important questions. What will Rooney Mara wear on the red carpet? Will George Clooney win best actor this year? Will Anne Hathaway attend despite her painful hosting experience last year?

It also reminded us that some of our clients have had Oscar-worthy movie moments filmed on their properties. Yes, many celebrities flock to these incredible destinations to relax, but they have also visited these exotic locations to work.

Apocalypse Now Image 300x225 Siren Favourite Things: Filmed On LocationBelieve it or not the luxurious Casa de Campo was selected as the site to film parts of the 1979 epic war film Apocalypse Now. The Chavon River and the surrounding landscape, which now provides a stunning backdrop for those golfing the epic Dye Four golf course, became Vietnam- thanks to the magic of the movies.

Atlantis, Paradise Island has also been seen on the big and small screen. A variety of films have been shot at this world renowned resort including the ocean inspired drama Into the Blue starring Paul Walker and Jessica Alba as well as the romantic comedy Duplicity with Clive Owen and Julie Roberts.  Though this may not be considered a movie, the one and only Justin Beiber selected Atlantis as the location for his music video “Never Let You Go”.

Casino Royal image 300x197 Siren Favourite Things: Filmed On LocationIf you are a James Bond fan then you may already know that One & Only Ocean Club in Nassau Bahamas provided the setting for several scenes in Casino Royale, the 2006 remake of the James Bond film. Peirce Brosnan and Salma Hayek also filmed some romantic scenes on the beach of Paradise Island while filming After the Sunset.

Closer to home, Atom Egoyan’s thriller Chloe, starring Julianne Moore, Amanda Seyfried and Liam Neeson, was filmed in and around Toronto’s five-star Hazelton Hotel.

One thing is certain – no matter which stunning property we visit next, re-enacting a classic scene from one of these films will be in order.

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Siren Sweats: One&Only Ocean Club Physique 57 Contest

OneOnly Ocean Club Yoga 1012x1024 Siren Sweats: One&Only Ocean Club Physique 57 Contest

Get a total body workout with One&Only Ocean Club’s popular Physique 57 classes

Here’s some good news for all those fitness fanatics – there is still time to enter One&Only Ocean Club’s Physique 57 getaway contest! We’re definitely fans of the program – and highly recommend that you enter for your chance to win.

To win, contestants must like One&Only Resorts Facebook  page and submit an entry form. The grand prize package includes four nights stay for two guests in a Garden View Room at One&Only Ocean Club, two daily Physique 57 classes on the beach deck, a welcome gift bag with a Physique 57 Workout DVD and much more.

Physique 57® is a vigorous and dynamic exercise method designed to rapidly transform the body with a proven cardiovascular program of isometric exercises and orthopedic stretches. Interval training sets incorporate muscle-defining arm exercises, intense thigh and seat sequences, waist-chiseling abdominal moves and fluid stretches to create a long and lean physique.

Full contest details can be found on the One&Only Resorts Facebook page – and we urge you to hurry, the contest closes soon!

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Siren Favourite Things: The Ultimate Roaming Romance Packages for Valentine’s Day

valentine1 Siren Favourite Things: The Ultimate Roaming Romance Packages for Valentines Day

An unforgettable Valentine’s Day retreat is the perfect way to show how much you care. Whether you’re longing for a beach-front getaway or looking for love in the big city, this February all romantic options are possible. Here are our favourite love-struck package picks for everyone on Cupid’s list.

auberge valentine 300x300 Siren Favourite Things: The Ultimate Roaming Romance Packages for Valentines DayCanadian Classic: Cozy up to your loved one this Valentine’s Day and indulge in one of the most romantic packages of the season. Auberge Saint-Antoine offers an intimate couple’s escape in the heart of Old Quebec. Each guest will be entered in a draw to win a critically acclaimed Magnum bottle of Veuve Cliquot Rosé from France. This ­­­package is available from February 10th to 18th and includes a one night stay for two with valet parking, complimentary champagne, a romantic dinner at the hotel’s renowned restaurant Panache and breakfast the following the morning. Packages start from $306 CAN per person.

Amorous & Adventurous: Rekindle the flame at the idyllic Casa de Campo resort in the Dominican Republic, which offers tailored-made experiences for every couple. Guests who book their Valentine’s Day Escape at Casa de Campo before February 15th will receive Elite Patio room accommodations, breakfast, lunch and dinner at resort restaurants, unlimited drinks, horseback riding, tennis and watersports and one round of trap and skeet shooting. Rates start at $295 per person, per night. Booking code: W-295.

GansevoortparkValentine Siren Favourite Things: The Ultimate Roaming Romance Packages for Valentines DaySingle City: Whether you’re uptown at Gansevoort Park Avenue or downtown at Hotel Gansevoort, Meatpacking, this Single + Mingle Package will have you falling in love with the Empire State. This luxurious package includes overnight accommodations, continental breakfast for two at Asellina or Tanuki Tavern, two cocktail vouchers and VIP reserved seating on the Rooftop, complimentary G-branded sunglasses per person, complimentary Bloody Mary cocktail per person at Asellina or Tanuki Tavern, Bond #9 discount card & sample gift scent, and a “Recovery” deep tissue massage at Exhale Spa, per person the next morning.  Rates start at $585. Valid between February 1st, 2012 and February 29th, 2012.

Luxurious Layabout: Experience another side of paradise at The Cove, Atlantis, the Caribbean’s sexiest resort, which offers upscale amenities to suit any pair. This Valentine’s Day Retreat is perfect for cool couples to unwind in style and enjoy the resort’s exquisite nightlife, dining, beach and golf. Best yet, the resort’s current special includes the fourth night’s stay free and a $400 airfare credit on a 6 night stay or a $250 airfare credit on a 4 night stay. This special must be booked by February 6th, 2012.

oopalmillavalentines Siren Favourite Things: The Ultimate Roaming Romance Packages for Valentines DayIndulgent Escape: The breathtaking One&Only Palmilla in Los Cabos is simply divine. From opulent villas to yacht cruises, the resort provides plenty of romantic places to enjoy the company of a significant other. The Valentine’s Day Package is full of thoughtful touches and details. Be prepared to indulge in the following special benefits: reserve 3 consecutive nights and receive a 4th night complimentary, a nightly discount on any additional nights reserved, complimentary bottle of champagne upon arrival, dinner for two in Agua or Market Restaurant, round-trip airport transfers, two USD$50 spa certificates to redeem for any Signature Treatment, a welcome tequila amenity, daily complimentary fresh fruit and in-room Espresso and tea service.

Grand Gesture: The Hazelton Hotel has created a special Rekindle The Romance Package for couples looking to discover each other again, new parents in need of a luxurious night out, or lovers who wish to celebrate in style. The package is available from February 11-15, 2012 and includes overnight accommodations, champagne and fruit platter upon arrival, rose petals decorated throughout the room, a fresh flower arrangement compliments of Teatro Verde, complimentary breakfast in bed courtesy of Mark McEwan’s ONE Restaurant, late check-out, a $300 spa credit at The Hazelton Hotel Spa & Health Club,  pre- arrival Romance Consultant to assist with all details surrounding your stay, a private movie screening including white chocolate popcorn and a half bottle of chilled Champagne for two served in Silver Screening Room. Rates start at $775 per night.

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Weekend Buzz: Your Invitation to the Season’s Hottest Super Bowl Parties

  • Weekend Buzz Feb12012 GansevoortTCBigScreen Weekend Buzz:  Your Invitation to the Season’s Hottest Super Bowl Parties

    Gansevoort Turks + Caicos knows that even watching football is more fun on the beach

    Gansevoort Turks + Caicos is throwing an exclusive Super Bowl party, Sunday February 5th, 2012. Tailgate at world famous Grace Bay Beach and watch the game on the big screen as you enjoy food and drink specials featuring fan favourites from New York and New England. The beach bonfire lights up during the 4th quarter. Don’t miss out!

  • For those who won’t be able to cheer for the NY Giants in-person Hotel Gansevoort, Meatpacking is hosting a sky-high Super Bowl party at New York City’s chic plunge Rooftop Bar & Lounge.  Football fans will enjoy beer specials, plush couch seating and stunning New York City views, turning this year’s party up a notch. Doors open at 4pm. No cover!
  • Atlantis, Paradise Island kicks off the 46th annual Super Bowl with their Big Game Party. Watch the action between the Giants and the Patriots in the stylish Atlantis Imperial Ballroom, featuring twelve massive television screens and Sportsbook remote betting stations for your chance to win big. The party starts at 5pm. Tickets are available for USD$200 and include open bar and stadium-style fare. Sounds like a ‘winning’ night!

 

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