HOW TO SELL BRUNEI
LOOK TO BOOK
TOP TOUR OPS
audleytravel.com premierholidays.co.uk tailor-made.co.uk jetsetholidays.co.uk wandotravel.com SUGGESTED ITINERARY Three nights at the Empire Hotel, with a city and Brunei River tour (add two days for divers); three nights at Ulu Ulu Resort with canopy tour,/trekking/ relaxing; add Sabah for beach/orangutans and end with Singapore/KL. SAMPLE DEAL: Premier Holidays has a stay three nights and receive one extra free, or stay five nights for an extra two free offer, for the Empire Hotel. The lead-in price for two nights is £285pp.
modest but charming Kampong Ayer – Bandar Seri Begawan’s water village. First settled over 400 years ago above the Brunei River, these days, visitors reach the stilted houses by speedboat to amble its rickety walkways. To sample local cooking, head to the
steamy Gadong Night Market, where women in vivid headscarves tend to chargrilled fish wrapped in exotic banana leaves behind plumes of smoke. Jungle-bound visitors can meet the Iban people, once famous for their brutal 'headhunting', now famous for their lavish feather headdresses and tribal dances. They still live in traditional long houses and welcome curious tourists.
Dive straight in Borneo is already famous for its scuba diving (turtle-rich Sipadan in Sabah is likely to be on many divers' radar), but Brunei is up and coming. There’s diving for all levels, from shallow coral dives for beginners to a range of reefs and, most impressively, a huge array of incredible well-preserved wrecks. Another, unusual option, is to dive on an oil rig. Because Brunei’s diving industry is fledgling, divers will find they have the sites to themselves – unusual in neighbouring Sipidan or other popular dive spots in Thailand or Indonesia. The best time for visibility is March to November, and visitors will spot sharks, rays, tropical fish and an array of hard and soft corals.
Ultimate luxury The palatial Empire Hotel and Country Club, just half an hour from Brunei’s airport, is an otherworldly mix of colonial splendour and royal opulence (it was originally built by the prince as an overflow for palace guests). Like much of Brunei, it’s complemented by gleaming gold as well as crystal chandeliers and other sumptuous features. The beachfront property’s 518 rooms sprawl over a vast area of manicured lawns with several pools, and vary from opulent suites to free-standing villas. There are six restaurants serving
international cuisine, ranging form Chinese to Italian; an 18-hole Jack Nicklaus-designed golf course which stays open after dark, plus a driving range; a spa; gym; and tennis, squash and badminton courts. The resort even has designer shops.
It’s child’s play Brunei is incredibly safe and manageable for families. The tiny ‘city’ of BSB presents little threat and kids are safe to wander through the markets, museums and malls without fear of hassle or hazards. The choice of western restaurants also means fussy eaters are catered for. Super hotel The Empire is a private
complex where kids can roam, catching lifts on the golf buggies. There are myriad pools and it even includes its own cinema and bowling alley – perfect to keep the kids entertained whilst the adults relax.
Perfect for pairing Surrounding Brunei is the Malaysian state of Sarawak, famous for its tribal culture, including long house communities, where visitors can stay the night. Just a short plane ride away is Sabah (there are four Royal Brunei Airlines flight a week connecting here), famous for its resident orangutans and
Mount Kinabalu, the tallest mountain in Southeast Asia. This is also a good place for a beach resort add-on or a contrasting dive spot. For city lovers, the bright lights of Singapore or Kuala Lumpur are an easy plane hop away.
Clockwise from top: The canopy
walkway in Ulu Temburong; Gandong night market; a flowering tree; a Brunei beach at sunset.
www.sellinglonghaul.com • October 2012 47
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