p58-59 ttg_lux_t&t reviews 4/3/10 12:21 Page 59
VIRGIN ATLANTIC
UPPER CLASS
Heathrow to New York JFK
FOUR SEASONS SHARM EL SHEIKH
The facts: Virgin Atlantic flies from
EGYPT
Heathrow to New York five times daily
by April Hutchinson
from £299 (economy), £542 (premium
economy) and £1,487 (Upper Class).
If you wanted a vivid illustration of the word “oasis”, using photos of the Four Tel: 08448 747747, virginatlantic.com
Seasons Sharm el Sheikh would do the trick. The resort rises like a mirage from the
HOW TO SELL IT
dusty flat plains that characterise the area, with nothing but the sandy shapes of the Style & substance: Everything screams
■ Specially-designed family
Sinai desert to the rear and the Red Sea in the distance. Forget any preconceived suites and services, Kids For style in the lounge, from huge daybeds
ideas you may have about this ramshackle, cheap-and-cheerful winter-sun hotspot All Seasons club and to the Bumble and Bumble hair salon,
– this is easily the best hotel in Sharm. Even the Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak
Gezarah Pool and Restaurant
Cowshed spa and a well-stocked library.
thinks so – his son’s marriage was celebrated here.
all in one area
The cabin was classic Virgin – purple and
The resort’s verdant surrounds are thanks to 1,800 palm trees, and a one-hour red, with a touch of bling.
tour can be arranged if green-fingered guests wish to find out more about some of
■ Daniela Steiner Spa, with
Top notch Could try harder
outdoor adults-only lap pool
the 25 species of flowers colouring the property.
The resort tumbles its way down from the magnificent Arabesque vantage-point Feeling: The private security channel
■ Perfect all-round resort for
lobby and features 200 rooms and suites clustered in small blocks around pretty
dose of winter-sun and just a
offers a coveted timesaving service.
courtyards. Accommodation includes the most luxurious option, the Royal Suite
four-hour flight
Virgin’s “terminal” within T3 is impressive
– which comes with a little private beach – as well as three private villas and 13 too, but it felt like checking in at a club,
other bewildering categories. Equally as confusing is the layout of the resort and its How to book it beneath changing coloured lights. All
many steps. But, thinking of its less mobile guests, there’s a cute little funicular Seasons in Style offers seven that’s missing is a DJ – and some smiles:
running people from the lobby down to the beach and main pool.
nights from £1,220pp, including
the sullen woman at check-in was more
There need never be a dull moment here, with four tennis courts, spa, yoga
breakfast, British Airways flights
interested in chatting to colleagues.
instructor taking sessions on one of the lush lawns (also the site of a fun
from Gatwick and transfers.
VIP One of the masses
Bedouin-themed night during my stay), dive courses, boat trips, promenade trail
Tel: 01244 202 000,
seasonsinstyle.com
and gardens, not to mention the beach – although that did take a beating in the And so to bed: The “Suite” converts to a
freak January storms. Fixing the damage may take precedent over the hotel’s
1 Four Seasons Boulevard,
6ft 6in-long bed finished with a comfy
plans to expand onto land next door, which includes building a golf course.
Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt
combo of duvet, pillow and mattress.
Nearby excursions include the Ras Mohammed National Park or St Catherine’s
Tel: 00 20 69 360 3555,
Each seat has direct aisle access so no
Monastery – home to Moses’ Burning Bush – a two-hour drive away. Further afield,
fourseasons.com
need to climb over passengers.
concierge can help organise trips to the Pyramids, Alexandria, Luxor – even Petra. Comfortable cocoon Cabin fever
On the menu: I had planned to eat
VILLA CASA AZURA before flying, but lack of hot water in the
CORSICA
by Chris Gray
lounge stopped the kitchen making hot
fresh meals. No matter – my butternut
A bumpy four-wheel-drive trip down an unpaved switchback the table – even doing the washing up. All we had to do was squash and sweet potato soup, homely
road pitted with huge potholes took us to a secluded little enjoy that wine, take in the sunset and feast on sardines fish pie and seasonal vegetables, cheese
beach, served by simple beach-shack restaurants. This was stuffed with squid, seabream with roasted cote de boeuf platter and spotted dick were all
a stark contrast to our pampered start to the day – breakfast and an amazing traditional chestnut chocolate torte... restaurant-quality in the air. Afternoon
delivered to our vast sun terrace above the infinity pool at tea was an added bonus, as was the wine
Casa Azura, our villa for the week. HOW TO BOOK IT list by Berry Bros and Rudd.
With its uninterrupted views of the grand sweep of the Seven nights at Casa Azura start at £765pp (six sharing, A fine feast Eat before boarding
Gulf of Ajaccio, the villa is one of many looked after by valid for May 23, 2010) including flights, car hire, morning
Coastline, which has others in Corsica, as well as Ibiza and patisserie and newspaper, 24-hour phone concierge and High-tech v low-tech: Wi-Fi access in the
Majorca. Such high-spec properties attract many high fliers maid service twice weekly. Private nanny service, £70 per lounge filled a useful hour. You couldn’t
and celebrities – a senior politician and top DJ are reputed half day/£550 for five full days. Private chef from £100 wish for a better IFE system, with noise-
to be previous clients in Corsica, and Caza Azura itself is per day for four people plus cost of ingredients. cancelling headphones and 10.4in screen
owned by a successful French plastic surgeon. Tel: 0844 557 1020, coastline.co.uk with vast choice of audio, 50 films, TV
It’s tucked away at the end of its own long lane so after a (around 50 options) and games.
mountainous drive from Ajaccio airport, tranquillity is Switched on Switched off
assured. It’s so quiet at night we could hear the local
sangliers (wild boars) rooting for food around the villa. Who’s it for: Cool kids, entrepreneurs
But any fears of isolation are calmed by Coastline’s and lottery winners.
dedicated local staff – a concierge met us on arrival and was
on hand 24 hours a day, our two-year-old daughter amused If it were a famous person… Russell
herself with a basket of toys provided by the nanny, my Brand - cheeky and always ready to
partner enjoyed a poolside massage and we feasted on a challenge the establishment.
meal provided by cheery Tom Green, our private chef. He
took care of everything, from chilling the local wine to laying by April Hutchinson
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