The World at Your Door



They say that getting there should be half the pleasure. With that in mind, if you are making a break for luxury, why not travel in the same manner? The Palace on Wheels makes this possible. A boutique hotel of sorts, it is a train made from refurbished coaches that were intended to be the personal vehicles for India's rulers, such as the viceroy of British India. This could allow you to sleep in comfort and wake up at a different destination every morning. The train has two restaurants, a bar and a lounge; each room is carpeted and air-conditioned with a wash room attached and a 24-hour steward service. Other trains made for luxury holidays in India are the Deccan Odyssey and the Golden Chariot.

You'll also feel like you've arrived when you step out from your room on the Maldives? Cocoa Island. In boutique hotel style, the Dhoni Suites are modelled on local fishing boats and are moored to a smooth wooden pier, so the clear shallow waters of the Maldivian Sea are all around, forming a magnificent panorama.

A Little Opulence Goes a Long Way

And there's nothing wrong with wanting some magnificence mixed in with your luxury holidays. The Emirates Palace in the United Arab Emirates is just one example of the opulence out there to enjoy. With its sheer size and its palatial appearance, it is a commanding edifice on a pr ivate stretch of beach at the outskirts of Abu Dhabi. Each of its suites is air conditioned and spacious, with a plasma TV, DVD and private balcony or patio. The rooms are decorated in a lavish style, with a combination of Arabic and European influences, and are tended to by a complimentary butler service.

Spa Pampering

Having someone to tend to your needs is the essence of luxury. Holidays where you pamper yourself are good for the soul, but better yet, get someone to do it for you. The daily massages at the award winning Chiva-Som Spa in Thailand will set you up for your choice of leisure activates: yoga, pilates, Tai Chi, meditation, kick boxing, body balance and stress management should get you feeling like yourself again.

You'll get looked after on luxury holidays at Oman's Chedi Muscat, too. The garden pathways and minimalist-styled buildings emphasise the simple contrasts of colour in the setting ? the blue sea and sky and the white sand. Recently voted Best Spa in 2009 by the Conde Nast Traveller magazine, this resort boasts a wide range of treatments drawing on the healing traditions of Bali, India and Tibet. If that doesn't sound luxurious enough for you, you should try the Omani Bliss ritual.