(Strategies) 07.10 - TRAVEL BY NUMBERS - Villa Bukit Naga
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(Strategies) 07.10
TRAVEL BY NUMBERS
Let’s face it: group trips can be a headache, especially for travelers who value their
independence. But they can also bring huge rewards. Here, T+L offers up ways to
make group travel easier to plan, less painful to execute and even, dare we say, fun.
By LILI TAN Illustrated by WASINEE CHANTAKORN
T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A . C O M | JU LY 2010 25
strategies | group travel
■ RENT A VILLA
Private, luxe accommodation EMERGENCY GUIDE
suddenly becomes affordable
when you’re sharing costs
with a crowd. On Bali, skip • PASSPORT ISSUES If someone forgets to get a visa, or their
the Kuta cowboys and head travel document has less than six months before it expires, first
inland toward cultural capital call your travel agent, in case they can rush an order. Booked the
Ubud, where nearby Villa trip yourself? Contact your closest embassy or consulate;
Embassiesabroad.com lets you search by country and location.
Bukit Naga (Banjar Selat, Desa
Samplangan, Gianyar, Bali, • LOST DOCUMENTS In case someone loses their travel
Indonesia; 62-361/941-118; documents, make sure everyone has two copies of their passport
and driver’s license or other ID. Designate one responsible person
villabukitnaga.com; villas from
to keep a copy of everybody’s, and ask each person to keep a
US$1,100 per night) sleeps 13 copy separate from their passport. If you’re traveling with two
and boasts three houses with families or couples, swap a set of copies with the other party for
two infinity pools overlooking safekeeping. Travelers without them will need to go through the
Crystal Cruises welcomes groups.
hassle of proving their citizenship, which can take a few days.
a sacred valley. For a nominal
fee, a car and driver will take • ILLNESS Even if everyone is insured, coverage may not apply
you into town to gallery-hop, and three chefs—including ■ ROCK OUT outside your home country. Luckily, travel insurance is usually
while 15 sweet staffers will Reuben Kimber from This month, grab your fellow cheap and requires less hassle than with your regular insurance
company. Compare prices at Travelinsurancereview.net,
organize balé-side yoga Somerset’s historic Babington music lovers and head north. or jot down the location of the International SOS hospital
sessions with renowned House—as well as an on-site Two of the biggest rock (internationalsos.com) closest to your destination. The
instructor Sri Jane, or whip masseuse and yoga teacher. festivals in Asia take place in representatives there can help with most expatriate health-care
Villa Bukit Naga, in Ubud, Bali. scenarios, including air-lifting you home.
up authentic Balinese or July. First, hit up South
macrobiotic cuisine. For ■ CRUISE TOGETHER Korea’s fifth annual • PICK-POCKETING Keep a copy of both sides of your credit
somewhere über-extravagant, While voyages at sea are Pentaport Rock Festival (July and debit cards along with your passport copy. So if you find your
wallet has been stolen, you can call immediately to cancel them.
GOT COMPANY?
make a beeline for Samui’s usually thought of as family 23–25; Incheon Dream Park,
File a police report — even if the cops don’t recover your goods,
YL Residence No. 17 (117 affairs, cruises allow for big Incheon, South Korea; it will be easier to claim insurance later. The nice thing about
Moo 2 Tambon Maret, Ko Samui, groups of friends to venture pentaportrock.com; one-day passes traveling with a group? Ample friends around to spot you until
Thailand; 66-84/356-2388; out on day trips, break apart KRW50,000). At press time, your replacement cards arrive.
Whether you’re traveling with friends or a whole other family,
ylresidence.com; whole residence for onboard activities and the 2010 lineup was still to be
combining people usually means conflicting personalities. So from US$4,000 per night). The then come together for mega confirmed, but previous years
• FLIGHT DRAMA Group discounts can have their pitfalls: when
your ticket is attached to another person’s, some airlines like
what happens when someone strays from the herd, a couple gets expansive, 10-bedroom villa meals. Plus, being on a ship featured top-caliber acts like Cathay Pacific require you to travel together. So if one person
into a fight or people just can’t stop themselves from behaving property spans five hectares means no one gets lost—at the Deftones in 2009, the pulls out because of a last-minute work request or illness, it’s likely
badly? To help you plan—and make it through—we’ve come and employs 20 full-time staff, least, not for too long. Crystal Chemical Brothers and OK you’ll have to buy a whole new ticket. Find out if your agent can
plead your case; if not, they can at least help book a flight that
up with the following ideas to please parties from two to 10. including butlers, bartenders Cruises (crystalcruises.com; two- Go in 2007, and the Strokes gets in roughly at the same time as your friends. As for lost cost,
F RO M TO P : CO U RT ESY O F V I L L A B U K I T N AGA ; CO U RT ESY O F Y L R ES I D E N C E N O. 1 7
week cruise from US$8,665 per and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs in if your companion is traveling for business, their company should
person), from Sydney to Bali, 2006. The following week, reimburse your original ticket, plus the cost of your new flight.
TRAVEL WITH… and Singapore to Mumbai,
offers up Experience of
head to the Fuji Rock Festival
(July 30–August 1; Naeba Ski
• BEHIND BARS Drugs are the main reason people get
arrested abroad, but drunken or disorderly behavior can get you
10 FRIENDS Discovery theme cruises,
including fashion-geared
Resort, Japan; fujirockfestival.com;
one-day passes ¥16,800), the
locked up too. No matter which country you’re in, be respectful,
especially if you don’t speak the local language, and remember to
say you’re sorry — a lot. Authorities will be more receptive to your
There are plenty of ways to being retreat, you’ll excursions with personal largest outdoor rock event in requests, whether you’re asking them to contact your embassy to
travel with a group of friends automatically attract people consultations from sought- Japan. Though last year’s arrange a local attorney, or inform the rest of your group about
without splitting up, getting with the same interests and after designers and stylists, crowd-surfing campers were your predicament.
lost or hurting someone’s holiday objectives. So while wellness-focused vacations disappointed when headliners
• MISSING PERSONS Before your trip, ask everyone to make
feelings. Remember, larger you may not be traveling with C O U R T E SY O F C R YS TA L C R U I S E S with yoga and other fitness the Killers canceled their Asia sure they have mobile-roaming capabilities, or else pick up a local
numbers mean better prices your BFFs, there will at least itineraries, and golf-centric leg, festival-goers are bound SIM card on arrival and have everyone save your new number.
and more people to share be less bickering over where cruises guided by PGA pros. to be satisfied by this year’s Before a crazy night out, grab business cards from your hotel so
that everyone has one handy, in case people get separated or
accommodation costs. The to go and what to do, and With cruise company Costa 200-plus lineup of Japanese
don’t show up at a designated meeting spot. If your buddy doesn’t
key? Choose the activity more time to get to know (costacruisesasia.com), expect and international musicians, turn up eventually, make sure she’s not with anyone else before
before picking the crew. In peripheral friends. Read on affordable island hopping in including groups such as the calling the embassy, which can check hospitals and contact local
other words, if you’re heading for surefire ways to make places like the Philippines Scissor Sisters, Hot Chip and authorities in case you need to file a missing-person’s report.
YL Residence No. 17, on Ko Samui.
to a music festival or a well- everyone content. and Indonesia. LCD Soundsystem. »
26 JU LY 2 0 1 0 | T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A . C O M T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A . C O M | J ULY 201 0 27
strategies | group travel
teenage orangutans rescued ■ GO GREEN
TRAVEL WITH… Universal Studios Singapore
(65/6577-8899; rwsentosa.com; from circuses and palm-tree From all-inclusive resorts to
one-day passes S$66), the adults plantations to survive in the boutique hotels, places are
TWO FAMILIES can relax at six different wild. To see baby orangutans, starting to cater to youngsters’
hotels run by the newly go to the Shangri-La Rasa higher consciousness. The
opened Resorts World Ria Resort (Pentai Dalit Beach, InterContinental Bali’s
Sentosa. For starters, enjoy Tuaran, Sabah, Malaysia; 60- Planet Trekkers (62-361/
lavish rooms with an edge 88/79-2888; shangri-la.com; 701-888; intercontinental.com;
(and a famous souvenir shop, doubles from RM520), where a rooms from US$210) is a mini-
BEST WEBSITE of course) at the Hard Rock nature reserve is incorporated resort that offers children a
…TO GAIN CONSENSUS TRIPPY sites.google. Hotel, escape for a treatment into the resort compound. confined area to play in, while
The latest from Google allows friends com/site/
from near and far to collaborate and
at Spa Villas or, if you’re The Shangri-La also boasts a teaching them to be socially
trippysite/ lucky enough to receive an quiet beach and Dalit Bay responsible travelers via green
plan their next reunion in real time.
Everyone needs Google Wave to use home invite, live it up at the Golf Club & Spa, which has an activities. Your kids may not
it, but adding the extension is easy if luxurious, Michael Graves– 18-hole course. For more initially appreciate the
you already have a Gmail account. Family Friendly From top:
The application utilizes content from award-winning travel guide
designed Crockfords Tower. diverse creature contact, fly absence of televisions at the Fun with Mickey at
into Phnom Penh, Cambodia Cassia Cottage Hotel & Inn Disneyland Hong Kong; at
Lonely Planet to easily find places to stay, eat and sightsee wherever the Shangri-La Rasa Ria
you’re planning to go. Each person can add their must-do's and must- ■ GO WILD and head south to the Phnom (Phu Quoc Island, Vietnam; 84- Resort, in Kota Kinabalu.
sees to an itinerary, as well as vote and comment on everyone else’s Educational and fun, Sepilok Tamao Wildlife Rescue 4/3928-4973; cassiacottage.com;
choices. After everyone has their say, just print or share the results The InterContinental Bali has a kid’s club.
via e-mail. A mobile web and Android app will follow in the near
Jungle Resort (Jln. Rambutan, (855/1287-5413; forestry.gov. doubles from US$65), but this
future for on-location use. Sepilok Mile 14, Sandakan, kh). More than 1,000 rescued family-run, plantation-style
Inviting another family on a ■ PICK A THEME Sabah, Malaysia; 60-89/ animals—including villa has distractions like a
…TO SCORE DEALS trip can help quell spats, take A theme park, that is. On 533031; sepilokjungleresort.com; elephants, clouded leopards private beachfront and
VALUPEDIA the pressure off an overkill of Lantau, Disneyland Hong rooms from RM28 per person) sits and sun bears—reside in this gardens to keep the young
When traveling to Hong Kong, check
“family time” and provide Kong (park.hongkongdisneyland. in a protected forest and helps 2,500-hectare park. ones busy. »
out Valupedia for great group deals
valupedia.com on Cathay Pacific travel packages, extra entertainment for the com; HK$350 for adults,
Liberty travel insurance and trendy kids—which means more HK$250 for children) offers a
hotels in the city. They have relaxation time for adults. compact, easy-to-manage
everything from spa discounts to
Choose a place that’s self- taste of the Magic Kingdom.
exclusives with local jewelry brands,
with plans to expand into the mainland China market soon. contained, large enough for For a cheaper alternative on
children to run around but Hong Kong’s south side, hop
small enough that parents on a cable car at the recently
F RO M TO P : CO U RT ESY O F D I S N EY L A N D H O N G KO N G ; CO U RT ESY O F S H A N G R I - L A RASA R I A R ES O RT
…TO FIND SOMETHING DIFFERENT HOLIDAY PAD
This specially curated travel blog has don’t fret over their revamped Ocean Park
a special tag for groups. The site’s offspring’s whereabouts. But (852/3923-2323; oceanpark.
editors comb the Internet and print
first, get everyone together com.hk; admission from HK$125).
F R O M T O P : C O U R T E SY O F I N T E R C O N T I N E N TA L B A L I ; C O U R T E SY O F C A S S I A C O T TA G E
publications, as well as review reader
submissions, and then compile the holidaypad.net before booking to see how In Singapore, with the kids
best ones. They promise usual, both families interact and diverted by the movie-themed
unusual and especially unique ideas foresee any possible issues. rides and attractions at
for vacations at beach huts to tree
houses to underwater hotels.
At Cassia Cottage, in Vietnam.
…TO DO SOME GOOD WORLD
EXPEDITIONS
For trekking and adventure-travel
worldexpedition. holidays, World Expeditions has
been assisting groups in planning
com
their all-inclusive journeys since
1975. The company now has up to
500 creative and distinct itineraries,
including cycling, walking and
cultural journeys, and is famous for its responsible-tourism initiatives
that have helped improve the living conditions of some of the world’s
most far-flung communities.
28 JU LY 2 0 1 0 | T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A . C O M T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A . C O M | J ULY 2 0 10 29
strategies | group travel
Chiang Mai Thai Cookery ■ MILE-HIGH CLUB
School (11/29 Moo 1, Chiang There are two things couples
Mai Floraville, Doi Saket, Chiang can do in the air: jump or get
Mai; 66-53/399-036; married (OK, some might say FRACTIONAL OWNERSHIP
thaicookeryschool.com; classes from they’re the same thing). Take
Bt990), the first cooking a break from gambling Ready to take group travel to the globally recognized asset- with boutique properties across
next level? Fractional ownership management and hospitality the region. “Timeshare implies
school in this northern city. among Chinese mainlanders,
allows friends to split ownership of consultancy, fractional ownership only having a week at a resort or
hold your significant other’s a property. If you find a place or is the “sleeping giant” of Phuket’s getting dragged in by your
■ GO GLAMPING hand and sky jump from the destination you all love and keep property industry, with shared- grandmother for a presentation.
Luxury camping is the perfect 223-meter-high observation going back to, this asset-sharing ownership sales on the island Fractional ownership is a much
concept lets people buy in at a hitting two billion baht in 2008 more upmarket product and allots
compromise for adventurous deck of the famous Macau
lower price and offers the benefits and totaling more than 22,000 for much more time at the home
couples who still crave Tower (853/2893-3339; of owning a vacation home, minus customers. “The emergence of — a few weeks to three months
comfort and amenities. Sleep macautower.com.mo; sky jumps the upkeep costs (maintenance is fractional ownership ... is each year.”
in a fancy tent at night and go from M$988, maximum combined split between property holders). becoming a notable component While Asia’s fractional industry
Buying a fraction of the property of the real-estate sector,” says is still immature, McClean sees and finding out that someone else
on wildlife adventures by day weight 120 kg). Then retreat to
entitles owners to a designated managing director Bill Barnett. plenty of opportunity for growth. gets the place for Christmas.” So
with Leopard Safaris a secluded, all-inclusive stay
TRAVEL WITH… (leopardsafaris.com; from US$325
per person), which offers mobile
like the Westin Resort, Macau
(1918 Estrada de Hac Sa,
number of days’ stay, so your
group can split the place for
bonding time or have it on an
“[We expect] shared ownership to
increase market share during the
next 12 to 24 months.”
“Southeast Asia has a lot of
repeat visitation. In Thailand, it’s
60 percent, and Australians have
if your particular unit isn’t free,
say, there’s the option of taking
another apartment with the same
TWO COUPLES camping safaris in three of Sri
Lanka’s national parks—
Coloane, Macau; 853/2887-
1111; starwoodhotels.com; doubles
individual basis as well.
While this has been going on
However, fractional ownership
“is not the same thing as a
an affinity for Bali,” he notes.
Another attraction is flexibility.
layout and décor, which your
belongings can be moved into.
for years in the yacht and private- timeshare,” says Brendan “Gone are the days where you The upshot of all this? If you do
WA S I N E E C H A N TA KO R N
The movie Couples Retreat— ■ RECIPES FOR Yalla, Uda Walawe, and the from HK$1,400) for pool time aircraft sectors and in housing McClean, business-development know what you’re doing a year decide to go the fractional route,
starring Vince Vaughn and ROMANCE Wilpattu and Knuckles or 18 holes of golf next door markets in the Americas, the manager for LaTour Hotels & out,” McClean says. ”Fractional you’ll have a place to host your
concept for properties is picking Resorts (latourhotelsandresorts. ownership has a sophisticated friends as well as enough weeks in
Kristen Davis—may have Teaching everything from mountain range. Or head to at the Macau Golf & Country
up speed in Asia. According to a com), which plans to introduce reservation software and rotation the year to enjoy the vacation
made multi-couple traveling authentic Balinese to sous-vide the world’s first floating tent Club (853/2887-1188; recent report by C9 Hotelworks, a the concept to Southeast Asia calendar — there’s no ringing up home on your own.
look unappealing, but don’t dishes, classes at Mozaic (Jl. resort, on Cambodia’s Tatai macaugoldandcountryclub.com; golf
worry, there won’t be any Raya Sanggingan, Ubud, Bali; River. 4 Rivers (Koh Andet rates from HK$1,550).
6 A.M. relationship-building 62-361/975-768; mozaic-bali. Island, Tatai Village, Koh Kong, In 2009, gay-friendly Nepal’s
sessions on these getaways. It com; from Rp750,000 per person) Cambodia; 855/2321-7374; supreme court approved
helps if both couples enjoy incorporate fresh Asian ecolodges.asia; tents from US$87) same-sex marriages, and a
similar activities and want to ingredients with traditional sits entirely on water and is LGBT tourism agency called
spend roughly the same French techniques. Both surrounded by thriving Pink Mountain (pinkyatra.com)
C LO C KW I S E F RO M TO P : CO U RT ESY O F 4 R I V E R S ; CO U RT ESY O F M ACAU TOW E R ; CO U RT ESY O F M OZA I C
amount of money. Worrying couples can learn to chop and jungle. Accessible only by is helping visitors take the
about finances or spending balance flavors in a state-of- boat, the resort boasts 12 next step in the country. For
substantially different the-art Miele kitchen while luxurious standalone tents, a starters, couples can enjoy a
amounts can make things picking up tips from world- bar, a restaurant and a marriage ceremony at Mount
awkward, so make sure renowned chef Chris Salans, library, all connected by Everest’s base camp, 5,360
everyone’s on the same page. who earned Mozaic the only floating walkways. meters above sea level. ✚
Grande Table du Monde
Pair Pleasures Clockwise accolade in Southeast Asia.
from top: Outdoors at 4
Rivers; high up on the Macau For the secrets of Thai
Tower; a dish by chef Chris cuisine, head to Chiang Mai
Salans at Mozaic.
and take a 20-minute cab ride
to Kaohom Thai Culinary
Cooking School (180/1 Mae
Rim Rd., Moo 1, Chiang Mai;
66-53/862-967; classes from
Bt1,300), set in the idyllic
countryside. For longer
culinary experiences, try one-
to three-day packages at the
30 JULY 2 0 1 0 | T R A V E L A N D L E I S U R E A S I A . C O M
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