One destination will be somewhere you can book right now (or within the next 3 months); one place will require a little advance planning (focus on the next season, i.e. spring break, summer travel, festive); and a third locale that will take 9+ months of planning (safari, bucket list trip, far-flung destination, etc.). For our inaugural article, our travel advisors are featuring one of our favorite ultra-luxury hotel brands for honeymooners and vacationers, One&Only. We reached out to our friend, Michael Foley, Regional Director, Sales & Marketing at Kerzner International, owner-operator of One&Only, for his insider tips!
Our Luxury Travel Team’s NOW Recommendation: One&Only Palmilla, Mexico
Located on the Baja Peninsula on Mexico’s west coast, One&Only Palmilla is both verdant green and beachy blue at the same time. Whether you want to fly and flop or try surfing lessons, the team at One&Only Palmilla will more than happily accommodate. Don’t miss the Tequila & Mezcal tasting which is part history lesson/part party in the capable hands of the One&Only mixologists. And if surfing is your jam, make sure you ask your CIRE luxury travel planner to book you a post sesh surfer’s relief massage. You can thank us later.
Not only does it light up the night sky and cast a stunning illumination on the Sea of Cortez, but the Healers take this celestial opportunity to host a transformational Full Moon Breathing Meditation. This ancestral practice of reconnecting with your inner child is said to clear toxins and release stored negative energy we do not even realize we carry – and even those who typically do not subscribe to holistic healing practices find it to be a restorative exercise.”
Our Luxury Travel Team’s SOON Recommendation: One&Only Cape Town, South Africa
Located smack dab in the middle of the Victoria & Alfred Waterfront, One&Only Cape Town has unparalleled views of the marina on one side and the famed Table Mountain (one of the 7 Natural Wonders of the Natural World) on the other. 
Yes, if you’re traveling all the way to South Africa, you must go on safari, but don’t miss the intoxicating landscapes and vineyards of the Stellenbosch wine region (pun intended!). One&Only Cape Town’s Vine to Wine experience will pair you with a sommelier who will guide you through the entire wine-making process, from picking grapes to drinking them! And One&Only Cape Town is home to the only Nobu Restaurant in Africa. Sign us up!
Michael says, “Go SOON. Nothing brings me more joy than escaping a New York winter by traveling to a place where it is summer! Guests staying at One&Only Cape Town in the months of December through February are able to experience all the outdoor wonders the destination (and nearby winelands!)have to offer.”
Our Luxury Travel Team’s LATER Recommendation: One&Only Desaru Coast, Malaysia
CIRE’s corporate travel agents plan a lot of trips to Singapore for our clients. Yes, it’s a big international business hub, but it’s also worthy of adding some extra days, or an entire week, to explore this fascinating city and its environs. Just a 2.5 hour private drive or 1.5 hour public ferry ride from Singapore is the One&Only Desaru Coast with its own private and pristine beach, Chenot Spa wellness program, not to mention world-class golf experiences (the epic Els Club courses and golf classes taught by an international PGA golf coach!). Our corporate travel advisors think it’d be a shame to miss out on a trek with One&Only Desaru Coast’s resident naturalist on a wildlife walk through the Panti Forest Reserve.
Jerome Pichon, General Manager of One&Only Desaru Coast, shares: “Desaru is home to thriving flora and fauna, one of which is the dusky leaf monkeys living in the rainforests around our resort. There was one in particular that visited our lobby bar so often that the team fondly called her Suri, and we eventually decided to name the venue after her species!”
CIRE Travel is a full-service travel agency headquartered in New York, NY. Our expert corporate travel planners, honeymoon travel agents, and luxury travel planners support clients across the country and around the world.
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