TRAVEL NOTES
Portuguese paradise
This brand new hotel and spa is a seaside paradise of a different sort than the usual palm tree and white sand type. Surrounded by pine trees, sand dunes and the Atlantic, it offers a wind-blown idyll that combines forest and sea. There are ten luxury suites with terraces and jacuzzis facing the beach and brilliant Atlantic views. Food is local and the environment has been respected in the building of the hotel. From €230 per night on a room-only basis. To book call +351 261 936 340. www.areiasdoseixo.com.
New luxury travel concierge service
Set up by socialite Natasha Thomas, Total Access offers a “social planning service” and can arrange visits to 800 exclusive establishments round the globe, including the best bars, parties, hotels and airlines. Members get a personal account manager who is on call at all times, and can advise on the best travel and entertainment choices. It’s a tough life. £245 per year for a Total Access card. www.totalaccessworlwide.com.
Taiwan’s tribute to Africa
Asia meets africa at Taiwan’s glossy Leefoo Resort Guanshi, where there are African-themed rooms and the opportunity for guests to get up close to the kind of animals you’d normally find on safari. Floor-to-ceiling windows offer unobstructed views of free-roaming giraffes, zebras, rhinoceros, ostriches and ring-tailed lemurs. Prices start from NT$6,800 (approximately £140) per night based on double occupancy. www.leofooresort.com.tw.