Product Description
This eloquent photographic guide from Resorts Magazine editor-in-chief Ovidio Guaita includes reviews of 100 of the best resorts on the planet. Palatial surroundings, warm beaches and natural habitats set the tone for this 2010 guide, which begins at the Fairmont Banff Springs in Alberta, Canada, and ends at the Wharekauhau Country Estate in New Zealand. Each resort runs the gamut of luxury and relaxation, from the oasis setting of the Amanbagh resort in India to the natural qualities of Bali's Amandari. International regions are assigned elementary color codes, lending to the book's overall simplicity. This lack of complexity is evident throughout the guide, which is an appropriately relaxed read. Richly illustrated with photographs, the book offers readers a pleasing glimpse of splendor with each listing. While some photographs capture a mood, such as one of a cozy stilt cabin captured after sunset, others merely hint at what can be found within a retreat-the book offers only an exterior shot of the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park in London. Unlike other travel guides, which can often overwhelm with verbiage yet lack quality photographs, Top 100 lets the images speak for themselves. Brief descriptions keep the book elegantly spare and offer insight that a camera can't capture. Each locale is judged from a distinct set of criteria, including design, environment, health, rooms, service, cuisine and spa accommodations. While the last element is part of the overall rating system, some resorts offer very little in the area of spa treatments and are rated accordingly. Resorts such as the Four Seasons Resort at Landaa Giraavaru and the Four Seasons Resort Langkawi are ranked highest, while others like InterContinental Carlton (Cannes) and K Club (Barbuda) are rated far lower, due primarily to their lack of spa amenities. Those seeking rejuvenation, light cuisine and spa treatments, no matter the cost, need look no further for a handbook. Attractive photographs highlight a succinct, no-nonsens resort guide.
