Article, video, music and photos by Joachim Castellano

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Travelers in Japan have the opportunity to stay in ryokans, traditional Japanese inns. Typically ryokans involve sleeping on the floor in tatami-matted rooms, bathing in a communal bath, and consuming an excellent Japanese dinner and breakfast included with the room charge. Recently while traveling in Izu, an area of Japan famous for its ryokans, I stayed at Arcana Izu (the hotel writes it arcana izu all in lowercase letters), a luxury ryokan that blends the traditional Japanese ryokan with Western concepts.

Arcana Izu blends modern architecture with the nearby Kano river

The fusion of East and West began with its name. Arcana is Latin for mysteries. Furthermore, Arcana Izu bills itself as a luxury auberge, and the hotel had a noticeable French influence, exemplified most by its Lumiere restaurant. After my taxi driver pulled into a stony entrance barely visible from a windy, rustic road, it seemed like I had discovered a secret place in the mountains.

High quality Thann body wash, shampoo, and conditioner

How had this mysterious and luxurious inn in Japan come to exist? Three Japanese entrepreneurs collaborated to create it: A French chef, a designer, and a graphic artist. Good design is about making tasteful choices. And almost every detail at the hotel revealed a discriminating eye, starting with its picturesque location near the Kano River.

I was delighted by the chocolate center of this berry treat

I was greeted by name at a large entrance gate, and ushered into River View Suite Number 5. A hotel butler checked me in inside the room itself, as there was no traditional front counter. Besides confirming the details of my stay, my butler briefly explained the amenities of the room and asked my preferred dinner and breakfast times. Another staff member entered the room and served me a welcome treat of bubbling fruit juice, ice-chilled berry, and a cookie.

A view of the Kano River

Check-in completed, I had a chance to consider my room while sipping the welcome drink. I was awestruck by the incredible view before my eyes: tall door-length windows wrapped around the room, showcasing Mount Amagi’s lush forest across and a rushing Kano River below my room.

An instruction card suggested drawing and painting techniques

To the left I spotted Arcana’s hallmark feature, an outdoor private hot spring bath. This bath was connected to my room via the bathroom, which had three sections. My room was the smallest room offered at Arcana Izu, yet I didn’t feel cramped at all; the room was spacious and modern.

From the hot spring bathtub, I could view of my room and the river below

During my stay I felt relaxed and rejuvenated. The staff were friendly, attentive, and easy to communicate with. Soaking in the views of nature from my bath and from my room soothed my city-worn spirits. Staying at Arcana Izu even inspired me, a technology addict, to include more nature-related breaks in my daily life.

Shinjiro Kobayashi, the sommelier, guided me through Arcana Izu’s twelve-page wine menu

Next time, I’ll be sure to bring along someone special to share in the wonderful secrets of this magical ryokan. The total experience, the private bath, the view, the French food, and the excellent service added up to artistry in action, a masterpiece in the mountains called Arcana Izu.

By Elena del Valle and photos by Gary Cox

Chitwa Chitwa is located along the shore of a lake

When we first heard of Chitwa Chitwa, a boutique lodge in the northern corner of the famous Sabi Sand Reserve, we wondered about the meaning of the name. It was one of the first questions we asked as we settled in at the lodge. The property was named for an old bull giraffe whose bones made a creaking sound similar to the words chitwa chitwa.

The dining area featured whimsical touches like bone light fixtures

Our stay at the lodge was rewarding in many ways. We loved the lodge’s waterside location and luxurious and spacious rooms with a water view. The Big Five game viewing, in the company of a young and enthusiastic ranger tracker team, was outstanding. A pretty setting and artsy decor along with comfort centered facilities, an intimate and romantic ambiance, a foodie orientation and friendly staff made the property and instant favorite. Visit the Simon & Baker Travel Review Safari Section to learn more about our stay at Chitwa Chitwa.

By Elena del Valle
Photos by Gary Cox

Bedroom at Africa House

From the airport in Johannesburg we flew Federal Air directly to the Thornybush landing strip where Ryan Jack was waiting in an open four by four vehicle to drive us to Africa House, our six room luxury home away from home with a pool for the next four days. We traveled to Africa House, part of the Royal Malewane Reserve which in turn is within the Thornybush Reserve near South Africa’s famed Kruger National Park, to relax and enjoy the area’s well known game viewing.

Ryan and Terence

Ryan, our ranger, and Terence Mhlanga would be our companions and guides on twice daily game drives during our visit to this luxury South Africa safari destination. In their company we spent the first and last part of our days, searching for bush experiences, taking thousands of photos and marveling at the flora and fauna of the reserve.

John Jackson

When we arrived at Africa House Ramos, Zama, Gift and John Jackson (see Listen to John Jackson, manager and executive chef, Royal Malewane), the staff, were waiting for us at the entrance. As soon as I saw them I recognized them from our previous stay at the Royal Malewane, an exclusive safari lodge and part of Liz Biden’s The Royal Portfolio, two and a half years earlier. On seeing them the memories of our lovely visit flooded back.

Lunch at Africa House

Moments later John and I were catching up as if time had stood still, walking through the beautiful East Africa entrance door to the stand alone house to settle in our temporary bush home. With John and his team in residence we knew our accommodations and meals would be outstanding. Ryan and Terence ensured our game viewing would be memorable. Our days at Africa House passed quickly and remain etched among our fondest bush stays. We quickly fell into a comfortable routine of early morning and late afternoon game drives with amazing gourmet meals and relaxing quiet private time in between.

White rhino in Thornybush reserve

Africa House offered a superlative combination of guest centered and attentive service, privacy, at home luxury, gourmet meals and game viewing. It was, in short, one of our favorite safari visit in South Africa. Visit the Simon & Baker Travel Review to read about our Safari Reviews and our stay in Africa House.

Article and photos by Elena del Valle

Our Iberia airplane at the gate in Barcelona

Soon after Iberia inaugurated its new service from Miami, Florida to Barcelona, Spain I flew the route in the airline’s luxury cabin. The best part about the Iberia flights from Miami to Barcelona and back was that they were direct and non stop.

On board, Pilar Rumbero, a crew member

The advantages of the Business Plus service began with expedited security lane access at Miami International Airport. After passing through security I waited for the flight to depart in comfort at the American Airlines and Iberia shared airline lounge and, on the way back, at Iberia’s Miro Lounge in Barcelona. On board, courteous service, clean bathrooms with no wait, a varied Spanish wine and spirits selection, a check-in luggage allowance of three suitcases and a spacious cabin were added advantages. The nose section had only 24 seats and an intimate feel.

My aisle seat in Iberia Business Plus

The seats with lie flat horizontal capability and extra space between rows were comfortable, allowing me to arrive in Spain and back to Miami minimally crumpled. Overall I liked the Iberia Business Plus service very much. Based on the Miami Barcelona round trip experience I will keep Iberia’s luxury service on my short list for international flights in the future. Visit the Simon & Baker Travel Review for more about my Iberia Business Plus experience.

By Elena del Valle
Photos by Gary Cox and Elena del Valle

The suite at Boulders featured a stunning view of the bush

We ended our visit to South Africa’s premier game viewing area earlier this year with three nights at the Singita properties in the Sabi Sand Reserve. We spent the first two nights at Singita Ebony and the last night, the first night they were open following a soft refurbishing closure, at Singita Boulders. Our experience was superb.

The master bedroom and private pool at Singita Boulders

The master bedroom at Boulders featured a wood burning fireplace

At Ebony we enjoyed an informative and fun wine tasting with Francois Rautenbach, the company’s wine manager, in the lodge’s cozy cellar. During the hour long event, shared with four other guests, we heard about South Africa’s varied wine regions and the wines they produce, the evolution of the country’s wine industry and some of the salient wines that are garnering international recognition.

Francois Rautenbach, Singita’s wine manager

During the tasting, we had a chance to sample four wines, selected by the staff, before our tasting menu dinner. We began with a 2008 Director’s Reserve White from Tokara in Simonsberg-Stellenbosch made of 85 percent sauvignon blanc and 15 percent semillon and a 2009 Aeternitas Wines Blanc from Voor-Paardeberg made of 90 chenin blanc, 5 percent viognier and 5 percent grenache blanc.

The Singita shop carried wine and related merchandise

Next we had two 2003 wines, a Sequillo Cellars blend of syrah, mourvedre and grenache from the West Coast and Paarl regions and a Rij’s Private Cellar Bravado blend of 21 percent cabernet, 7 percent cabernet franc, 12 percent merlot, 35 percent shiraz and 25 percent pinotage from the Tulbagh Valley.

Singita staff prepared an eco-friendly meal by lantern light

At Boulders we joined fellow guests and the lodge staff, at the same time as guests and staff at Singita’s nine lodges in three countries, in an Earth Hour global event organized by the World Wide Fund for Nature on the last Saturday of March every year. The idea is to make it through one hour in the early evening without electricity to raise awareness about climate change.

The dining area on the main deck prepared for Earth Hour

The local staff regaled us with a singing and dance performance and the kitchen made sure our dinner, prepared on the deck and served by candlelight was splendid. A company executive and a local news media team were on hand to share the moment with viewers across the country. Visit the Simon & Baker Travel Review for more about Singita Boulders and our visit to the Sabi Sand Reserve and Singita Ebony.