Fancy a quick holiday Hen?

[Gob]

Does the perfect hotel exist? Voters in the 2012 Conde Nast Traveler Readers' Choice Awards think so, naming Qualia on Hamilton Island as Best in the World and Best Resort in the Oceania region.


The luxury resort on the Great Barrier Reef scored 100 out of 100 for its rooms, service, food, location, design and activities and is the first Australian property to be voted No. 1 and only one of four properties in the survey's 25-year history to be judged perfect.

The survey of 46,476 people nominated more than 1300 winners (a minimum number of responses is required to be eligible for an award) in categories of cities, islands, cruises and airlines.


The pool at Qualia.

Set among eucalypts on the island's northern-most tip, the resort has a staff-to-guest ratio of 1:1 and 60 pavilions with views of the surrounding Whitsunday Islands and Coral Sea. The resort's luxurious Beach House has a 10-person dining area, pool and separate guesthouse.

Chairman of Hamilton Island Enterprises Sandy Oatley says the award is testament to the original vision for Qualia when the island was purchased nearly 10 years ago.

''It [the vision] was to create a luxury oasis that maximised the sheer beauty of the idyllic location with a standard of service that was uniquely Australian, yet that would meet and exceed the expectations of the most discerning travellers from around the world.''


A 'Windward Paviliion' room at Qualia. Photo: Jason Loucas

The resort plays host to an outdoor performance by the Australian Ballet and the annual sailing regatta Audi Hamilton Island Race Week.

Also on the Conde Nast Top 100 list Taj Exotica Resort and Spa, Maldives was No.2 with a score of 99.6, and No.3 the Lodge at Kauri Cliffs, Northland, New Zealand 99.2.

Qualia Pavilions cost from $975 a night and include breakfast, non-alcoholic beverages, two-seater golf buggy, chauffeur service and return airport/marina transfers. The Beach House will set you back $5000 a night in high season.

The resort also rates highly on TripAdvisor, the world's most popular travel review site, with the vast majority of the 305 reviews giving Qualia a five-out-of-five score.



Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/travel/perfect-sc ... z29b6nTUNb

[The Hen]

Not a Resort person me.

I'd rather rent a house.

[Guinevere]

I just booked a vacation at a Conde Nast Top 20 spa in lovely Santa Fe, NM. Not until next year but I'm already stoked.

[Gob]

Sweet as! Taking your camera?

[Guinevere]

Absolutely! I'm in the midst of a class on Lightroom 4 now. Just finished the develop module and hoping to get out this weekend to shoot and then play.

[Sean]

I'm seriously considering celebrating my 40th next year on a South Pacific cruise...

[oldr_n_wsr]

I would love to dive/snorkel the Great Barrier Reef. As much as I would love to spend a month or two in the outback of Australia (whereever that is). I love "communing" with nature, it is my higher power (AA speak).

[Gob]

Absolutely! I'm in the midst of a class on Lightroom 4 now. Just finished the develop module and hoping to get out this weekend to shoot and then play.

Please share!!

[Guinevere]

Sure.

Hey, have you calibrated your monitor? We were discussing the potential problems with how color is portrayed and the differences between what you get on the monitor and what might show on the print. My instructor suggested ColorMunki, or Spider. Not sure how much I need that, but comparing monitors in class, the three macbooks were all over the place in terms of how they looked, so clearly there are significant discrepancies.

[Gob]

I haven't, I'll check that out, thanks

[MajGenl.Meade]

Sure.

Hey, have you calibrated your monitor? We were discussing the potential problems with how color is portrayed and the differences between what you get on the monitor and what might show on the print. My instructor suggested ColorMunki, or Spider. Not sure how much I need that, but comparing monitors in class, the three macbooks were all over the place in terms of how they looked, so clearly there are significant discrepancies.

I tried loading both and when I was done I had a Spidermunki

[The Hen]

I got a Spunky-Midar. I'd best try again.

[MajGenl.Meade]

I was quite taken with the TV images of Quilalea private island. Only R18,000.00 for five nights per person sharing; less than US$2,100.00 but

"Packages include return flights from Johannesburg to Pemba, Airport taxes, Return light aircraft transfers, Accommodation in a Sunrise villa or Sunset Villa, All meals, Local beers & spirits, Selection of house wines, Soft drinks, tea & coffee, water, Sunset cocktail of the day, Mozambican Butler/Host service, Use of snorkeling equipment, Use of Kayaks, Baobab walking trails & Laundry service"

I'm not sure I'd want to launder either a baobab tree or the trail leading to it.



I bet the views are not as good as they showed on 'Top Billing' though...............

Beautiful island paradises are something we love to show you on Top Billing and this week we're taking you to the secluded southern tip of the Quirimbas Archipelago, to Quilalea with SA celebs, Roxy Louw and Tracy McGregor! Join Jonathan, Roxy and Tracy as they explore the tropical Mozambican paradise and use it's perfect setting to photograph Fondle's new bikini range!

it's ? Fondle ?

[rubato]

Next month we're back here for a long weekend:



Get out and walk a little each day to sharpen the appetite.



For dinners here:



Where most of the waitstaff have worked for 30+ years, they're very good at it.

yrs,
rubato

[Gob]

I can't wait to see your photos!

[kristina]

I am so jealous, rubato...I always wanted to stay at the Ahwahnee!

Have a wonderful time.