classe touriste travel blog

FIT FOR THE OLYMPICS

debbie pappyn — Tue, 03 Apr 2012 21:41:22 +0000

London likes to keep fit, well rested and in shape these days. In anticipation of the 2012 Olympics, new hotels and spas are popping up all over the UK capital. 2011 saw the opening of the Corinthia hotel in Whitehall and it’s impressive four-floor and 3.300 square metres ESPA Life spa and gym. This grand old building was previously the Ministry of Defence HQ and has now been revamped by GA Design with a £300 million budget to spend. The spa is sumptuously kitted out with calacatta and black marble, tiled hammam-style steam rooms and a curious steel swimming pool – the lighting around it works so that movement in the water is reflected on the ceiling. We especially like the German Klafs sauna with an amphitheatre-like design. Relax on sunken benches and look out through its glass walls on to the rest of the spa. It’s the perfect alternative for those not liking the claustrophobic feel of a traditional sauna. Within the 17 treatment rooms, or rather pods, it’s all about the ESPA’s cutting-edge treatments and therapies. The walls of every treatment room are softly curved, specifically designed to enhance the flow of energy and the boudoir-style dressing rooms are fantastic.
Of course, staying at the Corinthia hotel is a real treat. Have high tea at the lobby lounge underneath a domed atrium that floods the area with natural light, from which a huge chandelier made from 1,001 Baccarat crystal baubles hangs. The hotel offers 294 rooms on seven floors, including 43 suites. They are very spacious for London: 30 sqm to 470 sqm for the Royal Suite. We loved the free Wi-Fi and there is your free copy of Monocle magazine in every room. A plus is also the media hub with international sockets, a minibar stocked with Harrods products, Nespresso machine and a Loewe 32-inch flatscreen TV. Bathrooms are finished in Italian marble from Carrara and feature a rainshower and separate tub. And who wouldn’t love the addictive Espa bath products?

What is the cost?

ESPA massages start from £95.
2 hours ESPA time starts from £210.
Staying at the Corintha Hotel starts around £400 a night.

WWW.ESPALIFEATCORINTHIA.COM
WWW.CORINTHIA.COM

MEET & GREET WITH THE MOUNTAIN GORILLAS

debbie pappyn — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 16:36:40 +0000

For extreme close encounters with impressive silverback gorillas, you have to travel to the magnificent Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda. Sissies better stay home, because gorillas now and then like close. Very close. Sometimes you can almost feel their breath when they are standing right in front of you, looking inquisitively into your face.. Other moments, they give you a push, when they are running from one part of their natural bamboo covered habitat to the other. To have these close encounters, you must do some effort. Because hiking up these volcanoes to see the gorillas is not for wimps. As a reward you will get to see the impressive landscape of the Virungas Mountains, stretching along the borders with Uganda and Congo. It’s a setting of dormant and active volcanoes rising up to 4500 meters high. Only in this part of the world the legendary silverback mountain gorillas live in the wild. They are now protected and observed by scientists. Eight hundred in total, eight groups of families accustomed to human contact. This part of the Virungas Mountains was once the location where Dian Fossey in the 1960s lived for twenty years long amongst these primates and gave her life for the protection of this endangered species.

A long or short hike?

A lot has changed since then. Now there is tourism. Call it good or bad, but it does provide the local community an income and reason why not to poach anymore. While Insiders claim that more money should go back to the locals. Now it mainly disappears into the pockets of the government and big tourism organisations. For the tourist, the infrastructure got much better than it used to be. Nowadays you can stay in very comfortable lodges like the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. Perfect to use as a base before or after a hike. Every morning a maximum of 80 people are allowed up the mountain. Groups are divided with no more than 8 people, together with an experienced guide and a handful of porters. We got lucky; our guide was Francois, the most famous of them all. He is a real “ancien”, once worked for Dian Fossey, and quite a character to have as a guide. A hike can vary a lot: sometimes the group is close, others have to hike for hours to see the gorillas. Once found, you can spend exactly one hour observing and watching them. Respecting their territorium and habitat. Our close encounter was a silverback running towards the group and giving Francois a firm push. “No worries!” Said Francois. “I know them and they know me.” Francois made a couple of growling noises, thus communicating with the gorillas. Impressive. Not only Francois being obviously very close to the animals but the whole experience. Because let’s be honest: nothing beats a gorilla trekking and afterwards going back to a comfy lodge where you can toast with a G&T to a memorable and successful day. Cheers to witnessing one of the most extraordinary animals on this planet.

The verdict?

This region is an inspiring piece of Africa. Not too touristy, safe and well organized and one of the only places where you can see these gentle but impressive primates in their natural habitat. A habitat of green, impressive mountains, mostly, of course, hidden in de mist.

How to go?

Traveling to Rwanda is very easy. A lot of carriers fly to Kigali: KLM, Qatar, Brussels Airlines.
Our favourite accommodation was the Sabyinyo Silverback Lodge. It’s the best Rwanda has to offer. (get it?)
Rates start at 445$/person full board.
A gorilla permit fee to trek for one day with one hour visit will set you back for 500 dollars per visit. When you order a permit after June 2012, you will have to pay 750 dollars.

SABYINYO SILERBACK LODGE RWANDA

SAVING SANTO STEFANO DI SESSANIO

debbie pappyn — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 05:45:48 +0000

Is the fate of many unique, virtually abandoned villages in the unknown corner of Abruzzo sealed? Not if Swedish-Italian millionaire Daniele Kihlgren can help it. In 1999, a solitary motorbike trip proved to be a revelation for this modern-day idealist. By chance, he stumbled upon the almost-deserted hilltop village of Santo Stefano di Sessanio in the Gran Sasso and Monti della Laga National Park in the Apennines. He was struck speechless, not only by the outstanding beauty of the setting, but also because almost everything was untouched. “Time seemed to have stood perfectly still – no concrete buildings, no factories, no tourist infrastructure like the Swiss chalets you find in so many Abruzzese towns,” says Kihlgren. It wasn’t long before he returned to Santo Stefano – not only with his motorbike, but also with a plan to save this village from extinction. Kihlgren, in his mid-forties, has been described as a maverick, a millionaire with enormous willpower. And where there’s a will, there’s a way. Kihlgren bought a house in Santo Stefano and soon many more. Next step was signing a deal with the local authorities to leave Santo Stefano in its original condition – in other words, an embargo on building new houses and a ban on the use of concrete. In exchange, Kihlgren would spend a substantial sum, up to €4.5 million – a mix of his own and borrowed money – on breathing new life into the village and giving it a second chance. “This has nothing to do with renovation,” Kihlgren insists. “It’s about restoration – restoring honour. I had a unique opportunity to save one of the last authentic places in Italy from the grip of cement.” In 2004, five years after Kihlgren first wandered through Santo Stefano, the village was ready for its second life. Kihlgren received help from some big names, including the renowned British architect David Chipperfield, who also supports the concept of ‘conservative restoration’, or restoring while maintaining original features.The result of the first project here in Santo Stefano di Sessanio is Sextantio Albergo Diffuso. A fairly recent concept in the hotel business, an albergo diffuso is a ‘hotel’ scattered throughout a town in different houses. Guests are assimilated into the village and feel part of the community. Kihlgren’s Sextantio originally had 32 houses, but some have been sold to foreigners. Buying a completely restored house from Kihlgren costs about €1200 to €1500 (from $1470) per square metres. The rest serve as hotel rooms with a central reception area, hotel manager and staff.The rooms usually come with a kitchenette, a table and chairs, a fireplace – Spartan luxury. “We try to retain everything that refers back to village life,” says Kihlgren. “Only local materials are used, and old furniture and artefacts were sourced in the area. Modern technology, such as under-floor heating and light switches, is discreetly hidden. We also conducted research with the National Museum of Abruzzo and talked to the elderly residents of Santo Stefano to discover how people used to live and what materials they used. Even beter, after a couple of days staying here, you feel connected with the place. Probably just how Kihlgren felt the moment he decided to save a part of Italian heritage.

How to get there

Santo Stefano di Sessanio is 150 kilometres (a 1.5-hour drive) from Rome and 100 kilometres from the Adriatic coast and the city of Pescara. The best way to explore the region is by car. Sextantio Albergo Diffuso has 27 rooms dotted throughout several buildings, ranging from double rooms to suites, which are twice as large.
A Classic Room with breakfast for two starts at a bargain €160 ($196) per night in low season. While the setting is perfect, there’s definitely room for improvement on the hospitality side.

WWW.SEXTANTIO.IT/SANTO-STEFANO/

FLY TO ANTARCTICA AND CRUISE

debbie pappyn — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 11:13:10 +0000

Bet that Shackleton and Amundsen would never have dreamed of this. Fly the Drake and cruise Antarctica. Yes you heard it right, skip the feared Drake Passage and go directly to the White Continent. Until recently, only scientists and researchers used the back door to get into Antarctica. Not by ship, but flying from Chile. Why sail across the Drake if in just three hours you can be standing with both feet on the Last Continent, safe and well.No fifteen metres high waves that make the stretch of ocean between the tip of South America and the Antarctic Peninsula so notorious. Flying also means being completely ready and full of energy to discover this extreme part of Earth. In 2001, a clever Chilean company came up with the idea of creating an air bridge during the summer months between Punta Arenas, the southernmost town in Chilean Patagonia, and the Antarctic Peninsula. Not only for biologists, oceanologists and weather scientists but also for the ordinary tourist. So image: no Drake Passage, no 19-day Antarctica sailing itinerary that only travellers with oceans of time can afford. No lost days at sea. But Antarctica in a compact way: a fantastic, adrenaline-filled six days aboard a small expedition ship, without crossing the Drake.

Quick & intense

If you ever dreamed of flying those legendary, rusty Russian cargo planes, you will be in for a disappointment. No Russian steel crate with a glass nose and a semi-drunk, bearded pilot behind the wheel. The BAE-146 built by British Aerospace looks pretty neutral, except that “Antarctica” is painted on its fuselage. A comfortable 3 hours later we land on King George Island, where Chile’s Eduardo Frei base is situated. Not on ice but on an ordinary gravel airstrip, which in the most extreme occasions is covered with dry snow. Technically, this is not the Antarctic Peninsula but the Southern Shetland Islands. In the distance floats the Ocean Nova, our expedition ship for the next six days. Purpose built in Denmark to smoothly conquer icy seas, this is no ultra-deluxe ship, but a very comfortable home for up to 68 people. Many other ships can take more than 200 people on board but that makes things more complicated in Antarctica. A short Zodiac ride from King George and we’re in the observation lounge of the Ocean Nova. A warming drink, a beaming 12-strong expedition team and the prospect of seeing and doing things we have never experienced before. The Ocean Nova team is not low calibre. A couple of seasoned biologists, young naturalists, a historian, an ornithologist, an ocean specialist, a doctor and other crew members who have sailed Arctic and Antarctic waters for many years. Some even worked on Russian nuclear ships and have plenty of stories to tell. They are the perfect entertainment and companionship for when having a drink at the bar. Did we mention already it’s an open bar?

Crossing the Bransfield Strait

A glance through the cabin porthole and you know enough: a sunny, early morning overlooking Mikkelsen Harbour on Trinity Island where we will soon make a landing. The strong rubber Zodiacs can take eight to ten passengers. Life jacket on, sunscreen and sunglasses and cameras at the ready. Several Weddell seals lie sunbathing in the snow and a leopard seal circles around the Zodiacs then disappears. “Dangerous animals,” smirks a biologist. “It’s known that they can bite straight through a Zodiac.” Further up near the old whaling station sit a flock of cackling Gentoo penguins. “Never block the way of a penguin,” Mariano, the expedition leader explains. “Penguins always have right of way. No matter what!” In the afternoon, after hours of sailing through a sensational silent white landscape and a hearty lunch, there is a Zodiac trip between icebergs and ice floes in Cierva Cove. The location is the south side of Cape Herschel in Hughes Bay along the Antarctic Peninsula. We glimpse the Argentine research station Primavera in the distance, while close to our Zodiac we see crab eater seals, penguins, and skua birds… Slaloming with the Zodiac between sculptured icebergs you can listen to almost supernatural sounds: the ice releasing millions of years-old air. In the far distance icebergs are breaking off glaciers, and a little closer an iceberg is tipping over… The trip doesn’t end here and will take us to famous spots on the White Continent like Livingston Island, Port Lockroy, Petermann Island, Paradise Bay, Cuverville and Deception Islands. The target of this trip will be the crossing of the Lemaire Channel and latitude 65° South. The highlight for us? A South-American BBQ on the deck of the Ocean Nova while the sun is barely setting behind the blue and pinkish frozen horizon and giant ice pieces are floating by the ship. Antarctica XXI is the ultimate way to see the White Continent in a more intense way. The trip is shorter but better and the dedication of expedition team is infectious. Travelling with a small group in Antarctica means more landings and time ashore.

The verdict

A trip with Antarctica XXI starts at 9.260 US dollars. Included in this price: Flights according to the itinerary, cruise in full board plus all drinks, excursions and lectures, transfers and if needed accommodation on land. Good to know is that due the limited availability the trips sell out fast, so if you want to do this in the season 2012-2013, it is best to book now! We loved the trip, even while there is big room for improvement on the Chilean pre-&post- travel ground control side (but we heard rumours they are working on it). The most important thing: big thumbs up for the expedition team of the Ocean Nova! They were our dream team and made this trip a fabulous experience!

WWW.ANTARCTICAXXI.COM

Are you packed?

Special waterproof boots are provided by Antarctica XXI, but warm clothes are not. Ideally is to bring water- and windproof outdoors clothes. Patagonia and Canada Goose resist the Artic temperatures and extreme wind.

WWW.CANADA-GOOSE.COM
WWW.PATAGONIA.COM
WWW.BAFFIN.CON

PRESERVING THE ROOTS AT FAVIKEN

debbie pappyn — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 22:28:57 +0000

The most promising chef in Europe might have Viking blood and long hair but he is nothing but a sheep in wolf’s clothing. To demonstrate, the 28-year old Magnus Nilsson of restaurant Faviken puts on his furry wolf’s coat before he heads out in the freezing cold of North-Sweden. Temperatures of -30C won’t stop this young chef or his kitchen team to go out foraging. Underneath meters of thick snow they look for fresh juniper branches, still green and aromatic and burried under the icy landscape of Jamtland. We’re talking mid-winter when the sun barely is seen above the horizon and subzero temperatures that make you quickly head for a warm place, preferably next to a roaring fire. The location of Faviken is a quiet and extremely winter wonderland about 800 kilometers north of Stockholm and a half hour drive from the famous Swedish ski resort Åre. Faviken is not only a restaurant but also a private domain of no less than 8000 hectares established in 1885. Not owned by Nilsson but by a rich hedge fund milionair from Stockholm. The milionair might own the location and grounds, it’s Magnus Nilsson who has the vision and the drive to turn Faviken in one of the most interesting destination restaurants in the world.

First a snow storm, then a dinner from heaven.

Magnus burns the fresh Junipher branches to cook the voluptuous and over-sized scallops from the nearby Norwegian island Hitra. They are cooked in their shell, in their own juice. Very pure served on a bed of juniper branches, decorated with a few glowing pieces of charcoal from a berch tree. “Eat the scallops with your hands and drink the cloudy liquid from the shell.” Suggests Nilsson when he presents the dish during evening dinner. In an old barn, on the hayloft, there are 5 wooden tables with 12 guests, waiting for Nilsson’s 14 creations. Some of the guests came from afar to be here this evening. They braved perhaps half a snowstorm, icy roads, crossing reindeer and pitch black winding roads through dark pine forests just to be shown that even in the middle of winter, one can eat nearly 100% local. Local and interesting, that is. The interesting thing is that there is nothing foreign about what Nilsson is doing here. “The techniques to preserve we use: aging, fermenting, salting, smoking, drying, pickle … these are methods that are used in Sweden for centuries.“ Magnus has been running the kitchen of Faviken since 4 years after working for years in Stockholm and Paris in kitchens of Michelin-starred restaurants such as L’Astrance and L’Arpège.

Secrets in the Hobbit hole

Magnus has no stars because Michelin doesn’t hand out stars outside of Stockholm but this doesn’t bother him. For Magnus it’s all about the product and the foraging. Alhough looking and growing your own food sounds maybe more romantic than it really is. In summer, the menus in the winter are already discussed. In the vegetable garden next to the restaurant every year 3000 of veggies are grown. “Take for example the red beets on the menu tonight. It is a special local variant which remains very small and grows a hundred days. A deep red color, bursting with flavor and very important, they are perfect to keep them so that we in the winter use.” Nilsson serves them blackened, thanks to the huge grill in the middle of his kitchen . Even the meat that Magnus serve is not just any meat. We grow more than 200 chickens per year, here on the farm. ”explains Magnus. Fascinated by the beef we tried yesterday, we ask for the secret of the intense flavor. Nilsson’s eyes start to twinkle. ”The most important thing in our kitchen is to follow the production. Ditto for meat. Only 1 out of the 100 SLC (Swedish Lowland Cattle) are good for our restaurant. The farmer calls us when he thinks there’s an animal that is suitable for the restaurant. Then we go and look and if we are agree, we start with the fattening of cows with only hay and grass. The animal is then slaughtered by a butcher and then we ripen the meat for 1 month. The good pieces of meat are then treated with kidney fat and then there is another aging period, depending on the size of the animal, sometimes up to 9 months. The intense flavor are of the amino acids in the meat. Pure nature. ”Laughs Nilsson. Is that the secret of his kitchen? ”Yes, real food. Real and pure food. Nothing more. ” Most products are hidden deep in Magnus’s root cellar. A Hobbit hole, almost completely snowed in, with a kind of lock system so that the extremely cold air from outside can not reach the stores. Inside there are shelves full of jars imposed delicacies and tuber veggies with huge sprouts. Even a moldy cabbage is waiting until it is a point to serve. Nilsson loves to experiment and has a thing for alchemy. Not in an El Bulli kind of way, but in a naturalist kind of way, without complicated machines or techniques. He used to want to be a marine biologist as a child. Maybe it’s a good thing his guests doesn’t get to see this hole from professor Nilsson. In the end it’s what comes on the plate that counts, even in the icy Wilderniss of North-Sweden, froozen in time.

How to get there

Dinner at Faviken costs about 140 euros per person and ditto for a wine selection. Staying with two costs about 225 euros, breakfast for two included. The restaurant is only open evenings from Wednesday to Saturday.

In order to travel to Faviken, you fly in less than an hour from Stockholm to Ostersund from 120 euros, taxes included.
WWW.FLYSAS.COM

From Ostersund airport is approximately one hour to Faviken, about half an hour’s drive from the ski resort Åre. We recommend to rent a car so you can discover the stunning region of Jamtland. Sunny Cars has a solid range of rental cars during the winter months with all the extras included in the rent. From 299 euros, all inclusive rent.
WWW.SUNNYCARS.COM

THE FIRST DESIGN HOTEL IN THE WORLD

debbie pappyn — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 23:48:59 +0000

Although the apartment hotel STAY is still our number one in Copenhagen – think afordable huge, lofty rooms with lots of space and smart, Danish design – we have to mention the first design hotel in the world. To be specific, it’s room 606 of the Radisson Blu Royal in Copenhagen that drew our attention.
Forget Schrager and Starck as the pioneers of design hotels. It was good old Arne Jacobsen who created in 1960 the first design hotel avant la lettre. The hotel was integrated in the SAS House, built for the Scandinavian Airlines System. Only the full name of SAS makes you think back to those glamorous days of being stylishly up in the air. This SAS House was not only the first high rise building of the city but next to the luxury hotel it also had an airline terminal where SAS guests could already check-in before hopping on the train to the airport. Remains of this terminal are still to be seen while standing on the treadmill or doing some yoga. In the gym, the ceiling is still the old, concrete one from in the sixties.
But time does not stand still; neither do the wrong kind of interior designers. 50 years on and the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel has unfortunately been completely redecorated. Only room 606 has been carefully preserved and remains identical to Jacobsen’s original commission. The room can be seen as a microcosm, a compressed version of the whole building itself – and a way to understand the underlying themes of Jacobsen’s style and vision. Also the lobby is still very smart with the marble staircase and the elegant Swan Chairs. For beautiful vista’s over the city, head for the Albert K restaurant, on top of the building. Good food, Jacobsen crockery and of course Copenhagen in 360 degrees views.

Room 606 at the Radisson Blu Royal Hotel does come with a price tag: DKK 4900 (650 euro) per night, based upon two sharing, and includes breakfast.

WWW.RADISSONBLU.COM/ROYALHOTEL-COPENHAGEN

DINING WITH MISTER SLOW FOOD

debbie pappyn — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 17:32:56 +0000

Slow Food is above all linked with its charismatic founder, Carlo Petrini, but from the very beginning, Vito Puglia equally pulled his weight. Twenty years on, this true pioneer doesn’t reside in a busy head office in northern Italy, but under an olive tree at his exceptional restaurant Perbacco in southern Italy. Only ‘noses’ and insiders know where it is. This restaurant is the playground of Vito Puglia, born and raised in Cilento, a little known region of southern Italy. Vito grew up to become one of the first pioneers and founders of the Slow Food movement. However, Vito is no marketing lad or savvy businessman. On the contrary, despite Slow Food being one of the most important culinary movements of all time, Vito prefers to stay small and keep a low profile. After all, Slow Food is all about going back to basics, back to the essence, with respect for local produce and the environment. Perbacco is not a conventional eating establishment of which there are so many. Foodie snobs who expect to find trained sommeliers and white tablecloths are better off staying away. Perbacco, as a tribute to Bacchus, is something special. A few tables scattered beneath centuries-old olive trees overlooking green hillsides and beyond the shimmering Adriatic Sea. This unknown corner of southern Italy seems to bathe in an impressive light cast over the surface of the sea, the olive trees and the historic villages where time seems to stand still. Which is why Vito has not built an ordinary restaurant here with four walls and a roof. His guests sit outside, under ancient olive trees, or in bad weather, in a kind of covered, furnished barn. Vito makes the view of the Adriatic Sea the protagonist in his decor. In a modest house beside the terrace you find the bar and Vito’s office.

For 23 years Vito has pursued his mission to preserve unadulterated tastes and products in his own restaurant. In combination with a club for Epicurean friends, Perbacco was first a wine bar serving food, then a small tavern where in the 1990s live music was played late into the night and today it is one of the finest restaurants in the region. Vito leads the restaurant with his team of two chefs, Ramon and his wife Cristina, who lovingly translate Vito’s culinary philosophies. The main ingredients on Perbacco’s menu mostly come from Cilento, which forms part of the Campania region, and are always seasonal. The local anchovy is a big favourite and the fish is served here in numerous variations.

Thanks to Slow Food, the alici di Menaica stands on the list of protected products, and a presidium has been set up to ensure this delicacy does not disappear. These small fish are still caught here in the old-fashioned and traditional way. In the past, this technique was used across the whole Mediterranean while now it is only along the Cilentan coast that fishing continues in this small-scale manner. Local fishermen go out in their boats at night to catch the anchovies with nets. Only the larger fish are caught in the nets while the smaller ones escape to continue growing. The fishermen immediately discard the head and viscera of the anchovies and store them in wooden crates, without refrigeration or ice. On arrival back at port, the fish are immediately washed with seawater and then layered with salt in terracotta pots for at least three months. Menaica anchovies are recognizable by their pale pink colour and intense, delicate flavour. They are the perfect accompaniment for many of the fresh pasta dishes on the Perbacco menu. Go for the vermicelli Marina Campagna with wild fennel, sweet little pepperoni verdi, mini tomatoes and of course anchovies. Vermicelli is typical in these parts and often served with wild fennel. The beauty of this dish is that there is no heavy sauce involved. The pasta is pure and remains light. The taste of the fennel and the alici dominate, while the sweet peppers and tomatoes remind you it’s still summer in Cilento.

FOLLOW THE COMPASS NORTH

debbie pappyn — Sun, 23 Jan 2011 16:58:50 +0000

Barely eighty years ago Spitsbergen was the Arctic end of Europe where only the polar bear reigned supreme. A century later, he shares his icy empire with a town of seasoned Norwegians and the rare tourist who ventures this far north. The Svalbard archipelago, of which the largest island is Spitsbergen, lies midway between Norway and the North Pole. Any traveller looking for Arctic sensations will easily find them here (just one comfortable SAS flight away from Oslo or Tromsø). Everyone reaches 74° north, but you have to be a bit more intrepid to reach 81° latitude. A few centuries ago, the only visitors to Svalbard were whalers and hardy fishermen. Today it’s seen as one of the most strategic places on earth. This is Europe, part of Norway, but on one side Svalbard faces Russia, and the North Pole is lurking just around the corner. NASA has installed one of its most important radars on Svalbard to closely track its satellites as they shear past several times a day on their orbit of the planet. Oil may soon be discovered here, and when that happens, Svalbard will be quickly swallowed into The New North Alliance of far-flung, northerly countries that are steadily gaining in importance. Fortunately, this isn’t happening yet and for the visitor, Spitsbergen is still a white, deserted and tranquil paradise.
Ideal for snowmobiling, husky treks to remote radio stations, skiing, tracking polar bears and of course enjoying the Northern Lights. The best months to travel to Spitsbergen are the winter months when the island is wrapped in a constant light of Arctic blue. From January until the beginning of March the sun gives way for the enigmatic blue light of the Polar Winter. For those who’ve always wondered what the hell there is to do on an island hidden deep inside Europe’s freezer compartment, pack those warm clothes, and follow the compass north.

STAY WITH ME IN COPENHAGEN

debbie pappyn — Sat, 22 Jan 2011 18:29:21 +0000

Why stay in a small hotel room when you can have a spacious, serviced apartment or loft for the same price? Stay is a brand new hotel concept located on the Island Brygge, a fast developing residential area, just a five minutes drive from the centre of Copenhagen. And one a stone’s throw from the buzzy meat packing district. Stay offers a total of 193 apartments with 15 different layouts, ranging from a one bedroom 90 m2 to an Atelier XL of almost 150 m2. The design is Scandinavian minimalism with furniture from quality Danish brands. Although all the rooms have a kitchen, guests are served free breakfast downstairs or can meet in the evening in the lounge upstairs while having a glass of wine with amazing views over Copenhagen. Stay is located in the old A House building that was once a hub for Copenhagen’s creative elite. While Walls, the Danish real estate developer behind the project, was waiting for a building permit, they lent out the building during two years to local artists, designers, musicians and other creative souls who turned the A House quickly into an alternative landmark of Copenhagen. You can still find traces of this creative past in some of the apartments in the form of writing on the concrete walls or small splashes of colour in the black & white interiors.
Room prices start at approximately 120 euro for an apartment, breakfast for two included. www.staycopenhagen.dk

FJORD SKIING IN NORWAY

debbie pappyn — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 09:56:42 +0000

So you are bored of skiing in the Alps? Tired of pistes that are black of thousands kamikaze skiers populating them? You long for virgin snow and wild sceneries? Look no further than 70° North, where you can ski from summit to sea. All it takes is to book a room in the extremely cosy Lyngen Lodge owned by the Englishman Graham Austick and his Norwegian partner. Graham invites his guests to climb 1500-meter high mountains so they can ski down in extremely fluffy and pure snow. No ski lifts here but a speedboat that takes the guests to the shore of the fjord where whales and seals act as cheer leaders for the avid touring skier. Once you reach the summit you can gaze in the distance and imagine that the next piece of land you see is the North Pole. In the evening this intense activity is rewarded with diners when freshly caught Nordic fish and king crab are on the menu. As a desert, enjoy some epic Northern Light reflecting in the fjord below. If all this is not enough, jump into the hot tub and ask for some Aqua Vit. You will never want to go back to that famous mountain range in the middle of Europe… What mountain range? Already forgot all about it!

WWW.LYNGENLODGE.COM

VANUATU, THE HAPPY ISLANDS

debbie pappyn — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 07:24:19 +0000

Voted as the happiest place in the world, Vanuatu might be the Pacific’s best-kept secret. Here, the ocean is blue, the beaches are white and empty and the smiles of the Ni-Van are big and plentiful. The greatest plus of these 83 islands that make up Vanuatu is that it offers a mix of comfortable to even luxury lodging and an authentic and fascinating culture. After climbing active volcanoes or visiting custom villages it’s time for extreme relaxation in one of the luxury resorts. Classe Touriste’s favourite hide-away is Ratua Island near Santo. Don’t expect aircon rooms with flat screen and hot tubs. Instead you get traditional wooden Indonesian villas where the wind cools down the midday heat. The waters around the island are so pristine that the sardines and barracudas practically jump onto your plate. All this comes with plenty of smiling and kindness from the local Ni-Van staff. So if you are in need for a serious dose of happiness, Vanuatu is the place par excellence.

WWW.RATUA.COM

SWEET FULFILLMENT

debbie pappyn — Wed, 20 Oct 2010 09:19:22 +0000

To set the mood, the restaurant looks like a gingerbread house found in the small botanical garden in the city centre of Antwerp. Van Damme takes deserts and sweet dishes to a new level and got rewarded for this with a first Michelin star in November 2010. This young chef has also a soft spot for Japan. It all began when he first visited Tokyo for a culinary get-together with ex-El Bulli chefs from around the world. Tokyoites can savour Van Damme’s creations in the Four Seasons Marunouchi in Ginza or buy his cakes at the Takase Bussan department stores in Japan. When in Antwerp, try his sweet version of tempura of orange while sipping from a glass of excellent wine. In the end, it’s all about living the sweet life, isn’t it.

WWW.HETGEBAAR.BE

OUT OF THIS WORLD AND INTO BOTSWANA

debbie pappyn — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 12:53:20 +0000

Pack your bags (not more than 20 kg please and no Manolo or Gucci needed anyway), hop on a plane for half a day and embark on a trip of a lifetime. Final destination is Botswana where the mighty lions roar louder, the safari camps are more comfy and the views are more va va voom. If you need a helping hand to select one or two camps out of the numerous luxury options, then follow our advice and be a happy camper. First cruise the Chobe River on the red-hot riverboat the Zambezi Queen, which offers an unbeatable river experience and ultra-luxurious surroundings (however we heard some negative comments lately). Then head off to the Okavango Delta where Nxabega Camp from &Beyond is a delightful camp-away-from-home. Make sure you are there when the crew stages their fairytale bush dinner when there’re more candles burning than wild animals circling around in search for a juicy evening snack. Enough of all that water, head for the dry and salty Makgadikgadi Pans in the enigmatic Kalahari Desert. Base to stay is legendary Jack’s Camp where the décor, thanks to the colonial furniture supply of good old Jack and the design skills of owner Catherine Raphaely, is out of this world. Your neighbours here are the San or the local Bushmen. A meet & greet with them is an enlightening experience. Get up early in the morning to see the matey meerkats and be overly enchanted. But hey, don’t consider grabbing one to take home, even when they come sitting on your safari hat. They might look cute but they don’t dig the city life, they like their daily portion of crunchy scorpions and they are not keen on travelling long haul, even when it’s Upper Class.

WWW.UNCHARTEDAFRICA.COM
WWW.ANDBEYONDAFRICA.COM
WWW.ZAMBEZIQUEEN.COM

THE VALUE ADDED TAX OF BHUTAN

debbie pappyn — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 17:41:50 +0000

What is the result when an Asian country tries to manage the tourism industry by charging a fair amount of entry tax to the adventurous traveller? Plus when it wants to keep far away from the madding backpacking crowds? Take 20.000 visitors a year and mix it with a 100% Buddhist population in a landlocked country with dreamy landscapes that will tantalize every serious travelista. Ok, you have to have a certain budget to get in. But who wouldn’t pay a bit more for a destination where the happiest people in the world live, where chilli peppers are eaten as a vegetable rather than a spice and where the beer, called Red Panda, is devilish tasty? And oh, we forgot to mention the Zhongs where monks live who perform now and the then the most hypnotic chants and dances and the fact that the locals are dressed as if they are huge fans of Dries Van Noten who decided that men also can wear skirts and sexy socks. If this isn’t enough we can give away that one of the best hotels Classe Touriste ever every stayed in is located here. High in the valley of Punaka you can stay in one of the five, fabulous Aman Resorts of Bhutan. In Punaka it’s an old summer palace that is hosting eight guests who will experience Bhutan at it’s best. An experience trough guided visits and tours in comfy jeeps, refined cuisine and mesmerising vista’s over de Punaka valley. And if you wonder after a while why the people of Bhutan are voted as the most happiest in the world, then just smell the air and find out that there grows more marihuana along the side of the road than in Jamaica and that a man AND a woman can have several spouses. Who wouldn’t pay a bit more for that!

WWW.AMANRESORTS.COM

OPEN MINDS AND CLOSED COUNTRIES

debbie pappyn — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 17:36:34 +0000

Ask Classe Touriste what the best trip in 2009 was? Easy. It’s DPRK, aka North Korea, aka the most secret and closed country in the world. Not really politically correct, we hear you saying? Well, for once we didn’t think about politics and just booked our flights to Pyongyang. Yes, it’s true; you can travel as a real tourist to this rather unknown country thanks to the professional assistance of Koryo Tours. This English tour operator imports already more than 14 years curious travellers into North Korea. Getting a visa is easy, yes, even for Americans and it’s not all that bad as it would seem. The food is scrumptious, the national dress code is inventive and let’s be honest, DPRK has the most impressive performances in the world. As it happens, Koryo Tours takes its guests to the world famous Mass Games where ten thousand people perform in a simultaneous way. The question is how long this country will still wear its communist clothes. Because in the end, it’s not anymore about being the first to discover a destination, but it’s all about being the last.