By Helena Iveson

Sometimes airports can be such a bore. What with crazy queues at security and cramped seats and cardboard food on the plane, it's no wonder that "staycations" are one of the travel industry's top trends.

For Singaporeans, the popular island resort of Sentosa, just a quarter of a mile from the mainland, is a very popular staycation destination, though up to now the attractions have been more family-friendly than fabulous. And while the newly-opened Resorts World is attracting all the publicity, the ultra-exclusive hotel Capella Singapore is where travellers in the know are heading, armed with Gucci bikinis and the latest copy of Vogue.

From the moment you glide up the meandering private driveway to the two colonial buildings that serve as the hotel's reception area, the hustle and bustle of Singapore feels a very, very long way away. Star architect Lord Norman Foster restored the dazzlingly white bungalows, and also added a stylish, undulating space behind them which houses the bulk of the hotel's fabulous accommodation and two restaurants. This earthy red building mirrors the contours of Sentosa's terrain, and guests enjoy spectacular views out to the South China Sea.

And it's not just the views that are dazzling: the Capella's spacious Modern Asian style rooms come with a state-of-the-art touch screen which controls every aspect from air-con to the blinds, iPod docking stations with Bose speakers, a wall-hung plasma TV, a Nespresso machine coffee machine, a private balcony and a open plan bathroom with a deep stone bath.

Staff are far too well mannered and discreet to name their celebrity guests, but when we were there, it looked as though a couple of local A-list celebrities, armed with huge sunglasses to keep out prying eyes, were lounging by one of the cascading pools. In fact, Capella Singapore, is the kind of place that you can picture someone glam like Beyonce sashaying past one of the resident peacocks that freely wander around the tropical gardens. Who needs Bali when an island paradise is just a ten minutes' drive away?

Capella Singapore
1 The Knolls, Sentosa Island, Singapore
Tel: +65 6377 8888
Web: www.capellasingapore.com

Photo Credits: Siloso Beach on Sentosa Island by mrreynolds; Capella Singapore courtesy of Capella Hotels.

If you've always dreamt of diving down to 20,000 leagues under the sea, then news of Virgin's new "underwater plane" will be music to your ears, though perhaps not to your wallet.

The Necker Nymph, Virgin Limited Edition's DeepFlight three-person aero-submarine (what a mouthful...), is an open cockpit winged sub that will take tourists down to the ocean floor on an underwater flight to explore shipwrecks, swim side-by-side with dolphins, or cruise along with whales. Needless to say, it is the first of its kind on the market.

Capable of diving down to depths of 36,000 feet Necker Nymph has the flexibility to glide peacefully over reefs or up the excitement ante with 360 degree turns. The open cockpits afford near ideal 360 degree viewing for passengers, creating a uniquely open experience. Dives can last up to two hours.

Like all DeepFlight subs, Necker Nymph has near-zero environmental impact: it won't land on precious reefs and has low light and noise emissions to keep ocean ecosystems from being disturbed.

Necker Nymph is available either when chartering Necker Belle, Virgin's luxury 105 foot catamaran (weekly charter costs U.S. $88,000), or when staying on Richard Branson's Necker Island. When taking Necker Belle for 7-nights' exclusive hire, the sub is available at an additional weekly rate of US$ 25,000.

Images via Virgin Limited Edition.

By Christina Newberry

The Internet can be a fickle ally when it comes to planning adventures. You can find amazing deals, but you can also get yourself into hot water by booking with a shady company or hotel. Or, you can have your heart broken bit by bit as you discover perfect place after perfect place to stay that just happen to be way beyond your travel budget.

This last scenario happened to me when I came across the website for Azulik, an "ecoresort" in Tulum, Mexico. The concept is magical – large, private cabanas overlooking the roaring surf, with soaker tubs on every balcony. At Azulik the eco-resort concept means no electricity, no phone, and no air conditioning, but the indoor and outdoor tubs promise plenty of hot water. And you can summon a staff member to take your room service order by raising a flag at your cabana's front door. The online pictures are stunning. I was smitten.

The only problem? Rooms start at US$325 per night. On a trip that was built around hostel stays and self-catering apartments at a tenth of that price, Azulik was simply out of reach. I cursed at the picture of a woman lounging in an outdoor soaking tub, overlooking the sea below.

And then – oh, and then – I noticed the small link on Azulik's homepage pointing to current specials. Among other deals, I found the one that would cure my heartbreak – 60% off regular rates for booking a room within 24 hours of arrival. With a month in Mexico and no set plans of where I had to be and when, this option was workable. Yes!

Soon, my partner and I found ourselves settling in for three nights in the honeymoon suite. Regularly priced at US$350 per night, the 60% discount brought it to US$140 per night: still not budget accommodation, but within the realm of the reasonable. With a king-sized bed draped in a lovely mosquito net, plus hanging beds and soaker tubs carved from large trees both inside and outside, it was stunning. I got myself into that soaking tub as soon as I could – now I was the woman in the picture I had seen online. Bliss!

As we eased into the vibe of the place, I took advantage of the free morning yoga classes, got used to evenings lit only by candlelight, and continued to be blown away by our good fortune. I even came to appreciate the iguanas who were on constant watch on the cliffs below (except the one who skittered into the room to lick jam off the remains of a breakfast tray). As I relaxed, I started to warm up to the idea of leaving my swimsuit behind and hitting the beach below.

Ah, yes – Azulik has a clothing-optional beach (it is, in fact, a clothing-optional resort). Raised in a straight-laced protestant home, I never pictured myself frolicking naked in the waves (a long-time Vancouver resident, I've never even ventured near Wreck Beach, our local clothing-optional haunt). But as Mexican time took hold and the eco-resort atmosphere seeped into my soul, I found myself throwing caution to the wind. In the crashing surf, bare as the day I was born, looking up at our cabana on the clifftop, I realised – life is simple; life is good.

IF YOU GO

Azulik is the most luxurious of three properties that make up EcoTulum Resorts and Spa. Copal offers mid-range accommodations, and Zahra caters to the budget traveller. All have direct beach access. Copal and Azulik are clothing-optional.

Where: Tulum, Mexico.

Cost: High season (Nov. 15 to April 30 and July 15 – Aug. 31): US$40 per night for a basic no-bath cabana at Zahra up to US$350 per night for the luxurious honeymoon suite at Azulik. Online specials can save you 20% – 60%.

Contacts: The resort's main site, www.ecotulum.com, offers information on all three properties. For individual properties, visit www.azulik.com, www.cabanascopal.com and www.zahra.com.mx.

Photo Credits: Images by Christina Newberry, except 'Azulik, Doce' by jason_chinn via Flickr.

If you're aiming for the pinnacle of London luxury next time you travel to The Big Smoke, check out The Connaught hotel's hot new offering, The Apartment.

Designed by David Collins and located on the top floor of The Connaught, The Apartment mixes art, culture and literature to create the feel of a private collector's home. The space comprises of a double height sitting-room, dining room, a master-bedroom with a dressing room and en-suite marble bathroom, a guest bedroom with en suite bathroom, and two landscaped decked terraces with views over the rooftops of Mayfair.

David Collins said he intended to create "an iconic, unique home from home". The Apartment is design for "a discerning client: well travelled, informed and with an appreciation of design and the art of living. It is a private place for a chosen few and a very personal design statement".

Distinctive touches in The Apartment include a library of twentieth century novels, art history books and rare volumes; antique and contemporary artworks; lilac leather lined cabinetry; a bespoke card table; a four poster bed; a custom designed white marble fireplace and a capsule collection of Guerlain beauty products.

Fashionistas can brief The Connaught to scour the neighbouring designer shops for goodies and have them waiting in the dressing room prior to arrival. Foodies and hosts-with-the-most can have their personal Connaught butler arrange a private dinner party, with menus specially designed by two-Michelin star chef Hélène Darroze.

The Apartment's rates are upon request so you can bet your bottom dollar luxury this serious has a price tag to match.

The Connaught, Carlos Place, London W1K 2AL; Tel: +44 (0)207 499 7070, Web: www.the-connaught.co.uk.

By Jay Martin

This is the first in a series of posts that will examine the travel habits of the ultra wealthy, those who are only concerned about where they are going, not how much it will cost.

As the global economy sinks further into turmoil, the stress of watching an investment portfolio lose seven figures in a month is causing old money and nouveau-riche alike to look ahead to their next extravagant holiday. And with angry employees and investors beating down their doors, we might soon see a deluge of luxury travellers taking to the skies in search of a suitable getaway to help them forget about their temporary problems.

While the wealthy may travel to the same locations as the budget-conscious, chances are they will see it through different eyes. Take South Africa, for instance. Most visitors to this country will never view Africa's largest saltwater estuary from the cockpit of their own private helicopter. They will never enjoy a picnic lunch on the pristine beaches of Kosi Bay, followed by some fly-fishing at the mouth of the estuary. That's because to do Africa in style, you need a lot of money and an appetite for travel that cannot be satisfied with typical fare.

At nearly 4,000 USD per day, per couple, Distinctive Africa offers a Southern African experience of rugged luxury that whisks guests by helicopter to some of the roughest terrain on earth, only to return them in time for a multi-course dinner of Pan-African cuisine and African wine on the veranda of their luxury resort. According to the Distinctive Africa website, helicopter safaris offer the discerning luxury traveller the chance to see more of Africa in a shorter period of time, and from a vantage point reserved usually for the vultures.

For the wealthy, travelling Africa by helicopter makes perfect sense. Distinctive Africa describes helicopter travel as the safest means of travel in Africa, and the easiest, as most destinations are only otherwise reachable by a long, dangerous journey in an off-road vehicle. The helicopters they use are among the most fuel efficient available and the commonly-used EC-120 utilises "fan in fin" rotor technology that makes them quieter than most helicopters and ideal for tracking and viewing wildlife.

The phrase "helicopter safari", however, might not conjure an entirely accurate image of what actually takes place. Most think of safaris as an opportunity to track African wildlife in their natural habitat, and then shoot them. Helicopter safari guides instead offer wildlife viewing and most use the helicopters only to reach the destination, where guests transfer to sport utility vehicles to more closely observe lions, gazelle and other wildlife. Some companies that offer hunting use helicopters to track wildlife that has been shot from the ground. For the right price, those interested can hunt directly from the helicopter. A recent trend, called "green hunting", allows guests to shoot animals with tranquillizer darts, wildlife researchers then swoop in and tag them, all without killing the animal.

One of the key parts of luxury travel is having someone else take care of everything, and the all-inclusive luxury helicopter agencies in Southern Africa spare no detail. Because helicopter travel removes the hassle of moving groups of people and their luggage from place to place, guests can choose a single luxury resort to serve as their African base of operations. Helicopters move fast, and patrons of luxury helicopter safari services can see many sites and cover a lot of ground, all in one day and without having to wake up early. Whether it is fly-fishing, golf, first-class wildlife refuges or the Victoria Falls, guests need only choose how they prefer to experience both the rugged and lavish sides of Southern Africa.

WHO TO CALL:

Distinctive Africa – Phone: +27 31 205 5500; Website: www.distinctiveafrica.com

The Safari Company – Via the online form at www.thesafaricompany.co.za

5th Dimension Safaris - Phone: + 27 (0)12 811 0331; Website: www.5thdimensionsafaris.com.

WHERE TO STAY:

Singita Lebombo (Kruger National Park) – Features morning and evening game drives, a health and leisure spa, and a 12,000 bottle wine cellar. Phone: +27 21 683 3424; Website: www.singita.com; Email: singita@singita.com.

Phantom Forest (Garden Route) – Eco-friendly resort features rooms on stilts above the trees, four-course dinners prepared with local, organic fare, and views of the indigenous forest and mountains. Phone: +27 (0)44 386-0046; Website: www.phantomforest.com; Email: reservations@phantomforest.com.

Photo Credits:

1) Co Pilot by mickeymox via Flickr (Creative Commons)

2)Not Quite a Safari Camp by sanctu via Flickr (Creative Commons)

3)ZS-RTG 5th dimension safaris by Pieter van Marion.