Club Owners Storybook

Table of Contents

Shah & Carole 3

Falling in love Gem Discovered

Bob & Lyn 5

Dreams Come True The Kingan Family 9 Getting Aquatinted with Anantara Easter Travel Tale Pink & Piya 14 The Wedding The Honeymoon Nils 18 The Unique Desert Experience Paradise on Earth Mr. & Mrs. Jain 22 Amazing Desert Vacation

In Love Our Anantara story began on the morning of 8 March 2011, when we were picked up from Bangrak Beach for our Anantara Vacation Club preview presentation. We were very relaxed and already enjoying our vacation on the quaint and hip island; Koh Samui is an idyllic destination, the perfect getaway to put a few romantic sparks into our lives. This was till we arrived at Anantara Bophut Koh Samui Resort & Spa... hello paradise! We fell in love with the resort. The inspiring landscape, the warm friendly people, the bountiful cultural and entertainment venues around the resort. The newly launched AVC Club Resort is nestled in the hub of this chic and literary arts center has to offer, very much a part of the main Anantara resort yet separate and distinct in many ways. We were more than satisfied with the welcoming staff, who provided us with A+ service, the variety of restaurants and food and the beautiful immaculate room that we stayed in. The place is well and truly a tropical heaven – 10/10 from us!

Shah &

Carole

3

Falling

Then there is the Anantara Phuket Villas... we just love this resort! We travel here a lot now, and we are never disappointed. There is so much to do on the resort grounds, and we have voted this our number one vacationing spot... that is, until we visit the rest of the Anantara family of resorts and explore the rest of the world through Global Traveller

In the near future we plan to visit Abu Dhabi and the Maldives , and we look forward to adding the next chapter of our story.

Gem Discovered

4

Dreams

After joining the Anantara Vacation Club in June this year, my husband and I were excited about the destination for our maiden club adventure. We combed through the selection of titillating resorts littered around Asia and the Middle East, and settled on the Maldives. I had first heard of the Pearls of the Indian Ocean some 20 years ago and had dreamt about visiting them since, so we decided to ‘take the dive’ in August. It was a breeze putting through our booking with Club Services, and we set about preparing ourselves for the trip.

Bob & Lyn

Come True

5

Anantara Dhigu Resort & Spa Maldives is located on the Dhigufinolhu Island in the South Malé Atoll, south-east of Malé. It is a short 35 minute speedboat transfer from the airport. The resort is well landscaped with lush vegetation and coconut palms. The resort staff was very pleasant and helpful, and we give them full marks for their service level. We experienced both an over-water suite and a beach villa during our stay. Both types of accommodation are wonderful and have their own distinct charms. One little drawback is the lack of dining options, as there are only five restaurants serving the Anantara sister resorts of Dhigu and Veli. But we highly recommend the Baan Hurra, which serves excellent Thai cuisine. How good, you ask? We ate there four times during our nine-day stay!

Lush vegetation ensures privacy

Intimate over-water linked by private piers

The Maldives is a destination for diving, windsurfing, game fishing, kayaking, parasailing, jet-skiing, etc. So, I refreshed my diving skills and logged in a couple of dives. The highlight for me was taking pictures of a whitetip shark, Moray eels and an array of marine life for my photo collection. I also went on a snorkeling bio-adventure with a marine biologist, who took captured images of a variety of fish and coral that are the stuff of diver magazines.

Just soaking in the view

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We embarked on our journey just outside the lagoons of the Anantara, but we did not have to wait long before the local guide on the cruiser pointed to something splashing in the waters ahead. A school of spinner dolphins was in sight. Quickly, the captain maneuvered the cruiser for us to get closer looks. The dolphins were marvelous, so graceful, dipping in and out of the water. Some of them swam alongside our cruiser, while others stayed further out. A few show-off’s jumped out of the water and spun about seven times before falling back into the water! Meanwhile, flying fish popped out of the water every now and then to our delight and amazement. The excursion was well worth it, and we returned to our island embraced by the glow of the setting sun.

Love the underwater garden!

On the lookout for dolphins

Wish I was swimming with them!

One of the many ways to enjoy the sunset 7

Aside from water activities, there are opportunities to visit Malé, the capital city of the Maldives. Island hopping is also another alternative. We did catch a glimpse into the ‘local’ lifestyle; a guide took us through a ‘local island’ to introduce visitors to the Maldivian way. There are about 150 inhabited islands and 220 resort islands. Alas, our dream holiday had to come to an end. My husband and I came away from the Maldives with a tinge of sadness, not wanting to leave behind the idyllic and unhurried existence that we were a part of, even if only momentarily. We made a promise to return…

Bob and Lyn are no strangers to vacation ownership, regularly leaving behind their high rise sea-view apartment in Singapore to stay in their “second home”, a three-bedroom pool villa in Phuket. But the allure of Anantara was simply too great, and we expect to see them venture beyond their homes and into their next Anantara adventure soon.

Our very own private piece of beach

Cruising the Indian Ocean

8 A little slice of paradise

Enjoying another perfect weather day

Acquainted

In October 2011, my family decided to make a change and spend some time at the Anantara Resort in Phuket. We have spent the last several years in Phuket, during our children’s mid-term break in October, and I had been curious about what was behind the red walls of the Anantara Resort at Mai Khao. I was excited that, this time, we would find out! I was also excited because, this year, my children’s grandparents were coming to Phuket at the same time, and we would have a rare chance to spend time together — not easy when families are scattered around the world.

Enjoying the food

The Kingan Family

with Anantara

Getting

9

There were so many features of the Anantara that appealed to us! We loved the villas, with their private pools, and my two daughters were in the pool every day. We like coming to Phuket in October because the breezes make the temperature not too hot, but the waves are too rough for ocean swimming, so the private pool is a treat. Having breakfast at the restaurant, in its lovely setting, was like having a chance to picnic in a forest, and there were a lot of giggles watching the ducks go by. One evening we all ate at the restaurant Sea. Fire. Salt. by the beach. My mother and I got adventurous trying scallops served on a slab of salt. The Salt sommelier also gave us a chance to sample several different types of salt, which was fun. Some we liked — and some we did not! Afterwards, my kids and my parents played a rousing round of ping-pong at the recreation area nearby. Our stay was far too short, so we didn’t have time to take a spin on the free mountain bikes provided by the resort. But the good news is, we are now Anantara members and will have a chance to do that next year! But before that time comes, we are looking forward to spending the Easter school break at Anantara Seminyak, and we will soon make a booking at the Anantara property in Queenstown, New Zealand, and also with an affiliate resort in Manitoba, Canada — when my children will have another chance in the summer to spend time with Grandpa and Grandma.

Thanks Anantara, for the relaxing and beautiful holiday, and for helping me keep my children and their grandparents connected across the miles. 10

During Easter break, we took our children to Bali. Last time my wife and I went, our eldest daughter was a baby in a pram. This time, she and her little sister would be spending part of the holiday at camp at the famous Green School. The entire holiday was amazing 11 days, so we decided to break things up by spending part of the time at the Anantara Hotel on the beach, and some time at a small guesthouse near Ubud. The first thing we did on arrival in Bali was check into the Anantara Hotel right on the beach in Seminyak. Our kids were actually a bit nervous being on the beach (they are a bit afraid of tsunami), so it was a nice relief for them to learn that our hotel was built only in recent years and was tall and strong. It was also, we noted, the tsunami meeting point for the area. Tides were so high during this full-moon weekend that the waves came right onto the property. Even so, the weather was fine and we didn't do much other than read, swim and golf, recovering from our Hong Kong treadmill. Our kids loved the room, and the staff very kindly accommodated our two children with us, in big fluffy beds. We also appreciated the box of games in the room, and the free DVD library.

Easter travel tale

11

After a few days, we went to a small bed-and-breakfast about an hour’s drive inland, near the famed Taman Ayun temple. We chose this place to be near Green School, where our kids would spend four nights in a yurt, and spending the days doing things like planting rice, making chocolate straight from the pod, and learning as much as they can about sustainable design and development.

While our kids were at camp, we shopped and ate in Ubud, took more bike rides through the countryside, and took a day trip by car into the mountains. We stopped at Lake Bratan, came across a lovely, quirky guesthouse called ‘The Organic Farm’ that had a precious herb garden, gourmet dining, and three bamboo huts set among the trees. After a quick stop to see the famed tourist spot Tanah Lot, we were back in Seminyak. The full moon was gone and the beach had widened now; there were people playing soccer, riding horses, and flying kites. In the late afternoons the beachside restaurants dragged out colourful beanbag chairs. My husband and I sat and enjoyed the sunset together, missing our kids, but glad for the time together.

12

Two days later, we picked up our kids from camp and brought them back to Anantara Seminyak. After Green Camp, the kids loved the amenities at the Anantara even more! That evening, we took them straight to those beanbag chairs. We sat together and listened to our kids’ stories of Green School camp. An acoustic duo played and sang Jack Johnson songs while the sun set. We saw a Korean couple got married on the beach. A tourist got up from the beanbag next to us to play soccer with the locals and it looked like it could have been Lionel Messi…

This holiday was a success. We’ll be back, and will stay at the new Anantara resort opening soon. A big Thank You! to all the staff at the Anantara for making our stay in Bali so enjoyable.

13

The

We love the Anantara concept as it’s completely different to other hotels, from the touches of local heritage, to the magnificent gardens, wonderfully indulgent experiences and excellent service. We consider holidays as an opportunity to truly reward ourselves and know that whichever Anantara destination we choose, our escapes will be exceptional. Hence we joined Anantara Vacation Club in November 2011 and view our membership as an excellent investment for the years to come, because if you feel confident in a hotel brand, why not enjoy stays that reward you with excellent rates and benefits? We started planning our fairytale wedding in March 2011 and on 10th January 2012 we were saying “I do” at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa in front of 550 guests with a spectacular “Tangle” movie theme. The resort was a perfect choice for many reasons. My husband grew up opposite, and it’s been his family’s favorite Bangkok hotel for years. As the bride, it was difficult to make sure that all of my guests were happy, so it was lovely to know that Anantara were taking care of everyone so well. Since many of our friends were flying in from overseas, the resort kindly offered special cash rates and upgraded all the rooms to ones with a river view, which was a fantastic gift for our guests.

Pink &

Piya Wedding

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In fact everything flowed seamlessly. We chose the resort’s grand ballroom for the wedding celebration, which was ideal for such a large party. The decoration was just as I had pictured and the ceremony was absolutely beautiful. The culinary wedding package of cocktails and various food stalls was delicious, and we also brought in a revered Japanese chef and arranged for a well known Bangkok band to entertain us. Throughout the entire day all the hotel staff were super helpful and made sure that everyone had a great time. Our guests’ happiness meant a lot to us and we couldn't be more grateful to Anantara – they left a long lasting impression on us all and made our whole w e d d i n g e x p e r i e n c e e v e n m o r e m e m o r a b l e . For many of our guests, our wedding was the first time they had experienced the resort, and everyone agreed that the tranquil riverside setting and tropical gardens make it one of Bangkok’s best kept secrets!

As the bride and groom we were treated to a complimentary upgrade to a Junior Suite for our extra night, and we adored the spaciousness, Thai antiques and books on old Bangkok, which gave the suite a charming traditional feel. Our wedding night was beyond my imagination, and Anantara decorated our bed with rose petals, which was such a romantic sight to return to after a long and tiring day. The day after our wedding we joined our guests for the international breakfast buffet, which everyone raved about! Then we hid away at the spa and enjoyed a side by side Balinese massage as part of our wedding package, before jetting off for a once in a lifetime honeymoon.

15

The

As part of our wedding package at Anantara Bangkok Riverside Resort & Spa we received a two night honeymoon stay at Anantara Golden Triangle Resort & Spa in the northern jungles of Chiang Rai, and after getting slightly lost on the scenic countryside drive there, we fell in love with the seclusion. Our room was so quiet and we felt completely undisturbed, so when we first arrived we did nothing but sleep! The bathtub was enormous enough to share, and you can open the sliding doors to enjoy the three country view outside and listen to the forest bird song. After two days the fresh mountain air restored our energy perfectly, and we have plenty of special memories. Though the cooler winter weather didn’t tempt us to swim in the gorgeous infinity pool, we admired the view of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos’ hills and the legendary Mekong River from the comfort of the sun loungers, as well as from the terrace of the bar, which also has a cosy colonial lounge with a roaring log fire to snuggle next to. While one of our dining highlights was enjoying exquisite Italian food in the middle of nowhere – what a treat!

“You can open the sliding doors to enjoy the three country view outside and listen to the forest bird song.”

“At breakfast we were greeted by a baby elephant on the terrace!”

Honeymoon

16

At breakfast we were greeted by a baby elephant on the terrace! We were also really impressed by the onsite elephant camp which has rescued over 30 elephants from Thailand’s city streets. We thought that the elephant trekking and mahout training courses are great experiences for international guests, especially since the money goes towards running the camp which is completely self sufficient, and we were delighted to make a donation. The resort also has water buffalo, and as I always see these peaceful creatures in the fields but have never encountered one up close and personal, I asked if I could ride one, which was a truly unforgettable adventure! Our next luxury getaway will be a two night stay at Anantara Hua Hin Resort & Spa this March, which we received in a complimentary voucher from Anantara Vacation Club. I’m particularly looking forward to enjoying the spa there, as the treatment suites have a private garden that overlooks a lotus covered lagoon, and the lotus inspired treatment menu sounds so beautiful.

We can’t thank Anantara enough for making our dream wedding come true, and love the fact that we’re starting married life with such a tempting range of holidays to look forward to. We’ll certainly be in touch soon to start arranging our next escape!

“The resort also has water buffalo, I asked if I could ride one, which was a truly unforgettable adventure!”

17

My girl friend Wan and I are currently on holiday in the United Arabic Emirates. We are very pleased to stay at the Qasr Al Sarab Desert Resort by Anantara which is a unique desert experience and has got a wide range of very delicious food and beverage. These wonderful five days gave us the opportunity to enjoy things such as hard drive dune bashing, camel trekking, playing archery, awesome falcon show and a tour to Liwa town.

Nils

The unique

Desert Experience

18

The Peregrine Falcons have been recorded diving at speeds of 320 km/h (200 miles/h), making them the fastest-moving creatures on Earth.

Tomorrow we will continue our desert adventure in Dubai. Like we all know, the greatest stories have no script and it is important to pursue your passions in

life...

19

My girl friend Wan and I had a wonderful week in paradise also known for being the Maldives. We experienced a nice variety of different shore excursions. First we stayed two days in the capital Male where we had an interesting city experience followed by a submarine trip and photo flight. After that we checked in for one week at the wonderful Anantara Veli Resort & Spa where we had a relaxing time. We especially enjoyed the dolphin trip, wonderful island hopping with a jet ski, kayaking and night snorkeling.

Paradise

On Earth

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“We would like to take this opportunity to thank Anantara for giving us pleasant stays beyond our expectations. Our next trip is to celebrate my birthday at Anantara Vacation Club Phuket Mai Khao in Thailand, and we are looking forward to yet another memorable travel experience with Anantara”.

21

We had an amazing vacation in Abu Dhabi at the Desert Islands. The property itself is beautiful and serene, though the journey from Delhi-Dubai-Abu Dhabi-Sir Bani Yas Jetty-Desert Islands Anantara was a bit exhausting especially for my little daughter but once arrived, my little mermaid had the best time ever not leaving the pool for hours even though the water at that time was a bit chilly.

Mr. & Mrs. Jain

Amazing Desert

Vacation

22

The staff and service are exemplary, something which has now become a trademark Anantara feature for me and has become a benchmark for rating many an erstwhile hotel. On the downside this has just served to increase my expectations from the Anantara group! Prior to the trip, we were worried about getting vegetarian food for my husband but we did not have any problem at all as the hotel provided a good selection of vegetarian food.

All in all, a wonderful trip and next time in Abu dhabi we hope to visit the Qasr-al-Sarab too.

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– our owners enjoy doing things they have never done before. They want more than just a break. They want an unforgettable memory and a story to share –