TRAVEL THERAPY

Copyright Karen Schaler All Rights Reserved

If you’re looking to splurge and want to spend some time reconnecting with a loved one… the TRAVEL THERAPY  location you pick can be as important as the time you spend together because it will set the tone for the entire trip…When I had a chance to stay at the amazing at the Halekulani Resort in Hawaii I knew the one person who would appreciate the experience the most would be my mom. The mom who worked two jobs to put me through college and never complained about it. One of the charming things about staying at the Halekulani is each night they leave an inspiration note on your pillow. On our first night this is what we found. 

“We do not remember days, we remember moments.” Casare Pavase.  

But I’m getting ahead of myself. Our stay started with a limousine pickup from the airport, a lei greeting and then a private elevator ride to our suite where we found delectable amuses bouche, custom made chocolates and a chilled bottle of Billecart-Salmon Rose Champagne waiting for us. There was also a complimentary full bar stocked with all our favorite libations.   

This is where we also found Francis, our own 24-hour butler who after pouring our drinks offered to unpack our bags and bring us, “anything else you desire.” I felt like pinching myself. Was this for real? Not missing a beat, Francis suggested he have the chef prepare us something special and gave us a menu of Vera Wang favorites featuring such comfort food as Sirloin Sliders, Pizza Baguette for Two, Flapjacks and even Crepes Suzette.

“Anything you want is yours,” Francis grinned, holding out his arms to show off the suite. I’m not sure how Francis did it but his truly gracious nature made us feel completely even though we were surrounded by some of the most refined home décor in the world.

Knowing that fashion icon Vera Wang, who made her mark designing luxurious couture bridal wear, either hand picked or designed every aspect of the suite is what makes this suite experience so exceptional. From the mattress on the bed, to glassware and china, to the Vera Wang fragrances and beauty products, to the upholstery on the furniture and even the embroidery on the throw pillows, Wang’s exquisite design handiwork is seen and felt in every room.

 “Having traveled all over the world, staying at the most exclusive hotels, resorts and spas, I have a very clear vision of what the ultimate luxury suite should be, both from the design as well as the experiential perspective,” said Wang. “I’m also extremely excited that, for the first time, a selection of my furnishings and accessories will be featured in the suite.” (You can also buy many items at the Vera Wang Boutique on the property.)

When you enter the suite you’re greeted by a stunning statue of Quan Yin, the female incarnation of Buddha, who is meant to ease the weary traveler into a calmer, more serene place. But, despite having an overall soothing feeling, there’s still an edginess that’s distinctively Wang’s.

The TV Lounge features a 50” Sony plasma television and a home entertainment system equipped with Wang’s private DVD library and some of her favorite CD’s selections. Technophiles will appreciate the Halekulani’s special deal with Sony allowing the suite to be equipped with the latest high tech gadgets that haven’t even been marketed in the United States yet.

Even the master bath is a mix of cutting edge and tradition with a mirrored antique dressing table and an ultra chic TOTO toilet. The decadently deep 16-jet TOTO Clayton air bath is also pure bliss.              

Despite impressive artwork collected from around the world I found one of the most stunning additions to the suite was its 642-square foot oceanfront lanai overlooking Waikiki beach with magical views of Diamond Head. Once you sink into one of the chaise lounge chairs you’ll never want to leave. The roaring sound of waves crashing against the shore lulls you into a state of utter contentment. There’s a sense of peace here that’s so powerful any troubled thoughts or remnants of stress are soon wiped away and replaced with a sense of harmony and unfiltered happiness. So intoxicating are the views my mother and I chose to eat all our en suite meals on the lanai. We started the day here with breakfast and finished the evenings with star gazing.

Although it’s hard to leave Mecca, we did venture outside the suite to sample the cuisine at some of the Halekulani’s award winning restaurants. Our taste buds were tantalized to perfection at La Mer, Hawaii’s only AAA Five Diamond award winner featuring delicious neoclassic French cuisine. Also offering stunning oceanfront views, Orchids, was the perfect choice for fresh fish and melt in your mouth Ahi-Sashimi. We toasted the sunset at House Without a Key where live Hawaiian music entertains nightly.   

Some other highlights we experienced staying in the suite included signature massages on the Lanai by talented therapist from SpaHalekulani and special aromatherapy baths prepared by Francis.

We also signed up for private surf lessons with Ty Gurney, a celebrity favorite instructor, whose good nature and no nonsense approach makes conquering the waves not only attainable but exhilarating. On our first try my mother and I both rode a wave and felt like we had conquered the world.

Back in the suite sipping cocktails that night we lounged in luxurious Vera Wang robes and toasted our surfing adventure and our stay at the Halekulani. We both felt changed from this experience and knew the moments we shared here would last a lifetime.

For more Travel Therapy locations in Hawaii go to www.mytraveltherapy.com

Coming up…the best of Maui!

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