Amanoi | we have arrived

Amanoi's grand staircase (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Amanoi boasts one of the grandest entrances of any luxury hotel in the world. We flew into Nha Trang earlier this afternoon, a mere 50 minute flight from Da Nang. Paying the small premium for business class was certainly worth it. The eight business class passengers exited the airplane first and were seated in the van parked at the plane's steps; economy passengers boarded a larger "standing room only" bus). We left immediately on the short drive to the terminal. Greeted inside by a staff member of Amanoi who gathered our bags which appeared nearly immediately on the baggage carousel. We were already leaving the baggage claim area as the first economy passengers arrived at the terminal. A minute later, we were already in Amanoi's luxury van on a 75 minute drive through towns and on a winding mountain road above the sea.

We stepped out of the van to behold this grand staircase ... and then a second grand staircase that led up to the main lobby. Note: to enjoy Amanoi, you must be comfortable climbing lots of stairs. We were welcomed by the sales manager, then escorted to our beautiful Mountain Pool Pavilion which I will describe in a later blog article.

view of surrounding mountains (c) 2018 by David Ourisman, all rights reserved

Surrounded by mountains on one side and the sea on the other, Amanoi has a picturesque setting, and we are looking forward to two days of learning what this four year-old Amanresort has to offer. Our first impressions have been stellar!

copyright  (c)  2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC.  All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.

Vietnam | timeless charm

Vietnam has been on my bucket list for quite awhile, and I'm now in my final week of anticipation before the trip. Eight days barely seem enough, but I'll be traveling Vietnam from north to south. Here's an outline of our trip.

Hanoi — we have planned extensive sightseeing including historical and religious sites, market visits, and lots of chances to sample locally prepared Vietnamese foods. A&K always includes special experiences in their tours, and we'll have the rare opportunity to hear stories the Hoi Lo Prison from a gentleman very familiar with its secrets. We're spending the two nights at the Sofitel Metropole.

Hoi An — after flying to Danang and checking into The Nam Hai, a Four Seasons Resort, we'll enjoy a walking tour of the ancient town of Hoi An. The InterContinental Danang will host us for a site inspection that evening. The next morning features a visit to the village of Tra Que where we'll learn to make spring rolls using vegetables and herbs we picked ourselves. That afternoon? Beach time!

Nha Trang — after another flight, we'll enjoy two days of leisure at Amanoi, experiencing the unique serenity and intuitive service that is so distinctive of Amanresorts.

Ho Chi Minh City (formerly Saigon) — a bustling city like Hanoi, our itinerary shows visits to many historical and religious sites, with a special visit to the home of two musicians who will perform a concert just for us, playing traditional musical instruments.

Anticipation is so much a part of the adventure of travel. Excitement always builds as the day of our bon voyage approaches.

copyright (c) 2018 by Ourisman Travel LLC. All rights reserved. We provide Virtuoso and other Preferred Partner amenities as an affiliate of Brownell, a Virtuoso® Member. If you have comments on this column, or questions about booking travel, email me or visit my website.