Q Magazine - Summer 2018

BeaverbrookCountryHouseHotel TheCaliforniaWinelands Awhaleshark GAIL flew to the Maldives to visit the stunning island resort of COMO Maalifushi , the only resort to inhabit the tranquil Thaa Atoll, and a spectacular 60- minute seaplane flight from Malé. In typical COMO style the beach suites, water villas and garden rooms have been furnished in tropical minimalism, done to perfection with thatched roofs and bleached woods, allowing the varying shades of blue in the surrounding ocean to take centre stage. The vibe on Maalifushi is sophisticated yet easy going and unpretentious. Enjoy deliciously healthy COMO Shambala cuisine as well as Mediterranean fare served outdoors at MADI at and if you’re a foodie you will love the“over water” TAI Japanese restaurant. This idyllic island paradise is a diver’s Mecca including a whale shark“hangout”where Gail fulfilled one of her “bucket list” desires night-swimming with three of these magnificent gentle giants. Non motorised water sports at the resort are complimentary but there are a host of other activities that can be arranged. And as for the Spa…well this is a destination all of its own! If you crave total relaxation and a little piece of paradise, look no further than Maalifushi. KAREN recommends the Californian vineyards of Napa and Sonoma . A perfect route for food and wine buffs, Northern California offers stunning scenery, world-class vineyards and farm-to-table cooking, especially during the Autumn months when the "crush" comes to the Sonoma and Napa Valley and the harvesting of the grapes commences. Auberge du Soleil is a wine-lover’s paradise, set amid a 33-acre sunlit olive grove in the heart of Napa Valley. The warm sunny weather is good for both vine & visitor and the rolling landscape of mountains, lakes and green-gold plains is as photogenic as the charming towns in the area. SALLY has recently discovered the newly opened Beaverbrook Country House Hotel . She has now been there several times and cannot remember being quite so captivated by a hotel before. The main house was the home of Lord Beaverbrook so lots of history within its walls. There is a small private cinema that is really very special – it is where Winston Churchill used to watch Pathe News footage of his war effort and you can just picture him sitting there puffing on his cigar! The Parrot Bar is a wonderful place for a cocktail at sunset – with spectacular views over the Surrey Hills. The Japanese food in the restaurant in the main house is exceptional too. There is also the Garden House , which has a more rustic feel to it, but is equally charming with delicious food and lovely outside seating areas. All this, and for those of us living in the Reigate area, it is right on our doorstep in Leatherhead. Do please give Sally a call if you would like more details or information about Beaverbrook. DIANA visited the island of Koh Samui , which is Thailand's second largest island lying in the Gulf of Thailand. It is known for its palm fringed beached, coconut groves and dense mountainous rainforest, plus luxury resorts and spas. MELISSA is just back from a wonderful trip to Australia . She is available to share her experiences and help with any plans you may have for a holiday 'down under'. JO had a great family holiday in Portugal and also a villaholidayinSpain . She will be very happy to discuss holiday plans for your family. EXPERIENCES Recent travel memoirs from the ladies at Quality Travel SpaheavenatCOMOMaalifushi 23 Moving forward we are planning to make more use of our digital presence to let you know of our recent travel experiences and to keep you informed of what is new in the exciting world of travel. This popular Q Magazine, including back copies, will be available for you to enjoy on our website - www.qualitytraveluk.com and in view of this, we will be decreasing the number of copies we send out in the future. Do please let us know if you would prefer to continue receiving your personal copy by post. KohSamui