Tuesday, October 16, 2012

CNNGo.com

CNNGo.com

The Luxury World Hotel and Spa Awards: And the winners are ...

Posted: 16 Oct 2012 01:19 AM PDT

by CNNGo staff

The Luxury World Hotel and Spa Awards are an annual celebration of the best and brightest facilities around the globe, picked by actual guests.

According to the organisers -- who are based in Stellenbosch, South Africa -- hotels or spas can nominate themselves, but the final voting is done by "thousands" of regular folk and travel industry consultants who are fans of the venue, based on the excellence of its facilities and service.

However nominees have to pay an administration fee: £230 (US$370) for a spa, £770 for a hotel and £970 for a hotel group. 

The lists of the 2012 winners are pretty long. There are 30 categories for the hotel awards and 10 categories for the spa awards. You can see the breakdown of the list of the hotel winners here and the spa winners here.

Also on CNN: World's best hotel is ...

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Bronte Beach: Sydney's best-kept secret

Posted: 15 Oct 2012 03:05 PM PDT

by Ian Lloyd Neubauer

Every year in October and November, half a million people follow the epic coastal walk from Bondi to neighboring Tamarama Beach for Sculpture by the Sea, the world's largest free outdoor sculpture exhibition.

Yet only a trickle continues to the next cove -- breathtaking Bronte Beach -- Sydney's best-kept outdoor space and its best-kept secret.

"I have traveled to more than 50 countries, I've lived in the US, in Europe and I'm yet to find a place that has the same special combination as Bronte," says resident and author Nigel Marsh.

"It's got one of the most beautiful beaches in the world but it is only 15 minutes' drive from the heart a major city and it's got beautiful weather all year round.

"Every day spent away from Bronte is a wasted one."

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at 10:44 AM