Booked your holidays yet? Here are some tips on how to look fresh after a long flight…

Prepare yourself
Eat light and exercise before you travel. Avoid salty foods, which make you retain water and swell up. The night before, prepare your skin by washing with a scrub and applying a hydrating mask; this combination will help moisturiser penetrate your skin. Use a generous layer of eye cream and thick lip balm like Vaseline.

Pack right
Carry sample sizes of your favorite moisturizer and eye cream. Also take stick foundation and cream eye shadows and blush. It’s very useful to pack everything in a clear Ziploc bag.

Drink up
Buy a big bottle of water after you passed security. Don’t down it all at once; you should drink regularly over the course of the flight. Try and ask for a cup of hot water every hour and sip it - that’s an Ayurvedic remedy. Warm water is thought to be better for your capillaries and blood flow. If water is too plain, bring green tea or herbal tea bags.

Keep it light
Apply only the minimum amount of make-up. If you wear foundation, you won’t be able to apply moisturizer, which is more essential on a flight. Instead, use a concealer to hide trouble spots and wear a light cream blush and tinted lip gloss, which traps moisture.

Final touches
Right before you land, put an ice cube on each eyelid for a few minutes to reduce swelling. Reapply gloss and blush, add liner at the base of your lashes and finish with a few strokes of mascara.

(Tips by Laura Mercier, creator of Laura Mercier Cosmetics)

1) Six Senses Hideaway - Zighy Bay, Oman

Being the first Six Senses Hideaway to open in the Middle East, the resort is indeed a true “Hideaway”. Located on the Musandam Peninsula in the very North of Oman, the SixSenses Hideaway at Zighy Bay is beautifully set in one of the secluded bays between the crystal clear Gulf of Oman and the Hajar Mountains. The resort was designed to blend with the natural surroundings of Zighy Bay and the Musandam and was built according to old Omani traditional style. To ensure their operations are also in line with the environment and its immediate surroundings, they have an environmental management system in place which is based on the Six Senses’ Holistic Environmental Management Programme. Zighy Bay‘s food is essentially Arabic and so they buy or even grow what they can locally. The resort also does not import water - they purify the water themselves and offer it in reusable glass bottles to their guests. Every resort villa has their own bikes and even the hotel staff travel around the resort on bikes. The villas are so well ventilated and insultated that guests have not to use air conditioning, which I think is wonderful. Finally, Zighy Bay also supports their local community by example teaching local children English.

2) Six Senses - Soneva Kiri, Thailand

Exclusively and luxuriously appointed, Soneva Kiri offers Intelligent Luxury together with an unparalleled reputation for excellence and cutting-edge eco-concepts. The resort is situated on a 41-hectare or 102-acre site on the Island of Kood. Known for its spectacular tropical landscapes, crystal clear waters and white sandy beaches, the location is one of the most pristine and untouched islands of Thailand. Their new Ecological Suite, ‘The Eco Villa’ is a prototype zero emissions suite built at Soneva Kiri as the pioneering project to the forthcoming zero emissions Six Senses Evalution brand. It showcases of a range of environmental technologies incorporated into a bio-climatically designed structure made from locally sourced and non-toxic building materials, creating an entirely new experience for guests. Among these are:

- Low embodied energy materials and building techniques
- Site sourced stone, mud and timber
- Non-toxic adhesives and wood treatments
- Excellent insulation, insulated glass and green roof
- Highly efficient lighting, and active and passive cooling
- Rainwater harvesting, storage and filtration
- Energy autonomy via hybrid wind turbine, solar PV and micro-hydro applications
- Reed bed for waste water and septic tank effluent and reused for
landscape irrigation (biological filtration)
- Natural swimming pool using plants to clean the water
- Electric vehicle

I love it!

A lot of Yogistas also play golf as they can breathe in the fresh air and embrace nature’s wonders whilst getting both exercise and sun. It also is a nice change to your yoga postures and spa treatments.

Here are some suggestions of golf clubs in Asia:

1. Laguna Phuket Golf Club, Phuket (Thailand)
Lauded already in numerous publications as one of Asia’s premier golf resort destinations, the Laguna Phuket Golf Club is set among the Laguna Resort Complex which features five luxury hotels (Sheraton, Dusit Thani, Banyan Tree, Laguna Beach Resort and Allamande). It boasts an 18–hole, par–71 course designed by Max Wexler and David Abell and caters to players of all levels of expertise. But the course certainly is challenging as 13 of the 18 holes are in close proximity to the actual lagoon. Golfers can enjoy taking the watery gamble with their shots. Afterwards, pampering is essential at the world famous Banyan Tree Spa.

2. Le Meridien Nirwana Golf and Spa Resort, Bali (Indonesia)
The five–star Le Meridien Golf and Spa Resort is a luxury resort overlooking the Indian Ocean with world–class golf and spa facilities. The Nirvana Bali Golf Club boasts an 18–hole course designed by the legendary Greg Norman, and has been featured in several publications. The course is made challenging by the elaborate network of streams, ponds and terraces plus its ocean lapping location. After playing, relax at the fusion Nirwana Spa which uses Western products while keeping the Balinese Hindu philosophy in mind.

3. Novotel Ocean Dunes and Golf Resort, Phan Thiet (Vietnam)
Located three hours from Ho Chi Minh City, the four–star Novotel Ocean Dunes and Golf Resort is located on a private beach and was the first international resort to be built in Vietnam. The Par–72 Ocean Dunes Golf Club located on–site has been designed by Nick Faldo and been identified it as one of the top 10 resort courses in Asia. The course will appeal to both experienced as well as casual golfers, and the coastal winds will bring challenge to each hole. The on–site Spa has private saunas and Jacuzzis for customers use after a round of golf. Or you can go in for a massage before you take to the course, helping to relax the muscles and improve that swing.

4. Kirimaya Golf Resort and Spa, Khao Yai (Thailand)
The three star Kirimaya Golf Resort and Spa provides 60 contemporary living options and is the perfect retreat for those looking for a golf holiday. The 18–hole golf course has been designed by the legendary Jack Nicklaus and is set among the mountains and greenery of Khao Yai. Guests can indulge in a range of massages and wellness rituals at the Maya Spa or in the comfort of them own rooms after a day spent on the course or exploring the surroundings.

5. The Empire Hotel and Country Club, Bandar Seri Begawan (Brunei Darussalam)
The five star Empire Hotel and Country Club and beach resort overlooking the South China Sea boasts of lavish accommodations, eight swimming pools and a championship golf course. Designed by the celebrated Jack Nicklaus, the golf course includes cliffs, ravines, tight fairways, large bunkers, and is floodlit for night–time games. Also not be missed is the Spa, with its therapies from around the world designed to calm the body and revitalize the skin.

6. Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club, Sarawak (Malaysia)
The five star Hornbill Golf and Jungle Club is nestled amongst the oldest and second largest rainforest in the world, 1,000 meters above sea level. As the name suggests, the main attraction of the hotel is its golf course designed by Neil Crater, while keeping in mind the features of its unique highland location. The course is the ultimate test of golfing skills, and is suited for those who love a fresh physical challenge as well as a mental one. With the number of guests kept to just 60 a day, it provides ample exclusivity and privacy to indulge at a calm pace. The Jungle Club continues to keep up the promise of relaxation and rejuvenation with its pampering sessions of spa, exotic traditional massages and a range of natural treatments.

7. Bintan Lagoon Resort, Bintan Island (Indonesia)
The four–star Bintan lagoon Resort is set among 300 hectares of beachfront gardens and offers a world of choice. This golfing resort can easily be reached by a short high–speed ferry ride from Singapore. Both the Jack Nicklaus 18–hole Sea View Golf course and Ian Baker–Finch 18–hole Woodlands Golf course at the resort are known for their spectacular design and signature holes. The stay is incomplete without a visit to the Bintan Spa, where traditional methods are used in conjunction with organic ingredients for the ultimate relaxation experience. Choose from a range of treatments, scrubs, and spa packages.

8. Springfield Village Golf and Spa, Hua Hin/Cha–am (Thailand)
The 3.5 star Springfield Village Golf and Spa provides luxurious rooms and suites, designed to blend with their surroundings and each providing an open view of the golf course. The golf course (another design by Jack Nicklaus) challenges golf enthusiasts with 27 meticulously manicured holes. The championship course has five sets of tees to play from, and offers varying levels of difficulty. For those looking to improve their game, step there is an excellent Learning Center which offers private lesson. Be sure to head over to the Springfield Spa to pamper and rejuvenate yourself with a wide variety of top notch massages and treatments on offer.

9. Sentosa Resort and Spa, Singapore (Singapore)
The five–star Sentosa Resort and Spa is perched atop a cliff gazing out across the South China Sea. The resort’s 21 rooms and suites are spread across 27 acres of tropical woodlands. For a round of golf, tee–off one of the 2 resort courses, including the exceptional Sentosa Golf Club, home to the Barclay’s Singapore Open and the course of choice for politicians, dignitaries and celebrities alike. The resort also boasts the Spa Botanica, housing mud pools, flotation pools, a meditation labyrinth and Turkish-styled steam baths and a wide choice of indoor treatment rooms or outdoor pavilions.

10. Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort, Nanjing (China)
The five–star colonial-styled, Sofitel Zhongshan Golf Resort Nanjing is located on the slopes of the famous Purple Mountain, and features 140 luxurious accommodations. This resort is the perfect choice for leisure as well as business travelers to Nanjing. It is also the first deluxe, five–star golf resort in Nanjing, and the exclusive 27–hole golf course was designed by Gary Player. Guests can also enjoy the Spa, with its various massages and treatments, guaranteed to relax and ease the muscles.

Enjoy!

Frégate Island Private, the exclusive Seychellois retreat, is pleased to introduce a brand new pillow and aromatherapy menu to ensure that all guests enjoy the perfect night’s sleep. This special service is just one of the initiatives taken to ensure guests feel utterly at home during their stay on the island, and awake and ready to embrace the spell-bounding beauty of the island.

The pillow menu offers a choice of 20 pillows including an ecological buckwheat spelt pillow, an anti-aging pillow treated with vitamin E, pillows for children and even specially designed pillows for those who suffer from allergies and medical ailments.

Added to this, guests can further customise their sleep by sprinkling any one of the 10 fragrances from the aromatherapy menu onto their pillows to balance and harmonise, energise and relax depending on personal preference: a splash of soothing rosemary eases aches and pains, a dab of lemongrass refreshes the mind, whilst the heady aroma of ylang ylang, a natural aphrodisiac, sets the scene for romance.

Bookings: www.fregate.com

These resorts integrate traditional Asian medicinal practices with western philosophies, to produce a wide array of slimming, detoxification, and revitalizing therapies to enhance health, vitality, and physical beauty.

Absolute Sanctuary, Samui, Thailand
Thailand’s premier Detox&Yoga Resort, located on the beautiful island of Koh Samui, blends luxurious accommodations with a wide range of vibrant detoxification programs, yoga classes, spa treatment menus, healthy and organic food, and other dynamic therapies. Absolute Sanctuary caters to those seeking a journey back to balance, rejuvenation, and wellness. This oasis of relaxation helps guests re-fuel with good energy, nutritious cuisine, and healing therapies.

Ananda In The Himalayas Hotel Rishikesh, India
Ananda in the Himalayas offers special workshops and private sessions with various visiting masters of well-being. These teachers, therapists, healers, Ayurvedic doctors, and guides visit from around the world to share their talents and gifts with those who choose to explore and understand the deeper realms of holistic well-being for the body, mind, and spirit. With a unique focus on the traditional, Indian sciences of yoga and Ayurveda, Ananda Spa creates a skillful synthesis between age-old therapies and modern, spa technology. The personalized therapies and activity programs are designed to meet individual needs and healthful goals. Relieve stress, detoxify, experience deep relaxation, anti-aging treatments, weight loss therapies, and learn about nutrition and exercise.

Bagus Jati, Bali, Indonesia
The health and well-being program is totally focused on the individual guest as they learn to be fit, eat healthier, and reduce stress. For those interested in food planning or weight management, healthy-cooking classes are also available. At certain scheduled times throughout the year, guests can also choose from private consultations and workshops addressing lifestyle changes with visiting international specialists who reside at the resort. Bagus Jati is more than pleased to welcome non-hotel guests to join the health and well-being programs.

Baan Thai Wellness Retreat, Bangkok, Thailand
The Baan Thai Wellness Retreat offers an extensive range of anti-aging, therapeutic, and detoxifying treatments, in addition to pampering, beauty therapies delivered in the comfort and privacy of spa, therapy rooms and suites. These include a range of authentic Thai treatments, Ayurvedic, Asian and Tibetan therapies. A team of holistic health practitioners provides professional consultation in diagnostic reflexology, homeopathic consultations, acupuncture, Chi Nei Tsang, rebirthing sessions, and deep tissue massage, while total detoxification programs are supervised by the retreat’s resident, medical professionals.

Chiva Som International Resort, Hua Hin, Thailand
Chiva Som Health and Wellness center provides complimentary treatments ranging from medical, holistic therapies to spa, medi-spa, physiotherapy and fitness programs. Treatments are customized for individuals to improve lifestyles through the integration of naturopathic and conventional medicines. ‘Ultimate Detox Retreats’ are recommended for those who wish to experience deeper detoxification in five-star Thai surroundings.

Como Shambhala Estate at Begawan Giri Hotel Bali, Indonesia
Como Shambhala Estate in Bali is a residential health retreat that offers different treatments to improve body, mind, and spirit. The estate offers various wellness programs incorporating different lengths of stay with therapies aimed towards a specific purpose. They include the Bespoke Health Program that targets a particular concern; the Ayurvedic Program which uses ancient, healing techniques for body and mind; and a Cleansing Program to cleanse the body of toxins accumulated through a bad diet and polluted environments. The Get Fit Program and Rejuvenation Program combine the beneficial effects of beauty and spa treatments with healthy eating and positive thinking to help recapture youth, while the Stress Management Program is designed to make positive, lifestyle changes to combat the pressures of the busy modern world.

Hanafubuki, Shizuoka, Japan
Experience the Japanese art of healing with six hot springs, known as Onsen, located in the forest. By appreciating the nature of Japan and the hot spring’s water, guests are relaxed and healed mentally and physically by the natural, healing powers. Long-term use of Onsen has natural effects that cure neuralgia, poor blood circulation, and many gynecological diseases.

Jirung Health Village, Chiang Mai, Thailand
Guests are provided with health care based on Oriental wisdom that balances mental attitudes in order to achieve happiness, fulfillment, and protection from illness. Treatments include nutrition and wellness programs, as well as activities designed to rejuvenate and restore healthful, bodily functions. These treatments are simple practices that can be applied to clients’ daily activities back home in order to continue the benefits and maintain balance in everyday work and social environments. Additionally, “Personal Coaching” is provided to create effective programs and methods suited to each person’s individual needs. The beautiful and relaxed environment of Chiang Mai promotes a memorable, healthful, holiday experience.

Kamalaya, Samui, Thailand
Recently voted the “Best Wellness Retreat” by the Spa Asia Crystal Awards, this resort is surrounded by lush green forests, streams, and boulders while overlooking an exquisite private cove. It is renowned as one of the world’s most beautiful detox destinations. Stay in earthy yet well-appointed villas with naturopaths and traditional Chinese medical and allopathic doctors at your disposal. Their seven-day Essential Detox Retreat includes seven nights accommodation, transfers, all-organic meals and juices, nutritional supplements, herbs and homeopathic remedies, one BIA analysis, six infrared saunas, seven spa treatments, cooking classes, educational discussions, and cleansing and holistic activities.

Mandarin Oriental Dhara Dhevi, Chiang Mai, Thailand
The Dheva Spa offers a range of renewing, spa programs and packages designed to indulge those looking for physical, mental, and spiritual well-being. Guests will be pampered and emerge totally relaxed and rejuvenated. The Dheva Spa offers treatments adapted from traditional oriental practices, which can be experienced in half a day. More comprehensive wellness programs start from three days and onward. Programs are customized according to personal needs. Professional therapists are trained in anatomy and healing by in-house doctors and health specialists.

For cheaper prices book them with www.agoda.com