This Hotel in Vietnam Has an Infinity Pool in the Clouds
Ever dream of swimming in the sky? Topas Ecolodge is a collection of 33 chalet-style bungalows overlooking the terraced hillsides and the valleys of Vietnam’s Sapa. Set deep in the mountains of Hoang Lien National Park, Sapa is a haven of biodiversity. The lodge is highly conscious of its ecological footprint, and hires minority tribe members from the region’s Ban Ho, Thanh Kim and Thanh Phu villages—though guests come here for another reason altogether: its famed infinity pool in the clouds.
The pool was added in 2017, putting the hotel on the map seemingly overnight. From its position halfway up the hill, the pool overlooks the main lodge and the stunning Muong Hoa Valley below. Rice terraces billow out from beneath it like layers of verdant fabric; field workers resemble ants as they tend to their crops. The surrounding valleys fill up with ethereal fog and a mysterious haze, blending reality with a pervasive sense of mysticism. Are you on the ground? Up in the air? The answer is somewhere in between.
Of course, the property has more to offer than just a marvelous pool. Once you’ve gone for a dip, walk a few more steps and enter the lodge’s spa for a massage or local-inspired herbal bath. Many guests like to spend their time on the property soaking up the valley views, though there are plenty of places nearby to go hiking and cycling as well. The on-site restaurant, overseen by Danish-born chef Sune Jørgensen, serves Vietnamese dishes with a European twist. Adjacent to the restaurant is a cozy lounge, the only place on the property with WiFi, which offers a superb selection of board games and books. In the winter, a crackling fireplace keeps the place toasty.
But make no mistake: Topas Ecolodge is a remote escape, not a five-star resort. As such, its bungalows are relatively primitive—think smoothed ceramic-tiled floors and rough stone walls—with no TV or WiFi, though each of them boasts an impressive veranda. The ground gets muddy after a heavy rain, and power and water outages happen on occasion. If modern comforts are critical for you, Topas Ecolodge may not be a good choice—though for many, that’s all part of the adventure. Where’s the fun in going so far off the beaten path if you’re only going to rest your head in the lap of luxury?
Your guide to luxury travel—and life’s other indulgences.
The Coolest Towns for Summer Vacation
Big cities are on everyone’s wish lists, but it’s America’s small towns that often provide the best adventures. ForbesLife’s Ann Abel surveyed some of the smartest high-end travel planners about their favorite warm-weather retreats and here’s where they’d go in 2018:
Wellfleet, Massachusetts
“With its riot of clapboard houses, clambered across by bursts of hydrangea and a smattering of art galleries across Main Street, Wellfleet is undeniably picture-perfect,” says Tom Marchant, the cofounder and owner of Black Tomato. It’s just two miles wide and has stunning beaches on both the Bay and the Atlantic, but its location on outer Cape Cod means that “this charming town has remained quiet and uncrowded over the decades, making it a real favorite for a weekend hideaway. The simplicity of days spent on the beach, enjoying Wellfleet’s famous oysters with a glass of something chilled, makes this an idyllic getaway.” The past ten years have seen trendier openings in Wellfleet, above, like PB Boulangerie & Bistro, run by Daniel Boulud alum Philippe Rispoli, and the cutting-edge contemporary Gaa Gallery.
Crested Butte, Colorado
Sitting at almost 9,000 feet, Crested Butte, above, is an alpine paradise with July wildflowers such as lupine growing waist-high. There are fishing spots and hiking and biking trails right out the door. “The town is so appealing that the savvy folks at Eleven Experience have made it their base, and they offer up the two best spots in town to stay, Sopris House and Scarp Ridge Lodge,” says Cari Gray, the founder and president of Gray & Co. “Both are just a short walk to Elk Avenue and its shops, coffeehouses and the great Elk Avenue Prime Steakhouse. Other top spots to refuel include Soupcon and Ryce. Catch a performance at the Center for the Arts or an open-air summer concert.”
Ketchum, Idaho
Once a modest mining and ranch town, Ketchum is now a popular year-round destination that’s known for laid-back sophistication—and 250 days of sunshine per year, says Gray. “Winter attracts world-class skiers to neighboring Sun Valley, but once the snow melts, Ketchum and its surroundings are a paradise, with mountain biking, fly-fishing and incredible arts events.” She also praises the “amazing” food, including lunch on the mountain at Seattle Ridge Lodge, fondue at the historic Roundhouse, and a schooner and a fowl burger at the local watering hole, Grumpy’s. The renovated Sun Valley Lodge was recently joined by the hip new Limelight Hotel, a transplant from Aspen.
Sebastopol, California
Surrounded by apple orchards and vineyards, and only 15 miles from the Pacific Ocean, lies the western Sonoma County town of Sebastopol, which Revealed Americafounder Marty Behr calls “charming and quirky, with a diversity of attractions that is rare in such a small community. You can dine on a delicious down-home burger or grilled salmon that came off the boat an hour ago. You can shop for cutting-edge art or rare antiques, take in the unusual street art or taste wines at local boutique wine shops.” Visit the Barlow, a 220,000-square-foot culinary and arts center, featuring architecture that pays modernist homage to the picturesque apple canneries that were once here.
Washington, Connecticut
“Encompassing five iconic Litchfield County villages, Washington makes for a charming rural getaway,” says Marchant. “Just short of two hours from New York City, Washington will feel like a home from home for most city slickers with its urbane attitudes as a refreshing complement to its picturesque countryside. A favorite of in-the-know New Yorkers, the Relais & Châteaux member Grace Mayflower, above, makes for a fabulous and relaxing place to stay with an indulgent spa and trendy restaurant on hand.”
Bellingham, Washington
The coastal hub of northwestern Washington, with ferries to the San Juan Islands, the city of Victoria on Vancouver Island, and north up the Inside Passage to Southeast Alaska, Bellingham is about 90 minutes by car from Vancouver and Seattle. Says Behr, “The city itself offers excellent outdoor recreation, including orca whale watching, hiking, kayaking, sailing, golf and river rafting on the Skagit River. Accommodations, fine dining and shopping abound in the central core and the historic Fairhaven district.”
Astoria, Oregon
On a peninsula at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria is not only home to spectacular natural beauty and a fascinating history, but it also features wonderful art galleries, a lively weekend street market, a budding food scene and a solid beer culture, explains Behr. Astoria was also the first permanent United States settlement on the Pacific coast, and many beautiful Victorian homes remain throughout town. “Begin your day at the quirky Columbian Café, where every meal is made from scratch, stroll the hilly streets to view the sherbet-hued homes, visit the Columbia River Maritime Museum to find your inner sailor and finish your day with a hoppy IPA at Buoy Beer on a pier out over the river. Astoria is the perfect jumping off point for your coastal road trip or a cozy spot for a romantic weekend.”
Is it ever worth it to buy airline miles? The answer is typically no, according to Johnny Jet. But here are three exceptions that might make it worth the expense.
To Save Miles from Expiring: If your miles balance is close to expiring and you don’t have an upcoming trip planned, buying miles can be a great option. Even purchasing 1,000 miles—while still an added expense—can prevent you from losing thousands (or tens of thousands) of miles that could otherwise be used for awards flights. In this case, paying for miles is the lesser of the evils and worth the fee. Plus, if you can buy miles when they’re on sale, it’s even more worthwhile.
To Top Off for an Award Flight: If you’re close to an award flight redemption but are only a handful of miles shy, topping off your account with purchased miles could be the answer. In this case, spending a couple hundred dollars on purchased points in order to save considerably more on airfare makes sense.
To Enjoy Premium Travel for Less: It’s no secret that premium seats—especially on international flights—cost less if you buy them with points than with cash. Even with fuel surcharges and taxes, you can get some incredible experiences for less when you utilize award travel. Buying miles for a business- or first-class flight is still going to be expensive. However, it can be much less than it would be to buy the ticket outright and makes sense if you regularly pay full price for premium cabin travel.
The Best Airline Credit Cards of 2018
Forbes has partnered with The Points Guy for our coverage of credit card products. Forbes and The Points Guy receive a commission from card issuers.
If you find yourself traveling again and again with the same airline, at some point you’re probably going to want to apply for one of their credit cards. Most co-branded airline cards come with similar perks—bonus points on flight purchases, priority boarding, and a free checked bag.
But even within this common structure, some airline credit cards really stand out and offer perks that apply well beyond travel on their own flights. Here are the best airline credit cards of 2018.
Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard
The Citi / AAdvantage Platinum Select World Elite Mastercard is a longtime favorite of American Airline’s frequent fliers, but the card just got a few upgrades that make it an even better deal now. All the old benefits stayed the same, including priority boarding, first checked bag free for you and up to four companions, and a 10% rebate on mileage redemptions (up to 10,000 miles a year).
And in addition to earning 2 miles per dollar on AA purchases, you’ll also earn 2x at restaurants and gas stations. You can also earn a $100 flight discount if you spend $20,000 on the card in one membership year and renew your account. To top it off the card has a limited time elevated bonus of 60,000 miles after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months.
Southwest Rapid Rewards Plus Credit Card
One of the most common complaints about airline miles is that people have trouble using them, they can never find award space. That’s not a problem you’ll have with Southwest, as the cost of an award ticket is directly tied to the cash price. This means that you’ll never score an incredibly high value redemption with Rapid Rewards points, but as long as Southwest is still selling seats on the flight you’ll always be able to use your points to book them.
Possibly the best thing about this card is that the points you earn count towards the Southwest Companion Pass. Since hotel points transfers no longer count, Southwest credit cards are now one of the best and easiest ways to earn a year (or two) of free flights for your companion. Just remember you can’t apply for the Rapid Rewards Plus and Premier cards anymore—you’re now limited to one personal Southwest card per person.
Alaska Airlines Visa Signature Credit Card
Whether Alaska is your go-to airline or you’ve never set foot on one of its flights, the Mileage Plan miles you earn with the Alaska Airlines Visa Signature card are some of the most valuable ones out there. That’s because even though Alaska isn’t part of a major alliance, it partners with five-star airlines like Cathay Pacific and JAL with very reasonable redemption rates.
If you do fly Alaska even once or twice a year, this card belong in your wallet. Between the free checked bag (for you and up to six companions) and the incredibly flexible $99 companion fare, it’s easy to earn back the $75 annual fee and much more.
United MileagePlus Explorer Card
Between United and its many Star Alliance partners, the miles you earn from the MileagePlus Explorer card can help you get nearly anywhere in the world. United cardholders also get one perk that I wish other airlines would offer as well: access to additional award space. These seats are a different fare code than United’s normal award space and can give you more options to redeem your miles.
United is also the only major US airline to offer any kind of lounge access on its entry-level credit card. MileagePlus cardholders get 2 United Club passes a year when you renew your account. If you travel a lot with United you could also get the United MileagePlus Club Card which comes with a full United Club membership. That card has a $450 annual fee and is currently offering a sign-up bonus of 50,000 miles after spending $3,000 in 3 months.
Beginning June 1, the MileagePlus card will also offer 2 points per dollar at restaurants and hotels, a fee credit for Global Entry or TSA PreCheck and 25% off in-flight purchases all for the reasonable annual fee of $95.
Delta Reserve Credit Card from American Express
With a $450 annual fee, the Delta Reserve credit card is the most expensive of the 3 Delta co-branded cards that Amex issues but it does come with some impressive perks. Frequent travelers will enjoy the complimentary Sky Club access when traveling on Delta, while anyone looking to qualify for elite status will enjoy the opportunity to earn bonus MQMs. In addition to the sign-up bonus of 40,000 miles and 10,000 MQMs after spending $3,000 in the first 3 months, cardholders will earn 15,000 MQMs when they spend $30,000 in a year and another 15,000 if they spend $60,000. If you’re going for Delta elite status they will waive the MQD requirement up to Platinum if you spend $25,000 on any of their co-branded cards, but they recently increased the waiver for Diamond up to $250,000. The card also includes a companion certificate each year on your account anniversary, a free checked bag, and 2 miles per dollar on Delta purchases.
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