Travel has finally rebounded. After several years spent largely at home, many of us are eager to try something unexpected and hopefully, unforgettable, on our next vacation.
Luxury hotel group Fairmont is responding by introducing boundary-pushing guest experiences in 2023. Their Beyond Limits programming presents once-in-a-lifetime possibilities that have to be seen to be believed.
Fairmont Orchid is a Hawaiian Dream
I recently stayed at Fairmont Orchid. From the moment I arrived, I received an authentic Hawaiian welcome, when a staff member greeted me by placing a fragrant flower lei around my neck.
This luxury resort sits on the Kohala Coast on Hawaii’s Big Island. The region showcases a striking volcanic landscape. Here jet-black lava contrasts with white-sand beaches and turquoise Pacific water. The dramatic scenery provides natural eye candy of the finest sort.
Situated on a stunning swath of protected beach where sea turtles can be spotted in small coves with dolphins and humpback whales visible just a bit further offshore, the hotel looks lifted from the pages of a Polynesian fairytale. The grounds display a floral fantasy of wild orchids and yellow hibiscus as big as dinner plates. Koi ponds and waterfalls are dropped in for good measure. To top it off, the property boasts gorgeous guest rooms, delectable cuisine leans local, and service is stellar.
Who needs anything more from a resort?
Watch a Mermaid Frolic in the Sea
This February, Fairmont Orchid takes it further, offering a limited-time opportunity to watch dancer and synchronized swimming champion Kristina Makushenko perform an underwater ballet. During my recent visit, Kristina was at the property rehearsing. And I was lucky enough to catch a preview of what’s in store.
I headed down to the beach just after sunrise with a small group of fellow participants. We hopped into an outrigger canoe and paddled out to a floating dock bobbing in the gentle waves. As we jumped into the water, the crew tossed us a snorkel mask and flippers. As soon as our mask and fins were on, we ducked our heads down, each of us holding onto the floating dock.
In a few moments, the ballerina appeared, as beautiful as a mermaid, the epitome of strength and grace. Wearing a simple one-piece bathing suit and a nose clip, she pirouetted and twirled around us, coming up for air only once during the performance, which lasted for around eight minutes. Underwater music added dimension to her flowing movements. When the show concluded she seemed to magically disappear into the waves.
Experience it this February, 2023
I kept my mask and fins on and decided to swim back to shore. When I reached the coral reef, I was treated to a rainbow assortment of tropical fish.
Back on the sand, I took a moment to reflect on what I had just experienced. It felt like a dream within a dream, a performance that was highly interactive, challenging me to take the plunge and go deep–literally. It engaged my senses in a way that no other spectacle ever had.
If like me, you are ready for an innovative vacation experience, the underwater ballet will be performed at Fairmont Orchid from February 13-24. It costs $175 and is limited to seven guests per day.
Additional Beyond Limit Programming at other Fairmont Hotels
Did you ever think you’d listen to a live string ensemble inside a Mexican cenote? Fairmont Mayakoba, on the shores of the idyllic Riviera Maya just south of Cancun, has its own limestone subterranean cave on property. The hotel is transforming it into a concert hall, complete with candles illuminating the stalactites, for its Symphony in a Cenote musical event.
Vancouver defines Canadian coastal cool. And Fairmont Waterfront is one of the city’s top hotels. In celebration of British Columbia’s lush landscape, the hotel revamped its rooftop garden into an enchanted forest. Sip a hot toddy under twinkling lights. Listen to a live orchestra. And gaze at the scenic harbor from a green perch.
If the urban energy of Los Angeles is more your jam, head to Fairmont Century Plaza and witness its 19-story façade converted into a vertical stage. Sit back with a craft cocktail and watch the pioneering aerial dance company Bandaloop’s acrobatic and perspective-bending moves.
