Cayman is top for luxury travel
TV Star Samples The Luxurious Lifestyle On Offer In The Cayman Islands
Varun Sharma is one of the most well-travelled people on the planet, which is something you’d possible expect from the host of Inside Luxury Travel, a television show broadcast in 169 countries and 21 languages with a total viewership of 1 billion.
“I haven been to 138 countries and stayed in 740 luxury hotels. I believe vehemently that I have the greatest job in the world,” he told the Compass while visiting the Cayman Islands. “It is a great responsibility; people live vicariously through the show and I have kept a daily diary for years [online]. I have never met a person who does not leave their prejudices at home while travelling. The more you travel, the more respect you have for different cultures.”
Film crew
The TV star was in Cayman with a film crew in a trip arranged by the Department of Tourism and visited The Ritz-Carlton, Grand Cayman, Stingray City and many of the islands’ attractions. Mr. Sharma also praised the work of those bringing the Lionfish problem to the fore and said that Carole Hay’s Pepper Jelly and the Seven Fathoms rum were a real treat.
“There is great food on the island, for example the Brasserie with a beautiful kitchen and the greatest soya mint latte I’ve had anywhere or Michael’s Genuine Food & Drink are both fantastic.
And I had the greatest pizza at La Dolce Vita, which confused me because I thought I must be in Naples. I am in training for the New York marathon at the moment so I resisted the urge to have two pizzas. And the top-end wines are affordable in comparison.”
Diverse countries
Mr. Sharma noted that in The Ritz-Carlton alone there were 55 nationalities, which was testament to how the Cayman Islands was able to meld together people from diverse countries and make it work.
“If travel was easier to the UK I could easily live here; it has golf courses, beaches, restaurants and cute ladies.
People think of Grand Cayman as this tax haven but it is not the case; it is one of the most beautiful places on the planet. I have been to all the major Caribbean islands and Cayman feels safe, friendly and there’s a cosmopolitan air here; I have taken it to my heart.”
The Cayman Islands edition of Inside Luxury Travel will be broadcast in autumn, 2012.
