1. A NEW HOME IN THE MALDIVES
Take advantage of being a traveller from the Middle East with Coco Bodu Hithi and Coco Palm Dhuni Kolhu special offer in the Maldives. With rates dropping 40 per cent lower than usual, until September 2021, and a choice of half-board or full-board, plus complimentary return transfer for two children aged 2-12, the Coco Collection is really ramping up the reasons to visit.
Aside from the general magic of the Maldives, the beauty of these two properties can be found in their boutique approach to luxury – both havens for lovers of travel, style and an appreciation for the finer things in life. Languish in your five-star surrounds amid authentic Maldivian architecture and ambiance, and watch the world go by from your paradisiacal vantage point on either island.
2. FALL IN LOVE (AGAIN)
Find love among the lapping waves of the Indian Ocean, with Emerald Maldives Resort & Spa’s Valentine’s Day offer. If you book a stay of four nights or more, you’ll receive 20 per cent off on a deluxe all-inclusive basis. The package includes a complimentary villa upgrade at check-in, a bottle of champagne on arrival, one complimentary couple’s massage, an in-room breakfast and a romantic San Valentine’s Gala Dinner under the stars at Aqua restaurant. Does it get more special than that? Another way to celebrate the romance of the season is with a sunset dolphin cruise or perhaps a sunrise snorkel, or hire your own dhoni or catamaran and curl up as your captain sails you the turquoise sea. For those with energy, challenge your better half to a spot of tennis, a sunrise run around the island, or perhaps just spend the day staring into paradise from the privacy of your beach or over-water villa.
3. DIGGING DEEPER WITH SIX SENSES
If you’re seeking seclusion, discretion yet complete fulfilment, then you can always count on Six Senses to deliver, and then some. Renowned for its rustic approach to luxury, with simplified extravagance and a respectful awareness of each hotels’ surrounds, Six Senses truly elevates the sense of getting away from it all. All this, coupled with the group’s commitment to immersive and rewarding experiences, and it’s a tried and tested winning formula. Six Senses Con Dao’s three-night Private Travel package is one such experience, that puts you, the guest, first.
You’ll be whisked over the Gulf of Thailand in your Legacy private aircraft with a glass of bubbly in hand, landing to check into your four-bedroom 2,200sqm Residence, complete with infinity pool. Relax before your chef whips up a magical dinner under the stars on your private terrace with a BBQ of some of Asia’s best seafood caught by hotel team. There’s also a private island-hopping adventure, fishing, sundowners at your pop-up Rum Coconut Bar, a private dinner of steaks and salads, a Delightful Spa Under the Stars treatment, a cookery lesson learning about Vietnamese cuisine, a private tour of Con Dao, forest trek and so, so much more.
4. THE GIFT OF HEALTH AND HAPPINESS
Valentine’s Day is all about love – be it for someone else or, simply, yourself. And that’s why we love the Premium All-Inclusive package at Heritance Aarah Maldives, for its holistic gift to those seeking body, mind and soul rejuvenation. Nestled in the azure waters of Raa Atoll Heritance Aarah is the resort that barefoot dreams are made of, all bundled up in pared-back luxury. The Premium All-Inclusive package really allows you to explore the island, make the most of your new home and, most importantly, soak up the healing powers of this Indian Ocean paradise.
So, book three nights or more, and you’ll receive a complimentary introductory 30- or 45-minute massage (depending on your villa category) and a complimentary face scan. Or, you can book a stay in one of the island’s Luxury Duplex Ocean Suites, Ocean Villas or the Beach Villas and immerse yourself in various wellness programs, from the ‘7 Day De-Stress and Detox’, the ‘7-14 Day Fitness’ stay or the ‘3 Day Path To Wellness’. Get fit, get healthy, feel better and feel the power of love.
5. THE CHARM OF KOH SAMUI
Celebrating its own anniversary this Valentine’s Day, the one-year-old Mélia Koh Samui resort is giving guests a little gift from the heart. The ‘1st Anniversary’ offer means that guests who book two nights will only pay for one when quoting the code: ‘Firstyear’. You’ll also get free breakfast on your free night and if you stay six nights or more, you can use the 30 per cent F&B discount to your advantage.
Located on the ultra serene Choeng Mon Beach, in the north of Koh Samui, the property is blissful bolt-hole for those not wanting to stray too far from the airport (it’s just a quick 5km ride away) yet requiring all the usual characteristics that come with a Koh Samui five-star hotel: a stunning beach, a tropical island backdrop, traditional Thai food on tap, luxury amenities laced with indigenous Thai charm, and an overall experience that feels a world away from the norm. Stay in a Level Boat Suite to truly immerse yourself in the island’s seafaring heritage. The views alone will take your breath away.
6. THE TRUE ESSENCE OF ZANZIBAR
Beautiful beaches, intoxicating aromas, nature untapped, divine relaxation... Zanzibar has it all. The archipelago off the coast of Tanzania is remarkable for its rural, untouched charm and its ability to truly celebrate what nature blessed it with. To experience all this and more, The Residence Zanzibar should be your starting point, a villa-only hotel cocooned by 32 hectares of palm trees and greenery, fringed by an impeccably clean mile-long beach. Secluded but with the rare Red Colubus Monkey to call your neighbour, relaxation and respite will come easy to you here.
The hotel’s ‘Escape to Paradise’ offer, which is exclusive to GCC residents when booking direct, gives you hefty discounts - up to 50 per cent - on the bar, F&B, spa massages, leisure activities. Stay in a Frangipani Ocean Front Pool Villa for an honest immersion into Zanzibar’s natural-filled world.
7. FEELING BETTER IN MARBELLA
Known for its luxury yachts, beach clubs, prestigious coastlines and Mediterranean vibes, Marbella is a playground for the rich and famous. But, like Ibiza, beyond the glitz, glamour and after-dark decadence, there is a gentler side to Marbella. One hotel bringing about a whole new reason to make a beeline for this coastal city is Marbella Club, with its newly-launched year-long retreat series of transformative wellbeing experiences. With 50,000sqm of sub-tropical gardens at your disposal, as well a architectural design that takes note of an open-air Andalusian village, Marbella Club is a sanctuary within the city, where wellbeing, spa, nutrition and fitness are its cornerstones. Throughout the year, retreats on offer include: Combatting Exhaustion (March 17-21), Food for Beauty (May 12-16 and Dec 8-12), Liver Reboot (Sept 22-26), Body Balance (Oct 13-17) and Ageing Gently (Nov 24-29). If you, however, want to stay within your bubble, you can create a completely bespoke wellness retreat to craft a programme tailored to your group’s needs, whilst staying at the Marbella Club’s newly-refurbished Ríncon del Mar.
8. IMMERSE YOURSELF IN AFRICA
With the Namib desert sprawling before you as far as the eye can see, there are few places on earth that feel as remote or as private as the all-new Habitas Namibia tented retreat. With an MO to honour its indigenous surrounds, contribute to local conservation and sustainability efforts, and immerse guests in rewarding community activities, the hotel goes far beyond a normal holiday experience. The flame-orange Mars-like vistas are truly out of this world, with dollops of greenery speckling the horizon, and invite nothing more than a quietening of the mind. By day, in-jeep safaris will take you in search of giraffes, leopards and rhino or you can learn survival skills from local San tribesman, one of the oldest indigenous tribes in Africa. When it’s time to put your feet up, relinquish yourself to the healing powers of sound journey meditation, savannah yoga, indigenous spa treatments, drum circles, or agora gatherings with live music. There is much to do but here, time is truly on your side. Guests booking in now can take advantage of Habitas Namibia’s opening offer running through March, for a rate of US $540 a night, which includes all meals, drinks, daily activities, two safaris per day, VAT and tourism tax. Connect, reconnect and create lifelong memories.