1. PEACE & PARADISE
Few places will help eke out the stresses and strains of the past few months than a little mini-break to the Maldives, and specifically to Adaaran Prestige Vadoo in the South Atoll. Choose from one of 50 water villas, categorised into Sunrise, Sunset and Honeymoon, and know that you’re experiencing the ultimate in island getaways. Let your butler know your deepest wishes, and expect bar exceptional service in return.
The resort’s barefoot luxury, so synonymous with the Maldives, will help strip life back to the bare essentials, where you need little more than a book, a hammock, perhaps a sundowner or two, and the ocean breeze. The Mandara Spa, with its Elemis results-driven treatments, promises to be your partner in crime this holiday, purifying mind, body and soul. Book and stay within 45 days and you can sneak 25 per cent off as a last minute special rate.
2. JUST PARK IT
As London views go, not many will rival those from the newly-refurbished one-bedroom Hyde Park Suite on the ninth floor of Four Seasons HotelLondon at Park Lane. In celebration of the hotel’s 50th anniversary, and designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, the 103sqm Hyde Park Suite features a luxurious marbled master bathroom replete with free-standing bath that begs to sunk into after sunset. The suite also boasts the unique Glass Lounge (pictured left) - a secluded relaxation area with floor-to-ceiling windows casting views over the capital’s bucolic landscape beyond. With an open-plan living and dining area which creates a contemporary residential feel and offers the perfect setting socially-distanced entertaining or relaxing. Take advantage of the hotel’s Stay Longer offer, and stay four nights yet pay for only three, and give yourself more time to enjoy that bath, oh, and discover London, of course.
We might not be throwing caution to the wind with our travel plans just yet, but as these incredible offers show, meticulous planning and well-orchestrated trips can lead to some pretty magical adventures and memories too. Enjoy...
3. GET ME TO THE GREEK
Definitely one to sneak in before the winter, Lindos ImperialResort & Spa is a majestic, family-friendly property on the idyllic and unspoilt Kiotari Beach, on the southeastern coast of Rhodes Island. The sprawling resort lays claim to four freshwater swimming pools, two children’s pools and a huge activity pool with six waterslides, speaking to the big kid in all of us. Its beachside location on the soft pebble-flanked Aegean Sea, invites both seaside and poolside lounging, as well as a full roster of water sports, such as jet-skiing and kitesurfing.
The resort is heavy on the family-comesfirst ethos, meaning little travellers take precedence. But with the resort’s amazing Mini and Teens Club available, it frees you up for beachfront yoga, tennis, horse-riding, cookery classes, or a ‘jeep safari’ around Rhodes. After a day of exploring, put your feet up at Evridiki Spa – you’ll be grateful you did. For an early bird deal, book before December 31, for a stay between April 24 and October 31, 2021, and save 20 per cent off your booking.
4. ESCAPE BACK TO NATURE
Do things a little differently this autumn courtesy of The Kiroro resort – a pristine gem in the heart of Hokkaido, Japan’s second largest island. Typically a ski resort and self proclaimed ‘five star by nature’, the region is just as good before the snow starts to fall, when the Yoichi mountain peaks are blanketed in greenery and fresh air, stunning environs and customised wellness experiences await. One particular offer stands out this autumn, which is the Otaru Cruise package. Centred around a day cruise through the Otaru and Yoichi sea, it’s rich with seascape and romance, canapes and cocktails. It includes overnight accommodation and transport to and from Otaru Port. Once back on dry land at The Kiroro, a Tribute Portfolio Hotel, guests can clink glasses at the OcciGabi Winemaker’s Dinner on October 24, where winemaker Kichiro Ochi will join Kiroro’s Exec Sous Chef, Joshua Seeds, and Japanese chef Takanashi, to serve up a ‘Farm to Plate’ tasting menu featuring Japanese delicacies alongside OcciGabi wines. We have a feeling you’ll roll into bed after your night of food and frivolity, so make sure it’s in the sleek and chic Mountain Suite, with sprawling views worth waking up for.
5. THE GOLF STANDARD OF STAYS
Just opened but already courting attention from luxury travel lovers, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas in Malaysia is a jungle-flanked dream. Just a 45-minute drive from Malaysia’s Senai airport or a two-hour drive from Singapore, the property features 90 authentically designed deluxe rooms in low-rise Malay style, and 18 standalone double-storey one- and two-bedroom pool villas all centred around a lagoon. Everywhere you look, nature presides, making it an outdoor paradise for those seeking sanctuary from life’s urban confines.
With The Els Club just a short drive away, golf lovers can tee up on one of two world-class greens. Book the hotel’s Best Flexible or Stay Longer rate and enjoy resort credit of MYR 150 per room per stay or MYR 250 per villa or residence per stay, as well as one round of 18-hole golf at either the Ocean or Valley Course at The Els Club for two.
6. THE ADVENTURE STARTS HERE
Suvretta House in St. Moritz knows a thing or two about epic destination holidays. The grand-slam property rises from the Engadine Valley like a five-star fairy-tale castle, its interiors elegant and traditional, and its 171 rooms and 10 suites bound by contemporary refinement. The two-bedroom Tower Suite affords the best views of both mountain and lake, while the Suvretta Privacy Suite is the most charming. Take advantage of the Suvretta Activity Package, bookable until October 18, which offers guests six nights in a twin-bedded or single room, breakfast buffet and four-course half-board menu at the Suvretta Tube restaurant.
A fairy-tale hotel in the Upper Engadine, where The peaks of majestic mountains rise to the sky in every direction
The package also offers a host of activities, including tennis lessons, outdoor yoga, private mountain bike rides, electric scooter rental, and an ilã Suvretta Signature Treatment, Cellcosmet Relaxing Anti-stress Facial Treatment and Pedicure Holistic Treatment at the spa. With additional access to the swimming pool, outdoor whirlpool, sauna and golf range, this is one for active enthusiasts who like a side order of recreation with their relaxation.
7. AN OASIS OF WELLBEING
Nestled in 230 hectares of sun-kissed Mediterranean coastline, countryside, spa and golf, Rocco Forte Verdura Resort is a hidden gem known to those who seek the charm of Sicily in their stay. With olive trees, orange groves and white-sand beaches to call your own, the hotel’s eco-architecture feels both contemporary and authentic, whilst each of the three villa suites boast breathtaking Mediterranean views. Villa Suite Acacia, Mimosa and Peonia also feature private pools, and elegant indoor and outdoor living spaces that are inspired by the hotel’s natural landscape, letting you really sink into your surrounds. There are tennis courts, water sports, a championship golf club, infinity pools, thalassotherapy, and the flagship Rocco Forte Spa, which addresses complete enrichment and unity of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. The Express Wellness Programme is perfect for those looking for a quick fix over a long weekend, featuring a three-night stay, spa, nutrition and osteopath consultations, fitness therapies, massage treatments, mind therapy, daily Thalassotherapy Circuits and loads more.
8. LAND OF HOPE AND GLORY
Celebrating its 200-year anniversary, São Lourenço do Barrocal is steeped in both history and beauty, with an over-riding philosophy rooted in preserving its Portuguese authenticity, agriculture, landscape richness, comfort and sense of belonging to Alentejo.
Spread across 780 hectares, the estate is a bucolic bolt-hole and the hotel one of understated luxury, where farm and landscape become your home. On site you’ll find 16 neolithic dolmens, olive groves, vineyards, a vegetable garden, 75 different species of bird, 220 cows and eight horses. Choose a Farm Room and sleep cradled by the restfulness of the barrocal landscape and open your window in the morning to a breathtaking view of Monsaraz, or a Cottage to experience Barrocal’s timeless calm. For those looking for something out of the ordinary, book the Stars, Barrocais & Mountain four-night package, during which guests will discover the monolithic heritage of the Alentejo region with renowned archaeologist Manuel Calado; learn how to navigate the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve during a private stargazing session with a local astronomer; wind through olive groves and vineyards via hiking and cycling trails; and then travel up to the mountains for a stay at Casa de São Lourenço, with boasts panoramic views over the Serra da Estrela Natural Park.
9. THE DRIVE OF YOUR LIFE
One fail-safe way to take in the sprawling landscapes that Italy has to offer is with a scenic road trip, and now a driving holiday between two of southern Italy’s most exclusive and historic hotels is on offer. The road trip starts with a three-night stay at Monastero Santa Rosaon the Amalfi Coast, followed by a five and a half hour drive in an Alfa Romeo Spider 1967 meandering through the historic town of Matera, onto Salento in the heart of Italy’s inner ‘heel’ to Puglia, for another three nights at Castello di Ugento. To immerse yourself in la dolce vita, you’ll also receive a one-hour spa treatment and two-hour private guided tour of the Matera ‘Sassi district’, a cookery class and lunch for two.
The 17th-century Monastero Santa Rosa is quite like any other hotel – with just 20 rooms, an infinity pool that ‘floats’ over the edge of the cliff in Conca dei Marini, stunning gardens, an award-winning spa and Michelin-star restaurant, Il Refetorio. Castello di Ugento is a culinary destination too, in which they use 100 per cent local ingredients, with bread and desserts made on site.
10. THE HILLS ARE ALIVE
Luxury, tradition and contemporary comfort abound at this stunning St. Moritz property that is a nature-filled alpine refuge. Take advantage of Kulm’s bucolic glory before the snow comes, with some incredible activities: think hiking in Engadin St. Moritz, mountain biking around the Upper Engadine, swimming or stand-up paddle boarding in one of St. Moritz’s three lakes, mountaineering, golf, tennis, kite-surfing or more leisurely carriage rides on the restored Grand Hotel Kronenhof coach around the area’s cultural spots. You’ll deserve a beautiful bed after all this, so claim the 176sqm oak-pannelled Presidential Suite as your own, with its fireplace, dining room and two balconies. The Scintillating Summer Package offers two nights bed and breakfast, a 25-minute massage, and unlimited access to the Kulm Spa, golf course and open mountain railways.
11. INTO THE BIG BLUE
Taking the stress out of holiday bookings, Taj Exotica Resort & SpaMaldives’ ‘Book now, travel later’ offer lets guests save up to 25 per cent when booking more than 30 days in advance. The offer comes with little added extras, too, such as daily breakfast at 24 Degrees restaurant, a welcome glass of bubbles, complimentary access to the gym and use of non-motorised water sports and complimentary snorkelling equipment for two. The hotel is spread across Emboodhu Finolhu island - also known as Three Coconut Isle - and sits delicately over the lagoon, while its 64 sea-view villas and suites are the lap of luxury.
Escape the frenetic pace and chaos of everyday life, in to luxury’s very own lap at Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Maldives
The hotel’s world-famous Rehendi Presidential Suite features a titanic freshwater pool and sundeck, two ‘salas’ and a hammock suspended over the turquoise lagoon below. Your butler will cater to your every 24-hour whim, or simply let your soul be soothed at Jiva Spa and your senses be sated with an al fresco dinner at overwater Deep End Restaurant. And relax...
