1. Golden ticket
For those craving a slice of San Francisco with the peace and quiet of the surrounding Bay Area, Cavallo Point - the Lodge at the Golden Gate, could be just the ticket. Nestled at the foot of the Golden Gate Bridge, the hotel is part of the spectacular Marin Headlands State Park, a mere 15-minute drive from downtown San Fran with panoramic views of the city’s famous skyline.
Ideal for those travelling with the brood, the Family Discovery Package includes a stay in a spacious suite that feels more like an apartment, with immediate access to some of the best biking and hiking in Golden Gate National Park. Guests can choose from modern yet cosy restored historic guestrooms, which were former officers’ quarters, or opt for one of the newly constructed contemporary rooms complete with solar power and radiant heat floors – a nod to the hotel’s green efforts.
Little ones will love the hands-on kids’ museum, while the hotel even houses a cooking school with visiting chefs from the Bay Area, a spa with a dedicated tea bar, dog-friendly rooms and an outdoor meditation area as part of its healing arts centre.
2. Dragons and diving
The wild and remote Komodo National Park, some 320 kilometres east of Bali, is the latest destination for intrepid travellers who want to explore without foregoing the comforts of a luxury hotel. Cruising on Amanresort’s Amandira, a 52-metre luxury sailing and diving phinisi (a two-masted Indonesian sailing vessel), the handcrafted boat is kitted out with a library, lounge and entertainment room, as well as deluxe cabins including an en-suite bathroom and small living area for guests to retreat.
A crew of 14 that includes a private chef and diving instructor caters to all whims. The seven-night land and sea expedition includes encounters with the world’s largest lizard (the Komodo dragon), and world-class snorkelling and diving with rare micmic octopuses and more than 1,200 species of fish in the Flores Sea. The final two nights will be spent on dry land in tented luxury on Moyo Island, blessed with serene beaches and the odd macaque for company.
3. Wine, dine, ride and rewind
Provence, a region famous for its scenic landscapes and world-class food, is also becoming a popular destination for cycling enthusiasts. Hôtel Crillon le Brave, a Relais & Chateaux property based just 40 kilometres from Avignon at the foot of Mont Ventoux, has curated a one-off, three-day weekend package that combines fine cuisine, autumn road cycling, daily sports massages and Rhone wine tastings.
A former presbytery, stable and school, the Crillon is perched atop a pretty hilltop – a location close to the heart of artist Paul Cézanne – surrounded by countryside, olive groves and vineyards. Aimed at recreational, moderate-level cyclists, highlights of the weekend include Gorges de la Nesque and Dentelles de Montmirail, and a challenging 22-km, 1,600-m vertical climb over Mont Ventoux. Non-cycling partners are by no means neglected, with optional activities that include a visit to nearby L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue’s vibrant antique markets and a local cheese tasting with Provence’s foremost fromagère, Claudine Vigier.
4. Greece, the musical
An eco-paradise resort in northern Greece may seem an unlikely location to host a jazz festival, but not when the acclaimed Sani Festival in Halkidiki is celebrating its 23rd year. Guests can experience a fusion of jazz, world and local Greek music while staying at the stunning Sani Resort, located in a 400-hectare ecological reserve fringed by fragrant pine forests, crystalline Aegean waters and the Kassandra peninsula’s pristine beaches.
Described as Greece’s “mini-Monaco”, the resort is a vast complex of more than four hotels and a dozen restaurants – ideal for families searching for that five-star getaway. Spanning a five-week period, the festival will showcase a mix of local and international artists, opening with jazz quartet legends Chris Potter, Dave Holland, Lionel Loueki and Eric Harland, and featuring world music artist Salif Keita as well as the Symphony Orchestra of Thessaloniki.
5. Coffee on the wild side
Africa may seem a long way to go for a caffeine fix, but coffee with a side of safari is surely worth that extended coffee run. With coffee lovers in mind, luxury safari operator Micato has curated the unique 11-day Micato Coffee Connoisseur’s Safari in Kenya and Tanzania. Guests can experience local coffee from bean to cup – witnessing the production on a working coffee farm, staying in a Tanzanian coffee lodge and taking picnic lunches on historic coffee plantations.
The itinerary also includes game spotting at Tanzania’s spectacular Ngorongoro Crater, a visit to a Maasai village and horseback riding in the beautiful Mount Kenya Safari Club Estate, formerly owned by legendary movie star William Holden. From breathtaking bungalows in the Solio Nature Reserve to private tents in the Maasai Mara and a stay in one of Ernest Hemingway’s favourite hotels, the century-old Fairmont The Norfolk in Nairobi, luxury accommodation is de rigeur.
6. Dial 9 for luxury
Taking in-room dining to a new level (quite literally), guests staying at the Park Hyatt Tokyo can now experience a personalised dinner menu, top-class cuvée and a private musical performance, all within the comforts of the prestigious Tokyo Suite located on the hotel’s 50th floor. The Caviar & Cristal Evening Package begins with caviar and champagne – but not just any caviar and champagne.
Guests will dine on the rare Almas Persicus, a limited-production caviar that is currently not served in any other Japanese hotel, and quaff a magnum of Louis Roederer Cristal, which was made exclusively for Russian tsar Alexander II. The indulgence doesn’t stop there. Enjoy an in-suite meal, prepared by chef de cuisine Federico Heinzmann of the New York Grill and Bar while listening to world-class musicians performing – all against the backdrop of sparkling city views. Room service doesn’t get much more decadent than this.
