Travel

Travel

Have Yourself a Merry Sunny Christmas

Our top winter sun destinations this holiday season

For those of us in the UK living through the greyest days of the year, there could be no greater Christmas gift than a spell in the sun. Everybody needs that vitamin D boost to help them through the darkness of December. Curated by our expert travel team, here we bring you our top five winter sun destinations in the hope they will inspire you and uplift your spirits.

DINAROBIN BEACHCOMBER GOLF RESORT & SPA, MAURITIUS

The Dinarobin Beachcomber Golf Resort & Spa is the perfect destination for those looking to melt away those icy winter blues. Sited beside the glittering Indian Ocean on the magnificent Le Morne Peninsula, the hotel boasts a peaceful setting and top-of-the-range all-suite accommodation.

The resort has no fewer than eight first-class restaurants, five swimming pools, a superb spa, an array of free land and water sports and a highly-rated 18-hole golf course (as well as privileged access to two other golf courses on the island.)

Dinarobin Beachcomber: left, main pool; right, Beachfront Junior Suite.

Beyond that, Dinarobin Beachcomber also offers the ideal opportunity for families to unwind this Christmas with…

Travel

Regent Seven Seas Grandeur

Sampling the world in utter luxury

If you’d told me one year ago I’d be raving about a cruise, I wouldn’t have believed you for a second, but a trip onboard the Regent Seven Seas Grandeur changed my mind forever. In the world of luxury cruises, this one is at the very top. For starters, the service is impeccable. With a […]

Travel

Alphonse Island, The Seychelles

A remote paradise in the Indian Ocean

Alphonse Island, a five-star idyl on one of the Seychelles’ most entrancing Outer Islands is possibly the most remote and paradisiac place I’ve ever been to. Situated just south of the equator, Alphonse Island is not just far, but many light-years from the madding crowd. The island has no cars, no TVs and only designated […]

Travel

Goldfinger Anniversary at Bürgenstock Resort

A James Bond style weekend

Apart from the environs of London, the Alps have the highest density of James Bond locations in the world. Many Bond movies were filmed here, among them, Goldfinger, which on 17th September will celebrate its 60th anniversary. Bürgenstock Resort by Lake Lucerne provided the backdrop for the iconic film and in its honour, is organising […]

Travel

Naturhotel Forsthofgut – Salzburg

A fairy-tale castle turned into a wellbeing centre of excellence

If you think that the only reason to visit Salzburg is Mozart, think again. For the wellness devotee, SalzburgerLand is a bonanza of luxury alpine spas, and arguably the jewel in the crown is the multi-award winning Naturhotel Forsthofgut. The Naturhotel Forsthofgut is the lovechild of the ultimate spa hotel and a modern fairy-tale castle. […]

Travel

Italy in September

No crowds, no screaming kids and still plenty of sun

Going anywhere in Italy in the height of summer feels like wrestling your way into a lifeboat when a cruise ship is sinking. Hordes of tourists everywhere, fistfights for the last table in a restaurant and hour-long queues to visit museums and churches. September however is peaceful, with plenty of availability and an explosion of […]

Travel

Porto Zante Villas & Spa

In the footsteps of Olympians

With the Paris Olympics round the corner, the luxury resort of Porto Zante Villas & Spa on Zakynthos Island is inviting guests to a unique experience exploring the western coast of the Peloponnese and visiting Ancient Olympia on their own private yacht. With much better beaches – and access to them – than Mykonos and, if you […]

Culture, Travel

Summer festivals in the Alps

Highlights of an inspiring summer

The Alps have become as popular in summer as they are in winter. And it is not only nature and sports lovers flocking to the jaw-dropping European mountain range but also those passionate about the arts. All kinds of cultural festivals take place in the region; classical music, jazz, cinema and much more. Here we […]

Travel

Svølvaer – Lofoten Islands

Brutal Arctic beauty

Svølvaer is located in the Lofoten Islands, an archipelago in Norway, 700km north of the Arctic Circle. It is famous for its arresting fjord landscapes, Northern Lights and postcard-pretty villages-turned resorts, known as Rorbuer. I am staying at Svølvar, on the island of Austvågøya. I am staying at the resort, Svinøya Rorbuer. My host, Ragnar […]

Travel

A summer of sport in Kitzbühel

Outdoor pursuits in the heart of the Tyrol

Although most people associated Kitzbühel with skiing, this beautiful medieval town in the Tyrol is as exciting in summer as it is in winter. Amidst its stunning alpine backdrop, Kitzbühel bustles with all kinds of outdoor activities, that allow visitors to feeling invigorated by sport amidst the natural beauty of the area. Here we bring […]

Travel

Aberturret Estate House

Scottish hospitality at its best

Nestled deep within the picturesque heart of rural Perthshire near the town of Crieff, and just an hour’s drive from Edinburgh, stands the newly opened Aberturret Estate House. Blessed with a secluded location on the Glenturret estate, it was once the Dower House of Clan Murray, one of the great families in Scottish history, who […]

Travel

Amilla Resort Maldives

Luxury, conservation and sustainability in paradise

Amilla Maldives is a luxury resort developed on a natural island, nestled within the Baa Atoll, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Maldives. On arrival, I was welcomed by General Manager, Narelle McDougal, for whom conservation, sustainability and accessibility are top priorities. “I’ve been in hospitality all my professional life and it always annoyed me […]