08 Apr / 2015
50 leading hotels of the world: where should I stay
We’ve trawled the web, hotel aficionados’ expertise and our personal experiences to deliver an ultimate list of some of the leading hotels of the world. Whether ecologically-friendly, rural and rustic or high glamour are your style, we’re here to highlight some of the best to inspire you in your travels this year.
Top 10 ecological hotels
Eco hotels can seem quite a broad and confusing market – some hotels label themselves “eco” just because they ask you to consider re-using your towel for two days, whereas some go to great lengths to do minimal harm to their surroundings, and deliver maximum value to local communities and environments. We think we’ve chosen some below who profess a real commitment to safeguarding the beautiful environments that they’re set in, without compromising the luxury, unique feel or escapism you’re looking for in your holiday. Just don’t forget to factor in your travel, if you’re trying not to make a heavy environmental impact!
- EcoCamp Patagonia, Chile
With both social and environmental commitments running deep, the EcoCamp is a real-deal ecological option. Set in the Torres del Paine national park, the camp has been internationally recognised for environmental great practice. The geodesic tents which function as your rooms are based on the traditional dwelling places of the nomadic Kaweskar people, who could pick up and relocate without a trace. The design of the tent means the same is true. Offering trekking and wildlife tours through the Torres del Paine, the eco-camp proffers eco-tourism at its best, in this remarkably beautiful wilderness.
EcoCamp Patagonia offers trekking adventures and wildlife tours in Torres del Paine, Patagonia. Since opening its doors in 2001 as the region’s first fully sustainable accommodation, EcoCamp has gained international recognition for its expert guides, high-quality services and environmental sustainability. Trips with a stay at EcoCamp include Patagonia Wildlife Safari (4-6 days), Torres del Paine ‘W’ trek (5 or 7 days) and the Torres del Paine Circuit (9 days). EcoCamp Patagonia Wildlife Safari for 5 days costs £1095 per person.
- Kolarbyn Eco-Lodge, Sweden
Your woodland hut in Kolarbyn offers neither running water nor electricity, but merely an opportunity to connect deeply with nature. The twelve forest huts are nestled deep in Kolarbyn, and covered in moss and plant growth they are well established mounds on the forest floor, just steps from Lake Skarsjon. With two berths and a wood heater within, you’ll be able to keep cosy whilst you reconnect with the peace and calm of nature. This is the most perfect place for outdoorsy types, as, with no electricity, you will be chopping wood for your fire, boiling your water collected from a spring in the forest, using compost toilets and bathing in the stream or lake. Finding such rural peace and isolation only two hours from Stockholm makes this woodland getaway manageable, even for a long weekend. From £35 per adult per night.
- Cabanes als Arbres, Spain
The treehouses, nesting high in the branches of the Forest of the Guilleries, in Catalunian woodland. Made from untreated wood and making the most of the various wood’s natural properties, the cabins are infused with a specific smell which will keep your memory coming back to your days spent in the trees. Hoist breakfast up to your veranda in a wicker basket as you keep an eye on the bird life in the forest around you. With the old Catalunian main farmhouse (The Vileta)’s garden and swimming pool only a short walk away, Cabanes als Arbres combines rustic isolation with relaxation. Prices start at £95 per night, breakfast included.
http://www.cabanesalsarbres.com/en
- Hotel Areias do Seixo, Portugal
In perfect balance with the Atlantic coastline, the dunes and the pine trees, The resort is set in an environment of great natural wealth and nature is the primary focus and concern here. Seeking to reduce its ecological footprint, they have invested heavily in both prioritising environmentally friendly behaviour and investing in environmental innovation. Its eco clock allows you to monitor your electricity and water usage, encouraging you to be more aware and responsible for your surroundings, and their organic vegetable garden feeds guests without the airmiles. This is a hotel though – the eco spirit is part and parcel of a glamorous, design-led offering, highlighting originality, comfort and hospitality. The modern spaces are a long way from camping, but still enable you to escape everyday mundanity and clock-watching for a timeless, more thoughtful existence. £287-700 per room/townhouse/villa per night.
http://www.areiasdoseixo.com/hotel-overview.html
- Adrere Amellal, Egypt
image courtesy of Omar Hikal
This spectacular desert eco-lodge is an earth-built complex which sits amidst white mountains (the translation of Adrere Amellal in Siwan), sand dunes and date palms on the edge of a lake. An ancient settlement of the Siwa community, the location is fascinating for its spectacular geomorphologic features as well as ancient archaeological sites. Lit by the light of hundreds of candles in the evenings, pick your way from the main facilities to your handbuilt earth and palm wood room, one of forty unique bedrooms. Very private, the rooms are not categorised – they are simply assigned depending on who else is staying at the hotel, and where – prioritising privacy over all. Rates include all activities. Your food and drink is predominantly locally sourced, and your evening meals will be served at different locations around the lodge every night. Staff will arrange unforgettable trips around the oasis from your desert abode. Rates start at £297 per night.
- Hotelito Desconocido, Mexico
The hotel prides itself on the preservation of the UNESCO-listed bird paradise aquifer on which it sits, striving to protect the surrounding environment – 60km of white, sandy beaches, lagoon and trees which welcome more than 150 species of bird as well as turtles. Stay in your own individual palafito, one of 27 unique hut-style lodges mounted on the edge of the water, reached by panga, and dine on the freshest most unusual fare. Beware of mosquitos, and enjoy the pool – there is no swimming allowed in the ocean. £383-857, fully catered. £2178-2601 per person for 7 nights.
- Concordia Eco-tents, British Virgin Islands
Concordia offers several types of ecologically friendly accommodation, but the premium eco tents immerse you into nature sat above the sea, with coastal breezes to keep you refreshed. Spread across the side of a steep hill, the tents are private and with views over to Salt Pond or Drunk Bay, where the white sands and clear waters offer excellent snorkelling opportunities. The morning yoga classes onsite allow you the opportunity to really wind down and escape. Visit the restaurant, or use the gas grills located by the pool. Premium eco tents from £132.
http://www.concordiaeco-resort.com/
- Green Hotel, Mysore, India
The Green Hotel has been set up as a model for sustainable tourism, protecting the heritage building of Chittaranjan Palace. All profits are distributed amongst charitable projects across India, and the hotel incorporates several eco initiatives, including avoiding air conditioning (prompting for sensitive gardening and fans to cool the property), continuing the dhobi (manual) method of washing linens instead of relying on washing machines, biologically processing grey water to be used in the garden and using solar energy for hot water and back-up lighting. Wherever possible the simple hotel utilises local craftsmen to furnish any goods needed in the hotel. Guests can wander at leisure through this slightly faded palace and its award-winning gardens. Rooms start at £39.
- Kapawi Ecolodge, Ecuador
This Ecuadorian Amazon jungle lodge is one of the most remote camps in the world. With an emphasis on ecological light-footedness and support for the local cultural heritage, the camp has belonged solely to the Achuar Nation since January 2008, and has been built in accordance with Achuar tradition (not a single nail was used in construction). Visit the lodge to see over 570 species of birds amongst a massive variety of insect, plant and mammal life, including the pink river dolphins. The camp is on stilts, connected by boardwalks, and is a declaration of sustainability – both ecological and cultural. £604-728 for 3 night, 4 day trip.
10. Bay of Fires, Australia
This lodge centres around the walks you can do to get to and from it. Exploring one of Australia’s most pristine coastlines, the walks take you to the camp in 35 hectares of Mount William National Park in Tasmania. The building is on a small-scale, sustainable and autonomous as it settles in a “restricted footprint” amidst the casuarina trees. The four day walk around the Bay of Fires is a physical experience with a luxurious end; enjoying Tasmanian foods and wines in a comfortable and modern glass and wood structure which sits harmoniously looking out at the Tasman Sea. Rates for a four day walk sharing twin accommodation are from £1164.
Top 10 design hotels
Design comes in so many guises, and for many it represents the fundamental ambience of their holiday. Here are our list of ten top design hotels which fully embrace a design aesthetic, to fully immerse yourself in during your stay.
- Juvet Hotel, Norway
This landscape hotel emerged as a concept to maximise the astounding scenery with minimal aesthetic interruption from the hotel itself. Guest rooms are dotted about the site as individual houses rather than in one structure, which all claim an individual and private-feeling view of the surrounding landscape. The construction was all dealt with locally over a five year period, and included the restoration of old farm buildings. All carpentry was carried out by local craftsmen from Valldal, with only the windows requiring the architects to look further afield. A place of Minimalist beauty. From £118 per person for a double room with breakfast.
- Vigilius Mountain Resort, Italy
Head to the mountaintops and sit amongst the aromatic larches at Vigilius, where you can gaze for miles across the valleys of the Dolomites below. Also a sustainable hotel, the Vigilius thrives around natural construction and renewable resources. Comfort and design blend naturally in architect Mattheo Thun’s calm vision. Reachable only be cable car, the isolation of this mountain top will refresh and calm. From £252 per room per night.
- Ace Hotel London UK
Squatting in London’s hip Shoreditch area, Ace Hotel. Part of a collections of Ace Hotels globally, the London property inhabits the aim across the brand – soulful spaces which live and breathe within their communities. An on-trend mixture of utilitarian austerity and quirky curios, the spaces mimic the trends going on in the artistic, musical and dramatic circles outside their doors. With views out onto the City hub of London, with the Gherkin and the Shard in plain sight, where better to feel at the centre of London’s 24/7 buzz. Standard rooms from £279 per night.
https://www.acehotel.com/london
- Lanserhof Tegernsee Germany
The Lanserhof again could come under different categories, classifying itself as it does as “the most modern centre for health in Europe”. Spread across 21,000 square metres, their architectural vision plays out in slatted wood and glass, as the impressive window façade runs the length of the front, bathing the spaces in light. Taking influence from the surrounding nature, the elegance of the space pervades. Enjoy the newly constructed bathhouse and the salt water pool, and unwind from external stressors. Rates start at £322.
http://www.lanserhof.com/english/lanserhof-tegernsee.html
- fontenvraud l’hotel france
The hotel, based in Fontenvraud’s almost a thousand year old abbey, anchors itself firmly within this pristine, spare space full of history whilst keeping the 21st century everpresent. The totally contemporary vision of Patrick Jouin and Sanjit Manku had to be both respectful and subversive as the two timelines vie to produce a space which is decisively modern, but entirely rooted in tradition. The four star hotel is environmentally sustainable – comfort remains a priority, but with a real commitment to the surroundings. Rates from £150 per double room per night.
http://www.fontevraud.fr/en/Sleeping-at-Fontevraud/L-hotel
- Topping Rose House, USA
This luxury lodging in the Hamptons could also feature on the restaurant list, as the restaurant downstairs first came under the genius hand of renowned chef Tom Colicchio. The kitchen is now run by Kyle Koenig. The atmosphere is surprisingly low-key and life runs at a slower pace as you relax amongst Manhattanites desperate for a weekend away from the frenzy. With an acre of farmland supplying the kitchens, there are many reasons to visit this new hotel, which only got the go-ahead from the town of Bridgehampton in 2010. Owners Bill Campbell and Simon Critchell then restored Topping Rose House to its former glory. Rooms from £267 per night, based on double occupancy, breakfast included.
http://www.toppingrosehouse.com/
- Boucan, Soufriere, st lucia
Boucan Hotel by Hotel Chocolat is a boutique spa, hotel and restaurant set between the Pitons of Soufrieres, on the island of St Lucia. The lodges blend traditional St Lucian charm with a more contemporary edge, leaving them clean, light and modern. With all rooms angled to catch the cooling breezes for the lodge (set 1000m above sealevel), you can combine the beauty of the coastline with a cooling sea breeze. The 50ft infinity pool with a view to the Piton Mountains is not to be missed. Rates from £304 per lodge per night.
http://www.hotelchocolat.com/uk/boucan
- Fogo Island Inn, Canada
The tight-knit fishing town could have been alienated by this imposingly modern structure, but Fogo Island’s aesthetic is as sympathetic as its ethos. Hugging the coastline, the caribou, seals and whales will roam and swim about you as the outside is beckoned in, in this stark, minimalist four-storey x-shaped hotel. With one arm of the x sticking out on stilts above the harsh landscape, you can feel a part of Newfoundland’s rugged isolation in the warmth and calm of the Inn. Room rates from £592 for two, suite only, but there is a minimum 2 day stay.
9.Inntelhotels Amsterdam Zaandam
It’s the quirky façade which captures the eye when you approach the Inntelhotel in Zandam, as almost seventy of the traditional clapboard frontages known across Zaan compete across the front, like many smalltown cottages have been freshly painted and stacked on top of each other. Only twelve minutes by train from Amsterdam’s central station, this hotel allows you to experience the Zaan region as well as the cosmopolitan hub of central Amsterdam. Rooms from £69 per night for the taste deluxe room.
http://www.inntelhotelsamsterdamzaandam.nl/en/Home.html
10.Treehotel Arads Sweden
This treetop hotel perches six unique tree rooms (with 8-10 planned in total) above the canopy of the forest area around Harads. Some of Scandinavia’s leading architects have designed these unique abodes, hidden away amongst the pines. Aiming to be environmentally friendly and have a minimal impact on the surroundings, with sustainability and ecological principles at the core of their values. Look out through the forest to the Lule Valley and its powerful river. Rates from £369 for two in the Bird’s Nest, including breakfast.
Top 10 Family-Friendly hotels
Just because you’re travelling with children doesn’t mean you want to reign in your options. You still want to stay in the leading hotels of the world, you just want there to be some allowances made for your little ones. This top ten list hand-picks some of the best options to explore with your kids – whether you want relaxation, sun, sea or adventure.
- Young Island, St Vincent and the Grenadines
This resort combines simple Caribbean friendliness with everything you need to be comfortable. With great food and activities to keep everybody busy, from snorkelling to sailing to windsurfing, to simply walking along the white sandy beaches. With a “kids and us” package (which includes a motor boat ride to the set of the “Pirates of the Caribbean”, you can guarantee to keep them entertained for the duration of the trip, whilst being allowed to find time to relax yourselves. From £319 for a Superior Cottage at Half Board.
- Mitico Puelo Lodge, Patagonia
Between the Andes and Lake Tagua Tagua, this lodge has long been a part of the Puelo Valley. Known initially as a flyfishing haven, the lodge changed hands and broadened its offering to include horse riding, cycling, sailing and trekking. Focussed on keeping families occupied, Mitico Lodge enables children to connect with nature, providing days filled with fun and adventure. Comfortable and spacious rooms (they also have a big family apartment) allow your family enough space to relax after exploring the gardens and the surrounding scenery, and alongside the wide variety of activities helps you to balance adventure and rest. Respect for nature is at the core of their offer, so they make many choices to prioritise sustainability, for example producing their own electricity, composting and reusing what they can and facilitate your carbon offset. The breathtaking beauty of Tagua Tagua Park can be explored with experienced guides with knowledge of the valley, as the verdant, undulating forests fall right to the pristine, turquoise waters. From £122 per person per night in a Gran Puelo double.
http://www.miticopuelo.com/en/
- Four Seasons Serengeti, Tanzania
The Four Seasons is a global institution known for quality. You could opt for a more rustic and rooted experience, but the Four Seasons experience offers a level of pampering and luxury at odds with the harsh savannah which can be relished. The lodges are the only camp entirely based within the Serengeti, and the luxury settlements blend seamlessly into the surroundings, hunkered around a watering hole. The proximity to nature is enough to capture the awe of any child, as you see elephants coming down to drink, wildebeest teetering over the Mara River during the Great Migration or a lion eating a fresh kill. They just launched a “Big Five Family Safari” Package, a five-day itinerary to help families immerse themselves in all things safari, in which you’ll all set camera traps to shoot those elusive beasts and make a Maasai toothbrush.
Let them learn from Masai guides and take in the magnitude of nature in one of the world’s most abundant wildlife hubs, covering an astounding 14,750 square kilometres. £1034 per night based on two adults sharing. All inclusive. Children under 11 complementary, children 11-17 pay 50% adult rates. Room rate from £846 per night.
http://www.fourseasons.com/serengeti/
- Martinhal, Portugal
This luxury family resort prides itself on the sheer number of activities deigned to keep your family happy, relaxed and occupied. With five different clubs for all age groups, they aim to look after the family as a whole, with children welcome everywhere. There is also plenty to do offseason, which makes it stand out from many resort offerings. Stylishly designed rooms with suntrap balconies look out over the sands, and the resort is contemporary and stylish – but their strapline is “be yourself all over the resort”. Supervised play areas everywhere from in restaurants to on the beach allow you to get some R’n’R whilst the little ones get the most out of their holiday too. Partial sea view rooms from £119 per night.
- Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, Canada
Access Clayoquot via private seaplane from Vancouver, or 30 minute boat ride from Tofino (there is no road access). Open annually, from mid-May until the end of September, this exclusive and isolated camp is a great lodge for active families who enjoy the range of high-energy activities on offer, which are catered to your specific desires and energy levels. Learn to surf, hike, learn archery, rock climb, zipline, go kayaking or riding – or go searching for the black bears and whales native to the environment. Sleep in a luxury tent along an estuary leading to the fjord for a night of silence and calm. Children must be over four years old. Rates from £2478, children 12 and under half price.
- Borgo Egnazia, Italy
Inspired by the beautiful Apulian surroundings, Borgo Egnazia is a striking site where heritage and contemporaneity combine. In the heart of Puglia, Borgo Egnazia nestles in the traditional fishing village of Savelletri di Fasano, and is the perfect stereotype of the idyllic Southern Italian countryside which we all imagine – olive groves, trulli, and the Adriatic just steps away. Magnificence and elegance summarise the sunbleached-white stone borgo, big enough to be considered a small village. Rooms from £345 per room per night.
- The St. Regis Saadiyat Island Resort, UAE
St. Regis’ family focus entails indulging your loved ones in the lap of luxury. Thoughtful Mediterranean architecture combines with contemporary design in this all-encompassing resort, where families can enjoy a day at Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, at Yas Waterworld and at The Abu Dhabi Falcon Hospital, as well as going Mangrove Kayaking, if the little ones still have any energy left. Impeccable service and bespoke experiences combine to make your stay in one of the 32 deluxe villas both relaxing and activity-packed for families, whether you take advantage of the championship golf course or the stunning beaches. Rooms from £216 per night.
http://www.stregissaadiyatisland.com/
- Turtle Beach, Barbados
This all-inclusive suite resort on Barbados’ south coast lounges across a 1,500 foot stretch of pure white sands, where sea turtles return annually to lay their eggs. The resort endeavours to epitomise everything a person could want from a Caribbean luxury resort – from the sun and sands to tennis to complimentary watersports. Services which are available for families include “Sandcastle Club”, “Flyinng Fish Kids Club” and “Summer Camp”, where children can be adventurous and curious, and tire themselves out! Two freshwater swimming pools and three onsite restaurants and bars mean that if you don’t fancy leaving the resort for your entire stay, you don’t have to. Rooms from £416 per room per night.
http://www.turtlebeachresortbarbados.com/
- Six Senses, Yao Noi, Thailand
Six Senses Yao Noi is a light and airy getaway, with a brand-wide nod to sustainability. Children up to 11 stay free. Look out from the serenity of your suite onto the calm turquoise waters. Whether you choose to snorkel, speedboat, kayak or simply indulge in spa treatments and relax by the pool, the Six Senses is the epitome of relaxation with service to match. From £542 per night for a hideaway pool villa.
http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/yao-noi/accommodation/villas-and-suites
10. Grand Wailea, Hawaii
Grand Wailea is a Waldorf Astoria Resort, nestled in lush tropical gardens fronting Wailea Beach. Though a little dated, its charming grounds and pool speak for themselves, and the GW aims to have upgraded all superior rooms by the summer of 2015. The hotel aims to portray Hawaiian culture, providing plentiful space for you to be active and have fun. Five restaurants offer fine dining onsite, and nearby Maui has plenty more on offer. When they’re not in Camp Grande (for children aged 5-12), the children will love the array of pools with connecting water slides (though there is still one adult pool reserved, for a little peace and quiet). Its award-winning spa has consistently been recognised for its quality. Though this resort offers an all-encapsulating experience, why not bike out to the Haleakala volcano 38 miles away, or get a bird’s eye view of the incredible pools, waterfalls and jungles shrouding the islands in a helicopter tour? From £378 for a terrace view king bed for 2, per night.
Top 10 Spa and Pamper Hotels
The quality of spas in hotels around the world can vary enormously. If being pampered with a talented spa technician, getting yourself fit mentally and physically or regulating your appetite are crucial elements of your holiday, you need to try out our top ten spa and health destinations.
- Aro Ha Wellness Retreat, NZ
Only forty minutes’ drive from Queenstown, Aro Ha is an award-winning retreat which offers all-inclusive health holidays, intended to lift the spirits as well as re-align your approach to your life and your body. Their advanced eco accommodation sits comfortably and calmly within its environment, with astounding views over Lake Wakatipu providing the most spectacular backdrop to your morning yoga class. Nutrient-dense vegetarian cuisine is mostly grown onsite under permaculture techniques, and is both great for you and also filling enough to keep you going through the compulsory, group activities. Come here to reconnect and relax, but get fit too – the hiking is not to be missed. 5 day, 4 night retreat all-inclusive £2364-2657.
2. Rancho la Puerta, USA
Fitness week package includes transportation from San Diego Airport, three gourmet meal per day plus two juice, soup or vegetable snacks and all beverages, alongside use of the fitness, spa, recreational, educational and laundry facilities. With 50 group classes to choose from each day, guided walks, activities and workshops, you will feel fit and occupied throughout your stay. Founded in 1940, Rancho la Puerta sits in the shadow of California’s Mount Kuchumaa, and remains cutting edge in its desire to integrate energetic fitness, delicious organic cuisine and relaxation for an amazing experience in a truly tranquil setting. 7 nights, all-inclusive £1984-2732 per person.
3. Reethi Rah, Maldives
Reethi Rah is the resort to head to for to enjoy privacy and peace in an all-villa resort hovering around the shoreline of the Indian Ocean. Space and exclusivity are Reethi Rah’s calling cards, whilst the spa (working with ESPA products) is truly luxurious. Treatment villas look out over the ocean, and the variety of pools, steam rooms, saunas and healing waters will have you unwound and rebalanced in no time. Visiting practitioners are brought from around the world to offer their distinctive treatments, and personal training options such as “Clean & Lean” with James Duigan offer you the chance to return with a balanced body as well as mind. This spa is award-winning internationally and has maintained its exceptional record for a number of years. Villas from £1220 per room (sleeping two) per night.
http://reethirah.oneandonlyresorts.com/
- Talise Spa Burj Al Arab
Talise spa is located on the 18th floor of Burj Al Arab offering uninterrupted views of the Dubai coastline and the Arabian Gulf. Over 14 treatment rooms and magnificently designed wellness facilities combined with a team of highly qualified fitness professionals and spa therapists from around the world have been carefully selected to help draw you into a complete state of relaxation and well-being. You will need to book well in advance to secure your spot in the spa, but with a menu of 50 pampering treatments, fantastic indoor infinity pools, plunge pool, fitness studios, steam and sauna rooms all perching 150 metres above the Arabian Gulf, this is the spa to opt for if you want to luxuriate in total calm. From £1474 for a night in a deluxe one bedroom suite, sleeping 2 adults and 2 children, or 3 adults.
http://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/burj-al-arab/spa/talise-spa/
- Six Senses Zighy Bay Oman
Six Senses Zighy Bay is in Musandam, a tiny fishing village which remained rural and cut-off until the arrival of Six Senses. The resort is a calming space of high ceilings, natural stone and warm woods, whilst each of the 79 villas have their own private infinity pool. There are plenty of draws to Zighy Bay, but the spa is the most well-known. An Omani refuge for mind and body, its dim rooms help to distance you from the usual day-to-day preoccupations. Swedish massage is a sleep-inducing signature treatment. In-house and visiting wellness experts take clients on “spa journeys” which combine both contemporary and ancient holistic wellness experiences and treatments from in-house and visiting wellness experts. From £731 per night, for two sharing a pool villa.
http://www.sixsenses.com/resorts/zighy-bay/accommodation/villas-and-suites
- Hotel Hohenwart, Italy
The Hohenwart provides spectacular panoramas over the Tyrolean countryside and Merano, and over to Schenna Castle. Coming from a small pensione-style B&B in the fifties, Mr Mair built up year upon year until Schenna became a small holiday village, and now a tourist offering and spa destination in its own right. The spa employs natural treatments often based around grapes, which utilise the rich variety of vitamins, natural mineral salts, malic acids and trace elements found in grapes, alongside tannin, wine yeast and OPC, for active cell protection and skin rejuvenation. Many of the swimming pools offer stunning views out across the valley, with over 400 square metres of pool altogether. Excellent food and access to plenty of local Italian wines make for a relaxing spa hub for your holiday – with great walking through the Alps on your doorstep, the great indoor fitness facilities pale into insignificance. A traditional Tyrolean (Italo-Germanic) family experience. Stay in the Goyen room in the main house for 7 nights for £482.
- The Chedi, Andermatt
This hotel ski resort provides the perfect, pampering backdrop for your time away from the slopes (or for a summertime visit). Only a 90 minute drive from Zurich into the Urseren Valley, elegant wood sits beside cowskin and open braziers to make this a contemporary-chic ski/spa experience. Part of the GHM group, the Chedi is more than a ski resort (though the access to slopes makes for a wonderful ski experience). The onsite ice rink and swimming pool sit alongside the spa to tempt you off the slopes – this is an experience that has it all. Therapists are friendly and efficient, and CN Traveller suggests The Chedi Oriental Ritual as your first spa experience, a whole-body treatment including reflexology, a body polish using Himalayan crystal and a Ren facial, to name but a few steps. With options for Balinese, Thai, Swedish and Ayurvedic therapies too, the spa is the jewel in The Chedi’s crown. Carrier offers a 5 night stay inclusive of breakfast, flights and transfers for £1,365 per person.
http://www.thechedi-andermatt.com/en/
- Ananda, India
Based in the foothill of the Himalayas, Ananda is a spa holiday destination of the highest calibre. Having won many awards such as best spa in the world, Ananda works through a holistic experience to treat and unify mind, body and soul. Soaring a kilometre high over Rishikesh, this retreat combines well-known traditional Indian wellness therapies and regimes including Ayurveda, Vedanta and Yoga. With wonderful cuisine open about its calorie count (your food can also complement your dosha (pitta, vata or kapha) to help restore any imbalance), you will feel treated but invigorated and restored. Programmes are unique and tailored to you; this is the perfect spa experience if you have an interest in balancing the spiritual alongside cleansing and relaxing your mind and body. Ananda Active 5 night package from £2878 per person.
- Coworth Park, UK
Part of the Dorchester Collection, Berkshire-based Coworth Park’s spa offer unparalleled luxury. Semi-submerged in English parkland, this sense of immersion in the natural environment flows through into the interior, with the crisp, clean spa flooded by natural light. The two storey spa offers eight treatment rooms alongside a salon for manicures and pedicures and a relaxation room. On the floor below, the heated indoor swimming pool offers underwater music as well as aromatic steam room, relaxation room and showers. Its environmentally friendly credentials are not overtly obvious but are subtle and unmistakeably present, highlighted by your view over a wildflower meadow. The call of the great outdoors is, in fact, the only thing that could tempt you from the amethyst-bright pool – set in 240 acres of Berkshire countryside, Coworth Park even has its own polo field. Priced from £215 per night.
http://www.dorchestercollection.com/en/ascot/coworth-park/
10. Chiva Som, Thailand
Chiva Som is a retreat designed to reboot you, mind and body. With award-winning spa cuisine, you’ll barely notice how healthily you’re eating through so many well-balanced, mouth-watering flavours. Though all options are healthy, you can also sign up for a specific, structured detoxing diet. There are plenty of daily, bookable activities to keep you busy at Chiva Som, from boot camp to yoga to pilates to stretch classes, and the spa area is a great sanctuary. Make the most of complimentary fitness, hair, skin, facial and physical consultations and take their recommendations with you easily when you leave the resort. You can even try to summon up their culinary creations with their cookbook. This is a luxury fitness holiday which provides a world-class experience. Rooms from £1357 per person for a 3 night all-inclusive stay.
http://www.chivasom.com/the-resorts/hua-hin-thailand/
Top 10 hotels for food
Food can be a make or break element of your holiday. Remember that memorable meal at sunset whilst chinking glasses of champagne? Or remember paying through the nose for that ghastly set menu at that all-inclusive resort? If what you eat is a big factor in what makes or breaks your memories, you need to stay at the gastronomic locations below.
1.Locanda Cipriani, Torcello
Away from the hustle and bustle of Venice lies the island of Torcello. Once the main hub in the lagoon (in the 10th century historians estimate a population of somewhere between 10-30,000!) is island has been all but deserted for its more cosmopolitan cousin, and the isolation has led to a warm, overgrown silence as pomegranate and fig trees sprawl over walls and by canals. The Locanda is where Hemingway wrote “Across the River” and “through the trees”, and its quiet and understated charm makes it a desirable location to this day for those who want to experience utter luxury and calm away from the public eye. With only five simple rooms, the Locanda is special in its intimacy. Walk through the traditional, dark locanda building to the garden at the back, and sit beneath the blossoming veranda whilst eating exquisite homemade pasta or perfectly cooked seafood. The perfect way to spend a remarkable summer’s day. Rooms from £102 per person per night.
https://locandacipriani.com/eng
2.Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, UK
Le Manoir is a bit of an institution, renowned for its supreme quality and luxurious setting. The beautiful old hotel, covered in creeping wisteria, was awarded two Michelin stars upon opening in 1985 and has held them ever since – a remarkable feat. With 32 individually designed rooms, the hotel is a perfect companion to Raymond Blanc’s gentle hand in the kitchen, where he employs only the freshest, best quality ingredients (many grown in the two acre kitchen garden) to create innovative but elegant dishes. Rooms from around £500 per night.
http://www.belmond.com/le-manoir-aux-quat-saisons-oxfordshire
- The Cavalier, San Francisco
This London-inspired brasserie channels a city buzz with simple-seeming dishes which exude an agility in the kitchen and a sprinkle of good humour (think crispy Brussel sprout crisps, baked oysters with bonemarrow and lamb scrumpets with pickled mint and chilli. Standing alongside the excellent and hip Hotel Zetta, these two stand alone in terms of quality. Rooms from £161 per night.
- Epicure at Le Bristol, Paris
Eric Frechon is at the helm of this three Michelin star-awarded restaurant, which sits next to the hotel’s magnificent garden. Classic French fare with a twist at its best is key here – think “stuffed macaroni with black truffle, artichoke and duck foie gras, gratinated with mature Parmesan cheese”. This is a fine dining experience, make no mistake, but attentive waiting and culinary experience combined with talent and a drive to keep exploring consistently send the Epicure to the top. Rooms from £649 per night.
http://www.lebristolparis.com/eng/restaurants-and-bars/epicure/
5.Il Palagio at Four Seasons Florence, Italy
Il Palagio is found on the ground floor of the Palazzo della Gherardesca, and as such offers views over the lovely inner gardens. This one Michelin star restaurant offers a seasonal menu featuring Florentine and Tuscan specialities prepared with a modern twist Vito Mollica is executive chef here, masterminding such combinations as “pigeon from Assisi cooked in pork bladder with Vin Santo and thyme-scented caramelised fruits” and “Cavatelli pasta “cacao e pepe” with marinated red prawns and baby squid”. Rooms from £287 per night.
http://www.ilpalagioristorante.it/
- El Motel Restaurant at Hotel Emporda, Figueres, Spain
El Motel is situated just 18km from the Costa Brava’s beaches, and the Hotel Emporda is a family-run affair ten minutes’ walk from the Dali Museum. Trendy fine dining for adventurous palettes, El Motel offers a daily tasting menu for a reasonable forty euros, featuring such tastes as “mushroom ravioli with ceps sauce” and “tub gurnard roasted with orange and anchovies”. Under Jaume Subiros, flavours are local and thought-provoking (he used to cook for Dali!). Rooms from £43.
http://en.hotelemporda.com/restaurant/
- Le Louis XV at Hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo
Under Alain Ducasse, one of only two chefs to hold 21 Michelin stars, Le Louis XV concentrates on getting the most from all ingredients, subtly balancing tradition and modernity. Ducasse made his name here, so in some ways it is his flagship enterprise. You will be treated like Royalty, and as you might expect, with 3 Michelin stars comes 3 Michelin star prices. But to dine in the lap of luxury, this is the place. Rooms from £273 per night.
http://www.alain-ducasse.com/fr/restaurant/le-louis-xv-%E2%80%93-alain-ducasse
- Domaine de la Baume, Provence
This summer hideaway in the Provencal landscape nestles in the Domaine’s 99 acre grounds, resplendent with olive grove, chapel and orangery. First class service combine with only a handful of rooms to make this a memorable, personal experience. The restaurant serves great food cooked simply, highlighting natural flavours. The chef is Francois Martin, whose emphasis lies in selecting exceptional produce from small, local producers from the region (think lamb shoulder confit with Taggiasche olives, or tart of the first of the season’s strawberries from Monsieur Thibault. Local Provencal perfection. Rooms from £323 per night.
http://en.domaine-delabaume.com/
9.Siete Fuegos at The Vines Resort & Spa, Argentina
Located in Argentina’s Mendoza region, The Vines opened its doors in January 2014, and its 22 villa retreat has offered a luxurious retreat amongst the vines since. With Francis Mallmann at the helm (Argentina’s most famous chef), the dining here highlights Argentine’s brilliant beef as well as the bounty of the surrounding land, all paired with exceptional Argentine wines. Siete Fuegos, or “Seven Fires”, nods to Mallmann’s emphasis on open-flame cooking techniques, inspired by Argentine gauchos and refined through history. The perfect setting for all this flame cookery is outside, so that’s where you’re based – and you can watch all of chef Mallmann’s flame wizardry first hand. Rooms from £574 per night.
http://www.vinesresortandspa.com/wine-dine/siete-fuegos-restaurant
10. Dinner, the Mandarin Oriental, UK
Heston Blumenthal’s latest baby in London has been showered with accolades. Inspired by Blumenthal’s interest in 15th and 16th century cookery, the restaurant features a unique spit roast pulley system, modelled after an original used in the royal court. Painstaking research conjures up historical food of old, but in a relaxed atmosphere. Unlike the zany fare served up at Heston’s genius first restaurant The Fat Duck, his second restaurant opening is a serious history lesson. The only step into quirky intellectualism is the meat fruit; chicken liver pate perfectly disguised as a mandarin. This is the perfect venue for enjoying fine food and wine completely free from stuffy ponciness. Rooms from £414 per night.
http://www.mandarinoriental.com/london/fine-dining/dinner-by-heston-blumenthal/
All prices calculated either on published lowest rate or rate at publishing. Thank you to the hotels who contributed their in-house photography.
