What’s New In Travel This Summer
THE TRIP:
Bland & Badger in Umbria
Photographer Charlotte Bland and jewellery designer Ros Badger are the creative duo behind Bland & Badger, which offers retreats and group holidays in Umbria. This year, they’re hosting two retreats (28th September-5th October and 5th-12th October) at the beautiful family-run Villa Pia in Lippiano, a picturesque countryside town. Up to 20 guests per trip can take part in creative workshops like collaging, flower arranging and photography, as well as trips to local antiques markets or a day trip to Florence. Optional extras include cooking classes, calligraphy, spa treatments and museum trips. There are three rooms sizes to choose from, and tickets include all workshops and materials, plus meals and snacks at the villa.
Visit BlandBadger.com
THE SPANISH HOTEL:
Solo Palacio
Solo Palacio overlooks a mountainous natural park in Asturias. Even better perhaps, after paying staff and running costs, a percentage of its profits go back into the local community. The hotel has a rustic farmhouse feel, with 11 rooms set across its stone buildings, some of which date back to the 15th century. Some have separate living areas while others have kitchenettes for self-catering. There’s an infinity pool, an outbuilding with a Finnish sauna and jacuzzi, and a bistro for breakfast and dinner. Perfect for a night or two of R&R during a road trip along Spain’s rugged northwest coast.
Visit SoloPalacio.com
THE MED HOT SPOT:
Deos, Mykonos
If you’re heading to party island Mykonos this summer, new hotel Deos is a great option if you want to stay on the quieter side. Part of the Myconian Collection group, the hotel has beautiful views, overlooking Mykonos town and the old harbour. Deos blends seamlessly into the backdrop, with its typically Greek whitewashed walls and minimalist interiors. There are 42 rooms, each with private terraces, hot tubs or pools, as well as well as a Mediterranean restaurant with sea views. Guests can lounge by the infinity pool and relax at the spa, home to a fitness suite, indoor pool and treatment rooms.
Visit DeosMykonos.gr
THE RIAD:
Rosemary
Marrakech’s chicest new spot is Rosemary, an impeccably designed hotel in one of the oldest districts in the medina, Riad Zitoun Jdid. Transformed by husband-and-wife duo Laurence Leenaer and ceramist Ayoub Boualam, this five-bedroom riad is full of hand painted murals, colourful tiles, Ayoub’s own artwork and pieces from other Moroccan designers. The hotel has a homely feel to it, with a dining and living room that hosts regular workshops and events, plus there’s a hammam for treatments. Rooms range from doubles to suites with beautiful marble bathrooms.
Visit RosemaryMarrakech.com
THE PODCAST:
Travel Secrets with Tanya Rose
Tanya Rose is the founder on one of the UK’s leading travel PR agencies, Mason Rose, and now, she’s started a travel podcast. In this new series she chats to friends and celeb pals who share their inside secrets on their favourite hotels, destinations and holidays. Catch up on episodes with Anya Hindmarch on her love of London, Liz Earle on end-of-season partying in Ibiza, and Amanda Wakeley on her favourite spots in Italy and an adventure across Antarctica.
Listen here.
THE BEACH CLUB:
Lido Villeggiatura
Belmond has opened Lido Villeggiatura, A Villa Sant’Andrea Beach Club on the shores of the Bay of Mazzarò in Sicily. With its chic sun loungers and 50s-inspired beach umbrellas, there are six cabanas for total privacy, as well as a butler service. Guests can book water sports, take part in sunrise yoga classes, have romantic candlelit dinners, and enjoy live DJs and music sessions alongside sundowners and seafood barbecues. The hotel has also partnered with the Taormina Film Festival for open-air cinema nights, and there’s even a private boat you can hire to explore Sicily’s beautiful coastline. If you don’t make it out to Italy this summer, feed your wanderlust with Belmond’s new chic coffee table books.
Visit Belmond.com
MAUREEN EVANS
THE WELLNESS RETREAT:
SHA Mexico
SHA’s original outpost in Spain has won numerous awards for its innovation and 360°-approach to wellness. Now, the brand has opened a wellness clinic in Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula, one of the country’s most beautiful regions known for its pristine beaches. The clinic itself is as serene and premium-looking as you’d expect, with minimalist design and indoor/outdoor elements, while the SHA ‘Method’ aims ensures guests have a bespoke programme through nine key disciplines, including nutrition, holistic medicine, inner wellbeing and physical performance. Programmes range between four and 21 days, and are based on what you want to achieve, whether that’s sustainable weight loss, better sleep or illness prevention. The wellness centre is home to an impressive spa with a sauna, Turkish bath, hammam and an infinity pool on the beach.
Visit SHAWellness.com
THE MIDDLE EAST OPENING:
The Jeddah Edition
Jeddah is ever-evolving, with some of the biggest hotel brands opening outposts in the Saudi Arabian city. This month, The Edition opened its 20th outpost along the Jeddah Corniche, adjacent to the Yacht Club & Marina and the F1 racetrack. Just a short drive from Jeddah’s city centre and the Red Sea Mall, the hotel has 52 rooms and 11 suites, including two penthouses. The hotel has the brand’s signature interior design, with light and bright rooms, minimalist décor and plush furniture, while communal areas nod to Jeddah’s historical architecture. There’s also a spacious rooftop terrace with a pool, a spa, gym and two lounges. If you’re not staying overnight, visit the destination restaurant headed up by NYC chef Cédric Vongerichten.
Visit EditionHotels.com
THE FRENCH RIVIERA OPENING:
AREV Saint Tropez
AREV Collection has opened a new property in Saint Tropez. The hotel is five minutes from the town's downtown area and is surrounded by lush gardens and towering olive trees. The first thing you’ll notice is the colourful, chic interiors designed by Luis Bustamante, like the bold striped wallpaper in the grand lobby. There are 43 individually designed rooms and suites, some of which have private gardens, others with floor-to-ceiling windows with views of the gardens. The town’s popular Strand Restaurant and Champagne Lounge has a new home at the hotel, while Q’s bar is the place to stop for a nightcap. Guest can spend afternoons lounging by the pool, book treatments at the spa, and enjoy a game or two on the padel courts.
Visit ArevCollection.com
THE DREAMY CYPRUS BREAK:
The Agora Hotel
The Agora Hotel in Lefkara, Cyprus, had a soft launch last year, but we expect it’s going to be all over Instagram feeds this summer. With its chic, warm decor and striped sun loungers, the design is just one of the many reasons to visit. There are three room options: petite, demi and grand, all with king-sized beds, interesting artwork and organic toiletries in the en-suites. Guests can explore the surrounding area, including the Troodos Mountains, using the hotel’s bikes, drop into yoga classes, and walk around the leafy gardens – the perfect spot for sundowners before dining in the restaurant or continuing the evening in the NCY-inspired bar.
Visit TheAgoraHotel.com
THE CITY BREAK SPOT:
Casa Monti
Last year the family owned Leitmotiv group opened the flamboyant La Fantaisie in Paris’ Faubourg-Montmartre neighbourhood, which quickly became one of our favourite spots in the city. This spring, the group opens an equally beautiful hotel in Rome’s Monti neighbourhood, known for its traditional trattorias, independent wine bars and vintage boutiques. Italian designer Laura Gonzalez is behind the interiors at Casa Monti and has designed each room with warm pastel colours, intricate wallpaper and plush decorative accents. Elsewhere, there’s a restaurant with a patio and terrace open from breakfast to dinner, plus a rooftop bar with great city views.
Visit CasaMontiRoma.com
LAURA GONZALEZ
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