Travel Notes: February
PLAN AHEAD: Three Mile Beach, Cornwall
Three Mile Beach in Cornwall is opening a collection of tented suites overlooking Gwithian Beach. In addition to the property’s 15 beach houses, from April guests will be able to glamp in a 30 sq m tented suite with colourful interiors, complete with wood panelled walls, exposed oak beams, handcrafted Cornish furniture and plush decorative accents in the property’s signature colours. Tents have everything you need for a luxury weekend by the coast, including super-king size beds, with an additional sofa bed for groups of friends or those with little ones in tow, a kitchen and dining area, freestanding baths and underfloor heating. Guests staying in tented suites will also have access to Three Mile’s amenities including an on-site food truck, a drinks tuk-tuk and Ooni pizza ovens. Be sure to make use of the new Sunday roast deliveries as well.
Visit ThreeMileBeach.co.uk
HIT THE SLOPES: Le Fitz Roy
Le Fitz Roy in Val Thorens has recently undergone an extensive renovation. The hotel now has a spa, two restaurants, and a terrace with a panoramic view of the mountains. Offering ski-to-door access, the hotel is in an excellent location for the resort’s best ski slopes – with countless options for beginners and seasoned skiers. Rooms are inspired by traditional French chalets, with neutral décor and plush soft accents, while the Savoyard restaurant serves modern European dishes. There’s also a cocktail bar and an impressive spa with an indoor pool and treatment rooms.
Visit Beaumier.com
TUNE INTO THIS NEW PODCAST: Travel That Matters
Luxury travel expert Bruce Wallin takes listeners on a trip around the world. He welcomes a different guest in each episode to talk about epic journeys they’ve loved, from Africa’s greatest safaris to extreme superyacht adventures. Full of recommendations on luxury hotels, secret hideaways and spots off the beaten track, expect to get plenty of travel inspiration. Don’t miss the episode with travel journalist Maria Shollenbarger for insider tips on Italy’s best hotels.
GO GLAMPING: Marston Park
Marston Park is reopening its doors this April with a collection of art by Bruce Munro. The ‘Light at Marston Park’ exhibition features a cool installation of lights around the grounds in Somerset. Guests can stay in luxury bell tents – complete with double bed, wood-burning stove and artist’s materials – surrounded by their own glowing garden of light which makes the ideal spot to see the illuminations at night. Over the next few months, guests can also take part in workshops and events, from yoga and sound bath sessions to tai chi lessons.
Visit MarstonPark.co.uk
JET OFF TO: Morocco
After months of tight travel restrictions, Morocco has opened its borders to tourists. Travellers must show proof of full vaccination, plus a negative PCR test result taken less than 48 hours before arrival. Need inspiration? Spend a couple of nights in Marrakech to shop the vibrant markets and dine at the city’s top restaurants, including Bô-Zin, then take a rural drive to the coast and stop off in the beautiful town of Essaouira. For great surfing, head to Taghazout, and for stunning views to the south, don’t miss the Tizi ’n’ Test mountain pass.
PLAN A SPECIAL TRIP: Casa Chablé
If you’re thinking about a trip to Mexico this year, Casa Chablé is one to have on your radar. Located in the Sian Ka’an biosphere – a Unesco World Heritage Site – the soon-to-open hotel is surrounded by a private white-sand beach and crystal-clear waters. Guests can choose to stay in one of five beachfront bungalows or the main villa which has suites and private terraces. The hotel also has a thatched-roof restaurant, a wellness cabana, and an outdoor wellness esplanade for yoga. Guests can relax on canopy daybeds on the beach, or book experiences and excursions like star gazing trips and surfing lessons.
Visit ChableHotels.com
VISIT SICILY: Il San Corrado di Noto
Il San Corrado di Noto is a beautiful resort in Val di Noto, Sicily’s Unesco World Heritage site. The first boutique property in the area, the 18th-century building has been converted into 26 suites and eight pool villas, all of which nod to the property’s original baroque style. Surrounded by citrus and olive groves, there are two swimming pools, including a 100m indoor pool, as well as a spa, fitness suite and tennis court. A beach club will open in the summer months.
Visit IlSanCorradoDiNoto.com
BOOK A STAYCATION: The Retreat at Elcot Park
The Signet Collection is the group behind SL favourite The Mitre Hampton Court. It’s opening The Retreat Elcot Park in west Berkshire this spring, and if the first images are anything to go by, it’s set to be one of the UK’s hottest launches this year. Housed in a Grade II-listed 18th-century building (once home to Romantic poet Percy Bysshe Shelley), the hotel has 55 individually designed bedrooms and impressive grounds with views of the Wessex Downs. There will be two restaurants (an all-day brasserie and a pan-Asian restaurant), as well as a whisky tasting room, tennis courts, and an outdoor infinity pool, complete with a Whispering Angel bar. If that wasn’t enough, there’s a spa, and a courtyard housing a bakery, coffee shop, hair salon and wine store.
Visit ElcotPark.com
STAY SOMEWHERE UNIQUE: Castle Elvira, Puglia
Castle Elvira in Puglia is set to open this spring. Occupying a grand castle, the hotel is set in 37 acres of land, close to the wonderful Baroque city of Lecce. Six en-suite rooms have an eclectic mix of contemporary and antique furnishings, with super king-sized beds, plush beddings and towels, and bathrooms with rainfall showers or freestanding marble baths. There’s also a cinema, music room, multiple communal lounges, and an outdoor pool and roof terrace. An on-site restaurant will serve traditional Italian fare using produce from the surrounding hills and the estate.
Visit CastleElvira.com
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