Travel Notes: January
BOOK A WINTER HOLIDAY: The Reykjavik Edition
Several cool hotels and restaurants have opened in Iceland’s capital in the last couple of years, including the Reykjavik Edition. It has 253 rooms to choose from, several bars, a restaurant serving traditional Icelandic food, and a spa with a sauna, steam room and relaxation area. In classic Edition style, the rooms have everything you need for a luxurious stay, from plush furniture and comfy king-size beds, to marble en-suites with fluffy towels and complimentary toiletries. Guests can enjoy a selection of healthy food and drink options during their stay, including a breakfast of juice, fruit, cereal and skyr (Icelandic yoghurt), followed by hot dishes made using local ingredients. If you want to go all out, book a table at The Counter restaurant (open three days a week) for an eight-course tasting menu with wine pairings.
Visit EditionHotels.com
PLAN YOUR SUMMER HOLIDAY: Hotel Aristide, Syros
This boutique hotel is on the Greek island of Syros, forming part of the Cyclades in the Aegean Sea. With a mixture of art-deco and neoclassical design, the hotel has beautiful interiors, with different types of marble throughout, ornate ceilings and bold pops of colour in each of the nine rooms. For a special stay, book the Naxos Suite with its dark blue interiors and stunning marble en-suite, complete with a rainfall shower and freestanding bath on a slab of marble. Guests can choose from vegetarian and pescatarian Greek dishes from the restaurant, order sundowner drinks at the rooftop bar, and relax by the pool. The beach is only an eight-minute walk away.
Visit HotelAristide.com
GET TRAVEL INSPO: The World’s Most Luxurious Holidays
This new series offers an inside look at some of the world’s most exclusive and luxury holidays, from all-inclusive resorts in remote corners of South America to villas and hotels loved by celebrities, royalty and billionaires, most of which have never been shown on television before. Highlights include The Mark in New York, home to a $75,000-a-night suite, King’s View on Harbour Island, which is one of the most sought-after properties in the Bahamas, and Palazzo Fiuggi Wellness Medical Retreat in Italy – one of Europe’s most exclusive wellness hotspots. With behind-the-scenes access via hotel staff, you’ll also hear about the surprising demands guests make, and the once-in-a-lifetime experiences on offer.
Thursday night at 9pm on More4
DISCOVER SOMEWHERE NEW: Killiecrankie House, Perthshire
Whether you’re planning a trip to Scotland or simply gathering ideas for later, put Killiecrankie House at the top of your list. Set within the beautiful Cairngorm National Park in Perthshire, this stylish restaurant with rooms celebrates the best of Scottish produce where guests can relax while enjoying local, seasonal cuisine. Bedrooms, including the master suite, have four-poster beds, free-standing baths or walk-in showers, plush furniture and dark but cosy interiors. There’s also a drawing room, cocktail bar and dining room which serves 15-course tasting menus with dishes like Highland wagyu beef; venison, peat and brambles; and Moray squid cooked in a stew of its own ink and whisky.
Visit KilliecrankieHouse.com
BOOKMARK THIS FOR LATER: The Twenty Two, Mayfair
Set to launch this spring, The Twenty Two is the hotel and members club in Mayfair to know about. Housed in an Edwardian building on Grosvenor Square, the property has been carefully restored while keeping plenty of the original architectural features intact, including the double-height ceilings, fireplaces and a grand lobby. There are 31 bedrooms and suites in the main building, plus a separate mews with an all-day restaurant and members club with a cocktail bar and private dining room – Natalia Miyar is behind the interiors, so we’re expecting good things.
Visit The22.London
DIVE INTO NEW SWIMWEAR: Fella x Lucy Folk
Here at SL, we love Australian brand Fella’s swimwear collection, which takes its inspiration from retro designs – think balconette cups, high-cut bottoms and pretty knot details in soft pastels. Fella has now collaborated with lifestyle brand Lucy Folk on a collection of swimsuits and bikinis in four colours: mint green, white, rust and pink. We love the square-neck swimsuits and high-waisted bottoms that feature subtle patterns. Check out its accessories and ready-to-wear pieces, too.
Visit FellaSwim.com
HEAD ON A FOODIE TRIP: The Painswick, Cotswolds
The Painswick has created an overnight experience (from £135pp) which includes a six-course dinner and a hearty breakfast. Guests can stay in one of 17 rooms at the boutique Cotswolds hotel, which have a mixture of cosy and quirky furnishings, rolltop baths, and countryside views overlooking the Slad Valley. Available on Wednesday and Thursday nights in January and February, the special menu highlights the best of British produce, with dishes like venison with smoked beetroot, delica pumpkin agnolotti with truffle, and dark chocolate and praline delice with toasted barley ice-cream and clementine. Have a nightcap in the cosy lounge, before tucking into breakfast the next morning.
Visit ThePainswick.co.uk
ENJOY SOME WINTER SUN: Palm Heights, Grand Cayman
If you’re planning a luxury Caribbean getaway, Palm Heights is the luxury boutique hotel in the Cayman Islands to have on your radar. Right on the beach, the hotel has a cool 1970s-style décor complete with vintage furniture and Ingo Maurer lights. The 52 rooms and suites all have ocean views, while the beach restaurant Tillies serves traditional Caribbean dishes made with local produce. Guests can relax at the hotel’s beach club for tacos and cocktails, swim in the Insta-worthy outdoor pool, and book treatments at the on-site spa.
Visit MrAndMrsSmith.com
ELEVATE YOUR COFFEE TABLE: A Tribute to Mother Earth By Marsel van Oosten
Marsel van Oosten is one of the world’s best wildlife photographers. This new book is a collection of his most iconic shots taken around the world, from elephants in Africa to insects in South America. There’s a range of close-ups, landscapes and black and white photographs, all of which illustrate the diverse flora and fauna of planet Earth. With over 240 photographs, it’s a great coffee-table book for any nature lover.
Visit WHSmith.co.uk
*DISCLAIMER: Please check the latest government advice, social distancing rules, and entry requirements to each venue before you book anything. Visit Gov.uk for more information
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