If you’re a frequent flyer, having an airport lounge membership like Priority Pass or Dragonpass can make travelling significantly more comfortable.

Rather than waiting at a crowded terminal, airport lounge access can mean complimentary food and drinks, Wi-Fi, quiet workspaces and even shower facilities.

You can get lounge passes with certain packaged bank accounts or credit cards with airport lounge access, but that’s not the only way. You could book one-off visits to some airport lounges, for instance, or access global lounge networks by buying a membership – such as with Priority Pass or Dragonpass.

What is Priority Pass?

Priority Pass is an airport lounge programme that gives members access to more than 1,900 lounges across 856 airports in 142 countries.

Your membership may also include benefits such as complimentary Wi-Fi, meals and drinks, shower facilities and dining credits at select restaurants.

The lowest membership tier doesn’t give you free access to lounges – instead, you pay an annual fee and discounted rate on visits. However, no matter what membership you have, you will need to pre-book your slot for an extra £6 to guarantee a space when it gets busy.

Here’s a complete breakdown of membership fees.

What is Dragonpass?

Dragonpass is an airport lounge programme that offers access to more than 1,400 lounges, over 200 fast-track security lanes and around 2,500 travel experiences worldwide.

While Priority Pass gives you access to more airport lounges, Dragonpass is more focused on offering a premium experience, whether it’s meet-and-greet services, dining discounts, spa treatments or fast-track security.

The lower membership tier only gives you one free visit, after which you have to pay for entry. However, you will need to pre-book your slot for around £6 per visit to guarantee a space during busy periods, no matter which membership tier you’re on.

Here’s a complete breakdown of membership fees.

Should you buy a Priority Pass or Dragonpass membership?

For many travellers, Priority Pass offers better overall value thanks to a significantly larger lounge network globally. If your priority is finding a lounge wherever you fly, it’s generally a better option.

However, when it comes to costs, Dragonpass is cheaper and a better choice if you regularly travel through airports where you can take advantage of its fast-track security and premium services like spa and wellness centres.

Before buying either membership, it’s worth checking which lounges are available at the airports you typically go to. It might be that some airports support Priority Pass or Dragonpass but not both.

Is an airport lounge membership worth it?

Whether an airport lounge membership is worth paying for depends on your travel habits. If you only take a handful of flights a year, paying for individual lounge access can be more cost-effective than buying an annual membership.

However, if you fly several times a year, particularly on long-haul or international trips, and want to access an airport lounge, you could save with a membership. Lounge entry usually costs between £35 and £50 per visit, so frequent travellers could save money while enjoying a quieter and more comfortable airport experience.

It’s worth considering whether you already have access through another financial product. Many premium credit cards, travel reward cards and packaged current accounts include Priority Pass or Dragonpass membership as a benefit, meaning you may not need to buy a separate membership.

On 13 January, 1913, when King Rama VI sent Thailand's first wireless message from the Saladaeng Radiotelegraph Station in Bangkok, he could never have foreseen that more than a century later, in the same spot, guests would be sipping cocktails by the pool, scrolling on smartphones and communicating in real time. Back then, this whole area was little more than rice paddy – open, flat and far enough from the city's sprawl to minimise any interference with the radio waves. The radiotelegraph station that stood here marked Thailand's connection to, and arrival in, the modern world. Soon a road was built to link it to the city centre, named after this new technology: Witthayu (meaning wireless). Bangkok has never looked back.

Fast forward to 2016, and a group of property developers working on site discovered the radiotelegraph station's foundations beneath their feet. Working closely with conservationists, archaeologists and the Fine Arts Department, they unearthed hundreds of artefacts – fragments of delicate bone china, faded floral tiffin tins, perfume bottles and grainy photographs. As the site's construction began, so did a plan to create a museum dedicated to the history of the area and its former inhabitants – mostly merchants and traders from southern China, followed by the cadets from the military academy and, later, the stallholders from the Suan Lum Night Bazaar. The Wireless House Museum now bridges this past and present, and I can just about make it out from where I’m standing, 20 floors up at 189 Wireless Road – The Ritz-Carlton hotel – with the green canopy of Lumphini Park stretching out before me.

The Ritz-Carlton opened in December 2024 and is part of the new $3.9 billion One Bangkok development, another marker of the city’s current iteration. The skyscrapers glisten above the busy artery of Wireless Road as it is today – full of tuk-tuks, motorbikes and SUVs – the Wireless House Museum sitting to one side, complete with a partial former radio mast. The Ritz-Carlton’s 260 rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that maximise the views of the park and the ever-changing cityscape beyond.

My suite – an Amaranth Corner Suite – has balconies on both sides, so I can catch the sunset without leaving my room.

Designed by Skidmore, Owings & Merrill together with Thai firm A49, the building sits next to One Bangkok’s shopping centres, where people flit between air-conditioned stores or pause to take in the outdoor sculptures dotting the pedestrianised courtyard, including a mirrored S-Curve sculpture by Anish Kapoor. It’s a contemporary space that roots Bangkok firmly in 2026 – a far cry from when I first came here 29 years ago to visit the night market that stood on this very spot.

The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok has world-class cuisine

The hotel's interiors are sleek and confident. Thai design studio PIA created a space that plays on the concept of “two civilisations”, marrying Bangkok's heritage with a classic elegance – polished tiles, contemporary artworks, water features and plenty of marble and gold. I particularly liked all the black-and-white photographs depicting old Bangkok.

On the seventh floor, the outdoor pool is a godsend from the city's heat. Cabanas are coveted on sunnier days, but there are always enough loungers to go around. The spa downstairs offers traditional Thai massage – and after a full day of sightseeing in Bangkok, you will need one. But it's in the food and drink where The Ritz-Carlton really shines. The hotel has four bars and restaurants, and each one is excellent.

Duet by David Toutain is the main event. The 32-seat fine-dining restaurant sits within a glasshouse on the seventh floor overlooking Lumphini Park. Toutain – whose Paris restaurant holds two Michelin stars – and chef de cuisine Valentin Fouache present a modern French eight-course tasting menu made with seasonal ingredients, with wines or zero-proof pairings to match. The dishes range from Brittany brown crab with vanilla and kaffir lime, to gamba roja prawns with morels, to Hokkaido scallop with XO sauce and Jura yellow wine, each arriving with its own provenance card.

The finale – 80% Chiang Mai chocolate with buckwheat, passion fruit and cocoa nibs, and a rum-soaked sponge – is every bit as good as it sounds. This is cuisine that’s worth travelling for. Book a table, even if you’re not staying at the hotel (9,000 baht (£205) per person, with wine pairing).

Then, there's Lily's, the all-day dining room, also on the seventh floor. Breakfast here is an epic affair spanning multiple rooms and stations – possibly one of the most ambitious and well-presented spreads I encountered in Southeast Asia. By night it's more relaxed, and the banquettes and tables take on a low-lit brasserie vibe. My bowl of mussels with green-curry pesto, alongside buttered asparagus, truffle fries and chilled glass of Chablis, was a highlight of my trip. This is the kind of bistro cooking that Bangkok does brilliantly.

On the lobby floor, which sits high above street level, is Caleo bar. I was working my way through a Moroccan gimlet when the staff appeared with a box of postcards and an offer to send one anywhere in the world. It's a small gesture, but it's the sort of gesture you remember.

If you're staying in one of the suites, you also have access to the 23rd-floor Club Lounge, which is a cool and calm place to enjoy breakfast away from the bustle, or a light lunch or afternoon tea for that matter. Sundowners are served in chilled glasses. Service is faultless. When I mentioned my fondness for Thai herbal inhalers, which are a local staple, the staff set up a tray of ingredients so I could make my own to take home, then gave me two more as a gift. I also took a Thai cookery class and a guided walking tour of the flower market and Song Wat Road, an up-and-coming neighbourhood with trendy coffee shops, vintage clothes stores and more new galleries and bars I've bookmarked for my next visit.

Experience everything under one roof at The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok

The Ritz-Carlton combines all the things this city does well – great food, hospitality, a relaxing lounge and a peaceful wellness space – packaged into a single address. The restaurant credentials are serious, the design is assured without being showy, and the location, right on the edge of Lumphini Park, gives it space to breathe and makes it central enough to reach most places easily.

Bangkok has always moved fast and been one of the most exciting cities in the region. The signals it's sending now are worth tuning into.

Katie was a guest of The Ritz-Carlton, Bangkok. From 17,500 baht (£400) a night, excluding fees and taxes, but including breakfast based on two people sharing. Visit ritzcarlton.com for details.

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

You cannot help but be struck by a sense of grandeur the moment you arrive at Mallory Court in Warwickshire. This elegant and welcoming country house hotel sits in the grounds of a former stately home, just outside Leamington Spa. The pristine lawn of the main courtyard ushers you towards the entrance, past a neat square of bright tulips. The main building was built during World War I, but, festooned as it is with vibrant ivy and plush wisteria, it gives the impression of being older.

This central, surprisingly modern building is situated amid a swathe of quiet, pretty gardens – some for growing herbs and produce for the restaurant, some mowed short for playing croquet, most of the rest with patches left to grow wild for the benefit of local insects. Thanks to this, there are bees aplenty, as well as a clutch of hives that the hotel keeps – you can, given notice, arrange an “immersive” beekeeping experience. The hives are kept on the edge of the gardens, meaning the rest of the estate remains a perfect spot for an uninterrupted wander.

Inside the hotel, the suites are generously spacious, handsomely and individually decorated to give each a distinct sense of character and fitted with plush, super king-sized beds. Most of these rooms are in an extension built in the 1990s that overlooks the picturesque herb garden, although if you are checking in for a spa weekend, then those above the spa building may be more convenient.

The spa's facilities include indoor and outdoor saunas and pools, a steam room and a gym. There's a fantastic selection of treatments on offer too. The Revive & Rebalance Ritual is a body scrub followed by a back massage that leaves you feeling cleansed and refreshed, and I also heard great things about the My Kinda Skin facial.

Timeless classics with a swish of elegance at Mallory Court

Besides the spa, Mallory Court's flagship restaurant, the Warwick (under the stewardship of Stu Deeley, who won Masterchef: The Professionals) is the other standout reason to visit. The restaurant takes timeless classics and adds a swish of elegance to turn out true excellence in its dishes.

The menu is quintessentially British, with some European and Asian influences. Vegetarian options are clearly no afterthought, and despite the allure of meat dishes, such as Ibérico presa (pork shoulder) and Lake District lamb, I went almost entirely veggie.

Burrata with beetroot makes an excellent starter, especially when the beetroot is grown in the hotel grounds, and the pine nut and furikake (a Japanese seasoning) garnish gives it a modern, umami twist. Cacklebean egg with coco bean and nduja cassoulet is as intriguing as it sounds – the egg topped with a nest of string pastry and swimming in what amounts to a rich bean soup that hums with the meaty tang of nduja.

For mains, that local beetroot once again stands out – in the form of a sumptuous beetroot wellington. Sweet and sour chicory and crispy hen-of-the-woods mushroom are worthy accompaniments, but the star is the smoked beetroot sauce, which delivers a meaty punch to this vegetarian dish. Black Bomber cheddar gnocchi with wild-garlic sauce is another hit – the gnocchi served like little fondant potato cylinders, pleasantly but not overpoweringly cheesy, adorned with peas, a verdant garlic sauce, and another little clutch of hen of the woods.

If, like me, you enjoy a Snickers, then you have to order the Dulcey Blond chocolate delice for dessert. It's basically a snazzy Asian take on the classic chocolate bar. Caramelised miso and peanut brittle combine to bring the sweet, indulgent nutty flavours we know and love together with decadent levels of salt and umami. It's addictive if you're into that kind of thing. If you're not, the baked Alaska might be more up your street – a sharp, fruity number singing with rhubarb (again, much of which is grown on the estate). On Sundays and bank holidays, you can also enjoy a superb afternoon tea, highlights of which include a fine rhubarb-and-custard macaroon and excellent home-made scones.

Connect with nature at Mallory Court

While you're in the area, Leamington Spa is just a short drive away – or, if the hotel's grounds have whetted your appetite for nature and wild flowers, Oakley Wood (around a seven-minute drive from the hotel) is a wonderful spot for a walk.

Between the spa, the restaurant and the charming gardens, Mallory Court is an excellent place to unwind for a leisurely weekend, connect with nature, and feel thoroughly well taken care of in the process.

Dan was a guest of Mallory Court. Double rooms start from £157 a night. À la Carte dinner at the Warwick costs £95 per person for three courses, plus canapes. Afternoon tea from £42.50 per person. Visit mallory.co.uk.

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We've all stayed in hotels with noisy neighbours. But perhaps not the kind of neighbours who have fluffy tails or fly. Still, when you stay in one of the new and rather luxurious Treehouse Suites at Fairmont Windsor Park in Surrey, you are choosing to inhabit their world, if only for a short time – the world of the scampering squirrel, the rustling deer, the flitting bat, the warbling song thrush, the rattling magpie, the hooting owl… and, of course, being so close to London, the incessant squeak of the antisocial parakeet, no matter how well dressed. One must always make allowances for the locals.

On the lake behind the copse that is your immediate neighbourhood while staying in a Treehouse Suite, you will hear the ducks quacking and the seagulls laughing, although I don't believe I heard a peep out of the swans and herons. Your fellow guests have also come from far and wide – the geese from Canada and Egypt, and the Mandarin ducks from China (at least originally). All the while, a kite hovers high in the sky, keeping a beady eye on the busy natural world unfolding below.

Treehouse Suite at Fairmont Windsor Park

Magpie is the name of the Treehouse Suite I was staying in during an unseasonably warm and sunny weekend in April. These are wooden structures (four in all), which helps them to blend in with their woodland surroundings. And before you complain about false advertising, the suites are not actually in the trees as per the arboreal clubhouse of your childhood. Think of the size of the mighty oak that would be needed to support such an edifice! Rest assured, the trees of Fairmont Windsor Park remain unburdened. Rather, the four raised Treehouse Suites have been strategically built among the beeches and silver birches, with new saplings planted that will, in time, make the Treehouse Suites feel even more secluded. That said, privacy isn't a problem even now. You can wallow all you like in your elevated, outdoor Jacuzzi, up on the deck and away from the prying eyes of people. To be sure, the squirrels will get a good look at you.

My Magpie suite, in fact, had two hot tubs on the wraparound deck. This two-bedroom suite is really two apartments, which makes it ideal for families with older children or perhaps two couples travelling together, who will inevitably come to value some time apart. The other three suites have one Jacuzzi. But dry yourself off and come inside, through the French doors and into the living room of the Magpie suite.

A cosy winter paradise

Those doors form part of a curved wall of glass that can be folded back to let the outside in during the warmer months.

For the winter, there is a log fire that transforms this space into a cosy nest. Facing the fireplace is a modern and fully equipped kitchen, with an induction hob, a fridge for food and another for wine. We arrived to a basket of goodies on the countertop – cake, biscuits, crisps; all the sinful things to nibble on while you're sipping your wine out on the deck.

The first spacious bedroom is accessed from the living room and it, too, opens onto the wraparound deck. At the far end of the room, on the other side of the bed, you will find the white and black-tile bathroom with his and hers sinks, a standalone bathtub and a separate shower.

This set-up is more or less mirrored in the other mini-apartment accessed from the area reserved for coats, brollies and muddy boots when you come in through the suite's front door – although that en-suite bedroom doesn't have direct access to the kitchen, which isn't always a bad thing. But, like the first bedroom, this also opens onto its own hot tub.

So you could, if you so wanted, nestle down with your furry and feathered friends for the duration of your stay. But that would almost be a shame, because Fairmont thoughtfully provides the denizens of its Treehouse Suites with their own golf buggy and mountain bikes. You can use these to explore the grounds of the hotel. You will certainly want to stop at the spa with its quaint courtyard heated outdoor spa pool with various massage jets. Inside, you will find a second, bigger spa pool and there is also a salt room.

A variety of dining options to choose from

And you will most definitely want to stop at restaurant Il Giardino 1215 (although, if you are anything like me with the wine list, you may want to walk, which you can do easily). The à la carte is Mediterranean – I started with a handful of sweet, nutty scallops (and a rather sensational house-take on a negroni) and progressed to the pan-fried veal chop.

As of this month, you now have another dining option in The Windsor Brasserie. It is, according to the press release, a “lively, design-led brasserie”, focused on modern European cuisine “with a sense of theatre”. It has an open kitchen with a charcoal robata grill, and some dishes, such as the tartare, are finished at the table. I might just have to come back to try it.

After the lovely meal at Il Giardino, it was time to stroll back to the Treehouse Suite, via the atmospheric Art Deco-style bar. Waking early the next morning, I peered over the deck railing to spy one of my neighbours already at the breakfast buffet – a fat, fluffy rabbit, munching on the grass at the foot of the treehouse. The neighbourhood was waking up to another fine day.

Chris was a guest of Fairmont Windsor Park. Treehouse Suites cost from £2,300 a night, visit fairmont-windsorpark.com

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There is no shortage of popular places to visit in the UK — whether you’re after a coastal holiday or an idyllic countryside retreat.

And thanks to warmer temperatures, the case for a staycation is stronger than ever.

According to Expedia, interest in holidays within the UK has risen by 77% year-on-year globally, while more than half of Britons are now more interested in taking a UK break than they were last summer.

We round up the best UK hotspots to visit this summer, whether you’re travelling solo, planning a family getaway or organising a trip with friends.

Planning a trip further afield? We look at where to travel around the world and when to visit them in a separate guide.

10 most popular places to visit in the UK

Britain is home to many memorable destinations with many of the most popular places outside of the bigger cities.

Quaint villages in England and islands in Wales are gaining popularity among those seeking a staycation, data from Sykes Holiday Cottages shows.

The data is taken from internal booking insights over the last three years, and the top destinations are selected from towns with the most bookings.

Source: Sykes Holiday Cottages

1. Anglesey

Anglesey in North Wales is the most popular region to visit in the UK, thanks to sweeping coastal views, ancient historic sites and impressive beaches. You can walk around the 140 miles of the Anglesey Coastal Path, visit Llanddwyn Island, home to rare red squirrels and associated with the Welsh patron saint of lovers, visit the Beaumaris Castle or have a fun-filled family day out at the Anglesey Sea Zoo or Pili Palas Nature World.

2. Weymouth

Weymouth is a classic English seaside town ideal for a relaxing retreat. Head to Weymouth Beach, take a stroll along Weymouth Stone Pier or opt for a laid-back picnic at Nothe Gardens. There’s plenty to do for history buffs, whether you visit the ruins of Sandsfoot Castle, explore the underground tunnels at Nothe Fort or walk around the town to see historic objects and the town’s role in the D-Day landings.

3. Bowness-on-Windermere

The Lake District is a haven for literature lovers — both Beatrix Potter and William Wordsworth drew inspiration from this rugged, charming landscape. Get out on the water at Bowness Bay in Bowness-on-Windermere, where you can drive a motorboat or hop on a lake cruise, or visit The World of Beatrix Potter attraction to see different literary characters come to life. You can also go for hikes, visit historic museums or try your hand at archery at Brockhole-on-Windermere.

4. Beadnell

Beadnell is the perfect spot for a quiet beach retreat for those who want to simply relax on the golden sand while enjoying spectacular views. At the same time, it’s a watersports paradise. Take advantage of the Beadnell Bay, where you can try kitesurfing or wakeboarding — you can even give dune sledging a go if you’re feeling adventurous. Other than that, you can take a boat trip to the Farne Islands to spot puffins, visit the Longstone Lighthouse or see the iconic Bamburgh Castle, which was originally the location of a Celtic Brittonic fort dating back thousands of years.

5. Tenby

The most popular place to see puffins is Skomer Island, which you can visit by taking a boat trip from Tenby. Steeped in history, the Welsh harbour town is known for its 13th-century medieval town walls, the Five Arches barbican gatehouse and a 15th-century church. You can even take boat trips to Caldey Island, which is one of Britain’s holy islands, and St Catherine’s Island, which you can access during a low tide.

6. Buxton

This historic spa town in Derbyshire sits on the fringe of the Peak District and is famous for its ‘healing’ thermal waters and 18th-century Georgian and Victorian architecture. Some top places to visit are the Devonshire Dome, the Buxton Opera House and the two-million-year-old natural limestone cave, Poole’s Cavern, which has been designated a Site of Special Scientific Interest.

7. Skipton

Skipton is a charming market town in North Yorkshire packed with history, scenic walks and family-friendly attractions. At the heart of the town is Skipton Castle, a Grade I-listed medieval castle built in 1090, which withstood a three-year siege during the English Civil War. You can also take canal boat trips, and use Skipton as a base for exploring the Yorkshire Dales National Park.

8. Bourton-on-the-Water

Bourton-on-the-Water is a popular village in the heart of the Cotswolds, straddling the River Windrush. You can wander through quaint streets lined with honey-stone cottages and charming low bridges, enjoy browsing independent shops and try a traditional cream tea. Some iconic landmarks include the Model Village, which is a one-ninth scale replica of the Cotswold village, or visit Britain’s only breeding colony of King Penguins in the nine acres of Birdland Park and Gardens.

9. Burnham-on-Sea

Situated on the Somerset coast, Burnham-on-Sea is a traditional seaside town known for its sandy beaches and relaxed atmosphere. It used to be a tiny fishing village until the late 18th century, and is home to the famous Low Lighthouse. An ideal location for seaside activities, you can enjoy amusement park rides and fish and chips by the sea, or choose to explore the Apex Leisure and Wildlife Park, where you can spot a wide range of plants and birds.

10. Inverness

The only Scottish city on the list will certainly not disappoint. The de facto capital of the Scottish Highlands sits on the banks of the River Ness, where you can enjoy lochside views and the nearby Inverness Castle. It’s famous for its rich history combined with spectacular natural scenery — you can visit the prehistoric Clava Cairns or Culloden Battlefield, the historic site of the final Jacobite Rising. The surrounding Highlands are ideal for hikes, wildlife spotting and scenic road trips, and you can even go island hopping without leaving the city.

Rome is known as the Eternal City for a good reason – it feels as if it has existed forever. You can visit an ancient amphitheatre in the morning, have lunch near a medieval castle and tour one of the jewels of the Renaissance in the afternoon – all the while passing buildings built in the 1920s. The luxurious Romeo Roma is testament to the eclecticism and exuberance of Rome.

A 16th-century palazzo that once belonged to the illustrious Capponi family was combined with two other buildings to create Romeo Roma. The whole was renovated under the direction of the late British architect Zaha Hadid and her team in a decade-long project that was only completed last year. The result is a mixture of modern and Renaissance styles. From the moment you walk through the door, you are invited into a world of gilded decoration and Art Deco ceilings. The central lobby, with its waterfall, feels like a 1920s film set.

The bedrooms have huge television screens and whirlpool baths right next to the beds – as well as multi-sensory “emotional showers”. I felt as though I was on a superyacht, which was partly down to the Krion panelling – this high-end material is found on some of the world's most expensive private vessels.

While my room was certainly luxurious, I couldn't help but feel a pang of envy after visiting other rooms that were even more sumptuous – one of the largest suites contains a roof garden. The staff allowed me to peek inside another; one they rightly consider to be the pièce de résistance – the two-level Fresco suite, where you can sleep surrounded by wall paintings created centuries ago.

Romeo Roma's millennia-old foundations

Romeo Roma's connection with the past isn't just limited to the last 500 years. During the renovation, a large number of historic artefacts were uncovered, some over 2,000 years old. A selection of these is on display around the hotel. They include a marble sculpture of Livia Drusilla, whom fans of Claudius will remember as the wife of the Emperor Augustus – and perhaps the most influential (and notorious) woman in Rome. There are also some mosaics, which can be viewed directly or through the glass floor of the swimming pool.

Dive into luxury – or experience the cigar lounge

The swimming pool is also a good example of the way in which the hotel has been designed to give guests options – it straddles both the hotel itself and the courtyard, making it ideal whatever the weather. Guests may also use the first-rate fitness centre and spa – the latter signed by Sisley Paris. Here, the spa menu is centred around Sisley's signature “phyto-aromatic treatments”, which combine natural plant extracts and essential oils with a range of massage techniques from around the world to relax and gently invigorate the body.

I cooled off after hitting the gym by lounging in a deckchair in the “Sicilian salt chamber”, which is said to be good for your breathing, immune system, skin and stress levels. I certainly found the experience extremely relaxing and it took a lot of willpower to peel myself away from it. But peel yourself away you must because the other facilities at the Romeo Roma include a cigar lounge, and for younger guests a state-of-the-art games room with everything they could want, from table football to a billiard table designed by Porsche.

Part food science, part wizardry

Naturally, fine dining has become an expected part of the hotel experience. But even by the standards of other five-star hotels, Romeo Roma is something special. On the night I ate at the hotel's Il Ristorante Alain Ducasse Roma, I was guided through an extravaganza that was spread over multiple courses, including caviar. Part food science, part wizardry, the meal culminated with a dish that arrived billowing “smoke” from a bed of dry ice. Blue lobster cooked over embers and roasted deboned saddle of lamb, served with asparagus and wild garlic zabaione, are two of the other dishes that make up the seven-course Drusilla Primavera “experience” (€305 per person).

Finally, a word on the Romeo Roma's ideal location in the heart of Rome. The Palazzo Borghese, the Trevi Fountain and the Pantheon are all nearby and the hotel is situated around a half-hour's walk from most of Rome's other major attractions, from St. Peter's Square to the Colosseum. What more could you ask for?

Matthew was a guest of Hotel Romeo Roma. From €1,600 a night for a deluxe room. Visit theromeocollection.com/it/romeo-roma for further information.

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

Toronto is known for its vibrant and rich culture, elite food scene, not to mention impressive and spectacular sights – and what better way to enjoy the city than to stay at one of the finest hotels, the Shangri-La.

This luxury hotel is the perfect base, where everything you want to see is within walking distance or easy reach.

And when you are done exploring, there’s nothing quite like the welcome of the Shangri-La to help you relax at the end of each day in luxury.

Toronto is becoming a popular destination and there are many reasons it should be on the top of your travel list. It’s a foodie’s sanctuary (and it's not just about the delicious maple syrup), a shopper’s delight, not to mention spectacular sights that will leave you in awe.

Staying at the Shangri-La, Toronto

The comfort and service at the Shangri-La, Toronto, is world class. The spacious rooms and suites, which come with unparalleled views, means you may not want to leave.

The rooms are bright and comfortable, floor to ceiling windows, high tech controls and marble furnishing.

My suite was an impressive 820 sq ft with views of iconic landmarks such as the CN Tower, a walk-in wardrobe, a separate living room and the most beautiful marble bathroom which included a walk-in shower and a deep-soaking bath, where you can relax and soak in spectacular views day and night.

The rooms include luxurious John Masters Organic toiletries which are simply divine.

Shangri-La truly takes care of all your needs as you surround yourself around pure luxury.

And should you need it, there’s also a coat concierge by the brand Nobis, which you can request in advance.

Located on 188 University Avenue, downtown Toronto, it is the perfect location to explore everything the city has to offer.

Relax with a spa

And just as you may expect, Shangri-La Toronto offers the perfect spa experience for you to unwind and relax after a busy day of shopping and sightseeing.

The Miraj Hammam Spa blends Middle Eastern wellness rituals with modern needs – you’ll want to try out more than one treatment.

I opted for a deep tissue massage which was certainly one of the best I have had, but you may well be tempted by the Turkish bath or a Sodashi plant-based facial.

You can also spend time relaxing in your room; ask for the ‘bath butler experience’ (book in advance) and your bath will be set up with petals, a candle and a truly divine bath bomb, alongside optional in-room dining.

Dining

Breakfast at the Shangri-La is worth waking up for. It’s not your typical buffet, but an experience in itself with dishes that include a wellness frittata, a duck congee, or homemade granola for example.

It is served at the hotel’s signature Bosk Restaurant, where dinner is just as scrumptious. The restaurant sources produce from Canadian farmers and businesses.

One of the markets the hotel sources its produce from is St Lawrence Market, where I took a tour of the markets with Bosk Restaurant’s chef Troy Cabarios. The market has food from around the world which truly reflects Canada’s diverse population.

Eating out in Toronto: Peller Estates

Venturing out of the hotel, there are plenty of cafes and restaurants to try out. I tried Takja BBQ House, a Korean BBQ restaurant where food is grilled in the middle of your table.

A must do is a visit to Peller Estates, where some of the best wine in Canada is produced and sold.

You can do a tour of the winery, too. Don’t miss the 10below Icewine lounge, fully made of ice, including the furniture. The temperature there is set at -10 all year round, which is the temperature Peller uses to harvest icewine grapes.

Niagara Falls

No visit to Toronto is complete without a tour of the Niagara Falls. Get the full experience with the Niagara Helicopters, where you will have the opportunity to capture the most amazing views of the Falls. I also tried out the recently opened virtual experience at Niagara Parks, where the virtual flight ride will take you through time, experiencing the rich history and culture that Canada and the Falls come with.

While the falls is often one of the main attractions, don’t miss the CN Tower for amazing views of the city, Little Canada, the Aquarium, plus the historic Distillery District is a must-see. You can book via destinationtoronto.com.

Getting to Toronto

Getting to Canada is fairly simple, with Air Canada. If you are flying business class, you can take advantage of the recently refurbished Maple Leaf Lounge at Heathrow terminal 2, where you can kick back and relax with food and refreshment before you fly. The comfort of business class is like no other with its roll back seats, large personal screens and a Acqua Di Parma amenities kit.

I was lucky to experience Air Canada’s business class cabin, allowing me to arrive fully relaxed.

Kalpana was a guest at the Shangri-La, Toronto (shangri-la.com/toronto/shangrila). The deluxe one bedroom suite costs $1,269.01 (CAD) and the deluxe king room is $827.62 (CAD).

Coral Reef Club

It was hard to think of a better place to be than in a luxury suite at Coral Reef Club in Barbados, with a rum punch in my hand. But not impossible, because the answer changed the moment I walked through the hotel's botanical gardens (also with a cocktail). And then when I sat on the beach and again at the restaurant… You get the picture.

Coral Reef Club is an iconic, family-run beachfront hotel in Holetown, on the west coast of Barbados. Just 45 minutes from the airport and 20 minutes from the island's capital, Bridgetown, the hotel oozes old-world charm and personality, decorated in classic white wicker and rattan with artwork from local artists dotted throughout the property. It knows who it is, and how could it not? Its firm sense of identity comes largely from the fact that it's been in the hands of the same family since the 1950s and continues to be run by them.

The O'Hara family set up a glamorous oasis on the Bajan coast two generations ago, and it has continued to preserve its identity as well as its loyal client base – many of the guests are on a first-name basis with the staff, because they have made it their winter home for years.

It's no surprise the O'Haras have managed to cultivate such a recurring clientele, given that their hospitality extends beyond the walls of the hotel.

Every week, the family hosts a cocktail party at their residence on the property – a sweet, personal touch that has largely been lost as hotels become bigger and more impersonal.

Yet the Coral Reef Club has also made sure to make relevant updates to the property, including the building of a stunning spa as well as tennis and padel courts. I can't recommend a visit to the spa enough – modern interiors, lush greenery and a peaceful, private pool are on offer, making it the perfect place to lounge after you've treated yourself to one of its treatments. You'll find classic massages, couples' treatments, facials and body wraps.

In the evenings, trade the peace of the spa, the sun and the sand for a delicious meal at the Coral Reef restaurant. The menu changes constantly, but you can be sure to find fresh fish – think sumptuous lobster and shrimp – as well as a juicy steak, well-seasoned chicken and traditional Bajan dishes.

The menu also offers indulgent appetisers and desserts alongside an expertly curated wine list, all of which is to be enjoyed while overlooking the sea.

The Sandpiper

The Coral Reef Club's sister hotel, The Sandpiper, is just down the road and it is also well worth a visit. The hotel's restaurant offers fine dining in a beautiful, intimate and serene setting, widely regarded as one of the best on the island. If you're after something a bit more casual, you can head to Harold's Beach Bar, which is a charming and relaxed spot for alfresco dinner or drinks.

Soho Beach House Canouan

You've made it all the way to the Caribbean, so you might be thinking about doing some island hopping. Thanks to Coral Reef Club's new partnership with Soho Beach House Canouan, you can. The Caribbean hotels have teamed up to launch a “twincentre package”, giving guests the opportunity to spend five nights at Coral Reef Club or its sister hotel, The Sandpiper, followed by a five-night stay at Soho Beach House Canouan, located in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Guests are flown to Canouan with SVG Air.

Canouan is a tiny and secluded island in the Grenadines. It regularly hosts celebrities and millionaires from all around the world – it's a bit of an if-you-know-you-know holiday destination, and trust me, you want to know.

Soho House, the chain of members' clubs, was established in the mid-1990s, but it has since become a global brand. It has multiple locations in London alone. Soho Beach House Canouan is its first location in the Caribbean, having opened in 2022 and establishing itself as the perfect laid-back escape. Just a short flight from Barbados, the property is easily accessible, yet it feels a million miles away from the bigger, busier island.

While you need a membership to access most of the Soho House clubs, Soho Beach House Canouan is open to non-members. Don't let the membership aspect put you off, though – the beach location is luxurious, but unpretentious. The staff are kind, attentive and quick to help with anything you might need.

At only 40 rooms, all of them overlooking a postcardlike scene of the Caribbean Sea, the hotel is intimate, yet well-equipped, with a spa, restaurant, bar and gym.

Personally, the main bar was my favourite place to lounge. The open-sided thatched structure makes for the perfect spot to relax with a book and a drink, while listening to the gentle waves lapping at the platinum-coloured sand. The hotel also boasts an on-site Cowshed spa, housed in a picturesque building, a two-storey gym and yoga and Pilates studios. On site, you can also take part in coconut husking on the beach. There's something very primal and rewarding about smashing open a coconut (the member of staff teaching me was far more graceful than I, but luckily our results were the same) and then using the coconut water to make a cocktail.

Guests of the island also get access to the Canouan Estate's “invisible key”, which gives you access to three world-renowned resorts – Soho Beach House, the Mandarin Oriental Canouan and the Canouan Estate Resort and Villas. All three come with their own different senses of styling and restaurants, curated in a way that means there is something for everyone. So, a day out to each one is highly recommended.

And it isn't the case that one resort is necessarily better or more beautiful than the others. Each, in their own way, provides a different experience and landscape.

Indeed, while Soho Beach House makes for a perfect base on Canouan, you'd be remiss not to venture out and explore the island.

The morning hike up Mount Royal is tough in the humidity, but it is certainly worth the effort. You are rewarded with views not just of the entire island, but also the surrounding ones – Mustique, Mayreau and even the peaks of Grenada. The staff are also able to help you organise boat hire. I would strongly advise booking a catamaran and heading out for a day of exploring the nearby islands. The Tobago Cays are a sanctuary for fish, rays and turtles, all of which are so used to the presence of people that they swim peacefully around you as you snorkel.

Nicole was a guest of Coral Reef Club and Soho Beach House Canouan. The twin-centre package includes a five-night stay on each island, international flights from London, island airport transfers and inter-island flights. Prices for a ten-night trip start from £5,795 per person, based on two guests, visit caribtours.co.uk.

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

Malaysia is quietly gaining recognition as being the perfect destination for a holiday, given the troubles in other parts of the world. This country in Southeast Asia boasts some of the best food on the planet and it is more developed than many of its more rugged neighbours – yet it is less overrun with tourists than, say, Bali and parts of Thailand. Weather-wise, it's nearly always above 30°C, and any rain showers that come along during your stay offer welcome relief from the heat.

So, it's not hard to see why Malaysia has become a popular choice for international travellers at a time when many countries feel unsafe to visit. It's easy to fly directly to Malaysia from Britain, which means there's no need to brave flying over the Middle East, and it's also a less worrisome alternative than locations such as Cape Verde and Cyprus.

In addition, it's a very affordable destination and – perhaps similar to South Africa – it has that wonderful blend of city life and beaches, plus an abundance of exotic wildlife. While Malaysia doesn't have the vineyards of South Africa, it does have a spectacular food scene, mixing Malay, Chinese and Indian influences with sizzling results.

The Ritz-Carlton is a sanctuary in a hectic city

A trip to Malaysia is best started in the capital, Kuala Lumpur, in order to get a feel for this diverse country. The city is exciting and hectic, so if you've just landed after a 13-hour flight and you are adjusting to the seven-hour time difference, you'll want to pick your hotel carefully.

The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur is a fine choice. It has comfortable, elegant rooms, first-class service and a spa, gym and swimming pool. I stayed with my husband and two children, and our two-bedroom suite on the 20th floor was luxurious and spacious.

The double-aspect windows gave us a commanding view of downtown Kuala Lumpur. All-you-can-eat durian buffets jostled with hotels, offices and shopping centres, with the KL Tower glittering against the skyline.

My nine-year-old son was thrilled to see Merdeka 118 from his bedroom, the world's second-tallest building at 2,227 feet (more than twice the height of London's Shard).

The Ritz-Carlton, which opened in 1997, has 251 rooms, 110 suites and four penthouses – three of which have private swimming pools. The hotel is located Kuala Lumpur in the Golden Triangle business district, which makes it ideal for exploring the city.

For anything a bit further away – or perhaps you'd just like to rest your legs and cool down (very sensible given the humidity) – you can grab a “Grab”. This is Southeast Asia's answer to Uber and, in fact, Uber is Grab's largest shareholder.

Where to eat at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur

As for restaurants, The Ritz-Carlton has some excellent dining options. The variety at breakfast is eye-popping – dim sum, noodle soup, baba ganoush, guava smoothies, nasi lemak and much more. Of course, there are the usual cereals, pastries and fresh fruit, but make sure you try the roti canai with dhal. My seven-year-old daughter impressed the staff by happily eating three of them one morning.

Come evening, you can enjoy authentic Chinese classics at Michelin-selected restaurant Li Yen or, at the weekend, indulge in the “Ritzy Weekend Feast”.

The latter is a buffet serving up bold, smoky flavours from the heart of Malaysia. My husband loved the lamb biryani and the chilli pomelo salad, while I swooned over a gorgeous slow-cooked beef rendang.

My daughter has a peanut allergy and this had made us nervous about our trip. But the staff did a sterling job of accommodating her and she was able to try most food items. As the band played (a mix of modern pop, plus some classics), the children were most impressed with the enormous dessert table, complete with chocolate fountain.

A highlight was the pandan crème brûlée, but I'm afraid durian – that stinky fruit nicknamed “king of fruits” by Malaysian devotees – was not for us, so it was “no” to the durian donuts.

The Ritz-Carlton is your home away from home

The Ritz-Carlton also offers afternoon tea. A very British affair, this is a must if you're homesick, but I'd also recommend it for the cool and calm environment, making it a welcome break from busy Kuala Lumpur.

The scones and cakes really hit the mark if you've been overdosing on rice and noodles. The tea selection is also large, ranging from English breakfast and Darjeeling to fragrant herbal blends and a popular “Irish Whiskey cream” variety.

To work off the food, you can head to the 24-hour gym or swim laps in the outdoor swimming pool. Those with children can pop into the kids' room for books and games, while there are organised activities every afternoon, such as decorating eggs, origami and playing Congkak, which is a popular board game in Malaysia.

We were all rather sad to leave this peaceful sanctuary of a hotel when it was time to check out. The rest of our two-week Malaysian adventure involved visiting Bukit Merah Orang Utan, also known as Orangutan Island; making sandcastles on the beach in Langkawi and appreciating the street art in Penang.

I'm sure we'll return to this vibrant country one day, and when we do, I know where we will rest our weary heads when we're back in Kuala Lumpur.

Ruth was a guest of YTL Hotels at The Ritz-Carlton, Kuala Lumpur. Rooms start from around £141 a night for a Deluxe room. Visit ritzcarlton.com for details.

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Dumbleton Hall, Cotswolds

The historic Grade II-listed Dumbleton Hall, situated in the north Cotswolds, has recently reopened following a two-year restoration, which has returned the property to its former glory as an elegant country manor. The tranquil 16-acre estate includes a lake and walled gardens, making this a quintessential countryside escape, located minutes from the picturesque villages of Broadway and Winchcombe. Dumbleton Hall's history – having hosted literary and historical figures, including Charles Dickens and the Mitford sisters – is reflected across its 34 individually designed bedrooms and grand public spaces, blending Belle Époque refinement with 1920s glamour and William Morris prints.

On the culinary front, executive chef Dean Westcar champions seasonal, locally sourced Cotswolds produce at the hotel's main Cedar 1905 restaurant, while the Orangerie will offer intimate fine dining from August. To work up an appetite, various walking trails are within easy reach, as are the towns of Stratford-upon-Avon and Cheltenham for a night out.

From £380 a night, on a B&B basis for two people, dumbletonhall.co.uk

Pine Trees Hotel, Scottish Highlands

Pine Trees Hotel is tucked away in ten acres of woodland on the edge of Pitlochry in the Scottish Highlands. It is, in other words, a quiet retreat near the Cairngorms. The boutique property has recently undergone an extensive refurbishment, blending Victorian architecture with contemporary design across 32 individually styled rooms and suites. Guests are invited to unwind in the tranquil surroundings by embracing the local concept of coorie, meaning “to get cosy” in Scots.

At the hotel's restaurant, Fauna, executive chef Tom Scade celebrates seasonal Scottish produce, while at the stylish Flora bar an extensive whisky selection is offered, along with the popular Pine Trees Margarita cocktail.

This summer, Pine Trees Hotel is launching a new “Woodland Wellness” concept, which includes access to an Estonian Iglucraft igloo-shaped sauna, plunge pool, and wood-fired hot tub. Later in the season, the property will also unveil East Haugh House, a new 11-bedroom exclusive-use residence perfect for larger groups.

From £358 a night, pinetreeshotel.co.uk

Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane

The iconic Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane recently unveiled 14 newly renovated suites. London-based studio Interiors with Art lent a hand in designing the interiors, fusing the hotel's subtle Art Deco features with contemporary style. The team drew inspiration from the nearby Hyde Park for the sycamore wood panelling, for example, along with the brushed metal finishes, Murano glass lighting and warm autumnal palette.

On the fifth floor, sweeping views of the park can be had from the spacious Presidential Suite. It has a formal dining room with a butler's pantry, bespoke marble accents and a fireplace. The Royal Terrace Suite has its own vast garden terrace, making it ideal for entertaining or relaxing in nature despite being in the heart of Mayfair, while the Garden Suite overlooks the hotel's own private garden, blending indoor and outdoor living with bronze-accented interiors and a spacious landscaped terrace.

From £4,700 a night in the suites, fourseasons.com/london

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It takes time to become a Tropezian institution – just not a long time in the case of Brigitte Bardot. The actress was just 21 when her kicking up the sand on Pampelonne Beach for the film And God Created Woman put the sleepy fishing village of Saint-Tropez on the map. In the 70 years since, Saint-Tropez's renown has become inseparable from that of the young woman who made it famous in 1956. You will see Bardot's smouldering features in shops, gallery windows, in the gold statue of her sitting toute nue in a clam shell on the Place Blanqui… and staring back at you as you sip your Gin Sniper at Q's Bar at the impossibly chic AREV St. Tropez hotel on the Chemin des Vendanges.

AREV St. Tropez is also young – it opened in March 2024. And, like the youthful Bardot, this luxury boutique hotel is already making a name for itself. It amused me to find a polite notice on the hotel's website under “Guest Conduct”, asking guests to refrain from taking “any photos or videos in the general area of any celebrity”. English translation – if you see a celebrity, stay calm! Did I see a celebrity during my stay? I couldn't possibly say. One must take after the locals and affect an air of nonchalance when in the presence of stardom – even when your fingernails are scratching at the phone in your pocket. Anyway, this is Saint-Tropez. Celebrities are a feature of the landscape, much like the plane trees in the Place des Lices.

All of which is to say AREV St. Tropez is charming and it has not gone unnoticed. The hotel is a love letter to the French Riviera of the Bardot era. Under those same plane trees on the Place des Lices, a seven-minute stroll from the hotel, pétanque balls are still tossed, pastis is still sipped and on Tuesday and Saturday mornings a busy market is held attracting locals and visitors alike. AREV St. Tropez has created its own homage to the Place des Lices in its Place des Oliviers in the hotel's gardens, complete with vintage Citroën. The hotel is open year-round and, when the weather is bad the pick of the market stalls are brought to the hotel for the convenience of guests. At the Place des Oliviers, you can concoct your own scent at a perfume-making workshop run by local brand Maison ST. You will also find the brand's products in the hotel spa.

AREV St. Tropez is an icon in the making

That's not all. The Strand restaurant revives the name and ambience of a bygone village favourite, now closed, but with a faintly nautical twist in the decor. On the menu, you will find simple yet creative Mediterranean dishes, such as wild sea bream, served with a light and airy verbena bisque emulsion; grilled blue lobster; and Charolais fillet steak, which is a muscular breed typical of France.

Before sitting down to dinner, you might like to take a cold glass of rosé on the Mediterranean garden terrace. You can even visit the vineyard on an excursion to the nearby Fondugues-Pradugues estate. Or – rewinding further – you can take part in an olive oil tasting beside a 500-year-old olive tree, led by the hotel's master gardener, who says a shot of olive oil sets you up for an evening of cocktails and wine.

AREV St. Tropez's focal point and an icon in the making is its long swimming pool, which has the words “A Rêve In The Sun” spelled out in large letters on the bottom (Rêve means “dream” in French – the hotel's name is a playful pun). It reminds me of the pool at the Hotel Bel-Air in California, which became famous from the 1950s onwards as much for its stylish setting as for the glamorous people lounging around it. Around the corner from the main pool, there is a second, smaller outside pool in front of my junior suite, which is part of an even newer section of the hotel. All of the hotel's interiors were designed by Luis Bustamante, the Madrid-based designer who also decorated the Embassy Gardens development in London. The bold blue and red stripes – the hotel's colours – continues the nautical theme, while at the same time being very French. The bathroom is large with a bath and separate shower, and outside, via the bedroom, there is a cosy private terrace.

AREV St. Tropez is a welcome retreat from what used to be a fishing village, but is now a glamorous seaside resort town that gets quite busy in summer. Spring is an ideal time to visit. You can dine at the lovely La Petite Plage restaurant on the Quai Jean Jaurès, or join the coastal path, a short walk from the hotel, for wonderful views over the Golfe de Saint-Tropez. The route takes you past the Cimetière Marin, where you can pause with the small crowd of well-wishers who have come to pay their respects to Bardot, who passed away right at the end of last year, at the age of 91. Bardot lived in the area for most of her life and, if anything, the aura she gave to Saint-Tropez has only grown brighter with the passing of the decades. I suspect that years from now AREV St. Tropez will also have become a true local icon.

Chris was a guest of AREV St. Tropez. Rates are from €590 a night in winter and €1,500 in summer, arevcollection.com.

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If you travel regularly for work or enjoy holidaying abroad, the right credit card could make a big difference. A rewards credit card which offers flight points could mean you cut flight costs – helping you save money on a holiday – or let you upgrade your seat for less.

There are several credit card providers offering airline or flight points as a reward for spending, such as American Express, Virgin Money and Barclays.

But which is the best credit card for flight points, such as Avios or Virgin Points? We break down the different options available right now, comparing what’s on offer, monthly or annual fees and any extra perks like airport lounge access or travel insurance.

What is an airline miles credit card?

An airline miles credit card is a type of reward credit card that lets you collect points on your everyday spending, which can then be used towards flights.

Once you’ve collected enough points or airline miles, you can typically redeem them – unlocking perks like free or reduced flights, seat upgrades, extra baggage, airport lounge access or even other travel expenses like hotel stays or car hires, depending on the provider.

Different airlines have their own schemes. The most popular ones are Avios, run by British Airways – which can also be used with BA’s partner airlines – and Virgin Atlantic’s Virgin points.

Are airline miles credit cards worth it?

Airline miles credit cards can offer lucrative rewards, particularly if you’re a higher spender or you travel often. They can make your journey more rewarding.

However, there are a few caveats. You can only redeem points with certain airlines or providers, and you will need to be flexible with your travel itinerary, as flights paid for with points tend to have limited availability, especially during peak travel times.

Keep in mind that you will have to repay your credit card bill in full each month, or you will be stung with high interest rates.

The best credit cards for flight points

Below, we round up the top credit cards for airline miles and reward points. We’ve done a breakdown based on annual cost, representative APR, welcome bonus and extra perks you can get.

American Express Rewards Credit Card

This is the most cost-effective travel reward credit card for customers, as it lets you earn points on your spending but has no annual fee. It comes with these perks:

• 10,000 Membership Rewards points when you spend £2,000 in your first three months. You don’t qualify if you’ve already had an Amex card in the past 24 months.
• Earn 1 point for every £1 spent on purchases.
• Earn 4,000 points for inviting a friend – provided their application is approved.

Membership Rewards points don’t have to be redeemed as flight points, but you have the option to transfer them to an Amex loyalty partner programme such as an airline’s frequent flier scheme.

For instance, 40,000 points could get you a return economy flight to Dubai with Virgin Atlantic. You can also redeem your points on eligible purchases at PayPal, Amazon, Boots, Currys, etc.

British Airways American Express Credit Card

Another cost-effective option is the British Airways American Express Credit Card. It doesn’t have an annual fee, and it lets you collect Avios on any purchases you make. Some of its perks include:

• 5,000 bonus Avios when you spend £2,000 in your first three months
• One Avios for every £1 spent on purchases.
• 1,000 Avios when you add the first Supplementary Card – an extra card issued to a family member or friend – to your account.
• Earn 4,000 points for inviting a friend – provided their application is approved.
• Get a companion voucher when you spend £15,000 each cardmembership year.
• Covered for Travel Accident Insurance of up to £75,000 on public transport.

You can redeem vouchers when booking a British Airways, Iberia or Aer Lingus Reward flight. We look at Avios-only flights and companion vouchers in a separate guide.

American Express Preferred Rewards Gold Credit Card

If you’re a frequent traveller and want more value for your money, the American Express Preferred Rewards Credit Card may be a suitable option. While it comes at a steep cost of £195 (£0 in the first year), it could be offset by the amount of points and rewards on offer. This includes:

• 40,000 bonus Membership Rewards points when you spend £5,000 in the first six months. This reverts to 20,000 points once the offer ends after 26 May 2026. You don’t qualify if you’ve already had an Amex card in the past 24 months.
• Earn three points for every £1 spent on Amex Travel, two points for every £1 spent directly with airlines, and one point for every £1 spent on eligible purchases.
• Four complimentary Priority Pass airport lounge passes a year at up to 1,300 lounges at airports around the world
• Get US $100 hotel credit when you book two or more nights with The Hotel Collection, which can go towards spa purchases, food and beverage, late check-out, room upgrades and more.
• Free Travel Accident Insurance up to £250,000 and Travel Inconvenience Insurance up to £200.
• £10 back per month on Deliveroo, or effectively £120 a year

American Express Nectar Credit Card

If you’re a regular Sainsbury’s shopper, you might find that the American Express Nectar Credit Card offers you the best value for money. It has an annual cost of £30, which comes in the second year, so you can trial the card for a year to see if it’s ideal for you. Here’s what you’ll get:

• 20,000 bonus Nectar points when you spend £2,000 in your first three months. You don’t qualify for this offer if you’ve already had an Amex card in the past 24 months.
• Earn 3 points for every £1 spent at Nectar partners, and 2 points for every £1 on purchases
• Invite a friend and earn 5,000 points if they are approved.

Nectar points can be converted into Avios – 400 Nectar points equal 250 Avios. This means the welcome bonus is worth 12,500 Avios.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card

If you fly with Virgin or are a banking customer of theirs, you may want to consider getting the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card. It has no annual fee. The perks that come with this card include:

• 3,000 welcome bonus points when you make a purchase in the first 90 days.
• Until 18 May, earn another 3,000 Virgin Points if you spend £1,000 within 90 days of taking out the card. Make sure you link your Flying Club number to your credit card by 16 August to be eligible for the bonus.
• 0.75 Virgin Points for every £1 spent on everyday purchases, and 1.5 points for every £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays.
• Get a flight upgrade or a companion ticket when you spend over £20,000 in a year.

We take a look at how Virgin Flying Club works in a separate guide.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card

For higher spenders and frequent flyers, it’s worth checking out the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card, a premium version of the above reward credit card. The annual fee is £160, but this may be offset using Virgin Points. Here’s how you can earn them:

• 18,000 welcome bonus points when you make a purchase in the first 90 days.
• Until 18 May, earn another 18,000 Virgin Points if you spend £3,000 within 90 days of taking out the card. Make sure you link your Flying Club number to your credit card by 16 August to be eligible for the bonus.
• 1.5 Virgin Points for every £1 spent on everyday purchases, and 3 points for every £1 spent with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays.
• Get a flight upgrade or a companion ticket when you spend over £10,000 in a year.

Barclaycard Avios

If you fly British Airways and want to collect Avios, Barclaycard Avios may be a good place to start, considering it comes with no annual fee. Here are the perks you can get:

• Collect 5,000 Avios if you spend £1,000 in the first three months
• 1 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible purchases.
• When you hit £20,000 spent on your card within 12 months, you can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or opt for 7,000 bonus Avios.

If you change from an existing Barclaycard to this one, you can still get 1,000 Avios when you spend at least £1,000 within three months.

For example, if you have collected 19,500 Avios points, by spending just £1, you can get a peak-time, economy return flight from London to Milan.

Barclaycard Avios Plus

For premium flyers and avid points collectors, the Barclaycard Avios Plus can mean you get more points and rewards on your travel. This is the most expensive card on the market, costing £20 monthly, or £240 annually. Here are perks that come with the premium card:

• Collect 25,000 Avios if you spend £3,000 in the first three months
• 1.5 Avios for every £1 spent on eligible purchases.
• When you spend £10,000 on your card within 12 months, you can choose between a British Airways cabin upgrade voucher to use on an Avios Reward Flight booking, or opt for 7,000 bonus Avios.
• Access to over 1,000 airport lounges worldwide at a discounted rate of £20.50 per lounge pass per person.

If you change from an existing Barclaycard to this one, you can still get 5,000 Avios when you spend at least £3,000 within three months.

For example, if you use 43,000 Avios points and pay £33, you can get a peak, Club Europe business-class return flight from London to Venice, Lisbon or Madrid.

Which is the best credit card for flight points?

If you’re new to credit cards and still want to make the most of your travel, you might want to trial a credit card with a £0 annual fee – or opt for an Amex Preferred Rewards Gold card, which is free for a year, to determine if the rewards are worth it.

If you’re keen on a companion voucher or flight upgrade without having to fork out hundreds, you can trial the Barclaycard Avios or the British Airways Amex card. We look at the best credit cards for airport lounge access in a separate guide.

According to Head for Points, the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is “clearly the best deal” in the first year, given the boosted bonus. “36,000 Virgin Points easily offsets the £160 annual fee for the first year. More importantly, once you have the Reward Plus card, you are earning the superior 1.5 points per £1 whenever you shop. You also trigger the annual voucher more quickly.”

However, consider if you’re likely to use Virgin points before you apply. If you typically fly with British Airways instead, collecting Virgin points might not be right for you.

As per Which?, the Virgin Atlantic Reward Plus Credit Card is the most competitive, but its free version is more cost-friendly. The American Express Rewards Credit Card is a ‘best buy’ due to its zero annual fee and flexibility.

However, it’s worth remembering that based on your needs and preferences, one card could be more suitable than the other – so if you value premium services, you might be comfortable paying more to get value for money.

The world's best luxury golf resorts

1. Hostal de la Gavina, Spain

Film stars, presidents and prime ministers have been visiting the Costa Brava to stay at the prestigious Hostal de La Gavina since 1932. This year, the luxury hotel is launching tailored golfing experiences that combine world-class play with a relaxed coastal stay on this stunning stretch of coastline in northeastern Spain.

Golfers will also want to visit Camiral, a Quinta do Lago Resort, situated a 25-minute drive away. It is home to two acclaimed 18-hole golf courses and, in 2031, it will host the Ryder Cup. And just ten minutes from La Gavina is Club Golf d'Aro – Mas Nou, a top golf course with the extra benefit of sweeping sea views. The hotel's new Golf Concierge can arrange visits, private tuition and access to the driving range. Guests can unwind afterwards with a restorative sports massage at the Spa by Valmont. Actor Sean Connery was a frequent guest of Hostal de La Gavina in the 1970s, who often made use of the area's world-class golf facilities.

From €380 a night, including breakfast, visit lagavina.com.

2. Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita

The Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita has re-emerged after a transformative seven-month renovation last year as a premier golf destination in the Indian Ocean. The resort offers privileged access to two stunning championship courses – the Ernie Els-designed Anahita Golf Club and the Bernhard Langer signature course at Ile aux Cerfs. Both golf courses are situated amid the spectacular scenery of mountains, lakes and lush tropical flora. As part of stay at the Four Seasons Resort Mauritius at Anahita, players receive a daily, complimentary round of golf, inviting golfers of all skill levels to tee off on these world-class fairways or take advantage of expert, one-on-one coaching to perfect their swing. Travelling between the resort and the green couldn't be easier either. There is a complimentary golf shuttle that runs to Anahita Golf Club, along with a complimentary boat transfer that takes guests to Ile aux Cerf Golf Club.

From £900 a night, including breakfast, fourseasons.com/mauritius.

3. Eden Roc Cap Cana, Dominican Republic

Eden Roc Cap Cana is the Dominican Republic's only two-key Michelin resort, offering an unparalleled island getaway tailored specifically for golf enthusiasts. The facilities are centred around the world-renowned, Jack Nicklaus-designed Punta Espada Golf Course. This luxury Relais & Châteaux property is also the first in the Caribbean to provide a dedicated “golf butler” – an on-call specialist who seamlessly manages tee times, equipment deliveries and who is able to arrange recovery treatments, such as Eden Roc Cap Cana's signature Deep Body Golf Ball Massage. As for the accommodation, every guest staying in a private villa has the use of a personal golf cart to explore the exclusive Cap Cana neighbourhood. Upgrade to the Ocean & Golf Villa, and you get access to a 24-hour butler and private chef, while the spectacular Founder's Villa boasts sweeping beach views and direct access to the greens.

From £700 a night, including breakfast, edenroccapcana.com.

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It is easy to succumb to “island time” in the Maldives and forget what day it is. The luxury Conrad Maldives Rangali Island resort takes that concept one step further. It operates on its own “island time” – one hour ahead of Malé, the capital of the Maldives, and five hours ahead of Britain. The result? More daylight to savour and I made every sun-soaked minute count from the serenity of my a villa built over the water.

The Maldives has no shortage of idyllic resorts, with more than 1,000 islands scattered across the Indian Ocean. But nothing truly prepares you for seeing the villas at the Conrad. The Sunset Water Villa pool stretches from the room's deck towards the turquoise sea, creating the illusion that you are floating above the ocean itself.

The stylistically clean interior with wooden beams and sheer curtains complements the sense of tranquillity. Simply close your eyes and doze off to the sound of the sea moving beneath you. High season (November to April) rates for this villa start at around £1,199 a night.

I was also fortunate enough to stay in a Deluxe Beach Villa with Pool. You enter through your own private courtyard, where you will find a large daybed under the open sky, perfect for an afternoon nap. At the rear, the villa opens onto your pool, with direct access to the beach. The villa also has a dressing room, minibar, bedroom area, “his and hers” bathroom and an outdoor shower. High season rates for the Deluxe Beach Villa with a Pool start at around £1,381 a night.

Sleep underwater at The Muraka

The Conrad's most talked-about accommodation is The Muraka, a two-level residence that places guests both above and below the Indian Ocean. Upstairs, the villa opens onto a wide deck and infinity pool with beautiful sea views, while downstairs lies its real showstopper – a master bedroom under a curved glass dome, roughly 16 feet below the surface. Waking up here means watching the reef fish glide silently past your bed.

The underwater theme continues at Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, the resort's glass-domed dining room beneath the waves. As I worked my way through a five-course menu, the standout dish for me was actually the dessert – a tofu chocolate mousse with mango coulis, fresh berries and mango sorbet. Light, fresh and the perfect end to a memorable meal.

Dine underwater or in a wine cellar

You are spoiled for choice when it comes to dining options at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. The resort has 11 bars and eateries, including six restaurants serving everything from Chinese and Japanese to Italian, so dinner was never in the same place twice. One evening I ate in the resort's wine cellar, surrounded by around 15,000 bottles, which made for quite a dramatic setting.

But my favourite night was far simpler – a cooking class and dinner on the beach. A guitarist played as the sun set and cocktails were being mixed. I tucked into freshly made chapatis and a selection of Indian curries with a Maldivian twist. It ended up being the most memorable meal of the trip.

The resort is also making an effort on the sustainability front. The Conrad has a small hydroponic garden growing herbs and vegetables.

Swim with a whale shark

Just because the Maldives is known for relaxation doesn't mean there isn't a sense of adventure. One of the most exhilarating moments of the trip was swimming with a whale shark. During a four-hour boat excursion, we scanned the water for manta rays and whale sharks, with a drone circling above the Indian Ocean to help spot them. When one was finally sighted, everything moved quickly. We had about 15 minutes to grab our snorkelling gear, jump into the water and watch the whale shark dive deep into the ocean.

As for more relaxing activities, I visited the resort's overwater spa and enjoyed a full-body massage. The treatment rooms have been built above the lagoon and some even have glass floors so you can watch the fish swimming below while you're being pampered. I also took a Jet Ski out on the water, which was a fun way to break up the slower pace of island life.

Having spent a few days at Conrad Maldives Rangali Island, the concept of “island time” makes perfect sense. Life slows down and checking your watch becomes the last thing on your mind.

Vaishali was a guest of Conrad Maldives Rangali Island. Rooms start from around £738 a night in the low season and £1,199 a night in the high season. Visit conradmaldives.com.

It is safe to travel to the Maldives, according to the latest advice from the government, but there has been significant disruption to flights from Britain due to the conflict in the Middle East. Always check with your airline or operator for updates before you travel.

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In the second series of the television series Mad Men, set in the early 1960s, advertising maven Don Draper and his wife, Betty, are taken to Rome by Conrad Hilton, the founder of the Hilton Hotels group, to promote the latter's new hotel – the Cavalieri Hilton. Admittedly, the series was shot on a Hollywood set, but it is worth visiting the real-life Cavalieri Hilton – today the Rome Cavalieri, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel – to find out for yourself why it is regarded as the company's flagship hotel.

Rome Cavalieri is situated on Rome's highest hilltop, from which you can enjoy panoramic views of the city. Rome is, of course, famous for its many galleries and museums. But you don't even have to step outside the hotel to enjoy art and culture. Close to a thousand treasures, owned by the hotel's owners, are on display throughout the corridors and lobby. It is perhaps the best art collection displayed in any hotel anywhere in the world. The masterpieces to be found adorning the walls include Giovanni Battista Tiepolo's Odysseus finds Achilles among the daughters of Lycomedes, painted around 1725. The array of sculptures, tapestries and antiques include some unexpected surprises – ranging from costumes once worn by the acclaimed ballet dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev to a commode that was owned by the king of Poland, Augustus III (1733 to 1763).

Inside the luxurious Rome Cavalieri

You are, of course, welcome to admire the artworks at your leisure. But the hotel also offer the option of joining a guided tour with an art historian. And while the paintings are special, they aren't the only things to give Rome Cavalieri its style and swagger. There's the sweeping spiral staircase in the lobby for starters and the upmarket wallpaper. Everything, in other words, that signifies wealth and opulence. But beneath the Italian glamour you will find an American dedication to detail, service and hospitality. The seventh-floor room in which I stayed was large, bright and it had a balcony that afforded a wonderful view over the Eternal City.

I also took full advantage of the fact that my room gave me access to the Imperial Club. This is a drawing room intended as a place of respite for a select number of the hotel's guests. Here, I was able to have breakfast as well as curl up with a good book, while sipping complimentary drinks on the sofa. All the rooms are not just comfortable, but outright luxurious as you would expect. But the cream of the crop are Rome Cavalieri's split-level penthouse suites. They are filled with their own artworks, including limited-edition Andy Warhols, and the living room is furnished with couches and other items that were designed for his own apartment by the late fashion-design icon Karl Lagerfeld. Perhaps the biggest attraction are the large terraces on the upper floor of the suite. As well as a covered area, ideal for dining, these contain Jacuzzis for lounging in while you admire the beauty of Rome.

Dine at Rome's only three-star Michelin restaurant

As well as the outstanding accommodation, the Rome Cavalieri has a lot to offer lovers of great food. The rooftop restaurant, La Pergola, is Rome's first – and only – place to be awarded three Michelin stars. This restaurant is open Tuesday to Saturday and it is in such high demand among Rome's cognoscenti that it is typically booked two to three months in advance – although hotel guests can pop in outside dining hours for an aperitivo.

The hotel's other restaurant, L'Uliveto, also offers a wide range of top-notch food and I particularly enjoyed the grilled Mediterranean octopus.

The pool bar where tennis legend Serena Williams found love

The facilities at Rome Cavalieri are extensive. There are two swimming pools – one indoor and an outdoor pool that is open in the spring and summer. The hotel also has a gym, tennis courts and various walking trails.

The latter is a favourite with the multitude of tennis stars who stay at Rome Cavalieri during the annual Rome Masters tennis tournament (the Internazionali BNL d'Italia, as it is officially known), which is typically held in May every year. Both tennis stars and fans appreciate the fact that the hotel offers them easy access to the Olympic stadium where the event is held – along with the possibility of other unexpected surprises. Tennis legend Serena Williams first met her future husband, the technology investor and co-founder of Reddit, Alexis Ohanian, at Rome Cavalieri's pool bar, while Williams was competing at the 2015 Masters. So, it was perhaps not surprising that when Ohanian proposed 18 months later, during a surprise trip to Rome, he booked the pool and the bar, as well as arranging for the staff to strew the entire area with rose petals.

Matthew was a guest of Rome Cavalieri, where rooms start from €330 a night. For more information, visit romecavalieri.com or call +39 06 3509 2031.

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The “beautiful people” had checked out of the Mandarin Oriental, Paris, by the time I arrived with my suitcase in March. This “palace”-designated hotel, with its chic 1930s art-deco facade, sits on the Rue Saint-Honoré in the fashion quarter of the capital of fashion. Its neighbours are Versace and Yves Salomon, and, opposite, you will find Giorgio Armani.

Down the road is where Thierry Hermès opened his saddle shop in 1837. Today, it sells fabulously expensive handbags, but being merely fabulously wealthy won’t get you one. You have to be on the list.

Naturally, there were still plenty of elegant people to be spotted at the Mandarin Oriental, Paris. Smartly dressed, they were milling about the lobby, beneath the chandelier of 135 crystal butterflies – one for each room of the hotel.

There were elegant people having lunch in the contemporary French restaurant, Camélia. And there were, no doubt, elegant people to be found in The Spa, being relieved of the stress of buying said Hermès handbags. Here, in the spa, you will also find a long, sleek indoor spa pool and a steam room hidden at the end.

But these weren’t the “beautiful people” of Paris Fashion Week, held a fortnight earlier. The models, designers and fashion buyers. The glitterati. The Mandarin Oriental, along with a couple of other select hotels, is their natural home. The week had ended, the beautiful people had pulled up the catwalk from the Jardin des Tuileries around the corner and the circus had moved on for Tokyo.

Calm had been restored to this most exclusive of neighbourhoods in the first arrondissement. A studied nonchalance now settled over Saint-Honoré. The sun was out, the air was crisp and there were flowers everywhere.

At the Jardin des Plantes, across the Seine, big, bright tulips provided dabs of colour that, when viewed from afar, resembled some magnificent pointillist painting. There were tulips, too, up on Montmartre in the north of the city, under the windmills and beside the Sacré-Cœur. Paris is at its prettiest in the spring.

Channelling Marlene Dietrich

And so is the Mandarin Oriental, Paris. Exactly one year ago, this belle dame gained a celebrity sister in the famous Hôtel Lutetia on the Left Bank, when the “fan brand” took up its management. The original, on Rue Saint-Honoré, however, remains a city classic.

The centrepiece is the leafy outdoor courtyard in the middle, with its cosy, covered booths dotted about among the foliage. It feels spacious, yet private, which is no mean feat considering where you are, in the heart of the capital.

The balcony from my deluxe suite looked down on the courtyard – a quiet space to enjoy a drink. Other rooms and suites look out onto the Rue Saint-Honoré.

From the balcony, you arrive in the living room that has a desk, sofa, armchair and TV. The colour palette is in keeping with the brand and Mandarin’s Hong Kong roots – sophisticated dark-cherry wood furniture and golden fabrics. Lest you forget where you are, there are a couple of large, framed photographs on the wall of a lady moodily smoking a cigarette in the style of Marlene Dietrich.

The white-tiled bathroom, adjacent to the bedroom, is expansive, with a bath and a separate shower. There is also a separate toilet by the main door. The wardrobe space is ample and there is a mini bar with all the drinks and snacks you would expect.

I was also afforded a glimpse of The Mandarin Penthouse Suite. It has an impressively high ceiling in the living room, given you are on the top floor, and admits plenty of light. But then, the suite does occupy two levels – there is a staircase leading up to a huge, white bathroom with an enormous tub and views of the Eiffel Tower. The imposing baroque dome of the Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption church almost next door looms large. From the terrace, you have a view over the city.

Guilty little secrets

In the evening, head back down to the ground floor for an apéritif cocktail at the elegant Bar 8, enjoyed with a plate of prawn dim sum har gow if you’re feeling snackish. This is still a Mandarin after all. On sultry nights, you can take your drink out into the courtyard garden and enjoy the music.

Come morning, you will find yourself back at the restaurant, Camélia. I don’t usually focus too much on breakfast, because, with a few exceptions, a hotel breakfast is much like another – even in a five-star. But the pastries here deserve special mention.

They are outstanding and rightly take centre-stage at the buffet table. Then again, Saint Honoré is the patron saint of boulangers and pâtissiers.

If you can’t wait for breakfast to roll around again, you can enjoy them throughout the day from the Cake Shop at the entrance to Camélia. Allez-y. The beautiful people will never know.

Chris was a guest of the Mandarin Oriental, Paris. Room rates start from €1,400.

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1. Farm to fork in Grenada

Guests at Calabash, a small family-run luxury resort on Grenada in the Caribbean and the island's only Relais & Châteaux property, are invited to “eat like a Grenadian” – a guided activity that aims to capture the charm of Grenadian culture through the island's cuisine.

The hotel also organises guided tours of the owners' organic farm, L'Esterre Estate, as well as complimentary activities such as exotic fruit tastings and cooking demonstrations. There are three restaurants at Calabash, comprising a fine-dining restaurant, casual beachside dining and a Japanese restaurant offering contemporary dishes made with locally caught seafood.

This spring, Calabash is also unveiling six new suites – four Superior Deluxe Suites and two secluded Hillside Penthouse Suites. The new Hillside suites will enjoy large indoor-outdoor living spaces and private infinity pools overlooking the hotel's white sands and Prickly Bay beyond.

From $775 a night in April, visit calabashhotel.com.

2. Rhubarb, rhubarb!

Prestonfield House in Edinburgh takes its rhubarb seriously. This luxury hotel, five minutes from the city centre, occupies a 17th-century building set in ten acres of gardens.

It was here on the estate that Alexander Cunyngham introduced rhubarb to Scotland in 1746, and it is grown on the grounds to this day. There's still time to catch the end of the forced-rhubarb season.

At the hotel's Rhubarb Restaurant, the estate-grown vibrant pink stems feature in a variety of sweet and savoury dishes, alongside other carefully selected seasonal Scottish ingredients. In the bar, rhubarb is used to make the house syrups that form the base of signature cocktails, such as the Rhubarb Patch – a refined blend of gin, vermouth and citrus.

Rhubarb even makes an appearance at afternoon tea, where it features in sweets, such as the delicious rhubarb and cardamom custard tart.

From £375 a night, including breakfast. Visit prestonfield.com.

3. 500-year-old olive groves in Croatia

Spring is a great time to visit Villa Nai 3.3 on the Croatian island of Dugi Otok and its 500-year-old olive groves. The crowds have yet to arrive on the Dalmatian coast, but the days are already warm enough to be spent outdoors.

As for the property's olive oil, it has a high polyphenol content, which makes it particularly healthy and explains why it can be found in this boutique hotel's homemade signature spa treatments as well as in the restaurant.

The menu is centred on seasonal, organic produce that has been grown on the estate or sourced from local farms. The vegetables, herbs, fruits, meats and seafood are prepared in a traditional, Dalmatian way that is light, yet flavoursome and pairs well with Croatian wines. Villa Nai 3.3 is intimate enough that it can be booked for the exclusive use of larger groups.

Around €755 a night, including breakfast. Visit villanai.com.

4. Jersey royal potatoes fresh from the côtils

Jersey royals are on the cusp of being in season and there is no place better to enjoy them than on the island on which they were harvested.

These early potatoes are a true sign that spring has arrived. They are grown on the steep coastal hills of Jersey, known as the côtils and are best enjoyed with a simple knob of butter and sprinkling of sea salt, alongside the mackerel, crab and lobster that are caught in the local waters.

Executive chef Andrew Baird runs the restaurant at Longueville Manor, which is part of the luxury Relais & Châteaux collection. The hotel has now added a coveted Michelin Key to its long-held AA Rosettes. Baird is also a certified PADI Divemaster, and has been known to lead dives to fetch the scallops for the menu.

They are served with vegetables from the Victorian kitchen garden, courgette flowers, herbs and, of course, those famous Jersey royals.

Longueville Manor offers nightly rates from £154, based on two sharing on a B&B basis.

5. A retreat focused on nutrition

Crillon le Brave in the south of France takes a different approach to enjoying food. This Provençal retreat with a village feel has partnered with Claire Borwin, a dietician and nutritionist, to offer a range of one- and two-day wellness programmes centred around nutrition.

The season begins on 25 April with a day dedicated to sleep, called “From Plate to Dream: Nutrition and Rituals for Restorative Sleep”, which explores the relationship between nutrition, the nervous system and quality of rest. That is followed on 8-10 May by “Summer in Balance: Vitality, Emotions, and the Joy of Homemade”, a two-day retreat focusing on both physical and emotional energy.

Wellness programmes continue throughout the rest of the year, including one in July devoted to tomatoes. Also this spring, Crillon le Brave is opening its new cottages, a second swimming pool and a dedicated space for hosting culinary workshops.

From €350 a night, including breakfast, crillonlebrave.com.

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1. Kite flying in Barbados

Easter is a special time on the Caribbean island of Barbados. The festivities begin when locals rush out to fly their kites of all colours on Good Friday.

Another highlight of the Easter weekend is the Bonnet Parade, held as part of the Oistins Fish Festival, in which participants show off hats decorated with tropical flowers. Games, food and music are also very much part of the fun.

Stay at the Coral Reef Club while you’re there. This small luxury hotel, set in 12 acres of gardens near Holetown on the west coast, has been run by the O’Hara family since the 1950s. Its interiors have also recently been refurbished by designer Susie Atkinson, with new terraces and Caribbean-style furnishings balancing heritage with a modern sense of elegance.

Meanwhile, nearby sister hotel The Sandpiper has an acclaimed restaurant focused on local ingredients, as well as Harold’s Beach Bar for more relaxed lunches.

$1,090 a night for a double garden room, including breakfast, coralreefbarbados.com.

2. Easter-egg hunt in Dorset

Silverlake is an award-winning private lakeside estate in the centre of Dorset offering a collection of holiday homes that combines modern design with a strong ecological ethos.

The estate has a heated infinity pool and roof terrace at Silverlake’s Hurricane Spa, while the Silverlake Lido – an outdoor spa featuring a 25-metre heated swimming pool and lakeside restaurant, called The Firefly – will open this year.

This Easter, the estate becomes a hive of activity with Easter-egg trails, crafts and “nature explorers” sessions designed to keep little ones entertained. After a day exploring forest playgrounds or the private beach, guests can take to the water with sports equipment, providing a great way to see the estate’s wonderful lakes.

From £531 for two nights (Friday arrival) in March, and from £621 for two-nights (Friday arrival) in April, silverlakedorset.com.

3. Glamping and lambing in Monmouthshire

Penhein Glamping is an award-winning, family-run “glamping site” in 250 acres of Monmouthshire that reopens on 27 March, just in time for Easter.

Younger guests can join in “Lambing Live”, helping to bottle feed the new arrivals from the estate’s flock of 120 ewes. There is also an adventure playground and plenty of woodland and meadows to explore, along with the Penhein Nature Trails for hiking.

Glampers can stay in one of Penhein’s eight high-domed luxury Persian Alachigh tents, which nod to the owners’ Persian heritage, with hand-blocked motifs on headboards and quilted throws. There are en-suite flushing toilets and some tents even have en-suite showers.

Three nights over the Easter weekend from £595 per Alachigh tent, which sleeps up to five people, on a self-catering basis. Apply code Spring15 for for a 15% discount on bookings for April and May. Visit penhein.co.uk.

4. Centuries-old Easter traditions in Malta

The Mediterranean island nation of Malta offers visitors a blend of sunshine and tradition this Easter. From solemn Holy Week processions to joyful Sunday celebrations, the island’s baroque, honey-coloured streets come alive with centuries-old rituals.

The five-star Iniala Harbour House, situated in the centre of the capital, Valletta, is a great place to stay for Easter. The 23 guest rooms in this boutique property are spread across four 17th-century townhouses that overlook the Grand Harbour.

Iniala Harbour House is offering a two- or three-night Easter Escape package, which includes breakfast and seasonal treats, including figolla – an almond-filled pastry traditionally eaten at this time of year. For dinner, head to the hotel’s ION Harbour by Simon Rogan – Malta’s only two-Michelin-starred restaurant.

“An Easter Retreat” package costs from €700, inialamalta.com.

5. A Roman holiday, Easter edition

Easter is one of the most wonderful and atmospheric times of the year to visit the eternal city. The Rome EDITION is a luxury hotel with 93 rooms, including 17 suites and two penthouse suites, located just moments from the famous Spanish Steps, Trevi Fountain and the Borghese Gardens.

The interiors are elegant and understated, with walnut accents, bespoke furnishings and light-filled spaces. Restaurant Anima celebrates the bold flavours of Rome and Naples through seasonal Italian dishes and thoughtful wine pairings. It has a beautiful courtyard garden, which makes it ideal for lingering over long Easter lunches.

Cocktails can be had at either the Punch Room – an intimate, speakeasy-inspired bar – or the Jade Bar, which specialises in signature martinis and Champagne cocktails. From the roof, guests can enjoy panoramic views of the city with Mediterranean plates and sunset drinks.

From €934 a night, editionhotels.com.

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It’s time. It’s been cold for a while. You’ve had enough. Booking a break somewhere warm will make you feel a lot better – or at the very least allow you to look forward to a time when you will feel a lot better. Maybe April, or the beginning of May. With that in mind, how about a quick trip to Mallorca?

Three hours will get you to Palma, where the average temperature in May is around 20°C. Perfect – for me at least (I live in Scotland, for context…). Once in Palma, make it easy. Head around the Bay of Palma and – stopping some way short of Magaluf – stay at Hotel Bendinat. It’s 25 minutes in a taxi.

It is pretty much everything you could ever want in a Mediterranean seaside hotel. It is small (62 rooms), elegant, warm and friendly. It sits on a rocky bit of coast with a restored Mallorcan manor at its centre.

Beyond that you can choose from little bungalows dotted around its gardens and pool, or a more classic hotel room with a terrace. Sea views are standard. It’s not particularly expensive (all these things are relative these days).

There are terraces galore and deckchairs set out on the rocks by the sea, just above a tiny sandy area where it is easy to pop into the sea (and, if the activity we lazily watched from the shore is any guide, to take your first diving lesson).

If you’d prefer a real sandy beach, you can walk over the cliff to get to one – or just swim around a rocky outcrop to it – and its rather delightful beach bar, Freddy’s.

Enjoy a seafood lunch with a glass of rosé

Then, there is the restaurant, Las Terrazas de Bendinat. It’s gorgeous at breakfast (get up earlyish for a first-row table) and so popular locally that even hotel residents would be wise to book for dinner. The restaurant terrace practically hangs over the water and its awnings are in large part supported by the branches of the trees set into it.

In the daytime, you will be dazzled by the blue of the sky against the whiteness of your pristine tablecloth. You will sit on properly cushioned chairs and agree with your waiter that you must try the Mallorcan rosé, all with the sea shifting just beneath you.

The menu is a treat. It’s fish heavy: sea bass ceviche, tuna tartar, shrimp carpaccio with salmon roe, fried squid, prawns with garlic, four different kinds of paella and sea bass baked in a salt crust. You can imagine the kind of thing.

What you might not be able to imagine is our teenage son loving it so much that he wanted to eat there every night (mostly the lemon sole – one of the most expensive things on the menu, I noticed a tad too late).

And on our last night there, when a pile of our aunts and cousins turned up unexpectedly for dinner – just as the evening was winding down – the staff did not turn even the smallest of hairs. A new, bigger table appeared, menus were passed around and more wine opened. The closing time of the kitchen wasn’t mentioned.

Beware the goings-on further down the beach

However, quite possibly the best thing we ate – and I feel a little disloyal about writing this – was on another terrace. Walk over the cliffs, past Freddy’s, past a five-minute-view church and on to the next beach.

Do not walk down the beach (you aren’t that far from Magaluf and you don’t want to know anything about the kind of place your daughter went to on her post-A-levels girls’ trip). Do do anything to get a table at the near end of the beach on the edge of the terrace at Xio by S’Esponja.

We sat by the sea under yellow umbrellas, ordered wine and various fish things. Then the waiter returned. The paella had just arrived. Would we like to rethink? We would. Everyone has eaten a bad paella. This was a very, very good one.

After that lunch, it was back to the Bendinat, where my mother (this was a multi-generational trip) had what she swears was the best massage ever in the hotel’s small, but, she says, utterly glorious spa.

That her therapist spoke six languages hung over the rest of us (conversational French, max) for some days. It was hard to get her out of there. She had to be promised another trip this spring (see you there…).

But when her hands were eventually prised away from the cocktails list (yes, they do make a good French 75), we headed north to somewhere that won’t be on your weekend-away list, but should be on your take-the-whole-family-away list.

A palatial villa and glorious gardens

We met all the aunts, uncles and cousins an hour’s drive north at Son Doblons, a giant villa (it sleeps 18) situated away from the sea, but set in 130 hectares of glorious gardens. There are pomegranate and orange orchards, endless fountains and ponds and a blissful (if unheated) swimming pool that kept our teenagers (a lot of them…) happy for hours.

It came with an excellent cook (who fully grasped how much we wanted to celebrate the brilliance of the 80th birthday of one of our number) and a house manager who produced a fine flamenco dancer to add to the celebrations with 24 hours’ notice.

It’s ten minutes from a charming hill town, Arta, where you can drink coffee (the Cafè Parisien is the top choice) and buy cowboy boots and pottery to your heart’s content.

Twenty minutes in the other direction takes you to a perfectly good set of caves and a delicious little beach with a tat shop that sold the girls, who had forgotten their bikinis, new ones for €10 each. Mostly, however, we didn’t leave the house much. It was too lovely.

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Anthony, an ESF ski-school instructor, has paused at the side of the piste, and is excitedly beckoning me over. He’s pointing towards an undisturbed mountainside in the distance. “Look, can you see the chamois?” It’s not uncommon to see the mountain goats there, I learn, if you know where to look. Soon enough, another slightly turns its head and it’s no longer hidden in plain sight.

With heaps of fresh snow and blue sky, it’s the perfect day for a game of spot the chamois, as we explore Flaine in the heart of the Haute-Savoie region of the French Alps. We began our ski adventure at the Grandes Platières summit, at an altitude of 2,500 metres, capturing the breathtaking 360-degree panorama of the Mont Blanc, Aravis, Belledonne and Jura mountains. The viewpoint is accessible to skiers and pedestrians via cable car, with red and blue runs leading us back into the resort.

I’m visiting in January, hours after a fresh snowfall, and there’s good news for those looking for guaranteed snow later on in the season too. The north-west orientation and sheltered position of Flaine means the resort is often among those with the most snow in France. There’s a network of around 100 snowmakers too, just in case.

Traversing the pistes is thirsty work and our group rendezvous for a lunchtime Aperol Spritz at La Joyeuse, a restaurant beside the ski slope in Flaine Front de Neige (1,500 metres). Flaine itself is divided into four levels, and pedestrians can travel to different parts of the resort via free shuttle buses and two funiculars. We’re at the lowest altitude in the “bowl” of the resort, yet we’re still surrounded by views of the mountains and snow-capped fir trees. I’m in a winter wonderland facing the tough decision between tartiflette and boîte chaude (baked cheese served in a wooden box, with potatoes, salad and cured meats). Now, this is my kind of ski holiday.

Getting around made easy

I’m staying at Les Terrasses d’Hélios, a five-star residence by Pierre & Vacances in Flaine Les Gérats. Situated at 1,700m, the accommodation offers ski-in/ski-out access via gentle greens and blue runs. On arrival, I make a beeline for the outdoor hot tub, which boasts a spectacular view across the resort. The spa facilities also include an indoor swimming pool, hammam and sauna.

My two-bedroom apartment is comfortable and has a kitchenette, while the shuttle service on offer is ideal for getting around town. Pierre & Vacances is also introducing Sunday changeovers at its residences in Flaine, giving guests the opportunity to enjoy quieter slopes on Saturdays, while other skiers head home. Speaking of which, the resort is close to Geneva Airport – our private transfers took around one hour.

Flaine is linked to Le Grand Massif – France’s fourth-largest interconnected “ski-in/skiout” ski area, with 62 ski lifts providing access to 139 ski runs. It has a total of 265 kilometres of pistes, including four routes out of the “bowl” of Flaine.

One morning, in pursuit of a new adventure, we take the Grand Vans chairlift to 2,204 metres, before exploring the slopes in nearby Les Carroz and Morillon. Here, we discover scenic tree-lined pistes, including the five kilometre gentle green Marvel run, where you can fill your boots with forest footage on your GoPro.

We return to Flaine early in the afternoon and recharge at La Pente à Jules, a restaurant and snack bar on the slopes in Flaine Forum, at 1,650m. Unable to resist burrata cheese, I choose the Penne à l’italienne.

An evening in a cosy igloo

As the lifts close and the night falls, we swap our skis for snowshoes and head torches for a one-of-a-kind adventure with Alban, a local mountain guide who hand-built an igloo in the heart of a nearby forest. After hiking for about a mile, we locate the frozen refuge, which could easily remain a secret were it not for Alban gesturing towards the one-metre high entrance. Our group cuddles up with cups of vin chaud and igloo-chilled white wine, before tucking into a candlelit Savoyard dinner of cheese fondue, bread and saucisson.

As well as being a snowsports hub, Flaine is known for its art and Brutalist architecture. Flaine was developed in the 1960s, following a meeting between architect Marcel Breuer, an influential figure in Modernism and the Bauhaus movement, and a French couple, Éric and Sylvie Boissonnas. Listed as a 20th-century architectural heritage site, it’s now an open-air museum, home to works of art by Jean Dubuffet, Pablo Picasso and Victor Vasarely. If you’re seeking more thrills, even more adventures await after enjoying the slopes, such as quad biking on a snow and ice track at Circuit de Glace.

Le Michet, at the foot of the slopes in Flaine Forum, is another example of Flaine’s rich heritage. The chalet is an old sheepfold, more than 100 years old, which existed before the resort was built. Now a restaurant, it offers fresh local cuisine for both lunch and evening service, centred around a roaring fire.

A ski holiday, I find, is as much about the slopes as it is about immersing oneself in the mountain gastronomy. Be sure to visit restaurant Sabaudia in Flaine Forêt to sample traditional Savoyard cuisine. I indulged in a hearty gratin de crozets baked pasta dish, with porcini and comté cheese.

Jessica was a guest of Pierre & Vacances. Weekly rates at Les Terrasses d’Hélios in February 2026 start from £2,410 for a one-bedroom apartment. Visit pierreetvacances.com/gb-en. See SkiSet Forum for ski equipment hire.

Kefalonia isn’t one of those Greek islands tourists come “to conquer”. It doesn’t have a long list of sights to tick off as “done”, as on some other islands – although Kefalonia certainly doesn’t want for beauty. Nothing to worry Crete, say, or Santorini. The main town of Argostoli was largely rebuilt following a devastating earthquake in 1953.

So, the aeroplane loads of tourists tend to pass over Kefalonia and I get the impression Kefalonians aren’t too worried. But then, Kefalonians have long had a reputation for being a bit odd. There’s even a word for it – kourlamara, often translated as “madness”. A better translation might be “world weariness”.

Waves of invaders have come and gone over the centuries. The usual suspects – the Franks, Venetians, Ottomans, French, British and most recently the Italians and Germans in the World War II; they have all had to contend with the locals’ famous sardonicism.

When Andreas Laskaratos, a local writer, was excommunicated in the 19th century for being a bit cheeky, he asked the bishop to excommunicate his boots, too, so he could take them with him. Kourlamara is the madness of “the knowing fool”.

Kourlamara also refers to the pride Kefalonians feel for their island. In the taxi from the airport, I made the glib observation that small islands are so charming. The driver put me straight. “Kefalonia,” he said, with a whiff of indignation, “is the largest of the Ionian islands.” And so it is – despite Corfu, next door, being better known.

What kourlamara is not is xenophobia (in spite of the invaders). Many were the greetings we received from locals tending to their gardens as we walked to the tiny village of Spartia – and down to the lovely little beach of the same name. Hospitality – or xenia – was also present at our hotel.

Serenity by the pool

Perhaps “hotel” is another mistranslation. Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa, a Relais & Châteaux property, might better be thought of as a retreat. A dozen or so guest villas are huddled together on a hill, facing the sea. The vista is beautiful.

From our private infinity pool, tall cypress trees frame the view; the green headland providing the backdrop. It is a lovely spot to while away an afternoon, dipping into Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, Louis de Bernières’s novel, which is set on the island.

As for the villa, it has been built in the Greek-island style – rough-hewn stone walls that blend in with the surroundings. A thatch canopy shields the little table outside the rear doors from the sun.

Inside, the walls are white or neutral shades, with woven mats on the stone floor in keeping with the aesthetic of natural simplicity – rustic, yet neat.

There is a television in the corner of the sitting area as you enter from the pool terrace, but it is discrete and tucked away. Here, you will also find a sink, fridge, kettle and coffee machine. Up a couple of steps is the bedroom proper.

There is a large bed facing the rear doors and the view, and just around the corner, you’ll find a bathroom with twin sinks, a rain shower and a door leading to another shower outside.

The villa’s front door, opposite the bathroom, exits onto a path that winds its way uphill through a Mediterranean garden to the restaurant and bar, called Olais.

Good food in a beautiful environment

The decor follows the same theme of wood, stone and wicker as in the villas, and here too, the main attraction is to be found outside.

The restaurant’s exterior wall facing the gardens and the sea is made of glass and it can be folded away to let the Mediterranean in. The terrace on the other side is ideal for enjoying a cocktail before a dinner of fresh vegetables, breads, grilled meats and seafood – simple dishes, yet creatively done.

Kefalonian wine, I might add, is well worth trying and, it seems, another secret of the islanders. The kitchen also puts on cookery classes and barbecue nights throughout the summer.

Good food in a neat, rustic setting – this is the ethos of Greek living. It’s about getting back to basics. So, you are encouraged to take a pilates class up on the hill, or practise yoga in the morning with the sea view for your inspiration. You can refresh yourself with a swim in the communal, salt-water pool afterwards.

Close by, you will also find the spa. What you won’t find on the spa menu is vogue-ish gadgets and convoluted spa treatments – just thorough, no-nonsense massages focused on relieving pain and stress in the joints and muscles to reinvigorate the body, the way it’s been done for millennia.

So, you can see why the Kefalonians are happy enough in their kourlamara, welcoming those who come to share in it. Kefalonia is an island of rugged charm, wonderful food and wine, and plenty of sunshine, where life runs just a little slower. That doesn’t sound so mad to me.

Chris was a guest of Eliamos Villas Hotel & Spa, which reopens on 1 May 2026. From €759 a night, including breakfast, based on two people sharing an Amos Sea View Suite with Private Pool.

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British Airways has launched new Avios-only flights, offering more opportunities to redeem your Avios points.

Avios is a major loyalty programme with airlines British Airways, Iberia and Aer Lingus all signed up. Under the scheme, you receive points when buying flights, spending with certain retailers or if you’ve got an affiliated credit card. These points can then be redeemed on flights, holiday extras and more.

A popular way to spend Avios points is via reward flights. On these flights, you pay with your Avios points, as well as a cash amount to cover taxes, fees and carrier charges.

British Airways introduced Avios-only flights in 2023, which members of The British Airways Club can book as reward flights. So far, there have been around 50 Avios-only flights, with destinations including the Middle East, Caribbean and Africa.

How exactly do these flights work and who is eligible? We reveal everything you need to know below.

What are Avios-only flights and who is eligible?

British Airways typically allocates a certain amount of seats on its flights to customers with Avios points to redeem as “reward flights”.

On flights to and from Heathrow and Gatwick, the airline guarantees eight seats in economy, two in premium economy and four in business class.

For flights to and from London City Airport, four reward seats are guaranteed, with two in business and two in economy.

However, since 2023, British Airways has released Avios-only flights where 100% of seats are available to British Airways Club members collecting Avios points. You can use some cash to cover the cost of these flights, but a fixed amount of Avios points has to be redeemed.

The flights are often to popular holiday destinations and run at peak times of the year, offering those with Avios points greater priority.

British Airways says Avios-only flights always sell out to customers with Avios due to their popularity.

Where do Avios-only flights travel to?

Previous Avios-only flights have gone to places across Europe, the Caribbean, Africa and the Middle East, including Cape Town, Barbados, Sharm El Sheikh, Málaga and Marrakesh. In February, British Airways announced two more Avios-only flights, from London City Airport to Madrid and Toulon Saint-Tropez.

You can find out where you can travel to on the British Airways Club website or via the Avios app.

In June, two additional flights from London Heathrow to Tenerife and Reykjavik were added for those planning to travel over the October half-term break. All Euro Traveller seats are available from just £5 and 33,500 Avios return, or £40 and 60,000 Avios return with Club Europe, including checked luggage.

More recently, a limited-edition Avios-only flight was launched for those travelling from London Heathrow to New York JFK on select dates in October 2026. Seats are available exclusively to BA Amex cardmembers, who can register their interest in booking the flight up until 24 June. It will cost £0 in every cabin and between 25,000 and 160,000 Avios for the flight, and those travelling in first class will receive a complimentary BLADE helicopter transfer between JFK and Manhattan upon arrival.

When and how can you book Avios-only flights?

British Airways announces new Avios-only flights on its website and via the Avios app. You can book one-way and return journeys on the website and via the app.

Reward flights can be booked through a British Airways Club account or by calling the contact centre on 0344 493 0747 (if calling from the UK).

Seats are sold on a first-come, first-served basis and often sell out fast.

In May, reward flight prices went up, which means flyers will have to fork out more cash for booking Avios-only flights.

For instance, a one-way trip in Club Europe from Heathrow to Rome will now cost £20 and 22,000 Avios. Before 27 May, this was £15 and 22,000 Avios, British Airways said.

Can you use American Express companion vouchers for Avios-only flights?

American Express British Airways companion vouchers can be used when booking Avios-only flights as well as regular flights. They effectively double the value of your Avios.

How does the companion voucher work?

When you book a reward flight for two people, the voucher lets you take someone with you on the same flight and in the same cabin for no extra Avios. While you won't need to use additional Avios, you will need to pay any applicable taxes, fees and charges for both travellers.

Alternatively, solo travellers can use half of the Avios required for one person, with the companion voucher. They will still need to pay the taxes, fees and charges.

Cardmembers can now also redeem their companion voucher when booking with British Airways Holidays using Avios to pay or part-pay, and get 25% Avios back. This offer is available on holiday package bookings made before 31 March 2027.

Can you cancel Avios-only flights?

Yes, Avios-only flights can be cancelled up to 24 hours before departure for a full refund, although you will be charged a £35 fee.

If you cancel within 24 hours of your outbound journey, and you’ve paid the taxes, fees and charges, these are refunded to the account used to book. For bookings made using Avios and money, the cash portion of the price isn’t refunded.

A £35 service fee is also charged if you change your flight date. If the new date costs more, you will have to use additional Avios points, and if it costs less, you will receive the difference in Avios points back.

You can now buy alcohol in Riyadh. There are a few conditions, of course. You need to be non-Saudi, you need to show evidence of a monthly income of over 50,000 riyals (£9,700) and you need to be pretty private about your consumption.

But nonetheless, the arrival of overpriced bottles of Jacob’s Creek in one of the world’s most well-known dry cities is a remarkable social change.

The Riyadh you might visit today is not the one you have in your imagination. Women can drive, they are entering the work force in droves, they don’t cover their faces and hair as much as they might have, and cross-sex handshaking is suddenly totally fine. All this is moving faster than anyone expected. Back to the booze.

The opening of the bottle shop to ordinary expatriates (it had been for diplomats only) wasn’t entirely unexpected. What was is how much it has opened and how fast. In November, you had needed to prove a monthly income of 80,000 riyals. What next?

Maybe booze in actual bars. Word on the street is that international hotels will be allowed to serve alcohol within the year. Those in doubt should visit the rather lovely Attaché “multi-sensory playground” (read nice international restaurant) in the Diplomatic Quarter – a night club (Unstable) has already been built with something that looks remarkably like a cocktail bar. For now, it’s decorated with bottles of zero-alcohol Heineken and Tanqueray 0%.

You might think I am making too much of this. But if you pay any attention to UK billboards, you will already know how keen Saudi Arabia is to host you. The thing is, they built a lot of gorgeous hotels – and they are building a whole lot more – on the “build them and they will come” basis. It hasn’t been quite as organic as expected.

Hence, perhaps, the thinking about what might get the tourists in. There are, after all, an awful lot of people who think a day’s sightseeing in a hot desert is best rounded off more with a cold glass of rosé than one of “Saudi Champagne” (very, very sweet sparkling apple juice). Let them have it and maybe more of them will come.

What will they come to? The most popular tourist trip from the capital is a drive out to the Edge of the World, a particularly impressive 1,131-metre-high escarpment in the Tuwaiq Mountain range.

It is not for the faint-hearted – or for anyone who has had even the faintest hint of vertigo. You drive a good hour out of town (you will note the social liberalisation taking a while to filter out as you do). Then, you turn off and drive at speed through the desert – mostly trying to go faster than anyone else heading in the same direction.

There comes a point when you will think that you will be bumped and bounced through the dust forever – and that this is not ideal. Then, your breath is taken away. It’s absolutely spectacular. A lot of people see a stunning sunset. We saw a yellow blur through a dust storm. Atmospheric at least.

On the downside, there is no safety rail. A few weeks ago (I am told…) someone drove their car over the edge trying to get a particularly good view of the sunset. It’s all worth the drive. But maybe don’t bring the children.

An ambitious cultural project

The other absolute must-do in Riyadh is a visit to Diriyah, the birthplace of the first Saudi state and home to the Unesco World Heritage Site of At-Turaif.

The remaining buildings have been very heavily restored and the whole thing is being developed into one of Saudi Arabia’s most ambitious cultural (opera house included), tourism, residential and commercial destinations, all built in the Najdi mud-brick architectural style.

If we tried something like this in Britain, there would be relentless complaints about Poundbury pastiche. In Saudi, it’s considered a way to preserve heritage. It’s also lovely.

If you can find any way at all to fix a visit to the sales office, you must do this too. The very kind tourism and engagement director, Naif Awlia, showed us around and the models of the final project plan will amaze you almost as much as the construction site itself.

You should also visit the Al Rajhi mosque – the largest in the city and a rarity in that it offers a tour to non-Muslims.

Then, there is the Masmak Fortress, an important landmark in the battle to unify Saudi in 1902 and, for the slightly morbidly minded, a skim around Deera Square (known by expatriates as Chop-Chop Square. I’ll leave that one with you).

After that, eat pretty much anywhere. We loved Thara for Saudi food and Brunch and Cake on the edge of Diriyah for, well, brunch.

Finally, a trip on the design heaven metro is probably worth it (ladies, don’t forget to stay in the family carriage. The others are for men). Take it to the souk for your camel-themed fridge magnets, kilim cushion covers and, if you do not yet have enough of it, your physical gold.

We did not go on from Riyadh. But, after two days, it would make sense to head to AlUla for some eco-tourism in the desert (there is a Banyan Tree hotel) and then to the coast around Jeddah. Here, you will find snorkelling and diving in the Red Sea coral reefs alongside a slew of super-luxe hotels. You will want to go soon. You get the odd selfie-taking influencer at the Edge of the World these days.

But this is still very, very niche tourism. So, if you are happy to dance without drinking, going will leave you able to claim first-mover bragging rights. Once the snorkelling in the Red Sea round Jeddah comes with cocktails, that may no longer be the case.

Merryn visited the Edge of the World with Ghazi Tours and explored Riyadh with Experiences by Roam.

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Shoals of tropical fish swim past. From time to time, a blacktip reef shark comes into view, wriggling its tail at me. You might be thinking I’m at an aquarium or out snorkelling. But no, I’m having a massage in the Maldives, while watching the marine life below through a glass floor.

It’s a thoughtful touch and a surprise that has many guests gasping as they lie down for their treatment and realise they can see into the ocean. It’s one of the many “pinch me” moments of my trip. This is my first time in the Maldives, and I’m heading to a duo of Constance resorts on two islands.

After a ten-hour flight from London to the capital Malé, we board our seaplane to Constance Moofushi, a 30-minute journey away in the South Ari Atoll. I’m on “island time” from the moment I arrive – literally – as Constance Moofushi has created its own time zone, an hour ahead of the rest of the Maldives, to maximise daylight hours.

Kick off your shoes

The resort has a laid-back atmosphere and you are encouraged to take your shoes off and enjoy the resort barefoot. You can stay in a “water villa” perched over the shallow water, a “beach villa”, or a “sand villa” that is somewhere between the two, offering easy access to the water. Constance Moofushi also has two restaurants and two bars.

My sand villa is elegant and spacious, and I love walking down from my private deck onto the beach and then just a few steps again into the warm Indian Ocean.

The resort has thought of everything, from the practical (there are life jackets in the room in case of a tsunami) to the indulgent (the al-fresco bath-tub is suspended above the sea, and there’s an all-inclusive mini bar). In fact, the whole resort is all-inclusive in keeping with its easy-going spirit. There’s no worrying about restaurant bills.

Wine lovers are well catered for. There are 125 wines on the all-inclusive list, and more than 900 if you’re happy to pay, plus regular events, such as wine tastings on the beach. The food is five-star. A varied buffet awaits in the main Manta Restaurant, while Alizée offers smarter à la carte dining beside the beach.

There’s also an ice-cream menu with 56 flavours. Despite my best efforts, I fail to try all of them, but I can highly recommend the coconut and pink guava flavours.

When not dining, drinking, swimming or just relaxing, the Maldives is perfect for wildlife spotting. Herons and ghost crabs can be seen onshore, plus sharks and colourful fish merely by glancing into the clear, turquoise waters (and indeed, when you lie down for a massage).

However, diving and snorkelling will get you closer to nature. I was amazed to see clouds of clownfish and angelfish, a hawksbill turtle, and a stingray sashaying past on my first-ever snorkelling trip – a truly memorable experience.

An upmarket affair

My next destination, Constance Halaveli, is a short speedboat ride away. It’s a bigger resort (like Moofushi, it occupies the whole island), but has fewer villas and each has their own plunge pool. In other words, it’s more upmarket.

Footwear isn’t quite so optional here and there are more dining options – four restaurants plus a wine-tasting room. Halaveli stocks 1,600 wine labels from 325 renowned winemakers.

I discover a fantastic riesling from Alsace, France, and a gorgeous chardonnay from South Africa. Some guests even message the sommeliers before their stay to check what’s available, or to request certain wines.

Asian fusion restaurant Jing wows me with its red-curry “cappuccino” and transports me to Thailand with one sip, while Meeru offers grilled meats and seafood on the beach. Do try the angus tenderloin and asparagus bernaise.

Guests can choose to pay for extra activities, such as a cookery or cocktail-making class, or private cinema viewing on the beach. As part of a cookery class, executive chef Siddiq Hameed has us whipping up a tuna coconut salad and Maldivian tuna curry like pros.

Nature is visible everywhere at Constance Halaveli. When I get back to my villa, built on stilts above the water, I find reef sharks playing beneath it. In the afternoon, an Asian koel squawks loudly from high up in a coconut tree, and moments later a flying fox dive-bombs just yards in front of me as I enter the swimming pool.

Moofushi is laid-back and Halaveli feels more exclusive. My recommendation? Visit both for a double dose of relaxation, indulgence and adventure.

Turquoise Holidays (01494-678400) offers a week’s holiday from £4,799 per person combining three nights at Constance Moofushi in a beach villa on an all-inclusive meal plan and three nights at Constance Halaveli in a water villa on a B&B plan.

Includes return flights, seaplane transfers and a direct speedboat from Moofushi to Halaveli, based on two people travelling. Visit constancehotels.com for more details on Constance Hotels.

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After my first couple of visits to the Greek island of Santorini, I had assumed most of the other Greek islands would be quite similar. So, I was happy to learn on subsequent visits to the wider Cyclades island group that I had, in fact, over 200 opportunities to be surprised.

I travelled to Folegandros on my last trip, which is one of the lesser-known islands in the southern Cyclades. Folegandros doesn’t have an airport, which means we had to land in bustling Santorini next door and catch a ferry. (You can also book a private boat transfer should you arrive at an inconvenient time.) In hindsight, this was the first indication that this island would be different.

For starters, Folegandros has a more rugged and dramatic landscape than many of the other islands I have visited. Its name translates as something like “rocky land” – and it certainly is. The roads are bumpy, the cliffs are wild, sheep jump from stone to stone, and trees curl up to the sky with sparse foliage.

Such untamed ruggedness might seem incompatible with luxury – or at least a rather unlikely match. And yet, nestled among Folegandros’ rocky cliffs is Gundari – a spectacular cliffside luxury boutique hotel comfortably rivalling the high-end accommodation offerings of the more frequented islands.

Enjoy private pools and sea views at Gundari

Gundari opened in May 2024 and, after just one year, it had already won design awards and spots on newspapers’ “hot lists” and – a feat that’s all the more impressive when you consider that Gundari’s Australian founder, Ricardo Larriera’s background was in advertising, not hospitality.

The road to the hotel might be bumpy, but once you get there, nothing else about your stay will be. The hotel’s earth-toned exterior blends in perfectly with the island’s cliffs. The interiors are minimalistic and cool, with a warm twist to match the landscape’s colour palette.

After a long day of travelling, I collapsed onto the bed in my suite late at night, excited to wake up and admire the view in the light of day. Early the next morning, I stepped out onto a private pool that seemed to melt into the Aegean.

Every one of the hotel’s 25 suites has its own private infinity pool, as well as carefully considered sound systems. As someone who racks up tens of thousands of minutes listening to music every year, this was a welcome feature. If you want to opt for a suite with a twist, you can book one of the Cave Suites. These are subterranean rooms placed on the edge of the cliff, featuring bioclimatic design, meaning they’re cool when it’s hot outside and warm when it’s cold. The hotel also boasts two impressive villas, which are a bit more secluded and would be perfect for a group trip to celebrate a special occasion.

An exquisite cuisine with Greek roots

The hotel’s restaurant, Orizon, serves mostly locally sourced food –highly local, in fact, from Gundari’s own kitchen garden. Michelin-starred chef Lefteris Lazarou has created a menu where the focus is on fresh, seasonal and creative dishes, with their roots in Greek cuisine. The wine list is extensive, featuring international wines, but, most importantly, local ones too – and these are the ones I would stick to.

If dinner is a well-thought-out affair, then so is breakfast. Australians are serious about their brunch, so it was important to Larriera that the menu featured Australian favourites such as açai (a fruit and a “superfood”) as well as Greek scrambled eggs. I say get both. Of course, the hotel wouldn’t be complete without a spa. Here, sheltered by the cliff, therapists offer sumptuous treatments, including sound baths, meditation and, of course, massages.

Larriera already has plans for the next phase of the hotel, and they’re as exciting and ambitious as you’d expect from someone who undertook the assignment of building a luxury hotel on a cliff side, on an island off the beaten track.

Folegandros is an island waiting to be explored

Go to Gundari to relax, yes – but also to explore Folegandros. The island is small and easy to navigate. I would recommend a dip in the sea at Agali Beach, a tiny cove surrounded by high cliffs. Eat lunch at Pasithea, a Greek restaurant offering glorious views of the different shades of blue of the sea below.

The island’s capital, Chora, is also worth a visit and our tour guide, Poly, talked us through the island’s history. Make sure you’ve got your walking shoes on though, especially if you want to walk the winding road up to the church.

Nicole was a guest of Gundari, which reopens on 15 May 2026. From £520 in May per night on a B&B basis. Visit Gundari.com. Turquoise Holidays offers five nights in a Standard Suite with Outdoor Private Pool and Sea View with breakfast from £3,100 per person, including Easyjet flights from Gatwick to Santorini and private boat transfers between Santorini and Folegandros. The price is based on two people sharing between 24 May and 29 May 2026. It includes a complimentary one-hour morning yoga class on Thursday, Saturday and Monday, 15% discount on the spa menu and 10% discount at Orizon Restaurant. Visit turquoiseholidays.co.uk or call 01494 678 400.

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Spina, a ten-month-old lagotto romagnolo, sniffs the autumn air. She has been brought to these woods on the Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood Hotel estate in Tuscany to do one thing – find truffles. Let off the leash, she in fact proceeds to do many things.

She darts from person to person in our truffle-hunting pack, she hurdles a tree root almost as big as herself and then runs back to her handler for a treat. Too soon, Spina. You must first find the truffle. “No, Spina, vai, vai!”

The young dog remembers her training and her little wet nose, not unlike the truffle she seeks, scans the forest floor strewn with golden leaves, the green moss-covered rocks and the trees. It is pleasant to be out this morning, the branches sifting the sunlight.

Spina zeros in on a tall oak tree. It is a fine specimen, but nothing sets it apart from the others. Spina knows better and her fluffy white paws set to work, scraping away the soil from the base of the tree. “Bravissima! Super dog!” It is a truffle and a large one, worth maybe €40 on the market. Spina surrenders our treasure for one of hers and she swallows the treat in a single snap. Now, she has her tail up.

The hunt continues and Spina brings us to a large rock with nothing about it to suggest another truffle lies beneath. But again, the paws set to work, digging deeper this time. Our guide probes at the crevice Spina has made with his vanghetto – a small trowel on the end of a long wooden shaft. “Dove?” Where is it, he asks. Spina produces the black treasure with a flourish of her paws. "Bravissma!"

A short while later, I’m in a rustic Tuscan kitchen, making the pasta to go with the truffles. But I’m making a poor fist of it. “Are you feeling stressed in your life?” our chef-teacher asks. I’ve certainly been busy and my efforts, crumbling before my eyes, aren’t helping.

The egg yolks are supposed to be massaged into the flour to form a smooth, silky dough. “If you are stressed, you shouldn’t make pasta.” Any nonna in Italy will tell you that. But, like this would-be pasta maker, if you let the dough rest, it will recover, our chef assures me. Except, it doesn’t. I have squeezed the life out of it.

Fortunately, the work of my comrades is more fruitful and after a few turns through the pasta-rolling machine, we are eating fresh tagliolini in a creamy sauce, with generous shavings of Spina’s truffles. As for the wine, it is excellent.

Outsanding wines from the estate

The Castiglion del Bosco estate produces a number of high-end Brunello di Montalcino wines, made from the sangiovese grapes grown just beyond the walls of Villa Capanna, in which we are now sitting, having lunch. The pick of the bunch goes into making Zodiac, a true collectors’ wine – but good luck finding a bottle.

The relatively few magnums that are made get snapped up, notwithstanding the minimum €1,500 price tag. Each bottle sports a label depicting the animal in the Chinese zodiac corresponding to its vintage, beautifully designed by British artist Melanie Miller. We were able to admire the bottles, if not taste the contents, on a tour of Castiglion del Bosco’s winery.

At the heart of this modern facility sits the Members’ Cellar – an elegant round room of polished woods and copper, where the members’ collections are carefully stored behind lock and key. Admission to Millecento Wine Club is by invitation.

Our conversation over lunch at Villa Capanna turns to Castiglion del Bosco’s equally exclusive golf club, simply called The Club. Its 18 holes (in fact, there is a 19th “Brunello Hole” for settling scores) were laid out by the late British Open champion Tom Weiskopf and they, like the rest of the 5,000-acre estate, are moulded to the gently undulating contours of the beautiful Unesco-listed Val d’Orcia National Park.

The Clubhouse occupies a former farmhouse that has been refurbished to include modern changing facilities, a cigar room and The Club Restaurant, which has panoramic views over the course. Again, membership to Italy’s only private golf course is by invitation, but guests of the Rosewood hotel at Castiglion del Bosco are invited to use the fairways.

The guest villa in which I am staying, Villa Sant’Anna, also has views over the green from the outdoor terrace that runs down its side. It is one of 11 villas that were built as farmhouses in the 17th and 18th centuries and that have since been sympathetically renovated to become guest villas, while retaining original features, such as exposed wooden beams.

One evening, we met with Signora Loriana, who grew up in the house and still lives nearby. Over pizzas baked in the outdoor wood-fired oven – another original feature of the villa – she showed us old photos of the property and explained how the farmhouse has been transformed into the refined, yet cosy Villa Sant’Anna.

Each of the guest villas comes with a “mamma in villa”, who is there in the day to rustle up breakfast and keep the log fire burning in the elegant living room. In the garden, there is a large outdoor, heated swimming pool with lovely views of the valley.

A luxury hotel centred on village life

Village life is at the heart of the Italian rural idyll, so you won’t be surprised to find a village, the borgo, at the heart of Castiglion del Bosco. Here, a cobbled street runs up towards the ruined 12th-century castle, perched on a hill at the far end.

On the left, the street is flanked by converted stables and on the right, Rosewood’s Ristorante Campo del Drago, with its two Michelin stars, as well as Osteria La Canonica, with its menu of hearty Tuscan fare. Both look out over the valley. Just as the body needs feeding, so does the soul and it is fitting that La Canonica was, indeed, once the home of the priest.

Next door, you will find the diminutive Pieve San Michele church, which sheltered pilgrims passing along the Via Francigena, connecting Canterbury to Rome. Many will have admired the 14th-century fresco by Pietro Lorenzetti, rediscovered under plaster in 1876.

The whole of the Castiglion del Bosco estate is immaculate. This is rustic Tuscany without the rough edges – authentic, bucolic and charming. That is, in large part, down to the intervention of Italy’s Ferragamo fashion dynasty, which bought the estate in 2003 and restored it so lovingly. It is also in the way the estate is still very much part of the local community.

The villas at Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood Hotel, are available year-round and there is never a bad time to stay. Each season presents the estate in a slightly different, but no less beautiful, light. But I am glad to be sitting here in the late autumn, at Villa Capanna, enjoying a lunch of fresh pasta with truffles, wonderful wine and good company. What could be more Tuscan than that?

Chris was a guest of Castiglion del Bosco, A Rosewood Hotel. From €1,450 in low season and €2,050 in high season in a junior suite (available from 21 March 2026, when the borgo, facilities and restaurants reopen. The villas can be booked year-round).

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

I’m mesmerised from the moment I arrive at each Leela Palace hotel during my tour of northern India, from the immersive ceremonial rituals put on for guests to the personal touches that elevate every experience. Each hotel is unique with its own character and yet, the Leela brand flows seamlessly throughout them all. The Leela’s signature Tishya fragrance, for example – smelling of rare and indigenous kumud (lotus) and nilgiri flowers – fills each of the palaces during our stay. And there is, of course, The Leela’s fleet of luxury cars, on hand to welcome returning guests like old friends.

We visit New Delhi, Jaipur and Udaipur on The Leela Palace Northern India Trail, as part of our itinerary. At each stop, we are met with spectacular floral displays that have been carefully crafted into works of art. Committed to sustainable luxury, The Leela has teamed up with Phool, a non-profit group, where women from marginalised communities repurpose the petals into incense using a patented “flowercycling” process.

Each Leela Palace hotel along our route becomes a very luxurious home-from-home. There’s an extensive pillow menu on offer, for instance, and our dedicated butlers go over and above to ensure our stay is an experience we will always treasure. Thoughtful gestures abound, such as the rose-petal bath that was drawn for me one evening – a real delight.

Delhi: Touring the energetic capital

At The Leela Palace, New Delhi, situated a short drive from India Gate in Edwin Lutyens’s capital, I am greeted with Arti, a Hindu ceremonial ritual, and shown to my spacious room. Determined not to let jet lag get the better of me, I head straight to the spa for a rejuvenating massage, followed by a spectacular Thai lunch at restaurant The Qube. Here, there is a digital “art wall” and the display shifts as I dine.

Works of art, from striking sculptures to intricate embroidery, can be admired as you explore the palace, with the vast collection of traditional and contemporary works personally curated by the hotel’s owners.

We enjoy another ceremonial ritual as night falls, and then a culinary ode to royal India at the restaurant Jamavar, where we feast from a spectacular silver thali platter. Diners can also enjoy modern Japanese food at restaurant Megu or fine Franco-Italian cuisine at Le Cirque – perhaps after an aperitif in the elegant Library Bar.

The infinity rooftop pool is perfect for taking in the vistas of Delhi, and it’s here I practise yoga as the day breaks. Having indulged in a hearty breakfast and several cups of masala chai, we embark on a tour of this energetic capital. Highlights include the bustling Khari Baoli, Asia’s largest wholesale spice market and one of the largest wholesale markets in the world, and – a rickshaw ride away – the Paranthe Wali Gali in the Chandni Chowk district, where we pause for pea and paneer parathas (a popular, layered flatbread). Nearby, at a cafe boasting a breathtaking view of the Jama Masjid mosque, we meet artist Ameen ur Rehman for a masterclass in calligraphy. Born and raised in Old Delhi, he is one of the few calligraphers left here. Our journey continues with a visit to Humayun’s Tomb, the architecture of which is thought to have inspired the Taj Mahal, before some retail therapy at craft and food market Dilli Haat.

Jaipur: Culinary delights in the Pink City

Jaipur is around four hours by road from New Delhi. As we arrive at the Leela Palace in the “Pink City”, I’m captivated by the hotel’s impressive architecture. The next moment is wondrous. In a majestic ode to Rajasthan’s regal heritage, dancers and musicians welcome us with traditional folk songs, and, as we’re welcomed indoors, rose petals engulf me from the balcony above. There are nods to the Pink City and Rajasthan’s rich history of art and crafts throughout the hotel, from the ornate murals adorning the grounds to the plush pink furnishings in my Royal Villa. After a dip in the private plunge pool, I indulge in a spectacular dabba (tiffin box) lunch. I deconstruct the different tiers, discovering paneer makhani, yellow dal tadka, shahi jeera pyaz pulao rice, ajwaini tawa paratha, and moong dal halwa, a traditional Indian dessert. I devour the lot.

The Leela Palace, Jaipur, sprawling over 8.5 acres, is an oasis of calm and the perfect place to relax and reflect after educating myself on the city’s past and present. We began with a tour of the Amer Fort, appreciating the grand Ganesh Pol gateway and discovering the shimmering Sheesh Mahal “palace of mirrors”. After rewinding more than 400 years, we leapt back into the present day, viewing modern art at The Sculpture Park in nearby Jaigarh. Our next stop was at the Non-Residency exhibition at the Jaipur Center for Art (JCA), co-founded by Maharaja Sawai Padmanabh Singh of Jaipur and contemporary art specialist Noelle Kadar, located within Jaipur’s City Palace. The JCA is an exhibition space for contemporary art and design, showcasing Jaipur’s rich artistic heritage.

We are travelling during the Hindu festival of Navratri, held last year in September, and as we tour more of the City Palace, we get a glimpse of preparations for a celebration that evening. We make our way to the Chhavi Niwas, “the blue room” and the ornate Shobha Niwas, known as the “Hall of Beauty”, where vibrant red, green and amber glasswork glimmers in golden walls. While you’re in Jaipur, don’t miss lunch at The Johri at Lal Haveli, which serves scrumptious seasonal North Indian fare “with innovation”. With rattan chairs and cherry-blossom walls, it’s a feast for the eyes too.

I’m already awestruck by the state of Rajasthan, but this region in northwestern India has plenty more surprises up its sleeve. I had an inkling our evening meal would be special, but I was dazzled as I arrived at the newly launched Jamavar Jaipur, at The Leela Palace. Embellished with more than 350,000 hand-cut thikri mirrors and crowned with 18-carat gold-leaf work, this opulent eatery is illuminated entirely by candles. We start the one-of-a-kind experience with a symbolic handwash ritual before indulging in culinary jewels fit for a maharaja.

Udaipur: Hand-block printing in the City of Lakes

The vibrant hustle and bustle of Delhi and Jaipur seem like a lifetime ago as our aeroplane touches down in Udaipur, known as the City of Lakes. We catch our first sight of the spectacular Leela Palace, Udaipur, from the water, as we glide across Lake Pichola on one of the palace’s electric boats. I’ve been blown away moment after moment on this journey so far, and I begin to realise that The Leela will sweep you off your feet time and time again, but just how will always be a beautiful, magical surprise.

The welcome ritual is a sight to behold. Guests are escorted from the private jetty into the palace hotel under a magenta parasol, embellished with gold embroidery. “It’s like a royal family welcome – we consider our guests to be so important,” the hotel tells me. Against a backdrop of traditional melodies, we are treated to another royal ritual, a rose-petal shower, then welcomed with Arti. Artworks can be enjoyed throughout the palace, from local, traditional Pichwai paintings to hand-carved lotus motifs. Then, there’s the food. The Palace Afternoon Tea session, for example, is a masterpiece in itself. We dine under the stars that evening at the restaurant Sheesh Mahal. We begin the exquisite fine-dining experience watching the sun melt over the 450-year-old City Palace, which sits across from us, on the edge of the lake, before tucking into foraged wild morel mushrooms with gold leaf and saffron paratha.

The hotel grounds are expansive, and I feel like a queen as I pad across to the waterside Guava Garden to practise Hatha yoga as the sun rises. The experience leaves me hungry for more – cue a nourishing Aujasya (the signature wellness programme) breakfast, which can be enjoyed alongside the extensive menu in The Dining Room. I top it all off with an aromatherapy massage.

While in Rajasthan, I am excited to see the traditional craft of dabu hand-block printing, an ancient mud-resist technique. I am fortunate enough to experience the process, as well as learn about dyeing with plant-based colours such as indigo, during an exclusive visit to the headquarters of Aavaran, a brand which aims to promote and sustain traditional crafts.

Our education into Rajasthani history and culture continues as we head to the Leela Palace, Udaipur’s farm. During this farm-to-table sojourn, guests are invited to forage fresh vegetables and join the talented chefs to transform the food into a sumptuous feast. I grill corn on a chullah, which is a wood-fired stove that is traditionally used in the region. Then, it’s time to take our seats and enjoy our spoils, overlooking the Aravalli mountains.

One final thing – last year, The Leela Palace, Udaipur, launched ARQ at Pichola, a bespoke collection of ultra-luxury villas. Each is, as I can attest, a truly private and luxurious sanctuary.

Jessica was a guest of The Leela Palace. Nightly rates at The Leela Palace, New Delhi start from £250, Jaipur £250, Udaipur £650, and from £2,686 a night for a one-bedroom villa at Arq at Pichola. Offer rates for The Leela Palace Trail are also available. Visit theleela.com for details.

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

Luxury ice experiences

1. Icehotel, Sweden

Each year, Icehotel in Jukkasjärvi, northern Sweden, is created afresh from the ice and snow of the nearby River Torne. It has recently opened its doors for this winter. Guests arrive at Icehotel 36 in the 30-metre-long main hall, Cathedral Grove, home to a glistening forest of icy treetops stretching to the ceiling. In the ceremony hall, Echo, betrothed couples can say “I do”, while visitors are welcome to admire the majestic frozen artworks in the daytime. Among the most impressive this year is the full-scale and functioning grand piano carved out of ice, while in one of the art suites, British and French stonemason duo Peter Hobbs and Coralie Quincey have produced a wonderful work of art called Soap Bubbles.

If Swedish Lapland is a little too far to travel, the Icebar by Icehotel will soon be coming to London.

From SEK6,695 (£540) a night for an ice room, visit icehotel.com for more information.

2. Hotel Nesslerhof, Austria

Hotel Nesslerhof is a family-run, five-star luxury spa and ski retreat in the picturesque Alpine valley of Großarl in Austria. Here, the mountains form the serene backdrop for Hotel Nesslerhof’s transformative three-day ice-bathing and breath-work experience, led by expert Edith Aigner. It aims to “unlock a calmer mind, a stronger body and a deeper sense of presence”. Under expert guidance, guests will step into crystal-clear 6°C mountain water and harness the invigorating power of cold exposure, which is said to boost immunity, sharpen focus and strengthen resilience to stress. Guests will also engage in breath-work, mindful movement and yoga sessions inspired by the Wim Hof Method to reset the mind and body from the inside out.

From €942 per person for the two-night ice bathing and breath-work retreat, nesslerhof.at/en.

3. Arctic Bath, Swedish Lapland

Arctic Bath is an architecturally stunning floating sanctuary on the River Lule in Swedish Lapland, with six stylish cabins perched on the water and six on land. The hub of the retreat is the circular spa, which has multiple saunas, a cold plunge pool, hot baths and open-air relaxation spaces designed for stargazing or admiring the Northern Lights. Off the Map offers a three-night “Arctic Bath Indulgence” package that allows guests to take full advantage of the amenities to truly recuperate in both mind and body this winter. It includes private transfers, a floating cabin, gourmet Nordic dining and a choice of spa treatments – from lava-rock massages to guided cold-water immersions inspired by Arctic bathing traditions.

From £3,699 per person, excluding flights, offthemap.travel.

Luxury fire experiences

1. Gáldu Hotel & Spa, Finland

Gáldu Hotel & Spa is a new family-owned boutique retreat that has just opened in Finnish Lapland. The hotel is built to a traditional log-frame design, situated on the edge of the tranquil Urho Kekkonen National Park and minutes from the Saariselkä ski resort. Guests can enjoy elevated, treetop views of the surrounding forest from Gáldu’s two Signature suites, while all of the 29 rooms enjoy floor-to-ceiling windows, designed to make the most of the Arctic light. At the warm heart of the hotel lies Gáldu Spa, named after the Sámi word for “cold spring”. It is an authentic Arctic wellness sanctuary featuring three saunas, a warm pool, an outdoor Jacuzzi, and the signature cold plunge pool, after which the spa is named. Afterwards, guests can continue to unwind in the fireside bar.

From €700 a night in high season, galdu.fi.

2. Saltus, Italy

Saltus is a holistic sanctuary in the Dolomite mountains above Bolzano in Italy that is focused on wellness. The Alpine Hay Sauna is the centrepiece of its Forest Spa. Here, sun-dried mountain hay, rich in coumarin, a natural compound, releases a gentle, calming aroma that eases inflammation, relaxes muscles and deepens wellbeing. As the sauna warms, the scent of high-altitude meadows creates a sense of tranquillity. For those wishing to extend the experience, “hay beds” offer an inviting space to unwind and recharge. Alternate between the hay sauna, steam room, forest-view relaxation rooms and the outdoor infinity sky pool filled with mountain water.

From €502 a night, hotel-saltus.com.

3. Skýra Retreat, Finnish Lapland

Skýra Retreat in Finnish Lapland recently welcomed its first guests to the shores of Lake Norvajärvi, outside Rovaniemi. The Grande Suites are to be found in the restored 1950s village schoolhouse, surrounded by forest. Each has a private sauna and freestanding bathtub. Meanwhile, the spa is an open-air sanctuary inspired by the Finnish thermal cycle of heat, cold and rest. For a taste of Finnish culture, the Private Folklore Sauna treatment session is guided by a “sauna host”, weaving in traditional incantations, the ritual of greeting the löyly (steam), and ancient practices such as birch-whisking.

€1,452.50 per person, per night for the three-night Heart of Winter retreat from 9-16 February, skyraretreat.com

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

Flying Club is Virgin Atlantic’s loyalty rewards programme, letting you earn points when purchasing flights and holidays with the airline. There are other ways to earn points too, such as with the Virgin Atlantic Credit Card.

The system is similar to Avios points and British Airways, in that your accrued Virgin points can be put towards flights and holidays or to upgrade your seats to premium or upper class.

Virgin Atlantic has now boosted its offering with a new Flying Club reward scheme, where frequent flyers can earn 12,000 extra Virgin Points.

Tens of thousands of customers will qualify for the bonus scheme, known as High Five, from January 2026.

Here’s everything you need to know about how Virgin Atlantic’s Flying Club works, what you can get and who qualifies for the High Five bonus.

What are Virgin points?

Virgin points are the currency used in Virgin's loyalty programme. You can earn them when you fly with Virgin Atlantic or its partners, use the Virgin Atlantic Credit Card, or by spending with selected retailers.

You can also earn points on everyday spending via Virgin Red. Virgin Red is separate to Virgin Atlantic's Flying Club, but both let you earn Virgin points on qualifying spending. You can link the two accounts, to stack up the points.

You can also buy or exchange points, if you want to.

If you’re a Tesco Clubcard holder, you can get a further boost by swapping your Clubcard points for Virgin points. Other examples include exchanging one American Express membership rewards point for one Virgin point, or swapping 5,000 World of Hyatt points for 3,000 Virgin points.

What is Virgin Atlantic’s High Five reward?

The new High Five scheme launched in January 2026.

It means Flying Club members will earn a reward when they fly with Virgin Atlantic across five different years, consecutive or not.

All Flying Club members will get 12,000 Virgin points, regardless of whether they’re red, silver or gold members.

Flying Club red tier members will get an extra boost in return for their loyalty – they will be entitled to a 10% Virgin points bonus on all future flights, once they unlock the High Five award.

The scheme will be backdated to 1 January 2021, which means “tens of thousands” of members will get the bonus from January 2026, Virgin Atlantic says.

This is because some Flying Club members will have flown with Virgin Atlantic in the five calendar years since January 2021.

You will be able to track your progress via the Virgin Atlantic app from early 2026 and the reward will be automatically added to your Flying Club account once you qualify.

Virgin says a return saver reward seat from London to New York starts from 12,000 Virgin points in economy class and 16,500 in the premium cabin, although this is subject to availability and taxes, fees, and charges apply.

How to spend Virgin points

You can spend Virgin points when booking flights. Seats paid for with Virgin points are known as reward seats, and the price varies based on demand. You will also need to pay some money to cover taxes and fees for the flight.

To travel from London to New York, reward seats start at 6,000 points for economy, 10,500 points for premium and 29,000 points for upper class, Virgin Atlantic says. This example does not show the additional fees and taxes.

In December, MoneyWeek found a return trip from London Heathrow to New York on selected dates in February/March 2026 costs 12,000 points (Economy Classic) plus £277 in tax. This same flight in Economy Classic was priced at £484, or £374 for Economy Light.

You can also use your Virgin points to upgrade to a premium or upper class seat, depending on availability. Note you may need to pay the difference in any taxes and fees if you change cabins, using money.

You can also spend Virgin points with Virgin Atlantic Holidays or with other Virgin companies, such as Virgin Voyages, Virgin Hotels and Virgin Active. Points can also be used for treats, such as experiences or wines.

What are Flying Club tier points?

Flying Club tier points are different to Virgin points.

You earn tier points when you fly with Virgin Atlantic or its partner airlines, or book Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

As you progress through the tiers, you will be entitled to better rewards. Rewards can include free economy seat selection, premium check-in and priority boarding, extra checked baggage and even airport lounge access.

You'll start off in the 'red' tier, and can then climb up to ‘silver’ and ‘gold’, depending on how many tier points you accrue within a 12-month period.

If you reach silver or gold, you'll remain at that status for 12 months. If you don't re-qualify in that time, you'll drop down a tier and your tier points will reset.

For example, if you joined Flying Club on 1 January 2025 and accrued 400 tier points on 15 March 2025, you would become a silver member. You’d need to earn 400 tier points by 31 March 2026 to retain the silver status.

If the same traveller earned a further 600 tier points before 31 December 2025, they would become a gold member, as they’d have gained 1,000 tier points within the 12-month period.

To maintain gold status for another year, you’d need to earn 1,000 points within the 12-month renewal cycle. For example, if you reached 1,000 tier points on 20 October 2025, you’d need to earn a further 1,000 tier points between 21 October 2025 and 31 October 2026.

What benefits do Virgin Flying Club’s tier points offer?

Red rewards

Flying Club members automatically start at the red tier. You can gain Virgin points when you fly with the airline. The amount you will earn will depend on your booking class and the distance flown in miles, as well as your Flying Club tier status.

Meanwhile, you will earn two Virgin points for every £1 you spend on Virgin Atlantic Holidays.

You can pay for any available seat with Virgin points on Virgin Atlantic flights – although note you may need to pay in money for fees and taxes.

Other benefits include:

• Advanced economy boarding, letting you board first in economy

Silver rewards

Once you’ve reached the silver tier, you’ll be able to access more rewards, including:

• 30% bonus Virgin points when you fly with Virgin Atlantic
• Free economy seat selection seven days before travel for everyone on your booking, when flying with Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM
• Premium check in for everyone on your booking, regardless of cabin
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling when flying with Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM
• One extra checked bag (max 23kg)

Gold rewards

Virgin lists a wide range of perks for gold members. We highlight some of the top benefits below.

• 60% bonus Virgin points when you fly with Virgin Atlantic
• Free economy seat selection anytime before you travel for everyone on your booking (Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM flights)
• Upper Class Wing check in, with a guest, when flying from London Heathrow with Virgin Atlantic or Delta
• Upper Class check in for everyone on your booking, regardless of cabin
• Priority boarding
• Priority baggage handling when flying with Virgin Atlantic, Delta, Air France and KLM
• One extra checked bag (up to 23kg)
• One extra piece of hand luggage (up to 10kg)
• 2,000 Virgin Points on your birthday
• Access Virgin Clubhouses and shared lounges with a guest
• Access to Revivals lounge when arriving at London Heathrow
• A complimentary 12-month silver membership to a friend or family member.

If you renew your status, you'll get a reward voucher worth up to 150,000 Virgin points.

Hit 2,000 tier points in a membership year, and you'll get two more vouchers.

If you maintain gold status for 10 years in a row and earn 7,500 tier points on Virgin Atlantic flights, you will gain ‘Lifetime Gold’ status, and be able to enjoy all of the perks without needing to renew each year.

We explain the British Airways tier points system in a separate article.

How many tier points can you earn with Virgin Atlantic?

The amount of tier points you earn per flight depends on the booking class.

For example, in upper class, if you are in booking classes J, C, D or I, you'll get 200 tier points. This drops to 100 tier points for booking classes Z & G.

You can also get 100 in the premium cabin, if you're in booking classes W & S. If you're in Premium's H, K & P booking class, you can accrue 50 tier points.

Economy Delight customers, in booking class V, can earn 50 tier points, as can Economy Classic customers in L, U, M, Y, B & R.

Economy Classic customers in E, Q, X, N, O & A can get 25 tier points, as can Economy Light travellers, in booking class T.

Virgin says a red Flying Club member could achieve silver by making four return Virgin Atlantic Economy Delight flights, or one return Upper Class flight.

How do Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards work?

Virgin Atlantic Credit Cards are rewards credit cards which let you earn Virgin points on your spending. If you spend with Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Holidays, you get double the points.

There are currently two types – the Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card and the Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card.

Virgin Atlantic Reward Credit Card

• Earn 3,000 bonus points with your first card purchase, made within the first 90 days
• 0.75 Virgin points for every £1 spent on everyday purchases
• 1.5 Virgin points for every £1 spent directly with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays
• Get a flight upgrade or companion ticket if you spend £20,000 or more per year on purchases.

This card has no annual fee. It has a representative 26.9% APR (variable).

Virgin Atlantic Reward+ Credit Card

• Earn 18,000 bonus points with your first card purchase, if made within 90 days of taking out the card.
• 1.5 Virgin points for every £1 of everyday spending
• 3 Virgin points for every £1 spent directly with Virgin Atlantic or Virgin Holidays
• A flight upgrade or companion ticket if you spend £10,000 or more per year on purchases.

This credit card has an annual fee of £160, so you will need to make sure the benefits you gain outweigh the charge.

The card has an APR of 26.9% (variable) but, taking into account the £160 per year fee, the representative APR is 69.7% APR (variable) assuming £1,200 borrowed.

We compare the top credit cards for cashback in a separate piece.

The Aurora Borealis will be at its most striking in 2026. This remarkable natural light display in the sky, otherwise known as the Northern Lights, is caused by solar winds made up of charged particles interacting with Earth’s atmosphere. The sun will be entering a “solar maximum” next year, so the solar winds will be at their most powerful in over a decade. That means more vivid colours in the night skies and the further north you go (or south if you find yourself in the southern hemisphere), the better the experience.

The best places to see the Northern Lights

1. Svalbard, Norway

Norway’s Svalbard archipelago is situated at 78 degrees North, which is well within the Arctic Circle. That makes it the ideal location from which to view the Northern Lights. The polar night season runs from October to February and this is the best time to look out for the Lights, as this is when the sky is darkest – the perfect foil for their vivid colours, which are at their most impressive against a backdrop of snow-covered mountains and frozen fjords.

Travel operator Basecamp Explorer has three lodges located around Spitsbergen, the largest and only permanently populated island in the archipelago. Its “Chasing the Northern Lights” expedition is a four-night adventure, based at Basecamp Hotel in Longyearbyen, which combines dog sledding and ice-cave exploration with hunting for the Northern Lights, guided by experts.

From NOK24,990 (£1,850) per person in January and February 2026 and resuming the following October. Visit basecampexplorer.com for more information.

2. Swedish Lapland

“Witnessing vast, natural phenomena such as the Aurora can lower stress, improve mood and foster emotional restoration,” says Visit Sweden – just what’s needed after a busy festive season. The Northern Lights are visible in the country up to 200 times a year and the village of Abisko, in Swedish Lapland, is consistently ranked among the best places on Earth to view the phenomenon, thanks to its clear skies and microclimate. The peak of the solar cycle makes this a great time to visit.

Operator Lights Over Lapland offers up to eight guests the chance to explore Abisko at their own pace, with a guide, from one of two beautiful homes in the village. Naturally, guests have access to their own private sauna and by day they are free to choose whichever activities they want to do, such as dog sledding, ice fishing, or going on a snowmobile tour. At night, the Aurora Borealis puts on its mesmerising show.

SEK79,995 (£6,445) a night, lightsoverlapland.com.

3. Aino, Finland

Aino is a private island near the town of Rovaniemi in northern Finland. Guests stay in beautifully designed River Suites on the island, which combine comfort and privacy with the surroundings of the winter wilderness outside. The “Arctic Serenity Escape” offered by operator Off the Map includes a thrilling “Husky Forest Escape” – an authentic self-drive sledding adventure along peaceful woodland trails. There are also relaxing outdoor hot-tub and wood-fired sauna sessions, eco-friendly electric-snowmobile adventure, the chance to meet reindeer, scenic snowshoeing and, to cap it all off, dinner served by your own private chef beneath the shimmering Northern Lights.

£10,499 for four nights, excluding flights. Visit offthemap.travel.

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The best UK Christmas markets

Edinburgh: Princes Street Gardens

Few cities put on a Christmas and New Year show as spectacular as Edinburgh’s. The hub of the festivities is in East Princes Street Gardens, where you can get a bird’s-eye view from the LNER Big Wheel of the stalls selling festive treats. For a more dizzying view, you could take a ride on the World Starflyer fairground ride or the helter-skelter.

In West Princes Street Gardens, you will find more rides, live music and food and drink to enjoy against the enchanting backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. Meanwhile, the wee bairns can call in on Santa before he sets off on his errands. On George Street, there is an ice rink and an ice bar. But if you find you can no longer feel your fingers, head over to the Winter Warmers Zone for mulled wine and hot chocolate.

Until 4 January, edwinter fest.com

London: Hyde Park Winter Wonderland

Hyde Park Winter Wonderland has returned to the capital, and this year it is better than ever. This Christmas-market-meets-theme-park has over 150 rides and attractions for visitors of all ages. You can hop aboard a big bauble to be taken around a colossal Christmas tree, or slope off to the Après-Ski Party Funhouse.

Be sure to visit the Magical Ice Kingdom, where the sculptures, including giant trolls and a fiery phoenix, have been carved out of 500 tonnes of snow and ice. You can also skate on the ice rink, stroll down Candy Cane Lane and stop for a stein of beer, bratwurst and live music at the Bavarian Village.

Entry is free, except for busier times when entry costs up to £7.50. Tickets also have to be bought for some attractions. Various packages are available. Until 1 January, visit hydeparkwinterwonderland.com for details.

Bath: Christmas Market

There is still just enough time to nip down to Bath Christmas Market. The festive fair, now in its 25th year, has already proved popular, but that was to be expected given the Georgian city’s status as a Unesco World Heritage Site and its reputation for putting on a Christmas market that would have delighted Jane Austen, its most famous former resident, whose 250th birthday is on 16 December.

So, join the revellers in the glow of the Christmas lights from 250 chalets, selling all manner of local goods, food and drinks. The spectacular “Bath on Ice” ice rink is open until 4 January and the No 1. Royal Crescent museum is putting on a number of themed events in the run-up to Christmas.

Bath Christmas Market runs until 14 December, visit bathchristmasmarket.co.uk.

All about Christmas

• The best Christmas markets in Europe to visit this winter
• The best luxury Christmas hampers to buy
• The best Christmas wines to buy this festive season
• Where to look for Christmas gifts for collectors

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Montreux Christmas market, Switzerland

The Christmas market in Montreux, Switzerland, is one of the most beautiful in Europe. It is also one of the most fun. Shoppers can find everything in the 170 chalets along the shores of Lake Geneva, from locally made gifts to food and drink. Chillon Castle, a magnificent medieval edifice, has been festooned in lights, and there are interactive games to play, such as digitally transforming yourself into an elf and a virtual reality experience in which revellers are “transported” to Santa’s village. But visitors don’t have to travel that far to find the man himself. Father Christmas will be at home at Santa’s House at the summit of Rochers-de-Naye, at an altitude of 2,042 metres. To get there, you can take a wonderful cogwheel train ride and enjoy the spectacular mountain views along the way. In the evenings, Santa takes to his sleigh and flies across the sky.

The Forfait Montreux Noël package, from Montreux-Vevey Tourisme, costs CHF 107 (£100) per person and includes a night in a hotel, a restaurant voucher and the Montreux Riviera Card. Visit montreuxriviera.com for details. The market runs until 24 December.

Liseberg Christmas market, Sweden

On Lucia Day, 13 December, women wearing crowns of lit candles and clad all in white in the guise of Lucia drive away the winter darkness across Sweden and other parts of Scandinavia, bringing light to the festive season. But if there is one place that’s never short on light, it’s Sweden’s second city. Gothenburg’s Liseberg julmarknad (Christmas market), which is 25 years old this year, is lit up with around five million fairy lights and some 1,300 Christmas trees. A story is told through the medium of a light display in Hamnområdet (the harbour area), and there are various winter markets, including a Tyrolean market with live music, and an “Old-Fashioned Christmas” market, selling traditional Swedish treats. Meanwhile, fun and games for children can be had in “Santa’s Village”.

Until 22 December, visit liseberg.se/en.

Vilnius Christmas market, Lithuania

Vilnius is the official European Capital of Christmas 2025, and this year it is celebrating not one Christmas, but two. On 13 December, the Lithuanian city will be marking “Vilnius Christmas Before Christmas”, a one-day celebration to help “visitors experience the holiday season with the same joy and wonder as if they were five years old again”. Revellers will be able to buy festive treats with a “special Christmas currency” and send postcards to anywhere in the world for free on that day. There will also be a 200-strong choir singing carols, 144 uniquely decorated fir trees on display at the new International Christmas Square in Konstantinas Sirvydas Square in the heart of the Old Town and free guided tours of the city.

Christmas and New Year’s celebrations will be held until 6 January, visit govilnius.lt/christmas-in-vilnius-2025.

Wonderland Lisboa Christmas market, Portugal

Lisbon sees itself as “a sunny alternative to traditional winter markets”. So, naturally, Cirque du Soleil will be performing its OVO, a “colourful celebration of life” in the Portuguese capital from 25 to 28 December.

Meanwhile, in Parque Eduardo VII, a giant Ferris wheel, ice rink and Christmas market has been set up for “Wonderland Lisboa”, now in its tenth year. Visitors can shop for gifts and indulge in local festive fare up until 4 January. On 27 December, the city holds its annual Corrida de São Silvestre, a 10k road race during which runners pass along some of Lisbon’s most famous streets, lit up with Christmas lights. And on 31 December, the city bids farewell to 2025 with live music and fireworks on the banks of the Tagus at Terreiro do Paço, while at the Royal Palace, a glamorous bash will welcome in the new year in style.

Tickets from €60. See visitlisboa.com for details.

Christmas Street on Aleksanterinkatu, Finland

Christmas Street on Aleksanterinkatu has opened for business in the Finnish capital. Nearby Esplanade Park has also been illuminated with its trees and walkways twinkling with lights. On 13 December, Lucia Day, Helsinki anoints its own Lucia with a crown of candles, who will lead a procession from the cathedral and through the city centre. The festival of lights reaches its climax in the new year with “Lux Helsinki” (4-8 January), which will see landmarks across the city lit up in a spectacular light show. Meanwhile, the Helsinki Christmas Market in Senate Square, one of the best in Europe, runs until 22 December and Manta’s Christmas Market runs until 6 January.

Visit myhelsinki.fi for details.

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Madikwe Game Reserve, located in the north of South Africa, on the border with Botswana, lies awake in the predawn. It is no longer night, but neither is it yet day, when the temperature will soar. It is in this between-time that the lions hunt.

I close the door to my bedroom, one of five around a courtyard in the former farmhouse in which I am staying, and I make my way to the kitchen. There, Emile, our bush guide, tells me around the table that he heard a lion’s call not far from where I had been sleeping a short while ago.

He hands me a cup of coffee and I inspect the map of the game reserve with pins in it to mark out which animals we have spotted on previous game drives.

Madikwe covers 75,000 hectares of diverse terrain – grassland, scrub, woods, a river and the rugged Rant van Tweedepoort ridge, where the wild dogs roam. Pins point out the elephants, hippos and white rhinos we have seen, not to mention the zebras, waterbucks and warthogs too numerous to record.

It’s time to get in the converted Land Rover Defender and make our way into the bush proper, beyond the electric fence that rings Morukuru Farm House.

There is a chill in the air and a strong, musky, almost animal smell that will dissipate when the sun rises in an hour or so. A bolt-action rifle sits in its cradle at the front of the vehicle – a legal requirement. Just in case.

An encounter with a rhino

We are not far out of the gates when Emile stops the car. He and Levi, our tracker, inspect something in the mud. It’s a paw print – a leopard’s and fairly fresh. They look up to the hills and decide that’s where the leopard has gone.

We drive on and the zebras are alarmed. “Something” must have happened here not long ago in this area, Emile theorises. The other animals we come across are also on edge and I scan the tall grass for a pair of skulking shoulders, haunches like coiled springs, ready to pounce. But I see nothing.

We stop a little further on and Emile and Levi jump down to unhook the boot of the Land Rover. Moments later, we’re drinking “bush coffee” with Amarula and stretching our legs. Long-tailed monkeys are hanging out in the trees, oddly quiet.

I lack their vantage point but I, like the zebras, continue to stare at the tall grass, while Emile makes a quick reconnaissance of the area. Just in case.

The sun is now beginning to crest the high hills and ridge. It sparkles off the river a little way off from which three hippos peep out, their heads just above the water. A rare spot.

Driving on, we come across a rhino and her calf. She approaches us, not in anger but in curiosity. Emile tells us to be silent and the imposing giant comes to within metres of me, at the back of the car. Satisfied, she moves off into the bush, her baby trotting behind her.

We spot a pair of cheetahs, sitting tall, almost invisible, in the grass, hungry and looking for their next meal. They are shadowed by an opportunistic jackal that carefully keeps its distance. It is only when it becomes too hot to hunt that we find our lions.

These are not the ferocious beasts of my imagination, but a mother and son lying in the shade of a tree next to the airstrip. There is no snarling, no flashing of fangs. Just a pair of raised eyebrows to acknowledge our presence. “The game reserve is not a warzone,” Emile had explained the previous evening. “It is a peaceful place. But you have to respect it.”

The African sun oppresses both hunter and hunted in Madikwe. Now is the time when birds and animals of all sizes take advantage of the lazy hours to drink at the watering holes in relative safety. Inevitably, the truce must end and as the sun sets, it makes silhouettes of the dry, jagged trees.

Stick bread and stories by the fire

A camp fire has already been prepared when we arrive for our braai (barbecue). From up here, on the top of a steep hill, I can see the reserve for miles around – herds of zebras, a lone elephant reaching up into the branches with its trunk, as the last of the sun is snuffed out.

Emile and Rochane, our Morukuru hostess, teach us to make stokbrood (“stick bread” in Afrikaans) by wrapping dough around a long stick and holding it over the glowing embers of the fire. By the time we arrive back at Morukuru Farm House, the reserve lies quiet under a blanket of stars.

Every part of this upmarket and fully staffed Relais & Châteaux property is charming – from the mongooses scampering across the lawn next to the swimming pool to the waterbuck that keeps you company while you rinse off under your private, outdoor shower, and the antelope carpaccio served at dinner. But my favourite part of Morukuru Farm House is at the back of the property.

Here, a very stylish and long wooden observation deck juts out into the bush, with a kitchen and bar area, and even a spa treatment room. A watering hole has also been built just beyond the firepit. Shortly before it is time to leave for the airstrip to catch the 50-minute flight back to Johannesburg, I come here for one last look.

To my surprise, I find a huge male elephant drinking and we spend a few minutes – just he and I – observing one another before he strolls off back into the bush. It is the perfect way to say farewell to Madikwe.

Chris was a guest of Relais & Châteaux and Morukuru Family, which comprises three properties. Around £4,050 a night in January for the five-bedroom Morukuru Farm House.

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Nothing says Christmas like a panoply of lights, a mug of hot cocoa and festive decorations, as I discovered last December when I stayed at Villa d’Este on Lake Como in Italy. The hotel, located in the small town of Cernobbio, northwest of Como, was originally built in 1568 as a summer residence.

In 1873 it was transformed into a hotel, capturing a timeless elegance that it has preserved to this day. Think antique furnishings, opulent chandeliers and marble bathrooms.

The property comprises 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens, fronted by the famous lake. While Villa d’Este is a popular retreat in summer, especially among celebrities and the well-heeled, the magic really unfolds in winter, against the backdrop of the Italian Alps.

The hotel opened its doors in winter for the first time in 2022 to mark its 150th anniversary and it has continued to do so every year. Each winter, Villa d’Este hosts a Christmas soirée, and last year it was transformed into a winter wonderland through its extravagant décor, delicious food and warm hospitality.

I stayed in an elegant “Junior Suite Lake View Deluxe”, which, as the name suggests, has large windows that look out onto the water. The suite is spacious, with a separate living-room area, bedroom, a large bathroom and a walk-in wardrobe.

Truffles are on the menu in winter

When it comes to food, Italy excels at doing the simple things brilliantly and nowhere was this more evident than in the penne arrabbiata I enjoyed at the nearby Harry’s Bar (mains cost around €30).

The restaurant, a ten-minute walk from the hotel, is affiliated to Villa d’Este and it has been serving authentic homemade food for almost 80 years. It must be doing something right, because at lunchtime, the restaurant was full of locals.

Within Villa d’Este itself, there is the Grill restaurant, which is open between April and October; Il Patinto, open during the summer; and the Veranda, which is open year-round. All of the food I tried during my stay was excellent, especially the fried courgettes.

Otherwise, it is the truffle that takes centre stage at Villa d’Este in winter. The menu offers white truffle tagliolini, and you can even have truffle with your eggs at breakfast. In Italy, the season for eating truffles runs from the end of October to early January.

A boat trip on Lake Como

For the warmer months, the hotel has an outdoor swimming pool that floats on the edge of the lake – the first of its kind. But there is also an indoor pool as part of Villa d’Este’s sports centre.

Here, you will find plenty to keep you busy during your stay – a golf club, a 24-hour gym and eight tennis courts. Regardless of the weather, I recommend taking the boat tour on Lake Como. The boat is heated and a guide points out the various landmarks and homes of celebrities located along the waterfront.

During the day, you might enjoy, as I did, a 90-minute facial at the Beauty Maison spa. The specialist talked me through the various steps for looking after my skin and afterwards, my skin felt rejuvenated. I still follow the advice.

As for the evenings, they are filled with live music at the hotel’s bar or at the jazz club, which has a speakeasy vibe. The latter is a winter-only gem, too, running between November and January.

The “Chocolate Room”, dedicated to Italian chocolate, made in-house by Villa d’Este’s chefs, is another highlight of the winter season. If there’s one thing I would go back for, it would be to enjoy the views on beautiful Lake Como, while tucking into fresh panettone.

Villa d’Este this Christmas

This festive season promises to better than ever at Villa d’Este, writes Chris Carter. Guests can enjoy the views on Lake Como as they would in summer from the extended, glass-fronted Lake Terrace. The ornate interiors of the Sala Colonne have also been transformed into this year’s Chocolate Room for delicious, artisanal sweet treats.

A series of “wine dinners” provide the opportunity to learn about world-famous wines, including Domaine de la Romanée-Conti on 18 and 19 December.

The menu for the “Christmas Eve Dinner” has been designed to be indulgent and modern, while lunch on Christmas Day will be a more “convivial” affair, focused on Italian culinary traditions and local specialities. Meanwhile, at the jazz club, acclaimed artists Karima and Gegè Telesforo will take to the stage.

This winter, luxury skincare brand Biologique Recherche Beauty Maison also returns to Villa Malakoff, an elegant 19th-century lakeside villa in the grounds. Guests are invited to indulge in a VIP Soin Oxygénant treatment – a 90-minute “ritual” to restore the skin’s vitality and radiance in time for the party season.

Vaishali was a guest of Villa d’Este on Lake Como. From €1,300 for a Double Classic Room per night, including breakfast.

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Whether you’re drawn to the slopes for the exhilarating red and black runs, the chance to dine with spectacular mountain views, or the opportunity to unwind in some of the world’s best hotels, there’s something magical about a ski holiday.

But in the past few years, things have changed. Once considered seasonal mountain retreats, ski resorts are now positioning themselves as year-round sanctuaries for alpine living.

It also means more buyers are looking at real estate opportunities in these ski resorts. According to the latest Savills Ski Report, average prime property prices across ski locations have surged by 150% over the last two decades, since the report’s inception.

While Switzerland’s ski property market is the most stable with 94% growth over two decades, demand in the US has skyrocketed, particularly in the last ten years.

North America now hosts the most ski visitors – 61.5 million in 2024/25, according to the National Ski Areas Association. This represents a 1.7% increase year-on-year.

But looming climate change has led to increasingly volatile snowfall patterns and prolonged dry spells, posing a threat to the winter sport enjoyed by many Brits and holidaymakers around the world.

However, some skiing hotspots have shown resilience. We take a look at which resorts rank highly for altitude and snow retention capabilities.

The most resilient luxury ski resorts in the world

What makes a ski resort resilient? According to the Savills Resilience Index, the top five ski resorts have the answer: high altitudes and the ability to maintain consistent snow coverage, which ultimately extends the ski season.

We reveal the top 20 ski resorts that are best equipped to weather the storm, below.

Source: Savills Ski Report

Claiming the top spot is the Vail Ski Resort in Colorado, US. It’s consistently ranked among the world’s top ski destinations thanks to 285 inches of snow, a five-month season, and high elevation.

Other notable ski resorts include Mont Tremblant in Québec, Canada, which recorded snowfall levels 35 inches above average, gaining five extra days of snow. As a result, it jumped 26 places to the 17th position this year, despite a relatively modest altitude.

Switzerland’s dominance reveals a mixed picture. While Zermatt rose to second place, other resorts, such as St. Moritz and Crans Montana, experienced a significant decline due to climate volatility.

Another strong region is France, particularly the ski resorts in higher altitude areas such as Val Thorens, La Plagne and Tignes. All of these benefit from late-season snowfall, but it was Val d’Isère which emerged as a standout performer. The ski resort in the French Alps climbed into the top three thanks to around 368 inches of snow – the result of an intense snowstorm in April this year.

Kelcie Sellers, associate director, Savills World Research, says: “The 2024–25 ski season underscored the growing importance of altitude, geographic positioning and snow retention capabilities in determining resilience.

“While some destinations capitalised on favourable conditions and strategic advantages, others struggled with declining snowfall and increasing climate volatility. As the industry looks ahead, the ability to adapt to changing weather patterns and invest in sustainable infrastructure will be key to maintaining long-term viability.”

The top ski resorts to buy prime property

Ski resorts command some of the highest asking prices for prime real estate – residential properties priced above €750,000 – due to sustained demand and limited availability.

Alpine living, access to clean air and nature, outdoor sports, and opportunities for remote working all contribute to buyers looking for a second home that can be both a place of work and recreation.

This has resulted in average prime prices rising by 150% in two decades. Some areas have seen even greater growth, such as Aspen, St Moritz and Courchevel 1850, where prime prices have risen by an average of 200% since 2006.

We look at the top prime ski resorts with the highest asking price per square metre.

Source: Savills Research, based on properties with asking prices greater than €750,000 with the exchange rate as of August 2025.

*Courchevel includes Le Praz, 1550 and 1650.

No1 Lounges launched Clubrooms, its most exclusive, premium airport lounge, at Heathrow Terminal Three in April 2025. I’ve experienced the No1 Lounge and its hearty buffet while at the terminal in the past (see our guide on how to get airport lounge access for less) but this was my first time at Clubrooms, situated next door.

After a frustrating and tedious trek to the airport, battling public transport issues, Clubrooms was the perfect ticket for taking a peaceful moment for myself before jetting off. I arrived into an oasis of calm, and was shown to a foliage-filled seating area in the orangery, overlooking the airfield.

I visited early in the afternoon, and the room was filled with natural light. The comfortable seating areas were more private and superior to many of the other lounges I’ve experienced. – Clubrooms is divided up into separate spaces, creating more of an exclusive atmosphere. Aside from the view of the runway and the handily positioned departures board, I could have been out for lunch in the City, rather than one of the world's busiest airports.

Food and drink at Clubrooms

Finally able to sit back and see if I can spot my plane, it was time to toast to the trip. With all kinds of classics on the complimentary Clubrooms cocktail menu, it seemed apt to try a tipple. I swapped my cappuccino for an espresso martini – it was 5pm somewhere after all. There’s an extensive wine list too, including fizz, and if you fancy something even more special, champagne starts at £12 a glass.

With the luxury of hosted table service, Clubrooms guests can peruse the à la carte menu – from lighter bites to hearty mains like lasagne al forno and roast chicken breast. I opted for the soup of the day – red pepper and tomato – but the bacon, brie and caramelised red onion ciabatta seemed popular.

You can also help yourself to treats like shortbread, biscuits, brownies, nuts and olives at your leisure, and pair them with soft drinks from the fully-stocked fridge. Here, you’ll also find an assortment of teas, the self-service coffee machine, plus a selection of syrups.

The private seating areas are enjoyed by business trippers and holidaymakers alike. “Travelling for work would be a lot harder without a lounge like this,” a fellow guest, on his seventh long-haul trip in almost as many months, told me.

Clubrooms is intended to be an adults-only setting – although if your teens are travelling with you, rest assured children over 12 are allowed. The lounge also boasts free, unlimited WiFi and charging points, so you can catch up on emails or even develop your next business idea while you wait for your gate to be announced.

Delay cover at No1 Lounges

I almost didn’t want to leave, and thanks to an issue with my airline, I didn’t need to for hours. Guests who book directly with No1 Lounges get exclusive Guaranteed Delay Cover – letting you stay relaxed in the lounge until you can fly. The disappointment of the delay dissipated somewhat, relaxing with a couple of cocktails in Clubrooms instead of dragging out an afternoon, camped by a plug socket in an chaotic airport coffee shop.

In my opinion, Clubrooms is a great option for travellers seeking a more exclusive airport lounge. If you aren't flying in business class, Clubrooms means you can still enjoy a pre-flight premium experience, plus, the delay cover, available for direct bookings only, is hugely appealing in case of travel disruption.

Jessica was a guest of Clubrooms at Heathrow T3. Prices start from £48. Dragonpass, Priority Pass or Lounge Key can get access for an additional fee.

Prices are from £38 at No1 Lounge at Heathrow T3 and £36 at My Lounge at Heathrow Airport T3.

Which area of commerce has grown almost twice as quickly as the global economy over the past 50 years – and is set to continue to do so? The answer is air travel. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) reveals that growth in commercial air travel, as measured by passenger miles, has outstripped global economic expansion by a factor of 1.7 since the 1970s, despite shocks such as the 9/11 terrorist attack on New York, the global financial crisis and Covid. IATA predicts growth of 3.4% a year over the next 15 years.

If that record and outlook doesn’t pique investors’ interest, perhaps estimates of the need for 42,000 new aircraft globally over the next 20 years will get their attention. The airline sector is at least 2,000 aeroplanes short of the total fleet size it needs, says the consultant McKinsey: manufacturers slowed production during Covid and have not caught up. The market is thought likely to remain undersupplied for a decade, according to Greg Belonogoff, a principal at AB CarVal, owned by the investment manager AllianceBernstein.

That might suggest investing in aircraft manufacturers, of which there are only really two global players, Europe’s Airbus and Boeing in the US. But there is a potentially more interesting – and wide-ranging – opportunity. McKinsey’s analysis suggests investments in aircraft leasing have consistently outperformed in recent years.

Most airlines these days prefer to lease new aeroplanes as they maintain and expand their fleets, rather than buying them outright. The latter option ties up too much balance-sheet funding in businesses that want to focus on operations, rather than large capital investments. Accordingly, aircraft leasing finance is now a fast-growing asset class.

Investing in aircraft leasing offers a stable income

From investors’ perspective, aircraft financing is a relatively simple concept. A leasing company raises money through a combination of equity – selling its shares to investors – and debt from a finance provider such as a bank. The company uses this money to buy aircraft, which can then be leased to airlines.

Over the term of the lease, some of the income the firm receives from the airline covers the cost of debt repayments – finance is usually “amortised”, meaning the lessor makes both interest and capital payments. What’s left of the lease income can then be used to fund regular and predictable distributions to shareholders.

Debt repayments are structured so that by the end of the lease, the lessor will usually own the aircraft outright. It can then try to re-lease the aircraft – to the same airline or one of its peers; or more typically, it can sell the aircraft on the second-hand market, with the proceeds distributed to investors.

As a result, investors in aircraft-leasing vehicles can look forward to regular, stable and often generous income payments, as well as a capital return later on. It’s an alluring mix of returns, all backed by a physical asset in the form of the aircraft.

“Think of aircraft leasing as being a bit like property with wings,” says Matthew Hose, a senior vice president at the investment bank Jefferies. “You’re earning an income from a physical asset, and when you’re ready, you’ll be able to generate a capital return too by selling the asset.”

One other attractive feature of this asset class is its low correlation with other assets that investors will have in their portfolios. Returns move almost entirely independently of what’s happening on global stock markets, for example, but there is also little connection with the investment performance of other alternative assets, such as infrastructure and property. That makes aircraft leasing particularly valuable as a tool for managing risk. It provides investors with a means to achieve genuine diversification in their portfolios.

“Even when markets are volatile, the aircraft leasing sector is more or less stable,” says Belonogoff. “If you go back to the drama around Liberation Day back in April, the airline stocks saw some sharp sell-offs, but the listed aviation lessors just carried on; in our view, the uncorrelated nature of these assets is very attractive and has proved itself over several decades.”

The aircraft leasing sector is far from foolproof

That’s not to suggest this is a risk-free investment. Airlines can – and do – go bust, in which case they will default on the lease. Failures can leave the lessor scrambling to find a new airline to rent its aeroplanes, while trying to stay on top of its debt repayments. It may be forced to sell the aeroplane to keep its lenders happy, with no guarantees about the price it will get, particularly as the sort of climate in which airlines go bust is the sort of climate that isn’t supportive of the value of aircraft in the second-hand market.

“The key for lessors is to balance assets and liabilities very carefully,” says Hose. “Ideally, they want to lease to high-quality airlines with strong finances, but the quality of the asset – the aircraft – is understandably important too.” One debate for lessors is whether to concentrate on the really large wide-bodied aircraft, which cost more and where shortages are particularly acute, or on narrow-body aeroplanes, where the market is more liquid.

Similarly, investors can’t rely on a significant payday at the end of the investment cycle; that will depend on the state of the second-hand market at the time the fund is trying to sell its aircraft. Right now, the market looks healthy, with airlines desperate to get their hands on more aeroplanes to meet increasing demand from passengers. But the lesson of recent times is that a shock to the global travel sector is always possible. Even an economic slowdown might reduce demand, and thus the value of aeroplanes.

Movements in interest rates can also affect returns. Higher debt costs will mean less lease income to pass on to investors, even if airlines can be made to share in the pain. Some lessors also take on mezzanine debt, which isn’t repaid during the lease’s lifetime; that borrowing must be repaid from aircraft sales before the proceeds are made available to investors.

Nevertheless, this is an asset class with an enduring long-term appeal. “After all the big shocks to the system, demand has come back and we’ve kept moving forward,” says Belonogoff. Rising demand “means we need more aircraft coming into the industry and that requires more financing; lessors are also playing a bigger role because most airlines are moving away from owning their aircraft to leasing them”.

Investment opportunities in aircraft leasing – where to look now

One way to get exposure is to buy shares in aircraft leasing companies. It’s not a huge sector of stocks, but does include US-listed AerCap (NYSE: AER), the world’s largest aircraft lessor. BOC Aviation (Hong Kong: 2588) is Asia’s number-one player, while European aircraft leasing companies include Avation (LSE: AVAP) of the UK. Dublin remains the world’s biggest centre of aircraft finance, with most public and privately owned lessors maintaining a presence in the Irish capital.

Investing this way isn’t pure-play aviation finance: investors are buying equities rather than the underlying asset class, so they may not get all the diversification benefits that the latter offers. But shares in these firms do act as a proxy for aviation finance.

An alternative is the investment-trust industry, through which a number of investment managers have sought to democratise aviation finance in recent years. There are currently three funds to choose from, though Doric Nimrod Air Three (LSE: DNA3), the oldest of the three, is nearing the end of its life. It is due to liquidate during the first half of 2026, having recently sold its four aircraft to Emirates for $180 million.

Elsewhere, DP Aircraft 1 (LSE: DPA) was launched a few months after Doric Nimrod, in 2013, but ran into major problems during Covid, when Thai Airways and Norwegian Airlines, to which it had let its aeroplanes, both hit financial trouble. That saw the fund plunge in value, although it has recovered recently, particularly as Thai has emerged from bankruptcy.

The fund now owns two aeroplanes, both leased to Thai Airways until 2026, and has recently announced that these aircraft will be re-leased to Poland’s LOT Airlines for a further 12 years. It is in the process of renegotiating its financing arrangements, which will determine how much of the $168 million of payments it expects to earn from LOT will be available to distribute to investors.

The third aircraft leasing investment trust is Amedeo Air Four Plus (LSE: AA4). It is the largest such fund by some distance, but also the most complex. It owns eight aeroplanes leased to Emirates, with the leases due to expire between 2026 and 2028; the fund is widely expected to sell these aircraft to Emirates, with investors taking encouragement from Doric Nimrod’s recent deal with the airline, which was completed at an unexpectedly high price.

In addition, the fund owns four aircraft leased to Thai Airlines until 2035 and 2036. But these aren’t producing significant income for shareholders because the lease agreements were struck during Covid, when rates were under pressure. The income from these aeroplanes is therefore required to service the fund’s borrowings.

The additional complexity with Doric Nimrod is that it has a chunk of mezzanine debt that will eventually need to be repaid from aeroplane sales. That leaves it unclear whether investors will see a return of capital. Nevertheless, the fund has its supporters. For example, broker Panmure Liberum issued a buy recommendation earlier this year, setting a target price of 66p; the shares trade at 62p. “Second-hand aircraft market conditions remain positive,” says Panmure Liberum’s Gerald Khoo. Demand for travel “continues to grow, with demand resilient in the face of economic and geopolitical uncertainty and volatility”.

That might persuade more investment trusts to come to market in this sector. Some analysts expect to see more fund launches over the next year or so, particularly given current heightened demand for private assets. And that could be to investors’ benefit. “The aircraft-financing model is now a proven one,” says Jefferies’ Hose. “Lessors have shown they can execute on the model.” Retail investors just need more opportunities to take advantage.

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You’d almost miss Middle Eight amid the hustle and bustle of Covent Garden, whether you’re visiting the famous Christmas lights at The Piazza or catching a matinee in the West End.

This luxury hotel is located on Great Queen Street, just a stone’s throw from the Royal Opera House. It’s within easy walking distance of the British Museum, Soho’s artisan boutiques and art galleries, and Chinatown’s culinary delights. The site is built upon the foundations of the Kingsway Hall, a revered recording venue for the London Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Orchestra. Prior to that, it was a Methodist Church.

With a history that rich, it’s only fitting that the hotel pays a rather luxurious homage to its former resident — ‘middle eight’ refers to the part of a song that contrasts with the verses and choruses. Inside the restored building, the design takes it up a notch, playing to all senses. Olive-oak walls stretch through the public spaces with metallic sycamore leaves, gold and copper touches add warmth to the marble finish, and the ambient lighting gives an opulent feel.

The hotel has 180 rooms spread across five categories, but it’s the suites where the narrative truly stands out. Each of the 12 signature suites are named after songs with a famous middle eight. Mine was called ‘Changes’, honouring British legend and the late David Bowie’s famous song with the same title, from his 1971 album Hunky Dory. Changes was the last song Bowie performed on stage before passing away in 2016. Coincidentally, it was originally recorded not far from the hotel, at Trident Studios.

The space consists of four main living areas: the bedroom, bathroom, kitchen, and lounge. The suite has a stylish library wall with a great selection of books, some on the legacy of Ziggy Stardust, another by David Byrne of Talking Heads, and modern art and fashion guides.

The suite has a skylit bar that lights up the kitchen space, an eye-catching living moss wall with customisable lighting, an electric pebble fireplace, and a freestanding marble bathtub where you can relax and soak in the entire experience. Add to that a handcrafted cocktail from the kit in your private bar. It’s elaborate, yet relaxed.

Come evening, you’ll find a host of dining and entertainment options. Don’t miss Sycamore Vino Cucina, where executive chef Paul Robinson serves Italian-inspired dishes that pack a punch. The tomato bruschetta is colourful and flavoursome, while the crab linguine with black ink squid and Devonshire crab is a standout. It’s a menu that suits all palates.

Alternatively, guests can choose to dine upstairs at The Balcony for a leisurely lunch, perhaps even paired with cocktails. There’s also the QT Bar, a New York speakeasy-style basement bar with live jazz and cabaret performances, perfect for late-night adventures. The space hosts cinema screenings, fashion shows and private events.

London’s wide range of luxury hotels fills up the streets, but what sets Middle Eight apart is both its proximity and provisions. For first-timers in the capital, it can be an excellent base to visit landmarks like the London Eye and St. Paul’s Cathedral, or shop on the high street. Frequent visitors who want to relax in a single space will find the hotel’s many dining and entertainment options keep them busy. Either way, it strikes the right chord.

Oojal was a guest of Middle Eight in Covent Garden, London. Rates start at £224 per night. For more information, visit uk.hotels.com.

No matter how luxurious a hotel, sometimes there’s no substitute for the privacy, seclusion and flexibility of a country cottage. The problem is that simply renting a holiday let can mean giving up the “little things”, such as en-suite bathrooms with fresh bathrobes, leisure activities and proximity to a restaurant.

What’s more, if you don’t plan your stay carefully, you can find yourself in the middle of nowhere, miles from any point of interest. That can be a major problem, especially if, like me, you are travelling by train, rather than by car.

Stank House Farm offers the best of both worlds. It is one of three luxury cottages on the Devonshire family’s Bolton Abbey Estate in North Yorkshire that is available for short stays. It is a large former farmhouse, built in 1744, that is filled with everything you’d expect – and a lot more.

Even before I entered the cottage, I noticed a rack just outside filled with Wellington boots of various sizes – a thoughtful touch given the variability of the Yorkshire weather. Those who like walking will also appreciate that, in addition to cooking facilities, a fridge and a freezer, the large kitchen comes with a washing machine and dryer.

The dining room can seat up to ten people, which makes it ideal for larger groups. After you’ve eaten, you can relax in the well-furnished living room and watch television, or simply lounge in front of the fireplace that serves as the room’s main focal point.

The three double bedrooms are large and luxurious, each with beautiful views of the countryside. When I awoke in the four-poster bed, which fills the main bedroom, I felt like a country squire.

A splendid garden and hot tub

The garden is another highlight of the property. When I visited in mid-September, it was teeming with flora and fauna, from rabbits to mushrooms, and I even spotted a pheasant flapping its feathers.

However, the pièce de résistance is the hot tub. It is available anytime during the day without the need for preparation, and is situated in such a way that you can soak for hours, while enjoying a wonderful panorama of the Yorkshire Dales.

The cottage also feels refreshingly private. To get to Stank House Farm, you walk down a track from the main road, giving you a feeling of seclusion, while not being too far out of the way. But if you do find yourself craving a little outside company, The Devonshire Arms is a charming boutique inn, 15 minutes away.

It is also run by the Devonshire family. Those staying at the cottage can use the spa facilities, which include a gym and a swimming pool, as well as book spa treatments.

Being so close to The Devonshire Arms also gives you the option of dining at the hotel’s well-regarded brasserie restaurant.

I plumped for the signature and juicy “Devonshire Burger” with American-style Monterey Jack cheese and char siu pulled pork (£23). Given the location, I also ordered a “Devonshire 75” – the local take on the classic French cocktail, here made with Devonshire sparkling wine, Chatsworth gin and lemon juice.

Bolton Abbey is not to be missed

Considering the temptations to be indulgent at The Devonshire Arms, it is a good thing that there are so many opportunities in the area to walk it all off. Bolton Abbey is, naturally, one of the main local attractions and it is just a short stroll from Stank House Farm.

For around four centuries, the priory served as a working Augustinian monastery before being partially demolished when, along with other monasteries in England, it was closed in 1539.

However, a deal was struck at the time, which meant that what was left of the abbey was incorporated into the village church, still in use today. As for the well-preserved ruins themselves, they have become a major tourist attraction.

Walks, waterfalls and viewing points

The grounds of Bolton Abbey are known for the 62 stepping stones used by the lay workers to cross the River Wharfe. During the summer, they can still be used, but by the time I arrived in the autumn, they were completely submerged.

Still, you don’t have to get your feet wet. There is a bridge that connects the banks, and so I was able to spend an enjoyable day doing the 13 kilometre circular walk from Bolton Abbey to Barden Bridge.

I passed through some spectacular scenery, including the Strid, an area of rapids that is said to be one of England’s most dangerous stretches of waters, due to the network of caves that lurk underneath.

The waterfall named the Valley of Desolation and Simon’s Seat, a viewing point, are also worth visiting. While they require some dexterity and careful footwork to get to, the journey is well worth it, as the experience is not to be missed – rather like Bolton Abbey itself.

Matthew was a guest of Stank House Farm on the Bolton Abbey Estate. Stays at the cottage, which sleeps six, start from £1,464, based on a four-night stay.

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Cape Town is a cool city. Maybe that’s got something to do with the “Cape Doctor” wind that blows through South Africa’s Western Cape region and helps to keep a lid on temperatures in summer (our winter).

But it’s got a lot to do with the confidence of a city that feels both modern and progressive in an almost New World way, despite being located at the southern tip of the oldest of old continents.

This is a city with a burgeoning art and food scene, and the world-leading Stellenbosch wine region is easily reachable by taxi, about 90 minutes away. When I visited in September, Cape Town felt to me like a city with its eyes set firmly on the future.

None of this is to downplay South Africa’s problems – they are many and well-known. But the impression I came away with was one of optimism.

The art, the food and the wine elements come together at Ellerman House – an elegant Edwardian property in an upmarket neighbourhood west of the city centre, overlooking the South Atlantic. The popular white-sand Clifton Beaches are a ten-minute walk away.

I stayed in the second of the two modern villas, next to the main house at Ellerman House. My room, which had a stand-alone bathtub by the window, offered panoramic, almost blinding, views of the sun-dappled ocean in springtime.

Each of the villas comes with a chef, who tends to the kitchen/dining room upstairs, and here you will also find a terrace with a plunge pool and more fabulous sea views.

Follow the steps down from the villa, through the gardens, and you first pass the fine-dining restaurant Curate, then the spa, both on your left, while the main house is on your right, all the way down to the expanse of lawn at the bottom.

Along the way, you will encounter myriad artworks. So big has the owners’ collection grown that a gallery has been built in the grounds and a tour of the collection is both available and recommended.

At the far end of the lawn, you come to the heated outdoor pool with its stylised leopard statue. And then we go back up the steps to the west-facing terrace – an elegant spot for an evening cocktail with live music.

Through the doors behind you, you will find Ellerman’s main restaurant, OneEighty, with its menu focused on locally sourced and sustainable produce, enjoyed in a dining-room setting.

A percentage of the hotel’s profits go towards supporting the Click Learning Foundation. Established in 2012, the charity’s mission is to improve literacy in the townships across South Africa.

I visited one of the local schools benefiting from the programme, and the children were utterly absorbed in their tailored courses, delivered on computer tablets. I have never encountered such a quiet group of kids!

Bird’s-eye view of Cape Town

The best way to see Cape Town is by helicopter with Cape Town Helicopters. Only then can you take it all in – the majesty of Table Mountain, the city and the long slivers of golden coastline. It also certainly made for an entrance for lunch.

Patron chef Peter Tempelhoff, who runs the restaurant Beyond, part of the historic wine estate Buitenverwachting, in Cape Town’s Constantia Valley, was there to meet us.

After a truly superb multi-course lunch that used many of the herbs and succulents grown in the kitchen garden (six-course tasting menu £60), there was only one way to get back to the hotel in as much – if different – style as that in which we had arrived – on the back of Harley Davidsons.

Clinging to the back of a grunting machine of American muscle allows you to see the beautiful coastline up close, always keeping an eye out, of course, for Cape Town’s diminutive penguins.

That evening, we dined at another of Tempelhoff’s fine-dining restaurants. FYN Restaurant is a trendy and popular moody modern eatery in a basement in Cape Town’s Central Business District (CBD).

The Experience Menu blends African and Japanese flavours and takes for its inspiration elements of the land and sea around South Africa. Kapokbos (a shrub) and rooibos make an appearance alongside wagyu beef, following a dish of tender springbok and ostrich.

Fyn, “fine” in Afrikaans, is a play on “fine-dining”. But it also alludes to the fynbos (“finebush”) – the fine-leaved shrubs that cover parts of the Western Cape and the canvas from which Tempelhoff creates his culinary masterpieces (£95, add £80 for wine-pairing).

Vines also cover much of the region, as testified by the excellent wines served over dinner. So, a visit to Stellenbosch, the heart and soul of the region’s winemaking, was in order.

I stayed at Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa, an upmarket hotel owned by the British founder of luxury jewellers Graff Diamonds. Like Ellerman House and FYN Restaurant, it is a member of Relais & Châteaux, the international association of independent luxury hotels and restaurants.

At Delaire Graff, the landscape and vistas are simply stunning – a mixture of undulating hills and rocky mountains. At dusk, the light is particularly evocative. The hotel is very much a retreat and a visit to the spa is a must.

In other words, Delaire Graff is the ideal place to relax, whether in the high-end Japanese-inspired restaurant Hoseki, on the massage table or beside the infinity private pool at your modern and stylish bijoux villa – admiring the view, with a glass of something special.

Chris was a guest of Relais & Châteaux of which Ellerman House, Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa and FYN Restaurant are members. Rates at Ellerman House from £800 a night in the low season (May to the end of September). Rates at Delaire Graff Lodges & Spa from £1,320 a night.

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I barely noticed the turmoil in financial markets last April caused by Donald Trump’s “Liberation Day” tariffs. I was relaxing at Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives.

The US president’s trade war had set market traders’ pulses racing, but from my 152-square-metre beach-side villa with its own private pool, my heart rate never exceeded the normal resting pace of 60-100 beats a minute.

And while investors grappled with the shock waves, the waves I was dealing with brought in nothing more dangerous than the odd baby reef shark.

My time on the island was one of pure bliss. Kuda Villingili, a 30-minute speedboat ride from the capital of Malé and located just next to Chicken’s Break, a world-renowned surf point, is a very special place.

Being one of 50 small islands situated in the North Malé Atoll, the resort is made up of 75 villas – 39 on the beach and 36 built over the water – each one with its private pool and views of the Indian Ocean.

Every villa has been designed with “tranquillity in mind”, with floor-to-ceiling windows providing panoramic views of either the sunrise or sunset, depending on which side of the island you are housed, say the resort’s managers.

Meanwhile, the “interiors [are] of neutral tones, earthy textures and pops of vibrant blue celebrate the spectacular natural surroundings”.

The accommodation is indeed lovely. Rates for a sunset beach villa on a bed and breakfast basis, excluding taxes, start at around £1,200 a night.

Prices for the three-bed beachside retreats, meanwhile, begin at around £3,000 a night, with the houses sleeping up to nine people over two floors. They also come with three en-suite bathrooms, a fully furnished kitchen and dining room and an infinity pool.

Excellent restaurants to try

Quite why you might need a kitchen is not obvious as dining out is integral to life on Kuda Villingili. The island has seven restaurants, three bars and an exclusive whisky and cigar lounge offering one of the largest whisky and cognac collections in the Maldives.

At the island’s centre, situated below a sweet-smelling neem tree, is The Bar, which comprises three eateries – Med, Spice and East. Med opens for lunch and serves Italian and Mediterranean dishes, while Spice and East open for lunch and dinner, accompanied by live music.

Flame-grilled kebabs and charcoal tandoori are among the Indian-Middle Eastern inspired dishes on offer at Spice. East, meanwhile, serves up Thai, Korean and Chinese cuisine, including papaya salad, pad thai and dim sum.

In addition, there is The Restaurant in the northern part of the island, which has three dining rooms – Fire, an American steakhouse, Earth, which offers classic Asian dishes, and Ocean, serving up European-style seafood.

On Fridays, the whole space is taken up by the resort’s Maldivian night, with amazing regional food forming the backdrop for a night of mesmerising local music and dance. Breakfast also takes place at The Restaurant, which is a buffet-style affair with a selection of yoghurts, cheeses, cereals, cold meats and hot dishes on offer. I thoroughly recommend the dosas – thin, savoury crêpes that are a local favourite.

Mar-Umi is Kuda Villingili’s most recent addition to its roster of restaurants. It offers a fusion of Japanese-Peruvian cuisine, complete with its own theatrical teppanyaki (a flat iron griddle) experience.

Adventures on the water

Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives opened in 2021 and boasts the largest freshwater pool in the Maldives, spanning over 150 metres and surrounded by palm trees, sunbeds, and private shaded cabanas. There is additionally a shaded Jacuzzi, a lounge pool, and a separate child-friendly pool.

Water sports are conducted by third-party provider MSTS, who are based on the island. Diving and snorkelling excursions are an option, but the sunset dolphin cruise, which takes place on a traditional wooden dhoni boat, is a must. The dolphins can be shy, but they were out in full force during my voyage.

Back at the resort, the island offers two floodlit tennis courts, a state-of-the-art padel court, a fully equipped gym, a volleyball court and a futsal pitch (an indoor sport related to football). Facilities also include a nail and hair salon, two steam rooms and a wellness centre offering yoga sessions in a pavilion overlooking the ocean.

There are also spa treatment rooms and, on the day international markets tanked, I was treated to a 60-minute massage in one of the eight villas built over the water that are located on a separate island from the main Kuda Villingili resort accessed by a short wooden bridge.

While I listened to the waves gently rolling in beneath me, the massage squeezed out of my shoulders and back any lingering concerns I had about my Isa and pension being decimated by Trump’s trade war. And the choice of oils meant I literally came out smelling of roses, which is more than could be said of global markets at the time.

Chris was a guest of Kuda Villingili Resort Maldives. Rates start from $1,340 a night for a Sunrise Beach Pool Villa on a B&B basis in low season.

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The Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre is situated in the heart of the city’s financial district, between the old town and the best beaches Dubai has to offer.

Most of the hotel’s amenities can be found on the 18th floor of the Burj Daman building (the hotel occupies the 18th to the 55th floors), including the lobby and the Peacock Lounge with its mid-century styling and iconic clock – a feature of Waldorf hotels around the world. The hotel also has a state-of-the-art fitness centre, spa, a rooftop pool and the Bull & Bear restaurant, where I will be eating tonight.

Arriving at the Bull & Bear restaurant for dinner at eight, I’m shown to my table and my order is taken. I opt for the crab sandwich with citrus ponzu (a Japanese sauce) and vintage Baeri caviar, followed by the wild turbot, cooked on the bone à la Grenobloise, accompanied by a glass of prosecco.

The dessert is berries, yoghurt and black olives, a dish inspired by chef patron Marc Hardiman’s son, who he found one morning eating black olives with his muesli. Dinner comes to £126.

A tour of Dubai's street-food scene

One of the best ways to experience Dubai’s culture is by exploring the city’s diverse cuisine. So, I sign up for an early morning street-food tour with Nadair, from Frying Pan Adventures (from around £90). I meet Nadair outside the Falafel Sultan restaurant in the Deira district of Dubai.

We are shown how to make falafel, which are served straight from the pan, with a freshly made sauce of garlic, oil, lemon juice and salt, called toum. Next comes knafeh, which is a very popular dessert across the Middle East. It is made from ghee, Nabulsi cheese, shredded noodles and sugar syrup. I find it has quite an odd texture and taste; something akin to a sweet cheese on toast.

Our next stop is the Iraqi fish restaurant Miran Erbil. I sample masgouf (grilled carp), served with a popular combination of pickled vegetables (£20).

We round off our tour at Al Samadi Sweets (alsamadisweets.ae). We are offered homemade desserts from baklava to maamoul, a favourite Middle Eastern pastry filled with a selection of walnuts, dates and, my favourite, pistachio.

Also on the menu – I can’t not mention it – the latest craze in chocolate around the world: Dubai chocolate, a chocolate bar filled with pistachio and kataifi (a thin, stringy shredded filo dough). Yes, it tastes good, but I think it’s somewhat overhyped.

In search of the Arabian oryx

The Arabian Desert is less than an hour’s drive from Dubai and I embark on a “desert safari” in a 1950s Land Rover to see the stars and possibly spot Arabian oryx, scorpions, snakes and the elusive Arabian wildcat. My guide, Duncan from Platinum Heritage, picks me up in the evening and takes me to the transfer point outside the city.

On our arrival at the Dubai Desert Conservation Reserve, part of the Arabian Desert, I’m issued with a keffiyeh, a traditional headscarf, and I now feel strong enough to take on whatever the desert at night has to throw at me. We then head off into the desert.

After roughly 15 minutes, we pull over and start an hour’s trek into the wilderness, searching for wildlife. I see some oryx and very small scorpions, but no snakes or wildcats. We return to the Land Rover and drive to a Bedouin camp, gently lit with traditional lamps. This is where I will eat tonight.

Before then, however, I am given the opportunity to go for a short camel ride. Well, I’ve come all this way, so I’m not going to turn it down. After a very shaky mounting, I’m up and it’s a lot higher than I thought.

For about six minutes, the camel driver leads me around a small circuit, after which time I’ve had enough and I’m helped down. The camel driver then tells me very seriously that I haven’t actually been on a camel (two humps), but rather a dromedary (one hump).

Unfortunately, the sky is overcast that night so I don’t see any stars. However, Duncan gives an impromptu talk about how important the stars were for the Bedouin, who used to travel by night, using the stars to guide them.

At the end of the night, we transfer from the Land Rover to the car we arrived in and head back to the city. I arrive back at the hotel at half past midnight.

The Private Night Safari and Astronomy tour costs from £610 per vehicle. It’s recommended that you take something warm to wear for later on in the evening as the temperature in the desert can become quite chilly at night.

That said, when I was there, the temperature dipped to no less than 28°C. One word of caution – there are no roll bars on the Land Rovers and you do get thrown about a bit while riding in them.

Onwards to Abu Dhabi by yacht

The next morning, I visit Dubai’s relatively new J1 Beach to spend a couple of hours before it’s time to travel onwards to Abu Dhabi and I have taken the opportunity to get there by private yacht.

Departing from Dubai Marina, the journey takes just over an hour, although you may decide you want to take your time since you can rent the yacht by the hour. On board, I enjoy an ice-cold beer and snacks, included in the hire fee, as we glide over the Arabian Gulf. (From around £173 an hour.)

Kevin was a guest of Hilton Hotels. The Waldorf Astoria Dubai International Financial Centre costs from around £170 a night, on a room-only basis. Return flights to Dubai from London with British Airways cost from around £240, departing in March 2026.

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It was on a beautiful day in Pembrokeshire last spring when, driving past the carpets of bluebells and golden daffodils, and with the rolling Preseli Hills in the background, we arrived at our destination – a rustic country retreat called Grove of Narberth.

We hadn’t prepared ourselves to receive such a warm welcome as we did – croeso, as they say in Welsh.

It can sometimes be hard to make yourself feel truly at home when staying at a hotel, especially when the hotel is an award-winning residence with a Michelin Key in its pocket. But I needn’t have feared – Grove of Narberth made it happen.

The hotel is comfortable and modern without losing any of its character. You’ll notice that in the hand-pressed ferns on the walls, for example, and in the scent of rhubarb, Japanese spinach and strawberry mint wafting through the garden if you come in the right season, although the property is charming all the year round.

Every room, too, has its distinct and individual appeal. Mine had been a shelter in the original 15th-century longhouse. Today, it looks onto the gardens, which are especially lovely when in bloom.

Grove is also an ideal base from which to explore the natural beauty that Wales has to offer, starting with the rugged coastline and the string of beaches nearby.

While a stay here is very much about going at your own pace, guests are encouraged to explore the environs, whether that means hiking along the coast, visiting the 12th-century St. Davids Cathedral, or pondering the 5,500-year-old dolmen at Pentre Ifan. Incidentally, the bluestones used for Stonehenge in Wiltshire came from the nearby Preseli Hills.

You could even try your hand at a new water sport. As I discovered, riding the waves is not my strong suit, but you can at least recover from your exertions with a visit to the Wildwater Sauna – a cosy wood-fired retreat perched on the shore.

Otherwise, back at Grove, you can rinse off the salt and warm your toes in front of the fire before enjoying an evening of fine dining to calm your senses.

Great food made with local produce

At The Fernery, Grove’s fine-dining restaurant, executive chef Douglas Balish brings a sense of refinement to his menus, which are designed around using local produce and minimising waste.

Some of the ingredients are grown onsite, with the rest sourced from neighbouring farms. It’s also not uncommon to find freshly foraged herbs making an appearance on your plate.

So, as you would aspect, the dishes evolve with the seasons. And whether you’re after a vegetarian meal or a non-alcoholic pairing, chef Douglas and Cathryn Bell, the head sommelier who brings serious thought to her wines, will make sure you’re well looked after. One highlight of the drinks that I enjoyed was a bold blend of Assamese Earl Grey and pumpkin juice infused with yuzu.

Delicious teatime treats

The next morning, we drove the 20 minutes to Tenby for a blustery rib boat tour around Caldey Island. The island is home to a number of Cistercian monks (also known as “trappists”), who rely on tourism and making chocolate and perfumes to make ends meet.

It most certainly felt like a near-religious experience when we spotted the first puffin of the season, as confirmed by our boat operator, Rob. The little seabird was swimming solo among razorbills
and a bob of seals.

As I boarded the train to go back home, it struck me that I had gone the entire trip without eating a single Welsh cake – a traditional teatime treat. These picau ar y maen, to give them their Welsh name, are delicate bakestones with a hint of nutmeg and flavoured with currants and raisins. They’re best eaten hot off the griddle.

It was then that I remembered the gift bag I had been handed when leaving Grove. Sure enough, inside was a packet of Welsh cakes fresh from the hotel’s kitchen. Come here for the daffodils, stay for the people. What they do is quite special. Diolch, Grove.

Oojal was a guest of Grove of Narberth. The Byre garden suite costs from £260 a night. Tenby Boat Trips offers a one-hour tour from £20 per person. Wild Water Sauna sessions start from £15 per person. For more details about holidays in Pembrokeshire, go to visitpembrokeshire.com.

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As autumn gets underway, many will start thinking about where to travel in the new year. January may bring resolutions, but October is often when we start planning.

And so it begins. Twenty tabs open. You go down a rabbit hole of when is the best time to book flights, how to get airport lounge access for less, and how much to tip in different parts of the world. A luxury cruise may sound appealing, but so does lounging by the pool in a high-end hotel.

The decisions go on, the spreadsheets grow bigger, but the question remains: where should you go on holiday next year? We take a look at the trends for travel in 2026.

Where to travel in 2026

Travel group Expedia has just released its Unpack ’26: The Trends in Travel report, revealing where different trends are taking holidaymakers. The data has been compiled based on increases in flight and accommodation searches for travel on 1 January to 31 December 2025 versus the same period in 2024.

Not all these destinations are the typical go-tos, with more visitors seeking under-the-radar coastlines and higher altitude hideaways.

We’ve compiled all the results and delve further into each destination below.

Source: Expedia

1. Big Sky, Montana, US

Being close to Yellowstone National Park is only part of the attraction. What brings travellers to this unincorporated community in Montana is – as the name suggests – a vast blue sky and mountains, as well as lots of skiing. While it’s a bucket-list destination for many Americans who enjoy winter skiing, it makes for a great place for Brits who have made more than a few visits to the Alps and are after a new holiday hotspot. Another thing not to miss is luxury fly fishing, a unique experience for anyone who wants to try their hand at angling.

2. Okinawa, Japan

With more than 150 islands to its name, Okinawa is set apart from the rest of Japan not just geographically, but also culturally. There is plenty to keep you entertained; you can lounge on white-sand crescent moon-shaped beaches, whale-watch on a cruise, visit World War II sites and feudal castles, and, if you time it right, even attend the Naha Great Tug-of-War Festival. If you’re lucky, you may be able to catch cherry blossoms blooming in the early months of the year.

3. Sardinia, Italy

This Mediterranean island offers a retreat away from the bustling mainland. It’s packed with fishing villages where you can get around on a Vespa, a rich Roman history that explains why there are Gothic cathedrals in the capital city of Cagliari, and another quick history lesson will tell you why some Sardinians speak Catalan. To the north of the island, in Costa Smeralda, you will find luxury yachts and high-end properties occupied by the rich and famous.

4. Phu Quoc, Vietnam

It’s widely agreed among Vietnamese people that the best fish sauce comes from Phu Quoc – after all, that’s where it originated. Its palm-fringed beaches and forested hills have now become an attractive holiday destination for people across the globe, who come for eco-retreats, seafood dishes, and blue-green waters. It’s also worth arranging for a pepper farm tour, as the island is known for the spice.

5. Savoie, France

France’s Savoie region is nestled in the heart of the French Alps, making it a haven for those who love winter activities. At the foot of the mountains, you will find two turquoise lakes where you can take part in water sports such as canoeing, canyoning, paddleboarding and more. You can also visit a 12th-century tomb site, walk around charming villages, and hike in the unspoilt nature.

6. Fort Walton Beach, Florida, US

Often overshadowed by Florida’s more famous beaches in the south, Fort Walton Beach in North Florida is an inviting destination with powdery white sand and striking turquoise waters. It’s an ideal location for those who love the outdoors – you can spot dolphins in the wild, sample fresh local seafood, browse the flea markets, go for wildlife trails either by foot or on a bike, and explore 12,000 years of Florida’s indigenous past at one of the many museums.

7. Ucluelet, Canada

Tucked away on the edge of Vancouver Island, Ucluelet is where holidaymakers go to unwind and relax. It offers sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and one of Canada’s mildest winters, as it rarely snows. A highlight of your visit is likely to be storm watching, made possible by the area’s year-round coastal weather. Outdoor enthusiasts can also fish for giant chinook salmon and halibut, hike through lush rainforests and alongside rugged coastlines, or explore centuries-old cedar groves.

8. Cotswolds, UK

Cotswolds is often best known for its honey-coloured cottages and rolling hills. But beyond the postcard charm, you’ll find walking trails, lively market towns, arts and crafts festivals, and historic estates that offer the best of heritage and comfort. It makes for an ideal luxury staycation for Brits, as visitors can enjoy the small villages, meadows and ancient woodlands. Don’t forget to sample English wine, local cheeses and meats.

Read more about MoneyWeek’s recent visit to The Lakes by Yoo, a luxury lakeside holiday rental in the Cotswolds.

9. San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

This small city captures a wealth of Mexico’s aesthetics in a single location: baroque churches, cobbled lanes and bougainvillaea on every wall. Despite being a popular destination due to its thriving art scene, the town has still retained its striking neo-Gothic towers, old Spanish colonial buildings, and open-air markets. You can get Mexican mole (a type of sauce), Mezcal, and a near-perfect climate to enjoy your days off.

10. Hobart, Australia

Tasmania’s capital city is brimming with history, architecture and world-famous art. Once a British penal colony, it’s now famous for its local produce, a thriving wine scene, and historic theatres that have been graced by famous names such as Laurence Olivier and Hugo Weaving. You can spend time learning about the culture of Tasmania’s indigenous people, board a vintage ferry and cruise down a scenic river, or hike Mount Wellington for a sunset to remember.

Amsterdam is well known for its beautiful canals, museums, cycling culture and 17th-century architecture, to name a few. It’s also a vibrant city full of life both day and night.

If you want to enjoy both - the busy life of the city, combined with a relaxing stay - the Park Plaza Vondelpark is the perfect stop, allowing you to enjoy everything the city has to offer and unwind at the end of each day.

The boutique style hotel is located in the uptown neighbourhood Oud-Zuid, often dubbed as ‘little Paris’. It’s also right by Vondelpark, which is perfect for evening walks, a picnic or even a bike ride.

The hotel is also loacted perfectly for Amsterdam's convenient tram service, meaning you can also be in the Museum quarter or in the main city centre within minutes.

The accommodation

This is a small hotel, but superbly comfortable and cosy - the perfect place to relax after a busy day shopping or if you’ve been wondering about some of the best museums in the world, such as the Van Gogh which is minutes away.

Enjoy luxury Egyptian cotton bedding, a walk-in shower and Elemis toiletries.

Every room is different - but there are options to choose one with a garden view, a studio or even a suite.

Dining

The hotel breakfast will certainly set you up for the day, with plenty to choose from, including sweet pastries, pancakes or freshly cooked omelettes.

But don’t miss dining at its main restaurant, Tozi - which means ‘ a group of friends’ in Venetian slang.

The restaurant serves a a Venetian inspired menu in a beautiful setting, with low and golden lighting, it really is the perfect way to finish off the day. Try a homemade focaccia, a herb-crusted swordfish or a strawberry salad - to name a few things on its menu.

Also, don’t forget to try its barrel-aged Negroni.

But note, Tozi is only open Wednesday - Sunday.

Fitness

Amsterdam is well known for its cycling culture, so it’s likely you will want to hop onto a bike and adventure out.

You can conveniently hire a bike from the hotel at 16 Euros each.

And if you prefer to stay fit in other ways, try the hotel's small but modern gym, has everything you need to stay on top of your daily routine - and it’s open 24 hours.

Vondelpark and surrounding areas

The hotel’s location by Vondelpark really is special. Named after the 17th-century Dutch playwright and poet Joost van den Vondel, the park attracts millions every year.

It is one of the largest and most famous parks in the Netherlands, where you can enjoy nature, the view sitting in a cafe, or a casual bike ride.

Depending on when you visit, there may even be bandstand events in the park for you to enjoy.

As well as the park, the hotel is perfectly located to visit the Rijksmuseum, Van Gogh Museum, ‘Little Paris’ area and for shopping.

And of course, no visit to Amsterdam is complete without a canal cruise.

Staff at the Park Plaza are incredibly friendly and will help you make the most of this city getaway.

Kalpana was a guest at the Park Plaza, Vondelpark.

Prices start from £100 per night.

British travellers are being advised to expect longer queues and to ensure they have travel insurance after the European Union’s new Entry/Exit system (EES) went live this week.

Since 12 October, non-EU citizens now need to provide fingerprints and a facial scan when crossing into the trading bloc, which could hit many heading off on a holiday.

The system is being gradually introduced at borders, with full implementation due by 10 April 2026.

The aim is to keep track of those who enter and exit the Schengen Zone and ensure people do not overstay their permitted time – 90 days in any 180-day period.

If you break the rules, you may face fines ranging from €500 to €10,000 depending on the country and the length of the overstay, plus you could be banned from re-entering.

Travel experts are warning that the extra checks, combined with a lack of awareness, means holidaymakers should prepare for longer waits at the border, especially with many due to travel for half term holidays later this month.

It is important to allow enough time as travel insurers won’t cover EES-related delays.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said: “Travel insurance is unlikely to cover any losses incurred as a result of delays caused by EES queues.

“Be sure to plan in advance, allow enough time for delays, or book earlier travel if you need to arrive somewhere abroad at a certain time or example, a cruise departure.”

Some individual countries may even ask for proof of medical insurance, so the ABI advises having travel cover in place.

The ABI said: “While the EES system itself does not mandate travel insurance, border officials or EES kiosks may inquire about it.

“Some individual countries (such as France) may require proof of adequate medical coverage for entry. This is a national rule, not an EES rule.”

What is the Entry/Exit System (EES)?

The aim of the EES is to replace passport stamping for all non-EU citizens and help track compliance with the 90-day visa-free travel rule.

EES will eventually be a requirement when entering all Schengen area countries including Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The new system will be phased in over six months, meaning different ports may have varying requirements until April 2026.

Countries that have already started installing the EES machines at border control include Austria, Belgium, Croatia and Denmark but it may vary depending on where you land.

How does the EES work?

Under the new rules, British passport-holders and other non-EU nationals will need to register on their first visit to a country where EES checks are operating.

When you arrive in a participating country, you will need to scan your passport and have your fingerprints and photograph taken.

There will be questions to complete such as the reason for your visit and whether you have medical insurance.

Registration is valid for a rolling three-year period or until your passport expires.

Rather than having your passport checked at the end of your trip, you will only need to scan your passport and provide either fingerprints or a photograph at the border.

For travellers using the Port of Dover, Eurotunnel at Folkestone or Eurostar at St Pancras International, the process will take place at the border before they leave the UK.

Who has to follow the EES rules?

The rules will affect most Brits unless you are covered by Withdrawal Agreement residence documents or have an EU passport.

Children under 12 will not be fingerprinted but under the new EU rules, all travellers, including babies, will be photographed and have digital records created.

You will need to complete the checks at any participating airports.

The rules for cruises are slightly different.

Cruises starting and ending in the UK are exempt from EES, even if they include stops in Schengen ports. But you will need to comply if you are embarking or disembarking in a Schengen country.

EES will not be required when travelling to Ireland and Cyprus. 

Steve Witt, co-founder at travel agency Not Just Travel, added: “When travelling across an external EU border for the first time, British travellers may face slightly longer queues. However, the new EES scheme has been carefully planned, and we’re confident it will run smoothly. It’s a small adjustment that will soon feel routine and help make travel across Europe even more efficient.”

How to avoid EES delays

The checks should only take around two minutes for each person, but the British government has warned that it may lead to longer wait times at border control or at ports.

Your travel insurance is unlikely to cover you if you miss a flight due to delays so experts advise turning up early and having any documentation such as proof of accommodation and medical cover to hand as border officials may ask further questions about your trip.

Yasmin Peskel, travel expert at Blue Cruise, said: “The EES is a fundamental change to how we enter the EU. If people take it seriously and prepare, they’ll get through it fine. But if they treat it like the old system, the risk of starting your holiday in chaos is very real.”

For years, Michelin stars have been the thing that turns a good restaurant into a coveted destination. It’s a symbol that can send diners halfway across the world in search of the perfect bite.

So, it was only a matter of time before Michelin turned its attention to where you stay – not just where you eat.

That’s what the Michelin Key is all about. Entering its second year, the Michelin Guide has curated a list of the world’s best luxury hotels, where every visit promises to be an exceptional experience.

Gwendal Poullennec, international director of The Michelin Guide, says: “Just as Michelin Stars celebrate the world’s most exceptional restaurants, Michelin Keys now honour hotels that offer truly remarkable stays, where design, service, and location come together to create unforgettable moments.

“Whether travelers seek iconic resorts, historic city hotels, or hidden gems off the beaten path, the Michelin Keys provide a trusted guide to discover, explore, and book truly memorable stays that inspire and delight.”

The Michelin Key Hotels 2025

The Michelin Guide has chosen over 7,000 hotels around the world, highlighting the most outstanding stays.

Their assessments are based on five universal criteria: excellence in architecture and interior design, quality and consistency of service, overall personality and character, value for the price, and a significant contribution to the neighbourhood or setting.

Similar to a Michelin-rated restaurant, hotels can earn up to three Michelin Keys, one being a very special stay, two being exceptional, and three being extraordinary – so, a trip of a lifetime.

You can browse the 2025 Michelin Key Hotels by destination on their website. We look at some of the top Michelin Key hotels across the globe below.

The best hotels in the UK

1. The Savoy, London

An icon of British hospitality, The Savoy is known as the ‘original London luxury hotel’ and is one of the most prestigious. First opened in 1889, it boasts a legacy of glamour (no wonder, as it’s famous for witnessing some of the 20th century's wildest celebrity antics), with an Art Deco-style seafood bar, a view of the Thames, and the legendary Savoy Grill – now in the hands of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay.

2. The Newt in Somerset, Bruton

Just two hours from London is a historic Somerset country estate with Georgian decor, vast gardens for fresh produce, and a luxury spa. Guests can visit the deer park, take a bee safari or opt for a honey tasting, and explore a replica Roman villa.

3. The Gleneagles Hotel, Scotland

When the Gleneagles opened more than a 100 years ago, it was the epitome of decadence – and golf holidays. This Scottish institution continues to attract a global crowd, and while its grandeur may seem imposing, it’s a venue everyone is drawn to thanks to its charm, appeal, and the warmest hospitality.

The best hotels in the rest of Europe

1. De L'Europe Amsterdam

A newer three-key hotel – but no less luxurious, this hotel on the banks of the canal upholds the tradition of the classic European grand hotel. Its timeless legacy offers rich detail in all its rooms and suites, while maintaining a distinct identity. Its restaurants include a French brasserie, an Italian trattoria, and a Michelin-starred Dutch kitchen, so look nowhere else for an opulent meal.

2. Four Seasons Astir Palace, Greece

At the tip of a peninsula on the Athens Riviera lies the Astir Palace, reimagined as part of the prestigious Four Seasons family. True to the brand’s reputation, the resort offers luxury and impeccable service. You mustn’t miss the sea-facing cabanas or indulgent spa treatments, truly an ode to Greek summers. Its flagship fine dining restaurant, Pelagos, has a Michelin star that channels the flavours of the Aegean with a contemporary flair.

3. Grand Resort Bad Ragaz, Switzerland

The Grand Resort Bad Ragaz is nestled in the foothills of the Swiss Alps near the Liechtenstein border. The hotel offers quiet luxury – guests can enjoy a selection of spas and saunas, with unforgettable views. Read MoneyWeek’s review here.

The best hotels in North America

1. Nayara Springs, Costa Rica

Costa Rica's first three-key hotel is an understated masterpiece in the Arenal Volcano National Park, and a favourite for travellers. Each villa has luxurious touches like hot springs pools and traditional furnishings for an authentic look. The hotel is a sloth sanctuary, and if you’re lucky, you might spot some of nature’s finest creations. The restaurants deliver exceptional cuisines that are a blend of traditional and international flavours, while the spa offers serene open-air pavilions where you can finally unwind.

2. The Beverly Hills Hotel, USA

If you can’t get enough of Hollywood glamour, visit this legendary hotel – known as The Pink Palace – for a true taste of stardom. The hotel has been a playground for the rich and famous since 1912. Despite refurbishments, it keeps its charm intact, blending timeless decor with modern luxury, such as private balconies, marble bathrooms, and Frette linens. Dining at the Polo Lounge is a rite of passage, and you can step out for a coffee at the Fountain Coffee Shop for a classic Beverly Hills experience.

3. Hotel Esencia, Mexico

Once the home of an Italian duchess, this intimate hideaway is an antidote to the high-rise hotels you find elsewhere on Mexico’s Caribbean coast. There are just a handful of rooms, but you can expect beachfront bungalows, gardens, and an organic spa that uses the principles of ancient medicine. For those who want to participate in more activities, the Esencia organises excursions like snorkelling, horseback riding, jungle walks and windsurfing.

The best hotels in South America

1. Las Casitas, Peru

In South America, high adventure and high luxury go hand in hand, but few hotels match the exceptional standard set by Belmond Las Casitas. Set in Peru’s Colca Valley, the location itself is hard to beat, with its dramatic landscapes and home to one of the world’s deepest canyons. The hotel is a sprawling 20-acre estate that strikes a balance between rustic charm and modern comfort, resulting in a luxury accommodation you won’t forget.

2. Tierra Patagonia Hotel & Spa, Chile

Set on the edge of Torres del Paine National Park, Tierra Patagonia is a masterclass in eco-luxury. The two-key rated, design-forward hotel nearly vanishes into the Patagonian terrain. But once you step inside, it’s a warm, cozy stay where you can admire the landscape, take daily excursions, enjoy a spa retreat, or explore dishes that draw on regional ingredients.

3. Copacabana Palace, Brazil

Rio may feel more familiar than exotic, but the Copacabana Palace still holds on to the city’s golden-age glamour – despite being inspired by the great seaside European hotels. They are unapologetically classy, and you won’t find a hint of minimalism in the rich fabrics and period details. This grand white landmark has been an icon of Brazilian luxury for over a century now, yet its rhythm still pulses beyond the palace walls.

The best hotels in Africa

1. Royal Malewane, South Africa

If you’re after a luxury safari, look no further. Situated in a private reserve within South Africa’s Kruger National Park, this three-key retreat represents the pinnacle of safari experiences, but elevated. The lodge features eight grand suites with uninterrupted views of the wilderness, antique furniture and claw-foot tubs that offer seclusion and grandeur. Big Five sightings are almost guaranteed, and you can return to indulgent spa treatments after an adventurous day, or lounge with a vintage wine for a fine dining experience.

2. Kasbah Tamadot, Morocco

You’ll find Kasbah Tamadot in the foothills of Morocco’s Atlas Mountains and under an hour’s drive from Marrakech, honouring Berber tradition and Moroccan craftsmanship. It’s owned by English magnate Richard Branson, and is operated under the Virgin Limited Edition banner, but stays true to its setting – think carved doors, intricate tilework, and handwoven textiles that reflect the region’s cultural heritage.

3. Shipwreck Lodge, Namibia

There’s nowhere quite like Namibia’s Skeleton Coast, where dunes meet the icy Atlantic, and rusting shipwrecks stand as an eerie reminder of what once was. In this setting, you’ll find Shipwreck Lodge, inspired by the many vessels lost to the treacherous coast. The lodge’s ten cabins nod to maritime ruins and offer front-row views of the horizon.

The best hotels in Asia

1. Ceylon Tea Trails, Sri Lanka

Many tend to flock to India just across the waters, but Sri Lanka is ready to take the spotlight. The island’s tea country remains one of the most underexplored landmarks, and so, Ceylon Tea Trails, a three-key retreat, offers a window into Sri Lanka’s tea heritage. Set some 4,000 feet above sea level, the property is made of restored plantation bungalows, divided into spacious suites with modern comfort, like cane furniture and vintage maps. You get a full experience, including bed tea, decadent breakfasts, more tea, and some premium wines.

2. Bvlgari Hotel Tokyo, Japan

European luxury brand Bvlgari finds a way to make a statement in Tokyo, with this luxury hotel. Perched atop a sleek skyscraper, the hotel is the work of renowned architects, Antonio Citterio and Patricia Viel, whose interiors channel Milanese and Japanese aesthetics. It delivers on the Bvlgari promise of high-touch luxury. The public spaces are equally striking, including the Bvlgari Bar, an ultra-exclusive spa, and Michelin-level Italian cuisine in the heart of Tokyo.

3. Capella Hanoi, Vietnam

In a striking neoclassical building near Hanoi’s Opera House, Capella Hanoi is a homage to the golden age of opera in the 1920s. Every room and suite is curated with detail, elegance, and just enough drama. You can relish the Vietnamese-French cuisine and expertly crafted cocktails, while the spa brings a quieter wellness space for relaxation. The result is a living stage set for a thunderous applause.

The best hotels in the Middle East

1. Atlantis the Royal Dubai, UAE

Even by Dubai’s standards, Atlantis is a bold statement, and more extravagant than most. It’s one of the top-rated three-key hotels on the outer crescent of Palm Jumeirah. Think infinity pools, private gardens, and a playground of terraces. The scale of this structure is massive – nearly 800 rooms and suites, all lavish, and many with ocean views. Atlantic The Royal is also a gastronomic hub, home to the Michelin-starred Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, plus a lavish nightlife that keeps things buzzing well past sunset.

2. Alila Jabal Akhdar, Oman

Alila is Sanskrit for surprise. And a surprise it is. This stylish and secluded hotel is perched high in Oman’s Al Hajar mountain range, making a name for itself with world-class design and sustainability in the Middle East. The resort is surrounded by cliffs, deep canyons and ridgelines that stretch towards the horizon. Inside, the juniper murals, the cliffside infinity pool, and lounges add an extra layer of exclusivity and elevate the idea of mountain luxury.

3. Raffles Doha, Qatar

Situated in the coastal city of Lusail, Raffles Doha occupies one half of the Katara Towers, an architectural marvel shaped like the crossed swords of Qatar’s national emblem. As far as first impressions go, this one goes so far as to define the next era of ultra-luxury hospitality in the Gulf region. From mosaic floors and gold-accented ceilings to futuristic rooms and private art collections, this hotel sets itself apart from the rest.

The best hotels in Oceania

1. The Brando, French Polynesia

Just 30 miles from Tahiti lies Tetiaroa, first discovered by American actor Marlon Brando while filming Mutiny on the Bounty. He famously acquired it in exchange for cash and a homemade apple pie. Today, it is home to The Brando, a luxury eco-resort once reserved for Tahitian royalty. The resort is tucked among palm groves and coral reefs, every detail carefully planned out, and sustainability is at the heart of it. Guests can make more than just a tropical escape out of it.

2. Lizard Island Resort, Australia

On the Great Barrier Reef, the Lizard Island Resort offers a combination of seclusion with natural immersion. This off-grid all-inclusive resort is only accessible by plane, and offers privacy like no other. Encircled by 24 powder-white beaches and vibrant coral reefs. It’s made for those who love an adventure on the sea. You can also take a plunge into a private pool while enjoying panoramic views over Anchor Bay.

3. Huka Lodge, New Zealand

Set on the banks of the Waikato River, the Huka Lodge has hosted royalty and rock stars, with guests having included Queen Elizabeth II and Bill Gates. Over the years, it has evolved into one of New Zealand’s most celebrated luxury retreats, with understated elegance and luxury, despite being founded as a fisherman’s hideaway a century ago. While the lodge still caters to anglers from around the world, you can still take part in other experiences, like white-water rafting, gold or horseback riding.

As with all the best experiences, the journey to The Hut – which, in 12 years since it was founded, has turned into an Isle of Wight institution – is just as integral as the destination.

The restaurant urges guests to “go on holiday for lunch”, and throughout the journey to this Mediterranean-inspired seafood hotspot, you can see exactly what they mean.

The Hut offers arrival by land, sea or air. Land is via The Hut’s shuttle bus (drinks provided) from Yarmouth Harbour, while seafarers can drop anchor in the bay and await collection from one of the restaurant’s tenders; or, if you ask nicely, they’ll arrange you a helicopter.

And while that’s certainly the way to make an entrance, it would deny you the close-up view of The Needles on your way to lunch, which the friendly young skippers of our chartered rib offered us.

Sightseeing done, the rib pulls up a little way out into the harbour, and a tender is then sent from the restaurant to collect us. Stepping off the little dinghy onto a sun-dappled pier lined with pastel-coloured beach huts sets the tone immediately.

This is yachtie paradise – a salty, windswept core of a restaurant wrapped up in a beach-holiday exterior. The Hut started life in 2013 as “Crusoe’s Cafe” – a small, laid-back beach bar with a crazy-golf course that has since become established as a thriving restaurant (and, along the way, spawned its own micro-economy of local rib charter businesses ferrying diners over from the mainland).

It now seats 180 diners, plus 50 in the bar and 26 for private dining. The “Main Deck” area offers picturesque views of Colwell Bay and has an extendable roof for rainy days. There’s no need for that on our visit, though. Squint and you could be in Majorca. The vibe is less Solent, more Costa del Sol.

Incidentally, there is another branch of The Hut, located on the tiny island of Little Jumby, just off the coast of Antigua, in the Caribbean. MoneyWeek visited earlier this summer. But back to the Isle of Wight.

All 180 seats look to be taken when we arrive for lunch on a Friday in September, but the waitress assures us that this is a “quiet” day.

As such, the house DJ is sadly off-duty, but you can still tell this is the kind of place where people come to have fun. When the waitress recounts tales of guests dancing on the tables, part of you thinks you’re being encouraged to follow suit.

But as much as The Hut is a good place for a good time (and we’ll get onto the drinks in due course), it is still all about the food. The menu has evolved with the venue, but has remained true to the original beach bar’s purpose of fresh, locally sourced food.

Dangerously drinkable cocktails

It’s always refreshing, particularly in a restaurant as heavily and obviously geared around seafood as The Hut is, to see vegetarian and vegan options that are clearly more than an afterthought.

A separate “plant-based” menu promises delights such as BBQ jackfruit tacos and gnocchi with sweetcorn velouté, vegan feta, dukkah (an Egyptian spice blend) and coriander. But The Hut lives and dies by its fish, so I opted for the scallops with pork belly (£22) to start, followed by lemon sole (£36). The scallops are tender and sweet, standing up to a robust XO sauce, while the sole is drenched in silky, warming beurre noisette and cut through with sharp capers.

We also tried the day’s “big fish” special of John Dory. The fish is subtle, offset nicely by tomatoes and caramelised onions. Other starters and nibbles of note are the popcorn shrimp (which come with a cajun mayonnaise that I would swim across Colwell Bay for – £12), slippery silver anchovies in an intensely lemony marinade (£7), and beefy monkfish tail (£21). The lobster is also on point.

Then, there are the afters. I am a sucker for a good treacle tart (£10), and the unorthodox promise of lemon curd on the side makes my decision an easy one. The treacle filling isn’t overly sweet, giving room for the lemon and the clotted cream ice cream to sing. The whole thing was a delight, although I had some food envy over the deconstructed banoffee pie (£10) that one of my fellow diners ordered.

The Hut has developed a reputation for being a perfect spot to sip rosé through the course of a leisurely afternoon, and it also does a good line in dangerously drinkable cocktails. I started with a negroni bianco, and with dessert I tried the Irish Old Fashioned, which consists of Irish whiskey, Aperol and Shanky’s Whip (an Irish whiskey-based caramel liqueur). It was deeply sweet, like burnt toffee – not a million miles away from a Werther’s Original. You could also opt for a Tiramisu Espresso or a Butterscotch White Russian; this is very much a cocktail menu for the sweeter-toothed. (All cocktails £15.)

It all gets a good slosh as the rib bounces over the waves back to Lymington. But, as with any holiday, there’s no harm in feeling as though you’ve made the most of it.

Dan was a guest of The Hut, Colwell Bay.

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Many luxury hotels are great for a night or two – maybe even for a long weekend. But when it comes to longer stays, where you might like to bring along children, friends or family members, they are less ideal. That is where The Lakes Hotel & Residences by Yoo comes in.

Located in the Cotswolds hamlet of Lechlade-on-Thames, near Swindon, The Lakes was co-founded by John Hitchcox and celebrated designer Philippe Starck, who worked with a range of other design partners, including Kate Moss, Kelly Hoppen and Jade Jagger, to create a space that is both peaceful and somewhere where people can come together.

There are some smaller suites for individual couples as well as a two-bedroom, two-bathroom cabin, but the majority of the accommodation on the luxury estate is made up of three-bedroom lakeside apartments, which can be rented by the night.

They have been designed in an open-plan style, combining the luxury of hotel rooms with elegant en-suite bedrooms with the practicality of holiday lets thanks to the fully stocked kitchens and large living rooms.

Each bedroom also has access to a balcony and I enjoyed reading in the fresh air, watching the last rays of the summer sun setting over the lake each evening.

Top chefs take over for a night

You can quite happily use the facilities in the apartments to cook for yourself. The basics, including bread, milk and jam, are provided. But I have to confess I was tempted into visiting the restaurant each night during my stay.

The Lakes Bar & Kitchen is located in a lavishly furnished giant tent and it has a glorious waterside view. The menu caters for a wide range of tastes, from burgers to smoked salmon and seabass fillets.

There is also the option of ordering a pizza from the restaurant to be delivered to your suites, which is convenient for families and groups.

For guests who prefer ultra-fine dining, the Lakes Bar & Kitchen regularly puts on a series of supper clubs, where a world-class chef takes over the kitchen for a night.

Recent chefs who have taken part include Conor Gadd from restaurant Trullo and Christopher Davey from The Cotswold Guy.

Emily Roux, the daughter of Michel Roux Jr, will take charge on Saturday, 22 November.

I particularly enjoyed the lean, yet tender, lamb souvlaki, which was served with flat bread, yoghurt, herbs and with truffle chips on the side. The breakfast options are similarly varied. They include healthy options, such as granola, as well as locally sourced mushrooms and, naturally, smashed avocado on sourdough toast.

Again, I have to confess that I succumbed to the temptation to taste some of the exquisite buttermilk pancakes that were on offer, with maple syrup and blueberries. The signature “YOO Breakfast” – essentially a “full English” with sourdough toast – is also more than hearty enough to set you up for the day.

Activities and spa treatments

What really sets The Lakes By Yoo apart from other luxury properties is the sheer range of activities on offer. Those feeling particularly energetic can burn off their energy in the cricket nets, tennis courts or football field, while the particularly adventurous can brave the climbing wall and zip wire.

There is a children’s club for parents looking for a little respite. And it is also possible to rent a boat and sail on any of the ten freshwater lakes on the estate, or just do what I did and take advantage of the bicycles that are provided by the hotel to cycle along the various paths that criss-cross the estate.

Of course, after you have smashed aces on the tennis court, zipped through the air and scrambled up the climbing wall, you will probably want to wind down at some point. A visit to the excellent spa will be in order and I very nearly fell asleep during my massage.

The spa facilities include a swimming pool with a hot tub, as well as a fully stocked gym. You can also take part in the daily fitness classes, ranging from strength training to Pilates and yoga, should you still have energy left to burn.

The Lakes by Yoo offers the best of all worlds, then. You have the convenience of a stay at a top-end hotel – with for example, the restaurant and spa, and the friendly staff – combined with the freedom of being able to cook and do your own thing in your own, private apartment or suite, which makes it ideal for groups. It’s almost like being part of a community.

Matthew was a guest of The Lakes by Yoo, which offers a wide range of accommodation from a Garden Room from £295 a night right through to a three-bedroom lakeside apartment from £995 a night.

The Emily Roux Supper Club at the Lakes Bar and Kitchen costs £120 per person (and £200 per person including wine pairing). Room packages start from £625 per night, based on one night B&B, and includes two tickets to Emily Roux Supper Club. Visit thelakesbyyoo.com for details, or call 01367-254260.

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.

Pop stars, prime ministers and princesses can keep Mustique. Ten miles to the north, across the Caribbean Sea, veering slightly to the west as you go, lies a more interesting and colourful island called Bequia (pronounced “Beq-way”).

For sure, Bequia isn’t exactly undiscovered. Both islands form part of The Grenadines of St Vincent. To the south of Bequia, you will find the island of Canouan with its exclusive Sandy Lane Yacht Club, while back on Bequia, Princess Margaret used to make the short hop over from Mustique to visit. There is a beach named after her.

So, Bequia is no stranger to the rich and famous. But, like the big sister to a bratty pop-starlet, Bequia has held onto its authenticity better. It doesn’t pretend to be anything more than what it is – a beautiful little Caribbean island of pretty little houses on the rolling hills overlooking bays of crystalline water.

It was during a walk along the deserted beach at Friendship Bay, on the eastern side of the island, when in 2004 Bengt Mortstedt, a Swede, came across a derelict bed and breakfast. The building was in a sorry state, but the location was “stunning”. So he bought it, along with the adjoining properties and as much land as he could lay his hands on.

His intention had been to build a holiday home for his family. But not one to shy away from grand ambitions, he decided to build a resort instead, despite having no experience of such things. Hurricane Ivan had other ideas, arriving later that year to carry away the beach. But finally, after many adventures, Bequia Beach Hotel opened in 2009.

Today, the resort is reachable from Britain via a 45-minute flight from Barbados. You may be able to catch Bengt at the weekly “owner’s cocktail” evenings at the Beach Bar, where he will regale you with the stories over a “Mr Bengt” cocktail before dinner.

A luxury resort with character

In a way, Bengt never gave up on his original plan to build a holiday home. Rather, Bequia Beach Hotel is what became of it. In the lounge, for example, you will discover old suitcases piled on top of shelves stuffed with well-thumbed books, rattan sofas and Don the Beachcomber-style kitsch table lamps beneath colonial-style ceiling fans – all after Bengt’s own taste and all quietly nostalgic.

On the walls here and in the guest suites hang faux-vintage travel posters advertising a care-free lifestyle in Santa Monica, Cuba and, naturally, the Bequia Beach Hotel itself. In my beachfront suite, palm-tree motifs intermingle with bamboo and dark-wood furniture.

But look up and you will see something that I’ll wager you won’t find anywhere else in the Caribbean. The wooden ceiling has been treated to a semi-transparent white-wash effect, called dimma in Sweden. And then, there’s the beach – right outside the patio doors.

Personal, familial touches abound at Bequia Beach Hotel and together they give the resort a relaxed, informal atmosphere. Nothing is taken too seriously. The staff are all smiles and occasionally I would bump into Bengt’s son, Philip, on his way to check on “Sally” – not a guest but rather the resort’s desalination plant, of which Philip speaks fondly.

The food is high quality, but unpretentious. It’s worth going along to the “Seafood Fest” at Bagatelle, the main restaurant on the beach, where you can dine on lobster tails, conch, kingfish and shrimp skewers sizzling on the barbecue, to be served alongside local favourites, such as yam pie and “mac and cheese” ($85).

Back from the beach, a little up the hill, you will find the cosy Italian Blue Tropic restaurant. Do try the delicious lobster ravioli.

Here, by the restaurant, you will also find a second, quieter freshwater pool compared with the larger, main pool situated down the hill, and a saltwater pool that faces the beach.

Whatever you decide to do during your stay – whether it’s to hire a boat from the island’s pretty little main town of Port Elizabeth to take you around The Grenadines, stopping to swim with turtles and for a lunch of grilled lobster tails and cold beer on what is little more than a sandbar overrun with wild iguanas (highly recommended) – a visit to Jack’s Beach Bar is a must.

The fried chicken served at Jack’s Beach Bar is a local secret, but I can’t see it staying that way for long. The location, on the always calm, western side of the island at Admiralty Bay, is a Caribbean idyll – limpid water and golden sand surrounded by a collar of green hills. Here, the local wag advertises “Free beer tomorrow” from his colourful drinks stand on the beach.

Jack’s Beach Bar throws off similar beachbum vibes to the Soggy Dollar Bar in the British Virgin Islands. But unlike that famous watering hole, you can still just about claim to have discovered this one. Thirsty sailors used to swim up to the Soggy Dollar Bar with their money in their pockets – hence the name.

But at Jack’s Beach Bar, you can simply sign your drinks and fried chicken to your room, since it is owned by Bequia Beach Hotel, and then jump on the shuttle to take you back to the resort. Easy.

Bequia Beach Hotel's newest villa

Bequia Beach Hotel has continued to evolve since it first opened and on 24 November The Rock Villa will become the latest addition to the resort’s Grenadine Hills collection of now-three rental villas.

It has been built into the rock face, just up from the hotel’s The Sand Bar – yes, guests have the choice of two beach bars at Friendship Bay – and it is the biggest of the trio.

Depending on how many friends you bring, it is either Bequia’s smallest boutique hotel (you can rent out the eight suites individually), or the island’s largest private rental villa (you can rent out the whole thing).

It is palatial and self-contained, but guests can also stroll down the beach to use the resort’s facilities, stopping for a sunset rum punch at the revamped The Sand Bar on the way.

Natural materials have been used for the ceiling fans and window blinds, while white stone and warm-hued woods make up the rest of the interiors (except for the ceilings where you will find that Scandinavian dimma effect again). It all feels clean, modern and bright.

The kitchen is spacious and there is a dining room that can seat couples as well as larger groups. Downstairs, you will find a cosy cinema with stylish armchairs by French designer brand Roche Bobois. Each of the bedrooms has its own bathroom and terrace.

There are also plenty of shared outdoor spaces, not least of which is the infinity pool, which offers sweeping views of the Grenadines, thanks to The Rock Villa’s vantage point on the hill. That includes Mustique, which you may now naturally look down on.

Chris was a guest of Bequia Beach Hotel and Audley Travel. From £660 a night on a bed-and- breakfast basis, including taxes. Exclusive use rates available upon request, bequiabeachhotel.com.

A 14-day trip to the Caribbean with Audley Travel includes nine nights in Bequia at the Bequia Beach Hotel and three nights in Barbados and costs from £4,300 per person (based on two travelling). The price includes international and inter-island flights, transfers and accommodation on a B&B basis, 01993-838275 / audleytravel.com.

This article was first published in MoneyWeek's magazine. Enjoy exclusive early access to news, opinion and analysis from our team of financial experts with a MoneyWeek subscription.