“Of all the places I am dreaming of returning to in 2022, this is top of the list,” says Divia Thani in Condé Nast Traveller: Soneva Fushi, in the Maldives, draws its guests back time after time owing to a combination of the tropical greenery that is seemingly as never-ending as the expanse of blue sky and sea, and the little discoveries you make as you cycle to breakfast, such as the rabbits that sit in the sand at your feet. Most unforgettable of all is Soneva’s commitment to sustainability, which started long before it became a buzzword. Other delights include the vegetarian restaurant, rooted in its organic garden, that leaves you with a better understanding of the natural world. All in all, Soneva “feels like a place to see the bigger picture; the wind, waves and clouds a reminder of how we are all connected to the earth”. Villas from around £1,510, soneva.com
A wildlife adventure in Kenya
Abercrombie & Kent, founded in Kenya in 1962, is one of Britain’s best-loved tour operators, says The Times. In celebration of its 60th birthday, the travel company is opening Sanctuary Tambarare, in Kenya, in June – a tented camp intended to evoke the “Out of Africa dream that originally brought us under the country’s spell”. Its ten rooms look out over the 90,000 acres of unspoilt grassy plateau that make up the Ol Pejeta Conservancy. Big-game spotting is the main activity, but it doesn’t stop at the big five. The last two northern white rhinos in the world can also be seen. The tents are “a fusion of golden-age detailing, such as teak floors and billowing muslin, and 21st-century furniture and modern Masai art”. Mount Kenya can even be spied from their decks, nestled among the fever trees. A stay here delivers the perfect balance of adventure and serenity. Full-board doubles from £600, sanctuaryretreats.com
A luxurious spa in Windsor
Fairmont Windsor Park got the year off to a luxurious start when it opened on 1 January, says Sarah Turner in The Mail on Sunday. And like its sister hotel, the Savoy in London, it knows how to make a good first impression. Guests approach the Fairmont Windsor Park through a tree-lined driveway in a “magnificent location” on the edge of the royal estate. Its 200 rooms and “huge” suites overlook 40 acres of grounds and it has the facilities to match. The spa and wellness facilities are spread over 2,500 square metres and offer many high-tech treatments, as well as indoor and outdoor pools and gyms, plus a hammam and Japanese-style foot spa. Doubles from £420, fairmont-windsorpark.com
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Capri: the land of sweet idleness
Roman emperors Augustus and Tiberius built their villas on Capri, but it wasn’t until 1822 that the island, known as the “land of sweet idleness”, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples, saw its first locanda, says Claire Wrathall in the Financial Times. Named Hotel La Palma in its latest incarnation, it is set to transform the Piazzetta neighbourhood when it opens in the centre of Capri’s main town in June. Fashionable London-based designer Francis Sultana has supplied the “uncharacteristically understated interiors”, while its pool deck, rooftop bar and restaurant – overseen by two-Michelin-star chef Gennaro Esposito – have more than a little in common with its Riviera stablemate, Eden-Roc. Double rooms from €550, oetkercollection.com
New attractions in Melbourne
Melbourne, Australia’s cultural capital, is gearing up to show off its vast array of architectural and culinary tricks, says Bloomberg Pursuits. New developments, which include hotels from luxury chains Ritz-Carlton and Shangri-La, can be admired from the rooftop at Fable Melbourne, one of the city’s best new bars, offering Greek-inspired mezze and mythical cocktails. Local chef Scott Pickett is also playing with food. His Higher Order restaurant guides diners through a series of theatrically staged rooms, where food is complemented by immersive performance and light installations. Meanwhile, the W Melbourne hotel will have a “spectacular pool soaring over the city” this year. But its biggest thrill is Curious, a subterranean bar whose mirrored panels and geometric installations make a visit like walking into a kaleidoscope. From around £200, marriott.co.uk
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