Travel

Hotel Ambasador Split: A Luxury Arrival

Perched high above the dramatic embrace of the South Devon coastline, The Cottage Hotel in Hope Cove stands as a quiet, graceful anomaly. In an age of sleek minimalism and curated experiences, this cherished family-run institution is unapologetically traditional, a testament to the enduring appeal of genuine warmth and a hospitality that feels less like a service and more like a welcome home.

Some hotel names can be a bit of a mouthful. And then there’s the JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District.

But this lengthy appellation is a fitting one for such a sprawling complex that’s actually one of the largest urban revitalisation projects in the Deep South city of Savannah, housed in what was a 1912 power plant that lay abandoned for decades on its riverfront. 

As I approached ‘Hotel Berlin, Berlin’ in the early evening, a neon blue strip cut across its angular façade, hinting at its mid-20th century roots while embracing the city’s constant evolution. Inside, an LED banner wrapped itself above the self-service reception, flashing contemporary art, just one example of the hotel’s blend of design, innovation and sustainability.

The recent opening of the Mövenpick Grand Hotel Wroclaw marks a fresh chapter of hospitality for this iconic building, and for the city in which it resides.

Set the scene
Just 15 minutes from Providenciales airport, at the quiet end of Grace Bay, Wymara Resort + Villas stands out for its modern minimalist styling. When you arrive your eye is drawn to the central palm-tree lined infinity pool and the white-sand beach and turquoise sea beyond. It’s a view that Caribbean dreams are made of.

On a scorching hot weekend at the end of June, Ragley Hall was the venue for the Adventure Bike Rider Festival or ABR. 

Set in 450 acres of beautiful parkland, in the heart of Shakespeare’s England, the Ragley estate overlooks the unspoilt Warwickshire countryside.

Australia is known for many things, including tropical beaches, marine reserves, Aboriginal culture, koalas and kangaroos, rolling wine country, lush rainforests and several World-Cup winning cricket and rugby teams.

One thing I was not aware of is that Australia is the second largest Wagyu beef producer in the world, after Japan. And that it is the largest Wagyu exporter in the world, which equates to 67,000 tonnes or 85% of its 300,000 strong herd, which ends up overseas.

“Welcome to the City of Dreams Mediterranean” was the greeting from the hotel doorman as he opened the gold-rimmed glass entrance ushering us into a grandiose, marbled and voluminous lobby; this type of glamour, style and pizazz is usually associated with cities like Dubai, Hong Kong or Miami, yet here we were on the eastern periphery of Limassol on the beautiful island of Cyprus.

Sitting in the world’s largest cider barrel sauna - Mostfassl – with fifty other naked strangers may seem at the very least, alternative. Yet, in Upper Austria, this is just another way to experience one of the region’s most popular products.