Luxury Travel
From Nxamaseri Island Lodge, we took a boat, a 4x4, and then a light 8-seater plane flying southeast (with me as co-pilot), before finally hopping back into a 4x4 to reach Leroo La Tau in southern Botswana. This lodge sits on the Boteti River, which forms the natural western border of the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park.
Botswana is one of the most remarkable countries in the world. This landlocked gem in Southern Africa, home to just 2.5 million people, is celebrated for its breathtaking landscapes, thriving wildlife, and strong commitment to conservation. Botswana artfully blends natural beauty with forward-thinking progress. It's also home to over 130,000 Elephants, 11,000 Giraffes, 15,000 Hippos, 1,200 Lions and 10,000 Zebras. I have been on safaris where you were lucky to spot one or two elephants at a time. In Botswana, it's more like Elephant Piccadilly at rush hour.
So, what do you do with the new Ferrari Purosangue, starting at £312,845? How about getting six of them and tearing around the southwest of France? A luxury tour from Biarritz to Bordeaux with friends, stopping at some of the finest hotels and vineyards along the way.
Gleefully, I hopped on a flight to Bilbao and was chauffeured over to Biarritz, arriving in the late afternoon.
Sitting directly behind a ski-jumper upon Innsbruck's Olympic Ski-jump Tower, was like looking through the sights of a gun, such was our focus, elevation and trajectory. The athlete pushed away from his 'start bar', immediately crouching into the customary aerodynamic form. His 'inrun' was underway, accompanied by a swishing sound, as the skies followed their channel until ‘take-off’ and then silence.
Our bullet-nosed deutsche-Bahn ICE train, silently glided under the arching glass and steel canopy defining Frankfurt Central Station, leaving the city of Goethe and skyscrapers behind. The train interplayed and intertwined with the ‘Main River’, vaguely following its meandering path until the steep-sided ‘Steinwein’ (stone) vineyards signified we had arrived at the Franconian city of Würzburg.
To get a proper sense of what Florence has to offer four days is what I’d suggest. To get away in a successful manner I need to change climate, language, culture and, perhaps most vitally, to change centuries. The secret, I find, is to surrender, to be transported in time, to sharpen my eyes and train myself to look, look and look again at all the detail and refinery. It’s so edifying and so reviving of my spirits. How life-affirming to appreciate the artistic skill of Florence’s forebears.
If you’re looking for a truly Canadian yet luxury ski experience with fewer crowds and world class resorts – look no further than Banff, Alberta. Banff is a small, vibrant Canadian mountain town that combines the rugged feel of the Canadian Rockies with upscale accommodations and entertainment. Not only that, but you can enjoy three world-class ski resorts within minutes of your castle. Did I say castle? Yes, you can actually stay at a castle hidden in the mountains.
When you think of St. Moritz, the first images that probably come to mind are snow-capped mountains, glamorous ski resorts, Winter Olympics and après-ski lounges where the champagne flows as easily as the conversation. However, let's shake off that wintery imagery and fast-forward to summer, where the town undergoes a transformation as stunning as the switch from mulled wine to a crisp Chardonnay.
Ischgl is world-renowned ski resort in Austria but is coming of age as a mecca for active adventurists looking to hike, bike, boulder, climb and paraglide in the summer, whilst also being a family-friendly high alpine retreat. Ramy James Salameh explored this epic landscape from the saddle of an e-MTB.
I recently had the incredible opportunity to embark on a journey to the Green Spa Resort Stanglwirt, an enchanting Austrian retreat situated amid the majestic Alps. As a seasoned traveller, it takes a lot to impress me, but Stanglwirt managed to surprise and captivate me in a way I hadn't experienced before. This extraordinary place exudes a magical and exceptionally welcoming atmosphere that made leaving incredibly difficult. Promising myself that I would return as soon as possible, I departed with a deep longing for the serene haven I had found.
