Luxury Hotels|Restaurants|Resorts
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.
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.
Two hours drive from London and only 90 minutes by train from London’s Paddington Station, and set, like Jerusalem and Rome, amongst seven hills is the city of Bath (www.visitbath.co.uk). The city centre is fantastically accessible and walking about is a real pleasure both visually and practically. Very at ease with itself with a vibe that’s genteel and civilised and very clean. Here is the Abbey, clean and light with its fan vaulting to heaven, and the beautifully-preserved Roman Baths.
There’s something about having a car delivered to your front door that makes you feel as though you’ve made it. It’s a quiet luxury - no showroom handover, no queue at a rental desk, no faff. Just a tap on the doorbell, a signature, and the keys to a brand-new Range Rover Sport. We were heading from central London to the Yorkshire Dales for a long weekend at Grantley Hall, and using THE OUT, Jaguar Land Rover’s premium on-demand car rental service, turned the journey into part of the escape.
If the French Riviera were a movie, La Croisette would be the opening shot: sweeping, golden, glamourous and impossibly good-looking! This palm-lined promenade in the heart of Cannes stretches seductively along the Mediterranean, flanked by designer boutiques, historic hotels and beach clubs where rosé and champagne are practically on tap!
Halfway inland in the very heart of Italy is the provincial city of Bologna, the capital of Emilia-Romagna region. Here it’s possible to experience the real Italian art of living well. For Bologna is called three things: la Dotta (the Learned), for the oldest university in the Western world founded in 1088, transferred from Ravenna’s ancient school of Roman law; la Grassa (the Fat), considered the home of Italian gastronomy with its cuisine of tortellini, lasagne and tagliatelle al ragù and thirdly la Rossa (the Red), for its exquisite terracotta-tiled roofs.
There are destinations in the UK that don’t try to shout hard for attention. Instead they simply get noticed through a good helping of heritage, charm and a quiet sense of self. The Lygon Arms is tucked gracefully into the honey-hued vernacular of Broadway in the Cotswolds and it is one such a place.
For decades, the alpine town of Megève has quietly maintained its position as one of France's most elegant ski resorts. Less ostentatious than Courchevel but no less chic, it's a destination that balances heritage and sophistication, with cobbled streets, horse-drawn carriages, and views that frame Mont Blanc like a painting. While winter remains its high season, Megève is increasingly a year-round destination, with plenty to offer even after the snow begins to melt.
Seeking a respite from the everyday drizzle of London, we decided that only a weekend in Paris, ensconced in the sybaritic embrace of a Sweett Apartment, would lift us out of the doldrums. Thus, we crossed the Channel, lured by the siren call of café life and the promise of existential wellness, Parisian-style.
Venturing into Norwich with our trusty VW Touareg, we sought refuge at 38 St. Giles, a family-run B&B that whispered secrets of a bygone era, nestled snugly within the city's ancient heart. Imagine, if you will, a discreet, utterly chic private flat, the sort where celebrities vanish for a weekend of incognito indulgence. More a boutique bolthole than a mere B&B, our studio flat, accessed by our own clandestine key, boasted a generously proportioned double bed and an en-suite, albeit shower-only, bathroom – a minor quibble in the grand scheme of things.
