Planning a trip to the Indonesian paradise of Bali? On the hunt for the finest accommodation the island has to offer? We’ve selected a quintet of beachfront idylls, resplendent with private chefs, state of the art facilities, and stunning design to inspire your next long haul jaunt!
Villa Pawana
From: £18,744 per week
Bedrooms: 5
McLaren launched the new 570S Coupe in the Algarve last week at the Conrad Hotel and the race track at Portimao. It was quite a sight to see so many McLaren 570s’ all lined up outside the Conrad hotel, flanked by flames floating in the elongated water pools, and outside the race track in every available colour. Not quite as good as driving them, but we’ll get to that.
Resort: Argentière (France). This is a resort that has its own character that can hold its own with a famous and larger neighbour; Chamonix. Rising behind the village is an awe inspiring mountain of great character; Les Grands Montets (3,295m); a skiing area famous for its steep and demanding slopes, both on-piste as well as off-piste. The other main attraction in the entire area for experienced skiers is the fearsome Vallée Blanche, an off-piste 20km long route with a vertical descent of 2,700m.
Resort: Verbier (Switzerland) the town lies in a sunny, south-facing bowl with spectacular views of the surrounding peaks; it is the largest resort of the “4 Vallées” ski region with over 400km of pistes some of which are challenging and to make life easier, there are off-piste areas accessible by lifts. A menu of skiing delights can be enjoyed; glaciers, couloirs and deep powder bowls for advanced skiers and riders. The Savolèyres and Lac des Vaux sectors provide a more limited playground for intermediates and novices with some gentle runs. Boarders will not be left out as there are the
Resort: St. Anton (Austria) At an elevation of 1,300m., St. Anton is a small town with a year round population of 2,500 people; it is just over an hour to Innsbruck Airport. It is at the centre of the Arlberg Ski-Circus and is certainly one of Europe’s top ski resorts, drawing keen skiers from all over the world. It offers some of Austria’s most extensive and most challenging skiing.
Resort: Lech (Austria) is very much its own character; the word ‘genteel’ fits well. This small village provides a great diversity of slopes for all grades of skier and boarder, but with more focus to the beginner and intermediate skier. Lech makes up a part of one of the world's best ski domains, providing good connections into the neighbouring mini-resort of Zürs and the world class St Anton. Experts will head for off-piste skiing, heli-skiing and the challenges at the neighbouring St.
Resort: Davos (Switzerland)is world famous three times over; the annual World Economic Forum for world leaders in commerce and politics, its ultimately high style guests and last but not least, its skiing over 320 km.
Resort: Val d’Isère (France). This resort is one of the biggest names in skiing that attracts people from all over Europe and beyond as it has some really superb skiing together with lively après ski and good shopping. The traditional Tarentaise village is at height of 1,850m. in the Savoie region and dates back to the 13th century. One side of the village has attractive chalet-style architecture, the other side far less attractive with high-rise buildings but inside them can be another story.
Resort: Obergurgl (Austria). Most of the ski resorts in Austria are relatively low in elevation but the small resort of Obergurgl is relatively high at 1,930m, with only 500 year-round inhabitants. It is the highest parish in the country and it shares its skiing area with Hochgurgl another 200m. higher, they are two of the most snow-sure resorts in Europe as it includes glacier skiing. The villages are known as the ‘Diamonds of The Alps’ perhaps their well-preserved architecture is a contribution to that title.
The Resort: Morzine (France) is brilliantly located for skiing in the extensive Portes du Soleil region that boasts 650 kms of ski pistes and it is just an hour’s drive to Geneva Airport.
