Luxury Villas

Few could deny the countryside outside Phuket is the exotic paradise idyll incarnate. White sands, blue waters to die for, tropical fauna and flora, and a pace of life that defines laid back. Save for the flights from Heathrow- even in business class- everything about a holiday in this corner of the Andaman Sea coast should be relaxing and luxurious.
 

Perhaps it’s the proximity to Britain, and the longitudinal position it occupies on the globe. Maybe it’s simply because the southern shores of France tend to shout so much louder when it comes to elegance, luxury and ideal destinations for beach holidays. Either way, there’s a good chance that Brittany is low on the list when it comes to finding a luxury place to stay. Look a little closer, though, and quite how much you’ve been missing quickly becomes clear. 

Having been an avid winter sports enthusiast since I was old enough to stand upright without assistance, Austria has long been on my radar during the colder months. And there’s no better destination in the country than Kitzbuhel, the Alpine enclave renowned for hosting the Hahnenkamm.

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

For many people, the thought of travelling to Australia for an extended holiday conjures images of Sydney Harbour and Opera House; the cultural hub that is Melbourne, a city that consistently ranks top in surveys of the world’s best quality of life; the vast barren wilderness of the outback, and the Great Barrier Reef coastline.

As summer gives way to autumn many people put holiday plans on hold. Christmas feels like a long way off, but given the modern world’s ant hill-like busyness we all know it will be upon us before we know it. Nevertheless, this is a great time of year to get away and catch some last rays of sun before the darkness of winter takes hold of Britain.

One of the more curious repercussions of the world becoming so much smaller thanks to better international transport connections, is that you almost forget what’s right here on your own doorstep. Far flung destinations, with their white sandy beaches and impossibly blue skies, so often manage to shout louder than good old Blighty. Sometimes, though, it’s important to remember that to overlook your homeland might be short sighted.

Edge Retreats put on a lavish bash at Ham Polo Club on Sunday for The Ritz London Polo Challenge.
Luke McCormick, the founder of Edge Retreats, is a keen rider and felt that Ham Polo Club was the ideal place to entertain the likes of Forbes, International eXcellence Magazine and the Financial Times.
It was also the most gloriously sunny day and some great Polo matches such as the Ritz Polo Challenge and the Tiger Mountain sporting Ham Polo versus Accra from Ghana taking centre stage.