For most people words like luxury and sophistication instil feelings of utter relaxation, being fully pampered and not having a care in the world. For others, they mean having your own private island to enjoy. As is the case with Spain's Paraiso Isla Casa.
Picture the scene. You arrive at an airport (specifics on location and size are irrelevant). After spending an hour or so queuing in security, 30-minutes 'indulging' yourself with a poorly-made drink in some godawful departure lounge cafe, and then an undisclosed amount of time travelling to your final destination, you walk out of arrivals to your transfer, and arrive at your accommodation for the week- which comes in the form of a five-star luxury hotel in some ultra-desirable locale.
Only that's not necessarily the case.
They say Greece represents many countries rolled into one. From the serenity and tranquility of the mainland’s remote rural regions, to the islands with their picturesque bays and bustling towns, there’s plenty to choose from when trying to decide where to visit. Especially if you have the great fortune to pick Crete.
Whilst much has changed in this corner of Morocco, one thing remain the same- the perennial feeling of escapism, the air of relaxation, and the pervading sense that you’re switching off from normal life completely.
They say ‘see Venice and die’. And whilst it’s true that whoever ‘they’ are say a lot, in that instance 'they' hit the nail on the head in terms of just how beautiful Italy’s city on the lagoon actually is, for us there’s another corner of the country- equally associated with water- that stole our heart first.
If Italy ranks amongst the most beautiful holiday destinations in Europe (and the world for that matter), then Sardinia is the offshore jewel in the country’s crown. An island of unparalleled natural serenity- a place where dolphins guide lazy boats into harbour and life moves at a snail’s pace- it’s understandable it has long been seen as one of the ultimate vacation hotspots. Not least at the luxury end of the market.
It doesn’t take an industry expert to work out the travel and holiday sector has changed dramatically in the last few decades. Whereas once package vacations were the mainstay, skip forward to 2015 and the landscape looks markedly different.
As a country, Greece is many things to many people. Visitors might flock here for its abundant culture, millennia-spanning history, and fascinating sights. Others simply choose to make the trip to escape from it all; hauling up on some idyllic island for a week or two, with nothing other than the sound of a nearby taverna, and the omnipresent Mediterranean waves to break the silence.
Luxury Caribbean Destination Guide: Where to stay in Barbados
With charter flights arriving from the UK several times a day during peak season, and a summer that offers incredible value for money (there is a threat of hurricanes, although as any resident will tell you one hasn’t hit the island in several decades), Barbados lost its reputation as an exclusive destination some time ago. Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean it can’t offer exclusivity once you’re there.
If the south of France is known for one thing, then it must be opulence. OK, maybe we can add to that a couple of other words- ‘serene’, ‘natural’ and ‘beauty’. But, nevertheless, when people think of this Gallic region the idea of luxury immediately springs to mind.
