What’s New In Travel This Summer
The Paris Opening:
L'Appartement at La Tour D'Argent
La Tour d'Argent is one of Paris’s oldest and most famous restaurants. The building itself, overlooking the Seine and Notre Dame, dates back to the 16th century, while the restaurant has been run by the Terrail family for the last 200 years. The team recently opened a luxury apartment below the restaurant, inspired by the immaculate taste of the owner’s grandmother, who still lives in the building. The apartment has a mix of traditional Parisian and contemporary interiors across its bedroom, living area and kitchen. Bookmark it for an ultra-luxury trip – for €8,900 a night, guests can enjoy breakfast, dinner and a private driver for the day.
Visit TourDargent.com
The Cool Rental:
Hello Sunnanhed, Sweden
Autumn is a great time to visit Sweden, when its best food comes into season and the national parks glow in autumn colour. The new place to know is a 150-year-old barn in Dalarna, a county of forests, lakes and mountains in the middle of the country. Made for off-grid trips, the barn has minimalist Nordic design features, including 8m-high panelled ceilings and sliding glass walls. It sleeps seven across three double bedrooms, and has a spacious bathroom with a copper tub, and a fully equipped open kitchen. After long walks or hikes, downtime here is best spent watching Scandi noir films on the projector.
Visit HelloSunnanhed.com
The Cookery Course:
Palazzo Margherita Pasta School
Did you know Francis Ford Coppola has a hotel group? As well as properties in Central America, the great director owns Palazzo Margherita in the small southern Italian town of Bernalda. Coppola’s grandfather once lived in the 19th-century palazzo, which is now a nine-bedroom boutique hotel where guests can settle into a leisurely pace of life that revolves around dipping in the pool, enjoying long lunches and exploring the nearby towns. The hotel recently launched a pasta school so you can learn how to make the traditional dishes of Basilicata before enjoying them family style in the courtyard. Other foodie experiences on offer include trips to a local cheesemonger and cookery classes at the local bakery.
The Driving Experience:
Wild With Consent x East Anglia 350
Wild With Consent has partnered with the new East Anglia 350 route to offer bespoke self-drive 4x4 Defender experiences. With flatlands, fields, wildlife, windmills, medieval villages and historic landmarks, East Anglia is ideal for off-the-beaten-track adventures. Launched this year, the 350-mile driving route explores the Norfolk Broads, Suffolk’s coastlines, and the wildlife-rich Breckland countryside. There are numerous itineraries to choose from – we like the sound of the three-night Norfolk to Suffolk trip, pitching your tent in rural spots while storing your kit in the Defender.
Visit WildWithConsent.com
The Foodie Staycation:
Homegrown by Richard Corrigan
From 1st to 3rd November, chef Richard Corrigan will welcome guests to his 18th-century, 100-acre Virginia Park Lodge for ‘Homegrown’, a weekend-long foodie retreat celebrating the estate's 10th anniversary. Some of his famous chef pals – including Angela Hartnett, Valentine Warner and Robin Gill – will cook and offer masterclasses and foraging workshops that highlight the estate's seasonal produce and local suppliers. Highlights include a candlelit dinner hosted by Richard and Angela, followed by live Irish music at The Deerpark Inn on Saturday night, as well as activities like loch swimming and clay pigeon shooting throughout the weekend. Guests can stay in the main lodge, in a shepherd’s hut or a cottage on the estate. Prices start from £1,250pp for two nights.
Visit VirginiaParkLodge.com
LETIZIA CIGLIUTTI
The Golf Destination:
Viceroy at Ombria Algarve
Viceroy at Ombria Algarve opens its doors on 1st October. Located just north of Loulé and 30 minutes from Faro airport, the resort has 76 rooms and luxury 65 residences – and panoramic views of the Algarve's hills and plains. There’s also a spa, six restaurants and bars showcasing local produce, plus guest experiences from wine tastings to local excursions. Golfers will want to play its scenic 18-hole GEO-certified course. After play, the Clubhouse comprises a sports bar and restaurant, where you can settle scores over local beers. Rooms start from £450 a night.
Visit Ombria.com
The Hiking Holiday:
Sensoria Dolomites
One of the top hotels in the Dolomites has created its first hiking retreat. From 1st to 8th September, guests can enjoy a seven-night stay Sensoria Dolomites and four guided hikes through the peaks of north-eastern Italy. Routes are designed for proficient hikers: you’ll scale the Schlern and the famous Peitlerkofel, as well as heading out on other challenging climbs near the hotel, which is set at the foot of the Alpe di Siusi and has breath-taking views from every corner. Post-hike, guests can relax in the forest-surrounded spa, complete with saunas, indoor and outdoor pools, and a bathing house made from mountain spruce. The package starts from £1,665pp, including an all-inclusive stay and an 80-minute spa treatment.
Visit SensoriaDolomites.com
The James Bond Trip:
The Goldfinger Experience by The Chedi Andermatt
The Chedi Andermatt hotel is laying on a series of experiences to celebrate the 60th anniversary of Goldfinger, the classic Bond film shot in and around the glamorous Swiss Alpine resort. The experience includes two nights in the three-bedroom Furka Suite, a luxury residence with its own spa. The package also includes breakfast each morning, access to the hotel’s spa and health club, a day on its award-winning golf course, a Bond-themed afternoon tea, and full use of a Morgan 4x4 to explore the mountains. Guests will also receive a – wait for it – Omega Seamaster Diver 300M 007 watch. As if you needed any more reasons, the hotel also recently installed a Goldfinger exhibition in its living room, featuring original memorabilia.
Price available on request; until 31st October
Visit TheChediAndermatt.com
The Highland Retreat
Loch Rannoch Hotel
If you’d rather escape to the Highlands this year, Loch Rannoch Hotel is hosting a writing and wild swimming retreat that could be just the ticket. From 26th to 30th September, guests can join British actress and writer Doon Mackichan for a five-day programme, created with Travel Matters, which combines daily swims in the loch and journalling workshops. Evenings will be spent relaxing in the hotel’s fireside lounge with a glass of whisky, while daytime could involve cycling, fishing, relaxing in the spa, or playing badminton or squash on the courts. The retreat will encourage you to disconnect from your phones, reconnect with nature, and finally get started on that book you’ve been talking about… From £1,250pp.
Visit TravelMatters.co.uk
The Book:
We Are Experiencing A Slight Delay by Gary Janetti
Gary Janetti is the American TV writer and producer behind shows like Family Guy and Will & Grace. His latest project is part memoir, part travel book, in which he recounts his most memorable stories. He shares anecdotes from a spa weekend in Italy, a ride on the Orient Express, a family cruise on the Queen Mary 2, and an unexpected dinner with Maggie Smith. He also looks back on his most memorable journeys, from a road trip across Australia to securing a table at the Noma pop-up. We particularly liked the section on how to finesse a flight upgrade…
Visit Amazon.co.uk
The Solo Trips:
Flash Pack
Group tours can be tricky to get right if you don’t want to be lumped with a motley crew. This is where Flash Pack comes in with its high-end tours for solo travellers in their 30s and 40s. The operator has launched six trips for summer, ranging from four-day excursions in Europe to longer stays in Central America. We like the sound of the five-day tour across Oaxaca, Mexico, which includes street food tours, cookery classes, trips to petrified waterfalls and a mezcal masterclass. You can also book trips to Puerto Rico, Albania, Marrakech, Istanbul and Georgia. Accommodation, local transport, meals and airport transfers are all covered.
Visit FlashPack.com
ROMAN LOPEZ/UNSPLASH
The Ultra-Luxe Finca:
Fincadelica Xarraca
Fincadelica is a collection of ultra-luxury villas in Ibiza. It’s owned by Deliciously Sorted, a concierge service that caters to high-net-worth individuals, big-name DJs and those after extra special holidays in the Balearic Islands. Its newest villa, Xarraca, sits on the edge of Cala Xarraca beach to the north-west of Ibiza. The nine-bedroom property is secluded and has private beach access. Suites are spacious (some have balconies with sun loungers overlooking the sea) and the villa has a relaxed, bohemian aesthetic throughout – think rattan furniture, natural tones and woven textures. There’s a pool deck that could be straight out of a Slim Aarons book, as well as a home cinema, club room and numerous lounges. Prices are available on request.
Visit FincadelicaIbiza.com
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