Almeria Villa

A luxury holiday in the Caribbean conjures up images of many wonderful destinations and premier among them is Sandy Lane, an idyllic retreat in Barbados. First opened in 1961, Sandy Lane Barbados has everything a luxury holiday requires. Its unparalleled location on the sheltered west coast of the island overlooks the Caribbean Sea on a peaceful beach of coral sand.

The buildings are in classic Palladian style, echoing the classical temple architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome, timelessly elegant and fitting perfectly with the shimmering ocean, the shade given by mature mahogany trees and the golden beaches stretching invitingly into the distance.

Holidays can provide both a haven of peace as well as opportunities to experience activities and adventures to stretch both mind and body. Sandy Lane Barbados offers the ideal environment for both. With the comfort of 112 hotel rooms and suites and a splendid private villa the resort encourages guests to use its first class facilities to the full.

Golfers will appreciate the three golf courses available: exclusive to Sandy Lane guests, the Green Monkey course is renowned throughout the world having been carved from an old stone quarry, the Country Club and the Old Nine courses add to the golfing choices all of which have spectacular views of the coast.

Gourmet food is a natural addition to what Sandy Lane offers for a luxury holiday. Sip a cocktail on the veranda while watching the sun set and then tuck in to steamed barracuda fillet or Goan fish curry while sipping a fine wine from the extensive cellar.

Dubai has an eclectic mix of luxury, modernity and tradition that is vastly unlike any other city of the world and it is due to this that Dubai is one of the dream holiday destinations for people across the globe.  The location of the city itself is perfect because it is situated halfway between Europe, Africa and Asia, and can be reached from any city within a few hours or with an overnight flight.

Whether it is shopping, a luxurious holiday or high-powered business moves, Dubai is all of this and more, rolled into one.  The dazzling economic growth of Dubai has ensured that tourists get to experience not just the natural beauty of the city but can also enjoy luxury and style in glitzy and opulent shopping malls that are almost like mini towns.

A holiday in Dubai means a kaleidoscope of experiences such as the lively bustle of the souks, sandy white beaches, dusty villages, rugged mountains and the tranquil desert.  The city also offers a great choice of hotels, and a tourist can choose from eminently affordable lodgings to super luxury seven-star hotels all in the same stretch of the city.  The man made, awe-inspiring Palm Jumeriah Island never ceases to amaze people when flying in and out of the city.

For those in love with the yellow metal, Dubai is also known as the ‘City of Gold’ because of the sheer number of gold stores located at the gold souk.  The Dubai Creek splits the city into two major areas with Bur Dubai located in the south and Deira in the north. Each offers a wide range of contrasting cultures with ultra modern shopping malls on the one side and lively souks on the other.  For a starry, starry night (though without Don Mclean), a desert safari and a night of camping in the middle of the desert is strongly recommended.

Barbados is often called the Caribbean’s brightest jewel, full of a natural charm that is epitomised by its people, the Bajans. Hospitality and friendliness is at the core of Bajan philosophy and luxury holidays on the island are enhanced by the natural generosity of the people.

Barbados holidays are noted as a byword for luxury. The island swims in a blue-green sea where the clean beaches are of pure white sand, evoking childhood memories of seaside holidays. Fringed by coral reefs, Barbados is blessed by its warm, tropical climate, made even more pleasant by the constant breeze that keeps temperatures at a level to enjoy without overheating.

The east coast of the island attracts fresher winds from the Atlantic Ocean, whipping up the surf and providing fantastic conditions for surfers and windsurfers. In the quieter waters of the west there are opportunities for scuba diving and snorkelling, and anglers will always want to rise to the challenge of deep-sea fishing for shark or giant marlin.

Children are especially welcome in Barbados, with a whole raft of activities for them both on the water and on land. Organised sports, fun and games will keep their attention while the parents have an opportunity to take a quiet meal together or simply soak up the sun on a beach or by the pool.

Gastronomic delights consist of a multitude of fish, including lobster and barracuda as well as meat, all served up with imaginative sauces and side dishes in comfortable and welcoming restaurants. Desserts are frequently stunning concoctions with fruit and cream, the ideal way to end a perfect day.

Gone are the days where Ibiza was dismissed purely as a party destination.  This eclectic island has plenty of things to offer to people of all ages and has beautiful weather, particularly from May to October.  In fact, even in the winter months, temperatures can climb up to 25 degrees Celsius.

Although there are still party-orientated resorts on the island, such as Playa d’en Bossa, which houses infamous clubs such as Cafe Del Mar, there are plenty of calmer resorts where you can soak up the sun.  You can also admire the beautiful wildlife and visit the hidden archaeological treasures.  Going back to where it all began as a destination, Santa Eulalia and nearby Punta Cana were the hippy stop-off points for those on their way from Goa to Morrocco.  They still carry a relaxed, slow-paced vibe and the regular markets are a great place to stop and shop for unique souvenirs.

If you were to hire a car or moped, either of which is relatively cheap, you can find plenty of temples and churches hidden away in the hilly countryside, such as the ancient Christian place of worship, the Underground Chapel of Santa.  Also worth seeing is the old Phoenician settlement of Sa Caleta in the district of Sant Josep de sa Talaia situated in western Ibiza.  Also of Phoenician-Carthaginian history is the necropolis of Puig des Molins.

Do not forget Ibiza Town, which is a treasure trove of sights for those that appreciate old architecture, plus there are plenty of inviting cafes where you can put your feet up, or little taverns where you can enjoy tapas.  However, if all the sightseeing is not your thing, you could simply soak up the nice atmosphere.  Towering white cliffs and a green, hilly horizon together with a mix of sandy and rocky beaches makes it all clear why Ibiza became so popular in the first place.

Flights to Ibiza are still nice and cheap, and a great range of holiday deals ranging from self-catering holiday apartments to all-inclusive hotel deals mean you can take a break in Ibiza no matter what your financial situation is.

Equatorial Guinea, on the west coast of Africa, is made up of several islands as well as a coastal area. The mainland province is called Rio Muni and is mostly covered with forest, though there are several plantations and mountains as well.

The islands here are a great attraction for tourists, in part because their beaches are so lovely. Not to be rivalled, however, the inland areas of Equatorial Guinea are characterized by volcanoes and lush expanses of tropical vegetation. 

One of the main islands of this nation is Bioko, which is situated off the coast of Cameroon. Bioko has two major peaks with a southern region that is so rugged and wild, it is all but inaccessible to modern motor vehicles.

Because Equatorial Guinea was one of the few areas in Africa to be colonized by Spain, the capital of Malabo is a place where traditional Spanish architecture is on display, making it a charming holiday location. Restaurants in the nation serve mainly Spanish cuisine, and the fact that beer is expensive merely means that many tourists give malamba – a fermented sugar cane beverage – a try.

Most travellers to Croatia head straight for the island-hopping delights of Dalmatia, on the southern coast of the country.  Here, it seems, there is an island to suit everyone, from hedonistic partygoers to laid-back holidaymakers looking for nothing but sun, sea and good food.  However, it is worth looking beyond the obvious attractions of the Dalmatian coast to the north of the country, the tiny peninsula of Istria, which has a lot to offer travellers of all descriptions.

Istria occupies a triangle of land that juts into the Adriatic just over the border from Trieste in Italy. Having passed through the hands of many different empires over the years, it has developed a melting-pot culture all of its own, with an indigenous countryside architecture, cuisine and tradition. Although it is a small region, just over a thousand square miles in total, it has a variety of geographical zones within it, from the coastal regions to the central mountains.  As a result, Istrian food offers an Italian-influenced ‘surf-n-turf’ dish with wild boar, venison, truffles, pasta and wonderful fresh fish and seafood.  A visit to Istria is a guaranteed gastronomic treat.

While the rocky coastline means that keen sunbathers might struggle to find a comfortable spot on the rocky, stony beaches, it also means that the sea is beautifully clear and blue, offering excellent snorkelling and diving opportunities.  The area is rich in history, with a fantastic Roman arena in the capital, Pula, and many beautiful Venetian churches in the coastal towns.  Istria offers holidaymakers a brilliant range of experiences out of proportion with the region’s tiny size.

Visitors are often spoilt for choice when it comes to things to do and see while on Maldives holidays. Popular among these are adrenaline filled activities such as diving, surfing, snorkelling, wind surfing and swimming.

However, a complete holiday often incorporates a variety of things to do, especially being able to indulge in cultural activities that don’t revolve around staying within the parameters of your hotel or holiday resort. Taking a boat trip on a Dhoni (traditional sailing boat) is the best way to get to all the interesting cultural points of interest. 

Most houses in the Maldives use the native coral to adorn the exterior walls, and you can enjoy this spectacle by taking a stroll through the streets on the Adu Atoll. Male is the island where you will be able to visit museums – to learn about the history and culture of the Maldives – and mosques, which are integral to the lives of the Maldivian people.  
 
The Sultan Park is an idyllic surrounding for the Grand Friday mosque. This mosque dates back to the 17th Century and offers visitors a chance to understand the cultural development derived from this influence. The Islamic centre is another place of interest that aims to educate the visitor on the cultural aspects of the Maldivian people.

Visitors on Maldives luxury holidays can experience everyday Maldivian life by visiting the Maldives Fish Market.  This is a centre for activity where visitors can mingle with locals, at the same time being able to buy and sample the local fresh fruit, vegetables and fish, including the yellowfin tuna.

Soho House is arguably London’s best-known private members’ club, and is a favourite haunt of those in the film, media and creative industries.  It was founded in London in 1995 with the first premises in Greek Street in Soho.  It now has four clubs in London as well as Babington House near Frome in Somerset, and USA branches in New York, Miami and Hollywood. Another addition is Soho House Berlin.

Soho House Berlin has an interesting history; the club is located in the Mitte district of Berlin, spread over eight floors of a restored Bauhaus building.  The building was founded in 1928 as a department store before being taken over by the wartime government, and then the East Germany communist regime where it was used to store government archives.  On German reunification, it was restored to its original owners and subsequently transformed into Soho House Berlin. 

The club has 40 luxury bedrooms, all individually decorated and in a variety of sizes, as well as bars, restaurant, library, the Cowshed gym and spa, terrace with swimming pool and other facilities.  Soho House operates as a private members’ club and a variety of annual membership schemes are available ranging from individual branches to the worldwide group of clubs.  Non-members can also book rooms at the hotel, however, and as a boutique hotel experience in one of the trendiest parts of Berlin, Soho House Berlin is second to none.

The natural world sits alongside the ultimate holiday experience in the unspoilt Seychelles. A group of 115 islands, this archipelago in the western Indian Ocean is home to luxury holidays that inspire a love of the natural world and the peace and tranquillity synonymous with it.

Seychelles holidays have a backdrop of a tropical paradise where some of the world’s rarest wildlife and plants can be found. A sighting of the islands’ national bird, the protected but endangered Seychelles Black Parrot, is a special treat and the strange jellyfish tree and unique Coco-de-Mer palm with its gigantic seeds are just two of the botanical sights to enjoy.

The ocean is the setting for many water sports encompassing scuba diving, snorkelling, windsurfing and sailing. The chance to explore under the sea in crystal clear waters is hard to resist and a relaxing way to see the teeming tropical fish is through the lens of a glass-bottomed boat, a pleasant and relaxing cruise to ensure that the ocean life is accessible to non-divers.

Good food and drink are an important part of any unforgettable luxury holiday and Seychelles hotels and restaurants take the time and trouble to ensure that their culinary standards are extremely high. Every menu will show evidence of the natural bounty of the surrounding ocean, cooked to perfection and with delicious side dishes, salads and mouth-watering desserts to complete a real gastronomic experience. A nightcap of the veranda overlooking the white sandy beach is a fitting conclusion to every relaxing day.