We like to keep our ears to the ground when it comes to what’s going on in the world of luxury hotels and resorts. If there’s a new hotel set to open or an exciting renovation in progress, you can rest assured, we’ll have the latest news to share with you.
Image: Caribtours – Huvafen Fushi
Huvafen Fushi, Maldives
How do you improve on perfection? That’s the problem that faced the leading architecture and interior design firm BLINK Design Group as they embarked on the renovation of long-time favourite Huvafen Fushi, which reopened in October 2023. A ten-week ‘glow up’ has refreshed the interiors of all 44 existing bungalows and pavilions, with a minimalist, nature-inspired aesthetic that makes use of organic forms, local materials and soft subtle colours. As previous guests may know, Huvafgen was the first resort in the Maldives to offer a private plunge pool in every room, and they continue to innovate with additions like the new outdoor over-reef lounge area at Raw restaurant. The resort’s shallow lagoon allows you to snorkel straight from the beach, and you’re also close to some of the best dive sites in the Maldives, home to marine life including sharks, turtles and manta rays.
Other enhancements include the new accommodation options; the stunning two-bedroom Ocean Pavillion and Beach House, and the three-bedroom Beach Pavillion. There is also a new interactive diving experience at the feet-in-the-sand Celsius restaurant, with dedicated cooking stations and a new menu. Celcius is just one of six amazing restaurants that continue to delight both new and returning visitors, as does the unique underwater spa. Truly, there is nowhere like Huvafen Fushi.
7 nights from £4,645 per person sharing a Lagoon Bungalow with Plunge Pool including breakfast. Save up to 35% on stays between 5 January and 30 September 2024
Six Senses La Sagesse, Grenada
Luxury wellness brand Six Senses makes its much-anticipated debut in the Caribbean with the sublime Six Senses La Sagesse, a hillside haven of tranquillity between two beautiful beaches. As you would expect, the resort offers a best-in-class spa and wellness experience, blending indigenous wisdom with cutting-edge science, nutrition and holistic therapies.
The low-rise accommodation, locally sourced menus and nature-focused kids’ programme and perfectly in keeping with the unspoilt surroundings, making this a wonderful choice for eco-conscious couples and families. There are 56 suites, all with a private plunge pool, plus 15 hillside and beachfront villas offering up to four bedrooms, with no building taller than a palm tree. The architecture is inspired by the region, with the feel of a Caribbean village, and all accommodations have been positioned to maximise the panoramic views of the turquoise sea.
The resort has a central pool, lakeside promenade and access to two beaches. The experience centre is the place to book your spa treatments and excursions, browse the boutique or enjoy some quiet time at the Library, while the Earth Lab operates informative and thought-provoking workshops on the natural world and how to lighten your footprint. The spa itself overlooks the lagoon and draws on local community knowledge and traditions, making ample use of indigenous plants and herbs. There is a children’s play centre and teen’s lounge for younger guests, and the Grow with Six Senses programme allows kids to reconnect with nature and get involved in activities like creating their own after-sun or treasure hunts and fitness challenges.
7 nights from £3,849 per person sharing a Lagoon Pool Suite including breakfast (stays between 1 June and 31 October 2024)
One&Only Kea Island, Kea Island near Athens
The inimitable One&Only arrives in the Greek islands for the first time with this stunning clifftop retreat, which opens doors in April 2024. Kea is the greenest and most fertile of the Cyclades islands, a jealously guarded secret among the well-to-do Athenians who holiday here.
Just 30 minutes by private boat from the Greek capital, the island is an Arcadian idyll of sleepy villages, rugged valleys and secluded beaches. The resort occupies 65 hectares of beautiful beachfront on the west coast, with 63 one and two-bedroom villages that fust classically Cycladic whitewashed walls with rich woods and gleaming marble. All villas have a private pool and panoramic sea views, along with spacious terrace, courtyard and fireplace.
You can savour artfully presented Greek dishes at the Taverna, sink into a shaded cabana at the Pool bar and enjoy the latest chilled beats at the beach Club while the sun goes down. As you expect in this part of the world, there is endless fun to be had on water, including sailing, snorkelling and diving, and there is also an enchanting spa and well-equipped fitness centre. One&Only always delivers the good when it comes to family fun, and the KidsOnly club offers creative activities including kite making, cooking, face painting and treasure hunts.
7 nights from £7.559 per person sharing a Cliff villa including breakfast, for stays between 1 May and 1 October 2024
One&Only Aesthesis, Athens
‘Nostalgia’ is one of the many words the Greek language has given to the world, and rarely has that sense of reverence for the past been more stylishly embodied than at the brand new One&Only Aesthesis.
Sequestered amongst 21 hectares of protected first, on a private stretch of the Athenian Riviera, this beautiful boutique hotel evokes the cosmopolitan elegance of the 1960’s with its mid-century coastal style.
There are just 127 rooms, bungalows and villas, embellished with artful touches like free-standing bathtubs in curving natural stone. Bungalows and suites have private pools and expansive terraces, while the villas are right on the seafront with extra quirks like sunken fire pits and fully equipped kitchens.
You can expect an elevated dining experience at Ore by Ettore Botrini, serving Greek cuisine with an Italian influence, and El Bar de Paco Morales is an innovative Andalusian restaurant from the man behind Cordoba’s two-Michelin-starred restaurant Noor. Completing the culinary line-up is Manko, a poolside Peruvian Club Restaurant. The hotel has three pools, along with a stunning Guerlain Spa, fitness centre, tennis court, cycling and running trails and the KidsOnly Club for 4-11 years. Athens is just a 30-minute drive away, and the hotel can arrange Acropolis tours, traditional sandal-making workshops, sunset cruises and more.
7 nights from £6,499 per person sharing an Aesthesis Bungalow including breakfast. Stay 3, pay 2 on dates between now and 31 May 2024, and 22 September and 31 October 2024.
