ultratravel �

OUR GUIDE TO THE

50

The Telegraph

ultratravel SP

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GREATEST hOTELS

IN THE wORLD

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Where

dreams live

and emotions

are born

From the exquisite mosaics adorning

its palatial interiors to the mesmerising

murmur of the fountains in the courtyards,

the Royal Mansour refects the beauty, grace

and indeed, the very soul of Morocco.

A frst glimpse of this sensual luxury makes

the heart beat faster, awakening the senses.

But the true relaxation offered by this

paradise in the centre of bustling Marrakech

can only be experienced by a stay amidst the

elegant tranquillity and attention to detail

of the Royal Mansour. You and those you love

will leave refreshed in mind, body and spirit.

From dreams

& inspiration springs

the royal mansour

TEL.+212 (0) 529 80 80 80 www.royalmansour.com

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St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort, Río Grande

Toro Verde Nature Adventure Park, Orocovis Old San Juan

St. Regis Bahía Beach Resort, Río Gra

joeysal77, New York

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TROPICALTROPICAL

OASISOASIS

traveler reviewa

• Breathtaking beaches perfect for relaxing or enjoying your favorite water sport, including Flamenco in Culebra,

one of the most award-winning in the world

• Historic and unique Old San Juan, with structures that are UNESCO World Heritage Sites

• 3 of the world's 6 bioluminescent bays are in Puerto Rico

• El Yunque, the only tropical rainforest in the United States Forest System

• Toro Verde, nature adventure park with the tallest and longest ziplines in the world

• Over 20 golf courses with breathtaking views

• A vibrant and music-filled nightlife

• World famous local cuisine that will enchant your taste buds

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ultratravel �

ultratravel

Editor Charles Starmer-Smith

Creative director Johnny Morris

Deputy editor Lisa Grainger

Photography editor Joe Plimmer

Hotels editor Caroline Shearing

Sub editors Vicki Reeve

Tim Jepson

Executive publisher for

Ultratravel Limited Nick Perry

Publisher Toby Moore

Advertising inquiries

07768 106322 (Nick Perry)

020 7931 3239 (Chelsea Bradbury)

Ultratravel, 111 Buckingham Palace

Road, London SW1W 0DT

Twitter @TheHotelegraph

Francesca SyzThe London-based traveller

writes a weekly hotel column

for The Telegraph Magazine

and is a great fan of Ett Hem

hotel in Stockholm. “I love

their attention to detail.

The chefs treat guests like

old friends, rustling up

off-plan treats at breakfast

based on things they’ve

subtly gleaned you like.”

Nigel TisdallOur Caribbean specialist was

particularly impressed with

Belle Mont Farm on St Kitts

“because of the way this

pioneering hotel is reawakening

us to the joys of island produce.

Luscious organic avocados,

tangy Nevisian honey, fresh guava

juice and tuna straight off the

boat – get ready for the next big

foodie destination.”

Lee CobajAfter two years in Thailand, this traveller

has just moved back to her childhood

home of Hong Kong, from where she

writes about Asia. A hotel she particularly

likes, she says, is in Bali. “I could quite

happily hole up at the Alila Uluwatu for

months at a time, flitting between early

morning yoga classes, sublime seafood

lunches and long spa sessions.”

Doug RogersFrom his Virginia home, the

author and journalist makes

regular forays to New York –

and the Crosby Street Hotel.

“I enjoy it not only for their

decadent afternoon tea, but

also because you never know

who you might see there. On my

first visit, it was General Colin

Powell at the bar with outré

comedian Sandra Bernhard.”

Our HOTEL ExpErTs

Fiona Duncan The Telegraph’s expert has been

writing about hotels for 30 years,

so selecting just a few favourites

for this issue was no easy task.

A hotel she keeps returning to,

though, is Lime Wood. “It’s

a sanctuary: a combination

of glamorous and homely,

welcoming and tranquil, in the

middle of the New Forest.”

PLUS

Ariela Bard, Rosemary Behan, Annie Bennett, Adrian Bridge, Michelle Jana Chan, Gill Charlton, Sally Davies, Pippa de Bruyn, Kiki Deere, Danielle Demetriou,

Tim Ecott, Lisa Grainger, Doug Gray, Gabriella Le Breton, Lee Marshall, Fred Mawer, Fionnuala McHugh, Johnny Morris, Chris Moss, John O’Ceallaigh, Natalie Paris,

Debbie Pappyn, Anthony Peregrine, Nigel Richardson, Caroline Shearing, Charles Starmer-Smith, Nick Trend, Celia Walden and Claire Wrathall

The George V, Carlyle, Cipriani, Mandarin Oriental Hong Kong, Sandy Lane…

the fabulous properties that have not made our fnal cut reads like someone

else’s hot hotel list. But I maintain that absence makes the list grow stronger.

Starting with a clean slate, our team of editors, luxury travel writers, hotel

specialists and destination experts have scoured the globe to bring you only the

very best. We have not accepted the status quo, the grandes dames have not

enjoyed their usual seats at the top table and nor have we added new properties

simply for the sake of freshness. So what do these eclectic hotels have in common?

Firstly, they have each earned their place. Every hotel has been tried, tested,

rated and cross-compared – and that was just to make the long-list.

Secondly, they offer something extraordinary – be it location, service, style,

soul, design, seclusion, facilities, romance. But above all, these are properties

that will affect the way you feel. Life should be better when you check in.

Welcome to the Ultratravel guide to the greatest hotels on Earth.

Editor

JANUARY 16 2016

The FAB

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10 ultratravel

COOL IT The Moroccan chill-out

lounge at Finca Cortesín in Casares

ultratravel 11

europe

Our experts

Annie Bennett, Adrian Bridge, Michelle Jana Chan,

Sally Davies, Kiki Deere, Fiona Duncan, Lisa Grainger,

Gabriella Le Breton, Lee Marshall, John O’Ceallaigh,

Anthony Peregrine, Caroline Shearing, Francesca Syz,

Nigel Tisdall, Nick Trend

FINCA CORTESIN

C o s t a d e l S o l - S PA I N

It Is all about cool calmness at Finca Cortesín, an

andalusian idyll where jasmine and roses scent the air. In

the foothills of the sierra Bermeja, between Marbella and

sotogrande, this is the Costa del sol without the glitz but

with a lot of understated glamour. set in a vast estate with

one of the best golf courses in spain and a superb spa, it

is actually less than a decade old but looks like a traditional

country house, thanks to the renowned interior designer

Duarte Pinto Coelho, who sourced antiques from spain,

Portugal, Morocco and beyond. there are 67 suites and villas

with four bedrooms, all with plenty of space and peace.

From the moment guests arrive, they sense that everything

will be taken care of as they sink into a chair in the shade

of an ancient olive tree or dive into one of the pools – there

are four, including one down at the Beach Club. the Kabuki

Raw restaurant has just gained a Michelin star and the

Mediterranean cuisine at El Jardín de lutz deserves one too. AB

Doubles from £280; fincacortesin.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/fincacortesin

12 ultratravel

LES FERMES dE MARIE

M e g è v e - F R A N C E

As JeAn-Louis and Jocelyne sibuet strolled in the

mountains above stylish Megève, they were captivated

by the rustic charm of the ancient timber chalets

peppering the Alpine pastures. several years later, in 1989,

the duo launched their first Megève hotel, Les Fermes de

Marie, made of materials from those very chalets,

transported a short walk from the heart of Megève and

painstakingly restored. Reminiscent of a rural hamlet,

linked by meandering footpaths and burbling streams,

the nine chalets contain 70 cosy rooms and suites,

three restaurants, a ski shop and the original cowshed-

chic spa. in the outdoor hot tub, guests soak ski-tired

legs, contemplating the blanket of snow settled over wide

timber eaves, the fragrant pine swags and neatly stacked

logs cut for the countless open fires that warm the hotel’s

restaurants, inviting snugs and free-standing chalets.

The smallest of the chalets, Mont Blanc, is surely one

of the world’s finest suites: picture-perfect, with its own

garden, a homely sitting room with a vast open fire

and a romantic double room. GLB

Doubles from £298; fermesdemarie.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/fermesdemarie

HotEL du CAP-EdEN-RoC

A n t i b e s - F R A N C E

A ThRowBAck to the F scott Fitzgerald era, this grand

19th-century mansion on cap d’Antibes has 117 rooms and

two villas with sumptuous Louis XV and XVi furnishings,

gilded mirrors and chandeliers. The gastronomic eden-

Roc Restaurant has just been renovated and serves

classics such as roasted sea bass and lobster with

tarragon; the Grill offers Provençal-style gambas at the

seafront pavilion. set among nine hectares of landscaped

gardens, there are five clay tennis courts, a sisley spa

and a seawater pool cut into the natural rock. A seafront

diving board and overwater trapeze launch bathers into

the Mediterranean and there is a jetty for guests arriving

by boat. Best of all are the 33 beach cabins where the

illustrious and notorious come to hide: Marc chagall used

to paint on these clifftops, Roger Moore waterskied

here and Johnny weissmuller used to do his signature

Tarzan yell as he dived into the sea. MJC

Doubles from £400; hotel-du-cap-eden-roc.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/hotelducapedenroc

‘Four Seasons has the level of consistency you strive for as a

GRESHAM PALACE

B u d a p e s t - H U N G A RY

If servIce is a hallmark of a great

hotel, then Gresham Palace can

be said to deliver. A guest wanting

to propose to his girlfriend in style

asked for her to be given a wake-up

call by a bell boy dressed as a

Hungarian Hussar. (she said yes.)

If style is another criterion, this

magnificent building, originally the

creation of the London-based

Gresham Life Assurance society

and a meeting place for Budapest’s

affluent and arty, has it in abundance.

A €100m renovation in 2004 brought

the building back to its fin-de-siècle

prime, complete with art-nouveau

flourishes, zsolnay tiles and wrought-

iron Peacock Gates, and added some

extra four seasons pizzazz. When it

comes to location, Gresham Palace’s

position on the Danube, directly

overlooking the twinkling lights of

the chain Bridge, also earns it 10

out of 10. The wow factor begins

the moment guests set foot in the

hotel’s spectacular lobby, extends to

the Kollázs Brasserie & Bar and

continues right through to the

wake-up call the following morn. ABr

Doubles from £240; fourseasons.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/

greshampalace

Ett HEM

S t o c k h o l m - S W E D E N

iT’s noT eAsy to offer immaculate service and be disarmingly

down to earth at the same time, but staff at the 12-room ett

hem in stockholm’s leafy embassy district manage the trick

with aplomb. The name means “home” – in this case, a stylish

temple to nordic cosiness. housed in a mansion built in 1910,

the hotel’s design shows how it might have looked in its

day, with candlelit, parquet-floored drawing rooms furnished

with contemporary and vintage scandinavian furniture – one

with a grand piano for all to play – that lead into a book-lined

dining room. There are plenty of places to curl up, dine or

both. The food is exceptional: the chefs – several escapees

from Michelin-starred restaurants – rustle up local, seasonal

meals on request (beef tartare kimchi was a favourite)

in front of guests at the kitchen table. There’s also a pretty

conservatory, terraced garden and swedish sauna. each

bedroom is decadent and unique, with an antique porcelain-

tiled wood burner here, a vast free-standing tub there. FS

Doubles from £300; etthem.se

Full review telegraph.co.uk/etthem

‘Four Seasons has the level of consistency you strive for as a hotelier’

‘Four Seasons has the level of consistency you strive for as a

ultratravel 13

AbAdiA RetueRtA LedOMAiNe

V a l l a d o l i d - S PA I N

Lying in the bath, gazing across vineyards to

the mountains beyond while sipping a glass

of velvety Abadía Retuerta wine, is a pretty

good way to sink into the LeDomaine experience.

A Romanesque abbey in the Ribera del Duero

region is the spectacular setting for one of Spain’s

most sumptuous hotels. Although it dates back

to the 12th century, this is very much a 21st-century

place, with a Michelin-starred restaurant in the

former refectory and a spa where treatments

are based on a guest’s taste in wine. Although the

building and the surrounding estate are vast, there

are only 30 rooms and suites, mostly created

from the former monks’ cells, with newer options

in the stables. Members of staff outnumber guests

but are invariably unobtrusive. Personal butlers

are on call whenever anything is needed. The

former cloister garden is now a soothing spot

for languid breakfasts, while the chapter house

has been turned into a bar for after-dinner drinks.

The church is an intimate venue for a wedding –

and no one would want to go anywhere else

for a honeymoon. AB

Doubles from £310; ledomaine.es

Full review telegraph.co.uk/abadiaretuertaledomaine

‘Four Seasons has the level of consistency you strive for as a hotelier’sir rocco forte

LiMe wOOd

H a m p s h i r e - U N I t e d K I N g d o m

iT’S ALL about attention to detail at this ravishing,

deeply luxurious new Forest lair. Oak doors are thick;

paint finishes rich; floor lights come on as you walk

into the bathroom from your quietly opulent bedroom;

stylised sitting rooms, one with billiard table, melt one

into another, pale lemon into lilac into sage green,

each with an open fire. in the sybaritic Herb House spa,

guests can take in the forest views from the massive

sauna and eat inspired raw food in the Raw & Cured café.

Lime Wood is also home to Hartnett Holder & Co,

a heaven-sent partnership between that most grounded

of celebrity chefs, Angela Hartnett, and Lime Wood’s

own Luke Holder. Their italian-influenced forest dishes

and sharing plates are served in a richly coloured

velvety dining room that’s as glam as it’s laid-back. it’s

how we want to live today, and Lime Wood has captured

the mood. its setting at the heart of 145 square miles

of ancient heath and woodland only enhances its

standing as the epitome of chic rural luxury. FD

Doubles from £315; limewoodhotel.co.uk

Full review telegraph.co.uk/limewood

9:47PM

T e moment you def ned

“personal best time.”

The perfect vacation leaves you with a

new perspective, connecting you to those

experiences you wouldn’t encounter

anywhere else. It doesn’t have to take

place at a 32-acre, luxury oceanfront resort

along Hawaii’s beautiful Kohala Coast.

It doesn’t have to feature a private beach

club and a culinary destination like Marcus’

in Hamilton, Bermuda. It doesn’t have to

energize you at one of the world’s Leading

Spas in a palace in Montreux, Switzerland.

But it could. Welcome to Fairmont.

Gateway to your moment in over 20 countries.

fairmont.com

ultratravel 15

BELMOND hOtEL SPLENDIDO

P o r t o f i n o - i ta ly

Portofino is a theatrically pretty fishing village on the Ligurian riviera, where

traditional wooden boats and venerable churches sit beside mighty superyachts

and shiny outposts of Pucci and Gucci. Lording over this tripperish scene is

the indisputably splendid Belmond Hotel splendido, set high on a hillside, with

a glorious wisteria-cloaked façade, terraced gardens with infinity pool, and an

abiding sense that this really is one of the great hotels of italy. rex Harrison

started it all when he bought a villa nearby in the 1950s, and although this former

Benedictine monastery is now filled with photographs of its many glamorous

guests, there’s little stuffiness. Life here is all about a lazy lunch on the panoramic

terrace, with its lemon trees and views over Portofino Bay, as genial, long-serving

staff in café-crème jackets deliver dreamy dishes such as ravioli with walnut sauce

and baked sea bream. the 67 charming rooms and suites are spread over

five floors. Most have a balcony and sea view – perfect for throwing open the

shutters on a sunny morning and feeling in love with life. NTi

Doubles from £407; belmond.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/belmondsplendido

renowned designer

Lázaro rosa-Violán has

worked his theatrical,

baroque magic on this

neoclassical, 19th-

century building, once

home to the cotton-

makers’ guild. Artfully

desilvered floor-to-

ceiling mirrors reflect

vast sprays of cotton

bolls and white sofas,

and a majestic 1950s

suspended spiral

staircase rises from

the vestibule. in a year,

the Cotton House has

set a new benchmark for

hotel design and

immaculate service. in

L’Atelier, a salon lined

with bolts of cotton,

guests can choose from

swatches of super-soft

fabric and ask that

a tailor measure them

up for a shirt. next door,

in the coffered, frescoed

library, they can pull up

a turquoise armchair

by the fire and request

a cocktail from a discreet

navy-clad waitress. the

Batuar restaurant does

not disappoint, either,

with Catalan-inspired

dishes given creative

pizzazz and served, in

summer, on a colonial-

styled terrace shaded by

date palms and parasols.

Upstairs, a plunge pool

and daybeds offer an

oasis from which to

admire the spires of the

sagrada família. SD

Doubles from £175;

hotelcottonhouse.com

Full review telegraph.

co.uk/cottonhouse

GRAND hOtEL A VILLA

FELtRINELLI

l a k e G a r d a - i ta ly

LAke CoMo is perhaps the best known of the

italian lakes, but it’s Garda that is home to the

region’s finest hotel. formerly the retreat of

lumber magnate faustino feltrinelli’s sons,

Villa feltrinelli was home to Mussolini from 1943

to 1945 during the republic of salò. the turreted

wedding-cake pink villa is immersed in eight

acres of gardens shaded by olive, oak and

magnolia trees on the lake’s western shore.

with only 21 rooms, decorated with antiques

and historic prints, overnighting here is like

staying at a friend’s country home. on a

summer’s afternoon there’s nothing like a game

of croquet on the green, unwinding by the pool

or strolling in the lemon garden. with a staff

ratio of three to one, service is second to none.

And with two Michelin stars, stefano Baiocco

makes creative dishes that blend prized

ingredients with food from italy’s cucina povera.

there’s no need to dash to breakfast as it’s

served all day, and can be enjoyed anywhere,

just as it would be at a friend’s house. kD

Doubles from £798; villafeltrinelli.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/villafeltrinelli

FOUR SEASONS MOSCOW

M o s c o w - R U S S i a

A MiXtUre of stalin-era design, cinematic views and contemporary western styling have transformed this 21st-century

reimagining of the former Hotel Moskva (1935-2004) into a world-class wonder. four seasons took over the landmark

building in 2014 after a multimillion-pound reconstruction, thereby securing one of the most exclusive addresses – between

the kremlin and state duma – in the city. this proximity to power adds to the illusion of living like a moneyed local, a notion

fuelled by shimmering chandeliers, spa treatments that feature flakes of 24-carat gold, and marble-clad corridors that echo

to the click of killer heels en route to the low-lit cocktail bar. the sense of hedonism reaches a climax in the kremlin-facing

suites, where the views of red square and st Basil’s Cathedral make these the ultimate post-clubbing party pads. CS

Doubles from £213; fourseasons.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/fourseasonsmoscow

CLARIDGE’S

l o n d o n - U n i t e d K i n G d o M

if tHere’s one hotel that would make a perfect,

spoiling gift, it’s Claridge’s. once the staid and

stately base for royalty and dowager duchesses,

it is today at a pinnacle in its 160-year history.

slip past the celebrity-spotters outside, through

the revolving door and into the glacial marble-

floored front Hall, once a turning circle for

horse-drawn carriages. take the wrought-iron

lift, with sofa and attendant, to your room or

suite, perhaps designed by david Linley or

diane von fürstenberg. in the wonderful

chrome and marble art-deco bathroom,

luxuriate in the sunken tub, which fills in

seconds. see and be seen at breakfast or tea in

the ravishing foyer or for champagne in the

showy Claridge’s Bar, or slip into simon rogan’s

sylvan restaurant, fera, or the shadowy fumoir

for cocktails. Underpinned by continuity and

depth of service, Claridge’s is a ribbon-tied gift

box of a gorgeous, glamorous hotel. FD

Doubles from £420; claridges.co.uk

Full review telegraph.co.uk/claridges

COttON hOUSE hOtEL

B a r c e l o n a - S Pa i n

ultratravel 17

La ReseRve

P a r i s - F R A N C E

CasTeLLO di CasOLe

Tu s c a n y - I TA LY

Luchino Visconti knew a spectacular set when he saw

one, and in the 1960s, at the height of his film-making

fame, he choose this 10th-century hilltop tuscan estate

as his country retreat. in a land of sublime views, the

360-degree prospect over the countryside between

san Gimignano and siena is unparalleled. Four years ago,

the castle and the cluster of buildings around it were

converted into a hotel, while the old farmhouses

scattered around the surrounding vineyards, olive groves

and flower meadows have been restored as luxury villas.

the owners – timbers Resorts – have done a superb job:

the 50-odd bedrooms retain their original beamed

ceilings, terracotta floors and exposed stonework, while

antique furniture is combined with sumptuous italian

fabrics and topnotch facilities. Ristorante tosca – which

spills into the central courtyard – hits the right note with

outstanding regionally inspired dishes, homemade pastas,

local meats and estate-produced olive oils and wine.

An Essere spa and a lavish pool top the list of facilities

in this idyllic, immaculately run hotel. nt

Doubles from £382; castellodicasole.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/castellodicasole

this JAcquEs Garcia-designed

hotel feels more like the palatial

home of a Parisian millionaire

(such as its former owner,

Pierre cardin) than a hotel.

Located in the eighth

arrondissement, in a row of

grand haussmann-era houses,

it oozes bourgeois decadence,

its antique-filled living spaces

walled in ruby silk, its gilded

library adorned with leather-

bound tomes, its floors

scattered with Persian rugs.

the rooms, though, are light

and considered. Walls and

doors are solid and

soundproofed. Lights can be

turned off with one simple

switch. Beds are swathed in

crisp quagliotti linen and

bathrooms lined in white

carrara marble. the views, from

wrought-iron balconies, are as

romantic as the finest in Paris:

over the copper Pantheon

domes towards the Eiffel tower.

should any guest consider

leaving their suite, there’s

a candelit spa downstairs,

slick, elegantly attired staff

to arrange excursions, and

fine-dining menus by hot chef

Jérôme Banctel to sample. it’s

the discreet place for the pretty

and powerful to meet, so

nothing’s a bargain. But it’s so

deliciously French that the only

response is a Gallic shrug. LG

Doubles from £547; lareserve-

paris.com Full review

telegraph.co.uk/lareserve

ultratravel 19

the Gritti PALACe

Ve n i c e - I TA LY

“If we want everything to stay as it is,

everything needs to change.” So says tancredi

in the great twilight-of-the-aristocracy novel

Il Gattopardo. It could be the motto of historic

Venetian grande dame the Gritti Palace, whose

recent £36.5m top-to-toe restoration was

designed to make everything look the same –

just even more opulently stylish. One example:

every sparkling teardrop pendant of every

vintage chandelier was detached, repaired or

replaced and polished by Murano artisans. the

upgrade is most keenly felt in the 82 rooms,

their antique décor and fine Rubelli silk fabrics

freshened up by designer Chuck Chewning,

without forfeiting any romance. Personable GM

Paolo Lorenzoni is one of the best in the country

– courteous, ever-present, quick to respond to

problems – and the staff, in their impeccable

vintage liveries, are role models in a city

that doesn’t always get service right.

a waterside breakfast on the terrace overlooking

the shimmering Grand Canal has to be one

of the great Venetian experiences – it knocks

a Bellini in Harry’s Bar into a cocked hat. LM

Doubles from £310; thegrittipalace.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/grittipalace

BALLYFiN

C o u n t y L a o i s - I r e L A n d

One Of Ireland’s most lavish neoclassical

houses, Ballyfin stands in its own 614-acre

demesne, full of delights, including lake (with

glorious new water feature), water cascade,

Victorian fernery, edwardian rockery and

walled garden, not to mention the tower,

which has panoramic views of the Slieve

Bloom mountains from the top. a Downton-

esque knot of neatly uniformed staff awaits

each arriving guest, setting the tone for

service that is old school, yet full of Irish

warmth. the reception rooms are filled

with superb antiques and paintings and

there is a classically styled indoor pool and

two treatment rooms. every bedroom is

gorgeous, in classic Irish country-house style.

Perhaps the loveliest is Lady Caroline Coote,

with its graceful empire-style ceiling, but

it’s hard to choose. five more have recently

been added, making 20, from the lake-view

Lady Kildare, with its delicate chinoiserie,

to the subtle Indian accents of Lady

Mornington. as for the food, it lives up to the

surroundings. Standards are sky-high; this

is the sort of place where one jarring note

would spoil the show – but it never does. fd

Doubles from £407; ballyfin.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/ballyfin

D-hOteL MAriS

M a r m a r i s - T U r K e Y

SURROUnDeD by dramatic volcanic rocks and hillsides lush with almond trees,

D-Hotel Maris stands in an unblemished nature reserve and looks towards the aegean

and Mediterranean. Repeat guests know to request a harbour-facing room for the best

views and to make a point of sailing those turquoise-tinted waters aboard the resort’s

100ft yacht Pasa. Kayaking, diving and more can also be arranged at the watersports

centre, five beaches provide variety and a spa offers refuge on rare rainy days. On summer

evenings, dinner can be taken at an alfresco outpost of London’s Japanese restaurant

Zuma or one of five other dining options. wherever guests end up, service is sincere,

the crowd sophisticated and the atmosphere carefree. an additional bonus is that it’s

just a two-hour drive, or 25-minute helicopter transfer, from Dalaman airport. JO’C

Doubles from £220; dhotel.com.tr Full review telegraph.co.uk/dhotel

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BAStiDe De GOrDeS

P r o v e n c e - F r A n C e

PROVenCe’S tOUGH past has long provided the

setting for the well heeled and tasteful: hill-topping

villages, castles, ramparts. Rip out the ruffians and

they’re ripe for luxury. thus, the Bastide de Gordes,

clamped to the cliffside of france’s most fashionable

perched village. Here, among tight streets and steep

stairways, are french media stars, the more discreet

billionaires and visitors who like to be cushioned by

a five-star experience. the Bastide is their place.

Last year’s £18-million refit transformed a fine hotel

into a world beater. Its old façades unfold down the

drop where once the ramparts stood, in a series

of stone terraces bearing grey-green vegetation,

swimming pools and sunlit hideaways. Views to the

Luberon hills mesmerise. within, the 40 rooms and

suites recall the sumptuous side of the 18th century.

Corridors and stairs, rich with treasures, rarely arrive

at the same place twice. Manorial salons impose

elegance. Young staff, dressed as if for a fête circa

1912, have the bounce and smiles of a US musical

comedy. and down below there is the Sisley spa.

fine dining is in the hands of Michelin-man Pierre

Gagnaire; there’s a cheaper brasserie along the same

terrace. as you finish the rosé, replete, Provence is at

your feet. It’s been there a long time. It will wait. AP

Doubles from £141; bastide-de-gordes.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/bastidedegordes

There’s more than one type of

seahorse in the Cayman Islands.

caymanislands.co.uk

3 of life’s little luxuries

GRAND CAYMAN

LITTLE CAYMAN

CAYMAN BRAC

ultratravel 21

ASIA & AUSTRALASIA

Our expertS Gill Charlton, Lee Cobaj, Danielle Demetriou, Fiona Duncan, Lisa Grainger, Gabriella Le Breton, Fionnuala McHugh, Johnny Morris, Natalie Paris, Charles Starmer-Smith

NIHIWAtu

S u m b a - I N D O N E S I A

An hour’s flight east of Bali is sumba: an island

of ancestral villages, tribal traditions and, on

a forested fringe of long golden beach, nihiwatu.

originally a surf resort, it reopened in 2014

under James McBride, formerly of The Carlyle

in new York, and soon became known for its

simple luxuries and eco approach. Its villas –

the largest of which has its own pavilions,

kitchen and library – have pointed thatched

roofs that are typically sumbanese, private

infinity pools and bales set in gardens of banana

and frangipani trees. Butlers who attend to

the villas are happy to reveal their animist

culture to guests, whether that’s the symbols

woven into local ikat cloth or the importance of

the island’s spear-throwing festival. Experiences

include riding ponies into the surf, nudging

a paddleboard down-river, diving, and surfing

one of the world’s most famous left-hand breaks.

It’s a place in which, somewhere between

the sea spray and lost-world traditions, it’s

possible to lose yourself completely. NP

Doubles from £435; nihiwatu.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/nihiwatu

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22 ultratravel

QUALIA

W h i t s u n d ay s - A U ST R A L I A

When architect chris Beckingham designed

Qualia, the 60-pavilion resort perched on the

northernmost point of hamilton island, his brief

was to “draw the outside in”. When “outside” is the

tip of the World heritage-listed Great Barrier reef,

home to the world’s largest coral-reef ecosystem,

this meant capturing the glorious natural profusion

of the island. handcrafted from wood and stone,

the buildings blend into the natural terrain as

effortlessly as a koala curled in a gumtree.

all the exquisitely appointed pavilions face the

water, with uninterrupted views over the coral Sea,

and some have their own private plunge pools.

this is a self-contained haven with relaxation at its

heart, so guests are provided with their own golf

buggies to move around the manicured grounds

between two restaurants serving fine australian

cuisine, a cocktail bar, two pools and a private

beach, library and spa with a wide range of

treatments. Slow mornings might be spent

strolling on the beach by a glittering sea or just

lying in on soft, downy beds.ABa

Doubles from £500; qualia.com.au

Full review telegraph.co.uk/qualia

When indian industrialist Jamsetji

tata built this glorious indian Gothic

confection in 1903, he wanted it to be

the finest hotel in india, a place of

glamour and faultless service that was

open to all. and it was – and it is. it may

host a stream of a-list celebrities but

everyone experiences the same genuine

warmth and courtesy from its devoted

staff. rooms with a sea view in the

original Palace Wing are the finest,

reached via a magnificent cantilevered

staircase that climbs five floors to the

dome. Butlers arrive in a trice and never

hover in the hope of a tip. the concierges

have all of Mumbai at their fingertips,

from the best guided tours (my tip:

Mumbai by dawn) to seats at the art

deco regal for the latest Bollywood

blockbuster. and when the city and its

traffic become too much, there’s no

better retreat than the Sea Lounge for

Mumbai street-food (in particular,

bhelpuri), cucumber sandwiches for tea,

or a cold glass of indian wine as the sun

sets over the arabian Sea. GC

Doubles from £160; tajhotels.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/tajmumbai

‘I’m sure heaven

The UPPeR hOUSe

H o n g Ko n g - C H I N A

the cLue’S in the name. this is about

ascending into a realm that’s more supremely

stylish abode than hotel. the city’s babble

ceases at the Stone curtain, an entrance wall

designed by thomas heatherwick. Beyond,

two flickering lanterns (good feng shui) light

guests’ path up, up, up… via escalator and lift,

past scattered artworks of sinuous curve

and tempting texture. rooms – wonderfully

spacious, filled with sky – begin on the 38th

floor. at this height, hong Kong’s harbour is

a glittering distant necklace and, depending

on the room, the reach-out-and-touch

mountains a vision of tranquillity. Forget the

usual trimmings: there’s no check-in desk,

no pool or spa and the gym’s tiny; there isn’t

even paper – guest information arrives via an

iPod touch. elsewhere, though, the amenity

bags burst with ren skincare products, there’s

a hidden lawn, a library with flickering

fireplace, and an enveloping sense of urban

respite. and, on the 49th floor, is a single,

perfect restaurant called café Gray deluxe,

a gem set in the clouds. Fm

Doubles from £400; upperhouse.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/theupperhouse

ALILA ULUWATU

B u k i t P e n i n s u l a - B A L I

neW arriVaLS here find it nigh on impossible not to whip out their smartphones and

immediately try to capture the hotel’s phenomenal modernist architecture and indian Ocean

views. Perched atop cliffs on Bali’s peaceful Bukit Peninsula, alila uluwatu is all straight

lines, vivid whites, shimmering blues and black lava rocks. Villas are stylish and soothing,

with private pools and butlers who, depending on requests for private, discreet or indulgent

service, either lavish attention or flit around like genies, leaving treats on the table or

geranium face masks by the bathtub. Morning yoga sessions are invigorating, as are

laps of the 164ft cliff-hanging infinity pool. at the spa, warm coconut-oil massages leave

guests suspended somewhere between nodding off and nirvana. an added feel-good factor

comes from knowing that this is the first hotel in Bali to receive the highest level of

certification for environmentally sustainable design. LC

Doubles from £615; alilahotels.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/alilauluwatu

TAJ mAhAL PALAce mUmBAI

M u m b a i - I N d I A

ultratravel 23

AmAnsArA

S i e m R e a p - C A M B O D I A

AmAnsArA wAs originally a 1960s French modernist villa commissioned by

King sihanouk as a summer retreat for his VIP guests. The Aman group restored

the building in 2002 and later brought its signature minimalist style to bear

on a spa, a lap pool and 12 new suites furnished with terrazzo floors, hardwood

fittings, sandstone reliefs and private courtyard plunge pools. This refreshed

architectural gem is now run with sparkling efficiency by sally Baughen and her

staff and provides a perfect sanctuary from the booming streets of downtown

siem reap. more importantly, the hotel lies on the threshold of the Unesco

world Heritage site, home to Angkor wat and the jungle-clad ruins of

the Khmer Empire. Guests are provided with their own tuk-tuk and driver to

explore the rich heritage on their minimalistic doorstep. After a day of temple-

trotting, visitors are welcomed back by the cheery hotel staff with afternoon tea

served to the sounds of traditional Khmer music in the swish sixties dining

room. mid-century architecture meets 10th-century culture

– a heavenly combination. JM

Doubles from £609; aman.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/amansara

INIALA BEACH HOUSE

P h u ke t - T H A I L A N D

won’t look that dissimilar to Alila Villas Uluwatu. I cried when I had to leave’

Two years after its opening on the sands of

Natai Beach, just north of Phuket, this refined

designer property has established itself as one

of the most sought-after hotels in asia. and

not just because of its fantastical design –

there are beds which drop from the ceiling and

appear to hover above the floor, turquoise

starfish-shaped sofas and swarovski crystal-

encrusted pool tables – or its exquisite dining,

which is masterminded by eneko atxa, the

youngest spanish chef to be awarded three

Michelin stars. No, it’s because Iniala delivers

the kind of privacy that saudi princesses,

russian oligarchs, Californian tech giants and

Hollywood royalty require. with just three

three-bedroom villas, a penthouse suite and

associated children’s hotel, fronted by plenty

of private sand, it’s ideal for an exclusive

buy-out. Not that the four-villa mini hotel is

a gilded cage. activities include everything

from Muay Thai boxing classes with world-

class coaches and otherworldly spa treatments

in mother-of-pearl-clad cocoons to yachting

around the ancient sea-stacks that scatter the

waters of the glass-green andaman sea. LC

Doubles from £1,765; iniala.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/iniala

naomie harris

24 ultratravel

lAUCAlA

F I J I

This 3,500-acre private island has

been owned by two multi-millionaires

(Malcolm Forbes and red Bull’s Dietrich

Mateschitz) who have turned a natural

paradise into a holiday heaven. amid

flower-strewn forests, there’s a David

McLay Kidd golf course, a thatched spa

in the cool jungly forest, stables of

thoroughbred horses, a panoply of

pools, and a dive centre with 14 boats

and a submarine. Five restaurants serve

delicious dishes from teppanyaki wagyu

beef to exquisite morsels created using

ingredients from the island’s farm.

With only 25 villas – the most romantic

perched above crashing waves and the biggest set atop the island’s peak

– each guest feels as if they have the island to themselves. every inch is

looked after by 350 Fijian staff who, when they aren’t smiling or proffering

fresh fruit juice or a martini, are delivering warm banana cake or just-

cleaned shoes before vanishing to leave you watching distant waves

phosphoresce in the moonlight. LG

Doubles from £4,000; laucala.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/laucala

MANDARIN ORIENTAl TOkyO

To k y o - J A PA N

WhiLe The Mandarin Oriental offers sleek design mixed

with cutting-edge technology and an astonishing level

of intelligent service, it is the feeling of being in an aerial

cocoon of calm that distinguishes this hotel. it occupies

the top floors of the Nihonbashi Mitsui Tower in Tokyo’s

business and shopping district, with astounding views

from floor-to-ceiling windows in all 179 rooms and

suites. among a dozen bars and restaurants, the classy

Mandarin Bar is a favourite, while gourmands struggle

to choose between cantonese cuisine at sense and the

Tapas Molecular Bar, where cutlery is swapped for pipettes and syringes. in the

meditative 37th-floor spa and its pool, nothing but glass comes between swimmer

and the sight of snow-capped Mount Fuji bathed in the red glow of sunset. FD

Doubles from £317; mandarinoriental.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/mandarinorientaltokyo

ASABA

I z u P e n i n s u l a - J A PA N

BaMBOO FOresTs, lakes, blossoming trees, hot-spring baths, dancing fireflies,

the scent of tatami… if there is one place where the unpoetic might feel inspired

to write a haiku, it’s asaba. The 15th-century family-run ryokan, on the edge of the

hot-spring town shuzenji, is just two hours south of Tokyo by train. The entrance

is marked by a split cotton noren curtain hanging above a monochrome pebble

entrance, behind which elegant kimono-clad staff usher guests to one of 17

minimal guestrooms. each is designed in signature ryokan style, with tatami mat

floors, sliding screens, deep cypress baths, futons, paper lanterns and asymmetric

flower arrangements, as well as windows with views of pretty lakes and gardens.

Guests can soak in the restorative outdoor hot-spring baths before indulging in

a private in-room kaiseki dinner: a banquet of a dozen dishes fit for an emperor.

The harry Bertoia chairs in the lounge best sum up the asaba experience – it may

be rooted in heritage, but the atmosphere is fresh and modern. DD

Doubles from £660; relaischateaux.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/asaba

THE PENINSUlA

S h a n g h a i - C H I N A

The Peninsula experience

starts at the airport, where a

customised BMW whisks guests

downtown to this handsome

modern take on art-deco design.

attention to detail is evident

everywhere, from the beautiful

mosaic floor of the 82ft indoor

pool to the free international

calls at the press of a button.

The usual chocolate-on-the-

pillow is here a multi-drawered

lacquered box filled with

different treats. an intuitive

iPad controls lights, curtains

and much else. The River Rooms

are sensational: a wall of glass

provides views across the busy

huangpu River to sleek towers

designed by the world’s leading

architects. On balmy nights,

there is nowhere better in the

city for cocktails than sir elly’s

bar on the rooftop terrace,

watching the evening light show

play across buildings old and

new. unless, that is, it’s time

for a spin on the river aboard the

hotel’s own motor yacht. GC

Doubles from £247; shanghai.

peninsula.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/

peninsulashanghai

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ultratravel 25

THe OBeROI’S bush outpost lies just outside

Ranthambhore National Park, where tigers sunbathe

on old Raj ruins beneath a towering 1,000-year-old

fort. Although the bedrooms are made from canvas,

this is no jungle camp. Rather, it’s the grandest spot

in India from which to watch wildlife while being

looked after by some of the country’s most gracious

hoteliers. Beturbaned staff, in jewel-coloured kurtas,

are on hand when needed (invisible when not) to serve

Indian feasts in candlelit courtyards, proffer orange-

flower-scented face-towels after a safari or serve

rosewater iced tea by the fringed colonial-style pool

umbrellas. Naturalists offer lectures and take private

safaris through the park’s loveliest areas to see spotted

chital deer, rich birdlife and – with luck – tigers. And

the rooms are so sumptuous that it’s criminal not to

take time to recline on the carved four-posters, soak

amid rose-petals in lion-claw baths or take tea on

a silver tray while watching kingfishers diving into

waterlily-strewn ponds. LG

Doubles from £645; oberoihotels.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/oberoivanyavilas

SOUTHERN OCEAN LODGE

K a n g a r o o I s l a n d - A U ST R A L I A

PeRcHed ABOve Hanson Bay, this Kangaroo Island retreat offers a ringside seat to witness the South

Ocean in all its elemental glory. With no land mass between here and Antarctica to dampen the swell, waves

pound its sugar-white sands – a fact that did not escape the designers of this low-rise, sensitively crafted

luxe resort. The limestone-clad lobby has a wraparound screen of floor-to-ceiling glass, while views from the

21 contemporary suites, named after shipwrecks, are equally impressive. cantilevered, with glass-walled

bathrooms and sunken lounges, the design directs you to the wild exterior. The lavish 1,290sq ft Osprey

Pavilion is the pick, with a hand-crafted free-standing bath offering a panorama that takes some beating.

Add to this the fauna of Australia’s answer to the Galápagos, fresh native produce (foraged samphire, free-

range lamb), friendly service and a fine wine list and there can be few better places to be shipwrecked. CSS

Doubles from £1,050; southernoceanlodge.com.au Full review telegraph.co.uk/southernoceanlodge

PeelING BAcK the layers of this hotel is much like discovering

Bhutan itself. Uma’s ochre walls, broken by grand double doors,

are reminiscent of the country’s dzongs, or fortresses, albeit

softened by bougainvillea, poinsettias and camellias. Pass

through doors and courtyards, past smiling staff in traditional

Bhutanese dress, and views of densely forested hills unfold, with

terraced rice paddies cascading to the meandering Mo chu river

below. Throughout the eight-bedroom, two-villa property,

floor-to-ceiling windows and low-slung cream furnishings retain

the focus on the views. Traditional Bhutanese art, hand-knotted

rugs from Nepal and Indian cotton bed linens complete the

simple, authentic aesthetic. While the menu at the intimate

restaurant is global, spanning local specialities, gnocchi,

cassoulet and wagyu beef burgers, dishes are crafted from

local organic produce. Best of all, the property is also available

on an exclusive-use basis. GlB

Doubles from £440; comohotels.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/uma

UMA by COMO

P u n a k h a - B H U TA N

OBEROI VANYAVILAS

R a n t h a m b o r e - I N d I A

ultratravel 27

The MIDDLE EAST, AFRICA & INDIAN OCEAN

Our experts Rosemary Behan, Pippa de Bruyn, Tim Ecott, Lisa Grainger, Johnny Morris

Royal MansouR

M a r r a k e c h - M O R O C C O

PEOPLE DON’T cOmE to this hotel for a buzz or to be

part of a scene. It was built at the behest of morocco’s

king, mohammed VI, as a garden oasis and a showcase

for moroccan craftsmanship, and is a palace of calm.

What sings out loud, though, is the beauty of the

buildings: intricately carved domed ceilings, walls

adorned with zellij tiles, elaborate stucco detail and

charming, homely mud-walled riads with fireplaces,

characterful bedrooms and roof terraces for

sundowners. For those who do want to see other

people, there’s a glam cigar lounge and a cocktail bar,

the best hotel boutique in marrakech, and a cathedral-

sized white spa and hammam in which to steam.

Or there is exquisite food to savour: French and

moroccan morsels by the Parisian michelin-starred

chef Yannick Alléno, and a perfect breakfast served

outdoors beside lemon trees, from thick orange juice

and crisp French pastries to sweet moroccan figs and

honey. If you ever wanted to know how kings lived,

this is where you find out. LG

Doubles from £550; royalmansour.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/royalmansour

IT’s NO coincidence that Hollywood chose North as

the real incarnation of Thunderbirds’ Tracy Island for

the film. Guests, a mixture of potentates, oligarchs,

celebrities and royals, arrive by helicopter from

mahé to stay in just 11 totally private villas. They’re

so spacious that 10 are labelled Presidential and

the biggest simply called Villa North Island. North

redefines beach chic, with sumptuous natural fabrics

and acres of polished driftwood furniture and doors.

Guests set their own dress code, and order whatever

they like from the chef. This isn’t simply a smart

hotel and spa beside a beach covered in fine sand

the colour of spun sugar. It has some of seychelles’

best diving and fishing, kite-surfing and hiking.

Nesting turtles regularly come ashore, and on the

long west beach there are flying foxes, fairy terns,

whimbrels and crab plovers: evidence of the owners’

pledge to make it a Noah’s Ark. TE

Doubles from £4,435; north-island.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/northisland

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QASR AL SARAB DESERT RESORT

A b u D h a b i - U A E

Thanks in no small part to its location on the edge of the Empty Quarter, a 250,000sq mile expanse

of dramatic desert, this ambitious property (imagine building a five-star hotel’s foundations in sand,

and the logistics of water and electricity) leaves visitors with a real sense of the romance of arabia.

This is also achieved by the architecture and attention to detail shown both in the hotel’s main

building (beautifully lit at night) and in the fine individual villas, which command soul-enhancing

views. The fortress-style structure appears like a mirage, from which one can take in the stillness

and silence, momentous sunsets and black, starry nights. There are five excellent restaurants, a full-

service anantara spa and plenty of activities to choose from. Guests can also arrive by helicopter. RB

Doubles from £233; qasralsarab.anantara.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/qasralsarab

BURJ AL ARAB

D u b a i - U A E

EvEr wanTEd to live like an oligarch? There’s

nothing subtle about the Burj al arab, from its

name (meaning “tower of the arabs”) to its bold

1,053ft-high sail-shaped structure (still, at 15

years old, this is the third tallest hotel in the

world) built on its own small artificial island.

inside, all 202 rooms are duplex suites; the

smallest is 1,819sq ft. The 590ft-high atrium is a

showstopper. it’s a combination of the luxurious

rooms (with thick, heavy doors, marble floors,

winding staircase, personal office with an iMac,

Burj al arab-branded wine, massive bathrooms

with Jacuzzi baths, unique and panoramic views

of dubai) and the service that makes this an

exceptional place to stay. There’s a staff-to-

suite ratio of eight to one and every floor is

equipped with a desk of two butlers, staffed

24 hours a day. They’ll address you by name

and escort you through the gold-plated lifts and

corridors. There are nine bars and restaurants;

breakfast is a choice of three enormous but

very different buffets. and all the time you

feel wonderfully and exhilaratingly insulated

from reality. RB

Doubles from £1,076; jumeirah.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/burjalarab

FOUR SEASONS LANDAA GIRAAVARU

B a a At o l l - M A L D I V E S

ThE firsT ThinG you notice is the scale, as this

Maldivian island resort in the remote Baa atoll is

unusual in offering nearly two million square foot of

exotic tranquillity. Plenty of room for the wide palm-lined

boulevard leading to the heart of the hotel and beyond

to extensive cycle paths cocooned by mature gardenia

and lantern trees. Plenty of scope for privacy in the

coral-fronted villas complete with traditional open-air

rooms, a 39ft pool and a secluded walkway to the

sugar-soft beach. Then there is the award-winning

three-acre spa – a serious health centre with an

ayurvedic retreat providing up to three-week holistic

programmes. Best of all are the resort’s sustainable

initiatives, including a well-established turtle

conservation scheme, a coral-reef regeneration

programme (4,500 coral frames to date) and

a pioneering manta-ray research project –

all managed by a team of marine scientists. add

to this an exemplary service style led by the Zen-like

calm of general manager armando kraenzlin and

you have perfect hospitality in one of the world’s

most alluring environments. JM

Doubles from £756; fourseasons.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/fourseasonsmaldiveslg

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SINGITA SASAKWA LODGE

G r u m e t i R e s e r v e s - TA N Z A N I A

There are dozens of safari camps as romantic as

this, and sited in places as rich in wildlife. But sasakwa

isn’t a camp. It’s the most elegant boutique bush hotel

on the african continent: a glamorous colonial-style,

no-expense-spared Tanzanian outpost for those who

want to see wildlife without giving up an ounce of

comfort. rooms are little villas, with plunge pools and

sumptuous modern interiors by south african style

gurus Cécile & Boyd. Food is as delicate and fresh as any

fine-dining establishment (orange-yolked eggs benedict,

norwegian smoked salmon, mango crème brûlée), but

served under trees, on lamplit verandas or in silver-strewn

dining rooms. When guests don’t fancy going on safari

with expert guides, there are spa rooms, tennis courts,

infinity pools and, for proficient riders, fine horses on

which to gallop alongside giraffe or mingle with tens

of thousands of wildebeest as they snort and chomp.

or there are planters’ chairs, festooned with feather

cushions, from which to soak up the spectacular views

of the serengeti, and the privilege of being one of only

98 guests within 350,000 hectares of private reserve. LG

Doubles from £1,895; singita.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/singitasasakwa

IT Takes JUsT 15 minutes to circumnavigate this tiny

island, a mile off the northeast coast of Unguja, known

to most as zanzibar. after the first lap – a blissful stroll

on powder-soft sands encircling a casuarina forest

that sticks up like a tuft of unruly hair – one starts to

feel proprietary: a bizarre emotion but one, so staff

assure, that is normal. each of the 10 large bandas –

castaway shacks hidden in the dappled forest shade,

with a sandy walkway to the beach and striated blue

horizon – is open to the breeze and ocean sounds.

Comprising an enormous raised bedroom with steps

down into a coir-carpeted lounge-cum-dining room

with plush sofas, the luxury in this context feels

decadent, as does the privacy – the only visitors are

the delicately boned suni antelopes and, at sundown,

a barefoot butler who brings cocktails and lanterns to

light the walkway. delicious meals are served while

you dig your toes into the sand, and snorkelling amid

gem-like fish is a few strokes from the shore. Mnemba

is punted as a perfect honeymoon spot – I think it’s

even better for couples seeking to reignite smouldering

embers. This island is one powerful aphrodisiac. PDB

Doubles from £1,052; andbeyond.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/mnemba

ELLERMAN HOUSE

C a p e To w n - S O u T H A F R I C A

PerChed hIgh above the atlantic, in a 1.5-acre

terraced garden carved out of the Bantry Bay cliffs,

ellerman house enjoys perhaps the most spectacular

location in Cape Town, a city not short on views. With

just 13 rooms and suites sharing the sprawling grounds,

and outsiders welcome by prior arrangement or guest

invitation only, ellerman house is also the most private

hotel in the city, a secluded retreat with the kind of

hushed atmosphere that suits the many regular

visitors who treat it as their Cape Town home. Urbane

owner Paul harris is also one of the foremost

collectors of south african art: every wall here is

testament to his great eye and deep pockets. even

harris’s enormous wine collection, displayed in an

innovative “wine gallery” and described by many

as a work of art in its own right, is – along with the

24-hour guest pantry (chock-full with delectable

home-baked savoury and sweet treats), sumptuous

rooms, Cape riviera views and intuitive service – part

of the sum that sets this house apart. PDB

Doubles from £310; ellerman.co.za

Full review telegraph.co.uk/ellermanhouse

MNEMBA ISLAND

Z a n z i b a r - TA N Z A N I A

a m a n da wa k e l e y

‘Mnemba was like a Robinson Crusoe island: so simple and so beautiful. We showered

outside and woke up to doves cooing’

32 ultratravel

AMANGIRI

U t a h - U S A

A stone’s throw from the famous Lake Powell and the invisible border

between Arizona and Utah, the almost secret location of Amangiri at Canyon

Point is not easy to find in this extreme desert landscape. the clever design

is inspired by the rugged nature of the Utah landscape and the distinctive

entrada sandstone. Guests come here to relax around the swimming pool that

curves around a rock formation or to recharge in the 25,000sq ft Aman spa with

sweeping desert views and unique navajo-inspired treatments. executive chef

Jacob Anaya translates the regional new American cuisine into an agreeable mix

of light but hearty dishes, such as fish tacos, served on a private terrace with

a glass of chilled Californian white. All 34 rooms and suites extend from the

main building like an eagle’s wing, with views over the untamed landscape from

the bath or bed. the large folding windows can be completely opened on to the

private terrace, with low chairs and fireplace – the perfect spot from which to

marvel at the starry skies in the intensely black nights of southern Utah. DP

Doubles from £1,000; amanresorts.com Full review telegraph.co.uk/amangiri

The AMERICAS& CARIBBEAN

Our experts

Debbie Pappyn, Doug Gray, Fred Mawer, Chris Moss, Nigel richardson,

Douglas rogers, Nigel Tisdall, Celia Walden, Claire Wrathall

ultratravel 33

‘Amangiri looks like a futuristic hotel that’s been built

on the surface of the Moon’ moby

THIS IS the hotel where every celebratory

event could be spent, with the same cocktail

in hand (a dirty martini; hold the vermouth).

From the moment guests pull into the

famous Santa Monica hotel driveway

there’s an old-school attention to service

that, unlike so many Californian hotels, never

borders on overfamiliarity. A preposterously

handsome, preppy young valet helps guests

out of their cars and carries their bags past

the collection of Hockney, Lichtenstein and

Jasper Johns art works lining the walls of the

living room and up to one of the 186 guest

rooms. Unless they book one of the hotel’s 12

ocean-view suites, some visitors may find the

view disappointing. But interior decorator

Michael S Smith (who also decorated

the White House) has made up for this by

turning even the smallest room into

a miniature beach house, complete with oak

floors and hand-stitched Indian throws.

In any case, the best view is accessible to

all, from the bar balcony, where brunch,

lunch or tea can be ordered from the hotel

restaurant, 1 Pico (the homemade corned

beef with biscuits and gravy is out of

this world) and watch the sun go down

over Santa Monica Pier. CW

Doubles from £382; shuttersonthebeach.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/shutters

SHUTTERS ON THE BEACH

L o s A n g e l e s - U S A

FASANO

R i o d e J a n e i r o - B R A Z I L

WHEN YOUR hotel occupies the most fashionable corner of Rio, where the sugary

sands of Ipanema and Arpoador meet, there is some pressure to do justice to its

location. Fortunately, it was to São Paulo’s master of luxury hospitality, Rogério

Fasano, that the opportunity fell to inject some much needed pizzazz into a tired

Rio hotel scene. Today, the Fasano is the hotel to which everyone flocks, to witness

invigorating sunrises and sunsets, to take front-row seats to the most outrageous

carnival blocos and to witness action on the world’s most beautiful urban beach.

Inside, the sophisticated gloom of Philippe Starck’s corridors is punctuated by

Gaetano Pesce’s voluptuous, spotlit La Mamma chairs, while designer touches in

the rooms are rendered almost obsolete by the flawless views. The hotel is crowned

by a rooftop bar so in demand that Paulistanos book rooms for whole weekends

to sip the moreish caipirinhas and, downstairs, enjoy the best restaurant in town,

Fasano al Mare, helmed by award-winning chef Paolo Lavezzini. DG

Doubles from £480; fasano.com.br Full review telegraph.co.uk/fasano

Joe

F

le

tc

he

r

34 ultratravel

MASHPI LODGE

C h o c ó - EC U A D O R

When this modern, minimalist, glass-

walled jungle lodge opened in 2012,

it changed the accommodation game

in south America. Architect Alfredo

ribadeneira’s “protective cocoon” would

impress in a modern city; in the depths

of the Andean cloudforest, it is wild,

audacious and beautiful. though only

70 miles from Quito, mashpi Lodge sits in

splendid isolation, perched on a cliff at the

end of an unsealed road. sensitively tucked

into the canopy, you don’t see it till you

arrive. inside, grey tiled floors, natural hues

and exposed tubing mean nothing detracts

from what guests are here to experience:

the greenery that wraps around the hotel’s

huge walls of clear tempered glass. the

22 rooms maintain the clean design lines,

featuring bamboo-and-glass décor, soft

rugs and plush armchairs. three Yaku

suites are more spacious, and come with

Philippe starck baths. days kick off with

pre-breakfast birdwatching, before heading

to the butterfly sanctuary, observation

tower, aerial canopy ride and jungle trails.

Biodiversity is breathtaking in the Chocó-

darien region, and the olinguito – the first

carnivorous mammal discovered in 35

years – can be observed here. Adventures

completed and species ticked, a Jacuzzi,

cocktail and Peruvian fusion food await. CM

Doubles from £864; mashpilodge.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/mashpilodge

INKATERRA LA CASONA

C u z c o - P E R U

CUZCo, imperial capital of the inca, was adopted by

the conquering spanish as the ideal location for their

grandest palaces, churches and mansions. La Casona,

on a beautiful plaza in the san Blas district, is thought

to be the oldest colonial building in the city and was

briefly the home of liberator simón Bolívar. Carefully

restored before opening in 2008 – it became Peru’s first

relais & Châteaux hotel a year later – it still feels like

a conquistador’s private residence. the old World dark-

wood furniture, faded frescoes and antiques harmonise

well with the earthy hues of Andean throws and exposed

stonework. eleven sumptuous and spacious suites

overlook the plaza or inner courtyards, and all have

private dining spaces as well as stone fireplaces, heated

wooden floors and marble bathrooms. Plaza suite two,

the largest, was occupied by conquistador diego

de Almagro. the in-house restaurant serves quinoa

pancakes and coca tea for breakfast and Peruvian fusion

food (guinea pig confit, Andean trout in Brazil-nut

tempura) for lunch and dinner. the small Yacu spa has

an ecclesiastical calm. staff are low-key, courteous to

a fault, and speak impeccable english. on the doorstep

is the museum of Pre-Columbian Art and most major

sights as well as many of Cuzco’s best restaurants. CM

Doubles from £280; inkaterra.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/inkaterralacasona

THE RANCH AT ROCK CREEK

M o n t a n a - U S A

investment BAnker James manley saw 500 ranches before he found one

that matched his wishlist. A valley to ensure privacy: check. A mountain he could

ski on: check. “A cool Western town” nearby: check. he didn’t want grizzlies,

rattlesnakes or cougars (though there are elk, moose, deer, less dangerous bears

and wolves). the altitude needed to be not so elevated as to cause mountain

sickness. And he wanted a river teeming with trout. eventually he settled

on 6,800 acres of the Anaconda-Pintler wilderness, restored its 19th-century

buildings and added a granite lodge, some long cabins (the loveliest are Bluebird

and eagle’s Perch) and a row of riverfront tents. the real appeal, however, is

the activities: all the riding, shooting, fishing, archery, mountain biking and,

in winter, skiing, skating, snowmobiling, sledding and sleigh rides you have the

energy for are included, as are three meals a day and drinks, even in its silver

dollar saloon, where you sit on swivelling saddles at a bar encrusted with real

silver dollars. there’s nowhere better to connect with your inner Jesse James. CWr

Doubles from £1,290; theranchatrockcreek.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/ranchatrockcreek

BELLE MONT FARM

S t K i t t s - C A R I B B E A N

set A thoUsAnd foot up in the

rainforested hills of northern st kitts,

Belle mont Farm opened just over

a year ago and strives to be a game-

changer in the world of sustainable

luxury. Created by the charismatic

trinidadian entrepreneur val

kempadoo, and built and staffed by

islanders, it sits on a 400-acre

organic farm, with uplifting views

across to the neighbouring island of

st eustatius. the 84 wooden

guesthouses designed by star

architect Bill Bensley come in a grand,

Caribbean-colonial style with

a majestic four-poster bed, private

plunge pool and outdoor bath.

Activities include mountain hikes and

golf (on a pioneering organic course),

but the most compelling reason to

visit is the groundbreaking cuisine

served in the kitchen restaurant.

here, French chef Christophe Letard

is not only rethinking ways to use

local ingredients such as sorrel,

christophene and guava, he’s also

teaching kittitians how to follow

his innovative style. the result is

a banquet of farm-to-table treats,

including a delightful tropical

breakfast served in the nursery

gardens and a sunday brunch served

with free-flowing Bollinger. NT

Doubles from £731; bellemontfarm.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/

bellemontfarm

ultratravel 35

FOGO ISLAND INN

N e w f o u n d l a n d - C A N A DA

Dusk, when the windows glow through the sub-

Arctic gloom, is when it looks most extraordinary

– like a visitation from Planet hip. Perched on

a rocky island foreshore off newfoundland, on

Canada’s Atlantic seaboard, the Fogo Island Inn

draws inspiration from the remote fishing

community that surrounds it. Its oblong exterior

may look like a boho slice of London or new York,

but is modelled on Fogo Island’s clapboard

houses, while the minimalist décor is handcrafted

on the island to the designs of top north

American and european designers who were in

turn inspired by local traditions. In the kitchen,

chef Murray McDonald puts newfoundland on

a plate by using foraged berries and greens and

“wild things from the north Atlantic”, and every

one of the 29 suites has an ocean view and

a woodburning stove. It may stand on stilts but

the inn is far from aloof. In a unique example

of social entrepreneurship, pioneered by local

woman-made-good Zita Cobb, all profits are

ploughed back into the local community. NR

Doubles from £468; fogoislandinn.ca

Full review telegraph.co.uk/fogoisland

SUGAR BEACH

S t L u c i a - C A r i b b e A N

sugAr BeACh’s location is arguably the most

memorable of any hotel in the Caribbean. The

former sugar plantation sits in the cleavage of

st Lucia’s landmark Pitons, a pair of verdant

volcanic spires that soar steeply out of the deep

blue ocean. A crescent of dazzlingly white

(imported) sand completes the multicoloured

picture. The Viceroy hotel group has invested

around £65 million in a complete, tasteful revamp

of the property that used to be called The Jalousie

Plantation, and the results are impressive.

supremely elegant bedrooms have a neo-colonial

look, with furnishings and shutters in white, as

if not to distract from the surroundings. Much of

the accommodation takes the form of clapboard

villas set up the hillside of the 100-acre estate,

with astonishing views from their terraces and

plunge pools. Other highlights include a spa set

in treehouses above the forest floor, stylish

restaurants and bars, fantastic snorkelling and

diving just offshore, plus butler service (you’re

provided with a mobile phone to stay in touch). FM

Doubles from £342; viceroyhotelsandresorts.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/sugarbeach

CROSBY STREET HOTEL

N e w Yo r k - U S A

In The heArT of fabulously fashionable soho, but on a discreet

cobblestone street, this red-brick façade and blue-lit exterior

promises a flashy boutique hotel. Inside, though, it’s all sumptuous

elegance: soaring ceilings, dark-wood furniture, subtle grey, mauve,

red and white tones, and contemporary art on the walls. The

english influence in the only American hotel of the uk’s

Firmdale group is evident in the popular afternoon teas – steak

and stilton Cornish pasties, spiced gingerbread english trifle – and

in the floral-patterned wallpaper and decorative sofas of designer

kit kemp’s fresh, light-filled interiors. The 86 rooms all have floor-

to-ceiling warehouse windows (the upper floors with stunning

Lower Manhattan views); the second-floor Meadow suite also has

a private terrace garden. Downstairs, the spacious Crosby Bar

goes from serving english breakfasts and those teas to cocktails

and dinner, some ingredients coming from chef Anthony Paris’s

12th-floor rooftop garden and urban chicken coop. Another

highlight is the swanky state-of-the-art 99-seat cinema used

for film-festival screenings and a sunday-night film club. DR

Doubles from £400; firmdalehotels.com

Full review telegraph.co.uk/crosbystreet

36 ultratravel

Since starring in the 1987 cult film

Withnail and I, the Swazi-born actor

has appeared in more than 80 films,

and directed one, Wah-Wah, about

growing up in post-colonial Africa.

In 2012 he became a modern hotel inspector

in Hotel Secrets, in which he explored the

hospitality world, from Soho to Shanghai.

How many holidays do you take a year?

Since buying a small farmhouse in Provence when

my daughter was born, we have spent six weeks

there every summer for the past 26 years. I adore

that summery dose of sunshine, garlic, olive

oil, brocantes and badminton. To avoid the drizzly

post-Christmas doldrums, we’ve been flying

to the Caribbean for as long as I’ve been able to

afford it: at first to the Coral Reef Club (coralreef

barbados.com) in Barbados, then to Mustique.

What do you need for a perfect holiday?

My family. Luckily, our daughter still wants to

share holidays, so no matter where we go, we are

guaranteed to have a good time.

Your best holiday ever?

Friends flew us in their jet to Cape Town for a few

days, then to Swaziland for New Year’s Eve, where

we danced under the stars at the House on Fire

open-air theatre (house-on-fire.com), then on to

Mauritius where we played tennis and snorkelled

on coral reefs, then to Singita Lebombo (singita.

com) in the Kruger National Park, where we slept

in glass-fronted lodges above a waterhole

populated by crocs and hippos. It was luxury on

a scale we’ve never experienced before or since.

Earliest memory of travelling?

In 1964 I flew on my own from Swaziland on

a BOAC plane to meet my parents in London: an

incredible adventure. Mbabane, where I grew up,

got its first traffic light that year, so London left

an indelible impression. I went on a rollercoaster

in Battersea Park, saw Peter Pan’s statue in

Kensington, then tried ice-skating at Queensway.

Your most nostalgic destination?

Pigg’s Peak in northern Swaziland. The landscape,

light, smells and great friends time-warp me back

to the best aspects of my childhood.

Do you travel light or heavily?

Hand luggage only – since “losing” my luggage on

a couple of flights some years ago.

Your favourite city for a weekend away?

Rome. I check into Hotel d’Inghilterra (niquesa.

com) near the Spanish Steps, then walk until my

feet seize up and my jaw stops dropping. There’s

always something to savour, be it the citizens

promenading, the plethora of delicious restaurants

or the gasp-inducing perfection of the Pantheon.

A favourite stop-off is Da Felice (feliceatestaccio.

it), for the finest plateful of cacio e pepe, which is

usually followed by a sorbet on the Piazza Navona.

Favourite restaurant abroad?

La Petite Maison (lapetitemaison-nice.com) in

Nice, presided over by Nicole, who, depending on

her volcanic mood, is apt to greet you like a long-

lost friend or ignore you. The food is consistently

good, from truffles in various incarnations

to a divine mango and apricot concoction.

Favourite place for a drink?

A basket hung beneath a balloon soaring over the

Masai Mara in Kenya. You get a bird’s-eye view

of the wildlife below, and a sense of what life was

like before man “tamed” the wilderness.

The most romantic hotel you’ve ever been?

One in the Seychelles, on honeymoon 29 years

ago, that no longer exists. We spent the days

learning to scuba dive and gawping at fish and

the nights between the sheets. We were the only

Brits among all the German guests, so felt even

more cubbyholed away in this tropical nirvana.

The most glamorous room you have stayed?

The most expensive room was the penthouse

suite at the Four Seasons (fourseasons.com) in

Manhattan, which cost an eye-watering £30,000

a night, with a grand piano and a bath that filled

in 60 seconds! My first choice, though, would

be Ballyfin (ballyfin.com) in Ireland. The level of

comfort is unsurpassed. It’s as if you’ve stepped

back into the very best of the 19th century with

21st-century amenities, like the grand country

house of good friends who have just popped out.

The most remote place you’ve travelled to?

While filming Hildegarde in Australia, I drove into

the Outback and kept expecting to see Crocodile

Dundee. Instead, the vast and empty red-soiled

landscape reminded me how insignificant I was.

What’s the roughest you’ve ever travelled?

My father had an aversion to camping, which

made me want to sleep in a tent all the more.

A school trip to Lesotho in 1975 finally answered

this call. As thrilling as it was to see dinosaur

footprints, the experience of setting up camp in

caves – with damp sleeping bags, smelly socks,

baked-bean air and sand everywhere – cured

me of any desire to travel rough again.

Favourite spots in southern Africa?

The Mkhaya Game Reserve (mkhaya.com) in

southern Swaziland, founded by Ted Reilly in the

1960s. The variety of game, including endangered

rhino and elephant, makes for an unforgettable

experience. The stone cottages, open-air baths,

mosquito-netted beds and campfire food create

a wonderfully intimate feel, and the smell of

paraffin lanterns and sounds of wildlife as I drift

off to sleep make me feel like I’m five again.

Travel essential you won’t do without?

All things Apple: the miniature miracle containing

books, camera, movies, music, diary, contacts.

Plus headphones and Jack, my signature scent.

The best airline in the world?

British Airways (ba.com). Its level of service, food

that’s not mucked about with, comfortable flat

beds, variety of entertainment and staff’s sense of

humour are a winning combination. You feel you

are almost home the moment you step on board.

The best places to stay in the UK?

The Savoy (fairmont.com), overlooking the

National Theatre and Southbank, has exceptional

service, and the fish and chips elevate that gastro

partnership to a new level. And there’s the bonus

of being able to stroll into the Savoy Theatre.

With Nails (Picador), Grant’s film diaries, is out now.

Interview by Lisa Grainger

Travelling life Richard E GrantThe actor on his childhood in Swaziland, jaw-dropping weekends in Rome, glorious stays at Ballyfin and summers in Provence

PAL

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‘Setting up camp in caves – with

damp sleeping bags, baked-bean air, sand

everywhere – cured me of any desire to travel

rough again’

© Telegraph Media Group Limited 2016. Published by TELEGRAPH MEDIA GROUP, 111 Buckingham Palace Road, London SW1W 0DT, and printed by Polestar UK Limited.

Colour reproduction by borngroup.com. Not to be sold separately from The Daily Telegraph. Ultratravel is a registered trademark licensed to The Daily Telegraph by PGP Media Limited

To discover more visit cunard.co.uk, contact your travel agent or call 0843 373 4090.

* Off ers applicable to new Cunard Fare bookings only. Upgrade off er valid on selected 2016 departures on selected stateroom grades and varies by ship. Make your choice of stateroom and pay the fare of a stateroom at least one type lower - e.g. book a Balcony and pay for an Inside or Oceanview. On board spending money off er is valid on selected 2017 Full World Cruises and Exotic Cruises departing January – May 2017. Amounts vary by stateroom type and cruise duration and are applicable to the fi rst two passengers sharing a stateroom. Both off ers expire 29 February 2016.

Enjoy a complimentary stateroom upgrade when you book a Mediterranean Cruise or Transatlantic Crossing. Or, travel further afi eld on an Exotic Cruise or World Voyage to receive

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ground. Here, Queen Elizabeth will call at the key cities

such as Stockholm, surrounded by green islands,

picture-perfect medieval Tallinn and the treasure-flled

city of St Petersburg.

Should you wish to venture south to the balmy

Canary Islands, there are several sailings from

Southampton. And if you have never cruised and want

to try, both Queen Elizabeth and Queen Mary 2

undertake short breaks to Germany and Belgium.

During the summer and autumn, Queen Victoria will

be based in the Mediterranean. There’s an intriguing

mix of combinations and routes available as she will

efectively has four “home” ports – Barcelona, Athens,

Venice and Civitavecchia, near Rome, with itineraries

from one to three weeks.

Depending on itinerary, on each voyage you will not

miss out on the major cities but may also be treated to

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city of Trieste, the lively Greek island of Mykonos and

the spectacular landscapes of Corsica.

exoTic journeys

A full World Voyage is the epitome of cruising, an

unmatched achievement in travel. Crossing between

continents unveils an ever-changing tapestry of cities,

landscapes, islands, climates and cultures.

If the several months required for such a journey are

not possible for you, there is a host of exotic cruises

from which to choose, of varying durations. Perhaps

you have always wanted to explore South America,

take in a large slice of the Far East, or cruise around

Australia and New Zealand.

You could join Queen Mary 2 in 2017 for a 49-night

voyage from Southampton to Sydney, via the

spectacular Panama Canal. Or why not fy out to

Australia to visit friends and family, then come home

over 56 nights on Queen Victoria via New Zealand,

Hawaii and the Caribbean?

Still too long? There are plenty of exotic shorter

voyages. On Queen Mary 2’s 28-night itinerary from

Sydney to Hong Kong, you will also visit Japan,

South Korea and China. And Queen Elizabeth takes a

leisurely 23 nights to sail from Dubai to Southampton,

passing through the Suez Canal.

Food, music And FAshion

This year Cunard is presenting a collection of special-

event cruises. On 23 June, Queen Elizabeth will sail out

of Southampton to circumnavigate Great Britain,

exploring its food heritage. The 12-night British Isles

Culinary Discovery voyage includes several calls in

Scotland as well as Belfast, Liverpool and Guernsey.

There will be all sorts of on-board and on-shore

activities with a food theme, including visits to famous

distilleries. The voyage will be joined by wine guru

Jilly Goolden and Charles Sichel of winemaker and

merchant Maison Sichel.

Grand balls are a Cunard hallmark and three voyages

in November deserve special mention. On each,

a Big Band Ball will be the highlight, with a gala

performance coinciding with founder Sir Samuel

Cunard’s birthday. Featuring music from the big band

and swing eras, the events will echo the glittering

nights of the Twenties.

Look out, too, for leading lights of music performing

on board this year, including legendary bandleader and

composer Herbie Hancock, celebrated jazz man

Gregory Porter and former Ultravox star Midge Ure.

Transatlantic Fashion Week takes place on

Queen Mary 2 in early September. This voyage to

New York will be a joy for followers of haute couture.

British design luminary Zandra Rhodes will be among

the guest speakers, as will New York Fashion Week

founder Fern Mallis and fashion commentator

Colin McDowell.

Guests can also look forward to hosted dinners and

catwalk shows featuring emerging faces from Storm

model agency showcasing collections by graduates of

the Royal College of Art.

For more information

visit cunard.co.uk

Cunard has very special

ofers for those who book a

voyage before 29 February,

2016. First there’s the

valuable Ultimate Upgrade

ofer:

Book a Balcony stateroom

and you will pay the price of

an Inside stateroom.

Book an exclusive

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stateroom.

Book an ultimate Queens

Grills suite for the cost of

a Princess Grills suite.

These upgrades apply to

selected voyages from

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to the Mediterranean,

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as well as Transatlantic

Crossings to or from

New York on board

Queen Mary 2.

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complimentary on-board

spending money for those

booking a 2017 World

Voyage or exotic cruise –

double the usual Cunard

fare allowance.

You could use this gift in the

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in the on-board boutiques

or towards luxurious

treatments in the spa.

SPECIAL OFFERS

Terms and conditions: Ofers applicable to new Cunard fare bookings only.

Upgrade of er valid on selected 2016 departures on selected stateroom

grades and varies by ship. Make your choice of stateroom and pay the fare of a

stateroom at least one type lower - eg book a Balcony and pay for an Inside or

Oceanview. On board spending money of er is valid on selected 2017 Full

World Cruises and Exoctic Cruises departing January–May 2017. Amounts vary

by stateroom type and cruise duration and are applicable to the frst two

passengers sharing a stateroom. Both of ers expire 29 February 2016.

Dream destinations

Clockwise from main

picture, New York at

night; Queen Mary 2 in

Geiranger fjord;

Queen Mary 2 in Sydney

Harbour; Queen Elizabeth

in Santorini

4C

OR

NE

Rs

A refned way to see the worldWith Cunard sailing all over the globe,

you can explore exciting new places,

revisit favourites and enjoy special-

event cruises, says Arthur Forrest

The world AwAiTs

With so much to enjoy on board a Cunard ship, it is

easy to forget the other tremendous advantage of a

holiday at sea – the wonderful array of destinations

visited. Having sailed the world’s oceans for more

than 175 years, Cunard has an unrivalled depth of

experience to call upon.

This year and next, the majestic Three Queens have

diferent but equally compelling roles in introducing

guests to exciting new places and taking them back to

cherished favourites.

And at each port into which your Cunard ship

proudly sails, the on-board team will present a wide

selection of shore excursions and activities, so there is

always something to appeal.

Perhaps you’d enjoy a walk around a city with a

guide who can tell you the stories behind what you see,

a tour to see the surrounding countryside, or

something more individual such as wine tasting or an

authentic cookery demonstration. Or, for the most

energetic, there are often the likes of kayaking,

helicopter fights and jungle treks.

The clAssic journey

Cunard’s most famous voyage has just one destination –

New York. Sail from Southampton on Queen Mary 2

and you will be following in the wake of famous names

whose photographs adorn the walls of this magnifcent

ship. Imagine the thrill as Queen Mary 2 sails into

New York harbour, with the Manhattan skyline in its

full cinematic glory.

Cunard can arrange hotel accommodation in the Big

Apple for as long as you like before fying home, and

you can do the journey in reverse to bring home all that

shopping with no luggage restrictions.

Yet your Cunard adventure need not end in New

York. There are opportunities this year to stay on board

to sail up the eastern seaboard into Canada, completing

the journey at Quebec, or come back to Manhattan

after visiting characterful Boston and wild Nova Scotia.

If you’re yearning for sunshine, Queen Mary 2 has a

spectacular 26-night itinerary in late November that

crosses to New York then tours the Caribbean, calling

at tropical gems such as Dominica and Tortola.

europeAn mArvels

Cruise from the UK or fy straight to the region that

most appeals – Cunard ofers plenty of opportunities

for both. In general, Queen Elizabeth embarks on

round trips from Southampton with superb itineraries

to the Mediterranean, taking in historic gems such as

Venice and less-visited jewels such as the Croatian

island of Korcula.

Queen Elizabeth is also the perfect platform from

which to view the Norwegian fords and even continue

on to Iceland, where the breathtaking setting of remote

Isafordur is an inspiring reward.

The Baltic Sea is another marvellous cruising

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CUNARD

Cunard has a fascinating history of transporting

animals – including a hippo on one voyage – and the

remastering of Queen Mary 2 will double the number

of kennels available for dogs or cats.

UnPArALLeLed LUXUrY

More than a century in the making, today’s Grills

experience aboard Cunard ships is the ultimate way to

travel by sea.

Earlier Cunard vessels, starting with Aquitania and

especially including the original Queen Mary and

Queen Elizabeth, needed to satisfy the exacting

requirements of a clientele that included royalty,

statesmen, global business leaders and Hollywood stars.

The same level of privilege can be enjoyed on all three

Cunard Queens today.

An exclusive domain on each ship, the Grills ofer

guests luxurious suite accommodation, separate dining

rooms, a private concierge and even an exclusive

outdoor deck.

There are two distinctive choices: Queens Grill and

Princess Grill, the former benefting from the most

spacious suites – including magnifcent duplex

apartments – and butler service.

Arrive at your departure point and, as a Grill

guest, you will be escorted through priority boarding.

In your suite, chocolates and a bottle of bubbly

will be waiting – perhaps for you to enjoy while your

butler unpacks your luggage if you have chosen

Queens Grill.

Look around your suite and you’ll notice the

generous walk-in wardrobe, marble bathroom

with bathtub, soft seating area, private verandah,

DVD player, fridge and comforting touches such as a

pillow menu.

In the exquisite Grills restaurant, your reserved

table awaits, immaculately set with Italian linen,

Wedgwood china and Waterford crystal. Cunard’s

most talented chefs will tempt you with delectable

dishes, from the classic to the contemporary. If you

can’t see exactly what you would like, something will

be created especially for you.

A concierge is on hand to book your appointments

in the spa, reserve the best seats in the theatre or

arrange a tailor-made shore excursion, such as private

wine-tasting session or a chaufeured drive around

a destination’s highlights.

Of course, Grill guests have free access to all the

ship’s facilities – the many swimming pools, designer

boutiques, extensive library, wonderful ballroom,

speciality restaurants, diverse entertainment and

unrivalled enrichment opportunities.

If you are travelling on Queen Mary 2, the Grill

experience is about to become even more indulgent as

part of her refurbishment. All the suites are being

given a new look and reconfgured to cleverly

maximise space. Fresh carpets and furnishings will

refect the rich heritage of Cunard and its famous ships

of yesteryear. Particular attention will be paid to

textures and highlights, such as artworks that

illustrate the striking designs of Cunard buildings

around the world.

In the Grill restaurants, a greater sense of space will

be provided. The decor throughout will be richly

updated and the menus enhanced with more options.

In short, the best will be even better.

Timeless luxury

Clockwise from left:

Queen Mary 2 arrives in Sydney

Harbour; exquisite dining is one

of the hallmarks of a Cunard

voyage; artists’ impressions of

the remastered Queens Grill and

the new Carinthia Lounge

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CUNARD

Redefning elegance for today’s travellers

Queen Mary 2 is not only the most

magnifcent ocean liner ever built,

she is the only true ocean liner sailing

the ocean today. That doesn’t mean

Cunard’s fagship can rest on her laurels.

She has a cherished status in the world that needs

to be maintained, which means she’s about to become

even more glamorous.

For some years Queen Mary 2 has ofered the only

luxury scheduled passenger service between Europe

and the US, continuing an unbroken tradition since

1840. Her hull is unique, designed specifcally to slice

smoothly through Atlantic waves. She also takes guests

on the most illustrious world voyage each year and on

several specially devised sailings.

Although Queen Mary 2 is relatively young,

Cunard will ensure she retains the accolade of the

grandest ship on the seas with a series of

enhancements this year.

Her inherent design is a superb blueprint.

She already ofers an unrivalled amount of space

per passenger and her levels of luxury and service

are unmatched by any other passenger vessel of

this size.

Early this spring, Queen Mary 2 will enter

dry-dock for a “remastering”. This major

refurbishment will create a new look and exciting

innovations in many areas, not least in the ultimate

cruise experience, the Cunard Grills.

After what’s going to be much more than a

simple spruce-up, she will relaunch with considerably

enhanced accommodation, a fresh take on casual

dining and a wonderful new lounge that’s sure

to become a favourite spot for guests old and new.

The hallmarks of the ship will remain intact:

the glorious theatre, exquisite Canyon Ranch Spa,

3D cinema, memorable dining, the priceless artworks,

the only planetarium at sea and the renowned

White Star Service.

A considered conversion

The biggest infuence on the remastering of

Queen Mary 2 is her “mother”, the original and

legendary RMS Queen Mary, launched in 1936.

In May, craftsmen will board Queen Mary 2 for

almost a month to bring her thoroughly up to date

while echoing the best of the past. Furnishings,

decorations and details from the frst ship will be

carefully intertwined with the state-of-the-art luxury

of today’s liner. Expect delightful art deco touches and

highlights, with features picked out in the traditional

Cunard colours of red and blue.

The premium Grills Suites will receive a fresh new

look, reconfgured to maximise space and reftted with

even more opulent furnishings (see below).

Britannia staterooms, already some of the plushest

of any ship, will be reftted under a programme that

starts this year and concludes late next year to minimise

impact on the ship’s operations. Again, they will have

designs inspired by Cunard’s history, such as geometric

carpet patterns refecting those of the original

Queen Mary and highlights in imperial blue and

antique gold.

A total of 30 new Britannia Club balcony staterooms

will be added to meet

demand for those preferring

personal outdoor space.

New single cabins will ofer

space and privacy to those

travelling alone.

A revised layout is planned

for the popular Kings Court

casual restaurant. Warm

timber fooring, chandeliers,

dramatic artworks and mirrors

that accentuate the sea views will create an enticing

mood, and cooking demonstrations are planned in

viewable kitchen areas.

There is a completely new venue – the Carinthia

Lounge – that has been remastered from the former

Winter Garden in response to a request from

passengers for a refned space for light daytime dining

and sophisticated evenings.

The elegant, airy Carinthia Lounge will serve healthy

breakfasts and lunches, along with speciality teas and

cofees, a dedicated patisserie counter and a

champagne afternoon tea as an alternative to that

served in the Queens Room. Later in the day, the

lounge transforms into a welcoming venue to enjoy

premium wines with platters of food and relaxed

entertainment.

Close to the promenade and Canyon Ranch Spa,

this lounge will provide the perfect setting to catch

up with friends or read a book. It will also beneft

from an impressive wine wall, walnut dance foor

and a suitably muted decor of powder blue, cream

and pale gold.

The superb Queen Mary 2 is about to

undergo a luxurious refurbishment.

Arthur Forrest fnds out what Cunard

guests can look forward to enjoying

More than

a century in

the making,

it’s the ultimate

way to travel

by sea

with an eminent guest speaker on a subject that has

always captured your imagination.

The foundation upon which Cunard’s reputation

is built is also a precious luxury – the renowned White

Star Service. Cunard’s crew is specially trained not just

to satisfy but to anticipate your desires. Respectful yet

amiable, personal yet discreet, the level of service

is a major infuence on the creation of those lifelong

memories with which every passenger leaves.

tHree MAJestiC sHiPs

Queen Mary 2, Queen Victoria and Queen Elizabeth

are distinctive and full of character. Grand in scale yet

stylish down to the last detail, each is a self-contained

world that invites you to discover, relax, indulge, learn,

enjoy – and smile. Each ship ofers a kaleidoscope of

activities, entertainment and dining options that entice

and enlighten. No two days on board need be the same.

Authenticity is the keyword, whether you’re sipping

a glass of bubbly in the chic Veuve Cliquot Champagne

Bar or supping a pint of beer in the classic British pub.

Stroll through the decks of a Cunard ship and you’ll

fnd surprises around every corner. A swimmer bobs

gently in an inviting blue pool on a teak deck. Friends

huddle over an atlas in the library. The door of the

theatre swings open and you hear thunderous applause.

There are several traditions that have long been

cherished. Prestigious evenings, on which so many

guests love to dress up in their fnest for cocktails,

dining and dancing, are always a huge pleasure.

Ballroom dancing is another hallmark. You can take

to the largest dancefoors at sea to the sounds of a live

big band or swing ensemble. And if your moves aren’t

quite up to Strictly standards, a few lessons will soon

have you doing the quickstep.

The Queens Room, in which the dancing takes place,

is also the refned setting for afternoon tea. A choice of

fne blends and dainty treats are served by white-gloved

waiters, often accompanied by a string quartet.

HiGH-CAliBre sPeAKers

Another way in which Cunard makes a statement

is in the calibre of the guest speakers on its Insights

programme. Over the years, historians, scientists,

authors, entertainers, naturalists and broadcasters

have inspired audiences. Previous years’ presentations

were given by, to name just a few, travel writer Bill

Bryson, motor-racing legend Sir Jackie Stewart and

former Bank of England governor Lord King.

Dining is a cornerstone of a Cunard holiday. Each ship

has a diverse collection of restaurants, with the grandly

appointed Britannia Restaurant and – exclusively for

Grills suite guests – the exquisite Queens and Princess

Grills restaurants being the main focus. Here Grill

guests can enjoy the pinnacle of Cunard dining

augmented by one of the most extensive cellars at sea.

Otherwise, your mood dictates where you eat.

A full English breakfast, a healthy light lunch, an

imaginative French afair, the spices of Asia and India,

a succulent steak… these are just a few of the options.

A voyage with Cunard is rewarding, enriching and

exhilarating – a luxurious adventure. And at its very

centre is you.

An elegant adventure

Clockwise from top: Queen

Elizabeth sails into Venice;

world-class dining on board

The unique story of Cunard

continues to evolve, and this

year the line is riding the

crest of a wave with some

exciting improvements and

ofers. In early summer,

fagship Queen Mary 2 will

undergo a remastering that

will enhance her already

considerable appeal, with

refurbished accommodation,

a fresh take on casual dining

and a divine new lounge.

See pages 4-5 for details.

Several exciting themed

cruises are taking place

this year, so book early if

your passion is for fashion,

food or music.

There are also special

ofers for early bookers

including stateroom

upgrades and extra

complimentary on-board

spending money. Turn to

pages 6-7 to fnd out more.

SPECIAL OFFERS

BROUGHT TO YOU BY CUNARD

See the world in grace and styleCunard has been redefning luxury for more than 175 years

with its magnifcent ships and peerless White Star Service.

Arthur Forrest discovers its passion for the extraordinary

A sense of occasion all day, every day.

That’s what Cunard guests have come

to expect. And this year there is even

more to anticipate, indulge in and love.

When a passenger ship sails into

a Norwegian ford, past Venice’s St Mark’s Square

or into New York Harbour, many watching from the

shore will quickly identify the distinctive black-and-

red funnel and acknowledge, with a subliminal sense

of respect, it’s a Cunard liner. For those on board, the

feeling of pride is even higher, for they are the

benefciaries of more than 175 years of rich history

and a mode of travel that’s without compromise.

Cunard can take you, in grace and style, to an

array of the world’s most fascinating and exciting

destinations. Wherever your Queen docks – from

Iceland to India, from Stockholm to Sydney, from

Barcelona to Brazil – you will feel part of an ever-

evolving story, one that continues to demonstrate

the heritage of the world’s most famous ships.

A voyage with Cunard is special. On board, guests

are indulged and pampered. The atmosphere is

civilised and glamorous, yet laughter is the most

common sound. You can be the centre of attention

or left to relax in peace – how you engage with your

holiday is always entirely up to you.

Much of this ambience is to do with the Britishness

of Cunard. This infuences everything from the stately

elegance of the ship’s architecture to the nurturing of

timeless traditions. In an age where many cruise ships

try to incorporate a bewildering assortment of attractions,

Cunard has no need for gimmicks. Everything on the

three magnifcent Queens is designed and operated with

you in mind, whether that’s opportunities for learning,

the chance to relax deeply, a supreme level of fne dining

or entertainment that will keep you in your seat.

DeFinitions oF luxury

Cunard is a luxury line, yet its luxury comes in many

forms. Sumptuous staterooms, an exquisite spa,

beautiful decor and grand public spaces can be taken

for granted. The attention to detail is phenomenal,

from the way in which your favourite cocktail is mixed

to the stitching on the elegant soft furnishings.

Luxury also means appreciating those less tangible

qualities. The way in which a waiter remembers the

way you like your steak cooked. The chance to chat

No other passenger line

has such a distinguished

history as Cunard. Last year

the company celebrated

175 years since founder

Samuel Cunard set out

across the Atlantic aboard

the ship Britannia on the frst

scheduled service between

Britain and America –

a service that, remarkably,

continues to this day on the

unsurpassed Queen Mary 2.

Since those early days,

Cunard ships have been

called upon to rescue

survivors of the Titanic,

transport large numbers of

troops in times of war and

set ocean speed records.

They have hosted royalty

and many household and

historical names, from

Charles Dickens to Clark

Gable and Nelson Mandela

to Rod Stewart.

Cunard’s current ships are

a result of this remarkable

breeding, infused with

a tradition of excellence. The

adventures may be diferent

today, but the company’s

passion for the extraordinary

remains the same.

AN ILLUSTRIOUS

HERITAGE

your guide to heaven on earth - SPring 2015

16 JANuAry 2016

TELEGRAPH.CO.UK/CUnARd

CUNARD’S

MAJESTIC

VOYAGES

three MAGNIFICeNt queeNs

the GrIlls experIeNCe

queeN MAry 2 reMAstered

dIvINe destINAtIoNsbrouGht to you by