Château de la Resle, Burgundy

Just fifteen minutes outside the town of Auxerre, and surrounded by vineyards and chocolate box towns of Burgundy, sits Château de la Resle – an intoxicating blend of bold modernity and old world charm. On arrival, it has all the hallmarks of a classic French mansion: wooden shutters, turreted roofs, oeils-de-boeuf windows, and façades drapedContinue reading “Château de la Resle, Burgundy”

EALA My Lakeside Dream, Lake Garda

Imagine a hotel where every corner elicits amazement, and where every turn features a different picture-perfect landscape. Add a rooftop bar, a private beach, a Michelin-recommended restaurant, and a full-sized spa, and you’ve just about conjured up EALA My Lakeside Dream, located near the northern tip of Italy’s Lake Garda. EALA is found inside aContinue reading “EALA My Lakeside Dream, Lake Garda”

Palazzo Segreti, Milan

Rarely is something that calls itself a ‘secret’ actually a secret. But in the case of Palazzo Segreti, an 18-room boutique hotel right in the centre of Milan’s fashion district, we really have found a hidden gem. Located between the Sforza Castle and the Duomo – less than ten minutes walk from both – PalazzoContinue reading “Palazzo Segreti, Milan”

Fontenille Torre Vella, Menorca

How do you choose where to stay on an island that specialises in luxury agrotourism? Menorca is a treasure trove of excellent boutique and small chain hotels, each one offering something different, from sunset bars to clifftop picnics. After much research and comparison, we decided on Torre Vella, one of two luxury hotels on theContinue reading “Fontenille Torre Vella, Menorca”

Relais Balcone di Giulietta, Verona

It’s every tourist’s dream: at 7pm every evening the crowds are dispersed from Verona’s most popular tourist attraction, the gates are locked, and you’re left in total privacy to enjoy the courtyard with Juliet’s balcony. It’s the sort of exclusive experience you might associate with endless waiting lists and an extortionate price tag. And yet,Continue reading “Relais Balcone di Giulietta, Verona”

Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda

The chances are that Gouda is not even on your radar yet, and almost definitely not as a luxury destination. At the risk of sounding cheesy (get it?), Gouda is more than just its greatest export. The town is a perfect taster of an authentic Dutch experience, just a stone’s throw from the country’s biggestContinue reading “Relais & Châteaux Weeshuis Gouda”

The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage

Edinburgh: a gothic wonderland of otherworldly charm, ghoulish tales and Harry Potter memorabilia. It’s one of Europe’s most ambient capitals with its underground vaults and gloomy alleyways, and also home to an impressive culinary scene with an abundance of excellent restaurants and bars to choose from. Ask a local where best to venture to seeContinue reading “The Lookout by Gardener’s Cottage”

Vivood Landscape Hotel

Just half an hour from the stag parties and all-day English breakfasts of Benidorm lies a paradise nestled in the rugged hills of the Costa Blanca. If you’re not from the region, the likelihood is that you’ve never heard of it and it keeps an equally low profile in reality too, hidden away among treesContinue reading “Vivood Landscape Hotel”

The House Boutique Suites, Amman

From the comfort of our bed on the 6th floor of The House Boutique Suites, we’re enjoying the best view in the city. As though back in our star-gazing bubble in Wadi Rum, we’ve left the curtains wide open and are taking in the city lights of Amman, glittering as far as the eye canContinue reading “The House Boutique Suites, Amman”