By Arwa Lodhi Luxury hotels can be a beautiful thing. But all too often, even when set in the middle of the most pristine environments, they could be hurting your health with the chemical ‘air fresheners’ sprayed in the…
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Spa getaways
By Chere Di Boscio We all saw it and loved it: Trainspotting, the film. Remember the beginning? “Choose life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, Choose washing machines, cars, compact disc…
By Chere Di Boscio When the Victorian English began their Grand Tours of Europe, they became well known for demanding a ‘room with a view’ so they could escape the dreariness of grey old ‘Blighty’ and enjoy the sight…
By Chere Di Boscio Anything with the prefix DE- in it just seems to imply effort. For example? It’s easy to make a false statement, but much harder to debunk it. Humidifying a room is a breeze – just…
By Esme Bourne La Rosiere overlooks the beautiful vistas of a mountain range that leads to Val D’Isère and Les Arcs. It’s a town that exemplifies the traditional French way of life, where chalets are attached to working farms…
By Arwa Lodhi A new year often means a new you – people strive to improve themselves, both physically and mentally. With nearly two-thirds Londoners using their holiday time to attend routine health appointments, it seems that we are…
Looking for a women-focuses holiday surrounded by nature, off the beaten path? Consider surfing in El Salvador! By Wendy Altschuler The word on the street is that Jeppi, a former longboard surfing champion, was missing a toe. It happened…
By Maryan Abdinur Killer views and charming surroundings are enough to lure us into this quiet corner of southern Oman known for it’s rugged vistas and hidden oases. Enticingly off the beaten track, the Alila Jabal Akhdar requires some…
By Diane Small Ethically and environmentally, the Caribbean has a mixed but generally dark history. Colonialism brought monoculture crops – namely sugar, but there was also some cotton, indigo, rice and coffee – which destroyed much of the indigenous…
Need to change yourself, from the inside out? Try getting away to one of the best detox retreats in the world! By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi We all get stuck in routines. There can be no doubt about that. We…
By Paige French Stress management, socialising and staying sane under pressure are increasingly difficult in today’s urban hubs. Overcrowding, rubbish fast food and work demands mean most people are precipitously close to burning out. One of the easiest ways…
By Chere Di Boscio It all seemed a bit magical: within seconds of arriving to Gstaad, Switzerland’s iconic ski resort by train, a chauffeur whisked us up a snow-powdered mountain to the glittering Alpina hotel, where we were warmly…
By Matt Mellen Here’s a fact that may surprise you: what we think of as Scottish countryside – the barren highlands of heather and rock – are not, in fact, natural landscapes. Instead, they are the result of ancient…
By Chere Di Boscio After holidays spent over-eating, drinking, and being a bit too merry, many of us want a fresh start. We’ll be trying to detox ourselves of overindulgence by juicing and dieting and joining a gym. But…
By Arwa Lodhi You have two choices for the holidays: you can sit around, eat mince pies and drink loads of eggnog whilst lounging on the sofa chatting to friends and family before slinking off to bed in a…
By Diane Small We all want to live a long and healthy life and sometimes put a lot of pressure on ourselves to do so: we can set strict lifestyle regimes which can often leave us feeling unbalanced and…
By Diane Small With its sprawling gardens, heirloom furniture and glimpse into how life was lived in the past, it’s no wonder the hit series Downton Abbey sparked a fever for English countryside tourism. There are many fine estates…
By Lora O’Brien In a world that never quite seems to shut off, sometimes it feels so good to turn off your phone and just throw yourself into a relaxing yoga retreat. But as any seasoned yoga veteran knows,…
By Chiara Spagnoli Gabardi Living in a metropolis can be stimulating and engaging, but ever so fatiguing. We become easily addicted to running around non-stop, being sucked up in the flow of smartphone communications, work, commuting and cheap entertainment.…
By Chere Di Boscio One of the best holidays I’ve ever had in my life was at a LUX* property. Actually scratch that–THREE of the best holidays I’ve had, because I keep going back to LUX* le Morne in…
Looking for a luxurious home away from home in England? Sopwell House is it! By Diane Small Personally, I can only truly enjoy ‘luxury’ if I know I’m enjoying high-end services and goods that are gentle to the planet.…
By Ariadna Bakhmatova With the global wellness Spa scene expanding quicker than one can follow, I’ve always been much more eager to explore new holistic destinations rather than returning to the places I’ve been before. Yet there are a…
By Electra Gillies Meandering around a gorge, with stunning plunging views of the Ayung River, lies the sustainably forested reserve that is The COMO Shambhala Estate. Spilling from the heart of a Balinese village down to the picturesque flow…