How to hire a private island: Top tips and where to book March 15, 2015 Think desert islands are only for the Bransons of this world? Fly away to your secluded paradise in the sun. Peter Island, British Virgin Islands elegantresorts.co.uk With over 1,800 acres of unspoilt land, five pristine beaches and only three villas, Peter Island is a real isolated hideaway in the Caribbean. It has a spa [...]
Top tips for booking your private island March 15, 2015 By Diana Cherry, director of operations at Oxford Private Travel 1 Plan your stay with travel in mind – One of the best things about private islands is their total seclusion, so by their nature, they can be a tricky to get to. If you only have five days or a long weekend for a [...]
Gordon Castle: Let us whisky you away to Scotland March 8, 2015 It was here atop the snow-spattered hills of Speyside in the Scottish Highlands that King Macbeth was said to have met his violent end. According to legend, it was the future King Malcolm III who stabbed him in 1057 (he died several weeks later). Life in the valleys rising up either side of the river [...]
48 hours in… Reykjavik March 8, 2015 WHERE TO GO Iceland is one of the best places to spot the Northern Lights. There is, of course, no guarantee you’ll be able to see them given the region’s unpredictable weather, but when the conditions are right they are spectacular. There is no best month to catch them, but avoid May-August, when the days [...]
A stunning glimpse into Japan’s past along the magnificent Nakasendo Way March 1, 2015 Japan’s sleek Shinkansen has been the country’s fastest mode of transport since it launched 50 years ago, its aerodynamic nose slicing through the rugged landscape. Before that, if you wanted to quickly traverse the country you would take the Nakasendo Way, one of five ancient highways built during the Edo period (1603-1868). Winding through the [...]
48 hours in… Gothenburg March 1, 2015 WHERE TO GO Cars aren’t allowed on the southern part of the Gothenburg archipelago – the 20 islands offer uninterrupted natural beauty with bijou villages and stunning beaches a short ferry journey from the city centre. Seal safaris, boat rides and fishing are just some of the activities available on the islands. goteborg.com WHERE TO [...]
Okinawa: Japan, but not as you know it February 22, 2015 Everyone who is serious about travel should have their Alex Garland destination; somewhere you can casually name-drop at dinner parties, safe in the knowledge that nobody else will have been. Garland immortalised – and doomed – Thailand’s then-pristine Koh Phangan when he wrote about it in his novel The Beach. That was in 1996, just [...]
48 hours in… Hamburg February 22, 2015 WHERE TO GO Planten un Blomen is Hamburg’s Hyde Park and you can’t beat it for beautiful flora (its name translates as “plants and flowers”). Look out for the Japanese garden and tea house located in the centre of the park WHERE TO EAT Fried plaice with potatoes, pickled herrings and labskaus (a Hamburgian delicacy [...]
Andaz Toranomon Hills arrives in Japan: A surefire contender for the best hotel in Tokyo February 15, 2015 Andaz’s signature blend of luxury and locality is immediately evident as you step into the lobby of its latest opening in Tokyo. More than 50 storeys up (the hotel fills the top seven floors of the second highest building in the city), Hokkaido walnut wood and rice paper panels remind guests that while they may [...]
48 hours in… Kyoto: Where to eat, sleep, drink and visit February 15, 2015 WHERE TO EAT Kiyamachi Sakuragawa Situated along a scenic stretch of the Kiyamachi-dori, Michelin-starred restaurant Kiyamachi Sakuragawa is an accessible way to try kaiseki, Japan’s haute cuisine. Smart casual dress is encouraged and the open kitchen means you can watch the chef whip up dishes while you wait. Call +81 255 4477. Bookings recommended. [...]