We round up Europe’s finest for some R&R
CARESSE RESORT & SPA TURKEY
Whether you close your eyes and listen to the Aegean waves lapping the sand, or keep them open and soak up views of the islands in the bay, you’re guaranteed a relaxing time on this five-star hotel’s private beach. A cordoned off swimming area, terracotta-coloured sunbeds and straw parasols all contribute to your comfort, while La Plage Restaurant is a stylish haven of wicker and wooden details, where plates of mouthwatering meze are served throughout the day. Although it has only been open for two summers, Caresse has quickly become one of the pre-eminent hotels on the Bodrum Peninsula. Its 77 rooms combine mid-century furniture with a marine palette and most have balconies with sea views. Doubles from £345. caresse.com
ST NICOLAS BAY RESORT CRETE
Famed for its crystalline water, the Gulf of Mirabello is ideal for scuba diving; if you can tear yourself away from the beach, that is. Space is rather limited on this private stretch, so there are never more than two rows of beds, making sun-worshiping as peaceful as possible. Whether you choose the pocket-sized sandy cove or one of the long ledges of the smooth rock, pretty landscaped gardens with multi-tiered swimming pools provide the backdrop. Tuck into sushi and sophisticated cocktails at The Blue Bay Restaurant and don’t miss the thrice-weekly open-air cinema nights. Accommodation includes villas, suites and standard doubles, all generous in size and luxuriously furnished. Doubles from £362. stnicolasbay.gr
CAP D’ANTIBES BEACH HOTEL FRANCE
Sand as fine as sugar, turquoise water and gentle breezes blowing off the Estérel mountains make Les Pêcheurs a fabulous beach, but it’s even more impressive given how rare it is for a hotel to actually own a stretch of coastline in France. Enjoy a glass of crisp Rosé de Provence at the Beach Bar while watching the yachts slide past on the horizon, then head to Le Cap Restaurant where you can feast on plates designed by Michelin-starred chef Nicolas Rodnelli. Where possible, all seafood is sourced from neighbouring bay Port du Crouton, so look out for anchovies, cod and prawns. Once the playground of the Lost Generation, including Ernest Hemingway and
F Scott Fitzgerald, this six-kilometre long peninsula half way between Cannes and Nice has more than its fair share of luxe hotels, but Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel is arguably the most exclusive of the lot. Futuristic buildings house 35 bedrooms with playful interiors, many of which were created by renowned designer Sybille de Margeri. Expect natural materials, a cool palette with whimsical pops of colour and large private terraces that cry out as the perfect spot for sundowners. Doubles from £340. ca-beachhotel.com
MANDARIN ORIENTAL, BODRUM TURKEY
Aptly named Paradise Bay is a breathtaking horseshoe of inky water with two magnificent beaches, both owned by Mandarin Oriental. This was the group’s first beach resort and it has been completed with their trademark aplomb. Tonnes of powdery sand imported from the Black Sea remain cool enough to walk on even in the midst of summer’s big burn and the water is exceptionally clear. At 2.5km long, Blue Beach is the larger of the two. It boasts private cabanas, a swimming deck, and the Blue Beach Club and Bar, which serves rich ice cream made from scratch to the sound of gentle lounge music. The Sands beach is quieter and less structured, with simple sun beds and parasols. The hotel cascades down a steep hillside towards the sea, so Aegean views are guaranteed from almost every room. Choose from 95 suites, or stay longer and go for your own villa or apartment. Including everything from pine forests to formal gardens, the grounds are home to around 1 million plants and the botanical theme continues inside, with leafy shrubs in the impressive public spaces and open air spa treatment rooms. Doubles from £364. mandarinoriental.com
HOTEL CALA DI VOLPE SARDINIA
Arriving at a private beach by boat sounds James Bond-level glamorous, which in Cala di Volpe’s case is very appropriate, because scenes from The Spy Who Loved Me were filmed at the hotel. The clandestine swathe of champagne-coloured sand may only be a 15-minute stroll away, but with boats leaving every half an hour it seems churlish not to take one. Screened from view by lush scrub and fragrant oleander trees and with fewer than 40 beds scattered across, this beach is as private as it gets. The hotel is located on the exclusive Costa Smeralda (Emerald Coast), famed for its sparkling, aquamarine water which makes for beautiful swimming. Arrange a boat trip from the hotel to the La Maddalena archipelago, some of Sardinia’s most beautiful and least visited islands. A true grand dame, Hotel Cala di Volpe has developed its own unqique brand of luxury which nods to Sardinia’s rural past. Ceilings are roughly hewn rock, a reference to the network of caves which lies beneath the island, much of the furniture is hand carved by local craftsmen and bathrooms gleam with colourful Cerasarda tiles, a local trademark. Doubles from £260. caladivolpe.com