Book a DESERT GETAWAY in Arizona or Dubai
Countless hiking and horse-riding trails through national forest, 83 local wineries and every luxury trimming you could want ARIZONA’S in Valley of the Sun, in the shadow of the famed Camelback Mountain
Basking in the foothills of Arizona’s Camelback Mountain and framed by the state’s ubiquitous saguaro, this oasis-like getaway is the stuff desert dreams are made of. You may be in the heart of the Sonoran Desert, but don’t be fooled, this isn’t the Wild West. When Andaz Scottsdale opened in 2016, it was the first new resort to launch here in six years and it’s an integral player in the new wave of design-driven pads punctuating Phoenix’s low-key little-sister city today.
In the aptly named Paradise Valley, a quick drive from Phoenix Airport, the sprawling resort comprises 201 light-filled suites and spacious adobestyle bungalow villas interspersed by greenery-strewn walkways, an olive grove and cactus garden. In terms of design, think a modern play on Mad Men via Palm Springs (sans spring breakers) with a little Southwest flair.
Bungalows (many with terraces) take the names of key designers who influenced the look – Eames, Girard et al –while the resort itself was inspired by local architects including Frank Lloyd Wright and Paolo Soleri, both of whom have eponymous gallery museums in Scottsdale. Rooms are serenely decked out with limewashlook desert hues, handcrafted furniture and works by local Cattle Track artists.
Across the nine hectares, sun-baked days are punctuated by boules and croquet games, while poolside cabanas beg to be lingered over, Diamondback Fizz in hand, as red cardinals and hummingbirds flit overhead.
If you can tear yourself from your perch, there’s plenty in the area to keep you entertained. Scottsdale’s Old Town is close by – its historic haunts balanced out by contemporary art spaces, bars and restaurants. Then there’s the McDowell Sonoran Preserve with its 350km of hiking trails (go early to avoid the heat and keep eyes peeled for rattlers); a plethora of golf courses (ditto); the Desert Botanical Garden; some 83 local wineries; and horseback rides through Tonto National Forest.
In line with the area’s reputation for wellbeing, back at camp, the botanical Palo Verde Spa is on hand to soothe any saddle sores and revitalise ahead of supper. Enter Weft & Warp with its atmosphere of bonhomie and boldflavoured menu that draws upon the area’s culinary heritage and is driven by resort-grown ingredients. Andaz is a true taste of AZ you’ll not want to end. BG. Doubles from £397. 00 1 480 368 1234, andazscottsdale.com
Atop jagged cliffs on the Isle of Portland, at Dorset’s southernmost tip, you’ll find five luxury lodges inspired by the surrounding landscape. Named Ope; Blue;
Stone; Copper and Silva, each has unbounded views of the Jurassic Coast, a Unesco World Heritage Site. Polished and minimalistic, these lodges are carved from local Portland stone, naturally adorned with fossils, and complemented by oak panelling and copper fringing throughout.
Part of the Pennsylvania Castle Estate, with a gothic fortress as the epicentre, the lodges sit above Church Ope Cove – the suggested location for the first recorded Viking landing in England in 789AD. While the sea-view apartments provide the perfect spot for a summer barbecue, nearby restaurants offer sea-to-plate cuisine. Try spiced whole crab at Crab House Café or head to Hall’s Kitchen on Weymouth Marina for an aromatic bouillabaisse. With an on-site wine cellar ensuring your glass remains full, you’ll be spoilt for choice of places to watch the sunset – choose apartment Ope for a hot tub overlooking the sea. MD. Apartments from £120pn. 01305 820918, thepennestate.co.uk