TEN NEW LUXURY DESTINATIONS that you can reach direct from Scotland
As the cold weather creeps in and our minds turn to far-flung beaches, cosy mountain retreats and cultural cities, pack your bags for a luxury break in one of ten new destinations you can now fly to directly from Scotland
1. WONDER AT THE GREAT WALL Beijing Visiting the world’s most populous capital city isn’t everyone’s idea of a luxury escape. However, travel just 50 minutes north of the city centre and you find yourself amidst the beauty of the Shuigan Mountains and one of the world’s most iconic sites – the Great Wall of China. You can take a private tour of the Great Wall while staying at the Commune by the Great Wall, which is set in 8km²of private land and has been hailed as a new architectural wonder of China. A private path in the grounds leads to a non-restored section of the wall, offering a truly untouched piece of Chinese history. Flights from Edinburgh to Beijing: www.hainanairlines.com
2. ESCAPE TO THE DESERT Dubai While Dubai conjures images of glitzy hotels and shopping malls, just 45 minutes outside of the chaotic city centre you’ll find a serene desert with honey coloured sand dunes and blissful peace and quiet. Stay at the Al Maha Desert Resort & Spa, a private oasis nestled among palm groves with 42 individual suites decorated with authentic regional antiques and local artefacts. Luxuriate under the stars in your private pool and wake up early to watch the sunrise over the Hajar Mountains beyond. Your stay also includes two complementary activities so you can choose from a desert safari, a camel trek, horse ride, archery or falconry. Flights from Edinburgh to Dubai: www.emirates.com
3. GO STATE OF THE ART W ashington DC
The US capital is home to high flying city slickers who can be spotted wining and dining and splashing their cash at designer stores but for those looking to soak up some culture, visiting the city’s many art galleries is a great way to spend a day. Make sure to check out the National Gallery of Art, which houses works from Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael and Rembrandt among other masterpieces, while a trip to the Smithsonian American Art Museum will give you an insight into contemporary pieces from the US. You should also take a trip to the neighbourhood of Georgetown, which is a great place to soak up some of the local culture and check out a variety of artistic styles. Head to the cluster of galleries in the Book Hill area before dining at one of the neighbourhood’s many hip eateries. Flights from Edinburgh to Washington Dulles: www.united.com
4. CLEAN UP IN A TURKISH HAMAM Bodrum
There’s no better place to enjoy a traditional Turkish bath (hamam) than the trendy seaside getaway of Bodrum. Enjoy a local experience such as the Bitez Haman where you can opt either for an aromatherapy oil massage or a traditional hamam experience – a sauna, Turkish bath with full body scrub, soap massage, hair wash and tea. If you’re looking for pure luxury, check into the Mandarin Oriental Bodrum overlooking the crystal clear waters of the Aegean Sea. The spa’s traditional hamam experiences provide a relaxing, cleansing and detoxifying treatment for body and mind and you can choose from three different time options according to your needs. Flights from Glasgow to Bodrum: www.jet2.com
‘The US capital is home to high flying city slickers who can be spotted wining and dining’
5. TRAVEL BACK IN TIME Guernsey
Explore the history of Guernsey’s German occupation with visits to the German Underground Hospital, Fort Saumarez and Le Grand Havre to understand what Guernsey was like at the time. Guernsey History Trails offer an app guide which covers the Occupation (1940-1945) with two trails – one from St Peter Port by foot and the island trail which allows you to walk the path of history while enjoying beautiful vistas. Each walk takes roughly two hours. Keep up the historic theme by staying at Guernsey’s only five-star hotel, the Old Government House Hotel & Spa in the heart of St Peter Port, which overlooks manicured gardens and has panoramic sea views. The hotel dates back to 1796 when it was the official Governor’s residence for the island and from 1940 to 1945 the Germans occupied it as their General Staff Headquarters. Flights from Glasgow to Guernsey: www.loganair.co.uk
6. SAVOUR THE FLAVOURS Munich
The home of annual beer festival Oktoberfest, Munich is a great place to sample German food and drink. Boasting several Michelin-starred restaurants, chic cafes, markets and beer gardens, with local specialities such as Weisswurst sausages and sweet German pastries like Franzbrotchen, Munich combines Bavarian tradition with modernity. Don’t miss lunch at one of Munich’s beer halls, the most famous being Hofbrauhaus near Marienplatz. If you’d like to try your hand at some local specialities, why not try Kochschule Hans Haas cooking school. The two-Michelin-star chef of Tantris restaurant will teach all levels of students how to make seasonal gourmet dishes before enjoying them together. Flights from Glasgow to Munich: www.lufthansa.com Flights from Edinburgh to Munich: www.easyjet.com
7. SHOP TILL YOU DROP Antwerp
While it might not be on the same level as Milan, New York or Paris, Belgium’s main port city has a growing reputation as a centre of fashion. The city is home to one of Europe’s leading fashion academies and its historic streets have a multitude of brand shops and boutiques, whether you’re looking for fashion, antiques or interiors pieces. For designer fashion brands, go to Nationale Straat (National Street) or head to Kloosterstraat (Convent Street) for antiques and books. If you’re looking to splash out on diamonds, visit the diamond district – the largest in the world. Or if you’d rather look without touching, go to the multimedia Diamond Museum on Koningin Astridplein near the station. To continue the theme, stay at the upscale and beautifully designed Hotel Julien, which is a favourite among fashion industry figures such as Dirk Bikkembergs, who graduated from the city’s Academy of Fine Arts. Flights from Aberdeen to Antwerp: www.flyvlm.com
8. SOAK UP THE CULTURE Malta
Boasting the title of the European capital of culture in 2018, Malta’s capital Valletta is the perfect destination for a culture enthusiast. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, the city has 320 monuments in a two-square-mile radius, making it the most densely populated city in the world for monuments. Visit the Grandmaster’s Palace, which was built between the 16th and 18th centuries and has hosted nobility over the years and is the current house of the president of Malta. St. John’s Co-Cathedral was finished in 1577 and is one of the outstanding examples of Baroque architecture in Europe and remains one of the best cathedrals in the world. For an authentic Maltese experience, stay at the Prince D’Orange, a 17th-century baroque palazzo with views of the Grand Harbour. Flights from Aberdeen to Malta: www.ryanair.com
‘From Bergen you can travel to Oslo on what is considered one of the world's most beautiful train journeys’
9. LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF MUSIC Zurich
Ranked in second place for quality of life in the world, Switzerland’s largest city boasts 30-odd museums, an opera house that has hosted worldrenowned musicians such as Weber, Wagner and Mozart, and some excellent, Michelin-starred restaurants. Surrounded by snowy peaks, the city is also an excellent base for a ski trip. Engelberg is a popular skiing destination which is easily accessed from the city and offers plenty of lodgings, with reliable snow on high, shady slopes. Of if you fancy something more chilled out, stay in the city and relax at the Thermalbad & Spa Zurich – a brewery that has been converted into a health sanctuary. With a modern interpretation of Roman bath culture, the spa features vaulted stone walls and thermal water drawn from the ‘Acqui’ springs that run beneath the city. You can see all over Zurich from the rooftop pool. Flights from Inverness to Zurich: www.flyedelweiss.com
10. SEE BREATHTAKING SCENERY Bergen
Famous for its fish market, picture-perfect harbour and the mountains surrounding the city, Bergen is considered the gateway to Norway’s fjords. From Bergen you can travel to Oslo on what is considered one of the world’s most beautiful train journeys and you will see some of the country’s scenic highlights. These include the Flam Railway, one of the world’s steepest railway journeys on a natural track which takes you through spectacular scenery down the mountain trails from Myrdal to the village of Flam by the Aurland fjord. The Bergen Railway is also the easiest way to get to popular skiing destinations like Geilo, Gol, Ål and Voss. If you’d like to be based near the city while enjoying the peace of the countryside, stay at Solstrand Hotel, a luxury hideaway amidst the fjords on the shore of Bjørnefjorden, just 30 kilometres from Bergen. Here you can enjoy traditional Scandinavian bathing traditions in the hotel’s spa, which has a heated outdoor pool and a bathing pier from which you can take a dip in the fjord. Flights from Inverness to Bergen: www.loganair.co.uk