Vision statement
Akash Arora recommends three new hotels in spectacular surroundings, from the savanna to the sea.
&BEYOND MATETSI RIVER LODGE, ZIMBABWE
andbeyond.com
Imagine a luxury suite right in the middle of the African savanna – its comfortable bed swathed in white fabric, an ensuite decked out with a freestanding bath large enough for two and a verandah complete with a private plunge pool. That’s the promise of this recently rebuilt &Beyond lodge on the border of Zimbabwe and Zambia. The real drawcard, though, is right next to the lodge: the Zambezi River. Because where there’s water, there’s wildlife. Watch large herds of meandering elephants, grazing cape buffaloes and balletic gazelles. You might also see giraffes, zebras, a wide range of birdlife and even a passing pride of lions. And when it’s time for an excursion, the thunderous Victoria Falls – one of the world’s largest waterfalls – is just a 40-minute drive away.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT OAHU AT KO OLINA, HAWAII, US
fourseasons.com
Want to escape the madness of Waikiki without having to leave Oahu? Check in to this newly opened Four Seasons resort located on the island’s western coast, about a 30-minute drive from the centre of Honolulu. It is surrounded by views of soaring mountains on one side and has absolute water frontage on the other. Guests of the hotel, which has 371 rooms and suites, enjoy access to four restaurants, three pools, an 18-hole golf course, a health club and a tennis centre with sweeping ocean views. But our favourite spot is the Naupaka Spa & Wellness Centre, where staff employ age-old Hawaiian healing techniques to melt your stress away.
RODOS PARK SUITES & SPA, RHODES, GREECE
rodospark.gr
This is a Greek island hideaway but not as you know it. There are no whitewashed walls or blue shutters on the windows but you’ll experience an unmistakably Mediterranean sense of relaxation as soon as you arrive at this hotel. Soak up the atmosphere in the sprawling poolside area, which is most romantic when lit with lanterns at night, or make your way to the Galaxy Roof Lounge Bar for panoramic views of the sun-kissed Aegean Sea. Enjoy a drink at L’ Agence Lobby Bar followed by dinner under the stars at Il Parco restaurant. When it’s time to retire, your room, complete with a private balcony and marble bathroom, is just a short walk away.