The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
BEST FOR ROMANCE
Whether you are looking for a perfect wedding venue, champagne at sunset or a stay in a fairy-tale castle, these destinations deliver
61
GET LOST IN
WEST SWEDEN
Waves lash at the base of Pater Noster lighthouse, a solitary speck of land in the North Sea, where life was historically harsh and undesirable. More than 150 years later, seeking escape from our fast-paced world, it’s much easier to fall in love with the remoteness. Arriving at Hamneskar island by RIB or helicopter, guests at the newly remodelled property have a choice of nine rooms and an open-air sleep out on a bed wedged between boulders and the stars. Exclusive UK operator Regent Holidays (020 7666 1290; regent-holidays.co.uk) offers a stay as part of a five-day Gothenburg holiday from £2,395pp, including flights.
62
SPREAD UNIVERSAL LOVE IN GREECE
Pledging love to the moon and back might be physically impossible, but a journey to this volcanic island in the Cyclades is the next best thing. Goddess Aphrodite bestowed her love and beauty on the lunar-like outcrop, where the 2,000-year-old Venus de Milo statue was found buried in earth. From the surreal bone-white landscapes of Sarakiniko beach to the healing powers of charcoal-black obsidian mined for 11,000 years, it’s a destination out of this world.
Sunvil (020 8568 4499; sunvil.co.uk) offers seven nights self-catering at the Captain Zeppos Boutique Suites from £1,096 per person, including flights.
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REACH FOR THE STARS IN PORTUGAL
Hitch a ride on cloud nine with a private hot air balloon trip over the São Lourenço do Barrocal estate, rising above Alentejo’s orchards and vineyards as troubles shrink like the tangle of olive groves below. Landing back to earth is a breeze rather than a bump at the farmstead hotel, where whitewashed cottages sit between farm-to-table restaurants and a botanically-inspired spa. After dinner, benefit from Barrocal’s location in the Alqueva Dark Sky Reserve with a private stargazing experience guided by astronomers from a nearby observatory.
Scott Dunn (020 8682 5080; scottdunn. com) offers three nights B&B from £1,370 per person, including flights.
64
RELIVE A FAIRY-TALE IN UMBRIA
Even Rapunzel’s blonde locks would struggle to form a golden stairway to the turrets of Hotel Castello di Reschio. Towering above a colonnade of tall cypress trees in the Umbrian countryside, the restored 1,000-year-old castle is a fairy-tale creation, brought back to life by three generations of the Bolza family. Go horse-riding through the quiet countryside, forage for truffles, or learn about local produce in a cookery school. A spa and plunge pool occupy the vaulted stone cellar, while an epic five-floor Tower Suite with rooftop
Raise a glass as a guest at the Iniala Harbour House hotel in Valletta, Malta garden guarantees every stay has a happy ending.
Original Travel (020 3582 4990; originaltravel.co.uk) offers seven nights B&B from £3,280 per person, including flights and car hire.
65
DISCOVER CREATIVE FLAIR IN PROVENCE
Provence and the French Riviera, France
Great artists adored the south of France with good reason: gourmet food, fine wine, epic scenery and exquisite light paint an eternally romantic picture. From the medieval town of Gordes, stacked precariously on a hillside, to the flashy, moneyed streets of Monaco, the beauty of the region is timeless. Explore Arles, the city that inspired Van Gogh, sample wine in Châteauneuf-du-Pape, and take a tour of the Fragonard perfumery in Èze. Finish with a champagne-fuelled sunset cruise from the Port of Nice.
Audley (01993 683 103; Audleytravel. com) can tailor-make a splash-out 13-day itinerary from £11,950pp, including flights.
66
ROMANCE THE
STONE IN MATERA Basilica’s biblical film set will receive a boost in September when Bond movie No Time To Die is finally released. In reality, ancient rock town Matera has been captivating viewers for decades with its cinematic scenes. Inhabited for 10,000 years, Sassi cave dwellings pockmark limestone cliffs, illuminated at night to resemble a nativity tableau. Wander through narrow stone streets, where washing hangs like bunting, and cross the ravine to visit 12th century crypts and churches built into the rock.
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FIND UNDERWATER TREASURES IN MALTA Dangerously smug at surface level, couples’ selfies assume a different dimension underwater. At the Iniala Harbour House, the latest five-star addition to Valletta’s harbour, partners can learn how to capture their best deepsea profiles on a scuba dive session with a professional photographer. Against a backdrop of limestone arches and dazzling light pools, the results are impressive – although nothing compares to the archipelago’s historic skyline, best admired from the property’s private yacht. Spread across several 17th-century waterside town houses, Iniala has one of Europe’s finest rooftops, occupied by Michelin star restaurant ION.
Lusso Travel (01625 591 111; lussotravel.
68
RAVISH THE SENSES IN MOROCCO
A warren of secret passageways, hidden courtyards and clandestine corners, Marrakesh is a real charmer. Scents of orange, cinnamon and rose swirl through souks and the chants of storytellers harmonise with calls to prayer. Stretching across 12 interconnected riads, newly expanded El Fenn sits in the thick of it all, with a heated rooftop pool overlooking the Koutoubia Mosque and Atlas Mountains. From bed linens to brewed tea, everything in Vanessa Branson’s coowned property has been sourced locally and 70 Moroccan artisans were employed to hand-craft finishes, part of a commendable sustainability drive. Abercrombie & Kent (01242 547 760; abercrombiekent.co.uk) offers five nights B&B from £1,750pp, including flights. 69
EMBRACE ELEGANCE IN BARBADOS
Combining hot pink sunsets with brilliant white beaches, this laid-back Caribbean island is textbook honeymoon territory. An elegant country home reimagined in a tropical climate, Cobblers Cove on the peaceful west coast is an all-time favourite, recently given a five-year overhaul. Two honeymoon suites in the original 1940s plantation house have been restyled with marble floors, four-poster beds, and islandmade rattan furniture, with terraces overlooking the silky sea. Stroll through gardens overflowing with rare flora, or snorkel with hawksbill turtles who nest on the hotel’s beach and swim in the bay.
Turquoise Holidays (01494 678400; turquoiseholidays.co.uk) offers seven nights B&B from £1,850 per person, including flights. Book before the end of September.
70
TAKE THE PLUNGE
IN ST LUCIA
Bell towers typically frame a wedding ceremony, but the lofty spires of the Pitons are a deserving match. Rising from the Caribbean Sea, the volcanic plugs provide a seraphic setting for exchanging vows at an altar of jungle and beach. Jade Mountain, the only resort with a view of both peaks, is offering couples a chance to wed for free if staying more than five nights in an infinity pool suite. Walk down a sandy aisle with a bouquet of palms and celebrate with a rum punch toast.
Tropical Sky (01342 310596; tropicalsky.co.uk) offers seven nights B&B from £3,049 per person, including flights.