Travel

The World’s Best Hotel Suites for Rest and Relaxation

Whether you're on the lookout for an escape to a private island or a sanctuary in the city - just away from the hustle and bustle of people and traffic - read on to see what our contributor Ollie Poole has to share about our edit of places to get away from it all. Our suggestions below have been carefully curated to give you the pick of the crop when it comes to choosing somewhere to hole up for a few days to a couple of weeks. If you're keen to kick off the year right, take a break between hectic work projects, or ignore a barrage of social invites, these suites at some of The Sybarite's favourite hotel properties across the globe will cater to your every need.

Autumn in the English Countryside’s Burleigh Court Manor

On the onset of Autumn, all the leaves are aglow on the drive into historic Burleigh Court. The air is crisp with the promise of winter, and the hotel itself, covered in flaming Virginia creeper, looks like it’s been lit from within. The 18th-century Cotswold-stone manor house is set on a steep hill that provides sprawling views of the golden valley below. Enter and you’ll find a cosy two-seater bar to your left, with accents of deep wood and fur, where the sun streams in through a window onto a display of colourful bottles making it look like stained glass. Follow the sound of soft jazz from a record player, and you’ll arrive at the lounge, where the woodland themed wallpaper, comfortable sofas and copies of Tatler and The Field make for a chic reading spot. You could while away your time here reading, and forget that you were in the bustle of London just a few hours ago, but we recommend first exploring the lawns. The hotel is nestled in four acres of gardens, where you may see the Burleigh bees buzzing away in their beehives, grey oyster mushrooms growing off deadwood, and purple sage adding even more colour to the autumn surroundings.

Review of Family Luxury in the Autumn Sun: Parga Beach Resort

The balance between a fun-filled, family holiday and a relaxing, luxury resort is often quite hard to find... but our luxury lifestyle expert, Kerene Barefield, has found the perfect, child-friendly place to whiz away to on the off-season! Having decided to treat the family to a little autumn sun, I booked five nights at Parga Beach Resort on the idyllic west coast of Greece - and I was not disappointed! After booking an early flight from London and dragging the kids out of bed at 3:45am; we arrived at Preveza airport by nine o’clock GMT. Greeted by our friendly chauffeur from the resort, he drove us along the beautiful coastline for a 45 minute journey to the hotel. On arrival we received a very warm welcome from Katerina and her team, and were shown promptly to our room. The extensive grounds of the hotel are stunning, all the rooms and suites are scattered between vibrantly blooming flora and centuries old olive trees. The smell of jasmine fills the air as we walk through the lush and plentiful grounds; it is hard to comprehend that there are over a hundred beautiful rooms hidden away in this captivating Greek resort

Meet Emlyn Brown, Global VP of Wellbeing at Accor

Join The Sybarite as we chat with Accor’s Global Vice President of Wellbeing, Emlyn Brown, about how the group is elevating the scope and depth of their guest experiences. And with an interest in luxury at an all-time high, it makes sense that wellbeing is an important aspect of the product offering; one that encompasses not only subtle enhancements such as improving noise control but more obvious ones, like in-room fitness, for instance. Read more to learn what you can expect from an Accor stay and how the hotel group is growing with new offerings.

Review of Relax at Minos Beach

Beach holidays can be very undifferentiated. It could easily be filled with endless sun-bed reading and tick-box buffet food. Minos Beach Art Hotel in Crete offers a unique, inspiring experience on the other hand. Culture plays an important role in this 5-star resort. The hotel opened in 1963 but you will struggle to find any remote hint of the 60s anywhere on its grounds. The hotel is constantly renovating and if anything, the resemblance is more towards Tate Modern galleries rather than a retro Greek resort. The hotel is a member of Design Hotels and you feel it's most deserving the moment you step into the lobby. There's Giorgos Gyparakis' 1-sec art installation by the reception wall with intricate waveforms highlighting the increasing digitalisation of society.

Travel Like Targaryen Royalty: House of the Dragon...

Amongst the machiavellian scheming, dragon-riding and the occasional appearance of feet, one of the most cinematic aspects of House of the Dragon is the programme's beautiful filming locations. Before they become tourist hotspots, make sure to visit the locations and stand in the same path as some of your favourite actors, we're talking about you Matt Smith. Also, a lot of them are in the UK, and car friendly!

Featuring Our Luxury Lifestyle Expert reviews Hilton Lake Como

Lake Como has always been somewhere that I’ve wanted to visit. For centuries it’s been famed for its dramatic setting, fairy-tale villages and international high-profile visitors, with many movies, including ‘Casino Royale’, ‘Star Wars: Episode II Attack of the Clones’, and ‘A Month by the Lake’ filmed there. Therefore, when I was given the opportunity to enjoy the city for a few days, I jumped at the chance, inviting a close friend to share the experience.

Wellness Destinations for the Elite Traveller’s Radar

No matter your personal style of self-care or level of yogic knowledge, there’s a wellness destination to suit you. Explore further to see which unexpected but life-changing wellness destinations make the Sybarite edit.

Featuring Grand Hotel Kronenhof: Winter Luxury Staycation

Except you are not in Budapest, but in the scenic, tranquil alpine escape that is Pontresina. Think neighbouring St Moritz but without the Prada shop pretensions. This is a mountain village lined with iconic Belle Epoque hotels and authentic Engadine stone houses with ornate facades. This grande dame of Engadine hotels is the heart and soul of the village and has been welcoming guests since 1848. The personalised service means they've been getting repeat guests for decades; some came as children and then returned with their children. They've had an extensive renovation in 2021 with the award-winning French interior designer Pierre-Yves Rochon. The reception, lobby lounge, bar and reading room have all been rejuvenated to tranquil shades of blue that reflect the Engadine sky during various times of the day. You have to applaud their attention to every minutia as even the coffee table books are in hues of blue. The focal point here isn't the regal chandelier or the antique furniture, it's the lush majestic mountains of the Engadine Alps that take centre stage through the almost floor-to-ceiling glass windows.

Q&A with The Fullertons Mr. Gino Tan

The Sybarite had the pleasure of conducting a Q&A with The Fullerton Hotels and Resorts Country General Manager Mr Gino Tan to discuss this beautiful landmark setting in Singapore.

The Fullerton Singapore

Once housing the General Post Office as well as offices for the governor of Singapore and the High Commissioner for the Federation of Malay States in addition to many other government offices, this colonial monument has seen Singapore’s modern history unfold. Its location sits nostalgically along the city’s waterfront and owes to the stunning panoramic views that the city has to offer.

In Defence of Private Jets: The Truth About Luxury Charters